Tag: Advent

24 Positive Affirmations for Advent

As much as December is a lovely, glittery, warm time of the year, for many people it’s also a time for stress or hardship. I know as a busy mum, I’m usually the last person I get to treat well. I’m so busy rushing around making sure everyone else has the perfect Christmas that I usually end up neglecting myself. I know that once I hit peak exhaustion, my mental health can start to take a hit.

Sometimes, when things start to get on top of me, I remember that as twee as it sounds, affirmations can help. What I like to do is write down positive affirmations on little pieces of paper or card and pop them in a jar. Each day I pull out a new affirmation, read it and put it in my pocket to look at again when I have a moment later, when I need reminding that I am good enough, or that anything is possible.

24 Positive Affirmations for Advent

Download your free sheet of 24 positive affirmations for Advent here!

They remind me a little of the little scraps of paper you get in fortune cookies, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Whatever you do this Christmas, please do find time to be kind to yourself. Self care is so important, especially when your energy reserves are running low.

24 Positive Affirmations for Advent

  1. Say YES to new adventures
  2. I value myself
  3. Do it for your future self
  4. We rise by lifting others
  5. Good things are coming
  6. Remember you are amazing
  7. Be kind and be kindest to yourself
  8. You are enough
  9. You are entirely up to you
  10. You deserve happiness
  11. Today is going to be a great day
  12. Be present and take a deep breath
  13. You’re doing great
  14. I choose to be happy and love myself today
  15. I believe in myself
  16. Anything is possible
  17. I am grateful for the life I have
  18. I accept myself as I am
  19. Today is a new beginning
  20. Forgive yourself for your mistakes
  21. All of your problems have solutions
  22. My challenges help me grow
  23. I am in control
  24. I will get through today

Download your free sheet of 24 positive affirmations for Advent here!

If you liked this, you might also like these 24 acts of kindness for Advent. Merry Christmas!

24 Acts of Kindness for Advent

Advent is traditionally a time where we wait patiently and count down to the birth of the baby Jesus. These days, many children and families know Advent best for counting the days until Christmas and that big pile of presents under the tree. Usually there are chocolate Advent calendars, in some homes they still light Advent candles and mark the days and weeks of Advent in a more religious way.

Whether you’re religious or not, Advent is a period which many people mark time with in their own way. I’m trying to live a kinder life (not that it’s been full of mean things so far, but there’s always room for more kindness) so I’ve come up with 24 acts of kindness you could consider doing in the run up to Christmas.

24 Acts of Kindness for Advent

24 Acts of Kindness for Advent

  1. Send charity Christmas cards
  2. Leave a nice online review for a small local business
  3. Write some notes telling people what you appreciate about them
  4. Make a donation to a small charity
  5. Put some loose change in a tip jar
  6. Bake treats for your neighbours or co-workers
  7. Have a clear out and donate your unwanted clothes to charity
  8. Make someone you live with breakfast in bed
  9. Phone a friend or family member each day
  10. Do a beach clean, or street clean, or a litter pick in a park
  11. Organise a charity bake sale
  12. Donate to your local food bank
  13. Compliment other people
  14. Make a point of doing self-care every day, whatever that looks like
  15. Leave candy canes on the door handles of your neighbours with a nice note
  16. Make a log pile in your garden so the wildlife has somewhere to cosy up over winter
  17. Make and send Christmas cards to the residents of your local nursing home
  18. Paint some happy rocks and leave them in your local park for people to find
  19. Leave a little present for your post person as a thank you
  20. Sellotape a bus fare to a bus stop
  21. Write a letter to your teacher saying what you appreciate about them
  22. Make and deliver a meal to someone who might appreciate that
  23. Pass on some books you’ve enjoyed to others
  24. Donate a winter coat to charity

If you enjoyed this, you might also like these 24 positive affirmations for Advent.

24 Acts of Kindness for Advent

Make Your Own Yorkshire Tea Advent Calendar

Fancy Advent Calendars are all the rage these days. I’ve seen gin calendars, beer calendars, LEGO calendars and skincare calendars; but alas there are no Yorkshire Tea calendars. I have searched high and low for a Yorkshire Tea calendar (other tea brands are available) but ended up deciding to make my own.

Tea drinkers are usually fiercely loyal to their brand. My best friend loves tea, specifically Yorkshire Tea and with lockdown once more gripping the country, I felt it was time to make them a special Advent gift.

Make Your Own Yorkshire Tea Advent Calendar

The idea is a simple one. Find a new Yorkshire Tea tea towel and sew individually wrapped Yorkshire Tea teabags onto it. It’s not really much more complicated than that, but here’s how I did it.

How to make a Yorkshire Tea Advent Calendar

You will need:

A Yorkshire Tea tea towel, I bought mine from eBay
24 individually wrapped Yorkshire Tea teabags, I got mine from Amazon
A permanent marker
A needle and thread

Making your Advent Calendar

Lay your tea towel on a flat surface and decide how best to place your individually wrapped teabags. I took a photo so I could remember what worked best, because I can be a bit forgetful. You might want to iron your tea towel before you start, I didn’t because I’m quite lazy.

Using the marker pen, number each teabag. Feel free to write a joyful message on the back of some of the packets if you wish. Shuffle your teabags so they are now in a random order.

Make Your Own Yorkshire Tea Advent Calendar

Remembering the pattern of how you’re going to sew them onto the tea towel; take your needle and thread and stitch a couple of tacking stitches through the top sealed edge of the teabag. Sew each one onto your tea towel and continue until you’ve sewn them all on.

That’s it.

Should you be a bit worried that your sewing might not be up to much, you could get 24 safety pins and pin the teabags onto the tea towel instead. If you’ve gone for the sewing option; then I’d advise the recipient that a quick snip each day with some small scissors will release the bag from the tea towel and bring them some brewing up joy.

Make Your Own Yorkshire Tea Advent Calendar

If you’re looking for more Advent Calendar ideas, you can read about my Reverse Advent Calendar or find out about some interesting Advent Calendars you can buy.

Make Your Own Yorkshire Tea Advent Calendar