Christmas

Christmas is almost upon us folks! If you haven't got your presents bought and your cake soaking in brandy its time to go turbo! I always say Christmas is about enjoying a break with the people who are most special to you and eating good food and its true! Making festive happy memories are sooo much better than getting something you won't use this time next year (not that I'm not looking forward to unwrapping my prezzies on christmas day!) But it really is about the fun not the objects, in my family we spend more time and money on making the best food ever and making sure it lasts all week, and on getting a cracking new board game that we can all row over, than unwrapping and unwrapping!

However, there are several other really important things that are not to be forgotten in the run up! Christmas is a sacred time of year for me, truly its my favourite, and so this time is crucial for getting into the spirit!

So, I'm going to do an ultimate guide to all of the things that you NEED during this week, starting with... drum roll please... the films!

(X factor voice) In no particular order:

1. Miracle on 34th Street:

Last christmas this film had both myself and my dad weeping into each other's shoulders like mentalists but its an absolute MUST for Christmas. Plus the late Richard Attenborough plays a Chris Kringle that's so realistic I refuse to accept any one else. Seriously, watch this film. Bring tissues.

2. Fred Claus:

Who doesn't love a bit of Vince Vaughn? If you've never seen this film go and get it right.now. Its hilarious and always makes me cry (although anything christmas related always does) and its seriously special. There is a scene when Fred gets all of the Elves dancing in the workshop to Elvis' Rubbernecking' (Click it and see for yourself...)

3. Elf:

Everyone in the English speaking world knows about Elf. If you don't I'm pretty sure you've heard the lines: 'SANNNTTAAAA! I know him!' and if not, maybe: 'You sit on a throne of lies...' No? Well, go and watch this film, you'll never look at chewing gum on the pavement in the same way again... Plus the mail room scene.

4. The Grinch:

It pains me to say that my own best friend refuses to watch this film when its literally one of my absolute favourites but there you have it... My mum read the Dr Seuss story to me and my brother when we were younger and the phrase 'Roast Beast' is one we use to refer to our turkey every year. The Grinch is a little bit like all of us, and who couldn't love a little bit of Whobilation?!

5. The Holiday:

This film is one of my favourite films of all time that ever existed. I watch it every single year, more than once, and I seriously cannot overstate how fabbo it is! One day when I'm rich and famous I'm going to buy the cottage that's in it. And until then, I'll be content to gaze at it longingly every time I watch this film.

Seriously look at this cottage, I dreaaaaaammm about it!

Also, it will impart some fabulous life lessons!

With a cast made up of Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black and Jude Law, how can any one say no?

6. Home Alone 1 & 2:

Ive combined both 1 and 2 together because you can't watch just one or the other at christmas... It HAS to be both, several times, every day until the New Year is upon us and it becomes socially unacceptable. These are two of the best films of ALL TIME. Truly, truly, christmas is not complete without Kevin Mcallister's genius tricks, and Fuller not going easy on the Pepsi and wetting the bed...

There are loads of others... Love Actually (THE BEST FILM EVER!) Bridget Jones, A Christmas Carol, The Polar Express, ALL OF THE HARRY POTTER FILMS ALL YEAR ROUND EVERY SINGLE DAY EVERY SINGLE SECOND, The Hogfather, all of the crappy christmas films that are on the telly, and millions of others! Christmas is incomplete without these films, and, at the risk of sounding melodramatic, it should be made law that all of them are watched in plenty of time to help even the Scroogiest of Scrooge's feel the Christmas magic!

So, moving on... 

Next up we have a list of songs that should never be ignored, no matter how many times you've had to listen to them before. I'm twenty and I know every single word to all of the following songs, and I say 'shame on you' if you're the same age as me and don't!

1. Boney M, Mary's Boy Child: I dare you to not sing along, I DARE you.

2. East 17, Stay: If you've never sung this on a karaoke machine something has gone wrong.

3. Wizzard, I Wish It Could be Christmas Everyday: Need I say any more?

4. Slade, Merry Christmas: One year in Primary school I sang this song at the end of my Christmas production every single night for about a week. To this day I more scream the lyrics than sing them.

5. The Pogues ft Kirsty MacColl, Fairytale of New York: If any song encapsulates the beauty of New York at Christmas time, it is this. I.Love.This.Song.

6. Wham, Last Christmas: Can't beat a bit of old George, and its my best friend's favourite so...!

7. Jingle Bell Rock: Any bloody version will do.

7. ANYTHING BY FRANK SINATRA

8. If you don't have even one measly little Christmas album floating about (shame on you once more), you should go on Spotify and have a look at the playlists on there.

9. Apologies to all of his fans but... Avoid, and I repeat, AVOID Michael stupid-arse Buble. What a name. I ask you.


Next on the Christmas agenda... FOOD!


1. A turkey. Obviously. Although we call it Roast Beast.

2. Roast potatoes in goose fat. If you say 'ew' I'll hunt you down and force one upon you. Its like an angel weeping on your tongue.

3. Roasted veggies, man I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

4. PIGS IN BLANKETS YA!  (Click it, trust me.)

5. Yorkshire Puddings! Man oh man...

6. GRAVY, GRAVY, and more GRAVY.

7. A Christmas Cake, made with love, by me, weeks ago! (I'm so excited to see how it tastes!)

8. My mum's chocolate truffle torte. She only makes it once a year, and if you can't get your hands on any of my mum's, just have a look at Deliah's recipe. (If you didn't already know that woman is a big hit in my household.)

9. Mince Pies, all kinds, all day.

10. And then on Boxing day: BUBBLE AND SQUEAK!! And Buffet style food, and leftovers, and the chocolate from inside your stocking, and more cake, and of course... a turkey sandwich with a moist maker inside!

Welp...

I think that just about wraps up everything I love, apart from, the annual board game! Most families seem to end up ripping each other's hair out over Monopoly, but we've got The Logo Game this year. We won't play it until its actually Christmas, and I'm so excited its borderline pathetic! Plus my mum (with her Monica like tendencies) has compiled a load of quizzes for us all to do on Boxing Day. And you CANNOT forget a pair of cozy Christmas Pjs and a snuggy blanket to wear on Christmas Eve and Day.

I'm super excited for next week (you can probably tell), my grandma will be arriving on her sleigh on Christmas Eve, and I'll decorate my cake next week too! I'll make a post about my cake once it looks all fancy and less boring and maybe I'll even do a New Years Eve master post, if ya lucky!!

Anyways...

And a happy New Year!