Oh Deer!

December 30, 2014
 

I had worn a very similar outfit on Christmas day. Instead of the Oh Deer reindeer sweater, I wore a plain loose top that I just tucked into the skirt which made me look like a gypsy – with my hair and all.

The story behind this Oh Deer sweater is, that one and only time my dad asks me to buy clothes for him, I walk into H&M mens section hoping they would have something my dad would wear, then BOOM! I saw it! Oh Deer!  I just laughed and probably went around the rack that had this sweater hanging, about 6 times until I decided to get it. 'Twas funny.


My days  after Christmas have been so blah and meh and filled with lots of procrastination. I've been doing nothing but read all day and practice 40 minutes yoga, when I know I'm supposed to do something of much more importance and productivity.



| Sweater - H&M | Skirt - Stradivarious
| Belt - ALDO | Shoes - Payless
Photo creds: Najla Qamber

I hope all of you had a very pleasant Christmas with your family and friends. And Is anyone excited for New Years? 

Have a holly jolly day everyone! 
Until next time. 
xoxo
0

Book Review: A Wallflower Christmas (Wallflowers #5) by Lisa Kleypas

December 29, 2014


A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas
Series: Wallflowers #5
Genre: Historical Romance; Season Romance
Read Reviews: Goodreads
Buy Now: Amazon, Book Depository, Barnes & Noble, KoboBooks
Synopsis:
The Wallflowers are four young ladies in London who banded together in their wild and wickedly wonderful searches for true love. Now happily married, they join together once again to help one of the world’s most notorious rogues realize that happiness might be right under the mistletoe.…

It’s Christmastime in London and Rafe Bowman has arrived from America for his arranged meeting with Natalie Blandford, the very proper and beautiful daughter of Lady and Lord Blandford. His chiseled good looks and imposing physique are sure to impress the lady in waiting and, if it weren’t for his shocking American ways and wild reputation, her hand would already be guaranteed. Before the courtship can begin, Rafe realizes he must learn the rules of London society. But when four former Wallflowers try their hand at matchmaking, no one knows what will happen. And winning a bride turns out to be more complicated than Rafe Bowman anticipated, especially for a man accustomed to getting anything he wants. However, Christmas works in the most unexpected ways, changing a cynic to a romantic and inspiring passion in the most timid of hearts.

A Wallflower Christmas takes a trip to Victorian London, under the mistletoe, and on a journey of the heart. With her trademark charm, sensuality, and unforgettable characters, there’s no one like Lisa Kleypas to make you believe in the magic of Christmas.

Review

Sweet, romantic, passionate, and angst-y. Those are a few of many words that I use to describe this book. 

A Wallflower Christmas is the last novel of the Wallflower series by Lisa Kleypas. Since all the wallflowers have, how to we say, graduated from Wallflower academy and are now happily married. The four ladies come together again to try their hand in match making. 

Rafe Bowman; the brother of both Lilian and Daisy, had arrived from America and is required, by his father, to marry Lady Natalie, or else he'll get cut off. The worst fear of a rake from a wealthy family, to get cut off and disinherited by their father. 

The book started off really well and it got me wanting more with every page I turned. It was engrossing, enthralling, and I was deep deep deep in the world of the Wallflowers − plus, reading it during winter time makes it twice as better. 

I loved every bit of this book, from the unrequited love to the sexual tension, and of course the detail of the Christmas decor. It's the perfect type of book to literally read during or before Christmas day. It really puts one in the mood to redecorate the entire tree and surround the entire household with Christmas cheer. 

A Wallflower Christmas, you will blush, you will smile, you may burst out laughing, and you will feel that passionate love between the two protagonists. It's the last wallflower book, and I am sad to see it end. BUT, I will be purchasing multiple other Lisa Kleypas books in the very very veeery near future. 
  

Other Wallflowers:

 

0

Christmas Time | Blogmas

December 25, 2014

Blogmas Day 25


It definitely is the most wonderful time of the year. All the twinkling lights, the yummy food, and the carols. It Christmas tiiime!

This is the last day of Blogmas, and the last post until New Years Eve. Perhaps I'll sneak in a little posts here and there within the week. But for now, I'm laying low-ish, and enjoying the finally cold Bahrain and the twinkling lights that will hopefully NOT burn down any trees. 

I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas! And I hope ya'll received loads of presents this year, and gave out lots of love!

Have a lovely day everyone!!
0

Noche Buena | Blogmas

December 24, 2014

 Blogmas 24

Photo creds: Dollar Photo Club

It's almost here. One more sleep until Christmas day. *screams internally*

Tonight, I will be celebrating Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) with the Filipino side of my family. We're going to stuff our faces, sing karaoke, and play lame filipino party games. 

Honestly, I don't even know why I get so excited about Christmas. Is the colors? the lights? the food? the wintery jitters? the songs? or is it the romantic christmas movies? Since I'm not of the Christian religion – or other religions that celebrate this holiday – celebrating Christmas can seem a little odd to other people. 

Why do we celebrate it? What does it mean to you? They would ask.
I celebrate it because it makes me feel jolly and it brightens up my cold and gloomy winter days.

Can't we just focus on how it makes us feel instead of focusing on the reasons behind it? I know it's beating around the bush, but just until the new year, let's just focus on the things that make us feel good, excited, jolly, and blessed to be alive. 


Virtual hugs for everyone!
0

A Visit from St. Nick | Blogmas

December 23, 2014

Blogmas Day 23

Two sleeps until Christmas Day *heart palpitations* 

For this day before Christmas eve, I want to share with you all one of the most cutest and heart warming Christmas stories out there. 

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."


Have a merry day everyone! :)

0

Timepiece Bracelet | Blogmas

December 22, 2014

Blogmas Day 22


Guess what came in the mail today!  *says in a sing song voice* My long awaited timepiece bracelet from WickedClothes.com. I was worried this wouldn't arrive before Christmas. I was tracking it like a hawk tracking its prey – do hawks even track their prey? Last time I checked it was in Switzerland for almost  two weeks, but when I check the post office today. BOOM! There it was.  

I desperately needed a new watch. After wearing the same watch for what feels like a year, I wanted something new, and when I saw this on tumblr with the word "Sale" beside it, I just had to get it. 

Wicked Clothes seems like a small online store, since they don't have much to offer. But what they do have are fun graphic tees and cool authentic accessories. Plus, they have sales almost all the time. I will definitely shop at Wicked Clothes again soon! 





Buy your very own now: Wicked Clothes

What do you usually buy online? 
Let me know in the comments, I'd really love to know :)
Happy Holidays everyone!

0

5 Christmas Movies to Rewatch | Blogmas

December 21, 2014

Blogmas Day 21

From the most cliché romantic movies like Love Actually to one of the most comedic ones, here are five christmas movies to rewatch this Christmas. 

A Madea Christmas (2013)

Madea dispenses her unique form of holiday spirit on rural town when she's coaxed into helping a friend pay her daughter a surprise visit in the country for Christmas.

Elf (2003)

After inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community due to his ungainly size, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole is sent to the U.S. in search of his true identity.

Love Actually (2003)

Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.


Joyeux Noel (2005)

On Christmas Eve during world War I, the Germans, French, and Scottish fraternize and get to know the men who live on the opposite side of a brutal war, in what became a true lesson of humanity.















The Santa Clause (1994)

When a man inadvertantly kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place.












I am so going to try and cram all these movies and a whole lot other in three days. Christmas movie marathon! Who's with me?

What are the movies you'll be watching this Christmas? 

3 days 'till Christmas!
Have a jolly day everyone!

0

All Black by the Sea | Blogmas

December 20, 2014

I live on a tiny island and I barely shoot outfit photos by the sea. Well, that's probably because the sea is no where near me, okay that's a lie. There is a little sandy-rocky sea side about 7 minutes away from where I live, but do I like taking photos there? Alone? With people staring at me? Wondering what I'm doing, why I'm taking photos of myself, alone? 

Honestly, I don't mind taking outfit photos on my own. It's really fun, and it gives me complete freedom on how I handle camera and I can take my time. But my only issue is the staring, the cat calling, and the risk of stalking. So I must resort to letting other people – like family members and good friends – to take photos of me. 







Photo creds: Najla Qamber

| Sweater & Flats - H&M | Pants - Thrifted | 
| Rings - Ebay | Necklace - ALDO |

Have a lovely day everyone!
0

Best of 2014 Giveaway Winner | Blogmas

December 19, 2014

Blogmas Day 19


I'm pretty excited to announce the Best of 2014 giveaway winner today, buut before I do, I would like to thank the academy Bookhounds and I Am A Reader for graciously hosting this awesome hop that everyone enjoyed. I hope everyone got a chance to go through all the blogs that were listed (Link) and signed up for their giveaways too. And I would like to thank everyone to taking your time and commenting on the best thing of your 2014. They were sweet, interesting, and some are just so "aww" worthy. 

On to the winner. Drum roll please.

And the lucky winner who gets to receive one of the best selling historical romance novels, is...


Congratulations Oriana (@dionisia2012 on twitter)!!

You will definitely enjoy this book. Even if you're not into historical romance, this book will get you addicted. 

Oriana, I have sent you an email. Please reply within 48 hours, if you don't reply within that time period, I will be picking a new winner. 

Now for those of you who wanted the book but didn't win :(. Don't fret, Book depository has a little discounted version of the Secrets of a Summer night. It's not a huge discount but it's something, plus it's free shipping too! 

Read reviews at: Goodreads
Buy the book at: Barns and Noble, Kobo Books, & Amazon

Congratulations again, Oriana! 
Have a jolly day everyone!

 
0

Thick Hot Chocolate | Blogmas

December 18, 2014

Blogmas Day 18



My sister, Nasreen, has been going back and forth to Saudi Arabia for work. Now before you ask or say "Aren't women not allowed to work in Saudi?" or anything relating to that. No. Nasreen works here in Bahrain but her company requires her and her team to go to Saudi since the clients are mostly Saudi based companies.

One day, Nasreen was sweet enough to get us – her two sisters – a little something from a chocolate store over there called "Patchi". It's a Lebanese based chocolate store and is currently the leading chocolate brand in the Middle East. That actually sounds pretty cool but my wallet seems to be screaming at me. When Nasreen told me that what she got me as a bit pricy, I told myself "Okay, I'll only have it for special occasions".

They apparently have a branch over her in Bahrain too, I just never really noticed it. teehee.



Since the weather is at it's minimum temperature of 18 degrees – that's as low as the weather can get with all that pollution going around – it seems to be the perfect time for Hot Cocoa and I decided it was a perfect time to try out this Trésor de Chocolat that Nasreen got me.

I rarely use heated up milk in my hot beverages – I usually go for powdered milk and hot water – but as this little tin of hot chocolate said. "Heat up the milk to a boil then add about 1 tablespoon of Trésor de Chocolat"

 

"Then stir until clumps are gone and until the mixture thickens" 

 

Trésor de Chocolat already has a little bit of sugar to it, but if you still find that it's too bitter or tasteless, you could add a little bit more sugar.

And your Trésor de Chocolat is now ready for sipping while you sit in a corner with good book. Easy as that! BOOM!


Do you prefer hot chocolate, tea, or coffee? 
Let me know in the comments, I'd love to know! :) 

Have a jolly day everyone! 
0