5 TIPS FOR A FAB NEW YEAR'S EVE (without breaking the bank)

1. Don’t overspend on venue.  A party in a swanky hotel has its benefits, but all that glam can come at a pretty hefty price and with it the expectation and pressure on the evening to be ‘worth it’ can sky rocket to unrealistic proportions.  My best New Year’s parties have always been low-key and homey.  That way you concentrate on the fun rather than the cost!
2. Keep it local.  If you are like me and are lucky enough to live close to many of your friends, staying home is always preferable to long, arduous journeys on unreliable, drunk-infested modes of public transport.  Once again everyone saves money and energy so friends and family turn up at your door looking fresh and excited rather than grimy and demoralised.
3. Choose a culinary theme and get everyone involved.  This year we are having a curry competition with our extended family (which is luckily overflowing with talented amateur chefs.)  This way we are guaranteed an exciting menu with a festive side of good natured competition.
4. Start the evening a little later than your average dinner party.  An 8/9 o’clock vague kick off time will allow guests to prep at a leisurely pace, thus ensuring stress levels are set to minimum and also saves the party from dragging before that all important stroke of midnight.
5. Keep an open mind.  New Year’s Eve can often be met with anything from indifference to terror, particularly with singletons stressing over being thought of as 3rd/5th/7th… wheels at kiss o’clock.  Whether you have a guaranteed smooching partner or not, the turn of the year should be approached with a positive attitude.  New beginnings and clean slates are always healthy, even for the most content of folk. So cast aside all residual Yuletide anxiety, crack open the bubbly and get ready for (possibly) your best year yet!

Happy New Year Everyone!

THE THING ABOUT CHRISTMAS... IS IT ALL ABOUT THE PRESENTS???

When Jo grumbles “Christmas won’t be the same without any presents” in Little Women... she was right.  Now I know that statement is going to raise a few hackles but hear me out...

Despite a prevalence of Christmas cheer and goodwill, you never have to look too far for that Scrooge-like demographic who are always eager to moan about the evils of commercialisation and the fact that tinsel is tying a proverbial noose around the true Christmas message.  However, I believe that these preachy proponents of appropriate festive focus are so busy disparaging Christmas consumerism that they miss the reasons behind it.

Every year my Christmas present journey begins some time in late November when I start trawling the internet and department stores for gift inspiration.  I have a lot of family and even more friends, all of whom I care for deeply.  One of my greatest pleasures in life is bringing a genuine smile to the faces of said loved ones and for me, that is where the true value of Christmas presents lies.  It is not about the amount of money you spend on someone or the designer labels emblazoned on the box.  It truly is the thought that counts.

Yes, of course it is important to teach our younger generation the Nativity story and part of me glows that little bit brighter when I see all the mini wise men, angels and shepherds running around after their acting debuts.  However, no matter what religion you subscribe to, surely the underlying message of love and generosity are consistently appropriate across the board?  

So I say buy your presents people!  Wrap up each perfect little something for someone special, guilt-free in the knowledge that the true meaning of Christmas may not be found on a price tag but there can never be anything evil or blasphemous about a beautifully wrapped symbol of affection.

TOP 10 TIPS FOR DECORATING YOUR TREE

My place of work does Christmas in a big way… and by big I mean huge.  No seriously, I suspect that Lapland has nothing on us.  It is my job to assist the extremely talented visual merchandisers in turning their artistic visions into a reality, from buying the first decoration in January right through to placing the final star on the last Christmas display tree some time in November.  As such, I have compiled a few tips over the years for recreating these festive works of art in the more humble setting of my own home and without breaking the bank...  

1. Tree decorating is a treat not a chore, so gather some friends, crack open a bottle of wine and get NOW That’s What I Call Christmas in your stereo.  Enjoy it!
2. Choose a theme…and stick to it.  Every family has a box of wonky angels made of toilet rolls and Papier-mâché stars.  Why not have a separate little tree for these works of ahem… art to be enjoyed in the kitchen or hall?  Meanwhile your main tree can be a beautiful champagne gold or frosted blue or Scandinavian red and white or…
3. Beware of false economy!  Invest in your tree, be it real or artificial.  Stay away from cheapy, sparse pieces of green plastic masquerading as Christmas trees or that sad looking real tree which has been discounted to within an inch of its life because somewhere along it’s retail journey it has lost most of it’s branches.  This is particularly true for artificial trees.  A quality 7 footer can usually cost anything between £100 and £300 but will last for decades.  The better the tree, the less decorations are needed to fill in gaps between the branches and will therefore save you money in the long run.
4. Lights… the more the merrier!  For a classy, tasteful look get yourself at least 600 warm white LEDs and intertwine the wires in and out of the Christmas tree branches to create a comforting glow which will draw all eyes to your beautiful Christmas centrepiece.  If your tastes run more towards a modern look do the same with ice white LEDs.  Your tree will look like it has been sprinkled with magical fairy dust!
5. There is a time and a place for tinsel… and it is not on a Christmas tree.  It is actually a true talent to make tinsel look good so when in doubt leave it to the professionals.  Instead choose delicate crystal garlands and metallic sprays (small leafy branches) which will reflect your lights and create a soft backdrop for individual decorations.  
6. Want to save money?  Put your tree in a corner.  This is a time honoured method of reducing the cost of a tree without sacrificing its quality.  A corner tree needs half as many lights and decorations as one which is in the centre of a room or in a bay window.  
7. Want to save more money?  Mix in some shatterproof decorations.  While low quality garlands and tinsel tend to cheapen the look of a tree, certain low-end baubles can be the perfect way of discreetly filling gaps.  Tubes of plastic baubles in golds, silvers or block colours, when properly placed in non-obvious spots on your tree, are a great money-saver and don’t detract attention from the more expensive decorations.  Each year, you can replace them with nicer decs which catch your eye.
8. Save spots front and centre for your favourite decorations.  Use the individual LEDs to create mini spotlights for your most expensive glass baubles and Gisela Graham fairies and let them steal the show!
9. Don’t forget the base of your tree.  I like to use some leftover wrapping paper from the previous year to make some fake presents so that my tree doesn’t look like it is just sat there waiting for Christmas day.  Also look out for light-up presents which give off a subtle, whimsical glow and are the perfect way of masking unsightly base stands.
10. Decorate your tree as soon as is acceptably possible.   The longer you leave it the more likely it is that the task will become a chore in your mind rather than something to delight in and brighten up those long winter nights.  

I hope these tips have helped.  Happy decorating everyone...

THE THING ABOUT RUGBY

Picture this:  A wave of 74,000 people flowing towards a sporting monolith, vibrating with anticipation for the battle to come.  I am in the middle of this human sea, snuggled into my duffel coat and red and green scarf, clinging to my Dad’s arm as we excitedly absorb the sights and smells of one of our favourite places on the planet.  It is central Cardiff, and Wales are about to take on England in the final game of the Six Nations 2013.

This was one of the best days of my life.  Every year, my Dad and I make the five hour journey to our country’s capital to be a part of sporting history and, win or lose, there is never a dull moment.  But what makes it so special?

The Setting?  In my more whimsical moments I like to think of the national stadium as an architectural version of the dragon on our flag, from the roar that emanates from the bowels of the building during game time, to the fire-breathing flame-throwers on the pitch as the players line up for battle.  In our modern day colosseum, the brave Welsh gladiators take on the English lions, only with less death...hopefully.

The Game?  A good game of rugby can be fast-paced, adrenaline fuelled and awe inspiring.  It takes baffling levels of skill as well as strength and determination to win and The Six Nations tournament ensures five of the best opposition in the Northern Hemisphere.

The People?  When I was a teenager, my Dad took me to Old Trafford to watch a Premiership football game and I really enjoyed myself.  But the memory is blurry at best.  However, my first international rugby game often runs through my mind in vivid detail.  Time for a rather sweeping generalisation: rugby supporters are nicer than their footballing counterparts.  I once saw an interview with a footballer at his first rugby game and he was astonished by the concept of supporters from both England and Wales happily mixing together in the stands and with beer added to the equation as well!  I can only imagine how many police officers would be needed if this were the case for a football meet.

The Men?  Real men who, while footballers are diving and rolling around on the floor because someone almost tapped their ankle, are being dragged off to the blood bin by their physios to sew their ears back on.  I am not ashamed to admit this: since I first saw Jonny Wilkinson taking a penalty kick, my perspective of the opposite sex altered irrevocably.  From then on my head has more often been turned by beards and brawn rather than skinheads and tattoos.  But that’s another blog…

They say that rugby is a thug’s game played by gentlemen, but I say it is a thug’s game supported by gentlemen (and gentle-ladies) as well.  My favourite memory, aside from Wales winning the 2013 game against the English, was in an Italian restaurant during the 2012 tournament.  Unprecedented sub zero temperatures had frozen the Stade de France and disappointed French and Irish supporters had hopped on the Eurostar to join in with the Cardiff festivities, where Wales were playing Scotland.  After the game, a few of us found ourselves in an Italian restaurant.  During our meal, a French contingent struck up a resounding rendition of the Marseillaise.  The table behind us immediately stood up and joined in, as did three tables of Frenchmen upstairs.  Meanwhile, Italian, Irish, Scottish and Welsh rugby fans energetically applauded and there was an almost tangible atmosphere of international camaraderie in the room.  In a world where the news is overwhelmed by accounts of violent discord between nations, I count myself very lucky to have been present at such a poignantly integrative moment.

STILL FEELING THE AUTUMN LOVE

Really feeling the Autumn love at the moment.  Had some gorgeous dinners, weekend breaks, parties and extremely successful shopping trips with lots more still to come.  And with the John Lewis advert successfully bringing tears to Brits left, right and centre (yet again), Christmas is definitely in the air.  Holidays are coming...

MY TOP 5 FAVOURITE THINGS ABOUT AUTUMN... all rolled into one.

Sometimes I can’t help feeling a little bit sorry for Autumn.  Think about it:  Spring is associated with frolicking lambs and buds bursting into bloom; Summer evokes images of sun-drenched beaches and a jug of Pimms in the garden; and everyone knows that Winter is a time for log fires and Christmas trees.  Meanwhile, poor old Autumn is essentially about leaves dying and the weather turning damp and dismal.

However, never have I been more appreciative of this underrated season than I was last night, when all my favourite Autumnal activities rolled into one, magical evening.

1. Snuggly Autumn Fashion.  Immediately upon stumbling out of the cold and into my house after work last night, I ran up to my bedroom and chose my outfit for the evening.  Bring on layers upon layers of soft cream cable-knit, woolly socks, a mile-long tartan scarf, a cute little cream beret and even a pair of woollen mittens.  I was ready…
2. Bonfire Night.  Remember, remember the 5th of November… when thousands of my fellow Brits head to various fields to enjoy gigantic bonfires and incredible fireworks.  My family, friends and I trundled along to a local school and were suitably awed by potentially the greatest ever Chinese invention.  The cute firemen in attendance didn’t hurt the ambience either.
3. Comfort Food.  With darkness rolling in earlier each evening, Autumn is a more forgiving season for indulging in a few culinary naughties.  Cue jumbo hot dog resting on a bed of fried onions and lovingly nestled within a fluffy bap.  Complete with ketchup and mustard and you’re good to go.  The 5 star hygiene rating of the fast food vender somehow made it taste even better!
4. Red Wine.  Gone are the endless Summer evenings where you can happily while away the hours of sun in a beer garden with your friends, nursing an ice cold glass of sauvignon blanc.  Now it is time to grab a cork screw and enjoy the warming effects of a good, quality red.
5. Family Time.  Said glass of red wine was served at a gem of a cosy country pub in the stix of North Wales.  With my Dad, brother and landlord providing both the booze and conversation, I did not want my Autumn night to end.

MAC PLUMFUL REVIEW

Part of me can completely relate to the addictive euphoria inherent in using a brand new Chanel mascara or Lancome eye-liner for the first time and feeling the need to rush to my laptop to review it.  However, I am a huge advocate of ‘empty reviews.’  

I read my first empty review on Jessicachri, by Jessica Rivers, and thought it was a genius concept.  It is easy to be dazzled by a new beauty product the first few times you use it, but in order to give a true test of everyday value the empty review is surely the answer?  As I am rapidly coming to the end of my most treasured cosmetic, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to dip a proverbial toe into the world of beauty blogging and what better way to start than with the darling of my make up collection: Mac’s Plumful lipstick.

Now that Autumn colours are once again taking over my wardrobe, I spend most of my days in rich, berry hues.  With all these deep tones going on, it would be so easy just to stick to a nude lip colour and let the outfit do the talking, but the thing I love about Plumful is its versatility.  A dab on the lips at the beginning of the day subtly glams up my work attire for hours and then the full application shebang (prime, lip line, apply, blot, apply… you know the drill) goes with every evening outfit I can throw at it.  Whether it be an LBD or skirt and top combo, this lipstick is the perfect finish to my Autumn outfits.   Some dark lip colours can make me look washed out, but not Plumful.  It is very forgiving when I have not managed to find the time to top up my tan, as it somehow turns my complexion from ‘pasty’ to ‘alabaster,’ (don’t ask me how, it just does.)  

So do yourself a favour this Autumn/Winter and add this cosmetic gem to your collection, you won’t regret it.

Fashion versus Style

Just a comforting sentiment for all my fellow 'normals' out there, for whom the closest shot at walking a runway is probably a Staff Only door at Heathrow Airport...

THE THING ABOUT TEA

So here’s the thing: last Christmas I received a beautiful hand-stitched cushion which read ‘Tea is liquid wisdom.’  This got me thinking about the magical properties of my most adored hot beverage.  Think about it, the kettle is the first port of call when you get a visitor.  It breaks the ice, makes you feel like a splendid host/hostess by giving you an excuse to use your best mugs (or tea set if you are really keen) and sets everybody at ease by giving you something to do with your hands after the obligatory hug or handshake is out of the way.  Similarly it helps regulate temperature, providing warmth in the winter and quenching thirst in the summer (although I am certainly not one for this insane American tendency to serve it with ice.)  It is also an excellent comforter in times of need; a physical offering of support and understanding in stressful situations.  Not to mention all the health benefits, what with herbal teas being integral to any self-respecting detox campaign these days (not that I’d know.)  Tea is an essential part of my day and I wanted to dedicate a little time to describing my favourite source of this liquid wisdom.

I am currently sitting in a medium-sized room, in a medium-sized building which shares roughly the same symbolism for me as Buckingham Palace does for the Queen:  Betty’s Tea Rooms, Harrogate.  It is my spiritual home, my meal-time Mecca, my most adored haunt for a tea treat and it is my view that everybody should share in this particular cup of liquid wisdom.  For the tea obsessed, this hundred year old institution is so much more than a cafe/restaurant.  It is here that one can come and enjoy the sensation of being brewed in a unique blend of Victorian England meets Swiss hospitality, warmed by the ever present china-tinkling echoes of the past.  The upstairs houses a gloriously bright, Victorian-chic cafe, with flawless bay windows providing irresistible glimpses of the confectionary bar inside.  Meanwhile, the downstairs tearooms are a cosy cornucopia of thick carpets, marble tables and intriguing Swiss wooden artwork cladding the walls.  A magnificent collection of bespoke teapots, varying from porcelain houses to famous figures of the past (who all happen to conveniently possess striking enough noses to encompass a spout in the design,) tastefully line the walls, giving every attendee the impression of each cup served being, literally, steeped in history.

Whilst their tea room blend and English breakfast are some of the best brews I’ve tasted, the delicious delicacies served beside these pots of tea-time gold become a talking point long after the last croissant flake and scone crumb have left the pristine plates.  Their eggs benedict, traditional gruyere rostis and ceasar salad are of particular note but I have never known any dish to be remotely disappointing.  Evening meals are often accompanied by a pianist and a recommended ice cold glass of refreshing Swiss white wine, the perfect way to wind down after a busy business day or shopping jaunt in the charming local stores.  Their service is also impeccable.  Staff are dressed in slightly modernized Downton Abbey-esque maid uniforms and maintain an air of pleasant competence, seemingly dedicated to making your dining experience as relaxed and resplendent as possible.  Any Austen or Bronte buff would relish the opportunity to slip back in time and enjoy that which we had in common with our regency heroines, for it takes very little imagination to imagine Mrs.Bennett sipping from one of the delicate china tea services, or enjoying a freshly baked scone from the solid silver cake stands.

On your way out you are drawn into the warm confines of the gift shop.  This is the final cube of sugar in the perfect cup of tea.  More ‘maids’ await your pastry pleasure behind a worn wooden counter above glass cabinets housing a dream of fondant fancies, brownies, cupcakes, scones, cookies, macaroons… you get the idea.  However, the piece de resistance preens in the shop window in the form of a wedding cake display to make even the coldest matrimonial feet turn warm and toastie with mouthwatering anticipation.  No joke, I would probably tie the knot just for an excuse to dig into one of these culinary works of art!  The tins and boxes along the back wall bring us full circle to a veritable library of tea tisanes, tonics, leaves and infusions, presented in traditional caddies with Betty’s artwork adorning the facades.  

Stepping out under the black iron Victorian awning, I take a deep breath of crisp October air and snuggle further into my duffle coat, enjoying the residual Betty’s-infused warmth which will remain with me for the rest of the day.  Tea might not have actual magical properties, but every sip can provide health, warmth and comfort.  Sounds pretty magical to me...

10 THINGS WHICH DRIVE ME IRRATIONALLY CRAZY

Google Images: Tom and Jerry

You know when you get a paper cut and at the time it feels like the absolute worst pain imaginable?  Sometimes, I will be overcome by a wave of seething anger at what I like to call a 'first world problem.'  That is to say something that in the grand scheme of things is not actually that bad but nevertheless causes unheard of levels of fury for several seconds when it occurs.  Here are 10 of my triggers of irrational rage:

1. When tweezing and that one, tenacious little hair refuses to be plucked no matter how close you get to the mirror.
2. When your phone battery inexplicably jumps from half charged to 10% in five minutes.
3. When my boyfriend comes to my house to ‘spend time with me’ then immediately steals the remote and puts football on.
4. When you treat yourself to a bottle of wine only to find your Dad/Brother/Sister has quaffed it.
5. Liquid eyeliner smudges.
6. Finding empty packets of biscuits in the cupboard.
7. When my cat decides to scratch on my bedroom door in the middle of my new relaxation app.
8. When you run a bath only to find out the hot water ran out midway.
9. Unwanted predictive text amendments.
10. My alarm clock.

THE THING ABOUT TERMS OF ENDEARMENT

Anyone who has ever spent more than five minutes in my company or read my blog might have sussed out a rather strange dichotomy in my personality.  After much reflection I have coined an appropriate term for this paradox: cynical romantic.  So what is a cynical romantic?

Well, on the one hand my childhood and teens were so saturated in Disney, novels and romcoms that I had a pretty adamant belief that, at some convenient time in the not so distant future, I would stumble across my Prince Charming. Now that is not to say I was completely deluded.  For one thing I don’t attend nearly enough polo matches or Ascot meets for the whole white stallion thing to be likely and real life princes are nowhere near as prolific as they are in cartoon films.  But there was definitely a Versace suit and some moonlight involved in my daydreams and come to think of it the guy did hold a remarkable resemblance to Eric from The Little Mermaid… but I digress.

So imagine my surprise when I fiiiiinally landed an actual boyfriend and he brought me a bouquet of flowers, just because.  And what was my response to this wonderful gesture?  I laughed and cracked a joke about wondering who he had cheated on me with to warrant such lovely flowers in order to dispel the romantic atmosphere.  After that it became clear that although I was more than comfortable with copious amounts of romance in literature and on film, when it came to reality… not so much.  

Therefore, I approach the concept of pet names between couples with conflicting sentiments.  When I come across cute old people who have been married for hundreds of years calling each other ‘Sweetheart’ and ‘Dearest,’ it fills me with a snuggly warmth as if I’m watching teacups and candlesticks dance around an enchanted ballroom.  However, at the same time the idea of my boyfriend of four years calling me ‘Honey,’ or, heaven forbid, ‘Darling,’ makes me feel… stressed is probably the most apt word for it.  You see?  Romantic cynic.

This leads me to a warning for all my fellow romantic cynics out there, inspired by observing some of my friends.  I once read a book in which the heroine described an immensely awkward conversation with her soon-to-be ex boyfriend about how he wanted to start calling her ‘Honey’ and he wanted her to call him ‘Darling.’  Her sheer panic at such a request was worryingly familiar but it made me think of the couples in my general vicinity.  A friend’s boyfriend calls her ‘Angel,’ in a tone which is always dripping with so much sarcasm as to make it acceptable to us romantic cynics.  And yet, is it my imagination or is there a pinch less sarcasm in his voice every time I hear it?  The same goes for another of my friends who married her childhood sweetheart and early on they began to call each other ‘Babes.’  Ten years later I often hear them refer to each other in this manner, only now it is without an ounce of irony.  Is this how it started with our parents?  Does the foundation of the dreaded term of endearment lie in repetition?

A while back my own boyfriend began to finish his goodnight texts with ‘Night, Dearest,’ finding perverse enjoyment in my real-life romantic squeamishness, and yes, you guessed it, each time I read it I become a little more inured to the concept of a term of endearment.

What is the most sickeningly sweet term of endearment you have come across?

SO APPROPRIATE...

The world's most apt Birthday present...

THE THING ABOUT MY BIRTHDAY

So here’s the thing… I skipped a year at school.  No, no don’t get too excited, I’m not some sort of child prodigy who was in need of more intellectual stimulation than my age group could provide, I actually just wanted to move schools when I was five and it was decided that the measly 20 days left of September until my sixth birthday were not enough to warrant a whole extra year of school fees. So when all is said and done, I pretty much missed a year of colouring-in and hop-scotch.

Although my colouring skills have always been slightly below par, there have been many benefits to being the youngest person in my school and University year group and my favourite side effect has been the fact that I am probably the only person on the planet over the age of eighteen who enjoys getting older.  When every single one of my friends goes through and overcomes the progressively more traumatic experience of adding an extra year to their age, by the time late September comes around the whole aging thing has rather lost it’s depressing edge and I am proverbially (and yes, sometimes literally) rubbing my hands together in greedy anticipation of presents, cake and champagne.  

At the grand old age of 26, this year has been my best birthday yet!  Spanning a total of two and a half weeks, my celebrations have included a girl’s night in, a family feast, a night out in Soho, a champagne picnic in Hyde Park, a surprise Birthday dinner with all my University friends in attendance and a long weekend in Paris!  How my 30th is ever going to live up to this I don’t know...

Thanks must go to my family for what might be the first and only time where they have managed to keep something quiet; all my wonderful friends for taking the time and money to be in the same place at the same time; my two best friends for being so organisationally helpful and of course my lovely boyfriend for making the whole thing possible.

THE THING ABOUT GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF-ITIS

So I woke up this morning and had an epiphany: What if I am an incredibly talented baker and just don’t know it?  Granted until now my forays into the world of cake and bread preparation have been few and even those ended in some rather ridiculous results.  For instance, my family have still not forgotten about the time I dropped a surprisingly beautiful creation on the floor and they were forced to pick out pieces of Denby plate from each slice to save my feelings.  It was still quite tasty though, even with the unanticipated crunch.  However, far be it from the odd china tragedy to stymie my life-long (day old) dream of becoming the next confectionery virtuoso!

And so once more into the breach (kitchen) I go!  With the help of the wonderful Mrs Mary Berry and her Great British Bake Off inspiration, I shall attempt to unlock my possibly dormant culinary genius.

8 hours later...

Well, most of them were edible at least.  I ended up doing three batches: The first suffered from a sad misreading of the recipe and failed to rise due to lack of baking powder, the second and most successful batch stuck to what I am now suspecting were Yorkshire pudding trays, not cupcake trays hmmm…, and the third were quite significantly over-baked as my friend came over and distracted me with cups of tea and gossip.

By far the best facet of my cupcakes was the vanilla icing on top.  Although I was a bit heavy handed with the food colouring and my tasteful pastels somehow ended up at the more radioactive end of the scale, if that vanilla icing was a man, I would already be married and having his babies.  It was also extremely useful in covering up unwanted lumps and bumps on the sponge.

And so, having disposed of the first batch and over half of the third, my cupcake success rate ended up hovering somewhere around the 40% mark.  These were systematically devoured by my family and none of them have been ill so far...

15 THINGS I SAY AND PEOPLE THINK I'M JOKING... BUT I'M REALLY NOT

1) “Oh good it’s raining, my car needed a wash.”

2) “The most romantic thing my boyfriend ever did for me was not text me for a week when I was on holiday with the girls.”

3) “I drank 12 cups of tea today.”

4) “I wish my boobs were smaller.”

5) “I passed my driver’s test first time.”

6)  “I'm pretty sure I make the best scrambled eggs in the whole world.”

7) “I spend at least an hour in the bath every day.”

8) “I probably attended less than 30% of my University lectures.”

9) “I know every single word to about 10 Disney films.”

10) “I have 8 Christmas trees in my house every year, not including the ones in the garden.”

11) “I have a weird attraction to most middle aged Scottish men, the grumpier the better.”

12) “I have a cottage cheese addiction, it’s what I miss most when I go on holiday.”

13) “Traditionally I make my Birthday celebrations last for over three weeks.”

14) “I was genuinely relieved when the world didn’t end in 2012.”

15) “I know more French, German, Spanish, Italian and probably Elvish than Welsh and I have lived in Wales my whole life.”

GIFT INSPIRATION: Bottled and ready to use

I am in love with these little bottles from Parlane International.  They say "Brain Waves: Best before somebody else thinks of them; Brilliant Ideas: Best before you are fired; Dreams and Fantasies: Best before you wake up."

WHICH FRIEND ARE YOU?

I consider myself very lucky to have a wide variety of friends.  By this I mean, although we have thousands of things in common, each of our personalities are vastly different.  In my opinion, this is why we will be friends forever and ever.  

Using a few of my favourite ladies as inspiration, I tried to categorise my friends:

1)  The Sensible One.  If you have always been conscientious and followed a well-ordered career path, thinking three steps ahead, it is likely that you are the sensible one.  You can often be recognised by your immaculate hair, clothes clothes and smart shoes with a sensible heel.  Favourite shops include Reiss, Coast and Ted Baker.

2)  The Crazy One.  I have a few of these.  The crazy one is known for keeping life interesting with her impulsive decisions, jet-setting and intriguing view on life.  She is often found in oversized woolly jumpers, kooky hairstyles and chunky jewellery.  Favourite shops include Topshop and funky charity stores.

3)  The Trendy One.  This is the girl who could rock a bin sack and persuade you it is couture.  When out shopping she will pick up the last thing you would ever go near from the rack, try it on and look fresh off the catwalk.  She is usually sporting a lot of black, chunky heels and a leather jacket.  Can be found in every shop under the sun.

4)  The Ambitious One.  This proactive lady lives life asking herself ‘what else can I do?’  She does not enjoy sofa days or long films and usually works for herself.  She is also a fitness freak, participating in triathlons and bike rides across Europe, crazy things like that.  Her outfit of choice is usually some sort of sports gear but has been known to throw on a little black dress at least once a week and dance the night away.  Favourite stores include River Island, Miss Selfridge and Veromoda.

5)  The Quiet One.  This friend is an excellent listener and group agony aunt but be sure to listen when she does speak because her witticisms are worth the wait.  She has an understated fashion style, preferring jeans and a hoody throughout the day, but also enjoys letting out her wild child when the mood strikes.  Favourite shops include New Look, American Apparel and Mango.

Each of these wonderful ‘types’ are a vital piece in my beloved friendship jigsaw, and even though the image on each piece is different to the next, together they combine to make a crazy, colourful collage which I would not change for the world.