A Christmas Tag

I read this Christmas tag on Lucy's blog and thought it was fab, so thought I'd post my own version here.

Eggnog or Hot Chocolate?

Eggnog, I love it around Christmas time! Don't get me wrong I love a good hot chocolate too but that is something you can have all year round, eggnog as far as I'm concerned is for Christmas, especially if it comes in the form of a Starbucks eggnog latte!

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Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Wrap!! Half the fun of presents is guessing what lies beneath the wrapping paper, plus wrapped presents look so pretty under the Christmas tree. I used to wrap presents for a living (thanks to a part time job in a card shop during my college days) so I'm pretty OCD on present wrapping.

Coloured lights on tree/house or white?

As far as I'm concerned only non flashing white lights should be displayed on the outside of a house....I'm not big on coloured or flashing lights. As for the Christmas tree I think coloured or twinkling lights can look really pretty and give a cosy feel. 

Do you hang mistletoe?

No, although it's a cute idea! My grandparents occasionally hang some in their home.

One of my favourite Christmas decorations

When do you put your decorations up?
Really, really late!! We're such a busy family we barely have time to do it. It might shock you to know that we only just assembled the tree this week!!

What is your favourite holiday dish?

Probably has to be the Christmas day lunch with all the trimmings, it's something we look forward to every year. I am also a huge fan of my grandparents Christmas day evening buffet which contains crisps, cheese with biscuits, cold meats, bread, salad, trifle, cake and lots of tasty nibbly bits, I always fill my boots despite having had such a huuuuge lunch.

Favourite holiday memory as a child?

I can't think of just one. I remember all the sleepless nights, the excitement of coming downstairs and seeing the presents. As you get older I think you treasure those Christmas memories with loved ones past a present, Christmas is definitely a time for family.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

Year 6 in an art class where one of my friends blurted out that Santa wasn't real, I remember thinking she was joking and actually telling her that he did exist (how embarrassing!). I think year 6 (age 10) is pretty good going and it breaks my heart when really young children find out the truth as Santa is such a magical part of Christmas for a youngster. To this day my mum still refuses to tell us the truth about Father Christmas (I'm 24 and my sister is 17) and claims he is most definitely real.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

No we don't it's Christmas Day only! Stocking and presents from my parents first thing and then more presents from my grandparents after lunch.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

Whilst themes can look gorgeous ours is Victorian style with loads of individual ornaments that we've collected over the years. I love it as many of the decorations remind us of different places, for example I used to live in the Seychelles when I was younger and we have silk peaches and bananas from there (sounds weird but trust me they're nice), my favourite ornaments are a duo of beautiful ballet shoes you can see one in the picture above. We don't have a fairy or a star on the top of the Christmas tree, instead we have a special Christmas ornament of Belle from Beauty and the Beast decked out in her red winter gear because we are a pretty Disney mad family!

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Snow Love it or dread it?

If I have to go somewhere dread it, but other than that I love it. Snow is so peaceful and calm and it's nice to see everyone come out and play in the snow. I also love to be cosy inside when there is snow on the ground outside.

Can you ice skate?

No, which is seriously embarrassing because my little sister is a pro and has been having skating lessons her whole life and is pretty amazing on ice!

Do you remember your favourite gift?

I honestly can't, I've always been spoilt rotten by my parents and there have been so many lovely presents over the years. One thing that really stands out is a pink sapphire and diamond ring my dad picked out for me a couple of years ago, it's beautiful and I will keep it forever.

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What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

Being with family. I've come to realise people aren't going to be here forever so treasure them while you can. We had an awful Christmas last year as my dad was hospitalised on Christmas Eve so this year I'm hoping we can all chill out, enjoy good food and watch some decent telly.

What is your favourite holiday dessert?

My grandmas trifle, which is the easiest thing to make ever...to give you some idea:- tinned peaches with fresh raspberries topped with sliced swiss roll, pour over some custard and top with a good layer of whipped cream so easy but so delicious, we have it all year round but it wouldn't be Christmas without it.

What is your favourite holiday tradition?

I would have to go all materialistic and say opening presents on Christmas morning, it's a nice time to be with the family and exchange gifts! Aside from that watching Christmas movies, Elf and A Muppet Christmas Carol being my favourite and getting the first Starbucks red cup of the year is always a great feeling.

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Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!

Monday Poll

I saw this on Fee's blog - Makeup Savvy, which is one of my favourite beauty blogs ever. It seemed like such a cute idea I couldn't resist doing my own version.

1. Mood?

Feeling quite tense and anxious lately, not really sure why. I find beauty blogging a bit of a release and quite therapeutic so when I feel like this I normally focus on blogging more.

2. If you could dine (for free) anywhere in the world tonight, where would it be?

I would probably want to go back to PJ's Oyster Bar in Florida, it's a fab place where beer comes in pitchers and there are signed dollars pinned all over the walls but I think it's great and is a bit renowned in our family (I even have a PJ's t shirt, oh yes!) eating the delicious food there would hopefully mean I would be waking up in Florida the next day to relax by the pool/enjoy the beautiful beach!

3. Do you have any siblings?

Yes, I have one sister who is 17, as a teen she's a bit of a nightmare but we also get along brilliantly at times.

4. If your pets could talk, what would they say about you?

My dog Phoebs (Phoebe) would probably tell me off for not taking her on enough walks. I hope she'd also say I give her lots of nice treats and cuddles.

5. Which one do you follow most often, your heart or your head?

My heart...I should really learn to follow my head.

6. What are three songs on your road trip playlist?

Last Summer by Lost Prophets which for me is the ultimate driving song and brings back a lot of memories. I'm constantly singing the Dickhead Song to my parents, sister and boyfriend so a sing a long of that would probably have to go in there as well. Then it would be a toss up between Katy Perry's Teenage Dream which I like to sing along to (very loudly) when I'm driving or a Friendly Fires album.

7. Would you consider yourself renowned or famous for anything in particular?

Probably a love of make up, spending too long getting ready and shopping in Boots and Superdrug. I'm also renowned for over packing, I recently packed three bags for a one night stay, needless to say I was heavily ridiculed!

8. Your favorite place for dessert?

There are no where near enough places you can pop out for dessert in the UK! There used to be an American style restaurant near us when I was younger, it was very cool as it had a real airplane cockpit in the restaurant and a motorised model plane that used to circle around inside. Anyway it used to serve the biggest ice cream sundaes I have ever seen, way before ginormous ice cream desserts for two people were available widely. It was so big that you used to get a certificate if you ate it all, I would always order one and eat the good bits (i.e. the mars bars sticking out the top) and leave my dad to finish the boring ice cream. I'd make my poor dad polish off the whole thing just so I'd get the certificate, so I'd probably go back and share one of those with my dad. It also came with a sparkler, does anyone else remember the days of sparklers in your ice cream?

9. Scariest movie you’ve ever seen?

I've seen plenty of horror films in my time but the one that stands out is this film called The Haunting which is way back from 1999 yet stars some pretty big names (Liam Neeson, Owen Wilson and Catherine Zeta Jones). I watched it with friends who announced it was the least scary thing they'd seen but for some reason it terrified me to my core. To give you some idea of how completely unscary it is, it carries a 12 rating, 12!!!!! I'd hope if I watched it now I'd laugh my way through it but for some reason it completely freaked me out when I was younger....maybe because it was to do with the ghosts of small children?

I have to say though, I love horror films but they completely freak me out (I'm an over thinker) so the trick is to hide behind your hands during the scary parts, that way you can't be too freaked out. What can I say, I've just exposed myself as a mega wimp.

10. Weekly goals:

Blog more, laugh more, eat less.

Feel free to do this tag and send me your links :o) x

Lipstick Tag

Revlon Fire and Ice

I was tagged by Samantha at The Beauty Diaries, I would urge everyone to go and check out her blog as she only uses products which have not been tested on animals. Also, check out this post by Jess from Star Violet which includes a link to a petition you can sign to stop animal testing.

1. When you were a child, did you use your mother's lipsticks?

Yes all the time, I used to love smearing them all around my face, she was pretty good at hiding them though, so if I couldn't get hold of a lipstick I'd spray some of her perfume or have a good root through her jewellery box.

2. How old were you when you bought your first lipstick?

I think I was about 14 and I bought it whilst on holiday in America. It was a L'oreal lipstick - a pinky/brown shade with a creamy, lipglossy type formula. I could be wrong but I think it was called Bubblicious...or something along those lines.

3. Pink or red lipstick?

I'm going to go with red....it's such a classic! Although pink lipstick is very pretty too!

4. The most expensive lipstick you have ever bought?

Bold lipstick frightens me so my lipstick collection is pretty small and limited to drugstore brands. I would definitely like to add a YSL Rouge Volupte to my collection though, so watch this space. If you want to talk expensive then let's talk eyeshadow, that's where most of my money seems to go!

5. And the cheapest?

Probably my 17 Mirror Shine On ones (blog post on them coming soon!) which also happen to be my favourite! Kind of a lip gloss meets lipstick.

6. What's the most bizarre thing you have ever done with a lipstick?

I've taken a bite out of one.....I remember it being very greasy! This was around the age I was playing with my mum's make up. Other than that I've drawn with one and written down a phone message using a lipstick, as I didn't have a pen to hand!

7. If you had to recommend a lipstick, which brand would you recommend and why?

A red Chanel lipstick is a purchase I'd like to make in the future...such a classic. Other than that I love Revlon, especially their retro shades, Fire and Ice is a beautiful shade of red and I am determined to wear Cherries in the Snow out in public one day!!

Thank you to The Beauty Diaries for tagging me! If you want to do this tag then please do I would love to read some responses!! x