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Hello lovelies, before I start with the photos I just want to say that if you're going to the Studio Tour soon perhaps you might
not want to look at my photos until afterwards. I didn't look at anyone's photos before I went - I think maybe it would ruin the
surprise. I'm not going to give anything away by telling you what happens or the order of things at the tour, but of course the
photos are going to show you things you might not have realised were there. I must say that all of this is a million times more
impressive in real life, and there are a million more things to see than what I'll show you here.
As a huge Harry Potter fan, I was beyond excited when I received tickets from Mark for Christmas 2012. We finally got round
to going on my birthday, December 1st. Now, Mark had never read the books or seen the films. Upon receiving the tickets, we
decided Mark had better watch all of the films so he could appreciate the tour too. He became totally hooked - he loved it! He
loved the tour just as much as me & I can honestly say it is so worth a visit. I want to go again!! As we visited in December, you
can see snow around (just look at Hogwarts!!). I'd be interested to visit to see how it differs when it isn't Winter too.
It took me such a long time to narrow down the photos to even this many! Now I have some advice for anyone who is going to visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour. Make sure you charge your batteries - we took a Canon DSLR, a Nikon bridge camera & our iPhone 5s. The two cameras died before we'd barely started - I was gutted! Take photos of everything you want to, and don't be afraid to pose with the props! The tour is split into sections, once you leave a section, you can't go back so spend as much time as you need to before moving on. Prepare to get a little bit emotional - awe, joy, sadness, excitement - you name it, if you grew up with Harry Potter like I did it's insane to see it set out like this and to learn things about the making of the films that will fascinate you and make you feel totally inspired. Make sure you take money or a card, the gift shop is amazing and you'll want to buy everything! Last of all, wear comfortable shoes because you're going to be on your feet for most of the tour.
Have you been to the Studio Tour? Would you like to go?
You can book your tickets here.
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Hello you gorgeous lot, I thought I'd come and share some of my Christmas snaps with you before the festive season has passed. I had the most wonderful time with all of my family and Boxing Day with our dear friends. Christmas morning in the Brown household was pretty chaotic, what with three young children and the usual mountain of presents to get through. We all got some fabulous gifts and I can't wait to show you mine! There were about 500 photos from the two days, so to have whittled it down to these few collages was some mean feat!
Christmas Day
Christmas day did of course end with us watching all of the hour long soap episodes (Emmerdale, Corrie, Eastenders!), drinking Baileys and eating Pringles. And what Christmas would be complete without Bridget Jones?! We watched 1 on Christmas eve, and 2 on Christmas day. How cute is Indigo's bunny eared blanket?! I got it from H&M.
Boxing Day
Boxing day was also a wonderful day, a lazy morning followed by getting ready in the afternoon to see some of our nearest and dearest at our local village hall, which we usually hire out for Christmas day but mixed it up a bit this year. There was a bit of a funny moment when we realised we'd only brought wine with a cork, and didn't have a corkscrew..! We sorted it out in the end, and ate lots of nice buffet food followed by lots of delicious dessert.
The outfit
Lace top Mango via carboot sale £3.00
Black denim jeggings M&S Collection £7.00 sale
Lois flatforms Carvela Kurt Geiger Christmas gift
Oversized tote bag Luella Birthday gift
Pink gold Gem Aurora earrings Vivienne Westwood £55.00
Dusky pink & black wool biker Maison Scotch via TK Maxx £30.00 sale
I wore this same outfit to Mark's family's Christmas meal on the Sunday before Christmas. I love how easy to wear it is, but it still looks like I made a bit of an effort with the pretty lace top. This Maison Scotch jacket was most definitely my bargain of the year - originally around £200, I found it hidden on a coat sale rail in TK Maxx with a red sticker on the label at just £30. I didn't need another jacket at all, but I tried it on and the splash of colour is so unusual for me that I had to have it. I think the dusky pink is a shade I can get away with against my pale skin. I've had these Vivienne Westwood earrings for a while now, I wasn't sure on the drop at first but now I've really fallen in love with them.
Have you posted a Christmas period OOTD? Or a Christmas present post? Link me in the comments :)
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Rufus, Mark & I would like to wish you lovely people a very merry Christmas! I'm posting this on Christmas Eve because Christmas day is sure to be crazy in the Brown household! I hope everyone gets what they wished for, and I hope you all have a wonderful day surrounded by the people you love. See you in a few days! x x x
Rules
Answer all ten questions below, make sure to add The Christmas Cracker Tag logo (above) somewhere in your post, tag as many bloggers as you like to do the tag, comment on the blogs you have tagged to let them know!
One: What’s on your Christmas list?
I don't really have a Christmas wishlist, with my birthday being December 1st I usually ask for anything I want then :) I'm excited to see what I get though!
Two: What’s on your Christmas Day agenda?
For the first time in a few years we're all staying at home, my brother Zach and my brother Josh and his family are coming round for presents and dinner so I'm really excited to have a more relaxing version of Christmas this year!
Three: How much Christmas shopping have you done?
I shop throughout the year because I have so many people to buy for, I always aim to be finished by December because there are so many birthdays in my family at this time of year too.
Four: What’s been your biggest ever surprise gift?
I have an awful memory but last year Mark got me tickets to the Harry Potter studio (I promise to post the photos in the New Year finally!!) and I was so surprised and excited! Even the letter I got saying I was going to the tour was so exciting to me haha, I'm such a Harry Potter geek and I've made Mark one too now.
Five: When do you usually put up your Christmas tree?
It's tradition in my house for it to go up on my birthday, December 1st! Though I think it went up on the 2nd this year because on the 1st we were at the Harry Potter studios :)
Six: Do you have a special outfit planned for Christmas Day?
I'm not entirely sure this year! Half of the day is inevitably spent in pjs because it takes so long for all of us to open our presents!
Seven: Do you have any plans for Boxing Day?
Usually each year for Christmas us and all of our family friends have dinner together in our hired out village hall. We eat, sing Christmas carols and have a lovely time together. We're doing it on boxing day this year instead!
Eight: When did you stop believing in Father Christmas?
I have no idea!! But I'm still managing to keep my little sister Indigo convinced that he's real, she's 5 in January :)
Nine: What’s your favourite Christmas scent? (Candle/Perfume)
I love the smell of cinnamon but find it a bit strong in a candle!
Ten: What do you love most about Christmas?
I have three whole weeks off work and I'm spending time with my family and friends, and soon Mark too. I love Christmas because I get to see everyone and eat delicious food and even drink a Baileys or too (chocolate flavour this year!).
I'd like to tag anyone who'd like to do this, I know I'm a bit late with it though!!! Enjoy your day lovelies :)
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Hello lovely and loyal readers, thank you for coming back after I disappeared on you again! I've come back with a post of my wonderful and very thoughtful birthday gifts. I've been ill again in the last week, with some kind of Wintery bug where all I wanted to do was sleep to avoid feeling so bad. I'm much better now, but I do have to go for an ultrasound scan of my kidneys and bladder in January. The hospital actually wanted me to go in on Christmas eve for my colonoscopy, because my doctor said it was urgent, but I soon told them that wasn't possible! I'm home at my mum's now for Christmas (except a little trip to meet Mark in Liverpool on Saturday, because erm, I miss him already!). It's lovely to be able to see family & friends, and have cuddles with baby Belle.
♥ Happy birthday to my nephew McKenzie! ♥
I received so many lovely birthday cards that I had to share them! I'd like to thank anyone who send me a card, present, or birthday wishes :) it's much appreciated, I loved every single one!
My main gift from my mum was this beautiful Cosmic La Sardina Lomography camera and some films - I can't wait to try it out! I love the night sky so the pattern on this camera is perfect. Mark's gifts came in this artsy paintbrush covered bag which I am totally in love with! He was really thoughtful with his labels this year and wrote down postcodes of places we've been together - such as W1D 2DH, which was The Astoria in London (now closed) where we met for the very first time at Neverender in 2008 (even though we never spoke then!). I also received Gemma Correll's What I Wore Today book, a Paperchase voucher, bubble bath, a Luella lookbook, an Orla Kiely folder and lots of chocolate!
I got the cute Harrods bear pen & teddy bear from Mark's mum and dad (how sweet!) and the floral 'capture the moment' mug from my mumma (fitting with the camera don't you think!). Family friends Lynn and family got me the gorgeous silver bear trinket box, it's so special! I don't know what to put in there yet but I love just looking at it. I also received the beautiful silver and swarovski crystal feather brooch from my family, and the gorgeous bear necklace I wanted in this Handmade Mondays post from Mark.
I received these two absolutely beautiful prints (that I did choose myself, oops!) and a mini print in a necklace. I will share more about the artist here with you after Christmas in a Handmade Monday :) Mark also got me these super sweet Oysho pjs and socks - bears and embroidered clouds and raindrops!!! What more could a girl want..!
I was extremely, ridiculously, amazingly spoilt! My wonderful boyfriend got me this gorgeous, buttery soft leather Luella bag and I couldn't feel any luckier than I already do. It is my third Luella bag now, I got a pink Gisele from my mum for my 21st birthday, and Mark got me the tan Sandhurst luggage bag the Christmas before last. It's safe to say I'm in love! Considering Luella ceased trading a good while ago now, I've been lucky and managed to get bags in perfect, new/as new, condition. I love all of my presents so much and couldn't have chosen better myself :)
Have you got a favourite brand/label that you can't get enough of?
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Hello dear readers, I took a little impromptu blogging break, but I've missed you all and I'm so glad to be back. There were a few things happening in the last week or so that just meant my attention wasn't focused on my blog and I didn't find any time to post (even though I had planned to!). Sometimes these things happen as I'm sure you all know, and I can't wait to catch up on everything all of my favourite bloggers have been up to (yep, that's you!).
On Sunday (1st December) it was my 25th birthday. I had such a wonderful day with Mark at the Harry Potter studio tour and I can't wait to show you some of my photos and tell you about it. Happy advent everyone!
I also met my best friend Leah's new baby, Belle Hope, for the very first time on Monday. Both mum and baby are so beautiful and I can't believe how well my best friend looks - you wouldn't believe she had a baby just over two weeks ago!! Belle was born on the 20th November at 7.46pm, I'm so proud of my bestie.
Health update
I'd like to take this opportunity to write a little update about my health lately, as I haven't done for ages and this is my little spot for keeping track of things as well as sharing them. I understand not everyone wants to read about this stuff so if not then skip to the end, I promise I won't mind!
I had my last ever appointment with my ear consultant (hopefully!) in October. I was discharged - hurray! At first I felt a bit disappointed with being discharged and not really knowing what happened to me. But I realised since that my consultant's diagnosis is all that can be said, that my tinnitus, balance problems and vertigo are side effects of my bout of labrynthitis in December 2011. For over a year now I haven't had a vertigo attack (touch wood), only slight dizzy episodes. My physio said that the best thing I can do is to live my life as I would, and if I need him he's only a phone call away. My hearing had stabilised in my last few hearing tests and definitely seems a lot better now. I still have constant tinnitus in my right ear, but it's something I've learned to live with. On a slightly less positive note, I've got to have another colonoscopy. I had one a year ago and to be honest the worst part was the preparation you have to go through beforehand and the way it makes you feel afterwards. I'm not booking that until well after the new year though so I'm choosing not to think about it for now! I've also got four spinal rehabilitation classes in January.
How have you all been? Are you feeling festive?! I'm loving all of the Christmas lights I've seen so far and had my first Christmas drink in Costa the other day, a chocolate orange mocha latte, delicious!
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Bowler hat - Helene Berman Ebay £7.50
Tartan dress - Primark (about 5 years ago) £11 ish
Oversized coat - Warehouse £30 in the sale
Super cosy black opaque tights - Primark £3
Daffodil pin - Marie Curie a donation
Honey fox brooch - Tatty Devine (gift from Mark) £35
Leather Chelsea boots - TK Maxx £35
Hello lovely readers, I'm back again with another tartan OOTD! I bought this tartan dress from Primark over five years ago for something silly like £11. I loved it at the time and I still love it now, I think it's so versatile. I even wore it on a night out once (that statement just led to Facebook night out album reminiscing!). It has a cowl style neck which is not usually something I like, but it just sits right on this dress especially if I pair it with a chunky black jumper.
Despite having bought it 5 years ago, I'm one of those lucky ones whose weight doesn't seem to change much. The only thing I will say is that the arms are definitely a bit tighter and more restrictive, but other than that it's still perfect with the nipped in waist and flared out skirt.
I was tempted by this year's tartan Primark offerings, but realised I probably didn't need to buy another one as I don't wear dresses all that often. I've seen some lovely OOTDs featuring tartan lately. This OOTD was actually a couple of weeks ago - when the weather wasn't as bitter as it is now and I could step outside bare armed without them falling off!!
Have any of you snapped up a tartan dress this season?
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When? Thursday 17th Oct
Where? O2 Academy, Leicester
Support? TKAK, Bipolar Sunshine
Wearing? frizzy hair courtesy of the fog, Topshop leopard shift dress, TK Maxx chelsea boots
Mark, myself, and my sisters Zenobia & Willow arrived at the venue after some speed walking from our car parked outside student halls - free parking, very handy! We left a little late, and arrived at the venue at about 8pm. This was after a walk around the block almost ending up at the car again, before I pointed out that Zenobia hadn't pressed go on her map directions! Doors were at 7.30, so we were surprised when we arrived to find quite a long queue. We missed TKAK entirely (sorry guys!), but arrived just in time for Bipolar Sunshine. I don't know how to describe Bipolar Sunshine really, a bit indie pop with a feel of reggae thrown in. We really enjoyed the set, and would love to see them again. The catchy lyrics had us singing along even though it was the first time we'd heard them, and the beats made you want to move around. Check out Bipolar Sunshine on Youtube.
14 minutes (the medic told us) before Bastille were due on stage, Zenobia had a funny turn and she couldn't see. Luckily we were stood by the barrier anyway, and a lovely security guy helped her into the medic room. She was fine after a little lie down, water & some fresh air, but we stayed at the edge after that just in case. This meant we were to the right of the stage and kind of by the amps, but had a fab view of the stage and could see perfectly well. This gig was one of those 'oh we like the songs on the radio let's go see Bastille' kind of gigs. They're a relatively new band (at least to us) and we took a chance. I think the most excited of us all was Willow (sporting her new Bastille t-shirt below!). We had an awesome time, and Bastille were pretty damn good. The way vocalist Dan kept his voice steady whilst banging around on the drums or playing keyboard was amazing, his singing completely effortless. We enjoyed both songs we knew and those we didn't, and the band put on a great performance. It was energetic & a really good night.
My personal highlight of the night was the two cover songs Bastille performed, the one I filmed above, and their cover of City High's What Would You Do. This song was huge when I was younger, and most of the crowd loved singing along (which is why I didn't film it! Too busy singing haha). The sound quality goes a bit dodgy when all the background music kicks in, but I think it's a combination of being close to the speakers and sound overload for my tiny Nikon.
All in all, it was lovely to go out with two of my sisters and Mark, and we all enjoyed seeing Bastille & Bipolar Sunshine! Have you heard these bands? Are you a fan?
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