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A Cosy Christmas Chat
Discovery Corner® Podcast Show Notes
Episode 4: A Cosy Christmas: Doing the Season Your Way
My guest is April J Harris, writer, lifestyle blogger for 23 years, motivational speaker and avid traveller. I love Christmas, as does April, and together we talk about the joy the season can bring, share our love of the season, traditions and recipe ideas (and I’m definitely trying April’s cookies!).
Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:
- Christmas is whatever you want it to be: You could have beans on toast in your PJs or get dressed up and be surrounded by loved ones – whatever you want, it’s absolutely OK.
- Small sentimental traditions can make the season meaningful: April’s tree-topper from her father and my yearly “new decoration” ritual highlight the power of small objects and routines during the holidays.
- Hosting doesn’t need to be overwhelming: April shares practical advice: keep gatherings manageable, accept help, try pot-luck style hosting, and don’t forget to have fun! Your guests are there to see you.
Guest information:
- Name: April J Harris, writer and lifestyle blogger of 23 years.
- Website https://apriljharris.com/
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/apriljharris/
- Pinterest https://uk.pinterest.com/apriljharris/
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/The21stCenturyHousewife/
Bio: April J Harris
- April J Harris is a food, travel, fashion, and lifestyle writer with over 23 years of experience sharing ideas and inspiration for living well at home and away.
- She blends delicious recipes, curated travel experiences, beautiful home ideas, and thoughtful personal style inspiration on her long-running website, AprilJHarris.com.
- With a warm, elegant approach, April encourages her audience to embrace their own unique style and to celebrate the simple, beautiful moments woven into everyday life.
Here are some resources and links mentioned:
- Recipes! I shared that I love Dan Lepard’s Dundee Cake. He did a bakealong in 2009 (which I joined in!) and this is my go-to version.
- I also mentioned these delicious turkey muffins. The only tweak I make, is that I also add walnuts to give them a bit of crunch. Delicious!
- April talked about her ‘Christmas Cherry Cookies’, so I’ve saved you hunting for it on her website and they’re below!
- The Nutcracker – Christmas simply isn’t Christmas without the Tchaikovsky ballet.
- April shared her florist (Emma at Green Parlour) where she gets her annual wreath.
- April talked about Gretchen Rubin and her ’25 things in 2025′ and as I love that idea for 2026, I’ve linked it below.
- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2009/nov/28/dan-lepard-live-dundee-cake-bakealong
- https://fussfreeflavours.com/recipe-turkey-cranberry-stilton-brunch-muffins/
- https://apriljharris.com/
- https://apriljharris.com/cherry-christmas-cookies-an-old-fashioned-recipe/
- https://greenparlour.com/
- https://gretchenrubin.com/resource/25-for-2025-list/
Join me for another journey of discovery…
Claire Melvin is a mindset coach and host of Discovery Corner®, a podcast inspiring women to navigate the twists and triumphs of midlife with confidence. She specialises in helping women in their 40s and 50s break free from burnout, self-doubt, and the “is this it?” moments to rediscover purpose and create a life that truly lights them up.
When she’s not championing women’s transformations, Claire can be found walking along canal paths, enjoying good coffee, or exploring her next creative project.
