I think it’s safe to say winter has arrived in all its red nosed, foot stamping glory! I’m happy about it because it means bigger jumpers, scarves and a nice thick parka when I’m outside. Candles, fairy lights, blankets and mugs of hot drink are all in abundance at home, and Athena might even be wearing a festive Jumper already! Here’s a little round up of how I’m spending my Winter so far, just in case anyone needs any inspiration!
In my mug: I am switching between two favourite drinks at the moment, the first is a gingerbread hot chocolate, made simply with whatever hot chocolate you prefer (for me it’s either Cadburys cocoa or Bourneville) with a generous splosh of Monin Gingerbread syrup, with a good stir and few marshmallows for good measure (you can get the Monin syrups at most big supermarkets, and some coffee shops!)
Secondly, and more of a day time drink is pretty much anything from Bluebird Tea Co, and I am so glad I’ve got my taste for tea back in time for the winter months as I went right off tea in the first few months of my pregnancy! Gingerbread Chai (noticing a gingery theme here?) is my first choice, closely followed by Dark chocolate chilli chai.
Wearing: Mostly PJs, if I’m honest, well indoors anyway! I have resurrected my snowflake fleecy PJ bottoms as they fit round the bump, as sadly my rainbow reindeer ones don’t! I also treated myself to a huge fleecy jumper with a funnel neck from Asda when I last shopped there, it is the snuggliest thing ever, but sadly I’m often too hot in it! We’re lucky in that we’ve only had to have one heater on in the hall for half an hour each evening to take the chill off, but our flat is so well insulated that that’s it so far this winter!
On my plate: Stews, slow cooker casseroles, fajitas and curries! Normally with pudding and custard, plus a lot of ‘Minter Wonderland’ ice cream from Ben n Jerries.
Smelling: a couple of Yankee candle wax tarts in my burner, current favourites are Spiced Orange & Fireside Treats, and I’m also alternating 2 lovely candles from Jewelcandle.co.uk, I have a review and giveaway coming up for some too so keep an eye out for a post in the next couple of days! I ordered the wax tarts in bulk from amazon, as a winter selection but just looked and found these: Festive Mix
Watching: I’m currently watching a few different things, Nashville, Under the Dome (a tv drama based on a Stephen Spielberg book) along with catching up with New Girl every few weeks so I have a few to watch at once. Nothing on ‘normal’ TV is really taking my fancy now that Downton Abbey has finished, but I’m trying to keep up with The Apprentice and Gogglebox when I remember! Steph and Dom are my favourites by far, I’d love to stay at their luxurious B&B!
Reading: Audrey Niffenggers ‘Her Fearful Symmetry’. I started this back in the spring, but as I have a hardback copy I found it hard to read in the bath so stopped in favour of my kindle or paperbacks. I’ve re started as I only got a few chapters in, but so far so good!
How is everyone else spending their evenings this winter?
The gingerbread hot chocolate sounds amazing! I am loving candles and fairy lights at the moment. x
Maria’s Adventures