Five favourite movies for Christmas

Christmas movies have always been special to me because we were only allowed them in December. There was no watching Elf in the middle of the year like some people do, mum wouldn’t allow it. The Christmas DVD box would come out December 1st and get returned to the cupboard on Boxing Day. It’s a tradition I’ve continued into my adult life, although minus the Christmas DVD box seeing as all our Christmas movies are on a hard drive.

As I only got to watch them during December we would only really get to watch each of them once a year which made each viewing special and sort of new (even though we all still knew all the words to most of them). Here are my top five movies, and one cheeky TV special that I make sure to watch first every year, I’ve already seen 5/6 of them this December... only The Grinch to go!

Elf

People either love or hate Elf and I for one freaking love it, I’m not sure I would call it my favourite of all time but it’s definitely top five! There’s just something flipping festive about Buddy, and his way of life that just gets you into the Christmas spirit! For once, also the storyline is a bit different. It's not based on Santa, or Santas family and it doesn't even show any presents being delivered or the actual Christmas day. Try it once, it's definitely more for the kids, but you'll either love it or hate it so why not try!

The Grinch

As a kid my Dad hated The Grinch movie so we never had the video or DVD, however, my auntie did. So whenever we spent a night over at hers (sometimes not even in December, sorry mum) we would watch The Grinch to catch up on what we were missing out. When we got older my mum ended up caving and getting the DVD so it’s now joined in the yearly tradition, especially with the fact that my Dad actually likes it now! Another one that's not based around Santa, I mean unless you count the fact that The Grinch dresses up and pretends to be Santa...

Arthur Christmas 

One of the newer ones on the list, Arthur Christmas is just so heartwarming and lovely and makes you feel all the feels. Every single one of the characters has such a different personality and they mature and develop throughout the entire thing and I just love it! There's no basic jolly Santa or regular sleigh in this movie. Plus it's an all-star cast, and hearing Hugh Laurie play what's essentially the Santa-in-training character is just great.

The Santa Clause

One of the OG Christmas movies, apart from Barney’s Night Before Christmas this is one of the first Christmas movies I remember watching as a kid. While the two other movies in the series are alright, nothing beats the first Clause. I can tell you all the lines and exactly what song comes in at what time, I love it.

Love Actually

I had never actually watched Love Actually til a few years ago, and boy was I missing out. I just didn’t think it was a proper Christmas film and was just your average lovey doves boring movie based around Christmas. Let’s just say the year I was trying to watch every and all Christmas movies known to Google changed my life in the thing called Love Actually and I’ve never looked back. It’s probably tied at the top of my favourites, if you don’t like the regular Christmas movies aimed at kids then you’ll probably like this one. And I recommend it just for the scene where Hugh Grant dances around number 10 Downing Street as the Prime Minister to be quite honest.

Gavin and Stacey Xmas Special

My sneaky TV Christmas special is dedicated to Gavin and Stacey. If you haven’t seen Gavin and Stacey you probably won’t enjoy it, but I’d binge watch it right now if I were you (FYI the Christmas special sits in between season 2 and 3). It’s just the epitome of a regular British Christmas and it’s just a good laugh. It's such a favourite in my family that we actually all watched it either on December 1st or a few days after, before all the regular movies, it's not one we save until later in the month.

What are your favourites?

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Gifts for book lovers // Giveaway

I'm particular with gift guides but one's I love to write are ones for book lovers because it's basically my own Christmas list. Not that the image above is very Christmassey but I am giving away presents, so stick around to the end as there may be a giveaway! Instead of linking you to several random products I thought I'd cover a few areas to inspire you towards your perfect pressie:

Gifts for the Book Lovers

Reindeer Boot Socks [$14]
I personally will never complain if I receive socks for Christmas, unless they're plain and my only present. The only problem with a Kiwi Christmas is I can't really wear my knee high Christmassey socks in December as it's too hot! These ones are snuggly and totally acceptable to wear all year round!

Moby Dick Drop Cap [$18.66]
It's no secret I've been wanting this book for months, I've posted it on Twitter enough. But any special edition book, like this Penguin Drop Cap series or the Puffin In Bloom series for example would be perfect.

Golden Snitch Necklace [$1.10]
Know your book lovers favourite book? Find them some fun accessories to match, like this Golden Snitch necklace great for Harry Potter lovers like me. I love mine and for only just over a dollar why not!?

Boho Embossed Tin Candle [$15]
Having a candle burning while reading is just so atmospheric. These are some of the prettiest I've seen recently although so so many out there right now are close! Again like I mentioned in my stocking fillers guide, make sure you know your loved one's favourite scents so you don't get them a candle they'd hate.

Curtains Lights [$34.99]
How cute would these be hanging above their little reading nook? Similar to the candle they'd just add to the overall aesthetic and make the reading experience even more comfy and warm.

Buddy the Elf Magnetic Bookmark [$3.23]
This Etsy shop has so many little characters going in and out of her shop all the time, the Christmas season has brought Buddy in and oh he's so adorable. Any of these cute magnetic bookmarks would make a great little present, maybe a stocking filler.

Pattern Throw [$59.99]
How else are they going to get warm and snuggly without a new throw.

I've categorised these gifts under book lovers but really they could be for any guy or gal who loves to snuggle down with a book, a movie, TV shows, games, anything. But basically I just want to get all these and shove them in their designated spaces in my house and read for hours, and I hope if you're a book lover too these things also give you those feels.

10 Under $10 Stocking Fillers

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, jack frost nipping at your nose. Oh I love this season so much and I don't care one bit that all the shops are decked out for Christmas and playing Christmas songs. I tried to restrain myself from posting Christmas related posts too early but I saw others doing it so why not! Every year, even now at 21, my mum makes us up a stocking full of little cheap goodies to give us things to open when we may only have one or two larger presents. They're normally edible things with a few beauty products thrown in, it's a really great way to keep the Christmas spirit going as the kids grow up. I'm making my mum one this year as a surprise, hopefully she doesn't read this, and I thought I'd show you some of the things I'm thinking of including. Now I did restrain myself from doing this entirely full of Kmart goodies but there are a sneaky few.

1. Jamie Oliver Dipped Mug and Spoon [$5.99]
I am a mug hoarder, we all know one and a new mug is perfect for those select few. There's such a range out there in all the shops that there's bound to be one that is perfect. With a cupboard full of character mugs and bright cheesy mugs I personally liked the look of this Jamie Oliver mug from Briscoes, it'll tone down the cupboard a bit.

2. Chocolate Coins [$2.00]
I'm sorry but no stocking is complete without chocolate coins, I may have moved country and the chocolate may be different but I've never had a stocking without a bag of chocolate coins.

3. Star Key Tray [$9.99]
Although advertised as a key tray this dinky little star could hold any of your tiny bits and bobs in life, I'd probably use it for those little bits of jewellery that get stuck in the bottom of drawers and then never worn. Typo currently have a decent range of these trays so if your loved one isn't a fan of stars they'll have one for you for sure!

4. Chocolate Santa [$2.00]
The same as the coins, no stocking is complete without chocolate santas.

5. Copper Pot with Candle [$6.00]
Okay so you may need a decently large stocking for this one but how lovely does this candle look? It does not look $6 at all. Candles may seem like an easy thing to buy at Christmas but you really need to know a little about the loved one's scent preferences, this fig and papaya one for example would be perfect for my Mother who hates vanilla scents.

6. Daily Planner [$9.95]
For the serious planner in your life, they always need new daily planners and what's better than a daily planner that helps them maintain their well being?

7. Concrete Candle [$6.95]
If there's no scent description this candle's most likely vanilla based, so not one for my mum, however how cute is this little concrete candle holder. There's a couple of different patterns so have a look, I'm going to go in and have a sniff too in case it's not vanilla.

8. Glitter Light Socks [$7.00]
I want these now. Any Christmas related clothing I am all for, I mean I'm sitting in Christmas leggings right now and these aren't even my intense Christmas leggings. But some people aren't as into that kind of thing as me so Christmas clothing like these socks that are more toned down and don't scream Christmas might be more their thing.

9. Lindt Chocolate Bear [$5.99]
More chocolate of course is always needed, and Christmas is the time to splurge a little bit for the good stuff. Lindt is a crowd favourite for the splurge and you can never go wrong with more nice chocolate.

10. LED Christmas Decoration [$6.00]
They may look a little tacky but seriously I want to travel to Kmart just for these how adorable are they? For $2 each you can't really complain, maybe for a Christmas present it's kind of late but there's still a few days before you have to take down the decorations and the star could be used year round.

I feel like so many shops are picking up their game around now so if you just stroll round in that Christmas shopping panic I'm sure you'll find loads of bargains - I totally do recommend Kmart! Do you have a stocking every year, or did it stop when you were a kid? 37 days until Christmas eek!

Sophie conquered Australia!

So after finally getting round to sorting out my over 500 photos from the trip I decided to show you some. To be honest I took my camera expecting to take way more but ya know water parks and roller coasters happened so I barely too my camera anywhere. But I had a whole heap of fun! We went for two weeks over Christmas planning to spend some time with my family from England I hadn't seen in a while. I haven't actually been to Australia before even though I've now lived in New Zealand for over 7 years so this was an adventure. We spent a lot of the time just relaxing by the pool at the apartment, at the beach, and shopping at the various malls and streets around the area. Pretty much everything was walking distance and it was great to have a bit of a free run of the place compared to holidays when we were younger where we had to do everything my parents did.

 We also went to a few of the parks a number of times going on many a water slide and many a roller coaster. Can I just say how great going on the Green Lantern and Superman roller coasters at Movie World at 8pm at night in the dark was? Pretty great! I also got to cuddle a Koala and a Kangaroo but more on that in another post as I have way too many animal photos! I managed to walk away with some awesome stuff from the shops too, although being Christmas I was pretty upset when the Real Techniques gift set was sold out so I had to get a single brush instead of four. But I got a lot of new clothes from the sales too including some Forever 21 stuff and a new necklace to replace my one that I either lost or got stolen. Christmas was great, spending time by the pool with the family, snacking on food and chocolate all day and playing cards all night with fireworks going off! Hope you guys had a great Christmas and a great New Year too!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas tag.

So with Christmas songs blasting and just having finished packing for the holiday I shall be on when you read this I checked out a few of my favourite blogs and came across the Christmas Tag on Megan's blog Moonbeamwishes (check it out here) and I thought I'd have a go.

1. What is your favorite Christmas movie?

I am quite the ironic Christmas movie person with some of my favourites being Elf and The Grinch however I do really like Rise Of The Guardians which although isn't hugely Christmas related it has got Santa in it and came out before Christmas so I class it as one. Although I take this as I can watch it all year round... unlike other Christmas movies which are strictly December movies only. 

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

Definitely Christmas morning, apologies to all who do but I find it a really weird concept to open them on Christmas eve... Santa hasn't even been then? When I was a kid we always used to go to either one of my grandparents house on Christmas day and do presents and dinner and then the other grandparents house on Boxing day and do presents and dinner so I used to kind of have two Christmas days a year! 

3. Do you have a favorite Christmas memory?

I don't really have a favourite Christmas memory I just have a lot of nice ones with my family and friends throughout the years. But I do like how my boyfriend asked me out on Christmas eve last year that was cute. 

4. Favorite festive food?

Probably the huge amount of chocolate that goes on sale, of course Chocolate Oranges. 

5. Favorite Christmas gift?

When I was 2 I got one of those giant toy kitchens that were so massive compared to a 2 year old that it was just the most magical thing in the world. I was probably shorter than the washing basket in the photo below it was just that great. I've gotten loads of more flash and expensive presents since but this was always the one present I remember clearly. 

6. Favorite Christmas scent?

Cinnamon or baking scents. 

7. Do you have any Christmas eve traditions?

My family and I always go to the movies on Christmas Eve to watch the latest Christmas movie that came out and that would always be in the Christmas movie box next December. 

8. What tops your tree?

An angel on our family one and a light up star on my personal one. 

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

We always asked for a puppy and every time my mum said no.  

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

I love all the cheesiness and festivities, even though it's hardly festive in New Zealand at Christmas, my family and I all are Christmas fanatics so have a great time together. 

Just slothin' around

Just a few updates to let you know I'm not dead and I'm just having a bit of a hard time off the internet at the moment so this blog isn't the first thing on my mind. I do have a lot of posts in mind to do and hopefully I can get these up soon. 

But yes on with some updates: 

1. I've moved back home for just under 2 months.
2. I'm going on holiday with my family and boyfriend to Australia in mid December.
3. Christmas is coming!!!! (Christmas songs have already started playing in my room oops)
4. I've set up a Behance which you can find here, it's only got a few things on but shall be updated in the next few days with everything from my first two years at uni and stuff from my free time. 
5. Only two months til we get a cat!! 
6. I've started learning how to use dip pens *more on this later*
7. All the above photos are from my Tumblr which you can follow here.

Last Christmas' Throwback

Day 12 ~ 

I was brought up to love Christmas at a very young age, even had a santa hat shoved on my head at the age of one. I still remember getting my giant kitchen playset for Christmas when I was two it was the most amazing present I've ever had and is still reigning over all the crappy electronics and bikes I've gotten. It was my pride and joy and I still had it up until I was 13 when we moved country and couldn't take it with us, of course I didn't play with it but it was still there in the garden waiting. I think one of my favourite parts of Christmas when I was younger apart from of course the presents and lights and things was the Nativity plays. Being a small blonde girl girl I was always cast as the angel, every single bloody year except one where I was cast as a Wise Man... yes a wise MAN but hey ho I got a solo song and I handled my Frankincense very well x

All I want for Christmas is Etsy

Leggings l Spoons l Straws l Jumper l Card l Bauble

Day 8 ~

Earlier today I was browsing pintrest when I came across these really cute personalised cards that led me to Etsy. If you don't know what Etsy is it's a online marketplace really where people can sell their mostly handmade creations. There's some really cute things on there and unfortunately its targeted at Americans so most don't ship to outside major countries so all I can do is drool at the amazing things people have created. I've collected a few things from the site today that are really Christmassey and I would love myself as well as love to give to people I know as presents. I really wish I could get personalised cards, I might look into making my own for next Christmas that would be so cute! x 

Happy Blogmas!

Day 01 ~

A few of my favourite youtubers are doing what's called 'Vlogmas' where they vlog everyday of December up until Christmas no matter what they're doing. I decided last night that I would do the same on here although a little bit different. So hello Blogmas! I'm planning on blogging every day up until Christmas Day with Christmassey things I've been doing or watching or reading, hopefully I can keep it up x

Greetings loved ones

Just a few little greeting card pieces I've produced the last week, really simple and quirky x

Winter Wonderland

I was looking through my files for a photograph for my friend for uni and I came across my folder from when I first got my DSLR camera back in England in December. Of course having the new thing I wanted to just take a photograph of everything and got way too snap happy without even reading how to even use the bloody thing. I still haven't even properly learnt yet I am slow at getting my arse into gear guys. I loved taking photos of the scenery around my Nan and Grandads place because it was so pretty in the winter and frankly that's what I miss about winter here in New Zealand because winter is just rain and wind here.. in England it's amazingly beautiful with frost and chills and the occasional icicle and frozen rivers. I wish I'd taken more of the landscape as it was frankly so beautiful, sometimes I wish I lived there again so I could take in the beauty everyday.. x