January Favourites | Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle

January has come and gone so quickly, I can't believe we're into the second month of 2016 already! It seems to have been a positive start to 2016 for me personally and I'm excited to see what the rest of the year brings. This year, I'm aiming to share with you my favourites from each month as I love seeing what everyone else has been enjoying using as I think it gives a thorough review on what's really worth purchasing etc. So as you can tell from the title, I shall be sharing with you what I've been loving this month, let's get into it shall we? 
















Fleur De Force Cosmic Bronze Eyeshadow Palette

I was so happy to receive this palette in the Feel Unique beauty advent calendar. I had my eyes on this quad when the line was launched, however I decided against it as I thought I had enough natural eyeshadows. I was wrong, I was totally missing out not having this palette! It has a beautiful range of natural shades, my favourites have been the matte nude for all over the lid, the matte brown for in the crease and the brown shimmer for in the centre of my lid. These are really well pigmented so a little goes a long way, it's small and compact so would be perfect for travelling also!












Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm

This is another one I received in the Feel Unique beauty advent calendar. Once again, I was so happy to receive this as I've heard lots of great reviews on it. I received this at perfect timing, my lips were so dry from the cold winter winds. After just a couple of uses, I noticed a huge difference. My lips were no longer dry and flaky instead they felt and looked healthy. I love the thick texture of this balm, the scent also has a hint of lemon which is nice. I'd really recommend this lip balm despite the £9.50 price tag.












Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer

I picked this up on a whim as I was completely out of concealer and it was the only one in my tiny local Boots that looked worth purchasing.

I vaguely remember seeing good reviews on this concealer, in particular that it was good for hiding dark circles under the eyes due to the 2-in-1 highlight. I love how easy this is to blend under my eyes, I tend to do the triangle then blend with a beauty blender. So quick and simple, makes me look more awake and so affordable. 











Zara Soft City Bag

I first saw this in a haul on YouTube and fell in love! I knew I wanted a new bag but was unsure what I wanted. As soon as I saw this, I had to have it. I couldn't believe it was only £20 from Zara, I think it looks much more expensive! I popped it on my Christmas Wish List and Santa listened. It's been perfect for everyday wear as it's not too big nor small, it's simple so will go with almost everything and is ideal for work and the weekends!








DW Home Calming Waves 3 Wick Candle

It wasn't until a few months ago that I discovered TK Maxx has amazing candles!? Ever since I've been popping in every time I'm in town to check them out. Just before Christmas I came across this one, a huge 3 wick candle that smelt mineral-y(definitely not a word) and spa-like. It seemed like the perfect candle for a relaxing bath or evening in so I didn't leave it behind as it was only £6.99- a total bargain. Ever since I've been burning it non-stop and I'm coming to the end of it which I'm gutted about. I'm going to savour it a little longer and only burn it for an hour or so every now and then! I must keep my eyes peeled for something similar in TK Maxx as I've never seen two of the same candles there at one time.









BNTM



I was so pleased to see Britain's Next Top Model back this year. I used to love this show and have watched almost every series so I was excited to see what the new one had to offer. It's a little different which I like, though it still has some of the original features like Model Mail, Challenges and the typical bitchyness in the house. I'm still yet to choose a favourite as I like the majority of the girls still remaining, though I'm sure their personalities will come out and help me decide. 

Are you watching it this year? I'd love to know what you think and if you've got a favourite!





That's all! I'm sure there has been lots of other things that I've been enjoying this month but these are the things that stood out in particular. I would love to hear what you've been loving this month so feel free to let me know in the comments down below. Also, don't forgot to let me know what you think of BNTM if you've been watching it!




WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN LOVING THIS MONTH?




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12 Days of Beauty | Feel Unique Advent Calendar Review

Today as promised, I'm going to be sharing with you what I received in the Feel Unique Beauty Advent Calendar. The calendar was actually 12 days, however I was impatient as this is the first time I've had a beauty advent calendar so I opened it on the 1st of December then every other day up until the 23rd. I was so excited to see what gifts lay beneath each door as I'd not seen any reviews on this calendar, so I couldn't wait to get it open. I'm going to get straight into what I received and let you know my thoughts as well!

Monu Illuminating Primer SPF 15

I'd not heard of this brand before I received it in this calendar, though I was pretty chuffed to receive a new primer as my Porefessional Deluxe Sample was on its way out. I've used this a good few times and on first impression I loved how this primer felt, silky, creamy and easy to apply onto the skin. I must admit it did create a perfect canvas to apply foundation and I did like the way my foundation looked as a result of using this primer, however I didn't notice a difference in the longevity of my makeup. A nice primer all in all but I won't be purchasing the full size!

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer 

This is a treatment you can use on wet hair before shampooing. I had heard lots of great things about this so was excited to give it a go. It's supposed to add more bounce to your hair and prevent it from snapping. I've only used this a couple of times but so far I've noticed my hair has looked and felt a lot healthier, so soft too! I've been really liking this so far so I may have to repurchase this!

Grown Alchemist Hydra Repair Day Cream

On Day 3 I received this moisturiser from a brand again, I've not heard much about so I was looking forward to try this as it contains natural and organic ingredients. The main ingredients are Camellia and Geranium so this has a botanical scent which I really liked as it felt spa-like and relaxing. It was a really lovely moisturiser, I actually finished the whole tube though I did find I still had dry patches whilst using it so it couldn't have been that hydrating. I did like this, though for the price I wouldn't repurchase.

Roger & Gallet Fleur De Figuier Shower Gel

At first, I wasn't too thrilled to be receiving a shower gel if I'm honest. Though I was pleasantly surprised when I first smelt it, it has a subtle fruity kinda scent so I gave it a whirl that evening. It lathered nicely and left a lovely scent on me which I was pleased with. It's the perfect size for travelling, neither too big nor small so I've saved it for when I next travel. This is around £10 for the full size so for that reason I won't be repurchasing.

Fleur De Force Eye Shadow Palette in Cosmic Bronze 

I was most excited to receive this as I very nearly purchased this palette before I decided I had enough eye shadow. I had heard amazing things about these palettes, they're super pigmented and apparently this is similar to another high end palette. It has a light cream with a little shimmer which is perfect for highlighting, the next is a medium matte brown which I've had the most wear out of as its perfect for a natural everyday look. The other two are a super shimmery mink colour and a dark matte brown. All perfect to create a day to night look, so this would be ideal for travel as its compact and versatile. I love this palette so I will be looking to purchase the pink toned palette!

Phyto Subtil Elixir Hair Oil

Another hair treatment which I was happy about as I'm hoping to take better care of my hair. This is to be used before shampooing for about 10 minutes which can then be rinsed with shampoo as normal. This oil contains egg white which is great for treating hair and adding shine. Again my hair felt soft and healthy once using this and the product didn't have a horrible egg scent which was a bonus. This isn't a product I would rush out to repurchase as there is another I would like to.

Redken Extreme Length Primer

I was really pleased to receive such a large sample of this beneath door 7 as I had heard good things about Redken. The first thing I noticed was the scent, I can't quite work it out however it makes my hair smell amazing and I miss it! Despite having the word primer in its name, this is actually a conditioning treatment that you should leave on for about five minutes- quick, fuss-free so was perfect for when I was having quick showers as I was busy over the Christmas period. I've now run out of this and it made my hair feel soft, silky, healthy and made it smell gorgeous. I have a feeling I'm going to be picking this up again!

This Works Sleep Plus Pillow Spray

I was slightly annoyed but pleased to receive this. Annoyed because I had already purchased a sample gift set as my mum wanted to try this out so I could've saved myself and gave her this instead. Pleased as I also wanted to give this a go myself. You're supposed to just spritz this calming lavender scented spray over your pillow before sleeping and it's proven to give you a better nights sleep. In all honesty, I did sleep better but I think it's just a placebo affect. I don't have trouble sleeping so I won't repurchase this but my mum may!

Gatineau Collagene Expert Ultimate Smoothing Serum

This was a brand I had never come across so I was intrigued to give it a go. I've now used this sample up and it felt lovely on the skin. In terms of hydration, I still found I had dry patches so I wasn't overly impressed with this serum. I did use it up to fully test it out but I won't be buying this again.

POPBAND London Hair Band

Another one I wasn't overly pleased to receive. Hair bands aren't that interesting are they? This one is supposed to leave no kinks and be kind to your hair by preventing any breakage. I actually received a couple of these in a beauty box and I've used them a lot. I don't know about it not leaving any kinks in my hair but it's definitely kinder and doesn't pull resulting in a headache which is great.

Salcura Winter Skin Hand Therapy

As I made my way to the end of the calendar, the products seemed to get bigger. I believe this is a full-size product at 80ml which is worth £12.99! Hand creams are not something I buy for myself, I don't love the Soap and Glory Hand Food so I was pleased to receive this to try. The scent is very spa-like so it feels like a real treat when applying, I pop this on before bed and my hands are left looking less dry and feeling super soft. It'll take me ages to use this up so I'm not sure whether I'll be buying this again in the future.

Nuxe Rêve De Miel Lip Balm

I was so happy to receive this, lots of beauty bloggers love this! This is an amazing hydrating lip balm with honey and precious oils to nourish dry and damaged lips, so this is ideal for the winter. My lips get so dry which is not cute when I want to wear lipstick so I pop this on morning and night to ensure my lips are prepped for lipstick. I've been loving this so far and I think it will last me a while so at £8 this is a good deal!

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I received in this calendar and what I thought of each of the products. Hopefully this will give you an insight to what's worth giving a go if you're unsure whether to splurge on some of these products. Overall, I'm really happy with what I received. Most products were something I'd never give a second look when browsing online for new beauty products so I think the idea of this calendar is great. I'll definitely be looking into purchasing another next December, but for now that is a long while away!




I hope you're having a lovely week so far, apologies this post is a little late than I would've liked it to be. 




Let me know whether you've tried any of these products and what you thought of them!




♥   ♥   ♥

2016 Goals | Health, Happiness and Learning!

So it's 2016, how crazy? 2008 still feels like yesterday and I still can't get to grips with it! Over the course of 2015 I've really enjoyed blogging and have come across girls I could call my 'blogging friends' which is amazing! Throughout 2016, I hope to make more blogging friends and what better way to kick start the new year with old and new blogging friends. Myself and a few others have decided to share our goals for 2016, or resolutions if you prefer. If you're struggling to think what you could do to become a 'better you' then make sure you go and check out the other girls posts(I've included clickable links below) once you've read mine for some more ideas!





Megan at Floral Chummys

Niamh at Just Another Girl 

Ella at Ellaphxnts

and

Geraldine at Geraldine's Wonderful World




I know lots of people decide they want to get healthier when the new year rolls around, I am the same so instead of making unrealistic goals that I won't stick to, I thought I'd adjust them a little.




DRINK MORE WATER

This one is really important for me, I definitely don't drink enough water so my body is probably really dehydrated which is not good. I regularly have headaches because of this so I must drink more to prevent this. I must try and drink a glass of water before meals too as you'll find out from my next goal, I'd like to lose a bit of weight. Drinking water before a meal will fill you up quicker, therefore you won't eat as much. Well that's the theory anyway!




EAT HEALTHIER

This is one most likely to be on everyone's minds at the beginning of a new year. There's no way I'll be giving up chocolate etc because how can you resist!? I would like to make healthier choices, snack less which will hopefully help me lose some excess weight. I know exercise pays a huge contribution to weight loss so I'm hoping to get into some sort of routine to help physically and mentally.




SPEND MORE TIME WITH FAMILY

This is one I'd especially like to work on this year. This past year I've made sure to push myself to attend more family events to see my extended family. I'd like to continue that throughout this year and visit them more regularly so it becomes the norm.




SOCIALISE MORE

Now, this one may sound similar to the last but I don't necessarily mean with family. I go quite a while without meeting up with my friends, the truth is we're all quite busy with work and life just generally passes by without us realising. I'd like to see them more regularly this year and try to say yes more when I'm invited out. I'd like to step outside of my comfort zone and do things I wouldn't normally, so I'm hoping I'll be able to do that this year.




TRAVEL

Don't be fooled, as much as I'd love to just pick up sticks and travel around the world, I'm not in the position to do that at the moment. By this I mean just stay away from home more often, whether that be with friends or family. I'd like to see more of the UK, embark on new experiences and enjoy myself. I'd also really love to take a holiday abroad, so I'm hoping that'll be this year.




SAVE

These things I've mentioned so far, you need money to do. I must open a savings account and start putting money away as I'd love to go abroad like I just mentioned and be driving by next year, more about that later!




EARN MORE

This one might sound a bit strange, don't worry I won't be barging through the doors of work requesting I'm paid more. However, I'd love to find a full-time job working with children or do something else on the side and up my hours. If there's any changes in the near future, I'm sure I'll let you know!




DRIVE

I haven't started proper lessons yet, nor passed my theory but I'm hoping to book some lessons in the next couple of months. I've been saying it for ages now but I'd really like to get it over and done with! Cars are expensive to buy and run but once I've passed, I'm sure it will encourage me more to save and get on the road. Now that it's out there, I'm hoping this will be a kick up the butt!




Let's hope I'm able to achieve all these things I've set out to do, who knows? Maybe 2016 will be the year I stick to each and every one. I'm sure there will be updates along the way! I'd love to know what your goals and aspirations are for the new year, let me know in the comments! Also, make sure you go and check out the girls posts linked above for more inspiration!




Happy New Year!

I hope 2016 brings you love, happiness and good health!




WHAT ARE YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS?




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What I Got For Christmas 2015 | Beauty, Fashion and Homey Bits!

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas spent with your loved ones, I sure did! For those of you who don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you've had a lovely few days nevertheless. Today I'm going to be sharing with you what I got for Christmas. I know how boring it can get with the usual disclaimers at the beginning of these posts and videos but I'd just like to put it out there, I'm super grateful for everything I have received this year. I love reading these posts so I thought I'd do one myself! I'm just going to get straight into it.








 First, I'm going to start with my stocking. We've had stockings in my house for as long as I can remember and over the years Santa(wink wink) has gotten so generous and made them larger each year. I have to say, I love stockings and would be more than happy with just a few stocking presents on Christmas Day. In my stocking, I tend to get the same kind of things every year like beauty essentials including cleansers, cotton wool pads and face masks etc which I love as it means I won't have to go out and make the same repurchases over and over again. I've been trying to take care of my nails this year and I kept loosing the tools so I received this dinky little set which is so handy, hopefully I won't loose them now!



We also tend to get a huge amount of chocolate, like most people I assume? Usually it would be gone within a few days but I'm pacing myself this year, sort of. Haha! I'm sat here wondering where it's all gone, hmm..





I also received some lovely candles including this mini vanilla frosting jar and lots of tea lights which are essential for my tart burner. I'm the worst for burning myself whilst lighting candles so my mum picked up this long lighter to avoid that, what a life saver haha! This was well needed.




Now I'll move on to the presents under the tree. My parents told me as I was getting money, I wouldn't have many presents to open but they were wrong! I was still completely shocked with the amount in my pile. I received lots of homey bits this year. Now, when I say homey bits, I don't mean home ware, I mean lots of bits that I'll use whilst relaxing at home.






First up which is possibly my favourite gift out of the lot was a new dressing gown! I've had the same one for about five years now and it was really on it's lasts legs- it wasn't the most subtle either- it was a hot pink leopard print one. The one I received this year is more subtle, a taupe/dusty pink colour. It's so cosy and I'm sure I'll get a lot of wear out of it. I also received this white snuggle blanket, we had one of these in our living room and it was held hostage up in my room for a while so my parents decided to get one for myself. It's so cosy, looks cute on my bed and will be perfect for the rest of the season. Oops, I forgot to take a picture of it but it's used as a background in the rest of these pictures.



Pyjamas are mandatory at Christmas, am I right? We always end up with a pair or two and I'm not complaining. I live in my pyjamas when I'm at home! First I received these super cosy Bambi pyjamas. These are similar to a pair I had last year, again from my sister but this time they have cuffed bottoms which I love as it means I won't trip over trouser legs that are too long!

I also had these pretty cloud pyjama bottoms, again they're cuffed. These feel so comfortable and stretchy so will be perfect for lazy days- by the way, these are from Sainsbury's if you're wondering as my mum left the tag on. What is Christmas without socks? I had three pairs of cosy socks which will be ideal to pair with my new pyjamas!

Next from my sister I had a lovely mug which came with a whisk, hot chocolate and mini marshmallows. It was perfect for during the evening on Boxing Day!



I've really loved Yankee Candles since I first discovered them a few years ago. I'm always tempted by the jars however I find the votives and wax tarts are such great value for money that I won't splurge. From my sisters boyfriend, he very kindly got me a load of votives and this rustic star holder. These will last me a good while and I love all the scents he chose so I'm so grateful.






From my other sister I received an adult colouring book. It was a good while since I'd been eyeing these up whilst shopping so I was so surprised that she remembered! She also got me some new colouring pencils and this lovely Cath Kidston pencil case to store them in. It's from the Kids section as she said the prints were nicer in there compared to the adults, haha!





I'm a huge fan of Olly Murs and was gutted when the calendar had sold out last year, therefore I had to go a year without one but this year my sister picked up the unofficial one- it's got some lovely photos in it so I'm not complaining. I also received an Olly Murs poster, my siblings know me too well!



Now I shall move onto the fashion and beauty gifts I received. I was so happy to receive a new watch as my other one had been playing up, this ones from Avon and is black with a rose gold bezel. I love it!



I saw this bag featured in a haul on YouTube and fell in love with it, especially when I found out it was only £20 from Zara. I put it on my wish list and my sister bought it for me, it's such a great size, looks like real leather and has a longer strap to carry on your shoulder or wear across your body. I can't wait to use it!












Last but not least, onto the beauty bits. I hinted to my parents that I'd love the Soap and Glory Whole She-Bang set and bless my mum, she was up at 7am on her day off to head onto the Boots site to order it. So lovely and I'm so thankful as it has some of my favourite products in and new bits I'm yet to try.






My sisters boyfriends mother was also kind enough to gift me with The Body Shop Coconut set. I love Coconut and The Body Shop so this is a win-win!

I received this really lovely eyes, nails and lips set, I swatched the products and was shocked by their pigmentation as these are from Primark! I'll definitely be looking to try more of the Primark Beauty.



My mum knows I love Real Techniques brushes so picked up the Expert Face Brush for me, however she accidentally ordered three somehow. I asked could I exchange one of them for a different brush and she said yes, we requested a return on Amazon and they accepted and told us not to bother returning the brush and refunded the money. I technically got a free brush, somehow!? And I've now ordered the Setting Brush. So lucky!



I've had my eye on the Stila palettes for a while and when my brother asked was there anything I wanted from the ASOS beauty sale for Christmas, I said I'd love this Stila Eyes are the Window Palette in Spirit. I definitely didn't think he'd get it for me and I was so shocked to open this on Christmas Day. Such a surprise and I'm so thankful!

Like I said earlier, my 'main' present from my parents was money. I also received money from my Nan, Grampy and Aunties etc so I shall be putting that money towards a new purse, probably more makeup and hopefully(if all goes to plan) driving lessons. I'm determined 2016 will be the year I start driving, we'll see eh?

There you have it, what I got for Christmas! I was spoilt this year, as I am every year and I couldn't be more thankful. Of course, Christmas isn't about receiving, it's for giving, loving and spending time with your loved ones. Gifts are just a bonus! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and that Santa was kind to you!




I'd love to hear what you got for Christmas so feel free to leave a link in the comments to your post/video!




♥   ♥   ♥

Christmas Q&A | Films, Music, Plans and More!

Bet you weren't expecting to see a post from me today, eh!? As you may know, usually I post on Wednesday and Sunday, however I have a post planned to go up on Christmas Eve so I thought i'd spread them out a little and post my Q&A today. So I took to Instagram to ask you guys if you had any questions for me and a few of you did leave some so I shall be answering those first then afterwards will be questions left here on my blog. Let's just get started!

@thriftyvintagefashion and Grace Kate - What is your favourite Christmas film?

Polar Express, hands down! 

@thriftyvintagefashion - What is your favourite Christmas song?

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday- Wizaard, Fairy Tale of New York- The Pogues, Do They Know It's Christmas- Band Aid, Happy Xmas(War Is Over)- John Lennon

@rosiemaearoha - Which countries do you want to visit?

I've actually done a blog post on this so if you'd like to read it, it's here. I really want to go to America and Lapland, especially at this time of year!

What are you planning on doing for Christmas this year?

The week of Christmas I have a Christmas party, I finish work, I'm going to see Aladdin in the theatre and for actual Christmas Day- I'll be staying at home with my family, having dinner, gift giving and consuming alcohol(just a little bit, I promise) Let me know your plans for Christmas in the comments!

@heyitisjess - Do you have any New Years resolutions?

I haven't thought about them just yet. I know everybody says it every year but I'd really like to eat better and exercise more. I did have a short spurt of it during the summer but I'd really like to get back on track and hopefully loose some weight too.

Amy Rose - What is your favourite part of Christmas dinner?

I love pigs in blankets and I actually really like sprouts!

What was the best present you got for Christmas?

This was a hard one! It'd probably have to be one of the gifts for me and my siblings to share. One year we had a Wii even though my parents had convinced us that they were sold out everywhere so we wouldn't be able to get one. It was such a surprise! Another would have to be the year myself and my siblings each had a laptop. It was the year everyone was getting them but I had never even thought about asking for one then all of a sudden my parents passed us each a largish box and it was a laptop, each! I was gobsmacked, there's actually a picture that captures that- haha!




Rosie Author Writing - In your opinion, what is the true meaning of Christmas?

I'd have to say spending time with your nearest and dearest, giving to others, especially those who need it most and being thankful.




And that's all the questions I was asked. I loved answering all of your questions, be sure to go check out the people who asked the questions on Instagram and their blogs which I've linked. I hope you enjoyed this quick post and are enjoying the festivities, Merry Christmas!




WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR CHRISTMAS?




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The Perfect Christmas Movie Night!

Christmas is next week, next week!? I know, crazy right? I can't believe we're less than 5 days until Christmas and I'm yet to have a movie night. Today I thought I'd share with you my perfect idea of a movie night which I shall be having on Tuesday evening as that's when I finish work for Christmas. I've also teamed up with Casper, a company that sells amazing mattresses here, to share with you my essentials for a movie night.

Casper was actually lovely enough to create this checklist for me, once I had given my input. You may like to use this or adapt it so feel free!

First up is a comfy mattress as there's no better feeling than jumping into bed in your festive pyjamas after a long day at work. Next up you'll need a pile of comfy cushions which Casper also sells, here. Does anyone else strategically place them for ultimate comfort whilst watching films?!

And of course as I briefly mentioned earlier, your favourite festive pyjamas! I love these navy bottoms with a reindeer print all over from F&F a year or so ago. I've also picked up a new tartan flannel pair which I'm excited to snuggle up in on Christmas Eve!

How can you have a movie night without some treats!? I love snuggling up in bed with a hot chocolate, at the moment I'm loving the Galaxy one. It's super sweet but definitely isn't sickly. I love dipping cookies into hot chocolate and tea so I definitely won't forget them!

My movie night sounds almost perfect, just a couple of things missing. I love lighting candles as they just set the mood and makes everything feel more cosy. My favourite festive candle is Yankee Candle Simply Home Sunlight On Snow which you may have seen me mentioned a good few times. It's more of a fresh scent rather than a sweet/spicy typical Christmas scent which I love.

And finally, a movie night is not complete without a few films! I recently did a blog post on my top five festive film picks here so head on over to check that out. There I mentioned my favourite was The Polar Express, I love how magical it is. It's such a lovely film and gets so excited for Christmas.

So there's that, my perfect set up for a holiday movie night! It was lovely to work with Casper on this post so be sure to go and check out their products, linked here. Also, I'd love to know what would make it to your checklist so let me know in the comments below.

WHAT ARE YOUR MOVIE NIGHT ESSENTIALS?

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My Top Five Festive Film Picks!

Today I thought i'd share with you my top five festive film picks. I don't tend to enjoy films often, my attention span is poor and I lose interest. However, I love Christmas films because, well how could you not!? If you're planning on binge watching Christmas films in the run up to the big day then I've listed my five favourites, starting from five and reeling them off til my ultimate favourite- number one. Let's get started, shall we?

5. A Christmas Carol (2009)

This stands a firm favourite as I first saw it in the cinema with my family on Christmas Eve. As well as being nostalgic, it's also a great film where it follows the life of Scrooge in the run up to Christmas. Of course, i'm not going to spoil it though I'm sure most of you will have seen it or know the story. The most recent release of it is definitely worth a watch!

4. Nativity!

This is one I watch numerous times in the month of December. As you could've probably guessed from the title this one is based around the preparations for a school nativity. It's a hilarious comedy, how can you not love Mr Poppy?! Also, fact of the day: one of the children in the film actually went to my primary school. How cool is that!?

3. Love Actually

Believe it or not, I had never seen this until last Christmas. So many people raved about it so I thought it was about time I saw what it was all about. I loved it, hence why it's made it's way into my top five. If you haven't seen it, the film basically follows a number of different couples during the run up to Christmas. I probably haven't made that sound too appealing but it's a rom-com so you definitely won't get bogged down with slushy couples. If you haven't seen it- make sure you give it a watch this year! Let me know what you think of it, if you do.

2. Home Alone

A classic. I'm almost certain that everyone has seen this film- if you haven't, you've probably been living under a rock. Is there really any point in trying to explain this film? The title gives it away right? I've seen this countless times and I never get bored of it, it's hilarious and i'm completely hooked within the first few minutes. The second film is also just as good, the ones after aren't so.

1. The Polar Express

You were expecting me to say Elf right? If i'm honest, it's never been a favourite of mine- don't get me wrong it is a good film but I can't take too much of it. The Polar Express however is a different story. It's just so magical and exciting. It follows the journey of a little boy who struggles to believe, he is taken on a journey to the North Pole that shows him the excitement never fades for those who believe. You'll also fall in love with the lone boy singing at the back of the train, 'it's so much fun when Christmas comes to townnn!' Just me? Ok then...

So there you have it, a run through of my favourite Christmas films. Do you love any of these as much as me? Let me know or leave me any festive film recommendations! I'll be back Sunday to share my idea of a perfect movie night!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS FILM?

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Winter Pamper Routine | Hair, Skin and Nails

Today I thought it was about time I shared an updated pamper routine with you guys. It's been a while since I last shared what I use to pamper myself and I like to change up my products quite regularly in order to try new ones out, however some remain the same which you will see throughout this post. If you'd like to see my last pamper routine, you can find it here. Also, this post is a collab with the lovely Megan from Floral Chummys so be sure to go check her post out too! Enough with the rambling, lets get into it!

First up i'll start with a hair mask, i'd usually go for an Argan Oil one which you can pick up in bargain shops. However, I recently discovered the Philip Kingsley Elastizer in my beauty advent calendar so I tried it out as soon as I could. The directions tell you to pop it on before shampooing, leave it on for about 20 mins then rinse with shampoo and condition as normal. It's supposed to leave you with healthier hair that shines- so far I couldn't say but bloggers rave about this so i'm hoping it'll serve my hair well!

Next i'll jump in the shower and rinse my hair with shampoo as instructed by the hair mask. I don't have any particular shampoo and conditioner that I use during a pamper night so i'll just use my everyday products which happen to be the Tresemme Salon Silk Shampoo and Conditioner. I love Tresemme hair products so i'll always run back to them, time and time again.

Once my hair is washed and conditioned, it's time to move on to my body. First of all, I'll go in with the Soap and Glory Scrub Of Your Life which I have sadly ran out of at the moment. It's my favourite body scrub, I love the classic Soap and Glory scent and this really gets to work an leaves me with super soft skin paired with the Clean On Me Shower Gel and the body butter which i'll talk about shortly.

Now i'm all clean and my pores have opened from the steam of the shower, i'll pop on a face mask. This is currently my go-to face mask, it's the Lush Mask of Magnaminty- I actually did a review on it here. It also doubles up as a scrub when applying and removing as there are little grains in it- the perfect two-in-one! This leaves my face feeling super clean, soft and tackles any blemishes I may have on their way/on my face. I'll leave this on whilst i'm moisturising my body.

The body butter I most often opt for is the Soap and Glory The Righteous Butter. Again, it has the classic Soap and Glory scent and is super thick but sinks in quickly to leave the skin feeling soft and smelling lovely. I've almost run out of this too so i'm hoping Santa will pop it under the tree along side with the scrub.

Another Soap and Glory product I like to use(#NotAnAd, lol) is The Heel Genius Foot Cream. Feet isn't usually something I focus on here on my blog but I put quite a lot of this on, put socks on and leave it to do it's work overnight and by the morning I have super moisturised and soft feet.

Once these are done, i'm pretty sure it's time to remove my face mask so once that's done i'll apply whatever moisturiser i'm using at the time. At the moment i'm using the Grown Alchemist Hydra-Repair Cream morning and night, it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and plump and I also really like the botanical scent- it's so relaxing when applied just before bed. Now it's time to light some candles and pop on some YouTube vidoes whilst I paint my nails.

As i'm not supposed to wear nail polish during the week because of my job, I tend not to bother on the weekends. However, I'll definitely be whipping out my festive polishes once I finish work for Christmas. I recently picked up these from Avon which are perfect for the Christmas season. The left is one of the Magic Effects Molten Metals in the shade Copper and the other is one of the Gel Finish Polishes in Roses Are Red.

Whilst my nails are drying, i'll try to convince my Dad to make me a Lemon Green Tea because ya'know my nails aren't dry! Usually, it doesn't work so i'll have to strategically make a cup of tea without getting smudging my nails. Then again, i'll watch a bunch of YouTube videos whilst sipping my cup of tea, waiting for my nails to dry, loving life!

Last but not least, once it's time to call it a day i'll pop on some hand cream- usually one by The Body Shop or Soap and Glory, blow the candles out and hit the hay. Zzz!

There you have it, my winter pamper routine. I hope you enjoyed this post, make sure you go check out Megan's post, here to see what products she loves using during a pamper routine. I hope you've had a lovely week, only twelve sleeps til Christmas!

WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU USE WHILST HAVING A PAMPER?

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