E is for... Embellished

Having got the Christmas tree lights fixed after a bunny-who-will-not-be-named severed a vital wire, the Christmas decorations are again on track for being the best ever seen (in this little apartment).

Firstly, Christmas Wreath is finished and hanging with pride of place on the clock. Inspired by this I (and seemingly hundreds of other Martha Stewart Wannabes - if you do a bit of blog viewing) have made my own coat hanger creation. It's buggin' me that I have the 2 purples touching, but apart from that I love this. Was so cheap as I used last year's Ikea baubles (bar 2 "borrowed" from the parentage) and a coat hanger ("borrowed" from the pilot's wardrobe). My luxury purchase was the ribbon, which I could have managed without, but I just can't resist an opportunity to buy some ribbon.

Second, my apartment now has it's first ever tree. It's both bigger and real-er than I had in mind but nonetheless I love it. Somehow we managed to miss the boat on the decoration buying. All the usual stockists had near empty shelves, so there was no option but indulging in little owls and russian dolls from Selfridges - as a bare tree would be a crime don't you agree?!

Now I just have to find a way for all decorations to be bunny-proofed for the next couple of weeks so they survive the holiday season and I will be a happy bunny myself.

Em x

E is for... Employment

Well the last few weeks have flown by. My new "little" job, has turned into something a lot less little than expected. Almost every day spent on my feet has been tiring to say the least, especially to someone who spent several years working in the comfort of my own home. However, the little job is exactly what the doctor ordered. I'm waking up early (but happy) and going to bed achy (but without dread of the following day). Hopefully I will eventually stop folding clothes in my dreams - but hey - that's just evidence that I'm just a natural hard worker.

Here's some other things - aside from clothes folding - that I have achieved since my last post.

- Christmas presents are (almost) all bought and ready to be wrapped. I just love the wrapping stage the most, every year I try to make my presents delicious to look at under the tree. I almost want my recipient to be happy with the paper and bows alone. Just one difficult person left to buy for - what do you buy for the pilot who has everything? Time to get my best thinking hat on.

- Redecorated the living room. A good source tells me that Laura Ashley wallpaper is just too girly for a cohabiting couple. Choosing a colour was one hundred times more difficult than when I used to make these decisions single-handedly. After a dozen different tester pots were tried out, which aptly named options ranging from Malt Chocolate (my choice) to Dragons blood (the pilot's choice) the feature wall is now a rich plummy colour - aka Deepest Damson. I love the different colours it looks in the light and shadow of the spot lights. Unfortunately the new Ikea mirror has a fun-house effect when looked into from the other side of the room. So I am now living in a fun-house-bachelor-pad-esque apartment, but 'tis a small sacrifice to keep my man happy.

- Indulged in a tiny bit of retail therapy, buying Doodle Stitching. Can't decide where to start, but I was very excited when it arrived in the post, I just love every idea in this book. Knowing me, I will probably add it to my book pile for a rainy day.

So now I am suffering with the mother of all colds, I think I will reflect on my "done-list" with satisfaction and indulge in a few days of R&R. In fact, I think I hear the kettle boiling right now...

Em x