Friday 16 December 2011

Christmas Decorating, Lush Hot Choc and a Sequinned Dress

The trees are up!  My favourite room is the living room.  This year I've used a garland strung with fairy lights across the beam over the fireplace and I love it.   
The first thing I always do when we've put the tree up is run outside and look at the house from the street.  Our house is on a main road and if we leave the curtains open you can see the tree and the fireplace as you drive past.  With the outdoor tree lit up and a little tree in the upstairs window our house looks a bit like a Christmas grotto!  That makes me very happy; it looks so welcoming! 

The tree in the living room is decorated in white and silver.  I was tempted not to use the baubles because I love the simple beauty of a real tree strung with white lights and nothing else but it seemed a shame not to let this little lady out of her cardboard box:
My favourites are the bird decorations.  I like to see the fat little birds nestled on the branches and I love this sparkly wooden miniature bird house.
I've gone for all out tackiness in the dining room.  A small pale pink tree with pale pink vintage baubles and a pink feather boa to cover its plastic legs.  Nestled amongst the feathers is a brightly coloured bauble of Santa in a space jet.  LOVE.
Isn't it difficult getting photographs of Christmas trees.  It's especially hard with an iPhone.  I have asked for a digital SLR camera for my birthday (which is soon!) and I *may* have spied the box for a Canon EOS under the spare bed.... I'm excited to get one but I'm also worried that I just don't have the skills or eye to be a good photographer and it will be a waste of money.  Got any tips for me?

Now, I wanted to tell you about the BEST hot chocolate.  It's nothing fancy, just a bag of little chocolate bits from one of my favourite shops:  Hush.  It is delicious; quite the most delicious home-made hot chocolate I've had.   Coffee is my hot drink of choice but I do like a chocolate occasionally.  
The little sprinkler contains a mix of cocoa powder, ground cinnamon and vanilla sugar.
Delicious and especially nice for frothy coffee, too.
Got to dash in a mo because I have the day off work (yipee!) and am meeting my mum for a bit of shopping.  Well, we've done most of our shopping - it's just an excuse to have a girly lunch together.  I'm so looking forward to it.  

I just wanted to show you a quick outfit... I went to a Christmas party last night.  It was the party of one of Andrew's customers and I had to do the corporate wife thing.  I was so nervous about it - I always worry I'll make Andrew look stupid by saying something daft - so I bought myself a new dress to boost my confidence.  


It is, quite honestly, the most fab Christmas party dress I've ever owned - a sequinned dress from Coast.  (Link).  It's out of stock online but if you happen to see it in the store I can definitely recommend it.  I really wanted a dress with long sleeves because I don't like my upper arms.  This is a wrap-over style with three-quarter sleeves; soft inside too when a lot of sequinned clothes are a bit scratchy.  I wore it with a navy blazer, some high platform shoes and kept my jewellery minimal - just a small pair of pearl studs and a big sparkly cocktail ring.
Dancing (well, swaying really!) with my man to the band singing Frank Sinatra's 'Merry Christmas', next to a big dazzling Christmas tree I felt properly happy.  And Christmassy!  Bring on the celebrations!

Nicki 

x

20 comments:

  1. Stunning dress, and frankly if you can't wear a bit of sparkle at Christmas when can you?!! I'm sure Andrew was proud as anything of you.

    I think we may be getting the same Christmas/birthday present! I might book myself on a one day photogaphy course in the new year, let me know if you want to come along too?Those instruction manuals make me come over a bit peculiar and headachey! Bxxx

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  2. Your house and you look amazing, loving your decorations and your fire place. I have the same enamel pan, did you get them in a set of 3?

    Bee happy x
    Have a delicious day!

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  3. Your house and you look amazing, loving your decorations and your fire place. I have the same enamel pan, did you get them in a set of 3?

    Bee happy x
    Have a delicious day!

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  4. i bet the party of people must have been stunned by your beauty - lovely outfit...woweee your tree and decorations are so pretty and festive, merry christmas xx

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  5. Cool dress oh twinkly one. You look really pretty.
    Wish I could wear heels, they would make my legs so so much better. I walk like a man in drag, alas.
    Your living room looks gorgeous and cosy. I can feel the warmth from here!
    Glad you had a good night last night, bet Andrew agreed that you look hot to trot!
    xxxxxxxxxxx

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  6. OMG (as my Princess would say). Just went on the Coast link and am shocked at the price.
    I bet to everyone else, this is NOT costly. This is the peril with buying everything from cherry tree shops!!!
    I can't justify it although the dress is STUNNING and the reviews are great.
    Do you follow Odd Socks and Pretty Frocks' blog? She is wearing a similar dress in her recent post too! Sparkles are a must.
    It's gorgeous,just gutted I can't afford it. Praying the sales will be kind to me!!!
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  7. Oooooh I always look forward to reading your new posts! Gorgeous pics & a fab read. I now feel festive after reading this and guess what.....SNAP! I'm getting a DSLR too!! Squeeeee!!! Hope I can figure out how to use it :)

    Have a fab weekend x

    Jo x x x

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  8. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE everything -
    The lights, the trees (the pink one is inspired, I tell you) and your outfit is gorgeous, too.

    Have a great day off and a wonderful weekend!
    Xxxx

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  9. You and your house look gorgeous! Gotta have a bit of sparkle at Christmas.

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  10. Nicki you look sensational, the dress is fab. As is the twinkly fireplace
    Kate x

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  11. Your house looks so warm and cozy! Love all the pretty lights. You look fabulous in the new dress! Happy Holidays!

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  12. You do look lovely in that dress.....it's super nice!

    Melx

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  13. Oh, how I do admire all your twinkle lights. Makes everything rosy cozy. Love your new dress! The sequins make it so perfectly festive!

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  14. Oh wow! Your house looks so lovely and inviting! I'd love to drive past your house and see all of the pretty lights..!:-)
    The dress is gorgeous, you look amazing! But a little out of my price range though!
    I'm excited for you about your pressie! I got a camera recently but a slightly more budget one... but I'm having to sell it as the photo's just aren't that much better than my 'point and shoot' camera... one day I hope to have a proper SLR!

    Ashley xxx

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  15. I don't know how I missed this post, I've changed to the new Blogger dashboard layout and I seem to have missed a few blog updates lately.

    Both you and your house look super glamorous!! I love the pink tree and the birdie ornaments!!

    S x

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  16. That first photo of your fireplace is gorgeous! You should take a photo of your house from the street, I bet it would look fantastic with all the twinkling lights. Speaking of twinkling, lovely sequin dress!

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  17. YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL WEARING THE COAST DRESS! I`M SURE YOU MADE YOUR DARLING HUSBAND PROUD!

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  18. Your home looks wonderfull in all it's festive lights and pretty-ness!!... your dress is amazing too, lovin' those sequins... you look fab!!

    Hope you had a good Christmas and best wishes for the new year ahead.

    Louise xx

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  19. Love the christmas decorations; they're beautiful and I'm loving your blog. Check out my blogs:
    1. belladonna2.blogspot.com
    2. antoinettesboxofjewels.blogspot.com

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  20. Can i ask where you purchased the jug that you have your whisk in it is so cute

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