I have insomnia. Again. Currently thinking about:
1) My "Christmas Present Ideas" list which then migrates into:
2) "Christmas Presents - DONE" list (yes, it exists - get me!)
3) "Christmas Presents - TO BUY" list
4) "Christmas Card List" ... which is currently a blank page...
5) I hope to God that Marks & Spencer's online shopping service has improved since last year when half of the presents arrived after Christmas, despite me ordering in the first week of December. I was so disgusted that I swore that I'd never buy from them again. Clearly I never learn.
6) I must, must, MUST stop buying from the E.L.F website! I think I've spent around £40 this month :/ I feel so selfish treating myself at this time of year (see above)
7) I really want to eat the tin of Quality Street that I bought as a family present for my mum (family present - that also includes me haha!).
8) What are the people over the road DOING?? It's 1:00am and they keep slamming their wheely bin lid.
9) I think that I could actually abandon Facebook in favour of Twitter... the addiction is wearing off and I'm getting sick of my News Feed constantly being spammed with everyone's Mob Wars and Farmville achievements... (anyone else with me on this?)
10) I enjoyed "Twilight" (the book) but for some reason cannot get into "New Moon"...
11) ... which I started reading for two reasons. Firstly, because the movie came out, obv, and secondly because the Gordon Smith book I was reading scared me to death (I read to get to sleep)
12) I'm cold but refuse to switch the heating on outside of the timer programme. I have asked Santa for a pink Slanket :)
14) (no #13, I'm superstitious) I REALLY hope my cousin Michael gets his double lung transplant in 2010. Cystic Fibrosis is a cruel, cruel illness :( Mike's had a terrible year and I want him to be well again. He's GOT to get the transplant. I cannot bear to think of it not happening. I want him to be well.
15) Actually, all I want for all of my Christmasses is for Mike to get his transplant. I love him so much. He's always been incredibly brave and it breaks my heart because he's been feeling so ill.
Right, I'm off to make some Horlicks I think! Goodnight xx
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Monday, 23 November 2009
Hmmm, I seem to have fallen into a regular-ish pattern of Sunday night blogging, usually at a time when I should be thinking about getting ready to go to bed - yes I really do try to eke my weekends out!
I do love to catch up with blogs on a Sunday evening though, it's a perfect way to wind down and relax, and I kind of make it my "treat" to conquer the Sunday Night Blues (that sounds so sad haha!)
Lately...
I went to see 2012 at the cinema on Tuesday night. I've been really keen to see this after seeing a trailer months ago, I think the first time was when I saw Harry Potter HBP. I absolutely love "weather" related movies like Twister and The Day After Tomorrow and I had really, really high expectations for 2012, especially after it did so well on the opening weekend.
Then my friend Ben went to see it on Monday (he loves weather movies too :)) and didn't think it was all that. However, I went along with an open mind. To be honest I was expecting a thought provoking movie along the lines of The Day After Tomorrow, which if I remember rightly even made the news when it was first released, as it carried a very clear eco message that posed the question: could this possibly happen? Eeek.
I very quickly realised that 2012 was not going to be one of those kinds of movies. I was getting really, really annoyed at the beginning too because to be honest it was one big giant Sony advertisement (did anybody else notice this too?? You will when you next see it ;)). I know that Columbia Pictures - the studio behind 2012 - is an arm of Sony Entertainment, but honestly the product overload was ridiculous!!
But once the action starts and you start to take the movie for what it is, then you'll probably really enjoy it. If you're after an action packed, tense, end of the world movie that is completely silly but totally immersing, then 2012 is the baby to go and see... and it is definitely one of those movies to watch on the big screen as the SFX are amazing. Just leave your logical brain at the door ;)
Once I had realised that I had to suspend all belief (!!), I absolutely loved it, even the uber cheesy ending. Would I watch it again? Yes!
I started my Christmas shopping. I love, love, love everything about Christmas. I still have an advent calendar every year and am as excited as when I was little when the Christmas tree goes up... eeeeeeeeeeee I can't wait!!!!
Sadly, I'm one of those people who has ZERO initiative when it comes to buying quirky and interesting presents. If someone tells me that they would like this, this or this, I'll quite happily toddle off and buy it, feeling really happy because I know that the recipient will love their gift and it won't be eBayed on Boxing Day or car-booted come the spring!
27/11/09:**EDIT** This continued into a bit of a Bah Humbug moan about lack of Christmas inspiration etc, so I've deleted the offending paragraphs! Note to self: Do not blog whilst in the throes of PMT....
Finally, I have made a momentous decision... to ditch my blonde hair!!
I have been highlighting my hair since I was 18 but over the past year or so it's progressively been getting lighter and lighter and it's now almost white blonde. I don't mind that in the summer, but at this time of year I think it looks a bit silly.
My hair is naturally quite fair anyway, so I don't have a massive visible roots problem, but it gets to the stage where I can't escape the fact that it really does need a touch-up and salon prices do not come cheap.
I've been pondering over what to do with it and for a while I really wanted to go brunette as I love brown hair, but that's a no-no. My skin is so fair that if dark hair doesn't make me look completely washed out, then my light eyebrows and lashes will definitely make me look like an idiot!! Haha!
Sooo, I've decided that I'm going to go au natrel (gulp!). When I was little I was blonde, but after I had my first proper haircut it turned really, really red, and then went auburn when I was a teenager. With my roots now visible, the general consensus is that my hair is "strawberry blonde" with more blonde than red (maybe the years of blonde has bleached my hair follicles?!?!) I'm just hoping that it really is blonde and not grey :s It's all a bit daunting after being blonde for so long... and what excuse will I have for my "blonde moments"?! :)
How are you guys getting on with your Christmas preparations? It doesn't seem possible that it's just over a month away. Where HAS this year gone?!?!
xx
I do love to catch up with blogs on a Sunday evening though, it's a perfect way to wind down and relax, and I kind of make it my "treat" to conquer the Sunday Night Blues (that sounds so sad haha!)
Lately...
I went to see 2012 at the cinema on Tuesday night. I've been really keen to see this after seeing a trailer months ago, I think the first time was when I saw Harry Potter HBP. I absolutely love "weather" related movies like Twister and The Day After Tomorrow and I had really, really high expectations for 2012, especially after it did so well on the opening weekend.
Then my friend Ben went to see it on Monday (he loves weather movies too :)) and didn't think it was all that. However, I went along with an open mind. To be honest I was expecting a thought provoking movie along the lines of The Day After Tomorrow, which if I remember rightly even made the news when it was first released, as it carried a very clear eco message that posed the question: could this possibly happen? Eeek.
I very quickly realised that 2012 was not going to be one of those kinds of movies. I was getting really, really annoyed at the beginning too because to be honest it was one big giant Sony advertisement (did anybody else notice this too?? You will when you next see it ;)). I know that Columbia Pictures - the studio behind 2012 - is an arm of Sony Entertainment, but honestly the product overload was ridiculous!!
But once the action starts and you start to take the movie for what it is, then you'll probably really enjoy it. If you're after an action packed, tense, end of the world movie that is completely silly but totally immersing, then 2012 is the baby to go and see... and it is definitely one of those movies to watch on the big screen as the SFX are amazing. Just leave your logical brain at the door ;)
Once I had realised that I had to suspend all belief (!!), I absolutely loved it, even the uber cheesy ending. Would I watch it again? Yes!
I started my Christmas shopping. I love, love, love everything about Christmas. I still have an advent calendar every year and am as excited as when I was little when the Christmas tree goes up... eeeeeeeeeeee I can't wait!!!!
Sadly, I'm one of those people who has ZERO initiative when it comes to buying quirky and interesting presents. If someone tells me that they would like this, this or this, I'll quite happily toddle off and buy it, feeling really happy because I know that the recipient will love their gift and it won't be eBayed on Boxing Day or car-booted come the spring!
27/11/09:**EDIT** This continued into a bit of a Bah Humbug moan about lack of Christmas inspiration etc, so I've deleted the offending paragraphs! Note to self: Do not blog whilst in the throes of PMT....
Finally, I have made a momentous decision... to ditch my blonde hair!!
I have been highlighting my hair since I was 18 but over the past year or so it's progressively been getting lighter and lighter and it's now almost white blonde. I don't mind that in the summer, but at this time of year I think it looks a bit silly.
My hair is naturally quite fair anyway, so I don't have a massive visible roots problem, but it gets to the stage where I can't escape the fact that it really does need a touch-up and salon prices do not come cheap.
I've been pondering over what to do with it and for a while I really wanted to go brunette as I love brown hair, but that's a no-no. My skin is so fair that if dark hair doesn't make me look completely washed out, then my light eyebrows and lashes will definitely make me look like an idiot!! Haha!
Sooo, I've decided that I'm going to go au natrel (gulp!). When I was little I was blonde, but after I had my first proper haircut it turned really, really red, and then went auburn when I was a teenager. With my roots now visible, the general consensus is that my hair is "strawberry blonde" with more blonde than red (maybe the years of blonde has bleached my hair follicles?!?!) I'm just hoping that it really is blonde and not grey :s It's all a bit daunting after being blonde for so long... and what excuse will I have for my "blonde moments"?! :)
How are you guys getting on with your Christmas preparations? It doesn't seem possible that it's just over a month away. Where HAS this year gone?!?!
xx
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Belated Birthday weekend Part 2: Stir-Up Sunday...
Today was Stir Up Sunday!!! For those who don't know, Stir Up Sunday is the traditional day for making Christmas Puddings and/or cakes. It's something to do with being the eighth Sunday after Trinity or something, idk.
Stir Up Sunday is a BIG tradition in our family and is something that Mum has instilled in Olivia and I to pass down to our families in the future. We stick on the Christmas Carols cd which we all sing along to and make the pudding together, taking it in turns to make a wish during the final Stir of the pudding... Christmas starts here!
Do you have Stir-Up Sunday too?
They were laughing at Daddy's wet shirt... (??)
And we're off! Christmas Pudding 2009 in the making...
Nearly there... can't you just smell Christmas looking at this...
Mum making her wish!
Olivia's turn...
Oh dear... say cheeeese!
Last but not least!
After lunch, a lovely surprise - BIRTHDAY CAKE!!!!! (It was a Me To You bear cake)
So Birthday celebrations are now officially over until next year. I have been thoroughly spoilt this week by friends and family and between my Chocolate Fudge cake from Dad and today's cake from Mum & Co, I have leftover cake coming out of my ears! Would anyone like some?!
I hope you have all had great weekends too!
xx
Sunday, 23 November 2008
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
This morning it snowed!! Not just the usual flurry in the wind, but good old-fashioned sideways snow that settled everywhere within about ten minutes. It never usually snows properly here until January / February so of course the bets have been slashed for a white Christmas. I love watching snow falling, it's so relaxing and hypnotising...
I'm starting to feel really Christmassy now - and I love all of the tv ads featuring the best holiday songs ever! I'd love to spend Christmas in the M & S house :) but we all know that it isn't really Christmas until the Coca-Cola ad! "Holidays are coming... holidays are coming..." I do hope they show the polar bears one again this year!
I've been on the internet for hours today, ordering presents - I simply cannot believe that next weekend is the last free weekend I have before Christmas!! Where has the time gone?!
We're putting the Christmas tree up at work tomorrow to the sounds of a festive CD, it's something that my colleague Amanda and I do every year and we both look forward to it. I've even brought a second tree to stand in my kitchen at home this year!
This is absolutely my favourite time of year and I still get that excitement in the pit of my stomach on Christmas Eve - I think it's because my Mum really loves it all too and always makes the festive season so special.
My sister holding my mum's gingerbread house creation!
The house is always filled with holly and ivy, and the tree is always breathtaking, and we watch the Carols from King's College, Cambridge on tv... then we all hang a stocking and prepare Santa and Rudolf's snacks before my little sister goes to bed - oh I can't wait!!!
Christmas Eve 2007
It's not all a jolly-hockey-sticks English Christmas though, as we always take time to remember absent loved ones. It's a big part of our Christmas, especially as my dear grandparents are no longer with us.
They were always the centre of the entire family, the lynchpins that held us all together, especially at this time of year. Christmas WAS Nan and Grandad. Their house was always the place where we all congregated and spent time together, where presents were hidden and wrapped away from excited eyes, where we all helped to dress the tree and decorate the house after they became too aged to do it themselves.
Nam and Grandad were enormously important to us all. Very much loved and respected, and will ALWAYS and forever be missed.
Nan and Grandad, Christmas 2003
They were always the centre of the entire family, the lynchpins that held us all together, especially at this time of year. Christmas WAS Nan and Grandad. Their house was always the place where we all congregated and spent time together, where presents were hidden and wrapped away from excited eyes, where we all helped to dress the tree and decorate the house after they became too aged to do it themselves.
Nam and Grandad were enormously important to us all. Very much loved and respected, and will ALWAYS and forever be missed.
Nan and Grandad, Christmas 2003
This was the last time that they spent Christmas together at our house.
A lot of people think Christmas is over after Boxing Day; in our family however it continues until the New Year. We don't have presents every day or anything like that - we just have a LOT of family time. Board games, family walks, friends and family visiting, carols, thank you letters... it's all our special tradition that I hope to be able to continue with a family of my own one day.
Christmas morning, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
