Enchanted Christmas at Westonbirt Arboretum

We love exploring new places especially when it means getting outdoors and into the fresh air so when Westonbirt Arboretum invited us to walk along their Enchanted Christmas 1mile light trail, we couldn't wait. Westonbirt Arboretum is located in beautiful Tetbury and was around a 1hr drive from Cardiff and was really easy to find, plus there is plenty of free parking on site. The light trail was Westonbirt was voted number 1 last year as being Britains favourite Christmas light display so booking for this event is absolutely essential and for good reason. There is also a fairly small but perfectly formed Christmas market which we wandered around before heading to the trail. There are a couple of traditional rides including a Ferris wheel and a Carousel my boys really enjoyed as well as a hook a duck, roasted chestnut stand, marshmallows, crepes as well as plenty of savoury food stands from german sausages, falafel. As it's pretty chilly outdoors there is a war......

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Final Christmas touches for the home

With it being the most wonderful time of the year, here are some Christmas must haves to get your home looking, feeling and smelling festive! A tree Whether you like a pine-coned sweet-smelling fir, or a non-dropping vacuum-friendly artificial tree, you can make it look extra special by choosing a colour theme . Red, gold, silver and green are traditional colours, but blue and purple are popular modern alternatives. Choose two colours and stick with them throughout the house. It’s a good idea to pick up decorations in the January sales and pack them away for next year, but for now you can make it special with your children’s decorations or family baubles that your granny treasured. However you choose to decorate your tree, it should be special to you. Shedding pine needles are a never-ending Christmas battle! To keep real trees alive buy a stand that holds water. You wouldn’t put cut flowers in a dry vase and expect them to live, so extend your tree’s life by positionin......

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A little Christmas tipple

Christmas to me is all about enjoying good food, good company, mulled wine and the smell of gingerbread and all-spice in the home as well putting our own twist on traditions so I thought I would share a delicious, fun and easy take on Hot Apple Toddy using the Italian aperitif Aperol . I made this the other night and it was so wonderfully warming and sweet but not over-powering and really hit the spot. Aperol has a lovely hint of orange and rhubarb which works surprisingly well with apple and Sauvignon, plus since Aperol has a slightly lower alcohol content than most aperitifs you don't feel to guilty about having this on a cold winters night, you can also leave out the wine altogether and just have hot apple and Aperol which tastes equally good. Hot Apple Aperol Toddy This will make one mug 30ml Aperol 100ml Sauvignon (or any white wine will do) 50ml Apple juice 1 Cinnamon stick 1/2 teaspoon all spice A few slices of orange and lemon Simply combine all the ing......

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Winter warmers and wine

Wow I seriously cannot believe we are half way through November already - where has this year gone!! Winter is on our doorstep as is Christmas and we are really starting to get into the spirit of things. I have started to put together little lists of things I want and need for the house that bring in a little bit of warmth during the colder months. I am really feeling knits and crocheted accessories and decorations plus lots of nature inspired decor...here are a few things I am loving on Esty at the moment 1. Handmade Cup Cosy in Blue £11.73 2. Red Berry Winter Wreath £44.25 3. Set of six handmade pinecone decorations £21 4. Set of two fox hanging decorations £12 What also always springs to mind at this time of year is a little hot toddy or some mulled wine - of course being pregnant I cannot partake in this yearly tradition but it won't stop me making some John and my mother as well as creating an alcohol free version. At the end of summer we were sent a lovely wic......

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Little Mr A wears....stylish son

So to sort of tie in with the post below about Ben Sherman - and please note this is in no way a sponsored post - I am just so lovin my sons new Ben Sherman fishtail parker jacket for 12-18months, a gift from his grandmother, it's seriously like a mini adults one and so well made. He walks really proudly in it and looks like such a stylish little boy. Mr A wears Ben Sherman Parka, Miniclub jeans, Timberland tee and Clarks shoes. So the one thing about the cold and christmas I do love is the german stalls in Cardiff, a place where you can warm up with a german sausage and Mulled Wine (mmmm yum yum I love Mulled wine) So first really xmas day caught on instagram ...

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