Merry Christmas

I mean, no one is gonna read this because you'll either be drunk or spending time with the family or both! However I always post on a Sunday and so I'm not stopping now. I can't explain how happy I am to be at home for Christmas and knowing that I will be staying in England after. 

So eat everything, drink everything, laugh always.

Merry Christmas!!

The Christmas Playlist | Lifestyle

As you are reading this post I am in fact getting myself ready for a 2 day car ride back to England from Florence with my dad! I'm not gonna lie, I am bloody looking forward to it and I mean, who wouldn't love a road trip!! 

As we will be arriving in England just before Christmas, you best believe I'm gonna have my playlist ready, though somehow I don't think my Dad with enjoy it quite as much when I am singing along at the top of my lungs...awks! So I am just gonna link below 5 of my fave Christmas songs ever!   


Driving Home for Christmas  - Chris Rhea 
Well this one just had to make it in really, ever since I knew that my dad was picking me up I have had it on a constant loop in my head! It's just one of those songs that everyone can relate to because everyone works on Christmas Eve, doctors and nurses work Christmas day and once that shift is done is there any better feeling than knowing you are going home? 

Last Christmas - Wham
Now guys...this is my JAM!! Like don't even test me, I know all the words and have mimed singing to it a thousand times. I love the dramatic heartbreak of this song and again we've all be there, in love with someone and the POOF  year goes by and you aren't with them. To be honest I also really love the moody video!

All I want For Christmas Is You- Mariah Carey 
I mean, do you even REALLY need me to explain this one? Every girl thinks they are Mariah when it comes on and thinks they can hit those high notes when in reality they sound like a bunch of cats fighting but do we care....eh...no! It's super happy and upbeat, it's everything you want in a Christmas song

Merry Christmas  Everyone - Shakin' Stevens
Oh I've gone a bit old skool with this one and quite frankly I don't give a damn! If this song can't crack a smile or make you want to shuffle along with it, you my friend are dead inside, but you're lucky, I'm feeling festive so I'll like you anyway! 

Fairytale of New York - The Pogues
What a song to end on, it's raw and aggressive it's got a couple who have clearly been together too long but the sentiment is there. It's a little something for the realists out there who are fed up with the tinsel and sparkle who just want to say Merry Christmas in their own way.  

There we have 5 of my fave Christmas songs! 

What is your ALL TIME fave Christmas tune? 

Favourite Things About Christmas | Lifestyle

Christmas was stolen from me last year in Florence and this year I am going home so I just wanted to tell you my absolute fave things about the festive season, starting with...

Glass of Champagne...
Oh that's a bit flash isn't it? But for like the last 5 years, I buy a bottle of champagne nothing too crazy expensive and I share it with my family at Christmas lunch time and I just love sitting on the sofa, sipping my little glass of champers looking at the twinkly Christmas tree lights

The Dinner...
I mean, it's like a Sunday dinner but 100 times better because it has pigs in blankets, crackers, a thousand different sauces. It's just perfect. I also love the wait for the dinner, like you can smell it, it's amazing and you know it's coming but the anticipation is almost too much to handle...hence the little champers whilst I wait!

Dad's Christmas breakfast...
My dad always does a Christmas breakfast, kind of like a fry up but with different bits and pieces, basically I'm just obsessed with the food at Christmas, it's carby, it's meaty and it's like comfort food to another level. He always has a drop of port as well, in remembrance of my Grandad, but let's not get too sentimental here.

Christmas Drinks...
I love all the random meet ups in the lead up for Christmas, all the work events, all the diners with your close pals all to celebrate Christmas. It kinda gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Also everyone is in like the best mood, being in London is great at this time of year as well, there is something quite wonderful about seeing a drunk Santa Claus on your train as it gently rocks him to sleep. 

Decorations...
It's an obvious one but all the warm colours of the tinsel and the sparkly baubles just gets me all heart-eyed emoji at everything. I love buying decorations for my parents tree, in fact I would buy new everything every year if I could. I must admit, next year, I am looking forward to having my own little tree for me to fuss over. 

So basically it's food, drink and social occasions that make me happy! It's the simple things ay! 

Tell me at least one of your favourite things about Christmas?

The Christmas Post | Lifestyle

And then it was all over. 

As you're reading this you're probably nursing a Christmas hangover, let's face it you've probably eaten too much, drank too much and never want to see tinsel again...that is until next year. This Christmas has been really different for me because I didn't go back home. Which meant that I stayed in the flat in Florence by myself, but you know it what, it was fine I celebrated in a very low key style and spoke with my family for the majority of the day. Of course, I would have loved to go home for Christmas but with a new job and everything I wouldn't have been able to stay for very long, not only that but my mother was actually working on Christmas day. Like so many hospital staff, they were working on Christmas day to make sure your loved ones were ok, we should be more grateful for that. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and spent it with all the people you love and if you couldn't spend it with them, I hope you at least managed to speak to them on the day as well.

xx

Get Wrapping | Lifestyle

It's drawing ever closer to Christmas and if like me, you have done your shopping you know it's time for the best bit, so whack on your Christmas jumper and get wrapping!

I love wrapping presents, I mean I literally love it, I have a bag that is full of ribbon and bows and tissue paper and all sorts. All my ribbons are different sizes and colours, some with glitter some without, I can't get enough of it. Normally I go with themed colours, but this year I thought I would just use up the wrapping paper I already have from previous years, it saves on me buying more stuff. 

One year I did a bulk buy of ribbon, I think BHS do the best ranges of thick ribbon, always have a massive range of colours and various different styles with tonnes and tonnes of glitter. If you don't like your whole room covered in glitter then do not buy this ribbon, however if you're like me and don't really care then it's great. 

I know it's what's on the inside that counts but when you see a gift that is so lovingly wrapped it does make you feel special, which is what I always want to do with my friend and family and that's make them feel special. 

Here are just some of the ones I have wrapped this year...

 Do you love wrapping presents as much as me?

Fortnum & Mason Biscuit Tin Gift | Lifestyle

For today's post I thought I would share with you a gift I have picked up for my grandparents from Fortnum & Mason. Personally I don't really like gift guides or things like that but I thought that this tin is just so beautiful it would actually make a lovely gift for many people. 

   

I just love the look of this tin, a traditional merry-go-round.

Anyone who knows me knows my love for Fortnum & Mason, it's such a gorgeous store with so much history and heritage behind it that I would just go on for days about but I won't today, maybe another time. 

I walked in to the store knowing that they would have something perfect for my grandparents, they have the most amazing hampers but as soon as I walked in I saw this tin and just thought it was so cute. But the real selling point of this item is that you can wind it up and it turns into a little musical tin which spins like a real carousel.It just makes it so magical and pretty and my grandparents love a biscuit with a cup of tea (who doesn't?) plus you actually get a really lovely range of different types of biscuits.

The tin was on £25 which I don't actually think is a bad price at all, 

Have you been into Fortnum & Mason this year?  

Christmas Jumper | Fashion

So Christmas Jumper day was on Friday 12th December this year and I actually took part this year. Never really worn a "chritsmas jumper" before not even a slightly festive one. The company I work for made a pretty big deal out of it this year so I must admit I was on a bit of a hunt for the right jumper. 

I didn't want something that was going to be fashionably festive I wanted something in your face Christmassy and I knew the best place to find one was Primark. They literally have the biggest range of jumper even ones with flashing lights however I couldn't find one in my size. I like em big and baggy.  

So check out my oh so festive Christmas in your face jumper...

It's cute isn't it?

You know I got so many compliments on it and everyone couldn't believe it was actually from Primark. The thing is the quality is actually really impressive, personally i don't like primark that much because their stuff just doesn't last, however  this jumper is so thick and cosy I think i'll last a long while. It really good quality, I'm very impressed. 

The bells became a little annoying as the day went on, most people just laughed at me because they could hear be coming before i arrived. It was like a little kitten following me around all day, but it adds a bit of festive cheer so it's not too bad.

Have you got a Christmas jumper?

Favourite Christmas Baubles | Lifestyle

I'm going to try and make sure all of my posts from now until Christmas are Christmas related.So today I thought I would share with you some of my favourite baubles on my tree. The pictures are a little smaller than what we are used to but this is because I used my phone unfortunately. 

Let's start with...

A lovely little star. This is wooden and is covered in glitter of course. We always get our baubles from Van Hage which is a garden centre near to where I live. It's not that they do anything particularly different or special but it's just so beautiful walking around there at Christmas you can't help but have a look at all the different baubles. I love the fact the colour code all the baubles.

Ah, a little robin red breast. Love this one because whenever I see a robin it always makes me think of Christmas, its that traditional scene where you see one so colourful sitting in a pile of snow. So cute.

Another star, I know are we sensing a theme? But what I really like about this one is that the colour is a blue/silver colour so not your normal gold, red, green or sliver. It's like a pale blue and it's completely covered in glitter, you know I love a bit of sparkle. 

And you must have something with a reindeer on, I really like this one because it's quite traditional with the colours and shape. 

What are your favourite baubles?

The Christmas Tag | Lifestyle

So I saw this on HannahPacha's blog and I was tagged to do this by Johnsonshouseoflove so I just had to get involved really didn't I? I tag anyone who is reading this, c'mon it's Christmas, you've got to. 

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie/s?

Elf! All day long, it's absolutely my favourite film ever. I hardly watch movies but this is one I have to watch every year. I also love The Grinch. 

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

We have always been allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve, only a small one though and then the rest on Christmas morning. Though as we became older my mum often has to work Christmas Day so sometimes we open presents on Boxing Day, which is what we'll be doing this year.

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

One year I received a Barbie car, it was beautiful. It was red and shiny and a convertible. To be honest it's hard to just pick one, but every year it's always just so nice to sit down with your family and eat and drink until your heart is content. 

4. Favourite festive food?

Pigs in Blankets, advent calendar chocolate, mince pies, the actual dinner it's self, anythings and everything homemade. I'm a real fatty at Christmas.

5. Favourite Christmas gift?

I remember when me and my brother were younger, my parents bought us both tv's for our own rooms, it was amazing we literally had no idea. Though I'm a master of guessing presents just by touching them and one year I ruined my Christmas Day because I guessed everything correct, mobile phone, hair straighteners, bubble bath set etc. So I'm not allowed to touch my presents anymore! 

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

Cinnamon or spiced apple. When it comes to Christmas I can never have too many scented candles and they always have to be these scents. 

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?
Me and my brother always get to open one small present and that's it really. 

8. What tops your tree?

An angel, same one every year, it's wings are a little damaged and tattered but it's still right at the top.

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?)

You know, I don't think I've ever asked for anything too extravagant for Christmas. Unless it was something silly like a pony, but let's face it, that was never going to be a realistic request. 

10. What’s the best part about Christmas for you?

Lights, glitter, food, family, friends and booze.

What do you love most about Christmas?

Looking forward to winter | Lifestyle

I'm going to share with you various different reasons why i'm looking forward to Winter, I'm a massive fan of both Autumn and Winter but I thought I could explain why I love Winter so much. 

Let's start with...

Christmas

I mean this is kind of an obvious one. I used to work in retail for 7 years and had to work all over Christmas and never really used to like it. For us Christmas started in August which meant that by December we were fed up. But now I work somewhere different it actually means I can start to enjoy Christmas and the break and all the lovely things that comes with it. 

Not only that but I absolutely LOVE wrapping presents, I mean I actually love it. The ribbon, the tissue paper, the gift wrap oh I go all out. 

Weather

Yes I must be crazy but I can't help it, I love winter weather and the cold snap, how we have to wrap up all warm. I actually really love waking up in the morning and seeing it all frosty, the trees and the grass just looks stunning. Every year I just wish we would have a white Christmas and always feel cheated if it doesn't snow at least once. 

I know the picture above doesn't really show a winter scene, it's definitely an autumnal one but you get what I mean, in fact I don't think I have any pictures from winter last year. Let's hope I can get some pretty snowy scenes this year. 

Clothes

I just love jumpers and scarfs and all things fluffy in the winter. It's nice to get all cosy, I love wearing boots as well. I do like the heat in the summer, but my wardrobe tends to lean towards more Autumn/Winter, a lot of black, a lot of long sleeves and a lot of pashminas and scarfs. 

I also get to wear my favourite coat that I got last year from Next, plain black but it also has leather sleeves which I definitely think is going to be coming back this year as well. 

Festive Baking

Oh yes, I am a massive fan of baking and when Christmas rolls around I love to bake and use a hell of a lot of icing, mainly in the festive green and red colours. It's a shame because the last couple of years, I really haven't baked anything for Chritsmas. I have been working like a crazy lady lately but this year I am so excited because I have booked some time off which means I will be baking cookies and muffins and I'm gonna do some mulled wine! Why not!? 

Are you looking forward to Winter? If so, tell me what you love about the season.

It's Christmas at Fortnum and Mason | Sneak peek

It's finally here, Christmas is finally here!!!! Well at Fortnum and Mason it is. 

I know you're probably cringing at the festive C word right now and you know, I'd normally agree with you but when I was invited to have a look at the new Christmas range before it hits the shelves I couldn't resist. 

There's nothing quite like a big department store Christmas is there? 

As we entered the room, they were playing Nat King Coles - The Christmas Song (chestnuts roasting on an open fire) beautifully in the background. There was a table just filled to the top of what can only be described as the best Christmas dinner ever! 

To be honest, it just made me really hungry. The table was jammed packed with all types of food as well as cute little gingerbread houses, you've gotta love a gingerbread house at Christmas. 

I had to pull myself away from the table to have a look at some other gorgeous things such as their Christmas food range. 

Can I just say how much I love their snow flake packaging! It was beautiful, with brands like Fortnum and Mason they always go that extra mile with branding which I love. My favourites were definitely the jams I mean they have edible glitter in them, how could you not want to add this on your toast on Christmas morning?

They also had some amazing gift ideas too.

And well it wouldn't quite be Christmas without a traditional Fortnum and Mason hamper would it?? 

Have you started planning for Christmas yet?