Slowing Down & Off to America for Christmas #littleloves

Last updated on May 5th, 2024 at 03:15 pm

Happy Friday… Happy Holidays.

We are half way through December and the festive season already, I can’t believe it. While November was an awful month for us, December has been just steady. I say that in a positive way. No more bad news came our way which was a blessing but no good news either. We have been on days out to celebrate Santa and Christmas ahead. Organizing our trip to America for the holidays has been in the mix too. I forget how busy Chrismtas time gets with schools too between B’s school and MM’s preschool I have been their constant PA for weeks now. We have been to Christmas Fairs, Xmas Discos, Christmas Plays and so many festivities in between for them both.

Phew, I need a week lying on the couch and that’s just what I plan to do. While I have been doing Vlogmas as you probably have seen or if you see a few videos below would love you to check them out but it has come time for me to shut down a bit. I have been overwhelmed lately and riding on adrenaline. The only problem with adrenaline is when it’s gone so am I. I really wanted to do Vlogmas until we leave for the states but tomorrow will be my first day not uploading. I feel almost relieved about it. I loved every minute of sharing more of our everyday life and if things were different with my family, I could put more efforts into it unti Christmas Day maybe next year. Either way, I have a few videos to share over Christmas / New Year but no more uploads each day. I hope you will continue to watch the two weeks of Vlogmas videos I have done already shared or if you missed any have a catch up. Christmas Day in America will be shared so keep watch for that too! 

THIS WEEK I AM LOVING…

I shared the week before last, a pile of books I had just bought to read over the festive season and I have to say I am proud of myself having finished two books.  The Cruel Crown which was the short stories from the series Red Queen, while I desperately wait the third book to come out. I also finished The Secret which was a crime thriller, page turner. Always helps you read a bit faster when you are kept guessing and on the edge of the story. I have two more to go to take with me to America next week. Not sure how much reading I will get done visiting with family – probalby none but the challenge to read more is there. 

Have you “heard”? I know I use this question each week for this section as it seems a good place to announce things or share news… no I am not having a baby, everyone always assumes this when the word announce is written. Hahaha But since I plauged the #littleloves group for over a year with my country music I thought I best give this space a little more definition than what I listen to that no one has heard of before. Back to the topic, have you heard I did a VLOGGING IN PUBLIC CHALLENGE? I wanted to use vlogmas as an attempt to get better at filming and feeling more comfortable in front of the camera. Believe it or not, I really struggle even in my own home, on my own to feel relaxed about it. So I thought what better way to get over it than push myself to vlog in public. As the video goes on I can even see that I am getting more confident and not so scared to use my full volume voice in the middle of the grocery store. 

I have been watching The Crown on Netflix which is SOOO GOOD. I can’t recommend enough. I even got my Mother-in-law a Netflix gift card for Xmas and she asked for it early so she could watch it too, having seen the first episode at our house. I am finishing up watching the recent season of How to Get Away with Murder. I think it has lost it’s touch but I am faithful to shows until the end. I wasn’t sure about the new Vampire Diaries without the main character Elena in it anymore but I started it and stopped. With a friendly nudge from our #littleloves host I started it again and Morgana, you are right, it’s addictive again. It feels like a completely different storyline which is refreshing. I just had to get used to it and I am binge watching it again. Next on my list to watch is Stranger Things and Gilmore Girls. I know so far behind. I don’t know whether to start watching GG from episode one series one or the year in the Life one. What do you think GG fans?

I have been living in my new Primark dressing gown and Tesco pjs. Yup, these cozy numbers have been my uniform for days now. I had the best shopping luck at Primark which for me never happens. I am one of those that hates digging, has no patience, and needs shopping guidance. I hate that you can’t shop online for Primark too. I had some vouchers to spend and went in solo so I could concentrate. Well, it benefitted me nicely because for once I found everything on my wishlist and more. I have never own a bathrobe/dressing gown before so this was a special treat. I have truly been missing out. You can see more of my Primark shopping haul in the video below and I have been wearing it to all my festive celebrations this week. 

I have made Missy Moo’s wardrobe new again, it was looking worn and dingy with these awesome Pixersticks. They were easy to apply and really coordinated perfectly with her vibrant new big girl bedroom. I really wanted to buy new wardrobe but didn’t want to waste the money and I thought about painting it but this was a great alternative. 

I have also made a beautiful Winter Christmas Tablescape. If you have caught it you can read the post here or watch the video here on How to Style a Winter Tablescape. 

One I have been really excited to share with you all is my video on How to Make an Advent Calendar Tree. I had ideas on how I wanted to do our advent this year and it came together so nicely. I was so impressed that I actually made a craft and it didn’t go pear shape. If you haven’t noticed I may style tables and food but I am not a crafter like my momma, sadly.

I love Christmas time, it’s my favorite time of year. I also love instagram more than any other social media. It’s like my mini blog or that’s how I treat it. It’s little snippets and snaps of our daily life for the expat family back home to follow along, my followers to see what we are up to and for me to store all my favorite moments in one place. So it’s no wonder I adore everyone’s captures especially during this time of year. The community #lifecloseup really brings me so much cheer each week with the festive captures being shared. It’s a lovely engaging community to get involved with if you haven’t already. Those that do join in each week, I am so grateful for your support and snap happy hands too. We share something in common. Here is this week’s favorite instagrammers.

 VIEW THE HASHTAG COMMUNITY HERE!

Linking up to Coffee Work Sleep Repeat for #LittleLoves