Top 5 Outfits of 2011

Another round of my top 5 outfits from 2011 to end my blogging year nicely:-

1. Bunnies & Dalmatians

2. Vintage Cute

3. Wales - Part VI

4. Lolita Strawberry

5. Peachy Pink
There were a lot of "almosts", like this, and this. I loved a lot of what I wore this year, much more than last year.

My Handmade Gifts

I know I already showed you the girl doll, but thought I'd show you the boy doll together with her. I only finished the boy at the last minute, I kept putting it off for ages! I was realy pleased with how they both turned out, & my little cousins seemed to like them (even if they did both want the girl doll, eek!).

Here's what I made for almost everyone else, jam! It was much easier than I thought, I actually got inspiration from Kirstie Allsop (I love her craft shows!!), and once I had seen how simple it was, I decided to give it a try. I'd imagined jam making to be messy & having to spend hours slaving over the stove, but excluding prep time, it only took around 30 mins! Everyone seemed to like it, & I tried our pot this morning, it was yummy!

I did make a few other gifts, including personalised silver heart necklaces for my Mum & my sister, but somehow I forgot to take pics! I was going to take a quick photo of my Mum's to show you all, but she literally hasn't taken it off since she got it, so will have to upload a picture later!

Did you make any handmade gifts this year? I would love to see - send me your links/pics!

Christmas Gifts

I always love seeing what other people got for Christmas, so thought I do a quick post with a few of my favourite gifts I got this year:-

Cupcake earring holder (thanks Mali ♥), Personal Planner*, Hello Kitty Liberty vanity case, jewellery box, a couple of cute eyeshadow compacts from Mum & a birdcage earring holder from my sister:)

Birdcage charm from Mum that I've put on my "fun" charm bracelet (I have another proper silver charm bracelet, that was my Mum's, but this one is for all the cute & fun charms I find/get given!).

I got more things too, I was totally spoiled this year! I hope my family & friends enjoy their gifts as much as I love mine. We are meeting up with the rest of the family today, so after that I can show you what I made for everyone!

Hope you all got what you wanted & are still having a lovely time (& aren't back at work/school yet!!).

Happy Christmas!

Dress - Handmade // Shoes - Topshop // Bow - New Look // Collar - Romwe // Ring - Welsh Gift Shop

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a lovely day yesterday, I did! We spent the day at my Grandparent's house, had a lovely roast, got lots of presents & just generally had a good time! I've still got another day coming up with the rest of the family, (we always have a 2nd Christmas Day thing, because not everyone can make it on Christmas day), so Christmas isn't really over yet, for us. Anyway, hope you enjoy these pics, I wore my handmade velvet dress, which I think is lovely & old fashioned. Teamed with my patent red shoes & white tights, I felt like a dolly!

Georgina xx

What I Wore: Last Christmas

As blogged about here. Remind me to wear this skirt more! Oh & if you fancy seeing even further back, click here for the Christmas before last's outfit!

This will probably be my last post before Sunday, so in advance I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, or a happy holiday if you don't celebrate! Thanks for all your support this year, I cannot believe how much this blog has grown, & I just wanted to let you all know I appreciate it so much:)

Georgina xx

Sunday Baking

I made some cake today, a Victoria Sponge. I had some homemade jam to use up, and although I would have preferred to make something more festive, what better way to use up jam than with a basic sponge? Perfectly simple but delicious, recipe below:-

Gather ingredients - you will need 225g of sugar, butter & self raising flour, as well as 4 eggs. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.

Cream together butter & sugar with electric whisk, until pale & fluffy. Beat eggs in a separate bowl. Add a bit of flour and a bit of egg in stages, folding lightly in with the creamed mixture. Don't just chuck it all the eggs and flour in at once, this will separate the mixture, and you want to retain as much air as possible from the whisking!

Once folded, pour/spoon mixture into baking tray(s), and bake for 30 mins! Leave to half cool on cooling racks, then add a thick layer of jam, cut & serve whilst still warm! Yummy!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I can't believe it is only 10 days until Christmas. This year has gone by so fast!! I've been making the last of my Christmas presents these past few days. I wish I could share pictures, but I don't want to spoil the surprises for my family (hi if you are reading!). I only have one present left to make, so yay!

I've also ordered some navy velvet to try & make a Christmas day dress. I tried making a velvet dress last year, but the velvet I bought was horrid (so hard buying fabric online, but I don't know anywhere near me that sells clothing fabric!?!), so that idea stalled. Every winter I am always desperate for a velvet dress, there's just something so lovely about them, but there is never anywhere that sells one I like! Of course Topshop sells a million that I love, and last year's TBA dresses were perfect, but for fatties, there is nothing like that. Grrr! Is a long sleeve babydoll style velvet dress so hard to manufacture above a 16??!! Anyway, fingers crossed the velvet will be nice, and also that I can sew it into something at least half resembling something like this.

We are spending the day at my Grandparent's house this year, so looking forward to that. It will be little Dillon's first Christmas, hopefully he will enjoy it. He is a bit of a scaredy cat though, when we got out some presents a week ago he got scared of them, so I hope he doesn't get too scared on the day. Button also finds all the presents & new things stressful. And he hates crackers. Yes we have strange dogs :P

Are you looking forward to the holiday? I must admit, this time of year isn't always so happy for me, but I try & focus on the good things. I also love giving gifts, so hopefully everyone likes what I've made for them!

OOTD - Dreamy Dolly

Dress - ASOS // Shoes - ASOS // Belt - Littlewoods // Collar - Romwe // Ring - Primark

I originally wanted this dress in pink, but by the time I had funds, it sold out:( I hadn't considered the cream, but after thinking about it, I thought it actually might work out better with my hair being the colour it is :P So I got it (obviously), & I love it! The shape is so lovely, from all angles, & the material is lovely & thick, perfect for winter. I paired it with my petal collar, & it made it even cuter & dolly-like.

Benita Blue Giveaway Winner

Just a quick post to say thank you to everyone who entered the Benita Blue Giveaway. The winner is Giuala Allisiardi! Congrats! Please keep your eye out for an email from me in your inbox, because we'll need your address to send you your lovely lovely locket!

If you didn't win, remember you can still get 10% off all purchases until Christmas Day, with the code CUPCAKES!

OOTD - Jumpers & Bows

Skirt - South @ Littlewoods // Jumper - River Island //Shoes - Next // Bow - New Look // Collar - Romwe // Ring - Oborocharms*

Felt a little like a schoolgirl in today outfit, but if my real uniform has been this cute I might have been more enthused about wearing it! Instead I had a baggy navy jumper, yellow(!) skirt, and a ugly stretchy navy skirt. No cute kilt or pretty collars on my uniform :( I was so much happier when I went to college & could finally start wearing something I actually liked!

I think schools should either abolish uniforms, or bring in something nicer to wear, like out of films! Grr! And why do secondarys never have summer dresses for the summer, like primarys? I would have been much happier if I had felt good about what I was wearing. And please none of that blah blah but everyone wears the same blah blah! Can you sense how much I detested my uniform, haha?

OOTD - Floral Black

Dress - Rise @ Simply Be* // Cardigan - H&M // Shoes - Rocketdog // Bag - ASOS // Bow - New Look // Bracelet - Benita Blue* // Watch - Old England* // Ring - ASOS

Showing off my new Rise dress that Simply Be sent me. I love the design & print. I barely have any floral dresses, if any, it's a nice addition to my wardrobe! Had a hard time pairing a cardigan with it though, I apparently have very few plain cardigans! And no black ones, with long sleeves anyway! I also like the built in semi petti, which makes the skirt flare about more & adds nice detail at the hem.

Negatives - it's a bit short on me, at 5"8. Wish it was a tad longer :( Also, size up, this a a 28, whilst I normally take a 26! Not really sure it's worth £70 either, I would probably pay max £50. But it is nice to see Simply Be stocking new brands, with more trendy designs!

Also took the chance whilst I was out today to use my new bag, it (just about) fit's my 400d in, so it's a perfect size for me! And the scalloping ♥

Sarah sent me the Seventh Key Bracelet from her shop, Benita Blue, & I love it, it's so dainty! Remember to enter the giveaway here, to be in with a chance of winning your own piece!

Random Bits & Bobs

Yep, bought the bag in the end, plus the coral version! So pretty, I obviously needed two! :P

Also got some new glasses, I wanted big geeky frames & I think I succeeded! Haha, I love them, and not bad for £30 each! The tortoiseshell are London Retro, and the purple are by Fabris Lane. I haven't had glasses this big since I was 13!

No real reason for this photo, just thought this arrangement in the spare room was pretty!

Little Dilly had his first haircut the other day, doesn't he look gorgeous?

Look what arrived in the post today, a signed Christmas card from the girls at Simply Be. Thank you lovelies ♥

Benita Blue Giveaway!

If you check over to your left & scroll down a bit, you will find EssBeeVee under my favourite blogs. It's run by Sarah, a lovely lady I *almost* met at Plus London (I was rather shy!), & have followed her blog ever since. Anyway, as well as running her blog, Sarah also makes dainty, whimiscal jewellery which she sells at her shop Benita Blue.

To get to the point (even if I do enjoy a good ramble :P) Sarah has kindly offered you the chance to win the piece of your choice from her shop! Simply visit Benita Blue, & come back here & leave a comment telling me which piece is your favourite. Please also leave a contact email so we can get in touch! You have until the 9th of December to enter, results will be drawn by random.org on the 10th!

If you don't win, fear not, because you can all use the code CUPCAKES to get 10% off all items, all the way to Christmas!