Violet Daffodils

October Roundup 2024

2024-10-31T22:00:00.004+00:00

♡Had a fabulous time on holiday with the girls in Albufeira, Portugal celebrating Katie's 30th. It was a good mix of relaxing, partying and exploring. I loved every minute of it!

♡I got back from Portugal and was struck with cold. Spent the week off work after the holiday feeling sorry for myself.

♡My baby girl, Luna our golden Labrador turned 7! Where does the time go?!

♡I celebrated 4 years at my current job! Where has the time gone?!

♡Went on a solo trip theatre trip to see Wicked at Sunderland Empire Theatre. I've always wanted to see it but never gotten around to it until now. It was a good musical but its not my favourite if I'm being honest. I liked how it sets up the story for The Wizard of Oz and the two main actresses in this show were incredible! I'm pleased I've seen it though and can cross it off my list however I don't think I'd rush back to see the show in the future.

♡Went to a family house party where we had a Chinese takeaway to celebrate Katie's 30th.

♡Got my nails done for this month. Went for one colour this time round and chose the same berry shade I had on my nails last month. Loving this autumnal colour lately.

♡Continued watching Only Murders In The Building and I LOVE IT! I binged it all whilst I was off work and I'm all up to date now. I love a show where the characters are all loveable for different reasons, however Charles is definitely my favourite. And I was pleasantly surprised by how many actors/actresses have been in it as supporting roles and cameos too. Now if I can get 'Which of the Pickwick Triplets did it?' song out of my head that'd be great! It's too damn catchy ha!

♡After I finished Only Murders In The Building, I then watched Childstar which is a documentary with Demi Lovato interviewing fellow child stars such as Kenan Thompson, Raven-Symoné, Drew Barrymore, Christina Ricci and many more about their experiences growing up as child stars in the industry. It was very interesting and eye opening. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was a series and each episode focused on the stories of each individual person being interviewed instead of an hour and half long one-off but was still interesting to watch nonetheless.

♡I started to feel better so went back to work and I'm really enjoying being back and getting stuck into the work load.

♡Had a leaving meal for Ashley with the work gang at Valentino's restaurant. The food was so delicious! I had scallops to start and chicken dolcelatte for the main course. I'd definitely be going back in the future.

♡Been doing more colouring in when visiting my Gran. I find it so therapeutic to do. Family life is rather chaotic lately and being able to focus on something enjoyable and creative has been great at keeping myself calm, making me feeling less overwhelmed and it takes my mind off the sadness for a while.

♡My boyfriend and I went to see From The Jam perform at The Fire Station. I'd never been there for a gig before, I've only been there for food and drinks but it's really good size venue. I'll be keeping an eye out for gigs there in the future.

♡Went for afternoon tea again at Bowburn Hall with Becky and Sarah again. The food was much better this time around with more options to choose from. It was delicious!

♡My boyfriend and I have started watching Sweetpea too, which is about a girl called Rhiannon, a wallflower who is often overlooked, been bullied and goes through life changing losses and finally snaps and commits murders. I wasn't initially drawn in by the first episode as it was building up her backstory but after episode two where there was more action and more going on with the story I was into it.

♡I found out one of my favourite local cafés, Eden Art is closing down! I'm so shocked as the food and drinks there are so delicious and it is always busy. Such a shame it is closing. I made sure to pop in for my lunch before work before it closed.

♡Went to the Oktoberfest event in Newcastle with Donna, Danny and Kayleigh. It was good night filled with dancing on benches to oompah music and drinking steins.

♡Luna came to stay with us for the weekend. We had gentle walks in the autumn sunshine now that she's got arthritis in her shoulder, she had a dip in the sea fetching a giant stick and a trip out to Pets At Home for a new toy.

♡Family time carving pumpkins. I challenged myself to create a Pikachu pumpkin. Not as good as I saw online but happy with my attempt!

♡Took Luna along to watch one of my family members do their rugby training.

♡Continuing listening to The Therapy Crouch podcast. I've really gotten into this podcast with Abbey Clancy and Peter Crouch this year. It's been easy listening when I'm working away in the stockroom at work. Anyone who is a fan of Shagged Married Annoyed podcast with Chris and Rosie Ramsey will enjoy it as it's a similar format.

♡Getting last minute preparations in for our annual Halloween party at the start of next month. With Halloween falling on a weekday we decided to wait until the first weekend in November so we can get everyone together. I also finally decided on my costume as well after changing my mind multiple times ha! So stay tuned for next month's roundup to see what I went for ;)

Thanks for reading! <3
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July Roundup 2024

2024-07-31T12:08:00.003+01:00

♡Beginning the month with freshly dyed hair. It always makes me feel like a new woman. This year I've changed my usual go-to colour from 'medium cool brown' to 'dark warm brown' by Clairol Nice 'N' Easy and I find it warms my skin tone so much better.

♡We have started watching Peaky Blinders again. I've only ever seen up to season 2 in the past so this time we're watching all 6 seasons.

♡Headed to the polling station and made sure I voted.

♡Had a night out in Newcastle with my friend, Kate for a catch up and to watch the England VS Switzerland match. Happy with the result and great atmosphere. We started at The Old George pub, then The Telegraph pub to meet some of our friends and then headed to Motel Mexicana and ended the night with food at Pizza Punks.

♡Another trip to the local car boot sale. Picked up a few goodies this time round that I'd seen last month; a Pikachu pin badge, a KISS Love Gun t-shirt and an England bucket hat to wear whilst the Euros are on.

♡Celebrating England beating The Netherlands 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi-finals! My boyfriend and I wore our brand new matching England bucket hats whilst we watched it haha.

♡Finally treating myself to some flowers again for the home. I love how much sunflowers brighten up the place.

♡More warmer days meant I could finally wear more summery clothes for both in and outside of work. I've missed wearing floaty dresses and skirts and denim shorts.

♡Going back into consultations at work again. It's always an uneasy time but hopefully the outcome is a positive one.

♡Watching the Euros 2024 final with my boyfriend's family. We all got dressed up in our red and white attire and I sported my new England bucket hat for the occasion. It was England VS Spain and damn...I thought we might have made it but unfortunately not. It was great to all be together to watch it though despite the result.

♡My best friend's little girl graduated from nursery. How the time flies! She's so grown up!

♡Got my nails done a sunshine yellow colour. I'm so happy with them!

♡Trying to cook/make some new dishes on an evening to change things up.

♡Sunny mornings spent down at the beach. Had a few weekends like this and it's been so much fun!

♡Had a lush afternoon/evening out in Durham with a few of my friends from work. Starting with food at InShanghai and followed by drinks at Turtle Bay and Lane 7.

♡Went to a fundraising event for my friend's work. It was a really fun afternoon with lots of stalls of activities including a ferret roulette which was different ha! , face painting, farm animals and a ukulele band who were brilliant!

♡Finally took some time off work and had a weeks holiday booked in. I had all sorts of ideas in my head of how I was going to make use of my time off but ended up derailing from my original plans. It was still good to have some time off but I was so ready to get back to work by the end of the week.

♡Visited my best friend, Nina in her gorgeous new home and was surprised with meeting her brand new puppy, Ida. She's a Bedlington terrier and she's SOOOOOOO CUTE!!!!!

♡My boyfriend used one of his holidays at work to have some much needed time together. We had a chilled morning, then headed out for breakfast at our favourite place, then got changed and headed to the beach for the rest of the afternoon where we spent it swimming in the sea before ending the day with dinner at The Prospect Italian Bistro. I had the mussels to start and then tagliatelle carbonara for my main. The mussels especially were one of the best I've eaten!

♡Speaking of beach days, when the weather has been sunny we've had a few beach trips and its been some of my fondest memories we've made together so far this summer.

♡Seen my little Luna bear after almost a month! <3 Can't wait to be dog sitting her again next month :3

♡Finally, we took our new paddle board out for a test run. It was brilliant! It was a serene morning, the sun was shining, the sea was still and the water was so clear and refreshing. It was so much fun and as a water baby myself, it's an activity I could see myself really getting into more! Although I haven't quite mastered being able to keep my balance and paddling whilst standing up on it yet, it was great fun giving it a try.

Thanks for reading! <3
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July Nails 2024: Sunshine Nails

2024-07-08T10:26:00.020+01:00

During my latest visit to Nail Fairy I was looking for a nail colour that was a bit different to my usual choices and I wanted something vibrant for the summer. So I decided to go for this bright sunshine yellow. I absolutely love them! I feel like I'm walking around with a little bit of sunshine on me wherever I go and whatever the weather!

Thanks for reading! <3
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A Fun Flower DIY

2024-05-18T20:00:00.005+01:00

During one of my daily scrolls through Instagram the ol' algorithm recommend a reel by Deryatavas, which showed them in a park creating a drawing of a flower vase on a piece of cardboard, piercing holes with pen and then filling said holes with real life flowers to create this really cute piece of art work. I'd never seen anything like it before and was amazed by the result and how simple it was to create. Feeling inspired, I decided on this sunny afternoon to give it a go myself in my own garden and show you the result.

What You Need:

• Cardboard (preferably thin like from a cereal box)

• Black marker pen (other colours are optional)

• Pencil or Pen

• Picked flowers

• Be Outside!

First, I cut out my cardboard from a cereal box into a small rectangle. Then with a black marker I drew a design of a vase. This can be any shape, size, pattern you want.

Next I used a thinner pen (pencil also can be used here), I punched holes sporadically into the cardboard above the vase drawing. Make sure the holes are big enough for the stems to fit through.

Now for the fun parts! I went around my garden and picked a handful of small flowers; daisies, buttercups, dandelions and speedwells (make sure the stems are long enough to push through the cardboard!). Whatever I could find that was small enough to fit into the holes I'd made and brought them inside to start putting them onto the cardboard.

Finally the other fun part! I gathered my collected flowers together and began filtering the stems into the holes in the cardboard.

You can be as particular or spontaneous as you want with this part. I started off making a pattern with the flowers I'd picked and then began just putting them anywhere and seeing how it looked. As the stems were fairly long, I also made sure to flatten them slightly against the back of the cardboard to keep them in place more.

This is my final result!

So there we have it! I really enjoyed giving this a try! I think it would be a really fun activity to do either with friends or as a family with young kids to get them outside etc. It could be done as a relaxing way to pass the day or even make a challenge out of it too, who can pick the most flowers within a time limit and so on. I like the simplicity of it and that it doesn't cost a ton of money to do. You could also frame your creations afterwards to keep them or just do what I did and recycle the cardboard in the recycling bin and put the flowers back in the garden (or garden bin if you have one). Either way I like that are a few options for what can be done with them.

Thanks again to Deryatavas for the inspiration for this activity and this blog post, make sure to check out the reel they did to see how they did theirs. And if you give it a try please show me over on my social media channels!

Thanks for reading! <3
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Popilush's Best Shapewear for Instant Body Confidence

2024-03-28T07:16:00.053+00:00

AD - Paid collaboration

Women’s shapewear has become the norm with a range of dresses and skirts that deal instantly with a woman’s self-esteem. It is irrelevant whether you have a planned event, hitting the beach, or just want to feel more confident in your regular wear, shapewear can be a huge relief, a game-changer. This article will take into look shapewear, its perks, different shapes available, and how to pick right kind for you.

♡ Understanding Shapewear

Shapewear, also known as a body shaper or compression garments is made by the way of folding and contouring of the body, so that you get a smoother silhouette and the curves are enhanced. From day-to-day wear to leisure, Popilush covers all the aspect of shapewear which has to offer individual specific problems or choices.

♡ Different Types of Shapewear

Bodysuits

Popilush produces maxi dress with built in shapewear serving not only as smoothing and shaping garments down from the bust to the thighs, but also as a side-skimming piece. It's expected that it will hardly be visible under fitted dresses or one-piece suits.

Waist Cinchers

The particular pieces render a compressive effect directed to the stomach area, enabling a smooth shapely appearance and for wearing along with body contour dresses or tops. Whether it is the Deep-v Neck One-Piece Shapewear Swimsuit at the beach or the waist cincher under your optimum ensemble, the shapewear enhances posture by providing extra assist, particularly, to the spinal and the abdominal muscles.

Shaping Shorts

By choosing shaping shorts, a silhouette can flatter the hips, legs, and bottom. These thong bodysuit shapewear give side elastic which surely do their job, and are cool to wear with trousers and long skirts almost in all-day journey around the city.

♡ A Guide to Finding the Perfect Shapewear

• Know Your Problem Areas: Identify which parts of your body you plan to change and select shapewear for that purpose. Whether you are doing the abdomen, waist, hips, or thigh, Popilush is the perfect answer for you.

• Consider Your Outfit: Pick out shapewear that matches your attire. It is not only the choice of dress but also slimming jumpsuit or swimsuit which should look your shapewear.

• Size Matters: Pick the right size to achieve ideal comfort and outcomes. Refer to Popilush's sizing chart and be aware that you can try on different sizes to find the one which fits you well.

• Breathable Fabrics: Seek shapewear made of breathable and moisture management fabric to keep you cool and comfy, and more so if you are going to wear them during the warmer season. Popilush's shapewear is skillfully crafted using well-chosen materials to ensure that the shapewear is breathable and comfortable.

Conclusion

Shapewear from "Popilush" is an all-around solution for a confidence building and a smoother and the slimmer look. The variety of styles and models along with bodysuits, waist cinchers, thigh shapers and shaping shorts, brings in choices for everyone. The line of shapewear by Popilush covers your various unique needs for daily wear dressing up to a glamorous look.

Thanks for reading! <3
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Five Things Friday X 2

2024-03-15T21:00:00.008+00:00

Hello and welcome to another Five Things Friday! Time to share five things that have brought me joy today. And they are:

♡ My new colourful Oliver Bonas scarf I got from Next

♡ Having a Costa and a catch up with my Gran

♡ A quick visit from my little Luna bear <3

♡ Catching up with my friend Kayleigh over a pizza at Fausto Coffee

♡ Started listing clothing items on my Vinted account again

Thanks for reading! <3
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Five Things Friday

2024-03-01T21:00:00.005+00:00

Hello lovelies!

I'd been thinking about starting this new mini series over on this blog for a while now and today I'm finally making it happen, so welcome to Five Things Friday!

The idea of this series is exactly what it says on the tin. On a random Friday of any particular week if there has been five things that have brought me joy or put a spring in my step that day then I will share it on this blog. The idea stemmed, would you believe(!) one Friday afternoon after work whilst I was running errands and then having some down time, that I realised I tend to focus on sharing social events and appreciating being busy but I don't tend to stop and appreciate those simple moments in between and I need to do this more. I think this will be mentally really positive for me to do.

Granted the things I choose may vary from something superficial like buying new clothing to simply going for a walk in the sunshine but that's what I find so appealing about this series is that it can be whatever it wants to be. There's a sense of spontaneity in them. No specific topic, no pressures to consistently post every Friday, no setting up the perfect shot for a photo, just enjoyment from things around me that particular day and photographing random snaps of them throughout. So let's kick off the first post!

Today I'm sharing with you five things that have brought me joy this Friday. And they are:

♡ Post work hot chocolate from Costa

♡ Fresh, vibrant blooms in my new Next confetti glass vase

♡ Finding pairs of Levi's jeans that make me feel good

♡ Dog sitting Luna for the whole weekend

♡ Having a chilled evening eating a Domino's takeaway pizza

Thanks for reading! <3
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September Nails 2023: A Squoval French Manicure

2023-09-09T11:30:00.008+01:00

During my previous visit to Nail Fairy, I noticed one of the acrylic nail shapes they do is this squoval shape (square/oval), which I thought looked really classy and feminine, so during my latest visit I decided to give that style a go and have them done in a french manicure design.

I am so thrilled with how they look! I can't stop looking at them! I love when you have an idea in your head of how you want something to look and the result is exactly how you wanted it so I'm really pleased with the team for working their magic and fulfilling my nail design dreams haha! (THANK YOU!!). Every time I look down at my hands now I just feel so ladylike and put together no matter how I'm dressed ha. They make me feel so happy and I can't wait to try different nails designs and colours with this shape in the future.

Thanks for reading! <3
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Seaham Food Festival 2023

2023-08-08T08:48:00.005+01:00

This weekend was the annual Seaham Food Festival and for the past few years I've paid a visit to see what the variety of traders are available, watch some cooking demonstrations and try some delicious food and drink along the way.

The festival is held over a Saturday and Sunday at the beginning of August down Seaham seafront and, as previously said, showcases many local traders from the North East. They also have a cookery stage where they have celebrity chefs do demonstrations to an audience which is hosted by tv presenter, Chris Bavin for everyone to go and watch.

Unfortunately this year the weather was very miserable on the Saturday when I went so we didn't stay around as long as I have done previous years, so I didn't see any cooking demonstrations in time. But I did get to sample some delicious food and drinks from the local traders.

I went for the gooey goodness of an Original Mac 'N' Cheese from Redheads Mac 'N' Cheese, a personal favourite of mine that I originally discovered through my first visit to Seaham Food Festival. Which goes to show its good to visit and try the vendors as you might discover a new favourite!

I washed that down with a cocktail from the Boston Shakers mobile cocktail bar. I liked the look of the cocktail menu listed so I tried the Cherry Bakewell cocktail and it was delicious! Anything with amaretto in and I'm there! It tasted very sweet, was easy to drink and it was garnished with a Haribo sour cherry which finished the drink off nicely.

For a little sweet treat, I finished my fleeting visit with a red velvet cupcake from The Auckland Cupcake Co. ,which I demolished once I got home. Making it a tasty dessert to end a mouth-watering afternoon with!

I also noticed Lucca Pizza Company was there too, which I tried at Slice Wars 2023 earlier this year. Unfortunately I didn't get a pizza this time around but would highly recommend them if you get the chance to try their food.

All in all a successful visit. I left with my belly full and a smile on my face! Until next year Food Fest!

Thanks for reading! <3

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A Quick Hello!

2023-08-03T17:00:00.003+01:00

Hello my darling readers!

I'm just popping in to say that I'm still ever-present here on this blog and social media channels. I'm just ticking away quietly in the background at the moment and working on things behind the scenes, as life has gotten in the way of blogging lately!
I have soooo many blog posts in drafts and a huge to do list of said blog posts that I need to get around to sorting, organising and publishing. I've just been a bit preoccupied recently with work and personal life taking more priority over my little corner of the internet. But I do hope to be back soon enough sharing all my adventures both big and small. Hope you are all doing well and I shall speak soon!

Thanks for reading! <3

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Beyond Skiing: Activities To Do At Ski Resorts That Are Fun For Everyone

2023-04-28T15:06:00.007+01:00

Image Source: Pixabay

There is more to ski holiday resorts than just skiing and snowboarding. There are many other winter activities available for everyone to enjoy. Winter is a fantastic season for skiing, snowboarding, and participating in other snow activities. Yet, a ski resort offers much more than just skiing! Here are some enjoyable wintertime activities for everyone:

❄ Snowshoeing

This is a fantastic way to tour the resort's surrounding winter splendour. Trails for snowshoeing can be simple or complex, and some alternatives provide guided tours.

❄ Ice skating

Family-friendly outdoor ice skating rinks can be found at several ski resorts. The resort offers skate rentals, or you can bring your own.

❄ Snow tubing

Try snow tubing if you want an adrenaline boost. On a giant inner tube, you can slide down a slope, and some resorts even offer multiple racing lanes.

❄ Snowmobiling

Many ski resorts offer snowmobiling as a popular pastime, and it's a fantastic way to explore the area swiftly. Both guided excursions and snowmobile rentals are available.

❄ Sleigh rides

Go on a leisurely carriage ride across the snow. This is a beautiful way to unwind and take in the view.

❄ Cross-country skiing

Try cross-country skiing if you want a different kind of skiing experience. It's a fantastic opportunity to get in shape and discover the winter scenery.

❄ Winter hiking

There are a lot of winter hiking trails at ski resorts. Take a gorgeous snowy hike while dressed warmly.

❄ Indoor activities

Several ski resorts provide indoor diversions like bowling, arcade games, and movie theatres if you wish to escape the chilly weather.

❄ Après-ski

Take a break with some après-ski activities after a day of skiing. There are numerous pubs, eateries, and hot tubs on ski slopes where you may unwind.

❄ Spa

Relax and rejuvenate at the resort's spa facilities. Treat yourself to a massage or other spa treatments after a day on the slopes.

❄ Dog Sledding

Experience the thrill of dog sledding. Many resorts offer tours through the surrounding wilderness which is a fun way to view the stunning scenery.

❄ Zip-lining

Are you tired of biking or skiing among the trees? Instead, why not fly through the snow-covered canopy, which offers excellent vistas without any obstruction from the leaves?

❄ Fat biking

Do a leg- and lung-busting workout on two wheels instead of going to the gym. A fantastic approach to increase your endurance and explore the snow-covered slopes is to go fat riding, where you can pedal through the mountains on a bike made to be ridden through the snow.

❄ Ice Climbing

What doesn't kill you merely makes you foolishly afraid and, indeed, stronger. So take your hand at a new ability, like ice climbing, the next time you head to a ski resort. Many hotspots have experts who can assist you in doing some crampons and safely scaling a frozen waterfall. Check to see if ice climbing is one of the available activities at your resort.

Thanks for reading! <3
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October Roundup 2021

2021-10-31T17:30:00.013+00:00

*AD - This post contains affiliate links

♡Finished binge watching Sex Education on Netflix. Shout out to the gang at work for suggesting I watch this. Brilliant show, great characters and easy to watch. Would highly recommend!

♡Getting confirmation that I'm finished with my Invisalign treatment. Woohoo!

♡My preordered parcel of Sonic Colours Ultimate Xbox game* arriving in the post. I'm looking forward to playing this.

♡New favourite brand discovery! Treated myself to two bottles of nail polish from a nail polish brand I'd never heard of previously but now love, called Nailberry. The colours are gorgeous!

♡Drinking my first hot chocolate of the winter season. The first of many.

♡Dog sitting Luna. I was finally reunited with my favourite pooch <3 With Luna living at my Dad's place now I don't see her as often as I used to so I asked to look after her and get all the doggos cuddles <3

♡Strictly Come Dancing being back on our screens again! I can't wait for it to take up my Saturday evenings for the foreseeable future.

♡Poppy's Christening. Getting to celebrate my cousin's gorgeous baby girl's special day with family and friends. A lovely ceremony at the church, followed by delicious food at The Scullery.

♡Cosy winter nights playing Pokemon Sword* on my Nintendo Switch*. The best way to wind down after finishing a busy day at work.

♡Luna turned 4! I believe my favourite little doggo is 4 years old now! Seems like only yesterday when we first brought her home. She has brought so much joy into our lives during that time <3

♡Quiet moments sat in the warmth of the car listening to the heavy rainfall.

♡I set up an account on Vinted after the girls from work recommend it. So happy I did. Within half an hour I'd made my first sale! Yay!

♡Dying my hair dark brown again. I love being this colour <3

♡Rocking out to School Of Rock: The Musical at the Sunderland Empire Theatre with the gang. STICK IT TO THE MAN!

♡My one year anniversary at work! How the time has flown!

♡Dog sitting Luna again. Going for an autumnal afternoon walk and listening to the leaves crunching under her paws as she walked.

♡Waking up to Luna cuddling into me. Heart = melted <3

♡My latest obsession: McDonald's crunchie mcflurry. A post work treat. Bad for the teeth but so worth it.

♡Adorable new bedding from Matalan. It's got Dalmatians on it! I love the design <3

♡Binge watched season 5 of Money Heist on Netflix. That last episode though!!! OMG!!!

♡Started watching Seinfeld on Netflix. Seems pretty easy to watch so far.

♡Having lunch with my friend Liam at Zizzi's in Durham. Good food and good company.

♡Cosy night in with Becky and Kyle watching the animated series What If...? on Disney+.

♡My beautiful bestie Jess turned the big 3-0! Happy birthday queen! Can't wait to celebrate with her when we reunited next month!

♡Booked my train tickets to visit Jess next month. So excited!

♡The hoover finally got fixed so now the house looks much tidier after being cleaned. I know, I'm such a saddo for being happy about this, ha!

♡Having my first trip to Nando's of 2021 with my best friend, Nina. Great catch up and good food!

♡Finally got around to taking some outfit photographs for this blog.

♡Catching up with my lovely friend, Kayleigh over dinner at Roma restaurant. Such a lush evening.

♡Finishing season 3 of YOU on Netflix. Absolutely dreadful season. The only episodes worth watching are the last two as they are the only ones where anything happens in them.

♡Finally used the Flannels gift card my Dad bought me for Christmas last year. I treated myself to some gorgeous Vivienne Westwood joggers. So fancy!

♡Officially finished my Invisalign treatment! Had all my attachments taken off my teeth. I can't believe the difference! I'm so happy with the result :D

♡Doing more visual merchandising at work.

♡Perks of the job! As it has been a year since Next bought into Victoria's Secret, all staff were allowed 40% off in VS stores. I had a trip to the Metro Centre and made a few gorgeous purchases. I even bumped into my work friends too, ha!

♡Spending time with my Dad. We had a chilled night in at his place and catch up on each other's lives.

♡Drinking my body weight in hot chocolate from Costa. Yum!

♡More catch ups had at Sarah's leaving do with the girls. She's off to Australia to live out there so she threw a party before she left. I know she'll have the best time in Oz!

♡Had my annual review at work. Although I had areas to work on, mainly to do with my own self belief, I received amazing feedback on my job performance.

♡Lush evening out with Nina; having dinner at the new Turtle Bay restaurant in Durham and then seeing DUNE: Part One at the Odeon Luxe cinema. Brilliant film! I got to experience it in the comfiest seats too, which was handy for how long the film was.

♡Sarah's leaving meal with the girls before she flies to Australia. The last time we'll all be together for a while. We had dinner at Fiume restaurant in Washington which was a great send off for her. I can't believe it's the end of an era though! She was the first friend I made when I worked at my old job at Matalan and now she's off to the other side of the world! I know she's going to thrive out there <3

♡Finally purchasing some Anthropologie goodies I've had my eye on for years. I've been obsessed with these agate coasters for years and now I finally have some to use in my future home.

♡Started watching RuPaul's Drag Race UK Season 3. Loving the queens this season! And we have Choriza May representing the North East who is a brilliant!

♡Finishing off the month at Donna's caravan up at Haggerston Castle Holiday Park. We had the most delicious meal at Limoncello restaurant in Berwick-Upon-Tweed as an early birthday celebration for her, followed by activities on the Saturday; we did aerial adventure, archery and a 10m jump. Although I'm scared of heights, I managed to face my fears that weekend, hooray! Then celebrating the end of the season on the park with a fireworks display and dressing up as The Addams Family for their Halloween party. We then spent the last day of the month watching Halloween themed films and eating a delicious Sunday dinner before heading back home.

Thanks for reading! <3
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September Roundup 2021

2021-09-30T21:00:00.004+01:00

♡Starting off the month by getting to meet Sarah and Tom's gorgeous baby girl, Lucy <3 She is the most beautiful little baby! My heart is so full for them! <3

♡Went out for a meal at a local restaurant with the family to celebrate my Gran's 85th birthday. 85 and fabulous!

♡Decided to have my first solo trip to the cinema (since my one in Edinburgh) and went to see Jungle Cruise. It was brilliant! I'm a huge fan of The Rock and enjoyed this action packed film.

♡Birthday drinks for my friend, Rachel at Banyan and Alvinos in Newcastle with Nina and met her lovely friends Aurora, Taylor and Yalçin. Was such a good night!

♡Had a very deep chat about life in work with Joanne. It's good I have people I can talk like this with.

♡Shagged Married Annoyed live with Becky at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle. WHAT A BRILLIANT NIGHT!!! Laughed all the way through, it was full of hilarious surprises and we had the best time!

♡The same night they asked the audience to submit photos of themselves at the gig which would then be projected on the big screen, so we did one and hilariously the screen chopped our heads off :'D

♡Visited my dad and we took Luna for a walk around where he lives.

♡Went for drinks one sunny afternoon with my friends, Rachel and Richard at the Ashbrooke Sports Club in Sunderland.

♡The lads at work gave me a list of lots of shows and films to watch. I'm going to be busy for a while getting through this list!

♡A cosy night in at Nina's having a catch up.

♡Bingo night at The Palm in Sunderland with some of the work gang. Had a few drinks and a good laugh getting competitive with bingo and seeing friends having to go head-to-head with other people in order to win the prizes. My boss had to do a dance off to the Macarena and my friend, Ben had to down a pint as fast as he could.

♡A great night with the work gang again at Eleanor's 18th birthday party at Sharpley Golf Club.

♡Strictly Come Dancing is back! The lineup is brilliant, I'm looking forward to seeing what John Whaite, AJ Odudu and Rose Ayling-Ellis bring to the dance floor every week!

♡I started and finished season 5 of the Masked Singer US in 2 days. I'm obsessed with this show.

♡A fantastic night seeing McFly live at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle! They put on a fantastic show! Brilliant stage production, including a giant inflatable pink teddy bear. Loved singing my heart out to all their well known songs and newly discovered favourites <3 I completely lucked out with my ticket too as I was sat in decent proximity of the main stage but ended up being right next to the second stage so I got to see Danny and Tom up close, swoon! <3

♡Had a lovely afternoon with my Gran having lunch at the Snow Goose café in Sunderland.

♡Saw comedian, Mo Gilligan live at the O2 City Hall. He was fantastic! I laughed all the way through! It turned out my best friend, Kate and her boyfriend also had tickets for it so we met up beforehand and went for food at Zapatista Burrito Bar and then headed inside for the show. Babatunde Aleshe was the support act and he was brilliant as well!

♡Managed to luck out of dealing with the chaos of Sale Day at work by being sent up to the stockroom to pack up the online returns, woohoo!

♡Sold a sofa in work to Anna, the boss from Geordie Shore. Never a dull moment in retail!

♡Paid off the deposit for Becky's hen weekend. I can't wait for all the fun we're going to have!

♡Finishing off the month by meeting Donna and her friends after work for drinks at the Bridge Hotel in Newcastle.

Thanks for reading! <3
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July Roundup 2021

2021-07-31T17:23:00.004+01:00

♡Had a rubbish start to the month as I got struck down by the dreaded 'rona and was really unwell for 2 weeks whilst I was isolating. Spent the majority of it asleep in bed as I had zero energy from coughing constantly through the night, a constant migraine and runny nose, fever and chills (which was the most horrendous part of it) and felt really weak. The only times I was awake was to make food for myself and watch episodes of Friends on Netflix.

♡Also while being unwell, was dealing with some personal news in the family. So was feeling mentally and physically drained.

♡My best friend Nina very kindly sent me flowers whilst I was unwell and included a get well card with a quote from my favourite film, She's The Man. She's so thoughtful and the gesture really brightened my mood <3

♡I was also really moved by how many people reached out to ask how I was doing and to send well wishes. I'd been feeling so lousy and it meant so much to me to hear from them <3

♡Tensions were high with England VS Italy in the Euros final. Even as someone who is not really bothered about football, even I ended up watching it. Unfortunately we lost but felt very proud of our team for getting that far.

♡Had a lovely catch up over the phone with my friend Jess who lives down south. Always great to hear how she's doing.

♡I was kindly invited to a blog event at The Body Shop at the Metrocentre in Gateshead to see their brand new store which promotes more sustainability and also showcases a new store layout and their brand new products. I'm obsessed with their two new product ranges, Lemon and Moringa. The staff were brilliant as well, so much product knowledge, were super helpful with any questions we had, demonstrated any products we were interested in and you could tell they were really passionate about the work they do. I went with my lovely Instagram - turned - IRL friend Shay and her fiancé Rob. It was such a great afternoon.

♡Went to Newcastle with Donna and co. after work.

♡News of possibly starting to come out of lockdown now on the horizon. Hooray!

♡Back in Newcastle again with my friend, Donna. It was a lush sunny day so we had lunch at Revolución de Cuba followed by drinks on the picnic benches in Urban Garden before ending up in Wetherspoons. It was one of those days I'd really needed after recent family events. We had one of those well needed deep conversations about everything that was going on and I felt so much better talking to a friend about what I was going through. I really appreciated that so thank you Donna <3

♡Another day trip to Newcastle for a bit of retail therapy. I bought some cute pieces from Urban Outfitters, Next and Monki. Followed by more treats from GAME and Kiko Milano. Finished off with a delicious meal at Zizzi's.

♡My Gran's sister came to visit one week so I went over and had dinner with them both. She made a delicious spaghetti bolognese. Yum!

♡After the meal I was invited to my Dad's new place. It looks great, I really like how he's decorated it. I hope he makes happy memories there. And I got to see Luna which is always a plus!

♡Got my nails done. I always love the feeling of a fresh set.

♡I was invited to join my Gran and her sister on a day trip to Tanfield. It was a lovely sunny day so we had a wander around the area and had lunch at Bayberry Hollow café. I treated myself to a really cute hanging decoration which was a ceramic heart with a lovely quote written on the front.

♡Ended the month with a night out for the birthday girl, Josie with Nina and co. at our favourite pub where I caught up with old friends and made new ones. It was such a good night spending time with everyone <3

Thanks for reading! <3
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June Roundup 2021

2021-06-30T17:30:00.004+01:00

♡Starting the month off with a lovely meal at Gretna Green Hotel Pub with Sarah. The food was absolutely delicious! I'm still dreaming about that cheesy garlic bread <3

♡Beginning my initial assessments for my apprenticeship scheme at work.

♡Celebrating Amelia's hen do with the girls having drinks in Durham. Such a fab night! Roll on the big day!

♡Finally clearing out the garage at my Gran's house. End of an era. The difference is incredible.

♡A hilarious night at Lane7 in Newcastle with my friend, Dan. Losing terribly at pool and launching some ambitious shots at ping pong.

♡Received my new set of aligners for my Invisalign treatment. Fingers crossed this is the final set!

♡A lovely afternoon in Durham with Becky, having lunch at Zizzi's and doing some shopping. I picked up the cutest bright green tote bag with my initial on it and some adorable socks with dogs wearing party hats on them! ADORABLE <3 I was beyond happy to be back at one of my favourite restaurants and stuffing my face with fondutta formaggi, yum!

♡Watching the Friends: The Reunion whilst at Becky's house. I thought it was really good! I'm glad they didn't do a proper episode or movie as I think it would have ruined it for me personally, but the way they did the reunion was a great nod to the series.

♡Had my first Covid-19 vaccine. I was surprised at how quickly it was over and done with. My arm ached for about 24 hours, but after that I had no other reactions.

♡A great Saturday spent catching up with Donna and friends having tapas at El Coto in Newcastle, followed by crazy golf and pool at Mr Mulligan's.

♡A cosy evening after work spent at Nina's house having a pizza and movie night. The film choice was The Princess Diaries. Us both agreeing that watching it later in life, we realise most of the characters are dicks towards the main character Mia, but we love Joe, he's a real one.

♡Finally getting some motivation back to sort out my room. It will be a miracle if I ever get it cleared out and looking how I want it to.

♡A lovely afternoon spent having lunch at Miller & Carter Steakhouse with my Gran, my cousins and my cousin's new baby, Poppy.

♡Having dinner at our favourite local restaurant with my family.

♡Night in with the girls having a catch up over pizzas and my friend's little boy Mason using me as a human toy box, haha!

♡My two best friends becoming parents to the most beautiful little baby girl <3 Welcome to the world baby Lucy!

♡My friend Kate and I finally trying out Zucchini Pasta Bar at the Metrocentre. Delicious!

♡A fresh new set of acrylic nails.

♡Catching up with my friend, Kayleigh during a walk around Rainton Meadows. We saw the cutest foals playing in the field <3

♡A calming afternoon walk with Luna, the park I took her to had this really cute fairy trail dotted around.

♡Celebrating the wedding we'd all been waiting for! Seeing the breath-taking bride, Amelia marry the love of her life, Nick. It was a beautiful day for a beautiful couple. It was amazing to all be together again, spend time with the girls, catch up with old friends and see everyone altogether sharing in this special occasion.

Thanks for reading! <3
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May Roundup 2021

2021-05-31T15:30:00.018+01:00

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♡Starting the month off strong with receiving really positive feedback from my performance review at work!

♡Celebrating bank holiday Monday by having food with the gang at The Food Pit in Durham. The weather was horrendous and poured down but seeing my faves made the day much brighter.

♡Cocktails and catch ups with Hannah at The Palm. So lovely catching up with her.

♡More reading. I finished "You Do You*" by Sarah Knight and now I'm starting to read "Breakfast At Tiffany's*" by Truman Capote. I've heard the story is much darker than the film, so I'm intrigued to see how it compares.

♡Catching up with my lovely work wives, Donna and Mariya from my previous job. We spent the afternoon having a good laugh down the Quayside in Newcastle whilst enjoying some drinks and good food at the HWKR Food Market at By The River Brew Co.

♡My two best mates, Tom and Sarah celebrated their 2 year wedding anniversary <3

♡Celebrated my brother's 33rd birthday by having a takeaway pizza night with the family.

♡Busy few weeks at work = more money saved for future plans!

♡Started playing New Pokémon Snap*! It is so cute! The graphics are so gorgeous too.

♡A cosy night in at Kate's house having a catch up.

♡Restaurants being open again for indoor dining. My family and I visited one of our local Italian restaurants to celebrate my brother's birthday.

♡A lovely day spent with my Gran and her sister (who was visiting that week). The day consisted of a long walk along the seafront, brunch at Love Lily tearoom, visiting a local garden centre to buy some shrubs for my Gran's balcony and meeting the owner of the garden centre's cute doggo, Hugo. The evening was spent having a delicious meal at another local restaurant just the 3 of us.

♡Being asked at work if I'd like to put my name forward for an apprenticeship scheme where I can learn new skills whilst I work. Sounds exciting!

♡Having such a good laugh on delivery at work these past few weeks. Always great bantz in the stockroom!

♡A cosy pizza night in at Nina's house. Getting doggo cuddles off Sookie whilst I serenaded her to "I'll make a man out of you" from Mulan. Then Nina and I ordered a takeaway from Domino's and watching John Tucker Must Die and 10 Things I Hate About You - classics!

♡Finally having a productive day off work to catch up on errands and chores

♡My cousin giving birth to her beautiful baby girl, Poppy <3

♡Officially signed up to start my apprenticeship scheme with work

♡A meal out with Nina at San Marino restaurant. Good to be back out in restaurants again.

♡Celebrating Beth's hen do with the work ladies at her ABBA themed hen party! Loved getting all dressed up in costume!

♡Celebrating the end of a great month with a pre-baby shower for Sarah with the gang and everyone all dressing up in pink for the occasion.

Thanks for reading! <3
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April Roundup 2021

2021-04-30T16:30:00.008+01:00

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♡Spending a sunny afternoon in Nina's garden, celebrating that we can spend time outside with friends again. And our hilarious efforts at building a fire pit (it was a success!)

♡Nina also surprising me by getting me an Easter egg, what a cutie she is!

♡Visiting Hamsterley Forest with the gang and spending more time outdoors.

♡Celebrating 9 years of my blog, Violet Daffodils!

♡Updating old blog posts. There was a few posts I felt that the photography and text needed a refresh. I've also posted some old drafts that were gathering dust too. Forever working behind the scenes instead of posting regularly, doh!

♡Finally getting my nails done. So happy to have the ol' talons back!

♡The stores reopening again and seeing some hints of normality returning.

♡Being back at work now that the stores have reopened! So happy to be busy again.

♡Accepting a new contract at work shortly after being offered my first permanent contract last month. Meaning a boost to my hours and a good variety of work.

♡Earning more money after months of feeling like a sitting duck on furlough.

♡Visiting Newton Aycliffe to spend time with Becky and Sarah.

♡Being introduced to mango and passionfruit coolers at Costa Coffee. Officially ADDICTED!

♡Trying on my bridesmaid dress! So exciting!! I can't wait for Becky and Kyle's big day!

♡Reaching the end of my Invisalign treatment. I still have some refinements left but the end is finally in sight.

♡Another garden hang out, this time at Kate's house. Sitting out on the patio in the sunshine and catching up on life.

♡A new season means new work uniform and I've treated myself to some gorgeous pieces <3

♡Building myself a newer and better clothing rail than the last one I bought at the start of the year (this one actually stands up on it's own this time!). I decided to use it to separate my work clothes from my non-work clothes. So much easier to decide what to wear now.

♡Being able to donate items to charities again. Supporting great causes and slowly but surely creating extra space in my room.

♡Connecting with friends more. Being able to meet up safely again has made a huge difference to my mental wellbeing. Face to face conversations are the best!

♡Getting new glasses. My vision has deteriorated since my last check up, so some new specs are on the horizon. It takes me 84 years to decide on frames I like when I'm at the opticians but it's worth it for having a pair I'm looking forward to wearing.

♡Binge watching RuPaul's Drag Race. Still going strong with this one. I'm currently halfway through season 11.

♡Getting back into reading again. I've enjoyed cosy evenings in bed, relaxing with some light reading. I've just finished reading "Get Your Shit Together*" by Sarah Knight and now I'm starting her follow up book called "You Do You*".

♡New Pokémon Snap* finally came out for the Nintendo Switch! I was obsessed with the original game growing up so I can't wait to play this!

♡Ending the month on a high with getting great recognition at work, yay!

Thanks for reading! <3
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Spring Nails 2021: Dainty Daises

2021-04-15T19:30:00.006+01:00

Finally the nail salons are open again!
After they had to close during lockdown 3, I've been desperate to get back and get the ol' talons looking fresh and cute again. It was fortunate that the salon I go to had availability on my day off today so I was able to pop in and get them done. I feel like a whole new woman now!

I decided this time for my acrylic nails to opt for a natural-looking, fresh and feminine look with a spring twist. I decided to go for a french manicure with these adorable little daisies centred on each individual nail to give it that fresh and floral look of spring. I can never go for a fully classic look, I always have to mix it up by adding a little extra something-something to inject a piece of my own personality into it and these cute little daisies do just that. Thank you to the fabulous Kate at J'Adore Nails for bringing my vision to life! I'm absolutely OBSESSED with them! <3

My nail inspiration for this set comes from: Mariannan Blog & @amb_d Instagram page

Thanks for reading! <3
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Feeling Mellow In Yellow

2021-04-09T16:30:00.139+01:00

Today has been my last shift at work before the stores reopen next week. I can't believe how quickly it has come around. I remember back in January after 'lockdown 3' was announced, sat thinking 'April 12th is aaaaaages away!' And yet, in a blink of an eye, here it is.

I've been given my work rota for the next two weeks so I've been planning what I'm going to wear on my shifts as my uniform. Sad, I know but it feels good to be able to actually plan some 'normal' outfits again and wear something other than joggers, a t-shirt and fluffy socks!

I feel quite excited about it to be honest! I might even attempt to document my outfits here on this blog...if I remember to do so. I've bought some new clothing pieces in preparation for going back to work and I've seen a sneak peek of the products coming into the store too (a few I may have my eye on) which include some really cute summery pieces that I can't wait to spend my discount on and share how I'll style them this spring/summer.

Apart from the excitement of life starting to get back to normal again, another exciting piece of news is that I finally received my permanent contract to accept, yay! I'm officially a permanent member of this amazing team and I'm so grateful to have some stability work-wise too! It's a wonderful feeling to have positive news for a welcome change and I can't wait to get stuck into the role next week, let's goooooo!

Outfit: Sweatshirt: Next / Jamie jeans: Topshop

Thanks for reading! <3
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March Roundup 2021

2021-03-31T17:30:00.007+01:00

When I initially started writing this March edition of my monthly roundups, I had begun with listing off everyday things chronologically that were bringing me some positivity throughout the month as a way to lift my spirits and celebrate the little things that were making me happy and bringing me joy. Especially whilst my Grandad was still in hospital after being admitted last month, it felt even more important to be appreciative of what I have, however big or small.

As you will notice when reading further into this post, my Grandad unfortunately passed away this month after years of suffering and battling with Alzheimer's dementia. A devastating loss to my family as he was such a strong presence in all of our lives. I have been through an array of emotions as you can probably imagine and I have mixed feelings of missing him terribly but knowing he's at peace now and not suffering anymore. These mix of feelings is something I can't fully comprehend right now but hopefully in time I will be able to.

With this post, I know it would have been easier to keep this loss to myself but I've learned from past experiences that not acknowledging it can be detrimental to my own wellbeing and I didn't want to repeat my mistakes. Instead I wanted to share this month, not only the everyday trivial life things that make me happy but also share my appreciation for the moments during the initial weeks of my Grandad's passing that kept my spirits up at a time when they were really needed.

Let's start from the beginning:

♡My new, fresh and very cute butterfly print bedding from Skinnydip London. OBSESSED!

♡Games night on the Xbox with my friends Becky, Sarah and Tom playing Overcooked 2. (ad - affiliate link)

♡Being reunited with another gorgeous doggo friend, Orion the Border Collie. Named after Orion's belt because of the markings on his nose <3

♡Freshly cleaned makeup brushes.

♡Treating myself to more flowers. Yellow roses and pink tulips are a gorgeous combination!

♡Weekend strolls with Nina and getting the warmest greeting from her family dog, Sookie.

♡Exploring a new area of my local park with Luna and getting a change of scenery.

♡Made the highest amount of sales on my Depop shop so far this year. Hope this continues!

♡The day I spent house sitting for my Gran whilst she was visiting Grandad in hospital. Being able to have complete alone time and clear my head from all the anxieties I'd been having. And getting to watch Jurassic Park on ITV2 was a bonus! One of my faves <3

♡My Gran being able to visit my Grandad in hospital during the pandemic. Initially she was the only one allowed to visit.

♡Being incredibly grateful to be able to visit my Grandad in hospital during this pandemic and be present at his side before he sadly passed away. Something I will never take for granted. I know others who sadly weren't given the luxury and my heart breaks for them.

♡Being able to offer my Grandad some comfort in his final moments and for him teaching me to be brave in the aftermath of his passing.

♡Beach and park walks with Luna, clearing my head from all the overwhelming feelings after losing my Grandad. Bittersweet feelings of knowing that he's at peace now after all his suffering but missing him so much and wishing he was still here with us.

♡Going through and sorting out my Grandad's gardening equipment in the garage. It helped keep my mind focused, felt good to be helping my Gran out and made me feel connected to my Grandad. Also never seen so many plant pots in my life! There must be thousands in there!

♡The family all coming together safely to plan the funeral arrangements.

♡Feeling incredibly touched by the outpour of kind messages offering their condolences from friends of the family, sharing precious memories of Grandad and sending beautiful bouquets of flowers to show their support to my family and I.

♡Seeing the influx of friends of the family who showed up and stood socially distanced outside of both the church and the crematorium on the day of my Grandad's funeral to pay their respects. An image I will never forget.

♡Despite the current circumstances and restrictions, being able to give my Grandad a lovely send off. My family hopes to host a memorial service when restrictions are lifted so that those who were unable to attend the funeral due to the restriction limit can come pay their respects as well.

♡Managing to keep my head up after tackling these seriously tough couple of weeks. Could not have done it half as well without the love and support of my family and friends <3 Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

(I realise these next few thins are very trivial after my previous paragraphs)

♡Binge watching season 2 of Love Island Australia on ITV Hub. This show has kept me somewhat sane throughout everything going on with it's escapism. Oh how I crave to be abroad in someplace warm right now!

♡Finally buying and building a garment rail from Wilko after toying with the idea for ages. Not sure whether to use it to hold items I'm selling on Depop on it or just use it to hang my coats on, or use it to separate my work clothes from everyday clothes. I still need to have a think about this.

♡Hearing great news after processing all the recent bad news in my personal life. I have been offered a permanent contract at my current workplace! So happy to hear some positive news for a change, thank you universe! <3

♡Starting back at work after spending the last few months on furlough and getting the store prepped for reopening. So happy to be getting back to reality and working again. I can't wait to get back to having some hint of normality that I have been craving for so long.

♡Celebrating my Dad's 60th by having a lowkey night of getting takeaway fish and chips. Although it was the first life event since Grandad passed, we still managed to make sure Dad had a good time and I felt like Grandad was with us in spirit. Most likely watching over us, impeccably dressed in his smartest jacket and saying 'cheers' along with us, whilst holding a pint of John Smiths in his hand.

Thanks for reading! <3

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March Flowers

2021-03-05T11:30:00.006+00:00

Another month, another bouquet! Or should I say two this time. I'll explain in a second but first of all, those roses: wow! They lasted a good 3 weeks which I've never known of roses to last that long for. I've been so impressed!

For March's little bouquet of joy, I was in Sainsbury's this time, doing the food shop with my Gran and two small bunches of flowers caught my eye that I thought would look so pretty mixed together. The first ones were these gorgeous pink tulips, which initially were tightly closed but add water and BAM! they have bloomed so lovely! The second bunch caught my eye due to how unusual it was to see them sold at a supermarket (or maybe I've not took much notice before) but these gorgeous irises. Iris was actually the name of my Grandma too. I decided to buy them both, the latter as a homage to my late Grandma.

Although I did a very foolish thing and forgot to put them both in water straight away, so two days later I came to do so and the tulips were so droopy they looked like an upside down 'U' and the irises had become quite dry. I was so annoyed at myself but I put them in the vase with fresh water in the hopes that it will revive them. Like I said before, the petals instantly opened! Thankfully after a day or so the tulip's stems felt more rigid and the bunch were back to standing up straight. The irises also managed to get hydrated enough so all was not lost but they did wilt quickly. It's a shame though, as the irises would have looked more amazing if I'd not been so careless to start with. I hope they sell them again so I can redeem myself next time!

After a week or so some of the tulips were starting to wilt so I thought its time to treat myself to another bunch of flowers. My Gran and I had been to Marks & Spencer again and after last month's roses being so impressive I thought I'd go for another fresh bunch from their flower selection. I chose these vibrant yellow roses. An unusual choice for me but there was something about them this time I was drawn to. Maybe it was the bright colour that I needed to spruce my room up with. Regardless, I brought them home and decided to mix them in with the rest of the pink tulips and I love the colour combination! <3

Thanks for reading! <3
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February Roundup 2021

2021-02-26T17:00:00.010+00:00

As February is drawing to a close and spring is so close to being upon us (I'm still in disbelief that it's March next week!), I thought I'd take a short moment to reflect on some positives from this past month. Amidst all the chaos in my personal life there has been many happy and sociable moments that have boosted my mood throughout February and kept what little sanity I have intact (ha!). Here are the highlights:

♡Morning walks with Luna

♡Wearing more lighter tones and brightly coloured clothing

♡Treating myself to some gorgeous dark pink roses, daffodils and multicoloured tulip bouquets

♡Lunchtime walks with Nina and Sookie

♡Celebrating my best friend turning the big 3-0 virtually with a music quiz night (I came joint 1st place, woo!)

♡Writing my best friend a letter as part of her birthday present and taking a good ol' trip down nostalgia lane; laughing at old memories and looking through old photographs from our youth

♡Making more sales on my Depop shop

♡Wintry walks in the snow at the start of the month

♡Valentine's day spent walking around Hardwick Park with Becky and Kyle

♡Being asked to a bridesmaid for Becky and Kyle's wedding!! So honoured and excited!!

♡Watching The Masked Singer UK. Scrolling through Twitter in-between the ad breaks to see who people were guessing and discussing with friends who we think the celebs are

♡Making a little bit of extra cash with Branded Surveys in my spare time to go towards my savings each month

♡The UK government finally giving us a glimmer of hope that normality is on the horizon

♡Hot chocolates from Costa Coffee drive-thru. Delicious!

♡A late afternoon walk with Kate, giving her the grand tour of the area where I live, visiting Mowbray Park and reminiscing over funny memories of school

♡Watching RuPaul's Drag Race UK & USA. Bing bang bong, sing sang song. If you know, you know

♡Being so close to completing my Invisalign treatment *fingers crossed*

♡Visiting Sarah for a warm, lunchtime walk around Newton Aycliffe and having a change of scenery

♡Running errands for my Gran. It's been keeping me busy whilst on furlough and getting me out of the house which is great!

♡Sunnier days and milder weather

Thanks for reading! <3
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February Flowers

2021-02-10T11:30:00.007+00:00

As I mentioned last month, I treated myself to some flowers for a little pick me up on the days when I felt my mood faltering. I had treated myself to a small bunch of daffodils and I must say I've noticed a big shift in my mood since. Whenever I feel a bit bleurgh I find my eyes automatically looking across to them displayed on the window sill and instantly I feel better. The original flowers lasted about 2 weeks maybe slightly more and then my Gran kindly bought me another bunch as a thank you for giving her hand with the shopping. This bunch is still going strong.

With it coming up to Valentine's Day this month, I wanted to give myself another treat and found happiness in another bouquet of flowers. This time I went for these beautiful dark pink roses for £6 from Marks & Spencer again after they caught my eye on my latest food shopping trip with my Gran. Now in my past experiences with having roses, they have a tendency to wilt after only a few days but so far so good with these ones! I'm intrigued to see how long they keep for. I'll report back next month!

Thanks for reading! <3
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January Flowers

2021-01-27T12:00:00.007+00:00

After feeling a bit low the past couple of weeks due the miserable weather, being back on furlough again after the latest government announcement and lacking any sort of motivation. I knew I needed something to give me a little pick me up on those days where it was hitting me the hardest. Something I knew would bring an instant smile to my face. And I found it on my most recent food shopping trip to Marks & Spencer with my Gran. A small bouquet of bright yellow daffodils. My favourite <3 Incase that wasn't obvious already ;) I didn't even know daffodils could grow this time of year, so this was a pleasant surprise! (and only £1 as well, bargain!)

The day after I'd bought them, the buds had opened to display a gorgeous array of sunshine and yolk yellow daffodils. They make me so happy and already I can feel a positive shift to my mood. I have them pride of place on my window sill so they are the first thing to grab my attention when I'm cosied up in bed on my laptop (like I currently am). On days like today where the sky is grey and the trees outside are bare, they have been a splash of colour and an instant mood booster. It's the little things that make a big difference, as that old cliché says and it's so apt right now!

Thanks for reading! <3
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New Pantherine Storage From Spectrum Collections

2021-01-20T18:06:00.011+00:00

You may have seen in my previous post that on New Year's Eve I decided to treat myself to some gorgeous new storage from Spectrum Collections, more specifically from their Pantherine collection. I'd had my eye on the acrylic triple storage pot and acrylic storage trays for a while now when they sent out their newsletter announcing the arrival of their stunning collection, and after my annual Boxing Day declutter I noticed my makeup storage desperately needed an upgrade from the grubby Charlotte Tilbury packaging box I'd been using for many many years now. So on NYE I decided to treat myself and they have since arrived!

Firstly, I absolutely adore the packaging that they arrived in. Almost too pretty to open! Spectrum always send their items in fabulous quality packages and this was no different. I also noticed inside the delivery box it offered some additional information about the brand, such as they are vegan and cruelty free which is always brilliant to see brands supporting this, supporting buying less products but in better quality therefore less wasteful and finally working towards attaining sustainability. Ticking all the boxes here Spectrum Collections!

The area in which I do my makeup in is definitely not as glamorous as other people's I've seen. None of the fancy bright white washed dressing rooms with mirrors that are decorated in bulbs for the best lighting (maybe one day, ha!). Mine consists of a propped up mirror in the far corner, a fabric mat in front of it to avoid too many marks on my cream carpet (that failed) with storage boxes, trays and an Ohhdeer mug I use to store brushes in. I think it was about time my makeup storage had a little boost of affordable luxury.

The storage products I bought look absolutely gorgeous in the dark tortoise shell design. The quality is amazing and the products feel durable as well as being visually appealing. I admit I wasn't sure if the sizing of the items would be too small for that corner of my room but it was perfect! The trays are around the same size as my old Charlotte Tilbury box and the triple storage pot has enough space and compartments to fit my additional makeup brushes in them and other beauty knick-knacks. Overall, if it wasn't obvious enough I am thrilled with my new purchases, my makeup space has been spruced up and I'm confident these investment pieces will last me a very long time. Now, onto my next order of business: organising the rest of my room! Eek, wish me luck!

Thanks for reading! <3
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