My Christmas List 2022

It's that time of the year when I like to share a Christmas List of the things I'd love to find under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.

It's a wish list I've put together just for fun, and isn't something I plan to flash in people's faces, demanding they buy me things from it. I might steer people in its direction if they ask for ideas, but mostly, it's just a fun wish list showing what I'd love Santa to bring me, that might also provide present ideas for yourself and your loved ones.

This year, it took me a while to compile a wish list, as aside from books and a few brooches, I couldn't think of many things that I was lusting after. I mostly just want a big stack of beautiful books, Loungefly backpacks, and Erstwilder brooches this year, but personally, I think that makes for a quality wish list.

I'll let you be the judge of that, though. Check it out for yourselves.

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1. This faux leather celestial reading planner from Owlcrate is the prettiest reading planner I've ever seen.

2. I love this Maverick Macaw brooch from the Erstwilder x Pete Cromer Wildlife collection.

3. This Twisted Wunder star print maxi dress from Simply Be looks stunning.

4. I really want to read the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, and the collector's edition of the first book is so beautiful. Just look at it!

5. The collector's edition of Throne of Glass is another beauty I need in my collection, and another book series I want to try.

6. How cute are these Erstwilder toadstool earrings?!

7. It's been years since I last owned some Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat, or my favourite YSL blur primer, so I definitely wouldn't object to finding this lovely YSL make up set under the tree this year.

8. I love the detail to the Erstwilder x Pete Cromer Tranquil Tiger brooch.

9. I haven't read the first book in the series yet, but the Owlcrate edition of When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles needs to come live with me. 

10. I'm kicking myself for only just discovering Fairyloot, as this edition of The Ballad of Never After is seriously beautiful, with sprayed stencilled edges, a reversible dust jacket, and the loveliest end paper art of Jacks and Evangeline... and it's now sold out. I'm still including it here, as it's a wish list, and I'd be thrilled if a Christmas miracle happened, and I found this under the tree on Christmas morning. If you have a copy and don't want it, send it my way! 

11. Alice in Wonderland has always been one of my favourite Disney films, and this Painting the Roses Red backpack from Loungefly is incredible.

12. I desperately need a new camera as I dropped and broke mine this autumn, and am stuck using a grainy old point and shoot that's 10+ years old. I won't get one for Christmas, as they're too expensive, but this Canon DSLR seems like a pretty good deal for a starter DLSR.

13. This red panda brooch from Erstwilder has been on my wish list half the year, so I'd be a happy little panda if I got one for Christmas.

14. Loungefly always make the best bags, and their Robin Hood book convertible backpack is one of the best bags in the history of bags. I love that the inside is like a storybook with scenes from the film, and includes Maid Marian and Lady Kluck playing badminton!

15. I definitely do not need any more eyeshadow palettes, but oh, this Too Faced Yummy Bear palette is dreamy. Maybe I could find room for just one more?

16. I already own a Loungefly Robin Hood backpack, but holy crap, the new Prince John Carriage mini backpack looks amazing, and I need it in my life.

17. I love the look of the Owlcrate edition of Book of Night by Holly Black. I'm currently addicted to The Folk of the Air series (I've almost finished The Wicked King), so I'd love to try some of her other books once I'm done with all the others.

18. There's something so charming about this Erstwilder X Pete Cromer Orderly Orangutan Brooch. Her little face is too cute.

19. The Hell Bunny Love Cats mini dress is so fun, and colourful. It covers a good range of sizes, too, from an XS up to a 6XL!

20. I don't need another copy of Caraval, but I'll admit, the gold foil 5th anniversary edition sure is tempting me.

21. I'd love to journal through Leigh Bardugo's gorgeous Grishaverse companion journal, The Severed Moon, in 2023. It looks wonderful.

22. I adored My Little Pony when I was little and owned several of them, so I can't help coveting the piece of pastel perfection that is the Loungefly My Little Pony mini backpack. It's an eighties'/ nineties' child's dream.

23. Two books in, and I'm totally obsessed with The Folk of the Air, so I can't wait to read How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories. Though, I have a feeling I'll want to buy this one for myself before Christmas, just as soon as I've read The Queen of Nothing.

24. Everyone seems to be playing Disney Dreamlight Valley at the moment, and I'd love to jump on the bandwagon. It only seems to be available to download, and not as a cartridge, though, so I'll probably have to buy this one myself, too.

And those are some of the things on my Christmas list this year.

If you'd like to see what else made it on to my Christmas list, perhaps to get some present ideas or to find some new books to read, you can find my wish list board on Pinterest here.

What's on your Christmas list this year?

The Ultimate Christmas Tag

I love a good tag post, and today I have a fun, festive one for you called The Ultimate Christmas Tag. 

If you want to know what my favourite Christmas films are, which Christmas songs I'd sing at karaoke, or what my favourite Christmas memory is, keep reading to find out.

Introducing, The Ultimate Christmas Tag:

What is your favourite thing about Christmas?

I'm torn between seeing all the pretty lights and decorations everywhere, giving presents to my family and friends, and enjoying Christmas dinner with my family, as we only sit around a table together a couple of times a year, 

Do you have any Christmas traditions you CANNOT forget about each year?

We don't really have any big Christmas traditions in my family, just little ones like we always have to have a tin of Cadbury Roses in the house, we never put up the family Christmas tree without listening to an old Christmas album called 100% Christmas (which we've been decorating trees with since 1994), and certain desserts have to be made. I always make an apple and blackberry trifle, my sister has to make her chocolate squidgy log (old Delia recipe), and my Mum must make an apple pie- or Christmas is ruined. We need some new traditions!

Is there a song that just gets you in to the Christmas spirit?

Last Christmas by Wham never fails to make me feel festive. I think it's because it was always one of the first songs we'd listen to when decorating the tree for Christmas, so it brings up those nostalgic Christmas feelings.

What is your favourite Christmas movie?

I can't choose between Santa Claus the Movie and The Muppets Christmas Carol. They're both amazing, and have been my favourites since childhood.

What food is your must have at Christmas time?

Forget Christmas cake and mince pies; it wouldn't be Christmas in our house without a tub of Cadbury Roses, some turkey sandwiches, all the desserts I mentioned earlier, and my brother-in-law's goose-fat roast potatoes.

If you had to choose between Michael Buble's Christmas album and Justin Bieber's Christmas album, which one would you choose and why?

Personally, I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than listen to either, but if I had to choose, I guess Michael Buble's would be the lesser of two forms of torture. For the record, I didn't mind his when it first came out, but it's become so inescapable that I've come to hate it.

What is your favourite memory about Christmas?

When I was little, I was so excited for Christmas, I woke around 3am on Christmas morning, and couldn't get back to sleep. My older sister was awake in the next room, so I crawled in to bed with her, and we came up with a plan to get Christmas morning to start earlier. Our 'brilliant' plan was to turn the clock forward a few hours, and I was sent to wake up our parents with the evidence that it was clearly morning, and time to open presents. Of course, their alarm clocks betrayed us, and they weren't fooled, but they gave in and let us get up at 6am, an hour earlier than they'd usually let us on Christmas Day. It's probably sounds really boring to you, but I just remember us both laughing a lot, and the memory still makes me smile.

When do you start decorating your place for Christmas?

We start decorating our home for Christmas from the 1st of December, although, in recent years, everyone's been so tired, and busy, sometimes we haven't get around to decorating downstairs until a few days before Christmas. I think this year might be one of those years as we haven't even started yet! I'm hoping to put decorations up in my bedroom over the next couple of days, though, as I finally picked up a little tree this morning.

If you were at Christmas karaoke, which 5 songs would you play?

Let's be clear; you won't ever catch me doing karaoke, so if you ever do, I must be very, very drunk or an imposter. Send for help. I can't sing to save my life, and I hate having all eyes on me. But, if someone held a gun to my head and forced me to sing, I would probably go with:

Last Christmas by Wham.

Undcrneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson.

Step in to Christmas by Elton John.

All Alone on Christmas by Darlene Love.

Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney.

What are your top 4 Christmas movies?

Probably:

Santa Claus the Movie

The Muppets Christmas Carol

Little Women (1994)

and...

either The Family Stone / The Holiday / The Santa Clause / Home Alone. Can't choose!

What does Christmas really mean to you?

Spending some quality time with my family, and having a good excuse to spoil everyone with presents.

How old were you when you started asking questions about Father Christmas?

Questions? Why would I ask questions about Santa? Oh, you mean, what kind of cookies he likes? I was six or seven.

What do you think makes Christmas so magical?

I think it's a bit of everything; the twinkling decorations, the childhood Christmas Eve / Christmas morning excitement, families and friends coming together, the way it brings out kindness and generosity in most people... It always seems to transform the world in to a happier, kinder place for a month or two, and never fails to brighten up the dark winter days, and if that's not magical, I don't know what is.

Share your favourite photos from a previous Christmas.

I love this one of my dog, Rosie, taken on her first Christmas in 2016, when we dressed her up for the first time. (The hair bows were only added briefly as a joke). The poor pupper was so confused by it all, but she looked adorable.

And that's The Ultimate Christmas Tag.

I tag... anyone who wants to take part.

If you decide to give the tag a go on your own blog, do send me the link to your post so I can have a read!

What's your favourite thing about Christmas time?

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Christmas Haul

I've picked up a few Christmas goodies lately, from brooches to books, and wrapping paper to dog toys, so I thought I'd do a little haul, and show you what I've been buying.

I bought my Christmas cards from the Cornish brand Whistlefish a couple of months ago, after browsing their website to look for an art print I saw in their Padstow store on holiday. I wanted pink or pastel-coloured cards this year, and couldn't resist the two pink designs I found. I then added some other more colourful designs to my basket, too. I think they're lovely. Their cards are currently £1 each or 20 for £10, and they're 100% recyclable, with no plastic used to package them.

I always try to make the gifts I give look as pretty as possible with lovely wrapping paper and embellishments, and this year, I went with these amazing snail mail Christmas wrapping paper sheets from Gabi & Gaby. The paper is cream with a print of Christmas stamps in blue, pink, orange, and brown, and feature cute festive images like snowmen, Christmas puddings, crackers, presents, and more. They're made of 90gsm uncoated paper stock, so they're great-quality, and recyclable, too, and each sheet comes with a matching gift tag made of thick card. My gifts look so pretty wrapped in them with complimenting pink ribbons, and they're going to look so good under the Christmas tree.

I couldn't help treating myself to a few new Christmas brooches and earrings from Erstwilder's new Modern Holiday collection in November, nor could I stop myself from buying a festive dog tag to accessorise Rosie's collar for Christmas. They're all amazing, and if you want to know more, I recently reviewed them here.

Now on to Advent calendars. This year I'm counting down the days to Christmas with the Essie nail polish Advent calendar, which is filled with twenty-five mini and full sized Essie nail polishes and treatments. It has some gorgeous classic colours inside, but they've played it very safe with shades, and it could definitely do with a little more colour. It didn't arrive in time for me to photograph and review before Advent began, but I might do round-up post of what I find in it this Advent instead.

I also got a cheap and cheerful Dairy Milk chocolate Advent calendar, just because I always had one of these calendars growing up, and having one now makes me all nostalgic.

I love reading Christmas-themed stories to help get me in to the Christmas spirit that little bit more, and recently added A German Christmas: Festive Tales From Berlin to Bavaria to my collection. It's a lovely little book filled with short stories, poems, plays, and carols that were all written by writers from Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, and if you'd like to hear more, I recently reviewed it for you guys here.

Another festive book I picked up this year is Midnight in Everwood by M.Z. Kuzniar. I've not read it yet, but it's apparently loosely based on The Nutcracker. Also, its cover is stunning. I'm hoping to be able to read it and review it before Christmas is through.

Pigs in Blankets // Plush Tennis Balls // Pink Reindeer // Robbie Reindeer // Christmas Tree Treats // Christmas Cubes Gift Set // Meaty Selection Box // Snowdog // Little Petface Reindeer

And, finally, I've been having so much fun shopping for Christmas presents for my dog. She loves opening presents just like a furry toddler, so I always buy and wrap up presents for her. I've mostly bought her Cupid and Comet toys and treats, that I found reasonably priced via Hyper Drug online. I especially love the plush covered tennis balls, but the reindeer toys are pretty cute, too. The Snowdog toy was just £4 from Sainsbury's and I found the Little Petface reindeer toy on Amazon, but it's currently much cheaper elsewhere. I guarantee she'll murder all the soft toys for their squeakers within half an hour, but I'm looking forward to seeing her enjoy them on Christmas morning.

And those are the Christmas-themed things I've picked up this year.

I've definitely been tamer with my spending than other years, but I'm still surprised that I haven't bought any new Christmas decorations at all (yet) this Christmas. I usually add at least a couple to the collection each year- though, I guess, there's still time. Watch this space!

What festive things have you been buying lately?

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A German Christmas Festive Tales From Berlin to Bavaria Book Review

 I love reading festive stories each December to help get me in to the Christmas spirit, and when I was hunting for some new titles to read this year, something new caught my eye.

I'd stumbled upon a beautiful little book filled with German Christmas stories called A German Christmas: Festive Tales from Berlin to Bavaria, and it sounded like the perfect cosy Christmas read, so I had to get myself a copy.

A German Christmas is a lovely little collection of festive stories and carols written by German, Swiss, and Austrian writers, and translated for English readers. Spanning 224 pages, there are twenty works to enjoy as you count down the days to Christmas, from the classic children's story, The Elves and the Shoemaker by The Brothers Grimm (one of my childhood favourites), to the poem, Advent by Rainer Maria Rilke, and the play, Christmas Shopping by Arthur Schnitzler, to the beloved Christmas carol, O Tannenbaum by Ernst Anschutz. 

Here's a complete list of the works included in the book, in the order they're printed:

♥ The Elves and the Shoemaker by The Brothers Grimm.

♥ Berlin at Christmastide by Heinrich Heine.

♥ Nutcracker and the King of Mice by E.T.A. Hoffmann

♥ Advent by Rainer Maria Rilke.

♥ Interview with Santa Claus by Erich Kastner.

♥ The Separation by Ilse Frapan.

♥ The Christmas Box by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

♥ In the Outer Suburbs by Peter Stamm.

♥ Christmas Eve by Peter Rosegger.

♥ The Loan by Wolfdietrich Schnurre.

♥ Christmas by Kurt Tucholsky.

♥ Christmas with the Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann.

♥ Christmas Shopping by Arthur Schnitzler.

♥ Christmas Not Just Once a Year by Heinrich Boll.

♥ On Christmas Eve by Helene Stokl.

♥ Christmas in Cochinchina by Joseph Roth.

♥ Martin's Christmas Wish by Erich Kastner.

♥ Every Year Once Again- the Client Gift by Martin Suter.

♥ After Christmas by Hermann Hesse.

♥ O Tannenbaum by Ernst Anschutz.

It's a beautifully curated collection of classic stories with something for every mood and stage of the Christmas season, and tales suitable for all ages. I haven't read many books by German, Austrian or Swiss authors in my life and knew the work of very few of these authors before reading this book, so I've been enjoying branching out a little, and sampling stories from other parts of the world. I've been reading a story or two a night, and I love how the book is helping to immerse me in the Christmas spirit, and showing me how the holiday has been celebrated in other countries over the years. It's exactly what I hoped to gain from this book.

The book itself is a gorgeous evergreen hardback with festive red end papers, and it's a little smaller than the average paperback in size. The dust-jacket is the same shade of green, and is beautifully designed with Germanic black and white houses along the bottom, and classic Christmas images like Christmas trees, candles, Nutcracker soldiers, Krampus, and German treats decorating the space above it. The fonts used for the title are tasteful, and on the back there's a quote from one of the stories in festive gold foil.

It isn't an illustrated collection, but each piece has a small image from the cover design included beneath its title in black and white, which is a sweet touch. The paper is reasonable quality, and the font used is average-sized, which helps make it easy to read.

Overall, I think A German Christmas: Festive Tales From Berlin to Bavaria is a fantastic book, and I'm glad I gave it a chance. If you enjoy the classics and are looking to read something festive but a little bit different this Christmas, I couldn't recommend it to you more.

I'm now tempted to try a similar collection of festive fables from Scandinavian writers called A Scandinavian Christmas: Festive Tales for a Nordic Noel. I have far too many books on my TBR pile waiting to be read to justify a pre-Christmas purchase, but I may have to pick up a copy for next year.

Have you read A German Christmas? What are your favourite festive books?

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The Festive Christmas Book Tag

I found this fun bookish Christmas tag post a couple of years ago, and it's been sat in my drafts ever since, so I think it's time I gave it a go. There are eight festive book-related questions, and it was originally created by the Booktuber GirlReading. 

1. A fictional family you would like to spend Christmas dinner with.

I think it would be so much fun to spend Christmas with the Weasely family at The Burrow, although, Christmas with the March family at Orchard House would be lovely, too.

2. A bookish item you would like to receive as a gift

Sprayed-edged books, bookmarks inspired by my favourite books, or custom Funko Pops of Jacks the Prince of Hearts or Nikolai Lantsov would go down very well with me. Or, y'know, just a big stack of new books.

3. A fictional character you think would make a perfect Christmas elf.

Trying to avoid saying the obvious one- 'Dobby', I think Nikolai Lantsov from the Shadow and Bone / King of Scars books would make an excellent Christmas elf. He loves to invent and build things, the demon inside him could help keep kids in line around Santa, and let's face it, he'd look adorable adjusting his lapels in an elf suit. 

4. Match a book to its perfect Christmas song

I think Every Christmas Eve from the Santa Claus the Movie soundtrack would go perfectly with the first Christmas Eve scene in Little Women, when Marmee and the girls all settle around the fire to read the letter from Mr March, and are trying not to be sad that they're poor and not together.

5. Bah humbug! A book or fictional character you've been disappointed in and should be put on the naughty list.

Apollo from The Ballad of Never After. Considering what he did at the end of the book, he deserves to be be pelted with coal, and force-fed Brussels sprouts until the end of time. As should Stratt from Project Hail Mary for what she did to Ryland Grace. 

6. A book or fictional character you think deserves more love and appreciation and deserves to be put on the nice list.

Jacks the Prince of Hearts from the Caraval and Once upon a Broken Hearts books. Yes, he can kill people with his kiss, and manipulates people to get what he wants, but underneath, he's got a gentle side, and doesn't hesitate to put himself in danger to save people he cares about. The poor guy has been through so much, and just wants to be loved, but he can't have it because his (supposed) one-true-love- the only girl he can't kill with his kiss- chose another, and his kiss will kill the girl he actually loves. (He definitely loves her, don't try to convince me otherwise). And after what happened at the end of The Ballad of Never After, I think he could do with a hug, and some presents. Maybe a gift card for some therapy, or a cure for his curses so he can go get his girl?

7. Red, gold, and green. A book cover that has a wonderfully Christmassy feel to it.

I have a beautiful soft-green hardback of The Way Past Winter by Kiran Millwood Hargrave (this one), and it looks so wintry and festive.

8. A book or series you loved so much, you want everyone to find under their Christmas tree this year so they can read it, and love it, too?

I've read so many great books this year, so this is a tough one. I can't pick just one.

For people who love a good fantasy series, I'd tell Santa to bring them the Shadow and Bone / Six of Crows / King of Scars books by Leigh Bardugo, which are all fantastic fantasy trilogies or duologies set in the same magical world. I loved them all so much, that I devoured all seven books in under two months, and became completely obsessed- especially with Nikolai, who is one of the best book characters ever. There's now a graphic novel prequel called The Demon in the Wood, and the two companion books are worth reading, as well.

For those who prefer stand-alone books, I'd gift Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, or The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber. They're easily four of my favourite reads of 2022, and you need to read them.

And that's The Festive Christmas Book Tag.

Feel free to have a go at the tag on your own blog. If you do, remember to send me the link to your post so I can read your answers!

Which book(s) do you love so much you'd gift it to everyone this Christmas?

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