tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121600184434750832024-03-20T04:03:06.433+00:00Simple Chronicles of MeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-44973924668866793082015-03-04T17:47:00.000+00:002015-03-04T21:37:05.688+00:00Orange & Chilli Marmalade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnoIIqWokN-O2std_dSxIDZAmrzN6V5i3C849p2ATcijLaJ3mCypm2vY2UyG6ZO8J3KspJqWoYa_5HShOeacknH42gf1-wgXdAngHu2BNUqcUCfcXg6AVKtq4qVgtFVXGD4PA_pkB2Pze/s1600/Orange+&+Chili+Marmalade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnoIIqWokN-O2std_dSxIDZAmrzN6V5i3C849p2ATcijLaJ3mCypm2vY2UyG6ZO8J3KspJqWoYa_5HShOeacknH42gf1-wgXdAngHu2BNUqcUCfcXg6AVKtq4qVgtFVXGD4PA_pkB2Pze/s1600/Orange+&+Chili+Marmalade.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For our first party in the flat we are having a cheese & wine party - a few difficulties to combat will be the fact we own a total of zero wine glasses and a very limited number of places to park your behind but what I do have is three jars of this very delicious Orange & Chilli Marmalade. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have never made a marmalade or a jam before - terrified of how difficult I assumed it would be. This was not difficult - time consuming would be truthful but also very very worth it. Peeling and cutting the pith off 5 oranges was enough to drive me insane. I used just standard oranges you would find in your fruit bowl but I saw in the supermarket yesterday some marmalade oranges which I assume have been grown to be less pithy. Pith, the white stuff on your oranges, will be bitter in your final marmalade so worth trying to get as much off as you can possibly bear - it's worth it I promise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgndK_XlUlobepH_b4B4umFWYtrPMJATlI4h_3L6udT15x-pF_gyAdbIjxnlXBCJ_fQyeGYfX1ga4r6h02wugqKQu1mCpgjsHYe6sYLtCmWy4637f6nPscicinkcMpBb0AqVy4Q3W1KFz1/s1600/Orange+&+Chili+Marmalade+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgndK_XlUlobepH_b4B4umFWYtrPMJATlI4h_3L6udT15x-pF_gyAdbIjxnlXBCJ_fQyeGYfX1ga4r6h02wugqKQu1mCpgjsHYe6sYLtCmWy4637f6nPscicinkcMpBb0AqVy4Q3W1KFz1/s1600/Orange+&+Chili+Marmalade+(2).jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The original recipe called for a food processor which I own but in the move I have managed to lose the central spindle which means at the moment it's unusable so instead I successfully used a stick hand blender. Don't make my mistake and hand blend this in a white shirt - it will not be all that white for very long!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cheese & Wine party here we come!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>ORANGE & CHILLI MARMALADE</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(adapted from Good Food magazine recipe)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>YIELDS 3 500ML KILNER JARS - STORES FOR 6 MONTHS</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>INGREDIENTS</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5 oranges</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6 red chilies</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4 red peppers</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">900g jam sugar with added pectin</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8g sachet of pectin</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">500ml white wine vinegar</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. Peel the oranges and take as much of the pith off the peel as you possibly can. Cut the peel into thin strips (size is dependent upon your preference - mine are quite chunky - like me). Peel as much pith a you can from the orange flesh itself and roughly chop this into medium pieces.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. Chop and deseed the peppers and chillis and place this into the bowl with the orange flesh. Pulse the mixture until you have a vibrant frothy orange soup - a few chunks here and there won't matter. Pour this into a wide deep pan along with the orange zest strips and the sugar, pectin and vinegar.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. Heat the mixture slowly until the sugar has dissolved and then bring to a vigorous boil and then bubble for approx 40 minutes. The best way to test if the marmalade is set enough is by placing a small plate in the freezer before heating the mixture and once 40 minutes have gone by putting small teaspoon on the plate. If after a minute the marmalade wrinkles it's ready - if not bubble away for a couple more minutes and repeat. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(As my freezer is in the garage which is quite some way from my kitchen - I'm not exaggerating I promise - I just did this by eye - it could have done with a few more minutes maybe but it's still pretty good)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. Allow the mixture to cool for 10- 20 minutes and then ladle (or if you don't yet own a ladle like me use some measuring cups) the mixture into sterilised jars. Store in cool dry environment.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Just a note on sterilising your jars - the best way I found to do this was to wash them in hot soapy water and then put them upside down in an 140°C oven for about 10 minutes.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-43616842923172311382015-03-02T17:30:00.000+00:002015-03-02T17:30:01.117+00:00Reputations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6p3F7YiKAROviltK7F4pMBT4ClEZFdXHXc5sxIxC2p6cbZQLrSHokJ0W4QLvtOkWXoWMMHt_Ujq-ObA3dCDkRbxnrU4UcVuQu5UKLNm8UUakiArmiBJd5X6fuUJiBDlrVdF2iQHZ-uWj0/s1600/Reputations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6p3F7YiKAROviltK7F4pMBT4ClEZFdXHXc5sxIxC2p6cbZQLrSHokJ0W4QLvtOkWXoWMMHt_Ujq-ObA3dCDkRbxnrU4UcVuQu5UKLNm8UUakiArmiBJd5X6fuUJiBDlrVdF2iQHZ-uWj0/s1600/Reputations.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first book of my Open University course is all to do with reputations and one of the first question it asks you to consider is "what is a reputation and how is one gained?" We are looking at characters ranging from Cleopatra to Stalin, the Dalai Lama to Madonna - all people with very different reputations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It got me thinking. Obviously I posted <a href="http://simplechroniclesofme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/l-is-for-liar-liar.html" target="_blank">this blog post</a> about my reputation within high school. At a time that reputation was me and that reputation will always be part of me. I find it easy to talk about what some would call "slutty behavior" but that still doesn't mean that I don't judge people for acting in that way. I still judge the girl that said nasty things to me on the bus when I was thirteen as a bully even though she is probably a completely different woman now. I know I am not alone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A reputation is hard to break especially without fresh starts - you start to act a certain way because that's how everyone expects you to act. I used to be very shy and when I was with my ex boyfriend I would say that I became even more introverted and I hated it. I'm not that person anymore but confronted with people who only knew me as shy I feel myself slowly sinking into that way of life again. I'm also a very emotional person - my friend will constantly remind me of the time I absolutely lost it at high school - stunning a teacher that could talk the leg off a donkey into silence. It makes me cringe even now but I still manage to lose it sometimes. I still have that same reputation at work - of being emotional, of being difficult. I wish I didn't. If an action is negative it achieves a reputation much quicker than a positive action. There can be months go by in which you act perfectly normally and then you have a bad day and that reputation you have worked so hard to distance yourself from is there again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But then a reputation is different depending upon who you ask - I believe my reputation to be a gobby, emotional, chatty person but someone could have had a completely different idea about me depending upon how I have been with them. I think sometimes it is so easy to dwell on people's thoughts of you that it becomes a little bit consuming. I find it hard to distance myself from what my reputation might be, from what others might be thinking, and does it really matter? In the end you can only be the best person you can be at that time given the circumstances.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sorry this a bit of a mind dump - there's a reason for it I promise just not one I'm really ready to put into the big bad internet yet. What do you think about reputations? What is your reputation?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-66075473043703208262015-03-01T15:59:00.001+00:002015-03-01T15:59:27.441+00:00Jan/ Feb Roundup<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These months have been busy but oh so good. So many new things started and so many things to be enjoyed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDM-AGHVCMvskCG1iHdASPe0vcqgBHccnDRC7apdNQv8MSJHpqtSqGxcR8Ie-I1wwRITZ13V7L8cOMCDYnkSbuSQgCwKmkcB7MUJRCOaZiFANT1mRvvzJ-kBIQlMVL8R2xeZq0qwArpo9/s1600/Sparkles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDM-AGHVCMvskCG1iHdASPe0vcqgBHccnDRC7apdNQv8MSJHpqtSqGxcR8Ie-I1wwRITZ13V7L8cOMCDYnkSbuSQgCwKmkcB7MUJRCOaZiFANT1mRvvzJ-kBIQlMVL8R2xeZq0qwArpo9/s1600/Sparkles.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://favim.com/image/72384/" target="_blank">(via)</a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Work has been that crazy mixture of quiet & busy - frantic long hours one week and then having the time to help others the next week. I also had some time off in February which meant getting back into the swing of things was hard - I have been really rubbish at taking time off so it is much needed but it does make me nervous</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Going to see Chris in Nottingham was the perfect midweek treat to my week off and getting drunk on a Wednesday now seems to be my thing (and then feeling pretty sorry for myself Thursday). Alcohol is not my friend but cocktails are delicious - also getting ID'ed in two out of three places in Nottingham must mean I'm looking extra babyfaced at the moment!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Also spent some time with the boys on my week off - eating pizza, playing monopoly and going to the cinema was perfect. Also meant my Mum & Dad went to their spa day which I got them for Christmas which they really enjoyed even though there was a fire in the sauna! They took it all in their stride and had a cake as waiting outside in their dressing gowns really tired them out!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Open University is going well - I am further ahead than I have to be at this stage because I am pretty sure that something will come up soon that will take me away from studying when I least need it and also ahead because I'm really enjoying the course. I have been to one tutorial and a day school in Cambridge and was really nice to see some new faces.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Being in the flat has now started to feel more real - washing up is maybe my least favourite task but I love food shopping and cooking meals for us. I am getting used to the air drying washing thing that perplexed me so much when I moved in and finally feel like we are back on top after no washing machine for like a month.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I went on my first first date - it was not a success but not a failure. He was nice but potentially too nice which makes me sound like a crazy person but just didn't feel like we had that much in common - he was like maybe the nicest person - volunteering in a charity shop, working for a company that helps people - and I'm maybe not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So these are some of my highlights - can't wait to see what the next couple of months brings!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-10189732570163659812015-02-28T10:51:00.001+00:002015-02-28T10:51:28.244+00:00BlogLove - February<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8y0AJcumhyphenhyphenmRobKINSZkOzglSyNcLLoGUvj2IDyzKAvBQoD3osDR5w_uBh7SZOms6pt9dR9wzdFO5jrUlR-M4gv_vrY2Lf8oY9GSrHzSjS9ZZY_66yCa83BQTQ_TK5THY9hcdlg-rZTE/s1600/Bloglove+Feb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8y0AJcumhyphenhyphenmRobKINSZkOzglSyNcLLoGUvj2IDyzKAvBQoD3osDR5w_uBh7SZOms6pt9dR9wzdFO5jrUlR-M4gv_vrY2Lf8oY9GSrHzSjS9ZZY_66yCa83BQTQ_TK5THY9hcdlg-rZTE/s1600/Bloglove+Feb.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thegloss.com/2015/02/06/beauty/curvy-body-type-fashion-rules-modcloth-fashion-truth-campaign/" target="_blank">This post</a> about wearing what you want regardless of your size</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://heyhollywoodblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/what-are-your-anchor-habits.html" target="_blank">This post</a> about how your anchor habits - habits that keep you grounded. I'm not sure I have any so maybe a good idea to start some to keep some normal in my life</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Can we celebrate my <a href="http://www.hitherandthither.net/2015/02/hudson-3-12-years-old.html" target="_blank">half birthday</a>?? Even though it is my birthday next month!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Love <a href="http://mic.com/articles/110338/12-women-who-had-the-perfect-response-to-sexist-questions" target="_blank">this article</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Can I have <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/time-capsule-kitchen-60s-nathan-chandler-furniture/" target="_blank">this kitchen</a> please?!? I don't even like pink that much but this is pretty!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't have kids but <a href="http://www.babble.com/parenting/the-rubber-band-method-changed-the-way-i-parent/" target="_blank">this is cute</a> - and would be nice to praise people's good more often anyway</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">So these are some of the blog posts I have been enjoying this month - please feel free to share some blog posts you have enjoyed and share the BlogLove</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><br /></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: 'Walter Turncoat'; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">*******</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: 'Walter Turncoat'; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">Your favourite post on Simple Chronicles of Me this month - <b><a href="http://simplechroniclesofme.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/adventurous-art-of-trying-new-things.html" target="_blank">Adventurous: The Art of Trying New Things</a></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: 'Walter Turncoat'; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: 'Walter Turncoat'; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a222a; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 14.8500003814697px; line-height: 20.7900009155273px;">My favourite post on Simple Chronicles of Me this month - <b><a href="http://simplechroniclesofme.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/banana-salted-caramel-muffins.html" target="_blank">Banana & Salted Caramel Muffins</a></b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-32690452842239075832015-02-20T08:56:00.001+00:002015-02-20T08:56:56.391+00:00Dating Dilemnas - The First "First Date"<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am going on my first date tonight and I'm starting to feel a sense of abject terror at the thought of it. This is my first "first date" - not that I have been single for my whole life but we just didn't do dates for some reason or another. And now here I am about to embark on my first date and I'm thinking of throwing myself down the stairs so that I have an excuse not to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So to take the panic off here are 10 thoughts I'm having before a first date:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFR8zA3lVDCNWmRDXrQSt-RfXanI2rYuw9BbrSTz8M5WoRvkd4tTyB5jYJL7JSyqkC3Tc2DyiRg_oUnBnIgx1LzkgxauEmCZ9fPTlqrMUN3gjd5Gv5zq-_kEn0un1jK6bqX9nlU8zpfax/s1600/Dating+-+First+Date.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFR8zA3lVDCNWmRDXrQSt-RfXanI2rYuw9BbrSTz8M5WoRvkd4tTyB5jYJL7JSyqkC3Tc2DyiRg_oUnBnIgx1LzkgxauEmCZ9fPTlqrMUN3gjd5Gv5zq-_kEn0un1jK6bqX9nlU8zpfax/s1600/Dating+-+First+Date.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. "<i>Ok so what do I wear?" </i>Trivial but oh so important </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. <i>"What if he thinks I'm crazy?" </i>I am crazy but I don't want him to think that, similar thoughts on if he thinks I'm loud, annoying or a bitch </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. <i>"What if he's crazy?" </i>I am having thoughts ranging between a little eccentric to straight jacket wearing psychopath</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. <i>"I will spill something down myself" </i>We are going to eat - I am going to look like a complete an utter idiot who cannot feed herself. I went out on Wednesday and spilled food down a baby blue dress, I laughed, my friend laughed, until the waitress pointed it out and I wanted to smash her in the face (<i>please see note 2)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5. <i>"What if he's boring?" </i>I am pretty rubbish at forced inane social chit chat unless I am drunk and as I am driving tonight this will not be the case, if he ain't got nothing to say then I would rather through myself off the pier </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6. <i>"What if he thinks I'm boring?" </i>I'm not so not even going to happen ;)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7. <i>"What if I don't like him?" </i>I don't really know this man/bloke/guy/person - I've seen his picture, chatted to him online and thought yeah he's nice but if he's not then I am a bad judge of character.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8. <i>"But what if I do like him?" </i>I am getting through this by convincing myself it's a one and only but what if I actually like him? What if he doesn't like me back?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9. "<i>What if he doesn't turn up?" </i>This brings back issues of my thirteenth birthday party where literally no one came and I balled my eyes out, fear of throwing parties complex ever since.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10. <i>"What am I going to eat?" </i>This isn't really date related I'm just hungry!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Any tips from you professional daters out there? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Am I being crazy?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Wish me luck!!</i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-67976714534836358362015-02-19T10:45:00.000+00:002015-02-19T10:45:00.603+00:00Life Drawing 101<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of my New Year's resolutions this year was to try new things (see <a href="http://simplechroniclesofme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/wishes-for-2015.html" target="_blank">this post here</a> for some more of my wishes and <a href="http://simplechroniclesofme.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/adventurous-art-of-trying-new-things.html" target="_blank">this post here</a> for my tips of trying new things) I'm pretty good at doing the same old thing so when a leaflet came through my door with adult learning courses I decided to give it a go. I picked life drawing. If you aren't familiar with life drawing it's the drawing of the naked human form which yeah can be pretty intimidating but boy did I enjoy it (in a non pervy way!!) </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmVigpbKLNcscP3G6zN3Kvc2AaP3jK2r6ot5UNGHHTLtfjjc-sZUP3-ijHVrG3pXBMq0thWkdSeRVHiLOUOEis0J0ZCLoUNFzB9mRdHf5hYKY6w_fHjNJmOnlNmIau__7jjqrr5DiwLH4/s1600/Life+Drawing+101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmVigpbKLNcscP3G6zN3Kvc2AaP3jK2r6ot5UNGHHTLtfjjc-sZUP3-ijHVrG3pXBMq0thWkdSeRVHiLOUOEis0J0ZCLoUNFzB9mRdHf5hYKY6w_fHjNJmOnlNmIau__7jjqrr5DiwLH4/s1600/Life+Drawing+101.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are thinking of studying life drawing here are my tips from a complete beginner:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- <b>Don't be scared of being embarrassed </b>- It's going to be a bit of a shock when you walk into a room to find a man naked so don't expect yourself to have full composure - you will want to laugh and if you might find it quite hard to look at certain ... ahem ... intimate areas. The models are used to it and you get used to seeing it all quite quickly</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- <b>Take lots of paper and a variety of pencils </b>- you will most likely draw quite a few different poses so lots of big paper is a good thing. Also some different pencils can be useful (although not a necessity) - apparently my style suited a 4B. Also bring an eraser which brings me on to my next point...</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- <b>Draw what you see, not what you think you see </b>- the life model had quite a short neck and muscly shoulders so when standing or sitting in a certain position you couldn't see his neck but to start of I insisted on drawing one. As soon as I stopped and got the head in the correct position my drawings improved.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- <b>Don't give up </b>- you will improve, it will feel more natural</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- <b>Get inspiration from others but try not to get disheartened</b> - there were proper artists in my life drawing class with antique art sets and they were really good but they had done this lots before and had been to art college. It is really nice though to see other people's styles and see the life model from a different angle</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- <b>Enjoy yourself</b>- it's art not life or death, so what if he has wonky knees? (unless it is life or death then don't enjoy yourself, draw like a madman, become the next Manet and do it quick!) </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If this has inspired you then look for some life drawing classes in your local area, colleges are generally a good place to start as they generally offer them for their art classes for sixth formers or just get Googling! </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-14684053049723154522015-02-18T08:20:00.001+00:002015-02-18T08:20:59.863+00:00Adventurous: The Art of Trying New Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPNeOveDj-pvMNCsla0WXhGRJhKG58pQXEdP1WKtToK2oys1Nypk2_6Lnhsz5mz4INJUsgqhi1otcDTUInGoRUGtNyM_EwrJ7wnMf1nYzd5p0g1fx_f5ynJICyma1Bv-uB-YDgQIGXAwZ/s1600/Adventurous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPNeOveDj-pvMNCsla0WXhGRJhKG58pQXEdP1WKtToK2oys1Nypk2_6Lnhsz5mz4INJUsgqhi1otcDTUInGoRUGtNyM_EwrJ7wnMf1nYzd5p0g1fx_f5ynJICyma1Bv-uB-YDgQIGXAwZ/s1600/Adventurous.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My wish this year was to try new things, be more adventurous and just jump right out of that nice and easy comfort zone. For someone who screams confidence it might surprise you to hear that the reason I love the comfort zone is because new things terrify me. They fill me with enough anxiety to make me want to vomit and to make me not even want to put myself forward. I love routine, spontaneity scares me but actually when being spontaneous (generally forced by those around me) this is when I have enjoyed myself the most.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The thing is the new thing doesn't have to be massive to anyone else. It doesn't have to be jumping out of a plane or flying a hot air balloon, it can be the little things that make the most difference to your life. Today I am going on a train by myself for the first time. For all you train commuters this is nothing but to me this is big, it's scary, it's exciting. Don't put yourself down because you think others will believe your something is nothing. <i>If it is something to you it is important.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tell people you are trying new things. One it will give you that emotional support when you waver and two they will be able to give you some great tips about new things to try. Always have the same dish at your favourite restaurant? They could recommend something that you had never even thought of trying - even if in the end you order your old dish next time because it was better, how will you know if you never try?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It makes you look out for new things. I made my resolution to try new things and then I had to find some new things to try so when an adult learning course leaflet came through the door I looked for new opportunities and decided to sign up for an art course (which I will be telling you about soon) Art isn't very me but surely that's the point of trying new things?? And you know what I enjoyed it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>DON'T GIVE UP!</b> Don't let yourself quit before you have even started. Agreed to do something?</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Then don't bail, even if you have only agreed with yourself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Talk yourself through your worries (or talk with a friend). I'm pretty good at coming up with the most ridiculous reasons to not try something (generally ending in my horrific death because I obviously read too many thriller books) but if you talk through these worries prior to the task then you already know how to combat the situation. <i>What if my car breaks down? Call the AA or get a bus or get a lift. What if I get lost? Take the sat nav, ask directions, set off early just in case. What if I get abducted by aliens? At least it will be a new thing!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Worry is a wasted emotion</b>, it doesn't change the situation and I know that that doesn't change anything when you are really worried but to me just reminding myself of that fact that worry changes nothing does a great deal to put it into perspective.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So please try new things and let me know how you got on or suggest new things for me to try (unless it's blogging consistently because I am a major fail at that!!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-85625383043340531152015-02-08T16:40:00.001+00:002015-02-08T16:40:50.355+00:00Banana & Salted Caramel Muffins<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been a bad blogger recently so I'm a blogger bearing a muffin recipe as an apology because nothing says sorry like cake...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8O07qDU-ddfcfvzAs31Cia2UyTWoPm7cRVcxCgkrXi4Wcb-ogD6O9WwD5wXBXtZgoBOHeeuOVEVSQUB70cB1gVuiILAJ3P5VvIWYgUVvu72o49-o8BP2txSXiIyGJFvEa13aBrMnkp4bd/s1600/Banana+&+Salted+Caramel+Muffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8O07qDU-ddfcfvzAs31Cia2UyTWoPm7cRVcxCgkrXi4Wcb-ogD6O9WwD5wXBXtZgoBOHeeuOVEVSQUB70cB1gVuiILAJ3P5VvIWYgUVvu72o49-o8BP2txSXiIyGJFvEa13aBrMnkp4bd/s1600/Banana+&+Salted+Caramel+Muffins.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hate yellow bananas - I hate the smell, hate the texture, hate the little stringy bits that attach from the skin (I couldn't think of the word for the outer of a banana then - I wanted to say shell) </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That's not to say I don't like bananas but I am very fussy regarding their ripeness - too green they taste like plant, too yellow well they taste too much like a banana (which you could say is ultimately the point about a banana but you know I'm weird - I'm not denying it) So this recipe uses up all those bananas that are too ripe for my liking but I'm way too cheap to throw away</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WtOfnAHKzJ6wKeagSxE9NgmfxlInqExK2BTOaasCfzMJyvR5C8XZU8kzujdeliL9-xSmazMdrW3BdFKNDQ3NUKM0NMgvwBtFkWyj66NmU1AOhKus22IskrzTdjAp0RJ4lu7FVYU5DbiD/s1600/Banana+&+Salted+Caramel+Muffins+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WtOfnAHKzJ6wKeagSxE9NgmfxlInqExK2BTOaasCfzMJyvR5C8XZU8kzujdeliL9-xSmazMdrW3BdFKNDQ3NUKM0NMgvwBtFkWyj66NmU1AOhKus22IskrzTdjAp0RJ4lu7FVYU5DbiD/s1600/Banana+&+Salted+Caramel+Muffins+(2).jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This recipe also calls for my favourite Hotel Chocolat treat - half a tub of their Salted Caramel & Pecan chocolate spread. It is fairly expensive but bloody delicious - even just spread on the top of a plain biscuit - but if you did want to leave it out I don't think you would find the plain banana muffin unappetizing in the slightest! To get the spread into the batter I melted it as the consistency is really thick so quite difficult to incorporate</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> otherwise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm also pretty rubbish at getting the batter into the muffin cases - there was batter bloody everywhere. I blame it on the fact that my muffin cases are too big for the muffin tin - nothing to do with lack of coordination.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>So please make my bad blogger banana & salted caramel muffins and let me know what you think</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cqyeTCMLD0tBmHL6t-GLNn8_i9MSlGN5sAxeXYUGdj_o4dtSa1_vTLfq6xE6ikb5yhyFz550jwNbNj_jfDXF1ZRDrcgK6O-TpVRgvUVoZdEntaSPEMW9tYfvTs5btRgsfO3xmq9kdBAT/s1600/Banana+&+Salted+Caramel+Muffin+Recipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cqyeTCMLD0tBmHL6t-GLNn8_i9MSlGN5sAxeXYUGdj_o4dtSa1_vTLfq6xE6ikb5yhyFz550jwNbNj_jfDXF1ZRDrcgK6O-TpVRgvUVoZdEntaSPEMW9tYfvTs5btRgsfO3xmq9kdBAT/s1600/Banana+&+Salted+Caramel+Muffin+Recipe.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-80785086571497799112015-01-31T09:28:00.002+00:002015-01-31T09:28:24.274+00:00BlogLove - January<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgke12zVQugwOszKfz4H1f4g4T3_FvcNHC1D0oyb1cW7BebjN6iaQiQ_7XpXWbR0yRjyI94zUqjs543ojn0Onl7qLqNR-7LkAqudRoupVI-K8LxXus6GVAPecCczM4XEnnAPFqQVeLVK5iN/s1600/BlogLove+Jan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgke12zVQugwOszKfz4H1f4g4T3_FvcNHC1D0oyb1cW7BebjN6iaQiQ_7XpXWbR0yRjyI94zUqjs543ojn0Onl7qLqNR-7LkAqudRoupVI-K8LxXus6GVAPecCczM4XEnnAPFqQVeLVK5iN/s1600/BlogLove+Jan.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://thoughtcatalog.com/laura-jane-williams/2015/01/the-reason-shes-a-slut/" target="_blank">This post</a> about being a slut - it's thought provoking and at times I think maybe a little too crude. But it only tells one side of being a "slut" - the side that's all about emotions and making up for past failed relationships - how about the women who have sex because they enjoy sex? They find the man attractive but know that either a) he isn't what they want in a relationship or b) they don't even want a relationship at this time in their life. Sometimes sex is just about sex for women - exactly the same way it is for men. And that's the reason I really liked this post - because of the opinions and thoughts it brings out of me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2015/01/16-weeks-of-lightened-up-meals/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+howsweeteats%2FsmSp+%28How+Sweet+It+Is%29" target="_blank">This list</a> of amazing recipes - one word - DELICIOUS!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love <a href="http://iamafoodblog.com/" target="_blank">this blog</a> - this girl seriously loves food and I love her! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kids, something I am quite happy to admire from afar at the moment, but that doesn't stop me lusting after their cute little expressions and their actions especially in <a href="http://www.thedaybookblog.com/2015/01/the-kids-are-alright.html" target="_blank">this post here.</a> But then maybe after reading <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/14-vacations-parents-take-every-day" target="_blank">this</a>, umm NO!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The amount of emails I receive in a day due to work is insane and I know lots of people have decided the most productive way for them to work is buy staying away from emails in the morning - unfortunately I cannot ignore my emails but <a href="http://www.hitherandthither.net/2015/01/burden-email-reply-will-death.html" target="_blank">this post</a> about email makes me feel less alone in the email battle!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I really love the sound of <a href="http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2015/01/introducing-capture-real-life-in-52-weeks.html" target="_blank">this Beautiful Mess course</a> - I'm thinking about it but with my university course starting today and my lack of blogging will it be too much??</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>So these are some of the blog posts I have been enjoying this month - please feel free to share some blog posts you have enjoyed and share the BlogLove</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">*******</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Your favourite post on Simple Chronicles of Me this month - <b><i><a href="http://simplechroniclesofme.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/chimp-management.html" target="_blank">Chimp Management</a></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My favourite post on Simple Chronicles of Me this month (ok technically last month!) - <a href="http://simplechroniclesofme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/wishes-for-2015.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Wishes for 2015</i></b> </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-88131545767996520802015-01-20T23:06:00.002+00:002015-01-20T23:07:41.794+00:0010 Quick Things About Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNED2Fsw8DL6ITMwnoERnDdCGRLvBJGMdk4XwIH8GT1f9flHG9d-73rhORWXpwwlkHdfyKDIA0TfgfRIOcLDXOC_zJQnCOJMunyzKR9cbLb00mdWvT4fJFeZ5PaId7pq734F9zoXl-jfrN/s1600/10+Quick+Things+About+Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNED2Fsw8DL6ITMwnoERnDdCGRLvBJGMdk4XwIH8GT1f9flHG9d-73rhORWXpwwlkHdfyKDIA0TfgfRIOcLDXOC_zJQnCOJMunyzKR9cbLb00mdWvT4fJFeZ5PaId7pq734F9zoXl-jfrN/s1600/10+Quick+Things+About+Me.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. My middle name is Marie and so is my Mum's</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. I have two sisters and three brothers and I am the eldest</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. My favourite colour is blue </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. The first place I travelled to abroad was to Lanzarote with my now ex boyfriend and his family - we had the most rain in 48 hours they had had in 15 years or something - lucky me!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5. My favourite animal is a pygmy hippo, closely followed by elephants</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6. I HATE BLUEBERRIES</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7. My favourite childhood film is Dumbo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8. My favourite meal is spaghetti carbonara</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9. I passed my driving test first time aged 19</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10. I really want to be a food blogger one day maybe</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Share one quick fact with me about you</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-74759719278795414672015-01-19T17:30:00.000+00:002015-01-19T17:30:01.976+00:008 Kitchen Lust Haves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjv0g5f_8J82y7e5ZEH9ye_lVZwzQmsl_k3mjCjtOr2YQ66IFWH8KZGaq7OK-iFFf9Z3VALytK0Wh5RYy9_r5Fc2SpHZUWyy25M-BLAdmq9xJrhRH_7cS0WoWdJFpu4az6XYGOPgxxZTv1/s1600/8+Kitchen+Lust+Haves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjv0g5f_8J82y7e5ZEH9ye_lVZwzQmsl_k3mjCjtOr2YQ66IFWH8KZGaq7OK-iFFf9Z3VALytK0Wh5RYy9_r5Fc2SpHZUWyy25M-BLAdmq9xJrhRH_7cS0WoWdJFpu4az6XYGOPgxxZTv1/s1600/8+Kitchen+Lust+Haves.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are my 8 kitchen lust haves at the moment, lust haves rather than must haves because what I really need in my kitchen at the moment is boring stuff like a ladle and a whisk and some decent knives but these are the little pretties that I actually want!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1) I really want a Bento lunchbox and <a href="http://en.monbento.com/mb-square-green-bento-box-3487.html" target="_blank">this one</a> looks really cute. It might mean I actually enjoy making lunches for work rather than the usual sandwiches</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2) I love the look of <a href="http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/cooking/utensils-gadgets/eddingtons-retro-magnetic-kitchen-timer-ivory-21947707-pdt.html?gclid=CjwKEAiA0O2lBRDOrPX4oJP3t2oSJACjpaHAXpE6efzeyamgXOuInxbmVUpHSfU4VWujPZRPkPjo5xoChmzw_wcB&srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~gg~~~Exact&mctag=gg_goog_7904&s_kwcid=AL!3391!3!55105097364!!!g!99682572564!&ef_id=UkRnXwAAABxQDIMv:20150118223257:s" target="_blank">this kitchen timer</a> but as my cooker has an in built one and I have a timer on my phone not really all that necessary</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3) So I actually hate drinking through <a href="http://www.pearlandearl.co.uk/chevron-paper-straws-yellow/" target="_blank">paper straws</a> but these ones are very pretty and who doesn't want looks over substance sometimes (in straws only obviously!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4) I love using my iPad when I am cooking for both recipes and listening to music but don't so much love the flour or cake mix that I end up getting all over it so I think <a href="http://www.lakeland.co.uk/44051/Chefs-Tablet-Stand-with-TouchPen" target="_blank">this</a> would be really useful</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5) The idea of cocktail making fills me with glee and the thought of being able to dispense these drinks from <a href="http://www.lakeland.co.uk/52501/Kilner-Drinks-Dispenser" target="_blank">this pretty thing</a> makes me beam from ear to ear </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6) <a href="http://www.selfridges.com/en/nordicware-little-bundt-pan_315-2001567-50013/" target="_blank">Bundt cakes</a> are my new obsession - I have never eaten one or even seen one in real life but my Pinterest board is full of them </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7) <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seriously-Delish-Jessica-Merchant/dp/0544176499/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421620659&sr=8-1&keywords=seriously+delish+150+recipes+for+people+who+totally+love+food" target="_blank">Seriously Delish </a>is written by the owner of How Sweet Eats which is one of my favourite food blogs and I really want this book, pretty please someone</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8) So this <a href="http://www.hartsofstur.com/acatalog/KitchenAid-Artisan-Ice-Blue-Food-Mixer-KSM150BIC.html?gclid=CjwKEAiA0O2lBRDOrPX4oJP3t2oSJACjpaHAyVkMnjUhVIPYbEv_pMAEvpaxCCIthCXAT1UdY4VXBBoCU5zw_wcB" target="_blank">Kitchen Aid mixer</a> is the biggy and at it's price is going to be staying as a lust have for a very long time but it is beautiful </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Do you have any kitchen lust haves? Which one of my picks is your favourite?</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-51537164080142569812015-01-17T09:13:00.001+00:002015-01-17T09:13:20.108+00:00Cherish the Little Things<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been feeling a little down recently. I think it's the slog of getting back to the daily grind, Christmas is over and work is at this weird quiet but crazy stage that makes me anxious and stressed and bored all at the same time. I think it's the reality of finally trying to feel settled in my new home, it's been six weeks since I moved in but it still doesn't feel quite real and I love it but feel scared about it at the same time. I think it's being nervous about the beginning of my Open University course, there are a lot of books, a lot to read and I'm worried about how I am going to fit it in. All of this just feels like a bit of a dark cloud over my head.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Belinda @ Found Love Now What has started a new link up about positivity called the Joy365 Project which is about finding happiness in every day situations. So instead of dwelling on the stressful or the anxiety inducing, today is all about cherishing the little things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizODIGor4q9JUKMxt2cuUBrW_1t14FRALQ3dciXmxnEAadYx2jihHFANJNai4kF0FH6wCkQCOBMOV19Y6mciEZ7ZJNNd9zBk-cJcNIx6mTniGnSHB3j2155X4-UtC9UF8ZmdJBRm_kSs_g/s1600/Appreciate+Life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizODIGor4q9JUKMxt2cuUBrW_1t14FRALQ3dciXmxnEAadYx2jihHFANJNai4kF0FH6wCkQCOBMOV19Y6mciEZ7ZJNNd9zBk-cJcNIx6mTniGnSHB3j2155X4-UtC9UF8ZmdJBRm_kSs_g/s1600/Appreciate+Life.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(source: Pinterest)</span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dinner at Wagamama's with my sister - pork ramen and chilli squid all finished up with cheesecake - pretty good night</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Two Costa lunches in a week - one with my best friend who is expecting her 2nd baby and I am so excited and another treated to by my Dad</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My Dad coming to my work to fix the gate and bringing the dog along</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cake dates with my best friend and her gorgeous little boy </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pretty phone cases and a new diary</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Friday nights - last week was episodes of Suits and pizza, this week was chicken and sweet potatoes and Ryan Reynolds (it was in the Green Lantern though!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Game of Thrones - I'm still only in the second season so I am glad I have so much to look forward to</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Getting stuff done at work that I thought I would suck at and that I'm actually quite proud of </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Homemade pie at home with the family - honestly my Mum serves the biggest portions ever</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finally being invited to see Chris when he lives away - I have stayed in his girlfriend's bed before I have been invited to see him!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This pin sent to me by my sister </span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeE9LoV0QZXCghw3QnZW5H7Zs0AfaQVHeELRiMVrhIQ6fIqgQB-zJsZGMJJummuBOukIwcGIMkVC32XHPaGDX2QVHo3h7yvFFfgXQJeZgekcCo7A4pXwax3Sfr4B3K4LnSWCRvQN8Pa33/s1600/I+like+you+a+lottle,+It's%2Blike%2Ba%2Blittle%2Bexcept%2Ba%2Blot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeE9LoV0QZXCghw3QnZW5H7Zs0AfaQVHeELRiMVrhIQ6fIqgQB-zJsZGMJJummuBOukIwcGIMkVC32XHPaGDX2QVHo3h7yvFFfgXQJeZgekcCo7A4pXwax3Sfr4B3K4LnSWCRvQN8Pa33/s1600/I+like+you+a+lottle,+It's%2Blike%2Ba%2Blittle%2Bexcept%2Ba%2Blot.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(source:Pinterest)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So today we are having a flat mate date so more to look forward to again, so time to keep my chin up! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>What little moments are you cherishing? </i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-8746814732525770632015-01-08T17:30:00.000+00:002015-01-08T17:30:00.263+00:002015 Fashion Wants<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>***Thanks to <a href="http://sprinkleofglitter.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/2015-fashion-wants.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+sprinkleOfGlitter+(***Sprinkle+of+Glitter***)" target="_blank">Louise @ Sprinkle of Glitter</a> for inspiring this post***</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fzFzRr3D2aAifLa58HMlMV-d8Jm5uGQTiGC8QcqzSmKf0Wz9shkvcxJitSfGq8kPeMkeI46iZPf0jOjzeEifMgaHxy_7A2ivKOOKI-71JHZA4O2fiLlw5uc27o-4OkzcwdyR3M4nNp9l/s1600/2015+Fashion+Wants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fzFzRr3D2aAifLa58HMlMV-d8Jm5uGQTiGC8QcqzSmKf0Wz9shkvcxJitSfGq8kPeMkeI46iZPf0jOjzeEifMgaHxy_7A2ivKOOKI-71JHZA4O2fiLlw5uc27o-4OkzcwdyR3M4nNp9l/s1600/2015+Fashion+Wants.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dear 2015 Fashion Gods,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you could please grant me the following I would be eternally grateful</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A playsuit that actually suits my body shape (slightly chubby with a long body and short legs)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A shirt that doesn't gape at the boobs </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Leggings that never go see through</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">More tartan print trousers.. actually just more tartan everything</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A pair of jeans that never falls down so I'm not always doing the awkward jean pull</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">High heels that are comfortable enough to wear all day</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">MORE SEQUINS</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">... AND GLITTER!!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">OH AND BOWS, LOTS OF BOWS!!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dresses that are actually a suitable length to wear to work</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">NO MORE BODY CON</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A slogan tee that actually looks nice on me (and says something witty!) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A hat that doesn't make me look and feel ridiculous</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bright lipstick that doesn't come off when I shove cake in my face (like seriously do lipstick wearers not eat??)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">More fluffy jumpers</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Much appreciated (and if you could send it all to me for free that would be great)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-34336321020153183702015-01-07T21:27:00.000+00:002015-01-07T21:27:14.908+00:00Chimp Management <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You know when maybe you aren't being the best version of you. You spend too much time worrying, hating how you deal with situations, stressing, feeling bad. Well that was how I felt a few months ago. I was anxious all the time, scared to do new things, nervous about going to work. I wasn't happy with the way every day interactions were going - normally ending in arguments, raised voices and tears. And I felt awful. Why didn't people like me? What was wrong with them? What was wrong with me?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9QStkPG2IIKBV9Sc3DVbU_j_U5h-GJgEDar1pGrfE3EjMq9PVJElSxAxlV8VVZRIGBqYbnBxnkbyqte3VHufFhouDUl817ZTIS79w-u63y-czDYdKrVUsivZUhLhQVZxZKbjfSo6442Q/s1600/Chimp+Management.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9QStkPG2IIKBV9Sc3DVbU_j_U5h-GJgEDar1pGrfE3EjMq9PVJElSxAxlV8VVZRIGBqYbnBxnkbyqte3VHufFhouDUl817ZTIS79w-u63y-czDYdKrVUsivZUhLhQVZxZKbjfSo6442Q/s1600/Chimp+Management.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Something had to change and I started reading a book called Chimp Management. Its written by Professor Steve Peters who is a very successful sports psychologist and worked with the British cycling team before their massive wins in the Olympics so you know nothing to be scoffed at!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The simple theory is that your mind is split into 3 parts:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Computer - the part that deals with everyday functions</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Human - the logical rational side</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Chimp - the emotionally driven side</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When you are acting in a way that doesn't make you happy this is your Chimp acting. The chimp can react quicker than your human side and is stronger which means you often react with your Chimp and then regret it once your human side kicks in. The more I read the book I realised I wasn't being responsible for my actions and emotions. So many times the book hit the nail on the head and sometimes the message was quite hard to acknowledge (i.e the tendency to blame others for when a situation goes sour rather than accepting my own responsibilities)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is no way of getting rid of the Chimp - it is an integral part of who you are - but the book tries to teach you to manage your chimp and I have found the ideas really helpful. I now have a Chimp Management book where I write maybe 3 or 4 lines as to how the day has gone and how I think I could improve. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's also abut not making yourself feel guilty about having feelings you aren't happy with or acting in a way you wish you hadn't as feeling guilty is another wasted emotion. I'm trying to also recognise the fact that I can't control other people's Chimps!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have never read a self help book before, never thought I needed to, but honestly this was one of the most enlightening books I have ever read and one of my wishes for 2015 is to try to manage my Chimp. I haven't got it all sorted but hopefully with some more practice I can feel more in control</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Have you read any helpful self help books? If you do decide to read Chimp Management let me know how you get on, I'd love to know what you think</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-82667835592370157262015-01-03T12:23:00.000+00:002015-01-03T12:23:14.823+00:00Organisation Plan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yX4Q3bF-trBeGRrlrbs_Ev5HjxOk8-2E-f7ZKSpCLGGurgyVIy8aOuEr5cO2kK3p-4BK_8O2eueNHclf-LYiFYh2uL4wRwbgwx2-Ya2DCKy6jLeGVR-smeukXXEMEsb_zmIkaV4XdQRc/s1600/Organisation+Plan+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yX4Q3bF-trBeGRrlrbs_Ev5HjxOk8-2E-f7ZKSpCLGGurgyVIy8aOuEr5cO2kK3p-4BK_8O2eueNHclf-LYiFYh2uL4wRwbgwx2-Ya2DCKy6jLeGVR-smeukXXEMEsb_zmIkaV4XdQRc/s1600/Organisation+Plan+2015.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of my <a href="http://simplechroniclesofme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/wishes-for-2015.html" target="_blank">wishes for 2015</a> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">was to get more organised</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> (I actually wrote 2014 here to start with - I just can't get it yet!!). So I have started an organisation plan - ideas of what I want to organise in my life - and as I still have no idea where to even start yet I need a plan!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>BLOG</b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Plan my blog content</b> - it is so hard to think of ideas sometimes off the cuff and also need to spend more time organising the post before hand. I have read that a lot of bloggers spend days tweaking posts and you can really tell that their blog posts are a lot more crafted than mine. I have a notebook I started while I had no internet so I hope this will help - <i><b>how do you plan your blog content?</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Blog schedule</b> - I tried this before and failed - I guess I had the wrong system for me and I also didn't have enough blog content planned out to do this. I also played with the idea of doing specific post types at a regular interval which I might bring back - <i><b>do you have a blogging schedule? </b></i></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>HOME</b></span></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Organize my things </b>- I have recently moved out and I have a lot of things that I have no idea how to store or where to put them. I think I need more storage as my large chest of drawers wouldn't fit up the stairs into my bedroom! <b><i>Do you have any clever storage tips?</i></b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Keep my wardrobe tidy </b>- At home my room used to be covered in clean clothes that I never put away in my wardrobe as it is my most hated thing to do! One of my resolutions when I moved out was to put my clothes away once clean. I also want to make sure I am using my wardrobe to it's full potential - wearing my all my clothes and getting rid of any that don't fit or I don't wear - <b><i>what is your most hated household chore? how do you keep your wardrobe fresh?</i></b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Meal planning </b>- Another of my resolutions was to cook more but I'm a bit of a haphazard cook and used to end up wasting a lot of money on wasted ingredients. I seriously cannot afford to do this so hopefully planning meals will help with this and get rid of the nightly stress of what to eat! <b><i>Do you meal plan or are you more an off the cuff chef?</i></b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Finances </b>- I am a bad financial planner - I pay too much for stuff I don't really need or use and I'm not very good at saving money. I'm too generous and lend out too much money and it's not something that I can afford to do anymore since I have moved out so I need to look at ways to sort through what I have, expenditures and savings - <b><i>do you have any good saving tips?</i></b></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>UNIVERSITY</b></span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Work schedule </b>- I am starting my Open University degree at the end of January and I'm working full time and I want a life so I am going to have to make time and work productively - <b><i>how do/did you plan your study time?</i></b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Organise my notes </b>- When I worked on my <a href="http://simplechroniclesofme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/open-university-access-module.html" target="_blank">Open University intro course</a> I noticed that I am a bit of keep notes everywhere person which I did improve when working through the module - hopefully I can improve this more - <b><i>are you a pen & paper or a computer notes person?</i></b></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>WORK</b></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Plan time productively </b>- I think I spend a lot of time doing things poorly just because that's the way they were always done so I'm hoping to be able to shake things up a bit (permission permitting!) I am also thinking of doing the idea where if a task takes less than 5 minutes to complete then I should do it straight away rather than sitting on it/ adding it onto my ever increasing list or forgetting it entirely!! <b><i>How much input do you have over how you plan your day?</i></b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Organise my desk </b>- I moved desks when I moved roles at work and this new desk just doesn't work for me. I have to have a lot more stuff to do what I do and I just don't like how it is all set up - <b><i>tips for an organised desk please!!</i></b></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And if I do all of this I will seriously be the most organised person in the history of the world!</span></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-76003353103061742232014-12-31T21:03:00.000+00:002014-12-31T21:03:12.251+00:00Wishes for 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRxweVU5iaUWltBbqJadPSnmECTwUXJQC2g3tiMG2RMpTzOmwwTR08RJK26D8lVdjq-VmVAq-X0Q6zDYDTi3dojRpNLQtSvVlbfb0CwYZJ_pZ12X1Ch6nMqa137u9ZwxnYRdvqOEWmxjM/s1600/Wishes+for+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRxweVU5iaUWltBbqJadPSnmECTwUXJQC2g3tiMG2RMpTzOmwwTR08RJK26D8lVdjq-VmVAq-X0Q6zDYDTi3dojRpNLQtSvVlbfb0CwYZJ_pZ12X1Ch6nMqa137u9ZwxnYRdvqOEWmxjM/s1600/Wishes+for+2015.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have never stuck to a New Years Resolution in my life so I'm hoping that if I throw enough wishes down onto a page then hopefully some of them will maybe stick. So in 2015 I want to...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Travel - in the UK/ abroad - I just want to see more of the world</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Spend more time blogging ... and less time worrying about the stats and page view</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Spend less time worrying in general</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Complete my first module of my degree</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Spend more time cooking ... and share some of the recipes on here</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Try something new - yes very vague but something new</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Spend more time with friends</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Manage the chimp (I will explain all very soon)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Put myself out there</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have more fun</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Be more organised - with blogging/ with work/ with my degree/ at home/ with money</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Speaking of money - save some money - I'd like to save a minimum of £1000</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Go on a date</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Take more pictures ... and share them</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm excited to get started... bring on 2015!!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What are your wishes for 2015?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-90014924442629228902014-12-30T17:00:00.000+00:002014-12-30T17:00:01.104+00:002014 - A Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPYTqOymcH9wX55217BA7QeIe0tU-YWPC4PJEO6vZpICsJH7wQUsXExOJgRD0n6l2_M-TJhvwHBhzzBYdjD9DYBoZl-voW9DawyFuhmxX2jcPWROdgruXUlQehf7bgKdrXf0M42UXBMVz/s1600/2014+A+Recap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPYTqOymcH9wX55217BA7QeIe0tU-YWPC4PJEO6vZpICsJH7wQUsXExOJgRD0n6l2_M-TJhvwHBhzzBYdjD9DYBoZl-voW9DawyFuhmxX2jcPWROdgruXUlQehf7bgKdrXf0M42UXBMVz/s1600/2014+A+Recap.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While this year has been a little quiet on the blog front due to my lack of commitment, however this year has been pretty busy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I moved out!! Me any my friend decided that it was time to move out and within three weeks of viewing this house we had the keys. It was the only house we viewed and it just felt right (you can view all my posts about moving out <a href="http://simplechroniclesofme.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/moving%20out" target="_blank">here</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My role at work completely changed. I got offered the position to take over a department at work from a woman who was leaving on maternity leave. It's now been nearly 6 months since I made the decision to go with it and 99% of the time I am pretty glad I made it. Here's hoping that 2015 holds lots of new opportunities too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wish I had taken more pictures of the places I have been this year so I could share them with you but I'm pretty rubbish at remembering to take my camera and my phone generally stays in my handbag! However this year I have been to...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Paris. I took my sister to Paris for her 21st birthday. We went via the Eurostar and we were there for 3 days. We didn't go up the Eiffel tower (even though I purchased the tickets, I had a panic about going up so wasted the money like an idiot) but we did go to a Moulin Rouge performance which was honestly one of the best things I have ever seen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Center Parcs, Elveden. As this is relatively close to home we often go here as a family. It's great for the kids and adults a like and we had a lovely family holiday including lots of swimming, eating, drinking and playing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Colchester Zoo. I love a zoo so I am amazed that I haven't been here sooner but in June me and my sister went. She packed the most amazing picnic and I drove which I think is a very fair trade. I saw my new favourite animal ever since I watched a documentary regarding them, the pygmy hippo and we fed a giraffe. It was crazily hot & sunny and we were really lucky.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Sheffield & Leeds. I went to watch cricket with my best friend in Leeds. I actually really enjoyed it and even started to understand what was going on. Maybe cricket will be my sport of choice as my attempt to get into football this year failed before it even started as I didn't want to pick a team. I also drove all the way there and back, the longest I have ever driven, it was fine but my best friend din't warn me that I would have to drive straight on one road for 90 miles... in hindsight I'm glad he didn't!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- London. I wish I went to London more often as every time I go I absolutely adore it but this year I only went twice and we went for my sister's 21st both times. Once was the day before we went to Paris and I booked for us to go to the Duck & Waffle. The cocktails were amazing and amazingly strong and the views were astonishing. The other time we went to the Tate Modern and had afternoon tea at the Ritz. Finger sandwiches and art, I am so refined!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I also finished my Open University intro course and applied to start my full degree in January 2015. You can read my post about it <a href="http://simplechroniclesofme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/open-university-access-module.html" target="_blank">here</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I also started writing a book this year which I hope to develop more in 2015</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So all in all a relatively busy 2014 and hopefully an even better 2015 (with more blog posts!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04issOBiRAq5QONZ9hDhIe10C7eqELfs_Aokk1ZEoKL92Ir8aXD6PYCfYDo2eSBPuEzksBcro6t9FOmHDWopize674412vJoVWXp91px47maUlkh8ah7GLQNO2z9inpCUNGOJJOVkjTex/s1600/2014+Recap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04issOBiRAq5QONZ9hDhIe10C7eqELfs_Aokk1ZEoKL92Ir8aXD6PYCfYDo2eSBPuEzksBcro6t9FOmHDWopize674412vJoVWXp91px47maUlkh8ah7GLQNO2z9inpCUNGOJJOVkjTex/s1600/2014+Recap.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-52264780223579366542014-12-24T12:00:00.000+00:002014-12-24T12:00:01.420+00:00Moving In - The Not So Practicalities <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0u9bWDevssa2FgUHwx9Lg9h3U_zZ9nq4k3hZJQcFrxYGe6eIqGmmVtpqCpMm0vT3JsRIUPGm7A0MQ89ykWYlnwJ5rc_zDb6trYAjHe2iBKKeDLzr9hmS_wVUdDdmzuoTR-KIKANeUd8K3/s1600/Moving+In+-+Not+So+Pracitcalities.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0u9bWDevssa2FgUHwx9Lg9h3U_zZ9nq4k3hZJQcFrxYGe6eIqGmmVtpqCpMm0vT3JsRIUPGm7A0MQ89ykWYlnwJ5rc_zDb6trYAjHe2iBKKeDLzr9hmS_wVUdDdmzuoTR-KIKANeUd8K3/s1600/Moving+In+-+Not+So+Pracitcalities.jpg" height="362" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
This time two weeks ago I moved in to my new place and my last post was about the practical side of moving in but moving out of your family home for the first time is not really about being practical. It's more about the crazy raft of emotions and thoughts that follow. It all still feels very surreal, the fact that it's been two weeks since I have even stepped foot in my old room just doesn't seem to compute. </span><div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have only ever lived in two other places my whole life, both of them on the same site, one of them the caravan when I was born and then when the bungalow was built that was it. It's getting used to the stairs as I've always lived on a single level, getting used to the cabinet in the kitchen that you have to open & close the doors in a certain order, having carpet in my bedroom rather than laminate, showering in a cubicle rather than a bath. And they are all so little that you wouldn't even think you would notice them. I still have all the same bedroom furniture, the same ornaments and trinkets and yet they look so different. And those little things do matter</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When people ask how it is I don't know what to say. I say amazing, great, fun, strange, quiet... and it's all those things and more. There are so many things about living with someone who aren't your family that I hadn't even considered before. My room mate is one of my best friends so to be honest in some ways it is probably easier than a stranger because we know each other. She knows that I am fussy about food and get moody after a long day at work. But then we also have more to lose, you can't fall out over things like who last washed up or stupid inconsequential things like that because what is that in comparison to a friendship. </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Also to note that on the practical side of things I kind of didn't follow my own advice. I took no pictures - just bundled everything in - still haven't taken a picture in this place! And I just crawled into an unmade bed that has some clothes I need to put away on the end of it! Do as I say people not as I do.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-53346044499328940752014-12-13T12:30:00.001+00:002014-12-13T12:52:54.916+00:00Moving In - The Practicalities <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-AW60M2ahAI-l_hKQiHzHdKLVEGRBInMYd4DC076gNVyh8Re06IsHTjRBY_K-S1TJsgool3-boirLsVIrN00XNvcW0PVhGWPTcASnYoyOHJ16q0N-TwjtDka3YB3v-olK5ZDaJpe-VRx/s1600/Moving+In.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-AW60M2ahAI-l_hKQiHzHdKLVEGRBInMYd4DC076gNVyh8Re06IsHTjRBY_K-S1TJsgool3-boirLsVIrN00XNvcW0PVhGWPTcASnYoyOHJ16q0N-TwjtDka3YB3v-olK5ZDaJpe-VRx/s1600/Moving+In.jpg" height="362" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When you move in make sure you have a detailed inventory that you agree with. If one isn't supplied do one and give it to your landlord/rental provider and make sure they agree. This way you won't be paying for any damage that was there when you arrived.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Take pictures throughout the property - this proves how you received the property and that you left it the way you got it. Pictures don't lie (OK I know that they can lie but in this case <i>pictures don't lie!!)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Make sure you have contents insurance - if anything goes wrong then this will be your life line.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Make sure your furniture fits - so far I have held off ordering a new sofa as I'm not sure what will fit up the stairs. At the moment I'm still not sure if some of my furniture will fit into my bedroom but as I already had it and I'm moving out of my parents house, literally 10 minutes down the road, I don't need to panic about this too much. If it really doesn't fit then it will just have to come back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Take meter readings - work out how to take meter readings</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pack essentials like toilet roll, tea, coffee etc. separately. Also pack some clothes & pyjamas away from your main clothes as honestly the last thing you want to do when you move is unpack all of your clothes and put them in your wardrobe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Check that the sink is properly connected and when you empty the water from the sink at 10pm that water doesn't pour all into the cupboard under the sink, the floor and pretty much everywhere because yeah that's pretty annoying and you will swear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Start as you mean to go on - make your bed, wash up, put things away. Be a grown up</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Any tips you have for moving in?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-26866676713109246922014-12-10T15:29:00.000+00:002014-12-10T15:29:07.423+00:00Festive Snacks - Cheese & Chutney Toasted Sandwich<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of my local pubs do a fantastic carvery and the lady that does all the cooking is a sides wizard - yeah the meat and the potatoes are good but the pastry plaits, cauliflower cheese and cheesy bread & butter puddings are honestly divine. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the amazing plaits she does is a cheese & chutney plait which is delicious but I suck at pastry and I need instant gratification on a cold afternoon filled with packing so the cheese & chutney toasted sandwich was born!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8Azk4s5S0fy3_jypWJE6YuTWEyWtgYKi12nQTtbbztwN3D1lRBqAAyd4_FS-rhna9ihsEMLcu6spZVfyj-_UgWT84LhdeEJM56Fwv1fbePDFwe2KDY7BKuBl0ux3MiOh4tFDyG_uGVzW/s1600/Cheese+&+Chutney+Toastie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8Azk4s5S0fy3_jypWJE6YuTWEyWtgYKi12nQTtbbztwN3D1lRBqAAyd4_FS-rhna9ihsEMLcu6spZVfyj-_UgWT84LhdeEJM56Fwv1fbePDFwe2KDY7BKuBl0ux3MiOh4tFDyG_uGVzW/s1600/Cheese+&+Chutney+Toastie.jpg" height="640" width="544" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Super simple... 4 ingredients </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bread </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mature Cheddar Cheese</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Chutney (I used a caramelized onion chutney from the jar but feel free to experiment</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Margarine/butter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I used a sandwich toaster as we have one at home but if you don't then this would work just as well in a frying or griddle pan, it just takes a little longer and requires a little more skill. Butter the bread, grate the cheese, put the bread butter side down, sprinkle the cheese, spoon in the chutney (don't be greedy!) and toast. Then ram it in your face while trying to not burn your face with hot melted cheese!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-66630967953551637362014-12-10T10:46:00.000+00:002014-12-10T12:19:07.160+00:00Moving Out - The Prep<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago me and my best friend made the decision that we were moving in together(and you can read the post out about that decision here) and now the week has finally come where we actually make the big move. She has moved away from home before as she went to uni but this will be the first time I have lived anywhere else other than home so yeah you could say I have no idea what I am doing! So if this is your first time moving out then read on and hopefully I can help (and if this isn't then please continue to read on for my naivety)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwe1Uhor0Fj5_b2UvVBxosA2wTArUJw6rd6tSjII2vMo6agNOcPZYxgTjV3aGWAPAEP2Z7QldXf6wjE2ix1PC_7r9DJzivaE5gtQja2pUP-j9qakCDzd_2-b1AdzG2j_TYyY8pFCy7JZc/s1600/Moving+Out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwe1Uhor0Fj5_b2UvVBxosA2wTArUJw6rd6tSjII2vMo6agNOcPZYxgTjV3aGWAPAEP2Z7QldXf6wjE2ix1PC_7r9DJzivaE5gtQja2pUP-j9qakCDzd_2-b1AdzG2j_TYyY8pFCy7JZc/s1600/Moving+Out.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><b><i>Packing</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's amazing how much stuff I have! I only have one smallish room at home but seem to have enough clothes to start my own clothes store and enough books to start a library (although these would tend towards the chunkier lady and crime books and I am not willing to part with any of them so a pretty awful shop if I am honest) I am pretty lucky that I am moving from my parents so don't have to be out by a set date but I do have to empty all my furniture so that it can be moved as moving a solid wood wardrobe full of clothes & books would require the services of the Hulk. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I decided to get all my packing requirements from Big Yellow Self Storage. They had packs of boxes put together with bubble wrap and tape which gave you a discount if you were going to buy them separately and I thought was reasonable value (although this is the first time I have ever brought a box so I'm probably not the best judge!) I have wrapped everything in bubble wrap that I even think might break and I'm pretty convinced I will break something because I'm a klutz!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think the main idea behind good packing is to pack your rooms in separate boxes but as my friend won't let me help her pack her shopping because I just throw everything in, I have followed this idea loosely. As the house I am moving into is quite little I don't think it is going to matter that much but will let you know when I try to unpack</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Grown Up Stuff</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This includes to me stuff that I don't normally think about - bills, budgeting, insurance, tv licenses and probably a million other things I haven't even thought of yet. Council tax, water meters and stairs are all a foreign feature to me. The only thing I have managed to sort so far is the contents insurance which is all set up relatively pain free so fingers crossed for everything else being as simple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>The Essentials</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been slowly building up my bottom drawer for a year or so now and I thought I had accumulated a reasonable amount of items but until you actually write down what you need you don't realise how much stuff you actually need in a house ... and how much it costs!! However there are <i style="font-weight: bold;">essentials </i>and then there are <b>ESSENTIALS!!</b> Potentially the Laura Ashley cushion I brought yesterday on my essentials shopping trip may not be considered an essential by some but it was blue and pretty and 30% off so pretty essential to me! Buying of toilet cleaner, dish cloths and peelers wasn't as fun as cushion shopping but still essential. As my dad is helping me move the main essential is tea making facilities as I will be left by myself if I don't provide this. It's a good idea to make sure stuff you will need access to is actually accessible to you and not packed at the bottom of a box that you really cannot be bothered to unpack. Also REMEMBER TOILET ROLL!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Panic Stations</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes I am panicking a little bit but that's ok. Panic means you care but if you are panicking too much then just step back. My panic happened about twenty minutes ago when I had filled two suitcases with clothes and still have a nearly full wardrobe to pack away. Instead of having a meltdown I stopped took a breath logged onto my blog and put it all into some perspective. To start with I think I majorly underestimated the amount of time it would take mainly due to the fact I have majorly underestimated the amount of stuff I own so it's a good idea to give yourself more time than you thought you would need.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In 24 hours time I will have started the big time so wish me luck and any last minute tips are gratefully received!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-75310614356265759872014-12-07T22:14:00.000+00:002014-12-07T22:15:32.073+00:00Read This<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you read anything today let it be <a href="http://myhusbandstumor.com/" target="_blank">this</a>. I struggle sometimes and feel like my world is falling in around me and then you read purely tragic stories like this and you realise that yeah it's actually all ok for me, there are people out there who have it much worse than me. And I know that just because people have it worse than you that doesn't mean that you can't struggle, it just puts it into perspective a little.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And yeah it will probably make you cry as it did me but sometimes tears are good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So all my thoughts with Nora and her family</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-51111069789521746732014-12-06T18:07:00.003+00:002014-12-06T18:07:50.429+00:00Reasons I Love Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-pKSb3ieF3s9PnXkotBhopYo3x5Hb87y6BX1MpvHqXEbuJDOHuC-dtfKE6EFEcXXaABh3tEvSmop1tXm1r68WC3Vw0pQ9ncDCeiyDm36P6YMvEaCcKY-nNc-AKUDwSzKxpycbc5A6XiP/s1600/Mini+Snowman-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-pKSb3ieF3s9PnXkotBhopYo3x5Hb87y6BX1MpvHqXEbuJDOHuC-dtfKE6EFEcXXaABh3tEvSmop1tXm1r68WC3Vw0pQ9ncDCeiyDm36P6YMvEaCcKY-nNc-AKUDwSzKxpycbc5A6XiP/s1600/Mini+Snowman-001.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://simplechroniclesofme.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/reasons-i-hate-winter.html" target="_blank">Yesterday's post</a> was all about my negativity towards winter but hopefully you will find some more positivity in today's post!!</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Sitting in bed in my duvet wearing my Christmas jumper and watching family movies like Harry Potter and eating chocolate just make the trauma of Christmas shopping this morning all seem so far away. Things like this are only acceptable (or even comfortable in Winter)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- The weathermen seem adamant that we will get snow this year and I hope they are right (as long as I don't have to drive anywhere). Snowmen and snow angels all sound like a fantastic idea and the warming hot chocolate that follows is always appreciated. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- CHRISTMAS!!! I love Christmas. Secret Santa, Christmas trees, presents, fairy lights and Christmas dinner just all sound positively perfect.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Winter fashion is honestly the best. As what I would call a woman on the chunkier side of slim summer can literally be torture. I have enough insulating fat to keep me warm and it's apparently socially unacceptable for a fat woman to wear a skirt or dress without tights! In the winter I can wear leggings and jumpers to my hearts content and boots ... I love boots!! Christmas jumpers and sequins also become acceptable and what could be better about that??</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Stews, mash, apple crumble are all only acceptable to eat in the winter, summer food is all about the salad and yeah who wants a salad?!? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Going to bed at 9pm is acceptable as it's dark outside and sometimes I just need to hibernate. I wish I was a bear (and if I was a bear I wouldn't have to shave my legs - which is also possible when tights, leggings & trousers are the order of the day)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-48791430520532334772014-12-05T21:53:00.000+00:002014-12-05T21:53:13.268+00:00Reasons I Hate Winter<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn26EuvNNiyLyWme_TvsGVMMYaakmpQX7tzYzcsB_OY3giD9qf1fS6JhmLNSOYGJFCZ1rpLskJJzxWg2sbS2kIC3eZtdJjjxL2EwosHI-bH7sB2fT7j-L62AJmrKuAtVFgtJujx_mFYK3D/s1600/Winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn26EuvNNiyLyWme_TvsGVMMYaakmpQX7tzYzcsB_OY3giD9qf1fS6JhmLNSOYGJFCZ1rpLskJJzxWg2sbS2kIC3eZtdJjjxL2EwosHI-bH7sB2fT7j-L62AJmrKuAtVFgtJujx_mFYK3D/s1600/Winter.jpg" height="530" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Go to work - it's dark, get home from work - it's dark. Where the hell has all my daylight gone? I live in Suffolk not the Arctic Circle but yesterday it didn't even get light, just the day got slowly more grey. It's depressing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- I hate being cold and I hate being warm due to artificial heat from radiators and heaters. It makes me feel sick and sleepy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- I wish I had a wardrobe full of sophisticated winter clothes but all I really have are comfy leggings and jumpers that are even close to being suitable to wear when it's nearly freezing outside. However I'm not sure this is particularly suitable for everyday office attire (not that this stops me!). Also jumpers do nothing to make me look slim, jumpers are all about bulk which is not really my friend</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Winter makes me need carbs, like an actual addiction, which does not help with the aforementioned bulk. Also Costa has the Black Forest hot chocolate which is actually amazing and has about a million calories per sip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- As soon as the ice warning comes up in my car, I panic. I have crashed two cars in the same spot when it's been icy and it's not something I wish to repeat. Luckily the "crashes" have been pretty minor but finding yourself on the opposite side of the road facing the wrong way in a hedge will never be my idea of fun. (Although my car no longer says "warning ice" it says it in Portuguese next to the time that is 3 hours and 3 years in the future!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Time seems to literally speed up in December. It seems like minutes ago that November started and now we are twenty days away from Christmas and I don't even remember it happening. Also December is a super expensive month (especially this year with the deposits and everything!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- I hate crowds, they make me tense and shopping in December is just torture for me. So I am not entirely looking forward to shopping tomorrow, but I need boxes to pack my stuff so I must face the city!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are many reasons to love Winter too. One of them is blogging in bed with a bar of Galaxy Caramel and the cat curled up next to me.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-812160018443475083.post-47657225929967499612014-12-01T22:36:00.003+00:002014-12-10T12:19:25.155+00:00Homemade Advent Calander<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know I'm too late this year for you to make your own Advent calender but I couldn't write about it until I had unveiled it to my sister and I obviously still can't go too much into what is inside it as I don't want to spoil the surprise but this year me and my sister decided to make each other Advent calenders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are lots of different ways that you can display the gifts you get but this is the way I decided to display mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyy0AV5PA0ZsOV3SvKHP-VKDcq1ZeWt-TwWDgmSnjjun3r70L9LsqCfcD4O2t7OgDwfjHI99xAaGospY1auLHF6GVcX5XcQ94dm7LIXIE48UkNd3W7TkstYYVkpeZCfiL_SFLLN3EpxHS/s1600/Advent+Calender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyy0AV5PA0ZsOV3SvKHP-VKDcq1ZeWt-TwWDgmSnjjun3r70L9LsqCfcD4O2t7OgDwfjHI99xAaGospY1auLHF6GVcX5XcQ94dm7LIXIE48UkNd3W7TkstYYVkpeZCfiL_SFLLN3EpxHS/s1600/Advent+Calender.jpg" height="640" width="532" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To make you will need:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">24 small gifts - we agreed to try & keep relatively cheap so it's a mixture of childish cheap fun stuff and slightly more expensive little gifts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Coloured string</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ribbon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brown Paper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Luggage Tags - got mine from W H Smith </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gold push pins (found in the random stuff drawer in our kitchen)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Black Biro (I attempted different more expensive pens but these didn't work with the coating on the tags or dried out extremely quickly - biro is your cheapest most reliable friend)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Large corkboard (I recently got mine from Amazon for under £10 and will put it back to it's original use once we have finished)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I decided to wrap some presents and keep some presents visible. This was mainly due to the fact that some of the presents would be insanely difficult to wrap and also I like the look of some of the presents being on show especially the pretty bird. I decided to keep a common theme of the snowflakes on all the presents and the tags and a mixture of using the written number and the numerical form to look a bit more interesting too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I honestly had no idea how difficult buying 24 little gifts would be. When we first decided on the idea it seemed like the simplest thing ever but things are so expensive that it was hard to get decent gifts that didn't cost the earth. Also as a relatively uncrafty person the writing of the tags literally took me a millennium but I am happy with them (these are attempt number two though!!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What do you think about my advent calender idea? Have you ever made one?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946866737178054262noreply@blogger.com0