Twelve Days Of Christmas 2022

As is now the norm, my lovely friend, Lisa, and I swapped twelve little gifts again, one to be opened on each of the twelve days of Christmas. This is the ninth year we've done this, it's become quite the tradition. I thought you'd like to see what each of us opened.

These are the gifts I received from Lisa.

Here's a closer look at them.

A Cath Kidston storage bag which will be so handy to store away the winter clothes once spring is here. Some Christmas microfibre cloths, cute gonks, they'll make me smile when I'm doing the dreaded cleaning at Christmastime. A bar of spiced apple soap in a tin, it smells delicious, almost good enough to eat. A shopping pad, two Christmas pencils and a foldable shopping bag. So handy as I always forget something when I go shopping, I really must get into the habit of writing a list.

A pack of 15 red berries Christmas scented tealights, I should imagine they'll make the house smell very festive. Two packs of notecards. Lisa knows I'm a letter writer so they'll come in very handy. A make your own pumpkin decorations kit, I'm really looking forward to getting started on these, though I think I'll wait until nearer pumpkin season before I do. A mini cross stitch kit. I didn't do any cross stitch at all last year but I want to get back to it again this year so this cute design will ease me in.

There's usually a book amongst the gifts and this year it's A Merry Little Christmas by Julia Williams. I haven't read anything by this author before. I got a few Christmas books as gifts this year, I may just keep them until next Christmas as they'll really get me in the Christmas spirit then. Some yummy all butter mini shortbread trees, I love shortbread so they'll go down a treat with a cup of tea. Some Galaxy Fusions dark chocolate with raspberry meringue, I look forward to trying that, it sounds delicious. Last but not least, a can of Percy Pig phizzy fruit juice drink and a packet of Santa straws, what fun, I can't wait to try that.

As usual, some wonderful gifts, I feel very spoilt. Thank you Lisa, it's been a fun swap again and it's now part of my Christmas traditions.

Here's what I sent to Lisa.

And a closer look.

It's all about keeping warm this year so I sent Lisa a cosy hot water bottle with a fluffy cover as well as two pairs of thermal socks. I just loved the colour of this scarf when I saw it so that was a done deal, I thought it would suit Lisa. And you can't beat a bit of pampering so there's also some lemon and clary sage bath soak and a sheet mask.

I think I've put a Christmas themed book in every parcel I've sent and this year is no exception. I went with Flora's Travelling Christmas Shop by Rebecca Raisin. I wouldn't have minded having a go at the felt animal kit myself, I chose a cat for Lisa as she has two cats of her own. There's nail varnish in two different colours and a compact mirror and cosmetic sharpener, I thought they might come in handy.

We usually exchange some sweet treats too. I thought these Thorntons salted caramel squares looked tasty and I sent some German inspired mini cinnamon speculatius, I haven't seen these before. I'm sure the milk chocolate spoons will be delicious, each in a different flavour, peppermint, orange and caramel. There's marshmallows with them too. And just for a bit of fun, a gin jigsaw. I know that Lisa is a fan of jigsaws so I hope she likes this one.

Didn't we do well. This swap is such a fun thing to do and it extends the Christmas festivities right into January. Thanks again, Lisa.