Dearest blog chums: I am done with 2018. I am limping, physically/metaphorically/ecumenically, towards 1 January 2019. But that isn’t to say I am not thrilled by the prospect of this festive/holiday season. Oh, I certainly am. I am looking forward to another log cabin hot tub escape. I am looking forward to snuggling under blankets with books and hot chocolate and my embroidery. I’m looking forward to nuzzling into the cosy embrace of Christmas and cooking up a festive feast on Christmas day for Mr J-M and me. It is all so very wonderful, but there stands between that hot tub and me around 10 days of toil and a few extra days in between. That doesn’t mean we haven’t been embracing the festive spirit, as you’ll see here….
I bought this lovely bandana at the vegan fair here in Manchester over the weekend, from Ernie & Theo. Vulpe looks rather concerned about it all, of course.
And so as the holiday season approaches slowly, I am (as usual) plotting all my crafty festive activities, and (as usual) I will share it all with you here. So, without further daydreaming of hot bubbles in the crisp December Scottish night air, grab a hot beverage and let’s dig in.
To cook/bake:
- Vegan gingerbread cookies
- 5-Minute Vegan Eggnog (2 Ways!)
- Eggnog Snickerdoodles
- Yeasted Guglhupf cake
- Thick mushroom gravy (Google translate to the rescue!)
- Grilled Maple Mustard Brussels Sprouts
- Pistachio and Pomegranate Vegan Cheese Ball
- Vegan Rullepølse
- Vegan Eggnog Truffles
- Vegan Eggnog Thumbprint Cookies
To make/do
- DIY Bath Salts for Holiday Gifting
- Gingerbread Christmas Embroidery Patterns
- Posie Winter Patterns
- DIY Santa Key (for those without a chimney)
- DIY celestial gifts (video)
- DIY Christmas decor (video)
- DIY Christmas wreath: if you live near a Poundland and if you live near a pine forest.
Festive BuJo-ing
- Christmas Doodles for Your Bullet Journal: Free Printable Guide
- Jenny Journals December 2018 Bullet Journal Plan With Me (video)
- How to get your Dingbats notebook ready for Christmas (Dingbats makes vegan-friendly notebooks perfect for bullet journalling)
- Christmas planning in your bullet journal
- Holiday Bullet Journal Spread Ideas | Christmas Planning 2018 (video)
Indie/small biz makers to buy from
- Suitable for Vegans – Adorable Christmas cards illustrated by Emily. Eco-friendly too!
- Sundaze Store – Sassy vegan merch and prints.
- Jenny’s Papercraft Co. – Not me! Beautiful stickers for your BuJo.
- The Dirty Vegans – Excellent indie Lush alternative I recommend every year!
- Nordic Muse – This nordic-inspired shop based here in Manchester has some beautiful homewares and jewellery at very reasonable prices.
- Funky Soap London – I’ve been using their conditioner bar for a few weeks now and I’m blown away by how brilliant it is. Zero waste ahoy!
- Emily Winfield Martin art – I have three of Emily’s prints now and I adore them.
- Wild Fancy Design – Pronoun pins, witchy stuff, and much more.
Other round-ups and gift guides
- Margot Meanie – Stocking stuffers and gifts for witches
- Ethical Consumer’s ethical Christmas guide
- Flicking the Vs – Vegan substitutions for your Christmas dinner table
- 20 Goth Gifts for Darklings from The Spooky Vegan
Giving and not-giving this festive season
- Avoiding Amazon – A wishlist provider alternative is Shoptagr. Or just use Pinterest!
- Send a Holiday Message to a Prison Rape Survivor
- Why You Shouldn’t Donate to the Salvation Army—Ever!
- Frugal Christmas – Consider banning Christmas presents
- Giving at Christmas – check out The Live You Can Save and Animal Charity Evaluators to ensure your donation goes as far as possible.
| Check out these other Christmas goodies:
🎄 A gift guide for vegan killjoys, queers, fatties, & weirdos |
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“I am limping, physically/metaphorically/ecumenically, towards 1 January 2019”
I am now thinking this why we celebrate Christmas at the end of the year. So we can just eat and drink away all the crummy current events until the next year, where we can hope for better things.
Thanks for the links and ideas. Sadly, not shopping isn’t a question. You know, kids. But I think I did a pretty good job. Bought a lot of second hand items, DIY, and my son is getting lots of hand me downs from family all wrapped up. Horray! I guess I also use xmas to by basic essentials, like my husband has been waiting all year for new PJ bottoms to replaced his ripped pair.
And yes about Salvation Army! There are tons of other places to donate! I usually take everything I can from my in-laws so they don’t donate there. There is a cute little second hand shop that rotates each month where they donate the proceeds to.
Yes I guess that NO presents would be impossible with kids! I know that a few of my friends try to limit the amount of ‘stuff’ their kids receive at Christmas, but hand-me-downs sounds like a sensible approach to me 🙂
yaayayayayayay! THANK YOU! I said I’d love to see a Christmas version of your inspiring round ups and you didn’t disappoint. I’ll be working my way through the lot in due course, and any crafting posts in the future (Christmas seems to be the only time I get around to crafting these days). 2018 can do one, let’s toast its demise with all the vegan nog and mulled wine, and hope for better next year.