Monthly Archives: December 2011

My Christmas Curiosity Box

In October I signed up to take part in The Curiosity Project. As part of the project, I had to fill a box full of goodies to an unknown recipient and I would get the same sent back to me.

Ever since I signed up with the Curious Box project I’ve been eagerly awaiting the knock on the door from the postman. I’d even worked out what I was going to say when he questioned me about the box and if I had any ID. Well, imagine my surprise when I came home this evening to a bubble wrapped spotty box sitting on the dining table. I literally screamed and got all giddy like an excited child at Christmas.

Once I’d hacked through the bubble wrap I open up the huge spotty box (which I love!) to find it packed full of goodies. On top of the tissue wrapped goodies were 2 hand drawn pictures from Isabella and Hollie. Thank you girls, your pictures are brilliant and will be on display to all my friends and family in my home this Christmas.

The box was full, literally you couldn’t get anything else in it. Wow!

I delved in and found the following:

- Christmas tree decorations (gorgeous handmade mini bunting, a mini stocking and a heart) which are already adorning my tree

- A massive box full of jelly beans (my absolute favourite sweets)

- A gorgeous delicate blue cup and saucer with teapigs tea for me to try

-  A bottle of Rose wine ( I’m saving this for the New Year)

- A handmade pompom (fantastic craft idea)

- Goodies to look after my hands – hand cream, hand wash & a nail file

- A tag with a key with the words ‘May this Be…the key to your wishes’, I love this!

- A recipe card with a couple of recipes on (I will be trying the chocolate cake this Christmas)

- A plaque with a fabulous phrase which reads ‘Life is a journey Enjoy it!’ I absolutely love this and will be hanging in a prominent place in my home.

I would like to thank the ladies N & C who made my box a delight to open, I am amazed at the kindness of strangers who I would like to call my curious friends.

Update: I’ve now found out that my curious recipient has received their box and you can read about it here

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Sunday sewing..

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Christmas baking…

I’ve now finished work for the Christmas holidays and I’m planning on using the time wisely to unwind, get creative and bake. I’m hoping to get my sewing machine out and move my crafty stuff downstairs so I can have a play around with a few ideas I’ve got. I’m hoping to get my quilting creative juices flowing again as there are so many fab quilt patterns out there and I have a massive amount of unused fabric that could be put to better use. I do also really enjoy cross-stitch at this time of the year (I realise I do sound like my Mom!) so will be getting that out again and stitching the nights away. It also helps with the weightloss as if i’m doing something else I’m not boredom eating. It is so easy to over-eat at this time of year just because you’re not doing anything except watching the TV.

I’m hoping to get some more baking done over the next couple of weeks and have seen tons of mouth watering recipes to try but have got these few recipes on my to do list:

Holly’s Christmas Truffles

Speculoos from Butcher, Baker

Scotch Shortbread from Butcher, Baker

I’ve also got the task of icing my Christmas Cake but will be taking a few lessons from Mary Berry herself (well I’ll be following the video found here). I’m quite looking forward to seeing how it has turned out. It smells divine all wrapped up in the tin so hopefully will be quite tasty on Christmas Day but at more than 400 calories a slice I’ll be having just the one.

Are you enjoying the build up to Christmas? What have you been baking this year?

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Are you sitting down? weigh in shocker..

So after last weeks gain, I knew I had to pull it back and behave myself. I was going in for damage limitation this week so pulled it right back to basics, got 2 trackers on the go (my own and my WW class) and gave myself a telling off to get myself back on track.

The scales were very kind to me and I, somehow, managed to lose 7lb! Yes, that’s right a WHOPPING half a stone in one week….and I’m not even ill! Totally shocked but pleased with the result. I’ve got one more weigh in of 2011 and I’m hoping I can have another good week and stay the same. I’m being realistic and not expecting a loss next week as 7lb in a week is a massive amount to lose so hoping to have a great week and to stay focused and on track. Eeeeeek!!

We had a good WW meeting tonight, my friend Amy got to goal (she’s lost 3 stone), another friend only has 1/2lb to go until she gets her goal and another very inspirational member only has 2lb to go until she has lost a HUGE 100lb so it’s all go at our meeting, some fantastic weightlosses. I also received a Christmas present from my leader Deb for being a helper through the year which was really kind of her, so thank you Debbie! I’m really enjoying my WW meeting, we always have a good laugh and I’ve made some fantastic friends there. I would have never thought this time last year what a difference going to a WW meeting could make to my life. It sounds so cliche(sp!) but it is so true.

I’m going to try Filling and Healthy again tomorrow as I’m not at work so will cram in some exercise and eat well…I’m planning crumpets for breakfast, mushrooms and chopped tomatoes on toast for lunch and broccoli and stilton soup for dinner (2pp). Yum Yum!

Have a good week everyone and enjoy yourselves if you’re out celebrating Christmas

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Having a Scrappy Christmas…

I’ve made one of these recently for my home and I absolutely love it. I’ve really enjoyed getting out my craft stuff again and having a go at making stuff, really helps me relax and forget about the rest of the world for a few hours. I love that I’m going to be able to put this up every Christmas.

Are you making anything crafty this Christmas? Would love to hear what you’ve been making?

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