By Kate Hodges
15th December 2017
1. ORDER A gift subscription in time for Christmas
A gift subscription makes the perfect present, providing a year’s worth of inspiration for a friend or loved one. Once you have placed your order, we’ll email you a gift voucher to print out and put under the tree. They will recieve their first issue in January 2018. You will also recieve a gift of Illuminating Face Shimmer worth £18 from Nourish to say thank you. Subscribe today!
2. DO Generous Spirit
Fancy giving something back this Christmas? Many adults and older teenagers find that volunteering is incredibly rewarding – there’s a list of who needs people in London here, for Crisis country-wide here, and as a telephone befriender for Age UK here. Alternatively, all the family can help make blankets for the cats and dogs at Battersea or donate a toy to kids who might not otherwise get something here. Adults might also like to think about donating blood both now and into the new year - find out more about giving in England and parts of north Wales here, the rest of Wales here, Scotland here and Northern Ireland here.
3. EVENT Do a Pooh
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is a brilliant place to duck into at this time of the year – there are always uncrowded spots to explore and lots of workshops and performances to enjoy (this weekend you can design your own musical snow globe). Es Devlin has created the museum’s Christmas tree, which listens to visitors’ festive words and transforms them into an audio-visual carol. Don’t miss the playful Winnie the Pooh exhibition (£8/£5/free for under 11s).
4. COOK Warm and Spicy
There’s not reason for kids and those not drinking alcohol to miss out on the cosy treat that is a hot mulled drink. Stick a pan on the stove and let the spicy aroma fill your house. Instant festiveness! Try BBC Good Food’s mulled apple juice, Delia Smith’s non alcoholic mulled wine or this unusual mulled wine tea. Cosy!
5. MAKE Ice Ice Babies
Snow and sub-zero temperatures mean that we’re making wintry decorations that work outside. We’re hoping the cold snap lasts (if it doesn’t, use a freezer instead). These ice wreaths look fantastic hung in trees – watch the light flood through them. If it’s really cold, giant coloured ice balls make spectacular decorations for a frozen garden, while these snow lanterns are both cosy and festive. Alternatively, light up your garden with these pretty ice lights
