Tuesday, 23 December 2014

CHRISTMAS TV SPECIALS




22nd December 8.30 BBC1
Would I lie to you? at Christmas 



24th December 8.30 BBC1
The incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm 

24th December 9.30 BBC2
Julie Walters: A Life on Screen 

25th December 5.00 BBC1
Strictly come dancing Christmas special 

 25th December 5.50 ITV1
Paul O'Grady: For the love of dogs at Christmas

 25th December 6.15 BBC1
Doctor Who

 25th December 7.15 BBC1
Miranda

 25th December 7.50 BBC1
Call the Midwife

 25th December 10.05 BBC1
Mrs Brown's Boys 

 25th December 10.30 BBC2
QI Christmas

26th December 6.25 BBC1
Still open all hours

 26th December 6.55 BBC1
The boy in the dress

 26th December 9.00 ITV1
Birds of a feather

27th December 8.30 BBC1
Bruce's hall of fame

 27th December 9.35 Channel 5 
The haunting of Radcliffe House

28th December 7.30 BBC1
Still open all hours (ep 2)

31st December 8.00 ITV1
Rita & Me

 31st December 8.00 Channel 4
Frozen at Christmas

1st January 8.00 BBC1
Miranda (ep2)

1st January 8.30 ITV1
Birds of a feather (ep2)

 1st January 9.35 BBC1
Mrs Brown's Boys (ep2)

Are you watching any of the Christmas specials on Tv this year?
If so let me know below
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Sunday, 14 December 2014

FAVOURITE CHRISTMASSY YOUTUBE VIDEOS





Zoella/MoreZoella





























Tanya burr













Joe sugg




















Alfie Deyes
















Marcus Butler




Jim Chapman












Louise Pentland






Bethany Mota









Tom Fletcher


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Saturday, 13 December 2014

DOUBLE GINGER GINGERBREAD MEN


INGREDIENTS:

140g unsalted butter
100g dark muscovado sugar 
3 tbsp golden syrup
350g plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 balls stem ginger from a jar, chopped

TO DECORATE:

50g icing sugar
2 balls stem ginger
glace cherries (optional)
raisins (optional)
smarties (optional)  


Heat oven to 200c/180c fan/gas 6. Line two baking trays with baking partchment. Melt butter, sugar and syrup in a pan. Mix flour, soda, spices and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Stir in the butter mix and chopped ginger to make a stiff-ish dough.

Wait until cool enough to handle then roll out dough to about 5mm thick. Stamp out gingerbread men, re-rolling and pressing the trimmings together and rolling again. Lift onto baking sheets. Bake for 12 minutes until golden. Cool 10 minutes on the sheets, then lift onto cooling racks.

To decorate mix icing sugar with a few drops of water until thick and smooth. Half then slice cherries thinly to make smiles an cut ginger into small squares. Spoon icing into a food bag snip off a small amount of the corner, then squeeze eyes and buttons onto each man. Stick on a smile and add buttons.


Recipe from bbcgoodfood.com 
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Wednesday, 10 December 2014

GLITTERY CROWN PLACE NAME LABELS



YOU NEED:

Pencil
Paper 
Scissors 
Glue sticks
Asda plain gift tags
Scraps of wrapping paper or metallic card
Stickers 
Stick on gems
Metallic markers
Gift ribbon
Draw a crown shape on the paper and cut out. Use this as a template to cut out crowns in gift wrap or metallic card.

 Glue the crowns to the gift tags. Younger children may find it easier to use metallic card, as gift wrap may curl. If you do use gift wrap, stick the bottom half of the crown to the tag first, then smooth upwards.

 Decorate the crown with stickers, stick on gems and cut out shapes. Using the metallic markers, write guests names on the tags. Tie the tags around the napkins or cutlery with the ribbon.

I found this craft in the free asda magazine .
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Monday, 8 December 2014

CHRISTMAS CHOCOLATE YULE LOG


INGREDIANTS:

 5 Large eggs,separated
150g Caster Sugar
50g Self-raising Flour
50g Cocoa Powder
200g Half fat Creme Fraiche
363g Carnation chocolate filling and topping 
50g Chocolate curls 
Gold food spray
Preheat oven to 180c (160c with fan) Gas mark 4. Beat the egg yolks with sugar until they are light and fluffy. Sieve the cocoa powder and flour together and fold into the egg yolks.

 In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until they are light and fluffy, forming stiff peaks. Lightly fold the egg whites through the chocolate-egg mixture and then spread evenly over the baking parchment. Bake for 8-10 minutes until golden and springy to the touch.

 Remove from the oven and tip onto a clean kitchen cloth. Remove the baking parchment and roll gently in the towel. Set aside to cool completely. 

 To make the filling, mix 2 tbsp of carnation chocolate filling and topping onto the half fat creme fraiche. When the chocolate sponge is completely cool, unroll and spread the mix over the inside of the sponge and then gently reroll making sure the filling reaches the edges. 

 Use the remainder of the carnation chocolate filling and topping to spread over the outside of the log and then garnish with chocolate curls. Finally decorate with the gold spray and serve.


I found this recipe in the free ASDA magazine on an advert for carnation. Carnation website is www.carnation.co.uk
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Friday, 5 December 2014

CHRISTMAS CUPCAKES


INGREDIANTS:

 FOR THE CAKES:
280g self-raising flour 
175g golen caster sugar
175g unsalted butter, very soft
150g pot fat-free natural yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs

 FOR THE FROSTING:
85g unsalted butter, very soft
1 tsp vanilla extract
200g icing sugar, sifted

 TO DECORATE:
natural green food colouring (for christmas trees)
sweets
sprinkles
white chocolate stars
milk and white chocolate buttons
natural colouring icing pens

1) Heat oven to 190c /170 fan/ gas 5 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with cake cases. Put all the cake ingredients into a bowl and mix with a whisk until smooth. Spoon the mix into the cases, bake for 25 mins until golden and risen and a skewer comes out clean. cool on a wire rack.


2) For the frosting, beat the butter, vanilla extract and icing sugar until pale and creamy and completely combined, To make snowman, reindeer and christmas puddings, first spread the icing over the top of each cake. Then lay the chocolate buttons on top, slicing some buttons into quarters to make ears and hats. Finally, use icing pens for the details. For the christmas tree colour the icing with green food colouring and pipe onto the cakes using a star-shaped nozzle, decorate with sweets,sprinkles and white chocolate stars.


Recipe from bbcgoodfood.com
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Thursday, 4 December 2014

CHRISTMAS FACTS




  • England has only known seven white christmases in the entire twentieth century.

  • the definition of a white christmas in england is when one snowflake falls on the roof of the london weather centre in the 24 hours on 25th december.

  • christmas pudding was first made as a kind of thick soup with raisins and wine in it.

  • the queens speech was first televised in 1957

  • each year between 34-36 million christmas trees are produced to cope with the holiday demand

  • electric tree lights were first used three years after thomas edison had his first mass public demonstration of electric lights back in 1879

  • thomas edison's assistant edward jonhson came up with the idea of electric lights for christmas trees in 1882.

  • in 1895 ralph morris an american telephonist invented the string of electric christmas lights.

  • in 1647 the english parliament passed a law that made christmas illegal. anybody caught celebrating christmas was arrested. the ban was lifted in 1660.

  • postmen in victorian england were popularly called robins. this was because their uniforms were red. victorian christmas cards often showed a robin delivering christmas mail.





  • All the gifts in the 12 days of christmas would equal 346 gifts one for each day of the year.


  • in poland spiders or spider webs are common christmas tree decorations because according to legend, a spider wove a blanket for baby jesus. in fact polish people consider spiders to be symbols of goodness and prosperity at christmas.

  • santa claus is based on a real person, st nikolas of myra who lived during the fourth century.


  • The last white christmas, with snow falling across the UK was in 2004.


  • 25th december was not celebrated as the birth of christ until the year ad440

  • in 1843 the first christmas card was created on the instructions of an englishman sir henry cole. j.c. horsley designed the card and sold 1000 copies.

  • in the nineteenth century the british post office used to deliver cards on christmas morning.


  • the first christmas stamp was released in canada in 1898


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Monday, 1 December 2014

THE CHRISTMAS TAG

               


1. What's your favourite holiday movie?

I have so so many favourite christmas/holiday movies but one I have to watch every year is love actually.

2. What's your favourite christmas colour?

My favourite christmas colour is green.

3. Do you like to stay in your PJ's or dress up for christmas?

Both I spend the morning in my PJ's and then dress up for christmas dinner and the rest of the day.

4. If you could only buy one person a present this year who would it be?

My nephew he's two and he's at the perfect age to enjoy christmas and know what it is.

5. Do you open your presents christmas eve or christmas morning?

My family open our christmas presents on christmas morning.

6. Have you ever built a gingerbread house?

 yes with my younger brothers, don't think it turned out too well though.

 7. What do like to do on your christmas break?

 I love to keep christmas simple. Spend time with family, christmas movies, buy presents, read winter/ christmas books, bake, snuggle up and watch tv together or play games. Lots of laughter. Any thing christmassy goes.

 8. Any christmas wishes?

 My wish this christmas is to spend as much time as i can with my nephew, and to have snow this year I love snow.

 9. Favourite christmas smell?

 I love the smell of gingerbread baking, real christmas trees and spices.

 10. Favourite christmas meal or treat?

 My favourite christmas meal is obviously christmas dinner and my favourite christmas treat is gingerbread cookies, candy canes and shortbread.

 11. Which holiday do you celebrate?

 I celebrate christmas.

 12. What are you doing for christmas this year?

 Christmas will be spent at home, lots of family time.

 13. Candy canes or gingerbread?

 Both.

 14. What's your favourite christmas song?

 Last chistmas, all i want for christmas, snow is falling, i wish i could be christmas everyday, the first noel and baby its cold outside.

 15. Have you ever built a snowman?

 Yes, many.

 16. What is your favourite winter fragrance?

 spiced orange, cinnamon and ginger.

 17. What is at the top of your list this christmas?

 Books.

 18. What is most important to you about the holidays?

 Being with family.

 19. Favourite christmas decorations?

 I love tree ornaments and fairy lights

 20. Angel or star on the tree?

 Last christmas we had neither, well it was Eeyore from Winnie the pooh dressed as an angel specially designed to go on the top of christmas trees.

 If you fancy doing the christmas tag leave it down below or tag me on twitter @tracey_louise_x

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CHRISTMAS IS COMING!! MONEY SAVING ADVICE





With Christmas on its way there is lots of things to be organizing and worrying about.

Money is a big worry around Christmas time.
There are many different ways in which to help lower you stress levels at this time if year.

 Prepare your present list sit down with pen and paper and write down the gift you need to get then using the internet or catalogs find the shop that sells that gift at the cheapest price or the one that does the best deal. This way you will get the best price for what you want but once the list is written and the prices set don't change them ( unless absolutely needed like they've sold out) this will let you know how much you will spend on presents and how much you will have left to spend on other stuff.

 Even if you've prepared a Christmas present list for months it can still be hard to afford the prices of presents so you could talk to family and have a set amount of money you spend on everyone. Like wise if you have a big family for the adults a secret Santa kind of thing might be a good idea to do you each pick a names out of a hat and you only buy a present for that one person but everyone gets something from someone.

 Make the most of vouchers. Most loyalty cards have a voucher scheme to there card, some give out vouchers to use next time you shop and others work on a point system you get so much money for so many points you have collected.

 Switch supermarkets or check prices from supermarket to supermarket. Supermarkets are constantly in competition with each other so shop around there might be bulk deals or price reductions on things you need and could have got for a lot more staying in the same place. Use comparison websites to find out where you will get the best for you money.

 Don't buy too much, at this time of the year when hosting for family and friends the worry is you'll run out of food. Don't worry that wont happen what will happen though is you will have loads of food left over that you cant reused, save or store. 

 Make your own gift tags.

 Leave children at home while Christmas shopping. children will get excited with bright lights and the magic of the season everything they see they want. You'll end up buying more presents that 1, you planed to 2, you needed and 3, you could afford. You'll feel guilty looking at your child saying mummy i want that when actually they want everything in the store that remotely looks cool and fun save hassle and stress and leave them at home.

 Get people to bring things with them, like food, drink and games. This will cut down the amount of money you spend and its also a way of people getting to eat what they want, not everyone will like what you provide and sometime having to have a food list for each guest can be exhausting and expensive. Let them bring things of there own it will make everyone feel like they're putting something in but the same goes for you if your going to a party take something along.

 Don't always buy pre packed food sometimes buying food loose is cheaper than buying collectively. Not only is it some times cheaper it cuts down on waste with loose food you can buy the exact amount you need whereas packed food can have way more than you need and can use.

 If you aren't going to be seeing someone until after the Christmas holiday wait and buy there present in the sales, its cheaper and they'll never know the difference.

 Buy a fake Christmas tree they might not have the same appeal and feel that a real Christmas tree does but by buying a fake tree it lasts longer than the real one that lasts that Christmas holiday only. So if you really don't have the money don't keep spending money on real trees every year and buy a fake one that lasts years.

 Check what decorations you already have don't go out and spend any money on decorations until you have checked your stash. There will probably be some really great decorations you brought last year that you have just forgot about them over the year.

 Get crafty with the kids. Make decorations with them out of cardboard and paper and other stuff you have lying around even old decorations that need to be thrown away. This is not only a great way to get your children involved with Christmas but it also teaches them to make the best out of what they have. It will also be cheaper than buying expensive decorations that hold less meaning.

 Give photos as gifts. For some people quality is better than quantity, something heartfelt and sentimental always goes down well.

 Make your own Christmas presents, this doesn't have to be something that requires a set talent skill but something with meaning and love will matter more than the price of the gift. Baked goods is also a good present for friends and family something that requires effort and time that will enjoyed by everyone.

 Save money by sending cards and parcels 2nd class by 18 december 

 Forget update christmas cards use christmassy emails instead it doesnt cost anything to send and it saves time as one letter can go to everyone instead of individual written ones.
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