New Light From Old Windows: November 2018

1. Prepare To Dazzle Your Neighbours

In our modern world where light pollution has become prevalent, we have forgotten the real magic of an illuminated landscape or feature at night. Consider illuminated music displays with fountains: www.barcelona-touristguide.com/en/faq/attractions/magic...Or visit one of the beautiful enchanted forests to see the different landscape lights can produce: /www.enchantedforest.org.uk/

LIGHT YOUR PATH HOME: DAZZLE YOUR NEIGHBOURS

2. Give Your Own House Some Sparkle

Cleaning in December? You must be joking I hear you screaming! On top of everything else? Ok I hear you! But hear me out! Doesn't a clean house cut stress levels hugely? And almost all of us all expect visitors over the festive period...….

Ok! Let's get down and get the chores done! How to cut the stress and bring light into the process? I'd recommend the cheapest and most natural

products: lemons, bicarbonate and vinegar. Method do a good line too. White foam magic cleaners are also really great. Assemble your cleaners and get the music on. Here's the tracks according to Emily Serwer: (Oct 2016)

18 October 2016 by Emily Serwer

"We Found Love," Rihanna
"Unwritten," Natasha Bedingfield
"Good Feeling," Flo Rida
"Billie Jean," Michael Jackson
"Team," Lorde
"Paper Planes," M.I.A.
"Call Me Maybe," Carly Rae Jepsen
"I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)," Pitbull
"Party in the USA," Miley Cyrus
"Diva," Beyoncé
"Just Dance," Lady Gaga
"Jealous (I Ain't With It)," Chromeo
"Live Like We're Dying," Kris Allen
"A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)," Fergie
"American Boy," Estelle
"I Love It," Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX
"Can't Hold Us," Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton
"Fire Burning," Sean Kingston
"Sexy and I Know It," LMFAO
"Roar," Katy Perry
"Summer Love," Justin Timberlake
"Brokenhearted," Karmin
"Oops! . . . I Did It Again," Britney Spears
"Wannabe," Spice Girls
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," Taylor Swift
"Run the World (Girls)," Beyoncé
"Can't Stop," Red Hot Chili Peppers
"No Diggity," Blackstreet
"Eye of the Tiger," Survivor
"No Scrubs," TLC
"So What," Pink
"Boom Boom Pow," Black Eyed Peas
"Mirrors," Justin Timberlake
"Girls Just Want to Have Fun," Cyndi Lauper
"Bohemian Rhapsody," Queen
"Billionaire," Travis McCoy
"ABC," Jackson 5
"Respect," Aretha Franklin
"Don't Stop Believin'," Journey

DITCH THE STRESS: ADD SOME SPARKLE

3. Brighten Up the Card Writing Task

For many of us nowadays the only cards we write are Christmas and Birthday cards. We know that we can use the occasion to catch up with distant friends and relatives. And yet how often do we put off this Christmas task? As with all tasks timely preparation, the correct tools and a beautiful setting can considerably ease the burden. …...

1. Preparation- Order cards in November , along with personalised details stamper

2. Get the Correct tools- Christmas pens, fountain pens, coloured pens

3. Setting- favourite café, long train journey for work, your own fireside?

Stuck for inspiration for your messages? Try the following website:

https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/christmas-card-wording

I include a few of their ideas:

Have a holly, jolly Christmas!

Merry Christmas with lots of love.

The best present one can hope for this year is to spend time together. I can’t wait to celebrate the holidays with you.

May this Christmas end the present year on a cheerful note and make way for a fresh and bright New Year. Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Three phrases that sum up Christmas are: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men and Batteries not Included.
May your fun be large and bills be small this year. Merry Christmas!
Please note: Christmas is cancelled. Apparently, you told Santa you have been good this year…he died laughing.
There’s snowbody like you!
Christmas is the season when you buy this year’s gifts with next year’s money.

Lighten the Load: Spread Some Cheer

4. Brighten Up Yourself: Prepare To Shine

Jewellers bombard us with adverts for expensive gems in the lead up to Christmas. But what do people really want? Often the most simple pieces are the most appreciated; such as personalised necklace with the recipient's name or a bracelet or ring with your loved one's birthstone. Often the best way to start is to choose something to make you sparkle!

Buy Something Bright: Shine Out!

5. Enlighten Yourself: Check Out New Scents

1. Relax the night before you hit the shops and take the perfume
quiz: https://www.scentbird.com/onboarding
2. Try some top 2018 scents:

According to Sharon Feiereisen in 'The Fashion Spot' these are the top five perfumes for women for 2018:

Chanel Chance Eau de Toilette
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum
Philosophy Amazing Grace Eau de Toilette
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette
Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette

https://www.thefashionspot.com/beauty/616565-best-perfumes-for-women-fragrance/#8zJVPJlfDhl3JuVv.99

3. Gather as many samples as you can, retreat to your favourite

café and enjoy!

Blast on the Scent : Blaze Out!

6.. Enlighten Yourself: Learn a Christmas Craft

http://www.simplebites.net/how-to-make-spiced-orange-pomander-balls/How to make spiced orange pomander balls

Use a corner of the citrus zester to make a few designs in the skin of the orange. A peeler works too, but will make wider strips.
Poke a row of holes in the orange with a tooth pick and push the cloves into the pre-made holes. You may not find this necessary, but if you are crafting with small children, as I was, the cloves hurt their fingers without the pre-made holes.
You can really make any design you like on the oranges. The ones we did are more time consuming, but we had lots of helping hands.
Martha Stewart places a rubber band around the citrus and uses it to make a perfect circle around the orange. She also gets out the glue gun, but I like to keep it simple.
If you like, you can finish by rolling the pomanders in ground spices for extra fragrance. Ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, and of course, cloves, would all be nice.

Craft With Love: Spread Christmas Cheer!

7. Enjoy the Light: Walk in Winter Wonderland