It's no secret that I LOVE reading and I am a sucker for a pretty festive cover!
During the year I don't read an awful lot of Chic Lit yet it's all I want to read at Christmas time!
I love the feel good factor and also a good cry when I am reading at Christmas.
This book has it all Every Time A Bell Rings is basically an Irish retelling off A Wonderful Life
I will be doing a full review of this book at the end of the month but I really did love it
I have been reading some other festive books this month but so far this book ticks all the boxes for me
I also love reading and circling the Christmas TV Guide
A cuppa, a highlighter, twinkly lights and the Christmas guide...bliss
Yet TBH there isn't much this year that I am looking forward to besides The Call The Midwife Special
and of course a magazine of all the Christmas food goodies!
This was our little Oisìn on Friday he was drained from an ear infection and vomiting bug
Friday he and I curled up read Christmas books and watched Christmas TV
I didn't think we would get to do all the lovely festive things we had planned for the weekend
As the day went on Oisìn seemed better and myself or Paul hadn't come down with any bugs!
So I bathed Oisìn Friday night and put him to bed extra early as he was still very tired
Oisìn slept straight through to 8am the next morning and we all seemed well enough to go into Dublin town!
We live in Dublin suburbs so it takes us just over an hour to get into Dublin city centre on public transport. We had ideas to go to Arrotts to see the big man but the Que was crazy and there was actually grown adults racing up three flights of stairs to get a ticket to see Santa. Paul and I both agreed that we needed breakfast and a cuppa before any more madness!!
We ended up seeing Santa in Jervis Street Shopping centre we waited for almost two hours but to be honest it didn't feel that long, little chairs where dotted along the line for tired little legs! Elf's sang, gave out balloons and played games with the little ones!
Oisìn was a little in awe with Santa and although in my opion he wasn't as good as the Santa we saw at the free Christmas family day, he was jolly and friendly.
Oisìn asked him not to forget the most important thing on his Christmas list a chocolate doughnut!
We spent hours and hours in town, strolling around different streets. Watching and buying things from the different stalls on Henry Street, taking a slow walk around St Stephen's Green Park, soaking in the festive atmosphere on Gratton Street. We spent almost an hour in the Disney Store and then went for a yummy dinner. Oisìn was so good he took everything in his stride and the amazement on his face when he saw the Christmas lights was lovely!
Sunday we went to our local shopping center to get a few more Christmas bits
We didn't stay long as it was crazy!
We got home had a lovely Sunday lunch and snuggled on the sofa
While Paul watched football, Oisìn played with toys, I scrolled through Instagram!
It was a lovely festive weekend...how was yours?
This weekend was our yearly visit to Dublin city centre
We weren't sure if we would make it as Oisìn hadn't been well but
thankfully he was much better by Saturday.
We went to see Santa we waited two hours in a Que to see Santa but it was worth it!
We finished off our Christmas shopping, went for a walk in Stephen's Green Park,
strolled about the Christmas markets, looked at the Christmas lights and then went for dinner
It was a wonderful day and we really enjoyed it
Favourite Christmas Movie:
This week Oisìn didn't bother with Christmas movies as he was so unwell he just wanted to watch Peppa Pig and Mr Tumble over and over!
Friday night Paul and I watched one of our festive favourites Trading Places it's not one of the kids and it's not very PC in today's standards but that's what makes it very funny!
If you like the dry wit of early Eddie Murphy and the funny quirky directing of John Landis this one might be for you!
Favourite Decoration:
This decoration has a special place in my heart, it was the last present that my brother bought me before he past away. I always but it up some where safe so that little fingers can't get at it!
It sits pride and place on a shelf in my living room beside my brother's candle
Favourite Christmas Song:
I have heard this song over and over again this week, maybe it's because my brother has been on my mind. I know he does come home for Christmas in my mind every year he is with us, and I sense his presence near us at this time.
It's such a beautiful song and makes me think of all those who for some reason or other can't make it home for Christmas.
Favourite Christmas Special:
I think this is one of my favourite Christmas specials....EVER!
It always without a doubt gets me in the Christmas spirit! It's so cosy and the each of the characters bring there own stamp of Christmas and also there own problems!
I would love to see a one off Christmas special with all the gang!
After seeing Swan Lake four years ago at Christmas I was bitten by the ballet bug big time!
The only problem was I had no one to go see it with, as while the hubby enjoyed it once was more than enough for him! After a while of trying to persuade people to come see the ballet with me, my Mam actually surprised me with an early birthday present with tickets to see The Nutcracker for the last Friday in November
When we asked my cousin to come along too, we decided to make a girlie day/night of it!
We went to the fabulous HQ restaurant beside the Bord Gais Theatre for dinner
We enjoyed cocktails before dinner the food was lovely I will definitely be bring hubby here for dinner before Christmas!
This was a brand new production of The Nutcracker, the sets and the live orchestra are what make this production spectacular
The dancers are of course amazing especially then prima ballerina who plays the role of Clara. I was so glad my Mam and cousin enjoyed themselves. It has wetted me appetite to see more live ballet and I already looking up productions for next year.
If you looking for something to see to kick start your festive season you can't do wrong with The Nutcracker!
This weekend was a cosy family one, we put up our Christmas tree last weekend
but it was this weekend that really started off Christmas for us
On Friday Jolly our Elf on the Shelf joined us for Christmas
He came baring gifts for Oisìn Peppa Pig Christmas Colouring books and a Santa hat!
Paul and Oisìn enjoyed some time in the afternoon colouring!
That night was the Irish Christmas Tradition The Late Late Toy Show
this was the first year attempting to watch it with Oisìn it's on quite late so we weren't sure if he would enjoy it or even stay awake to see it!
We had lovely treats and Oisìn actually really enjoyed it! He lasted to 10.30pm which is VERY late for him!
This weekend Paul was working so I was looking for things to do with Oisìn our local retail park was having a free family Christmas day out in aid for Make A Wish Foundation. Myself, Mam and Oisìn went along it was brilliant, with lots of different activities for children, Santa Letter writing, making reindeer food, facing painting, a children's choir, free hot chocolates and then a visit to see Santa all for free! Oisìn took a long while to come around! He kept saying he missed his Daddy but I think it was a bit over whelming for a two year old! In the end a friendly elf won him round and we went to visit Santa, who was one of the best Santa's we have been to see, he took his time with Oisìn made him feel at easy and gave him big high fives. Oisìn told him not to forget his chocolate doughnut which is on top of his Christmas list!
Oisìn's face when we told him after seeing Santa we could go to McDonald's for a special treat!
In the end we had a lovely day out, myself and Mam even ended up doing some retail therapy!
Sunday we had a family day with my parents coming up for dinner
I done a nice roast beef with all the trimmings I have converted my parents to Slimming World's Oxo Roasties which they loved!
After dinner in the glow of the Christmas tree lights we sat an watched a Christmas classic Miracle On 34th Street it was cosy and lovely!
When my parents had gone home and Oisìn was in bed
Paul and I made hot chocolates and watched the final of I'm A Cele
We are glad Scarlet won, as we do a sweepstakes in our family and we had Scarlet
Here are our family Christmas favourites for this week!
Favourite Christmas Tradition:
The Late Late Toy has been a Irish Christmas Tradition for me since I was a child
I remember being allowed to stay up late to watch it with lots of goodies, falling asleep half way through it! Then my Nanny video recording it so I could watch it all again on Sunday when having Sunday lunch in her house! I remember in my teenage years watching it and saying it was boring while I secretly still loved every minute of it! In my early twenties I was too busy going out on Friday night to watch it! Paul and I started to watch it together when we became a couple one of most memorable memories I have was a few years ago when I was pregnant on Oisìn and I began to get pains while watching! It signalled the start of slow labour pains I would have until I was intruded on the 26th December to finally have Oisìn!
This year we allowed Oisìn to say up late to watch it, we all had love treats, prosecco for Mammy and Daddy, with lots of special treats for Oisìn. He lasted well until 10.30pm and then told us it was time for his nap!!
It's a long tradition which we are looking forward to keep going for a long time!
Favourite Christmas Movie:
Oisìn loves Home Alone he likes the first one but his favourite is Home Alone 2
He had watched this one at least eight times this week and each time he watches it laughs at little louder! He calls Harry and Marv "the baddies" and tells Kevin to go get them! He dances along with the Christmas songs and cuddles me at the end when Kevin is finally reunited with his Mam
It also holds a special place in my heart as this was my brother favourite movie growing up I am happy that Oisìn loves it so much
Favourite Decoration:
This beautiful new Christmas Angel I got this week
One of our local stores where having half price sale on all Christmas items
Needless to say I am already planning another trip!
Favourite Christmas Song:
For me it's not Christmas until I hear Noddy Holder scream It's Christmas!
This song was always played loudly in our house at Christmas when I was growing up
My parents taste varied wildly we would have Perry Como mixed with 70's glam rock
I am sure they had every artist Christmas album on LP! Two songs I always remember being played while we put up our Christmas tree was Perry Como's version on Rudolf The Red Nose Reindeer and Slade's Merry Christmas!
Favourite Christmas TV Special:
The Vicar Of Dibley Christmas Lunch I love this show and the Christmas specials were always so funny. I love how the soft heart vicar agrees to go to all the Christmas dinners she is invited too!
We watched this yesterday after a lovely festive day out perfect end to a lovely day!
Life has been busy lately and Oisìn seems to be so active that I barely get a minute to think, never mind do any blogging! I seem to have lost my blogging mojo! I am hoping to change that this month with a month filled with festive fun posts!
Last week myself, cousin and My Mam all had a lovely girlie day out for a meal, drinks
and then we went to see The Nutcracker. I have a blog post planned for a full review of the show....it was in one word amazing!
We then had a Christening and my Goddaughter's 16th Birthday on the same day!
It was a very busy day but in the end we had great fun
Oisìn was delighted to see all his family and had great fun making jigsaws by the fire
We put up our Christmas tree and decorations last Sunday after Paul begged me
Which is very funny because it's normally me who is nagging him to put up the tree! I think Paul is very excited for Christmas this year because although Oisìn is not quite three yet he seems to understand Santa and Christmas quite well and it definitely brings magic to the house.
The house aways looks so much more cosy and cheerful when Christmas appears!
We have spent days curled up on the sofa with hot chocolates, candles lit, twinkling lights and watching festive movies. Surprisingly Oisìn LOVES Home Alone he has watched the first two movies countless times, laughs, giggles and when it's over asks for it again! He also really loves The Muppets Christmas Carol and has took to shouting Humbug all over the house when he doesn't want to do something!
I have been enjoying reading alot the past few weeks and am reading lots of festive books!
I dropped my lovey phone on my parent's tiled floor and it completely wrecked the screen. I have sent it off to see if it can be repaired, if not I will be asking Santa for a new one or getting on in the sales after Christmas. So for now it's back to my crappy quality phone with it's bad camera!
Hopefully this post have dragged me out of my blogging slump!
Now Oisìn and I are off to visit a Christmas family day at our local community centre!
