Christmas Characters: This Week, The Christmas Tree Professional - The Gloss Magazine

Christmas Characters: This Week, The Christmas Tree Professional

NOBODY DOES CHRISTMAS LIKE BUTLERS, THE IRISH FAMILY-OWNED LUXURY CHOCOLATIER WHOSE DELECTABLE NEW CHRISTMAS COLLECTION HAS LANDED IN STORES.
IN THE RUN-UP TO CHRISTMAS, WE FIND GIFTS THAT EVERYONE WILL LOVE, FROM THE DIE-HARD CHRISTMAS SCENE-SETTER, TO THE DISCERNING HOSTESS, TO THE PARTY GIRL …

In the Kelly family, the Christmas box resides in the attic and is held in the same reverence as a holy relic. It is brought down in November for a family tradition: to have the tree up and decorated in time for the Late Late Toy Show.

Deciding on a theme has always been a key anchor for the festivities. Rustic, Scandi, jewel tones, homemade and heartfelt, navy and gold have all been done. This year, though, Anna is late late herself – she usually has a theme already decided in her head at least, if not on paper, buying some new decorations to supplement her vintage collection.

Leaving Barry to source the tree – with precise measurements for the sitting room corner – Anna decides it’s time for a multicoloured approach and heads to the shops for some “fun” additions.

Stopping off for a post-retail therapy cappuccino at Butlers Café on Grafton Street, Anna congratulates herself on her new lights, new decorations and a new velvet dress. The latter was not part of the plan. She envisages “the hang” later that evening against a backdrop of Diana Krall, softly flickering candles wearing her new cashmere sweater. She’s bought one of Butler’s Christmas Collection boxes as an additional treat to enjoy once it’s finished as she loves the selection of truffles and pralines. In reality, the volley of passive aggressive comments between her and Barry is like an endless Borg McEnroe match; at least he unravelled the lights.

On go the Santas on motorbikes, the dancing penguins, the tipsy partridges. She finds Big Ben – a present from Joyce, the cleaning lady. It must be highly visible or stuff will accidentally get broken. The fairy made from loo roll and feathers in Year 2 by daughter Number 1 has officially been retired from services to Nordmann firs and is replaced by a flashing LED star.

Standing back to get a better view, Anna realises why she has resisted the “merry and bright” décor scheme in the past. It’s a dogs dinner and she’s failed to capture the money shot for Insta Stories. She reverts to her silver and gold baubles mixed with antique chandelier drops. There’s something to be said for the traditional approach. The box of chocolates is empty!

Anna recommends the following Butler’s Chocolates:

Christmas Tree Assortment Tin, €15; filled with 19 assorted truffles in four glorious varieties, beautifully presented in a keepsake tin, Anna has bought all her children’s teachers these as stocking fillers.

Christmas Star Decoration, €7.95; Anna loves keepsake presents and hidden inside every star is the luxurious duo of eight creamy milk chocolate caramels and seven deliciously moreish milk honeycomb crisp chocolates.

Deluxe Presentation Box, €49.95; this is Anna’s go-to for hostess gifts as the selection can be passed round at any gathering when coffee is served. The stunning (1kg) assortment looks so pretty in its handmade presentation box with a luxurious handtied ribbon.

www.butlerschocolates.com

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