5 TIPS FOR A FAB NEW YEAR'S EVE (without breaking the bank)

1. Don’t overspend on venue.  A party in a swanky hotel has its benefits, but all that glam can come at a pretty hefty price and with it the expectation and pressure on the evening to be ‘worth it’ can sky rocket to unrealistic proportions.  My best New Year’s parties have always been low-key and homey.  That way you concentrate on the fun rather than the cost!
2. Keep it local.  If you are like me and are lucky enough to live close to many of your friends, staying home is always preferable to long, arduous journeys on unreliable, drunk-infested modes of public transport.  Once again everyone saves money and energy so friends and family turn up at your door looking fresh and excited rather than grimy and demoralised.
3. Choose a culinary theme and get everyone involved.  This year we are having a curry competition with our extended family (which is luckily overflowing with talented amateur chefs.)  This way we are guaranteed an exciting menu with a festive side of good natured competition.
4. Start the evening a little later than your average dinner party.  An 8/9 o’clock vague kick off time will allow guests to prep at a leisurely pace, thus ensuring stress levels are set to minimum and also saves the party from dragging before that all important stroke of midnight.
5. Keep an open mind.  New Year’s Eve can often be met with anything from indifference to terror, particularly with singletons stressing over being thought of as 3rd/5th/7th… wheels at kiss o’clock.  Whether you have a guaranteed smooching partner or not, the turn of the year should be approached with a positive attitude.  New beginnings and clean slates are always healthy, even for the most content of folk. So cast aside all residual Yuletide anxiety, crack open the bubbly and get ready for (possibly) your best year yet!

Happy New Year Everyone!

THE THING ABOUT CHRISTMAS... IS IT ALL ABOUT THE PRESENTS???

When Jo grumbles “Christmas won’t be the same without any presents” in Little Women... she was right.  Now I know that statement is going to raise a few hackles but hear me out...

Despite a prevalence of Christmas cheer and goodwill, you never have to look too far for that Scrooge-like demographic who are always eager to moan about the evils of commercialisation and the fact that tinsel is tying a proverbial noose around the true Christmas message.  However, I believe that these preachy proponents of appropriate festive focus are so busy disparaging Christmas consumerism that they miss the reasons behind it.

Every year my Christmas present journey begins some time in late November when I start trawling the internet and department stores for gift inspiration.  I have a lot of family and even more friends, all of whom I care for deeply.  One of my greatest pleasures in life is bringing a genuine smile to the faces of said loved ones and for me, that is where the true value of Christmas presents lies.  It is not about the amount of money you spend on someone or the designer labels emblazoned on the box.  It truly is the thought that counts.

Yes, of course it is important to teach our younger generation the Nativity story and part of me glows that little bit brighter when I see all the mini wise men, angels and shepherds running around after their acting debuts.  However, no matter what religion you subscribe to, surely the underlying message of love and generosity are consistently appropriate across the board?  

So I say buy your presents people!  Wrap up each perfect little something for someone special, guilt-free in the knowledge that the true meaning of Christmas may not be found on a price tag but there can never be anything evil or blasphemous about a beautifully wrapped symbol of affection.

TOP 10 TIPS FOR DECORATING YOUR TREE

My place of work does Christmas in a big way… and by big I mean huge.  No seriously, I suspect that Lapland has nothing on us.  It is my job to assist the extremely talented visual merchandisers in turning their artistic visions into a reality, from buying the first decoration in January right through to placing the final star on the last Christmas display tree some time in November.  As such, I have compiled a few tips over the years for recreating these festive works of art in the more humble setting of my own home and without breaking the bank...  

1. Tree decorating is a treat not a chore, so gather some friends, crack open a bottle of wine and get NOW That’s What I Call Christmas in your stereo.  Enjoy it!
2. Choose a theme…and stick to it.  Every family has a box of wonky angels made of toilet rolls and Papier-mâché stars.  Why not have a separate little tree for these works of ahem… art to be enjoyed in the kitchen or hall?  Meanwhile your main tree can be a beautiful champagne gold or frosted blue or Scandinavian red and white or…
3. Beware of false economy!  Invest in your tree, be it real or artificial.  Stay away from cheapy, sparse pieces of green plastic masquerading as Christmas trees or that sad looking real tree which has been discounted to within an inch of its life because somewhere along it’s retail journey it has lost most of it’s branches.  This is particularly true for artificial trees.  A quality 7 footer can usually cost anything between £100 and £300 but will last for decades.  The better the tree, the less decorations are needed to fill in gaps between the branches and will therefore save you money in the long run.
4. Lights… the more the merrier!  For a classy, tasteful look get yourself at least 600 warm white LEDs and intertwine the wires in and out of the Christmas tree branches to create a comforting glow which will draw all eyes to your beautiful Christmas centrepiece.  If your tastes run more towards a modern look do the same with ice white LEDs.  Your tree will look like it has been sprinkled with magical fairy dust!
5. There is a time and a place for tinsel… and it is not on a Christmas tree.  It is actually a true talent to make tinsel look good so when in doubt leave it to the professionals.  Instead choose delicate crystal garlands and metallic sprays (small leafy branches) which will reflect your lights and create a soft backdrop for individual decorations.  
6. Want to save money?  Put your tree in a corner.  This is a time honoured method of reducing the cost of a tree without sacrificing its quality.  A corner tree needs half as many lights and decorations as one which is in the centre of a room or in a bay window.  
7. Want to save more money?  Mix in some shatterproof decorations.  While low quality garlands and tinsel tend to cheapen the look of a tree, certain low-end baubles can be the perfect way of discreetly filling gaps.  Tubes of plastic baubles in golds, silvers or block colours, when properly placed in non-obvious spots on your tree, are a great money-saver and don’t detract attention from the more expensive decorations.  Each year, you can replace them with nicer decs which catch your eye.
8. Save spots front and centre for your favourite decorations.  Use the individual LEDs to create mini spotlights for your most expensive glass baubles and Gisela Graham fairies and let them steal the show!
9. Don’t forget the base of your tree.  I like to use some leftover wrapping paper from the previous year to make some fake presents so that my tree doesn’t look like it is just sat there waiting for Christmas day.  Also look out for light-up presents which give off a subtle, whimsical glow and are the perfect way of masking unsightly base stands.
10. Decorate your tree as soon as is acceptably possible.   The longer you leave it the more likely it is that the task will become a chore in your mind rather than something to delight in and brighten up those long winter nights.  

I hope these tips have helped.  Happy decorating everyone...

THE THING ABOUT RUGBY

Picture this:  A wave of 74,000 people flowing towards a sporting monolith, vibrating with anticipation for the battle to come.  I am in the middle of this human sea, snuggled into my duffel coat and red and green scarf, clinging to my Dad’s arm as we excitedly absorb the sights and smells of one of our favourite places on the planet.  It is central Cardiff, and Wales are about to take on England in the final game of the Six Nations 2013.

This was one of the best days of my life.  Every year, my Dad and I make the five hour journey to our country’s capital to be a part of sporting history and, win or lose, there is never a dull moment.  But what makes it so special?

The Setting?  In my more whimsical moments I like to think of the national stadium as an architectural version of the dragon on our flag, from the roar that emanates from the bowels of the building during game time, to the fire-breathing flame-throwers on the pitch as the players line up for battle.  In our modern day colosseum, the brave Welsh gladiators take on the English lions, only with less death...hopefully.

The Game?  A good game of rugby can be fast-paced, adrenaline fuelled and awe inspiring.  It takes baffling levels of skill as well as strength and determination to win and The Six Nations tournament ensures five of the best opposition in the Northern Hemisphere.

The People?  When I was a teenager, my Dad took me to Old Trafford to watch a Premiership football game and I really enjoyed myself.  But the memory is blurry at best.  However, my first international rugby game often runs through my mind in vivid detail.  Time for a rather sweeping generalisation: rugby supporters are nicer than their footballing counterparts.  I once saw an interview with a footballer at his first rugby game and he was astonished by the concept of supporters from both England and Wales happily mixing together in the stands and with beer added to the equation as well!  I can only imagine how many police officers would be needed if this were the case for a football meet.

The Men?  Real men who, while footballers are diving and rolling around on the floor because someone almost tapped their ankle, are being dragged off to the blood bin by their physios to sew their ears back on.  I am not ashamed to admit this: since I first saw Jonny Wilkinson taking a penalty kick, my perspective of the opposite sex altered irrevocably.  From then on my head has more often been turned by beards and brawn rather than skinheads and tattoos.  But that’s another blog…

They say that rugby is a thug’s game played by gentlemen, but I say it is a thug’s game supported by gentlemen (and gentle-ladies) as well.  My favourite memory, aside from Wales winning the 2013 game against the English, was in an Italian restaurant during the 2012 tournament.  Unprecedented sub zero temperatures had frozen the Stade de France and disappointed French and Irish supporters had hopped on the Eurostar to join in with the Cardiff festivities, where Wales were playing Scotland.  After the game, a few of us found ourselves in an Italian restaurant.  During our meal, a French contingent struck up a resounding rendition of the Marseillaise.  The table behind us immediately stood up and joined in, as did three tables of Frenchmen upstairs.  Meanwhile, Italian, Irish, Scottish and Welsh rugby fans energetically applauded and there was an almost tangible atmosphere of international camaraderie in the room.  In a world where the news is overwhelmed by accounts of violent discord between nations, I count myself very lucky to have been present at such a poignantly integrative moment.

STILL FEELING THE AUTUMN LOVE

Really feeling the Autumn love at the moment.  Had some gorgeous dinners, weekend breaks, parties and extremely successful shopping trips with lots more still to come.  And with the John Lewis advert successfully bringing tears to Brits left, right and centre (yet again), Christmas is definitely in the air.  Holidays are coming...

MY TOP 5 FAVOURITE THINGS ABOUT AUTUMN... all rolled into one.

Sometimes I can’t help feeling a little bit sorry for Autumn.  Think about it:  Spring is associated with frolicking lambs and buds bursting into bloom; Summer evokes images of sun-drenched beaches and a jug of Pimms in the garden; and everyone knows that Winter is a time for log fires and Christmas trees.  Meanwhile, poor old Autumn is essentially about leaves dying and the weather turning damp and dismal.

However, never have I been more appreciative of this underrated season than I was last night, when all my favourite Autumnal activities rolled into one, magical evening.

1. Snuggly Autumn Fashion.  Immediately upon stumbling out of the cold and into my house after work last night, I ran up to my bedroom and chose my outfit for the evening.  Bring on layers upon layers of soft cream cable-knit, woolly socks, a mile-long tartan scarf, a cute little cream beret and even a pair of woollen mittens.  I was ready…
2. Bonfire Night.  Remember, remember the 5th of November… when thousands of my fellow Brits head to various fields to enjoy gigantic bonfires and incredible fireworks.  My family, friends and I trundled along to a local school and were suitably awed by potentially the greatest ever Chinese invention.  The cute firemen in attendance didn’t hurt the ambience either.
3. Comfort Food.  With darkness rolling in earlier each evening, Autumn is a more forgiving season for indulging in a few culinary naughties.  Cue jumbo hot dog resting on a bed of fried onions and lovingly nestled within a fluffy bap.  Complete with ketchup and mustard and you’re good to go.  The 5 star hygiene rating of the fast food vender somehow made it taste even better!
4. Red Wine.  Gone are the endless Summer evenings where you can happily while away the hours of sun in a beer garden with your friends, nursing an ice cold glass of sauvignon blanc.  Now it is time to grab a cork screw and enjoy the warming effects of a good, quality red.
5. Family Time.  Said glass of red wine was served at a gem of a cosy country pub in the stix of North Wales.  With my Dad, brother and landlord providing both the booze and conversation, I did not want my Autumn night to end.

MAC PLUMFUL REVIEW

Part of me can completely relate to the addictive euphoria inherent in using a brand new Chanel mascara or Lancome eye-liner for the first time and feeling the need to rush to my laptop to review it.  However, I am a huge advocate of ‘empty reviews.’  

I read my first empty review on Jessicachri, by Jessica Rivers, and thought it was a genius concept.  It is easy to be dazzled by a new beauty product the first few times you use it, but in order to give a true test of everyday value the empty review is surely the answer?  As I am rapidly coming to the end of my most treasured cosmetic, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to dip a proverbial toe into the world of beauty blogging and what better way to start than with the darling of my make up collection: Mac’s Plumful lipstick.

Now that Autumn colours are once again taking over my wardrobe, I spend most of my days in rich, berry hues.  With all these deep tones going on, it would be so easy just to stick to a nude lip colour and let the outfit do the talking, but the thing I love about Plumful is its versatility.  A dab on the lips at the beginning of the day subtly glams up my work attire for hours and then the full application shebang (prime, lip line, apply, blot, apply… you know the drill) goes with every evening outfit I can throw at it.  Whether it be an LBD or skirt and top combo, this lipstick is the perfect finish to my Autumn outfits.   Some dark lip colours can make me look washed out, but not Plumful.  It is very forgiving when I have not managed to find the time to top up my tan, as it somehow turns my complexion from ‘pasty’ to ‘alabaster,’ (don’t ask me how, it just does.)  

So do yourself a favour this Autumn/Winter and add this cosmetic gem to your collection, you won’t regret it.