Favourite Christmas Films

One thing I love about this time of year is how cold it gets and how you're almost encouraged to snuggle up under blankets by the fire with maybe a Hot Chocolate and your favourite Christmas Films! In my last blog post, I mentioned how I have a few traditions that help get me into the festive spirit and so watching Christmas films is definitely up there, here are some of my favs...

How the Grinch stole Christmas

Now, this is one of my favourites because as I got older and the more I understood the Grinch, the more I related to the Grinch 😂 Seriously though it's festive, it's funny and ends on a lovely note! What more could you want!

Miracle on 34th street

This film just encapsulates all the magic and happiness you feel around Christmas! It truly makes everyone think why they should believe in Santa and I have to say, I haven't seen a better Santa than Richard Attenborough! Also, my favourite scene has got to be when Santa is signing to the little deaf girl and her face just lights up, too damn cute!


The Nightmare before Christmas

Ah, now this is just an all around great film, mostly because it includes two of my favourite things, Halloween and Christmas!! and yes, you bet I watch this for both times of year! I love the style of animation, I love the characters and the story, just wonderful!


The Polar Express

I love this film, its filled with new friendships, bravery, moments when you're on the edge of your seat (even if you have seen it a thousand times) and most of all the power of Christmas spirit! 


Home Alone 1 & 2

I think these are favourites of many people for Christmas! They're classics! We all know that we wish we were Kevin as a child a get to do whatever you want around the house and then again around New York! Don't get me wrong though I wouldn't stand a chance fighting off burglars from my house I'd have been way too scared! Also, New York at Christmas is just the best! I'd love to go one year!


Arthur Christmas

This film is a fairly recent addition to my favourite Christmas films and I'll be honest I only put it on for my little brother to enjoy! But the more I've watched it the more I enjoy it and I have to say Grandsanta is my favourite character he cracks me up! 

Harry Potter (All)

Now I can imagine what you're thinking, 'Harry Potter films aren't Christmas Films' and I agree they're 'watch anytime' kinda films, however ever since I can remember the Harry Potter films would be shown on tv on the run up to Christmas, and each year the latest one would be added to the list. So now I just associate them with Christmas and not to mention how magical the Great Hall looks like when its Christmas in the films! Also, I'm a rather big fan of the Potter world so any excuse to watch them ey! 

Elf

And last but not least Elf! I have to admit I didn't actually watch Elf last year! Shock, Horror! I know! but this year I've actually bought the DVD so I'll definitely be watching this year! I relate to Elf in the fact that I get way too excited about Christmas and I'm taller than most people I know! It's funny and lovely and Christmassy and very easy to enjoy! 

So what are your Favourite Christmas Films? Let me know in the comments!

Love Lohaa x

Christmas Traditions

Everyone always has their own Christmas traditions with their family and friends or things they like to do on the lead up to Christmas! Here are a few 'Traditions' I love doing with my family and friends to get me all excited for Christmas and in the festive mood.

Christmas Tree

So in my Family, we get (probably) way too excited for Christmas and so as expected we want to get the Christmas Decorations up ASAP, and by asap I'm taking starting in November! However, we have one rule that helps us being too early (if that's a thing 😂) My mamma's birthday is on 21st November and so the rules goes, there's nothing Christmassy happening until after her birthday, so naturally, we waited until the next day for us to put up the Christmas tree!! 

Coca Cola Truck Advert

Now, an unwritten rule which I've come across many people following is that it really isn't officially Christmas till the coca cola advert comes on! I also love judging all the Christmas adverts from everyone else like John Lewis, Sainsbury's, M&S etc but my favourite last year was definitely Aldi with Kevin the Carrot! I instantly fell in love with this little character so I was more than happy to see him again in this years Christmas ad from Aldi with added friend Katie! We even managed to buy little plushies of them from Aldi for my little brother! So cute!

So in my Family, we get (probably) way too excited for Christmas and so as expected we want to get the Christmas Decorations up ASAP, and by asap I'm taking starting in November! However, we have one rule that helps us being too early (if that's a thing 😂) My mamma's birthday is on 21st November and so the rules goes, there's nothing Christmassy happening until after her birthday, so naturally, we waited until the next day for us to put up the Christmas tree!! 

Festive pasties

My next tradition is most definitely a personal one as I feel it's not Christmas till I've had a Greggs Festive Bake now if you're unfamiliar with Greggs and their famous pastries, I highly recommend you check them out! However they are a bit of a delicacy to the North of England so if you find yourself in the area, do pop in! 

Eat too many Christmas Chocolates

I reckon this is something most people struggle with on the run up to Christmas! Trying to stay out of the chocolate tins is like a big DO NOT TOUCH sign to child! It's impossible! My personal favourite Christmas treats have to be Rum Truffles, After Eight mints, Celebrations and a new favourite, Cadbury's Chocolate Mousse snowmen! Mhmmm.

Make Gingerbread 

My favourite thing to do to get me feeling all festive and filling the house with the most Christmassy smell has to be baking gingerbread! As soon as one batch has been eaten I get back to baking some more! (My last post also highlighted how great they can be as a gift for Christmas!) 

Watching Christmas films 

Another must, has got to be watching Christmas films! I've already watched The polar express 3 times as well as many more, which I'll get into more detail in my next blog post! (Keep your eye out for that!)

Visiting Manchester Christmas Markets

Every year it's a tradition that I go to the Manchester Christmas markets! I visited them the other day with friends but it was a rather wet and grey day, so didn't manage to get any photos but hopefully, I'll be going again and I'd love to do a blog post all about the markets!

Christmas Eve

Now the one thing I most look forward to, is Christmas eve matching PJs! Don't get me wrong I'm obviously excited that Christmas is the next day but as a little family tradition, Me, my Mamma and my little sister all get matching Pjs and wait until Christmas Eve to wear them and I love it!

Are there any Festive Traditions you do? Also what are your favourite Christmas Choccies?

Let me know in the comments 👇

Love Lohaa x

Homemade Christmas Gift

Christmas, a magical wonderful time of year where everyone is spreading love and joy and gifts! Now for some people gift giving comes like second nature, however to others it can be a stress! How much to spend? What do they like? Will they like what I'm getting? Now my big tip (if you can) is to just make something yourself! It's heartfelt, love has gone into creating something special and if I do say so myself, you can't go wrong with food!

Now my go-to thing to make (especially for Christmas gifts) is gingerbread! I mean who doesn't love gingerbread around Christmas time! I love how easy it is to make and everyone I've gifted these beauties to has always come back with great feedback!

The recipe I use is from the BBC website so go check it out here! 

I like the rule 'if it isn't broken, don't fix it' so I've never really strayed away from using this recipe! (Well maybe added some more golden syrup if the mixture is too crumbly or some more cinnamon if I'm feeling fancy 😉)

Now something I do want to talk about are these gorgeous copper cookie cutters that I bought from Dunelm Mill! There's a Star, a Tree, a Reindeer and a Gingerbread cookie cutter and they're by the company Eddingtons! I managed to get these on sale for around a £1.00 each I think!

Decoration wise for the biscuits, you can do what you like, keep it simple and just dust them with icing sugar, or make them more personalised and ice on someone's name or initials! 

Now to make them a bit snazzier and more gift-like I've wrapped mine up in dotted cellophane which makes it look like snowfall and I've tied it up with some silver ribbon and added a little tag! 

Let me know in the comments if you prefer homemade gifts or not!

Love Lohaa x

November Favourites

Looking back through this past month, I’ve got quite a few favourites! Some new and some rediscoveries! I love the month of November it’s still so autumnal yet you really start to feel the winter chill arriving! 

My First favourite of this month is my beautiful scarf from Next! I got it on sale for around £12! The colour goes wonderfully with my hair and it's the perfect length to wrap around to really stay warm and snuggly as it gets colder! 

My beauty favourites for this month start with this Barry M Lipstick and Lip Liner (I'm wearing this lipstick in the above photo) I love wearing darker lip colours during the colder months and this is just the perfect purple shade, without making me look too much like a vampire! I have also been loving this shade of Barry M Nail Polish it's part of the Barry M Molten Metal range which results in this beautiful sparkly metal like finish and also lasts very well and doesn't chip easily! Last but by no means least, is this 'rediscovery' of this Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy Perfume I've loved this perfume for so many years but for some reason, I'm always drawn to wearing it through the Autumn/Winter! 

For my favourite accessories this month, I seem to be drawn to anything Rose Gold! A recent purchase of mine was this beautiful Rose Gold watch with a blush pink strap and little diamonte detail on the watch face! To mine and possibly your surprise I actually managed to get this beauty from Home Bargains of all places! For around £3! I've also loved this cute little ear cuff and snake midi ring, both from Claire's. 

 Finally, my favourite LUSH products this month have been the Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask which smells absolutely amazing! It's packed with Blueberries which really help the skin, it's very calming for red areas of the face and just leaves your face feeling brighter and skin so much softer! I've also been loving The Comforter Bubble Bar which as you will see, I've been breaking off into pieces and running under the hot water to create a beautiful, bubbly bath. You really can make it last this way (although I don't blame you using the whole thing if you like, to create a bubble heaven!)

So that's this month's favourites! I'm looking forward to what I'll be loving this next month no doubt it will all be Christmas themed! 

What have your November favourites been? Let me know in the comments 👇

Love Lohaa x