i can't believe Christmas has been and gone already! i thought i would share with you what i got for Christmas again this year as these are always my favourite type of posts to read! this year i got a lot of stuff from my wishlist which i am super happy about, like these Peter Alexander Grinch Pyjamas. they are super cute and i can't wait to wear them!


my fiancé also got me the Cordially Invited book and this Calvin Klein set which were also on my wishlist. i am looking forward to flicking through the book and i am obsessed with the Calvin set they feel SO luxe.
i also gifted myself the travel mug from Kikki K, as a pledge to be more environmentally friendly in 2019.


from my in-laws i got the Crazy Rich Asians DVD and a new Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume along with some other gifts (not pictured). i can't wait to watch Crazy Rich Asians again, i loved it when i saw it in the cinemas!!!
my boss got me the blush Nine West clutch, i am still obsessing over this colour!
she also got me the Beauty Blender Delight set and the Clinique products!


this year Myer did a little beauty box which has mini versions of their top selling beauty products. this is what i got from Mum and Dad, i am looking forward to trying some new products out but also to have the perfect travel sizes of my favourite products.
i got a Quay Australia sunglasses holder from my fiancé aswell, it holds four pairs of glasses and folds up neatly. this will be perfect for travel!
my brother got me the Mecca Maxima Bananarama Set which was also on my wishlist.


these have to be some of my favourite gifts! firstly the Kikki K wedding planner from my sister, which she even got monogrammed with our initials! this was such a great gift and i can't wait to start using it in the New Year.
my sister also got me the Two Faced Sugar Cookie palette which is too die for and has a great shade range. it also smells amazing too!
and finally my fiancé got me the Meghan and Harry Pop Vinyls!! there are two reasons that he got these for me; 1. because i literally love them and their wedding was GOALs and 2. because they look like us (haha). he says we should put them as wedding toppers on our cake.

i hope you all had a wonderful Christmas this year! if you have done a post or video about what you got aswell this year then definitely feel free to link me as they are some of my favourite posts to read!!

the last day of 12 Days of Christmas and Blogmas is here!
its Christmas eve!!!!! Christmas eve is definitely a close second to Christmas day, i love it! i definitely feel the most festive the day before Christmas, it also means its finally time to watch Elf and The Grinch!

anyway for day 12 i thought i would touch on how i am preparing for the new year and what some of my resolutions for the new year are. as well as reflecting on the year that has been and how i want to set realistic goals for 2019.

Resolutions 
i decided that for 2019 i want to set realistic and achievable resolutions that have goals which i know i can meet.
one of my resolutions for the new year is to be more environmentally friendly. i am going to do this by using a reusable coffee cup when buying coffee instead of the paper/plastic ones they give you. i decided to gift myself a new travel coffee cup for Christmas to help push this resolution along. i also am going to bring reusable shopping bags with me when i go regular shopping. currently i only use reusable shopping bags for food shopping but i have decided i am going to keep one on me at all times so i never have to use/buy a plastic bag again!
by doing these two things i hope i can start making a more conscious effort to be more environmentally friendly and help save our planet.

another one of my resolutions is to take more notice of what i am consuming and how i am burning off what i consume. i want to take more care of myself and my body from the inside out.
i want to cut soft drinks and takeaway food out and really focus on my physical activity more. i would love to get back into a routine and love the gym again. i am going to help push this resolution along by going to the gym everyday in the 3 weeks i have off after Christmas in hope that can help me get motivated and into a routine for when my work year starts again.

finally my last resolution for 2019 is to stop letting other people affect me and stop staying in environments that don't make me happy just to please other people. i think sometimes we just get so comfortable in our lives that we forget to stop and think if this is really the right environment for us and our mental health.
i generally am the type of person who doesn't like change so i tend to just stay or continue doing something because its 'comfortable' so in the new year i want to stick up for myself and move on if i need to. i have learnt you can't grow if you are stationary and always doing/being the same. basically in 2019 i want to grow and challenge myself more.

Reflecting on the year that has been 
2018 has been a ride, probably one of my favourite years but also probably one of my most steadiest years. i didn't really move much or change much, i pretty much just stayed in routine. but either way 2018 went ridiculously quick, i can't believe that it is basically over!!

i created some awesome memories in 2018, rekindled some friendships, loved harder and spent a lot more time with family and friends. i went on two unforgettable holidays, got engaged, worked harder then i ever have and grow a lot as a person.

i definitely learnt who i want to be as a person and what i want for my future. i am starting to realise what and who is important and what steps i need to take to achieve a well balanced life.
i learnt that self care is important and to not let people bug you, if you don't like who they are or what they are about then they don't need to be in your life! this is SO important to know!!!

i hope 2019 is a healthy and happy as 2018. i hope it helps me grow and teaches me new lessons. i am so thankful for the life i live and the health i have. i hope 2019 blesses me with the same.

Plans for the New Year
lets start with plans for NYE, at this stage there aren't any but to be honest i think i would be happy to have a really quiet relaxed NYE this year. i wouldn't even mind if i was asleep by the time the clock struck midnight so i could be up early and have a productive first day of the year but we shall see!

in terms of plans for the new year itself, we have our engagement party in March and a trip to Melbourne in April. otherwise i assume we will just take the year as it comes. i am definitely excited for our engagement party and then the wedding planning that will follow (its going to be crazy i can already tell).

who knows what the year will hold but here is hoping it is a good one! i can't believe its already 2019 SO CRAZY!!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
thankyou so much for sharing another 12 Days of Christmas with me. i love doing these and can't wait to be back again next year. every year, i enjoy blogging more and more and i am definitely looking forward to seeing what opportunities 2019 brings for me.

love you all
stephanie

Day 11


day 11 is all about doing it yourself.
normally i am not a DIY kind of girl but i thought i would give making my own Christmas cards a go this year.

i am going to be mostly using the Kikki K Paper Lover's Christmas Book and other various crafty bits i have around the house. realistically you can probably use whatever you like when it comes to making cards.

i like Kikki K's Papers Lovers book because it has pretty much everything you need inside; from paper to stickers, lettering to envelopes you can basically make a card from scratch. Kikki K also include little boxes, ornaments and mini cards if you don't have time to make them yourself.

i decided to make cards for just my family this year, i don't think people appreciate receiving a card on Christmas as much as they would on their birthday so i thought i would just keep it at immediate family.


what you need:
- card or paper of your choice
- stickers
- white paper
- lettering
- envelope
- pen
- glue stick
- sticky tape
- scissors

how to: 
1. take the piece of card or paper you want to use as the exterior of your card, this may have a pattern or design on it that you want to display. cut it into the size you want your card to be, if its not already in the desired size.
2. get a piece of plain white paper and either cut it so it is smaller then the exterior piece of card (so there is a border when placed inside the piece of exterior card) or leave it so it is the same size as the exterior card. glue it to the exterior piece of card.
3. now fold the card in half so it makes a 'card' and is openable and closeable.
4. decorate the front of the exterior card with your choice of lettering, stickers etc.
5. now on the inside of the card where you wish to write a message, you can either place stickers to read a desired message such as 'merry christmas' or 'happy holidays' or you can write this with a pen.
6. write a message in the card to your loved one and you are done! (place in envelope if desired.)

i hope this little DIY helped in some way, writing instructions has never been my strength!
Merry Christmas.

2018 overall has been a pretty great year. obviously there has been a mixture of ups and downs but i have enjoyed this year and what it has offered.
as we draw to the end of 12 Days of Christmas and 2018, i thought i would share some of my favourite moments and memories of 2018.

there is no surprise that majority of my favourite moments from this year are when on holiday or with bae. we managed to accomplish quite a few things together this year, one of them being that we got engaged! so this year is definitely not one we are going to forget anytime soon.

in no particular order here are some of my favourite moments and memories from 2018:

Getting Engaged (31/10/2018)
this was probably the most unforgettable moment of the year, i still can't believe it. how he managed to pull something this big off without me not expecting it, is CRAZY.
he proposed on the day we arrived in Sydney before we embarked on our 2 week cruise around New Zealand, at this gorgeous spot called Lavender Bay that looks out over the harbor and at the bridge.

Melbourne Trip for my 21st Birthday (21/04/2018)  
Melbourne is one of our favourite places to go, so it was definitely fun to celebrate my 21st birthday there. whenever we go to Melbourne we literally shop till we drop and this trip was no different. i actually got my first Louis Vuitton on this trip so that was extra special. can't wait to return again in 2019!

New Zealand Cruise onboard the Ovation of the Seas (02/11/2018)
i am so sad we are home from this holiday, its been well over a month and i still am in holiday depression mode. it was just so fun and we had the BEST time. i want to go back!!
not only was New Zealand amazing but so was the Ovation, there is literally not one thing i can say i didn't like about the trip all round. it was SO good, i definitely recommend going to New Zealand and on a cruise at least once in your life!

Hobbiton, Tauranga New Zealand (09/11/2018)
this was by far my favourite day we had in New Zealand! we literally got up at the crack of dawn and made our way to Hobbiton where they filmed Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. for those who don't know Hobbiton is home of the Shire which is where the little hobbits live. it was the cutest place EVER, they have put so much detail into the little homes and into the layout of the whole thing. this is a must do in your lifetime even if you haven't seen them films, it is just the best!!! (also extremely good for pictures haha)

Port Elliot Trip (12/05/2018)
at the start of this year i was a little obsessed with bakery donuts and Port Elliot has one of the best bakeries in South Australia so bae and i took a little road trip down and picked up some goodies. we made a day trip out of it and explored Victor Harbour and the surrounding areas whilst we were down there. i remember that it was particularly freezing that day especially on the coast but we had so much fun and it was definitely one of my favourite days this year.

i hope you enjoyed a little insight into some of my favourite moments and memories from 2018, i would love to know yours so please feel free to share them with me!!

Product: Blenders Delight Beauty Bundle 
Contents: Beauty Blender Original, Beauty Blender Joy, Mini Blendercleanser Solid in Juicy Berry, Mini Blendercleanser Solid in Juicy Apple and Blender Defender Protective Carry Case
Size of Product: 2x full sized Beauty Blenders, 2x mini Solid Blendercleanser, 1x full sized Blender Defender
Shades: N/A
Price: $60.00 AUD
Value for Money: Great
Would I buy again? Yes
Review: i think this set is really good value for money; especially considering a Beauty Blender by itself is normally $30 AUD. so i was really happy to pick up this set because i know it will last me a long time. 3 of the 5 products in this set are limited edition which i always think is nice. i definitely highly recommend this set as it is a great value for money and is very useful especially if you are like me and only use a Beauty Blender for foundation.
Product: Coconutter Cracker Exclusive 
Contents: 1x 101 Lip Ointment in Coconutter and 1x Lano Coconutter Hand Cream Intense
Size of Product: Lip Ointment =10g (full sized) Hand Cream = 25g (mini)
Shades: Coconutter
Price: $19.95 AUD
Value for Money: Good
Would I buy again? Unsure
Review: this is my first time trying any Lanolips products, so far i am impressed. i like the packaging and the scent. i prefer the hand cream over the lip ointment, as the coconut can be a little too much on the lips sometimes. i think the value for money is good, the lip ointment is normally $14.95 AUD by itself and the full sized hand cream $16.95. overall i think this is a great stocking filler and would be a great buy for a range of people.
Product: Quench Squad Hydrating Lip Set
Contents: 4x Quench Lip Rescue Lipbalm
Size of Product: 1g per lipstick - sample sized
Shades: Rose Lip Quencher, Nude Lip Quencher, Berry Lip Quencher, Red Lip Quencher
Price: $30.00 AUD
Value for Money: Okay
Would I buy again? Yes
Review: i love these lipbalms, they are extremely hydrating and feel amazing on the lips. i like how lightweight they feel and how they give the lip a nice tint. i have only tried the nude shade before so i was happy to pick up a pack that had a range of colours to try out. unfortunately because they are sample sized, you won't get a lot of use out of them but i guess its a good way to get you to buy the full sized. i love the festive packaging on these, each individual lipbalm has a different festive themed container; so cute! the value of this pack is okay, normally the individual full sized product is $27.00 AUD. i definitely would buy this for my loved ones as i love the product itself, i just wish they were bigger!
Sephora Holiday Collection
Product: The Experimental Masks Set
Contents: 4x face masks
Size of Product: Full Sized
Shades: Charcoal, Mud, Bubble and Primer
Price: $30.00 AUD
Value for Money: Okay
Would I buy again? No
Review: you can't really go wrong with a good face mask set and this would make the perfect gift for anyone. the value for money of this pack is okay, generally each mask is $8 AUD separately, so realistically you are only saving $2 by buying this pack. i do like the range of masks that are in this set, they have included something for every occasion. i would not buy this mask set again as i feel i am better off just buying the masks separately.

Day 8 


it is pretty much an Australian tradition to have a pavlova on Christmas day. we normally have a full sized round one however after having mini ones on the cruise, i decided to make mini ones this Christmas.

i have take inspiration from Natasha's Kitchen and her Pavlova recipe and all credit to her because her recipe is amazing and works a treat!




Ingredients:
- 6 egg whites, room temperature 
- 1.5 cups white sugar
- 2 tsp corn flour
- 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract


Ingredients for topping:
- 1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
- 2 Tbsp white sugar
- 4-5 cups fresh fruit (blueberries, kiwi, raspberries, sliced strawberries, etc)

Decorating:
1. Beat cold heavy whipping cream with 2 Tbsp sugar in the cold bowl for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes or until whipped and spreadable.

2. Pipe frosting onto the pavlova and top with fresh fruit. Once they are assembled they stay great for up to 4 hours at room temperature.

lets face it, Christmas and the month of December wouldn't be the same without the abundance of Christmas songs and movies that we watch and listen to. nothing gets me into the festive spirit more then a good Christmas movie and singing along to some Christmas songs.
i have put together a list of movies and songs i will be listening to and watching on my countdown to Christmas.

basically every year my Christmas music playlist is as follows:
1. All I Want for Christmas Is You- Mariah Carey
2. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Micheal Buble
3. Last Christmas - Wham! 
4. Baby It's Cold Outside - Idina Menzel, Micheal Buble
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - The Jackson 5 
6. Winter Wonderland - Tony Bennett 
7. Santa Baby - Madonna
8. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Micheal Buble 
9. Silent Night - Micheal Buble
10. Man With the Bag - Jessie J 
11. Love Me Like You (Christmas Mix) - Little Mix
12. This Christmas - Christina Aguilera 
13. Here Comes Santa Claus - Frank Sinatra
14. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley 
15. Winter Things - Ariana Grande
16. Mistletoe - Justin Bieber 
it doesn't really stray away from these songs, they are such classics and really get me into a festive mood.

as for movies, i have a few that i refrain from watching until Christmas Eve and they are generally The Grinch and Elf. it has become a tradition for me to hold off watching these until the night before Christmas because they are literally the best Christmas movies ever!!
otherwise the other Christmas movies i watch as i countdown to the big day are as follows:
12. Arthur Christmas 
13. The Princess Switch

men generally are the hardest to buy gifts for, so i have tried to come up with a gift guide for any budget and any man. hopefully help you find a gift for your loved one!

The Gamer:


Pop Vinyl - $19.00 AUD
- Pop Vinyls are a great little gift because they available for pretty much every game, movie and tv show you can think of. if the man you are buying for is into games like Fortnite or Overwatch then a pop vinyl of one of the games characters is a perfect idea (most big games have Pops available)


Nintendo Switch Super Smash Bros - $498 AUD
- a little bit more on the pricey side but this includes a limited edition Smash Bros console and game. the game by itself retails for $68 AUD and is also a great gift idea.
i think this would be a great gift idea if he grew up in the 90s and played Super Smash Bros or any of the Nintendo specific games.

The Sportsman: 


Superhero Shaker Cup - $19.95 AUD
- the perfect gift for a gym junkie or sportsman. these hero shakers come in a range of different colours and characters and are a really easy gift idea. they are also reasonably priced and good quality.


Nike Air Jordan, Jordan Hat - $39.95 AUD
- you can't really go wrong with a hat, they are both fashionable and functional. perfect for lifestyle or gym wear. definitely a must have gift for the sportsman in your life.


Adidas Adilette Slides - $45.00 AUD
- a good pair of slides is only necessary these days. these Adidas slides are my personal favourite on the market and super comfy. they come in a range of colours and are a "can't go wrong type of gift."

The Businessman: 
Happy Socks Nautical Gift Box - $59.95 AUD
- socks are a must have for anyone on Christmas but especially the businessman. these happy socks not only offer a bit of luxury but also some fun patterns.

Trent Nathan Manicure Set - $79.95 AUD
- a manicure set is a great idea for the businessman. it would come in handy when travelling or just to keep in their bag.
Mon Purse Leather Card Holder (personalised) - $49.00 AUD
- i love personalised items, i think it just makes something that little bit more special. so why not get your man a personalised wallet this Christmas, its a nice little touch.

The Movie Enthusiast:


Typo x Star Wars Apron and Mitt - $29.99 AUD
- what movie enthusiast doesn't love Star Wars. this is a fun gift for him that is useable and a little comedic. my fiancé would definitely love this one!

Cinema Gift Voucher - $50.00 AUD
- a cinema voucher is always a great gift for anyone especially a movie buff.  movies at the cinema are generally expensive so its always nice to enjoy a movie without the cost and who doesn't love going to the movies on boxing day!

Gift Republic 100 Movies Scratch Off Bucket List - $26.00 AUD
- i think these scratch off posters are an awesome idea! this present is such a great idea for the new year aswell, a easy bucket list to achieve.

The DIY Guy:

Gentleman's Hardware Garden Multi Function Tool - $49.95 AUD
- the perfect tool for the DIY guy. this is bound to come in handy and will last a longtime. if you want to add a little bit of personalisation you could also get the wooden part engraved.

Ryobi 22" Tool Box - $39.00 AUD
- a tool box to keep all his tools. always a good idea. even if he already has one, its always nice to update and have some clean and new.

hopefully this gift guide helps you find a gift for him, it was surprisingly harder then i thought to make this post! why are men so hard to buy for!!!

• being prepared (write out a list of all the presents i need to buy and tick them off as i get them)
• double check your gift list against someone else in your families make sure you haven't missed anyone or bought the same present
• get it done early (try and beat the rush, have all your shopping done and ordered two weeks before Christmas) 
• wrap them early (wrap as you buy or dedicated a few hours on a sunday morning to wrap everything you currently have so you know its done, don't wait until your shopping is finished)
• make a plan (work out how your Christmas day is going to flow and where you need to be at what time) 
• don't rush (if things don't go to plan, don't worry. people won't mind if you are running late)
• enjoy the moment (a lot of the time Christmas is spent rushed and worrying so take a step back and enjoy your gifts and the company).