Currently At Christmas

Happy Christmas Eve Eve!

I can't believe it's only two more sleeps 'til Christmas! Where has the month gone?

I don't know about you, but I've been so busy getting ready for Christmas, and enjoying all the usual festive activities, so I thought it would be a good time to sit down and have a catch up about what I've been getting up to lately. Well, it has been about a year since I last did one of these 'currently' posts!

Reading

When I've had a spare second to read between wrapping presents and hanging decorations, I've been enjoying some festive short stories. I'm currently reading A Merry Christmas & Other Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott for the first time, and it's one of the loveliest collections of Christmas stories I've ever read. If you love Little Women, I'd definitely recommend it. Once I finish it, I'll be moving on to the Puffin Book of Christmas Stories, which is also new to me this year.

Watching

The Christmas movies have been broken out, and I've been working my way through my favourites over the last couple of weeks. So far this Christmas, I've watched The Muppets Christmas Carol, Santa Claus the Movie, The Santa Clause, The Holiday, Love Actually, It's a Wonderful Life, Little Women (2019), Home Alone, Die Hard, A Gift Wrapped Christmas, and While You Were Sleeping.

Listening

I've been playing lots of Christmas tunes this month, including all the usual old favourites from Wham to The Pogues. And it wouldn't be Christmas without me breaking out Ronan's Winter Songs for the millionth time...

Stitching

I finally finished stitching the Satsuma Street Christmas wall hanging I began two years ago, which I blogged about here, and I'm just started some small retro bauble designs from the same brand. I'd hoped to stitch throughout December, but I've only just made it down to Hobbycraft for more supplies to help me get started. 

Playing

When I've had a spare second to play, I've been enjoying the festivities in Animal Crossing New Horizons. I've been making my island look super festive by adding Christmas trees and decorations everywhere, along with a Christmas room, a Christmas market, tree farm, and an ice skating rink. I'm also living for all the cute festive outfits, and enjoying building snowmen in the snow. I love how AC allows you to immerse yourself in the seasons, and celebrate the holidays. It's so much fun. Do any of you guys play it?

Wrapping

This weekend, I finally finished wrapping all the presents I've got so far, after making it across to Hobbycraft for ribbons last week. I decided to go for pink gift wrap again this year, and chose the cutest puppy dog wrapping paper from Cath Kidston and gingerbread house paper from Emma Cooter Draws, then tied them with white or mint ribbon. (I may or may not have bought the dog print paper with my dog's Christmas presents in mind...) 

Writing

I spent a couple of evenings writing out my Christmas cards, and actually got them all written at the start of the month for a change. This year, I went with these pretty wreath cards from Paperchase. I love the little hidden robin in the wreath.

Decorating

It's been slow-going this Christmas, but I've finally finished decorating my bedroom for Christmas a few days ago. I got a lovely fresh potted tree from Tesco's, and decorated it with colourful baubles and retro deer ornaments. It looks really scruffy now as it's dropped so many needles, but it was such a lovely tree when I first got it. I've got presents and bigger deer ornaments beneath it, plus more deer dotted around my bedroom, as well as festive tea light holders, light up ornaments, Christmas books, festive bedding, and more.

We also finally decorated the living room for Christmas yesterday. Everyone's been so busy and tired that it was the first chance we've had to put them up. We've never decorated so late before, but it actually felt more festive than usual since it's so close to Christmas. 

I haven't actually got photos of either tree yet, as it's been too dark and dreary for photos all month. Fingers crossed for some sunshine tomorrow so I can snap a few before all the presents are given out.

Visiting

On the 2nd, my sister and I took our annual visit to the Appleton Christmas Barn. It's a little Christmas tree farm in Appleton, near Abingdon in Oxfordshire, with a barn converted in to a Christmas ornament shop, and a few reindeer to see. They had two new young reindeer this year, bringing their herd up to four, and the adorable little things were all curled up asleep in the straw. Why are reindeer so cute? After seeing the reindeer (which is completely free to do), we got out of the cold, and browsed the decorations. We were pleasantly surprised to find their Christmas shop had also grown since last Christmas, and is now about three times bigger. There were so many beautiful Christmas decorations to look at, and I could've bought the whole shop, but only bought two as I had a lot of Christmas presents left to buy. I got these two gorgeous frosted iridescent baubles, as they're similar to some old spherical favourites on our tree which I've had for about fifteen years. They don't look impressive in my photo, but when the fairy lights hit them, they glisten in so many different colours. They're really beautiful.

Instagramming

I've been doing my best to make my Insta grid look super festive, and have posted almost every day this month. I've done a daily reveal of what I've found in my OPI Celebration Collection Advent Calendar, posted brooches of the day, and also shared festive things I've been enjoying or getting up to.

Buying

Like everyone else, I've been buying so many presents for my family, friends, and dog lately. I've officially finished my Christmas shopping now, which is such a relief, although, I'll probably think of something I've forgotten. I also bought myself a pair of gingerbread man Christmas PJs from Simply Be on Black Friday, some retro reindeer decorations, and a couple of Christmas books to relax with.

Eating

My younger sister and I kicked off the festive season with a box of Christmas doughnuts from Doughnut Time that we went on halves on in the Black Friday sales. We split each doughnut so we could try all the flavours, and they were bloody delicious, especially the Biscoff filled Reindeer doughnut, Elvis Pretzel, and the apple cinnamon doughnut, Spice Up Your Life. 10/10 would recommend. Doughnut Time make the best doughnuts.

Dressing

my dog, Rosie, up for Christmas in a Christmas headband when we decorated the living room for Christmas yesterday. She wasn't amused, but kept it on for a couple of minutes each time, while she sat looking like she was posing for an oil painting. She'll be less amused when I put a Christmas jumper on her on Christmas Day! Haha! 

Loving 

Cadbury Chocolate Orange Mousse Snowmen. Have you tried them? They're so good!

Hating

How dark and dreary it's been lately. I feel like I've barely seen daylight all month. I can't wait for long summer evenings again.

Needing

a good night's sleep (or ten) to recover from the festivities. I'm shattered.

Wanting

a lovely Christmas with my family, unruined by Covid restrictions. I will be pissed if Boris suddenly puts us on lockdown on the 27th (as rumoured), and says we can't socialise with our families between Christmas and New Year again. All I want is to eat, drink, and be merry with my family over the holidays, and be able to make some happy memories.

Wishing

I had more hours in the day to get everything done.

Looking

forward to Christmas, and enjoying the festivities with my family. And also to Boxing Day when everything calms down again, and I can finally relax, and do nothing except eat cake in my PJs.

Well, that's my December so far.

What have you been getting up to this Christmas? Are you ready for Christmas yet?