Until recently, I was always a jeans and nice top kind of person at most occasions, but recently I decided to try something new - a mini skirt, which now happens to be one of my favourite outfit choices!
I often wear this outfit with flats and minus the rings so it definitely makes a perfect day-today outfit. But when paired with some chunky heels, a bit of bling and a leather jacket, it also makes a really cute party outfit!
What will you be wearing to Christmas parties this season?
I often wear this outfit with flats and minus the rings so it definitely makes a perfect day-today outfit. But when paired with some chunky heels, a bit of bling and a leather jacket, it also makes a really cute party outfit!
What will you be wearing to Christmas parties this season?
"Make more time for reading!"
Honestly, I'm sad to say this hasn't really happened! I was focused on A-Levels until June, and I didn't really do as much reading as I'd hoped over Summer! I'm now an English Literature student so I do read a lot! But the reading lists are so demanding, I haven't been able to read a book of my choice in months!
"Put more effort into school!"
I definitely managed this - I finished A-Levels with grades AAB. I was unbelievably devastated by the B (perks of being a geek), but I got into my firm choice uni on a course I love and looking back, I did my best and ended up with really good grades!
"Eat healthier!"
Last January, I thought I was eating healthier, but in reality, I was doing something I used to do all the time, restricting my calorie intake a crazy amount and interpreting rapid weight loss as health! Over the course of this year I've finally been able to put really unhealthy habits that I've had since I was 13 behind me! I may not be clean eating, but I definitely have a healthier relationship with food now!
"Become a vegetarian (again)!"
"Become a vegetarian (again)!"
I'm very happy to report that I have easily managed to stick to this resolution! I've also done lots of research into the animal agriculture industry and have become very passionate about animal rights! I can safely say I'll never be eating a dead animal again!
"Start swimming more regularly!"
Aside from on my holiday this Summer, I've only been swimming a few times. But I do now go to the gym regularly so, I guess I did achieve the real motivation behind this resolution which was to get fitter!
How did you get on with your 2015 resolutions?
"Start swimming more regularly!"
Aside from on my holiday this Summer, I've only been swimming a few times. But I do now go to the gym regularly so, I guess I did achieve the real motivation behind this resolution which was to get fitter!
How did you get on with your 2015 resolutions?
1. The decorations! I'm a bit of a magpie so when December comes around and suddenly everything is sparkly, I'm in my element.
2. The songs, they may be cheesy, and predominantly from the 80s but they're catchy and I love them.
3. The films! Elf, The Grinch, Muppet's Christmas Carol... You name it, I guarantee I love it!
4. The calendar(s)! This year I may (definitely) have 3 calendars - but hey, it's the only time of year when chocolate at breakfast is acceptable so I'm making the most of it!
5. The jumpers! Christmas is the only time of year when a wacky jumper is an acceptable fashion choice and I love it!
6. The Christmas specials - even the reruns of episodes from years ago! And yes, I am one of those people who watches all of the soaps on Christmas Day!
7. All the chocolate.
8. The lights. Personally, I think streets and shopping centres should be decked out with fairy lights all year long - it looks so much nicer!
9. Christmas trees - we put ours up at the earliest possible date so we could enjoy it for as long as possible!
10. The candles, they smell amazing, what's not to love?
What are your favourite things about Christmas?
Last year, rather devastatingly, I was Christmas jumper-less (cue violins). My boyfriend on the other hand had a huge collection of festive jumpers and I was super jealous, so this year I was determined to get in on the Christmas jumper fun!
I opted for some extraordinarily garish jumpers and some more subtle ones and it's safe to say I love them all! I also managed to get my hands on a few of my favourites from Jay's collection!
I'm definitely planning to expand the collection next year! Do you have any Christmas jumpers?
I used to love painting my nails and I could never resist a bit of glitter, but since starting my current job, I've had to stop wearing nail varnish (sob). But last week when I noticed my mum's freshly painted festive nails, I just had to paint my own - it is Christmas after all!
I opted for two gorgeous Barry M shades, blueberry and diamond glitter. Though they're not expressly Christmassy shades, the sparkle is certainly festive and I think they have a bit of an icy, wintery theme.
What have you done with your nails this Christmas?
I opted for two gorgeous Barry M shades, blueberry and diamond glitter. Though they're not expressly Christmassy shades, the sparkle is certainly festive and I think they have a bit of an icy, wintery theme.
What have you done with your nails this Christmas?
I absolutely adore Christmas jumpers, but sometimes, a loud, garish,festive number just isn't the right outfit choice (sadly). Last Christmas, my mum bought me a jumper that's perfect for these occasions! It's sparkly and dressy so it's party season ready but it's much smarter than your typical Christmas jumper!
I wore this outfit to my step dad's 50th birthday meal. It was the perfect outfit choice as it wasn't really a dress occasion, so a smart top and jeans seemed a good decision! Though this could quite easily be a casual everyday outfit, I dressed it up a little with some chunky heeled ankle boots and my Pandora rings!
Do you have any smart Christmas jumpers?
- This week the first semester of university finished - yay! Because universities don't have half term holidays, I was expecting the first semester to last forever but it actually flew by! Honestly, I didn't really enjoy the first few weeks of the semester but as I found my feet and made some really good friends I actually began to really enjoy it - I am glad of the break though!
- I've been indulging in festive treats maybe a little too much recently, but hey, there are only a few weeks in the year when it's totally acceptable to pig out so I'm making the most of it! I'm not being totally unhealthy though as I am keeping up with the gym.
- As I had Saturday off work, Jay and I decided to have a festive day! We both wore Christmas jumpers, watched films, ate quality street and did some festive baking aka my idea of a perfect day!
- To finish off the week, my family went out for a meal to celebrate my stepdad's birthday as he's going to be 50 on Tuesday! We went to a really nice pub and though their vegetarian options were a bit limited, it was the perfect end to a great week!
I've made the most of a relaxing week and as there are now less than two weeks till Christmas(!!) stress levels are sure to go up from here on out! What have you been up to this week?
- A Christmas playlist is an absolute essential! I've been perfecting my Spotify playlist since October and I've been playing it practically non stop! There's nothing like a bit of cheesy festive music to get you in the Christmas spirit!
- Christmas movies! My to-watch-list gets bigger every year but Elf is always up there, along with The Nativity and The Muppets Christmas Carol!
- Plenty of snacks, because what's a Christmas movie without popcorn and hot chocolate?!
- Baking is always fun but festive baking is even better, the house smells lovely and Christmassy and of course you end up with even more snacks to eat. If you can't pig out at Christmas, when can you?
- Cosy pyjamas are a lazy day essential, and there's nothing I love more than curling up by the fire to watch a Christmas movie in my fluffy onesie - bliss!
What are your festive day essentials?
I don't think I'm alone in having an annual Christmas bucket list (of sorts) - we all have festive traditions that Christmas just wouldn't be complete without - here are mine!
- Attempting to try all of the limited edition drinks in Starbucks and Costa. This is definitely easier said than done - Starbucks don't tend to have too many options whereas Costa's list is growing by the year! I've already dedicated a blogmas post to my Costa favourites this year!
- Watching Elf (about 300 times).
- Christmas PJs! This is possibly my favourite Christmassy tradition as its one that's lasted since I was a little girl. Last year I sported a red and white reindeer number (and I loved it)!
- The German Market! I'm lucky that Leeds has a great German Market that I visit several times each December - though the downside to such a great market is the unavoidable crowds. But I am prepared to battle any crowd to get my hands on the candied nuts that are sold every year!
- A festive family day in the days before Christmas! This year's is scheduled for the 23rd and I cant wait! There's movies, board games, bucks fizz and of course delicious food (thank you marks and spencers)!
- The Christmas TV guide! In my house, my mum gets the Radio Times while the rest of us are left with a cheaper version! There's nothing I love more than reading through the Christmas TV guide and selecting all of the soaps, specials and movies Iwant need to watch over the Christmas period!
- Attempting to try all of the limited edition drinks in Starbucks and Costa. This is definitely easier said than done - Starbucks don't tend to have too many options whereas Costa's list is growing by the year! I've already dedicated a blogmas post to my Costa favourites this year!
- Watching Elf (about 300 times).
- Christmas PJs! This is possibly my favourite Christmassy tradition as its one that's lasted since I was a little girl. Last year I sported a red and white reindeer number (and I loved it)!
- The German Market! I'm lucky that Leeds has a great German Market that I visit several times each December - though the downside to such a great market is the unavoidable crowds. But I am prepared to battle any crowd to get my hands on the candied nuts that are sold every year!
- A festive family day in the days before Christmas! This year's is scheduled for the 23rd and I cant wait! There's movies, board games, bucks fizz and of course delicious food (thank you marks and spencers)!
- The Christmas TV guide! In my house, my mum gets the Radio Times while the rest of us are left with a cheaper version! There's nothing I love more than reading through the Christmas TV guide and selecting all of the soaps, specials and movies I
What are your Christmas traditions?
I currently live with my boyfriend and his family and we actually put our tree up in the last weekend of November! Some might say it was too early but we say it was just well prepared!
The tree at our house is lovely but in my opinion nothing ever compares to my mum's trees! She always has two trees, a traditional red and white one and another more colourful pink, purple and turquoise one! They're both gorgeous but my favourite has to be the red and white as it just screams Christmas!
This is first year that I wasn't at my mum's to decorate the trees so I was really excited to go round and see them - they definitely didn't disappoint!
Does your Christmas tree have a theme?