Blogmas ideas 2015

So I've deiced to do Blogmas and during my creative brain storming session I came up with waaaaay more ideas that I needed/I could possibly write in one month of blogging so here's some ideas I might not get around to writing but you definitely should!

A festive themed throwback Thursday collection of photos.
Is your Christmas tree colour co-ordinated and Pinterest perfect, filled with handmade decorations or do you collect baubles from all over the world?
What was the best gift you received as a child?
Create your own naughty or nice list of celebrities or characters from your favorite book or TV series.
Re-gifting.. do you do it? Do frown upon it?
The best things about being single at Christmas are..
The best things about being loved up at Christmas are..
DIY a Christmas gift following and show us how it turned out.
Ever spent Christmas in a different country? Share your experience.

Share your Christmas music playlist.
Are you a gift wrapping extraordinaire or utterly hopeless? Show us the evidence.
Share a festive family recipe or try out a Nigella special.
The best Christmas you've had.
The worst Christmas you've had.
My Christmas Eve/Day routine.
What's on your list to Santa?
Are you a Scrouge? Why?
DIY Christmas cards.
Snap the decorations in your local town and share them in a photo only post.

How is Blogmas going so far? What have you learned from daily blogging?
Try a tradition from another country/culture and document your experience
Top 10 things about Christmas
Share some money saving tips or budget gift guides
Got a Christmas bucket list? Share it.
What are your favourite Christmas TV specials of all time?
Are your parents separated? How did this affect Christmas as a child?
Share your office party outfit
Or better.. your office party confessions!
If you work over Christmas - especially in retail- share your thoughts on it.

Are you taking part in Blogmas?
Make sure you follow me on Bloglovin so you don't miss a post!

ox Lucy

Christmas Gifts for the Career Focused

I've included two Neom Candles - one that claims to focus the mind and one to aide relaxation. Either one would make the perfect gift but the two together would go nicely - one for the daytime and one for the evening perhaps. 

Kate Spade offer this beautiful leather iPad case with a bluetooth keyboard. They're available in a variety of colours but this bright geranium shade makes such a statement. 

Every girl needs a watch right? It's one of those gifts you can't really go wrong with. Especially this Oliva Burton one that will compliment any outfit. 

Bando have some of the most adorable practical gifts - my favourite is this portable iPhone charger.

#GIRLBOSS has to be one of the books of 2015. I've seen it tweeted about and instagrammed so many times. It's enough to inspire those just starting out on their career path.

We all need stationery. Cute paper clips would make a perfect stocking filler for somebody starting their own business and handling their own admin. I found these metallic ones at a steal on eBay.

Granace Dore is the place to buy chic, simplistic desk accessories. I fell in love with the Parisienne feel of this notepad and desk top calendar.

Need I say any more about this letter rack and in-tray? Bravo Paperchase, Bravo!

Finally, This Works' answer to helping us get a good night's rest. Their sleep aides have been raved about over and over again and their 2015 gift set contains everything a girl (or guy) could need after a hard day's work.

Would you buy any of these? Who for?

ox Lucy

Instalife

Ah Instagram, my one true love. There's something about this time of year that sees me wasting spending countless hours on social media. I blame the cold evenings and rainy Sunday afternoons. Instagram is always a favourite of mine though and I'm already sprinkling in some festive snaps along side my foodie shots, and on the go lifestyle pics. Here's what I've been up to lately.

From top left.. 100 DAYS TIL NEW YORK!!! // I painted children's nails at the local Christmas fair this weekend // I also dressed up as an Elf for the occasion and unbeknown to me so did my brother in law! // Mockigjay part 2 left me a little meh last week // sauces at one of my new favourite Manchester eateries // 50% of Mondays called for a feast of delicious food and cocktails // standard Christmas market selfie // sliders and fries // this emoji wall in Primark needs to be in my bedroom right now!

Like I said, Instagram is my fave so feel free to leave your link below so I can follow.

ox Lucy

Christmas Gift Guide for the Film/TV Buff

Hunger Games Cookbook // Paper Towns Artwork // Central Perk Travel Mug // Big Bang Theory Trivial Pursuit // Star Wars Bauble // Douchebag Journal // PLL Sweater // Simpson's Masks // Gossip Girl Notebook // Downton Abbey Mug // Gogglebox Shower Set // Harry Potter Art

ox Lucy

Paperchase haul - Planner stickers and washi tape

If you've seen my planner posts recently then you'll know I've become a little obsessed with stickers and washi tape. It all started when I was watching videos of various planners on YT trying to decide which one was right for me. I fell into the planning community and discovered a whole new world.

I'd only been buying supplies from eBay and etsy and totally overlooked Paperchase because I tend to view it as overpriced if I'm honest. That being said I decided to pop in one evening after work and came away with a few bits that were well priced and unique. 

These fast food stickers are actually scented. I'm regretting not giving them a quick sniff in the shop because the smell is disgusting. That being said I'll use these to mark out fast food Fridays in my planner - it's my treat at the end of the week if I've eaten healthily.

here.

I can envisage a cute autumnal woodland theme inspired by these stickers. I love their simple, artsy vibe.

here.

Glitter? check. Polka dots? check. Need I say anymore?

here.

Ooooh so festive. I came across this pack of four in the Christmas section which was just magical. I love the quirky robin, owl and penguin illustrations, that's what swayed me towards this set. I'll use this for a themed planner week but also use it in replace of sellotape when wrapping some gifts this year. It'll add a nice quirky touch. 

Are you washi/sticker obsessed like me?
ox Lucy

5 First World Problems I've Complained About This Week

ONE.Starbucks' Christmas drinks started before Costa Coffee's. Costa's are my favourite.. pass me a black forest hot chocolate please!

TWO.I couldn't find my Tangle Teezer and had to use a regular hair brush like I'm some sort of peasant - I swear it never used to be THAT painful to brush out knots.

THREE.Charging my iPod overnight only to find I hadn't turned the switch on at the wall.

FOUR.Having to walk to work without listening to said iPod and instead listening to the real life early morning hustle and bustle around me. Beeping horns and strangers' chit chat < my Disney playlist.

FIVE.I found that one spot at my work desk where I can get full phone signal only to be told the very next day I was told I'll be moving desks.

If I'm completely honest, I could have written 100 of these and that makes me somewhat disappointed in myself. Maybe next week I'll strive to overlook these sorts of problems that aren't really problems at all. At the very most they're slight inconveniences. Please tell me you're guilty of this too. What first world problems have you had this week?

ox Lucy

Miss Patisserie - Queen of Hearts Bath Bake

When I'm looking to buy a bath bomb for myself I must admit I look no further than my local Lush store. Whilst using up my bath bombs recently I found this little beauty from Miss Patisserie lingering at the back of my drawer and decided to give it a go. Queen of Hearts is a cupcake style bath bake and comes complete with a mound of red 'frosting', glitter and a small red heart to top it off. 

I was pleasantly surprised to find the frosting like topping is actually a gentle exfoliating body scrub whilst the bottom half of the bath bake is the actual bath bomb. I haven't seen this done before but I absolutely love the concept. 

The bath bomb smells beautifully sweet with slight floral scents to it. I'm always hopeless at describing scents but the website tells me it's filled with citrus zest and blackcurrant notes. The water turned a lovely muted purple colour - it reminded me of those Palma Violet sweets.

At £4.50 I wouldn't use one everyday but for a weekly treat or special pamper night they are perfect. That being said, the price point isn't that dissimilar to Lush but with this one you get the added extra of the body scrub. 

You can expect to see these in my Christmas gift guides coming up this month. What alternatives to Lush have you found?

ox Lucy

Weekly Planner #2 London UK Theme

 

With Bonfire Night and Remembrance Sunday this week I thought it was only fitting to go patriotic. Once again the London themed stickers are from The Plump Planner and the red washi tape is part of this adorable Christmas set from Paperchase. I love this London sticker set and I've saved some for my next weekend in the Capital. The Big Ben stickers will be great for New Year's eve too. 

I really struggle to find unique stickers from UK sellers and the ones from the US seem to come with hefty postage costs. I'd love some recommendations.

ox Lucy