Blogmas Day 8: German Market Trip

Today's Blogmas is another day-in-the-life style post about my trip to the Edinburgh German Market. I visited the market with my dad and sister and as soon as we got off the train we picked up our traditional Bratwurst for lunch. We wandered round the market for a couple of hours but failed to buy much except for a couple of waffles and a Christmas tree decoration. I would recommend the market but it isn't an ideal place to buy gifts as many of the stalls sell either food or Christmas decorations although there are some stalls selling cute niche products.

Then we went to Costa for a Christmas coffee (a vital part of any Christmas day out). Following this we had a look at the Christmas lights and did some Christmas shopping for my cousins, Auntie and Uncle, which was fairy successful as everyone bought something except for me! Finally to finish the day we went for a Mexican for tea. I think going for family days out is such an important part of Christmas time, especially since leaving home I appreciate these days out even more.

Christmas Wishes,

Maya x

Little Miss Organisation x

Blogmas Day 7: Favourite Christmas Adverts

I must confess every year I look forward to seeing the Christmas adverts on TV. This was a bit more of a challenge being at uni this year and not actually having a TV (thank goodness for youtube). I am the ideal consumer and buy into the Christmas adverts so much, like the naive person that I am, so here are my favourites for this year:

5. Quite shockingly the John Lewis advert is only ranked fifth this year, shocking because the John Lewis adverts are usually my favourite and the one I most look forward to seeing. However I just wasn't feeling this years advert. I have to admit I have much preferred the previous adverts which really pull at your heart strings to this one which is meant to be funny. Anyway I know there are a lot of (perhaps less cynical) people who love this year's advert such as my sister who laughs every time it's shown.

4. Is the Coke advert, the story is so adorable and I love any advert that is about spreading Christmas cheer. I'm also a fan of the Very advert which is very similar but didn't quite make it into my top five.

3. A less classic advert which I love this year is the Amazon advert. This may seem a surprising choice since the advert is in no way relevant to Christmas and could really be shown at any time of year. But in light of the (slightly tragic) year we have had, I find the advert quite refreshing and heart warming and it really does give me a little bit of hope for the future.

2. A close second place is the lovely Marks and Spencers advert. What I love about the advert is that they have put a twist on the traditional story of Santa Claus. I really like how it's Mrs Claus who saves the day, something which I really relate to because I know in my family it's usually my mum who comes to the rescue at Christmas. I feel like mum's in general are often in the background unappreciated but we would be so lost without them, so for this reason the advert resonated with me.

1. Finally my favourite advert is of course Sainsbury's! I really like animated adverts, I think there is something about the animations which take me back to my childhood which for me is exactly what Christmas is about. Again, this is an advert which I think a lot of people can relate to; having a parent who works all of the time can be really difficult during the Christmas period and I just think the whole advert is absolutely heartwarming and I can't help but smile when I see it.

Christmas Wishes,

Maya x

Little Miss Organisation

Blogmas Day 6: Hot Drinks

Salted caramel cappuccino

Hot drinks are one of my FAVOURITE things about Christmas and the winter season. Costa is usually my go-to place for hot chocolate and this is where I went for my first hot chocolate of the year. I ordered the toasted marshmallow hot chocolate which I was super excited to try and although the hot chocolate was as good as always I was disappointed to find only a few marshmallows on top and wasn't sure it was worth paying the extra. However a drink I do love from the Costa Christmas menu is the salted- caramel cappuccino. I think cappuccino's are perfect for long Christmas shopping or Christmas market trips as I really do find the caffeine gives me a boost when I'm starting to flag. The salted caramel is simply delicious as it gives the coffee a slightly sweeter flavour. Another Christmas drink i'd recommend is the caramel late from MacDonalds (can you tell I have a sweet tooth?) and MacDonalds have also got the cutest take- away cups this year, possibly even nicer than Starbucks!

Homemade hot chocolate

I also love having a hot chocolate when I get home after being out in the cold. At the moment I have Cadbury's hot chocolate powder but I usually just buy whichever brand is on offer. I heat the milk in the microwave for 90 seconds. Then I add 2 teaspoons of hot chocolate powder, the jar says to add 3 but personally I like my hot chocolate's creamy and not too chocolatey. Most people add squirty cream to hot chocolate but I like adding double cream because then the cream mixes with the hot chocolate instead of just sitting on top. Finally I add a few marshmallows to finish it off.

Christmas Wishes,

Maya x

Little Miss Organisation

Blogmas Day 5: Colour- in Christmas Cards

Welcome to Blogmas Day 5! I know it is technically the 6th today, sorry I didn't manage to get the post up yesterday, it was a bit chaotic so playing catch up today.

Anyway today's post is about Christmas cards. I know that with all the technology we have now writing Christmas cards is a bit of a lost art, but I still think there's something really special about spreading a little bit of Christmas cheer and for me, Christmas would not be the same without the house being decorated with Christmas cards.

This year because I have started university money is quite tight and so I'll only be sending cards to close friends and family but I was looking for a way to do this cheaply as cards can be surprisingly expensive. A few weeks ago I was in Poundland and found a pack of 10 colour-in Christmas cards with envelopes for (you guessed it) only £1. Not only is this incredibly cheap for cards but each one is different and the designs are actually really nice. I loved the idea that the cards would be more personal and colouring them in would be a fun relaxation activity for me to do over my exam period. I am currently working my way through colouring in the cards and am enjoying it so much, it's a fantastic way to get in the Christmas spirit and I'm sure family and friends will appreciate the thought that has gone into them.

Christmas Wishes,

Maya x

Little Miss Organisation

Blogmas Day 4: Christmas To Do List

This year I thought I would make a list of things that I want to do to get me in the mood for Christmas over the exam period. I thought I'd share it here because quite a few things on the list will probably feature in Blogmas so it'll give you a sneak preview of what's coming up. It might also give you ideas for Christmas activities that you might fancy doing.

My To Do List:

• Visit the Edinburgh Christmas market
• Make Christmas biscuits to take home
• Watch the light show
• Make paper-chains
• Do a Christmas craft
• Go to a retail park Christmas shopping
• Make mince- pies
• Put up the Christmas tree
• Make Christmas presents
• Send Christmas cards
• Go to Harvey Nichols
• Make a gingerbread house
• Take a walk to see the Christmas lights
• Make Christmas cards
• Watch a Christmas movie
• Decorate the Christmas cake

Christmas Wishes

Maya x

Little Miss Organisation

Blogmas Day 3: Fantastic Beasts and Christmas Food Shop

For day 3 of Blogmas I thought I would do a day-in-the-life style post. This morning I went to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (but don't worry no spoilers) with my family before I go back to university tomorrow. I know it came out 2 weeks ago but honestly going to the cinema is just so expensive, even for a student ticket and in the run up to Christmas I just couldn't afford to go until I came home (aka the bank of mum and dad paid). I was a bit apprehensive about the idea of another film based on the Harry Potter world because I grew up watching and reading Harry Potter and I was sceptical whether anything would able to live up to that. It was a good film and I did enjoy it but felt as though the story was a bit more childish than the Harry Potter films, although maybe I have just grown up. I was also slightly disappointed in that the story-line was a bit less realistic than Harry Potter.  Part of my love for Harry Potter was the fact that it brought magic to life and it really did make the Wizarding World a realistic posibility, whereas Fantastic Beasts seemed a bit less realistic. Despite all my criticism's I did really enjoy the film, I watched it in 2D but think it would be amazing in 3D but I remain unconvinced that it is as good as the Harry Potter.

After the cinema we went to ASDA to do our Christmas food shop. Buying all the food for our Christmas dinner and Christmas chocolates, biscuits and of course alcohol always puts me in the festive spirit and it was lovely to go as a family. Since I was feeling Christmassy I came home and had hot chocolate and plan on spending the evening watching Strictly Come Dancing, The X Factor and I'm A Celebrity- all programs which remind me of Christmas. So all in all I have had a lovely family day and going back to uni tomorrow for exams will certainly be a reality check!

Christmas Wishes,

Maya x

Little Miss Organisation

Blogmas Day 2: Black Friday Bargains

For Day 2 of Blogmas I thought I would go through a few of my top Black Friday bargains. This year was actually the first time I have shopped the Black Friday Sales as it has passed me by the past few years. But this year, since moving to university in true student style I was keen to grab a bargain. So ridiculous as I am, I stayed up until 2am in order to grab the best bargains (but did write an essay whilst I was waiting for the sales to start).

The first bargains I got were on Amazon who ran a 12 day sale! The sale spanned a range of products and I picked up a couple of great bargain Christmas presents that I was intending on buying anyway so getting them cheaper is always a bonus (more specific details will be included in another Blogmas gifts post later in the month).

Although I promised myself I would only be buying gifts in the Black Friday sales... I did pick up one of these gorgeous burgundy bomber jackets from Miss Selfridge. I have been wanting a jacket, so that was my excuse and it was less than half price so I could not resist.

Finally Barry M at Superdrug were running an offer where if you spent £7 you received this free nail varnish kit. I was already buying a Barry M product as a gift for my friend so didn't take much convincing to spend a little more to get the free gift (and Superdrug do student discount). Plus Barry M is my favourite nail varnish brand so currently debating whether to keep the gift or give it to a friend.

Christmas Wishes

Maya x

Little Miss Organisation