Take off! || Blogmas Day 16

Yup, that's right. I'm so done with the whole exam thing, that I'm leaving the country!

Haha, ok, bad joke over. During second year, and particularly over the summer, I started to hang out more with one of my good friends, who I actually met when we both started studying French in first year. She's now studying German, and decided to spend her third year working in Germany. She suggested I come and visit and so, when my exam timetable cam out earlier in the semester and I realised that I had an extra week after exams before Christmas, and before my friend was heading home fro Christmas too, I decided to book a weekend in Germany.

Since Rachael (my friend) lives in a smaller German town, she suggested we both travel to one of the larger cities, and spend the weekend exploring, particularly since Germany is famous for their cities' Christmas Markets. We settled on Frankfurt!

Anyway, this was my first time flying alone. I've flown with friends before, and with my swim club when I was 14, but I've never flown completely alone. I wasn't at all nervous about the flight, but I was a bit jittery about making it through the whole security, boarding thing!

It was totally fine, mostly because I know Glasgow airport pretty well, we shall see how I cope on the return journey in the massive, rather confusing, Frankfurt International airport.

Talking of that particular big, confusing airport, we had an interesting time when we landed! My flight got into terminal 2, and the train station (where Rachael had come into, off her train) was in terminal 1. We literally spent an hour messaging each other, each wandering around separate terminals in the belief that one of us could walk through from one terminal to the other, only to find out that the terminals are actually completely separate buildings which require a shuttle bus ride!

Eventually I went outside and saw a free bus going to terminal 1, which I hopped on, and was reunited with my pal! We were both starving, so we started our weekend with some lunch at a lovely
bakery in the airport!

Rachael's booked us into a hostel, and we're going to head out soon and have a wee explore! Here's to a celebratory weekend!

Catriona x

Bursting the Bubble || Blogmas Day 15

So, after risking my life walking to my last exam this morning (on the iciest, most un-gritted roads ever!), and sitting said exam which I think went ok, its hard to tell, I finally got my prescription, came home and finished packing my case. I have been procrastinating for the past week or so by slowly packing my case in bits, so as to avoid a last minute panic, but somehow I still ended up forgetting pretty much everything and having to squeeze in as many of my belongings as it is possible for one person to carry (a large suitcase, a backpack and an old, torn holdall)

I then proceeded to walk back into town on the ice with all this stuff (the streets had thankfully been gritted by this point), and then take a bus and three trains to arrive in the town where my Gran lives. My Uncle picked me up from the station and my Auntie made us an amazing steak pie dinner, and it was just the best!

It was really nice to catch up with family, and to walk through Glasgow (just between train stations). As much as I love St Andrews (and I really do), I haven't been home in three months, and I'm quite relieved to be away from the stress of my uni friends, and freeeeee!

I realise that these posts have kind of turned into me just describing my day, and I'm really sorry if people are finding them boring. If there's anything particular you want me to blog about, please leave a comment below!

As much as I want to be watching the I'm A Celeb Coming Out Show right now, my Gran gave me the stern word to get some sleep, since I've got to leave for the airport at 6am tomorrow! So I'm going to keep this short and sweet, jump in the shower and try and get some sleep. I'm not sure how prompt my posts will be in the next few days as, tomorrow, I'm Germany bound!

Catriona x

Days of Distractions || Blogmas Day 14

So, today was supposed to be a full day in the library. And to be fair, I have managed to get through everything I need to (eventually!), it just took waaaaay longer than it was supposed to. This has been a bit of a pattern this week, which is a bit annoying because I really want to do well in my exams. At least I'm now one down and just one to go. This time tomorrow I'll be free!

On Tuesday, I was supposed to be doing an interview for the student newspaper (conducting the interview, not being interviewed) at 10am, but the person I was interviewing didn't show so that was a wasted 40 minutes. So that took time reorganise and then I spent another hour + later in the afternoon attending the rescheduled interview.

Today, I had to go and pick up my glasses, which was fine, and get Euros for this weekend. Then I went to pick up my prescription from Boots and then met my friend for a cup of tea and a catch up (which was a very welcome distraction, and I'm not moaning about that bit whatsoever!)

However, when I got back to the library to finally settle down and get some work done, I decided to quickly check my prescription and found that they had given me a different brand of tablets to usual, and the new ones contain peanut oil! I am allergic to peanuts (which you would think either the doc tor or the chemist would have seen on my records), but the chemist can't replace them without doctors' instructions, and since I leave tomorrow I ad to spend a considerable amount of time on the phone trying to get that sorted out!

So, in the end, everything worked ok. But it has now been a very long day, and I don't have the luxury of an afternoon exam (and therefore time to look over stuff in the morning), so I think my best bet now is just to try and get some sleep and hope for the best in the morning!

Sorry this hasn't been very festive... but I'm so close to freedom I can taste it and it's great!

Catriona x

Nerves, nerves, nerves || Blogmas Day 13

I went to bed last night not feeling very well, and when I woke up it was way worse! I'm fairly positive that it is an IBS flare-up, as I often get these when I'm stressed, and especially in winter for some reason. I might do a proper post on IBS some time actually, but not for Blogmas haha!

Anyway, with a 2pm exam I was determined to get my act together (and to eat something, despite not feeling like it!), so I decided to head to Rectors Café for porridge and then, later, soup, while I read through my notes. I think it was the right move because, despite the nerves, the exam went pretty well I think!

I've always been quite a nervy person actually, so I wasn't overly surprised when I was diagnosed with IBS and told that it's stress related. When I was little, I was afraid of some many things,. I had actual phobias of animals, heights, needles, and I always had some kind of tick that would wind up my family, like screwing up my face or clearing my throat or blinking too much... always something that I would find addictive. I'm a lot better now that I'm older, although I do still have some weird quirks, like, most recently, cracking my fingers.

Do any of you guys have any bad habits or certain things you do when you're nervous? I'm hoping its not just me because otherwise this post is more than just a bit boring, its kind of embarrassing!

I was going to get some revision in this evening, because it's not long until my next exam, but I am actually exhausted. Feeling a little better though, so decided to eat some food and watch The Apprentice semi-final (totally the wrong choice at the end by the way, no spoilers though!) and now its time to sleep!

You've only got 1, maybe 2, days left of reading about me in exam-mode!

Catriona x

Study Style || Blogmas Day 12

WARNING: This is not going to be very festive. Unfortunately, I'm not really in the Christmas mind set now (and probably wont be until the weekend, when my exams are over and I'm free from the library!)

Today, for the first time, my flatmate decided to come and study in the library with me. I spend quite a lot of time in the library, throughout the semester but particularly closer to exams. I like to create a bit of separation between uni and home, and I also don't concentrate very well in the flat, especially in the winter, because as soon as I see my warm cosy bed and consider an afternoon spent studying versus an afternoon spent watching Netflix, all chance of being productive is lost!

So, my revision routine very much includes long library days, but my flatmate prefers to base herself in the flat, so this was a change for her! It got me to thinking about how different our study routines are, and how important having a routine, any routine, is important to us both, particularly me (because I can only really speak for me, after all!)

I work best when I get up early, make myself a decent breakfast (a bowl of cereal will suffice!), then make a cup of tea in my KeepCup, get dressed and basic hair and make-up done and head out in time to get a good spot in the library! I've tried sitting in various places in the library and, honestly, the section at the back of our main library, where you can still speak and eat and drink, but away from the hustle and bustle and stress of the front sections. For some reason, people are just automatically quieter there, even though its not a silent section.

I've been trying to bring my own lunch recently because it's a healthier, and cheaper, option, but I do usually need to plan something in the middle of the day to get a stretch of the legs and a breath of fresh air, even if its just nipping out and grabbing a coffee (which I try and not drink too much of because too much caffeine just makes me feel sick and anxious!).

I like to have a goal of what I need to achieved by the end of the day, and then just stay in the library until I get that finished. This (usually) means I get home at a not-to-late time and have time to make myself a decent dinner and chill out a bit before bed, writing or reading or watching Netflix or something. I also work best with music... SO much better this year since I invested in Spotify and some mew earphones.

Personally, my first step is to make sure that I have typed-up and printed all of my lecture and tutorial notes and then I go through them all, alongside their corresponding lecture slides, and turn them into mind-maps. Which aren't really mind-maps in the traditional sense, but more just lots of colourful bubbles which essentially equate to condensed versions of my notes that have slightly more chance of sticking in my head!

Now, I'm going to stop using up all my chill time writing this, take one last look over my mind-maps and get some sleep... exam number 1 is tomorrow!

Catriona x

Out for Tea || Blogmas Day 11

Today was a really positive library day. Still a while to go till I'm 100% ready (well, a day, coz that's all I've got!) but feeling a bit better. And the day was made all the better by the fact that my flatmates and I had decided to go out for dinner together.

Since I finish exams earlier than them both, and a lot of people at my uni, I decided to make the most of the extra week of festivities (and get out of their hair!) and leave straight after my last exam, so we wouldn't all be here when we've all finished to go for a Christmas/end of semester meal, so instead we went this evening.

We booked a local restaurant that is run by the same company as many of the other restaurants in our town, one of which my flatmate works at, so we got 30% discount which was nice!

We decided to order cocktails. My flatmates had an Apple Bramble and a French Martini, and I had my favourite which is a Mojito, and decided to go for a raspberry one which was the best choice ever as it was made with actual raspberries and tasted absolutely delicious!


We opted against starters and went straight for main courses, which we all demolished we were so hungry! I had a steak and ale pie with chips and seasonal veg, while Theo had fish pie and Amy had mac 'n' cheese.

The food was delicious, and we even had (a tiny bit) of room for desert. I had a delicious white chocolate cheesecake with ice cream (or sorbet?) and honeycomb. Amy had the brownie, and Theo the sticky toffee pudding.

It was a really lovely evening, and a nice excuse to not cook! It felt lovely and festive in the restaurant, and cosy, and the staff were very friendly. We chatted about so may weird things and, just for a couple of hours, were able to forget about exams!

Catriona x

Vlogmas || Blogmas Day 10

Today I'm having a study-from-home day, which usually goes one of two ways: very productive or utterly disastrous! I tend to work more efficiently in the library as my flat is too much of a distraction, but in April when I was studying for my Spring exams, I injured my knee and was on crutches, so had to get used to working from home. So, I've kind of had a bit of a balance this time round. Apart from the fact that my hands are so cold I can barely write, and that my flatmate and I took a break to go to Morrison's and buy food, it's going ok so far!

For about as long as I have been writing this blog (coming up for 4 years!), I have enjoyed dipping in and out of Youtube. There are very few channels that I watch every single video (basically just Carrie Hope Fletcher and her brother and sister-in-law's channels!), but I like to watch a few videos from a variety of popular, and less popular, Youtubers.

This time of year is great for content because lot of Youtubers do 'Vlogmas', which is really the inspiration behind my Blogmas, and involves them filming their day every day of advent and posting it on their channel in vlog form!

Usually I only manage to watch a few Vlogmas videos, and limit myself to indulging when my exams are over, but this year there are 3 channels that I've been following quite consistently for the last week, and have had their videos on in the background while I'm doing some less intense studying, blog writing, or getting ready. So, I thought I'd share those with you!


1) Giovanna Fletcher (Giovannasworld)

The aforementioned sister-in-law! I really like Giovanna. Arguably, her channel is more aimed at Mum's as it is often about family activities and what she's up to with her young children, but she's
 also an author, actress, Christmas lover and comes across as a really genuine and lovely person! Her family time vlogs really sum up the Christmas vibe and are very heart-warming!

2) Zoe Sugg a.k.a. Zoella (MoreZoella)

There's been LOTS of controversy around Zoella recently. I mean, when isn't there? If she's not being accused of selling a very overpriced advent calendar as part of her popular beauty range, people are digging up her old, offensive tweets. I'm NOT saying that there's not truth in these allegations, and I do not follow Zoe or her boyfriend Alfie Days channels consistently because I find parts of their lifestyle annoying and their videos a bit long for regular viewing, BUT I have really been enjoying her Vlogmas because she basically takes December off work and just fully embraces the festivities, and there's something about that which makes me, if a little jealous, very happy! Plus, again, she really does come across as a very sweet, if insanely rich, person.

3) Nadia Sawalha and Kaye Adams (Nadia & Kaye)

Finally, it's Nadia and Kaye off Loose Women! Loose Women is one of my major guilty pleasures. I don't think I've ever watched the entire show on TV, because I don't really watch much TV and definitely not during the day, but I love watching wee clips on Youtube coz I just find the panel so funny! I have quite a bit of this Vlogmas to catch up on actually, but discovering this year that this is something that these two do has been the best! They actually make me laugh out loud! They are just mum's around the same age as mine who remind me of the batty middle-aged maternal loveliness that I adore in my own mum and miss terribly! Their preparation for Christmas reminds me of being a kid at home again and yeah, a channel definitely worth checking out if you want a laugh!

Do you have any Vlogmas recommendations for me (maybe for when I actually have finished my exams!). Do you maybe vlog yourself? I have thought about trying out a Youtube channel a few times in an attempt to combat my nervousness of being recorded, so you never know, maybe one year I'll have a Vlogmas too!

Catriona x

Work Night Out || Blogmas Day 9

As a lifeguard, I have 'casual'/'relief' contracts with two different councils, which means I can pick up shifts at my local leisure centres both here at uni and when I go home, which is really handy!

Last year, I went to the Christmas night out with my colleagues at home, but this year I won't be home in time to attend their night out. However, my work here decided to have their night out a bit earlier than last year, so I was able to make it this evening.

This was the first time I had socialised with these colleagues outside of work so it was really nice, even though quite a few people couldn't make it and people kept dropping out at the last minute!

We decided to go to Pizza Express for a 3 course meal. I didn't do the professional blogger thing and take photos of my food (partly because I was a bit embarrassed to, and partly because I was so hungry after a day spent in the library looking forward to this meal that I got tucked right in without stopping to snap!), but I had the Doughballs, followed by La Reine classic pizza (prosciutto, mushrooms and black olives), and then the Sticky Toffee Bundt Cake with Salted Caramel Ice Cream for dessert. The food was delicious and I happily ate every morsel (and didn't feel too stuffed until I ate all of my extremely sweet and rich desert!)

We also each got a lovely glass of prosecco included, which for me was really festive because I only really drink it on special occasions like birthdays or Christmas/New Year.

It was really nice to chat away to everyone and laugh. We also did a Secret Santa. The person I gave to seemed to really like their presents, and I received some gorgeous, warm fluffy socks, a festive Vanilla Chai body wash from the Body Shop, and a massive bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocolate (which I'll have to strictly ration myself with as I face exams this week!)

Once the bill was all sorted, a few of us headed to another bar for a drink, and after that I decided to call it night. Back in the flat, I have put on my cosy socks (which are not only extremely cute but
greatly appreciated in this freezing cold flat tonight!) and might watch a wee bit of tv before bed. It wasn't at all a wild night, mostly because I need to revise tomorrow but also because there weren't loads of us out, but it was nice to put on some make up and have a nice dinner out for sure! The weekend treat I really needed.

If you're headed out with workmates or friends in the next week or two, I hope you have a lovely time!

Catriona x

Cosy Night In || Blogmas Day 8

After a long, pretty productive day in the library, I came home to make some dinner, finish off a final few tasks, and have a more chilled evening.

For me, routine is key to keeping stress levels low, and so, until maybe the day before my first exam, I quite like to get up early and out to the library, and then, when I've done as much as I'm going to manage for one day, I can head back to the flat and chill a bit. It means that I can sort of separate uni and home to a certain extent, and can look forward to giving my brain a break if I work hard during the day!

I especially enjoy my chilled time when it's actually chilled, because I've put in the work during the day, and this evening was one of those times. I never enjoy chilling much when I feel like I should be doing work or I'm severely behind. That's not to say I don't still chill when I have work to do, because you can't burn yourself out or you'll get nowhere, but yeah, there's definitely a different level of enjoyment out of well-deserved down time!

Found these in Morrison's and decided to give them a try this evening.

Not very impressed!

Kind of a mix between Smoky Bacon and Roast Chicken flavours.

Gave the rest of the bag to my flatmate - still to hear his verdict!

After a milder week, today has ben SO COLD!!! So, this evening, I made myself a cup of peppermint green tea, grabbed a couple of squares of dark chocolate, watched some Youtuber's Christmas vlogmasses (actually still got one on in the background just now), and then put on I'm A Celebrity, and did some more present wrapping (my work night out it is tomorrow and I had to sort out my Secret Santa!). Then I packed a few things in my case for when I go home next week and tidied my room, and now I'm tucked up under my duvet writing this!

It probably sounds like a really normal, boring night to most of you, but I haven't actually spent so many evenings in the flat as I have been recently, and it's been a really nice change. I really like having lots on and going out and being social, but yeah its nice to spend some chilly winter evenings snuggled up in bed.

What's your best routine? Are you an early bird like me or more of a night owl when it comes to revision/work? What makes an ideal night in for you?

Now it's time for me to upload this wee post, put away my phone and tablet and unplug from the world by reading a few pages of my book, before hopefully getting a great nights sleep. Just one week till freeedom! Very much ready for this semester to be over!

Catriona x

Presents & Cards || Blogmas Day 7

I LOVE giving presents and writing cards at Christmas. Not just the choosing of the gifts, which is quite fun, but the wrapping up (as neatly as I can manage!) and getting out my fountain pen to handwrite one of the few letters I actually get to write!

I did a more detailed post about writing cards and Christmas shopping last year. This year, however, I won't be home until the 20th of December and a couple of weeks ago it suddenly hit me that I would either have to get myself organised, or face the mad last minute present rush on the few days leading up to Christmas! So, I did most of my Christmas shopping online and had it sent to home, as well as picking out my choice of wrapping paper, so it will all be ready for when I get home.

However, I have done a wee bit of wrapping and card writing recently, as I have a few gifts to give to people here at uni and friends I'll see before heading home.

I am so so happy with my choice of paper/present wrapping colour scheme this year! Every year, I try and coordinate it to make my presents look as nice as possible, and for the last few years it's been a silvery, modern, chic colour scheme. But this year I saw this 'luxury' paper half price in WH Smith and fell in love. It's a deep blue colour with glittery stars, and I'm teaming it up with gold ribbon and bows and gift bags. Aaaah I just think it looks so pretty and can't wait to wrap the rest of my gifts and give them to my friends!

The picture really doesn't do it justice and I love when I find a paper I adore because it hides my below-average wrapping skills! Maybe when I have done all my wrapping I will post another picture, perhaps on my instagram (@catrionaitken) or snapchat (@catrionaa15). What a way to slip my social media handels in there, eh?!

Anyway, I really do get a lot of joy from creating the perfect card or pretty present to give at Christmas, and it's a nice revision break to crack on those festive tunes and allow glitter to go everywhere (total nightmare, took ages to hoover up!). Spreading it out has actually worked well, as the magic lasts longer!

I notice as I continue to write these daily Blogmas posts late in the evening, that the language becomes much simpler and my eyes just want to drop closed as I stare at the screen. That'll teach me for not being organised enough to have them up ahead of time, but I suppose it gives you a little of an idea of what my December is really like at the minute!

Do you enjoy present wrapping, or is it more of a chore? Have you spotted any particularly nice wrapping paper designs this year?

Catriona x

Film Review: 'Bad Moms' and 'A Bad Moms Christmas' || Blogmas Day 6

So, some time in October I saw that 'Bad Moms' was on Prime Video. This was a film I had wanted to see when it was in the cinema but never got round to it. And I really like Mila Kunis so it was a must-see.

Honestly, my memory of the exact plot is a bit vague but I know that it was really funny!

Then, about a month ago, I had a friend to stay and we had a really nice weekend, including a trip to the cinema to see the sequel 'A Bad Moms Christmas'... more laughs, more rude jokes, more inappropriate parenting,
with a festive feel... what more could you ask for?!

What I particularly loved about these films was the breakdown of perceived perfection (if a little exaggerated) and the importance placed on quality family time. No parent is perfect, no child is perfect, but bonding time between loved ones is so special.

It also reminds us that, while we all grow up, we can still feel/act like kids and sometimes adultas get things wrong! Even Mums (sorry Mum for being so hard on you!!).

I still love Mila Kunis, although I didn't think she was any funnier than the others. My favourite was probably Katherine Hahn... and I also loved Christine Baranski's character in the sequel- she is just fab.

All in all, this was slapstick funny, but also heart warming and spirit-lifting, and just what I needed on a cold Sunday November evening with one of my besties!

This isn't really much of a review to be honest, but it's quarter past 10, I'm tired, and I basically just want to say that, while not my favourite Christmas movie of all time (yet!), I definitely recommend that everyone get themselves to the cinema to see 'A Bad Moms Christmas' with friends over the next couple of weeks! A perfect fun, festive girls night!

Catriona x

The Bublé Buzz || Blogmas Day 5

So, this is admittedly going up a bit late, but we're gonna fiddle around with the scheduled time and make it all look legit so shhhh!

It's Tuesday, and I really haven't been feeling very well today. I wasn't originally going to talk about this in my post, because it's actually not a very big deal, but I've decided I am going to mention it and I'll tell you why in a second... Last winter I was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and, although I am lucky that I don't have it to an extreme severity, and I am now able to manage it with peppermint oil capsules, occasionally, particularly when I'm stressed or have eaten something 'wrong', I get 'flare ups'. Without going into the details, these episodes can be really uncomfortable and include severe stomach cramping, anxiety and exhaustion. It occurred to me this evening that, despite the fact that it's very common particularly among young girls my age, people tend to avoid talking about IBS because there's a stigma around it, that it's disgusting or gross. And that really doesn't help when you're suffering. I know that I will probably feel much better in the morning, but yeah, just in general I think there should be less stigma around IBS and similar conditions.

Anyway, moving on!!! When I am feeling a bit stressed or rubbish, music always plays a big role in cheering me up. And so, since starting uni, I have definitely got earlier and earlier with listening to the Christmas music. This year it was the start of November when I cracked out, you guessed it, a bit of Bublé.

Now, none of Michael Buble's songs or covers would make it into my list of festive favourites, and yet there is something about his famous Christmas album which just captures the hearts of all, young and old.

I often see memes and jokes about how Michael Buble comes out of hibernation just for the festive season, or how he must live off the money he earns from just a few weeks a year and, while totally exaggerated, there's some truth in it! We all associate Buble with Christmas. Buble IS Christmas!

Are you a Michael Buble fan? Like me, who only listens to him over the Christmas period? Or one of the few real haters (what a grinch, eh?!)?

Let me know what your work/study playlist consists of on the run up to Christmas in the comments!

Catriona x

Trimming the Tree || Blogmas Day 4

Ok, so there wasn't a whole lot of trimming involved, but this evening my flatmates and I put up the Christmas tree in our flat!

After a bit of a 'meh' day in the library feeling unproductive, it was nice to just chill out and properly belly laugh, taking silly selfies and the mick out of each other, especially Theo who was hilariously attempting to make a perfect Christmas tree, while Amy is the total opposite and just wanted to bung everything on anywhere!

The final product was bit of a compromise I suppose! It's just really nice walking past a wee bit of festivity and twinkly lights in our living room... I'm actually such a big kid.

We went for the traditional red and gold baubles (well I say 'we went', I really mean Theo bought those last year so that's what we used haha!) It didn't take anywhere near as long as it always seems to take at home, but oh well, we had the Christmas tunes blasting and for a wee while I could just enjoy the fact that Christmas is now only 3 weeks away!

Do you have your Christmas tree up yet? What colour scheme have you gone for?

Catriona x

Tea glorious tea || Blogmas Day 3

A silly Snapchat selfie of me cosying up with a hot cuppa

in the mug one of my lovely blogger friends bought me!

Ok, so this was not what I originally planned to write about tonight, and isn't specifically festive, but as I headed down to the kitchen to make myself a nice cup of tea and ended up in a full blown conversation with my flatmate about our favourite teas, I decided that it would be the topic of today's Blogmas! (Edit: I've also just remembered that I did a tea inspired Blogmas post last year, called 'Always time for tea') If you don't drink tea, you may just wanna skip today's post because it will probably b a bit boring for you!

I'm the typical bookworm... I love to curl up in bed with a good book and a hot drink in one of my many mugs. I do, of course, like a typical breakfast tea, brewed quite strongly, with just milk (NO sugar, but if I have a sore throat a spoonsful of honey is allowable!). However, I also really enjoy green tea, and this evening I realised I have accumulated a fair collection of different green teas which I can choose from depending on my mood, so here are a few of my current favourites....




The Pukka Supreme Matcha Green tea is a classic fave... it doesn't have a particualrly distinctive taste, but is really yummy and gives me lots of energy in the morning. A little more on the expensive side so worth waiting till its on offer, but promotional packs donate to charity, and the handy individually enveloped bags are perfect for taking to the library where I can get free hot water in my keepcup!

Staying on the theme of morning wake ups, I have recently been loving the Tetley Super Green Tea Boost in the Berry Burst flavour. A few weeks ago I was told I'm a bit anaemic, so I have been doing everything I can to get my health and energy in check, and this tea with added B6 has been great! I don't really like fruit tea very much, so wasn't sure if I'd enjoy this but I really do! When I run out, I may try another flavour, but for now I'm very much enjoying this one (I also got a Boost Breakfast Tea, and Tetley do a number of different ones, with various added vitamins, which I personally think is a great way to get in those extra supplements you may be in need of over the winter without relying on remembering to take tablets!


Last year, I heard someone speak about the Twinings Salted Caramel Green and decided to treat myself to some. I still have lots left and I think that's partly because I was spreading it out and then forgot about it (it isn't cheap either) and partly because it was slightly disappointing! It doesn't taste bad, in fact it's actually pretty nice, and better if you don't brew it for too little OR too long a time. However, it smells way better than it tastes!


Finally... Since last year, I have occasionally drank peppermint tea to soothe me and to help stomach cramp. Then the other week I was in Starbucks and really fancied a green tea, but they only had their mint green tea and I thought, why not? It was delicious and I went back for another the next day (It was Starbuck's own Teavana Mint Green Tea. However, I don't tend to pay for tea in coffee shops as a rule, as it's so cheap to do my own at home, so when shopping in Morrisons I picked up their Hint of Mint Green Tea, and that has been doing the trick! A really nice change which I particularly enjoy a mug of in the evenings.

I do also have some loose leaf Jasmine and Rose Petal green tea that my mum gave me last year, but I have only tried it once so far and I have no idea where it's from! I think I probably need to finish up the ones I have for now, but I want to try some different green teas in the future so let meknow if you have any faves! Any particularly Christmassy ones out there?

Now, go make yourself a cuppa and settle down to enjoy your Sunday evening- I know I will!

Catriona x

My First Time Buying an Advent Calendar || Blogmas Day 2

Since I was young, my wonderful Auntie has always bought my sister and me a Fairtrade chocolate Advent Calendar to share. When I moved to uni, I wouldn't be at home for every day of December (in  my first year I was home from the 10th, and last year I was home for the first weekend, and then back again from the 17th), but my Mum made sure that my sister saved me a fair number of chocolates haha, bless her!

However, this year, I won't be home till the 20th December, so will almost entirely miss advent at home! It's a little sad, as I love to see the advent candle my mum buys every year burning a little more each evening, and all the other many traditions, but I decided that I had to make up for it by buying myself a whole chocolate advent calendar just for me!

Now, a whole overwhelming array of choices were open to me! Which to pick?! Haha, the idea to treat myself to one first occurred when I was in Tesco with my friend from home, at the start of
November. She works in an independent sweetie shop that last year totally sold out of advent calendars! We decided that the Lindt one, priced comparatively reasonably in Tesco at £5, may be the one I would have to go for!

But the Advent calendar saga continues.... (who knew I could write a whole post on this, congrats if you're still reading!) When U went back a couple of weeks later, they'd sold out of Lindt. So, in the end, I went for a £3 Thorntons one because I liked the picture!

And there we have it: it's Blogmas Day 2, I have now enjoyed 2 lovely chocolates, discovered the calendar also treats me to some very cheesy Christmas jokes, and been sent a heart-wrenching silly photo of my fam enjoying their own advent pressies!

What kind of Advent calendars are 'in' this year? I think maybe next year I'll branch out, away from chocolate. How about a book advent calendar?! (Oh wait, we'd be back to book reviews only again...)

Catriona x

I'm doing it again?! || Blogmas Day 1

So... some of you may have read my Blogmas posts last year, and I hummed and hawed about whether or not I could commit to 25 more festive posts this year (if you missed last year's Blogmas, feel free to head back to this time last year and have a wee read. They may be better than this year's because it was my first year of doing it and coming up with ideas haha!)

But I really feel like my blog has been carried by book reviews this year, and not much else! So it's in need of something different, and I'm in need of festive cheer and creativity as I revise for my exams. I am currently in my longest stint away from home ever. I have seen my parents briefly on a couple of occasions, but I haven't been home since September, and won't be going back till 20th December. My coursework is all in, but I do still have 2 exams to do before I can fully relax!

Therefore, I have only come up with a few ideas so far, and these Blogmas posts will likely not be very long, of varying degrees of Christmas theme. We shall see how it goes, but actually when I decided in my head that I was definitely doing this, I felt quite excited to get started!

So, this first one is really just a welcome to Blogmas 2017 (I even have brand new Blogmas countdown art (created very unprofessionally by moi!), because I enjoyed doing them last year too!).

If you have any ideas that you would like to see me include over the next 25 days, please do comment! I'm really looking forward to putting aside a wee bit of time away from revision to write, even if the posts aren't very long. Well, I'm looking forward to it now as I sit snuggled up under my duvet. Maybe when I'm into long library days and trying to fit in shifts at work it will stress me out a little more, but I really hope to keep it fun!

I'd love to hear from other bloggers doing Blogmas too... throw all the festive creativity at me to keep all of our spirits up! So comment links to your favourite Blogmasses.... (is that a word? No? Well it is now!)

So, join me as I munch on my advent chocolate, wrap up warm to face December in Scotland, and attempt to feel a little festive despite revising my butt off for my first 3rd year exams!!

Catriona x