Long time readers will know that this post has become somewhat of a tradition for me in December. I never fully do Blogmas as I just don’t have the time to plan and write all that content (hats off to anyone who does do Blogmas!). However I do like to publish a lot more posts than the average month in December and we always kick things off with a little chat about the month ahead. So here goes!
I actually didn’t publish this post last year which is the first time I haven’t published a December plans post since 2016! I didn’t realise I had been writing these posts for so long. I didn’t actually have any plans to write one this year but when I looked back in my drafts and saw last years post sitting there I decided to bring it back. I do like to incorporate a couple of more personal posts into my Christmas content each year and there’s no better way to do it than with this post!
I actually didn’t end up publishing last years post because I was so poorly, in fact I hardly had any Christmas content which was a shame because it’s my absolute favourite! Anyway, at the end of November last year I ended up with a double ear infection and a chest infection. It was absolutely not a fun time. Luckily I ended up feeling better about a week before Christmas but I totally missed all the run up to the festivities which is my absolute favourite part. That’s why I decided to bring this post back this year and really make the most of December this year!
So here’s what December is looking like!
1. Christmas market fun – there’s very little I enjoy more in this world than a trip to a Christmas market. My husband and I have actually already been to York Christmas market, just a few days ago actually. We needed to squeeze in a end of November trip as he’s very busy with work in December. However I am visiting Leeds Christmas market soon with my mum and her partner. I’m really excited to see what the new market is like, we used to do Leeds Christmas market pretty much every year but then it stopped. It’s back now which is good and it’s supposed to be bigger than before. I’ll be honest, I’m mostly excited for all the food and drink!
2. Christmas at Castle Howard – my Dad and I always have an annual Christmas trip out. We’ve done Castle Howard a few times now, including last year. But their theme changes every year and their decorations are always out of this world. Luckily I was just about well enough the have the festive day out with my Dad last year though I still had a barking cough and needed to use the antibiotic ear drops I was on while I was out so it was less than ideal. I feel like I’ll definitely be able to enjoy it more this year! This years theme is Christmas in Neverland and I’m so excited to see what they do with it. I always end up taking hundreds of photos so I plan on doing a blog post about the trip too.
3. Christmas nails – after being a life-long nail biter I finally stopped last year and I go for my nails doing regularly now. It’s one of my best forms of self care. I’ve actually already got a festive theme to my nails but I’ll be having them done again just before Christmas so I can squeeze in a second set of festive nails.
4. Time off work – this will be my first Christmas self-employed. I used to get 2 or 3 weeks off work at Christmas when I worked in education but I certainly won’t have that luxury this year! I do planning on taking a couple of days out over Christmas which I will thoroughly enjoy, but I’m actually away for 4 days in the new year so my proper break will come then. I actually don’t mind the prospect of working over Christmas, I think working from home means it doesn’t feel like too much of a chore. I can have my festive candles lit, wear a Christmas jumper and have Christmas music on it the background so I’m all good!
5. The general festive spirit – this one may not seem like it’s worth a mention but for me, it totally is. The last few years have been hard, not just with the pandemic but with other personal things too. I’ve always loved Christmas and while it has been good the last few years there’s still been a dark cloud hanging around. The last couple of years have been amazing and have been a real turning point in life. I was really looking forward to entering my favourite time of the year worry and stress free last year but then I got super ill. Typical. So I am determine that this Christmas is going to be bloody amazing! The run up to Christmas has always been my favourite bit as opposed to actual Christmas Day so I can’t wait to actually enjoy this year.
6. A little surprise – I don’t want to say too much on this one as although I’m confident my husband doesn’t read my blog often, it would be just my luck to reveal this and he’d read it! As I’ve mentioned my husband has been super busy the last couple of months and December will be his busiest month. He is a photographer and videographer and has two huge Christmas show project for two different dance schools. That means capturing most of the rehearsals in the months leading up to the shows, conducting interviews, the technical run-throughs and the shows themselves. Then of course there’s all the editing after to make them into beautiful documentaries. I honestly don’t know how he does it all alongside his writing work too!
Anyway, he said he didn’t want anything for Christmas this year so I’ve booked us a surprise the week before Christmas instead. He’ll have just wrapped up filming so I figured it was a good opportunity to relax and spend time together before he gets into the bulk of the editing. Obviously I’ll be able to share more about what we do when I write my December Happy List. Coincidentally the surprise falls on our 16th anniversary, since getting married we don’t tend to celebrate that anniversary anymore but it will still be nice!
So they are all my current plan for December. I’m so excited! What are your plans for December? Let me know in the comments!
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It sounds like you have some lovely plans for the holidays! Especially the time off! What’s that like? Wish us retail workers could get some of that!