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Sure, we’re still in November. Sure, it may feel a little bit early to start talking about Christmas. But the truth is, the sooner you get started planning your Christmas, the smoother the entire process will be and the more enjoyable a time you’re likely to have. Nobody really enjoys rushing around last minute in a desperate bid to pull everything together. Instead, if you get more things done in November, you can spend more of December enjoying yourself and doing the fun things you have planned. What’s more? This year isn’t exactly like every other. 

The coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic has changed many of our personal living situations and has changed the way the world works in general. Chances are you’re going to have to be a bit more organised to make sure everything works together to create the Christmas you want. This, of course, is going to be a multistep process. So, here are just a few steps you might like to consider!

 

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Saving

The first step towards Christmas should be saving. Nobody wants to find themselves in debt as a result of this occasion. But every year, all too many people plummet themselves into debt buying gifts they can’t afford. Searching for bad credit loans is a great idea for essentials if you’re struggling to meet bills and other financial commitments. But this isn’t the ideal solution for anyone who’s simply looking for cash to get gifts. Instead, try to save in advance. Put a little out of paychecks and other forms of income (such as selling old belongings online) into some sort of savings pot. This can then help you out further down the line when it comes to actually buying gifts.


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Plan The Gifts You’d Like to Buy

Next, it’s time to create a list of all of the different gifts you’re planning on buying. Of course, Christmas isn’t all about gifts. But many of us do pick up a few things for our nearest and dearest. So, if you’re planning on getting any gifts this year, it’s best to plan exactly what you want to buy and make a list. This will help in a few ways. It will make sure that you don’t forget anything. It will make sure that you don’t get distracted and start buying things that aren’t on your list. It will also help you to set a budget for gifts and ensure that you don’t overspend.


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Shop the Black Friday Sales

Black Friday can still feel like a relatively new event in the annual sales calendar. Traditionally, Black Friday is an American shopping event. But now, countries around the world have started getting involved too. In fact, it has quickly become one of the biggest sales around the world, generating the most profit and seeing consumers and retailers left pretty happy. Black Friday takes place on the day following Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday of every November). It can be seen to mark the start of the Christmas shopping season. This has been going on since around 1952, but the name “Black Friday” has only really been used since the early 2000s. The event sees retailers cut the prices of their stock in order to generate profit before the festive period. More and more retailers are taking part every year, so chances are, whatever’s on your list of gifts to buy, you’re going to find the item at a significantly discounted price on this day. This makes gift giving a whole lot more affordable!

 

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Plan Your Food Shopping

Food plays a central role in Christmas festivities for many of us. Of course, food shopping is a little more difficult in the pandemic. Stores have limited capacity and you might not be able to just walk into a packed store full of hustle and bustle during the pandemic. Instead, there are likely to be queues weaving around store carparks. This isn’t going to be all too pleasant closer to December, as you won’t really want to spend all too much time standing outdoors in the cold, wind, rain or even sleet and snow. So, draw up a plan of what food you’d like for the festive season and place orders instead. Then, the food will all be ready and waiting for you without you having to worry about queuing or things running out. If possible, delivery would be ideal. If not, there are plenty of click and collect services that you might like to consider!

 

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Plan Your Decorations

As you can see, planning ahead is a pretty consistent theme this year. The same goes for what tends to be the main Christmas decoration in most households that celebrate Christmas - the Christmas tree. Now, if you have real Christmas trees, it’s best to look around at local Christmas tree farms and determine which will be open and see if you can book a time slot to view and collect a tree. This will help you to avoid disappointment and guarantee a quality tree that you’ll really love. If you’re planning on getting an artificial tree, you’re in luck. Garden centres tend to stay open during lockdowns, so you should be able to get your hands on one relatively easily. If stores are closed or have too long queues for you, you can then find the rest of your Christmas decorations online.

 

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Be Flexible with Social Planning

Hopefully, there won’t be any lockdown situations over Christmas. But if there are, you may find that some of the social plans you’d made may have to be cancelled. It’s important to be as flexible as you possibly can be when it comes to making social plans that involve mixing of households over the Christmas period.

 

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Lets hope this guides you when it comes to planning Christmas this year. Sure, it’s going to be a little different to usual, but it is still possible to have a great festive season and you never know... you might make some of your most cherished memories yet!


Thanks for reading and take care! :)




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November 16, 2020 No comments

 




So these past few months have been a little different thats for sure. Working arrangements have been affected, our lives have been put on hold and a lot of our favourite pastimes have came to a sudden stop, unable to safely operate. Although things only now are slowly starting to resume to some sort of normality, staying safe is priority, so I was so excited to be invited to the REVIVAL show, live at the Scone Palace in Perth.

REVIVAL is Scotland's first drive in variety event, offering plenty of music, comedy and magic, whilst being in the safety of your own car, so you can stick to being socially distanced. I couldn't resist heading a long to the preview day, the day before the live shows were open to the public, to see what it had to offer and if the whole concept was actually going to work! 

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We arrived at the Scone Palace about 3pm, so we were a bit early, but this gave us some time to take a look around and take in the scenery of the grounds... Scone Palace for those of you who don't know is a beautiful historical building, with a lot of stunning land, so it is worth getting there a little early so you can take it all in!

We got to the area and were directed to our space. There was a great big screen, so anyone further back would still be able to see clearly what was going on and not miss out on any of the fun. It also displayed how to listen to the performance, and how to connect your radio... perfect for me as I have never attended any sort of drive in event.... it was completely new to me!





As we were there for a dress run, there was a few practice runs of the opening number, to allow the newspapers and press to get their shots... but this just got me really intrigued! I was excited to see what was on offer! It was great to see how much fun the performers were having, you could tell they were enjoying themselves... especially after being on hold for so long with our current pandemic!



Eventually, the show began! It was a fantastic mix of music, both traditional and modern, comedy, dance and a little bit of comedy magic... which we found hysterical! It was right up our street.
Clark Stewart was the host performer, and was the one who kind of kept the show flowing smoothly. Let me tell you, he done a fab job! Even with the drive in event, he managed to get everyone feeling involved and kept us smiling and laughing through the whole show! I think this is a great family experience, and would be a great few hours escape for everyone, but especially younger kids... the comedy acts are designed in particular to keep everyone amused, no matter your age!

There are plenty of dates available too, Revival has 4 shows every weekend right up to 30th August and has 2 show times of 2.30pm and 7pm, so even if you can't make a full day of it, you can head over after a day of work or running errands! Why not do what we did and take a mini picnic with some non alchoholic drinks to enjoy!?








The show ran for about 1 hour 30 mins, so if you do have smaller children, it won't be too long for them. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and was super exciting to experience something a little different, something I had never experiences before!

I have a feeling this is going to be a super popular event, and will get more popular as the weeks go on! You can pick up a ticket for £35... but can save money by using code RosieRevival10 at the checkout. Head over to REVIVAL to learn more and pick up your tickets!


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A massive thank you to the Rosie Glow Production team for the invitation the the preview day, I had a blast!

Get yourself over to the link above and check them out for more information and to pick your tickets! One per car is all that is needed, so no matter how many of you there are, it is one price... perfect for you bigger families!


Thanks for reading and take care! :)



Remember to visit my social media links below:

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August 15, 2020 No comments



Hi Again!

Its been a few weeks and its been a pretty manic one, with the whole pandemic going on, we have all been spending a lot more time at home. However being at home has gave me a lot more me time and made me think of the past year of my life. It is almost a year since I first took unwell and in that time I have been diagnosed with Vestibular Migraines, and most recently, Fibromyalgia... explaining the constant pain I have and the fatigue I suffer. It took almost a year to get the diagnose but now I have it, I can start managing it a little better and learn what works well for me, and what doesn't...


I am still coming to terms with the Fibro diagnosis, I don't know why. It is still so new to me and although I have been referred for some different services to help, I of course can't access them with everything currently going on. I know that once everything dies down a little, I can get the help I need to manage everything a little better, but until then I have learned some things that relieve the pain a little!


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Heat has definitely been a huge help for me. Baths are a massive go to, especially when I use them with some muscle soak to relieve any tensions I have. Even just a quick hot shower gives me a bit of relief. I cannot wait until the summer comes around and the weather improves... I know the warmer weather will do me wonders... the cold seems to cause me much more pain for some reason.... which of course is an issue here in Scotland, not ideal!


I also went for my first professional massage a few weeks ago and oh man it was bliss. This was something the doctor had recommended and although I knew it wouldn't cure me, it would help me relax a little and alleviate the pain I have. I had a voucher to use for my local beautician and it was a game changer... I didn't realise how much tension I must carry in my shoulders. I am going to treat myself every now and again to some sort of spa treatment and make it a regular thing, it makes such a difference to how I am feeling and I really want to make it part of my routine!
pinterest-wbeeclark-insta-willowclark.jpg - Josh Loe
As with the Vestibular Migraines, my body gets so tired so I always take a break and rest up if my body is telling me to. It's not worth the effects if I push myself too much and can take days to feel 100% again. I know if I am going out one day to visit family, or friends, not to plan much for the next day as it can cause my pain to flare up. Or if I am going out at night, take it easy that day and try and rest so I can feel as well as possible when I head out later on. I've learned it is all about balance and although it has taken almost a year, I am finally getting it right.

When I announced my Fibro to my friends and family on social media, so many people reached out, both friends and strangers to offer support and advice. This really helped and I have already reached out to some people online who have gave me some help in dealing with the pain and anxiety. Just knowing I have people there that will be willing to listen if I need help is a relief, especially as many of them have had the same diagnosis.

Lastly and most importantly, I have put my well being first, which I should have always done, but rarely did. I always done what I thought was expected rather than what was right for me. I have reduced my hours at work and although it means I will reduce my pay, I know it will be worth it knowing I can take it a little easier. I really can't wait to reap the benefits mentally and I know it will make me happier and healthier in the long run!

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It is still early days for me and I am learning to manage things now they are now. Of course things have been a little slower with the current pandemic but it has just helped me learn how to manage the pain myself and take some time for me and look after myself...

Have you been affected with Fibro and if you have, what advice would you give...


Thanks for reading and take care! :)



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March 29, 2020 2 comments



When I got invited to try the Stair Arms Hotel in Patthead, the one thing I was most excited for was to try the food. I had heard from others that it was delish and I couldn't wait to try it for myself!

I was lucky enough to be able to try both the dinner and breakfast menus... and both had definite highlights for me. The kitchen was due to be renovated just after our arrival so they had some
different dishes available... I just know I will need to head back now that the kitchen is back up and running and try some different dishes!

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They had plenty on the menu, everything from your classic fish and chips, to steak pie, to Mac & Cheese... it was a struggle to make my mind up. Before we started, the owner very kindly gave us some fresh bread with some different dips, one Tomato and Herb and the other a Thai Green Creme Freshe... this one I must say was incredible. This was something everyone got given before they started their meal and it tasted amazing, the bread was still hot!

We then placed our order... let me tell you that was a challenge!








For starter we went for the Cock-a-Leekie soup and the Salmon Pate and oatcakes. Lets start with the soup.... it was a big bowl! I didn't finish it because I didn't want to fill myself up too much, but I was gutted because it tasted really good. It was tasty and didn't need any extra seasoning, which I sometimes find I need to add to some soups. I would absolutely get again, maybe to share!

Stuart ordered the Pate, which he loved. I did give it a go, however it was quite fishy for me and I found it a bit overwhelming, but this is just me and Stuart devoured it. There was plenty of pate for the amount of oatcakes and the salad went really nice with the rest of the dish... a high recommendation for any salmon lovers out there!



Cock-a-leekie Soup
Salmon Pate with Betroot and Rocket Salad and Oatcakes


After we let the bread and the starters settle, it was time for out mains. I actually picked the veggie option, which was the Brie and Mushroom Wellington. I was really intrigued by the mix of flavours and let me tell you, it was hands down my favourite dish out them all. The wellington itself oozed brie, which being a huge cheese fan was a big bonus for me, and the veggie gravy tasted really good, much better than I ever could have imagined! We also got some mash with our mains, but I started to struggle so couldn't finish... which made me sad because it all went together so well to create a brilliant veggie main!

Stuart opted for the Chicken Lady Stair, which was chicken with haggis and Drambuie Sauce... another high quality dish with great taste. Their was plenty of sauce and the haggis was falling out the chicken breast there was so much! The sauce complimented the main so well it really was a perfect match and again would definitely be something I would order for myself next time!


Brie and Mushroom Wellington with Rosemary and Redcurrant sauce, Seasonal Veg, and Mash. 


Chicken Lady Stair - Chicken stuffed with haggis served with Drambuie Sauce, Seasonal Veg and Mash




We has a drink before we had our deserts, the mains were so filling, but I was desperate to try the puddings! Stuart went for a classic bit of Crimbo pudding with Brandy Sauce and I went for Chocolate Torte. I had to try a bit of the Christmas pudding and it tasted really good. It was served warm with the sauce and was the best way to finish our meal. My Chocolate Torte was also really good, super rich and the perfect indulgence to end on, although might be a bit too rich for some people... but being a chocoholic, I was in love, and demolished the whole plateful! It was smooth and the Winter Berry Compote that came with went so well, it was a match made in heaven!



Christmas Pudding
Chocolate Torte with Winter Berry Compote and Ice Cream



We were really satisfied with our meal and we were stuffed when we left... all the signs of a good meal! All the staff that seen to us were lovely and the owner spoke to us all about her business, which was really interesting, she was so lovely!

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The next morning after sleeping off our dinner it was time for more food in the form of breakfast!

We got to pick a starter and a main from the menu for our breakfast, we both went for the Porridge to start. I got mines with honey and Stuart got a wee bit of Whisky and honey... why not!? The porridge was pretty standard and tasted really nice... the honey was an sweet added touch that made the difference for me. Again it was a pretty big bowl, so if you are not starving, it might be quite filling to have before another plateful, but for me it was perfect... I was starving!

For mains, we went for toast and egg, mines poached and Stuarts scrambled. The only criticism I had was that our toast and egg got brought out before I had finished my porridge, so she had to take it away when I hadn't finished, which would be something I would maybe be more aware of and work to fix, but the food itself was lovely and filled me up perfectly for journeying home. Scrambled eggs are not a favourite of mines, however Stuart was very complimentary of them, and said they were well seasoned!






After filling myself up with all the food, it was time for me to drive home... normally I would stop for a wee pit stop for some food, but after all the courses we had filled our self up with, that wasn't needed, we were already stuffed!


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I really enjoyed our experience here at the Stair Arms hotel, the hotel was beautiful and well refurbished, the staff were welcoming and friendly, and the food was delicious! We have actually already spoke about returning again in the next few months to try out some more of their dishes now the kitchen refurb has been completed!

Head over to their website at http://www.stairarmshotel.com/ to check out all the latest and have a sneak peak at their menu! I love supporting smaller family run businesses so I can't wait to head back again and stuff myself with even more food!


Massive thank you to the staff at The Stair Arms hotel and for the PR company for organising this stay. I got gifted this stay and meal at no cost to myself but all opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.



Thanks for reading and take care! :)


Remember to visit my social media links below:

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/NicoleCorbett.Blog/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Twitter:
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Instagram:
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February 07, 2020 4 comments
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About me

My name is Nicole and I am a Scottish blogger, who shares everything about travel, food, lifestyle... all the things I love! I am an official crazy cat lady (with 2 beautiful furbabys of my own), a musical fanatic and massive foodie, who loves to travel and try new things. I started blogging back in 2016 however took a big break in 2020 and now I am back and excited to restart the hobby I once loved. Feel free to follow along... I am excited to see where this blog takes me ❤

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