50 Things I Want To Do This Christmas

The Christmas count down has officially begun, and I couldn't be more excited!

As you've probably noticed by now, Christmas is my favourite time of year, and I love to fill December with as many festive activities as I can. There are so many things I want and need to do between now and the 25th, from decorating my home for Christmas to making this year's Christmas crackers, so I thought I'd kick off Blogmas by talking about my goals for the festive season and hopefully motivate myself to get things done in the process.

Here are 50+ things I want to do this Christmas...

1. Go to my town's Christmas lights switch-on. (I haven't gone in a few years, and I genuinely miss it).

2. Go to Bourton-on-the-Water's Christmas lights switch-on. (It's a beautiful Cotswold town with a river running right through the middle of the town centre, and it's a gorgeous setting to get in to the Christmas spirit. Their street fair is really tasteful, but super festive, and their tree sits in the river, so the fairy lights twinkle on the water. It's magical).

3. Drive around to look at Christmas lights.

4. Make some new Christmas playlists. (Almost finished!)

5, Listen to lots of Christmas tunes. (You know I've started already!)

6, Buy a little Christmas tree for my bedroom. 

7, Buy new white fairy lights for my tree. (I used colourful lights last year, but I realised they're not as relaxing in the bedroom as white lights are, so I'm going to go back to white lights this year).

8. Decorate my bedroom for Christmas. (I spend a lot of time resting in bed due to chronic pain, so I like to turn my bedroom in to a Winter Wonderland so I can still enjoy the festivities while I'm laid up in bed).

9. Decorate the tree and the rest of my house with my family. (One of my fave parts of Christmas!)

10. Cut down fir branches from the garden and decorate the mantle with natural decorations. (I've lost count of how many years I've been doing this now).

11. Finish my pom pom Christmas pudding wreath. (I just need to buy a pretty ribbon for it, and then it's officially done!)

12. Make my felt floral Christmas wreaths. 

13. Write and send my Christmas cards this week, instead of leaving them 'til the last minute. 

14. Go Christmas shopping to soak up the festive atmosphere.

15. Finish my Christmas shopping. (I started earlier in the year but somehow I still have loads left to get).

16. Have a clear out to make some last minute Christmas cash.

17. Up my survey-answering game to earn some last minute Christmas money. (If you want to know how to earn money by taking surveys, you can read all my tips and helpful knowledge about the subject here).

18. Wrap the rest of the Christmas presents. (I've actually wrapped most of what I've bought so for- I started early to stagger the work load, and be kinder to my back in the long run)!

19. Send a parcel of goodies up to my best friend and her little boy.

20. Put together a Christmas gift box for the homeless. (My Mum did one last year, and filled it with things a homeless person might need and enjoy like a new hat and gloves, toothpaste, shower gel, and chocolate, and she's inspired me to put one together myself this year. (I couldn't afford to last year). It breaks my heart to think about people living outside on the streets, especially in the cold winter months, and even though it's just a small gesture, I think something like this could make a huge difference to someone on the streets this Christmas).

21. Do lots of Christmas cross stitching. (I've made a few small pieces already!)

22. Make all of the Christmas cross stitch cards in my sewing box. (I think I have about twelve cards still to make).

23. Make some new Christmas fabric hoop art.

24. Make a Christmas hoop art wall feature. (I'd love to make a feature wall display out of all of the festive hoop art I've made over the last few years. I just need to buy some command strips to hang them with).

25. Give my wooden nail polish house shelf a festive make over, with Christmas backgrounds, for the holidays. (Like I did with this Advent house I made last year).

26. Make my own Christmas crackers. (I'll be blogging about this soon!)

27. Make Christmas table favours for my family to enjoy during Christmas dinner.

28. Finish last year's gingerbread man garland. 

29. Make the snow-globe my sister gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago. (It's about time I got round to it!)

30. Make Christmas bandannas for my dog, Rosie. (She's gotta look her best, after all!)

31. Make the needle felted Christmas decorations I bought from Hobbycraft. (Also learn how to needle felt).

32. Put together a Christmas Eve box of treats to enjoy on Christmas Eve. (I'm hoping to blog about this soon, too).

33. Write and schedule as many festive blog posts as possible, so I can be present and enjoy the festivities. (I've scheduled a few already, so I'm doing well so far).

34. Take the rest of the photos needed for my Christmas blog posts. (I actually began taking photos for Christmas posts in October, so I'm already better organised than previous Blogmases).

35. Fill my Instagram feed with festive photos. (Just 'cause looking back through them makes me happy).

36. Instagram what I find in my OPI and Selfridges Advent calendars daily. (If you'd like to follow along, you can find me on Instagram here).

37. Have lots of Christmas movie marathons. (You'd better believe I've had a few of these already! Haha!)

38. Watch a new-to-me Christmas film. (I really want to see The Nutcracker but I find sitting in the cinema too painful, so that one will have to wait 'til next year when it's out on DVD / available to download).

39. Watch It's A Wonderful Life for the first time. (I bought the DVD a few years ago, but I haven't got around to watching it yet. I must make the time this Christmas).

40. Read A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Stories by Charles Dickens. (I've read A Christmas Carol multiple times, but I haven't read all the other Christmas stories in my clothbound copy, so this year I intend to).

41. Re-read Little Women by Louisa May Allcott. (It's one of my favourite books, and perfectly Christmassy).

42. Read a new to me festive novel. (Any suggestions?)

43. Buy a new pair of Christmas PJs to wear on Christmas Eve.

44. Buy a new dress to wear on Christmas Day.

45. Wear the shit out of my Erstwilder Christmas brooches.

46. Do some baking on Christmas Eve.

47. Make my blackberry and apple trifle on Christmas Eve. (I've been making it every Christmas for over a decade now, and it's delicious, if I do say so myself).

48. Bake and ice Christmas cookies. (I don't think I've ever done this before, even as a child, but I've always wanted to).

49. Make a yule log. (I haven't made one since I was a kid).

50. Make a new dessert for over Christmas. (Maybe something out of my Serendipity 3's dessert cookbook I bought in New York in 2011, and still haven't used).

51. Make homemade Christmas dog treats for Rosie.

52. Enjoy Christmas dinner with my family. (Another of my favourite parts of the festive season).

53. Play board games with my family over Christmas. (I know I'm a loser, but hey, it's fun).

54. Spend quality time with my family.

55. And probably most importantly, give myself plenty of rest. (I always over-do it in December trying to do a million festive things and keep up with pre-chronic-illness me, but I need to make sure I listen to my body, and stop when I need to so I don't run myself in to the ground).

Well, those are some of the things I want or need to do this December...

What are your goals for the month?

You Might Also Like
200 Christmas Blog Post Ideas
101 Things To Do This Christmas
75 Of The Best Christmas Blog Photo Props
50 Money Saving Christmas Shopping Tips
50 Alternative Ways To Give Back This Christmas
35 Ways To Get Organised For Christmas Now
25 Ways To Enjoy Christmas On Bed Rest
My Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness Christmas Survival Guide
The Christmas Tag
My Favourite Things About Christmas Time

25 Things I Want To Do This Autumn

Can you believe we're already a week in to September? Where has the time gone? This year is passing so fast! 

I know it's not officially Autumn here in the northern hemisphere until the 23rd, but it's already beginning to feel like Autumn here in The Cotswolds. The leaves have already started to change, the nights have started drawing in, and there's a noticeable chill in the air today. It was absolutely freezing when I woke up this morning, and I'm still cocooned up under a blanket now. It seems like summer is almost over for another year.

I'm not ready for the nights to draw in, but I am looking forward to Autumn, and all the fun Autumn activities, pastimes, and scenery we'll soon be able to enjoy. In fact, I've already come up with a bunch of things I want to do this Autumn, and I thought I'd share some of them with you today. So here are 25 things I want to do this Autumn...

1. Finish my cross stitch mandala

I started another colourful mandala cross stitch (this one) a few weeks ago, and I want to dedicate lots of time to cross stitching it this Autumn. I'm hoping to have it finished by mid October at the latest so I can then get working on some new Christmas designs. Wish me luck!

2. Paint the wooden house-shaped shelving unit

Back in the Spring, I bought a wooden house-shaped display box with little compartments for displaying little things (this one), that I intended to paint and use to house some of my nail polish collection. Six months later, I still haven't got around to it, so it's time to get it done. I bought a new paint brush for the job yesterday, so I have no excuse now.

3. Make my Christmas wreaths

After the success of my felt spring wreaths, I've decided to make some felt Christmas wreaths, too, and I'm being proactive and making them now so that they'll be ready to hang on time. I've already made a start, but it's time to get stuck in and get creating or I'll still be working on them in the New Year. I might also make myself an Autumn wreath if I can come up with a good design, but one thing at a time.

4. Make a brooch display board

I'm also hoping to make some kind of brooch display board this Autumn to showcase my ever-growing collection of brooches, and make it easier to see them all and choose which one to wear when I get dressed. I haven't got a plan as such, I just know it's time I made one.

5. Paint more

I haven't done a whole lot of painting lately, but I'm going to do my best to do more of it this Autumn because it's another hobby I really enjoy, and I miss it. Am I the only one who wants to make and create all the things as soon as summer is over?

6. Take lots of blog photos

Every blogger in the UK knows that our winter daylight is shit; it's so dark and dreary, and there's very little of it, which makes capturing the perfect blog photos a nightmare from about October to April. I don't have studio lights, so I'm hoping to take as many photos for future blog posts as I can before the nights draw in and we lose the bright summer daylight for another year. The only problem is, I've just broken my bridge camera (it fell off my bed and now the lens is jammed and it won't turn on), and I don't know what I'm going to do as I can't afford to replace it... so I might have to use my iPhone for a while... (Also, sorry about the old photos I had to use for today's post because of said broken camera).

7. Blog lots

I have so many blog posts I want to write this Autumn, and I'm going to do my best to blog as much as possible. Health allowing, of course.

8. Read lots

Autumn is definitely the time for curling up under a cosy blanket with a good book or ten, and I want to do lots of it this season. I'm already on my second book of the month (The Handmaid's Tale), so I'm off to a good start already.

9. Have lots of Autumn / Halloween movie marathons

I'm looking forward to having lots of Autumn / Halloween-themed movie marathons this fall, while wrapped up warm under a cosy blanket on those chilly Autumn days / evenings. I've got lots of Autumn horror movie favourites, but to be honest, I'm most looking forward to rewatching Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic, You've Got Mail, and Little Women for the millionth time.

10. Up my survey answering game to afford Christmas presents

I've been slacking lately and haven't participated in as many paid surveys as I used to because I CBA, but I'm determined to get back in to the swing of things and dedicate more time to it this Autumn to help pay for Christmas presents. I paid for last year's Christmas presents through surveys alone, so I can definitely do the same again this year. If you want to learn more about earning money through participating in surveys, you can learn everything you need to know here.

11. Finish my Christmas shopping

I actually started my Christmas shopping earlier in the year and have several presents stowed away already, but with Christmas just over three months away, I want to actively start shopping for the rest, and hopefully have all my Christmas shopping finished by December.

12. Try to wrap Christmas presents as I buy them

With my chronic pain and chronic illnesses, I find December exhausting and painful, especially wrapping presents which always inflicts an unbearable amount of pain and stiffness on me, that can take me weeks to recover from. After the state wrapping presents left me in last Christmas, I've vowed to try to wrap my Christmas presents as I go along this year, or at least tackle them in a couple of sittings before December to take some of the pressure off in the run up to Christmas. Challenge accepted.

13. Plan and schedule Christmas blog content

I know December is still months away, but I also want to start preparing and scheduling some of my Christmas content now so I have more time to relax and enjoy the festivities with my family during the festive season. I don't want to stress about putting a blog post together when I could be decking the halls or having a Christmas movie marathon instead.

14. Train Rosie to stop barking

My Tibetan terrier is a vocal little lady, and loves to bark at anything that moves and every little noise she hears. It's getting a little tiresome and I'm sure our neighbours don't appreciate the noise, so I'm going to work on clicker training her to stop barking when we ask her to. I will crack this!

15. Go to the bonfire and watch the fireworks

It's been years since I last made it to our town's bonfire on bonfire night as I've not been well enough to go, but I really want to make it this year... or at least find a good spot to watch some fireworks. Going to the bonfire was always one of my favourite Autumn activities.

16. Take an Autumn walk

I'd love to take at least one Autumn walk in the countryside (or at least somewhere with lots of trees), to crunch through paths of fallen Autumn leaves, breathe in the crisp air, and appreciate the pretty foliage. I always love being outdoors during the Autumn, and the more time I spend trapped indoors, the more I long to be outside, close to nature.

17. Buy new ankle boots and ballet pumps

My black ankle boots and my ballet pumps are falling apart (not to mention making my feet burn), so I must buy myself some new ones this Autumn before I start looking like a street urchin. I haven't found any I like yet, though.

18. Treat myself to some new clothes

I haven't bought any new clothes in the longest time, and I really need and want to treat myself to a few new dresses and some knitwear in gorgeous Autumn colours like burgundy, raspberry, forest green, mustard, teal, rust, and plum to wear this A/W.

19. Dye my hair

My hair is also in dire need of a touch up ASAP. I haven't managed to dye my hair since May and my roots are getting ridiculous, so I must push through the pain and get it done again soon. I also need a hair cut, but I think that's going to have to wait until after Christmas.

20. Organise my dressing table drawers

It's been a while since I last tidied my make up drawers, and right now they're a total mess. They're long over due a tidy, so I must find some time to pull everything out, bin anything past its best, and reorganise it all. I'll probably share photos of it when I do.

21. Decorate the house for Autumn

I feel the urge to bring Autumn in to the house, by adding a few pumpkins, foliage, and homeware in Autumn colours, and I'd like to give it a try this year. Perhaps I should make an Autumn wreath to hang up, after all. And also treat myself to a bunch of giant sunflowers? I could even make a felt Autumn leaf garland or a pom pom garland using wool in Autumn colours! 

22. Carve a pumpkin

I wasn't well enough to carve a pumpkin last year, so  I'm all the more determined to carve me a Jack O' Lantern this year. I love the smell of them when they're lit afterwards.

23. Make pumpkin dog biscuits for Rosie

I'd then like to make some homemade pumpkin dog biscuits for Rosie using the pumpkin flesh I scoop out. Or maybe I'll just buy a pumpkin especially to make her some.

24, Make French onion soup

My sister keeps bugging me to make her some French onion soup because it's been years since I last made some, so I'm hoping to oblige when the weather gets colder, and I'm having a "good" pain day. It is delicious, if I do say so myself.

25. Start saving for concert adventures

I'm aiming to go on some new concert adventures in the New Year, so it's about time I started saving anything I can now (and over the next few months) so I can afford to go. I really should do another clear out to raise some extra pennies for it, too.

So, those are my Autumn goals; what are yours? What do you want to achieve this Autumn?

You Might Also Like

101 Autumn Blog Post Ideas

50 Things To Do This Autumn

50 Things I Love About Autumn

The Autumn Reading Tag

The Autumn Tag

My Goals For 2018

At the beginning of each new year I always feel motivated to better myself, and set myself some goals for the year ahead. I don't set myself big New Year's resolutions, like losing half my body weight overnight, becoming a millionaire, or giving up my dress habit, and won't this year, either, as I know I'll never achieve them, but I do like to set myself lots of fun, smaller goals to work on before the year is through. It gives me something to aim for, and I suppose it makes me feel like I'm achieving something even though I'm not able to do all the things I want to in life because of my chronic illnesses.

This year, I've come up with a lot of things I want to aim for in 2018, and I thought I'd share some of those goals with you today.

Don't worry; I'm not about to start announcing some 'new year, new me' bollocks; it's a new year, but you'll get the same old me; I'm not planning to change who I am just because society makes us feel like we're not good enough the way we are. I might attempt to become a slightly better version of myself in 2018, but chances are, I won't succeed, and it's not the end of the world if I fail.

Here are 15 of my goals for 2018:

Craft Regularly and Try Lots of New Crafts

I've come to realise I'm rarely more content than when I'm making something with my own two hands, so I want to craft as much as possible in 2018, and also have a go at lots of new crafts. I want to do lots of colourful cross stitching, learn how to crochet a granny square blanket, improve my embroidery skills, make more hoop art, have a go at making wreaths for Spring / Easter, try decoupaging, perhaps do some jewellery making, try needle felting, make bandannas for Rosie, and all kinds of other fun creative things. I basically just want to spend the whole year making things.

Paint Regularly and Try Gouache Paints

Last year, I began watercolour painting again after several years away from a paint brush, having completely forgotten how relaxing and enjoyable it could be. I want to keep painting regularly throughout the year, improve my watercolour skills, and also try working with gouache paints for the first time to try something a little more vibrant.

Improve My Photography and Photo Editing Skills

Photography and photo editing are two areas of blogging I really struggle with and I admit they need a lot of improvement, so I'm going to keep working on improving my skills and the quality of my photos throughout the year.

Read More

I've been making the effort to read more over the last few months and I've enjoyed every moment of it, so I want to continue reading regularly in 2018 (every day, where possible), and try to read a lot more. I'm not going to set myself a target number of books, except that I want to read at least one book a month. It doesn't sound like a lot, but I think it's more than I managed in 2017.

See Fall Out Boy Live Again

Fall Out Boy are touring in the UK again in March, and I'm determined to get out and see them on stage again. Their shows are always phenomenal, and so much fun. I haven't got tickets yet, as I'm still skint, but plans are afoot...

Continue Training Rosie

My Tibetan terrier, Rosie, still needs a little work with some of her training- especially with recall and not jumping up at people- so it's something I'm going to commit to working on with her until we've cracked it. She's a really intelligent dog, so I know she'll get there.

Shop For Christmas and Birthday Presents Throughout The Year

I want to be super organised this year, and shop for presents for birthdays and Christmas throughout the year to help spread the cost, and keep the stress of last minute shopping at bay. I did this the year before last, and it really took the stress out of present-giving. I'm intending to pick up presents as and when I see the perfect gift and can afford to, and build up a good present stash so I can be all smug when my Christmas shopping is all finished while everyone's running around the high street like headless chickens in December.

Build Up My Wardrobe Again

I had to sell a lot of my wardrobe just to get by last year, so now things are a little better financially, I want to work on building it back up again. I'm not planning on going crazy, but a new dress here and there would be nice.

Blog More Quality Content

I want to work hard to improve my blog content this year, as I wasn't happy with my blog at all last year. I always put 110% in to every post, but I wasn't satisfied with my photos, and I just wasn't able to blog about everything I wanted to- mostly because I wasn't often well enough to take the photos I needed for the posts. I need to find a way around my health issues when it comes to photography, and I want to do my best to blog more quality content. I want to blog more fashion, beauty, and lifestyle posts, and basically make Polka Spots the best it can be.

Blog Outfits Again

I didn't blog a single outfit in 2017, mostly because I didn't have any money for new clothes (can you believe I only bought one new dress in 2017?!), and because my next door neighbours had builders working on their house every fucking day of the year and I didn't feel comfortable taking photos in the garden with them around to see me. It makes me sad, as sharing my outfits used to be the main reason for my blog, and I really miss it, so I want to try to share outfits again this year, even if it's only every now and then.

Revamp and Rebrand the Blog

The blog is long over due a revamp, and as I hate my blog name, I also think it's time for a rebrand. I had intended to tackle this last year, but I wasn't able to due to lack of funds for the blog design I wanted. The blog's a mess, so it's about time I got it done.

Be More Interactive With You Guys

I completely failed at keeping up with blog comments and messages in 2017, and I'm ashamed of myself for it. I know an apology isn't good enough, but I will do my best to keep up with them in 2018, and be more interactive with you guys. I'm going to sit down and have a big catch up as soon as I'm feeling better, and then make sure I keep on top of them.

Keep Up My Survey Answering Game

I got in to crowdsourcing (answering surveys online) last year to make a little extra cash, and it's something I want to continue doing regularly this year, too. It doesn't bring in a lot of money, but it soon adds up. Last year I earned enough to afford all the Christmas, birthday, and Easter presents for my family and friends, as well as a few treats for myself, so I'm aiming to do the same this year. I just need to keep myself motivated, which can be the hard part, as a lot of surveys are boring as hell!

Visit Somewhere New

I doubt I'll be getting away for a holiday this year, but I'd like to try to visit at least one place I've never been before, even if it's close to home. 

Some Places I'd Like To Visit In 2018

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Badbury Clump woods (for the bluebells in the Spring).

The Ashmolean and Pitt Rivers Museums in Oxford.

Christchurch, Oxford.

London (it's been far too long).

Whipsnade Wild Animal Park.

Blenheim Palace.

What are your goals for 2018?