Tomorrow marks my favourite day of the year! Yes, Christmas Eve will be here and for me it is better than Christmas Day! Yet, before we peak too soon, I thought I would share some fun ideas on how you can celebrate Christmas Eve Eve in the best way possible! Get ready to have some fun today doing a few of these ideas!
Get the sequins, glue and paper plates out lovelies because today’s Blogmas post is going all Blue Peter on us! With many of us going back in time with our decorations, it is time to head back to school where a paper plate could become a decoration of true wonder! Find out how you can make a real masterpiece for Christmas right here!
Christmas TV is one of the best things about December! Honestly, if there is ever a time to snuggle up and get cosy, it is by far under the Christmas tree! And I have some of the best shows to do that with this festive season right here! Grab the remote and get ready early with my top five TV shows this Christmas!
It’s not just our friends and family that deserve a gift this Christmas! No, our homes do too! To mark the final day of our B&M Christmas Present Week, I thought we would go out in a big way, by celebrating some of the brands most gorgeous decorations this year! It’s time go big or well bigger thanks to B&M’s fantastic homeware selection!
Christmas is going to be here in less than four months, which means it is truly time to up the pace when it comes to planning! Whether it be starting to plan meals, get gifts or plan your decorating schemes this year, you can never be too early! Find out what I did in August to prepare for the big festive filled day!
Good Morning Lovelies,
Christmas may be nine months away, however, I have been getting stuck into preparing for it already! Last month, I introduced myself to diamond art. Now, I can’t stop making things. Something that has stemmed into a bit of a Christmas theme creating session!
I’ve made a diamond art wreath and a set of eight coasters so far, which I hope to apply setting spray, to help the sequins stick more securely. We will be getting them out when it is Christmas time to ensure that everyone gets a chance to use them for now though, I have put them away to get stuck into the next bunch.
I’ve already ordered another wreath to design and am going to be doing some big searches and shopping sessions first pictures to create using diamond art. I may even get some Christmas cards that you can apply diamonds too and gift to my nearest and dearest.
By spending a few hours and only £10 at most, I’ve got new decorations and a better mental health activity. I simply can’t get enough! Even if my floor has with the amount of gems on it! Even after hoovering as much as my mum can, we are still finding them everywhere. It seems our home was just made to sparkle like a Christmas tree aha!
Amazon is a great place to find affordable creations from £2 lovelies, so if you fancy giving them a go have a look there. My delivery man must think I am crazy if he knows what is in them, however, I’m loving knowing that my home will have a more personal touch this festive season!
Joey X
Good Morning Lovelies,
I’m definitely not one for new year resolutions, however, I do like to make goals. Ones I think I will be able to commit to all year or at a singular time. My big goal this year was to actually do something Christmas focused at least once a month. Whether it be wrapping or buying presents, getting recipes ready or simply arranging a meet up or local event, I am hoping to achieve one thing to help stop December feeling so manic.
January is a bit of tough month to get back into Christmas mode. For many of us, it is when the post Christmas blues hit. A time when the cold weather isn’t so fun anymore and if snow is predicted there is hell to pay.
Yet, I managed to achieve a helpful hack that has made this mission doable right away. With a smaller crew to buy for now, I have used January to get presents, wrapping paper, cards and labels all sorted for 2024 at a fraction of the cost.
The savings are the best time to go wild in the aisles for less. With a strong eye for bargains, I can sniff them out for miles, something I say is a special skill. That is now why I have a case dedicated to papers, ribbons, labels and cards that will last me and my family for years now. And I didn’t pay over a £1 for any item.
If you are like me and wanting to get more organised or even just want to keep the festive magic alive, I have gathered my top tips to help you get going. Here is what I’ve learnt from this January’s Christmas celebration…
Reuse and recycle wrapping paper, ribbon, bows and more if you can.
Invest in a storage bag that can be filled up and put away somewhere where not much room will be taken up.
Head to the more expensive shops to buy your cards after Christmas. Clintons sell the selection they have for around 99p after the big day, creating savings of over £4 or more.
Make a list of how many you will be buying for this year and only purchase the right amounts for each.
Set a monthly budget to use each month on festive bits. If you don’t use all your budget, use a piggy bank and save it for yourself to use at the end of the year or roll it over to 2025.
Christmas will probably be here before we know it lovelies, due to time simply flying by. But don’t let it worry you too much! We are going to have it all covered in 2024! I can feel it in my festive filled bones!
Joey X
Good Morning Lovelies,
As we build up to the new year starting, I wondered what my goals had been for the past year. I wanted to know if I completed them. If I had made the right choices and changes regarding them. So, I decided to look back at all the posts and found what I wanted to do!
Here is how I got on in meeting or doing the goals I aimed for in 2023…
Working With New Companies and Products On The Blog: Towards the middle of the year, I really got my mojo back to start reaching out to people again. By the end of 2023, I’ve now connected with so many new companies and discovered a whole host of products that have changed my life completely. I am so grateful to those who have allowed me to share them with you too!
Finding New Opportunities On The Radio: 2023 brought a very uncertain time for those who I worked with a lot on the radio. This led to me not appearing on it as much. Hopefully, in 2024, I can get back on it and out there.
Become Part of A New Group and Learn New Skills: I didn’t really join anew group, but, I have met some amazing people through therapy. I also became a volunteer at my local library and that has allowed me to make new bonds, whilst also learning how a library is run. I completed further college courses and built skills in areas I didn’t even know I could. I am so grateful for all that I have experienced.
Go On More Adventures With My Family: We didn’t really go on many adventures, yet, we had some big experiences. Heading to Blackpool, I never thought we would be having the afternoon tea experience. It was a dreamy way to spend my birthday. I also didn’t think that our trip to Bognor would end the way it did. However, all of the adventures have definitely made us stronger.
Read and Write More - Hopefully I Will Reach 100 Books This Year: Okay, so I didn’t make the 100 mark, but I kept up with my reading. I found 2023 to be the year I fell back in love with magazines. I even discovered a joy for ones that I would never have ready before. It’s always nice to hold a closed book, after spending days reading it, falling in love with the characters and the story.
I don’t think I did too badly aha! 2023 was an odd year that seemed to just fly by. I am proud of myself for what I have achieved and will definitely be writing out goals for next year now! You might even see them sooner than you think aha!
How did you all get on with your goals for this year?
Joey X
Good Morning Lovelies,
We are fast approaching the big day now! Have you finished wrapping the presents? Is your Christmas cake nearly prepared to delight guests? Ready to embrace the beauty of Christmas PJs and jumpers? I know I am fully ready for it!
However, I know that this can also be a very very stressful week. It comes around so quickly, with the build up wrecking with our emotions. In our house, we have tried to have more relaxing moments recently, with fun planned more so after the 25th. This helps us to keep our emotions in check.
We also do a number of other key well-being factors to help us, which I wanted to share with you. Below is five things I do that I hope can help you stay calmer and happier during this week…
Go For A Walk: Whilst it can be tempting to stay in and get everything done, a breath of fresh air can do the world of good. Whether it is an early morning crisp walk or a night time outing to see the festive lights, take five minutes of me time by heading out and breathing in the fresh air. I love to pop on a podcast or Christmas music too to help me relax.
Ask For Help: Never be afraid to ask for help. If tasks need to be handed out, make a list of who can do what to ensure that not everything is on your plate. If tasks can be broken down, split them up and do them over the next few days instead of all in one go. This can be really helpful when it comes to cleaning up the house!
Use Your Delivery Services: Prime is perfect for this! I have been known to order gifts that have arrived on Christmas Eve because people have got me one or I have forgotten a gift last minute. Use your services as much as you can as they can be a real life saver.
Find A Space To Relax: Whilst sorting everything out, plan a space that you can escape to on the big day for some peace. Even if you are spending it having a quiet one, just pop onto a chair in the corner, cosy up on your bed or plan a nice bubble bath that can fit into your Christmas Day. Your body will thank you for it.
Try To Enjoy It: Waking up on Christmas Day is often described as being dreadful if you are no longer a little kid. Children jumping on your bed and waking you up. Cooking the turkey and prepping the veg. Wrapping last minute presents. Santa has a whole team of elves to help him, so even he needs to be reminded that it is a holiday of joy. Instead of waking up with that dreading feeling, try to embrace it all as a happy time. Wear those cheesy outfits. Pop on your favourite song. Eat all and everything you want. Just try to remain as happy as you can lovelies, even in times of stress. It’s one day of the year and whatever doesn’t go to plan can just be avoided the next year!
These may all be a little bit random lovelies, but I hope that they can help you all! Let’s nail this week!
Joey X
Good Morning Lovelies,
Last year, my best friend Dee decided to not do Christmas cards. After receiving the one I sent her, she replied with a massive thank you, but also an explanation as to why she wasn’t doing them. Instead, her and her husband Mark were going to donate the money that they would spend on cards to charity. A fact I loved it!
Since then, I have been really thinking about how many cards I will send this year and to who. I love a Christmas card and always have done. I think it comes down to primary school, when we would bring in cards and hand them out at Christmas, after popping them in a cardboard letter box in the school hall. However, when you really think about it, they are not always great for the environment.
There so, I have decided to dedicate today’s Blogmas post to alternative ways to send Christmas cards or greetings to people. Here are five simple ways to send lots of festive cheer without breaking the bank or the planet…
Donate To Charity: Inspired by Dee, I think donating the money that would have been spent on the cards, stamps and little additions to charity is a great idea. Knowing that the money is helping others in need is so much more rewarding. You could even make a food bank donation for every card you get and add a festive label highlighting who the tin or food item is in honour of.
Plant A Seed: For everyone who sends you a card plant a seed in your garden. Then, take a picture and send a text or email telling them that you are thankful and attach the image of where the seed has been planted in their honour. You can then keep them updated a year later on how their plant has grown.
Send An E-Card or Message: Whether it be a digital card, video or even a newsletter, add all you would in a card and send it via email. Cost effective and leaving no impact on the planet by doing so. A winner for all.
Bake A Gift: Use the money that you would spend to buy ingredients for a festive bake. Once you have made the cake or cookies, take them to your local old people’s home or an emergency services offices and gift it to them. Take a few pictures of those who are receiving it enjoying the food and send this via online systems explaining what has happened. I am sure everyone will love to see the smiles of the recipients faces more than a card.
Go Carol Singing Instead: If you live close to everyone you would normally send a card too, why not go carolling at their door instead? Get the whole family involved and head to each recipients door to spread some festive cheer. I know my heart would soar at this!
These are only a few ideas lovelies, which I hope you will find helpful. Cards, stamps and time can be costly now and every thing that can help is vital. I hope you enjoy doing, making or taking part in some of these! Oh, and let me know how they go!
Joey X
Good Morning Lovelies,
Christmas is often the time that we all seek to put down our tech devices and embrace everything around us. However, it can’t always be avoided. Our family is dotted all over the world, meaning we rely quite heavily on our phones and tablets to speak to everyone.
From aunts and uncles to best friends, there is not a device we don’t need to speak to them, so I thought I would share with you some tech essentials to keep on hand. Justin case you need to make a last minute well wishing call! Be prepared with these five must have tech pieces to have in your home during the festive season…
Alexa Echo Show: You could use any Echo device, however, since having an Echo Show my life has been made a whole lot easier. I can see the time, watch timers set going down and check my Ring doorbell, all in one. Perfect for knowing when guests have arrived, how long the turkey has left and knowing if it is time for my favourite Christmas TV shows.
A Smartphone: Not only key to calling and texting everyone, your smartphone can become your everything during the holidays. A diary, social organiser and connector to all those you love and need to speak to in one. Plus, many of us will use our phones cameras to instantly share our versions of the big day.
A Tablet: Whether I am reading a book, checking a recipe or putting something on to watch whilst cleaning or preparing something to eat, my tablet is going to be my hero this Christmas. Everywhere I go, my iPad will be beside me. Often used to also help keep me calm, I would definitely suggest using it to read from, play a game on or to stream a festive favourite when you Ned a minute to yourself.
Microwaves/Air Fryer: When the oven is full, these are my heroes. In fact, I use my microwave more than any other kitchen appliance or tech! Make quick meals, canapés, key dishes or leftover reheated joys in less time and energy to help save money and the washing up. Fab!
A TV/Streaming Services: I plan to spend most of Christmas Day, apart from the big meal, in bed with my family, snuggled up watching Christmas films. Using our Amazon Fire Stick, we will be binging hard on the likes of Home Alone and Elf. Make sure to use your TVs to their full advantages lovelies this Christmas. Even if it is only to watch the King’s speech or Love Actually for the fifth time (guilty as charged!).
I’m sure many of you will be using your devices on the big day, however, I would love to hear what tech do you have to have on hand! Let me know lovelies and I will share them with others to help them even more!
Joey X