10 things I'll be doing Christmas Day

Christmas is nearly upon us. I've got my presents wrapped, Lindt Chocolate Lovers bag to munch on* and the Christmas playlist on Spotify is getting all the love. Everyone has their own traditions and customs that make their Christmas so special. These are the things that happen every year without fail.

1. Spending Christmas eve in the local Wetherspoons with old Sixth Form friends. Christmas was always that time of year that everyone came home no matter where they were in the country. Now eight years on that's still the same. I have friends settled all over the country and this is always an drunken catch up.

2. Rushing downstairs in my dressing gown and pyjamas despite the almighty hangover to hand out all the presents from under the tree. It's always been my job to make sure everyone gets the right ones and every year there's always one present that's been forgotten at the back.

3. Drinking bucks fizz at 9am because it's Christmas. Obviously.

4.  Watching endless films and reliving my childhood with After Eights in one hand and Celebrations in the other.

5. Sitting in front of the telly watching the Queen's speech with a tub of Quality Street because we clearly haven't enough food.

6. Declaring you can't eat for days yet jumping out of your seat when someone suggests cheese. It's always about the cheese. Mostly endless slabs of wensleydale and cranberry.

7. Instantly regretting my outfit choice because a pretty dress just doesn't have the stamina to deal with a whole day of gorging.

8. Listening to my dad snore as I lay on the sofa religiously browsing the internet trying to find some bargains and buy clothes that I really don't need.

9.  Sulking because I've had to share the sausage meat with the rest of the table. Don't they know it's my favourite thing in the world?

10. Getting too drunk on bubbles and feeling so thankful with my family. Then arguing with my nan. Well it can't all be happy families on the big day eh?

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5 festive things I've done in December

I'm usually a bit of a scrooge at Christmas. I blame the working in retail and hospitality for eight years - it drained every ounce of festive spirit I once had. But this year I am LOVING December. It helps that so much has happened already this month. Have a read at why I'm basically Father Christmas this year.

1. Christmas lights in London
Every year I absolutely adore seeing the Christmas lights in the city. There's just something about walking down a manic Oxford Street, bundled up in a scarf and gloves in the pitch black staring at the twinkling lights above. This year, as always, a personal highlight were the Carnaby Street - they are incredible. Always unique each year and so bright and colourful. This year seems like they followed a slight Japanese theme and the bright pink disco balls are delightfully tacky. As every good Christmas decoration should be.

2. Early Christmas dinners
Back in November, AO.com very kindly gave me my first Christmas themed dinner of the year alongside GBBO Flora Snedden to help up create our own canapés. We had an absolutely delicious three course meal consisting with the most incredible meringues for dessert. The table had the perfect festive theme and was a fantastic way to see in the holiday season. At the weekend I went out with my friends for our annual Christmas dinner gathering so it was lots of turkey and prosecco for me! I can never have too many mince pies or pigs in blankets at this time of year!

3. Christmas with Thorntons
One of the best things about Christmas is the abundance of chocolate that appears and tends to last until February. If you're stuck for ideas this year for some stocking fillers or last minute gifts, try the Thorntons Gift Finder. Fill out a few questions and voila you'll have so many ideas for that special person and you'll be in their good books all year round. Perfect!

4. Christmas Flowers
Blossoming Gifts got in touch and asked if I fancied an early Christmas present. Who could resist an offer like that? I absolutely love fresh flowers in the house and fancied something with a festive theme. If you can't go all out at Christmas, then when can you?! I struck gold with this pretty Cinnamon Spice bouquet. Featuring gorgeous smelling cinnamon sticks, perfectly festive berries and stunning grand prixred roses mixed together in a bunch, they have cheered up my bedroom in these gloomy days. When it comes to dark nights, you need all the help you can get! And they match our Christmas tree this year so winners all round. Nothing quite like waking up to a beautiful floral scent every morning. I always find their bouquets last well over a week too so they're well worth the money. If cinnamon isn't your thing, there's plenty of other bouquets to choose from that feel just as festive. Red always looks so classy during the festive season.

Fancy your own bunch? Enter BGIFTS33 at the check out to get a special 33% discount off all flowers apart from Flowers By Post. Go on, treat yourself! Next day delivery is until 23rd December so you have plenty of time to treat someone or yourself to something special.

5. Festive baking
I've been really enjoying getting my bake on this month. My December hasn't been as busy as it normally is - maybe I'm losing friends - so it's meant I could really get stuck into being in kitchen. So far I've rustled up some sticky toffee puddings and some mince pie cupcakes with lots more on the horizon! I've got a delicious new fudge recipe on my Youtube channel too. It makes perfect stocking fillers.

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Christmas gift guide: bath time gift sets

Christmas shopping is in full swing now we're nearing the middle of December. Eeeeek! But with the gifting season comes re-gifting. Hands up if you have a drawer in your house that you pop the toiletries sets in that aren't quite your taste. Then pass them over to some other poor soul or the raffle. I know I'm guilty of this! I already have the Peppermint duo and can confirm it smells absolutely delicious.

I've put together a gift guide full of bath time gift sets that no one will ever think twice of passing on to someone else! Everything is £30 and under too. BARGAIN!

1. Ren Skincare - £18
2. Cowshed Mixed Trio - £24
3. Philosophy Peppermint Stick Duo - £18.50
4. Cath Kidston Rose Wash Bag Gift Set - £20
5. Neals Yard Remedies Revitalise Organic Shower Collection - £12.50
6. Jo Malone London English Pear and Freesia Bath Salts - £30
7. Orla Kiely Mini Geranium Travel Set - £15
8. Cath Kidston Flora Indulgent Bathing Set - £19.80
9. L'Occitane Delicate Cherry Blossom Bath & Body collection - £30
10. Benefit 'Maybe Baby' Darling Duo Bodycare Gift Set - £25.65

Post written in collaboration with Mira Showers.

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Video: Festive Flapjacks with Whitworths

After over five years of blogging, I decided it was about time I dipped my toe into Youtube when Whitworths asked me to create a festive recipe. The result was some amazing, fruity flapjacks filled with all the best Christmas spices.

It was a little shaky and I know exactly how I'm going to improve next time but I'm really proud of it. It was a lot of trail and error but a whole lot of fun. Have a look at the video and let me know what you think!

I would be over the moon if you gave my channel a little subscribe, I've got lots more videos planned in the future - including a vlog at Kew Gardens and another baking recipe within the next week.

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Recipe: Mince pie cupcakes with Lindt

I'm well and truly emerged in the Christmas spirit now so decided to bake up a storm in the kitchen. Enter Mince Pie Cupcakes with Lindt chocolate teddy bear toppers* because we all need a little bit more indulgence in the festive period. I had a feeling these would spectacularly fail or be positively amazing! Thank god it was the latter. The recipe is adapted from my new favourite baking book Lola's Forever.

Makes 6 muffins or 10 smaller cupcakes

Ingredients:
140g self raising flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp of ground nutmeg
150g soft baking spread
75g soft light brown sugar
75g soft dark brown sugar
3 eggs
175g mince meat

Cream cheese icing:
60g butter
1 tsp of vanilla flavouring
1/2 ground cinnamon
175g icing sugar
400g cheese cheese

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

2. Shift the flour, baking powder and spices into a bowl before setting aside.

3. Put the butter and sugars into a bowl and beat the mixture until it is light and fluffy.

4. Continue mixing and add the eggs one at a time. Add the mincemeat and mix until fully combined.

5. Slowly add the shifted dry ingredients and mix until fully combined.

6. Divide the mixture between the muffin cases - filling them 3/4 full.

7. Bake in the pre-heated for around 20-25 minutes. Make sure you keep an eye on them. pop a sewer in them to see if they're baked, it should come out completely clean if they're ready.

Cream cheese icing:

1. Beat the butter until smooth then add the cinnamon and vanilla.

2. Shift in the icing sugar and then add the cream cheese and beat until it's smooth and glossy. be careful not to overmix!

3. Decorate the cupcakes once cooled and add a little teddy bear on top. Then tuck in!

Eat alongside plenty of chocolate. The Lindt chocolate reindeer* and Father Christmas* went down a treat. What's Christmas without a little indulgence?

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Recipe: Christmas sticky toffee pudding

A few weeks ago Whitworths invited me along to a baking master class hosting by the first GBBO winner Ed Kimber. We were given a the chance to make his alternative Christmas pudding - a rich sticky toffee pudding. I'm not a fan of traditional Christmas pudding so this is perfect. It's really quick and simple to make - you can even make it the day before!

Ingredients:
225g Whitworths dates
100ml rum
200ml water
175g light brown sugar
3 tbsp of honey
200g self raising flour
1 tsp of mixed spice
75g unsalted butter
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp of baking powder
1/4 tsp of freshly grated nutmeg
50g Whitworths apricots, roughly chopped
50g Whitworths sultanas
50g of Whitworths crystallised ginger, roughly chopped

For the sauce:
50g unsalted butter
A pinch of sea salt
100g dark brown sugar
A splash of rum
100ml double cream

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees (160 degrees if fan) and lightly grease ten dariole moulds.

2. For the butterscotch sauce, place the butter, sugar and salt into a medium saucepan and cook over a medium heat until melted and smooth.

3. Allow to bubble away for few minutes before adding the cream, stirring to make a smooth sauce. Set aside whilst you make the puddings.

4.  To make the puddings, place the dates, water and rum in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer and cook until a thick date paste has formed. Scrap the paste into a bowl and set aside for a moment.

5. Place the butter, sugar, vanilla and honey into a large bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until smooth and creamy.

6. Add the eggs one at a time beating until combined before adding the next one.

7. In another bowl, mix together the flour, spice and baking powder.

8. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and beat on a slow speed until they just combine.

9. Add the date puree and the dried fruit and mix until smooth and combined.

10. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared moulds and place onto a parchment lined baking tray. Bake in a preheated oven for around 20 minutes or until the pudding springs back to touch. Remove from the oven and turn onto plates immediately.

11. Serve the pudding whilst hot with lashings of caramel sauce.

Tweet me if you decide to make them - I fully recommend it!

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OOTD: Sequin cami #GeorgePartyTips.

Outfit:
Copper sequin cami: George at ASDA*
Black jacquard cigarette pants: George at ASDA*
Glitter low heel courts: George at ASDA*
Black duster jacket: Topshop (similar)

December parties means sequins and sparkles. Lots of sequins and sparkles. So when George at Asda got in touch and offered to send me a festive outfit, it was obviously what I went for. Instead of opting for the usual party dress, I went for this gorgeous copper came. LOOK AT ALL THOSE SEQUINS! No Christmas party outfit is ever complete without a red lipstick. I think it might even be written in the rulebook.

The festive season is hardcore. There's parties left, right and centre. Someone has to take one for the team. But work christmas parties can be stressful - no one wants to go in the next day with a raging hangover to sniggers from colleagues. Not even a double sausage and egg mcmuffin will save you. My plan of action is to not treat it as a party with your friends. Work colleagues will not appreciate your dirty sense of humour and maybe drinking three bottles of white wine to yourself will leave a bad impression. Try to have a little bit of an air of professionalism. It's still work! Also a Christmas party is never the time to ask your boss for that pay rise. Never. Wear something you feel comfortable in and you'll be ready to hit the ground running. Just make sure you don't take it literally.

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Alternative advent calendars

Over the last few years the trend for alternative advent calendars are really seemed to pick up. Chocolate ones are becoming old hat. Arran Aromatics* have brought the perfect one for beauty fanatics. What a fabulous treat it was!

Filled with 25 gorgeous smelling miniature body lotions, candles, soaps, bubble soaks and shower gels, it's the perfect daily treat. The calendar retails at £40 but it has a value of £60, making it great value for money. I can't wait to light the candles - the grapefruit one smells amazing! Available both online and John Lewis, you best be quick treating yourself to one as only 1000 are available.

Another advent calendar is a tea one from Victoria Mae Designs*. Oh my gosh, the smell when I opened this package was intense. I wanted to gulp them all down at once!

Priced at £19.50, 25 gorgeous teabags come packaging in a cute little brown box. All the tea is sourced from a local British tea company and comes in handmade paper pouches. A lovely little treat to start each morning with in December.

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Boohoo Christmas Collection

I was invited along to have a butchers at what Boohoo has to offer for the festive season. Yep it's that time of year again. Christmas in July. Cray cray! It's always nice to have a sneaky peek at what will be hitting stores in the upcoming months.

So what has Boohoo got in store for you all? Lots of sequins, lurex, jacquard, fur and pom poms. All the best things in life! I'm always glad to see sequins come back year after year. Nothing else really quite gets you in the festive spirit. Boohoo have a selection of large sequins or tiny ones depending on what you fancy. The silver dress in the top picture had my eyes on stalks! I'm absolutely loving the pom poms on the shoes - especially the skater shoes. Gives a little something special to your everyday attire don't you think?! The red and gold crop top couldn't feel more Christmassy if it tried. The colour scheme is perfect for your Christmas party. Paired with a black pencil skirt and skyscraper heels, you'll be good to go.

Has anything caught your eye? I'll have the red clutch below please.

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Christmas Foodie's Festival

If you've been reading this blog for longer than a week, you'll immediately know i'm into food in a big way. My expanding waistline doesn't really appreciate this. I got an invite to go the special Christmas Foodie Festival and I gathered five of my fellow greedy friends and we spent the day ooooh-ing and ahhh-ing over delicious grub. One of the best things about popping along to a food festival is taking advantage of the samples. Boy did we take advantage! We had to try everything to make sure it was edible right?

I'm going to list a few of my highlights:

Blackdown Artisan Spirits - They were showing off their incredible Christmas Pudding Vodka which they served warm with mulled spices. I'm a bit of a pansy with straight spirits but this I could have guzzled all day. It was so comforting and had the perfect kick to it. I'd imagine it's great in front of an open fire with a mince pie to munch on. It's quite pricy at £40 but would make a great gift.

Gibson Organic - These liquors are homemade on a family-run farm in the Cotswold. I was persuaded to try the raspberry liquor and was immediately sold so splashed out on a glass of prosecco mixed with a fruity shot. It was so refreshing and delicious. I'll be buying a bottle for the festive period!

Wild At Heart - This stall had a yummy looking selection of jams, jellies and a pesto. I was kindly given a pot of the presto to try and am looking forward to sampling it on some fresh pasta with roasted tomatoes.

Mello Mallo - I was very excited to see these here as I follow them on Twitter and was dying to sample their goods. I treated myself to the gorgeous looking white chocolate and raspberry marshmallows. They were deliciously fluffy and melted in my mouth. I wish I had bought some more!

Cranes - These fruity alcoholic juices tasted like the perfect summer drink - they're only 99 calories per drink too. Amazing! I sampled all flavours and the tangy cranberry had to be my favourite.

I also came home with a massive bag full of different spicy sausages and salami from the stall that sold the chorizo above. I have no idea what to use it all for so am open to suggestions? I have paella and an antipasti night on the list so far. I just couldn't leave it behind for a tenner!

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