Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013

Well folks, at the stroke of midnight tonight, we will all be bidding adieu to 2012 and Guten tag to 2013!  I think I probably say this every year but never one afraid of sounding like a broken record... didn't this year go quickly? I swear as I get older, each year increases in speed, like some secret conspiracy solely aimed at me, with the aim of ageing me and making my life flash by in the blink of an eye!

Thankfully, I am here for the ride, and have grabbed life by the proverbial again this year. So, in similar fashion to last year, I decided to put together a highlights of 2012 post, just some of my favourite moments and adventures.

February half term: A whole day of relaxation at Clarice House Spa with the bestie. Complete bliss.

Valentine's Day February 2012 - The husband and I went to see Singin' in the Rain. The first of many shows seen in 2012!

First wedding anniversary 2012: The husband and I went to the Berkeley in London for pret-a-portea afternoon tea and then to see Jersey Boys. We had a fantastic time.

The husband treated me to a new Mulberry bag for our first wedding anniversary, so I now have Mulberry siblings! Love you S xx

Bank holiday weekend May 2012: A little trip to the Cotswolds.

June 2012: The husband and I took a 4 day trip to Budapest. Pictured is the Hungarian State Opera House, where we saw an opera of Macbeth. We also visited the Szechenyi thermal baths, the stunning New York Cafe, the Buda castle district, Heroes Square and St. Stephen's Basilica amongst others.

Summer holiday 2012: The husband and I flew out to Barbados in August for a couple of weeks of sun, relaxation, and not much else! An amazing holiday in a beautiful location.

October 2012: A 3 day trip to Yorkshire for half term.

Christmas 2012: We spent the day in London, ice-skating at the National History Museum and then watching Viva Forever! 

These are just a few of my highlights but 2012 has been fantastic for so many reasons! I worked like a mo-fo and passed by Advanced Skills Teacher assessment and got promoted at work, I purchased a brand new car, the husband and I celebrated one amazing year of marriage and we have now spent 3 years in our perfect home! I have a good feeling about 2013 and hope that I manage to top the successes of 2012 and continue to tick things off my list! I've already made a start by booking some theatre tickets for the upcoming months as well as flights to Rome for our anniversary trip away.

I guess all that is left to say is happy and healthy new year to all, may 2013 be good to you! : D xxx

All blissed out

Hello and happy weekend to all my lovely followers, hope you are relaxing and enjoying yourselves. I really cannot believe how quickly time is going at the moment, another weekend and only two weeks until half term! So excited as I have some really fun things planned for half term and am willing the time away now!!

I am super busy at the moment, perhaps that's why it seems as if time is travelling at the speed of light! In these busy times, I am always reminded of the need to take a moment, slow down and relax for a while. I have to admit though, I find this difficult at times. With late nights working and then straight to bed, I often go a whole week straight with little down time, other than to eat and shower! Weekends and half terms are therefore sacred, and I try to pencil in a good few days of just pure relaxation - good food, plenty of magazines and new films/TV to watch.

In keeping with the relaxation theme, I recently decided that a spa day was in order, a whole day of nothing but relaxation, luxury treatments and delicious food. My best friend and I booked our spa day just before Christmas and decided to take it in the February half term. We travelled up the day before and stayed in a hotel so we wouldn't need to rush around on the day of the spa. We chose the gorgeous country spa Clarice House in Bury St Edmunds on the recommendation of my mum who visits the spa herself.

 Happily, the spa day was everything we wanted and more! We enjoyed 5 treatments including a 1 hour facial and massage, full use of the facilities and a three course lunch in their AA Rosette awarded restaurant. I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the fact we were able to wear our robes and slippers all day, even for lunch! Here are a few snaps I took to remember our day (apologies for poor quality, I only had my iPhone available!)

Beautiful country house interiors

The ONLY time you will catch me without make up... and only because it's mandatory!

Hot choc : )

Starters! Clare opted for a goats cheese panna cotta with hot and sour cherry tomatoes, confit  pepper and a parmesan twille.

I chose a tomato and basil soup with rosemary bread.

Clare's main was an individual minced venison ragu, horseradish mash and carrots and parnsips.

I chose a pan fried chicken breast with pancetta, on a bed of risotto with a balsamic vinegar dressing and watercress accompaniment.

Gorgeous dessert: fondant chocolate tart with honeycomb ice cream.

Relaxing in the conservatory in between treatments.

Pretty toes!

A most brilliant day, and boy did it feel good to just relax and have nothing else to think about! With busy lifestyles I think spa days should be mandatory for women, at least once a year! I intend to return... : )

Enjoy the rest of your weekend elves : ) XOXO