50 Things I Want To Do This Christmas

 I can't believe it's already December!

Christmas is coming around so quickly. I think the big day will be here before we know it.

There are so many things I need or want to do between now and Christmas Day, so keeping with tradition, I've written a to-do-list and am sharing it here to keep myself motivated. I doubt I'll be able to achieve all of them before the 25th, but I'm determined to give it my best shot, and try to cross off as many festive goals as possible. 

There are 50 of them on this list, so I guess I'd best get started. Wish me luck!

1. Buy a small Christmas tree for my bedroom- I'm hoping to do this in the next day or two.

2. Decorate my bedroom for Christmas- I like to put up decorations in my room so I can enjoy them while I'm resting in bed.

3. Decorate the house for Christmas with the family.

4. Buy (or cut down) fir branches for the mantle.

5. Finish my Christmas shopping- I only have a few presents left to get and then I'm done!

6. Finish wrapping my Christmas presents- I started wrapping last month, so I don't have too many left to do now.

7. Send any parcels that need sending.

8. Write and send my Christmas cards- and not at the last minute!

9. Make a new Christmas playlist or two to soundtrack my festive activities.

10. Count down the days 'til Christmas with an Advent calendar- I'll be doing that with the Essie calendar, as well as a basic Cadbury one this year.

11. Go to the Appleton Christmas Barn to browse their Christmas decorations- It's a little Christmas tree farm with a barn converted in to a Christmas shop near Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and they always have the prettiest decorations. Also, there's reindeer to see.

12. Go to the Bourton-on-the-Water Christmas lights switch on.

13. Go to my town's turning-on-of-the-lights.

14. Visit a Christmas market.

15. Browse the Christmas department of a garden centre or department store.

16. Take a drive to spot Christmas lights- If I can't get out earlier, we usually do this after dinner on Christmas Eve night.

17. Go on a Christmas lights walk.

18. Go Christmas book shopping- Like I need an excuse to go book shopping!

19. Watch a Christmas film at the cinema.

20. Buy at least one new decoration.

21. Reread A Court of Frost and Starlight.

22. Read The Nutcracker- I've always wanted to but never have. I've just bought this beautiful Arcturus Ornate Classics edition with my Waterstones points, and I'm hoping it gets here before Christmas.

23. Read Upon a Frosted Star.

24. Read A German Christmas- I started reading it last year but never finished it.

25. Reread A Christmas Carol.

26. Reread Little Women- It's a classic, and one of my favourite books set at Christmas time.

27. Have at least one Christmas movie marathon- but I'm hoping for many.

28. Watch at least one new-to-me Christmas film- any recommendations?

29. Finish my Christmas bauble cross stitches- I began these Satsuma Street retro baubles last year (or was it the one before?) but never managed to finish all seven.

30. Dig out the paints and relax with a Christmas colouring book.

31. Make and decorate Christmas cookies.

32. Bake Christmas cupcakes.

33. Make my Blackberry and Apple trifle.

34. Try making a new dessert for over the holidays.

35. Put together a Christmas charcuterie dessert board.

36. Buy a box of Christmas doughnuts or cookies.

37. Go out for / order in a hot chocolate.

38. Go for a Christmas afternoon tea / festive cake and coffee.

39. Put a Christmas Eve box together.

40. Buy a new pair of Christmas PJs.

41. Get myself a Christmas dress for Christmas Day.

42. Wear the shit out of my Christmas brooches and earrings- and try to document them on Instagram.

43. Make my Animal Crossing island super festive- I'm already enjoying building Christmas rooms and adding lots of festive furniture outside.

44. Play board games with the family on Christmas Day.

45. Dress my dog, Rosie, up in a Christmas jumper and accessories- Yes, she will hate me!

46. Open presents with my dog- Rosie lives for opening presents and it's one of my favourites parts of Christmas Day.

47. Donate to a foodbank.

48. Fill a Christmas box for a homeless person- Little gifts like warm gloves and scarves, chocolate, shower gel, and toothpaste can make such a difference to someone with nothing and no family to spend Christmas with.

49. Enjoy a Christmas Eve buffet with my family- We relax in front of the TV and a Christmas film or two with lots of tasty treats and it's a lovely, chilled way to spend a Christmas Eve.

50. Celebrate Christmas Day with the family- Can't wait!

There are probably other things I want to do that I'm forgetting, but we'll stop at 50.

What's at you most looking forward to doing this Christmas / holiday season?

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What's In My Christmas Eve Box? 2020

Merry Christmas Eve!

I'm sorry this post is coming to you last minute. I had hoped to have it published a few days ago, but I'm stupidly unprepared this year, and I was only able to take the photos this morning. It might be a little bit late for you to gain inspiration to put your own Christmas Eve Box together (although, not impossible), but I hope you enjoy seeing what I've put in mine just the same.

This year, thanks to Covid, and Boris Johnson's last minute cancelling of Christmas in the UK, more of us will be staying home on Christmas Eve than ever before. 

My family would usually spend Christmas Eve mixing with family and friends at my Auntie's Christmas Eve party, but this year, we'll be spending it quietly at home. (Although, I have done since I developed chronic pain, anyway, so this year won't be any different for me). We won't be letting Covid spoil our Christmas, though; we'll just be making the most of the little things that make Christmas Eve special. We'll be baking tasty treats, watching Christmas movies together, and enjoying a Christmas Eve buffet for tea in the evening. I've also put together a Christmas Eve box full of festive things to enjoy as we count down the last hours 'til Christmas Day, because we need little treats to enjoy more than ever right now.

If you've never put together a Christmas Eve box before, this year could be the perfect time to start the tradition to make your Christmas Eve a little brighter. If you're facing a quiet night in, it will give you something to look forward to, and help make the night more special.

The idea is to put together a gift box full of little things for the perfect festive night in- think cosy new Christmas pyjamas, Christmas movies, chocolates, popcorn, hot chocolate, festive books, scented candles, etc.- whatever you consider necessary for a great festive night in. (If you're making it last minute or are just on a tight budget, you don't have to use all new things; just gather together items from what you already own, and add in a few edible treats)! 

I can't think of a better time to make one than during a pandemic when we're all stuck at home, and can't be out celebrating with our families and friends.

You can make one to share with your family, partner, or housemates, to gift to your kids or friends, or even just to enjoy alone. All you need to do is add in age-appropriate items, and the recipient's favourite treats.

Being a childless old maid hasn't stopped me from making my own Christmas Eve box to enjoy again this year- sometimes you've just gotta treat yo'self! I've added in a few things to share with my family, including chocolates and Christmas movies, but most of the contents will be enjoyed when I'm back upstairs winding down before bed.

So, what's in my Christmas Eve box this year?

♥ A cosy pair of Pusheen slipper socks from Truffle Shuffle.

♥ A pair of Christmas pyjamas to relax in, and hopefully look presentable in for photos on Christmas morning. (I couldn't afford a new pair this year, so I just added in an old pair from my collection).

♥ A couple of Christmas movies on DVD, including Last Christmas and The Muppets Christmas Carol for some fun festive viewing. (Even though we'll probably just end up streaming something).

♥ A beautiful clothbound copy of A Christmas Carol to read before I go to sleep.

♥ A bottle of The Body Shop's Festive Berry Shower gel so I can smell festive over Christmas.

♥ A tub of The Body Shop's Festive Berry body yogurt to give my skin a little TLC.

♥ A Body Shop Warm Vanilla soap to put by the bathroom sink so our hands smell festive over Christmas.

♥ A L'Oreal face mask to give my skin a treat.

♥ A red OPI nail polish in 'I Love You Just Be Cusco' so my nails look festive for Christmas.

♥ A new Erstwilder Christmas brooch to wear on Christmas Eve.

♥ A Cath Kidston mug for all those hot chocolates. (I forgot to add in the hot chocolate for the photos).

♥ Some mint chocolate Lindt Lindor truffles and Cadbury Jingly Bells to share with the family.

♥ A Make Arcade gingerbread man cross stitch kit to sew in front of the TV when I'm relaxing with my family this Christmas. (I never did manage to make it last year).

♥ A couple of Christmas Yankee Candles (Snowflake Cookie and Frosty Gingerbread), and a Nest Grapefruit candle to make the house feel extra cosy and smell delicious.

♥ My Too Faced 'Let It Snow, Girl!' snowman make up palettes to use over the holidays.

Here are some more ideas for things you could include in your own Christmas Eve boxes:

♥ Christmas face coverings.

♥ Festive-scented hand sanitiser.

♥ Cosy Christmas slippers.

♥ Novelty Christmas socks.

♥ A new Christmas dress / top / shirt.

♥ Christmas earrings or other jewellery.

♥ A Christmas colouring book and coloured pencils / crayons.

♥ Little Christmas craft kits- such as a mini cross stitch or ornament kit.

♥ Festive stationery.

♥ A hot water bottle. (Heat patches might also be appreciated for someone with chronic pain, since Christmas can be very demanding on our bodies).

♥ Christmas false nails or nail wraps.

♥ Festive bath bombs.

♥ Seasonal-scented bubble bath.

♥ Hand cream or body lotion.

♥ A cute soft toy.

♥ A gift card or subscription to Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney +, or another streaming service for Christmas movie watching.

♥ A Christmas scratch card.

♥ Something alcoholic.

♥ Marshmallows.

♥ Favourite edible treats.

♥ Festive treats like mince pies, stollen, panettone, cakes, biscuits, chocolates, cheese boards etc.

♥ A new ornament to hang on the tree.

♥ A Christmas cracker.

♥ A selection of Christmas books for young readers, and a new festive-themed novel for older kids and adults.

♥ Small toys.

♥ A new Christmas stocking to leave out for Santa.

♥ A bag of reindeer food.

♥ A special plate to leave Santa's mince pie on.

I wasn't able to source a special Christmas Eve Box to present everything in (yet again) because I'm on a tight budget again this year, but it doesn't really matter since I'm only gifting it to myself. I just repurposed one of my slightly-festive-looking star-print storage boxes, and it does the job just fine.

You could use a pre-bought Christmas Eve Box, a gift box, gift bag, wicker basket, crate, Christmas stocking, tote bag, or any container you like to present your gifts in. You could even go all out, and decorate it with ribbons, pom poms, garlands, or all kinds of different decorations. It's totally up to you.

If you're planning to make a Christmas Eve Box as a gift, I'd recommend wrapping everything up in wrapping or tissue paper to add to the Christmas Eve fun and excitement, but you can leave everything unwrapped if the thought of wrapping any more presents fills you with dread. I get it. I never want to wrap another present, either.

I'm really looking forward to enjoying the contents of my Christmas Eve Box tonight, after a busy day of celebrating and getting ready for Christmas Day. It will be lovely to finally relax, indulge, and find time for some self-care after such a hectic month. Ah, I can't wait!

Merry Christmas, guys! I hope you have a wonderful few days despite this awful pandemic. 

Have you made a Christmas Eve Box this year? What would you put in one for the perfect Christmas night in?

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What's In My Christmas Eve Box 2019

Happy Christmas Eve, everyone!

I can't believe it's only more sleep 'til Christmas! Where has this month gone?!

I love Christmas Eve. In some ways I find it more fun and festive than Christmas Day itself. This year, I'll be spending it popping in to town with the sister and brother-in-law for last minute shopping, baking and making my trifle for Christmas Day, munching on a buffet of delicious goodies and watching Christmas films with the family, and hopefully finding the time to make my Christmas crackers because I'm so disorganised this year. I suspect I'm going to run out of spoons by lunch time and spend most of it in bed, though. Haha!

I'm also looking forward to enjoying some of the contents of my Christmas Eve box tonight, and I thought it would be fun to show you what I've put in it this year... but before I do, let's back up for a sec... If you're unfamiliar with the Christmas Eve box (where have you been?), a Christmas Eve box is basically a hamper of goodies to enjoy as you wind down on Christmas Eve and get excited for Christmas morning. Think cosy new pyjamas, slippers, Christmas movies, hot chocolate, tasty snacks, scented candles, a festive-themed book, a face mask... and anything else you might need for the perfect festive night in. 

You could make one for the whole family, for your kids, to enjoy with your partner, or even just for yourself. There are no rules to conform to here; the beauty of the Christmas Eve box is you can personalise it for your needs, and use it however you like. Gift it, share it, or make one for yourself; it's completely up to you! 

The Christmas Eve box is a lovely tradition to add to your Christmas Eve rituals, particularly if you have young kids or have just got married, and are looking to implement some new family traditions you can look forward to every year. It's the perfect way to enjoy a quiet Christmas Eve evening at home, and having a box full of treats to discover should help distract children (or big kids at heart!) from that unbearable longing to open all the presents under the tree during that millenia-long wait for Christmas morning. 

As I'm single and don't have kids, I've just put one together for myself again, but added in plenty of goodies to share with my family, like chocolates, soaps, and Christmas movies. I've been putting the finishes touches to it this week, and now I'm done, I can finally reveal what's inside.

So what have I put in my Christmas Eve Box this year?

♥ A couple of Christmas movies on DVD. I bought a copy of The Nutcracker and the Four Realms as I've never seen it before, and have also added in some old favourites like The Muppets Christmas Carol and Santa Claus The Movie.

♥ A beautiful copy of A Literary Christmas: An Anthology, which is filled with festive prose and poems.

♥ A gingerbread man Christmas cross stitch kit from The Make Arcade to sew in front of the TV.

♥ A cosy pair of Christmas pyjamas. I couldn't afford a new pair this year, so I've just added in an old pair from my collection.

♥ A new Christmas brooch from Erstwilder.

♥ A pair of red heart earrings from Erstwilder to wear over Christmas.

♥ Some Juicy Pear shower gel and body yoghurt from The Body Shop's festive range and a peppermint shower gel from Bath and Body Works so I can smell nice for Christmas.

♥ A couple of Lush Christmas soaps to put by the bathroom sinks to use this Christmas.

♥ A face mask to give my skin a treat.

♥ A couple of Essie nail polishes in festive colours (red and gold glitter) so I can do my nails for Christmas Day.

♥ A couple of Yankee Candle votive candles to make the house smell delicious and feel super cosy.

♥ Some Ferrero Rochers, Lindor Mint Chocolate Truffles and candy canes to enjoy with the family.

♥ A bag of salted popcorn for snacking on while watching Christmas movies.

♥ A Cath Kidston Christmas mug to drink hot chocolates from. (I would've added in hot chocolate, too, but we've ran out so I need to go buy some today).

♥ A pack of pastel film for my Instax mini 9 camera so I can take some fun photos on Christmas Eve / Day.

Here are a few more ideas for things you could include:

♥ Slippers.

♥ Novelty Christmas socks.

♥ A hot water bottle. (And heat patches may be handy if you have a chronic illness or injury!)

♥ Little Christmas craft kits- such as a mini cross stitch kit or felt ornament kit.

♥ A Christmas colouring book and coloured pencils.

♥ Festive stationery.

♥ Christmas false nails or nail wraps.

♥ Seasonal-scented bubble bath.

♥ A Christmas bath bomb.

♥ Hand cream or body lotion.

♥ A cute soft toy.

♥ A Netflix / Amazon Prime gift card / subscription for Christmas movie watching.

♥ A Christmas scratch card.

♥ Something alcoholic.

♥ Marshmallows.

♥ Favourite edible treats.

♥ Mince pies, stollen, panettone, cake, biscuits, cheese boards, etc.

♥ A new Christmas dress / top / shirt etc.

♥ A new ornament to hang on the tree.

♥ A Christmas stocking so you can hang it up ready for Santa.

♥ A bag of reindeer food.

♥ A selection of Christmas books (for younger readers), a novel for adults.

♥ Little toys.

♥ A special plate for Santa's mince pie.



I wasn't able to source a pretty Christmas Eve box this year as I'm on a tight budget this Christmas, so once again I've just presented everything in a slightly-festive-looking storage box I already owned. If you have got the means for buying the perfect Christmas Eve box, you could use a box, wicker basket, gift bag, Christmas stocking, crate, festive tote bag, or any container you like. If you're giving it as a gift, I'd recommend wrapping everything up in festive wrapping paper or tissue to make it look pretty and add to the fun and excitement, but you can leave everything unwrapped if the thought of wrapping any more presents is making you shudder. 



If you want to go all out, there are so many ways you could then decorate your Christmas Eve box, from adding the recipient's name using stamps or individual letters, to embellishing it with pom poms, garlands, or little decorations. The possibilities are endless. I haven't decorated mine as the box I've used is actually my memory box and needs to be refilled after Christmas, but one of these days I'm going to have to try something more creative.

I have to say, I'm really looking forward to enjoying the contents of my Christmas Eve box tonight. I always find these boxes make my Christmas Eve evenings so lovely and relaxing, which is always welcome after such a hectic month. I'm looking forward to changing in to my festive PJs, watching a few Christmas movies with my family, indulging in a few treats, and snuggling up with my book before I fall off to sleep in the early hours of Christmas morning. Ah, I can't wait!

Whether you have your own Christmas Eve Box to enjoy tonight or not, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Eve with your family and friends whatever you have planned, and an even happier Christmas Day! Merry Christmas, everyone!

Have you made a Christmas Eve Box for anyone this year? What goodies would make up your perfect box?

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My Favourite Things About Christmas

Christmas has always been my favourite time of year. I love everything about it from the pretty Christmas lights to the music, and trawling the Christmas markets to the festive cheer, and so much more. Even though I'm in my thirties now, I still find the festive season so fun and magical (at least when my crazy to do list isn't stressing me out), and I like to enjoy as much of it as possible.

Sadly, it's been a long time since I last got to do any of the fun Christmas activities like going to Christmas markets, having fun at Christmas parties, heading to the theatre to see something festive, or even going to the Christmas lights switch on. In fact, I've only left the house once this month, and that was just to go to the supermarket for last minute supplies. (Can you hear those tiny violins??) I'll admit I'm feeling a little bit sorry for myself for missing out on so much festive fun this year as I've been dying to do it all, but I've been trying to enjoy the little festive things at home like watching Christmas movies and wrapping presents. It's got me thinking about what some of my favourite things about Christmas really are, so I thought I'd talk about some of them today.

Here are some of my favourite things about Christmas.

Decorating The Tree With My Family

Decorating the tree and the living room with my family has always been one of my absolute favourite parts of the festive season. It always signifies the beginning of Christmas in our house, and even though we're getting later and later putting up the decorations downstairs these days and I have my own up in my bedroom, it doesn't truly feel like Christmas until we begin. (We haven't managed it yet this year because I've not been up to it, so that probably explains why I don't feel that festive yet). We put on some Christmas music (including a Christmas compilation CD called 100% Christmas, we've been playing every year since 1994!), share a few chocolates, and spend an evening getting to work. I love going through our old boxes of decorations, rediscovering all my old favourites, and getting all nostalgic about all the childhood Christmases most of them are attached to. I'm sentimental all the way when it comes to Christmas decorations.

Decorating My Bedroom For Christmas
I also love to decorate my bedroom for Christmas, and turn it in to my own winter wonderland so that I don't have to miss out on the pretty decorations when I'm in too much pain to get out of bed. I put up so many that my bedroom looks like Christmas threw up on it, but I love it! I have a little tree, fairy lights, and so many decorations, which are mostly colourful and mid-century style at the moment. I haven't managed to take photos yet this year, but here's how I decorated my room for Christmas last year.

Wrapping Presents

Even though wrapping presents inflicts a lot of back pain on me now, I'm still one of those weird people who actually enjoys wrapping gifts. I've always put a lot of effort in to making the gifts I give look as pretty as I can, and will spend hours wrapping everything in pretty paper, ribbons, and decorations. I just like to put the extra effort in, and make things look beautiful- even though I doubt anybody actually notices!

Driving Around to Spot Christmas Lights

I love going for a drive around my hometown or further afield around the pretty little Cotswold villages and the next town over to spot Christmas lights. My older sister and I like to drive around to spot them every year (or we did before she moved to Germany), and growing up, our parents always took us on a drive to spot the lights each Christmas, too. Seeing everywhere lit up like the Blackpool Illuminations while listening to Christmas tunes on the radio always feels really festive, and I look forward to seeing my favourites every year. There's a couple of houses just around the corner from mine that always look spectacular.

Watching Christmas Movies

One of the Christmas activities I most look forward to is watching my favourite Christmas movies at every opportunity. You just can't beat a good Christmas movie, and they never fail to get me in to the festive spirit. I love watching them when I'm wrapping presents, writing cards, crafting, or just relaxing in the evenings, and I especially love those lazy days when only a Christmas movie marathon and some festive snacks will do. I have so many Christmas films in my DVD collection that I love, but Santa Claus The Movie, and The Muppets Christmas Carol are my ultimate favourites.

Christmas Crafting
I enjoy crafting all year round, but there's something extra fun and enjoyable about making things that are Christmas themed, isn't there? I love spending the cold, dark December evenings crafting away while watching some festive TV, and usually have several projects on the go. I always like to cross stitch and make my own Christmas crackers, and you'll often also find me attempting other projects like wreath-making, and creating hand-painted Advent houses.

Christmas Music
I love a good Christmas song, and listen to them throughout December to soundtrack most of my festive activities. I must have about 200 different Christmas songs in my iTunes library! I especially love the classics I grew up on in the 80s and 90s from Wham and Elton John, to Paul McCartney and The Pogues, as well as the real oldies from people like Bing Crosby and Andy Williams. The old ones are the best! (Though I am partial to Ronan Keating's Winter Songs album, too).

Beauty Advent Calendars
I'm sure you've noticed by now that I love a good beauty Advent calendar. I just love waking up to a different beauty treat every morning in the run up to Christmas- it feels like Christmas every day! I never splurge much on beauty products throughout the year, so I always allow myself a calendar as a Christmas treat. It's always great to try out lots of new products and pamper myself a little during a stressful month. This year, I went with both the Essie and Ciaté nail polish Advent calendars.

Baking on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve morning is usually spent baking and making desserts for Christmas in my family, whether at home or at my sister's (before she moved, anyway), and it's something I've always enjoyed. I always make my blackberry and apple trifle ready for Christmas Day and sometimes another dessert like a cheesecake, and then I'll go help my sister do some baking while my Mum gets to work making flans (quiches), home made cheese scones, and other delicious treats for my Auntie's Christmas Eve party or our own Christmas Eve buffet. It's really festive with the Christmas tunes blaring out, and the house always smells delicious.

Driving Home on Christmas Eve
Ever since I was about ten, my family have spent most Christmas Eves going to my Auntie's Christmas Eve party in Worcester (although I haven't been in several years because of my chronic pain). If I'm honest, as a shy awkward introvert, I spent most of my younger years trying to bargain my way out of going (it never worked), and would be counting down the hours until we could leave again. My favourite part was always the drive home for Christmas. We'd leave early evening and by then we'd be feeling the Christmas Eve excitement as Christmas Day was just hours away. We'd spend the hour and a half hour drive home singing along to Christmas songs and looking out for Christmas lights on all the houses and towns we passed by. Pershore and Evesham always had such beautiful lights in their town centres. The drive home was always super festive, and then we'd get home to put presents our family had given us under the tree, and leave our stockings out for Santa / Mum (always draped on the sofas, never hung over the fireplace) before heading off to bed. It was a Christmas ritual for so long and now I can't go, I actually miss it.

Opening Presents With My Family On Christmas Morning
Christmas isn't about the presents for me, but I've always loved opening presents with my family on Christmas morning. I love giving my family their presents and seeing their faces when they open the gifts I've bought for them. The living room is always a shambles, but I love it and the happy, upbeat atmosphere that fills the house from that Christmas morning excitement and a festive playlist. It's not quite as exciting as when we were kids, but you just can't beat Christmas morning, can you?

Seeing My Dog Open Her Presents

One of my favourite parts of the past few Christmases has been giving my Tibetan terrier, Rosie, her presents, and watching her open them. She loves ripping open the paper, and gets so excited when she discovers a new toy inside, It's so cute to watch, and I'm already looking forward to seeing how she reacts this year. Last year she tunnelled head first in to the giant gift bag I put her presents in to get to them! It was so cute.

Setting the Christmas Dinner Table
This is a weird one, but I love setting the table for Christmas dinner! It's been my job since I was about six or seven, and I oddly enjoy setting it and making the table look pretty for our Christmas meal. I know it's a strange thing to enjoy, but I guess I just like making things look pretty. I put some Christmas music or a Christmas movie on in the background, and can easily lose an hour or two of Christmas morning putting it all together. I actually find it really hard now with my chronic pain, but I'm stubborn and try to do it anyway.

Christmas Dinner With the Family

Christmas dinner is without a doubt my favourite meal of the entire year- and not just because the food is delicious. My family and I only sit down around a table for a meal together two or three times a year, so it makes Christmas dinner extra special. It's lovely to enjoy a meal with my family and have a good catch up. We always end up laughing until our sides hurt, and someone starts choking on a Brussels sprout. I'm really looking forward to it this year (the meal, not the choking). I'm so going to eat my body weight in roast potatoes!

Christmas Food
I don't often focus on food when I'm thinking about favourites, but let's face it, the food is one of the best things about Christmas. I mean, when else is it socially acceptable to drink before midday, eat cake for breakfast, and consume a month's calories in one day?? You just can't beat a few days of over indulging on Christmas dinner and turkey sandwiches, cake, and a metric ton of chocolates. I've never been a fan of mince pies and Christmas cake, but give me some Cadbury Roses, mint Matchmakers, and a slice of my sister's 'squidgy chocolate log' and I'm happy.

So, those are some of my favourite things about Christmas.

What are some of yours?

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My Best Christmas Blog Posts

Since I started blogging in 2012, I have created a lot of Christmas blog content. Christmas crafts, festive product reviews, Christmas room tours, helpful lists and tips, and so much more. As I still need to take photos for the other festive blog posts I have planned (but am currently being hindered by neck pain from my injury), today I thought I'd dust off the archives and do a round up of some of my best Christmas posts from over the years. Hopefully you'll find some posts you haven't seen before here, and who knows, maybe you'll even find some crafts you'd like to try, or some tips or ideas that you'll find helpful.

Still interested? Let's get started...

Last year, I wrote a review of my two beautiful Christmas brooches from Erstwilder's Festive Splendour Christmas Collection.

My little collection of Erstwilder Kitschy Christmas brooches.

If you enjoy colouring-in or are in need of a way to destress this Christmas, I'd recommend my review of the Christmas to Color colouring book by Mary Tanana. It's filled with the most beautiful, intricate Christmas illustrations to colour in.

The DIY Christmas crackers I made last Christmas using a cute Nutcracker cracker kit from Hobbycraft. You can also check out the crackers I made in 2017, and 2016. I'll be bringing you this year's DIY Christmas crackers in the next couple of weeks. I just have to make them first!

If you want to make some unique decorations to hang on the wall or even gift as presents, you might enjoy my DIY easy Christmas hoop art post.

Need some inspiration for this year's Christmas Eve box? Check out my DIY Christmas Eve Box from Christmas 2018. You might also like this one from 2016, and this one from 2015.

A retro reindeer cross stitch I stitched last Christmas.

Want to make your Insta Stories super festive but are short of ideas? Never fear, here's my 101 Christmas Instagram Story Ideas.

Christmas wreaths don't just have to be made from foliage or baubles. They can even be made out of pom poms- like my DIY Christmas pudding pom pom wreath from Christmas 2018. It's so easy to make, too!

Christmas is the most expensive time of the year, but festive activities don't have to cost you a fortune. Here's a list of 101 inexpensive things to do this Christmas.

Last year I shared my Christmas bucket list, with 40 things I have always wanted to do at Christmas time.

I love a good tagged post, and last year I did The Cracking Christmas Tag. If you want to know what Christmas songs I loathe or what I get up to on Christmas Eve, this is the post for you.

How to make these asymmetric DIY Christmas pom pom wreaths.

A round up of Christmas cross stitches I made in 2016.



A look at the DIY Advent House I made using a Hobbycraft Advent house, and kitschy paper, fabric, and wrapping papers.

Christmas is the season of good will and generosity, and if you want to do a good deed for someone this December, here's a list of 50 alternative ways to give back this Christmas to give you a few ideas.

Looking for some festive ways to enjoy your free time this Christmas? Here's a list of 101 Things To Do This Christmas to inspire you.

For anyone who likes to get creative with their blog or social media photos, here's a list of 75 of the Best Christmas Blog Photo Props.



Here's 50 of my money-saving Christmas shopping tips to help you stretch your money further and save a few pounds this Christmas.

If you're looking for some ideas for Blogmas posts, you might find my list of 200 Christmas blog post ideas will come in handy.

Navigating the Christmas season isn't easy when you have a chronic illness. It's exhausting, it elevates pain, it brings on flares, and requires more spoons than most of us have to spare. If you're nodding your head, and struggle to cope with the festive season, I wrote a Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness Christmas Survival Guide a couple of years ago which you might find helpful. It's packed full of my own tips and advice for surviving Christmas, which I learnt through trial and error. You might also appreciate my list of 25 Ways to Enjoy Christmas on Bed Rest.

A Christmas bedroom tour from 2016.



Love A Christmas Carol and colouring-in? Escape to Christmas Past is the Christmas colouring book review for you.

Another great adult Christmas colouring book I reviewed in the past is Johanna's Christmas by Johanna Basford. It's filled with the prettiest festive illustrations to bring to life with colour. (Apologies for the atrocious photos).

In 2016, I made this colourful Christmas cross stitch sampler, and showcased it on the blog.

Way back in December 2015, I shared a look at my Christmas novelty bags.

Photos of my bedroom decorated for Christmas 2015.

A look at some of the Riverdrift House Scandi-style Christmas cross stitches I made in 2015.

My review of the Zen Colouring Winter Wonderland Christmas colouring book.



How our living room was decorated for Christmas 2014. 

And in case you missed them...

My review of this year's Ciaté Mini Mani Month Advent calendar.

I also wrote a review of the Essie nail polish Advent calendar, complete with spoilers of the contents.

If you haven't got your Advent calendar for the 12 days of Christmas yet or want to see if any of your favourites have gone on sale so you can grab a beauty bargain, here's this year's round-up of Every Beauty Advent Calendar For Christmas 2019.

Earlier this week, I shared my Christmas to do list entitled 50 Things I Want to Do This Christmas.

I finally got around to showing you how I decorated my bedroom for Christmas last year with a Christmas bedroom tour post this week.

And last but not least, here's what I got for Christmas last year.

If by some miracle you've made it to the end of this post (thanks for sticking with me!), and still want to see more Christmas content, you can find all of my Christmas posts here.

I've also got plenty more festive-themed posts to come this December, so be sure to keep an eye out for those!

What kind of Christmas content do you enjoy reading most on blogs?