Festive Feelings :: 4 :: Christmas Cards & The Joy of Giving Gifts!

Even with everything going on, I've managed to send all of my Christmas cards, and have all of my Christmas shopping list sorted. It feels easier knowing that I don't have to stress so much about it. It is dear enough to buy gifts for people, but instead of buying things for me, I prefer to save up my money and treat the people that matter so much to me.
I do fear though that whether or not my friends and family will like them. My family are very much like me, where it's the simple things that please them. And as well as that, Christmas is the time where we buy gifts. Birthdays we feel as though we don't have to give gifts. Once a year is surely enough for us.

I get excited though finding the gifts. Sometimes, it comes to the situation where I think that maybe the gifts should belong to me, heehee.
As well as that, I pride myself on the gift accessories. The wrapping paper suiting each person.

Christmas cards to me also are a very treasured possession to have. They might not contain any money, but it's the thought that counts.

Festive Feelings :: 3 :: Winter Fashion & Comfort!

Oooooh, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but there are now 3 lit baubles above. Seriously guys, just 9 more days till Christmas.... and my advent calendar is still keeping strong. This for me is like 'Kayla-Transformation!' In a way, it is almost like a pre-diet for me. I'm a chocoholic, and with sharing this awful news, every year I find it an extremely difficult challenge, to get by each day! I'm beginning to throw some nasty looks are the shopkeeper in the Cadbury Store beside my work place! The amount I leave with, people probably think they're presents, nope! They're for me! Cos I am actually that much of a pig!

Anyways....

I love the fashion in Summer, but for me, I feel as though I dress up more elegantly at Christmas. Christmas day I try to go as classy as possible. My Mum and I have always planned our outfits. Bought in advance, heehee. She this year, bought my outfit, and I haven't even seen it yet. All I've been told is that it's a Topshop skater style, black dress with long sleeves, some sort of diamante and lace in it as well. I usually like to wear black on Christmas Day and go all Sparkle! That way it all pops out.
I will do my best to take a few snaps of the dress on Christmas Day and show them to you. And while I do that, I'll show you guys my Mums outfit. She is after all the person I got my love for style from.

In winter, we have the chance in blending different colours and fabrics with layering clothes and accessories. It's much more fun than Summer clothes. Part of me just likes not having to show off too much skin and gladly being able to cover myself with material, heehee. So far for me, it's been all lovely Christmasy jumpers (both long and crop), long skirts, high waist skirts, woolly tights layered with socks and lots and lots of scarves. Let's not forget my thermal gear because yes I am a hundred years old!! 

Winter is the time to have as many baths as you want, using either excuses that you're cold or feeling unwell. Knowing that as soon as you come out of the steaming tub, your snugly, Christmas themed pjs are waiting for you. You spend most of your day in them as well, making you feel as though you're a hippy with a 'I-don't-give-a-s**t' attitude.

So, with all this typing I got lost on WeHeartIt

I really would love to be able to carry off being a blonde like these girls, but it can only be a fantasy in my life.

If you are indeed enjoying this little series, please leave a comment below telling me why and if there are indeed any certain styles about winter fashion that you love... I'm all ears :)

Thanks for reading,

Festive Feelings :: 2 :: Lights, Church, Family & Hope!

More than the majority of people love Christmas decorations, reason probably being that they're so pretty. I'm a person who gets bored quite easily with routines and the such, with seeing the same old buildings everyday, but come Christmas the towns are all lit up and decorated in celebration. We all wish that the lights would stay up forever, but then where would that leave us? We wouldn't have anything to look forward to throughout the year.

I love to give myself a goal and to achieve it. Mistakes is what I learn from and what I am thankful for. And Christmas is the goal where family is the center point of the holiday. I myself get excited about going to Mass on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, more so than the revealing of gifts. They're very much appreciated and valued, but it shouldn't be what matters. I get annoyed myself with seeing how the media, tv adverts and the likes are just portraying Christmas to people as a time for getting excited over gifts. You know what gets me excited? Just normal days out with family and friends. I'm that kid who picks up a toy for a few minutes then forgets about it the next.

Going to Church I see a whole community, full of families, no matter what sizes they are, come together to sing and pray. My brother says he doesn't pray, but he enjoys coming to be apart of something. It's nice to have tradition. Hearing the most wonderful hymns, such as my favourites; Silent Night, Oh Holy Night, The First Noel, Hallelujah and Panis Angelicus. They to me sound so magical. So yes, going to Carol Services is always a must every year. Back home in Ireland, on Christmas Eve, I go only for the music, beautifully lit candles and the peaceful atmosphere. Candles make me feel hopeful and uplifted. Sometimes I lay there at night, staring at the flame. Just meditating upon it and clearing my mind.

Lights give me hope, Church gives me hope and family gives me hope! I'm not a positive person but I am in a way a strong person. And one goal in my life is to hang on to whatever hope I have.

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.

Thankful Thursday | Black Friday, Vlogmas & Announcement on the 'Festive Feeling Tag'!

"Oh the weather outside is frightful

But the fire is so delightful

And since we've got no place to go

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"

Source

A jolly hello to you and may I be the first to say Happy Christmas to you guys.

Today I was wished a happy Christmas by someone at work, making if feel as though the holiday has really begun.

The weather is cold. Oh so cold! Even my duvet coat isn't protecting me so much. I'm the old lady waiting at the bus stop with the hat, gloves, thermal socks and a flask. Preparation is key and I am not planning on getting sick! The best things that comes out of days like these, is getting home and having an excuse not to go out again. Blankets, comfy clothes, hot drinks and some peace.

Thankful Thursday

As I've previously stated, being prepared. I'm thankful for being sensible. About time management and taking care of myself. I truly want to get on well at work before Christmas Day.

Having to look forward to seeing my little cousin in the morning/ evening, and opening the advent calendars together. I'm surprised that I've lasted 4 days to be honest.

Being told that whenever I come into work I brighten someones day. Now that would make anyone smile!

Mince pies ~ and they're out of the press ladies & gents.

For having the memories of my Granddad of whom I had grown up with ~ I'm so glad that I have a good long memory, some memories good, some bad, but all of which that have made me the person today. It was he that got me interested into Irish traditional music and dance. I decided with music as I have no rhythm in my feet, heehee.

A bit of banter while hanging up the decorations at work and laughing at the fellas yelling (while holding hammers?) at Christmas trees, causing a fuse to go off and almost accidentally creating a fire hazard with one of the xmas decors... idiots!!

New Christmas PJs ~ a soft grey and pink nightgown and light blue slipper socks.

Having more good days than bad ~ there are people that rise at dawn and people that rise at night (go along the name as night owls). I was once a night owl, great times. Feels like a totally different universe when it's pitch black. But now I've become so used to my routine with waking up early for work and still allowing myself to get a healthy 8 hours of sleep. Sleep, exercise, eat healthy... feel good days!

Black Friday ~ a day where shopaholics don't have to feel ashamed with returning back home, to seeing their families roll their eyes as they sneak into the house with a million shopping bags. I almost bought myself a ginormous plasma television for University, it was oh so cheap my peeps! "Yes I do need a nice stapler for 30p"... trust me what I left with was super strange! I obviously went to the self help till. Ain't nobody gonna be judgin' what I bought!

And lastly I've been thankful for Tanya Burr and Jim Chapman's Vlogmas. Daily vlogs from the 1st of December until Christmas Eve. As well as the fun of opening up the advent calendars, vlogmas is something else to look forward to everyday. Plus even if your day wasn't that festive, they help you to get into the mood.

So I'm sure a lot of you already watch them, but just in case for those of you that are new...

Tanya Burr

Jim Chapman (EveryDayJim)

Also before you head off, just to inform you that I am partaking in my bestiest pal EdelBelle! 'Festive Feeling' Tag. For the 12 days of Christmas my true love said to me I will be sharing what I love about this season. She is welcoming everybody to join in this fun tag, so be sure to check out her blog to follow the rules. The date I have planned for the first post to go up will be on the 14th. So the final day will be Christmas Day.

Hope you guys will like it :)

Lots of luvin'

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

Hello All,

Recently, the lovely Sinead from Dreaming Again tagged me for this beauty of an award... Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award!

Aww love, you have me all blushing! Thank you so much. I know I've been away for a while and it means a lot to me that you still value my blog.

The Rules are as follows:

• Thank & link the blogger who nominated you.
• Include the award logo in your post.
• Answer the set of 10 questions that the blogger who nominated you has provided.
• Supply your own set of 10 questions.
• Nominate 10 other bloggers.

Now onto the exciting part.

My answers to Sineads wonderful questions... *Countdown theme tune*

1 - What advice would you give to your younger self?

Work harder at school! Maybe study a little more, haahaa! Oh and let others in. Try to let people understand you a bit more.

2 - What is your favourite thing to do when you have nothing to do?

On my own that is, I would have the music (as long as it has a good beat!) blared up to the max and I would not dance but jump! And if I have nothing more else to do, I would either sing with musical accompaniment, watch a good movie or ring my Mum back in Ireland and have a nice chat.

3 - Why did you decide to start a blog?

Imaginary friends ---- heehee, joke! Well even though it may not look like it during these recent few months, with my life being a little on the busy side, I love sharing my interests and thoughts. Plus, instead of letting my photos go to waste, I get to share them with you guys.

4 - If you could live in any other country in the world where would it be?

Currently looking at the map! There's lots of places that I would gladly visit, but live? If I had to chose anywhere other than I am now in England, I'd choose... Australia.

5 - Would you rather spend £100 all on make-up or clothes?

CLOTHES!! I would wear clothes everyday (or would I?), but not make-up, heehee!

6 - If you could give one piece of advice to a large audience what would it be?

"Stop taking life so seriously!! You could get hit by a car when you leave this room or collapse from the poison I may or may not have put in your drinks! *crowd murmur* What I'm saying is, life is much shorter than we realise and here we are, wishing our lives were different with beauty or fortune! Be happy with what you've got!" I seriously get carried away in my own mind with these scenarios!

7 - Would you rather have to eat Chinese or Italian food for the rest of your life?

That much carbs!! No thank you! I'll stick to the Chinese. Aromatic duck, Mmmmm!

8 - If you could go on a date with one celebrity who would it be?

Ok, something you should know about me! I am more attractive to older guys! Not 70! Jeeze! But if it was down to either David Boreanaz or Hugh Jackman it would have to be.... erm... eenie, meenie, mineie, moe... Hugh Jackman. It was the Australian accent that pulled me in. Plus if he wasn't that even good of a date, I could ask him to play one of his movie characters! We all know he's a good actor, dancer and singer! Could be the perfect date, heehee.

9 -What specific character trait do you want to be known for?

Caring. I would like to be known for someone who cared genuinely and did all they could to keep their friends and family happy.

10 - What is your biggest pet peeve?

Hmm, well there's the whole people eating with their mouths open. As well as, people trying to be posh, or somebody they're not! Oh and also, when you open the dvd case and it's empty or contains a different disc! That frustrates me.

My questions for you to answer:

1 - What calms you down when you're stressed?

2 - Do you feel that blogging has made a difference in your life? How?

3 - With your lottery winnings of £5 million, how would you spend it?

4 - What is the most important trait you look for in a person (friend/partner)?

5 - When you think of your childhood, what pops into your mind?

6 - With Christmas coming, what is the one thing your most looking forward to?

7 - Can you recommend a must-watch movie / book that has inspired you?

8 - If you were a celebrity, what would you like to be famous for?

9 - Do you have any unusual, funny habits/ guilty pleasures?

10 - What about the weekends do you get most excited for?

I nominate:

a whole lot of chitty chat
being little
Dib-Dab-Debs
Cider with Rosie
Dear Ms Leigh
EdelBelle!
Lux Life
The Earth through a Lens
The Randomness of Unicorns
Things Tanith Did

Thanks for reading guys,

Thankful Thursday | Catch Up Time!

Hello fellow gigglers,

I hope you haven't been waiting long, heehee. I may have been on hibernation for the last ---- month? Well, it's been almost a month. Which makes me very sad! The idea of not blogging!

How you have survived without me! Crazy :)

What life has been like for little old me, has been hard and *yawn* tiring!

I've somehow landed myself in 3 jobs, meaning, that I work, eat & sleep! I have made time for my Downton Abbey and brief trips to the library and shopping centres.

A funny thing that has just popped into my head, is when my friend found out about my jobs, and said that University for me in April will be a break. Haaaa! Indeed it will be and if only we were now in the month of April.

I'm grateful, strangely enough, to myself. For actually pushing myself to do what must be done. I know at the end of the day that I make the right decisions. That is what is been tested everyday! My decision making! A colleague of mine once told me that there may be regrets, but it's these regrets that make us grow and learn in life. I have regrets. But to be honest, I wouldn't exactly change anything. I'm happy where I've come. The journey has been tough, but I know that the outcome will be worthwhile.

The picture above is of my little cousin's visit to my Grans house in Ireland. Enjoying her night, lying next to the fire, with Rex. I too, when I was her age, would sit next to the fire, chatting to my Gran. Oh how I would love to have an open fire over here in England!!

My 'Thankful Thursday'

I've been thankful for getting to know people. I've been in awe of some people over these last few weeks. Of how it's not a positive attitude that keeps them going, but their strength. We all want answers to how it can be done, but people I guess must learn along the way.

For the Irish lass who helped me out on the bus - She made my day, by lending me a pound. My day was fine, but she brightened it up so much more.

For my work colleagues - M&S are new, but they've been considerate and patient. They've given me the oppurtunity to broaden my wings in management skills.

The restaurant staff, are more like friends than colleagues. I've known them for over a year now, and I've become more confident in my work. I enter the building feeling 'meh' but leave feeling happy. Not many jobs can do that! Last year I was afraid of going in and making mistakes, now I'm excited to get in and meet my challenges.

Finishing early at work & Relaxing in a pub (felt as though I was back home) with some friends. That Sunday had to have been the longest time since I had laughed so much. Even the taxi driver was super nice!

Downton Abbey has been a goal for me each week. I had something to look forward to. NOW! I must wait till Christmas for the Special! It may be weird, that Downton is usually the highlight of my Christmas Day! I don't care! I gave up the excitement of Christmas Day presents a few years back!

I'm looking forward to having my family from Ireland and Scotland come over to London for Christmas. Days spent in sparkly London and having afternoon tea with mum. Cinema trips with the Dad and brother and a bit of ice-skating beside Big Ben *fingers crossed*.

My winter coat! I love my big duvet jacket!! After some night shifts, I've had the pleasure of falling asleep on the bus.

Wages baby! I feel proud in myself to how I worked for this money! This week I did 4 night shifts. 1900-0700! Along with my normal hours.

There was music, heavy lifting, pizza deliveries, lots of chocolate and laughter!

I have posted this on the last minute! Cos that's me! Last minute Kayla!