My Christmas (pic heavy!)

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas!

As I said in a previous post, I headed home for Christmas last Wednesday and despite the awful weather, I managed to make it back in one piece.  I thought you guys might like to see some photos of what my Christmas was like and also of a couple of the presents I got.  Just in case you are interested, this is what my room looks like at home...

I love going home and spending time with my mum, dad and brother.  It's a very relaxed household and there's little to no arguing so it's the perfect place for some R & R.  I was woken up on Christmas morning at 7:30am by my mum singing 'Jingle Bells' at full pelt.  It's weird how you're not QUITE as enthusiastic about getting up at the crack of dawn when you're a grown up!  It's almost like you swap roles with your parents and they're now the ones singing with excitement and forcing you to get up in the wee hours to open presents!  I went through to my mum and dad's bedroom and it became immediately apparent that our dogs, Hamish and Findlay, seem to think they rule the roost! 

They are spoilt boys! They were taking up most of the bed and my mum was forced to curl up in the fetal position to avoid being pushed off the bed completely.ha ha.  I went downstairs to start making the breakfast for everyone whish was toasted, sliced Croissants with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs...it was lovely!  I opened the back door to let the dogs out and as you can see, we definitely had a white Christmas!

I saw the dogs snuffling around in the snow and I couldn't work out what they were doing.  Then I realised they were eating the bits of bread my mum had scattered for the birds which were actually frozen.  Those dogs will eat anything!  You'd swear we never fed them!

I loved all the little sparkly things my mum used to decorate the fire place...

The usual Santa was perched on the mantlepiece...

I also love those candle jewels...

Mum had lots of cute little lights and decorations for the tree...

These angel lights were particularly cute!

We couldn't find our wreathes this year, they seem to have gone missing but mum bought one for the livingroom wall...

I'm also loving the pearlised berry garland on the hall mirror.  It actually used to be a plain gold mirror but my dad painted it cream and then used sandpaper to distress it.  I think it turned out really well... 

Dad made his own filo pastry mince pies which tasted amazing! SO much nicer than the usual shortcrust pastry version!  I don't actually like mince pies but I make an exception for these because they are so tasty with a little bit of creme fraiche on the side.  He used a Jamie Oliver recipe for this so if you want to know how to make them, click here.

I decided to wear a bright lip for Christmas Day so I donned my YSL Rouge Volupte in Frivilous Pink.  I really like this shade, it's very cool toned and it really suits my complexion.  I just used my Jemma Kidd Shimmer Shadow in Brulee on the lid with Mac Smoke & Diamonds in the crease.  My dad even complimented me on my bright lipstick...he's not used to seeing me wearing something so vivid!

Hamish and Findlay always get a big teddy bear each for Christmas and they get REALLY excited (and possessive) over them.

Hamish especially loved to cuddle his teddies and he does this weird thing where he 'sooks' on it like a baby does with their dummy or blanket! He makes these high pitched whimpering sounds as he does it...it always makes me laugh because he's like a big baby!

I won't post loads about my Christmas presents because the majority of them were very practical and some were personal.  I did order alot of stuff online with money I got for Christmas so I will just post on those items as I receive them.

I'm always travelling around so my mum and dad thought it would be a good idea to get me a big bag with loads of room to use as hand luggage.  This will come in VERY handy in the future...

 Mum and Dad also got me this OPI Show Stoppers set....

I am SO happy with this because ever since I saw OPI Let Me Entertain You on Tali's blog (click here to read her post), I have been lusting after this shade.  It's so me! I love hot pink shades on my toe nails and this polish with purply pink shimmer is just gorgeous!

The set contains three nail polishes:

 Let Me Entertain You (fuschia glimmer)

Bling It On (Gold Glitter)

Tease-y Does It (Chocolate Burgundy Shimmer) 

The set also contains Original Nail Envy, which strengthens nails and makes a great base and top coat.  You also get Avoplex High Intensity Hand and Nail Cream, a crystal nail file and a mini glitter cuticle stick.

I got quite a few presents to make our flat/apartment even cosier.  Mum and Dad gave us two SUPER soft throws for the couches, one is beige and one is cream.  I've never felt material so soft and they will be perfect for pulling over us when we are cosying up to watch a film together.  I love having a really comfortable, welcoming home and these will certainly add to that feeling.

They also got us a gold coloured silk throw for our bed which was from Next.

It has tiny random crystals on it and also a pleated design with silver discs on each end of the throw.  It really finishes off our bedroom beautifully and gives the room a more luxurious feel.  I remember when I first moved in with Chris he said "no candles, no 'girly' colours and definitely NO sparkly stuff!".  Mwahahahahahah....I have slowly but surely introduced all three of the 'banned' items. 

My brother and his girlfriend gave us £75 of John Lewis vouchers so I decided to make use of them in the Christmas sale today.  I picked up a Mango Wood Vase, a Grass Bundle, these sparkling brown beaded artificial plants and some gorgeous dragonfly fairy lights to wrap throughout the display.... 

I love the unique fairy lights and the whole thing just finishes off that corner of the room and makes the place look more cosy.

I ordered alot of clothes and accessories online using money I was given as a present so I will do post on all of those things when I receive them in the post.  I think this post has been long enough as it is!

So tell me, what was your favourite Christmas present you received this year?  Do your dogs go mad for teddy bears? Do your parents act like kids at Christmas?