sunshine and snow days

We enjoyed a gorgeous 'blue bird' day up at Mount Hood Meadows last week.  Sunshine and snow (not the best,  but just good enough - although it has heaps now) and such blue skies. Great skiing and the kids got to try out a couple of new runs.  Loving it.

No filter or adjustments were made to this blue sky!  So lucky.

And today is a Snow Day.  Schools are closed around here.  Snow started late yesterday morning and continue until well into the night  The kids could hardly wait to get outside after breakfast today and had made plans with neighbors and school friends for a sleding gathering.  They have been outside sleding and playing for hours today.  As the afternoon ended, they came in for a movie, popcorn and anything else they could find to eat!  More snow has been falling since late afternoon and will continue all night. Blustery and heavy.  Looks like our weekend will involve a lot of fun outdoors, followed by hot chocolates and gluhwein and cosy evenings in by the fire. Feels almost Christmassy (apart from no tree!).

Happy snow weekend.

brrrrr

- 6 this morning.

I am so ready for some warmer days, aren't you?

Snow at the beach

I'm sure everyone has a 'snow story' to tell right now. So here's mine...

I'm more than relaxed to say the least. No tearing around the shops trying to find the last gift on my list for me. We have just returned for a stress-busting 3 days at the beach. Beach I hear you say? With all this snow and freezing temperatures? Yes indeed! We have been staying at the Noordzee Hotel & Spa, at Cadzand Bad on the dutch coast, very close to the Belgian border and about 20k from Brugge.

The 2hr drive was relaxed and calm. No snow drifts or endless lines of cars. Snow glistened in trees and fields but the roads were clear. We checked into this lovely family owned hotel, decorated with Christmas trees, candles and log fires. We wrapped ourselves up in all our warmest clothes and spent the afternoon walking on the beach, playing football and clearing the cobwebs.

We spent 3 days enjoying the indoor heated pool and sauna, having Swedish massages, relaxing in our lovely room with views over the beach and indulging in family R n' R time watching Christmas movies and eating popcorn. Delicious meals in the restaurant and hot chocolates with whipped cream in the afternoon next to a roaring fire. Bliss.

And we got more than our fare share of the white Christmas feeling as well. With temperatures hitting -6, we woke up Sunday morning to a huge snow storm. Snuggled in our outdoor gear we walked on a snow covered beach where dunes and break-waters were covered in sparkling snow and oh so pretty. On the beach we built a snowman and made snow angels. We slid on our bums down the path which had turned into an ice slide. We could hardly see where the beach ended and the sea began as the snow storm was so heavy. Amazing and beautiful and so much fun. A trip we will always remember.

No shopping, no crowds, nothing to do but relax and be together. If you have the opportunity to get away at this time of year, I highly recommend it. A hotel with all the festive trimmings and nothing much for you to do. You will be revived and chilled out, and ready to welcome your guests, get that turkey stuffed and enjoy your festivities even more on Christmas Day.

We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Expecting snow?

Then maybe you'll be wanting these 'handy' things to help make the best snowman on your street.

Snowman Maker, Snowman Kit and Sno-Baller!

As seen on this lovely blog and available to order at this US store.

You might also fancy a new pair of cosy boots to keep your toes toasty and warm. These styles look just the ticket don't you think?

Top L to R. UGG Snowpeak, Merrell Oslo

Bottom L to R. Merrell Puffin, Sorel W Suka

We've had a fine sprinkling of snow here this afternoon, so I dug out Luca's snow boots to make sure they still fit, just incase it gets heavy tonight. Last year I was soo unprepared and had to bomb around town looking for snow boots that were cool enough for a 6 year old. We had a huge (for the Netherlands) dumping of snow and nearly every store had sold out of kids boots (apart from pink ones - definitely a no-no). Thankfully I found a pair that were just about acceptable to him and they still fit (must have been massive last year)!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know...

Home fragrances

It's Saturday evening. It's cold and wet outside. The kiddos are sleeping. We have a log fire burning. The candles are glowing and the Huzz and I are..... half watching Strictly Come Dancing and on our Macs! How romantic is that? Huzz is sorting his recent photos and I'm browsing the blogs.

Anyway, back to those glowing candles. The room always looks so cosy with some lighted candles and I seem to get through huge numbers in the winter time. Mine are nothing special today, just some deep brown aged ones decorating the fire place. But I've been looking around at some of the most gorgeous scented ones recently and there are some beautities. Here are a few favourites that have caught my eye that would be lovely Christmas gifts (heads up anyone pondering what I might like this year!).

Tocca, Cowshed, Miller Harris, Crabtree & Evelyn

I'm not one for room fragrance sprays and plug-in things that puff out some kind of fake smell - they seem to pollute the air and make me choke a bit actually. However, I do love these subtle room scent diffusers that you can regulate by adding or removing the reeds. They look so lovely too. One of my favourites is by Antica Farmacista - Peonia, Gardinia, Rosa. Their bottles are particuarly beautiful too.

Crabtree & Evelyn, Rituals, Antica Farmacista, Marks & Spencer