{a guide to : feeling under the weather}

Under the weather is an understatement of how I've been feeling as of late. Diagnosed almost a month ago with glandular fever I've had a deadly dose of flu-like symptoms with optional added extras like glands as swollen as Kim Kardashian's pregnancy breasts, a desire to sleep for twenty-three hours per day and the urge to reject most foods beside chocolate croissants - which I've ultimately been living off.

Don't run away just yet, this isn't (another) post-long whinge, but a remedy for shitty, awful and annoyingly "untreatable" viral infections, colds, and general un-wellness.

Basically -all the cure involves is many, many hot baths laced with relaxing and soothing aromatherapy oils or lovely achy-muscle-reviving bath salts. Countless cartons of Innocent Smoothies, I've developed a penchant for the superfood antioxidant one with Acai and the mango & passionfruit container of joy for vitamins and to help soothe a raspy throat. Countless pots of green and herbal tea with fizzy aspirins  day & night nurse, extra strength Nurofen liquid capsules - all chased with honey and lemon throat sweets - and a 'hot toddy' where necessary. If you don't know what the latter is, google it and you'll thank me later. 

A plentiful supply of Kleenex Balsalm is also essential (red noses are only chic for Comic Relief) and that was a whole week ago) and any treats you can score to cheer you up; see my chocolate croissant obsession, piles of glossy magazines, macarons, cupcakes and when your feeling up to it - hours of DVDs and your personal Sky Plus edit followed closely by online shopping.

As much as I tried to fight it - it ultimately does come down to plenty of sleep and total bed rest, a month later I've never felt better than after spending four full days in bed. No work, no emails, not much of anything really. Of course this isn't entirely practical, and I've found it near impossible to take time out from a busy work schedule but the bed rest has been used well and I'm not far from back to my usual self..

{two beautiful things : winter whites & cozy nights}

So its January, its minus two outside, and bleaching down with snow. Nothing seems more appealing tonight than to curl up in front of the fire with my current read (The Perks of being a Wallflower, should you care) with only the pooch and a Thai take out for company. May even indulge in a glass of bubbles in a bubble bath, simply because I bloody can - and there has been a bottle calling my name for too long from the fridge. 

Something has to cheer up dull January nights, right? Its either that or I attempt solo sledging... 

Beautiful Details: Christmas Wrapping

While all of my presents are now wrapped and placed under the tree ready for the big day (five sleeps, cue child-like squeal), some of you less-organised beauties may still need to buy a few, let alone wrap a few gifts.

For a chic alternative to printed wrapping paper, why not try heavy Kraft paper? Classy and elegant looking, not to mention relatively cheap, it looks beautiful teamed with countless combinations of bows and ribbons, gold to pale lavender, stripes and glitter to white velvet...

Inspired Interior: A Sense Of Grandeur

I adore the idea of painting the walls of light & airy spaces a deep charcoal hue and filling every corner with perfectly ornate and beautiful details; chandeliers, velvet, silk curtains & tufted headboards...

Inspired Interior: An Austin Retreat

Another Thursday morning, another beautiful 'weekend' house to pour over. This stunning fifteen year old property is the holiday home to interior designer and proprietor of Shabby Slips, Renea Abbott. “This was just a sliver of land that nobody knew what to do with, the builder who developed it thought outside the box, looked at the land, and I think he was pretty genius to come up with this design Every room has a view, and the way he sited them makes you unaware of the neighbours around you, yet you see the lake.” He also notes, “From the water, the houses look very European — but without all the clichés.”