Gifts for the Sporty One

To kick of my series of  gift guides I'm starting with that friend or family member who loves exercising, going to the gym, playing sport and eating healthy AKA the one you are always jealous of! 

A yoga mat and yoga mat bag would be great for anyone who does yoga (obviously) or pilates, both of which are great for busy people who don't necessarily have the time to get to the gym as both can be done at home  by watching online videos such as Blogliates. A Water bottle is an essential for anyone really but especially for people who are very active as they need to rehydrate and this VS one is super cute too. At the more expensive end of the scale is a Fitbit or similar gadget for tracking activity, I'd love one personally as I think it would really encourage me to be more active. A Gym Membership for a month or two is also a great present for someone who has everything and it would definitely be appreciated. For pre and post workout many people enjoy protein bars or snacks like Nak'd Bars so buying a wholesale box would be a great way to help someone to stop unhealthy snacking. Some more obvious choices are a Motivational Tank, Sports Bra, Trainers, Leggings or Running Jacket because there is no such thing as too much activewear. Reflective gear is also really great for runners in the winter months as it gets dark so early.

Hope these ideas are useful...

10 Free Christmassy Phone Wallpapers

With December almost here, it's finally time to start letting Christmas creep into every part of my life, including my gadgets! So I thought I'd put together a quick post showing some super pretty Christmas wallpapers to help you get in the Christmas spirit...

Merry Christmas foliage Frame- Here

Snowflake- Here

Merry Christmas Wreath- Here

Sparkly Tree- Here

New Year- Here

Pinecones- Here

Let It Snow- Here

City Lights- Here

Ski Chalet Sketch- Here

Christmas is Coming- Here

Enjoy!

Day 31: 2015 Resolutions

*I apologize for the extreme lateness, but I thought that this post had been scheduled to go up, oops.*

I'm not usually a huge fan of the new year resolutions thing, cus everyone knows that they're just gonna give them up within like two weeks, however this year since it was one of the topics, I decided to try it out. I'm not gonna bother talking through my resolutions because they are pretty self explanatory. I'm just gonna make two quick comments. Number 6 is a brave one however I did manage 22 books last year (I have literally no idea how, I think it's just cus I read so much in the summer holidays!) so I'm gonna push myself this year.  And as for number 3, that's also a very brave one as I do no sport or exercise of any type at the moment! Although I have started doing blogilates videos again in November after I brought some workout gear in the black friday sales though and am really enjoying it, plus I'm feeling pretty determined. In order to save up for my running shoes I'm putting a pound in a jar for everyday that I exercise so hopefully I'll be able to save up for a nice pair of nikes in about 2 months. Thank god I'm a size 5 and can fit in the childrens section, that's gonna save me like £20-£30.

Well anyway those are my resolutions, they're very generic and obvious and aren't really all that measurable, but I don't really have any targets just general areas to improve in my life. I'm already failing at the more sleep one since its now 11pm on a school night. Oops.

Let me know yours!

Day 30: 2014 Favourites

Just to add to cliche that is me and this blog I'm now going to comment on how fast the year has gone: Am I the only one who can't believe its 20-freaking-15 in less than two days? 2014 sounds so futuristic still, let alone 2015. I swear the years go faster each time, though to be fair I did read on tumblr one time that the years seem to go faster because each new year is a smaller fraction of your life eg when you're 5 the new year is still 1/5th of your life however when you're 16 the new year is 1/16th of your life so it seems shorter. Which kinda makes sense really, no? Anyway today's all about my favourite products of the year, so without further ado lets get on with that...

Makeup-

MUA Undressed Palette- This has basically been my go to palette this year, though the fallout can be a little annoying, the colour pay off and blendability of the colours is great for such an affordable palette. 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer- I don't think I really need to talk about this since every blogger, vlogger and youtuber from here to the moon has raved about this at some point, but it had to be included.

Benefit Porefessional Primer- I first tried the sample size of this when I got it free with Elle magazine and I knew I'd have to buy the full size for christmas but when I found out they were selling double sized bottles for the normal price in John Lewis and I just had to.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet- Easily my favourite lip product I've ever tried, I truly don't understand how anything can be so long lasting, matte and such a true bright colour. If they didn't cost £9 each I'd own ever colour by now.

Loreal Super Liner- Still my favourite eyeliner of all the many I have tried, long lasting, easy to apply and a true black, could you ask for more? 

Real Techniques Buffing Brush- I honestly don't know what I would do without this brush, it so dense and soft and really does even out and buff the foundation into the skin. 

Hair-

Mark Hill Miracoilicious Hair Mask- My relationship with this hair mask has just hit it's one year anniversary as I first tried it when I brought it on boxing day in the sales last year and I have to say I still love it now just as much as when I first tried it. I will never stop recommending it to anyone and everyone.

Tangle Teezer- After trying out the tangle teezer on my waist length wind swept hair I can officially say without a doubt that it is the best hair brush ever.  Whilst the price always puts me off, I really couldn't go back to a normal brush after trying this.

Skincare-

St Moriz Fake Tan- The only tan I've ever tried, but with it being as good as it is I've never really been tempted to buy another brand. The price is really affordable and the blendability and colour payoff is excellent so I see no need to try another brand.

Freederm- This is probably the best spot treatment I've ever tried, 3 days of using this and the spot will be non existent, but when paired with sudocrem it works miracles, seriously!

What are your plans for celebrating the new year, I'm working this year, but I don't really mind cus none of my friends are doing anything really, let me know your plans?

Day 29: Challenge Roundup

Overall I'm pretty pleased with how the challenge has gone, particularly because I have managed to write posts that I actually am proud to post for most of the days, however I did miss two days (11 and 18), and put 2 or 3 posts up late, Oops!

These four posts are the posts I have most enjoyed writing and the ones I'm generally most proud of because of the photography etc. (Christmas trees really do make great backgrounds).

Day 13: Perfect Winter Lip and Nail Combo

Day 9: Gingerbread Recipe

Day 12: Rudolph Nail Art

Day 5: Books

Let me know what your favourite posts have been so that I know for the future!

Day 28: Essential Winter TV

All of these shows have had their fall finales a while ago now but that just means there's lots of episodes to binge watch whilst it's cold outside, with a mug of hot chocolate and a fluffy blanket!

The 100- I only very recently realised that the second season of this had started but I watched the eight new episodes in 2 days anyway so it didn't really matter! I love love love Clarke and Abby, I love the fact that this show has two strong female leads, and I especially love the fact that whenever you expect one of the male leads to swoop in and save the day, it ends up being Clarke or Abby instead.

Reign-Similar to The 100 one of the main reasons I love this how is because whenever you expect Mary to back down and let Francis sort out the problem and whenever he tells her not to interfere she goes ahead and does whatever she wants to because she thinks its the best thing to do. Apart from that I also love the setting and costume in Reign because its all so pretty and sparkly and luxurious. And the romance between Francis and Mary is just perfect. It's very cliched very romantic and not at all historically accurate but I love it!

American Horror Story- As I write this I have spent all afternoon watching the first 5 episodes of season 3 which is Coven and although it is super creepy and full of absolute psychos I still find it weirdly addictive. I really liked the first season but chose to skip the second one because A) Asylums already really freak me out and B) my friends said that it was one of the worst one so I chose to skip to coven. I wasn't too sure to begin with but I think I would recommend it now, it's a very edge-of-your-seat-have-to-watch-more kinda programme.

Flash & Arrow- I have put these two together because if you like one, I have no doubt you'll like the other, I really don't think I could pick between the two cus I adore Felicity in arrow but I also love Caitlin and Barry in the flash. They have the perfect mix of action, romance and comedy which is so rare, though Flash is definitely lighter and more comedic then Arrow. The crossover that they did just before their fall finales was amazing too and the finale's of both were just incredible too, I just loveeeeeee them.

Whilst writing this post the main thing I have realised is that promo shots are so bad, they always look really awkwardly posed and so airbrushed that they don't even look like the actors anymore. Anyway I hope you enjoy, let me know if try any of the shows out cus I have a tonne more recommendations!

Day 27: What I Got For Christmas

This comes with the obvious disclaimer that I'm not bragging, I am however very pleased and very grateful for all the wonderful gifts I have received this year. I personally really enjoy reading/watching these kind of posts/videos so I hope you do too.

I'll start with what my brother got me which was this awesome Guardians of the Galaxy T Shirt and bluetooth shower speaker plus a tablet case.. for the tablet that my parents got me for Christmas, I'M SO EXCITED AND GRATEFUL! 

My parents also got me this beautiful yankee candle and votive set which smells amazing. Plus the votives are the perfect size for yankee samplers. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find good sized candle holders? Of course you do, if you're reading this you're probably a fellow blogger which means you're probably a yankee candle fan!

My new super badass leather jacket and boot combo, that I picked out in November but my mum put them away for Christmas, I didn't think I'd last, but I did! Now I can look like Tris Prior/Clary Fray/Isabelle Lightwood/Rose Hathaway whenever I want. If you know what books they're from I commend you!

Caramel coffee syrup, costa travel mug, clotted cream fudge off mom and dad and an Orphan Black Mug of my sister, could my family know me any better?

My brother's girlfriend got me this great collection of Elf Makeup plus some more hair dye, because I've ran out of my purple and green ones now, so I'm gonna try pink :(  I love the fact that it's a custom compact, I may have to be investing in a few more colours.

My friend Georgia got me this amazing Starbucks gift set which I love, thankyou G!

And  finally fluffy PJ's off my Aunt and Uncle

Apart from that I got lots of chocolates and a bit of money off other family members, which I obviously have already spent most of in the sales haha! I hope you enjoyed reading this post, I personally love having a little nosey into peoples lives so if you do a similar post let me know.

Day 26: Christmas Day in 5 pics

Sorry I'm late but I have been so busy with family things and then I went sale shopping today (I'll do a post in Jan) but here's my Christmas day in 5 4 pics because that's all I have!

The mess left from present unwrapping.

 My mum made a gorgeous Christmas Dinner

I made Chocolate profiteroles for dessert.

Playing trivia games after lunch.

Day 25: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Image Source

Today's post is literally just to wish you the biggest

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVER

(quite literally)

I wish you all  a wonderful day with your family and friends, hopefully santa brought you what you were hoping for! and even if you don't celebrate christmas I hope you just  have a magical day anyway!

Day 24: Christmas Traditions

We don't really have any Christmas traditions that are out of the ordinary in my family, we obviously do the standard tree decorating, turkey dinner and movies but I can't think what else we do really. For the last few years on Christmas eve we have been going to TGI's with some family friends before going to mass but this is the first year in quite a while which we aren't going so I guess that means it's not a tradition anymore.

The only other tradition I can think of is that we usually have a party the saturday before Christmas with all our family and friends, it finished at 4am this year! The photo below is from this years.

Sorry for today's boring post, hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas Eve...

Day 23: The Christmas Jumper

I was planning on doing a jumper wish list of sorts, but decided I'd be a bit more original and instead decided to post some photos from my Christmas jumper party :)

 

 I think Jordan (second from the left) had my favourite jumper!

Can we just take a moment to appreciate my sister's new hair, (She's the one on the right) she had it cut from almost waist length like mine to shoulder length and it looks GORGEOUS.

We exchanged our secret santa gifts at the party too and I am eternally grateful to Sean for buying me this awesome Game of Thrones notebook and matte nail polish. The notebook is so pretty I'm never gonna want to write in it..

I had such a fun night, so thankyou muchly to all of my friends for attending!

Day 22: Chocolate Peppermint Candy Cane Hearts

All you need for this quick and easy recipe is mini peppermint candy canes and a chocolate of your choice, yet they make a beautiful addition to any gift. I used a 100g milk chocolate bar and 18 mini candy canes to make 9 hearts though white chocolate would also look fab!

All you have to do is  lay out two candy canes facing each other to make a heart on some parchment paper then melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30 second bursts till smooth and pour into the little heart shells. I then put mine in the freezer for 10 minutes till solid (though you could put them in the fridge) and then peeled them off the parchment paper.

If you try out this recipe, please tweet me a pic @KatieCorbett98, I love to hear from my readers!

Day 21: A Christmas Playlist

So today I'm sharing with you my top ten eleven Christmas songs. I've been listening to these whilst decorating my tree and baking gingerbread, you can check out the recipe here. Enjoy...

1. Fairytale of New York- The Pogues ft. Kirstie Maccoll
2. White Christmas- Bing Crosby
3. Driving home for Christmas- Chris Rea
4. Let it Snow-Michael Buble/Frank Sinatra
5. Do they know its Christmas- Band Aid
6. A Spaceman Came Travelling- Chris De Burgh
7. Saviour's Day- Cliff Richard
8. All I want for christmas is you- Mariah Carey
9. Merry Christmas Everybody Shakin' Stevens
10. When a child is born-Johnny Mathis
11. One More Sleep- Leona Lewis

Day 20: Christmas Coffees

Can I write a whole post about Coffee?

Probably.

Should I write a whole post about Coffee?

Probably not.

Will I write a whole post on Coffee?

DEFINITELY

Coffee is a newly discovered delight this year, thus this is the first year I have experienced the Festive Menus at both Starbuck and Costa Coffee and I have to say I have not been disappointed! However as a starbucks lover it brings me great sorrow to say that I actually prefer the costa christmas menu. Although Starbucks Eggnog Lattes are basically heaven in a mug overall the Costas menu is better because they have much better hot chocolates and their sticky toffee latte is amaze. My main problem really is that Starbucks is a much nicer place to sit in because the decor and atmosphere is nicer however Costa is cheaper and possibly has a nicer menu all year round, it leaves me with quite the conundrum.

Anyway if you are to take anything from my caffeine induced ramblings, try the egg nog latte from Starbucks because as disgusting as it sounds it's the best thing ever and secondly try the costa coffee sticky toffee latte because its also gorgeous.

PS How cute are the costa to go cups

Day 19: Favourite Christmas Posts

So today is a quick summary of some of my favourite Christmas themed posts from this year, you should definitely check them all out and maybe even give them a follow if you're feeling particularly festive.

• Christmas Biscuit Trees on Cole of the Ball
• Beauty Wishlist on Miss Cosmetic Blogger
• Party Season Must-Haves on Elise Dopson
• Surviving Party Season on A Yellow Brick Blog
• Favourite Christmas Flavours on The Beauty Baker

As always, leave me suggestions and the names of your blogs in the comments so I can check them out!

Day 17: The Tree

I have been meaning to post this for a couple of weeks now but I just keep forgetting to get a photo of the tree! I apologize for the lateness since the festive period is almost over *cry*. Our tree in the lounge is red and gold themed too match the room as it's painted red. Plus there's a nice little cameo of 2 year old me and my brother in the left of the photo.

 These rocking horses were always some of my favourite decorations when I was little-

 How gorgeous are these ones, can you believe they were from B&M Bargains last year? Me neither!

 As a bonus here's our purple and silver tree in the kitchen-

Merry Christmas!

Day 16: Favourite Blogs

Sorry it's late!

Today is all about my current favourite blogs, I've whittled it down to just 4 but if you wanna read a similar post specifically about teen bloggers, check this out. Although some of those blogs are still my favorites I decided not to include them in this post since they were in the other one already.

Fine and Dandy- this one is a very recent discovery but I have to say I just love Claire's writing style and her photographs are always beautiful, plus her blog design just makes me so jealous. I'm definitely feeling a blog makeover on the cars for the new year guys!

Milk Bubble Tea

Another very new discovery but as soon as I clicked through onto Becky's blog I had to click the follow button. I have never been more jealous of anyones' interiors. Her photographs are just gorgeous and that dog of hers is just the cutest. All her posts are so well written and genuinely interesting.

A Yellow Brick Blog

I love love love Kirstie's blog. She posts regularly with a mix of beauty reviews, favourites, wishlists and lifestyle posts, plus her photography is also top notch and I again am very jealous of her blog design

The Beauty Baker

I've been reading Siobhan's blog for probably over a year now and I really enjoy her mix of recipe posts and beauty reviews.

If you have any recommendations, let me know in the comments!

Day 15: Favourite Chistmas Movies

Elf- Easily one of the funniest Christmas movies ever made, if you haven't seen this then where have you been the last 10 years?

Home Alone 1/2/3- These classics are on everyones list I'm sure, so I'm not going to bother explaining.

Fred Clause- Another very funny one that's always on TV plus Rachel Weisz stars which is always a bonus :)

Eloise at Christmas- A fairly recent discovery, but much loved, its about a little girl who lives in a hotel and all her hilarious Christmassy adventures.

The Santa Clause 2- I'm not a huge fan of the first movie however the second one I love because it's all about santa finding a wife.

Annie Claus- I am a lover of cheesy, American made-for-TV Christmas movies and this one totally tops that list. Annie is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Clause and goes to live in a small town in California over Christmas on her first trip away from the North Pole.

So what are your favourites?

Day 14: Christmas Inspiration

My christmas inspiration post is all about wrapping presents, I love a good scroll through We Heart It looking at all the gorgeous sparkly Christmassy pictures, so this post was the perfect excuse! My present's never look anywhere near as cute as any of these, but I can hope.

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