Blogmas Day 14 – Nail Polish and My Fave Festive Films!

Day 14 revealed to meee…

… 4ml of No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in the shade of ‘me me me’

I still have my acryllics on at the moment so as soon as these come off I want to try out my new nail varnishes! This looks like a shade I would usually go for!

My Fave Festive Films!

(Call me uncultured buuut I have never seen ‘Elf’ or ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ soo those are definitely getting watched this Christmas!

1- My number one has to be Home Alone! I love the first two with Macaulay Culkin in.

2- The Santa Claus

3- Love Actually. This is such a classic rom com – I watch this even when it isn’t Christmas!

4- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

5- The Holiday

6- The Polar Express

7- The Nativity Story

8- Jack Frost

9- A Christmas Carol

10-  Unaccompanied Minors

 

Blogmas 2015!

Something I really really enjoyed writing about last year on my blog was ‘Blogmas’. For those of you who have never heard of it (or heard of Vlogmas) or have read about it but don’t really know what it is then hold your breath no longer fellow bloggers… Blogmas is blogging everyday from December 1st to December 25th! I love the run up to Christmas and Blogmas kind of documents that I guess. Last year my posts ranged from what I did on certain days to gift ideas. So I have decided to do it again this year for a number of reasons really…

♥ Christmas is definitely my favourite time of year

♥ I have been slacking a lot on the post writing front these days (due to various reasons – personal training sessions at the gym, catching up with friends and family mostly). So Blogmas is such a good way to get into writing regularly again

♥ I love love love interacting with new bloggers and last year from Blogmas I got to discover so many bloggers I had never heard of before through their Blogmas’s or people interacting with my posts. I have always found the blogging community to be so lovely, supportive and positive

♥ I get to share with you crazy, random posts! Like I said my Blogmas has no real structure to it per-say, it is just what I feel inspired to write whether that is a hair tutorial or how to bake the perfect Christmas themed goodies!

♥ I love a challenge! Last year I found it relatively easy to do because I was at uni and had lotssss of free time but now I am home and in a full time job and have the gym/friends/family commitments it will be challenging to fit it all in! (Not to mention me turning 22 on the 5th day of it – eeeeek!)

So hope you guys enjoy!

♥ ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

If anybody else is doing Blogmas feel free to link me to your blog in the comment bit below because I love reading other peoples just as much as writing my own!

Blogmas Day 24/25 Merry Christmas!

WOOOO HAPPY CHRISTMAS to all my followers!

I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas, I hope you have an amazing day wherever you are, whatever you are doing and whoever you are with! Eat lots of gorgeous food, drink lots of mulled wine and enjoy spending time with those who mean the most!

Hope you enjoyed my festive posts leading up to Christmas.

Sophie Chekruga xox

Blogmas Day 18 – Quick Easy Christmas Snacks

This post was inspired by the famous blogger Zoella. Her and her boyfriend Alfie did a Youtube video on how to bake quick easy Christmas snacks and I have tried to recreate one of the snacks myself!

Melted snowmen biscuits and cake!

All you will need are-

-Marshmallows

– biscuits/cake (I cheated and bought mine!)

– icing sugar (+ a jug of hot water)

– writing icing

How to…

1) Mix the icing sugar – pour the icing sugar into a bowl and gradually pour in your warm water. Mix until you have no lumps. Do not put too much water in or it will go really runny.

2) With a spoon put the icing (which should now be liquid) on top of your biscuits/cake.

3) Pop a marshmallow to the side of the icing.

4) Draw on the icing (after letting it dry for a few minutes). Draw the buttons, arms and face.

5) Taaaa Daaaa it’s finished (now eat them ha ha!).

Blogmas Day 17 – My Winter Skin Care Routine

Hey guys today I’m going to be sharing with you my skin care routine for winter. Winter is a season where you are more prone to dry skin and chapped lips so I’ll be giving you some tips on how to avoid that!

For Lips

I always try to keep some chap stick or lip balm on me. The best one I have ever come across is Vaseline. Vaseline is super cheap and you can buy it in all good cosmetic stores. Also Blistex is amazing for chapped lips!

For Skin

Face Wash

Cleanser

Toner – when you apply the toner make sure to use soft pads. Getting the cheapest at Tescos might save you money but can be rough on your skin.

I would continue cleanse, tone and moisturising. However maybe switch to a lighter cleanser if your skin is dry or chapped because you don’t want to strip your skin of natural protection. The products I use are all ‘Simple’. I try and use a Simple face wash as well.

For Hands

Your hands are prone to getting dry and chapped. The best hand cream I have come across is Soap and Glory Hand Food (which also smells lush) or Nivea.

For Your Body

After you have had a bath or shower or if your skin is feeling dry in general, you should moisturise to make it all soft! My favourites to use are the Elle MacPherson body butter or Super Drug’s Mango and Papaya scrub which is cheap and smells gorgeous!

Blogmas Day 16 – My Favourite Winter Footwear

Following on from yesterdays Blogmas – Favourite winter coats, I thought I would write about my favourite winter footwear! Winter is the season for the cosy uggs, stylish leather boots and of course funky wellies for when it snows! So here are a few of my favourites!

Uggs

The comfiest boots known to man. If you fancy Uggs but want to go for a cheaper option River Island or Primark is a great shout.

Knee High Boots

These are from ASOS. You can wear them with jeans, skirt, dress – under or over your trousers.

Short Boots

Topshop do some gorgeous short boots. I got mine for about £27 in the sale! They also do student discount.

Military Lace Up Boots

These are sure to keep your feet nice and dry. They look great with blue denim jeans tucked into them.

Lace Ups with Fur Trim

New Look are great for these. They have lots of fur trim boots in stock at the moment. Plus they do student discount!

Wellies!

Whether you prefer patterned or the classic Hunters, wellies are a must have when the snow arrives!

Blogmas Day 15 – My Favourite Winter Coats

Blogmas Day 15 will be an article on my favourite winter coats. With the weather getting chillier I thought it was time to ditch my leather jacket and buy a winter coat! Here are a few I love…

This is the coat I bought, it’s from Topshop and has black leather elbow pads! They have it in a khaki colour too.

This is from River Island. I particularly love the fur and the gold statement zips.

This Abercrombie and Fitch parka is available from ASOS.

I love this faux fur coat, it looks so snuggly and cosy! It has a hood as well. Also available from ASOS.

This duffle coat is gorgeous, I love the unique skirt look it has – similar to Kim Kardashian’s below.

This trench coat from John Lewis is so classy – the belt around the middle really gives this item some shape.

From Zara, this puffa jacket will keep you warm with the extra quilting.

Over sized coats are really in fashion at the moment too!

The Michelle Keegan range for Lipsy is gorgeous!

Blogmas Day 14 – Driving Home For Christmas

Today I was picked up by my dad and sister because I’m going home from University for Christmas! This will be the last time EVER I am driving home from uni for Christmas – where has the three years gone?! I am excited to spend time with my family over the Christmas holidays! They have saved decorating the Christmas tree so I can do it with them so stay tuned for that post!

Blogmas Day 12 – How I Celebrate Christmas!

For my 12th Blogmas I thought I’d share with you guys what I do at Christmas time!

What do I do on the run up to Christmas?

The run up to Christmas is really fun! I’m home from university and get to spend all my time with family and friends! Last year I went to the Christmas markets in Manchester which were amazing! Everyone was in wooly wear and I had beer in a little wooden hut. There were Christmas lights and decorations and an ice-skating rink!

This year I went to a Christmas light switch in London with my best friend, where Union J performed! Alongside Take That, Jersey Boys, Jessie Ware and the winners of Britain’s Got Talent!

What is my tree like?

This year we are chopping part of a hugeeee tree in our garden down and using that! I’m excited to decorate it and decorate the house with Christmas candles and ornaments!

What do I do on Christmas Eve?

Usually my dad works (and I have worked in the past), so when everyone is home we all snuggle in the lounge and watch Christmas films with chocolate!

What do I do on the day?

This year we are going out to a restaurant with my grandparents for our Christmas meal which I’m really excited for. Last year it was the wholeee family at my auntie’s – so that’s 14 people around a table! We usually do presents and breakfast in the morning. Then get into our posh Christmas outifts, have our meal then come back and watch alllll the Christmas specials with celebrations, Christmas cake, match-makers, after eights and cheese and biscuits!

What do I do on Boxing Day?

Boxing day is quite a chilled day for us. In the past we have been to the cinema as a family and had a meal. We have also had a second massive party at my auntie’s house. It depends on whose turn it is to host/ what everyone else in the family are doing really!

Best Christmas present ever received?

Last year was the best! I asked my mom for a curling wand and when I opened my presents I received a curling wand! I was so happy but then opened the next present and it was a Kindle also from my parents!!! It was a total surprise I almost cried! ha ha!

What is my favourite Christmas tune?

Hmm I love ‘All I Want for Christmas is you’ buuut my favourite definitely has to be O’Holy Night because it reminds me of my high school Christmas concert where I sung in the choir!

Blogmas Day 11 – How Different People Celebrate Christmas!

I asked some of my wonderful best friends if they would share with you guys and I how they celebrate Christmas and the lead up to it! Here are their answers… ❤

LAUREN GOUGH

Christmas for my family is a bit different; we have no other family in the country so there’s no big family party. My dad usually has to work on Christmas Day as he is a prison officer, if he doesn’t he’d work Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. We’d usually chill the couple of days before and get family time where we can and traditionally prepare roast ham on Christmas Eve and race for the first slice if dad works Christmas morning us girls sit with Christmas movies (nativity is the best) and Skype relatives in Ireland then have a late Christmas dinner and do presents in the afternoon- I hate staring at them under the tree all day! If dad’s working the afternoon we do presents in the morning and eat Christmas dinner on Boxing Day. Mums birthday is the 27th so we always make that a special family day with more good food and games and things. Favourite Christmas songs- tough one!! Wham, last Christmas is up there haha! The best present I received was a Taylor swift album I wasn’t expecting!

SARAH VINE

Christmas varies each year; I’m either my mum or dad. I’m at my mums most of the time and we wake up make breakfast and cups of tea and then open presents together with Christmas music on! Then we get the Christmas dinner on and get dressed. We open the bubbly and then eat. After dinner we play games and watch Christmas TV and also drink! We eat Turkey, roast potatoes, veg, pigs in blankets etc. We normally have a starter of some sort and a pudding but it varies, normally a chocolate log and then lots of snacks! Christmas Eve we put a Christmassy film on, and we often choose one present to open and sometimes we go to the pantomime. Boxing Day we chill out all day and eat Turkey leftovers. My favourite songs are merry Christmas everyone, all I want for Christmas, I wish it could be Christmas everyday….just all the classics! The best gift I have ever received is a ring off my mum. This year I’m going to my uncle’s with my mum for Christmas dinner. Also if I’m with my dad I go to his house for dinner (still at mums for presents) and I’m there all night and it’s a little more formal.

CATHARINA LUNDBY

In Norway we don’t really celebrate Christmas day. It is normally just a bank holiday when people spend time with their families and gather for a large brunch of all the delicious leftovers from Christmas Eve. When I was younger I used to wake up early and go downstairs to admire my presents from the night before! Last year we celebrated Christmas Day with our American friends (they don’t celebrate Christmas Eve) so I had two Christmas meals in a row – I almost popped.

Norwegians tend to have either turkey or fish (Scandinavians love a good fish) on Christmas Eve and pork on the 23rd. For desert we have whatever we fancy but in my family it has been homemade chocolate mousse for the past couple of years. Definitely the best meal of the year!

Christmas Eve is a time to spend with your close family. When I was younger we always celebrated it together with my grandparents, aunts and uncles, however since moving abroad it has just been my mum, dad, sister and I. On the day we usually head outside and go for a long walk and starve ourselves to make space for the food that is to follow. Boxing Day is usually movie marathon day for us!

I like really traditional Christmas songs like Holy Night! Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is also one of my favourite tunes to jam to.

The best gift I have ever received was- it sounds lame but when I was little there was this teddy that I really wanted and when I got it for Christmas I cried. I was 5.