Disneyland Paris at Christmas

This November saw me take my third and final Disney trip of the year with my mum, for her birthday. Not only was it my first time in a Disney Park during the Christmas season, but it was also my mums first visit to Disneyland Paris and the trip where I finally became an Annual Pass Holder. I have really fallen in love with Disneyland Paris this year, its got its own unique charm while being a lot more accessible (and cheaper!) than Walt Disney World. During this trip we met ALOT of characters in the three days, a total of 22, even meeting some multiple times in different outfits. My mum was loving life, with her little autograph book, giving characters hugs and kisses. We were perfectly happy ditching some of the bigger rides for casual strolls through the arcades and multiple viewings of the parades. Disney at Christmas time is breathtaking and perfect for getting you into the festive spirit. We also did the Inventions Brunch for the first time, and while expensive, the character interaction was fabulous (12 characters!), the food amazing and the deserts even better.

I am going back to Disneyland Paris in February with my best friend and am so excited to be staying at the Sequoia Lodge. I feel like I can chill out more at Disneyland Paris as I have done most things before and know I will be back again soon. Heck, I'm even looking into booking another trip with my mum in Spring and a trip in summer for my birthday with my boyfriend. Time to get saving!

Have you ever been to Disneyland Paris? Have you visited a Disney Park during the Christmas season?

xox

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Disney Christmas Gift Guide For Him

Jedi Knight Gown // Millennium Falcon Chopping Board // Mickey Mouse Pop Figure
Oswald Mug // Sorcerer Mickey Disney Traditions // Men’s Mickey Mouse Pyjamas
Vans X Disney Slip On Shoes // R2D2 Wallet // UP Tshirt

Buying gifts for the men in our lives can be an absolute pain, although I’m sure they say the same about us (they only need to glance at our internet or amazon history to find an abundance of things we absolutely need, am i right?) So, I’ve decided to put together some suggestions for those men out there who love all things Disney, although there is totally something for everyone here as Star Wars is technically Disney and who doesn't love abit of Star Wars? My personal favourite is the Millennium Falcon Chopping Board as I’m moving house next week and geekey home ware is my current obsession!

Do the men in your life love Disney? What are you planning on buying them?

xox

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Walt Disney World September 2015

Another year, another Walt Disney World holiday. Even though me and Craig had already booked a Florida trip for September 2016, we all know that I cant go a whole 2 years without a Disney fix, so along with my friends Rachael and Daniel, we booked a last minute holiday to the most Magical Place on Earth. We found a pretty good deal staying in Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, so as August 30th dawned, off we went to Manchester airport, ready for 2 weeks of magical adventures. This year we got to experience many new things such as Diagon Alley in Universal Studios (EMERGERD!), various different table service restaurants, some delicious treats and a different time of year. I had only ever been to Florida in the summer months, so it was nice getting to experience September, most of all the Halloween decorations. Unfortunately we left 2 days before the Halloween parties started, but there's always next year. Despite everything I had heard, this September was unexpectedly busy. Some days it rivalled the crazy summer season, which was disappointing as it’s suppose to be the quietest time of year. I think for any future trips we are now going to start looking to experience the different events and seasons rather than look for the quieter months. We know we will visit again so there is no need to rush to fit everything in.

As always, I had a great trip and was devastated to come home. It’s not all doom and gloom though, as I have three Disney trips upcoming! Disneyland Paris in November, Disneyland Paris again in February and Walt Disney World next September! Of course, I did vlog the whole trip and am currently uploading a video every Saturday over on my YouTube channel if you want to check out what we got upto.

Have you ever been to Walt Disney World? Have a magical day <3

xox

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Sephora Haulin’ August 2015

This year I’ve made a point to try and work through the makeup I own (which is definitely more than any one person needs) in a bid to downsize my collection. Would you believe I haven't actually bought anything makeup-wise since last year? It has now gotten to that time though, when I’ve started to run out of certain products. I’ve been on my last scraps of mascara, liquid eyeliner and foundation for a while so took the opportunity to justify a Sephora order. First up is the Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation ($36), a firm favourite of mine for a good year now. I chose to go with this product again as it’s lightweight and will be perfect over sunscreen during my trip to Florida this September. Heck, i think most of my purchases have been inspired by Florida, which leads me onto my next purchase. Supergoop Everyday Sunscreen SPF50 ($19) has been recommended to me by Florida locals as a great facial sunscreen that's great to use under makeup and wont leave me looking like a greasy sticky mess. Lets hope it lives up to that! Next up is another Tarte product, the Lights, Camera, Splashes Waterproof Mascara ($21). I’ve heard a lot about this online and have been dying to give it a try. I chose the waterproof version as a preference and that way its sure to stand up to the daily Florida downpours. The Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper ($19) is something else I have heard good things about online, I’ve especially been intrigued by its staying power. Occasionally my eyes like to water in the corners and it always smudges any liquid liners I’m wearing into a big mess, so something with a little extra staying power is much needed. Speaking of Kat Von D, I couldn't order from Sephora without trying one of her Studded Kiss Lipsticks ($21), with me opting to go for the shades Lolita and Vampira. I’m a big lipstick person so I’m really hoping these live up to my expectations. Finally is a little birthday freebie I got as I ordered in my birthday month. I got a double pack of NARS lipsticks, a Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella and a Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien. I’ve actually been eyeing these NARS lip pencils up for a while so am thrilled to be able to try them.

I really do love shopping at Sephora, it has such an amazing range of products and stocks some of my favourite brands which we cant really get over here in the UK. All of these brands mentioned are Cruelty Free and from what I have tried of these products so far, I am dying to get my hands on more of their ranges.

What are your favourite Kat Von D or Tarte products?

xox

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25 Things Before 25

So today I turn 24, which is kind of scary and I am so not ready for it. I feel like up until now I have been drifting through life with no real direction, which I guess is what you do when you’re young, yet I feel like I’ve barely accomplished anything. This past year has probably been the most “adult” year so far for me, getting my first full time job and going on my first business trip. Craig, my boyfriend, has landed himself a graduate accountant job and we are looking at moving into our own place after Christmas. Exciting!
After seeing this kind of thing floating around I thought I would write a list of 25 things I would like to do before I turn 25

1. Start a ‘big girl’ savings account.
2. Get a promotion at work to become salaried staff.
3. Move into my own place with the boyfriend.
4. Spend more time being creative and learning to use my sewing machine.
5. Learn more about creating content on YouTube, from editing to the filming process.
6. Gain 3000 subscribers on my channel.
7. Find a direction with my blog.
8. Rediscover my passion for photography, somehow its gotten lost along the way.
9. Go to more concerts and see more shows.
10. Stop comparing myself.
11. Become more creative in the kitchen.
12. Join some sort of sports club or activity.
13. Learn a new language to a conversational level.
14. Visit a country I’ve never been before.
15. Have a clear out – I own way too much stuff.
16. Connect with family. I barely talk to my extended family, that needs to change.
17. Pass my driving test.
18. Get a tattoo.
19. Write an open letter to my future 35 year old self.
20. Watch every single Disney film, both classic and live action.
21. Book a trip to Japan.
22. Invest in a new DSLR.
23. Get involved with animal charities.
24. ‘Organize’ my memories. I want to start scrapbooks or the like, to put all of my memory bits in.
25. Let the bad things go.

Do you have any sort of bucket list?

xox

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Extra Sweet Bowtique | Disney Fashion

I’ve had a little bit of an obsession with hair bows recently, particularly those that are inspired by Disney. After spotting a rainbow of them during my scrolling’s through instagram I was faced with a number of Etsy sellers who make beautiful pieces with which i can channel my favourite characters. Eventually I settled upon Extra Sweet Bowtique as not only do they have a wide selection of stunning bows, reasonable prices and great value pack deals, but they also have an active presence on social media, such as instagram, commenting on their customers pictures and replying to comments, something i really respect in a growingly competitive market. I chose to order 2 Heroes vs Villains value packs, 1 containing a Maleficent bow and an Ariel bow (which I gave to my friend for her birthday) while the other consisted of an Evil Queen bow and a Snow White bow. I also picked up a Haunted Mansion cast member costume inspired bow, as this is my favourite ride ever and I’m planning a Disneybound inspired by the costume for my next trip.

The bows are so well made, being sturdy and the materials used of a high quality while remaining a reasonable price. The value packs are $10 (about £6.50) and contain 2 bows while the Haunted Mansion bow was £4. There is also an option of what clip you would like, myself just going for a standard 2” barrette to wear at the back of my head. You can really tell that each bow is made with uttermost care and i really am super impressed with them. Not only are they are going to be perfect for my upcoming Disney trips, but to wear in my hair on a daily basis to give a little Disney touch. I will be 100% purchasing more bows from Extra Sweet Bowtique in the future and look forward to seeing any future releases she has planned.

What do you think of these Disney inspired bows? Do you have any?

xox

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Making the Most of it

Recently I’ve been feeling like life is just passing me by in a work, eat, sleep cycle. Since starting my full time job in February, finding a work/play balance has been a struggle, most of the time finding myself just snuggling up with a film and the boyfriend on my days off. While there is nothing wrong with the occasional lazy day, heck sometimes they’re needed after a tough week, I found myself stuck in a rut and felt so incredibly bored. Last month I decided enough is enough, and vowed to break the cycle. Since then I've done something different every week, from spending the day at the beach, watching Jurassic Park with friends and venturing to a local safari park. Not only has this given me a chance to see my friends more, but I feel so much happier than I did. Now, more than ever, I’m going to have to work hard at appreciating the little things, like taking my dog for a long walk or turning down a road I’ve never been in my city, as my boyfriend has just started his new job and our days off are pretty much always different.

Making time for friends
Growing up, its tough to make plans and spend time with friends, as people have their own lives. Schedules are different, people have other commitments and its rare that everyone will be free at the same time. You really have to make time to see friends and put effort into staying in contact. Little things like popping round for a brew after work or grabbing a quick lunch really cheer me up and keep me from being a hermit.

What shall we do
One of mine and Craig's biggest issues is deciding what to do. There are many excuses that can stop us from pursuing an idea, such as not having the money, the weather being bad or being too tired. A lot of the time we don’t even know what to do! Having a plan, or deciding where to start the days adventure in advance has really given us the motivation to go out and do things recently. Make a list of suggestions or take to the internet to find inspiration for things to do in the local area.

Being productive
I am the worst offender for sitting in my PJs and faffing around on the internet during my days off. I don't even know where the time goes or what I actually do. Doing something productive, even if only for an hour or two, still gives me that lazy day I might need while giving me a little life motivation. Something like writing a blog post, cooking a nice meal, working out, having an organize or making things, adds that little something extra to my day. Recently I’ve been making a few bits for my upcoming Disney World trip, such a bows and ears (practice makes perfect). I have plans to make little envelopes to put all our tips in for restaurant servers/mousekeeping, and am practicing with my sewing machine more so that I can make some clothing bits with cute fabric.

I don’t want life to pass me by anymore and am super determined to make the most of it.
What kind of things do you do on your days off work? Any suggestions for future activities?

xox

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Maple and Whisky Disney Scented Candles

Recently I’ve become a little obsessed with handmade/independent sellers, especially those who create beautiful items inspired by Disney. Maple and Whisky are no exception. Based in the UK, they create soywax candles inspired by the Orlando parks, both Disney and Universal. After seeing a buzz about them on Instagram, I knew i just had to pick up a few for myself. Main Street Bakery is cinnamon scented and reminiscent of the iconic Cinnamon Rolls that used to be sold in what is now a Starbucks (they can now be found in Gaston's Tavern), on Main Street USA. Butterbeer is, of course, a tribute to the famous ‘Harry Potter’ beverage and smells like sweet butterscotch (although the candle definitely smells better than the real thing tastes). My favourite of the bunch, Adventure Is Out There, is inspired by Disney Pixar film UP and has a grape scent that actually makes my mouth water, it’s delectable! Unlike many other candle brands I have tried in the past, Maple and Whisky products burn very cleanly with beautiful scents that last for hours. I got the 8oz sizes which will burn for about 60 hours, and so far, this statement is looking to be true, having had loads of use out of them over the past few weeks.

The 8oz jars will set you back about £8 each, which can seem a little pricey for a candle (to me anyway) but considering they are handmade, look cute and are freaking Disney/Universal inspired, they are 100% worth it. Maple and Whisky also have a 12oz size jar, wax melts and tea lights available at prices ranging from £4-£12. You can purchase your own candles from their Etsy store here (currently they are closed for 2 weeks due to the owner being in Florida)! I’m really looking forward to trying some more of their candles in the future and really hope they expand the range even more. Here’s hoping for a popcorn scented one! Yum!

Have you ever tried a Maple and Whisky candle? What is your favourite Disney scent?

xox

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I’m so glad I left my tower | Disney Fashion

Dress: Hot Topic
Jacket: Forever 21
Hat: Walt Disney World
Shoes: Disney X Vans
Necklaces: Walt Disney World

Recently I’ve been going through a little bit of a quarter life crisis and have felt so bored with everything. All's I seem to do is work, laze around the house and sleep. So, with summer upcoming, me and my boyfriend decided enough is enough, and that we’re going to actually do things on our days off work. No more lazing around the house watching TV for us! The first of our adventures saw us taking advantage of the gorgeous weather this week and visit Formby Beach, where we had a picnic, paddled in the sea, explored the sand dunes and took a walk around the adjacent forest. I feel so much happier having actually gotten out of the house and done something worthwhile. Of course, I had to rope Craig into taking a few cheeky outfit photos for me. I could make a photographer out of him yet! I MIGHT have also filmed a Disney fashion look book which MIGHT be going up on my channel in a few weeks. Jus’ sayin’!

The dress I am wearing is from Hot Topic and has images inspired by the film Tangled running across it. I am pretty in love with this dress, the material being lightweight, flattering to my figure and perfect for the hot weather. I paired it with a leather jacket for an edgier look, although that was soon shed in the heat. My hat is looking abit sad these days, as its endured many Florida downpours, but I adore it so just had to wear it for our day out to the beach. You cant see in these pictures, but it has a little Jack Skellington on the side, giving that subtle Disney touch.

Have you been to the beach recently? Do you have any Disney dresses?

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10 Walt Disney World Moments to give you Chills

Walt Disney World is the most magical place on earth, but there are certain moment during a trip which never fail to send a shiver up my spine and cause a flutter of my heart.

10. Character parade interaction
When characters interact with me during the parades; waving back, blowing kisses and just making the whole experience that little bit extra special.

9. Being called princess
No matter how old I get, being called princess by cast members actually makes me giddy. On the outside i give a shy smile, on the inside I'm going “yes gosh darnit I AM a freaking princess!!!”.

8. Rock n Rollercoaster blast off
Stepping into the launch room for the first time and seeing the cars shoot off as well as the countdown always gives me goosebumps and always makes me slightly nervous, no matter how many times I ride it. That 0-60 is scary alright!

7. The lights flicking off and the music starting before Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade
When the lights suddenly go off and that “dudududuuuu” starts I always squeal a little bit. There's just something about that moment which brings back so many memories.

6. Festival of the Lion King
Need I even say anything for this? Its one of the most amazing shows I have ever seen in a Disney park. The singing, the choreography, the acrobatics, just everything comes together perfectly to create a truly electric atmosphere.

5. Dream Along with Mickey
There is one specific moment during the castle show which chokes me up every single time. “Gosh Minnie, you’ll always be a princess to me” actually makes me so emotional and most definitely causes a shiver to run up my spine.

4. The first steps into Magic Kingdom & the first glimpse of Cinderella’s Castle
Those first steps into Magic Kingdom at the beginning of a Disney trip are just filled with promise and the first glimpse of the castle, whether its from the monorail, the boat or on main street itself, never fail to make me giddy with excitement.

3. Fantasmic
*slow clap” Imaginatiooooooon….. I always have a big grin on my face when everybody's favourite mouse appears on the stage and starts his dance (of which I always join in with). Those sparkler firework things as well make me want to laugh and cheer. Additionally, when the boat comes out with all the characters on I’m actually like YES YES YES!! Of course I cannot forget “some imagination huh?”

2. Wishes
A beautiful firework display lighting the skies above Cinderella’s Castle every night with the most magical soundtrack and familiar host, Jiminy Cricket. This is the ultimate night-time spectacular and never fails to give me chills.

1. Celebrate the Magic
As much as I adore Wishes, there is something about Celebrate the Magic which just moves me. Maybe its the fact that we actually have the characters projected right there infront of us, coupled with the most amazing music. “Celebrate a world filled with magic, just wish upon a star, that shines so bright”. I’m a mess by the time we get the Walt projection. “I only hope we never loose sight of one thing… that it was all started by a mouse”.

What Walt Disney World moments never fail to give you chills?

xox

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Silver Spur Steakhouse Restaurant Review | Disney Dining (Disneyland Paris)

Now I wouldn't consider myself to have a sophisticated palette in the slightest, but being a vegetarian I find it helpful to read reviews of Disney Park Restaurants to see what the vegetarian offerings are like. A vegetarian in a steakhouse you may ask! There is a method to the irony! During our Disneyland Paris trip we had the standard half board meal plan, meaning we had vouchers worth €26 towards a meal. I will go more into the DLP dining plan in a future video as it’s completely different to Walt Disney World and can be a little confusing, but for now just know that we chose to eat off a set menu which included a Starter, Main and Desert for about €28.99 with an additional large bottle of water which we shared, using the vouchers to pay off most of the meal then paying out of pocket for the excess (about €6-€8 each extra).

When entering the restaurant we were greeted by the lovely host who was very friendly seated us in a section surrounded by other English people, which I assume they do depending on what server speaks good English, as ours did. It was pretty empty as can be expected in off peak times, but it made the atmosphere very relaxed. The decor was perfect for its location in Frontierland, being very “western cowboy” yet still sophisticated. There was only one vegetarian option for a starter and main in Silver Spur Steakhouse, but as with all Disney Dining, if you are not keen you can request a custom dish (although I'm not sure how this would align with the set menu). I was happy with the options available which were Sweetcorn Soup with Corn Bread as a starter and a Tofu Tagliatelle with Vegetables for my main. A basket of bread rolls was also brought out soon after ordering to snack on while waiting for the food to arrive. I was a little sceptical of the Sweetcorn Soup initially as I’m not the biggest fan of sweet corn, but wow, it was the most delicious soup I have ever had in my life. It was creamy, mild and perfect for a cold February evening. The cornbread accompaniment was also amazing, although I preferred to eat this on its own as it just crumbled if I tried to dip. This dish was so good that I still think about it and long for another bowl full. As for the main, even though it wasn't as memorable as the starter, I still enjoyed it. The tagliatelle was cooked to perfection while the sundried tomatoes added a little kick. Although the tofu was a little tasteless, on a whole everything worked well together and I barely managed to finish it, having to save some room for desert of course. Speaking of desert, I chose to have the Chocolate Brownie Sundae, which the server confirmed is suitable for vegetarians. This was also mouth wateringly delicious and rounded up a perfect meal, probably the best I've ever had in a Disney Park.

Considering that the Silver Spur Steakhouse is one of Disneyland Paris’s ‘budget’ table service restaurants, I would 100% recommend it to anyone. The service was great, the food delicious and the whole experience highly enjoyable.

Have you dined at any of Disneyland Paris’s restaurants?

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Favourite Disney Instagramers

Out of all the social media platforms out there today, Instagram is probably my favourite. I would consider myself to be quite a visual person (and really nosey haha), so being able to get a glimpse into peoples lives through photographs is fascinating. Plus we all love those cliché filters, don't we? I wish to share some of my favourite instagramers with you today, more specifically Disney instagramers. I love how this platform has brought Disney lovers from all over the globe together, sharing their pictures with each other and making being away from the magic most of the year, that little bit more bearable.

Some other mentions go to Amylaurenfitz, Elliesteadman, Charlottelesley, Shereallyisafunnygirl and one of my new favourites, hubgrass!!!
Who are your favourite instagramers?

xox

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A Disney Stationary Obsession

I love me some stationary. Pair it with Disney and you get one overexcited 23 year old. Everything from pens to post-it notes, if I spot it, its going in the basket. A few of the pieces I with to share with you today are fairly recent buys, so should still be available. First up are these amazing Mickey Mouse highlighters from Topshop. Do I have any use for highlighters? Not at all, yet I still purposely made an order with the sole intention of getting them. Having a free shipping event didn't really help the matter… Next up is the selection of Mickey Mouse bits from Primark. There are a few different sets in store at the moment ranging from £1.50 - £3, bargain! My Donald Duck pen was a result of my recent Disneyland Paris trip and the Minnie Mouse notebook was a gift from my boyfriend for Christmas, tis perfect for all my bloggy scribbles. You’ve all seen my rave post about my Moleskine diary, its a perfect pocket sized diary to keep track of my shifts at work and important dates with added Disney magic. Finally is the Disney Villains post-it note set which I got from the Disney Store about 2 years ago when they had the designer villains collection out. Villains are my thing so this sits proudly on my desk, although I don't really have any use for post-it notes since finishing university.

I do have many more Disney stationary bits including a ridiculous amount of notebooks, half of them of which I am scared to use as they are so pretty and totally just sit on my shelf as decoration. Do you get ridiculously excited over stationary?

xox

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Cinderella Midnight Hour

“Where there is kindness, there is goodness. And where there is goodness, there is magic.”
- Cinderella (2015)

A few nights ago me and my boyfriend went to see the new Cinderella live action movie at Odeon. In light of this, I decided to play with my Sephora Cinderella palette. I'm actually gutted that Sephora seems to have stopped doing the Disney line as I wanted them to do a collection for every princess, ah well. The first thing I have to say about this palette is that the packaging is beautiful. The image is reflective of the 1950 animated classic and the quote, while not actually from the film, is a nice touch. All 4 of the shades in the Midnight Hour palette are neutral and compliment each other beautifully, having a highlight, lid and crease colour so that the palette can be used singularly. The eye shadows are applied beautifully and blend flawlessly making this a stunning little palette.

While I was a little sceptical about the Cinderella live action, especially after what they did to Maleficent, I was actually blown away by how amazing it was. They retold the story beautifully with a fantastic cast, breath taking costumes and wonderful visuals. After seeing it, I kinda have more faith in Disney with the upcoming live action craze, although I still wish they would make more original features rather than just remaking classics.

Have you seen the new Cinderella film? Do you own the Sephora Midnight Hour palette?

xox

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