London at Christmas

A week or so ago I took a mini trip to London.. My boyfriend lives there so of course I was mainly visiting him, however I am in love with the big apple...no no that's New York Lauren.. I'm in love with .. erm.. the Capital! I can see myself living there one day but when that day is I don't know..
I always have little 'tube adventures' when I'm in London and don't plan where I'm going.. i just get on various tubes and see where it takes me... I enjoy it..leave me alone!! ;)

Here are some pictures I would like to share with you from my travels! :)

I hope you all have a magical Christmas... see you on the other side if I don't post before hand!!

Covent Garden

Oxford Street's Forever 21! I was happy to finally go in but i didn't buy anything,lol.

Camden Town

Southbank Christmas Market

Favourite picture i took..

Bluewater...loooong day of shopping... it was awesome!!

(The boyfriend dreaming of getting a new camera!)

Lauren xx

Magnetic Buttons

Apologies for the crap picture quality but my camera was in a bad mood with me and just wasn't cooperating.

I (randomly) bought a pack of mixed buttons on eBay for about £3 and when they arrived in the post i did bow my head in shame thinking why the hell have i bought these. So to justify i HAD to do something quickly with them. I have saved quite a lot to sew onto key-rings etc but with the bigger ones i thought i would turn them into cute magnets! :) The original plan was to have the on  my fridge holding picture etc but the magnetic strip, i also bought from eBay, just isn't strong enough. None the less i still got the hot glue gun out and stuck the magnet to the back of the button and they are now on my radiator making it look pretty (much nice in real life than in these photos).

 Oh and if any of you try this you have to eat a Terry's Honeycomb Chocolate Orange at the same time otherwise it just doesn't work!!! ;) 

Lauren x

GlossyBox December 2011 Christmas Edition..

Im starting to feel like its my birthday once a month. I get so excited when i see the GlossyBox packaging in my porch! :) The only thing that bugs me is trying not to read other peoples reviews before i open mine. It took everything for me not to read Gemsmaquillage's post! (Although i still had a sneak peak!)

In my GlossyBox this month i received...

• Nouveau Lashes Mascara (Cant wait to try)
• Rituals Shower Gel (Smells amazing!)
• Cargo Cosmetics Lip Gloss (Cute colour)
• Debrorah Lipmann Nail Polish and remover (Christmas day wear for sure!)
• Fab Face Cleanser (Interesting)

Lauren x

Secret Santa

When I heard that the Weekly Bake Off was hosting a Secret Santa for craft and baking bloggers i HAD to join in. I sent my gift this morning but i am lucky to have already received my lovely present. I was so excited when the postman arrived and couldn't open it quick enough. My lovely package was filled with Welsh Cakes sent and make by Welsh Cakes Online. I had never tried them before but I have found my new love. They taste AMAZING...Soooo yummy. Everyone in my household has tried and loved them and my Boyfriend couldnt stop pinching one every hour!

Thank you so much Debs!! I will definitely be purchasing some in the future! 

Lauren x

Hot Chocolate Dunkers!

I haven't a clue why i had this idea but it kind of works! Its basically a ball of chocolate on a stick and when you mix it in hot milk it turns into a lovely creamy hot chocolate. 

You will need 

~ Cup of hot milk

~ Milk Chocolate (or dark if you like it stronger)

~ think/heavy cream

~ pinch of salt

~ lollipop sticks

~ Spoon

Melt the chocolate and cream in a pan (about half and half, maybe a bit more chocolate than cream). Add the pinch of salt. Pour into a bowl and leave to cool. Once it is at room temperature pop the bowl into the fridge for a few hours until hardened. 

Scrap the chocolate with a spoon and roll in hands to form a ball. Pop onto a lollipop stick and put back in the fridge until they firm up again. Simples..

You going to have a go?! Let me know..

Lauren x

Festive Christmas Tag!

I was tagged to do this Festive tag so...here goes..

Favourite Christmas Movie?

Either The Muppet Christmas Carols or Annie... i just can’t make up my mind...I was in the production Annie when i was younger and love the original film (Im sure it’s not too everyones taste) But you can’t go wrong with a dose of The Muppets!

Are you on the Naughty list or the Nice list?

Nice...always nice... I think.

Have you ever had a White Christmas?

Nope...Well it did snow last year but not on chritmas day. I remember in snowed on my brothers birthday once (in February!!) and I was so angry at my mum because she didn’t order snow for my birthday in September!! Pfff...

Where do you usually spend your holiday?

At home with my family. I have missed a few Christmas’ when living abroad but it’s never the same.

What's your favourite Christmas song?

Hmm...That’s a tough one... most probably  Do they know it's Christmas/Band Aid

Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve?

I remember as a kid if I had stayed at my Grandmas she would let me but no not usually.

Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

Erm..Rudolph, prancer, dancer, lancer, chancer, pritzle, pringle and pretzel? I tried..

What Christmas tradition are you looking forward to most this year?

Christmas dinner HAS to be at the top of the list. And feeling that full you feel sick..But you carry on eating desserts and chocolate!

Is your Christmas tree real or fake?

Always real. My mum would never have a fake one as she loves the smell of a real one too much. The only annoying thing about a real tree is the needles always falling off and making a mess.. Especially when my daft dog tries to get his presents out and shakes the whole tree which by the way is usually about 10 foot. We have high ceilings.

What's your all-time favourite Christmas sweet treat?

CHOCOLATE ORANGE! We get about ten every year off my Nan.

Do you like giving gifts or receiving gifts better?

I love giving presents; well I mainly love buying the presents. It’s so satisfying coming home after shopping with so many bags you can’t fit through the door. But I do get excited about receiving a gift or two I’m not going to lie.

What would be your dream place to visit for the Christmas season?

Lapland... I’m a big kid at Christmas and I think it’s about time I met the real Santa.

Does your family have a special Christmas recipe you like to help make?

Mum always makes the best gravy...real gravy! I always stir it so I can say I helped with dinner ;)

Are you a pro-present wrapper, or do you fail miserably?

I’m not too bad at it. I always like making them look like something else...eg something small i will put in a massive box or a poster and make it look like a cracker.

Most memorable Christmas moment?

It was 14 years ago. My dad always picked me up at 11am on Christmas morning to go to my grandmas. But this certain Christmas he didn’t arrive. I remember looking out of the window thinking he didn’t want to see me that day... Turns out he was in hospital because my little sister (half but I never say that) was being born! Yep she’s a Christmas baby...well teenager now!

What made you realise the truth about Father Christmas?

What do you mean the truth? Has something happened to Father Christmas? Is there something you know and I don’t?

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? Do you stick to them?

Nah... No point...

What makes Christmas special for you?

Being with family and eating lots and watching crap on TV. That what Christmas is about isn’t it?!

 Happy Christmas everyone! 

Lauren x

Washi Tapes

This is the second post on the trot (trot..I don't like that word...) ..that I am mentioning The Glue Gun Girl but I entered a giveaway over on her blog the other week and I was one of the winners! Woopieee!! So I thought I would share what I won with you because I think they are FABULOUS!

It came very cutely packaged and the Washi Tape designs that I received are lovely, especially, seen as I'm a singer, the one with music notes all round it. I look forward to putting them into good use. Lisa also popped in a little keyring that she had made which was very kind of her. I must admit I have made some felt keyrings in the past after seeing Lisa's youtube channel last year. (I swear she's going to think I'm a stalker...I'm really not)

Lauren x

Coffee Bean Wreath

Since my Mum and Stepdad opened a coffee shop I have been making bits and bobs to display in there and as its coming up to christmas what better to make than Christmas wreaths. The original plan was to make the bog standard wreath will holly and berries on it until my mum said 'Why don't you use coffee beans?'. I have made a few mini wreaths that can be hung on door handles etc and the best thing about the coffee bean ones is you get that AMAZING smell. I am not a coffee drinking..never have never will, but the smell is unbelievable (in my eyes.....i mean nose). 

I started of making a felt wreath after I saw the tutorial on The Glue Gun Girl's blog hence why it has wool wrapped around it...but it worked out well because the coffee bean stuck really well to the wool. You can buy the polystyrene wreaths at craft stores or on ebay. All i did was stick the beans on one by one with a hot glue gun positioning them at different angles. Continuing it all the way round the wreath just not on the back. Then at the end I stuck on a bit of ribbon to make the hanging loop. Since I have made this little one I have made a few more but with different ribbons and some have red bows on the top. I will post a pic of them in another blog.

I'm going to be making more but never I'm tackling cloves and cinnamon sticks! :)

Let me know what you think and if you have any other suggestions of making any Christmassy goodies I would love to try more.

Happy Sunday

Lauren x

El Presco?! OOTD

You may wonder why I have called this post 'El Presco' well i have just realized that everything I am wearing is from either Primark or Tesco!! Clever hey.. (your not cool Lauren!)

Today has been a day of lots of little journeys and genuinely getting things done so I dressed comfy and warm! :)

Jumper ~ Tesco

Jeans ~ Primark

Boots ~ Tesco (mums!)

Cami ~ Primark

Scarf ~ Shop in Cyprus

Lauren x