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

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?

Copper Gift Wrapping Ideas

This year I am going for a copper gift wrapping theme so I thought that I'd share some ideas with you all.

I wrapped all of these presents with copper tissue paper and on this one I wrapped brown string and red and white striped twine around on end of the gift. I also wrapped some of the brown string around one gift and then attached some pine cones that I had from a craft shop. Although these are really simple, they are effective and add a special touch to any gift wrapping.

For this parcel, I wrapped around some spare red ribbon that I had and then stuck a striped label on. I love this and it is so easy to do!

This is a perfect way to use scraps of ribbon. On a tiny present I just sellotaped some left over ribbon across it and then tied some leftover string around. It looks really pretty and just adds a little something to a small gift.

This is the last idea I came up with, it is so easy to do and takes no time at all! Simply wrap around some big sparkly ribbon and tie it in a large bow. It looks so special and effective so it's perfect to add some pizzazz to any present.

Thank you for reading and please comment below any ideas you have for gift wrapping. Merry Christmas!

Manchester Christmas Markets

Every year me and my family all go to the Christmas markets in Manchester. They have lots of different little stalls that sell anything from decorations to candles. My favourite part of the markets is definitely the food, they have so many different stalls where you can buy hot dogs, pizza or even a Christmas dinner in a huge Yorkshire pudding!

This is the Christmas dinner I had rolled up in a big Yorkshire pudding, it was filled with all the classic components of a classic Christmas dinner: stuffing, roast potatoes, peas, carrots and gravy. You could choose from a selection of meats. including turkey, pulled pork and beef. I opted for the turkey and it was honestly the best turkey I have ever had! I can't remember for the life of me what this stall was called however, it was directly opposite to the main entrance of the Arndale shopping centre.

We then just browsed around the stalls and came across this incredible fudge stall by Laura's Confectionery. There were all sorts of flavours, I chose oreo, salted caramel, peanut butter and just a classic fudge. They are so rich and delicious you have to try then! Also, you can purchase them online from their website here.

There were many of these stalls dotted around the markets which were selling these chocolate domes filled with marshmallow fluff! I had a white chocolate one and it was so lovely and not too sickly sweet.

Lastly, we went to the Highland Lodge and got a drink. They were selling hot chocolate with Bailey's but I just chose to have a normal hot chocolate and it was really nice! The stall was inside a little lodge which we sat in to finish our drinks and it was so cute and festive. 

Overall, I definitely enjoyed visiting the Christmas markets. It put me in the festive spirit and the food was so delicious! I would definitely recommend visiting these markets if you are near Manchester. Thank you for reading and Merry Christmas!

The Ultimate Christmas Playlist

Every year I seem to begin listening to Christmas music earlier than the previous year so I created a playlist of my all time favourite festive songs including the classics, my childhood favourites and more modern hits. Enjoy!

Jingle Bells by Frank Sinatra

Mistletoe and Holly by Frank Sinatra

The Christmas Waltz by Frank Sinatra

The First Noel by Frank Sinatra

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas by Johnny Mathis

Mistletoe by Justin Bieber

Christmas Love by Justin Bieber

Fa La La (A Cappella) by Justin Bieber Feat. Boyz II Men

Home This Christmas by Justin Bieber Feat. The Band Perry

Drummer Boy by Justin Bieber Feat. Busta Rhymes

Jingle Bells by Michael Bublé Feat. The Puppini Sisters

White Christmas by Michael Bublé Feat. Shania Twain

All I Want For Christmas Is You by Michael Bublé

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Michael Bublé

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Michael Bublé

Blue Christmas by Michael Bublé

Cold December Night by Michael Bublé

Mis Deseos/Feliz Navidad by Michael Bublé

Silver Bells by Michael Bublé Feat. Naturally 7

Holly Jolly Christmas by Michael Bublé

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow by Michael Bublé

Grown-Up Christmas List by Michael Bublé

I'll Be Home For Christmas by Michael Bublé

All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams

Sleigh Ride by Air Supply

Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt & Henri René

Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms

Last Christmas by Wham!

Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday by Wizzard

Do They Know It's Christmas? by Band Aid

Step Into Christmas by Elton John

Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin' Stevens

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee

All Alone On Christmas Darlene Love

Fairy Tale of New York by The Pogues

This Christmas by Donny Hathaway

Holiday Packing Tips

Soon, I am going on holiday to Florida so I thought I would share my most helpful packing tips and tricks with you all.

Firstly, I always find it easier to travel with a suitcase that stands out as it makes it so much easier to find your luggage on the luggage carousel. I have the IT Hard Shell Cow Print Suitcase. Considering cows are my favourite animals, I thought this suitcase was perfect for me as it also is quite unique and bold!

                       

Then to ensure that I don't forget anything when packing, I always make a checklist including everything from clothing, toiletries and electronics. Also, I include how many of each clothing items I need, remember always take extra socks and knickers (you never know what will happen!)

                              

Before you actually start packing your clothes, you want to lay out outfits. Usually, I stick to packing casual dresses or play suits for the day time as they take up less space in your luggage and are an outfit in one. Another good tip is to pack 4 tops to every pair of shorts, trousers or skirt.

When you begin to pack your clothes into your suitcase, rolling your clothes allows more packing space and your clothes won't get creased either. 

                                         

Also, I pack my underwear in ziplock bags because when you are at your destination they allow you to section your dirty clothes from your clean ones.

If you didn't know your luggage is usually thrown around quite recklessly at airports so to prevent your valuables like fragrances from shattering, wedge them between your clothes for protection and padding.

                         

With the air pressure in planes your liquid toiletries can burst or leak so to prevent that cover the bottle with cling film then screw the cap on.

                         

Makeup compacts can break too with the air pressure and by putting cotton pads in the compact it stops them from shattering.

   

I hope you found this post helpful and as always please comment below with feedback or any suggestions.