Christmas

How to Create a Stop Animation Film for Christmas

Don’t you love a good Christmas advert? As much as The Snowman, and Elf, waiting to watch the newest Christmas adverts has become a marker of Christmas – the start to the festive season, and our kids want them played again and again throughout December. But this week has been even more exciting, as they’ve had the chance to make their own, courtesy of a fab stop animation kit from Sainsbury’s. Sponsored post with Sainsbury’s. Inspired by the stop animation film of their own Christmas advert, and its message around spending more time with family and friends over the holiday, …

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8 ways to Style a Christmas Jumper

I am loving my Christmas jumper this year! It's going everywhere on me. Hopefully today it will distract the opposition football team and the boys will get a win!

People come in two types. Those who wait for the weekend before Christmas to start celebrating. And those who don’t. Guess which one I am? This weekend I could resist it no longer: my Christmas jumper went on, and Spotify switched to the Christmas playlist. I know, I will be bored of Mary’s Boy Child by the big day, but who wants to eat leftover mince pies in January? I say bring it on right now! How to Rock your Christmas Jumper Advertorial post with Matalan – gifted products.  This year, we got our Christmas Jumpers from Matalan. They have a huge …

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Food, Beers, Beds, and Shopping: The Old Stocks Inn – review

It's never too early for cocktails at the Old Stocks Inn (review)

The first thing we noticed at the Old Stocks Inn, in Stow-on-the-Wold (after the lovely warm welcome) was the bar. Quick, let’s go and explore, so we can get back here and have a drink! we decided, and we did. We visited the Cotswolds on a typical British winter weekend, and the dark afternoon made our frosty breath and the twinkly Christmas lights feel festive and exciting. All we needed was a cosy bar and a pint to top it off perfectly. As we wandered around the market square, popping in and out of charming little shops, marvelling at interesting gifts and old-fashioned …

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Merry Christmas! Pines and Needles Christmas Tree Delivery Review

Oh yes I did. I did just wish you a merry Christmas. And I appreciate that with many of you just about to head off on your summer holidays, Christmas may not be top of your agenda right now. But it should be. Because I have an offer for you that you really don’t want to miss. Christmas Tree Decoration image from Shutterstock Christmas Tree stress You know the romantic image you have of heading out a week before Christmas Eve together to choose your tree? That one special tree that is destined to be yours, that then won’t fit …

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What Santa said to the Tooth Fairy

What Santa said to the Tooth Fairy

I know we’re well into January now, and by rights I should be posting recipies involving brown rice, or decluttering tips. Heck, it’s even too late for New Year resolutions now! Which it just as well, because I didn’t make any… I’m terrifically tardy, but I’m going to bend your ear about Christmas, because really, this is one conversation I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share. What Santa said to the Tooth Fairy Prologue A week before Christmas, the wobbly tooth began to feature. Apples and carrots were requested, not to store up for the reindeer, but to force …

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Do you believe in Santa?

Do you believe in Santa? I remember peering down at the bottom of my bed through the dark, at the bulky, mis-shapen pillowcase I’d laid out the night before. I have no idea what the time was, but it was cold, so it was too early for the heating to have switched itself on. There was no going back to sleep though. Nothing could stop me from crawling down to the end of my bed and retrieving that sack full of magic. I don’t remember anything after that. The presents, the unwrapping, the consuming of goodies and playing with toys …

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Getting a head start on Christmas!

Christmas has started!  I know I’m totally going to polarise opinion here, but ever since I had children, I’m firmly in the camp of kicking off Christmas as soon as possible. There is just so much fabulous stuff to fit in, and I don’t want to be a chaotic heap of stress the week before the big day, only to wonder what hit me once the wrapping is off and we’re all stuffed full of Christmas pudding. So yesterday our Christmas tree went up. Often I get carried away with the romance of schlepping to the garden centre and choosing …

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How I finished my Christmas shopping in one morning.

I have just had the most brilliant morning. Yes, I should have been working, and yes, I do now have a little deadline pressure to catch up on. But it’s totally worth it for what I have just achieved. You see, my Christmas shopping is all done. And I only started today! Christmas shopping with Paypal saves time! This Christmas PayPal are asking you to share your Magical Christmas Moments with them, for a chance to win some fabulous prizes every week. Plus, if you use PayPal to do your Christmas shopping, you’ll have the chance to win back up …

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Our letters to Santa

Well it’s Christmas Eve. Don’t tell anyone, but I’ve taken a sneak peek at GG and the Bug’s letters to Santa. I know I shouldn’t – I know I should wait until tomorrow to see what the big man brings for my occasionally cheeky, but mostly gorgeously good children. But I couldn’t resist. Here’s what they asked for: Ok, so it could have been worse. Bit worried about the gun though… Let’s have a look at The Bug’s greatest desires (he was stropping about his writing ability so his sister stepped up and wrote for him: Uh-oh more guns. But …

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Instagram fridge magnets: genius idea for Christmas Stocking Fillers

I have been 9 for all of 3 days. It was great, but it’s finished now, so I’m looking forward to Christmas 😉 I used to think that the best part of Christmas was unwrapping presents, but now I’m ancient, I actually love the shopping even more. And with only £2 pocket money a week (I know!!!) I can only afford the stocking fillers. So I was thrilled to discover Stickygram. Something about Instagram appeals to the narcissist in me – I have been known to take ‘selfies’ behind Mummy’s back on numerous occasions: With Stickygram, you can create Instagram …

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Center Parcs and Tots100 perfect Christmas elf!

Some of you may know that we are Center Parcs bloggers next year. Whilst we are very excited about the prospect of visiting and reviewing Elveden Forest, we are also looking forward to some creative challenges. As it’s Christmas, they have set us the challenge of writing a poem about the Christmas Elf. I like to get handy with a pen so here is my take on the elf: Colouring in was done by The Bug, who wasn’t thrilled to be asked – ahem… There are still some coveted Center Parcs blogger places up for grabs! If you think you could …

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How to get your Mum to do Christmas craft: Wot So Funee?

“Bleurumph!” I stated, quite categorically, as Daddy blundered into my room and banged on the lights yesterday morning. Normally I would have been up at least 40 minutes earlier, pretending not to read the book I had surreptitiously stashed under my feet the night before. Without going into distasteful detail, let’s say I was off school with a tummy bug. I languished in bed listening to 1D whilst the Bug reluctantly donned his uniform and attempted to resist the inevitable school-run. I was still drowsing and disgruntled in my bed, so I received a Powerade and a cuddle, and was …

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Wot so Funee? Top Christmas present for big kids (and Dads)

STOP!! If your name is Actually Daddy, stop reading this post right now. I said stop………… Do not. Scroll down. Any further. Unless you want to ruin your Christmas surprise. It is lovely. It’s a lovely selection of pants, to be honest, and the Christmas jumper is to die for, but really, you wouldn’t want to spoil the paper-ripping  effect, now would you? Has he gone…? Right, let’s get on with this. Because I have a cracking Christmas present for Daddy this year. He is going to love it. Is it just my Dad, or is it Dads everywhere that …

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I am available for movie offers…

So I got my first film part recently; I auditioned, said my lines, got the call-back, and rehearsed with my props prior to filming. I spent time in make-up, and got into costume. I did a “hero shot” with full-on wind machine, I kept my cool when the animals didn’t do as they were told, and handled the fluff-up with aplomb. I even improvised. Hey, it’s a start… * Disclosure: this is not a sponsored post. I was invited to review the Barbie Puppy Playpark and I gracefully accepted – one can always manage to accomodate an extra Barbie gadget …

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All I want for Christmas…

Dear Santa, I’m told there is no way I’m going to get what I want for Christmas this year. I’ve been reassured by Mummy that there is absolutely no way I am getting one of the things I covet most in the world. I’ve asked Daddy if he could get me one – it can’t be that difficult, they’re everwhere! Everywhere I go there are at least half a dozen, and they’re just so cute, loveable and squishy, that I can’t resist. But Daddy says no… 🙁 The Bug has made his list, and M&D aren’t arguing about it, so …

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What I absolutely neeeeeeeeed for Christmas!

All the above items will be available in the Autumn/Winter collection at John Lewis. Let’s just say, I think I have found my party dress! Yes, I know! It is way too early to be thinking about what I need for Christmas 2012, and yet…. I just cannot help myself! I go all pink, just thinking about the lush things I’ve seen, and I’ve already submitted my birthday requirements to Mummy so the Christmas list it is! I mean, who doesn’t get a sparkly tingle at the site of a twinkly light reflected in a shiny bauble? No? Just me …

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Yummy Dough

Father Christmas never fails to bring something to displease Mummy. Last year it was Whoopee Cushions and Noisy Putty. This year, with the aid of Tired Mummy of Two‘s Christmas list, he brought Yummy Dough. Mummy muttered a square-word and hid it behind the craft (read Yellow Moon) box. Requests to use it were countered with the observation that we still had lots of Christmas chocolate to get through before baking activity could resume. We finally wore her down this week, and the innocuous-looking powder was duly mixed with water to create biscuit dough of such primary colours that just …

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Funny things kids do at Christmas

Ever wondered what we kids think about Christmas? Of course we want Santa to come, but maybe we want family, lovely food, songs about the baby Jesus? Nope, as far as kids are concerned, this is what Christmas is all about: And I mean ‘everything’ important. There is nothing else. Shallow, aren’t we? Although, before I knew too much about presents, I did learn the Christmas story, all about the baby Jesus, the shepherds, and the kings. I proudly told Mummy and Daddy the facts, and answered their questions. Mummy asked what gifts the kings brought and I firmly announced: …

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Dear So and So… Letters to Santa

Dear Santa, I will be a little late submitting my letter to you this year. You see, Mummy won’t let me on the computer. She says she is too busy using it to blog, and that my spending 4 hours browsing the Toys R Us website is not a priority.  Which is unfortunate, because I don’t really know what I want. I’m sure once I have had access to the computer I will have a list of tat as long as my arm that I really need, so please rest assured that my letter will be available to view  just …

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