It's nigh on Christmas Eve and it's well and truly time to get into the spirit of Christmas. Whether you are Christian, or simply cherish the opportunity the holiday season gives you to spend time with loved ones, Christmas is a most magical time of year. The lead up to Christmas can be a manic rush of gift shopping, food preparation and long overdue catch-ups with loved ones, but come Christmas Eve it's time to slow the pace and enjoy the season. How will you be spending your Christmas Eve? Here are a few ideas:

Christmas Carols
Outwardly you believe them to be tacktastic seasonal gimmicks, but don't you secretly love them? There is something for everyone when it comes to carols: from Hi 5's version of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, to Elvis Presley's Here Comes Santa Claus. Then there is Bruce Springsteen with Santa Claus is Comin' to Town and Bing Crosby's White Christmas. For tunes that the whole family will love, The Jackson 5 have covered the classics and so too have some other Motown legends like Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Pick your favourites, turn them up loud & sing-along. What's your favourite Christmas carol?


Photo by 1Happysnapper.

Dips & Chips
If you're not off to Christmas mass, then chances are you'll be sat around the telly watching Carols by Candlelight or re-watching Love Actually (and trying to figure out once and for all whether Colin Firth is the man for you, or is Hugh Grant more your style?). What better than a few pre-Christmas treats? Corn chips with dip are perfect seasonal snacks, here are a few ideas:

• Corn Dip: Mix a jar of corn relish with some Philadelphia cream cheese and serve in a bowl with corn chips.
  
• Guacamole: mix an avocado or two with a diced tomato and dollop of sour cream, add salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon to taste. Serve with corn chips or water crackers.

Inexpensive and super simple but both dips look kind-of-fancy & taste delicious!

Wrap it up
Take some pride in your wrapping this year! It may be last minute but give it a real go anyhow: paper, ribbons, gift tags, bows - the whole deal.

• Pick a colour theme and stick with it, eg. gold gift wrap, ribbons & pen on your gift tags.
  
  
• Be original and eco-chic by using old newspaper or your favourite pages from magazines as wrapping paper (hint: the fashion spreads would work a charm). Add a little extra pizazz by using pretty fabric or ribbon to tie a big bow around your gift.
  
  
• Using some coloured cardboard and crafting scissors, cut out some tags for each of your presents and hand write a short message on each.
  
  
• Curl ribbons by cutting a length and running your scissor along the edge swiftly, like this.

If you don't have anyone you can give a gift to, or even if you do and you still have a few dollars left, why not pick up an extra gift and leave it with a charity that assists families at Christmas? You'll often find bins for donations outside department stores, alternatively, pledge a few dollars online at your favourite charity, this time of year can be a financial stretch for so many non-profits.

Dress Up
'Tis the season to be jolly, or so the saying goes, so why not bring a little joy with a pretty frock or ribbons in your hair? Have a dig through your wardrobe for any red, green, gold or silver and piece together a few seasonal outfits for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. Try:

• Hair ribbons, bows or headbands
  
• Knee socks and heels
  
• A big skirt or dress with a satin sash
  
• Tacky dangly seasonal earrings or a big santa brooch
  
• Scarves, tied around your neck, used as a belt or as a head scarf

Be sure to take some outfit photos and post them on flickr to share.


Photo by treslola.

Cider
Alcohol or non, cider seems all the more merry at Christmas time, so grab a bottle, pour a glass & enjoy the sparkling apple goodness.

Write a letter
The holidays tend to take us away from our usual jobs and give us a little more time for sentimentality. Take 20 minutes to sit down with a pen and paper to write a letter to someone you think is simply marvelous. Tell them they have made your year wondrous & that you're thinking of them this Christmas. Decorate the letter with coloured pens, glitter, magazine cut-outs & stickers. Pop it in an envelope and stick it in your purse, send it on it's way next time you pass a letter box.

Set the table for Christmas lunch
Before turning in for the evening, why not throw the table cloth down, set the cutlery, crockery & glass wear. Decorate the tables centre with bon-bons and candles. Give yourself a head start on Christmas lunch by ensuring all is in order at the dinner table.

Enjoy the season, be it Winter or Summer
If you're in the southern hemisphere you will have spent the past month basking in what has been day after day of 30 degree temperature and upwards. Make the most of the weather by getting down to the beach or lake, going for a picnic under a big tree, eating a Callipo, making iced tea, having a beer on the deck, wearing a sun-dress, rollerblading or cooking up a BBQ lunch (mushrooms, tomato, guacamole & chips, pineapple!). If you're currently enjoying Christmas version winter wonderland, get snuggly under your doona for a screening of Love Actually or pop on some gumboots and go stump in settled snow & puddles, drink mulled wine and head to the winter markets for roasted nuts and fairground rides.


How will you be spending your Christmas Eve?