Happy Happy New Year. I have a serious case of the Christmas blues! There is just SO much that I love about Christmas and this year in particular, Freya's first, was even more special than I ever could have imagined. She's at such a joyful age, and although we didn't get much sleep and had that kind of jet lagged, fuzzy headed feeling - in the end it didn't really matter because it was all so much fun and filled with the very best food and magic of starting new traditions with her. For Christmas Day itself we spent it at my parents with Ben's Mum and my grandparents and it was really really lovely. We then stayed over at my parents for a couple of nights which made it even better, all waking up together and having breakfast, having lots of family around to entertain Freya and did I mention the food already? And then, it was over all too fast and now it's New Year's Day already! I wanted to put together a little post with photos from Christmas, especially since I took a little insta break over the holiday, but then I looked back and realised that Christmas wasn't just about Christmas Eve, Day or Boxing Day, but actually it started around a month ago when we got our tree and started all these new traditions as our new family of three. So in the end this post turned into photos from the whole of December, I know, I know, chronic photo oversharer over here.... I haven't had all that much time for this little old corner of the internet blog of mine since Freya came along but I'm glad I've found the time to put this together since I wanted all of these photos to look back upon and actually it's made me feel so much better knowing that we truly maxed out on all the festivities. It's been quite cathartic looking at all the photos bringing it allll back again. <3 So yes, Christmas 2019 - filled with snow globe joy, the look and awe and wonder on her little face staring up at the lights on the Christmas tree, seeing all of our favourite family and friends, taking a little trip to Bath, our annual trip to London to Somerset House, meeting Santa, family walks, cheese, chocolate, turkey, leftovers, games and so much laughter. Thank you too for sticking around this year if you've made it this far, big kudos if you make it to the end of this crazy long photo filled post. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I hope to have a little more time to devote to this blog again in 2020 - but also maybe not? because my priorities have changed so much since our little baby bee arrived, and although I'm not hugely into big resolutions for the New Year, if there's anything I do want to try to take forward, it's not feeling guilty because in the end, all that really matters is right in front of me. I do have a couple of posts I really want to share soon though! As always, lots of love to you lovely readers - I know lots of you have been here from the start. <3 xx

// photo courtesy of Joules Clothing

Hello! Ok, so we're properly into November, the leaves have pretty much gone, the trees are almost bare, we've finished with the fireworks and sparkles and toffee apples and so it can only mean one thing.... let's talk Christmas! I'm not sure if you're aware of the fact that in two weeks time, it will be Black Friday, in fact I think they call it Cyber Week now. In consumer terms, the world goes shopping crazy. I don't really like to encourage mass spending at Christmas, or buying tat that nobody needs and then has to store. I definitely would rather take a trip somewhere and create memories, and that's actually what we're doing with my family this year. No big presents, just a few little bits and a family Christmas trip instead. But, that being said, Christmas is probably the only time of the year that I do think it is really lovely to take some time to think about one or two thoughtful gifts that you can wrap and enjoy giving on Christmas Day. Even if it's just something tiny or fun. Plus, everyone deserves to ask Santa for one special present if you've been good all year, right?! I've really enjoyed putting this guide together and have only included pieces which I think are really great. There is a lot of tat out there to sift through but I really hope the below might be helpful when trying to tick things off of your list this year, either with buying for others, or maybe sharing a link to drop a few hints for yourself?! I posted on Insta stories the other night, as I was unsure about when to publish this, but lots of you have requested it ASAP and I love your organisation. I like to just nail my shopping in one big swoop, preferably whilst sat in my pyjamas. So here's the first edit. If I think or find anything else, I'll put together a part 2. Until then, happy shopping! I've found the best prices but I'll update you also if there are any extra promotions on anything around Black Friday. I've also included a section for Christmas entertaining/hosting but I've had requests for a Christmas dress guide so will work on that soon!

R <3 xx

Happy Happy New Year! I guess this should be a year's round up or a 2018 post but I'm a little behind on the blogging front so here's a roundup of our Christmas instead if you'd like to see. For me, it's my favourite part of the year. You can see the first part of the month's festivities here, and photos from all the pre-Christmas snow we had here. R <3 xx

Ben & I always take a mini break around December or January, usually it's just after New Year but this year we decided to go pre-Christmas instead and chose the Cotswolds. We love this part of the world and at this time of year it's full of Christmas cheer. The houses seem to go all out with really beautiful wreaths and decorations and with the recent snowfall it was even more wintery and picturesque than we expected. We visited most of our old favourite haunts, with lunch at Daylesford, a wander around pretty Cotswolds villages and Burford Garden centre but also had the added bonus of our Soho House membership coming through the week before which meant we could stop off at Soho Farmhouse on the way there and back. But the icing on the cake was a stay at a new discovery, a stylish boutique hotel called The Painswick.  Photos below if you'd like to see.

You can tell it's almost Christmas when I can't seem to find the time to write my weekly musings posts! But my camera roll is getting full so I thought I'd share some photos from the past few weeks. Our Christmas and December so far, if you'd like to see.