Today’s announcements from the government have confirmed that the current lockdown restrictions will be lifted next week, at the beginning of December. Although obviously it is best to stay as safe as possible by not mixing too much with other people, whether in public or with friends and family, and there will be rules in place depending on the tier your local area is under, it does mean that we can look forward to some festive plans for the next month. These are some of the things that I am looking forward to, hopefully, doing in December (as we know from 2020, nothing is guaranteed).
Christmas Shopping
I must admit, I am a bit of a fan of online shopping, so it wouldn’t bother me that much if the high street hadn’t been able to reopen in time for Christmas shopping, however, there is something so lovely at this time of year, popping into a few select shops, browsing their gift ideas and picking up some last minute additions. Heading into town in December has an almost magical element to it, and it helps the economy to shop local too.
Festive Lights
What is more magical than heading out to look at the Christmas lights? I am excited to hopefully get our own lights on, hopefully this year, but in the meantime, we will be heading out on walks in the local area to take a look at other people’s, and those in the town centres too. I am not sure whether local events will be going ahead this year, as they have done before, but it is something I will be looking into now that lockdown is lifting once more.
Chilly Country Walks
Talking of going for walks, I love wrapping up warm and heading out for a nice long chilly walk in the countryside as winter hits. Those beautiful blue sky mornings, when there is a frost in the air and you are hit by how fresh the air is, before returning home and getting cosy and warm under blankets in front of the Christmas tree – perfection!
Christmas Catch Ups
Obviously it isn’t safe to meet up with as many people as you may have done in previous years, but I am hoping to make plans to meet with a few friends, in small groups, in the lead up to Christmas. There is something so amazing for your mental health, to catch up properly with your friends, and this is the perfect time of year to organise a get together (if you are being cautious or live in a higher tier, this could always be over video call).
Moving House
I have mentioned in a few posts now that we are going to be moving house imminently. We are at the enquiries stage of our house purchase, having completed the sale of Ed’s property, and we are pushing for a pre-Christmas completion for us if at all possible. I would love to be settled and in for Christmas, so that we can relax and enjoy our Christmas as a family. Fingers crossed!
While getting everything in order for the new house, we’ve had to consider temporary storage options for our belongings. One idea that caught my attention was using a repurposed shipping container as a flexible, secure solution. Not only are they weatherproof and lockable, but they can be delivered right to your property for easy access during a move or renovation. Some people even convert them into garden rooms or pop-up workshops while waiting to finalize home transitions. It’s surprisingly affordable and far less stressful than trying to cram everything into friends’ garages or dealing with disorganized moving trucks. If our timeline shifts again, I might seriously consider this as a stopgap, especially with so many DIY projects I want to start once we’ve settled. With space being such a premium during the holidays, having a safe and tidy alternative storage spot might just make the whole move smoother and more enjoyable.
Picking Out a Real Tree
Again, this is reliant on us moving house before Christmas, but I have loved having a real Christmas tree the past couple of years, so I want to pick one out again this year and have it up in the new house (we put our artificial tree up at the start of lockdown part 2 to make things a little less painful).
Festive Film Nights
We love a good family film night at our house and Christmas is a great time to get snuggly on the sofa and catch up on all those festive classics. Our favourites are Elf, Arthur Christmas, Deck the Halls, Daddy’s Home 2 and the Home Alone films, although we do have a soft spot for The Grinch too.
Pampering
I must admit, I have booked in some festive pampering in advance, ready for Christmas. I have my eyebrows shaped and tinted, my nails and toenails painted will gel and a haircut and highlights. I have had these treatments done since Covid (obviously not during lockdown) and am confident in the safety measures they have in place at the salons I visit. I will be careful, but again, it helps the economy and these local small businesses, as well as boosting my own mental health at the same time.
And even as indulging often begins with beauty therapies, perfume adds an entirely new level of luxury to the winter holiday. More recently, I’ve found that I’ve been drawn to the richer, signature scents, and one of the most enchanting finds has been the universe of oud based fragrances. With their deep, multi-faceted union of spice, floral accords, and smoke undertones, scents of oud have a mature fullness that they are equally comfortable in cosy nights in as in special events. And they’re stunning, thoughtful treats, the perfect solution when something extra special has to be given.
