Book Tag: Twelve Days of Blogmas

Here’s my effort at a Christmassy book tag! This one comes from Emma at Turn Another Page and the original tag can be found here.

I was tagged by Sifa at Sifa Elizbeth Reads.

A Book With Christmas in the Title

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig

I really enjoyed this one and it was the first one that sprung to mind when I saw the tag. It’s a fantastic book and I hope to get to see the screen adaptation of it at some point.

A book that has a scene set at Christmas

The Little Christmas Shop on Nutcracker Lane by Jaime Admans

This is such a cute Christmas Book, I don’t normally go for the romance type stories but this was just perfect and a total change of tone from what I had read before. I try to get this one out each year now to enjoy even if I don’t have time for the whole book.

A Book that has a Red and/or Green Cover

Season of the Spirit by Lex H Jones

Not only was this one perfect for the tag with it’s Red and Green cover, it’s also a new release so this gave me the perfect excuse to pimp it a bit more. I LOVE the cover on this one, it fits so well with Jones’ classical style and it’s just the absolute vision of Christmas for me.

A Book adapted into a Film/TV show that’s always on at Christmas

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

I have seen every single adaptation of this that there can possibly be, I thought I knew the story back to front and side ways the amount of times I’ve watched this and I make sure to watch at least a couple of the adaptations each year but I hadn’t actually sat and read it until last year.

A Book that sends the Characters on a Magical Quest

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

That lovable cartoon that everyone forgets started life as a book! For some reason I rarely think of this one even though it’s been everywhere I’ve looked since I was tiny. If you’re not looking at the illustrations you’re hearing the songs. I really like this book and will have to get a copy for my shelf!

A Book Cover as White as Snow

It’s Wonderful Life by J John

Ok so its not exactly White as Snow but its the closest I could get. I’ve never seen or read a book with a completely white cover so this was a difficult one to match a book to.

An Author whose Name is associated with Christmas

Valentine Davies

Valentine Davies is the author of Miracle on 34th Street which most of us will know as a film either from 1947 or 1994, likely depending on age and upbringing. This year I discovered it’s also a book so I’ll have to grab that ready for next Christmas!

A Book you were Given as a Christmas Gift

Winnie the Pooh – The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne

I got this beautiful copy of Winnie the Pooh as a gift and it’s one of my favourite things in my house. I’ve always loved Winnie the Pooh so having a proper old copy of it makes me very happy, and yes, I do sniff it.

A Book that’s not necessarily about Christmas but that you Associate with the Season

Whistling Past the Graveyard by Lex H Jones

This isn’t a Christmas book, but it does have one of my favourite Christmas stories in it. A Partridge in a Pear Tree, so it makes me think about Christmas. I can often be found at this time of year when the tree is up with a Lex H Jones story and the fire on. His classical style just fits this time of year perfectly whether the story is Christmassy or not.

Spell Christmas in Books

C – Confirmed Sightings by Bridget D Brave, P L Macmillan & Ryan Marie Ketterer

H – Heidi by Johanna Spyri

R – Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

I – Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

S – Secrets of the Reapers by Sarah McKnight

T – The Other Side of the Mirror by Lex H Jones

M – Mrs Covington’s by K R R Lockhaven

A – Antebellum by Yakira Martin

S – Strong Female Character by Fern Brady

Why don’t Macy’s appear in Christmas Movies?

Having been watching quite a few Christmas movies from various years, I noticed something. Whilst Macy’s appeared in Miracle on 34th Street 1947, they have refused to be mentioned in many films since then.

So I got to wondering why, especially when I noticed that the shopping center in 2003’s Elf was named Gimbels. Now, whilst this was a real shop in the 1980’s it closed down in 1987. I thought it was odd that they wouldn’t use Macy’s, probably the most well known American department store worldwide.

It also struck me as odd that Macy’s had refused to be used in the 1994 Miracle on 34th Street. When you consider that the original film was filmed inside the Macy’s store.

I got interested and had a look into this and it turns out, not only do they pride themselves on upholding the belief that Santa Claus is real for children but they have always insisted that their Santa is the real one.

So Macy’s will appear in Christmas Movies, but they do stipulate that there cannot be a scene where Santa is outed as a fake. Unfortunately, outing Santa as a fake seems to be a rather mean-spirited part of modern Christmas films, so their name doesn’t get used.

I had expected that it might have been something to do with keeping their name off films all together but it didn’t make sense why they were in the 1947 Miracle on 34th Street if this was the case, and thinking about it although there is a court case in the original film deciding whether Santa is really who he says he is, he’s never actually outed whilst attending to children in that film.

There is a scene in the 1994 movie where someone heckles Santa from the crowd, and whilst he is actually incorrect about Santa being fake – it is still enough to put doubt into a child’s mind – so no Macy’s for this movie. Instead they went for the fictional department store – Coles. Competitor to the also fictional “Shoppers Express” which replaced Gimbels, because by 1994 Gimbels had closed down.

So why then did the 2003 movie, Elf, use Gimbels? It had been shut for well over a decade by then. Well that’s a nod towards Miracle on 34th Street 1947.

I suppose it wouldn’t be an issue to rename the competitor store in the 1994 film, since they couldn’t use Macy’s either but it is a nice tie in to bring it back in 2003 as a nice little link.

I would like to see Macy’s used in a Christmas movie again, especially if it means that they don’t feel the need to out Santa. I realise these movies do still feature a real Santa Claus but I don’t think we need to keep hammering home that its not really him in the grottos and shopping centers.

Miracle on 34th Street – a Comparison between two films

We’ve all grown up with Miracle on 34th Street, but depending on when you grew up or perhaps on what sort of family you’re from, you may have watched a different film.

I watched both the 1947 and the 1994 versions last year, and I’ve done the same this year (allbeit a little earlier than usual), but growing up I was only aware of the 1994 version. Now they’re both very much the same film, let’s remember that we are talking about the same story, just a more up to date version of it.

But there are some differences and that’s what brings me back to watch them both each year.

What’s interesting is that the shop changes from the first film to the second, in the 1947 film the department store featured was Macy’s and it was actually shop in the store which happened to be on 34th Street. The 1994 film switched up the store to be Coles, which is a fictional store. I wondered why this was, as Macy’s is still in operation but as it turns out Macy’s actually refused to have their name used in the remake.

Even though they’re very close, I find that the focus of the newer film is more to do with the parade and the commercial aspects of Christmas where I find that the older film focusses more closely on the court room drama. Whilst both films do show the same scenes, it does feel like the focus is slightly different. This may be true, or it may just be the way I connect with the difference in filming and acting and therefore find the two memorable for different reasons.

The real Macy’s store in the original 1947 film isn’t alone in its authenticity, the film was actually made at the same time as the Thanksgiving Day Parade, so the parade you see in that film is the real one and Edmund Gwenn was Santa for it. The filmmakers set up cameras along the route to catch the whole thing.

Which brings me back to the focus I mentioned, the reason the films focus seems to vary may simply be down to the amount of time they were able to use the locations. As the Parade and the Shop are the real ones in the 1947 film, the time they had access to film will have been much more limited than the fictional parade and shopping center used in the 1994 film.

I think these things make the film just that bit more special, I love the 1994 movie but it was a remake of something already very special and whilst it still holds a place in most people’s hearts from watching it in their childhood, it’s special from a more nostalgic point of view. Imagine if you will, having been a child who grew up with the 1947 movie, having been standing there watching that parade, having been to pick out a toy in Macy’s on the very street depicted in the film.

That’s just so special and I love that I know these things were real.

The actors in both films did a fantastic job of their roles, and I like both, but I do have to say that I did rather like Richard Attenborough as Santa Claus.

Which brings me to another difference, in the 1947 film, a child is placed on Santa’s lap and he’s informed that she is Dutch and won’t be able to understand him but just wanted to see him. He proceeds to converse fluently with the child because of course, he’s Santa and he knows every language.

In the 1994 film the exact same thing happens but rather than being foreign, the girl is deaf, and, once again, Santa is able to converse with the girl because he knows sign language.

Now, sign language is first known to have been used in the 17th Century, so certainly deaf people would have been using this in 1947 and as we know, people still move around the world today – probably more so infact, so I’m unsure what inspired this change. Perhaps profound deafness was more talked about and recognised in 1994.

Regardless of the reasons behind the changes in the two films, I love them both and I actually prefer that they have slight differences because it enables me to keep the memory of both of them.

So which Miracle on 34th Street did you grow up watching? And have you seen both? Perhaps you didn’t know there were two films. In which case you’re in luck, Disney Plus has both films so whether you’ve seen both, one or neither, sit down and watch it this year. Both are under 2 hours running time and I’d love to know your thoughts once you’ve watched them.

My Thoughts on ‘The Marvels’ 2023

I recently went to see ‘The Marvels’ at the Cinema. Before I went I had heard a lot of bad reviews on Youtube and a lot of grumblings about how many series you need to watch in order to understand what’s going on.

Now, to start with, let me dispel that myth. You do not need to have watched every marvel series out there in order to watch this film. I’d heard it said that you need to watch WandaVision, Ms Marvel and Secret Invasion at a minimum.. you do not.

The only things you need to have watched really is Captain Marvel and Ms Marvel, because all of the characters in this are introduced in that film & series. Yes, Monica Rambeau is in WandaVision, but she’s also in Captain Marvel and it’s made more than obvious who she is during this film.

You do need to have seen Ms Marvel though because the film is very much centered around her, and her family is in the film. You could probably follow it without but I don’t think you’d enjoy it as there’d be too many questions.

There are many nods to the comics throughout this film, some of which lots of people won’t have spotted because the Captain Marvel comics haven’t exactly been successful when they’ve released her in her own series – she’s more of a team up character and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I think its perfectly fine for a side character to stay a side character and I’ve never been overwhelmingly impressed by Captain Marvel. I am however pleased that those bits are in because they’re nice to have there and it shows that the film makers have done their homework on the subject matter.

To be perfectly honest, something that struck me whilst watching this film is that this is the Captain Marvel which Brie Larsson should have been all along and unfortunately I think the lesson has been learned too late. This is already a character that the majority of the audience aren’t really interested in, so to make her unlikable wasn’t the best move. There was also a bit of dishonesty in the popularity of Captain Marvel when the film came out, because the sales of tickets were wildly enhanced by when that was released. It’s a shame that she was only allowed to shine in this, likely the last Captain Marvel film.

However, I also feel like this wasn’t really her film, or Monica Rambeau’s film. This was very much a Ms Marvel film. The events of the film tie very much to her series and the quantum bands which I found really interesting both in her series and in this film.

It’s also not the ‘girlpower’ film lots of people may think it is. The characters happen to be women, but they are capable and it also shows them going through a lot of trial and error to make things work. As a female viewer I really appreciate when they show female characters having to work at something, because we’re not all perfect and we can’t all pick something up and immediately be great at it. Lately there’s been a real ‘chosen one’ trope in movies where just because a character is a woman they’ve been amazing at everything and I personally cannot relate to that at all.

I really liked the inclusion of Ms Marvel in film and I thought the actress did really well with the role. Her series and her part in this film are very much comedic with some serious weaved into the mix, and I thought they hit the balance really well. There’s a lot in these films that you really can’t take too seriously and the comic aspect of her series carried into the movie really well.

I really enjoyed the characters visit to Aladna, a planet where their language is singing. It brought an interesting element to the film and kept things quirky. I don’t think that this film would have worked at all if it hadn’t had the quirky elements because its not a serious film. This also has been covered in the comics, including Carol’s relationship with the prince, and I do have to say that I did have my little girly moment admiring her ballgown.

One thing I really enjoyed about the Ms Marvel series was her relationship with her family, and also the inclusion of her culture into the superhero genre. There was some really interesting things done to tie it in and I like very much that this film still had her family because her story kind of relies on them. As much as she can and likely will go forward without them, at this point in her storyline she’s very young and until the events of this film she was quite immature. That’s not a bad thing, she’s still in the process of growing up and if she was too serious and soldier-like then that part of her would be lost.

Nick Fury at this point is aging, and he plays a very good father-figure role to those beneath him in the line of command. He’s the Fury we all know and love, but he’s getting older and I think the audience need to accept that that does happen, and it needs to happen. It’s ok having a character go on forever at the same age and with the same thought processes but its unrealistic and eventually, it becomes dull. Plus, Fury aging in this film doesn’t mean he’ll never be back younger again in future movies, it doesn’t remove him from being included but the audience would have to cope with another thing – changing the actor.

The final thing I’d like to mention is kittens. Yes, kittens. Now, if you’ve been paying attention to the Marvel Universe you’ll know the story of how Fury lost his eye, right? So we all know about the cat. That saves some time. Well, the cat has a lot of humorous scenes, eating various things but at some point it has lots and lots of kittens who are all able to do the same. I expected not to like this scene once I cottoned on to what it was they were going to do with it but it was really funny and I did actually enjoy it. Plus they’re cute.

I thought it was fun and I really liked this movie. I’d suggest making your own decisions on it rather than listening to Youtubers who have hated every Marvel film since Endgame (there, I said it), and if you don’t like it then that’s perfectly fine, but let those who do like it enjoy it for themselves.

I think Kamala Khan could be a fantastic up and coming character for Marvel and I hope they’ve learned some lessons over the last few years. Of course, knowing what is coming up for Marvel it’s debatable about whether those lessons will stay learned or if they’ll make the same mistakes in future releases. I’m unsure how much of what they’ve forged recently will actually come to fruition but I’ve enjoyed following it.

I’ve never really been that big on Marvel, always preferring DC, but I’m interested to see where they go from here.

Three Books That Should Be On Your Christmas Reading Pile

It’s the lead up to Christmas once again and this year I’d like to share some Christmas themed books that I’ve really enjoyed and think you would too.

Usually I do do Christmas reviews but I realise that they’re not always early enough for you to get the books and have that festive build up yourself.

Here are some recommendations for your Christmas Reading Pile!

1. Season of the Spirit by Lex H Jones

There are some absolutely fantastic short stories in this book and I love that I have it to pull out and read by the fire. It’s a book that will likely become part of my traditional reading pile and it should have a place on yours too.

The book itself is so pretty and I love the faded effect of the cover, like its one of those old cloth covered books. The writing inside also lends itself to the look as Jones’ style is often quite classical, with his ghost stories giving impressions of Dickens and M R James.

2. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

I added this one to my reading pile last year and I loved it, I’d never actually sat and read A Christmas Carol before because I’d seen so many movie adaptations that I simply didn’t feel like I needed to, but I’m glad I did and I’m planning to get it out and read it again this year as Christmas approaches.

It’s actually quite a short book, I’m not sure why I thought it was a lot longer than it is, probably because so much seems to happen in it and they’ve made so many movies I was sure it must be a chunky book.

3. The Little Christmas Shop on Nutcracker Lane by Jaimie Admans

I’ve reviewed a few Jaimie Admans books over the years and this isn’t the only Christmassy one but it quickly became one of my favourite Christmas Reads. I’d absolutely recommend it. It’s a break from my usual fare as it’s a romance story not a horror but honestly it’s such a cute book, it gripped me from start to finish and I often think about the story.

I’ve read this at Christmas a couple of years now and as soon as my tree is up, I plan on digging it out again.

More Gorgeous Gift Ideas

Since the last Christmas Shopping article seemed to go down quite well, and there are lots more lovely places out there to show you, I thought I’d do a second article.

I’ve found lately that Etsy is a really lovely place to get gifts, because they’re unusual and often hand made, I like using the site a lot even if I’m not specifically looking for something because there’s always something lovely waiting. I was a big fan of gift shops when they were more popular but unfortunately most have disappeared from the high street now.

Ghost and Lilith – Etsy

Click on the image to visit the Etsy Shop!

Ghost and Lilith is a super cute little online shop selling little trinkets such as necklaces, hair ties and headbands. Just look at these sweet Baby Headbands! If you’ve got a little one in the family this year you might want to take a look for some gift ideas. There’s also plenty on there if you’re looking for an alternative gift for a teen or adult.

All sales are via the website this year, so get yourself over there to see what you can snag!

Love Takara Bespoke

Email lottie@lottiesdogs.co.uk for information

Got a furry friend who’d love a new collar for Christmas? Get your orders in quick if you want one by Christmas because obviously they take time to make, but these collars are not just pretty, they’re great quality! Care is put into each and every one to be suitable for the specific animal they’re intended for so be sure to take accurate measurements and let Lottie know what breed she’s creating your collar for so that she can take every care to get the perfect fit!

The Fuzzy Dog Bakery

Click on the image to visit The Fuzzy Dog

Another one for your furry friends! I found this bakery the last time I visited Whitby so if you’re in the area, planning on being for a Christmassy seaside trip get yourself in there. Be sure the check them out even if not because mail order is also an option and they’ve got some super cute Christmas stuff in!

When we went it was around Halloween so we got bat shaped biscuits among our haul and my dog Gizmo loved everything we bought so she recommends this seller too!

The Kelham Flea

The Kelham Flea is another of those I can’t show you the stock for because it’s ever changing. This is a great little treasure trove if you want an unusual or vintage gift. They’ve got everything from toys to clothing, vinyls to crockery, wall art to pianos! Go and get yourself in there for a dig because I defy you to come out empty handed.

This is one of many little gems of Sheffield and can be found on Neepsend Lane, S3 8AU

Season of the Spirit by Lex H Jones

Click on the cover to buy the book!

You’re in for a treat this Christmas as Lex H Jones has not only released another short story to a Christmas collection but brought out his very own collection comprising of all seven of this own Christmas Horror Shorts.

This is a beautiful little book, and a quick read too at 125 pages. You could either read a story at a time (if you can stop yourself at one) or sit and read the whole thing in one go!

These stories have appeared previously in various collections but now you can get them all in one place and I for one am very excited about that.

I love how personal the foreword is, it’s a perfect opportunity to get to know the Author a little bit and it’s lovely that he wanted to share a memory with his readers.

The first story in the book is the beautiful ‘Partridge in a Pear Tree’ which was previously published in Jones’ very own collection ‘Whistling Past the Graveyard’. This is perhaps my favorite of Jones’ Christmas Stories with its classical tone and fabulous imagery.

Another very strong story in this book is ‘The Advent of Father Hirst’ which could be a contender for the favorite spot, this one was previously in ‘The Horror Collection – White Edition’ from KJK Publishing. I love the tone again of this one and the way that the events just come to life. Jones is an extremely talented author in that way, bringing the unimaginable into your mind in such a seemingly effortless way.

‘The Lights Aren’t As Good As They Used To Be’ is another gorgeous Christmas horror which was previously part of the Sinister Horror Advent Calendar in 2020, this one is very relatable and the way it’s written it could be set anywhere you’ve been before at Christmas. It’s so flexible in the way that it gets into your mind that it makes you feel like you’re standing inside the story.

“Top Floor Furnishings and Seasonal Decorations” is another of Jones’ stories where I felt like I was following the character around, watching what was going on. This Author is from my own home town so I can see where the inspiration for the settings in these stories is coming from and it gives it that added bit of nostalgia for me. This was a fabulous story and it was previously published in ‘The Best of Indie Horror: Christmas Edition’ again by KJK Publishing.

Now, you will notice when you grab this book that I haven’t reviewed these stories in order. I’ve briefly touched on these four because they’ve been on the blog before but somehow two of the stories in this book have evaded review previously so these, as well as Jones’ newest released only this year have not been spoken about here.

“Red Frost” is a dark tale about a pair of friends who after serving together in the war fall upon some unfortunate times upon their return. The imagery in this story is brilliant and although it doesn’t directly reference Christmas itself it belongs with the season. I really enjoyed this story and I think its a nice tone shift.

“The Fourth Emergency Service” is this year’s new Christmas story which hasn’t had a release prior to this year, it’s a fantastic setting and I absolutely love the idea that this kind of work place exists. The events of this story play out in a really interesting way and I got some slight x-files vibes from it.

“Yet to Come” is a story I LOVED, it feels a bit “It’s a Wonderful Life” inspired and it’s a perfect close for this little Christmas book. What a great story to end on with an absolutely brilliant ending that I won’t spoil – but it is just so Christmassy I love it!

I got really excited when I heard this book was coming because these are some brilliant stories and the idea of a Lex H Jones Christmas book was too fantastic, it can join my little pile of christmassy reads that I’ll pick up year after year.

This is available on kindle, paperback and hardback so grab what’s best for you but looking at that cover I think it would look just lovely on everyone’s bookshelf as a physical item and I shall definitely be having one of these myself!

My Thoughts on ‘No Hard Feelings’ 2023

When I set out to watch this film I didn’t know it was going to turn into the film it did. I figured it was some kind of rom-com thing and I figured it was something to pass some time.

So, I sat down to watch, not expecting to feel so extremely uncomfortable.

The film begins with us seeing our main character, played by Jennifer Laurence, getting her car towed away by some guy she’s ghosted, while already having another guy in her house at the time. We quickly learn that she is a very.. sociable.. lady who gets through some men.

She then sees an advertisement from some desperate parents who for some reason want their son to not be himself, and instead get to dating someone before he moves to College. He’s never done the things his Dad did, never gone out with a girl, sits in his room playing video games, volunteers at an animal shelter.. basically, he’s a good kid and he seems pretty happy – BUT I digress.

Along she goes to get this ‘job’ and we see her early attempts met with failure as she terrifies the poor boy so much that she ends up getting maced.

But you know what? It’s actually important to feel as uncomfortable as you do in this situation because the gender flip here is important.

We’ve seen this same premise done with girls. All those films we’ve got used to seeing with the ‘ugly unpopular girl’ who wears glasses and acts a little nerdy and she can’t get a boyfriend so here’s someone taking a bet or being paid to date her.. it’s THAT premise, but with a guy and an older Woman.

Aside from starting off feeling a bit horrific, there is an arc in this film that I really liked. More and more, the character of Jennifer Laurence finds that she doesn’t belong in this younger world as she poses as a 23 year old whilst actually being in her 30’s. Walking into situations that she doesn’t know how to navigate because the people she’s involving herself with are only 19 years old and the way you speak or act has changed since she was in that position.

She also learns how amazing this guy she’s rushing to get to business with actually is, as she goes on dates with him since the heavy handed – let me take you to my bed – approach didn’t work. She finds that he is really talented and has depths to him that she hadn’t seen before.

And then, of course, in an extremely convenient plot twist, he finds out that his relationship with her isn’t real.

I won’t spoil every detail of this because it did turn out to be quite a good film. Is it Jennifer’s best? Absolutely not, no. I don’t really feel like she’s a ‘comedy actress’, I liked her in her other roles a lot more than I liked her in this one. That’s not be trying to be insulting, I just think her strengths are elsewhere.

It is however a relatable film at times, and I like that it was flipped the other way and we got to see what grooming looks like for a boy. It’s important to remember that things happen to boys as well as girls, and it’s important to remember that if there’s something about self defense or personal safety that you would teach your daughter – you should also teach it to your son.

I thought this film had a pretty good ending and a good message but it did take some time to get into and I will admit that I almost didn’t make it to the end of this movie. If you’ve got some spare time and you’re prepared to bare with it while it finds its feet, it’s worth the watch.

Keep it Cute this Christmas

I thought it would be nice this Christmas to draw attention to some of the lovely shops that are out there, these are small businesses and they make beautiful gifts. I often buy my Grandmother little gifts like these because she’s so impressed with how many unusual things I can find for her.

I’m not listing these in any specific order, I just came across these places and thought I would share them, especially as a couple of them are due to appear at Christmas Markets so you can go along and take a look while the opportunity is there!

Just Collection Decor

Click on the image to visit the Just Collection Decor Etsy

Just Collection Decor started life as ‘Just Knotting’ so you may have come across the shop before. I have bought and samples some of these wares and they are so beautiful, I would definitely buy from here again. The items arrived in a timely manner and were beautifully wrapped!

This year’s Christmas items look just as beautiful as ever and they would love to go home with you!

Just Collection Decor sells mainly on Etsy, but is also stocked in a shop called Space 205 which can be found at Crookes, in Sheffield (205 Crookes, Sheffield S10 1TE) on top of those Options, Jamie will be appearing at the Hillsborough Arena Christmas Market on 30th November, so make sure to go and say Hello!

Antonia Nicole Home Fragrance

Click on the image to visit the Antonia Nicole Home Fragrance Website

This small business has just opened it’s door (so to speak) again after a little hiatus and is already racing along with preorders for Christmas. Antonia sells a gorgeous selection of items from Wax Melts to Incense Burners and some Home Decor items. There are some mouth wateringly gorgeous sounding melts available for Christmas some of which I have ordered but have yet to receive at the time of writing this so I can’t show you my personal selections but go ahead and take a look because there are lots of choices.

She is mainly online based but will be appearing at the Christmas Market accompanying the Chesterfield Christmas Light Switch On on Sunday 19th November, so if you can get to Chesterfield for that then go say Hello! I’m sure she would appreciate the support!

Baked 28

Click on the image to visit the Baked 28 Facebook Page

Perhaps less of a Christmas Present, and more of a Festive Build Up, Baked 28 is the place to be this year with a fresh new premises at 28 Abbey Lane, Sheffield, S8 0BL. I absolutely recommend this bakery, over the years I have been to them for several different cakes, the first of which was my wedding cake!

There’s always a seasonal item available from Baked 28, which is always so very tempting, but as well as cakes and seasonal boxes there will be treats aplenty at the Bakery so go along and find something that suits you!

There are gluten free and vegan options when placing your order so the sky is the limit!

Pictured above are the options for this year’s Christmas selections which are all ridiculously cute, and I can vouch for how tasty they will be!

Indie Arcade

Indie Arcade is the perfect place to find a gift if you want something vintage, no images of their stock for you in this article because you have to go and have a look. They have everything. From sewing patterns, to clothing, to ornaments, toys, vinyl and even old comics and annuals.

Cromford Collectors Corner – Matlock

And finally, for those looking to buy something a little nerdier, a lovely little Comic Shop – Cromwells Collectors Corner, and the best part is you get to go to Matlock to go there! Which is simply lovely at Christmas Time.

Definitely check these places out, and please if you happen to visit the Markets and see Antonia or Jamie – go say hello!

Autumn Leaves and Pumpkins Please

As Autumn draws closer to winter I’m reminded constantly of why I love this time of year so much. The darker nights, so much more cosy and inviting for a good night’s sleep, the temperature being just right for cosy winter clothes without needing a ton of layers or feeling too warm when going in and out of buildings, the crisp morning air and the beautiful colours adorning every tree.

I am very much a lover of anything pumpkin, and by anything I mean also eating pumpkin. For some reason people seem to think these are just for making Jacko-Lanterns but they really are a very versatile food.

This year I’ve roasted pumpkin seeds and made pumpkin pie, pumpkin hash browns, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin curries.. but my most favourite way to eat this is to scoop out all the middle and roast the whole pumpkin with chilli inside it. Roast pumpkin tastes amazing, is soft so you can eat it with a spoon and it gives a lovely flavour to whatever you cook inside it.

Of course I also love Halloween so I have made the obligatory lanterns, dressed up the house and made the most of the spookiness of the season.

Yes, Autumn is by far, my favourite season.