LUXURIA: December 2012

Dec 21, 2012

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

Dec 14, 2012

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

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

Dec 7, 2012

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.................

Dec 1, 2012

............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