A Cup of Shai

Hi! :) This piece of writing was inspired when I was watching A Christmas Carol on t.v the other day. I thought it'd be a great idea to create my own scene which could easily fit into the story.  “Come and get your potatoes! Freshly baked!” a puny man shouted. The dimly-lit streetlamps glowed spookily, looming down upon the bustling crowds. Grotty chimneys churned out smoky air. This mixed with the stench horses’ dung, and the snow covered pavements, made for a very unpleasant walk down Bell Street. It was no wonder that women waved their laced handkerchiefs around as they rifled through chestnuts from the back of a cart.  Across the road, a huge hog was turning on a spitfire. Pink flesh slowly turning into a crispy golden brown. A growling fire sending sparks here and there. Pale geese, rabbits and ducks hung from the butcher’s ceiling, all four limbs splayed out, still in death. Skinless and bare.  The waft of mulled wine clashed with the winter air. Cinnamon...

I can't believe Christmas, the most magical and sparkly time of the year, is only 9 days away!With festive cheer and time spent with loved ones, we spend so much time in our decorated homes. But making our homes looking delightful, cosy and inviting need not be expensive.  The best crafts and decorations are those full of heart. I've brought to you the following 10 ideas that will transform old tatty material into a thing of charm. Read on to find out how you can make your very own Christmas crafts! :) *All ideas are genuinely my own, however I do not own any of the images.  1.         Flatsheets. Transform it into a cosy advent calendar by sewing on some pockets! Chocolate coins, or little chocolate figures make for a delightful treat just before bedtime!  2. Buttons. These are great little bits to make a handmade card out of. Or, stitch these onto a homemade jumper for that extra detail.  3 . Empty tissue rolls. ...

         1. Fairy lights giving everything that       cosy, twinkly feel. 2.     Scented candles flickering. 3.   T he smell of freshly baked brownies. 4.     Treading through fresh snow. 5.     Christmas songs jingling at the Highcross 6.     The smell of freshly fried doughnuts in the cold air. 7.     Rose gold ornaments. 8.     Going for a country drive and seeing decorated houses. 9.     Oversized jumpers. 10.   Steam rising from roast dinner. 11.    Baking chocolate brownies. 12.     Magic in the air. 13.   Snuggling up on the sofa. 14.   Seeing trees dusted with snow. 15.   Going to watch the pantomime at De Montfort Hall. Oh yes I do! 16.   The reflection of diamonds sparkling when you walk past Swarovski. 17.   Going into the ...

Hi! It's been a w hile :) How have you been? Recently, I've been really drawn to homeware at stores and I really like putting together looks for rooms. So here it is! The Prayer Room. For many of us, faith helps to keep us grounded or centred. Whether you use it as a thinking space, or to read from Holy Scripture, I have thought of some ways you can create a stylish atmosphere of tranquillity and quiet.  1. Use Simple colours and Empty space.  Paint the whole room a calming white or cream. Pair with a plain carpet to create a clean look. Apart from a chair or seat you can sit on to pray, I would keep the room completely free from any furniture, as this will maximise space for people to pray their salah . 2. Use furniture as an accessory. Use a wooden room divider because they are practical and go back to Middle Eastern roots. Choose a carved wooden trunk to store your abayas and prayer ma ts.  3.  Display Islamic Art. Including some geometric prints or ...

A thousand fireworks shot into the sky! Peowww!!! Peowwwww!!! Peoooowww! A million stars twinkling and jazzing up the night canvas. Like diamonds strewn across some midnight blue satin. The night sky, a navy sari, encrusted with pretty, silver sequins and diamonds. This sari, adorned with stars, flowers and swirls of glamour. A flash and a swish of magenta silk, bangles tinkling on that bonny girl’s caramel wrist. Bells jingling at her ankles. Hands decorated with henna, clutching onto a plate of Indian sweets. The sticky syrup and fat chunks of pistachio, coconut and carrot mithai squashed against the clear wrap, about to burst. She’d already mentally bagsied the diamond shaped one with the foil on it.  A family of five stood, wrapped in shawls and scarves, clutching sparklers in their gloved hands. Mini fireworks twirling in the air. Giggles and hugs, as they trudged through the mushy leaves beneath toward the food stalls. The bangs had long dissipated, and all that ...

 http://moshlab.com/enchanted-forest-3d-wallpaper-hd-2882/ A long line of emerald green stood glistening in the autumn light. A silent and proud light glimmering through the leaves. There one minute and then gone the next; as though playing hide and seek with the trees.  The leaves had just begun to change shade; from a bright lime to a deep mahogany and bronzes. Each leaf a star hanging, edging its way toward death. Ten more days and a rug of green would grace the ground. Elizabeth and Catherine ran amongst the bushes, clambering into a pile of leaves, throwing them into the air with giggles of delight. The babes' curly locks bounced as they revelled in their mischief, their large eyes sparkling with awe. "Lizzie! Lizzie! Look at that!" Catherine gasped. A dozen or so fairies had been drinking the raindrops that had collected on fallen berries, then poking them with their pointed feet. A warm glow emanated from them, as if they had little lamps attached ...

A few days ago, I went to a fair :) Lou Lou's Vintage Fair is a touring fair which happens annually this time of year. :) They sell vintage products like hair fascinators, silk scarves, pocket watches and suitcases. The fair was held at the plush Mercure Hotel on Granby St. The atmosphere was charming and chilled out :) But I was also conscious of being the only girl in a headscarf there :(.One stallholder had used her retirement time to make these funky necklace pendants from old novels. Isn't that such a cool idea? Then were plenty of stalls selling floral tea-dresses and stylish fur-coats, (which reminded me of Del Boy), but I preferred looking at the products like typewriters and suitcases. Image taken from the Lou Lou's Vintage Fair Facebook page.  I had fun jabbing keys on an actual working typewriter, and using it was so weird when I thought of all the touch-screen technology we have today! The satisfaction of jabbing a key and hearing that metalling C...