The Night Before Christmas | #BLOGMAS Day 24

Hi, Merry Christmas for tomorrow! I made it! 24 days of blog posts. I'm going to take a small blogging break while I celebrate with family and friends. My plan now is to relax and plan ahead both with my blog and my home renovation. I've still got to finish my final book of the year for my Goodreads challenge (I've chosen the Hogfather). I'm sure I'll be back before the new year at least with a post on book reviews.

Here's a round up of all my posts from the past 23 days

Doing Advent Differently #ReverseAdvent | #Blogmas Day 1
20 Festive Themed Goals | #Blogmas Day 2
Small Business Saturday | #Blogmas Day 3
Christmas Shopping Survival Guide | #Blogmas Day 4
Lush Review - Shoot For The Stars Bath Bomb | #Blogmas Day 5
7 Gift Ideas That Give Back | #Blogmas Day 6
50 Blogmas Post Ideas | #Blogmas Day 7
5 Ways To Stay Organised | #Blogmas Day 8
My Favourite Things About Christmas | #Blogmas Day 9 
Lush Review - Mistletoe Bath Bomb | #Blogmas Day 10
Who I'm Watching This Vlogmas | #Blogmas Day 11
One Year On | #Blogmas Day 12
Christmas Baking - Easy Mince Pies With A Twist | #Blogmas Day 13
My Christmas Wish List | #Blogmas Day 14
Christmas Book Suggestions | #Blogmas Day 15
The A-Z Of Christmas Tag | #Blogmas Day 16
Lush Review - Luxury Lush Pud | #Blogmas Day 17
The Five Senses of Christmas | #Blogmas Day 18
Why Staying In Is Better Than Going Out | #Blogmas Day 19
5 Ideas For Winter Days Out | #Blogmas Day 20
Christmas Decoration Sale Picks | #Blogmas Day 21
My Favourite Christmas Posts I've Read | #Blogmas Day 22
My Christmas Plans | #Blogmas Day 23

I hope you've enjoyed reading this past month! Have a great day tomorrow.

Sam

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My Christmas Plans | #BLOGMAS Day 23

Hi, How is it Christmas eve tomorrow? This month has flown and I think doing Blogmas has only made it go quicker. I'm super excited for the big day and today is my last day of work for a whole week! We're off out to celebrate with bowling and burgers, which should be a good laugh. Here are my plans for the Christmas period and things I'd like to do with my time off.

My Christmas Plans

Christmas Eve

• Donate my #ReverseAdvent box, I know I said I'd take it well in advance but times just run away with me. I'll definitely be doing this again next year.
• Do some last minuet shopping because I need more stocking fillers. I've bought the main gifts but I want something to bulk them up. I'll end up bulk buying Cadbury's selection boxes.
• Finally get round to doing my wrapping. Yes that's right I haven't even started to wrap my gifts yet and I'm so going to run out of paper or gift tags because I've left it to the last minuet.
• Visit grandparents to deliver gifts. Once I've actually bought and wrapped my gifts I need to deliver them, most people I'm seeing over the Christmas day/Boxing day time period.
• Meet up with friends for gift swaps and a catch up.

Christmas Day

• Have a lay in. While most people are jumping out of bed I'm going to be enjoying the fact I don't have to get up.
• Open presents, obviously! As a couple we haven't bought any presents which may seem weird but there's nothing we really wanted and we're saving for the house renovation.
• Go for a curry. Weird right? but that's what we're doing, I'm not even sure I'm going to be getting a proper Christmas dinner this year.
• Relax, the plan is to stick on a film and chill for the evening, hopefully with a good supply of mulled wine.

Boxing Day

• See my parents, for my second Christmas day. We plan to have party food and play games, doing the more traditional Christmas activities.
• Doing some sale shopping, Lush sale anyone? I'd like to see if there are any bargains to be had but I'm not set on spending money unless I find something really good.
• Catch up on the Christmas Day specials. As we are out Christmas day we'll miss them but this means I can watch them on my schedule. I'm looking forward to the Doctor Who episode.

The Rest Of December

• Go see all the films on my to watch list. I've got three films I really want to go see which are Moana, Passengers and Fantastic Beasts.
• Have a day out with my Sister, I have no idea what I wanna do put it will end up being shopping finished with a trip to the pub.
• Plan for the year ahead. I'd love to get ahead with blogging this year and after Blogmas I know I can do more if I just set my mind too it.

Do you have any shopping left to do?

Sam

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My Favourite Christmas Posts I've Read | #BLOGMAS Day 22

Hi, I'm officially running out of Blogmas ideas (I've probably said this already). I'm sat at my desk worrying that I've still got three posts to write and I feel like I'm cheating with today's post but I decided to compile a selection of posts that I've enjoyed reading so far this Blogmas so you can enjoy them too.

What Lauren Did Today

Vegan Gingerbread Biscuits & Egg-Free Royal Icing

Self-Care at Christmas & How I Cope

Christmas Gift Guide | £1 Stocking Fillers 

Hello, Steph

My Christmas Gratitude Jar 

Blogmas Post Ideas #2

25 Fun Things To Do This Christmas!

The Quiet People

Blogmas #17: A Last Minute Book Gift Guide

Blogmas #15: Nutella Hot Chocolate 

Blogmas #6: A Christmas Self Care Kit

Chapters of Kat

The A-Z of Christmas

The Most Festive Bailey's Cupcakes

The July Journal

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

The Ultimate Cruelty Free Christmas Gift Guide

Shoot For The Stars Bath Bomb Review

Burkatro

DIY | minimal clay gift tags 

DIY | star + moon tree decorations

Please share your posts below, I'd love to catch up on more posts!

Sam

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Christmas Decoration Sale Picks | #BLOGMAS Day 21

Hi, I finally put up my Christmas tree this past weekend and while this post should probably be a what's on my tree post there just isn't that much to show you. This has inspired me to get window shopping for more Christmas decorations that I can hopefully pick up in the sales. I can't help but return to Wilkos for decorations and I'm really regretting not paying more attention to their decoration range this year. I've now seen some really lovely pieces that are all store only and my local store is so tiny I'll never find them, bonus the sales already on.

Metal Silver Heart | Wooden Snowflake | Silver Heart Baubles 3pk

White Tree Topper |  White Snowflake Bauble | White Pearl Bauble

My Tree decorations are mainly blue and a petrol purple at the moment and I haven't been able to find any decorations that would fit this colour scheme to add to my collection. Now that the tree is decorated I've decided that I actually want lots of white and silver decorations and guess what was very on trend this year! I like the silver as it reflects the lights on the tree making it even brighter and the white baubles I already have (the pearl ones above) pop against the green.

I've decided that I want to add a bit more texture to my tree by adding more shapes and textures and with a 7ft tree I've got lots of space to play with. The tree was also from Wilkos and I love it. It's super bushy and I got it at half price at £40 from £80. I still need to get a tree topper because I'm yet to find a nice one but I'm really liking the painted white ones. I've only really seen the totally covered glitter ones in the past and I wanted something a bit more grown up and this is my solution.

 What colour theme do you have on your Christmas tree?

Sam

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5 Ideas For Winter Days Out | #BLOGMAS Day 20

Hi, Today I'm sharing my ideas for fun days out during the winter time. Winter might not seem like the most day out compatible time of year but there are some really great places that are enhanced by the winter. Getting out in nature or just out from the warmth of the house is great (I'm so sick of being indoors at the moment). I wanted to have a bit of a plan of action to make the most of my time off from work by having at least one day out.

Ideas For Winter Days Out

The Coast
For me I love to visit the East Coast and particularly Filey bay in the winter. It's so quiet because it's out of season and the views are stunning. There's something nice about the winter chill when it's mixed with the freshness of the sea air. I think the sea is the most impressive in the winter months when you'll find the biggest waves crashing into the coastal defenses.

A Historic City
I think historic building all dressed up for the festive season are lovely and something that bit difference. I love to look at how creative independent stores are with their window displays and maybe even treat myself to a little something. York is a great example and there's always a coffee shop to warm up in.

A Christmas Market
Hopefully by now you've done all your Christmas shopping (unless you're like me and have no idea what to buy this year). Why not head out and enjoy the seasonal fun of a Christmas market before they all pack up for another year.

Woodland Walking
I haven't properly been for a long winter walk in years and it's something I really miss. It's all the more magical if you get some snow fall but it's just as pretty if you head out while everything is still frost covered and crisp. There's something fun about wrapping up in the full hat, gloves and scarf.

Find Some Culture
Sometimes the idea of being outdoors for a long time in the winter can be over whelming so why not head out with a museum or art gallery as your destination. You might find a new favourite painting, discover a new style of art or learn a new fact.

 What's your favourite Winter day out? Have you got any ideas to share?

Sam

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Why Staying In Is Better Than Going Out | #BLOGMAS Day 19

Hi, With the holiday season comes parties and to be honest I'm so past all that. Socially celebrating is fun but I much prefer the comforts of home and with this being the first Christmas in my new home I want to stay home even more.

Why Staying In Is Better Than Going Out

Comfy Clothing
It's a great feeling looking stunning in your sparkly dress but nothing beats a comfy set of loose clothing. You could chill in your pajamas but I've got a set of comfy lounge wear, an over sized hoodie and fluffy socks.

Dedicated Reading Time
I love reading so staying in with a book is a winner for me. I'll either get comfy in bed and inevitably end up having an early night (which is no bad thing) or chill out in the bath with something pretty from Lush. 

Time for Self Care
Leading on from my last point staying in gives you time to make sure you're practicing self care. I love to take baths but sometimes it's hard to find the time. With this time comes some general pampering with a face mask and a much needed nail cut.

Saving Money
It's much cheaper to stay home, even if you indulge in a takeaway chances are you'll save money versus the bar funds and taxi fee. At this time of year I'll get some mulled wine from the super market for a quick and easy festive indulgence. I love Christmas markets but you pay as much for one small cup as you do for a big bottle from the supermarket.

Slow Cooked Food
One thing I love about my slow cooker is that it does all the work for you and you've got a lovely homemade meal ready to serve after a few hours. Nothing better on a lazy evening, I love making curries and sticking some rice in the microwave when I'm ready to serve. Not only is it easy and effort free but super healthy because it's made from scratch.

You're Already Home
The worst part of a night out for me is getting home, I'm not a fan of taxis after dark and luckily in the past I've always traveled home with a friend. This means waiting around for people to also want to go home which isn't always fun when they want to grab a kebab.

Getting comfortable
All the above for me create the most comfortable setting but lighting some festive scented candles and sitting next to the fairy lights flickering on your Christmas tree is the coziest thing at this time of year. Sticking on a Christmas film and relaxing under a blanket are reason enough to stay in on a night for me.

Which do you prefer a night in or a night out?
Sam

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The Five Senses of Christmas | #BLOGMAS Day 18

Hi, Today's post is a bit random but it's an idea I haven't seen done so I wanted to write it anyway. Christmas is a very sensory time so I decided to sum up the festive period with my five senses. If I had the time I could probably have written more as there's so much going on, but I found a few cross overs and decided to keep it simple.

The Five Senses of Christmas

Taste

• Spices making everything more wintry
• Yorkshire puddings swimming in gravy
• The sweetness of indulgent treats
• Bubbles in the Christmas fizz

Smell

• Winter scented candles
• Mulled wine in the slow cooker infusing with the spices
• Fresh pine smell from the tree
• The smell of baked goods as they cool

Sight

• Fairy lights flashing and twinkling
• Prettily wrapped presents
• People wearing festive jumper or a Christmas hat
• Smiling and a shared feeling of jolliness

Touch

• Woolly hats and scarfs
• Fur trimmed Santa hats
• The spiky pines on the tree
• The cold biting at your fingers

Sound

• Carolers singing festive hymns
• Shops with Christmas songs on repeat
• Kerrang radio playing punk rock Christmas songs
• Brass bands playing we wish you a merry Christmas

 What do you think your favourite sense of the season is?

Sam

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Lush Review - Luxury Lush Pud | #BLOGMAS Day 17

Hi, I'm back with my last Christmas Lush review for the Luxury Lush Pud. It's one of the first ever Lush products I tried, I received it in a gift box one Christmas many years ago. It's a bomb I normally overlook for the new releases but this year I decided I wanted to use a classic.

Luxury Lush Pud Bath Bomb – A Recipe For Unwinding

It is a mainly pink bath bomb with a white frosting inspired top decorated with holly, the rest is decorated with brightly coloured dots which give this bath bomb a very fun look. The four main ingredient in the bath bomb are Lavender oil, Benzoin Resinoid, Tonka Absolute and Ylang Ylang Oil. It is designed to smell irresistibly tasty just like the real thing and works to create a calming sensation to help you drift off to sleep, a perfect choice for Christmas Eve.

This bath bomb in the water is a kaleidoscope of colour. The main part of the bath bomb fizzes away turning the water a subtle shade of pink, while the dots drift off to create patterns of colour. I believe there was the slightest touch of luster in this bath bomb as my water was sparkling. The scent of this product didn't stand up to being diluted in the water which was a shame. Overall I think this is a fun bath bomb and a pretty one to watch but it's not one of my favourites.

Have you tried the Luxury Lush Pud bath bomb?

Sam

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The A-Z Of Christmas Tag | #BLOGMAS Day 16

Hi, I've been running low on ideas for Blogmas (16 days of none stop posts is hard work) and I came across this post idea by Kathryn at Chapters of Kat for the A-Z Of Christmas Tag and decided I'd give it ago.  

The A-Z Of Christmas Tag

A is for... Annual because Christmas comes but once a year every year.
  B is for... Brass Bands that make Christmas for me as I used to play the Trumpet. Carols played by brass make me feel so festive.
  C is for... Crackers, what Christmas dinner is complete without some crackers no matter how rubbish they are the fun's in the snap. My favourite cracker prize is the fortune telling fish.
  D is for... Decorations everywhere, the more the better.
  E is for... Edible goods, what the festive season is all about, so much food is turned into the shape of Christmas trees or stars and everything gets that added wow factor, glitter is more than okay.   F is for... Family which is really important at this time of year, Christmas is the perfect reason to go see family and make the time to travel.
  G is for... Giving Gifts, as much fun as it is to receive gifts I much prefer to spoil my loved ones and see their reaction to the gifts I've bought.   H is for... Harry Potter whether you indulge in one of the books or watch one of the films there's something about Harry Potter at Christmas time.
  I is for... Inspiration, this year I'm totally lacking any ideas for Christmas gifts. I've got the majority now but I just feel a little sad that it wasn't more fun picking things out this year.   J is for... Jolly, the mood of the season. No matter how much of a bar humbug you are there's got to be something that brings out your festive cheer.   K is for... kindness which I don't think should be exclusive to Christmas. It would be nice if we took a little more time to look after those around us.
  L is for... Lights everywhere which is one of my favourite parts of the festive season. They bring so much light into the darker nights of the British winter at this time of year.
  M is for... Music, What would Christmas be without a festive playlist. One of my all time favourites is last Christmas by Wham.   N is for... Night time when all I wanna do is get cozy with a book. The darker nights have done wonders for my reading.
  O is for... Ornaments from my childhood, my parents have a Santa T-light holder they bought the year I was born for my first Christmas and it's still going strong.   P is for... Pajamas, with Christmas comes a fresh new pair of pajamas to snuggle up in. It's become some what of a Christmas tradition but I don't think I'm alone with this one.
  Q is for... Queues, in Lush especially but to be honest that's the only place this year I've experienced any (online shopping yeh?).
  R is for... Robin as I couldn't think of anything else but it's so special to spot a robin checking out your bird feeder at this time of year.
  S is for... Shopping, which is what all the companies want you to think Christmas is about but you can't not go shopping can you. There's always the option of homemade gifts if you want to take a step back from the high street.
  T is for... Tree's indoors as decoration. I really want to research into when we decided to do this and why. I love the idea of bringing the outdoors in at this time of year as we lack nature and it's beauty.
  U is for... Unity as humanity to be more charitable and think about more than ourselves.
  V is for... Vacation and time to unwind. I can not wait for some time away from work to relax with the intention of going back fresh and ready to face the year ahead.
  W is for... Winter Walks because the scenery in winter can be some of the nicest especially if you're lucky enough to be going on a snowy walk.   X is for... Xmas, the big day. In recent years Christmas day hasn't really been that eventful unlike the week around the date, with all the parties and visiting.   Y is for... Yummy scents, hot drinks and Christmas cake. I've bought a big Stilton cheese wheel that I can not wait to start eating. I had my first Christmas cake of the year last night.
  Z is for... Zero degrees which it's not at the moment because it's been unseasonably warm but I'm hoping for a white Christmas this year.   This was rather hard as you can imagine some letters just don't have that many Christmas themed words associated with them (I copied a few I was that stuck). I enjoyed writing this post so much and I'm looking forward to the weekend and my blogmas post prep for the week to come.  

 Let me know if you do the tag, I'm interested to see what you pick.

Sam

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Christmas Book Suggestions | #BLOGMAS Day 15

Hi, Today I've got a selection of Christmas/Winter themed books to match your reading material with the time of year. My own opinion of Christmas books is that they're by default a little bit tacky unless done well. The seasonal setting of a story and reading at the same time of year make for a lovely reading experience and it brings a little extra atmosphere into the mundane. I've tried to pick a selection of different styles of writing to cover all tastes.

Christmas Book Suggestions

Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances - John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle

A collaboration between three YA writers creating a winter themed intertwined love story. I've seen this book mentioned a lot over the past month as a great winter read. I'm interested to see how the writing style works with it been a mixture of authors and if this book is really worth the hype.

Harry Potter And The Philosophers Stone - J.K Rowling

One of my favourite things about the Harry Potter books is how magical they make Christmas seem and that's in a world where magic exists. I think the earliest books do Christmas best, Harry's first Christmas at Hogwarts is such a memorable experience and one which is so heart warming.

A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

This is surely one of the best known Christmas stories but one I've never read. I'd love to get into reading more classics but I'm a little scared of them. I think reading one where the story is so familiar would help me get over that fear.

Hogfather - Terry Pratchett

The Hogfather is the Discworlds version of Santa, this particular Christmas he's unable to deliver all the presents so he hires Death to help. The discworld novels are interesting because they are not of this world but then mimic it in so many interesting ways. I've not read this book but previous stories featuring death have been funny so I look forward to giving this one a go.

Do you have any Christmas favourites?

Sam

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My Christmas Wish List | #BLOGMAS Day 14

Hi, Today I've got a classic festive post in the form of a Christmas wish list. I've been asked a lot by family and friends what I want to receive this year and after doing all the research into picking gifts I decided why not share my wish list here on my blog. You might have noticed from the post image that there's a strong Pokemon theme, I'm such a big kid.

My Christmas Wish List

Lush Snow Fairy Gift Set - Link
I was asked to pick myself something from Lush so I picked this little gift set. It contains the classic Christmas Snow fairy scent in the form of shower gel, body conditioner and the magic wand along with an added Father Christmas bath bomb.

Blink-182 - California - Link
2016 has been a good one for new musical releases from bands I've loved for years. Music is something I rarely buy for myself so the new Blink-182 album is on my Christmas list.

Pokemon Colouring Book - Link
I'm a massive Pokemon fan and this year to be honest has been a dream. The release of Pokemon Go and the 20th anniversary has brought Pokemon back into the spot light and reignited peoples interest. I love colouring so mixing two of my favourite things was bout to be a winner.

Pokemon Sun/Moon
It's been a good few years now since Pokemon X/Y was released and I'm so ready for a new adventure. Generation 7 is a totally different story mode to previous games with the lack of Pokemon gyms so I'm looking forward to seeing how the game plays out.

Books and Then More Books
So I haven't stated any particular books but I've said books or vouchers for books are high on my Christmas list. I don't have anything that I desperately want to read that isn't available in my local library and I'm interested to see what people pick out for me.

2017 Diary - Link
I found this really pretty diary in the Range for only £2.99. I love that it doubles up as a colouring book and the little illustrations are so pretty. I picked this one out while shopping with my mum, which takes away a bit of the fun of the unknown but I'm super fussy.

New Pyjamas - Primark
The last thing on my list is a new set of pyjamas because what would Christmas be without a new set to snuggle up with on Christmas night. I know Primark have some Pokemon themed ones (Set £14) which would be really cool but some winter themed woolly ones would be super nice.

What's on your Christmas wish list?

Sam

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Christmas Baking - Easy Mince Pies With A Twist | #BLOGMAS Day 13

Hi, Okay so I might just have the easiest baking idea for you to try over the festivities, Mince pies but with a twist. These are great to make if you're expecting guests as they're super simple and don't take that long to make. I've been making these puff pastry mince pies for years and I much prefer them to their short crust pastry cousins.

Easy Mince Pie With A Twist

Ingredients

• Ready Roll Puff Pastry
• Jar of Mincemeat

Optional Extras

• A little milk
• Icing Sugar

Start by removing the packaging from the puff pastry and unroll onto a work surface. Once unrolled pick your cutter of choice, I just used an upturned glass for mine, start to cut out your mince pies. Make sure when cutting the dough to put the cutter as close to the edge of the last one to reduce on waste. I got six mince pies out of my roll and then reworked the left overs to make another three (these ones are not as pretty but taste just as good).

Lay out your bases on a lined baking tray and fill with mincemeat, don't use too much as they can split. Once filled add the lids and crimp the edges of the pie with your fingers to seal the mincemeat inside. Finally add some small cuts into the top to allow steam from the hot fruit to escape. Cook on gas mark 6 for 25-30 minuets or until golden brown. You can also give your pies a brush with some milk to give them a glazed finish before popping them in the oven.

When cooked leave them on the tray to cool for a little while before transferring them to a cooling rack. Once cooled completely you can decorate them with some icing sugar to make them look more festive and then enjoy. I love how quick these mince pies are to make thanks to the ready roll pastry, the cooking is the longest part of the process. I love making this alternative version of mince pies as you only really see the classic short bread versions on the high street and I want my home baking to be something a little more special.

Let me know if you give these mince pies a go, happy baking!

Sam

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One Year On | #BLOGMAS Day 12

Hi, Today is going to a sombre post which will probably seem out of place among all the happy Christmas posts. It's a subject that I believe will effect a lot of people at this time of year and that is the loss of a loved one at Christmas (or any time of year TBH). I'm sorry if this post isn't all that interesting but I felt I needed to mark this day in some way.

Today marks the one year anniversary of my boyfriends fathers death. It's scary to think that it's already been a year and it's even harder when you think about all the things he's already missed from his kids lives. One of the times I felt the most grief for his passing was when I went to visit my grandad and was hit by the realisation that I wouldn't get to see my future Father in law grow old. When a young person dies you grieve for the life they should have had. I grieved for the family he left behind and the friend I hoped in the future to make a life long bonds with.

We took comfort in the fact that he was with friends having the holiday of a life time and doing what made him happy. I'll never forget the morning we found out. I don't think it really sunk in that he wasn't coming back because he wasn't due to return until the New Year so his absence at Christmas was expected. We had Christmas cards written by him waiting to be opened on Christmas day.

Today we're all meeting up to remember him and not let the day be a sad one (how can it not be). I don't have any words of wisdom but if you are missing someone this Christmas remember that it was a privilege to have known that person and your own life is richer for it. Take comfort in the memories you have and don't be afraid to talk about them.

Does Christmas time make grief worse?
Sam

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Who I'm Watching This Vlogmas | #BLOGMAS Day 11

Hi, I'm a big fan of Vlogs and there's a few vloggers I watch everyday when I'm getting ready for work or relaxing in the evening. I don't know why I watch Vlogs other than it's interesting to watch other peoples lives and she what's going on outside my own bubble. With the festive season I've added some new vloggers to my daily to watch list and I decided to share my picks with you in the hope you'd also suggest some vlogger to watch.

Who I'm Watching This Vlogmas

Helen Anders - Link
A vlogger I have watched for longer than I can remember. She's not doing vlogmas as such as she daily vlogs all the time anyway. Her vlogs cover her day to day antics with sneak peeks at videos for her main channel and moments with her cute dogs Barney and Lola.

Rhiannon Ashlee Vlogs - Link
Rhiannon is a Vlogger I remember watching years ago and I'd some how lost her channel, role forward to early this year and I rediscovered her videos while she was pregnant. So this Christmas will be the first for her daughter Delilah. Her videos are fun and insightful about living with a new baby.

MoreZoella - Link
Zoella isn't a vlogger I normally watch but if you want to get into the festive mood her videos are some of the best to watch. She's currently doing vlogmas and a video on her main channel until Christmas.

JazzyBumVlogs - Link
I watch JazzyBum for her DIY and hack videos throughout the year and now I'm tuned into her vlog channel to get my Vlogmas fix. She has a really fun bubbly personality which always makes me happy.

Sharmander - Link
And lastly a new to me vlogger that I found because of vlogmas. Sharla is currently living in Japan so I'm automatically interested in her day to day life. She also has super cute cats and loves Pokemon.

Who are you watching this Vlogmas?

Sam

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Lush Review - Mistletoe Bath Bomb | #BLOGMAS Day 10

Hi, Today I'm reviewing the Mistletoe bath bomb. I'm not sure if Mistletoe is new but when I saw it I was intrigued enough to want to try it. During my visit to Lush there where so many amazing looking products in the Christmas range, it was so hard to 1. not spend all my money and 2. get to the products because it was so darn busy. Mistletoe is the second bath bomb from the Christmas range I've tried this year, the previous bath bomb was Shoot for The Stars.

Mistletoe Bath Bomb – It's In The Air

The mixture of vivid pink and green where what drew me to this bath bomb. The embossed pattern of mistletoe is so sweet and subtly festive. I didn't really understand the design of this bath bomb until I read the name. Created with a mixture of Jasmine Absolute, Vetivert Oil and Ylang Ylang Oil, this bomb is very floral and is designed to create a romantic fairy tale at bath time.

As with most Lush bath bombs there's a colour change surprise inside with the appearance of blue pigment, but I don't think it really added anything. The bath water turns a lovely shade of deep pink which compliments the theme of this product. I enjoyed this bath bomb but I don't think it has the wow factor like some other products.

True to it's design this bomb smells strongly floral, it made a nice change from all the sickly sweet scents at this time of year. I don't normally notice the scent lasting long after my bath but this one left me smelling fresh for hours. So overall I liked this bath bomb but I'm not in a hurry to pick up another one.

Have you tried the Mistletoe bath bomb?

Sam

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My Favourite Things About Christmas | #BLOGMAS Day 9

Hi, Today I wanted to talk about my favourite parts of the festive season. Overall Christmas is a time to think about others and give thanks, a time for indulgence and fun. It's a big part of the year even though in reality it's only 24 hours. Here in the UK it gives us something to take our minds of the darker days and a reason to party. So here are my favourite things about Christmas.

My Favourite Things About Christmas

Family and Friends
Christmas makes you take the time to see family and friends, some of which you probably haven't had the time or funds to see since last year. Christmas is great for bringing everyone together to celebrate.

Traditions and Memories
Christmas has a way of anchoring memories in the mind and repetition from traditions add to these memories. Every year since I was a baby we've had a Christmas Eve party and I have so many fond memories of the people and the games we'd play.

The Food and Drink
There's so much festive themed food and drink at this time of year, it's rather hard to not over indulge but it's pretty much encouraged. Christmas markets are a great way to indulge in both, I love heading out and getting some mulled wine on a cold winters day. There are some festive treats that only appear in the shops at Christmas time which makes them all the more special.

Decorations
There's something magical about putting up all the Christmas decorations and feeling cosy indoors away from the bitter cold (it's actually been unseasonably warm lately). I think my favourite part though is seeing everything lit up. I've seen some really impressive houses decorated in lights this year, with every bit of space filled.

Gift Giving
Buying that perfect gift gives me such a happy feeling. I try to think of a really personal gift (I'm not a fan of gift sets), something that the recipient would really want or need. I really enjoy wrapping presents too, I'll save them all up and get everything wrapped in one go with Christmas tunes and some mulled wine to hand.

New Pajamas
With Christmas comes a brand new pair of snugly pajamas. I tend to just wear a mismatch of what ever I can find and tend not to buy sets. My mum always buys me a new set so Christmas night I have a fresh pair of pajamas to curl up in, which is a perfect end to the day.

Time Off Work
I'm lucky that my place of work closes for the week between Christmas and New Year so I have some time for a bit of relaxation (I'm sure if this wasn't compulsory I'd still book it off). I have many trips to the cinema's planned and 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' is at the top of the list.

What's your favourite part of Christmas?

Sam

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5 Ways To Stay Organised | #BLOGMAS Day 8

Hi, This is a busy time of year what with all the social gatherings and preparations for the big day, so organisation is key to staying on top of it all. I'm so bad at being organisied so I decided to have a think about ways I can improve and try to take a little pressure off myself, I've written this post with blogmas in mind but these are tips that are transitional across all Christmas preparations.

5 Ways To Stay Organised

Invest in a planner

I lose track of time really easily so having a visual reference for events and plans makes it so much easier to keep on track. I prefer a physical book so I can make notes on the go but a digital calendar would work just as well if that's more preferable. Who can say no to a good reason to buy pretty stationary?

Make Lists and Check Them

Relating back to the previous point, have a place to make notes and lists so you won't lose them. Once written make a point of checking them and ticking off what's done. You'll refresh your mind on outstanding jobs and feel good about all the checked off items.

Don't Procrastinate

Procrastination is me in one word but when you've decided to do something as big as blogmas it's your own worst enemy. Set goals and task to make sure you're motivated and have a plan of action to make the most of your time. Nothing quite beats the feeling of accomplishment once you've ticked off everything on a to do list.

Allocate Time for Jobs

With things like gift wrapping make time to sit down and get everything ready, stick on the Christmas playlist and enjoy the activity of gift wrapping (It's one of my favourite parts of Christmas). Time management is so important at this time of year, the big day will be here before we know it. So pour yourself some baileys and get the tunes playing.

Plan Ahead

Blogmas would not be happening if I hadn't planned ahead, the same applies for the festive season. I'm sure there are people still shopping on Christmas eve but planning ahead saves you the stress.

 

Do you have any organisation tips for the festive season?

Sam

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