Christmas Traditions in Our House

I adore Christmas, always have and I'm pretty sure I always will. It was my Dad who was the major Christmas nut in our family, always making it feel special and somehow, even as kids, we never ever argued on Christmas day. There was something eerily magical about it, right into my adult years. 

This year, Carson and I made a plate for Santa's mince pie and Rudolph's carrot.

Christmas Eve we got one present to unwrap from our parents - new pyjamas. So we'd all get a bath early to change into our new pjs, whilst dad would run up the road to the chippy for sausage and chips for tea. We'd munch through our tea in the living room on the floor whilst watching The Snowman - usually followed by Scrooged on VHS that my nan had taped from her Sky. Am I the only one who is conditioned to believe that Christmas isn't Christmas without Bill Murray?  Anyway...

Finley and Carson in their Christmas PJ's 2015.

I think Christmas Eve was the only night of the year that we'd all go to bed when we were told without moaning, but not before the obligatory mince pie and carrot were carefully placed on the hearth and our stockings all laid out in our own personal areas of the living room. 

No fancy colour schemes for us. Just an explosion of all things festive.

We had quirky little Christmas Day traditions. No TV for anyone until after 6pm (and as we grew older that also became an "MPFZ" aka mobile phone free zone!). Some of my school friends found it weird I'd not watched the hottest Christmas movie at the time on terrestrial TV but I really didn't care. It's what made Christmas different.  The mini variety pack's of individually boxed cereal to choose from for breakfast. Buying these at any other time of the year just felt... weird! I mean seriously, you knew Crimbo was coming when Mum bought those bad boys! 

New PJ's, mince pie and carrot, thumbs up to that!
I replicate these traditions with my own children because I really want them to feel how special it can be, just as I was lucky enough to with my brother and sisters. 

Carson, being 7 years old now, is just at that stage were he know's what Christmas traditions we do and is really into them now too. Christmas eve, before bed, he asked if he could be the one to open the variety boxes of cereals and place one each for all four of us into our bowls at the dining table ready to be opened in the morning. Bless. Never known a child to be so excited at such a small thing but it shows that these little traditions really do add to the suspense and excitement of Christmas. For me, anyway. 
Simply must get a pic in front of the tree every year!

I love my family with all my heart. Even the hubby who's a bit of a grump when it comes to Christmas - he still gets involved, for both the kids' sake and my own traditional churning, memory making joy, however sad that may be to some.  What I would give to have one more Christmas as a little girl again. If you could bottle the anticipation and magic up it would be priceless. Alas, my young days will never return so I use every ounce of that wish as the fire power behind making my own children's Christmases everything it possibly can be. Filled with love, magic and difference to any other normal day of the year.

I'd love to hear of any traditions that you guys have, do you follow any of the same as we do?

The Winner of the Koalapak Jumbo Pak is...

So every now and then we love a flash giveaway don't we. Less time to enter so a better chance of winning - as long as you're a loyal reader. So thank you for entering our Koalapak Jumbo Pak giveaway which closed last night after just 72 hours. 

The winner, selected randomly by the rafflecopter widget is... 

The Winner of the Elevease Christmas Pamper Hamper is...

Our "Christmas Pamper Hamper and Elevease Shower Step" giveaway closed at the weekend so I've just drawn the winner and thought I'd share with you all who the lucky ducky is. We had a whopping 3,796 entries which is just brilliant so thank you for participating.

The winner, selected randomly by the rafflecopter widget is... 


Flash Giveaway!!

In the summer I worked with Koalapak, reviewing their Mega Pak. Well, I say I...

Koalapak create fun, exciting and educational arts & crafts boxes delivered to your door, with all materials you need included. Koalapaks are curriculum linked and aimed at children aged between 3 and 8 years old. 



... So I suppose you could say it was Carson who worked with them, really! His own words here display his utter joy at receiving his very own post, complete with his name written on this huge, jam-packed box of arts and crafts galore. What a lovely idea for a Christmas gift with a twist.

They come in 4 different sizes: Mini (£3.95), Mini Plus (£8.95), Jumbo (£13.95) and Mega (£16.95) and are subscription based in that a box is shipped mid-month, every month. If subscriptions aren't your thing then don't stress, you can cancel at any time and aren't obliged to join for any set amount of time.

With the ever growing trend of Christmas Eve boxes this brings something fresh and exciting to the mix, especially when you compare it to the standard colouring book and felts that last all of 5 minutes! So, I've teamed back up with Koalapak and one of you guys can win your very own Jumbo Pak just in time for Christmas. Use it to keep the kids occupied when they break up from school. Present it to your little ones on Christmas Eve for arts and crafts fun and games. Or maybe Santa wants it in his sack? You decide!




Terms & Conditions

1. This is open WORLDWIDE and all entries are optional.
2. Winner has 24 HOURS to acknowledge and respond before another winner will be redrawn.
3. All reasonable efforts and channels will be used to attempt contact.
4. Competition closes at 11.59pm 20th December 2015.
5. Winners details will be passed to Koalapak for dispatch of your prize.
6. Whilst every effort will be made to ensure the prize reaches the winner for Christmas, this cannot be guaranteed. Please allow up to 28 days for delivery.

All entries are checked so, as tempting as it may be to skim through the Rafflecopter entry, you will be doing yourself out of a genuine chance to win a cracking prize. So enter genuinely because as, you've probably gathered, I do check guys.

What's more - if you do decide to enter via every option available, you will reveal a free daily entry option which will hugely increase your chances of winning.

GOOD LUCK!!

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