Blogmas | Christmas Eve

So here we are, Christmas Eve is finally upon us and 2016 is looming. This is the last day of our first ever Blogmas, something we have truly loved and hope you have too. A small ask, but we know you want to really... follow us on Bloglovin - our link is... https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/split-city-13957309 . You will be able to keep up to date with our latest posts and help us reach our target on there! 

Now onto my Christmas Eve traditions and a funny little announcement.

Blogmas | Martha's 2015

Well, in all honesty, it's not been my favourite year. In passing, within posts, Nikki and I may have mentioned that 2015 has been rather harsh for both of us, but as it draws to a close, you've got to search for that silver lining.

Yes, the majority of 2015 was truly awful. However, this year I found a new appreciation for my family's support, I feel closer to my best friends than ever before, I got to travel to Paris with my soulmate (Nikki), and I met my wonderful boyfriend.

 I'm willing to thank the bad things in 2015, without them I wouldn't be strutting into 2016, the confident, strong woman I am.

Here are my highlights:

Blogmas | Elf the Musical ★★

Yesterday evening it was Date Night, so we headed to the Dominion Theatre to watch Elf the Musical.  I certainly had high hopes and perhaps they were too high. Being in love with the film and Will Ferrell I knew the musical had a lot to live up to but did it?

Blogmas | Martha in Winter Wonderland

Other than blogmas I've had a distinct lack of festive factors in my December; I've been too busy getting ready for Christmas, that I haven't actually had time to FEEL Chritsmassy....leave it to Winter Wonderland to sort that out!

Blogmas | Girls Christmas Evening

Cheers to the weekend everyone! Hope it’s been a good one so far. This weekend, Martha (my bestie/other of Split the City) and Emma (my bestest friend) decided to have our very own Christmas celebrations together. And obviously it was all worthy of sharing with our lovely readers.

Blogmas | Being Veggie at Christmas

I've been veggie since birth, so it's very natural to me, however I can appreciate Christmas is a time when some vegetarians will feel a little back-benched. IT'S ALL ABOUT MEAT.

But don't get stuck with eating the side dishes, there are plenty of good, filling veggie meals.

Example A:

Blogmas | Random Act of Kindness

Hello there and welcome back to our Blogmas and it is now officially 1 week until Christmas day. How scary/exciting/really scary. I really hope that you have been enjoying our Blogmas as much as we have enjoyed thinking of fun and interesting posts to share with you. We have still found it hard writing and thinking of 12 posts each across the 24 days due to our jam packed schedules so we are feeling for those bloggers who have written 24! Hats off to you all.

Blogmas | Ekcovision, Brixton

Ekcovision, a 1920s speakeasy-styled bar, is the newest jewel in Brixton's 'up-and-coming' crown. You'll find it under the train arches along Atlantic Road; there's been a few things popping up along there ever since Brixton Market began to get the sort of recognition it deserves, but I have to say, so far, Ekcovision is certainly my favourite.

We went during the evening and experienced the place as a bar, but it is open, and serving, what looks like a beautiful, brunch during the day.

Blogmas | Christmas Party Spread

Happy Blogmas Day 16. With only 8 days of Blogmas to go, that means Christmas is less than two weeks away and oh my, I need to get Christmas shopping finished. With already a few bits purchased I still need to get the final few bits and cards! In my family, cards are very important. I think it is so nice to receive Christmas Cards and it is nice to not loose the tradition of hand written cards - in my opinion. 

Blogmas | A Christmas Escape

London at Christmas is sheer magic, there's no two-ways about it, it just is. 

However, there's something special as well about sneaking away with your boyf, or your bestie, for a little Christmas escape. It makes it feel like your life is The Holiday (included in N's last post).

I escaped down South with my phenomenal boy.

Blogmas | Top 5 Christmas Films

Happy Monday! Still can't believe how fast Christmas is coming round and I still have Christmas Presents to buy. December is my favourite month and I don't want it to go so fast. This was another one of those inevitable posts. My top 5 Christmas films, it's so hard to just narrow it down to 5 but here we go:

Blogmas | Favourite Christmas Posts (Not Ours)

I am extremely proud of what we've achieved this year; to think that it wasn't until late Spring that Nikki and I started blogging together baffles me. And if I look at the milestones we've accomplished together, in that time, I beam with pride.

But it's time to give a little something back to the blogging community, that's been so overwhelmingly generous, and welcoming to us.

Here are my top 5 Christmas posts by other bloggers:

Blogmas | December Birchbox

Blogmas | Martha's Christmas Traditions

Christmas, for me, is a little mental; lots of running about, and that's exactly how I like it!

Blogmas | Best Christmas Jumpers

This is a post I have been so excited to share with you. I'm a very festive kinda person so wearing a Christmas jumper is a must this time of year and especially on Christmas Jumper Day which is matched with 'Text Santa' on Friday 18th December. To donate £5 text SANTA5 to 70760 or donate £10 by texting SANTA10 to 70760. This is a very great cause and the money raised is donated to Macmillan, Make a Wish and Save the Children. So far they have raised more than £21 million which is phenomenal.

Now onto some wonderful Christmas jumpers on the market this year, in no particular order:

Blogmas | The Hope, Peckham

I think Christmas is a time to be at home. There's little that beats that feeling of seeing the 'Welcome to Sleaford' (where I grew up) sign on Christmas Eve. 

But over the past four years my home has shifted slightly; I'll always love Lincolnshire, and the warmth of seeing my family and friends back there. But South East London is my home; it's where I spend every night, and it's where people smile at each other in the street. It's home.

So what better way to celebrate, with friends, at somewhere with that beautiful homely, local vibe. Enter The Hope, in Peckham.

The Hope's neon signage had been long calling to me, so to be invited there was a dream come true. Nikki's first foray into Peckham had only actually happened a week earlier, for my birthday, and I threw her in the deep end by bullying her into attending a reggae night at Canavans Pool Club. I think The Hope redeemed me! 

Blogmas | Things to do in London this Christmas

So welcome back to Day 8 of Blogmas. Christmas is coming round so fast, I hope you're all ready!! Although we will all be busy buying gifts and attending a Christmas soirée here and there. Christmas is a great time to head out and about and take in some events in London. 

Blogmas | Top 5 Christmas Songs

Oh come on, it's blogmas, this post was inevitable!

We were listening to some Christmas bangers when setting up Nikki's tree, and they truly help you get into that festive vibe. So here are my top 5:

Blogmas | Secret Santa

Happy Sunday everyone, hopefully you've been having a great weekend thus far. As we are very much in full swing of the gift buying season, I have put together a few suggestions for secret Santa gifts that are under £10. 

Blogmas | Be A Friend Campaign

Coca Cola can step aside, because the real advert that signals Christmas now (at least for me) is John Lewis. It's not Christmas until some ethereal girl is singing a slowed down cover, of an old indie song, over some heart-wrenching acting. This year it's all about The Man on the Moon.

This years advert is carrying such a strong message too; loneliness in old people is far too common, and what a devastating way to spend your Christmas! A tiny act of kindness can go a long way, and the campaign 'Be A Friend' is championing that.

Blogmas | Christmas Tree Decorating

Hello friends,

So it's day 4 already of Blogmas and I'm feeling super Christmassy. On the 1st December I invited Martha and Emma over and we had an evening of decorating my Christmas tree and flat. 

Blogmas | Martha's Wishlist

So soon after my birthday, I always feel like an utter greed monster asking for anything at Christmas! But if I were forced to pick, below are the goodies I'm hoping Santa brings me this Christmas. I swear I've been a good girl!

Blogmas | Christmas Wishlist

Hey,

Hope you enjoyed day 1 of Blogmas, which was Martha's 'What I got for my birthday'. I am kicking it off with a slightly festive Christmas Wishlist. These are a few things that I've been noticing whilst wondering round the busy shops as it would seem this year is busier than ever with people getting their Christmas shopping done early. I've not quite managed to finish my shopping as of yet but I've made progress. So, here we go. 

Blogmas | My Birthday Presents

And so Blogmas begins....Can we do it gang? YES WE CAN. And so it falls to me (Martha) to kick us off....and I apologise but I'm starting off with something not too festive.

Last Saturday (29th) was my birthday....so I thought I'd give you a little round up of the goodies I got: