January Photo Challenge Day 6: Remnants of December ♥

Photo challenge day 6 is Remnants of December.  This candle grouping on my coffee table is the only thing left in my house that says December.  Christmas is packed safely away until next year.  I'll keep the candles just a little bit longer though.  The Ho Ho Ho pillar is new this year.  I love the glitter : )

January Photo Challenge Day 5 : Weekend ♥

Day 5 of my January photo challenge is Weekend.  With the bitter cold temps the past few days I'm already getting cabin fever.  Hoping it warms up over the weekend so I can take a nice walk somewhere. Even if I have to bundle myself up like an Eskimo, the fresh clean winter air is bliss in my lungs!

 

As a matter of fact, I went on a walk yesterday....well, I started to.  I had an idea that I wanted to take a walk down by my favorite summer spot by the ocean.  There is something about visiting the ocean in the winter (even when it's freezing) that is very peaceful to me.  On my way there it started snowing.  Here is a little video I took of me walking through the park towards the ocean (in the snow).

You may recognize that bench in the video.  I have taken many photos sitting in that exact spot.  This is a small beach that mostly harbors boats.  In the summer I like to sit here and watch the boats coming in and out (headed for Boston).  It's very rocky so it's good fun to walk along the shore looking for shells and glass.  I have wasted many a day away here.  It's a much different experience in the winter, but the water is still beautiful and peaceful.  It was so cold that I couldn't stay long.  Besides, I had a steaming café mocha waiting for me in the car ♥

January Photo Challenge Day 4: Morning ♥

Day 4 of my photo challenge is Morning.  Cleaning and getting back in the swing of things today. It's bitter cold out today but you would never know it by the pretty morning light shining through the windows. 

January Photo Challenge Day 3: Evening ♥

Day 3 of my photo challenge is Evening.  This is me every every evening standing in front of the stove waiting for the kettle to whistle.  Since tonight is Downton Abbey night (yaaay!) I'm having tea in my favorite Union Jack mug ♥


And speaking of Downton, here is a video that I thought was hysterical!  It's the cast of Downton reading their lines with American accents! It's not quite the same! LOL ♥

January Photo Challenge Day 2: Resolutions ♥

January photo challenge day 2 is Resolutions. One of my many is to take better care of my skin.  I am very guilty of falling asleep at night without washing my face.  It's so bad! I started using this serum from Sephora  under my Olay moisturizer and I really love it.  My skin is typically very dry and this is making it feel so much better.  I certainly can't turn back the hands of time, but I'll give it my best shot! : )

Happy New Year & a January Photo Challenge ♥

Happy New Year Friends!

I can hardly believe it's 2016!

How did you celebrate? I'm sure you all were doing something fabulous.  I was too.  I was fabulously in my pj's by 7 and on my couch all snuggled in for the night by 8.  We had pancakes for dinner, played a few games while we sipped our tea, and for the first time ever - John stayed awake to see the ball drop! He was so proud of himself.  In my world, that's pretty fabulous ♥

Once in my lifetime I would like to be in New York City on New Years Eve.  I would like to see the ball drop, hear the cheers, and try to catch flying confetti in the sky. Tonight the sweet sound of Frank Sinatra's New York New York played in the background as over 1 million people celebrated at the stroke of midnight.  That sounds pretty fabulous too ♥

Truth be told, I've never really been much of a New Year's eve person.  I love the idea of starting a new year with a clean slate. A new beginning with goals.  I spend the week between Christmas and New Years thinking about all the things I want to start, end, or change come January 1st.  The problem is that by the time its New Year's eve I'm too dang tired to do anything....hence the pj's by 7.  December is so busy that by the time the 31st rolls around we are more than happy to stay cozy at home and watch movies. 

So that's what we did ♥

And speaking of new beginnings, I decided to try a January photo challenge.  I found this one on Pinterest that looks really fun. 

I'm going to post my pictures on Instagram & Twitter everyday as well as here on the blog.  If you would like to play along just use the hashtag #pdcwinter

The challenge comes from the blog Polka Dot Cottage. Lisa posted it last year for 2015, but I decided to follow this one because I love the choices.  ♥

So day 1 (that's today : ) is New Beginnings.  I wanted to post a picture of The Desiderata poem because to me  nothing says New Beginnings like this. I can't think of a better mantra to start January with...

Be cheerful.  Strive to be happy ♥

I hope your 2016 is off to a fabulous start!

See you on day 2 ~

♥

(from Susan Branch's Book of Days on my kitchen counter : )

Welcome to the Christmas House ♥

Here is a short video I just took of my family room and kitchen.  I love this time of night when all of the Christmas lights are glowing. 

 

I had The Boston Pops Orchestra CD playing in the background.  I hope you enjoy it! ♥♥♥