'Twas the night before christmas......

......and all through the house..........women everywhere were screaming at others to stop eating chocolate before they made themselves sick, were frantically trying to defrost the turkey with a hairdryer and wondering if wrapping the last presents in newspaper would make them look 'green' rather than 'you ran out of wrapping paper for my present didn't you?'.  No? OK then just in my house.

Actually I've not done too badly this year and I am lucky that my brother and his wife are hosting Christmas dinner.  So everything is done, the presents are wrapped, the house is cleaned, beds are made for those family staying at mine, food is in the fridge and we're good to go as they say.

The rest of today will involve sitting on my butt, painting my nails and stuffing my boat with chocolate.

For those of you who read my post on Loss you will know that last year was a very bleak Christmas for my family, but this year we are going all out Christmassy and celebrating.  Celebrating life and togetherness and the fact we are lucky enough to be able to have a Christmas - many can't.

So what I really want to say in this post is, Christmas can be an excitingly fantastical period, but I know that not everyone has such a festive time.  Those who are struggling financially, those who are home alone, those who are grieving, the homeless, the list could go on and on so I just want to say to all of you who are regular readers of my blog (I thank you) and also those who stop by and comment (I also thank you), that whatever situation you find yourself in this Christmas, I wish you from the bottom of my heart a time filled with peace, love and joy.

The Christmas Tag

I saw this over on the lovely Sarah from Life in a breakdown's blog and she in turn came across it on Makeup Pixi3's blog.  I just love a good old tag so here's my tuppence worth!

1. What's your favourite thing about Christmas?
It's so difficult to choose one thing.  I would say time off and spending it with family and all the longstanding traditions we have.  Eating lots of things which aren't so good for you but which taste Oh So Good! The twinkly lights, the smell of the Christmas tree.  Even cooking the Christmas dinner, I love it all!

2. What's your favourite make-up look for the festive season?
Loads of glimmer and shimmer.  Lots of smoky eyes and deep rich nail colours are usually what I go for over the Christmas period.

3. Real tree or fake tree?
Oh it has to be real for me.  I know I would save myself a fortune in the long run by investing in a really good artificial one but there is just something about a real tree.  We always had a real tree when I was a nipper, apart from when I was really really small and we had a very trendy white fake one (it was the 70's!), so I guess my love of real stems from there.  It's a big tradition in our house, Mr B.P. and I go out together to get said tree.  I do lots of "that one" and he pulls it out of the big pile and stands there, holding it whilst I ummm and arrrr and say "no that one".  We get there in the end!  But it's real all the way.

4. Giving presents or receiving presents?
It has to be giving.  I love shopping for others, getting something which (I hope) they'll love.  Spending time wrapping it just so.  It's a ritual for me and I just love to see others faces when they open their pressies.

5. Do you open your presents morning or evening?
It's usually a little bit of both.  We like to draw it out so it lasts all day!  We'll open a couple during breakfast but the main ones wait until after lunch which we usually sit down to eat at about 2.30pm. So it can go on until late afternoon.

6. Handmade Christmas cards or bought?
Have to admit to sending bought ones here.  Although I do love to receive a handmade one.

7. What's your favourite Christmas film?
That has got to be It's a Wonderful Life.  (Is it weird that Jimmy Stewart plays the main lead in both of my all time favourite films?!)  But if I'm looking for a bit of light hearted humour, you can't go wrong with Elf.

8. What's your favourite Christmas food?
This is a bit like the first question.  There is just too much too choose from!  We always crack open a tin of Quality Street and I love a mince pie (or 3).  To be honest, I love it all - yep even the sprouts!

So that's my Christmas tag!

I tag - ALL OF YOU!

Leave me a comment below and a link so I can read all about Your Christmas Tag