WHICH CC BOOK SHOULD BE ON YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST?

How do you pick the perfect CC book for your Christmas list? Easy… just check out these fab reader reviews!

Maya says:
FORTUNE COOKIE is another fabulous Cathy Cassidy creation… I'm recommending it to my friends, including one, Sarah, who has never read any CC books because it's obvious she'd enjoy it! It's a great way to finish the fabulous CHOCOLATE BOX GIRLS series, but the twist is that this character, Cookie, is a boy! My favourite part is where Cookie and Cherry talk to each other about life, and I didn't like that Honey got offended by this but I thought it was realistic and how she would have reacted! My fave character was Cherry - why? Well, you see that Cherry is a very kind hearted person and you like her all the more because Honey is so mean to her… but will Honey finally make peace with her stepsister? You'll have to wait and see! I felt very involved with Cookie's story and I'm happy because not only do the sisters get a happy ending but Cookie gets a fresh start! It's definitely a five star book!

Amandeep says:
CHERRY CRUSH is a brilliant read. When Cherry Costello moves to Somerset her hopes of finding a better life come to a halt when she meets Honey, her fourteen year old stepsister - a pretty, blonde haired rebel. And then there's Honey's handsome boyfriend, Shay! Cherry knows he's bad news, but that doesn't mean she's going to stay away from him! As the two get closer, things get worse. Lies get you nowhere, just further from the truth, but will Cherry realise that before it's too late? This is a fantastic story about moving on to a new life and building a new family and new friends. It also teachers that life is tough, but that you have to deal with it. And CHERRY CRUSH is the first book in the CHOCOLATE BOX GIRLS series, too, so you have a whole series of books to look forward to before you have to let go! Five stars… loved it!

Marisa says:
CHOCOLATE BOX SECRETS is the book I'd recommend to any CC fan… or any new readers, too. I love the whole CHOCOLATE BOX GIRLS series but this one is like an extra treat… and it's perfect for me! The book is divided into seasons and each sister share their favourite makes, crafts, fashions, recipes and things to do for that season. So, for example, Honey shares her recipe for the best hot chocolate in the world (I've tried it, it is to die for) and Skye shows you how to give your school uniform a cool vintage twist, and Summer shows you how to make a New Year's mood board (I am totally doing that in January.) I've also tried out Coco's friendship bracelet weaves and Cherry's idea for making Christmas crackers, and everything I have tried has worked out brilliantly. A perfect book for anyone creative or arty, or anyone who likes doing quirky stuff or even just baking treats. There's so much in it it will keep you busy all year! Five stars. I'd give it six if I could!

Cathy says:
Love these picks… and don't forget that my newest book, LIFE IS SWEET, is in the shops now! It has all the e-book shorts collected together in book form, PLUS an extra, exclusive story from Ash's point of view! A must-have for CHOCOLATE BOX GIRL fans. Which CC book would YOU most like for Christmas? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

CHRISTMAS JUMPER CRAZY!

Have YOU got a favourite Christmas jumper? Cathy - and her readers - share their best and cosiest festive fashions!

Cathy says:
OK… a blast from the past here! I loved this jumper to bits and wore it long after Christmas was over! I was five or six in the photo, and this was my official school picture… the year after I was wearing the same jumper again, underneath a gymslip! I thought the jumper was soooo cool… I loved the red colour, too. My skirt was a blue, knitted, pleated one and the grey socks and black plimsols were school uniform. They didn't seem to mind the jumper, though! The ribbon was an attempt to liven up my much-hated 'Beatles' haircut. That's why I wear my hair long now, although I still wear a ribbon sometimes!

Sophie says:
I love my Christmas jumper because when I come in from school, I can put on my jumper, have a cup of tea and relax for a while and forget school and all its troubles. My jumper makes me feel happy, comfy and safe.

Harley says:
I'd have a Christmas jumper if I could! I've dreamt of OTT Christmas jumpers. hot chocolate by the fire and a white Christmas morning, but sadly unless the magnetic poles (and thereby the hemispheres) are reversed, us Aussies will just have to dream!

Jennie says:
My Christmas jumper is gorgeous, a fluffy red one with two little reindeers on it. I picked it out myself… everyone in the family gets to choose something special to wear for Christmas, but then we have to put them away until Christmas Eve. They are the very first prezzies we open, and once those jumpers are on I know that Christmas has really begun!

Ruadhan says:
I didn't have a Christmas jumper this year but I really wanted one. Instead of wasting money on one from the shops, I decided to sew a bunch of Christmas decorations onto one of my plain jumpers. I love it because it's unique and nobody else has one like it… and after Christmas I can unpick the stitches and turn it back into a plain jumper again!

Grace says:
If I had a Christmas jumper, I'd like it to be plain white with a slogan that says 'This is my Xmas jumper'! I think that would be really cool!

Cathy says:
These are fab… I don't really bother with Christmas jumpers anymore, but I still remember that little red one with the ski motif from long ago… now if I could just find one like it in an adult size! Do YOU have a Christmas jumper? COMMENT BELOW to tell us about it!

VICTORIA: FLOWER SURPRISE CUPCAKES!

Reader Victoria decided to test out one of the recipes from THE CHOCOLATE BOX SECRETS… with brilliant results! A perfect make for the run-up to Christmas!

Victoria says:
I bake a lot, and this recipe will become one of my regular favourites. In the book, they're called 'Flower Surprise Cupcakes' but I left out the flowers and used jam and chocolate spread as fillings because we didn't have lemon curd. They turned out really well and I loved having different fillings and having a surprise when you bit into one, as the outside looks the same. My brothers Robert and Douglas loved them too… I had to ration them to make them last!

The cakes: you will need:
110g butter
110g caster sugar
110g self-raising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 medium eggs, beaten
strawberry jam, lemon curd or chocolate spread!

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180c/350f/gas mark 4. Place 12 paper cases in a muffin tin.
2. Beat butter & sugar together in a bowl until pale and fluffy.
3. Sift in flour and baking powder, add vanilla extract and beaten eggs. Beat until smooth.
4. Spoon mix into paper cases and bake for 15-20 mins until cakes have risen and look golden brown and firm.
5. Cool for 10 mins then move onto a wire rack.
6. When completely cool, use a small, sharp knife to cut a small hole in the top of each cake, halfway into the centre.
7. Fill the holes with jam, lemon curd or chocolate spread.

Icing: you will need:
110g softened butter
220g icing sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
a little milk to loosen mix if required
food colouring optional

Method:
1. Beat the butter until fluffy, then beat in icing sugar a little at a time.
2. Add vanilla extract to soften mix and add a little milk to loosen if needed.
3. Add a tiny drop of food colouring of your choice if you like.
4. Pipe onto cupcakes with a piping bag, or spread carefully on with a knife.

Cathy says:
Oooh… these look even better than the ones I made when testing out this recipe! Well done, Victoria! Have YOU got a copy of CHOCOLATE BOX SECRETS yet? It's perfect for the creative, arty or baking crazy kind of reader. Add it to your Christmas list while you still have the chance, and COMMENT BELOW to tell us whether you love baking too...

THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST...

What was Christmas like back when your great gran was a child? We look back at what Christmas was like during the difficult years of World War Two…

By Christmas 1940, many thousands of ordinary people had been killed in the bombings of London, Liverpool, Manchester, Coventry and other major cities. Britain was in crisis, and many people had lost their homes in the air raids. Many more had lost family members, either on the home front or in the fighting itself. In 1940, there was an unofficial pause in bombing on both sides, from Christmas Eve until the day after Boxing Day. Bombings were still felt to be a danger, however, as nobody knew whether the temporary truce would last, and many families chose to spend Christmas in their air raid shelters for safety.

Not all families were able to be together at Christmas, of course. Many men of 'fighting age' were away at war, and children from many big cities had been evacuated to the countryside for safety. These children had to celebrate Christmas with their new host families, which must have been very strange and perhaps stressful, especially when they didn't always know if their parents were safe. Within Britain, travel was not encouraged over the Christmas period, both to save fuel and also to keep the roads and railways free for the movement of war goods, weapons and troops.

Christmas dinner would have been tricky too, with most food very strictly rationed and only tiny amounts of meat available per person. Even combined, a week's worth of meat ration for a family of four would not have been enough to buy even a small chicken, for example. Some families reared their own rabbits or chickens to get around this. Sugar and tea rations were increased just before Christmas, but fruit and nuts were in very short supply and Christmas cake and pudding recipes were often very inventive and peculiar as they tried to compensate for the missing ingredients.

Radio broadcasts would have been the main entertainment, and the King's Speech would have been a highlight of the day. Variety shows and a cookery programme were also popular, and board games, charades and parlour games would have been part of the day's fun. Church services took place as normal, although no church bells were rung throughout the war, as the ringing of church bells was to be a signal of invasion. A radio broadcast was made from the ruins of the recently bombed Coventry Cathedral. Giving presents was discouraged throughout the war as people were putting as much as they could into the war effort and gift goods were scarce. Instead, people gave second hand or homemade gifts - the 'make do and mend' ethos was second nature at this time.

Cathy says:
Wow… would YOU have coped with celebrating Christmas during World War Two? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

MOLLY: SCARED OF THE CHRISTMAS DISCO

It's problem time again on DREAMCATCHER and reader Molly has a worry for Coco Tanberry to solve… will you agree with her advice?

Molly says:
I'm in Year Eight and everyone in my year is allowed to go to discos. My parents have said I can go to the school's Christmas disco, but the more I think about it the more nervous I become. I don't really like crowded rooms with music blaring everywhere and I don't like getting all dressed up or wearing make up. Plus none of my friends have invited me to get ready with them. I really don't want to go but at the same time I do. What should I do?

Coco says:
I feel your pain. I am not a disco girl, and I think I might actually be allergic to dresses and make up. I DO like parties, though, because they're fun and all about celebrating with your friends! The bottom line is that if you don't give this a go you will never know whether you'd have liked it or not, and you may spend the next year feeling like you've missed out! Most situations are better when your friends are around, so don't wait for them to invite you to get involved - tell them how you're feeling and ask them to help you pick an outfit, create a make up look and have fun. Go shopping, talk about the disco and allow yourself to get excited about it… if you think it will be fun, the chances are it will be! You can always invite one or two of your shyer friends - or the confident ones - over to your house to get ready beforehand - don't wait to be asked! Who says you have to wear a flash dress or fancy make up? Follow your own style! On the night, throw yourself into the fun and let yourself enjoy it…  I bet it's awesome!

Cathy says:
Good advice, but does it go far enough? What would YOU say to Molly? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

BOOT CAMP: STEPPING OUT IN STYLE!

More readers talk about their favourite winter boots… watch out, snow, we're coming to getcha!

Maddy says:
I first got my Dr Marten boots a couple of months ago from Winfields Outdoor Centre shop. I bought them because I'd never had Docs before and they were soooo pretty and really, really, REALLY comfy - they are acid pink with little flowers on them and black laces. I chose them because a/ they were the only size sevens #bigfeetproblems and b/ they were the most gorgeous boots ever! I love wearing them because they make me even taller than I already am and they go with pretty much everything. I wore them to school for the last non-uniform day and lots of people complimented me. I love the fact these boots make me stand out, because I hate blending in! My favourite memory of wearing my boots is when I wore them to a Cathy Cassidy event - and she liked them so much she asked me to write about them! If you're thinking of getting Dr Martens boots, I'd say GO FOR IT!

Hazel says:
I got these amazing new wellies a couple of weeks ago and I love them so much! I've been needing wellies ever since I got back to the UK… my poor shoes, perfect for California, where we used to live, do NOT handle mud well! As for snow… well, let's just say we haven't seen that for a while, so it's probably a good thing to be prepared! The boots have a gorgeous flowery pattern and I got some super-soft boot socks to go with them - yeah! So they're not just for rainy days but will be warm and cosy when the really bad weather comes in, too. Which is happening a bit sooner than I thought, actually! A great fit and they look good too… I'm a happy girl!

Katy says:
My brown boots came from a vintage shop in Liverpool two years ago and date from the 1930s or 40s. They cost £20 but if I'd paid ten times that they'd still have been worth it. They have a little heel and the leather is very soft, which makes them the most comfortable boots I have ever had. They are unique, too… nobody else has anything quite the same, and I love the idea that they had a whole different life once, back in the 30s or 40s. I'd love to know who wore them then! I wear them in the summer with lacy tights and in winter I add thick socks for warmth. I admit I am a bit obsessed. I wear them to college, I wear them out, I wear them every chance I get. The sad truth is that they are starting to split along the edges of the soles and I know they won't last forever… but for seventy-year old boots, they haven't done too bad!

Cathy says:
Ooh… I have a fave pair of boots just now too… maybe I'll share a pic sometime! What would YOUR dream boots be? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

YOUR STARS FOR DECEMBER...

Skye Tanberry consults her crystal ball (OK, it's Rover's old goldfish bowl turned upside-down) to look into the future and predict YOUR fortunes for the festive season!

SAGITTARIUS:
You love this time of year, but be careful not to over-stretch yourself and take on too much… you may find you've promised to do things that you cannot manage. Time to get that diary/ calendar out and plan  your December so you don't miss out on any of the fun!

CAPRICORN:
You like to be in control, especially in a crazy month like December… but if you relax a little and enjoy the madness you may just find unexpected opportunities and experiences come your way! Trust to fate and enjoy the ride!

AQUARIUS:
There's a bit of a romantic crossroads on the cards here… the person you've been crushing on may turn out not to be quite as cool as you hoped. Keep your options option… mistletoe kisses are fun, but don't read too much into them!

PISCES:
Someone close to you may be pulling the strings right now and pushing you to do something you'd really rather not. If you're uncomfortable with what's being suggested, say so… there are lots of ways to co-operate and help out without feeling bad about it!

ARIES:
New horizons and opportunities are on the way, but don't let anxiety about how things will pan out stop you from grabbing onto those chances. You can let yourself give new ideas a try without being reckless this Christmas!

TAURUS:
Lately you've been feeling not quite 'good enough'. Do you deserve that mince pie, that party, that treat? Actually, you DO, and you ARE good enough. Make this a time to build that wobbly self-esteem up again and have an awesome festive season!

GEMINI:
Time to set ambition to one side and enjoy yourself for a while! Christmas is all about sharing and letting friends and family know you care, so put your energies into making it special for those around you… spread the love!

CANCER:
Someone has upset you and/ or your friends recently, and it's smart to sort this out before Christmas gets properly under way… or it could deepen and cause real hurt. You're a natural peace maker, so lead the way and show other how to let go of the upset and move on.

LEO:
Your friends see you as a real party animal, the one who makes things happen and gets things organised, and that's a very important skill in the festive season! Plan shopping trips, ice rink days and wintry sleepovers with your besties and make some very special memories this Christmas!

VIRGO:
At times you feel that your family are asking too much of you, but rather than argue about it look for a compromise and show them how sussed and responsible you can be. It will earn you more freedom once the party season kicks off, promise!

LIBRA:
Something tricky may put you on the spot this month - a forgotten prezzie, a hurt friend, a misunderstanding. You're not the one to blame, but you CAN fix it… Christmas is about peace and forgiveness and coming together, so forget the details and fix it with kindness.

SCORPIO:
There's someone close to you who's been acting badly - give them another chance and push past their spiky exterior to see if something has been upsetting them. Once you see past the mask, you may be able to help… and make Christmas a whole lot happier in the process.

Cathy says:
Oooh… I wasn't sure my horoscope was accurate this time, but on second read I think it really is… check YOURS out too and COMMENT BELOW to tell me if Skye's got things right this time!

KELLIE: ARE YOU A PARTY ANIMAL?

Reader Kellie has some tips on how to throw the kind of Christmas party that gets remembered for all the RIGHT reasons!

Kellie says:
When you're five years old, parties are a doddle. Your mum sorts out egg sandwiches, cubes of cheese on a stick, birthday cake, jelly and ice cream… you just have to turn up and enjoy. There might be party games and someone might cry because they miss out on a prize in pass-the-parcel, but things are fairly simple and just about everyone has fun. Fast forward eight or ten years and things are a LOT more complicated… and jelly and ice cream just doesn't cut it any more.

I have a great group of friends and I am quite sociable, so I like having get togethers. I have also been to some painfully bad parties in recent years… so here is my guide on what to do and what NOT to do if you're getting together with friends this Christmas!

DO hold a sleepover party if you want something manageable… lots of fun but very informal, and girls-only which makes things a little simpler. Think pizza, movies, make-overs, late night hot chocolate and lots of whispered secrets. Invite your best friends and plan things out in advance so there's plenty to do.

DON'T leave out good friends… they'll be hurt and confused. Better a big sleepover with everyone in sleeping bags on the bedroom floor than making it exclusive and hurting someone's feelings.

DO push the boat out for a big party. Ask parents if you can use the house as a venue and draw up a guest list everyone agrees on… lots of close friends, some acquaintances and maybe a couple of people you don't know well but would like to.

DON'T ask everyone in your school… that's just asking for chaos.

DO make sure there's lots of food and alcohol-free drinks. Decorate and make it really festive! Ask a parent or older sibling to be around to keep an eye on things… you may feel it's not cool to have then hanging out in the background, but teen parties can get out of hand and it makes sense to have back-up!

DON'T turn a blind eye if people try to bring in alcohol… there is no faster route to disaster. Get a parent to keep an eye on this so you don't have to be a party-pooper.

DO make a party playlist or ask a friend to DJ and throw in some Christmas favourites to get everyone in the mood. If you have friends in a band, ask them to do a guest slot!

DON'T turn the music up too high, especially as it gets late. Angry neighbours and the police turning up on your doorstep is the last thing you need!

DO consider having a different kind of party…
A skating party at the ice rink with chips in the cafe afterwards…
A swimming party at the pool, again with a cafe party after…
A vintage themed tea party…
A fancy dress themed party…

DON'T be too anxious about making everything perfect - it's your party, you are supposed to enjoy it!

Cathy says:
You'll find some great cool and quirky ideas for parties in my book CHOCOLATE BOX SECRETS… check it out! Have you held a teen party - or been to one? Do you have any tips or disaster stories to share? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

MY FAVOURITE SUBJECT... PERFORMING ARTS!

Reader Georgia shares the lowdown on her fave school subject… performing arts! Find out which bits you'd like and which you might not!

Georgia says:
Performing arts… people sometimes think that it's all about the acting, the singing, the dancing, but that's not the case. There is a LOT of written work! Because it is such a practical subject, you need to keep a log for everything you do as evidence. Each performance you do, evaluate it! Each script you learn, write about it! This sometimes puts people off, but in fact I love all of these aspects of the subject. I enjoy the writing, because it helps you to understand the practical things more and I think non-stop practical work could get a bit dull.

Having said that, performance is probably what draws most people to the subject and that side of it is absolutely brilliant, especially if you are a lover of musical theatre! In our first year we did a section on Bugsy Malone which I really enjoyed because it was the first main focus of the course. We were supposed to get a feel for different skills and learn how to work as a team… let's say that bit didn't go too well, but hey!

At the moment, we are working on monologues, one of the most important things in drama and one of the most likely things you may have to prepare in an audition. Each member of the class has a separate monologue so each performance is different and everyone has the freedom to play about with their piece and create something really unique, which I am loving! I can't wait to see what the rest of the course has to offer, and I know it will be just as exciting. I love performing - it's my life - and I love the subject too. The balance of practical work and writing flows really well, and all of it leads you towards the final exam, so if you're thinking of opting to study performance arts, go for it… you won't be sorry!

Cathy says:
Wow… I never had the option to study this at school, but what a fascinating subject! Georgia explains how the subject works very well… would it appeal to YOU? COMMENT BELOW to share YOUR fave school subject!

ANDREA: A FRIENDSHIP LOST...

It's problem time again on DREAMCATCHER and reader Andrea has a problem for Coco Tanberry… will her advice meet with your approval?

Andrea says:
I used to be very good friends with a boy at primary school. We always had the best laughs and could talk to each other about anything, but he was in the year below me and when I moved up to secondary school we hardly ever saw each other and just stopped talking. I thought things would go back to normal when he started secondary too, but things haven't changed. If we pass in the corridor or bump into each other, it just seems so awkward. I want to be friends again but I don't know how! What can I do?

Coco says:
You know I am a very practical type of person, and my solution here is practical too. At the moment, you have no clue what is going on in this boy's head… it's no use guessing, you have to find out! Find a way to talk to him alone and tell him you miss his company. Ask how he's settled into secondary school and what's been going on since he saw you last. Tell him that having a boy-mate again would be brilliant. Hopefully, he'll thaw out a little and get over his shyness… fingers crossed! If he doesn't shake off the frosty attitude, shrug it off and let go, move on. It's sad when an old friend decides they don't want you in their life any more, but it's better to know than to go on hoping and worrying and wondering. If he's not going to be a cool boy-mate, someone else will - fix on that smile and make some new friends!

Cathy says:
Coco's no-nonsense approach to this problem is refreshing - and spot-on! Do YOU agree with Coco's advice? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more! If YOU have a dilemma for one of the sisters to solve, send it via the 'email Cathy' link on www.cathycassidy.com and mark your email DREAMCATCHER PROBLEM! What are you waiting for?

WHAT TO DO ON A RAINY DAY...

Another rainy day? Don't be sad, check out our reader suggestions for passing the time in a cool and memorable way!

Nadia says:
Easy - put on your hat, scarf, wellies and waterproof coat and get out there to jump in some puddles! Once you make the decision to go outside, you'll feel loads better. Take a walk and you'll come back all re-energised!

Lauren says:
I like Nadia's idea, because that's what I do, but I like to wait until the rain has stopped and go out then. There is such a sense of peace, and everything smells amazing! (I know, I'm mad, sorry!) I take out my phone and take lots of pictures, because the world just looks more beautiful after a rain storm!

Janine says:
A rainy day is a perfect excuse to snuggle up inside with a blanket and a handful of your favourite DVDs. Popcorn and pizza optional!

Calla says:
I actually love the rain, and sometimes I quite like the sensation of getting wet! I don't like it if the rain slides down your coat collar and down your neck, or if your shoes leak when you step in a puddle, but have you ever tried running out into the rain without a coat and just turning your face up to the sky, and letting the rain fall on you? I did this with friends at school last week and trust me it was amazing! (And no, we didn't all get pneumonia!)

Joanna says:
I love the sound of the rain on the roof. We have a conservatory at home and if it's raining I like nothing better than curling up in there with the rain pounding against the glass roof and me all cosy and warm inside! Hot chocolate helps, too!

Savita says:
I love crafting and if it's wet I know I can set aside a whole afternoon to making things. I am knitting a scarf at the moment so the next time it rains I might even venture out! Or not…

Mariam says:
I am not a fan of being out in the rain, but I like rain in some ways because it brings out my thoughtful side. If I can, I will sit on the window seat in our living room and press my face against the glass and think sad thoughts. Rain is perfect poetry-writing weather!

Cathy says:
Love these ideas! What is YOUR favourite way to spend a rainy afternoon? COMMENT BELOW to share your ideas!