Happy New Year!

Happy (almost) New Year, everyone! I' d like to take a moment to tell you all how grateful I am for your friendships, for all the visits and sweet comments. Thank you all so much for such a wonderful year! It has been so much fun to have you here...aw, I am so glad we crossed trails!
May every day of the New Year glow with good cheer and happiness for you and your family.
Here's to hoping that 2012 is a fabulous year for all of us!

Cheers to a better and brighter tomorrow!

I just want to reach through the screen and hug you all!

Be safe and celebrate! xx

P.S. I'm away on holiday. Just wanted to drop in and send you my warmest wishes across the miles for the New Year.

*Comments Off*

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas.
Thank you so much to all of you who keep me inspired with all your interaction; I also thank you  for being so supportive of Cut and  Dry.
Wishing all of you peace and happiness for the festive season!

I'm off on a short holiday. Looking forward to catch up with you all soon!  Lots of love! xx

Joining with Project Alicia .

Happy Holidays!

How will you spend the holidays this year? I'll be spending Christmas with my family and look forward to lovingly welcoming and hugging some  beloved relatives of mine.

At this point, I'd like to encourage all who will be spending Christmas Eve alone through choice, or not through choice.
I have had Christmas all alone, once, and it was not my favourite Christmas, but there are definitely ways to make it better.
Make a list of what makes it feel like Christmas. Put up a tree, or hang some lights and garlands.
Bring some Christmas magic into your home.
May this holiday season be so special that you never ever feel lonely again and be surrounded by loved ones throughout!

Here are a few little bits of Christmas.

Christmas is a time of making memories, a time of remembering...

Home sweet home...

London, Holiday season 2010.

Selfridges Department Store in Oxford Street, London. Holiday season 2010.

Potatoes: fried, and spiced-up. Yummy!
Plymouth Christmas Market, Holiday Season 2010.

Plymouth Christmas Market is situated in the centre of Plymouth, UK, providing a wonderfully memorable experience to everyone.
This event promises a host of tasty treats and original, handmade arts and crafts.

Christmas treats.

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and may this festival bring abundant joy and happiness in your life!

My darlings, may your holidays be filled with special memories shared with your loved ones.
May all your dreams come true in the New Year! Lots of love! xx

P.S. Here's my very first Christmas post in 2009, if you'd like to see.

What Are Your Simple Joys in Life?

Well, I get so busy at times that I don't cherish the little joys and simple pleasures of life. Sigh! But there are, and always will be, simple, little things around us that still naturally calm the mind and greatly lift the spirits. I have at least a couple handfuls of simple, little pleasures...
Here are some of my favourite feel-good moments through pictures.

Popping into vintage shops.

Pink flowers.

One of life's simple pleasures is a beautiful bunch of flowers. I love having fresh flowers in my space.

That first sip of coffee in the morning.

Eating ice-cream while watching a good movie is one of those things that makes you think...life is good!

Vintage framed mirrors hanging on my wall.

A real wreath that gives off all that important scent of pine.

A Xmas wreath looks great no matter where you hang it. I hang mine on the front door.
The custom of using wreaths as Christmas decoration dates to 16th century Germany, where Lutherans created the Advent wreath.

Citrus fruits.

Fish and Chips (French fries), served with mushy peas.

A popular take-away food in the UK, Ireland, Canada, and Australia;  maybe in other countries, too.

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."
Robert Brault

What are your favourite simple pleasures in life? I'd love to hear. xx

All Things Jolly + Have a Jolly Good Weekend!

Adorably Cute Pomeranian Puppy Print .

A little bit of jolliness today. So grateful for wonderfully fun creative ideas for gifts found on Highton Ridley~ Fine Art Photography  Store over at: Zazzle .

While it's reasonable to cut back on spending during the holidays, don't let that suck the joy out of the actual act of giving itself.
It's always fun and so exciting to give and receive gifts with the loved ones not only during the holidays, but all year long as well.
I believe that it is often the giver, rather than the recipient, who reaps the biggest gains from a gift.
Seeing the reflection on their face when you give someone a little gift is a really wonderful moment and something you can never forget; my heart always feels better when I can see the smiles in their hearts.
I really prefer giving gifts, but I'm only human so I think receiving a gift is nice, too!
Ah, the sheer joy of exchanging gifts...

Here are just a few of the gift items by Mark Highton Ridley, one of my beloved photographers and a good friend of mine, that reflect a fresh, quirky style. Take a look  here for more.

I Iz Snoozin Poster

 Golden Cosmos-wrapped canvas Canvas Print

Motivation Words poster print . I'd love to hang this one in my little office.

Desiderata- One, Two, Three Snow! Poster . This one is intended to complement the idea of silence and peace.

 

I heart Windsor Castle mousepad

Funny Snowman Joke Coffee Mug .

Ponies At Watering Hole mug.

 Santa Bear with Hat and Muff Mug

Cute Yearling Foal keychain

Wood Crane's Bill rising into the light Blackberry Bold Cases

I don't love to brave the crowds so I do all my Christmas shopping on line. I have to admit that I'm one of those people who wait until the last minute to grab something special.
If you're like me, I'd highly recommend these simple and cute gift ideas for your last minute gifts.

What better than giving someone a gift of art!

My lovelies, hope you have a blissful weekend! xx

(Gift items via Highton Ridley's Zazzle Store.)

Five Likes Tuesday

Twinkle lights.  

Christmas day will be here eventually and I can't help but wonder if Christmas magic it's only for kids. Realizing that many of us (including me) will have someone we love missing from the celebrations this year, it's easy to want to echo the Grinch's sentiment- " I must find a way to keep Christmas from coming!"

But it helps to remember what Christmas really means...peace, love and a joy of life every day of the year. 

And it's always important to remember the simple things in life that bring you joy. After all, it is the little things that count and help us enjoy every day. 

Focusing on what brightens our day, even in the smallest ways, I think it's a great way to get yourself in a good mood.

Christmas ornaments.

Christmas fairy tale decoration. (Without a doubt, this one always brought out the "child" in me!).

Winter blooms.

A chocolate cake with a strawberry topping.

I read somewhere that "Christmas gets all glammed up, but at the heart of it all, it celebrates a very quiet moment..." xx

Sharing with Show Off Your Shot.

Leaves, Blog Love + Have a Great Weekend!

I love the changing of the leaves...
I love the autumn leaves of red and gold. They are so beautiful!

Although Fall is pretty much over for this year (according to United States unofficial tradition the fall season ends around December 21), there are still places around the world where you can still enjoy a beautiful autumn day.

Leaves in the golden hour.

Well, to my unexpected surprise this beautiful blog award came my way recently, and I'd like to take the time out to say a big thank you to the wonderful Marcia over at Learning Ideas Grades K-8. Marcia has such a lovely blog and always brings a smile to my face. 
Marcia, thank you so much, indeed. I'm really flattered and honoured!

Go and visit her blog if you haven't already.

Now, I'm too bad with rules so I've decided that I'm going to give this adorable blog award to all of you honouring the friendship that you, guys, have given me.
I really appreciate all of you so much.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, my lovelies! xx

I love This or That Thursday by the wonderful Deb.