Just a quick note to say Merry Christmas. I hope you all have a fab Christmas and New Year! x
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
Monday, 23 December 2013
Christmas Crafts 2013
I'll use any excuse to get the craft box out - and what better excuse is there than Christmas? One of my favourite parts of Christmas is sitting down with my daughters (and very occasionally and usually under duress, The Husband) to make something festive. Add some Christmas music to craft away to and finish off with a Christmas film and you've got yourself a pretty perfect afternoon!
This year, I bought the girls a make-your-own-stocking kit (for a bargainous £1 for both the Santa and snowman stockings - thank you Wilkinson).
Then, after seeing a Sky advert (and not Tesco like I stated on Twitter and Facebook - sorry Sky), we made these sweet-filled Santas out of crepe paper and loo rolls. The best bit is, after Christmas we get to rip them open and eat the sweeties - yum!
And here they are on the tree:
I like to make my girls a handmade Christmas card and have started incorporating some sort of sweet. This year, I made Christmas trees with the trunk being a little pocket that holds a small festive chocolate bar.
And finally, I had to make a festive bookmark to use while reading my Christmassy books.
And the 5yo had a go too!
Saturday, 21 December 2013
Mistletoe & Memories by Matilda Maxwell
Eden is enjoying student life and starting to get into the spirit of Christmas when her former high school nemesis Declan shows up. Declan made Eden miserable at school, using every opportunity to humiliate and ridicule her, but when he turns up in York, he seems to have changed. He's matured and softened and Eden begins to think they can finally be friends - or perhaps even more.
But has he changed or is he still the same old Declan underneath?
Mistletoe & Memories is a New Adult novella which can be read in an hour or two, making the perfect book if you have a bit of spare time to curl up and read in between rushing around getting everything sorted for Christmas. Eden has been hurt by Declan in the past, so she is understandably wary of him to begin with and I felt for her as her memories of Declan's taunting resurfaced. Despite this, Eden can't help being drawn to Declan so I hoped that he had changed as I'd really warmed to Eden and wanted her to be happy.
I enjoyed Matilda Maxwell's style of writing. It was relaxed with a nice balance of humour and heart and the story kept me interested throughout as I kept reading to discover what was in store for Eden and Declan.
Friday, 20 December 2013
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Book Awards: 2013
I've read some fantastic books this year so I thought I would share some of my favourites:
Cover of the year:
Billy & Me by Giovanna Fletcher
Billy & Me was my Cover Star for July. You can see my Cover Stars post here or see my review of the book here
Festive Cover of the year &
Festive Book of the year:
Christmas at Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop
Christmas at Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop was my Cover Star for November. You can see my Cover Star post here or my review of the book here
Summer Book of the Year:
The Longest Holiday by Paige Toon
You can see my review here
Summer Cover of the year:
Vivien's Heavenly Ice Cream Shop by Abby Clements
Vivien's Heavenly Ice Cream Shop was my Cover Star for August. You can see my Cover Star post here or my review of the book here
Hero of the year:
Leo from The Longest Holiday
Leo was lovely! He pulled off the gorgeous, brooding hero to perfection and certainly made me swoon.
Heroine of the year:
Helen Walsh from The Mystery of Mercy Close
Helen suffers from depression and can feel herself being swallowed more and more as the book progresses. Helen is a fantastic, funny character but she is also brave and strong and I admired her for that.
You can see my review of The Mystery of Mercy Close here
Book of the year:
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
I read Life After Life quite early on in the year, but even then I knew it would be a strong contender for my Book of the Year. You can see my review of the book here
I've read some fantastic books throughout the year. You can see all my reviews here
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Festive Guest Post: Jaimie Admans
My Top Ten Christmas Films
1 – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
My number one favourite Christmas movie of all time! A year is not complete without watching this at least once over the holidays! The third one of the National Lampoon ‘Vacation’ series, this time Chevy Chase tries to make Christmas perfect for his extended family who are visiting for the festive season. Obviously, things go wrong. It’s quite old now, made in 1989 I think, and I still don’t think there’s been a better Christmas movie since!
I don’t even have a favourite moment for this one, just all of it!
2 – Elf
Tim Allen knocks Santa Claus off his roof and puts his jacket on, unwittingly becoming the next Santa. Then follows the year in which he transforms into an old, fat, bearded St Nick! I absolutely love Tim Allen in anything, and he’s just brilliant in this! It’s so funny, with some great lines and sarcastic comebacks!
Favourite moment: when Fed-Ex deliver the Naughty and Nice list!
4 – The Polar Express
Lovely animated film with Tom Hanks. A boy who doesn’t believe in Santa anymore is picked up at night by the Polar Express train to visit the North Pole on Christmas Eve. It’s a heart-warming story that never fails to put a smile on my face!
Favourite moment: I love the part where they sing When Christmas Comes to Town, and also Josh Groban singing at the end!
5 – Jack Frost
Inattentive dad Michael Keaton dies but comes back as a snowman in his wife and son’s garden to make amends for the less-than-fatherly ways of when he was alive. Get your hankies ready at the end!
Favourite moment: The end, if I can see it through my tears!
6 – Fred Claus
Santa’s little brother Fred, played by Vince Vaughn, needs money. Santa promises to give him what he needs, but only if he pays a visit to his family in the North Pole. However, the North Pole is in danger of being shut down, and it’s up to Fred to save it!
Favourite moment: *ahem* The Jeffrey Dean Morgan cameo, I might have a little crush on him!
7 – Christmas In Boston
Gina and Seth are lifelong penpals, but when the opportunity to finally meet in person comes up, they both chicken out and send their better-looking best friends. Of course, they then meet each other while spying on the date their friends are having while pretending to be them while they are pretending to be their friends. It’s not as bad as it sounds, honest!
Favourite moment: The end, when the truth finally comes out!
8 – Holiday In Handcuffs
When Melissa Joan Hart’s fiancée dumps her just before Christmas, unable to face another year of her mother’s disappointment and matchmaking attempts, she kidnaps Mario Lopez with a pair of fluffy pink handcuffs and forces him to pretend to be her boyfriend over the vacation with her family in a remote log cabin.
Favourite moment: When he tries to tell her family what’s really going on and no one believes him!
9 – Christmas With The Kranks
Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis decide to skip Christmas and go on a cruise instead, until their daughter announces she’s coming home and expects the usual Christmas celebrations. By now they’ve alienated their neighbours with their refusal to do anything Christmassy, and suddenly have a matter of hours to put together the Christmas that Blaire and her new boyfriend are expecting.
Favourite moment: When the police go to pick up Blaire and her boyfriend Enrique from the airport with a sign that reads N. Reeky!
10 – Single Santa Seeks Mrs Claus
The title says it all really, Santa’s son comes to town looking for a Mrs Claus before he takes over his dad’s job. He falls for a Christmas-hating single mother instead. It’s ‘Five afternoon movie’ finest, but it’s so cute too!
Favourite moment: Steve Guttenberg’s magical decorating abilities!
Jaimie Admans is a writer of chick lit and YA. Her latest book, North Pole Reform School is out now and available here
You can find out more about Jaimie and her books on her website or follow her on Twitter.
1 – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
My number one favourite Christmas movie of all time! A year is not complete without watching this at least once over the holidays! The third one of the National Lampoon ‘Vacation’ series, this time Chevy Chase tries to make Christmas perfect for his extended family who are visiting for the festive season. Obviously, things go wrong. It’s quite old now, made in 1989 I think, and I still don’t think there’s been a better Christmas movie since!
I don’t even have a favourite moment for this one, just all of it!
2 – Elf
Will Ferrell is the human raised by elves who goes to New York to find his real father. There he meets quirky Zooey Deschanel and spreads Christmas cheer. I love this movie so much, it’s really funny and has a great festive soundtrack!
Favourite moment: The Baby It’s Cold Outside duet between Buddy and Jovie!
3 – The Santa Clause
3 – The Santa Clause
Tim Allen knocks Santa Claus off his roof and puts his jacket on, unwittingly becoming the next Santa. Then follows the year in which he transforms into an old, fat, bearded St Nick! I absolutely love Tim Allen in anything, and he’s just brilliant in this! It’s so funny, with some great lines and sarcastic comebacks!
Favourite moment: when Fed-Ex deliver the Naughty and Nice list!
4 – The Polar Express
Lovely animated film with Tom Hanks. A boy who doesn’t believe in Santa anymore is picked up at night by the Polar Express train to visit the North Pole on Christmas Eve. It’s a heart-warming story that never fails to put a smile on my face!
Favourite moment: I love the part where they sing When Christmas Comes to Town, and also Josh Groban singing at the end!
5 – Jack Frost
Inattentive dad Michael Keaton dies but comes back as a snowman in his wife and son’s garden to make amends for the less-than-fatherly ways of when he was alive. Get your hankies ready at the end!
Favourite moment: The end, if I can see it through my tears!
6 – Fred Claus
Santa’s little brother Fred, played by Vince Vaughn, needs money. Santa promises to give him what he needs, but only if he pays a visit to his family in the North Pole. However, the North Pole is in danger of being shut down, and it’s up to Fred to save it!
Favourite moment: *ahem* The Jeffrey Dean Morgan cameo, I might have a little crush on him!
7 – Christmas In Boston
Gina and Seth are lifelong penpals, but when the opportunity to finally meet in person comes up, they both chicken out and send their better-looking best friends. Of course, they then meet each other while spying on the date their friends are having while pretending to be them while they are pretending to be their friends. It’s not as bad as it sounds, honest!
Favourite moment: The end, when the truth finally comes out!
8 – Holiday In Handcuffs
When Melissa Joan Hart’s fiancée dumps her just before Christmas, unable to face another year of her mother’s disappointment and matchmaking attempts, she kidnaps Mario Lopez with a pair of fluffy pink handcuffs and forces him to pretend to be her boyfriend over the vacation with her family in a remote log cabin.
Favourite moment: When he tries to tell her family what’s really going on and no one believes him!
9 – Christmas With The Kranks
Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis decide to skip Christmas and go on a cruise instead, until their daughter announces she’s coming home and expects the usual Christmas celebrations. By now they’ve alienated their neighbours with their refusal to do anything Christmassy, and suddenly have a matter of hours to put together the Christmas that Blaire and her new boyfriend are expecting.
Favourite moment: When the police go to pick up Blaire and her boyfriend Enrique from the airport with a sign that reads N. Reeky!
10 – Single Santa Seeks Mrs Claus
The title says it all really, Santa’s son comes to town looking for a Mrs Claus before he takes over his dad’s job. He falls for a Christmas-hating single mother instead. It’s ‘Five afternoon movie’ finest, but it’s so cute too!
Favourite moment: Steve Guttenberg’s magical decorating abilities!
Jaimie Admans is a writer of chick lit and YA. Her latest book, North Pole Reform School is out now and available here
You can find out more about Jaimie and her books on her website or follow her on Twitter.
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
All Things Christmassy
The blog and I have been feeling very festive during the last few weeks:
I've released my free festive short story, A Beginner's Guide To Christmas, along with an accompanying quiz, playlist and gingerbread recipe.
I wrote a piece of flash fiction, To Family, At Christmas, which you can find on the She Loves To Read blog, and a short story, A Fairytale Christmas.
I compiled my Festive Reading List and a list of Free Festive Reads and made a Christmassy bookmark.
I blogged about my Festive Cover Stars and had a little help with Festive Guest Posts from Trish Hills, Donna Trinder and Jaimie Admans.
And finally, my family and I went to a wet and thundery Reindeer Parade.
I've released my free festive short story, A Beginner's Guide To Christmas, along with an accompanying quiz, playlist and gingerbread recipe.
I wrote a piece of flash fiction, To Family, At Christmas, which you can find on the She Loves To Read blog, and a short story, A Fairytale Christmas.
I compiled my Festive Reading List and a list of Free Festive Reads and made a Christmassy bookmark.
I blogged about my Festive Cover Stars and had a little help with Festive Guest Posts from Trish Hills, Donna Trinder and Jaimie Admans.
And finally, my family and I went to a wet and thundery Reindeer Parade.
Click here to see all Christmas posts
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