Festive Decorating of Small Spaces...

Hi Guys 

Hope your all okay?

So today I thought I would upload a blog post featuring some of the things me and my boyfriend have brought to make our flat a bit more festive.

We moved into our flat in August and this is our first Christmas that we are spending together (with our family's too),so we wanted to really make the most of it as I love Christmas and love the excitement around it.

The only problem is,our flat is somewhat... Tiny?

So we have been pretty limited to what we could do SO I figured I'd share with you all things we did for those of you struggling on how to decorate a small space,office of bedroom for Christmas - after all no one should miss out! 

   

A simple way to add some festivity to a small space is to fill some jars with Pot Pourri.

These Jars were actually from last Christmas and were filled with sweets before but now I use them to pop a tea light in and put them on the kitchen window sill (another fab idea!).

  But this time to make the kitchen look a tad more festive I added this Strawberry & Pomegranate Pot Pourri (£2.50 from Morrisons) into it and then wrapped a little red ribbon around the top to finish it off.

A Cheap,Easy but lovely looking decoration.

(haha looking back at the photo's I Just realized the mini marshmallows,you'll realize why there in a second...) 

I picked up these gorgeous Scandi Style tea towels for a steal at £3.50 to use as a runner on our breakfast bar and coffee table.

And all there festive tableware was on 3 for 2 so I couldn't leave behind these cute heart plates which where £4. I knew as soon as I saw these I wanted to put something cute to display / serve on them so with this one I brought a bunch of candy canes and scattered them across the plate and the other plate I plan on using to serve mince pies and other Christmas goodies if we have visitors :)

  

(How cute is our Kate & Gareth Gingerbread card from my little sister?)

         

I have always wanted to make a Gingerbread house,and my friend made one last year and it just made me determined to have on this year! 

We got our kit from morrisons which seems to be the cheapest place to buy them from for £5.

But since there wasn't much in there to decorate with we also picked up some mini marshmallows,sprinkle snow,little snowflakes and sugar pearls (all of which are left can be used on hot chocolates - look below! )

And then some cute gingerbread trees & gingerbread men to finish off our little scene which we haven't made yet - But I will post photos once we have!

Year round we use a lot of candles around the place,but around christmas there always candles burning day and night.

Our kitchen is connected right too our living room so I like to keep things smelling fresh so after cooking will spray febreze or oust.

So you can imagine my excitement when I found this Special Edition Febreze in the scent Apple & Spice and was only £2 in Morrisons (I think!).

Then we move over to the living room and our bay window.

Now every year I've had a Christmas tree and was really sad we couldn't fit one in this tiny space.. But Gareth was not getting away with 

"Kate we can't have a tree this year..." 

so when we did our food shopping I saw this adorable little potted tree.

It came in three different color pots Red,Green or White (I mistakenly picked up green instead of red - boo ) and they all come with baubles lights and a little star on the top.

A steal at just £10!

Heres a even cheaper and similar one for £5 !

Proving any size room CAN have a Christmas tree!

Ho Ho Ho Decorations £3.50.

 Continuing with the gingerbread theme I got these decorations from Melbicks which is a garden center in Birmingham that I LOVE to visit around Christmas.

Each of these was £1.50 each! 

A adorable me to you bear Gareth got me last Christmas which I totally forgot about! But I love reindeer's so of course this has to go on display!

 

How cute is this snowman?

Gareth picked this up at Birmingham's german market and it was £12 I believe?

Its a cute little tea light holder and just makes the coffee table look festive too! 

Underneath is the other tea towel from the tescos set,and the glittery coasters were also from tesco at £3 just another little touch to finish it off really,of course you don't need these but since its our coffee table we needed some!

 

Our cat nala seems to approve of it !

(Don't worry it did not have a candle in here.)

On the topic of nala,I spoil this madam beyond belief and Gareth always laughs at how I justify it - for example I brought her a Cat stocking full of treats and toys the other day like she hasn't already got loads but didn't want to leave her out of the Christmas spirit so...

I thought this heart Gingerbread plaque looked adorable above her food & water bowls so personalized it so each Christmas this can go above her bowl / bed.

This was £5 again from melbicks..

Now I just had to share these pictures with you as I think they are super Christmasy and remind me off candy canes - especially my fluffy socks and polar bear onesie!

I hope you all liked this post and can take some idea's away from it if your struggling to decorate a small space!

Let me know how you get on or if you have any ideas yourselves!

Stay Safe & Speak Soon.

Kate

xoxo

Clothes Show Live 2013.

Hi Guy's!

Hope your all okay?

So today I though I'd share with you all what I got from the clothes show this year.

The clothes show is held every year in Birmingham at the NEC.

This year was the clothes show 25th year of doing the show so was promised it would be an amazing show - they didn't lie there.

This year the 45 Minute show's theme was 'Weekend in the Country' and was hosted by Henry Holland & Becca Dudley.

It showcased some beautiful outfits all of which I would have happily taken home with me. But for me the part that stole my attention was defiantly the more Gothic part of the show - gorgeous velvet's and patterns.

Also in the party wear (which I must applaud the great new years theme - go clothes show!) there was the most stunning gold sequin gown,which I know for a fact if any of you were lucky enough to go I know you'll know what dress it was as it literally blinded the audience as it was so sparkly - the model totally owned it though ha ha.

Not only did they have some great outfits the clothes show didn't disappoint with there promise for great entertainment.

I went on the Sunday which was when the gorgeous boys from Union J graced the stage but through the week people like Stooshie & Kingsland road also preformed.

In the actual hall's away from the catwalk it was just as exciting.

I haven't been for a few years so was nice to see how clothes show have really took advantage of social media and even had an area dedicated to it (Social Media Village) here they had Clothes Show TV Live,Photo Booths and even a bloggers bar where the blogging VIP's could post all the latest news straight from - defiantly some where I hope I can access in a few years!

Spread around the halls there was lots of opportunities to meet celeb's - none of which I took. But saying that we did see Peter Andre scurry past us with his mass of body guards,which was pretty hilarious seeing the 50 or so screaming girls! 

But the part me & the girls were most excited about,

the offers.

It's needless to say that the majority of people who will go to the clothes show are mostly interested in the 'Goody Bags' that companies are offering for such a low price.

These bags contain a set amount of products with a high street value but at hugeeee discounts.

So here's what I picked up while I was there..

One of the most popular bags that I saw near enough every girl there walking round with was Barry M.

Now don't quote me but I'm sure the woman said the value of this was around £60 and we got it for £10.

I love the quality of there nail varnishes,and was really happy to see the ones that were in there - I'm especially excited to try Shade 346 which is a iridescent looking Fuchsia Pink,something I wouldn't usually try.

Then I went to Bomb Cosmetics and picked up two of there candles.

They had a special on 1 for £7 or 2 for £10.

Me being a candle junkie took them up on there offer.

I choose Lavender Musk & Autumn Fruit Fairy,they both smell gorgeous,but I think my favorite is the Lavender,super relaxing.

Although I am really eager to try there Candy Cane one (Santa be nice??)

How.Cute.

Macaroons & Lip Balm = Heaven.

Yeah so my friend saw this and called me back to look and it and instantly knew I 'needed' it in my already extensive collection of lip balms,but look its adorable I couldn't leave it there!

This was from Joy Dora which is a Korean cosmetic company and I got this for £5 - as me and my friend opted for the 2 items for £10.

Go and have a look at their site though as there stuffs so adorable.

And it smells like pineapple - perfect to reminisce about the summer in this cold weather.

And While on the subject of Lip Balms I picked up this Miss Patisserie peppermint one.

I actually had already planned to get this before I had got to the clothes show as I had seen it posted somewhere before.

There products were so cute and all handmade and 100% natural!

The packaging all had pugs and french bulldogs on,two things I'm slightly obsessed with right now. This was a steal at £3 as its a really deep tin and is super nourishing on the lips. But I didn't realize until I've just read about it that you can use it on dry skin & your cuticles.

         

Jelly Pong Pong is a company I had found I really liked through glossy box was really happy to read in my clothes show fashion guide they had a stall.

And was even happier when I got to the stall and they had this offer 

"Two Bags for £5" So that'd four products for £5 - bargain.

The set I received is £15 online.

I have there lip blush in red so was happy to see this one in pink,a color I don't usually wear but eager to see how I can make it work.

One thing I really do have to say I don't like is the eyebrow powder in the palette as its shimmery,and who wants shimmery eye brows? 

But apart from that - fab! 

Ciate was also on my list of stalls to visit.

I have never tried any of there polishes but lately everyone's been raving about them so thought I'd go have a look.

When we approached the stand it was hectic.

Absolutely loads of girls where buying the £10 Goody bags which had a £75 value.

In each goody bag there was 2 manicure kits and 6 mini mani's.

The thing was you didn't know what would be in your's it was literally a big risk but for £10 couldn't grumble.

And I got all the good ones! I got a gorgeous wintery white caviar manicure set and a red rhinestone pedicure kit as well as all my minis been pastel colors so I'm beyond excited to try all these out.

(Will review them at some point this December!)

& Then I won this!

Beyond happy as I have been after a new tumbler for absolutely agesssss and this one is huge and is extremely hipster and cool by the fact its Starbucks haha.

So that's the majority of the stuff I got on Sunday (aside from a few things I haven't taken photos of) and a few items will be put up tomorrow as I have done a bronze autumnal look with a lot of the products to be uploaded tomorrow so be sure to come back and take a look!

Stay Safe & Speak Soon

Kate

xoxo

Gah Why do I always do this?

Hi Guys!

So I'm super sorry for such a late posting after ages yet again.

I had been up in Birmingham for a while so now I'm back I have finally got my laptop back so can get back to posting.

The last few weeks have been hectic.

I have had my birthday & just got back from the clothes show a few days ago,

sooo that means a lot of new products to review for you lovelies!

I was hoping to do something along the lines of 'blogmas' so a post every day during December,so I will try to do that but if not I will defiantly do one every other day.

Today I've decided I would share some photo's of things I got for my birthday and things I got up to - everyone loves looking at these kind of 'haul' posts anyway don't they?

My Gorgeous Cake from my Auntie - Who has a FB Page if you are interested in her cakes as she is fab! 

I love lady & the tramp so this was perfect!

Then was my beautiful hugo boss watch from my mom & her partner.

It is stunning and I love it.

I have tiny wrists so a lot of watches just over whelm them and look ridiculous so for about two years now I've been looking for a watch that would be the right size for me but still have a glitzy element to it.

This is just what I imagined my perfect watch to be - black glitzy and classic.

It looks amazing dressed up and down with every outfit I wear!

They also brought me one of fave perfumes in a night time fragrance which I have never tried before - it is so heavenly.

Perfect evening scent,its not to heavy and musky but still has that 'sexy' kind of smell to it.

Defiantly have a sniff of it if you get a chance!

My other half just out did himself.

With the gifts he got me it was evident he really knows me & my style well.

Tartan,Real Techniques... & Doc Martens!

I have been after Doc's since last year as I really wanted a good pair of boots that lasted and actually kept my feet warm.

So Gareth spoilt me with this gorgeous black leather pair (The Serena Boot) they have black fur inside right down to the ankle so are so comfy and toasty,perfect for this weather.

He got me these cute ribbons to replace the normal laces on days I wanted to make them look abit more feminine but if I'm honest they were a bit to 'in your face' so we swapped them back over and these go with everything!

Skater Skirts,Jeans,Dresses... Everything.

Since I got them (16th November) these are literally the only footwear I have worn.

These two gifts are very sentimental,these were from my Uncle and his Fiance.

The book is full of images from when I was younger - some highly amusing ones,and pictures of me with family and it made me sob like a big baby when they gave it me oops haha.

And then this awesome top! 

Those who know me well will know I'm kind of / always have been a fan girl so this one just cracked me up. I have always loved busted and have always listened to them (even after they split) my family didn't know I had tickets to go see 'McBusted' which made this top even more special as it shows they remember everything about me hehe.

I also got this perfume which I adore.

I got a sample of this months ago from a glossy box so after trying it have always been after it but since I haven't had a chance.

So was super happy to have received this from my aunties and uncles.

I loved that this set included a little travel size 10ml perfume bottle (how cute is the little bow?) which hasn't left my handbag on days I have worn this.

The Ring here is something I treated myself too just before my birthday as a little gift to myself.

The RRP Was over £60 and I got this for £8 so had to grab me this steal.

It is so sparkly and is a gorgeous piece of jewelry but it's a piece for special occasions! Can't wait to wear it again at new years.

But the necklace was from my Dad, I absolutely love this necklace.

I funnily enough had told Gareth that I was on the hunt for a sparkly but dainty necklace that I could wear to match the rest of my jewlery so when I got this I was super happy.

It looks stunning with a dressed up or down outfit and pairs beautifully with my watch and ring (including a promise ring my boyfriend brought for me a while ago which is black and white diamond)

I was also lucky enough to recieve two YSL lipsticks.

Both of which were gifts I had asked for.

They are so pretty to look at and are beyond gorgeous to wear.

The two shades I received were - Rose in Tension & Prune in Fire (what interesting names?)

Can't wait for the next few makeup looks I upload for you to see me wearing these as they are seriously so pretty.

I was super lucky this year and received some amazing gifts (alot that aren't included here because my camera is being super silly!!) so just want to say a huge  THANK YOU to everyone who made it special for me!

Here are just a few photos I took over the week when we were in Birmingham.

Sorry this is such a brief post but from tomorrow there will be plenty more posts to come...

From decorations,gifts,days out and food!

Stay Safe & Speak Soon

Kate

xoxo