It’s nearly the middle of the month and with the new year breaking in, it’s time for a fresh new notebook for storing all of your daily to-do lists. Keeping all of your to-do lists in the one notebook is a great way of looking back on everything you have achieved at the end of…
Whoever said it was too late to send Christmas cards, forgot that Christmas doesn’t end until the feast of the Epiphany or the Three Wise Men on January 6th. Little Christmas is surrounded with tradition. As the official last day of Christmas, the tree is taken down, and the decorations are stored away for next…
We’re incredibly lucky if we ever get a White Christmas in Ireland. When it snows, we’re given a whole range of festive outdoor activities to enjoy such as skiing or sleighing. But even if there’s no snow this year, you will enjoy making this little sleigh to hang on your Christmas tree or to prop…
Christmas Eve is always such an exciting night as we gaze the skies in hopes of catching a glimpse of Santa his and his reindeer. If you’re not lucky enough to spot any reindeer, make your own reindeer friend to join you in the Christmas cheer You will need one small log, branches, string, drill,…
These festive wreath cupcakes make a beautiful Christmas gift wrapped up in a box, or serve as a wonderful treat for a Christmassy afternoon tea. You can even substitute them for plum pudding or mince pies, as dessert on Christmas Day to please those in the family who despise currants! You can make the cupcakes…
The Christmas holidays wouldn’t be complete without a cheeseboard and home-made chutneys served with cold meats and pates. Home-made chutney is so much tastier than anything you can buy in the shop. Last year I experimented with three different chutneys and the house was filled with Christmassy spice smells. This recipe will make three 350ml…
December is here and the excitement for Christmas has well and truly kicked in. It might still be too early to put the tree up, but you can keep your Christmas spirit satisfied by making homemade decorations while you wait. You can ‘cheat’ and make a miniature tree to gaze at while you are waiting…
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent which means it’s time to gather fir branches, holly and ivy for the Advent wreath, and for a big wreath to hang on the front door. Advent wreaths are usually the first Christmas decorations to go up, followed by the tree. They symbolise the exciting count down…
With the last of the summer flowers in the garden wilting away, it’s now the time to help mum and dad or your grandarents with tidying in the garden. Along with the flowers disappearing, and the trees losing their leaves, you will probably notice fewer insects, birds and other wildlife around the garden. Clearing the…
Toffee apples are my favourite thing about Autumn, having gorged on them every Halloween when I was a child. And yet it doesn’t seem right to have them when Halloween is over. This sticky pear and butterscotch cake is inspired by a much-loved Halloween snack, and makes a delicious dessert for Autumn. It’s just the…