Life lately (skydiving, scoffing and an extra stone...)

May 17, 2015, 12:39 pm

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It has been a couple of months since my last "life lately" post (click here to have a read) so I thought it was about time I updated you on what I have been up to. A lot can happen in 2 months. There have been ups and downs, highs and lows, weight loss and weight gain (oops). I'm hoping the next 2 months are a bit more settled but with another house move looming I'm not sure it will be. Keeps things more exciting though I suppose!

Skydive

A month ago I did a skydive for a charity called Rain Rescue and it was an absolutely incredible experience. When I went up in the plane I thought I was going to throw up, I can't put into words how nervous and scared I felt, but the jump itself was amazing. After screaming for a few seconds on the freefall I took some deep breaths and the falling actually became quite peaceful. I was able to have a good look around and enjoy it! My instructor really looked after me and we have since become friends so I hope to go back again soon to do another.

 

 

Dating
 

I have entered the world of dating and boy is it hard work. I'm sure it wasn't like this last time I was single?! I have met all sorts of weird and wonderful people (mostly just weird) and all I have established so far is what I don't want and that I am probably not going to find Mr Right until I'm happy in my own skin, which is going to take a little more time. Luckily I have a lovely housemate who looks after me when things go t*ts up.

 

 

Amber the cat
 

My parents recently adopted a cat called Amber who is the most beautiful thing. Can you believe she was in a rescue centre? Madness! She is very sweet and likes being cuddled, which is a good thing really because the first time I met her I couldn't stop cuddling her. She is so fluffy! That face ♥

 

 

Experimenting in the kitchen

 

I have acquired a stone in weight over the past few months and it might have something to do with all the endless scoffing of my kitchen experiments. I have been obsessed with trying Deliciously Ella recipes and have been even more obsessed with eating them. I am going to do blog posts about the things I have made so far, which have all been delicious. But I think a break from anything food related is on the agenda until I can fit back into all my clothes again!

 

 

Working out how to be okay on my own

I have been trying to have lots of "me" time to get to grips with my own company. My housemate has been away quite a bit recently and I easily slip into feeling lonely but I am slowly getting there. I dug out my adult colouring book and my felt tip pens yesterday and it is amazing how relaxing it is colouring in flowers! Haha! It helps me to focus and clear my mind for a little while.

 

I am also going to be better at blogging. Promise!

 

 

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Deliciously Ella: pea and spinach pesto pasta.

May 20, 2015, 1:11 pm

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I have been experimenting in the kitchen a lot recently and one dish which has made a recurring appearance is the pea and spinach pesto pasta by Deliciously Ella (recipe here!)

It's so easy to make and that's coming from someone who used to be fairly hopeless at making meals. I halve the recipe and make two servings which means I get the leftovers the next day. I found brown rice pasta in my local Waitrose and it has replaced white or wholemeal pasta for me. I like the taste and texture and it's wheat free so it's a no brainer! The pesto can be whipped up in seconds and is delicious - really thick and creamy.

It's not something I make too regularly as pine nuts are quite expensive for a teeny tiny bag, but it's definitely a firm favourite. It feels like comfort food but it's all vegan and healthy. Winner!

I have a lot more foodie posts coming up so keep your eyes peeled for those! Now I'm well and truly starving and craving pasta at 9pm.... oops!

 

Isle of Man May/June 2015 - the Instagrams.

June 4, 2015, 1:34 pm

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I just returned from a 5 day trip to stay with my sister and brother in law in Peel, on the Isle of Man where they have lived for the last few years. My sister is pregnant so it was great to see her and the bump and it was just what I needed to recharge my batteries. It's amazing what a few days off work, lots of fresh air, coffee and cake, shopping, oh and a nose piercing(!) can do.

 

Just a short stroll from their house is the beach and some amazing views out to sea so every day we took a long walk with their dogs, Snowy and Peanut. I tested out some local ice cream on one of the strolls and fell in love with the Turkish Delight flavour. SO good!

 

My sister and I visited the Rest Home for Old Horses and Donkeys and made a few friends by feeding some of the friendly/curious ones. Our favourite was a particularly old chap who hobbled over to us to see what all the fuss was about. We had planned to go to the cat sanctuary too but it was closed so we'll save that for my next trip which will hopefully be in a month or two!

  

Deliciously Ella: raw coconut and cacao bites.

June 7, 2015, 10:56 am

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Another day, another Deliciously Ella recipe! I had a mad spree a few weeks ago, trying out lots of her evening meal recipes and some sweet treats too. These raw coconut and cacao bites were super easy to make and I will definitely give them another whirl.

This batch were a tad dry but I think I know where I went wrong; I'm not sure that I used enough coconut oil to bind them together so I can fix that for next time. They're also quite moreish so perhaps if you make them try to exercise more self-control than I've got! They're a handy treat to pop in the fridge and have as an easy snack when you want something sweet.

I adore anything coconutty so these were always going to be a winner for me!

Have you ever tried making anything like this? Any good coconut recipes you can share with me?

 

5 good things.

June 19, 2015, 9:58 am

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It has been a couple of months since my last"5 good things" so it's about time I put another list together. I managed to survive last Saturday (aka the would-be-wedding day), my hangover has just about worn off from spending the day (and night) in the pub with friends, and after a pretty rough week I am ready to look forwards and stop looking back. Here goes!

1) I reached 4000 subscribers on Bloglovin' which I am pretty damn happy about.

2) Orange is the New Black is back and I plan to binge-watch as many episodes as I can over the weekend.

3) I have said it before and I will say it again, I LOVE Bath & Body Works candles. Having one or two around the house is always guaranteed to make me happy (plus it cancels out Puggy smells rather well).

My sister went to Dubai recently and brought some goodies back for me. The scents are so strong and they burn down evenly - I can't stand wasted wax! The Watermelon Lemonade is a firm favourite but the Cinnamon Sugared Doughnut is a lovely sweet scent which isn't sickly at all. It makes my bedroom smell like a bakery - not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing! I am constantly craving doughnuts but what's new there! :)

 

4) Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Just because.

5) Having a spring clean and finding things to keep my hands and mind occupied like all my craft supplies and my adult colouring book. The one I have is by Johanna Basford - Secret Garden - but I would love to get my hands on a book full of mandala patterns. Although I fear I would become obsessed and get nothing else done!

 

Now all I need to do is learn to colour in the lines...





Book giveaway: Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig.

June 21, 2015, 9:04 am

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I recently finished a book which I thought was pretty fan-bloody-tastic so I picked up another copy to run a little giveaway with you lovely lot.

It's called Reasons to Stay Alive which is the story of Matt Haig's depression and how he got through it. It has been incredibly helpful to me (and the friends who have bought it on my recommendation) and it has given me lots of hope and ideas for my future. The reviews speak for themselves; it really is a must-read!

All I ask is that you leave a comment below telling me how you cope with depression, whether it's your own or that of a friend, partner, family member. That way there will be ideas and help for anyone out there who needs it (me included!) in the comments section. Then I will pick one person to win the book and a few other little bits and bobs. If there are lots of entries I may pick another couple of winners - watch this space on that one!

Leave your comment on this post before midnight on Sunday 28 June 2015 ensuring there is a way for me to contact you if you win, and make sure you check back to read the other comments.

P.S. This is open to anyone, not just UK peeps.

 

 

Life lately.

July 19, 2015, 6:34 am

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Life has taken a dramatic turn since my last update. I guess a lot can happen in a month! After a phone call with my sister where she told me to stop giving myself such a hard time I changed my attitude a bit then whaddyaknow, bit by bit my luck came in and, although my life is by no means perfect, it's pretty damn good right now!

Where to start...

After finding myself single at 30 with no single friends I dabbled with online dating for a little while which turned out to be a disaster but it did wonders for my confidence, which is a good thing because that meant when my old manager asked if she could set me up with (hang on let me get this right) her husband's brother's wife's brother I decided to go for it. By this point I was a bit of a first date pro and thought I had nothing to lose!

I didn't really know what to expect but I knew the second I saw him he would turn out to be pretty special, and boy was I right! I am going to keep him to myself a little bit longer as it's still early days, but I'm sure you'll see him gracing the pages of LLL in the not too distant future. It's fair to say I am one happy chappy right now!

After searching high and low for a place to live that would accept dogs I finally found somewhere. It's not perfect by any means but it's in a nice area and it's just the right size for me and Lily and Lola. So after 6 months of living with my friend it's time to move on. I get my keys on Saturday which is very exciting but also a tad terrifying! I have only lived on my own once before and I can't say I'm looking forward to sorting all the bills and things, but I am excited at the prospect of trips to Dunelm Mill and Ikea!

Lily and Lola are turning into little old ladies, getting very grey and very slow, which breaks my heart every day. As much as they make me crazy waking me up at 6am and terrorising the neighbourhood by barking at everyone and everything, I can't imagine my life without them. I've had 7 1/2 years with them so they've always been the one constant in my life when other things have been up and down.

I'm looking forward to getting them settled into their new home which is still fairly close to Meersbrook Park, so they will be pleased that they can continue their reign of terror.

I've been making the most of living next to a park and recently got back into jogging again. I gave up on it last time because I either ended up having a panic attack, shin splints or horrendous stomach ache/sickness, but something is different this time. I go first thing on a morning, every other day if I can, and instead of using apps to build it up I just set off and run for as long as I can.

I have always wanted to be able to run 5k non stop but I thought it would never happen in a million years. Well, after a couple of weeks of this new routine I ran 5k non stop! Then a week later I managed 6k non stop! I'm over the moon because, touch wood, I seem to have my breathing under control and my stomach hasn't been giving me any trouble. Next goal, 10k!

Weekend shenanigans (and 5 good things!)

August 17, 2015, 1:51 pm

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Monday's are always a bit rubbish after a really great weekend aren't they? That's why I reckon a 5 good things post will cheer me right up, and a quick flick through some of the photos I took on Saturday evening and Sunday.

On Saturday, after an epic Insanity workout, my friend and I went to the cinema to watch Trainwreck (pretty funny first half, good ending!) and had a good catch up over a cuppa. Later that evening my boyfriend and I (meet Paul everyone!) went out for dinner and a few drinks before swinging by Tesco on the way home, as you do, for a family sized sticky toffee pudding and a cosy night on the sofa.

Yesterday we took Lily and Lola to the Longshaw Estate for a stroll. Lily and Lola did so well and managed to walk a pretty long way, got fussed by everyone and made friends with a couple of little Chihuahua's. They were on their best behaviour for once. They might have been too tired to do their usual terrorising :)

Most things are pretty rosy at the moment but I have picked out 5 biggies:

1) 8 weeks with this one. I didn't think I would find love again (ever the pessimist) but life has a funny way of falling into place when you least expect it. The past 2 months have been bloody wonderful and I have to pinch myself sometimes to believe it's real!

2) Booking a little holiday for the end of September. I am so ready for some sunshine, relaxation and all inclusive food and drink. Cocktails by the pool, yes please!

3) Urban 1/4, Kelham Island (Sheffield). This is one of the best burgers I've ever had. SO. GOOD. I got the standard beef burger then added blue cheese, smoked bacon and onion chutney. Good chips. Good sides. Friendly service. I'll be back! I can't resist a good burger.

4) Being settled in my new home and having my own space to go to after work where I feel cosy and happy. I think I have just about bought everything I need to get me started so now I can pop my feet up and enjoy it all (and that's just what I'm doing now!)

5) Counting down to lovely weekend plans. Homecooked dinner and a spot of champers on Friday evening. A wedding on Saturday. Leeds on Sunday to meet my folks for lunch. Is it 5pm on Friday yet!!?!

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Deliciously Ella: sweet potato brownies.

September 4, 2015, 6:11 am

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Without a doubt the Deliciously Ella recipe I make the most is for her sweet potato brownies. I've made a few batches and they get better each time. I usually freeze half of what I have made then eat the rest in quick succession.

With the frozen ones I just pop one out the freezer an hour before I want it and Bob's your Uncle, they are so delicious when they're still slightly frozen. They're also pretty delightful with a helping of nut butter on the top (hazelnut is my favourite).

They are really easy to make and don't require lots of crazy ingredients like some healthy baking recipes. The buckwheat flour was the most obscure thing I had to buy and I found some in Waitrose no problems at all.

I am definitely going to whip some more up next week in time for Bake Off!

If anyone has any similar healthy baking recipes please do share!

This weekend I...

September 6, 2015, 2:21 pm

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1) got to meet Mabel, my 6 day old baby niece, through the medium of Facetime (my sister and her husband live on the Isle of Man so I can't meet her in person just yet). She is an absolute beauty and I can't wait for lots of cuddles in a couple of weeks time. I look for cute baby girl clothes everywhere I go now and it's only a matter of time before Auntie VJ gets her in a headband!

2) dusted off my proper camera and headed out with Paul and the Pugs to get a few photos. I'm still clueless and just point, shoot and hope for the best, but it's nice to get some proper photos of the 4 of us to document our time together. 

3) sat in the sunshine, drank LOTS of tea, ate LOTS of banana bread (baked by my own fair hands) and had an epic nap to end all naps on Sunday afternoon.

4) had a surprise visit from my boyfriend on his night shift. I don't think I will ever get bored of seeing him in his uniform. HELLO.

5) felt anxious. Then cross with myself for being anxious. Then anxious for being cross with myself. And so on and so on.

6) spent about 4 hours solid on ASOS looking at bikinis and beachware before I felt like I was going slightly insane. I eventually ordered one bikini, so those 4 hours weren't entirely wasted. 

7) sat back and thought about how lucky I am to be loved by such a wonderful chap and by my two little Pug babies and felt pretty damn happy.

Titanic Spa.

September 16, 2015, 11:59 am

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Last month Paul and I had a day and overnight stay at Titanic Spa in Huddersfield to celebrate his birthday and as a nice treat after we spent the weekend moving my things into my new house. I had never been to a spa before so it was all new to me but I was ready for some relaxation and pampering after the house move and a hectic past few months.

We didn't book in for any treatments so after checking-in and changing into our cossies and robes we spent the morning sitting outside in the sunshine with a cup of coffee or two and doing a few lengths in the pool. Once we had done a token bit of exercise we headed to the heat and ice experience which is a series of rooms (saunas, steam rooms, aromatherapy rooms, that kind of thing), along with a foot bath station and some cooling experiences like a plunge pool and an ice bucket shower (I gave that one a miss.. brr!)

We got lunch included in our stay so we made use of the heat and ice experience before and after lunch, before finishing off in the outdoor hot tub and then the relaxation room where we lounged on humongous cushions and dozed off.

Our apartment was lovely and spacious, spread over two levels. We cracked open some Prosecco and chocolates before heading down for cocktails in the newly opened bar (Bar 1911) where we managed to nab the cosy snug area. Dinner was really tasty. I had a stuffed mushroom to start followed by the pork belly and both were divine. We spent the rest of the evening watching DVDs in our apartment before the relaxation caught up with us and we were beat.

The next morning we enjoyed a Pug-free sleep-in (a rare occurence!) and devoured the contents of the breakfast basket before heading back to Sheffield.

I could seriously get used to spa days now! I will be on the look out for future deals at Titanic Spa so that we can head back soon!

 

How I like #mybath (with Matalan Direct).

September 21, 2015, 1:32 pm

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For me a bubble bath is a real luxury purely because I don't have a bath! So every now and again I pop over to my boyfriend's house and run myself a nice hot bath full of bubbles and try to shake off the stress of the day.

Matalan Direct recently sent me a generous Boots voucher to create my perfect bath to share with you. The first few bits I treated myself to were no-brainers; Soap and Glory products and a brand spanking new Yankee Candle! For me a perfect bath is all about lots of bubbles, great smelling products and a scented candle to transport me from drizzly Sheffield to somewhere a tad more exotic!

Soap & Glory - The Daily Soothe

This bubble bath is a thick formula in a tub designed to promote a good night's sleep with its calming and soothing properties. Simply grab a scoop and let it run under the running water to create lots of bubbles. I don't know about getting a better night's sleep because I always sleep pretty well but it did a grand job of providing lots of scented bubbles that left my skin feeling moisturised.

Soap & Glory - Whipped Clean

As shower creams go this has got to be my absolute favourite. It smells divine, all almond-y and vanilla-y, and leaves my skin smelling lovely and feeling incredibly soft. For me there's no better shower cream. It is perfect if you're lazy like me, as it acts as a moisturiser too.

Soap & Glory - Peaches and Clean

If you think Whipped Clean smells good you need to get your nose round this facial cleanser. After a bath I wash my face with this cleansing milk, designed to clear the pores and melt away makeup and impurities. It smells incredible and leaves my skin feeling really clean and soft.

Yankee Candle - Pink Sands

Pink Sands is one of my favourite Yankee's. It literally smells like a holiday in a jar! A perfect bathroom addition.

Last but not least I also picked up a pair of exfoliating gloves and a rather fetching hair turban to keep my hair dry. With a candle burning, bubbles bubbling and a good book (currently reading this!) it's the perfect end to a busy day at work.

What does your perfect bath look like?

Life lately (September 2015).

October 4, 2015, 3:50 am

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September has gone by in a blur, probably because I spent most of it counting down to my holiday then the last week of it on holiday! I've also spent the whole of September (and most of August) being poorly so to be honest I am thoroughly fed up.

What I initially thought was a virus (sore throat, swollen glands and fatigue) seems to have lingered on for all of eternity and 2 months later my glands are still swollen and painful. Hopefully October will be the month I get to the bottom of it once my blood test results come back and I can get back to feeling 100%. I have put a lot of weight on but I'm not well enough to exercise so it's pretty rubbish and I will be glad when my glands sod off wherever they came from!

My niece was born on the 31 August so September was ALL about baby Mabel Lucy. I flew over to the Isle of Man for the weekend and I could have stayed forever. I love her so much. She's absolutely adorable!

Paul and I had a rare weekend together before we went on holiday (he works shifts..boo!) so we cooked a roast dinner with all the trimmings. Our first ever attempt at making Yorkshire Puddings was a complete success thanks to his lovely neighbour Jean who supervised our measuring/mixing. Thanks Jean!

We spent a week in Lanzarote at an all-inclusive resort eating and drinking ourselves silly, sunbathing, swimming, sleeping and reading. It was absolute BLISS and confirmed that Paul is just as wonderful as I thought he was. We're planning our holidays for 2016 and I couldn't be happier. Did someone say Florida....?! Hurrah! I'll pop a few photos from our holiday up next week.

September has seen lots of walks with the Pugs, enjoying the last of the sunshine, eating far too many donuts and sweet treats, and being totally loved up!

 

Health and happiness - a catch up and goals!

October 19, 2015, 1:49 pm

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I think it's fair to say that 2015 hasn't been my year (apart from meeting Paul and becoming an Auntie of course). My health has taken a real hit and I have gone from rarely catching a cold to gaining a non existent immune system as a result of being stressed, resulting in being ill ALL the DAMN time!

I mentioned in my last post that I have been ill for a little while now. It all started at the beginning of August when my glands flared up and I had flu-like symptoms which knocked me for six for a couple of weeks. The other symptoms cleared off but my glands were still sore and an overwhelming wave of fatigue washed over me, where I was physically and mentally exhausted by routine things such as getting dressed and cleaning my teeth.

I put it down to stress/being run down but when my glands were still sore in September, and I was battling through some serious fatigue on a daily basis, I thought I had better get checked out. After lots of blood tests and trips back and forth to the doctors and hospital (the first lot of tests went missing, brilliant!) it detected glandular fever. 

So that explains everything. I've got cooties! And I have never felt so fed up in my life. This will be the 12th week of being poorly every day and doing very little with my time. Having to cancel plans and miss out on doing fun stuff. Not exercising is driving me insane. I have no appetite except for lovely stodgy things like bread and cake. I have been told it could be another 2 to 3 months before I feel back to normal, and quite frankly that makes me want to cry!

The inability to exercise (coupled with relaxing my diet and being loved up) has resulted in me gaining weight and as much as my boyfriend and family tell me I look lovely (and "less gaunt", cheers Mum ;)) I don't feel comfortable in my own skin and I hope, when I'm back to being fighting fit, to doing something about it.

photo borrowed from weheartit.com

It has been a bit of a wake-up call to be honest. All those years ago I loved losing weight and becoming more confident, but in the process I became way too restrictive, counting every calorie, putting my body through really rigorous and exhausting exercise routines, denying myself treats and finding social occasions a complete nightmare. I think I have confused my body and my metabolism, and I definitely set myself unrealistic goals. So here are a few things I'd like to do going forwards to be a happier and healthier Victoria:

- Keep finding ways to relax to be as stress-free as possible and stop giving myself a hard time if I spend a whole evening or weekend doing absolutely nothing. Sitting on the sofa reading or stitching, cuddling Lily and Lola, seeing more of my friends and exploring the outdoors a bit more are just a few ideas.

- Embrace my new varied and non-restrictive diet but don't go overboard. i.e. a whole tub of PB cup Ben & Jerry's once a week is okay, but every day probably isn't.. Find the perfect balance!

- Drink less caffeine and more water. Yes, that old chestnut!

- Exercise regularly, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Keep the momentum going and try to make my workouts as varied as possible. Get back into jogging on a morning before work and build up to running 10k without stopping. But listen to my body and know when to give it a rest.

- Stop trying to get back to the weight I was when I was at my slimmest, because it was totally unsustainable and made me miserable.

- Believe it when people say I'm pretty/have a nice figure/am a nice person.

Thanks for reading guys! x

5 good things.

October 25, 2015, 12:04 pm

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1) When you're STILL ill with Glandular Fever and in the no-appetite-not-even-for-a-cuppa-tea phase, and you're upset because you're hungry, but your boyfriend pops to the shops when you get a craving for something because he is bloody ACE.

2) When your favourite group on one of your favourite tv shows covers one of the best songs of all time, it is perfection. And makes me very happy indeed. MMMBOP!

3) Buying fresh flowers to dot around the house. Since living on my own I'm all about stocking up on beautiful (and cheap!) flowers when I'm doing my food shopping at Aldi. They make such a big difference especially when you live in quite a small space like I do.

4) Realising it's 2 months until Christmas Day which means it's not as shameful to be listening to Michael Buble's Christmas album at every opportunity.

5) Finding a whole shelf dedicated to American chocolate/goodies in Tesco including crunchy Cheetos and Baby Ruth's. They just need to stock Take 5s and I won't be able to stay away!

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Our week in Lanzarote.

October 28, 2015, 10:21 am

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Not long after Paul and I started dating we established that we both NEEDED a holiday, and that holiday had to be a week of lying by a pool doing abso-fruit-ly nothing. A friend of mine recommended a place in Lanzarote and said it was ideal for an all-inclusive week in the sunshine at the end of September, with cava flowing all day and night, a good selection at the buffets, and spacious clean rooms. We were sold!

That week away was absolutely perfect. All our stress from work was left behind and we spent a week lying on sun loungers, people watching (but avoiding eye contact so as not to accidentally make any friends), eating well, drinking well, soaking up the boiling hot sunshine (a little too much on the first day, "hello" white rings round the eyes Victoria!) and getting to know each other better, having only been dating 3 months at that point.

Next year I think our holidays will be more action packed (potentially New York or Florida) so it was nice to squeeze a lazy holiday in and also get some sunshine before the baltic UK Winter arrives. My week in the sun also seemed to alleviate my glandular fever. It's the best I've felt in months. If only I could pack up and go back to Lanzarote to get 100% better ay!

October round-up and goals for November.

November 4, 2015, 9:06 am

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October 2015 will be remembered as the month I spent my time either in bed or on the sofa watching telly, which was just about all I could manage as I was still feeling the effects of glandular fever. Lifting a book to read or doing work on my cross stitching projects was too much. Pretty pants really! However, the end of October saw my health improve slightly and my energy levels increase and although I'm not going to be running a marathon any time soon I can manage my housework and walking the dogs on my own again, so hurrah for that!

I've given myself a bit of a hard time about not blogging and whenever I have sat down to write I've been side-tracked by other blogs with better photos and more readers and felt like my own blog is rubbish in comparison. I was close to closing it down a couple of times, but then I thought HEY, you know what, I haven't blogged because I haven't had much to blog about. I've spent the past few months living in jogging bottoms and hoodies, watching Netflix and eating bread, and that's okay! Whenever I have blogged I've probably bored you with my woes of being unwell, but I'm afraid that's life. It's not all hazy filters and sparkles, and that's okay too. So please bear with me. I promise this corner of the internet will be more consistent and less moany very soon!

As a side note I'm ALL about gerbera flowers at the moment. I like to have a couple of vases of them dotted around the house. I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to arranging flowers nicely so I welcome their lack of leaves and thorns and whatnot. Plus they're so colourful and brighten my mood when I see them. I get mine from Aldi for £2 a bunch!

My main goal for November is to start exercising again, just something gentle and easy until I can build up to my old workout routine and go out jogging again. For now I am sticking to walking and housework until my energy levels go up again. I can't wait to go out running and get back on track with my goals to run 10k without stopping.

I also want to blog more, which I think will come naturally when I'm out and about doing more with my time and I have the energy to wear something that isn't pyjamas or loungewear. I have roped Paul in to be my outfit photographer, Lily and Lola are on standby with their Christmas outfits and I have loads of ideas for things to ramble about and share with you.

Other than that I will be making a dent in my Christmas shopping and wrapping, catching up with friends, seeing my beautiful baby niece Mabel, supporting my boyfriend's band who have a busy month with lots of gigs, and enjoying life again!

 

10 little things that cheer me up / make me happy.

November 7, 2015, 2:19 am

≫ Next: Olive Clothing wishlist (basic tees, a cable knit jumper and button up skirts).

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Sometimes life can seem like a bit of a struggle, and the weather at this time of year certainly doesn't help. All grand ideas to "pop out for a jog" go out the window when the ground is covered in wet leaves. It's a health and safety hazard quite frankly! Going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark sucks. Walking two little Pugs in the rain / wind / snow is impossible. All I want to do is crank the heating up, drink tea / hot chocolate and feel sorry for myself.

When I get like this there are a few things that are guaranteed to perk me up. It's just a case of doing them!

 

1) Go outside. Sounds simple really, but when I was stuck at home for several weeks during my recent unwell spell I found that I rarely left the house. I always feel better for popping my trainers on and going on a walk either alone or with a friend/Paul, or taking the dogs for a slow stroll round the block or at one of the local parks. It's also a good excuse to go shopping for new scarves, gloves, coats, hats, etc!

 

2) Facetime my sister and niece. My sister lives on the Isle of Man therefore I don't see her very often, so we keep in touch by Whatsapp and Facetime. She had a baby recently and as I can't do my auntie duties in person I have to coo over her via the power of technology instead. When I feel sad I ask my sister to send me a few photos of Mabel and, like magic, her chubby cheeks instantly cheer me up.

 

3) Watch a feel good film. For me it is usually Pitch Perfect, which I watched 3 times last week. No shame!

 

4) Buy myself a small inexpensive treat. It could be a bar of fancy chocolate that I say I will eat in stages but I inevitably eat all in one go, or a bunch of flowers in the "whoops" section, or a new candle, or a Krispy Kreme doughnut.

5) Cuddle with Lily and Lola. This is usually best coincided with the days following their bath, as they tend to get a bit smelly sometimes. It's so nice having their company now that I live alone and I don't know what I would do without them following me around everywhere like a shadow!

6) Take a super hot, super bubbly bath. Self explanatory!

7) Work on some cross stitching projects. Yep, I am a massive geek and I love a bit of cross stitching, something I have been doing for a few years since my friend Katy taught me how to do it. I'm working on a big project at the moment which I'm chipping away at. It's a good way to relax as the repetitive motions are calming and at the end of it you get an amazing piece of work to frame and give as a gift.

8) Make myself a "toddlers tea", the kind of thing you should have grown out of but let's face it, we all still love. Fish fingers, hash browns and beans is a personal fave!

9) Do something nice for someone. I'm a sucker for leaving nice letters for Paul to find around his house, or buying small gifts for friends that I think they might like. Cheering someone else up always makes me feel happier.

10) Cleaning. I am in no way, shape or form a neat freak or obsessed with cleaning. I've got 2 furry friends with muddy paws running around who have other ideas, and most of the time I would rather be doing something else, but occasionally when I'm home alone and I feel things are getting on top of me I decide to clean the bathroom, or I tidy my bedroom, or I have a sort through old boxes of stuff and bag things up for charity/Ebay/the bin. I am guaranteed to feel calmer after doing this, unless I decide to tackle the whole flat at once and then that's a different story altogether...!

What would be on your list?



Olive Clothing wishlist (basic tees, a cable knit jumper and button up skirts).

November 15, 2015, 1:54 am

≫ Next: New Paperchase baubles and Paperchase Christmas wishlist.

≪ Previous: 10 little things that cheer me up / make me happy.

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I recently discovered the Olive Clothing website and it is fair to say my bank balance will never be the same again. I want to order one of EVERYTHING! I really struggle to find clothes that I like when I go shopping, and I only occasionally spot things I like online, so finding a website that's full of amazing basic tees, coats, knitwear, dresses and skirts is a dream!

I have decided from now on to only buy things that are good wardrobe basics or a good investment i.e. things that won't go out of fashion or sit in my wardrobe with the tags on, so Olive Clothing is absolutely ideal for my future shopping sprees. I have got my eye on their roll up sleeve basic tees which come in grey, wine and cream. Does anyone know what the sizing is like as they are one size, S/M? I feel a cheeky order coming on!

I would also love a cable knit jumper and their version in either cream or beige is one of the nicest I have seen. I love the way Melissa from mediamarmalade has styled her jumper, with a classic coat and jeans. I am not sure I could pull off the hat but Melissa certainly can. Perfection!

Finally, as a fan of skirts with tops tucked in, I love the button up skirts that are everywhere at the moment. I really like this navy version which I would feel more comfortable styling than say a denim one. I also think I would continue to wear it long after it's no longer considered "trendy".

Do you know of any similar clothing lines that I would like if I like this kind of thing? Leave your links below!

P.S. This post is not sponsored, I just ruddy love their clothes!

New Paperchase baubles and Paperchase Christmas wishlist.

November 16, 2015, 10:35 am

≫ Next: 5 good things (first attempt at making shortbread, plans for 2016 and cheesy Christmas music).

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I ADORE Paperchase, especially at Christmas time when they bring out a whole host of delightfully kitsch Christmas decorations. I am trying to build up a collection of glass baubles and Paperchase never fail to disappoint. Last year I picked up 3 delights and I knew I would be back this year for more.

This year my new additions are delightfully tacky, but "bang on trend" ;) A pineapple, a Pug and a burger. Because who doesn't need a burger bauble?!

We were quite restrained and just picked up these 3 baubles, which Paul and I picked out together to decorate our first tree with, but we could have bought the whole shop! Although we don't live together we do plan to have a shared tree this year which we will decorate together on our "pretend Christmas day" (sadly for him he is working this Christmas and lucky for me I will be away visiting family on the Isle of Man for a week!)

If snazzy tree decorations aren't your thing then get your nostrils round their Christmas Pud candle. If you like all things kitsch then you will love this wreath, or if you're a bit more sensible with your decorations then you can't go wrong with this lovely stag wreath.

I personally am a fan of the sprout baubles and will no doubt be going back for them in the near future!