BLOGMAS DAY 18 // The Second Week of Advent

This one is a little late. Despite loving my own idea to do a photo sum up of our weeks throughout advent I forgot. Oops sorry! But better late than never right?!

December 8th

This week my sister came home from University and this was the little welcome home/winter survival kit I made her. What can I say I'm a wonderful sister!

December 9th

I had work meetings on the 9th which meant getting the train which in turn meant getting Costa. Because train travel and coffee go together in my world. I never do one without the other. This was a gingerbread latte and it was the best one I've ever had.

December 10th

Look at him. This was honestly the only picture I took this day, apart from my daily snowman picture. But even if I'd taken other more exciting pictures I would probably have used this. I'm going to stop talking now before I go fully crazy cat lady and scare you all off!

December 11th

Despite my brother and sister both being home now and not needing a daily update I'm still taking the photos. I have a couple of friends I send it to. (Today Mr Snowman's board reads 7!!!)

December 12th

You might have already seen this picture from yesterdays blogpost but this was how I spent my Saturday so I'm showing you it again. Sorry, not sorry. I love my 7ft Christmas tree, plus it makes my house smell AMAZING!

December 13th

My Dad has recently become a cocktail maker extraordinaire. This one was based on a Bakewell Tart. It was amazing. It had Amaretto in it which tastes of marzipan, yummy!

December 14th

This is an article about Justin Bieber's new album in a magazine called Premier Youthwork Magazine. If you are a youth worker or interested in youth work and especially if you're a Christian I can't recommend this magazine enough!

So that's it, another week of advent done. And actually when you're reading this it's half way through the third week!

We hope everyone is having a good week. Tweet us some of your favourite picture moments from your week so far! @SimplyKarah10

Sk x

BLOGMAS DAY 17 // Our Christmas Trees

Another super quick one today. We thought it would be fun for you guys to see our Christmas trees.

As you probably know there are two of us here at Simply Karah, so that means two houses and two Christmas trees.

Enjoy!

My families tree is pretty much the same as it has always been. The same straggly bits of tinsel, the same baubles and same star on top. Over the years a few baubles have disappeared (oops sorry Mum) and a few have been added but the over all look remains the same. It's not the super fashionable plain white, copper and gold tree that some people have but it's our tradition and I love it. Kx

This is the second year that my family has bought a real tree. I love it! It feels much more Christmassy with a real tree, extra cleaning but totally worth it. Apart from changing the tree to a real one everything else about our tree has pretty much stayed the same over the years. My mum is not the biggest fan of tinsel so we use weird fancy ribbon instead. Our baubles are mostly mix and match with the few odd ones that are the same. I do love our baubles though, every one that's different has some sort of meaning behind it. For example, we have a glass Swiss bauble the last year my grandparents went to Switzerland together. Or the little ballerina with my name on it that my Gran made me when I was just a tot. A lot of them are quite nostalgic. Our tree, also, may not be the fashionable style for 2015 but, like K said, it's our tradition and I wouldn't have it any other tree. Bx

We'd love to see a picture of your tree this year? Or even your Christmas decorations!
Twitter & Instagram: @simplykarah10

SKx

BLOGMAS DAY 16 // A Christmas Carol

In true Christmas Carol fashion we decided to imagine what we would be thinking about if the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future were to come to us this Christmas. These are our thoughts.

Christmas Past

That crazy excitement you get, running down stairs to see what you've got in your stocking. Don't get me wrong I still get excited for Christmas but it's never going to be like it was. You can't replace the magic created by Santa. Once you know, you know.

I hope I will never forget that feeling of excitement the night before , on Christmas eve, when you're trying to get to sleep so Santa will come, but also listen out for any noises on the roof.

But I'm telling you, one year I 100% believed that I heard Santa put down the glass of milk left out on the coffee table. I even ran through to my parents room - who were both fast asleep - to tell them. I believe I heard Santa Claus that night. I swear by it to this day!
Christmas Past = Magic

Christmas Present

This year things are different. I think it's because for the first time in a good few years I'm at my parents house on the run up to Christmas and not just the couple of days either side.

Did I expect that at 22 after living independently for 4 years I would be living back with my Mum and Dad? No, I didn't. But I am. It's like one long throwback Thursday.

It's all the things I used to do but this time my brother and sister have been the ones away from home and returning for Christmas, not me. It feels like I've gone backward a bit!

Things will also be different for me {B} as this is the first year I'm having to work on Christmas Day! Even the run up to Christmas I'm working over! Yes, I'm off Christmas Eve and Boxing Day which I can't be more thankful for but it totally sucks thinking that when you're starting a 12.5hour shift, everyone is just getting up filled with excitement to see if Santa's been. However, my parents are being so nice about it and letting me have my Christmas on Boxing Day. My brother, not so much. Hey, he gets two Christmas' out of it!

Christmas Present = Nostalgic

Christmas Future

At some point I know the day is going to come where I (hopefully) have a family of my own and I'm not spending Christmas day with my  Mum, Dad, brother and sister exclusively. I know this, and actually for the first time in my life, this idea doesn't terrify me. In fact it makes me feel sort of wishful of a future where I do move forward.
I mean, it does make me a little sad that there will be a day that I'm not waking up on Christmas Day at my parents but the thought of having my own family that I can make new traditions with makes it just that little bit more bareable and exciting. 

Christmas Future = Hope

What are some of your Christmas past, present or future thoughts?
Let us know!
SK x