Very Much So....

Pinterest Crafting: Stout Cupcakes

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 08:51:00 +0000

I'm not really doing these as often as I hoped but at least I'm trying, right? This time I thought I'd try one of the hundreds of cake recipes I've pinned.

Stout Cupcakes

Matt and I had the day off together so we decided to do a little baking. I wanted to try something we'd never done before so I scrolled through my Pinterest and found this pin. They are basically chocolate and stout cupcakes with a bit of coffee, a ganache on top and finished with salted pretzels. The full recipe can be found over here, Matt and I just halved the ingredients as we thought 36 cupcakes between two of us was a little greedy! The cakes themselves were really yummy and went well with the pretzels but we really messed up with the ganache. I think we managed to split it but personally even if we had got it right the extra chocolate made it a little too rich for me. I'd definitely make them again but next time I'd add a creamier topping to balance it out.

Exciting News...

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Thu, 30 May 2013 17:55:00 +0000

I entered this picture into a competition on Facebook for the National Trust about a month ago. The competition was being used as a way to collect people's Special Places from around the country and this tree is most certainly ours. I've talked about our tree on this blog before and this photo was the most recent one we had.

Anyway, long story short, we made the shortlist for the competition! So we're down to the final 10 and we now rely on people voting for our entry on Facebook. So if you do have an account please head over here and vote for us, I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you in advance!

Weekend Adventuring

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Tue, 28 May 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Technically this was a little Monday adventuring but seeing as I had to work all weekend and it was a bank holiday so I think that it still counts. The weather looked deceptively nice so we headed out for a walk through the park. It wasn't long before we were fed up of battling the wind though so we headed back inside and cuddled up watching movies and playing computer games. We had fun whilst we were out although I must admit that it was Matt that took the photo of the squirrel. I managed to convince myself that the squirrel was much too close and therefore likely to attack us so I slowly backed away while Matt happily snapped pictures. It was a nice little walk outside and unsurprisingly there were no squirrel attacks!

Weekend Adventuring

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:18:00 +0000

We finally had a chance to have a proper Sunday adventure. It was perfect. A walk up on the hills surrounding Bath, walking hand in hand and talking about the future. I cherish the time I get with Matt away from the distractions of day to day life. The time that we can spend talking about where we're heading, what we want and the things we are waiting for.

Time in nature with this man at my side never fails to reinvigorate my very being.

Everyday Life

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:08:00 +0000

Matt hanging out with our new sloth friend
Trying out new soft drinks
After a couple of days of sun my freckles decided to show themselves
We left some of the hearts up in the bedroom after Valentine's and they never fail to make me smile
Evening light through the bedroom window

Wednesday Challenge Update - 15th May

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:11:00 +0000

I'm back to my weekly challenge updates now and I've actually managed to finish two books this week so here goes.

From Goodreads

The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson

From Goodreads:
A thousand years ago evil came to the land and has ruled with an iron hand ever since. The sun shines fitfully under clouds of ash that float down endlessly from the constant eruption of volcanoes. A dark lord rules through the aristocratic families and ordinary folk are condemned to lives in servitude, sold as goods, labouring in the ash fields. But now a troublemaker has arrived and there is rumour of revolt. A revolt that depends on criminal that no-one can trust and a young girl who must master Allomancy - the magic that lies in all metals.

I have to admit that I did something really naughty with this book...whilst I was reading it I looked it up online. Of course I read something that I really didn't want to and it almost put me off finishing the book. Silly me! Luckily I carried on because I loved the whole thing and I cannot wait to get stuck in to the second one. I feel like it's been ages since I discovered a new fantasy and I'm glad that I've found one to obsess over.

From Goodreads

XO - Jeffery Deaver

From Goodreads:
Kayleigh Towne is gorgeous with a voice that is taking her to the heights of the country pop charts. Her hit single “Your Shadow” puts her happily in the spotlight, until an innocent exchange with one of her fans leads Kayleigh into a dark and terrifying realm. The fan warns, “I’m coming for you,” and soon accidents happen and people close to Kayleigh die. Special Agent Kathryn Dance must use her considerable skills at investigation and body language analysis to stop the stalker—but before long she learns that, like many celebrities, Kayleigh has more than just one fan with a mission.

Jeffery Deaver is easily one of my favourite crime writers and although I prefer his Lincoln Rhyme novels I still really enjoy this one. I love how he surprises you with a plot twist and it completely changes how you see the book and just when you're getting settled he throws in a couple more twists. You never really know how it's going to end until the last few pages and I really enjoy that. I can't stand a crime novel where you can easily see how it's going to turn out.

So there we have it. Two books closer to my target of 50, I'm now at 23. I feel like I'm going much slower this year and that I'm not stretching myself as much. I may need to do something about that. As always you can keep up with what I'm currently reading on my Goodreads page or look at all of the past weeks of the challenge here.

Pinterest Crafting: Sock Sloth

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:55:00 +0000

I, like many others I'm sure, spend way too much time on Pinterest. I can spend hours scrolling through and pinning things I like, especially if I should be doing something else. Since I'm on there so much I thought I'd challenge myself to actually do some of the things that I see and like. I am pretty good already at using some of the recipes and crafts that I pin but I though that I'd step it up a notch and document what happens on here. So, anyway, this is my first attempt.

Sock Sloth

I really enjoy making sock rabbits for my friends with little ones and I love sloths so when I saw this pin I knew I had to try it. The tutorial is originally from here and it was nice, clear and easy to follow so I won't reproduce it here but head on over there if you want to make your own.

So here's the little guy all finished. I didn't have the right colour threads and it was my first time sewing felt so I know he's far from perfect but I do find him cute all the same. I'm glad I pushed myself to try something new and I'm already scrolling through my pinterest trying to choose what to make next.

Everyday Life

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Sat, 11 May 2013 09:01:00 +0000

Bedtime reading
Matt's home made banana cake
Date night to the theatre
Afternoon 'me time' with a book and freshly baked marmalade muffins
After work walks through the park in the sunshine together

London Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:54:00 +0000

Last weekend we headed up to London for a couple of days and it was so much fun. I've been working more weekends recently so Matt and I haven't had much time together and the number of adventures have declined massively. We really needed this weekend together! We met up with his family who we haven't seen in much too long and had a good catch up. The weekend included good food, visits to the V&A and the British Museum and lots of walks through the city. To be honest it was just so nice to be somewhere new with Matt. I'm not sure when I'll get a weekend off again but we've already booked our next adventure, a getaway to Belfast in June to visit friends.

Determination

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:01:00 +0000

It's been so long since I regularly updated this blog but I really feel that now is the time for me to throw myself into documenting our little life. I've got some ideas of how I'll keep myself on track this time and I've started changing the design up a bit so that it feels more 'me'. I really hope this is it and that I stick at it because I love taking photos and having this little corner of the internet to keep all of our memories.

I'm determined to make this work...

2013 Book Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:45:00 +0000

I really enjoyed my book challenge last year and it felt so good to accomplish my goal so I've decided to do it again this year. I've kept the same target as last year because I found that 50 was a stretch without forcing me to put off reading books I wanted to due to length.

I know that it's already May but I did start at the beginning of the year and I'm already on 21 books mainly due to some intensive holiday reading in January. I'm not going to do a catch up of this years challenge on here as I have so many other things to catch up on on this blog. You can find what I've read so far over on Goodreads and I'll be doing a weekly update from here on out. I really enjoyed doing these last year and I hope you liked reading them.

Everyday Life

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:36:00 +0000

Cold nights lead to a dinosaur in a microwave
Board games and beer with the husband
The best toasted sandwich in the making
Valentine's surprise from me to him
My new favourite photo of Matt
My first red velvet cake

Wednesday Challenge Update 21.11.12

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 15:58:00 +0000

Image from Goodreads

A Storm of Swords - George R. R. Martin

From Goodreads:
Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King’s Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world...

I was unsure whether to read this instalment or not as Matt and I are watching Game of Thrones but I just couldn't resist. Then I got disheartened part way through as it seemed to be taking me a long time to read it. I was really enjoying it but I'd got used to a faster pace of reading. I think part of the problem was that I was reading it on the Kindle so I couldn't see the size of the book. Once I'd looked it up and found 'Storm of Swords' word count was over 400K I stopped feeling bad that it was taking me a couple of weeks.
I'm really enjoying seeing how the different story lines are developing for each character and how they are slowly interlinking. I think I'll read a couple of other different books though before I read the next instalment in the song of ice and fire saga.

This is the first book I've read since I finished the challenge and I'm still finding myself just as eager to pick a new one up straight away. As always you can keep up with what I'm currently reading on my Goodreads page or look at all of the past weeks of the challenge here.

Being Outside

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:12:00 +0000

On holiday we tried to spend as much time as we could outside. I find that being out in nature is the best thing possible for my soul. If I'm sad or stressed a walk through the park is really the only cure for me. To spend all day on walks through the forest and then the evening chatting with good friends was perfect for me. My heart feels full again and I feel ready to conquer our day to day problems. Just looking at these pictures makes me smile and I'm excited for our next adventure.

Morning Spider Webs

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 15:09:00 +0000

When we were away Matt and I tried to go out for a walk every morning whilst everyone else was getting up and ready. The first time we went out we came across this field of spider webs. It was truly magical to see them covered in dew with the morning sun shining through the trees. It was one of those moments where I squeezed my husband's hand a little harder and found myself thankful for this world that I live in, this life that I have. And then I ran off to take these photos. I found myself smiling and giggling like a child and I think I carried some of that magic through the rest of the day.

Book Challenge Completed October 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:59:00 +0000

Image from Goodreads

Mucho Mojo - Joe R. Lansdale

From Goodreads:
Leonard is still nursing the injuries he sustained in the duo's last wild undertaking when he learns that his Uncle Chester has passed. Hap is of course going to be there for his best friend, and when the two are cleaning up Uncle Chester's dilapidated house, they uncover a dark little secret beneath the house's rotting floor boards—a small skeleton buried in a trunk. Hap wants to call the police. Leonard, being a black man in east Texas, persuades him this is not a good idea, and together they set out to clear Chester's name on their own. The only things standing in their way is a houseful of felons, a vicious killer, and possibly themselves.

This is the second in the Hap and Leonard series and I think I enjoyed it even more from the first. Since all of the characters were pretty well established the story got started much quicker than in the last book. The only slight problem with this one was that I didn't find it too much of the mystery, I could see the plot twist coming but that said it was still very enjoyable.

Image from Goodreads

Altered Carbon - Richard Morgan

From Goodreads:
In the twenty-fifth century, humankind has spread throughout the galaxy, monitored by the watchful eye of the U.N. While divisions in race, religion, and class still exist, advances in technology have redefined life itself. Now, assuming one can afford the expensive procedure, a person’s consciousness can be stored in a cortical stack at the base of the brain and easily downloaded into a new body (or “sleeve”) making death nothing more than a minor blip on a screen.

This was one of Matt's wild card recommendations for me because he thought I might maybe like it. And he was spot on. Although I like science fiction this isn't the sort of book I'd normally pick up and I'd been putting off reading it after glancing at the back cover. I did find it a little hard going but I really enjoyed it. It felt like more of a crime novel once you'd got over the whole 'consciousness is stored and so can be transferred to different bodies'. I'm not sure if I'll read the rest of the trilogy as they seem more military but I certainly liked this one.

Image from Goodreads

This Book is full of Spiders - David Wong

From Goodreads:
WARNING: You may have a huge, invisible spider living in your skull. THIS IS NOT A METAPHOR. You will dismiss this as ridiculous fearmongering. Dismissing things as ridiculous fearmongering is, in fact, the first symptom of parasitic spider infection-the creature secretes a chemical into the brain to stimulate skepticism, in order to prevent you from seeking a cure. That's just as well, since the "cure" involves learning what a chain saw tastes like. You can't feel the spider, because it controls your nerve endings. You can't see it, because it decides what you see. You won't even feel it when it breeds. And it will breed. So what happens when your family, friends, and neighbors get mind-controlling skull spiders? We're all about to find out.

Matt surprised me with this last week and I was so excited. John Dies at the End was one of my favourite books this year so I was excited to get stuck into this, the sequel. It also felt right that this would be my last book of the challenge. It certainly didn't disappoint. Just as strange as the first one and just as addictive, I didn't want to put it down. I loved it, maybe even more than the first one.

So that's it. I completed it. 50 books this year. I'm really proud of myself and I'll definitely be doing this again next year as I've discovered so many different books. I've learnt a lot about the style of writing I enjoy and, equally important, what I don't. I'm going to continue to do updates for the remainder of the year because I want to keep in the habit of doing them and I'm not going to stop reading.

As always you can keep up with what I'm currently reading on my Goodreads page or look at all of the past weeks of the challenge here.

Our Anniversary Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:47:00 +0000

We had such a lovely weekend to celebrate our first anniversary. We kept it pretty low key but it was nice just to spend time together. We bought Halo 4 as a little anniversary present to ourselves so Saturday was pretty much spent playing that together. Saturday night was full of beer, party food and Halo 4 and we actually saw in our anniversary before we went to sleep. When we woke on the Sunday we had sparkling wine that was left over from the wedding as well as cake we’d bought from the same patisserie that provided our wedding cakes. After a little more Halo we headed out for an autumnal walk in the sunshine before popping in a pub that we’ve been going to since the beginning of our relationship. To finish off the day we went to a Thai restaurant that was also the scene of one of our first dates.
All in all it was a fun trip down memory lane whilst discussing the future that we have together. What more could I ask for out of an anniversary?

Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Let's just pretend that it's the 1st of November and I'm telling you about our lovely day yesterday. Halloween was amazing. It fell smack bang in the middle of our week away with friends and we spent the day carving pumpkins, eating pumpkin soup for lunch, covering the whole cabin in Halloween decorations, dressing up and eating too many snacks and sweets. We don't usually do anything for Halloween so it was fun to do it all for once. Matt and I really were not prepared for the pumpkin carving and so we're going to need to get some practice in before next year so we don't show ourselves up again. In fact, I don't know why I'm saying 'we' Matt's came out lovely but it makes me feel better if I pretend it wasn't just me letting the side down. We may not be the best pumpkin carvers but we totally pulled off our fancy dress, even if Matt looked so creepy he kept scaring me all evening!

Sorry for my Absence....

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:54:00 +0000

I'm back now. I'm not sure why I was gone so long. After I'd missed a couple of days it became harder and harder to get back into blogging. I've set myself some weekly guidelines now though and I feel that I'm ready to jump back in so here I am. I'll try not to put up too many out of date posts but Matt and I have just spent a week away in Ringwood Forest and I have hundreds of photos from there so I'm going to blog about that. This is my apology in advance, you're going to have to look at our Halloween photos almost three weeks later. We have been up to other fun little adventures since I last wrote on here so here's just a quick photo update of our life to get you up to date....

A weekend in September. We baked bread together and then went on a local walk. A beautiful, perfect weekend spent walking hand in hand talking of our future.

Headed to Prior Park in early October. We'd never been before despite it being only a short walk away.

And spending an autumnal day visiting Stourhead. It was ridiculously busy but we still managed to enjoy a short picnic and take some leaf photos.

Challenge Update 19.09.12

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:01:00 +0000

Image from Goodreads

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

From Goodreads:
Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden.
Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television "family." But then he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear, and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television.

This is another of those books which I knew I had to read this year. I had it in my head that it had to part of my challenge but hadn't really given any thought to why. When I starting reading it this week I realised that I had had no idea what the book was actually about. It was such a pleasant surprise to discover the theme of it. I'm not really sure what else to say except that I loved it.

My total for the book challenge is now 47/50. Only 3 books left! I feel like the speed with which I'm reading is decreasing as I come closer to the end of the challenge. I can't believe I'm so close to the end. I won't stop adding to this once I've reached 50 though, I'm interested to see how many I actually read this year now. As always you can keep up with what I'm currently reading on my Goodreads page or look at past weeks of the challenge here.

The Gift of Photos...

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:01:00 +0000

I always find it difficult to buy presents for my friends who are expecting babies. I can shop for baby stuff all day long but finding something that is for the adults is a little more tough. For my friends Jamie and Tash I decided to take a couple of photos of them. They both enjoy taking photos and I thought they might like having some photos of the two of them before they become a family of three. It was fun to have something different to take photos of for once and although I know they're not the best pictures ever the main thing is their love for each other and their unborn daughter are shining through in them. She's due in just over a week now and I can't wait to see her.

Challenge Update 12.09.12

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:09:00 +0000

Image from Goodreads

The Shunned House - H.P. Lovecraft

From Goodreads:
A young man and his uncle have spent years fascinated by an abandoned house. For over a century, numerous inhabitants of the house have fallen sick and died, but no apparent explanation can be found. Strange weeds found no where else grow in the yard, and an unexplained smell emanates from the house. In the cellar, a sickly whitish phosphorescent fungi grows in the form of a human body. When they decide to spend the night there, the mystery of the shunned house becomes even more intriguing...

After finally finishing Clash of Kings I wanted to read something a little shorter. I've never read any Lovecraft before so I thought so decided to start this book on the train. I think it took me about 20 minutes. I didn't realise it was quite that short! I really enjoyed the writing style though and will definitely hunt down some more H.P. Lovecraft books to read.

Image from Goodreads

The Savage Season - Joe R. Lansdale

From Goodreads:
Start with two best friends who practice martial arts in their free time: one a straight white guy, the other a black gay guy. Add a conniving ex-wife in a blue-jean miniskirt. Throw in half a million in a muddy creekbed somewhere near the Sabine River in East Texas. Add an ex-radical from the '60s and two naive idealists who want to save the world. Mix them all together in a half-assed plan, season with double-crosses, and then top it off with a hilarious and chilling drug dealer named Soldier. Bloody mayhem a la Lansdale.

This is one of those books that Matt has been trying to get me to read for ages and, since I'm doing this challenge and therefore always looking for new books, I thought I'd give it a go. What can I say? I enjoyed it. I should just trust when Matt recommends me a book, I always end up liking them. This book was a little crazy and kind of awesome. Going to start reading the second one soon.

My total for the book challenge is now 46/50. Only 4 books left! As always you can keep up with what I'm currently reading on my Goodreads page or look at past weeks of the challenge here.

Challenge Update 07.09.12

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 15:42:00 +0000

I know it's not Wednesday but I was just so excited that I had finally finished my book that I'm willing to overlook that small detail. Doing this book challenge has given me unrealistic expectations about books. I find myself getting annoyed that I haven't finished a book after a couple of days. This one took me two weeks and I think I need to remind myself that that's ok. Some books take time, I shouldn't rush through them just for the sake of it. It's all right to savour them. Anyway, on the update...

Image from Goodreads

A Clash of Kings - George R.R. Martin

From Goodreads:
Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.

I am loving this series. I'm still finding it a little tough to get through in parts, all of the names and locations can confuse me at times. I'm certainly getting into it though and I really want to read the next one straight away which is always a good sign. I'm not sure if I want to read the next one before the third series of Game of Thrones starts or not though. I don't want to accidentally ruin it for Matt. Not sure I can wait either. Dilemmas.

My total for the book challenge is now 44/50. As always you can keep up with what I'm currently reading on my Goodreads page or look at past weeks of the challenge here.

In Need of Motivation...

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:17:00 +0000

Taken on Amroth Beach, Wales. Aug 2012

I'm finding it really hard to get back into blogging after my holiday and I don't know how to get myself out of this slump. And it isn't just a blogging slump, I'm in the middle of a life slump. This time last year I had a very clear picture in my head about what my life would be like now and I guess I'm a little disappointed that reality is not matching up to my daydreams. I've been taking less photos, not reading as much, staying in more and that's having a very negative impact on my sense of well being. I don't really have too much reason to even feel this way; I have my health, a place to live and I'm married to my best friend. I am aware I'm acting like a child but it's just one of those weeks where I just feel meh.

This post is a little pointless and rambling but what I'm trying to say is I'm going to pull myself out of this little rut and get myself motivated again. Because I really do believe real life can be better than my daydreams, I just need to make it happen. So bear with me please...

Back to Normal...

noreply@blogger.com (Amy @ Very Much So) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:04:00 +0000

Sorry I didn't post my Wednesday challenge update this week. The thing is, I haven't actually finished a book this week. I decided to start reading the second book in George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire saga and, what with travelling and adventuring, I'm only halfway through it now. I only have seven books left before I hit my target of 50 so I'm starting to think more carefully about what I want to read next. If you guys have any suggestions they would be most appreciated.

Life has returned to normal now after our week of adventure. I'm so worn out from all of the travelling but I'm already looking forward to the next one. We have a cabin in the New Forest booked for October with some friends so I don't even have to wait long. This is a little bit of a random post just to say hi and that I'm back. I'll leave you with some snapshots of Matt enjoying our bank holiday adventure at Mottisfont...