Lady Writes Secret Santa!

Ho Ho Hello Again!

I was scrolling through twitter the other week and I came across a tweet from the lovely Chloe from This Lady Writes and it said that she was organising a Secret Santa! I knew straight away that I wanted to take part so I did!!

I got my email with all the different social media accounts for m person and I went and had a good old stalk and found out many different things about her. I found that she loved flamingos and caffeine free tea so I got her some goodies like that. Since then she has actually done a blog post about what she received so I will leave it here (www.sophieblunt.com) Now I know it was Secret Santa and doing that makes it not secretive at all but she actually wrote in my card her name which is Sophie and surprise - Sophie ended up having me too!! So today's post is going to be all about what My Secret Santa got me!

When I opened up my parcel I found a massive red and white striped gift bag and I was so excited! I opened it up to find everything individually wrapped in Cath Kidston wrapping paper and heaps and heaps of red and green shredded card! The first thing I opened was my card (which the penguins scarf matched the shredded card - The OCD in me was very pleased) and Sophie wrote a really nice message and she wrote that she had chosen little gifts that were perfect for a cosy night in which is perfect for me! I then pulled out this cute bag full of different hot chocolates and mini marshmallows which in this photo there are a few missing because I opened this earlier on in the week but could only take photos this weekend - but I wasn't waiting for a cheeky hot chocolate (or two).

She also included some Festive Room spray which is basically Christmas in a bottle!! I absolutely love this and will be definitely using it up until Christmas and afterwards!

Now I also love to paint my nails and I find that it's a super quick and easy way to pamper yourself and obviously Santa thinks the same seeing as this little Christmas Tree decoration was included in my parcel. It's a lovely glittery pinky-red nail varnish! The perfect colour for all those Christmas Parties!

There is also something else missing from the photo and that's this beauty! What perfect cosy night in is complete without a bath with a Lush Bath Bomb?! Well Sophie chose my new favourite Lush bath bomb in this one which is Shoot for the Stars! I have actually used this already and it was amazing - so amazing that I will be doing a whole blog post on it!

The last thing and actually my Favourite Part is this mug! Can we all just take a second and appreciate how damn cute this little guy is! It's a little Santa mug complete with Hat to keep all those hot chocolates warm! I have used this little guy so many times and have even taken him to work with me!

I have loved taking part in this and would like to say a massive Thank You to Chloe from This Lady Writes! I really do hope that she does it again next year! Also a massive thank you to my Secret Santa for all my thoughtful gifts!! I love every single one!

'Till Next Time ...

Favourite Holiday Memories - in Collaboration with Man Crates

Ho! Ho! Hello Again!!

Today's post is in Collaboration with Man Crates! Now ladies, don't be put off all genders would love these crates - I know I would! They are a company that specialises in gifts for guys which get shipped in a wooden crate that needs opened with a crowbar! How cool does that sound, it makes it fun before it's even opened! Man Crates contacted me asking if I wanted to write up a blog post all about Christmas memories and nostalgia! Now that is right up my street as I am a memory hoarder, every little thing is so sentimental to me!

I was born in 1992 so Christmas for me wasn't Christmas without a few certain things, one of them being Home Alone! Now I know a lot of people love this film but honestly, I had to watch it over and over again! It was just what we did! My favourite Home Alone is Home Alone 2 - Lost in New York, everything from the music, the actors to signing uncle in the shower. When I watch it now it still brings back all those memories of sitting in my old living room, in my cosy pyjamas with my trusty cuddly toy dog Paws (which I have now passed down to April - see told you, everything is so sentimental I never want to get rid of anything).  

My dad and I also always put the tree up together - my older sister wasn't really interested in it which I secretly liked because it was a really nice bonding thing for me and him year after year. We had some decorations that came and went but there were a few that came out year after year and one of those was my Eeyore Snow globe that yes, I do still have! I'm not sure where my dad got it from but growing up My dad, my sister and I each had our favourite Winnie the Pooh character and mine was Eeyore. Now that I'm older and have my own house I have my own tree and decorations to put up but this will now become a tradition for my little family.

Now coming from a divorced family we always spent Christmas day with my Dad and his side of the family and Boxing Day was just like a second Christmas Day and we spent that with my Mum and her side of the family. So every boxing day that I can remember we went down to St. Andrews (which is just near Fife in Scotland) and after all the food was gone and the presents were opened we would always sit down and play games, but especially the game Sorry. I don't really know how to explain it but there's cards in the middle of the board and you have 5 pawns, the first person to get all pawns home wins! Sounds simple doesn't it? Well the cards tell you how many spaces to moves, but there's also cards that say, 'Start, by sending a pawn back'. So you get to start a new pawn and send someone else's pawn back to the beginning, hence the name, Sorry!

Man Crates have a wide range of different crates up for grabs and I especially like the look of their Snack Sensei (a crate full to the brim of different snacks) and their Old School Crate (which is full of all things nostalgia) so if that sounds like someone you'd like or know someone who would love to receive a crate head on over www.mancrates.com and take a look! 

'Till Next Time ...

Kind of Christmas Lush Haul!

Hello Again,

Today's post is a Lush Haul!! (let the angels sing) I loved how the woman appreciated that none of what I was buying was for Christmas presents - why not treat yourself? I can't wait to try all of these out - what one should I use first?! I will put Lush's description of each product in my little info bit just because some of them are pure genius!

First up is something I have heard a lot about and I'm so glad I finally have it - it's Snow Fairy Shower Gel! This honestly smells good enough to eat!! It's just like liquid candy floss, I really do wish I bought a bigger bottle so I will have to go back! 

'Come your eyes, make a wish and swish on shimmer with the sweet scent of candy floss' - well if that doesn't tickle tour pickle then I don't know what will. I can't wait to use this and I think April will be a fan of it too!

Next up is one of their Christmas Bath Bombs and it's So White! This one smells really fresh with a hint of apple! This one is going to be interesting, I can't wait to see this one when it's in the bath.

'Become the fairest of them all when you sink into a bath with this bomb. Bergamot and Rose give it an apple scent as pure as the driven snow'.

The past few times I've popped into the Aberdeen Lush I have looked for this one but it hasn't been there but this time - it was! It's The Experimenter Bath Bomb! I have to say this one of the most appealing bath bombs I've ever seen - my photo doesn't give it justice! I actually can't pin down what this smells like but it's strangely nice! Plus I've heard it makes a literal rainbow in your bath - who doesn't want that? The description wasn't actually printed on the label for this one so I took this off of  the Lush website.

'If you're looking for adventure... you'll find it in The Experimenter, starring vibrant colour, popping candy and Fair Trade vanilla absolute from near the Rwenzori mountains in Uganda. An enigmatic and comforting romance of... deep, complex vetivert notes that enthrall your senses before creamy vanilla and tonka provide a sweet antidote. It's everything you've always wanted to do ... and with a plethora of five bright colours, it's the only one you'll ever want to do it with again.'

Up next is something that was on my Dear Santa Wishlist that I did for Hannah Heartss (you can find that post here) it's the Magic Wand!! This again smells good enough to eat! I love all sweet smelling things and this re-useable bubble bar! How magical does this look? They really have thought out everything with this one from the smell, to the glitter all the way down to the ribbon and bell!

'Wave a magic wander bath time with this candy sweet re-useable bubble bar wand. Swish around your bath for Snow Fairy-scented bubbles then pop it on the side to dry out for next time.'

Next up is some more candy goodness, it's Candy Mountain! I think this is one of their Christmas bubble bars as I haven't seen it in store before and again just like the Magic Wand it's so so so sweet! I love the bubble bars from Lush as you can use them multiple times! Also for someone not being a massive Pink fan - I'm loving this!

'Make bath time an even sweeter treat with this bubble bar. Crumble under running water for mountains of glistening candy-scented bubbles.'

Last up is another Christmas Bath Bomb - it's the Luxury Lush Pud! Look at all those colours!! Now, this may sound weird but I think this smells like Sudocream (you know that cream you put on babies bums - yeah that cream) - not saying that's a bad thing but that's what this reminds me of! I'm excited to launch this one into the bath because I think it's just going to be an explosion of colours!!

'Catch 40 winks of Christmas Eve with Islands of foam and comforting lavender. Simply take this indulgent bomb into the water with you for a long relaxing soak.'

So that's all I got from Lush, not that much right?! Have you been into Lush lately to grab some Christmassy Products? If so, what ones are you loving?

'Till next time ...

My Review of the Make Up Revolution New-trals VS. Neutrals Palette!

Hello Again,

I have been doing quite a bit of Christmas Shopping lately but some how, along the way I managed to buy myself some make up (whoops). I have been eyeing up a lot of Make Up Revolutions newer palettes as I have a couple of them already and love them and when I was in one of my local super drugs as spotted this I just had to buy it! It's the New-Trals vs Neutrals Palette! 

I think this palette is beautiful! The shadows are lovely and are all really pigmented. I have been using this for the past few days now and I really like popping the second darkest berry shade under my water line for that pop of colour! This is also the first palette of theirs that I have bought when I comes with a proper brush, ok it's not a morph brush or anything like that but it's so much better than those annoying sponge tip things. It's great for weekends away and nights out as it saves you taking brushes with you.

 I think this palette is great for this time of year with the berry shades and the glittery shadows - perfect for any Christmas Night Out! What's your favourite Make Up Revolution Palette?

'Till next time ...