My Sunday Photo 27/11/2022

 

My boys made some wooden Christmas decorations for the tree ☺️

My top 10 christmas songs.

Hey readers,

I have compiled a playlist of my favourite Christmas songs to get you dancing around that Christmas tree. 

I love a bit of everything from Jazz, to hip-hop to even the 80s (of course has to be done doesn’t). So grab a mince pie and enjoy.

Driving Home for Christmas – Chris Rea.

My favourite Christmas song EVER is Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea. I just think it is a really beautiful voice and that sense of love to it, makes me smile and feel all googly inside.

Let It Snow – Dean Martin.

I love jazz music when it's Christmas time, it just feels classy and a bit like you got to sh*t together. It just has the right collection of notes. Dean Martin’s voice just captures Christmas for me and it makes me think of fires and all the jazz (excuse the pun there).

Winter Wonderland – Frank Sinatra.

My favourite Jazz singer has to be Frankie baby with this classic of Winter Wonderland. it is a perfect compliment when wrapping presents and decorating the Christmas tree.

Baby, it’s Cold Outside – Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews.

Let’s move along in time to the late ’90s with this amazing duet from Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews. It is cheeky, it is fun what more could you want?

Merry Christmas – Mel and Kim.

I can not miss out on adding an 80’s classic to my Christmas song wish list with this timeless song that you hear. It is, of course, Merry Christmas by Mel and Kim. You know this is a fun pop song and you be guaranteed to want to sing along to it.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of Year – Andy Williams.

A beaut of a song is this is one of the most popular songs of Andy Williams with it’s the most wonderful time of year. What a credible voice and perfect to add to anyone’s Christmas playlist.

Merry Christmas I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight – The Ramones.

Now I have picked something a little alternative and not such a popular Christmas track. It is a song by The Ramones called Merry Christmas I don’t want to fight tonight. I like this track because it is got a raw edge to it. 

 It is a bit more realistic regards to the pressures of family life at Christmas. Let’s face there is a lot of pressure whether it is financial or whatever it can take its toll.

The Little Drummer Boy (Peace on Earth) – Bing Crosby featuring David Bowie.

A beautiful duet with David Bowie and Bing Crosby. To think a glam rocker and a crooner could work so well but it did and thank goodness it was released because it is brilliant!

Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto – James Brown.

Now we are moving on to a bit of soul with the Godfather of Soul James Brown. If you ain’t tapping along with this one what is wrong with you, it is upbeat and full of funk with a mix of Christmas blended in.

Christmas in Hollies – RUN-DMC.

For fun and one you want to turn the volume up Run DMC with Christmas in hollies, for awesome Christmas raps to get you in the spirit of Christmas.

Cheers for reading X

Christmas punch recipe.

 Hey readers, 

What a festive treat is a Christmas punch and it is so easy to knock up. Below is the recipe which takes minutes to do but packs all the punch in a drink. 

What you need. 

* Ice

* 200ml vodka

* 200ml cranberry juice

* 200ml orange juice  juice

* 6 tsp brown sugar (optional)

* 300ml soda water

How to make it. 

1. Fill a large jug or punch bowl with ice. Add the vodka, cranberry and clementine juice and stir to combine. I

2. If you want to add a little sweetness to this naturally sharp-tasting punch stir in the sugar and mix until dissolved.

Enjoy X

My Sunday Photo 20/11/2022

 

31 blog ideas for December

Hey readers, 

Seaming as we are approaching December I have drawn up 31 blog post ideas perfect for December so don't worry but just write. Enjoy :)

1. What is on your wish list this year?

2. New year's resolutions. 

3. A gift guide.

4. Host a giveaway.

5. A list of books you have read this year.

6. Write your year in a review.

7. Create a fiction story that you have made up.

8. Share a cookie recipe.

9. Things that you have learned this year. 

10. What's on in your local area? 

11. Tips and hacks to survive the winter.

12. Share your favourite holiday activities.

13. What can you think during winter? 

14. How do you conquer cabin fever?

15. Write a winter bucket list.

16. What are the best Christmas markets near you? 

17. How do you get over the Christmas blues? 

18. What are your favourite Christmas movies? 

19. Christmas outfit ideas. 

20. Gift ideas for kids. 

21. Share your holiday decor. 

22. Write a letter to Santa. 

23. Favourite slow cooker recipes. 

24. Write about your Christmas traditions. 

25. Have a day off, it's Christmas day after all. 

26. Best activities to do in Winter. 

27. Share your favourite Pinterest boards and explain why. 

28. How do you organise your blog/time?

29. A guide to Christmas stocking fillers.

30. Your Christmas wishlist.

31. Skincare for the winter.

Will you be using any of these blog post ideas? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Cheers for reading X 

Charity at school

Hey readers,

My son received a letter the other day about BBC Children In Need day, where you can come to school dressed up in something spotty and raise money for the occasion. 

The problem I have with this is that I am against schools trying to a) push parents into giving and b) in making a child feel isolated if they do not join in.

With regards to a) my problem is I believe people should have a choice and not be forced by peer pressure to feel included. 

What happens if the parent is skint they can't afford money nor can they meet the requirements, i.e. having anything spotty?

 I know some people who are so stressed about such events that they lie and call in sick due to not having the money to give.

 When will the school be actually about education and not about charity? I am all for charity but I think it is wrong to do it in a school setting. The child has to be there as it is the law so why don't we stop the charity and do it in a location where the person has the choice to attend or not?

It never stops with the charity raising in school and again I think this is wrong. Some organisations for whom I don't trust certain charities to fully give money to the direct charity, which I believe they should because that is the whole point. But that is a different post entirely.

Another point I would like to put forward why is some fundraising is allowed and who gets to choose which charity is more important than another one.

Where is the cut-off to allowing fundraising in school, it just seems to me a growing number of charity events are ever-increasing days and I don't think it will stop any time soon?

My b) point is I don't think it is fair, especially with schools in more deprived areas that may not have the funds to give to charity in the potential to make the parent feel isolated by not giving. It again can have the risk of making the parent feel even more worthless because they can not provide for their child to participate.

So there you have it that is my argument against all fundraising in a school setting. I am going to be brave and speak out as I know this is controversial but I feel that it needs to be talked about.

What do you think about the charity at school? Are you for or against it? I would love to hear your comments in the thought section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday Photo 13/11/2022

 

My boys had their first Covid booster and they even got a sticker ✅ 💉