IT'S CHRISTMAS!

Christmas is literally my most favourite time of year, in fact I wish it could be Christmas all year long. Maybe I should have been an Elf. For all you Scrooges out there this post is definitely not for you. 

I genuinely think that this is one of the best Christmases I've ever had which is why three days later I'm still struggling to realise that Christmas is in fact- over. *cries endlessly*

I think the whole build-up to the event makes it the most exciting time of year. The buying of the presents, the wrapping (although if you ask anyone that has had a gift from me they will tell you how truly bloody awful I am at it), watching Christmas films, decorating your house and Christmas tree, the food (oh lord the food!) and everything inbetween, it's all so wonderful, I think that's the only word I could use to describe it because Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year. 

Each year I realise more and more just how awful my wrapping skills are but with the help of endless cups of tea, Zoella and Niomi's vlogs and lots of Christmas songs I was good to go. I sat for hours at a time wrapping away and I could honestly do it for a living because I find it so much fun. I'd make absolutely NOTHING money-wise because my wrapping presentation is horrific at the best of times. Even my five year old sister said to me "Hannah, your wrapping is really hard"- a five year old's translation of "Hannah, your wrapping is quite frankly- a load of shite."

This year I found this super cute wrapping paper covered in Santas, little penguins, snowmen and reindeers. It was an absolute bargain from ASDA which was perfect for students like me and it lasted 35 presents!!!

Another of my favourite things about Christmas are the nights out. I work in a restaurant part-time and I'm in my third year at Uni and have consequently become incredibly boring. I've barely had any nights out so far this year but in the run up to Christmas they always seem more exciting- everyone is in the run up to finishing their work and everyone's spirits are high. On this particular night out we went into Fiction in Hanley at the end of our night and I stole my friend Soph a Santa hat. And of course alike to the end of every night out we went on the search for chicken. 

Christmas work-dress up! You just can't beat it! Especially when you work in a hot restaurant and have to wear nine thousand layers of clothing on a normal basis. This year I went as Santa's little helper and my manager was a Christmas tree! It's always fun for the children to see us wearing these outfits as it gets them even more excited for the big day.

Christmas Eve is even more magical- especially for kids because Santa's coming! Everything feels that little bit more magical. Christmas Eve always feels bitterly cold so you can wrap up in all your wintery goods or if you're staying in you can snuggle up in a heap of blankets and watch Christmas films. This year me and Ant watched 'It's a wonderful life' for the first time and if you haven't already seen it, you MUST. We spent our Christmas Eve seeing Ant's little girl Darcey- we took our bags of presents round and let her run wild with opening them and playing with her toys. She is the cutest, most hilarious little girl and made my morning running round the room giggling with her inflatable Olaf. It's always so exciting seeing children's faces at Christmastime.

This was the first Christmas me and Ant have spent together, last year he was working in Stoke and I was with my family in Manchester. After we had seen Darcey on Christmas Eve we got the train to Manchester, got ourselves a Christmas Starbucks to keep us warm and then went home to my family. I love going to my mom's house at Christmas, I love all the decorations being out because a lot of them we've had since I was a little girl and it brings back a lot of lovely memories.  

For the last few years we've had an annual Christmas Eve meal at Frankie and Benny's, this is because whilst living in Manchester I would work on Christmas Eve and it would be their way of getting to see me. For the last couple of years I've been able to join them for the meal and It's made Christmas Eve much more exciting.

We are so lucky that my mom and stepdad always make sure our living room is filled with sacks of presents for us every Christmas morning.

On Christmas Day we usually wake up between eight and nine and go downstairs, make a brew and then open our presents. Because we open presents individually so we can all have a nosey it takes quite a long time so we usually have a break inbetween and have a bacon butty, yummy!

Mine and Ant's joint present. I couldn't have put it better myself.

After we've opened our presents we all go put on our Christmas Day outfits, this year I made a little more effort and attempted winged eyeliner again! This time it didn't go as terribly and I also wore my 'GOSH' lipstick- this shade is called 'Night kiss' and you can buy it from Superdrug, it was a bit of a panic buy a while back because I'm so unsure on make-up. It's quite a dark purpley-red colour but it really stands out and was perfect for winter make-up.

 After we've put on our Christmas Day outfits my Nan usually visits for present exchanges and a natter and then later my stepbrother Kieran joins us. My Nanna and Grandad come about 4ish and give us more presents (we are incredibly lucky!) and then we eat. THE FOOD. Let me tell you- there is nothing more tough to beat than a plate piled high with meats, carbs and a mountain of gravy (if you're like me) but I will not admit defeat on Christmas Day and I always end up looking like I'm nine months pregnant with a food baby.

I am so glad Ant joined my family this year for Christmas, it made it all the more exciting and he bought me the most thoughtful gifts. I am so blessed to have him.

I've been begging my mom and boyfriend to get me a pug for god knows how long now and of course they tell me no. Which is a bit mean but pugs aren't the cheapest thing to ask for...so instead of this my mom bought me these pug PJ's this year because who doesn't like getting pyjamas at Christmas? These are part of Primark's new nightwear collection and if you're one of those people that looks down their nose at Primark then you need to get yourself back in there and grab yourself a pair of these bad boys. I never want to wear another pair of pyjamas again. 

My mom took these photos of me and Ant at the table on Christmas day and I absolutely love them. 

My Grandad Jim looks so grumpy on this! He turned up on Christmas Day in a bright Christmas jumper and I've never seen him wear anything like it so it really made my day.

On Christmas Day we have country vegetable soup and warm bread rolls for starter, the traditional Christmas Dinner for main and then for dessert we can choose from my Nanna's homemade syrup sponge with custard or Christmas pud. I obviously opted for my Nanna's homemade syrup sponge because no dessert on earth can beat it. My Nanna is the most amazing cake maker and it does no favours for someone with a sweet tooth like me! YUMMY.

After eating on Christmas Day we roll ourselves into the living room for all the Christmas specials in our Christmas PJ's with Christmas chocolates. We also have a family tradition called 'Fairy on the Christmas tree' where we get out a teeny Christmas tree with a fairy on top and we hold hands and sing our song round it and each time the song ends whoever is stood in front of the fairy can take their present and sit down. I was mortified to show Ant this Christmas tradition but it's hilarious and really cute too. How many times can I write Christmas in this blog? 

Boxing Day- this year we had my stepdad's family round for a buffet (yes more food) and I had to take a sterotypical photo of the Prosecco bottle because who doesn't love a glass of Prosecco at Christmastime?

Sadly the day after boxing day it was time to head home, we packed up my stepdad's car and drove back to Stoke ready for work. I was a sad little Elf.

Now that Christmas is over I don't really know what to do until I go to NYC in a week's time so until then I will light this Wax Lyrical 'Mince Pies' scented candle that someone got me for Christmas and I will continue to live in daydream Elf land. Do not disturb. 

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!