Winter Wonderland

In December, a friend and I decided to plan a trip to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, but with both of us being so busy we did not have a single day free so decided to visit on the 2nd January, the day before it closes.  So we finally went yesterday and I was super excited, I love Winter Wonderland.  It contains everything I love about winter.

What I Got For Christmas

Is it too late to do this sort of post?! It's only the 2nd January.  Christmas was only 8 days ago.  I had a lovely day spent with my family, getting to hang out with them, catch up on gossip and having a laugh.  That was the best thing about Christmas day, getting to hang out with my beautiful family.

Let's have a look at some of my presents.

Happy Christmas Eve!!

It's Christmas Eve!!!!!

I am like a huge kid when it comes to Christmas, and Christmas Eve is one of my favourite days of the year.  Unfortunately I am working today and it's likely to be busy (I work in a hospital).  But come 5 o clock I am free!!  So this is what my Christmas Eve looks like.

Wake up at 6.30AM and feel super excited that it's Christmas Eve.

Get ready whilst dancing around to Christmas tunes. Open the last day of my advent calendar.

8.30AM-5.00PM - Work, work work.

5.00PM - Finish work!! Skip home.  Pack my bags for visiting my parents home and the town I grew up in.  Shower and get ready for the evening.

6.00PM - Attempt to put everything in my car.  I'm not sure how I am going to manage with my bags, everyones presents and the cheesecake I made yesterday.

7.00PM - Arrive home and get excited with my family that it's Christmas Eve!!!

7.30PM - Sit down to dinner with my family and catch up as I haven't seen them in ages!

9.00PM - Swap presents with friends.  Head to the pub.  Get excited again with friends that it's Christmas tomorrow!!

11PM/12.00 - Head home and get straight into bed, ready for tomorrows celebrations.

My Christmas Eve has changed somewhat from when I was younger.  In the morning I would head out for the last minute bits and bobs (up until last year I was a last minute Christmas shopper).  Then I would chill out at home watching Christmas films and wrapping presents.  Getting more and more excited with every minute that it's Christmas the next day.  I would have a Christmas Eve dinner with my family.  Then I would have drinks either with family or friends.  Then I would head to midnight mass with my parents, I loved going to midnight mass.  When we were little, on the way home from midnight mass, my Mum would say to look out for Santa.  Me and my brother would spend the whole care journey looking out of the window in case we happened to see Santa in the sky.

I used to prefer my Christmas Eve much more when I didn't have to work.  But hey, someone's got to do the job.  What are your Christmas Eve plans?

White Chocolate, Baileys & Raspberry Cheesecake

On Christmas Day, my family never have the traditional Christmas pudding.  My Mum always makes a lovely, scrumptious pudding for us and it is different every year.  This year, I said it is my go.  I said that I would make a cheesecake.  Having never made a cheesecake before, I got searching for recipes.  I decided that I wanted to make a Baileys, white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake.

I must have looked at about 7 different recipes to get ideas, then incorporated them into my own.

Five Favourite Christmas Movies

Everyone loves a good Christmas film and everyone has their favourites.  In my mind I had my top five until I started with this list and thought about it properly.  What about The Grinch, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Arthur Christmas, The Holiday, A Christmas Carol, Santa Clause... I didn't realise there were so many! Why are there so many?!  I did manage to come up with my top five.  Then that made me want to have a Christmas move marathon with hot chocolate and mince pies, and I don't even like mince pies!!

5. The Snowman.
Yes I see you rolling your eyes! I don't care.  It's not Christmas without watching the Snowman.  This film has been around at Christmas since I can remember and I think that's why I love it so much, it reminds me of my childhood.  The singing, the boy in his Grandad pyjamas and the snowman with his hat.  I love everything about this film.  It's so cute!!

4. Elf.
What is a Christmas movie list without Elf?!  I haven't even seen this film yet this year, but this is another film I have seen every Christmas for as long as I can remember!  An elf, New York snow and Christmas magic.  What more could you want from a Christmas film?!

3. Love Actually.
What a cute, warm film! This is the sort of movie to watch whilst curled up on the sofa in a onesie, with a hot chocolate and a blanket.  This film captures Christmas in London which makes me want to live there, and it has Hugh Grant in.  Need I say more?

2. Home Alone.
I have watched this film every Christmas since I can remember.  Perhaps this is why I love it so much.  A cute little boy left home alone, snow, big empty house, burglars and the boy getting back at the burglars.  I think everyone must love Home Alone!!

1. The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Is it a Christmas film?  Is it a Halloween film?  Who cares.  It's a brilliant film and my favourite.  First of all the main character is a 'skellington' I mean, that captured my attention firstly.  Then there's the animation and the singing, I love all of the songs.  Then there's phrases like 'And since I am dead, I can take off my head'.  Then there's Sally.  I just love the whole film!!

What is your favourite Christmas film?

First Christmas In My Home

I love Christmas as much as the next person, or maybe more, but have always lived in rented accommodation in a tiny room and have never been able to have a proper Christmas tree or decorate properly.  Of course I always go home to my parents' house on Christmas Day but it's nice to feel Christmassy and have decorations throughout December in my own home.

So this year I was super excited to have my very own decorations and my very own tree, in my very own home.  I was so eager that I purchased everything in November and patiently waited until the 1st December.  On the morning of the 1st December I put my Christmas tree up for the very first time on my own, whilst watching the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special.

The Snowman toilet roll, how cool is this?!  From Wilkinsons.

The cutest card and decoration from my parents.

An adorable gift from my Grandad

I had this little Christmas tree when I was at university and it's come with me through my different journeys and living situations

The tree!!

This cute little robin is from House of Fraser

Presents under the tree.

Who's this elf?!

Christmas Day clothes, all from Primark.

Christmas party skirts.  The one on the left is from Warehouse, skirt on the right is from H&M

How are your Christmas decorations looking?

Monday Shopping Spree

On Monday I went shopping to return two items and feared for my bank account, not knowing if I would be able to resist certain items that I had my eye on. Luckily I was very good and managed to only buy a few items... until my next shopping fix!

I love this shirt from Warehouse.  It will go really well with the skirt I have bought for my work Christmas party.  I realise this shirt is quite plain for a Christmas party but with a large gold necklace I think this will look perfect. This shirt fit so well and felt so nice on, I think that if I don't wear it to the party as intended I will definitely keep this.  Got to love a shirt that suits me so well and feels great on.

I really like this gold headband from New Look.  Head bands aren't usually my thing, but I really like the leaf design, and wearing such a plain shirt I feel like I need to go big on the hair and accessories.  This could also be worn at a summer festival to keep back that minging stray hair,

These days I love buying sports gear as much as I like purchasing other clothes.  How things can change!  I bought these both from Sports Direct.  I am still on the lookout for the perfect sports bra so if anyone knows where I can get one... let me know!

Since the 5p carrier bag charge has been brought into force in England, I seem to actually buy less stuff! I refuse to buy a bag, what's the point when I am sitting on a gold mine of them at home.  I try to take carrier bags shopping with me, but sometimes I run out and sometimes I end up buying more stuff than expected, then there's those unexpected spontaneous shopping trips where I don't even bring any bags!  Personally, as annoying as it is, I am all for the carrier bag charge if it is going to help the environment.  For the last few years I have rarely taken a bag from a supermarket, I would always bring my own, so why can't it be the same for other shops.  But if it's going to stop me from buying as much then it's certainly a bonus for my bank account, maybe not so good for business though.

Finally, I thought I would show you the outfit that I have planned for my work Christmas party.  I bought this skirt a few weeks ago from Warehouse.  It was love at first sight and it fits perfectly! It complements the small bit of weight I have lost in the last few months.  This is the skirt that I have been trying to find a top to go with but finally think I have it.  Now I am on the lookout for gold sparkly shoes, a hand bag to match and a suitable gold necklace.  You can never have too many sparkles and gold at a Christmas party, right?!

On Christmas Day, Every Hour Is Happy Hour

 I was very much looking forward to Christmas this year.  I couldn't wait to go home and spend time with my family.  I had a little plan to take a picture every hour, seeing as I tend to take a lot of pictures on Christmas Day, I thought it would be something nice to look back on.  But Christmas Day did not go as planned.

On Christmas Eve I was working until 11PM so by the time I had everything packed and in the car it was midnight.  So excited to be going home I turned the key, and the car wouldn't start.  After turning the key a few more times then some shouting and swearing, I admitted defeat and phoned my parents to say I couldn't make it home.  I was so annoyed!! I hadn't been home in about a month.  What a time for this to happen!! Finally it was decided that my Dad could pick me up on Christmas Day.  So after some more shouting and swearing at my car I unpacked and went in to bed.

The next day, Christmas Day, was strange.  On Christmas Day I have always woken up in my bed at my parents house, then we would all drink tea and open presents. However this Christmas I woke up on my own in my flat, then watched the Gruffalo whilst waiting for my Dad to arrive.  It was a strange feeling.

My Dad finally arrived and he got my car working, so I drove home in my giraffe onesie and made it home about 11AM. Then Christmas Day sort of resumed as normal from then on.

Snapchats of the day.

Finally home in my giraffe onesie by the Christmas tree.

Christmas tree selfie.

I got some cute, cosy slippers.

Christmas dinner and lots of wine.

Time for some games!

Cups of teas and chocolate.

Finally TV and wine to finish off a lovely day.

Hope you all had a nice Christmas!

Traditional Christmas vs This Christmas

I love Christmas Eve.  It's just as good as, or almost as good as, Christmas Day.  The whole build up to Christmas is just so exciting!  My family seem to fall into the same traditions every year and I love everything the way it always is.

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Christmas Eve Morning

Have a little lie in.  Go shopping for those extra bits and bobs I need including the odd present (oops, always last minute) and food shopping.
Once the stressful part of battling the last minute crowds is out of the way it's time for baking!  Christmas cake, cupcakes and sausage rolls are the usuals, although I always like to make something a bit different each year.  I recall one year I made snowmen out of icing.

Christmas Eve Afternoon

Christmas Eve is nothing without a Christmas film and it's certainly nothing without watching The Snowman whilst singing along, usually to the dismay of the family.  Then I watch whichever Christmas film is on TV at the time.  Oops it's getting late now, better start wrapping the presents.  I am probably the worst present wrapper ever, and my presents always look like they have been wrapped by a two year old, but it's the thought that counts right?  Then it's time to do a bit of tidying.  Vacuum clean and make sure the house looks neat.  You don't want Santa to see a messy house.

Christmas Eve Evening

As long as I can remember my family have gone to midnight mass.  There might have been a time that I hated this in my teenage years, then there might have been a time that I skipped midnight mass for trips to the pub with friends, but Christmas Eve just doesn't seem right without going to midnight mass.  First we have a drink at home, or maybe go to a party and have a couple of drinks, then head on down to mass.  It's so nice with all the singing, and everyone seems so happy, it's a tradition I love.  On the way home, I look out of the car window and the sky always seems so clear, you can see all the stars.  When I was little I used to do the same thing, but look for Santa instead of at the stars.
Then it's time for bed.  Better get to sleep quick in case Santa comes, and we don't want to be awake when Santa comes.

This year is going to be very different I'm afraid.  This year I am working.  I don't start work until 3 PM so I will still carry out the same traditions to some extent with shopping, wrapping presents, baking and watching Christmas films.  But then I will head off to work and will not finish until 11 PM.  So no midnight mass or trips to the pub for me.  I won't get to my parents house until about 1 AM so straight to bed for me!  At least I will still get to go home for Christmas.  I could have been unlucky and been given a Christmas Day shift.

So that is my usual Christmas Eve traditions.  Do you have any traditions?

Oh and by the way, it's Christmas Eve Eve today.  That is almost as exciting as Christmas Day too!

Christmas Party #2 Cowboy Hat and Fancy Dress

Saturday night, another Christmas party.  This time there was a theme.  A Disney theme.  I had a couple of ideas including Ariel from Little Mermaid which is appropriate for my hair colour, or Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas which is a film I love.  But then I went and dyed my hair brown, and I really didn't have too much time on my hands.  In fact, it got to Saturday afternoon and I still wasn't completely sure what I was going to wear.  I took a trip to a fancy dress shop, spotted a cowboy hat and decided I was going to be Jessie from Toy Story.

Think I was disorganised?  I then ironed a white shirt, went to put it on and realised it had a huge stain down the front.  Massive fail.  But finally I decided on an outfit, even if it did look like I had gone to the minimal amount of effort.

Blouse from Primark, shoes and trousers from New Look, and hat from local fancy dress shop.  See! My hair is brown! I still don't expect to see myself with brown hair everyone I look in the mirror, it feels so strange!

Now the Christmas parties are over I can focus on my last few days at work before I get a couple of days off for Christmas. Yay!

Christmas Party #1 Sequins and Silver

Friday was the evening of my work Christmas party. As per usual I left it until the last minute to get a dress.  I was starting to panic when at the last minute I fell in love with a dress from Warehouse on the ASOS website which you can find here.

This dress was perfect for me.  It is covered in sequins, and I am in love with sequins at the moment.  It was the perfect fit, leaving a little bit of room around the waist for food and drink, and was the perfect length.

It was a good night with lots of yummy food, including a lovely Christmas dinner, plenty of drink (perhaps a bit too much), and a good deal of laughter with some dancing to finishing the evening off.  Not leaving out the part where we went into town after, I slipped in a puddle of drink and now my knee is purple and very swollen.  So accident prone.

Al in all a lovely evening and I am now feeling even more Christmassy.

Christmas Nails

It was my work Christmas party last night and I thought I would do something different with my nails.  I had a little idea in my head to create Santa nails, and that it what I did.  They're not perfect but I think they are pretty good!

To create this look I used Maybelline Colorama French White 51, Mavala Rouge Rubis 385 and OPI Gaining Mole-Mentum.

What are your favourite nail designs this winter?

Mmm New Clothes

Does anyone else have the problem of going Christmas shopping and spending way too much money on themselves?!

Well I just had to buy a Christmas jumper from Primark.  Then I got carried away in Primark and bought a Christnas hat and socks.

I decided to look for a dress to wear to my work Christmas party.  Instead, I fell in love with a playsuit in Zara and decided that as there are a few birthdays coming up, me buying the playsuit was completely justified, because it's not like I don't have a million other outfits that I could wear.

I also bought some make-up, as well as the Christmas presents I set out to buy.  I am now scared to check my bank balance.  Ooopsie.