A photo every day for a year! 30th Nov - 6th Dec! Week 49 of #Project365

How's December treating you? I hope it has been a good start to the month and you are not getting too bogged down in the Christmas chaos. Things have been good here, well apart from Becky having a cold. She stayed in her room mostly, is over the worst and none of us have caught it so far. I've been doing little bits, getting ready for Christmas and feel on top of things at the moment.

We've had another quiet weekend so far. We haven't been up to much, just enjoying the quiet time we have before things get busy next week.

Now for a photo every day!

334/365 - 30th November

I spent Sunday afternoon catching up with the wrestling. There was a live event on Saturday night and as much as I love it I cannot be staying up until the early hours only to wake up looking like I've been the one fighting in the ring so I watched it the next day with no fear of falling asleep mid-slam.

335/365 - 1st December

On Monday Stu and I did a bit more Christmas shopping. We stopped off for some lunch because shopping on an empty stomach is not the way to do things. We treated ourselves to hot chocolates, I went for the Irish Cream flavour which was lovely and extremely festive. If December had a taste that would probably be it!

336/365 - 2nd December

My youngest was sporting the holey look! She's not being scruffy, the clothes were bought like this with the holes in. I’m far too old to understand half the fashion trends these days but she looked great and far cooler than I ever did at her age.

337/365 - 3rd December

Creamy chicken thigh, leek & carrot pie! My family do love this recipe from Gousto and I do too as it's one of those recipes that looks like I've put loads of effort in but it’s secretly really easy.

338/365 - 4th December

Some of the Christmas wrapping paper, I have no excuses now not to wrap all of the presents. The paper is there, the tags, tape, scissors and ribbon, the only thing missing is my motivation. I'm sure I've mentioned it many times but I hate wrapping presents.

339/365 - 5th December

I watched the World Cup Draw. What a circus, there was a lot of talking, singing and a good 20 minutes of bragging about what a wonderful man "the orange one" is and how he’s changed the world. He even got a medal and a certificate. It reminded me of kids in Primary school when awards were made up to boost their confidence. hahaha Then came The Village People singing the Orange one's favourite song. Madness! Anyway, England is the same group as Croatia, Ghana and Panama which seems OK.

340/365 - 6th December

A standard photo for a Saturday when I don't have much to do. It was another gloomy day but as I am typing this the sun is trying to come out despite it also looking like it might rain.

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This week my Word of the Week is: Treats!! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

I have had a quiet week, it feels like it has been the little pocket of peace before the Christmas madness starts. Bring it on, I am ready for it, well as long as I don't come down with the cold that Becky has been suffering with over the past week. Eek! Poor Becky hasn't been well. She got sent home from work so I know she wasn't being dramatic. You have to be at deaths door before they will lose a staff member for a shift. I think the nose bleed swung it for her, she had been blowing her nose lots and the heat in the home irritated her nose. Considering she works in health care she doesn't do well with the sight of blood. Bless her! She thought it was a treat to be sent home and to be quarantining in her room. She has been able to sleep, doze, scroll on TikTok and have meals and drinks brought to her. It's just a normal, bad cold, she was tested for other things at work so there's nothing to worry about.

Stu and I went out early in the week to finish off the Christmas shopping. We had a lovely day despite it raining all day, we didn't get that wet as we were in and out of the shops all afternoon. All the gifts have been bought and a few extra gifts for people. We stopped off for lunch and treated ourselves to a fancy hot chocolate, purely just to warm up and use their toilets. It's rubbish that in Scunthorpe town centre there are no public toilets to use on a Monday. The indoor market is closed on a Monday so you can't use theirs and the one's at the other end of the high street are rarely open and are a trek away. Ugh!

Last week I watched the new episodes of Stranger Things and because they were so good I watched them again and saw all the things I missed first time around. I love how much Will was smiling, Karen Wheeler was a hero, Robin is comedy gold and poor Dustin, he is in such a mood but I guess he entitled to be as he's been through so much. The rest of my week has been spent watching all the Christmas movies and no, I've not had enough yet and I still have so many to watch!

Stu has been having a great time at work. Everyone was given an advent calendar and they have a little game going where if you do/sell certain things your name goes in the daily draw to win a big prize. I thought it would be bottles or wine or boxes of chocolates but no there's Ninja food mixer things, Nintendo Switch's and fancy hair straighteners. It's non-workwear every day and the company are putting on lunch for everyone every Friday in December. What a treat!

Ellie is counting down the days until her Christmas break! She has 6 more college days until she finishes for the year and she's looking forward to the time off. College is great but the buses are not! All this week they've been late and it's no fun standing in the cold waiting for them. She is looking forward to next week when one day my dad will be giving her a lift to college as he is heading to town. Nothing beats a car ride when you’re used to dealing with packed buses!

How has your week been? I hope you have had a one. I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay to join in with her Word of the Week linky!

What I have loved this week! Week 49. #FridayFavourites

Hello there and happy Friday! I hope you have all had a good week. Mine has been pretty quiet but in a nice way, just pottering around and doing little bits to get ready for Christmas. Usually by this point I’m starting to flap about something ridiculous like running out of wrapping paper or forgetting who I’ve already bought gifts for but everything feels surprisingly calm this year. It’s a Christmas miracle. I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea to share what I have been loving over the past week.

All the Christmas movies!

I have watched so many over the last week! I’ve gone through a whole run of the cheesy Hallmark style ones: Jingle Bell Heist, Champagne Problems, My Secret Santa and Love Hard. Then I balanced it out with a few classics because it’s not December if you haven’t had a little cry at The Holiday or muttered hot, hot, hot chocolate along with The Polar Express, there was also Love Actually and The Grinch! The wild card of the week was A Christmas Karen on Amazon. I clicked on it not expecting much but it was so bad that it was good. It’s a parody of A Christmas Carol, except the Scrooge character is an entitled middle aged woman who thinks she runs the world. It was so silly but so funny.

Advent Calendars!

This is one of my favourite little rituals in December. I love that moment when I get all my jobs done and then treat myself to a little bit of chocolate. This year I’ve got a Terry’s Chocolate Orange advent calendar, it's my favourite chocolate ever! Someone told me the other day that advent calendars are just for kids. No, absolutely not! If anything adults need advent calendars more than kids, they're already overflowing with magic and excitement, we are the ones who need that daily boost to get through the Christmas chaos!

More gift buying!

I think and don’t quote me on this because things can change in a heartbeat but I think I’m finally done with the Christmas shopping. Presents, stocking fillers, selection boxes and random little bits I absolutely did not need to buy but threw into the basket anyway. I only have a couple of gifts left that need ordering online and those will be sent straight to the people they’re for which means wrapping is next! I picked up wrapping paper, gift tags and some fancy ribbon yesterday so I don't have any excuses anymore, the wrapping is a job for next week!

My eldest feeling better!

Poor Becky has had a bit of a rough week. She came down with a cold over the weekend and has been feeling pretty rubbish. She’s been keeping herself upstairs for most of the week, partly to rest and partly to avoid spreading her germs. I appreciate that very much because I do not have time to be sick right now. She’s pretty sure she caught it from work. She works in a care home and unless you’re basically on your last breath calling in sick feels forbidden! She was fine until two hours into her shift on Tuesday when blowing her nose non-stop combined with the heat in the home triggered a nosebleed. Bless her, she does not handle blood well, she went dizzy, pale and the nurse on duty took one look at her and told her to go home, which she did. Once she got outside and had some fresh air, the nosebleed stopped and she tucked herself straight into bed when she got home. I’ve been doing room service all week, taking her meals medicine and drinks upstairs and apart from her quick dashes to the bathroom or bringing her plates down occasionally, I’ve barely seen her. She is over the worst now, feels better in herself but is left with a nasty cough. Phew!

Putting dates in the diary.

I’ve finally sat down with my calendar and pencilled in the main things for the next couple of weeks. Nothing too wild, just the essentials. There’s the big frozen food shop with my dad where we stock up on the turkey, party food, and whatever else jumps into the trolley, I’ve also got a meal out with friends booked, which I’m really looking forward to and a family visit day planned to drop off presents. That’s it. That’s all I’m allowing. Every December I end up overbooking myself and then wondering why I feel worn out and run down later in the month, not this year. I’m keeping things simple and calm.

What have you loved over the past week?

365 Days Of Gratitude. In November I was grateful for...

November was a wonderful month, it had my blogs birthday, my birthday which was brilliant and a family trip to the York Christmas Markets. I had a lot to be grateful for! Even with the cold weather we've had I have been so grateful that I have been able to keep warm.

I did notice mid-month that I had messed the numbers up somewhere in the year. I was a day behind. Oops. lol I think I've fixed it but I guess we'll find out at the end of the year. I will either have an extra day or be a day short. lol

I have seen many people on social media list something every day that they are grateful for and thought I would join in. I did this for the whole of the last couple of years and it has really made me realise that even on the bad day's I have something to be grateful for.

Day 303 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a lovely night away with family, staying in a hotel.

Day 304 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful to be back home! Hotels are nice but home comforts are better!

Day 305 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a nice tea with Stu. Steak, chips, peas, mushrooms, tomato and onion rings!

Day 306 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that the girls made it home safe after their night out in town and were quiet when they came in.

Day 307 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that things are getting back to normal after having everyone off work and college last week!

Day 308 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a piece of cake that I hid from my family.

Day 309 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that the fireworks have stopped! I hate fireworks and it seemed like tonight there was a lot more than previous years.

Day 310 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I was grateful that it was so warm today. I had washing out on the line and the back door open. What a treat!

Day 311 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for Stranger Things! It's such a great show. I am rewatching it with Becky.

Day 312 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a walk out with Ellie. We got a sandwich and a hot chocolate.

Day 313 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for an afternoon on my laptop playing The Sims!

Day 314 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for Argos starting their Black Friday deals early. Ellie is getting a new mobile phone for Christmas and I'd planned to get her one but the newer model of it was the same price so she'll have a really fancy phone come Christmas day!

Day 315 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for Christmas music! I have given in and started listening!

Day 316 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Ellie remembered her appointment with the hearing loss lady at college, I forgot to remind her about it this morning.

Day 317 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that the people Ellie had a meeting with were lovely! They were extra smiley and nice which really puts you at ease.

Day 318 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that I didn't have to go out in the rain! It has been awful out there, all day!

Day 319 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that I was woken up early by a delivery because I had all my jobs done by 10am and I have spent the rest of the day catching up on TV shows and doing my own thing!

Day 320 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Stu came Christmas shopping with me to help carry the bags.

Day 322 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that my family have kept me right, I've been convinced it was Wednesday all day!

Day 323 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for friends who have sent me early birthday presents! I feel very loved!

Day 324 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a lovely evening out in Hull! Went to the light switch on, out for tea and now catching up on I'm a Celeb.

Day 325 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for all the birthday wishes! I've had a fab day and I am ready for bed after being to York today!

Day 326 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a day doing hardly anything! I needed a rest day after a couple of busy days!

Day 327 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for help putting all the Christmas decorations up!

Day 328 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that Stu has done all of the cooking today. It's nice to have a day off.

Day 329 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful for a meal out! My first Christmas dinner of the year. I have another one planned for in a few weeks before the real one on Christmas Day!

Day 330 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful that the boiler man came and did the yearly gas safety check, all was good!

Day 331 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful I got to watch all the new episodes of Stranger Things in peace!

Day 332 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful I got to spend some time with my dad. It seems ages since we last sat down and had a catch up. We've both been busy over the last few weeks.

Day 333 of #365DaysOfGratitude

Today I am grateful I got the freezer defrosted! Now I'm ready to fill it with all the Christmas food!

Day 334 of #365DaysOfGratitude 

Today I am grateful for a lazy Sunday! Been in pj's all day, don't worry I did change them after being in the shower.

What were you grateful for in November?