So, firstly... I finally shared a Blogmas post - yay! It turns out I'm not very good at Blogmas but it's my first year so I've decided to use this year as a practise for 2018! I didn't know what to write about AT ALL, until i started my Christmas wrapping last week (yes i know it's early, but it's my favourite part of the season!) and seeing how much my family and friends hate wrapping, simply because they don't know the tricks and tips. It made me want to share my ideas, which are actually pretty simple! Now, I'm not the most light-handed person, and I do tend to do things in the most difficult ways possible - so I've broken my tips and tricks down into the most simple steps possible! Don't let various shaped presents stand in your way!I feel like people tend to forget that a good old gift-bag is still a suitable wrapping object during Christmas time too. Make it even more festive by adding tissue paper and pretty ribbons! tissue paper is a god-sendMy FAVOURITE stuff to wrap presents with (at any time of the year!) is tissue paper!!! Layer up a few pieces with patterns of your choice, and wrap it round your gift! Top it off with a sticky bow and a gift tag! This works best for round-shaped items, or square-shaped items (a box of chocolates for example!) However it DOESN'T work with heavy items, such as candles - the tissue paper WILL rip! you can never have too many wrapping decorationsNot sure whether you have enough ribbons on there? Go ahead and add some more! Grab some ribbon and tie a ribbon bow around that box! hard to wrap? Grab a gift box!Gift boxes come in a wide range of shapes, you'll be surprised at how many items you could use these for! I struggled a little with a gift for a friend (a book) I didn't want to wrap it as i was worried the gift would be ripped when being opened, so i opted for a box. But the little book looked so lonely in the box... i added tissue paper! One layer, scrunched up along the edges, was the perfect addition! use thick cello tape - not gift wrapping cello tape!This may annoy the recipient slightly if you put too much tape on, as it may become impossible to get the gift open! But using just a FEW strips of thick cello tape will make your wrapping look MUCH more professional, and tidier. It's a great way to prevent scrunchy tape, ripped wrapping paper, AND it's easier to find the end of the tape if you loose it. gift tags play a more important part than you think...Okay, so even the best of us make mistakes. Picture this. It's coming up to midnight, you're loosing motivation to wrap, you're on your last gift, and you rip part of it! DON'T PANIC! Reach toward the gift tag... write your recipients name... and STICK! By sticking the gift tag over the top of the mistake, it will look like the recipient ripped it when opening the gift! VOILA! use thick wrapping paper! (Not the stuff on a roll)This can sometimes get pricey if you don't use the right store. I normally grab all of my wrapping stuff from The Card Factory as you can get LOADS for about £20. I've spend under £20 on wrapping this year, and EVERYTHING is now wrapped! Paper on a roll is often the cheaper version, but it's also a lot thinner than sheets of wrapping paper which makes it harder to fold and handle. By using thicker wrapping paper sheets, you will be able to cut a perfect amount, and be able to fold different sections perfectly. The present almost wraps itself! wire ribbons make bows easier!One roll of wire ribbon often wraps two medium sized gifts. They're perfect for making bows for gifts as they hold their shape and are easily changed. Due to the wire, you don't always need to cello tape them down onto the wrapping paper on the gift either! don't be afraid to create a Christmas hamper! This is the first year that I've made a Christmas hamper. I picked up a pack from The Card Factory which included shredded tissue paper, a big bow and ribbon, and a large sheet of cellophane. Since the cellophane was see-through, I decided to wrap each of the items within the hamper - this also makes it look like there's more gifts to open! It's very easily done too! Open up the cellophane sheet on a flat surface, place the shredded tissue paper in the middle, place your gifts on top (in the middle), grab the excess cellophane around the sides of the centre, bring it up above the gifts (so that the gifts are inside, and so that it kinda looks like an odd pyramid shape) hold it together with one hand. THEN, i usually wrap cello tape around the part where your hand is to hold it together. Once you've done this, grab your ribbon, wrap it round, add your gift tag, et voila! It was my first time and i did it in under two minutes! I hope you've enjoyed finding out how to best wrap a present, and I hope you found something useful! I LOVE seeing all the photographs you tag me on Twitter, so why not tag me in your end results after wrapping your gifts for loved ones! find out how to tie the perfect ribbon bow here! (COMING SOON!)
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12/12/2017 0 Comments The couple next door // book reviewSo I was stood in the queue in my local Sainsbury's waiting to buy my favourite soup for dinner, and each time I check the deal stand. The deal stand is full of new books, films, and albums for good prices - and each time, I saw The Couple Next Door. I promised myself each time that I would buy it "next time" I popped to the store, but one day I was in my normal queue... and there was only one left. So I took it as a sign, and treated myself to the book. my thoughts
I would also say that this isn't the book you take with you on holiday - if you're looking to enjoy something whilst relaxing, pick a different book. Take Shari with you if you're planning on reading in bed on a cold winters night, or take her along with you on a long journey. I spend a lot of time at our family lodge nestled in the forests of Wales. If you've got something like this too, take the book. I normally love to read a good book in a bubble bath to relax, but the first time I did this whilst reading The Couple Next Door, I got way too hot and had to get out. It's the type of book that is likely to put a spell on you - you'll need to stop, but you won't. You'll need a break from the drama, but you won't give it to yourself. If you're anything like me, and love feeling like you're an outsider looking in on the situations and scenarios taking place, this is the perfect book for you. the ending So when I got to the end of the book, I experienced that all too familiar book-lover heartbreak feeling. But I also experienced something that I can't say that I've experienced before - I questioned myself rather than the antagonist... Is this a happy ending or not?! Have you read this book, or think i'll love something similar? Let me know!16/11/2017 3 Comments murder on the orient express reviewI rarely get a chance to go to the cinema anymore, but my friend was free, and we both REALLY wanted to watch Murder On The Orient Express. I haven't done any reviews of anything yet on my blog, and i thought that this would be a good start. Okay, so how many stars would i give it? Probably like, 10/5 stars. No kidding - it's amazing. If you're into a good crime plot, with clever twists and turns, and a lil bitta humour... THIS is the film for you! the cast Avoiding all spoilers, the twist and the conclusion is incredible. Each actor/actress plays their role fabulously, and you really connect with the characters straight away - I think my favourite was Mary Debenham! I usually adore Penelope Cruz, but I feel like her potential was ignored throughout this film; she could have had a larger role without overshadowing the main characters. the setting The setting was amazing - it suited the plot perfectly. It also wasn't your go-to expectation of a crime film either. I loved how the entire film seemed to be filmed in just one place (after the opening of the film finishes) too! It was also nice that it was mostly daytime throughout the film, which makes a change to the usual, dark, have to really try hard to see anything sort of crime films. the plot I won't lie - the plot did SOMETIMES remind me of Cluedo. But in a good way of course! There is also a good mix of jumpy scenes, romantic scenes, greusome scenes (not too gross though, it's only a 12A!) and scenes where you literally can't take your eyes away!
First of all, thank you so much to Hebah Pervaiz for nominating me for the amazing Versatile Blogger Award - I read yours by the way, and it was great! Find Hebah's blog here. It's lovely reading through everyone's entries and finding out more about them, and I am super excited to get mine posted and shared! 7 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ME!
2. I have three dogs, which some may consider a handful. It is. A handful of love and fluff! 3. This might not be interesting to some people, but I don't really like coffee very much. If i do drink it, it will be something milky like a mocha, cappuccino, or a latte. Which is strange considering I really don't like milk! Wait, is that two facts or one? 4. I love my job and i love Mondays. I'm a digital marketing executive, so i get to do everything i love AND get paid for it! 5. I have never been able to sing or dance, but i went to stage schools anyway because it was fun. Cringe. 6. My main hobby is surfing, which i have been doing since i was about 5/6 i think! 7. I don't have a favourite season! I find it so hard to choose, as i love everything about each season equally. I'm pretty happy all year round. i nominate...
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AuthorI like taking fancy pictures on my new GoPro (that you will be hearing lots about) and sharing them with as many people as possible. Archives
January 2018
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