Time to get Festive

Usually, I’m not one to start getting excited for Christmas in November but from the year we’ve all had, I think we all deserve it. Let’s start the festive celebrations early!! Let’s prolong the celebrations, put the lights up, buy the festive chocolates, bake the festive goods and start binge-watching the top Christmas films. It’s only just December (tomorrow) and I’ve already watched 5 Christmas films! I’ve enjoyed every second of sitting by the fire, a cup of tea in hand, watching yet another Christmas film with yet another Malteaser reindeer. It’s a real feel good! Christmas allows you to get excited about something again, something to look forward to this year. Especially after having a second lockdown and now tier rules, it’s bound to put everyone in England down a bit but now, lucky for us, we’ve got Christmas to get all excited and festive about!

Now I have to admit I’m pretty upset that Christmas markets, ice skating and fireworks have all been cancelled this year, they’re some of the best events and festive activities to do each year. Each year I grab my best mate Robyn, we go ice skating, walk around the Christmas markets and then usually end up scoffing our faces with some irresistible brownies we’ve found on one of the Christmas stalls.

So this year it is different, we won’t be able to do what we usually do but why let that stop us from getting ourselves in the festive spirit, it may just mean we need to use our imagination a little bit more. With more time at home and not as many places to be, we can certainly make the most of it and get our festive hats on… we’re getting ready for Christmas!!!

As I write this, I’m hoping that we’re allowed to visit friends and family because I want a festive night in with the girls, pj’s on, cheese and party snacks laid out and a list of Christmas films to wade through, oh and of course not forgetting the festive bubbles! (See I’ve already given one festive thing to do and we haven’t even got to the good stuff yet)!

Christmas is approaching, let’s get excited and enjoy it for as long as possible, we do deserve it after all!

Go on a festive food crawl

Now that might sound odd seeing as we don’t have the Christmas markets available to try all the delicious foods they bring out but why not find your own. Even with restaurants reopening a lot of places still offer takeaways from restaurants or cafes. This means you can easily turn up, pop in, grab some food and you’re good to go.

Rich and I actually did our own version of this around Bath. A city or larger area like Bristol or Bath is more likely to have more take away food options to chose from but I’m sure there are many places about which is offering the same. It doesn’t necessarily need to be festive food either.

From different flavoured doughnuts, Mexican empanadas, a brookie (brownie and a cookie in one, it really is as good as it sounds)! wood stone pizza’s, beef dumplings and beetroot latte’s we found and tried it all. And of course not forgetting the festive hot drink which is a must on any festive food crawl.

But why not make it a mission to find festive foods, find the best mince pie, sausage roll, hot chocolates, mulled wine or pulled pork sandwich. If you look there are so many great places to find, some really great take away foods that you may not have discovered before.

Luckily we went on a dry day which certainly helped, but bare in mind it’s starting to get cold so make sure you’ve got your coat, gloves and hat so you can enjoy eating and drinking all the food you find outside. All this whilst looking at the Christmas decorations and lights in shop windows or lights that the high streets have put up. I promise it’ll get you in the festive mood.

Festive drinks... Gingerbread & Irish cream latte

Watch your fave Christmas film

I’m not talking about watching one Christmas film, I’m talking about a Christmas movie marathon. After you’ve done your festive food crawl what better way to end the day than by putting your pj’s on, grabbing your blanket and snuggling up on the sofa with a hot choccy or cuppa whilst watching some of your favourite Christmas films. Grab some festive chocolate (if you’ve got room after your food crawl) and relax, it’s a great way to warm yourself back up after being out and about all day too. There are loads already on Netflix too! With a combo of classic Christmas films and some decent Netflix originals, you’ll have plenty to chose from.

Boardgame night

Everyone loves a board game, some more than other’s but for us Brits, we were made for the many countless board games that we were brought and bred into for our festive seasons. Having just demolished the last mince pie, eating copious amount of roast potatoes and Turkey, you make your way to the sofa plonk your butt down to be greeted by the traditional board games that make there way out of the cupboard just for the tradition on Christmas Day.

Uno, Dobble (a personal favourite) Rapidough, Cluedo, Monopoly, the Logo game (another favourite) and scrabble (if that count’s as a board game)!

But why not get your practice in now. Dust the board games off early this year, get yourself a bottle of wine, a few glasses and grab family or friends together for an early festive games night. Light that fire, grab some festive snacks (maybe the festive bakes you’ve managed to save before eating the lot) and enjoy a non (or maybe a very) competitive game night!

Festive bake off

From mince pies, Christmas tree brownies, Bailey’s chocolate tiffin, traditional Christmas cake, gingerbread men or a Yule chocolate log, there’s a wide selection of Christmas recipes to bake and try. I’ve even seen a recipe for mince pie cookies which I am desperate to try!

Also, what better way to get festive than to decorate a gingerbread house. Buy some extra sweets, chocolates, builder your gingerbread house and see just how creative you can get. Rich and I not so much…

But we tried, our design skills aren’t quite up to standard but it was great, plus we then got to demolish the house and all the sweets that went with. Christmas is all about indulging after all, isn’t it!?

Christmas Shopping

What a better way to feel festive than to head out and get all your Christmas shopping done. For many, this may feel like a daunting task, especially if you have no idea what to get someone this year but you’ll be guaranteed to feel festive after walking the high streets and shop windows full of the festive lights! Yet another part of Christmas I love. Seeing all the different Christmas lights every year, the colours, patterns, designs, it’s yet another way to make you feel that extra bit festive.

If you don’t fancy walking around shops this year give yourself a few hours at home Christmas shopping online (I know I’ll probably do most of mine online)! Make yourself a list of people you need to buy for and what ideas you have for them and get the internet shopping underway! It’s a great way to find the best bargains that you don’t usually when shopping, but this way you have time to think, should I get this rather than impulsing to buy it because there’s a queue behind you waiting to be let into the store (social distancing and all)! Plus you can sit in your comfies, with a glass of wine or hot drink to hand, what better way to get the Christmas shopping done. You don’t need to worry about carrying all the bags to the car, or trying to smuggle them in the house without little peepers in your household, you can sit back relax and wait for them to be delivered by your postman (who by the way, I think I’ve kept in business through all these lockdowns, ASOS and Pretty Little Thing need to stop sending me discount codes)!

Plus what follows the best part after you’ve done all your Christmas shopping… wrapping them all up. And of course, this has to be done whilst watching a Christmas film, it’s tradition after all!

Have yourself a very merry pre-Christmas

Have yourself a practice Christmas, or maybe not so much a practice Christmas but a pre pre Christmas. Most of us spend time without families over Christmas so why not have a pre-Christmas with some friends or partner. Treat it, as usual, Christmas Day, make a roast dinner, buy the crackers, read the dad jokes, wear the Christmas jumpers or pj’s, put the Christmas music on, grab the board games (that you’ve already dusted off) share your secret Santa gifts and crack open a bottle of bubble or make some mulled wine and enjoy a pre-Christmas Day!

Enjoy, be merry and let the festivities begin!

Amy x