The last few weeks of 2015 went by in a blur! I celebrated my anniversary, Christmas and my 21st birthday all in the space of 16 days – it was a busy one! My anniversary was lovely, I spoilt my partner and got very spoilt in return and we went out for the yummiest dinner! Christmas was lovely – spent time with my partner’s family as well as my own and cooked Christmas dinner again – although I should have just stuck myself on the table, it was 37 degrees outside and hotter in my kitchen, I roasted! My birthday was spent with breakfast with my dad, a movie in Gold Class with my boyfriend, an afternoon nap (hey, I’m practically a grandma now!) and dinner and an evening at a local festival with one of my closest friends. It was simple and it was great!
I have definitely been ridiculously spoilt this year, even moreso than normal and I’m 100% grateful for all of the gifts I’ve received! For this year’s post I decided to include a couple of my anniversary gifts, as well as Christmas/Birthday and have combined them all into one, not necessarily sharing who gave me what and for what occasion! I haven’t added all of the gifts I’ve received, nor have I stated the amounts of any money or gift vouchers I’ve been gifted – I don’t feel like that’s right!
Two Christmas presents from my partner that I wanted to share with you all I couldn’t exactly photograph easily because I’ve been using them a lot – and they’re kitchen appliances! I asked for either a Nutri Bullet blender for smoothies/juices or an Omelette Maker – and he got me both! I have hardly stopped using them since! They’re both so perfect and good for breakfasts and every day! I’ve got them both linked so you can see them for yourselves!
I usually get a fair few clothing related items but didn’t this Christmas! I did receive a cute pair of cat pyjamas though – I’m addicted and can never have enough! I was also fortunate enough to receive a pair of 2XU Compression Tights for the gym which I’m so excited to start using!
I received a few gorgeous jewellery pieces this year, which all fit into the jewellery box I also received. I received a couple of pairs of earrings, a gorgeous bangle and a beautiful diamond necklace (a 21st gift, it isn’t as yellow in person it’s just the lighting!)
So, I got a LOT of cat related presents. What can I say, I absolutely love cats? Way too much for someone that doesn’t have one of their own…! I have three cat books which I’m looking forward to reading and adding to my collection, a cute fake cactus pot plant and trinket tray from Typo (perfect for rings and earrings at the end of the day) and the coolest idea – a cat shaped fried egg maker. I don’t even know how, but my eggs look like cat faces – genius!
I got a LOT of chocolate. A lot. And probably a third didn’t even make it into this shot – boyfriend and I got straight into that! I only really eat chocolate over Christmas/New Year usually so it’s okay! I also received some pods for my coffee machine, some lollies, shortbread and gingerbread, baking related items and cocktail kits with mason jars (mainly for the mason jars!)
A cute and thoughtful (and delicious) gift from my boyfriend is this ridiculous amount of Flying Saucer lollies. These are hard to describe, kind of like a rice paper with a sherbert inside, but I absolutely love them! I used to get them at the shop after school when I was younger, but I struggle to find them anywhere these days! So he got me 3 packets for Christmas, and when I jokingly asked “is that all?” he admitted he’d actually got me another 2 for my birthday as well – I have so many I’m set for ages, I am way too excited!
I was lucky enough to receive some gift vouchers and money this year. I received a voucher for my local day spa, some vouchers for local clothing shops, Coles Myer vouchers and money for New Zealand – such a thoughtful idea! I also received a gift voucher for Flight Centre which is so incredibly thoughtful and I can’t wait to plan a trip!
Something I received from my boyfriend is a Deluxe Glazed Apple Gift from The Body Shop – I knew about this because we ordered through my friend who’s an At Home Consultant, but I’m so insanely grateful because this is one of my favourite scents of all time and I regret not picking up more last year – I’m set for a while now!
Some more skincare/body care gifts! I received two bath bombs from Lush – the Creamy Candy Bubble Bar (an old favourite) and the Ceridwen’s Cauldron Bath Melt – something that smells and sounds amazing that I’ve never tried, but can’t wait to! I also received some Glasshouse Fragrances soaps, a MOR Marshmallow Body Butter (which smells like musk sticks to me, yum!), some more Body Shop products (including a Vanilla fragrance which must have rolled out of shot!) and a well needed new GlamGlow SuperMud Mask!
Makeup! I actually didn’t receive a lot of makeup this year, which I’m kind of glad about! I had a major realisation a few months ago where I realised just how much I had and how little I’ve used, and I’ve cut back my spending a lot since! That being said, I have a never-ending desire for eyeshadow palettes and was so happy to receive these! The Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons palette I love, and was a gift from my boyfriend for reaching a few blog goals/my re-launch! (Side note, how sweet is he?! I don’t know how I got so lucky!) A Christmas gift from him was the Make Up For Ever Artist Shadows 1 Palette, which I knew about because I picked it up in a recent Sephora US Haul, and I also received the Urban Decay Naked Smoky palette from one of my best friends – I’m honestly the most spoilt person in the entire world, I swear! I also received the Mac Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator as a gift. It’s a product I’ve never used before, but have always been intrigued by because I haven’t seen any reviews – I can’t wait to finish my usual exfoliator now!
Something that was intended as Christmas gift are these three gorgeous Sigma brushes! I received a mini E25 as well as the E40 Blending Brush, Tapered Highlighter and a backup 3DHD Kabuki all in copper! These actually arrived January 6 and were ordered November 20… At least they arrived though!
Last, but by no means least, are the gifts that I got myself! I spent a bit too much in 2015 so only got myself two little things. For Christmas, I treated myself to 4 new Makeup Geek eyeshadows when they had free international shipping in December (swatch and review post coming soon!) and for my 21st, I treated myself to the Mimco Loves Medium Mim Pouch with the matte black button, which you can’t quite see because I’ve still got the sticker to protect it from scratches!
I also wanted to include the above shot – I went a little (a lot) crazy at the Lush Boxing Day sales! Like, 33 bath bombs crazy… I’m looking forward to a good few baths in my future! I still can’t figure out how to store them though…
That’s it for me for this year! Again, by no means am I bragging – I got good reception from my post last year, and had a few requests over on Instagram to post the 2015 version, so I have! I’ve been very very spoilt, and I’m very blessed, lucky, thankful and grateful to have the amazing family and friends that I do to share my life with and be treated by! It also looks like such a huge amount because this is three occasions in one – an anniversary, Christmas and my 21st birthday… If you imagine this spread over three posts, it’s not quite as intense! I just get a small period at the end of the year where I get all my gifts, seemingly at once! I hope you’ve all been equally as spoilt this past Christmas, and are again in 2016!
Wow!!! Such lovely gifts! I love all the cat themed presents as I am also a recipient of those. I love the cat dish! I hope you’re having a blast in NZ!
I was so spoilt ! And some gifts I didn’t include I can’t even believe it !! The cat themed ones made me giggle – even my boyfriend’s mum got me one and that made me realise the extent of my obsession! Definitely am having fun!! x
I keep all my lush bath stuff still in the bag in my wardrobe. It’s just easier because I can just take the bag out and choose the one I want then put it back in:)
That’s what I’m doing at the moment too! It’s just so much easier to keep it all in there, I’ve got my pre-Christmas bath bombs to use first too!