Pinterest Love

Since getting my new phone and downloading the Pinterest app, I have been going on it almost daily. I love looking at the beautiful nails people do, the ombreing of hair and some stunning jewelry. But I spend most of my time looking at house ideas. Dreaming of ever having enough money or DIY ability to make anything even half as pretty, so instead I pour my dreams onto my 'home' pinterest board and hope ill be rich enough to make them happen one day.

Note to future self

Today I want to do something different, I want to set a note to my future self for when I'm 40. I have been toying with the idea of writing a letter to my 16 year old self, but I decided that I would not have changed anything I've done, bad or good, as its led me to the person I am today. So instead I want to speak to my future self. Something I can look back on and see if I have achieved what I wanted to.

Dear 40 year old me,

So where do I begin, with a life full of ups and downs and which generally has bad luck that gravitate towards it. I am having fun, I have great friends and have decided to take no more hassle from people. I only hope you have held onto this and taken it further. That as an older and more sensible 'me' that you have completely weeded out anything that has caused us stress in the past. 

Keep smiling, I am still silly all the time, playing with Nick and teasing him about getting older, I want you to be the same. Having fun, joking, laughing and that you have kept the overly sarcastic streak that we fall back on, but would not be the same without. Perhaps it would be nice if you could have leaned when to tone things back a bit more but all the same theres no loss if you haven't.

I want to know that I have tried hard in whatever I have done. That I did not sit back and hope that things would fall into my lap. I have expectations that you are not still just a team leader and whether you have gotten a different job or gone further in work, but that you have moved on to bigger things. I also have expectations that this blog will still be going in one way or another. That it too grows and gets better.

Most of all beyond any work and friend, I don't just want I need you to be just as understanding as you are now. That even if you have to have a good old moan to feel better that you can have your moan and move past the issue. I need you still treat everyone with respect and not to have become jaded or miserable. No matter what bad luck follows you, I need to be able to laugh it off and keep your chin up and have the optimism and hope that I have that will see us through.


From your hopeful 27 year old self.

Nars Nail Polish and Nail Art

 Nars Nail polish in Kutki visit the website for more options here

For Christmas last year I was given two sets of nail art kits and a Nars nail polish. After picking and biting my nails off at least twice this year and the struggle to re-grow them in between, I finally have nails that are worthy of at least trying to make them look pretty.

In an attempt to make worth while use of the presents given to me, I spent a good portion of yesterday monrning haveing a go at some nail art. I started using the Nars nail varnish which i a stunning blue, perfect for the summer. It was a little more watery than I expected, and it took two coats to achieve a nice finish. but its a great varnish. Even with it seemingly being watery, it covers well and dries very quickly. the brush on the lid is very nice and almost glides the varnish on.

After putting the Nars on, I pulled out one of the nail art kits I was given to have a little go at something.

its not perfect, just creating lines with a green and a silver shade, with some work they will get better.

what do you think? what would you do if you could do nail art?

Blonde again

forgoing my thursdays choice this week for an update to my hair colour.

18 months after colouring my hair brown and varying shades of red, mahogany and more brown, I have finally gone back to blonde. The colour of my life. Ever since I have been able to colour my own hair I have been blonde. From dark, to ash, to light, and all the varaitions in between. Its truly a love afair. No matter how many times I go dark, I always end up back as a blonde. I can not tell you how happy I am that I have returned to my roots!

Thursdays Choice - Dogs

With a road trip yesterday to pick up a dog that wasn't mine, its lead me to dream of the day I can own my own beautiful pup, and I have decided to give you a look at my favorite dogs. Yesterday I took Laura to pick up her dream dog, a pug. A 2 hour drive each way in the hot box that was my car and a well earned cold shower when I got home.

I currently live in a flat where pets are not allowed and this kills me. I love dogs so much. my dream would be to own every single dog on my list, but with a reality check, at least two will suffice. I prefer medium size dogs but I do like a few large and a few smaller ones. I have no real preference except I have wanted a bernese mountain dog ever since I saw one when I was 9.

1. Bernese Mountain Dog
2. Welsh Springer Spaniel
3. Weimaraner
4. Malamute
5. Samoyed
6. Yellow and Chocolate Labrador
7. Alsatian
8. Great Dane
9. Dalmation

Other dogs I would love to own are Akita, Doberman, Beagle, Irish Wolfhound, Papillion, Boader Collie, Newfoundland, Cocker Spaniel and a Labradoodle! just a small collection of some 19 dogs that I would love to own. I would need a few acres for this lot. While we are dream lists I would also Like to own a Horse, a Silver Fox, a Ferret and whatever else I see fit that should be in my collection.

What dogs do you like?

Thursdays Choice - Musicals

With a break from tradition from my usual Thursdays choice segment which normally resolved around make up, clothing or household. I thought I could take some time to instead tell you more about what I will be doing today.

Today I will be going to Cardiff to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show. As an avid lover of the movie its one of the musical I have always wanted to venture to see. I have a very limited experience of musicals (apart from DVDs) I have seen Wicked on the west end, that I can tell you blew me away and my husband who hated them actually is willing to go back for more. I have also seen Blood Brothers in Swansea and The Witches of Eastwick in Newport. Apart from Pantos this is the limit of my experience.

However I am excited and so happy to be going. Its all for a friends birthday and we are going to don the corsets, short skirts and teetering heels with a face full of more make up than we would normally wear in a month. It will be an experience. Our very own Rhydian will be Rocly, and that is something that needs to be seen to be believed.

On that note I thought I should choose some musicals that I would love to see live. Rock of Ages is a definite must for me, I love the 80s I love the songs, it's my kind of thing. We will Rock you is along similar lines to the reasons why I must see it, I love queen. Les Mis is something I think everyone should see at least one, same as Phantom of the Opera. I need to see these withing the next 15 years of my life.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

 This weekend I went to Birmingham to my friends wedding. After a two year wait, it was strange to finally be there on the day, to finally see her getting married and to be a part of that day as she was a part of mine. It made me feel as if things had come full circle. So now shes off enjoying the heat of the Grand Canaries and we are having quite a heatwave in wales, which all started just before her big day.

The day was beautiful if not hot. Our start was hampered by trying to drive around Birmingham looking for some sodding trousers because the husband has put on weight and could not squeeze into his good trousers, which he failed to check before the day. 40 minutes before the service was due to start we are riving 10 Min's down roads that had 50 streets coming onto it, but no way to get off, was not my idea of starting the day off good grace, after lots of faffing around we came across a Tesco that sold clothes and after a quick change in the car and with literally  minutes to spare we got to the church in time. the church was a beautiful old Victorian one with beautiful architect. the vicar/minister (whatever he was) was pretty useless and messed up the service on no more than four occasions.

I have put website links for the Church and Gardens at the end of my post

 if you are interested in looking into them yourselves

After lots of picture taking we then went off the the reception at the Botanical Gardens. If the wedding reception was not held there I would never have known there was such a place hidden away in Birmingham, and let me tell you it is beautiful. It really was a great choice for a wedding. with lots of greenery, some topiary, little walks that took you past fountains and an aviary. There are greenhouses with exotic plants and even a butterfly building. A bright sunny day made it seem more lush than was possible, but well worth a look if you are in the area.

The day was only hampered by the air conditioning being broken in the reception room, and on a scorcher of a day, it became less than tolerable on more than one occasion. After some lovely food which included apple and rhubarb crumble with honeycomb ice cream, I took refuge in the gardens near a fountain and I spent at least 30 Min's just listening to the water sat in the shade with a breeze ticking over me and slowly bringing me back to some semblance of life. Birds twittering from the aviary and in the trees made this place feel magical and very relaxing. very little noise from venues or from other people travelled to you and it was truly a little slice of peace in a bustling crazy city.

So after some rather over the top heat and a hunt for clothing more reminiscent of a Norman Wisdom sketch, we ended our day back in a fully air conditioned hotel room, hot, sticky and tired but thoroughly thrilled for having seen some breathtaking beauty and been part of a magical day.

 

St Augustines

Botanical Gardens

What I Want

MAC pigment available here

With more the world going barmy about these, its one of those times I wish I had a spare £40, with a beautiful selection of shades, it just makes me envious of anyone who has them. I love pigmented eyeshadow. I always use my one from Illamasqua and I can tell you that there is nothing like them. They tend to be creamy and easy to apply (except for the fall out) soft and it feels as if you haven't added anything on your eyes.

Something that I need to find some money for or to add to my Christmas wish list. As it's never to early to start looking for what you want.

Weddings

Ive spent most of my last few weeks on the phone chasing up problems. But this week my time has been taken up by my new shiny S4 phone that I don't see how I lived without it. It's so fast and sleek, with more features than you can dream off and yet my only bugbear is the size. even if it was 2cm shorter and had 1cm off on the sides, it would make it a much easier phone to handle. However the size does have its benefits, such as watching trailers and not trying to touch very small letter when typing.

I am shortly going to be travelling up country to see my oldest friend walk down the aisle (this is where I can take advantage of my new phone and its 13mp camera with front and rear shots simultaneously) to her partner of 7 years. I also have another friend who is starting to plan her wedding.

It is almost 2 years since I got married to Nick and let me tell you that sometimes it seems as if it was only moments ago and other times it feels like it was centuries. So, with weddings on the brain, I thought I'd use this post to give some tips for anyone who is tying the knot in the near future

• Get a journal/planner/stack of papers - whatever you prefer, but have one place that you write it all down, one place that you keep all your ideas, keep all the numbers, all the pictures, it makes it easier when you have to make final decisions.
• Buy as you go - this is especially easy if your trying to plan a budget wedding - ebay is your friend - pick things up when you see them, don't leave any decorations until the last minute, you do not need the stress of finding one silver sash on the morning (yes, learn from mine - or rather my mother in laws mistakes).
• Set your colour - once you've chosen your colour stick to it, but try to stick to colours within the season you are getting married as it makes it easier to find items of your choice. I went with a dark purple in September and for a whole year I struggled to find many items in my chosen colour, however as soon as the wedding was over, there was purple everywhere - sods law that is!
• Double/triple/quadruple check - once you have confirmed things, always keep whatever communication was exchanged, and confirm everything 6 months before your day. Confirm again at around the 6 week mark and then re-confirm 1-2 weeks before. This will help you to relax as you KNOW it's done and you've given yourself some time to sort things out if there are issues.
• Table planning is not so hard - It really isn't. Like everyone I had the family members that do not speak to this person or the friend that will walk out if on the same table as that person. Don't let them get you down. With enough tables you can keep everyone happy. Oh, and that odd person table where you end up putting the odd couple that don't know anyone else but you, yeah, well they end up being the table having the most fun. I swear, it's happened in every wedding I've been to and at my own, the 'odds' get on famously.
• Be sensible - I could not have stayed in heels all day, its just not possible, so I got a pair of flats for the evening party. once the lights went down, no one was looking at me feet anymore (not that they really were anyway). Don't get me wrong I love shoes and would have if I could have, but being practical and comfortable (well as much as you can in wedding dress) is better than any accidents, or remembering your big day as a blur of pain.
• Happy drink - As much as the majority of people like to have one to many at a wedding, if its your day I say only have a few. I think I had 2 alcoholic drinks the whole day, but my memory is clear for so many little details and conversation. My husband on the other had (aided by my one Irish Uncle and my other Uncle who was in the Navy) got plied with drinks and felt the need to drink each one in record time. He now remembers very little of the evening party and the day after is a hangover blur!
• Dress is for you - with more choices of dresses out there than stars it seems an almost impossible task to choose what you want sometimes. Keep looking, but don't get too worried if nothing is perfect. you can always ask to add or remove details or just keep you eye out. you have to wear it all day and be photographed more in one day than the rest of you life combined, its important that you take the time to be comfortable with your choice.
• Food for all - If your not lucky enough to have a brother-in-law who is a chef and does your food as a wedding gift, then you will unfortunately have to pay for your meal or for a buffet, look around and see if you can bring anything yourself. One of the things that shocked me when looking at venues was finger food like cheese and pineapple stick and 4x sandwiches were coming up at £20 per head, stupid price when I can buy the stuff from Tesco and do it all for under £100 for about 90 people. But regardless of me, it's up to you, if you want a 5 course dinner supreme then look to see who will accommodate you. some places will offer slightly cheaper rates for more guests. It pays to look.
•  Ask for help - I constantly had my family and friends on the look out for purple centre pieces or accessories to add to the day, there's no need to struggle with it all on your own. If nothing else your future husband should put his two pence in at some point - well we have to let them think they have some control!
• DJ preview - If you are having a Disco, try and see what the DJ is like beforehand, request the songs that you want a month before, don't get stuck with a dud. Mine wasn't bad, but as a family friend I had a discount so I chose him for his cheapness. Don't get stuck with someone who plays puppy love or the birdie song!
• Keep Calm - At the end of the day as long as you have planned and confirmed everything, it will all be fine. The day before the wedding i was running round like a bridezilla crazy person making sure it was all done, but on the day I sat back and told everyone else that if there were any problems they would have to deal with it as it's now my time to shine.

Nothing that is unexpected but I hope these little tips help anyone who is getting married or is thinking of it.

Thursdays Choice - Barry M

 find all the above here

With a love of so many different brands I find it hard to pick anything out sometime. I think that Barry M are well worth a look at especially if you want nail varnishes or are on a budget.

There are so many colours and choices of style for nails: Gelly High Shine, Glitter, Magnetic, etc, and at around the £3 mark and on offer more than not. when you can pick two up for £5 or BOGOF offers I think that its a good bargain. Not to mention that I think for the price the Barry M nail varnishes are pretty good quality. Some can take up to 3 coats to get a finished coverage, but It's a small price to pay when even varnishes that cost £15 each can need more than one coat when they are a lighter shade.

Barry M also offers quite a large choice of other makeup at a reasonable price, lipsticks from £4 with some nice choice of colours. I can't say I'm one to rave about any other Barry M products besides the nail varnishes. But for cheap and cheerful, there a wide choice of things so suit a lot of people.

At the moment I'm in love with Gelly High Shine in Lychee, Its a lovely neutral colour that suits my skin tone. Do you have any fav colours at the moment?