Holly Carpenter
MODEL AND ENTREPRENEUR
Ilove the general feeling of magic in the air around Christmas time. The glow from twinkling fairy lights in shop windows and the sounds of buskers singing Christmas songs on Grafton Street feels so special. It’s a lovely time of year for letting go of any bitterness or resentments, and getting yourself ready for new beginnings. I love having a clean slate ahead of me, with 12 months full of possibility and the unknown just around the corner.
This year, my mum, dad, brother and I will be spending Christmas Eve with my dad’s side of the family, who live around the corner from us. I’m really close with my cousins and we always have such a laugh together. On Christmas morning, we usually bring the dogs for a big walk along the seafront in Raheny, followed by our traditional Christmas breakfast — bagels with cream cheese and bacon. My aunty and cousins on my mum’s side will be joining us for Christmas Day this year, and my mum always cooks an incredible spread for us all. I drool just thinking about mum’s turkey and stuffing, with cranberry sauce and gravy.
I’m really excited about having the whole family together again, especially my cousins who live in London. Throughout the year, I try my best eat healthily, go to the gym, and I regularly get dressed up for events — so when it comes to Christmas, I really look forward to just eating whatever I want and lounging around in a onesie.
St Stephen’s Day is a big family day for us. We spend it at home together, watching back-to-back Christmas movies while snacking on selection boxes and ham-andturkey sambos. A lot of my friends go to the dogs on Stephen’s Day, but by that point I’m so tired of socialising and getting dressed up that I prefer to chill at home by the fire — in new pyjamas, of course. I don’t put on any make-up, and I try to keep my phone on aeroplane mode. I feel it’s important to switch off and recharge your batteries before the New Year.
This past year, I was delighted with how much my brand LoveLift grew, with the addition of my newest handbag collection. Taking part on RTE’s Dancing with the
Stars was really fun, and I made some great friends with the other contestants and choreographers involved.
I went on a cruise around the Caribbean with my friend Rob, in November. That trip was incredible, something I will never forget. I was lucky enough to travel quite a bit this year, and as much as I love Dublin, I love getting away and meeting new people as frequently as possible.
For me, Christmas is a wonderful time to hit the pause button and take a minute to reflect on your life. As someone who is self-employed, I often find it hard to put down my phone and fully immerse myself in the present moment.
At Christmas time, I feel I can really relax and just reconnect with both myself and my loved-ones. You never know where you’re going to be by next Christmas, and what might change over those 12 months, so it’s important to be grateful for those around the Christmas tree each year.