Our (long) weekend.

December 7, 2014, 10:51 am

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We have had a lovely 3 days which have felt like a lot longer than 3 days which is always a bonus! We ventured into Sheffield on Friday for some lunch and to finish off our Christmas shopping. We spent an hour and a half in John Lewis alone, which I didn't think was physically possible, and by the time we got home we were exhausted.

Yesterday I went to the hairdressers to go blonder, as I'm stuck in a cycle of going blonder/going darker/going blonder. I am a dangerous mixture of being impatient, indecisive and having hair that grows at an extraordinary fast rate. Anyway, it is blonder and I like it, so that's that. In the evening we went to watch ice hockey (Steelers! Steelers!) at the Motorpoint Arena and took my cousin along to watch his first game, as he's at Uni in Sheffield.

Today we bought our first real Christmas tree which is huge and smells amazing. Then we hot footed it to meet my parents for lunch over near their house in Leeds. They live near an independent gift shop which sells a host of amazing things, so I popped in there to pick up a couple of things for my sister for Christmas. That means my shopping is officially done, thank goodness for that! Now the fun of wrapping can commence.

Tonight involves jam on toast, decorating the tree, watching The Inbetweeners (yes I am massively behind the times on that one!) and snuggling a couple of naughty Pugs.

Have a good night!

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Pug post - pet insurance.

December 8, 2014, 12:27 pm

≫ Next: Wedding ideas: pom poms!

≪ Previous: Our (long) weekend.

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You may remember the Pug FAQ post I did a little while ago which I hope was useful to some of you. Owning a pet is a big responsibility, it can be hard work and sometimes expensive but I hope I didn't put you off too much. I couldn't imagine life without a furry friend or two, and Pugs make the best companions.

One thing I touched on in that post was pet insurance and how much of a lifesaver it has been for us due to Lily and Lola's health problems so I thought I would elaborate a bit more on that side of things.

I would recommend taking out a policy for anybody with a pet because you just don't know what's around the corner and having something in place gives you peace of mind for the future.

Things to think about before taking out a policy:

- Pet insurance usually doesn't cover pre-existing conditions so if you're going to get it, it's better to take out a policy from the start as opposed to waiting until something goes wrong. That way there's no grey area surrounding what you can and can't claim for.

- Is the breed of your pet prone to health problems more than other breeds? If yes then take this into account when choosing your policy.
- Don't just go for the cheapest option. Weigh up the pros and cons for the different prices and, if you can afford to pay a little bit extra, go for a more comprehensive policy. 
- Some policies cover each condition up to a set price limit or a set period of time, so it's important to look out for that and bear it in mind if you think your pet may develop an illness which needs recurring treatment.

- Do you have more than one pet? Most companies offer a multi-pet discount.

- Do you have Quidco or another cash back account? Check for offers on taking out new policies!

Insurance can be paid for monthly usually at no extra cost.

Lily has had her fair share of visits to the vet. She developed an ingrowing eyelash 6 weeks after I adopted her. After weeks of visits back and forth to the vets trying eye drops I was referred to an eye specialist who charged around £100 for a ten minute consultation. Her ingrowing eyelash was diagnosed and an operation to remove it cost a further £650+. We were able to claim this back minus an excess of around £90.

A couple of months ago I found a small hard lump on Lily's leg. After going under anesthetic for an x-ray we were told it was a cyst which needed to be removed. This operation, along with the anesthetic and medication costs, came to several hundred pounds.

Lily isn't terribly good on her legs and I worry about her getting arthritis as she gets older. This is something that would be covered on our policy. Similarly Lola has a tendency to put weight on, and suffers from skin allergies. If we needed to do skin tests in the future, which can be incredibly expensive, this would be covered also.

Please think about insurance if you have a pet or you're thinking about getting a pet in the future!

(This is a collaborative post)

Wedding ideas: pom poms!

December 9, 2014, 11:41 am

≫ Next: My goals for 2015.

≪ Previous: Pug post - pet insurance.

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I am obsessed with pom poms at the moment; wrapped around presents, garlands on the fireplace, but especially any wedding related pom pom action!

We are thinking up ways to decorate our ceremony room and the mint, blush and gold pom poms below would be perfect, as that's our front runner for a colour scheme, although I do like the more subtle creams and pinks below too.

I think they would look lovely in the barn for our ceremony but also equally as nice over our dessert table like the photos below.

Also, pom pom confetti? Amazing!

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My goals for 2015.

December 10, 2014, 12:10 pm

≫ Next: Life lately.

≪ Previous: Wedding ideas: pom poms!

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♥ Embrace turning 30 but only looking 12. Celebrate with friends and family. Be thankful that my wrinkles are still very much in their early stages. Make my 30s a million times better than my 20s.

♥ Find a workout routine and healthy eating balance that works and stick to it

♥ Plan a wedding and a honeymoon without losing my marbles or becoming estranged from complaining guests

♥ Be more consistent with my blog - publish an update at least once a week

♥ Do more good deeds

♥ Never spend an entire day in the house

♥ Remember birthdays

♥ Be more assertive

♥ Get to grips with my camera

♥ Be more creative

♥  Stop trying to do everything at once. Meditate. Relax. Take care of myself. And enjoy life!

Life lately.

December 11, 2014, 12:23 pm

≫ Next: Harrods Christmas shop.

≪ Previous: My goals for 2015.

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1. Giving up on my trusty iPhone 4, which was becoming uncooperative, and upgrading to a super duper iPhone 6 in gold. It's nice to have a phone that responds straight away and I can finally take decent photos instead of very grainy ones through the scratched camera on my old one.

2. Discovering The Inbetweeners (which I must admit I poo-pooed the first time round) and finding it hilarious.

3. Making Jonathan watch Drifters, which is like a girls version of The Inbetweeners. So funny!

4. Buying a real tree for our home the first time which is so much nicer than a fake one. I love the smell of our front room (less Pug, more pine needles!) and our higgledy-piggledy baubles which we have been collecting together for the past few years. I popped to Paperchase yesterday and added a few more to the collection. I love our Liberty of London Pug which was a present from my sister one Christmas.

5. Trawling the shops for an outfit to wear on a night out this Friday. I'm sure I hit 29 and developed the inability to find suitable clothes because I seem to be in this predicament every time I have an occasion on the horizon! Nothing like a bit of panic buying the night before (gets ready to go to Meadowhall)...

6. Buying Rich Tea's (because they're a 'healthy' biscuit) but covering them in Nutella.

7. Experimenting with styling my short hair and adding more tongs to my collection (somebody stop me buying hair products, please!)

8. Having a catch up with my parents over lunch. Lots of wedding talk and making plans for Christmas.

9. Having 2 solid weeks of working out consistently and discovering stomach muscles! Thanks Fitness Blender :)

10. Lionel Richie lols with my friends at the office.

Harrods Christmas shop.

December 12, 2014, 4:51 am

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Buying a real tree this year has made me obsessed with finding pretty new baubles and this foursome from Harrods are no exception.

As far as Christmas decorations go they are pretty special. Hand decorated and covered in Swarovski stones they are the perfect piece of bling for any tree! The white colour are out of stock but they also come in green (link!) which I love too.

Our tree is a mish mash of all different styles, shapes and sizes. Presents from friends, keepsakes, things we have picked up from all over the world, with a few twinkly lights to finish it off. I am so pleased with how it looks this year.

Swarovski Christmas decorations c/o Harrods

I will definitely be paying Harrods a visit next year as they have so many lovely things in their Christmas shop. I have been coveting this embroidered reindeer, embellished ice cream decoration, vintage bottle decoration, and 2014 Christmas door ornament.

Is there anything that takes your fancy?

Life lately.

February 19, 2015, 12:37 pm

≫ Next: Happiness is...

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This post has taken me two months to write. Two months of difficult decisions, heartache, tears, new chapters, new friends, a house move, and lots of pizza/chocolate/alcohol. Some of you noticed that my blog went offline (thanks for the tweets, emails, etc ladies!) and some people have figured out something is wrong from my less-than-happy posts on Twitter and Instagram. It really means a lot to know I have so many lovely friends out there.

 

I have found it too painful to write this up until now. It's extremely difficult to sit here writing it even now, but I miss my blog terribly and need to somehow find a way to bring it back into my life. I like my blog to be a happy place but I can't carry on as 'normal' without a small explanation, and I guess sometimes life isn't always sunshine and rainbows. Life right now is extremely hard, and the only thing I can do is take each day at a time, but I hope one day things will seem positive again and the pages of Lily loves Lola will be positive too.

Jonathan and I broke up a couple of months ago. As you know we were engaged and had set our wedding date, for 4 months from now. I don't really want to go into too many details as I'm sure you can imagine how tough it has been. Jonathan was my best friend and I miss him dearly, and always will.

 

I have moved to Sheffield to live with a friend (and her two cats!) who I couldn't have got through the last two months without. She has been amazing! Lily and Lola are here too now, after a short stay with my parents just while I got myself settled into my new routine.

 

I was going to share a few photos of what I have been up to lately but it almost feels wrong to share that just now, so I will let the words do the talking just this once.

 

Happiness is...

February 25, 2015, 12:18 am

≫ Next: March goals.

≪ Previous: Life lately.

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- coming home from work and having two little dogs waiting for me, who don't judge if I've had a bad day and I want to have pizza and chips and wine in vast quantities.

- Nutella on toast for breakfast any meal of the day.

- finding out that you're going to be an Auntie (and a rather fabulous Auntie I must add!)

- watching back to back episodes of the American Office with a friend who loves Dwight Shrute as much as you do.

- receiving kind emails, Tweets and Instagram messages from you all.

- writing a to-do list for the day and achieving every single thing.

- leaving the hairdressers and being happy with the colour (hello ombre / goodbye thin strip of dark roots 2 minutes after getting blonde highlights!)

- chocolate from the American sweet shop.

- sitting down with a cup of coffee and catching up on blog reading.

- buying candles.

Borrowed from Gemma

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March goals.

February 28, 2015, 7:43 am

≫ Next: 5 good things.

≪ Previous: Happiness is...

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With the majority of February being a bit of a disaster I thought I would set some goals for March to keep me motivated. There are so many things I want to do this year and I think it's a sensible idea to write them down, month by month.

What have you all got planned for the month of March?

- Go to the gym at least 4 times per week for the whole month. I really like being at the gym and the way it makes me feel while I'm there (and afterwards), but it's all too easy to find excuses not to go. I also really want to try a TRX Suspension class. Hopefully now that I've moved house and got into a routine with the dogs (and have a willing dogsitter/housemate) I can make more time for it. I have tendonitis in my left wrist which is frustratingly stopping me from doing a lot of arm and ab moves but I am determined to work around that as best as I can.

- Come up with a design for my tattoo. I really like arrows (signifying being pulled back and launched into a new direction) and lotus flowers (blossoming in muddy waters) and I quite like placements on the side of the ribs.

- Do something once a week that scares me such as arranging drinks with an old friend, attending a social event (blogging, work or otherwise) or trying out a new hobby. Last weekend I did something super scary (with a small push from my housemate) and I felt so good afterwards.

- Learn how to cook three new healthy meals with the help of my current cookbook collection and a new addition from foodie blogger/vlogger Ella which popped through my letterbox last week. I also want to try some of Ella's healthy dessert recipes to keep stashed in the cupboard/fridge as an alternative to chocolate and biscuits.

- Go "phone free" when I get into bed a couple of nights a week and reach for a good book instead.

5 good things.

March 3, 2015, 12:29 pm

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≪ Previous: March goals.

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I love writing these "5 good things" posts as they're a good way to keep a bit of positivity in your day. I have started writing a list in my phone 'notes' each night of "joyful things" - they can be silly little things really but they all add up and make things seem alright. Does anyone else do anything similar? Tonight I am particularly happy that I didn't eat any chocolate after my dinner and that I had a really good workout after work.

Here are my 5 good things:

1. Buying new perfume. I am running low on 'best' perfume and I am partial to spritzing myself with YSL Black Opium whenever I pop to Boots, so on Sunday I took the plunge and treated myself to a teeny bottle. I had a £5 off voucher and it was triple points so that seemed like a good sign to me! This smells so good. Notes of black coffee, white florals and vanilla apparently! Have a spray next time you're passing the perfume counter. I bet you'll love it!

2. After 3 weeks of pain and swelling with tendonitis in my left wrist it finally feels like it is getting better. It feels strange to have a fully functioning hand again!

3. Feeling settled in my new home with my new routine. It has been a steep learning curve learning how to look after myself. Yes I'm 30 years old and have always had someone looking after me, so having to do my own washing, food shopping, cleaning and finances is scary and stressful but very liberating! I have also managed to move past having beans on toast every day to trying more advanced dishes (ahem, pasta sauce in a jar ;))

4. Reconnecting with an old friend. Sometimes you lose touch with people who you were once super close to, and through a not-so-nice turn of events you get back in touch with each other and catch up as though no time has passed at all. 2015 seems to be the year for hearing from old friends for sure, and it feels pretty great!

5. Discovering that Ben & Jerry's do a peanut butter flavour icecream with whole peanut butter cups in it. I mean, Jesus Christ, how is a girl supposed to stay a size 10 with that around?!

 

Skydiving for Rain Rescue!

March 7, 2015, 1:36 am

≫ Next: Life lately.

≪ Previous: 5 good things.

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One of my March goals is to do one scary thing a week. If you're going to do something then you may as well do it properly and my first week of March has involved doing a few new scary things, one of which was booking my skydive!

 

I have wanted to do a skydive for quite a while now and I always knew I wanted to do it for Rain Rescue, so when I nominated them for my employers "charity of the year 2015" and they won the vote I knew I had to bite the bullet and do it this year!

 

On the 18 April I will be making the hours drive to the skydive centre to freefall for up to 1 minute from 15,000ft (excuse me while I go and throw up).

 

I am asking my blog readers to consider sponsoring me for this huge challenge. All of the money raised will go to Rain Rescue who are a South Yorkshire animal charity who rescue cats and dogs from shelters where they're usually about to be put to sleep, and rehome them. They also take on abuse cases, nurse them back to health and place them in lovely new homes.

 

Read more about Rain Rescue here!

Visit my Just Giving page to sponsor me here!

 

Thank you so much in advance for anybody who either sponsors me or visits Rain Rescue's website and helps to spread the word about their amazing work in any way.

Life lately.

March 14, 2015, 3:31 am

≫ Next: Saturday stroll: Meersbrook Park.

≪ Previous: Skydiving for Rain Rescue!

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Moving house.
A month ago I moved from Rotherham to Sheffield into my friends spare room. Lily and Lola went to stay with my parents for a couple of weeks while I got settled but they have joined me now. I already feel really settled in my new place and I'm enjoying exploring a new area.

Turning 30.
On the 3rd of February I celebrated(?) my 30th birthday which I was kind of dreading but it turned out to be one of the best days ever. More on that in another blog post though!

A night (or two ten) on the tiles.
I have been out and about a fair bit which feels great. When I was in a relationship I never felt like I couldn't go out and do things but my priorities were different and staying in/working around someone elses schedule made me happy enough. Now I have to make my own fun and I've been enjoying going out round Sheffield although there have been a few sore heads along the way (tequila on a Tuesday night is not the one).

A particular highlight was my employers "annual dinner" which my friends in Marketing and I organised which was a great success, and rather messy!

Working hard.
I am enjoying my job more than ever, especially as it provides some much needed stability when the rest of my life has been falling apart! I am coming up to my 2 year work anniversary and recently started my 'Diploma in HR Practice', receiving some really positive praise on my first assignment.

New hair!
I was fed up of having permanent roots (#naturalbrunetteproblems) so I decided to darken up my roots to go for the ombre look, only about two years late to the party on that one! I'm definitely going to get a darker root next time and bring it down a bit further but for now I'm really happy with the colour and finally have the shade of blonde that I like (it's quite hard to capture it accurately in a photo though). Totally recommend Megan at The Hairband on Eccy Road (Sheffield) if you're on the lookout for someone really good!

Poppy and Dotty.
Moving into a new home comes with two new ladies in my life; Poppy and Dotty the cats! They are still wary of Lily and Lola (who can blame them!) but most of the time they're happy plodding around doing their own thing and come into my room for cuddles occasionally which is rather nice.

Acquiring an injury.
Moving house came with its negatives, one being a rather nasty injury to my left hand/wrist. I thought it was a sprain so I iced it and rested it but after a few weeks of showing no sign of getting better I made my way to the minor injuries centre where I was diagnosed with tendonitis. I wouldn't wish it on anybody. I was in a world of pain! But a couple of weeks of wearing a splint and taking anti-inflammatory tablets and it is (touch wood) pretty much back to normal. Hello normal functioning hand! How I have missed you.

Food.
Lots of it. Mainly burgers..

Gym time.
After being a "working out at home" kind of girl for quite some time I joined a gym near my work and, on a good week, go quite often. I enjoy the time away from everything else and working up a good sweat.

Doggy problems.
Lola had to have an operation last week to remove some stones from her bladder. She was initially treated for a bladder infection but after the antibiotics didn't work a bladder scan highlighted the real problem. I didn't half worry when she was under anaesthetic and when I got her home it was so sad to see her in pain and so unlike her normal hyperactive self, but she is on the mend now and I am rejoicing in the fact I have pet insurance!

I think that just about sums it all up. I think I must be due some good luck soon, don't you think??!

Saturday stroll: Meersbrook Park.

March 21, 2015, 10:59 am

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≪ Previous: Life lately.

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On a Saturday afternoon I always get a bit of a slump where I feel sluggish and tired (probably something to do with being woken up by the dogs so damn early and the effects of my morning coffees wearing off) and this usually results in a nap. Today after having a little snooze on the sofa I decided to put my trainers on, grab my camera and pop some headphones in and make the most of the light and dry weather.

 

As I live smack-bang next to Meersbrook Park this seemed like the obvious choice so that's exactly where I went. I had a nosy at Bishop's House, which I will go inside at some point, which has been standing since the Fifteenth (!) century. I had a wander round the park and through the trees, looked up at the sky, took some deep breaths and climbed some particularly steep hills to make my way back home.

 

 

I only walked for just under 2 miles but I felt so good afterwards and managed to get a few good photos out of it. Sometimes a bit of fresh air can do us the world of good can't it? Lately there have been days where I feel sad or lonely but a good friend told me going for a walk and looking up at the sky can solve a multitude of problems, and she was right!

Sadly Lily and Lola's little legs can't keep up on long walks like this so for now it's just me and my Spotify playlists.

Where do you go when you need some headspace?

 
 

Recent beauty buys.

March 27, 2015, 1:44 pm

≫ Next: The Salon, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.

≪ Previous: Saturday stroll: Meersbrook Park.

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Blue Corn 3 in 1 Deep Cleansing Mask
I can't remember where I heard about this mask but I heard good things so off I popped to The Body Shop to pick up a pot. I absolutely LOVE this mask. I've used it a few times and each time my skin is left feeling SO clean and smooth. I will definitely repurchase this, it's perfect for my oily skin. It takes a bit of elbow grease to shift it as it dries quite hard, and I like to apply quite a heavy layer, but that works in my favour as it means extra exfoliation!

Botanics Radiant Youth Microdermabrasion Polish

I needed a new face scrub and picked this Botanics number purely because it was half price. I am on the fence with this one at the moment. I definitely need a few more uses before I decide whether I like it or not. Initial uses have been good but I can't say my skin has looked more 'radiant' or less dull. In terms of an exfoliation product I would rather increase the usage of my favourite face mask (see above) than continue to use this, but I don't like to waste anything so I will give it another shot.

RapidBrow Eyebrow Enhancing Serum

I have been going to the same eyebrow lady for quite a while now and with a lot of patience I managed to grow my brows into a shape and thickness that I was happy with. As I've moved from Rotherham I recently "cheated" on her and went somewhere new which resulted in much thinner brows with too much of an arch and I am really not happy with them now.

 

I am full of hope that this serum will work wonders and I can pay my old brow lady a visit. The reviews are mainly very positive so I'm intrigued as to what it will do for me. I plan to do a separate blog post about this product so watch this space..

Another couple of products worth a mention, which aren't as exciting as the others but a necessity all the same, are the dry shampoo and deodorant pictured above. I don't get on with dry shampoo at all but I've been using the COLAB"Rio" spray which I rather like. I think I would repurchase this but try one of the other scents.

The Sanex deodorant was a random purchase as I thought it was on special offer (it wasn't) but it turns out it's amazing. Sometimes when I wear certain material on my top half my deodorant lets me down but this stuff is brilliant! It has a lovely scent and it has never let me down yet. I'll definitely buy this again and stock up when it is actually on special offer.

Paul Mitchell 'Forever Blonde' shampoo and conditioner

I can't rave about this shampoo and conditioner set enough! I picked it up from my salon after one of the hairdressers recommended it to me and I am a fan for life now. It leaves my hair feeling silky soft, even after colouring when it usually goes a bit dry for the first few days, and it really keeps my blonde looking fresher for longer.

 

Star buy!!

YSL Black Opium perfume

I definitely didn't need a new perfume but sometimes you've just got to treat yourself, you know? This smells delicious and the bottle is rather dashing. Notes of black coffee, white florals and vanilla if you're interested!

Nivea "Smooth Nourishing" hand cream

My hands are desperately dry, especially in the colder months, and I get through hand cream like hot dinners! I thought I'd try a new one and I have not been disappointed with this Nivea number. It doesn't leave any greasy residue behind, like some of the other rich hand creams do, it smells lovely and fresh and it moisturises all the ugly dry patches of skin on my hands superbly.

I will definitely pop another one of these in my basket next time I'm in Boots.
 

 

The Salon, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.

March 29, 2015, 9:52 am

≫ Next: Cake on a cake, sleepy Pugs and family time.

≪ Previous: Recent beauty buys.

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When The Salon opened round the corner from where I work I was rather ecstatic, as were the girls that I work with. With its rustic, shabby-chic décor, extremely friendly therapists and range of treatments on offer (they were one of the only places I could find that did microdermabrasion facials) they were a breath of fresh air amongst the other not-so-lovely salons to choose from in the city centre.

We were sad to hear when The Salon announced their plans to move. No more lunchbreak gel nails or after work facials BUT they haven't moved far, and now that I'm living in Sheffield the new location is really handy for weekend or evening visits.

Last week they had a launch party at their new location (at the top of Ecclesall Road near the Banner Cross pub and a host of other lovely independent businesses) and I popped along with a couple of friends from work.

We were greeted with prosecco, brownies and cupcakes (never a bad thing!) and a really warm welcome from Julie and Emily who run the salon. We had a nosy round the treatment rooms which are absolutely stunning! Think wooden floors, beautiful fireplaces, dark walls, ornate mirrors, and a very warm and relaxing atmosphere. We also marvelled at the "nail shed" which is the cosy corner you visit to get your nails painted. They do nail art too! If you're partial to pretty nails have a nosy at the photo section on their Facebook page where they post photos of their handiwork.

After booking ourselves in for treatments, eating our bodyweight in brownies and having a good chin wag in the lovely waiting area we left to go and get a bite to eat.

I can't recommend The Salon enough! I promise you won't be disappointed - it's so different to anywhere else and you really do get a great experience from the moment you walk through the door. Tell them Victoria from Lily loves Lola sent you if you go! :)

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Cake on a cake, sleepy Pugs and family time.

April 1, 2015, 12:21 pm

≫ Next: The art of getting by.

≪ Previous: The Salon, Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.

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Last weekend I went to stay with my folks for the whole weekend in Leeds and it was JUST what I needed. A bit of lazy time, a catch up with my mum and lots of comfort eating!

 

We went for lunch in Headingley on the Saturday and had a nosy round the shops. It has changed so much since I was last there. I had heard of Love Rouge Bakery beforehand so I knew I would have to stop by to pick up a couple of cupcakes (one battenburg, one lemon. Mine (the battenburg) was delicious!) I also had lots of fun trying on some vintage delights in the Sue Ryder charity shop. If I lived locally I imagine I would be in there rather a lot.

 

My parents have got 3 dogs so it's always nice to take them out along the canal with Lily and Lola in tow. Lily and Lola ADORE my mum and it's cute, if a little bit annoying, that they do everything possible to walk alongside my mum even when I'm holding their leads. I do feel a bit offended but it's nice to have a break from having two shadows following me round for a couple of days.

 

A visit to see my parents wouldn't be complete without a roast dinner with all the trimmings and lots and lots of cups of tea.


The art of getting by.

April 3, 2015, 12:08 pm

≫ Next: Banana, Cinnamon and Almond crumble.

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Somebody recently left a comment on my blog saying I looked happy in a photo and it really stuck with me. It's funny isn't it, how we can project an image to show things in a certain way. That photo is probably one of the only times I have smiled in the past week. I'm far from happy, in fact I'm very, very sad. Quite a lot of the time. (If you're new around here this post explains why. I promise I'm not always so dreary!)

 

Breaking up is hard and the world can seem pretty shitty, especially when 4 months later you're not even sure it was the right thing to do. I hate change, and for the past few months everything has been changing, so I've never been further out of my comfort zone. I'm sure there are lots of you out there going through something similar so promise me you'll get in touch and we can go through it together? My ears are always open for some quality advice and a push in the right direction.

 

Here is my attempt at advice which I hope, if you need it, is useful.

 


- Spend time with people who make you happy. I don't have a big group of friends but it's quality over quantity right? Jonathan and I spent over 4 years together and in that time his friends (and their girlfriends) became my friends too, which is sadly not the case anymore. Starting over again is tough and not having a big friendship circle means I often feel lonely but it makes me more appreciative of the fun times I have with my true friends.

- Make sure you have things to look forward to. I just booked a flight to visit my sister on the Isle of Man for the end of May which gives me a little countdown and something to focus on. Sometimes I look to the future and it seems a bit bleak so it's nice to have a long weekend away on the horizon.

 

- Remind yourself of all the good. This year I'm going to be an auntie which is rather exciting. I'm doing well with my HR course and got amazing feedback on my first module. Lily and Lola are in good health and keep me company - they give great cuddles! I have a wonderful housemate who cheers me up when I'm down and buys me orange chocolate when I'm upset. My parents are only an hour and a half away or on the end of the phone if I need a chat. I have fully functioning limbs and my own teeth and a good head of hair. See - things aren't always as bad as you think!

- Try to enjoy your own company. I am the worst at doing this because right now I don't really like myself that much but I am getting better at being on my own (well, with two fluffy shadows in tow). Things that help: long hot soaks in a bubble bath, reading a book, climbing into bed with fresh sheets and listening to relaxing music, popping Netflix on and binge watching a series, walking to the park with your camera and trying to spot a good photo, writing blog posts, cooking/baking new recipes, and working out.

- Remember that Lily and Lola need walkies and fresh air just as much as me, so although it seems nice to stay indoors in dirty jogging bottoms and a hoodie, watching Netflix and eating cheesecake, that probably isn't going to make me feel as good as interacting with the real world. Although there are some days where Netflix and cheesecake are perfectly acceptable activities and there's no need to feel bad for it.

- Distraction is good, as long as you don't use it as a mask to delay the feelings you need to feel in order to get over the breakup.

 

- Push yourself, when it feels right to do so. I have done lots of scary things over the past few months and, even though I always tried to back out at the last minute, I would always be proud of myself afterwards for doing them.

 

- Don't go looking for new love. You won't be ready, trust me on that one!

 

Banana, Cinnamon and Almond crumble.

April 5, 2015, 3:09 am

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Yesterday I had a bash at making one of Deliciously Ella's crumbles (recipe here!) because I had all of the ingredients to hand, bar the nuts which I popped out to get, and because I was craving dessert in a big way. I LOVE crumble so I wasn't sure how a healthy version would turn out but I was really impressed.

 

It was really easy to make the crumble topping and the base is just chopped bananas with cinnamon sprinkled over the top. The recipe stated 5 bananas but I stopped after 4 because it looked enough, but I definitely should have added that last one to give a better base/topping ratio. It took a little longer to cook than the 20 minutes stated and the topping didn't go as brown as I wanted but I was really impressed with my first attempt.

 

 

I had a taste straight away (because I'm impatient) then another taste after it had cooled and it was definitely better the second time. It held together better and all the flavours came through. I loved the taste of the coconut oil coming through.

 

It's hard to believe there's nothing naughty in it!

 

 

It's a perfect "normal" crumble substitute and I would definitely make it again because it's so easy. I had some with cream and some with custard because I couldn't figure out a healthy topping and you can't have crumble on its own. There's some sort of law against that kind of thing :)

 

Happy Easter everyone! x

 

 

5 good things.

April 12, 2015, 1:38 am

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1. Douwe Egberts vanilla coffee. I used to be a tea drinker and had a coffee once in a blue moon but just before Christmas I wasn't sleeping properly and I turned to coffee to power me through my working days. Now I am addicted! The last thing I needed was to find these amazing pots of coffee (£3 for the teeniest jar) but when I saw the advert I knew I had to try it. It is seriously so good. I don't think I can go back to regular coffee now! I plan to pick up the other 3 flavours asap!

 

2. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. I finished off the series recentky and it has become a firm favourite. I am really looking forward to more episodes. Someone on IMDB describes it as "a delightful and heartwarming light dramedy" which I think sums it up perfectly.

 

3. Discovering the Spotify app. I am embarrassingly behind the times but I downloaded it recently and have discovered so much great music. It's great for the gym too as I was getting so fed up of listening to the same songs over and over. Now I have ready made playlists for literally any kind of occasion. Winner!

 

4. I have raised over £580 for my skydive, all of which will go to Rain Rescue. I really hope to reach £650 in the next week. I would be over the moon! 

5. Getting back into cross stitching by stitching this little house keyring for my parents. I just need to find an awesome pattern to kick start my love for it again. I have lots of time on my hands now and I could do with something to keep my mind and hands busy.

Jameson's Cafe & Tea Rooms - Sheffield.

April 15, 2015, 1:46 pm

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Last Saturday my friend and I visited Jameson's Café & Tea Rooms in Sheffield, somewhere I heard about a while ago and had been dying to visit. The words "afternoon tea" and "cake tapas" are music to my ears so I was really excited to visit for some tasty treats.

 

We planned to get the standard afternoon tea but my friend had the "Now Then" app which meant we could get the slightly fancier "splendid" afternoon tea for the same price as the standard one - result! This meant better sandwich fillings, lemon curd with our scones and jam/cream, a "posh pop" soft drink and some chocolates.

The selection of cakes was huge! I tend to panic when given lots of choice so I opted for the raspberry and white chocolate cake and my friend went for the Malteser cake, but I definitely missed a trick and wish I had tried the Pimms cake. Alcohol + cake = two of my favourite things!

We were incredibly full by the end. Top buttons were undone and everything. We both agreed we would go back for the cake tapas or another afternoon tea. I would quite like to get the option that comes with Prosecco next time. Why the hell not! :)