Hello and happy mid-week!
I am debating having the heating on all the time as it gets to this time of the day and I am rubbing my hands together like Scrooge, trying to get some blood flowing to keep my fingers warm. I have always had bad circulation in my hands and feet, meaning I am reaching for a blanket/hot water bottle/gloves before anyone else. It also means I am ready for the heating to be on all the time but other family members say they are warm enough so… I shall add another layer.
Last night I was getting ready for bed and putting my phone on charge. Deciding I needed to reply to a message on Instagram right at that moment, I entered the app and saw one of my favourite people to follow on there had added to her story. Oooh, what gorgeous thing has she been up to now, I wondered.
She has put up her Christmas tree. I am slightly envious but determined to make it to our traditional, first weekend in December and my birthday, Christmas tree erecting party. So, that’s nice for her to have her tree up already. Next story. Her and her perfectly neat little boys are wearing matching pyjamas, red gingham. Ahh. They look adorable and their home just screams “Christmas perfection” at me. There is a link to the pyjama set. “The White Company”. I hover over the button. I need matching pyjamas from The White Company. I just didn’t know it. Thanks to this lovely lady, I have been reminded that’s what is missing from my Christmas “to-do” list. My finger lowers to the screen. I’m going to tap it.
Then, in a moment of madness, I quickly close the app and put my phone away, climb into bed (with my slipper socks on) and try to forget about matching pyjamas.
We have a conservatory that desperately needs replacing. I am perusing holiday sites for a February getaway. The kids are in various clubs whose bills all arrive at the same time. We have just had two birthdays in the house and this weekend the children will be writing their letters to Father Christmas.
I think our bank balance will be letting out a small sigh of relief that I decided against the matching pyjamas from The White Company, despite that family looking completely adorable in them. Sigh.
Never mind. I have been pretty frugal the last few years and saved various Christmas outfits (lucky Lily has all of Phoebe’s hand-me-downs), and I can still fit into the Christmas pyjamas I bought pre-third child. (The top may be a little snug but that’s Christmas for you.)
I am not against matching pyjamas, I’m all for it. But I do think I need to weigh up the pros and cons, very much in the same way I do when debating buying ANOTHER hand cream or notebook. Do I need them? No. Will everyone be saddened we aren’t wearing matching pyjamas? Probably only Phoebe who has outgrown her matching pyjamas from years ago when I did make this purchase. Would our money be better spent elsewhere? Yup, probably, although I doubt £90 is going to go a long way towards a new conservatory. And yes, for all five of us to have matching pyjamas, it will cost in the region of £90.
I guess this year, I shall share the enjoyment of seeing other families in their matching pyjamas (not in real life, just on social media), whilst drinking a Baileys, eating a bag of “pigs in blanket” flavoured crisps and pulling a cracker or two, because, let’s be honest, that is where the pyjama money is going to end up going.
But we all love some novelty gear don’t we?
You can join me every Friday in my Once Upon A Bookshelf section of my newsletter. I share a short story (last week was poems) and an invitation to slow down ready for the weekend. Some weeks there are seasonal meal plans, book and film recommendations and a few thoughts on what a cosy home looks like for you.
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Ohhhhh I fall for the inst ads every time 🤦 I am pure clickbait. I was in asda last night and was very impressed with their range of matching PJ's! They're affordable too. Not quite The White Company. I'm pretty sure the kids won't notice the PJ's with all the excitement for Santa visiting! xxx
Oh I have so been there multiple times recently... put things in a basket and then scurried away from my phone quickly when a burst of rationality hits!!!