#BLOGMAS DAY 7 // Christmas Garden Centre

This Christmas head over to your local garden centres. Garden centres near me are full of lots of christmas decorations, lights and trees. 

This place is so big and there's plenty of products to choose from. Everything is conveniently stored in colour schemes, making it easier to find just what you need.

This year we're going for a silver and white theme and wanted to find some unique decorations for the tree. Summer houses were placed around the building, filled with a variety of decorations. 

Something I really loved was the realistic looking light up trees, they also placed them outside which made them look realistic. They glow brightly and look amazing when it's foggy.

There were also lots of plants, christmas trees and huge wreaths. 

Comment if you've been to any garden centres or christmas shops this year, let me know what you got!

LRM

#BLOGMAS DAY 6 // Harlequin Wallpaper Crafts

I received a roll of harlequin wallpaper to create some easy crafts. This wallpaper is from the Amazilia collection and can be found on the site here. It's available in three colours and is perfect for crafting.

To begin I cut out multiple butterflies, these could be easily applied to painted walls to add something interesting. 

DIY iPhone case

What you need:

- Clear iPhone case

- Scissors

- Harlequin wallpaper

Firstly, cut out the butterfly. The aim is to use the detailed wing as a personalised iPhone case.

Then work out how much of the wing you'll cut off to add in  the case.

Once you've shaped it to size all you need to do is slot it in. No need for any glue, just use your iPhone to hold it in place.

You could also use the background colour of the wallpaper, the possibilities are endless. 

Another simple idea is using the designs to create Christmas decorations! Simply glue a peg, grip or even some string to hang your simple, yet beautiful diy decorations. I've just placed them on my tree, so you don't necessarily need any glue for this diy either.   

Lastly, a unique way to make your presents look even more personal, is to stick the prints onto the paper. I've just applied glue on the body of the butterfly to make it look more 3D. 

Hopefully you enjoyed these very simple crafts and look forward to remaking them at home. If you're looking to create your own crafts or you're in some need of some new wallpaper, head over to Harlequin, where you can also find fabric to get creative with. You can also request free samples to see what they look life before purchasing. 

LRM

Fever Collection Review

Fever Collection sent me a wig to review, they have beautiful lingerie available and a wide range of wigs. I received the black Khloe wig, which is a long curl wig with a centre parting. The wig fit well and looked realistic. The parting took some time to sort out as didn't look natural at first. But once I sorted it out, it looked decent. I found it hard to take a decent picture, they didn't do the wig justice. The colour was accurate and it's really easy to straighten etc. These wigs are obviously perfect for fancy dress. If you're also on the hunt for some pretty lingerie, take a look at their website. 

#BLOGMAS DAY 5 // Christmas Fancy Dress

Around this time of year there a number of parties to attend. Some may just be fancy dress parties! Smiffy's have a great christmas range and sent me an Angel costume to review, it's priced at £29.99. Angel wings, a halo, dress and belt are what'll you get. It's perfect for any dress up parties you may have, even office parties. Kids sizes are also available and there's a lot of collections to choose from. 

The Angel costume I received was of a better quality than I expected. When it comes to fancy dress costumes they tend to be on the tacky side. I've experienced with smithys they're a good quality and you'd expect that from the price. The dress fits perfectly and looks good altogether. Despite it being a christmas costume, you can definitely use it for other occasions. The wings fit well, not itchy at all, although some of the glitter does fall off. 

Get your costume in time for christmas here!

#BLOGMAS DAY 4 // DIY Christmas Decorations

You guys voted for today's blogmas post to be on diy christmas decorations, so here it is! Just a couple of easy diys to get creative. The first one is a very simple wreath. We got this one from B&M's and bought some 'cold white' battery powered lights. It's as simple as wrapping the lights around the wreath. You can obviously add what ever you like, such as holy, baubles, bells, ribbon and leaves. It all depends on your style and whether you prefer minimal or very detailed. 

We also bought a mirrored lantern which had been reduced. At first we put battery powered lights in it but it didn't look as good as we thought it would so instead we put a candle inside. I also has added a glittery kind of snow which makes it look more christmasy. I suppose this is diy, I put the candle in myself... Hopefully this will spark some more creative ideas than mine. Comment if you like any of it and if you have any diy ideas. 

LRM

#BLOGMAS DAY 3 // Christmas Cards

It's always nice to receive a lovely christmas card and Made With Love has some great designs for you to give to your loved ones. I've reviewed cards from Made With Love before and I absolutely adored them. The designs are very unique and pretty, they have a huge range, which is why they're the focus on today's #blogmas post! Their christmas card collection is so pretty;

Snowflake Winter Wonderland £9.95 

Each card is printed on a thick, pearly card, this card in particular is decorated with a blue satin ribbon, lace and a sparkly snowflake. You can also personalise the front of the card to make it just that bit more unique. The design is so pretty, I'm sure anyone would love to receive this card!

Vintage Robin £4.95

Have you seen a prettier card? It's very vintage inspired yet rather modern. This makes the perfect card for loved ones. As well as the detailed print, the card has a small blue bow and gold cluster. 

Tartan Ribbon Reindeer £4.95

This cute print is decorated with a traditional tartan ribbon and features a christmas greeting at the bottom. It's also worth mentioning all the cards come with envelopes and can be personalised. 

Pudding with Swarovski Crystal Berries £4.95

The last card I received was one with a simpler design than the others; also featuring a satin ribbon. All of the cards are so pretty, they're very luxurious which makes them worth the price. I think the cards speak for themselves. If you'd like to buy some, or just have a browse at their collections, click here. 

#BLOGMAS DAY 2 // Christmas Playlist

I've combined some of my favourite Christmas songs with some classics to create the ultimate Christmas playlist. All available on Spotify for you to listen to on the lead up to Christmas!

1. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas // Michael Buble 
2. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree // Brenda Lee
3. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! // Frank Sinatra 
4. Sleigh Ride // Ella Fitzgerald
5. Jingle Bell Rock // Bobby Helms
6. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) // Darlene Love
7. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year // Andy Williams
8. White Christmas // The Drifters 
9. We Wish You A Merry Christmas // The Vamps
10. The Polar Express // Tom Hank
11. Somewhere Only We Know // Lily Allen
12. Do You Want To Build A Snowman? // Kristen Bell
13. Mis Deseos/Feliz Navidad // Michael Buble and Thalia

Comment below your favourite christmas songs; you can find this playlist on Spotify.

LRM

#BLOGMAS DAY 1 // CHRISTMAS WISHLIST

Can you believe it's already December? This Christmas I'm taking part in #blogmas, uploading daily will be a challenge for me as I'm so busy, but it'll be fun! If you're taking part too, be sure to link your blog below, feel free to share ideas. Day one is a Christmas wishlist, hopefully this will give you some ideas on what to gift and maybe even to add to your own wishlist.

Here's just a few of the things I'm wishing for this Christmas;

1. Chanel Precious Beige 661

2. Chanel Adrienne

3. Chloe Eau de Parfum

4. Magnitone Daily Face Brush

5. Origins Drink Up Intensive

6. Estee Lauder The Make Up Artist Collection

7. Velvet Lace Bra

8. Faux Suede and Leather Skirt

BOOK REVIEW // I AM MALALA

I AM MALALA

I come from a country that was created at midnight. When I almost died it was just after midday.

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive. 

Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

I Am Malala is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.

I Am Malala will make you believe in the power of one person's voice to inspire change in the world.

It's obvious Malala is an inspiration. I mean she won a Nobel Prize! However, the book took ages to get anywhere and I didn't really warm to her - maybe it was because I couldn't relate? Her courage to stand up to Taliban, her enthusiasm towards education and honesty about home life is what I admire most. To read how everything happened is just unbelievable; a Taliban leader jumped onto their school bus and shouted "Who is Malala?", no one answered, but many gazed right at her which made it so obvious. The Taliban fighter then shot her point-blank in the head! All for speaking about her God-given right to attend school! There are so many shocking moments in this book, I can only imagine how horrific it all was. You really get an insight to what went on. If you're someone who finds themselves reading a lot of fiction, or not reading at all, this is a perfect book to pick up. It's inspiring and honestly makes you realise how privileged you are. If you have read this, let me know in the comments what you thought of it?!

LRM

CHIDEM MOISTURE THERAPY HYDRATION CRÈME REVIEW

CHIDEM MOISTURE THERAPY Hydration Crème £37

This Hydration Crème promises to rejuvenate and hydrate dull, tired and sun damaged skin. It also aims to improve complexion and help tone skin to create a fresh healthy appearance. CHIDEM have skin products available for all skin types, this particular product is made for normal to very dry skin, including sensitive.   

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WHAT I LOVE:

It moisturised my skin well and left it looking more radiant. I had a few dry patches on my hands and the day after I applied it, they were gone! I'm glad I got this just in time for winter, it's going to repair and even prevent my skin from any dry patches. I really like the packaging too, it's very sleek and the ingredients: Chamomile, Honey, Shea and Pumpkin Seed are a rather unique combination to me. 

WHAT I HATE:

My least favourite thing about this product is the colour of the actual hydration crème, it's a pale yellow colour. I just think it would be more appealing if it was white or a creamy colour. That being said, the colour may be due to the natural products in it? 

Over all I'd say this is a high quality product that will instantly improve any dry skin and add radiance, maintaining a healthy glow. 

Available here

Next Wish List

Next is always bringing us beautiful home furnishings and fashionable clothing; this season is no exception. Christmas is upon us and it's time to start creating our wishlists, if you haven't done so already that is! I thought I'd share with you a quick wishlist featuring some lovely new additions to next, including christmas decorations, party outfits and cosy clothing.

£200 Woodland Fir Tree

£7 Decorations

£38 Sock Ankle Boots

£48 Sequin Cami Dress

£80 Faux Fur Parka

£32 Cargo Trousers

£38 Ankle Boots

£65 Scarf

£22 Leggings

£24 Glass

£75 Coat

£80 Throw