I have been scouring all our local charity shops and over the last few weeks have amassed a great collection of excellent condition story, picture and puzzle books. 24 to be precise.

I have wrapped them like old fashioned parcels, in wrapping paper I had under the bed, and hung them from our bathroom towel ladder!

I used some old scrap book paper and dolly pegs I got for 50p at a car boot sale to peg the days of December.

All the books ranged from 10p to 50p. I even got a few 4 for £1. A bargain Advent calendar, chocolate free and gifts that will last longer than the month of December.

Don't worry I am not completely mean! Grandma and Grandad have sent Thomas the Tank and Peppa Pig chocolate calendars in the post! Happy December! Let the Festive Season commence!

The coolest idea now the frosty times are well and truly here!

They took minutes to make and even less time to eat! Enjoy!

So simple and easy for little ones to join in with, if you can keep them from eating all the ingredients.

Add extra frost with white and blue sugar sprinkles.

They went down very well with Sammy! Cheap and easy super snowballs!

I love a good sprout. Unfortunately for everyone else I like them soft, almost mushy!

Searching for a new way to satisfy all over the Christmas table and I found these recipes after being inspired by a blog I follow. Clearly I am behind in sprout terms!

Peel the outer leaves (this is trickier than you might think but persevere) and cut the remainder in 3 length ways to keep the sprouts relatively thin. Heat your oven to 180 degrees or Gas Mark 4 and sprinkle/drizzle over your seasonings. Cook for 10 minutes but check regularly to not let the crispy ones become charcoal! I tried mine 3 ways.

1. Cinnamon, sugar, salt and olive oil. Salty but sweet - scrumptious!
2. Balsamic glaze and olive oil - sharp and sticky - best eaten with fingers.
3. Soy sauce, salt and olive oil - surprisingly complementary flavours.

If you love sprouts you will love my Pinterest board! Follow it here.