Christmas 2014 adventures

I really hope that everyone has had a lovely Christmas, and managed to spend some quality time with their families eating lots of delicious food, sharing presents, and making time to do things together.

My favourite part of Christmas, apart from the food, is buying and wrapping presents. I like to think I'm pretty good at buying gifts, and I really enjoy it even though it sometimes takes me hours, days even, to find that perfect match for my friends or family. I start shopping two months in advance, too, to make sure I get enough time to look...a little over the top I know!

I'll take you through my little but magical Christmas this year (2014) in a few photos below...

I got these vintage-style letter stamps from my friend, and used them to make name tags for every gift.

You can buy them at Asos (£8), Amazon (£9.99) or Hobbycraft (£10) and they are so cheap, but well worth it, especially if you like DIY!

December isn't a bad one at work either - some of my colleagues and I went to Izakaya Flesh & Buns in Covent Garden and I can honestly say it was one of the most amazing meals I've ever had in London. For just £30 we had the taster menu, and ate a variety of Japanese, Chinese and British mini dishes...only to top that with this incredible American-style passion fruit s'more with chocolate biscuits. Heaven!

How could you resist??

I enjoyed taking this little Patricia Field bag out to dinners with me - I thought it was a cute little retro festive accessory to a smart outfit...my replacement for a Christmas jumper this year!

On Christmas Eve, I went to my boyfriend's family and took this snap of his stylish sister in her Fenwick jumper and Bobbl beanie, playing with LEGO!

I then went on to my cousin Maja's house to spend Christmas with my family, starting with a lovely night cap in these vintage glasses!

We woke up to this pile of gifts!

The obligatory Christmas selfie... Kitty hat is an old one from Zara but you can also get them on eBay for just £2.88.

Some of my lovely gifts from family and my boyfriend...I felt very spoilt!

My cousin Maja is an amazing host and always makes food look fun (I don't know how she always does it so quickly!) These were mulled apple drinks with pear cut out stars inside.

We took a day trip to a nearby town called Marlborough, where we walked around the cute little shops and had scones and tea at the Polly Tearooms.

My little 13 year old cousin Sasha made these delicious dough balls from scratch, and we baked a camembert to dip into...you'd probably have guessed that this was all gone within 10 minutes.

For New Year's Eve, I traveled up to Somerset to my friend's beautiful Georgian home, to celebrate 2015 with her little family and another two friends....it was really the perfect New Year's celebration, with the people I love the most.

I got these adorable necklaces for Christmas...The Cherish necklace is from Orelia, the eternity necklaces are from Etsy, and the name necklace is custom made at a Jewellers in Crouch End.

We took a New Year's Day walk to a pretty cool tunnel where they used to test Concords...

Enchanted! I love the English countryside.

I have also been trying out different types of exercise before and after Christmas, including aerial and hot yoga, and will be reporting back in another post soon!

Food: Christmas Tipples Recipes

Here's the perfect excuse to enjoy another little festive drink in-between Christmas and New Year's Eve...or just after some tiring shopping on Boxing Day!

Created by World Duty Free, these gorgeous cocktails sound delicious and look really easy to make. They would definitely earn you some host or hostess brownie points, too. These pictures are so gorgeous they make me want to invest in some serious vintage cocktail glasses asap!

RUDOLPH'S BLUSH

A fruity, indulgent treat, featuring Ciroc Red Berry vodka, blackberry liqueur and fresh lemon juice that is sure to get everyone in the mood for the seasonal festivities.

Ingredients

40ml Ciroc Red Berry

15ml fresh lemon juice

10ml Creme de Mure*

5ml sugar syrup

10ml egg white

*Blackberry liqueur

Garnish:

Angostura bitters

Raspberries

Icing sugar

Preparation method

Shake ingredients without ice (dry shake). Then add plenty of ice and shake hard. Fine strain into a chilled coupe glass. To garnish, add a drop of Angostura bitters or alternatively, place a raspberry on top with a dusting of icing sugar.

BAILEY'S NOG

A twist on the seasonal favourite that is quick and simple to make. The perfect sharing drink for festive celebrations that is sure to be a crowd pleaser!

Ingredients:

300ml full fat milk

300ml Baileys Irish

Cream

4 egg yolks

150ml Maple Syrup

1 tsp cinnamon powder

1 tsp allspice powder

Garnish:

Freshly grated nutmeg

Chocolate swizzlestick

Preparation method:

In a blender combine the milk and a few scoops of ice and blend util smooth. In a separate bowl mix the egg yolks, cinnamon, allspice and maple syrup. Combine all ingredients in the blender and blend again. Pour into a glass and dust with grated nutmeg. Garnish with a

chocolate swizzlestick and serve.

MIDNIGHT TREAT

A decadent indulgent cocktail with rich notes of raisin, chocolate and leather that embodies the spirit of 19^th century Paris in all its splendour.

Ingredients:

50ml Courvoisier Extravagance (Travel Exclusive)

10ml Benedictine DOM

5ml Chartreuse VP

Absinthe spray

Garnish:

Rosemary sprig

Preparation method:

Stir the ingredients over ice in a mixing glass or tin. Strain over ice into a brandy balloon and garnish with a sprig of rosemary. For an added touch of decadence, spray a mist of absinthe over the cocktail. If you are feeling especially brave, you may even flame the absinthe mist as you spray.

MULLED CHAMPAGNE

A seasonal champagne cocktail, akin to a Kir Royale with notes of spiced cranberry and pomegranate.

Ingredients:

300ml cranberry juice

200ml pomegranate juice

300ml caster sugar

50gm mixed spice

150ml Veuve Clicquot

Garnish:

Orange zest

2 tsp pomegranate seeds

For the spiced syrup:

In a pan gently heat the cranberry and pomegranate juices. Stir in caster sugar and Chinese five spice powder. Do not allow to boil. Continue to stir until the sugar dissolves. Fine strain the syrup to remove the solids and allow to cool.

Preparation method:

Pour a glass of Veuve Clicquot until it’s 2/3 full. Add 20ml of the cooled spiced syrup and stir. Garnish with an orange zest and pomegranate seeds. The syrup is perfect to make ahead of a party allowing for easy cocktail assembling when guests arrive.

These recipes are courtesy of World Duty Free. 

For more information on World Duty Free products including beauty, alcohol and fashion, visit www.worlddutyfree.com  

Five Best *Christmas*: Quirky Gifts

Unusual and quirky gitst are guaranteed to bring a smile to someone’s face, and some of the below top 5 are great ideas for Secret Santa presents or just for a friend.

1. I'm Sorry For What I Said When I Was Hungry T Shirt from Etsy. £14.99

2. Every Day I'm Hustlin' Mug from Etsy. £11.10

3. Novelty Camper Van Photo Frame. £10.99

4. Undercover Secret Tablet Sleeve (From a website called Bouf - some really cool stuff there!). £16.95

5. Moonlight Hun Pillow (Another one from Bouf). £89.10

Five Best *Christmas*: Gifts for the Home

Perfect for someone who has just bought or moved into a new home, as a little token of celebration or gift that will remind them of their friend/partner whenever they use it or look at it. 

People absolutely love receiving gifts for their home as they usually can’t afford to add to it, but be extra careful when choosing colour schemes and patterns as it will need to match with everything else they own.

1. French Bedroom Company's The Defaced Duchess. £183 for small size

2. 3 Drawer Clear Vanity Organiser. £23.09

3. Zara Home Embroidered Denim Decorative Quilt. £79.99

4. Nordic House Clear Glass and Rope Hurricane Lamp. £34

5. Zara Home Iron Teapot. £29.99

Five Best *Christmas*: Gifts for Foodies

Probably the easiest friend to buy for…the foodie loves, and will eat, everything! Perfect for those who like experience rather than things, and for those who hate clutter in their home.

1. Anthropologie Pretzel Bottle Opener. £8

2. Sizzle Joules Baking Tins. £29.95

3. Sushi Making Class from Yo Sushi!. £30 per person

4. Royal Albert Cheeky Pink Vintage 3-tier Cake Stand. £50

5. Godminster Vintage Cheese Selection (one of THE most delicious cheeses I've ever tasted!). £23.95