Category: Blogmas

REFLECTING ON 2017: MY TOP 10 HIGHLIGHTS

Published on by oliviagaskill2 Comments

Well hello there! Remember me? I did say I was going to be very bad at blogging this semester, but I’ve come out of my Masters-hibernation to write this reflection because I absolutely love reading other bloggers’ posts about their yearly highlights, and I really enjoyed writing one last year for 2016, which you can read here.

2017 has been one hell of a year, starting out living in the southern hemisphere all the way in Australia, and ending it back home in Manchester. It was hard to narrow down the list to just 10 favourite moments and I could have rambled on forever about each and every one, but somehow I managed it, so sit back and enjoy my brief highlights from 2017 before we welcome in the New Year.

Getting onto/Starting my Masters degree
Both of these go hand in hand really, as getting onto the course in the first place was such a big achievement for me. I’m one of 18 who got accepted onto it and couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of people to be suffering doing it with. It’s a really intense and difficult course and everyone is so supportive of each other and we’ve all become super close (I guess mutual stress and pain brings people together???). I don’t think I’ve ever said on the blog what my course actually is, just that I’m doing one and that it’s the most stressful thing I’ve ever experienced… Either way my MSc is in (take a breath) Neuroimaging for Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience.

Au pairing
I wrote a post a few months ago about au pairing, and it is definitely one of my top highlights of 2017. I grew a lot as a person over those seven months, and it taught me that I can actually be a responsible adult when needed, and I’m capable of much more than I thought. Not only that, but I became so attached to Poppy and can’t imagine my Australian adventure without her.

Road trip through the outback
14 hours… 14 hours we drove from Orange to Adelaide, and was it worth it? Hell to the yeah it was worth it! I saw my first wild kangaroo, took pit stops in some proper rural towns, and got to visit my friend Toby in Mildura while he was completing his farm work. I also got photos at the NSW-Victoria, Victoria-South Australia, and South Australia-NSW borders which were such tourist moments but hey, it’s what I was there for.

Adelaide Fringe Festival
The Garden of Unearthly Delights was undoubtedly one of the most, dare I say it, instagrammable places I’ve ever been to. It was an incredible display of weird and wonderful lights and decorations, and pop-up bars and stalls had been derived from all sorts of things such as buses (yes, buses) and big-top tents.

Melbourne trip
Ah, Melbourne. Although Sydney was the place I called home, Melbourne is the city that holds my heart. Back in April I took a week-long holiday there and stayed with my Aussie friend, Issy. She took me to an AFL game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which I enjoyed a lot more than I expected, introduced me to a cafe dedicated entirely to bagels, and we road tripped along the Great Ocean Road. Her family were nothing but kind to me throughout my stay, and I’m so grateful for their hospitality that week. My friend Josh also took me on a tour of the city that included Hosier Lane, which was so cool, and I reunited with some friends I met in Sydney that I hadn’t seen in a while. At a time where I had been quite homesick this trip really cheered me up because, where Sydney is more like London, Melbourne is basically Manchester but with better food and better weather.

Boomtown
In August I experienced my first proper festival, and what an insane 5 days it was. Everyone I spoke to whilst there mentioned that I had picked an intense festival to start with, and, well, they weren’t wrong. Boomtown Fair is basically another city in itself, with different sectors and districts divided into Uptown and Downtown. Each year provides another chapter of its ongoing story, and there are actors all around the site playing out theatrical roles that make you feel like you’re actually living in this spectacular, made-up world. Another highlight from it was that I got to see Skindred live, who I’ve been a fan of since I was 15, and they certainly didn’t disappoint.

Glasgow Pride
During our annual visit to see the fam, Mum and I went to Glasgow Pride in the city centre, and it was nothing short of fabulous. Whether you were in the parade itself or just a spectator like we were, the whole day had a great atmosphere to it and I know we’ll be doing it all again next year.

Getting a job
After getting onto my MSc, my biggest worry was how I was going to fund my living expenses for the year, as my tuition fees take up my whole postgraduate loan. At the end of August though I got offered a part time job working for my University and I absolutely love it. Although working 20 hours a week alongside a full-time Masters is bloody stressful, I’ve never had a day where I’ve woken up dreading going to work, and I know that if I survive the next two semesters doing both then I’ll be a stronger person with a crackin’ CV.

Getting a car
I’m so in love with my Mini and extremely grateful for it. It’s improved my social life so much because I can just drive round to friends’ house without having to worry about walking around Fallowfield alone at night, and because I don’t drink I can drive to our local pub to hang out with my fave surf pals when they make last minute plans.

Tenerife and falling in love with surfing again
Although I vowed that I would never spend another Christmas in the sun, this year I spent it in Tenerife with my Mum. I’m so glad I went, not only because it was a nice break from the freezing cold English weather, but also because as part of my Christmas my Mum paid for me to do a surf school while we were there. I started surfing two years now but since the UMSC 2016 trip to Fuerteventura I’ve only been doing it every so often. Even in Australia I only surfed a couple of times, so I’ve not really improved much since I started. I also get quite anxious before getting in the water because my upper-body strength is basically non-existent and I always fall behind the group when trying to paddle out. Cue Tenerife and Kontraola Surf School! I spent the majority of my holiday in the water with the most amazing and supportive instructors who will always hold a special place in my heart. Surprisingly I was fine with paddling out back and over those two weeks I improved so much, with Miguel and Victoria teaching me how to turn properly and almost cutback (read: try to cutback but wipe out on rocks). I injured myself a lot over the week but hey, no pain no gain, right? I feel like I really needed that trip to make me fall in love with surfing again and get my confidence back up in the water, and now I’m sure as hell ready for Portugal in April with UMSC.

 

So there you have it, my top 10 highlights of 2017! I understand it’s quite a lengthy list, especially the last highlight, but amongst all the negative things that might have happened throughout the year it’s important to focus more attention on the good, and to continue doing so in 2018.

 

Until next year!

Liv

xo

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BLOGMAS DAY 24: CHILDHOOD CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

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It’s Christmas Eve everyone this is not a drill, welcome to Blogmas day 24! In less than 24 hours, or 12 hours by the time I’ve published this post, I’ll be sat on Coogee beach wearing my swimsuit and a Santa hat enjoying the hot weather and good company. Christmas has always been my favourite time of year and the memories that accompany the season are just as wonderful.

I really wish I had more old photos at the ready so I could give myself and you guys a good chuckle, but for now a written collection of some childhood memories and the photos my Mum was able to dig out and send pictures of at such short notice will have to do. I don’t actually have the memory of one of these stories because I was so young but my Mum always tells me about it and there are photos somewhere back home to go along with it.


You know how most kids run downstairs at the break of dawn and rip all the wrapping off their presents? Yeah I didn’t do that. My Mum was always left baffled as to why I would come downstairs in the morning, have breakfast, and then take my time to unwrap all my gifts. It would take me hours and whenever she’d ask why I’d say I was appreciating the moment, which is a little deep for a child, but I enjoyed going through what was under the tree at my own pace because if I rushed it then it would be over too quickly and I’d have to wait another year to do it all again.

Back in infant school I was always cast as a Shepard for the Nativity play, which would involve wearing a teatowel on my head and not actually having any lines to say. But in year 2 I was finally cast as the lead angel, and thus my climb to stardom begun, I mean just look how smug I am in this photo:

Something I’ll never forget though is how every year until I was around 12/13 I’d be ill on Christmas Day. You can imagine how annoying this got as a kid when all I wanted to do was open presents (albeit slowly) and play with the toys I had received. I remember one Christmas where I had to take a break and nap between opening them because I was too ill and lethargic to enjoy it. That sucked and I’m sure my Mum didn’t enjoy watching me like that either. Although one funny thing that came of being ill when I was 1 was that me, my Mum and Dad went to Charlie Chalks (does anyone else remember that place?!) and I sipped a bit of my Dad’s pint of beer and proceeded to throw up in it. Every time one of them tells me about it it makes them laugh, and even to this day nothing has changed because I still don’t like to drink. I was a happy baby/toddler, but who wouldn’t be with a gigantic polar bear teddy?

Even today I still make that face… Watching the fireworks from every major city on the news is something we’ve done every year, and I’ve always wanted to celebrate the countdown in every one of those places. This year I’ll finally get to tick one of those off the list by spending New Year’s Eve in Sydney watching the harbour bridge fireworks.

Something I will miss tomorrow is watching all the Christmas specials of both programs I watch all the time like Mrs Brown’s Boys, and shows that I only watch the Christmas episode of, like Doctor Who. I’m sure I can catch up on them some other time though, but to be honest Doctor Who scared the crap out of me until a few years ago, so at least I’ll have a break from being traumatised this year.
Until tomorrow guys,

Liv

xo

BLOGMAS DAY 23: LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS CHECKLIST

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Hello and welcome to Blogmas day 23! It’s Christmas Eve Eve which means last minute preparations are being made for the 25th. I’ve been really productive today and finished my last bits of presents shopping and even got them all wrapped ready for Sunday, so that’s one thing I can tick off my to-do list. In light of this I thought now would be a good time to make a checklist of any last minute tasks that still need completing, not just for myself but for you guys too.

  1. Make sure all gifts have been bought and wrapped.
  2. Have you written all your Christmas cards? Is there anyone else that might have slipped your mind who you need to write one for?
  3. Have you bought all the food you need for a big breakfast and a Christmas roast? Don’t forget the festive snacks!
  4. Christmas crackers! You can’t have a Christmas roast without crackers to pull before you dig in. The festive crown hats usually come in the crackers so you don’t have to worry about those.
  5. Have you memorised the TV schedule for Christmas Day? Or at least highlighted all the festive films and Christmas specials you want to watch? It saves so much time on the day and avoids any family disputes over the TV remote.
  6. Are your Christmas decorations so over the top you could put even the citizens of Whoville to shame?
  7. There better be some sort of festive clothing in your wardrobe! Whether you’re spending the day in your PJs, dressing up nicely, or wearing a tacky Christmas jumper, have you made sure you’ve got what you need?
  8. Last but not least, are you in the Christmas spirit? 

If your answers are yes to all of the above then yay you’re ready for Christmas Day! Is there anything I’ve missed off the list or anything you have on your checklist that’s different from mine? Let me know in the comments below!
Until tomorrow,

Liv

xo

BLOGMAS DAY 22: MY TOP 10 FAVOURITE THINGS ABOUT CHRISTMAS

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Hello everybody and welcome to Blogmas day 22! Spending the festive season in a hot country has really made me appreciate the little things that I enjoy so much about Christmas, so I thought why not round up my top ten things I love about this time of year!

1. Chocolate for breakfast
Christmas is the only acceptable time of year where the first thing I eat when I wake up is chocolate and I won’t feel guilty about it. I’m such a chocolate lover so I’m surprised at how patient I am when it comes to waiting for each day to open a new door on my advent calenders. Once the 25th passes I should probably cut down on the sugary snacks, but for now I’m happily enjoying all the foods and sweets that only come out over Christmas.

2. Christmas films
Even when you have a movie on DVD it still feels better to watch it when it’s on TV. Festive films never fail to cheer me up when I’m down or even just make me feel all warm and cosy inside. There are a few films I’m still yet to watch for the first time ever, like Love Actually and It’s A Wonderful Life, so I think that’ll be on my to-do list over the next two days.

3. Snuggling into bed with a hot drink and a good book
Okay so I know you can do this any time of the year but there’s something about doing it around Christmas that makes it all the more special, especially when it’s a Christmas book like Let It Snow or a hot chocolate in a big mug topped with mini marshmallows.

4. Decorating anything and everything
From fairy lights to tinsel, from Christmas trees to wreaths, I love decorating my room for the holidays! Putting up the tree back home is something I love doing with my Mum and last year she surprised me and bought loads of new decorations which was super cute. After Christmas passes I usually leave the fairy lights up because they’re so pretty and it technically doesn’t need to be Christmas to have them up.

5. Buying gifts
I’m so bad at knowing what to buy for people but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it. Apart from my parents the only person I’ve bought presents for this year is Maya. We had a $50 limit but I’ve got the feeling she’s spent way over that, and if I had the money I would gladly buy her all the things I’ve seen that I think she would like.

6. Christmas music
Because who doesn’t love a good sing-along to festive anthems in the shower or in the car?

7. Knitwear
I miss wearing fluffy socks, snug mittens, and ugly Christmas jumpers. If I wore them in Sydney I’d probably pass out (although it was quite cold at 19 degrees the other day), but I just love how comfy they are!

8. Christmas Adverts
In a previous post I listed my favourite Christmas adverts of 2016. Whenever I watched TV back home and a festive ad would come on it would make me so excited for the season, or if it was a heartfelt ad I would quite literally feel my heart melting.

9. Vlogmas/Blogmas
Watching/reading people’s vlogmas/blogmas posts is something I’ve only just gotten into this year but already it’s one of the things I look forward to every day in December! I’m really pleased I decided to partake in Blogmas this year and I’m proud I’ve kept up with it everyday. I would have done vlogmas too but I won’t be getting my camera until next week (yes I’m finally getting it!).

10. The festive feeling
You know the feeling? The little bubble of happiness and excitement whenever you see Christmas decorations or your favourite festive advert comes on TV? Or when you hear the first few notes to Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ and you have to drop everything you’re doing just to sing along like you’re performing it at Wembley (albeit a very out of tune performance)? Yeah that feeling. It’s my favourite.

Ta-da! 10 of my favourite things about Christmas all in one lovely little list! There’s so much more I love about the season it was hard to narrow it down. What’s a few of your favourite aspects of Christmas? Let me know in the comments!

Until tomorrow,
Liv
xo

BLOGMAS DAY 21: ALADDIN THE MUSICAL REVIEW

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Hello and welcome to Blogmas day 21! I’ve been working on this post all day, hence why it’s a tad late, but I’m super excited for you guys to read it! It’s been a while since I’ve been to the theatre, with my last trip being to see Riverdance in Manchester’s Apollo theatre to write a review for The Mancunion.

Over in Australia you can get super cheap tickets for shows if you get them from the box office two hours before the performance starts. As Maya and I are on a traveller’s budget we thought why not do that for Aladdin at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre, so we queued up two hours before rush tickets went on sale and ended up paying $45 for seats that would have normally been $195. When we were seated in the theatre we realised how lucky we were to get such seats. We were only 8 rows from the front and smack bang in the middle with a perfect view of the entire stage!

As the lights dimmed the orchestra played the familiar sound of Arabian Nights for the opening number. Ainsley Melham and Arielle Jacobs, who were playing Aladdin and Princess Jasmine, respectively, really did their roles justice through pitch perfect vocals and their portrayal of their character’s forbidden love.

Although the musical is an adaption of the original Disney film there were loads of new songs to make the show flow more smoothly and keep the audience entranced. ‘Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim’ had me bouncing around in my seat at its catchy chorus and questionable dance moves. Instead of having Aladdin’s monkey sidekick, Abu was replaced by the three troublemaking companions featured in the aforementioned musical number. This brought a refreshing feeling to the show as their humorous input could not have been done by keeping the non-talking original character, and their rescue mission song “High Adventures” was actually one of my favourites. Iago, Jafar’s dastardly parrot, was also replaced by a sneaky right-hand man who both Maya and I thought was hilarious.

‘Friend Like Me’ was by far the most spectacular scene and longest musical number of the show. Michael James Scott played a perfect sassy Genie, and the modern, extended twist on the song along with cameo lines from other Disney classics had the crowd laughing and singing along. The stage was set with sequins and jewels to imitate the Cave of Wonders, and there was always something new and shiny that caught your eye.  

As a child I always loved the ‘A Whole New World’ scene of the 1992 classic, and as it was brought to life on stage every audience member was left mesmerised by the breathtaking magic carpet illusion on a backdrop of a starry night sky.

I felt that the final confrontation between Aladdin and Jafar was short lived and seemed quite rushed, but nevertheless that didn’t put a dampener on the rest of the show, and both of us came out of the theatre gushing about how great the night was and how we would gladly go see it again before it closes.

Obviously I couldn’t take any pictures of the performance itself but check out the few photos I did get to take throughout the day below!

Aladdin is showing at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney, until the 26th of March 2017. 

Until tomorrow guys,

Liv

xo

BLOGMAS DAY 20: DARLING HARBOUR FIREWORKS

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Hello and welcome to Blogmas day 20! In my December Bucket List post I mentioned that I really wanted to go and watch the fireworks down at Darling Harbour before Christmas. Last night I finally got to tick that off the list as Maya and I took a walk around Sydney to see the Christmas lights and ended the night at the firework display.

On the way to Darling Harbour we stopped off at the Queen Victoria building to admire the Swarovski tree which was spectacular. It stood through the middle of three floors and had crystals and lights hanging from its branches. Afterwards we walked past Bloch and I got so excited because yesterday I watched a video of their pointe shoes Christmas tree but didn’t even realise it was the Sydney store, so imagine my excitement when we walked by and there it was!

The fireworks at the harbour only lasted 10 minutes or so but they were wonderful and as they’re on every night until the 24th I’ll probably end up going to watch them again. Plus I’d take any excuse to buy an ice cream and sit along the calm waterfront again. The whole night made me super excited for the famous New Year’s Eve fireworks at Circular Quay which I’m sure will be stunning, and yes I will be writing a post on those too.

Until tomorrow,

Liv

xo

BLOGMAS DAY 19: FAVOURITE BLOGGERS THIS MONTH

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Hello and welcome to Blogmas day 19! When I find blogs I like I always spend at least an hour scrolling back through their archives reading any post that catches my eye. There are a couple that I’ve really enjoyed reading this month, especially because their posts have been Christmas themed, so for today’s blogmas post I’ve rounded them up into a list for you guys to check out too!

1. Tea Bee 
Tania’s lifestyle, beauty and travel blog is so aesthetically pleasing, which is what originally roped me in, and her Blogmas posts have been so creative and have really gotten me into the Christmas spirit when I’ve been missing home. My favourite festive posts of hers so far so far is Beauty Advent Calender Wishlist, Winter Wonderland and 7 Ways to Help You Get Into the Christmas Spirit.

2. The Scarlet State 
I only just started reading Sarah’s blog a few days ago after I saw it on the Blogosphere Magazine website. Already I’ve read her posts back to October 2015 (and now I sound obsessed don’t I), but she’s written so many interesting posts how could I not? Her post “A Peek Inside my Sketchbook, Pricess & Style” was such a great way to show that all pieces of work before the final product don’t have to be perfect, and I like that her posts aren’t constrained to one particular niche. I’m always surprised by what pops up on the next page when scrolling through her blog.

3. Milk Bubble Tea 
Becky hasn’t been doing daily Blogmas posts but the ones she has done have been good reads and there’s something about her photography that makes me want to buy my camera now (better get saving the $$$). Reading her post “An Explanation” made me appreciate the little things we sometimes take for granted and “Cosying Up For Christmas” had me feeling festive before I had even finished reading.

4. A Girl Recommends 
Rachel was actually one of Liv Living Life’s first followers, and since then I’ve followed and kept up with her blog too. Her Blogmas posts so far have been so good I’m actually really loving them, with my personal favourites being “Winter Date Ideas” (so cute!) and her mince pies baking post. Even though it wasn’t technically a Blogmas post her DIY Advent Calender has made me so excited for next Christmas so I can make one too, it’s so creative and I never would have thought to do it otherwise.

So these are the four bloggers I’m seriously loving right now, and hopefully you guys will give them a read and think the same! They’re all such brilliant writers and their blogs have been put together so well I can only hope that one day my blog will be just as good.
Until tomorrow,
Liv
xo

BLOGMAS DAY 18: THE CHRISTMAS TAG PART 2

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It’s Blogmas day 18 which means only one week until Christmas! Today I thought it would be a good idea to do the second part of the Christmas Tag. I found these questions on Milk Bubble Tea in a post from 2014, and because there were a few questions that were in the tag I did the other day I’ve taken some off and was left with these.

1. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?
I don’t have one in particular, just every year when I spend it with my Mum.

2. Favourite Christmas gift ?
On the spot I don’t have a particular favourite but a few years ago my Mum asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I said Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets, thinking she wouldn’t get them because they’re pricey and the trip to London was a trek. But on Christmas morning I opened a seemingly normal envelope and inside were two tickets, I actually started crying!
A present I remember getting as a child was Heeleys and I was in my element. I spent the whole day practising how to wheel about on them and I used them all the time for at least a year. Does anyone else remember Heeleys?

3. Favourite Christmas scent?
It’s got to be the smell of our fry-up breakfast on Christmas morning. Either that or the smell of freshly baked gingerbread cookies.

4. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?
I don’t think I do actually. Christmas Eve isn’t really a thing in our house apart from doing last minute shopping or wrapping.

5. What tops your tree?
As we had a fibre optic tree we didn’t put anything on the top but before that tree we had an angel.

6. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?
A dog. Every year for my birthday and Christmas I’d ask for a Dalmatian puppy but never got one and now that I’m older I can see why. We didn’t have the time to look after a dog or the money as they can get very expensive, plus we’re not allowed pets in the house and I’m sure my Mum wouldn’t appreciate dirty paw prints on her cream carpets. I’ve decided once I settle somewhere with a full time job I’m buying one.

7. What’s the best part about Christmas for you?
The festive feeling I get the whole time throughout December. Christmas is my favourite time of year I love everything about it, from putting up the tree to shopping for presents, from snuggling into bed watching a Christmas film to spending the 25th with family.

I hope you all enjoyed the second part of the Christmas Tag. I really enjoy doing these kinds of posts so even once Blogmas has finished I’ll probably look for other kind of tags to fill in.
Until tomorrow,
Liv
xo

BLOGMAS DAY 17: PAPERCHASE FESTIVE FAVOURITES

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Hello and welcome to Blogmas day 17! Recently I’ve really started to miss being able to just hop on a bus into Manchester town centre to go on a spending spree in Paperchase, and as they don’t deliver to Australia I can’t go online and do it that way either. Their stationary and planners helped me survive uni and every year I look forward to the release of their Christmas collection. I’ve put together a post of my favourites from this year’s festive range and as they’re taking orders for Christmas until the 22nd you still have time to browse and treat yourself to anything catches your eye!

12 Days of Christmas Mug – £8
This is the cutest not-so-little mug ever. It looks quite small in the picture but the description says it’s “enormous”so this would be great for a big cup of hot chocolate with some mini marshmallows to top it off.

London Christmas Planner – £10
Whether you’re someone who likes to be organised far in advance for Christmas or you need to start being more productive around the holidays this would be a perfect way to keep on top of everything. It has separate sections for Christmas cards, gifts, and meals along with sheets for to-do lists and notes. It’s a bit late to use it this year but you could buy it now and save it for next Christmas or even use it throughout the year if you get any festive ideas.

Christmas Ball Pens – £3
You’re going to need some pens to fill in the Christmas planner and write your cards! One is black ink and one is blue. I personally prefer writing in black ink but they’re both such pretty designs I wouldn’t even mind.

Baby It’s Cold Winter Warmer Set – £18.50
This one is a little more expensive than the rest but it looks totally worth it. The water bottle and cosy would be great to use on a cold winter’s night and if you need to venture outside or if you’re running late for a lecture or work you can use the take out mug for a hot drink whilst keeping your hands warm too.

Instant Ugly Jumper Patches – £8
If you’ve not found the perfect Christmas sweater this year why not just make your own? These patches would be great to sew onto a plain jumper and you could either put them all on one or go for a minimalist look and only sew one patch onto the top corner of the chest. My favourites are the stocking and the gingerbread man.

Christmas Tree Desk Set – £10.01
I love this little set! It’s the perfect way to make your work space more festive or you could even just put it on your bedside table for a cheery sight to wake up to in the morning. The set includes the 1ft tree, 25 mini baubles as shown in the picture, and 100 tree hooks to use on the baubles and any other little decorations you want to hang up.

Santa and Friends Christmas Card Pegs – £5
Need a way to display your Christmas cards or festive photos you’ve taken over the season? These cute character pegs are exactly what you need! They come in a pack of 12 so there are plenty  for you to use up.

Snowy Character Christmas Wrapping Paper – £3.75
I love the simplistic design of this wrapping paper. If you’re behind on your wrapping this year and want to make your gifts look extra pretty then go and check this out!

Pom Pom Characters Christmas Cards – £6
Again I love the minimalist artwork on these cards, they’re so lovely. If you’re still yet to buy cards for this year I’d definitely suggest buying this set of 15.

So there you have it guys, a round up of my favourite items from Paperchase’s 2016 Christmas collection. I would loved to have bought all of these so if I’m still not back in England next year I’m going to order a load of items to home and ask my Mum to ship them over to Australia. Can’t go another year without a Paperchase haul now can I?!

Until tomorrow,
Liv
xo

BLOGMAS DAY 16: PADDINGTON CHRISTMAS MARKETS

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It’s Blogmas day 16! I’ve found it quite difficult to find any Christmas markets around Sydney compared to all the German markets back home, so when I found out that there was a one-night event going on in Paddington I had to clear my plans and go. It rained all day yesterday which gave it a more Christmassy feel but it was still pretty warm so I popped on a cardigan and my Manchester Surf Society woolly hat and headed out.

When we walked into the hall there were a few stalls here and there, with a young guy playing guitar who was pretty damn talented by the way. Check out his Facebook page here. However the stall that caught my eye was the ‘Oh Fudge’ counter. Sold here were a variety of unique flavours of fudge and because you could try a sample before you bought them I tried pretty much all of them. They ranged from M&M chocolate, lemon meringue, Malteser, sour apple and watermelon, caramel, salted caramel, hazelnut coffee nougat, milk and cookies, and birthday cake. Birthday cake tasted like the cake batter before you put it in the oven which was tasty, but the caramel fudge tasted so much like Scottish Tablet I just had to buy a block.

As we walked around we passed a stall that sold candles with scents such as “Bondi Dreams”. I thought about buying a skull candle but then remembered it would probably set off the hostel’s fire alarm. There were a few stalls selling gift sets and soaps which were so lovely, and others selling handmade crafts and paintings. A personal favourite of mine was Bronte Goodison’s artwork, whose website you can find here. I fell in love with her paintings and would have gladly bought a load if I had somewhere to put them. You could tell how much time and effort was put into each piece, and a particular favourite of mine and Sophia’s was the world map.

I had actually forgotten that Helen was going to be working until I walked past the Massage Envy stall and saw her handing out flyers. I got a free 10 minute massage from one of her colleagues which was absolute bliss, and then headed off for some dinner at the hot dog stand with my mince pies.

Even though it was only a very small market and all I bought was food because I’m on a budget it was a nice evening out and finally something festive to do in Sydney.

Until tomorrow

Liv

xo