Christmas 2020 was always going to be different wasn't it? I expected it to be quieter than usual. I expected to miss people. But I never expected how this one would turn out.
In blogs and across social media, it's very easy to share the good times and shiny stuff. What's harder sometimes is to be real and a bit raw. I'm going to try my best to be those things in this post.
2020 has been a hell of a ride, so I think we were all ready for a little festive cheer. With a lot of the usual rituals off limits - taking the kids to meet Santa, work Christmas parties - the ones we could keep to felt even more important.
To say that this year has been a bit of a shocker is a complete understatement, so I think most of us are more than ready for some festive cheer. I've been looking forward to Christmas in a major way.
The kids at 5 and 2 are at the peak ages to be excited and basically since late November we've been shamelessly encouraging it with lots of gingerbread baking, festive film watching and mince pie eating. I don't even know who's more excited at this point.
What have you got planned for your 2020 festivities?
Nothing is going to be the same this year, but it's all about looking to the positive and appreciating the little pleasures. That's why the December Birchbox was so welcome when it arrived on my doorstep.
True, all our Christmas parties have been cancelled or will be happening on Zoom, but this little arrival gave me a touch of that festive spirit. I haven't been a Birchbox subscriber for a long time, but I saw the box spoilers for this edition and had to get in on the action.
Anyone else self-gift around Christmas?
They say you have to love yourself before you can love others...and that flimsy justification is really all I need to top up my dressing table - so it was time for a slice of festive Beauty Pie! This really makes it feel like Christmas has come early.
As well as being totally in love with their premium skincare, the makeup offering from Beauty Pie has really impressed me this year. More and more of their products are becoming part of my daily essentials now. They’ve been busy reformulating a lot of things, and they’re coming back feeling really luxurious.
So, what brought some festive cheer to my doorstep this week?
Although it seems as if hardly any time has gone by since the last FabFitFun box came winding it's way across the Atlantic, just before Christmas the Winter box arrived.
This is one of my favourite sub boxes I've ever tried - you get a great mix of homewares, beauty, fitness things and accessories, the brands are generally high quality, and because it comes from the US, there are usually a few items that I haven't already tried or that are harder to get hold of here in the UK.
It's a fun little splurge that always brightens my day when it arrives. The box is a mix of some items you select and others that are a surprise. So what was in my winter 2020 FabFitFun box?
With people being stuck inside over the winter holidays, our kids are going to be home so often - which means that we need to find ways to entertain them. While older children may be quite content to do their own thing for at least part of the day, it can get harder when you have small children. So finding ideas for fun things that you can do to keep your kids entertained while they are stuck inside is absolutely vital.
Are you thinking of a new vehicle in 2021? I know I've definitely outgrown my BMM 1 Series, and I'm looking for a family car that will have more room for the kids and the dog we want to get.
Choosing a new car for your family can be a bit overwhelming and lead you down a rabbit hole of features, safety ratings and economic efficiency your car must-have. If you are finding choosing a new car challenging. doing some research and being clear on what you need is important. The following are hot favourites for a reason.
I’ve written a lot in the past about the concept of ‘French girl chic’. That idea of a simple, classic style that manages to combine timelessness with something just a tiny bit edgy and ‘je ne sais quois’.
Judging from the many millions of search results, books and articles out there on ‘how to get french girl style’ it's a subject that holds enduring fascination for many of us.
So when, in between the patches of stricter lockdown, we were able to escape for a very rare weekend away in Cheshire and The Mere Hotel to celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary, I brought my French girl A-game when it came to finding the perfect outfit.
