Ready for christmas break? What's better than to spend time reading by the fireplace,  drinking a hot drink while it rains or snows outside? These are my holiday reading list, all christmas themed.

Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances 

Novel by John Green, Lauren Myracle and Maureen Johnson. 

A huge snow storm hits the town during Christmas season, and 3 teenagers experience it throughout their different lives. I really loved this novel and it definitely gets me into the festive mood.

The LittleBookshop on the Seine

Novel by Rebecca Raisin

Sarah have been offered to exchange bookshops with her friend's at the Seine. It can't get better: Christmas in Paris, beside the Seine in an old bookshop. 

The Gift

Novel by Cecelia Ahern

I haven't read this one yet, but I know everything Cecelia writes is amazing. 

Beautiful Crafts Magazine(Christmas)

A crafs magazine, with a lot of ideas about Christmas DIYs. Really perfect for making cute decorations and gifts this holiday, especially if you have kids they will have a lot of fun creating DIYs together.

Happy reading, Xo, Ghinwa 

*Pictures taken by me on a Nikon D5300 camera, lens Nikkor 85mm f1.8

Today I will show you 14 gift ideas that I really think everyone will like. Plus they're really affordable and can work as stocking fillers. Some of these gifts are things I bought for my friends (I hope they wouldn't see them). So grab a cup of hot chocolate and let's get festive.

Christmas Mug/treats:

Everyone loves a cute mug, especially in the time when hot drinks are so appreciated. Add a cute festive treats and you have the perfect gift.

Cute Hand Sanitizers:

Very affordable and very cute. Bath and Body Works is my favorite place to buy these gifts. A big range of scents and beautiful packaging. You can't go wrong with this one, because everyone uses hand sanitizer. 

Bins filled with goodies:

I've found these really cute christmas bins that I've been storing sugar sachets in. You can fill them with the person's best candies and they will reuse it for storing random things

Notebooks and stickers: 

This for someone who loves writing in a diary. They can decorate the pages with stickers. Plus they can use them as a normal everyday notebook for  writing notes.

Victoria's Secret PINK Body Care:

Victoria Secret is having a sale (15000LL) on there body mists and Body Care. So it's a perfect opportunity to stock up on some gifts. This gift is for someone who loves pampering products and enjoy using body care.

Cute Hair Brush:

I know everyone owns a hair brush. But do they own a cute one?

Backpack Keychain (literally!):

This isn't any keychain, it's a backpack keychain. Very helpful to hold money, So when you're on your way, you only grab your keys and your money is in there too!

Accessories:

If you know someone loves accessories and watches. You can find inexpensive cure ones on Accessorize, plus Aliexpress have the best inexpensive cute watches.

Fuzzy Socks:

It's okay if you gifted socks, everyone loves a cute fuzzy sock. Add something else that goes with the comfy theme.

Tea Bin:

I think many people have tea packets laying randomly around their drawers. So this christmas bins can organise all the tea or Nescafe packets. I have use it for storing tea and it's really cute.

Weekly Planner:

A weekly planner will motivate the recipient to be more organised and time managed. Especially with the new year, new you motto.

Megan Hess books:

The Fashion lover will adore you for this gift. Full of beautiful fashion illustrations and information. Megan Hess' books are delightful for everyone. And can be a really nice addition as a coffee table book. 

The Fashion Book:

Another beautiful coffee table book. This one however, is more for people who are really interested in fashion culture and would like to go deeper into the field. 

Ted Baker Evening Bag:

This is the most expensive gift out of them all, mainly to someone close. I think this bag is so useful for this time of year, going to a Christmas dinner or a New year party.  Perfect for all ages and a really classic piece.

Happy Holidays, xo Ghinwa 

If there's something I'm guilty of, is seeing other's achievements and forgetting mine. It is good to be motivated by others,  however sometimes it leaves us with a feeling of being non-achievers. Especially now living in the world of speed,  social media, where everyone seems to be perfect, we can't help but feel a little off.

Most of us are guilty of seeing other people and wishing we would achieve their looks, or wishing we have our own successful projects, our own influencial platforms.. And the problem lies in seeing all these things and forgetting to appreciate what we are and what we have. And even the people we look up to , they too has someone they look up to, and even you have people that look up at you and appreciate your traits and persona. So it is really normal and this thought humanize the whole thing.

What we sometimes forget is that social media is meant to show a person's best qualities only, it highlights it. Which is not bad, but how about reality?
However, the solution doesn't lie in saying, it is only "Instagram,  YouTube.." because these people work hard and we don't want to deny that. You don't want to look at people's flaws in order to be superior and feel better.  On the contrary, the key lies in raising your own spirit and remembering that you too have worked hard, you too came a long way. And no one can take away that. We are an evolved product of yesterday's events.

Now if there's one thing I'm sure of is that we are all proud of something we achieved, we all came a long way from our older selves, we evolved. And we are all different and unique in what we do. Everyone is good at something and would excel in it more than anyone.  In all areas of life, I'm sure we would stand out,  and we should never forget that.

Work hard for tomorrow but don't forget to appreciate today and yesterday.  Don't be stuck with where you are, but do appreciate where you are. And remember to keep going up and while you're at it, give yourself a pat on the back and look down and see that while you were rising up you became higher than where you were.