Thankful Thursday

Hitting the very almost middle of November just seems insane. There I've said it. Every shop I walk into means I'm bound to be singing festive songs for the rest of the day and winter warmers arriving in Costa and Starbucks have only heightened my adoration for hot chocolate. There are only SIX more Thursdays until 2015! With that in mind, here are six things I'm thankful for this week...

1) Animal antics- By this, of course I mean spending time with Liona and Rexamus. I ventured to Plymouth on Sunday to catch up with this pair, and after scoffing a yummy lunch with Liona and Liam, we wandered around Plymouth town centre, stopping to get more sugary delights. After our food had gone down, we took Rex for a walk around near the Hoe and I returned home. A great way to spend a few hours on a cold day! 

2) Friends doing so well- Isn't it just a really great feeling when good news comes to your friends? My best friend, Stacie, has just landed herself a job as the new marketing manager for lingerie company Mish. Sounds amazing doesn't it?

3) Hot water bottles- Because I'd forgotten how bleddy lovely it is snuggling with one tucked up your jumper.

4) Crunchy leaves- Make my walk to work so much more entertaining. And not many things can do that for me early in the mornings.

5) Sitting around the table with my family- There are some things that are priceless all year round. Though we're not your typical family, it's what I've got and they do make me smile rather a lot. (Poet laureate right here!)

6) A secret invitation- I have been cordially invited to a very exciting location! I really can't wait to show you in a couple of weeks! Eeeekk! 

Thank you Lisette for inspiring me to keep such a lovely record of the things that so easily could be forgotten.

Love Sophie Xx

Wednesday Words #6

Image via Pinterest-Click image for source.

The cold winds are currently hurling outside my window, sitting with the heating finally on (I gave in yesterday!) My special winter 'Figgy Pudding candle from St Eval Candle Co' burning and wooly socks on- I am ready for you winter.  

The drop in temperature made me think of a rather well known proverb: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. One that I'm sure most of us are used to hearing from our mothers and grandmothers, a plight to eat your fruit, especially this time of year, I wondered where it came from.

Wales seems like an unlikely source for most commonplace English phrases, however there's a fair chance that this little maxim originated there! In 1866 the first sourced printed use of this phrase was in Notes and Queries magazine:

"A Pembrokeshire proverb. Eat an apple on going to bed, And you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread."

Around the turn of the century, Elizabeth Wright recorded a Devonian dialect version of the phrase as we know it now:

"Ait a happle avore gwain to bed, An' you'll make the doctor beg his bread; or as the more popular version runs: An apple a day Keeps the doctor away."

'Apples have a good claim to promote health. They contain Vitamin C, which aids the immune system, and phenols, which reduce cholesterol. They also reduce tooth decay by cleaning one's teeth and killing off bacteria. It has also been suggested by Cornell University researchers that the quercetin found in apples protects brain cells against neuro-degenerative disorders like Alzheimer's Disease.'

So now we know! Is this phrase new to you? Or like me, did your grandmother used to entice to with an apple, humming this to you? I'd love to start hearing from you about some phrases local or unusual  that you've come across! 

Love Sophie Xx

Information used from here.

Ten Blog Posts To Read On November 10th.

Who's excited that it's Monday? Raise your hands in the air like you just don't care? No? Oh me neither, never mind. Sunday just flies by these days and I think it might have something to do with the etching fear of Christmas lurking closer and closer. This year I'm trying to be more sensible (what with the wedding saving and all that jazz!) and have told my nearest and dearest that they will be receiving home-made treats instead of shop bought gifts, which would be find if I could stop myself from picking up little bits and bobs...

I went a bit awol on and off for the last few weeks but I've been reading lots of your lovely posts. My phone seems to have problems posting comments, so I apologise for not actually talking to any of you most of the time- I'm like a little ghost stalking you all *alright creeper*...Here's a few posts for you to enjoy if you like that kinda thing...Which of course you do! 

1) Oh! Leona posts the best series of Wednesday Loves! Last week I remembered my love for making little beds for your toys our of cardboard! Yes! Mine were always decorated pretty fancy! 

2) With All The Finesse of a Badger is probably one of my favourite bloggers out there. Her illustrations are laugh out loud funny and I secretly wish that we were best friends! I follow her posts religiously! If you haven't read her experience of working at a call centre posts- you must. This week she really made me laugh by sharing some home truths about riding sheep! ;-)

3) Life, Ninja Killer Cat and Everything Else shared a delicious looking recipe inspired by GBBO (which feels like forever ago!) of self saucing chocolate puds! I'll definitely be going back to this multiple times this winter! 

4) How goddamn cute did daydreams of summertime look in her snazzy Boden scarf? It made me feel all cosy I am now envious over her blanket/scarf and sharing a love for TKMaxx bargains! 

5) Cecilia in the rain reminded me that I too am a rubbish adult! Funnily, I had just this conversation the other day! It's ok to pretend Cecilia, I'm with you girl! She also posted a very interesting read on languages and how they effect us. I'm not really fluent in any other languages but I get recognised for my accent difference here in Cornwall all the time! 

6) A Rosie Outlook posted a poem which made me reminisce of all the writing I used to do. I too was the one always penning a poem, verse or short story of some kind. I too have fallen out of the creative routine through life and it really was nice to see something so personal and original as Rosie's writing. Inspiring even. 

7) Little Foal took stock and had a furry friend to join her! What a cutie pie (yes you too Sunae!) She's also a great source for beauty products as an Arbonne consultant; you should check out her Facebook page! 

8) Life Outside London gave us a few marriage tips- each one better than the last. She's like a wise spaniel haired owl that one. She also shared some photos from October from her Instagram (which obviously you already follow-if not, here!) and there's one photo in particular (bottom left) of Pete with arms that actually made me laugh for a good eight minutes...

9) Dear Ms Leigh shared some delicious foodie snaps from her first few days as an expat in America!  There are some pretty awesome photos of Detroit on there too! 

10) Samsam Cherie shared with the world the junk in her trunk (sorry I could't resist!) It's all about this trunk (and it's no pansy trunk either!) of childhood memories and is exactly the kind of lifestyle post I like to read- the really nosy ones! It's a really personal and lovely post!

Have a great Monday everybody!

Love Sophie Xx

Location Location Location: Pentewan

As many, if not all of you, reading know, I live in the idyllic countryside of Cornwall. Here, we're starting to shut down for the winter; shops are closing earlier, tourist attractions are pretty much unavailable and you don't really need to book anywhere to eat because it's probable that you'll only come across a couple of tables of locals when you go out (especially on a weekday.) It's the perfect time to live here. I know that sounds strange, but there's nothing like a crisp walk on the beach; the fresh, autumnal air bringing you back to life, followed by a cosy cafe; snuggling with a warm cup-o-something and dreamily talking about Christmas. It's what winter is made of in my book.

Last weekend, celebrating six years of togetherness, Harps and I rose early and ventured out in the unpredictable November drizzle. Wrapping up warm, I suggested we went to Pentewan beach; about four miles from where we live and usually swamped with tourists, it seemed like the perfect place. Neither of us had been such young children and could't remember much- you know what they say about never seeing the places you live so close to? Situated just outside of St Austell town centre (before Mevagissey) we occasionally ride our bikes in the woods (Kings woods) nearby which has a brilliant cycle trail into the village. 

Not realising that it was the first day of the low season that dogs were allowed back on the beach, we were greeted by lots of smiling mutts, bellowing in the morning sun towards us, they all looked so happy! After quite the walk along the sand and rocks, where I could't stop taking photos and Harps looked for buried treasure and sea life, we wondered back into the village. We'd intended to have a hearty roast lunch but by the time we'd finished walking we felt a little too windswept to eat too much, which is how we ended up in The Cove B&B and Cafe.  

A warm rush of air greeted us by the door, as did the marvellously friendly owner. Literally my favourite type of cafe; crammed with little ornaments, interesting art work and photographs, not to mention the fish tank table! That's right guys- A FISH TANK COFFEE TABLE! We immediately flounced onto the corner sofa directly next to the table and ordered a couple of delicious hot chocolates to warm up. Whilst browsing the simple, yet plentiful menu, we glanced down to see Bandit the cat, greedily eyeing up the fish. "It's like television for cats!" I squealed at Harps.

A couple of tasty sandwiches, much cat stroking and half a mug of hot chocolate later, we decided to go and sit outside to finish off our drinks. Warm enough from the full bellies and cosy atmosphere, we watched the world go by for another hour or so.

What a lovely place to visit hey?

Have any of you been before? 

Love Sophie Xx

Thankful Thursday

Thursday has snuck up on me like a little sneaky badger, which means that this time tomorrow my little holiday will be over *you may all cry along with me for the rest of this.* I've had such a relaxing few days that I really don't know where to begin with all the happiness. *you may also vomit a little in your mouth* I bang on about it all the time but it really is rare that Harps and I have proper time off together and then suddenly when you do, you realise; 

"Oh yeah I actually really do like this non-porridge-bowl-rinsing-bafoon!" 

Basically, I'm one big, pile'o mush. To the extent that I knew this post was going to be so mushy that I felt I had to add the photo of me being 'ard' and getting my new tattoo just to toughen it all up a bit. (Excuse my man's nips there!)

1) Time to relax- I can never sleep in anymore. You know when you get to that *shudders* age when if you sleep any later than 9am it's a disaster? You've wasted some of the day? Well despite my body clock waking me up early every day, I made a stand and stayed in bed with tea until 11am one day this week! How great is that!? 

2) Time with my man- Because he's actually still pretty funny after six years and under that HORRIBLE moustache is a pretty good looking guy. *sidenote- Harps isn't partaking in Movember this year, he plays a game with himself every winter to grow as big a beard as he can and this year he's going for gold. 

3) Travelling tattoos- You may know that Harps and I have started our series of 'travelling tattoos' for when we visit new countries. As our anniversary gift to each other, we finally got round to getting our 'Rome' tattoos from last year. It hurt far more than any of my others but I'm really happy- I'll show you soon!

4) Central heating- We've broken. It's time for the heating to go on. There is no sodding way I was going to 'relax' at home without it. I love sitting and watching the rain outside when you're all snuggly and warm.

5) Feeling ready- Ready for winter and ready to crack on.

What are you all thankful for this week? I've been absent for a little while with these posts, but I've been constantly catching up with the inspiring Lisette's posts. Go have a look, shmook! 

Love Sophie Xx