Festive Frustrations (& Giveaway!)

I love Christmas. Who doesn't? I love the atmosphere, the way families come together and of course the presents and the food (if I don't put on at least 2 pounds this Christmas I don't know what's wrong with me).

However, as with everything, there are cons to go with the pros. While Christmas is spectacular when it all comes together, some of the events leading up to it can be disastrous if they don't go right. Here are some things that get my goat about the run-up to Christmas....

(P.S. at the end there'll be details on how to win my giveaway of a Christmas hamper!)

1: Overspending.

This winds me up. People seem to have forgotten what Christmas is really about (apart from eating as many Malteser Celebrations as you can find) and go mad spending money they don't have. It winds me up seeing someone whine about being broke and having to buy expensive presents and food. I believe there's always a way to do things cheap - a unique, thoughtful present seems a fair trade to me instead of an expensive piece of plastic or extravagant gifts. There's something not right about grown adults bating the heads of each other for an expensive toy (*cough* Frozen doll, anyone?)

2: People who crack out the Christmas jumper and the Michael Bublé CD as soon as Halloween is over.

People like this are akin to those ones who are always bubbly first thing in the morning. How is it possible to be this enthusiastic?! In fairness, I do wish I had that kind of festiveness - I don't get properly Christmassy until, like, Boxing Day. The minute the pumpkins get taken down (actually, the minute the Easter bunny leaves) apparently it's a sign to start fecking the Christmas trees up and playing every single Christmas carol until its exhausted. Side note - does Michael Bublé do reverse hibernation and only come out at Christmas?!

Coming close after that; people who are too damn organised. You know the ones, they have their shopping done in December the year before and the house is like something out of Elf as soon as is socially acceptable. They just make people like me (i.e. the lazier ones) look bad! On a serious note, though, I envy them for getting their shit together.

3: Wrapping presents.

On one hand, I love wrapping presents and if I had the motivation I'd wrap them in tissue paper with bows and bells attached and I'd be a renowned present wrapper. People would see me in the street and go 'There's your wan who wraps the presents!' But in reality, I end up with sellotape sticking my fingers together, in my hair, waxing my eyebrows, cutting my finger instead of the wrapping paper. I'm left with more cuts and scrapes after wrapping a present than I would have after completing Takeshi's Castle.

4: Those impossible to buy for people.

Basically, gift websites seem to think people fall into categories. All mums must like gardening and cooking. All dads must like World War movies and golf. All grandparents must like both those things and reading. And if they don't, you're buggered mate. Let me tell you, if I bought my mum anything 'mumsy' from one of those gift guides she'd look at me as if I'd sprouted another head and the only club my dad would enjoy is a club sandwich. Also notable: people who buy things for themselves in the run-up to Christmas. Y u make things awkward?!

5: The severe lack of Malteser Celebrations in the tin.

Slaps will be thrown whenever someone gets the last one. Need I say more?! Get outta here with your Roses and your Quality Street - gotta be the Malteser Celebrations.

Now for the bit you've probably all skipped down for: To celebrate getting 300 likes on my Facebook page (here) I'm giving away a Christmas hamper which includes biscuits, Christmas crackers, Philosophy shower gel, a festive stocking, bruschetta, chocolate and more goodies - it'd help a bit with some of the Christmas treats and presents! 

To enter all you have to do is head over to my Facebook page, like the page and like and share the post (here). Good luck!

Giveaway now over.