Christmas! - There I've said it and we haven't even got past Halloween.
In fairness Christmas has been in our uppermost thoughts at work since July and the office party is scheduled for November! So perhaps it is inevitable that my thoughts are turning to family festivities too. My niece is coming over from Canada this year, which is very exciting, and the complicated logistics of getting everyone together in the same place at the same time is already being discussed.
Don't get me wrong I love Christmas and my usual pared back style gives way to an ethos of 'more, more, more' as I start dreaming up schemes worthy of being the backdrop to our traditional family celebrations. And although never a day goes by when I don't do or say something that reminds me of my mother, it is Christmas when I realise that the things I do as part of our family Christmas are influenced so much by her and how magical she made all my childhood Christmas'.
One of the things I love most about Christmas is preparing the house for visiting family and friends. Setting the scene and creating an atmosphere that conjures up that feeling of expectancy, that tingle of excitement that only Christmas brings.
As usual there is a wealth of decorations to choose from with high streets and retail parks awash with every colour combination imaginable. If in doubt check out
www.coxandcox.co.uk for lovely fairy lights, silvered tea light holders and glass candlesticks Homespun is still a popular theme so get knitting, felting, or baking. One year I made gingerbread angels to hang on the tree, together with brightly coloured candy canes. By the end of the holiday the gingerbread went soft and one by one each angel fell from the tree only to be devoured by an expectant dog grateful that patience had finally paid off.
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| If all else fails gold trinkets and a vase of white lillies will add impact |
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| I found a tub of plastic safari animals in a pound shop and sorted out the Elks & painted them white. From a distance or after a couple of Rum Punches they look like Reindeer amongst the snowy marshmallows |
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| Anyone for Turkey, the table set for Christmas dinner |
A big part of Christmas is obviously party season. Last year I was adamant that I was going to wear a dress I had worn previously, after all who needed a new dress? Well it turned out that I did, and the resultant panic buy is still hanging in my wardrobe in shame. So this year far from it being an extravagance to buy a new outfit I think it's all part of the Christmas preparation and anticipation of the party season. Yes, I've got a number of dresses that I could wear and yes it's unlikely that anyone will remember what I wore last year, but that's not really the point!
Having been to the Style Birmingham Live event recently
www.shoppinginbirmingham.com which was a wonderful showcase not only for the gorgeous style on offer but also for Birmingham itself, I have designs on several dresses for the party season.
www.riverisland.co.uk came out very strongly at the Bullring 10 show
www.bullring.co.uk with some really key pieces, notably some wine coloured shorts and a lush beaded top that would look stunning if, and I use this as a loose rule of thumb, your birth certificate was registered in the 90's. (That counts me out then!)
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| Really lovely detail on this beaded top. |
For me the
www.monsoon.co.uk beaded white flapper dress was gorgeous. It moved really well, which is not always obvious without seeing it on the catwalk but trust me on this, this frock will Conga and Macarena with the best of em!
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| Too sophisticated for the Macarena? Who knows after a couple of G&T's |
Hark, do I hear the tinkling bells of the Coca Cola Christmas ad?
Yes, it may be October - but in my 'minds eye,
' in the words of Noddy Holder,
"IT'S CHRISTMAS!"
