Christmas Decoration Haul.

This year we decided to get a bigger tree as the last 2 years was we had a pre-decorated pop up one. They're great for saving space but now we have a bigger place I wanted one with branches to hang pretty things from! So we sold my pop up one to my lovely pal Claire and bought a bargain one from Homebase along with some pretties from several shops..

I decided on a slim tree as we didn't quite have the space for a big bushy one.. It was £19.99 which I thought was great value considering it will last a few years and doesn't look as cheap as it was once you've pulled all the branches out and ruffled it up :) I also picked up a gorgeous star shaped tree topper. It's white and covered in iridescent glitter, what's not to love!?

I love looking in the cheap shops for Christmas bits. Although they have a lot of tat, sometimes they have some things I like. These bits are from Poundland.. I don't need to tell you how much they cost! I didn't end up using the baubles as I bought more than I needed but they'll do as replacements or something..

After Poundland we went to a local garden center called Marlows. They had some really nice Christmas bits and some of it was really well priced too. The bigger baubles at the front were £1 per set (there are 2 sets there), the bigger baubles in the tubes were £1 (6 in a tube) and the smaller ones were 75p (8 in a tube). The ones in the tubes are a mixture of glittery, shiny and matte.

On our way home, Aaron mentioned a place called Blackthorpe Barn. I'd heard of it but never been and had no idea where it was.. Suddenly he pulled off the dual carriage way, we parked and I ended up in the most awesome, Christmassy place I'd ever seen. WOWZERS! I wanted to buy everything and could have quite easily spent a fortune. I'm sorry I can't remember exact prices of these bits but I know they were no more than £4 each. I absolutely love the deer which I think was the most expensive but well worth it.

I got these bits from a cheapy shop in town called QD. The sign, which ive wanted since seeing one similar on Pinterest, was 99p and so were the baubles. Bargain!




I got this gorgeous yet stupidly glittery guy from Asda for £4.99. I looove it although you only have to touch it lightly and you've got a ton of glitter on you! Isn't it just gorgeous. 

That's it I think! Oh I got 300 fairy lights from Tesco for £11.50 in their half price lights sale too. I am planning on doing another post with pictures of all the decorations up/out and another post on a Christmas fayre I went to. Unfortunately my laptop is broken so I'm not too sure when it will be.. My phone is also broken so I'm not having much luck am I! 

Hope you're all well xxx

Christmas Tag (with pictures!)

I saw this tag floating around that Georgina from Makeup-Pixi3 made and who doesn't love a tag! I love filling in questions and it's great for readers to get to know more about the person behind the blog. So without further ado...


1. Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or synthetic?

Growing up we nearly always had a synthetic one. We had a real one one year but none of us liked the smell or the mess so we went back to synthetic! I don't live at home anymore but Aaron and I have a synthetic one too.. It's much less hassle and saves quite a few pennies!

A few years ago mum and dad didn't have a tree topper so me and my sister got crafty!
2 angels with (unused) muff pads as wings! Pleased to report they were left on too!!

2. You're in a coffee shop, it's December, what do you pick?

I've never jumped on the Christmassy drinks or regular coffee shop goer bandwagon and probably never will.. I'm not big on coffee shops anyway.. It's really nice as a treat if I'm out shopping for the day but that's it - it would get expensive otherwise and I hate wasting money. During colder months I always have a caramel macchiato or hot chocolate and during warmer months I always have a mocha frappuccino.

3. What is your favourite colour scheme for decorating the tree?

Growing up we always had a green tree with really colourful decorations. Since I've lived with Aaron we've had a traditional theme but this year we bought a new new tree and have black, white, purple, pink and silver. I love it! I have a Christmas haul coming up soon :)

4. Giving or receiving?

You wouldn't be human if you didn't enjoy receiving gifts but you just can't beat that feeling you get when someone opens their gift/s and loves and appreciates what you bought them after you've shopped around and done your best wrapping skills on it :)

5. To mince pie or not to?
#sickface

6. What's your traditional Christmas lunch?

When I lived at home we had turkey with all the trimmings (no sprouts for me thanks) every single year as my family like to keep it traditional.. Usually Aaron and I would have turkey too but last year we had chicken instead as we don't actually like turkey that much!! We're at my parents for Christmas dinner this year and it's turkey again though.

7. Christmas Day fashion

Growing up me and my sister would always be put in our best clothes (usually a dress) probably cause my parents took a bunch of photos so we had to look nice! It wouldn't feel right anymore to not get dressed up and be wearing something nice. This year I made mum buy a Christmassy top so I'm hoping I can get her to actually wear it Christmas day (even just for a bit!) and I've got me some Christmassy leggings that I'm going to wear! - we both got called saddos by my dad and Aaron!!!

Vinnie was less than impressed by his Christmas hat..

8. What's your favourite Christmas song?

There is one Christmas song I could happily listen to on repeat.. The Pogues - Fairytale of New York. It is my absolute FAVE. I can't stand the Mariah Carey, Destiny's Child type ones.. Just no.

9. What's your favourite Christmas film?

That's easy peasy.. Elf!! I do like The Grinch and Jack Frost too though and Home Alone is a classic.

10. Open presents before or after lunch?

Before! Surely it's child abuse to make them wait til after!? At home, we'd always have our santa sacks in our room for when we woke up and would grab them and go into my parents room where we'd sit on the bed and go through them. Then we'd all get up and ready and sit together to open our presents. Oh we've always opened one before we went to bed on Christmas eve too.
Aaron and I open a present Christmas eve too but we like opening our presents in bed Christmas morning (we take them up from under the tree the night before) then we'll get up and ready and either start lunch or leave to go to one of our parents.

Myself, my mum and my sister a couple of years ago.. Christmas tree lights as hats, why not!

If any of you do or have done this tag, let me know, I'd love to have a read :) xxx