Monthly Archives: December 2014

Oh Christmas Tree

15th December 2014
With only ten days left until the big day I am feeling more and more festive. I’ve completely caught the Christmas bug this year, having spent previous few years feeling more like scrooge. As such I’ve been embracing all manner of fancy get-ups and outfits that might bring more a little more attention to myself than I’d normally like. Case in point:

Hat and Jumper: Next | Dress and Tights: Primark | Boots: New Look | Necklace c/o Sushilla Jewellery

This hat, oh this hat! I fell in love with a very similar one at the Marks and Spencer magic and sparkle event and instantly regretted not buying it there and then because when I went back to get it a few days later it had sold out online and in all of the Bristol stores. I chalked it up to fate, a sign I really didn’t need a Christmas Tree bobble hat in my life…someone clearly disagreed though as a few days later Mum tracked down this look-alike from Next…complete with light up star bobble!
I may or may not have been living in this ever since I got my mitts on it, I just can’t resist anything novelty and knitted this close to Christmas. I do try to keep the rest of my outfit plain though- I’m loving these knitted cream tights from Primark (£3 and oh so warm, I need more!) paired with denim and neutral tones.
I’ve always been one to be drawn to more obscure items, but until a year or so ago I was always too afraid to wear them for fear of what other people might think. I suppose it’s all part of getting older, but these days I don’t really care, if what I’m wearing puts a smile on my face then that’s all that matters to me!

Anyone else sporting some festive headgear?

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Light up your Home this Christmas

13th December 2014
I love seeing the house all decked out for Christmas. If I had it my way our tree would be up on December 1st and wouldn’t be taken down until the New Year. I think there is something so warm and cosy about fairy lights and the smell of a Christmas tree and I’m always on the look out for new things to add to the collection.

I’ve featured the Hanging Lantern Company on the blog before (way back here) and was delighted when they got in touch again offering to spread a little Christmas cheer. They have a truly stunning range of festive treats and I was lucky enough to be able to try a few out (which also means I got my way and have some decorations up early!)

The first item I put together was one of the winter snowflake boxes (£12.95 for 8) which can be used either as a little gift box or be lit up with a Buttonlite LED and used as a table setting. I opted for the latter and loved the glow created, perfect for adding a subtle festive touch to the home (or placing on the cat for comedy value). The boxes were super simple to put together and the card is really sturdy so you know they’ll last- why not pop in some little nibbles and use as table settings for the big day?
Next up was this rather striking snowflake lantern which comes in a range of festive colours. This deep purple goes perfectly with the decor of the conservatory and it now has pride of place and looks stunning lit up in the evenings. It was a bit of a challenge to fit together, even with the extensive instructions but we got there in the end (thanks Mum!). This is something we’ll be bringing out year after year, and at £19.95 it’s an affordable way to add some cheer to your home over the festive season. A Buttonlite LED is included which will bring up to 36 hours of illumination.
Last but not least I found this Winter Floral cupcake holder (£9.95 for 12) which I think is a lovely idea for adding a special touch to Christmas bakes. I may not have had time to get in the kitchen lately, but it did make a brilliant tiara for the slightly bemused Mae!
Have you decorated your home for Christmas yet? I’m actually away this weekend and have a feeling that when I get home tomorrow night Dad might have snuck the tree up…

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Pop That Collar

12th December 2014
Happy Christmas Jumper Day folks! I’ve been anxiously awaiting this fundraising day in aid of Save the Children for weeks, any excuse to break out some knitwear and raise money for a good cause is a winner by me! No novelty knitwear in today’s post (although I am sure there is plenty of that to come) but the outfit does feature a rather snazzy jumper dress so the link is there, kind of!

Dress c/o La Redoute (last year) | Tights: New Look | Boots: Betty London

I can’t get enough of the stunning collar on this dress, I’m a big fan of details like this, meaning I don’t have to remember to put on a necklace as well as getting myself out of the door in the morning (it’s not an easy task!) and the colours in this mean it lends itself well to all manner of other accessories. I wore this outfit during my week off for a day spent pottering around the local shops and spending two hours on a driving lesson- they seem to be going on forever! I picked up these tights last year but New Look still sell them, I’m on a kick with tights again at the moment and ended up buying four pairs in colours other than black last week from Primark, oops!
Despite my promise to myself to put less pressure on myself to blog daily I seem to have been on a real roll lately. With Christmas less than two weeks away I can’t promise how much longer that will last for though- I think in the New Year I’m going to implement a stronger “quality over quantity” approach though and put more effort in to perfecting photography and writing posts that have actually got something interesting to say for themselves…
Are you taking part in Christmas Jumper Day? Don’t forget to share some pictures!

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Posted in life, life stuff, outfits, tights

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More Gift Inspiration with Butterfly Twists

11th December 2014
I know, two gift related posts in one day but when I was shown this wish list from the team behind Butterfly Twist shoes I couldn’t resist giving it a cheeky little share.
If I were sending an infographic to Santa this year it would totally look like this! I have a perfectly good bike and yet this blue one is calling my name. Likewise the bag, the watch and the iPad all have a new appeal seeing them laid out like this altogether. One thing that is on my list regardless is a new pair of Butterfly Twists; I’ve owned a couple of pairs over the years and they are just perfect especially at this time of year…I can party all night in my super high heels then stumble home in some comfy flats, thus reducing the chances of a night spent in A&E (I’ve almost made it a year without a visit!) or some very sore feet the next day!
What’s on your list to Santa?

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Little Gift Ideas from QVC

11th December 2014
It was only the other day that my Mum and I were reminiscing about when QVC first launched. We didn’t have cable TV at the time and were fascinated when we first saw it on the screen at a family friend’s house. It was one of those channels that we would just watch and wonder at- who knew all those things for sale actually existed, and how could be possibly live without them? Fast forward to the present day and it’s a channel and we rarely think of except in a fit of nostalgia. I was delighted to discover that they do still exist online (and probably on TV as well, can anyone confirm?) and took great pleasure in having a look through the website to conjure up a post with some lovely little ideas for the season of giving.
These are the sort of gifts I’d be buying for my Mum if I hadn’t already done my Christmas shopping. They’d also be perfect for gifting to your favourite Aunt or your BFF and none of them will break the bank.
First up for the traveller in your life is this abstract luggage tag by Lulu Guiness, £26.00. I think this would make a chic addition to any suitcase or weekend bag- I’m very tempted to ask Santa for one myself!
You know I can’t resist a bit of sparkle and often find myself buying jewellery as gifts for those I care about the most. QVC has such a huge collection, the pieces I’ve featured above are only the tip of the iceberg. I’m really taken with the necklace by Miss Lola which costs a bargain £11.42 and this sparkler of a ring from Diamonique (£25) which is just perfect for jazzing up any outfit, not just for the Christmas period.
What are your memories of QVC? Have you spied anything you’d like to find underneath your Christmas Tree? This Tarte blusher is top of my list- I’m super excited to finally see the brand available to buy in the UK!

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