Festive forget-me-nots for a stress-free Christmas Eve (review)

An email landed in my inbox last week which made me smile because I could really relate to it ...

"‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…

….We wish! All mums know the reality: convincing over-excited children to get some sleep before the big day, wrapping presents late into the night and stressing over last minute food preparations."

To take some of the hassle and stress out of Christmas Eve, they had put together a list of festive forget-me-nots, to pre-empt many of the classic festive problems, giving you a Christmas Eve (and beyond) where all is calm, all is bright ! They put together a lovely little package of goodies for us and there are some really good ideas in there.

For Santa (and more importantly for any festive visitors with any special dietary requirements)

Christmas is a great time for inviting over friends, neighbours and new girlfriends and boyfriends or their parents, but there are sometimes a few awkward moments when you discover they have food intolerances. Avoid the drama by picking up a pack of Lovemore’s Gluten, Wheat and Milk Free Mince Pies, available at Holland & Barrett for £2.89 for a pack of 4. Made with shortcrust pastry and deep-filled mincemeat, they contain no artificial colours or flavours. They taste rather lovely too.

For that moment you see the ‘Batteries not included’ label

We all know this one ! It’s 11 o’clock on the night before Christmas and as you prepare the stockings, you realise that that must-have toy MUST have batteries and you are all out! Avoid the hunt for the nearest open convenience store on Christmas morning and be sure to stock up in advance this year.

For energy support as you wrap more presents than Santa’s Elves

Perfect for those who jam-pack their Christmas Eve, Emergen-C offers a double hit of energy release and immunity support in handy fast dissolving, wallet-sized sachets. Packing 1000mg of Vitamin C to support the immune system’s normal function and six B vitamins for energy release, Emergenc-C costs £4.99 for a pack of 8 and is available from Boots stores nationwide. For further information visit http://www.emergenc.com. Back in the summer, we made Emergen C fruity iced lollies which got a great reception from the kids. The fruity flavours work really well in cocktails and could be incorporated into other desserts like jellies too. That's a very sneaky but effective way of making sure the kids get extra vitamins in their diets !

For a silent night

If the excitement of the festive period has made the kids' bedtime a nightmare before Christmas and the stress of preparing for the big day means you can’t switch off, why not try an essential oil? Sweet and floral with a medium strength initial aroma, soothing essential oils have been found to be very beneficial for supporting relaxation. Choose an oil such as Lavender Pure Essential Oil £11.39, available from Holland & Barrett Stores and online http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/ and add a couple of drops to your pre-bedtime bath. A good night's sleep could be the perfect gift to yourself !

For when the hard work is done

After all the hard work is done and you’re ready to unwind, be sure to treat yourself for your efforts with a Midnight Mud Mask, such as Dr. Organic Dead Sea Mineral Bio-Plasma Mud Mask, Organic Dead Sea Mineral salt and Dead Sea Mud have a long history of skin purifying and health promoting properties, so in combination with a blend of bioactive, natural and organic extracts, such as Kaolin, Plankton Extract and Algae Extract, this face mask penetrates deep into the pores, effectively removing excess oil and impurities, whilst stimulating new cell regeneration. Great for helping your skin to feel festively fresh. £7.99 from Holland & Barrett and as it's a greenish colour, you could even pretend to be The Grinch !

For the un-expected guest?

Whether it’s your brother who has just announced he's bringing his new girlfriend to Christmas day lunch or your Aunty deciding to pop by on a whim, at Christmas we extend goodwill to all mankind and welcome all guests no matter how unexpected they are! To help ensure you are the hostess-with-the-mostess, Lloyds Pharmacy have got last minute gifts wrapped up. Who wouldn’t like this Baylis & Harding Jojoba, Silk & Almond Oil Slipper Set? Containing a soothing Foot Lotion, Foot Soak Crystals and a comfy pair of White Faux Fur Slippers, you can find it in your local high street branch for £9.99

For those sticky moments

If you have left the present wrapping to the last minute, the last thing you want to do is run around the house, looking for something sticky to substitute when you run out of tape! Make sure you buy a fresh roll or three in advance, so you don’t end up in a sticky situation. Also make sure you buy loads more wrapping paper than you think you'll need - it's always surprising how much you get through !

Do you any other festive forget-me-nots to add to the list ?

Disclosure : I received a bundle of festive forget-me-nots for a stress-free Christmas Eve.