Countdown to Christmas

It's almost time to start counting down the days until Christmas with my Lindt advent calendar, so to get into the festive spirit I thought I would share my top ten favourite things about Christmas. To all you bah-humbug Christmas haters I apologise now for my love and excitment of this holiday! 

 1 Wrapping presents 

Wrapping presents might be some people's idea of hell but I love it, if anyone ever needs something wrapped in my house chances are I will be the one to do it.  One Christmas a few years ago I manage to wrap over 60 presents! I always start my wrapping in the first few weeks of December and if I'm well enough I will offer to help anyone else. If I didn't do this I'm sure my family would find themselves frantically wrapping up on Christmas Eve.

 2 Choosing the tree

It's long been a family tradition to go and pick a tree, we sometimes take our time and look at five to ten trees, usually picking the first or second one we looked at in the first place for some reason. Sometimes we argue over two trees, getting a member of the garden centre's staff to hold it while we walk around and scrutinise it. It's a very serious (and fun) business! The smell is incredible and to me it's the best Christmas smell going.

3 Advent 

A tradition that no one is too old for. Growing up I wasn't allowed a chocolate Advent calendar, instead I had a card one with pictures behind the doors. I loved them even without the tasty treat but I am excited for this year's Lindt Advent calendar which contains different Lindt treats leading up to the super cute bear poking his head out of the 24th window. I think this is my favourite calendar I've seen by Lindt.

4 Food

Christmas and food go hand in hand. Calories simply don't count over the festive period. Everyone cheerfully using the excuse to have another bite of something tasty always makes me smile. This is the only time of year that I can open the fridge to see it full and I always make the most of it! Anything goes for breakfast on Christmas morning but I always start with chocolate.

5 Making Christmas Cake

Christmas cake baking really signifies the start of the festive season in my house. The smell is incredible and so warming on a chilly day. Plus I like to do my bit and help clean the bowl (insert winking emoji here)!

6 Christmas Eve 

The day before Christmas is for me a rest day, a day to try and gain energy for the big day. This suits me fine as I find something magical about taking it easy on Christmas Eve. Maybe it's knowing that people are out frantically trying to get last minute presents while I'm cosy at home - or maybe it's the memory of excitement from my childhood. My favourite part of Christmas Eve is sitting down with my mum to watch Beatrix Potter's The Tailor Of Gloucester in the afternoon with a cup of tea and some chocolates or a mince pie. 

7 Christmas Chocolate

It might not be normal for a twenty five year old to get so excited by Christmas chocolate but I really do and I just can't help it. You can't beat getting the first rummage in the Quality Street for the green triangles! I also love Lindt's festive characters, it's not really Christmas without a Lindt Father Christmas or reindeer. Oh, and I almost forgot, gold coins!

8 Christmas Dress

Another tradition has always been to have a special dress to wear for Christmas Day. Even though it's a day spent with family at home it's a day we put our best on for. I think it makes the day even more special. I start thinking about this outfit a few months in advance and this year I've chosen a skater dress by Virgos Lounge. It's a rich mustard yellow with lots of beading. Hopefully, if I'm well enough, I'll do a Christmas outfit post featuring my dress but if you follow me on Instagram you will have had a peek at it yesterday!

9 Guessing what's inside 

Just like a child I love to poke and shake the presents under the tree. Something I used to get told off for a lot. These days I use the excuse of arranging the presents artistically for an opportunity to guess, which I've got pretty good at!

10 Thinking of others

Presents and food aside, I think it's nice to do something kind for someone else, maybe a stranger or someone I might never meet. For the last few years I've been taking part in Operation Christmas Child (here) which is set up by Samaritan's Purse so that children in poverty all over the world will receive a shoe box filled with toys, stationary and personal care items for Christmas. I love this concept and picking out items for my box is always fun. I sadly missed the deadline for making my own box this year but there's still time to make a box online through the website. 

Happy count down!

Emma Xx

Lindt Chocolate c/o Lindt uk - shop (here)

Star lights & trees - John Lewis (here)