weekend wanderings #40

(images from sending-postcards.com, jisforjen.com and mygingerbreadjourney.co.uk)

• I'm supposed to be doing boring adult things today like food shopping and hoovering and laundry, but instead I'm trying to work my way through my Bloglovin' feed... so expect a bumper edition today, haha. I love this ivy-covered building, it's so perfect.
• Becky's trip to Calais is really lovely to see cause I went there this time last year, I haven't been to France at all this year, I've missed it my little Christmas trips there. On a similar note, Sarah's photos of Bruges make me really want to go again! 
• Taking a break from your blog is sometimes really good, and I like this post on the subject by Bonjour Luce. I've had a couple of absent weeks, what with everything going on in my life and starting full-time work, but I feel like it's been good for me, because it made me realise that I really missed it.
• I absolutely love autumn fog, and waking up to it this morning made me happy (particularly as I didn't have to go to work in it!). Rosie shared some beautiful pictures of it (and her lovely dog) on her blog this week.
• I love this advent calendar bunting, that you could still make quickly this evening from Creative Countryside, all your need is some coloured paper, you could even use wrapping paper.
• I love this post from Terri about making your blog work for your career, which is really interesting to read. I think a lot of bloggers can be kind of shady about how they make money off their blog, or the opportunities they've had because of it, but as always with Terri, she's refreshingly honest.
• I'm really intrigued by Mathilde's butternut squash, apple and cinnamon smoothie, I've never thought of trying it in a smoothie, but any chance to consume more squash, and I'm there. I think it's possibly my favourite kind of veg, I love it. I'm also intrigued to try her clementine, lemon and basil juice..
• I really love a good Yorkshire view, and that viaduct in the background of Jen's outfit photos nearly steals the show, but I really love her outfit, too. 
• When you come across someone that makes you really want to start making art again, it kind of makes me a little bit sad I've given up on it all. Ann-Marie Rayney makes the kind of prints that I was making, once upon a time, with nearly identical themes and ideas, they even look like things I was doing three years ago (except better), it makes me wish I had the resources to try it out again.
• If I hadn't just bought a new iPhone case, I would so be getting this one by Julia Kostreva, I love anything in that ultramarine-cobalt blue vein.
• And I could go on, but this post is getting long enough as it is, so I'll leave you with this insanely good looking recipe from My Gingerbread Journey for some millionaire's shortbread. Yes, yes, yes, please.
• Oh, and this really is the end, but I've had this Christmas song stuck in my head all week, and I don't even care. Why am I so looking forward to Christmas this year? It's so unlike my usual scrooge-y self..