Compliments Of The Season 2013!

Bonjour!

Hope everyone has had a good Christmas!  I've been lucky enough to have spent last week with my family and it's been grand! Plenty of food and drink, merriment and music has been had and I really don't want to come back down to earth ...!  Just a few pics from last week to share with you ...

Somebody turn out a light ...?

Mum's Christmas Stuffing - a wonderful aromatic Anglo-Indian recipe passed down through our family - the highlight of Christmas dinner for myself and my brothers!

As usual we have enough confectionery to last until ever after - and it will last - mark my words ...

How cute are these choc boxes my bro brought over from France, (think these are specifically from Geneva airport!) ... bugs filled with smaller bugs filled with sweet stuff - almost too cute to eat!

A few of my pressies  - Gatineau and YBF from Mum and The Body Shop Moringa bits/CDs from the hubby (already loving the James Arthur CD) ...

Annual family outing to the flicks to see The Desolation of Smaug - amazing - absolutely amazing it was ...

Followed by the annual biryani made with turkey stock ...

And last but not least a before ...

... and after pic of the three of us which caused a great amount of amusement on Christmas Day ... !

Yep I should apologise for the bedding drying in the background - forgot to move it amidst all the antics!

Can't believe it's almost over with for another year.  No partying on our cards for NYE - just a bit of  food/drink and Jools on the box.  Then comes the business of getting out of the habit of the late nights and late mornings, cooking, eating and drinking loads and generally sitting around (don't do that as a rule!) with no exercise and actually being aware of what day of the week it is - sound familiar ...!

A Happy New Year to you all whatever you're up to! What are you up to by the way ...?

Jen x

Have A Very Merry Christmas!!

Bonjour!

Finally my daughter can say 'It's Christmas Eve...!' instead of 'It's Christmas Eve Eve...!' or 'It's Christmas Eve Eve Eve...!'.

Created by my little girl!

I spent yesterday engrossed in various wonderful domestic activities, the big food shop (the hubby helped!) and wrapping presents and then managed to drag myself down to the gym last night - it felt darn good to bob around on the treadmill! Still a few bits to tidy up today (and still have a basket full of washing but hey-ho- that's what comes of stripping all the beds at once!) and then looking forward to spending the next few days with my family!  I'll leave you with one of my brother Mike's mellow Christmas Morning Ditties - hopefully there'll be plenty of 'drink induced' piano playing going on in our dining room tomorrow as is usually the case - hope you enjoy!

A Very Merry Christmas to you all whatever you're up to - hope everyone has a stupendous time!!


Jen x

Christmas Bargain Jumper and a Fuzzy OOTN...!

Bonjour!

The first part of this post was meant to be published mid-week but it's been so manic I didn't have time to sort it out in time! So instead of two small ones you have one big one instead (said the mistress to bishop and all that jazz!).

Let's get the fuzzy photo over and done with shall we ... just a quick pic of last Friday night's outfit and I must apologise  - my husband took a few pics as the taxi was rolling up outside, they were all either too blurred, at a stupid angle, I was doing a weird catalogue pose or I had the Christmas wreath growing out of my head, so I'm afraid this is as good as it gets folks ...

I went for all black in the end (as you can 'just about' see through the fuzziness!) - black silky keyhole top, black shorts and tights. Wore my black gladiator style high heels but you can't see them - yep hubby's fault again - maybe I'll have to teach one of the kids to take photos in future!

Make-up wise it was smokey eyes and nude lips (shorts and red lips seemed a bit OTT at my age!). Used my Laura Geller Balance n Brighten foundation, a combination of my new Elf palette and  MUA Undressed palette, Maybelline Colossal Volume Mascara over Revitalash Volumising Primer, Mally Evercolor Eyeliners, HD Brow Palette, Laura Geller Baby Cakes Blush Palette and nude lips with Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker 'How Nude' and Revlon Superlustrous Lipstick in Mink. I should point out that the hair had not been finished at this point either ...!

Anyway - back to bargains ... whilst my Dad was doing a bit of food shopping in M& S last week I popped into H&M, the sales have started but I only had time to grab this bargain jumper at £7 ...

A deep green with slightly metallic/sparkly thread running through it - thought I might stick in on with my skinnies on Christmas Day - should keep me warm enough but hopefully I won't get too hot and bothered in the kitchen! May well dress it up with one of Mum's vintage pendants and my new Rose Gold M&S watch ... (just cos it's Christmas Day!) ...

And whilst we're still on the subject of Christmas ...

Oh dear...well it's not Christmas without Pringles is it...?

Which flavour of Pringles would you go for? Have you bagged any festive bargains recently? Who takes your outfit pics?

Jen x

For Once In My Life ...

...I would like to be prepared for Christmas!  Happy Mad Friday!!

Didn't manage a midweek post this week with all the madness going on - hubby went away on a works Christmas conference/dinner thingy (any excuse for a booze up these managers!) and came back poorly, then the dog was poorly and had us up all night (every two hours to be precise). Christmas 'school' things, Christmas shopping, work, more Christmas shopping and I hadn't wrapped a thing before today - only just got the kids stuff done whilst they're at school ... !

Anyway ... just wanted to let you in on one of my favourite Christmassy tunes, I say Christmassy because you can guarantee that every year on Christmas day my brother Mike (the musician) will put this on whilst we're cooking dinner.  And why not, it's a brilliant combination of Tony and Stevie, doing their own thing, side by side, in complete harmony...

Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life...
  

Have I ever mentioned that Mike once had the opportunity to play with Stevie, yes Stevie Wonder himself happened to call in on one of Mike's gigs at Ronnie Scott's earlier this year and ended up joining in on the act first of all with his harmonica and then at the piano! To say that the band were gobsmacked is an understatement! What an experience ...

Here's a pic of them from London Jazz News...

source

Well I'm off to have a cup of tea and mince pie and listen to Tony and Stevie in an attempt to chill...! I tell myself every year that I will take it all in my stride, I will not get stressed and I will not run around like a headless turkey (get it!), guess what - it never happens! This time next week it'll all be over with for yet another year - how bizarre is that!

What are your plans for this 'Mad Friday' evening? Are you chilling or partying? Are you prepared for next week?

Jen x

Party Nails Are Go ...!

Bonjour!

Party season is in full swing and Christmas is just round the corner (slight panic as I type that!) so thought I'd share a few polishes I'll be favouring over the festive period. After all - if a girl wants to bling up her nails what better time ...?

Here are my picks left to right ...

Barry M Textured Nail Paint in Duchess
17 Fast Finish Nail Polish in Navy Glint
Seche Nail Lacquer in Iconic
Beauty UK Glam Nails in Gun Metal
Elf Nail Polish in Chic Confetti

I  had to move to the window to take the pic below as the light was fading fast and ended up waking someone up who had been fast asleep in his chair - sorry pooch!

Below pic taken in the evening with lights on ... you'll have to excuse the state of my cuticles but I had just completed  a marathon of potato and vege peeling for dinner! Blogging and 'mum' duties do not always go hand in hand!

17 Navy Glint and Beauty UK Gun Metal are from last year - you can see NOTD posts here and here. I received Seche Iconic in a beauty box last year and gave it to my mum but she's let me have it back for the moment! Elf Chic Confetti (would look great over another colour - can't wait to try that out) and Barry M Duchess  are a couple of sparklies I bought recently as I was getting into the Christmas spirit ...

Can't decide which to use for Christmas Day? Which is your favourite? What will you be wearing on your nails?

Jen x