I have loved every minute of writing these blogs for The Sanctuary – I really feel like I have got to know people through my words and it’s strange but I think I will miss writing them!

Preparing for Christmas 2011 has been such a crazy one – I had so many presents to buy (luckily I have them all now apart from my daughter’s – eek!) and t be honest I am looking forward to finally putting my feet up and enjoying some well-earned time with the family. After all, that’s what Christmas is really about for me.  I have my work Christmas party tonight so I am preened and pampered to the max today – I ended up going for the black and silver option in the end. What I didn’t go for was the silver glittery make-up – I have decided to stick to classic and subtle look. Still, I have popped some self tan on (St. Tropez Gradual Tan Lotion) and gave myself a little face mask (courtesy of The Sanctuary, of course!) so I’m feeling good for the festive season!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all

Lots of Love,

Judy xx

P.S I won my final golf tournament of the year last week – hooray! Hopefully that will be a sign of things to come in the New Year. I got a huge box of chocolates as a ‘congratulations’ present and can’t wait to share them with my daughter when she comes home from London. Fire on, telly on (Christmas films are the best!) and hopefully snow outside – and judging by the past week’s weather, I am betting there will be!

Well ladies, Christmas is finally within touching distance meaning 2 things: firstly, I am of course excited beyond belief, and secondly, the end of my blogging run is nigh. I will try to make this final offering (note: ramble) short and sweet as I do have a ton of things on my to do list before I head off back to the countryside for festivities. There are a handful of last minute presents that still need to be purchased (namely for my not so little brother – 16 year olds are so hard to buy for!), not to mention the annual packing dilemma… Every year I struggle to fit everything in one suitcase. I’ve spoken about my inability to travel light before, so imagine the catastrophe with a Santa’s sack of gifts in tow too… I need a sleigh!

Nevertheless I’m really looking forward to going home for some rest, relaxation (?), good food and good company. A sunny fortnight in Cuba is planned for not far into the new year so the mince pies and turkey will need to perhaps take a back seat if the bikini body is to be at all attainable… I imagine that as soon as I see the plates piled with food going back for seconds will be all too tempting though – but never mind, it IS Christmas after all. Of course I’m excited about opening some pressies on Christmas morning too, but really it will just be nice to spend some quality time with my family and get in the festive spirit. My cards are sent, (most) presents wrapped and ribboned, train tickets booked and work is winding up (I might add that the office parties are also safely out of the way with no damage to report!).

It’s been a pleasure writing my little Christmassy pieces for you all, and I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading them as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. Hopefully I’ve shared with you some of my tips, anecdotes and experiences during this lovely time of year, and if nothing else provided you with a little light entertainment…

A fond farewell from Wimbledon’s resident Christmas elf… Merry Christmas everyone! Have a fabulous one.

x

My favourite time of year is when I go home for Christmas. Last year I spent approximately half a day packed like a sardine in the busiest train I’ve ever seen making my way to the depths of the Welsh borders, but it was absolutely worth it. As soon as I walk into my parents’ house I’m filled with festive cheer and (sometimes, if my Mum is having a rare day of baking – she will kill me for saying that – sorry Mum) the smell of homemade mince pies. The days in the run up to Christmas Day are spent doing last minute shopping (although you will be pleased to know I’ve now completed the bulk of mine and can rest easy once more after my panic stricken blogs last week) and relaxing in the calm before the storm. We have a family tradition of going out for a special meal on Christmas Eve, before coming home and each being allowed to open one present each.

Christmas Day itself is always a joy and ours is never filled with sleeping or lazing around. We open presents, have a late brunch, go for a long walk, then always go to a family member’s (this is on rotation) for a party in the evening after a day of wonderful food, drink and merriment for… even MORE food, drink and (a lot of) merriment. This also means our present giving and receiving is spread out throughout the course of the day so we avoid the inevitable anticlimax at 8am when the first round is over. Honestly, (no really) I prefer giving gifts to receiving them – this year’s John Lewis ad is very apt for me. I pride myself on putting a lot of thought into my presents, and this year I really think I’ve come up trumps with the selection of goodies I shall be bestowing on my loved ones. Hopefully they won’t read this afterwards and be thoroughly disappointed.

This is not to say I haven’t put my orders in too. My wish list is pretty varied and has built up over the course of a couple of months, but is composed of a really lovely selection of bits and pieces. I have to admit it is make up/cosmetic based (superficial perhaps but I can’t get enough), interjected with the obligatory books and DVDs to make me feel like I’m a more well-rounded person. There are a couple of Sanctuary products in particular I have my beady eye on – the Ultimate Facial Box and the Fragrance Diffusers - now that I have my own flat I feel like I need to ask for grown up gifts too, and you know you’re an adult when you’re given fragrances for the home! I’m also eyeing up a number of items of clothing, including a gorgeous leather jacket, some black heeled Chelsea boots and anything burgundy. As always I’ve issued my usual – and generally ignored – NO CHOCOLATE disclaimer, yet year upon year I find myself wading through mountains of Green & Black’s and Cadbury. Why can’t I be given this selection box instead?! What is a girl to do…?

Until next time!

x

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With my favourite day of the year rapidly approaching and my window of opportunity to buy gifts for my loved ones disappearing equally quickly, I’m really starting to feel the pressure. Not that I’m complaining as it’s no secret I adore Christmas shopping – but for the first time ever it’s almost December and I haven’t bought a sausage yet (not a literal sausage, no one will be receiving one of those from me). Usually November sets in and I’m ready to go, but this year I seem to be flagging. Having looked at my diary I have deduced that I have exactly ZERO free weekends before Christmas itself, so I’ve taken it upon myself to book a day of annual leave in a couple of weeks (sneakily coinciding it with the day after my work Christmas party – an entirely strategic choice, I assure you) to hit the London shops.

In the meantime though I’ve started on some online shopping and have been making lists for all of the people who will be lucky enough to receive presents. I must say I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by the abundance of gorgeous gifts out there this year – so much so I’ve been putting a lot of them on my own wish list that has been circulated to my nearest and dearest. I always think that buying ready selected gift sets is a wise move, not only because you usually make a bit of a financial saving but also because they’re so well put together and usually packaged beautifully – not to mention they do tend to save a bit of valuable time! I find myself drawn to presents that people wouldn’t usually buy for themselves, so this usually means something a little bit special or luxurious instead of lots of little bits and pieces that have been thrown together. The Pamper Hamper Ultimate Indulgence set  would make a fantastic stand alone present, whilst the Facial in a Box is a lovely idea for bringing a bit of spa therapy into someone’s own home. With a Mum who is an avid candle collector (you don’t even want to know how many were in our house when we last counted), I’ve spotted the Classic Fragranced Candle which will no doubt be sneaking it’s way into her stocking.

Aside from the Sanctuary’s offerings – which I must note are very helpfully 3 for 2! – my ever growing list of potential gifts includes a number of fragrance gift sets (I’m a firm believer that every girl should have her signature scent – Agent Provocateur is currently my fave but is so hard to track down!); the YSL Beauty Icon set (inclusive of my saving grace Touche Eclat – this needs to find a space in everyone’s make up bag); pretty much every item in the NARS Holiday 2011 collection; an array of Diptyque candles (candles once again – can you sense the theme here?); some beautiful Astley Clarke pieces … I won’t bore you with the rest of these extensive lists – and in reality they are broken down by person and assigned into categories (yes, I’m extremely sad but I prefer the word ORGANISED) – but I’ll finish by saying Benefit, Clinique and Jo Malone also have their usual reliable offerings too which is always a huge relief to me when I have a ‘don’t know what to buy’ moment – in other words, if my lists fail.

My own requests this year range from MAC goodies to a book on economics (no, really), but proudly taking number one spot on my ultimate Christmas wish list (and it shall remain there until the glorious day when one of these beauties finds it’s way onto my arm) is the one and only Mulberry Bayswater – preferably in the shade Chocolate but who am I to be fussy? In fact I’d probably sever an arm just to carry one of these on the other. I need one in my life and will not stop until I have convinced Father Christmas I’ve been a good enough girl to receive one. In fact, Santa if you’re reading this … pleeeeeeeeeease… ?

I have a soft spot for Marc Jacobs handbags and treating myself at the beauty counter.

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Another week has passed, and with it at least another four broken promises to spend my evening hitting the high street to pick up all the Christmas presents I have now planned out in my head (I am still refusing to create a spreadsheet.. I will not turn into my Mother!).

The ‘warmest autumn ever’ appears to be over, the layers I’m wearing rapidly increasing and that gloomy feeling I get when I leave work in the dark has encouraged me to turn to the Internet for more and more of my festive shopping. Shrinking my ‘to buy’ list while curled up on the sofa is a dream, although I must admit I miss the sneaky mulled wine and hot cider I treat myself to when out and about. [Note to self: Buy a bottle (or three) of mulled wine]

As you can probably tell my motivation for gift buying is waning, which may be down to the invite for the office Christmas party arriving in my inbox this week. So I’m on a mission… the hunt for the Christmas dress has begun, this year I’m going to splash out and be economical, how you ask? I will splash out on a gorgeous dress and then wear it for New Years too. That’s economical enough for me! All the stress of preparing for Christmas means I think I deserve to be spoilt a bit. I can guarantee that almost half my presents will be sock shaped, edible or saved for re-giving to unexpected visitors that drop by so I may as well give myself a few gifts!

While I start browsing for that elusive dress I’m going to start prepping my hair and body. My daily routine is becoming more regimented…cleanse, tone, moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!

I’ve previously mentioned that this year I’m going to go all out on my hair and I’m determined to follow that through. I’ve made the first steps by discovering Sanctuary’s new Detox Hair Exfoliator- why have I never heard of a hair exfoliator before? It’s amazing! My hair feels in such good condition, I’ve taken advantage of the 3 for 2 (well more like 6 for 4 for me………..okay, okay 9 for 6 but don’t tell my boyfriend) and also got the Intensive Shine Hair Butter to try out too!

I’m not completely satisfied though as my quest for curly hair continues- my research into the best curling tongs isn’t proving very helpful, everyone has a different opinion! I am desperate to get curly hair in time for the party season. It feels like time is running out …

If anyone, anywhere can give me any advice I would love you forever!!

Chat soon xoxo

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I have a soft spot for Marc Jacobs handbags and treating myself at the beauty counter.

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Oh the joys of Chrimbo are definitely setting in…the Christmas adverts are running incessantly and are relentless. I see the doll that cries real tears is still on the market, albeit with a few modifications!

My favourite ad at the moment though is the one from John Lewis… I love that kid, he is too cute! The shop’s shelves are bursting to the rims readily awaiting the consumer onslaught, and this weekend I am going to be one of them out to start buying up the first of my many pressies…a good feat for me as we are still in November!

I thought I would start my Christmas shopping this weekend in an attempt to achieve my goal of getting in the pressies for my nearest and dearest first. It can be safe to say that I do like the experience of buying for others, but sometimes I get carried away and end up buying the person what I think they should have rather than basing my gift choices on what the actual individual may want,need or suit! That’s why this year I have decided that as the majority of my friends are in their 30’s now, maybe I should take the initiative and look into getting beauty products (prevention is better than cure my mother has always told me!)

From looking around, I was faced with a choice……less is more or is more, more?? I personally go for the latter and love lots of little goodies to indulge in. My best friend however, appreciates the finer things in life and would probably say that she would prefer a “statement” piece and wouldn’t care for nor want the faff of opening lots of ‘bitty’ presents.

I think a perfect way to combat this and to satisfy everyone is to buy a gift set! Brainwave no? You can still cater for all – have a gift set which is based around a particular product, for example.  I am thinking of getting my best friend something from Jo Malone and have seen that they have a lovely gift set which centres around scented candles and has fragrances for the person and to match with the candle scent – AMAZING! Then I thought about my other friends and if again a gift set could do the trick…and guess what…they all will be getting some form of a set!

Gifts like luxurious creams in amazingly different fragrances – Sanctuary do a few that I am even thinking of suggesting as a stocking filler for myself. I know that my gorgeous fair-skinned girlfriend would love me for LIFE if I got her the St Tropez set! My mother is going to be receiving the mother of all gift sets – last year they spent Christmas in the Cape Verde Islands and therefore didn’t get a pressie…..eeek I know, terrible daughter! Hence, my idea of a giant “hamper like” gift set which I am thinking of putting together myself. As my mum is someone who goes through fads……all through the 80’s and 90’s I was subjected to her ever changing choices of quiet “suspect” wall papering ideas, to name a few. Mum would definite appreciate variety, maybe not just focus on beauty products for her but maybe have little things which match and compliment her many loves, hobbies and traditions.

Now that I kind of have an idea of what I am getting the family, girlies and kids, I can start focusing back on me! I have had a few party invites so I think when we next speak I will address my need to get party ready!!!!!!!
Speak soon xoxo

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