My December playlist: Festive cheer & Zero Buble!

Every December something strange happens to me. I go from being a perfectly reasonable human to someone with very strong feelings about Christmas music!! One minute I’m feeling all calm and twinkly and the next I’m acting like a security guard of my own playlist! It’s crazy how a song can flip your whole mood. One jingle and I’m ready to deck the halls and another and I’m contemplating a long walk into the snow. hehehe So welcome to my December playlist: the good, the bad, the absolutely not on my listen list!

Fairytale of New York - The Pogues

The second those opening notes start I don’t care what I’m doing, I could be wrestling with wrapping paper or trying to find the end of the Sellotape for the 400th time. I’m transported straight into a pub at Christmas where everyone’s singing loudly, no one knows all the lyrics and someone’s spilled their beer but no one cares because it’s festive.

Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano!

If joy had a soundtrack this would be it! I could be having the worst morning known to humankind but three seconds into this song and I’m smiling like I’ve just won the lottery! There’s no emotional backstory, no drama, just an instant good mood. 

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard!

This song feels like sugar, glitter and someone who’s had too many Quality Streets. It’s loud, it’s joyful and it has the energy of a kid who’s been up since 4am asking if Santa came. 

Underneath the Tree - Kelly Clarkson!

This song turns me into a woman who thinks she can sing. I can't, not even a little but Kelly comes in with that festive power and suddenly I’m belting the chorus like I’m auditioning for a Christmas special. 

All I Want for Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey!

People pretend they’re too cool for it until that twinkly intro starts. Mariah owns December and I support her reign. If loving this song is basic then hand me my hot chocolate and leave me be!

Driving Home for Christmas - Chris Rea!

I don’t drive. I don’t even understand road signs but this song makes me feel like I’m gliding along a snowy motorway in a red car wearing a festive scarf, heading home to my family. It’s soothing, gentle and nobody is crying about heartbreak.

Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin Stevens!

It’s the musical equivalent of a sparkly jumper your nan knitted you, slightly ridiculous but impossible not to love. It makes everything feel soft and snowy even when it’s just raining sideways like a typical December.

Step Into Christmas - Elton John!

It sounds like Elton bursts through your door shouting put your coat on, we’re going out and that’s the kind of energy I need in December!

Do They Know It’s Christmas? - Band Aid

Big and dramatic! It's not something you sing quietly while making tea it’s definitely a sing out loud song! 

Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade! 

It basically kicks the door in and shouts IT’S CHRIIIIIIISTMAS like someone who’s had three Snowballs before lunch. The second Noddy Holder starts yelling, every British person suddenly remembers it’s December. It’s crazy, loud and feels like being hugged by an overexcited relative!

What's not on my playlist and why! 

Anything Michael Bublé!

I know he is a lovely person, he seems like the kind of man who’d help you carry your shopping but the second he starts singing Christmas songs I can feel my soul leaving my body. There’s just something a bit too smooth, too perfect and slightly smug about him. It's like he knows he’s the soundtrack to half of December and he’s fine with it.

Anything overly repetitive or novelty!

Novelty Christmas songs are funny once maybe twice but Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer or I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas quickly crosses the line into chaos. After the second chorus, I start questioning my sanity! 

Last Christmas - Wham!

I loved George Michael, the man had charisma, style and a voice that made you feel things you didn’t even know you were supposed to feel but Last Christmas! Ugh. You can’t escape it. You hear it in every shop, every cafe, every random playlist and suddenly it’s less a festive classic and more a background noise that makes you question why you ever liked it in the first place!

Festive remixes!

Overly modern pop remixes of the classics! Don’t give me Silent Night the DJ Frostbite remix or O Holy Night featuring a random rapper! Nothing ruins my mood faster than a techno remix of a classic carol. No, thank you!

Long instrumental tracks!

They're lovely for about 40 seconds but after that, my brain starts itching. I don’t need a 10 minute jazzy piano version of Silent Night. I can’t wrap presents for 10 minutes straight to that sort of noise, it's just cruel! 

What are your favourite Christmas songs? Which don't you like?

Floor, tape and Marvel movies: My Christmas wrapping routine!

Every year without fail I tell myself the same thing: This year I’ll be ahead of the game, by the beginning of December all the presents will be wrapped, stacked neatly under the tree and I’ll even have time to sip a hot chocolate and watch Christmas movies! hahaha.

Here we are middle of December and somehow not much is wrapped, in fact nothing is! The rolls of paper are still rolled, the ribbons untouched and the scissors are already missing! I even got my eldest to buy some new one's yesterday and those are lost too. The pile of gifts is more of a mountain and as much as I say I hate doing the wrapping, I am sort of looking forward to it. There’s something about wrapping presents that is part of the magic of Christmas.

I’ve tried over the years to have a proper place to wrap presents like at the dining room table or even sitting on the sofa but I always end up on the floor. It’s just easier. I spread everything out, claim a corner of the living room as my own and just deal with the fact that I will have a numb bum and legs for the next couple of hours.

The floor is where it happens, there's a mix of scattered paper scraps, sticky tape stuck to everything it shouldn’t be and a pile of all the price tags if I remember to pull them off. There’s something nice about sitting there, it’s part of the wrapping routine even with the the mess, losing the end of the tape and the way the paper always seems to roll back on itself . Hmmf.

I begin every wrapping, scissors in my hand, ready to slice through paper like a pro but 10 minutes later the scissors are gone! I know I had them, I can see myself holding them but somehow they disappear! Then comes the tape. It sticks to everything except the gift it’s supposed to stick to. I spend half my wrapping time untangling the tape from itself, trying not to scream and the other half of my time trying to find the end of it! I even have one of those tape holders which should make my life easier but it doesn't!

After years of mix ups and lost gift tags I finally found a system that works for me: one wrapping paper design for my eldest and a completely different one for my youngest. There's no guessing and no panicked moments on Christmas morning. The paper itself is the tag!

No wrapping session is complete without some background entertainment. For the last 5 years or so I have watched Avengers: Infinity War while I wrap one of my girls presents and my dad's birthday and Christmas presents. My reason being that it is a decent length film and gives me plenty of time and then when I have my 2nd day of wrapping my other girls presents and everyone else's I watch Avengers: End Game! In total the movies are about 5 and a half hours long so that's plenty of time to wrap everything! The films make the process feel less like work and more like a tradition. I don’t wrap faster, but I wrap happier!

The presents are never wrapped perfectly and it takes time to tidy up but it's all part of the wrapping routine. Even if I tell myself next year everything will be wrapped by the beginning of December I know deep down it won’t happen but that’s OK.

When do you wrap the Christmas presents and where?

Share our Lives: How I stay Connected to my girls now they're older!

It's that time of the month again, time to join in with the Share Our Lives bloggers and the prompt is: Staying connected with kids/spouse/significant other! I chose to go with how I stay connected to my girls now that they're older.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a mam of two adult daughters it’s that staying connected is about the small everyday things, they really count! The quiet conversations, the shared TV shows and the texts about silly things. Connection doesn’t stop when they stop needing you to tie their shoes or walk them to school, it just changes.

So how do I stay connected to them through all these changes? I’m sharing what works for me and my girls!

Make time, even when life is busy!

Life never seems to slow down. Between work, house stuff and trying to remember what day it is there's always something else that needs doing but I’ve learned that if I don’t make time it won’t magically appear. I always make a point of having a chat with my girls when they get in from work or college or make them come into the kitchen for a chat while I am cooking tea. When they are in for the day, off college or work I always make a point making time to do something with them, I mostly always change my plans so I can spend some quality time with my favourite people.

Respect their independence!

This one’s a bit harder. When they were little they needed me for everything but as they've grown up they need me in different ways, more as a supporter than a director. I’ve learned not to barge into their world but to wait to be invited. Sometimes they want to spend time in their rooms and not downstairs with me and it's OK. I give them room to breathe and let them know I'm there without hovering. It shows I trust them which helps keep the lines of communication open.

Be silly together!

One of the best ways I connect with my girls is through laughter. I’ve been known to send ridiculous memes, attempt TikTok dances (badly) and belt out cheesy pop songs in the kitchen. It breaks the tension, lifts the mood and reminds them that mam is still fun even if she’s wearing slippers and complaining about her back. It could be a TV show, inside joke or complete nonsense, that silliness can build strong bonds.

Listen without fixing unless they ask you to!

This one took me a while to get right. I’m a fixer by nature and want to solve all of their problems. When they come to me upset my brain immediately goes: right here’s what we’re going to do but often they don’t want fixing they want me to listen. A safe place to vent, cry or just talk things out. It takes a lot of practice to listen without jumping in. They know that I am there for them and if they need me they only have to ask.

Share your life too!

Connection is a two way street. I’ve found that when I open up about my own day, my feelings and even my mess ups it encourages them to do the same. I don’t mean oversharing every little stress but letting them see that I’m human too. If I’ve had a bad day I’ll say it. If I’ve learned something the hard way, I’ll share it. It makes our relationship more real not just parent and child but women supporting each other.

Send little check ins!

Texts might seem basic but they’re magic! A quick what are you up to, a funny meme or a how did that thing go today? It shows you’re paying attention. It's not being nosy, it's just letting them know that I care. I send texts, voice notes, snapchat or even cute little handwritten notes.

Keep your traditions alive or make new ones!

Some of our strongest connections come from the traditions we’ve built. Friday night pizza, Saturday evening in front of the TV, crisp sandwiches for lunch on a lazy day or watching a cheesy Christmas film in July. Even as they grow these little rituals them smile and something to look forward to. As the girls have got older the old traditions didn't work anymore so we created new ones that fit our lives now. The point isn’t what you do, it’s that you do it together.

Don’t expect perfection from you or them!

Some days are hard, I'm not going to lie and say we live the perfect life. They can be moody and so can I, we can be tired or they can be busy doing their own thing. There are times I say the wrong thing or miss a cue that one of them is struggling. I’ve learned to say, I got that wrong and sorry.

Staying connected to my daughters as they get older isn’t always easy but it’s one of the greatest privileges of my life. We’re not always in perfect harmony but we’re in it together which matters more than anything.

I am linking up with:

Adrienne from Mom Life with Adrienne.

Dara from Not In Jersey.

Jen from Show me & Sweet tea.

Joanne from Slices of Life.

Sarah from Toronto Sam.

Our weekly meal plan! 8th - 14th December! #MealPlanningMonday

Happy Monday! I hope you are all having a good start to the week. Last weeks meal plan went well, I swapped a couple of meals around, of course I did. I think it's a given my meal plan rarely goes 100% to plan. We ended up getting pasties from Greggs on Monday instead of using the one's out of the freezer on Thursday and had fish and chips on Friday from the chip shop. I did get my freezer defrosted and it didn't take as long as I thought so that's a good thing.

I feel like this week is going to be a busy one. We are doing the big food shop for all the freezer stuff and I am going to get all the presents wrapped. Wish me luck, I hate wrapping but hopefully by the end of this week a big chunk of my Christmas to-do list will be done! I'm also going to drop some presents off to family and I must give the kids a nagging to make sure they have bought everything that they need to. Every year there’s always one who suddenly remembers they forgot something three days before Christmas and guess who ends up sorting it! So the nagging shall begin to make my future life easier.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - A surprise!

Today is going to be a total surprise as I will pick something up while I am out. It could be anything but I do know that's it going to be something that needs minimal preparing and cooking.

Tuesday - Gousto meal - Pork, Apple & Sage Potato Topped Pie!

Pork and apple in a hearty potato topped pie. Infused with aromatic sage and served with green vegetables and of course gravy! This one is new to us but we love anything with sage at this time of year and I’ve never met a potato topped anything I didn’t like.

Wednesday - Gousto - Thai-Style Yellow Chicken Curry With Rice!

Juicy chicken in a fragrant blend of ginger, garlic, turmeric and curry powder with a creamy coconut stock. Finished with a squeeze of lime and served over fluffy rice.

Thursday - Gousto meal - Bacon & Garlic Mushrooms With Creamy Mash!

Sauteed mushrooms with crispy bacon, butter and plenty of garlic. Served on a bed of creamy mashed potato with tenderstem broccoli. This is comfort food at its finest!

Friday - Pizza!

A fail safe Friday plan. Everyone will be happy including me because there’s basically no washing up.

Saturday - Picky bits!

The best kind of Saturday tea. I’m stocking up on all the little party bits: Oriental platters, Indian platters with prawn toast, onion bhajis, samosas, spring rolls, all the beige food groups. I’ll probably add some cheese and crackers too because it is December and December is eat whatever makes you smile season!

Sunday - Mince and tatties!

Savoury minced beef (ground beef) cooked in a rich gravy with onions and carrots, served alongside creamy mashed potatoes

What are you eating this week?

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.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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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?

My Christmas decorations - 2025

I said in my post "Things I am not doing in December" that I wasn't going to over do the Christmas decorations this year. Over the last few years our decorations have got more and more, streamers on the ceiling, every wall filled with some sort of hanging decoration and every surface covered, it looked like Christmas had exploded in our house This year I said no, we were keeping it simple and only decorating the living room and I have stuck to it and I must say it looks pretty darn good!

I did get a few new bits but not loads and they all came from Temu. Temu is dangerous, you go on there just for a look and suddenly your basket has 27 items in it and somehow it's all still under £20. I have found them to be really good for decorations, they are so cheap, cheerful and surprisingly well made! I expected things to fall apart in my hands but everything I bought feels like it’s going to last a good few years and if it doesn’t it was so cheap that it's not a great loss. They have now been mixed in the our old faithful's, decorations that we've had for years which I will never part with.

This year I fancied something different for the tree, something very sweet shop at Christmas so I went with a candy cane and red bauble theme and the whole thing cost me about £15. 

I already had the red tinsel tucked away but considering I once paid £15 for one set of Harry Potter baubles, I’m calling this a win! It all matches without being too grown up and screams Christmas! The tree doesn’t have lights and before anyone gasps, listen to me. Lights look lovely but I cannot deal with them flashing and blinking, they give me migraines and the way they flicker in the corner of my eye gives me a headache so this year it’s no lights. Just tinsel, baubles, sweets and candy cane.

This snowman has been with us forever. I got him when Becky was a baby so he’s about 21 years old now. He’s lived in three houses with us, survived the moves, Christmas clear outs and curious toddlers. I can’t even remember where he originally came from. I think my dad gave him to us but who knows. He just sort of appeared one year and has stuck around like part of the family. I can’t imagine decorating without him.

At the top of this post you’ll have seen the new Merry Christmas sign it was one of my Temu finds. It’s made of felt so it will last years without fraying or turning weird like cheap plastic sometimes does. I’m quite proud of that one and then I got two wooden Christmas tree ornaments. Again about £2 each. When I ordered them I fully expected them to arrive the size of a postage stamp because some things always look bigger online but they turned up a really good size! They’re simple but lovely and exactly what I wanted.

The shelves are a bit of a mish-mash of things, some old and some new. I don’t do that fancy thing where everything matches. My shelves look like Christmas walked past, sneezed and left a sprinkle of memories behind.

The gingerbread man is a good few years old, we did have two but one went missing. I think Ellie took it when she was younger as she loved them so much. I do love a Christmas gonk, they’re like the unofficial mascots of Christmas now. Every year they multiply and before you know it you have a whole gonk family watching you. The glass looking ornament in the middle is one of the last things that my great Aunty Jean gave me, the last time I saw her. She was one of my favourite people ever so it is something that I treasure. I always think of her when I put it up and it brings a nice sort of happiness. The pretty, wooden things at the front are new and I think they are so cute! The other shelf is even more mish-mashed but I love these little things, the gonks and of course the snow globe, that is Becky's. She is The Grinch mad!

This felt Christmas tree has been part of our family since the girls were little. One morning, many Christmases ago the Elf on the Shelf magically made it appear. The girls were tiny and the look on their little faces could have lit the whole house up. We still laugh about it now. The decorations on it attach with Velcro, so every time someone walks past, they end up rearranging them, even now! The “Santa OMG I Know Him” sign is another Temu buy and it’s one of my favourites this year. I did have to explain it to my dad though because he’s never seen Elf. Eesh!

There is the garland right along the fireplace, a couple of Jack Skellington ornaments which I don't know how we ended up with two. I think Becky bought one thinking Ellie would love it without realising that I had already bought one and then there are more gonks, I told you I love gonks. hehehe

So that's the grand tour of my little festive living room this year. It might not be as over the top as past Decembers but it feels cosy and us which is all I ever really want at Christmas anyway.

Have you got any new Christmas decorations this year?

Things I’m not doing in December!

This is the month of twinkly lights, festive chaos and a never ending queue of to-do's. I’ve made a bold decision. I’m saying no to things which will bring me stress, to things I don't really enjoy doing or will cost too much money.

Here are the things that I am not doing this month:

I’m not braving the shops on the weekends!

I love the thrill of a good Christmas bargain but the thought of elbowing my way through crowded aisles while someone’s toddler throws a tantrum over a glittery unicorn, no thank you! December is crazy in town and this year I’m staying at home! I don't see the point of getting stressed when online shopping is available. I still shop locally and support small businesses and will shop during the week but not on a weekend!

I’m not overcommitting to festive events!

December can feel like a never ending string of social gatherings and events to go to but I am not going to go to everything. I did a lot of my festive things last month so I am going to say thank you for asking but no. I’m only going to the things I actually want to go to, the ones that bring that warm, happy glow rather than that why did I agree to this dread!

I’m not wrapping gifts at midnight because I forgot!

Last minute gift wrapping is not happening this year! If the gifts aren’t wrapped by the time they are needed I am not worrying, they can go in a gift bag or just as they are! I have actually been saving gift bags up to reuse. hehehe

I’m not buying fancy food we all pretend to like!

You know those Christmas nibbles that only ever get eaten on Christmas Day because we feel weirdly guilty throwing them out. The weird cheese nobody remembers buying, the posh crisps that taste like disappointment and the tin of biscuits where everyone just wants the chocolate ones. If it’s not going to be eaten, it’s not going in the trolley!

I’m not sending Christmas cards out of obligation.

I love a handwritten note but I send out Christmas cards just because I think I have to. There is the cards to buy and all of the stamps, have you seen the price of stamps! Eesh! My Christmas cheer will be shown digitally this year with funny messages, memes and maybe even a GIF or two!

I’m not baking lots!

Well not more than a couple of times this month. Pinterest makes it look easy: gingerbread, cookies, cranberry bread, chocolate dipped pretzels, cakes that looks like reindeers! Nope, it's not happening! I will be picking a couple of tried and tested recipes and that's all you're getting from me.

I’m not overdoing Christmas decorations!

This year I’ve made a very sensible, very grown up decision! I am not turning my house into a Santa’s Grotto this year! I love Christmas I really do but somewhere along the way decorating for Christmas has got too much! I’m decorating just enough to feel festive but without going over the top!

I’m not stressing about the perfect Christmas!

Instagram will try to tell me that I need Pinterest worthy decorations, a perfectly styled tree, a feast that could win awards and matching outfits for everyone in the family. This year I’m letting go. My tree will not be perfect, dinner might include a shop bought shortcut or three and the only thing we will have matching is our Christmas Eve pj's. Perfection is overrated!

I’m not comparing my December to anyone else’s!

Scrolling through social media is dangerous at this time of year. Someone’s house is sparkling like a winter wonderland and someone else has homemade mince pies arranged like art. This year I’m doing my own thing. My December doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s to be wonderful!

I’m not overthinking New Year’s resolutions!

Then comes the New Year’s resolutions. I’ll think about goals when I feel like it, in my own time and not because a calendar says I must.

What are you not doing in December?