photo 1: festive candles made from recycled pudding pots, cuplights and cranberries

photo 2: new mugs for the girls handpainted locally and a massive cup handmade by CircaCeramics for all the cups of tea in my life / quick ten minute choc chip cookies from my new cookbook by Hugh Fearnely Whittingstall

photo 3: for two weeks I didn’t have to cook a single dinner, this is the spread my darling prepared for new years eve

photo 4: I made time to knit a hat for myself, I’m also showing off my gorgeous new silver earrings which R had specially designed and handmade for me as a Christmas surprise

photo 5: Wreath made by the girls with cranberries after seeing the idea on MayaMade

photo 6: Kootje’s hair is long enough to have plaits

photo 7: R and Betsie by the river

photo 8: new pyjama’s, worn every day since Christmas

We boughts these in Brighton in the summer and put them up just before the holidays. There’s something comforting about the glow.

Drawing the Ed Emberley way. He shows you step by step how to draw anything from animals to buildings to an ambulance. This one is Kootje’s. It’s definitely a big help for me as I’m hopeless at drawing.

I knitted this hat for the secret santa swap at my knitting group. But… Betsie got hold of it first and claimed it. So I quickly knitted another one. I feel a bit self conscience about it though as it is so simple. I know that some of the girls have made very elaborate hats for the swap with handyed yarn and felted flowers. I’m off to try and embellish mine a bit more.

Recycled cardboard stamped with hand carved wooden stamps from Oxfam. I hate all the waste that surrounds Christmas so recycled newspaper with these lovely gift tags it is. No sticky tape either, I will tie the presents with some leftover yarn. I am pleased with the result.

Betsie goes to pre-school two mornings a week. So on Monday i have tea for one which is nice and strange at the same time. Most Tuesday mornings I have a friend who sits down with me to drink tea and knit. How lovely.

It bugged me to throw away plastic bin liners used for our recycling. My mama brought some old curtains and I’ve made them into bin liners for the recycling bin. I’m trying hard to use less plastic and create less waste. We don’t have any plastic bread bags anymore as I make our own bread. I bought some Onya weigh bags to use in the supermarket for fruit and veg. (nice that my mama gets as excited as I do about such things, she was delighted when I gave her one too!) Rob our local milk man has just started delivering organic milk in glass bottles (nice that my mother-in-law gets as excited about this as I do!).

before we will see Sinterklaas. The girls are full of excitement. Kootje has been singing her heart out and Betsie has been asking lots of questions. What does Sinterklaas has for breakfast? How will he get to us? Is he bringing his horse? Why does he have a stick? How many helpers is he bringing? Sinterklaas is one of my favourite celebrations and it brings a smile to my face passing on the tradition to the girls.

The Sunday market at Brick Lane is full of smells, colours, food from all over the world, crafts and lots of inspiration. I love this place, especially when i get to go there with a good friend.