We Wish You A Merry Christmas! - Merry Christmas 2015!!!

Hi!!!

Good morning, everyone! You might just have noticed that today isn't just a standard Friday and that it is in fact Christmas (it's CHRIIIIIISSSTMMMAASS!!!). I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best that the season has to offer so without further ado...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

Christmas Day is the most wonderful, magical, fantastic day. It is a day for giving, receiving and being kind and good to everyone. It's also a time to celebrate friendship, love, happiness and enjoy all of the  estivities. 

 

I hope that you're all having a completely brilliant time, that you're stuffing your faces with all of your favourite festive food, that if you bought people presents, they love them, that if you are lucky enough to receive presents, you adore them and that you enjoy films, TV and time with those you love. Have fun dancing around to your favourite Christmas tunes and pulling Christmas crackers and making memories with the ones you love.

And, while you are enjoying the most wonderful time of the year, I hope that you take a moment to remember what Christmas truly means to you, and I hope you think for a moment about all of the less fortunate people who don't have the lovey things we do at this time of year...

 

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones. I hope that you have the greatest day ever. Thank you for your continued support, it truly means the world to me. Have the magical time that you all deserve. I love you all so very much.

 

Christmas comes but once a year so do enjoy it and make the most of it. 



What are your plans for today? What are you most looking forward to? Do you have any other comments or any suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments below.

I'll see you all soon, thank you for reading. 

 

Have a holly jolly Christmas!

 

GingerSnaps xxx



Food Glorious Food! - Recipes - Three Festive Treat Recipes.

Hi!!!

Welcome to the fifth "A Dash Of Ginger Festive Five" post! It's Christmas Eve, you guys!!! I'm so excited for Christmas tomorrow. I'm my family's resident baker and I'm often in the kitchen at Christmas so I thought that I'd share some festive recipes with you for you to try out over the festive period. Since Christmas is a time for overindulgence when it comes to food, I thought that some cupcake recipes and a festive drink recipe would be the perfect fit. So, without further ado, here is my first ever recipe post!

Gingerbread Cupcakes (makes 12) Ingredients List.

• 125g butter
• 100g sugar
• 2 medium sized free range eggs
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla essence
• 125g self raising flour
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons black treacle

12 Gingerbread Cupcakes (makes 12) Method.

• Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius and put paper cases in a 12 hole muffin tray.
• Cream the butter and sugar together.
• Beat in the eggs one at a time.
• Add the vanilla essence.
• Fold in the flour, the ginger, the cinnamon, the nutmeg and the treacle.
• Put the mixture into the paper cases and cook for 20 minutes.
• Leave to cool.
• Enjoy!

Orange and Cherry Christmas Morning Muffins (makes 12) Ingredients List.

• 125g butter
• 100g sugar
• 2 medium sized free range eggs
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla essence
• 125g self raising flour
• The zest of 1 orange
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• A tub of glace cherries

Orange and Cherry Christmas Morning Muffins (makes 12) Method.
 
• Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius and put paper cases in a 12 hole muffin tray.
• Cream the butter and the sugar together.
• Beat in the eggs one at a time.
• Add the vanilla essence.
• Fold in the flour.
• Fold in the orange zest and the cinnamon.
• Put the mixture in the paper cases.
• Put two or three glace cherries on the top of each muffin and sprinkle an extra bit of sugar over the top.
• Bake for 25 minutes.
• Leave to cool.
• Enjoy!

White Chocolate and Peppermint Hot Chocolate (serves two) Ingredients List.

• 2 cups of milk
• 12 squares of white chocolate
•  2 peppermint candy canes
• Whipped cream/squirty cream (optional)
• 2 handfuls of mini marshmallows (optional)

White Chocolate and Peppermint Hot Chocolate (serves two) Method.

• Pour the milk into a small saucepan and warm over a low heat.
• Add the broken squares of chocolate in small amounts and stir until melted. Repeat until all the chocolate has been used up.
• Continue to heat the mixture until the milk/chocolate mix is hot.
• Pour the milk/chocolate mix into two mugs.
• If you are using the cream/marshmallows toppings, add those on top before hanging a candy cane over the side of each mug so that it sits in the hot chocolate.
• If you aren't using the toppings, simply hang the candy cane over the side.

I hope that you've enjoyed this post with the very first recipes post on this blog.

Are you going to try out any of these recipes? Which one do you most like the sound of? Would you like to see more posts like this? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

I hope you're all having a magical Christmas Eve! Thanks for reading.

 

Have an exceedingly good day!

GingerSnaps xxx





Style It Out - Fashion, Style and Get Ready With Me's- A Festive Get Ready With Me.

Hi!!!

Welcome to the fourth instalment of "A Dash Of Ginger Festive Five". Today I wanted to post something a little bit different. I've had the idea for a little while - I wasn't sure I could make it work but I think that I've got this sussed now. So, welcome to my Festive Get Ready With Me. I know, right? I've never done a Get Ready With Me before so I hope that you guys like this.

A Festive Get Ready With Me.

 

Once I'd dragged myself out of bed in the morning and I'd had some breakfast, I grabbed a cup of tea and headed up the stairs. I got some Christmas tunes going at an obnoxious volume on the TV in my bedroom and went off to do all the basics (brushing my teeth, washing etc.). At this point, I'd talk you through a super detailed skincare routine if I had one - basically I wash my face with my cleanser from the Aloe range at The Body Shop and bam that's it. I headed back into my bedroom and chose my outfit while drinking the cup of tea which was at the perfect temperature by this point. During the festive season, my outfit could range from a Christmas jumper to a dress and so on but on this particular day it was a red pinafore with a white polar neck jumper underneath and some mustard coloured cable knit tights.

I went on to do my makeup (I don't wear makeup on a daily basis but I fancied wearing it that day). On this particular day, I opted for a red lip (hello MAC Ladybug) and really toned down makeup everywhere else so it really stood out. I wanted to do something with my hair so I whacked half of it up into a bun with the rest down using a red velvet scrunchie. I put on my watch and then sorted the room out a little bit (opened the curtains, made the bed and so on). Then I danced around the room to all of the Christmas songs and sang all the words very loudly because its Christmas. Finally, I padded back down the stairs, pulled on some boots and left the house for my latest adventure which was a trip to one of my favourite places, Charlecote Park which was decorated for a Victorian Christmas.

You can find some links here...

To find some of the Christmas songs I was listening to, you might like to check out (THIS) post.
To find The Body Shop, click (ME)
To find MAC Ladybug Lipstick (CLICK ME)
To find everything you could want to know about the lovely Charlecote Park, (USE THIS).


Tah Dah! I'm really rather pleased with this post, I hope it was a nice read. I'm off to a pantomime this evening which I've been looking forward to for ages - it's Peter Pan which is one of the only pantomimes I haven't seen.

What did you think of my first Get Ready With Me? What are you getting up to today? Do you have any suggestions for future posts or any comments? Do let me know in the comments below, I'd love to hear from you.

I'll see you all tomorrow, which is Christmas Eve - I can't believe it.

 

I hope you have an exceptionally great day!

 

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - Some of My Favourite Christmas Films.

Hi!!!

Good evening everyone, how are you all? Today is the third post in my "A Dash Of Ginger Festive Five" series and I'm really excited to write it. One of my favourite things to do at Christmas time is curling up and watching Christmas films with the Christmas lights on and a hot chocolate in hand as it always makes me feel so festive and happy. Since it is always such a huge part of my Christmas, I thought I'd share a few of my favourite Christmas films with you.

(Obviously, I haven't listed every single last one of my favourite Christmas films - as there are just so many - but these are some that I do really love and enjoy year in year out. These are my stand-outs.)

Some of My Favourite Christmas Movies.

 

One Christmas movie that has been a favourite of mine for many years is Miracle on 34th Street. I love both versions but my favourite is the one made in 1994. The story is absolutely beautiful and totally enchanting, I love all of the characters, and the cast and production of this film are wonderful. This film makes me feel all Christmassy and makes me smile every time I watch it.

 

Another fantastic Christmas movie is Nativity!. This film is hilarious and charming and I'm a huge fan of it. The characters are great (especially Mr Poppy - what a legend!) and the storyline is brilliant. This film is bound to put you in a good mood, the children in it are adorable and all of the characters are loveable. It's just a stroke of genius.

 

Elf. How could we get through a Christmas movie post without Elf? There is quite a bit of hype surrounding this film and I can say that, in my opinion, it is totally worth it. It's really funny and I quote it a ridiculous amount. I really like how it has just the right amount of classic Christmas-ness mixed with lots of laugh-out-loud moments.

If you know me, you'll know about my serious love for Love Actually. I just think it's brilliant - I'm a huge fan of Richard Curtis movies and of Christmas so this was always bound to be a favourite. It has lots of hilarious moments, some beautiful stories and the format of multiple intertwining stories is unique and works really well.

The Holiday is a really wonderful festive film and I've loved it since I first watched it. I think the story is beautiful, the characters are brilliant and I'm always left smiling and feeling really happy by the end. This was an instant favourite for me and I think it will be for you too - it is so sweet, so funny and so excellent. I also dressed in Iris (Kate Winslet's character in this) inspired outfits for a good year or so after seeing this film...

Saving Santa is a super fun animated Christmas film. It has a lovely storyline, it is really cute and the characters are very loveable. This has some really funny moments and it is a great feel good movie which is guaranteed to fill you full of Christmas cheer and joyfulness. I am a big fan of this one and I 100% think its worth a watch.

Arthur Christmas is a great one. I watched this the other night (I'd seen it before then but it reminded me how much I like it). There are some really touching moments in this as well as some funny and slightly crazy moments (it's not often that light up slippers can be used to calm down lions!) and the character of Arthur is really sweet.

The Polar Express has been a love of mine for many years and is a treasured part of Christmas for me. The storyline is wonderful and it takes you on an adventure with the characters. I think its a really lovely film and I enjoy it every time that I watch it. This is best enjoyed with a hot chocolate and pyjamas and I think you'll really like it.

For as long as I can remember, I've loved the Muppets so of course The Muppet Christmas Carol is on this list. I've seen it so many times but it never gets old and it always makes me feel festive and cheerful. There are songs, familiar Muppet faces and the classic and meaningful Charles Dickens storyline to look forward to so you should check it out.

Another favourite is Home Alone. This is such an out-there story but it works really well and makes all of the slapstick comedy more hilarious. I'll always want to ride a sledge down the stairs and I still admire the genius of the character Kevin for looking after himself so well and for his creativity when it comes to protecting his home. Classic Christmas comedy.

An undeniable seasonal classic is White Christmas. This has all the best bits of an old school musical - brilliant songs, great characters, memorable costumes and a fun story. This has a special place in my heart - I have lots of memories watching the film and last year my Mom and I went to see it at the Dominion Theatre.

I'm a big Disney fan so Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas/Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas/Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse are some of my favourites. The little sketches and stories within the film are charming and it's lovely to see some familiar faces in the form of Mickey and Co.

That's all for today then, folks. I hope that you enjoyed this post and that it has inspired you to curl up with your favourite Christmas film. I hope you're enjoying the "A Dash Of Ginger Festive Five" series so far, I'll see you tomorrow for the next instalment.

What is your favourite Christmas film? Have I drawn your attention to one you haven't seen before? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments section.

Thank you for reading, I hope you're having a lovely week.

 

Have a terrific day!

 

GingerSnaps xxx



Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do! - Music - Some Festive Favourites.

Hi!!!

Now that it is officially Christmas week, I thought that you guys might like a little insight into my extensive Christmas playlist. This isn't my full Christmas playlist (that is more than 50 songs long and I thought that it might make for a bit too much of a lengthy post...). You can bet I'll be listening to these, along with all the other Christmas songs and Christmas carols that I love, this week so we can be twinning with our playlists. YAY!

(By the way, if you want to listen to all of these songs in a full playlist style, then keep this post open in one tab and click the links to listen to the songs play in another. Also, I have tried to ensure all the links are correct but if you find that one isn't then do let me know so I can sort it out.)

Some Festive Favourites.

• "Fairytale of New York" by The Pouges and Kirsty McColl - (HERE)
• "Stop the Cavalry" by Jona Lewie - (HERE)
• "Last Christmas" by WHAM! - (HERE)
• "Merry Christmas Everyone" by Shakin Stevens - (HERE)
• "Do They Know Its Christmas Time" by Band Aid - (HERE)
• "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey - (HERE)
• "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" by Wizzard - (HERE)
• "Step Into Christmas" by Elton John - (HERE)
• "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by Jake Bugg (cover) - (HERE)
• "Merry Xmas Everybody" by SLADE - (HERE)
• "Little Drummer/Peace on Earth" by David Bowie and Bing Crosby - (HERE)
• "Wonderful Christmas Time" by Paul McCartney - (HERE)
• "Oh Santa!" by Mariah Carey - (HERE)
• "When A Child Is Born" by Johnny Mathis - (HERE)
• "Mary's Boy Child" by Boney M - (HERE)
• "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole - (HERE)
• "Underneath the Tree" by Kelly Clarkson - (HERE)
• "Joy To The World" by Mariah Carey - (HERE)
• "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Frank Sinatra - (HERE) or by Judy Garland - (HERE)
• "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby - (HERE)
• "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" by Michael Buble - (HERE)
• "Driving Home For Christmas" by Chris Rea - (HERE)
• "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by Darlene Love - (HERE)
• "Feliz Navidad" by Michael Buble - (HERE)
• "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" by Mel and Kim - (HERE)
•  "Santa Clause Is Comin To Town" by The Jackson 5 - (HERE) or Michael Buble - (HERE)
•  "Baby It's Cold Outside" by Michael Buble and Idina Menzel - (HERE)
• "It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year" by Andy Williams - (HERE)
•  "Jingle Bells" by Michael Buble - (HERE)
• "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" by Mariah Carey - (HERE)
• "Mistletoe and Wine" by Cliff Richard - (HERE)
• "I'll Be Home For Christmas" by Bing Crosby - (HERE)
• "Silent Night" by Michael Buble - (HERE)
• "Walking In A Winter Wonderland" by Dean Martin - (HERE)
• "Holly Jolly Christmas" by Michael Buble - (HERE) or Lady Antebellum - (HERE)

 

I hope that you guys enjoyed this. As I said, this list doesn't include all of my favourite festive tunes but it does include quite a few so I hope you enjoy listening to them.

What is your favourite Christmas song? How about your favourite Christmas carol? What are your plans for Christmas? Any comments or ideas for future posts? Be sure to let me know in the comments below.

Thank you for reading, I hope you have a lovely week.

 

Have a very merry day!

GingerSnaps xxx

Makeup Your Mind - Makeup and Beauty Inspiration and Tips - Three Christmas Makeup Looks.

Hi!!!

Who's excited for Christmas? I know I am and I'm very excited for all of the fun things I've got going on this week (and onwards to the New Year). As a big ol' makeup lover, it only seems natural that I'll be doing lots of fun and festive looks and I thought that you might like some inspiration for makeup that you could try out. So, I've been sat by our lovely Christmas tree with the open fire crackling away coming up with some ideas. I have three looks for you today and so hopefully you'll find something for you.

(I'm by no means a professional but I really enjoy makeup and creating fun looks. Please feel free to adapt and change these looks based on what you prefer, what you think suits you best and all that jazz)

Gold and Rubies - A Red Lip and Gold Eyes.

• First things first (I'm a realist) you'll want to get a nice base going. Apply a primer all over your face with your foundation brush of choice then apply your foundation with this same brush (applying the primer with the foundation brush first will help your base blend better). Then apply your concealer under your eyes, around your nose and over any blemishes you have. Go ahead and set it all with your choice of powder and then apply a light dusting of blusher over the apples of your cheeks. If its going to be a long day (or night) then spritz on some setting spray to help keep your base looking fresh.
• For this look, gold tones on the eyes will be lovely. Take a metallic gold cream eyeshadow and apply some over your eyelid with your ring finger (as it will be more gentle on your eye than say your index finger) and then blend it out with a brush to soften the edges and make sure it looks as lovely as possible. Keep doing this until you build up the intensity of gold you are looking for. Curl your lashes and add some black mascara to both your top and bottom lashes.
• Finally, your lip colour. With a name like "Gold and Rubies" what else could this look feature aside from a red lip. Apply a few coats of red lipstick and bam, you're done.
• Recommended Products: Rimmel Match Perfection Fix and Perfect Pro Prime Primer (HERE), Nars Sheer Glow Foundation (HERE), Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (HERE), Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (HERE), Sleek Rose Gold Blusher (HERE), Urban Decay Chill Setting Spray (HERE), Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoo in 24k Gold (HERE), Lancôme Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara (HERE), MAC Ladybug Lipstick (HERE), Real Techniques Brushes (HERE).

O Christmas Tree - Forest Green Eyes.

• Once again, you'll want to start with your base. Primer, foundation, concealer, powder, blusher, the optional setting spray.
• The main focus for this look is the eyes - we're taking our inspiration from the lovely Christmas tree which is of course evergreen. Take a pale green colour on the inner section of your eye, then take a brighter, truer shade of green over the middle section of your eyelid and then take a dark green on the outer corners and underneath your lower lashline. Now, blend. Lots of blending, up and out and blend between the shades to create a lovely progression through the hues. Now, as always, mascara, top and bottom lashes.
• There a few options for lip colour here. I think a plum or burgundy toned lipstick would look really pretty, as would a red but I also think that a really nice, natural pink shade would also look great with the colours going on here. So, take your pick and see how you feel.
• Recommended Products: Rimmel Match Perfection Fix and Perfect Pro Prime Primer (HERE), Nars Sheer Glow Foundation (HERE), Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (HERE), Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (HERE), Sleek Rose Gold Blusher (HERE), Urban Decay Chill Setting Spray (HERE),  Bourjois Smokey Eyes Eyeshadow Trio in Vert Trendy (HERE), Lancôme Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara (HERE), Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain in Crush (HERE), MAC Ladybug Lipstick (HERE), Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Boy (HERE), Stila Lip Glaze in Starfruit (HERE), Real Techniques Brushes (HERE).



Silver Bells - Silver Glitter Eyes and Bright Pink Lips.
 
• You guessed it, the first step is all about that base (am I not just hilarious?). Primer, foundation, concealer, powder, blusher, the optional setting spray.
• You will need: lots of silver glitter. What can I say? I'm a glitter girl at heart. Don't be scared by the prospect of falldown, I'm going to share one of my biggest tips with you right now - glitter eyeliner. Using the applicator that comes with your silver glitter eyeliner, apply the amount that you want to your eye and blend in across with your ring finger. As with the gold, you can build up the intensity to suit you. Then pop a grey kohl eyeliner on your waterline and under your lower lashine. Finish off your eyes with some black mascara on your top and bottom lashes.
• Lipstick is always a fun part of makeup and one of my favourite shades to wear is a bright fuchsia pink. Apply a coat or two and you're good to go.
• Recommended Products: Rimmel Match Perfection Fix and Perfect Pro Prime Primer (HERE), Nars Sheer Glow Foundation (HERE), Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (HERE), Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (HERE), Sleek Rose Gold Blusher (HERE), Urban Decay Chill Setting Spray (HERE), Collection Glam Crystals Dazzling Gel Liner in Hustle (HERE), Max Factor Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in Charcoal Grey (HERE), Lancôme Hypnose Doll Eyes Mascara (HERE), MAC Show Orchid Lipstick (HERE), Real Techniques Brushes (HERE).

That's all for today then. I hope you enjoyed this and that this has given you a few ideas for some makeup looks to see you through the festive season.

What are your plans for the festive seasons? Do you have a favourite look for the festive season? Have you got any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Be sure to let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear from you.

Thank you for joining me today, I'll speak to you all soon.

 

I hope your day is beautiful.

 

GingerSnaps xxx



I've Been Thinking... - The Festive Countdown.

Hi!!!

Christmas is edging ever closer (it'll be five days away tomorrow!!!) and so I thought I'd share some festive musings both in and outside the world of blogging. I really like sitting down to chat to you guys about things and so I hope that you enjoy reading this. Anyway, enough of my rambling, let's get on into the post.

I want to do something a little special in terms of how I'll be posting up until Christmas so you can expect a post everyday from tomorrow (December 20th) right up to Christmas Day itself. That means I'll be posting everyday for the next five days which will be a really new experience for me. I'm looking forward to writing my "A Dash Of Ginger Festive Five" series (do you guys like the title?) and I hope that you'll enjoy them. There are quite a few different kinds of posts going on so hopefully there will be something for everyone.

 

Aside from coming up with some posting ideas for the next few days, I've been wrapping Christmas presents (celebratory dance for the fact that I've finished wrapping, ribbons and all - I'm feeling pretty smug), I've written all my cards, we bought a real Christmas tree for our hallway and decorated while listening to Christmas carols and I've been watching loads of Christmas films (Arthur Christmas, Home Alone etc.). I've also been singing Christmas songs very loudly (and dancing down the supermarket aisles...) and we've even got an open fire in the living room. My plans for this Christmas week include finishing up Christmas food shopping, going to see a Pantomime, seeing my friends on Christmas Eve and celebrating and relaxing with my family. I'm really excited for Christmas and feel all full of festive cheer.

 

I hope that this has been a nice read for you and that you'll be checking back to see the "A Dash of Ginger Festive Five" that I have got going on over the next few days.

Do you like the idea of the "A Dash of Ginger Festive Five"? What festive things have you been doing recently? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments section.

I'll see you all tomorrow for the first day of the "A Dash of Ginger Festive Five" series. Thanks for dropping in.

 

Have an brilliantly wonderful day!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - When House of Fraser Stole The Show.

Hi!!!

Good morning guys. How are we all today? I've just been watching some telly and I realised I haven't written an advertising post in so so long. So, here I am and today I want to talk to you about the House of Fraser Christmas ads because I personally love them.

I am in love with the House of Fraser Christmas ad campaign this year. The asthetics that feature in the different 'scenes' throughout are beautiful and they all complement each other wonderfully - think pastels followed metallic and so on. The advert features some incredibly talented dancers performing some really fantastic choreography (no, seriously, I'm obsessed with the choreo) and I really think that is something that sets it apart from other adverts. The choreography features some really wonderful aspects (those puppet isolations tho...) and the dancers all have such different looks that I think it shows that House of Fraser is a store for everyone. Also, the music that features is really good - it has a cool and sassy sound which I am a huge fan of. All in all, House of Fraser have completely stolen the show and I have completely fallen for this campaign - everyone involved in it can have loads of festive points.

Watch it (HERE)

That's all I've got for you guys today. I hope you've had a good week so far and that your weekend is even better. I hope you've enjoyed this post, thanks for reading.
Have you seen this advert? What do you think of it? Do you have any favourite adverts at the moment? Are you looking forward to Christmas? What are you getting up to this weekend? Any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments below.
I'll speak to you guys soon.

 

Have the most fabulous day!

 

GingerSnaps xxx

The Bare Necessities! - Essentials - Cosy (and Festive) Night In Essentials.

Hi!!!

Today I thought we'd have a little conversation about some of my favourite cosy night in essentials (with a bit of a Christmassy twist). I'm sure you all know by now that I am a huge fan of nights in and all that kind of stuff to the point where I would consider myself a bit of an expert and since its now December (by the way - HAPPY DECEMBER! ITS CHRISTMAAASS!), its chilly outside, the Sun sets earlier and the festive season is upon us, what better time could there be to share with you the best things for when you want to take some time out for yourself? I think I've rambled enough so let's crack on, shall we?

Cosy Night In Essentials (with a festive twist).

• Pyjamas!!! Whether you're digging out a set of pyjamas you've had for a while and love, are treating yourself to new ones or hopping onto the sofa in your fluffiest onsie (always a good choice), I think you'll find they are essential for comfort, cosiness and warmth. Bonus festive points if you have Christmassy PJs.
• Hot Chocolate. In my mind, hot chocolate always improves everything ten fold and no night in (especially not a festive one) seems quite right without one. I always opt for the extra rainbows and sparkles (AKA marshmallows and cream). Feel free to sub for tea (tea is always good) or coffee if you prefer. Bonus festive points if you hang a candy cane over the side of your mug - it'll make your hot chocolate taste of peppermint.
• Blankets. They bring cosiness to the table and you can truly curl up properly for a lovely evening when you're armed with a blanket. Choose any kind of colour or texture that you like - be it a tartan blanket, patchwork throw or microfleece blanket - it is a total essential. Bonus festive points if you build a whole blanket den/fort complete with lots of cushions and maybe even some fairy lights - actually have bonus life points for that.
• Films. Of course films are going to get a special mention as in my eyes they are a total night in essential. Whether you watch something you already know and love or watch something for the very first time I don't think any night in would be complete without movies - I have a bunch of my favourites listed in my blogger profile if you want to check those out. Bonus festive points if you watch Christmas movies - they are always guaranteed to make you happy.
• Books. If you don't fancy watching a movie or if you've got a bit of time spare on your big night in then I'd always suggest picking up a book. It can be whatever you want - a relaxed read or a crime thriller (who doesn't love a good crime thriller, eh?) or anything really - just spend a bit of time getting lost in the pages. Bonus festive points if the book has a festive theme (shout out to a certain Mr Dickens).
• Snacks. Come on now, be serious, I could never do a post like this without mentioning food especially not with all the awesome food around at Christmas time. Some suggestions include popcorn, crisps, biscuits, cupcakes and all that kind of stuff. Bonus festive points if you opt for mince pies (I blooming love mince pies).
• Music. You know what I'm like for my music so I thought I'd throw it into the mix. Why not pop on some tunes while you're getting all of your essentials ready and have a bit of a dance while you are there? I couldn't think of a more lovely extra. As with the movies, I've got a list of some of my favourite artists in my blogger profile if you aren't sure what you want to listen to. Bonus festive points if you choose to crank up the Christmas tunes!!!

I think that that is everything that I have for you today. I hope this was an interesting read for you and that I gave you some ideas that you hadn't thought of already and inspired you to have your own fabulous cosy night in (with a festive twist).

What are your cosy night in essentials? What do you think of mine? Are you going to give the festive twists a go? How many bonus festive points do I need to award you? Any other comments or suggestions for future posts - particularly Christmassy ones? Let me know in the comment section.

Thank you very much for reading, I hope you have a lovely weekend.

 

I hope your day is completely amazing!

 

GingerSnaps xxx