Looking for the perfect drink to help bring the year to a close? I've chose a few cocktails to share that are easy to make at home and don't require a lot of ingredients. Hopefully this collection of cocktails will help you to keep your party going until midnight or block out the horrors of 2016... it's been a tough year, right? 

The Clermont Whiskey Sour is a variation on the classic Whiskey Sour and doesn't need to be served with egg white which I'm not fond of putting in drinks. The sour evolved from the practice of adding lime juice to rum rations to prevent scurvy among sailors in the British Navy in the 1700s.  You will need sugar syrup for this cocktail but it is simple to make yourself. Just add equal quantities of sugar and warm water to a jar and shake until dissolved. This syrup mixture will keep for up to one month if kept in the fridge. 

Add ice, fresh lemon juice, fresh orange juice, sugar syrup and Jim Beam Bourbon to a shaker. Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange wedge and serve.

Take a short glass and fill to the top, with crushed ice. Pour in the gin and lemon juice. Stir, add the Chambord. Finish with a lemon wedge. If the drink is a little sour for your taste you can add a little sugar syrup. The drink is traditionally made with creme de mure but I've substituted it with Chambord because I already had some at home. 

I'm going to be having a night in this year with a good movie, board games, nibbles and a few cocktails. I hope you have a wonderful New Years Eve and here's hoping 2017 is brighter and less tumultuous that 2016. Onwards and upwards! 

I didn't leave the house for three days over Christmas and it was absolute bliss. Martyn and I don't have a large family to dash around and visit or who expect us to eat separate dinners with them on Christmas Day. We did the rounds on Christmas Eve, delivering presents and visiting Sookie so we were able to have a relaxed Christmas and Boxing Day on our own in our new home for the first time. 

As we were't expecting any visitors I didn't get up until about 9am and didn't feel the need to get really dressed up. As is traditional in my house we had a full fry up for brunch and a late dinner at around 4/5pm. It's tiring enough just cooking a Christmas dinner, I don't know some of you cope driving around all day visiting relatives. 

I had lots of brilliant new board games for Christmas including The Great Game of Britain which compliments my other railway game Ticket to Ride really well. The Great Game of Britain is a nostalgic race around the historic railway networks of Britain. The aim is to be the first commuter to travel from London to each of your mystery destinations and back again. Watching out for station closures and hazards along the way. I highly recommend this game, it is great for a family or just two players and may result in a few tantrums and tears like all the best games do.

I've enjoyed relaxing in my fluffy robe and drinking chocolate Baileys like it's going out of fashion but I'm back in work now and so sad it's all over for another year... I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have amazing plans for 2017, make it your best one yet!

I had my first ever cheese fondue whilst on holiday in Grenoble over three years ago and it's been a long wait to have one again. Grenoble is known as the Capital of the Alps and a popular ski resort so fondue can be found in many restaurants across the city. Fondue is great served after a long day on the slopes but you can enjoy it at home too so I'm sharing my recipe for a Swiss/French fondue. 

Rub the fondue pot with the garlic clove, you can either discard the garlic or leave it in the pot for some extra flavour.

Put the chopped and grated cheese into the fondue pot with the wine and heat until boiling on the hob, by which time the cheese should have melted. 

Turn the pot down to a simmer. Mix the cornflour with the Kirsch in a small bowl, and add to the fondue pot.  I used wine instead of Kirsch which is just as tasty but less traditional. 

Season with the pepper, stir well and place the fondue pot over a flame at the table. 

A cheese fondue mixture should be kept warm enough to keep the fondue smooth and liquid but not so hot that it burns. When the fondue is finished there will be a thin crust of toasted cheese at the bottom of the pot. This is called la religieuse (French for the nun). It has the texture of a cracker and this can be lifted out and eaten. Martyn bought us a fondue pot but you could keep a pan and your cheesy mix warm by popping it on a grill rack or wire cake cooling rack with some tea light candles underneath.

Remember, don't drop your bread in the fondue because if you're a woman you kiss your neighbours around the pot and if you're a man you buy a round of drinks for everyone at the table. 

Martyn and I purchased our first home back in March and there is still a lot of work to do until it is just right. I would love a new kitchen, the roof needs some work and there are some cosmetic things that require a touch up too. Despite the long 'to do' list the house is starting to feel like home and we can't wait to enjoy the first Christmas together in our own home. 

Martyn and I are big kids so we started to get the house decked up for Christmas this week (before December *the horror*). I think our preferred style of decorations could be described as Scandinavian/Alpine and draw influence from our Austrian and German holidays. I like a traditional feel  for the decorations as our home is Edwardian but there are a few modern and glittery bits added to the mix. 

A lot of our items have been picked up at Christmas markets and whilst on holiday but I'll try and link to items where possible if they are still available on the high street. 

 "Everything's magical when it snows, everything looks pretty. The clothes are great. Coats, scarves, gloves, hats."

I think this might only be the first phase of Christmas decorations. I fancy another tree for the living room, loads of white lights around the windows and a garland winding its way up the stair case. I basically want MORE of everything and to turn my house into a grotto but I'll try not to get too carried away.

PS I know some of you may be judging me because my decorations are up so early but I think advent started on Sunday 27th so I figure I'm allowed. 

Finding the perfect party dress which can fill you with confidence, make an impression but also be appropriate if you are partying with colleagues is a tall order. The dress I'm wearing to my office Christmas night out manages to tick all the boxes for me. We wear formal/business wear in work so I feel like this needs to be reflected in my outfit choice. I've opted for a midi length lace dress which is an appropriate length but the lace makes it feel more opulent than my normal work dresses. 

My dress if from the Kaleidoscope party wear range and they had a great selection of dresses to chose from with plenty of sequins, sparkle and embellishments but this intricate lace dress was the one that eventually lured me in. 

Dress: c/o Kaleidoscope - Shoes: New Look - Necklace: Dorothy Perkins - Ring: gift

When i'm wearing a dress and cardigan in work I'm not overly bothered about a sleek silhouette or smooth lines but as this dress is pretty fancy I'll be wearing this waist Maidenfom waistnipper with it. This has the best sucking in power of any shape wear I've ever tried. I might get one in nude for my wedding as my dress is quite floaty and light so this will help to create a lovely shape.

Whether you chose lace, sequins or an LBD I hope you all have a wonderful time at any Christmas parities you may be attending. A big fat Welsh Nadolig Llawen from me!

You can find this weird-looking TV tower which was built in the late 60s on the famous Alexanderplatz. It is the tallest building in the city but I wouldn't recommend spending 12/13 Euro to get views of the city from the top. You can climb the Victory Column for 3 Euro and get equally as wonderful views. You can stroll around the immediate area of the tower and find the very grand baroque Neptune fountain, St Mary's church which dates back to the 13th Century and the impressive red brick Rotes Rathaus where the Mayor of Berlin works. 

One of Berlin's iconic buildings, the half-ruined Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is located on Breitscheidplatz in the centre of western Berlin. The church was partially destroyed during a bombing raid in 1943. Following the war, several different options for the church's redevelopment were considered, including the construction of a new church made from glass in the old church's ruins, and also its complete demolition and replacement with a new structure. Eventually it was decided to leave the ruined tower as a memorial to the futility of war, and create a new church around it. A little interesting fact is that the new church was consecrated on 25th May, 1962 - the same day as the new Coventry Cathedral - and features a cross made of nails from the old Coventry Cathedral. The church and an exhibition is free to visit and the new worship hall is very impressive inside with hundreds of blue glass window panes.

It’s free to enter the Reichstag and all you have to do is register online in advance to secure your ticket. It’s well worth checking out this unique building which was designed by Norman Foster. It has a unique design of the old building blended in with a glass roof that represent political transparency. You learn about all the cool features of the building if you pick up a free audio guide before heading to the top. Make sure you book this attraction well in advance because the only slot available for me and Martyn was at 9.45pm. 

For music fans, there are free lunchtime concerts at 1pm on Tuesdays in the foyer of the Berlin Philharmonic. They’re performed by members of the orchestra and music students and last around 45 minutes. Make sure you get there early though as they’re limited to 1500 spaces.

Built in 1791, The Brandenburg Gate is the symbol of Berlin and the reunited Germany. During the period when Berlin was a divided city, the Brandenberg Gate was located in no man’s land behind the Berlin Wall. It now serves as the centerpiece of Pariser Platz where you can find various embassies and the infamous Michael Jackson baby blanket dangling hotel.

Splash the cash

There are loads of free things to see and do in Berlin but there are a couple of things that are worth paying for but won't break the bank. The number 100 bus drives through the centre of Berlin and on its way passes many of the most recommended attractions. For the price of a single AB ticket you'll get your own cheaper guided bus tour of Berlin for a fraction of the alternative.


Berlin has some amazing street food and the easiest to find are kebabs and currywurst. You can get a super filling lunch for around 3 or 4 Euro. I recommend Curry 61 which is close to the Hackescher Markt S-Bahn station. It is close to the Ramones museum and you can pick up a Berliner doughnut on the way back to the station from one of the market stalls outside in the square. You can find some other things to do in this area (Mitte) here. 

If you're looking for something a bit different head to Street Food Thursday at the Markthalle Neun to sample some of the best street food Berlin has to offer.

I know we have only just got past Halloween and Bonfire Night but I have started thinking about Christmas already. I've been buying lots of festive bits for the house as it will be my first Christmas in the house I bought back in March with Martyn. I've also been stocking up the cupboards with Baileys and lebkuchen. It's is also time for me to start thinking about partywear as I've already got a few work parities lined up for the festive period and I'm hoping to host a few parties at my house as it is nearly complete in terms of renovation.

Most of my parties and social occasions tend to take place an hour or so after work. I commute around an hour to work so I'm always getting ready in the bathroom in work rather than rushing home and back. I much prefer wearing something to work and just adding a little more lippy and some sparkly eyeliner to make the look more party appropriate. This Scarlett and Jo dress from Simply Be is perfect as a day-to-night dress and would really pop with some heels and a retro hairdo. 

The skirt has some netting underneath which gives a lovely, full shape. I love the bold colours in the floral pattern as I tend to wear a lot of grey and black in winter which gets a bit dull and repetitive. The sweetheart neckline, elasticated belt waist and three quarter length sleeves are all super flattering on my shape and I feel really comfortable in this dress. The dress comes in saes 12-32 and in a few colour and pattern options (I'm loving this one).

Dress: c/o Simply Be

Shoes: Mel similar here

I wore this dress on a rare day off together with Martyn, we went to visit my family and my beautiful baby Sookie the labrador and had a date night including a glass (or three) of wine. This will definitely be my go-to date night dress and going for drinks with the girls dress this winter. 

Isn't she a beaut?!

Have you got your eye on any partywear at the moment? I'm still on the look out for some festive dresses to wear on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and a new winter coat because my one from last year is looking a little tired.

The dress was provided by Simply Be but all opinions are my own.

Berlin has been described as “poor, but sexy” and that's a description I certainly agree with after spending some time in the city a couple of weeks ago. It isn't as pretty as Rome, Budapest or cities I've recently visited like Salzburg but it has its own unique charm and a interesting history linked to World War II and the Cold War. Almost 90% of Berlin was destroyed during World War II and because East Berlin was under Soviet rule for over 40 years after World War II, Communist or Stalinist architecture can be seen in many buildings and monuments in what once was East Germany. Not always breathtaking in terms of beauty but very interesting. 

The city has attracted many artists and writers; David Bowie and Iggy Pop notably lived in Berlin (you can read more about this here). Berlin has a really young and creative vibe and doesn't feel very stereotypically German at all.

We were able to get some really cheap Flybe flights from Cardiff for around £30 each way and picked up the Berlin WelcomeCard when we arrived at Berlin Tegel airport. For 27.50 Euro we were able to travel around the city on trams, buses and the underground for 72 hours and get discounts on over 200 attractions.

Martyn and I only had three days in the German capitol so we knew that we would need to cram in as much as possible. On our first day we headed to Alexanderplatz for a Fat Tire Bike Tours to take in as many of the main sights in one day as we could. Our tour group of 10 set out with our tour guide and headed off for a whistle stop tour of the sights. 

I'm going to do another post sharing some of my favourite sights and attractions in Berlin because I just couldn't fit them all in to one post.