Blogmas #10 / Guys Gift Gide

1. Bobble Hat (£7) - When its cold and approaching Christmas, what is the perfect way to keep warm? With a reindeer bobble hat of course. SORTED.

2. How To Swear Around The World (£8.99) - After living with my brother and Dad for 20 years there is something that I have learnt about guys. That is that they LOVE pointless facts and information. It creates good conversation starters or tactical conversation changers. Hence why I think Something like this 'How To Swear Around The World' book would be a perfect present. In fact any pointless books will do. To name a few: '52 Things To Do While You Poo', '99 Ways To Open A Beer Bottle', 'Sir Alex Ferguson Quote Book'. 

3. Beard Kit (£25) - 2014 was the year of the beard, everyone seemed to have one. I mean, there is even an exhibition that has just opened at Somerset House about them. So ladies, this Christmas lets join together and help groom those unruly hobo beards into something that could be potentially pretty hot - on the right fella. All it would take its this cute little beard kit that comes with wax, oil, scissors and even a little comb. After all - a beard is for life, not just for Christmas. 

4. Phone Projector (£15.95) - If this isn't the best present I have found all Christmas, then I don't know what is. A. PHONE. PROJECTOR. Slot your phone into the little gap and watch your videos on a wall. Amazing. Why has no-one thought of this before.... Bloody genius that is.

5. Ed Sheehan's X (around £10) - If the men in your life haven't already got this whopper of an album, then I highly suggest it. It is definitely a grower, but within a week you will be singing along and will know every single word. Of course other albums are available : George Ezra, Smashing Pumpkins, or even McBusted if they want a bit of cheese. 

6. Nivea Gift Set (£6.67) - Lets be honest, not many men know how to pamper themselves. So this Nivea gift set will give their skin a break and let it feeling like a baby's bottom until the products have run out - or until next Christmas. 

7. The Inbetweeners 2 (£10) - Lads. Lads. Lads. Lads. #Banter #NoOtherWordsNeeded

8. Black Grandad Shirt (£28) - Clothes are always a safe option I think. I find that guys respect the opinion of women who buy them clothes, or don't bother to comment in case they get moaned at. Probably the latter but I think they secretly appreciate the free clothes. I love the style of these Grandad collars and as my brother has let me know, apparently they are 'in' fashion. 

If, like me, you find it impossible to buy Christmas presents for the men in your life, then hopefully this may help! These are always the last presents I cross off my list. Why are men so difficult??

Grace xx

Blogmas #9 / Clash of the Christmas Cups

Everyone has their favourite festive drinks and this year there seem to be more and more Christmas cups. Starbucks, Costa, Cafè Nero and even McDonalds have jumped on the Christmas cup bandwagon!

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Starbucks
Everyone knows the iconic red cup. Starbucks also have some of the most delicious flavoured drinks at Christmas time that get you in the festive mood. These include: Eggnog Latte, Gingerbread Latte, Honey and Almond Hot Chocolate, Toffee Nut Latte, and someone told me that there was a Christmas Cookie latte, but after extensive research, it turns out it is only available in Australia and Philippines. How could you keep this from me Starbucks? Sort it out.

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Costa
The cutest cup design has to go to Costa. I was so excited to see some extra characters this year, as I believe there were only two designs last Christmas. Their Christmas range includes: Black Forest Hot Chocolate, Brownie Hot Chocolate, Gingerbread and Cream Latte, Orange Hot Chocolate, Praline Cappuccino, Sticky Toffee Latte, Hot Spiced Apple and White Hot Chocolate. While I haven't tried most of these delightful sounding drinks, I did have a White Hot Chocolate that just didn't sit right with me. It was too sweet and just didn't taste as nice as traditional hot chocolate. I am dying to try the Hot Spiced Apple though, so Costa... I'm coming for ya!

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Cafè Nero
To try and compete with the big guns, Cafe Nero have created the Festive Latte Collection. The cups and flavours don't seem inspired. Nero I am SO disappointed.

McDonalds
With their large selection of festive food, you would have thought that McDonalds would have bought out more festive drinks flavours this years. From what I can tell, the only festive drink they have is the Toffee Latte. I am yet to try out the Toffee Latte, but I can tell you that the festive banoffee pie is genius (but not as good as my beloved apple pie).

Do you have a favourite festive drink? This year mine is most definitely the genius that is the Honey and Almond Hot Chocolate... thank you Starbucks!!

Grace xx

Blogmas #8 - Photo Diary

1st December/ Bright lights at an MTV event / Red sky at night, shepherd's delight

 Working the red carpet/ Work's Christmas meal

After what has been one of the busiest weeks at work since I started in July, it was nice to have a relaxing weekend doing next to nothing. We had two major events in one week, meaning that all hand were needed on deck. I love working events, but man do they take it out of you. I am getting tired just thinking about how much work we did on those two evenings.

The week ended with a bang as we wrapped everything up with our Christmas party. The meal was absolutely delicious and I only have a picture of the starter because I finished the turkey roast and warm brownie far too quickly. A lot of alcohol was consumed and secret santa gifts were exchanged. It was an amazing evening spent with some wonderful people.

I hope you have all had a good week!

Grace xx

Blogmas #7 / Gift Wishlist

I am not going to lie, there isn't much on my Christmas wish list. I feel like I don't really want anything, and the things that I need are things that I buy myself. I am a much better giver than receiver. Buying people presents at Christmas is one of my favourite things to do. I plan in advance and really think about what I want to buy people. I am all about sentimentality, so if I can think of something that I know they will love because it is so 'them' then I will buy it!

On the other hand, when people ask me what presents I would like, I have no idea. Which, I know is really annoying, but I really can never thing of anything that I really want and will get a lot of use out of. So that's why the four main thing that I have asked for this year are things that I know I will use/listen to/ watch often!

1. Si Perfume (£64.50) - I smelt this on a whim one day and it was love at first smell. I have found some small samples of this in magazines that have kept me going, but I now feel ready for the commitment of a whole bottle.

2. Taylor Swift's 1989 (around £11) - I have been a massive fan of Taylor Swift since around 2006/2007. Seeing her get bigger and bigger with each album has been so exciting. She is defiantly one of my role models. While I don't think I like all the songs on this album, I know it will be a good one to dance around/ sing along/ drive to. 

3. Bobble Hat (£14) - I have been on the search for THE perfect winter hat for so long. Last year I think I found 'the one' but didn't pick it up at the time as I thought I could come back and buy it later. But, as we all know when you want something and leave it, you will never find it again. This lovely green number from Topshop is the closet look-a-like I have seen!

4. The Fault In Our Stars (£10) - I read the book, I cried. I watched the film at the cinema, I cried. Now I want the DVD so I can cry in the comfort of my own home. It is such a lovely story and one of the only films I have actually seen this year. Well done John Green, my hat is off to you sir.

What are on your Christmas wish lists this year?

Grace xx

Blogmas #6 / Cosy winter night

After a very late night/morning after the works' Christmas do, drinking far too much wine and getting not nearly enough sleep, a night in is exactly what the doctor ordered. My room is pretty darn chilly due to the draft that always seems to come through my window so I am cosy underneath the covers with a mug of hot chocolate. Love Actually is my film of choice for the evening and, if I do say so myself, it is the perfect choice for a cold winter evening.

I am also going to start reading my next book tonight, 'We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves'. I can't wait. I haven't read for about three weeks, so I am excited to get back into reading.

Love is all around us, come on and let it show.

Grace xx

Blogmas #4 / Christmas Decorations

I can't believe it, but I haven't put any Christmas decorations yet! How very disappointing. 

Instead browsing online for decoration ideas and festive baubles has made me extremely excited for when I go home and can help the family decorate the house whilst blasting Christmas music. (Bring on the Bublè). When the Christmas decorations come out of the loft and bring that 'Christmassy' smell with them, I know it won't be long until the whole family is together on Christmas Eve ready for the big day. Eee. I can't wait!

What are your favourite type of Christmas decorations? 

Grace xx

Blogmas #2 / Girls Gift Guide

1. Socks (£5) - Let's be honest, it wouldn't be Christmas without receiving socks or underwear. Am I right? And who could resist them when they are presented in a very festive bauble? It would be a small, cute gift to give to a friend, co-worker, or along side another gift. 

2. The Fault In Our Stars (£10)- There are many DVDs out at this time of year that you can change up to suit the girl you are buying for: 22 Jump Street, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Frozen and there is always an offer on the Disney films which is a bonus! (Don't forget those essential Christmas films either)

3. Clutch (£12) - When I saw this scallop clutch, I think I fell in love, and for £12 its a steal. I would possibly buy this for one of my girlies and put a few smaller surprises in the clutch too. 

4. Clarins Lip Collection Gift Set (£19.50) - As soon as October you can find Christmas gift sets hitting the shelves, and it is the most exiting thing to see when you walk Boots and you can have a peruse around decking which ones to get. This set from Clarins is one of my favourites this year. It includes miniatures of a lipstick, two of their lip perfecters and a lipgloss. As a lip product fan, I would be thrilled to receive this. It is something that would be suitable for a range of ages too. Other gift sets I have seen that deserve a worthy mention are: The Fearne Collection from Boots, This Works from TK Maxx, Prada Candy from Selfridges and Liz Earle Christmas Skincare from John Lewis.   

5. Bathroom Guest Book (£12) - Everyone needs a jokey present, something that they didn't know they needed or wanted. This Bathroom guest book is just that perfect type of present. What would you do with it? I'm not sure, other than proudly display it in your bathroom for people to enjoy while they are on the toilet. 

6. Ryan Gosling Calendar (£9) - I couldn't go a post without mentioning Ryan Gosling, sorry. If your friend, like the rest of the world, is in love with Ryan and are terribly upset that he is someone else baby daddy then this is the perfect present. Your friend can just stare at his beautiful face all year round. She will love you, I promise (of course other men are available).

7. Ciate gifts (£15-30) - When I was Christmas shopping last week I stumbled into TK Maxx and found a wall full of Ciate sets. They were selling previous years advent calendars and Ciate nail polish baubles that were all super cute! Even though they are last years products, they are half the price that they would usually be. SCORE.

8. Taylor Swift's 1989 (around £11) - If they haven't already got this incredible album from Taylor Swift then you can bring a bit of fun and pop into their life. It is the perfect album to dance around your room to or sing as loud as you can in your car. If they want something a bit different you can always go for a bit of Sam Smith, AC/DC or if maybe even Take That if they are into it?!

I hope you are ready to put your helmet on and raid the shops! Its every man for himself out there at this time of year. Haha. I hope this helped you out with some gift ideas for the wonderful women in your lives. Of course I forgot to add in books and gadgets gifts, but hey, head down to the shops and check out whats around. And if me, you love to give a sentimental gift, do it. It is much more memorable and a lot more thoughtful. 

23 DAYS TO GO! 

Grace xx

Blogmas #1 / December 1st

I was so excited for December that I ate my first advent calendar chocolate a day early. It is one of my favourite months of the year, December. It is a time that brings people together and makes people happy. I really do believe it is a magical time of year. AND the time off work is a bonus too!

It feel as if it was only a short time ago when the horribly cold weather of December was here and now it is back again. The cold in the big city isn't as fresh as it is back at home and there is always a haze in the air. Made better of course by the new Christmas decorations that are up all around London, making it one of the most beautiful places to walk round. I could literally stare at the lights on Oxford Street for days on end.

Talking of Oxford Street, it is literally every man for himself on that street at the moment. I have never seen so many people in one place. I am SO glad that I have already done the majority of my shopping and the rest I can easily do online. Has anyone else braved the crowds to go shopping yet? I would recommend taking a helmet. No, seriously, its mad out there.

I love Christmas time. I love December.

#24DAYSTOGO

Grace xx