Christmas is such a magical time of the year and for me it is as much about the build up to Christmas Day as the big day itself. I’ve teamed up with Virgin Experience Days to give you a little insight into my Christmas traditions and why I love it so much.
Something wonderful is about to happen
Best present you’ve been gifted and gifted to someone else?
My best Christmas present has to be a handbag that Mr Boo bought for me a few years ago. We;d been into ton shopping and I had been cooing over this particular bag in a department store but never bought it. Come Christmas morning I unwrapped a large box and hidden inside was the bag I’d been looking at in the store. Unknown to me he had gone back and bought it for me.
The best present I’ve ever given is a funny one – whenever I ask my Mam what she would like for Christmas I get the response of ‘oh anything‘ or ‘whatever‘ which I always say that they have sold out of those so what else would you like?. One year she said socks so I bought a gift box and filled it with around 20 pairs of different socks for her. She’s never asked for socks again and we still laugh about it now.
Family Christmas traditions
We have a few family traditions over the festive period. One of the first things that we do is to visit our local garden centre to take a look at their Christmas lights display where we buy something new to add to our Christmas decoration display.
Our Christmas decorations go up on December 1st every year and each room is treated to its own Christmas tree although the one in the living room is exclusively decorated by myself as that is the one that any visitors will see.
I love new pyjama’s and love an excuse to buy new ones so we are all treated to a new pair on Christmas Eve to make sure we are looking our best for Santa’s visit.
Earliest Christmas memory
My earliest Christmas memory has to be when I was about four years old, My sister and I had opened all our presents and our dog Tootsie had been kept upstairs whilst we had unwrapped our toys. We piled up all the wrapping paper between the door and the sofa and watched with delight as he was let into the living room and was covered in all the wrapping paper. He jumped over, tore and chased the paper around the room for ages. It always brings a smile to my face when I think back to this.
Favourite Christmas movie
Without question my all time favourite Christmas movie is Santa Claus the movie (the one with Dudley Moore). I can remember my auntie bringing this over one Christmas to watch with my cousin and every year since I have watched this movie. Nowadays it is our Christmas Eve movie to enjoy as a family and I love that the next generation are enjoying it just as much as I do.
When does Christmas officially start for you?
Christmas officially starts for me once Roo and Tigger have celebrated their birthdays at the beginning of November. After which I feel I am able to enjoy the build up to Christmas with all the gift guides to flick through, listening to Christmas songs in the car on the school run and buying new wrapping paper and matching cards to ensure I am organised for the Christmas season.
Giveaway
To give you all in the Christmas spirit Virgin Experience Days are offering one lucky reader the chance to win a £150 voucher to spend on a weekend break.
To enter simply leave me a comment telling me about the best Christmas present you have ever received, then complete the Gleam widget below:
Virgin Experience Days £150 weekend break voucher
Disclosure: This post is in collaboration with Virgin Experience Days
267 Comments
the computer my hubby built for me
The best Christmas present I ever recieved is the news that this year hubby has two weeks off over Christmas (hes had to work the last two) so we get to have a perfect family Christmas and hubby gets a well deserved break from work x
An Ipad as I use it all the time and so handy
tickets to see Cats the musical!
a car last year
When I was 11 I got a sewing box and a silver thimble that I had to hunt for. Took me ages!!
Has to be that I was expecting our first child 🙂 it was so wonderful to break the news to the rest of the family on Christmas day 🙂
has to be my laptop 🙂
I can still remember being so chuffed with my hi fi when I was 13.
My son.. he was due on Christmas Eve, but was a little early and arrived on the 21st
Have had lots of lovely presents but the most thoughtful and personal one has to be the Dolls furniture when I was younger. Mom and dad made them, dad did the woodwork and mom upholstered the bed and vanity stool x
An Ice Hockey game – as a kid I played with it endlessly.
A necklace from my husband
A Sega Mega Drive – When I was 12, Sonic! eek!
best present I ever received was a photo album full of pics of my daughter as she has grown through the years 🙂
A computer in about 1983 – it was mind blowing!
My first motorbike which meant – transport, freedom fun! 🙂
An Ipad my husband bought for me a couple of years ago
A red bike when i was about 10, i wanted it so badly.
I always loved lego as a child so that whenever I got some new Lego it made me very happy
A go-kart when I was about 10 or 11. The biggest most expensive and fun present I ever received and satisfied my tomboy side
a homemade card from my son, the words were beautiful x
A Pogo stick when I was about 8. I spent all Christmas trying to learn how to bounce on it.
Xmas starts after my son’s birthday on Dec 1st
A little ’empty’ box – wrapped with lots of ribbons and a note saying DO NOT OPEN as filled with all my love…
My ipad, I love it
I remember being thrilled when i was about 9 and opening a huge parcel on Christmas morning, to find a typewriter! I must have been asking for one for about 6 months before!!
A wedding proposal!
My iPad last year.
A 5* holiday to Dubai
A suitcase full of meringues
Would have to be my tumble dryer. Not the greatest present but its what i needed.
Tootise & Widget, two rescue cats – purrfect!
A necklace with my childrens names
A puppy x
My kitten last year!
a holiday to New Zealand to visit my sister and her family who I hadn’t seen for three years
A top of the range laptop, I still have it now
A wooden play kitchen when I was 3! I can remember unwrapping it
Tickets to Take That
A photobook – it was so thoughtful!
I’m disabled & housebound & can’t drive any more or travel on public transport so I hadn’t been able to spend Christmas with my family for 15 years so my parents gave me £320 so that I could pay for a taxi to travel up North & spend a few days over the Christmas period with all my family. It was the best Christmas ever.
A beautiful piece of jewellery from my hubby
My best xmas present are the ones I least expect, the small, joke presents that make me smile.
A positive pregnancy test on Christmas morning 2010.
My first Christmas with my husband. We were very poor and I do not know how he did it but he bought me a beautiful wool green coat all wrapped up in tissue paper in a box. I loved that coat
The best Christmas present I received was the birth of my first child, a daughter who we named Diane.
A charm bracelet with a baby carriage charm, it was our first Xmas with our baby daughter Daphne x
A diamond necklace
A crystal with my daughter photograph carved inside it
One year my parents gave me a box, inside was a necklace, I was very happy with the necklace and my parents said keep looking, under the necklace was tissue paper and under that was a bundle of cash! Best gift ever!!
My best Christmas Present ever was a shoe box my Mum had filled with loads of bits of stationery, like inks and stamps, stickers, coloured pens and bits of paper……I spent hours and hours pretending to be a journalist. They might not have had much money, but that gift was just the best thing ever!
A pair of GHD hair straighteners! I have had frizzy uncontrollable hair all my life and now it is straight! The best present ever!!!
the best christmas present i ever got was a a playstation 3
a kitten when I was eight years old
A lovely long warm cardigan from my husband, I’m very hard to buy for, especially clothes, but he knew just what I’d like.
I got a niece and a goddaughter Christmas after another
X
My engagement ring! Best present ever! 🙂
Big box of lego when I was a child
a wireless vacuum cleaner
My parents gave me money for a car
My baby was due christmas eve. Luckily she came early, on the 18th. As she was born it was almost midnight & it was snowing outside. It really was special.
my ring, I actually received it last week! its worth waiting for!
My best ever Xmas present was my daughter who was born just before Christmas and has been a joy ever since
My best present has been a homemade scrap book of memories and photos from my daughter
My first pair of roller skates, I wore them out!
I still remember getting my first bike
Tickets to see the bodyguard at the theatre in London x
a treasure hunt which led to a new car
my grand-daughter was the best Christmas present but next to that in physical terms it would be a weekend away in Eire
A lovely bracelet
Lovely Diamond drop earrings
The year I got a kitten was brilliant!
My Kindle – so many fab books in one place!
a four leaf clover necklace bought by my hubby to be
A pearl necklace and matching earrings
MY FIRST BIKE
Has to be trip to New York from my hubby for the new year
Tickets to see my Idol at a concert for the first time ever and it was AMAZING
When I was about 15 I really wanted these Tank girl boots with metal bits on the front of them :/ They were about a hundred pound and as my parents had divorced and my mum was a single parent she didn’t have the funds for lavish gifts like that or so I thought, I am not sure how she managed to do it but I got the boots. It was so unexpected as I had not even asked for them as I knew it would be too much to ask 🙂 My mum rocks
my BMX when I was 7 loved it loved it x
I got pregnant at Christmas 2011!
My favourite Christmas present has been an engagement ring from my now husband 🙂
Last Christmas day I found out I was pregnant with my little boy and it was the best gift I had ever received x
are deposit for are house many years ago of my mum
Last year I got a zombie experience from my husband. Best present ever was great fun.
My favourite present was a letter on christmas morning from my sister and my niece saying they were coming to live back in the uk
My parents bought me a new car for my 18th birthday.x
My birthday is xmas day!
A hat handmade by my son
My best Christmas present was a snooker cue in a case. We were going through a snooker and pool phase and it was great to have my own, and it was made out of such beautiful wood!
my Swarovski crystal bracelet
my family at home with me
A shoe wardrobe for my Barbie doll (in 1970)
A lamp bought by my mum and dad .
My firefighter husband getting the day off work!
The earrings my daughter bought me, to replace the ones I had lost!
A coffee machine
a large doll when I was 5
My best present was a shiny new scooter, complete with brake pedal.
My Hubby bought me a locket the first Christmas we were together.
When I was a child and was given my first brand new bike.
When I was a kid I got a Raleigh Shopper bike … I loved it x
The blanket my mum made me
I love my swarovski watch from my boyfriend x
A charm bracelet with Mummy charms 🙂
A full size table tennis table from my then boyfriend. Unfortunately when we split up, I didn’t have the space for it so he kept it
a computer when I was a child, so unexpected
Hubby bought me a designer handbag and matching shoes
I love my big grey throw my brother bought me last year
Mine was a Steiff Teddy when I was 6. I kept him for nearly 40 years!
i got a laptop last year i love it x
My best Christmas present was an earring and necklace set that my husband bought me for our 1st Christmas together
It was a beautiful watch my husband gave my aboout 20 years ago. I still love it and wear it regularly
A necklace that my son saved up to buy me.
The first one that said to mummy on the gift tag !
My Very first mobile phone
A guitar when I was 12 🙂
When I was 10, I was given a keyboard which was definitely my best present.
A treasure chest full of lots of mini presents!
I got a lovely charm bracelet with special charms.
A photography course my OH got me last year.
A Microlight flying experience. Was the most exciting and amazing 1 hour I’ve ever had. Flew over the Cheshire countryside, including Peckforton Castle, Beeston Castle and Oulton Park.
A new car.x
My iPad. Best, most used present ever!
My first train set
My son – who was born a few days before Christmas but I got to take him home Christmas eve
A Tefal One Cup Kettle from my son several years ago x
my daughter Heather born at Christmas so sweet
A new bike! Up to then I had hand me downs from my sister & brother so couldn’t believe it xx
The best present I ever got was a skateboard when I was 9
Spending my first Christmas with my wife
Homemade lovely presents from my family!
My first ever PC
My kindle as I love reading
My necklace with three diamonds in… One for each of our angel babies xxx
ZX81 with a 16k RAM pack.
My mum made me a belle dress from beauty and the beast- best present ever!
my first camera at 13 as my mum knew i love photography
When I was 9 and I got a puppy.
A little sewing machine – I was thrilled with it!
The best Christmas present I have ever received was new laptop 🙂
isle of wight festival tickets
The best Christmas present I have ever received was my son. Words can’t explain how beautiful a gift of life is; whether it be your own or someone else’s. But no matter how precious they are, one still needs a little escape! Hope I win this , we deffo need a break and a baby sitter! Lol X
Finding out I was pregnant with my little girl 2 days before Christmas after trying for a long time
A dolls house! 🙂
My first mobile phone aged 16 it was the best thing ever.
After an awful pregnancy, long labour and 6 days in intensive care I got to bring a healthy little boy home a few days before Christmas. After 9 months of constant worry sitting down to eat Christmas dinner with my family while my first child lay in his Moses basket under the Christmas Tree was the most amazing feeling possible.
Best Xmas present..hmmm.. Nintendo of course..
My baby doll that crawled like the real baby.
My husband bought me a Pandora necklace and bracelet last year. It was a complete surprise and so lovely.
A new laptop from my hubby x
sindys wall of sound
An engagement ring 🙂
Without doubt my children and they have made every christmas special ever since!
Tickets to see Nicki Minaj from my amazing sister! 🙂
a shaving fun ken doll. I was 26 years old, but I reallly wanted him!
A toy kitchen i always remember my mum and dad wrapped it in Pink ribbon and i spent Christmas Day making people fake food and drinks i loved it 🙂 x
ive just been given a ghost hunting experience, i think thats pretty awesome x
Week away In Scotland
history books…oh, and my son
My Best present I ever got was my NKOTB VHS video, I was (ahem) a huge fan and i really wanted it so badly. I was so happy that Christmas !
My bicycle was the best pressie I received
My favourite Chirstmas present was the make up brushes I received 3 years ago…i still use them, and I love them!!!
The best Christmas present that I ever received was an 8 year old black and white rescue cat called Bobby. Still have him 10 years later and he is the best thing that has ever happened to me! Great company and such a great personality – there is never a dull moment!!! 🙂
my bike xx
My hubby bought us a weekend getaway to Paris for Christmas last year – it was the best present ever.
I think it was my first computer when I was younger? A ZX81 – I was an original geek! 😉
A ring from my partner. Was abstract gorgeous! Love it
A marriage proposal <3
The best present I’ve ever received is my Family came for Christmas, after initially not being able to. No presents can make up for missing family at christmas.
My husband brought me a kindle nearly 3 years ago and I still use it most days
Hilary Duff tickets when I was 8 years old and loved her! I didn’t even ask for them so it was a complete surprise.
my favourite xmas present was driving lessons 🙂 no car though!
my favourite chrimbo pressie was when i was a little girl and i got this doll called cricket
A new bike when I was 12
tickets to harry potter studios 🙂 i am a big harry potter fan
A bar of Dark Chocolate from my son last year he bought himself. It was extra special because he hates dark chocolate so I know he bought it because it’s my favourite knowing he wouldn’t be able to ask for any himself 🙂
When i was about 5 my mum saved up tokens from Andrex and got me an andrex puppy toy. I was so besotted with the puppies on the advert it was the best present ever.
tickets to see Katy Perry
the necklace my husband bought me for our first Xmas together. It was the first piece of diamond jewellery I ever owned and I wore it on our wedding day, which made it even more special
A holiday! Seeing the tickets was a complete surprise!
short break to Barcelona booked by my husband on Christmas eve, he panicked when he realised the cactus and lamp he`d bought looked a bit s***!
Tickets to the musical Jersey Boys which I really wanted to see and thought had sold out!
Best present was my laptop, I’d never have bought one for myself, but so liberating not being shackled to a PC 🙂
My set of knitting needles in the red case
My furby the original one was so chuffed when my nan managed get me one for Christmas when I was 10 x
The best christmas present I ever got was a proper camera to take photos of my beautiful little boy 🙂
My first iPad was my best gift…
A george foreman grill!
A george foreman grill
Extension tubes for my Nikon D40 from my in-laws. I had wanted some for years but the auto-focus ones are quite expensive. My FIL is a photographer too and managed to source some at a reasonable price for me for Christmas. 😀
my laptop is my best present
A microwave that cooks full size turkeys as mine quit on me 2 days before christmas, so my other half thought it would be a good idea…Well we don’t want to go without christmas dinner do we 🙂
My best ever Christmas present was my Kenwood Chef. I’d wanted one for years and I use it almost every day.
When we were kids we got an Amiga Computer for Xmas one year, we thought that was brilliant!
A leather purse from my little grandson
A TV from my parents
some diamond stud earrings x
the best Christmas present has been getting pregnant
My first laptop, used it everyday from then on
My mum bought me an A La Carte kitchen for Christmas once after I was so obsessed with the advert where the little girl makes her dad a swiss roll with beans.
A hand made card from my daughter when she was very little
I am easily pleased, perfume, candles and chocolates always my best presents
A notebook from the husband. One side is to write nice things I want and the other side for jobs I want doing!! Love it!!
It’s hard to think of the best as I’ve received so many wonderful presents! I remember when I was younger I really wanted a gameboy and was over the moon when I got it (2 years later!)
A Sony Hifi when I was younger
The best present I have ever been given was a membership to a Golf Club which was worth £1700 and a marriage proposal x
A doll that walked when I was 6.
My iPad because I am always using it
A puppy when I was a kid
A photo album from my friend taken from our uni days
Its got to be my ZX81 when I was 13.
A weeekend away in Athens – had a lovely time ! Presents have definitely gone downhill since then !
I always remember getting my first bike when I was 6 …. it was the best present I’ve ever received!
husband bought a really nice radley watch last birthday 🙂 he actually remembered my birthday, i was more chuffed with that! x
when I was young a tiny tears doll and a pram
more recently the results of an amnio test telling my baby was fine
my first bike
Ker Plunk – I was about 10 and had wanted it FOREVER!!!
Mousetrap – loved that game
it was my first mobile phone it was such a shock and so helpful has my husband was ill at the time was so good for when he was in the hospital
A beautiful necklace from my hubby
my best christmas present was a tape recorder, it was really expensive for my mum and dad to buy
I always like all my gifts I am given. It is hard to choose…Probably a trip to Center Parcs including a spa trip! (@PeanutHog)
Aracer bike when I was 9!
my camera, I love taking pictures
a predator made out of scrap metal
a wild boar sculpture
Last christmas I was feeling down because of a medical diagnosis until I got the best gift ever. A 10 week old newfoundland puppy. She has been my saviour, stopped me getting depressed and has been my recovery partner.
A necklace from my daughter spelling LOVE which she saved all year for with her pocket money
finding out id be a daddy 4 years ago
my best present was an apple ipod
A BIG box of fireworks!
The best present was a laptop from my children
Best present I was gifted from my parents was a rest & recover holiday on a small greek island where all my friends were staying which was a massive surprise.
Best gift I gave would of been last year to my parents a 5* country retreat weekend away with spa treatments.
ting a ling trudy
My best present was lots of relaxing bath goodies when I was 8 months pregnant – bliss! 🙂
a trip to new York from my partner
My Pandora bracelet from my husband, each charm I have holds a very special meaning x
Signed limited edition Damon Hill print
A marriage proposal!
my best present was my kids not argueing christmas day 🙂
A surprise holiday to Prague, we left on Boxing day 🙂
Mine was a diamond ring – couldnt believe it
Must be Spa vouchers 🙂
Tickets to disneyland paris from my nan and grandad when i was 9!
My engagement ring was my best present when my hubby proposed on Christmas morning x
My best present was a PS4 last Xmas I love it!
A pair of Cinderella slippers when I was about 5 years old
My best present was a tea strainer tea pot for loose tea 🙂
Mine was my first digital camera, it started a hobby which later became my business!
a bird of prey experience. I didn’t go until easter but it was brilliant
A silver cross twin dolls pram
When I was about 10 I wanted a typewriter, and actually got one! The first time I remember actually getting what I asked for.
Probably earn I received Pandora charms
For our first Christmas together my now husband took me away to Dublin for the weekend, it was so lovely and the hotel was gorgeous all decorated with a lovely tree and lights
A coaster declaring me the “Queen of AWESOMENESS”!!
the best Christmas present I ever received was a total surprise, we had set a limit of £30 each for myself and hubby as we didn’t really need anything. he surprized me with a big box and it was a kitchen aid, I love baking as my grandma taught me how and id wanted one of these for about ten years, it made me cry at how thoughtful he’d been and it said it was the only time he’d be able to surprise me.
Ive already received it this year – my mum was having chemo this year and was hospitalised many times throughout the year – 3 weeks ago we were told shes in remission – I can’t begin to tell you how that felt for us all but it is the greatest gift I ever dreamed for aand I thank the whole of the Nhs for granting it. It will be compleated on christmas day when our entire family will be sitting around my dinner table I can not wait !!
My Engagement ring. We will have been married 25 years next year !
You know what? I can’t even remember my best Christmas present! Which just goes to show, all the fuss and stress, and do we even create many special memories? I remember much more the things we did, places we went, people we visited…..
Mine would be anything made by my kids I keep them all in memory boxes
The best christmas present i ever received was a pinball machine when i was a child
my little sister when I was 7 years old 🙂
A Bontempi organ when I was little
this would be amazing! xx
A tangerine in my stocking!