How To Do All The Things: Your Christmas Cheat Sheet

In a normal year, we would have weeks of bustling shopping centres, food organising and mulled wine under our belts, but the lockdown has meant we’re grinding into gear a little slower than usual. There are no carol singers on the high street, or Christmas parties and end of term nativities to remind us that the main event is drawing ever closer. And if you’re anything like us, the lockdown has been quite enough to deal with recently thanks very much! It’s time now though to emerge from under our blankets (if only for a short time) and smash through that to-do list so we can get back to our glass of wine in the bath. Yippee! From us to the ones doing it ALL, here are some tips that might just speed things up…

Please-Everyone Christmas Cookies

Nothing says ‘welcome’ and ‘I’m totally on top of things’ like a plate of homemade Christmas cookies. At times like these, we usually turn to the people who know best, so this year we’re looking to wellbeing goddesses and friends of NEOM Helmsley and Helmsley. Their ginger-spiced cookies are vegan, gluten-free and contain plenty of the good stuff as well as sweet, so they will please everyone. Make a BIG batch one afternoon, pop them in some Tupperware, and wheel them out every time you want to impress. No cutting necessary either – just mix, shape with your hands and bake.

See the recipe: https://hemsleyandhemsley.com/recipe/holiday-spiced-ginger-biscuits/

Scent Your Home

Switching up your home fragrance is such an easy way to instantly bring festive vibes. If you’re welcoming another household they will instantly feel at home and in a festive mood being welcomed by Happiness in the entranceway, the foody, spicy scent of Christmas Wish in the kitchen and of course Scent to Sleep dotted around upstairs to help everyone drop off, especially if you’ve got kids staying on Christmas Eve. A little pillow mist of hand balm by every bed is the perfect welcoming touch.

Panto in Your Living Room

It’s panto season, and the kids still need entertaining despite tier restrictions. If this is an essential part of your usual festive fun and you’re worried about doing without it, have no fear because theatre folks are some of the most enterprising around, and they have been VERY busy organising virtual and interactive experiences for everyone to enjoy at home. Cinderella Live promises to be as hilarious as the in-person version – think ‘boo’ and ‘cheer’ buttons and other interactive laughs. For a non-live but no-less-interactive version, try a choose your own adventure version of Snow White, aptly reworked for this year into Snow White in the Seven Months of Lockdown. Choose family-friendly or adult-only – perfect!

Time For You

Once all that’s organised, give yourself a HUGE pat on the back and pour that well-deserved wine. We highly recommend gifting yourself a spa night in or indulging in the self-care routine you’ve been putting off in favour of festive chores. Once you’re recharged, you can get back to spreading the GOOD VIBES.

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