I am of course talking about Christmas. It's no good. I've held back since August and I just can't hold back any longer. I'm going all out for it now. Yes, the time has come for CHRISTMAS PREPARATION.
Just you put down those rotten tomatoes down for a moment and let me explain!
Every year I say THIS Christmas will be different. That THIS Christmas will finally see me swanning back and forth dishing out mulled wine and home-baked mince pies like a domestic goddess. This Christmas I will be organised and efficient enough to get the Christmas cards out not just on time, but each with a little personal message. This Christmas will be the one where home-stitched decorations hang from the tree, and the house is full of the smell of orange, mixed spice and woodsmoke. And where Martin will be allowed to play his dreadful festive tapes of Christmas music and I will finally remember to tune into a carol service on the radio and be reminded of what Christmas is supposed to be all about.
I'm tired of frantic shopping, last minute wrapping and over sleeping Christmas morning because I'm so frazzled. Of finding out hubby has posted all the cards, including the ones without addresses on. Of me standing gormlessly with hot pans burning holes through my oven gloves because I've no worksurface to put them on so I finally dump them on the tile floor.
Nope, this year I'm going to make a festive, relaxed and joyful Christmas if I have to drag it kicking and screaming.
So without further ado let me begin.
I spent a most enjoyable morning the other day with cups of tea and all my old Christmas Country Living magazines gleaning some inspiration and taking photos along the way. I'm particularly interested this year in two things a) doing things differently and b) doing it homemade using things from my kitchen cupboards, the garden or hobbies stash! And this is what I found (very image heavy from now on and all photo credits to Country Living):
Decorations

Easy to make non-edible cinnamon decorations
A use for last year's Christmas cards besides the usual tags
Oh wow is all I can say to this wreath! This is hand-made and not plastic and I do have the components in the garden and the fridge to make this
Check out the paper chain made from velvet ribbon!
I have a few ugly baubles that could do with a makeover like this
Easy peezy!
I live with a sweetie fiend and I have bucket loads of royal icing
Bit of wild card this one. It would be too costly for me to do but I love it! A florist's sponge ball with moss and mistletoe poked into it.
For all you knitters out there, check out this link to making a miniature yarn ball (with needles) decoration for the tree! I think there's probably an easier way to do it by leaving out the bauble all together. That way you can re-use the yarn if you want to.
Homemade pressies
And of course you could also knit or crochet tea cosies, gloves, dishcloths, scarves, cushions covers, blankets (squares), lap warmers, socks...the possibilities are endless!
Advent calenders with a difference!
Super easy
Baby's first advent calender?
Food
I love this!
If you don't fancy the turkey or for someone who is pesce-vegetarian
Ahhhh cuteness!
Ooooo....sweet stuffed red onions...my favourite...
Raspberry and chocolate roulade...yum, yum, scoff, scoff, scoff
Living room style
I adore the patchwork stockings!
I like the teeny tree!
The festive table
Doesn't this have a nostalgic 1940s feel to it?
I love the great big rope of fragrant rosemary down the middle of the table with lots of apples and nuts
Well..I hope you're still with me and enjoyed this little piece of inspiration. I've been gathering supplies together to start some of these projects and finished one at the weekend.
But that's to show you another day!