On December

Definitely not my footprints, but those of a giant!

I am writing this snuggled up, after finishing the first season of The Crown (so good), seated at just the right angle to be able to watch the snow. I absolutely love snow; it is my all time favourite form of weather. As soon as I realised it was snowing, I wrapped up and went straight out into it. I love the crunch it makes and the glisten when it lays untouched. 

Here are some things I have been loving lately. 

Reading - I have always read a lot and since commuting I get through about a book a week. I have recently just finished His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. I never read the second two books when I was younger but I got completely lost in them last month. I also highly recommend The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell; it was such a lighthearted, easy read, perfect for an afternoon. 

KeepCup - I ordered one of these a little while ago after Boyf found it and thought it would be something really useful. This is such a great company; essentially they are trying to revolutionise the way we currently go to coffee shops by promoting using a reusable cup instead of the paper ones (which are horrendous for the environment). I got a Long Play which keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot - and you can design your own!

Nigella Lawson - Have you been watching At My Table? I have re-discovered my love of Nigella. I recently met her at Stylist Live after watching her speak, where she was actually quite inspirational. In her new book, she writes about how complicated life can be and how it is so nice to just gather around a table and eat food which isn't complicated. She deifnitely advocates a very nice way of living!

Fortnum & Masons - I love Fortnum's. I subscribed to their emails a little while ago and everything they do is crafted so wonderfully. They make such simple things seem so luxurious; I have been over the last couple of days really enjoying their Christmas Spiced Tea. Definitely a little Christmas luxury in it's beautiful tin! 

Christmas at Southbank - We went here last week to explore the Christmas market, expecting it to be fairly standard. However, it was so much better than expected! It has the usual little stalls of crafted goods, food and mulled beverages, but it also goes all the way through into an Alpine-esque Ski Lodge with fire pits. A really lovely smaller alternative to Winter Wonderland. 

Christmas is only 15 days away (!) as is 2018 drawing ever closer. I am about to write my Christmas cards (which I am making myself this year for a lucky few!) with some classic Christmas music in the background. I hope you are all enjoying the snow (if you are experiencing it!) 

Here's to the last few weeks of weeks 2017!

xoxo

On Iced Coffee

I think I might have perfected at-home Iced Coffee. Using Mother's trial method, I have upped the game ever so slightly, and I am telling you, these are just what you need in this weird September heat we are having here. Not to mention they are so easy!

Here's how you can make yours!

Coffee - Use about three teaspoons of coffee and and with boiling water make a tinytiny amount. By tiny amount I mean half espresso size. It needs to be really strong!

Cold Water - If your cold water tap is anything like mine, have it running for a little bit about now just to make sure it's cold; you want it cold!

Milk - Pour in a lot of milk. Almost fill the glass with it.

Cold Water - Now top up with the aforementioned coldcold water.

Ice - Add in some ice cubes (ours are Storm Troopers, just sayin')

Flavour (Optional) - I sometimes add in some caramel syrup just for that extra touch, but these are good without as well!

And boom diggidy you have the perfect iced coffee all crafted by your owns hands! The key thing to remember is make it strong! 

Hope you enjoy!

xoxo

On Mashed Suedes

Sometimes it's nice to just get away from everything for a little bit. 

Especially when there's good food and good company involved. 

Mashed Suedes is a really cute little cafe in north Leamington that we discovered a few weeks back. Their Full English is soso good; and the fried bread. Oh the friend bread! The staff are all really lovely in there and it is so tiny that it is always completely full. It has local art works all over the walls and is just so cute.

The mlkshakes also are so good. And how nice do they look?! Just the milk bottle itself is enough to make me want one, but then they taste so good as well. 

The weather finally looked up this weekend, and it seemed asif Winter might actually be done. The sun was out and I didn't need to wear my big coat. There is only one week left of term, and both of us had been feeling the remnants of the flu/cold for the past week so this was definitely something that we needed. 

Sometimes it's nice to jsut get awat from everything for a little bit.

Leave the work until the afternoon. Leave the reading until later. Leave the laptops behind.

Take pleasure instead from those around you and what's around you.

Where do you like to escape to?

xoxo