Handmade Gifts are Better

My first year out of education I was never going to be able to afford gifts for everyone who deserved them in my life, so I decided that this was going to be the year that I would properly commit to hand making little gifts so people would know I was thinking about them over the holiday period. Granted, some may see my efforts as a little pre-school but it’s the thought that counts and the careful time taken over making someone else smile. 

I knew I wanted to do something with oranges but I wasn’t sure what. After trawling Pinterest, youtube and various blogs I was thoroughly disheartened by my lack of creative know-how, so I decided to cobble together something entirely of my own creation. I finally came to the conclusion that I could make hanging tree decorations; most people I know have a tree up in their house and if they don’t they could always hang something on a cupboard door knob, or on a mantlepiece. 

I picked out some large oranges from Sainsburies, sliced them finely and laid them out on some kitchen roll for about half an hour - they were extra juicy and in any other instance this would have made for perfect oranges but I needed them less juicy.
After drying as much juice out of them as I could, I placed them all on a baking tray and left in them in the oven for about three hours at 90 degrees. I really didn’t think it was going to take this long, but it really did. I went down to check multiple times, but they were only just done when I finally took them out. 

After they were out of the oven and cool, I left them overnight to dry out that last little bit and be really ready to craft with. 

I’d bought 5 meters of the ribbon I liked, and it was fairly cheap, but this was by far the most fiddly bit of the whole christmas-craft-fest. I tied the ribbon into many little bows and once I was happy with the shape of the bow, I ran a couple of stitches through the main knot to stop it coming undone. 

I can’t really sew at all, but because I used thread that matched the ribbon it didn’t really matter that much. Once I’d made around 15 bows, I picked out the best looking 15 oranges and matched them up. A little drop of craft glue on the back of each bow secured it to the orange. I was originally going to sew the bows to the oranges, but I was a little worried about the oranges stability, after all they are just oranges. 

So, now I had 15 dried oranges with cute bows glued on. These were cute as they were, but I wanted to make them at least slightly functional, so this is where the jute twine and luggage tags come into action. 

I removed the original string from the tags and went about cutting about a fingers length of the jute twine off the roll. I looped it and stuck it down onto the back of the tag with some regular sellotape. 

Now I had 15 slightly kitsch hanging tags. 

Mounting the oranges in the same way that I did the bows, I fixed each orange to the upper end of the card leaving some space at the bottom. I didn’t really have much faith in the glue, but it actually worked wonders. It was a fairly cheap ‘Tacky Glue’ from a local Fabric Land. If I were to buy it again however, I would definitely opt for the clear-dry glue as opposed to the one I bought which dried white. It wasn’t a major spanner in the works it just meant that I had to work a little neater than I really had time to. 

Whilst I was trying to make them look perfect and really take lots of care and attention, I needed to get them finished in a short period of time. That’s the one problem about Christmas-crafting, I always come up with designs and delusions of grandeur with absolutely no funding or time to execute them. This years handmade gifts were quite cheap which helped. 

Once the oranges had set onto the tags enough, I left this until the next day, I wrote names on the opposite ends. I thought this was a cute addition because it personalised the gift nicely and (hopefully) showed that I put a little thought into my efforts. 

Once the ink on that was dry, we all know how gel pens smudge, I individually wrapped each tag in red or green tissue paper adorned with even more Paperchase stickers* and a To…/From… note. 

Overall, I was really pleased with the way the tags turned out, I made them in the hope that people might hang them on their trees and I know having given some out early to people at work that most of them made it onto their trees. Success! 

Although it may take a little extra forethought and effort, I really think handmade gifts are a lot nicer to receive. It shows the effort gone into it and it’s always nice to know that the person who made it cares enough for you to make something for you, or to spend time on you (not just necessarily money.) 

Hope you’re all having a wonderful Christmas holiday period. 

*If you don’t get this reference, it’s because I wrote a post recently about wrapping up my gifts and showering them all with really cute Christmas stickers from Paperchase. We know I love Paperchase.

The Need For Good Underwear.

It is a need, after all, not a want. I really do need to wear nice underwear and mainly for no one aside for myself. Cora Harrington from The Lingerie Addict agrees that women who want to wear wonderful lingerie can be doing it for themselves and don’t necessarily have to be doing it to impress a man even though every other article online reads “Buying the right underwear to impress your man…”

“Everyone who wants it deserves gorgeous lingerie” - Cora Harrington, The Lingerie Addict. 

One of the many reasons I love nice underwear is that it’s almost like a little sexy-secret that only you know about (unless you choose to show someone else you saucy minxes) You might be hiding in your work uniform, but underneath you’re rocking a badass matching set. One of my favourite blogs/ Instagrams at the moment is The Lingerie Files - check them out for beautiful, beautiful pictures of amazing lingerie that make you want to give your whole wardrobe an overhaul. I love The Lingerie Files because they believe that underwear can (sometimes) be outerwear and that lingerie is all about making you feel more confident and sexy in yourself.
When you wake up on the wrong side of bed and you have to be somewhere in an hour, a good selection of underwear can make the day a whole lot better. If you feel happy and sexy, hopefully it’ll shine through.

Nothing feels less sexy than your ancient bra strap finally giving up the ghost and snapping. Or the elastic in your favourite panties giving out so much that you can barely keep them up; throw them out, invest in something amazing. As useful as the handful of Primark pants for £5 is, they're sure as hell not going to make you happy in the long run. I'm not saying cheap isn't good, but some pieces of lingerie deserve to be treated like the fashion items they are. 

The Lingerie Files also has this cute image explaining ‘lingerie terms’ for those who are just figuring out what they like. 

This image belongs to The Lingerie Files. 

When I was younger and I started wearing real underwear, as opposed to days-of-the-week pants, I shopped in New Look, Tammy Girl (way back then) and M&Co - remember them? After that came the La Senza phase, and to this day, two of my favourite bras that I own are from La Senza but over the last few years everything I’ve seen in La Senza has become a little too neon-and-leopard print for me. 

Victoria’s Secret has recently opened in my local shopping centre, which is West Quay in Southampton, and reminded me how much I loved the brand. I shopped at VS when I was in NYC and then again when I was reunited in Las Vegas; since then VS have branched out in the UK and seem to be popping up everywhere.
My favourite slip/babydoll that I own is black (obviously) and silky - that was a Vegas VS purchase and now that they’re open so close by I can see myself spending a little too much in their VS/Pink store. 

My next purchase is going to have to be a satin Kimono from VS as I get too hot in a full blown dressing gowns and the one I’ve got my eye on is nicely balanced between sexy and simple. 

With the more decadent lingerie, there’s an air of putting on a costume that I quite like - meaning you can be whoever you want to be, and your tastes might change from costume to costume. At the same time, because ‘underwear’ is such a vast term, you can really explore things you’ve never worn before and find out what you really like, especially before you start buying underwear to impress someone else… 

Of course I’m not damning the idea of buying underwear with someone else in mind, I’m just saying it’s important to make yourself feel special first. Good underwear is emotionally good for you; it makes you feel happy, sexy and strong. To all those people out there who are buying lingerie for their significant others this Christmas, good luck and happy shopping. Buying someone else underwear without them knowing takes balls, and I’m so glad that you’re doing it. 

Brown Paper Packages (Tied Up With String)

Christmas can be a tricky time for some of us for one reason or another, but when it’s dialled down and stripped back, Christmas is all about spending time with your family; to me, anyway. When I say ‘family’, I mean whatever shape your family takes on; friends, families and those in between. Whoever make up your most important people - get together with them this holiday season and remind yourselves how lucky we are to be surrounded by people we love. 

I’ve really been struggling to get into the Christmas spirit this season and I think that’s down to retail. Retail is such a horror show at Christmas, it’s hard to do anything when you get home, let alone get excited about something. I can’t imagine working in a store that I didn’t love at Christmas - I couldn’t do it. 

Today was the first day that I really forced myself to get up and get into the Christmas spirit. Being the first of three days off, I decided I would go out and collect up some wrapping-paper bits from town and see what all the other stores were doing for Christmas. I know John Lewis’ Gold/Glass/Feather decorations have been very popular online (and I did actually pick up one to give my Mum) and Paperchase are doing a really cute ‘Santa around The World’ kind of theme, which I really love. 

I spent my evening writing cards (working my way down a list longer than both my arms) and wrapping gifts. I’ve been watching various Vlogmas’ and getting excited about not only our Christmas Work Party this week, but also Christmas as a whole. 

I always find myself getting a little down that I can’t afford to get everyone the things I’d like to have some really great gift ideas that would be perfect for some of my friends, but I just can’t afford to execute them in the way I’d like to. I think we’re all in the same boat on that one. 

After all, I’m trying to remind myself about dialling the christmas consumerism down, it’s the thought that counts and the people that you spend your time off with this holiday. 

I always like to buy my christmas cards from Paperchase because they do really awesome designs AND donate a portion of the funds to certain charities. Last year, some of the money I spent on cards Paperchase gave to The Terrance Higgins Trust (which is a charity I often donate to) and this year, my christmas cards are supporting Water Aid and Cystic Fibrosis Support. 

Whilst on the subject of Paperchase, I’m now a proud of owner of one of their ‘treat me’ cards and a handful of their cutest Christmas stickers. I had some left over from last year and this year these will adorn my handwritten tags on my hand tied packages. 

The Paperchase stickers I’d chosen centered around a sort of Christmas-In-London theme, which makes me happy and reminds me of home, and they also match a set of my cards very well. 

From a very young age, I can remember that my Mum has had the strictest themed Christmasses imaginable. I feel this is rubbing off on me, given that when I was shopping today I found myself loitering near the red-and-white ribbons, looking for matching accessories to go with my rustic brown paper packages. 

I seem to have come away from shopping with two Yankee Candles to burn during my christmas decoration and preparation; Cinnamon Stick and Spiced Orange to bring that really ‘christmassy’ scent to my room. 

However you spend your Christmas this year, have a good one.
Sending seasonal-love from me and mine to you and yours.
Happy Christmas. 

10 Reasons I'm NOT Into NYE.

Some people I know look forward to New Year's Eve like they look forward to their birthdays, to them I say no. I am not a fan of New Year's Eve and here’s a quick rundown as to why...

1.      Pressure to Plan!
Talk about pressure to plan; who are you going out with this year? Where are you guys going? What are you going to wear? Panic! Not to mention the few days before New Year’s Eve when everyone else is talking about their plans and you don’t have any yet. My favourite NYE so far was spent in with some close friends, cocktails and hot dogs. We danced, we drank, we played cards, we ate all kinds of food...What else do you need?

2.      Drink Up!
If you’re planning on going out this New Year, you’re sort of expected to be a certain level of drunk – a level that says you should be screaming out Auld Lang Syne along with the rest of them when the clock strikes. I’m all for a few glasses of fizz and a little wobbly moment when you realise that maybe that last cocktail wasn’t a sensible decision, but when you’ve had so many shots that you think it’s a good idea to lick spilt tequila off the bar maybe it’s time to call a taxi.

3.      Anticlimax?
Whether it’s 11pm, Midnight, 1am... everyone looks the same, her mascara is still running and he’s still got beer splashed on his shirt. Nothing’s new, nothing’s changed, and no one has suddenly developed all their moralistic resolutions.

4.      New Year’s Resolutions.
There’s always the standard ‘Oh, I’m going to lose ten pounds’ or ‘Yes, I’m going to go to the gym every other day!’ but most resolutions tend to circle work, love or finance. Resolutions are like horoscopes; vague, hard to stick to and a little bit pointless. Why make yourself have all of these goals, if the probability of sticking to them is so slim? Make yourself small goals throughout the year – they’re far more likely to be achievable and there’s no January pressure to guilt trip you.

5.      Crapuary.
Of course, January follows New Year’s Eve which can only mean a month of failed resolutions, expensive gym memberships, empty bank accounts, cutbacks left-right-and-center, need I go on?

6.      Phone Service/Taxi’s
Both are very hard to come by come NYE. Between 11pm and 1am there’s so much drama with who sent who a text because everyone is trying to get through on their phones it doesn’t always work. I always forget about Taxi’s being a problem until around 1am; I’m ready to go home, it’s cold outside and the whole of Winchester is having the same thoughts. Taxi’s are gold dust. Maybe just pre-book, if you can’t walk it? (Especially not in those shoes!)

7.      Endless 2014 Round-Ups.
How original, another top 10 images for 2014 list.
Or was it Top 10 YouTube videos?
No? Top 10 films/albums/singles of 2014?

8.      Spring Cleaning.
So you’ve bitten the bullet and taken down the tree – now everything is covered in glitter and dust so you might as well give the room a little spring clean, right? Well, if you’re going to do that room, you might as well do the whole house. Plus the bathrooms. And there you are, in your pyjamas, spending your Sunday spring cleaning your house for the New Year’s festivities.

9.      New Year’s Day Hangovers.
No stores are open, no matter what you need and if they do open, they only open in the morning and let’s face it no one is awake in the morning of New Year’s Day (Especially if you know that as you lay in bed, downstairs there is a plethora of empties and trodden in food waiting for you to clear up). Obviously, quite a large percentage of the population will be spending New Year’s Day either still drunk, or hung over, all putting off their vomit-inducing clear up, we need stores to be open.

10.  Christmas is officially over.
Until NYE, I can pretty much kid myself that it’s still Christmas and people are still wandering around wishing each other Happy Christmas – as soon as NYE is gone, Christmas is suddenly so far away again, and I’m a sucker for Christmas.

I’m sure you’re all judging me for not being the biggest NYE fan, but hey-ho.
It’s not for everyone. Feel free to let me know what YOU think, I'd love to hear what you're up to for NYE, or if you've got any set in stone New Years Traditions...
If you are headed out this Wednesday night please be safe; get home safe and above all have fun.

Happy New Year, buddy. 

REVIEW: Lush Cosmetics - Celebrate Body Lotion & Golden Wonder Ballistic

Being a resident Lush fan and newly employed Christmas Temp has given me the opportunity to not only be able to afford new Lush products, but to also get to try them earlier – everyone’s a winner.

I’ve got my trusty pot of Karma Kream so I never looked into the other lotions but then I met Celebrate and it was a match made in heaven for days when Karma just isn’t quite what I want.
Of course, even though a limited edition Christmas product, the 225g cream comes in the standard Lush black and white pots. When I’m done with Celebrate, I’ll be adding it to the ever-growing pile of ‘clean-black-pots-to-take-back’ pile. If you’re unaware what I’m rambling about, where have you been?

One of Lush’s many recycling schemes involves customers bringing back five empty, clean black pots – we send them back to the factory for recycling and you, as the customer, get a free fresh face mask out of it. I’ll say it again, everyone’s a winner. 

“A sumptuous body lotion with oranges, almond oil and lime. As it’s Christmas we’ve also added a splash of cognac to put you in the festive mood.”
With generous helpings of the citrus ingredients, this slightly thicker lotion packs a whole zesty punch and is the perfect product for getting jazzed up before heading out to your office Christmas Party – leave the whole room wondering, what on earth is that amazing smell?

This lotion is so bright, it’s a refreshing break from all of the predictable ‘christmas’ scented products from companies across the board at this time of the year.  “Lime and Brazilian Orange bring cheer to the body and mind. Almond oil and cocoa butter will moisturise and soften the skin.” Celebrate is packed full of goodness, particularly in Almond Oil which is high in vitamin E which is so good for your skin, along with Fair Trade Organic Cocoa butter. A fully Vegan-friendly product, this just adds to the Vegan range that Lush has curated – working toward creating a better workplace, creating better products.

“This lotion shares its fragrance with Golden Wonder bath bomb making it a perfect way to layer the uplifting blend of essential oils whilst softening the skin. It’s also self-preserving, giving us true cause to celebrate.”

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Golden Wonder is probably one of, if not, my favourite Ballistic at Lush at the moment. It is a chunky square ballistic, covered in shimmery gold lustre with a cute bow design on top; looks like a little Christmas gift.
If you get the chance to see one in store, give it a shake – you can hear the little secret ballistics inside rattling around.  There are three little different coloured ballistic pebbles, surrounded in a blue ballistic casing, which is then completely covered again in the white and gold ballistic layer, so not only does it smell amazing – it’s awesome to watch, too!  If you’re giving a Golden Wonder as a gift – don’t tell them about all the layers, let it be a surprise! 

Because Golden Wonder is quite big, with such an array of colours and an awesome scent package to boot, this product is perfect for a gift for pretty much anyone - it just keeps on giving.

With the same fragrance as Celebrate body lotion, the uplifting Orange and Lime oils refresh you from spending your days trawling around town doing your Christmas shopping. Or, perhaps you work in retail too and need a break from the world when you get home – if so, this fella is your guy.

Although the original Golden Wonder, retailing at £3.75, does have a cheeky splash of cognac to keep you on your toes, there is an alcohol free version for those inclined. The original should be available in most stores across the UK for sure, and the alcohol-free one I know for sure is available on the Lush Website.

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