Happy Holidays

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas?

I have managed to borrow a friends spare laptop so that I can blog today.

I have to say I haven't had the most exciting Christmas as I have had a virus and been completely out of sorts since last Wednesday. I think I am finally coming through it though, there really are some nasty bugs out there at the moment so if anyone is under the weather my thoughts are with you and make sure you get well soon.

So on to some fun stuff, despite being poorly I did have a lovely chilled out Christmas day with Gavin, just the 2 of us except for his parents popping in for presents in the morning.

He thoroughly spoilt me rotten, I had given him a list in the hope that I would at least get a few things on it! but he really surprised me with things I hadn't even asked for.

I got one of these

Ive been cross stitching like mad to make the purse already.

This amazing cook book which I have to say I had never heard of but he had read up on the best books and this one had really good review and I can't wait t try out some of the recipes & visit the bakery on the Kings Road.

I have been hankering after one of these ever since Kelly from Recipes for Life told us about hers and bless him he remembered and found me one. Giant Cup Cakes here we come!!!

Some very pretty Cup Cake wrappers, so beautiful & intricate. 

I had asked for a bead for my Lovelinks bracelet he gave me for my birthday and I was presented with a whole set (above) called beach aren't they beautiful.

A dinky CK pin book & sticky notes set.

He actually went to the New Cath Kidston shop in Chichester especially and as well as all the above bought me a beautiful CK shopper bag in the brown spot, I haven't seen it on the web and haven't managed to take a picture of it yet but I will be my new lunch bag for work.

I have never been soo surprised by all my presents, I really wasn't expecting any of them, he really did do well.

I bought him a Scalextric which has been whizzing round the Living room ever since Christmas day!!!

So we were both very happy bunnies.

I hope you all received some lovely gifts too.

We had vowed to make or buy second hand all the family & friends gifts this year and so far they have gone down really well, homemade Chutney, Pickle, Jam, Chili Oil, Pickled Onions & Chocolates.

Vintage handbags & books were also received well as well as the handmade padded coat hanges I have been making in my spare time.

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and that the New Year brings you Joy & Happiness.

Thanks for being great friends in 2010.

The blogging community is soo special, soo keep up the good work & see you in 2011.

Lots of Love & Hugs

Merry Christmas Everyone

Spillage.....................

Just a quickie to say sorry I haven't been around.

We had a spillage on the laptop over a week ago and it has had to go to the hospital as apparently it doesn't like squash!!!

What with the "difficult weather conditions" it may not be back for Christmas!!! 

Hopefully I can get it back and tell you about what I've been up to.

I hope you all have a fab pre Christmas week.

Luv Sophie

Frozen Shut!

I have been stuck at home today, as you may have guessed like most of the country we have snow!
It snowed all night and coverd the south coast.

I attempted to go into work but the Mini said noooooooooooo, Her doors were frozen shut!

So I have sat with my laptop all day on my work email doing work as & when it comes through.

I did pop into the garden this morning & thought about a snowball fight but unfortunately Gav made it to work so I was on my lonesome and you can't have a snowball fight on your own can you!
But the garden did look beautiful and it would have been a shame to rune the smooth snow, It looked like icing on a Christmas cake.
I did have some fun taking some photo's though.

I'm off to a wedding tomorrow!!
We have been assured by the bride that the main roads are clear enough to get to the barn where it is being held, so hopefully I will be at a beautiful  very White Wedding tomorrow.
I hope your all not too snowed in too badly.
Luv

Lovely Yummy Gift Idea's........

I have been surfing the web for Christmas Present Ideas
 & I found some yummy things to share with you.
Oh how I have fallen in love with these fab Snowflake Cookie Cutters
 from Not on the High Street, I think I may have to treat myself.

I also saw this great Gingerbread Making kit on the John Lewis Site,
fab for anyone who loves to bake.

And if like me you are a lover of Cath Kidston & Cupcakes then these will be right up your street.

Had to share these pretties with you.

 Luv

Home Alone

I am home alone!!!!

Yippeeeeeeeee

I have the TV to myself, well until the boys get back for the football at 4pm.

Gav has gone Christmas Shopping in Chichester for me.............

I have given him a list, and it does involve him going to the new CK in Chichester.

So hopefully I will get some lovely goodies from Santa this year!

So while I have the house to myself I am catching up with some TV.
I haven't been very well this week so an afternoon of catching up on TV will hopefully do me some good.
I have one cat next to me asleep and the other one is in her basket, bliss.

So far I have watched this weeks Desperate House Wives.

Now I'm watching

I think after this I will watch Ugly Betty...

How I love our TV recorder box...

I may do a bit of sewing while I watch.

I hope you have all had a lovely weekend, maybe with some Snow!!!

We have had a sprinkle, but I never expect much snow on the south cost as the Downs protect us too much from any fun weather.

Have a lovely Sunday.

Luv

Hibernation........................

I think I might have been in slight Hibernation!!!

Like Little Pickle above!

The dark nights, the cold mornings, loads on at work as we are now in "peak" with the big C drawing ever closer makes me want to curl up in the evenings and sleep.

 As I have said before this time of year at work is soo manic that often I don't have the energy to pick up the lap top when I get home because my brain is full of spreadsheets and numbers!!!

But tonight the logs are burning on the fire, dinner has been eaten at a reasonable time and Bramble Jelly has been made for Christmas presents.

So I think I'm relaxed enough to write and tell you what has been happening in the Chez Sophie House hold.

Saturdays have been full of Charity Shop fun, some great bargains and Christmas presents have been bought.

I have been to another WI meeting, the calender for 2011 meetings sounds like fun so I am defiantly joining in January. I'm still the youngest there! but I have a cunning plan to get a younger crowd involved.

Slimming world is still being followed!! but I have to say I have come to a slight stand still and need to put a bit more effort in to shift a few more pounds before Christmas.

Treacle my little cat has been poorly and keeps having to go to the Vets for antibiotic injections!

 She hates it and it makes me feel like an awful Mummy.

I was given a bread maker by a girl at work last week and now am making bread on a Friday night ready for the weekends.

All the fruit in the freezer is having to be made into Jam to make room for the Christmas food.

And a new Blue front door has been ordered and should be here this week, eek!

So that's my news, sorry for the Hibernation period, I will endeavour to wake myself up and get back to it.

I'm off now to visit your blogs and catch on your news.

Have a great week.

Luv

Happy Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen

And the Halloween Giveaway is...................

Sarah of Funky Fairy who left me this spooky message

One fine day in the middle of the night,

Two dead men got up to fight,

Back to back they faced each other,

Drew their swords and shot each other!!

Thanks to all who entered

&

for all the spooky messages they were fab.

I got my best friend to give me a number between 1 & 14 and lucky number 7 was Sarah.

Your goodies will be winging their way to you tomorrow.

I hope you all have a wonderful Halloween

Luv

Halloween Giveaway.................

As Promised a quickie Halloween Giveaway.

I know I'm a bit late as Halloween is next Sunday but I thought better late than never and I will post it out on Wednesday so the draw will be on Tuesday night!

All you have to do is leave me a spooky message to be in with a chance.

The giveaway includes a fab pair of pumpkin socks from NY, a couple of Yankee Candle Cinder Web Tea Lights also from NY which smell lush, A spooky marshmallow candy stick, some sweet treats & a couple more treats that need to be added all wrapped up in a Halloween Bag from NY.

So my lovelies comment away, If you want to post the giveaway image on your sidebar that would be fab too.

Lots of Spooky Luv

Home Sweet Home

I can't believe that I've been home 2 weeks and haven't told you about New York!

Firstly sorry for the rubbishness, I have had the worst jet lag I have ever had & switching on my laptop for longer that 5 minutes after a day in the office in front of a screen of Excel was just not possible.

Im finally feeling a bit more normal and think it's time to tell you about my trip.
Firstly a big thank you for all the suggestions of places to go and things to see & do, they were fab.

Day 1

So after a ridiculously early start, and a long flight we were finally in New York.

The first evening we went for a wonder about, our hotel was on 35th St so Times Square was right around the corner as was Macy's!!

Day 2

It was a bit gray but dry so off we went on mission to see NY, we walked all the way from our hotel by the Empire State Building through, Greenwich Village,

where I got a pretzel.

 Soho,

Pumpkins were for sale every where.

Little Italy,

China Town, Tribeca,

to Ground Zero.

Then trough Battery Park along the East River to see the Statue of Liberty.

Then all the way back to the hotel via some Shops! and a Pizza place where I had my first slice of NY pizza. I have to say my feet were killing me even though I wore trainers!

Total of 9 miles!

Day 3 

We went on a trip to Woodbury Common Shopping Village, we were picked up at the hotel at 8am, an early start but worth it. A scenic drive in a mini van and an hour later we were shopping.

We got lots of goodies, Yankee Candle was one of my favourite stores along with Converse, along with many more along the way.

We caught the bus back  to the city & went for the most amazing dinner at Hillstone, the Ribs were the best I have ever eaten.

Then I have to say it was cocktail time, time for a Cosmopolitan.

Day 4

So we had done some shopping, and walking, so now time for some Dinosaurs!

We decided to go to the Natural History Museum.

Then for a long walk through Central Park & Lunch in a Dinner on Broadway.

Shopping, Shopping, Shopping................

The biggest salad I have ever eaten & a raspberry mojito for Dinner.

Followed by  reese's peanut butter cup baskins robins ice cream.

We went up the Empire State Building that night which was amazing, the view of NY at night was beautiful.

Day 5

Home Time, Bit more shopping & walking then off to the airport to come home.

So Home now and I'm off on a Sewing Project Workshop today with a company called BROC.

Sorry I've been away soo long.

Luv

PS Sorry there aren't more photos, blogger will only let me upload 1 at a time, any top tips most welcome! xxx

New York Here We Come........................

Well on Monday I will be on a plane to here.

And I need your help!!!

Please can you wonderful people give me your top tips, favourite places to visit & eat.

I haven't been for 10 years and things must have changed!!!

Big thanks, Have a great rest of the week.

Luv

P.S I'm hoping to get some nice goodies for a NY inspired giveaway on my return to share my holiday with you all xxxxxxx

Eye Candy for your wall's........

Hello Lovely people.

I have been inspired again today by an email I received.

I love to know what is going on in the world  of retail, and I have to say when this popped into my inbox today it really did brighten my mood.

The email was from Notonthehighstreet.com, they have the best goodies on their site and it's great for personalised gifts. Many a wedding present has been bought by me from here.

& I know that there are some lovely bloggers who sell here too.

So what was on said email.....

Some beautiful eye candy for your bedroom walls.

You know from my previous post Beautiful Boidoir that I have a thing for pretty wall paper, so these were right up my street. 

Beautiful Bird Houses, soo pretty I would love this paper,

Stunning Vintage China Plates all over the wall, how fab would this be in a dining room!

Now this Ribbon Wallpaper would be a great feature wall in any sewing or craft room.

And lastly this vintage lady wallpaper would be fab in a bathroom, I think a canyfloss colour bathroom suit would be a must with it.

So this is what has inspired me today.

What has inspired you today?

Thanks for the slipper love, I have them on my feet now and they are super cosy, the cold is still at bay for the time being so I will keep taking the medicine.

Luv

Time for Slippers.........

A belated Happy National Cupcake Week to you all.

We celebrated at work with a Cupcake Wednesday, with all the money going to charity (The Body Shop Foundation & Children on the Edge). I made Lemon Cupcakes with a twist, I added a dollop of Lemon Curd to each Cupcake, which gave them a sticky bottom! They went down well along with Vanilla Cupcakes with Marshmallow frosting, Sorry no photos, they all vanished so quickly off the table I didn't get a chance. We raised £68.00, not bad really.

I'd better show you the meaning of my title now.

I got some new Slippers,as it's getting cold and now we have wood floors I can't walk around bare foot!

They are really cosy, I saw them and just had to have them the velvet bows just said BUY ME.

I have been wearing them all weekend as I have been relaxing trying to fight off a cold that is trying to come out and render me useless!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

Luv