Our Perfect Christmassy Afternoon

In collaboration with shopDisney - contains press sample.

Tis the season to be jolly and that means warm mince pies, cosy evenings my family and plenty of Christmas films. I find at this time of year I begin to slow down which isn't a bad thing when my to-do list is so long, I just prioritise what needs to be done so I can make the most of time with my family! I really like to keep my evenings completely clear in the winter so they can be filled with what we love most be it a deliciously warm stew or curling up under a blanket to watch Disney films. 

Winchester Christmas Market

It's almost the most wonderful time of year and a surefire way to get into the festive mood is a visit to Winchester Christmas Market. The market is recognised as one of the best Christmas Markets in Europe because of its incredible exhibitors, beautiful location and festive atmosphere and with over 100 chalets to explore it makes for the perfect Christmassy activity.

In 2018, Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market was voted the second-best in the UK by Booking.com and it has also been voted among the top eight Christmas Markets in Europe by the New York Post. People travel far and wide to visit every year with over 350,000 people visiting last year and you can expect just as many this year, it really is magical.

Shop Cosmetify this Black Friday

This is a paid partnership with Cosmetify

Black Friday has quickly become a popular event in the UK as much as it is stateside thanks to the absolute bargains and discount sales we can now get our hands on and it gets bigger and better every year. Gone are the days of looking woefully at what we could get and I for one am hurriedly writing my list in preparation. 

I find Black Friday (29th November FYI) to be the perfect time to order any Christmas presents I've been wanting to get as well as stocking up on my favourite beauty bits which is where Cosmetify come in. 

Cosmetify is a beauty discovery website that places over 200,000 products from thousands of brands directly at your fingertips to help you find the best price. They're the go-to search engine for beauty lovers meaning you can find everything you need makeup to hair, grooming to skincare and electricals to toiletries.

All I want for Christmas + A Soap & Glory Giveaway!

*This is a paid partnership with Boots UK*

Christmas is such a magical time of year, we celebrate it big and full of love every year and now we have a certain little someone it's become even more magical for us. That also means I need to plan and be a bit more prepared than previous years so that everything goes off without a hitch so making a list and checking it twice is my new Christmas motto for 2019. 

I'd love to say I started my Christmas shopping in August like almost a quarter of Brits but alas, I haven't even bought my Christmas cards yet. I feel like Christmas has crept up on us this year so armed with my trusty list and all my faith in Boots I think I'm gonna pull Christmas out the sack just in time this year! 

Christmas Bucket List

Hot on the tails of my Autumn Bucket List, I also thought I'd share the one I've created for Christmas. I adore Christmas and with Joshua being so much more aware this year it meant we could add even more to our list including visiting Father Christmas.

I like to keep my bucket lists filled with things that are easily accomplished be it big or small. They also give me the push to do a little more when all I want to do is hide from the cold with a blanket.

So here are a list of things I'm hoping to do with family and friends this Christmas, I'd love to know what you have planned too. 

Molton Brown's Bizarre Brandy Collection

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas for me if it wasn't for Molton Brown's festive collection and it's something I look forward to every year. I've had a long love affair with Molton Brown and know their products like the back of my hand but Bizarre Brandy was something I was not expecting yet I love its mystical scent so much.

The limited-edition collection brings the roaring twenties to the present day with a handful of products all of which are available to purchase now. They're elegant, full of sparkle and bound to put a spring in your step this festive season. 

REN Skincare Perfect Canvas Clean Primer

When it comes to skincare, REN Clean Skincare is a brand I turn to time and time again so the new Perfect Canvas Clean Primer was high on my to-try list. Clean Skincare is at the heart of what REN do meaning incredible products created with sustainable ingredients from sustainable sources plus they're sustainably packaged too.

Do I have your attention yet?

Five Recent Favourites

I haven't shared a favourites post in so long but they're one of my favourite ('geddit!) posts to share and read from others because it means a product is really worth it in my eyes. There have been a few beauty products I've been going back to again and again recently and I also wanted to share my latest piece of jewellery from Daisy London. 

My sister is a huge fan of Daisy London and is always treating herself to pieces from the jewellery brand and now I have my own... and a pretty huge wishlist for more! 

Bite Me Burger & Get Plucked

When it comes to food, Southampton has so much choice that you could probably eat at a different restaurant every day for a year and still be left with more places to try. I'm definitely not complaining because going out to eat with my family is one of my favourite things to do and that's how we found ourselves at Southampton's latest addition, Bite Me Burger & Get Plucked recently.

The new eatery can be found in London Road, Southampton and houses both brands under one roof. I quite like the idea of the best of both worlds especially if you're not sure what you fancy. 

NEW IN: Beauty

I feel like new beauty releases just aren't slowing down at the moment and with the festive season right around the corner, we're sure to be inundated with plenty more to lust over. I've had a few new pieces land in my hands recently so I thought I'd give you a little rundown of what's new and what I've been reaching for including one thing I'm really not too keen on. 

Shall we begin?

Latest in Beauty The Sunday Times Style #BEAUTYBOSS Edit

Latest in Beauty is back with another incredible collection box and with two options to choose from, your hardest decision will be deciding which one you order. The Sunday Times Style Edit features a whole host of beauty favourites from Elemis, Bobbi Brown, Glossier, Kiehls and Clinique curated by two of the countries favourite beauty gurus. 

I was sent The #BeautyBOSS Edit (AD*) which includes fifteen products worth £172! It is full to the brim with fabulous products approved by Sarah Jossel. There's everything from hair care, makeup and skincare and the box features nine full-size products! 

I'm so excited to share with you what is inside!

Les Misérables Mayflower Theatre

Cameron Mackintosh's Les Misérables arrived in Southampton to much excitement this week as it enjoys another run at Mayflower Theatre. The critically acclaimed production of Boublil and Schönberg's musical based on the book by Victor Hugo has been watched by 120 million people across 52 countries and in 22 languages. It is legendary and one I was so very excited to finally sit down and experience for myself. 

The show was re-staged almost ten years ago and has been hailed as the 21st Century Les Mis thanks to its impressive projections, moving stage props and fast-paced direction. I've never read or watched Les Misérables before so I went in with completely fresh eyes and I'm so glad because I was completely blown away. 

The Easy Eco Home Swaps We've Made

In August, I shared a post on The Easy Eco Beauty Swaps I've Made and it had a great response so I wanted to gather together the home swaps we've made too. I spent quite a bit of time researching for what we could change in the home that we hadn't done already and as we've run out of those items we've replaced them with a more sustainable option. 

Becoming a mum has changed a lot for me, especially how I see my impact on the earth my son is growing up on. We've all seen the documentaries and the warnings, it should be enough to put the frighteners on anyone and so here are our home swaps we've made so far.