An Almost Grown-Up Christmas

As a child Christmas is very me, me, me but I am now 23 and, as my mother keeps telling me, this means I don't get the same amount of surprises as the little ones. Now I'm not bothered about amounts, I'm a quality over quantity kind of girl, but sadly Christmas usually means useless presents so this year I took charge and kindly requested a whole host of gifts from her. I was very clear, all I really wanted was some pyjama's, anything else would be a bonus, but I had listed a variety so that I wouldn't know what was coming. I thought this was a cunning plan and somehow, magically, even those who didn't have access to the gift gave me wonderfully thoughtful presents.

Some of my favourite presents, including a beautiful long chained gold bird necklace, a hand knitted headband 
and an Apple Magic Mouse to stop me getting RSI with my incessant trackpad use.

I loved spending time with my friends on our traditional Christmas Eve pub crawl, plus my family and my boyfriend. This is his first year out of university (he did Dentistry which is a 5 year course) and he didn't love his short 4 day break (that's very short when you're used to 2/3 weeks) but we crammed in seeing both of our families and the constant moving around felt very adult. Suddenly we weren't just sat in front of the television eating chocolate, we were in the car moving around and he was entertaining my five year old brother playing Halo on the XBox and competing over the noise of my family all talking at once. Seriously impressive if you take into account the fact my boyfriend is an only child who is not used to having lots of children around and my brother argues with everyone he plays with and even shoots those on his team.

Mikko Lagerstedt's Winter

I'm not much of a winter person. I tend to go into hibernation, don't fancy walking around and cuddle under blankets with lots of books and lots of snacks. In fact, I'm trying really hard not to dash to the kitchen right now and bake some chocolate chip cookies...because I will just eat them all.

I'm not a fan of the cold, the fact it gets dark before it's even 5pm or the slushy snow and treacherous ice. I can however appreciate how gorgeous the changing seasons can be. In fact, I love crunching in the autumn leaves and will sit for hours watching it snow... happy so long as you don't make me try to walk on it when it's turned all slippery. If you do I will provide you with a very good Bambi on ice impersonation.

I'm trying my best to get into the spirit. The Christmas tree is up, the presents are brought and wrapped (except for my boyfriends - I'd be grateful for your ideas) and I've invested in some cable knit cardigans and a new coat so that I can venture out into the cold now and again.

I came across Finnish photographer Mikko Lagerstedt's work today and it's reminded me that even though there are so many things I don't like about winter it is an incredibly beautiful season and as I slip around on the ice I promise to try to enjoy it because spring is only around the corner.

A DIY Christmas

It is December 1st, which means that even if you are a bit bah-humbug like me it's probably time to think about Christmas. This year I'm trying to save a bit and really think about what I'm spending my money on...and I'm sure I'm not the only one. My 7-year-old sister asked me for a Designafriend outfit yesterday and got a firm no. I refuse to spend over £10 on clothes for a dolly. Sorry little sis but it is not happening. In fact, even the presents I've agreed to will be sourced at the lowest prices.

What's more, where possible I will be doing it myself. I always end up buying lots of chocolates and treats for people and this year they will be getting a (probably slightly special looking) hand decorated box of handmade goodies. I'm thinking shortbread, peanut butter fudge, treacle toffee and maybe some handmade crackers. After all, what better time for crackers and cheese than Christmas? There are a whole host of recipe ideas on the BBC and Good Food, which is great as baking is something I can actually do.

My first attempt at shortbread using this recipe and sprinkled with caster sugar when still warm.

The rather rustic look is due to the fact they were cut with a glass due to the absence of a cutter.

A River Island Christmas

River Island is a strange one. It is very rare that I go into one of their stores and see something I actually want to buy. It all seems too samey, too tight, too short and basically just not me. As for menswear, if the boy came to meet me wearing most of the stuff they sell I would probably freak out. Jeans that have a crotch settled right between your knees is just not a good look as far as I'm concerned.

You may find all this a little backwards if you have taken a look at any of my Fused fashion spreads (such as this one) because River Island feature highly. Their campaign images show really beautiful clothes, which I have realised exist but mostly only online or in the large stores. I am a bit of a shop-a-phobe, I love talking to people but hate having to fight my way towards a dress. That's why this year I will be scouring River Island's website for some of these wonderful Christmas pieces.  It's probably not a surprise that I particularly love all of the feathers.

 Baltimore Feathered Collar Dress £60.00 and Shelley Feathered Dress £70.00 with Purple Agate ring £10.00

More Temporary Secretary & Love Hearts and Crosses

I love jewellery. The quirkier the better. I hardly ever go to a high street retailer for it because they all seem to be stocked by companies that produce near identical pieces. In fact, in some cases I'm sure it's the same supplier. Most of my jewellery comes from local independent stores such as Peccadillos in Stafford, who fuel my love of precious stones.

In October I wrote about Temporary Secretary, who were suggested to me by the lovely Rose over Twitter. Now I finally own my own little piece of TempSec thanks to the boy... he had a parcel sent my house over the weekend that enclosed the TAB typewriter ring I had been lusting over.  It came complete with a wonderful little note from Sarah thanking him for his purchase. What a lovely graduation present! (I officially graduate a week on Wednesday.)

My new found love for TempSec has had me looking elsewhere online for gorgeous costume jewellery. I came across Love Hearts and Crosses on Twitter as well... but this time I wasn't thinking just of myself but of others too. I can think of one friend in particular that would love one of these pieces in their Christmas stocking. In fact, she has her very own karma circle tattooed onto her inner arm. Maybe she'll get the necklace to match.

Sing Dance Live Love Stacking Bracelets £25

Ask the Gift Genies

So this is late by a few weeks (I've been busy) and some of you reading this will probably hate me for posting this just after Christmas but I have discovered a brilliant app: Ask the Gift Genies.  The brains behind the operation are the lovely people at peoplelovepresents.com, who ask you a few simple questions about the person you're buying for and then trot off across cyberspace to find you the perfect present within your budget.

Yes, actual people do it, which means that the request I put in for my mother on Christmas Eve hasn't yet been fulfilled (everyone needs a break right?!) but before Christmas responses were speedy.  I have only tried this for a few people and I haven't actually purchased any of their recommendations.  Name, age, relationship and brief info isn't really enough for them to know a person completely (and present buying should include your own thoughtfulness) but they can definitely inspire you.  Of course the more you give them to work with the better.  i.e. "she is a girl and likes pretty things" is never going to be as good as "she loves blue candles". Yes my examples are appalling but you get the gist...put in something more structured and you get a better result.

Here's the best bit though: It's entirely free.  Watch this little video by Lady Geek TV to give you a better idea and then head to the App Store pronto.

Adele: Rolling in the Deep

It's coming up to Christmas and anyone who's been to uni knows what that means... A mass of deadlines, mad rush to get everything done and, of course, a mountain of Christmas shopping.  Needless to say I have been quiet on the blog front.  However, whilst I regain my thoughts here is a song that's keeping me going at the moment.  It's a beaut.  Adele is wonderful.  Enjoy.


Adele - Rolling In The Deep - In Studio from DUKOFF on Vimeo.

“Board games bring out the worst in me."

Every Christmas in my family the board games get dusted off and we indulge in really long games such as Monopoly.  Today, in attempt to get all my friends together in the daytime…rather than huddled together at the pub on a night when it’s freezing cold and we all have to walk home moaning…I hosted what I called ‘Christmas Game Day’.

This consisted of six friends eating junk food, drinking tea and ploughing through a various board games.  We started with Pop-up Pirate, moved to Mouse Trap, then Scattergories and finally…the big one…Monopoly.

The first few were fine, kids games after all, but then it got serious.  After Scattergories we actually had to break for lunch to, in my friends words, “calm down a bit before Monopoly”.  I guess she needed it because after a full on sulk and a period of continuously shouting at her boyfriend because he was “cheating” she announced “board games bring out the worst in me…I hate Monopoly.”  She quite promptly lost all of her money and properties and was out…though not before me, by the time I’d made it once round the board everybody else had lapped me at least twice and brought all the properties.  I really stood no chance.

It was funny, however, that when I logged onto Facebook afterwards I read a status that said: “Lauren finds it funny that a game of Payday with her sisters can turn into a war.”  Not just us then…so why on Earth do we all turn to board games at Christmas when they are never used any other time of the year? 

I suppose it’s because it’s cold and nobody can be bothered to go out, the television is rubbish and there is something so uniting and rustic about sitting down with your friends and family and just spending time together.  No need for alcohol (though it always makes game day funnier), no need for a treacherous icy walk home in the pitch black and no need for electricity really.  If you ignore the fact we had the radio on and by 3pm the lights were required to see the games…stupid clocks going back!

Since we finished every one of my guests has text to say thank you for a wonderful time.  Don’t think I’ve ever had that when I’ve hosted a party…looks like I’ve found a niche with which to entertain people in their early twenties.  Some feat really.

Snow and/or a White Christmas

This year my sister, who is 11, wrote an extensive Christmas list.  It started "Dear Dad..." instead of being written to Santa, and ended "Yours Sincerely, Megan Booth."  Complete with signature.  Amongst other things she asked for a laptop, an iPod (Apple was specified, no other MP3 player need apply), snow, and a white Christmas.  (Yes I know snow and a white Christmas are kind of the same thing but these were specified as two different items, like either/or would be fine.)

I remember when I was a child I would be lucky to get the new Barbie.  In fact, one year I got the new Barbie, it was a gymnastics one that supposedly swang between the bars.  It didn't.  It also broke on Christmas Day and was immediately put back in the box and returned on December 27th never to be seen again.  Megan already has the laptop wrapped from my mom and my dad is contemplating the iPod (a nano/touch, of course a shuffle isn't good enough).

Well...I don't mean to sound like a really old person...but surely this isn't right.  Surely this goes against all that Christmas is supposed to be.  Surely I should be getting £400 worth of presents as well.  Apparently not.  I should have seen this coming when Megan's first nativity started with astronauts going so fast around the Earth they went back in time and participated in the traditional nativity events. 

Bring back Mary literally having a tea cloth on her head, £20 gifts, ratty old tinsel on green trees rather than black and Christmas pudding that is just Christmas pudding not "Marks and Spencers Christmas Pudding".  A traditional Christmas, in the style of 1992, would be lovely.  Thank you.

I may have found a tiny bit of Christmas spirit

I'm not excited about Christmas....the presents, turkey and stuffing, snow and Santa just don't do it for me...but I was excited about breaking up from work for two weeks of relaxation.  The build up has at least made me appreciate Christmas, as that's why I was getting the time off for work in the first place.

So, as my boss wrapped her presents, booked her ski stuff and headed off for colder climates I found myself humming Christmas songs.  Yes, finally something has replaced the Jurassic Park theme tune that has been going round my head for months, don't ask me why.  And what managed it?...Mariah Carey of course.  Oh, and a bit of Wham.  The classics, you know what they are, are now being belted out by me in the shower.  If you've ever heard me sing you will know this is not the most fun for my family, who have to live with me!

I looked out the window at the frost this morning and didn't mind it because today I can stay in the warmth.  Marvellous.  Let's just ignore the Christmas shopping shall we...surely it will do itself if I wait long enough?

Bah Humbug

Christmas is upon us.  Apparently.  My email inbox has been bombarded with reminders of Christmas from gift ideas to alerting me to the fact there are only a certain number of shopping/posting/work days left.  Well all it's doing is panicking me.

I have so far brough one present and that present is for my five year old sister Holly, who is the easiest person to buy for in the world.  She wants things.  Lots of them.  Anything with her favourite Disney characters will do perfectly and currently those are Tinkerbell and Ariel.  Therefore, on Christmas day she will be dressed as Tinkerbell courtesy of moi...complete with twinkling lights on her chest.

I have trawled over the internet, with little to NO time left to go shopping by the time I've caught up on random chores/visits/events on weekends.  The internet is not being helpful.  I would like to turn back time.  By 4/5 months would do...I see myself lying in the sun in south France laughing at the boys I was travelling with and worrying about getting sun stroke again.  Now I'm worrying about the fact that someone at work has informed me "Jack Frost will be visiting for the first time tonight".  This tells me I'll be freezing on the walk home.

Some may say I've outgrown Christmas, that I'm bitter, that I'm silly, that I'm the Grinch...I say I'm just a fan of summer, it's when I'm happiest, and I can't wait for it to come back.  Oh...and Christmas isn't the same when at you have been putting out the presents yourself for almost 10 years.  Santa has officially gone my friends.  Bah humbug.