Christmas 2023 Wrap up!

Here's a few pics from Christmas 2023, in no particular order....

Homemade goodies

I made Peanut Butter Bites for homemade Christmas gifts this year - here they are along with some pics of them all boxed up and ready to give to friends (we did deliveries around the area on the days leading up to Christmas and even did a "cycle-by" to 2 houses in Ranelagh on Christmas morning, with plans to leave the homemade tasties on doorsteps!)

Wrapping Gifts

Instead of wrapping paper this year I decided to use tea towels or table cloths (mini side table sizes). I found some fabulous vintage Christmas tea towels in the most glorious of colours

The above pic is of a little gift that I gave my younger sister. How cute!

Bones got in to the Christmas spirit and wore a seasonal jumper

Christmas Eve

We had a lovely quiet Christmas Eve and spent the afternoon in The Stella watching "It's a Wonderful Life"

And after a tasty Christmas dinner it was lovely to enjoy a glass of wine with the Christmas tree lights twinkling in the background

And while Christmas is all over now, you can still check this video out to see me reading a part of 'Twas the Night before Christmas with colleagues

Hope you had wonderful Christmas full of cheer - here's to the new Year!

2024 is going to be great!!!

And just like that.....my Christmas Tree is up!

My Christmas Tree is up! 

It's in a new position this year. I took the cushion off the conversation pit and positioned it in the front window.  I love it!

I also started setting out my Christmas crockery and tableware. It all adds up to a very merry festive feeling in the house. Just lovely!

Christmas Tree Ornaments and memories

It's hard to say which is my favourite Christmas decoration on my tree. I love my tropical ornaments that I picked up on holidays all over the world - I have a shiny green turtles that reminds me of the time that I swam with turtles in Tobago Cay on my sailing trip in the Caribbean. And then I have tons from Key West which always bring back great memories as I hang them on the tree. There's a little reindeer wearing a blue raincoat that always gives me a kick as I hang it (it was a gift from my twin sister) and I I always love hanging a decoration with a year on it as I think back to all of the exciting things that happened that year. It sure does make me happy to set up my Christmas tree because of the happy feelings each decoration brings as it goes up on the tree. Even my tree skirt makes me happy - it's 20 years old, I bought it while on honeymoon in Key Largo!

It's a Wonderful Life!

We had a wonderful Christmas day yesterday. After a slow wake up, I made myself a Baileys coffee (Hello, Reindeer Antlers handled mug from Starbucks!) while Ciaran poured himself a cup of tea before we started in to our present opening,

Breakfast was a light option made by Ciaran. We just had poached eggs and Clonakilty black pudding because we wanted to save our appetite for the main event later on!

Santa truly spoiled me this year. Every present I got was a surprise and they were all gorgeous.

I was  especially happy when I saw that Ciaran got me the "A Star is Born" soundtrack.

I promptly poured myself a glass of prosecco and put the record player on.

This is the cutest little glass to drink from.  My mam bought it for me on her recent trip to Amsterdam and she got it engraved with my name in the Heineken museum.

We also listened to David Byrne's American Utopia which I had bought for Ciaran.

Dinner was lovely. The turkey and ham were cooked by the Butler's Pantry and it was lovely and moist. We had some nice wine with dinner and afterwards we sat down and watched "It's a wonderful life" which was so good - surprisingly, neither of us had ever seen it.

Christmas is creeping in!

I'm prepping for Christmas and beginning to start making wreaths and a few more baubles.  Here's what I'm reading for inspiration....

It's a great book with lots of craft projects and also style & decorating tips.

I wonder what way I will dress my table?

This will be my first Christmas at home in Ireland for about 8 years!!!

We will hopefully order food from Marks and Spencer's 

There catalogue is out now - with a free bottle of wine if you put in your order (of over €80) before Mid November

Trim the tree!!

My tree is 

I love putting up the tree and looking at all the deorations that I have amassed over the years.

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Marvel at the marvellous things!

The Marvel Room is back!

Every Christmas, The Marvel Room is opened in Brown Thomas.   The nicest gifts are chosen and put in to The Marvel Room.  It is such a nice experience to take a wander through the store and marvel at the marvels!

                               Marvels for him!                             Marvels for her!