My Traditional Christmas

The Christmas season brings with it lots of festive traditions but I don't think there is such a thing as a traditional Christmas anymore.

There used to be the 12 days of Christmas and if I am honest, I am not even sure when that is supposed to start. A traditional Christmas dinner is Turkey but I've heard people having things like salmon instead.

People nowadays take parts of some traditions and mix it up with some of their own and we are no different in the Hazelden household, so I thought I would share with you a little bit of what a traditional Christmas is like in our home.

1. Start watching Christmas films on the 1st of November.

You probably all think I'm mad but I love a good festive film and seen as I buy atleast one new one every year, we have alot to watch and you can't watch them just once you know!!

2. Decorations go up on the 1st of December.

I like to make the most of having our decorations up, 12 days to me just isn't long enough and I think having the Christmas tree, the paper chains, the tinsel etc up makes the place feel more cosy.

3. Change my ringtone to something festive

Every year on the 1st December I pick a new Christmas ringtone, this year I have Elton John's Step into Christmas. Cheers me up everytime my phone rings :)

4. When wrapping presents Christmas music must be played and a little mulled wine helps too.

If you are like me, you probably find the idea of wrapping a mound of presents a rather daunting task. I admit I am awful at doing it, you would definitely be able to pick put which present was from me and no it isn't because I'm a tad tipsy from a glass or three of wine whilst attempting to wrap ;)

5. One sweet can be eaten Christmas eve.

I always see alot of people saying that they have bought the sweets for Christmas only to go and eat them all and need to buy more before Christmas has even arrived. In our house the sweets get bought and hidden and do not under any circumstances get opened until Christmas eve, of course after that they don't last very long at all.

6. Read the Night Before Christmas to the children at bed time on Christmas eve.

Now this is a tradition I have carried on from when I was a little girl, my daddy always used to read it to me and it is something that I have carried on with my own children, thanks to my dad buying me my own copy when I moved out. My little brother can recite the whole book without even looking at it!!

7. Open stockings on the bed before we go downstairs Christmas morning.

When I was younger we didn't have stockings, we got one present at the end of our beds, I always felt like I was missing out somehow so even before my eldest daughter was born, I had bought her a stocking ready. The trouble is I always seem to buy too many stocking fillers as the stockings are normally overflowing with gifts.

8. Presents are left on the Christmas tree to open Boxing day.

We have what are cleverly called Christmas tree presents, see what I did there! There is one present for each member of the family that is placed on the tree and left there til boxing day, just makes the fesitivities last a bit longer.

So what is a traditional Christmas like in your house?

xxxx

Funky Giraffe Christmas Stocking Review

One of my favourite parts of Christmas day is sitting on my bed first thing in the morning with all my girls, rummaging through our stockings, finding lots of lovely goodies from Santa.

This year I needed to get a new stocking for Layla because last years one said first Christmas on it, seen as it is now her second, I didn't think it worked for this year :)

You may remember a while back, I reviewed some gorgeous bandana bibs from the lovely people at Funky Giraffe. Luckily for me, I have been given the opportunity to review one of their new Christmas stockings.

When it arrived I couldn't believe just how soft it was, it was lovely and thick, very quilted. In stunning bright red and green colours, just perfect for Christmas.

Ours came with a Christmas Tree motif designed on it and the added pom poms and tassels around the top of the stocking and the added patch details at the toes and heel were a really nice touch.

There are two other designs which you can choose from, a snowflake or a 1st Christmas one. Each one just as stunning as the one above.

What I really love the most about this stocking is that it is made to last. Other stockings that I have had in the past have been made of very thin material and if you put anything too heavy in them, then they end up ripping. 

I can see the Funky Giraffe Christmas stocking being used year after year. You can fill it from the tips of it toes, right up to the top, plenty of room for whatever stocking fillers you choose.

With a loop of ribbon already attached, it is ready to be hung wherever you choose, really wish I had a fireplace to hang ours above!!

This stocking costs just £8 with free postage, a bargain in my eyes for something that will be used for many Christmases to come. And for just £2 extra you can even have it personalised.

I honestly can't find anything negative to say about this stocking, I am now going to have to get one for each of my other girls now because I think it will be nice to have them all matching :)

Whilst on the topic of stockings, what do you fill your childrens stockings with??

xxxx

Disclaimer : This stocking was sent to me free of charge for reviewing purposes however all thoughts and opinions are my own.