The Christmas Tag

I can't lie - I am not a massively festive person. I'm like Scrooge / a miserable old hag 365 days of the year; Christmas Day being no exception. This is one of the main reasons I haven't got involved with Blogmas - that and the fact I can't even get my sh*t together to post once a week at the moment, let alone every frigging day. Fair play to every single one of you giving Blogmas / Vlogmas a good go; I've read some fab posts this week and I do intend to do a LOT more blog catching up over the weekend, so leave me your links below :}

Anyway, this being said - I'd like to change my old, miserable mindset this year and get into Christmas a bit more. That's why, when I spotted this tag on the gorgeous Aisling's Beauty Bytes blog, I thought I'd give it a go; so you can learn a little more about me and my Christmas Traditions [other than knowing that I'm excessively cynical and get most of my stuff from Poundland.]

What is your favourite Christmas Movie/s?

Elf, Santa Clause the Movie, Love Actually, ANYTHING Disney, Christmas Carol or any of the films that are on TV around Christmas; normally stuff like my mate Harry Potter [I keep dreaming that I am Harry Potter. Bit of an odd one seeing as I am 100% muggle and also, a bird.]

Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Christmas morning, which proves difficult as I am not a morning person. Christmas or not, I prefer sleep. Occasionally, I'll open some small presents the night before [like, ones friends have given me in work etc] but I save most of them for the actual day. I'd say we normally open presents around 10:30am - starting with myself and my sister, then my Dad, then my Mum and then the cat opens hers. And Grandma comes round for lunch around 12pm.

Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

I don't think I have one specific memory that stands out more than others. Maybe when I was about 6 and I got downstairs to find a dolls house wrapped up under the tree and it rocked my frilly little socks. The food always sticks in my mind. The crappy things you get in the crackers [not even messing, my Mum got something that looked like a cock ring in her cracker last year. Couldn't. Even] always stick in my mind. Funny things that my Grandma says. To be honest, bad health and anxiety have prevented me from enjoying Christmas that much for the past 3-4 years; but I'm hoping to have a better time this year. I love how much my Mum loves Christmas.

Favourite festive food?

ALL THE FOODS. OH MY LIFE. IT'S 11:45PM AND MY MOUTH IS SALIVATING AT THE THOUGHT OF ROAST PARSNIPS AND ROASTIES. I love Turkey, stuffing, roast parsnips and lovely, crunchy roast potatoes; coated with a dashing of gravy.

Favourite Christmas gift?

Although I always love my Christmas gifts, Christmas for me is never really about the gifts as much as it is about spending time with family. I've never been unhappy with the gifts I've received; but because I'm a fossil now, I pick the majority of my gifts myself / give very specific Christmas Lists; so the element of surprise I had as a kid has gone. I don't think I could pick a specific gift out as my all time fave. Other than like, toys I had when I was a young'un - but still, it's hard to pick.

Favourite Christmas scent?

Chloe probably reminds me of Christmas the most. I asked for a bottle of it a couple of years ago; it reminds me of Christmas shopping with my Mum and festive nights out.

Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

We always have chocolate cake on Christmas Eve and watch something on TV together in the front room. As I live in a different city to my family, it's nice to all be together and cozy for one night; all sat around the tree with the lights flickering and the heating blasting.

What tops your tree?

A star.

As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

For at least the past 10 years of my life, I have been asking my Mum [and anyone who'll listen] to buy me a pet rabbit. I'M 27 NOW, MUM. PLZZZZZZZZZ? Sorry guys, that's as 'crazy, wild and extravagent' as I can muster. Other than that, I'd always ask for the latest Nokia as a teen. Never got one; until Argos reduced the Nokia 3330 in the summer sales and I was in there like swimwear.

What's the best part about Christmas for you?

Aside from the food and the fact I get two weeks off work [hurrah!!!] it's lovely to spend time with family - and to see how happy everyone being together for a few days makes my Mum. I like the bustle of the shops, the generosity of people, the dark nights and the fact that Christmas precedes New Year; one of my very favouritest occasions. OH and Christmas songs; waking up to the The Pogues playing on the radio and getting chills down my spine when I've had about 3243 Jagerbombs and a Christmas song comes on when I'm out. How I wish I was 19, wearing my tinsel headband and not giving one solitary sh*t again!!

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So there we have it - the Christmas Tag. What did you think of my answers? Do you do anything similar / majorly different to me? Do you have any tips to make me feel more festive and less like a miserable old bag? Have you done this tag? Leave links, comments etc in the box below :}