Christmas Wishes

I want to wish all my followers and any readers alike a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I will be spending the rest of Christmas with family before heading over to Northern Ireland for a few weeks to be with my Jonathan. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and friends, I think that's probably what I'm most thankful for this year. (I'll do a full review on 2013 and my hopes and goals for 2014 when I come back mid-Jan)

We have my younger sister and my 2 year old niece staying with us this Christmas and already I've been touched with the magic that is Christmas through a child's eyes. I cannot wait to see her expression tomorrow morning!

I've been busy this Christmas Eve as well! I spent all afternoon and evening slaving away in the kitchen. I've not been well the last few weeks and I really wasn't feeling festive but that time baking goodies and trying some new things out really set the mood for me. I've managed to steam my Christmas pudding, make some fresh cranberry sauce, prepare my veggie pie for dinner tomorrow, make my first attempt at nut brittle (burnt the sugar a bit so its a little smokey but I kind of like it!) as well as baking my yearly tradition of shortbread and mince pies. All food being vegan, as this is my first vegan Christmas! I was vegetarian last year before I went fully vegan on the first of Jan 2013. All I have left for me to do tomorrow is put the pie in to bake, steam the pudding for two more hours and whip up some vegan yorkshire puddings! Yummy!

I really hope you have a wonderful time and you get to spend some down time with loved ones, especially those who are having hard times at the moment for whatever reason. :)

You were pretty, Queen of New York City

It's Boxing Day! Though I heard American's don't get it  so here's a good old wiki explanation on the history of Boxing Day..

In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. This is mentioned in Samuel Pepys' diary entry for 19 December 1663. This custom is linked to an older English tradition: Since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and sometimes leftover food."

So yeah, this is really the time of year in Britain where we all eat leftover food, some people hit the sales early and others go see extended family. We're having a quiet day in. We just had our second Christmas dinner which was scrummy and now I'm thinking of taking a nap cos I'm quite dizzy today and I have a flight tomorrow at 7am to Northern Ireland so need to take it easy. We also remembered to get the crackers out toady so enjoy my obligatory Christmas cracker hat photo. I'm itching to start up my new sewing machine so might have a proper play later, if not, then I already have some projects lined up for my return in mid-January. 

I love my hair colour at the moment but as I'm away for almost 3 weeks tonight Mum and I will be getting the henna out and dying it. I'm nervous it'll go bright or not how I want too as it's currently subtly ombre and I really really like that. Plus it's natural red looking without it being overpoweringly ginger so idk. It's part of the fun with henna that you're never certain how it'll turn out and the 4 hours developing time just adds to the excitement. But whatever happens it's better than blonde roots!

Today's look has been a simple idea I've been saving for today to wear. I adore this bronze-gold faux leather skirt I got for a £5 a few years ago in H&M but the bow detail can be a little overpowering on some outfits. Also it's very short so not always suitable though I want to get more wear out of it this year. I dressed it down with my Isle of Wight Festival 2009 shirt I bought when I was at the festival. Whenever I wear it it brings back such good memories - though not the really nasty sunburn I acquired that weekend! 

Outfit Details.

T-shirt - Isle of Wight music festival 2009, Faux leather bronze skirt - h&m, black opaque tights - Marks and Spencers.

It's the most wonderful time of the year

It's the end of Christmas! I hope you've all had a wonderful day and you got what you wanted and ate lots of yummy food! I for one got my sewing machine from my Mum, sewing basic goodies from my sister and Phoebe, a toolbox to use as a sewing box from my brother and bath smellies from my aunt and uncle and family friends. It's not alot this year but I know my sewing machine cost quite a bit so I knew I was only getting that from Mum. I haven't had chance to properly give it a test run cos I've been quite tired after yesterdays cooking madness! 

This was also my first vegan Christmas dinner! Though I still have cheese and eggs to give up (this time next week I'll be full vegan!) I decided to just go for it this year and it was a tasty success! I made a vegetable pie with a rosemary encrusted pastry (I only put pastry on the top of the pie as to save the calories!) with all the trimmings, homemade cranberry sauce and my first attempt at yorkshire puddings. They need a little more experimenting until I perfect the recipe/cooking but they were still tasty! Then for dessert we had my homemade vegan Christmas pudding with soya custard and oh my goodness I will be making this every year from now on. If anyone wants the recipe it's here. I adapted it a little by adding nuts and not adding prunes or apricots and using amaretto instead of sherry. But I think that's the joy of making your own Christmas pudding, you can add more of what you like and take out anything you're not keen on. It's really easy to make as well, you just need 7 hours in total to steam. ^^; We have the same meal again tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to it! I'm trying not to worry about the calories today and tomorrow as it's Christmas but it's tough not to look! 

As it was Christmas and I don't have much of a social life at the moment I wanted to wear something pretty for Christmas so I wore one of my favourite special dresses. This navy polka dot dress has a sweetheart neckline which I think is so flattering on most women. It also has a heart cut out on the back which is a cute detail that I think was the deciding factor for me buying the dress! I also like how the waist is structured and the tulip skirt is also another flattering cut. I paired this with my flesh coloured heart patterned tights (you can't see the pattern as it was hard to get on camera due to it blending in), a simple birds on branch long necklace and the beautiful silver owl earrings from my friend Alex for Christmas. It was comfortable and made me feel more festive as I've really struggled to get into the spirit this year. I think it's because my Mum had to work yesterday and my Mum has never worked Christmas Eve because she prefers it to Christmas Day, but yesterday she had no choice so I think her not being around made it not feel like Christmas. Also we had to wait til the evening to open presents when Phoebe and my sister arrived from her boyfriends families house. It's been an odd Christmas for sure. 

Outfit Details.

Polka dot heart cut out dress - newlook, flesh coloured heart pattern tights - primark, bird necklace - etsy, silver owl earrings - gift.

There is no crime in being kind

So yesterday was a big day travelling to see my grandparents and to deliver a few gifts of vegan shortbread for my friends. (so far all the reviews of my shortbread have been really good so I'm pretty pleased. :)) It was amazing seeing people, albiet briefly, and it's reminded me who the important people in my life are. Presents wise I actually did quite well! I got £60 cash, a Squirtle pokemon beaded art piece, £20 Waterstones voucher, a cute owl magnet and some dog shaped paper-clip/filers. :) Everyone knows me so well and I'm very lucky. :)

Being such a long day in the car comfort was a necessity. I tend to get really hot in cars so I didn't want to wear layers and layers incase I did get a bit stuffy. What I chose ended up being perfect and I got a few comments from family about how well I dress - yay! 

I also managed all day without fainting until we were almost home and then I went twice. I'm really feeling the effects today (I couldn't even go Christmas food shopping with my Mum) and so all my last minute projects are on hold while I take a day to just rest. I'm about to watch the Supernatural season 5 finale and then I'll finish reading volume 1 of Les Miserables. I've had a lavender and jasmine bath as well so I'm pretty relaxed for once!

Outfit Details. 

Tapestry tan brouges - Urban Outfitters, Black socks - Dunnes Stores, Leggings - h&m, velvet bodycon dress - New Look, Oversized Cardigan - Charity Shop, Stag Necklace - etsy