What I Got For Christmas Haul 2016

It's over a month after Christmas and I'm still blogging about it... that has to be a new record, even for me! This is the last one, I swear!

I had hoped to blog about the presents I was given for Christmas before the New Year, but I've not been up to taking photos lately, so this is the best I could do. Better late than never, though, right?

I know a lot of people don't like these kind of posts, but I personally love reading them on other blogs- mostly because I'm nosey- and I know some of you guys love them, too, so I'm going to blog about them anyway. I'm not here to brag, I'm just sharing and documenting a recent part of my life, and the lovely things I was so generously given by my family for Christmas. If you'd rather click the 'x' button, no hard feelings; I'll see you next time.

So, this Christmas, I was given loads of lovely and very thoughtful gifts from my family. We actually agreed to cut back on presents to ease a bit of financial strain (although, some of us still went over board because we just can't help ourselves!), but Christmas isn't about the presents, and to be honest, I still feel like I was spoiled rotten. I don't need a million gifts to feel spoilt.

The majority of the gifts I received were beauty products, and you'll never hear any complaints from me about that! I'm always happy to pamper myself with some lotions and potions. I got some great products this Christmas, too.

One of my favourite presents was a set of Tarte 'Radiance From The Rainforest' make up, given to me by my parents. I've been dying to try Tarte make up for years, but being an American brand it's difficult to find in the UK, so I've never had the chance 'til now. The set includes a small eyeshadow and blusher palette, a mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, foundation, double-ended foundation brush, and a make up bag, so I've got a good mix of products to play with, and they all look so wearable. The foundation is, sadly, too dark for my skin tone, since I'm paler than an anaemic ghost in a snow storm, but I'm hoping it might work for me as a tinted moisturiser in the Summer, if I dilute it down with moisturiser.

I was also given lots of lovely beauty products from The Body Shop, which I'm always happy to receive because you just can't fault their products. I received the Vitamin E Skincare collection, including a gentle facial wash, hydrating toner and moisture cream (best moisturiser ever!), along with the Vitamin E moisture mask, and facial mist separately. I've used some of the Vitamin E range for over a decade, but haven't tried several of the products I was given, so I'm excited to finally try more of the collection. I was spoiled further with a Satsuma soap (my fave!), Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalising facial oil, Pinita Colada body scrub, Rainforest Moisture Hair Butter, and Blueberry and Frosted Berries shower gels, plus a spray on moisturising mist from Soap and Glory. They all smell soooo good!

My Mum regifted a set of Natural Extracts shower gels to me because she felt they were too young for her (result!), and Marie gave me the Philosophy 'The Cocktail Party' gift set, which included a Melon Daiquiri high gloss lip shine and the Senorita Margarita 3-in-1 shampoo/ shower gel/ bubble bath. I've never tried any of these products before, either, so I'm looking forward to trying them all.

One of my relatives gave me an M&S robin mug with a clementine and cardamon hand cream and shower cream inside. I haven't tried the creams yet, but the mug is really cute.

I also received some candles, including a Garden Collection trio of rose, lavender, and magnolia mini candles, and a small jar of Yankee Candle Festive Cocktail, which smells amaaaazing!

My parents gave me this gorgeous pair of drop earrings, although I've completely forgotten what they're made of. (I'm not much of a classic jewellery buff; I actually prefer quirky, kitsch pieces over gold, silver and jewels). I love that they can be worn as drop earrings, as they are above, or detached and worn as studs for a more understated look. They're so versatile.

Both of my sisters gave me craft kits for Christmas, which  was awesome because I'm in such a crafty mood at the moment, and one of my new year's resolutions is to try lots of new crafts this year.

Sarah gave me a 'create your own Winter world' snow globe kit, with an extra bag of artificial snow, and it looks like so much fun. I can't decide whether to make it soon or put it away until the end of the year to make over the festive season.

Marie and Steve bought me the cutest strawberry DMC Hoop It embroidery kit, and a rosette brooch craft kit from The Makery which makes five brooches. They both look like they're right up my alley, so I'm looking forward to getting stuck in to them both really soon.

I was given the creative book '104 Things To Paint', which is basically a sketch book full of blank paper with painting prompts on each page, to inspire and challenge the painter to paint a variety of different subjects in to the book. It's been on my wish list for years, and will hopefully give me the inspiration to paint, and improve my painting skills, which is something I was already planning to work on this year.

Another book I was gifted was one of the most recent books from Maggie O' Farrell called 'This Must Be The Place'. I always enjoy her novels so I'm looking forward to finding out if it's as good as her earlier work.

My little sister bought me the Little Women soundtrack on CD, because it is one of my all time favourite films. It's one of the loveliest, most heart-warming , and comforting movies I've ever seen, and the score evokes the same feelings. It's lovely. I love to listen to it while I'm blogging, drifting off to sleep, or any time I want some background noise but can't concentrate with my usual rock and indie favourites drowning out my thoughts.

Marie gave me this pretty pink and blue Provence Rose Cath Kidston wallet which had been on my wish list for so long. I was actually with her when she bought it to put away for me for Christmas, so it wasn't a surprise, but I'm excited to finally have it after such a long wait! It's so pretty!

I was given two new mini Disney Tsum Tsums to add to my ever-growing collection- Mike and Boo from Monsters Inc. Look how cute they are! (FYI, I think they still have some of the Monsters Inc Tsum Tsums available on the Clintons website).

Sarah wrapped one of my presents with this awesome fifties-style knot-wrap from Lush. I really love mid-century style Christmas designs, so I absolutely adore it! I just need to decide what to use it for. I think it would make an awesome piece of hoop art if they made craft hoops big enough, or a cool picture if I got it framed. It definitely needs to be out on display at Christmas, somehow, anyway... but it needs washing first. (Sorry about the smudge, it's just powder from a Lush bath bomb).

Of course, I also got plenty of edible goodies from the parents, and a Cadbury selection box from Marie and Steve. I may or may not have already eaten most of it.

And I was also given a £20 Amazon gift card in the cutest little cupcake tin. I was torn between spending it on make up, beauty products, books, and DVDs, but in the end I figured I already have waaay too many of each of those things (I really do!), and decided to spend it on more cross stitch kits to keep myself busy with instead. I always have to be doing something, even when I'm on bed rest, or I go stir crazy, and become bored out of my mind. I really enjoyed making a similar set in December. so I picked out the  Blue-Grey Christmas Card Kit and the Christmas Carols card kit from the same brand, so that they'll compliment the others when I eventually turn them in to Christmas decorations.

I was also sent some Christmas money from some of my relatives, which I spent on loads of (like almost two dozen) nail polishes from The Body Shop during the sales, but I forgot to take a photo of them all for this post.

I love just about everything I was given for Christmas, and I'm grateful for everything I was so generously given by my family. They did well! Thanks, family!

What did you get for Christmas?