2013

31 DECEMBER 2013

So, 2013. I don't know how yours has been, but if it has been anywhere near as good as mine, it will have been fabulous. 

I've done so much this year. I started working for the NHS in a job that I love with some truly amazing people. I celebrated my Mum's 50th and my Dad's 60th birthdays, which saw us enjoy a weekend in Center Parcs and my first ever trip to Paris which was truly incredible. I've finally shed my bad university habits having managed to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise regime which has done wonders for my Crohn's disease. I've celebrated another happy year with my amazing boyfriend, Tom, visiting the beautiful city of Florence with him in the summer.

What's more, I've managed to get this blog off the ground with regular posts and nine wonderful followers. This might seem like nothing to some, but everything has to start somewhere, and I'm proud of what I have achieved so far and excited to see what 2014 has in store for Chantilly Press. However, I couldn't have done any of it without all the support I've received from you lovely people, so thank you, you truly are my inspiration!

So, here's to 2013 - a year full of exciting new experiences, family memories, health, happiness and personal milestones. I wish you all a happy, peaceful and prosperous 2014. Make every moment count, whatever it is you decide to do.

LOVE | Hannah

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

26 DECEMBER 2013

Happy Christmas everyone! The big day has come and gone like lightning, as always, and I bet I'm not the only one feeling like I've overindulged. But if you can't go all out on Christmas Day, when can you?!

Anyway, I just wanted you all to know that I hope you've had a fantastic time this Christmas. Whether you've spent it with family or friends, or whether you don't even celebrate Christmas, I hope you've had the opportunity to take stock, enjoy a couple of days off work and prepare yourself for a fabulous 2014.

Just to finish off, I thought I'd show you a few of the snaps I've taken  over the past few days. Many are pictures of the food and drink I have made, recipes for which will follow on my recipes page in the next few days. But, for now, make the most of whatever time off you have left, relax, indulge and most of all, enjoy.

LOVE | Hannah

MINCE PIES

22 DECEMBER 2013

Time for a little more festivity from Chantilly Press. Yes, I have been baking again, this time mince pies! This is my third batch so far this winter, and I think they're my best yet. Crispy pastry with a rich, spicy filling. Yum! Take a look at the recipe here if you fancy having a go yourself.

LOVE | Hannah

GINGERBREAD RECIPE

19 DECEMBER

So, the gingerbread house I made went down pretty well. So well in fact that I want to share the recipe with you so you can all enjoy some homemade treats this Christmas! I've written the recipe on my recipes page which you can see here. Let me know if you try it and how you get on. Happy baking!

LOVE | Hannah

GINGERBREAD HOUSE: MARK II

17 DECEMBER 2013

So, you might remember a gingerbread house I made a few months ago as a practice run for Christmas. I posted the photos on here and promised you a follow-up gingerbread house nearer Christmas. Well, now the big day is only a week away, I thought I should show you my second effort at confectionery construction work. Here it is...

LOVE | Hannah

TUMBLR

14 DECEMBER 2013

Apologies for the long, long silence everyone. What with Christmas fast approaching, time seems to be disappearing leaving me with precious little time for the blog.

Photography research has also been taking up a lot of my time lately. I've had a fairly sophisticated digital compact camera for couple of years now, but I'm tired of using the auto-settings for everything. Don't get me wrong, the settings are there to help you achieve the best possible photos with the most minimal photographer effort, and on the whole they produce excellent results. But, I want to learn how to use the manual settings so I can really explore my surroundings and create photographic compositions that are more unique, more me.

So, today I've set up a tumblr account - http://chantillypress.tumblr.com/ - purely to showcase my photographic exploits. I'll still post photos on here, but for a more dedicated, purely photographic feed you might want to take a look at my tumblr. I've put a link on my homepage too, for easy access. Let me know what you think.

LOVE | Hannah

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

3 DECEMBER 2013

The Hunger Games trilogy helped me survive my final year at university. Strangely, the harrowing, at times gruesome, storyline provided an escape for me, an escape from the stresses of exams to a different world and characters I felt truly connected to. I was so engrossed that when the trilogy ended I felt a genuine loss, or 'book mourning' as I like to call it, and yearned for a fourth installment so I wouldn't have to admit that my love affair with Katniss and Peeta was finally over.

Since graduating, the promise of reliving my favourite trilogy through film has had me squealing with excitement and counting down the weeks to each new release. The latest installment, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, did not disappoint. Incredibly true to the book, this screen adaptation is gripping from start to finish and graphically breathtaking. I felt as glued to the cinema screen as I was to my Kindle two years ago, desperate to find out the fate of the tributes and the future of Panem.

Just as with the first film, The Hunger Games, the fictional world of Panem is brought to life through the stark poverty of the Districts completely juxtaposed by the fabulously over-the-top, dazzling technicolour of the Capitol. The political overtones of dictatorship, despotism and libertarian struggle are made clear in this distinct contrast. Jennifer Lawrence is amazing, once again, as the heroine Katniss Everdeen, bringing a feminist dimension to this already wonderfully intelligent story.

This film is a captivating adaptation of Suzanne Collins' dystopian novel; a work of silver screen genius and a definite must-see for anyone who enjoys a thrilling science fiction adventure. A fan of the books or not, I'm sure you'll love it!

LOVE | Hannah

DECEMBER

1 DECEMBER 2013

Happy December everyone! I felt Christmas well and truly arrive as I opened the first door on my advent calendar this morning. The battle for the best festive advert has commenced, Christmas films are showing every night of the week, and twinkling decorations are popping up all over our houses and down our streets, spreading that familiar festive warmth and the promise of good times to come.

Typically, November has flown by, taking the last of Autumn with it and consuming all my free time with the obligatory Christmas shopping, list making, and other seasonal preparations. Finding the time to blog has been a nightmare, so I apologise for my silence of late. All stressing aside, the developing festive atmosphere throughout November has prepared me nicely for the end of 2013. I've got more work on than I've ever had, but something about the Christmas season just seems to make me forget about all that and focus instead on the positives in life.

I hope that all of you have something wonderful to look forward to this Christmas. Whether that's spending some quality time with loved ones, or just having some well earned rest and time off work, I wish you all a very happy December and upcoming festive season.

LOVE | Hannah