It’s November, so I can officially start talking about Christmas! I’ve already blogged my guide to dairy-free Christmas drinks but today I want to talk about our plans for our first Christmas with Jude, ask for your tips on surviving the festive season with a little one and share an exciting giveaway
This post is an advertisement feature with Boots UK but all thoughts are my own.
I’ve teamed up with Boots (nothing says Christmas like a Boots gift set does it?) to chat about the festivities AND giveaway an amazing Soap and Glory Advent Calendar!
Our Plans with Jude
Christmas is always one of my favourite times of the year, but this one will be extra special because it’ll be Jude’s first Christmas (and I can finally have a glass of wine after being pregnant last year!) I’m so looking forward to it-although it’ll be very different to the ones spent before it. We’ve planned a Christmas eve meal out that my parents will come to; the plan is for them to take care of Jude so we can actually enjoy the meal-so we know we’ll get at least one Christmas dinner uninterrupted (well fingers crossed at least!). Then for the day itself, we’ll be splitting the time between my parents and the in-laws. It’ll be a bit of an upheaval for him as our in-laws live a good hours drive away and when we visited last weekend, his sleep was awful as he wasn’t used to living there. I’d really love any tips you have about routines during the festive period: do you stick to a routine religiously or do you just relax it and accept it might get a bit frantic?
Our Christmas Dinner
For the day itself, we’ll be doing something quite unfestive actually: we’ll be going for a curry! It’s a bit of a family tradition to do this on Christmas day (for some reason!) and although at first, I thought it might be strange to spend Jude’s first Christmas tucking into a korma, the thought of cooking a full meal whilst entertaining him didn’t sound fun. I’ll definitely still be stocking up on all the trimmings for the days leading up to and after Christmas-I’m pretty sure it’s the rule you have to eat roast potatoes and turkey up until January 1st don’t you? We definitely do (I thank god everyday potatoes are gluten-free) and I’m not alone; Boots’ survey into our festive eating habits found that 69% of people reckon roast potatoes are essential Christmas dinner grub. Perhaps I can ask for roast Bombay potatoes instead? Jude is doing really well with his weaning so I am hoping he’ll be able to have a little roast with all the trimmings.
What to buy?
Since having Jude and getting older, I find so much more joy in giving presents (I guess I really a mom!) and I’m not alone- the Boots survey found that 57% of people seeing the person’s face when opening a gift is their favourite part. Whilst Jude might not know exactly what is going on; seeing him light up and smile at a new toy is the best feeling ever. However, we’ve asked the family not to get too carried away: we really don’t have space for a huge amount of toys and his wardrobe is stuffed with clothes.
As I mentioned in my plastic-free essentials blog post, I really am trying to cut down on plastic where possible. I was quite surprised to see that 59% of people actually consider sustainability when buying presents now. This is amazing. Sustainability doesn’t have to be just buying from sustainable brands but simply choosing your gifts carefully.
There is no way I’ll be braving the shops with a pushchair this year-I’ll be doing everything online to avoid all the stress. Boots handily have their online shop divided into Christmas Gifts for Her and Christmas Gifts for Him which saves lots of scroll time. Just a quick tip, if you’re looking for a gift to bring some mindfulness and calm into someone’s life this Christmas (or into your own-I definitely need some!), there’s a really good range of gift sets such as the Tisserant Aromatherapy range (Boots kindly gifted me their ‘Time to Unwind’ set and it’s perfect for forcing yourself to take some me-time. It contains a destress spray, rollerball, and candle) and Fearne’s Happy range. I love Fearne’s clothes at Boots for Jude and her ‘Find Your Happy Place’ bundle looks amazing-it’s half price currently too!
GIVEAWAY: WIN A SOAP AND GLORY ADVENT CALENDAR
The Soap and Glory advent calendar is legendary so I’m so excited to be giving my lovely readers a chance to win one this Christmas. To enter, just log into the Rafflecopter widget below (this stores your contact email safely so I can pick and contact the winner) and then answer the question that pops up by leaving a blog comment below. You’ll need to leave a blog comment AND use rafflecopter to be eligible
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes! Great blog, I’ll be doing first Christmas with a baby next year so i’ll have to take another look at this in 2020!
Roast Potatoes !
Roast potatoes! Nomssssss.
Roast potatoes!
Fantastic blog. Really enjoyed reading it
Roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes (and I fully agree) 🙂
Roast potatoes Yorkshire puds
Roast Potatoes.
To be fair I dont think any roast dinner is really a roast dinner without roast potatoes but they especially need to be on the plate for christmas day!
roast potatoes – and I have to agree! would love to win
Roast Potatoes – what else!
Roast potatoes of course 🙂 I too am soo happy they are gluten dairy and anything else free 🙂 love a good crispy one xx
I’ve read somewhere the majority of people can’t do a Christmas dinner without pigs in blanket and roast potatoes but I can’t remember with absolute certainty which one was the 69%.
Btw I love the mummy’s little elf baby grow
Roast potatoes! So yummy
Fab blog!
Roast potatoes
Definitely has to be roast potatoes! Can’t be a Christmas dinner without them x
Roast Potatoes!
Stuffing!! 🙂
Roast potatoes
its roast potatoes, yum
Roast potatoes? They clearly didn’t ask me because I would have said cabbage!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Turkey
Roast potatoes.
Roast Potatoes
roast potatoes
I’d say crispy roast potatoes!
roast potatoes – Found at https://www.competitiondatabase.co.uk
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
The answer is roast potatoes
Roast potatoes!
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes!! Super yummy
Roast potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
Potatoes
Roast potatoes. Would definetely have to agree with that too.
Roast potatoes
ROAST POTATOES
Roast potatoes
roast turkey
Roast Potatoes, they definitely are what makes a dinner
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
roast potatoes thank u for the giveaway very nice of you great blog
Roast potatoes, and I quite agree!
Roast potatoes are the most essential food to a christmas dinner according to 69% of people ! Quite right too 🙂
roast potatoes
Potatoes and I totally agree but then I love potatoes at any time of the year!!!
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Hello, the answer is roast potatoes, they are so nice!
Roast potatoes, I definitely couldn’t have a roast without them
Roast potatoes, love a tasty Christmas dinner
Roast potatoes, I’m surprised it isn’t higher than 69%!
Pigs in blankets are essential to my Christmas dinner!
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes are essential. I also won’t be going out in December, shopping all online!
Roast potatoes! I would definitely say it is not Christmas dinner without a good roast tater!
I’m guessing that 69% said turkey.
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes my favourite! Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside yum yum
Roast potatoes (couldn’t agree more)
Roast potatoes! he’s getting so big, hope you have a lovely christmas
Roast Potatoes
Roast Potatoes, no roast is complete without them especially on the most special roast dinner of the year.
Roast Potatoes, no roast is complete without them especially Christmas day.
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes- you’ve got to have them!!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes. Great blog which I enjoyed reading 🙂
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Rroast potatoes
Roast Potatoes!!
Roasties. Roast potatoes 🙂
Roast potatoes 🙂
Roast Potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes x
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
The answer is roast pototoes.
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes.
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes – and would have to agree!
Roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes! I’d have to agree with them.
Roast poatoes
Roast potato but Bombay Potato sounds just as nice to me! Hope you all have a wonderful first Christmas together. My advice, take it as it comes and enjoy every minute. Don’t be afraid to ask for a helping hand and kick back so you can enjoy the festive season too.
Roast potatoes. I absolutely love them!
agreeably roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Turkey
roast potatoes xxx yummy
Roast Potatoes ( Apple Sauce in my House)
Roast Potatoes
I would say roast potatoes – because that is my No 1 essential for Christmas dinner, or any roast dinner 😀
Roast potatoes yum
Roast potatoes, definately the essential part!
good old roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes, Yummy!!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes, although I would have said “Pigs in Blankets” otherwise its just a normal Sunday Lunch
Roast Potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes – yum 🙂
Roast Potatoes!
Roast potatoes, I love my sprouts
Roast potatoes
I have to agree about roast potatoes! But I do also love my sprouts!! It’s so exciting that it’s Jude’s first Christmas – enjoy it!
Roast Potatoes!
roast potato
Roast Potatoes
roast potatoes apparently
Roast potatoes, although my family insist on having mashed potato too x
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
roast potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes YUM! Fantastic Blog!
Roast potatoes – so simple, yet so hard to get just right!
Roast potatoes!!!!!! nice and crispy for me
Roast Potatoes
roast potatoes
Tried to answer the question, but my tech skills failed me. Yes, the answer is roast potatoes. I can only dream of them. Thanks to my crohns, I have not had them probably in over 20 years. I really can only watch in envy as the rest of the family tuck in. And no, you don’t what to know what I have for Xmas dinner..
Roast potatoes are my fave part, but it’s a toss up between these and pigs in blankets! I feel like everyone goes crazy for them 🙂
Roast Potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes x
Roast Poatoes & I agree!
Roast potatoes.
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes…and they would be right!!
Roast potatoes, although I have to say I’m one of the other 31%. I think they take up space on the plate that would be far better filled with the other goodies!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes (surprising).
Roast Potatoes. I would agree to certain extent however I would have thought it would have been Pigs in Blankets.
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes, don’t like them myself….
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes. Personally I’d have said pigs in blankets x
Got to be the humble yet fabulous roast potato. (But I think every last bit of Christmas dinner is essential!)
Roast potatoes (and I completely agree, followed by roast parsnips!)
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Has to be roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes – I have to say I’m surprised its not higher!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
roast potatoes! who doesnt need them on a dinner
Roast Potatoes!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes. Personally I think Sprouts…
Of course its roast potatoes
Has to be roast potatoes!
Roast Potatoes! This would be a real treat.
Roast potatoes.
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes.
The roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes !
Roast Potatoes (Yum!)
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes! I totally agree with this – they’re the best bit 🙂
Roast potatoes, my favourite!
Sprouts
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes!
Scrumptious Roast Potatoes 🙂
Roast potatoes
My guess is Roast Potatoes x
roast potatoes and I can see why I love them there my fav part as well as pigs in blankets!
Roast potatoes ( which I would have to agree with )
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes, and they’re not wrong!!! Cover them in gravy and omg. I think I could eat them everyday!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes – definitely my favourite too!
Roast potatoes – definitely my favourite part!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes, although personally my favourite Christmas food is Christmas pudding. No-one else in the family likes it, so I have it pretty much to myself.
Roast potatoes
It’s Roast Potatoes. But this would be my second choice, first would be Brussel sprouts for me!
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes but you can’t have Christmas dinner without pigs in blankets
The Turkey, I think
Roast potatoes , I do agree as do most of the family , apart from grandpa who’s always loved the turkey.
Roast potatoes
Roast potatos
it’s got to be ham cooked in orange juice and honey for my family x
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes 🙂
Roast Potatoes!
Roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes – and correct they are too!
Roast Potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast Potatoes 🙂
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes, and I totally agree. We are celebrating our first grandchild’s first Christmas this year, it is going to be so special.
Cripsy roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes ( and I agree)
Roast potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
roast potatoes
I have to agree…roast potatoes!!!
roast potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes but I prefer mashed.
Roast potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes ❤
That would be Roast Potatoes, yummy!
Has to be roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Its roast potatoes! Though for me it has to be pigs in blankets 🙂
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes. Such a cute blog and great prize x
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes although I would say sprouts personally.
roast potatos
Roast Potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
It’s got to be roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes, thank u x
Roast Potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes. I agree. Love them.
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes!
Roast Potatoes
The answer is roast potatoes. I have to say I don’t disagree!
Roast potatoes! My husband could eat the whole tray to himself
Roast potatoes
roast potatos
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes.
Roast Potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes.
Roast potatoes
The most essential food to a christmas dinner according to 69% of people is roast potatoes.
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes – crisp and divine, we do adore, that’s why I couldn’t agree more!
Roast Potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes!
Roast Potatoes
Roast Potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes but I prefer mash myself. Turkey is my essential.
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes of course, because any meal that calls itself a roast dinner HAS to have roast potatoes
Roast potatoes. ( although my choice would be the turkey)
Roast Potatoes 🙂
Delicious roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes. I love mine crispy
(Crispy) Roast potatoes. Mmmlicious.
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes – I do love a roast potato
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes.
Roast potatoes Yummy
roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes – and we love ours to be just right
Roast potatoes
roast potatos
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes – love a roast potato anytime!
Roast potatoes! And who can disagree. Absolutely gorgeous ♥
Roast potatoes and quite right too
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes.
Roast Potatoes
roast potatoes
ROAST POTATOES
Roasties!
Roast potatoes
roast potatoes ♥
Has to be roast potatoes.
Roast Potatoes!!
Roast Potatoes!
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes! It wouldn’t be Christmas dinner without them!
Rost potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes – I have to agree as well. Love roasties and have them quite a bit as they’re not just for Christmas you know lol.
Roast Potatoes, and I must say that I have to agree. After all, what’s a Christmas Dinner without Roast Potatoes
Roast Potatoes
roast potatoes
ROAST POTATOES ♥️
Yummy, scrummy roast potatoes!!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes! wouldn’t be a roast without them!
Roast Potatoes!! Yummmmm
Roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Cruncy Roast Potatoes
roast potatoes
For me it would have to be roast potatoes, so I am going to go for that!
Roast potatoes and rightly so!
Roast potatoes
Turkey
Roast Potatoes – and I totally agree.
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes!
I’d have to say roast potatoes xx
Roast potatoes x
Roast Potatoes!
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes – my favourite too xxx
Roast potatoes
I believe the answer is roast potatoes. They are so tasty I’m not surprised.
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes my lot love them
Nice and fluffy and crunchy Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
The most popular food can only be the, what I call, roast potato. Such Fun! Bare with, Miranda fan here. But that’s only because it would be ruuuuude to go straight to the pudding! Ooh! That’s just between us (wink).
69% SAY ROAST POTATOES ARE THE CHRISTMAS DINNER ESSENTIAL
Roast potatoes.
Roast Potatoes
My favourite too Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes :o)
Delicious Roast Potatoes!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes (roast tatties up here in Scotland)
roast potatoes
I would say roast potatoes or some form of potato!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
The 69% go the roast potatoes
But for the roast potatoes to work, as a Christmas dish Duck, á L’orange is essential. But that’s just me.
Roast potatoes…..delicious but who knew?!? Bring on the sprouts I say x
Has to be roast potatoes, am surprised it isn’t an even higher percentage.
Roast potatoes…..yum yum x
Roast potatoes. However I say they’re an essential for every day….even at breakfast ha ha
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes!
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes but I strongly disagree! It’s gotta be sprouts!!
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes!!
Roast potatoes!
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes.
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes!!
Roast potatoes….. which I do agree, however, I think any item missing from my Christmas dinner plate would be a crying shame lol
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes – and they are all right!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes.
Roasr potatoes.
Roast Potatoes – they’re my fave too
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes
Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes
delicious roast potatoes
Roast potatoes. Yummy!
Roast potatoes
Roast potatoes