2012.

Hello there :)

What a year it has been! It seems an age away that I was writing about my 2011. 2012 has absolutely flown by, especially since starting uni. Here were my resolutions for this year...

work very hard to get into cardiff/exeter
get healthy, toned + comfortable with my body for holiday
save enough for a good holiday, some new clothes for uni and uni generally
take photobooth photos!!!
pass my driving test
take more risks and relax more
donate to charity

I think I did pretty well considering! I got into my first choice university, cardiff uni. My body was a bit meh for holiday but it didn't bother me and we had such an amazing time. I worked super hard at monsoon over summer and saved plenty for holiday and uni, which was good. Me and baby finally took some photo booth photos in November which I adore. I don't know why I like taking them so much! I can't really say whether I am more relaxed- I liked to think I did since starting uni but not sure all my friends would agree (they have discovered my list writing obsession). I donated to children in need this year and I also volunteer now at a homeless shelter, cooking them yummy food :) I passed my driving test in July (only the second attempt) and so am now the proud owner of a pink license :)

2012 has been an amazing year. My life has turned upside down; cardiff is now my home and me and my boy are finally on the same city but not under each others feet. I've met some incredible people and feel genuinely happy with my life. 2012 has been a year of crazy nights out, a trip to turkey, riding camels and parasailing, starting university, essay submitting at 5am, pole dancing and lots and lots of popcorn. 2012 has made me grow up, but also be immature. 2012 was the year the world didn't end and the year I moved to the rainiest place in the uk. 2012 has brought new friends, laughter, better relationships and a better me.

I'm unsure of my resolutions for 2013. I always go on a detox after Christmas, but this year I want to try and change my relationship with food to eat more healthy foods and give me more energy- I can't remember the last time I wasn't tired. I want to do more volunteering work and try more new things that are maybe out of my comfort zone. 2013 is going to make me into an even better person in hopefully every aspect of my life. I want to do well in my January exams and get a 2:1 in my first year of my degree, and work super hard over summer to save money for our gorgeous new house. 2013 will be the year i try not worry so much about the unimportant things, and focus on what matters.

2013 is gonna be the best year yet. :)

Love love love xxx

Christmas traditions

Hello!

It's getting super close to Christmas now (technically, as I'm writing this it's Christmas Eve!). I have been thinking recently about my family's Christmas traditions, and those that I want to pass onto my future family.

We don't, as a rule, have many family traditions at all really. When I was young, Christmas meant carol services, Christingles, nativities and presents on Christmas day. We would always go to my Nanny's for a big lunch with all the family, and in the evening go to my Grandma's for tea  crumpets, little cakes and all those lovely things. Around the 28th, we would all go to Papa's (my third set of grandparents) for a second big get together with different people, so I was really lucky in that Christmas was nicely spread out! These traditions have mostly died out over the years - families grow and people change plans.

Anyway, I feel like it is such a shame that my immediate family don't have any proper traditions. As you know, I am obsessed with making lists so I obviously made one about what I want traditions in my family to be. It is likely that none of them are truly original, but I am looking forward to sharing them with my future family :)

Christmas Day with my boy.

Hello!

For the past 3 years, me and Matthew have always managed to see eachother on Christmas day, and Boxing day (my birthday!). We've been really lucky really, as most distance couples don't get that luxury. He moved in with me last year, so I got to spend my 18th with him aswell. However, this year I am returning to Southampton for Christmas, from Cardiff, but Matt has to stay to work. The time he does get off, he will be going to Yeovil to be with his family. So what were we to do? Naturally, I decided to plan our own Christmas eve and Christmas day :)

On Christmas eve we had a nice chilled day, making gingerbread (me, mainly) and watching Love, Actually and Arthur Christmas. I always think baking should be a must-do around Christmas time, and originally had my heart set on a full on gingerbread house, but couldn't find a kit anywhere for under £15 being the poor student that I am. So we had to make do. Still had lots of fun though! After watching Love, Actually with hot chocolate we hung our stockings and tucked down ready to sleep for Christmas night. 

Our yummy gingerbread and my beautiful stocking from my boy!

Christmas day came and we exchanged gifts. Matthew's stocking from me included pj bottoms, rudolph boxers, an elephant thong (ha) a leather notebook, christmas socks, bertie botts type jelly beans and some sweets. My stocking from Matthew contained ferreir rocher (my favourite!) perfume, going the distance on DVD, an elephant bookmark and some sweet little cake decorations. 

The main presents were a different story. I got Matthew a beautiful rotary watch in brown and cream, which I had known before hand he would love, so I was safe. He, on the other hand, bought me a super expensive Superdry leather jacket! And me being the awkward, fussy person that I am... didn't like it. I felt like the worst person in the world, but I knew deep down it was better to tell the truth than keep such an expensive coat that I wouldn't wear. Matthew, being the amazing boyfriend he is, didn't bat an eyelid or show that he was upset at all (if he was) and so on Christmas day we went into town to see what else they had to offer. The one leather jacket in there I really liked, they didn't have in my size. And obviously, Matthew had spent ridiculous amounts of money in a store where you can't get refunds, only exchanges! So I now have a generous giftcard to hopefully pick up a bargain leather jacket in the sales. I feel sorry for the poor boy, he has my birthday to try and figure out yet. We are hopefully going out for dinner the day I return to Cardiff to belatedly celebrate, but it won't be the same without him here!

I am going to miss my boy very much. It has been a long time since we have gone over 3 weeks without seeing eachother! But we have managed before so we shall manage again, should be super nice to see him when I go back too!

Merry Christmas, love love love xxx

night out round up #2

I appear to have neglected to fill you in on my nights out of late. There have been a few! The 1st December was one of future house 23s birthdays, so naturally we all had to go out :) It was a really good night in glam, with a balloon guy who couldn't make me an elephant :( But I got a pretty cool giraffe instead!

After this there was a break for a week because everyone was getting bogged down with final assignments and exams. We next went out for Aimee's birthday (part one) which was Christmas themed. Didn't have the funds to dress up, unfortunately, but luckily they provided santa hats! And the balloon man was there again, so I asked for a festive Rudolph - loved him until he got trodden on...

 Two nights later, on Aimee's actual birthday, we ventured into Newport. Now, we had heard a lot of dodgy things about clubbing in Newport, but it actually turned out to be a really good night! Only took a couple of photos for this one so must have been good!

Fiiiiiinally, after returning home on Tuesday I was reunited with some of the Southampton girls. It took some persuasion to get Alexis out, and turned out after a while they went to Oceana leaving me and Mimi in Bedford but I had such a good night, despite the return of the Southampton hangover! (I don't know what they put in the drinks here but it makes me violently sick, boo.)

The Quilter sisters, two of my favourites

Mimi, bestie.

Blimey, this has taken me a long time to write and put together. I'm still really slow with the whole uploading pictures business. It's annoying because most of them are on my phone, haven't worked out how to transfer them over yet!

Love love love xxx

walking in a winter wonderland!

Hiya!

It's official, all my assignments are completed and handed in for this term! It is such a good feeling, despite knowing I have a Christmas filled with revision. I have 4 exams, FOUR. We've had lots of talks on them, and a few don't seem too bad.

Last night some of the flat couples went to Cardiff's Winter Wonderland! It is definitely a must do if you want to feel festive :) We went on the scariest ride ever and I screamed the whole time. Basically, I usually refuse to go on any ride that is not permanently fixed to the ground. However, everyone else was game and I figured it's there for while so why not? It was the most terrifying thing ever, absolutely freezing and I felt sick at the thought of falling off 60 ft in the air. Not something to do again.

We then went ice skating which was SO much fun. I haven't skated in a good few years and it was nice going with Matthew, as we've been together 3 and a half years but have never gone! It's also quite special to us because in a roundabout way it is through ice skating that we got together. Aimee was upset because they wouldn't let her use one of the penguin aids but even she got the hang of it eventually.

After, we all had a go on a fairground game to try and win toys and things. I'm ashamed to say everyone won except me. EVERYONE. So poor Matthew didn't get a penguin, but I did 'cos he won his for me :) We went on some sleigh toboggan thing aswell that was alright, just to use up our tokens really. All this was followed by a yummy nandos to round off such a gorgeous evening.

Such a happy girlie tonight! Love love love xxx

christmas time, mistletoe and wine!

hiya :)

today has been such a busy day. i've been looking foward to it for ages! Today was the day I cooked Christmas dinner, for the first time ever, for 13 people. Yeah, 13. It took me all day, but it was worth every minute because I have had such an amazing evening, I love every single person that came and we had such a laugh. 

Now, when I'm talking Christmas dinner, I mean the works. We had all of the following:

• Turkey
• Pigs in blankets
• Swede and sweet potato mash
• Yorkshires
• Roast potatoes
• Stuffing
• Green Beans
• Cabbage
• Sprouts in garlic butter
• Honey and mustard carrots and parsnips

We also had a selection of puddings, with the fudge cake definitely being favourite. Soo good! We did our secret santas aswell which was the funniest thing. I got a lovely body shop lip balm and a man controller ;)

I am utterly and completely exhausted, but I still have the computing assignment to finish and put together, and ideally finish my essay so I only have to proof read it tomorrow. It's going to be another busy one - we are signing for our house (eek!), pole assessment and Glam for Aimee's birthday! Looking forward to it. I'll insert some pictures of this evening now. 

Talk soon, love love love xxx

weekends...

Hiya!

Since I've been at uni, weekends have been transformed for me. Back in Southampton I had to work both Saturday and Sunday, meaning I never actually had a day to myself. Now, I don't have to work either, thankyou to the student loan fairies. My weekends usually consist of lazing in bed till around midday, treating myself to a special weekend breakfast before either doing some shopping in town, watching the footie or cracking on with uni work. I often stay at Matthew's on a Saturday night if he isn't working Sunday, and I treasure those Sunday morning lie ins where neither of us have to get up for anything and can just cwtch (cuddle in welsh) for as long as we like :)

It's Saturday afternoon, and after watching Saints win to Reading I decided to get down and dirty with this stats homework. Being December, I just can't start work without putting on the Christmas song playlist. I compiled quite a small list on spotify of songs that to me, are Christmas. The list isn't exclusive and there's probably a few I've missed off - I find myself hearing songs in shops, or from other people's music that I recognise thinking OMG! I haven't heard this in a while. And then I trot on home and add it!

Anyway, I wanted to share probably my favourite Christmas song ever. Obviously, the Pogues come a close second, but this song is so beautiful, so innocent, and it gives me that warm fuzzy feeling every time I listen to it. It's magical, makes me feel special and makes me look forward to curling up on Christmas eve, in my jammies, with a hot chocolate and Love Actually. :)

Enjoy. Love love love xxx

Ps. If you were interested, the other songs on my playlist are:

Last Christmas - Wham!
Do they know it's Christmas? - Band Aid
All I want for Christmas is you - Maria Carey
I wish it could be Christmas everyday - Wizzard
Jingle Bell Rock - Brenda Lee
Santa Claus is coming to town - Bruce Springsteen
Fairytale of New York - The Pogues
Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens
Have yourself a Merry little Christmas - Michael Buble
Merry Christmas Everybody - Slade
Driving home for Christmas - Chris Rea

What a day..

Well, today has been quite interesting to say the least. I had a beautiful lie in with the boy after staying up late to finish yet another practical... when will I learn? Then I had a shower at Megans before getting ready for a day Christmas shopping with Cam :) 

Our heating has been broken for 5 days now, which means no heating, no showers and no hot tap water. It is actually ridiculous how long they have made us wait, sure they keep coming to "fix" it but go away without actually solving anything! I've been wearing around a billion layers to try and stay warm, my sheet s are freezing to touch and yeah, I have to shower in Megs. They finally came today and told the flat that our boiler is broken. Kaput. Can't be fixed. How it took 5 days to come to this conclusion I do not know. Anyway, it has also been leaking carbon monoxide apparently, which in case you didn't know is toxic. As in, can kill you toxic. Great! So we are getting a new boiler in a week (!) and have been provided with portable heaters for our rooms. Lets just say they aren't very good. We've also been given a key for a house 3 doors down with a spare ensuite that we can shower in, but luckily the next door flat is being very generous and letting us just pop over when we want to :)

I got lots of shopping done today, I seem to be buying for so many people this year! Matthew's stocking is all finished, nothing majorly exciting in there but there are some rather funny things. I also sorted his mumma and sister's presents, and bought some earrings for my own ma. Still have to buy for dad though, any ideas?
Love love love xxx

A lucky lady!

Hey :)

It's been an eventful weekend, with various posts to follow. I'm currently loaded down with a whole list of work to do, which isn't fun but am still trying to find little chunks of time to update here. It's amazing how quickly the work can pile up if you aren't literally working 9-5 in uni. I'm hopeless, really, I've already experienced 5am submissions and even waking up on the morning of a deadline and cracking on with writing reports. Even so, it's quite incredible how my grades are still actually improving! I received some really lovely, positive feedback from my postgrad tutor this morning, which has boosted my confidence a little.

On friday, I spent the evening at Matthews for my much anticipated 3 course meal! He had promised it for a good while so I was definitely looking forward to it. Now, Matthew isn't the most natural of cooks, but the fact that he still put the effort in (eventually) really made me smile. The food was actually pretty decent aswell. For starter he made bruschetta, with fresh tomatoes and garlic and balsamic vinegar and generally all things yummy. Trouble is, I ate too much of the starter so I was nearly full by the time the main came along! He made fresh breadcrumb chicken breast with grilled cheese and pasta. It was so nice but I couldn't manage to eat it all which I felt awful about! After a tactical break he brought up the most delicious coffee and walnut cake, that he admitted he hadn't quite made himself but it was so good I didn't even care!

We spent the evening chilling in bed watching looper - a definite recommend if you haven't watched already. It's similar to films such as inception, source code and limitless - all films I really enjoy, not entirely sure what the genre is.  It has been so lovely spending some quality time with matthew as we don't always get to see that much of eachother. Shame about the early wake up call, though - hating 8am work starts for my boy.

There will be more posts hopefully later today, if all this work hasn't suffocated me!

Love love love, xxx