Walking in a Winter Wonderlad

‘Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.’

-Edith Sitwell

Okay so I adore summer- sunshine, flip slops, ice lollies, bbqs. Everything about it puts a big smile on my face. So I can’t help but get a little bit glum (I say a little but glum, more of a grumpy old scrooge) when the leaves fall off the trees and the heating gets whacked up to 30. However, I’ve been told that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile- and seen as our winter seems to last about 10 months of the year I can't help but think that if I keep my state of humbug up I’m just guna have and achy/ wrinkly face by the time August comes around. 
After all, what good is the warmth of summer without the cold of winter to give it sweetness!

Snow for more than just one day

One thing that is b e a u t i f u l  about winter is the possibility of snow. It takes away the grey clouds, the wind burnt face and the smell of wet dog in the house and replaces it with bright blue skies, the dying nature is blanketed in white giving it a new freshness, and a street that is usually bare is soon crowded with laughter. Unfortunately this is a rarity for us poor southerners- so I say why wait for snow! Bring a bit of snow into an otherwise gloomy season. It's all about white this A/W. I'm not talking about Saturday night fever (that is a look which should stay WAY back in the 70s). Use crisp fresh lines to brighten the darkest of winter days; but keep it simple with a few key white pieces in your wardrobe like a fluffy jumper to be contrasted with a leather high waisted skirt. OR make a statement with a mac, handbag or pair of shoes…..white stilettoes are not just for Essex!

Jumping for Jumpers

Preppy style is big this A/W and is perfect way to layer up and stay warm. But try not to look like you've decided to stay in a school uniform for the snowy season; make sure you put your own personal stamp on your outfits with bold print skinnies and fill your wardrobe with a mismatch of unusual jumpers with a variety of knits.

Don’t just curl up and hibernate

Winter seems to really take it out of us, the early nights and artificial heat makes us just want to snuggle up in bed in a pair of jammies and just never leave. And even though I am very much in favour of a good duvet day, we can’t miss out on life in fear of cold toesies.

WAKEUP!!! A hot coffee on a cold winter morning is just right to start any day. And don’t just crawl back into bed with your cuppa, get moving being cold is no excuse for not being active (that’s why it’s called a ‘warm up’) and the more you move the more you’ll wanna move.

….but what to do???

Skiing: it’s not just for the Alps, there are snowsports clubs popping up everywhere offering a range of lessons for all levels. It’s so much fun, great exercise AND gives you and excuse to start planning your next holiday :D.

Go for a paddle: Not quite! But the beach is not just for summer, head to the coast with a boot full of blankets, a bottle of wine and watch the sunset by a toasty fire.

Give yourself an excuse to get out.

Revamp your wardrobe! a new outfit is always a fantastic excuse for a night out. not to metion.... Winter is a perfect time for fashion- layering your clothes really allows you to get creative. Embrace the cold, get inspired and wrap up! A chunky knit scarf is a perfect accessory for you winter wardrobe- ware with skinny jeans, biker jacket, leather gloves and ankle boots….you’ll be off sofa and out the front door in no time.

Getting festive

Christmas is most people’s favourite part about winter, if not the whole year. But Christmas can often lose its magic... we get so swept up in the stress of it all and can become so consumed with thoughts of buying this and getting that, that we can forget it’s not what we get each other it’s about being with each other. Go back to basics. Get crafty with homemade crackers, decorations, mice pies, and Christmas cocktails. All fantastic things you can do with others as well as getting rid of the stress and possible resentment towards Christmas that seems to happen far too often.

…Did someone say cocktails?

Mulled Wine

•         1 bottle red wine
•          60g/2oz demerara sugar
•          1 cinnamon stick
•          grated nutmeg
•          1 orange, halved
•          1 dried bay leaf
•          60ml/2fl oz sloe or damson gin (optional)

Put the wine in a saucepan with the orange, sugar, bayleaf and the spices. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Taste to see if you want the wine sweeter, and add more sugar to taste. Off the heat, stir in the sloe or damson gin if you are using it. Strain into heatproof glasses and serve at once.

Hot Toddy
Put 1tsp of honey and a measure of whisky in a mug or heatproof glass. Add two cloves and half a cinnamon stick then top up with just-off-the-boil water. Stir in a slice of lemon and just enough lemon juice to balance the sweetness of the honey. Drink as soon as it doesn't burn your lips.

Christmas Kiss

• several splashes angostura bitters, to taste
• 350 ml cold champagne
• 500 ml blood orange juice
• 500 ml cranberry juice
• 25 ml Cointreau, or other orange-flavoured liqueur

Take some chilled champagne flutes and sprinkle some angostura bitters into the bottom of each. Half fill with champagne. Slowly add the fruit juices - half of each variety. You need to do this slowly or the champagne will froth everywhere. Top up with the Cointreau. . Garnish each glass with an orange twist and two maraschino cherries on a cocktail pick.

Mulled Cider

• 1 litres apple cider
• ½ inch fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
• 2 lemons, sliced
• 1 cinnamon
• 3 star anise
• 1 vanilla pod, slit down the middle and the seeds scooped out
• 200 ml bourbon whiskey
• 1 red apple, thinly sliced (optional)

 In a medium saucepan, combine the apple cider, ginger, lemon, cinnamon, star anise and vanilla pod and simmer on a low heat for 45 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove all of the spices and fruit and set to one side.  Pour a 50ml shot of the bourbon in to a glass and then fill up with the hot spiced cider mixture. Garnish with cinnamon sticks, star anise and thinly sliced red apple.