Countdown to Christmas: Day 6

It's been a very busy (and extremely festive) day today!

Mulling

I was up early to start mulling for some events today!

Christmas Earrings

I wore my new spangly Christmas tree earrings today - a lovely pre-Christmas present from Rob.

Bailey’s Wood Festive Walk and Talk

Did my best Captain Christmas impression for Friends of Bailey's Wood today, leading a festive walk in the woods and bringing the cheer (mulled apple juice and mince pies) afterwards. The reindeer deely-boppers were because Bailey's Wood was once part of the medieval Blackley deer park, of course.

Alchemy Hairdressing

Quick pit-stop for a haircut and a coffee with Kelly at Alchemy Hairdressing. One of my only non-mulled drinks of the day!

Castlerea Festive Film Afternoon

Festive film afternoon at Castlerea Care Home. We watched Miracle on 34th Street, with mince pies, popcorn and mulled apple juice.

Miracle on Cross Street

We super-charged our festiveness tonight, as I surprised Rob with a trip to a Christmas speakeasy. Miracle on Cross Street is AMAZING!

Advent Tea

Behind Door No. 6 in my Bird and Blend Tea advent calendar... Starry Night!

Advent Jewellery

And behind Door No. 6 in my Avon jewellery calendar... gold star earrings!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 5

Another day of celebrating the countdown to Christmas, though (once again) this was mostly just a day at work. I did have a dinner date with an old friend in the evening though, and we managed to make that very festive.

Christmas Earrings

Another new pair of festive earrings... these sparkly Christmas trees were from The Outwoods Gift Shop.

Christmas Tea Break

Tea break at work but make it Christmas, featuring lebkuchen and Gingerbread Chai from Bird and Blend Tea.

Festive Dinner Date

Caught up with a friend tonight for an excellent night out. We had the festive menu at Bundobust, plus a mince pie paratha. We also had wine and talked a lot.

Advent Tea

Behind Door No. 5 in my Bird and Blend Tea advent calendar... Snowball Hot Cocoa!

Advent Jewellery

And behind Door No. 5 in my Avon jewellery calendar... snowflake earrings!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 4

Today was mostly about work (and shopping for later in the week), but I injected a little bit of festivity into one of my meetings at least.

Friends of Crumpsall Park

Friends of Crumpsall Park committee meeting but make it Christmas... featuring stollen and Mulled Cider tea from Bird and Blend Tea.

Advent Tea

Behind Door No. 4 in my Bird and Blend Tea advent calendar... 'Tis the Squeezon!

Advent Jewellery

And behind Door No. 4 in my Avon jewellery calendar... a silver bow pendant!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 3

It's the third day of our festive celebrations, and it was another cold one today. The snow settled a little bit overnight, and the temperatures didn't get up to much today. We had some festive missions today though, so time to wrap up warm!

Crumpsall Park Litter-Pick

Freezing cold litter-pick with Friends of Crumpsall Park, followed by mulled apple juice and mince pies in the park.

Christmas Earrings

I wore my lovely new Christmas earrings today... a pair of mince pies from So Berry Crafty.

Mulled Apple Juice

I had a little bit of the mulled apple left from this morning, so we took it round to my mother-in-law's for a little festive drink.

Christmas Trees

Today's main festive mission was helping my mother-in-law put up her Christmas trees. My mother-in-law takes her Christmas trees very seriously, so this is a big job. We were rewarded with the second roulade of the weekend.

Advent Tea

Behind Door No. 3 in my Bird and Blend Tea advent calendar... Candy Floss at the Fair!

Avon Advent Calendar

And behind Door No. 3 in my Avon jewellery calendar... a pearl pendant!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 2

Second day of our festive countdown, and it was a very cold one. We thought we were wrapped up warm enough for our afternoon out, but perhaps another layer or two would have been good! It snowed though, so that was pretty special.

Road Trip Mince Pie

On a festive road trip and eating a mince pie. It's December, baby!

Winter Foraging

We went on a (very, very cold but really enjoyable) winter foraging workshop this afternoon with Forage Box, finding rosehips, hawthorn berries, garlic mustard, artists conk, trooping funnels and loads more, then warming up with a cup of wild mulled wine.

Trooping Funnel

Taste-testing a trooping funnel mushroom! And we definitely approve!

Saturday Night Dinner

We went to my parents' for dinner tonight. First roulade of the weekend!

Advent Tea

Behind Door No. 2 in my Bird and Blend Tea advent calendar... Whisktea!

Advent Jewellery

And behind Door No. 2 in my Avon jewellery calendar... a pearl pendant!

Countdown to Christmas: Day 1

It's the first day of our Christmas countdown! Lots of festive things to look forward to before the big day!

Advent Calendars

We take advent calendars very seriously in our house. Rob has his wooden winter village calendar, which I fill with teeny tiny envelopes each containing a chapter of a teeny tiny story I've written for him. And I've got a Bird and Blend Tea calendar (from Rob) and an Avon jewellery calendar (that I bought for myself in last year's sale!). It's not in the picture, but the cats also have an advent calendar.

Christmas Earrings

I wore my first new pair of Christmas earrings today... sparkly holly leaves from 22 Jewels.

Santa Cupcake

Got a festive but kinda trippy cupcake from the local shop.

Advent Tea

Behind Door No. 1 in my Bird and Blend Tea advent calendar... Brighton Rock!

Advent Jewellery

And behind Door No. 1 in my Avon jewellery calendar... a silver chain!