Reflecting on 2016

Hey guys,

It's been a funny old year, 2016. As I'm sat up writing this on the 30th December, I'm contemplating the fact that it was quite a weird year. I mean, politics has gone tits up, and there have been some awful tragedies, but some of it was actually okay.

I saw a tweet that went viral the other day, all about the good things that have happened this year in relation to our environment and wildlife, and it made me think that some good things have actually happened this year.

Going a bit more personal here, I really feel like I have grown this year. Not literally (damn you small legs!), but in a way in that I feel like I'm more independent, and more understanding of the fact that life is a bitch, and you've just got to go with what life throws at you. Unfortunately, I had a lot of shit at school, and yes, it's affected me pretty badly, but I'm finally realising that I've got to let it go. I mean yeah, I still don't have the confidence to go out without make up on and I hide away from doing certain things, but I have managed to go out wearing less make up, which is a start. I just haven't yet come to terms with the fact that I'm not the person that I was 4 years ago, but that's okay. I'll get there. 

I finally realised this year that I really need more experience in the line of work that I want to go into, but I'm still not 100% sure what that is. But that's basically what your twenties are for, finding out what you want to do for the rest of your life.

And yes, 2016 was the year I turned 20. No longer a teenager, which means I can no longer sit on my arse all day and eat without a care in the world (although let's be honest, I'm still going to do that). I don't know, even though it's just an age, it's a new decade, a new decade in which I may get married, I may have kids, I may finish university, I may travel, I may get that dream job...it's quite overwhelming. I feel like my twenties are going to be amazing, but I just don't think I'm ready for them yet.

I have also struggled with my mental health, but I have had such amazing support from my friends and family, and I am so thankful for them. My mental health is something that I have never really spoken about on my blog, but it is something that is very apparent in my life. Anxiety is always something that I have struggled with, as I can't really remember not having my weird compulsions in relation to grammar and shapes, but I feel that university has heightened it somehow. I have always felt stress, but it got to the point where I wasn't sleeping or eating, and had to get extensions on my assignments. I felt so frustrated with myself, as I wanted to be like everyone else and just be able to write my assignment in the time given. But looking back, if I hadn't had those extensions, I probably would have gone into a spiral of stress and low moods, so I am so glad that I faced up to what was going on. I think I need to focus on that more in 2017, and focus on helping myself in relation to this. However, this year I managed to fight my anxiety to some extent, and in my second term I handed in all of my assignments in on the deadline. It's a small victory, but one of which I am proud.

In 2016, I started my blog. This was a massive highlight for me this year, as I finally put my love of writing into something real, into something that I can look back on, and think 'wow, I was doing that this time last year' or 'wow, look how far I've come' (although not in photography, my photography is still a bit shit). It's quite amazing how much I have changed, within my writing style and also within my confidence. I would never in a million years have posted a photo of my face on the internet showcasing a make up look that I had created. It's also been an outlet for me, an outlet to just get out of my head for a while, and write. Write whatever I want and do whatever I want - it's fantastic.

I've also had some amazing opportunities in relation to my blog, as I have met loads of incredible bloggers, and have attended events that I would never even dream of attending. In fact, I was invited to an event in London recently, which also has guests attending such as In The Frow and Lydia Elise Millen, which is so amazing, yet so overwhelming. I'm so excited to attend, but I'm such a small blogger, with very little experience in comparison to the majority of people attending, and it's quite daunting to say the least. But this is something that I am so looking forward to, and I will definitely be writing a post about it!

I also started my YouTube channel. I never ever ever thought that I would be sat in my room talking to a camera as if the most natural thing in the world and then post it on the internet - but I did. To be honest, I never thought that I would even come close to starting, but here we are. If you're interested in checking out my YouTube channel, I'll leave the link here.

I was also very fortunate to visit California with my parents, something that I have always wanted to do. It was on of the best holidays I have ever been on, and I made memories there that are completely unforgettable. We toured down the West Coast, and we saw some amazing places, such as San Francisco, San Diego and Yosemite! I wrote many a post about my time here, so I will leave some links for you to view them - Monterey Bay, Yosemite, San Francisco. I am so thankful for being able to visit such amazing places, and I am so grateful to my parents for taking me!

So that was a very rambley post, but I feel that it was more honest and personal, which is something that I have never delved into on my blog, in fear of being found by someone I know, but also in fear of being judged in some shape or form. However, I have learnt to just say 'screw it', and go for it!

I hope you have all had a wonderful 2016, and I wish you a happy new year for 2017.

Let's see what this year brings.

Much love always,

Grace x

Everyday Eye Make-Up Look | Modern Renaissance Palette

Hey guys,

So this post is going to be a different kind of post to what I normally do, as I have never really had the confidence to do one before. Plus, I'm not that great at doing make up (understatement of the century), but I loved creating this look!

I was very lucky to receive the Anastasia Beverley Hills 'Modern Renaissance' palette for Christmas, so for the past couple of days, I have been experimenting with it to create all kinds of pretty eye looks. So, thought I would share my favourite every day look with you!

I decided to focus on a brighter look, as I normally go for a more natural/nude eye look. However, I am really trying to be more 'out there' with my make up, so went for a more dark pink look.

I started by blending Tempura all over my lid, just to set a base. I then took Red Ochre, and blended it into my outer corner and crease, using a large eyeshadow blending brush. With this palette, a little goes a long way, as the pigmentation is AMAZING, so be careful to not get too much on your brush, and be sure to tap the excess off. Plus, blending is your best friend when it comes to this look!!

I also took a thinner eye shadow brush and blended Red Ochre underneath my lower lash line to give it a more smoky feel.

I then took Veneer, a very pretty, pinky champagne gold, and patted it into the middle of my lid using the flat-shaped brush that was provided in the palette. After this, I took the first blending brush and blended the edges of where the two shades met so that there would be no harsh lines.

So there you have it, my everyday eye make-up! I am absolutely loving this look and this palette, and will be sure to try and create more looks with it. I loved writing this post, and I really want to start doing more of these types of posts, so I hope that you enjoyed it!

What palette are you loving right now?

Much love,

Grace x

Christmas in Edinburgh | Blogmas

Hey guys, 

I was very fortunate to visit Edinburgh last week with my boyfriend, as we decided to visit to do a bit of Christmas shopping and see the sights. So, I thought that I would write a blog post all about my time there, a little 'a day in the life of...', with also a couple of recommendations if you're thinking of visiting during the festive period. Plus, I love writing these kinds of posts!

On the first day, we ended up going shopping, but I don't have any pictures as I just got too carried away (as you do), but Edinburgh is fab for shopping! The best places are definitely Princes Street and George Street, however there are some little gems down the Royal Mile, so I'd definitely recommend an amble along there.

On the night, we went ice skating around St Andrews Square, which was absolutely lovely! You skate around the monument, and there is also a bar in the middle, which is good for a cheeky hot chocolate or just a drink for afterwards. We then visited The Mussel Inn, which is located on Rose Street, which we visit every time we visit Edinburgh. If you're a fan of seafood, then this is definitely the place to visit! 

This is a very unflattering picture of me, but the only other one Alex had of me had a child falling over in the background, so I felt bad for putting it on. Even though I laughed (I'm a bad person).

We also decided to go to The Dome for cocktails as we have heard very good things, but I forgot my ID (I am actually 20, but I look 12, it's not great), so those plans were ruined. However, we did end up going to see the Street of Light which is situated on George Street. It was pretty spectacular, and great to see! So if you're heading that way, then I'd definitely recommend going to see it, especially at night, it's pretty amazing!

The second day, we decided to visit the Christmas market (I do love a good Christmas market), and the one on Princes Street is pretty great. There is tons to see and loads of different stalls, so I picked up a few Christmas presents and an obligatory crepe, as you can't walk past a crepe stall and not get one. Or two.

We then decided to visit Camera Obscura, which is one of my favourite attractions in Edinburgh. It's basically full of optical illusions and it's very interactive - basically a lot of fun!! 

As you can see, me and Alex took full advantage of being big kids and made complete fools out of ourselves, but we loved every second of it!

Plus, here is a pretty picture that I took of Edinburgh from the roof of Camera Obscura (which is located near the castle on the Royal Mile), and I always forget how close Edinburgh is to the sea. Plus, isn't it such a beautiful city?

I loved my time here, and I will definitely be visiting again at some point (hopefully soon!). It is honestly one of my favourite cities, and it is fab to visit during the festive period! I hope that you enjoyed reading about my time in Edinburgh, and I hope to see you all again soon!

Where do you love to visit during the festive period?

Much love,

Grace x

The Body Shop Blogger Event | Blogmas

Hey guys,

So if you follow me on Twitter or Instagram (and if you aren't, then you should be! I joke, but you can follow me on Twitter here and Instagram here), then you will know that I went to a blogging event yesterday at The Body Shop!

I have always loved The Body Shop, as it was one of the first places that I visited for beauty type things, as I loved the lip glosses and body butters when I was younger!

At the event, we were shown all of their new products, including the Christmas range (which smells AMAZING!) and their new make up products.

From apple, to berry, to vanilla chai, the Christmas range is all that you need to feel super festive this season! My absolute favourite was the 'Spiced Apple' range, which literally smelt like apples. The products that they have in each range is great too, with body butters (a Body Shop classic), body washes, shimmer sprays, and even candles! I must say, the Spiced Apple candle was honestly so lovely, and I feel that this scent can be used all year round, as it is such a fresh scent!

However, my favourite range had to be the Spa range. These luxurious products are perfect for a gift for that someone who loves a good pampering, or for just yourself when you want to relax!

I was very kindly given a hand massage, and the lovely woman used a product that she recommended for me due to my dry skin type; this product was the 'Hawaiian Kukui Cream'.

Described as a 'mascarpone-like' texture, this wonder cream is perfect for those who suffer with eczema or dry skin. Even though it is of a thick consistency, it soaks into the skin well, and leaves your skin feeling hydrated and smelling lovely!

Another product that was used was the 'Japanese Camellia Cream', which smelt amazing! Honestly, it was as if you had just stepped out of a spa (which was probably the idea), and the scent is so relaxing. It was described as 'smooth and velvety'.

For all you bath lovers, the 'Egyptian Milk and Honey Relaxing Powder' is perfect, as it so nourishing for your skin and literally makes you go 'ahhhhh'. I would have taken a picture of what it looks like outside of the bag, but the plastic bag inside was open and I didn't want the product to go everywhere, which would have happened, because I am the clumsiest person with the worst luck.

I also had an amble around the 'Oils of Life' range. This range is one of the pricier ones within The Body Shop, but its easy to see why. The packaging in itself is very sophisticated, and very eye-catching, and the product just oozes luxury. I was very lucky to get a sample of the 'Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Sleeping Cream', so am looking forward to trying it out for myself!

As someone who colours their hair, I am always on the look out for hair products that will add moisture to my hair and revitalise it. Therefore, I had to check out the Argan Oil range, as I have heard great things about using argan oil on your hair.

Here, we have the 'Radiant Oil for Body and Hair' and the 'Miracle Solid Oil for Body and Hair', and this range, as always, smells pretty damn amazing!

As I do suffer from eczema, I asked about what skin products would benefit my skin. I was immediately taken to the 'Aloe Soothing Gel', which is good for applying to dry patches and around the eyes. I mean, anything with aloe vera in is going to be fab for you, but I tried this on my hand and was surprised at how soothing and hydrating it felt. This may be something that I may purchase after Christmas, as I do tend to get dry patches around my face during the winter, and I feel that this would really benefit me during this time.

I was also shown this the Vitamin C range, which included a 'Glow Boosting Microdermabrasion' and 'Skin Reviving Instant Smoother'. I was initially recommended the 'Glow Boosting Microdermabrasion', as this is supposed to be a perfect scrub for those with dry skin. The exfoliating particles are very fine and are very gentle on the skin, which differs to a normal scrub that you may find on the high-street.

As someone who rarely uses scrubs, due to them being too abrasive on my skin, this is something that has intrigued me, so may have to give this a cheeky try.

The make-up that they offer at The Body Shop is all cruelty-free, however, I have only tried the odd product. Their new range is something that I love though, with an introduction of their matte lipsticks. These are in a range of colours, and are so pretty and pigmented!

They have also introduced a new eyeshadow range, all aimed at the party season! There is a range of golds to smoky eyes, and the shades are truly stunning.

They very lovely people over at The Body Shop also very kindly gave us goodie bags with lots of samples in, and a full-size body wash of our choice! I picked the Spiced Apple, as it is just such a lovely scent!

There were also Celebrations, which is just great, because who can say no to chocolate??

I am going to write up a post about the products in the goodie bag, and also a couple of extras that I picked up too, as they were doing a great deal of 40% off, so I couldn't resist!

Thank you so much to The Body Shop for having me, and thank you for showing me all of your amazing products!

Much love, and hope to see you all again soon,

Grace x

A-Z of Christmas | Blogmas

Hey guys,

I do apologise for the lack of Blogmas posts, but my laptop decided to break, so I have not been able to post for a couple of days. However, I have finished uni, my laptop is fixed and I have a lot of ideas for Blogmas, so should hopefully be back to a normal upload from now on!

Today, I thought that I would do an A-Z of Christmas, as I loved writing my A-Z Travel Bucket List, so thought that another one was definitely in order!

A - Alcohol - Yes, I am not the biggest fan of alcohol and don't like drinking it for the sake of it, but it's Christmas! So therefore, a festive cocktail or the odd glass of wine here or there is fine. My sister and mum love mulled wine, and I love the smell of it, but (please don't hate me) I really can't stand to drink it.

B - Bears - You're probably going 'what? bears?!', but our Christmas tree never seems to be short of bears. No clue as to the reason, my family just seem to have collected them over the years, so we have a very bear-y tree. Partridge in a bear tree. I'm going to stop now.

C - Christmas Markets - If you have already read my Blogmas Day 3, then you will know that I love Christmas markets. I just love the atmosphere, the lights and the food (obv).

D - Decorations - When you start to see decorations out and about, you know that it's the start of Christmas. Plus, who doesn't love some good ol' Christmas lights?

E - Edinburgh - We always seem to go to Edinburgh near Christmas, and I am actually going next week with my boyfriend, which is super exciting! Plus, it's such a beautiful city and is great to visit during this time of year.

F - Family - I love spending time with my family during the Christmas holidays, whether it be on Christmas day itself, or just visiting relatives that you may not get to see as much during the year.

G - Gloria in Exelcis - Another random pick of a letter, but every year, we go carolling at the local hospital a couple of  days before Christmas Day, and it is honestly one of the most lovely things. I love seeing how happy the patients are, and all the nurses sing along; and it's one of the best feelings knowing that you have made someone that happy.

H - Hot Chocolate - There is nothing better than snuggling up in a blanket and drinking a hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows. Also, as I love it at this time of year, add a splash of Baileys, as it makes your hot chocolate taste extra creamy and delicious.

I - Icy - We all know how temperamental the weather is during this time of the year, and I for one am always prone to falling over in the most hilarious way possible with as many people present as there can possibly be. But it wouldn't be Christmas without it.

J - Jingle Bells - You literally cannot go anywhere without hearing this song, it is everywhere!!

K - Kranks - Christmas with the Kranks is a completely underrated Christmas film, and is absolutely hilarious. If you haven't seen it, and just want a feel good festive comedy, then I'd recommend watching it!

L - Love - I just love Christmas!

M - Movies - I mean, come on, who can resist a Christmas film?

N - Night's Out - I do love a good night out during Christmas, as it means you can wear super sparkly dresses and fit right in! Plus, I love dancing to Christmas songs on night's out, you can embarrass yourself, but it doesn't matter because it's Christmas.

O - Oranges - I'm sorry, but it's not Christmas Day without you emptying your stocking and finding a satsuma at the bottom. I bloody love satsumas, so it's a present in itself to be honest.

P - Presents - I love buying people Christmas presents! I just love it, and I can't wait to go Christmas shopping this year. (yes, I do leave my present buying until late, but we will blame uni for that one).

Q - Queen's Speech - We hardly ever watch the Queen's Speech completely, but we do watch the highlights or watch parts. I do respect our Queen a lot, she's amazing for her age!

R - Reindeer - Always reminds me of my trip to Lapland when I was younger, which I absolutely loved! (Although I apparently moaned saying that I was too cold and I can remember that a husky bit me which wasn't funny then, but it's pretty funny now)

S - Songs - Christmas songs are what make me happy during writing assignments (they got me through November), as I was just holding onto the fact that Christmas was coming and after the assignments were done, I could relax. Plus, they're just so fun and boppy.

T - Tree - As I am writing this, we have just put ours up and I have never seen my dad so proud. I have always loved decorating the tree, it is one of the things I look forward to most. We always put on a Christmas album to sing along to as well, so there is a lot of warbling to Michael Buble its fair to say.

U - Unexpected - There is always something that happens on Christmas Day that does not go to plan, but that's okay, because it wouldn't be Christmas without a bit of a disaster.

V - Vacation - As in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - this is a film that my family and I always watch near Christmas, as it's honestly one of the funniest films, and we can definitely relate to the Griswalds.

W - Weather - Yes, it's cold and some days can be pretty grim, but I am very lucky to live up north where we do get quite a bit of snow! Although we never seem to have a white Christmas, which is sad.

X - Xmas - Okay guys, please don't hate me, but nothing begins with X! So I had to make a compromise and just use this. (sorry)

Y - Yorkshire Puddings - Well, everything about a Christmas dinner really!! You cannot beat pigs in blankets.

Z - ZZZs - Christmas is definitely a time for relaxing, so I will definitely be catching up on my sleep (although I still can't sleep very well on Christmas Eve...please don't judge me).


So there you have it, my A-Z of Christmas! I love writing these posts, and this has definitely got me excited for all the things that Christmas has to offer.

What do you love to do during Christmas time?

Much love,

Grace x

Too Faced Grand Hotel Cafe Review & Swatches | Blogmas

Hey guys,

So today's post is going all about this beautiful Christmas set - Christmas in New York by Too Faced.

The set includes 3 palettes - Eggnog Latte, Gingerbread Cookie, and Peppermint Mocha - with shades ranging from mattes to shimmers. Each palette also includes a blush or a bronzer, which are such beautiful shades. Oh, and did I mention that the palettes are scented?! Yes you read that right, each one has a different Christmas scent, and they just smell amazing. I mean, who doesn't want their eye lids to smell of Christmas?

Inside the set, there also featured a Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, but honestly, mine seemed to have dried out and was really clumpy, so wasn't a huge fan of that. However, I love the rest of the set!

First up, we have the Peppermint Mocha palette. This palette is predominantly filled with pink shades, with the odd brown/gold tone. And, as you have probably guessed, it smells like minty chocolate, and it is goooood. I have also provided swatches of each of the palettes.

Next up, we have the Gingerbread Cookie palette (which is gingerbread scented!!) This palette is much darker than the Peppermint Mocha, so I would recommend this for maybe a more daring day look/a night look. I love the shades Winter Dream for a subtle pretty pink sparkle and Black Coffee is perfect for putting on your lower lash line, as it blends really well and isn't too dark when blended out.

Last, but not least, we have the Eggnog Latte palette. This smells more like chocolate than eggnog in my opinion, but you get the hint of cinnamon in there too. I feel that this is my favourite palette for a wintry eye, as Cold Brew, Iced Coffee and Eggnog Latte are such beautiful shimmers, and add a bit of extra glam to that smoky, nude eye look. They are also easily buildable, so you can also use these shades for a subtle eye look (get your blending brushes at the ready!). I haven't tried Central Park yet, but I think it is such a pretty teal colour, so I may be daring and try it for a night out...

I have also swatched the blushers/bronzer below, as I wanted to talk about them separately. I feel that they are beautiful shades, but I feel like Santa Baby is too vibrant and matte for my skin tone. However, I feel like Peach Cobbler could be used as a subtle, but pretty, blush shade, as it's not as bright as Santa Baby and has a hint of shimmer. Gingerbread is also super pretty, it's just quite shimmery, so I would probably use this more for a night time look to give more of a bronzed glow.

So, that was my review on this amazing set from Too Faced! I actually bought this from Debenhams back in October (I literally fell in love with it straight away), but saved it until now to show you, as, as much as I love Christmas, I couldn't bring myself to post about Christmas sets that early in the year! I hope you have enjoyed, and I'll see you tomorrow for Blogmas Day 6!

What is your favourite Christmas palette?

Much love,

Grace x

20 Things That I've Learnt in 20 Years | Blogmas

Hey guys,

So as you have probably guessed, today is my birthday. And I'm super excited, even though I am no longer a teenager and now old. *sob*

Therefore, I thought that I would do a little post about 20 things that I have learnt over the past 20 years, as I love reading these kinds of posts. Even though I probably don't carry a lot of wisdom, so the majority of these may be daft. Sorry...

1. People change. I don't really know how else to say this without going into detail, but yeah, they change, and it can be for the better or the worse. You've just got to find the people who are going to be there for you no matter what, and I am so grateful for the people that I have in my life.

2. Family is one of the most important things in the world. I love my family, and love how close we all are, even if we are a tad dysfunctional (but isn't every family?)

3. School is hard. I don't think I have met a single person who has had an easy time at school (yes, that does include those popular people who seem like they have their lives together), so don't worry, you're not alone.

4. Be nice. Pretty obvious, but it's just nice to be nice. Like, why unnecessarily put someone down? Just giving someone a compliment or smile could brighten someone's day!

5. Food is good. I am glad that I was graced with not being a fussy eater, as I love food. Probably more than I should.

6. Sleep is also good. As a kid, I hated going to sleep at 'bed time', and genuinely thought I was the coolest person ever if I stayed up past 9:30 (definitely one of the cool kids), yet if I go to bed at 9:30 now, it is a miracle.

7. Anxiety is a bitch. It just is, like why shouldn't I go outside, brain, why? Yet there is just always something going 'Don't do it! Danger', even if it's something as small as leaving my room to go and get food. Like, why restrict me from food?? In all seriousness though, it is a daily struggle to do even the little things, and I have so much respect for anyone who suffers with it.

8. Alcohol isn't all it's cracked up to be. Yes, I'm a student, and yes, I go out on night's out. But I honestly hate drinking if there is not purpose to it, like I will only drink for a night out. And yes, I am that person who goes to the pub and orders a lemonade, but I don't care, because it's refreshing.

9. Everything takes time. They say that good things take time (yes, that was a quote that I sang in my head from Hannah Montana), but they honestly do. I met my boyfriend in year 7, and I'm pretty sure he hated me for about 4 years. But then we became good friends, and it all went from there. However, essays take time, and they are not good. So Hannah Montana is not quite accurate there.

10. Always try to take the high road. I have had my fair share of crap from some people, but I just always try to stay calm and be nice, cause that's all I can do. There's no point in retaliation, cause people who treat others like this normally turn it back around on you. So, my advice is to just be nice. And vent to your mum.

11. Learn a musical instrument. Honestly, learning to play the piano is one of the best things that I have ever done. Just sitting there and being able to plonk around, just gets you out of everything for a while, and it's such a good stress relief.

12. Don't leave essays until the last minute. Lol, I still haven't learnt from this. My dissertation is going to be fun.

13. University is hard. Much like the point about school, uni is so hard. Everyone is thrown in together, and everyone seems like they're loving it. I honestly had a very hard first semester and it was shit, I was doing a course that I really hated and I didn't really get on well with my flat. However, I managed to switch course, and I made friends with other people in my block, so it was all good. It just took a while to adjust, so don't worry, people may seem like they're loving it, but everyone finds it hard.

14. Travel. This was my housemates pick (shout out to Courtney), and it's very true. Travel as much as you can, regardless of how close or far away it is to home. Whether it's a day trip to a beach you've never visited, or its a trip to Australia, try and visit as many places as you can.

15. Surround yourself with kind people. I know from experience that this is hard to do, as sometimes you feel as if you're stuck. However, you will meet people who are kind and actually want to spend time with you, and not make you feel insecure and down. I promise, it is hard, but it will happen.

16. Get work experience early. As a university student, I know that the aim is to look early for jobs and apply for graduate schemes and jobs ASAP. However, basically every single one asks for 30 years worth of experience. So yeah, try and get some in before uni, even if it's volunteering in a charity shop or having a blog (obviously depends on the line of work that you want to go into), but every little helps. (lol, Tesco reference.)

17. Don't let other people put you down. Another that is easier said than done, but just try to not let the shit that comes out of people's mouths get to you. I know that it's hard, as I unfortunately let what I was told at school get to me, and I have an extreme lack of self confidence, but I just blag it. Fake confidence, and you will get there. Fake it until you make it. And listen to Beyoncé.

18. There is no such thing as normal. Be weird, it's the best way to be.

19. You can never have enough make up. Sorry, but I just really love make up, and had to have it in here somewhere. If I have had a crap week, going online shopping is the way to go. Or online window shopping, as who can afford the spending life (lol, not me) #studentproblems. Or sometimes, you've just gotta TREAT YO' SELF.

20. Just focus on being happy. Just do whatever you want to do, and be happy. Honestly, regardless of whether it's trying something now or sticking to the good ol' routine, just do what makes you happy and roll with it. #YOLO (yes, I did just say that and I am sat here loathing myself for it)

So there you go guys, 20 things that I have learnt in 20 years. They are a bit random, and I think that we can all conclude that I didn't like school, I am lazy when it comes to anything work related and I like food. Pretty much sums me up. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow with a more festive post!

Much love,

Grace

Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market | Blogmas

Hey guys,

So, as we all know, Christmas will soon be upon us (or if you're a Christmas fanatic like me, it is already here), so a trip to the Christmas markets was definitely needed! Therefore, today's post is another super festive one, showing pictures from my trip to the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market.

Birmingham is renowned for having the biggest Christmas market outside of Germany, and is honestly one of the most festive places to wander round when it gets dark. The lights are amazing, the drinks are amazing, and the food is unbelievable!

So, I just thought that I would kind of do a photo diary type thing, as in a day in the life of a blogger attending a Christmas market (I don't really know where I was going with that either), but yeah, here is what I got up to!

Unfortunately we didn't go on the carousel, as we were in a bit of a rush as it was nearing on closing time (and I wanted a Bailey's hot chocolate, but we will get to that later!). However, I had to grab a cheeky photo before we passed, as it was just so pretty!

I loved looking through all of the little stalls, as they were all so beautifully decorated. The range of whites to reds to golds was stunning, so I obviously had to take a few pictures!

Honestly don't know how I refrained from buying any of this, as it just looks so amazing!

As well as the stalls looking beautiful, the lights around the streets were pretty fab too! Plus, from the picture below, you can see how crowded it gets sometimes, so please be aware that it is very popular, so be ready for crowds!

Okay, so this was pretty cool. The person at the top was making the food and then, when finished, sending it down the spiral in the middle of the building so that the people below could sell it. It was so cool to watch, so if you are thinking of visiting, then I'd recommend checking this stall out. Such a cool concept!

Okay, so we didn't go on the ferris wheel either, but I couldn't resist taking a photo! There is also ice skating outside of the library, which we would have done if we had arrived earlier, as its such a pretty place for a skate! I have friends who have gone ice skating there, and they loved it.

Okay, onto food. Me and my boyfriend ended up buying 12 giant marshmallows for £5 and we did not regret it one bit. They ranged from just normal chocolate to blueberry to mint. They were very good, to say the least. And they ended up being eaten in less than a day (my housemates were super nice to me that day, I wonder why?)

Plus, you can't go to the Christmas market without getting a Bailey's hot chocolate?! I was literally talking non-stop about it (sorry Alex), but they were totally worth the wait. Best Christmas drink ever *insert heart eye emoji*. If you haven't yet tried one, then I'd definitely recommend them, they are super creamy and super festive.

And yes, I did make Alex hold the Bailey's cup out whilst I took a photo.

I obviously made Alex take a photo of me with it for blog purposes, just to prove that I was actually there. Plus, I needed a more festive profile photo, so I thought I'd share it with you. #candid.

So there you have it, my time at the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas market. If you're a lover of all things Christmas, then I would definitely recommend visiting, and I will definitely be paying another visit on my next trip into the city.

What is your favourite thing to do at Christmas?

Much love,

Grace x