Christmas time means fairy lights and chocolate in this house. A time when it is more than acceptable to have bowlfuls of chocolate on the coffee table and to help yourself every time you are passing.

So can you imagine our faces when the postman delivered the most wonderful hamper from Lindt, bursting with chocolate. All your chocolate dreams come true! 

Almost bigger than the boys, we are now armed with a Christmas (and well into the new year) supply of the most delicious chocolates and I just had to share with you a few ways we have eaten it!

Chocolate is not just for children, it’s for grown ups too and even if this takes me straight to Santa’s naughty list, here is a hot chocolate cocktail recipe for you to try. Naughty but seriously nice!

I love caketails and this is like a chocolate trifle. Mixing together the creamy Lindt chocolate with white chocolate liqueur, milk, vanilla and a raspberry garnish. The world’s best hot chocolate!

Serves 2.

Ingredients:

• 100ml milk
• 1 mini Lindt chocolate figurine
• I shot white chocolate liqueur
• Ground vanilla 
• Raspberry to garnish

Recipe.

Heat your milk gently in a pan and slowly add the chocolate figurine, stirring continuously. Break it into little pieces as you add it to the milk for an even melt. When fully melted and mixed, add your shot of liqueur and take off the heat. Pour into cocktail glasses and add a sprinkle of ground vanilla. Garnish with a single raspberry.

This is the ultimate Winter warmer and heavenly for all the chocolate lovers out there.

The boys love to make chocolate bark, it’s simple to make but looks so effective, and you could easily break a slab up and give it away as Christmas treats for school teachers and friends. I always used to make chocolate crispy cakes with my Mummy, but I think bark might be the tradition with my boys. 

Makes approximately 10” by 8” slab of bark. 

Ingredients:

• 2 Lindt chocolate bears
• Handful fresh raspberries
• Handful fresh cranberries
• Edible gold star sprinkles
• Figurines to decorate

Recipe.

Melt your chocolate bears. Either break and melt over a pan of simmering water, stirring continuously, or melt slowly in a microwavable bowl at 20 second intervals, until smooth.

Whilst the chocolate rests, line a baking tray with cling film or baking parchment. This helps the chocolate to set to the shape of the tray and easy to release once firm.

Pour your melted chocolate into the tray. Tip your tray from side to side to let the chocolate evenly cover the base of the tray. Tap gently on the work surface.

Let your little ones add the toppings. We chose raspberries and cranberries and an extra chocolately layer of figurines, which we lay flat into the chocolate. Finally sprinkle over your edible old stars for a touch of sparkle and festive cheer.

Set in the fridge for 30 minutes. Lift the paper or cling film gently to test if solid.

Remove from the fridge and break into smaller pieces. Wrap in cellophane bags and gift to loved ones, or eat it all yourself!

The boys love making bark because it’s quick. Nothing needs hours in the oven, or time to cool. Plus they get to lick a very chocolately bowl!

How about trying yours with pistachios and flaked almonds for more crunch?

And the last idea I want to share with you is the best Christmas decor you could get. Edible decor!

A Lindt chocolate bauble wreath! This is so simple to make but looks beautiful.

Take your Lindt baubles or Lindor chocolate balls and a single figurine.

Melt the figurine until the chocolate is smooth. Leave for a minute to cool slightly. If the chocolate is too runny it will be messy!

Take your balls and lay out in a circle shape to ensure you have enough for your wreath.

Attach each ball to each other with a dab of melted chocolate and hold in place for 30 seconds whilst the chocolate sets. When complete, transfer to the fridge for 10 minutes to ensure the wreath will stay in place. 

Use a length of ribbon to secure to your door.

What a way to welcome your guests to the festive season!

Now tell me, what would you do with a hamper full of chocolate? Let me know your ideas, chocolate gravy anyone?!!!

Thank you to Lindt who treated us to a magnificent hamper.

The best thing about moving to a new area is finding new places to discover.

And the moment I walked into Fork and Flowers in Shaftesbury, I knew I had found a special place. A family run business, filled with pretty stems and bursting with antiques.

Cassie show cases other local businesses and uses their pop up pieces to style her carefully curated shop. There are vintage apothecary bottles squeezed next to antique crockery and decorative home ware.

Her window displays are award winning and as I snapped away quietly, it was lovely to see the passers by stop and stare at the vision before them.

Not only does Cassie offer a bespoke floristry service to her many happy clients, she runs workshops through the year for adults and children.

Next week on Tuesday she is running 2 workshops for children during half term and there are still a few spaces left. As we have family visiting on Tuesday we were lucky enough to spend Friday after school stuffing some gourds with beautiful flowers. 

The boys were totally engaged and played nicely with Cassie's two children. Sammy asked questions and Ollie was determined to cut his own stems! It was lovely to see them doing such a calm activity and now our fireplace is filled with pretty pumpkins!

There are so many photo opportunities at Fork and Flowers, the garden where Cassie grows all their foliage and the baskets of gourds that line the floor, the rustic old table by the milk churns , the old stone steps. And I couldn't resist taking a few photos or five ;)

Find out more about the upcoming workshops at Fork and Flowers Facebook page or connect with Cassie on Twitter or Instagram.

There's nothing I love photographing more than beautiful petals and I want to share some of my favourite images I have taken over the Summer for you to enjoy as a phone wallpaper.

Take your pick or download them all! There is a light and bright version of each.

Click on any of the images to download your free wallpaper and I'd love you to tweet me, tag me on Facebook or Instagram if you use them, I adored seeing the photos of people's phones and the Spring Collection set. 

Make sure you subscribe to the blog to be the first to see my exclusive sets. I love creating these wallpapers as a thank you to all you lovely readers!

Have a happy week full of floral love everyone. I have the orange Dahlia on my phone at the moment!