Win £50 Cash

Does anyone else find that, after the summer holidays, it's a slippery slope towards Christmas? Don't get me wrong, I'm not being a Scroogey old Grinch, or a Grinchey old Scrooge, whichever is grammatically correct. It just seems to get more expensive every year and it's such a worry for a lot of parents, when ends aren't always meeting anyway. So after, the children go back to school, it's a time to start stockpiling, bargain hunting and trying to squirrel away some pennies! However, Christmas shouldn't be all about money, or material things, it's important to try to make time to appreciate what you do have. Like friends and family. I am lucky enough to have made some amazing friends since I started blogging and they have all been a big support to me one way or another.

The first is my Welsh friend Mellissa, who started blogging at around the same time as me and is a whizz with all the complicated techy stuff that I find so difficult. She has the patience of a saint and is always happy to lend a hand and guide me through the trickier aspects of blogging, using appropriately small words. She is also lovely, sweet, generous, and understanding. I actually don't think I would be where I am without her. Mellissa writes The Diary of a Jewellery Lover, a lovely, glamourous blog, featuring beautiful photos of things you either want to wear, eat or visit!

The second is Lucy who has two gorgeous little boys. She lives near my Dad, so I try to pop in to see her, when I'm that side of the motorway. It doesn't matter what she's doing, or how she's feeling, she is just the happiest, most welcoming person you could imagine. I always really look forward to visiting her and her dog, Tyson, who is a bit... well, bonkers! In a cuddly way, though. Anyway, there is a picture, but it's a bit dark, because I've just set fire to a cake. As you do. Anyway, Lucy writes It's a London Bird Thing, which is about things to do in London and lots more besides. 

Linda is another Welsh friend, like Mellissa, and a recent acquisition, as we only met at an event a few weeks ago. We clicked straight away though. She is so friendly and easy to talk to and we had strange things in common. You know, where you have to keep going; 'Really? Me too!' every five minutes during the conversation, and it feels like you're some kind of life twins or something. I am really hoping we will be able to meet up again soon, I so enjoyed her company. She is a beautiful, brilliant mum and writes about that on her blog, Mother Distracted. It happens that she's an older mum, but you'd never know, she's just a mum. 

Last but not least, is Rebecca. She is awfully clever, she even looks clever, see?! Sometimes, when she's not looking, I slightly copy her work, because she writes so brilliantly and lays everything out all proper, like an actual pro! She's another who takes time out to help when I need her. Not that I'm needy or anything, you understand, just a bit... dim, sometimes. Her blog, Futures, is one of the first blogs I ever read and I'm still jealous of the design of it now! We have yet to meet, but I would really like to put that right. There comes a point in every relationship where you've exchanged enough PMs on Facebook, to make a meet up in actual life entirely necessary. 

To help out a little, in the run up to the festive season, we have all clubbed together to bring you a giveaway. The prize is a very useful £50 and we wish you all the best of luck as you make your way through the Rafflecopter below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway