Merry Christmas

Hello! As you're reading this, I'm probably munching my way through a delicious Christmas dinner. I just wanted to wish all of my readers a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year. I will be back very soon and am looking forward to seeing where 2015 takes me on this blogging journey.

Kirsty Allsopp Rose Bath Creamers Kit

Kirsty Allsopp Rose Bath Creamers Kit - £20*






Baking and I are not good friends. We're not even aquaintances and whenever I get the urge to bake I remember just how bad things can get and I quickly change my mind. Instead I've found a crafty alternative to baking in the form of the Kirsty Allsopp Rose Bath Creamers Kit. Actually the only baking involved is the melting of some shea butter and cocoa butter and pouring it into cupcake cases.

I'm really not a crafty person but this kit from Hobby Crafts gifts is so easy that even I can do it. It comes with everything you need, shea butter, cocoa butter, rose scent, almond oil, dried rose buds, cupcake cases, twine and gift tags so you can make them into a cute gift for someone else if you don't feel like keeping them yourself.

The process is really easy, you melt the cocoa and shea butter, add in the rose scent and almond oil and pour into the cases. You then leave them to set overnight. You can use the dried rose buds as decoration on top or you can pop them in the bottom of the cupcake case and pour the mixture ontop so they're in the middle of it. I'm not sure if this comes in any other scents but the rose scent in mine is pretty powerful so I don't think you'd need all that much in your mixture. They'll certainly make your bath smell amazing though and the shea butter and almond oil in the mixture is great for leaving your skin feeling super soft.

I actually quite enjoyed making the bath creamers as it was so, so easy. The perfect Sunday afternoon activity. I wouldn't recommend this kit for youngsters but it's perfect for teenagers and adults. I definitely had fun making them and they do look good enough to eat, but I would warn anyone else in your house that they aren't edible as my boyfriend proceeded to open the fridge and think they were actual cakes!

*This post contains a PR sample

Bomb Cosmetics Berry Christmas Gift Set

The amount of bath products I get at Christmas time is pretty overwhelming. They usually last pretty much all year! If you're looking for a VERY last minute gift then Bomb Cosmetics has such a great variety of products that make great main presents or even stocking fillers.

Not too long ago I wrote a post about the best beauty crackers but this one is the king of them all. It contains the It's Xmas Bath Blaster, which is a gorgeously scented Neroli and sweet Orange bath bomb with a hint of glitter, perfect for a bath before a festive party.

It also contains the Cherry Bathewell Bath Blaster, which not only has a great name but looks good enough to eat. It's got a very fruity, cherry scent with a hint of cookie. It's absolutely delicious.

Lastly the Fresh Berry Blaster looks like a little trifle full of raspberry and vanilla scent!

Bomb cosmetics is a great, cheaper alternative to the likes of Lush. There is such a huge variety of scents and products to choose from as well. You can never have too many bath bombs!

Have you tried Bomb Cosmetics? Let me know what you thought in the comments.

*This post contains a PR sample

Christmas gift guide: stocking fillers

Along Came Betty Shimmer Me Softly Bath Crystals - £2*

Treacle Moon Vanilla Moment Body Scrub - £2.99*

Treacle Moon Honeycomb Body Butter - £3.99*

Batiste Dry Shampoo - fullsize £3.99*

Good Things Five Minute Facial Mask - £5.99*

Argan + Moroccan Rose Super Repair Hand & Nail Cream - £5.32* Bee Good Honey & Wild Flax Daily Moisturiser - £19.50*

Makeup Revolution The One Fluid Blusher in Pink Dew - £3*

Wilko Retractable Kabuki Brush - £3*

Makeup Revolution Ultra Aqua Brow Tint in Medium - £3*

Makeup Revolution Euphoria Palette in Bare - £6*

Makeup Revolution All About Cream Blush Palette - £6*

Makeup Revolution Iconic Dreams Palette - £4*

Makeup Revolution Ultra Blush and Contour Palette Golden Sugar - £6*

Is it weird I don't get a stocking on Christmas day? I can't really remember if I did as a child, but it's definitely not one of those traditions for me to wake up on Christmas morning with a stocking stuffed full of presents. It's kind of sad really!

If you're one of the lucky ones that do receive a stocking or if you're looking for stocking fillers for someone else, then hopefully this post will give you a bit of inspiration. Everything is very beauty orientated because, believe it or not, that's kind of what I have a lot of knocking around the house. It's also mostly products I've been sent for consideration. I promise I didn't mean for it to turn out like this, I just went through everything I thought would make a nice stocking filler gift and this is what came out!

You can't really go wrong with 'health/beauty' goodies in my opinion. Bath products in particular are very popular. I would love to find a ton of bath products in my stocking. I love having baths and using lovely products to make it smell delicious. I also thoroughly enjoy smothering myself in delicious smelling products after a bath so some kind of skin products are a great idea for stockings.

As well as bath products, you can't go wrong with hair products, hand creams, moisturisers and face masks as pictured above. I am hoping to dedicate some separate posts to these products so will give you a brief opinion now - I'm loving using all of them! They're perfect for little stocking filler pressies alongside make-up and make-up brushes. I would love to find some Makeup Revolution palettes poking out of my stocking this year! Hint hint!

What are you hoping to see in your Christmas stocking this year?

Christmas gift guide: for bloggers

Wavy stripe dotted paper notepad - £4,  Noto mint green medium day to a page diary 2015 - £14

Lippy lipstick marker pens - £7, Work hard be kind pencils - £7.83

Alphabet Makeup bag/pencil case - £12.50, Cream and Gold Cut Out iPad case - £14.99

Neon Multicoloured Stud Stripe iPhone 5 Case - £5.99

When I was putting all of my gift guides together I thought I'd do one for bloggers, but I thought I'd keep it non-beauty related and instead feature gifts that might be helpful towards a blogger's job.

I know that notebooks, planners and diaries really come in handy for a blogger and every year I always ask for a diary of some sort to try and keep my life somewhat organised. Notebooks are great for jotting down blog post ideas wherever you are and with a diary you can go into a bit more detail. I have actually bought myself a wall planner/calendar for 2015's blog posts as I'm trying to be much more organised with my blogs in the New Year.

Lots of bloggers have phones and iPads or some kind of tablet that helps them out with their blogging so why not keep them looking lovely with pretty cases, always a good bet for a Christmas present.

You also can't go wrong with stationary, whether it's these popular pencils that every blogger loves at the moment, marker pens in the shape of lipsticks or a good old fashioned pen. I personally cannot get enough of stationary and I love nothing more than having a fresh notebook and a pen ready for writing out blog post plans with.

What will you be buying for the blogger/s in your life? Let me know in the comments.


*PS. This post doesn't contain any paid for links. These gift ideas are chosen only by me.

Festive Nails

Rimmel London Glitter Bomb in Bedazzle - £3.99
Barry M Moonlight - £3.99
Rimmel Pop Art - £3.99
Essie A Cut Above - £7.99
Pop into any Boots or Superdrug store and the beauty counters are absolutely full of glitter/effect polishes. After seeing at least one from every brand I thought I would pick some up for a special post on festive nails.

Festive nails are a great way of working some glitter/bling into your outfit if you're not keen on a glittery eye or other make-up.

Rimmel Pop Art
Another great polish from Rimmel is this Pop Art one. Instead of glittery discs this contains small confetti particles in a variety of bright, primary colours. This would look fab on a white base, another polish that's perfect for creating a bit of an alternative festive look.

Rimmel London Glitter Bomb in Bedazzle
Rimmel is great for glitter top coats and I seriously love Glitter Bomb. It's a gorgeous mix of dark blue, purple and pink sequin-esque discs. It would look great on top of a white base but even better on a black base for a bit of an alternative festive look. Love this!

Barry M Moonlight
You can't really go wrong with a Barry M glitter polish and Moonlight is perfect for the festive season. Not only does it come with a festive red lid but the confetti particles inside are a gorgeous mix of red, gold and silver circles and stars. It's pretty much Christmas in a nail polish.

Essie A Cut Above
This Essie polish is one of the more expensive on the high street but it's just so gorgeous I couldn't pass it by. It contains beautiful confetti particles of a rose gold colour, which are just so pretty. Again this would look great on a white or black base and gives a bit more of a modern festive look.

What glitter polishes are you loving at the moment? Let me know in the comments. Also, I'd love to hear your thoughts about using nail wheels in these types of posts. Do you prefer these or do you prefer seeing polishes on real nails? Let me know.

Christmas gift guide: for pets

If, like me, you're an animal lover then you might be thinking of buying a little treat for your furry friend/s this Christmas. I think this year companies have gone all out for pet Christmas presents and one that has gone above and beyond is More Than, which has developed a great Christmas present finder app for your cat or dog.

The app is separated into gifts for cats or dogs. So, you choose your animal and choose whether you want a treat, a toy, a gadget or something fun priced under or over £20. The results are really brilliant, giving you a huge variety of products to choose from.

I've had lots of fun using the present finder app to put this Christmas gift guide together and there's definitely lots of goodies that my cat, Charlie, might find under the tree this year. Now, if only it was so easy to find gifts for the rest of your family!

Cat presents under £20
The first thing the present finder app threw up for me was the Mungo & Maud Knitted Mouse Cat Toy for £10.60. The mouse is beautifully knitted and is filled with cat nip so is a real treat for your feline.

I also came across the Jolly Moggy Sid Snowman, which is another cat nip filled toy for just £2.60. So cute!

Cats always love squeezing into small spaces, especially boxes, so this Cat Playhouse Tipi, which is £19.99, is perfect for a sleepy kitty.

Cat presents over £20
If you want to splash out a bit more on your cat this year then this Meow Cat Toy will go down really well. It's made from khaki fleece and Sherpa fleece. The letters and little heart are applied by hand in a pure cotton Amberley Liberty print. It comes in a cute gift box too.

Pretty much all cats need a scratching pole of some sorts. This Cat Scratching Activity Centre is great. Cats use scratching poles not only to sharpen their claws but also to strengthen their muscles and mark their territory so if you don't have a place where your cat cat do this, then the activity centre is for you! The centre is a cosy wedge shaped pod with plush lining for hiding and snoozing, and a sisal scratching mat on top.

Dog presents under £20
I've had dogs all my life and at Christmas they always get special dog stockings, which they can usually rip open themselves. If you want to get your pooch something a bit more special than a stocking, then read on.

There's nothing better than a good toy and the Mungo & Maug Crochet Bone Dog Toy is ideal. It's beautifully crocheted and squeaks when chewed.

This Rosewood Santa Claus Cruncher was too cute not to feature. It contains a crunchable water bottle. The crunch noise that this toy makes will stimulate your dog and the soft plush cover prevents the broken bits of plastic from making a mess.

If you want your hound to look handsome for the festivities, try one of these Reversible Pet Bow Ties, which are so, so cute! The bow tie simply attaches safely to the pet's own collar. Suitable for cats too!

Dog presents over £20
For over £20 you can treat your dog to Brass Paw Dog Tag, which has a plain back ready for engraving. This would look so pretty on any dog's collar.

The Camelia the Camel Dog Toy is perfect if your dog likes to have a cuddly friend in his bed. Perfect for them to chew on.

Have you tried the More Than present finder app? Let me know what results it gives you.


*This is a sponsored post.

Give the gift of pampering with Seascape

Seascape Island Apothecary Revive Duo Gift Set - £30*
Seascape Island Apothecary Unwind Body Wash - £16*




I was sent these products much earlier in the year and I never got around to featuring them. I still hadn't used them when I came across them a couple of weeks ago but I thought they'd be perfect for a Christmas gift feature post and luckily, they're still available!

As well as my Christmas gift guides I will also be featuring a few products individually, which I want to talk more about. The first to feature is this gorgeous Seascape Island Apothecary Revive Duo Gift Set, which contains a shampoo and conditioner. Now I know what you're thinking, £30 is pretty pricey for shampoo and conditioner and I would definitely agree with you but I think the receiver will get LOADS of use from these. They will last absolutely ages, even if they're used daily.

The Unwind Body Wash is equally luxurious and a little cheaper as it comes on its own. This one contains 100% natural essential oils of Jersey Lavender to soothe and relax and exotic Ylang Ylang to balance the mind and ease tension, perfect for when you're trying to unwind in the tub.

The products don't contain paraben, silicone or petroleum and are SLS free and suitable for vegetarians. No artificial colours or synthetic fragrances are used either and the brand itself is against animal testing. All ingredients are sourced from ethical suppliers and bottles and packaging are recyclable so this is what bumps up the price a little, but at least you know you/the gift receiver are getting something completely safe and cruelty free.

I think these make really lovely gifts and they're easy to wrap too, perfect for people like me who can only wrap things in square boxes.

Have you ever tried this brand? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.


*These products were PR samples and were sent to me free of charge. I have given my honest opinions on them in this post.

Christmas gift guide: for her

Being a girl myself means I usually find these gift guides pretty easy. I usually just feature bits and pieces I'd like to get myself but this year I've tried to find something for women of all ages.

Mums/sisters/friends are usually really easy to buy for as you know them inside out and know what they love/hate. Also, they'll usually tell you exactly what they want anyway but nans/aunties are a bit more tricky as they usually have pretty much everything! I'm still struggling with a gift for my nan so I'm browsing lots of gift guides for inspiration. Hopefully this one will inspire your own gift giving.

Some of these you can buy as main presents but some would work equally well as little extras or stocking fillers.

For the beauty lover
Whatever age you're buying for, you can't really go wrong with a beauty gift. Nail polishes are always a great idea and you can pick up some really cute gifts such as this Nails Inc Holiday Edit Gel Effect Collection one or for something extra special, Liz Earle does a great signature nail polish colour in a pretty star gift box.

For the scent lover
Another one you can't go wrong with is perfume. I would steer clear of perfume gift sets though because before Christmas they're super expensive and you'll find yourself in a shop in the New Year and you'll see them at more than half the price of what you paid less than a month ago and you'll want to hit yourself. The Marc Jacob's Daisy Dream is one of the stand out perfumes of the year, it's really light and fresh so you'll be pretty safe with this one. Black Opium is more of an aquired taste but the bottle is gorgeous!

If you don't think perfume is the right way to go you can always opt for a scented candle. I personally adore scented candles, much to the annoyance of my boyfriend, but most of them smell really good so you can't really go wrong!

For the traveller
For any ladies in your life that like to take regular trips or have to go away quite a lot for work, then a travel/weekend bag is probably your best bet. Something stylish and sturdy! Try this leather weekend bag from Next, lovely!

For the stylish woman
Depending on the gift receiver's tastes you can go for something simple like cosy, cute socks or you can opt for something a bit more luxurious such as a watch or designer iPad case.

So there you go, hopefully all of the ladies in your life are covered, present wise.

*PS. This post doesn't contain any paid for links. These gift ideas are chosen only by me.

Christmas gift guide: for him

I usually struggle when it comes to buying gifts for the guys in my life. This year however, I know exactly what I'm getting Vince, mainly because he's told me but there's still my dad to think of…still no idea what to get him. If, like me, you get stuck buying for the guys in your life then hopefully this little gift guide will help.

For the tech lover
You can pretty much guarantee that at least one of the guys in your life is a fan of all things techy. Vince is a huge fan of tech and he actually helped with the gift guide as he has the LG G Watch, featured. It's a pretty cool piece of kit actually as it does pretty much all the same things as a phone, but it's neat and compacted onto your wrist. You do need an Android phone for it to work though!

Vince finds it particularly useful at work. He's a chef so can't keep getting his phone out - this way he can use it as he works, although don't tell his boss…

Another great piece of tech I came across is the Impossible Refurbished '80s-Style Polaroid 600 Camera and Film Set, which is great if you've got a photography lover as this combines one passion with another.

This is a great piece of kit that comes with a built-in flash, focus-free lens and slider to adjust exposure. The front end folds when not in use for lens and shutter protection.

For the young man
There's no doubt a little brother or cousin that you'll need to buy for. Matalan actually have some great, fun gifts including the Mini table air hockey, which I actually would kind of like for myself.

For the music lover
If there's a music lover in the family you could go retro with your present giving and go for the Roberts Radio. These are really popular at the moment and come in so many different colours.

Alternatively, if he's a guitar player you could opt for a personalised plectrum, which is something really super special!
For the stylish man
Every year I probably buy Vince or my dad/grandad some kind of sock set. You can't go wrong with them really, especially this pack of multicoloured socks, great fun!

You also can't go wrong with a wallet, belt or a hat. Something that all guys need, every year it seems!


*PS. This post doesn't contain any paid for links. These gift ideas are chosen only by me.

Christmas decoration wishlist

I have yet to put my Christmas tree or decorations up yet. Vince and I actually want to get a new tree as the one we have is just too big, so I thought if we were getting a new tree then some new decorations are certainly in order.

When anyone says decorations you instantly think baubles and lights but decorating the home at Christmas can consist of lots of different accessories such as candles, cushions, photo frames, bunting and throws. Anything with a festive feel. My living room is very autumnal at the moment so it's perfect for this time of year, if I add a few different candles, some lights and handing trinkets then it will instantly transform into a little crimbo grotto.

Most of the tree decorations we have are very traditional, different coloured baubles, lights and tinsel, so it's nice to be able to decorate the rest of the home with something a bit more modern.

How are you decorating your house or tree this year?

The best of the beauty crackers

If you unfortunately couldn't get your hands on an advent calendar this year then you could pick up a beauty cracker. Beauty crackers are becoming much more popular and are a great little treat on the big day. They can be used as stocking fillers or can be given out at the dinner table as an alternative to traditional ones.

As you might expect beauty crackers leave you with a much better gift than a paper hat and a plastic moustache. These leave you with something you actually want and can use!

Lancome Beauty Christmas crackers - £54
This set of six is ideal for the beauty lovers round the table on Christmas day. Alternatively you could split them up and pop them in various loved ones stockings to wake up to on the big day. The treats inside are incredible: Hypnose Volume Mascara, Le Crayon Khol Eyeliner, Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate, Lip Lover, L'absolue lipstick and a Bi-Facil Eye Make Up Remover.

Jo Malone - £28
Probably the most luxurious and expensive beauty cracker on the market, this one comes with a mini cologne, a body & hand wash and a Body Creme all in an elegant cream cracker tied with ribbon. The Christmas dinner table would look seriously good with these on people's place mats or they can be used as a stocking filler gift.

No7 Christmas Cracker Collection - £14
If you can't get your hands on the No7 Christmas Calendar then this is a great alternative at a fraction of the price. Again, this comes in a box of six, so they're perfect for the dinner table or as stocking fillers. You could even hide them within the tree as an extra gift on Christmas day.

The crackers include a selection of mini products such as: No7 Stay Perfect Nail Polish in Temptress, No7 Stay Perfect Nail Polish in Beanie, No7 Stay Perfect Nail Polish in Damson Dream, No7 Protect & Perfect Day Cream, No7 Protect & Perfect Night Cream and the No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Eye Cream.

This Works Miracle Cracker - £10
The This Works Miracle Cracker is really great for those that have trouble sleeping. It contains a deep sleep body therapy and a mini spray-on body treatment with Lavender and Camomile to relax and hydrate.

Cowshed Cracking Hand & Lip Gift Set - £10
This is technically not a cracker, but a gift set in a cracker shaped box. However it makes a great little stocking filler and includes a luxurious hand cream and lip balm, perfect for the winter weather.

Clarins Christmas Crackers - £39
Another expensive cracker at £39 but again, a luxurious one containing Wonder Perfect Mascara, Gentle Refiner, Beauty Flash Balm, Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, Eau des Jardins and a Rouge Eclat lipstick. This would make a lovely Christmas gift/stocking filler if you didn't fancy splashing out on a whole bunch of crackers for the Christmas dinner table.

SpaceNK Best of SpaceNK Crackers - £48
Another expensive one but this time the £48 is for a box of six. Each cracker contains a hidden beauty treasure such as a Rococo Nail Polish, Oribe Supershine Hair Cream, Life NK Body Wash, Laura Mercier Primer, Caudalíe Beauty Elixir and a Lipstick Queen Gloss.

What beauty crackers will you be pulling this year? Let me know in the comments.

The best of the beauty advent calendars

It's coming up to that time of the year…advent! As a kid I used to love having a chocolate advent calendar to open every day. These days I'm more into beauty advent calendars than chocolate ones so I decided to put together a post about the best of the bunch. Hopefully you can pick one of for yourself if they haven't already sold out!

I have to admit, the only beauty calendar I've ever had is one of the Ciate ones. I'd love to have one of the Benefit ones or one of the highstreet beauty ones though. Let's hope I can get my hands on one before December 1.

Primark beauty advent calendar - £15
I keep spotting this in store and I always pick it up and put it back. I guess this is the most bargainous advent calendar on the market at the moment at a mere £15. It contains a selection of Primark beauty goodies including nail polishes and manicure accessories. It's a really great option if you're on a budget. There's also a jewellery version full of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and more.

Tesco Advent Calendar - £50
From what I can see this is the only beauty advent calendar from any of the supermarkets. Tesco has really upped their game this year when it comes to all things beauty. While £50 is a tad on the expensive side, it is totally worth it as you actually get £125 worth of gifts inside throughout December. Brands include Nip & Fab, Tanya Burr and Baylis & Harding.

Elemis - £59.50
This is probably the most luxurious calendar out there, full of beautiful Elemis treats. This one is only actually for 12 days so can be used in the run up to or even after Christmas. It might be a good idea to use the treats in the 12 days following Christmas as a bit of a treat for the skin after all that food and chocolate. The calendar contains some of Elemis' most well-known products including the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream and the Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules.

Benefit Candy Coated Countdown - £60
Unfortunately I believe the Benefit advent calendar is sold out but if you do happen to get your hands on it somehow then you're in for a whole host of Benefit goodies including the POREfessional, BADgal lash, Fake up, Posie tint and a few cute bits and pieces such as a hair band, funky paperclips and a doodle pad. At £60 this is probably one of the most expensive out there and I'm not surprised it's already sold out as they are always so popular.

No7 Beauty Calendar - £35
I've seen this one in Boots stores quite regularly. Although it is sold out online I think you might find the odd one or two still available in stores. I really wish I had picked this up when I saw it as I love No7 skincare so this is right up my street.

This is actually the first time No7 has brought out a calendar and they've done such a great job. The goodies inside total £135 so you're really getting your money's worth here.

Ciate Mini Mani Manor - £49
The Ciate advent calendars are always one of my faves. Last year I picked up the calendar at The Clothes Show for a mere £10 and I absolutely loved opening the door every day to find a cute mini polish. Ciate is a great brand and its polishes are really great quality and you'll be treated to a full size version on the big day.

What beauty advent calendars will you be opening this year? Let me know in the comments.

Lush Christmas 2014

Tis the season to be jolly…sorry, I know it's a bit early, but try telling all the shops that. Christmas seems to get earlier and earlier this year and most shops now have Christmas stock in before they even get Halloween stock.

I've been seeing lots of bloggers featuring the new Lush Christmas range so I thought I would pop in while I was in Bristol and pick up a few bits myself. It was difficult to choose what to get to be honest but I picked up the Dashing Santa bath bomb as I thought it was quite fun. For £2.95 it's really worth your money and it's made to uplift your mood thanks to Christmas scents of satsuma. This is right up my street as I love nothing more than a really scented bath and citrus fragrances are some of my faves.

While I didn't pick up a Snow Fairy shower gel, I did pick up the heavenly scent in a different form - the Snow Fairy Sparkle, which is a lovely, shimmering massage bar, perfect for making your skin super soft thanks to its shea, murmuru and cupuaçu butters.

I also p-p-picked up a penguin…The Christmas Penguin bubble bar to be exact. This fella is so cute I couldn't resist. I think I tried this last year but I've picked it up again as the scent is so fresh and can create loads of bubbles, perfect!

This year I have become a huge fan of Lush. In the past I have popped in to stores and bought a few bits here and there but now I've really developed a love for its products and I'm really impressed by its huge range of Christmas stock. This is just the tip of iceberg really as there's so much more within the range. I'd love to try out the Northern Lights bath bomb and the Baked Alaska soap, which looks amazing.

I'll be giving everything featured here it's own dedicated post in the very near future and you can read my thoughts in much more depth. Have you tried anything from the new Christmas range yet? What did you think?