Christmas Day 2013

Merry Christmas, everyone!

So its boxing day, the only day of the year its ever fully acceptable to stay in pyjamas and do nothing but eat... also known as my favourite day of the year!

 I have had a lovely couple of days spent at home with family, watching movies, playing games and eating everything in sight.

 This Christmas I definitely feel a lot more content with life than I have done in a long, long time and it has made me realise and appreciate everything I have and the amazing, supportive family and friends I have around me.

I hope everybody reading this has had and will continue to have a wonderful Christmastime and I hope you have all eaten yourselves into a chocolate induced coma. I actually can't believe it's almost all over for another year and in a week we will all be waving a last goodbye to 2013! Boo!

Festive lounge, its good to be home! 

Snowman hairband!

Delicious Christmas lunch!

Champers for breakfast.

Sister, Sister.

The Christmas tag!!

    

Like most people I'm sure, Christmas is my absolute favourite time of the year. I think because I live far away from home its extra exciting just to be able to go home for a few weeks and spend time with my family and friends. I thought I would do the Christmas tag today as I am feeling that extra bit festive!

1. Whats Your Favorite Holiday Movie? 

Oh I have so many- The Grinch, Love actually, Elf. I think my favourite Christmas film of all time has to be 'The Santa clause' with Tim Allen. My sister and I have watched this film every year since we were tiny and still love it now. It just brings back really happy memories for me and it is definitely a Christmas tradition in our house.

  2. What Are Your Favorite Christmas Colours?

I think it would be the classics red, green, gold and silver.

3. Do You Like To Stay in Your PJ's Or Dress Up For Christmas? 

Dress up. I do a lot of family visiting on Christmas day so I do have to get out of the onesie for a bit and into something relatively fancy. I don't actually mind, I really enjoy getting all dressed up for Christmas and buying a new lovely outfit for the day!

 4. If You Could Only Buy One Person a Present This Year Who Would It Be?

Probably my mum, or a big joint one for everyone in my family, if I were allowed to cheat.

5. Do You Open Your Presents Christmas Eve Or Christmas Morning? 

Christmas morning!! Opening your presents on Christmas eve is just plain wrong!

6. Have You Ever Built a Ginger Bread House? 

 No, I really don't think I have the patience to deal with something so fiddly.

7. What Do You Like To Do On Your Christmas Break? 

 I don't have much of a Christmas break this year as I'm staying in Carlisle (where i go to uni) working until the 22nd and then travelling home that evening, however, I am so looking forward to just spending time at home with my family and doing festive things and just chilling out, I haven't actually been home in over 3 months!

8. Any Christmas Wishes?

  Just to have a nice, peaceful, happy Christmas and for everyone around me to have the same and get everything they asked for.

9. Favorite Christmas Smell?

Anything spicy, cinnamon and apple scents and of course, Christmas lunch cooking!  

10. Favorite Christmas Meal Or Treat?

Christmas lunch! Chocolate! and the cheese board and crackers... ohh the cheese board <3

Piercings// PaintingFaces

(Photo courtesy of Tumblr,!) 

A few tips for people thinking of getting piercings in the future! I'm no expert but I thought this may help someone out there!

1. Do your research!
Finding a decent piercing shop is one of the most important things to do when planning a piercing. You want to find somewhere clean, reliable and with a good reputation. If you can find someone to personally recommend a shop to you then even better! Usually you can tell from a shop weather or not they are at a high enough standard but if in doubt there are always Internet reviews!

2. Think of the future!
The thing I love about piercings are the fact they are an expression of your 'individuality' but aren't permanent like, say a tattoo. However, while you are able to simply remove a piercing if you don't like it be prepared that they sometimes can leave scars I for example have had my nose pierced a twice and the first time I had it done and was left with a scar its not massively noticeable but I do notice it, this is something you have to think will you be able to live with it? The same can happen with any other sort of facial piercing.

3. Jobs!
As I said before piercings are easy to get done and they are just as easy to take out, most companies these days are not as strict with body modification policies as they used to be however a hell of a lot of places do still judge people based on tattoos and piercings. If you are employed by a company its probably a good idea to research their policies on piercings, similarly when you are going for job interviews I would advise to double check with them first before getting a piercing or discussing their policies if you already have one.

4. Aftercare
Once you have your piercing its so important to look after it correctly, it is incredibly easy to get an infection especially with facial piercings. The most obvious way to protect your piercing is to clean it with a cotton bud and warm salty water or surgical spirit (although I would recommended the water as its more gentle) I did this twice a day or when necessary to remove blood etc. Another tip is to not mess with the jewelry too much, twisting and messing with it will irritate the wound especially in the early stages of the healing process not only this if you are twisting a ring in your ear, nose, lip etc you are getting bacteria into the wound making you more susceptible to an infection.

Just some side notes:- Piercings can take anywhere from 4 - 8 weeks to fully heal however this can vary on the placement, I would recommend not changing your jewelry for at least 4 weeks. You can usually tell when a piercing is healed, it will become less sore and swollen.
If you experience bleeding after you've been pierced don't worry this is completely normal, I've had a few piercings and all of them have been completely different, If you are still bleeding a week or so later then maybe consult the person who gave you the piercing for some advice.

I hope I have covered everything there, as I said I am not an expert on piercings but I am just talking from my own experience!