You may remember that back in September, I teamed up with the lovely Hannah from The Mermaid Life, to share a few of our fave beauty products. As we enjoyed doing our last collaboration so much, we’ve decided to team up again to bring you this very special Christmas post – you can read Hannah’s post, here.
I am super excited about this as it is my first Christmas post of the year – eek! I should probably admit now, that I am one of those people who goes a little Christmas crazy – you have been warned! While I enjoy Halloween and Easter, my fave holiday is Christmas; I just love everything about it. (I think a big part of my love for the festive season is down to the delicious food – I am a real foodie.)
While I love Christmas, sometimes, like everyone else, I can struggle to get in the festive spirit. As a child, I can remember the holidays being such a magical time, but like all kids, as I grew up, some of the magic disappeared. (I blame the lack of Father Christmas and Rudolph for this!)
So how do I get in the Christmas spirit? Here are my five favourite ways to boost how festive I am feeling.
- Building a gingerbread house
For me, this is a fairly new Christmas activity, but it’s one of my absolute favourites. Until a couple of years ago, I had never even thought about building a gingerbread house. My dad gave me a gingerbread house building kit, which the fiance (back then he was just the boyfriend) and I built on Christmas Eve.
Since then, it’s become a bit of a tradition, as well as a great way to get into the festive spirit. While we normally buy a ready made kit, this year, I am going to attempt to make my own. (Obviously, in case of failure, I’ll keep a spare kit in the cupboard.)
- Watching Christmas movies
My favourite Christmas movie of all time is Love Actually – big surprise there, I know. For me, Christmas doesn’t start until I have watched my first festive film. Whether it’s The Holiday, Elf or The Santa Clause, it doesn’t matter, but to get in the festive spirit, a Christmas film is a must.
To make the house feel a little more Christmassy, I like to light some mulled wine or spiced cinnamon scented candles. (I am OBSESSED with Yankee Candles at the moment!)
- Getting a Starbuck’s Gingerbread Latte
I am a Starbuck’s girl through and through, and my favourite drink is, of course, the Gingerbread Latte (skinny, obviously). Unlike Costa, Starbucks only serve their Gingerbread Latte from November, so it feels that little bit more Christmassy. Well, I think so, anyway.
There’s just something about the creamy, spiced taste of a Gingerbread Latte that tells me Christmas is on the way. It’s just so yummy, especially with whipped cream on top.
- Drinking mulled wine and mulled cider
There’s nothing more christmassy than a glass of steaming hot mulled wine – it’s so scrumptious. I am also crazy about mulled cider, that’s also delicious.
My fiance doesn’t drive, so whenever we go anywhere, I am the designated driver. This means that often, I miss out on mulled drinks, unless of course there’s an alcohol-free alternative. Bottle Green do an AMAZING alcohol-free mulled wine, it tastes just like the real deal – I love it. So when I get the chance to drink a glass of my favourite Christmas drink, I always jump at it.
- Going to Christmas markets
There’s something about Christmas markets that makes me feel festive. The sights, smells and atmosphere – aka, the hustle and bustle, instantly make me feel more Christmassy. I love the little wooden huts, the amazing crafts, and, of course, the delicious food and drink. Roasted chestnuts, anyone?
This year, I plan on going to a few Christmas markets. Bath, Manchester and Birmingham Bull Ring are all high on my list of the best Christmas markets, I also plan on attending a couple of local markets as well. Two of the best local markets are Exeter and Totnes, both of which I went to lots when I was growing up.
So that’s how I like to get into the Christmas spirit, but what about Hannah? To find out how she gets into that Christmassy mood, check out her blog.
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