a very happy birthday girl

Hip Hip Horray...a birthday...I only counted 21 candles on my cake....I think the bubbly failed to help me count any higher!

Anyway, it's a very welcome break from our house renovations which I am happy to announce really are in the final stages with the waving off of the builders yesterday, hurrah! The best birthday present I could wish for!

Have a happy and relaxing holiday season and I promise to be back soon and invigorated with lots of updates on the lovely things that have happened here at Friendly Cottage over the last few months.

'kirsties homemade christmas' decorations

Well, have you started decorating your nest yet? Here are some snaps, that may help inspire you, which I took when working on 'Kirstie's Homemade Christmas' recently. (Click on images to make them bigger). Hopefully they will also give you a taste of what's to come in the three part series this week. Check out this post on my work blog for the heads up on some of the crafts to expect to see Kirstie indulging in.

cutesy decorations & fabulous table settings

christmas trees, festive hampers & this seasons decorations (the stylist bought these beautiful birds from vv rouleaux in london but i picked some up recently here in dublin (& quite cheaply at a few euros each) in flamingo display.

twinkly fairy lights

festive garlands

santa & his reindeers corner & advent calenders

kitsch kitchen

& decadent dining

still working hard

So sorry again for being really bad at updating our blog but thanks for popping by to check! We are still busy bees getting our nest sorted out....it definitely seems like we are never going to get there & it certainly has been one hard slog! Here are a couple of snaps of hard work in progress....& it's not just Martin doing it, promise! Oh & I haven't forgotten to reveal our chosen stair wallpaper.....just waiting for a photo opportunity that doesn't involve stuff everywhere!