counting down to Christmas - 15 sleeps to go!

TheOtherHalf was reminding me that it is only 10 days to Christmas break! O.M.G.!

Sooooo looking forward to the break. It will definitely be a good time to have a well deserved rest, take stock of what 2012 had brought, what are our plans and aspirations for 2013, and of course spend time with loved ones.

10 working days can't go past any faster. Actually only 9 working days to go. (Let's not think of what need to be done before the holidays...)

Anyways, I'm sure you don't really want to hear me drone about work...

Actually I can't believe I spent almost £45 on stamps! In some places, that equals to about a gazillion million local money. OK, I know I'm exaggerating, but honestly, I can't believe I did spent that much.

Of course trust me to miss Royal Mail's Christmas last posting dates for 2012. So I'm winging it and hope the cards arrive to you in time, if I have your address. ;)

counting down to Christmas - 19 sleeps to go

The past few days have been extremely cold. Whilst the temperature may be a bit very slightly warmer than yesterday's -4c(!) it has been a very wet morning with still icy pavements.

Times like this, you think, "it is extremely cold out there" and as the weather gets only colder and when the snowing / blizzard-ing starts again, the song "Baby It's Cold Outside" comes to mind.

Coupled with a nice warm fire keeping cosy indoors, I often enjoy the snowing sights outside of the window. But this is not happening now. Perhaps when it does happen, I do hope that I will be with TheOtherHalf and we can have freshly popped popcorn. I can just hear him say, "this is so Amerrrrrican". ^^

Enjoy Michael Buble and Jennifer Hudson's rendition of "Baby It's Cold Outside" and "Let It Snow" in medley.

counting down to Christmas - 23 sleeps to go

Speaking about advent calendars, not sure how many of you have seen the newest style of advent calendars from Lego and Playmobil?

OK, they are not the newest but it is the first year it caught my eye at my local supermarket a few weeks back.

Not trying to sound like a bah-humbug, just as you thought it is bad enough that you can get chocolate Advent Calendars costing around £10 (and I just found out you can get one from Hotel Chocolate for £12), here comes these really expensive advent calendars.

My first impression of Lego and Playmobil advent calendars were "wow, these looked amazing!" and "how cool is that?!". Of course until I saw the price tag.

Playmobil advent calendars costs about £17 and the Lego ones costs about £25.

In this time of austerity and as if Christmas is not an expensive time of the year, expensive advent calendars like these do make you wonder either (a) people have too much money, or (b) I am too poor to buy fancy things like that.

It does make you wonder has the true meaning to counting down to Christmas lost somewhere in the world of consumerism?

I guess for what it is worth, perhaps they are good price. Some may say "how can you deprive children of the excitement to counting down to Christmas?" (with these expensive advent calendars if I may so add).

After all, it is not like we need to manage children's (and people's) expectation. I mean what do you give them next year when this year's advent calendar is soooooo good?

Perhaps I am just annoyed that I haven't received one of these advent calendars. So please don't mind me, as I look for someone who can afford to buy me these cool advent calendars, or these best Advent Calendars (which I love them all including the Ginvent *wink wink*).

Will you be that person, please?

*Please note that photos of advent calendars are taken from various sources from Google.*

counting down to Christmas - 24 sleeps to go

December!

Let's start the December countdown with a nice non-direct Christmassy ad from IKEA.

Bring on the party season and the chance of playin' with your friends and family.

Have fun!

counting down to Christmas - 25 sleeps to go

We are finally almost in December!

Last year, I bought TheOtherHalf a Mr. Men Christmas advent calendar for the first time. And thought it would be something nice to give to him whilst counting down to spending time together for the holidays.

I remember a text he sent me last year. It was so funny and went something like this...
TOH: Mmm. Mr Bump 2nite. xx
Me: Hehe. So cute la u. Don't fat all at one go ok? xx
TOH: Did u mean fat or eat. Hehe. xx
Me: Oops. Eat I mean eat. LOLS. xx

Miss him so much! Definitely looking forward to spending time with him this holidays.

counting down to Christmas - 27 sleeps to go

You know, I just realised that after all this countdown and in less than 30 days to Christmas, I still have not started my Christmas shopping yet!

Okay, I bought a small present for TheOtherHalf but that is about it.

Whilst I don't need to get a lot of presents this year, and perhaps there is a self imposed austerity drive and money pinching I mean saving, but I think the truth is that I have been so busy to remember that it is not far from now.

Better start thinking what I need to get, especially we are planning to spend Christmas earlier. Which also means, have we decided when are we going to celebrate it?

Anyways, I'll try to blog about expensive advent calendars soon. In the meantime, do you think we should ban Christmas presents?

counting down to Christmas - 28 sleeps to go

In our household, you'll be impressed that our Christmas dinner is actually prepared by TheOtherHalf.

As much as I will start with some sort of preparation, he will end up with most of the work.

Now, before you think I pushed this stressful responsibility to him, I don't make him do it. I am very lucky that - the way he wants to be a part of everything.

So I'm left with the (some what) supervision of Christmas dinner, while he stresses himself out on it. Which incidentally, I find it rather amusing. I know, it does sound rather mean.

And every year he give me this "I'm so proud and lucky to have you in my life" feeling.

Love you lots... xx