One thing I really struggle with at this time of year is choosing what to watch on tv. I don't watch much telly normally anyways (which is pretty bad for a person who works in that industry...) but all of a sudden there is SO much great stuff on. As I sit and type this in the living room, I'm torn between Alice In Wonderland, The Muppets & Lady Gaga at Christmas, The Snowman, and Harry Potter: Behind The Magic. Love them all!
I've been house bound today, cleaning, wrapping presents and generally getting organised for these last couple of days before Christmas. The party season is well and truly upon us and I've spent the last week getting primmed and prepped for some festive activities with my friends. I've had a batch of bad luck over the past week or so, which has really been testing my patience. A bunch of negative blog comments, my Papa having a bad fall off a set of ladders, and someone crashing into my car without stopping to leave their details - to name just a few mishaps. So apologies in advance if I don't seem my usual chirpy self :( I'm been determined to get through it with a smile still on my face. Lets just say, bring on 2014.
I've been house bound today, cleaning, wrapping presents and generally getting organised for these last couple of days before Christmas. The party season is well and truly upon us and I've spent the last week getting primmed and prepped for some festive activities with my friends. I've had a batch of bad luck over the past week or so, which has really been testing my patience. A bunch of negative blog comments, my Papa having a bad fall off a set of ladders, and someone crashing into my car without stopping to leave their details - to name just a few mishaps. So apologies in advance if I don't seem my usual chirpy self :( I'm been determined to get through it with a smile still on my face. Lets just say, bring on 2014.
Winter waxing you say? I went for a Brazillian Wax at Stripped Bare in Glasgow (based inside L.A Fitness, just across from Central Station), which may seem pointless when you're not donning your bikini in December, but it's something that I always feel so much better for after getting it done. Gillian used the hot wax and the whole process took about 20 minutes. It probably would have been quicker if I wasn't squirming so much, I must admit that it was pretty painful but Gillian was great at putting me at ease. I think I just need to accept that I'm a big wimp when it comes to this sort of thing! The Brazillian cost £35 but a standard bikini wax is only £16 if you're looking to have a bit of a taster before going the whole way. To wax or not to wax, what do you think/prefer?
Talking about stripped bare, the picture above is my completely bare face after an Espa Skin Radiance facial at The Retreat in West Lothian, which is about halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. It is such a lovely little beauty salon, with cosy treatment rooms (as you can see above) and in the front shop they stock some of my favourite brands including Xen-Tan, HD Brow and Ciate. As I mentioned before it is closer than Edinburgh but ironically not as easy to get to, which I would say is the only downfall! Public transport to get there was too fiddly so I decided to drive and got lost on the way there, but found on the way back it only took about 25 minutes. I always get quite stressed driving to places I have never been before, but the facial was so relaxing and really chilled me out. I think it had quite a noticeable effect on my skin too. This is my first experience with Espa products and I'm really pleased with the results. What do you think?
The third and final bit of pampering I indulged in before the Christmas festivities properly started was a trip to the Aveda Spa in The Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh. It was cosily nestled away underneath the hotel and felt like a little world of its own. I went for the Stress-Fix Body Massage, and bloody hell I was needing it. I normally ask for a medium pressure when getting a massage, but for this one I asked the therapist to work quite hard into my shoulders and back because they felt quite tight and full of tension. I honestly felt like a whole new person after it, and the 45 minutes didn't quite seem like long enough! I would definitely go for longer next time. I floated home on cloud 9 feeling all content with a clear head, and there's something about the smell of lavender that is always quite soothing and reassuring. Wish I'd taken my bikini for a wee swim beforehand, the facilities looked lovely and you can't quite tell by the picture above but the swimming pool is hidden under a bridge that takes you across to the treatment rooms and looked very atmospheric with the lighting.
Pampering over with - time to party!
With the lovely ladies Claire and Sheri at the Abandon Ship Apparel Christmas Shopping night, where you got 20% off any purchases if you wore a Christmas jumper - score! I got some last minute christmas bargains while wandering around the store with a Kopparberg in hand, and afterwards we went back to my friend Kyles office for pizza and wine.
I had a little afternoon tea in the house for my friend Luisa, who is heavily pregnant so isn't partaking in any mulled wine or nights out. My flatmate Gary joined us too and it was nice to have a (sober) chinwag in the house over tea, cake and sandwiches! I got a selection of goodies from the Greggs just down the road from my flat which was quite handy, and cut the sandwiches into smaller pieces so that we all got a bit of everything. The thai red chicken seemed to be the biggest hit though. And I saved my favourite cake all for myself...
The pink jammie! The donut to end all donuts if I don't say so myself. You have no idea how happy I was while this picture was taken. No shame at all, my friends, no shame :)
On saturday night I went back to my home town to have a Christmas Night in with my friend Gemma and a bunch of girls who I went to school with. It was great to catch up after not seeing them in so long. Gemma is the best party planner I know, and had loads of nibbles on the go - not to mention jelly vodka shots and cotton candy cocktails to name a couple! I wasn't drinking because I was still hungover from the night before, and you can see my new hair in the above picture but I'll save that properly for the next post.
After a week of afternoon tea and alcohol, I got to combine the two on a wee date with Scottish Ballet. This was without a doubt the day that really made me feel festive.
Myself and a bunch of other bloggers went to the Blythswood Square Hotel for some 'making of' films about their Christmas Ballet, Hansel and Gretel, topped off with Woodcutters Wife cocktails, hand and arm massages from the lovely spa staff and a Hansel and Gretel themed afternoon tea.
Oh dear, you can't take us girls anywhere! We did find the perfect mirror for a selfie in the Theatre Royal foyer haha.
The production was absolutely beautiful, and I had thought the standards of Scottish Ballet couldn't get any higher but they continue to raise the bar with every single show. From a Design point of view I was in absolute heaven. Scottish Ballet really honour the old time skill of scenic painting, with beautiful hand painted backdrops and set pieces which look 3D thanks to some clever use of trompe l'oeil. I'm always just dying to get a look at the set up close and personal! The reveal of the witch's cottage was definitely my favourite piece.
I got absolutely soaked on the way home thanks to our glorious scottish weather, so please excuse the slightly drowned rat look. I only realised when I got home that I hadn't taken a picture of my dress! It is from Apricot but I got it at the Glad Cafe Clothes Swap the week before (which there really needs to be more of by the way, my wardrobe got just the boost it was needing!) I felt like a little girl in my mint dress and sparkly shoes :) If you've not seen a christmas show or ballet yet this year, Hansel and Gretel runs until the 8th of Feb and is touring Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness, Newcastle and Belfast. You can click for the dates here.
I'm going to be a bit all over the place in the next week with lots of family to visit over christmas and boxing day, but will have a couple more posts up before the year is out. I'm going to finish my wrapping tomorrow and Erin is up from London so we will be having a wee night out to catch up. Getting too old for all this drinking and dancing malarkey :)
I'm going to be a bit all over the place in the next week with lots of family to visit over christmas and boxing day, but will have a couple more posts up before the year is out. I'm going to finish my wrapping tomorrow and Erin is up from London so we will be having a wee night out to catch up. Getting too old for all this drinking and dancing malarkey :)
