Love Actually... is all around...

Aside from Harry Potter, Love Actually is the greatest film ever to grace our screens. It has everything to offer, comedy, heartbreak, innuendos and LOVE.. ACTUALLY. 

Once again, Tracy (Gloriously Ungraceful) have come up with a series of questions to celebrate such a  perfect film, so here we are:

1. What is your favourite part of the movie?
This is so hard, as there as so many amazing bits but the bit that sends my heart racing the most, is Sam running after Joanne in the airport, after THAT song! It's totally and utterly adorable and the perfect amount of ridiculously unrealistic-ness and innocence. Sam's little face - awwww. 

2. Given the chance, what storyline would you have changed and how?
I would have loved to see Sarah and Carl find a way of getting together because it just seems so harsh that they can't be but then, what would a film be without a bit of longing for a different scenario?!

3. What love story would you want for yourself and why?

There's so many that I would love to combine, to make the perfect movie scenario my heart always longs for; but given my New Year's resolution to be more spontaneous, i'd have to say Colin's story line is pretty up there (minus the multiple girls) but just the fact it's a last minute trip to America and a scenario like no other... I love that idea of pure selfishness and spontaneity. But as I said, there are elements of each story I'd love for myself, right down to the style of the funeral!

4. Which situation would you least like to find yourself in?

My heart hurts for Mark; I mean seriously, what could or would you with yourself in that situation? (Although, a question I always do ponder... what would have happened if Peter opened the door?! - movies eh!)

5. Who is your favourite female character?

Natalie. What a girl. So natural and down to earth. She doesn't change to make someone love her. She has some of the best lines in the film and if you think otherwise i'll tell you to SHUT YA FACE.

6. Who is your favourite male character?

If I were basing this on who I would like to find myself in love with - John (is it bad I never knew his cast name until now?!) just simply because it's Martin Freeman. ♡

However, character wise, I love Billy. I feel like the whole story starts and is centralised by him in a way. He is a big inspiration to Sam's drumming part. He's utterly hilarious and also, he is the voice behind the song that makes the movie.

7. What makes you love this film?

As I said, it has everything you'd want from a movie. I love films like that, where they can make you feel a whole range of emotions. There's a story line to fit any scenario of love and therefore is relatable throughout any time of your life.

8. How many times have you watched it?

My biggest regret is not keeping a tally of this (maybe I should start in 2017, for this and Harry Potter) I literally wouldn't have a clue. One year, I honestly watched every day for about a month. I'd also say at least 3-4 times a year without fail. 

9. What part makes you laugh the most?

I have a real nervous laugh when it comes to movies... when something is so endearing, I get a nervous little laugh that begins with a lump in my throat - if I don't laugh, i'll cry. There's so many moments in this film that make me feel like this. One of my favourite scenes is David's trip to find Natalie in Wandsworth (the dodgy end), those kids. LOL.

10. What part makes you cry the most?

So. Many. Tears... Happy and Sad. The most heart wrenching tears of all though is when poor Karen doesn't receive the necklace. That scene is so cleverly acted out. So realistic and true of a mother to hide her own emotion for the sake of her family. The song has the perfect feel to it and particularly as we know that Karen has an emotional connection to Joni Mitchell - just such a tear jerker.

Bonus question: Do you think Hugh Grant would make a good Prime Minister?

Hugh Grant, no. Hugh Grant in his acting role of Prime Minister - ABSOLUTELY. His speech is everything (particularly as he celebrates Harry Potter too) and although it's a reflection of occurrences back in 2003, it still has so much meaning to this day. I'd love to hear our prime minister take control of a situation like that. Plus the fact he falls in love with Natalie - just perfect.

If you've watched this, let me know what you can relate to and if you haven't, I probably don't want to talk to you until you get your bum into gear and watch. I hope you enjoy my take on things! Be sure to check out Gloriously Ungraceful for her answers too. I could have answered so many other questions, there's so many other favourite parts and characters I could or should have mentioned and I kept thinking of lots of other questions as I was answering these. I really do love this movie.

(p.s. Tracy, please can we do one of these for HP?!)

With love (actually), hugs, kisses and special wishesFrom Katy  ♡

Tell me about your Christmas...

You're probably full up from Christmas Dinner, all your presents have been opened and now is the time to just 'veg out' on the sofa and check your Facebook, which is probably why you clicked on this blogpost!

Tracy and myself came up with 25 Christmas related questions, so you could get a feel for what our Christmas' are all about, so sit back, relax and enjoy getting to know more about my favourite subject!

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1. What was you favourite thing about Christmas as a child?

I feel like this was very much all down to the way my parents went about it all, everything was based on family tradition (question five explains more!) and that just made Christmas Eve and Christmas Day feel so special, so it's really hard to pick out one thing. My parents filmed everything from Nativities to the big day, so I don't think they're actual memories but more the fact I've watched those videos on countless occasions and therefore feel as though those 'memories' are etched in my head. I guess Christmas Eve and the excitement of waking up to a sack of presents was pretty up there!

2. What is your favourite Christmas memory?

I really struggled for this question at first, but thinking about it, it doesn't seem hard at all. 

I'll start in November 2008, when I forced my mum to put on an Early Christmas Day, so that we didn't miss out in December, this was specifically so that my best friend and her parents could come to ours, as both families were going to America (separately) over Christmas. We had everything as Christmas Day should be; the tree (albeit fake), the dinner, the presents, the cheesy after dinner games and all fuelled with plenty of Baileys.

It was a day i'll never forget and something that Tori and I still talk about every year - by the way Torz, if you're reading this, please let's repeat this soon, 2018 maybe... ten years later!?! 

And then December came which meant... America! I feel like all I need to say here is... Disney... At Christmas. MAGICAL!

But I will just also mention the fact, my parents and sister got in the Naples, Fl, local paper that year, for being the only people on the beach on Christmas Day in Santa Hats - am I gutted I didn't go on the beach with them... yes! Oh, and I'm still un-sure on steak replacing the traditional turkey but I'd do anything to be there this year, again!

3. What has been your most memorable present?

This is a really tricky one to answer because my birthday follows the next day, so I always tend cross the two over and usually if I've not received the present for Christmas, I will have for my Birthday, which is the only saving grace of a birthday the following day. But one present I remember quite vividly was when I was taken to the end of the garden, to find my very own Wendy House that had been decked out with curtains and miniature chinaware! Definitely something I hadn't expected, although i'd probably dropped a few hints because Sophie Foster had one! So that was a particularly special present.

4. When do you start to feel like Christmas is on its way?

I always start to sing Christmas songs in August/September but I would NEVER decorate until December, shops have ruined that part for me, I feel like it takes away so much of the excitement of December as my favourite month - although I'd never complain about Christmas coffees in November. Also, it doesn't mean I don't start planning gifts before then too. Oh I don't know. I'm mixed up when it comes to Christmas - I don't think it ever truly goes away in the year between. 

5. Do you have any Christmas traditions, either family ones or your own?

So many! Here's how it is, in short(ish):

Christmas Eve: 

Every year, we go for hot chocolate, somewhere cosy. This always used to be in a really sweet little restaurant in Rochester, until it was changed to an Italian, which was a heartbreaking time and obviously now we've moved, we're still on the hunt for the perfect location, but anywhere with a fire, usually does the trick! Not usually a church goer, but I admit that on Christmas Eve, some sort of carol service has always been welcomed, I've not been able to do this for a few years but this year, we're bringing back tradition.

I also HAVE to make Mince Pies on Christmas Eve... what else is Santa going to eat? Talking of which, right after watching Mickey's Christmas Carol (if you haven't seen this, you need to!), I still to this day, put a plate with a brandy, a mince pie, a carrot and some milk down for Saint Nick and his Reindeer. Something I will only stop doing, when I have children of my own and they can take over the role. And another maybe slightly childish tradition, I still make my mum read to me before bed... every year, for as long as I can remember, she reads The Night Before Christmas, to me. I don't ever want this tradition to end.

Christmas Day:

The one day of the year, I will willingly be up and awake before anyone and full of excitement! I still get a sack of goodies from Santa (we never had stockings, always a pillow sized sack and the same sack, since I was tiny!), I drag the sack to my mum and dad's bedroom, sit on their bed and open Santa's gifts. In more recent years, Santa has also put together a little stocking for Mum and Dad (just to re-pay the favour, you know!) No one is allowed downstairs into the lounge until properly dressed for the occasion and then, we make our way into a room where the underneath of the tree is exploding with gifts, the most magical feeling, even to this day. We have some bucks fizz and croissants and then it's time to open the family presents, one by one, in a clockwise order! Dinner is usually around 3 or 4pm and the remainder of gifts comes after that and then we all collapse, suitably full up and watch some naff tele, inclduing Eastenders, before a few games of Charades and a round of Turkey sandwiches. (God, this has got me excited!)

6. What would be the top three songs on your Christmas playlist?

Paul McCartney: Pipes of Peace - no one else really cares for this one but I love the words and the sentiment behind it all. 

Shakin' Stevens: Merry Christmas Everyone - just because it's so jolly and festive! 

The Pogues & Kirsty McColl: Fairy Tale of New York - I mean, why are you even questioning this choice?

7. What is your favourite Christmas film?

Love Actually - so much so that myself and Tracy created a tag all about it - be sure to look out for that on the 27th! 

8. If Christmas were a scent, what would it be?

Gingerbread but the kind of gingerbread that's heavily Cinnamon and Spiced based, not so much the vanilla sort. (I think one day I might turn into a Gingerbread Lady, you know!)

9. Celebrations, Miniature Heroes, Quality Street or Roses?

I'm a really fussy girl when it comes to chocolate but tins at Christmas are the best because they are bitesize and that for me is the perfect size but Roses went and got rid of Bourneville and Heroes went and changed the shape of Dairy Milk, so I guess that leaves Celebrations but I only like two of those too. Quality Street is an absolute no though!

10. When do you put your Christmas tree up?

As a child, my parent were always pretty mean about this and made us wait until we split from School but actually now, it's made me realise that is was always more special to do that, as it meant we were all together as a family. In more recent years though, the first weekend closest to the 1st December means that a tree will more than likely be up. Never before then though, please!

11. Do you favour a real tree or a fake one?

The past few years, living alone, I was forced to have a fake one, for it being the easy option but at my parents, ALWAYS a real tree. (actually, this year we have both, so I had somewhere for my gingeys to go!). Oh and, every year they make a joke that we won't get a real one but it would be Christmas without going to pick one and THAT smell. 

12. What are your feelings on tinsel?

Tack-fest for a house (soz not meant offensively). Great in an office. Although, the smell of it really does contribute to those nostalgic Christmas scents. 

13. Do you prefer clear or coloured lights?

I think coloured lights are perfect, in the right setting but personally I love clear and a preference on that is, they have to be warm and not cool. It just makes it so much more cosy. 

14. What do you put on top of your tree: an angel or a star?

A star (although don't think that angel ornaments don't feature!). As a child, it was always a big deal as to who would be the one to put the star on! Little did my brother or sister know, that, if it were their turn to do it, later on, when they weren't looking, my dad would lift me up to re-do it, so that technically - I put the star on the tree! 

15. What is your favourite Christmas decoration aside from the tree?

I feel like all of my Gingerbread Men account for something but infact, one decoration that truly stands out in my mind is the most tackiest decoration ever created, a door knocker, which, as you press it, exclaims HUMBUG HUMBUG, MERRY CHRISTMAS! This plastic mass of tack has been in our house for as long as I can remember, the mere sound of it brings back so many memories from Christmas' gone by and I just love it.

16. On Christmas Eve do you stay up to hear the sleigh bells or go to bed early so that Christmas comes quicker?

Stay up! As a child, i'd move my sleeping position to wherever was closest to the window and look out for him! 

17. What is your idea of the perfect Christmas Day?

As cliche as it sounds but a day where everyone can just get on and put all differences aside, to follow old traditions and feel incredibly cosy and smiley all day. Oh, and is a bit of snow too much to ask for?!

18. What do you wear on Christmas Day?

After our stocking presents, we weren't allowed downstairs until we made a bit of effort for the day, usually a nice dress or skirt, something sparkly and all topped off with a Santa hat!

19. What's the deal with presents in your house? How, when, from who?

Sacks from Santa, in the morning. Under the tree from Family before dinner, under the tree from Friends after dinner.

20. You've just pulled a Christmas cracker and it's the best you've ever had. What gift do you have and what is the joke?

Firstly, I always swap my hat to correspond with my outfit, because I am an OCD freak (or maybe I just want the better colour hat!) The present I got was actually something useful for once, like, you know, a ticket to America or something... and surely I can't be the only person who secretly loves the jokes you already get... they're all cracking... get it?! Crackers... Cracking... oh suit yourself.

21. What does a typical Christmas dinner mean for you?

I know everyone says this but really, my mum does THE best Christmas dinners. We have the traditional turkey (never dry!), sprouts with chesnuts and bacon bits (and yes, I pick out all the bacon and don't eat any of the rest!), pigs in blankets - (more bacon for me), all the normal veggies and potatoes, yorkshire puddings (because who said they were just for beef!), red cabbage (one of the best parts!) bread sauce, (there's more options but not for me thanks) anddddd all that again in a second helping!

22. What do you do on Boxing Day?

Celebrate the second best day of the year! The day a very special person was born! 

More presents in the morning, turkey sandwiches for lunch, cake, turkey sandwiches for dinner, bed! 

23. When is Christmas 'over' for you?

NEVER! When Christmas Day passes, I start to think about next Christmas! I'm not even joking! My heart breaks with every decoration I have to remove on the 5th!

24. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? No cheating!

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donna and Blitzen - oh, and Rudolph!

25. Do you believe in Santa?

No question about it! Of course I believe in Santa!

Okay, okay... in all honesty, if my brother hadn't have brutally told me 'he isn't real', I'd probably have preferred to still be in denial about it.

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So, there we have it - 25 Christmas Questions!

Be sure to check out Tracy's answers too on gloriouslyungraceful.blogspot.co.uk and also make sure you leave me a comment if you share or completely differ in your Christmas feelings!

In the meantime, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! 

Lots of love, hugs, kisses & special wishes

From Katy ♡

Better late than never...

On Friday I wanted to take full advantage of the beautiful Summer's day (particularly as they're so rare in England) so I went full on British mode, with a picnic at a Pick Your Own.

I felt like I was too main stream (this is a joke) for the traditional strawberries or fruit and veg PYO, so instead opted for a local Sunflower field, in Kineton, where the honesty box takings are given to charity. Unfortunately the field was starting to die off but as the title of this blog states, better late than never, eh?!

At the moment, we are taking care of my sister in law's gorgeous doggy, Lu Lu, who was most excited to join us for the adventure - she took a particular liking for the cocktail sausages we took with us and as always made a good companion. I also have to admit, I felt like a true Blogger having a doggy to take photos with... I know, I know... I'm a loser. 

Now for me, a picnic would not be a picnic without:

♡ A fresh baguette, smothered in butter 

♡ Mumma's secret dip (and maybe some others too) for crisps, cucumber and carrot batons

♡ Crackers, again, smothered in butter and maybe some Marmite

♡ Ice cold drinks; personal preference of Coke or in this case, a non-alcoholic Pina Colada from M&S - try it! 

But after all the food, it was time to go and explore the (mostly dead) sunflowers and pick some to take home. (By the way, this is harder than it seems and I only noticed the provided snippers after I'd struggled picking them - oops.) 

Once I was satisfied with my selection, it was time to go home and get them planted (somehow I managed to pick the flowers, roots and all!) and so that's exactly what I did, I doubt they will grow and I have to admit they do look a little sorry for themselves, but I'm hoping I can save the seeds and plant some myself next year. 

For me, the sentiment of planting sunflower seeds provides a fond and nostalgic memory; as children, we would plant sunflower seeds at the end of the garden at the beginning of the season and watch them grow, whoever's grew the tallest was the winner (of nothing but pure smugness!) unfortunately I'm yet to dig out a photo of this but I do however have a photo of the last and probably only other time I went sunflower picking, I was a little cuter back then... 

(me on the left, Millie on the right) 

Anyway... I will leave you with this arty shot, which I took in error (just check out that blue sky!)  and maybe next year I will be able to share some photos of my own home grown Sunflowers. 

Lots of love, hugs, kisses & special wishes 

From Katy ♡

Last minute baking...

So yesterday was a big day! I had my colonoscopy in the morning morning (I will save more info on that for another post or you can check out my new video: Click To Watch) but obviously life throws everything together at once and it just so happened to be my sister's birthday too... now I don't know about you but for me one thing a birthday means is CAKE!

Now I was obviously pretty drowsy and sore after the procedure, so I wasn't exactly in the best state of mind to be making full on fancy cakes and to be honest, we didn't have much time between both events anyway but I still couldn't resist whipping up something for the occasion.

I find that if you stick to a good ol' fashion basic sponge cake or cupcakes you can NEVER go wrong; everyone seems to like them and you can decorate them as you please, they're so versatile. The recipe I use is actually one from school in year 9 (Thank You Mrs Vile!) and it never seems to fail me - sometimes the oven does but... that's another story! I always end up with springy to the touch, moist  (soz about that word!) and fluffy cupcakes - perfect.

THE RECIPE

100g Caster Sugar
100g Marg or Soft Butter
100g SR Flour
1 Large Egg
1/2tsp Baking Powder
Splash of Milk

(double quantities if you want more, this made 9 large cupcakes)

Beat Caster Sugar and Marg together in a big bowl,

Sift the Self Raising Flour and Baking Powder into the mix,

Beat Egg with Milk, 

Combine mixture together,

(Add a dash of vanilla essence , if you prefer your sponge sweeter) 

Bake at 180c for 15-20 mins, until springy to the touch and 'skewer test' clean!

(Wait to cool before decorating.)

THE DECORATION

Now, I'm not usually one to use butter icing, personally I find it too sickly at times but I knew my sister was a fan, so obviously I went for her preference! I found a simple recipe online (Click Here To View) and halved it (there was a lot left over, even when I halved it), I added pink food colouring, along with vanilla essence (I tend not to add it to the sponge because I find the topping the best place to flavour). I chose not to pipe the icing on, for speed but also because I knew I was going to decorate them anyway, although looking back, I could have made them look even more pretty! 

I had some Culpitt Heart Sprinkles and Dr Oetker Chocolate Hearts and topped the icing with these; they looked really pretty and gave the cakes texture, with the crunch of the sugar sprinkles and yumminess of the chocolate!

My mum, like me, isn't keen on butter icing, so she made some butterfly cakes; she cut the top section out, put strawberry jam in the hole, a tiny bit of icing and then halved the top section to make 'wings' and dusted some icing sugar on the top. 

I have to say, that even though I'm not a butter icing fan, these had the perfect amount and as I had used a plain sponge, it was not sickly and I definitely would have had two, if I was feeling better!

Presentation is key in making a cupcake look even better. My mum had some iridescent cellophane in the cupboard and then some pretty 'Cath Kidston' style napkins, so we just arranged them together in the cake holder, so we could transport them easily and still allow them to look presentable and cute.

All in all, it probably took about 45 minutes to an hour to make the cupcakes and I was pretty proud with how they turned out!

I hope this inspires you to put your apron on and get into the kitchen! If I can do it after something as horrific as a Colonoscopy, then I'm sure you can make these with ease! I would love to know how they turn out for you so please do Instagram me some pictures of yours! I find baking such a pleasure to do, especially when the end result is a good one!