Christmas has arrived...

Christmas has arrived in our house!! Two trees are up, garlands and twinkle lights are everywhere, the gingerbread candle is burning and the garden has already been covered with snow, with more to come!! What more could I ask for?? I was starting to worry that I wouldn't want to see my decorations again, having used them for a number of shoots recently...but no...still as fun as always!

I had a really nice time with my son Joshua last week...we had an hour alone, he got in touch with his feminine side and helped me decorate our tree with the plum and glass decorations. Now, you have to understand that this is normally sacred ground...done alone at midnight, with a nice glass of wine when the kids are asleep! So I feel I must congratulate myself for letting go of being a Christmas control freak...temporarily mind you!! I think he did a pretty good job!

Everybody helped decorate the big tree in the family room...red and gold this year and all the decorations the kids have made over the years. I love the traditions and sense of family that Christmas brings...these are the special times that we share with our families...sometimes I get a bit too busy at this time of year and lose sight of the simple things...it's good to just stop and enjoy being together!

When you think they are asleep...

We finally thought we had cracked it last night...Ethan, our youngest, went to bed quietly...by himself..which, if you know him, is a feat in itself!!! Later, on checking him, we found him lacking in clothes because he had spent a considerable amount of time dressing his teddy in his pyjamas!! He had managed to put everything on the right way, which is quite impressive considering it was pretty dark!! Well at least he was quiet about it!!



Thought I would leave you with a few photos from my walk this morning with Bailey...it was cold, frosty, extremely misty but completely beautiful!

Sweets & Sours...

So I thought I better start to introduce you to my world...the things I like, the things I don't like so much and everything in between!!

• I love my husband soooo much...he has always been my best friend, my inspiration, my sounding board, my kick up the backside when I need it, my soul mate...
• I love our 4 beautiful children...my little miracles, who are not so little any more? They constantly amaze me...
• I love walking my dog Bailey every morning...time to breathe and reassess the world!
• I love Christmas which for me sadly starts in October, when I sneak on the Christmas music when no-one is around, light a spiced apple and cinnamon candle, gather my ingredients for my Christmas pudding and chutneys and get to work! You might even see a few twinkle lights appear just to get everyone in the mood! Yes, my family thinks I'm mad but secretly I think they enjoy it...everyone wants to stir the Christmas pudding and taste the first batch of chutney with a cracker and a chunk of cheese!
• I love a rip-roaring open fire on a cold, miserable, rainy day
• I love the smell of a bonfire...and lighting the fire pit in the garden to toast marshmallows with the kids!
• I love snow and the muffled silence outside after a fresh downfall
• I love my range cooker and spending hours trying new recipes
• I love food...savoury is definitely better than sweet...although a bowlful of jalebi's and gulab jamans is hard to beat!
• I especially love...marmite on hot, buttered toast, normally late at night with a glass of full fat milk (diets don't stand a chance in our house!)...indian food, especially my Grandma's meat masala curry...leftover chapati's toasted with marmalade on for breakfast or a coffee with a masala meat sandwich with my dad on a saturday morning!!!
• I love flowers, especially roses, peonies and hydrangeas
• I don't have a favourite colour...there are too many good colours out there...it depends what mood I'm in!
• I love patchwork quilts, hot water bottles, candles, polka dots, old books and all things vintage
• I love to sew and have an insane amount of fabric waiting to be put to good use!
• I love evening walks in December when everyone has their lights on and I get to check out their Christmas trees! I know...if I were a Mr Man I would be Mr Nosy!
• I love watching a good movie with a bag of Dorito's, a tub of houmous and a glass of wine!
• I love lists...did you notice?!!!

• Tinsel...don't ever ask me to decorate with it!!!
• Rice cookers and all other useless kitchen appliances...make it yourself! :-)
• Rain...have you ever noticed that, without fail, it suddenly gets heavier at 3.30pm when you have to stand in the playground waiting for your kids to come out?? Teachers must look out and chuckle as they keep them in an extra few minutes!! I know I would...did I just say that?!
• Bad hair days and not knowing what to wear
• My husband Jon, falling asleep on the sofa...if you're tired, go to bed...don't mess up my sofa!!
• Shoes left anywhere except the shoe cupboard...and with 4 children this does become an issue...today I found 9 pairs scattered around my living room!
• Being cold...how on earth I survived living in Canada I don't know!!
• Feeling disorganised!

• I would love to live by the sea one day...preferably near my sister in California!
• I'd love to see my kids succeed in everything they dream of
• I'd love to meet my dream client who says "Go wild, go crazy, money is not an issue!!"
• I'd love to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
• I want to drive around New England and see Vermont in the Fall
• I dream of a simpler life
• I'd love to write a book
• I'd love to look back on my life and know that I made a difference in people's lives

So I think that will do for now but look out for my sweet and sour updates...

Thank you's continued...

I have had so many lovely comments from all of you out there about my website and all the beautiful images but I would like to 'Pay it Forward' and say a huge thank you to Jade Alana Photography! Jade has managed to perfectly capture my designs through her lens and has become an amazing friend in the process. I have so enjoyed working on Style Sessions and weddings with Jade and love her personal approach to each and every client. She has an incredible gift for capturing the moments the rest of us might miss and drawing out real emotion and atmosphere in her shots.

It is so great finding someone who is so passionate about what they do and shares the same style and vision as I do! Along with my family, Jade has kept pushing me to believe in myself and what I do and for that I am forever grateful. Our family has grown richer for knowing her and her beautiful family!

Thanks Jade...can't wait for the next shoot...

Birthday Boy!

So...we had a birthday in our house this week. The big Josh Bosh turned 9 yesterday and is just as gorgeous as ever! Check him out in his new flat cap...too cool for words! His super trendy Uncle Eric bought one in the summer so he just had to have one on his birthday list!

Happy Birthday Josh...we love you loads!!!x

The new website is here and the thank you's begin...

So, welcome to my new website...hope you have enjoyed looking around! The new blog design is coming soon so make sure you check back in and take a look!

I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce you to Eric Michael...

....not only am I privileged to have him as a brother-in-law...not only is he the moodiest, most natural male model I have had the pleasure of working with ( check him out in my Field of Dreams gallery!)...but he's also the most amazing web designer responsible for creating my site. I think he's done an incredible job and has captured the essence of who I am and what I believe in his design.

He has listened to endless hours of my ramblings about my likes and dislikes...he was even crazy enough to provide me with a pile of Californian wedding magazines on his last visit, which fuelled even more hours of ooohs and aaahs and too many great ideas!!

If you want a quality job done by someone who listens to every idea, puts up with you changing your mind every 5 minutes but in the end knows you better than you know yourself, then get in touch with Eric Michael and let him work his magic!! Visit him at www.eric-michael.com

Thanks Eric...I promise I won't change my mind again!!!

Beginnings...

Hey! Thanks for stopping by,

So, after many years of styling private events and designing and decorating weddings for friends, I am launching out into the big wide world of business.

I am passionate about what I do so whether you have an ideal vision in mind or need creative direction, I would love to be a part of helping you visualise your dream event and enjoy the process of creating it.

I am based in Derbyshire but am very willing to travel so please get in touch and we can chat about your requirements.

Over the next couple of months I will be launching a full website and adding images from a series of exciting photo shoots and weddings that I am involved with.

Please visit again but in the meantime if you would like to get in touch you can contact me at michele@michelegledhill.co.uk