have been to many Indian weddings in the UK and whilst they have their own charm (my sister-in-law arrived at her ceremony in Windsor on a Indian-style scooter) nothing quite compares to the magic of an Indian wedding in India, as we discovered during our visit last month.  Each of the six ceremonies we attended during the five-day affair was unique, but two things remained a constant – rows of jasmine and marigolds filled the air with a spell bounding scent and everyone from giggling children to great-grandparents were welcomed and this made for a loving, relaxed atmosphere even at the most lavish of events.

my sister-in-law

posing with my husband at the henna cermony

my daughter and niece have their hands decorated by henna artists

a free morning is spent strolling to the local shops, where my son is delighted to be greeted by a cow.

my son sharing in deep conversation with his new friend.

In the final part of the wedding ceremony, the bride throws rice behind her to signify leaving her parents home and beginning a new life as a wife.

International Women’s Day

Sunday was international women’s day and I was privileged to spend it at a workshop that took place at the Brahma Kumaris centre in West London. The sun was shining, but nowhere more so than in the auditorium where over 200 women came together to celebrate the day.

This is one of many regular events held at the Brahma Kumaris and if you can’t get to West London, there are venues all over the UK.

Earlier in the week, I was invited to a neighbor’s house for supper, along with other girlfriends from our street. There I sat amongst these talented, intelligent, loving women, all of whom were living their lives to suit their values and it made me appreciate just how far women had come and how much we have to celebrate.

I was humbled to be in the company of some remarkable women and to be interviewed by Jayne, as part of a panel discussion.

www.bkwsu.com

There are many trend sites out there, but none comes close to WGSN and I was thrilled to find they had featured my lastest book on their editors choice.

What makes a house a home?  For me it is a house that is lived in, loved and shared.  Here is a little of my home. (click on the images for a more detailed photo).

The swing was made to be long enough to seat both my children, who use it most days as they look out onto the garden. Guests are aprehensive at first but in no time at all they too get into the swing of things. It is my way of showing this is a house to be enjoyed and one in which children are welcome always.

The kitchen sofa is where we indulge in the sunday papers and latte.

We love sharing this kitchen and having the children lend a hand.

Cherised possessions should be enjoyed and not hidden away. These butterfly cut outs, made by my husband for my birthday bring a smile to my face everday.

The hall is more than a utilitarian space and ours provides the perfect place for this large mirror which reflects the living and kitchen, bringing both together. Favorite cd's, pictures and a piano make it a space to gather and share, rather then simply pass through.

Our bedroom and bathroom are one, simply devided by space. The shelves are filled with favorite night time reading and treasured mementos.

The headboard is covered with a velvet bedcover that I have stapled to the back of the base as is the valance. I change both with the seasons. Light linen or voile in the summer and silk or velvet in the winter. It is an easy update and transforms the look of the room.

My son's room has a little hatch in the ceiling above his bunk; from here he climbs into the loft, which has been converted into his playden.

My daughter just turned 8 but the pink stage is very much alive and I love that there is some colour here.

The childrens bathroom is given colour with the Rug Company's needlepoint. I brought this to celebrate my first book deal.

I wanted to introduce you to Cookie Magazine; it is the US version of Junior, only a little more fun.  As parenting magazines go, its about the best.  I recently styled a feature for the magazine, centered around the home of super-talented couple Caroline and Alex Michealis. I hope you like it.

a home that is simple, functional and above all fun.

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We are already mid-way through January and I am just about getting back into work/order mode. The children back at school, the decorations packed away and all naughty food consumed. This time of year feels good; it’s about looking at what we want from life and setting those priorities in motion.  As for resolutions, this year our family decided we would make them for each other.   My son asked that I swing from the apple tree in our garden on a weekly basis – strange but doable.  My daughter asked that I show her more discipline and also take the time to play – again, not what I expected, but can do.  My husband asked that I simply go with the flow.

So going with the flow, I found myself almost floating above a stranger as he supported me with his feet and hands for balance.  At first acroyoga (which as the name suggests is a mix of acrobatics and yoga), seemed an odd choice but two hours in, I felt energised and devoted.  There are a few courses around London, but I chose to take mine at the The Special Yoga Centre - NW10.  The Special Yoga centre offers an extensive range of classes for adults and many for children with special needs.  I would urge anyone who can make it to this part of London to do so, as you will be hard pushed to find more accomplished teachers in a calmer setting then here and just walking through the doors eases any tension.  To read more about this charity and the wonderful work they do go to www.specialyogaorg.co.uk.

Last year I was lucky enough to travel to India with my family and dear friends.  We were there for the festival of ‘Holi’ and you can read all about it an article I wrote for the Guardian Travel pages.

Download the article in 'Guardian Travel' as pdf by clicking above

It’s been a busy few weeks with nativity plays, carol concerts and decking the house in preparation for Christmas, hence the slack update.  Whilst I plan to take it easy and put most my work commitments aside until January, I did want to do this quick update to let you know about a great trade show that I have been invited to.

Bubble London started life in New York and now also shows at Olympia 2, with the best in childrenswear and accessories.  Thankfully this is not one of those huge exhibitions that takes all day and consists of endlessly walking past one non-descript stand after another in the desperate hope of finding something to make the trip worthwhile – every stand is special and the show small but perfectly formed.  If you can make it I would highly recommend it and look forward to meeting you there.

Also, I wanted to quickly mention the work of a women I greatly admire – Dorothy Rowe.  Her views on life are simple yet so insightful and worth considering. I mention this now because I was just reading one of her articles before writing and did not want to forget to share this with you.

I shall touch base after Christmas, but in the meantime, I hope it’s a good one.