Blogmas Day 7 ~ DIY Christmas Hampers ~

We all know somebody who has immigrated for college, work, family and lots of other reasons.
Often the only time we get to see them is Christmas so we want to get them a fabulous gift to show them just how much we miss them.

My ideas for this, include things that remind them of home that they can bring back to their new home with them!!!

So...

• Barry's Tea
• Cadburys Chocolate (mini selection box)
• Tayto
• Jellies (cos I love jellies)

How to:

• First I got a cardboard base covered with wrapping paper.
• Then I arranged the sweets and treats. Using my trusty hot glue gun to keep everything in place.
• I wrapped the whole hamper in cellophane.
• And tied it up with curling ribbon!!!

These went down really well last year!!! This year I think I will do these again, maybe a giant one!!!

Hope you make your friends some nice Christmas Hampers. Send me pics!!!

xx

Blogmas Day 6 ~ Pinterest Praise ~

I love Pinterest! And whatever you are looking for this festive season you can probably find on pinterest!!!

If you are looking for gift ideas....Pinterest

DIY Gift tutorials.... Pinterest

Christmas Decorating.... Pinterest

Christmas party outfit suggestions.... Pinterest

I think you get the idea!!!

So here are some things I found on pinterest this Christmas that made me smile!

Dogs in Christmas jumpers........

 

 

 

Christmas Hair Do!!

 

 

Christmas Gift Ideas

 

 

 

Christmas Recipes

 

 

Bauble DIY

 

 

Christmas Décor

 

Amazing Gingerbread House

 

 

More Gift Ideas

 

Christmas Cookies

 

 

 

 

 

Decorating Ideas

 

Bauble Creations

 

 

 

Is anyone else obsessed with Pinterest? Especially this time of year???

 

xx

Blogmas Day 5 ~ DIY Gift Planning~

Before you launch into making handmade gifts there are a few things to remember...

As a child all we had to do was glue a bit of pasta and glitter to paper and it was as if we handed our parents a Picasso this doesn't translate into adulthood!

Handmade gifts need to be good.

They must be functional or witty.

Personalise the gift, it should be something the person wants or likes.

Baking is always fun so you can bake a Christmas treat for a loved one or make a baking gift so your loved one can enjoy baking and you might get to eat the treats!!!

As I have said before It's all in the Presentation!!! So a simple gift can be made amazing if you wrap it properly, ribbons,  bows, baubles, candy canes....

 

 

 

 

Read my It's All in the Presentation Post this also deals with functional and personalised gifts.

 

All this in mind I am beginning to make my handmade gifts, I will keep you updated of my progress. I would love to hear your DIY stories, drop me a link on Twitter or leave a comment below!!

 

xx

Blogmas Day 4 ~ Beauty Gift Guide~

 Looking for some Beauty Gift Ideas???

Ted Baker Gift Set Majestic Marvels now reduced from €70 to €35 in Boots

Ted Baker Splendour set now €36.25 down from €70 in Boots

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eye Shadow Palette €46 in Debenhams

Soap and Glory Poptastic €27 in Boots

Soap and Glory Kissmass Cracker €9 in Boots

Soap and Glory Bell of the Ball Bauble €17.50 in Boots

Smashbox Art.Love.Colour.Lips €25 in Boots

The Balm Put a Lid on it Eye Primer €19.50 in Debenhams

Charlotte Tillsbury Mini Lipstick Charms €29

The Balm Balm Shelter Tinted Moisturizer now €20.25in Debenhams

Lush Santa's Lip Scrub

Lush Cup O' Coffee  Mask

Benefit Get your Party On Gift Set €56 from Boots

 

 

These are just some of my favourite picks, as you can see I love cute packaging, and check out all the discounts available from Boots and Debenhams at the moment!

 

xx

Blogmas Day 3 The Big Knit!!!

Christmas is a time for giving we all know this but we tend to focus on giving and receiving fancy gifts with family and friends. But if you do have a few minutes to spare (say 30mins) why not get involved with the Innocent Big Knit?

If there is one certainty in life it is that we all age, we try our best to stop or slow down the process but it is inevitable, that in mind we should all knit tiny bottle cosies/hats to be sold on Innocent smoothie bottles in aid of Age Action!!!!

 

Every time a bottle wearing a hat is sold 30c goes to Age Action to keep some lovely older people keep warm and well over the winter!!!

There are so many amazing patterns available on the website for beginners to advanced or you could design your own! Check out the gallery, there are some Knit Artists out there!!!

As you sit watching telly you could knit a little hat or on your commute. Use up old yarn and make a multi-coloured creation! Then search to see if you can see any of your creations in store!!!

This bit is important your little woolly hats must arrive to innocent by the :

11th of December 2015!!!!!

Send them to:

The Big Knit 2015,
Innocent Drinks,
120/121 Baggot St Lower,
Dublin 2

I hope everyone gets involved this year and maybe make it a Christmas tradition!

xx

Blogmas Day 2 ~ Midweek Motivation ~ Surviving Christmas Shopping

I thought combining my midweek motivation with surviving Christmas shopping post because Christmas shopping can be very stressful, trying to find the perfect gift for everyone, fighting your way through the crazy shoppers, spending all your money, eating yourself into oblivion.... a lot is expected of this season!

 

The main stressing factor in my mind is shopping,

Not only Christmas present shopping but all shopping has now become very, very stressful! It's as if suddenly everyone thinks the world is running out of food, I went food shopping last Saturday around 2pm and was met with bare shelves!!???

My way around the food craziness is 24hour shopping.... on a Monday night! (with a shopping list) Sorted!

Christmas present shopping is not so straight forward.

Plan, plan, plan

Yep that's the key to it. I love making lists anyway and otherwise I kinda get distracted by pretty thing!

So I list the people I am getting presents for and then the presents I am getting them and then the shops that should have the required gift. Easy!

Budget

It's an expensive time of year, so part of your planning has to be financial planning.
It's a bit late for this year but next year save for a few months in advance, everything about Christmas is expensive (even if it's not supposed to be) Plan how much you want to spend on everyone, on yourself and on food if your are going to have a full house!

Internet

The internet is your friend, not only online shopping (which is handy when you want to avoid the crowds and source presents)

Nowadays most retailers have an online presence, so check out their stock, find out about special offers, you can reserve and collect items, check stock in your area and use this information to plan!

Shop Early

get up early in the morning, have a wholesome breakfast and get to it. There are less crowds early in the morning so it will be a less stressful.
The shelves will be properly stocked.
The stores won't look like a hurricane just blew through.
The q's will be smaller.

Not only early in the morning but early in the month!

Last year I had finished my Christmas shopping by the end of October, ahh stress free..

This year I am pretty much done already, 2 days into December!

 

Don't forget the gift wrap!

Wrapping paper, ribbons, tags, cellophane, cellotape etc! Get it early, get extra!

Good Luck with your shopping!!

 

xx

Blogmas Day 1

Ok so I have been out of action for some time now... technical difficulties.....let us say no more!

But now I'm feeling inspired and rejuvenated so I'm going to do Blogmas this year!!!!

My reasons for doing Blogmas is to

1.  challenge myself to get blogging,

2. share some creative ideas,

3. share a few decorating tips,

4. inspire with Christmas outfit ideas

5. and try to take the stress out of the silly season!!!

Hope you enjoy my blogmas story and keep up to day everyday!!!!

Also check out Beauty-La-Linda's Blogmas posts here!!!


xx