magic and sparkle

Soon the boxes of Christmas decorations will be brought down from the loft, the dust will be blown away and the boxes opened to reveal the decorations and accessories of Christmas pasts. But as we search for the boxes in the dark and battle with the spiders, there is no doubt that we will start to worry. Will the tree lights work when we plug them in? What if the baubles are broken or were squashed in storage? So each year we like to add or update our existing decorations and incorporate some new pieces to keep Christmas fun and exciting as well as replacing any old or broken items. This will not be difficult as we have spotted so many amazing pieces on the highstreet. 

A new pack of baubles is an inexpensive way to change the colour scheme of the tree and are available in some many different shapes and colours. You could also check out our John Lewis post if you fancy something a little more special and individual! Twinkly wreaths, festive copper star lamps as well as plaques and signs with wonderful festive quotes, work well hung over door handles or swapped with a canvas or picture (no need to put any extra nails in the walls!) Snow globes look great added to shelves or fireplaces alongside current decor. Battery powdered fairy lights (available everywhere!) or garlands draped over mirrors can be easily added for some extra sparkle to a room. Lets not forget tea light holders and candles. These always add some extra Christmas spirit as they flicker away and be sure to pick up some seasonal and festive scented ones too!

Christmas decorating is our favourite so why not go wild, be creative and use Christmas as an excuse to add some magic and sparkle to your home! We have picked out a few examples below to help inspire you! (colour scheme was genuinely unintentional!) 

Noel sign Wilkos £1.50 / Metal star garland Next £10 / Snow globe Next £14 / 
Reindeer tea light holder Habitat £35 / Star lamp Ikea £8 / Candle holder Ikea £2.50

Sarah and Holly

                 

      

by the fireside

Living in a new build or modern home can sometimes be tricky when it comes to furnishing and decorating. Often the rooms can lack features and focal points. Older buildings offer beautiful original and historical features, which add character and charm. Don't get us wrong we love our houses, they are modern, fresh and bright! However, it can be hard to decorate or arrange a room when there is nothing to act as a centre piece! If this is the case then why not treat this as a blank canvas and an opportunity to make your mark and create a space that's right for you. 

A fireplace can be an easy and simple way to add focus within a room as well as creating a much more cosy atmosphere. There are many free standing electric fires to choose from in varying sizes (compact ones are available if you have a small room) as well as various different styles. These are easy to assemble and install as they don't require a chimney and many come already assembled! Just unpack, plug it in and wait for the room to get toasty!

As Christmas approaches we have spotted various images on Pinterest and in magazines of magical, dreamy rooms with roaring fireplaces adorned with stockings and beautiful garlands! (you always want what you don't have) But whatever shape or style room you have, a fire place can be included to create the perfect homely living room. And yes we know these may not be the traditional roaring open fires with logs that we all wish we had but this a good compromise, that is quick and easy to do yourself!

Smeg fire John Lewis £444 / White compact fire Argos £149.99 / 

Black traditional style fire Homebase £399 / Walnut shelf fire Fireplace world £499 /

Stove and surround Very £499 / Cube shelf fire Next £399

Sarah and Holly

                                 

      

a scottish adventure

This weeks post is very different for us. We thought that it would be nice to share the things that we do and enjoy to make our blog that little more personal and varied. So last week we both took some well deserved time off work. Myself (Holly) decided to book a little break away to Edinburgh. I had never visited Scotland and I wanted to go somewhere new and exciting. I thought Edinburgh would be a good city to explore and I was not disappointed. 

We visited art galleries, museums, (which had free admission) the zoo, the castle and explored the shops and high street. Whilst exploring the historic castle it even snowed (the first snow of the year for me). We stopped for countless hot chocolates as the weather was very wintery and had to buy ourselves a woolly hat to keep warm. But I think visiting during the Autumn months adds something more magical and special to the whole experience (probably because the shops were adorned with Christmas decorations.)

I defiantly want to go back and explore more of Scotland's heritage and beautiful landscapes (maybe next year). I hope you like the photos. 

 

Holly

                                 

      

put the kettle on

Now we are heading towards the colder months and the winter season, hot drinks for us become a must and necessity. The perfect way to warm up! Cups of hot tea, coffee, cappuccinos... well you get the idea! (we don't need to list them all!) Now we know kettles may not seem like the most exciting or interesting item to talk about but without these appliances we wouldn't be able to snuggle up and enjoy a nice hot beverage on these now darker, cooler days!

Kettles are a functional item but this doesn't mean they can't look stylish sat on the kitchen worktop. If you shop around you can find a variety of different shapes and colours to match your kitchen decor. There is a huge array of kettles out there depending on taste, ranging from copper / rose gold effect to bright and bold colours. Pretty patterns adorn some, while others use a more traditional shape and style! We even found some that change colour as they boil! The choice is yours! Just remember kettles don't have to be dull and boring and you can have a lot of fun deciding which one you want! The humble kettle is used everyday so why not pick one that is just a little bit more exciting! (the smeg one though how cute and available in lots of other colours too!)

Copper kettle Debenhams £110 / Red heart kettle Next £32 / 

Colour change kettle John Lewis £46 / Cuppa kettle Argos £29.99 / 

Smeg pink kettle Currys £99.99 / Cranberry kettle Asda £54.99 

Sarah and Holly

                                 

      

alternative advent

December is fast approaching and now is the time to consider the advent calendars that are on offer and which one we want! Advent is not a modern concept and once consisted of families drawing a chalk line every day of December until Christmas Eve! Needless to say advent calendars have developed considerably since then but the essence of the festive countdown and the anticipation of each day remains the same! Each day in the run up to Christmas provides a glimpse and taste of the festivities and the big day ahead! 

Now we are older we feel like advent should be a little more grown up! Advent calendars are now available from a variety of different markets which has allowed for a break in the traditional and the usual. From make up and beauty to beer and candles the selection out there is huge! 

The unconventional calendars that are now available, allow you to try out different brands or high end products with more expensive and luxurious surprises each day! (even better in our opinion!) These alternative advents are often a lot pricier than a standard chocolate one but why not indulge.. 'Tis the season' and all that! (well that's out excuse!) 

The 12 days of Christmas Lush £49.95 / Yankee candle Clintons £24.99 / 
The nutcracker Oliver Bonas £18 / 12 beers of Christmas Not on the highstreet £49.50 / 
Nail varnish Ciate £49 / No 7 25 days of beauty wonders Boots £38

Sarah and Holly

                                 

      

say it with words

Lets face it, our homes are one of the most personal and intimate spaces. They reflect who we and our families are. Its only right that we decorate and adorn them with things that are specific and relevant to us. So we thought for this weeks blog post that we would focus on prints, but specifically quotes. Quotes are a perfect way to incorporate that individual touch to a room and home. There are quotes that are specific to every room, and they can be taken form all different places and inspirations. You could select a favourite song, a film, a book, poetry, an artist or even use a quote that is personal to you, that may have a symbolic or sentimental memory attached. Quotes help to keep us motivated and inspired, so why not have one or two dotted around the home as a subtle reminder (we all need a little help now and then).

Typographic prints are one of our favourites and there are a huge range of fonts and styles to choose from. The right font really does help enhance and compliment a quote, bringing the message and meaning behind it to life. You can keep it graphic and minimalistic with just simple black and white or pick prints that incorporate both type and imagery. Metallic foils add a touch of luxury and add a little more style and uniqueness. 

With Christmas looming these could make a really personal and thoughtful gift.
There really is a huge range of prints available, you can even have your own prints made to order. Here are just a few that we have picked out.

Be bold Print Society Six $19 / All you need is love Wall Art Debenhams £18 / Wild at heart Print Not on the high street £30 / Tille Print Next £30 / Willy Wonka Print Etsy £8.08 / Dreams Canvas House of Fraser £30 / Sisters Print Not on the high street £14 / Life doesn't have to be perfect Print Not on the high street £16.50

Sarah and Holly

                                 

      

man on the moon: john lewis christmas advert 2015

For the last few years the John Lewis Christmas adverts have never failed to disappoint us and this year was no exception! With the sweet message about making someone feel special at Christmas, this advert follows a young girl who spots an old man living alone on the moon! The song choice (a cover of Oasis), the moral story line, highlighting the issues of isolation and loneliness felt by many older people at Christmas and the friendship between the two characters we think reflects what Christmas should really be about! If you haven't seen the advert then you can watch it below!

We have to admit before the adverts became so huge and popular we had never visited a John Lewis store! Now every year it has become a tradition to buy a new tree decoration to add to our collection! (the choice and selection never fails to disappoint!) We all think that adverts don't work but they have managed to entice us back very easily (once again this year!) using snowmen, bears, hares and cute penguins! Year after year this has worked as we return dazzled by the magical and fantastic adverts we have come to expect! 

The John Lewis Christmas advert always marks the countdown to Christmas for us! Its starts to make us feel festive and seasonal (just a little though.. it is still November!) It prompts us to start writing and jotting down ideas and presents for our loved ones! It's better to be early and prepared so you can enjoy the festive countdown and if you start buying now you wont be disappointed or miss out on the decent stuff! 

We have picked a selection of some of our favourite Christmas decorations and baubles from John Lewis this year. 

Be merry bauble John Lewis £8 / Stripe bauble John Lewis £3.50 / Fox John Lewis £4.50 / 
Stag John Lewis £5 / 3D star John Lewis £4.50 / Gold bauble John Lewis £3.50

Sarah and Holly

                                 

      

get set for november

November has arrived and already the shops are flooded with Christmas items and decorations and it's almost time for the influx of the magical Christmas adverts on the television! (we are most excited for the John Lewis advert at the end of the week!) The Halloween decorations have been taken down which leaves November as the "in between" month. It is not quite time to deck the halls and drag out all the Christmas decorations just yet but a whole month to wait before we can drape everything in fairy lights and glitter seems like an endless wait! 

To help the run down to December feel a little faster why not incorporate some cosy and cute winter essentials into your day to day life (bunny slippers are a must in our opinion!) November is the time to indulge, relax and treat yourself before all the Christmas present shopping needs to be done and the crazy chaos begins! So we have picked some home pieces alongside clothing and phone accessories we think will make the wait much easier and a lot more fun! We hope you like the picks! (how cosy does the jumper look!)

Hot water bottle Asda £5 / Jumper Topshop £42 / Candle M&S £6 / 
Bunny slippers Next £12 / Cushion Not on the highstreet £27 / 
Phone case Not on the highstreet £10 

  Sarah and Holly