Christmas Eve in Paris

The 23rd December is mine and Hubby's Wedding Anniversary (that's last Tuesday if you're anything like me and forget what day of the week it is at this time of year!) and Hubby took me out to Dinner........in Paris. If you'll just allow me a minute or two to be slushy, I'd just like to brag a bit about how wonderfully romantic my man is - He always likes to treat me for our anniversary, last year we spent a lovely couple of days in London, another year it was New York, but this year he chose Paris as we visited there on our honeymoon and loved it. He always tells me how ridiculous it was to get married so close to christmas and do I have any idea how difficult it is booking something at this time of year? (no is the answer!) But secretly we both loved our Winter Wedding and it makes the whole christmas and new Year festivities even more special. In fact we like christmas in our house - if you read my last post you will see that it was our Nathaniel's birthday on the 28th December, mine is one New Years Day and Hubby's is the Day after mine, the 2nd January so we are pretty busy anyway at this time of year.

I wasn't planning on doing much shopping in Paris (not with the current state of the Euro) in fact on arriving at St Pancras International it seemed that everyone was going in the opposite direction to us - that is, the French were all heading to Oxford Street to do their christmas shopping, seeing as they were getting much more for their money. I wanted my 24 hours is Paris to be more about soaking up the atmosphere, wandering up and down the Champs Elysees and having some nice food and wine

I had intended to go up the Eiffel Tower, having run out of time to visit there on our Honeymoon, but when we arrived the queues were so long, I decided that my time in this beautiful City was too precious to be spending it in a queue. You will have to make do with a photo looking up at it instead!

I didn't intend to do any shopping, but there was one shop on my list which I had to visit - the huge Sephora Store on the Champs Elysees. As a self confessed make up junkie, this store is my idea of heaven, I don't know why we don't have them in the UK, as a trip to their website shows that just about every other country going has a chain of Sephoras. I didn't take a photo this time, but here is a photo taken of me looking very happy with my purchases way back on our honeymoon

Although we weren't in Paris for too long, the trip didn't end when we arrived at the Gare du Nord, travelling back to York first class was a truly relaxing experience which I spent planning my next trip to Paris, and snoozing, and sipping my lovely red wine.
Thank you Tim for our lovely trip - You are a wonderful Husband who never fails to surprise me - love you lots x x x x
So one week later, and what has everyone else been up to? - After recovering from our trip, and visiting family, we now have a few lovely relaxing days at home - at the moment one son is starting a Simpsons puzzleball, the other is playing on his DS Lite, my little girl is tired out from her bike ride (don't you know how tiring it is being pushed whilst peddling backwards?!) and I am going to spend my afternoon finishing off my new Maeve Binchy Novel and catching up with all your news.
If I don't see you again before Thursday then I would like to wish you all a VERY HAPPY 2009 thank you all for your friendship, your kind comments and your generosity throughout 2008 - Natalie x

Happy Birthday Nuggs

My little boy turned 9 today. How time flies! It seems like only last year, let alone 9 years ago that I spent my christmas on the edge of my seat with a baby who was too laid back to arrive on time and entered the world 10 days late and 9lb 2oz.
Nathaniel Joseph was named so, because the meaning of Nathaniel translates to 'Gods Gift' and Joseph means 'Second Son' so it seemed a perfectly fitting choice, his nickname of Nuggs came around the age of 3, due to his love of chicken Nuggets and boy has it stuck, even his teachers and school mates know him as Nuggs!
Nathaniel was the perfect baby, so laid back, he made no fuss and always had a cheeky smile on his face. I can't believe that the boy sitting on my sofa right now, looking so grown up and playing with his new ipod shuffle is that same little boy who sucked his fingers and never let pooh bear out of his sight.
Nathaniel, you are an absolute joy to your dad and me, so loving and so generous - and clever too (well done for coming top of the class in your recent maths test!) The dedication you show when you are doing something that interests you like the 5 hours you spent building Indiana Jones aeroplane out of lego is amazing - Don't ever change - we love you just how you are - Happy Birthday x x x x x x

Housey Pics

See, I told you I wouldn't leave it so long!
Thought I would just share with you a few photos of my dining room - although it is downstairs (our lounge is on the first floor) I like to trim up in there, so its nice and festive for christmas dinner. I usually have a second tree in there, but since I borrowed it for the shop window this year, I am making do with this little white tree and a few decorated twigs.

The table centrepiece is from Next - I have it on the table all year round, but with a few silver pinecones and baubles thrown in, it looks kinda festive don't you think?

I think I am more or less organised for christmas now - my big food shop is being delivered on Sunday, and Im finding it really handy being able to keep 'logging on' and adding to my basket when I think of another 'essential' I've forgotten!
Hope you enjoy the pics, I'm loving looking at all your christmassy rooms

Countdown to 2009!

Hi everyone - firstly, just a little note to say - Yes I'm still alive! - Thank you for all your kind enquiries, I did not go away altogether, but I have some serious catching up to do with all your news, which I look forward to doing next week when I will have 2 whole lovely weeks off work!
Life has been pretty hectic, in a not so good way! - Firstly I arrived at work one morning about a month ago to find that during the night half the shop ceiling had collapsed - It is all sorted now thank goodness, but it was a lot of mess and upheaval, and although we only had to close for a very short period of time, it gave some people fuel to say that we had "gone bust" which is not a nice thing to keep hearing, even if people are saying it in a joking manner. I don't know, what is it with these small towns and the gossip that people like to spread?!
Anyway, to show you all that I have not 'gone bust' (well not just yet anyway!) here is a photo I took today of our shop window, which I think looks lovely and christmassy

We are very busy this week, trying to get things fitted for christmas (poor Tim is going to need a month off work, never mind a fortnight!) and we also have a few internet orders to complete, which was very welcome in the current economic climate (but don't get me started on that!)
We have also been really busy christmas shopping like everyone else. shopping for 3 of our own children, both of our (large-ish) extended families. not to mention 3 of our birthdays and our wedding anniversary also fall over christmas! - thank goodness for the internet is what I say.
But anyway, onto the title of this post - I love New Years, I think I love the prospect of a brand new shiny new year even more than christmas. It has nothing to do with the fact that my birthday marks the start of the year (35 if you must know!) It is all to do with the lists, the goals and the brand new Diaries full of empty pages. I love starting the year by making a lovely long list of all the things I hope to achieve during the year - this years items include such things as "Knit a pair of socks" and other life changing events like that!

I like making lists full stop and I make a list every year of how many books I read too. Here is my lovely new diary which has a page for each day - big enough to make lovely lists on each page (I'm aware I'm starting to sound really anal now, I know!)
I also have a smaller handbag diary for appointments, although usually I end up carrying both around with me simultaneously. So I leave you with a piccie of a corner of my kitchen, with my Good Homes Calendar (lovely photos) and my spotty diary - Oh and you might just like the hyacinths I picked up today too.
Take care and I promise I won't leave it so long till my next post x

Weekend Ramblings

Hi Everyone, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, just been really busy doing other things, and to be honest have been suffering a little from 'bloggers block' One of the jobs that has been occupying most of my time has been adding more fabrics to my website . As I mentioned in my last post, we will be advertising in the Ideal Home magazine, the Christmas issue of which is due out in Early November, so I wanted to have as much choice available as possible ready for then!
I love this time of year when the clocks go back and I can start organising for christmas - My hubby is quite the opposite, he hates the dark mornings and dark evenings, but it makes me feel all cosy and festive!

One thing we have done this week is hand our boxes in for the Samaritans Purse charity. We always do a couple of boxes each year and it keeps it in my childrens minds that not every child is as fortunate as them.
We went for a lovely walk the other evening along Filey Brigg. It is a great walk, which is only possible at low tide, and you have to make sure you don't hang around too long as it is possible to get cut off by the sea, there are hundreds of rock pools to explore and loads of sea birds to identify. Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera with me but when we returned home, I saw this photo opportunity, which I thought perfectly summed up our family

Finally while wandering around the house, I decided to take a photo of this window seat in my dining room, it is a favourite place to sit, or snooze, especially in the late evening when the sun is going down.

So there you have it, a bit of a mixed bag of a post, I'll try not to leave it as long next time
Natalie x

Tumble Driers, Haircuts and Granny Squares!

What a strange week it has been so far - nothing out of the ordinary has happened, but it just seems to have been a loooonnnngg week!
I have a couple of days off work now, the first in ages, I am off tomorrow to take delivery of a new tumble drier, my old one finally gave up the ghost at ten years old - probably decided it had had enough after years of being overworked! I have gone for a condenser tumble drier this time, as the siting of it is nowhere near a window, and have tried to find one as energy efficient as possible, but the best I could find has a 'C' rating.
The in-laws are also coming through tomorrow for a long weekend, so me and the hubby are taking advantage by having another night out - (the second this year - steady!) and I am having my hair cut and coloured on Saturday in preparation and am really looking forward to it.
My eldest son has joined the Filey Sea Cadets this year, which you can find out about here He is desperate to get his uniform, but I must admit to being a bit concerned when he announced after one session that he thinks he might like to join the Navy - he is only 10!

Thank you to everyone who had a look at my new website and was kind enough to leave a comment, it seems from your comments that we have achieved what we set out to do which was create a clean looking, easy to navigate website which was free from gimmicks. We will be advertising in the christmas issue of Ideal Home magazine, and each issue thereafter, so if you read Ideal Home, look out for us! I have done a little draw, and the winner was Kelly, so thank you very much Kelly (and everyone else) for taking the time to comment, and if you e mail me your address I will pop a little something in the post for you!
Finally, I can't go without letting you know about my Granny square progress, as you can see from the pictures, I have completed 29 and have another 16 which are waiting for the final two rounds of pink to be added, so that's 45 in total. I had originally intended for this to be a 56 square blanket, but I now have another plan for it, and so it may become bigger, but details of that in my next post.
Have a good weekend everyone - Natalie x

Going Live!

Well, after months of waiting, my website is now live! - I would love it if you would take a look, and if you would tell me what you think, that would be even better! - You can find the website here, or by clicking on the link in the sidebar. We will be adding lots more fabrics over the next few weeks, and for all my blogging friends out there (or friends of friends of friends) you can receive a 10% discount on your order by entering the promotional code Summer08 at the checkout.
For everyone who is kind enough to leave some feedback, I will enter you into a little draw, I haven't decided what the prize will be yet, but it will definitely be something nice!
No photo's on this post, but I'll be back later in the week with some piccies of all the crafty things I've been up to this week.
Natalie x
P.S - And for anyone who is wondering, yes, that really is me on the homepage!