My Top Ten Christmas Films

It's fact. You can't properly enjoy the festive season without snuggling up under a blanket with plenty of festive treats and a pile of Christmas films to watch. I find that during and the build up to the festive season, there is no better way to prepare yourself for the week ahead other than reserving your Sunday afternoons to watch your favourite festive films. There are so many festive films out there and I could've listed them all but I had to draw the line somewhere. When it comes to my festive faves they aren't in an particular order because that would have just been too hard to deal with.

A Muppets Christmas Carol 

This is a super family and festive film that everyone needs to watch. Whenever I watch this it takes me right back to my childhood, I think my brother and I use to watch this throughout the whole of December - more times than I can count in fact. I know not everyone like this film because not everyone likes the muppets. I don't think this film is about whether you like the muppets or not (FYI I love the muppets, if you hadn't already guessed), it highlights the true meaning of Christmas and the festive spirit. 

The Polar Express

I can't tell you how many times I banged on about this film at university, so much so my university friends were properly ready to snap the disc. Tom Hanks is the voice behind the train conductor in the film; the train stops at multiple house inviting children onto the train to visit the North Pole on Christmas Eve night. The train journey and visit to the North Pole has plenty of twists and turns along the way and follow one little boy and his friends in finding his Christmas spirit and belief. It's truly magical and I honestly think that it is the narration from Tom Hanks that truly makes this film great.

Home Alone 1 & 2 

I know that they are two separate films but I feel like you can't watch 1 without watching 2 - they pretty much come hand in hand. I don't think there is one person that I've ever spoken to that hasn't watched these films - if you haven't watched them what are you watching for? As far as I'm concerned Macaulay Culkin was one of the best child actor of that time, any film he was in it was amazing. In this film Macaulay Culkin plays a little boy called Kevin, who caused trouble for this family and morning after, the family are running late to catch their plane for their family vacation and end up leaving kevin at home alone. Whilst Kevin is home alone, there are burglar who are trying to break in and he sabotages them by playing pranks and getting his own back; all whilst his family is trying to get home to him. They are must see films every Christmas! 

Miracle on 34th Street 

This film has the cutest child actress of all time - you might recognise her as the girl who plays Matilda. This film tells the story of a little girl and her mother who doesn't believe in Christmas but with the help of the real Santa Claus, she start to believe in Santa Claus and Christmas spirit. It is a truly magical story and one that I would say it is in my top three to watch every Christmas multiple times and especially on Christmas Eve. 

Elf 

This film has the best gifs ever. Also, I think has properly seen the biggest increase in DVDs in the past week than any other Christmas film after the news that it won't be aired on British TV channels. *Insert crying emoji here*. I would have to say that this film is the biggest family Christmas film ever, I don't think I've spoken to anyone that does love it and it's witty humour. It's about an elf called Buddy (who is six foot, not the normal height of an elf) who discovers that he is adopted and goes to New York to find his real family. Meeting love interests, siblings and no Christmas spirit along the way, Buddy tried to bring Christmas spirit into his family and New York City.  

Jingle All The Way 

Who doesn't love Arnold Schwarzenegger? Am I right? This is a very modern Christmas film compared to a few of the other and again another festive favourite especially for families. 

The Santa Clause 

I think my love for Tim Allen in Christmas films started with this film. It's about a guy (Tim Allen) who has his son one Christmas Eve and hears Santa on the roof; Santa falls off the roof and disappears. Tim Allen dresses as Santa and becomes Santa, the next 365 days change his live in more ways than he can ever imagine. I haven't seen the second or third film but I hear that they are just as good as the first, so they are definitely going to be on my must watch list this Christmas. And of course this one too! 

Christmas with the Kranks 

I have a confession to make, I only watched this film for the first time twelve months ago! After years of my university friends telling that it is an hilarious and must watch Christmas film, I gave in to peer pressure (not that I need peer pressure to watch Christmas films, I'd watch them 365 days a year if I could) and watched it and haven't looked back since. It's incredible. I don't know why I didn't watch it sooner especially after discovering that Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis star in this film - I don't think I can name one Christmas that isn't great when Tim Allen appears in them... 

How The Grinch Stole Christmas 

A classic. A must watch Christmas film that without doubt is on Sky every Christmas multiple times - you can't miss it. It's Dr. Suess as well, so in my eyes it can't get any better! 

Love Actually 

This is a rom-com kind of Christmas film and is again one that you will find on TV every Christmas. There are a handful of actors and actress that you will immediately recognise in this film; from Keira Knightley to Hugh Grant. You can't go wrong with this film, it is set over the festive period and have lots of romance and comedy value in every scene. 

Bonus Film: The Holiday

Jude Law is absolute God in this film. If you like Jude Law and you like Christmas, you don't want to miss this film! 

With loads to choose from, I guarantee I've left one or two out but the good thing about Christmas is there is no limit in how many Christmas films you can watch. What are your favourite Christmas films? 

Until the next time, enjoy your festive movie marathon, Au Revoir! 

Love, 

Lauren xo 

Rice Krispie Mini Christmas Puddings

With Christmas fast approaching, there is nothing better than surrounding yourself with plenty of chocolaty, Christmassy goodness and treats. I'm pretty sure I ended up getting chocolate in my hair whilst I was making this - not sure how though! This recipe is a quick, easy and fun to do and impresses guests; also they go really well with a cup of tea and coffee. Just saying! Everyone loves the classic Rice Krispie cakes, so why not give them a little festive twist!

Prep Time: 1 Hour (including fridge time and setting)  | Serves: 24

Ingredients 

• 50g Unsalted Butter
• 180g Mini Marshmallows 
• 100g Rice Krispies 
• 200g Milk Chocolate 
• 100g White Chocolate 
• Festive Sprinkles (Holly) 

Equipment 

• Baking Tray
• Baking or Greaseproof Paper 
• Mixing Bowl (Must be able to be used to melt chocolate in) 
• Spatula
• Two Saucepans (1 small enough for one of the mixing bowls to sit on top of; the other large) 
• Food Bag

How to make Rice Krispie Mini Christmas Puddings 

1. Melt the butter into a large saucepan.
2. Once melted, add the mini marshmallows into the saucepan and mix until completely melted. 
3. Remove from the heat and add the Rice Krispies into the mixture and mix until completely covered. Put to one side once mixed. 
4. Melt the milk chocolate in a bowl over a smaller saucepan filled with boiling water. Once melted add the chocolate into the mixture with the Rice Krispies, marshmallows and butter. 
5. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Take a small handful of the mixture, roll it into ball and place it on the baking tray. 
6. Once you've found out all of the mixture, place the baking tray into the fridge to set for 30 minute. Double check they're set before removing them from the fridge, if not give a little longer. 
7. Once they have set, melt white chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan filled with boiling water. 
8. When the chocolate has melted, carefully spoon the chocolate into a food bag, push all the chocolate to one corner and twist the top of the bag until tight. Cut a small hole at the bottom of the bag to be able to pipe. 
9. Gently squeeze a blob of the White chocolate on top of the Rice Krispie mini puddings - don't worry if too much goes over the side. 
10. Place chocolate or festive sprinkles on the White chocolate and leave to set. Place in the fridge for another 30 minutes.
11. Once set... ENJOY! 

Another delicious festive treat ready for the big day, Au Revoir! 

Love, 

Lauren xo 

Spending a Day in Bath

Bath city centre. A place with dreamy, light stone architecture, beautiful scenery, rich history and the smattering of dreamy independent shops mingled in amongst the favourite chains stores like Anthropologie and Lush. Also when you’re a dog lover, how can you resist a place that has ‘dog welcoming’ signs outside of bars and restaurants wherever you turn – you cant! I often say that I want to live here; I would become a commuter, just to live here in Bath, that’s how much I blooming love it. It’s beautiful and if I get the chance to go, I’ll go. No one needs to suggest it to me twice! Today, I want to tell you all about my day trip to Bath and the awesome places I visited along the way…

Last weekend, when I headed to Bath to meet up with a really good friend for Saturday brunch, to explore the city, shop and mainly have a good old gossip civilized catch up. 

Bath is filled with plenty of cosy cafes to sit in for a long, slow brunch and where you can enjoy the atmosphere and the lovely friendly vibe of Bath city centre. Our first stop was the Green Rocket Cafe, a small vegetarian and vegan restaurant about five minutes away from Bath Spa train station, with an amazing range breakfast choices and delicious coffee, it is definitely a place worth visiting. 

Green Rocket Cafe, Bath - A small corner cafe that has the tasty breakfast that I think I've every had

Whilst there, I enjoyed a ‘mini veggie breakfast’ consisting of: portabella mushroom, scrambled egg, grilled tomatoes, vegetarian sausages and sourdough toast – it was insanely delicious. INCREDIBLE! I would highly recommend this little corner café, if you’re ever in Bath – they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner – so a meal for every occasion, what’s not to love! 

After fuelling up for the day, it was time to head out, hit the shops and explore. Bath is a haven for quirky, independent shops, which are hidden away in the back streets of Bath but hold so much personality and beautiful interiors. In Bath, you really need to go off the beaten track to explore what Bath is all about and find some of those hidden gems; from small quirky restaurants to independent stores where no matter the person you’re buying for, you’ll find a gift for them no matter what. 

For a small city, Bath is well stocked with everything to you need. From all the favourites like Anthropologie, Lush, Jo Malone, Jack Wills, Ted Baker, Urban Outfitters but also independent stores like Pug and Puffin, Found Bath, Beyond the Kale, December 25th and plenty of others to choice and love along the way. Whilst having a lot of choice is great, it also comes with fear, fear for my bank balance – the damage I could do in Bath is not even worth thinking about! Whether you’re after a new perfume, beautiful homeware, or the perfect gift, Bath has a bit of everything. 

Also, if you're the biggest Christmas lover like me - you will love the store December 25th, actually you'll just Bath altogether especially around Christmas time. It has some of the nicest little homeware pieces to help me your home in Santa's Grotto every Christmas, however you could spend a fortunate in there - so approach with caution! 

So there you have it a day in Bath. Bath is so vibrant and has a really friendly vibe; I challenge you to go there and not to love it, like I do. I bet you won’t be able to… 

Why Autumn is the best season?

It’s an objective fact (not just my opinion) that Autumn is the best season of all. Its only a matter weeks until the clocks ‘fall back’, which means we enter into longer evenings, seasonal movie marathons, the start of the Christmas festivities and the burning of even more cosy candles that release all kinds of Autumnal scents. Is there anything better than that seriously?

Now, snuggle up with a blanket and venture into why Autumn is the best season with me…

• Cinnamon spiced EVERYTHING. Coffee, baked-goods, candles. Enough said!
• Cosy Knitwear. A jumper put together with a pair of jeans and boots; Autumn is definitely the easiest season to dress for. No fuss and you always look great.
• Bubble Baths. I know that you can have a bath anytime of the year, but when it’s cold outside, why not relax in tub filled with bubbles and coloured bath bombs. Autumn is where bubble baths are at.
• Blanket Scarves. Because why not be all snuggled in a huge scarf when it’s cold outside.
• Boots. Boots. And more boots. Because you can’t have an autumnal outfit without boots; knee high, ankle, heeled, black, brown or grey – boots are the must-have in Autumn and you can never have enough pairs.
• The colour palette. Is there anything better than deep burgundy’s, mustard yellows, burnt oranges and forest greens? No I didn’t think so - it’s the ultimate colour combo in fashion, beauty, in everything Autumnal.
• Bundling up with layers. Layering up is the way to go in Autumn - all warm and cosy during your walk to work.
• Candles. I burn candles all year round but there is something about Autumn and Winter scents that are just incredible.
• An Instagrammer’s paradise. Because everyone’s Instagram feeds are full of takeaway coffees, golden autumnal colours, beautiful scenery and pumpkin/cinnamon baked goods.
• Conkers. From the age of six, seeing conkers just meant that it was officially the season of Autumn.
• Fresh Autumnal morning. Those crisp autumnal morning where you can see your breathe and the early morning sun is just amazing.
• Wellies. Where there are country walks, there are wellies. I may be twenty-three but I still enjoy jumping in puddles.
• The start of the festivities. You can buy anything for yourself and claim it is ‘an early Christmas present’. Ultimate justification. Also, Christmas homeware is just to die for – you can never have too many decorations.
• Snuggling up with a blanket. I think that there is nothing better than snuggling under a blanket, whilst it is raining, windy and cold outside. Instant cosy feeling.
• The season of reading. I’m all for curling up on the sofa or in bed with a good book.
• An ‘easy’ excuse for staying in. Because when you leave work at 5:30pm and it’s dark, this excuse counts 100%.
• Crunchy leaves falling from the trees. Strolling through crunchy leaves instantly makes me feel like a kid again!
• Homemade Soups. Hot homemade soup on a rainy, cold day – is there actually anything better?
• Seasonal movie marathons. Staying in your pj’s and watching back-to-back films, just because ‘It’s Autumn’.
• Apples. Apples. Apples. I don’t know what it is but apples are just the best this time of year; you can make pies or crumbles with them, dip them in caramel sauce or just have them plain. When I think Autumn, I think apple crumble and custard. Yumm.
• Fireworks and Sparklers. There is nothing better than waving around sparkling sticks of light trying to write your name and standing in a field with a crowd of people saying ‘woo’ and ‘ahh’ as we watch brightly coloured sparks explode in the night sky. Get your wooly hats and blanket scarves at the ready.
• Country Walks. Going for an Autumnal walk is just perfect. Crispy leaves, changing colours. Beautiful.
• Lush’s Autumn and Winter collection. Sparkly bubble bars for all – it’s the best time of the year seriously! 
• Coffee. Hot Chocolate. All the hot beverages. Caramel mochas, Pumpkin spiced lattes, White hot chocolate melts, Toffee nut lattes and plenty more; I mean it is really Autumn if there aren’t 101 different coffee flavours for you to enjoy on a daily basis? Nope, I didn’t think so either.

Autumn is officially the season of the year! What’s not to love?

When things don't go your way

We all have those days and weeks where it feels like the walls of the world are collapsing in on you - actually I think that they might just be called Mondays. However sometimes, when these days happen, it is difficult to imagine that those things are going to turn around. But being my usual optimistic self, they will turn round eventually, it's just knowing how to deal with it. 

When thing aren’t going your way, it is obviously much easier to crack open a bottle of wine, watch Bridget Jones in your loungewear and drown your sorrows sit and just dwell on it, but that isn’t the right way forward really, is it? So how can you turn it around?

Take a breath

When things get tough, take a step back and just pause for a moment. Sometimes when you dwell on something for too long, it just becomes even more complicated and you just get even more worked up. Sometimes just stepping back, making yourself a cup of tea or going out for some fresh-air can make a lot of difference.

Start with the problem

What is the problem? Identifying what’s wrong is the first thing to do in order to be able to work out what you need to do next and how best to resolve it. 

Find your approach

When you’ve identified the problem, ask yourself ‘what am I trying to achieve?’ Take a moment to think about how you can reach the end, avoiding all the issues that you’ve addressed before.

Talk it out

Talking it out can certainly help – it certainly helps me anyway – as another person can really help to provide you with advice, solutions and motivation to move forward. 

Find something to look forward to

If things are going bad, find something to look forward to. It could be a smallest thing, like having your favourite meal for dinner or something that you’re doing at the weekend. It is important to power through and pin it on something to motivate you.

Positivity

A positive attitude goes a long way. Don’t let stress take you down. Keep your chin up. 

Ask for help

Asking for help isn't seen as weak; in fact it is one of the biggest mistakes that you’re making by not asking for help. 

Learn

Don’t waste this opportunity to take note and learn from it.

How do you take approach to a bad day?

Gooey Rolo Cookie Blondie’s

It’s that time of year again. No I’m not talking about Christmas (it’s too early for that yet). I’m talking about Great British Bake Off season. Arguably, you could say that it is a massive marketing ploy that just encourages consumers to spend more money on cute, shabby chic bake ware inspired by the super-cool Bake Off kitchens.  But how is one supposed to resist cute and themed bakeware to assist them in baking ‘tasty treats’. And of course, I tell myself ‘I need these matching spatula and cake tins’.

Still, when you do give in and purchase said matching baking sets, whatever can you use it for? Well, how about these super gooey, super tasty, just overall amazing Rolo Cookie Blondie’s? What a great idea!

Prep Time: 10 Minutes | Cooking Time: 25 – 30 Minutes | Makes: 16 Bars

INGREDIENTS

• 275g Plain Flour

• 1 tbsp. Cornflour

• 115g Unsalted Butter

• 55g Granulated Sugar

• 135g Light Brown Sugar

• 1 Egg

•  ½ tsp. Vanilla Extract

• Rolos (I used one bag)

• 100g White Chocolate Chips

• Pink and White Marshmallows (optional)

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 190C. Grease and line a square Brownie tin with greaseproof paper ready for when the mixture is ready
2. Measure out 275g of Plain Flour and 1 tbsp. of Cornflour and mix together in a bowl and leave to one side
3. In a large pan, melt 115g of butter over a medium heat. Whilst the butter is melting, measure out 135g Light Brown Sugar and 55g Granulated Sugar. Once the butter has melted, pour the butter in with the sugars, and whisk for about 2 minutes until the sugar starts to dissolve and the mixture is smooth.
4. Once the mixture is smooth, add in one egg and ½ tsp. of Vanilla Extract, and whisk again briefly till smooth.
5. Once smooth, add in the flour, the Rolos, and the 100g of White Chocolate Chips and mix with a spatula till thick cookie dough is formed.
6. Press the mixture into the tin, so the mixture is level. This is the optional bit, you could just put it into the oven as it is or you can take some white and pink marshmallows and place them in 4 rows of 4 on top of the mixture.
7. Once you have added your marshmallows (optional), place the tin into the oven for 25 – 30 minutes until the top of the cookie bake looks ‘dry’ or all the marshmallows have melted and crisp on top.
8. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. If you have added marshmallows on top, you will need to wait until the marshmallows have got sticky.
9. Once cooled, cut the bake into square and serve with a cup of tea or coffee (Also goes well with Vanilla Ice Cream)! 

You will not be disappointed. These are a naughty treat but something you won’t regret. Enjoy!

Getting back into Fitness

Before heading to university, gymnastics used to be my primary workout mainly because I enjoyed it and it was a great way to stay fit. When I left for university, there weren't sport teams that court my eye and I fancied joining and the 'I can't be bothered' attitude started to sink in - especially if I had been out the night before. Oops.

Since I'm back and working full-time, I decided to join the gym. The gym is a perfect place to workout... There is variety, a fitness drive atmosphere and plenty of choice in exercise methods; not to mention there are personal trainer on hand to get to direction if needed. Although it costs, there are so many benefits to working out at the gym oppose to at home but I would definitely recommend working out at home, if you have any free time.

I'm not saying to go to the gym for three hours, 7 days a week, you need to go as much or as little as you would like to. It's the little changes that will help you to get into fitness mindset and live a healthy lifestyle; so if it has been a while, why not start off with these tips:

THE LITTLE THINGS IN FITNESS 

• Walk instead of drive. Unfortunately I can't walk to work, it would take me hours but I can walk everywhere else... No excuse! 
• Cut out sugar in tea and coffee. Included syrups. 
• No more snacking (unless you are packing up the healthier option - an apple) 
• Planning your meals
• Motivate yourself with treats and new workout gear. 
• Take the stairs - a classic but it works! 
• Opt for the healthier option.
• Have a killer workout playlist that motivates you. 
• Build up your workouts slowly. 
• If you're to nervous for the gym or if it isn't for you; try home workouts first.
• Think of it as getting healthy appose to getting fit.

Until the next time I report on how well my fitness is going, Au Revoir! 

Love,

Lauren xo