It’s Marie’s turn to host her in-laws for Christmas Day. They are staying overnight which has necessitated removing all the clutter in the spare room and redistributing it under various beds or stuffing it into already overstuffed wardrobes.

In the normal run of things, Marie has decided on a theme by early October. In the past, she has done Shaker-style, Scandi, Farmhouse French and Red and Green. This year, inspiration is elusive, though that doesn’t mean it’s time to lift her self-imposed glitter ban! Already the two younger children are coming home with decorations and cards that shed silvery bits every time the door bangs. With two teenagers in the house, they bang A LOT.

Reviewing her decorations, they do not fit any category bar “pre-loved” and so Marie resolves to forage for ivy in the garden to wind about furniture and fittings. She is unprepared for the wildlife which emerges on every festooned surface and has to take out the Dyson to suck them all up. Cue yet more items falling out of a cupboard.

Although there is only six in the party, this year’s feast is already problematic. One late-onset vegan, one vegetarian, a pescatarian and a fussy child eater is proving beyond Marie’s capabilities. She curses Kirstie Allsopp for giving the idea that a handmade Christmas was possible, let alone easy. Marie hasn’t the bandwidth to deal with new recipe ideas and has been madly Sticky-Noting the (readymade) Christmas food catalogues of assorted artisan stores in the greater Dublin area. Top of Marie’s list is her favourite Fair Trade Fresh Ground Coffee from Butlers Chocolate Café. To preserve her sanity, Marie savours her morning cuppa while reviewing her To Do List.

Having abandoned the idea of Christmas present shopping in early December (to preserve said mental health), Marie finds herself on a late-night trolley dash to stock up on stocking fillers. Empty shelves and a thumping Slade soundtrack is enough to drive her out, fast. She returns home and immediately logs onto ButlersChocolates.com. Thank goodness for the gift-wrapped Christmas collection which has something to suit everyone on her list – even the most “discerning”. Wrapped and despatched! With that sorted, she can move on to the next task … Now where is that list?

This year Marie is gifting: Gift-wrapped Signature Christmas Assortment, €14.50, a luxury assortment of 17 of the most popular truffles and pralines in milk, white and dark chocolate. Each beautiful box is wrapped in festive gift wrap and adorned with a gorgeous red ribbon.

The Festive Menu, €8, is a limited edition collection of Christmas-inspired desserts which Marie is planning to serve with coffee on Christmas Day. This collection includes glorious chocolates such as Spiced Berry Parfait and Midnight Ginger.

100g 70% Dark Salted Caramel Bar, €17.70, a divine combination of dark chocolate enriched with salted caramel pieces which has won a Great Taste Award. Marie is squirrelling away a few of these bars to enjoy once the madness of the festive season is over. 

www.butlerschocolates.com