Only 18 days till Christmas! I can’t believe is that time of the year already! It’s so close I can almost taste it.

Things have been pretty busy over here at Tiny Marmalade HQ and I've started to wonder where I can find my own elves to help with jamming, labelling and packing up all your orders! I'm so super excited about Christmas this year, not that I'm ever not ... any excuse to eat all the foods! 

There is absolutely no question; Christmas is MY favourite time of the year.

I love the lights and the decorations, the music, the carols, the smell of mulled wine and mince pies, drinking hot chocolate and wearing mittens

I love shopping for gifts. I love seeing people's faces unwrapping presents. I love secret Santa games and pulling Christmas Crackers,

And I absolutely love spending time with friends and family. Playing board games. Crafting. Talking about the same old stories, like that year Santa left me a Mariachi outfit under the tree. Yes, I'm not making that up. I was 16th and all I got for Christmas was a Mariachi outfit. A proper one with its hat and a Tequila bottle. I still don't really know what Father Christmas was trying to tell me.

Turron de Tiramisu

Hooray - we have finally made it to Christmas week!!! With the Christmas preparations seeming to start earlier and earlier each year (Christmas carols in the shops in September!!??), the build-up and anticipation towards The Big Day grows to such a level that sometimes Christmas can be an anti-climax when it finally arrives. 

Last Minute Christmas Cake

Christmas is coming, and with it a barrage of Christmas food and drink that we don’t have the opportunity to enjoy the rest of the year. Christmas cake, mince pies with cream, mulled wine and lashings and lashings of chocolate. There is something about the Christmas period that means we can indulge in the in the rich, generous helpings that are on offer and not feel guilty about it!

Christmas is also a time to share these festive treats with your family and friends. For me, there is nothing better than watching those you care about eating something you have taken time to prepare for them. Although, this can mean a lot of work in the lead up to Christmas, which can be hard to fit in with all the increased socialising that goes on this time of year.

Today I would like to introduce you a really beloved friend of mine: Rachael. She’s intelligent, amazingly clever and an incredible baker who has prepared this week’s recipe for me. Literally for me, as I'm eating it as I type.

Three King's Cake (or the perfect excuse to extend Christmas one more week)

Christmas is over.

Completely absolutely ended.

If your Christmas tree is still in your living room is time to take it away. No, is not giving a vintage look to the room. Yes, it´s starting to look odd.

DIY Advent Calendar (with free printable!)

I´ll tell you what. I haven't started my Christmas shopping.

I am what the experts call a last minute Christmas Shopper. Or a Extreme Christmas Shopper. I always leave it for the last minute. In other words, I love Christmas but I hate Christmas shopping.