Good heavens Christmas snuck up on us SO FAST!!!!
It is unbelievable that we were still putting away Halloween decorations when we had to hall out the Christmas box! At least we have gotten as far as putting up the tree :p🎄🎆🎇
I promise it looks less sad and dilapidated, like it's standing on it's last legs, when there are lights and decorations on it - just like me!! HAHAHAHA
While it is true that I have landed myself a new job, which I appreciate from the bottom of my heart, Christmas is going to be an incredibly tight squeeze.
As a result, presents and other spoils may not be as enormous as years passed, but I do intend to keep up the magical spirit by following our own traditions that we have formed over the last 5 years or so, as much as I can, like using and filling the advent calendars, so beautifully made (and sewn) by our close friend Suzanne. They are so much more special than the cheap store bought ones as I get to choose what sweets go into them every year, and it's always a surprise, and the added bonus is that each child's advent calendar is personalized for them.
I will also make sure that their Christmas stockings, handmade by my mother, are filled with bits and bobs that I find whilst shopping - which I intend to do as little as possible of!!!
Well, this is a sewing/ knitting post so let me get back to that.
With such a very tight budget, I am scrambling to get my mother's scarf finished on time, before the big day, but it is nearly there! I do think I will make it.
It does turn out that I am better at knitting than sewing, which is why I have been adamant in the past about making it very clear that I do NOT sew... however, we have a disaster that calls for it.
Somehow, My "once-upon-a-time beautiful Coricraft couch has been severely neglected and almost changed colour completely (in a very grose way - I have even had the kid's attempt to blame the dirt on the cats, hence this episode's cover image 🙄🙄), and no one had washed the covers or the pillows since last year and have had to be washed twice, with me having to accept that most of the stains are permanent. It has occurred to me to dye the entire thing black or dark brown or navy, but I am not sure it will help.
The pillows have also developed terrible tears and the armrests are a total disaster! Particularly the right hand side of the armrest - which belongs to the enormous back cover of the couch - and that I send to the tailor annually to have repaired.
This year, there is no such luxury, so here I am, way out of my depth, attempting to repair the damage done and limit the amount of stuffing we are slowly losing from the pillow cases.
carefully bagged stuffing, thanks to 
The tears and holes are so enormous in fact, that I see now I am going to have to unpick all the sewing I did last night - despite my heartfelt effort - as first of all, it looks like a 5 year old sewed them, and the giant gaping holes actually need patches sewn in place, rather than trying to pull pieces together that just aren't supposed to be pulled together.
Zak has very generously donated his off-white jeans, which are pretty much an exact colour match, and the denim is as durable as the canvass type material that the covers and pillows are made from.
The frame is still in excellent condition, and despite my mother having offered us her GORGEOUS couch (which is in storage), I refuse to replace it until either the kids learn to respect the couch we have, or they move out. Whichever comes first 🤣🤣🤣
I believe, if I try, I may just have it ready in time for Christmas, as I am sure we will need it to recover from completely and gluttonously stuffing ourselves, by lying on the couch.
It will also be crucial to family movie watching time!
Wish me luck! I promise I will try to not stab myself or fall asleep with needles in the bed (wow that, typed out sounded far worse than it did in my head! Lol
I will update you on my progress and send you proof of life posts :p