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If you've read any of my posts previously, you'll know that I love making playlists. I thought, with the Christmas season in full swing, it would be a fab idea to create a catchy Christmas playlist! So here goes...

Last Christmas by Ariana Grande

The original song is a classic by Wham, and is equally epic. However, I really love the spin Ariana puts on this song, and she really brings it back to life, giving it a R&B vibe. Definitely check it out!

Fairytale of New York by The Pogues

This is a classic Christmas song, and I love it so much because I remember my Mum always singing it in the car. If you ever have the urge to throw some baubles at your significant other during the holiday season, avoid it and listen to this song, to relieve any Christmas aggression.

Do They Know It's Christmas by Band Aid

This song is a charity single, involving tons of celebrities to raise money for world hunger. It's a fab cause, but also an amazing song, too. It really makes you appreciate everything you have, and anything you may receive over Christmas!

One More Sleep by Leona Lewis

This is a super catchy Christmas tune by Leona Lewis, who won X Factor all of those years ago. If this doesn't make you want to bop along to the beat, then I don't know what will!

Christmas Time by The Darkness

This was one of my favourite Christmas songs, as it just makes me want to go mad and sing very loudly. Okay, alcohol may be involved every time I listen to this, but hey... You've got to enjoy yourself over the holiday season!

Shake Up Christmas by Train

This is quite literally the happiest Christmas song you could ever find. It just makes you add a step to your walk! If you're needing cheering up, definitely have a listen!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas by Michael Buble

Okay, so Christmas would not be the same without a bit of Buble. His voice, his soul... Ah, he is just so dreamy! Can we add him to my wishlist?!

Santa Baby (COVER) by Taylor Swift

Another cute cover, and this one is by Taylor Swift. I love this version of Santa Baby, as she's definitely made this her own, and turned it into a country masterpiece. It just makes me want to put on some boots and dance!

Wonderful Christmas Time by Paul McCartney

This song is timeless, and will always make you want to dance. If you don't know the words to this, I am judging you.

All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carey

And finally, it would not be Christmas without this epic song! Mariah Carey is literally the reason why we have Christmas, right?

Thank you for reading this post! Tune into my next post XO ZOE!

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I'm writing this blog post after work. I'm tired and the weather is so dreary outside, and it definitely does not look a lot like Christmas. So, to cheer myself up, I have been sat thinking of ways that I can get into the Christmas spirit. Christmas is less than three weeks away and it's time to don your favourite Santa hat!

Watch A Christmas Film!

This is a super simple and inexpensive way to get yourself into the Christmas spirit. Hop on to Netflix (or even YouTube for the old classics) and search for your favourite Christmas film. My favourite is Elf, as it's a timeless classic, and I also adore The Grinch. Little Taylor Momsen was just so cute!

Dance Away!

Another free way to bump up your Christmas cheer is to play some Christmas tunes. Mariah's song is a classic, and you can find a huge selection of free Christmas playlists to listen to, on YouTube. They will definitely cheer you up! Look out for a future post from me, as I will be creating a fab Christmas playlist of my favourite festive songs.

Bake Some Treats

There are a TON of amazing Christmas recipes online to get you into the Christmas spirit. These Christmas tree shaped brownies look super yummy! Check out the recipe from DELISH, HERE!

Visit The Coke Truck

It isn't Christmas until you see the TV advert of the Coca Cola truck, and now see it in person for free! You will also get a free mini can of coke, of your choice! Here is the truck visiting my town last year and check HERE for the dates when it will be near you!

Look At Lights!

It doesn't cost much to drive around your local neighbourhood and look at other people's Christmas lights. Even visiting your Christmas town's light switch on can be a fab, and inexpensive way, to spend your evening. Add some Christmas tunes and you'll be cheery in no time! This photo is of a house in Toronto, but I just HAD to share. Now that's some effort!

Visit The Christmas Markets!

Okay, so this will not be cheap, but it is a super way to enjoy good Christmas food and music, if you have a little extra cash to spare. There are a ton of Christmas markets which happen all over the UK throughout December, but my favourites are the Glasgow (pictured above) and Edinburgh markets. The food (and maybe alcohol) is absolutely lush, and you end up feeling as stuffed as Santa. Check out the dates for a market near you!

Check Out Church

I feel like these days, no one stops for a minute and realises that Christmas is actually about religion and not about presents! I used to love carol singing at my local church, and this year I intend to spend Christmas Eve evening at my local church! There's nothing better than belting out Christmas hymns on Christmas eve.

Snuggle Up!

And, if all else fails, grab a blanket and snuggle up! Just remember... it's nearly Christmas!

With Christmas comes over-indulgence and nothing gets me in the Christmas spirit more, by baking yummy treats. This is Tanya Burr's cookie recipe from her book, so check it out!

Ingredients

200g Unsalted Butter 300g Caster Sugar 275g Self Raising Flour 75g Cocoa Powder 30ml Milk 200g Chocolate Of Your Choice

1. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.

2. Cream the unsalted butter and caster sugar in a mixing bowl, until smooth.

3. Add the self raising flour and cocoa powder into the bowl and mix together. Add the milk as you mix to combine your ingredients. This really is the messy part, and I found it worked best to use my hands when combining the ingredients.

4. Once the ingredients are combined, add any chocolate of your choice. I chose white chocolate, YUM!

5. Roll your cookie dough into individual balls and lie them on a baking tray, which you must either line with baking paper or grease with butter. This will stop your cookies from sticking!

6. Bake for 10-11 minutes (TRUST ME, they're done), then leave them to set for 30 minutes (if you can manage!) and ta-da, easy chocolate-y goodness!

Thank you for reading this post, and I hope you enjoyed this recipe! XO ZOE

There's such a fine line between having tasteful Christmas decorations and applying tinsel to every little thing in your house. I'm kind of stuck in the middle somewhere, so without further ado I'm going to go through my favourite decorations that I've put up in my house!

Bunting Mad!

I adore bunting and garlands, and I think they can add such a fab touch to a shelf or window. You can actually get them pretty cheap, too! My favourites are the sparkly silver "Merry Christmas" banner over my fireplace, and the wooden "Christmas" sign over my bookcase. It really just adds such a lovely touch, without looking too crazy!

Cute Canvas

Canvas prints are a fab way to add an extra touch of festivity to your household. You can also find a bunch of funny Christmas slogans like the one pictured above, which I find have made many people smile when they have seen it! Even better, they're also super inexpensive. The one pictured above is from B&M!

Show Your Stocking

Stockings are not just for presents, adding one to each side of your fireplace in the run up to Christmas adds such a cosy feel to your living room. If you don't have a fireplace, try adding them to a table or shelf. I've had the ones pictured above for years, but you can find some cute stockings for very cheap prices from Home Bargains.

Light It Up!

If you're not a fan of crazy decorations, and want to be a little more tasteful, add some fairy lights to a vase or bowl. I bought these "cherry" lights from Sainsburys, but you can find some super cheap ones for £1.99 in B&M. Such a fab way to light up your home, and add some decor to your normal every day items!

Add A Touch Of Fabric

A cosy way to brighten up your home, is to add a festive blanket or pillow! Asda have such a fabulous and inexpensive selection of Christmas bedding, making your bedroom incredibly cute and cosy! I bought this blanket and pillow from Asda last year for £5 each and really hope to purchase their "Vintage Kids Christmas" bedding, as it looks so cute!

Tree Time

And, of course, Christmas wouldn't be the same without a beautiful tree... and don't forget all of the presents underneath!

Thank you for reading my post! What's your favourite way to decorate for Christmas? Comment below! XO

Having a day off on a Sunday is a rare occurrence for me, so when it does happen, I grasp it with both hands and make the most of it! On Sundays, I love to have a pamper to get ready for the week ahead, and de-stress. So here is my favourite products which I use to pamper myself!

Skincare First!

My skincare routine is incredibly important to me, and I have to take it seriously to prevent epic breakouts. You'll know by now that I use the Liz Earle Daily Essentials, and I absolutely love it. First, I use the cleanser to wipe off any dirt.

I then apply my favourite face mask of the moment, which is the Sanctuary Spa 5 Minute Detox Mask. It is a heated mask, so makes you feel like you're getting a spa treatment at home. It is also super inexpensive! Once I've wiped that off, I apply a toner. At the minute I'm using a L'oreal toner, which is also super inexpensive, and works well with my skin. Finally, I use a Early Defence Eye Cream by No 7, to get rid of the giant bags under my eyes!

Lather On The Lotion!

Now that the winter months are here, there's nothing more I enjoy than lathering my skin in lotion. After showering, I apply the Nuxe Dry Oil to my chest and arms, as this oil is gentle on my skin. I then use the Ted Baker body lotion on my legs. I also LOVE the Soap and Glory range, and really love their foot cream. I like to massage this into my aching feet, when they're suffering from long shifts! Lastly, I use Soap and Glory's Helping Hands, which is very rich hand cream, to really replenish the oils lost from washing my hands so much!

Care About Your Hair

Once my hair is washed, I leave it to air dry for a half hour before spraying it with Lee Stafford's Heat Protection spray. I then use Bed Head's Small Talk hair cream to boost the volume in my hair, before blow drying my hair. I usually straighten my hair, then apply Bed Head's After Party to smooth the ends of my hair. This product is a holy grail, and I could not live without it, plus it smells divine!

Time To Chill

Once I'm done with my hair, I grab a blanket and a hot water bottle, and sit down to a film or TV programme. Tonight I'm watching The Missing, which is currently on BBC Iplayer, and I'm obsessed with it!

And a Sunday evening would not be complete without some lovely candles. Tonight I'm burning my favourite scent Snowflake Cookie by Yankee Candle and Vanilla Frosting by Simply Home. I just love candles, and they make me feel super cosy on a cold night!

Thank you reading this post and I hope you enjoyed it. What is your favourite pamper product? Comment below! XO

I've been obsessed with creating gift guides, but my parents have recently asked me what I actually would like for Christmas. I have mostly asked for essentials, which I don't want to buy myself, but if I could have anything this would be my wishlist!

Benefit Porefessional Primer

I would LOVE this for Christmas, based on the fact that I go through tubes of these like crazy and it would save me purchasing one myself. This is the only primer which blurs my pores, but doesn't clog them and doesn't create blackheads. It allows my make up to last an entire 12 hour shift, too, which is a bonus. Buy it HERE!

All These Countless Nights Signed CD by Deaf Havana

This isn't actually out until the end of January, however, you can pre-order signed copies of this CD in time for Christmas. I'm a massive fan of them and already have a signed version of their last CD, but I would love to receive another! You can grab a signed copy HERE!

Snowflake Cookie by Yankee Candle

I am absolutely in LOVE with this scent of Yankee Candle. I do already have a small jar version of it, however, I really want a large jar which will last me all year round. It smells so sweet and delicious, you could just eat it. Buy it from HERE.

Too Faced Christmas Palette Set

I've been eyeing up this set since it was released. Too Faced have an amazing Christmas collection this year, and I am really wanting their Grande Cafe gift set. It is a super good deal, as you receive three blushes and twelve eye shadows, all of which are Christmas inspired and scented. Many people have given it great reviews, and I'm definitely hoping that I'm lucky enough to receive it! Check it out HERE.

Lush 12 Days of Christmas Set

I LOVE LUSH! I did used to have a massive collection, but really could not afford to keep it up! So receiving an awesome set like this for Christmas would be awesome, and I have asked "Santa" very politely for it. The gift set can be found HERE and comes with a fantastic mix of bath bombs, bubble bars and shower gels. It really has a great selection and is perfect for pampering yourself during your holidays!

Dressing Gown!

I am dying for a new dressing gown. My house is super cold all of the time and Sainsburys have an amazing selections of dressing gowns, for under £20! Definitely loving this grey and white fluffy gown!

That's all for my wishlist! What do you want badly for Christmas?! Thank you for reading XO

If you've read any of my posts, you'll know I've previously created a post listing my favourite songs of that month. I thought I would create another playlist of epic songs, as I've recently found some great hits, which have really inspired me. So, here goes...

Sparrows by Jason Gray

This song has been in my head for the past 24 hours, and every time I listen to it, I just want to start dancing. It is a Christian-inspired song, and I'm not the most religious person, but that hasn't stop me from becoming obsessed with this song. The lyrics are incredibly inspiring, and uplifting.

Without Him by Christina Grimmie

It's nearly been six months since Christina Grimmie passed away, and I still find it incredibly upsetting. I followed Christina in her Hannah Montana cover days, and remember getting so excited when I heard that she got signed! She was so unbelievably talented, and I am still in love with her songs. I've recently started listening to her music again, and I have had this song on repeat. Check out her music above, to hear her utterly talented voice.

Wings by Birdy

Okay, I know that this song came out a few years ago, and I am super late in finding it. But, I recently heard this song on the radio and I fell in love. This song just makes me want to burst into song every time I listen to it. Check it out above, and if you don't have the urge to dance then there is something wrong with you!

A Drop In The Ocean By Ron Pope

This song is probably the most beautiful song you will hear all day. I found this song during an episode of The Vampire Diaries a few years ago, and have been obsessed with it ever since. It's such a timeless ballad, and just speaks to my soul. Check it out if you want a good cry!

Fierce by Jesus Culture

I am absolutely in love with this inspiring song. Yet again, another religious song (hey, I listen to anything) but the song can be applied to anything if you're not feeling it in that sense. Just trust me, listen to this song all the way through and you'll feel all gushy and inspired for the day. I've been listening to this song in the car every morning and it just pumps me up for my day.

Love With Your Life by Hollyn

Okay, SUPER funky song alert! If you're feeling down and need an upbeat pop song to motivate you, definitely check out Hollyn. She's an upcoming artist, and has such a unique voice. She sings motivating hits about staying positive, and I've loved EVERY one of her songs.

Thank you for reading this post, and I hope you enjoyed these songs! I'll definitely keep this post a regular thing on my blog, as I'm always looking for new songs. Comment below if you have anymore suggestions, and I'll see you in my next post! XO <

Winter is well and truly here, and this year, I've been suffering with extremely dry skin! My skin is usually problematic, and is mostly on the oily side with a few blemishes. Over the past month, my skin has done a complete u-turn and become extremely dry to the point were (TMI ALERT) it is literally peeling off! So if you're suffering with winter skin issues, I've come up with a few tips!

Develop A Three Step Routine

If you want to really take care of your skin, you need to develop a quick skincare routine. That can be difficult if (like me) you work long days, and cannot be bothered to faff about with skincare products, at 5am. Try developing your own "three step routine", which consists of your favourite cleanser, toner and moisturiser. This way, you're using three essential products, and using less time. I'm a massive fan of the Liz Earle Daily Essentials set, as each product works great with my skin.

Scrub Up

If your skin is dry to the point where it's peeling, you need to exfoliate with a gentle facial scrub. This will remove dirt and dead skin cells, and if you're applying your make up, will provide a smooth base. My favourite is the Soap and Glory Scrub Your Nose In It exfoliater. The crystals inside are tiny, and so gentle on your face, plus it smells absolutely divine!

Add A Drop Of Oil

Using oil on your face can be super scary! Replenishing your skin with any essential oils that may have been lost through out the day, can help to restore it back to it's original state. Side note, only use this method on dry patches and not oily areas, if you have combination skin! The Body Shop's Vitamin E Oil in Serum is a great oil to use, and I actually mix this in with my moisturiser, just to give my skin a little bit of an extra boost.

Use A Mask?

Okay, so that's mean. But seriously, use a super hydrating face mask. I 100% recommend the Lancome Hydra Intense mask. It is a super hydrating gel mask, that smells like you're at a spa! This mask is a little expensive, and you can find much cheaper masks on the market. However, if you have dry skin avoid using charcoal or peel off face masks, as these may dry your face out more!

Hydrate From The Inside

Common sense really, but make sure you're staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water. I am definitely guilty of not drinking enough fluids through out the day, and I honestly do believe that good hydration definitely helps to keep my skincare problems at bay!

Thank you for reading my post! Follow me on Pinterest and I'll see you in my next post! XO

Can you actually believe we're nearing the end of November? EEEK! I cannot wait to start opening my advent calendars, which I will shamefully admit, I have way too many of. November has been an intense month for me, and I have found myself pampering myself to improve my mood, and through that I have developed a love some products. So, let's get started!

Yankee Candle Snowflake Cookie

I have been loving Yankee Candles as the winter season has kicked into full swing. This month I have found my all time favourite candle, which is the Snowflake Cookie scent. For starters, it is pink which is my favourite colour, and it smells like cookies mixed with vanilla icing. I could honestly sniff this all day! I have already burnt a full jar, and have added this to my Christmas list for next month! Buy it HERE.

Lancome La Vie Est Belle Perfume

I recently re-discovered this scent and it reminded me of the Christmas season, as I wore it all through December last year. It's such a luxurious, sweet yet musky scent, and I ALWAYS receive compliments when I wear this! It's definitely a favourite this month. Check it out HERE.

Nip and Fab Facial Scrub

My skin used to be sooooo oily, and recently it's changed to being SUPER dry. Recently, I have been really struggling to manage it, and it just makes my face look gross. I find when I use this facial scrub before I do my make up, it allows my foundation to last longer instead of bunching up in random places. I also love it because it's super inexpensive compared to other facial scrubs! Buy it from HERE!

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-usage Dry Oil

Speaking of dry skin, it's not only my face which is suffering at the hands of the cold, winter months. My hair, nails and body are all dry and gross. Nuxe's multi-use dry oil has been a lifesaver, and it really works to restore my skin to it's natural "oiliness". I love that you can use it on just about every body part (well...) and it smells lush too! Definitely an essential this month. Check it out HERE!

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

Okay, so I had to put this in because I've ran out of it and I feel like I've lost a part of my soul. This product is god's gift to the make up world, and I seriously need to repurchase this asap! I have no idea how it works, but it does, and a few sprays allow my make up to stay fresh all day. It also helps if I've "over-powdered" my face. Buy it from HERE, no seriously, go buy it!

Chocolate Christmas tubs!

In the UK, as soon as the Halloween decorations are taken off the shelves, you will find stacks of these tubs of sweets. This month, I have been obsessed with sneaking into a box of Heroes chocolates (which is supposed to be saved until Christmas). I JUST CANNOT STOP MYSELF, THEY'RE ADDICTIVE. Buy them HERE... you know you want to!

Thanks for checking out my post. What are your favourites this month? Feel free to comment below, and follow me on PINTEREST! XO

First things first, I LOVE being a student nurse and it is the BEST thing that has ever happened to me. However, with the good aspects, always comes bad and here are a few #studentnurseproblems in the form of memes, to brighten your day!

You will be permanently tired.

NEVER say the Q word... Don't even think it.

You will look like this on your first day of clinicals...

And when you carry out ANY procedure for the first time, you will be thinking this...

You will talk about bodily functions NONE STOP!

And you will get so excited over poop!

THIS will be the bane of your existence!

And this will become your favourite thing to collect...

Your friends/family will think that you can treat any illness

Some days you will just want to breakdown!

But it will be all worth it in the end!

I hope you guys liked this post, and it at least brought a smile to your face! Follow me on Pinterest if you want to see more nurse memes! XO