Welcome to 2008

Well here 2008 is, I'm not a great lover of New Years Eve but there's something about New Years Day, new beginnings and the feeling that anything is possible! Unfortunately my new zest for life is marred by that "Back to Work" feeling... positive thoughts though, only 3 days to get through before the weekend!

I welcomed my first morning of 2008 with a crispy bacon sandwich from mum,

Mum has made a start of gathering Christmas decor together in readiness to pack away tomorrow,

I tidied our spare room which was covered in giftwrap, ribbons, tags so that it can be kept for another year although we still have many plain rolls of wrap which will be used for birthday's.

As promised here are some gifts I thought I'd share with you, there appeared to be a French theme to my gifts this year,

These stamps are one of my favourite gifts, I can't wait to start using them!

Some sheet music to use in crafting....

Lot's of books.... I will probably spend 2008 quoting various paragraphs from "A Girl for all Seasons". It's a fabulous idea, the book literally goes through the whole year with chapters like "Muse of the Month" (January's is Jane Austen), lot's of information on events, ideas and inspiration. I decided to read a chapter per month so it was relevant but I've already made a start on February as I've found it so enjoyable and I've already been given some blog and crafting inspiration!

Selfridges is my favourite shop so mum thought it appropriate I found about it's history!

Antonement wasn't a film I found amazing but it certainly intrigued and gripped me (maybe that was the vintage decor!) and if a film is based on a book I haven't read I always want to then get a copy of the book to compare! One film I do certainly love is Practical Magic and I can't wait to disappear into the pages on my journies to work!

And no book selection would be without some cookbooks. My brother knowing I love anything to do with America and cooking hit the jackpot selecting me the 1950s cookbook! I can't wait to start making some dishes from their pages as with the cheesecake book. I made my first cheesecake back in the Summer and it was a big hit, I followed this with an even more popular Mars cheesecake so now it seems everyone is waiting for my next creation and I certainly think I have enough ideas now!

DVDs which have already been watched whilst sitting in my pj's,

And no girl should be without perfume at Christmas,

And before I leave you I had to share this lovely lady I picked up from my favourite charity shop the Sunday before Christmas, isn't she cute?

She just smiled up at me and I couldn't leave her behind!

I've put it off long enough so now it's time to prepare myself for work and bed and await the sound of the alarm tomorrow am!