1. The sparkle – Everything is sparkly, everything seems magical and everyone is at their best. I don’t know about you, but I always get my nails hair eyebrows etc done right before Christmas so that I feel like a gorgeous new glittery version of myself. Not to mention all the Christmas party outfits, new makeup collections and flattering lighting – candles & fairy lights anyone?
2. The food – Oh the food. Christmas time is the perfect opportunity to indulge, you deserve it. Endless supplies of Chocolate, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, mince pies… okay so basically just a carb fest. It is just a great time for food lovers though.
3. Spending time with loved ones – For me this is what the festive period is really all about. Taking that much needed break and just creating happy memories with those you love the most. Is there anything greater than not having to look at your phone all day because everyone you could wish to talk to is in the same room with you? Hopefully that’s how you will be spending at least a few of your days over Christmas.
4. Christmas Eve – Christmas Eve for me is just as good as the main day itself. This year I’ll be having an open house for my loved ones to pop round, I’m cooking up a huge buffet of party food, the fire will be on and we will be lazing around watching festive TV all day long. The Snowman and Raymond Briggs Father Christmas are my favourites. Then in the evening it’s time to relax with lots of cheese and chocolate. I also like to have some new pyjamas ready for the evening and take a nice long Lush bath. Oh and Baileys, lots of Baileys.
5. Gifts – Okay, lets have a bit of shameless honesty here. Yes I love the gifts! I adore all the new collections that come out at this time of the year, fragrance, beauty, alcohol, sweet treats… you name it. I LOVE waking up on Christmas morning and running to the tree to see what surprises await and then spending them next few hours in a giddy little bubble. But you know what I love the most? I love giving gifts to people I love, getting excited when I purchase them and finally having the enjoyment of seeing their faces upon opening.
6. The post Christmas slumber – That magical period between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, where you spend most of your time (if you’re lucky enough to get a break from work) just watching all the amazing TV that’s on, working your way through your Christmas chocolate, enjoying any presents you were lucky enough to receive and catching up on sleep. I really do enjoy that lazy week.
7. Decorations – Everything looks so pretty in December, twinkling lights on the high street, fairy lights in windows, decorating the tree – I love to do this with a festive scented candle on, a Christmas film in the background and lots of party food to indulge in and pick at. Incase you were wondering, I’m one of those sad people who likes to get it up as soon as the 1st December comes around; but I know many also like to stick to the tradition of 12 days before the big day – whatever your preference, just enjoy it.
8. Christmas walks – Is this really sad?! My boyfriend and I are lucky enough to have our own dog, and one of the main things I seriously can’t wait to do is to take him on a Christmas morning walk around the lake, just the three of us. Hopefully the lake will be frozen over and everything will be sprinkled with a serene coating of snow (yeah, right!), but I know it will be magical nonetheless.
9. Gift wrapping – I am so sad, every year I have a theme and I stick to it with military precision! This year is white and silver, last year I went for bright purples, greens and oranges. It’s something I get very excited about and I will be honest I have already purchased and wrapped everything this year (told you I was sad). I get terribly excited to put it all out underneath the tree, for no one to even notice or care the next day when they are excitedly ripping into it. Still, I’ll continue to do it every year!
10. The music – If you haven’t got the Home Alone soundtrack, get it! I’m a big fan of the traditionals (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin Kay Starr) but I do also embarrassingly enjoy the Michael Buble soundtrack too. BUT my all time favourite is Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses.
11. Christmas markets – Ahhhh the Christmas markets! Chocolate crepes, bratwursts, hot cheese sticks, mulled wine, hot chocolate. I’ll say twinkly lights too… just so I’m not making it all about the food; but honestly for me, it is.
12. The new year hope – There’s something so satisfying about the prospect of a new year, for many it’s the chance to bring change, to create new goals and focus on being an even more amazing version of yourself. For others it’s all about the excitement of a blank page and creating lots more happiness and memories… annndddd for some it’s just about what time the takeaway opens so you can eat away your hangover!
By the way guys, for the post image I photographed my advent calendar by Peggy Porschen and this years Christmas present gift tags; I purchased those from Meri Meri.
I love this post, I think I love every single one of those too. It really is the best time of the year! Lovely post xx
Thank you so much :))) xxx
Ohh loved this post, it’s made me feel all snug and excited x
Thank you! X