Pages

Wednesday 31 July 2013

A Birthday Present to Myself

Today is my birthdaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Yay! Yippe! Hoorah! I’m 26 today (or as my friend would say – 21 with 5 years experience). I’ve always loved my birthday, not for the presents (although it helps), just because it makes me happy.

To celebrate my birthday I bought myself a present. This pug cushion. It’s from Primark and it was £4. Look at that face, and he’s got sunglasses on, he's having a whale of a time!

040

There you go. This was basically a quick post to tell you a) that it’s my birthday, and b) how much I love this cushion.

Tuesday 30 July 2013

If I Could Turn Back Time [52 Weeks…]

image_6

I’d like to go back to the time above. I mean look at me, I’m a cutie! That’s my dog Pisco, my parents got him as a puppy 3 months before I was born, and then when I came along we were too much trouble so he went to live at my Grandparents house. But he was still mine. When I went there he would follow me around and always be with me, best dog ever. The day he died was the worst day of my life and I remember it even now.

At this time, my grandparents were both still alive and well. My granddad is currently in a care-type place because he keeps falling and he’s suffering from short term memory loss. It’s sad to see because, even though he’s 91, until last year he was so active. He danced, went on holiday, and golfed. Now he can’t really live and do things alone. And as for my grandma, she died in 2006 (aged 94 – amazing!). She fell over a golf trolley years before that and never was the same again.  Like my granddad she would dance and could do things on her own but once she fell, she just couldn’t. It was awful to see her in that state and so we knew she had to go when she did. Even though I cherish the time I had with her, it would still be nice to have her around to give me a hug when I'm sad.

Failing that, I’d like to go back to dinosaur times and meet all the dinosaurs!

Sorry for the sad-ness of this post, so thanks blogging friends for reading. What would you do if you could go back in time?


Sunday 28 July 2013

Food Glorious Food [Sunday Social]

Sunday again! Although as it’s the summer holidays from school, it took me a while to realise that it was Sunday. I can see myself not knowing what day it is for the next 6 weeks. Today we’re talking about food. I love food. Nom nom nom. A quick disclaimer before we start; I cannot cook. People like to try and teach me but it’s got nowhere! When I was at university I burnt a lot of things. I once almost set my dads house on fire.

1. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I like a lot of different things. My sweet tooth is screaming chocolate right now, but I think I’d go for pasta (because that includes lasagne right?)

2. What’s your guilty pleasure/comfort food?
Chocolate. Or Ben and Jerry’s from the tub.

3. What’s the weirdest/craziest thing you’ve ever eaten?
I am not ambitious with food at all! I remember trying veal once, it was awful. That is the extent of my weird food.

4. What foods do you avoid at all costs?
I really don’t like seafood. I can handle tuna from a tin, and fish fingers, but any other fish… No thank you!

5. What meal reminds you of your childhood?
My mum used to make this pasta dish with a couple of eggs beaten in. I always had it when I was ill.

6. Share one of your favourite recipes and the story behind it.
As I said, I don’t cook so I’ve just chosen one of my favourite meals for you. It’s a dish called Pastel de Choclo (Corn Pie) and it’s something we eat in Chile. Delicious! It’s like a cottage pie but with sweetcorn instead of mash on the top.
Pastel_de_choclo
Source
You can find a recipe here (this one uses chicken, whereas we usually use minced beef).

That's all for this week. I'm off to microwave me a meal because all this food talk has made me hungry! Until next week - toodles!

Sunday Social

Saturday 27 July 2013

Essie Sleek Stick

Considering my love for all things nails, I haven’t tried nail stickers before (although I’m not great at nail art so they really are perfect for me). My only experience of nail stickers is when my friend used them and they didn’t work so well. So when I received some on my Glossybox this month I was a bit dubious at first. However as I’m going out for my birthday tomorrow night (woooo) and I wanted pretty nails without having to go to a nail salon so this was the perfect opportunity.

003

These little beauties are Essie Sleek Stick in 03 So Haute! There are twelve designs to choose from (see them here) and at first look I wouldn’t say these are my favourite, although they grew on me once I put them on; I love me some red nails! In Essie’s words they are a ‘gold spiked crimson’ with a textured finished. Essie also claims that these will last 14 days, so we'll see how that goes.

008

There are 18 sizes to choose from and with the clear back sheet it’s pretty easy to see which is the best fit for each nail. The application itself is pretty straight forward and it didn’t take long at all; once you’ve found the right size just line them up to the cuticle, press them down, and file down to size. It all takes around 5 minutes so they’re handy if you don’t have time to wait for them to dry. My one tip is to make sure you don’t stick them over your cuticle as it may start to peel. I made that mistake and had to reapply one of the stickers.

013

Thanks to these, I am definitely a nail sticker convert. I absolutely love them. They are so easy to apply but look effective. I'm really hoping that they are as long lasting as Essie claim too.  Have you tried Essie Sleek Stick yet? What other nail stickers are you a fan of?

Thursday 25 July 2013

If I Could Be Anything In the World… [52 Weeks…]

This sounds so simple to begin with but the more I thought, the more I struggled to finish the sentence. I feel like going down the career route is a little boring but right now it’s what I want to be.

I want to be an amazing SEN teacher.

From September I’ll have my very own class. I graduated from my teacher training last summer but I’ve been doing supply work for a year. As much as I am glad for this past year, and what a learning curve it has been (!), I am so excited for the year ahead. MY OWN CLASS! I’ll be in charge and they’ll be all mine! The difference is that it is an SEN class meaning I only have 7 children but they are all with special education needs. This is a completely new challenge for me. I’ve had SEN children in my classes before, but I’ve never had a class full. That being said, I am so excited to get started. I’ve been in the class a few times over the past few weeks and the kids are ecstatic too which means a lot because they don’t like change. Even my TA is looking forward to it.

So that brings me to my wish. As I said, it’s a new challenge but I am ready to take it head on. I’ve had a bit of negativity from the current teacher which has put me down a bit, but I am rising above it and I’m ready to become the best I can be. I’ll let you know how it goes!

What would you be if you could be anything?

Sunday 21 July 2013

TV Talk [Sunday Social]

Hello again. It’s Sunday which means two things this week; we’re joining Ashley and Neely, and it is only three days until the summer holidays! I cannot wait for six weeks of doing nothing.

This week we are talking about TV. I don’t know about you but I much prefer American TV to ours so I always look forward until September when all my favourites start again.

1. What was your favourite TV show as a child?
I always loved Round the Twist and watched it all the time. I also enjoyed Odyssey (which only one of my friends has seen – if you haven’t it was about a boy in a coma and he was trying to get back to reality).

Round the Twist015
Source

2. What is your current favourite TV show.
I do love Glee, it’s just so easy to watch, and Parks and Rec – everything about it is brilliant. Happy Endings was my absolute favourite so I am really gutted distraught that it’s been cancelled, I’m now not sure what to watch!

images
Source

3. Which reality show would you never do?
Big Brother. I couldn’t handle cameras on me all the time.

4. Which reality show would you love to do?
Jersey/Geordie Shore. They just do nothing but drink and fight, and it’s hilarious.

images (1)
Source

5. What is the TV personality/character that you feel is most like you?
My friend always said that I’m like Penny from Happy Endings. I can deal with that.

HappyEndingsHipster
Source

6. Which TV character would you want to date?
Marshall from HIMYM. Love that man.

Marshall-how-i-met-your-mother-2960633-1280-1024
Source

Most of my shows have been cancelled for the new season so if you have any suggestions, throw them my way! If not I’m just going to wallow in sadness at the loss of Happy Endings.

Sunday Social

Wireless Festival 2013

First of all, let me apologise for being a bad blogger over the last few days. The sun has been beaming down on England, and when you combine sun and children I am exhausted! Most nights this week I have just got home and had a “nap” (which usually is about 3 hours long). But from Wednesday it is the summer holidays so I will be a blogging machine. Yes!

Last Sunday I went to Wireless Festival, which this year had been moved to the Olympic Park; thoroughly exciting for me because I didn’t get to go during the Olympics. And my gosh it was wonderful. You never really appreciate how big the park is and the stadium itself when it was on TV. A lot of the arenas have been taken down but it was still spectacular.

001

The main reason we wanted to go to Wireless was for Jay Z and Justin Timberlake. They headlined the other to days separately but Sunday they came together for the first performance of their Legends of the Summer show. This was the fourth time I’ve seen Jay Z live, but the first of Justin Timberlake (I’ve waited since the NSYNC days to see him). The show itself was amazing, it all went by as a blur and I got so over-excited. I’m pretty sure I have never danced so much in my life and my feet punished me the next day. Highlights included – Holy Grail, Run This Town, 99 Problems, Mirror, Suit and Tie.

Rizzle Kicks:
008
013

Matt Henry (The Voice)
030

Legends of the Summer:
039
042
047
049
058
063
079

While we’re on the subject of Jay Z, I came across this website last night - 99 Problems illustrated.


This is basically a post declaring my love for Jay Z and Justin Timberlake. Oh what wonderful men!


Monday 15 July 2013

If I won the lottery… [52 Weeks]

… I would still work. Of course I work for the money, who doesn’t?! But I really enjoy it. I definitely cannot imagine a life where I didn’t work at all.

… I put some into savings. I am useless at saving money so I have to have a Direct Debit that puts a certain amount in there every month.

… I would buy me and my mum a ticket to Chile. I miss my family, and I know my mum certainly does. I’d buy us a ticket straight away and stay for as long as we could.

… I would buy things for my family. We’ve never been well off, but we’ve never been poor. I know that family don’t need the money but I’d like to buy them all something in return for what they’ve given me.

… I would buy a house. Living in London means that houses are expensive and there is no way that we can afford to buy ourselves a nice house at the moment.

… I would buy two dachshunds. I’d love two of these little cuties but they are so expensive!

I would absolutely love to win even the smallest amount of money because every little helps (as Tesco say)! But don't get me wrong, I am quite comfortable with the life that we have and love what I do for that money.

Music [Sunday Social]

I know it’s a day late for Sunday Social, but lets just close our eyes and pretend it is Sunday. If you’re joining me from Ashley or Neely today then welcome! Today we’re talking all about music. Now I love music so much… I cannot walk anywhere without headphones, if I’m doing work then I’ll have music on in the background, and you can find me at a music gig.


1. What is your all time favourite song?
This is a toughie but I am all about the power ballads. I particularly like Toto – Africa.


2. Who is your favourite singer/band?
I love McFly or Take That. But then there’s also Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, P!nk, or Arctic Monkeys. And that’s just the tip of my musical iceberg.
Source
Source

3. What song reminds you of our childhood?
Five and NSync were pretty much all I listened to when I was growing up.
Source
Source
4. What song puts you in a good mood?
If I’ve had a bad day I’ll listen to Scissor Sisters – Let’s Have a Kiki.


5. What is the music you rock out to in your car?
Unfortunately because I don’t drive I have to settle for W’s music, which is usually some sort of sports podcast… Snooze!

6. What is the most embarrassing album or song you own?
I am embarrassed by non of my music, and I do listen to some cringe things!


Stay tuned for my Wireless Festival post where I got to see the first performance of Legends of the Summer – Jay-Z and JT’s tour. It was amazing! If anyone is going to the tour then get ready for the best night of your life, I am still absolutely in awe of it!

Sunday Social

Wednesday 10 July 2013

My Biggest Weakness [52 Weeks]

Hi again. Happy Wednesday! I am a few days late on this weeks 52 Weeks of Blogging With a Purpose. Today it’s all about our biggest weaknesses. I’ve mentioned my anxiety briefly and wrote about it in Blog Every Day in May. One day soon I want to be able to sit and really write about my experience and how I am trying to overcome it, but I am struggling to get to there. Forgive me?

So yes, I am an anxiety sufferer.

I’ve not always struggled with anxiety but right at this moment it is there. I am by no means struggling with this as some other people do, and I am aware that my anxiety might be mild compared to others, but it is there. There are a few bits that come together…

I can be anxious in social situations. I’ve been known to not go out it because I didn’t feel I was wearing a nice outfit and I was worried that people would think I looked ridiculous. I also went out with some new girls from my new school recently but I got really worried and almost didn’t go. I don’t know where that worry came from but it was there.

I can be anxious in every day life. While at my previous school, I really struggled with the feeling that I wasn’t good enough even though I was working extremely hard. It got to the point I was making myself ill and not wanting to go to school and had to leave. Now I’m at my new school, that side of my has calmed down and I’m hoping it stays that way.

I am slightly obsessive. When I have a thought, or have something I need to do the next day, I will obsess over it. This can last an hour, a day, or several days. Even if I have written it down or put a reminder on my phone I still can’t shake the thought.

So that’s an overview. As I’ve said before I don’t let this anxiety define me, but it is a part of me and I know that. A lot of the above are things that I haven’t shared with friends so for me to be able to sit and type it for you is a big thing for me. If you’re still here then thank you; I really appreciate it. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and if you have anything to share then head on down below as I love to hear from you.

Now for something happy after all that gloom…

quote



Sunday 7 July 2013

Sunday Social: Holidays

Hi all! Isn’t this British sun wonderful? Even though I’m very close to melting! Today, in honour of the sun, Sunday Social this week is all about holidays.

1. What is the best trip you’ve ever been on?
I love skiing holidays. The best one was probably a trip with school to California when I was 13. We went skiing on Mount Mammoth and went to Disneyland too. It was great!

21972_224925597091_5288244_n

2. What is your best idea for a girls weekend trip?
If we had more money, I’d love to hop over to New York but that’s just not possible. So I’ll settle for Paris.

3. What is your best idea for a couples trip?
I’m not one to lie by the beach so anything where we can go exploring. In fact, we’re heading to Thailand for two weeks this summer and I cannot wait!

4. What is the best vacation on the cheap?
I went to Venice for 24 hours quite a while ago and that was really cheap. Even though it was a really short trip, it was nice to get away.

197834_7933712091_1352_n

5. What is the place you most want to visit?
I’d love to go to Australia but I’m too scared of big spiders. I’m also desperate to go back to America; ideally New York or New Orleans.

Only 5 and a half weeks til my holidays… Hurry up Thailand! Are you heading anywhere soon?

Sunday Social

Saturday 6 July 2013

June Favourites

Well it’s July already… Which means the countdown for my birthday starts – 25 days if you’re wondering. It also means it’s time for me to share my June Favourites with you. This month my favourites have been all about the face. I purchased my first brush for foundation this year, and I’m starting to venture into the world of eye shadows now (I’ve always been a tinted moisturiser and gel eyeliner kinda girl – so this is a big deal for me!).

June Faves

First is the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (available here). I researched the devil out of this as I wanted to know I had made a good choice for my first proper foundation brush… And I have! It really blends my foundation in well and gives it a flawless finish. I’ve since bought two other Real Techniques brushes (I see an addiction forming).

In line with the brush, I invested in some Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation (available here). I’m late to this as everyone has been using it forever. I started with Natural Beige which was just a tad too dark of me (but works with my holiday tan), so I got the Classic Beige to mix in and it looks great now.

MUA is a brand that is slowly building up in my collection. My newest addition is the MUA Undress Me Too Eye Palette (available here). As a whole this is great and I have used a few of them together to make a natural daytime eye, or to make a slightly stronger smoky eye for the night time.

Finally is part of my daily skincare routine (a post coming soon); Botanics Gentle Cleansing Cream All Bright and the Botanics Cleansing Toner (both available here). I use these day and night and they just clean my skin right up. I’ve never been one to suffer with spots or acne, and this helps to keep it that way.

Other things I have been loving this month are:
  • The return of Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model. Preferably minus Danni Minogue but we can’t all be happy.
  • The arrival of my friends two adorable Shit-zu/Poodle puppies. They are just little balls of fluff. I’m always too distracted to take pictures of them for you.
  • Festival season. We’ve just had Glastonbury (see my fun times here) and then next weekend we have Wireless!
  • Arctic Monkeys. I’ve rekindled my love for them after seeing them last weekend.
And that is that. June was fun, but hopefully July will be better (sun and birthdays - what else do we need?!)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...