Some of you may hate me right now and some of you may love me for bringing up the Big C. But here's the thing... yes it's only October and yes I'd much rather enjoy Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes and all orange everything for a little bit longer but retailers, brand advertising, bloggers, press and apparently Oxford Street lights are all getting up in Christmases grill* so I thought rather than pretend it's not happening at all, I'd give you a few little things to help you get into the Christmas spirit if you, like me, have been beaten into submission of making Christmas happen in October.
*BRB while I jump off of a cliff as that's the only thing that'll make me feel better about saying "grill". [insert eye roll/cringe emoji here].
Yes I'm basic bitching my way through life but oh my god christmas pyjamas and just pyjamas in general are life. I'm a major granny, I don't go out clubbing and I love my home comforts, so pyjamas are pretty damn important to me and if you're going to be spending 90% of your life in them - oh the joys of working from home - better that they're babe'in af than bridget jones-esque. Right? My first "boo, I love you more than life" pair of PJ's that pretty much haven't left my winter (i.e insulated, i.e tubby) bod is this rather babe'in pair of Debenhams beauts. The Lounge & Sleep Grey sparkle checked pyjama set are a gorgeous grey tartan with the prettiest silver sparkle running through it. I love these because they don't scream Christmas and are definitely wearable all year round but the sparkle gives it a sassy little somethin somethin, ya know? But seriously, nothing makes me feel more festive than getting into cosy pyjamas with a cosy pair of slippers or cosy socks.
Basically being cosy af!
*Insert Honey G's horrendous voice* "I say Basic, you say bitch. Basic..." "Bitch" "Basic" "Bitch". Yes I know it makes me slightly cliche but come on, you only have to follow my Instagram to see that candles are pretty much my life (#sorrynotsorry) and nothing says "Where's my pigs in blankets and stuffing?" like a brand new Christmas candle. I have to say, I'm not the biggest fan of cinnamon scented things, like... yes it reminds me of Christmas so I can put up with it but I'd much rather an orange/mandarin or pine and eucalyptus - if you haven't tried Jo Malone's, omg it's divine, I bought it for my Mum one year and it was the best present I ever got me her - One scent however, which I definitely love and use the perfume version of all year round but especially as mulled wine season rolls through, is pomegranate noir [insert hands up/heart eye'd emojis here]. There is something about the fruity sweetness paired with the most sensual, musky, woody, sexiness - lol for being so shit at describing scents - that makes this the most perfect Christmas candle ever.
Although, I did get a sneak peek of Jo's - yes we're on first name terms - Orange bitters candle and oh jesus, it wins in life more than Meredith Grey over Addison Montgomery.
Soz, I forget that not everybody is a raving Grey's Anatomy saddo like I am!
I do also have to mention one more candle which whilst it isn't completely Christmassy per se, it is absolutely stunning - and the colours are all brown and warm and autumnal and omg I blimmin love this time of year. Said candle is Lola James Harper The Bomboneria and if you haven't heard of the brand, you absolutely have to check them out (in short they're an amazing company that base all of their scents around certain memories.) The Bomboneria, with notes of Amber and incense i.e a musky, sexy, sweet dreamboat of a scent was created in memory of the time that the creators of the company went to Barcelona and used to visit the same cafe at 4pm every day for a tea break, and this scent reminds them exactly of that time. I bloody love a brand with a great story, that appreciates a bit of nostalgia as much as I do and Lola James Harper does this in abundance!
I can't think of Christmas calendars without the classic dairy milk coming to mind but I think these two actually top that - don't judge me, chocolate is my life OK? - I've seen a fair few calendars hanging around but for variety and the sheer quality of products The Body Shop and Clarins' versions are my favourite. The Body shop decided to go hard rather than home with their option with one of the biggest I've seen on the market. Obviously I've only opened the first day because any more would send me to the Christmas naughty step but it looks like each day gives a pretty damn good sized product with a great variety, I'm sure. The Body Shop calendar available here.
The Clarins christmas calendar excites me to a slightly embarrassing degree. You see, I'm a big Clarins fan. From the dreamiest new makeup launches to their skincare which always, always hits the spot... I'm not sure I've ever come across a product I don't like which means this calendar is just a tiny bit of a dreamboat. I can't lie, I may have opened one or two doors in the hopes of getting some of my fave skincare items to take with me to Dubai next week #sorrynotsorryclarinsoveranything.
Christmas Films that aren't really Christmas films
Don't get me wrong, I am not your gal pal that whacks on Elf in July but gimme a hot chocolate, blankets, a duvet, snacks and whack on some Home Alone/Harry Potter/The Holiday/[insert your own choice of Christmassy but not really a christmas film here] and you're good to go. I'm talking as if Harry Potter isn't already a weekly occurrence. Lol #number1fangirlforlife
Hot chocolate, marshmallows whipped cream
I mean, I don't really need to say much more do I? Make yourself a hot chocolate, use as much whipped cream as your mug can take and drizzle over marshmallows until they're falling off of your cup and you're good to go. Preferably do it with a good Lush bath with all the pamper products too. Yaaaas!
I've already mentioned a lush bath with a good ole pamper but let's be honest, it deserves a whole little section to itself doesn't it? Yes, yes it does. I am currently in a sparkly pumpkin/halloween/autumnal dream state and I'm totally happy to stay there for a while but I do have to give a big fat yes, yes, yes to Lush's Christmas ranges because they are always heart eye emoji worthy x10. This one however is Lush Autumn leaf and it smells as dreamboat-like as it looks.
Here's why I love that Christmas season is Red lip season. I can not pull of red lips. I have huge "move over Jay Z" lips that stand out no matter what colour I wear so it's only been recently that I've learnt to embrace the bold, but when I do go bold it's usually a bright pink, dark nude or raspberry red. Never a straight up pillow box red because I feel as comfortable as a nun in a brothel in those. However, festive season is kinda just "wear whatever you want" season so sometimes the straight up reds come out to play, sometimes the glitter comes out to play, basically anything goes. Thank the lord for festive season.
A recent discovery of mine and new favourite bold is the Laura Mercier Iconic leading lady lip kit which is an incredible duo of the Velour lovers lip colour and the lip glace. I have the shade Vivien which really is the most stunning brick red with a very very slight pink undertone, an ultimate classic that I really do think would work for everyone. The formulation of the lipstick is absolutely beautiful, a velvety smooth, moisturising but long lasting formula that completely nails the semi matte/velvet finish. Topped off with the lip glace - which I've been a fan of for a long time - and you really do have yourself the perfect festive lip. Huzzah!
You may have guessed by now but scent is just a little bit important to me. Whether it's a candle filling my entire house or a perfume soaking me in the most babein fragrances, it's just something that always evokes a certain feeling, a certain moment. And that's where the following babes comes in. Now, absolutely none of these are remotely Christmassy but, they are ridiculously fresh and fruit and basically just remind me those crisp, crunchy mornings in the winter sun. Oh and also they're just my favourites right now so why not whack them in.
First up we have Michael Kors Wonderlust and oh sweet hubba hubba this one is special. With notes of pink peppercorn, almond milk, cashmeran wood, sandalwood, benzoin siam (nope, never heard of it either) and all kinds of dreamy things, it really is the most beautiful deep, romantic exotic scent that I can't stop fangirling over. Then we have the Tommy Hilfiger The girl (fronted by babein Gigi Hadid) which is just as babein as Gigi is. This is the freshest fragrance I have smelt in the longest time and I seriously can't get enough of it, with green pear, violet leaf, green fig leaves, cedar wood and jasmine it really is the most perfect everyday autumn/winter scent. Finally we have DKNY Be Delicious and this is potentially the most nostalgic perfume I own (aka perfect for Christmas, who doesn't love a bit of nostalgia). I remember first getting this when I was 14 and I still love that fruity, appley (literally lol'ing at the shockingly bad description there), citrusy sweet scent.
Whack on dem tunes!!
I'm talking Mariah Carey, I'm talking Michael Buble, I'm talking Chris Rea. Man I love whacking on the tunes and screeching from the top of my voice as if I can sing when I really can't! Preferably with a mulled wine in hand and a hairbrush to sing into to obviously make you extra sassy. Lol. Fml!
The little things
Starbucks Red Cups. I don't think I need to say any more do I? #basicbitchforlife. Red/Glitter nails. Cinnamon absolutely everything. Fairy lights everywhere. Christmas jumpers (totally OK to whack out in October). Turkey Dinners. Mulled Wine. Normal wine. Cheese. Quality street.
You get the gist...
So that brings my Christmassy post to an end. For those thinking it's too soon move over Scrooge I apologise, for the Christmas fangirls, you're welcome ;)
I'd love to know what gets you in the mood for Christmas? Is it really too soon or can we start pulling out Elf now what it feels -024984 degrees in the UK? I always love reading your comments!
As always, thanks so much for reading!
xx
Labels: Lifestyle
