I love this holiday so much. I know some people can’t stand the hype but the build up is half the fun for me. I love all the planning, the decorating, the magic and the food. The family focus, cosy nights and cheesy films. Dressing up, sequins, bows, Christmas jumpers, and drinks with friends. I must be the only person who still writes Christmas cards. So many wholesome plans for baking and making most of which never come to fruition but that’s also fine.
The best place for the most cheesy selection of Christmas jumpers has to be Beyond Retro.
An amazing podcast which feels like my Christmas mind downloaded is Calm Christmas.
Christmas is all about lighting. Candles everywhere. These hand painted Christmas candles are absolutely beautiful. And I love these candle holders from Matilda Goad. If money was no object this absolutely beautiful candle sconce would be on my wall, in fact I’d have two. I am also very pro an outdoor Christmas light display.
These traditional picture advent calendars are perfect for the mantlepiece.
I am completely in love with the idea of these Christmas cracker puzzles. I hate the plastic tat that you get in the supermarket crackers but I love the hat and the ritual of pulling them at the table. These puzzles could be reused year on year in home made crackers. You can buy the pulls and the hats separately and even write your own jokes to include. They keep the children entertained at the table and can become such a lovely family tradition.
I love getting out and collecting the greenery to decorate the house. This year I’m signed up to a wreath making class and I’m going to attempt a garland at home for the mantelpiece. In the spirit of a homemade, crafty Christmas I am also planning to dry some orange slices out and create a delicious smelling garland as well as make some gingerbread. I’ve seen a tutorial for making your own place settings which I think could be fun too. Watch this space!
I’ve always liked to send Christmas cards. Again I think it’s the ritual of it and I love the excuse it gives me to connect to those that I wouldn’t normally speak to very much throughout the year. I do like to make my own, lino-cutting has always been a particular favourite, but this year I think I’ll try and buy my cards from Save the Children. For close family I absolutely love getting those with small children to make cards from their hand or foot prints.
Finally, this year, I am obsessed with bows and maybe it’s because I’m looking but they seem to be everywhere. Candle holders. Actually love these slightly tacky glittery Christmas bow earrings, or for the more mature taste this classier pair. Bows for the hair, beautiful bows for the tree and these amazing shoes scream Christmas.
Obviously this by no means an exhaustive list of the amazing things to do or wear or see or eat at Christmas. But it’s a start and it’s only the 1st December.
The Folio 