8 underrated Christmas movies that are worth a watch

When it comes to Christmas movies, there are the classics that we all know and love. The Holiday. Home Alone. Love Actually. Elf. This year I wanted to branch out and try some Christmas films that I hadn't heard of or had recommended to me. In this Christmas guide I've curated a list of Christmas films that I tried that met the criteria of would watch again. Let me know in the comments if you try or like any!

Love Hard

Where can you watch it: Netflix

If you're looking for a light hearted Christmas comedy, this film is a good place to start. The odd title is born of many references to Die Hard, including that age old question: Can be Die Hard be called a Christmas movie? (I'd love to know what you think in the comments below!)

The gist of this film: A serial dater writes about her dating disaters for a living. Having exhausted all her local options, she extends her parameters further afield and finds the perfect guy, Josh, on a dating app. One day she impulsively decides to surprise him for Christmas. But do they still have the same attraction and spark IRL?

It's a really cute movie with a dynamite script. I love films that you have you rooting for the underdog and this does just that. Now easily one of my favourite Christmas movies which I'd happily watch every year.

This is Christmas

Where can you watch it: NOW TV / SKY cinema 

You may recognise some of the cast in that annoying where-do-I-know-you-from kind of way. Let me help you out. The male protagonist is in fact grown up Dean Thomas from Harry Potter(!) and the female protagonist is Kaya Scodelario, aka grown up Effie from Skins. There's also Timothy Spall (Peter Pettigrew from the Harry Potter films) and Ben Miller as seen in Death in Paradise, Professor T and more. 

The gist of this film: A bunch of strangers see each other every day on the daily commute, but as is commonplace these days, everyone is face down in their phones and books, and do not exchange eye contact, a smile, or even two words. Alfred Enoch (grown up Dean Thomas) wants to bring the Christmas spirit and invites everyone from the train to a Christmas party. However everyone being terribly British awkwardly avoids eye contact or makes out like they haven't heard. I won't spoil the rest, but it's a lovely little story about people coming together and community spirit. It's incredibly heartwarming and sometimes I look around my train carriage and wistfully wish someone would do the same. 

5 Star Christmas

Where you can watch it: ** 

The gist of this film: A struggling family B&B learns of an influential travel blogger/writer visiting the area and hopes to catch their eye for a review and the exposure that comes with it so they can continue running.

This film ticks many boxes. Family orientated, a budding romance, and if you're after festive, this is as festive as they come. The B&B is decked out for Christmas and it's the kind of place you dream of staying. It's a beautiful story and a good, easy watch. A bit cheesy in parts, but I think this may be a Hallmark movie and that's part and parcel of Hallmark movies.

There's a very similar Christmas movie called B&B Merry where a struggling B&B invites a travel blogger to come and review them, but in my opinion, it just didn't compare. If you have to watch one, watch 5 Star Christmas.

** I first tried this movie last year but sadly can't find it on any streaming sites this year (at least here in the UK). I'll update this entry if I do find it though! 

Krampus

Where can you watch it: NOW TV / SKY cinema

If you hate Christmas movies with a passion and are more into Halloween and horror and thrillers, then this one may be for you. 

The gist of this film: It all starts with the feel of a traditional Christmas movie. A family preparing for Christmas and expecting all of the extended family over. Like with many families over the festive period, there are arguments and fall outs, which is when all hell breaks loose. Quite literally. The lack of Christmas spirit summons Krampus, the demonic, evil counterpart of Saint Nicholas stemming from European folklore, who is hell bent on punishing non-believers. 

It probably isn't the best or spookiest Christmas thriller, but worth a worth if you fancy something a bit different. Watch with the lights off for the full effect. Some of Krampus's monsters are terrifying. I'm talking evil snowmen, a demonic bear giving Five Nights at Freddy's vibes, psychotic gingerbread men and a spooky clown-esque faced jack-in-the-box. 

A Christmas Number One

Where can you watch it: NOW TV / SKY cinema 

The protagonist may be familar to you. He starred in the UK TV series Wolf based on the book of the same name by author Mo Hayder, and previously played Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones. A very different role for Iwan Rheon as he typically plays the bad guy. In A Christmas Number One he's the bass player in a heavy metal rock band but writes something a little softer for his terminally ill niece who asks him to write her a Christmas song. 

I started this one and was initially a little underwhelmed. Nothing really hooked me and throughout the movie I didn't really like or warm to Freida Pinto's character. But this film grew on me. I never knew Iwan was so musically talented and he is an incredible singer, so watch it for that alone. 

Get tissues at the ready though as this one is a weepie. You know it's coming but it still gets you.

A Bad Moms Christmas

Where you can watch it: **

This is one I watch every year without fail. I never expected to like it - it's not my usual sort of film - but I love how refreshingly honest it is. It covers the pressures of the Christmas period. Namely the pressure to create the perfect Christmas for your family with the food, perfectly decorated home and the added commercial pressure of buying the perfect gifts, otherwise you're doing your children a disservice and letting them down. Christmas can be an expensive and stressful time and many movies sugarcoat or ignore this completely. Bad Moms Christmas is a breath of fresh air.

Don't get me wrong, it's silly and by no means the best Christmas movie out there, but it's a good lighthearted watch. The highlight? One of the young children overhearing Mila Kunis in bed one night ("oh my f***king god!"). 

** I sadly can't find it on any streaming sites this year (at least here in the UK). I'll update this entry if I do find it though! 

Falling for Christmas

Where you can watch it: Netflix

When I saw that Lindsay Lohan headlines in this Christmas movie, I initially had some reservations about watching it (not a fan) but I shoved my biases to one side and gave it a go.

The gist of this film: A hotel heiress who has it all gets into an accident and loses her memory. When she gains conciousness she goes to stay with a family with a struggling B&B business at the opposite end of the wealth divide (not that she can remember her previous life). 

I hated the sound of this one but was actually pleasantly surprised. Once the female protagonist loses her memory she becomes a much more likeable character when she helps out around the B&B. Like 5 star Christmas, it's another festively decked out B&B, with a family orientated centre to its story, as well as a budding romance.

Is it the best Christmas movie? No. But it does brings the Christmas feels with the decor and the Christmas markets and such.

Candy Cane Lane 

Where you can watch it: Amazon Prime Video

Eddie Murphy is back in this Christmas movie with a difference. What I liked about this one was how it evolved. At the start it was your typical Christmas movie. The movie starts with a neighbourhood competing for the best decorated house on the street, reminiscent of Jingle All the Way. But then it takes a turn. There's magic and malfeasance. I didn't expect much of it, but it actually exceeded expectations. 

Is it my favourite Christmas movie? No. Will I watch it every year? No. But is it worth a watch at least once? Definitely.

What's your favourite Christmas movie?

Image source: Olga Korolenko // Unsplash

5 reasons to visit York in December

York is a magical place to visit at any time of the year, but comes alive in December and is truly special at Christmas. I'd previously visited in the height of summer (my previous York travel guide can be found here here) so it was quite the contrast visiting in the colder season, with scarves and layers aplenty. York really is very beautiful at this time of the year, what with it's Christmas markets and decorated restaurant and shop fronts including The Ivy and Betty's tea rooms. 

Here is my extensive guide of my top 5 things to do in York at Christmas.

Christmas at Mansion House

Mansion House is a beautiful early Georgian style building and was built for the Lord Mayor in 1732 and is still in use to this day for the Lord Mayors of York to reside in during their term in office. The rooms presented to the public are set out as they would have been, and at this time of the year are decorated for Christmas.

The dining room table was laid with the extravagant foods they would have eaten at their many banquets and a helpful and passionate member of staff ran us through a typical inventory with a tally of how much food and alcohol was consumed and how much it would have cost (both were astounding). 

The working kitchen that produced these glorious feasts was simple in comparison - you couldn't imagine some of the extravagant meals hailing from there. This former working kitchen has since been restored to a fully functional eighteenth century kitchen and is now used for cooking demonstrations and workshops.

One of my favourite rooms had to be the state room. This was decorated in a beautiful light green colour not too dissimilar to Card Room Green by Farrow and Ball with elegant gold accents. 

Christmas at York Castle Museum

York Castle Museum has so much to see and do (I wrote about it at length before here), that we in fact lost track of time and spent our entire first day there! Highlights include:

• An indoor back-in-time street with shop fronts and stores you can actually walk into
• Room sets from across the years
• A whole section devoted to old toys and games nostalgia
• Walk through the trenches experience
• The old York Castle prison (complete with Dick Turpin's cell!)

The benefit of visiting at this time of the year was that lots of it was decorated for Christmas. The room sets and their signage were updated for Christmas, and for the immersive street, lit garlands were strung up with a light dusting of fake snow on the ground. 

Christmas at Fairfax House

Fairfax House is a Georgian townhouse within a stone's throw away from Clifford's Tower and York Castle Museum, and was originally the winter bolthole of Viscount Fairfax (hence it's name) and was designed by esteemed eighteen century architect John Carr. It was reportedly used as a dance hall and cinema for some time, but was later restored by the York Civic Trust in the 1980s. It's beautiful at any time, but is especially magical at this time of the year, portraying the Christmas traditions of a typical Georgian townhouse.

Christmas at York Minster

York Minster is somewhere I visit every time I'm in York and I highly recommend if you're as into historical buildings and architecture as I am. York Minster reportedly costs an astounding £22,000 to run each day so I always make a point of visiting there and contributing whenever I'm in York. 

This was my first time visiting the Minster at Christmas and it was such a lovely place to be. This year in particular hosted a Christmas Tree Festival and contest, where local charities, businesses and schools all decorated a tree to a chosen theme. Visitors to the Minster all had the opportunity to vote for their favourites with the winner to receive a cash prize or donation. 

With about 40 trees to see and decide upon, choosing just one was tough! Highlights included:

• A primary school whose tree represented their passion for reading, and each student contributed a homemade book complete with stories and illustrations (for the record, this one got my vote).

• A charity which decorated their tree with all the essentials they typically give to the homeless and unemployed like toothbrushes and razors, as well as packaging from food bank donations. 

• A jewelllers that hung open ring boxes (and rings!) wrapped in cellophane bags on their tree

• A local ennvironment centre that recycled food packaging and made garlands, tinsel and decorations with them.

• The Strictly Come Dancing themed Christmas tree complete with pink feather boa, glitter balls, scoring paddles and a giant cut out of Anton Du Beke.

Access to the Christmas Tree Festival is included with general admission to York Minster and runs through to January - so there's still time to visit (and vote) if you haven't already!

York Christmas market

The St Nicholas Fair is the the bustling hub of York at this time of the year, and runs from mid-November to December. So if you visit pre-Christmas around Black Friday sort of time, you'll be sure to see it even then! 

Alpine chalet huts line Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square with a plethora of food and drink options, as well as stalls selling gifts and artisan goods such as homemade fudge. It's worth checking it out each year as there are occasionally new additions such as The Winter Hütte, a swiss style chalet offering winter favoruites like gluhwein and mulled cider, as well as a dining experience from Michelin star chef Andrew Pern, a big name in Yorkshire.

It's generally worth wandering around York at your own leisure, as you will stumble upon more christmas markets and stalls. One is located right outside York Minster with plenty of seating and although on a smaller scale than the main street market, has a really lovely feel about it (plus it's quieter if you don't fancy the crowds!).

Let's be honest, there are many more than 5 reasons to visit York at this time of the year (or any time of the year for that matter) but these were just some of my top picks from a whistle-stop tour. Happy holidays!

 

7 Christmas decorations to be wary of if you have pets

GLASS BAUBLES

Cox and Cox lustre glass baubles here (now in the sale!)

Unless you want to be sweeping up broken glass each morning... AVOID 

FROSTED / GLITTER / FLOCKED CHRISTMAS TREES

6ft Rosa Prelit Pink Glitter Tip Tree here

I fell in love with the above tree this year (trust me, it's better in person). Whilst I'm not normally into glittery Christmas trees, the branches were so much nicer on this tree. None of that fake plastic-feeling rubbish or the thin tinsel-like branches. But I couldn't have in my life and I'll tell you why.

Fake snow and glitter on Christmas trees can be toxic to pets. There are varying levels of toxicity so it very much depends on the toxic levels and how much is ingested (a small amount is less likely to cause any issues but it's just not something I want to risk). If you are going for a festive decorated artificial Christmas tree, always check the packaging which should clearly state whether it's pet safe or not. If nothing is said either way, it's not worth taking the risk.

Real Christmas trees also carry a risk for pets (apparently some of the oils in the needles can be toxic to dogs), so if you have a real tree, monitor closely and if doubt, close off the room with the tree if you are not around to supervise.

SNOW GLOBES

Christmas Scene Snow Globe here

Many snow globes contain anti-freeze and knowing my cats, 

they are 96% likely to knock off a shelf and lick the contents. So no.

GARLANDS & HANGING DECORATIONS

Balsam Hill Holiday Poinsettia Garland 6ft - in the sale here

Anything that hangs is risky business for cat owners. And Lord have mercy 

on your soul if your garland contains feathers (see FEATHERS below)

CERTAIN HOME FRAGRANCES

Neom real luxury reed diffuser here

Did you know that certain aromatic oils within reed diffusers, incense sticks or candles can be poisonous to dogs? Whether ingested or in contact with their fur / skin, these are the ones to be wary of: pine, cinnamon, citrus, penny-royal, sweet birch, peppermint, tea tree, wintergreen and ylang ylang. Before bringing anything into your home (or unwrapping / lighting), always check the label first.

FESTIVE POT POURRI

Mandarin Cinnamon Clove pot pourri here

Whilst I'd love to have bowls of scented pine cones and dried orange 

slices out, my cats would treat it as an all-you-can-eat buffet.

ANYTHING WITH FEATHERS

Olivias feather bauble here

Any decorations, garlands, wreaths or ornaments with feathers will be de-feathered by your feline friends faster than you can say Merry Christmas. So if you have anything like this, maybe invest in a glue gun for any possible fatalities!

Are there any other Christmas decorations your pets go mad for?

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The ultimate Christmas sandwich - what to do with Christmas leftovers

You know the story. At Christmas you eat and eat and eat, but still you have all the leftovers. I'm not a bubble and squeak type of girl, however monster Christmas sandwiches? I'm listening.

With leftover turkey, sausages wrapped in bacon, stuffing and cranberry rye*, I felt inspired to create my own pigs in blankets sandwiches. And they were insanely good. You can't get a more festive mouthful. Simply load leftover turkey, stuffing and pigs in blankets into cranberry bread (my favourite recent find thanks to the Polish Bakery) and you are good to go!

Be generous with the stuffing as turkey can be quite a bland meat. The cranberry added a nice sweetness to an otherwise savory sandwich and then pigs in blankets because Christmas isn't Christmas without pigs in blankets!

Let me know if you give this one a try!

*cranberry rye c/o the Polish Bakery. As ever, opinions and love of festive sandwiches my own!  

Feeling festive with The Polish Bakery

Roll back a few weeks if you will, to one lovely evening where The Polish Bakery invited me along for an evening of festive cheer - mostly in the form of bread, cake and prosecco. And that's my favourite kind of festive cheer right there.

The Polish Bakery first founded in 2003 and are the longest established Polish bakery in the UK. With a very family orientated ethos, they are passionate about using high quality ingredients, and take the same level of care with their bread like they would with their own family. Their bread is award winning so I was pretty excited to try for myself at their Christmas shindig located in Kensington.

Myself and Chiara arrived to a glass of prosecco, a very talented guy on a piano playing a beautiful rendition of White Christmas, and tables groaning with food. No one was going home hungry that night, that's for sure!

How amazing is this Christmas tree tear and share bread?!

Other than being very, very tasty breads in their own right, they also held many health benefits. Their range of fruity sourdough based rye breads (one incorporating cranberries, the other, prunes) contain vitamins C, K, B, E, iron, calcium and lots of other vitamins and natural ingredients - with no additives, preservatives or nasties in there.

My favourite bread had to be their award winning chia seed bread. A bread prided for being rich in omega 3, antioxidants and being very nutritious with very few calories. It was far less dense than their other breads and melted in your mouth. The Polish Bakery very kindly gave me four loaves of bread to take home with me (x2 chia seed, x2 cranberry rye) and two of the biggest cheesecakes I have ever seen in my entire life - all of which have already been demolished eaten. I made the best festive sandwiches with the cranberry rye and the chia seed bread was the perfect accompaniment to a homemade tomato and paprika based fish stew.

A huge thank you to the Polish Bakery for the loveliest of evenings. I will be visiting soon to pick up more of your wonderful chia seed bread!

Christmas gift guide // the blogger

What do you get a blogger / vlogger / Youtuber for Christmas? If you were to say something rose gold / copper / marble you'd be half way there! Think beautiful details. The most photogenic of items that could easily make its way onto an Instagram account near you. Get ready for the ultimate blogger gift guide...

Olympus Pen Camera // Jo Malone //  Charlotte Olympia kitty flats // Charlotte Tilsbury lipstick // Marble phone case & charger // Headphones

Carvela boots //  Gin & tonic Library of Fragrance //  Clarins mask //  Guerlain kohl //  Hat // Diptyque candle // Lush bath bomb // Brown boots

Great photographs book // Yankee Candle // Wall art // Great photographs of people book // Charlotte Tilsbury cheekbones kit // Red shoes

Trending sweater //  Clinique skin kit // Breton stripe tee // Gold candle // Liz Earle skincare // Clarins Eau Ressourcante

Lots of these beauty and bath products being firm blogger favourites. With some marble and rose gold thrown in for good measure, and motivational prints for home / office. If you like this wall art, you may like my stationery gift guide. The two books on photography are must-haves for perfect blog photography  - the backbone of a truly good blog. And nothing says fashion blogger like a good pair of shoes / boots, a over-sized trilby hat and the ultimate blogger staple... a striped tee. If buying for a food blogger, you may like my foodie gift guide. I read so many rave reviews about the Olympus Pen this year as a good blogging / vlogging camera  - think this will definitely be my next 'small' camera!

Christmas gift guide // the foodie

Do you know someone who salivates at the sight of food? Who studies food blogs and cookery shows for new cookery inspiration, and can't eat a morsel without taking pictures of their food first? This gift guide might be right up their street!

Spiralizer //  Mug Cakes book // Copper cocoa shaker //  Polka dot mug //  Spice rack  // Icing duster / shaker

Metallic spoon set // Marble trivet // KitchenAid // Laura Ashley measuring cups // Laura Ashley cupcake tray

Copper moscow mule mug // Pasta maker // Cheese baker // Guinness pie set

Kitchen canisters //  Gold bowl // Copper frying pan // Dips paddle board // Apron //  Copper measuring spoons

Like my stationary gift guide, this has been a really difficult gift guide to write in that I'm wanting most things from both lists! I love marble, copper and rose gold - lovely neutral shades that will go in anyone's kitchen, never mind your colour scheme. I also can't resist a pretty print like the Laura Ashley blue florals. And how unusual and beautiful is that spice rack? Very drink me with the little bottles - which is probably why I like it so much!

Christmas gift guide // Stationery lover

You can't beat the feeling of starting a brand new notebook. I know it sounds cliché, but I feel so much more inspired to write when I have a pretty notebook to do it in. The ideas flow a lot easier. And if I have a notebook I want to keep coming back to, I feel a lot more motivated to keep writing. This Christmas gift guide is dedicated to the stationery enthusiasts. For those where a standard biro won't do. The stationery enthusiast has pencils with witty remarks printed on them in gold lettering, the most tasteful thank you cards, and a kick ass desk space of copper pencil pots and motivational prints.

Kate Spade polka dot notebook //  Kate Spade witty pencils // Kate Spade witty stamp //  Liberty Merci paper weight //  Orange Jasmine scented pencils //  Paperchase striped thank you cards //  Pug calendar //  Rose Gold diary //  
Kate Spade gold pens //  Liberty colouring book //  Topshop star notebook // I am very busy filing set // 
Gold pot //  The Hipster colouring book // Talk is Chic notebook //  Escape the Ordinary notebook

And nope, this feature isn't sponsored by Kate Spade! They just do awesome stationery!

Alternatives to chocolate advent calendars #2

Remember when the countdown to Christmas was an excuse to have a piece of chocolate for breakfast each day? Nowadays advent calendars aren't exclusively chocolate based. A couple of years ago I wrote this piece here about how advent calendars were starting to be filled with non chocolate alternatives like skincare products, nail polishes and even candles. Now everything imaginable can be found inside an advent calendar. This year I found a tea advent calendar - whatever will they think of next?! Here are - in my opinion - the best advent calendars out there right now:

Reindeer Carousel Advent Calendar - £31.99 //  Christmas Advent Calendar - £24.99 //  Advent House in the Snow - £27.99

Yankee Candle
The ever popular Yankee Candle advent calendar is back! But this year offers not one, not two, but three calendars to choose from. Their Christmas advent calendar (centre) is currently out of stock, but their House in the Snow calendar returns for another year. Although the three vary in price, the candle selection in each is fairly similar. Repeats from last year include Snowflake Cookie and Christmas Eve. This year sees some new ones I haven't tried before which include: Berry Trifle, Cosy by the Fire and Bundle Up

Jo Malone advent calendar - £260.00

Jo Malone
If you're willing to dig deep, this would be a lovely way to try all the different colognes. If money were no object, this is definitely one I'd love to own.

Diptyque advent calednar - £250.00

Diptyque

Opening a door to find a Diptyque candle every other day? Another advent calendar I dream of owning.

Charlotte Tilbury  - £150.00

Charlotte Tilbury
Presented beautifully as Charlotte Tilbury's Book of Make-up Magic. Not actually an advent calendar in the traditional sense on account of only having 12 doors... but when you think about the quality of product you are getting, suddenly just 12 doors is fine by me!

Body Shop advent calendar - price unknown, products reportedly worth £93.50

Body Shop
Aptly named 24 Happy Days, as Body Shop is one of my favourite brands, this would be a very happy 24 days indeed! Their calendar contains a mixture of minis and some generously sized products too, as the doors are all different shapes and sizes. Of these it contains a product from their Fiji Green Tea collection (which fyi I have been dying to try!) and products from their Oils of Life range. I believe this one is only available in-stores though.

Harrods Christmas tea advent calendar - £12.95

Harrods tea selection
Besides traditional chocolate advent calendars, this is one of the more affordable advent calendars I've seen on sale this year. Comes complete with 25 tea bags, offering a selection of organic black and green teas. A tea-rrific idea!

Biscuiteers advent calendar - £55

Biscuiteers
Who needs chocolate when you can have biscuits?! The beautiful home-made touches with this one means that no two advent calendars are the same. For those who question the durability of the biscuits, these reportedly have a decent shelf life so if you wanted to keep some of the biscuits for later in December / the New Year - no problem!

Botanical Ginvent calendar - £124.95 //  Vodka advent calendar - £99.95 //  Whisky advent calendar - £249.95

Advent calendars... with alcohol
24 days of gin, vodka or whisky - the choice is yours! Gin lovers will especially love the Ginvent calendar which includes one base gin and 23 botanicals to add to it. Reportedly some of the flavours include lavender, saffron and nutmeg. Whether it's gin, whisky or vodka that you choose, you'll certainly have a very merry Christmas either way!

Thanks to all of the above, Christmas is sorted. Winter skincare taken care of, biscuits to dip into your tea, candles for those cosy nights in, and alcohol to get you through the masses of Christmas shopping you've left to the last minute... (please tell I'm not the only one?!)

Which advent calendar is on your wish list this year?

Feeling festive with Debenhams

It feels weird to be talking about Christmas in July, but today I headed over to Debenham's Christmas press event where fair isle, gingerbread, knitwear and sparkles were left, right and centre.

 I can scarcely believe that it's less than five months until Christmas!

As ever, Debenhams had unique and interesting ways of presenting their collection

I recognised a few items from their other press event but there were plenty of new products on display too. There was certainly lots of Christmas gift inspiration

I know someone who would love these drone sets!

These glittery retro sweet cups are right up my sisters street! 

And one of my best friends would love this bunny cushion!

Debenhams also featured a personalised selection of gifts, hampers and bouquets

Seeing their festive season party dresses got me all excited for Christmas and NYE!

.... however Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a Christmas jumper!

... or Christmas pyjamas. How cute are this gingerbread man pair?

... and let's not forget festive table decoration inspiration. I loved their silver woodland theme!

Also on the agenda for today was a Christmas cookie decorating session - the finished designs hung up as Christmas decorations, or for the less patient.... nibbled upon there and then!

I loved this next use of visual merchandising. The whole ideal of waking up on Christmas morning and finding gifts around the fireplace, feeling like a kid again. Anyone would be excited to wake up and find these particular knee high boots and bags on Christmas morning!

MOST WANTED

And the award for my favourite item goes to... I'll take these in a UK size 6 please!

Oh I do love a cape

Copper pans. Need I say more?

Imagine receiving one of these beautiful boxes tied with with a red bow on Christmas day and inside finding one of these beauties. I love the plum set and the red (bottom centre and right)

Those leather gloves though

This red dress with the beautiful lace overlay. LOVE

And more of my favourite.... lace. But this time in my favourite colour!

I was literally about to leave when a lady came over and asked if I'd like a bouquet of flowers to take home with me. The bouquet in question was composed of the most beautiful red roses and what looks like thistles. These were on display on the day so was a lovely little memento to take home.

A huge thank you to the Debenhams team for inviting me. Never did I think I could feel festive and excited for Christmas as early as July, but I've been proven wrong! Roll on Christmas!

What are your favourite items from the collection?