Christmas 2013

Happy new year everyone! Hope you all had a good time last night and that 2014 will be your best year yet. Now that the festive season has come to an end, I thought it would be nice to sit down and look back at some of my favourite memories and photos from the last few weeks:

Work Christmas dinner

It all started with the work Christmas party back a few weeks ago. These days the aren't many opportunities to dress up so I really enjoyed glamming up (look out for an outfit post soon) and celebrating with friends and colleagues. It was my first Christmas dinner of the year too (so tasty)!

 Oxford street Christmas lights

 Oxford street

Godiva teddy bear

 Festive Lola cupcakes

 Selfridges Christmas chocolates

As a Londoner, I regularly shop on Oxford Street, but this year, what with all the glittering white snowballs and sparkling Christmas lights it just seemed that little bit more magical. Selfridges had some beautiful in-store displays too, and I really enjoyed browsing through everything whilst picking up Christmas presents for friends and family. On a more personal note, since I now spent half my time away from London I've come to appreciate the capital so much more and I can't wait to move back properly in August 2014.

 Christmas presents

For Christmas this year I'd already picked up some pictures frames, scented candles, jewellery and books, but thanks to a generous gift voucher from Halifax bank, I was able to treat a friend to some extra beauty bits too. 2013 was a year of big changes for me and I really wanted to say a thank you to those who helped me get through the year. I opted for a Real techniques brush set (some of the best I've ever tried), a cute set of Cath Kidston mini toiletries as well as a bottle of the beautifully scented Boss orange perfume. Thankfully the gifts went down a real treat and she's now as obsessed with Real techniques make up brushes as I am!

Christmas 2013 also saw me return home to Birminghm for the first time in over a year. Although I always miss the freedom and convenience of London whenever I go back it was nice to just relax at home, enjoy some home cooked food and meet up with old school friends.

Bullring Birmingham

Coffee with friends

Finally with my old school friends we seem to have got into the tradition of meeting up after Christmas for lunch and some sale shopping. Quite surprisingly I didn't buy a single thing this year, but it was just nice to sit around, drink coffee and catch up over the last year. It's crazy to think we've been friends for nearly 15 years now!

Did you have a good Christmas break? What are you most looking forward to in 2014?