CHEERS 2010! onto 2011....

William's Kiss', 7 months old.

So i took January off......everything felt so busy in the run up to Christmas, come 1st of January I ended up sick AGAIN (how many times can i get the flu?), so Anthony and i decided to take a couple of weeks off life...and i decided i was gunna take it easy this month. No big commitments, no traveling. Just getting my life in order and set for a new year.

When reflecting over 2010, Anthony and I feel that its been the most wonderful year of our lives so far.

And the reason for this came into our lives on the 23rd of January 2010. William. cant believe how much we love him.

We've really enjoyed being a family this year, enjoying marriage and parenthood. A complete contrast from the previous year which, bar my marriage and honeymoon, was the worst year of my life. I know I sound dramatic but lying in bed pukin' for 6 months just ain't my idea of living.

We are feeling excited for 2011, I'm enjoying my evening courses and have TOO MANY ideas whizzing round my head that I want to action this year to make some extra moola.

Anthony has even more ideas whizzing round his head that he wants to try and action, and get the momentum on them going...all surrounding property (of course) in different forms one way or another.

So we just need to get our butts in gear, and get going! Happy 2011..........

Vivian Maier

Cant get enough of this photographer right now. Hope she comes to Tate soon!

I'm totally hooked. spent hours enjoying the quirky details of her photo's and also love how she was discovered (read blog info and watch clip on Dec 22). Typical artist, only discovered after her death.

'.....its what Ive never seen before that I recognise...' - Diane Arbus. (another fave)

WISHANGER CHRISTMAS

Christmas Eve we left to go to Anthony's mum's, and there we enjoyed a White Wishanger house Christmas.

William and Sophia with Grandma Dixon

On Monday 27th we headed up to Colchester for more Dixon cousins, more amazing food and more tearing open of presents. All in all Iv had four Christmas Dinners, several helpings of Christmas pudding and custard, mince pies, cheese and crackers, and we have got through a few boxes of biscuits and chocolates......I'm ready for a post Christmas run!!!!

After all the traveling around, Anthony and I are looking forward to a chilled night in our own cosy flat. We'll bring the new year in with some DVDs and Indian takeaway! are we getting old??? HAPPY NEW YEAR!

KENNY'S CHRISTMAS

On the 17th we traveled up north to Chester for our nephews baptism and the Kenny's Christmas, We had a long weekend of food, gifts, snow and fun. We enjoyed the open fires and marshmallows on the agar. My personal highlight (after Josh's baptism of course), was when all the kiddiwinkles where getting out of the bath, Oliver (age 3) was last to get out finds a floater in the water and handed it to me mum before she had a chance to see what he was handing her! haha!....Turns out William was the culprit!

I know I'm home for Christmas when I see the table laid out with the fine china! love it.

Be sure to dress for the family photo! pj's: a scousers second skin!

We also got to enjoy a fun conversation with Christine who is burning in the heat of Madagascar.

Gotta get this Christmas post out before December is over..... Its been a jam packed month and this year I feel like I have fully taken advantage of the season to be jolly!

Christmas shopping in Westfield (Westfield - aka my lifes great big fat indulgence! I don't even have to buy anythin', just walking around the place is enough!).

William watches the ice skaters.....looking forward to taking him to see Santa in that grotto next year

The Church Christmas party.....William is petrified of all things Santa, Anthony cant even put on THE RED HAT! He starts crying, He HATES Santa!

He just about held it together for this 'authentic' Santa here who pulled his beard down to talk into the mic! It cracked me up, but other mums with Santa believing children were not so impressed. Too many Santa's take their role too lightly, and don't even get me started on skinny Santa's!

(Check out my wrist wear in photo above here).

Wups sorry Anthony, you are clearly not the focus of this pic.

William and Ephpraim.

Santa and Elf.

Santa's little helpers open ALL the display presents under the tree. William then uses the box's as walkers spreading them through out the room.

Making gingerbread houses at the Furbanks turned into a Gingerbread DIY SOS job!

Christmas 2010.....

A Christmas Tradition.

Christmas date with Anthony. Our first official date was a Christmas date where we met up in the centre of London and walked around looking at the Christmas light hot spots. Anthony new a sneaky little hot spot on Shore St...and well the rest is history.

Since then every Christmas we have had a Christmas date where we walk around London enjoying all things Christmas....in 2008 it was on this Christmas date that Anthony proposed.

This year we brought William along with us.

our route this year:

Delivered off a Christmas hamper to a friend on Harley St, cut through to Oxford St via James

St, looking into the windows of all the pretty

posh boutiques.

Stop off at Barrett Street (little court yard type street with pretty lights) for an Italian hot choc.

Then down Oxford Street for the big lights and department store window displays.

Take a look down Sedley Place for their lights.

Carry on down Oxford St to Regents St.

Walk down Regents Street. Stop off at Hamleys Toy Store for a bit of magic and fake foam snow blowing off the roof!

carry on along Regents St to Piccadilly Circus

and onto Liecester Sq for dinner at Eds dinner.

Then walk on to Trafalgar Sq to enjoy the big Christmas tree, choirs, fountains and the nativity.

Walk down Whitehall to Westminster, passing Number 10, sneak a peak at PM's Christmas Tree.

At Westminster, Big Ben has 'festive' green lighting, either that or its left from Halloween!! Admire Westminster's Christmas tree and walk across Westminster Bridge to the South bank.

Walk down past the London Eye and along to the German Christmas Market, buy some fudge and choc truffles....take tube home. Snuggle up with a good Christmas movie........

This has become one of my favourite Christmas traditions.

Beauty in the break down.

I have to share this blog link as I am a complete sucker for spontaneous makeup splurges that I later regret and end up with that guilty knotty feeling inside because Iv spent money I cant afford on stuff that surprisingly doesn't transform me into Liz Hurley or any other face of Este Lauder.

So for a more rational approach to makeup buying check this blog out. Honest, unbiased makeup reviews from all the testers her job lets her take home, and all the knowledge acquired over the years. Iv known the blogger since she was about 11 and she could give makeup advice at that age so its no wonder she became a makeup artist. She will answer any of your make up Q's!

So to find out what lotions and potions actually do anythin...check check check it out! And then add them to your Christmas list! YES PLEASE!