A Right Royal Christmas Doo

The annual Christmas ball for JD Williams saw a 'royal do' at the Palace Hotel none the less...complete with an appearance from the 'Queen' (and one of her beefeaters...ooo er).  The Palace was the perfect setting for the ball and everyone donned their finery for the occasion.  

We were welcomed with champagne and cranberry, which was delicious then there was a festive spread of goats' cheese terrine, beef and seasonal veg, topped off with white chocolate and gingerbread cheesecake....however, we all found the free bar much more tasty!

All the girls were the belle of the ball, each with our own style, which made for a great array of trends.  I opted for the Gothic, leather trend as seen in Vogue and other fashion magazines throughout 2012.  Some went for striking cobalt blue and in the words of Vogue (and Meryl Streep) this is a carefully selected hue much loved by designers and a regular on the catwalk.

The rest went for classic black...an all time favourite and ever so reliable, like myself some dazzled in deep plum but I put my fashion foot wrong when I forgot my plum lipstick so has to rock the nude vibe instead, a mistake I could not believe was my own!!  Of course there were some festive dresses all in sparkles and resembling the Christmas fairy, cream and jewelled and ever so elegant.

The fun began in the photo booth complete with dress up accessories...all our fashion credentials went out the window as we transformed to our true, silly selves!  I have to say some of the disguises were ace and quite well put together but the giant wig has to be the winner!!

So whilst the doo was a royal one, we all had a right good knees up and danced the night away at the Royal Palace.  There were a few Sleeping Beauties amongst us that could not last the night, but no Cinderella was left without a Prince and we all lived on through the night, dancing happily ever after.....

Christmas Pampering

Coming home for Christmas meant I finally got to go shopping and do all things girly again!

This started with a visit to the Christmas markets where mum and I sampled the mulled wine and spiced cider!! This kept us nice and toasty as we trailed through the tiny stalls.  It was all Christmassy and lit up around the markets which definitely got me excited :)

 

 

It did get too cold so I had to buy some lovely new gloves...hand finger knitted by a little company in Manchester.  They are so nice and finally replace my favourite gloves from All Saints which have disappeared never to be seen again!

Our day was made even better with a spa pampering session at Harvey Nichols in Manchester, an amazing pedicure and manicure complete with champagne meant I was ready for the party season.  I went for deep plum toes and glittery burgundy fingers to match most of my new purchases....in plum and burgundy; I think I definitely have a theme in my winter wardrobe this year :) mum went slightly similar but opted for hot pink toes instead...a girl can never have too much pink right? The spa was so lovely and the beauticians were really friendly...and very good at the treatments!! It was an amazing treat after a hard day shopping in the busy crowds.

 

After feeling VERY relaxed we ended up dining in the Harvey Nichols restaurant; their Christmas menu was just too good to resist :) We had a great view of the markets and all the shoppers still bustling in the streets, whilst we sat warm and cosy.  The meal came complete with crackers and it was really yummy food...it was a little taste of what's to come on Christmas day and I can not wait!!

We both ate Turkey with the most amazing stuffing flavoured with Clementine...and whilst I did not eat my sprouts (bleurgh!) the rest was very good.  The meal ended with Christmas pudding and brandy sauce AND a cheese board, both of us were stuffed after the meal and it was a great end to a great day!

This was the best welcome home day ever and it definitely got me in the Christmas mood! I am looking forward to even more turkey and pampering over the holidays at home, I have my Christmas wardrobe at the ready, nails done and a taste for all the yummy food...so bring on Christmas!!

Winter Wonderland

The Christmas festivities have taken over this week! Uni deadlines have been met and it is officially Christmas time :)  Whilst being cooped up in the library, I have not seen much of the winter fashion this week but I have found the odd moment to decorate home and we have our very own reindeer, Ralph!

 

It is nice and cosy at home, whilst we haven't got a tree up at uni, fairy lights and Ralph make it just as good.  The rooftops have turned frosty now so it look more Christmassy everyday :)

 

To celebrate with the girls, we cooked a HUGE Christmas dinner one evening! We had all the trimmings and our plates were piled so high with yummy food...I also had my first experience of bread sauce which I have to say is really yummy :) We had Michael Buble's Xmas album playing, crackers on the table and even mistletoe above the door.

 We ended the night curled up on the sofa's watching 'A Nightmare before Christmas' unable to budge due to too much food...but it was so worth it!

I have already been spoilt with presents too, Secret Santa with the girls at home and with my old placement girlies too...even Anna's mum sent me a lovely present.  My placement girlies bought me a personalised Cinderella book, I am Cinderella and they are the ugly sister, along with the rest of the bunch as the other characters like the fairy godmother.  They always say I am a Princess, so they turned me into a real life one :) it is such a lovely keepsake.

 

Secret Santa with the girls at home was so much fun, we all got amazing gifts and mine especially is fab! I have a few fashion books, British Fashion Designers and Coco Chanel, sat on my cherished bookshelf but my Secret Santa bought me another to add to my collection.  It is a catalogue of old Vogue front covers from many eras, the images are so vibrant and it is the best Secret Santa I have received! Here are some of the many pages from the book, some of my favourite covers:

I must have been very good this year, Santa has been so kind already and it is not even real Christmas yet!  Finally,  my presents were complete with a gift from Anna's mum.  It was wrapped so nicely...complete with a little keepsake bell on top :) I now have my own Cath Kidston mug yay! and a cute little trinket box for my room too.  I have always wanted my own Cath Kidston mug and now I have one, I have been very spoilt.

All this excitement has made it a great end to the uni term and I can't wait to get into the outside world again and venture into the land of Christmas fashion....seeing people all wrapped up and cosy with their festive accessories.  I can not wait to go back home and sit all cosy warm by the tree...but I am sure I can fit a few more Christmas cocktails with the girls first......