Would you rather: Christmas edition

Hello lovelies,

I was tagged in this fun Christmas post by Nicola J Ogston.

Eat brussel sprouts or cauliflower cheese?
Hmmmm, this is hard. I think I'd rather have the sprouts!
Have twinkling lights or still lights?
I like gently twinkling ones, but not the ones which do about 180 flashes a minute. They bring on migraines for me!
Eat gingerbread or Ferrero Rocher?
Gingerbread all day long, especially Swedish Pepparkakor, which are thin peppery gingerbread. SO GOOD! Try some if you get the chance - Anna's from Scandi Kitchen are the best!
Open your Christmas presents with only immediate family or with all of your family members?
Open with immediate family. I'll be opening mine with my mum, step dad, aunt, uncle and brother present.
Cook Christmas dinner for the whole family or don’t eat Christmas dinner at all?
Ugh, I'd freak if I had to cook anyone anything other than a bacon sandwich on Christmas day. I'm not a cook.
Have a real Christmas tree or a fake Christmas tree?
Although real Christmas trees are lovely, I've always had fake ones. At least you can pack fake ones away for the next year.
Use blue, yellow, white or multi-coloured lights?
I prefer multicoloured lights, especially the green and blue ones which seem to be everywhere at the moment.
Eat mince pies or Christmas cake?
Mince pies, especially the iced ones, with a nice cup of coffee. Yum. 
Wake up at 6am or 10am?
10am. I always used to be an early riser on Christmas day but this year I'm a bit bah humbug about it all, since it's my first one single for 14 years.
Drink champagne or hot chocolate?
Ooh, definitely hot chocolate!
Eat Heroes or Roses?
Now this is hard! I'd go with the Heroes, but only by a nose.
Get a puppy for Christmas or a kitten for Christmas?
Neither. I don't really agree with giving pets for Christmas, as the demand means a lot of people will go to puppy farms, and they're really cruel. Adopt, don't shop, whatever time of year you gift a pet.
Watch Elf or Home Alone?
Now that is plain cruel, pmsl. That's like asking me if I love my mum or dad the most! Eep, Home Alone!
Only be able to listen to Christmas songs all year round or never hear a Christmas song again?
All year round! I love a Christmas song and I have a Spotify playlist just for Christmas songs. I haven't listened to it yet this year as I've been quite sad, but I can feel the lure! I think today might be the day!
Wake up bright and early and get all of the best boxing day sale goodies or stay warm and cosy in bed wearing your new Christmas pyjamas?
Stay warm and cosy. I can't think of anything worse than being crammed into a boiling hot shopping centre on boxing day. Give me a cold turkey sandwich and a seat in front of the tv any day!

The rule is to tag four other bloggers. If I haven’t tagged you, feel free to still do the tag and link me up!

I tag: Mookie, Nikki, Vicky and Louise.

Thanks for reading. Leah xoxo

Last minute Christmas gifts from B&M*

Hello lovelies!

B&M are one of my favourite stores and when I heard they were looking for B&M Stores ambassadors I applied and was thrilled to be accepted. I love their American candy collection and affordable gifts, and I always buy at least some of my Christmas presents there. I was sent £20 in vouchers to show you what great value you can find at B&M.

I got 3 confectionery gifts and 3 beauty gifts for just over £20! All the gifts I picked up came out at between £3 and £4.

Who wouldn't want a bit of David Beckham in their stocking?!

My favourite thing is this lovely iridescent makeup bag, which is generously sized and costs just £3.99. Don't tell anyone but I'm keeping it for myself. 😉

Another bargain any gal would be happy to receive is the Bathe toiletry bag, which includes body lotion, hand cream and shower gel in a large iridescent gift bag, all for £3.99. You can pay far more for the bag alone in other stores.

While I was there I couldn't resist splashing out on next year's organiser diary, which was £3.99. It has a diary section, to do list, note section, address book and a handy mini plastic document wallet to store receipts and other bits in.

Have you ever shopped at B&M?

Thanks for reading.
Leah xoxo

Gingerbread Men tunic top

I bought this top from eBay recently. It's supposed to be a dress, and in the photo on there it shows the hem being knee length in relation to the sleeves, but when it came the hem is only a few inches longer than the sleeves. Bummer, but the pattern is so lovely I kept it. It's a cheap material without much stretch and I don't hold much hope of it washing well, but it's so festive I'm still in love with it.

Festive things including Soap & Glory The Whole Glam Lot

Every year Soap and Glory do a bumper gift set which goes down to half price for a week just before Christmas. I really wasn't intending to buy it this year, but I'm weak. 😆 This year the set is called The Whole Glam Lot and I was planning to give it a miss. I didn't think I'd be to be going shopping at the weekend as I expected the shops to be busy and hellish. I ended up going to our local retail park on Saturday with my family, and Boots was empty - oh yes! I ended up having to pop in there to get a voucher for my brother anyway, and there was a massive pile of Whole Glam Lots stacked up winking at me so I. It was like something out of Sausage Party - it virtually leaped into my arms to go to the great beyond!

OOTD - Scarlett and Jo fishtail velvet maxi dress in Midnight

Hello!

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas? I did. Here's what I wore on Christmas Day - the Scarlett and Jo fishtail velvet maxi dress in Midnight.

*This post was put up before I became aware of a controversy on the Scarlett and Jo Facebook page. I've voiced some thoughts about this issue (and the bigger picture it plays into with regards to UK plus size brands cocking up on social media) on Twitter. I'm considering my position re: my Scarlett and Jo ambassador role.*

A sweet Christmas & decorating my winter wonderland*

Hiya lovelies,

This year has found me rather devoid of the Christmas spirit, but yesterday I finally got around to finishing off my Christmas display and gift bagging all of the Christmas gifts. I decided on a winter wonderland theme for my Christmas display, which is on a table in the living room. I decided not to put baubles on the trees this year and instead decorated with pearl jewellery, iridescent threads, Crown and Glory glitter hair accessories, mini bird cages, a sprinkle of iridescent glitter and some fake diamond gems. I have to say although it's a small display, I love it. I've got it on top of a fake snow tablecloth from Poundland.

I've wrapped as little presents as possible this year, using gift bags instead except for the heaviest presents. I put iridescent threads in with the gift bags, as well as some sweet treats I received from Tangerine Confectionery a week ago. Here's what they sent me. I'm a big fan of retro sweeties. When we got married in 2011 our favour bags were full of Black Jack and Fruit Salad sweets.

The Butterkist gingerbread popcorn was delicious, and very sweet. Some of the pieces were flavoured so strongly with ginger that it made my eyes water, but at least they taste of real ginger! Definitely best shared with someone to halve the sugar coma. :)

Here's my trees partway through decorating. I thought to myself 'I have all these pretty glitter hair bows, why not use them on the tree?!' To be honest putting baubles on a tree really hurts my arms as they're so weak from Fibromyalgia. Draping a few bits of faux pearl jewellery and clipping on some bows was very quick and easy.

The glittery Prancer is a hair piece as well, but made for someone with a pea head as I can barely get it on. It looks better on the tree than on me anyway. :) I used 2 mini trees this year - a white one and a pink one - both from Tesco a few years ago. I actually have a few more - a black mini tree, and a silver tinsel one which is midi sized - but I decided not to use them as space is at a premium (and of course the more I decorate the more work there is to undo).

Here's a section of the finished article.

I got the mini bird cage tealight holders, stags, tinsel, bead garland and iridescent threads from Poundland. They've really upped their game this year.

These are just some of the gift bags and presents ready to be delivered! I got most of the gift bags from Poundland too. It's handy that they deliver now because the shops at this time of year are an assault course!

I put a handful of sweet treats into each gift bag, most of which fell straight to the bottom, but at least it'll give the recipients something to munch on whilst they open their presents from other people. I do feel bad that people won't have the pleasure of ripping wrapping paper off my gifts this year, but I'm so stressed about Christmas this year I can't stomach to wrap them all!

I usually buy a box or two of Lindor to split among the presents as a little extra but I had no need this year with this sweet delivery!

And of course I left some over for me and James to chomp while I finished up my last few gifts. Those Wham bars are delicious! James has told me the Fruit Salads are his or else. ;)

Do you pop sweeties into your Christmas gifts? If you decorate, what kind of Christmas theme did you go for this year?

This may be my last post for several days, but if I have enough time on Christmas Eve I'll document the velvet maxi dress I bought from Scarlett and Jo a few days ago. I think they're going to have to replenish stock after Christmas (I can't see it on the website at the moment) but this is it.

I went for midnight blue (2nd left) after much deliberation and it is GORGEOUS. A life changing dress, and I don't say that lightly. I purr when I wear it, like I'm possessed by the spirit of Eartha Kitt.

Have a wonderful Christmas, and I'll see you soon!

Leah xoxo

*Sweet treats sent for review. Opinions are my own.

It's OK not to be OK at Christmas

This is a repost from this time last year, but it's something I think is worth a repeat. 

I see bloggers being super-organised, doing gift guides and Christmas outfit posts and in contrast I barely have the mojo to get up each day. Rather than beating myself up about my lack of productivity I'm being kind to myself. This time of year is difficult for me and I know I'm not alone.

Before I was ill I LOVED Christmas. I loved buying gifts, wrapping them nicely and writing out my cards. Now every year Christmas rolls around I have less and less fortitude to deal with it. My Christmas trees aren't up, I haven't wrapped a single thing and I'm more stressed about Christmas than I am excited. My husband is a Christmas day baby and that ruined Christmas and his birthday for him so he's a total grump about the whole thing. I have to pull money out of my arse to pay for Christmas. From next year I'm only buying for the kids and instead of spending money on the adults, I'm hoping we'll go for a nice meal together and make memories instead of landfill. My shopping is almost done, I'm just waiting for some of it to arrive, and then I can relax. I look forward to that.

So here's last years' post.

It's totally OK to be not ready for the 'season of goodwill'. It's totally fine to be 'Oh hell no' rather than 'Ho ho ho!' It's perfectly acceptable to see Christmas day out under a haze of G&T if that's what it takes for you to survive. It's all OK. It's OK to be you, to be fragile and complicated and to not be able to turn on the happiness like a tap when the time of year demands it.

I think a lot of the sadness that comes about at Christmas time is because we beat ourselves up for not being as happy as everyone else, but you know what? A lot of people are faking it. There are more people out there struggling than you might realise, so please don't beat yourself up if you're immune to the charms of Elf and Love Actually and Christmas carols make you want to punch someone in the face.

I'm always open about my feelings (I have emotional diarrhoea) and since I've been sharing how NOT ready I am for Christmas, a lot of other people have too. So please, if you're feeling overwhelmed, tell someone, or lots of people, and I bet at least one person will say 'Thank God it's not just me!' If you're not feeling the joy of Christmas you're not alone, so please don't feel like you are.

If there are feelings which don't get better after sharing with someone, or if there's no one to talk to, please don't suffer alone. Here's a list of UK helplines, thoughtfully compiled by Sian and posted here with permission.

Mental Health:

MIND
www.mind.org.uk
0300 123 3393

Samaritans
www.samaritans.org
08457 90 90 90
Email: jo@samaritans.org

Hearing Voices Network
www.hearing-voices.org
0114 271 8210

SANELine
www.sane.org.uk
0845 767 8000

Papyrus: Preventing young suicide
www.papyrus-uk.org
0800 068 4141

Depression alliance
www.depressionalliance.org

National Self Harm Network
www.nshn.co.uk
0800 622 6000

SupportLine
http://www.supportline.org.uk/
01708 765200
info@supportline.org.uk
(Confidential emotional support for Children, Young People and Adults. Also keeps details of agencies, support groups and counsellors throughout the UK)

Addiction:

National Alcohol Hotline
http://www.drinksmarter.org/drinkline
0800 917 8282

NACOA (National Association for Children of Alcoholics)
http://www.nacoa.org.uk/
0800 358 3456

Talk To Frank (Drug information & advice) (ENGLAND)
http://www.talktofrank.com/
0800 77 66 00

Know The Score (Drug information & advice) (SCOTLAND)
http://knowthescore.info/
0800 587 587 9

Dan 24/7 (Drug information & advice) (WALES)
http://www.dan247.org.uk/
0808 808 2234
Or text DAN to: 81066

Addiction NI (Drug information & advice) (Northern Ireland)
http://addictionni.com/
02890 664434

LGBTQIA:

Stonewall
www.stonewall.org.uk
08000 50 20 20

London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
https://helplines.org/helplines/london-lesbian-and-gay-switchboard-llgs/
0207 837 7324

Age:

Childline
www.childline.org.uk
0800 1111

Age UK Advice Line
www.ageuk.org.uk
0800 169 6565

The Silver Line (Free information, friendship and advice to older people.)
http://www.thesilverline.org.uk/
0800 4 70 80 90

Abuse:

Refuge
www.refuge.org.uk
0808 2000 247

Eating Disorders:

Beat Eating Disorders
http://www.b-eat.co.uk/
Helpline: 0845 634 1414
Youthline: 0845 634 7650

Housing and Homelessness:

Shelter
www.shelter.org.uk
0808 800 4444

Crisis
http://www.crisis.org.uk/

Bereavement:

Cruse Bereavement Care
www.cruse.org.uk/

Child Death Helpline
http://www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk
0800 282 986

Miscarriage Association
http://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/

Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
http://www.ectopic.org.uk/

Thanks for reading, and hugs from me to you if you're feeling crappy in the run up to Christmas. If you know of any more helplines or want to add helplines for your country in the comments, please do. And know you're not alone.

Hugs,
Leah xoxo

Surviving a fat Christmas

Howdy!

Christmastime can be difficult in so many ways, but one of the most trying things can be interacting with people you might only see once a year - people who might think because you share blood or a tenuous  connection that they have the right to comment on your body, and invariably the food you put into it in their presence.

So much of Christmas is centred around sharing food in the presence of other people and this can be a minefield, although it should be joyful. In the past I have dreaded (and starved my way through) social occasions where there's food because of the judgement I know will be coming my way if I should so much as dip a chunk of carrot into some hummus at the buffet. Not any more. It's always the way that you might have a plate full of salad but a body judger will fixate on the pork pie you've got in there. It just speaks of their superiority complex and little as a reflection of you, so I'm going to create some comebacks as possible retorts to shaming fools. Feel free to leave your own in the comments.

Really rude relatives/family friends

"Wow, you've got fat/piled on the weight/etc!"

Retort

• And you're just as charming as ever!
• Thanks for noticing. It's hard work maintaining this physique!
• What gives you the right to assume you can comment on my body? (For particularly annoying pillocks, put emphasis on the YOU.)
• Wow, how rude are you?
• I didn't realise you were with the diet police.
• What has it got to do with you?
• How dare you!
• Are you drunk? I assume you'd have to be to think you had the right to comment on MY body.
• Fuck off. 
• Call them out on it - say to their spouse or another family member "Did you hear this? Uncle Alan just told me I'd put on weight! How rude!"

The food moderator

"Are you going to eat that/are you really having seconds?"

Retort

• Yes, thanks! *cram food in your face sideways, slurping appreciatively*
• Lick it thoroughly then say "Why, do you want it?"
• I was going to, but now you've been so rude, perhaps not. 
• Why, is it poisoned?!
• What has it got to do with you?
• Fuck off. 
• Well since we drove 2 hours to be here and missed lunch, yes I bloody well am!
• *side-eye their 3rd helping* Are you serious?!

The health judger

"Wow, that gateau/cheese/whatever is really fattening/calorific etc"

• No shit, Sherlock!
• Noooo! I thought it had the calorific make up of celery!
• Where did you obtain your doctorate, oh wise one?
• I know! *crams into face*
• I find having a treat now and then is better than being an uptight arsehole (this is better with a toss of the hair and flouncing off in a cloud of fabulousness.)
• How does that affect you, exactly?
• Fuck off

The thing you have to bear in mind is this: people who feel they can comment on your body or what you put into it in the presence of other family members and friends are self-righteous tools who assume you will be too ashamed to reply with the same rudeness they've shown you. In family situations we often feel we should respect people no matter what (especially if they're older than us) but I say bollocks to that! Respect is earned, not given, and if someone shows me no respect and actively tries to humiliate me in front of other people, the gloves are off. Don't be afraid to show people up for the rude, ill mannered fools they are. They are bolstered up with self righteousness and assured you'll never dare to answer them back. You deserve better than that. Don't take any crap. Put them back in their place and carry on having fun. It's what Christmas is all about! Don't let anybody's judgement spoil this time of year for you.

I have my own way of dealing with such people, but it might not be for everyone. I have an uncle who sometimes greets me with 'Hello fatty!' when he sees me so I reply with 'Hello short arse!' Our family is weird though, because we insult people out of fondness. Of course I didn't get this when I was a kid though, and had a really hard time at Christmas especially.

I almost hate to say it but the people who've shamed me about food or my weight at Christmas have almost always been men (and older men at that.) Because of male privilege a lot of men feel they have the right to comment on women's bodies. Our bodies are our own yet due to the patriarchy people think they're public property, to be commented on at will. A big bucketful of nope. I find it only takes a time or two of giving someone an attitude adjustment about their rudeness before they back off. If not, you are within your rights to remove yourself from the situation telling them that until they keep their opinions to themselves they will be missing out on your company. I have to say I haven't had any rudeness at Christmastime for quite some time, as most people know better than to put their nose into my business. Should it happen though, I'll be happy to let them know what I think about it. ;)

What are your tips for dealing with rude people at Christmas?

Thanks for reading.
Leah xoxo

It's OK not to be OK at Christmas

Hello,

This year has me feeling very differently about Christmas than I usually do. I don't know if it was the loss of my uncle this year, the recent bout of insomnia that knocked me sideways, or even another year dealing with Fibromyalgia, CFS/ME and depression, but my usual rabid enthusiasm for Christmas has vanished.

I haven't wrapped a single thing yet, other than presents I had to post. I've only put 2 small (2-3 feet) Christmas trees up and there are no lights on the trees. I only opened all the Christmas cards I'd received 2 days ago. For some reason I'm just not feeling it this year, and you know what? It's OK.

It's totally OK to be not ready for the 'season of goodwill'. It's totally fine to be 'Oh hell no' rather than 'Ho ho ho!' It's perfectly acceptable to see Christmas day out under a haze of G&T if that's what it takes for you to survive. It's all OK. It's OK to be you, to be fragile and complicated and to not be able to turn on the happiness like a tap when the time of year demands it.

I think a lot of the sadness that comes about at Christmas time is because we beat ourselves up for not being as happy as everyone else, but you know what? A lot of people are faking it. There are more people out there struggling than you might realise, so please don't beat yourself up if you're immune to the charms of Elf and Love Actually and Christmas carols make you want to punch someone in the face.

I'm always open about my feelings (I have emotional diarrhoea) and since I've been sharing how NOT ready I am for Christmas, a lot of other people have too. So please, if you're feeling overwhelmed, tell someone, or lots of people, and I bet at least one person will say 'Thank God it's not just me!' If you're not feeling the joy of Christmas you're not alone, so please don't feel like you are.

If there are feelings which don't get better after sharing with someone, or if there's no one to talk to, please don't suffer alone. Here's a list of UK helplines, thoughtfully compiled by Sian from Sort Out Life Buy Milk and posted here with permission.

Mental Health:

MIND
www.mind.org.uk
0300 123 3393

Samaritans
www.samaritans.org
08457 90 90 90
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Write: Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK,
Chris,
PO Box 90 90,
Stirling,
FK8 2SA

Hearing Voices Network
www.hearing-voices.org
0114 271 8210

SANELine
www.sane.org.uk
0845 767 8000

Papyrus: Preventing young suicide
www.papyrus-uk.org
0800 068 4141

For people in Northern Ireland
www.lifeline.info
0808 808 8000

Depression alliance
www.depressionalliance.org

No Panic
www.no-panic.co.uk
0808 808 0545

National Self Harm Network
www.nshn.co.uk
0800 622 6000

SupportLine
http://www.supportline.org.uk/
01708 765200
info@supportline.org.uk
(Confidential emotional support for Children, Young People and Adults. Also keeps details of agencies, support groups and counsellors throughout the UK)

Addiction:

National Alcohol Hotline
http://www.drinksmarter.org/drinkline
0800 917 8282

NACOA (National Association for Children of Alcoholics)
http://www.nacoa.org.uk/
0800 358 3456

Talk To Frank (Drug information & advice) (ENGLAND)
http://www.talktofrank.com/
0800 77 66 00

Know The Score (Drug information & advice) (SCOTLAND)
http://knowthescore.info/
0800 587 587 9

Dan 24/7 (Drug information & advice) (WALES)
http://www.dan247.org.uk/
0808 808 2234
Or text DAN to: 81066

Addiction NI (Drug information & advice) (Northern Ireland)
http://addictionni.com/
02890 664434

LGBTQIA:

Stonewall
www.stonewall.org.uk
08000 50 20 20

London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
https://helplines.org/helplines/london-lesbian-and-gay-switchboard-llgs/
0207 837 7324

Age:

Childline
www.childline.org.uk
0800 1111

Age UK Advice Line
www.ageuk.org.uk
0800 169 6565

The Silver Line (Free information, friendship and advice to older people.)
http://www.thesilverline.org.uk/
0800 4 70 80 90

Abuse:

Refuge
www.refuge.org.uk
0808 2000 247

Rape and Abuse Line
http://therapeandsexualabusehelpline.co.uk/
0808 800 0188
Eating Disorders:

Beat Eating Disorders
http://www.b-eat.co.uk/
Helpline: 0845 634 1414
Youthline: 0845 634 7650

Housing and Homelessness:

Shelter
www.shelter.org.uk
0808 800 4444

Crisis
http://www.crisis.org.uk/
 
Bereavement:

Cruse Bereavement Care
www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk

Child Death Helpline
http://www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk
0800 282 986

Miscarriage Association
http://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/

Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
http://www.ectopic.org.uk/

Thanks for reading, and hugs from me to you if you're feeling a bit crappy this Christmas. If you know of any more helplines or want to add helplines for your country in the comments, please do.

Leah xoxo

Christmas Questions

Hi lovelies! Here's a little Christmas questionnaire.

1. What is your favourite thing about Christmas?
Everything! The build up, the pretty lights, putting the tree up, hanging out with my family, and the friendly, kind Christmas spirit in everyone for just a couple of days. I wish it was like it all year round. 

2. What is your favourite make up look for the festive season? 
Pile it on! Flawless skin, glamour to the max with lots of glitter and red lips/nails.

3. Real or fake tree?
Fake. When I was a kid we had real trees sometimes and the constant moulting is a pain in the bum. Plus I'd sooner trees be growing than chopped down for just a few weeks in our living rooms.

4. Giving or receiving presents? 
Giving! I feel really mean this year, though. It's been a big year - we got married, so we've spent so much money this year and hubby has been cracking down a lot so I've not spent as much on people as I'd like.

5. Do you open your presents in the morning or evening?
I open presents from my mum and step dad in the morning, then those from my aunts and uncles in the afternoon. If I get presents posted to me by friends I get J to hide them or else I'll open them early. I'm a bugger like that. 

6. Handmade or bought Christmas cards? 
Before I had Fibromyalgia & CFS I always used to make my own cards but sadly my arms hurt too much to do it now. It's a shame, as everyone used to love my cards. 

7. What is your favourite Christmas film?
It's a toss up between Home Alone and Love Actually.
 

8. What is your favourite Christmas food? 
Prawn vol au vents! Nom nom nommmmm! 

  
If you do this please feel free to come back here and leave a link to your post. I want to see!  

My first dot manicure - festive style!

Hello lovelies.

I did my first dot manicure using my Born Pretty Store dotting tools today. It isn't the most artistic mani in the world but I think it's OK for a first attempt. I look forward to getting better and more creative with practice.

You can click on all images for larger photos.

I used MUA shades 10 (pearl) and 13 (green) and Nails Inc Dean Street (red.)

Do you ever do nail art? I have some stamping plates I need to use too.

Thanks for reading!

My Christmas plans

Hiya pickles!

Depending how long you've been here you might know I'm BONKERS about Christmas. I'm listening to festive songs and hymns on Spotify as I write. I thought I'd do a little post about my Christmas.

The decorating

I'm putting my tree up today. I have 4 Christmas trees. There's a 5ft green tree, a 3ft pink tree, a 1 foot pink tinsel tree and a 1 foot white tinsel tree. I will have Christmas ornaments hanging off every handle, knob, ledge and surface imaginable. We will have 3-4 sets of lights up in the living room, some on the tree and some draped around the walls.

The music

My favourite Christmas CD is this one. My first boyfriend introduced me to this album as his parents had been listening to it for years (It was made in 1963!). It's so ingrained in my psyche now it just wouldn't be Christmas without the songs on this CD.

I'm rather partial to a bit of Michael Buble at Christmas (and any other time of the year, yum yum!) and who doesn't like a bit of festive Mariah?!



Another favourite Christmas song of mine is this one by Rob Thomas.



The lyrics really touch me and I always cry when I listen to this song because I'm a big softie. Here are a sample of the lyrics:

Call on your angels
Come down to the city
Let's crowd around the big tree
All you strangers you know me
Bring your compassion
Bring your forgiveness
Lord how we need it
On this New York City Christmas

Yeah I'm sending you a merry New York Christmas
And a prayer for peace on earth within our time
Hear the sidewalk angels echo hallelujah
We understand more, now more than ever
Merry New York Christmas

The films

My favourite Christmassy films are Home Alone & Home Alone 2, Love Actually, Bad Santa, Elf, The Snowman, Jingle All The Way, and Gremlins. I love watching Christmas films in the run up to Christmas.

Christmas films I want to see are The Polar Express, It's a Wonderful Life, The Muppet Christmas Carol and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

The family

My mum and dad divorced when I was 7 so I haven't spent a Christmas Day with my dad for decades. Prior to now, J and I have usually gone each to our own family for Christmas then met up for a couple of days, but since we got married this year we're splitting time between both our families. J's a Christmas Day baby so it'll be lovely to be with him for it this year. This is our 9th Christmas together and I think we've only been together on his birthday 3/4 times. Eep.

This year we're spending a day or two with my mum and stepdad in the days before Christmas. We'll be having Christmas dinner at my aunt and uncle's house with my mum and step dad. Then after that we'll be heading to J's parents for Christmas tea, with a stop off at his grandad's on Christmas night, where there'll be about 80+ family members all crushed in the living room for a Trivial Pursuit battle. I'll be going back to see my mum on her birthday on December 27th and seeing my dad and his side of the family on the 28th/29th. We haven't worked the finer details out yet and it might all be subject to change as we like to fly by the seat of our pants. I also hope to see my brother, his lady and her two girls over Christmas, as well as catch up with some old friends in my home town. We are blessed with a lot of family and friends so it'll be a busy time. We love it!


What are your Christmas plans/traditions? Please share, I'd love to know!

Expect a photo post soon of all my festive decorations!

Gift idea - Photo calendars

Hiya lovelies!

Over the last few years I've made a habit of giving photo calendars as Christmas gifts for my mum and hubby's mum. I didn't get them made up the year before last and they were both so disappointed I'll make sure to do it every year now. We use mostly my photos and a few of my hubby's.

Previously I used Vistaprint, but I got so annoyed with never knowing how much anything would cost until I'd checked out because of the shipping and tax they throw on at the end. This year I decided to use Snapfish. I was very impressed with the thickness of the paper and the overall quality. Here are some photos from the two calendars I had made up. Bear in mind these are photos of photos so they'll be a tiny bit grainy.

It's a really easy photo upload system on Snapfish. You just upload the photos you want to use. You can edit them on Snapfish if you need to - orienting them, cropping them etc. I do all that to my photos in Paint Shop Pro first but it's handy if you don't have photo editing software. You can change the background colours on each page, choose how many photos you want to have and you can also use your own wording under the photos.

Because you only get a tiny preview on the Snapfish website of the photos you're uploading, I'd recommend you 'screen' all the photos you're going to upload first to make sure they're all in focus or the right shots. If they're too low res, and the picture would come out blurry, it'll tell you so you can choose a better photo.

I made a couple of small howlers. Because I was uploading different photos for each calendar to make them more personal for each family, I didn't screen all the photos. I had brain ache and skipped it, which came back to bite me on the bum. The cover on hubby's mum's calendar is one of my wedding photos where I was moving my hand so it's blurry, and I inadvertently uploaded a photo of Salisbury Cathedral to my mum's calendar when there was scaffolding in shot. Duh! I could always print out better photos and stick them on with double sided tape.

I have a discount code for Snapfish. I hope it's still valid. If you spend over £20 and use code SFUK26 you get 20% off. The calendars start at £14.99 at this size, but they also do the slimline long calendars from £9.99 each. When I bought my two there was a 35% off code so I got the two for just over £10 each, which is quite good I thought, especially as you can cut the photos out at the end of the year and keep them if you wish. 

Have you ever made photo calendars or any other kind of photo gift?

Thanks for reading!