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Deck the halls
Your friends may have been Instagramming their Christmas trees since Dec 1, but don’t despair, says interiors blogger Rachel Southern.
Buy a tree this week. It will look fresh at Christmas and should be in the sale as retailers fear being stuck with stock. You can pick up a great bargain at a tree farm. And those expensive decorations you baulked at in November will now be in the pre-Christmas sales. If you do leave it too late, an effective, and sustainable, dramatic cheat is a snowflake mobile. Cut out 40 different shaped snowflakes from white paper, attach string with glue and hang at varying lengths from the ceiling using gold or silver stick-on hooks. Invite friends to bring something foraged from their gardens or the woods — like laurel, yew and pine branches — and make festive wreaths. Or snip evergreens from the garden to put in vases.
Holly boughs and ivy look great on the fireplace with fairy lights. The living room and kitchen are key, but if you find that you have decorations left over, don’t forget the downstairs loo!
■ Follow Rachel on Instagram @Rach_Southern
Festive feast
Once you’ve decided your menu you only need three days to prepare your feast, says cookbook writer and food blogger Niamh Shields.
Get your online food shop done first as many supermarkets sell out of key items early. Get it delivered in store to collect. That way you won’t be stuck at home waiting for it to arrive and can get on with other things.
Home-made mince pies are an easy win when made from a jar of quality mincemeat and some ready-made pastry (above). For pigs in blankets with a difference, buy cooking quality chorizo cocktail sausages instead of chipolatas. They will release spicy oil when roasted which you can mix with cider for a beautiful glaze. For me, fresh wins over pre-packed every time. Yes, you still have time to make your own stuffing.
But for dessert I always buy ready made. Trifle looks great drizzled with melted chocolate for the home-made look. A festive Eton Mess using shop-bought meringues, whipped cream, honey and fresh cranberries cooked with orange juice and segments is Christmassy, looks impressive and takes just minutes to make (above).
If you’re working right through or looking for a bargain, leave the shop until Christmas Eve, but be flexible and don’t expect to find a turkey to feed 20!
Remember, Christmas is about the people you’re with, not the food, so get everyone involved on the day, and keep it simple.
■ eatlikeagirl.com
Time for giving
Shopping without a plan can cause stress — and an even bigger hole in your pocket, says Ohh Deer’s Jamie Mitchell. The key is to do your research online first.
For inspiration, use blogs to research the best gift lists, things like the top 20 things to buy a plant lover or animal lover.
However, you’ll have more chance of snapping up a decent bargain by physically going out shopping, as the stores will now be gearing up for the sales. It’s good to have an idea of what genre of gift you’re looking for. Always ask shop staff — they know what’s in stock and can help you find stuff you might not think of, like a specific book.
I hate novelty gifts or buying just for the sake of it, but something fun, or new, that serves a purpose is always a popular choice.
A magazine subscription takes the worry out of whether your gift will arrive in time. You sign them up and simply pop a card in the post.
■ ohhdeer.com
Delivery dates
Shopping orders for most supermarkets need to be in by December 19-21 (Thu-Sat) for collection, or Dec 23 (Mon) for delivery — with the exception of turkeys and some desserts.
Amazon customers can order until Christmas Eve (Tues) for same day delivery while Prime customers can order as late as 21.15pm on Christmas Eve on the Prime Now app for delivery by midnight on Christmas Eve in selected areas.
Royal Mail’s last postage dates are tomorrow for second class mail, Friday for first class and Monday for Special Delivery.
