Debenhams Christmas Gift Guide For Her

Halloween and Bonfire Night is over which can only mean one thing... the yuletide season is ready and waiting to be appreciated and saluted at full capacity. 

Once November approaches us it's impossible to avoid the 8 letter word whether you're an absolute scrooge or an ultimate advocate for all things extra festive.

C H R I S T M A S

I don't know how we got to a place where the word is literally embedded into the brain with a star shaped speech bubble. I don't know where the year went and I certainly don't know how my bank account is going to hold out over the next month. However, there is chance - because deal site Codesium published today a new storewide Debenhams discount code for you to utilise. If you use the code (YF23) you'll get 10% off £50, which means buying in bulk just got better. The promotion is live now through Sunday 12th!

What I Got For Christmas

We're nine days into January now so Christmas seems like a distant memory, or at least to the people who have actually found the time and place to store their gifts instead of just staring at the heaped blockade hoping it'll eventually rearrange itself (ahem, I'm totally not referencing myself, here). I haven't seen many of these posts lurking around this year (or last year, whichever you prefer as you program your brain functioning) so that made me even more hesitant to list my presents but I figured if you're anything like me, you won't take sharing as bragging but instead sharing as caring because if there's ever a time to demonstrate curiosity meets nosiness it's in the post Christmas - still finding an overkill of glitter all over the house - period. 

What Is Christmas Really About?

Merry Christmas, everyone! I feel like I should follow on with a predictive 'I hope it's filled with everything you could possibly wish for and you receive everything you asked for' message but this year, more than ever, I believe Christmas time stretches far beyond the materialism and the desperate need to acquire the latest propaganda. Not that I have anything against people being given the most luxurious gifts with love and appreciation - no way. More than anything, I love to see the gratitude ooze as I have a nosy with heart eyes at the social media posts but that's far from the point I wanted to make in today's post. 

My Favourite Christmas Home Comforts

For the extroverts, Christmas is the season to party in glitz and glam and for the introverts, it's the best part of the year. I'm in the region of the latter and for me, there's nothing better than taking advantage of the cosiness at Christmas time. It's bitterly cold outside and you're inside, warm and toasty, the fire ignited and blazing, your favourite festive film playing out, wrapped up and snuggled in your duvet with a hot chocolate and marshmallows as you shut off the world in your own senses. The perfect picturesque scene if ever there was one. If at any time there's an excuse to laze around and revel in a stay at home break, Christmas is the occasion. You wouldn't believe just how much staying in and treasuring the heartland of the place you're free to be yourself can work wonders on your mindset. It's the little things that make a house at home in the month of December and I thought I'd share them with you on the eve of the big day itself.

My Top Tips For Keeping Healthy This Christmas

It's no secret the way to sail through the Christmas period is to indulge until your body mass is heavier than the bag of gifts you bring. Tis' the season for eating is notorious knowledge - whether that's the piled up turkey dinner, the party nibbles, the unstoppable Celebrations snacking or the inability to resist temptation as the boxes of shortbread and variety biscuits keep being persuasively passed to you without notice; being a glutton is unavoidable and at every corner you turn. 

Wednesday Wishlist: The 2016 Christmas Jumper Edit

DOROTHY PERKINS POLAR BEAR JUMPER | BOOHOO REINDEER/SNOWFLAKE JUMPER | DOROTHY PERKINS REINDEER JUMPER | H&M HO HO HO JUMPER | BOOHOO KISS EMOJI JUMPER | IN THE STYLE FESTIVE AF JUMPER | BOOHOO PENGUIN APPLIQUE JUMPER | FASHION UNION GINGERBREAD JUMPER | DOROTHY PERKINS CHRISTMAS PUDDING JUMPER | NEW LOOK MULTI PRINT JUMPER | FOREVER 21 GRAPHIC DOG JUMPER | BOOHOO RUDOLPH JUMPER | ASDA HOLLY JOLLY BAUBLE JUMPER | F&F CALORIES SLOGAN JUMPER | F&F I'M HAVING A MELTDOWN SLOGAN JUMPER

Five Paul Mitchell Gift Sets You Need In Your Life This Christmas

If you're an avid reader of my blog you'll know I'm extremely fond of Paul Mitchell and their luxury hair care range and I'm lucky to receive a bi monthly box featuring a variety of their products - so the discovery of new favourites to add to my 'this will certainly be an indulgent treat to make my locks feel, smell, and look deluxe divine' continues to increase as I speak. I have many gift sets lying around waiting to be trialled and adored (because one duo seriously does go hell of a long way and they're all queued up ready to be used when the other is finished) and I don't think I appreciate the quality of them enough. Not only is the inside contents bound to sensually uplift your hair spirits, but the outer packaging of the Paul Mitchell kits are always so fetching and full of character. Totally supreme for providing the gift of beauty to any loved one as Christmas rolls in, or even ideal for treating yourself once the period of buying for others is over (because let's face it - purchasing, then watching your neatly wrapped present be ripped open followed by lightened eyes and a ton of gratitude is the most satisfying part). Christmas is a time for joy, peace, love and giving, and there's nothing like some sparkle in the form of heavenly hair care to make that happen.

Through The Lens: Manchester Christmas Markets

Ask me what my favourite aspect of Christmas is and I'll always answer the markets. Not even because I enjoy spending money I should be saving for gifts on food persuasively brought to my nasal walls by the strong scent of sickly sweet waffles, but because I feel like once the wooden stalls and surrounding festive greenery are fixed up, you can officially get into the spirit. Usually I don't venture away from my local Leeds German market but this year, as Manchester slowly but surely becomes my second home, I managed to explore the magic in the heart of another city; and not in just one place, as the trail leads through the streets - lined with dainty chalets, embellishments and trimmings and the brightest of starry lights, it's a definite blink and you'll miss it kind of experience. 

What I got for Christmas: twenty fifteen

Christmas feels like the distant past now but (shock horror) it's actually only been just over two weeks since I was showered with an indulgence of love, appreciation and lots of presents. I've been holding off doing the typical 'let me show you everything I got for Christmas' post not only because natural daylight has been completely absent and I never got round to photographing the entirety, but because I know it can be an ambivalent subject and I didn't want to be the one shamelessly boasting about every detail. However, truth be told I love having an insightful nosy at the different gifts everybody else received and I'm sure I speak for many when I say they're my favourite readable pastime. So, I went ahead and prepared a post anyway and did my traditional new year duty of gathering all my gifts together before I unpack them all and squeeze them into the already compacted storage my bedroom beholds!

Ten things I've learnt since Christmas Day

Hello all! I hope you've had an absolutely amazing Christmas. I'm still in the delusional period that seems to hit me every year; the 'what day is it and what am I doing with my life' realisation once Christmas is over and done with and the new year is fast approaching. It's been a bit of a strange one for me, I had an absolutely lovely Christmas Day with all my family, consumed food my body isn't even used to and was completely spoilt rotten with both love and gifts. Boxing Day was a traditional visit to my grandma's for home-made dumplings and some well needed chilling out turned into three hours of nothing but sheer darkness, a phone light, a torch and a desire to finish watching catch-up Eastenders (turns out the horrendous floods in Leeds caused a huge power-cut across the city). And now? Well now I'm continuing to eat myself into oblivion on a diet of nuts and miniature chocolates (how long it'll be acceptable for me to do this, I do not know).

My Christmas Eve traditions

Well, it's here. Another year has gone by in the blink of an eye and now it's just one more sleep until the big fat man with the long white beard slides down your chimney. I can't say it feels remotely Christmassy, as I've been so busy this week I haven't had the chance to flick the switch that allows me to unwind into the 'not to alarm you but it's Christmas tomorrow' mode but however I feel and whatever age I may be, Christmas Eve is always a special, joyful time in my household.

Wednesday Wishlist: dressing for the party season

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Five healthy-ish Christmas snacks

It's no secret we all like to overindulge a little too much at Christmas time, using "ah why the hell not, it's Christmas" as an excuse for absolutely everything plausible. 'Tis the season to pile on the pounds and all that. Heck, I must have made my way through two tubs of Celebrations already and I can't seem to stop myself. The only trouble is, my body hates me for it. I wouldn't say I'm a super health freak but I do tend to sway towards the fruit and veg options now I'm used to ditching the sugar. If I flood my inners with the refined stuff I'm forever bloated, have terrible heartburn and my skin breaks out almost immediately. Which means I like to find food I can enjoy and have fun with, with no after effects.

Christmas in Leeds City Centre

It's rare I get the chance to explore and appreciate my own city, or maybe it's purely down to choice because I'm so familiarised with its surroundings that I just shake it off as being ordinary. It's easy to forget all the exquisite details of somewhere you've lived all your life but it's also great to get out there and refresh your mind to a more open state of discovery and admiration. I'm always so busy concentrating on a certain aspect of my hometown instead of a whole, so much so that I can often overlook the authenticity and the general northern vibe.

Christmas wrapping: finding your theme

This year is the only year I've included a theme within my Christmas wrapping. I'd like to say I wasn't influenced by the formidable pinterest-worthy blogger choices of Kraft paper and twine but I'd be lying if I said so. That means that this December I've only just come to the conclusive realisation that sticking to one or two designs and jazzing them up to meet your tastes gives the best kind of result. As I'm a newbie to to this malarkey I thought it'd be useful to share what I've learned. Wrapping presents may not seem a big deal to most people but for a striving perfectionist like me, the satisfaction of completing that natural but fruitful look I aim for with everything in life is a grand feeling indeed.

#LeedsXmasMeet - a bloggers' dream day out

Just over a week ago (how time flies!) I attended a huge event I'd been looking forward to for so long now (I feel like it was 'thee' event of the year). If you're a Northern blogger and haven't seen, nor paid any attention to the hashtag #LeedsXmasMeet over on Twitter then I assume you're just as unresponsive as I am most days but we'll talk about that some other time. Organised by the fabulous Rhianna, a local blogger I met a few months back now and continue to see in this formed Leeds blogger circle, Leeds Xmas Meet was basically descriptive by title. A bloggers meet up in the heart of my hometown with 70 people coming from all over the M62 side of the country (and maybe even further, who knows?). Filled with fun, festivity and general chit chat, it was a chance to meet and greet some old and new faces whilst getting into the Christmas spirit and raising some money as we go along.

Wednesday Wishlist: the Christmas jumper edit

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Wednesday Wishlist: my guide to Christmas gifts

river island underwear set | unicorn hottie | pencil set | olivia burton watch | the happiness planner | nars nail polish | sarah chapman overnight facial | nars audacious lipstick | tortoise shell boots | phone case | kiko contouring sticks | pineapple necklace | adult colouring book | missguided pyjamas | the body shop gift set | too faced eyeshadow palette 

So, it's that time of year again. November has gone by in a flash, it's only one month until Christmas Day and it's now inevitable to put buying Christmas gifts to the back of your mind. My family have now reached that flabbergasting point of constantly nagging me for options on what to buy me, and I'm currently in panic mode because I'm nowhere near started with the Xmas shopping (never mind finished). Nothing an organised wishlist can't solve though, right? I always find it so much more helpful putting the items visually together to provide a base of ideas to the people asking. It's guaranteed, all year round, I'll have at least two or three things I'm keen to get hold of but once Christmas comes round, my mind goes completely blank. It takes a good few days to mentally gather a list, and even then I'm constantly swapping and changing my outlook. Will I actually find a use for this or am I just lusting over it because of its pretty, festive packaging and seasonal purpose? Gifts at Christmas are possibly my favourite kind, I appreciate EVERYTHING handed to me, from a plain old bank note and high street voucher, to a splurging luxury but when a present is just so right, it makes that unwrapping surprise so much more magical. 

Who knows, my personal picks could even be inspiration for a potential womanly gift guide...

River Island underwear set | As each year passes, underwear gets worn out (how about that for a pun) and there's no better opportunity to spice up your knicker drawer than a classy set for Christmas. This beautiful lace applique number is perfect for bringing out that inner moulin rouge and is ideal for wearing at those upcoming parties (because there's nothing like a matching underwear set to complete an outfit).

Topshop Unicorn Hottie | Argh, the cuteness of this is ridiculous. The little snugly face alone is enough to persuade you to make her (it's definitely a her) a new resident in your home. For someone who's always (and I mean, always) cold, anything that is designed to warm you up is a winner in my eyes and thinking about it, I actually lack in the hot water bottle area. I don't own that many so that's an excuse to stock up.

Christmas Pencil Set | I'm always on the look out for new stationary and what a better addition than a classic chic set of pencils, especially when they're made to get you into the Christmas spirit. I could go on forever when there's wood pencils and gold written quotes involved! 

Olivia Burton Watch | Who doesn't have one of these on their list every year? I certainly do because there's just no end to the dreamy detail embedded into those watches. I'm in love with the rose gold and white contrast and the vintage style face. I'd be in for a real treat if I was presented this stunning piece on the 25th.

The Happiness Planner | I'm currently aiming to up my journal/planner/notebook game and I think owning a Happiness Planner is such a great way to start. Welcoming positivity, joy and happiness in a life that can often be caught up in nothing but schedule and routine is a fab way to provide self-confidence and motivation, which could even be used to improve 

NARS Nail Polish | A stocking filler but with a high quality price tag which is worth the extra spend. NARS is a makeup brand I adore and admire so I'd be more than chuffed to expand my collection with an indulgence into my usually-boring-and-not-the-slightest-bit-glossy nails.

Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial | Can we talk about the beautiful limited edition Christmas packaging on this product? If ever there was a time for me to give my face some well needed treatment, that time would be on Christmas evening when the unwinding starts. I've been dying to try this out for so long now, and the special celebration box it's provided in is enough to persuade me.

NARS Audacious Lipstick | I already own Anita and it's one of my ultimate favourite shades, I'm now anchoring after another (Barbara to be precise) and it's right up there on the top of my list. Receiving a gorgeous lipstick is always so satisfying as you know it's always going to be put to use!

Public Desire Ankle Boots | I've seen these boots swiping the blogosphere and now it's heightened my shoe fetish and desire for a dozen pair of boots in the winter months. My mum's the first person to question whether I want any clothes/shoes/bags for Christmas so I'm currently informing her of these beauties as I type. 

Kate Spade Phone Case | Ever since I bought my iPhone 6 back in January, I've risked the protection by leaving it bare and without any case. As my clumsiness is slowly but surely increasing, (and after a good few drops and smashes) I don't think it's no longer safe to chance completely killing the poor thing after only a year of life. Kate Spade have such a divine selection and utterly meet my gold polka dot obsession.

KIKO Contouring Sticks | I'm hoping these are in stock in my local KIKO store. I've already expressed my love for their makeup range and this duo is another one to add to the collection. If anything is going to make contouring easier, it's a simple satin bronzer and highlighter pencil.

Ohh Deer Pineapple Necklace | Pineapples, pineapples everywhere. I'm starting to think they're the answer to all problems. I don't what it is about pineapples that make them so appealing but wherever they're featured, they have my heart. A unique piece of jewellery is such a lovely gift to open on Christmas Day.

Enchanted Forest Colouring Book | I can't even tell you how long I've been wanting one of these therapeutic adult colouring books, it's just finding the right one that's been the problem. After doing my research, I've decided Enchanted Forest is the best. Even browsing through the electronic pages sent me into a healing frenzy. These books are such an inexpensive yet thoughtful gift guaranteed to occupy you for hours!

Missguided Stripe Pyjamas | I've been swooning over the Missguided nightwear range ever since they released it, especially the pretty pink sets eager to bring my inner girly side out. It's sort of tradition in my household to receive a new pair of pyjamas at Christmas!

The Body Shop Coconut Festive Picks | Ahh coconut, my one true love. The Body Shop's Christmas collection and gift wrapped boxes never fail to impress. They're always created with the customer in mind, and in this case it's a customer with a serious coconut addiction who is pleased to see all my favourites are accumulated into one.

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eye Shadow Palette | Smoky brown natural eye shadow shades are the hues I rely on. Along with some bolder shades, this palette is the answer to all my prayers. I feel like I could attempt to fabricate some serious shimmer to matte combinations with this (and it's chocolate shaped, which may subside my sweet cravings whilst I try and make healthy food choices).

Of course I don't expect all sixteen of these gifts but it definitely will provide my questioning family with some meaningful ideas!

What's on your Christmas list?

Bridie x

What I got for Christmas: the sale buys

I know, Christmas is well and truly over now and the January blues have ferociously kicked in but with January comes part 2, the follow up from Christmas and more importantly; the sales. The sales are my weakness; they're so carefully planned out so that any money you received as a gift is blown straight away. Surprisingly, I have managed to control myself this year (well, the more appropriate term is I've 'improved'). I'm quite naughty when it comes to those big deals. I'm one for buying something purely because it's reduced by around £40, not because I'd buy it normally or because I'll get plenty of use out of it, just because it's there staring at me, asking for my hand in purchase. I admittedly hold my hands up on being guilty bargain buying for the sake of it but this time, I can honestly say I'm not just going to shove these away for them to collect dust and never to be seen again (well, I'm not making a heart felt promise).

Boots's sales are one of my favourite kinds. I'm pretty gutted I missed the latest one (I really need to start taking note of the important dates) but I was lucky enough to pick up two of their reduced gift sets at the end of December. The first was Think Pamper by Soap & Glory and the No7 Protect & Perfect which was for my Mum's birthday (just to add, she's really enjoying using some skincare products and is impressed with the softening results so far). Soap & Glory never let me down, their bath and body products remain classic pampering beauties and I always leave a pleasant smell behind when I've indulged in some S&G me time. Included in the prettily packaged bag were Clean On Me shower gel, The Righteous Butter body cream, Glad Hair Day shampoo, Scrub Of Your Life body buffer and Heel Genius foot cream. It's becoming a recurring pattern collecting all these miniatures but I love to mix things up a bit and some of the items included I'm yet to try which makes the find of a great offer even better!

Before Look Fantastic sneakily changed their prices back to the originals, a few weeks back I managed to whip up a product I've been meaning to get my hands on for while; the Alpha H Liquid Gold. For £21.00 instead of £33.50, my hopes were already lifted but once I received my parcel I was even more delighted by how effective the simplistic clear lotion is. I'm glad I took the word of the reviews I read as ever since I've started using it, my face has transformed. It armours my massive breakouts, makes my skin appear glowing and complexion feel brighter and softer. It's certainly the definition of magic in a bottle. 

Four dresses and a playsuit, sounds like a trashy version of a newly made film but is in fact, the only clothes I purchased in the sales (can I get a hooray?!). I guess it's enough, considering the amount of garments in my wardrobe, I shouldn't be really thinking about obtaining more but if you know me, you know I have a legitimate addiction to shopping and there's no stopping me. I always consider the summer and holidays abroad when I browse through the sales (oh, how I'm dreaming), the stores seem to shove some previous summer supplies in with the offers and you can usually pick up some bargains like this Origami Print Dress and a River Island 60's floral print sleeveless playsuit (sold out now, sorrrry!). The rest of the pieces I picked up are very versatile; I love the camel coloured Funnel Neck Dress and the royal blue Urban Outfitters dress (which is also out of stock, booo!). I feel like they'll both be a key staple in my wardrobe for the rest of winter and into the upcoming seasons. The Blue Vanilla Burgundy Diamond Tile Dress has to be one of my best picks. I've really gone off abstract patterns but this one is an exception. It's so complimenting on me, making me look ten times skinnier than I am (which is always a bonus, obviously!) and it can be styled alone or with layers which makes it the perfect piece.

Now, with a fresh stock up of clothes follows a clear out of half my belongings so stay tuned for my very first blog sale which will be available on my blog as soon as I hoard through the piles of items that need to be photographed (I'll also be gradually posting things up on my Depop if you'd like to check it out).

Did you pick up any great buys in the January sales?

Bridie x

What I got for Christmas: the gifts

Better late than never, right? It was only when I began to find a place to store all my gifts (which is near enough impossible in my teeny bedroom) that I realised I'd not photographed them yet. It's almost tradition for me to gather all my presents together and admire them once Christmas is over with. Not to show off, but to remember everything I've been bought and express my gratitude and luckiness. My family is an average size and they never go overboard but it's so easy to get caught up in the excitement that I forget who and what each member has bought me. The gifts usually consist of vouchers, money, personalised bits and bobs, chocolates or something I've asked for which in this case I haven't photographed because a) I've already indulged in them or b) they don't fit in with what I talk about on this little blog of mine (because taking pictures of Ferrero Rocher's and underwear just doesn't have the same effect as displaying the latest beauty goodies). However, on top of all these amazing gifts and away from the chocolates and money, I also received a Boux Avenue heart hot water bottle and a beautiful personal typography in a big white frame from my cousin and his partner, AND a personalised 'Bridie's pretty things' drawstring bag filled with everything dainty from my Auntie and Uncle. It's so complimenting to think people actually think into depth about my certain loves and tastes when buying for me. It really is the finer things in life that are the most satisfying.

Usually the main presents come from my mum, with a generous extra from my Grandma. As I mentioned previously, all I'd asked for were skincare and beauty bits as well as the odd clothing item and accessory (the dress I wore for New Years Eve is also missing from the equation). First up, there's the things I'd get more practical use out of (but whoever said holy grail products that remove all makeup with a soft face to finish aren't practical, are lying). These amazing Zara slip ons were love at first sight and once again with my mum and I's tastes positively clashing she couldn't resist purchasing them to put away for the 25th. I adore the fresh, white colour and the patent texture. They're gonna be the sort of shoe I don't want to wear because they look so pretty but when I do wear, will wear a lot. The upcoming spring/summer months will see my feet in nothing but these. Next, there's this H&M monochrome striped scarf. I've been lusting over the small Primark version since it started appearing all over the blogosphere and the world of Instagram but I never managed to get hold of it, so this was the version my mum ended up getting me. It's bigger and fluffier which means I'm more bulked up with warmth so there's no doing wrong here. These twin pack of bracelets were just a small stocking filler from my mum, also. She knows how much I love my group of Primark bracelets and I can never have too many. It goes without saying that Christmas isn't complete without receiving a pyjama set. This lovely pink check/tartan pair were a gift from my other cousin and his partner and I can't wait to get my wear out of them. My house often goes overboard when the heating is on so the fleecy material may not be too pleasant but they will be nice and cosy for the moments my body refuses to warm up.

Now on to the cosmetics! It's safe to say my face currently smells and feels divine. There seemed to be a recurrent pattern with the array of products I did receive (i.e. there's a lot of cleansers in my new collection). Since Christmas ended, I've had the chance to and have enjoyed testing out the treats and am now well and truly pampered. You can really tell the difference in quality when you switch up your skincare routine to the more high end products. The Emma Hardie 4 Piece Starter Kit was the perfect gift for me. I've been dying to try out the Moringa Cleansing Balm and a 50ml version for me to trial as a beginner (as well as a couple of other goodies) couldn't have been more ideal. So far I haven't been let down, it not only does the job thoroughly, it refreshes my skin, leaves my face feeling freshly smooth and the scent is so uplifting. Next, there was the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish which was presented to me in the prettiest zip up bag and kept in the actual Liz Earle gift bag which increased my admiration further. This was another product I've had on my wish list since like forever now and I was so happy when I unwrapped it. I'm definitely impressed, it's all it lives up to be and more. It's so luxurious on my oily skin and I've noticed a difference already. Finally, for the skincare facials there was the cutest little Origins bauble waiting for me on Christmas morning. It contains five minis; the Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream, Make A Difference Overnight Repair cream, Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask (one of my faves), Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask and Modern Friction Gentle Dermabrasion. Once again, being presented with these gave me the opportunity to experiment before buying the full sized products. I won't go too much into what I think because I am planning on doing a separate Origins review sort of blog post but I will say, these tiny best sellers are up there with my most rated skin saviours. 

I've heard so much about The Body Shop's Instablur and was eager to find out if it is worth the hype. When I received this handy little set with both the face and the eye primer/tint I was delighted. The paste like consistency is odd but so softening when on the skin and I am in love with the scent. It definitely absorbs quickly onto the surface of my skin and smooths out my imperfections but I think I need to use it more than a couple of times to see the real benefits of both products. As another small stocking filler from my brother, I was also given The Body Shop hand cream and lip butter set with my ultimate favourite coconut fragrance (of course). They are such handy handbag essentials and I don't think you can ever fault The Body Shop for their body nourishment products. 

Now, I'm slowly but surely building up my gang of MAC lipsticks. I'll always stick to the belief that they are one of the best on the market. The variety of shades available is often quite overwhelming but if like me, you know what you're wanting then it makes the process of choosing much simpler. I had a few colours on my list but my mum went with Craving and I think it's love, guys. It's the kind of warm pink, plum colour that is suited for any season and is complimenting on my skin tone. Plus, the creme finishes are always highly pigmented and long lasting so it ticks all the boxes.

My Grandma already represents a superhero, there's no stopping her once she decides to treat me. Even though she already does too much for me, that gal takes no notice and does what she wants. Every year she gifts each grand child £100 but on top of that she always likes to buy us a present to go beside that. When she offered to buy me my most desired palette, the Stila In The Light I was over the moon. Christmas isn't the same once you get older and there's no surprises but knowing I had this to open hitched my adrenaline levels up a notch. The neutral shades are right up my street. I'm hesitant on using the eye shadows so frequently with how gorgeous the packaging is but even on my first use I fell for the superior minimal mattes and shimmers and I can see this being a firm favourite.

Lastly, there were the lovely, thoughtful gifts from my friends, Ross and Charlotte. Obviously they know me well enough (and are kind enough) to present me with some Lush pleasures (and a Topshop nail polish in a gorgeous grey shade). The Little Snow Fairy box filled with snow fairy shower gel and pink fun is just the cutest and I am yet to open it because I don't want to ruin the packaging (this seems to be a constant issue of mine) but I'm looking forward to adding these and the Phoenix Rising and Mmmelting Marshmallow Moment to my exotic collection. They're all Lush products I haven't tried before so I'm gonna be having a ball in the bath! 

Santa was very good to me in 2014 for sure (although it's the same every year). Did you receive your favourite goodies? Let me know if you've done a similar post as I love to have a nosy at what other people have got.

Bridie x