All the Feels Surrounding the Forever 21 Sydney Opening

Well hello blogosphere, and welcome to another exciting day on Teenage Fanatic! As you've probably noticed, I've been rather caught up in the wonders of Blogmas recently (because, you know, Christmas is awesome), but don't worry, it has occurred to me that not everyone celebrates it. Because of this, I've decided to shake things up a bit and talk about my experience of the new Sydney Forever 21 store. How exciting is that? Finally, one of my favourite American stores has been brought out here to Macquarie centre and my life now has meaning. Instead of just detailing what went down when I went, I've decided to do it in gif form to make things interesting (or at least slightly less boring). Without further ado, here's the story . . .

So finally, after seeing all of the celebratory Instagram and Facebook posts, I found the time and money to visit Maquarie Centre and obsess over the new Forever 21. Seriously just making the plans had me looking a little something like this.

Can I just tell you, the trip there was probably the longest car ride of my life. I kind of feel sorry for the people who had to drive me.

But then of course we finally made it, and just seeing the shopfront kicked me right in the feels.

But don't worry, I totally snapped out of it and ran in there like a mad woman.

And of course, I practically made it my duty to make a grand entrance.

Turns out I wasn't the only one fangirling about my favourite store being brought to Australia, because as I made my way through Forever 21, I was totally surrounded by excited masses.

Can I just tell you now, my excitement wasn't in vein. Not even close. The range of clothes is just amazing. I just kind of had to stop for a moment and take everything in.

But never fear, I did eventually once again return to (semi) normality and continued my search. They've got a style for everybody. They've got a fun, girly, floral heavy section (which of course I tended to gravitate towards), a more preppy section (which was my second favourite), an area totally dedicated to denim, some grunge heavy selections, as well as clothes to suit people who are looking for night wear, underwear, or just the basics. Moral of the story, they've got all their bases covered.

I really went for it, I'm not gonna lie. Considering Christmas is rather close, I was just taking pictures like crazy for my gift list.

But of course I did get in some sneaky shopping. Who would I be if I didn't?

And then, after all of that, I could finally leave happy.

So overall, what exactly did I think of Forever 21?

If anyone's ever in Sydney, I highly suggest you check it out. And if you've lived near a Forever 21 your entire life and are totally used to it, I envy and hate you just a little bit. Whatever, now I just get to bask in my purchases.

So that's the end of my pretty random, fangirly post. Now I encourage you to go and do the same and shop your life away, or at the very least put some stuff on your Christmas lists. I guess I have to wait and see if all my requests will be under the tree on December 25th.

Good luck to everyone! Let's hope you get what's on your shopping wish list. Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

5th Day of Blogmas Vol 2: Most Awesome New Christmas Songs

Hello readers! I'm back once more with another entry of Blogmas and a whole new round of pre Christmas excitement. Before we start, I highly suggest you all go and top up the money on your iTunes accounts, because I'm going to give your festive Christmas playlists a 2014 makeover. Throughout this year's Blogmas, I've tried especially hard to not repeat any posts from last year. In 2013, I may or may not have had a post called 'Ideal Christmas Playlist', but hey, at least I went to the effort of altering the title. So now the little intro and clarification is totally over with, let's get into it . . .

Ariana Grande, 'Santa Tell Me'

Back with another Christmas single is Ariana Grande, with her new song 'Santa Tell Me'. Sure, it's more of a pop track than a traditional Christmas carol, but it's got the word 'Santa' in the title, so A for effort. Also, it just so happens to be super fun and catchy, and jam packed with Yuletide references. It gets you into the festive spirit, and would definitely be a perfect addition to any Christmas playlist you've currently got going on. I think by now we've all worked out that Ariana always kills it with the vocals, and she's definitely no novice in the holiday-themed music department, so you've got to know you're in for a treat. If you'd like some visuals to go along with your audio, go and check out the Christmasy music video that goes along with it. 

Idina Menzel feat. Michael Bublé, 'Baby It's Cold Outside'

We're all familiar with this Christmas classic, so how could it not sound amazing when covered by Broadway legend and voice of Frozen's Elsa Idina Menzel (aka, Adele Dazeem) and internationally acclaimed recording artist Michael Bublé? I guess I could spend ages waffling on and trying to sell the awesomeness of the track to you, however I really don't feel that's necessary. Let's face it, the subheading sells itself. Do you want to listen to a vocally perfect rendition of one of your favourite festive songs? I know, it's a tough one, right? If you're awesome and understand heavy sarcasm, then I know you'll make the right decision.

Pentatonix, 'Winter Wonderland/Don't Worry Be Happy'

Everybody loves a bit of acapella pop, and it doesn't get much better than Pentatonix. This crazy talented quintet have released their own LP Christmas Album for 2014 entitled 'That's Christmas to Me', and yeah, of course you can download the entire thing, but my absolute favourite is their mashed up rendition of 'Winter Wonderland'. It definitely gives off some awesome festive vibes, and guest star Tori Kelly makes the vocals sound all kinds of awesome. I guess I'm just a fan of harmonies, but there's no doubting you'll appreciate how cool this cover is. In fact, I bet you'll appreciate it so much that you'll just have to drop everything you're doing and give it a listen, right now. 

She & Him, 'God Only Knows'

Okay, so this isn't a Christmas song in the traditional sense (or you know, in any sense), but ever since it was used in the classic 2001 Holiday Rom-Com 'Love Actually', it's kind of become one by association. You might recall that last year I mentioned Zooey Deschanel's band 'She & Him'? Well they're once again gracing my blog, and this time for their cover of Beach Boys track 'God Only Knows'. How exactly did it come to my attention? I'd like to say I'm just a genius (which of course I am), but unfortunately, it had to be on the recent Christmas episode of 'New Girl' for it to be on my radar. Nonetheless, this cover is pretty awesome, and has had heaps of success on the interweb. Therefore, this totally needs to have a spot on your iTunes, or at the very least, deserves a listen.

Sam Smith, 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'

Sam Smith definitely wouldn't have made it onto the list this time last year, because nobody knew who he was. Throughout 2014, the British singer shot to popularity so much so that I've allowed him to grace my blog (that generosity). 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' really is a Yuletide classic, and Sam's more than proved himself capable of tackling a ballad. So of course, his cover just has to be awesome, there's really no other option. I don't know what it is about Christmas music, but no matter the tempo or mood, all the songs just make you feel super pleasant and excited. Of course Sam's cover provides all of this in spades, and vocally, he totally nails it. If you're not lured yet, I don't know what's wrong with you, so just give it a go and consider it for your Christmas playlist.

Fifth Harmony, 'All I Want for Christmas is You'

Now I'm not normally the biggest fan of reality show contestants, but this X Factor formed group I guess are my exception - well at least with this song. Doing one of the most covered Mariah Carey Christmas classics is no easy feat, however these 5 girls manage to do it. Sometimes with groups, it's obvious they rely on one another because they aren't talented enough to make it on their own (harsh, but true), however this is certainly not the case with 'Fifth Harmony'. Everyone kills their solo parts (which occur quite frequently), and the bit of harmony work they manage to incorporate is spot on. Plus, I just find the song is the ultimate Christmas track and always puts me in a good mood, so that's definitely a bonus. Don't believe that it lives up to the original? Listen to it and decide for yourself. 

So that's now the end of my super festive song appreciation list. Fingers crossed you've got some Playlist inspiration, or at least weren't totally repulsed by any of my suggestions. Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

4th Day of Blogmas Vol 2: Coolest Christmas Attractions

Greetings again blogosphere! I feel like Christmas is approaching at the rate of knots, and excitingly, we've already come to the 4th Day of Blogmas! Today, I've decided to list and appreciate the awesomeness of some of the coolest Christmas paradises available for kids and families! I know I'm a fan of these festive wonderlands, and I guarantee by the end of this post, you will be too. So without further ado, here they are . . .

SeaWorld, San Diego

Just a warning, what you're about to read is going to totally blow you away. Starting off strong with SeaWorld San Diego's 'Winter Wonderland', this place is just a kid's dream come true. With a bunch of different fun and super unique attractions, SeaWorld really outdoes itself. Just so you can get a clear idea of how spectacularly awesome this place really is, when you visit at Christmas time, you not only get to sit on Santa's lap, you get to go to 'Christmas Village', eat festive foods, buy Christmas merchandise, be serenaded by carolling elves, and then of course finally make your way down to 'Santa's Cottage', where you can get a special photo with your family and engage in Christmas cookie decorating. Does that not sound like the best thing ever?!? But wait, there's more. The attractions just keep getting better and better, as you can then move on from there and watch SeaWorld's 130 foot Christmas tree be decorated and lit up to perfection, have breakfast with both Santa and Shamu, visit the reindeer training academy, and last but not least, watch the 'Happiest Christmas Tree' sing and dance along to your favourite Christmas tunes. Is it just me, or does anyone else want to move to SeaWorld, like, right now? 

Santa Claus, Indiana

I'm not even kidding, there is indeed a city in Indiana called 'Santa Claus'. And yes, it is totally dedicated to celebrating Christmas all year round. Can you imagine being festive for 365 days in a row? I haven't quite decided whether it'd be a good thing, but I do know that visiting this city in December would definitely be all kinds of awesome. Obviously they really go all out with the Christmas thing, and there are a whole bunch of themed attractions open to the public. For instance, you can enjoy Christmas Dinner with Santa, go to the 'Holiday World & Splashin' Safari' theme park complete with 3 wood roller coasters and the world's longest water coaster, visit Santa's candy cart, the Santa Claus museum, the Santa Claus Christmas Store and Santa's stables, and perhaps most importantly, you can write your letter to Santa. This town really does sound magical, and if I'm being honest, almost fictional. Who knows, perhaps this is some kind of re-incarnation of the North Pole? Whatever it is, I'm totally on board with it. 

The Inn at Christmas Place, Pigeon Forge

Once again, we've stumbled upon a place which celebrates Christmas over the course of the entire year. However, they don't have 'Santa Claus' as the name of their city as an excuse, these people are just crazily Christmas obsessed (not that there's anything wrong with that). A hotel called 'The Inn at Christmas Place' in the Smoky Mountains takes the holiday season very seriously as you've probably already guessed. Throughout December, guests can be serenaded by a singing Santa at his concert twice a week, and have the luxury of checking out as many holiday movies as they wish to watch in their rooms. Handily located across the street from 'The Incredible Christmas Place' store, the hotel stocks up on an abundance of holiday decorations, and their lobby pretty much looks like the inside of Santa's workshop. Plus, there are a bunch of daily activities that the guests can either engage in or watch, some of which include constructing gingerbread houses, attending bow tying classes, Christmas karaoke and popcorn stringing, all of course guest starring festively dressed staff. Come on, you can't honestly tell me you're not tempted to book a room and sleep in heavenly peace (see what I did there!). 

A Christmas Story House, Cleveland

If you haven't heard of the 1983 holiday film 'A Christmas Story', then I'm not entirely sure what sheltered life you've been living. Well folks, you're ignorance stops today. In a perfectly preserved homage to the cult classic, the house originally used for filming has been re-decorated and transformed into an exact replica of the original set. I bet you're thinking that sure, this all sounds well and good, but how exactly is it an attraction? Well my friends, this house has now been altered and become a museum open to the public, one which contains all sorts of original props and memorabilia. Talk about a fangirl's dream. Plus, there's a pretty nerdy gift shop out the back which sells a range of movie tie-in items including leg lamps and Red Ryder BB guns. Being obsessive fans finally has its perks - and in a  festive fashion no less!

Woodstock Winter Wassail Weekend, Vermont

To end this magical list is a monstrous Christmas event occurring in Woodstock, Vermont. Named after wassail, a seasonal drink brewed with spiced apples and sugar, this Weekend long celebration is the epitome of a fun and festive Christmas. It's an event for the whole family, and happens on December 12th, 13th and 14th (damn it, we just missed out). This winter event sure has a lot going for it, including a Wassail parade with over 50 horses and riders adorned in holiday costume, sleigh rides for the public, and a visit from Santa himself. If you think the fun stops there, you're kidding yourself. In addition to all of the awesome stuff I mentioned before, this winter weekend also involves troupes of singers parading the streets, theatre performances by the YOH players, a Wassail feast at the Woodstock Inn & Resort, and a Christmas musical down at the town hall. Shops open till late, the streets are all festively decorated, and if you're lucky, there might even be a little bit of snow to totally complete the picturesque image. This event's been going strong for 31 years now, and obviously this is the reason why. It must be working, because I'm 100% lured. 

We've now reached the end of what I deem to be a pretty impressive list. I've come to the conclusion that my country officially has nothing Christmassy to offer, especially in comparison to all these festively awesome events above. Who knows, maybe I gave you an idea of where you can spend Christmas 2015? Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

3rd Day of Blogmas Vol 2: Secret Santa Gift Ideas

Hello and welcome once again readers! We are now officially coming into the 3rd Day of Blogmas, and things are getting pretty exciting. Not only is Christmas getting closer and closer, but the fun, festive preparations have already begun. I don't know about you, but our group tends to do Secret Santa most years just before Christmas time. If you've been living under a rock your entire life and have absolutely no idea what I'm hinting at, Secret Santa entails a group of people putting their names into a hat, as everyone sits around and draws one out at random. Whoever you pick, you are responsible for giving a present to (for $20 or less of course). It's a pretty fun concept, and today, I'm going to give you a helping hand with some perfect, cost effective gift ideas.

Trying to purchase something awesome while on a $20 budget is admittedly a pretty difficult task, but have no fear, I've totally got you covered. Take your pick of anything from the fun collage I made above! Seriously, it all fits the bill spectacularly. For a more in depth analysis of each item, check out my little summaries below.

Lip Varnish

Let's face it, every girl needs a good lip gloss, it's just a cosmetic must have. So now, you can be the awesome friend who makes that happen, and get your secret santa this totally fabulous £9 Topshop Lip Varnish.

Bow Hair Clips

There's no doubt about it, bows are about as cute and preppy as it gets. I know I love a good bow, and totally wouldn't mind scoring these lovely $2.95 Sportsgirl Hair Clips. What's not to love? And yes, the gif below's from 'Matilda'. 

Make Up Palette

You can't really go wrong with this mammoth collection of cosmetics. This $19.95 Sportsgirl 'Bright Young Things' make-up palette has seriously got a everything a girl could ever want - 8 eye shadows, 2 blushes and 3 lip colours. Plus, the pastel colours are just adorably awesome. 

Shower Gel

Anything involving personal hygiene may not seem like a fun Christmas present, but when something smells this good, you can't go wrong. This $11 phenomenally scented Cherry Blossom Shower Gel from Bath and Body Works is the perfect gift, and is assured to be a success. 

Phone Case

It seems that no matter how hard we try, we can't stray away from Sportsgirl. Proving to be the ultimate Secret Santa shopping location, Sportsgirl's Watermelon iPhone 5 Case is absolutely to die for. It's cute and fruity, and would no doubt make a fantastic gift. 

Socks

There's nothing better than an awesome pair of cozy socks to wear and to protect you from the harsh coldness of your floors (even if we are in Summer here in Australia). But these aren't just ordinary socks, oh no, they're adorned with one of the cutest strawberry designs known to man. Being on the receiving end of these adorable £3.50 Strawberry Topshop Socks would be a dream come true. 

Body Lotion

Every girl loves a good lotion, simple as that. In fact the idea of lathering on some lovely smelling $12.50 Bath and Body Works Twilight Woods Ultra Shea Body Cream after a long, hot shower sounds positively luxurious. 

Perfume

You've probably been able to sense a pattern here, and that is if it smells good, it's a hit. This $18 Sephora Tocca Cleopatra perfume has got rave reviews, and will have your Secret Santa smelling like a dream in no time. 

Nail Polish

With the amount of nail art tutorials available on the magical video search engine that is Youtube, everyone is just dying to get their hands on as much nail polish as possible to try and create some masterpieces of their own. I say, give the people what they want with this fabulously pink £5 Topshop Nail Polish. 

So that's now the end of this rather helpful Blogmas entry. Hopefully you're now totally inspired, and have found something to work with. See, awesomeness can be achieved without breaking the bank, or at least with the help of Teenage Fanatic. And don't even worry about it, you're totally welcome. Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

2nd Day of Blogmas Vol 2: Best TV and Movie Santas

Hello and welcome blogosphere to my second instalment of the 12 Days of Blogmas 2014! I don't know about you, but I'm certainly already getting into the Christmas spirit. There's only 11 days to go guys, how did that even happen so quickly? Anyway, to keep us all excited, I've decided today to list some of the best Santas we can find depicted on TV and in movies. I'm super pumped already, so why don't we just go ahead and get started? Without further ado, here are my judgements . . .

Tim Allen, The Santa Clause

There's no doubting Tim Allen is definitely deserving of a spot on this list. Watching his transformation in the first film from a grinchy non-believer to a totally festive Santa was just magical, and from then on, we were totally on board with his character Scott Calvin. In fact, he was such an awesome Santa, the franchise continued with two more films! And boy were they the bomb. 

Ed Asner, Elf

We may have started off strong with Tim Allen, but things just keep getting better. 'Elf' really is just one of the ultimate Christmas movies of all time, and just so happens to be my absolute favourite festive flick. Of course part of what makes it great are Will Ferrell's naive, elfish ways, but the icing on the cake would have to be Ed Asner as Santa. He basically embodies everything you look for in good old St Nick. He's kind and fatherly, and of course totally looks the part. 

Edmund Gwenn, Miracle on 34th Street

There are a number of reasons why Mr Gwenn as Kris Kringle made it onto the list. First off, he was one of the first, and has definitely become the quintessential movie Santa, a golden oldie so to speak. You'd think that's justification enough, but wait, there's more. This Kris Kringle is an Oscar winner. That's right, in 1947, Edmund won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in this legendary Christmas flick. Seriously, this guy makes toys all year round, can travel the world in one night, and wins an Oscar in his spare time. Is there anything Santa can't do?

Michael Richards, Seinfeld

So far we've been dealing with some pretty iconic portrayals of Father Christmas, but now, that's about to change. Taking a turn for the comedic is the Kris Kringle we're all privy to in hit show 'Seinfeld'. In the episode 'The Race', Kramer gets a job working as Santa in a shopping centre, however of course, this doesn't exactly go according to plan. When Santa begins to 'spread communist propaganda' to the kids, things take a turn for the worst. Ah, gotta love Kramer, right?

Daniel Franzese, Mean Girls

The movie 'Mean Girls' sure is a cult classic known for a lot of things, but its heavy Christmas themes are not one of them. However, that doesn't mean that the brief look we get at Daniel's character Damian dressed as Santa isn't memorable or spectacularly awesome. The scene actually totally lives up to both of those labels, and just so happens to contain one of the most quotable lines in the entire movie (big call, I know). In it, Damian is seen handing out personally addressed candy canes to members of the class, and upon finding that they've received quite a substantial amount, utters the famous line 'you go Glen Coco!'. And of course, gives absolutely none to mean girl Gretchen Wieners. 

Matthew Perry,  Friends

Once again we're taken to the world of hit 90's sitcoms, and this time it's Chandler Bing for the win. In the episode 'The One with the Holiday Armadillo', Ross's attempt to teach his son Ben about Hanukkah and replace Santa with the faith-neutral 'Tex Mex Armadillo' goes awry when a badly timed Chandler bursts in dressed as St Nick. Despite the fact that in a showdown between Santa and the part Jewish Armadillo, Chandler loses, his intentions were good and he certainly was jolly. Although, on the down side, he never did get to 'shake his belly like a bowl full of jelly', as he intended to. Maybe next Christmas. 

We've now reached the end of my second festive post. See how I managed to catch up so quickly? Two posts in one day, I really am a champion. Hopefully this managed to get you in the Christmas spirit, and perhaps give you some more viewing inspiration. Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx

1st Day of Blogmas Vol 2: Most Creative Wreaths

Season's greetings readers! If some of you are long time Teenage Fanatic followers (if any of them even exist), you may recall that starting December 12th last year, I engaged in this whole craze called the '12 Days of Blogmas'. And hey, because I had such a blast doing it last year, I thought why not bring some of that Christmas spirit into 2014? Basically, for you newbies out there, this whole Blogmas thing is basically me posting random entries about Christmas on each of the 12 days leading up to the glorious event. To get the ball rolling (admittedly, a day late), I thought I'd give credit where it's due and celebrate some of the most awesome and creative wreaths Christmas enthusiasts have to offer. So intro done and dusted, let's take a look at these festive rings of awesomeness . . .

1. 

This may not be the healthiest way to kick off Christmas, but that never bothered anyone. Start as you mean to go on, right? This caramel filled candy just so happens to be one of my many favourite confectionary items, so to have these pressed against my front door would be an honour, nay, a privilege. 

2.

On the total other end of the spectrum, this orange wreath is also on the cards. What motivates a person to turn slices of fruit into art? That I cannot pinpoint. However, the outcome does look pretty cool. And as a vegetarian, I suppose it's kind of like my duty to support anything vaguely organic. 

3. 

The number of Chinese restaurants anyone attempting to make this paper doily wreath would have to visit I do not know, but the outcome of this mega DIY project is super impressive. It just screams winter wonderland, and I don't know about you, but I certainly wouldn't mind having this shabby chic addition to my Christmas décor. 

4. 

Yet again, here we have another DIY project for all you house dwellers to embark upon. What exactly is the point of this wreath consisting entirely of metal trays? Nobody knows. But I guess it does look rather homely, and if you're a fan of the alternative and creative, why not give this wreath a go?

5. 

This fluffy wreath of awesomeness is something I definitely want to try out. Being a vegetarian and all, I can't strictly eat the sticky wonders that are marshmallows, but I can appreciate their epic nature. Who knew confectionary could look so good?

6. 

Now this? This is a wreath of food I can get behind. Gingerbread men are seriously the staple of any Christmas lover's diet in December, so why not let the world know and display this bundle of awesomeness at the front of your house? It just absolutely screams Christmas, and it sure does look totally delectable. 

7. 

Your hunger for DIY projects not yet satisfied? We've got you covered. Ever wondered what you can do with all those Christmas cards you receive and have nowhere to put? This wreath is the one for you. Sure, it doesn't look totally spectacular, but points for creativity and usefulness are definitely awarded to make up for it. 

8. 

Last but certainly not least is this...unique...looking wreath made entirely of Peacock feathers. Are they real? Let's hope for the sake of PETA and animal protection societies everywhere that they aren't. One thing you can say about this is that you'll definitely make a statement. Why settle for dull when you can have a totally original, one of a kind wreath complete with flamboyant feathers? There really is no toss up. 

That ladies and gentlemen is where I leave you. I think the first day of Blogmas went rather well, and hopefully you now have some pretty cool Christmas inspiration. Now go and get cracking with your unique wreath designs, and I'll see you back here for the next instalment very shortly. Til' next time . . .

Annabel xx