Bobbi Brown Golden Slipper Eye Shadow Palette

I've had my eye on the Bobbi Brown Christmas Collection since it launched so when Black Friday rolled around and they whacked a nice 30% off on I finally snapped up the Golden Slipper Eye Shadow palette from the collection. 

The limited-edition beauty collection is inspired by the energy of dance and the holidays in New York City with each product adorned with beautiful watercolour art by Cecilia Carlstedt⁠. Cecilia has been working as a full-time illustrator since 2003 and has a recognisable flair to her work. She's worked with a wide number of clients within the fashion world so the Bobbi Brown Christmas Collection is a perfect fit.

Two Sensual Fragrances PERFECT for the Festive Season

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When it comes to Christmas, it is THE perfect time to refresh your fragrance especially as there are so many gift sets and offers to take advantage of. I'm a sucker for a new scent and so to help you with your Christmas shopping I've selected two fragrances that you may not have come across before.

Both are available from The Perfume Shop for ease and I can assure you they're like nothing you've ever smelt before - you want your fragrance to be memorable for all the right reasons so something a little different is the best way to go. 

Signature scents just became a whole lot easier.

The L'Occitane Festive Shea Bergamot Collection

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When it comes to beauty at Christmas, one brand that always does it so well is L'Occitane and the twist on the much loved Shea collection is at the top of my recommendation list if you're looking for something beautifully festive for a loved one this Christmas or ya know, for yourself. 

The Limited Edition Shea Bergamot Collection features a handful of products that will keep skin soft, well moisturised and smelling gorgeous. Each of the products are made using shea butter as well as a blend of almond, honey and coconut oil for added nourishment - the invigorating citrus scent of bergamot just gives it that little bit extra!

It's a really great collection of products and skin will not know nourishment like it.

Perfect Christmas Gifts for Beauty Lovers

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I don't know about you but I'm a sucker for cute mini products so Christmas is the perfect time for me to get my fix. There are products in baubles, mini lipsticks and glitter galore and the best bit? They make brilliant gifts and stocking fillers. 

I've collected together some fab products that I think would be perfect for the beauty lover in your life together with a couple of surprises you could even hang on your tree. 

It's going to be a very Merry Christmas for somebody!

Three Easy Festive Recipes Anyone can do!

Hot on the tails of my Super Easy Christmas Pudding Tiffin Balls blog post, I'm sharing Three Easy Festive Baking Recipes Anyone Can Do.... especially with children. I've found baking to be the perfect way to switch off at the moment and I'm really enjoying it so with Christmas being right around the corner I thought it was only right to share some festive inspired bakes. 

Each of the recipes are perfect as Christmas film snacks or to give as gifts to family and friends if you're sticking to homemade presents this year plus we all like something that is a doddle to make right?

Let's get stuck in!

Joshua's Christmas Eve Box 2020

I adore the idea of a Christmas Eve Box and it's something we couldn't wait to do for Joshua. Arran and I have a few little traditions we've started during our relationship and Christmas Eve is always a chance for us to wear new pyjamas, eat lots of cheese and treats and watch a Christmas film so we've taken that and created a child-friendly version for Joshua with a few added extras. 

I know they're not for everyone, I think the beauty of Christmas is that we all have our very own traditions and this is just one of ours so I wanted to share what we've put inside ours this year.

We bought our Christmas Eve box in 2018 from Etsy but unfortunately can't link as she isn't selling them this year. If you are looking to buy one I would really recommend Etsy, there are some beautiful boxes available or you could head to Hobbycraft and make your own. I just fill ours with some red shred to bulk out the bottom, I've kept the shred we used last few years inside the box and packed it away with it so we don't have to replace it year on year. 

I've collected a few different things over the last couple of weeks to place inside and stuck with the theme of something to wear, watch, read and eat. It makes shopping for presents so much easier. We've bought Joshua's Christmas pyjamas from Marks and Spencer this year - they're elf pyjamas and I'm so excited to see him in them, the little stripey legs are super cute.

We also bought Christmas socks from Next to keep his toes cosy. They have packs of two socks available so great to split between siblings. We're putting the reindeer pair in his Christmas Eve Box and then the Santa feet in his stocking. 

It wouldn't be a Christmas Eve box without something a little sweet so we've popped a little chocolate treat in there for him. Marks and Spencer have a great free from range this year so we've bought a Father Christmas Chocolate Lolly and some bits from Moo Free too. He also has a personalised enamel cup so we can have hot chocolates all together - I bought this from Prints Nickety on Etsy

The Christmas movie we've added to the box is Winnie the Pooh A Very Merry Pooh Year as Joshua has become a bit obsessed with Winnie the Pooh recently and it's one we all don't mind sitting and watching together.

We're a reading family so there was always going to be a book included and I've chosen two this year. Ollie's Christmas Reindeer is part of a seasonal set, I bought the Halloween version for Joshua in October so when I saw this one I knew this would have to be the Christmas Eve Box book of choice! It's a beautiful tale of a magical snowy adventure on Christmas Eve. Nicola Killen's illustrations are also partly the reason I buy these books - they're just so gorgeous! 

The second book is Dasher by Matt Tavares - another beautifully illustrated and magical story that captures the magic of Christmas so well. Follow Dasher as she longs for a different life, one that includes snow and the north star. I can't wait to read this to Joshua on Christmas Eve. 

The next few items were my favourite last year and my favourite again this year. I am so glad I came across Designed by Blue on Etsy. I ordered a Nice List Certificate which I had personalised with Joshua's name, it's printed on satin aged paper and stamped with a North Pole wax seal. It's something I'll keep forever. I think I'll appreciate them more than Joshua at the moment but I don't think a Christmas Eve box is complete without a letter from Father Christmas.

We also included the Magic Key I ordered in 2018 which I had personalised with our family name so we can continue to use it for years to come and with more children if we have them. The bronze key comes on a dark red cord and on the back of the card it reads: 

"These are the things you need to do, first whisper "I believe in you". Then hang this key outside your door, he will know just what it's for. Now it's time to close your eyes tight, Father Christmas is coming tonight. Christmas day you will wake to find, all the presents he left behind."

There's also a little tube of personalised reindeer food too - I thought it was a cute little addition! 

The very last item and a new addition for this year is a Belive Bell from Vellamaes which I am so happy with, it's just beautiful. It comes in a personalised box (so if we ever have another child let's hope we can order another!) and inside you'll find a cushioned bell on a red ribbon. It's very Polar Express - I just adore it so much - it's such a special piece to include this year.

And that is everything inside this years box. Creating Joshua's Christmas Eve Box is one of my favourite things to do this time of year and we can't wait to give it to him on Christmas Eve. 

I hope it has given you some ideas on what to put inside yours too. 

Super Easy Christmas Pudding Tiffin Balls

With activities at home taking centre stage this year I thought I'd get my thinking cap on and come up with some festive bakes that are super easy to make at home whether you're a seasoned pro or just dabble in baking like myself. 

Christmas Pudding Tiffin Balls are one of my favourite things to make at this time of year as they're so easy to do plus most people already have the ingredients in their cupboards and if you don't, they're really cheap to pick up. Tiffin Balls also make great gifts - just pop them in a bag, tie with some twine and add a tag and you have a delicious homemade gift. 

It's a recipe our son loves making with us too so it's perfect if you want to get the children involved as there is minimum mess and no risk of flour being thrown everywhere!

The Look Fantastic December Beauty Edit

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Look Fantastic have launched their December Beauty Edit featuring six fab brands that will help ease you into the colder and darker nights as we get uber cosy for the most festive month of the year. Think glowing skin, luxurious skin care and handy makeup tools and you've nailed this box in one. 

Inside you'll also find their fabulous Beauty Box Guide that talks you through the products and how to use them so you get the most out of them as well as beauty news and information. 

OFFER // You can get 10% off your first Look Fantastic box on 3, 6 and 12-month subscriptions using ALICEXBB1 - order here.

Shall we dive in?

Something Sweet for the Festive Season from Too Faced

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Christmas is my favourite time of the year for beauty launches and Too Faced have come up trumps with some super cute bits to get you in the mood. There are gift sets of all sizes available, big and small perfect for all budgets and with the packaging as beautiful as always - you'll be hard pushed not to snap anything up. 

As well as their Enchanted Beauty Christmas range and adorable stocking fillers - you'll also find a little spice in the form of their miniature eye shadow palettes and I've picked one out to give you a closer look plus a limited edition Melted Matte that is oh so perfect for this time of year. 

How to Build a Festive Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie boards have kinda blown up a bit the last few years and with good reason - they're delicious! 

I recently worked with a brand and created one as part of my idea for the campaign and I took some extra photos as I just knew it would make the perfect blog post in the lead up to Christmas. Charcuterie is a French term for a branch of cooking devoted to prepared meat products, such as bacon, ham, sausage, terrines, galantines, ballotines, pâtés, and confit, primarily from pork but over the years they've been adapted to suit so many more tastes - to be honest, you can create any Charcuterie you fancy including something sweet. 

They make such a great centerpiece for any party spread whatever the occasion and we're planning to have another one on Christmas Eve as part of our meats and cheese tradition. 

So do you want to know how to create your own? It's super easy!