A Look Back At My 2015 Goals

This time last year I set myself some goals for 2015. Some were related to my blog, others to my writing and others were just general lifestyle aims. I'm actually just about to do the same thing for 2016, but before I start focusing on the new years goals I thought I'd share the progress I made with this round of goals!

Top 6 Books of 2015



2015 was an epic year of reading for me. I smashed my Goodreads reading challenge and although I may have swayed from my 2015 Reading Challenge in one way, I did read a ton of new books this year, despite the fact that I endured several reading slumps. I'm a creature of habit and I'm so guilty of re-reading books more often than picking up new ones, but during 2015 I feel I managed to kick this terrible trait. Just a little bit. If you'd like to know exactly what books I read this year, then feel free to click on over to my Goodreads profile, where you can find a full list! Why not add me as a friend whilst you're there? ;) But, for now, allow me to introduce you to my Top 6 Books of 2015!

What I Got My Boyfriend For Christmas



I can't count the number of times I'd uttered the words "I can't wait to give Luke his presents" on the run up to Christmas, but I know for a fact that I'd said them once or twice (or five times) here on the blog. So I thought that now that he's opened them and assured me that I was right to be excited about them, I'd show you what all the fuss was about! I got him one 'main' present and a few smaller 'main' ones, then I just did him a stocking. I hope you don't think that I'm doing this in any malicious way, or that I'm bragging - I'm just so happy with what I got him and we both want to remember it! I also thought that it might be helpful for anyone who finds the men in their life difficult to buy for - Christmas may be out of the way, but they do have a birthday before the next one!

What I Got For Christmas 2015



SURPRISE! I bet you didn't expect to see me pop up in your Twitter/Bloglovin' feed this afternoon, did you?! It's rare for me to upload a post at a time that isn't 8am, but the blog lighting Gods dictated that I couldn't photograph this post until about an hour ago. So here we are at 2pm!

8 Things I Achieved in 2015

BLOGMAS DAY TWENTY.

I know that we're a mere five days away from Christmas, but right now I'm focused on another occasion that's looming on the horizon: New Year. I actually really enjoy New Year, and January is usually one of the best months for me in terms of motivation and confidence. Things to tend to burn out a little come February, but that's beyond the point... Either way, I've been thinking a lot about what I want to achieve next year, and also what I've achieved this year. I didn't feel like I'd done much of note this year, but the more I thought about it, the more I realised I've done some pretty great things. Grab yourself a hot drink of choice and some biscuits, this post is going to be a long one!

Lush So White Bath Bomb

 

BLOGMAS DAY NINETEEN.



So White appears to be a real Cult Classic for Lush at Christmas Time, yet it's a bath bomb that I'd never tried before this year. I feel like the reason I never picked it up is because of it's innocent white exterior - it looks especially plain when stood next to something like Golden Wonder or Father Christmas. But I was determined to try all of the Christmassy bath bombs this year so I got Luke to grab me one whilst he was in town a few weeks ago.

The Library of Fragrance Perfumes

 

BLOGMAS DAY FOURTEEN.

If there's one part of my beauty stash that was completely depleted when I decided to become cruelty-free, it was my perfume collection. I've never really been an avid wearer of perfume - I was always more of a body spray/mist kinda gal - but I have to admit, I have missed the option of spritzing myself with something a bit more special. So when I was given the opportunity to review a few perfumes from the Library of Fragrance, I jumped at the chance.

20 Festive Blog Photo Props

BLOGMAS DAY ELEVEN.

It's always fun to accessorise blog photos with props that are relevant to the time of year, whether that's by using confetti hearts on Valentines Day or conkers during Autumn. I've been playing around with using different festive things when taking my Blogmas photos recently, so today I thought I'd share with you some festive prop ideas for your own Christmassy blog posts!

Current Favourites

 

BLOGMAS DAY TEN.

I kind of regret not doing a November favourites at the beginning of this month, but I just couldn't get the items to photograph right. Plus I knew that I didn't want to do a December favourites because come January I try not to have any blog posts that relate back to the year that's just gone. It's probably really silly, but I just like the new year to be as fresh and new as possible! Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that instead of me doing two separate favourites, today I'm going to give you an edit of my current favourites. ARE YOU READY?

My True Love Gave To Me by Various Authors

BLOGMAS DAY NINE.

 

Title: My True Love Gave To Me

Author: Various authors.

Genre: Young Adult

Length: 320 pages

Published: 1st October 2014
 



I had to include a Christmassy book review somewhere in Blogmas didn't I?! And what an adorable book it is. I'm sure we all know by now that I'm a particularly disloyal reader, and am always dropping books from my reading routine in favour of new ones. One of the most recent additions into my rotation has been My True Love Gave To Me, which is a collection of festive short stories written by a bunch of different authors. It's been nice to flit between this and the two other books I've been reading. Some of the authors featured include Rainbow Rowell, David Levithan, Matt De La Pena, Gayle Forman and Stephanie Perkins, who also acted as editor.

The Happy List #8

 

BLOGMAS DAY SIX.

I've tried to write this post about twenty-million times (read: twice) so far, but the words just aren't flowing right. Apparently all my mind wants me to talk about is my mental health (which is crap) and Christmas (which is exciting) but there are lots of cute little things I want to remember so today, instead of titling this post 'Life Lately' like I was going to, I'm going to give you another Happy List! I know I only did one like two weeks ago, but what can I say? You can't have too much happiness, right?

1. Exchanging Christmas cards with Victoria. How sweet is this Christmas card that Victoria sent me? It's a pug in a jumper wearing glittery reindeer antlers! Seriously though, it made me so happy that  Victoria asked me if I'd like to exchange cards with her. It also meant that I had to go out and buy a Christmas card for the first time in my adult life!

6 Books I Still Haven't Read

BLOGMAS DAY FIVE.

I don't think that it's unusual for a reader to have a collection of books on their shelf that they still haven't read yet, and I feel like if you're a book blogger then it's a probably-definite thing. I very rarely buy books that I don't want to read instantly, so it's not really a surprise that my collection of TBR books is fairly small - but still, today I thought I'd share with you 6 books that I still haven't read.

Lush Yog Nog Bath Bomb

BLOGMAS DAY FOUR.

Last year, I fell in love with the scent of Lush's Yog Nog soap. It's very unlike anything I usually like (I'm a sucker for anything sweet), but it's warm spiciness drew me in. I didn't pick up any of the soap because I knew I'd never use it, but when Lush released a bath bomb this year with the same name and scent I couldn't say no!

Things I'd Like For Christmas 2015

BLOGMAS DAY THREE.

Since I've been dishing out Christmas gift guides left, right and centre since the beginning of November, I figured that it was about time I showed you what I'd like to get for Christmas this year. Of course these are all material things, so my other personal Christmas wishes (such as happiness, love, health for my family and a roast dinner) are being hung on the Christmas tree instead. I haven't exactly asked anyone for any of these gifts (aside from one or two) and I genuinely don't mind if I don't get them. This is just what I'd like!

Bedroom Details #2

BLOGMAS DAY TWO.

I'm so so pleased with how my bedroom has come together this year. I've replaced almost all of my old mis-matching wooden furniture for a bunch of white bookcases of various size, I've organised my books in a more practical yet visually appealing way and I've played around with displaying artwork and photos. The most recent change in my room has been the inclusion of this Ikea Billy bookcase, and today I thought I'd give you a lil tour.

Things To Do Before 2016

BLOGMAS DAY ONE.

Welcome to Blogmas 2015! I've been seriously debating about whether or not I was going to join in with Blogmas, but then I thought why the hell not? It's not like I value my free time or anything... I'm kidding! (kind of) So yes, this is just a little declaration to let you guys know that you'll be getting a blog post every single day from me from December 1st right up until Christmas! Not all of them are going to be centred around Christmas because 1. I'll probably have other stuff to talk about, 2. it'll probably get on your nerves and 3. I didn't want to alienate anyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas. But yes. Anyway. Onto my to-do list.