A perfect Day...

I Love Sundays.....

For so many years-especially when my step children were small- my Husband has worked on Sundays...

So weekends were snatched here and there,he spent Saturday with the children while I managed a shop- then worked in my own shop...And I spent my Sundays alone (happily) or with the children (not always happily-but mostly!)

A routine that over the years has changed beyond all recognition...

My Husband now rarely works the evenings,nights or weekends that he used to, the children (adults now) are away at University, so....

Sundays have become the most perfect day! 

The days usually begin with breakfast in bed....

Followed by...

Papers-also in bed...

Then some of this.....

I love to read and at the moment have some of my Christmas books still to read...

 

So spent most of today curled up with this....

 

 And have thoroughly enjoyed it, it is a love story but it is also about the power and beauty of books.... and the way they can shape us...

Next on the list...by another Cally AND about Christmas- got to give that a go!

 

Next on the Sunday to do list is this...

 

 

 With a glass or two of...

After which we both feel rather.....

Ah its a hard life....

 

We commented today how lucky we are to have our weekends...

 

  Back to the real world tomorrow!

 

Warm Wishes for a Wonderful Week,

 

Callie

x x x

 

In praise of friendship.....

A VERY good friend of mine has a Birthday today!

 As she is a 'crafty gal' and we get together on Thursday mornings at the Studio for our 'craftiness', I put together this for her...

I filled the jar with some crafty bits,ribbon,lovely tape ,wooden hearts,little signs for card making and I made her a card that says

'The way to a friends house is never far'...

  

And on top of the jar stuck a little heart that says

'Happiness is time spent with a friend'....

She has been a wonderful friend,never judgemental of me or my tastes and choices-always supportive but honest too...

Happy for me when things go well and sympathetic when they don't...
She values my thoughts and opinions but is confident to voice her own too...
 She appreciates anything that I ever do for her or give to her,never takes advantage and often brings me little gifts for no reason,a bunch of flowers, a plant.. 

She has  made me see what friendship really should be.. 

 It makes me appreciative of the wonderful friends that I  have,two of which are having a hard time of it at the moment so I send my Warmest Love to them...

 So lets be grateful for the good friends that we have...they can make all the difference.

I am off to bake the Birthday Girl a cake!

Warm Wishes,

Callie

Brown paper packages....

Well to be precise it wasn't a brown paper package tied up with string,rather a white tissue package tied up with ribbon...

I follow a blog called The Vintage Amethyst and like me she has an online shop filled with lovely goodies...

 So I decided to treat myself to a few...

This lovely magnet board....

 A Home Sweet Home sign and of course something Festive-I will buy Festive goodies at any time of year!

Alison is a girl after my own heart,her blog and website are a feast for the eyes and she always packages her parcels with such care ...

If you fancy dropping in her you can find her at

www.vintageamethyst.co.uk

Now where to put these lovelies...

Warm Wishes for a Wonderful Week,

Callie

x x x

Recycling/Reusing.....

Over the Festive period we found a lovely scented candle to burn and have since bought a couple in the sales...

 But the jar itself is lovely quality so I decided to put it to good use....

 After a good soak in very hot water-as a cotton wool container as part of my new skin care regime...

Along with lots of other jars being re used over at the Studio...

Good job my Beloved likes his jams!

And lastly as everyone seems to be on their new weight loss/health regimes at the moment a piccy that always makes me smile... 

Warm Wishes for a Wonderful Week,

Callie

x x x

Starting as I mean to go on.....

Well now the house is completely clean and de-cluttered I thought it was time to turn the 'de-cluttering'towards myself!

Having gone through every drawer and cupboard in the bathroom and kitchen and thrown away ANYTHING that was not as natural as can be I have been re-stocking with products that are!

Starting off in the bathroom-with some of my favourite goodies from a favourite company....

Look what arrived this morning...

 Ooh goodies to unwrap....

I love Liz Earle products....

If you have never used her range she now does little 'tasters'of things so that you do not have to buy something in a larger quantity that may not suit you-but having been a fan for a long time I stocked up on the goodies that I will use wisely and sparingly- probably cheaper in the long run than all the false economies I made last year buying products that I never used because I didn't like the smell!

Next on to the kitchen-if you read my blog you will know that I am a real foodie and I love to bake and cook- but following some health issues last year (that I will not bore you with) I decided that my diet and cooking methods could also do with some extra scrutiny...I 

 

 Armed with this reading matter- (both books are brilliant)-time to make some adjustments to what is already a pretty healthy diet ....

Continuing with lots of fruit and veg but with some added help from;

green tea-no more highly caffeinated black teas.

manuka honey-I don't use sugar much anyway but did use sweeteners-no more!

Rapeseed oil-we use olive oil a lot but decided to get some additional oils into the diet-this oil is delicious drizzled on soups and salads.

One or two supplements and some oil for the skin called Betty Hula,that I have been using since before Christmas and think is fab!

So with all this good stuff going in my body and on my body I am hoping for a Healthy and Happy 2012!

And wishing the same to you...

Warm Wishes,

Callie 

x x x

 

Love is in the air.....

Well, having cleared everything 'Christmassy' away at home and about to change the ' shop' window at the Studio I was wondering what to do next in the window as a display...

So while I was unpacking a few new bits and bobs I got a bit of inspiration...

While putting some new bits on the 'Wedding Dresser'..

 

 

 

I thought that as it is only a few weeks until Valentines Day- may be a heart theme?

 

 

 

 Emma Bridgewater Heart.....

 Heart Clock.....

 Cherry Heart....

 Live, Laugh, Love Heart.....

Floral Heart.....

 Country Heart Cushion.....

 Lavender Hearts.....

To show just a few- so I don't think doing a Heart window is going to be a problem!

Off to the Studio tomorrow so will take some piccies when it is done.

 

Then I think that I will get on with one of my Christmas gifts...

 

 

 I had seen some kits that were LOVELY by Jan Constantine but the prices were a bit out of reach so my Darling- Father Christmas!- found this one instead and it looks fun!

 

So I am going to surrounded by all things Heart shaped over the next few days....

Warm Wishes,

Callie

x x x

 

 

 

 

Warmest Wishes for a Wonderful year....

Sending all the lovely people in blogland a sincere wish for a

WONDERFUL

year ahead...

May it be all you wish for...

Warm Wishes,

Callie