December Favourites + Highlights 2020

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas Day even if you weren’t able to do what you had originally planned. Mine was very low-key, I was at home with my mum and one of my aunts and we had a big lunch. We didn’t really do presents which helps keeps things less stressful and the food was really yummy! I scored the crackling on the roast pork, was on cream whipping and strawberry cutting duties for dessert and also helped with general prep and cooking.

I’m ending the year strongly and going out with a bang with these favourites! These all make me happy and have brought me lots of enjoyment over the past few weeks.

1. Kylie – DISCO – I was meant to include this in November’s favourites but somehow it slipped my mind. I am a huge Kylie fan and every time I listen to DISCO I love the songs more. The overall sound of the album is very cohesive and Kylie co-wrote on each track as well as engineering vocals and synths at her home studio during the pandemic. The sound is very much in Kylie’s dance-pop lane and it is exactly what 2020 needs, 50 minutes of energetic fun that makes you happy and forget about any worries for a while. This is my favourite Kylie album since Aphrodite. Standout Tracks: Magic, Miss a Thing, Real Groove, Say Something, I Love It, Dance Floor Darling and Celebrate You.

2. Steps – What the Future Holds – Another album that I have not stopped listening to since release! This album is incredibly special as the booklet is signed by all members of Steps and 11 year old Chanelle never dreamed she would own something like this. It’s even more special as I was meant to be seeing Steps in May but because of Covid the show was cancelled. I was heartbroken but I’m determined to see them live one day. Steps represent so much happiness in my life and I’m thankful the album was released this year. Vocally I feel Lisa and Lee shine on this album (they all sound good but it’s clear to see the vocals are shared more evenly and these two have such beautiful voices as well). Standout Tracks: What the Future Holds, Something In Your Eyes, To the Beat of My Heart, One Touch, Under My Skin, Heartbreak In This City and Come and Dance With Me.

3. Fenty Gloss Bomb in Fu$$y – This gloss arrived in September as part of a mini set and I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned it in a favourites post yet. I’ve really enjoyed wearing gloss this year and found some great formulas that aren’t sticky and feel comfortable. Fu$$y is described as a soft romantic pink, it has a little bit of shimmer and can look quite sheer when worn on it’s own but it’s lovely on no makeup makeup days or applied over top of a lipstick for a bit of shine. The scent of this is amazing, it needs to be made into a fragrance (you can thank me later Rihanna).

4. In the Frow x Edge of Ember Birthstone Necklace and Nova Ring – In October Victoria (known as In the Frow on YouTube) launched a jewellery collaboration with Edge of Ember. I picked up two pieces and whilst I spent more than I tend to on jewellery I don’t regret it! The pieces are dainty and beautiful and the quality is up there too. I’m not a fan of chunky, heavy pieces and prefer things that are subtle and elegant.

The silver Nova ring is lightweight and simple but it goes with everything, the stone in the middle is a white topaz. Usually I prefer silver to gold but what drew me to the birthstone necklace was the simplicity of one stone on the chain. My birthday is in January so my birthstone is garnet and the red and gold work well together. The length of the chain is adjustable which is nice depending on how you like necklaces to sit and what you’re wearing with it.

December Highlights

• I took some time to reflect on the year that has been and unwind and get ready for 2021. I know lots of people hate January but I really appreciate the slow period and setting things up to begin again.
• Finishing work on Christmas Eve and knowing I have almost two weeks off. This is my first proper annual leave since February that won’t involve hospitals and where I can do things for me.
• My boyfriend finishing work early on Christmas Eve and coming to see me after not being able to see each other for a week. He also came to visit on Christmas Day so we could exchange presents.
• The first bite of pavlova on Christmas Day was amazing!

December’s Spotify Playlist:

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How was your month? Share one of your highlights in the comments!

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The Christmas Tag 🎄

Last week the lovely Sage nominated me to do The Christmas Tag! I had a look at my past posts and was pleased to see I hadn’t done this tag before. This year for Christmas I am keeping things relaxed but still wanted to do something a little festive.

1. What is your favorite Christmas movie?

Home Alone and Home Alone 2 always make me laugh and never get old! They are some of the only Christmas movies I can watch repeatedly without getting tired of them.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Christmas morning. Christmas Eve technically isn’t Christmas yet 😛 When my brother and I were children we never opened presents early.

3. Do you have a favorite Christmas memory?

In 2002 we moved to the city I still live in now and the first Christmas we stayed with one of my aunts. I remember on Christmas Day itself everyone was awake before me and my brother and my mum were bringing in presents to me while I was still in bed. My brother and I got a Playstation One (which I still have) and another thing I got was a sparkly pink and lime green Barbie vespa. I absolutely loved Barbie!

4. Favorite festive food?

Pavlova for sure! I don’t know why it is associated with Christmas as they can still be bought throughout the year but most people tend to eat it at Christmas. A big slice of pavlova with whipped cream and strawberries and vanilla custard is one of the highlights of my day! Scorched Almonds from Nestle are another favourite; it is literally an almond covered in milk chocolate but so delicious.

5. Favourite Christmas gift?

I must have been about four years old and all year I’d been wanting a Barbie folding pretty house (as it was called) – basically a dollhouse for my Barbie dolls – and I was so excited when I got it. My dad gave it to me and I think that was the first Christmas after he left.

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

Pork crackling. We usually have a roast pork dinner with my mum’s homemade gravy and vegetables but the crackling is my favourite bit! Again, roast pork is available to buy year round but we don’t have it often.

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

When I was a kid I always used to leave a drink and food out for Santa; either a couple of biscuits or a carrot. My brother and I would also stick name tags at opposite ends of the couch where our presents would go.

8. What tops your tree?

A glittery silver star.

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

As a kid I didn’t really ask for presents, I got what I was given and appreciated it. I don’t think there is anything I desperately wanted but never got.

10. What’s the best part about Christmas for you?

The food. Almost every family has a big meal and has food they don’t usually eat throughout the year and buys treats especially for Christmas time. Also, I like not being on a time limit and being able to relax and sleep in and just plod through the day at an easy pace.

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How do you usually celebrate Christmas? Do you have any special plans this year?

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Christmas 2017

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying the rest of the holiday season!

As well as showing you ‘What I Got For Christmas’ I wanted to share how I celebrated Christmas day and include some lots of festive pictures. Enjoy!

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Every year I’m adamant I’m not going to decorate the tree but every year I end up doing it. This year I was more selective with decorating and stuck to a colour scheme: pink, purple and silver.

The tree:

Some of my favourite decorations:

Decorations around the house:

My mum has a miniature pink Christmas tree which is my favourite. I bought it for her in a Boxing Day sale a couple of years back.

Presents:

The presents looked so lovely under the tree and were placed there throughout December.

The festivities:

My family and I had our big meal a day early on Christmas Eve. I suggested this to my mum as she does the cooking and it meant we could relax more on the day itself. She wouldn’t have to spend the morning cooking. For Christmas dinner we had ham, rolled turkey, vegetables and gravy. I didn’t take a picture of this part of the meal but I did capture shots of dessert: trifle and Pavlova, a Kiwi classic! (Pavlova is a meringue based dessert usually covered in whipped cream and strawberries).

Trifle.

Pavlova. I placed the strawberries on top.

On Christmas Day we had leftovers for lunch before heading up to visit my aunt. I spent Christmas morning opening presents and getting ready; I curled my hair and did my makeup. *CLICK HERE* to see how I achieved this makeup look.

Christmas Day selfie.

In the evening I got dropped at my boyfriend’s house and got to open more presents and gift some too.

Presents for my boyfriend and his family:

What I Got For Christmas

Mum:

I needed casual, comfy shoes and both of these pairs fit the bill.

The backdrop for all present photos is a throw which was a gift from my mum too. It’s dark grey with sparkly bits.

My mum also got me some Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Cream chocolate bars (these were my favourite as a kid), an Argan Oil hair mask, a London sign and some copper string lights. I plan to put the lights around my bedhead/they might come in handy for blog photos.

Brother:

I fell in love with the Morphe 25A Copper Spice palette after Rachael snagged it and it instantly went on my Christmas list! This Paris jigsaw is similar to the London one mentioned in my Christmas Wishlist. I bought the London one myself so I have both!

Boyfriend/Boyfriend’s Parents:

This giraffe teddy also featured on my Christmas wishlist! I am so glad I got him and all that’s left now is to think of a name. Feel free to leave suggestions in the comments!

My boyfriend also gifted me the mug and the mini Ecoya candle. I requested Guava & Lychee Sorbet and it smells deliciously fruity – I can’t wait to light it.

My boyfriend’s parents got me a few things but the Agatha Christie book and Juicy Couture rollerball perfume were my favourite. The rollerball has Viva la Juicy at one end and Viva la Juicy Glacé at the other.

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How did you celebrate Christmas? What presents did you get?

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Christmas Nails & Makeup Tutorial

The Christmas countdown is on, there’s only 4 days to go! Personally I really enjoy doing my makeup on Christmas Day and making myself look nice. I knew this year I wanted lots of glow and sparkle and that’s exactly what I got! I’ve included a step by step guide as to how I achieved my Christmas look, how I applied each product and a list of the tools I used. Enjoy!

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First I want to show off my Christmas nails! I wanted them to tie in with my makeup so I went for a neutral shade, Tiramisu For Two by OPI and did an accent nail (ring fingers) using Glow Your Own Way by Essie.

Makeup Products and Tools Used:

Step By Step Guide:

1. Moisturise. My go to everyday moisturiser is the Kind To Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser from Simple.
2. Fill in brows using Rimmel’s Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel.
3. Apply a pea sized amount of primer. I am currently loving the Ultra Face Base Primer from Makeup Revolution. This has been sitting in my collection unused for a while and I decided to give it another go. It has been helping my makeup stay on longer and aids with application of foundation.
4. Next I apply Max Factor’s Lasting Performance Foundation in 101 Ivory Beige using the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. I dot the foundation over my face then blend it in. I tend to go in with a little more product on my chin and around my nose as I suffer from redness in those areas.
5. Using my middle finger I pat concealer onto my nose and chin, again to cover any redness, or any blemishes I have. For this look I used the Studio Finish Concealer from MAC. I have the shade NW10. It is so creamy and blends like a dream. I also run my finger over my eyelids so the concealer can act as a primer for eyeshadow.
6. *For eyeshadow I used the Iconic 1 palette from Makeup Revolution. Starting with a Real Techniques Oval Shadow Brush I apply the first shade in the palette all over the lid. Taking a Real Techniques Tapered Shadow Brush I blend the darkest matte brown into the crease and outer corner of the eye. The fourth shade from the left is applied all over the lid with a Real Techniques Shading Brush. The second and ninth shades are applied in the centre of the lid with my finger to complete the look.
7. I used Rimmel’s Scandaleyes Lycra Flex in Black on my lashes. This mascara in the shade Extreme Black 003 is my holy grail. It gives volume and length and makes the lashes look fluttery.
8. Dipping my Real Techniques Tapered Blush Brush into Dainty Doll’s Powder Blush in You Are My Sunshine I dab lightly over the apples and tops of my cheeks to give a nice flush of colour. This is my favourite blush and a great dupe for Orgasm by NARS.
9. Using the other side of the same Tapered Blush Brush I apply highlighter to the tops of my cheeks. I chose Mary-Lou Manizer from theBalm.
10. Fuchsia Fusion from NYX was an easy lip colour choice! Fuchsia is my favourite colour to wear and the sparkles add extra glitz to the look.

*Shades used in eye look:

The Finished Look:

I love this makeup so much! Before I commit to a Christmas Day look I always trial the makeup look beforehand. I wore this makeup out for an evening of shopping and I felt beautiful. It’s not the most traditional look but I didn’t want to do the usual red lip and gold eye.

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Do you wear makeup on Christmas Day? If so, what will you be opting for this year?

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Christmas 2017 Wishlist

Christmas is not far away and while I’ve got most of my Christmas shopping done I was thinking about what I’ll be receiving this year and what I would like. Some people might say I’m fussy but I don’t think so at all, if someone has reason behind a gift that means more than the gift itself. I love surprising people and really thinking about what they like, I enjoy giving gifts. I’d be happy to receive any of the items in this post!

1. OPI – Tiramisu For Two

I heard this nail polish mentioned in a beauty chat with Rochelle Humes and Sam and Nic Chapman. Tiramisu For Two is one of Rochelle’s favourite nail polishes and when I Googled it, I instantly loved the colour. It’s one of those nudes that suits a number of skin tones and I love the name! OPI describe Tiramisu For Two as “a sweet coffee cream” and I definitely don’t have a polish like this already. The shade was released as part of the Venice collection in 2015.

EDIT: I purchased this polish myself on December 5th. I popped in store to see if they had the polish and the store only had a couple of bottles left. I didn’t want to miss out!

2. Jigsaw puzzle

I absolutely love jigsaws and have done since I was a kid. There’s always a jigsaw on the go at my boyfriend’s house and earlier in the year I was given double ups of ones they already had. I’m quite good at jigsaws due to my eye for detail and I can’t resist dong them when I visit. I saw a couple of WHSmith branded ones which are postcards from different cities and the Paris and London ones look fun.

3. Me To You Teddy

These are my favourite teddies! The Me To You brand is super sweet and they always have themed teddies or teddies for special occasions. I have given these teddies as gifts in the past and they go down so well, I want one of my own! How cute is the teddy dressed in a giraffe onesie?! I have also seen a panda onesie and a unicorn onesie – adorable.

4. Agatha Christie dvd sets – Poirot and marple

Two of my favourite TV series have been released on DVD and there are a number of episodes of both I haven’t seen (particularly Poirot). I would love to say I’ve seen all episodes of both series. My one slight gripe with detective stories is that once you’ve seen the episode you know who the murderer is so how likely are you to re-watch all the stories.

5.Cute Mug

I don’t have a lot of hot drinks but I have been using Nescafé instant coffee sachets over the past couple of months and I love getting my mugs out. I’ve got one with cats on it and another one that’s white with metallic gold spots. I’ve also got a personalised takeaway coffee cup my brother bought for me. What I mean by cute is a mug with a quote on it, an illustration like the mug in the picture or a nice pastel pink or blue colour.

6. kikki.k Vases

I often get given roses by boyfriend/his mum and I’ve got a couple of vases I put them in but not one that is desk worthy. I love the boldness of the black vase, you don’t often see black vases and the gold spots are a nice touch. The set of four are mini vases and I love the pops of colour! My mum would love these too as she loves minis so we could share.

7. Mac Melon pigment (travel size)

MAC pigments are so gorgeous. Melon is a peachy-gold colour all in one and I don’t have any colour like that in my makeup collection. I watched a video of Shaaanxo using the pigment in a neutral eye look and it looks stunning. You don’t need to use a lot of pigment so the travel size would be perfect to try.

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What’s on your Christmas wishlist?

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Life Lately #3

Hello everyone! Hope you’re well! I began these ‘Life Lately’ posts in April as a way to round up what I’ve been up to and document where my head and I have been. I break the post down into categories and update you on each one. This will be the last Life Lately post as I am toying with a new segment for 2018 which will include more regular updates, possibly posted weekly. (Some of you may know three is my favourite number so it’s fitting I’m ending this mini-series after the third installment).

Blogging

I have been super consistent with my posting schedule and I have been getting posts written in advance. I am still learning about my camera and getting to grips with the settings to try and make sure my blog photos are acceptable. If you have any tips or feedback on my photos, please feel free to share! I have been thinking about the blog in the near future and as I mentioned in the intro my two posts a week may be going back up to three. I conducted a survey a couple of months back so I will re-read the answers and make sure I’m incorporating what my readers said they want as much as I can.

Work

In the last Life Lately update I had left my job and was getting ready to start at the library. I have been at the library for almost three months now and the difference in my mindset is very noticeable. I have more time and freedom and more of a work/life balance. I’m not stressed and I generally feel happier.

Personal

Everything on the relationship front is still going really well. It was my boyfriend’s 25th birthday in September and I surprised him with 25 presents. Related post: Boyfriend’s Birthday Surprise!

I have been reading a lot and shopping a lot it seems too. I’ve picked up some bargains and purchased new products that I have slowly been trying/using/wearing. (Most items are beauty/makeup related, good beauty blogger). Related posts: My Recent Purchases and My Recent Purchases #2.

I have also done the majority of my Christmas shopping and wrapped the presents I’ve bought. I’m not a big fan of Christmas but I do like giving gifts and wrapping them.

In October I got my hair cut. I don’t know why but I don’t feel satisfied with my hair 90% of the time I get it cut. I like the way it looks when the hairdresser styles it but a couple of days later it’s thick again. I like to keep my hair routine easy and I don’t use styling tools often. I’m still trying to decide if I prefer my hair all one length or with longer layers.

Music

I ordered an album package from Shania Twain’s store and I’m still waiting for it to arrive! I ordered it over two months ago and have sent numerous emails to the help team. At first the item was out of stock and now there’s a problem with the delivery partner. I honestly wish I had physically gone to a store and bought the album and not got all the extras. I’m only seeing the order through because my money has been taken and the order can’t be cancelled.

Steps re-released Tears On the Dancefloor this month (with new tracks) and I ordered a copy signed by my favourite band member, Lisa. My CD arrived this week. I have had the album on repeat since April!

2017 Goals Progress

Related Post: Hello 2017!

I have been exercising pretty regularly. I want to find some leg yoga to try and tone my legs up for summer so I’ll feel more comfortable in shorts. I am going with the flow more and definitely haven’t been stressing about blogging. I’ve got a social media routine and try to keep my time using it to a minimum – I check it in the morning and in the evening. I tend to check Instagram more if I’ve posted that day. I’m sad to say I haven’t done any more driving and I want to make that a priority in 2018.

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What have you been up to recently?

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What I Got For Christmas 2016

It’s become an annual tradition to share what I got for Christmas. I’ve done a post for the previous two years and you all know how three is my favourite number so I had to continue the tradition! I feel like a very lucky girl this year, I received some lovely gifts and I got to have two present opening occasions. I opened presents with my boyfriend and his parents on Christmas Eve and opened presents with my family on Christmas day.

Brother

My brother and I both use and have a love of planners so he got me planner inserts from kikki.K for my Filofax. I prefer kikki.K to Filofax as they are lined and come with the monthly inserts as well. With Filofax you have to buy weekly and monthly inserts separately. I also suggested he buy me a hair curler – I always love getting my hair curled when I go to the hairdresser. I do have one but it’s 10 years old and has never held a curl all that well. I received a 25mm Ceramic Curler from Vidal Sassoon. It’s got a number of temperature settings to suit all hair types and I can’t wait to try it out this weekend!

Boyfriend

When my boyfriend and I first started discussing gifts for each other we were clueless. I didn’t want anything crazy or too expensive and I ended up suggesting a couple of ideas to him. I asked for a pink Instax backpack to match my camera and was even treated to a visit from him at work when he came to purchase it. (Yes, I did serve him myself). I’ve been meaning to try something from The Body Shop’s Cocoa Butter range (which is being discontinued) so I also asked for a Cocoa Butter body butter. When I opened the backpack I saw an extra present inside; a cat ear headband. It’s even got pink inside the ears!

Boyfriend’s parents

I was not expecting my boyfriend’s parents to get me anything at all so I was surprised when I saw a gorgeous pair of stud earrings all wrapped up in a little gift bag and box. The stones are different colours so they’ll go with just about everything. I also received some lollies (sweets) and a pink, fluffy pen.

Mum

I knew two things I was getting from mum and the rest were surprises. I’d asked for the new Britney Spears perfume, Private Show. It smells absolutely delightful and I’ve already received compliments when I’ve worn it. It’s quite a sweet scent but still sophisticated and feminine. Lindt’s Strawberries and Cream chocolates are a little treat and I’ve still got a couple left. I got a set of two cups and a little vase which I plan to keep any roses I get from my boyfriend in.

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What was your favourite Christmas present that you received?

I Wish You a Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅

There’s only two more sleeps left until Christmas! Part of me is more excited this year as I’ve enjoyed buying and wrapping my presents and I can’t wait to see the reaction on people’s faces when they open my gifts. I like to buy to suit each person and try and make gifts personal in some way. For example, my mum and I love cryptic crosswords so I plan to hide her gifts and give her clues to help her find them. It’s fun and shows thought.

I’m so excited to be able to have someone special to celebrate with this year; my boyfriend! Relationships are still kind of new to me and at times I feel like there’s things I don’t know but that’s part of it and so far everything has been positive. All I can do is be myself and as long as we’re happy that’s what counts. It’s been almost four months since we first met and that time has gone so quickly.

Working in retail, I know I will make the most of my time off because the day after Christmas Day sends shoppers crazy! I have a short break before Christmas so I’ll be preparing myself for the madness haha. My brother is also coming down to spend Christmas with us and we’re off to my aunt’s on the actual day itself.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy celebrating and spending time with your family and loved ones! I also want to thank you for the support for my blog this year! In June, we reached the two year mark and it’s weird to think this little space on the internet will turn three in 2017. Your support and kind words never fail to make me smile and I’m so proud of how much I’ve been able to grow as a blogger and a person as a result.

I will be back next week with a few end of the year posts but until then, Merry Christmas!

Christmas Makeup

Hey everyone! We are now less than a week away from Christmas! I enjoy seeing how people plan to do their makeup on Christmas Day and I wanted to share the look I’ve opted for this year. If you’re stuck for inspiration and not sure what to go for, I hope this post is of some use to you!

Last year, I went down the traditional route of a red lip and a sparkly eye. This year I am keeping my eyes sparkly and going for gold (literally). I have also gone for a gorgeous plum/berry lip colour, à la MAC Syrup. I was applying the shade one afternoon and the idea popped into my head to use it as my Christmas lip colour this year.

PRODUCTS:

1. Simple Kind To Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser – You know how much I love Simple moisturiser. I have realised I actually prefer this to the Light Hydrating version.

2. Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 002 Hazel – I have been using this exact pencil to fill in my eyebrows since March and I’m still lovin’ it!

3. The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist – I love this product for spritzing on my face before applying foundation. It gives my skin an extra boost of moisture and makes everything look more flawless.

4. Max Factor Lasting Finish Foundation in 101 Ivory Beige – I went for this over my trusty Rimmel as I wanted more of a matte look and this foundation lasts really well throughout the day.

5. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 1 Fair – Again, you know I’m a huge fan of this! It’s creamy, high coverage and moistursing – enough said.

6. Rimmel Match Perfection Translucent Powder – This helps stop any excess oil and takes away any leftover shine after applying foundation.

7. Dainty Doll Cream Blush in 003 Billion Dollar Babies – This blush is very subtle but that’s why I love it. It gives the most natural colour to the cheeks and there’s not a look this shade doesn’t go with.

1. Maybelline ‘The Nudes’ Palette – A light wash of the gold shade in the second row of the palette is applied as a base.

2. Makeup Revolution Iconic 2 – The second shade from the left is applied over the top of the Maybelline shade to add extra sparkle.

3. Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara – One coat of lengthening mascara is applied to the top and bottom lashes before a coat of volumising mascara is applied to the top lashes.

1. Revlon – Sugar Plum – This shade may not scream Christmas at first glance but it’s plum/berry tones make it the perfect accompaniment. It’s bold enough to make a statement but not too bold that you will notice when it starts to fade. It’s smooth formula will make reapplication a breeze if necessary.

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What do you think of my Christmas makeup? What look will you be wearing on the big day?

Hey, It’s Okay… If Christmas Isn’t Your Favourite Holiday

Hey everyone and welcome to the twelfth and final Hey, It’s Okay… post for 2016! Before I get into the post, let me just clarify I’m not going to get all bah humbug and Scrooge on you.

Twinkling lights, snow falling down, fireplace roaring, stuffing your face with food, sounds like Christmas right?! Movies always paint a picture of how Christmas looks and how it should be when in reality it’s not always like that. Take Christmas in New Zealand for example, Christmas is in summer so it’s always warm – you won’t see snow and there won’t be a fireplace roaring. I’ve had 20 summer Christmases (coming up 21) and I still find it weird. I’d love to experience a cold Christmas one day and curl up on the couch with a cosy jumper opening presents.

Personally, Christmas isn’t my favourite holiday but it’s not my least favourite either. I have reasons why I like it and reasons I don’t.

I love the idea that Christmas brings family and friends together and you get to swap presents and celebrate and spend time with each other. Christmas is also a great excuse to indulge in lots of yummy food and overeat. Roast pork with crackling is what my family normally has for our big meal at lunch and it is delicious! Pavlova (a meringue based dessert) is my absolute favourite and a Christmas treat I always look forward to! Let’s face it, we all love receiving presents and the fact someone has gone to the trouble of thinking what to buy you is really what counts but I thoroughly enjoy gift shopping for others and I boast that I’m a pretty decent gift giver. I like to get my shopping out of the way early to avoid the last minute rush. Christmas lights and decorations automatically make things feel more like Christmas and I never tire of looking at fairy lights.

On the flipside, like many other holidays Christmas seems to be becoming more about children. I know children are fascinated with the idea of Santa but I think if we focused more on family traditions as we grow up we wouldn’t feel as stressed and overwhelmed by all the shopping/cooking/preparing that needs to be done. Christmas to me has always seemed like the type of holiday that is for the family (compared to something like Halloween where it’s normally only kids that go trick or treating). Christmas should be a time of togetherness and celebration, not worrying about trying to top last year’s presents. This brings me to next point, I don’t want this to sound rude but a lot of children these days are spoilt. When I was a child (and still now to an extent) I would never ask or suggest what I wanted as presents. It’s the thought that counts and you get what you are given. Love and thoughtfulness should not be compared to a monetary value! For many families, they can’t afford extravagant gifts or the latest technology and I know from personal experience and growing up that way that what you do receive is appreciated more.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t give presents or exchange gifts but instead of the price we should be focusing on the meaning behind the gifts and how special the people giving them to us are. Often it’s personal, handmade gifts that are far more meaningful.

Maybe I am being overly critical and assuming everyone sees Christmas the way I do but things have changed since I was younger and the magic of Christmas seems to have gotten lost among commercialisation. There are elements of Christmas I enjoy but it’s almost like the excitement of Christmas is lacking. We should spend time trying to bring that back rather than who can get the best bargain in the sales after the big day!

Is Christmas your favourite holiday? Does it still feel magical for you?

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I really hope you enjoyed the Hey, It’s Okay… series! Let me know if you would be interested in more posts next year and if you have any suggestions or topics you’d like me to discuss.