Confessions of a 'Yes' Girl

I have this terrible affliction, and anyone who knows me would have at one point been on the receiving end. I like to say yes to everything. Let me stop you before you think 'oh good for her, she is adventurous and spontaneous'... um NO. I like to think that I am this carefree and nonchalant individual who seizes every opportunity, but I seldom follow through and it's such a problem in my life. Tell me I'm not the only one!

Beat the Boredom

Oh the irony of finally having a holiday and a break from work over the festive season, only to find that you are bored out of your skull and you have watched every series and movie on your laptop in the last 3 days (been there). We are so used to these fast and furious action-packed lives, going from work to gym to all those other commitments we have filled our plate with. No wonder we feel numb with boredom when the madness finally stops and we have a few days off!

The importance is not to fill your days up being so busy that you actually burn out, or just sit on the couch all day. Find a combination of relaxing and fun activities to do that are also constructive, and you will end your holiday feeling accomplished and rested. Here is my list of fun Christmas holiday activities to do with family, friends or by yourself.

Make Christmas tree decorations

If you are falling short on Christmas decorations for your tree this year, don't go out and buy more. Rather make them yourself as a fun activity and add a sentimental touch to your tree. Whether you do it yourself or get children or friends to help for the day, there are so many ways to create fun and easy decorations. You can use felt, paper, pine cones, fruit or ribbons. You can even personalise decorations with names of family members.

A personal favourite of mine is these easy-to-make polystyrene glitter balls:

• cover a small round polystyrene ball with craft glue
• roll ball around in glitter until all surfaces are covered
• Use a pin to secure a folded piece of ribbon or string at the top of the ball to hang on the tree

Image from hgtv.com

My Christmas Wishlist

I don't usually have a list of requirements for Christmas and my birthday, I like being surprised and if I specifically want something I usually buy it myself. This year, however I would like to compile a wishlist of coveted items to inspire those out there that are stumped as to what to get their girlfriend/sister/friend/wife. Here is some girl gift buying inspiration for you, and most of these gifts are not break-the-bank prices. After all, what is Christmas without a bit of giving and receiving?

Inexpensive Christmas gifts

Working in a newspaper printing company has really opened my eyes to the extent that people go to spend money during Christmas season. The sheer mass of advert increases in the months of November and December just proves the fact that the Christian society of people that celebrate Christmas are conditioned to accept the fact that they are going to spend exorbitant amounts of money this holiday. Well I am here to say that it doesn't have to be that way!

Yes we all love to eat and drink more than we would any other time of the year, and that's okay, but spending ridiculous amounts of money on Christmas presents for every friend and family member is unnecessary. I have always found that the more sentimental a gift is, the more memorable it is, and those DIY or well-thought out gifts are better than costly electronics or jewelry if you ask me (shocking, I know). We all go on about how Christmas is more about our religion and less about presents, so why not prove it by scaling down? Lets instead put more time and energy into gifting this year- I know I am! Here are some gift ideas that are both creative and inexpensive.

Chivalry is NOT dead

I constantly hear complaints from women about chivalry being a thing of the past, and men not treating women the way they used to. What I would like to point out is that women are in fact allowing this to happen without even realising. Our expectations are lowering by the day...

How to avoid people

Whether you would like to admit it or not, you have all had a guilty moment where you really don't want to acknowledge someones existence in public. It could be that annoying family friend that doesn't stop talking when you see them, the ex or the random stranger you hooked up with one time, or simply someone you don't enjoy too much. Don't be ashamed though, I'm here to assist.

The perfect birthday dinner

It's my birthday tomorrow so I thought I would share my planning and preparation, along with TONS of help from Pinterest. I really wanted to have a relaxed dinner party with a few friends and family just to celebrate my special day.

All of these ideas are so easy to do and only require a small budget. I like to keep things simple, because I find that as soon as you try too hard to impress everyone or spend too much money it doesn't usually have the desired effect. It's never easy to cater for a group of people so I thought I would have a variety of snack foods to keep everyone going. I have also included a few ideas for atmosphere and decor.

The details
It's always nice to add small touches to the evening to make it seem more put together, whether its adding tags of peoples names or having a nice arrangement in the middle of the table. I saw an idea where each placemate is a piece of black paper and you simply write each guests name in chalk on the black paper. I love monochrome, it always looks more sophisticated than it is. Another idea is to present knives and forks in a serviette tied into the shape of a bow tie. This is perfect for a barbeque or help yourself type event.