A Garden Centre Christmas

So we're nearly halfway through the month, the New Year is looming and I'm struggling to keep up with myself. So it makes perfect sense to do a series of posts about my favourite things at Christmas on my blog - right?

Now, over the last 5 years of my blog, I've done various posts like this before. But not recently so I thought it would be fun to re-visit a few themes. First up - garden centres.

I'm sure this is a relatively recent thing. I certainly don't remember garden centres being such a must do highlight of the season when I was younger. But with better transport options and the rise of social media - a visit to your local garden centre is now very much a part of Christmas.

At the time of writing - I've visited two that are local to me. Haskins and Garsons. Both have really evolved into go-to destinations that you can also buy some bits for the garden in as well!

I think, between the two, Garson's has the slight edge for me. Every year they have reindeer - and who doesn't love a reindeer?

And of course, there's always that one person who doesn't quite get into the Christmas spirit...

Thanks for reading the first of my twelve days of Christmas!

Cathy
xx

Christmas traditions - new v old

Hello there,

One thing I really enjoy this time of year is seeing photos of other peoples trees and how they decorate their homes and prepare for Christmas. But it started me thinking, how many of you use the same decorations year after year?

As much as I'd love a rose gold themed tree with beautiful white twinkling lights, our tree in reality is a right old hotchpotch of decs from childhood, first homes and holidays.

These have to be the oldest decs on our tree. The Angel is 29 years old (from Woolworths of course!) and the boot was from the other half's childhood, so that's a good 50+ years old.

There's also a selection from holidays and special places. Every year it's become a tradition to buy a new decoration from places we've visited. Previous years it's been America, Bath and this year was a traditional tartan bauble from York.

So although our tree won't win any prizes for coordination or themes, it's full of memories and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks for reading and Happy Christmas!

Cathy
xx

Blogmas 18-20 - Christmas jumper day, a Triangle Christmas and mince pies

Hello there,

It's been a bit of an odd Friday and weekend. One of those weekends where you run around like a headless chicken and then end up wondering what you actually did - you know the ones I mean? So I've decided to round it all up into one Blogmas post.

Friday 18th was apparently Christmas Jumper Day. As I've been wearing them since the beginning of the month (maybe November too - shush!) it wasn't a hard task.

I bought this top from Next (size 22). Foxes seem to be everywhere at the moment and with the red sequin bow and beautiful bottle green colour, I was sold. It's still available on the Next website for £16 but I reckon it will be in the sale soon if any are left.

With so many stores starting their sales early, I found a few more tree decorations to go on the (already overloaded) tree.

Cute Santa's key from Asda

Garden gnomes from Sainsburys (yes - I also have a frog ornament too)

These were all half price and less. It really does pay to hang on until the last possible moment if you need any new decorations.

Saturday - the plan to was go to the local Christmas Fair near to where I live. It's an intersection of three roads and is known locally as the Triangle. I say plan, I did go, but failed spectacularly in taking any photos. There were carol singers, farm animals, snow machines and even Father Christmas himself made an appearance in the grotto. So as I didn't take any pictures, here's a great link to a short video of the day from the local community news site for Bitterne Park 

The rest of the weekend was pretty chilled - the first mice pies of the season were made,

Bit wobbly, but very yummy.

The Sephora Advent calendar kept up its tradition of good surprises and a few oddities. The treats this weekend were an eyeliner (yay), travel eye makeup remover wipes (yay) and another patterned tape.

And to round off the weekend - this happened!

Photos will follow in the next day or so once I find some good light - but verdict so far? Very pleased.

Thanks for reading my Blogmas posts. I can't believe we're now coming into Christmas week itself. This month has just flown by!

Cathy

xx

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Blogmas 12 & 13 - Christmas decorations, nostalgia and Plus 40 Fabulous

Hello there,

I fully intended this year to have the whole house decorated out by the first weekend of December. Well, I didn't quite manage that, but this weekend we finally scrambled  into the loft and dug out the decs (I use the word 'we' - I stood with a torch and offered encouraging words!).

The centrepiece of any Christmas is the tree. We have an artificial tree, which I know for some is just not Christmas - but a necessity when you have someone in the house with an allergy to pine needles and cats that like to climb, bit and chew. Although saying that, this is the first time in years we have no four legged friends to share it with :-(

I don't have themes or colour schemes for the tree. The only pattern I follow is to have decorations that bring back memories, such as ones that are bought when on holiday or ones that are gifts.

I seem to have a bit of a Snoopy theme here...

...and a duck one too

I gave this little chap a new home this year - he seems quite happy at the bottom of the tree here.

And finally - an update on the Sephora Advent Calendar. The last few days have seen a travel bottle, a ribbon and some travel nail varnish wipes. For someone who likes travel samples, I'm happy.

Hope you enjoyed this peek at my Christmas tree. I've linked this post into the Plus 40 Fabulous campaign that Leah from Just me, Leah and Mookie from Mookie's Life are running.

Thanks for reading and please check out the blogs of the other Plus 40 Fabulous bunch

Mookie: http://www.mookieslife.com/
Leah: http://www.justmeleah.co.uk
Lee: http://www.pinkybellesshed.co.uk/

Vicky: http://www.therandomnessoftwee.blogspot.co.uk

Sarah: http://www.plussizeproud.co.uk

Lisa: http://www.kitandkoboodle75.blogspot.co.uk/

Daisy: http://daisysays.co.uk/

Nikki :http://www.nattynikki.com/

Betty Pamper: http://www.pamperandcurves.com/

Kaye: http://www.polishedcurves.com/

Kellie: http://www.bigfashionista.co.uk/

Christy: http://www.sprintingwithscissors.blogspot.co.uk/

Cathy
xx

Blogmas day 5 - Mottisfont Abbey

Day 5 of Blogmas and I decided to get out and about. The plan was just to tackle the local supermarket (on a Saturday before Christmas? Madness). But eventually decided to go via Mottisfont Abbey and have a little walk around the grounds.

Mottisfont is only about 30-40 mins away and situated in a beautiful part of Hampshire right next to the River Test. With some of the weather we've had lately, the river was looking pretty high but nothing was flooded (yet) so it was an uneventful trip there.

It's that time of year where the Santa hat and gloves come out.

A horse made of chicken wire - so lifelike I had to look twice

The obligatory silly pose...

Mottisfont is a beautiful place to spend a winter or summer day. It's owned by the National Trust so unfortunately isn't the cheapest place to visit. But if you can, there's plenty to look at and see. They're doing a lot of work over winter building a new restaurant so we may do a repeat visit in the summer.

As for the Sephora Advent Calendar for day 5 - this was a little booklet on how to do your make-up. Not that impressed tbh. Especially as it was so small I needed my glasses to read it! Hopefully the following days will be better. But I guess that's the risks you take with a calendar like this.

Thanks for reading

Cathy

xx

Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree...and a little bit of make-up too!

Hi everyone,

One of my favourite things this time of year is the Christmas tree. During the year I like to buy at least one new decoration and if I can get some while on holiday, even better. That way, I have a tree full of memories every Christmas.

I don't tend to go for themes or colour schemes, it's all and everything as far as I'm concerned. The only no-no is tinsel. I love the stuff - but never on a tree. I normally end up wearing it instead!

So..with my tree all decorated, it seemed the perfect backdrop for an eyeshadow palette I recently bought from Marks and Spencer.



Now, I must admit, M&S weren't my first thought when looking for make-up, but I'd been looking for a small travel sized palette for a forth-coming trip to Scotland and when I saw these with 50% off - I was sold!

The only downside is that it doesn't come with a mirror, but the colours are beautiful and subtle enough for daytime wear.

My little tree xx

Thanks for reading

Cathy

xx