Autumn / Winter Lush Haul 2017

It's that time of the year again where Lush brings out their Halloween and Christmas range that everyone goes mad for, including me! I don't tend to buy anything from Lush any other time of the year because all my favourites are from this range, so I stock up on these goodies to get me through the seasons into spring and summer where I opt for showers instead of baths.

Starting off with bubble bars, here are the few I picked up :-

Sparkly Pumpkin -

This is my all time favourite bubble bar just because of the smell and the glitter! It has a spicy warm scent that makes me feel so so cosy and wintery but also refreshed. However, if you aren't a fan of glittery baths then you'll probably not like this one.

Pink Pumpkin -

I decided to pick this one up purely because of my love for the Sparkly Pumpkin and seeing a pink version made me so excited! It has a completely different smell though as it's very floral and feminine with notes of jasmine. I usually don't like floral scents but I don't mind this one because of the jasmine.

Bewitched -

First of all this one is so cute but also it smells so fresh and light. It isn't really wintery at all so if you aren't keen on the spicy warm scents then this would be perfect for you.

Candy Mountain -

This is one of my favourite Lush products, it makes the softest bubbles ever which leaves my skin super smooth. This one has a candy floss scent so if you don't like really sweet smells then you'll probably hate this one I'm afraid.

The Magic of Christmas -

As the name suggests this is definitely Christmas in a bubble bar, the spicy festive scent makes me feel so so Christmassy and cosy. Also, it's so cute and festively!

This is actually the only bath melt I got this year as I mainly focuses of bath bombs which you'll see later.

Snow Angel -

I love bath melts for winter when your skin gets a bit drier because they are so nourishing and leave your skin so silky and moisturised. This is one my favourite from Lush because of the almond scent and gold glitter. It gives your skin a little shimmer too which I love and the smell is so relaxing.

I only got one bath oil too because this is the only one I saw and it was so cute!

Tree-D -

I haven't tried a bath oil before but I'll have to pick up some more because left my skin so so soft and nourished. This one has such a refreshing orange citrus scent which is really uplifting and fresh.

Moving onto bath bombs, I did go a little mad but I'm sure it'll be worth it.

Monsters Ball -

This cute little creature has Lush's Classic scent and has lots of different oils in which I'm sure will leave your skin super soft and moisturised so I can't wait to try this out! 

Pumpkin - 

This is one of the cutest bath bombs ever, it has such a refreshing orange and spicy smell which is so refreshing. I got this one last year and it made me feel so fresh and clean.

Ectoplasm - 

This is a jelly bomb so it leaves a soft jelly like layer on the top of the bath water which makes your skin so soft, I love this formula! This one smells like lemon sherbets so it's super fresh and clean.

Snow Fairy -

Another jelly bomb, this is a new addition into the Snow Fairy scent line and I love it! Not only is the candy floss scent one of my favourites but, it is so soft on the skin and makes the water a pretty pink colour.

Christmas Sweater -

This is such a classic Christmas, spicy and ginger scent so it will be one of my favourites for sure. I can't wait to use this one!

Thank you for reading, I hope you have enjoyed seeing the little Lush goodies I picked up. Make sure you comment below your Lush favourites and recommendations!

A Dog's Christmas

This is my little pooch, Buffy. She is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and she is only one. I got her last year in October and I honestly treat her like a child ahah! I love to buy her little jumpers to keep her warm at night and on her walks, and also they just look adorable. I have also done her a little stocking with a few bits and bobs, so I thought I'd show you all her in her little jumpers and the gifts I have gotten her.

I got this jumper last year from Asda. She isn't miserable here she is just eying up the treats I have for her ahaha.

This ADORABLE reindeer jumper is from Pets at Home and I absolutely love it. It's great quality so it keeps her warm at night.

This is the jumper she wears the most and I came across it in Next. She wears this throughout the day and on walks, and because it isn't too thick she doesn't get too hot.

I was looking for a similar bow like this from Pets at Home but, it was always sold out. So my ad found this a B&M Bargains for only a £1!! She has this attached to her collar all the time and it doesn't get in the way or make her uncomfortable.

Moving onto her gifts, these all go in her little stocking apart from her advent calendar she has had throughout advent.

These cute little gingerbread biscuits are from Pets at Home, all of her treats are from there because she absolutely loves them!

I found this when I was browsing through Pets at Home and I'm going to put this in some dog cupcakes I make for here at special occasions.

I also saw this which really made me laugh so I just had to buy it! It's beer for dogs!

Because we have a loyalty card for Pets at Home, because I shop there for Buffy all the time, we were given a little cracker for her.

Lastly, this is her advent calendar and she has been loving this throughout the month! The brand Wainwright's are perfect for dogs as they are natural and don't upset their stomachs. You can get loads of flavors and even treats which Buffy loves too.

Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed my Beyond Christmas series! I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and New Year! 

Lots of love

Kate xx

Merry Christmas Everyone

I have really enjoyed doing this Beyond Christmas series throughout advent. Although at times I thought I wasn't going to be able to do all the posts, I have finished it and I am really proud. 

I'd like to thank you all so much for reading my posts, I hope you have enjoyed my posts and if you would like me to do this next Christmas please let me know. Also, if you have any suggestions on future blog posts then feel free to comment them below.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and New year!

Lots of love

Kate xx

Reindeer Shortbread

My mum gifted me some reindeer cookie cutters which inspired me to make these cute (and delicious) shortbread!

You will need:

225g unsalted butter

110g caster sugar

225g plain flour

110g cornflour

Pinch of salt

100g chocolate

Red ball sprinkles

Icing sugar, to dust

Begin by lining two baking trays with baking parchment and preheat your oven to 170℃. Then, cream together the sugar and butter in a large bowl, until light and fluffy. Sift both the flour and cornflour into the bowl and the salt. Mix it all together until a dough is formed, you may need to add a dash of milk if your mixture is too dry. 

When a dough has formed, let it chill and stiffen in the fridge for 30 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to a cm thickness and cut out your reindeer and place them on your prepared baking trays. Then bake your shortbread for 20 minutes, until they are gold on the edges. Once baked, let them cool completely before you decorate them.

Moving onto decorating the biscuits, melt your chocolate in a bowl over a bowl of boiling water. Now dip the feet of each reindeer into the chocolate to look like hooves. For the red noses, dab a small amount of chocolate onto the red balls and stick them to the biscuits and lastly, dust some icing sugar over the top to finish. Voila! You now have these yummy and adorable reindeer shortbreads that are perfect for Christmas!

Thank you so much for reading and tag my instagram or facebook page in any pictures of your shortbread. Merry Christmas!

The Christmas Tag

Considering I am feeling incredibly festive, I thought that I would do the Christmas tag so you can learn a little more about me. I hope that you are enjoying my Beyond Christmas series and if you have any suggestions for posts, please comment them below.

Also, I will leave these questions below for any of you to copy and paste easily if you wish to complete the tag yourselves.

1.) What is your favourite Christmas Movie?

My ultimate favourite Christmas film has to be Disney's The Santa Clause. It's become a family tradition that every Christmas Eve we would sit down as a family and watch this film whilst eating mince pies. The film is absolutely hilarious and perfect for the whole family.

2.) Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?

 All of our presents get opened on Christmas day in my family. We always start the morning off by opening our stockings on my mum and dad's bed, then we go through into the living room and open our gifts from family and friends. We can never wait until after Christmas Dinner!

3.) Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

This is a difficult question because I don't have a specific favourite memory. However, one year my dad surprised myself, my mum and brother with a holiday to Disney Land Florida. I was so happy that I couldn't stop crying!

4.) Favourite festive food?

Although this may seem weird  to the majority of you, my favourite festive food has to be my dad's mushy peas that we have as part of our Christmas dinner. But, apart from that I love the homemade sausage rolls that my mum and I make.

5.) Favourite Christmas Gift?

This is another difficult question, I've always been really lucky and my parents have made sure that I got what was on my list. But, the best presents have always been a surprise, for example the trip to Florida and tickets to my first Justin Bieber concert, I cried I was so happy with these presents!

6.) Favourite Christmas scent?

Apart from my favourite festive candle scents that I recently posted about about, I love the classic warm and spicy Christmas scent. Every year we buy spiced apple and cinnamon room diffusers and potpourri. The smell is really nostalgic for me as that is what my house has always smelt like each Christmas.

7.) Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

For as long as I remember, me and my mum have always baked mince pies, jam tarts and sausage rolls every Christmas Eve. Also, for the past four years, we have worn matching festive pjs and decorated gingerbread houses. We always sit down as a family too and watch our all time favourite Christmas films, being The Santa Clause and Home Alone 2.

8.) What tops your Christmas tree?

We have our main large Christmas tree in our living room which we decorate with special ornaments that we have collected, usually from Disney! But, to top our tree we have a gold angel that we have owned for all my life. However, on my little tree that I have in my room, I simply top it with a sparkly star from Asda haha.

9.) As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

Every Christmas list I've ever wrote has always asked for a dog, I never got one until last year when I finally managed to persuade my parents to let us have one!

10.) What is the best part about Christmas for you?

For me, the build up to Christmas is definitely the best. I love buying presents for all my friends and family, baking and going to the Christmas markets. Christmas is such a special and family oriented time of year and so that's probably why I get into the festive spirit earlier each year!

I hope this post got you in the festive spirit and I'd love to know your traditions and favourite things about Christmas, so please comment them below!

Tag questions:

1.) What is your favourite Christmas Movie?

2.) Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?

3.) Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

4.) Favourite festive food?

5.) Favourite Christmas Gift?

6.) Favourite Christmas scent? 

7.) Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

8.) What tops your Christmas tree? 

9.) As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

10.) What is the best part about Christmas for you?

Favourite Winter Lipsticks

 Throughout the winter season, I love wearing darker lipsticks. Here I have made a compilation of my most loved winter lipsticks, including both high end and drugstore brands.

Starting with liquid lipsticks, I am obsessed with the Everlasting Liquid Lipstick from Kat Von D in the shade 'Lolita'. It's a deep chestnut rose shade and it goes beautifully with any makeup look, especially on a daily basis.

The second liquid lipstick that I love is 'Veronica' by Anastasia Beverley Hills. It's a really deep mauvey purple. The formula of these lipsticks are great as they dry matte however they aren't drying at all and they are super long wearing.

Next, I have loved MAC's 'Velvet Teddy' lipstick for years now. It is a deep toned nude which goes with any make up look. This lipstick is perfect if you don't like darker lip shades. It has a matte finish but is really creamy and not drying at all.

Moving onto more affordable lipsticks, Rimmel London's 107 is a classic! This is a berry shade and it isn't too dark. The formula is also lovely and creamy but it can easily wear off so definitely use a lip liner underneath.

My next favourite is Revlon's 'Black Cherry' Super Lustrous lipstick. It is a very deep plum shade so I would only buy this if you really love dark shades.

Lastly, I absolutely love the Matte Coloursensational lipstick in 'Divine Wine' from Maybelline. It's similar to the Revlon lipstick although it has a more red tone and it has a matte finish. I wear this shade all the time and I featured it in my Everyday Festive Make Up.

Thank you for reading and I hope you are enjoying my recent posts. Merry Christmas everyone!

Gingerbread House Decorating

Every Christmas I love to decorate a gingerbread house. I bought a lot from Asda and followed the instructions on how to bake the gingerbread biscuits to build my house.

Make sure that after you have baked your biscuits, you leave them to completely cool before you begin to decorate and put the structure together.

Then with the icing, included in the kit, decorate each panel, this will be a lot easier than decorating them once the house is put together. Otherwise, your house will fall apart!

I decorated the roof panels first,  I piped tiles along each one and it is so simple to do. With holly sprinkles that I found at Asda, I stuck them along the tiles to add a festive touch. Then to make it look as though it had snowed, I sprinkled some white glittery sprinkles (from Asda) all over the panel and it added a finishing Christmassy look!

For the front of the house, I piped a small door and some wavy lines, then stuck a large snowflake at the top (from Asda) and added some small red balls from the holly sprinkles to add more colour.

On the back of the house, I simply stuck some candy canes at each side, piped a window and stuck a little Santa in the window.

Then I cut a larger hole in the piping bag the icing came in, and began to structure together the gingerbread house on a cake board.

To create some Christmas scenery on the board, I piped a little walkway to the front door and used jelly beans as pebbles along it. I then stuck down some little snowmen and trees to finish it off!

Thank you for reading and make sure you comment below pictures of your gingerbread house. Merry Christmas!