Five Reasons Why I Love Christmas

This post may come as a slight surprise to anyone who has known me over the past few years because for a long time I was the Grinch of Christmas. I never particularly enjoyed Christmas because I was never religious and my Mum was quite anti Christmas for most of my childhood. It wasn't that I didn't get bought nice presents or that I had some scarring experience as a young child, I just never really saw what the fuss was about or why shops had to start playing Christmas songs in October. In the last few years I have made an effort to stop being so negative and try to enjoy what is meant to be the "most wonderful time of the year". I thought I would give a quick run down of why I suddenly after many years of ruining Christmas spirit I am now sickeningly enthusiastic about the whole thing. 

1. As cliche as it sounds I do actually enjoy giving presents, of course receiving them is nice but I really love being able to buy something I know someone will enjoy and putting effort into wrapping it nicely. I never really believed in Father Christmas as my delightful older sister told me he didn't exist when I was practically in nappies. Because of this I have always been acutely aware that all the gifts I receive have been bought by me from my parents or the rest of my family, I've known that my Mum often had to try and scrabble around for money to buy gifts she couldn't really afford. This is why now I am older I go ever so slightly over the top when it comes to buying gifts, I feel like now I am older I can finally give back something to those who sacrificed their own money to make me happy when I was younger. Receiving gifts is privilege a lot of people never have, so being able to enjoy giving presents is something that isn't possible for everyone in the world. My Mum still doesn't treat herself very often and Christmas is one of the only times of the year where I can spoil her and she cannot object or feel bad about it. ( I also have an addiction to wrapping paper, ribbons and gift bags but let's just pretend I am totally selfless for the time being).

2. Another reason I have suddenly developed into a bit of a Christmas fanatic is because I really enjoy getting to spend time with my family without anyone being stressed over their work or other problems in their lives. I won't launch into a sob story here but like most modern children my parents have been separated for as long as I can remember, my Dad died when I was eleven and I don't have very much contact with a lot of my family. This has made me really appreciate the family I do have, to this day I can't stand to properly fall out with anyone who is in my close family because there really are more important things to worry about then petty arguments. Christmas magnifies this for me because I can't help but feel pretty thankful for the family I do have, I might not have the biggest or the most straight forward family situation but they are a constant in my life that can be relied upon which is more then can be said for a lot of people. I love the feeling of togetherness that Christmas brings, I love the collective feeling of everyone being in good spirits, whether you are religious or not I hope that everyone celebrates having their family around more than just once a year.

3. Onto a shallow reason, but a reason I'm sure many of you can relate to, I absolutely love Christmas or even Winter in general because I finally have the excuse to say in the house and be warm and cosy whilst watching bad tv without worrying everyone will think I'm a social recluse. Christmas is by far the best time of the year for TV, whether you want a good miserable episode of Eastenders, a children's film or some Downton Abbey there is always something on which can entertain you. I love feeling able to relax and enjoy watching tv without something niggling away at me reminding me to revise or stop being lazy. Not to mention you get a perfect reason to stay in your ugliest PJs and sing along loudly to cheesy music whilst watching those around you drinking themselves into oblivion- sounds perfect to me. 

4. This is by far my favourite thing about Christmas, I wish I could say it was the enjoyment of donating all my gifts to orphaned children but lets be realistic it isn't. I can not get enough of gifts sets, I LOVE mini things, if something comes in miniature then I have to buy it, Christmas is the season for miniature gifts sets and it pleases me to no end. I once "stole" around fifteen pots of mini jam from a hotel in Amsterdam by shoving them into my jumper and I don't think I have ever been so proud. Now, of course not everything is miniature but Christmas also brings around the best smells and tastes of the whole year, I have a genuine candle addiction and my favourite smells are ginger, cinnamon, pine trees and cranberries- ALL of which Yankee candle make into a candle for Christmas time, it just can't be a coincidence. Of course Christmas also means I can bake freely and everyone will eat everything without thinking about their weight, I'm thinking of running a weekly festive baking recipe type thing on this blog because I cannot let my passion for silicone bake ware be untamed this year.

5. A lot of people complain that Christmas shopping from the 20th onward is hell on earth, which to some extent it definitely is- everyone has a cold, everyone is too cold outside/too hot inside and everyone is stressed because they've forgotten to buy Great Auntie something a gift. BUT I just love the last few days before Christmas when everyone is is a really positive and uplifting mood, I like how people stop to say Merry Christmas or say "Have a good Christmas" when you buy something from the shop they work in. In general I think if people kept up this cheery behavior all year around everyone might get on a bit better and stop trying to kill/fight each other. The fact that Christmas brings out the happier, kinder side in people is something which even the most Scrooge like people have to appreciate and enjoy even a little bit. 

So there we have it, those are some of the reasons why you will see me smugly humming along to Christmas songs in October this year and wearing novelty themed jumpers. Enjoying Christmas is all about keeping up a positive attitude and not letting the little things worry you. If you think this festive post is a bit early this year, then beware because I will undoubtedly

 be coming up with more festive posts as the days get chillier. 

Autumn WishList

cfg by bleughh featuring christmas candles

 Now I spend a worryingly large amount of my time sitting on the laptop looking at online shopping sites, splashing my cash on electric blankets (really) I have developed a reasonably long wish list for this autumn. Some of these items I will inevitably end up buying but most I will just stroke through my screen, sobbing silently into my empty bank account in the hope the magical Christmas fairy will purchase them for me. Being off ill from college and work is amazing, fabulous and a luxury if you aren't actually ill and can spend your time doing the things you love. However, being off ill when you are too ill to work or study is shit, you're bored, you're poor and you never see anyone because you are actually too ill to enjoy yourself. Saying this, I seem to be doing a pretty good job at buying things at least, because why save when you can spend your money you have saved for when you EVENTUALLY go to University and actually do "life".

1. A Shearling Jacket

I have wanted a shearling jacket ever since I was a little girl and my Dad bought me the most expensive shearling boots ever, which were way too hot to ever wear but looked so nice and would have looked even better with a matching coat. My Mum absolutely despises these coats, she says they are tacky, look like binbags and are way too 70s. However, the same women once bought me a cropped diamanté hoodie with a butterfly on it for my twelfth birthday- so I think I'll make my own clothing choices. I know eventually I will cave and buy the pink Missguided coat and it will be beautiful- until I spill a cup of tea down it or inevitably leave it near my new puppy who just loves putting her dirty little paws (the cutest paws ever) all over my things.

2.  A Leather Backpack

Topshop do the nicest backpacks I may have ever set eyes on, these leather and suede ones make my heart melt into my wallet and make me want to be cool and chic and wear one. Unfortunately I think these are meant to stay firmly on the "wish" side of this list. I have bought at least three backpacks since they became "cool" again and I just cannot pull it off. No matter what I find myself having to stop mid walk to get my gum or phone out, getting a bruised bum from a badly placed lunchbox or looking way, way too much like my thirteen year old self who refused to be at all feminine. I think I will leave this trend to people who can bear the discomfort to wear what my StepFather would call a "shoulder bag".

3. ANYTHING from The Great Frog London  

Ever since I've seen my favourite youtubers wearing this jewellery I have been pining over most of it, not to mention they do amazing Keith Richards like skull rings that I just know would last forever. As previously mentioned I am unemployed, meaning I do not have £200 to throw around at jewellery, no matter how spontaneous or rebellious I'm feeling. This brand is just my style of jewellery as it isn't too pretty or cutesy but also isn't boring or dull. I have ridiculously short chubby fingers which sit on a massive hand span meaning thin delicate jewellery looks utterly awful and embarrassing, while larger pieces look great. I know one day I will have to add something from here to my collection but until then I will settle for stalking those who can afford it and being wildly jealous of them- because yes, I really do have that much spare time.

4. Charlotte Tilbury- Matte Revolution Lipstick

Everything about Charlotte Tilbury's makeup makes me weep- the packaging, the colours, the price range, EVERYTHING. I personally despise any lipsticks with the slightest bit of shine of glimmer, they make me look like Mick Jagger in the 80s, hence why I am in love with the new Matte Revolution Lipsticks. They come in some amazing vampy colours like "Glastonberry" and I know they would be the sort of product that I would keep forever just for the packaging. However, they do come in at £23.00, seeing as I currently cannot even justify buying a MAC lipstick which is around £8.00 cheaper, I really can't pay this much for the lipsticks. But if any of my lovely, beautiful, generous relatives would like to buy me one for Christmas I wouldn't object ( no hinting obviously). I would recommend Revlon for some good vampy shades at a cheaper price, or the Bourjous Rogue Edition Velvet for a really good, non- drying lip shades.

5. Yankee Candles

Yes, it might only be September but we all know that it is now Christmas. Despite being a person lacking in most kinds of spirit, I am full of Christmas spirit. I love everything about Christmas, the TV, the days ending at 3pm, online shopping and decorating. But there is nothing I love more in this whole world then a candle. I kid you not, I can sniff the candles in shops till I get a headache from the fumes, I just love the way they create an atmosphere more than electric lights. I am also a total freak who is extremely fussy about lights being too bright and hurting my "poor" delicate eyeballs. This year my friends got me a mix of Yankee candles for my birthday- much to my delight. However, I always need candles, I need cinnamon scents to live. I'm sorry but if you don't like candles- you don't like me.

So there we go, a list full of consumerism. Hopefully this can be helpful for any autumn birthdays- or just if you fancy treating yourself for the new school year.