I'm Back!

lifestyle
I want you back 
I want you back 
Yeah, I want you back for good..

To be honest I still have very few ideas of what to write at times, writers block you could say, but I have done so much! I’m looking through my photos now and basically I’m going to start recalling what I’ve been up to in the quite long time that I have been away, just for you
There have been a few highlights

  • I went to Norfolk on my first mini break in what seems to be forever
  • I visited Emily 
  • I have started my new job  
  • I saw my family at my Nain's 80th birthday party (PS. Nain is welsh for grandmother)
  • I made some cupcakes (WHOA!!)

So here we go – a quick round up of events (anyone thinking of Woody’s roundup from Toy Story right now? Just me? Ok)

LET’S GO!

Norfolk

I went to Norfolk
We went camping in a really thin tent
It rained… a lot (I know that the pictures don't show this, but trust me - it was soggy!)


No, to be honest it was actually quite fun. 
We did stay in a tent, which wasn’t the greatest, but it was only for a few days and it was really lovely waking up to the crisp air and morning sun.
However, we did decide to venture out one day and on arrival found the remnants of hail on the ground and a flooded tent – needless to say it was particularly cold that evening!

We went to Cromer, Sherringham and Great Yarmouth. 


I desperately searched for a Cromer crab charm either loose or on a necklace, but couldn’t find one anywhere! So, we gave up that struggle, but in the end later on in the week I found this lovely necklace and it reminds me of our holiday. This is from a small shop in Southwold called gone crabbing, which we visited later on in the week. We also got lost in the maize maze there – I would have seriously been lost without my trusty map reader!

At Sherringham they serve the biggest Mr Whippy ice-creams ever!


Sherringham was quite lovely. A little quintessential British seaside town full of nothing but ice cream shops, chips and gift shops tucked into little corners. Supposedly it is most famous for its train station, but we somehow missed it…

Great Yarmouth was amazing! Well, maybe not amazing. My mum calls Great Yarmouth a poor man’s Blackpool, but we love places like that. The arcades, the beach, the donkeys and ice cream – what can go wrong?
 
I Visited Emily 

Emily is one of a kind, the nicest person you will ever meet and one of my bestest friends – lucky me! Also she does faces like this and when she reads this she will kill me, but it's just hilarious

SORRY SQUEM!! :P 

I had a few days off before I started work so I decided to jump at the opportunity to go and see her. Now, I was a little silly because I didn’t really plan this, I literally rang her and ended up going the next morning. I can safely say that I do not like the M25, but I did like seeing her face, the new house (which has horses next to it, squee!) all of her animals (including my favourite, Sasquatch, a really cute guinea pig that we saw and persuaded Chris to get alongside a very fluffy Winnifred).
I had a splendid time, but for some reason didn’t take many photos – I guess I’ll just have to visit them again

Also, EMILY HAS NEW KITTENS!!!!! I mean c'mon. I'm so gonna visit again now!

I Have Started my New Job 

I have said this loads of times so I’ll keep it brief, but if you didn’t know I have a new job!

I absolutely love it. I can’t tell you much about it in terms of who I work with, but it is all to do with digital marketing and that is one of the paths that I have always always always wanted to go down so I am ecstatic!
There, I shall say no more on the matter :) 


 


If you're interested, this is what I wore to the interview :)


My Nain is 80! 

 

She will kill me for putting this on here, but a weekend or two ago I went to this beautiful hotel in Shropshire and me and a lot of my family had a delicious meal together before drinking and partying the night away. 

My Nain only made it till about 10.30pm, but we don’t blame her. She did have church the next day after all ;) 

Here is the meal that I ate:
Salmon fishcakes with dressed salad for starter

I then had rump steak covered in brandy and peppercorn sauce with chunky chips and a vegetable parcel 

And to finish I had a  chocolate cup filled with Turkish delight and white chocolate mousse served with red currants 

Coffee and dark chocolate truffles... YUM

It truly was delicious and lovely to see everyone at a happy occasion as opposed to a funeral - anyone else just meet up for weddings and funerals or just us? 

 What I wore...
 
And on the subject of food...

I Made Some Cupcakes

Ok, so this might not be the greatest of feats but I made them up myself and they turned out ok so I was really, really happy with them.

They are white chocolate and raspberry cupcakes with a vanilla butter-cream. 




Here is a brief recipe

Cake: 
8oz of butter, sugar, eggs and flour – 1 tsp vanilla extract – 85g bag of white chocolate buttons 

Cream together the butter and sugar with the vanilla. Whisk for as long as possible until very fluffy and almost white (minimum of 5 mins) 

Add in the eggs one at a time, whisking until fully incorporated

Stop whisking and gently fold in the flour 

Once basic mix is finished stir in roughly chopped chocolate

For the middle you can make some jam – like I attempted but to be honest it was more successful just adding a whole raspberry to the middle. 

Top with butter-cream which is equal amounts of butter, icing sugar and a tsp of vanilla 
Just whisk until really creamy and add more or less sugar depending on your preference. 

Top with a giant white chocolate button and a fresh raspberry

Makes 12 large (muffin size) cupcakes

YUM!!

I hope that you have enjoyed this post and I will see you soon – a lot sooner than before!

Bye!

Jewellery Designer? Me?

beauty
Just a note...

I've recently been SUPER busy so sorry I've abandoned you all.
But, exciting news!
I have a new job - in digital marketing no less - and I get an hour lunch - just imagine all the list making, blog writing and food eating I could do! And, hopefully, my job will consist of Facebook stalking and browsing Pinterest. Ok, maybe not, but one can dream.

So, back to the post.

I've recently been making a few pieces of jewellery, which you can have a gander at here. I haven't had too much time so I only get a few pieces done, but I am really excited about how they turned out and cannot wait to get a few more creative juices flowing (ooh er) and make make make.

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention - stay tuned because I will soon be taking part in a new Facebook giveaway with loads of businesses in a massive giveaway so stay tuned for more information about that in a post coming soon :)



Here is one of my favourite pieces. A pair of really cute kite earrings. Imagine wearing them at a picnic or for a day at the beach with a simple white dress. Perfect!

In another post I can show you how to make them too if you like? It's dead simple and they'll make a perfect gift for celebrations happening during the summer! What do you think?

Anyway, hope you are all well and see you all again soon.




Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off to Work I Go

lifestyle
Hi Everyone!

If you didn't know - I have a new job. I am so excited! I've mentioned it before, but the position is within digital marketing, helping people reach their target audiences via different internet mediums. I'm finally on a career ladder and again I really really really really really... (you get the idea) cannot wait!

HOWEVER

There is one thing that I am not excited about...

Clothes.

What on Earth do you wear to work?

The experience I have (in terms of work wear) is extremely limited.
I have worn all black as a waitress - I'm pretty sure that this is just a go to colour to reduce washing and to stop making you looking really grubby. It definitely helps hide food stains and water from washing up anyway.

I then wore black jeans and a top, which was too tight, along with too much makeup and big hair in order to get tips whilst working at a bar. I was desperate for money ok!? And it worked

I now just wear uniform.

In a previous link, which is here, I've clearly stated my hatred for said uniform, but now, this safe option, this comfy, this if I put on 7 stone in a day option has gone. I do not know what to do.

Is it acceptable to wear jeans on a Friday?
Can I wear smart jeans all week?
What about patterned trousers?
Do I go smart casual, formal, posh...

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO



But, here are a few ideas that I'm going to try.

The dress and cardi combo
A fancy blouse and slim black trousers
Peplum and pencil skirt
...and that is it
...very boring and not what I want to portray to my new all male team

I will post my outfits on here and do a work week wardrobe vlog post to give others who may have this problem some very lovely advice and ideas as I start to grow my work wardrobe knowledge and the etiquette that comes with it, but for now I will be panicking and grabbing as many magazines as possible for some much needed inspiration!

If you guys have any ideas, please let me know!

Hairspiration: Nature

beauty
 Hi Everyone!

I've been loving the Summer so far.

Everything seems better when the sun is shining and I thought that I would try and create a few hair accessories to jazz up my hair when it's up and off my shoulders to help me cool down in my sticky office! All I'm missing is a bit of inspiration, but I think it has been hitting me in the face...nature!

It's beautiful, flowing, vibrant, fun and just lovely. If I can craft something that looks pretty, feminine and inspired by nature I'm pretty sure I'll be on for a winner.

Here are a few ideas to get some ideas flowing.

See you soon with a related crafty post!











PS. All pictures by me - hope you like them! 
 

Fashion Blunders!

fashion
Hi Everyone!

I used to be bullied. (This is a miserable start, but it soon picks up...)

Yeh, I know, loads of people get bullied, but before you say anything, no I am not looking for any sympathy.
I was asking for it.
Especially when it came down to what I was wearing - I didn't exactly do myself any favours.

No, it wasn't nice being bullied and yes, wear whatever you like, but look different and weird and be prepared for people to say something.
Guess what?
If it does happen, you'll survive and more importantly, learn a lot.

So, to my bully causing fashion blunders. 

Outfit 1 - Pink Pyjamas

Ok, so no, I didn't actually wear my PJs... I'm not an idiot! But, I did decide to wear wide leg, flared, cotton fabric, baby pink trousers, which looked a lot like pajamas and I loved them. However, I was a fat child and they didn't fit. I don't remember what top I'd wear with them but c'mon, what would a fat kid wear with flares that were too tight.  This was one of my favourite outfits and I was gutted when the seam down the middle of the trousers split apart. Gutted. No more would I be bullied for wearing these ridiculous trousers, but no more would I wear them, my favourite item of clothing.

Outfit 2 - A More Recent Addition 

I hate being cold. Like really hate being cold.
I'm always out and about in the wrong clothing choices and never learn that the british weather is so fickle. So if I'm stuck in the rain I will always pop into a shop, charity, vintage, designer - doesn't matter - and buy a cardi or a coat - anything that will warm me up!

Now, I've established that I like cardis, coats and jumpers. Oh, I also love shopping with my nan... I'm telling you I am seriously the coolest person I know.
Anyway, back to my blunder.
I once bought a grey fleece with toggles. Plastic, grey toggles. My nan also owns the same one in purple and we usually find ourselves wearing them together (...seriously, the coolest). I don't get bullied anymore about things like this - to be honest I choose my friends wisely and tell people where to go if I have to but my Mum, I cant say a bad word about her. Yet, she can say what she wants about me and I must admit that (regarding my clothing choices) she often asks how I have friends, let alone a boyfriend... so thanks Mum. :)

I could go on and on and on about all the mistakes I have made, but I love fashion now even though I do still make stupid choices and follow trends even if they are not my style. I just want people to know that you can wear what you want. If you get bullied, maybe it's because you are wearing pink flares that make you feel brilliant. Maybe its because you're smokin hot and they are jealous. Who knows? Who cares?
Be yourself and don't change for anyone... please.