On nesting and preparing.

I'm sure we all feel the same, but I've been sat wondering where this year has disappeared to. We found out that baby #2 was on the way back in April, but decided this time to make sure everything was looking OK at our 12 week scan before we shared the news with anyone. That's perhaps one of the reasons this pregnancy has absolutely flown by, but I suppose that life is also much busier than it was the first time around. Finn is keeping us very busy with his curious, active mind, and we still have the same responsibilities of work and running our home, with added hospital/midwife/doctor appointments so each week has felt very full. 

My nesting instincts this time have felt pretty strong, but in a different way than with Finn. I remember obsessively cleaning the bathroom every night before bed and having everything in his nursery meticulously organised. This time around I know we have time post-birth to get the baby room sorted because he will sleep in our room for the first few months, and all his clothes are already washed and ready to go. We do need to get some things back out of storage, but I've focussed on the bigger things we needed like a double buggy, cosy wintery clothes and a better moses basket that should last longer this time. Instead of the things I obsessed over last time like baby toiletries (most of which I donated because Finn has sensitive skin/eczema so we only really use one brand or prescription cream), I've been trying to stock up on pantry items so we have easy things to cook & reach for when we need it post-partum. We have the added benefit of knowing the things we actually needed for Finn, so that has helped cut out a lot of unnecessary spending, which is a blessing because our budget will be very tight! 

Everything in me wants to hibernate at this point, and I feel happiest when I'm at home, in my matching pyjama set (secretly hoping Santa might bring me more PJs!) with a hot chocolate. Our festive decorations have been up a while because it helps me feel so cosy, and I can't even say how many Hallmark movies I've already watched and it's not yet December. We are trying to cut down on gifts this year and keep everything minimal as we need to prepare for me going on Maternity Leave. We are focusing on the theme of "Something to read, do, share, wear, need and want," which has meant sticking to a budget and not going overboard. I wanted to start this now so we can continue this tradition down the line and not give in to the pressure of overspending at this time of year. I think it also makes you shop more creatively which is fun! I've also taken a break from social media which usually helps me focus on being present, and takes another distraction away (or temptation to shop based on whatever has come up in my feed!) I do this fairly regularly when my brain is feeling a bit overloaded, but it's also nice to not feel compelled to share so much about my daily life and just enjoy whatever each day brings.

I bought these from Etsy

I can feel myself getting pretty tired at this point, so I am trying really hard not to push myself but instead find ways to make life easier. That has meant switching to online grocery shopping, saving trips until the weekend so we can go together, or doing a lot of my Christmas shopping spread across the last few months and wrapping as I go, so most of that is already taken care of. I'm still taking Finn out for a walk every day which is good for both of us, but I've cut down on extra trips throughout the week as it is a bit of a strain for me to get him in and out of things or up and down the stairs all day. In my mind, I almost feel like I'm admitting defeat much sooner than I did last pregnancy, but in reality, we truly haven't had a week without extra appointments, random things going wrong in the house, sickness (and therefore extra Dr visits), disturbed nights due to teething and everything in-between. I have possibly mentioned this before, but we live fairly far from most things, so any trip to the hospital is about 40 minutes there and back and requires extra planning this time around as Finn likes to see what's going on and roam around, so it's easier not to take him! This week I have picked up a version of what Finn is at the tail end of, which means a sore throat and feeling rundown so we are preparing for a slow and easy weekend.

For now, I'm going back to my bubble as we take time to slow down, enjoy everything about the festive season and get ready for the arrival of baby boy. Lots of love, Sarah x

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Oh, Night Divine!

I can't believe it's Christmas eve again..where has this year gone?! It's taken much longer this year for me to feel as festive as I normally do. One year whilst I was at University, I secretly decorated my entire bedroom, tree and all - my housemates only found out one by one if they knocked on my door and I let them in. That was a great October. Ha! Alas, this year I was lucky enough to experience Thanksgiving too so I will have had my fair share of turkey by the end of 2013. 

I have just gotten round to the aforementioned sugar cookies, but didn't really have enough time to but 100% effort into the decorating stage. I chose the lovely Gooseberry Patch Recipe as I had the same cutter as the one they used, and I just think their recipes are too darned CUTE. I accidentally made about 1 million cookies but hey ho - it's Christmas! One of them tragically broke in half so I was forced to try it and it was pretty yummy. 

I'm also ready for my annual Christmas Eve tradition of opening my gifts from friends at midnight that usually live under our Christmas Tree. I fought long and hard for the right to do them separately and I won. I am ready for it once again:

Last night, one of my best friends and I enjoyed a wonderful 3 course meal with a free bottle of Prosecco as part of my early Birthday celebrations. I am travelling down south on the day so I am dragging out the festivities as long as physically possible.

Thankyou, Italy and goodnight. 

We also like cocktails.

                                   

Cheers, to being another year older!

As for the rest of today, we are going to 'stay classy' and go see Anchorman 2 - before heading home for a midnight tipple and the chance to dive in to round one of my presents. I don't care how old I get, Christmas always makes me feel like it did when I was 6!! 

So, I would like to wish all of my L-O-V-E-L-Y readers the Merriest of Christmases and the Happiest of New Years! Be sure to check back here in 2014 as I blog my American Adventures. I think 2014 is going to be my most exciting one yet and I can't WAIT to share it with you all! 

Much Love xxx

P.s. I may or may not have opened the tree presents from my friends over an hour early. I simply could not wait any longer.

P.p.s. Someone PLEASE take this box of twilight mints away from me.

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The Most Wonderful Time of The Year...

First of all, I have been terrible with keeping up with this here blog. It's been quite a whirlwind lately, filled with lots of lovely things that have been keeping me rather busy. I had a lovely 2 weeks of winter sunshine in Tucson surrounded by cacti, filled with pumpkin pie and my first dash of eggnog. Those weeks were so relaxing but as soon as I touched down, (after a rather bumpy ride home in the storms!) things went up a gear as it is now so close to the holiday season and move to Delaware day. 

All my gifts are bought and wrapped and cards are sent out, so in that way I have managed to keep organised. I have made some really nice American inspired gifts including my first attempts 'cookies in a jar,' pretzel rods, chocolate marshmallows (inspired by these badboys), easy fudge bites (which I have NOT perfected, which clearly I am not bothered about ARGHHHHHHHH), gift card holders - which made handy little envelopes for the recipe cards for my cookies in jars and I am going to make some mitten shaped sugar cookies and some exciting cupcakes. When I find a minute. 

Though I did spend an inordinate amount of time in Target whilst in the States, I did enjoy buying gifts from independent sellers this year. I have to say, I have found some amazingly talented crafty folks through the ever growing medium; Instagram. It has introduced me to loads of great sellers and stores that I would like to share with you all. They are both UK based and American but they usually ship worldwide. I've had a couple of parcels from the US that have cost as little as $3.50 to reach my door! Bargain. 

1. Polkadots and Petticoats - The shop is shut for Christmas but I got a lovely Santa scarf and some cross stitch patterns for 50% off! Great sale, lovely parcel.

2. Poppy and Fern - Hand embroidered jewellery, so cute. I am waiting on a cactus necklace that I ordered on holiday whilst they had Black Friday sales on. Exciting! 

3. Oh, Sweet Joy! - She has a lovely blog and a lovely shop. If I suited headbands or if my head would fit in a headband, I might consider buying one. Alas. My head is stupid. 

4. Sarah's Cards Ltd. - This shop is a stockist of lots of nice American craft supplies, as well as UK ones and recently had an a-m-a-z-i-n-g sale. 

5. Lovely Tape UK - If you like washi tape or nice tapes as much as I do, check out this site. I recently won some Christmas tapes from them and can't WAIT to get mi mitts on them. 

6. Poppy England - I have never bought anything from this website but I frequently dream of owning one of their dresses. 

7. The Fabbadashery - This is really local to me, but I popped in there for the first time this week and loved it. Such nice staff, gorgeous fabric and ribbons and so good to have a craft shop in town that runs fun workshops! 

8. Artsyville - This lady makes GORGEOUSNESS. So bright, fun and colourful - right up my street. I love everything she makes. 

9. Pinkfresh Studio - I'm addicted to pretty tape, please don't judge me. 

10. Pink Paislee - I also won a prize from these guys! I'm getting pretty lucky. Or I just enter too many giveaways. They have allsorts of loveliness. 

11. The Heart Gallery - My favourite shop in the whole wide Universe and stars. I love LOVE LOVE it loads. 

12. DeGrazia - I visited the DeGrazia gallery in Tucson this year and thought his works were beautiful and really enjoyed the gift shop, ha! I love museum gift shops. 

There are lots of small businesses out there that are making a living doing what they love. It's so nice to be able to pay a small part in supporting those people in exchange for nice things!!! It's also good to get some unique gifts to share with friends and family at Christmas time! 

I will aim to share my sugar cookies with you this week - virtually of course - along with some Christmassy pictures as this is my favourite time of the year by FAR. I am averaging about 5 cheesy holiday films a week at the moment but still haven't had a mince pie yet! Crazy. 

Happy Shopping! 

Much Love xxx

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A Pug's Life.

I am spending some time over the next couple of weeks looking after my Uncle's 2 pugs, Harry and Alfie. I have never looked after a dog in my life and up until a few years ago, had a pretty bad phobia of them. I didn't know where it came from, but I was lucky enough to meet a couple of dogs that cured me of my fears. These two twin brothers have a good routine and tend to sleep most of the time, which unfortunately seems to be making me rather sleepy too. 

They are so funny, they just follow me everywhere! I go to the toilet and they sit outside and wait for me to come back out. I get changed in a morning with the bedroom door shut and I can hear them breathing right under the door frame. I come out of the bathroom after a wash and they act like they haven't seen me in years. 

I sat down the other night at the table to do some Christmas crafts and told them to go to bed which was just around the corner but they couldn't see me - once I moved their bed so they could watch, they were quite happy. Occasionally they got up and sat right under the table so I couldn't even move my legs.

Right before bed they are supposed to go outside for one last toilet trip but in order to get their lazy bums out you actually have to plonk them outside yourself. They just look at you as if to say 'I don't think so somehow.'

The weather has been quite nice somedays and on our walks there have been some mighty fine views:

I have found some time to do a few more Christmassy stampy/decorationy things:

This is my favourite tag so far! 

Ribbons

Unfinished Salt-Dough Decorations

I have had time to watch a few movies which is good because I have a rather huge selection to go at. After years of hearing it referenced in Friends, I finally know what Sophie's Choice was and I'm currently watching 'Wyatt Earp' as I embark on the Western film selection. I had previously read about him in one of my educational Wild West books but the film is pretty good too (and 3 hours long!) I have watched both my favourite Comedies - 'I Love You Man' and 'Bridesmaids' along with a really cheesy Christmas related one I found on TV last night. 

I've started reading one of the large print westerns I found in the library for 25 pence the other day called 'Mail Order Bride.' It's great because I can read them without my glasses on in bed! Ha. I bought four at the time and went back to buy the rest but it seems that there is another large print western fan in this town, and it 'aint big enough for the both of us. I also baked some experimental healthier oatmeal dark choc-chip cookies for snack cravings that are made with no eggs or butter and wholemeal flour.

 At this point, I will say I have been here the grand total of 2 1/2 days. A lot can be done in 2 1/2 days. 

Much Love xxx

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In which I cannot stop Pinning.

Hello. I've had Pintrest for ages now. I've used it on and off but lately I haven't stopped searching for pins on there and this is why. To say I am mildly obsessed with Christmas is a gross understatement. There reaches a point in the year (which is so soon) whereby the Christmas switch goes in my head and that.is.it. It consumes my every thought. I just love everything about Christmas. The colours, the smells, the food, the spirit, the family get-togethers, the music, the mulled wine, the cold weather, the snuggly wooly clothes, the sitting by the fire, the dark nights, the snow, snowmen, snow on berry trees, walks in wellies in the snow, the sound of snow crunching under your feet, the desire to hibernate, rubbish TV, carols, Christmas concerts, Michael Bublé, Christmas specials, Christmas Baking, Christmas Jam-Making, Christmas Meals, decorating the house/Church, Christmas cards, crafts, making Christmas cards, wrapping presents in brown paper and nice ribbon, ELF, Christmas movies (the same ones I watch every year are usually ELF about 10-15 times at least, The Santa Clause 1, 2 & 3, Muppet Christmas Carol and Polar Express to name a few), Christmas jumpers - the more ridiculous the better, decorating the Christmas table, Christmas Markets, giving presents, Christmas candles. Are just a few things I LOVE about Christmas. 

At this point last year I was already well in to the Christmas spirit. I think what with knowing I still have one mini-holiday to go on I have sub-consciously stopped myself from being in Christmas mode because I still need to hold on to summer just a little while longer. However, with all these Pintrest boards relating to Christmas I can feel the excitement building. Seeing as though I have no money right now, this year is going to be a thrifty one and I am starting to think about preparing now by stocking up on craft ideas that will make lovely handmade/one off gifts. My board for Christmas is ever growing, you can check it out right here. Some of these ideas are ones I will definitely do. I especially like the ones that involve jars because I can pick those up really cheaply and you can easily make them look really cute. 

Soon you can expect festive recipes and crafts I have done. I tried out an Apple, Sultana and Cinnamon Cobbler with homemade apple sauce the other day and that went down a TREAT so rest assured I'll be making that again! What do you love about Christmas? Are you addicted to Pintrest too?! 

Much Love xxx

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