'Pretty drinks on Boxing Day' by Me

Pretty drinks on Boxing Day, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

I've been having a think and have come up with a few new year's resolutions. So I won't hang about, here they are.

Number one, and my main focus for the year really, is to become a better mum. I think I am a good mum but not as organised as I could be. I've always been very good at doing activities and going fun places but since my daughter started school in September I feel I've kind of been bumbling along a bit. I need to make much more of that time between school kicking out and bedtime. Also I don't think I've totally cracked being a mum to a boy yet. Definitely another thing to work on and I think a lot of that will take place running around outside!

My second resolution follows on from one I made for this year. I didn't want to put on weight or need to go on a diet and I don't really but my diet is appalling. This year I want to eat much more healthily. I will even have a go at getting my five-a-day.

Thirdly, money. I want to be a bit more thrifty this year. Not much to say about that really. Just a bit of think before I spend.

And finally, I am going to work on my yarn based crafts. I will try and crack crochet in the next twelve months. All I want to do is be able to make a granny square. And I want to learn more knitting techniques too. I am good with stitches but want to work more in different colours.

Right, so that's it from me. Fingers crossed I can keep these resolutions and achieve these goals.

'007' by jessicawetrust

007, a photo by jessicawetrust on Flickr.

As there are only a few days left in 2013 I thought it would be a good time to sit back and reflect on the new year's resolutions made twelve months ago. I am actually rather impressed with myself as I've never actually made new year's resolutions before which I've made a conscious effort to keep all year.

Firstly, I made the resolution to not to need to go on a diet this year and I can put a tick next to that one as my weight seems to have stayed pretty much the same all year. I can't put that down to healthy eating though - that is definitely something I need to work on in 2014.

The next resolution was to read more and once again I did well. I have definitely read a hell of a lot more than I have done in previous years since becoming a parent. I mostly put that down to being able to read on my iPad and iPhone. I do try to read 'real' books whenever I can though.

I also planned to have a good declutter this year and although there is still a long way to go I feel I have made a good dent in the clutter and I like it. Although I am a bit of a hoarder I do actually find getting rid of things really therapeutic.

And finally was photography. I planned to focus a lot on that this year and I have. I have finally worked out where I want to go with this photography lark. Surprisingly I have decided I don't actually want to become a professional photographer. I just love taking pretty and interesting photos. I love my DSLR and my iPhone camera in equal measure. And I am completely sure that photography will remain a great passion of mine.

So, all in all I think it's been a rather successful year resolution wise. I therefore have a planned a few more for 2014 which I will probably share with you in my next post.

I searched for New Year's resolutions photos and came across this one that makes me want to take up painting. I love how the soft colours give the whole thing a really calm and peaceful feeling. I wish I could paint or draw but unfortunately I am rubbish at that. That's why I make pictures with the help of a camera.

Hope you had a great Christmas and are enjoying the last few days of 2013.

'♥ Christmas' by { oh angie }

♥ christmas, a photo by { oh angie } on Flickr.

Christmas Eve is here and I think I actually find it even more exciting and magical than Christmas Day itself. I hope whatever you are up to over the next few days you have an amazing time. Lots of love from me xxx

P.S. Here is one last beautiful bauble photo. I will think of something else to show you after Christmas but I do like a pretty decoration!

'Make something' by Becky Sue

Make something, a photo by Becky❤Sue on Flickr.

The run up to Christmas has been, and continues to be, so busy. Quiet frankly I am getting more and more tired by the day. I'll be having an afternoon snooze on Christmas Day at this rate. (This obviously isn't really going to happen but it does remind me of the Christmas Day two years ago when I was pregnant and really did have a two hour afternoon nap!)

Anyway, we are busy, busy, busy, until the day after Boxing Day when I think we can actually start to relax a little bit. That's my plan anyway. I would really just like some chilled out time at home with my family. We shall just have to see how that turns out!

Here is a photo of how I wouldn't mind spending Christmas. Snuggled up in front of the fire (we don't actually have a fire but for the purpose of this fantasy let's pretend we do) with something nice to eat and drink and my latest piece of knitting on the go. Such a lovely warm and cozy photo. Perhaps I'll just sit and look at this and try to relax.

'Cards' by Me

Cards, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

Tomorrow is the last day of term. Hooray! I have been counting down the days for the past couple of weeks. My daughter's first term at primary school has been amazing. She has achieved so much and I am really embracing my new role as a mum to a school girl. But I am also shattered and I can tell my little girl is too. I am now really looking forward to a couple of weeks of chilled out family time, including some quality mother and daughter time.

Here are some of my daughter's Christmas cards from school. She has a lot. More than the rest of the family I reckon - popular girl!

'christmas time!' By SabaPhotography

christmas time!, a photo by SabaPhotography on Flickr.

As I type this post I am listening to the rain absolutely hammering it down outside. The weather is truly rubbish and I am so pleased it wasn't like this during the day when I had to be outside. I am also sat in bed trying to shoo away a slight cold I have. I don't have time to be ill right now so I really could do with the sniffles not turning into anything else.

So as that's the reality of Christmas for me this evening I thought I would share this photo with you that I feel is Christmassy but real. It's not a happy festive image but it not a depressing image either. It's just.... real. I wish I could find better words to describe why I like it.

'Untitled' by sara.robin

Untitled, a photo by sara.robin on Flickr.

It's a good job I am not doing my 'blog every day' challenge this month as there just doesn't seem to be time for anything like that at the moment. Every day seems to be busy, busy, busy - mainly with festive activities. This weekend, for example, was filled with lots of Christmas celebrations. There was dinner, drinks and giggles with friends. Party food, games and presents with family. And time spent with my husband and children Christmas shopping, singing carols and watching fireworks.

I need to make sure I get a few blog posts in throughout this week though or I won't be able to show you the wonderful Christmas photos I have found. Like this one which is hauntingly beautiful.

Must go now, I can hear a small child waking up from his nap. Hope you've got lots of fun festive stuff planned for the coming week.

'Abeja2 - Apis Mellifera' by jcarlos.abad

Abeja2 - Apis Mellifera, a photo by jcarlos.abad on Flickr.

OK so this photograph isn't at all Christmassy but I just had to feature it as it's so amazing. I don't really have to describe what I like about it as you probably think the same. The bright colours, the great detail, the lovely composition - all so brilliant.

Stay tuned... Next time I might just find another festive little something to share with you.

'Vintage Ornaments' by Gigi Thibodeau

Vintage Ornaments, a photo by Gigi Thibodeau on Flickr.

There's only two weeks now until Christmas. I go through phases of being all excited about it but then I have moments where I'm all stressed out and not feeling very festive at all. I think I am just really tired to be honest. It's been such a busy few months and more than Christmas Day I am looking forward to the school holidays. It'll be so nice not having to rush in the mornings and also getting to actually spend some quality time with my daughter. I bet the holidays fly by though.

Anyway, as there are only two weeks until Christmas this means that there are only two weeks for me to fill this blog full of pretty seasonal photos. Therefore here are some pretty baubles. I love vintage decorations like this. And I love the way they had to be packaged up so carefully. They look so special. Great photo.

'I heart Christmas' by Me

I heart Christmas, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

Every Christmas I try to take a great photo of our Christmas tree but I am never totally happy with the results. This year I think I've cracked it. I love this one! I like the simplicity and the warmth of it. Yay. What Christmassy things shall I snap next?

'Christmas wrapping' by {miss bex}

Christmas wrapping, a photo by {miss bex} on Flickr.

Just a quick post from me tonight as there is work to be done. The tree is up, the house is decorated, we have M&S nibbles in the oven, a glass of rose wine in our hands and Elf on DVD. That can only mean on thing... We are about to start on the Christmas wrapping! There seems to be so much of it to do this year. I blame the children. It's so hard not to spoil them at Christmas isn't it?

Right, best get on so I shall leave you with this photo of wrapping paper. I was mainly drawn to this picture as the paper is so pretty. I also think it's a fab photo. I love what the photographer has done with the focus. Early Merry Christmas to you all!

'Trafalgar Square' by Me

Trafalgar Square, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

Last weekend I got the chance for a bit of might be referred to as "Me Time". I was meeting some friends in London for dinner and drinks in the evening so I thought I would make the most of my train ticket and go up early. I spent the day basically taking photos and shopping.

This photo is my favourite of the day. It sums up why I love iPhoneography and why I love my phone so much now I could actually marry it! I took this using the Hipstamatic app and I think the colours are just really beautiful. I also really like the pattern the water in the fountain is making. I am so pleased with how this picture turned out. I hope you like it too.

'Pastel beach huts' by ZedBee | Zoë Power

Pastel beach huts, a photo by ZedBee | Zoë Power on Flickr.

Well here is December. And before I move on to any cozy, cold and festive winter photographs I thought I would just look back at my 'blog every day in November' challenge. I managed to blog 24 days out of 30 and I am pleased with that. I think what I learned was that I still love blogging and that it's OK for life to get in the way of it sometimes. If I am too busy or too lazy to blog for a week then so be it. It's not going anywhere I'll blog next week instead. And my love of beautiful photography will definitely never end. Whilst searching for gorgeous images can be time consuming but it is never a chore.

Here is a gorgeous beach hut. I can't believe I attempted a month of hardcore blogging without featuring even one beach hut. I love the lovely pastels here. It's a beautiful photograph of a beach hut which I imagine would be just as beautiful in real life. I would so like to stay in there!

Right, now to start searching for a few great festive images to share with you. And time to start taking some of my own too! Happy December everyone!