We are well on the way to a simple Christmas over here at Chez Wright.
Each week I’m posting what we have been up to, to keep it simple and lot’s of fun. If you’ve missed the two previous posts, you can catch up here and here…
This weekend was the biggie! Saturday was a combined visit to Santa and a trip to get our tree (from The Chase)…
The weekend then was taken up decorating said tree and the rest of the house whilst listening to Christmas songs. The Hubby and I partook in our first Snowball of the year (very British 70’s :-)). This year was slightly unusual in that instead of Warnicks Advocaat, we tried Aldi’s!
It was a lovely chilled weekend. I’d run first thing Saturday so had all weekend to relax and soak up the festive spirit. The Kid’s had some TV time Saturday evening and watched The Muppets Christmas Carol (personally my fave is the Albert Finney version! Love it! And it’s one of the very few DVD’s we have).
Sunday morning they awoke in their Christmas bed! Okay so this isn’t very minimal or anti-consumer but last Thursday I purchased the following…
I changed their bedsets over as they slept as a surprise. I think it amused me more than them actually! (notice the little treat for Mommy? Come on admit it… who doesn’t like spending a little time with the booby as he’s affectionately known at Chez Wright)
**By the way Guys there are no affiliate links in this post**
Sunday we spent some time finishing of the tree decorations for friends and family as they are soon to be distributed. The Kids also spent time making Reindeer hats and some decorations for their playroom.
This weekend First-Born placed her own hand-made baby Jesus in the nativity set as the clay has dried. I have finally super-glued the original baby Jesus’ arm back on, which got broke last year, so we have two mangers now!
This brings me onto gift-giving. I’m not avoiding the subject, but there’s such a lot of other things going on, that it is as usual not a priority. We do exchange gifts with close family, but it’s to a very set criteria.
I was going to post more about it today, but I’m going to wait until next week, once it’s all wrapped up (pardon the pun)! I’ll cover card exchanges then also.
What I would like to do is point you in the direction of two posts that I read just today that share some of my philosophy on gift-giving (even though as moderate minimalists we don’t boycott gifts entirely – there’s definitely room in our Christmas traditions to have a visit from Santa :-))
A return to joyful gift giving by Rachel aka The Minimalist Mom is well written and thought-provoking (as you would expect from this inspiring blogger).
And once again the King of Minimalists Leo Babauta plays a blinder (British term I think!) with Kids Who Are Gift-less Are Gifted. He wrote “They are learning to be creative instead of consuming”, and I totally agree although I do think it’s extreme to forgo gift-giving altogether. I sit here typing as the kids play with pretend snowballs made from scrunched up paper, and are demonstrating their hand-made snow globes to one another, made out of plastic tubes and glitter. It fills my heart with joy.
How are your preparations coming along? Anyone else been seen armed with a tube of superglue and a tiny arm or partaken in a very 70’s cocktail made with egg?
If you fancy reading a little more why not check out My Simple Christmas Pledge? Or read The Greatest Gift I Give My Children This Christmas – both posts were written last December…
————————————————————————————————-
I’m now updating daily on Facebook with snippets that pop up!
Loving the Snowball, the decor, Michael Buble and the changeover of kiddies’ bedsheet Jo. 🙂
We’re still only making decorations: managed to make some cranberry and orange ones…not getting the tree until Friday a week. Also, kids are trying to think what to make for neighbours as a pressie. I’ll make some mould wine…surely will go nicely with a paper red-nose raindeer! :))
Hey Laura – you can’t beat mulled wine! I have the girls over for my simple dinner party tomorrow and definitely on the list of must-haves! Great slow-cooked! Hope all going well for you – have fun! Jo
Loving the Snowball, the decor, Michael Buble and the changeover of kiddies’ bedsheet Jo. 🙂
We’re still only making decorations: managed to make some cranberry and orange ones…not getting the tree until Friday a week. Also, kids are trying to think what to make for neighbours as a pressie. I’ll make some mould wine…surely will go nicely with a paper red-nose raindeer! :))
Hey Laura – you can’t beat mulled wine! I have the girls over for my simple dinner party tomorrow and definitely on the list of must-haves! Great slow-cooked! Hope all going well for you – have fun! Jo
Loving the Snowball, the decor, Michael Buble and the changeover of kiddies’ bedsheet Jo. 🙂
We’re still only making decorations: managed to make some cranberry and orange ones…not getting the tree until Friday a week. Also, kids are trying to think what to make for neighbours as a pressie. I’ll make some mould wine…surely will go nicely with a paper red-nose raindeer! :))
Hey Laura – you can’t beat mulled wine! I have the girls over for my simple dinner party tomorrow and definitely on the list of must-haves! Great slow-cooked! Hope all going well for you – have fun! Jo
Loving the change of bedspreads, (where they from linen warehouse aka home bargains?) I’ve never thought of this but my kiddos are such light sleepers i would never get away with it!!
Purchased the advocat, will be sampling that tonight and i can confirm that the £5.99 Ballycastle is identical to bailys orginal, so well done Aldi!!
Can’t wait for your post on gifts, i’m always interested in how other people give, i feel ours is quite complicated and i really need to simplyfy it!
Sharron x
The bedsets were indeed good ole HB! At £6.99 a set they were great value and really good quality. I’ve had a Ballycastle this evening – very palatable! The post on gifts will be Wednesday… so watch this space 🙂
Loving the change of bedspreads, (where they from linen warehouse aka home bargains?) I’ve never thought of this but my kiddos are such light sleepers i would never get away with it!!
Purchased the advocat, will be sampling that tonight and i can confirm that the £5.99 Ballycastle is identical to bailys orginal, so well done Aldi!!
Can’t wait for your post on gifts, i’m always interested in how other people give, i feel ours is quite complicated and i really need to simplyfy it!
Sharron x
The bedsets were indeed good ole HB! At £6.99 a set they were great value and really good quality. I’ve had a Ballycastle this evening – very palatable! The post on gifts will be Wednesday… so watch this space 🙂
Loving the change of bedspreads, (where they from linen warehouse aka home bargains?) I’ve never thought of this but my kiddos are such light sleepers i would never get away with it!!
Purchased the advocat, will be sampling that tonight and i can confirm that the £5.99 Ballycastle is identical to bailys orginal, so well done Aldi!!
Can’t wait for your post on gifts, i’m always interested in how other people give, i feel ours is quite complicated and i really need to simplyfy it!
Sharron x
The bedsets were indeed good ole HB! At £6.99 a set they were great value and really good quality. I’ve had a Ballycastle this evening – very palatable! The post on gifts will be Wednesday… so watch this space 🙂