Next Christmas blogger challenge – Secret Santa

The Secret Santa, for the ladies and on 3 different budgets.

£5 and under

Cupcake Cook Book – £5
120 pages of delicious recipes for sweet treats.

Baking seems to be a popular past time in the bloggy world. This book might not quite be the Hummingbird Bakery… But I think for £5 it’s a steal! If you aren’t a cupcake fan, I’m sorry… I need to ask you whats wrong with ya?

£10 and under

Large Jar of Popcorn – £8
450g of toffee and chocolate covered goodness, nomnomnom.

Again, more sweeties but its Christmas so the calories are automatically halved (didn’t you know that?) This huge jar of popcorn would happily keep your secret santa munching right into the new year through all those good, bad and cheesy films that are put on the box at this time of year. I love it so much!

£15 and under

Hottie Set – £14
Set includes ceramic mug, hot water bottle with knitted cover and hot chocolate drink mix.

Next have really got it spot on with their quirky, girlie homeware and matching gift sets like the one above (with no apologies whatsoever if your flatmate is your boyfriend!) And I think this set is quite adorable. D’awwww.

Did you have a Secret Santa to buy for this year? Or are you part of a big group of friends who do it each year? To save bankruptcy between you all!

As I mentioned in yesterdays post, last night I went to see Cinderella by the Scottish Ballet. I am a reasonably regular theatre go-er, but this was my first time at the ballet. And, wow! From a technical point of view, the production was flawless, the music and lighting were very atmospheric (it looked like a completely different kettle of fish, from lighting a normal play to lighting dancers and dance flooring) and the set and costume design was gorgeous. The dancing was alright I guess 😉 Haha just joking! The dancers were so elegant, and looked weightless as they sprung about the stage and were lifted into the air. If I tried to dance like that, I would definately resemble a baby elephant in the kitchen section of ikea.

To top the whole evening off, I got to meet some fellow scottish bloggers for the first time. Ann who invited us, Rani from Cupcake Couture, Kirsten from Saskia The Style Fairy, and Kirsty from Forty Four Sunsets. The lovely Morven from Cats And Rocking Chairs was also meant to be coming along but she couldn’t make it 🙁 So I was thinking that us scottish gals should group together and arrange a meet up in the new year? You see lots of events happening down south but not as many up here. So why don’t we arrange something of our own! If you’re interested, leave me your email in the comments box and hopefully we can get some ideas together for 2011 🙂

Invited guests also got a little goody bag and some wine and glittery cupcakes at the interval ( glitter and wine… best combo ever) and in our bags were some very special little bits and pieces. Including a Cinderella File & Polish, Thermal Experience and Champagne at the Spa at Blythswood Square (who are currently offering a range of Cinderella Spa packages which run alongside the performance dates) and a spray tan done by the kind folks at Vita Liberata in House of Frasers. To get this done in time for Christmas/Hogmanay, after finishing a few crazy months at work is going to be absolute bliss ♥

The blogging world has completely baffled me, made me teary, inspired me, made me angry at times, and given me wonderful new friends. This community as a whole and individually has extended such kindness to me from the very start, and I just want to say a whole hearted thank you.

 Ayden x