Winter Favourites 24/25

Hey! As always I've had more than my fair share of fixations, obsessions and loves this winter! Can't wait to jump in so, let's! 

Date Nights

Me and Iestyn got into a really good routine with date nights to the pub this winter. One of my absolute favourite ways to spend a winters evening is in one of our favourite pubs, probably quizzing each other on our favourite TV shows and albums. Definite happy place! My current go to order is always either fig pizza, baked camembert or nachos. Gosh, I want to go for pub dinner now...

Cheese Nights!

Another lush was to spend an evening was a pre Christmas cheese night with my mum and friends! Everyone brought a couple cheeses and then we all prepped it together and ended up with this beautiful spread! Each camembert was different as well, my personal favourite was the truffle oil one! 

Christmas Markets

A real source of positivity and festivity this winter was our Christmas markets. Lovely locations, atmosphere and company. Selling things was just the cherry on top of an already beautiful cake! 

Starbucks Cake Pops

One of the best things I discovered in 2024 were Starbucks cake pops, but the obsession reached its peak in autumn/winter as thats when I frequent Starbucks the most (pumpkin spice season, of course). I love every single variation, but the red velvet mummy cake pop was possibly one of the best things I've ever tasted. 

Hot Chocolate and Hot Spiced Apple

I know this sounds incredible obvious (hot chocolate in winter, how innovative!) but my love and craving for hot chocolate was at an all time high this year. In fact, it's spring now as I'm writing this and just yesterday I ordered a hot chocolate with my breakfast haha, so it's not yet gone away! My faves are the Cadbury Caramel pods for at home, and when out, the Costa white hot chocolate or National Trust cafe hot chocolates, with cream of course. 

For anyone else who misses Costa's hot spiced apple drink (BRING IT BACK PLS), I've found two this winter that taste pretty much exactly the same. One on the winter menu at Burford garden centre, and also at the Everyman cinema. Whenever I unexpectedly cross paths with a hot spiced apple drink, I am the happiest gal in the world. Please please comment below if you've discovered any more places that do them! 

Jellycat Dragons

For Christmas from my brother, I got my first ever jellycat dragon!!! I'd wanted one for so long. From the second I took it out the bag, JC dragons became a new absolute favourite range of mine. My collection has since continued to grow, in fact I got my second dragon also on Christmas Day from Iestyn! 

Apple Watch

I've never worn a watch, mainly for sensory reasons as I don't like having things on my wrists, but after trying my mums for a day when I needed it at work, I realised Apple Watches are fine for me! An expensive realisation but they really are great. My absolute favourite feature has definitely been having the voice recording app so accessible and instant for songwriting. So many of the ideas and melodies that I'd normally forget before I get to my phone, I can now record instantly.

Wicked

Went to see Wicked in the cinema twice and absolutely fell in love with everything about it. Then in January we got a bigger TV and celebrated that by watching its home release! Ever since me and my fellow wicked obsessed friend have been singing our hearts out to the soundtrack at work and in the car together on a regular basis! 

Drawing

A new hobby I have been fixated on is drawing! I'm not naturally a very good drawer, but my friends showed me these YouTube tutorials they found and do with their family and I've joined in too! It's more than just drawing though, it's a real moment of mindfulness in my day and I find it really soothing and regulating for my brain. Still not great at drawing but definitely improving! We even have little competitions where we all follow the same tutorial and see whose turns out best!!! Therapeutic and fun all in one.  

Code Names

This game has been a favourite of ours for a while- it all started when my friend Lauryn brought it over to play on my birthday last year and it was so. much, fun. The picture above is when we took it to our other friends house on new years and they loved it too! I recommend it to everyone! 

Nails

Late this winter I started getting my nails done every few weeks! I absolutely love how much more put together it makes me feel, especially in my job where I am constantly pointing at worksheets in class etc. I get nail art every time and it's such a fun and feel good edition to my self-care routine now. Love love love.

Boosts

Just a quick but extremely important one because I'm not sure if I've ever featured Boosts on a favourites post before but they are currently and always have been one of my ultimate fave treats. I've gotten so many friends and family members into Boosts, which I am also apologetic about because yes they are undeniably delicious but they are also extremely expensive. However once you're hooked, there's not much you can do. On the day the above photo was taken, I actually had 2! hahaha

The Cheddar Cakery

 

Me and Iest went on a cute little trip to Cheddar to look at the Jellycats and my friend recommended popping to the Cheddar Cakery to grab some... cakes! We grabbed 5 and had a little taste test with the family and we were so wowed by all of them. Definitely need to plan another visit soon! 

Homemade Mince Pies

My Nanann used to make the most delicious mince pies, so this year I decided to carry that on by baking som myself. I enjoyed the process of making them so much, not only did it make me feel close to Nanann, but it was also very mindful and made me feel incredibly proud of myself. Can't wait to make them again this year :) 

Nandos Fanta Spice

Nandos fanta was my absolute favourite and I'm so gutted they don't do it anymore. I really hope they bring it back! 

The Pump Rooms Afternoon Tea

This is a very food-based favourites! But this experience was about way more than just the delicious food. On new years day, me and my sister booked an afternoon tea for two at the pump rooms in Bath. The place itself is stunning, the food was the tastiest afternoon tea selection I've ever had, the amount you got was fantastic (we were both so full afterwards!), the piano player was incredible and they had non alcoholic rose! We had the best time and I cannot wait to go back. Also shoutout to my sister for being hilarious company- we laughed so much people were looking at us! 

Disney Snuggly Hoodie

One of my Christmas presents from Iest was this Winnie the Pooh Oodie style longline fleecy hoody which is now the cosiest thing I own. He got it from the Disney store and it's even personalised with my name... It's such a lovely present and so me. ALSO it has bear ears on the hood!!!!!! My new soft, sensory safe place. 

Lip Oil and Liner

My go to lip combo this winter has been the Kylie cosmetics lip oils (favourite is Pomegranate, but also love passionfruit and creme brûlée) which I pair with a lip liner! My most regular pairing has been Pomegranate lip oil with Mac's Auburn liner. Ideal for winter as my lips are usually too dry for lipsticks anyway, so having something so hydrating that makes my lips look and feel better is a winter game changer!

Hope you've enjoyed reading all my winter favourites in the middle of summer! See you soon 

E x