Phew another year in which I have remembered to find a new hiding spot for Tommy each evening.
This week started with us away at my parents before returning for some final Christmas preparation.
December 18th : Tommy was looking through the window lights at the little lit deer in my parents’ garden.
December 19th : Still at my parents’ Tommy was found on the staircase.
December 20th: Back home and munching away at the fruit in the bowl.
December 21st : Nibbling again, this time home made biscotti from a friend.
December 22nd : Hidden in our Christmas tree, Tommy brought letters from Santa.
December 23rd: Tommy had found us all we needed to make our gingerbread decorations.
December 24th : As is traditional, Tommy arrived with all the ingredients and extras for a very special Christmas Eve hot chocolate.
Tommy has again give us so much fun this year and we look forward to welcoming him again to our home next year. Tommy is such an important part of our family Christmas and we love having him.
This week we’ve been enjoying the first week of our Christmas holidays and its come as a welcome break. Despite my best efforts life has felt a little overwhelming at times in the past few weeks, so a quiet week was just what was needed. We started with a few days away at my parents and then our days since we returned seem to have developed a routine of a long walk or outdoor activity in the morningand then a film or Wii U in the afternoon. We still have a few more traditions to do before Christmas but these are always reserved for the final days of advent.
Bristol, from the M Shed, looking spectacular on Monday.
I’m sure I’m not the only one this week who has sat down to read the Radio Times with a highlighter to mark my programmes for this fortnight. I think the programmes I’m most looking forward to are Call the Midwife and the new tv adaptation of Little Women.
I’m also continuing reading The Christmasaurus with the children which is such a delightful book. Its not only at bedtimes this week either as we worked out that if we want to finish it by Christmas we need to sit down and read a few chapters during the day too. There are far worse ways to spend your time.
On Saturday I sat down and watched the Strictly final. I didn’t have a clear favourite before the show and would have been happy with any finalist as a winner. However given their performances, the majority of my votes on the night went to Joe and Katya and I was pleased they won. We were enchanted by their show dance, the way Cinderella’s rags turned into a ball gown was magical.
Although I’ve watched much of the series I missed the Apprentice final, its been an uninspiring series and then when I heard that they both got picked, I felt the whole series was a bit rubbish this season. It really needs to improve next year with some quality candidates and solid business ideas.
Okay be warned there are some tenuous links in this section this week.
Firstly, I made a discovery, Bounty spread, OMG has anyone tasted this coconut spread it is gorgeous on a crumpet or whispers on a teaspoon from the jar.
I also made a purchase. I was given a gift voucher at work but decided to use it against some household purchases so I could swap it for cash. At the Bristol Christmas markets (which were gorgeous) I found this clay decoration on a stall called the Nutcracker. Not only does it light up when you put in a lit tea light, but if you put water and some essential oils in the chimney it emits smoke and a little festive fragrance. I love my new decoration and it fits in beautifully with what I like to describe as my Hansel and Gretel display.
I have a new Christmas scarf which I bought when I was in Bristol. For those familiar with Bristol, the scarf is from St Nick’s market, where I used to love to hang out when I was younger, there are always lots of quirky finds here and I impressed myself with only buying one thing here!
I have been a football fan all my life and Bristol City are my team. I was a season ticket holder at Ashton Gate for many years and I only stopped going when we moved away. Bristol City will always be my number 1 team. This week they were in the Carabou League cup quarter final against Manchester United and I listened to the commentary on Radio 5. I was so proud that Bristol City beat Man Utd and it was exciting to hear the match and the late, late winner.
So its nearly time for Christmas now and I am ready and looking forward to the big day. In the meantime we have few special things we do in the last few days, making gingerbread decorations, touring the local Christmas lights and visiting neighbours with gifts and cards. We have my father in law staying with us for Christmas and then on Wednesday we’re off to Butlins for a little break, which we’re all looking forward to.
Merry Christmas to Morgana and all the other #littleloves contributors, I hope you all have a happy and sparkly Christmas.
I’ve been writing my blog for over 4 years now and I’m finding it difficult this year to create a new Christmas post, my decorations are similar to previous years, as are the events we’ve been too and I’ve written in detail about these in the past. I have been doing a weekly update on Tommy’s hiding places and the #littleloves posts have been highlighting some of our favourite things we’ve done this Christmas. A few days ago, I read Kimberley’s Christmas Tag at
so have chosen to use this as a model for a Christmas post this year whilst I try to work out a few new ideas for Christmas 2018. Thanks to Kimberley for sharing ..
What’s your favourite Christmas Movie?
Whilst there are so many great Christmas films, my favourite is the Muppet Christmas Carol. Its brilliant, true to the original book, funny and has some great songs in it too.
Have you ever had a white Christmas?
I don’t think I’ve ever had a white Christmas. On the children’s first Christmas in 2010 we had heavy snow the week before Christmas but it melted after a few days to leave a bright, dry Christmas day. I can’t remember any childhood white Christmases.
This is as close as we’ve come to a white Christmas the week before Christmas in 2010
Where do you usually spend your holiday?
I think its a little contentious with extended family, but we have often gone away for Christmas. As a teacher I always have a two week break and as Mr S is self employed, Christmas is also a good time for him to have time off too. We’re not skiers so the breaks have tended to be to hot, sunny places and we’ve had Christmases in Australia, the Caribbean and we’ve had UK breaks too. Even with the children we’ve had Christmas holidays, one year we did Christmas at Butlins which was lots of fun and last year we were in Lanzarote. Santa arriving on a camel was memorable! If we’re not on holiday then we always have Christmas at our house.
Yes seriously on Christmas day 2002, I visited Ramsey St in Melbourne!
What’s your favourite Christmas song?
I love Christmas songs and its difficult to pick just one favourite, I have done a post here on my favourite Christmas songs
but to be honest all Christmas songs make me happy as long as they are played from December 1st, I’m a bit bah humbug until that date! This year, I have really liked Stevie Wonder’s That’s What Christmas Means to Me, its been played a few times in the Sparkles household. I also really like Christmas carols and some classical pieces at this time of year.
Do you open any presents on Christmas eve?
No and I wouldn’t even be tempted. I love the excitement of Christmas morning.
Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Yes because when I was in junior school we had to learn by heart Twas the Night Before Christmas in which they are all named and I can still recite it from memory, a useful party piece at this time of you, so thank you Mrs Williams!
What holiday traditions are you looking forward to this Christmas?
As our family, we have developed our own little traditions over the past seven Christmases. Tommy our elf on the shelf, is probably my favourite tradition as the children love him so much. He hides every evening but he isn’t a mischievous elf and writes a letter every day to tell the children of all the positive things he saw them doing the day before. I love hiding him and am so grateful for all the magic he has created. Other family traditions are going to the town’s Christmas market and then having a fish and chip lunch, doing a tour of Christmas lights, making gingerbread decorations, visiting the Christmas tree festival and the children wearing new pyjamas on Christmas eve.
Is your Christmas tree real or fake?
This year its fake, we bought it last year for when we were going to be away as we still wanted to decorate the house. Its a really nice tree and I was happy to use it again this year. In the past, we have had real trees so I’m sure we’ll have a discussion next year on whether to have a real or fake tree.
What’s your favourite holiday food/sweet/treat?
Chestnuts, Christmas cake, cheese with fruits. Normally I have a really sweet tooth but I like the savoury dishes at Christmas.
Be honest, do you prefer the giving or receiving of gifts?
Definitely giving. I try to give very thoughtful gifts and am always on the look out for original and personal gifts. This year I bought my first in May as I saw something I just knew would be perfect for my cousin. I have a little Christmas notebook where I jot down ideas, purchases etc.. throughout the year.
What’s the best Christmas present you ever received?
Tickets to go to my first ever concert Aha at the Albert Hall, a lilac bike Candy, a clarinet, a music stereo, an engagement ring.
What’s your dream place to visit for the holiday season?
I would LOVE to go to New York in the run up to Christmas for the shopping, sights and shows.
Are you a pro present wrapper or do you fail miserably?
I am very coordinated with paper, bows and labels and try to present my gifts as neatly as I can. I do find some shapes very tricky to wrap and may use tissue and gift bags.
Most memorable Christmas memory?
The children’s first Christmas with us in 2010. It took us 7 years to have the family we had dreamed of and in those 7 years, Christmas was very, very difficult and a period simply to get through. From 2010, it has become the most magical time of the year and we cherish every single moment.
What made you realise the truth about Santa?
I think it was probably from children at school. However my mum had this rule that if we didn’t believe we wouldn’t get presents so in our family we all still believe!
What makes the holidays special for you?
I genuinely enjoy the preparation and anticipation of Christmas, the concerts, special events etc… Christmas is about being in the moment, taking time to be with those you love and thinking of those who can’t be with you. Its relaxed times, good food, lovely music and sparkly lights.
Firstly a confession, I never make new year’s resolutions, but this year I am because something has turned in me and I need to do something. When I was younger I was proud of my ethics and teenage girl protests, I discussed nagged my parents not to buy goods from South Africa in the apartheid era, poor Dad was never allowed to buy Gillette razors for their refusal to stop testing on animals and the Body Shop was the shop of my dreams. Through to adulthood, I kept my values, carefully recycling, writing to my favourite clothes shops to ask of their working practices to ensure that my clothes were being made for a fair wage etc.. And then I became complacent, I thought the battle to ensure that products were not tested on animals had been won with legislation in the UK, I presumed that the kerbside recycling meant that we were becoming greener as a country and simply pottered along. However I have read a number of articles recently and watched some video footage and have had that sad realisation that things aren’t as rosy as I had hoped. If companies wish to sell their beauty and skincare products in China, they must be tested on animals before they are allowed to sell in the country, so some companies who have maintained a cruelty free product in the UK are rejecting this to sell to the large Chinese market. Suddenly products which I believed to be cruelty free are no longer, my ‘I finally found the perfect’ foundation is no longer perfect, my beloved Essie nail varnishes have lost their gloss. I’ve also watched videos of the damage being done by our obsession with plastic and our throw away attitude and how we need to act to protect our planet. I am not an eco warrior, I’m simply someone trying to do little things to help our eco system so that we have a healthy world to live on and to be proud to pass it on to future generations.
As a new year’s resolution it has a pretty big remit, so I thought I would use my blog to post some updates on what I’m doing and why I’m doing it, using the hashtag #ecosparkles2018. I’m not sure how this will look, but we’ll let it develop organically as time progresses. However I know that the first thing I am doing is compiling a list of cruelty free brands which do not trade in China and to use this list to replace the unacceptable items in my make up bag as they are finished. My other quick fix resolution is not to use any new plastic bags next year or take away coffee cups.
There will be other actions as I research more and try to take positive steps towards improving my environment and I hope to include many links too for others to look at the arguments. Here’s to a greener 2018.
Whilst this is an American website, it has lots of useful information on multi national companies and their policies. It also helps you to work out who owns which brands.
The same website has this page of companies who sell in China and therefore accept testing on animals. To me this was difficult reading when many favourites are on it.
This week was as crazy and festive as I had predicted. It’s taken me until now, Sunday evening to be able to have the energy to write up my post and it’s a little shorter than normal. There’s been a lot of lovely festive moments this week and here are my seasonal #littleloves
I’ve really enjoyed reading the family updates my friends have been writing in their Christmas cards. I have friends who I don’t see as much as I would like as we’re all dotted over the country but these little catch ups in Christmas cards are great.
I’ve also been reading aloud The Christmasaurus to the children and am taking great delight in the voices, especially the singing elves. I love reading stories aloud, I do it at work and home and my ultimate dream would be to read a CBBC bedtime tale.
This week I have watched three Christmas concerts and have loved every one for different reasons. The Beavers was original and fun, the school concert heart warming and uplifting with a beautiful choice of music and my SEN school’s concert inspiring. There is nothing quite like children singing carols to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Christmas jumpers, Santa hats and tinsel. I also wore more make up to try to disguise how tired I looked, too many late nights and early starts this week.
I’ve not made much this week, as for the first time in years I worked full time at work, it was definitely a one week Christmas special only. I did make some short videos for our Christmas concert, they were tearjerkers. Thanks to Wiki How I was able to learn a few new tricks on editing and how to do a few fancy tricks too.
As I was getting ready to go away to my parents this weekend I was thinking about my own happy childhood Christmases and remembered the music we always played. It was mainly from Jim Reeves’ Christmas album before my brother and I got some say in the music choices. I had a little browse on Spotify and the Jim Reeves album is on it. I’ve saved it for Sunday as we’ll be having a special Christmas meal and I look forward to seeing my Dad’s reaction to the Christmas Polka and Silver Bells. I felt quite emotional listening to the tunes, such strong happy feelings of childhood.
We are on school holidays now and looking forward to a few Christmas treats with my parents with whom we’ll be staying with for a few days before heading home for the final preparations, Christmas food shopping, going through the Radio Times with a highlighter, making gingerbread decorations to name just a few of the things we’ll be doing. All of course to be accompanied by a festive soundtrack.
We love our little elf Tommy who is spending his 5th Christmas with us. Tommy is not a mischievous elf but one who is there to look for all the kind, friendly things the children do. Whilst he hides every night, he also writes a letter every evening telling the children all the nice things he’s seen then doing during the day. Tommy genuinely brings so much warmth and joy to our house that he is one of my favourite family traditions.
Here is week 1 of Tommy’s adventures in 2017.
1. Tommy arrived with a little gift, it’s a Christmas mug in which the four of us feature as elves. I’ve always fancied long, blonde hair but having seen myself as an elf with this look, I’ve concluded it’s not for me.
2. Today was our first festive event so Tommy brought new Christmas jumpers for us all to wear, he was hiding in the ironing basket with the new clothes.
3. Time to put up the tree today!
4. With a few lights still to put up, Tommy found himself a little tangled up.
5. Tommy was discovered reading Little Man’s reading book.
6. We have a festive mantle piece with the letters of Noel displayed. Tommy was found crawling through the o.
7. This is my favourite pose of the week, an ‘elfie’ The hat came from an Innocent bottle as part of their charity drive.
8. As one of our window displays has some winter clothing bunting, this was perfect for Tommy to hide on the clothes line.
I love this time of the year, its a period of preparation, anticipation and excitement and I have all the festive feels. As we are breaking up early (really who thought Dec 15 to Jan 2nd for the school Christmas holidays was a good idea!!) lots of things are a little earlier this year to fit in with the school term. Its been a busy Christmas week, Friday saw the school’s Christmas fair, Saturday, a visit to Santa’s grotto, on Sunday, we put up our tree, Monday saw parents invited to share a mince pie and have a festive singalong with the Brownies and Thursday was the fantastic Christmas tree festival. With trying to balance a job and just everyday life I am incredibly organised at this time of year, it is my way of keeping sane.
Even whilst things are busy I’m still trying to keep a few minutes each day to relax. The easiest way to relax is to enjoy a book and I am loving The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan, it is beautifully written and a pleasure to read each night.
Sneaky shot so I can get my favourite Christmas cushion in the photo too!
This week we have been very busy practising our songs for our Christmas concert at work. Its not just singing as signing is very important to us too and all staff are expected to be fluent in the Makaton signs for the concert. I have been watching Singing Hands’ A Christmas Cracker DVD a lot this week and I love these women for what they do, their songs are signed making them a fantastic resource to teach from and they are just so cheerful and fun too. I really enjoy signing, its a big part of my job and a very useful skill. However singing and signing takes some practice, especially on the faster songs.
I also got to watch the reaction of my children to the 40+ stunning Christmas trees at the town’s Christmas tree festival. I love this idea, businesses sponsor a tree and local schools and groups decorate the trees. I was so proud of my school’s tree this year, we had worked hard on our decorations and it looked amazing. The local secondary school did a superb job on theirs with an under the sea theme, whilst the badminton club who are always creative, transformed a shuttlecock, always featured on their trees, in to a robin. Visiting the tree festival is one of my favourite festive activities with the children, especially to watch their faces as they enter the room and see the lights and trees it really is magical.
Other things I’ve enjoyed watching this week are the A word, seriously that soundtrack is amazing and I have been dipping in and out of I’m a Celeb.
Not many makes this week, soppy as it is but at this time of year I’m making happy memories. On Saturday when the children visited Santa and his elf workshop, they got to make decorations, reindeer food, ice a biscuit and a write letter to Santa. I have no photos to publish in this post as they all have the children in them but it was a lovely little visit and as my two are 8 and 9 now, possibly the last year I can convince them of Santa’s magic, there are already questions being asked….
I’ve been wearing Christmas jumpers quite a lot this week, I like to look festive for the special events. I have two I’m alternating, the robin is from Primark and its gorgeous, I’m really pleased with it. The reindeer was from Tescos last year and is warm and cosy.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed the Brownies sign a long on Monday. It was one of those evenings which was so simple, but everyone was just in such good humour that the evening flowed with a warmth and Christmas glow. The girls’ singing was beautiful and it was a pleasure to listen to them.
On Monday night I was in the kitchen wrapping a pile of books for the PTA (is it just me or do working mums try too hard to pretend we can do it all?) and listening to Jo Whiley on the radio on which Tom Chaplin was doing a Christmas session. I’ve downloaded his album, 12 Tales of Christmas as a result of the session. Its an album of new and covers of Christmas songs, it is really chilled and relaxing for when you want something a little Christmassy without the jingle bells et al.
So we’ve made it to the final week of term and probably my craziest week of the year. I am working full time (ish) next week as its just easier to be in school than not. So far on our family calendar we have the Christmas market , 2 carols by candlelight services, one for school, one for beavers, same children, different uniforms, different nights!, Christmas dinner, parties and two nights out for me with friends. Fortunately the week before Christmas is much quieter so we can all chill out and relax.
I’m looking forward to reading about everyone’s festive #littleloves and thanks to Morgana for our inspiring linkie.
I am a huge Strictly Come Dancing fan, its what autumn evenings were made for. It gives autumn evenings a little sparkle with the dances, costumes, make up and hair, music, staging etc.. It is a show which genuinely makes me happy and relaxed, whether it be the big shows at the weekend or Zoe during the week, my family know to let me have a little time to watch Strictly.
I genuinely like all the contestants, there’s no one I’m ‘agin.’ (see @mariankeyes, SCD super fan) However this year there has been one contestant who has shone out and for whom I may have developed a bit of a girl crush, the magical Susan Calman. Her joy and enthusiasm for Strictly was unrivalled and here was a contestant I could relate to, similar age, non dancer, not very girlie but whom adored Strictly and wanted to learn to dance. Her choreography and music choices were brilliant, Kevin Clifton is so talented because he understands who is partner is and how to portray that in the dance. Susan’s costumes and make up embraced all the glitz of Strictly and she looked stunning. I liked how natural it felt to see Susan’s wife in the audience and how supportive she was, alongside Susan’s gang of friends the ‘Geek squad.’ Here were professors, lawyers, writers cheering on their friend in matching t-shirts at Blackpool and loving every minute, its the sort of thing I could see me and my friends doing. Susan brought so much to Strictly and this evening, I thought the episode lacked a little something and I’ve come to realise that it was missing the infectious joy and passion of Susan and Kevin.
On Monday I led an assembly at the special needs school where I work on our theme of the week, learning something new. I started with Susan’s pinned tweet when she was announced as a contestant to some of her quotes and interviews as she progressed and finished with her dance to Morecambe and Wise. During the dance, my students started standing up and came to the front to dance, it was a totally spontaneous moment and it was a moment of pure joy and delight, Susan’s enthusiasm and love for dancing has made life a little more sparkling and joyful for so many. Thank you Susan and please keep dancing.
I don’t know if its because the children and I are breaking up early for Christmas this year ( December 15th) and the schools and clubs are doing special events earlier because of this but the I’ve been feeling unusually Christmassy this week when we’re still in November. Its been hard keeping to my December 1st date to start my Christmas season but I did and I am now very ready and enthusiastic for Christmas.
I have started December with a lovely festive day today, if not a bit busy! I went to big town for a Christmas shopping trip and as its an hour’s drive each way, I got to listen and sing along to all my favourite Christmas music on the journey. The town looked so pretty with all its decorations, lights and alpine market huts, the shops were full of festive delights and I ticked off plenty on my lists too, so a very successful trip. In addition to my Christmas shopping trip, I’ve also had the children’s school fair this evening and as I was helping on the tombola, I felt inspired to wear a Christmas jumper.
This was the stunning view on my journey this morning, as I waited for my ferry. Yes its not just a drive, I have to cross the water too.
After reading a couple of inspiring autobiographies recently I wanted to read some fiction this week that I could just dip in and out of. I saw that the follow up to Paper Aeroplanes by Dawn O’Porter was on offer on Kindle, so I downloaded Goose, which is aimed at the Young Adult market. Its exactly what I needed and I’m enjoying the continuing tale of the two teenage girls.
Last Saturday we went to our county town to watch Paddington 2. We all loved it and the film had all the feels, I may even have cried a little at the end. I think its my favourite film of the year (with Breathe.) Hugh Grant as the villain steals every scene but the themes of the film make you leave the cinema a little more inspired to be kind, polite and to always think of others. Paddington is definitely my favourite little bear.
This has been taken from a screen shot, the quality is much better.
This year I decided to try something different with our Christmas cards and went online to design a card on OptimalPrint (not an ad) I’m not a fan of having a picture of our little family on the cards (although for those closest to us, we add the new school photo in the card) so I created a list of things that we like to do at Christmastime. I hope the cards will be appreciated in the spirit they were designed.
Its not a wear from me this week, although today’s Christmas jumper might count, but from Little Miss. As Paddington is set in London, Little Miss wore my favourite Boden print pinafore to the cinema, yes I really coordinated her outfit with a film! I love this print and it will be an outfit I will keep for the happy memories.
Today it was all about the Christmas songs, I love them and have so many memories from all different songs, Jim Reeves Silver Bells reminds me of my Dad and putting the Christmas tree up as a child, Band Aid was the first single I ever bought, Mariah Carey is Christmas eves in nightclubs. Christmas songs are simply magical.
We had a lovely surprise at the Christmas fair tonight when in the raffle, we won the VIP pass to visit Santa and work in his elf workshop, we are going to be doing this tomorrow and are all very excited. We’re also going to be putting up our tree this weekend, this is a little contentious in our house, I would prefer to wait at least another weekend but I am outnumbered. Putting up the tree will always be one of my favourite parts of Christmas.
Thanks to Morgana and all her contributors, I’m loving the festive feel to all the posts at present.
I’m sure I’m not the only one this week who has sat down to read the Radio Times with a highlighter to mark my programmes for this fortnight. I think the programmes I’m most looking forward to are Call the Midwife and the new tv adaptation of Little Women.
I’m also continuing reading The Christmasaurus with the children which is such a delightful book. Its not only at bedtimes this week either as we worked out that if we want to finish it by Christmas we need to sit down and read a few chapters during the day too. There are far worse ways to spend your time.
Okay be warned there are some tenuous links in this section this week.
I also made a purchase. I was given a gift voucher at work but decided to use it against some household purchases so I could swap it for cash. At the Bristol Christmas markets (which were gorgeous) I found this clay decoration on a stall called the Nutcracker. Not only does it light up when you put in a lit tea light, but if you put water and some essential oils in the chimney it emits smoke and a little festive fragrance. I love my new decoration and it fits in beautifully with what I like to describe as my Hansel and Gretel display.
Seaside Sparkles 