Gingerbread latte, snowball fights and workouts on ice: Little ways to Christmas your day
Add a touch of Christmas into your everyday life with these small changes. From festive Costa coffees and Pret's famous Christmas sandwich to dancing on ice, you'll soon be feeling all warm and fuzzy inside...
BRIGHTEN up your day with these festive versions of everyday favourites.
These are the things that will get any Scrooge in a Christmassy mood...
SWAP YOUR MORNING COFFEE FOR…
A Costa Gingerbread and Cream Latte, £2.85.
Costa cups are red all year round so the coffee chain has gone Christmas crazy with its festive versions.
Choose from Santa, a snowman, an elf or a gingerbread for the most cheerful morning coffee ever.
The limited edition Gingerbread Latte comes topped with cream and a sprinkle of glitter. It's so pretty you might not want to drink it!
Available from today at Costa branches nationwide.
TUCK INTO A CHRISTMAS SANDWICH
On November 12, Pret a Manger gets its much-loved Christmas sandwich back. Pret's Christmas Lunch, £3.60, has layers of turkey, cranberry, stuffing and crispy onions. Well, Christmas is all about over indulgence!
The veggie option, the Nut Roast sandwich, £3.25, might actually be our favourite offering – it couldn’t taste more festive if it was delivered by tiny elves on Rudolph’s sleigh! Much better than your usual cheddar and a packet of crisps.
MAKE YOUR MID-AFTERNOON SNACK A MINCE PIE
It’s tea-time, so head to Greggs, masters of the Cornish pasty and now provider of one of our favourite Mince Pies for 2013.
The Viennese Swirl Mince Pie is filled with brandy mincemeat and topped with crumbly pastry. Served hot or cold, and with cream.
Available from November 13, from 49p.
It's the perfect pick-me-up for that 4pm slump.
PUT YOUR WORKOUT ON ICE
You’ve been putting in the hours at the sweat lodge all year but, like champagne and a sprained ankle, getting fit is often much better on ice.
You can burn around 350 calories an hour ice skating and this time of year sees the return of the magical, fairylit pop-up skating rinks that are dotted around the country.
Among our favourites are the beautifully illuminated Tower of London rink, Spinningfields, Hardman Square, Manchester, and the Glasgow on Ice rink at George Square.
There’s bound to be one near you. Get your skates on before they disappear - and you can get back to the treadmill after New Year.
MAKE DINNER A SNOWBALL FIGHT
From November 18, Pizza Express is bringing back last year’s most popular Yuletide desert - the Snowball Dough Balls, £3.70.
Save room after you’ve scoffed your pizza because these cinnamon and icing sugar balls are our favourite festive secret! Served with a sweet vanilla cream dip and topped with a chocolate star.
GET YOUR CUPPA WITH CREAM…
Wind down with the most indulgent hot choccie you could find.
The Costa Black Forest Hot Chocolate, from £2.95, is like dessert in a mug.
The sharp fruity cherry stops the creamy chocolate from becoming too sickly, so it warms up your body and soul.
Available until January 2.