What I got for Christmas 2017

I absolutely love reading and watching Christmas hauls so I thought I would take the opportunity to post mine. It’s a shame that these posts need a disclaimer – I am by no means bragging about what I received. I love sharing what I got and hope it inspires people if they are stuck for gift ideas for birthdays throughout the year. I have not included every single item because I think I would be here all day showing you my socks but I appreciated every single gift. As per last year, I have not mentioned who bought me every little thing, just the odd few people I can link to.

People know I love food and drink so I love getting little gifts that I can devour! The diet goes out the window over Christmas so I enjoy treats guilt free. I didn’t get as many food items this year compared to last, in a way that is good as I have a wedding dress to get into for 2018! I also got some wine and prosecco which I was pleased about, and I will probably have a glass or 2 of these on New Year’s Eve! I also got some lovely mugs including a Banham Zoo Travel mug - amazing! Me and James also got a Tastecard subscription as a gift which means plenty of half price meals, and an excuse to go out more!

I love getting smellies and things I can pamper myself with so I was very thankful to receive these gifts. I also pestered James for face wipes for months and months and thankfully he got the hint as I always run out this time of year!

I received a few bits for the home too including a mustard cushion and throw which are going to go perfectly on our new grey chair that we are buying with a voucher we got for The Range! I also got a Philadelphia cookbook which has some amazing recipes in. My stepmum also made us the jar with lights in, it matches the living room so I am looking forward to being able to get full use out of this next Christmas. 


I received a few random gifts that don't fit into a category which I will share with you below. Firstly I got a crochet needle, some woo and a book. I have started to attempt to knit a scarf but I haven't quite got the hang of it yet. Looking forward to learning! I also got a love island phone case which I love and have been waiting to put it on after taking these photos! I didn't receive an apple watch but I did get a new strap for it which is a lovely colour and my old one was getting rather tatty. James also got mr a clip on light ring for my phone, it really has made a difference in my selfies!

I received a few wearable items such as some lovely pyjamas, a scarf, frenchie wellies (you can sort of see them in the background) socks and a necklace. My favourite gift was this beautiful winter floral hairpiece which my mum got me for my wedding next year. I spotted it on etsy and think it will go perfectly with our wedding theme!

Last but not least, I got this box called the 'Christie Loves Box' from Kim at Romanovs Views which was packed with goodies. You will have to wait until my next post to see what's inside as I think it deserves an entire post on its own!

A massive thank you to everyone that bought me a present. I am sorry I could not feature every single thing, mainly because I have started using it and couldn't wait before taking a photo! Please link me your 'What I Got For Christmas' posts and videos, I'd love to take a look.

Homemade Jelly Sweets Recipe - feat. Titch & Cable*

I love sweet treats and chocolate and this time of the year it is hard to avoid the temptation. With Christmas right around the corner I have been looking at healthier alternative ways to get my sugar fix in and this is where my homemade jelly sweets came into play. I have been making these ‘sweets’ for a while now and they are fantastic if you want to save some calories (and your teeth!). Being on slimming world, this is a recipe that I have discovered over the years and tweaked to make delicious chewy sweets, keep reading to find out more.

I recently found out about a new company called Titch & Cable and I was surprised at the wonderful range of items available on their website. I found this mini jelly baby mould for just £7.95 and I knew it would be absolutely perfect for my homemade sweets, as well as lots of other things such as homemade chocolates and funky ice cubes that I know will be loved by people of all ages. The mould is made from a high grade silicone and is oven, freezer and microwave safe. My order arrived via DPD which is great for me as they text you when your parcel is going to be delivered so if you’re not going to be there you can then choose to have it delivered to a neighbour or DPD pickup point. Spend over £60 and next working day delivery is free if you’re in the UK.

Ingredients:
2 Sachets of Sugar Free Jelly Powder
2 Sachets of Powdered Gelatin (Vegetarian alternative can also be used)
1 Muller Light Yoghurt
½ Pint of Boiling Water
Silicone Mould

Method
Firstly add the gelatin powder and the jelly crystals to the boiling water and stir well. Pour half of this mixture into your silicone mould and pop in the fridge to set until firm. I usually give it an hour.

Once the first part has set, mix the remaining jelly/gelatin mix with your muller light and then pour this into your mould on top of the jelly. Pop back in the fridge to completely set. Once set you can then take these out of the mould. As the mould is silicone, the sweets are really easy to remove without altering them in any way. I couldn’t believe how perfect they came out. I used to put the mixture into a pyrex dish and then cut into squares which was so messy, however my new mould has been amazing and there was a lot less cleaning to do.

This whole serving made a total of 24 sweets and works out at just 3 syns for a batch (if following slimming world) or less than 250 calories for the lot. They last in the fridge for up to a week if you haven’t eaten them all by then of course.



Titch & Cable are passionate about providing their customers with a good experience and choose the suppliers that they partner with carefully to ensure products are ethically sourced. I thought the prices of the products were very reasonable and if you’re looking for a great Christmas gift there is something for everyone from kitchenware, tableware, linen and gifts. I think another amazing thing about this company is that they have partnered with Compassion, a Christian child development organisation. A portion of their profits are helping to build kitchens in Sri Lanka, ensuring children have safe, nutritious meals.

Overall, these sweets went down a storm with everyone who tried them and I cannot wait to whip up another batch. I am going to try chocolates next so keep an eye out for a future post on those. If you’d like to find out more about the products available from Titch & Cable, head over to their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Christmas Gift Guide - Collaboration with Contrado*

Ever wanted to create your own Christmas jumper or garment? Looking for a gift that would suit those who “have it all”? When I was contacted by the company Contrado, I was intrigued as to what they had to offer. The company Contrado is a creative customised printing company that collaborates with artists and designers.



I went on the website and saw that you can literally design and customise almost everything. From pyjamas to hoodies, jackets and leggings as well as home ware items such as tea towels. I thought it would be quite apt to design a Christmas jumper seeing as this product was going to be shown off in my Christmas Gift Guide. Contrado are experts at printing, especially on fabrics. I loaded up the website and couldn’t believe how easy it was to choose a design. You could change the colour of the arms, front and back of the jumper with ease. There was an option to add text, clipart or your own images to the garment.

Their products are sustainable and do not print using water. I decided to design my jumper using Photoshop. I simply cut out photos of my cat, added Christmas hats, snowflakes and then made sure the background colour matched the colour I had chosen for the jumper on the website then saved this as a JPG file. I then added the image to the jumper and cropped it to make sure it fit on the front. It looked amazing on the website when it was designed. This cost just over £50. When the jumper arrived, I was nervous to open it. I had hoped it met my expectations after seeing the preview on the website.

I needn't have worried as the jumper was even better than I expected. I have received many compliments on the jumper and when people realise it is actually my very own cat on the front they can't quite believe it! I have even had people say they want their own ones done with their pets! If you too are intrigued by what fantastic gifts you can create, head over to Contrado - you won't regret it!

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

What I got for Christmas 2016

Christmas hauls are one of my favourite posts around this time of year and I love reading blog posts about them and seeing them on Youtube. It’s a shame that these posts need a disclaimer – I am by no means bragging about what I received. I love sharing what I got and hope it inspires people if they are stuck for gift ideas for birthdays throughout the year. I have not included every single item because I think I would be here all day showing you my socks but I appreciated every single gift. As per last year, I have not mentioned who bought me every little thing, just the odd few people I can link to. Money was tight this year after moving out so thank you to those that bought me a gift despite me not being able to go all out on others, I really appreciate it.

Here is just some of the food items I received this Christmas and I have been chowing down! I always relax my diet over Christmas so I have certainly been making my way through this pile of treats. I think some of these were for both me and James so at least I'll have a little bit of help with them! I love the biscuits I got in the adorable pastel tin. James bought me some a couple of years ago and I wanted one in every colour but he never bought me any more so I was so pleased than Kelly added another colour to my collection. Now I have an excuse to buy more!

Another gift I enjoyed receiving this year was a good book. Crafting with cat hair has to be the most random of them all - thanks Jack and Chloe. I received a lovely recipe book from Bethany, James' mum got me an interior design book and one from my favourite authors Linwood Barclay and the others James picked up for me. I also received a book called "is your cat gay?". Random but funny.

I received some lovely jewellery pieces this year including a brand new Fitbit Flex 2 in lavender. After having my old one break on me a couple of weeks before Christmas, I was so pleased to unwrap this gift from James. I also got a personalised cactus necklace with my name on from Kim which is adorable - I love it. I received the Christmas themed cat Pandora charm from my mum and last but not least this lovely friendship bracelet from Kelly. I love the teal beading, it goes really well with the silver.

When it came to beauty products this year, this gorgeous Too Face palette really did trump the lot! I cannot believe Kim got it for me and I couldn't have expected a nicer gift. The mascara is amazing (better than sex as they say!) and the colour pay off from the palette is fantastic. I had an eye infection over Christmas so had to wait a few days to use this but it was worth the wait. I also received my favourite Urban Decay primer potion and some beautiful cosmetics from the Vintage & Co including lovely bath roses and a lip butter which has been a lifesaver in these cold times.

It might be worth mentioning another gift, my fairy light curtain which you can see in the background! This is now a permanent feature in my 'office' so stay tuned for more twinkly light photo backdrops!

I received a few home-ware bits, some of my favourites include the VelvetGhost lights from Primark which match my bedding and new bedroom decor so I am very pleased with those. We also received a paella kit so that is something I will be trying in the new year.

Last but not least there is the random stuff. I love random things! Some of the random gifts I got include, a zorbing voucher for me and James, an Omelette maker (awesome!), some dollars for America, a cat pinball machine, socks and onion goggles!

A massive thank you to everyone that bought me a present. I am sorry I could not feature every single thing, mainly because I have started using it and couldn't wait before taking a photo! Please link me your 'What I Got For Christmas' posts and videos, I'd love to take a look.

My Little Christmas Box

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Well it certainly felt like it when I received this month’s Christmas themed My Little Box. As soon as I opened it I was greeted with a delicious fruity candy cane and I knew this box was going to be an absolute winner. Packed full to the brim with treats, this has to be the best box yet.

The first item I looked at and forgot to take a photo of can be see below and is little bottle contains the Courreges Hyperbole eau de Parfum  which retails at €72 per 50ml. This is said to be a deeply feminine fragrance with a slight masculine edge. I think this is a nice scent, one that lasts on the skin for a while which I like. The sample size is perfect for popping in my handbag for when I need a quick spritz, but I am not sure I would purchase the full sized version. 

The first thing I saw when I opened my box was this Kusmi tea in limited edition Tsarenva blend. This black tea is flavoured with orange and spices and smells like mulled wine and Christmas all rolled into a cup. At £24.80 for a 200g metal tin, this would be the perfect gift for tea lovers this Christmas, and beyond. I love all flavoured teas so when I finally found my tea strainer and tried this I thought it was a very interesting and delicious blend that I can’t wait to drink over the festive period.

My favourite item in this box was the Tiptree Essex Salted Caramel Spread. This retails at £2.49 for 210g and is made with fresh cream, golden syrup and a pinch of salt. This is an item I will definitely be repurchasing. I dipped chocolate fingers into this small pot of joy and it was the perfect naughty treat – although I did feel a bit sick afterwards. This spread would be perfect drizzled onto pancakes or waffles and I will be buying another tub in order for me to experiment on how to eat this.

I then received the Amande Shower Oil by L'occitane. This oil transforms into foam when in contact with water. Enriched with almond oil, this smells lovely. Having a shower with this oil makes the whole experience feel very luxurious and my skin is left feeling soft and nourished.

This Winter Morning Candle in Icy Mornings smells lovely but doesn't give off a huge scent when burning. I love the little wooden lid that came with it. The design is simple which works for me as I can comfortable have this in any room and it will instantly match the décor. Unfortunately I do not know the RRP of this item as it was not included in the box.

This month we received a jewellery item in the form of this Gold coloured bangle with red stripe. Perfect for the festive season the red and gold will go well with my Christmas outfits however I can’t see myself wearing this all year. I am not usually one for wearing a lot of gold which is a shame as a lot of the jewellery we have received so far from My Little Box has been gold. I’d like to see some silver coloured items in the new year please!

The My Little Beauty item this month was this gorgeous Christmas Melody - Duo Smoky Eye palette. One shade is Shimmery Taupe, the other a Deep Chestnut. Both are really nice shades for the festive season and perfect for blending into a smoky eye. Both colours are buildable and last on the eye all day without creating any fallout.

What do you think of this box? To sign up for yourself, head over to the My Little Box website.

Stylish Christmas Cards - Feat. Hammond Gower*

Christmas is a time for giving and even if you don’t have a lot of money it is always lovely to be able to pass out some Christmas cards. I was recently contacted by Hammond Gower to sample some of their beautiful cards on my blog in time for Christmas. Hammond Gower was founded nearly 30 years ago and have now branched out to online sales. There is a new product on their website nearly every week!

 

If you’re looking for some unique cards to send then I can definitely vouch for Hammond Gower, their beautiful cards are unlike any I have seen on the high street. The designs are hand finished and each has a thoughtful message inside to bring festive cheer to all who receives one. The detail on the cards is beautiful. A pack of 8 cards starts from £5.49 and larger packs are available and each card is 6”x6” in size. The quality is really good too and they all come with a suitable sized envelope. 

 

The last recommended posting dates for 2016 are as follows:

UK Inland Services

Tuesday 20 December - 2nd Class and Royal Mail Signed For®

Wednesday 21 December - 1st Class and Royal Mail Signed For®

Thursday 22 December - Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed®

There are so many designs to choose from, you are bound to find something perfect. All of my cards are written now so expect to receive a lovely Hammond Gower card very soon. Please head over to the Hammond Gower  website to see the full range available.

*I received these cards free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Snapfish Personalised Christmas Gifts*

I’ve had a few chances to work with Snapfish this year and I am very grateful for the opportunities. When I was contacted to showcase some more personalised Christmas gifts, I jumped at the chance to create some really exciting Christmas goods!

You can’t go wrong with a festive mug. There are plenty of colour options available and I decided red would really fit in with the festive season.  There are new designs, embellishments and plenty of text options can be used on the mugs to create something really unique and special. I used some of the photos from my festive photo-shoot and added some Christmas themed embellishments. Gift this to someone stuffed full of hot chocolate sachets and marshmallows for the perfect gift. These cost just £8.99.

I never knew that Snapfish sold Personalised Christmas Round Acrylic Ornaments so I took the opportunity to purchase one of these too using one of my festive photos. I love how unique this looks on my tree and I think I will have to start a tradition and get one done every year now! The image is glossy on one side and matte on the other so you can use it both ways if you don’t have any text included. You can add any photo you like. The photo is placed underneath a round piece of acrylic keeping it well protected and the image is clear and easy to see.

I ordered a selection of 7”x5” greetings cards which I could then personalise myself. Prices start at just 75p. There were so many Christmas templates to choose from and the cards were very reasonably priced. Me and  James took a few Christmas themed family photos beforehand, cracking out the festive jumper and accessories especially for the photos on the cards. I even got my cat involved and added him to a few of the cards too. Customising the templates was so easy to do. I chose a design I liked from the huge range of cards available then swapped out the template photos for my own. I was then able to change the text on the front of the card, and add text on the inside too. There was also the option of adding photos inside the card which I think is a nice touch. The quality is really good and each card comes complete with an envelope ready for you to send to your recipient.

To get your own personalised Christmas gifts, head over to the Snapfish website. Keep an eye out for fantastic deals and offers.

*I received these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Christmas Spectacular - Potters Resort Press Evening*

I love everything about Christmas so when I was invited to the Potters Resort Christmas Spectacular I couldn’t wait to see what it was all about. Located in Hopton, Norfolk, Potters Resort is less than 30 miles from my home and takes less than an hour to get to. I can tell you now it was well worth the trip! I was kindly invited to the press event by Danielle who greeted me on arrival and spent the evening making sure everything was ok.

We arrived at 6:30pm for a drinks reception. James was driving so on arrival I took a glass of champagne which was swiftly replaced when I’d finished it! James took an orange juice. We mingled with the other guests and members of the Potter family until it was time to be seated for our meal. The tables were laid out with a festive theme and place names. I was sat next to Danielle and James.

At 7pm we were seated for our five course dinner with selected wines. I apologise now for the photos, I didn’t feel it necessary to take my full sized camera so these have all been taken with my phone. We were served a starter of Parsnip and Apple soup which was really nice and served hot with a bread roll and butter. The service was really good, we were all given our meals at the same time and the empty plates were promptly taken away when we had finished. I washed my meal down with some white wine which was really nice and again, refilled as soon as it was empty!

The second course, another starter was then served. We had a choice of three dishes, I went for the Confit Chicken and Mango Salad with a Coronation Dressing which was really tasty and not too bulky. James had Smoked Salmon and another lady on the table went for the third option, a Cheese Soufflé which looked liked it had risen to perfection.

For our main courses we had four options including a carvery. This looked really fresh and lovely but after having a lot of leftover turkey I opted for something else. I originally asked the waiter for the fish but he misheard me and I was served the Grilled Aubergine, Beetroot and Walnut Filo Pastry Stack. I didn’t mind at all, it was delicious and something I have never had before. James went for a Breaded Pork Fillet which he polished off so I assume it was nice!

For dessert there was a large selection of cold desserts on offer including cheesecakes, ice creams and sorbets. I went for the chocolate cake and it was gorgeous. James had profiteroles. There was also the option of Christmas Pudding which did tempt me!

• We were then served tea and coffee. Santa and his elves came through to tell us the show would be starting soon. At 9pm we went on through to the Atlas Theatre for Potters Theatre Company to present The Great Christmas Songbook. I really didn’t know what to expect from this show but it was absolutely brilliant. The first half consisted of a Pantomime style play with a young girl as the lead and lots of singing and dancing. The second part of the show was my favourite, a Top of the Pops style setting with lots of Christmas songs that I could sing along to my heart's content! the clapping routine was spectacular!

Afterwards there was a surprise guest appearance from Leanne Mitchell. Leanne is my friend Sabrina’s cousin and winner of The Voice UK. It was great to see her live after hearing so much about her singing and meeting her way back in my childhood.

Overall, I had a really great time at Potters Resort. A massive thank you to the lovely Danielle for inviting me and for the great team at Potters who made this night one to remember!

To find out more about the events and accommodation available at Potters, head over to their website.

*I attended this event free of charge.