Moments

Life is made up of "moments"

and how we choose to live these moments is

up to us

One moment in time can change our lives for the best, or for something

we would have rather not had

However I believe that something good always comes out of something 

negative.  Admittedly we sometimes have to look

extra hard, but we will find it 

I don't only want to create memories in my life. 

I also want to create moments; living in the

moment when we are totally in the

flow and aligned with who we are

and what we want to be

So my lovelies, I hope these holidays

bring you the most divine-filled moments

I also want to thank all my wonderful

blog friends and customers who 

brought me wonderful moments throughout

the year

Harry Winston's Fifth Avenue home

Thank you ALL for being part of my small world

May 2013 bring you even more "melting moments"

Happy Holidays Lovelies

May Santa bring you everything you

wish for yourself

xxxx

Friendships Without Borders

Yesterday was the first time I have ever met

one of my blogging friends. 

Whilst living in Spain it was difficult, but
now that I was back in the heart of London
there was no reason to decline
a girlie invite.

However,I was SO nervous for

so many reasons, but particularly because neither

of us knew what the other even looked like, or how we

truly were.

Suddenly I was a blank canvas and so was she.

I had no personal history to hide behind.

Hubs made me more nervous when he asked in utter confusion
10 minutes before meeting my friend,

"but how can you have a friend you've never met?"

So as I waited for the lovely Simone from (blog), I just didn't know what to expect.

I only knew she wrote a fabulous blog that I have
been following for a few years now, and that I
could only aspire to writing the way she did.

I only knew that when I was having
a family trauma in London (whilst living in Spain), 
she reached out to me and gave me 
sincere and objective
advice.

I only knew that she "got me"

Suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder, heard my name and the

next thing there were hugs all round as we stood 

in the middle of London.

We were off!!!!

It was so wonderfully refreshing. Because there was no

real personal history we were both so excited to find out more

about each other. We chatted for hours and the conversations

were so authentic and organic

We both chatted, listened  encouraged and

cheered from the sidelines as we discussed

our plans for next year.

There were no hidden agenda's. 

No one person monopolised the conversations.
(I'm sure you've been there;-)

We were both as equally interested in each other

We just

spoke as we 

found and that was so refreshing.

We both felt at  the end of

the day together as if  we had known each for ages.

And so my first blogging friendship was cemented.

I can only best describe it as going on a platonic blind-date

(altho' Ive never been on one!) .

It also made me realise that in this new age of technology

there really are so many ways to make new friends (that those 

who are not on social platforms, or who don't read blogs 

cannot understand-Husbands included ;-)

Is there any reason to be
lonely or friendless anymore?

So thank you Simone for making me leave

my comfort zone yesterday  and 
for such an enjoyable day

So what are thoughts on blogging friendships?

Can they ever be real and authentic?

Do you prefer NOT to meet up with

people you have met via your blog/online?

Have you had successful or disastrous

meet-ups?

Would love to hear all your insightful views 

as always

xx

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas Without...........

Those of you who know anything about me

know I am an absolute foodie; I love

cooking, entertaining, eating, reading food

books and magazines..........the list goes on.

So Christmas is THE time when I just get lost

in all the pleasures of food; cooking

tasting, testing, presenting.

I start planing my menu way back in

October, and it gets changed many,

many times.

Eggnog Muffins

But there are some favorites that

traditionally find their way onto the table; Christmas

just wouldn't be Christmas without them, such as.......

*Roast Goose (no-one in

my family are great fans of turkey)

* A stollen cake (which started from

many childhood Chritsmases in Switzerland)

* Snowball (a mixture of egg-nog and lemonade). I think

it's something my Mum invented when we were children.

I'm not sure if " snowballs" even exist. Maybe someone

can enlighten me :-)

French toast made from fresh brioché

for Christmas morning breakfast. Usually washed down

with Bucks Fizz.

Anything containing pecans usually finds it's

way onto the menu

And once all the cooking is done,

all the treats eaten, I will

ask Santa for this ................

So what foodie treats traditionally find their

way onto your menu (the more unusual the

better ;-)

Don't Be Afraid To.................

............nurture your souls.

OK, so what do I mean (I promise I'm not going 

all Zen and woo-woo ;-)

I mean absorbing yourself in
such things where time just flies; 
you lose hours without realizing
(let's not even talk about Pinterest ;-)

The thing is most of us have bought into the falsehood that
taking time to do frivolous things for ourselves is selfish.

It isn't. It doesn't take away away anything from anyone else;
it just  makes us better people in the process and
adds to our goodness :-)

Some of my soul "nurturers" include:

*cooking up a storm
*flicking through cookery magazine and books

*walking through Epping Forest which surrounds my home
here in the UK or
*walking on the beach really early in the morning
when I am at my home in Spain

*flicking through interior design mags, books
+ blogs

*painting walls (I'm lethal
with a paintbrush in hand!)

*wandering around my fav bookshops

So do something today that
really stimulates your soul and
puts a smile on your face.........then
watch the little miracles start to happen

How do you feed your soul? What makes you get lost in the 
moment?

As always would love to hear your lovely comments.

p.s the lovely Michelle Barbary from http:// whateveryousay.wordpress.com 

won our subscribers October draw. See her with her prize here

Sara Ferreras (from Spain) was picked for the November draw

So don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (top right of this page) and be entered into December's monthly draw 

So Often Forgotten

As my American friends, family + blogging "family"

approach Thanksgiving, I thought I would share some gratitude

quotes from some my favorite writers

Trade your expectation for appreciation

and the world changes instantly

(Tony Robbins)

For me, every hour is grace. And I feel gratitude in my

heart each time I can meet someone and look at his or her smile

(Elie Wiesel-Holocaust survivor)

When you practise gratefulness, there is a sense of 

respect towards others

(The Dalai Lama)

No small gesture is too small when done with gratitude

(Oprah)

Showing gratitude is one of the simplest

yet most powerful things humans can do for each other

(Randy Pausch)

The miracle of gratitude is that is shifts your perception to

such an extent that it changes the world you see

(Dr. Robert Holden)

Makes me cry every time I see this image

We think we have to do something to be grateful

or something has to be done in order for us to be grateful,

when gratitude is really a state of mind

(Iyanla Vanzant)

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was

"thank you", that would suffice

(M.Eckhart)

Apart from the obvious such as family, health etc, what are you

grateful for today (however small I would love to hear)?

Happy Thanksgiving America

x

p.s the lovely Michelle Barbary from http:// whateveryousay.wordpress.com 

won our subscribers October draw. See her with her prize here

So don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (top right of this page) and be entered into November's monthly draw 

Could You Live Without It?

It started as an experiment when I left Spain in the

summer to live back in the UK

It started as a dare from Hubs who said it could never happen

Yes, I am talking about living without a mobile phone.

It's now been 3 months, and I can't tell you how liberating

and wonderful it has been "sans" a mobile

It's been liberating not feeling obliged  to check

e.mails just because I have my phone with me.

It's been wonderful reading a book on the underground,

whilst waiting for someone, whilst waiting for an appointment

without feeling I "should" be replying to someone's message

It's been funny watching people's reactions when they ask for

my mobile and I reply I don't have one. Looking at their

expression you would think I had just told them I had drowned

a family of puppies!

I never realised quite how stressful it was having a mobile; the need to

answer e.mails, your mind constantly churning over responses

to questions, speaking on the phone (usually at the most

inopportune time)  instead  just enjoying the silence.

I still use my laptop, BUT

I've decided to limit time on social media

I only answer e.mails once a day (in the afternoon)

I schedule time for blogs and Pinterest

And do you know what? It's been wonderful.

I am feeling really "switched on to being switched off".

Would you dare go without  a mobile for 1 day

..........1 week......... 1 month?

Flowers outside my favorite London store

I promise it gets easier the longer the duration.

And all those emergencies we say we need our phone for

...............they very rarely happen ;-)

What do you think?
Would you dare?

p.s the lovely Michelle Barbary from http:// whateveryousay.wordpress.com won our subscribers

October draw. 

So don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (top right of this page) and be entered into November's monthly draw 

Saddle Up Girlfriend

Sometimes it's easy to feel when you have to
start over and over again on the same goal,
that it's just not meant to be

But then I have to remind myself that
anyone who has done anything amazing or worthwhile,
has always had to get back up and start again
(sometimes many, many times)

I have to remind myself

those people made mistakes too, slipped up,

and got lazy and distracted 

You see, here's the thing. I have never believed in

the overnight success stories. Apart from

some rare exceptions, 

if you just dig a little deeper you will

find it was never over- night.

Sometimes successful people or

people you admire have been

plugging away for years in the background;

we just haven't seen them.

So gorgeous girl, if you find yourself

re-starting a project........ starting something

over for the umpteenth time

Congratulate yourself! Congratulate yourself

for having the courage it takes to move forward

after stumbling.........maybe even falling.

It really is an act of bravery to not throw in

the towel at the first or second or even twentieth

hurdle and  to recognise

what you did/didn't do..............

and to take the necessary action- however small and

after however many coffees ;-)

image from A Brit Greek via Pinterest

It will make a difference and you will

subsequently make a difference to someone

with the dreams and goals you have in mind.

Not only that, when you finally
reach the finishing line, success
will be all the more sweeter

Saddle up girlfriend. It's time to 

get back on that damn horse ;-)


As always would love to hear your thoughts
on my random ramblings ;-)

p.s the lovely Michelle Barbary from http:// whateveryousay.wordpress.com won our subscribers

October draw. Her "sparkly" gift is winging it's way to her.

So don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter (top right of this page) and be entered into November's monthly draw 

p.s all images from Pinterest