It's Here! What's Inside The Soap And Glory Spa Of Wonder Gift Set

Disclaimer:  I haven't been paid to promote any products, I just adore the Soap and Glory range and, like lots of ladies wait all year for the Christmas gift set to arrive 💗

Hi Honeys
It's here, it's here!! This week saw the Christmas gift from Soap and Glory for this year dropped in price from £60 to £30.  Every year there is a sort of buzz around this time as everyone around me (and me!) all get very excited to see what's been included in this years set.

This year's set is as fabulous as all of the others have been with lots of goodies included.  They've gone for a large (very pretty) box as packaging instead of the usual beautiful large fabric vanity style case.

I'm still in two minds regarding the lack of a bag this year.  I do love the large vanity cases and last year's gorgeous, very retro styled metal case has to be among my favourites (you can see it here honeys) but I've already decided that this year's box might make a fabulous "memory box" to store letters, cards and tiny treasures. 

Maybe Soap and Glory themselves decided it was time for a change in their much anticipated yearly gift set.  This year's packaging looks like this... 

Image and product details can be found here. 

The box is hinged, has useful handles on the sides and once opened has the trademark gorgeous tissue paper packaging and a selection of bath, body and face goodies that are every bit as fabulous as every year before.

Let's take a look at what's inside this year shall we honeys?

Some Of My Favourite Movies To Watch On A Cold Winter's Day...

Hi Honeys,
It feels bitterly cold here today.  The chill as I stood at the back door with our furbaby Jade earlier got me to thinking. First I wished I didn't have to go outside soon to go to work 😊 and immediately following that thought was another.

I so, so, so wish I could just stay home today, hug Jade on the sofa, share a blanket and watch some favourite movies with a hot chocolate with some mini marshmallows on top - I've learned three is the optimal number of marshmallows, trust me, many years of research has gone into this perfect number of mini marshmallows 😊 ooo and maybe a cookie too.

I don't even have to think too hard to decide which movies either so I thought I'd share and maybe we can compare notes on favourites 😊  Without too much ado then, here are my favourite movies for a bitterly cold, winters afternoon...

Let's Make Some Gingerbread Cookies!

Hello honeys
Hope you're well and staying warm. It was so, so cold last night on the way home from work.  Now it's usually around now that I start bugging everyone with my heartfelt desire to toddle off to bed with a hot water bottle (and our furbaby Jade too, she doesn't like winter at all! I'm sure she'd want to hibernate with her mum.)  Why shouldn't we be allowed to hibernate till it's safe for us to sit out in the garden again? 

I'm not a fan of winter honeys.  The constant darkness and cold, rainy days, or chilly winds that feel like they could cut me in two just wear me down and play havoc with my arthritis.  I'm a Summer baby! I need sunshine, I need to wake up to the sun streaming through the windows and know I can hang out laundry 😊

What to do though dear ones?  We're stuck in December and other than to hibernate like a wee bear and countdown till spring - which I've already been doing for a while now actually.  The counting down that is, not the hibernating unfortunately 😊  Here in the UK it will be exactly 15 weeks from tonight till the clocks go forward again and we start running towards summer yaaaaay!!!  

Fifteen weeks isn't so long really but in the meantime all that can be done with winter is to make the best of it 😊  One bonus of being in December is that gingerbread seems to be everywhere and what could be better than sitting down with a lovely, hot, creamy mug of hot chocolate and a gingerbread cookie? 

What if you made the yummy gingerbread cookies yourself?  What if they were so easy to make you could make batches of them up for gifting too?  Share the yummy gingerbread love!  Choose a pretty container, line with a paper lace doily fill with your delicious home-made cookies and everyone will love them 😊

Honestly, these heavenly cookies couldn't be any easier to make and they taste sooooo good! All of the mixing I leave to my little mixer :) Just chuck in the ingredients and then turn out your dough, roll and bake :)  They take no time to prepare, they're so much fun to make, why not let tiny humans help?  Such fun rolling out the dough and using assorted cookie cutters to make their favourite shapes.  

Best of all, you can run up a few batches and store in an airtight container and they'll keep for over the holidays.  As I said they're also fabulous for gifting too. Who wouldn't love to be given a fabulous package of these yummy gingerbread treats?

They only take 8-10 minutes to bake too, so once they're in the oven you can make a lovely cuppa and by the time that's done they're ready to come out of the oven.  Shall we make some cookies honeys?  To the kitchen! 

Apologies For Absence And Catching Up Honeys

Hi Honeys
I hope you're well and staying warm in this cold snap.  I'm sorry I've been missing for a while. I think this is the longest spell I've gone without blogging and I've missed it terribly 😞

I thought I'd write a catch-up post just so you'd know what's been happening and how things are right now.  It might be worth your fetching a cuppa and maybe a cookie dear ones, meet you back here in a few minutes?

Hello again 😊  Back with a cuppa and goodness our kitchen is cold! It's a brave wee Rosie who ventures through there to make a cuppa!  Central heating is on full blast but it can't dent the bitter chill that's settled over us here on the west coast of Scotland.  We had our first snowfall yesterday although it wasn't really a surprise honeys because it's been so, so cold all this week. Luckily, thanks to our fire in here, the living room is lovely and toasty warm 😊 Take that winter!

Our furbaby Jade has been carefully bundled up in her warm winter coats before each walk with her Dad recently and during the day either hugs her Mum on the sofa under a lovely warm blanket or naps on her own little mini sofa under one of her own soft warm blankets.

 
We adore our furbaby honeys, she's very precious to us and she makes me smile even when I'm not having the best of days.  She's a wee smile on paws, bless her 💖

It's been three weeks since I've last posted anything on this blog and I'm so sorry to have been gone for so long. Winter is not being kind to me.  The cold and damp are tormenting me by trying to turn me into a human pretzel and refusing to allow me to sleep.  I'm waking constantly throughout the night with the pain in my spine and everything has become more difficult to cope with or to get through.

My shifts at work for instance have always drained me even though I only work two days a week.  I work in retail over the weekend when the store is always busy and it can be really demanding on my already limited energy levels.  Usually I lose my Sunday to complete exhaustion but for some time now I've been losing my Mondays too.  It's a horrid feeling not to be in control of my own body dear ones.  To have so many things my mind wants to get on with and get done but for my body to be simply incapable of doing any of them can be upsetting.

I so hate letting pain or exhaustion beat me and I hate it doubly so when it's been this way for so long... all of this year really.  I'm beginning to be afraid that this isn't a phase I can "battle through" but that I've moved on to another stage, that my arthritis and other health problems have worsened to a point where I'm no longer able to do even the limited amount I could before.

That scares me more than anything honeys.  I'm not willing to be written off just yet, especially not by my own body.  I'm lucky to have a wonderful GP, to be registered at a great practice and maybe it's time I did something that is incredibly difficult for me and ask for help.  First though, what little energy supplies I have, need to be focused on getting through the next few weeks.

We are just a little over three weeks away from the holidays and I need to concentrate on getting through my shifts as well as I can.  In the new year I'll hopefully see my Dr and be able to sit down and try to plan to make 2018 be less difficult than this year has been.

Again, I'm sorry I've been missing for so long honeys.  I'll try not to leave so long between posts again and thank you for still being here it means a great deal to me.  I started this blog so optimistically and had hoped to use it to stay connected to the outside world, other than my shifts at work and visits to either our Dr's surgery or to the hospital I don't go out, but also to keep track of our de-cluttering and organising projects in our home.  That too has taken a back seat for far too long. 

Next year has to be better honeys and here's hoping it will be.  I'm praying to be back to coping better than I have been at least. Enough moans from me, what have you been doing recently?  Are you looking forward to the holidays? Till next time dear ones, stay warm, smile lots and hug even more 😊  Huggles always xx

Find Your Inner designer With Polyvore

Disclosure:  I haven't been paid to promote Polyvore, I just love to create there and wanted to share x

Hi Honeys
It hasn't been the best week dear ones.  The weather is doing what it (unfortunately) does best to anyone with long term health conditions, in my case arthritis, it's torturing me.  The cold and damp are trying to twist me into a human pretzel.  It's so annoying honeys to have lots of things you want to get done but aren't able to do them because your own body simply won't allow you to.

In order to avoid being driven stir crazy by being trapped on the sofa by joint pain you simply have to find something to keep your mind occupied.  One of the ways I do that is to go create something beautiful on Polyvore 😊

Have you discovered Polyvore yet honeys?  It's a perfect place to go when you need to be distracted from life for a while (like when arthritis is trying to tie me in knots) or just to release your inner designer and create your own catwalk of fabulous fashion looks!

Not that Polyvore is only about fashion dear ones, you can create home interiors and designs too, you can see an example of my love of throw pillows & cushions here.  I do really, really love putting together fashion looks though.

Imagine having the biggest wardrobe/closet in the world, stocked with the very best designer labels as well as high street designs. Of course you can also add to the items if you see anything you love too.  Imagine an endless supply of items to choose from to create gorgeous looks. It really is such fun honeys.  Today I thought I'd share a few of my little creations in the hope they might make you smile 😊

Sharing A Smile: Beautiful Harry Potter Gifts From a Wonderful Friend

Hi Honeys
How are you today?  Can you believe we've reached November already?  It's been raining all day outside and it feels so chilly today, even inside with the heating all on.  I'm already counting down to Spring honeys because I really don't like the almost constant darkness, dampness and all around depressing-ness of winter.

Now that the clocks have rolled back again it will be even darker, earlier.  During winter we don't see daylight on the West coast until around 9am and by 3.30 - 4 pm it's entirely dark again.  We rarely see snow anymore and, as someone at work said recently, the only difference from summer is that the rain is colder!  As I said honeys, so depressing.  Is it any wonder I get so excited on the rare occasions when we see a sunny day?  After all... laundry 😊

Yesterday morning we woke up to our first frost of winter.  It was so cold! Our furbaby Jade doesn't even want to go for her walks anymore.  She doesn't like the dark at all, or the rain.  Our baby has issues, bless her.  You can see why then honeys, every year I so desperately long to hibernate till winter's all over and Jade and I can reach spring where we at least have a (slim) chance of warmer, maybe even sunny days.  At least there isn't the constant darkness of winter.

Oh my, enough of this depressing talk!  We need smiles instead 😊

Today I thought I'd share a happy smile 😊 A very dear friend (hello Jenny honey 😊) recently took a trip down to London to the Warner Brothers Studios Harry Potter tour.  It was a very long trip to get there, and home again, but from her photos she seems to have had so much fun 😊

Imagine my surprise when she brought me a carrier bag with the sweetest gifts she'd brought back for me. I was so surprised, thrilled and just plain happy 😊  Thank you Jenny, you're an angel for thinking of me, really you are <huggles> x

Would you like to see the beautiful gifts Jenny brought me?  They now have pride of place on my desk and have been making me smile every day 😊

Here they are honeys...

Happy Halloween and a fun printable

Hi Honeys
I hope you're having a wonderful day and having fun preparing for the fun of Halloween tonight.  I had such fun yesterday making up little treat bags for tonight 😊

This hasn't been a great year so far dear ones, it started in January with a bad chest infection and I've been really struggling with my health all year since.  With the last few weeks taken up with trips to hospital and to see our Dr I really needed a smile and yesterday I got to spend a couple of hours smiling as I made up treat bags for tiny humans who'll be knocking on our door tonight.

I adore Halloween honeys.  We have a dress up weekend at work which is always fun.  Last year I managed to convince the sweetest wee boy that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry was a real school and this year I had a mini wand duel with another wee boy who proudly told me he was a Griffyndor and seemed amused that I was dressed in my Slytherin House uniform, "why aren't you a Griffyndor tho?" he asked me 😊

Halloween is absolutely the highlight of my Autumn each year and I so look forward to making up lots of treat bags for our visiting trick or treaters.  Each item included in the little treat bags is picked for smiles and fun. 

Self Care Project: Skin Care & A Little Treat For My Face

Disclaimer:  I haven't been paid to promote any products, just sharing my latest step on the path of my self care project and a little treat I bought for my face x

Hi Honeys

How are you today?  Here we are on the last weekend of October.  Halloween is on Tuesday but before then I have two "dress up days" at work and on Sunday Hubby & I will spend the afternoon making up little treat bags for the tiny humans who'll visit on Tuesday.  This might well be the best weekend I've had in months honeys 😊  I just love Halloween 👻

If you saw my post yesterday you'll know I've decided to begin a new project which I've called my self care project.  I think it's way overdue too honeys because there's been close to zero self care around here for a very long time.  My first, very tentative step is to try to deal with the dry skin on my face which is irritating me terribly.

I've tried so many different moisturisers with little to no effect.  I'm assuming I just haven't found what works for me yet.  I've also started making a real effort to drink more water every day.  So far I've been able to get through between a litre to a litre and a half each day, in addition to my normal cups of tea, glasses of milk, fruit juice etc and I'm hoping to keep to this and maybe once I get used to my new routine manage to increase it a little.   

Beginning My Self Care Journey: Why Hydration Is Vital For Health

Please Note:  This post does not in any way act as medical advice.  I'm beginning a new self care project and wanted to share what I've found out about how important hydration can be for our health.  If you suffer from any health conditions or would like to find out more about how hydration impacts on your health please speak to your doctor or health care professional for advice.


Hi Honeys
How are you today?  Autumn is very quickly turning into winter here. The nights are increasingly dark, chilly and unwelcoming.  So much rain honeys and so, so chilly in the winds.

I know I say it every year but I'll say it again anyway 😊  I firmly believe that it should be a legitimate choice at this time of year to hibernate.  As the weather turns cold, rainy and miserable I'd happily wander off upstairs to bed with a hot water bottle and our furbaby Jade to hug and just stay there!

Around early to mid March, depending on the weather of course, my dear Hubby could come wake me up with a lovely cuppa, a smile and a "it's sunny outside honey, I've put your first load of wash on and you have a new washing line up outside." Such joy!

I would (as near as my poor wee arthritis knotted body would let me) bound out of bed and happily throw myself into doing laundry and pegging it all outside 😊  I so love doing laundry honeys.  I adore it.  During the long, long (toooooo long) months when I can't peg my laundry outside I have the blessing of our "pulley" and I don't know what I'd do without it.

Lack of outside laundry pegging opportunities, lack of sunshine and a general feeling of "it's not summer anymore" blues are weighing heavily on me.  Added to this I still have that dreadful cough I've had for approaching four months now which the Doctor at the hospital told me has become bronchitis and my skin feels like it's never seen a drop of moisture in, well, ever really.

I mean, there are fallen leaves outside that are less dried out than my face feels honeys.  This is just yet another problem I'm going to have to address at a time when I'm feeling less able to cope with anything than I have in the longest time ever.  So, dear ones, I've made a decision.

My new project has to be me.  I'm going to have to focus on feeling better, because right now I'm so run down I'm just not coping with anything.  I've been ill most of this year and I've allowed a combination of low mood, zero energy and battling constant chest infections, headaches and body pain to beat me into submission.  So much so that I've given up any semblance of self care.  This has to change dear ones. Just has to.  My dear GP has tried to help by giving me antibiotics to try to shift this horrid chest infection which has now turned into bronchitis but I have to concentrate on helping myself too.

I'm going to make a serious effort to begin a self care routine.  First problem on my list to find a solution to, although there are others of course, is my turning leathery (eeewww!) skin.

I should quantify that statement by saying its not all of my skin.  It seems to be reserved to the skin above my eyebrows and on my forehead.  I can't understand it.  I've tried so many moisturisers, day cream, night cream but the dry, "flakey" patches re-appear.  Just ick!

OK, so first area to focus on in my little self care project then honeys is my skin.  There are, of course, other parts to my latest, and probably most important (after all what's more important than our health?) project though.  Other areas will include:

What To Expect When Having A CT Scan

Disclaimer:  This post is not intended to be medical advice.  Any concerns should be discussed with your doctor or health care professionals honeys, I just wanted to share my experiences in the hopes it might help others avoid being anxious about having a scan. 

Hi Honeys
These past few weeks have been eventful to say the least.  Do you remember the never ending chest infection I've been battling?  Well it's been over 3 months now and my wonderful GP, and he really is, sent me for a chest x ray.  The x ray had something on it that the radiographer at the hopital didn't like and my GP somehow managed to get me an appointment at the (incredibly busy) Respiratory Clinic and also requested a CT scan too, which I was told by the hospital bookings clerk when she called me, might take at least 5-6 weeks to arrange.

Next thing I knew I had a letter telling me I had a 9 am appointment on Tuesday of this week and later I had a phone call telling me I had an appointment for a CT scan at 1.30 pm that same day!

It genuinely is wonderful, especially in these days of way over-stretched resources, to be registered at the Practice we are, and to be cared for by such fabulous Doctors.  Our Practice has two Doctors, one Practice Nurse and the sweetest admin staff all of whom seem able to move mountains to help patients.

Over the last twenty years or so they've been our family GPs, they've always gone the extra mile to help, always listened,  never been too busy to return a phone call and have always referred me for tests if they've had even a little doubt over what ails me.  The Practice really is a treasure and being a patient there means the world to me.

So dear ones I thought I'd share what happened during my visit to the hospital in the hopes it might help alleviate any of the anxiety that I had for anyone who has to have the same tests.  Before we begin, take a few minutes to go fetch a cuppa🍵 and maybe a cookie too.  This is going to be a long post.  I'll wait, see you back here in a few minutes....

Friday Smile: New Pencils Rock!

Disclaimer:  I haven't been paid to promote any products, I'm just sharing a smile 😊

Hi Honeys,

It's been a bit of a week to be sure. Too full of stresses.  I had to go have a CT scan this week, having already been sent previously for a chest x ray.  It was an odd experience honeys, not the worst thing I've ever had to deal with, but not something I particularly want to go through again either.  Does that make sense?  I'll post about it soon honeys, knowledge is power after all and you can't be afraid of something if you know all about it.  So, in the hope that my experience might help anyone else not be afraid, I'll write a post describing what happened, I promise.

In today's post I'd like to share a little Friday smile if that's OK? 😊

Of course my ever present smile (on wee paws) is our furbaby Jade 😊 Bless her, our baby keeps me company when her Daddy is at work all day long and during this latest illness has been happily sharing a blanket with her Mummy on the sofa.

The thing about being all propped up with pillows at night is that it's practically impossible to sleep.  Even when I was so exhausted I could cry and would nod off I didn't sleep long.  Why were you all propped up Rosie? Well honeys, the coughing wouldn't let me sleep anyway, no matter what position I was in but it just so happened that if I tried to lie down on my usual single pillow I had such trouble breathing and would jerk awake because my airway had closed or tried to.

Frightening honeys, just frightening 😡  Well, what's a girl to do when you can't sleep for an irritating cough and can't lie down?  Do you remember I said recently I'd (re)discovered the joy of colouring?  It's a perfect way to pass the time on (very long) lonely, quiet nights when Hubby and our furbaby Jade are both happily soundly sleeping and I'm fed up watching infomercials on late night TV.

It's quiet, (Hubby works long hours over spreadsheets full of figures and has an early start every morning) it calms a stressed mind and I love doing it.  It really does calm me.

Heading upstairs to bed on one of the (too many) sleepless nights recently I picked up my colouring things, namely a brightly coloured, soft pencil case which is home to my favourite pencils and one of my colouring books (presently I'm drawn to the Calm book.) 

Having picked up my pencil case and book I spotted something I'd bought a few weeks before and had genuinely forgotten about in the midst of the never ending coughing fits, headaches, body aches and trips to see our family Doctors and to the hospital.

They were sitting, still in their storage tin boxes on the little cupboard in the hall at the bottom of the stairs and I have to admit seeing them made me smile again as much as I had when I originally saw them in-store with Hubby.  How could I forget about these beautiful things honeys? 

Who knew colouring pencils could be found in metallic and watercolour shades? I certainly didn't.  Wait till you see what the pencils themselves look like...

Christmas Is Arriving Early This Year!!

Hi Honeys
Christmas trees are appearing! Yep, not just trees either, we're talking window displays, tinsel, assorted baubles and so much lighting that, in the words of one lady I spoke to at work last night, who was referring to a particularly vibrant holiday display she'd seen on her way home from work "that tree will be visible from space!"

I've been keeping count of how many Christmas trees have appeared locally so far and as of last night there are now six homes with trees in place and decorations all done.  The first of these trees appeared almost two weeks ago and it's been joined steadily by other trees since 🎄

There may even be others dotted around brightening the ever gloomy Scottish skies but it does raise questions, don't you think honeys? When is the "right" time to decorate for the holidays?  Is late September too early?  Is it anyone else's beeswax anyway? 😊

I'm genuinely surprised and a little puzzled dear ones.  We were recently chatting in the break room at work about how time has flown past this year and next thing I know Christmas trees are being spotted 😊

Maybe everyone needs a little cheering?  This past year has been a challenging one in so many ways and if heading up into the loft in search of the Christmas decorations brings a little joy then why not?

When is the earliest you've ever decorated for the holidays honeys?  Are you seeing Christmas trees appearing near you too?  Till next time dear ones, have a wonderful weekend full of smiles and hugs, wrap up warm, it's getting chilly ❄ Huggles always xx

Apologies & A Little Rosie Update

Hi Honeys
I have to begin with a huge apology.  I've been neglecting this blog for too long, I'm so sorry for my lack of regular posts and thank you so much for being here anyway 💗  This hasn't been the best year dear ones.

This year started with a chest infection in January.  Antibiotics and a course of steroids saw that on it's way but the run down "someone's drained all my energy reserves" feeling has never left.

Absolutely everything has been such an effort this year and I haven't been able to do a fraction of the things I had planned.  I only work two days a week and even that has been too much for me for a while now.  Where I used to lose a day or so to complete exhaustion after my shifts I'm now losing two or more.  My energy reserves are so low now that everything is, as I said, an almighty effort.

Saturday Smiles: Thoughts On the Arrival of Autumn & Roses in the Rain

Hi Honeys
Happy Autumn everyone 😊 Yesterday was the first day of Autumn or Fall.  What happened to this year?  It's just flown past with super speed again.

This is usually the time of year when I start telling all who'll listen that I want to hibernate till next Spring 😊  I'm just not an Autumn/Winter person honeys.

I absolutely thrive on the optimism of Spring, the "I can't wait to see what this year brings" feeling I get as the darkness and cold of Winter begins to leave.  Closely followed, of course, by the longer days of Summer bringing with them the possibility of (hopefully) lots of lovely laundry days 😊

Nothing, for me, compares to the excitement of opening the curtains in the morning to see blue skies, fluffy clouds, knowing I don't have work that day and I can happily spend the day pegging out laundry 😊

Autumn brings the shortening of days and with it the encroaching darkness that will have us in it's grip for months until the blessed release of next Spring.

During the deepest parts of Winter, here in the west coast of Scotland, it is completely dark by 3.30-4 pm and won't begin to get light again until sometimes after 9 am next day.  That is a whole lot of darkness dear ones and just drains the life out of me.

The damp and cold also play havoc with my arthritis too so you can understand why I don't welcome this time of year and instead want to scoot off upstairs with a hot water bottle and our furbaby Jade (she loves to snuggle as much as I do, she's my cuddle buddy) not to be seen again until the weather is fit for a small Rosie to peg laundry out in 😊

So, with almost constant rain this past week and in need of some cheering I headed out into the garden (next to being in the kitchen doing laundry, our little garden in my next favourite place) and found my smile 😊

How can anyone feel even remotely glum honeys when they open their front door and see this...

Is there anything so beautiful as raindrops on a rose?

Every raindrop caught resting on a rose petal is forever preserved and protected in a bubble of time.... or at least in a photograph I can look at to cheer myself up while waiting for Winter to finally end 😊

Have a wonderful weekend honeys, whatever you have planned, have fun, smile lots and hug even more.  Till next time dear ones, huggles always xx

Amazon Pet Supplies Sample Box for Dogs

Disclaimer:  I haven't been paid to promote any products, just sharing a gift I found for our furbaby x

Hi Honeys
How are you today?  I'm having a rest day today.  Yesterday was far too busy and pretty much drained me.  I'm still battling what's left of the horrible chest infection that's been bothering me for over 6 weeks now and saw our Doctor yesterday morning.  He asked me to go to the hospital to have a chest x ray.

Off to the hospital I went with Hubby (he has holiday time still owing and booked this week off) had x rays done and then we ran some errands too but I was just exhausted by the time we got home so I just hugged Jade for the rest of the evening.

Speaking of our much loved furbaby, we had a paw covered box delivered by Amazon for her and I thought I'd share 😊

While passing time on Amazon, as you do, I spotted a listing for a Pet Supplies Sample Box for dogs.  Always on the look out for treats for Jade I was curious, clicked on it and was quite surprised.

Basically, the sample box is a collection of products chosen for dogs from across the Amazon range.  Some are trial sizes, most are full size products.  The box costs £9.99, but this is credited to your Amazon account to be used towards anything you buy from the pet supplies department.  Since we buy our baby's Vet's Kitchen (dry kibble) from Amazon it's a win win honeys.

The box was very heavy and unfortunately arrived looking a little the worse for wear...

The products inside were entirely fine and undamaged though. Let's have a look shall we?

Autumn Smiles In The Garden

Hi Honeys
How are you today?  I'm feeling a bit better and today I thought I'd have a look around the gardens and see what's happening.  I'm glad I did because it's cheered me up no end and I thought I'd share 😊

Earlier this year our precious roses were again the victims of attacks by aphids, tiny little fly like bugs who are also tiny little bringers of devastation to anyone's roses 😞  Our beloved roses do seem to be making a comeback though but I'm getting ahead of myself 😊

Why not grab a coffee, and maybe a cookie, and we'll have a look shall we?

We're lucky enough to have a good sized (though not huge by any means) back garden, mostly laid to lawn other than having our apple tree, an ever growing blueberry bush and even bigger mulberry bush.

The back garden is also home to two huge planters which are home to lavender and to our much loved peonies which bloom every year and always make me smile 😊

The front garden is quite tiny bit it's home to our roses and it's where I'm always happiest...well... of course the back garden is where my washing lines are and if you've read any of this blog at all you'll probably know how much I adore laundry soooooo.... ok, maybe I'm just happiest whenever I'm in the gardens then 😊   In the front garden there are the roses I love so much and in the back garden I get to (weather permitting) peg out laundry 😊

Let's have a look shall we?

Rosie's Luscious Lemon Chicken...

Hi Honeys
How are you?  I hope your week is going well so far.  There is a change in the air dear ones, autumn has arrived, leaves are starting to change colour and fall from the trees and there has been a remarkable number of references to Christmas during the past weekend at work!

Apparently, or so I was told, we have thirteen more Mondays till Christmas.  How did that even happen?  Now this is the part of the year that I start telling everyone who'll listen that I want to hibernate.  I'm so, so so not a winter kinda gal.

The cold and damp conditions make my arthritis flare and the almost constant darkness (we have less than six hours daylight in winter...yikes) seems to suck all of the joy out of my whole being.  It would be so much easier if I could just trot off upstairs around the end of September every year with a hot water bottle and our furbaby Jade, snuggle under the duvet and snooze happily until around early/mid March.

Then Hubby could wake me with a cup of tea saying "it's a sunny day, I've set up nice new washing lines on the poles outside and your first load of laundry is on the go."  Bliss!! Heaven for me is a sunny day and a huge pile of laundry to wash and peg outside.  Not much fun for the arthritic old bones but it's sheer joy for my soul 😊   

Unfortunately though, I'm not a wee grizzly bear so hibernation isn't an option.  Instead, at this time of year my mind turns to planning yummy, warming dinners to welcome my sweet, hard working Hubby home at night.  He's out the door very early every day, has a long commute to work and is really tired when he gets home at night so what better welcome when he arrives home than a delicious smell of something yummy coming from the kitchen? 

Who can resist lemon chicken honeys?  It's an extra yummy dish perfect, either hot or cold, for summer with crispy salads or for cooler days served with rice or steamed vegetables.

There are so many different variations of lemon chicken to be found, as many recipes as there are cooks who make it.  Everyone has their own little touches to make their lemon chicken perfect but it's such a delicious, and easy to make, dish, well I thought I'd share my own little method...


I adore all things lemony.  Lemon curd (homemade of course!) delicious lemon drizzle sponge loaf (which you can find here) and of course one of Hubby's faves chilli chicken fillet burgers with lemon mayonnaise (which you can find here.)

I love, love, love experimenting in the kitchen, you never know what you'll come up with and you might even find a loved one's newest favourite dinner (Hubby does still love those chilli fillet burgers) 😊  Let's get started then, shall we honeys? To the kitchen.....

Colouring, Coping & Catching Up...

Disclaimer:  I haven't been paid to promote any products or business. I'm just sharing my latest smiles.

Hi Honeys
I'm sorry I haven't been posting much lately.  I'm still battling this awful chest infection. I'd started feeling a little optimistic during the start of this week because there is now a (slightly) longer wait between coughing fits. Unless I walk from room to room.

Changes in temperature appear to set the coughing off instantly, even going to the back door to let our furbaby Jade out into the garden. It's been over four weeks now honeys and I'm so, so fed up with feeling ill now especially since earlier this week I started to feel a little better only to slide backwards again.  I've said in the past I don't do pity parties, and I so don't, but I've had it.  I'm willing to admit that it's almost beat me now.

Pain I can live with, all Spoonies do, so the sore lungs and the painful muscles supporting them can be put up with.  Arthritic pain is far worse, but not being able to breathe is frightening.  Waking up coughing and not knowing if I'll end up with my head hanging out the bedroom window desperately gasping for air, well honeys, that I can do without.

I was born with a form of bronchitis which damaged my lungs.  So the breathless thing has been with me for as long as I can remember.  As an adult I know winter usually brings a chest infection and I pretty much know how to cope with it till it gets better but usually it will last no more that a few weeks, generally around three.  This time though, zooming towards my fifth week, I've just had it.  This is the second chest infection this year, the last being in January and I'm praying it'll leave soon.

Enough of my moans dear ones 😊  So, how have I been passing the time then honeys?  I'm tired all the time because I can't sleep (I'm propped up with so many pillows because if I try to lay down, my breathing is apt to just (literally) stop and during the day I'm propped up on the sofa with cushions, a snuggly throw and our furbaby who won't leave my side, bless her.  So, not a whole lot of anything being done around here.

Do you remember I recently blogged about having discovered adult colouring books and how calming they are honeys?

Well, I'm not exaggerating when I say that colouring has been keeping me (as close as it's possible to  be right now) happy, especially when it hurts to even breathe these past weeks.

Even though I'm not at all good at it, that doesn't matter.  I find it so calming honeys.  I can sit happily colouring during the night by the light of my bedside lamp without bothering my dear Hubby.  It's a far better distraction from the coughing than the looped info-mercials that seem to dominate night-time TV after a certain hour.

Slytherin, Slytherin Everywhere! A Little Harry Potter Primark Haul...

Disclaimer:  I haven't been paid to promote any products or stores, just wanted to share some Potter related smiles from my wonderful Hubby x

Hi Honeys
We've reached the end of August and, other than this horrid cough, I'm actually starting to feel almost human again after fighting this horrible chest infection.  Aw honeys this has been a dreadful couple of weeks.

I can tolerate RA, and the myriad of annoyances that come with it, such as body batteries going from as-good-as-they-get (not great) to completely drained in no time, migraines that could stop a charging rhino and being mostly housebound for the past too many years but it turns out that a thoroughly nasty and just-won't-quit chest infection is the one thing I have no defence against.

I admit it universe!  It's beat me!  I've so had it with the not being able to sleep and sore lungs so can this horrible cough just really, really, really hit the road now please?  Pretty please?

Well, coughs, shivers and sleeplessness aside, it hasn't been all bad this past couple of weeks honeys. Mostly bad... but not all bad 😊  It's that time of year again and Hubby, after leaving our furbaby Jade with instructions to look after her Mum and making sure I had everything I could possibly need for a few hours (bless him) went off to Comic Con.

When he got back home again he had a bag with assorted things for me to make me smile in spite of the awful coughy, shivery thing. How sweet is my other half honeys?  Unknown to me, Primark had released a whole new range of Harry Potter items which Hubby had seen in the window and had gone inside to check out.  I thought I'd share the little smiles he brought home for me...

Before seeing the Harry Potter things at Primark, Hubby had already spotted something else at Comic Con. Do you remember the scarf Hubby bought for me at Comic Con last year? Goodness, I love that scarf.  It's so soft and warm and cosy 😊  Well, while at Comic Con, he saw a pair of Slytherin House gloves....

5 Ways To Feel Better When You're Sick...

Disclaimer:  This is not medical advice.  If, like me, you've been feeling poorly, please consult your health care professional for advice and feel better soon dear ones x

Hi Honeys
I'm sorry I've been missing.  I'm currently battling a chest infection.  It's had me in it's merciless, can't breathe, can't sleep, all-sore-from-the-constant-hacking-cough grip now for... well yesterday was the start of it's third week!

Yikes! Not to worry though, I think (hopefully) I might be on the mend. I'm still coughing, at times sounding like some kind of demented seal, I still can't sleep, everything still hurts (especially the muscles around or supporting my lungs, all of the coughing has obviously done bad things to those poor muscles) but there's a slightly longer gap between coughing fits so I'm hoping there's light at the end of the tunnel.

So, how have I managed to put up with being stuck on the sofa for the past fortnight dear ones? Especially since the first week was actually vacation time I'd waited patiently for and had planned some major decluttering projects! Well, simply put dear ones, I've been able to put up with it because I haven't had a choice 😊

It helped of course that the first week was spent hiding under a huge blanket on the sofa and that I had my dear Hubby to look after me (thank you sweetheart x)  Even having Hubby here though (it was his week off work too, as I said we'd planned on getting some work done around our home) didn't stop me hating my lungs. I have to be the worst patient ever! I can't bear being ill, no patience for it. We had stuff to do after all!

So, other than going from the extremes of not being able to breathe to trying very hard to not cough up both lungs (yuk!) mostly I just desperately wanted all the noise to quieten down.  I've always had a problem with noise honeys, can't bear it, and when I'm ill it just becomes unbearable.  Thank the heavens we live in a (usually) very quiet little cul-de-sac but I swear on bad days I can hear the air move around me.. ick!

It can be a very difficult thing to cope with.  Being stuck at home, knowing there are things needing done but knowing you're not well enough to do them yet.  Anyone recognising this?

OK, imagine, we're past the very worst of what ails us but still marooned on a sofa on sick leave because...

• Dashing back to work too early will knock our recovery backwards and we'll end up having to repeat the fight towards being well all over again and 
• We don't want to go back to work while still contagious and then infect all of our workmates. Be kind and keep those cough and sneeze borne germs to yourself dear ones.  

5 Ways To Help Yourself Feel Better When You're Sick 

1. Get enough rest. I know, it sounds so obvious but how many of us keep going till we just can't anymore?  In order to get well our bodies do need to rest, so rest! Seriously honeys, rest is a medicine all of it's own.  You can help time pass by doing something fun, maybe something you've been meaning to do for a while but haven't had the time? Why not read a book or two? Watch a dvd box set or catch up on crafts? Time will pass and you'll be smiling 😊

2. Stay hydrated. When battling an illness it's so important to drink enough fluids.  Keep water nearby and sip often.  Warm water with a little lemon and honey will help soothe a sore throat as will warm broths or lovely calming herbal teas.

3. Be Mindful of hygiene.  Have a litter bin nearby to quickly dispose of paper tissues.  Keep a bottle of hand gel nearby too and use it if you cough into a hand.  If your poor body is battling bacteria or a virus already it's too easy to keep re-infecting ourselves by touching our face, especially eyes and nose, with germ filled hands.  I also change my pillowcase every morning.  If I've been coughing all through the night honeys, I don't want to be putting my face on that germy pillowcase next night.... ick!

4. Stay Warm.  When stuck on the sofa, why not be cosy with a warm fluffy throw to snuggle under? Wear your softest, fluffiest socks to keep your feet warm too.  So many of us have wooden or laminate floors now instead of carpets and cold feet don't help an ill body heal.  Even if you prefer bare feet indoors, I so do, it really won't help and bare feet let your body's heat escape as well as invite chills in. Why not wrap your shoulders and neck in a really pretty shawl? It'll keep you toasty warm and make you feel better, and maybe smile, too.  I always feel quite glamourous in a shawl, even if I'm wearing a nightie 😊

5. Do as you're told!  By your doctor anyway 😊  If you've been given medication, especially antibiotics, check with your doctor before stopping them.  He'll be able to tell you whether the original problem has been addressed and it's safe to discontinue them.  Many people start to feel better and quit taking medication only to find themselves feeling poorly again within a day or two. Doctor knows best honeys.

All very obvious, don't you think?  It really is! So why do we all find it so difficult to practice even a little self care when we'll gladly and happily run our body batteries completely drained looking after everyone else?  Self care is so important, and not just when we're ill.

About that self care...

Perhaps we should consider tiny acts of self care, such as having a manicure, a lunch with friends or even just some alone time, as deposits into a vital savings account.  This savings account might not pay for a holiday or help with the bills, but it does something arguably just as important. It helps us to function better, it makes us stronger and this in turn helps us to care for our loved ones.

When was the last time you made a deposit into the bank of you dear ones? When did you last do something, even a little thing, just for you?

I hope you've had a fabulous weekend dear ones and that you're looking forward to a wonderful week.  Till next time, smile lots and hug even more, huggles always xx

ps:  Just in case anyone is suffering as I am with an early autumn chest infection there is a wonderful information page from the NHS here: NHS chest infection information page feel better soon honeys x

What's Inside The Soap and Glory Happy Glamper Kit?

Disclaimer: I haven't been paid to promote this kit or any other products, just sharing my love for all things Soap & Glory and the contents of their latest fun bag set x

Hi Honeys,
I hope you're well and have had a fabulous weekend.  I can't believe we're moving so quickly towards autumn.  The weather is certainly looking that way.  We're about to, according to weather forecasts, start our third week of rainy days.

The schools all start their autumn terms in Scotland this week and before we know it, it'll be Halloween, then November 5th (too) quickly followed by Christmas and New Year again.  Phew!

Time is rushing past again.  I know I'm not alone in waiting all year long for the lovely Christmas bag collection released every year by Soap and Glory.  Seriously, I go to work and there are so many customers walking around with their bag, in our locker room on top of the lockers there will be a few sitting too and by the time I get to work mine is already at home because Hubby picks it up for me in the City and brings it home.

It's turned into a yearly tradition for so many ladies, myself included 😊  Can you imagine my excitement then to find that Soap and Glory have released a summer version of their bag this year, well sort of 😊  

This is the Soap and Glory Happy Glamper Kit.  It's a gorgeous drawstring bag containing essentials for any lady making her way to one of the summer music festivals.  Would you like to see the contents of this fabulous bag?

Let's have a look then shall we honeys...

10 Ways To Be Happy On A Rainy Day...

Hi Honeys
It's a soggy day outside again today.  It's been raining all morning and it doesn't look as if it wants to stop anytime soon.

It's been raining a lot just recently honeys, but living as I do on the west coast of Scotland, I'm used to the rain.  Sunny days are odder here than rainy ones but still, when summer is far too short already it can be a little depressing when the rain drags on for days (or weeks) with no apparent end in sight...

Just because the rain has become an almost constant companion doesn't mean we can't have fun and enjoy any days we are lucky enough to be able to stay home.  Free-to-do-whatever-we-want days are the best!   What to do with a free day that happens to be rainy....

Let's Bake Some Apple Crumble!

Hi honeys
I was at a loose end today so I thought I'd make a yummy apple crumble for Hubby coming home. Crumbles are very popular in this house, not just apple either but more on that later 😊

First then, to the kitchen to put on a pinnie and gather our ingredients....

Do you love crumbles as much as we do honeys?  They make the perfect treat.  Any day in need of a happy burst of smiles can be made better by baking a crumble 😊

Of course I don't bake them too often.  They wouldn't be so special if I did! To make a loved one smile though, few things can beat a lovely surprise crumble 😊

OK, got your pinnie on dear ones?  Let's make a start...

Saturday Smiles 😊 Roses & Some Adorable Solar Hearts...

Disclaimer:  I haven't been paid to recommend any products, just sharing my latest smiles x

Hi Honeys
Just a quick post while I get organized for today's shift at work.  How did we reach August so fast honeys?  I swear this year seems to have just flown by!  Well, it may be August, and we might well be heading towards autumn, but our tiny front garden is still making me smile every time I open our front door and I wanted to share in the hope these pretty roses make you smile too....

Mum's roses are still beautiful, and there are still tiny buds waiting to bloom too...

Cyrano De Bergerac: A Sweet Smile From Hubby...

Disclaimer:  I haven't been paid to promote anything, just wanted to share a sweet gift Hubby bought me x

Hi Honeys,
Hubby did it again, bless him!  Do you remember he recently surprised me with one of my favourite movies on DVD?  It was Breakfast at Tiffany's which I'd previously had a copy of many (many) moons ago on vhs.... yes, I'm that old 😊 but somehow hadn't ever gotten around to replacing it on dvd.

Well, honeys, Hubby appeared with a smile and this......

There aren't enough words in the whole world to describe how much I adore this movie!  I (still) have a much (really, really, much) loved copy on vhs which I've watched so many times over the years it started to have lines show across the movie.

Every cell of this wonderful movie is golden honeys, every second is simply glorious. I've had a long, long term (albeit one sided since I've never met the man!) love affair with the star Gerard Depardieu and this movie, among a sea of fabulous performances, has to be among his finest.

Every time I watch it, it breaks my heart all over again.  I always cry at the end... a lot.

For anyone who hasn't seen this gorgeous, fabulous movie (or read the book or seen any of the other versions) The story is set in Paris in 1640.  Cyrano is a soldier and a poet.  He is fearless in battle, with a brilliant mind and is irresistibly charismatic, Cyrano is also in love with his beautiful, intelligent cousin, Roxanne.

Cyrano is held back from professing his undying love to Roxanne by his embarrassment over his appearance.  He was born with a large and prominent nose. How could his perfect Roxanne return his love when he looks as he does?  Self doubt costs him his chance of happiness.

While attending the theatre one evening Roxanne catches sight of Christian, he is young and very beautiful and Roxanne feels an immediate attraction to him.  She learns that Christian is to join Cyrano's Company of Guards and begs Cyrano to protect him.  Cyrano loves her so much that her happiness is everything to him and so he agrees.

***Spoiler Alert*** 

How To Choose Your Perfect Pillow & Duvet

Disclaimer:  I haven't been paid to recommend any products, just sharing what I've learned over the years about making a bed comfortable x

Hi Honeys
I love our bed and I love to make it look beautiful.  I feel the same way about bedding as some other ladies do about shoes...although I do love those too 😊  

Buying pretty bedding (and throw cushions... I sooooooo love throw cushions!) is entirely useless though if we don't have the foundations in place.  No one ever got a good night's restful, restorative sleep because their duvet cover was pretty.  So, what are these foundations?

First of course is a good mattress.  It's so important when shopping for a mattress to try it out!  Don't just look at it in the store and press it down with a hand, actually lie down on it (remember to take your shoes off!)  You're making an investment, treat it as such.

Does your chosen mattress support your back?  Try lying on your side, on your back.  However it is you most commonly sleep.  Your body should be supported.  It can be just as harmful to sleep on a non-supportive mattress which is too soft as to sleep on one which is far too firm.

Next, and yes dear ones, before thinking about pretty bedding 😊 we have to choose our pillows and duvet. You'd think this would be simple enough but there is much to think about honeys...

Do You Need Solitude?

Hi Honeys
Do you need solitude?  Are you happy with your own company?  I am.  I need quiet, peaceful alone time. More than that, dear ones, I crave it.

The world outside our happy little home moves too fast for me, it's too noisy, too busy, too much. Inside the walls of our home I feel safe. I feel at peace. I can rest.

If I'm having a bad day or the arthritis pain is too much I go upstairs, sit on the bed in our master bedroom and stare at my canvas.  That wonderful image does more for me than all of the medication in the world ever could.

I can just sit, concentrate on my breathing, and mentally step inside this canvas, put my hand on the rail and walk down the steps. When I reach the beach, I can take off my shoes and (almost) imagine the sea air on my face, the sound of the waves and the sand between my toes.  

If I could, I'd happily live inside this beautiful canvas... with Hubby & our furbaby too of course.💖

I adore my job, I really do.  It's my connection to the outside world and for those couple of days a week I can chat, socialise and cope with the busy, noisy world but I only cope because I know that when I finish up my last shift of the week I can come home to our little oasis of calm.

When I step through our front door my shoulders relax, and I feel a profound sense of calm settle over me. Our home wraps itself around me and eases the stresses of the day away.  It's my sanctuary from the storm of noise generated by the world.

Where is your sanctuary honeys?  What do you do to escape from the world when you need to?  Is your sanctuary to be found in your home?  in music?  In the pages of a wonderful book? In the company of loved ones?

I wish for you your own little oasis of calm, your own precious retreat to calm your senses and feed your soul. Till next time dear ones, sending mountains of gentle hugs your way always xx  

 

A Tiny, Smiley Bit Of Retail Therapy...

Disclaimer:  I haven't been paid to recommend any products, just sharing my latest smiles in the hope that they make someone else smile a little too x

Hi Honeys
How are you today?  I'm actually starting to feel a little bit more like me 😊  For the past few weeks I've been (as any spoonie will understand) feeling very "off."  I've been very drained, putting up with too many headaches and letting the arthritis win the battle and that's just not good enough dear ones.

If anyone ever finds a way to store up energy to better cope when one of those "flares" hits, I hope it's yelled from the rooftops honeys, so we can all know about it.  Doctor's all seem to think (at least all of the ones I've seen over the past twenty years or so) the worst part of living with a chronic illness is coping with the pain.

Thing is, it's just not. At least not in my experience anyway.  We all get used to the pain. We don't have a choice really, do we?  It becomes a part of our day to day lives.  Just like the smile we wear to stop the world's gaze from stopping too long on us.. "move along, smiley person here.. nothing to see.. off you go world..."  No one wants to be pitied. Not ever.

No dear ones, the worst part of living with a chronic illness, in my humble opinion, is the loss of everything we always took for granted.  Being able to do anything we wanted, when we wanted to do it.  The complete lack of energy is the real chronic pest.  Having to choose too carefully the activities of the day because you know you're starting off with half drained body batteries.

Add an unhealthy dose of anxiety when faced with the outside world into the mix and well... life gets kinda sucky honeys.  The reason I'm telling you all of this is so that you'll better understand why it took me until last Thursday to be able to travel the mile or so to the hairdresser to have my hair cut.

I'd planned to go on Monday morning but, long story short, I felt utterly hellish and simply didn't have the energy.  By Wednesday night I was starting to feel a little better and by Thursday morning I thought OK, it's now or never!  Phone a taxi and let's get to the hairdressers.

Why the urgency for a hair do?  Well at work honeys I have to pin it up, my hair is very heavy, very thick and gives me headaches when it's pulled back and pinned up never mind my poor shoulders having to wrangle it into various clips & pins.  So, I broke my own unwritten rule about Thursdays.  I never, ever go out on Thursdays. Don't do it.  I have to work two long, tiring shifts on Friday & Saturday so I need to be quite miserly with my poor wee body battery on the day before them.

Needs must though so off I went into a taxi and off to see the sweetest hair stylist in the world, dear Julie, who knows exactly how to cut my hair when I get fed up pinning it (I'm not a fan of short hair and always let it grow back till I simply can't pin it up any more.... Julie understands)  Saw Julie, chatted, had hair snipped (looks fab, thank you Julie x)

Then decided I'd have a wander around a shop or two since I was there...

I may not have bought very much on Thursday but what I did buy made me smile honeys 😊  Should I share? OK then, why not grab a coffee?  See you in a few minutes....