Giving the Gift of Christmas with Boots

This post is an advertisement feature with Boots UK but all thoughts are my own. There is also a cheeky competition at the end of this post to win a luxury gift set from Boots, so keep on reading! 

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Well, it is a fact that almost a quarter of Brits start this task back in August! Think about that, a lovely summer’s day and you’re picking out woolly socks for your dear Auntie. I have maybe got myself about half way into mine, and with the help of Boots, have created a post all around the things I love about Christmas (and of course the difficulties!) Let’s discuss the 5 ways to prepare for Christmas.

1. Plans for the big day

Will you be dining with your family or your friends? I alternate between my family and my husbands. This is ever more important now that we have Jasper. I try to make sure we know whose family we’re going to months before and make plans with whoever else I’d like to spend Christmas with throughout the day. So a typical Christmas day for me looks like this:

Morning: Breakfast and Christmas Present opening at my Parent’s house

Lunch: Christmas Dinner at my Family

Afternoon: Drive over to Joe’s family for some Christmas film watching and to open gifts again there

Evening: Back to ours for a Hot Chocolate by the fire (and to change into our EVER-stretchy trousers after a day of eating)

2. Planning the menu

When it comes to the Christmas menu, it’s usually left to whoever is in charge of the big day. When we hosted Christmas we decided to avoid the Turkey (it’s too dry for my liking) and get a large Roast Chicken, joint of beef and let people choose what they wanted. I’ll be honest, most people go for the roast potatoes first (did you know that from the Boots gifting survey it was discovered that roast potatoes are the most essential to Christmas dinner?) Makes a lot of sense that these delicious, warming, somewhat stodgy products take pride of place over the brussels sprouts.

3. Create your wishlist

When it comes to Christmas, I’m that difficult person. Included in that ever so irritating static of the 1/3 of people who think they are difficult to buy for – stating they have everything they need. You’re very welcome. Therefore to make things easier, I often take to social media and the internet to create a wish list. This wish list can feature any small things to bigger items that I think would be nice gifts or just generally useful for me. I fall spot on within the infographic displayed that creating a wish list peaks at 25-34. I’m 26 (I think?) and I have made wish lists for the past 2 years.

 

 

4. Getting the gifts

When it comes to gifts, who’s gift do you sit and think about the most? There’s no better feeling than getting someone that super thoughtful gift and seeing their face as they open it.

I generally take to the internet, googling Christmas Gifts For Her and Christmas Gifts For Him in a hope that someone has done the hard work for me for most people. However, there are a few people I spend much longer on. My immediate family, my husband, and my son. They all take a little bit of extra care. My mum is particularly difficult. How do you offer a gift to the person who gives you unconditional love and support, helps you with your child when you’re having a rough day and remains your number 1 cheerleader throughout everything? I adore my mum. Yet I HATE buying a gift for her. It’s just hard haha. Staple gifts include chocolates, fragrances, booze, socks, pjs and hampers (Boots Gifting Survey)… but I want to get her something even more thoughtful. Can I get her all of the above?

5. Prepping the stockings

Do you have stockings hung by the fire? I absolutely love this part of Christmas. I pop little toys, chocolate coins, and treats in them throughout November and await my husband’s face when he realises there’s also the tradition of an orange in there. My son hasn’t quite got to grips with this concept yet and tries to cosy up inside his, whatever makes him happy I guess.

6. Thinking green when it comes to Christmas

Did you know you can get recyclable wrapping paper now? Yes, for years wrapping paper has filled up landfill so it’s important we consider then when doing our shopping. This is something that can also be put into action when it comes to gifts. The Boots Christmas survey showed that 59% of British shoppers consider sustainability when purchasing Christmas gifts and it’s no surprise that in an age that this is becoming ever more prevalent that this is now an important factor.

 

 

Tell me, what’s your favourite thing about Christmas? What do you love preparing for and how do you get into the spirit?

Violet x

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Terms & Conditions of the Competition are as follows:

1.            There is 1 prize of one Soap and Glory Miracle on 24th Street Advent Calendar (worth £42). The prize is non-transferable and no cash alternative is offered

2.            Open to UK residents aged 18 and over, excluding employees and relatives of Violet Glenton and Boots UK

3.            Closing date for entries is 19th November 2019 midnight. 

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