30 days

I first saw this over at Avitable's blog. and I thought it was cool.  but I'm lazy. and I wanted to do it, but as I said. I'm lazy.  Then I saw it somewhere else.  And then today I saw a 30 day post over at Smidge's blog, and it lead me to this blog.  So I think I might do it, lazy or not, and to be honest it may take me a few months (if not years) to finish it, but I'm going to do it.

Day 01 → Something you hate about yourself.
Day 02 → Something you love about yourself.
Day 03 → Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 04 → Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself

UK Bloggers Meet Up

Kate - also known as Smidge is organising a UK Bloggers Meet Up next May

Details can be found here and here or just below (if you're too lazy to click, but SERIOUSLY)

The last weekend in May, 27^th – 29^th. Which is an English Bank Holiday weekend.
It's open to everyone, everywhere.  So if you've never visited Edinburgh and want to, then it's the best time to plan a trip and come along!


Bloggers Meet Up
Edinburgh, Scotland
Friday 27^th – 30^th May 2011


 

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is an absolutely beautiful city. Can't wait to tell you all more about it!

christmas - part 1

Today I spent 3 hours, making Christmas Cards.  I only managed 10, that's an average of 18 minutes per card.  Still have loads more to make and as I@m averaging 18 minutes per card, I'll probably attempt to make the remainder over the course of my days off (of which I have 14 days off up till Christmas where I am not busy)
Some of the pieces had to be put together, and the dining room looks like a Card Factory has exploded  There are card making materials EVERYWHERE.

I thought I'd share a few of my creations with you, before I attempt the massive clean up.

This one was pretty quick to make, once I figured out where I wanted everything to go

Again another quick and easy to make one

This is a close up.  This one was more tricky, as I had to assemble the snowflake, lay the stenciled Merry Christmas and place each pink "gem" individually

another one that took a little more time to create

being a girl

To some women, this comes easy, being a girl I mean.  Shopping, make up, hair, manicures, high heels blah blah blah.  To me, it's not particularly hard, it's just that I can't be bothered.  It's EFFORT. not that I don't make an effort, but there's making an effort and making an EFFORT.

OK, so I like shopping. I do.  In fact if I had one of those unlimited cash flow bank accounts and credit cards, I'd effing LOVE shopping and be all professional and shit.  However, on my salary, I can't really splash out on new clothes and shoes and hand bags and make up and lingerie and scarves and purses and other shit I don't really need (but totally WANT).  When I go shopping, it's for reasonable items, that are going to last.

At the same time, I HATE shopping.  Shops are crowded, dressing rooms are hot, or worse, COMMUNAL.  As if I want to be standing half naked next to some tiny svelte chick with huge boobs and a nice ass.  Cause even though I have a nice rack, thats kind of about it.  Literally, if I died tomorrow, my tombstone should read, "Loving Wife, Daughter, Sister.  She had a great rack, but her ass was a lot to be desired."

Anyway, I digress.  When I go shopping, I see loads of things that I love, and would look great on me if I was one of those tiny svelte chicks with huge boobs and a great ass.  There lies my problem.  High Street shops don't do "fat chick" clothes.  Well not nice ones that I like anyway, or fit me come to that!  And as for designer....HA!  As If.  I go shopping and nothing I like is in my size, or I like it, it's my size and it DOESN'T FIT.  Sometimes the label isn't right. In fact, about 90% of the times I go shopping the label isn't right.

A size 18 in one shop, is not the same as a size 18 in another.  And that's a UK size 18, not a US.
For example, I'm a size 18 (as if you didn't already guess...) and for work, I ordered a size bigger to be on the safe side.  It didn't fit.  So I'm ordering a size UP from the original size UP that I originally ordered.  As soon as they arrive, I'm cutting out the labels and sewing new ones in.

SO back to shopping.  Changing rooms are hot, nothing fits, or my size isn't carried.  Shops are crowded, and generally I just can't afford it.

Hair and Make Up - OH. MY. GOD.  Seeing as I'm not filthy rich, I can't hire my own personal hair and make up artist.  Although that would be so freaking awesome.  Cause I love that fresh salon look and feel.  it would be amazing to have amazing hair all day, everyday.  My hair is lucky it even gets conditioner.  Literally I wash it, towel dry it, then scrape it back with a hair grip.  (mainly cause of my job) and as for make up, EFFORT.  Very occassionally do I get dolled up.

and high heels, don't get me started.  I can just about walk in flats. and even then I fall over.

There are times I can be a girl, and a good one.  I go shopping, get a great outfit, get dolled up, have nice hair and flawless make up, crack open the champers and have a gay old time.  it's generally a wedding (for funerals, I go for the haggered look - only joking!) and we rarely have weddings in our family.

But I think I might make more of an EFFORT.  but not to much more.


Cause if I can look like this all the all the time, then that'd be awesome.  and I'd be HOT all the time.

that's a wrap!

Well today I got our wrapping paper for Christmas.  We're (well I say we're, but what I really mean is I, cause my husband isn't really bothered about wrapping paper) decided on a colour scheme.

It's purple, a gorgeous metallic purple, and a patterned silver and grey one.  The design is beautiful and I loved it as soon as I saw it.  The purple is just plain, no pattern and I think they'll go well together. AND a bargain at 3 for 2 quid!  I just hope 24 metres is enough...

I honestly can not wait to start wrapping!  It's going to be all purple and silver, with ribbons and bows and tags.

I've now got to get to Hobbycraft in Reading to do some shopping!!

Next up, Christmas Cards!!

Recipe - Sausage & Bean Stew

Sausage and Bean Stew

What you need

8 good quality Pork Sausages

1 small chorizo cooking sausage, roughly chopped

800g of chopped tomatoes

800g of cannellini beans (drained)

4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 large red onion, sliced

1 large white onion, sliced

1 large red or yellow pepper deseeded and sliced

2 large chillies deseeded and finely chopped

250g of closed cup white mushrooms, halved

Olive Oil

Salt and pepper to taste

What you do

• ·         Heat a large Casserole dish on the hob and add a good glug of oil.
• ·         Add your sausages and cook until browned all over.

• ·         Remove sausages from pan and set to one side.
• ·         Add the sliced red and white onion and cook for approximately 3-4 minutes and then add the deseeded red pepper, chillies and chorizo.

·

•          Cook for a further 4-5 minutes.  Add the chopped garlic and mushrooms and cook through.
• ·         Once cooked through, season with salt and pepper and add the chopped tomatoes and cook for a further 15 minutes.
• ·         Add the sausages and allow to cook on a low heat for about 25 minutes.
• ·         Add the cannellini beans and cook for a further 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve with Crusty French Baguette and Salted butter.

Substitutes – you can use Italian, Spanish or French Style sausages for this dish.

Bon Apetite!

It's only been a few weeks

A few weeks ago I changed my blog.  Spent a long time going through templates and stuff (mainly cause I'm way too lazy to make my own) and deciding what I wanted.
I couldn't really figure out what I wanted to call my blog.  It's HARD!  I picked something random, and have had a random blog for the past few weeks, but I've decided I don't really like it, and again I'm back to square one.

I need help.  Any suggestions?