Unless you have been living on a cloud this last month you will know the John Lewis advert.

This one >>>>

Ok, it made me cry the first time I saw it. Maybe just a little.

But let’s look a little deeper into the middle class myth here. We are buying into the John Lewis ideal – of course, the advertising agency has done their job exceedingly well –  yet as much as I love to browse around the kitchen and haberdashery departments of good old JL whenever I get the chance, Christmas for me this year and at any other is not about what I buy, how much I spend, or having the best.

I already have the best.

I have all I could want, and this is what I am looking forward to this year:

❆ brews with my brothers and some quality sibling time

❆ the Mini Divas getting excited about Christmas for the first time

❆ unplugging the madness for a bit to sit by the fire in my jim jams

❆ crisp, bright, cheek pinching days to go for a walk,  feed the ducks or end up in a local for some hot steaming coffee

❆ more sitting in jim jams

❆ roasted chestnuts

❆ catching up with my school mates and out kids for out annual drink to kickstart Christmas Eve

❆ the way my little town gets busy as everyone comes home for a few days

❆ brandy butter.

❆ no timetable for a week. bliss.

❆ mini diva toys to play with

❆ santa being magical again

❆ 4 generations in one place having a party

❆ the xmas day midnight curry  the in-laws do de rigeur

See how much that lot cost? Not a lot.

Remember this year that  if gifts seem expensive and money is tight, it’s not about the consumer craziness people.

Enjoy the magic in your own way – here is a reminder of simplicity from the Diva archives:

Keep it cold, colourful and creative.

Dex Diva x