Turning off the comments.....

Hello lovelies!!

I have decided to remove the ability to comment on my blog posts. You see I have started getting a few spam type comments and although some of it did go straight in to the spam folder, some didn't. And who, honestly, wants to spend time deleting comments, when I could be thinking of exciting new posts! Its all rather silly!!

If you have been kind enough to write to me in the past I would like to thank you for doing so and I hope you still enjoy reading my blog. And don't be disheartened new followers I am still available on Twitter and my Tumblr. Come join me there for a more exclusive chat.

Stay warm in this dreadful weather everyone!

Happy New Year

Hello lovelies and a happy new year to you all. 

I am believing that this year is going to bring huge amounts of joy and happiness. I had a lovely Christmas with the families and a relaxed NYE with friends. But now is the time to focus on the future. I am keeping my happy momentum going by really appreciating the gifts that were brought for me. When I am gifted such lovely things it fills my heart.

Here are a few of things I was blessed enough to receive.....

An inspiring beginners yoga book and Adventure Time awesomeness!

Kitty keyring. 

Some sparkles, fancy hand cream,
Pepe Jeans sunnies and rose candles

Very pretty scarf and hair flower.

Beautiful tea light holder.
I couldn't help but put sparkles over this photo
as lighting it makes me feel all sparkly!

I hope you all had a lovely festive season and best wishes for 2013!!

Kisses

Feeling like its Christmas yet?....

Hello lovelies!!

In two words.... not really!! 

And I've been trying to work out why and what actually constitutes 'feeling Christmas-y'.
I think some of it is down to not going into town much, hearing the Christmas music and seeing all the gift ideas. This time last year I was working in a card shop, a very festive environment in some ways. 

The only disappointment I have is not being able to get my beau anything till after. Due to an absence of Christmas bonus our small budget became smaller. I am fighting the thought that I have failed in some way. I'll be able to spoil him more because there are so many sales after and does being a little late really matter anyway?

I am lucky enough to have the time I wanted off work and will see my family over Christmas. I can't wait to taste my Mum's home made mince pies and sausage rolls, to spend the day chilling out and catching up with the most precious people in my life, my Mum, brother and beau. In our house there is no competition with gifts and we appreciate the thought and time spent picking something out. I'm starting to feel a smidge more festive already. 

We went to see Rise Of The Guardians and that made me feel some festive magic. I think when I write up my New Years resolutions I will save some ideas to bring some child like wonder back into our Christmas. 

I hope you are all excited for the 25th, (8 days to go!!) tell me what your plans are and what you've done to keep the festive stress at bay.



Kisses

What to do while he's away?.....

Hello lovelies,

For the weekend my love will be in London for two nights. He is such a positive part of my life that I panic when he goes away for a few days. I could literally ignore the whole world and sit, watching my phone to hear that he is safe and happy. I would literally go to bed early out of boredom!

This time I want to use my time more productively. I don't want to be sad for the entire duration. 

So here is my list of things to do while I'm home alone. These are with thought to comfort, being productive, (but I'll leave out the dull tasks!) keeping busy and setting out time to relax.

A loves list, but with a more specific intention (and in no particular order).

Exercise routine and draw. 

The exercise is rather new to me having not done anything since PE at school. Now I'm a part of my local roller derby team, I want to be as fit as I can be and we brought a Kinect purely for the Your Shape 'game'. It often kicks my ass!! 
I have a little drawing project to complete, which I am enjoying very much so I want to spend time on that. (more details to follow on that when all is complete)

My beauty bag. 

When he worked late shifts I would always sit in bed, lots of candle light and good music (usually Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) and enjoy removing my make up. It is a very relaxing routine.

Added to this will be my Tigger hot water bottle and lots of blankets. 

Tired face after a long shift.

Wear pretty things and do my hair and make up. 

It is quite tempting to roam around the flat in my dressing gown till I need to wear my work uniform. Feeling pretty isn't wasted just because someone isn't there too appreciate it.

I do not want to get to Monday and realise I have worn nothing but my uniform. Effort is required to pull this off, but that takes me nicely to the next on my list.....

Remember to leave the house.

I live very close to where I work and sometimes a week passes and I haven't gone into town once. Not once. Just back and forth, along the same route! He is very good at getting me out of the house when I don't want to, so make that some extra effort to do this. 

Catch up on some reading.

I started re reading this book ages ago but I haven't found the time to just sit and read. It is a story perfect for this time of year called 'The Night Circus'.  

Items of comfort.

Include candles, hot chocolate, blankets, and hot bubble baths. 
When my brain is having trouble switching off and enjoying these things, I will go to my dairy. I have written a dairy on and off my entire life and my current one was started over two years ago. I enjoy the therapy writing offers, I am careful to write the good as well as the bad.  


I think this is enough to cover two days. I want to be happy when he returns and tell him good things. I can be a little temperamental and having a plan of sorts will keep me in a calm and happy place.

Do you have a list of things in place for such an occurrence? I would love to hear anything inspirational you might want to share.

Kisses

New shoes!!

Hello lovelies,

New shoesies!! Doesn't such things make you smile? After seeing this style on various blogs and Tumblr feeds, discovering them in Mr. Shoes felt like an opportunity not to be wasted.

Lovely leopard creepers!

I am having to wear two pairs of socks and plasters with them as my heels are small and sometimes shoes rub. I have found that Marks and Spenser shoes seem to fit my feet fine so buying these was a small risk when looking at my previous history! 

Luckily its the time of year when wearing two pairs of socks is not that unusual and I hope they wear in over the winter. I like wearing shoes I can walk comfortably in, hence I do not own any sky scraper stilettos  (I wish.... sigh) and the same goes for flat shoes.


Kisses

Ps You can follow my Tumblr here, I tend to re blog pretty things I find inspirational.

Right now......

Hello lovelies,

Today is my Grandad's birthday. He died two years ago and I miss him dreadfully. It's strange, when I think about it, how little I think of him directly, but he still influences so much I do. I still tend to get upset when I really remember him, which is maybe why I don't reminisce that much. But I believe myself to be as strong as he was, a family trait if you will. 

I have a tattoo I have designed, a couple of images that remind me of him. I know he would hate that, he didn't know that I have tattoos but its as much for me as anything. I guess that's the point of remembrance tattoos.
  
Even my new found love of roller derby is partly down to him. He taught me to skate when I was a kid, got on a pair of skates himself to help me around the rink. Every time I feel like I achieve a little more in derby I think of him teaching me. And every time I get angry when I can't do something (last training session, attempting to jump a stool on its side) I know I have a little bit of his temper.

And very soon, I am taking a phone call with a few of my fellow skaters for a roller derby radio station. This am I very nervous about, but I'm sure I won't sound like too much of a ninny.

A small rambley post, but I hope you hug your family a little tighter or get on the phone to them and tell them you love them. And if they're not, I am sorry, but in turn you've already given me strength by knowing that I'm not alone feeling this way. The world is still turning, right?

And lastly do what you love, even if it terrifies you, push yourself and you can only be rewarded.

Kisses

Loves

Hello lovelies,

Some things that have been putting a smile on my face. This exercise of being present to the smallest things in life has been working wonders on levelling out my moods.

• Hot showers.....

..... utter bliss!! The warmer water has been soothing some of the tension I carry around with me and gives me a break from how stressful life has suddenly become. I am using more of my shower oils to protect my skin from the colder weather. My current favourite is The Body Shop's Morrocan Argan &Orange bath/shower oil.

It makes my skin even softer and I feel good about taking a little extra time for myself.

• Green tea

Or more specifically some yummy green tea with echinacea and citrus flowers from Clipper. As mentioned Autumn increases my tea tea consumption and the last few days I feel like I am getting a cold Not only is this tea good for antioxidants, but echinacea is supposed to help prevent colds. My symptoms are persistent and exacerbated by stress etc but at least the tea is yummy.

• Beautiful candles

A birthday present from my Mum, these are as much ornaments as they are candles. Pretty things to look at. Lighting candles and the scents that follow makes me feel cosy and relaxed. These smell faintly of vanilla, a bonus as my favourite candle is Vanilla Satin from Yankee Candles.

This weather makes me want to hibernate and it is quite a fight to resit it. 

Kisses

PS; I hope you like the changes I have made to my blog, I decided that a brighter background of a photo I am proud of taking is makes me happier and therefore makes for a happier place to be.