How will you treat yourself this christmas? What little things make it for You (and not the kids!!)

[ItsAllBlahBlahBlah]

Curious really. I have two boys 4 and nearly 2yo. Every single thing is orientated towards them for Christmas which is of course absolutely right. But. This is the first year in ~5 years I haven't had to restrict drinking, eating, had god awful sleep due to being pregnant, breastfeeding or having a tiny baby cosleeping in bed with me.that or being just so exhausted I go to bed at the same time as them 😂 not complaining as I know I am very fortunate, but I feel its time for me to get a break and bit of ME back.

So. I'm adamant that this year when the kids are asleep, out will come my treats. So far... . Drum roll. I have brought myself a box of m&s biscuits, some m&s truffles and some green and blacks chocolate. I also have the Holland and barret christmas beauty box that was in the clearance, from the bargain thread a while back. I've brought DH uno flip and Blokus for us to play together too like the old days! Not alot in terms of glamour perhaps but I'm SO excited none the less. I love my kids to death but I'm really looking forward to getting some time to enjoy grown up bits.

Anyone else want to share?

A bottle of fizz for Christmas day? It's one of my extravagances to drink while I cook the dinner (not excessively obviously, and always shared but bought for me!)

I buy a nice box of chocolates to eat in the evenings through December.

I wrap presents while watching Christmas films.

I open the champagne right after breakfast on Christmas Day

Oh and I also have white company winter oil in my diffuser all through December

Nice Christmas plants and flowers

@lavenderlemon thank you for that tip! I’ve always been put off trying Charlotte Tilbury as it’s so expensive but if it’s included in the price of the makeover that’s the perfect opportunity!

Great idea for a thread!

@DentalWorries I do the same! Dress usually Ted Baker if they have any nice ones, MAC makeup and get my hair done. Will also get a microbox cocktail set and some Christmas colins and I'm happy.

I've got myself the M&S advent calendar, so nice to get a little treat each day in December. My birthday is in December too so Dh and I have booked a posh spa hotel and I will be getting hair and nails done before hand. I'm the cook so the food and drink is all how I want it.
When I wrap presents I will do it with a nice Christmas film on, not such a chore that way. I love all the crap ones on Netflix!

Beautiful new jimjams, Christmas scented candle, Lush bubble bath and making sure my Amazon wish list is up to date with all the books I want! I make sure I have all the food I love but don’t have the rest of the year (meringues, raspberries, florentines, smoked salmon, butter, cream, lots of cheese).

I'm opening the Christmas Baileys as soon as this baby is out of me.

Gonzalez Byass Noe 30 Year Old Pedro Ximenez Sherry

I am not really a sherry fan but this tastes just like liquid raisins....

I've ordered a bunch of holly sprigs that I'm going to have in a vase all over December. It'll make me smile. And I'm loading a massive vase with pine cones, dried oranges, cinnamon sticks etc as a table centre piece. It'll just make me happy.

@ItsAllBlahBlahBlah

God I havent read a book in years....I need some recommendations for something festive now!

Nigel Slater’s Christmas Chronicles is a fantastic seasonal read. We’re doing a read-along which officially starts today but if you order the book now you could hop on to the thread if that appeals - we’re going to read, discuss, reminisce, try recipes and generally just enjoy every bit of autumn/winter leading up to Christmas. 🎄🎄🎄

Read-along Thread

After the dc go to bed on Christmas Eve dh and I have cheese and biscuits and a glass of port while watching the old Christmas ghost stories on BBC. It's one of my favourite parts of Christmas as it's our time to relax after all the prep and all the excitement is still to come

Ahh @HippyChickMama your post reminded me about the Call the Midwife Christmas special. I always record it to watch on Boxing Day as I never get to hear it properly when we’ve got a houseful on Christmas Day.

I love the molton brown christmas hand soap.
And this year I'll buy a christmassy candle I think, prob white co.

This is a great thread, it's easy to get lost in the whole 'kid thing' at Christmas when they're little. Mine are 20 now and for the last couple of years it's been lovely trying out new cocktail recipes with them over Christmas. A big hit last year was baileys with a dash of vanilla vodka, with coffee ice cubes.

Chocolate covered figs.

Smoked salmon.

Port.

A new book.

My absolute favourite thing is a carol service with lots of singing. Having obviously been impossible last year, I'm really hoping that they can go ahead this year.

Great idea for a thread!

Going to a salon for a Christmas manicure and possibly a sneaky day/half day off to relax and watch Christmas films home alone

@JumperandJacket

My absolute favourite thing is a carol service with lots of singing. Having obviously been impossible last year, I'm really hoping that they can go ahead this year.

Me too! I’m already finding out which ones are going to be happening in our town - brownie points if they offer mince pies afterwards

for Xmas eve I have Koppaberg pink, a new glass to drink out of, a new red velour playsuit to wear, a new hair wrap, something for the bedroom, and will get a DVD and some snacks too.

Haven't bought my stocking stuff yet, I'm not sure what to get.

oh I'm tempted to buy a crate of canned iced coffee that I like too because I saw it for sale at an online wholesalers and honestly thought they stopped making it.

JumperandJacket

My absolute favourite thing is a carol service with lots of singing. Having obviously been impossible last year, I'm really hoping that they can go ahead this year“

Lovely thought.

Some nice beauty products for a bit of a pampering sesh that I wouldnt necessarily be able to justify at any other time.

Lovely thread. And ridiculous as it sounds I tend to give it no thought whatsoever because it always seems to be about the DC!

But things I really enjoy at Christmas and in the run-up are Baileys, which I don’t drink at any other time of year so always feels lovely and indulgent…same with mulled wine! Catching up with friends because there’s always more effort to make sure we “must meet up before Christmas”! Having the fire going each evening, scented candles, some really good TV or films, dark chocolate coated brazil nuts, going late night shopping on my own and seeing Christmas lights, and having a Swiss cheese fondue on Christmas Eve, which I love more than Christmas lunch! I do love the smell of gingerbread too (and the taste!)

I don't believe Christmas is all about the kids. But whatever - Christmas itself is my treat. I just love spying the first Christmas magazines, not that they have anything new to say but it gets me in the mood. I also love thinking of a decorating theme, how I might dress the table, what to do with the front of the house...I never find it stressful or a chore.
It will just be me and my two teens on the day (my parents snd husband have passed away, my sisters live abroad, friends have their own families), but I'll take as much care with it all and the food. No Christmas happens without it all being tied in to memories of Christmas past. I remember the pink foil wrapping paper with santas on my mother used when I was about ten, the 'stray' guests my parents always invited, my father and I picking out just the right tree... my husband cooking a huge Boxing Day dinner for his family (mine came Christmas Day), the ritual watching of Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer, Polar Express and Love Actually... all the above are how I indulge myself. But this year I did buy some really gingerbread scented candles which are just delicious!