A Very Merry Christmas | Blogmas 2017 ♡

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope you had a wonderful magical day with friends, family and everyone you care about.
We spent it with both our families and our pussycats over Christmas & Boxing day and were absolutely spoilt, feeling very lucky and very happy right about now. Im currently sitting watching Sunshine on Leith, full of food and prosecco and its literally perfection.

Heres now to the New Year and all the things that 2018 is going to hold. Im going to put my heart and soul into everything I do in this next year, Ive never been more determined.

I hope you enjoyed the few Blogmas posts I put up. I had so much fun putting them together, 

See you all soon,

Amy x

Last Minute Gift Guide Him & Her | Blogmas 2017

This time of year, as fun and exciting as it is,  can be so stressful! Are you attempting the last minute rush to the shops this week to buy all the bits you forgot?!

Today I thought I would share with a couple of presents I have for friends and family that you could easily pick up as a wee last minute extra or a gift for him and for her. Everything I am showing you is in shops rather than online as standard delivery dates for Christmas are either today or have past.

Good on all of you who have finished, wrapped everything and are sitting with a prosecco in hand already, Im super jealous.

These wee bags are from TKMaxx and were a bargain at £3.99. Ive filled them with some sweeties and given them to my Auntie & my Granny. You could fill them with anything you like or even a wee toy if your giving them to kiddies. Theres Gingerbread Boys & Girls, Penguins, a Snowman and some Reindeer. Lots to choose from.

Another handy present could be this Oral B Electric toothbrush. These are on offer at the moment in Superdrug in a couple of different colours. This set even comes with toothpaste. I picked one up for Bruce as he's been wanting one for so long. I also find a standard toothbrush a great stocking filler.

You cant go wrong with a couple of games for a Christmas present. Wether its a board game or a wee pack like the ones I've picked up. They can be great main presents or can even be used as stocking fillers. The Games Night box set is from Debenhams and is on offer for only £10.99. Its got eight different games inside it to get any party night started. The smaller games I picked up from ALDI, only £1.99 each and their was loads to choose from. 

I was stuck with what to get for someone this year and decided to create my own little makeup set. I got this gorgeous Beauty & the Beast makeup bag  from Boots for £8.50 and filled it with makeup which I personally love. I got it all from Collection and Makeup Revolution all for under £5. Its an easy way to create a present if your not sure what to get someone. Could be done for him and for her.

Bruce is a huge Gun n Roses fan and has been working his way through all the members books. He has already read Duff's first book so I picked up his newer one in Waterstones. Books are something I love to buy for people as I love nothing more myself than receiving a book. Theres a buy one get one half price sale on in Waterstones at the moment along with some other great Christmas deals.

If your looking for a wee Christmassy extra for a present I would highly recommend going into Next and having a look at their candles and reed diffusers. I got this Festive Spice one for only £7.00 and it smells beautiful. Theres a few different scents and they last for ages.

Thank you for reading today's post. I hope it helps a little if your feeling a bit stuck for what to get mums, dads, aunties, grannies, sisters or whoever! Ive finally finished my Christmas shopping and cant wait to get everything wrapped up under the tree!

Amy x


Blogmas Day 1
Favourite Films

Blogmas Day 2
Christmas Playlist

Blogmas Day 3
Christmas Cards

Blogmas Day 4
The Christmas Tag

The Christmas Tag | Blogmas 2017 ♡

I spotted this tag floating about on a few blogs this year and thought I would join in the fun and also add in a few questions of my own! Make sure to copy it and do it for yourself, I love hearing about other peoples Christmas ideas and traditions. Hope your all getting excited, Santa's coming soon!


1)  What Is Your Favourite Christmas Movie?

Its really hard to choose!! I think Arthur Christmas is one of my modern favourites, Ive made my nephew watch it with me six times this month! However, The Polar Express is also magical! Then again if I'm in the mod for a laugh Elf or Nativity!

2) Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Christmas Day! Im still a big kid when in comes to Christmas so I like to go to bed early on Christmas eve so I'm awake bright and early to see what santa left! I prefer to get all snug and cosy in my bed on Christmas Eve. 

3) Your favourite Christmas memory?

I lost my mam two years ago, so any memories I have of her on Christmas are my favourites. I miss being able to have a full family Christmas with everyone I love all in one place so I enjoy thinking back to the 'good old days' when life was more worry free!

4) Favourite Festive Food?

The roast potatoes!!

5) Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

Since meeting Bruce we have started a few traditions that we want to keep up together. I always give him a christmas bauble of some sort for him to hang on the tree which I hope he can build up over time. Also, this year is going to be the first year of matching pyjamas...he dosent know it yet!

6) Favourite Christmas Scent?

Anything thats Gingerbread scented! Its a scent that I fully relate to this time of year.

7) What tops your tree?

This year, a wee snowman with dangly legs. He's so cute! However, its usually an Angel.

8) Whats the best part of Christmas for you?

Without wanting to sound sappy, its being with the ones I love most. Ive realised over the past couple of years that life is far to short to worry about anything other than spending as much time with your loved ones as you can. Take loads of photos, have lots of laughs and create unforgettable memories.

9) You dream Christmas location?
In my wildest dreams, I would love to spend Christmas in a log cabin with the fire burning, red wine, hot tub outside and to be snowed in with Bruce. Its always been my dream to spend Christmas just the two of us, away on a romantic trip in the snow. Maybe a few skiing lessons thrown in.

10) How will you spend Christmas this year?
With Bruces family on Christmas Day and my own family on Boxing Day. We cant wait to have as relaxing a day as possible and have endless amounts of prosecco..or maybe thats just me! We are going to drop by a care home in the morning and spend some time there as a thank you, then get the serious board games on the go in the evening. 

Copy the tag and take part too as I would love to see your responses.
Thank you for stopping by today,

Amy x

Donate This Christmas | Blogmas 2017 ♡

I decided this year to really cut down my Christmas card list.
Ive been so busy that I haven't even written mine and between the Panto shows next week, University and work, I have had no time! Instead, this year I have decided to just donate to charity.
I picked up a pack of ten cards from my friend Claire in support of the charity Pregnancy Sickness Support. Claire has done an amazing job fundraising for something so close to her own heart and I felt this was a fab way to help too. Along with this I have donated money to Macmillan Cancer support as its a charity very close to my own heart.

There are so many charities and organisations that could use the extra donations not only at this time of year but all year round. If you need a little inspiration I've listed a few below that came to my mind.  This is the time of year where I personally feel giving is the best thing and if everyone did, we could make such a difference.

Pregnancy Sickness Support
Macmillan Cancer Support
Alzheimers Scotland
British Acoustic Neuroma Association
Shelter, Scotland
Cats Protection
Barnardos

There are so many more to choose from, make a difference this year.

Amy x

Modern Christmas Playlist | Blogmas (Day 2) 2017 ♡

So, we all have the Christmas Classics we listen to every year without fail. We've got Slade, Wizzard, Shakin Stevens, The Pogues, Cliff Richard, Mariah Carey and soooooo many more. In the past couple of years a few artists have released their own bunch of Christmas choons which I think in future will be considered the classics of our generation. 

Heres a few of my favourite songs and albums which I love sticking on in the run up to Christmas.

The queen that is Kelly Clarkson released an album called Wrapped in Red which if you haven't heard, give it a listen as its so christmassy and it was playing over and over during Christmas day last year in my house.  This year she has released the song Christmas Eve which includes some incredibly classy Kelly vocals and is a perfect modern Christmas classic. Really worth a listen.

Elbow's song Golden Slumbers is this years John Lewis advert. Although it had mixed reviews, I really love this years ad. How cute is Moz the Monster! The song has something so hauntingly beautiful about it which I have had on repeat lately and the advert brings a smile to my face everytime. I know its not technically a Christmas song but due to it being in the advert, you cant help but link to to this time of year. 

A Very Kacey Christmas is a totally unique Christmas album by the amazing Kacey Musgraves,  released last year. This is every country music lovers Christmas dream and when I listen to it I cant help but be full of Christmas joy! Its a mixture of original christmas songs written by Musgraves and some classics including one of my favourites, I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. 

Now, Im not a big Leona Lewis fan but I do highly recommend her Christmas album Christmas With Love. Leona wrote the hit One More Sleep which is a super cute Christmas song that keeps popping up on my playlist. The album includes some amazing covers of big classics which Leona makes sound effortless with her incredible vocals. 

Two brand new albums which I highly recommend purchasing for the festive season are Sia's Everyday is Christmas and Gwen Stefani's You Make It Feel Like Christmas. 

Sia has created an album full of original Christmas songs which are so catchy, especially the current single Santa's Coming For Us. I think this is my new favourite as I have had it on repeat all month! It has some incredible vocals and some of the ballads on the album are lyrically beautiful. This is more than likely a Christmas album that will be played year after year.

Gwen Stefani has put together an album of covers and a brilliant brand new Christmas song called You Make It Feel Like Christmas featuring Blake Shelton. The album is a mixture of Stefani's fun pop sound with a special Christmassy touch, its so good. I love some of the covers she has done and this will definitely be playing on Christmas day.

So there you have it, some of the new favourites in my Christmas Playlists. Let me know down below if you have any other recommendations as I LOVE finding new Christmas songs. 

Hope your having a lovely day.

Amy x

Blogmas (Day 1)

Christmas Film Favourites | Blogmas (Day 1) 2017 ♡

Welcome to Blogmas :)

I hope you enjoy all the posts I have prepared for you over the run up to Christmas ! I have some exciting things, Recipes, Gift Guides, Christmas Planning and Beauty bits which I am so excited to share it with you all. I hope you are enjoying the run up to Christmas, not long to go!!!

Settling down with a cosy cuppa, wrapped in fluffy blankets and brand new pyjama's watching Christmas films is one of my favourite ways to spend evenings in December. Bruce and I have a ridiculous amount of Christmas film favourites and today I want to share a few of our personal favourites with you guys.

First up, The Polar Express. This is a classic, magical film that all children should watch at this time of year. The story follows a young boy who wakes up on Christmas Eve to discover the Polar Express waiting for him outside his home. He then embarks on an epic journey to the North Pole where he learns that Santa is so worth believing in.

Jack Frost is one of my childhood favourites that I rediscovered last year. This film is an emotional roller coaster but brilliantly funny at the same time. Musician Jack Frost is on the verge of making the big time but realises he's missing out on time with his wife and son. In an effort to spend time with his family he leaves his gig in the middle of a snow storm and sadly never makes it home for Christmas. Jack then magically returns one cold winters night to become one of the coolest dads ever.

Jingle All The Way is another of my childhood favourites. This was one I watched when I was tiny and only rediscovered it last Christmas. Im not a huge Arnold fan, but he's bloody brilliant in this one! The film follows a father who has promised his little boy a Turbo Man action figure for his Christmas (the most popular toy this year) and ends up in a crazy quest to try and find one in time for Christmas. Its full of laugh out loud  moments thats great for the whole family. 

Again, Miracle on 34th Street is one I watched nearly every Christmas as a kid. This is a wonderfully heat warming film that without fail has me tearing up. Richard Attenborough is just one of those actors that brings so m much warmth to the big screen. Little Susan is starting to doubt that Santa Clause is real. After meeting a special department store Santa who swears he is the real thing she starts to come round to the idea and begins to believe again.

The Holiday is possibly my absolute favourite. Its so heart warming, funny and I can watch it over and over again...which I do! Its the story of two heartbroken women who swap houses for the festive season in an aim to find happiness again. Its a brilliant feel good festive movie starring Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black.

Nativity is one of those Christmas films that fills you heart with so much warmth its almost impossible to watch and not fall in love with. The film follows primary teacher Mr Maddens
who has been given the job of creating the schools musical nativity to compete with the posh schools christmas show. It all goes wrong for him when he boasts that his ex-girlfriend is a hollywood producer is going to come and see the play to turn it into a film, but they haven't spoken in years! For me is one of the funniest films, the children are brilliant and you fall in love with the characters.

Elf, a classic that everyone enjoys at this time of year. Buddy the Elf realises that he dosen't fit in with the other elves at the North Pole and decides to venture to the big city to find his real dad. Its absolutely hilarious that we find ourselves quoting from all the time. Two years ago I saw the musical/stage show of Elf and it was phenomenal. Highly recommend seeing it if it tours near you.

The Grinch is a film that everyone should see. Its weird, wonderful and hilarious. Whilst the Whos of Whoville are frantically preparing for Christmas, they are unaware that The Grinch is determined to put a stop to it once and for all. Its not until he begins to realise that the true spirit of Christmas goes beyond tinsel and toys that he starts to rethink his bah humbug outlook on life.

So there you have it, a wee glimpse of our collection and a few of our favourites. A few more to mention that I love but we don't own is Arthur Christmas, Home Alone 1 & 2, A Christmas Carol and The Nightmare Before Christmas and theres so many more!

All available on Amazon and I have saved you the time and linked them all!

Hope your having a lovely festive season.

See you tomorrow,


Amy x

Some November Favourites | November 2017 ♡

Theres a few bits and bobs I have been using over and over again recently and today I thought I would share with you, a little impromptu favourites. A really random bunch of things, but, hey ho!
I hope your all enjoying the colder wether like me, cosy jumpers, candles, hot drinks and for us... SNOW! Ive been super busy at University but it has calmed down for a wee bit, enough for me to get a few posts up. Also, I had a car accident. Im all good, but it set me back a couple of days but Im now back more determined to get my wee blog going again. So here you go...

The brand Bilou was created by German Youtuber Bibi's Beauty Place and includes an awesome collection of Creamy Shower Foams, Gentle Cream Foams and Bodyspray's. I have been really enjoying using the Shower Foams lately and my favourites have been the Fizzy Berry and Cotton Candy scents. They are so nice to use for shaving and making yourself smell lush in the shower.

They come in a range of incredible creative scents available in Superdrug. 

Ive been listening to loads of music this past month or so. Two albums which are my absolute favourites at the moment are Taylor Swift's REPUTATION and Steps Tears on the Dancefloor.

Lets talk about Steps first, my absolute childhood heroes. I saw them live last week and I had thee best night of my life. What an incredible show they put on! I lived for Steps when I was younger. I saw them a couple of times back in the day and yes, I cried my wee heart out for days when they split. Im so happy that they have properly reunited with new music and an epic tour this time round. Their new album is such a happy one and I blast it in the car, the shower, on walks, anywhere I can get away with it.  Claire Richards has been my idol since I was teenie and hearing her voice live actually brought me to tears at one point! She's iconic. If you don't have the album but love a good dance and feeling super happy and positive, get it!! And no, I did not buy the same album twice...signed both times....

Taylor Swift released her sixth studio album this month, REPUTATION, and although it got many mixed reviews, I love it. Listening to the whole album through the day it came out was such a pleasure. There are some songs on it that are very different for Taylor, but unlike people thought, their are some beautiful songs on there too. New Years Day is quite possibly one of my favourite songs of hers ever, a gorgeous piano ballad that tugs at the heartstrings. Some of the belters on the album includes Getaway Car, Gorgeous, This is Why We Cant Have Nice Things and Don't Blame Me.
Don't listen to all the haters, buy it and listen for yourself. I promise you will be surprised.

Zoella's Winter Range (Snow'ella) which is available in Superdrug at the moment is lovely. I picked up the body mist and this hand cream as I adored the gingerbread one last year. This years one is a much lighter, crisper scent. Its infused with soft peony and soothing mint, gorgeous. With the snowy cold weather we have been getting this hand cream has kept my hands feeling so soft and the smell is just gorgeous.

The Harry Potter books have stumbled back into my life recently. This 20th Anniversary Edition of The Philosophers Stone is just so amazing and comes in your choice of which house you want.

Reading these books again has transported me back into the magical world of Harry Potter and I have been completely loving it. I cant wait to pick up the next book in the series (or dig out my originals) and carry on reading the whole collection. 

Dorothy Perkins is my most favourite clothes store, especially this month. I did a ridiculous order when they had their 25% offer on and also bought my coat! I then got spendy with their 50% Black Friday deals, I was literally in heaven and had to steady myself!
I did a whole blog post of my coat, thats how much I have been loving it lately.  Its so cosy, so cute and super classy. The Perfect Coat (Dorothy Perkins)

I think I will do a wee separate Haul on my DP order, but for now I wanted to tell you about my new favourite jumper. This super cosy, knitted grey jumper is my new obsession. Its soooo soft and has the cutest bell sleeves and detail around the neck line. I sized up in mine which means its really comfy and I have been throwing it on with a pair of black skinnies and black ankle boots. Topped off with a scarf and my coat I'm as snug as a bug for the winter!

*Future Amy here, I apologise for no photo of this jumper, It sadly got a bit ruined in my car accident. I am in the process of ordering a new one and will show you at some point*

Grey Ribbed Knitted Jumper

Stay tuned, Im going to be doing lots and lots of posts and exciting things for Blogmas this year. I'm super excited! Already got a few ready to go, can you believe its December on Friday?!

Thank you for taking the time to read, very much appreciated. Let me know what you guys have been loving this month,

Amy x

The Perfect Coat | November 2017 ♡

Every year I tell myself I need to get a proper grown up, classy, cosy coat. However, every year I find myself shoving on the same old jacket or rain coat and never seem to update it. 

This year, I found the coat I've been after for so long and I'm obsessed.
This beautiful coat is from Dorothy Perkins and is super affordable, plus, on offer at the moment!
Dorothy Perkins: Black Coat

Can we also just take a wee second to appreciate the bag! This was on ASOS for so long and I finally bit the bullet and got it. Its so freaking cool, no matter what anyone says! Perfect for all you fellow cat ladies out there. Its a velvety material with, surprisingly, lots of room inside. 

ASOS Cat Velvet Cross Body Bag

My boots are from New Looks Autumn collection last year but they have some really similar ones in at the moment. Although they are heeled boots they are so comfy and easy to walk in, I did manage to walk through the woods in them. Im still obsessed with embroidery and love adding a splash of it to an outfit whenever I can.

New Look Embroidered Boots

If your looking for a new coat this season I would highly recommend Dorothy Perkins. They have loads of different styles and colours, so many gorgeous choices. 

Hope your having a lovely day, 

Amy x

Last Post: Happy Halloween Witches....

Instagram: amy_taylor94

Happy Halloween Witches | October 2017 ♡

HAPPY HALLOWEEN GUYS!

Apologies for the slight absence from my blog, Uni has taken over my life again I'm struggling to do anything at the moment apart from research and write essays until the small hours of the morning!

Today I thought I would share with you some of the Halloweenie bits and bobs I collected this year.  I really wanted to get a post up before the Halloween 'festivities' so you still had time to pick up some of the things but im afraid Uni took over my life. I think alot of the bits are now on offer though so it might be worth checking. Im not the biggest fancy dress fan in the world but I love little subtle ways to embrace Halloween into my everyday wear and some of my favourite online stores had some great things this year.

The Halloween Ghost Ballet Pumps you can see above are probably the coolest shoes I have ever purchased and I have been wearing them religiously this Halloween! They are a velvety material with cute animations on the front. Super comfy and a really nice easy way to embrace the Halloween spirit. I have been wearing them non stop over this past week and they can go with anything.

Another wee purchase is this Skeleton Dance Jumper and its one of my favourite pieces. Its a really easy, affordable way join in the Halloween fun!  I picked it up from ASOS from the brand Monki. It's a true black jumper and slightly oversized with the coolest print on the front. What makes this jumper not only cute but seriously cosy is the really fleecy and soft material on the inside, great if you have to go out guising!


These super cool fairy light, or as I like to call them, Scary Lights... came from the good old Coop. They had some brilliant things in their halloween collection which I used to decorate the house. I cant wait to see what little bits and bobs they bring out for the Christmas season. These lights only cost me £3 and they are battery operated, so handy!

Everyone seems to enjoy horror films and scary novels and this time of year, but personally my favourite things to read are the magical things. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the perfect book for this time of year. Its exciting, magical and can even be quite spooky in certain bits. Ive gone right back to the beginning and really enjoying reading them again after all these years. This is a special addition cover for the 20th Anniversary, I'm such a loyal Hufflepuff. 

Last but not least, we love to carve Pumpkins every year. Heres this years attempt from us both, Mickey Mouse!

Again, apologies for my lack of blogging. This will pick up over the next few months in the run up to...can you believe it....Christmas!

Hope you all have a very Happy Halloween!!!

Amy x

Weekends with Friends | October 2017 ♡

Over the weekend myself and a group of my best friends rented a house together in the Scottish Countryside. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever stayed. The four lads in our group went to school together and now, us girlfriends have joined in the fun.  The weekend was full of such laughs, great chat, hilarious games and a ridiculous amount of Prosecco! Our house looked out onto the beautiful view you can see in the photos and we spent most of our time in the hot tub or beside the loch without a care in the world.

This weekend got me thinking about friendship and how lucky I am to have so many that mean so much to me. Sitting with these friends, watching the sun going down with the absolutely stunning view made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. It made me more determined to find much more time to spend with those I love and make them feel as special as this lot made me feel during this incredible weekend. I understand that their are so many people in the world who live alone, spend most of their days alone and don't have any choice in that.  I see now that its so important to remember that not everyone is lucky enough to have a support group around them like many of us do and that we should not take it for granted. 

Take the time today to get together with your friends, create memories and moments your never going to forget wether that means a phone call, a catch up or a weekend away.  Nothing beats a good giggle and catch up with your friends. 

Our beautiful lodge if you fancy a weekend away yourself:

Ardeonaig Lodge

A short & sweet post today. I really wanted to share these pictures and some of my thoughts,

Amy x

Autumn is Finally Here... | October 2017 ♡

Incase you hadn't noticed, the blogging world is going crazy right now as its basically everyones favourite season. For me, Im so glad were heading towards the colder days. 

It means not having to stress about clothes that I hate, being a sweaty mess at work and having to spend more time outside even though I would much rather be wrapped in a blanket reading a book or binging a good old Netflix series. 

Autumn to me means scented rich candles and the heating cracked up to full even though its not really needed at that level yet. It means adding spices to hot drinks and enjoying them under cosy blankets with thick wooly socks. Autumn where I live is hearing the rain thrashing off the window whilst the colourful leaves float to the ground. My thick cosy jumpers are pulled out of my wardrobe and my ankle boots are lined up at the front door ready to go. I hang my winter coats up along with my scarves and wrap myself up in them before going out to work in the morning.

I absolutely love this time of year, the excitement kicks in for Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas. These next few months will fly by but I'm so excited for them. I plan to bake as much as I can, enjoy hot spiced drinks at all times of the day and hibernate under soft blankets and my cosy jumpers. What things do you guys enjoy most at this time of year?

Amy x