There’s no getting away from it, Christmas does our bank balance dirty with a capital D, and when you’ve got 15 family members to buy for, present shopping can quickly suck the fun(ds) out of the holiday season.

And then there’s figuring out what to get your significant other when quite clearly, they’ve already won the Christmas lottery. They have you, duh.

Often the gifts that cost nada but require thought, care and creativity are the gifts that hit different, so in the name of being thrifty and thoughtful this Christmas, here’s a bunch of free – or almost free – gift ideas for your other half.

Put together a time capsule

Not sure what to do with all those ticket stubs, leftover currency from your favourite holidays, photos, floor plans of your first home, receipts from date nights, wedding cards and all those sentimental bits and bobs you want to keep hold of? Make a time capsule! Grab a box with a lid or a padlock, fill it with mementoes and seal, ready to be opened on a specific date in years to come.

Make a DIY bouquet

A hand-tied bouquet from your own back garden or foraged on one of your favourite lockdown walks is as wholesome as gift-giving gets. You can also keep any foliage, berries and flowers from any shop-bought bouquets, dry them out for your DIY bunch or press them between books for present-toppers and cards.

Go on a Christmas lights tour

Wrap up in some cosy layers with a flask of homemade hot chocolate in tow, hop in the car and take them on a festive tour of the Christmas lights in your neighbourhood – there’s always one street that goes all out, so do your research before to avoid cruising around aimlessly. Ok, technically not free because petrol is £££ but the festive feels? Priceless.

Make a memories playlist

Craft a playlist for them full of meaningful bops and funny mems and share it with them on Spotify or go old school and make them a cd. Homemade and straight from the heart!

Knit them something cute

If you know how to hand your yarn and you’ve got some going spare, pick up your needles and knit your other half something cosy. Socks get a bad rap but when it takes you two weeks to craft somewhere for your OH to house their toes with your bare hands, you bet they become a top-tier gift.

Make a photo album coffee book

In an age where our photos generally live in the abyss of our digital devices, printing them off and binding them into a book always feels like you’ve gone to some serious effort to make sure those treasured memories aren’t lost to an IOS update or a concrete floor.

You may already have lots of photos and photo-booth polaroid pictures dotted around your home, in wallets and bedside tables, so all you need to do is find an old notebook and get sticking. Of course, you can always buy a blank journal or a hardback photo book, if you prefer – it’s not free but it’s still way cheaper than the new PlayStation or Gucci tights.

Put a recipe book together

From treasured family recipes you know they love, bakes they’d love to try or themed dishes relating to their life, fill up a recipe book with personalised notes and dinner ideas for you both to enjoy time and time again.

Give them an ILU jar

Write down all the things you love about them on little notes, fold them up and fill up a mason jar for them to open when they need a little soppy reminder of how bloody lovely they are. Too schmaltzy for you? Stick to date night ideas instead.

Give them homemade IOU tokens

Whether it’s taking care of the boring household stuff like valeting the car or making them breakfast in bed or ya know, giving them free hugs or the best big quivering ‘O’ of their life, from the mundane to the magical, love tokens will do the job.

Give them a Hall(mark) pass

Not a hall pass exactly, it’s not that kind of Christmas, you filthy animals. Give them a Netflix punch card. This entitles the bearer full rights to the remote for one whole night. No compromise, no complaints. Consider this their get out of Hallmark movie & reality tv prison free card. So generous.

Write them a series of “read this when” letters

Write them a series of letters and label them ready for your dearly beloved to open on certain occasions throughout the year. From when they’re having a bad day to when they have something big to celebrate and when they need to know you love them, you’ll have the perfect heartfelt message already prepared. You’re basically Beethoven.

Surprise screen savers

Like changing someone’s FB status when they left it open & unattended in your presence back in 2007, only cuter. Make a load of personalised screen savers and sneak them onto their computer when they’re not around. When they’re done with all their back-to-back Zoom calls and enjoying 10 minutes of well-earned procrastination, boom, the sentimental screensaver will appear.

Give the gift of time

Screen-free, uninterrupted, quality time. Just you, them and your undivided attention.

Have you got any budget-friendly gift ideas up your sleeve this Christmas?

First of all, how are you and how are you coping in 2020?

There isn’t one word I could use to describe how I’m feeling right now or to describe 2020! It has been both a blessing and a huge learning curve. It’s been difficult. It’s been challenging. But it’s also been satisfyingly slow. More mindful.

I feel more connected to myself now than ever and on reflection, it’s been a year I feel strangely grateful for. I’ve had massive moments of feeling anxious and like a failure but my resilience muscle has been working overdrive and reminding me that I am stronger than I think. I’ve realised there was a lot of ‘rushing’ in my life before the pandemic and I’ve realised that I am the only one creating the rush. I can create more calm.

Talk us through WILDWOMAN and how it began?

Sure! WILDWOMAN is the home of all things self-care and positive wellbeing. We are a subscription box company and a gift box company – but also so much more. We are a community passionate about living a life that’s true to ourselves. We want to remind women to take real-time out for themselves – to reconnect to themselves with the help of a monthly reminder packaged up in a beautiful gift box.

WILDWOMAN began after I went through my own mental health challenges. I went through an extended period of grief and by the age of 25, I had attended more funerals than weddings. But I never realised how witnessing death and trauma had had such an effect on me. I brushed it under the carpet – determined to always been seen as the positive, happy one.

But after I lost a friend to suicide, that all changed for me and I realised I needed help. I enrolled on an 8week mindfulness mediation course in a bid to quieten my mind and control some of my intrusive thoughts.

8 weeks later, my teacher gave me a book – ‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari’ by Robin Sharma. I had always loved reading but always fiction. This book absolutely changed my life. It made me look at life in a very different way. I told everyone about it. I felt so seen through the words on the pages.

Soon after I hit Waterstones reviewing hundreds of books in the ‘Self Help’ section and realising very quickly that the words were talking to me. The journaling and activities within the pages were healing me. I was healing myself. After I started telling friends about these books, I started a bookclub and a community online – spreading the powerful message of non-fiction books. Quickly the community grew far and wide – women connecting all over the world. I wanted to be able to package up the bookclub experience for everyone, no matter their location and so WILDWOMAN was born! That was August 2018!

What can people expect to see from their monthly subscription?

Every month our subscribers receive a non-fiction book on a particular theme and a selection of mindful gifts that go with the theme. We also include a 16-page magazine full of self-care tips and a journaling prompt to aid the learnings in the book. It’s all about taking time to enjoy the experience of the whole box – make a cup of tea, read, journal, reconnect. We also have an online community where we have workshops and author Q&As.

What’s the process like for creating a box?

I LOVE curating each and every box. I work around 3-4 months ahead and work closely with publishers and authors on new book launches that I feel our audience will love and benefit from. Then it’s like an online shopping trip – sourcing gifts that have meaning. We also partner with a small, independent business too. I work in exactly the same way for our themed gift boxes too.

I’m someone who really enjoys buying gifts for family and friends at Christmas so it feels like I’m doing this every month for our customers.

There is nothing better than when the box is complete, wrapped and shipped out the door. I love seeing the unboxing videos on Instagram our subscribers and customers share. It feels me with so much joy!

What did do before WILDWOMAN?

Before launching WILDWOMAN I worked for a big digital marketing agency on content and influencer marketing. I enjoyed it but I always knew that I wanted to work for myself. I knew I wanted meaning in my job and now with WILDWOMAN it feels like I’m living my purpose. I believe WILDWOMAN was the thing I was always meant to do.

What do you think self-care has grown so much in recent years?

I think ‘self-care’ has become a bit of a buzz word and a trend. But there is a lot of misunderstanding around what it really means I think. It’s so much more than bubble baths and cosy slippers. It’s about true connection to yourself – mind, body and spirit, and that’s something I think we are all still learning.

I think we are all realising (especially throughout 2020) the importance of time out from work, technology and our to-do lists. We are all so busy that we don’t have time or don’t make time to just sit, be still, reconnect. We often feel guilty about prioritising ourselves over others but self-care shouldn’t be seen as selfish. Self-care is a necessity. When we take care of ourselves, we take better care of the world around us.

What would you say is your biggest achievement to date?

There have been some amazing moments since I launched WILDWOMAN in August 2018 including being interviewed by Forbes really early on. I thought it was a joke when they reached out hehe! But I think the biggest achievement has been surviving through 2020, seeing the increase in our subscriptions and hearing the amazing ways that our subscribers have changed their lifestyles through the inspiration our boxes have given them.

What are you currently working on?

We’re working on a few secret projects for 2021 which we can’t say too much about at the moment! But we will be offering much more to our subscribers in early 2021 as well as a new website. We’re also working on a pop-up shop idea that we want to test in Brighton in late 2021 which I’m REALLY excited about!

Who are some of your favourite follows online?

Where to start?! Of course, I love following team Zoella and Zoe! I also follow a lot of independent designers and small business female founders like Fearless Flamingo and Pearl & Cover – these women have become friends because we all go through the same emotions running small businesses! I love fashion and personal style so I enjoy following influencers and stylists like LouLou Storey and LaurasLittleLocket. And of course, positive wellbeing influencers and mentors are my go-to when it comes to Instagram – I adore Megan Rose Lane, Gina Swire and Emily Coxhead!

What do you always carry with you?

My journal. When I drive I get so many downloads and ideas that I have to get them down the minute I pull up at home or at work! I’m never without it! Journaling has become a non-negotiable when it comes to my mental health.

What does your perfect weekend look like?

A slow weekend full of reading, nature, good food, family and friends where I can turn off my laptop, switch off my phone and be completely present. I’m prioritising this more in Winter and of course in lockdown!!

If you could only eat one meal again what would it be?

Without a doubt a roast dinner – I LOVE the whole process of preparing it and the excuse to have all the family around the table. It’s the experience I love and of course a roast potato! I can’t resist!!!

If you could give one positive message to our followers what would it be?

There is a one in 400 trillion chance that you were born. Think about that for a second…and realise that this makes YOU a huge gift. Your life is a gift and you are a gift to this life.

Find the WILDWOMAN website here, and follow them on Instagram here.

As classic desserts go, boozy fruit cake and Christmas pudding are seasonal favourites, but they can’t always compete with their better-looking profiterole pals, can they now?

Enter buttercream frosting – your plain bake’s sartorial bailout.

You can make your very own brandied bake ahead of the holidays or take the shortcut and save yourself a whole load of effort with a shop-bought cake – no prep or boozy night feeds required.

With these easy decorating ideas, you can take your Christmas cake from beige to bougie in no time at all (Applies for bake off 2021).

1 Let It Snow

Naked cakes bring the wow factor to any table, especially at Christmas time when the exposed frosting mimics those snowy holiday scenes – so very pleasing to the eye.

To transform your fruity pudding into a festive showstopper, all you need is buttercream frosting and desiccated coconut. Piece of cake!

SERVES 6-8

PREP: 30 MINS COOK:

EASY

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients

• 125g Butter
• ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 225g sifted icing sugar
• 250g full-fat cream cheese
• Ice cream cones
• Desiccated coconut

1. For the buttercream frosting, whisk the butter until light and pale. Add the cream cheese and beat to combine.
2. Sift in the icing sugar and beat for 3 minutes until pale and fluffy.
3. Spread a thin layer of frosting between each layer of fruit cake using a palette knife, covering the sides sparingly to get that lovely naked effect.
4. Spread a generous coating on top, ready to decorate.
5. Smear a thin layer of frosting on your ice cream cones and roll in the desiccated coconut or silver sugar balls.
6. Arrange upside down on top of the cake. Top with a sprinkling of coconut and boom, dessert is served.
7. You could also pipe buttercream onto the ice cream cones and sprinkle with a dusting of icing sugar if you’re not a massive fan of coconut.

2 Gingerbread Wonderland

SERVES

PREP: 30 MINS COOK:

EASY

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients

• Fresh rosemary
• Mini gingerbread shaped biscuits
• Frozen cranberries
• Granulated sugar

1. Follow the buttercream frosting recipe as above.
2. Trim and arrange several sprigs of rosemary on top of the cake, with the woody stem facing upwards.
3. Take a handful of frozen cranberries and scatter over the cake, pushing them into the frosting slightly to secure.
4. Position your ready-made gingerbread shaped biscuits, dust with icing sugar and you’re free to dig in.
5. If your decorations need more grip, you can make a sticky syrup to help them stay put. Mix ½ cup of water and ½ cup of sugar over a high heat and bring to the boil. Reduce to simmer, whisking until the sugar is all dissolved.
6. Remove from heat, dip your rosemary stems and set aside to dry for 15 minutes.
7. Meanwhile, add the cranberries to the sugar water mixture in the pot. Cover with a tea towel and leave to sit for 10 minutes. Remove the cranberries and set aside to dry for up to one hour.
8. Once your rosemary trees and cranberries are completely dry, roll in a bowl of granulated sugar for a beautiful frosted effect.
9. Set aside for another 10 minutes before arranging on top of your cake. Voilà!

Christmas is a time of many traditions, some we don’t even really understand the origin of (like really, why aren’t Pantos on all year round?!) but one divisive topic we’re not sure we’ll ever settle is the question of dressing up vs dressing down (or should we say gown) on Christmas Day. Loungewear will always have a special place in our heart around the festive season because realistically an elasticated waistband + ALL the food you’ve been eagerly awaiting for the past 12 months is a combination that can never fail you, but in the year of pyjamas and no bras, we’re feeling the temptation to go all out this Christmas.

Which camp do you sit on when it comes to Christmas attire?

Charlotte

I’m always one for dressing up at Christmas (because I never need an excuse) and this year more than ever it feels so special to slick on a red lip and some glitter when I’ve otherwise been exclusively wearing loungewear. I usually love colour but I was actually really drawn to this chic black number from Weekday which feels classic and special but with a bit of a 2-2020 edge. I don’t own any thigh-high boots but these green ones have got me dreaming of an occasion in which I can justify splurging.

*ASOS, Weekday Marge gathered stretch satin midi dress in black, £55 

*ASOS, ASOS DESIGN Cali premium leather heeled knee boots in green, £110 

ROOP, Gold glitter furoshiki bag, £75 

*Gucci, 25 Goldie Red, Rouge à Lèvres Voile Lipstick, £34 

Danielle

For Christmas Day my family dress up and I think after spending so much time in loungewear this year we’re going FULL glad rags. I’ve already bought this absolute dream of a two-piece from River Island and I’m SO excited to try it on and swan about like the Queen of Sheba. Will pair with gold jewellery, black kitten heels (and eventually slippers) and a brownish-red lip!

*River Island, Black feather hem pyjama trousers, £45 

*River Island, Petite black long sleeve feather cuff top, £38

*Nasty Gal, You’re Kitten Me Faux Suede Heeled Mules, £38 

*Bobbi Brown, LIP COLOR, £25 

*And Other Stories, Organic Oval Hoop Earrings, £23

Darcey

I don’t usually go very dressy for Christmas Day and to be honest, even wearing jeans this year would be fancy after a year filled with loungewear! I’ve gone for quite a chilled outfit still, pairing a checked blazer with some comfy straight leg jeans with a bit of stretch in them (need room for all those pigs in blankets!). I’m also NOT a heeled boot or heel in any form type of gal, I need ultimate foot comfort so I’ve gone for these chunky Chelsea boots from ASOS to complete my look.

*ASOS, ASOS DESIGN all rounder check blazer, £30 

*And Other Stories, Fitted Lyocell Ribbed Turtleneck, £29 

*ASOS, ASOS DESIGN Robbie chunky chelsea boots in black, £30

*ASOS, ASOS DESIGN high rise stretch ‘slim’ straight leg jeans in washed black, £32 

 

Maddie

One of the absolute BEST things about being pregnant is where there used to be a squidgy stomach (despite all my best efforts in the gym, what can I say, I’m a slave to chocolate!) I now have a firm bump in its place! I feel that it’s given me a renewed confidence to show off my belly and new curves but in utter comfort aka the stretchiest fabric, I can get my hands on! The maternity brand Seraphine has some lovely choices. Pair a simple dress with some slippers (comfort over everything!) a pretty statement headband and go all out with the glitter eyeshadow and berry lip.

*Seraphine, Black Ribbed Maternity & Nursing Midi Dress, £65 

Next, Suede Mule Slippers, £20 

*Tarte Cosmetics, color splash lipstick, £20 

*Charlotte Tilbury, LUXURY PALETTE OF POPS DAZZLING DIAMONDS, £42 

*Anthropologie, Eris Embellished Gem Headband, £38 

Holly

Every year my family and I start the day opening our pressies in jammies but then we proper dress to impress. I’m trying something different this year but I think I’ll like it. I brought this suit set and pairing it with this top which I already have. Then add loads of jewellery which I’m getting for Christmas and I will inevitably break or lose by January. I am going to look so chic on my dog walk.

*ASOS, ASOS DESIGN curve mix & match suit in black, £53 

*ASOS, Missguided strappy bodysuit in black lace, £22 

Accessorize, Gold-plated sparkle station collar necklace, £20 

Accessorize, Gold-plated mini sleeper hoop earring set, £16 

*New Look, Gold Glitter 2 Part Block Heels, £23.99 

Lareese

We all usually stay pretty casual for Christmas Day with jeans and a nice top (if it ain’t broke) or a Christmas jumper but since we’ve spent 90% of this year in loungewear, I’m going the whole hog in a velvet jumpsuit, Pat Butcher earrings and a classic red lip. I might regret the jumpsuit when I’m 5 Proseccos deep, but hey, ho, ho, ho!

*Sezane, SILOÉ JUMPSUIT, £115 

*And Other Stories, Heeled Leather Sock Boots, £135 

*John Lewis, Chanel, Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour, 444 Gabrielle, £31 

Topshop, Star Drop Earrings, £10 

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For those who love something a bit sweet, this is the holy grail holiday grazing board for you. Full of festive nibbles and buffet snacks you can peck at all day, it’s the best way to bring people together – and it looks the part, too.

The explosion of colour lends itself particularly well to the holiday season, so when you’re layering your snacks, be sure to have fun with it! Create height with pillar candles and tapered dinner candles and use fresh foliage or seasonal flowers for visual variety and texture.

Who needs to spend hours with table decorations when you’ve got this edible centrepiece? Tuck in!

For more tips and tricks on how to style your grazing board, check out our ultimate cheese board and Easter sharing board blog posts!

We’re prescribing wellness and recuperation for one and all! Yes, self-care is sometimes the boring stuff like making your bed and doing the washing up after eating, but it can equally be the frilly things like face masks, bubble baths and lavender-scented sheets that make life feel that little bit kinder and soft around the edges.

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First of all, how are you and how are you coping in 2020?

I’m actually coping pretty well. 2020 has been a year of trials, tribulations and triumphs!

Talk us through what your day looks like as a fashion and wellness coach?

Every day is different as there are lots of different aspects to what I do now, but I could be doing online wardrobe detox’s and empowering sessions online with clients through my website karenwilliamstylist.com. Shopping for clients, or styling up and making fashion edits for brands and magazines.

What did your career progression look like?

I started off doing work experience at all the big fashion magazines. I progressed to a fashion and beauty editor in print but always dabbled in tv. I then went on to be a freelance fashion stylist styling celebs and working for brands. 

What’s the best think about styling celebrities?

I don’t think of celebrities as celebrities anymore. I see everyone as people. We all have blood running through our veins and all breath air. This year has proved that.

Can you tell us all about how your TV show 100% Hotter came to be?

I got an email one Monday evening whilst cooking spaghetti bolognese for my twins from a production company asking me to come in for a screen test. I went for the screen test on the Wednesday and by the Friday I was filming. We filmed 60 odd shows – I learnt so much about myself and the people in general that I was making over.

What are your top rules for finding your style?

I would say go with what you love and wear your clothes with confidence. Own your style and it will all fall in to place one way or another – as long as you’re happy!

What would you say is your biggest achievement to date?

My biggest achievement to date is my twin boys, they are incredible and a blessing.

What are you currently working on?

I’m very busy at the moment, living, working and building my KW brand, It’s all about helping you and me to be as fabulous as we can be, doing it in our own way, no matter what your story is #findyourfabulous

Who are some of your favourite fashion follows online?

I’d have to say Topshop. The Editor in Chief of Marie-Claire told me if you crack it with Topshop you’ve made it haha! Mum, I’ve made it!

What do you always carry with you?

I always have my phone – obviously, my bank card, keys and now my Dior face mask.

What does your perfect weekend look like?

Well, my perfect lockdown weekend would be chilling out with the fam, working out, meditating and making Eastern Standard cocktails. Out of lockdown would be pretty much the same but with cinema, restaurants and dancing thrown in.

If you could only eat one meal again what would it be?

Oh it would have to be some sort of Caribbean dish – it’s my favourite.

If you could give one positive message to our followers what would it be?

Don’t overthink stuff – don’t let anyone derail you and it’s never too late to start. Just start – live your best life – you are worthy 🙏🏽

Follow Karen on Instagram here!

Once you’ve tried this tear ‘n’ share Christmas tree bread, no other bread will do. It seems tree-shaped pizza is the only kind that matters.

This simple garlic dough ball recipe is the ultimate Christmas crowd-pleaser and takes just 40 minutes to make, so you can be back playing Charades in no time.

Each bite is like a little parcel of Yuletide jubilation for your mouth, stuffed with oozy mozzarella and brushed with a melted butter, garlic, basil and parsley glaze and dusted with sharp, nutty parmesan.

Let the butter dribble down your chin and let the parsley wedge itself between your teeth for days – this is the top-tier holiday appetizer you need in your life.

SERVES 6-8

PREP: 45 MINS COOK: 20 MINS

EASY

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients

• 400g pizza dough
• Mozzarella
• Parsley
• 100g butter
• 2 cloves garlic
• Basil
• 100g parmesan
• 1 egg
• Passata for dipping

1. Preheat oven to 230°C. Line a large baking sheet with baking paper.
2. Cut your mozzarella into 1” pieces and set aside.
3. Finely chop your parsley and basil and set aside.
4. Crush your garlic and set aside.
5. On a floured surface, divide your pizza dough into two pieces.
6. Stretch and roll each piece of dough into a long rectangle, then cut dough into 2” squares. You’ll need to work out how many pieces you’ll need to make your tree, we went for 33.
7. Wrap a dough square around each piece of mozzarella, forming a tightly sealed ball.
8. Place balls seam-side down on the baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree make sure they’re touching.
9. Beat your egg and brush the egg wash on the dough balls.
10. Melt your butter in a small bowl and add your finely chopped herbs and crushed garlic, brush this on to the dough balls.
11. Grate your parmesan and sprinkle this on to your dough balls.
12.   Bake until golden, 15 – 20 minutes.
13. Serve straight from the over with warm passata for dipping!

Ho ho ho, is anyone else feeling SO READY FOR CHRISTMAS RN?! Team Zoella are a pretty festive bunch, and this week’s edit is one for any of you also feeling all the Christmas love at the moment, because it truly is the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas jumpers may at first appear a novelty item you could go without, but there is a lot of joy to be found in excess amounts of glitter, festive slogans and green and red colour palettes. Kitsch or classic depending on what floats your boat, these fun and flirty additions to your wardrobe are sure to add a smile to your face and some festive joy to your heart to help combat the chill of December days.

And although they might get a short window of wear per year, there’s no doubt you’ll bring them out season after season and continue to reap the rewards of a 10/10 piece of knitwear to add to your collection.

Let us know which Xmas jumper you’ll be wearing this season!

Charlotte

If there’s ever a time for novelty fun, it’s now! I actually only own one Christmas jumper which gets brought out once a year, but 2020 feels like the time to really grow this collection and cheer up the month of December. I’ve gone for a mix of fun and cheesy designs as well as some classic knitwear which gives me all the Chalet Girl vibes. Can’t wait to put one on and decorate my flat top to bottom!

*Skinny Dip, Christmas Cherub Sweatshirt, £25 

*New Look, Blue Christmas Pudding Bobble Jumper, £17.24 

*Banana Republic, Fair Isle Mock-Neck Sweater, £95 

Zalando, BDG Urban Outfitters YOKED RAGLAN – Cardigan, £49.99 

Holly

I reckon tackier the better when it comes to Christmas Jumpers. If you’re going to buy something you can only wear once a year, might as well make the most of it. And what can I say 100% I’ll be doing every festive season? Watching Strictly! So this jumper actually couldn’t be better. Then throw in a few extras just to make sure I have a new one for every occasion.

Not just, Keep Dancing: Strictly Knitted Christmas Jumper, £34.99 

*Disney, Disney Store Donald Duck Holiday Cheer Light-Up Christmas Jumper For Adults, £32 

*New Look, Black Christmas Pudding Print Sweatshirt, £17.99 

Danielle

I’ve got quite a few cheesy Christmas jumpers so I’ve picked some that I’d actually enjoy wearing, which are a little ‘chicer’ as it were. First, from Monki love the jersey sweatshirt vibe with a tiny nod to Christmas in the form of a snowman. LOVE this All Saints number and it’s perfectly festive without being garish. Lastly, I’m enjoying these post-war 40s knits that keep making an appearance, not that Christmassy but they are slightly Fairisle style which works!

*Monki, Christmas sweater, £20 

*AllSaints, STAR JUMPER, £74

*H&M, Jacquard-knit jumper, £24.99 

 

Lareese

Knitwear is my favourite thing to buy – I live in jumpers, cardigans and layers so you bet I’m going to be climbing into a kitsch knit or two this Christmas. The roomier the better because I’m not holding back on the mine pie merriment this year. I’ve gone for a mix of stylish and novelty but the David Attenborough one has my HEART.

Notjust, Attenbrrr: David Attenborough Knitted Christmas Jumper, £34.99 

*New Look, Black Sequin Flamingo Lights Christmas Jumper, £22.99 

*New Look, White Sequin Bow Brushed Knit Christmas Jumper, £25.99 

Darcey

I love me a Christmas jumper and especially a novelty one! I am obsessed with the dancing Santa crewneck from New Girl, I mean who doesn’t want a Santa pole dancing on their jumper for Christmas? I have also found a very cute Snoopy knit from M&S, couldn’t resist it! I’ve also included a classic, more chic Christmas jumper, with the fair isle style. Probably more wearable, but as we are spending more time at home go as crazy as you want I think!

*Marks and Spencer, Supersoft Snoopy™ Crew Neck Jumper, £25 

*Marks and Spencer, Fair Isle Funnel Neck Relaxed Jumper, £29.50 

*ASOS, ASOS DESIGN Curve Christmas oversized jumper with multi slogan in black, £30 

*ASOS, New Girl Order Curve oversized sweatshirt with dancing santa xmas graphic, £30 

Maddie

I’m here to represent all the mums to be who have a bump to think about when picking their Christmas jumpers this year. Just because we may feel like a Christmas pudding or a stuffed turkey doesn’t mean we have to look like one (although that sort of sounds amazing!) Here are some of the nicest knits I’ve found!

*Jo Jo Maman Bebe, RED ROBIN CASHMERE MIX FAIR ISLE MATERNITY JUMPER, £35 

Not On The High Street, ‘Best Gift Ever’ Mum To Be Christmas Jumper Sweatshirt, £33 

*New Look, Maternity Black Christmas Pudding Logo Top, £15.99 

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For our penultimate book club pick of the year, we read The Magpie Society: One For Sorrow, the first instalment in the murder mystery series co-written by Amy McCulloch and Zoella founder, Zoe Sugg.

If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, Pretty Little Liars and Broadchurch, consider The Magpie Society your new literary obsession.

Illumen Hall is a boarding school of tradition and achievement.

But tragedy strikes when the body of a student is discovered on the beach – and on her back is an elaborate tattoo of a magpie.

For new student Audrey, it is just another strange and unsettling thing about her new surroundings, along with the secrets the school seems to hide and its weird obsession with magpies. For her roommate Ivy, the death of her friend Lola is just one thing she desperately wants to get past – and having a new student asking questions and cluttering up her personal space is not helping a bit.

But the two girls are forced into an unlikely alliance when a mysterious podcast airs, with one sinister headline:

I KNOW WHO KILLED LOLA. AND ONE OF YOU IS NEXT.

Find out how the team got on with the first nail-biting page turner of the series!

Lareese

I love a good whodunnit mystery and The Magpie Society certainly delivered the goods – even if the cliffhanger was beautifully frustrating.

The podcast dialogue was brilliantly crafted (all the Riverdale vibes) and the transition between Audrey and Ivy’s dual narration is seamless. You would never know it was written by two different authors, which blows my mind. It’s utterly masterful.

As well as the two protagonists, I also LOVED the secondary characters, particularly Clover and Araminta.

I know how much both authors poured their heart and soul into this book, and to finally get to read it was a real 2020 highlight. Tension, atmosphere, secret-society intrigue, teenage angst – One For Sorrow has it in spades. I can’t wait for the next instalment!

Would you read again? Oh, in a freaking heartbeat!
Recommend: 5/5 (OBVS!)

Maddie

I was always going to love this book given how involved I’ve been in the behind the scenes, watching Zoe and Amy work so hard on this idea for years has been so exciting to be a part of and I’m thrilled so many people are loving it. That all being said, the early days brainstorms when the possibility of the Magpie Society was just an idea did not prepare me for the level of depth and story that Zoe and Amy have delved into to make it such an exciting page-turner. I love the characters so much and flip flop between who my favourites are constantly throughout the book. There is so much mystery that you only really just scratch the surface of before the haunting final scene which leaves you on a knife-edge wondering what happens next! Like everyone else who has read it, I CANNOT wait for the next book, I need to know what happens and who or what the Magpie Society is all about…

5/5 without a doubt

Holly

Young adult fiction is my favourite genre and one half of Magpie Society is written by one of my best friends so obviously I’m biased but I LOVED it! It’s written from 2 different character perspectives, Ivy and Audrey who are completely different personalities but both so relatable. This made it super easy to imagine being at Illumen Hall and I got so invested in the story instantly.
I loved that there were plot twists/you find stuff out all throughout the book, rather than leaving it to the last few chapters. It meant I was constantly wanting to read to see if anything would happen in the next chapter. The chapters are short and sweet which kept me up every night ‘just one more chapter’…
I cannot WAIT for the next book! I hope in the next book we get to know a bit more about the extra characters like Teddy, Harriet etc. Also, I know it’s necessary when its the first book in a series but how annoying to leave it on that much of a cliffhanger!

Would you recommend?

Obviously 100% yes

Charlotte

WELL THIS IS EXCITING! After seeing Zoe and Amy work on this project for such a long time I honestly couldn’t wait to get my teeth into this and delve into the world of Illumen Hall for myself! I used to love reading books set in boarding schools when I was younger (and weirdly enough actually begged my parents to let me go to one, ha!) and the nostalgia of that backdrop instantly flooded back to me. Despite what might feel like a setting that has been popular in the world of fiction, there was something about Illumen Hall that felt eerie and unpredictable from the start. The perfect balance of sinister yet subtle makes for a page turning read, as you desperately make your way through its chapters following the twists and turns attentively. Each character was memorable and offered a different perspective to the story, and the alternating protagonists dynamic is something I’ve come to love within multiple books I’ve read this year! I’m not usually one for scary reading or watching, but I think I might be converted! Also: THAT CLIFFHANGER. I NEED MORE!

The Magpie Society was the PERFECT lockdown read for me, keeping me gripped and away from the temptation of endless TikTok scrolling. I feel so attached to the characters and their story, and honestly cannot wait for the next instalment!

5/5
Would you recommend? YES X100.

Danielle

This book has basically everything I look for when picking out a read. YA, female friendship, secret societies, murder mystery, a boarding school, and even romance sprinkled in! After seeing how hard Amy and Zoe worked on this I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth and even found myself delaying picking it up because I didn’t want to finish it (am I the only person who does this?!) But finish it I did and all I want to do now is read the next one. I LOVED the back and forth between the character perspectives as it really helped the book keep pace, so much of it was unpredictable and kept me guessing, there’s so much I could say but I don’t want to give it away…

5/5
Would you recommend? Absolutely I’ve already lent out my copy to my sister!

Darcey

Well blooming heck! That was absolutely brilliant. After seeing how hard Zoe and Amy have worked on this book I couldn’t wait to finally read it myself! I quite literally inhaled this book within a matter of days, every chapter just made me want to dive straight into the next. I usually don’t go for a YA read but I loved every minute of The Magpie Society and think I need to start picking up more YA reads in the future!

I loved how we got to go back and forth between Ivy and Audrey, I adored their friendship and seeing both of their perspectives throughout. They both worked seamlessly together and you would never know that they were written by two different authors, that in itself is bloody brilliant. The ending was a reallllll cliffhanger and makes me super excited for the next instalment! I can’t wait to find out more about The Magpie Society.

5/5
Would you recommend? Absolutely!