Exploring Edinburgh at Christmas

 I've lived in Scotland for almost ten years now, and every year I get just as excited to visit Edinburgh's Christmas market. Walking out of the train station and being greeted by the warm glow of the glittering lights and attractions always fills me with so much joy. 

Last week, my friend Emily and I decided to head into Edinburgh for a fun day out to celebrate the end of our exams. After a few too many celebratory cocktails the night before, we were both feeling a little bit fragile, so we spent the day just walking around and taking in all of the Christmas festivities. I genuinely had the nicest time! Later that evening, I also met up with my mum for dinner and another wander around the market. 

One of my favourite things about the Christmas market is all of the different food and gift stalls. There are so many different stalls selling a variety of European foods and cuisines that make it so hard to choose what you want to eat, and the gifts always looks so unique and pretty. Pretty much every year I go for a pretzel, and this year was no different. My mum and I both decided to get one, and we also had a hot mug (or two) of mulled wine at the Bothy bar. The bar was really well decorated and cosy inside, and if you head up to the very top of the bar, you can get a really great view across the gardens and the Christmas market.

Of course, no trip to Edinburgh at Christmas time would be complete without a trip to The Dome to look at their classic Christmas decorations. The Dome is always decorated so beautifully at this time of year, and like many other people, I couldn't resist taking a photo. 

I had such a lovely day wandering around and exploring the Christmas market. It was so chilled out and relaxed and exactly what I needed to celebrate the end of a semester of stress and exams. Every year I get excited to visit the market and take in all of the festivities, and this year definitely didn't disappoint.

The Christmas Tag

It's taken a while, but I think I'm finally starting to get into the Christmas spirit! I've put up my Christmas tree, hung up my fairy lights and started wrapping all of my presents. As my exams are almost over, it means I can finally get excited and start celebrating the festive season. I'm really excited to visit the Christmas market this year, and I also can't wait to give everyone the presents that I've bought for them. My friends and family have defintely helped me through a lot this year, so I'm hoping they all love their presents! As my blog is yet to feature any sort of festive post, I thought The Christmas Tag would be the perfect place to start!

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie/s?

One of my favourite things to do in December is get all snuggled up on the sofa with plenty of blankets and snacks, and spend the day watching Christmas films. I think my ultimate favourite Christmas film has to be Love Actually. There's just something so charming about following all the different characters and their lives. Hugh Grant as Prime Minister is defintely my favourite storyline, his dance scene never fails to make me laugh. I would say that I watch this film at least four or five times over the Christmas period. Some of my other favourites are The Holiday, Home Alone, and of course, Elf.

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

I've always opened my presents on Christmas morning. Opening them on Christmas Eve would just feel weird to me. It's a tradition in my house to open our stocking presents in bed once everyone is awake, and then go downstairs as a family and open all of our presents together.

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

I don't think I have one specific favourite memory, but I used to love waking up on Christmas morning and rushing into my parent's room ready to open my stocking. I also used to love going downstairs and seeing all the mess that "Santa" had made in the kitchen. My parents would always make it look like Santa had left footprints and crumbs in the kitchen, and I used to get so excited thinking about Santa eating cookies in my kitchen.

4. Favourite festive food?

My favourite festive food, of course, has to be the Christmas dinner. I have so many fond memories of my Grandma's amazing Christmas dinners with copious amounts of trimmings. My Mum now makes an amazing Christmas dinner too. But I couldn't survive the festive period with chocolate. Terry's chocolate orange is definitely one of my favourites, but I also love the golden Lindt reindeers.

5. Favourite Christmas gift?

I had to think really hard about this one as presents were all so exciting when I was little, no matter how big or small they were. But the present I seem to remember the most was a pink Barbie trampoline. It was quite a small one, (although it seemed huge to me) so I could use it in the living room, but I absolutely loved it. I actually remember running downstairs and getting so excited when I saw the giant box.

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

Christmas is definitely my favourite time of year when it comes to scents. I love the smell of cinnamon at Christmas time, and another of my favourites is gingerbread. My mum is obsessed with candles, so there's always some sort of festive smell filling our house. But I absolutely love the smell of real Christmas trees. We've had a real Christmas tree for the past few years now. I just love the way that it makes our living room smell so festive.

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

I don't really have any traditions anymore as I usually have to work Christmas Eve. The perks of retail! But my Mum usually buys my little brother and I a new pair of pyjamas each to wear on Christmas eve, and we usually just watch a Christmas film if there's one on TV. I feel like the excitement of Christmas definitely isn't the same now that I'm older, so it's nice that my brother is still young enough to believe in Santa.

8. What tops your tree?

We usually just have a simple glittery star topping our tree. My family Christmas tree is probably the most colourful thing you'll ever see. We've never been one for a themed tree. However, since having my own Christmas tree, I like to give it a colour theme as I think it looks really festive. 

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

I'm honestly not sure about this one. My parents always used to try their best to get me what I'd put on my Christmas list, but I don't think I ever asked for anything too extravagant. I used to really want a cat but my mum would never let me have one, so that's probably the only thing.

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

The best part of Christmas for me is probably the lead up to Christmas. I love Christmas day and spending it with my family, but there's so much build up for it and it's over so quickly. The festive period is defintely my favourite as I love watching Christmas films, decorating the tree, buying presents, baking festive treats and going to Christmas markets. It's just such a happy time of year.

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What are some of your favourite Christmas traditions? I love hearing about the different ways everyone celebrates Christmas!

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Pick 'n' Melt Christmas Gift Set

On a cold winter's evening, there is nothing I love more than putting on my cosiest pyjamas, getting all snuggled up on the sofa with a blanket, and burning a candle or two to make my flat smell all Christmassy. So I'm sure you can imagine how excited I was when Pick 'n' Melt very generously asked me if I would like to try out their new Christmas gift set. Of course I said yes, and a few days later the very exciting package arrived on my doorstep.

Pick 'n' Melt sell a whole variety of luxury scented candles and wax melts, which would make perfect gifts for this time of year. After having a quick nosey at their twitter, I really liked how fun all of Pick 'n' Melt's packaging looked. Everything looks like it should be in a sweet shop, and they have over 250 scents in total to choose from. I wouldn't even know what to try first! But I also really liked that they use soy wax as it's a lot more eco-friendly and is also non-toxic.

Their Christmas gift set includes a white porcelain wax warmer and comes with sixteen various Christmassy scented soy wax melts. The wax melts come in little bags and contain 6 different coloured squares of wax, looking an awful lot like colourful sweets. I really liked the style of the wax warmer as it is a really good size, but because it is also so simple, you wouldn't have to worry about it clashing with anyones decor. Some of the scents included in the set are 'Christmas Spice', 'Mistletoe and Wine' and 'Frankincense and Myrrh'.

It took me quite a while to decide which one to burn first, but I finally settled for the one called 'Cocoa and Log Fire'. I loved burning this one as it wasn't overly Christmassy, but it filled my room with a really warm and cosy scent. I could smell it before I'd even taken it out of the packet. As the wax melts are made up of different coloured squares, they look really beautiful as they start to melt as they all start to swirl and merge into one.

The scent completely filled my room, and I was really impressed at how strongly scented the tiny wax melts actually were. I was also pleased at how long the scent lasted. Even after blowing out the candle underneath, the scent continued to fill the room and lingered for a fairly long time afterwards.

Their Christmas gift set retails for only £12, which I think is amazing value considering you get the wax warmer itself, as well as 16 different scented wax melts. It would definitely be the perfect present for anyone you know that loves to burn and buy candles. Of course, you can also buy the wax melts separately and try out any of their 250 different scents. Pick 'n' Melt also offer a monthly subscription, so if you really felt like going a bit crazy, you can get up to thirty wax melts a month delivered right to your front door.

You can find out more information about their gift sets and subscription services here.

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Disclaimer: these products were kindly sent to me for review, however, all opinions are honest and completely my own.

6 Things I Love About Winter

To be completely honest, winter definitely isn't my favourite season. It's a little bit too cold for my liking, and even more so now that my current flat doesn't have any central heating.. However, there are a few seasonal things that I look forward too every year. 

Dark evenings

I love it when the nights start to get dark a lot earlier. It might sound a bit strange, but I just find it really comforting. I like coming in after work or university and putting on lamps and candles. Even more so in December when I can turn on the Christmas tree and watch all the twinkly lights. 

Cosy nights at home

One of my favourite things to do at this time of year is curl up on the sofa next to the fireplace, cuddle up with a fluffy blanket and watch a good film. Even more so when the nights are spent with family or friends.

Seasonal drinks at Costa/Starbucks

As much as I hate to admit it, I really do spend far too much money on coffee. It's just so easy to run to Costa on my way to a lecture, or to pick up a coffee on my lunch break at work. My typical 'go-to' drink is a skinny vanilla latte, but the seasonal options available at this time of year give me the perfect excuse to "treat myself" and not feel too guilty about it. My personal favourites this year are the gingerbread lattes from Starbucks, and the melting marshmallow hot chocolates from Costa.

Dark Lipstick

I'm definitely not the best when it comes to doing my make up, but one thing that I've always loved about this time of year is being able to wear a dark red or purple lipstick. So far this year, I've been really loving the famous 'Leo' lip kit from Kylie Cosmetics.

Crisp winter walks

I'm really not an outdoorsy type of person, but I do enjoy going for walks when it's cold and I can get all wrapped up. I also love how pretty everything looks when the trees are bare and the snow covers the ground.

Christmas

Of course I had to mention Christmas. I actually prefer the build up to Christmas more than actual day itself, as it all seems to be over so quickly. But I love visiting Christmas markets and drinking mulled wine. I love shopping for our Christmas tree and decorating it with my little brother. I love spending Christmas Eve night curled up on the sofa, when I FINALLY get home from work, and watching Home Alone with my family. There's just something so magical about this time of year.

What are some of your favourite things about the winter months?

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My Pamper Evening Essentials

At the end of a long day, there is nothing I love more than treating myself to a little pamper evening to recharge and refresh myself. In my experience, there is just something so much more relaxing about giving yourself a pamper from the comfort of your own home. As a student, I don't have lots of money to spend on expensive products or spa days, so here's how I have the perfect night in without spending lots of money.

Bath

First things first, I run myself a nice hot bath and get something to read. I'm one of those people that likes the bath at an abnormally hot temperature, so I like to use a bath bomb whilst I'm waiting for it to cool slightly. My all time favourite bath bomb is 'Twilight' from Lush. It turns the water a beautiful deep purple colour, and has a really subtle lavender fragrance, which of course is perfect for relaxation and calming.

When I decide to have a pamper night, I don't tend to be as lazy as usual, so I like to properly cleanse and moisturise when I get out the bath. I don't use anything particularly fancy, just whatever I have to hand at the time. However, I recently bought 'Fairy Dust' from Lush which I love to use after I've had a bath. It has the same scent as their famous 'Snow Fairy' collection and leaves a lovely sparkle on the skin. Perfect for Christmas nights out! I usually dust it along my arms and collarbones to give them a bit of a subtle sparkle and to leave them feeling soft, but I also read that it can be sprinkled on your bed sheets to leave them smelling nice and fresh. 

Facemask

I always get really dry skin at this time of year, so I like to use a face mask when having a pamper night. I've heard so many people talking about the Garnier 'Moisture Bomb' tissue masks recently, and I have to say, I can totally see why. I have fairly sensitive skin, so I have to be careful with products that I use on my face, but this mask left my skin feeling super soft and rehydrated. I simply leave the mask on for fifteen minutes, and then once it's off I rub any of the excess formula into my skin with a cotton pad. At only 99p per mask, they're perfect for when you're on a budget too. 

Netflix and Nails
Next up, Netlfix! No cosy night in would be complete without binge watching Gossip Girl and eating plenty of chocolatey snacks. I usually do my nails at this point too, but as my nails usually chip really easily at work, I tend to just use some glue on ones. My favourite false nails are the Primark ones! They always last at least a week on my nails, and at only £1 per box, you really can't go wrong.

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So, there you have it! Those are my pamper evening essentials for when I just need a cosy night in to relax. But now it's your turn, what do you like to do to relax in an evening?

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Little Things I'm Grateful For

                                                                             

Fluffy blankets.

Hot Chocolate with marshmallows.

My amazing friends.

Clean bed sheets.

Skinny vanilla lattes.

Stationary.

Netflix.

Fairy lights.

Online shopping.

Gym enthusiasm.

Cosy pyjamas and fluffy socks.

Being able to have a lie in later than usual.

Feeling truly and completely happy.

Creating a 'to-do' list and getting everything done.

Long, hot showers.

Finding a new TV series to binge watch.

Knowing that I have a great support system.

It's only a few weeks to go until Christmas.

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What are you grateful for today?

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Six Things To Do When You're Feeling Down

I think everyone has those days where you just want to lie in bed all day and ignore the outside world. You know you have a million and one things on your to-do list, but just don't have the motivation to do them. Everyone has bad days from time to time - I know I do - but sometimes, all we really need is a just day to ourselves to relax and focus on ourselves. So what you can you do to make yourself feel better? Whether your "bad day" lasts for a couple of hours or an entire week, here are some of the things I like to do to cheer myself up a bit:

1. Have a movie day
I'm not a really a "movie person", but I do have a selection of films that I never tire of watching. So one of my favourite things to do when I'm having a bad day is just to stay in bed and put on a good film on my laptop. Try to pick a film that you know will make you laugh, too, as this will hopefully lift your spirits a bit. This is one of my favourite ways to relax.

2. Run yourself a bath
I think the thing I've missed the most since leaving home is having a bath. Whenever I feel stressed or down, I love to run myself a really hot and pop in a bath bomb. Lush bath bombs are always my go-to as they always look and smell incredible. If you want something soothing to help you relax, try and get a bath bomb with a lavender scent.

3. Talk to someone
It's easy to bottle things up when you're feeling down and pretend that everything is okay, often because we're afraid of looking weak. But I believe that talking to someone you trust about what is bothering you can really make you feel better. Sometimes we just need to off-load on someone and let out all our frustrations. Asking for help when you need it doesn't make you weak, it just means you need a little bit of support.

4. Do something you enjoy
Even when you have a busy schedule, it's really important to take some time out for yourself. It can be easy to get caught up in our busy lives when we have hundreds of responsibilities, but it's really important to schedule some "you" time as well. Try and set aside even just one hour a day to do something that you genuinely enjoy, and I swear it'll lift your spirits. Whether that's going to the gym, going our for dinner with friends or even just watching Netflix in bed.

5. Treat Yourself
Been eyeing up a top in a River Island? Been lusting after a new lipstick? Need an upgrade on your phone? Everyone needs a little pick me up from time to time, so treat yourself! Sometimes it's little self treats that really life our mood. Nothing wrong with rewarding yourself if you've been working hard recently.

6. Have an Early Night
I don't know about you, but when I don't get enough sleep at night, it's probably best to avoid me the next day. I definitely don't function well on little sleep. The average adult needs between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night to function at their best. So if you're a bit of a night owl and frequently have late nights, that could be the reason why. Try going to bed an hour earlier than usual and perhaps read a book or do something calming to help send yourself to sleep. Your body will probably thank you for it.

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