I've started a little shopping...
I can't believe how far behind in Christmas shopping I feel this year! Normally by now I have lists ready and I'm well underway. I think part of the problem is that I haven't been able to get a sensible word from the Lads about what they want, and I am just not prepared to have a go at guessing myself. That, and the money flow is not the best. We are doing well, thank you, but working for oneself as a business, especially one like solicitor, means that you never know whether this month is a feast or a famine.
I thought I would be giving up tutoring, but I still need to keep it up for the next year at least, if only to pay for Christmas. Having a small amount of cash every week just gives me the freedom to know that I will have x amount to spend on y day. It helps. Like Tesco says... every little helps.
But this weekend I finally sat down, notebook and Evernote to hand, and planned the shopping. I still have no idea what the lads want, but they'll have to make do with cold, hard cash. Sarah was much easier; she gave me a list (on the computer; no more beautifully written and cut out of the catalogue lists for Santa, it seems) and told me to get on with it. Well, I have.
And therein lies my next problem. Where can I store it all where she won't find it? How do I get it all in the house past her and.... worst of all.... where on Earth do I find the time at home.... alone... to do the packing? I mean, I know that she and I can make a really good job of doing any wrapping that's not for her, we'll turn the lights down low, put on some Christmas music, have some suitable nibbles and an array of trimmings and get everybody elses' wrapping done beautifully... but where will I find the time/energy to wrap hers? Eh, well. She'll have to take it how it comes.
I have started a new Pinterest board, Gift Wrapping Inspiration, feel free to go and look at it, and if you know any more good wrapping ideas, please send them to me at angeljem5 on Pinterest.
Hygge is big...like MASSIVE
On the Hygge front, I have some exciting news; Meik Wiking, the author of The Little Book of Hygge is answering questions for me As We Speak and I will be posting the question sand answers on my Hygge blog, How to Hygge The British Way on Saturday 15th October.
That's right! I'm part of Meik's UK Blog tour to promote his brilliant book! I posted a review of the book already on HTHTBW, you can read it here; The Little Book of Hygge By Meik Wiking, and I was twittering about it and hygge (like you do) and an offer came up from the publicist to join in the blog tour and... well, I said yes, because I really do think hygge as a concept is one we all need, but done in our own way. Pop by on Saturday to read the post, and browse the blog.
If you're not already a friend on social media, do, please, come and find me! I am on all sorts of channels;
Facebook as an individual and with my page, How to Hygge the British Way
Twitter as @AngelKneale
Instagram as britishhyggejem
Pinterest as AngelJem5
Come and friend me; I will follow you back as well.
I thought I would be giving up tutoring, but I still need to keep it up for the next year at least, if only to pay for Christmas. Having a small amount of cash every week just gives me the freedom to know that I will have x amount to spend on y day. It helps. Like Tesco says... every little helps.
But this weekend I finally sat down, notebook and Evernote to hand, and planned the shopping. I still have no idea what the lads want, but they'll have to make do with cold, hard cash. Sarah was much easier; she gave me a list (on the computer; no more beautifully written and cut out of the catalogue lists for Santa, it seems) and told me to get on with it. Well, I have.
And therein lies my next problem. Where can I store it all where she won't find it? How do I get it all in the house past her and.... worst of all.... where on Earth do I find the time at home.... alone... to do the packing? I mean, I know that she and I can make a really good job of doing any wrapping that's not for her, we'll turn the lights down low, put on some Christmas music, have some suitable nibbles and an array of trimmings and get everybody elses' wrapping done beautifully... but where will I find the time/energy to wrap hers? Eh, well. She'll have to take it how it comes.
I have started a new Pinterest board, Gift Wrapping Inspiration, feel free to go and look at it, and if you know any more good wrapping ideas, please send them to me at angeljem5 on Pinterest.
Hygge is big...like MASSIVE
On the Hygge front, I have some exciting news; Meik Wiking, the author of The Little Book of Hygge is answering questions for me As We Speak and I will be posting the question sand answers on my Hygge blog, How to Hygge The British Way on Saturday 15th October.
That's right! I'm part of Meik's UK Blog tour to promote his brilliant book! I posted a review of the book already on HTHTBW, you can read it here; The Little Book of Hygge By Meik Wiking, and I was twittering about it and hygge (like you do) and an offer came up from the publicist to join in the blog tour and... well, I said yes, because I really do think hygge as a concept is one we all need, but done in our own way. Pop by on Saturday to read the post, and browse the blog.
If you're not already a friend on social media, do, please, come and find me! I am on all sorts of channels;
Facebook as an individual and with my page, How to Hygge the British Way
Twitter as @AngelKneale
Instagram as britishhyggejem
Pinterest as AngelJem5
Come and friend me; I will follow you back as well.
You're so organised, the most I've done towards Christmas gifts is tell them to start thinking what they want. I think it gets harder every year, perhaps not for Eleanor as I could go on and on buying girl things but it's really hard for Daniel. I do like to buy surprises but I ran out of ideas many years ago. I see you've got a Lamy fountain pen, Mick bought me a gorgeous red one for my birthday, I haven't used a fountain pen since I was at school and I'm finding it's taking some getting used to.
ReplyDeleteI've had mine for a couple of years and it comes out... then disappears again. I'm trying to be more consistent in my writing with it. It's in my planner, and I'm not letting it go anywhere. Actually, this year I grabbed it because I was reading Alison May's 30 Day Christmas Countdown and she said about writing Christmas cards with green ink, and I thought that sounded cute. So I found the pen and the ink, and now I'm planning my card night for November...
DeleteI am not in the mood for Christmas yet. We are a bit slapdash when it comes to Christmas actually, no planning goes into it at all and all is very low key. It always works out in the end. Have fun shopping!
ReplyDeleteWhether you plan, or whether you don't it's still Christmas. I have some uber organised friends who have it done and dusted in October. Usually that's me, but I actually missed the mad shopping in December, so I'm consciously spreading the joy this year.
DeleteI love your lists (how sad am I), detailed, neat.... I love lists! I shall enjoy shopping for you swap partner and Chase winner. My email is chezbobs@chezbobs.karoo.co.uk xx
ReplyDeleteYou beauty! I'm off to send you an email now!!!
DeleteI so have the Christmas feeling this year and I am not letting it go. I have started shopping, started making my cards and started making. BRING IT ON. Fountain pens are the best - for my Birthday my Hubby bought me ink that smells of Parma Violets (sadly only as you write) and an ink that has a silver tinge to it. I love ink. x
ReplyDeleteWhen I was about 13 my Mum got me smelly ink for Christmas one year. I loved using them, they smelled of carnations, lupins, roses and hyacinths. They did only write with blue ink, which I hate, but I used them all every single drop.
DeleteThe silver tinge ink sounds fascinating... do you have photos or does it have to be seen to be believed?
I haven't managed to get it perfect yet. On the first attempt I didn't pick up enough Silver, I'm still trying to make it look nicer.x
DeleteThat is very organised of yoU! Actually I want to order my husband this shirt from Palava with budgies on it, it is really cute- he said he liked it so I should!
ReplyDeleteI find shopping for the husband is really hard, because he doesn't do the small,cute stuff I am so good at buying. This year it's like "I'll give you money, you go buy your shirts for work". I'm getting a bag from Cath Kidston. I hope. Or else.
DeleteI was reading the Brocante countdown the other day and wondered about buying a fountain pen!
ReplyDeleteOur shopping, or should that be my shopping, has been cut this year as G's family have decided to do a secret Santa among the adults. So with 8 adults taking part I will only need to buy one gift and G can buy for whoever he gets.
Tony will be getting money too, he is desperately saving for driving lessons and all that.
Vanna has started her list, so far it contains eyeshadow.
Lisa x