I'm one of those people who does most of their shopping in December. Each year I say that next year I will be more organised and start Christmas shopping earlier, ("I'll just get bits and bobs all year round when I see them") but somehow I never seem to manage it!
I think the problem is that I am not wealthy enough to do this - my budget is dictated by necessity week in, week out, so it's hard to justify splashing out on Christmas presents in July when need other things more, like umbrellas!
Plus, you need a spare room or large cupboard to store/hide all these purchases until Christmas arrives!
Maybe I'll try and start my Christmas shopping early this year, I'm sure I would have a less stressful December if I could do that!
Monday, 30 May 2011
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Track Santa Claus on Christmas Eve
One modern take on Christmas that is fast becoming a tradition in our house, is tracking Santa on NORAD.
On Christmas Eve, you can log on to the NORAD website and watch Santa's progess as he makes his way across the world, delivering Christmas Gifts to all the good boys and girls as they sleep!
For most of the year, there is not much to see on the website, as Santa and his little helpers are resting before their busy season begins! Check back in December for an update!
http://www.noradsanta.org/
On Christmas Eve, you can log on to the NORAD website and watch Santa's progess as he makes his way across the world, delivering Christmas Gifts to all the good boys and girls as they sleep!
For most of the year, there is not much to see on the website, as Santa and his little helpers are resting before their busy season begins! Check back in December for an update!
http://www.noradsanta.org/
Only 214 Days Until Christmas
Woo hoo! - only 214 days left until Christmas 2011!Is anyone else counting the days?
- Christmas Day 2011 falls on a Sunday!
Monday, 23 May 2011
Christmas Decorations - Traditional Or Modern
Christmas Decorations - what's your style?
Do you prefer traditional or modern Christmas decorations?
I used to favour traditional Christmas trimmings, using themes of red, gold and green, with bows, swags and hand-me-down baubles. Nowadays I have changed my viewpoint and prefer a modern Christmas look for my home, and I've relegated all my old decorations to the attic (well you never know, I might change my mind again and decide I want red and gold and ribbons!)
Traditional Christmas Decorations.
For me, traditional Christmas decorations are a safe option - guaranteed to make your home feel comfortable, festive and welcoming. Real Christmas trees draped with fairy lights, gold tinsel and rich red ribbons tied in bows. Glass baubles in red, gold and green, and hand-me-down tree ornaments passed down through the generations.The benefit of using a traditional Christmas decor scheme is that it's easy to mix and match, and easy to update the look with just a couple of new items each year. You might choose to rotate some items, keeping some aside for next year, choosing different combinations of tinsel and baubles each time. Home made and antique decorations and ornaments blend seamlessly with a traditional Christmas decoration scheme. To compliment the tree, drape swags and wreaths around shelves, mantles and door frames to co-ordinate the traditional look.
Modern Christmas Decorations.
If your home is decorated in a modern style, or perhaps you're just bored of red and gold, there's a whole world of modern Christmas trimmings out there. Every colour you can imagine - black Christmas trees are a popular choice these days. Christmas lights are far more exotic and spectacular than a few years ago - chasing lights, fibre-optic lights and even solar Christmas lights can be found on the high street. Plus, all kinds of beautiful modern tree ornaments and baubles, wall hangings, window decorations and free standing Christmas trimmings.
Why not try black, silver and purple? Or blue and white shimmering baubles for a frosty look? Whatever colours you love, you can find Christmas trees and baubles to match.
Don't get stuck in a rut this year - try something new with your Christmas decorations!
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Great British Christmas Traditions
Christmas Traditions
These days, many argue that Christmas has lost it's original meaning and has become too commercialised and focused on gifts, money and partying. Yet there are some long-standing Christmas traditions that remain strong, even in these days of online shopping and last minute spending.
In the UK, Christmas shopping begins early - the shops often start stocking Christmas items early in Autumn, and, once halloween and Guy Fawkes are out of the way, all the shops and supermarkets really ramp up their efforts and Christmas shopping mania really begins! (Of course when it comes to shopping for Christmas gifts, there's no reason why you can't shop for Christmas all year round - just keep an eye out for suitable gifts throughout the year and have a special cupboard, box, or space in the attic to store everything ready for Christmas!)
Christmas shopping aside, Brits get busy preparing Christmas puddings and cakes many weeks before Christmas, as well as ordering the turkey!
Preparations for school nativity plays and Christmas fayres and fetes begins in the autumn term and often the main event is played out in late November or early December.
November is also a good time to start thinking about Christmas cards - particularly if you have relatives or friends overseas. It'also a good time for children to consider writing a letter to Santa Claus - here the child can say which presents they would really like for Christmas this year and declare that they have been a good boy or girl!
Decorating the home with festive trimmings usually comes later - mid-December seems to be the most popular time, although there are always some people who like to get their Christmas decorations sorted by the start of December - including tonnes of outdoor lights and novelties!
Closer to Christmas itself, on Christmas Eve it is traditional in the Uk for children to hang up their stockings - so that Father Christmas can leave them a little something. Often, a mince pie and drink are left for Santa too - and even a carrot for Rudulf and his colleagues! Meanwhile, preparations for Christmas lunch begin - vegetables peeled and prepared, turkey prepared for a long slow roast in the oven ahead of the big meal on Christmas day.
On Christmas morning, the celebrations normally begin with the family opening gifts and sharing Christmas greetings.
Christmas lunch is usually served at lunchtime and is a chance to show off all the family's best crockery, glasses and tableware. Often the dinner table features festive decorations or centrepieces with candles. Each Christmas lunch guest usually receives a Christmas cracker which can be pulled with fellow guests. Christmas crackers normally contain a small gift, a party hat and a bad joke!
Another Great British Christmas tradition occurs mid-afternoon when families sit down to watch The Queen's Speech - a long standing tradition where the British Monarch addresses the nation.
Other Christmas traditions popular in the UK, old and new include the hanging of mistletoe for romantic Christmas kisses, watching classic film 'The Great Escape' on TV, secret santa gift schemes, office parties, and, for the very lucky, perhaps even a holiday in the sun to see in the new year!
These days, many argue that Christmas has lost it's original meaning and has become too commercialised and focused on gifts, money and partying. Yet there are some long-standing Christmas traditions that remain strong, even in these days of online shopping and last minute spending.
In the UK, Christmas shopping begins early - the shops often start stocking Christmas items early in Autumn, and, once halloween and Guy Fawkes are out of the way, all the shops and supermarkets really ramp up their efforts and Christmas shopping mania really begins! (Of course when it comes to shopping for Christmas gifts, there's no reason why you can't shop for Christmas all year round - just keep an eye out for suitable gifts throughout the year and have a special cupboard, box, or space in the attic to store everything ready for Christmas!)
Christmas shopping aside, Brits get busy preparing Christmas puddings and cakes many weeks before Christmas, as well as ordering the turkey!
Preparations for school nativity plays and Christmas fayres and fetes begins in the autumn term and often the main event is played out in late November or early December.
November is also a good time to start thinking about Christmas cards - particularly if you have relatives or friends overseas. It'also a good time for children to consider writing a letter to Santa Claus - here the child can say which presents they would really like for Christmas this year and declare that they have been a good boy or girl!
Decorating the home with festive trimmings usually comes later - mid-December seems to be the most popular time, although there are always some people who like to get their Christmas decorations sorted by the start of December - including tonnes of outdoor lights and novelties!
Closer to Christmas itself, on Christmas Eve it is traditional in the Uk for children to hang up their stockings - so that Father Christmas can leave them a little something. Often, a mince pie and drink are left for Santa too - and even a carrot for Rudulf and his colleagues! Meanwhile, preparations for Christmas lunch begin - vegetables peeled and prepared, turkey prepared for a long slow roast in the oven ahead of the big meal on Christmas day.
On Christmas morning, the celebrations normally begin with the family opening gifts and sharing Christmas greetings.
Christmas lunch is usually served at lunchtime and is a chance to show off all the family's best crockery, glasses and tableware. Often the dinner table features festive decorations or centrepieces with candles. Each Christmas lunch guest usually receives a Christmas cracker which can be pulled with fellow guests. Christmas crackers normally contain a small gift, a party hat and a bad joke!
Another Great British Christmas tradition occurs mid-afternoon when families sit down to watch The Queen's Speech - a long standing tradition where the British Monarch addresses the nation.
Other Christmas traditions popular in the UK, old and new include the hanging of mistletoe for romantic Christmas kisses, watching classic film 'The Great Escape' on TV, secret santa gift schemes, office parties, and, for the very lucky, perhaps even a holiday in the sun to see in the new year!
Friday, 6 May 2011
Christmas Shopping - Start early for the best bargains!
Whether you love or hate Christmas shopping, chances are you have to take on this job at some point.
Some people like to get started on their Christmas shopping nice and early, while others prefer to leave it all to the last minute then have a frantic last-minute shop!
If you're a fan of starting your Christmas shopping early in the year, you can start at Studio, who start selling Christmas stuff in the summer time! They have all kinds of Christmas decorations, trees and gifts and you can even spread the cost.
Some people like to get started on their Christmas shopping nice and early, while others prefer to leave it all to the last minute then have a frantic last-minute shop!
If you're a fan of starting your Christmas shopping early in the year, you can start at Studio, who start selling Christmas stuff in the summer time! They have all kinds of Christmas decorations, trees and gifts and you can even spread the cost.
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Christmas Pudding Recipe
Christmas Pudding
Here's a recipe for Christmas pudding. Ideally you want to make the pudding in October and add alcohol at regular intervals in the weeks running up to Christmas for added flavour. Enough for 2 average sized puddings.
Ingredients
- 225g / 8oz caster sugar
- 110g / 4oz plain flour
- 225g / 8oz suet (can be vegetarian or traditional suet)
- 340g / 12oz sultanas
- 340g / 12oz raisins
- 225g / 8oz currants
- 110g / 4oz chopped candied peel
- 110g / 4oz breadcrumbs
- 55g / 2oz flaked almonds
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 5 beaten eggs
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- pinch of salt
- 150ml / 5fl oz brandy (or rum)
Method
- Lightly grease two 1.2 litre (2 pint) pudding basins with butter.
- Mix together all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Stir in the beaten eggs and brandy/rum, then mix well.
- Spoon the mix into the two basins. Cover with baking parchment and foil, then tie securely with string.
- Place your two pudding basins in a large steamer of boiling water, or large pan with inverted saucers at the bottom, and cover with a lid. Water leve should be around one third the height of the pudding basins.Boil for 5-6 hours, topping the boiling water up from time to time, if necessary.
- Remove from heat and cool. Check the puddings are cooked and then refresh the baking parchment and foil covers with fresh ones and secure with string.
- Store in a cool cupboard until Christmas, periodically unwrapping to create skewer holes and spoon in some extra booze.
- On Christmas Day, to serve your Christmas puddings, steam for 2 hours and serve with brandy butter, rum sauce or cream.
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