My No Nonsense News Years Resolutions.

 Its been a good 2 weeks since writing anything for my blog and I'm glad I really took the time off to chill and gather my thoughts over Christmas. I am certainly refreshed and ready to kick start 2016, so I want to do a post about my very real new years resolutions that are not part of my blog (I will be writing a blog specific one if that interests you) and talking about the real nitty gritty stuff that needs doing.




First off, I really need to get my teeth sorted out. I haven't been to the dentist in years and my whole mouth situation is a mess, I've been putting it off for a while and I think this year I really need to bite the bullet (not the dentist) and get them sorted. I am aware this is going to be a lengthy process and a painful one, for me and for my wallet but it's something I really want to get done, once and for all.


Secondly is exercise, I've pretty much lost all the weight I've wanted to over the past year or so and I'm finally at a place where I am happy with the way I look but I'd really like to feel healthy too, from in the inside out. I've already pretty much sorted out my diet, it's much better than it's ever been but I feel like I need to sort my exercise routine out. I did hit the gym for a good 4-5 months at one point and I was enjoying my weights but I never found that one exercise that made me love exercising. So this year I want to try Yoga and Pilates and probably some other stuff and see if any of these things work for me.

Thirdly, pick a god-damn wedding venue and book it. This is a pretty big one. Its hard to decide on for obvious reasons, we need something nice and local but something cheap but then something that is a little 'different' and not the bog standard stuff. So as you can see, finding a venue is a minefield. This is something that 100% needs to be done in 2016 though, I'm sure I'll be blogging all about the wedding prep stuff when it eventually kicks off!


Then lastly, I really want to learn to save a butt tonne of money. The last 6 months I've been squireling away money for the afore mentioned million things that cost money, but this year I really want to be that one person that makes her money go as far as possible. I need to stop spending my money on rubbish, no more expensive lunch's that can be bought and made at home for much cheaper, no more wasting money on pointless make-up/beauty etc purchases that make you feel good for 5 minutes but then sit on the shelf forever more. I want to learn to really appreciate the things I buy and not just be the person that has a lot of materialistic stuff but no-one to show it to, you know what I mean?


Those were my very real new years resolutions, all of which are very achievable if I put my mind to them and stop being a big wimp, especially the dentist one.

I'd really like to know what your new years resolutions are, so please let me know in the comments!

Wish you love, health and happiness in 2016,

Sunday Sit Down #3.

It's that time again to have a catch up and let you know what's been going on with me!

Christmas at Chatsworth House.

Yesterday Nick and I took a little drive to Chatsworth House, we'd been here before and loved it and always heard good things about the themes they run each Christmas. We were planning on going last year but somehow never got around to it, so this year it was something I made sure we did. 

The theme this year is Wind in the Willows, a book about woodland creatures and the famous Mr.Toad, I won't go into details, although I'm sure some of you remember it from your childhood. So although the theme wasn't amazing it was still cool and we booked tickets to go.

The Village Screen: Home Alone Screening.

Last Sunday I was invited to a pop up cinema screening of Home Alone in a warehouse at Kelham Island in Sheffield by the lovely people at The Village Screen.

I'm all for Christmas things and a pop up cinema sounded so fun and different, so I couldn't say no!

The Favourite and Least Favourite Christmas Songs.

Nothing gets you in the festive mood like a good Christmas song. I've been listening to a few of the Spotify pre-made Christmas playlists and putting together my own 'best of'. I thought I'd share my favourites with you as I've found a few new ones that I've been enjoying.

Image sourced from Google images.

 

Looking back at 2015.

So 2014 was a pretty dull year and I decided that 2015 was going to be a much better one, after all, your life is what you make it. It turns out 2015 was pretty fucking awesome. So I thought I'd do an overview of all the awesome things that happened to me in 2015.

My Favourite Christmas Movies.

It's almost Christmas, you've got your tree up and a cheeky snack and all you want to do is snuggle up on the sofa, get the fairly lights and candles on and watch a Christmas film.

For me, the movies I would watch are the following;

My 12 Day Beauty Advent Calendar

Beauty advert calendars seem to be huge this year and I've caved and bought myself one already. I think these are a really great idea as an early present for someone, specially when they cost way less than all of the items put together so you could save yourself some money if you were planning on buying said items for your loved one anyway!

The Feel Unique Beauty Calendar is actually the one I bought for myself as a treat this year, it is one of the more reasonable priced ones and has £85 worth of items inside which sounds like a total bargain. This has a mixture of beauty and skincare items in which is why I liked this as it might give me some new brands or items I like.

This particular one only has 12 days, so I'm going to open these over the next 12 days leading to Christmas day, which means I've resisted opening them for almost a month now! Eek! I think I'm going to be uploading daily photos/videos of what's inside on my Instagram here so be sure to head over and have a peek!

Let me know if you got any beauty advent calendars!
Keep checking back for the rest of Blogmas, a new post everyday leading up to Christmas day!

Urban Outfitters Under £20 Home Gift Guide.

Clock wise from top left. 

I feel like writing a blog post entirely on website is a bit cheeky and won't be for everyone but I'm really digging Urban Outfitter recently. I think the home ware stuff is really nice and I've already bought some pieces from the store. So I'm putting together a little home ware gift guide from UO for those that love interiors, design and general cool stuff.

Snowman Fairy Cakes.

I wanted to bake something fun, easy and simple for the festive season and during a causal Pinterest browse I came across a few variations of snowmen cup cakes. They looked cute and fun and pretty easy to do, so I went on the hunt for some baking supplies.

Giving something extra this Christmas.

When we think about Christmas, we often think of family, food, presents, being cosy and warm at home watching TV and although this is great its not something everyone gets to enjoy at Christmas time.

There are many homeless people, families living in poverty, elderly people that have no family and remain alone on Christmas day, this was even touched upon in John Lewis's Christmas advert this year and there are little things those who are more fortunate can do to bring someone else a little joy this Christmas.

I live in Sheffield and the local Radio station, Hallam FM, always do a campaign at Christmas called Mission Christmas: Cash for Kids  , this summed up means buying that little extra present and giving it in at a local drop off point so a local disadvantaged child has something to open on Christmas. This doesn't have to be something wildly expensive (although, if you are feeling generous, that's great!) it could be something as simple as a dvd. Places often have 3 for 2 deals, or buy one get one half price, so why not think about picking something up for the less fortunate with these offers and giving kids the excitement of a Santa visit. It doesn't have to be a toy as my local campaign is for children aged 0-18 years old, so even that extra bath kit, aftershave, slipper socks or mini make up kit can really help spread some joy to an older kid.

I really urge you to look at what efforts are being made in your local area to help those less fortunate, it doesn't have to be expensive, even sparing a couple of quid that you would have spent on a coffee or hot chocolate could really make the difference in someone else's Christmas this year.

I really hope that by writing this I could help potential kids have the excitement I did (and still do!) every year knowing I have presents, warm clothing, great food and people to share it with.
So please make that little effort to spread some cheer!

Until tomorrow,

Skin Care Christmas Gift Guide.

Skin care is one of my favourite things but the good stuff is always a little pricey, so I've decided to put together a little Christmas gift guide about what products I'd love to receive from Santa this year!

LUSH Christmas Products.

I have to admit something here..I've never used a LUSH bath bomb, I know, what the hell am I doing with my life, but I decided this year I'm going to try some out. It seemed fitting that I should try out some of the Christmas range just in time for blogmas, so I've got a little haul for you today. I haven't used any of them yet, I will be posting an update after using them in my LUSH event post coming soon.

Luxury Christmas Wish List

What's a Christmas list without a little luxury? I've put together a few things that I would love to get for Christmas that are a little more on the pricey side. I'm pretty sure most of these things would go down really well with any label lover out there.

Christmas Nail Colour.

I can't be the only one that has a specific nail colour for Christmas time? Who doesn't love a good themed nail...right?

This year I've decide to jump on the rose gold band waggon, I've managed to avoid it for most things but I thought for Christmas, a rose gold nail is super gorgeous and quite festive.

This is actually my first Essie nail polish purchase and after being suggested this shade over on twitter (follow me here) I decided on the shade Penny Lane, which happens to be quite hard to get hold of. I managed to track this beauty down on eBay and couldn't wait to get it on!



This nail varnish is absolutely stunning, it's so pretty and shiny and isn't too coppery brown. I can't believe I've never seen this nail polish before, I'm 100% sold on the rose gold stuff now.

It's really shiny and catches the light so beautifully, really gives a grown up sophisticated look I think.

I did a review of 'Sea Bound' by Topshop earlier in the year and this has the same gorgeous colour when hitting the light, I really recommend you read that review if you like the look of this.

On my ring finger I added a Barry M topcoat that is clear but with multicoloured flicks in it, which reminds me of the baking pot 'hundreds and thousands' just to give it a little something.

I hope you like my festive nails! Let me know if you do the same thing and what colours you'll be wearing, as I would love to see some other variations!

Head back tomorrow for day 6 of blogmas, have a great Saturday!

Fashion: Party Season Outfits.

Tis' the season to be jolly and boogy at your Christmas party. I thought I would put together a few party outfits I would wear for party party times, so I hope you see something you like!

Men's Christmas Gift Guide.

I sometimes find buying Christmas presents for my Fiancée a little repetitive as he always wants the same kind of things, I sometimes throw in the occasional new things but he always loves the same formula. I thought I'd put them together into a male gift guide as they are winners and he hasn't ever hated anything I've bought him. 

1. Pop Vinyl 

Pop Vinyl figures have gained huge popularity recenty but I've been buying them for years. They are cute little vinyl figures that come in huge range of video-games characters and TV & film characters. So if they love that one video game that they can't stop playing, do a little research and buy their favourite character! If they have a huge obsession with a TV show, why not buy them the main cast? Pop Vinyl have a huge selection that is ever growing on the website, so I'm pretty sure you'll be able to find something they like!



2. Hugo Boss

My fiancée is a huge lover of Hugo Boss, its the one luxury brand he asks for when he wants new clothes. They of course, are a little luxury and a little pricer but it's really good quality and lasts years so I'm happy to buy him a staple piece because I know he'll wear it to death. I often buy him a t shirt at Christmas and have bought him a leather wallet for a previous birthday and it always goes down well, so if the fella you are buying for loves his fashion, why not invest in a luxury piece.



3. Video Games

This is a pretty easy one. If the guy you are buying for is a gamer and if they haven't already purchased them, buy them the latest releases to play over the Christmas break. As of the start of December the big releases are Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3 and FallOut 4 which are both available on the Xbox and PlayStation. I'm pretty sure this will make a gamer lad happy.



4. DVD Boxsets

Everyone loves a good DVD Boxset, I mean, who doesn't? Our favourite is 24, it's so intense and dramatic and I can watch hours back to back. So a DVD boxset gift is fairly standard, it's great to curl up on those cosy Christmas nights and watch a dvd, snacking on your stocking chocolate and having the candles and Christmas fairly lights twinkling in the background. Just a random selection incase you have no ideas are, Peep Show, 24, American Office, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter. Hope you find something you like!



5. Trainers

Classics like Vans and Converse are always a great gift, I often buy my dad Vans for his birthday as he loves alternative/skater brands and they have currently bought out a Disney range for the Disney fans out there. Addidas and Nike trainers seems to have become really fashionable again recently and they seem to have brought out plenty of new ranges, so for any guys that loves his footwear I think these will go down really well.

~

I hope this has given you some gift ideas for the fella in your life, if some of you have been struggling to think of things to get! I've mixed in a little of the nerdy, a little fashion and a little TV so there is a good mix! If you'd like to see some more fashion or geeky ideas, let me know and I'll put together a more specific list!

Remember to check back for the rest of Blogmas, a new post everyday leading up to Christmas day!!

My festive home!

It wouldn't be Christmas without a little tour of my decorations! It turns out taking pictures of a tree with lights on is really hard, so I apologise for the standard!

This year I've tried to go quite minimal and Scandinavian, so wood, animals, fabrics, so I haven't gone full on OTT with decorations and I really can't stand tinsel. We've moved to quite a large house and I plan on doing something to the dining room when I get around to it but I've condensed my decorations to the living room. So carry on scrolling to see my set up!

On a cold wintery night Blogmas began...

As you are reading this, Christmas would have already started up in the Tarnya household, the tree will be up, the first door of the calendar will have be devoured and the lights/candles twinkling. So to celebrate my favourite time of year, I'll be celebrating on my blog here with you guys too with a little thing we call Blogmas. This means I will be putting together a Christmas themed blog post everyday until the 25th of December, for your viewing pleasure.

They'll be gift guides for girls and boys, tours of my decorations, Christmas markets, Christmas meet ups, Christmas Party outfits, opening my beauty advent calendar and much more!

This cute Snowman chocolate set is from Thorntons! 

So please head back over the next 25 days to join in the Christmas spirit! So lets get our slipper socks on, our dressing gowns, warm up the hot chocolates and snuggle up and enjoy the festive season.

I'll be non-stop chatting like usual over on my twitter account - @sweet_allure and posting pictures on my instagram - sweetalluree so make sure you follow to keep up to date!

So be sure to check back tomorrow for a sneak peak around my lovely new home in all it's Christmassy and festive goodness!

 

The Refectory Kitchen & Terrace York.

Nick and I were very lucky to get invited to a new restaurant called The Refectory Kitchen and Terrace in beautiful York to try out the menu and let you guys know what we thought. Nick and I had a couple of days off last week so we took a little adventure drive up the restaurant which is quite literally next to the train station, so really easy to find for train goers!

Before I delve into the juicy food stuff I'd really like to say how grateful I am to be invited to things like this, the food was really nice and the staff were all super lovely and you'll see why I was a little in love with the interior...

Sunday Sit Down #2

So it's time to sit down and have another catch up here on my little blog, haven't these 2 weeks just flown by already?

The City Girls Event: Manchester.

 A couple of weeks ago I headed up on the train to Manchester to go to my first proper event as a blogger. It was very exciting but even more so as it was hosted by two of my lovely friends, Holly-Lucy from Tea and Blush and Siobhan from Rock & Roses.

This is where I would normally put a lovely photo of the venue and the stalls, but I was so busy talking to everyone and having a look around, I completely forgot, take this as a very good sign because there was so much going on it was hard to stop and remember to take photos!

Food: Smoke Barbecue Sheffield.

Nick and I went out for dinner and thought we'd try somewhere new. I'd heard a few people talk about Smoke Barbecue in Sheffield and we finally got around to trying it out!

Fashion: Winter Warmer Essentials!

As the colder weather creeps in and the clothes get heavier and cosier, I feel like I come into my own. My long sleeve tops come out, my slipper socks, my jumpers, shirts and god knows what else to keep warm, mostly because I think I'm the coldest person on the planet pretty much all year round.

So I thought I'd put together a little post of the things I feel are essential to keep warm!

Sunday Sit Down.

I've been thinking about doing a more casual post for awhile, just to let you folks know what I've been up to on the blog and in my personal life. Some weeks I have a lot going on and others are fairly standard but I can guarantee I've always got something either going on or rushing through my mind.

 

My Current Hair Care Routine.

I've had very short hair since I was about 16, that's 10 whole years of pretty much the same hairstyle! I've recently decided I want to grow my hair out, just to see what it's like having long hair again, so I've been taking extra care of my locks to help the transition.

When browsing the shelves of my local boots store, which I do often in my lunch breaks, I came across this Keratin Oil range from OGX. I'd seen some similar products making their way around the blogging and YouTube world and thought I'd give them a go!

Food: The Forum Sheffield

Last week I was very kindly invited to The Forum in Sheffield to try out some of their new cocktail and food menu, I'd been here before for drinks in the evenings but had never eaten here so I was pretty excited about tasting the food.

Warning: This post will cause you to have a serious case of the munchies!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween my loves!

Hope you have a frightfully good night 

Halloween: Fright Night Films.

I watch so many horror films, it's Nick and I's go-to choice of film, we've seen the very very bad, the super cheesy and the occasional not-so-bad surprise. I thought for Halloween I'd put together a few films we recommend for if you are staying in and watching some scary films with partners or friends. There are some classics, some thrillers and a couple of odd ones, but I hope you find something you like amongst them all!

Nosferatu (1922).

LUSH: Halloween Bat Heebie Jeebie.

During my recently trip to London one of the top things I wanted to do was visit the LUSH Oxford Street store. Since my LUSH love has only recently blossomed I thought it would be a great opportunity to try a few new things out.

10 things I love about Autumn.

I love Autumn, who doesn't right? The colourful trees and crunchy leaves and cosy warm layers, what's not to love?

So I thought I'd put together my top 10 list, because, why not!

Sheffield Food Market.

The Sheffield food market hits the town centre every few months with an array of street food, pastry, sweets, crafts and clothes. I love the market, there is always a few stalls that change, so something new pops up each time. 

This time I decided to write a post about it and share the wonders of the market with you all! 

These meringue are huge and I haven't got around to trying them yet, maybe next time!

Autumn Nails.

It's been awhile since I've done my nails. It seems my interests focus on one thing for awhile, like skincare before moving onto the next thing and it's finally come full swing back to nails.

LUSH: Face Mask First Impressions.

I have never tried a LUSH face mask until last weekend, I know, I can' t believe it either, but I finally got around to buying 2 masks from Lush Oxford Street store during my visit to London. 

#selflovechallenge13 tag

#selflovechallenge13 tag

Who doesn't love a good tag post? and specially one that is so  positive. It's so easy to get bogged down in negatives, in life and in yourself, so lets take some time right now to focus on the things we love about ourselves. I got tagged by the lovely Sarah over on Sarah in Wonderland, so head over and give her a follow and read her tag :)    Let's get this thing started then...13 things I love about myself:

Charlotte Tilbury: Magic Foundation Review

I've been a convert of Charlotte Tilbury since my birthday, you can read my CT first impressions post here. So obviously when I heard she was bringing out a new foundation, I was looking forward to getting my hands on it.

Netflix Top Picks.

We all have a pretty deep relationship with Netflix and I'm no exception, if anything I probably watch more than the average. I have a very wide taste in films and TV and will give anything a shot so I thought I'd write a post about the things I've really loved and really recommend.

Begin Again (2014)
The first thing that springs to mind is a film called Begin Again. This is a Rom Com about an aspiring singer and a down and out producer who meet in a bar, you can probably predict what's going to happen. But the thing that really stood out to me in the this film was the use of emotion with music and how music can bring us close together or tear us apart. Plus a little Mark Ruffalo is a winner with me!


Arrested Development (2003)

This is an American comedy TV show about a really strange family that can't seem to live with each other...or without each other for that matter. This isn't a laugh out loud kind of comedy but a really clever witty kind of comedy that I really didn't expect to like but was kind of charmed by it. It also has a healthy does of completely insane stuff that will keep you thinking 'what just happened?!'. Besides a young, awkward and kinda adorable young Michael Cera is fun to watch.



Video Game High School (2012)

Video Game High School was a happy accident I came across one random evening. Working in the video game industry myself and being a gamer,  this intrigued me. I have to admit this doesn't have the best storyline but feels familiar. As a gamer the idea of this is really cool and made me feel normal rather than an outsider. I'd give this a go if you like games and want to have a giggle, just be aware you'll probably get sucked in by the characters.


Orange Is The New Black (2013)

I'm sure everyone already knows about this programme but just in case you missed it, I really love this show. The characters completely suck you in, particularly the back stories and before you know it you've watched half a season and 6 hours of your life has gone. The last season Nick and I sat and watched the whole season back to back, yep, that's 13-14 hours in a row. Just a pity it's a year wait for the next season.


The US Office (2005)

Now I have to admit I wasn't really a big fan of the UK version, I didn't quite 'get' the awkward humour. The first season of the US Office is basically a copy word for word however after a couple of seasons it becomes it's own. I seriously love this show, I've laughed, cringed and cried (and I mean sobbed like a baby) along with them all like they were my own friends. I cried so much at the finale I don't think I've gotten over it yet, and when I do, I'll go right back to the start and re-watch them because I love this so much. This is a typical US Comedy show but give it time and I think you'll love Dwight Schrute as much as I do.

Louis Theroux Documentaries (1998 - 2015)

Netflix has a pretty big collection of Louis's weird and wonderful documentaries. A lot of them are from the 90's but there are also some really recent ones from 2014. I love these doco's as they are so varied, anything from the Porn Industry, Nazi's, America's Most Hated Family to Michael Jackson, gambling to plastic surgery. I really recommend these if you are in the mood to learn about different cultures and people. 

What are you loving from Netflix?, I'd love to hear your favourites!

Tarnya
Xx

Polaroid Series: Instax Mini 10

I have always been interested in Polaroid Cameras, I remember asking for my first camera for my 11th birthday, back then the film was much easier to get a hold of and I went around snapping friends and family.  

Fast forward 15 years and my collection has grown dramatically, I have a large variety of shapes and sizes, with beautifully preserved vintages cameras, to the modern makes and I just love them!

I feel Polaroid photographs are something really special, something you can hold, watch develop and own forever unlike the thousands of pictures you can take on your phone that later get deleted when you eventually run out of storage. For me, Polaroids are capturing a moment in time and to me, even the ones the go 'wrong' can still be beautiful.

I thought I'd put together a little mini Polaroid Series here on my blog to talk about all the different shapes and sizes, prices, techniques, advice on cameras and film and hope to get some more people interested in such a cool hobby. 

Tsum Tsum: The Beginnings Of An Obsession!

Nick bought me my first Tsum Tsum for my birthday this year because I'd seen them around the bloggersphere (totally blame Jemma!) and have always been obsessed with Disney.

The combination of cute, cuddly and Disney is just a combination of the gods, hats off to the design team.

So I headed into my local Clintons Cards which sells Tsum Tsums in a lovely display window and went about trying to pick up the next couple I wanted. I already had Tigger, so seeing as Piglet is my favourite Pooh character, I couldn't resist buying him. I love pigs, for those that don't know I actually have a piglet tattoo, I'm sure I'll post about my tattoos at some point!. His little ears and nose are the sweetest!

Then next I picked up Dumbo because I've actually wanted him for ages, he's SO cute, look at that little trunk and floppy ears! I also think his little hat and the detail of his blushed cheeks are funny and charming.

So I headed to the check out with my 2 new little additions feeling kind of sad about buying soft toys at my age but secretly giddy like a school girl and the cashier lady said if I signed up for email I CAN GET ANOTHER ONE FOR FREE. Yep that's right, write an email address on a piece of paper and you get a free one, so obviously I did so and decided on picking up Bambi as my third option.

Bambi's black tipped ears and the little tuft of hair on the top of his head made me pick him, such cute little details! I've also been a huge fan of Bambi since I was a kid, even my first pet rabbit was called Thumper, so I just had to pick this little fella up and even better he was free!

The only problem I have now, is trying to 1. Not buy every single one I see and 2. Try and pick which ones I want next!

So this is where I ask for your guys helps! Let me know from the poll below which one you think I should pick up next! :)

Tarnya
xx

Which Tsum Tsum should I buy next?!

Eeyore

Pooh

Sven (Frozen)

Marie (Aristocats)

Rajah (Aladdin)

Gus (Cinderella)

Poll Maker