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Christmas Toys Blogs
Welcome to my Christmas Toys blogs
I blog about all aspects of Christmas, if you are lucky enough to have young children then you will know how excited they get waiting to see which toys Father Christmas will bring them on Christmas Day. Toys are not just for children at Christmas, in the UK the market for adult boardgames and fantasy games is booming. I think as people spend so much time in front on screens working they like to get back to the simplicity of playing a board game with friends and family. So in my blogs about Christmas toys I do talk about what the best selling toys and games are this year for children but I also keep an eye out for toys and games which grownups can play on their own or with friends and family.
Reusable wooden advent calendar I spotted this in the gift shop at Wimpole Hall (National Trust) this weekend and thought what a great idea. So many of the advent calendars we see are a mix of cardboard and single use plastic and hard to recycle....
I popped into Boots during my lunch break on Monday and was surprised to see their Christmas Brochures. I don't know if they did one last year, but I never saw a copy of it. There's a sort of magic in those glossy pages. In an era where digital...
How did Advent Calendars start? Germany and Austria are both credited for having created the Advent Calendar in the early 1900's. An idea that formed from the traditional Christian lighting of the advent ring in Church. The reason for these early...
52 Aperture Photo Frame When I saw the inkifi 52 aperture picture frame I immediatley thought what a great Christmas present it would make for Grandparents, other family members who are usually so difficult to buy for. It would also make a talking...
Are you looking for Christmas colouring pages for children? We are the Christmas experts having run this Christmas blog since 2009, so you've come to the right place. We are developing a free open source collection of children colouring pages with...
This years Costa Coffee cup Christmas cup design featured a ginger bread character with some snow drops falling. It's a nice simple design but perhaps not so Christmasy as previous year designs. Here are the designs from previous years....
Is New Years Eve a Bank Holiday? December 31st is known as New Years Eve. It is not a Bank Holiday and is therefore treated as a working day when it falls on a weekday. Many businesses however close for the days between December 25th and the first...
Lots of people are asking if Christmas Eve is a Bank Holiday. The answer is no, it isn't. In the UK many companies let their staff finish early on Christmas Eve. Shops, pubs and restaurants of course stay open as long as they can for last minute...
We've seen lots of people asking if Boxing Day is a Bank Holiday this year. Well yes it always is a Bank Holiday in the UK. When December 26th falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the Boxing Day holiday shifts to the following Monday. What is Boxing...
Update December 21st 2021 I had to pop into Tesco today and spotted they had their own Tunis Cake this year. I couldn't resist buying one, so thought I'd post some pictures here. Tesco Christmas 2021 Tunis Cake Tunis cake purchased from Tesco -...
When I was a child we always had a Tunis Cake at Christmas. I remember they always came in sturdy bright coloured boxes. They were a perfect alternative to rich fruit Christmas cake for those who like something a little lighter. A Tunis Cake is...
I don't often get a chance to watch Saturday Kitchen, but as I had my Covid booster jab yesterday I didn't feel like doing much else. The guest today was Stanley Tucci who was talking about food, and dipping into several sections and recipes from...
If you have been following my blog you will know that I have been collecting the cover of Boots (and a few others) Christmas Catalogues for several years. It is therefore great to see a traditional paper based catalogue from Boots again this year,...
Samantha Lily is a small business dedicated to bringing you organic skincare from Essex! This small business has been created by Samantha West following the birth of her daughter, Lily, hence the name. Samantha has made her own beauty...
Explore a botanical world filled with seasonal cheer at Kew Gardens this winter Wednesday 17 November 2021 – Sunday 9 January 2022 4pm – 10pm (advance booking only) New installations feature innovative video design and scenescapes inspired by Kew...
Many of us are turning to a vegan diet or at least reducing our intake of annimal based products. I was therefore very interested to receive some Oggs Vegan mince pies to review. When I opened the box my children were really excited to see the...
I find even the best eye creams to be under whelming in their effectiveness. This might be the pragmatist in me with a hint of age related cynicism. I naturally assume that anyone who raves about anything to do with the best eye cream is selling...
With the country still in the Covid-19 lockdown this is very unusual May Bank Holiday weekend. Normally we would be at the seaside or enjoying a visit to a National Trust property but this weekend we'll be enjoying a barbecue in the garden, walking...
Just a quick post to wish you all a very happy Christmas whoever you are and wherever you are. Do try and stay calm and remember it's not the presents or the food, but the people that make the day. Smile, Breath and Go Slowly
If you are giving children gifts this Christmas which contain small watch style batteries this is an important warning to read. To a 4 or 5-year-old these batteries can look very much like sweets especially this time of year when they have...
These are the unofficial top 20 best-selling Toys and Games in the UK for the week ending Saturday 30th November 2019. Not many surprises but Elf on the Shelf has made the top ten I think for the first time since it was introduced a few years ago....
Joules are having their Biggest Ever Black Friday Event this week with Up to 50% off. Joules are pleased to announce the start of their Biggest Ever Black Friday Event. Discover Up to 50% off clothing for Women, Men, Boys, Girls and Baby. You will...
Just a quick post to let you know that we now have a new Gift Ideas for Fans of Strictly Come Dancing page. We'll be updating this whenever there is a new Book, DVD, CD or other related product that we think would make a great gift idea. So if you...
Magazine subscriptions make a perfect Christmas gift for almost everyone. The following offers were valid at the time of publication (17/11/2019), please check out the vendors websites for any detailed terms & conditions. Red Letter Days Treat...
These are the unofficial top 20 best-selling Toys and Games in the UK for the week ending Saturday 16th November 2019. Isn't it great to see Monopoly update itself and stay in the top 20 as we head into Christmas 2019. Picture Name Price* 1 LEGO...
This year Shelter has come up with a brilliant idea to raise money for the homeless at Christmas with their Emergency Chocolate bars. They are available in £5 for the 100g bar and £10 for the 200g versions. They have a pop-up store at 72 Neal...
We would like to bring the following online deals to your attention. They are all current at the time of publication but may be withdrawn at anytime. Please check the individual sellers sites for any detailed terms and conditions. Red Letter Days...
These are the unofficial top 20 best-selling Toys and Games in the UK for the week ending Friday 8th November 2019. Picture Name Price* 1 LEGO 75245 Star Wars Advent Calendar 2019 Christmas Countdown Building Set with 24 Buildable Mini Sets plus...
Tree species such as spruce and pine are the typical options, being the centre of Christmas decorations since the Victorian times, but by breaking from this tradition you can make a unique Christmas display that does the planet good. All of the...
These are the unofficial top 20 best-selling Toys and Games in the UK for the week ending Saturday 2nd November 2019. Picture Name Price* 1 Nerf E0011EU5 N-Strike Surgefire, Multi-Colour Only suitable for 8 years and over. Click here for more...