Loz's Substack
December highs + lows & festive favourites
Hello and welcome to my first ever Substack!
I’m no stranger to the blogging world and writing has always been part of my life in some form or other. Writing to me is therapeutic, fun and the easiest way in which I can express myself. I think I’m going to enjoy writing short snippets that can be sent out in the form of a weekly newsletter so I hope you will enjoy being subjected to them too!
December Highs & Lows:
We’re in that slightly strange in-between phase of early December, where there’s the festivities and anticipation of Christmas, yet also the dark cold mornings and a reluctance to leave the flat.
We got our tree this week which is an occasion I look forward to every year, especially as garden centres are magical at Christmas time. It’s currently looking a little bare as I haven’t had the chance to get lights and decorations yet. I tell Adam it’s how they do it in Scandinavia. “Is it?” He asks, doubtfully. “Well, maybe not,” I confess. “But minimalism is a big thing over there.”
I’m looking forward to when I get to dress it up, with a Christmas movie playing in the background that is easy and entertaining, yet not of the same calibre as Love Actually so that it doesn’t demand my full attention (think Elf, The Grinch, Arthur Christmas). I get to light the special edition NEOM candles that broke the bank but are the material form of self-care and suggest the presence of some luxury in my little sportswear-clad life.
I adore the Christmas period and all that it entails, but I’ve definitely been hit by the winter lows. I spend most of my day pushing myself in the gym and I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t gotten harder to do this when I have to leave the cosy duvet cocoon for -5 degrees temperatures and when training warm-ups require twice as much time.
But we prevail! It’s a huge cliché but I’m a big believer in discipline and the importance of a routine - motivation comes and goes and isn’t stable enough to be relied on, so my routine is working overtime this week to help me get things done. But if you’re struggling too in these colder, darker days, know you’re not alone.
Things I am loving this December:
A round-up of a few cheerful things that I’m loving this month and might also make for great Christmas presents for yourself or others…
Garden Centres
I always say that Garden Centres are one of the best places to get Christmas decorations from and I stand by this. When I used to live in Fulham we had a local Garden Centre which became an annual trap for spending money on the most beautiful creations for adorning our tree. Gisela Graham is a Christmas genius and makes the best decorations you’ll ever find.
Now based in Worcester, we collected our tree from another great Garden Centre where it was like being transported to the North Pole - another reason why I wouldn’t fare well if I was rich because I would absolutely squander it on turning my house into something that looks like it would belong in Whoville. Worth going and exploring though if you’re feeling festive and looking for some baubles!
Neom Wellbeing Wishes Candle Trio
Is there anything more cosy than a Christmas-scented candle burning on your coffee table? This festive trio includes the scent of spices, notes of citrus and fresh pine. I bought these for myself as a moving-in gift and light them every time I’m working or chilling in our living room.
My favourite face cleanser - it’s a soothing, hydrating balm that makes my skin feel amazing. I’m dealing with a hormonal breakout situation at the moment and this is a great help. It’s not cheap but a little goes a long way and it’s 100% worth it in my opinion, especially with cold weather drying out my skin more than usual at this time of year.
I’m all for a natural deodorant brand that looks after both the environment and our skin - and this fits the bill. Plus, they have a Christmas range with scents such as Spiced Orange & Pear and Fresh Mountain Air, the latter of which I’m currently wearing and explains why my armpits smell like pine trees. I’m also lucky enough to have been given a discount code - using LAURENH at checkout will save you 20% on your first order and make your pits happy!
I have a slightly excessive training shoe collection and whilst I love them all, I’m particularly enjoying training in these at the moment. They have a wide toe box which is a non-negotiable for me (let those toes spread!) and partly why I’m also a big fan of Inov-8 shoes, which I also recommend for CrossFit.
I recently took part in a TYR shoot for Kitbox where I wore the pink ones and they are lovely! They are super comfortable for training in and offer a stable base for lifting in too. I’d recommend sizing up by half a size to one full size though because they do come up small (I’m a UK 6 but wear a size 7 in TYR).
That’s it for today! Feel free to get in touch and share your thoughts or festive favourites with me.
Thanks for reading!
Loz x