Festive Feelings :: 1 :: Food & Hot Drinks!

Merry Christmas Everybody,

And so this is me, little old giggles of life doing blogmas. My sisterish-bestie EdelBelle! created this tag post last Christmas. For 12 days, she wrote what she enjoys most about this special time of year. So I thank her for tagging each and every one of us, but I was honored in her asking me personally ----- twitter that is, heehee. Feeling very special.

The rules
1. 12 blogs  each saying a favourite thing about Christmas.
2. A blog a day....so one blog everyday from when you begin.
3.Title wise its (Festive Feeling-'Insert favourite thing'). As for the picture each day, Edel had edited hers last year for everyday. So I will be using hers, but you can make your very own if you so wish.
4. And lastly Edels final rule was to have fun and get in the Christmas Spirit!!!

So, food!

I don't eat that much as I get full after only a few mouthfuls, but I do enjoy the taste of food.

There's the whole festive foods, such as my favourites mince pies. I remember laying them out for Santa with a glass of milk and two carrots for the reindeer's. Whenever Santa had some mince pies left over I would eat them, believing them to be special, bit like holy communion, haha! As a kid, that's how I saw it anyway.

Christmas cakes have already been stashed away in the press. I enjoy eating a slice with a cup of tea. The taste is strong, but the flavours are what Christmas is!

Then of course there's the Christmas dinner. Everyone usually has something like, turkey, goose etc. In my family for the past 20 years, it has always been turkey, ham, brussel sprouts, parsnips, broccoli, carrots, green beans or mushy peas, along with my favourite... cranberry sauce. Turkey sandwiches will then be breakfast, lunch  and dinner for the next few days.

After dinner we always have our traditional, Vienetta ice-cream (with either cake or jelly.) Christmas Day also includs our treats, Celebrations or Roses. My favouirte being Celebrations. Mmmm, malteasers... nice. Oh and finishing up on the advent calendars. Hey, I pat myself on the shoulder for whenever I complete it.

Drinks!!

This season, thankfully, I don't have to explain why I drink so many hot drinks. I won't get those confused looks I get in Summer. I love all sorts of teas, coffees, hot cocoas, lattés, mochas... it goes on!

Coffee shops, such as Starbucks and Costa have the festive cups as well, so when you go out shopping, you have the pleasure in carrying either a little snowman, reindeer or a Santa. Out of all the festive drinks, my absolute favourite would have to be the black forest hot chocolate from Costa and vanilla spiced latté from Starbucks. So my time recently has been spent in cafés, drinking a hot drink and writing down notes, in my diary or work journal, or perhaps reading or enjoying a good vlogmas from Jim Chapman.

The DMC Tag

My own credit.

The picture above is of my little, adorable cousin at the Lamb Festival back home in Ireland. Not relevant to the tag, but hey the mud was pretty deep ;)

I was tagged by the amazing Sinead over at Dreaming Again for this unique, very creative tag that she made herself. As soon as I saw it I abandoned my College work, which is due in for tomorrow and did the best procrastinating ever! You should be ashamed in yourself Sinead! And you a teacher! (wink wink)

Anyway, on with the questions and answers.... Ooooh....

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

Well I'd say I would be in my late 20s. I'm not the type to go out 3-4 times a week. And even though I don't drink, I can still have fun. But my fun doesn't involve dancing it seems. I prefer to have serious chats (back to the tag, a Deep Meaningful Convo at that!)

If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?

Being a singer who can perform would be just about be enough. See I agree with Sinead from Dreaming Again. I would get bored too easily with having jobs such as a photographer or a stylist. With music I could just put all my feelings into it.

What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?  What’s holding you back?

I've never really tried to go out there and test myself in the Music industry. Yes I've been in competitions but to actually go to the end of the yellow brick road. My Dad has been putting my name down for 'X-factor' and 'The Voice' for a long time now, and every year I chicken out, saying I'm not ready. Deep down I don't think I am, but if you look at the contestants that have been on both shows, there're people who would be quite similar to me. What holds me back is on whether I take the risk and leave my education. I'm a very superstitious person and in my eyes I'm not a lucky person. I'll get splashes every so often of great luck, but they come rarely.

If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way that you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would you allow this person to be your friend?

I'd like them at first... sounding cocky right now, I know! But then after hanging out with them for a few months, they'd drive me insane. I'd be okay meeting up with them every 6 months. But if I had to live with them, I'd burn the house down! But----- if they are me in ways, then wouldn't they find me annoying. This is a very funny question. Basically both of us would get sick of one other and would only see each another on the holidays.

What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?

The weather is one thing (don't really appreciate how mother nature can take her anger out through hurricanes and earthquakes!) But if I had to choose, I'd choose everyone, from any race, any Country to be treated as equals. There are people who judge others by their colour and by their culture, and to me that alone is what makes everyone feel so distant and fearful. There would be so much love and trust if everyone were to be seen as equals.

If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?

Not to go to College would be one thing, not to worry over stupid, nonsensical things, dye my hair every colour there is, get a tattoo because I'm not going to get old and say "Eww" to them one day.  Then I'd eat every food that exists out there (just in case I missed something that was to my calling!) Get married young. Kids I don't know really. If it's 40 years, I'd be depressed having such little time with these 8-10 year olds. Plus I would have spent my time suffering with pregnancy and all-nighters feeding the baby. So I'd probably adopt. A teenager, so they can take care of themselves. But we could take a trip around the world together, Oooooh. Yeah I'm pretty happy with the life span we have now!

You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do?

It would be like me saying "I can't stand your Mother!" Like that is so hurtful. No one would say that. I would say that,"Hey, she's my friend, if you guys don't like her I'd appreciate if ye moved your conversation outside, away from me, before I throw my soup at all 3 of you!" (having lunch aren't we!)

And if they still want to resume their conversation I'll head off leaving the bill with them! Some friends they are! (Michaela, these people are not real.... you've got to stop day dreaming these sort of story lines!)

Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?

I can't deal with stress (says everyone) but with me, I get stress pains in my stomach and really bad ones at that. So NO, I'd stick with the 'joyful simpleton'. I'm thick anyway, so nothing much would change. The joyful part would though. I'd like more happy days :)

Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?

My weakness is thinking far ahead to the future. I get so excited about a future husband, future kids, future home. So having to be able to make new memories would be great. Even though I'd be throwing away my memories of my Granny and a lovely childhood of Harry Potter (he was like an imaginary friend Haa!) I'd much prefer happiness rather than playing my old memories like a broken record.

What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

I'd wear the most amazing clothes. Like yes fashion over here in London is amazing, but I'd still feel shy coming out of the car going into College. IF I WANT TO WEAR A TUTU, I'LL WEAR A BLOODY TUTU! Some people would admire what you wear,others controlled by envy or jealousy would glare and give inclinations that your outfit sucks! GO TO HELL!

I've just realised in my deep meaningful conversations I get pretty angry and lost in fantasies.

I liked these questions. They were by far different to ones that I usually see. You get to know a lot more from your blogger with these types of questions.

I would like for these lovely lassies to take part in this wonderful, new tag. And if you do, please attach the link into the comment bar below or send it to me on twitter @GigglesOfLife. I'd be very interested into whether you're the angry types as well ;)

I tag these lovelies

The Peculiar Joint

Just Smiling Everyday

A Mad Hatters Tea Party

Dib-Dab-Debs

Lisette Loves

Beauty Life Michelle

a whole lot of chitty chat

 EdelBelle

I hope you enjoyed these questions and answers. And if you so happen want to do this tag, be sure to let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading giggle-piggles, xx

My September Favourites

Hey fellow readers, this is my 1st ever haul/ favourites post, so I hope that you do like it. I love Fashion so much. It is something that makes me get so hyper and heart racing.

I was told by a friend that I should do 'Fashion' posts, so maybe this will be the beginning :)

Can I add the dazzling sunshine as a favourite, because we didn't get much sun as I'd like this September, and when it did come out it made me so happy :)

Let us start us with the beauty collectibles that I adored this Month, all bought from 'Superdrug'. 

- Sleek Make-Up Blush, Antique.

- Rimmel London Eyebrow Pencil, in Dark, 001

& ScandalEyes Precision Micro Eyeliner (Waterproof).

- Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair, Shine Tonic. 

- Batiste Dry Shampoo, XXL Volume.

- Tresemme Texture Style, Back Comb Dust (dizzying heights).

Sleek Blush, Antique

Since I am quite pale, I found that this blusher added a vintage, radiant flush to my cheeks. It can also be used as a highlighter I found. It's ultra-long lasting and it suits all skin types.

Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil 

First time for everything, and for me I have never really paid much attention to my eyebrows (and I should have) there pretty fair compared to the colour of my hair (a little rhyme for you), so I had to see whether anything could be done. I felt so strange when I first used this applicator, I looked unnoticeable in the mirror, but I've gone extremely light with applying, and at last I have gotten used to it's ways. I find that if I have my eyes equally as good with make-up then it doesn't look so strange.

Scandaleyes Liquid Eyeliner

I've tried the L'oreal liquid eyeliner, and the maybelline Eye Studio Master Precise, and this one seemed to be my favourite. I feel as though this pen does the job for me, I get the line as thin as possible with this eyeliner, which I wasn't so successful on doing with the others.

Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair

This is to be applied on dry, styled hair.

Thankfully, this spray doesn't make my hair feel oily, it does what it says on the tin. Adds shine. I have sadly dull, dry hair, and this shine tonic, tricks the eye, making it appear so healthy and shiny... Ooooh.

People will say, "Ooh, your hair looks so shiny, surely you must have used something!"....

"No m'darlings, not a thing!"... wink wink, heehee :) Nah only joking... must advertise the product at least (show my appreciation).

Baptiste Dry Shampoo, XXL Volume

I found this to be very much like strong hairspray, so take caution! Use sparingly! But it does like it says, adds lots of Volume. I am always in a rush, so this is great for me, when I want to tie my hair up, and make the roots appear more bouncy :)

Tresemme Texture Style, Backcomb Dust

And lastly, my favourite beauty item. For me, instead of following the instructions that say to apply on your hands, I just sprinkle it, little by little, onto my scalp. It made my hair feel so soft as well, which was a surprise bonus for me. It also isn't as difficult as dry shampoo, where you have to hide the white dust. Me love love this product. Thumbs up I say :)

Lepard Print Umbrella & A Pretty Little Box

Umbrella cos like it rains... heehee. Very important. Aaaand...

It's a box... yeah, but not only a box... a secret opening to NARNIA!

If only it were true.

The reason why I bought this was because starting from September, me and best friend EdelBelle (you must know her by now, with me mentioning her all the time), well we're sending cards to one another till the end of July, (the duration of our separation from College). And in these cards, we ask one another a question. It could be about, "What's your opinion on anxiety?"...."What's your favourite Season?" Which I wrote in my first Issue (of September) to her. So my given cards will be added to this box, along with some pictures.

Each of these cards are in a set of 3. I adore them so much and thank heavens Edel loves them too. I am awaiting for my card to come in the post, so I'm excited to see what she says.

Slippers from 'Primark'

These are a huge favourite. They were given to me as a 'Welcome' present by my Aunt, for my stay in London. And they're from 'Primark'.

I love how it has the soft pink flowers attached to the sides, and that it has a gold, crisp lining at the bottom. Also strangely they match my new umbrella, well I'm not going to be using the umbrella in the house, or my slippers out in town, so... actually you know what, maybe I could dance around the house with the umbrella... Hmmm, that could work out to be quite fun!

'New Look' Boots and New brown patched-look leather Purse

I took these pictures the day I bought my new purse. Nice leather, good leather.

And I wanted to show you the boots, that my Mum bought for me, before coming to London. They're from 'New Look', and their price was (in sterling) £37.

I also wanted to show you from outside my College in Barnet.

I loved how the red brick and fallen leaves matched my boots and my purse.

 So there you have it guys, I hope you enjoyed my ramblings, photos, stories and product opinions.

It's only a start, but I hope that I will continue with doing posts very much like these.

Love you all so much,

Cheerio x

Thankful Thursday

Waaaazup guys :)

This week was full of hard work, sleep deprivation and lots of hot drinks and jam sandwiches... yeah... random enough for ya?

And I'm sorta glad the week is over, I'm wrecked, so much College work and so little time. Plus today I'm not even sure whether I'm going to the big special event of meeting Tanya Burr in London. I'm off from College early but everyone I know is either working, looking after kids or in a different country... the one person I want to be there with me is my Best Friend Edel Belle and sadly she's back home in Ireland :( SAD FACE!

Anyway here is the list of muh 'Thankful Thursday'

-Writing in my Diary at the Park.

-Starbucks Caramel Macchiato & semi-skimmed hot-chocolate with DOUBLE cream (it's the savage inside me).

-Tips from work, along with it's respectful customers.

-Comfy shoes.

-Sleep, after a long day at College/Work.

-Old, meaningful jewelry, given as gifts. And with them, their treasured memories.

-Orange 'Kit-Kat' bars.

-Respectful, considerate, hard-working College Tutors, (I think they deserve to be on the list).

-Best Friend catch-up on Skype.

-Tofu.

-Downton Abbey.

-Return of favourite US T.V. Shows.

-My Health.

-Alone Time.

What a week it's been. You know perfectly well what would top off this list... and it's the Tanya Burr meet-up. Oh to dream :)

Just keep Dreaming I say :)

Love you all so much m'dears,

25 Facts About Me (Part 1)

So this '50 Facts About Me' tag has been going on for a while now, through blogs and vlogs, and I felt as though it was a handy way of letting ye know a little bit more about moi.

This is the first batch, having divided it into 2 parts because 50 is too much to read :)

So... here is the first half...

1) I'm known as 'Kayla' to my friends & family.

2) I have the worst sweet tooth, with addiction to chocolate, serious counselling-needed-chocolate-addict.

3) I believed when I was 7, after reading 'Harry Potter' that I could possibly be a witch.

4) And also 'Harry Potter' is my favorite book & film franchise.

5) My favorite food, is Irish Beef Stew.

6) I love the smells of mowed grass, Christmas scented castles & strangely the smell of farm sheds.

7) I have one, true, Best Friend, Edel.

8) I suffered from stress pains when I was 15, because I was self-conscious about my appearance.

9) My main Passion is Music. I play the piano, guitar, tin-whistle, a little of the flute, and I sing.

10) I love catching up on Bloglovin' with a cup of tea/hot chocolate, at night time when the place is quiet.

11) My favorite tv shows are Bones, Greys Anatomy, Sherlock, Downton Abbey, New Girl and Gilmore Girls. ( I LOVE TV).

12) Religion is an important factor in my life.

13) My Mum (who is more of a sister) is one of my role models. She lives a happy life, with no care for over-stressing herself. The other role model being my Grand-mother. She led a life full of faith and strength.

14) I love cats & dogs.... Oooooh and SHEEP :)

15) I'm a good enough cleaner, I find it therapeutic.

16) I let my hair dry naturally, instead of heated products.

17) My favorite blogger is 'Sprinkle of Glitter'.

18) I want to become a General Adult Nurse, moving onto working in ITU, and then hopefully get a degree in Music.

19) Gazing out at the stars makes me think that magic is real.

20) I'm extremely ticklish around the waist.

21) I enjoy going to Bakerys, I love my pastries.

22) I hate night clubs.

23) I don't drink or smoke.

24) I love being snugged up with cosy PJs & a hot water bottle.

25) My must-have makeup is mascara... hate leaving the house without it.

So there you have it guys. I'll be sure to add up the next half another time.

Love-love-love you all lots & lots,

Liebster Blog Award

The Liebster Award is something of which I haven't heard about, ever since the 30 Day Snap I've been real busy, but I was lucky enough to get time to check over my bloglovin, and I came across my name on Away with the fairies

I came across Annas blog a while back, and I'm happy with how she and I comment on each others blogs, it makes me feel as though some people are reading my blogs. So thank you so much Anna for the nomination and your lovely comments, it means a lot knowing that you enjoy what I post.

The Liebster Award involves:

1- Answering the 10 Liebster Award questions that were given by your nominee, and with linking the person who nominated you.

2- 10 bloggers with under 200 followers must be nominated for the award. (Even though I chose 7, because simply enough I'm just lazy, and these bloggers are the only ones that interest me).

3- You must come up with 10 questions for your nominees (and these nominees must be notified on there blog)

So... here are Annas questions that she had picked out for me... I'll answer honestly, so if I come across as a little strange or random, well then your getting to know what I'm like.

1- What made you start blogging?

Well I enjoy writing in my diaries, ever since I was a kid, and I have an interest in photography (I'm useless at it, but I enjoy it nonetheless). So the idea of fusing them together is pretty cool. Plus I really enjoy the idea of talking about interests to other bloggers.

2- When did you start blogging?

I started on the 5th of May 2013... yep only a while back. (I'm new to all of this).

3- Which style of posts do you enjoy most?

I enjoy lifestyle posts, I like to know what other people get up to... NOSEY I AM! No, but I'm curious to what the world looks like from other peoples perspectives.

4- What is your guilty pleasure?

Can eating a stash of chocolate be a normal answer.....No?... Ok then, well me sitting down, watching reruns of 'Gilmore Girls' and 'Bones' with a truck-full of chocolate is my guilty pleasure. Also eating tubs of ice-cream, ALL IN ONE GO!

5- If you could go to the past or into the future which would it be and why?

I think I would choose the past because I like the idea of being surprised by my future. Plus seeing my gran again would mean a lot.

6- What is your favourite song right now?

I'd have to say 'Blurred Lines' by Robin Thicke, I just see myself wearing glasses and strutting down the street.

7- Who is your biggest inspiration?

Hmm, well I'd say Louise from 'Sprinkle of Glitter' is my blog inspiration. She has a wonderful life, family and friends. It's pretty much what I want for my future. And a whole heck of fun.

8- If you could be anyone for the day, who would you be?

I'd like to know what it would be like to be the Queen of England. I'd be interested to know what she gets up too. I doubt she'd be like me, laying on the couch in my PJs watching 'Scrubs' or 'Top Gear'.

9- Do you have any goals at the minute?

Well I'm hoping for a better physique, heehee, work in progress.

10- Do you watch any tv religiously?

God yeah I do... I have my favourites such as 'Bones', 'Greys Anatomy' and 'The Mentalist'. But recently I've been obsessed with the series 'Sherlock'... I need my tv time, it's therapy for me.

So onto the nominees I've chosen... I've picked 7, not 10... And remember it's people that have under 200 followers. So the following nominees are (drumroll please....)

Away with the fairies

Beauty Blogs

Edel Belle

Mash Elle

Rachael Victoria

Still young and reckless

Vogue Vandal

So my questions for you all are:

1- When did you start blogging and what was your reason for starting it?

2- Who is your most favourite blogger and why?

3- What do you like to do in your free time?

4- What do like most about your appearance?

5- What is your favourite movie or tv show or book and whyyyyy?

6- What song puts you in a good mood?

7- Do you prefer Winter or Summer and whyyyyyyyy?

8- Who do you idolise in your life? (It can be someone either close to you or someone famous).

9- Is there any event or special occasion coming up in your life? (Or something your looking forward to?)

10- What's the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?

So I'm looking forward to what you all have to say... hopefully there'll be some surprising answers.

Anyway, feel privileged I even picked ye.... haaaa.... only joking.... I love each and everyone of your blogs... Soooooo gooooood luck :)

30 Day Snap #29 | London trip and A Right Old Laugh

Today me and my Brother Aran and my BFF 'Edel Belle' went off to London for the day. It was great I might add. As you can see from this picture, we all loved 'Big ben'.

My brother looks as though he's in pain, and well Edel... she's always like that :)

She got her Real Technique brushes and I got my 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'... so all good :D

Anyway hopefully more days to London before I head back home.

Last day tomorrow guys... :(