Celia M. ~ Living My High Heeled Life

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

A Nutcracker Christmas ~ and ~ Christmas GIVE AWAY

We have been working hard at the HHL country home, getting ready for Christmas and the celebrations of the season. This year is the first Christmas in 5 years that I am looking forward to. With my love of ballet and memories of going to see the Nutcracker Ballet on my birthday... The Nutcracker theme was perfect for our home.

Trying to bring some tradition back into the celebration of Christmas, we choose to not add the Angel to the top of tree during Advent. Instead on Christmas eve we will set the Angel in place at the top of the tree and light it's candles.

A pretty ballerina dances about....

ballet slippers ...

Clara and her Nutcracker gift ...

Christmas horse....

The Mouse King

Our guests are greeted by a nature scene inspired from our property..

Little Dolce, checking out the gifts under the tree... woofing that some be for him...

This is a special Nativity that is dear to Mr. G's heart and we place out each year.

Notice the crèche is empty ... it will remain empty until midnight Christmas eve...

The reason for Christmas celebration!!!

Since the Christmas season is for giving ... What better time

to host a GIVE AWAY!!

When I hosted a Girls Christmas Tea last month, this was one of the prizes a lucky guest won!

When purchasing it, I decided that my Blog Friends should also have an opportunity to win a teacup and saucer set.. so of course an extra was purchased and set aside for this give away!

This is a ROYAL ALBERT teacup and saucer...

I love the details ... the gold rim edges, the flower bouquet that greets you as you bring the teacup to to your lips.

The detail on the saucer is magnificent!

The pattern is LADY CARLYLE....

The Give Away is open to ALL followers,

Yes, no matter where you live!

All you need to qualify is be an existing Follower or new follower of this blog Falling Off A High Heeled Life (via Google friend connect) and leave a comment.

EXTRA Chances to win

~ If you are a BlogLand Pen Pal participant, leave a separate comment saying you participate in BlogLand Pen Pal

~ Post about this giveaway or add it to your right side bar with a link back to this post , leave a separate comment

~ Become a subscriber to Falling Off A High Heeled Life posts via email (you'll find the email subscription box on the right side bar ... enter your email address and hit submit, leave a separate comment indicating that you receive Falling Off A High Heeled Life posts via email.

Good Luck to Everyone! Give Away ends December 24th, 2011

Tea Time Tuesday ~ with Sandi

Tea Party Tuesday ~ with Trish

Tea Time Tuesday ~ with Lady Katherine

Martha's & Terri's Tea Time Tuesday

Tuesday Tea for Two ...3

Table Top Tuesday

Teacup Thursdays

Tablescape Thursday

Also joining Flip Flops and Pearls for Semi-wordless Wednesday

Keeping the Spirit of Christmas Alive, 365 for I'll Be Home For Christmas linky party

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Creating a New Me ~ A weighty feeling...

As the year of 2011 inches closer to completing it's chapter and the 2012 chapter is all but a few pages away from starting to be written; it is the perfect time to start thinking about things that may be weighing us down.

As someone whose weight had been a steady 112-117 lbs for years, watching the scale continuously raise over the past 5 years has been most unsettling. Not because of the number flashing at me in neon lights (139lbs) but, because of how uncomfortable I feel and the way clothes now fit or better worded do not fit.

I ~~will~~ can accept that I may never see 112lbs again, but I will not accept feeling uncomfortable for the rest of my life. So, after giving serious consideration to some options like:

Stop eating ~ this would certainly result in further challenges

Go off my Meds (yes, Meds can be contributors to weight gain), ~

I'd see quick results I'm certain , but then not being able to

leave the house would present a whole new set of challenges.

Diet ~ possibly a short term quick fix ... but long term its impossible.

SOLUTION:

Having a French friend who is always eating (yummy stuff- bread, cheese, chocolate etc.) and enjoys her wine, whilst she remains petite started me thinking. Hmm... maybe there is something to "French Women Don't Get Fat". Recalling my 2 visits to Paris, would confirm the majority of French women really are slim and toned. A search of my book case, quickly revealed a forgotten copy of the book "French Women Don't Get Fat", read years back.

Aside from the well written pages and recipes, the important things that I took away from the book were: the French (and I think this can be said of most Europeans) go for quality not quantity in their food choices; also they will only eat/indulge in foods that they truly like; and no idle snacking.

So one of my personal goals for 2012 ... is to change my eating habits to those of Europeans, after all I was born in Europe, so it will not be a foreign thing to me.

Basically it's about eating healthy 3 meals a day; with very little to no snacking, between meals.

This is an intro to the Creating a New Me series, that I will be sharing in 2012. I thought with the indulging festive season upon us, it would be a good time to start thinking about what we are putting into our bodies.

For long term results eating habits must be part of our Life Style and not constantly being on a Diet Plan, depriving us of nutrients our bodies require to function properly.

Are your eating habits Diet driven or Life Style driven? What have you found works for you on a daily basis to maintain healthy weight and life balance?

Saturday, December 10, 2011

My Christmas Wish List ....

My how I have changed... and so have my Christmas ~~WANTS~~ wishes. For the first time in 5 years I am actually looking forward to Christmas, but something is a little different. Instead of listing the latest fashion must haves or the I "Need" designer handbag or heels ...as was often so easy. I'm thinking, Hmm what would be nice to have that is practical and reflective of the ME and life, I'm creating.

Did I really just type PRACTICAL?? WOW...

The new ME is trying to create a life that speaks to simplicity and my "new" capabilities, (notice I didn't use limitations? yup trying that positive spin) ~ though still elegant ~ being more practical (there is that word again - shhhhh); enjoying each day and living the moment.

Dear Santa...