House of Fraser Christmas Top Picks!

Hello Daydreamers!

So, as it's officially Autumn (my favourite season), and we're edging closer and closer to Christmas, I thought it would be nice to share my 'Christmas Top Picks'. I'm a huge fan of anything sparkly and christmas-sy, and I've found some lovely things on the House of Fraser website. So, here are the items that I'm making my Christmas top picks!

*This post was made in collaboration with House of Fraser

Who doesn't love a brand new party dress in time for Christmas?! I plan to treat myself to a sparkly new dress for the party season and I've been loving the Dresses that can be found on the House of
Fraser website. I think that a night out is instantly made 10 times better when you are sporting a new
outfit. As I have lost of Christmas meals / nights out with different people, I plan to buy myself a good quality dress that I really love. I can then wear that to all of the parties and I won't have to worry about what to wear... Shhh! Don't tell anybody ; )
This is my favourite dress of the collection. I can imagine that it would be very flattering on.

In the winter, there is nothing I love more than a lovely hot bath. I think that it's the best way to chill out in the evening. Grab your fave comfort food, a good magazine and pop a bath bomb into a hot bath. There are so many lovely bath and shower gels to be found on the website. I'm in love with the Laura Mercier honey pot bath cream - how cute?! It would also make an adorable gift.

Speaking of gifts, there are an wide array of present ideas over on the website. Gifts  are clearly a huge part of the festive season and I have so enjoyed looking at all of the new gift ideas that are popping up all over the shops websites! I've noticed that alot of the gifts over on the House of Fraser website are more unusual than the ones you can find in other shops too.

Makeup is fun any time of the year, but I find that it is super fun around Christmas. Im excited to begin experimenting with new items before Christmas rolls around. I think that I'm going to treat myself to some sparkly black or silver liquid eyeliner, a pair of long fluttery lashes and a nice classic ruby red lipstick.

It's getting nippy out and I truly think that wrapping up warm and snug in chunky warm Knitwear is the best part of Autumn/winter. Those bobble hats that everyone is wearing  are my favourite and I'm loving the furry mittens that are oh-so-popular at the mo!

I hope that you found this post useful, my lovelies.

I also hope that you don't mind me mentioning Christmas in the month of October!

Thank you for visiting,

Overcoming Hardship - Mindful Monday's #1

Hello Beautiful Daydreamers!

A few weeks back, I mentioned that I was going to begin a weekly motivational series for Autumn 2016. I thought long and hard about it and decided that the new series will be called "Mindful Monday's".

I have planned a theme for each of the coming Monday's and I'm super excited! I'm really looking forward to creating these motivational blog posts, and I hope you'll look forward to reading them each week. As this is an Autumnal series, I suggest that before you continue reading, you go and make yourself a hot chocolate, light a scented candle, and pop the warmest socks you have onto your tootsies!

This weeks post is going to be centred around the theory of overcoming hardship.
There is a famous quote (and song), that states "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger", and I firmly believe that this is true. If ever you're going through tough times, it can be productive to look on the positive side of things and simply accept that what doesn't kill you, really does make you a stronger, more experienced and above all, more rounded person.

In a recent life update, I mentioned that 2016 had been a pretty troublesome year for me. I told you about my parents divorce (which all began way back in January of this year) and also how my Mum and I have now moved out of the home that my brother and I grew up in. All of this can sound so miserable and morbid but I can honestly say that I HAVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER.

After 8 months of total misery, I can finally allow my shoulders to fully drop. When I take a deep breath, I no longer feel myself being filled with anxiety and I am now appreciating every good thing
that happens - whether it be something as small as the sun shining whilst I walk my dog in the evening or something as big as being able to have a new job in retail job that I absolutely love.

What I'm trying to say in a really round-about way is that hardship isn't just life's way of messing with your head. Hardship is what moulds us into strong and well-rounded people. If you're reading this whilst going through some hard times, please believe me that IT WILL NOT LAST FOREVER. One day, you'll look back at this time and see it as a small (and possibly sad) frame of your life' but the main thing is, you'll be able to identify the good things that came from it. You'll appreciate everyday life so much more - and when the 'hard times' become potentially life-changing, the positive mindset that you acquire won't just last for a day, it will last forever, in the process, changing you (for the better) as a person.

My top three tips for overcoming hardship are:

• Be optimistic. Try to find the positive side of every situation, it truly will make your life better.
• Look towards the future. In 3 months time, things could be totally different once again - if you remain positive about the future, you hold all the cards.
• Stay strong. Hardship can sometimes leave you feeling weak. If you opt to remain strong during the tough times, you will power through - and you'll come out the other end a far stronger person!

I hope that this post has been a useful read for some of you and if you like, feel free to share your story in the comments below.