Winter Decor and Happy New Year 2016

Toy bear - Harrods

Stag cushion - Evans Lichfield (Amazon)

Faux sheepskin cushion - John Lewis

Bed linen - Laura Ashley

Faux fur throw - Sainsbury's

One of the lines that stands out most for me from my favourite children's Christmas film of all time - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - is Lucy Pevensey noting that in Narnia it is "always winter, never Christmas. Imagine that". London this Christmas has felt more of the reverse, a perpetual Christmas with a distinct absence of snow or winter weather.

Of course that doesn't necessarily mean putting a halt on any Christmas or winter decor. With the addition of winter whites, faux fur and stags, I went for a Scandinavian theme. 

And finally, a Happy New Year to you reader!

Charlotte Tilbury Makeup Bag 2nd Edition | Review

I've spent so long living with the maxim 'don't half-arse anything' that I'm not sure I could even recognise what that means any more. It's probably why I ended up spending £25 on a makeup bag. A 'designer' makeup bag. My first proper 'adult' makeup bag. Because if you're going to store, transport or use makeup then you should do it properly, right? That, alongside the fact that I've had an obsession with the design of makeup bags since I can remember.

So when I tentatively ordered the Charlotte Tilbury 2nd Edition makeup bag from the John Lewis website (it's online only so don't try finding it among the beauty counters of the department stores) I immediately began to backtrack. Only after I had hit the button did I read the review threads discussing a 'putrid plastic smell', a 'tacky, plastic exterior' and a 'small interior'. I also discovered the fact that the latest (3rd Edition) Charlotte Tilbury makeup bag is out this Christmas.

It was a relief to say the least when the (impenetrably packaged) said bag arrived, sans plastic odour and with enough space for not one but several foundations. With a dainty star shape topped zipper and the message 'Give a woman the right make-up & she can conquer the world' emblazoned on the back, this is a nice medium sized, medium priced makeup bag. Not the sort to sit easy on your cosmetics counter, as it is thin and falls over easily, but I will be using this for years to come.