It’s Thanks Giving, so let me share some moments I feel grateful for over the past 12 days.

I am thankful for what London has to offer and that I shall see more of it through ‘The Culture Club’ – see previous blog.  I am thankful for my adorable twin sisters, who just celebrated their 40th birthdays.  I am thankful for the wonderful winter mornings on which my daughter and I walk a beautiful black Labrador from a neighbouring house.  So if you live in a flat or perhaps don’t want the commitment that comes with owning your own pet, this is could be the answer.

On Sunday morning, my children and their sleepover friends made cookies.  Normally they set up stall and sell them in the front garden for whatever price local market forces will bare.  But this time, they decided to share them with passers by, for no other reason but for the pleasure of giving.  The pride I saw on their faces was the same look I saw on my son’s face as he sat polishing his own shoes for the first time.  This morning proved to me that children today are no different to the way we were.  Grand gestures are all very well, but what children really cherish are the simple pleasures in life.

Early in the week, I took the children to see the pre-release of planet 51 and once safely tucked into bed, went for a delicious meal at Notting Hill Brasserie.  The following day, I sat in awe as my fatherin-law played with my daughter’s DS for the first time and whilst brain training showed his brain to be considerably younger than his 77 years, mine showed me to be 53 – not good!  The moral of the story – you may look okay but use it or loose it!

Mid-week my husband and I attended a Thanks Giving dinner and not only was I grateful for the plentyful food, the wonderful company, but also for not breaking every bone in my body as I fell down the hosts stairs on the way out!  The following day was casual supper with friends – but this time at our home.  And on Saturday we took our children, their friends and ours to Sing-a-long Grease at our local cinema and than back to ours for lunch.  The end of a wonderful week, when we had so much to feel thankful for.

I have walked passed Notting Hill Brasserie more times than I can remember, but ate there for the first time on Monday evening.  The food was superb, the service faultless and the informal vibe gave our private dining room, all the comfort of home, but without the washing up – heaven.

I have known the group of 16 friends for three years now  (we met through my son’s nursery) and being in their company made me feel blessed to live in London; a place where individuals from different walks of life come together- Spanish, Irish, Scottish, Jewish, Indian, Greek, American and even an Englishman!

A dear friend recently suggested that we could all do with a little more culture in our lives – nights at museums, theatre trips, wine tasting, foreign movies; that sort of thing.  I, along with 8 of her other friends agreed and so it was, the culture club was formed.  The first casual supper took place last week, at which we discussed what we would do over the coming year and set firm dates for our monthly get togethers. Culture soon went out of the window in favour of a Karaoke session at Lucky Voice.  Well, I have never tried it before and who know’s, I might go into opera mode?  Since most of the women don’t know each other, we felt it would be a good ice-breaker. I shall report on the first event in January and in the meantime, why not think about setting up your very own culture club – whatever that means to you.

There are so many amazing wallpaper patterns around and their use need not be limited to walls either.  My dear husband wallpapered our old dining table over the weekend and it looks fabulous.  All you do is use wallpaper paste as you would on the walls and then coat it with three layers of clear acrylic varnish – job done and room transformed.

Lesson over, I thought you might like to know about a company who produces exciting wallpaper geared towards children’s rooms.  I tend to use adult papers in children’s room but just focus on bold patterns and vivid colours but if you want something child-centric, then www.funkylittledarlings.co.uk is a great.

Here is a recent article that recently appeared in You Magazine.

I was so pleased when YOU magazine asked to feature my home, as they were the first magazine to feature my two bed flat in Westbourne Grove, many years ago.  Two children and two house moves later, not much has changed in terms of my style; I still like to surround myself with beautiful things, but nothing is as precious as a relaxed environment in which my family feels safe and comfortable.

I suspect many of you will have read Eat, Love, Pray by Elizabeth Gilert, but for those that have not read it, go and buy it now and then buy it for your friends.  This is a sort of self-help book for those that don’t do self help books.  The author has devided the book into 108 small sections because of the spitural relevance of the japa mala, a necklace of 108 beads traditionally worn in India to support meditation and mantra’s.  You can find them on my botique – happinessitself.com

meditation beads look good with anything and remind us of keeping a check on our thoughts