Christmas Tag

First and foremost I want to not apologise for my very poor effort with Blogmas over the last few days. On Thursday I forgot to post, on Friday I quickly posted something at about 11pm in a desperate effort not to forget again, but then I forgot again yesterday. Sorry, but I'm not sorry. Working full time and trying to blog full time, whilst trying to catch up with everyone while I'm back, is not the one. I'd got out of my full time work routine, which I had throughout the summer, so for the last few days I've completely crashed out; and my mental health comes first right?

But to ease us in to the big day, tomorrow, I'm going to do a quick Christmas tag!

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie/s?
Oooh there's so many to choose from. Elf, Deck The Halls, and Love Actually are definitly my top three. But I went to see A Bad Moms Christmas a month or so ago and it was SO good!  

2. Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve?
Every year up until now, me and Harry have given each other one present each on Christmas Eve, because we wouldn't be seeing each other on Christmas Day. This year however, is a different story! How exciting! 

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?
I have quite a few to be honest. There was one year where we went to see Disney's Christmas Carole at the cinema and then we went to Pizza Express. That was one of my favourite Christmas Eve's because it was different to what we'd usually do. Another memory I have is when we spent Christmas in Cumbria and we'd just arrived at the cottage and dad was trying to do the fire, but he just ended up filling the whole room with smoke. There was also one Christmas Eve when Harry came over and he made me watch all of the Twilight films back to back - it's not very Christmassy is it! 

4. Favourite festive food?
I'm such a foodie, the list could go on for miles! My mum owns about 50 million cookbooks and Jamie Oliver magazines and I was going through them the other day and I think she got a bit fed up with me saying "ooh what about this?!" 

Mince Pies are a must. I also really like roasted parsnips, which probably sounds a bit weird but a Christmas dinner isn't a Christmas dinner without parsnips. 

5. Favourite Christmas gift?
I don't really like this question, it makes me feel a bit ungrateful. There was one particular Christmas though; I'd been asking for a green iPod nano (I was very specific in the fact that it had to be green). I didn't think I'd get one because with three kids my parents never really brought us gifts from the likes of Apple. But they did buy it for me! My mum wrapped it up about 20 different times with wrapping paper and boxes so it was really unexpected. 

6. Favourite Christmas scent?
I don't really have one. I'm the worst blogger ever, I know. However, there is a candle in Marks and Spencer's at the moment, which I think is mandarin, clove and cinnamon, and it smells devine. It's not too sweet or overpowering like some Christmas candles can be. 

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?
As you can probably tell from question three, we tend to get up to different things each Christmas Eve. Although, one thing that is a tradition is that Harry comes to see me. We've always spent Christmas Eve together, even before we were going out. I like to actually go out and do something, like go to the cinema or the pub. 

8. What tops your tree?

It used to be a very wonky angel. But this year we brought a new rose gold star to go with our rose gold theme. That's quite wonky too actually. 

9. How will you be spending Christmas this year?
Just the five of us at home. Nothing better than being able to stay in your pyjamas and not worrying about impressing the relatives. 

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?
The run up. The last day of school/uni when everyone's excited because you know if you get through this one last day it'll be the Christmas holidays, putting up the Christmas tree, looking for something to eat or drink knowing full well that 95% of the fridge contents is to be saved for the big day, you get my drift. Christmas Day itself goes so so fast, and for the last couple of years I've had to work either Christmas Eve or Boxing Day or both so it doesn't really feel like you're getting time off, so you have to make the most of the whole experience. 

ItsGeorgia.xo

5 Christmas Films You Need To Watch

Working in retail means that I'm not getting much downtime leading up to Christmas, so when I do get the chance to chill out, there's nothing nicer than having a cosy afternoon eating celebrations and watching Christmas films. Today I'm going to share with you my top 5 Christmas films that I completely recommend and will never get old.

1. Love Actually
If you don't watch this at least twice leading up to Christmas you have no heart. It's such a British classic and feel good film, and now it's been uploaded to Netflix so you have absolutely no excuses.

2. The Grinch
Admittedly we never used to watch the Grinch a lot in the Hendry household, but in the last couple of years it's been a must-have for me and Harry. I love his little dog and every time I watch it I still can't believe that little Cindy Lou is Taylor Momsen.

3. Miracle on 34th Street
I've had this sitting in my Netflix saved list for weeks now, but we only got round to watching it the other day and it's become one of my favourite Christmas films. It's a complete classic, set in New York City (is there really anything more Christmassy?) and you will fall in love with Kris Kringle, who's played by Richard Attenborough.

4. Home Alone (1 and 2)
I don't really have to say anything about these films, because if you haven't seen them you've obviously been living under a rock. I know there's a third one but is it really Home Alone without Kevin? Give yourself the afternoon and watch them back to back, and then I promise you will truly be in the Christmas mood.

5. Fred Clause
I wouldn't call it a classic but it is such a good film. I don't think this film is given the recognition it deserves.

6. Elf
Everyone loves a bit of Buddy the Elf. I'm actually watching it as I type this. I hadn't actually watched this until 2 or 3 years ago, but it's definitely a favourite and a must to watch. It's also set in New York so what's not to love.

7. Deck The Halls 
This has been one of my favourites for years and even though the rivalry between Steve and Danny really annoys me, and it's so predictable, I still watch it year after year.

So these are my favourite Christmas films, and I hope that they give you some ideas if you're finding yourself a little undecided about what to watch this weekend!

Georgia.xo

Christmas Gift Wrapping Inspiration

I would like to say that I take pride in my wrapping when it comes to Christmas presents, but with a nice big uni work/job sized pile on my plate right now, present wrapping has dropped down a few places on the priority list.

I don't like to be lazy though, and there are some super easy ways to make your presents look like you've made two months worth of organised effort, when in actual fact you were panic wrapping after you suddenly realised that the big day was less than a week away.

On my Pinterest I have put together a quick gift wrapping inspiration guide. Whilst a couple of these images are very aspirational, some of them are a whole lot easier than they actually look. For example, just buy some plain brown paper and paint on the bow, or buy some letter stamps (Tiger sell them) and print the people's names on with ink. Even though it probably took you 10 seconds, that hand finished touch makes the experience of gift giving that little bit more special.

A lot of shops now are selling very attractive wrapping paper, especially Scandi style shops like Tiger (I promise I'm not being paid commission on this!) This candy cane print paper was only a couple of pounds, so its superb if you're a student on a budget, like me. Make sure your added touches, like labels and ribbons, match one of the colours within the print and you're good to go!

I think whether you've gone to the extreme lengths of cutting branches off the back of your Christmas tree, or have just brought some cheap paper whilst whizzing past the shops, having a colour scheme makes all of the difference. Browns, reds and whites are particularly festive and go beautifully together, as does gold with black or white.

Georgia.xo

An Introvert's Christmas Jumper Guide

With only six days to go, the expectancy to wear a Christmas jumper is increasing by the day, but I am well aware that there is nothing worse than having Rudolph's big red nose flashing on your stomach, or 'elfie' splashed across your chest when you're not the most extroverted of people. So I've come up with a Christmas jumper guide for those of us proud introverts.

Top - Left to Right, Bottom - Left to Right

George at Asda - £16 / Zara - £39.99 / River Island - £40 / & Other Stories - £49 / Boohoo - £18

The magpie within me is in love with the Zara jumper! But I do love a bit of a Fairisle pattern at this time of year.

Where have you brought your christmas jumpers from this year?

Georgia.xo

Dear Santa...

Welcome to the first day of my *proper* Blogmas! This week I'll be counting down the days until the big day arrives, and I thought I'd start by sharing my Christmas wishlist with you. These are the items that I am hoping to find under my Christmas tree this year!

Hot Chocolate: If you know me well enough, you'll know that I drink at least one hot chocolate a day, and that's not even over Christmas. So this Cocoa Creations hot chocolate selection from Whittards is the perfect gift for me. The box includes their standard Luxury hot chocolate as well as Rocky Road, Mint, Praline, Salted Caramel, and Orange. Sounds good to me!

Handbag: I've been needing a proper handbag for a while, and not only is this Zara City bag super stylish, but it's practical too! It's the perfect size to fill with rubbish, as well as my laptop and sketchbooks for uni.

Boots: I had these same boots a couple of years ago and I wore them to death. I do own a couple of other pairs of boots, but none that are your standard flat Chelsea boots. I've seen a couple of other pairs on ASOS, but I am a creature of habit, and I know that these ones are so comfortable and go with everything.

Puffa coat: Here we go again, Georgia jumping on to the bandwagon late AGAIN, but when I saw this coat in Zara I had to have it. Being a student who doesn't see one penny of my student loan, the £70 price tag was a bit of a stretch, so I've asked for it for Christmas and I'm hoping and praying that my mum thinks I deserve it enough!

Benefit Brow Pencil: I was brought the Goof Proof brow pencil last Christmas and I've worn it everyday since. Sadly the comb end has gotten a bit gross the pencil nib split so I've had to make do with what's left, so I think it's time for a new one.

Glossier skincare: I am all for this Glossier hype; every review I've read/watched has been a positive one so it's about time I had some of my own to try out, and Christmas seems like the perfect opportunity! I've asked for the Super Bounce and the coconut flavoured Balm Dotcom, because they have/do everything my skin and lips need right now.

So that was my wishlist and I'll be a very happy girl if I get even one of these items. I hope that this doesn't just come as a massive hint for some people, but as some inspiration if you're doing some last minute shopping.

Georgia.xo

Welcome to Blogmas 2017!

Welcome to Blogmas 2017!

I can't believe we've got to December already, this year has whizzed by. This time next week I will be driving back home for Christmas (I did sing that as I wrote it I won't lie!) and in a few weeks time the big day will be here. But we all know what December really means - it's Blogmas time!

As you may know I did do Blogmas properly a couple of years ago and it was really really hard, so this year I'm going to do it with a twist. Instead of my usual one post a week, I will be posting twice a week during December, every Tuesday and Saturday. I will then be posting every day in true Blogmas style on the week leading up to Christmas Day, so that will be Monday 18th to Sunday 24th.

I've spent the last few weeks coming up with ideas for my December content and it's so exciting! I can't wait to share it all with you guys.

Georgia.xo

Blogmas | Day 24 | The Last Day of Blogmas!!

It's the last day of Blogmas! I can't believe how quick this month has gone, it only feels like a few days ago when I decided to do this. I admit, it probably wasn't the best Blogmas that you've seen but I'm pretty impressed with myself for keeping up with it, even if I did miss a few days here and there.

Christmas Eve is usually a time when my family finishes off the presents and just packs in a load of Christmas films and TV, circling what we want to watch on the Radio Times guide, but this year I have to work *sob*. I am literally wishing for a Christmas miracle that we get let off early and I can finally just sit and relax and maybe then I'll feel a little bit more excited.

I just want to say thank you to whoever took the time to give this all a read, I wasn't really expecting anyone to be bothered, let alone me finishing it!

Merry Christmas! I love you all :*

Georgia.xo

Blogmas | Day 23 | Gingerbread House

One of my favourite parts of Christmas time is taking part in annual traditions that have developed in the family over the years, and one of ours is making a gingerbread house. We started doing it 2 years ago and for some reason Harry and my brother were in charge and it just went a bit tits up. Luckily we've got better over time and I'm quite proud of my little gingerbread house that we made today, not sure if it's Insta-worthy or not but it's Christmas, who cares.

I can't believe it's Christmas Eve tomorrow. I hate to admit it but I really don't feel Christmassy at all. Maybe wearing a Christmas jumper to work, doing some last minute shopping and a pile of Christmas films will do it!

Georgia.xo

Blogmas | Day 22 | Christmassy Nails

Rimmel London 60 Seconds - 320 Rapid Ruby
AVON Nailwear Pro+ - Golden Vision
OPI Mariah Carey - The Impossible
OPI Mariah Carey - Stay the Night

So, you've got the perfect party dress and the most gorgeous pair of shoes to go with it, but your nails are looking a bit boring and what sounds better than painting on a bit of sparkly nail varnish. Whether  you want to dig deep into your old nail polishes and find a classic bright red or go out and buy a new glittery one, no accessory looks better than a perfectly manicured hand!

I have a pretty big draw full of nail varnishes so I love finding old ones that I used to love and reliving that feeling, such as the OPI Mariah Carey Liquid Sand ones. If you're looking for some new ones though, I've seen some really pretty new Barry M ones (and you get a free Gelly Hi Shine Ruby Limited Edition when you spend £6 in Superdrug) and Models Own have their Chrome collection out too at the moment that look like a great twist on the sparkly nails.

What's your favourite polish to wear at this time of the year?

Georgia.xo

Blogmas | Day 21 | Reflections On The Year

Looking back at some of these pictures has made me realise how fantastic this year has been. I think I've grown up a lot and made memories that will last forever.

This year has been very education/life/future driven because at 17 you have to start making choices that will head you towards the rest of your life. For example, I've chosen to go to university next year to study Fashion Media/Communication so I spent the year looking around different uni's and now I've got to push myself and drive myself towards getting the grades I need to get into Nottingham Trent. I also started learning to drive this year and although there's a lot of times where I feel like I should give up because right now there's just no point, I have progressed and I passed my theory test with flying colours and who knows, I might just need the skills sooner than I think.

I also went on some fantastic holidays like Manchester and Paris, which I will definitely be going back to one day. It was so hard trying to select the right photographs but whichever ones I show you, it's clear to see that we had a lovely time.

There's been a lot of hatred in the world this year but compared to previous years, I haven't been happier. Although I finally feel like I know where I want to go in life, I'm just going to see where next year takes me. I just want to enjoy myself and make some more memories. I've got my 18th birthday, I'm going to Gran Canaria and a road trip around Europe and I want to pass my driving test, but most importantly I've got Harry, my friends and my family by my side.

Georgia.xo

Blogmas | Day 20 | Winter Wonderland

Yesterday (today... the 20th December if we want to pretend I'm not quickly writing this up the day after) me and Harry went to London. Our main purpose was to go to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park because it's a Christmas tradition of mine, but we also popped into St Pancras, to see the tree made out of Disney toys,  Covent Garden and also Oxford Street to see Selfridges' window displays and the pretty lights.

I'd seen the St Pancras tree on Instagram and I'm easily excited by things like this so it was a must that we went to see it. When we got there it was truly magical. Everyone was walking around with their suitcases ready to spend their Christmas in France, there was a choir singing Christmas songs and then the tree, which had snow falling down over it from the ceiling.

The whole day was magical really. Covent Garden looked stunning with the larger than life mistletoe and so did Oxford Street. I feel in love with the Selfridges window display, Hannah Emslie and her team have done an amazing job with the zodiac theme. And as always, Winter Wonderland never fails to amaze me, even if it is incredibly over priced and packed!

Georgia.xo