My Christmas Novelty Bags

Merry Christmas everyone! 

How was your Christmas? I had a lovely, albeit very quiet, Christmas at home with my family. I got spoiled rotten, ate lots of delicious food, spent some quality time with my family, got cuddles from the Mia dog, and dressed up really festively in a fabulous new dress! I couldn't ask for more than that!

I feel absolutely shattered today, though, and can barely move, so I've spent my Boxing Day in bed watching festive TV, napping, eating a few Christmas chocolates, and going through photos I've taken over the last few days. It's a hard life! I'll be blogging more about my Christmas in the next couple of days, once I've edited my photos, but in the meantime, I thought you might like to see my little collection of Christmas novelty bags before I pack them away for another year.

I currently have four Christmas bags in my collection, which were all purchased in the last thirteen months. Three of them are novelties, and the fourth features a festive print.

The Christmas pudding bag came from TU at Sainsburys last Christmas, and if I'm remembering correctly, it was only about £12- and an absolute bargain. It's a cross-body bag, so I it's the perfect bag to use for Christmas shopping and running errands to leave my hands free for all those shopping bags. Plus, most importantly, it  makes my festive outfits look pretty damn awesome!

Last year, I also bought the red and silver bauble clutch, which was from New Look for less than £13. At the time I'd never seen a novelty bag quite like it, and I still think the design is really fun and eye-catching. It's definitely a conversation starter, that's for sure! It's also surprisingly roomy for a clutch bag, and fits everything I might need for a night out. (Not that I get to have many of those these days!)

The snowman bauble was also from New Look's Christmas collection in 2014, but I didn't buy it until earlier this year. I think I bought it on sale from ASOS for about £5! I just couldn't resist it. I haven't actually had a chance to use it yet, but it will definitely add a touch of whimsy to my Christmas outfits when I do. I mean, c'mon- it's a snowman faced bauble bag! How awesome?!

And last but not least, is my Cath Kidston Christmas book bag, which I picked up on sale earlier in the year for just £7- a bargain considering it was about £18 full price. I put it away to use this Christmas, and I've used it quite a few times already, even if it's just been for boring stuff like going to the supermarket, post office, and popping over to my sister's. 

I didn't buy any new Christmas novelty bags this Christmas, even though I had my eye on several, but if there are any left on sale at the end of the month, I may have to pick up one or two from Skinnydip to put away for next year.

Do you own any novelty Christmas bags? Have you bought any new ones this year?

You might also like:

My novelty bag collection 2015

My Matalan fruity novelty bags

My New Look novelty bags

Christmas Room Tour: My Bedroom 2015

Merry Christmas Eve, everybody! 

I can't believe it's Christmas Day tomorrow! December seems to have flown by for me this year, and there just haven't been enough hours in the day. I've been meaning to blog a little Christmas bedroom tour since I finished putting the decorations up a couple of weeks ago but it's taken me until now to finish taking and editing my photos. Better late than never, though, right?

I began putting up the decorations in my bedroom on the first, but it actually took me an entire week to get everything out- not because I have a million decorations but because the pain has been so bad lately. I could only do a little bit at a time, which got really frustrating, but it gave me a good excuse to over-play my favourite Christmas tunes that week!

I love my little green cut out Scandi tree from Paperchase.

My dressing table is cluttered with all kinds of stuff, but I still found space for a few decorations. I filled my cotton wool jar with tiny colourful glass baubles, and  a tea light holder with colourful gem decorations, and I really love how they look. I'm tempted to keep them on my dressing table all year round. I wanted to get a couple more jars of different sizes to fill with these little baubles, but I never made it down to Hobbycraft in time. I'll have to do it next year instead. I also dotted some frog queen and hummingbird decorations amongst my perfume bottles and trinkets, and strung my adorable Snowman fairy lights over the mirrors. They make me smile every time I look at them.

I got myself some Christmas bedding for the first time this Christmas, which I'm loving snuggling up in every night. The duvet set was just £12 from ASDA, and it's reversible, with the colours inverted on the other side- although, I've only had the white side on show because I like it best. The fleece blanket was a Black Friday bargain that I picked up from BHS for just £12.50! (Half the original price!). It's so warm and cosy! I'll probably keep on using it right through 'til Spring.

I bought a little Christmas tree for my room again this year, a real one from Sainsburys. It was pre-netted so I didn't know it was a little wonky until I got it home, but for a tenner, I really can't complain. It wouldn't win any prizes for beauty, but I still think it's lovely, and it definitely adds some festive cheer to my room. I can't even see the crap side from where I'm sitting. I decorated it with red, white and green honeycomb balls and bells, jingle bell baubles, and some Scandi pegs. I have Christmas decorations in a rainbow of colours, but classic red, green, and white are definitely my favourites.

I love my old heart-shaped jingle bell wreath. I can't believe it was a supermarket find!

My Christmas tea light holders have been getting plenty of use all month. The three glass ones were from Cath Kidston a few Christmases ago, and the wooden one was from The Christmas Boutique last year.

I have two Nutcracker candles sitting on my bookcase, with my bauble novelty bag as a backdrop. The Nutcrackers don't look great up close, but from a distance you can't see the bad paint-jobs. I think they still look really festive.

And last but not least are a bunch of LED colour-changing ornaments that are brightening up my bookcase. The trees are new and came from a local garden centre. The polar bear, green tree, and penguins are old and came from M&S. They fade in to all kinds of colours every few seconds, and they're so relaxing to watch.

And that is how I've decorated my bedroom for Christmas! 

I will hopefully still find time to blog about how the rest of the house has been decorated this year before Christmas is over, but we haven't quite finished yet (things haven't quite gone to plan this year) so we shall have to wait and see.

I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and New Year with your family and friends, and that Santa spoils you rotten! Enjoy yourself and make sure you have a few drinks for me, since I can't have any on my painkillers! Merry Christmas!

Do you decorate your bedroom for Christmas?

What's In My Christmas Eve Box? 2015

Over the weekend, I finally finished my Christmas shopping, wrapped up the last of the Christmas presents, and put my Christmas Eve Box together.

I made one for the first time last Christmas, and it made my Christmas Eve night so lovely and cosy (well, until my Mum  cut a big chunk out of her shin around 10pm and things got a bit bloody and chaotic). Until then I really enjoyed pampering myself, so I just had to give it another go this year.

Before I talk you through what I've put in mine, let's back up for a second. If you're not familiar with the concept, a Christmas Eve Box is basically a kit of lovely things to enjoy on Christmas Eve as you count down the last few hours 'til Christmas Day. Think cosy new PJs, Christmas movies, hot chocolate ingredients, snacks, festive-scented candles, and all those things you consider essential for a good night in. It's totally up to you what you put in one, and the idea can be adapted for any age group by choosing age-appropriate items. You could make one for your kids, one to enjoy with your partner, family or friends, or even just for yourself. It's up to you.

I don't have kids of a man in my life, so I've made a box for myself- although I will be sharing some of the goodies with my family. As you can see, it's packed full of awesome things. This is what I put in it...

I put in a cosy pair of Elf Christmas pyjamas from Dorothy Perkins (best PJs ever!), and the cutest Accessorize koala slippers, which I picked up in the January sales for less than £4! I try to get a new pair of PJs to wear on Christmas Eve so I can get the cosiest night's sleep and look more presentable for photos on Christmas morning.

I added in a bunch of festive Yankee Candles to set the mood and make the house smell amazing. I obviously won't be burning all of them at once, but it's good to have options to choose from. I haven't tried any of the red ones yet, but the bottom three are all amazing!

For entertainment, I put in one of my favourite Christmas films of all time, Santa Claus The Movie, and I'll probably add in a couple more of my favourites, too. I also added my beautiful clothbound copy of A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings by Dickens. I bought it last Christmas but never found time to read it, so I'm hoping to start it this Christmas.

No Christmas Eve box would be complete without some delicious chocolates or other tasty treats to indulge in. I put in little boxes / packets of Milk Tray, Guylian belgian chocolates, and Ferrero Rochers which were only a £1 each in ASDA. I also added a selection of Options hot chocolate sachets, and my Cath Kidston Christmas mug.

And to really pamper myself on Christmas Eve, I've added in some beauty products. I went with a set of red fairisle false nails, and a glittery gold nail polish from Ciaté to make my nails look super festive. I added a Vitamin E face mask from The Body Shop to give my skin a treat, and also a Frosted Cranberry soap and shower gel (which can be used as bubble bath, too) because the fragrance smells like Christmas.

And that is everything I put in my Christmas Eve Box! I can't wait to enjoy it all as I wind down on Christmas Eve night, and count down the last few hours 'til Christmas morning.

Will you be putting a Christmas Eve Box together this year? What would you put in yours for the ultimate festive night in?

You Might Also Like
What's In My Christmas Eve Box? 2016
What's In My Christmas Eve Box? 2014

Riverdrift House Christmas Cross Stitch Makes 2015

In my spare time, I love to cross stitch. I've sewn a little since I was a kid, but I only really picked it up as a regular hobby a couple of years ago, when I was looking for new ways to keep myself occupied while I was bed ridden. I picked up the prettiest Christmas sampler on Amazon that Autumn, and working on it was so fun, relaxing, and therapeutic that I've just kept on sewing ever since. 

It might sound like a boring hobby for frumpy old ladies- and maybe it used to be- but I don't think it's true anymore. There are loads of fun, stylish and pretty kits to choose from now, and over the last few years it's become popular with people of all ages again.

I personally love Riverdrift House's designs, particularly their Christmas themed samplers and cards; they're beautiful and the patterns are so easy to follow- even for beginners. Since discovering them two and a half years ago, I've completed three Christmas samplers, 4/5ths of a fourth, an Easter sampler, and a couple of Christmas cross stitch cards, and today I'm going to show you the festive ones I've made so far.

The Noel Peace On Earth sampler is the very first Riverdrift House cross stitch I made, and the project that got me in to cross stitching again. I found it on Amazon, and was lured in by the pretty Scandi-style design and the idea of playing with colourful threads for a couple of months. Well, you guys know me; I'm a magpie for anything colourful! It took me about three months to make, and for my first cross stitch of this size, I think it turned out really well. I only had a few minor hiccups, and I quickly learned how to fix them.

This is a great sampler to begin with if you're thinking of giving cross stitching a go. It's small and super easy  to make, and it can be made in as little as six weeks if you put in a couple of hours every day.

Last Christmas, I made the Home Sweet Christmas Home sampler. It's just a little larger than the Noel Peace On Earth sampler, and it was more of a challenge because of the elaborate borders. They weren't too complicated, but I did have to concentrate more, and push myself to keep sewing because I found the borders so tedious. I hate sewing the same pattern over and over again, and those borders took me days! I'm glad I persevered, though, because the finished picture doesn't look half bad.

The most recent picture I completed was the Christmas Peace Sampler, which I began just after Easter and finished in late August. It took so long because I just worked on it sporadically for months, and then in August I binge-stitched most of it in a few weeks. It could have been done a lot sooner, but working on a festive project when it's hot and sunny outside just feels a bit wrong! Thankfully I got through it, and I'm really pleased with how well it came out... even if it's proving really difficult to photograph properly!

 

I'm currently working on this Christmas band sampler, which I started in September. It's the largest cross stitch I've ever attempted, but it's been really easy to make so far. The only real challenge I've found is stitching the same pattern over and over without losing the will to live. I love samplers, but not the hours of repetition needed to create each band from left to right. Sometimes I find repetition therapeutic, sometimes it makes me want to scream and throw my sewing at someone's head. There's no in between. I haven't put as much time and effort in to this project as I should have, so I've still got about a fifth left to do, and won't get it finished in time for Christmas, but hey, there's always next year, right?

Aside from samplers, I've also made a couple of cross stitch cards, which is kind of pitiful because I bought the kit of six like a year and a half ago. Ah, well, I'll make the other four eventually. The Christmas cross-stitch card kit comes with everything you need to make six cards, including fabric, threads, a needle, cards, envelopes, and six different Scandi cross stitch patterns, and the designs are lovely. I haven't decided whether I'll actually make mine in to Christmas cards, or if I'll keep all six and frame them altogether in one of those collage-style photo frames, but I'll work that one out when I've finished all six. So basically, I won't have to worry about that until the year 2087.

You can find all of these Riverdrift House cross stitch kits (and many more) on Amazon and eBay, and also via their website. 

Do you sew? Have you got any fun creative projects on the go?

A Christmas Post Round Up

Today, I'm going to share a quick round up of some of my old Christmas posts. 

I have so many new posts I want to blog this Christmas, but I haven't managed to take all the photos I need for them yet because we've had no decent daylight in weeks. Seriously, it's been grey and dreary all month! What happened to the Winter sunshine?? I wish the lack of sunlight was the only reason for the lack of photos, but I'll admit I'm also struggling to function at the moment because I'm in so much pain. I won't go in to it now, but things haven't been this bad in a while, and it's left me feeling so drained of life which in turn is making it harder to blog. I'll try to write an update about it all soon.

For now, I'm just going to make up for the lack of new posts with a bunch of old ones. I've compiled a list of some of the Christmas themed posts I've blogged over the last few Christmases, which I hope you'll enjoy and find helpful. I must apologise for the quality of some of them first- I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote them, but it's fair to say I've improved my content and blogging style since those early days! Well, at least I like to think so!

Zen Colouring Winter Wonderland Adult Christmas Colouring Book Review

Last weekend I reviewed an adult Christmas colouring book for you guys. It's a great stress-reliever.

Christmas Home, Craft, Fashion, and Beauty Haul

Earlier in the month I shared a big Christmas home, fashion, and beauty haul, packed full of beautiful festive things.

101 Things To Do This Christmas

A couple of weeks ago I shared a list of 101 Things To Do This Christmas to give you a little inspirations.

L'Occitane Beauty Advent Calendar (2015)

My first impressions of this year's L'Occitane advent calendar. I'll be blogging about what I found / will find behind each window really soon. You can see some of the treats I've found behind the windows over on my Instagram now. (There are more to come; I'm a little behind on the updates).

My Novelty Christmas Handbags (2014)

Last Christmas I gave you a peek at two of my Christmas novelty bags.

Lush Christmas Haul and Reviews (2014)

I reviewed several Lush Christmas products this time last year. All but one are available again this Christmas, so you might find the post helpful if you're shopping for Lush goodies this December.

My Christmas Eve Box (2014)

A peek at last year's Christmas Eve box, which is a box full of lovely goodies to enjoy on Christmas Eve night. I'll be blogging this year's box sometime in the next week!

50 Christmas Shopping Tips (2014) 

50 of my Christmas shopping tips to make your Christmas shopping that little bit easier.

Christmas Decorations From The Christmas Boutique (2014)

Last Winter I reviewed some lovely Christmas decorations from The Christmas Boutique. The  good news is, the majority of the decorations are still available to buy!

It Wouldn't Be Christmas Without... (2014)

A big list of all of the things it just wouldn't be Christmas without.

The Christmas Tag (2014)

A light-hearted festive-themed Q&A tag post.

My Christmas Bedroom Tour (2014)

Take a peek at how I decorated my bedroom for Christmas last year. You can find out what it looks like this year in a few days.

My Christmas Home Tour (2014)

A tour of my living room dressed up for Christmas from last December. I'll be bringing you this year's Christmas home tour very soon.

My Christmas (2014)

A post about how I spent my Christmas in 2014.

My Christmas (2013)

How I spent Christmas in 2013.

How To Make Christmas Crackers (2013)

A couple of Christmases ago, I shared a tutorial for making your own Christmas crackers (using a Hobbycraft kit), plus heaps of ideas for what you could put in them. (Excuse the photos!)

How To Put Together A Christmas Beauty Box / Hamper (2013)

Some ideas for putting together a beauty hamper for your favourite ladies.

How To Put Together A Beauty Box / Hamper (2012)

Back in 2012, I wrote a post about how I put beauty boxes together for my family and friends. Please excuse the crap photos and my embarrassing use of fonts; I have no idea what the hell I was thinking back then, but it wasn't good!

My Favourite Christmas Films (2012)

And, finally, if you're looking for some new Christmas movies to watch this year, check out this old post featuring some of my favourites of all time.

Are you looking forward to Christmas? Have you got much left to do?