Christmas Haul

I've bought quite a few festive things lately, from Christmas decorations to yuletide slippers, so I thought it would be fun to do a Christmas haul, and show you the things I've been buying this season.

I love checking out Paperchase's Christmas decorations, stationery, and gift wrapping supplies every year, and have added a few things to my collection already this Christmas. Taking advantage of their 3 for 2 offer, I bought a couple of packs of bright mini baubles and multi star decorations- mostly to use for present wrapping and as blog photo props. (Although, I like the pink and mint decorations so much, I might need to go back and buy another box of each to keep). 

I also bought a set of three retro reindeer tree decorations to add to my fifties deer collection. They're super cute, and are going to look great on my Christmas tree this year. Sadly, they're sold out online at the moment, but they might still be available in store. 

As well as decorations, I also bought a Sugar Plum Fairy sticker book for labeling this year's presents, and a box of 24 assorted charity cards. The designs are all bold, modern, and fun, and buying a pack support a number of different worthy charities, including Mind, WaterAid, Hearing Dogs For Deaf People, cancer and disability charities, and many more, so they're definitely a worthwhile purchase.

I know I just said I bought my Christmas cards from Paperchase, but I also couldn't resist these adorable Forever Friends Christmas cards, which I found in my local Thornton's card shop just before the country went on lockdown. I used to love Forever Friends when I was growing up, so it was impossible to resist them. It's a set of sixteen cards in two designs, and they're printed on thick 100% recyclable card.

As Cath Kidston hasn't released Christmas wrapping paper this year, I had to look elsewhere for this year's gift wrap. (The horror!) I was hoping to find either something mid-century-style, or colourful and modern, but couldn't find anything I liked- until I came across these from T K Maxx. The pink one is covered in cute Santas, snowmen, deer, and Christmas trees, with a polka dot background. and the cream ones feature retro Santa faces on a gold polka dot background. The cream paper is so thick it's almost like wallpaper, and they're so long you can easily wrap two big presents from one length! Not bad for £5.99 a roll! I've already started wrapping presents in the paper, and they look beautiful. I only wish I'd bought more. They're sold out online now, but perhaps I'll have to check in store to see if I can find a few more rolls to stockpile now that shops are open again.

A couple of months ago, I treated myself to these awesome Pusheen slipper socks from Truffle Shuffle when I was shopping for a couple of t-shirts for my brother-in-law for Christmas. They were only a fiver, and are so soft and fleecy. I got them to put in my Christmas Eve box, but I'm not sure I can resist them much longer! They're sadly now sold out from Truffle Shuffle, but I found a similar pair with the colours reversed on Amazon here.

I love collecting beautiful books, and added this stunning copy of A Christmas Carol to my collection in September. I'll be reviewing it for you on the blog tomorrow, so be sure to pop back if you want to know more! 

Of course, I also bought the OPI Shine Bright Advent calendar to count down to Christmas with this year, which I reviewed for you guys a few days ago here. I'm doing a daily reveal of what I get inside each day of Advent over on my Instagram here.

Even though I splurged on a nail polish Advent calendar, I had to get myself a cheap and cheerful Cadbury Advent calendar as well. I usually get a Dairy Milk Advent calendar because I often got one when I was growing up, and the taste of the chocolate takes me right back to childhood Christmases. Call me sad, but I like the nostalgia.

And I also picked up some of the new Cadbury Jingly Bells to put away for Christmas- but not before I bought a couple of bags to try at the same time. Have you guys tried them yet? They're amazing! They're individually-wrapped hazelnut flavoured chocolates about the size of a Lindt truffle, and they're soooo good. There isn't a lot of difference in taste between the two- and I'm confused as to why they made two hazelnut varieties instead of another flavour- but I think the Hazelnut Creme ones are ever so slightly nicer. 

I've also acquired some new Erstwilder Christmas brooches and Body Shop festive products, which I haven't been able to photograph yet, but will hopefully find time to review for you before Christmas. And last week, I ordered some Christmas cracker kits, and more craft materials from Hobbycraft, that aren't really interesting enough to blog about.

So, that's what I've been buying so far this festive season. (Y'know, apart from presents for my family and friends).

What festive things have you been buying lately?

Cadbury Gifts Direct Post Christmas Sale Haul

Christmas may be over, but some sale shopping this week has enabled me to stretch that Christmas cheer out a little bit longer. No, I haven't been splashing out on clothes or beauty products; I've actually been splurging on chocolate. Cut price Cadbury Christmas chocolate, to be exact; the only thing better than Cadbury chocolate.

Last week, I discovered that the Cadbury Gifts Direct website had slashed the prices of their Christmas sale stock right down, with many items more than 80% off, and as low as just 30p. Naturally, at those prices, I couldn't resist placing an order and snapping up some bargains, so I did just that. I placed my order last Friday afternoon, it was dispatched within the hour, and the box arrived on Monday morning, packed full of festive chocolate. It certainly brought a little happiness to my family on that gloomy Blue Monday.

In total, I bought twenty-two edible items- they're not all for me, though; I'm not that greedy, honest- and my delicious haul came in at just under a tenner. With delivery I spent £13.85, which was a bargain for all that chocolate.

It didn't occur to me to blog about my order, until I shared a photo of my haul on social media on Monday, and was met with excited chocoholics who had never heard of the website rushing off to grab some bargains for themselves. It was only then that I realised the sale was a well kept secret, so I decided it was only fair to spread the word and tell you guys about it, too. 

Let me show you what I got for my money...

I won't lie, the main reason why I placed an order was to get my hands on the chocolate Santas. They taste just like Cadbury Easter eggs, which is the tastiest chocolate ever. Fact. I picked up eight of the 100g chocolate Santas for just 60p each; a total steal considering they originally retailed for £2.99!  (They also have 50g chocolate Santas on sale for just 30p). They're so delicious they didn't all survive the week; three Santas have since perished. May they rest in peace.

The cardboard tubes of Cadbury Freddo Faces, Buttons, and Fudge Minis were down to just 30p from £1.42, which was so ridiculously cheap I bought nine boxes; four each of the Buttons and Freddo Faces, and one box of Fudge. I was tempted to buy more, but I restrained myself to keep my order under a tenner to get the cheaper delivery fee. Unfortunately, these are all currently sold out, but keep checking back as they did come back in to stock in last year's sale.

I also picked up two of the large Cadbury Snow Bites Christmas crackers, which are stuffed with four little bags of Snow Bites. They originally retailed for £2.99 a cracker, which I'm sure you'll agree is shockingly overpriced for 126g of Cadbury chocolate, but on sale for just 40p, they were a fantastic bargain. If you've never tried Snow Bites before, they're similar to Mini Eggs, but with a dusting of icing sugar on the outside.

Speaking of Snow Bites, I also bought a couple of little 43g tubes of Snow Bites for less than half price. They were originally 65p, and on sale for just 30p. It didn't occur to me at the time that I would've saved money and got more chocolate by buying another cracker instead, but hey ho; these little tubes are cuter.

And my final purchase was something I used to beg my Mum for each Christmas, but was never allowed (probably because they were expensive and would've lasted two seconds on the tree with three kids in the house)... a pack of Chocolate Christmas Tree Decorations. I'm finally living the childhood dream! Haha! If only I still had a Christmas tree up to hang them on... The mixed pack of fourteen milk chocolate and milk chocolate Oreo chocolate decorations was a pricey £3.46, but on sale for a much purse-friendlier 50p. Pretty damn good for fourteen big pieces of chocolate!

Everything I purchased has a best before date of the 31st of March 2018, so you could stock up on chocolate and satisfy your chocolate cravings right through 'til Easter without even breaking the bank! Y'know, if you're one of those weird people who can have chocolate in the house without actually eating it.

I'm not one of those people.

Unfortunately, most of these awesome bargains have now sold out- probably because I coerced several chocoholics in to purchasing their own hauls and wasn't quick enough writing this post-, but there are still loads of other edible Cadbury bargains to shop from, which you can find here. Last year, many of the items did come back in to stock after initially selling out, so keep checking back if you have your eye on anything in particular.

Will you be treating yourself to some chocolate in the Cadbury sale?

Christmas 2013

Hello there! Happy belated Christmas!

I hope that you all had an absolutely fantastic Christmas this year, and that a certain Mr Claus was kind to you! Did you get everything that you wanted this year?

I personally had a lovely Christmas with my family, and I'm feeling extremely blessed for all that I have in my life at the moment, even if I don't have a lot. I may not have been able to attend our family gathering, but I was able to spend some quality time with my immediate family at home. The house was filled with festive music, loud voices, and laughter, with bright winter sunshine pouring through the windows, and more than enough scrumptious food and drink to indulge in. I was spoilt rotten by my family, and the presents I gave brought smiles to their faces. A perfect Christmas, if you ask me. And I'd say that without receiving any presents, as it's not what Christmas is about for me.

On Christmas Eve, I was miraculously up and out of the house before 9am, and popped in to town with my sister for some last minute shopping. I may have returned with a nail polish or two to wear on Christmas Day, along with the last of the food shopping. I spent the afternoon recovering, wrapping up my Dad's presents to my Mum, and napping.

In the evening of Christmas Eve, my Mum put together a buffet tea and made waaay too much food, so we still have a ton of left overs in the fridge. We feasted on cold cuts, quiches, assorted cheeses and crackers, salad, mini turkey pasties, various nibbles made from pastry, vol-au-vonts, bread, meats, pavlova and my sister's chocolate squidgy log, amongst other delicious goodies. Most of it homemade. I forgot to take a photo of the spread before everyone had tucked in, but you get the idea.

I then went to put favours together for the Christmas dinner table.

After our Christmas Eve buffet, my Mum helped me make my Blackberry and Apple trifle, that I've made every Christmas since 2006. (Find the recipe here). I needed a little assistance this year as I was succumbing to the pain by this point, but it's very simple to make. It has blackberries, raspberries, apples and Madeira cake underneath those layers of custard and cream, (I also added in peaches this year) and it's the perfect dessert to indulge in at Christmas. This year's was absolutely delicious.

Christmas morning came, and we all roused later than we've ever done on Christmas Day. After less than four hours broken sleep, I awoke just before half eight, and everyone else soon followed. I don't think we've ever been up later than 7am on Christmas Day! We must be getting old!

The tree on Christmas morning before we opened our presents.

My parents still lay out presents to my younger sister and I in separate piles on our sofas. This was my stack waiting to be unwrapping. I was spoilt rotten this year! (I'll reveal the generous presents I was given in another post). We spent over an hour exchanging gifts from each other, and gifts under the tree from other relatives.

I was in my fleecy Primark reindeer pyjamas until midday. These pj bottoms are so soft and cosy, and only cost a fiver!

My older sister and brother-in-law stopped by at 11am to exchange gifts. She'd wrapped up two of my presents like crackers, which were so beautifully wrapped I just had to share them. We both had the same Cath Kidston wrapping paper and labels this year.

I think my woodland fireplace display looked lovely in the bright winter sunshine.

After I was showered, dressed, and made-up, I set to work on dressing the table for dinner. Do you like our very mis-matched decor? We're not fancy enough to be overly colour-coordinated for a casual family dinner, when it's just the six of us.

On Christmas Eve, we couldn't find our favour boxes anywhere, but I had an eureka moment, and remembered my Mum had a ton of fabric given to her a while back. She had a bag filled with red tulle, some embellished, that had been used for prom and bridesmaid dresses. I cut six squares out with pinking shears, popped a pretty cake case in the middle of each and added in a few chocolates, before tying them with some ribbon. Voila, thrifty table favours! I personally think they looked really pretty, and everybody else loved them.

My handmade crackers also went down a storm. I filled them with chocolates and festive scratch cards. The only person who won anything was the birthday girl (my Mum); who won a £1. Haha!

The place cards were from Paperchase. I had my older sister write them.

I added in paper straws left over from a summer barbecue. My little sister had bought windmill straws, too.

The design on our Christmas place mats.

I don't know how to make napkins in to swans, so I made paper planes instead! Haha!

Christmas dinner was delicious, and as always, my favourite meal of the year. I had turkey, stuffing, roast and mashed potatoes, broccoli, butternut squash, parsnips, carrots, and gravy. My eyes were clearly bigger than my stomach, as I ate about half of what I put on my plate. The highlights for me were my sister's roast potatoes, and the honey garlic parsnips and carrots she made to contribute to the meal. My Mum was responsible for most of the delicious meal, and we finished with her apple pie.

It wouldn't be Christmas in our house without a tin of Cadbury's Roses.

I spent ages doing my eye make up for dinner. I wore green eyeshadow, with black liquid eyeliner thinly lining the top lid, which I went over with a green glitter liner. I lined the bottom lash line with a black pencil eyeliner, and the inner lash line with a teal-blue. I'm not sure why my face looks so much darker than my shoulders, as I wasn't wearing foundation. I was letting my skin recover, since my new foundation has made me break out more than I've ever done in my life.

I forgot to snap a few pictures of my outfit, but I was wearing my navy fish-print peplum dress that I bought from AX Paris about a year and a half ago, with black tights. It's lovely and loose, which is perfect for Christmas Day indulging!

I did, however, take a quick pic of my Christmas Day manicure. I bought the two polishes on Christmas Eve especially for the occasion. I wore Maxfactor Max Effect Mini Nail Polish in Deep Mauve and Barry M Textured Nail Effect Nail Paint in Countess on my thumbs and ring fingers. It's a gorgeous mixture of chocolate, plum, gold, red and green.

After dinner, we all went in to the living room to relax in front of the TV for a while. I was stretched out on the small sofa with a heat pack on my back, as being out of bed was putting me in a lot of pain, while the TV flicked between Tangled and Toy Story 3. The older sis and brother in law left around 5pm, and I went home with them, although I only managed an hour before I had to admit defeat and come home to bed. I was hoping to enjoy the evening with them over a few drinks, but in hindsight I think that idea was never going to happen.

I was so exhausted, I slept from 7-9pm-ish, before dozing off again for another hour or two! I snuggled up with a couple of festive films until 6am, when I dropped off and slept on and off until 6:20pm and missed Boxing Day. If that wasn't bad enough, I slept another four hours before midnight! I think Christmas must've really exhausted me this year, because I fell asleep yesterday evening, too! I'm just glad I managed to fight my nocturnal sleeping pattern to be conscious enough to enjoy the festivities from the 23rd to the 25th! I had such a lovely Christmas, and although I'm sad that it's now over for another year, I can't wait to see what the New Year brings.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and I hope you have a very Happy New Year!