Our Festive Season

So, another Christmas has come and gone! It was my 27th one on this planet, and mine and my man's fifth one together! How time flies!

We started the celebrations early and went to a pantomime of Sleeping Beauty on Tuesday 23rd December and boo'ed and hissed our way through it! Oh yes we did! [sorry!] 

We decided to have a relaxing Christmas Eve - he wrapped the last of his presents he'd been hiding and I gorged on the extra soaps on the TV! 

The magical day itself... We spent it with our immediate families. It's the first year I've eaten Christmas dinner somewhere other than where I'm living. Last year we visited family then went home around 4pm and my fiancé (at the time was his title!) cooked us a gorgeous, HUGE roast beef dinner with all the trimmings!

All the years before that, I've been living at my parents so have eaten there. My mum and my husband are the best at cooking! They've taught me everything I know between them!

Last year's Christmas dinner, courtesy of my then-fiancé 

This year, our first year as a married couple, we were invited to my mum in law's for dinner. Christmas would not be Christmas without seeing my little toddler niece and family. So, we had a busy day of visiting! We woke up at our house together. Well, I say we woke up... I rolled over and my husband (who usually sleeps til midday easily on his day off) was practically bouncing on the bed! At 7am! As soon as I half opened one eye, he jumped up, grabbed my slippers and was putting them on me whilst I was still horizontal! Well, never before in the four and a half years we've been together have I been woken by him! It tends to be the other way round!

We went downstairs, and SANTA HAD BEEN! He'd delivered a lot of the presents to the wrong house (we put that down to old age!) but I had some lovely, really thoughtful gifts from my husband and I think he liked his too!

Christmas morning under our tree

We quickly got ready and drove to my parent's, taking our gifts to their rightful recipients. Well, Santa's sack had exploded in my parent's living room - it was amazing the amount of presents and goodies in that one room! My niece seemed to love it!

After a mammoth present-opening session, the nibbles came out! I ate my weights-worth of crisps, cookies and chicken bites then remember my mum in law does her dinner early at 3pm. Oh well, Christmas calories and bloat don't count do they?!

I loved every second with my family it was truly magical. Then it was off to my mum in law's house for a delicious turkey roast. My first ever Turkey Christmas dinner! It was as nice as all the chicken and beef ones... I've always wondered if turkey would be as good! I needn't have worried! It was delicious!

Christmas turkey dinner

It was so nice having a drink and a chill into the evening at their house, chatting and watching Christmas Day TV. When we decided to go home, laden down with gifts, we watched the infamous Eastenders back at home on our reclining sofa. Lovely.

Basically, to put a long story shorter - we had a blissful, perfect Christmas Day surrounded by people we love who love us right back!

Once Christmas Day was over, it was back to normality! We went sale shopping and purchased a double oven, a fridge-freezer and a dress! [will blog seperately - and the dress is for me incase there was any insurety!]

We got take away pizza for Boxing Day dinner then did our ordinary weekly shop over the weekend... Normality had well and truly returned and we wouldn't have it any other way!

We also completely emptied the kitchen over the weekend to make room for the DIY that was to be done in there. So although no work for us the week of the 29th it's been alarm on, full of dust sheets, drills and cables! Will blog that progress too!

We were supposed to go to a wedding reception on 27th of someone who has become quite close to me recently. Alas, the weather did not want this to happen and sent snow and frost! My husband's car and slippery roads don't get on well at all so we had to stay at home which I was very upset about. But I'm sure she had a fantastic day and evening. 

So, our festive season has been busy, fun and us together even through the building work... Just the way we like it! 

Hope you all had a good one too!

Work Christmas Party attire

On Thursday, we had our works Christmas meal, drinks and disco.

My husband was very kindly my taxi there and back (he's the best!)

I was worried I'd look over-dressed but decided to go with a proper party outfit. What other time of the year can you really get dolled up?! I have a few Chi Chi clothing dresses - two of which I'm saving for NYE and a wedding next week.

I wore this gorgeous berry coloured frock with lace detail in September bare-legged with my favourite blue courts (previous post The Girl In The Blue Shoes) to my birthday meal at a spa hotel, courtesy of my husband.

This dress is too stunning to wear only once... 

It's so comfortable - it has a ruched elasticated back so very forgiving after a 3 course meal! It isn't too short (mind you, I'm not exactly tall!) the colour is perfect for autumn right into winter and you feel like a lil princess where it flares - especially if you twirl!

I got so many compliments when I was wearing it.

I wore it, this time, with tights and my new Wallis T-bar Mary Janes (will blog these another time)

Chi Chi clothing (online) Avery dress

Back in September - dress' first outting

How things change!

Who remembers being 21 and 22?! I know it feels like a distant memory! 

I came across a picture of myself at a New Years Eve event in London in 2009 and it got me thinking how different life was back then. 

I hadn't even met my now-husband then! I was in a mostly unhappy relationship. I was working in care full time and had only recently come out of a salon hairdressing full time. A year earlier I'd had a surprise 21st birthday party and also been to New York! 

Back then, going out was the be-all and end-all! When you did go out (at least 5 nights a week) you not only went with a couple of people - you'd bump into 57 other different acquaintances to have a drink with! And when a Bank holiday was coming up, you HAD to be out - no matter what! 

Back then, it didn't matter what time your alarm was set to go off in the morning, you stayed out til the lights came on in the club!

Back then, you slipped and slid through snow and ice in Mary Janes, a vest, tutu and not much else!

Back then, vodka & cranberry and decent wines were just a waste of money! Alcopops (bottled liquid sugar!) were the way forward!

Back then, it really mattered who fancied who, how many 'followers' (or whatever it was) on Facebook you had. You were 'friends' with 500 people - 478 of which you would actually walk past without so much as a nod, let alone conversation!

These days, it is quality over quantity. I can count my friends on one hand. The 'clubbing buddies' I had are filed in my mind's memory box - something I take pleasure in looking through every now and again fondly.

Now, a Bank holiday means no alarm setting, a nice cosy day doing nothing/something homely/ seeing family...

Now, the mere suggestion of staying up for Jonathon Ross on a Saturday night makes me tired! 

Now, it's a tights, blouse (long-sleeve of course!) boots and thick coat kinda thing whenever you have to face leaving your house!

These days, again, it's quality not quantity. Not just on the friend front, on the drinks as well! Not that I won't always appreciate a deal on a White Zinfandel! 

Now, it's about who is there. Really there through the good, the bad and the spectacularly good and bad times!

These days, it's been about 3 years since I deleted Facebook and I've never looked back!

These days, a lovely dinner, at home or out, a social drink and a catch up are all things I enjoy immensely. I love spending time with my family, husband and friends. I love getting into my PJs as soon as I close the front door behind me for the night. I love reclining on our sofa in our lil home, together. I love visiting the supermarket together and choosing what to eat for the week. I love writing blogs. I love cooking with my husband, and enjoying his dishes he so often wows me with! I love planning the odd night out - to dance, to laugh, to drink!

I love looking back on my early 20s and fondly remembering all these great experiences... When my 'friend' (now husband!) and I stayed up til 4:30am then having to get up for work at 7am! I come across so many photos I have saved over the years... With so many amazing memories.

Things change. I loved how it was, when it was. I love how it is, now it is. Those memories will stay with me - and if any begin to fade, I have my trusty photos to give them a helping hand!

NYE 2009 

Colour me married!

I got my wedding tattoo last week!

And, gosh did it hurt!

I'm fine with the actual constant needle pierces but the next day... OUCH!!

That was my eighth ink addition. I've been the same with most of them - all chilled out laying/ sitting having it done - the sensation just a mere irritation, and strangly addictive for most! Then whilst it's still partially an open wound the next 24 hours - I curse myself and my big ideas!!

I got this to mark our wedding. 

By Matt Adamson @ Jayne Doe, Essex

The pocket watch shows the date and time we said our wedding vows. My original design was that of a clock in the head of a key but the sizing just wasn't working. So we decided upon this new design. I still wanted an ornate key in there. The orange gerbera daisy is to represent my main flower in my bouquet - and my favourite flower in general.

I have another tattoo on the other side of a rose, which was coincidentally the other flower in my beautiful wedding bouquet. This ink is over two years old now.

I've always picked tattoo ideas based on personal meanings to myself. I have reasons behind each of mine and I have ideas for one or two more!

I've had many people over the years say "no more please" or asking me why I do it, or just plain telling me they don't agree with my decision. As if I made these decisions based on what they think or want - it's my body, after all!

None of my tattoos, I don't feel, have ever been offensive to anyone. Just many people out there don't like tattoos. That's fine, we're all entitled to our opinions. I don't like cheese but I am not about to start being judgmental of anyone who chooses to eat cheese! 

I've had so many judgmental people that out of exasperation, my reply now, when anyone voices their judgment, I turn it back round "why have you not got any tattoos?!" If you feel you can open judge me for having them - I will openly reply wondering how you can go through life without wanting to mark parts of this wonderful one-off journey on your body?!

I found the quote below and thought this sums it up so well! I've never come across anyone (apart from now I've started doing it!) who questions the decision to not get inked. And I must point out I have only ever said it to individuals who have been very judgmental towards my own or people I know's tattoos. I don't walk down the street approaching randoms and questioning their decision to ink or not to ink!

I am aware there is still a stigma around tattooed people and I'm hoping over the years this kinda just dissipates.