GINGERBREAD STARS

So as it's Christmas, it's the time of year when the presence of gingerbread is rife. As I'd never made or had homemade gingerbread before, I thought I'd give it a go, just in time for Christmas. You could decorate these with icing, or poke holes in them before you cook to use as tress decorations, both of which would look cool, but I've decided to leave mine plain.

Makes: roughly 60 stars of varying sizes

You Will Need:
350g plain flour
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
125g butter
175g light soft brown sugar
1 egg
4 tablespoons golden syrup

How to Make:
1. Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon and ginger together in a food processor.
2. Add the butter and mix again.
3. Add the sugar and stir (don't process).
4. Beat the egg and golden syrup together in a bowl.
5. Add to the food processor and pulse until the mixture clumps together. (Pulsing means to process together in short periods repeatedly, rather than all at once).
6. Knead the dough together and wrap in clingfilm.
7. Leave to chill in the fridge for around 20 minutes.
8. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
9. Line baking sheets with greaseproof paper.
10. Roll out the dough to around half a cm thick. If the dough is too sticky when rolling it out (like mine was) just knead in a load of flour and it should be okay. You will also need to put flour on the surface and on the rolling pin, so that it doesn't stick to either of them.
11. Cut out your shapes; I decided to make stars and I thought it would be more interesting if I used a variety of sizes, instead of just one cutter.
12. Bake for 12-15 minutes and leave to cool. (I did my first batch for 15 and they were a little crispy so I did them for less time with the second batch, which worked out better).

Rosie

BOOK DEBATE #3: 5 SERIES I HAVE NO INTEREST IN

I'd like to start this post with a little disclaimer. This is my own personal opinion. In no way do I mean to be rude or offend anyone, this is just my feelings on the matter at present. My opinion may change, there are many things and book series that I once had no interest in but have now read and highly enjoyed. But right now these are 5 popular book series that I have no interest in ever reading.

1. The Mortal Instruments - Cassandra Clare
I've never had any interest in this series and I don't think I ever will; it's far too long and it always kind of annoys me when people add extra books to series that should've been finished (like with this series). My brother read the first book years ago and he's always said that it's not worth reading; I also think it's a case of ageing and reading preferences changing. I am fairly interested in the sound of the Infernal Devices Trilogy, the prequel trilogy to this series, and I'd consider giving that ago but I just don't see myself ever reading the Mortal Instruments.

2. The Lunar Chronicles - Marissa Meyer
Like all the series here, this book series is immensely popular. As of yet, I am not entirely convinced that I will never read it, I haven't yet made up my mind. My main problem with this series is that sci-fi just doesn't appeal to me all that much. It has to be a pretty spectacular sci-fi for me to read and enjoy it; it's a genre that I'd like to like, but I struggle to. I do like retellings a lot, and the hype around this series is making me consider changing my mind, but I'm not convinced that it's something that would interest me.

3. Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi 
There is basically nothing about the premise of this trilogy that appeals to me; no matter how many people tell me it's amazing, I can just never see myself wanting to read it. The idea of superpowers in non-superheroes books doesn't appeal to me and I am convinced that I will never read it.

4. Outlander - Diana Gabaldon 
I read the first book in the Outlander series earlier in the year, and I'm so disappointed to say that I hated it. It was so slow and long and boring and I had such high expectations that have been completely let down. I'm definitely not going to be carrying on with this series ever (it's something crazy like 8 books as well, ain't nobody got time for that), but the TV show is really good and I'd recommend watching that.

5. Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin 
There are two reasons why I don't think I'll ever read the Mara Dyer trilogy. Firstly, the premise does not appeal to me at all, it doesn't look like anything I'd enjoy and I don't think I'd like it. Secondly, I've heard great things about the first two books, but I've heard that the ending of the third (and final) book is one of the biggest disappointments of all time (I may be over-exaggerating here, but I've heard awful things about the third book). I don't see the point of getting involved in a series that I know is going to end badly, what would be the point?

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS

It wouldn't be Blogmas if I didn't join in with everyone else and post some Christmas gift ideas.

1. Colouring Books (and Pencils)
This is undoubtedly the year of the colouring books; my mum and I have bought a good few between us to give as gifts to people this year. The Harry Potter colouring book (pictured) is actually for myself, but I've bought a couple of the mini ones (also pictured) to give to my friends. Obviously the Harry Potter book is perfect for Harry Potter fans, but you can get loads of different film and TV books as well. I think the mini colouring books are perfect for small gifts, secret Santa or stocking fillers, they're super cute and the Calm Colouring book (pictured) also has motivational quotes on each page. (It should be noted that the mini books have much thinner paper than the full-sized ones, so it's recommended to colour them in with pencils rather than pens, as pen may go through the pages). You might also want to add a few colouring pens or pencils to your gift to complete it.

2. Fairy Pants Lip Balms
I wrote a really long blog post (here) on Fairy Pants lip balms a couple of months ago, but for a brief run-down, they're a Vegan UK cosmetics company and they do really high quality lip balms that I absolutely love, alongside other nail and body products. Fairy Pants lip balms come in a variety of flavours in cocktails, cakes and classic sweets, so you're bound to find something for everybody there.

3. Magnetic Bookmarks 
I love magnetic bookmarks, and when I saw these ones from 1107Studio on Etsy, I couldn't resist. My best friend is quite a fan of horoscopes and horoscope spoofs, so these star sign bookmarks were perfect for her (and I liked them so much I got one for myself as well). They're laminated cardboard and nice quality, and I think magnetic bookmarks in general make a great little gift, especially as you can get so many different ones to suit everybody.

4. Anything from Lush Christmas
That's a given, but my personal favourites for gifts are the bubble wands. I think they're just that little bit more interesting and special that a bath bomb or a regular bubble bar. Coming in the form of a wand, they're exciting and fun and the two Christmas bath wands this year, the Magic of Christmas and the Magic Wand, both smell absolutely incredible.

5. Anything from Body Shop Christmas
I've done a big post already this month on the Body Shop Christmas range 2015, raving particularly about glazed apple, my favourite scent from this year's collection and the most juicy and mouth-watering thing you'll ever smell. Things from Body Shop this year that I think would make lovely presents are the shimmer lotions (they make you glittery), bath fizzers, bath jellies (they make bubbles) and hand creams. Just little luxury things you wouldn't think to buy for yourself.

6. Winter Woollies
These are undoubtedly great gifts around this time of year. Last Christmas, I bought myself a really lovely, nice quality tartan scarf from New Look (it's been featured on the blog before) and my mum liked it so much she bought it for at least three people as a gift. I also think woolly bobble hats, gloves and fluffy socks make nice gifts, as those are things I don't usually buy for myself.

7. Candles (Duh)
Who doesn't love a good scented candle, particularly a Christmas-themed one?

8. Themed Gifts
An idea rather than an actual gift, but sometimes it can be fun to theme your gifts. For example, a couple of years ago I bought my friend a gingerbread shower gel (from Body Shop), a pair of socks with gingerbread men on them and a gingerbread man from Costa (which are amazing). I like themes.

9. Baked Goods 
This is good if you're on a bit of a budget this Christmas. There's something truly special about a hand-made gift and I personally think some sort of baked good, like cookies or gingerbread men or Christmasy cupcakes is a really nice gift to give someone. It's a bit more personal than a shop-bought gift, and I always feel really touched that someone has taken the time to make me something themselves.

10. Spoof Ladybird Books
Recently, Ladybird Books have released a range of books for 'Grown Ups' and they have got to be the most hilarious things I have ever seen. I'd recommend taking a trip to your nearest Waterstones (or nearest bookshop) purely to have a look at them. My Dad and I were in hysterics in the middle of Waterstones Piccadilly Circus reading them. My personal favourites are 'We Go To The Gallery', 'The Shed', 'The Mid-Life Crisis' and 'The Hangover'. Best things ever.

MOST ANTICIPATED 2016 BOOK RELEASES

As I got majorly back into reading in 2015, I also discovered so many new books that were released this year. I've made a list here of my most anticipated book releases of 2016, including sequels and brand new releases, and also a small list of books that I've been waiting to come out as paperback in 2016.

Most Anticipated Releases

1. 'The Raven King'- Maggie Stiefvater
For me, this is the most important release of 2016. I read the first three books in the Raven Cycle over the summer months, and I became obsessed. This is one of my most favourite book series, and this is the final book, and we know that Gansey is going to die, and this book is going to kill me. I'm writing this in November, the week the cover was finally revealed, and ohmygod it's sunning.
Expected Release: 26th April 2016

2. 'The Fever Code'- James Dashner
This is the second most important release of 2016 for me. I've been excited for this book since 2014 and it has been agony. At the end of 2014, I became a little (lot) bit obsessed with the Maze Runner series (still obsessed) and this book sounds just to die for. It's another prequel, occurring in between the first prequel and the first book (a sequel to the prequel?) and it follows all the characters living in the maze before Thomas arrives. It's basically my dream book.
Expected Release: some point in 2016

3. 'The Fate of the Tearling'- Erika Johansen
I read the first and second books of the Tearling trilogy in 2015, and I'd go as far as to say that the Invasion of the Tearling (the second book and a new release in 2015) was the best book I read this year. It was mind-blowingly incredible and I can't wait to find out how this trilogy ends.
Expected Release: 7th June 2016

4. 'Throne of Glass 5'- Sarah J. Maas
This book does not yet have a title, but it's the fifth (and penultimate) book in the Throne of Glass series, and obviously it's going to be absolutely incredible.
Expected Release: some point in 2016

5. 'The Crown'- Kieras Cass
I loved the Selection trilogy, it's one of my guilty pleasure reads, but what's not to love about princesses and castles and pretty dresses and romance? This book is the second book in the spin-off duology; the first book wasn't as good as the original Selection books, but I'm interested in how the story will end and I want more trashy princesses in my life.
Expected Release: 3rd May 2016

6. 'Passenger'- Alexandra Bracken 
I've never read an Alexandra Bracken book before, I can never fully decide if the Darkest Minds trilogy appeals to me or not, but this book sounds incredible and I'm dying to read it. I don't know all that much about it (I like not knowing much) but from what I've gathered it's about time travel and pirates. I've been desperate to read a pirate book for ages (I love pirates) and I've finally found one that appeals to me. So excited.
Expected Release: 5th January 2016

7. 'Crooked Kingdom'- Leigh Bardugo 
So this is the sequel to Six of Crows, which I haven't read yet but I am absolutely desperate to read. Literally desperate. I've been dying to read Six of Crows since way before it came out and it was described as 'Game of Thrones meets Ocean's 11' which are two of my favourite things ever. I haven't read the Grisha trilogy, though I'm told you don't have to read it first, and I'm definitely going to read SoC in January.
Expected Release: 22nd September 2016

8. 'The Hidden Oracle'- Rick Riordan
The Second 'Magnus Chase' book by Rick Riordan is also coming out in 2016, but I'm more excited for this one. It's back to the Greek mythology, which I absolutely love, and this series follows the God Apollo. I don't know much about this book, but I do know that it's going to feature Camp Half Blood, and I love CHB more than anything.
Expected Release: 3rd May 2016

9. 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' (Illustrated Edition)- J.K. Rowling
I don't own the illustrated edition of Happy Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but it's Harry Potter and I'm not not going to be excited about it.
Expected Release: some point in 2016

10. 'The Beauty of Darkness'- Mary E. Pearson
The third book in the Kiss of Deception trilogy. I read the first book a couple of months ago, and I thought it was pretty good, so I'll likely carry on with the series.
Expected Release: 2nd August 2016

11. 'The Haters'- Jesse Andrews
I read Jesse Andrew's first book, 'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl' earlier this year and I loved it, I read the entire thing in a day, so of course I'm going to read his second book when it comes out.
Expected Release: April 2016

12. 'The Crowns Game'- Evelyn Skye
From what I can gather, this book is going to be a historical/fantasy fiction with magic, with some royalty and some sort of test/game, all of which appeal to me. It's also set in a version of Russia with the threat of the Ottoman Empire, and I've never read anything set in Russia before, so that should be really interesting. I love royalty and I love historical fiction; I am intrigued by this book.
Expected Release: 17th May 2016

13. 'Front Lines'- Michael Grant
More historical fiction, because it's one of my favourite genres and I don't read enough of it. This book is set in World War 2, which I've always found interesting and enjoyed (as far as you can enjoy it) reading about. This book really appeals to me, as it's about what would have happened if women had been allowed to fight in the war, and I'm all about that girl power. This should be a highly interesting read.
Expected Release: 26th January 2016

14. 'The Star-Touched Queen'- Roshani Chokshi
This book sounds incredible. There's royalty (I love), marriage (I love), mystery (I love), secrets (I love), and basically everything about it sounds like something I'd love. I am very, very excited for this.
Expected Release: 3rd May 2016

15. New Untitled Stephanie Perkins Book
Until December, actually, I wasn't interested at all in any of Stephanie Perkins' books. And then I read Anna and the French Kiss and I am absolutely obsessed with that book. I read the whole trilogy in less than a week, and regardless of what this book is about, I know I'm going to read it. (It's actually a horror book in the style of Scream, which should be pretty fun- the Goodreads description of it is fantastic).
Expected Release: some point in 2016

16. 'The Winds of Winter'- George R.R. Martin
This is the next book in the Game of Thrones series and the release date keeps getting pushed further and further back. Hopefully it's going to finally be released this year, and that's still not a definite. I'm reading all the books before I watch the TV series (I've literally been reading them for years, they're massive) but I've only got two left to read and I'm definitely going to finish them in 2016.
Expected Release: hopefully finally in 2016

17. 'This Savage Song'- Victoria Schwab 
I started reading A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab earlier this year, but I couldn't get into it at all, I found it so slow that I actually gave up reading it before I'd even got 100 pages in. This book sounds pretty good, it's about monsters which aren't something I normally read about, and I'm intrigued to give this a go.
Expected Release: 7th June 2016

18. 'Salt to the Sea'- Ruta Sepetys
I've heard nothing but good things about Ruta Sepetys' other book, Between Shades of Grey, but it never really appealed to me. This book, however, sounds right up my street. It's more historical fiction set in World War 2, but it's sounds like it's got a Titanic-vibe to it, and I do love a good, tense, disaster story. I'm excited to read this one.
Expected Release: 2nd February 2016

19. 'Forever Doon'- Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon
I shamelessly love the Doon series, it's trashy and romancey and childish but it's fun and the setting is beyond incredible. This is the fourth and final book in the series and I'm obviously going to read it. Plus, every book in this series has beyond beautiful covers, it's the most incredibly attractive book series I've ever seen.
Expected Release: 2nd August 2016 

20. Untitled Sequel to Illuminae- Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
As with Six of Crows, I haven't read Illuminae yet, but I am absolutely desperate to read it. It's another book that I'm planning on reading in January and, like Six of Crows, I am fully prepared to love it.
Expected Release: some point in 2016 


Paperback Releases:

1. 'More Happy Than Not'- Adam Silvera
This book sounds just incredible, and I've heard nothing but good things about it, but the hardback is very expensive and I've been waiting for it to come out in paperback to read it.

2. 'A Wicked Thing'- Rhiannon Thomas 
I've been waiting nearly a year for this one to come out in paperback, and I've been dying to read it. It's a retelling of Sleeping Beauty (I love retellings of fairy tales) but with the twist that it's not all happily ever after and peachy when she wakes up. It sounds fantastic and I really hope it doesn't disappoint.

3. 'The Heart of Betrayal'- Mary E. Pearson
The sequel to the Kiss of Deception, so obviously I'm going to read it.

4. 'Emancipated'- M.G. Reyes
This one sounds like a great summer contemporary, but it was super expensive in hardback so I've been waiting for the paperback and I'm hopefully going to read it in the summer.

5. 'Legacy of Kings'- Eleanor Herman 
More historical fiction, this one sounds absolutely incredible and I'm desperate to read it.

A QUINTESSENTIAL LUSH CHRISTMAS POST

So my mother and I went Christmas shopping on Wednesday, and we got a little bit carried away (by our standards) in Lush. I never shop in Lush, it's a bit iffy for me, some of the things I love but quite a lot of the scents that everyone likes I absolutely hate, but I always like to go every Christmas and buy a couple of bits from their Christmas range. The only thing I didn't buy this year that I maybe should've done is a Snow Fairy shower gel, which really is the epitome of all Christmas.

Firstly, for myself, I bought the butter bear bath bomb. The butterball is my absolutely favourite Lush product, and for the last few Christmases Lush have released it in the form of an adorable little bear. There are no words to describe how good this smells, it contains cocoa butter, cocoa power and ylang ylang oil, and it has the most comforting vanillary-chocolately smell. For me, the butter bear is something that I could smell for the rest of my life and never get bored of. It's the most lovely, warming, comforting, delicious thing I've ever smelt ever.

The next bath bomb I bought myself is the yog nog bath bomb, a new one for this year. This bath bomb contains clove bud oil, shea butter, ylang ylang oil and soya milk powder; I do love a good bath bomb with shea butter and ylang ylang. This is definitely a Christmas-scented bath bomb, it smells like toffee and something else that's quite dark and heavy but definitely works. It's the polar opposite to the chocolatey-sweety-freshness of the butterbear, and I definitely think it's going to make me feel all lovely and festive when I come to use it.

The So White bath bomb is quite a popular one from the Christmas range and is one of the ones I bought as a gift. So White contains orange flower absolute, bergamot oil, rose absolute and neroli oil. I smelt this one for the first time last year (it's been around for quite a few years though), and I was pretty excited for it as I had heard it smelt like apples, which is one of my favourite scents. Last year, however, I was really disappointed with this scent, it just didn't smell good-or at all like apples- to me. This year, however, I thought I'd smell it again and give it enough go, as it seemed like a great bath bomb to give my aunt. This year, I'm much more pleased with the scent and I like it a lot more. It doesn't smell as good as the Body Shop apple products do, but it has a very nice, fresh scent that I think would appeal to a lot of people, and I've become more and more keen on the more I've smelt it.

The next two products are the reusable bubble wands. Like the bubble bars, these ones are designed to make bubbles in your bath, rather than being a bath bomb. With the bubble wands, you swirl them around in your bath to make bubbles, and you can reuse them multiple times.

The bubble wand I bought for myself is the Magic of Christmas bubble wand. This one is the epitome of all things Christmasy. Containing cinnamon leaf oil, almond essential oil and sweet orange oil, this bubble wand is studded with cloves and star anise, and the stick of the wand is a stick of cinnamon. As predicted, it smells incredible. It's fresh and orangey and spicy and I'm beyond excited to use it.

This next and final product, the Magic Wand bubble bar, is basically Snow Fairy in wand form. I quite like Snow Fairy, though it can be very sickly, but it smells fantastic in bubble wand form. I bought this one for my best friend for Christmas and it's really making me regret not buying one- or not buying actual Snow Fairy- for myself. For those out of the Lush loop, Snow Fairy smells like candy floss and sweets and all things sugary. It's not a scent for everyone, but it is the definition of all things Lush Christmas.

Rosie 

BELOVED BODY SHOP CHRISTMAS

The Body Shop Christmas range is one of my favourite things about winter, I feel like I'm allowed to start being festive the minute the Christmas Body Shop products hit the shelves. Every Christmas my mother and I fixate on one particular new Body Shop range, and everyone we know gets given products from that range for Christmas.

Every year the Body Shop release three new Christmas ranges with a variety of bath, shower and body products. Some favourites of mine this year are the candles, bath fizzers, shimmer lotions and bath jellies, alongside the typical shower gels, body butters and lip balms.

So normally, in their Christmas collection, Body Shop have a vanilla range, a cranberry range and another range. In 2013, there was an amazing gingerbread range and in 2014 there was the absolutely incredible glazed apple range, that literally has you drooling when you smelt it. Obviously, I love the vanilla scent, but I've never been all that bothered about it, and my mum and I always always obsess over the 3rd range that changes every year. However, I was very surprised this year to find that Body Shop had decided not to release a vanilla range, and had instead gone for the usual cranberry, brought back the glazed apple and introduced a new scent, frosted plum.

I thought that this year, instead of talking about an actual product, I'd talk about the scents. As I said before, the glazed apple range has me drooling just thinking about it, let alone smelling it. It manages to smell both sweet and sour at the same time, and it has got to be one of my all-time favourite Body Shop scents ever. I can never get bored of this scent and it doesn't disappoint. I think this is one that everyone will like.

Now the frosted cranberry range is more of a personal-preference scent, it's definitely not one for everyone, I've always liked it but my mum is not really a fan. It has a very fresh, berry-like scent, but there is a more sour-berry tang to it that not everyone will get on board with. The frosted cranberry is a much more sophisticated scent that the fun and sweetness of the glazed apple.

And finally, the newest range, frosted plum. I was so excited when I found out that the Body Shop were releasing a plum range. I had a plum lip balm a couple of years ago (pictured above, i don't have anything from the frosted plum range to show you) that I absolutely loved; it smelt beyond incredible and it became one of my favourite Body Shop scents, I was obsessed. However, I was really disappointed with the frosted plum range. I smelt the body butter, as that's normally the best thing to smell for the scent, but it just literally didn't smell of anything to me. I also smelt the shower gel, which smells a lot stronger, but to me I just wasn't wowed by it. It smelt okay but it definitely didn't smell like plum like the other range did. It had a kind of weird under-lying smell that I couldn't place but I just wasn't a fan, and that disappointed me as I was fully prepared to love it.

I will always love the Body Shop Christmas range, I especially have my eye on the bath fizzers this year, and I am very, very happy that they've brought back the glazed apple scent this Christmas.

Rosie

ONE SKIRT, TWO OUTFITS

If you saw my autumn/winter wardrobe wishlist post from early October, you'd see that I was looking for a tan-coloured button-down skirt. I knew I wanted one as a really loved the style and everyone who has one styles it so nicely, though I was a bit apprehensive as I wasn't sure how many outfits I'd be able to get out of it and was it really worth it. In the end I went for it, and this beautiful skirt is from Boohoo. I'd initially found the most perfect one from Next, perfect colour, perfect material, perfect buttons, but I waited to long to buy it and then it wasn't available anymore. I hunted around for ages to find the perfect replacement, and this is the best one I found.

The two looks below are my two favourite ways of styling it and I think they're such simple but perfect looks for Autumn, Winter and Spring; I also think it would look good with a plain black t-shirt, and I'm thinking of getting the black version of the white top below. I'd wear this look on a night out with a dark red, vampy lipstick and glittery copper eyeshadow. I also like to wear this with one messy plait down the back with long bits coming out at the front.

I'd like to add a note here that this was so difficult to photograph, it gets dark really early and for some reason the whites were coming up so bright. This was literally the only day we had to photograph it and we had to make do with what we could.

Skirt- Boohoo (£18)

Jumper- Next (£18)

T-Shirt- New Look (£7.99)

Boots- Simmi (last year, around £20)

Leather Jacket- All Saints (two years ago, around £100)