Christmas Day is nearly here, so it's time to relax after finishing your Christmas shopping, with a tasty & festive (alcoholic) cocktail! This cocktail is a festive twist on a classic margarita, and is super easy to make. The recipe is for making one glass/cocktail. It doesn't contain tons of ingredients, and is great for even a cocktail making novice to make.

I hope you try to make it and really enjoy it!

1 - Rim your glass with lime juice and sugar. Cut a lime slice and place on the edge of glass.

2 - In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the cranberry juice, lime juice, tequila, cointreau and simple syrup. 

3 - Add the lid and shake until the outside of the shaker is cold/frosty. 

5 - Pour the drink into the glass over the ice. 

6 - Finish with a straw and serve!

Today's post is a recipe for a gorgeous gingerbread flavoured cake, with gingerbread icing. This cake is so tasty, and the sponge is beautifully fluffy & light. It is a great cake for this time of year, and would make a great alternative dessert on Christmas day, if your family doesn't like Christmas pudding. Depending on how you decorate it, it could be a great showstopper cake at a Christmas party this season too. Everyone in my family loves it, and I think it will be asked for every Christmas from now on.

10 - Smooth a thin layer of the icing around the sides of the cake. It won't look pretty just yet, as this is the crumb layer. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes, to set the icing. 

12 - Then finish your cake with whatever decorations you like. I decided to go with some desiccated coconut on the top, to look like snow, and several gingerbread biscuit trees around the outside.

And that is it!

Finished!

And that is how you make this delicious gingerbread cake, with gingerbread icing. It's a perfect cake for this festive season, whether you want it for cosy winter nights in, or as a centre piece for your holiday party.

I hope you like this recipe, and let me know if you decide to make it.

1 - Dusty Daze Contrast Leg Flares in Snake & Sequin £60.00 ASOS

2 - Black Sweetheart Neck Lace Bodysuit £17.99 New Look

3 - Missguided Faux Fur Black Jacket £45.00 ASOS

4 - Girl Power Cross Body Bag £20.00 (SALE) Skinnydip

5 - Twist Hoop Earrings £6.00 (SALE) Topshop

6 - Statement Heel Faux Fur Sandals £39.50 Marks & Spencer

1 - ASOS Design Relaxed Suit Blazer in Metallic £40.00 ASOS

2 - ASOS Design High Waist Metallic Shorts £25.00 ASOS

3 - V by Very Sequin Cami Top £25.00 Very

4 - Cadee Diamante Detail Ankle Sock Boots £39.99 EGO

5 - Black Glitter Rectangle Mini Tote Bag £22.00 Pretty Little Thing

6 - Crystal Pendant Earrings £12.99 Mango

1 - Black Sequin Extreme Split Maxi Skirt £24.50 (SALE) Missguided

2 - Black Feather Detailed Mules £17.50 (SALE) Missguided

3 - Stripe Plunge Body £22.00 Pretty Little Thing @ ASOS

4 - V by Very Alice Rhinestone Layered Drop Chokers £8.00 (SALE) Very

5 - Rhinestone Crystal Earrings £15.99 Mango

6 - Brandi Disco Cross Body Bag £28.00 Skinnydip

I hope you found my outfit choices inspirational for your own NYE celebrations.

I would love to hear what you are planning to wear in the comments below, and what your favourite item from my suggestions is.

To jazz up the plain brown paper, this year I have printed my own tags onto card, which I created on Photoshop. I have done normal shaped tags with Christmas lyrics, film quotes and general festive saying on them, which I then wrote on the back. For another personal touch, I printed copper coloured letters onto card as well, for each recipient. I then purchased several different types of ribbons & strings, copper coloured small clips, and an array of tree decorations/baubles. I stuck with a copper/gold theme this year, but the beauty of brown paper is that you can use any colour scheme for the decorations.

My personal favourite present decoration are the small pouches that I purchased from Wilko. They came in a pack of two and are meant for your Christmas tree. I decided to use them for my niece and nephews Christmas presents, as I could hide an extra little surprise inside them, in the form of a chocolate coin. I love using baubles and other tree decorations for present decorations, as the recipient can then put them on their tree the following year. 

This year, all of my present decorations are from Wilko, except the tags that I printed myself. Wilko are such good value for money, for all kinds of present wrapping and decorations. 

I hope this has given you some inspiration for Christmas present wrapping, and has possibly inspired you to use brown paper too. I have been trying to get my friends and family to use brown paper for the past few years, as it is so much better for the environment.

Leave your present wrapping tips in the comments below. 

I always love seeing/hearing how creative other people can be.

Time for my final Christmas gift guide of 2018!

This one is to help you possibly find a gift for a couple or a family, so that you don't have to buy individual presents. I have split this guide into 4 sections, which are food & drink gifts, homeware gifts, alternative gifts and stocking fillers. The stocking fillers will all be £20.00 & under, per item. The stocking filler ideas would also make great small gifts, if you aren't spending lots of money this festive season. 

I hope you can find a gift in my suggestions below.

1 - Personalised Mummy, Daddy, Little Balmoral Mug Set £9.99 Very

2 - Edinburgh Gin Cocktail Shaker and Glasses Set £60.00 John Lewis

3 - Copper Rose Cocktail Glass Set £42.00 Oh So Cherished @ Notonthehighstreet

4 - Alfresco Terracotta Tagine £35.00 John Lewis

5 - Copper Pineapple Ice Bucket £40.00 Oliver Bonas

6 - Grow It Chilli Peppers Set £12.99 Studio

7 - Cuisinart Electric Wine Opener £45.00 John Lewis

8 - Luxury Fresh Pasta Making Kit £35.00 Pasta Evangelists @ Notonthehighstreet

9 - Marble & Copper Bar Tools Set £60.00 Oliver Bonas

10 - Paella Set £18.00 Food Nation @ Boots

11 - Christmas Wine Hamper £100.00 Harrods

12 - Tea for Two Gift Set £24.99 Very

1 - Flow Recipe Stand £29.00 Oliver Bonas

2 - Get Naked Bath Mat £25.00 Urban Outfitters

3 - Yankee Candle 3 Small Jar Candle Gift Set £24.99 Very

4 - Stockholm Rug £180.00 IKEA

5 - Embroidered Initial Bath Towel £16.00 Next

6 - Savone 12 Photo Black Frame £20.00 Paperchase

7 - Personalised Gold Heart Pillowcases £18.00 Loveabode @ Next

8 - Ronda Round Hanging Mirror £95.00 John Lewis

9 - Filodendron Quilt Cover & Two Pillowcases Set £40.00 IKEA

10 - Personalised Special Location Framed Print £45.00 Letterfest @ Next

11 - Home Collection Red Sherpa Fleece Throw £22.00 Debenhams

12 - Personalised Couples Candle Set £75.00 Illumer @ Notonthehighstreet

1 - Personalised Whitewashed Wood Pot Planter £29.99 Getting Personal

2 - Lonely Planet's Ultimate Travelist £19.99 Waterstones

3 - Name A Star Gift Box £17.99 Very

4 - Buyagift Relaxation for Two £59.99 Debenhams

5 - Swing Dance Class for Two £60.00 Indytute Experiences @ Notonthehighstreet

6 - Personalised His & Hers Aprons £25.99 Getting Personal

7 - Personalised His & Hers Calendar £14.99 Getting Personal

8 - Personalised Postcode Jigsaw Puzzle £19.99 Getting Personal

9 - His & Hers Sole Mates Socks Set £28.00 Solesmith @ Notonthehighstreet

10 - Spectrum Solo Portable Radio £40.00 John Lewis

11 - Jamie Cooks Italy by Jamie Oliver £26.00 Waterstones

12 - King/Queen of Hearts Couples Sweatshirts £25.00 We Love To Create @ Notonthehighstreet

1 - Fizz Make Your Own Neon Light £14.99 Very

2 - Initial Hooks £7.00 Next

3 - Star Wars Classic Set of 4 Shot Glasses £9.99 Very

4 - Couples Carved Heart Personalised Marble Coasters £16.00 Sophia Victoria Joy @ Noonthehighstreet

5 - Santa Banter £9.99 Waterstones

6 - Grow Your Own Coffee Plant Kit £8.50 Plants from Seed @ Notonthehighstreet

7 - TGIF Burger Seasoning Selection £8.50 Boots

8 - Grow Me Brussels Sprouts £4.50 Paperchase

9 - Mr & Mrs Novelty Pillowcases £12.00 John Lewis

10 - Festive Hot Chocolate Flavours Set £5.00 Wilko

11 - Personalised Street Sign Tea Towel £14.75 This is Nessie @ Notonthehighstreet

12 - Yankee Candle 3 Votive Gift Set £4.99 Boots

I know this is a little later than I planned, but here is my Christmas gift guide for the different men in your life. This is the second gift guide for 2018, the first being one for women. Each gift guide is split into different sections; this one being divided into fashion, beauty, alternative and stocking fillers. The stocking filler items will all be £20.00 & under, per item. 

I hope you can find a perfect gift for any of the men in your life, in my suggestions.

1 - Signature Initial Robe £50.00 Next

2 - Magma Abstract Palm Printed Shirt £125.00 REISS

3 - Leather Shoes with a Glossy Finish £79.99 Zara

4 - Antioch Black Borg Taping Denim Jacket £55.00 Topman

5 - Mantaray Black Leather Borg Lined Gloves £40.00 Debenhams

6 - Tie Pocket Square & Cufflink Gift Set £40.00 Noose & Monkey @ ASOS

7 - Black Classic Holdall Bag £85.00 Fred Perry @ Debenhams

8 - Basic Crossbody Bag £29.00 Zara

9 - Stripe PJ Set £18.00 BoohooMan

10 - Cashmere-blend Hat & Scarf Set £29.99 H&M

11 - Personalised 'Established' Year T-shirt £19.99 Good Time Gifts @ Notonthehighstreet

12 - Mantaray Navy Waffle Knit Slipper Boots £25.00 Debenhams

1 - Ultimate Clipper Kit £80.00 Wahl @ Very

2 - Ted Baker Limited Edition Bathroom Collection £14.00 Boots

3 - White Musk For Men Fragrance Kit £25.00 The Body Shop

4 - Beckham Beyond Forever Gift Set £21.99 David Beckham @ Very

5 - L'Oreal Men Expert Ultimate Grooming Collection £24.99 Very

6 - Jack Wills Gym Bag £45.00 Boots

7 - Panasonic ES-LV95 5 Blade Cordless Wet & Dry Shaver £330.00 Very

8 - RI Spray Fragrance Travel Pack £15.00 River Island

9 - Beard Care Kit £15.00 Bulldog @ Boots

10 - BOSS Multilines Collectible Minis Gift Set £30.00 Boots

11 - No7 Mens Grooming Kit £8.50 Boots

12 - 'Great Skin For Him' Skincare Gift Set £40.00 Clinique @ Debenhams