My Christmas Favourites

It's Christmas Eve and quite fittingly, this is my 100th blog post so a double whammy of celebration.

Even if you're not quite in the festive spirit yet (it's unseasonably mild, it's confusing my mind), here's my favourite things about Christmas to bring a bit of joy into your Christmas Eve.

1. Presents.

Obvs I love getting presents - who doesn't?! (Read my wishlist here) But the older I get it's the giving of presents that I love the most. I love the secrecy of buying for months on end and the boxes piled up in wardrobes hidden from prying eyes and closed doors for a mammoth wrapping session. I love watching people open their gifts on Christmas day and gaging their reaction and even better if they cry (me and my brother once surprised my parents with concert tickets, good siblings).

2. Christmas Dinner.

As I type, our enormous turkey is in the oven and will be cooking all day today ready for dinner tomorrow. I am not a massive fan of your traditional Sunday roast but there is just something extraordinary about Christmas dinner. Crackers compulsory ofc.

3. Festive Outfits.

I am a BIG fan of a Christmas jumper, I think it is one of the staple go to outfits of the day and in my opinion, the more flashy and tacky the better, preferably with lights and music. Also festive nail art - an absolute must. This year I've gone with Primark's candy cane falsies and for 50p I'm pretty impressed.

4. Feliz Navidad.

On Radio 1. Has to be done and the first play is the best. I'm waiting for it for weeks.

5. Christmas Wrapping.

No, not the song (my fav Christmas song, natch), the actual art of wrapping presents. I have become some what of a master, even if I do say so myself. I am one of those people in life that puts ribbon and bows and tags on EVERYTHING even though I know they'll be ripped off and binned within a matter of seconds but in all honesty, I think it's for my benefit for how lovely they look under my tree in the weeks beforehand.

6. Christmas Carol Concerts.

I am not a religious person but there is something so traditional and glorious about a carol concert, preferably by a proper choir or by school children. If a bunch of 5 year olds dressed up as the nativity singing Away In A Manger doesn't melt your heart and get you in the Christmas spirit I don't know what will.

7. Christmas Night.

Everyone's Christmasses are different but on Christmas night when the turkey sandwiches for tea have been demolished and the presents are all over the floor, me and my family (mum, dad, brother, boyfriend and grandparents) play some sort of game. I'm talking Articulate or Pictionary or Who's In The Bag, something quick thinking, something that includes guessing and describing, something that'll confuse my mother and my Nan, preferably if someone has had a drink of apricot wine- it does not fail to amuse.

8. Decorations.

It goes without saying that decorations and the Christmas tree are one of my favourite things, I have 2 in my own house and 1 at my Mum's and everywhere I 'makeover' resembles a grotto. Beaut.

9. Dairy Milk Minatures.

There is nothing that screams CHRISTMAS CHOCOLATE at me more than these little gems. I don't even know what it is but it is similar to the miracle that is Cadbury's Easter Eggs that tastes so much better than a normal bar of dairy milk. These tiny pieces of individual wrapped Dairy Milk are the dream and we used to have boxes of them every year at Christmas, until last year, Cadbury's announced they were discontinuing them and all my dreams were broken. Hoping by some twist of events someone found some for me this year. If not I'll settle for one of them massive Malteasers crackers.

10. Quality Time.

There is something about Christmas that no matter the terrible things happening in the world, no matter the problems in families, the arguments, the stresses of every day life, everyone pulls together for Christmas. You eat, you laugh, you get drunk, you give gifts and you spend time with the people that matter most and look around you whilst you're pooped on the sofa remembering these are the things to be thankful for.

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day everyone. Nadolig Llawen.

Blogger and Illustrator

My Christmas Favourites