Everything Erin

I feel like 'what I got for Christmas' posts are a little like marmite, but for me, I love reading them - not just because I'm nosey but because they provide so much inspiration too. I also love writing my own to reflect on each year, so today (for my final post of 2017!!) I've decided to share with you what I received this year. I'm not going to list every single thing - most things I've photographed, but instead chat about a few of my favourites.


The one thing I really asked for this Christmas, and was really excited that I received, was a record player. I've always been one to collect physical CDs (of which I have such a collection) so I have wanted to start collecting vinyls and get a record player for ages. I love this one by Goodmans because it's so pretty in the white and rose gold! I also receieved a couple of vinyls - X by Ed Sheeran from my parents and Niall Horan's Flicker from my Auntie. My mum chose X because she knew it's an album I've always loved (it really is my favourite Ed Sheeran album) and I have also been loving Niall's new album.


Something I was not expecting from my parents was the Gucci Bloom perfume. It has such gorgeous packaging, really unique, and smells amazing, but although my mum had hinted I may be getting a perfume I had no idea it would be this one because it is so new. I also love how it came with a little shower gel and body lotion too.


Beauty wise I got a couple of eyeshadow palettes, both of which are from my favourite brands and I am so excited to use! My mum got me the Naked Smoky because it has just been discontinued and I really wanted it before they stopped selling it, especially because it's so different to my other palettes. It actually sold out on Debenhams online a couple of days after she got it so I was really lucky with that. My auntie got me the MAC Rose Gold Snowball collection palette which is so stunning, especially the two dazzleshadow shades in it.


I seem to have a new record with the amount of toiletries received this year and I am not at all complaining! I got some Lush products from my mum, my nan and also my best friend who got me the Little Snow Fairy set - I can't wait to finally try out the Snow Fairy shower gel! You can certainly tell I like LUSH, and I definitely had to go out and buy even more in the sales... but I'm saving that for another post!


My mum also got me The Body Shop's Christmas Frosted Plum shower gel, which I asked for while we were shopping because I used it a couple of years ago and was really excited that they had brought that range back this year because it smells so good.


I also receieved some books - Tom Fletcher's latest novel and Harry Judd's book Get Fit Get Happy (I love McFly okay) both signed which I'm so excited about! I also can't wait to watch my Dunkirk DVD after loving it in the cinema a few months ago, and both The Sound Of Music and Monsters Inc on Blu-Ray, two old favourites that I only have on DVDs.


I also can't wait to listen to Taylor Swift's Reputation album which I receieved from my brother, and my parents got me a subscription to the History Revealed magazine because I'm really interested in history (so much that I want to study a degree in it eventually) so that will definitely come in handy. Something else, being a blogger, that will come in handy is the Bloggers Journal that my auntie got me from Paperchase - it has pages to plan all your posts and looks amazing!


I am so appreciative of everything I got this year! I also hope that you all had a lovely Christmas and would love to hear what you received in the comments - as I said at the beginning I am a huge fan reading what everyone else got too!

It's Christmas Eve and my final day of blogmas! I cannot believe how quick the past twenty-four days have gone, and how now Christmas is only just around the corner! To round off the extravaganza blogmas has been, I am going to be sharing my Christmas makeup look with you all.

Christmas Day is definitely one of my favourite days for doing makeup. It's a day when usually I would have a lazy, slower morning therefore have plenty of time to do my makeup, and a day when I love to add a bit of glitz to the look. It's Christmas after all!


Starting with the base, I will be using what I always go for, my L'Oreal True Match foundation - still the best foundation I've tried! I pair this with my L'Oreal Touche Magique concealer, this is again a great product from L'Oreal. They both match my skin really well and are long lasting which is exactly what you want on Christmas day - especially when they're set with the Rimmel Stay Matte powder.


Around this time I'll be filling in my brows with my old matte Technic palette - the darkest two shades. My goal for next year is to properly try a brow product (I'm waiting to browse the Anastasia Beverely Hills range in Sephora) but to say this palette was crazy cheap that I got before I was into makeup, I think the shades match my brows perfectly, somehow.


To contour I'm using my Benefit Hoola bronzer; this is an amazing bronzer and definitely deserves the hype it receives! Benefit's High Beam is also my favourite highlighter so I'll definitely be going for that today too, it adds the most gorgeous glow.


Onto the most exciting part - the eyes! I'll honestly end up spending something ridiculous like twenty minutes on eyeshadow because I get really into it. Starting with the Naked Ultimate Basics palette, I'll pop a couple of the shades such as Commando and Faith in the crease to begin the look, then on the lids I'm definitely going to be using my MAC pigments because they are so glitzy and gorgeous!


Using a bit of the NYX glitter primer to prime my lids, I'll be adding a bit of my MAC gold glitter in the centre because it's so pretty and festive. I'll then be darkening up the lid, probably using some shimmer shades from the Naked 2 such as YDK and Busted, two of my favourites right now! Roller Lash from Benefit is my mascara of choice because it really lifts and curls your lashes, it's honestly the best I've tried.


Finally onto the lips - I'm definitely opting for a nude today because although a red would be super festive, I would be a bit worried about it going patchy when having stuff to eat and drink! It's certainly a difficult choice but I'm going to go with my Urban Decay Heat lipstick in Fuel because it's a gorgeous nude shade that I know will compliment the eyes really well.


A huge thank you to everyone who has read my blogmas posts this year! It has been such a rollercoaster but I am so proud of managing to complete it all. What makeup do you think you will go for on Christmas day?

The past couple of years I have become such a fan of glitsy nail polishes to add a bit of glamour to your Christmas look. I love how brands in shops such as Boots and Superdrug offer the prettiest nail polish shades which can make your nails look so professionally done - even if it was just yourself while you stuck on a Christmas film!

This year I have opted for the traditional Christmas colours for my nails - gold and red. I love adding a glitter polish to my thumb nails, rather than them all, it's a little more understated while still super glitzy. Both of the nail polishes were from No.7, and I love how the red shade has a bit of a sheen to it rather than just being your standard matte red.


If you're going out for a Christmas meal or simply already have planned what to wear on Christmas day (if so, I applaud you), it can be a lovely idea to co-ordinate your nails to your outfit. It's a bit extra but I think at the Christmas season why not? If you have a certain colour you wear a lot, that can make it a little easier - the whole of November I wore burgundy nail polish because it's very rare my outfit won't have a little burgundy in it.


I also love this almost clear glitter shade from Maybelline's Color Show collection, to make any shade of nail polish you own glittery. This is really versatile because you can go for your favourite nail polish shade and add some extra sparkle.

There are only two more blogmas posts to go after this one - get prepared for everything to get super festive! It is a blogging challenge I have wanted to do for years and I am really glad I finally decided to give in and do it this year. I feel like blogging daily for 24 days teaches you a lot, so what did I learn?

A Lot Of Planning Is Involved

Think about it, you're having to come up with twenty-four post ideas - that's quite the challenge in itself. Then finding an order for them all and planning when to write them involves a lot. You have to be a pretty organised blogger when it comes to blogmas I think - spreadsheets are a must!

Taking Photos In Bulk Is Easier

It's so much easier to sit down on a Saturday and take all your photos for a week than panicking each night because you have no photos. It can be quite laborious at times, taking blog photos, so getting them all done in one great big go is a lot easier.

However, Taking Photos Is More Difficult When You Haven't Yet Written The Post

I like to take my photos to correspond with what I've written, so when I used to post twice a week, I would write the post first and then take the photos. But when you're taking the photos in bulk, that's not always so easy. You wouldn't think it would make a difference but I'm a little less inspired to take the photos when I don't know what the post is really about.

You Get Into A Routine

After about a week, I got used to posting daily because I would get into a routine. My post for the next day would always be scheduled the day before, the photos would always be taken at the weekend etc. You work out what works best for you and the whole thing gets a bit easier.

It's Actually Really Rewarding

The fact that I will soon be able to look back at my 24 posts in a row is definitely something to feel proud of. Other months this year when I've been really busy I have just about managed four a month, so I'm really proud of how much I have pushed myself.

There's Less Time To Read Everyone Else's 

Unfortunately, the biggest downside of blogmas, is that because you're so busy making sure your own posts get up on time, you have less time to read everyone else's. It's really annoying, and probably the biggest reason why I could never blog so frequently usually - I miss catching up on my favourite blogs, because that's a big part of blogging too.

Although 2017 hasn't been my favourite for music on the whole, but there have been so many amazing albums this year. As I have been doing a monthly mixtape every month this year, for December's edition I will be wrapping up my favourites that have really stood out to me this year.

2017 has definitely been the year of Ed Sheeran thanks to his fabulous album Divide beginning the year and spending the majority of weeks at number one. Although I have come to the conclusion I prefer X, his second album, I have listened to Divide all year and absolutely love it; it must be one of the best releases this year. The tracks such as Shape Of You (my most streamed song on Spotify this year, no surprise!) and Galway Girl are some of my favourites.


Of course, as I am a huge fan of Harry Styles I have undoubtedly been loving his solo material this year. Sign Of The Times was released in April and ever since then, he has had amazing success with his debut solo album, which I was so impressed by. I can't wait to see him on tour next year, especially to hear the tracks Kiwi and Carolina.


Shawn Mendes has been another music favourite of mine this year. Seeing him live in April was amazing and one of the best concerts. It was just after the release of his single There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back as well which has also been one of my favourite songs throughout this year, it's so catchy and fun.

An artist I have listened to loads this year was Coldplay, all of their albums I have been listening to constantly this year, but although they haven't had an album release for a couple of years, their single with The Chainsmokers Something Just Like This, and their Kaleidoscope EP including Miracles (Someone Special) have been two of my favourite songs this year.


However, it may be The Script's latest album Freedom Child that has been my favourite album this year. I was so excited about their single release of Rain, then seeing them live in Blackpool was the most amazing experience. I can't wait to hear the rest of the songs from Freedom Child in February. The album is amazing and most definitely underrated, because songs such as Arms Open and Freedom Child, the title track, have been on repeat since its release in September.

Christmas is definitely the time for getting dressed up, whether it's for a meal out leading up to the occasion, or on Christmas day itself. What are my favourite party dresses on the high street this season?



Hollister's dresses are big on lace and I love that, as you can tell by my dress of theirs I picked up a few years ago in the sale (pictured below). This year's lace dresses from Hollister come in a few different colours, but my favourite was the black one because it seems to fit a lot more with this season and felt a little more dark-evening friendly, as this time of year provides.


I realised I have chosen a lot of black dresses as I moved onto my fifth pick, which is a real rarity as I don't tend to go for black dresses, what with having long dark hair. I love the style of the spotty Topshop dress as I almost feel it's a winter version of my SuperDry playsuit I wore on holiday a lot this year, even with similar little tassels. The style looks really flattering and comfortable to wear to a Christmas themed party.

When I popped onto the New Look website I went on a hunt for a dress with a little more colour, and ended up sticking with the floral theme I began with! But I think the red colour of this dress fits with the festive time of year, while again the longer sleeves are perfect for keeping warm.