That Girl with that Blog

Hello Earthlings,  Today is the last post of the year which feels a little weird as I feel like we should probably be in May but here we are, a few days away from the new year. I have to admit I'm one of those people who loves the new year, I love the fact that it's a fresh set of 12 months that could hold so much opportunity and whatnot. I hear people who say you can work on bettering yourself at whatever point but for me there's something exciting about starting a fresh year and working on yourself into whoever you want to be. I intend on doing that and I'll be writing a post on the 1st to let you all know what you can expect from my blog in 2018. But for now, I'm going to reflect on the past year and draw everything to a close. I want to start by saying thank you to you people who read this, whether it's once or whether you read it regularly I truly appreciate it so much. For me my blog has never been about numbers as such, it's been a little place on...

Helloooo, Imagine that helloooo as a coughing and spluttering one with a slight loss of voice and voila we are on the same page. Having a cough is so annoying, I don't have time to have a cough! But I have wrapped my last presents today (I've put it off for a while as I hate wrapping). Very nearly there, a couple more shifts to do and then I'll be driving home for Christmas...sing it. Anyway, I decided that as we are pushing to the final stretch in the run up to Christmas, that I would post a somewhat reminder to people. For many people, Christmas can mean a lot of things whether it has a religious meaning or whether you aren't particularly religious. We all have our own reasons for enjoying Christmas or hating Christmas, whichever you may be. I personally feel that Christmas isn't about huge gifts, if you want to spoil someone then go ahead but alternatively you can also completely spoil them. It's up to you. I appreciate every gift I receive at Christmas...

HI HUMANS, ELVES and REINDEER, Today may be the day where I start to actually catch up on posts which will be an actual Christmas miracle but overall I'm pretty chuffed with how Blogmas is going and although it seems like I started it ages ago it also seems like "oh wow it's the 20th" and I just can't really fathom how quick everything is going. It seems so crazy! I may be in a complete rut after today for posts on Blogmas but I will get there, there's only a few days left so I must not give up now. But anyway, as Christmas approaches it is the perfect time to have a bit of a catch up and see how people are doing. The season of good will and all. This year this all seems kind of different because now everyone has bobbied off to university and whatnot so it's like a proper grown up catch up instead of just "I saw you last week at school but hi". I don't know it's just all different and exciting. I'm working everyday this week...

Elflings greetings, As we approach the busy busy shopping time I want to remind us all to be a bit nicer. You see, many people finish work around the 20th and that's it, all good and done until next year. That's not the case for everyone, people providing vital services, care workers, retail workers any many, many more job roles mean people are working over Christmas and not getting to spend as much time with their family as they'd probably like. I can vouch for retail workers here, there are many times that we will be trying our best. The odds are there's a lot of food and whatever that needs to be worked through and it gets busy. So we have to try and battle through everyone just to get down an aisle. I completely understand that you've just had to drive around for however long trying to find a parking space, I understand that you really wanted that one type of sausage that we don't have, I understand that you're all a bit stressed. But, it isn't o...

Elfy Elflings, If you have been reading my blogs a while then you will know that I like to promote helping people and feel very happy when I can help someone in need. I did a post a few weeks ago regarding helping the homeless and those struggling around the festive period. You can read it here . We all take it for granted really, we go and do a massive shop and add extras to the trolley just because "it's Christmas". But other people don't have that luxury and some can't even manage to give their family a proper meal on Christmas Day, nevermind a big fancy turkey dinner. Now I wish I could hide somewhere out and get all these people together and serve them a full Christmas dinner with pigs in blanket and Christmas pudding and everything. I can't do this. So me and my mum helped by doing a reverse advent calendar, as my mum is a CI in the local air cadet squadron  (shoutout to 331) she managed to get some donations from the cadets as well. My mum dropped...

Hey! I had the best afternoon yesterday being all crafty and such and then making a gingerbread house with my dad. It really was the best, I had such a good time. I love gingerbread. I love it, love it, love it. Incredible. Me and Jack attempted to make a gingerbread house a couple of years ago but it failed massively so nevermind. But this one was a success! I shall leave this short and sweet and let you drool over gingerbread!

Greetings Elflings, TODAY HAS BEEN SO FESTIVE. I mean I haven't quite got the one paragraph finished on my essay that I've been doing for the past 3 days done yet but I still have plenty of time and I've had a really good day. As I sit here right now I feel rather content, which must mean a day well spent. Poet and I didn't know it. This is too easy but it's starting to get cheesy. I'll stop.  Anyway, this morning I got to go and spend two hours doing crafts with one of my favourite people in the whole wide world, my little (I say little even though he kindly pointed out earlier that he is very nearly taller than me at the age of 10) god brother, Charlie. We made these cookie jar things, which had all the mix for some cookies in and you just had to add the butter at home. These were fun although we chose tall, narrow jars so had some difficulty when attempting to pat the brown sugar down. We got there in the end though and I'd say ours were the best ...

Elflings, As I sit here and type this at 23:19 I regret my decision of leaving it this late but being the resident elf of my household I'm able to ramble about Christmas at whatever time. I was being super prepared in my head and I was going to write it whilst sat in my car before I went into work at 5, but I set off late so didn't get the usual 10 minutes that I normally do. I like to get out the car at 52 minutes past the hour, honestly I have no clue why I do this but I feel like it gives me plenty of time to get into work, down to the clocking in machine and say hi to everyone on the way past. I'm such a creature of habit. Anyway, to the festivities! I personally don't think Christmas would be complete without a Christmas jumper. Or some form of Christmas attire. Whilst sorting my clothes out the other day, I discovered three Christmas jumpers and 2 Christmas tops that both relate to Elf. I'm assuming you lovely people know that Elf is a Christmas film (my f...

Elflings, Today we celebrate as I managed to complete my first semester of uni, admittedly with multiple "I can't do this" moments and a fair few stress tantrums but WE MADE IT. I mean there may be another semester of this year and then an additional 2 years but oh well, I'm sure I'll survive. But anyway, this is a mini celebration so throw a mini party and we can continue. I have to say, finishing uni for Christmas isn't as exciting as it was finishing primary school or secondary school for Christmas where you'd have the last few days watching films. There'd always be the one teacher who was like "It isn't quite the last day yet so no films today" but then another one would be celebrating with you. Although there's loads of Hallam Holidays events which are all great, it just isn't quite the same. Maybe it's something to do with the fact that I actually have responsibilities now and it was never like that when I was a ...

Hello Elflings, Today we are throwing it back, 3 years ago to be exact when I went on a school trip to the Christmas markets in Cologne. I think I was about year 10 then and most of it was spent on a coach, or a ferry and we all came back with fond memories of Bing Bong Barry. The ferry was definitely some experience, was a wee bit rocky in some places but I'd love to go on one again.  Whilst in Cologne we also went to the Lindt factory and got some free chocolate which is always a pleasant experience. I also vaguely remember seeing some big cake things but we weren't trusted that far, us little naive 15 year olds. We also looked around the cathedral which was huge and very beautiful but I think that everyone was actually just kind of happy to be in the warmth, instead of absolutely freezing outside. I promise, it was a good trip! I'd love to go again, to be able to have a leisurely walk around the markets and not be on a strict timetable of "right, we have to be h...

Elflings, Today you learn about my love of scented candles. And Christmas things, but for the past 10 days I've rambled like an elf so you already know about the whole Christmas love. But, oh well, we continue. I'm currently sat with a fudge hot chocolate, with marshmallows, in my big Harry Potter mug with a gingerbread candle lit and oh, it's ever so cosy. I also just ate my Dad's last mince pie, oops sorry. One thing I adore about Christmas is the candles that just magically appear and make your house smell divine. I'd love to have them all over the house but my doggy isn't a fan so they remain in my room. I have managed to build myself up quite a collection over the years though so it isn't too bad. I don't really know what it is about them I just love smelling a candle and being all "It's CHRISTMAS" (inset Noddy Holder shouting it at you, right here). So, without further ado I shall ramble along all merrily about candles. THE F...

Hello my lovely Elflings, Today we focus on...you. Yes, I know that you're probably running around like a headless turkey in preparation for Christmas and probably not really taking time for yourself because "there's no time" (imagined in a mad elongated voice). But sometimes we need to take a step back from the craziness of life and take some time to care for ourselves. It may sound pretty daunting right now, but you are stuck with yourself , so you may as well look after number 1 in the best way you feel fit.  Self care doesn't have to be something massively expensive. I mean, it can be, you can walk into an expensive shop and have the treat yourself mentality and trust me, I wish I could afford to that as much as I'd like to. But you don't have to spend a lot of money or really any money, self care could be as simple as feeling too stressed to deal with anything so giving yourself five minutes to have a break with a cup of tea, or taking yourself of...

ELFLINGS, EVERYTHING IS SHOUTY TODAY BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS ALL EXCITING SO BOM BOM BOM, THE GREENS ARE FESTIVE. The tree is currently twinkling away whilst the advent candle is burning down, the dog is snoring and I am feeling so very Christmassy. I absolutely love the day where all the decorations go up, although our realisation today is that we have far too many festive tea light holders but they do look all cosy together (they aren't lit). Surrounded by advent calendars, and little Lindt reindeer and a Santa, and our little ceramic gingerbread house full of Heroes and OH, it is all wonderful. I don't know what it is about the warm glow of the Christmas tree but everything is just instantly 10x cosier and I'm running out of amazing words without sounding like a crazy woman. After the tree went up I successfully managed to sort my clothes out and there's a bag ready to donate to charity, very productive if I say so myself. Then me and Jack went on an adventure to...

Elflings, Tomorrow is the day that the Greens go festive aka I wrap myself up in tinsel, lights and wear baubles as earrings and sing Christmas songs very loud and very out of tune whilst we put the decorations up. My original plan for today's post was going to be a gingerbread house, but it hasn't been made yet ha so PLOT TWIST, it's a shorter post than usual with a me not shoving Christmas down your throat quite as much. I decided to give this post the title "preparation" because really that's what my evening has consisted of. My mum likes to completely blitz the living room before we put the decorations up, so that happened, and we found a spider that ended up getting run over by a cabinet (accidentally) and somehow survived with a possible broken leg. Mummy G did the good deed and put it outside whilst I screamed on the sofa thinking it was going to attack me. All this happened whilst DJ Lia was flicking through music channels and singing Christmas s...

Hello Elflings, As you've probably guessed by the title, today I will be rambling about Christmas cards. I'm sure many of you are probably thinking "How can you even ramble about Christmas cards?", now don't underestimate my ability of rambling. I promise I can. Treat yourself to a Yule log and away we go. Personally, Christmas cards are part of the magic of Christmas for me. I like to view the festive time as a reflective time, it's the time you get to catch up with everyone and use "ah, It's Christmas" as an excuse for anything. But I also like to view it as a perfect time to thank people and let them know how much I appreciate them before the new year starts. I guess you could say I am one of those people that views the new year as a fresh start kinda thing. So, for me the perfect way to ramble and say thank you is through a glittery Christmas card that goes absolutely everywhere. Of course, your Christmas cards don't have to be glit...

Elflings, How is December treating you so far?! Is it going well and all festive times and what not? Really, I have no clue what I'm even thinking as I'm currently battling my way through tweaking a research report after peer review etc. so I can submit it and it's taking over my teeny brain. But hey, ho Christmas time, mistletoe and wine and all that lovely jazz. ANYWAY... Today I managed to go to Meadowhall with my Mum to do a spot of Christmas shopping and I'm so happy to say I've practically done, I mean I did start in August (only with little bits and bobs) but still, we have nearly made it. Just have to wrap the remainder of them and that bit isn't my favourite because I really cannot wrap presents to save my life, me and Jack usually have an arrangement where he wraps the presents and I make them pretty with ribbons and what not. But, he can't wrap his own presents so ha, lucky me. I thought I'd just list a couple of shops that I find real...

Elflings, Today I present to you a simple way to make tasty treats all festive. They're also the most straightforward cupcakes ever as I managed to make them without making too much of a mess. So, you're pretty safe here. I feel like I'm good to measure yourself against when baking because even though I enjoy it, there was the one time that I saw this cool chocolate cake on Pinterest and thought "ayup, we will have a go at this", I forgot to put the eggs in and then didn't realise Fahrenheit and Celsius were different so whacked it in and thought "hmm well our oven doesn't go that high" so turned it up as much as I can. The cake was burnt, and wasn't really edible. Really, you can trust that if I can do it anyone can. Anyway, I was in the supermarket and saw this and instantly had inspiration for this post. I saw a packet of vanilla sponge mix and thought "wahey we could do all sorts with this". Which you can, when you see t...

Elflings, hi! Today I decided to calm things down a bit, still on the topic of December and all things festive but in an inclusive way where we include people who may be struggling a bit around this time of the year. So, hop on board the Christmas train and away we go. Whilst scrolling through Twitter the other day I came across the photo a day challenge for December as proposed by the Blurt Foundation, I hadn't heard of the Blurt Foundation at all so had a look at what I had to do and what this whole Blurt thing was. Really, I was pleasantly surprised it's a movement that increases the awareness and understanding of depression. On their website they describe themselves as the "knowing nod" and the little movement that says "I understand" and I think that's a wonderful thing. Just reading through their "about us" section of their website tells you that Blurt exists to make a difference to anyone affected by depression and to help people u...

Hello Elflings, I know a lot of people dread Christmas because it is always a big spending spree and we probably could do without spending and there’s always the mad rush to make sure everyone has everything they need. Then we need to panic that the supermarkets are going to be shop for 46 days when it’s only 1 but make sure you stock up on essentials, you know just in case the world explodes and we need some baked beans. But Christmas doesn’t have to be a big sigh every time festivities are mentioned, for me I choose to plan early. Mainly because I get excited for Christmas once my birthday has gone (3 rd March, put it in your calendars I like Terry’s Chocolate Orange) but also because I know that if I wait until November/December to start Christmas shopping then I will get stressed because I won’t have money for anything and it will be such a rush that I’m bound to forget something and it will just go to pot. So here are some basic tips to make Christmas more organised and you ...

Hello Earthlings as it is now the run up to Christmas I am going to just swap to Elflings so let’s start this again, Greetings Elflings! It is officially the time of year where Lia can sing Christmas songs and be merry all the time and truly embrace her inner elf because CHRISTMAS IS NEARLY HERE! Oh, and there is even more reason to be excited because I am going to be doing Blogmas again this year and hopefully it will be a tad more successful than last years was so let the Christmas train commence. Grab a mince pie and let us party on. Why am I doing this you ask? Because I love Christmas and I will make sure everyone reading this knows it. If you are struggling to gain a clear insight into how excited I am to be doing Blogmas and documenting the run up to Christmas then just imagine that I’m saying all of this like a small kid would who has had way too much sugar. Anyway, as Buddy once said “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear” so let’s...