My December Favourites

Penguin Clothbound Classics

I know we are nearly halfway through January but I wanted to share some of my December favourites before we got too far into this month. I have not done a favourites post in a while so I thought I was a little overdue. Plus, I love reading these sorts of posts so I want to share some of my favourites from last month.

My first favourite from last month was this stunning version of Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol and other Christmas writings from the Penguin Clothbound Classics. I do have a paperback version of this book but there was something that drew me to this copy. The cover is so beautiful. It looks very nice on the bookshelf. I couldn’t resist treating myself to a copy prior to Christmas.
I adore A Christmas Carol and this puts me in such a Christmas like mood whenever I look at it. I can’t wait to read it at the end of the year.

My next favourite is a DVD of possibly my favourite Disney movie as well as one of my favourite films of all time. It’s the big sleeve edition of Beauty and The Beast. This is something else I may have treated myself to just before Christmas. It was one of those impulse buys. I knew that if I didn’t buy it, I would never see it again.
I, like many other fans of Beauty and The Beast were slightly disappointed that we were not going to be getting the 25th Anniversary special edition here in the UK. I believe this version to be the next best thing (I am so looking forward to seeing the live action version in March.)

This version includes the blue ray as well as the DVD version and there are four beautiful postcards of some of the characters in the movie. I love this and don’t regret buying it for an instant.

My next favourite from December is my Sprocket printer. It prints 2X3 pictures directly from your phone. All I had to do was download the app and I was away.

HP Sprocket

Walt Disney Studios

I like having photos in my diary and notebooks. In moments where the anxiety has maybe got the better of me, it’s nice to have this to remind me of happy moments; something nice for my brain to focus on. I was having to print onto normal A4 paper which was OK but it looked a little messy because no matter how hard I try, I can’t cut straight. One of my more annoying lacked skills.
This printer has been so handy. It’s small enough that it will sit in my bag very well. The paper used involves zink so the printer doesn’t need ink cartridges. You also have the option to make the paper into a sticker so all of my photos stick into my diary.
I am seriously loving this little printer and it is possibly my favourite thing from December.

Heyday Pictures/Warner Bros.

Paperchase

A gratitude journal is something I have been trying to get into the habit of using for a while now. I do have an app on my phone but there is something very personal about physically writing things that I am grateful for and the good things that have happened. I found this gratitude journal in Paperchase last month and it is lovely to sit down and reflect at the end of the day. With all the terrifying things that are going on in the world right now, it’s good to look closer to home at all the things I am grateful for.
This particular journal allows space to write down what I liked about the day, three ways the day could have been better, the people I am grateful for, three amazing things that happened in my day as well as what I could have done to make it better.

Cath Kidston/Disney

Technically I saw this next favourite in November but I thought I could sneak it in. I am always so happy when something new gets added to the Potterverse. I had been looking forward to seeing Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them for months. I only have to hear that music and it transports me into the world of wizards and witches, magic and Hogwarts.
I was intrigued as to how this film would slot into the already existing stories. Newt Scamander is the author of one of the text books Harry and Ron have when they attend Hogwarts so, for anyone unfamiliar with Fantastic Beasts, this takes place a few decades prior to Harry being told he’s a wizard.
The boy and I saw this film in 3D Imax and it was visually stunning. I want to own Newt’s suitcase.
I could tell that J.K Rowling had been involved with the story and script. I am also pleased that there are going to be more films. I believe Dumbledore will make an appearance in the next one. Can’t wait!

If you are a regular to this blog then you will know about my unhealthy obsession with notebooks. I have piles of them and yet, as with books, I can’t seem to stop buying them. There could be worse things to spend money on right.
One of my favourite notebook purchases ever was this Disney Cath Kidston X notebook that I got at the beginning of December and have been using since.
The paper is so smooth and the cover is just so cute. It combines my love of Disney, notebooks and Cath Kidston.

Claire Belton/Touchstone Press, 2016

My final favourite is this Pusheen Colouring Book. I do find colouring helps with stress relief. It calms me down. Since I was little, I have loved colouring. If I had been quiet for a while, my Mum would either find me colouring, reading or writing. I have developed an obsession with Pusheen so when I saw this on Amazon, I had to buy it. You can have a lot of fun with the patterns in this book.

What have been your favourites?

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.