HOUSE UPDATES | festive speed clean & new in zara haul Christmas 2025

[music] Good morning and welcome back to my channel. Welcome back to brand new video. Welcome back to a video, the last video in November, guys. It's December tomorrow. There are no excuses. We are fullblown festive mode activated. And I can't believe it. Advent starts tomorrow. So, so excited. But anyway, I hope you guys are all doing well. Today's video, I just wanted to do a bit of a home vlog, bit of festive cleaning, sprucing up the house. I've got a couple of like home updates to show you and any kind of like home updates. I always get questions for you guys of where everything is from. So, I wanted to share something with you guys that has made it so much easier for me to link everything that I really love and use as I'm actually part of the Amazon influencer program. Not only am I part of the Amazon influence program, but this is also very kindly sponsored by them. And that essentially helps me build my own storefront. And I link everything on there. Everything from home decor, like coffee table books, like this one for instance, is a well-loved one on my Amazon storefront to uh home decor. I've got these portable lamps, which you guys seem to go crazy for on my Amazon storefront fashion. I always talk about the Amazon leggings that I love to wear on a day-to-day basis. So, from everyday essentials to home appliances, everything in between, I link it all on my Amazon storefront, which has been facilitated by, of course, the Amazon influencer program. It also has tools and reports so that it will help me see what it is that you guys are loving, which is really great for me to help understand what it is that you want to see as a viewer. But it's just such a great way to be able to share things that I genuinely use and recommend and I'm sure you guys are aware because I've mentioned it many many times is that I always link my Amazon storefront in my description box for you guys to refer back to as and when you wish. So if you have yourself ever thought about sharing your own Amazon favorites or you're looking for a fun way to uh reach and grow your audience, I would definitely recommend checking out the Amazon influencer program. I'll leave a link to that as well in the description box below so that you can have a look, sign up, and even start your very own storefront, too. So, thank you to the Amazon Influencer Program, who I have already worked with uh for many years now. Thanks to them for kindly sponsoring today's video. Um, speaking of home updates, I have a few things, like I said, that I have added to my festive decor that I wanted to share with you. So sit back, relax, grab a drink, get the snacks, get comfy, and I hope you guys enjoy today's video. It's looking very wintry and bare and sparse. The tree has completely dropped all of its leaves now. The magnolia. Yeah, look at this like frosting here on this um I have this little because of the extension downstairs. This kind of section sticks out outside my window, the filming room window. And for some reason, there's a footprint, which you can't usually see it, but when the frost is there like that, it's really obvious. Doesn't it look like Santa's footprint? It was one of the builders that unfortunately has left a footprint in their tracks when they were sorting the roof out, but never mind. Just had to show you this that arrived. How gorgeous is this box from Pixie Beauty? I'm thinking it's like an advent calendar by the looks of things, but that's definitely AI generated, isn't it? These are stunning. These images that they are creating AI now. And that's me assuming, by the way, it could have been an artist, so apologies if it was, but that just reminds me of something that you'd see off um Chachi PT. But anyway, they have created Pixie Tone Glow Makeup Lips like an storefront with these doors um hiding loads of product. Should we open it up? I feel like it's a tease just keeping it sealed up. It also feels criminal to be opening it not in order every single day for the first 12 days of Christmas, December rather. But I just need to show you what's inside. Right. Okay. Let's Let's at least open it in order, shall we? And I feel like I'm not cheating as much. I think this one's going to be a face mask. Does anyone else like to predict what their gifts are? Oh no, this is uping the door. Uh predict their gifts before they open them. Kind of face masks, but for the eyes, I love these. I have a big pot of them. They are the Dreamy Eye Jasmine and Vitamin A uh replenishing patches for your eyes. Okay, we've got the Glow Tonic Cleansing Gel. Apologies if anyone's got this calendar, just skip forward if you don't if you don't want to be um your surprise be ruined. Glowonic cleansing gel. I love their Glow Tonic. Anyway, this is their cleansing gel version. Three, we have Oh, yeah. I've used these before as well. The On the Glow Blush. These are really good if you like a creamy blush. They're very sheer though. I would say they're better suited to younger skin that just wants like a little flush of color. Um, but yeah, anyway, that's that. Uh, four. And here we have a brow tamer. Good little classic. Five. Could this be a face mask? Lip patch. I've not tried their lip patches before. This is a vitamin C range. You can tell the range from the color of the packaging that they do. Six, their flawless beauty primer. Good for under makeup. What a primer is if you didn't know. Little seven is just a little door here on the corner. And this is a lip treat hydra tinted balm. Oh, okay. I think they do these in larger sizes. This is like a miniature version in the color scarlet, which I've never tried before. That looks very bright and bold for the festive season, party season. Number eight down here, a little mini toner. These are perfect size for traveling with. I like the glow toner glow tonic the best, [clears throat] but I don't think I've tried this one. The antioxidant nine. Oh, another primer. Flawless and poreless primer. So, there's a difference. I think tried the flawless beauty primer. this one, but I've not tried the mattifying one. Lip tone. Have you tried these? These are so I don't understand how they work. They're pH reactive essentially, which means that when you put it on your lips, it it like adapts to your lip color. I remember it really like made my lips have like a real flush of pink. Okay. And then last but not Oh, no, not last but not least, still on day 11. This is another uh detoxify eye mask. This one is in the caffeine and cucumber. That's the one I've tried. I've not tried the jasmine and vitamin A ones. Last but not least, door number 12. Oh, and I've messed it up. I've messed it up. A makeup fixing mist. Again, a good size for traveling. You know, sometimes with a travel size, it's like one time use type thing. These are very generously sized that if you're going away for like a week, that'll easily last you. That's everything. Thanks to Pixie for sending that. I can't get over how beautiful that packaging is. Love, love, love. Okay, I have a bit of cleaning to do. I need to put a wash load on as well. I know we were just talking Amazon as well, and I thought I'd show you this set that I got like a cleaning kit from um Amazon. I I've already left it on my storefront if you did want to shop it yourself as well. It was really great value for money and you've got loads of uh products in this scent from Astonish, the winter spice scent. So, I've got a toilet bleach in here. Also got a floor cleaner. This uh shake and fresh carpet freshener with odor neutralizer. I just use those upstairs. two of their concentrated disinfectants which essentially are like the zaflloras which you can dilute down and make into like a spray or I quite like to use it neat in um I'll often put it in the sink after I've cleaned and with a bit of hot water it just makes the whole room smell amazing. And then lastly, it comes with two of the ready to use disinfectant sprays which essentially is that already diluted. Can you see my new festive tree addition in as well to our kitchen? I popped the glass tray with Do you remember our treat bowl had loads of the gold um gold chocolates in? Well, I thought, you know what, I'll just put it in this glass tray because in in that bowl we've got all of our little lint Santaas. Because this is glass and you can see through, I thought, let me throw all my gold treats in here. So, we've got some lint gold lints in there. We've got little gold um toblones, little mini lint reindeers, tiramisu lint where there's originals. Um our front door one, let me show you little housey updates. Our front door uh treat bowl gets whittleled down fairly quickly. And not by me, might I add. certain someone that when he leaves the door and goes to work or gets home from work. Excuse the golf stuff here that needs to go in the garage. But yeah, this was just filled with the quality street. However, I threw in some celebrations as well to to top it up. Been sat on the sofa this morning, so it's a bit messy the the throws. But let me just put the lights on. Oh, Christmas is here. This is the most festive space in the entire house with of course our gorgeous Christmas tree, which you'll have already seen in our decorate for Christmas with me video, but I wanted to show you the fireplace, which I've updated. And I've added the garland, which I showed you briefly within that video. Um, and I updated it to a new one. I kept it asymmetric if you remember, but it was kind of bugging me and I felt like I needed some cowbells or something. But then I thought, well, then I I don't have anywhere for the stockings to go. So, I evened it up and I just have a little bit draped down one side. This is the best thing I think I've ever bought for Christmas. Um, and then draped down the other side to match. And then I've just thrown on the stockings, which are White Company dupes, but they are from Home Bargains. And then I think these would be B&M just little stocking uh stocking holders. I've just got two matching. Oh, I just love it so much. A few of you have suggested adding things to this garland like Bless and foliage. I like it plain. So, controversial or not, I don't know, but I just like it plain. The only thing I would potentially add is maybe a little pack of fairy lights. I think that could look really, really pretty. But otherwise, I just like the greeny the greeny the greeny the green. It is however making me think that we are yet to add the stair garland and the front door wreath. So, we've not brought it up this year. So, it must still be downstairs in the basement or it could be upstairs in the garage cuz we have some of the Christmas storage up there. We've got 6 minutes left on that wash soap before I need to do that. It's a bit of a getting stuff done today. I've got loads of washing hung out as well drying. Uh yeah, let me see if it's in here. I always have to do spider check as I come in the basement. Not that there's loads, but when it's a space that you are not in all the time and you don't know what's what and nothing gets touched, you think, well, there's bound to be some spiders that have created a nice cozy home in here somewhere. Right, storage room. Okay, here we go. They are here. That's the garland. That's the wreath. So, I'm going to take these upstairs. These are from Balsam Hill and they match our tree which is pre-lit and just the best thing ever. Heat. Heat. Okay. I feel like we need another garland because we have this one for this staircase obviously, but then I feel like the the upstairs banister gets neglected. The Vermont white spruce garland, which again our Christmas tree Christmas tree is also Vermont white spruce. And then I'll show you the wreath once that's on the front door. But again, these like the tree being pre-lit just make it so much more convenient. Right. What did I do here last year? I weave it in and out or did I put it on the banister? Firstly, I'm going to have the light box at this end so it's easy to turn it on and off. So, that can go up that end. Fluffing out. And then I'll just need to get takes a lot of batteries. exist. So, I'll just have to get um some batteries from the shops cuz I don't think we've got any left. This is the wreath that we have on the inside of the front door. And I'm going to put the BS Hill one on the outside. Probably easier to show you the wreath in this mirror on the front door. This wreath is huge. It does uh light up as well. Again, I need to just pop some batteries in it. But this is the perfect size wreath for this front door. Our front door is quite a a wide front door. Probably the best angle you're going to get for that. But I love it. [music] >> [music] [music] >> Never. Merry Christmas, baby. Santa Claus is packing the present. Every Christmas honeyman's [music] offs. [music] Whilst we're doing some home updates, I thought I would show you where I'm currently at with my Hogwarts Lego castle. Like I said, I've been taking my time building it cuz I just I don't want it to end. Um, but yeah, this is how it's looking. So, it's pretty much like half of it's done and then there's another half to add on to the other side. But I just keep it over in this corner in the black room just to one side so that I can carry on building it. But look, can you see all the stainless steel glass windows? I don't Well, it's obviously not. It's Lego, but there's loads of colorful glass looking windows. You got the Chamber of Secrets down here. Obviously, the main Great Hall clock tower, but I love it. Just chipping away slowly and steadily. And another thing I've kind of got into lately, is something that my girl chat, girls, if you're watching, shout out to The Fourth Wing, I have been trying to get in at least a chapter a day just to keep on top of it. cuz when I have my girls coming over in a couple of weeks, a couple of them have already read it. Um, and I've just really got started. So, that's how far into fourth wing I am and I love it. I've talked about Acatar Corner Court of Thorn and Roses before that series. I've read the first two books of that and I found it quite not slow because it is good but I'm a slow reader and there's so much to read of that that it's quite overwhelming which is fine obviously if you're a good reader and can read a bit quicker you probably get through it a lot quicker than I would but this I have found myself thinking about more so than Acckatar so I thought you know what with the girls coming over and they they're going to be talking about it I don't want any spoilers. So, I thought I need to catch up. So, I am on chapter about to start chapter 7. And there's something about it. If you've read Fourth Wing, then you'll know what I'm talking about with this. But there is something about it that I can kind of relate to. I find it really easy to picture and understand given the complexity of it. I kind of relate to it because essentially the author who is called Rebecca Yaros I think I read somewhere that she is now I don't want to quote this if I'm wrong let me see does it say anywhere Rebecca Yaros is the number one time Sunday Times New York Times USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over 15 novels including Fourth Wing and Iron Flame which I think is the second book to this. So I think there might be three, two or three. She loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over 20 years. So the reason why I kind of relate to this is because she's obviously from a military background. She's married into military. She gets the military lifestyle. And unless if you've been in it like I have, I do think it would probably be quite hard to understand. It really and truly is a lifestyle and not one that is that common. I don't know anyone in my personal life other than people that I maybe went to school with who also had a similar upbringing. Like no one in our life really, well no one has ever kind of grown up as a military household like I have. So, I do think it is kind of niche, but some of the terms that she uses like squad leader, wing leader, it's all very similar to like squadron leader, wing commander, which is all things that I kind of grew up knowing those terms given that my dad was in the RAF. And so, it's definitely something I can kind of relate to in that sense. And also the way that she describes the school. Essentially, this book is all about dragons. [laughter] [gasps] It's like fantasy but for adults. Let me just read you the back just first of all so that I can actually well the sun have said pure escapism. Think Hunger Games meets 50 Shades. Friends, enemies, lovers, everyone has an agenda. Violet Saenirl expected to live a quiet life surrounded by books until she was forced into the world's deadliest training ground. Now she must fight to join the army's elite dragon riders. But dragons don't choose fragile riders. They incinerate them. And when your body breaks as easily as Violets does, death is only a heartbeat away. Every night could be your last. Many would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her simply because of her last name. Including the ruthless Zaden Reen. Zaden, if you know, you know. Her family's greatest enemy. I mean, I've only just started this book, but I feel like we're going to like Zaden, even though he's a he's kind of like enemy turn lovers type situation. With the odds stacked against her, Violet must use every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise. Because once you enter base gate, well, okay, this what we're talking about in the girls group chat. How do we pronounce? I say Basque, but it's actually I A T H at the end. So, Basth maybe. Bas or Basia. War College. There are only two ways out. Graduate or die. And then there's a map at the start. Sorry if this is not interesting for you, but if you've ever thought about giving it a go, this is also linked on my Amazon storefront because I find it a really great gift idea for someone who hasn't started it yet. And then this is the little intro that she's put to Aaron, my own Captain America, through the deployments, the moves, the sunniest highs, the darkest. It's always been you and me though. So that again, like deployments, moves, like we've I've been there and done that with my family. So anyway, there is a map which sort of shows you the grounds of the uh like the quarters and the the entire war college that they go to. And then this is also a map of the the kind of world that you are immersed into. So yeah, I I've really, like I said, I'm only seven chapters in and I've so far really enjoyed it much more than I took to Acatar. So I think of the two, if you're thinking about starting one, I would start this one first. And I haven't even got into the juicy part. Apparently the girls in the group chat are saying um myself and another another girl who haven't quite read it yet. and the others are saying like almost just record your reaction reading it especially towards the end because it gets so good and I just don't want any spoilers. So yeah, when the girls come over I want to be able to talk about it almost like a little book club that we've got going. If you've read it, did you enjoy it? If you haven't, link in the description box. Come join me. Let's let's go on this journey together. Uh, I might actually just sit up and read a chapter. Just just have a bit of a peaceful moment and just get through another chapter. Bought some boots the other day, which I've not shown you yet, from Zara. These were the ones that I uh saw online. And I mentioned recently that I was after hold on let me just put you here so you can see them in a better light. I said to my mom about them and well I talked to her about them saying that she would love these for Christmas and she said well I've already got them. So when she said she's already got them I was like I really want them in my size. They just are out of stock in a size seven. Um and then they came back in stock in bigger sizes. and mom said just try an eight because although she is a size eight, she says with thick socks um like you could size up in them. So I got an eight and she's right. Even though I'm a 6 and 1 half to a seven, I can get away with an eight. So I'm just I've like got them and I'm like let me just wait a week or so and if they do come in in a seven, maybe I'll get the seven to try both. But the eight does fit. So if you are in between sizes, this Yeah. 41. And it's just such a beautiful like neutral suede boot with not a mega mega high heel. A really nice one to wear with leggings and a nice jumper or blazer for like a posh pub lunch or going into town for like an evening event or something. This would be really nice with like a satin skirt, jeans even. So yes, I have some new Zara jean uh boots rather. as well. So, I was reading my chapter of Fourth Wing. The doorbell rang and the postman delivered a nice little parcel. Oh, it's for It looks like it might actually be for Barney. Yes, it is. It's not even for me. It's for Barney. Barney getting PR mail is just so funny. I absolutely love it. And they've sent him over a Christmas treats box. This is a brand called Jukes. Healthy and tasty dog treats. All natural. He is going to love this. Pure turkey treats in there. We'll have to give him some of these later. He's got some chicken jerky, some little turkey and cranberry bites, pork and scratchings, beef sticks. Feel like you need a little Barney fix for Oh, he's eating. Give him one of the uh treats from the PR parcel he got. I've just actually been to treat myself for a quick massage. There's a place close to us that do kind of like acupuncture. They do um like the cupping method thing which Tom's had. I personally haven't. I don't know if I like the idea of that. And then you're left with like massive bruises on your back. But I just popped in. I said, "Is there any chance you've got like time for a quick 105 minute massage on my upper back?" I woke up I want to say two night two mornings ago with a knot in my back which I know like not will it'll like develop but it was so like I could just feel it and I I can kind of still I mean she worked out massively and I was just like wow I feel free [laughter] but I was just on one of those chairs sat like this and she was just working on my neck and my shoulders and that 10 15 minutes was all I needed to to just really get stuck into that muscle. So, it's feeling a little tender now after she's done that, but also hence the hair had to just go on top of my head. So, apologies for that. Um, but yeah, feeling much better for that. And I have actually just come back to a parcel. A few little unboxings in this video, haven't we? I really want to get stuck into my Christmas wrapping, but I'm thinking about doing that in like a like a in a vlog. My filming room is like where I've done all my gift guides recently. It's just cho block with gifts that need to be wrapped. And I always think the key is to start early. So I Oh, wow. How beautiful is this Glossy Box bag? Wow. I love that. Quite often I will donate bits and bobs from Glossy Box cuz I just don't need it. Um but that bag, I'm definitely keeping that bag. I love that. Um what was I saying? Yeah, I really want to get on with my Christmas wrapping. Can you hear Barney drinking? Do a couple of uh Christmas cards to send out as well. But I think I'll do that in another vlog because I would quite like to just dedicate some time to getting out my Christmas gift wrap and just sitting down with a Christmas movie in front of the tree wrapping all my presents. Anyway, glossy box this month for December. Gorgeous bag. Love that. Um, that in itself I would be more than happy with. But then also inside you get a gloss and shine intense shine hydration and heat protection from full. Not heard of that brand before. It's the I guess the benefit of glossy box. But this is a let me open it up and see a eye shadow duo from Basy Beauty. Again don't know this brand so unsure if I'm pronouncing that correctly. Um, they're quite wearable shades to be fair. There's a nice dark chocolate brown and more of a peachy gold. The Avon Pink Orchid Subtle Restoring Overnight Serum. A Spectrum brush again with the burgundy theme. The color of the season. This one is a 70 is the name of the brush. A70. A large domed shader. I love a new makeup brush. So, we'll open this up and see what this one's like. Oh, the actual brush itself is burgundy as well. That's the sort of one that I would get in my crease with my bronzer. My makeup's melting off my face. I think it's cuz I've been sat in that chair. I need to just top it up. Uh, and then last but not least, a hydrating hybrid 2in-1 lipstick balm from Sofia and Mabel. Again, another brand, another new discovery. I would say that looks more like a lipstick as opposed to a lip balm, to be fair. seems to have quite a big color pigment to it. Thanks to Glossy Box for sending that over. Let's get Barney in the frame and then Oh, do you like the smell of that Carmex? Does that smell nice? Did you just lick my face after you've had some treats? Oh, we love you. 5 years old. I can't believe you're five. Where have the years gone? There's nothing up there. I don't know what you're after, [laughter] Mr. Trumpy Bum. You looked embarrassed then when you did a little Trump. Given that it's December tomorrow, I couldn't not finish this video in front of the Christmas tree. So, thank you guys so much for watching today's video. I hope you have enjoyed it. As always, thumbs up if you have, subscribe if you haven't already, and a little friendly reminder to um head to my description box below where I will leave a link to the Amazon influencer program where you can sign up, create your own storefront today. And I will also leave my Amazon storefront linked as always. You can see an example of what you can create yourself. So, thank you to them for working with me on today's video. Thanks of course to you guys for watching and I hope to see you all very soon in December in my next video. Bye guys. [music] [music]