Rain, rain go away!

Today it is another raining day in the UK. I am sat inside longing to be able to do some nice outdoor activities. Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis were just awful and now it seems we have more wet and windy weather to cope with. Here are some ideas for things to do when it rains:

• Baking: I love baking a cake but I never have time to do it. So when it is wet and windy outside, it is the perfect opportunity to head to the shops and get some ingredients to cook a nice cake. Chocolate cake, fairy cupcakes or flapjack are some of my favourite things to bake. 
• Watch a movie: The miserable weather is perfect for staying cosy on the sofa and watching a movie. I love rom coms and they will definitely warm your heart at this time of year.
• Read a book: Again, this is something I never get much time to do. Starting a good book can be as good as watching a fun film. 
• A spring clean: Getting your apartment or house in order is a good thing to do when you cannot go outside much. I also find cleaning and organising quite rewarding. 
• Blogging: Obviously if you're a blogger then this is a great time to write something or catch up on articles! 

Valentine's Day is coming!

I have been pretty rubbish with my blog recently. My friends did warn me that blogging is very full on and you have to basically dedicate your whole life to it! I didn't realise how much of a task it is to keep one up to date all the time, so fair play to those who do it!

Anyway I can't believe that I am writing now when January is almost over. I hate the first month of the year. It is so gloomy and miserable. But now it is nearly over we have Valentine's Day to look forward to!

Here are a few of my ideas for a top date night:

•  A romantic dinner for two: It is always nice to get out of the house and go somewhere special for dinner. Some people don't like being surrounded by other couples, but I don't mind one bit! Whether it is a local pub or a high-end restaurant, I think it is nice to mark the occasion with a dinner cooked by a proper chef. 
•  A weekend away: This is more for people who want to splash the cash I guess and a change of scenery at this time of year will help with winter blues. You don't have to travel far though and even a one night break in the UK is enough to revitalise you at this time of year. 
•  The cinema: For movie fans, a night at the cinema is a treat. I actually like setting up my home as a cinema on a Friday night. Popcorn paired with a classic movie is something to look forward to. That said, nothing beats the real thing and the big screen is always a winner!
• The theatre: For those who don't like the cinema, take a look at the local theatre. This is such a traditional way to spend an evening and very romantic. It is a little bit different. 
•  A wine tasting: No Valentine's Day would be complete without a winetasting. Whether you go to a smart organised one in a venue, or try it at home, sampling different wines and Proseccos is a fun way to spend the evening. Laithwaites has a sale on a mix of bottles at the moment, which will start you off nicely! 

Christmas Songs and Shopping!

So, I have been caught up with studying a lot recently and haven't had much time to write my blog. But today I am taking a break from it all and enjoying the Christmas spirit. So I am writing in RED :) 

I currently have Christmas songs blasting in my room. The classics really are the best. I love all of the old school hits and they just get you in the mood for the festive season.

I have been busy doing Christmas shopping too and looking online for gifts to buy. I LOVE Not on the High Street - it is such a good website. You can get loads of stuff that you wouldn't normally come across. This is actually one of my top shopping websites for Christmas and a tip for people stuck on present ideas. You can sort through the stock really easily and they have great ideas for 'her' and 'him'.

There is also a whole section dedicated to Secret Santa. This is super handy because I always get stuck on this. Whether you're doing it with class mates, in an office or a sports club, there is a great selection on Not on the High Street. You can check it out here!

Father Christmas or Santa Claus?

 I have been thinking recently about how early Christmas starts. Now don't get me wrong - I love it! I am a festive queen!!

One of the things I have noticed recently is that in England people now use the term Santa as the way of talking about the big man! It used to be Father Christmas and I am wondering if this is a trend that has come from America?

Comment below if you have any ideas! I don't want 'Father Christmas' to go out of a fashion, so I am sticking with that this year!! :)

Christmas Ads!

Yes! The Christmas Ads have started! I was watching Celebrity X Factor last night and saw a couple of the big ones for this year. The Walkers advert has one of my favourite songs of all time in it and features the one and only Mariah Carey! It is brilliant and apparently she made £9million from doing it!

I am also loving the Aldi advert, which has the song Let Me Entertain You by Robbie Williams. Apparently it is a bit of a mystery whether he actually sings this version as Aldi have not confirmed it yet, but it sounds identical so it must be him!

I can't wait to see the John Lewis ad. This is the one I always look forward to and they normally do a brilliant job. Hopefully it will be out soon and I will be able to blog about it!

It's nearly time for mince pies!

OK so I know it is only November, but I get so excited about Christmas. It seems to start much earlier these days and I am seeing lots of talk online about Christmas Trees going up and the shops already have loads of Christmas stock in.

Mince Pies are some of my fav things to eat in the whole wide world! You can make mince pies at home but let's face it, this is very time consuming. There are some yummy ones that you can buy, but also some dreadful ones! My advice is to go for good quality pastry.

The mince pies from Waitrose looks so yummy

I recently saw these All Butter Puff Pastry Mince Pies from Waitrose and I can't wait to try them. M&S also do amazing Mince Pies and I always stock up on them for December. They are such a nice treat for friends and family when they come to visit.

Also they are great to enjoy with drinks, whether it is red wine or coke and rum - whatever takes your fancy! I often take them over to people's houses during December as everyone loves a mince pie. Even if it is as a mid-morning treat with a cup of tea.

I don't know how I am going to resist all the amazing Christmas food this year. I love it all! Chocolate, Christmas Dinner, Mince Pies (obviously)… you name it!!

Christmas Jumper Season is nearly here!

I love everything about Christmas. Especially Christmas Jumpers! I have already seen a few in the shops and they are already out on the rails. I can't believe it is nearly time to get into the spirit! I have also been looking online. I found this gorgeous one on the Topshop website and it has been reduced to only £15.

I am going to post some more of my fav ones as we get closer to December but I couldn't resist sharing this one now. It is quite classy though, which may not suit everyone's festive needs! As I know some people like to go full on Christmas with their jumper! Any why not?!