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

This week my Word of the Week is:

What a week, well week and a couple of days since I wrote my last Word of the Week post. Everything that I wrote about last week went to plan apart from putting the Christmas decorations up on Saturday! After the early start on Friday, being in York all day, walking for miles and having a lateish night after going to the pub for a few drinks My body took one look at me, laughed and said, not today love! I needed a day of rest!

Today I am going to share all the little things I have been celebrating over the last week, there's been a lovely mix of silly wins, proper moments and me patting myself on the back for things other people probably would see as silly but I don't care. I'm happy.

I had such a lovely birthday. I felt really special. Thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes and gifts you’re all amazing and I appreciate it more than you know. My family went out of their way to make sure the day was full of smiles and nice moments. I did wake up early which is never good, especially when I’ve spent the entire night listening to both Stu and Ellie snoring like a pair of farm animals. I can survive one snorer but when there was two of them, it felt like torture! I told them the next morning that one of them is sleeping elsewhere next time. Ellie can have her own room in the hotel and take her snoring with her. Thankfully breakfast made up for it. We were at a Holiday Inn and the breakfasts can be a bit hit and miss. Sometimes it feels like you’re in a race trying to get a slice of toast while children sneeze on the sausages and grown adults push in but not this time! It was calm, peaceful and actually very nice. We went down as soon as they started serving and I've realised that is the time to get the best breakfast!

Our train to York ran late and we got some money back on our tickets because of the delay, it wasn't much but it did make me happier about having to stand in the cold. I wasn't stressing, I think I was just glad to get on the train out of the cold and there was no rush as I knew we'd get to York well before the Christmas markets opened. We arrived at York and you can read all about my favourite things in the blog post I published earlier in the week. We walked around, took loads of photos, got lost at least twice and soaked up all the Christmassy feelings. On the way home we arrived at the bus stop just as the bus pulled in and it was so nice to sit down, my poor feet were throbbing! The bus had charging points which I needed after taking so many photos and it was a double decker so we got to see all the little towns and villages on the way home, well we could until it got dark! We got home, changed and went straight back out to the pub for a few drinks and a game of bingo! It's been a while since our local pub had the bingo on so it was a real treat and I only went and won the first game. It was just for a line and I only got a free drink but a win is a win!

Saturday we were good for nothing. We needed that lazy day, I don't even remember what I did but I know it was nice to do nothing! Sunday was busy putting the decorations up and I was so pleased with how they turned out. I hadn't planned to have everything matching but somehow I did, all reds and greens!

This week has been good. Nothing huge or majorly exciting just lots of little wins and that’s what I’ve been celebrating. When I haven’t been out and about, I’ve been pottering around the house doing those tiny jobs that feel way more satisfying than they should. I celebrated emptying the dirty washing basket and then I went wild and put all the clean clothes away too. I’ve also been doing the usual getting ready for Christmas bits: making lists, planning things, organising, all that stuff that makes you feel like you’ve got your life together. I had a get together with friends having our annual Christmas meal. Prawn cocktail, turkey with all the trimmings and Christmas pudding and brandy sauce. It was a fantastic way to start the build up to Christmas! We also had the yearly gas safety check which was a surprise. I had about 20 minutes notice that the man was arriving, thank goodness the cupboard under the stairs has been kept tidy! I sorted it in July (I only know because it was in one of my grateful posts. lol) and usually by now it would be chaos again but everything was where it should be.

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good week. 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 48. #FridayFavourites

Hello there and happy Friday! I hope you have all had a good week and for those across the pond from me a wonderful Thanksgiving! I’m here with a little roundup of the things I’ve loved over the past week or so. I say week or so because time feels like jelly at the moment. Between my birthday, a wander around York Christmas Market, an early Christmas meal out and festive chaos, I feel like I’ve lived a whole month in about nine days but it's all the good stuff. Of course I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea to share what I have been loving.

A good heart check up!

My eldest Becky had a check on her heart last week. The short story is Becky and her sister Ellie were both born with holes in their hearts which needed surgery to fix sixteen years ago. They're fit and well now. It was just a routine appointment but not for me, it was the first one that Becky went to without me by her side, it had to happen one day. The appointment was with the same specialist we’ve known for years. Becky didn't remember him but he remembered her sister. hehehe It's not often you get siblings with identical heart issues. Anyway, the good news is her repaired hole is still perfectly patched, the not so ideal news is that the valves that leak a little have started leaking a little more but the doctor was very calm and said that while she will need more surgery eventually, it’s nothing urgent, nothing dramatic and nothing that needs dealing with now. Her next check is in two years!! I’m taking that as a good sign and to be fair knowing Becky’s update actually helps me brace myself for Ellie’s next appointment because chances are she’ll get similar news.

This pie!

Last year at the York Christmas Market I treated myself to a Paddington Pork Pie. Yes, Paddington and no bears were harmed in the making of the pie it was just marmalade flavoured. hehehe I’d been daydreaming about that pie all year so of course the very moment I spotted the stall again and I got my pie, took it home and stretched it out over three days. It was as good as I remembered. I immediately wished I’d bought ten. One day I’ll learn!

My birthday!

Ahh! My birthday, I’m still smiling about it, it was wonderful! We kicked things off in Hull for the Christmas light switch on and then went for an all you can eat place where I absolutely demolished the dessert section. We stayed in a hotel that night which felt like a tiny holiday and then the next morning we headed to York Christmas Market. It was busy, sparkly and full of delicious smells and things to buy. I wasn't ready to end it there and we headed off to our local pub! It was such a lovely few days and I felt spoiled with gifts, calls and messages.

All the big gifts are bought for Christmas!

I have of course been Christmas shopping, gift buying mostly and now all the expensive gifts are bought! Phew! The relief is unreal. Everything else now is the fun little bits: stocking fillers, treats and random things I pick up because whoever I buy for will love that! I did a big online order the other day so I’m feeling quite smug and organised. It won’t last but I’m enjoying it while I can.

Ghost Seaglass picture!

York is obsessed with ghosts. The place is ancient, creaky and full of stories and some say it is the most haunted city in Europe. You can’t walk five seconds without bumping into something ghost themed. So when I spotted the cutest little ghost seaglass art on a stall I was smitten. It’s adorable, it’s quirky and it matches the horse artwork I bought in the summer. 

Stranger Things!

The new episodes have been released and I watched them all yesterday, there was only 4. Hmmf. The next lot are being released next month. I planned my week so I had yesterday afternoon free. hehehe

A heated cushion!

I had a heated seat cover, I actually got it last year for my birthday and it saw me through last winter but it stopped working last week. Luckily I had bought someone a heated cushion for Christmas which came in very useful as it has been so cold, it’s been a lifesaver! I know I’ll have to buy another because technically this one is someone’s gift but needs must! I could put the heating on all day, but when I’m home alone it feels a bit silly heating the entire house just for little old me.

Putting the Christmas decorations up!

I thought I was going to put the decorations up on Saturday but after doing York the day before my legs said: absolutely not, so Sunday became decoration day instead. We had a proper clean of the living room, rearranged the furniture a bit and then up went the tree. I bought new decorations this year and the whole thing has ended up looking so put together even though I didn’t really plan a theme. I’ll do a blog post with all the photos soon.

An early Christmas lunch.

End of November means one thing, the annual Christmas meal with friends. We went mid-week and it was lovely. Three full courses: prawn cocktail, turkey with all the trimmings and then Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. We ended up sitting there eating and talking for four hours like we had nowhere else in the world to be.

What have you loved over the past week?

What I have been watching on TV lately!

Lately I’ve been on an absolute roll with my TV watching. I’ve dipped into a bit of everything: twisty thrillers, Christmas movies and those reality shows that are pure chaos but you can’t look away. So I thought I'd round up a few favourites I’ve been loving and would recommend if you’re looking for something new to binge without too much commitment.

Squid Game: The Challenge - Season 2!

Inspired by the TV series Squid Game, real life contestants compete in a series of high stakes children's games in pursuit of a $4.56 million cash prize. Their strategies will be put to the test, while competitors are eliminated around them.

If you’ve watched Squid Game: The Challenge you’ll know it’s one of those shows that has you shouting at the TV one minute and sat there in shock because one of your favourites has been eliminated. The contestants this time are such a mix. Some are absolute stars and others feel like they accidentally wandered in while looking for the toilets. The alliances, the whispering the dramatic pacing around is just brilliant! The games are of course fantastic and had me glued to the screen. I got way too invested in people making terrible strategic choices, it wasn't quite as intense as Season 1 and I did not like how it ended but it is still great reality TV!

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox!

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox is a series that follows American exchange student Amanda Knox after she is wrongfully accused and convicted of the murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher in Italy. The plot traces her long journey of wrongful imprisonment, multiple trials, and eventual exoneration, highlighting the investigation, the misinterpretation of evidence and events, and the intense public and media scrutiny she faced.

I got totally sucked in to The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox. It’s one of those shows that makes you feel like you’re right there in the middle of what is going on. I found myself flipping between feeling sorry for Amanda and frustrated with her choices. One moment it’s almost playful, the next it’s seriously dark! It was dramatic, intense and thought provoking in a way I wasn’t expecting.

Freakier Friday!

In Freakier Friday, 22 years after the original body swap, Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan) and her mother Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) find themselves in another magical identity crisis, but this time it also affects Anna's daughter Harper and her soon-to-be stepsister Lily.

This wasn't as good as the first movie, Freaky Friday but I still enjoyed it. The four way body swap is bonkers, the grandma in teen body is weird but in a good way and Jamie Lee Curtis is of course fantastic! There are sweet moments about family, identity and aging. You just sit back and enjoy the ridiculous situations. For me it was the perfect Sunday afternoon movie.

I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

A group of celebrities living together in the jungle in uncomfortable conditions with few creature comforts. Each member undertakes challenges to secure additional food and treats for the group and to avoid being voted out by viewers during their stay.

I love it! This season of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! is exactly as it is every year: funny, chaotic and cruel to the celebs. hehehe The trials are as gross and this is probably my favourite year ever as I know and like all of the celebs! Even Ellie is watching because she knows most of them too. My favourites this year are Angry Ginge who’s hilarious and Ruby Wax is just her brilliant self. Jack Osbourne has had me crying when he was talking about my dad, bless him and Ant & Dec are doing their usual thing which is fun. It’s addictive, full of laughs and my only complaint is that it doesn't start until 9pm which makes for a late bed time.

All Her Fault!

A thriller about a mother, Marissa who arrives to pick up her son Milo from a playdate only to find he's been kidnapped by a woman who denies ever meeting her. The story follows the ensuing investigation with suspicion falling on several women connected to the incident in their wealthy suburb. As panic and rumours spread the narrative explores the secrets within the community, questioning who is truly at fault for the child's disappearance.

All Her Fault hits hard from the first episode. I ended up really liking it way more than I expected, it’s one of those shows that pulls you in straight away and suddenly you’re three episodes deep. It was tense without being too heavy and I loved how it kept me guessing without making me feel like I needed a detective’s notebook. Definitely one of those series where you finish an episode and instantly want someone to talk about it with.

A Merry Little Ex-Mas!

All Kate and Everett want for Christmas is an amicable divorce and one last holiday as a family, but new flames and old feelings complicate their plans.

A Merry Little Ex-Mas ended up being such a fun watch and I went into it expecting something light but it actually had a nice bit of heart to it too. It’s predictable in the best way with all the usual Christmas movie things happening but it never feels dull. It’s one of those films that makes you smile, cringe and root for the characters all at once.

What have you been watching lately?

The best things about York Christmas Market 2025!

I did it again. I went back to York Christmas Market because after loving it so much last year I was determined to take the girls and let them in on the magic. Second time around it was just as good, maybe even better. This time I knew my way around and knew what was a bargain, which stalls had the best stuff, and most importantly I learned my lesson from last year and wrapped up extra well. There were twinkly lights, cosy smells and people wandering about with hot chocolates the size of their heads! It was an amazing day!

Here’s my favourite things about York Christmas Market this year! There was so much to love!

The festive atmosphere hits you straight away!

The moment we got into the heart of York and walked through the Shambles the festive atmosphere really hits you! The lights, the smells and then you turn the corner and see all the Christmas huts! It’s wonderful and puts you right in the Christmas mood!

York itself is the perfect backdrop!

York could stick a Christmas market in a car park and it would still look magical but the city really goes all out. Cobbled streets, the Minster peeking over rooftops, old buildings wrapped in fairy lights and all the trees too! It was beautiful! It’s one of those places where you can’t take a bad photo. I could have accidentally taken a picture of my shoe and it would still look festive. 

The food!

York knows how to feed you, they do not mess around when it comes to food! I had steak and chips last year and had been thinking about them ever since! The girls went for mac and cheese which had so much cheese, in the hut selling it there was a whole wheel of parmesan cheese. We also had apple crumble and custard! Yum! Other food highlights were the churros dusted in cinnamon sugar, giant Yorkshire puddings filled with roast dinner, German sausages the length of my arm and the most amazing brownies!

It's Family friendly!

There were loads of families with little kids running about but it didn’t feel overly kiddy so it is ideal when you’ve got older kids, teens or you’re just doing a grown ups Christmas day out. The queues moved fairly quickly, no one was shoving or stressed and there was enough space to browse without feeling like you were trapped.

Local traders make it extra special!

One of my favourite things this year was how many of the stalls were Yorkshire businesses. You can feel the pride people have in what they make: handmade candles, fudge, ornaments, gin, chutneys, wooden toys, soaps that smell better than my entire house and jewellery that looks far more expensive than it actually is! We spoke to loads of stallholders and every single one was lovely. They were happy to chat, explain what they made, give recommendations and even tell us where else to visit in York. There’s something extra Christmassy about knowing your money is going to real people and not an anonymous online cart.

It’s full of gift ideas and temptations!

I went with every intention of just looking and somehow came home with ornaments, fudge, pork pies, cookies and a few gifts for other people! There were so many unique finds: personalised baubles, handmade Christmas cards, knitted scarves, glass decorations that looked like they belonged in a stately home and those cute wooden signs that tell you to believe in the magic of Christmas!

The hot drinks situation is elite

There is mulled wine, spiced cider, Bailey’s hot chocolate, different flavoured hot chocolate and even coffee with festive twists. I always make a beeline for mulled wine. This year there were plenty of options with traditional red, apple & cinnamon and even spiced gin versions. It’s the kind of drink that makes you feel warm inside and out!

The fudge stalls are dangerously persuasive!

They always start with would you like a free sample and suddenly you’re ten flavours deep, sticky fingered and buying enough to fill a suitcase. I bought quite a few different flavours, it is my favourite sweet treat at this time of year!

There are great spots for festive photos!

Every corner is a photo opportunity waiting to happen! I took hundreds of photos, way more than I could ever put in blog posts.

We had a fantastic day and it wasn't as cold as it was forecast to be which was a real bonus! It worked out well getting the train there and the bus home even if we did get stuck in traffic and arrived back to Hull 45 minutes after we should have. I was just glad to sit down. The girls had a fantastic time too and I am so glad I took them, they are already planning a trip back to York in the summer to see all the sights.

Have you been to a Christmas market this year or are you planning to go to any?

24 Little surprises - DIY Advent Calendars!

Every year around this time I get a little excited when the shops start filling up with advent calendars. You know the ones: full of chocolate, gin, beauty products or random trinkets that make you go Ooh, I need that even though you absolutely don’t but there’s something extra fun about making your own advent calendar. It’s more personal, a bit creative and you can fill it with exactly what you like.

Here are a bunch of DIY advent calendar ideas that look great, don’t require a fine arts degree and most importantly won’t make your living room look like Santa’s workshop exploded!

The envelope string calendar!

This one’s simple, tidy and looks so cool. You just need 24 envelopes, some string or twine and a few mini pegs. You can use plain brown envelopes for that minimalist look or go for coloured ones if you’re feeling festive. Write numbers 1 - 24 on the envelopes, black marker does the job and string them up on your wall or across a window. Inside each envelope pop a little treat: chocolate coins, notes, stickers or small gifts. If you want to make it feel more thoughtful, you could include daily challenges like watch a Christmas film tonight or call a friend for a catch up. It’s a nice way to make December feel more meaningful rather than just counting down to stuffing your face with mince pies.

Mason jar magic!

If you’ve got a few spare jars lying around, this is such a cute way to make a reusable advent calendar. Line up 24 mini jars and fill them with small surprises: sweets, rolled-up notes, bits of jewellery or even mini candles. You can decorate the lids with bits of fabric or paper and stick numbered labels on top. Arrange them on a shelf or tray or if you’re really feeling crafty glue them to a wooden board in the shape of a Christmas tree. It looks surprisingly stylish once it’s done and you can reuse the jars every year.

The self care calendar!

December can be a bit of a mad rush so why not make an advent calendar that’s all about slowing down and treating yourself a bit! Instead of chocolates or gifts fill it with tiny self care ideas or little pamper treats including: A tea bag for a quiet cuppa break, a mini bath bomb, a face mask sachet, a handwritten permission slip to do nothing for an hour or a candle tealight for an evening soak. You can wrap each thing up in brown paper and tie with twine for that rustic, organised look. It’s basically a little reminder every day that you deserve five minutes to just breathe which is a gift in itself.

The for someone else calendar!

Instead of treats for yourself make an advent calendar focused on giving. Each envelope or box could include a small act of kindness like: donate a tin to the food bank, message someone and tell them why you appreciate them or bake something for a neighbour. It’s wholesome without being soppy and it’s a lovely thing to do if you want to get into the spirit of Christmas without the sugar rush. You could even get the whole family involved and make it a group challenge.

The hobby calendar!

This is one of my favourites because you can tailor it to whatever you’re into. If you love cooking you could do a spice of the day calendar with 24 mini pots or packets of different herbs and spices. If you’re more of a cocktail person fill small bottles with different mixers, syrups or recipes to try. If you’re a gardener do one with seed packets and small gardening tools. Into crafts you can pop in washi tapes, buttons mini cross stitch sets. It’s practical, but still feels like a treat.

Making your own advent calendar might sound like one of those Pinterest ideas that’s doomed to fail but it’s actually easier than it looks. So grab your envelopes, jars or boxes and maybe a mug of hot chocolate and get crafting!

Do you have an advent calendar in December?

Our weekly meal plan! 24th - 30th November! #MealPlanningMonday

Last week was a great week! Our meal plan couldn't really go wrong as there was a lot of eating out and eating from the freezer! I did cook corned beef hash, enough to last two days which served us well. We ate too much at the all you can eat place and lots of treats when we were at York Christmas Market including steak and chips, apple crumble and Yorkshire pudding wraps. Calories don’t count if you’re walking around while eating. hehehe. Later on in the day we were hungry but not hungry enough for a full meal from the pub so ordered a couple of sharing platters with chicken strips, garlic bread, duck spring rolls, cheese and potato balls and onion rings!

This week is all about getting back to a bit of normal before Christmas arrives but if this year is anything to go by Christmas will be here before we know it! This year has flown over! I don't have much planned for the week apart from a meal out with friends.

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Stu is cooking!

It will be a surprise as Stu is doing the cooking. I am guessing it will include something with the leftover mashed potato from yesterday.

Tuesday - A help yourself evening!

I have a meal out with friends, our Christmas get together and we're having a full on Christmas feast with turkey and all of the trimmings and of course Christmas pudding! The rest of my family can help themselves to something to eat.

Wednesday - Sausage, apple and potato one pan roast!

I love a one pan roast and we all enjoy this one. The apples caramelise, the sausages brown up nicely, and the potatoes do their crispy little thing!

Thursday - Meat free sloppy Joes with potato salad!

We had this from Gousto ages ago and love it which sounds strange saying as my family are not usually keen on meat free meals.

Friday - Home made fish fingers with chips and peas!

A while ago I discovered how easy it was to make our own fish fingers through a Gousto recipe and they taste so much better than shop bought.

Saturday - Gousto meal - Hot Honey Bacon & Fried Egg Pancakes!

Breakfast for dinner, yes please! Buttermilk pancakes with crispy bacon, a fried egg and hot honey butter.

Sunday - Pie, mashed potato and vegetables.

We have pies in the freezer, I think mince and onion and steak one's so we'll have them with mash and probably carrots, peas and sweetcorn.

What are you going to be eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 16th - 22nd November! Week 47 of #Project365

What a week! There has been so many things to love about it! I feel worn out and I feel like I could sleep until the middle of next week!

One of the big moments of the week was my blog’s birthday! Thirteen whole years of writing, sharing life and chatting away online. I am still shocked that I have stuck to it, publishing a new blog post almost every day since 2012!

The deliveries this week have been something else!! The post man probably thinks I’m running a small warehouse from the living room. hehehe. A mix of Christmas bits, decorations, gifts and a few birthday surprises from some very kind people. I felt properly spoiled and it definitely helped get me in the Christmas spirit.

On Friday we went to the York Christmas Market which was absolutely lovely. I was braced for freezing temperatures because we’d had snow earlier in the week but it wasn’t too bad at all. The stalls were gorgeous, the lights were twinkly and I had several moments of should I buy this or not!

Now for a photo every day!

320/365 - 16th November

Gingerbread Pepsi! I am not a Pepsi lover, in fact I would go as far to say I hate it but Becky had a spare can going of the Gingerbread flavoured one and I gave it a try and surprisingly I love it. You can taste the gingerbread more than the Pepsi!

321/365 - 17 November

Can anyone else remember Rainbow Brite? I saw it in B&M and was transported straight back to being a kid. I'm sure I must have watched the TV show but what I do remember clearly is the doll. That doll went everywhere with me!

322/365 - 18th November

It’s nearly 2026 and corned beef tins are still a health hazard! With everything we’ve invented like smartphones that unlock with your face, fridges that tell you when you’re out of milk but somehow the corned beef key still exists in its original form. I braced myself for the usual finger carnage but this time I made it out uninjured.

323/365 - 19th November

Snow!! Ellie came in from college half an hour before I took this photo and it was cold outside but there was no snow! I went to put some rubbish out, saw the snow and shouted snow, snow, snow! The girls didn't believe me but still came running! hehehe It lasted all of about half an hour before it was gone!

324/365 - 20th November

We went to Hull and stayed the night in a hotel because we had an early start the next morning. We went out for tea to the all you can eat place and had an early night. We were tucked up in bed watching I'm a Celeb. I do love Ant & Dec.

325/365 - 21st November

We had a day out at York Christmas Markets, I took so many photos that I need to sort out but it was a lovely day! It was the girls first time there and they loved it too!

326/365 - 22nd November

I didn't sort out all the deliveries properly during the week so everything was still sat there needing to be sorted. Ugh!

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

This week my Word of the Week is:

It has to be! It was my blogs birthday on Sunday, it turned 13 years old! How did that happen!! One minute I was pressing publish on my very first post, probably sweating over whether anyone would even read it and now here we are. I feel like sometimes I am just muddling through with it, I'm great at keeping the blog posts coming but not so good with the behind the scenes things. I really should change my blog header or banner or whatever it’s technically called, that picture at the top but I can't remember how I did it last time. I feel like I should really check for broken links and feel like I should go back and update old blog posts but I have thousands, where would I start. lol Anyway, I am proud of my little space on the internet and thank you all for reading, commenting and supporting me!!

Now onto the other big birthday, mine!! Yesterday was my birthday and yes I am cheating a little because I’m actually writing this on Wednesday. I already knew the rest of the week was going to be busy so I’m hoping all our plans have gone to plan and we made it home from York! hehehe

The plan, if everything went smoothly was that Ellie and I headed to Hull on Thursday and checked into a hotel for the night. Then later on Becky and her girlfriend were joining us and checking into their own room. Becky had been on her own mini adventure before meeting us. She had her routine heart check at the hospital, nothing scary both the girls just get these check ups every three years after having surgery 16 years ago to fix holes in their hearts. Stu was at work during the day on Thursday so he said he’d meet up with us once he’d finished. Perfect timing because the Christmas lights were being switched on in Hull that evening, which felt like a bit of birthday treat.

Then we were heading to our favourite all you can eat place. If you’ve been around on my blog for a while, you already know exactly where I mean. Wings. A place where you can have spring rolls, pizza, curry, ice cream and jelly all on the same plate if you fancy it. lol After eating far too much, we always do the plan was to head back to the hotel, get comfy and watch I’m A Celeb in bed. Ellie was sharing with Stu and I so it was going to be strange!

We woke, hopefully on time, had breakfast and then went off to catch our train to York! We were off to York Christmas Market! Last year Stu and I went the day after my birthday and it was so lovely so this year we decided to take the girls along. A full family day out. I’m assuming we had a fabulous time because in my head Future Me is already smiling about it. I’ll of course be writing a full post all about it soon.

We're having a little adventure coming home as I refused to pay £15 each on the train when it was only £4 something to get there. It seems so unfair that they charge triple the price on a Friday. Hmmf. So we're getting the bus and it only cost £3. Yes it takes longer but I am fine with that, it will be great to go through little villages and towns that I've never seen before. The plan after that was to get home, freshen up and head back out to the pub where there was bingo and music.

Today was going to be a day of rest but I've decided we're putting the Christmas decorations up! Yay! It makes sense because this is the last full weekend Stu has off work until the middle of December. I also have a big grocery shop coming today. Stu got a bonus from work which was converted to supermarket vouchers so I am buying more of the Christmas treats like biscuits, chocolate and the Advocaat which we only ever drink at Christmas.

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good week. I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay to join in with her Word of the Week linky and while we’re at it can we all send her a big happy birthday too! Hers is in a few days and I hope she gets spoiled rotten.

Window shopping in the Christmas aisles! #FridayFavourites

This isn't my usual Friday post, normally I share a few things I’ve been loving over the past week but things have been a bit busy here. Don’t worry, all good things and it's my birthday today. It has just been one of those weeks where I blinked and suddenly it’s Friday again. So instead of my usual favourites post, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea to share one of my absolute favourite things to do in the run up to Christmas. A good bit of window shopping in the Christmas aisles! (All of the items below are from TK Maxx)

There’s just something so magical about Christmas shopping, especially right now in November before the full on festive chaos hits and everyone’s elbow deep in wrapping paper and mince pies. I don’t even need to buy anything, I can happily wander around for hours just looking at all the sparkly, twinkly bits and pretending I live in a Christmas movie. 

I always tell myself I’m just going to have a look and most of the time I mean it! There’s something so nice about browsing with no pressure to buy. Just taking in all the decorations, admiring the colour schemes and mentally redecorating the whole house even though I know I’ll probably end up putting things exactly where they were last year.

Candles are my absolute weakness. I could stand in front of a candle display for ages sniffing every single one like some kind of candle expert. I don’t even need to light them, I just like having them around looking cosy and Christmassy. Give me a spiced apple or gingerbread scent and I’m instantly in a better mood. My family has learned that if they lose me in a shop, I’m probably somewhere in the candle section. I’ve got a slight candle problem, I own more than I could ever possibly use but there are far worse addictions!

The rest of the Christmas aisles are just as fun to explore. I love spotting all the different colour trends each year. The traditional deep reds, golds and greens, the kind of decorations that make you want to sip mulled wine by a crackling fire. Then there is the pastel, candy themed look with pink baubles and doughnut shaped ornaments that make me smile even if they’d never match my actual tree and don’t even get me started on the woodland themes with little foxes, owls and pinecones everywhere. I want to adopt them all.

It’s like every shelf tells a little story. You’ve got the classy luxury area where everything sparkles just the right amount and then right next to it the slightly chaotic section full of singing reindeer, light up penguins and novelty mugs that play Jingle Bells when you pick them up. I love it all!

Taking photos of all the displays has become one of my favourite festive pastimes. By the end of a good browse I usually leave with nothing but a phone full of photos, a smile and maybe a candle that somehow jumped into my basket when I wasn’t looking. It's the whole experience, it feels like a little seasonal treat, one I look forward to every single year.

Do you like browsing all the Christmas decorations?

My favourite blog posts from the last year!!

My blog turned 13 a few days ago and as I do every year I’ve been looking back at my favourite posts from the last twelve months. These might not be the ones that got the most views or comments but they’re the ones that made me smile the most, brought back good memories or reminded me why I love blogging in the first place.

November - A visit to York Christmas Market!

I loved writing this one. The York Christmas Market is just magical with the lights, the food, the smells and of course the mulled wine! hehehe It was such a lovely day out and I really enjoyed sharing all the photos. There’s something about a proper festive market that just puts you in the best mood and I’m already hoping to go back this year with the girls and make even more memories.

December - Reflecting on 2024!

This one was harder to write because 2024 wasn’t exactly an easy year but now looking back I can see how far we’ve come and how much stronger we are as a family. It’s one of those posts that felt emotional to write but also really healing.

January - Things I did as a teenager that I wouldn't let my teenagers do now in 2025!

This post was fun to write. The things we used to get up to in the 90's with no phones, no tracking apps, just chaos! I had so much fun comparing my teenage years to what I’d actually let my girls do now. Times really have changed, and it made me realise just how wild and wonderful we all were back then.

February - My favourite things about my fella!

I don’t often write about my fella but Valentine’s Day felt like the perfect excuse. It was lovely to sit down and actually think about all the reasons I adore him. Sometimes life gets busy and you forget to say those things out loud so this was a nice little reminder of how lucky I am.

March - Share Our Lives! An average day in my life!

This felt like proper old school blogging, the kind where you just chat about your day. I loved joining in with the Share Our Lives bloggers and giving a peek into what a normal day looks like for me. It’s the kind of post I love reading on other blogs too because I'm nosy and I love seeing how other people live their ordinary days.

April - A Saturday night away and out!

Becky treated me to a night away and we had a great time. Good food, seeing a show and then a couple of drinks afterwards. Having older kids definitely has its perks. hehehe

May - Deaf Awareness Week 2025!

Raising awareness for hearing loss is really important to me because of Ellie being deaf in one ear. I always try to use my little corner of the internet to talk about things that matter and this one definitely did.

June - Parenting Teenagers: Things I thought I’d never say out loud but did!

Parenting teens is basically a daily mix of confusion, laughter and did I really just say that moments. I could’ve written about a hundred things that my girls have said, they keep me on my toes, that’s for sure!

July - My day at Winterton Show, North Lincolnshire - 2025!

We go every year and it’s always one of my favourite days of summer. There’s something about the local shows, the animals, the food and the random stalls selling things you never knew you needed. What's not to love!

August - Why I’m still talking about CHD's - Sixteen years after surgery!

Every year I write a post about CHDs on the anniversary of the girls surgery. It’s not always easy because it brings up a lot of memories but it’s important to me to keep raising awareness. It reminds me how far we’ve come as a family and how strong the girls are.

September - How to make Blackberry Jam!

I was ridiculously proud of myself for this one! I’d never made jam before and it actually turned out amazing. It felt like such a wholesome, autumn-y thing to do. I had to share!

October - My go to Autumn/Winter boots!

I don’t do many reviews these days but when I find something I love I have to share it. These boots are my favourites. Comfy, warm and they go with everything. I’ve basically been living in them for a few years!

Looking back over these posts makes me so proud. It’s been another year of ups and downs, laughter, a few tears and plenty of cups of tea in between. Blogging still brings me so much joy even after all these years and I’m already excited to see what the next year of posts will look like! Thank you all for reading!!