Spread Some Christmas Cheer With A Digital Christmas Card*

*This is a collaborative post*

It's almost that time of year again - yes you guessed it - Christmas is just around the corner, my absolute favourite time of year. Whenever I mention the C word you can guarantee that I'll get a mixed response. There's always the anti-Christmas Grinch who groans at the mere mention of the forthcoming festivities, but for the most part my friends and family love Christmas just as much as me. If you're not already organised for the big day then now is definitely the time to start buying your gifts, planning the food for the big day, getting the decorations out and of course writing your Christmas cards.

Thanks to Covid Christmas will be a little different this year but that doesn't mean we can't still enjoy it. In fact it's all the more reason to make an extra effort to spread some Christmas cheer. Lot's of people are facing a lonely Christmas 2020 and sending a Christmas card whether the physical or digital kind is one of the cheapest and nicest ways you can put a smile on someone's face. 

Traditional Christmas Cards

Apparently we started the tradition of sending Christmas cards in England in 1843. Indeed traditional physical cards are a lovely way of spreading Christmas cheer but the downside is that they can be costly, not just in the buying of the cards but in the actual sending too. Stamps are so pricey these days, I've easily spent £50 some years when posting my own cards. They also have a negative impact on the environment. The production of traditional cards unfortunately contributes to carbon emissions and when you look at statistics that suggest 1.5 billion Christmas cards are bought every year, that's quite a carbon footprint. Apparently only one third of paper is recycled here in the UK with many Christmas cards instead ending up on landfills. Delivery of these cards whether it be via car, van or plane also contributes negatively to the environment. Despite these negative points, there's no doubt that sending a Christmas card shows you care, spreads holiday joy and can make a persons day.

Digital Christmas Cards

So is there an alternative? Yes there is! Thanks to the ever growing digital industry, e-cards or digital cards are fast becoming the way forward. Digital Christmas cards have many perks. Not only are they more environmentally friendly but they're also lots of fun to make once you've got the knack. There's also no need for stamps or the hassle of having to post them. Of course you can print off and post your digital cards if you wish but before you do, consider some of the benefits of sending them electronically. For starters it's quicker and more efficient, at the simple click of a button you've immediately sent your card to the recipient, and as mentioned above there's no need for stamps so you'll save money on postage too. 

Generally speaking digital cards are relatively low cost to make unless you choose to pay for a particular font or design bundle but you really can make them as cheaply as you wish. 

Look around for websites such as Font Bundles that offer free fonts to help you with your designs. It's relatively straightforward to download and open fonts from Font Bundles onto your PC or Mac but if you struggle there is technical support on hand to help you out. For any Chromebook users - unfortunately Chromebooks aren't able to install extra fonts so if you do fancy creating your own digital Christmas cards then you'll need to borrow a standard laptop.

Don't forget to utilise other card making services too such as Canva, SmileBox and Monogram Maker. You can be as creative as you like when making your own digital Christmas cards. If you're particularly arty or computer savvy then you can go to town on your designs, if not then don't worry, why not use some of the available online templates to help you get creative? You could even upload family photos to your cards to give them a really personalised touch, or if you're sending a card to a friend you've not seen in months, why not upload an old photo of the two you? If you look on free licence photo websites such as Pexels you'll find plenty of Christmas images and scenes that would look perfect on a Christmas card.

Have A Very Merry Christmas

As I write this we're still in lockdown and Christmas looks a little uncertain, no-one knows yet what's just around the corner. That said, life is too short so I for one intend to count my blessings and make the very most of Christmas regardless, and I'll definitely be sending some of my own digital Christmas cards! :)

*Header photo source Pexels.

FOLLOW ME:

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin' | Instagram

Subscribe to GirlGone Dreamer by Email

Christmas Traditions: How To Make New Ones This Year*

*This is a collaborative post*

Some families have so many Christmas traditions that it feels as though the entire month before Christmas is full of adorable things to do, like decorating cookies, baking cakes, putting up streamers, and drinking warm cider. But other families? Not so much. If that sounds like your family, and if you’d like to get a little more Christmas-tastic this year, read on for some tips and ideas…

Consider Your Audience

First and foremost, make sure that you consider your audience. If you’re the parent of teenagers, then it probably isn’t time to joyfully present them with the Elf on the Shelf and expect them to greet it with anything other than disdain and confusion. You need to consider who exactly it is you’re dealing with: if your partner loves to be outside, then it’s a much better idea to suggest a snowy Christmas morning dog walk than a movie on the sofa with hot chocolate. Creating new traditions doesn’t have to be about changing absolutely everything you do.

Make A Bucket List

If you want to create new traditions, you need to take the views of everybody into account. Why not make a family bucket list that you’ve all contributed to? This means that everybody gets a say and that you do plenty of things so that you can continue the ones that you all enjoyed into future years. It’s a lot more effective than introducing Christmas sweaters and pointblank expecting it to be a thing every single year from now on.

Image Source

Make It Edible
 

If your family is somewhat reticent about trying to form some Christmas traditions, the top tip is to make them edible. People might not want to sit around watching Christmas movies, but they will almost certainly be more inclined to do so if there is eggnog provided along with several platefuls of Christmas cookies. A lot of the best Christmas traditions include great food, whether it’s making a Christmas cake a couple of months before the day itself, making mulled wine for an excellent pre-Christmas party, or sculpting a perfect Yule log out of chocolate cake and frosting. 

Image Source

What About Charity?

Remember that Christmas traditions don’t all have to be about eating a lot of sugar and lying on your couch wearing a sweatshirt with a Christmas tree on it like a trussed up Christmas turkey. They can also be about helping other people, and about charity. If you live near the sea, get yourself sponsored for an icy cold Christmas morning dip in the water - and if you can bear it, make it an annual tradition from now on! 

Image Source

It’s All About Spending Time Together

Finally, remember that Christmas traditions are all about making sure that you spend quality time with the people that you care most about. It isn’t about the specific games you play - although Christmas jigsaws for adults can provide hours of fun - it’s about the time that you share together. So long as you form your new Christmas traditions around laughing and having fun with your loved ones, chances are they’ll stick around for another few years.

Although it’s also important to remember: sugar cookies help too.

*Contributed by Sam Jones. Header image source Pexels.

FOLLOW ME:

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin' | Instagram

Subscribe to GirlGone Dreamer by Email

Advent Calendars - A Christmas Tradition

Any regulars who have been following GirlGoneDreamer since day dot will know that Christmas is my absolute most favourite time of year. Nothing else compares! When all my friends are loving the hot summer sunshine, I'm longing for cosy autumnal October days so I can start planning for Christmas all over again. Hence now that we are full swing into both autumn and October, I'm officially allowed to talk about anything and everything Christmas related. Yay! 

Today's post focuses on one of my favourite childhood Christmas traditions - Advent Calendars! I am one of four children, I have two sisters and one brother, (all younger) and every year my mum would buy an advent calendar for us to share. As was tradition every November, my dad would draw names out of a hat to see which of us would get to open the first door and so on, this way it saved any arguments or that was the general idea. Every December morning we'd run downstairs, still PJ clad, just to see what was hidden behind each door. It really was such a magical time and I guess I have my mum to thank for that and indeed for instilling in me such a love of Christmas. 

Now I'm all grown up I continue this tradition and I'm a particular fan of both the chocolate and premium beauty advent calendars. You can get them from many places but Debenhams is as good as any! This year I've actually got my hands on the Clarins 12 Days of Christmas Calendar and it's so gorgeous. The calendar itself comes beautifully presented in the form of a triangular shaped gift box, I presume made to look reminiscent of a Christmas tree. Unlike some calendars which fall apart, this one is so hardy that I'll be able to re-use it to store all my makeup and beauty bits once Christmas is done. 

As you'd expect from a twelve day calendar, this one comes with twelve individual Clarins products, each housed in a numbered gold gift box. Here's what you get for your money; (look away now if you don't want to spoil the surprise!)

SOS Primer full size in 00 Universal Light

Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in 07 Honey Glam full size

Hand and Nail Treatment Cream 30ml

Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer 4ml

Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 01 Rose Shimmer 5ml

Supra Volume Mascara in 01 Black 3.5ml

SOS Hydra Mask 15ml

Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream 15ml

Beauty Flash Balm 30ml

Crayon Khol in 01 Carbon Black 0.25g

Instant Eye Make-Up Remover 30ml

Gentle Foaming Cleanser for normal or combination skin 30ml 

What I love about the Clarins 12 Days of Christmas (other than how beautifully it is presented,) is the value for money. Bearing in mind the cost of some of these items if I was to buy them individually, the price of £60 seems like a bargain. One of my favourite Clarins products, the Beauty Flash Balm, is usually around £30 for 50 ml, and if I was to purchase the full size SOS Primer and Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil I'd be looking at paying around the £25 and £19 mark for each. 

I haven't decided yet whether I'll keep all the gorgeous products for myself or whether to divvy some up as Christmas gifts for family or friends, but this calendar gets an all round five stars from me! 

Do you have a particular Christmas tradition that you've carried on since childhood? Perhaps like me you also love advent calendars. I'd love to hear about your personal favourites. Look out for more posts on my Christmas traditions over the next couple of months!

FOLLOW ME:

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin' | Instagram

Subscribe to GirlGone Dreamer by Email

Christmas Galore at Barton Grange

It's Christmas next week and so in keeping with all things festive I paid a visit to Barton Grange, the 'Destination Garden Centre of the Year 2016!'
If you've never been before then you probably don't know this, but Barton Grange is famous in Preston for its beautiful Christmas displays. You'd have to see them all in person to appreciate just how so but I did attempt to take some photos just for all of you. Scroll on for my Barton Grange photo gallery.

Baubles anyone? I opted for this colour scheme on our work Christmas tree,

I love a good nativity scene and this one had all the children crowding around. My nephew asked if the sheep was real! :)

There were many extravagant decorations and ornaments to chose from like this reindeer below. Isaac was most intrigued by the antlers. 

If you haven't finished your Christmas shopping then they also sell some super pretty gift ideas.

Those who are partial to a scented candle will love this display below. And yes they do smell as amazing as they look! 

The red and gold themed Christmas tree was my personal favourite. I like traditional decorations for home.

Each display has been given a set colour theme and an apt name. Whether you prefer Mistletoe Kiss, Winter Rose, Amaryllis Fantasy or Royal Poinsettia to name a few, you're bound to find a theme to suit your taste. 

If you're taking kids, be sure to check out their huge Christmas advent calendar!

I'm sure the big kids will love the snow globe too!

And when you've finished perusing, why not try The Riverside Cafe for a spot of lunch?  

There's plenty of car parking but be warned, it was ram packed when we got there for just after lunch time. I'd advise heading out early if you don't like huge crowds.

And that's a wrap. Hope you like my little festive treat. Until next time... xxx

This is not a sponsored post, I just happen to love Barton Grange and wanted to share my pictures with you all. If any of you would like to check out the BG website please click here.


All photos taken with my iPhone SE.
If anyone has any advice as to why my pics come out crystal clear on my phone but not so much once I've transferred them to my blog then I'm all ears! ;)

Life Update

Hello people! Another week has flown by and I'm sat at work typing this catch up post. Really need to get sorted with a laptop so I can blog on a more regular basis from home. It's not that I don't mind staying behind at work, it's lovely and quiet, but it goes so cold!!

My new iPhone SE arrived a couple of weeks ago and although I love the camera on it I have to say it's taken quite a bit of getting use to. The iPhone is just SO different from my old HTC. At first I was a little frustrated with it, the keyboard is tiny and everything about it feels alien but I'm slowly starting to love it.
I sold my old phone to one of those recycling places which I highly recommend if you're in need of some extra cash and also want to do your bit for the environment. It's a win win solution. Although I'm only receiving just shy of forty pounds, it's forty pounds that I didn't have before and will help with the cost of Christmas. Make sure you compare for the best price before you jump in and send your phone though, and some do charge for postage. I opted for Phone Recyclers because there was a downloadable label to cover postage and they offered a really good price compared to other sites.

I put the Christmas tree up at work on Wednesday evening to help me get into the festive spirit because although I'm looking forward to December, I've just not got that 'Christmassy' feeling yet.
What do you all think? It needs more lights but I love the pretty colours!

Jemma from Dorkface finished the header design for the new book blog and you can see it below. I think she's done a fabulous job. The blog itself should be up and running properly in the new year but I'll keep you posted. I'm still on the lookout for people who want to submit book reviews so if you're sat there saying 'I want to take part' then please email me on jamachin07@aol.com. Obviously I can't pay you all as I'm flat out broke and on my DMP but if you're someone who just likes to be part of something and who loves to read, please get in touch. (The one thing I can offer is free advertising in the sidebar for the month your review is published.)

I've been working on my novel recently which is probably another reason why GGD has suffered this last fortnight. But the good thing about writing a book is that I get to do it longhand, curled up at home, glass of wine within reach. I can't really do that at my work computer. Slight confession though, 'Surviving Isabelle' has been put to one side for now and I'm working on something else. It's not that I wasn't enjoying SI but I wanted to attempt to write something more 'fun.'

Just a book recommendation before I dash. When I bought Writing Magazine a few weeks ago they were giving away with it, a copy of Katharine Grubb's 'Write a Novel in Ten Minutes a Day.' The title alone had intrigued me somewhat. I picked it up to read in my lunch break just yesterday and I have to say I'm enjoying it so far.

I'm off now to grab a glass of wine and settle down for the Gilmore Girls revival!

Wishing you all the loveliest of weekends xxx