A Little Lush Haul | #BLOGMAS Day 7

Hi, I wanted to share the few pieces I picked up from Lush York on my resent visit. I really wanted to try somethings from the Christmas range but I didn't want to go too crazy as I know I've got a few Christmas gifts i'm really looking forward to. I picked up two items from the Christmas range and the Sky Dancer Bath Bomb because it was the first time I'd seen it in a store to buy.

Dashing Santa - £2.95

So I went in to buy from the Christmas range so I had to pick up a Dashing Santa. I've had this bath bomb in previous years so not very adventurous but I know it's a goodie and what says Christmas more than a Santa? His feet fizz away first giving him the motion to dash around in the bath water.

Shoot For The Star - £3.65

I originally didn't realise this was a Christmas themed bomb and as I'm a sucker for space themed products it seemed only right to pop it in my basket. It's a really pretty bomb with a shooting star motif and a mixture of yellow and blue which are suppose to recreate the nights sky in the water.

Sky Dancer - £3.95

So even though I went into store with the full intention of indulging in the Christmas range this bomb is the one I'm most excited about. I've seen reviews and it looks so good like the bird is flying around the bath as the bottom of the bomb dissolves first. I love this bomb even more because it's for a fund raising campainge and profits from everyone goes towards equipment to help keep the Hen Harriers from extinction. I'm really looking forward to reviewing this one, it's limited edition so one to try if you get the chance.

Will you be trying to bag a bargain in the Boxing Day sales?

Sam

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Stocking Filler Ideas For £1 | #BLOGMAS Day 6

Hi, Today I've got a selection of very affordable gift ideas. I really enjoyed putting this post together, it's quite a task thinking of so many bargain options. I'm a massive fan of the hamper style of wrapping gifts but buying multiple items can get quite expensive. By buying a few bargain pieces you'll soon have a lovely selection of gifts.

Original Source - Superdrug (on offer)| Candle - Ikea | Vaseline Rosy Lips - Asda (on offer)

Wilkinsons - note books | Poundshop - fluffy socks | Wilkos - Montagne Jeunesse Face Mask

Poundshop - Festive Mug | 4x Hot Chocolate sachets most Supermarkets

These gifts do seem quite feminine but can be mixed up for a male quite easily. I think a DIY hot chocolate set is a really great idea and if made for a few people quite a cheap gift option. I recently tried the Maltesers Hot Chocolate and it's super yummy. Fluffy socks are great at this time of year, I'd normally pick them up in Primark where I think they're two pairs for £2.

There are some pamper items that you really can't go wrong with, these are a lip balm, shower gel and a face mask. I feel like I've cheated a little as the shower gel and lip balm are on offer, so if you fancy them pick them up while you can. I've picked the Rosy Lips Vaseline as it's a lovely lightly tinted formula which is a little bit more special than the normal varieties. There are so many different brand and normally a lot of offers to take your pick from, Superdrug face masks are normally on 3 for 2.

I felt the need to add a few cliche blogger gifts which would be the candle and note books. I think the Ikea candles are really good quality and the smaller size is only 85p. As a blogger note books are really important for keeping ideas together, this selection of three little note books from Wilkinson's is really sweet. A few other items which cost a little more would be the mini cactus set from Ikea and a few bath bombs from Lush which start at as little as £1.95.

What would your favourite item to receive be?

Sam

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Small Business Saturday | #BLOGMAS Day 5

Hi, Just a quick post today to tell you about Small Business Saturday. A promotional event which falls on the first Saturday of December and started back in 2013. I first became aware of this campaign last year at a craft market, it's a way for small businesses to work together to get noticed and to get us the consumer to shop locally.

More and more people are starting up small business on the side and December is a great opportunity to gain sales with the run up to Christmas. If you're not heading out you could always look online at sites like Etsy and Not on The High Street.

Some bloggers I know of who have small businesses are:
Jemma from Dorkface she does really cool illustrations of pretty much anything.
Hayley from Water Painted Dreams who creates crochet goodies including the cutest elephants.
Jessica from Heart Shaped Bones an illustrator of the weird and wonderful.

I'm in York today with a group of friends to check out the markets and do a bit of Christmas shopping. I'm going to be making a special effort to go in all the independent shops that York is so well known for. Hopefully I can pick up some original pieces as gifts for the people I have left to buy for. Have a lovely weekend, if you support a small business you can tweet about it using #SmallBizSatUK.

Will you be supporting any small businesses today?

Sam

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The Christmas Tag | #BLOGMAS Day 4

Hi, Happy Friday! It's only 3 weeks until Christmas day, ekk how fast is that going to fly by. I've got the day off work, so I headed into town to do a little shopping. I picked up wrapping paper, cards and other Christmassy bits which have made me feel much more festive. I've still got some presents I need to buy though and I'm normally really good with ideas but this year I'm totally out. So today I've got the Christmas Tag for you to read, it was nice answering these questions as they got me thinking about the past and all the fun of Christmas.

The Christmas Tag

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie/s?
My favourite Christmas film is Jingle All the Way, it's about a dad (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) trying to find his son that one gift that every other kid everywhere wants. I like it because it's a highly relate-able plot but it gets very far fetched but that just adds to a Christmas film.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
We've always waited to open our presents until Christmas morning.

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?
To be honest all my Christmases seem to have merged together as we're a family of habit and tradition. I do remember going on a festive train ride once where Santa came round and gave us all a present, that was cool. My dad plays in a brass band, I did too when I was younger, so Christmas always makes me think of carols played by brass.

4. Favourite festive food?
I don't think I eat anything special at this time of year but I definitely indulge in more drinks, Hot Chocolate and Mulled wine.

5. Favourite Christmas gift?
The present that I loved the most has to be my original Gameboy, one of those grey bricks with massive pixels. I had so many hours of fun on it and got my first taste of the Pokemon world via Blue.

6. Favourite Christmas scent?
My favourite winter scent is Cinnamon, it just seems festive and tastes so good in Hot chocolate.

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?
Since I was a few years old my family and my parents friends would take it in turn to host a Christmas eve get together, this year will be no different. We have a little buffet of jacket potatoes and pizza and play party games, which are hilarious.

8. What tops your tree?
Our tree has had a lot of toppers but at the moment we've just got a generic silver star.

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?
I can't think of anything that I asked for and didn't get because I never really wanted anything, or anything extravagant anyway. I did once nag my mum for a guinea pig for my birthday, she bought me a hamster instead.

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?
Can I say everything? After all it's a time for you to think of overs before yourself even if it's only about what present your going to buy and it brings everyone together. I see people at Christmas that I haven't seen all year, it gives you a reason to make time. Also the festive cheer and fairy lights.

What was your first games console? Let me know if you do the tag, I'd love to read your answers.
Sam

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My Novelty Christmas Jumper Picks | #BLOGMAS Day 3

Hi, Have you dared to wear your Christmas jumper yet? Might as well get some use out of it right. The novelty jumper isn't a trend I had ever really taken part in until a few years ago when it was a requirement for a Christmas meal. I can't remember when exactly the Christmas jumper trend really hit but it's been going strong the last few years with a lot of high street stores supplying us with knitted delights to fill our festive needs. So I've put together a selection of pieces that perfectly sum up the Christmas period in woolen form.

Listed left to right

Snowman Primark - £12.00 | Reindeer H&M - £24.99 | Unicorn ASDA - £15.00

Penguins Primark - £14.00 | Dec 25th New Look - £19.99 | Festive Mix New Look - £19.99

Tree Hoodie - £19.99 | Reindeer Primark - £14.00 | Pudding New Look - £20.00

Primark really know what they are doing when it comes to Christmas jumpers and as always they are so reasonably priced. I'm really liking the snowman, he looks like he's having a lot of fun. My favourite Christmas jumpers are the more traditional one with bands of repetitive pattern and Primark have designed two which I would happily wear all winter never mind just at Christmas.

The Unicorn jumper is really sweet and totally plays into the whole I want a pony for Christmas thing, but it's a Unicorn and everyone knows that's way better. The slogan jumper is pretty cool and a really great pick for anyone who doesn't want to rock a super festive jumper. I've included the tree hoody simply because it's so different from anything else I've seen and would be a really over the top Christmas jumper, but I think it needs more pompoms.

What's on your Christmas jumper?

Sam

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20 Ways to Get into The Festive Mood | #BLOGMAS Day 2

Hi, I've got a selection of ideas to share with you to get you in the festive mood, although I doubt a lot of you will really need the help. I love Christmas but I am getting a bit over whelmed by the fact that it seems to start earlier and earlier each year, so much so by the time December finally comes around it already feels a little stale. That's what inspired me to write this list as I needed a way to view Christmas freshly again. I'm over that now and see it from the kid inside who just wants to stare at all the flashing lights, sparkly trinkets and spend time with my friends and family, undoubtedly over a little bit too much food and drink.

Ways to Get into the Festive Mood

1. Buy an advent calendar or make your own.
2. Make present buying a social event and spend a day with someone who makes you happy.
3. Go check out a Christmas market and maybe have a go at ice skating.
4. Listen to your favourite Christmas songs.
5. Buy new Christmas decorations and make decorating an event.
6. Buy a TV guide and circle all the films you want to watch over the festivities.
7. Do some Christmas baking - Mince pies/Sugar cookies.
8. Indulge in the Christmas themed food and drink.
9. Visit loved ones and share the festive feeling.
10. Make your own Christmas cards, or simply enjoy writing them.
11. Buy some new/Christmas Pajamas.
12. Indulge in a Lush bath using something from the Christmas range.
13. Make wrapping your presents a crafting experience with bows and colour schemes.
14. Paint your nails with festive colours and glitter.
15. Buy a festive smelling candle.
16. Make/plan some games for Christmas day.
17. Organise/take part in a secret Santa.
18. Go for a walk and forage for Holly and Pine cones to use as decorations.
19. Donate to Charity however you can, have a sort out and make room for new things.
20. Read a Christmas/winter themed book.

Have you got any other suggestions for feeling festive?

Sam

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Monthly Mini Goals - December | #BLOGMAS Day 1

Hi, Ok it's officially the count down to Christmas. You may have guess from the title that I am planning on trying to complete Blogmas by blogging every day until Christmas, a whole 25 days of none stop blog posts. So today I'm kicking off with my monthly goals which as you can imagine feature a rather festive lineup.

Mini goals for December

• Have an awesome Christmas
• Get my Christmas Shopping Finished
• Buy themed wrapping paper and make my presents into works of art.
• Go to a Christmas Market - Maybe ice skate.
• Make putting up the decorations an event with music and Baileys.
• Complete my reading goal for the year of 35 books.
• Drink mulled wine and all the other festive drinks.
• Do some festive baking - Mince pies most probably.
• Have a day out with my friends/family.
• Do a Christmas DIY project, I'm really enjoying knitting again.

I really hope I can be organized enough to complete Blogmas, it would be a real accomplishment. Let me know if you're also taking part, I'd love to read some new blogs. I've got a few plans already in motion for this month and I'm sure there will be lots of mulled wine involved. I'm looking forward to Christmas songs on the radio and opening the rest of the doors on my advent calendar.

What's your goals for December?

Sam

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