Blogmas Day 18: The Christmas Tag

1. Favourite Christmas Movie?

Either Elf or The Santa Clause. Both are so nostalgic to me. 

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

Morning, always. We'd always beg our mum to let us open one on Christmas Eve, but "it's not Christmas yet. It was always worth the wait, though. 

3. Favourite Christmas memory?

I don't have one specific memory, I just always remember waking up super early, my brother running into mine and my sister's room, and we'd just sit and chat, while opening our stockings, waiting for my mum to get up. 

4. Favourite festive food?

I touched on this in Blogmas Day 10, but I love a good Christmas dinner. Pigs in blankets... *salivates*

5. Favourite Christmas gift?

I was very lucky as a child to be given loads of really cool toys, but the one that really stands out to me was a Bratz runway catwalk thing. Their shoes would fit onto plastic clips that you put on the runway, and when you turned it on, they would literally walk down the runway. It was pretty damn cool. 

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

I love sweet candle scents like Yankee Candle's Christmas Cookie, but for an actual real-life scent? The smell of the Christmas dinner cooking!

7. Christmas Eve traditions?

We'll usually get some form of takeaway, watch a Christmassy movie, and when we were younger, would always leave out a mince pie for Father Christmas and a carrot for the reindeer. 

8. What tops your tree?

We always have an angel at the top of the tree. 

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

I don't remember anything specific, in fact, I don't remember ever being disappointed that I didn't get anything. 

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?

Being with my family. It's just so nice to sit around, chatting, and eating good food with the people you love the most. 

If you do this tag, feel free to send me the link, I'd love to read it! 7 days to go! 

Blogmas Day 16: Birthday Thanks

Welcome to Blogmas Day 16, which just so happens to be my 21st birthday *happy dance*! I intend on spending the day with some of my favourite people, so unfortunately this post isn't too exciting. Tomorrow's however, should definitely make up for it! 

I just wanted to use today's post as a way to say thank you, to all of my friends and family, for every card, present, or well-wish I've received today. I feel like I don't say it enough. So thank you. I'm so lucky to have people in my life who care about me enough to do these little things. 

Take time out of your day to thank someone. Whether it's your parents, a sibling, a boyfriend/girlfriend, a friend, anyone who you appreciate. Just say thank you for being a part of your life.

Lastly, I want to thank you. Thank you for reading my rants. Thank you for every view, every like, favourite, retweet or follow. I'm grateful to each and every one of you. So thank you. 

Blogmas Day 8: Stress

For today's post, I thought I'd get a little deep with you guys. I won't lie to you, the last few weeks have proved majorly stressful for me. The pressures of "the future" have gotten a little too high, and I've realised just how quickly things have come around. 

I've got 4 months until my final essay for university is due in, and 7 months until my graduation. I've known for a while that I wanted to do a PGCE course after uni to become a primary school teacher, so the last few weeks have been a rush of completing uni deadlines, writing my UCAS teacher application, making sure my references are completed, and booking skills tests (before you can undertake the course, you have to have completed a Literacy and Numeracy skills test). To be frank, it's been utter chaos. I've never been used to this much pressure at one time. What if I'm not accepted? I have no backup at all, as much as I love it at home, there's no way I want to go back to living with my parents. 

With Christmas around the corner, I was expecting to be full of festive cheer, not struggling to find old GCSE certificates, spending money on train tickets for interviews and tests, researching current educational issues and curriculums, planning presentations, trying to focus on essays, all while trying to remain cheery for Christmas. It's hard work, and something I wasn't prepared for. 

It scares me; the idea that in just 8 days, I'll be 21. That by January, I'll know whether or not I'll be starting my PGCE in September. That in 6 months, I'll be leaving Canterbury, and all the amazing friends and memories that I've made here, not knowing how long Mr T and I will last outside of uni. That in September, all going well, that I will be starting a year-long intense teacher training course that will see the beginning of my planned career. That in 18 months, I may become a qualified teacher, and enter the "working world"... It's all hit me at once, and it's made me realise that I'm really not prepared for these changes. 

I don't want to grow up... 

I promise tomorrow will be more of a cheery post, but I just needed to vent a little. 

Blogmas Day 7: Things That Make Me Happy (Christmas Edition)

1. Christmas Trees
Is there anything more Christmassy than putting up the tree as a family?

2. Christmas Lights
I walked through Canterbury City Centre the other night and was amazed at how beautiful the lights were!

3. Mistletoe
I've never even used mistletoe, but I like the idea of having a cheeky peck with someone special, just because a plant tells you to.

4. Wrapping Presents
Nothing gets me in the spirit more than wrapping gifts with colourful paper, string and bows!

5. Christmas Shopping
I love picking out the perfect gift for everyone I love.

6. Food
Christmas dinner, pigs in blankets, Toblerone, After Eights, MatchMakers, Ferrero Rochers... Need I go on?

7. Fairy Lights
I have fairy lights in my room all year round just to feel that much cosier.

8. Christmas Jumpers
*see previous post*

9. Advent Calendars
Is there anything more exciting than opening a new window each day?

10. Winter Coats
I recently bought one with a faux fur lining. best decision of my life.

11. Limited Edition Products
LUSH's Snow Fairy and Yankee Candle's Christmas Cookie are my favourites.

12. Fleecy Pyjamas
I bought some from Primark a few years ago with penguins on them - they're still going strong!

13. Family Time 
Everyone reunited in one room again with food, gifts and laughter.

14. Christmas Songs
They just make me so happy!

15. Christmas Films
I could literally watch Elf the whole year round!

What are your favourite things about Christmas? 

Blogmas Day 6: Christmas Playlist

There's only 19 days until Christmas. NINETEEN! If you weren't excited already, then now is a perfect time to blast out the perfect Christmas playlist to perk you up as you put up that tree! GO, GO, GO! 

1. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (Michael Bublé) 

2. Driving Home For Christmas (Chris Rea)

3. Do They Know It's Christmas (Band Aid 84)

4. Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End) (The Darkness)

5. Baby It's Cold Outside (Idina Menzel & Michael Bublé

6. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day (Wizzard)

6. Fairytale of New York (The Pogues)

7. All I Want For Christmas Is You (Mariah Carey)

8. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (The Jackson 5)

9. Let It Snow (Frank Sinatra) 

10. Real Love (Tom Odell) - I just had to...

What songs would you have in your playlist? Until tomorrow, my loves! x

Blogmas Day 2: Dear December

Dear December, 

It always seems like the year passes so quickly, in a complete blur, just to get back round to you. This year, you bring my 21st birthday, which I hope to celebrate over a few days with my closest friends, family and boyfriend. The last two birthdays have been a bit of a disappointment, but I have hope that this year, you'll make it worthwhile. 

December, you bring bitter weather, rain and winter coats, but also bring festive cheer and merriment among even the grumpiest of people. You make people happy with bright lights, decorations, and Christmas songs, and bringing people together to celebrate as one. 

Although I hate the cold, I love the excuse of being able to spend the day cuddling up in a blanket with the fairy lights on, watching Netflix and drinking hot chocolate. You give me that excuse, December. 

I know that this month is going to whizz past, and soon you'll just be another memory. But I also know that 2015 will be a quick one, and it won't be long until I see you again. 

Until next year,