Make…
… your gingerbread house or village from a very handy kit. Becky B got me mine from John Lewis and although I was initially a bit freaked out by it, it turned out to be a great fun thing to do (particularly after the kids were in bed, a bit like grown-up colouring). I even went a bit nuts and ordered some tiny fake christmas trees and tiny plastic reindeer cake decorations off Amazon.
Watch…
…The CBeebies Christmas panto, on today at 5pm. This year it’s Alice in Wonderland. Giles is freaked out by Justin Fletcher but personally I can’t wait to see him as the Queen of Hearts. Just as Christmassy to watch it on telly next to a Christmas tree with a mince pie and less traumatising for the under-5s than hiking to an actual venue for a panto that may or may not be any good, or unintentionally hilarious, or full of off-colour jokes “for the grown-ups”.
Buy…
… these amazing Isabel Marant knock-offs from Zara kids. But only if your feet are no bigger than a size 6.

Zara Kids, £29.99
How fun, I’ve just got my gingerbread house kit from Amazon. How did you stick the walls together? A friend did hers with caramel but I can see me ruining a nice pan making caramel.
Your gingerbread village is beautiful.
I’ve just ordered those boots from Zara – xmas present to myself (well, another one) – they look fab and cosy !
Arse. Those boots are really nice. Stupid size 7 massive boat feet.
🙁
These boots are awesome! And just minutes ago I was moaning to my husband that I had nothing in between my wellies/hiking boots and heels/ballet pumps (his solution: ‘Er, maybe you should buy some shoes?’). Why, given that I am constantly going on about how much nicer my daughter’s clothes are than mine, have I never thought to peruse the kids’ section before? I now want not just these boots but all the other Zara kids shoes too.
I’ve got a few things from kids’ sections and ALWAYS get asked where they’re from
You are inadvertently creating a small army of cloned Spikers. When every fifth woman you see is wearing Zara kids boots, Boden kids Xmas jumpers and Sezane high waisted skinnies, you will know your work is done.
done?! that will only be the beginning