25 Homeware Sale Buys

It's been a while since I've done one of these hefty homeware sale lists, cough *wishlist* cough.

I mean, since I've moved out I've been more fussed about getting the latest on trend pizza tray than a pair of slim mom jeans from ASOS. I've changed. I'm old.  But I also love it a teeny bit.

I've never been a huge sales shopper for clothes because funnily enough the mass of people trampling on the said items in the sales isn't hugely appealing for me. Neither is finding a cute dress that was actually from 2 seasons ago.

But homeware sales are a whole other ball game. It's probably things you've been lurking on for months, in anticipation for those gentle price drops. But most of the time, you'll just be having a browse and think OMG that would look so good next to the other 5793 mugs I have too. So that's what happens, with me anyway.

I had fun putting these little gals together, firstly to window shop for myself, but also to see how many things I now own are also in the sale. That's always fun, right?

So you'll find a hefty little amount of copper, pinks, monochromes and just damn cute homeware pieces that have all been vetted by me for their Instagram worthiness, of course. 

Since I started this list, things have already started going out of stock, so there's no time like the present. Happy Shopping!

1. Eat Drink Enjoy Plate - H&M Home £1.49
2. Wooden Chopping Board - H&M Home £9.99
3. Round Sheepskin Cushion - Oliver Bonas £30
4. Bella Swan Mug - Oliver Bonas £8
5. Ines Medium Jug - Oliver Bonas £16
6. Jimi 1 Drawer Bedside Table - La Redoute £99 (currently 20% off everything)
7. Ikoya Water Hyacinth Basket - La Redoute £69 (currently 20% off everything)
8. So Fresh Bath Mat - Urban Outfitters £18
9. Birdy Silver Side Table - Urban Outfitters £55
10. Hello Word Object - West Elm £14.95
11. Graphic Tricoloured Throw - Maisons Du Monde £56.25
12. Kate Moss Poster - Desenio From £59.95 (currently 30% off selected posters)
13. Copper Coloured Metal Lamp - Maisons Du Monde £40.40
14. (currently out of stock) Same design - Lupita Wooden Console Table - Oliver Bonas £255
15. Penelope Llama Trinket Dish - Oliver Bonas £7
16. (Similar) Edgar White Orbis Marble Table Lamp - Trouva £119
17. Palm Leaves Poster - Desenio From £5.95 (currently 30% off selected posters)
18. Hubsch Monochrome Wool Rug - Trouva £120
19. Canvas Homestore 5pc Set Oslo Copper Cutlery - Trouva £45
20. Pommed Monogram Stocking - Anthropologie £10.95
21. Skye Medium Lantern - The White Company £9
22. Odessa Metal Bin Copper - Made £22
23. Alana Bedside Table Copper - Made £89
24. Brandy Metal Tray - Made £25
25. Mustique Signature Candle - The White Company £14

What homeware bits have you been spying in the sales?

*Some of the above links are affiliate links, this just means that if you make a purchase on them I will make a few pennies from the sale, it doesn't cost you any extra. If you want to get rid of the affiliate link just clear your cookies and refresh, simple!

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5 of My Favourite Posts From 2017

Oh, 2017, it's been a funny old year for blogging. 

I pretty much wrote it off in the summer. I was neither here nor there when I moved out. I still posted OOTD posts that I did way back when and well, I *think* I've finally found my blogging voice.

I'm happier with my content than ever before, and I'll tell you why. I've stripped back the 'air brushed content', it's all or nothing from me now. I'm much more selective in the types of brands and sponsored content I take on. But the main thing? I've started to blog about what I want to blog about. 

So sorry, but no more hand cream reviews or 'I went to this event and I did this and then that..' from me.

Coincidentally the 5 posts I plucked from my archive this year were mostly all written towards the end of the year. They're personal, *hopefully* funny and reads that you can relate to as well. I like how we're never alone in situations that we sometimes feel we are.

There's always someone out there to listen to how I've sliced my hand open with a bread knife, and how I'm calling out the influencer lifestyle I so don't want to be a part of.

So, here's 5 of my faves that I've been most proud of this year.

1. What I Learned From A Week Long Social Media Detox

YAS! I said I'd start the year without social media and I did. A life affirming moment for me, I didn't need social media to complete me, I was actually quite alright without it. 

I gained time, a lot of it. I spoke to people. I swapped my daily scroll of Insta for a conversation with my mum. It was bloody hard, but a real eye opener.

Social media is a wonderful thing, I love it. But once you've been sucked in, the seed has been sown. It roots itself inside you and it's not always a good thing. It can bring doubt, anxiety and jealousy, and also a bit of sadness. 

If you do anything in 2018 or over Christmas, ditch the digital. You'll feel so much happier for it, and it ain't going anywhere.

2. My First 3 Weeks of Being A Homeowner

I couldn't not include one of the biggest life changes/achievements of 2017. I bought my own home! A stressful whirlwind that still rears its ugly troll head now, but oh boy, I did it. I really did it, by myself.

The first 3 weeks were a blur. Mostly 'I can't believe this is mine' and constantly feeling like someone was going to tell me to leave. The honeymoon period was amazing and I love that I have this open diary to look back on. Those big issues that feel like nothing now.

Everything resolves itself. That's the one key thing I've learnt during this year, there will always be 'something', but it's how I react to it and move forward that matters and what I've learnt. Being a homeowner has come with another ticking time bomb of stress and problems, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I *guess* this means I'm an adult now too.

3. 10 Things That Only Happen On An All Inclusive Holiday

I had to include this for the pure lol factor. My favourite list post to date and one that probably no one else finds funny, but I'm just like YEP.

It brings back my summer holiday memories of eating pizza and chips for tea every night. That CUTE AF green wristband and the Benidorm worthy evening entertainment. It was a good one.

4. Fakery Within The Influencer Network

The post that left a sour taste in my mouth. I had a resounding amount of tweets and comments about this post, and it seems that a lot of bloggers could relate to this too.

The originality with influencers is still very much lacking. As the Black Friday sales came and Christmas gift guides did the round we all became accustomed to seeing the exact same ad 5 x in the same scroll. 

But it's not just that. Its how bloggers and influencers have this massive divide now, the glass ceiling that some of us just cannot get past, but also don't want to get past.

Social media and the world of influencers is growing at a scary speed, so we don't know what's next. All we can do is continue to invest in real people, write about what we love on our corners of the internet and be here when the influencer bubble inevitably bursts. Nah, I'm not bitter at all.

5. The Friends I'll Be Leaving In 2017

I couldn't believe how many people reached out to me about this post and were like YES GURL. It appears I'm not alone and some people may be thinking it's a brutal post but I'm sorry you are NUMBER ONE. 

You should never have your happiness sucked away for the benefit of staying in an unfulfilling friendship. The type that eats you up inside, and they know it.

I'm done with being the nice guy and putting up with class A shit. I'm done being there when they aren't there for me. I aint no clothes horse to take anymore soggy laundry. I'm out.

Like Sarah Knight taught me in the life changing magic of not giving a fuck, rid yourself of feeling guilty for saying NO to things, and just don't give a fuck with the NotSorry method.

Here's to even better content in 2018. As always let me know if there are any posts or type of content you would like to see from me in the new year! 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year. Thanks for sticking around with me, you total babes. See you in 2018.

What are your favourite posts from 2017?

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A Few of My Fave Christmas Presents

I write this as I nurse the Christmas Day bloat, yet still dive my hand back into the M&S shortbread tin for just one more. It's Christmas!

My day digital detox made such a refreshing change to endlessly scrolling through pictures of Charlotte Tilbury, engagements and pictures of everyone's Christmas dinner. I knew this year I was gonna be like HEY I got a baking tray and a mini pyrex jug for Christmas, so....

I mean, I really thought you'd all love seeing pictures of my new baking tray I got for Christmas and OMG I have a new pizza tray so I can cook pizza without the edges being pushed into the oblong tray. 

But, I was also really lucky to receive some other non homeware (non essential) items that I wanted to share with you. I guess, I like pink right?

Copper Cutlery

One commandment I always follow is, thou shall never have too much copper. I'm at risk of shortly living within the realms of a copper cooking pot, and what? The only reason I didn't get any copper cutlery sooner was because you can't put it in the dishwasher. Imagine actually having to clean your dishes. Ugh. So the copper cutlery is going to be for best, and for best I mean when I'm cooking up a lil batch of pancakes for one. I can't bloody wait!

Flamingo Teapot

I spied this little beauty on the Paperchase Instagram a few months ago. I sent it to a few people at the time because OMG. My family/bf know me so well that I opened my presents to not one but TWO flamingo teapots. Who's the real winner here? I'm calling them Pearl and Penelope and I'm so excited to have cups of tea and many Insta snaps with these gals.

Notebook

Too glam to give a damn and don't I know it? I may currently be makeup less and airing the red skin I've been picking, buttt.. Major brownie points for my mum for spotting this in Primark. Nothing motivates me more than a super sassy notebook in my hand and writing on the first clean page of a new book. Is it 2018 yet?

Converse

Baby. pink. velvet. converse. Need I say more? No pair of standard white high tops will do me anymore, I'm in love, I'm in love and I don't care who knows! 

Pancake Making Set

I was blown away by this little pancake making kit that my sister got me from Not On The High Street. I didn't know such a thing existed and if anyone knows me well, I love a good stack of pancakes. The batter mix even came with the cutest heart shaped cutter and pastel coloured whisk. Coming to you on an Instagram very soon...

Flamingo Globe Decoration

The pink and flamingo trend continues here. I just love how my friends and family know me so very well. My blogging gal Emily from Maytooctober got me this super sweet flamingo globe. I've already decided it's gonna be an all year round kinda thing, it's too pretty to be stored away for 11 months every year. Dontcha think?

Candle Teacup

I love my mum for crafting this little candle teacup for me. She sourced the vintage tea cup and saucer from a charity shop and made the candle inside it. It was her first attempt at something like this and I love it! It's a present that will stay with me past when the wick burns out too.

Rather than sharing the rest of the kitchen cupboard and chocolate aisle of Sainsbury's with you I wanted to share a few little faves with you. 

Now, if you've done any similar posts hook me up with them below because there's never I like more than have a little nosey!

What did you get for Christmas?

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My Relationship With Food

If you think I'm that type of girl that eats bean salads and leaves for breakfast, lunch and dinner, then I'm sorry, but you'd be very much disappointed.

I'd much rather be coming home to fish fingers, beans and chips on a Monday evening than actually thinking about cooking anything remotely healthy. Winning at life. But is it more than that?

Is it more than just being too lazy to cook anything? Well, yes it is.

My relationship with food has two tiers. The first tier is that I am fussy. I am that girl that goes to Nando's, asks for completely plain chicken and then douses it in ketchup. Sorry not sorry.

Margherita pizza only. I don't do anything drenched in sauces or gravy. KFC, or Chinese? Never had it. 

I'm scared. I'm scared of trying new food. Scared of something making me ill, and it's the mental barrier that I have before trying any food that puts me off trying it entirely. As I've got older I have forced myself to try new things. I mean, there's only so much I can deal with of my repertoire of turkey burgers and omelettes. I do make a mean omelette though. Only ham and cheese tho, OBV.

I joke, but my entire office ask me what I have for tea every night like LOL. Same as last Tuesday Donna.

But then there's another level to my relationship with food. It's more sinister and well, it dictates me.

You see, being teetotal is not the only thing that pancreatitis left me with. I have to be really careful what I eat. But I also don't know when to stop or learn. 

So yes, that is a dominos I have every month, another sickeningly sweet hot chocolate, and oh yes another cake pit stop on the weekend. I am my own worst enemy.

But no one ever sees what goes on behind closed doors, beyond the over exposed Insta snap of my cold hot chocolate. 

It was only 2 weeks ago that a weekend of bad eating left me for a week with agonising stomach pains, constant nausea, having to sleep with a hot water bottle every night and having no appetite. It was the worst flare up that I have had for a while, but these are common place to me. 

I vowed I learned my lesson this time. I'd had enough of carrying anti sickness tablets around and chewing on glace ginger (10/10 nausea cure btw). But here I am already consuming a dominos pizza, chocolate Yule log and mince pie in the same day. 

I'm constantly playing with the devil and I know it. How many biscuits is too many? When am I next going to be pushed over the edge? That greedy, piggy voice in my head is always there saying 'go on, just one more', then they back track 'JUST FINISH THE WHOLE PACKET'. I hate inner me.

Greasy food, sugar laden food and basically anything processed or fatty is a 100% no for me. The pancreas is closely linked with how you digest food, and pancreas inflammation can be caused by all of the above. 

I've been clear of pancreatitis for a fair few years now. But my pancreas is still scarred, it's there dormant in the background, scared of my every move. 

LOL. I nearly had to ring 999 for eating a packet of haribo earlier this year. I couldn't walk I was in so much pain, I was sick by a car showroom and I couldn't eat for a couple days. Wasn't the first time though, never is. I've also had to run out of M&S to be sick by a bin once because of Mr Candy King.

My issue is that I feel like food is my only vice in life. I exercise a lot, I can't drink, so why should I also be denied of my one true love in life? It's food.

I feel like it's a sick joke when I can't even handle a slice of cake with friends. That's why I come back running every time, it's a vicious circle.

It's something I've very much kept behind closed doors before. It's like a dead weight I carry around with me everywhere. It could be worse, a lot worse. I know it could. When temptation is always around you, it's always going to be hard.

For 2018 I 100% vow to get back onto the wagon. There's no IFS or BUTS this time. 

Start following the basic diet I know my pancreas yearns from me. I need to start behaving. Everything in moderation and all, so I will be making exceptions here and there. But for my own benefit I think I need one whole basic month to see how well I can feel.

Because truth be told, I can't remember the last time I felt well. That makes me sad. There's more to life than a piece of cake and I need to show myself that in 2018.

Here's to health and happiness in 2018. Reworking old habits and being kind to myself. It's not you, it's me.

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Why I'm Going To Be Signing Out of Social Media On Christmas Day

I started the year off with one whole week off social media. The endless engagements, new babies, gift announcements and #boydidgood posts were enough to turn me green with envy after Christmas dinner lunch. Feeling deflated and well, just a bit shit about myself.

Scrolling through social media is very much a filler of my time. I do it when I'm bored, lonely and when ya know, want to have a stalk. The worst times you can. It's those types of moments when the Instagram feed eats you up inside. You become the big green monster. It's the posts you keep thinking about hours later. Tbh, it ruined the festivities and new year for me last year. It just made me feel really rubbish about myself.

The digital free time I had at the start of the year was probably the best start I could give to any year. I felt so motivated, refreshed and I suddenly had all of this free time to DO stuff. 

My Christmas Day is usually just spent with my mum, dad and sister. But I'll still find myself reaching for my phone during the day. I'll be looking at what other people get, trying to post something just as good, refreshing my phone until I've had 11 likes. Moaning about not getting enough likes, then thinking I'm the only one looking at social media on Christmas Day of all days. Like OK I get it, I need a life.

I have an unhealthy obsession with it over Christmas which is why I will be signing out of all my accounts for 24 hours over Christmas.

There aren't going to be any PRs looking for people on Christmas Day. You aren't going to get a brand regram. Albeit nice, you probably *won't* gain 1,000 followers either. You'll always be lucky if you get more than 20 likes too. So what's the point?

It's all going to still be there come Boxing Day.  

Christmas Day needs to be that day that I am good to myself. My brain needs a complete shut down, apart from worrying about not getting enough pigs in blankets and whether I'll be out of my pjs by 11. Both inevitably gonna happen. Soz not soz.

The point is, do we ever really get any time off when we're constantly wired through social media? A week was bloody hard for me, self confessed Insta addict. But 24 hours, I'm in.

I want to be in the moment this year. A head that isn't clouded with feelings of low worth. A day where I don't know what anyone got gifted, or who got engaged (let's face it, there's usually about 5). A day of feeling good, doing good and having quality, uninterrupted time with my family. Plus, at least I'll be able to give the Corrie Christmas special my undivided attention this year.

I'll see you all on Boxing Day. 

Are you planning on having any digital free time over Christmas?

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A Festive Afternoon Tea At Boringdon Hall

I was about to say about how bloomin' wonderful and festive the weekend has been, but HELLO Wednesday, how did that one happen. Only another 8 working days to get through now until Christmas. We can do this.

So yeah, last weekend was great. I got a real Christmas tree, decorated it, went to London and even had a snow day. I also had the most wonderful afternoon off having a rather festive little afternoon tea at Boringdon Hall Plymouth. I mean, I like cake and tea anyway, so what's not to love? 

My colleagues joke about it, but I really don't drive further outside of Plymouth. Not even into Plympton which is, LOL Plymouth still. So I'd never even been to Boringdon Hall before which I'm not gonna lie about I'm mad about. It's situated in the most hidden yet stunning location, it's easy to find and the grounds are from something of a fairytale. I knew I was gonna like it there.

It's the type of place I always dream I'll book myself into for a few days of R&R, fascinating company and country walks. Yet to happen, but maybe for Christmas hey?

Boringdon Hall are renown for their amazing afternoon teas, a home away from home. They even did a Beauty and the Beast themed afternoon tea earlier in the year which was an obvious hit. The grounds themselves are breathtaking, but the actual dining rooms are something else. Think Hogwarts, but for muggles.

We were led into a huge, high ceiling hall which felt more like a cosy country lodge than a dining room. There's me imagining there being tables and seats like the school canteen. It was home to cosy sofas, roaring fires, and Christmas decorations to top all Christmas decorations. You can promise to get all the festive feels by the time you leave.

Once we were seated it was time to get ready for the festive offering. Do wear soft pants, because that top button of your jeans won't be staying done up for long.

This special edition afternoon tea has been individually designed to melt our hearts and warm our bellies during Christmas time. The afternoon tea had a real mixture of your classic Christmas favourites, with an alternative twist.

Working from the bottom tier up, the savoury selection included the cutest finger sandwiches, a classic ham sandwich which easily pleased the fussy eater within me, a salmon blini, coronation chicken sandwich and a cucumber sandwich. What more could you want? Let's face it, for me the afternoon tea is all about the sweet treats. 

The next layer is a total classic, but favourite in my eyes, a plain and fruit scone with plenty of jam and cream. There's nothing to see here, apart from the debate that inevitably will unveil, jam or cream first?

Saving the best for last. A slice of traditional Christmas cake, which is honestly one of my favourite things about Christmas food, after the mince pies and tubs of cheeselets. Marzipan, icing and all.  I loved the twist on the traditional Yule log, which posed as Santa's belly, fat and chocolatey, just how I like my Yule logs.

Without a doubt the real star of the show after the 'figgy pudding' was the Snowman macaroon. Ugh, can we just take a moment to appreciate this little guy. It's something that I wouldn't have even thought of adding to an afternoon tea. But it bloody works.

With our tummy's full of festive food, we could have sat there for hours on end with our mulled wine and tea (there's at least 61748 different teas to choose from, well, almost). 

The member of staff was so attentive during our time at Boringdon and the atmosphere was amazing. The time felt so precious there, I would never have thought I was 5 minutes away from the dual carriageway in Plymouth. It was peaceful, beautiful and just everything you need from a relaxing afternoon. It was a mini escape from daily life that I didn't think was possible at 2pm on a Thursday afternoon.

The festive afternoon tea at Boringdon Hall is only here until the 31st December. It's £30 per person and includes the full feast, with a glass of mulled wine and tea. However, they do a different themed afternoon tea every month, as they understand that we take afternoon tea just as seriously as they do!

Let the festivities commence! 

Have you been to Boringdon Hall before? Do you like going for Afternoon tea?

*I was invited to Boringdon Hall for afternoon tea, however, all opinions in this post are 100% my own

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30 Things To Do This Christmas

Yesterday was wonderful. I booked a day off to buy and decorate my first ever real Christmas tree. I did step in dog poo, smash a glass bauble and bought netted light curtains instead of tree lights, but whatcha gonna do? I mean I don't know about you, but I really think I'm bossing adult life right now. Just me doing adult things and making my first Christmas in my new home one I'll remember forever. 

When we work, exercise, blog, socialise and just try to be the best person we can, before we know it Christmas has been and gone and that lull between Christmas and New Years has just been left to decay and sit there, along with the tub of cheeselets and boxes of partially opened Christmas biscuits. Let's face it, there's always at least 5 on the go.

I want to make this Christmas the best yet, Squeeze every ounce of time out of my days off and just ya know, make it the best one yet. 

Just a gal hooking you up with 30 lil things to keep you occupied this Christmas so you can tell your colleagues on the 2nd Jan you've done more than eat. Well, maybe.

1. Go to a Christmas carol service, with mince pies, mulled wine and good people. Most churches host these sorts of events. There is one in Plymouth on the 19th and I am ridiculously excited. It's something I've never been to before, but it's sure to give me all the festive feels.

2. A day devoted to Christmas films, wrapping, and doing nothing. Okay, so we've probably already all done this. But there is nothing better than keeping cosy, not moving for the whole day and just generally loving life.

3.A Boxing Day walk. Nothing gets me ready for more food quite like a Boxing Day morning walk. It always feels so fresh and quiet on this day, and I love the anticipation of more food and films with the family.

4.A board games evening. With hot chocolates and snacks. 'Cos Christmas. It's the perfect reason to ditch your phone for the evening and enjoy the company you're with.

5.Do a random act of kindness. Buy a homeless person a drink, donate some clothes to charity or a local refuge centre. Take part in the shoebox appeal. Christmas is a time for giving and family, but it's also important to think of those less fortunate.

6. Bake mince pies and Christmas gingerbread cookies, eat them in one sitting. 

7.Go for an evening walk and admire all the Christmas lights on the houses. It's my favourite thing to do. I try to do the same when I drive home from work, but there's only so many times I can get away without hitting something.

8. Christmas jumpers all day errr day. It doesn't have to be Christmas jumper day to wear those ugly, but oh so beautiful things. 

9. Build a gingerbread house. This has legit been on my Christmas bucket list for 16373 years. Basically since before time. I can't think of anything more fun than building one by yourself or with a sibling or partner, if ya fancy a row.

10.Wrapping. Get the Pinterest boards out, the ribbons, masses of wrapping paper and even some foliage. I like to go ALL out when it comes to wrapping. I love getting crafty and making it look nice. Is it okay to ask for the ribbon back after tho? Asking for a friend.

11.Sales shopping. Whether you're a get up at 5am kinda gal on Boxing Day morning or like doing it from the comfort of your Christmas pit, there's always sales to be had. A great filler of time when the family have gone home and your only company is a tub of cheeselets.

12. Plan your new year. Once the festivities are out of the way, that lull until New year is the perfect time to sit down and think about your goals for the new year. There's never a time I feel like I have my shit together as much as when I have that written list of resolutions in front of me.

13. Go to the pantomine. If the 'he's behind you' jokes still get you, then the panto is an absolute must. Who said it's just for the kids?

14. Buy everything festive shaped. Christmas tree crumpets, tick. Mini mince pies, tick. ALL the festive food needs to be bought, consumed and posted on Instagram during the 12 days of Christmas. It will guarantee you at least 20 likes.

15.Head to your local Christmas market or go away somewhere for the weekend. Sample all the food stalls, hot chocolates, churros, mulled wine EVEN Yorkshire pudding wraps in Plymouth, say what. Eat your way around each stall until you can't walk anymore.

16. Buy a real Christmas tree, and decorate it. It's 100% more effort than a fake tree, BUT the smell and the fun of trying to make it look straight. It's worth every bloomin' second.

17.Turn on Christmas FM. Cut the fuss. Make the switch and revel in the Last Christmas' and All I want For Christmas for at least, hmm, all 4 weeks of December. 

18. Buy all the Christmas lush bath bombs. Use Luxury Christmas Pud bath bomb on Christmas Eve, bathe in it, enjoy the sweet scent of Twilight. No Christmas Eve bath time will ever be the same again without this one.

19.Crack out the new Christmas PJS. Head to Primark for a new set, hit up the ASOS next day delivery for a pair on the 23rd if you forget. There's nothing better than putting on a clean, fresh pair when you're waiting for Santa.

20. Ice skating. Whether you hit the ice, or just sit from the sidelines and pretend you went, ice skating is so magical at Christmas. It might not be the Rockefeller ice rink, but STILL.

21. Cracking the tub of Roses open at 10am. Ain't no time like the present. (DOES ANYONE EVEN LIKE ROSES THO?)

22. Treat yourself to a hot chocolate, cream and marshmallows. Swap that daily cuppa for a little cup of loveliness. Nothing says Christmas like a warm cup of cocoa.

23. Invite everyone over. Being a host and getting to buy all the festive napkins, plates, cups, balloons, festive food is just the best. £100? No problem. It's Christmas! Making your guests have the nicest time is just the best feeling. Not up to hosting? just order a dominos for everyone. It's a win, win!

24. Light all the candles, turn all the fairy lights on. I always hit up the Primark home aisle for a set of fairy lights, or 56.

25. Have digital free time. I'm actually *thinking* about not using or looking at social media once on Christmas Day. There's only so many engagements and #boydidgood posts a gal can see, and quite frankly I want to be in the moment this year and grateful for what I have around me. 

26. Crack out a Christmas buffet. I might go as far as saying I actually sometimes prefer a buffet to the actual Christmas roast. Well, probably not, but I do love a bloody good spread. The cheese, the crisps, the chocolate, the nibbles, I like it all. 

27. Leftover turkey sandwiches and chips. The leftover turkey is here to stay, there's plenty of it, if you're not a bubble and squeak sort of person, sandwiches are the next best thing. 

28. Make a Christmas cake from scratch, Ok, so you probably needed to do this one a couple of months in advance. We usually buy a pre-made fruit cake and then decorate it with marzipan, chocolate, basically the whole works. It's still just as fun and tastes pretty good too.

29.Christmas is a whirlwind, but it's also a time to take time out and rest. Christmas is for you to refresh and look after yourself. Make time for self care, general rest and time alone. It's so important to realise you don't have to be constantly pleasing people over the Christmas period. You do you.

30. Hang a Christmas wreath on your door. Go round the local neighbourhood and take a picture of every single door you spot with a wreath on it. I make this a yearly tradition now and I love that I can actually take part this year too. Perfect Insta content for the whole holidays. #ihavethisthingwithdoors

What are you most excited about this Christmas?

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5 Easy Ways To Grow Your Pinterest Following

Mysterious and unknown. Pinterest had always been that one platform that I had no idea how to grow.

I'd had my account for over 2 years and only had 20 followers. Basically if you're posting less than once a week, don't bother. It was impossible. It was the impossible platform to crack.

So last year I set myself a challenge to really focus on getting some growth, experimenting and seeing what delivered the results. Within 3 months I was over 1,000 followers up and my blog content was starting to get repinned.

For an example, one of my pictures has been repinned 15,000 times. Can I get a hell yeah?

Without blowing my own trumpet, I thought I'd let you in on these easy ways to grow your following. Pinterest is not just a case of following 1,000 boards and hoping for the best though, you'll need to set a bit of time aside to start reaping the results.

1. Pin, Pin, Pin - Consistency Is Key

Consistency is the key to success on Pinterest. Without it, none of the below will help. This was trial and error for me. But I found that I had to pin around 3-4 times per day spread out over the day, pinning at least 10 pins at once.

There was a lot of early advice about Pinterest that pinning too much at once is bad. Well that really is a load of BS. If you're pinning high quality content, on a range of different boards I actually find that this helps me more.

Set aside little time slots each day, even 5 minutes 4 times a day, and you'll quickly start to notice a difference within a week.

2. Tidy Up Your Boards

I had a proper sit down and evaluated my boards before starting to grow them. I deleted old boards with not many pins, and deleted pins I didn't like anymore. I renamed the boards to help with search (this has been proven to help) and wrote short descriptions for each of the boards. Again, just picking out a few keywords and making it a bit more descriptive.

If I want to make any new boards, I now keep these private so I can only see them and then set them to public when they have 10+ pins in them. It again shows your followers or potential followers that you are active. Having boards that are full of pins looks far more aesthetically pleasing too.

3. Focus On One Key Board

When you're pinning you may have noticed the 'suggested boards' that come up amidst all of the pins. Well the key is getting into that. A bit like the google algorithm, no one really knows how it works and what the algorithm is to trigger getting yourself into that box. 

However, I found that by focusing all of my efforts on one key board this is how I grew my following in such a short, but intense period of time. It doesn't even matter if you're not posting across your other boards, or so I think anyway. 

The more you pin on an exclusive board, the more times your pins will be seen and the more active you are, the higher chance you'll appear as a suggested board to follow when others are looking for similar content.

It also has to be a board that a lot of people are searching for similar pins, but not something that has a high level of competition like 'Dream Home', 'Bathroom Interior'. I setup a Flatlay's board and I guess I should owe all my thanks to that. Plus my many hours spent pinning between work, exercise and life.

4.Take Clean, White, Pinnable Photos - Unique Content

It's great to keep pinning what comes up on your feed, but there's only so long you can do this without ending up pinning the same photo three times without realising. Unique content is what I believe is one of the top ways to grow your following. It goes without saying that for them to be pinnable they need to be the following;

-Clean images
-Not blurry
-White photos/or other clear backdrops
-Something you would repin
-Larger sized images (not small landscape or square)
-Keyword based or descriptive captions (helps with visibility and search)
-Link them to a really good blog post (top way to drive more traffic to your blog)

Having a following from implementing the above will also mean that when you do share some original content, there is more chance of it being pinned and pinned again. Ultimately, driving more traffic to your blog which is definitely the end goal conversion for me.

I do mostly pin stuff that is already on my feed, but mixing it up with original content too will help you to stay relative and get people clicking the follow button.

5. Collaborative Boards

This is a really good way to reach out to an existing base of followers with your content and ensure that that particular board is consistently updated.

I'm part of a Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle bloggers board with about 25 other bloggers. Not only is it a great way to see what other people have been posting about and give yourself inspiration, it also allows you to pin your own content and have a better chance of it being seen by more people.

You can always invite yourself to join other peoples boards or start them from scratch with a few friends. I wouldn't recommend having a lot on these boards on your feed, but at least one can really help with your growth in terms of reach, traffic and hopefully followers too.

Now for me to practice what I preach and get back into the Pinterest game. After all, remembering to post a few pins every week is the same as posting one image on Instagram everyday and hoping for the best, right? It's hopeless.

What have you found to help grow your Pinterest following?

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What Christmas Means To Me

Hello December you beautiful thing you. The Christmas wreath is already hung, the day off work is booked to get the Christmas tree and the Christmas jumpers have already made an appearance. As for my Christmas shopping, well. 

This year will be my first Christmas in my new home and I honestly couldn't be anymore excited about it. Last year was really stressful as I was going through the house buying process and every bit of spare cash was being squirrelled away for my house deposit. I feel like this year I get to start making my own traditions as well as enjoying it without any guilt.

I love this time of the year as everyone just seems happier. As soon as Mariah Carey comes blasting on the radio you can't seem to stop yourself smiling. Oh, and that one more mince pie, yeah don't worry about that, because it's Christmas.

'It's Christmas' is the best kind of excuse for anything. Totally justifiable too when you're delving your hand back into the tub of roses.

So what is it that makes Christmas for me?

We all love Christmas. The food, the films, the weather, the presents. But underneath all of that, what does it 'really mean'? 

Not only is it the best time of the year for a reason, it marks that one time of the year that I know I will get to spend quality time with my family. No stresses, no thoughts about work and no having to go out and do anything. I value this time so much now that I have moved out and it's making me more excited for Christmas than ever before. A few days of not having to adult and be looked after? Yes please.

But it's the traditions that come with that. The traditions we have had from growing up and the traditions that I will continue to create each year. We still put a glass of sherry and a mince pie out on Christmas Eve when I go to bed. 

My sister and I still leave our sacks out. We watch a Christmas film after our Christmas dinner. We always get Hotel Chocolat Christmas crackers. We always go for a walk on Boxing Day morning to walk off the food, ready to get started again when we get home.

It's the traditions that bind it for me and it's what I look forward to SO much. There's no other time of the year to look forward to so much stuff for a whole month. It brings happiness and warmth into my life for those few short weeks in December. I love it.

As this is my first year in my new home, I'm going all out. I'm getting my first ever real Christmas tree, I've bought The White Company decorations for my tree, £20 for a pack of 6 baubles. lol. life. I'm going to spend a few days watching Christmas films and wrapping. I'm also going to head to a Christmas carol service with mince pies. 

I have to look the part too for all the festivities. I'll add a new Christmas jumper to my wardrobe every year. I'll soon have enough for every day in December. 

Nothing helps me get into the festive spirit more than Christmas Jumpers. This year Boohoo are collaborating with Teenage Cancer Trust through 4 of their Christmas jumper designs (including the one I'm wearing). From the 4th, for each jumper that is sold they will be donating £5 to the Teenage Cancer Trust. So you can do good by kitting yourself out in your new jumper this year, and help someone else feel good during the festive period too. It's a win, win!

So in a nutshell, it's the family time and those precious traditions that makes Christmas for me. I'm sure as I get older the traditions will expand and evolve, and I'm just so excited for Christmas this year in my new home. Ya know, just in case you hadn't noticed I'd already mentioned that 16589 times. I'm sure it's something that will always make me feel warm and special when I look back on it in years to come.

Let the festivities begin!

Eva Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal Jumper* - Boohoo

Watch - Cluse

What does Christmas mean to you?

*Products marked with an asterix (*) have been sent to me for review. However, all opinions in this post are 100% my own

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