Christmas Garland Inspiration

Christmas Garlands or wreaths are a festive way to bring the season's cheer to a front door, building or  indoors over a fireplace.  This is just a very small selection out there.

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and for something a little different, how about this Sprout themed Garland.

from {not on the high street}

and finally this amazing Christmas Garland spied on a house in the town.  It is up high on a first floor balcony, stunning!

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Silent Sunday

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Advent Calendars - Links I Love

As a child my mum would hand make my Advent calendars.  She was very inventive and I remember them all with fondness.  My favourite was 24 small boxes, handpainted and numbered then stuck to a Christmas tree shape with red ribbons.  Not unlike this one but with ribbons!  In each box was a chocolate or small gift, I remember being so excited each day to open a new box!  

{source:  Wooden Nordic Advent Tree Calendar}

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A few more favourites:

A grown-up version!

{image source: LOFT Kids}

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Love that this ladder Advent Calendar can be part of the decor

(minus the candles here though!)

{image from livingathome.de}

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We love this hand-made felt stocking garland,

 ideal for younger children

{source:  Laura Windebank }

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and not forgetting the doggie in your life, each day snip off a doggie bone,

then on Christmas Day the whole tree can be eaten!  

(by the dog of course)

{source:  Reg & Ruby Rawhide Dog Advent Calendar}

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and finally, how fab is this Angel inspired Advent calendar.

Love it!

{image source: Lisbeth}

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Silent Sunday

Cot Bed to Child Bed

It is way overdue for the little girl to transition from her well-loved cot bed to a child's bed.  I've been teaching her to stay in her bed until morning and she does mostly but with a new bed the temptation to stray may prove too appealing!

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My choice would be No. 1, it's not unlike her current cot bed but with lower/no sides, but I think given the choice she would run to the Peppa Bed!

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I'm off to Mumsnet BlogFest!

I'm off on a very early train back home to London tomorrow, of course there are rail works this weekend but nothing can spoil my excitement at going to my first real blogging event!

The Mumsnet BlogFest programme looks very impressive and I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing from some seasoned bloggers plus a few celebrity guests.

The sponsors that will be there are Coca-Cola, Mark Warner, Red & Yellow Care, Talk Talk and Honda who have some fantastic activities lined-up to keep us entertained. 

I have my train and event tickets, my notebook, pen and most importantly my camera!

Maybe see you there?

Today...

Two things guaranteed to cheer me up and make me smile.

First today was a beautiful day here, look ...

I was lucky enough to spend the whole day out with Miss CCL, capturing every moment, making memories before the time comes when school beckons next September ...

It doesn't matter that tomorrow it will be blowing a gale or raining, this is today ...

and the other ... a simple bunch of flowers, I love flowers, I photograph any I see, I find them utterly beautiful and so intricate.

Hope you had sunny day too.

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Silent Sunday