Blogmas Day 12 - The Christmas Tag

Oh what would Blogmas be without a good old Christmas Tag! It’s honestly been forever since I did a good old tag post and I’m pretty sure that back in my early days of blogging I did these all the time and had a lot of fun doing them. I’ve not really seen any go up that have taken my fancy, so I took to Google and had a good browse and found this one. 

1. Whats your favourite Christmas film?

I love Christmas films, I actually started watching them this year way before December even started so its really hard to narrow my favourites down. I would have to say Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone and Author Christmas are my faves. 

I know its not technically part of the question but my favourite Christmas film quote has to be ‘Merry Christmas ya filthy animal’ from Home Alone 2…. I love it and say it way too much this time of year!

2. Have you ever had a white Christmas?

Yes! And it really has to be the most magical thing ever. You know when you watch the films and they all have snow on Christmas day, I actually felt like I was in my very own Christmas movie when I woke up to snow on Christmas morning, it was just so special. If Santa could bring us all a little bit of snow on Christmas morning that would be amazing. 

3. Where do you usually spend your holiday?

As it’s just myself and James living in our flat, we actually never spend our Christmas Day here. Every year we take it in turns to spend our Christmas day with different family members. Last year we went to my dads and the year before his mums. This year however, my my and her partner are coming to spend Christmas Day with me and we’re actually cooking Christmas dinner in my flat which has never been done before, so I’m super excited. 

4. What is your favourite Christmas song?

I have two! For the majority of the time its Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas. But when the drinks are flowing it has to be the Pogues Fairy Tale of New York…. Love it!!!

5. Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve?

No and I don't think I ever have. My family and I have always been very strict in only opening our Christmas presents on Christmas Day - I mean common Santa has not been yet! Right?

6. Can you name all of Santa’s Reindeer? 

Ummm I don't think I can you know! So shocking…. I’ll try now…

Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Commit, Cupid, Blitzen, Donner… and that;s it. I had to Google the what the others were and I missed out Prancer and Vixen…. Sorry guys.

7. What holiday traditions are you looking forward to?

I’m really looking forward to Christmas morning, its my favourite. I love waking up with the family in our Christmasy PJ’s, opening presents and then having the most amazing Christmas breakfast, smoked salmon and scrambled egg - It’s my favourite. I then just love lounging around for a few hours, playing board games before Christmas dinner.

8. Is your Christmas tree real or fake?

We go for a fake one as its just a lot easier and I actually prefer them as they have a lot more greenery on them which means more room for decorations!

9. What is your all time favourite holiday food/sweet or teat?

Hands down it has to be those little piggies in blankets! Oh my gosh my mouth is watering just thinking about them. They always have to be the first thing that gets eaten on my Christmas plate and there are never any leftovers. I think they're everyones favourites. I also love cold turkey sandwiches on thick crusty bread for Boxing Day lunch.

10. Do you like giving or receiving gifts better?

This is such an easy question for me as I much prefer to give a gift than receive one. There is just something so satisfying about buying something really special for someone you love and watching them open it. 

11. What is the best Christmas present you’ve ever received?

This is a really difficult one as I’ve had a lot of amazing gifts over the years. Probably one of the best was flying out to Disney World on Christmas night and spending the rest of Christmas and New Year in Orlando, that’s a present I’ll never forget. 

12. What would be your dream place to visit for holiday?

I’m actually really happy with staying at home on Christmas. I love my home comforts and I love the way my home feels festive with all its decorations so I love being in a place which is homly to me. My dream Christmas would be to have a place big enough where I could have all mine and James family over to stay, that would be perfect.

13. Are you a pro present wrapper or fail miserably?

I’m actually somewhere in between. I don’t think I do a bad job, but if I have any presents that are oddly shaped I can get a bit flustered with the wrapping paper. I do really enjoy wrapping up presents though, its great.

14. Most memorable holiday moment?

Without a doubt it has to be my first, only and ever motorbike experience. It was Christmas afternoon before James and I lived together and I had planned on spending Christmas afternoon with his family. His grandad had offered to pick me up, but he thought it would be a great day to get out his motorbike and showed up at mine with all the spare gear for me to pop on. Bear in mind that I had done my hair and makeup all nice etc… My mum found the whole thing so hilarous, especially helping me to dress up in all my motorbike gear! At the time I wanted to die, but now its one of those moments I look back on and think that was such a funny memorable Christmas moment. It always brings the family in floods of tears and laughter whenever its brought up.

15. What made you realise the truth about Santa?

For me the truth it that it’s so important to keep the magic alive and still going. I will and always be a believer. 

16. Do you make New Years resolutions and do you stick to them?

Yes and no. I have every good intention of making new years promises to myself but by the time March is here they’ve been forgotten about.

17. What makes the holiday special for you?

It has to be spending time with my family and making special memories for future Christmases. I just love everything about Christmas day. I’m even more excited for Christmas this year because I’m pregnant and it just means that from now on Christmas will just become even more special and magical for me and I can’t wait for that!

That was so much fun! I know tags are probably not the cool or in thing to do on blogs these days, but it was one that really made me smile and feel festive. If your reading this and are a blogger I tag you to give it ago.

Let me know in the comments if you do it…

Lots of Love

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The Autumn Tag

I feel like I've not done a tag post on my blog for the longest of time and I've been seeing the 'Autumn Tag' floating around on so many of my favourite blogs, I thought I would give it ago. Autumn has to be one of those times of years that I just love and seeing as the tress are starting to loose their leaves and chunky knitwear is starting to make an appearance, I thought that this Autumn themed tag would be just perfect.

For Autumn what is your...

1. Favourite thing about it?
For me I love that change in the air, everything feels a little more fresh and crisp and I love how the evenings start to get a little darker earlier. For me nothing beats walking the dogs in the afternoon, wrapping up warm and coming home to get all cosy afterwards. The feeling of hibernating away from the rest of the world when you get in is just blissful. 

2. Favourite Drink?
This question is a bit of a funny one for me as I'm a really fussy drinker! I don't drink any kind of hot drinks whatsoever so I'll guess I shall be sticking to my glasses of water.

3. Favourite Scent/Candle
When it comes to candles I only really like fresh or sweet scents, around this time of year you will always find me burning a Christmas Cookie Yankee Candle, I know its a Christmas scent but it just smells amazing.

4. Best Lipstick?
I love wearing deep berry shades and bright reds this time of year, last year my go too shade was Revlon's Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie, it's the most gorgeous deep berry colour. I'm also a fan of Revlon's Cherries In The Snow, it's a dark cherry fuchsia colour and just looks gorgeous on.

5. Go to Moisturiser?
My face doesn't get too dry around this time of year, so I usually stick to my Hydrating Light Moisturiser from Simple. However I do like to indulge a little when it comes to moisturising my skin over the colder months and Soap & Glory's Righteous Butter is a favourite.

6. Go to Colours for the Eyes?
I'm pretty much a naturals kind of girl all year round, however I do like to play around with some deep purple shades around this time of year just because I feel that you can get away with more of a smokey eye in the day time during autumn. 

7. Favourite Music or Band/Singer to listen to?
When it comes to music, really anything goes and it depends on what mood I'm in. I'm still really loving Ben Howard at the moment and Lana Del Rey. However I've been hitting the gym a lot lately and when it comes to working out, I love listening to Pitbull. But most of the time, wherever I go there is always music playing and I have no control over the playlist, so really I'll just listen to whatever is on.

8. Favourite Outfit to Wear (Boots and Scarf combo)?
I love rocking my wet look skinny jeggings this time of year, paired with an oversized sweater and some boots. I just find this look is great for daytime and one that can take you right into evening.

9. Autumn Treat (i.e new scarf or bad you have your eye on)?
There is so much on my wishlist right now, but if I had to treat myself this autumn it would have to be the new Toni & Guy Jumbo Tong. This is a fairly new thing added to my wishlist, but I saw Kayleigh from Couture Girl rave about this in one of her latest posts and her hair looked out of this world amazing. 

10. Favourite Place To Be?
The saying 'there's no place like home' couldn't be more true and this time of year I love coming home, having a pamper and hibernating from the rest of the world. I love wearing my pajamas, big fuzzy socks and plonking my bum onto the sofa and chilling out, nothing beats it.

So that's all my answers for the autumn tag, I wasn't tagged by anyone to do this post, but I do tag everyone that reads or follows my blog to give it ago. I would love to see your answers so be sure to let me know if you do it.

Lots of Love

Tag | Blogging Love

Hello beauties. I am back in the UK and ready to jump in the deep end with my blog and have lots of lovely posts lined up for you. I've literally written a long list with all the blog post ideas I have lined up. Is anyone else a crazy list maker like me? Let me know!

So on top of my list was the 'Blogging Love Tag' which was created by Kayleigh over at Couture Girl Blog (please please check out her blog as it's fabulous and she is such a sweetie). So I read Kayleigh's Blogging Tag at the weekend and knew immediately that I had to do it and I urge you beauty bloggers to have a go at it and get it spread around the blogging world!

Its really simple all you have to do is list five reasons why you love blogging, your blogging aim, your top blogging tip and the name of one blogger who has inspired you along the way.

So in no particular order

The Beauty Bit

I've always had a huge passion for beauty products, weather it be makeup, false eyelashes, absolutely anything all the way to shampoo and conditioner. However since I started blogging about beauty products, the way I use and analyse a product is completely different. If I'm in the shower washing my hair, I think to myself what words I can use to descibe this product in a review, how well does it work, is it a review that needs to be shared with the world (more than often that answer is YES).  I can honestly say that becoming a beauty blogger has made the whole experience of trying out new and old products a lot more fun for me and there is nothing more I like than typing my thoughts about it up on my blog.

Taking Pictures

This may sound a little daft as anyone can take a picture, but I've really enjoyed taking pictures for my blog. When I first started my blog I would just place the product in front of me and snap it, but as I've realised along the way that there is defiantly an art in taking pictures (one I've not yet mastered, but I can see my improvements). I find the whole process of taking pictures quite relaxing and when I have the right pictures I can see how the rest of the blog post will take shape. 

Interaction

I can see this one being in a lot of peoples top reasons why they love blogging and its simply because its so true. Beauty Bloggers are some of the nicest people I have ever spoken too and the interaction between us all is fabulous. I've spoken to so many lovely beauty bloggers since I started blogging the support and advice some of them have given to me has been amazing. Not only is the beauty community ready to give you a helping hand, recommend any products for your personal needs, but they also make wonderful friends.

Finding New Products

I've found so many new products that I am in love with though reading peoples blogs and though blogging. If it wasn't for the beauty community I would have no idea how amazing Mac's Mineralize Skin Finish was or what to what to expect when I buy the latest product from Lush. Not only have I learnt a great deal about products but I've also gained so much product knowledge on brands I never knew existed.

Creativity

Having a blog is the perfect outlet to be creative, weather it be from pictures, writing or content. I love how there are no right or wrongs. Its completely your space and you can quite simply do as you please. I love how one day I can do a post of a review and the next a nail art tutorial. I also love those blog 'Eureka' moments when a blog post idea will just come to you in the middle of the day unexpectedly and that's it you will be on a roll for ideas all day.

My Blogging Aim

I never started my blog with specific aim in mind, like all of us I started off with no followers and it was just a space I could call my own. Now its a space that's viewed by followers and people that search for something in particular. So eight months into blogging, I've found my aim is to keep growing as a blogger and to create content that people enjoy to read. Your only as good as your last post and for me it's important to keep improving on my own work, so it a better place for my readers.

My Blogging Tip

My number one blogging tip would have to be 

HAVE FUN and BE YOURSELF

Whether your blogging for the first time, or have been blogging for years, I think its so important to have fun. If your not having fun then you shouldn't be blogging. For me when I read blogs, I love to read things that I've not seen before on other peoples blogs. Don't blog about what you think people want to hear about, blog what you want to blog about. Let your personality shine though in your writing and you and your blog will go far.

Blogger Who Has Inspired Me

This is an easy question for me, and I know loads of you will be very familiar with her blog. It is of course the lovely Louise from the A Sprinkle of Glitter Blog. I first started out watching her Youtube and though it found her blog. I had heard of blogs before  but I honestly thought it was something only technical wizards could get involved with, but Louise really opened my eyes up to the blogging world and completely inspired me to start my own blog up.

So that's it for all the questions beauty bloggers, and I think it would be fabulous if you could all get involved as I would love to read your answers, just let me know in the comments below. I have to say if you really love blogging then you will love this tag, so thank you Kayleigh!

Lots of Love 

'Get To Know Me' Tag

Hello lovely readers! I orrignally had another post planned for this evening on some lovely haircare products... But changed my mind just beacuse I've seen the 'Get To Know Me' Tag flying around blogs everywhere right now and I absolutley love reading these kinds of posts, so I thought it would be exciting to do it. I think it's getting a snippet into a someone's personal life and its always nice to know a bit more about the person who's behind the writing. I know that sounds like I'm awfully nosey, but I'm not going to lie, I am! I thought that adding this post would be a lovely touch to add on Miss Sunshine and Sparkle and I hope you beauties enjoy reading!

1. Are you named after anyone?

Nope no one at all, I'm just Danielle

2. When was the last time you cried?

About a week ago. I can be a bit of a cry baby, especially when there's a lot of weight or stress on my shoulders. For me crying is the way I release a lot of my emotions. I find that the older I'm getting the more often I cry and the smallest thing can make me cry, anyone else find this? Gosh I sound like a right sap haha.

3. Do you have kids?

Not right now, but I can wait to have a family in the future.

4. If you were another person, would you be a friend of yourself.

I would like to thing I am a positive person with a big heart, so I think the answer would have to be yes. 

5. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Not really no. I'm a bit ditzy most of the time and am just not quick enough to make a sarcastic comment. I probably do with out realising sometimes though, on rare occasions, but don't we all?

6. Will you ever bungee jump?

No way I can't think of anything more terrifying. But I would jump out of a plane beacuse I would have a man strapped to my back and he would be taking that initial plunge, not me.

7. What's your favorite cereal? 

Mine has to be Krave, its so delishious. Im a sucker for anything that has a bit of chocolate in. 

8. What's the first thing you notice about people? 

I notice their looks and love to see how a person dresses. I somtimes try to work out what their style is and think what kind of person are they, what background they have etc. Working in retail, I see loads of people from all walks of life and I love trying to think about their individual character. 

9. What is your eye colour?

Brown

10. Scary movie or happy endings?

It has to be a happy ending. I am not a fan of scary films at all as they play on my mind for hours afterwards. You know in ghost films like Paranormal Activity, scary stuff always happens at three in the morning, well my boyfriend told me that was the whithcing hour or the hour of the devil (something like that). Now everytime I wake up in the middle of the night beacuse of needing the bathroom or a drink and its around three O'clock (I always check the time) I get too scared to move! 

11. Favorite smell? 

The smell of home. You never know your own home smell, till your away from home for a little while. I find it so comforting when you smell your home and know your back there.

12. Summer or Winter?

It has to be the Summer, I am a Summer girl at heart indeed. I love the warmth, bright colours, wearing flip flops, holidays and OMGosh.. BBQ's! I love everything about the Summer season and everyones seams in a much better mood when the sun is shining.

13. Computer or Television?

I think I equally love both, but I would have to go for the computer as it's able to do so much more, and besides you can watch all your fave films and T.V shows on the computer.

14. What's the furthest you've been away from home?

Going on holiday to America has to be the furthest I've been. I've been twice and loved it. I would love to go back there any day!

15. Do you have any special talents?

I don't know if you would call it a talent, but I'm a natural dancer with good flexibilty. I work hard at it, but learning a routine is something I pick up very quickly and easily.

16. Where were you born?

I was born in Watford, for those of you not in the UK its very close to London.

17. What are your hobbies?

Well my most recent has to be Blogging! But I'm also a very dedicated cheerleader!

18.  Do you have any pets?

I do, but none that live at home with me. When I moved out of my mums I had to leave my Cholcolate Labrador behind. His name is Glover and he is our baby. Best doggie in the world!

19.  What is your favorite movie?

Ooooh this is a toughie as there are so many films I love and it really depends what mood I'm in. Some of my fave girly films have to be, Love Actually, P.S I Love You, Bridget Jones Diary. I am a complete sucker for anything that has a love story in, but at the same time I love a good action/adventure movie, like The Mummy, X-Men and any film with pirates in. 

20. Do you have any siblings?

I have a younger sister who is four years younger than me, although if you were to look at her you would think she were older. everybody thinks I'm the younger one. I love her to bits, we maybe chalk and cheese, but are the best of friends. 

So thats all questions answered and maybe you all got to find out a bit more about me, I think this tag is a great idea and I tag all of you to do this on your blog. If you do please let me know in the comments below and I will be sure to check your post out.

Lots of Love