Goodbye November

As November is quickly coming to an end, I thought I would do a round up of my month.  I seemed to spend a lot of time at work, I am looking forward to some time off next month!! I put work into organising a charity pub quiz to raise money for Whizz Kidz, the charity I am running the marathon for.  The event was last night and was a success! Unfortunately my knee has been giving me problems so I have had to put my running on hold for now, I was doing so well too!!  So I started doing yoga instead, turns out I love it!!

1. There were lots of pretty skies.  2. It became winter too fast.  3. I made brownies for my work bake off.  4. I drank a lot of green tea and mint
5. Beautiful sunrises.  6. Green smoothies.  7. More smoothies.  8. I spent a lot of time at home, glad to be in my own home at last.
9. Banana & chocolate cake.  10. Prepared outfit for my work Christmas party.  11. Another Christmas party item.  12. Love my bedroom!
13. I dyed my hair red again.  14. Injured my knee so no running :( So I bought running gear instead.  15. What is better than elf glasses?! 16. I don't know what this is but it looked funny.

Aims for December: Get back into the marathon training, I can feel my knee slowly improving!! Hold another charity event to raise more money for Whizz Kidz. Take on less shifts at work! I need a month off.  

Do you have any December aims?

Monday Shopping Spree

On Monday I went shopping to return two items and feared for my bank account, not knowing if I would be able to resist certain items that I had my eye on. Luckily I was very good and managed to only buy a few items... until my next shopping fix!

I love this shirt from Warehouse.  It will go really well with the skirt I have bought for my work Christmas party.  I realise this shirt is quite plain for a Christmas party but with a large gold necklace I think this will look perfect. This shirt fit so well and felt so nice on, I think that if I don't wear it to the party as intended I will definitely keep this.  Got to love a shirt that suits me so well and feels great on.

I really like this gold headband from New Look.  Head bands aren't usually my thing, but I really like the leaf design, and wearing such a plain shirt I feel like I need to go big on the hair and accessories.  This could also be worn at a summer festival to keep back that minging stray hair,

These days I love buying sports gear as much as I like purchasing other clothes.  How things can change!  I bought these both from Sports Direct.  I am still on the lookout for the perfect sports bra so if anyone knows where I can get one... let me know!

Since the 5p carrier bag charge has been brought into force in England, I seem to actually buy less stuff! I refuse to buy a bag, what's the point when I am sitting on a gold mine of them at home.  I try to take carrier bags shopping with me, but sometimes I run out and sometimes I end up buying more stuff than expected, then there's those unexpected spontaneous shopping trips where I don't even bring any bags!  Personally, as annoying as it is, I am all for the carrier bag charge if it is going to help the environment.  For the last few years I have rarely taken a bag from a supermarket, I would always bring my own, so why can't it be the same for other shops.  But if it's going to stop me from buying as much then it's certainly a bonus for my bank account, maybe not so good for business though.

Finally, I thought I would show you the outfit that I have planned for my work Christmas party.  I bought this skirt a few weeks ago from Warehouse.  It was love at first sight and it fits perfectly! It complements the small bit of weight I have lost in the last few months.  This is the skirt that I have been trying to find a top to go with but finally think I have it.  Now I am on the lookout for gold sparkly shoes, a hand bag to match and a suitable gold necklace.  You can never have too many sparkles and gold at a Christmas party, right?!

Saturday Shopping Spree

Sometimes, I will go shopping and won't see anything that I want.  I hate those days.  Sometimes I will go shopping and will want everything in every shop.  My bank account hates those days.  Saturday was one of those days.

I had gone out shopping with the purpose of finding a top to go with the skirt I bought a week ago for my work Christmas party.  However stupidly enough I didn't bring the skirt, I saw loads of tops that I liked and wanted to buy every one of them in case they went well with the skirt.  After buying two tops I realised this was a stupid idea and managed to limit myself, planning to go shopping again on Monday with said skirt.  I did get a few bits and bobs though.

I absolutely love this top from New Look! It looks even better on.  This is the style of top I was looking for to go with my skirt, however my skirt is black and gold and this top is black and silver.  That being said it just about goes.  However I have only tried this top on twice and already loads of the sequins have fallen off. For the price I paid for this I don't expect the sequins to fall off so easily, I haven't even worn it out yet! It also has bits of thread hanging off it, and the hem doesn't look straight.  Even though I am in love with the look of this top, it will be returned.

This top is also from New Look.  I wouldn't usually wear a white top, so I like that it is different to what I would normally wear.  However it doesn't quite go with the skirt I have.  I would definitely keep this top if my bank account could allow it, but I have no occasion to wear this to so sadly I have to return it.

I found a candle shop! Snow In Love is my favourite smell out of these, I could sniff it all day! This candle holder goes perfectly with my spare room that I am doing up.  I can't wait to show you all pictures of my new home that is just about finished!

Sunday was hair dye day, this shade of red goes perfectly into my hair.  I was not planning on purchasing Hand Food but I walked past it in the shop, and my hands have been a little dry since the weather got colder.  I have not bought this hand cream in ages and I forgot how much I love it!!

I love this Tea Tree water from Lush.  I had run out months ago but hadn't gotten around to getting a new one.  I also thought I would try Ocean Salt, I have used it once so far and love it already.

My last purchase was this crop top from Topshop.  I originally bought it to go under the black top from New Look, which I am now not going to keep but I have decided to keep this crop top as it wasn't too expensive and I have clothes that this top would go with.

So today is Monday and I am out shopping again, let's see what I will find this time!

Marathon Training - Week 3

Some time ago a friend asked me if I would like to apply for the London Marathon with her.  Willingly I agreed, doubtful that we would get in, but very intrigued to see if I could handle running a marathon.

It turns out that we both got in... HELP!!

I don't run.  It's not like I don't exercise, I have just never done any sort of running before.

I started my training on Tuesday 21st October.  I did 3 and a half miles in 30 minutes.  I decided that I couldn't run.  The next day, determined that I needed to continue the training, I went for another run.  3.4 miles in 34 minutes.  The following day, Friday, I decided to have a rest from running on the road and went to the gym... to run on the treadmill.  Saturday was a rest day, then on Sunday I went for another run achieving 6 miles in 1 hour 2 minutes.

Week two.  Not such a good week for running.  I had a nasty cough meaning I wasn't sleeping at night, and I was choking to death during the day so decided to put a hold on the running.  I finally went for a run on the Saturday completing 7 miles in 1 hour 16 minutes.  I was so proud that I did a 7 mile run.  The time was a little lower than I was hoping, but it was a very hilly run, which is my excuse for the slower time.

I am now into my third week and have not managed to squeeze in any running yet.  This marathon training is proving to be a lot harder than I expected! In between work and life I am finding it hard to make time for running but I am going to keep at it! I am determined!

I am running for the charity Whizz Kidz and intend to raise £2000 for the charity.  I have two aims, one event.  I can do this!!

Reading Festival - The end of festival season

May be a little bit late in posting this.  But nevertheless, here we go.  It took me ages to upload the photos.  Oops.

For me Reading Festival signals the end of festival season.  It is the last festival of the summer that I usually attend, and it means that autumn is coming.  I have been to Reading Festival numerous times, and each time I come back, feeling like I cannot wait until the festival next year.

On the way to Reading Festival... the cleanest we would be all week!

This year I was super excited as I didn't get to show my presence at last years Reading Festival and I missed it!  I went with 1 friend and we had early bird tickets.  I had never bought an early bird ticket before.  But having a regular festival weekend camping ticket means waking up ridiculously early on the Thursday to get down to Reading for the morning to secure a good camping spot that isn't drowning in mud.  Having now experienced an early bird ticket, I can safely say that I would get this every time from now on.

Our home for nearly a week.

It should only take less than two hours to get to Reading from my home, so at 2.30PM we set off... and didn't arrive in the camp site with all out luggage until 9PM! Yes, that's right.  It took us 6 hours in the car due to traffic.  We couldn't believe it!! We were so frustrated by the time we got there we just wanted to crack open a can and chill out.  However we had to choose a camping area to set up the tent, we already had a camping area in mind so we headed to green camping area.  We then had the challenge of choosing a good spot and setting up the tent, however it was dark, so this involved stamping around the soggy ground to see which was the least soggy and then making good use of the head torch to set up the tent.

After this mishap, everything was fine.  We woke up the next day to sun.  Then rain. Then sun.  We were incredibly lucky with the weather for the whole weekend.  It did rain, and the place pretty much turned into a mud bath at some points, but there was a good bit of sunshine and dry weather too.  I have previously been to festivals where it has rained non stop.  During this festival I tanned... a lot!!

Gin and beans for breakfast!

Foo Fighters - Broken Leg Tour

Last Sunday I was sitting in my apartment wondering what to do with my day, then I remembered that the Foo Fighters and Royal Blood were playing locally later on that day.  I was on holiday when the tickets went on sale and I just assumed they had all sold out.  I rather dubiously looked online, not expecting there to be any tickets left... and there was!!! Without hesitating, I bought the ticket, and that was the plan for my day!!

I drove over there, normally it would only take 30 minutes but due to the concert traffic it took hours!! I started panicking that I was going to miss the first band on, Royal Blood, who I love.  Eventually I managed to park up and only ended up missing one Royal Blood song.

Walking into Milton Keynes Bowl I couldn't believe the amount of people there!! I headed straight for the crowd surrounding the stage to catch Royal Blood.  It was a lovely sunny day and the crowd was packed tightly around the stage meaning I couldn't get very close, and the sun behind the stage was blinding.  That being said, I do love a gig outside in the sun, and it was Royal Blood, I love this band!!  They put on a good show as expected, playing well known songs like Figure It Out and Little Monster with added riffs and jams.  They played some of my favourites and I was super happy to see this bands, one of my favourite bands at the moment.

Next on was Iggy Pop.  I wasn't fussed about seeing this band, I didn't know their music.  I watched their entire set anyway, I was there so I figured I might as well.  I ended up knowing one song, and they weren't as bad as I expected.  I wouldn't see them in their own concert though.  The people dancing in the crowd amused me when my mind drifted off during the set.  They did put on a good show I suppose, but I didn't know their music.

Foo Fighters 6th September 2015 @ Milton Keynes Bowl

Then, on came the amazing Foo Fighters.  I have been wanting to see this band forever.  I think I have now seen every band I have ever wanted to see live, I have waited for this moment for so long.  They were amazing, it was everything I expected and more.  Dave Grohl sat on a specially made chair, due to his broken leg, you could see he wanted to move around.  They put on such an awesome show, and had great crowd interaction.  The show seemed to last forever, but went by so quickly.  By that I mean that sometimes when bands play two plus hours set, you start wanting it to end.  But I never wanted this show to end.  It was just too good.  Seeing as it was outside, it became absolutely freezing, and I started to wish that I hadn't worn shorts.  But I didn't mind, I was seeing the Foo Fighters!!  They played well known songs, All My Life, The Pretender, Best of You, Everlong, and so much more.  I can't even describe how good it was!! I had the time of my life.  I didn't even mind that it took me two and a half hours to get home,  I had seen the Foo Fighters.

Foo Fighters 6th September 2015 @ Milton Keynes Bowl

In other news, I have been writing up a post on Reading Festival which I can't wait to share with you, and have been making new additions to my home.. I can't wait to show you the finished thing!!

Have you seen Foo Fighters before?

Home Bits and Bobs

When I was younger, my Mum used to drag me around Dunelm, and I would hate every minute of it.  It used to baffle me why on earth anybody would want to spend their time looking at material, and curtains, and bedding etc. I just couldn't get my head around it, how boring.  Now the tables have turned, I love Dunelm.  The other day a friend and I were discussing curtains, then we stopped and realised we were getting excited about curtains, and realised that's what our parents do.  Is this us growing up?!
Since moving into my new home in May, even before I moved, I had a picture in my head of what I wanted my home to look like.  Now that picture is slowly becoming a reality, my house (or flat in my case) is becoming a home.
Yesterday I was looking at the Dunelm website and they had a cracking sale on, so after work I drove over to Dunelm, to discover that the sale was only online (apart from the odd duvet set and plate).  At least I still managed to pick up a few bits.

Kettle, Dunelm

How awesome is this kettle?! I was in desperate need of a new kettle, and this duck egg green is totally my colour.  Who knew you could get kettles in such funky colours?  I absolutely love this!! You can get a matching toaster and I was so tempted, but I don't eat toast, so what's the point.  Yes, I get excited about things like kettles and stuff now, don't look at me like that.

Lamp, The Range

I was looking for a lamp for my bedroom and fell in love with this one, it's super cute.  It's perfect as it matches my curtains.

Dragonfly solar panel fairy lights

These fairy lights are actually meant for the garden, but why not put them inside too.  The metal bar that they are wrapped around came with the flat, supposedly to stop me falling out of the window, so instead of removing it I thought I would put it to good use.  I was actually looking for bog standard plug in fairy lights, but then I came across these solar panel lights and loved the look of them.  The solar panel box has been in the window all day, and as you can see the lights work fine.  This is a very deep window so I am going to add a seat at some point.


I can't wait to have my flat decorated and furnished perfectly, exactly the way I want it.  It's almost there and I can't wait to show you!