It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Every year, we get a few telltale signs that the festive season is well and truly upon us. First, it’s
the mysterious appearance of advent calendars in mid-July. Then, it’s the popping up of
Christmas lights at the end of October. And now, we get the influx of tearjerking Christmas ads.
The tide of yule is truly unstoppable.
And while I could sit here and moan that every year Christmas starts earlier and earlier, I’ll let
you into a little secret. I love it. As soon as that final firecracker explodes on bonfire night, I set
my sights firmly on the big day.
We’re all the same aren’t we? Whether we admit it or not, I think we all crave the comfort and
cosiness of the most wonderful time of the year. Mulled wine and mince pies, warming hot
chocolate, hideous Christmas jumpers. It just can’t be beat.
Now don’t get me wrong. I know this time of year can be stressful with planning, parties and
picking out presents. But by embracing the Christmas spirit a little earlier, we can make the
whole season pass perfectly.
Here are my favourite ways to get ahead for Christmas.
The Scrooge Scale
First things first, where do you sit on the Scrooge scale? Let me know in the comments…
Bah Humbug
These people refuse to acknowledge glad tidings of any kind. While others sing carols and sip
on sherry, these festive fiends huff and puff their way through winter. If it were up to them, every
idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips would be boiled with his own pudding!
Not literally I hope.
Blue Christmas
These Scrooge-lights are known for refusing mince pies before 1st of December. They prefer to
keep a lid on festive frolicking. But after a prosecco or two, they’re happy to belt out Michael Buble at the office Christmas do. Just don’t expect them to shake their belly like a bowlful of jelly.
Holidays are Coming
While they may seem calm and collected, these people have been secretly counting the sleeps
since Halloween. As soon as they down tools for the Christmas holidays, you’ll find them in a
reindeer onesie, watching Elf on repeat. They’ll usually have very strong opinions on the best
Christmas sandwiches too.
I wish it could be Christmas every day
These hardcore holly jollies will stop at nothing to spread Christmas cheer. They’ve been
hunting for gift ideas with laser-sharp precision for months. And don’t be surprised if they’re
humming Mariah Carey by the start of March. For them, boxing day is a day of mourning.
Ways to Stay Ahead of the Game
Wherever you sit on the Scrooge scale, we can all give ourselves a festive leg up by getting
ahead for the big day. Here are three of my favourite ways to make Christmas joyful again.
Put your diary to work
We all know that come December, it’s every man for himself. So start filling up your calendar
with all the important events ahead of time. From parties to school plays, make sure you know
when and where you need to be. If you’ve got little ones, keep an eye on school events too. You
never know when Year 3 might throw a last-minute Rudolph lookalike contest.
And when it comes to Christmas, there’s no such thing as being too pedantic. Grab yourself a
good notebook to pencil in shopping days, wrapping days and picking up the turkey days.
Having everything written down should (fingers crossed) make the whole thing a bit more manageable. Make sure you set aside a little me time too. Even Santa treats himself to a bubble bath every once in a while.
Decide who’s hosting the big day
With so much to do in the run-up to Christmas, it’s easy to forget about the 25th. So firm up now
who has the honour (or misfortune) of hosting the big day. If it’s friends or family then great! Just
decide how best to get there and find out what you should bring. Fizz and nibbles are always
handy. Or why not bring a thank you gift box?
Or if you’re in the driving seat this year, get an idea of who needs what. Has grandma gone
gluten-free? Is uncle Peter allergic to sprouts? The earlier you know the ins and outs, the more
time you’ll have to prepare.
Get ahead with gifts
Whoever decided it’s better to give than to receive has got a lot of answering to do. And while
Black Friday’s flash sales may send you scrambling to the stores, it pays to think a little smarter.
Unless, of course, you’re one of those super-shoppers who bought all their gifts in last’s year’s
sales. In which case, one gold star to you.
But if you’re anything like us normal people, you’ll likely have a list of friends, family, colleagues
and clients who are all hungry for presents. And now is the perfect time to stock up on a few
failsafe gifts.
Candles are a great option. Simple, stylish and suitable for all ages, they make lovely gifts. If
you’re looking for something neutral, I love the relaxing scent Earl of East’s Viagem.
And who doesn’t love chocolate? Whether you’re shopping for an old friend or your kids’
schoolteacher, artisan choccie is ideal for Christmas. My favourite is definitely Coco
Chocolatier’s gin and tonic dark chocolate. It’s moreish, refreshing and just a little bit naughty.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Whether you love it or hate it, give yourself a helping hand this year by embracing a bit of that
early Christmas spirit. And if you’re looking for more gift inspiration, check out our selection of
curated gifts. Until then my friends, happy Christmas to all and to all a good night.
Lexi x
