Surviving Party Season - Fake It 'til You Make It

A week into December and party season is well and truly upon us. Christmas is a great excuse to catch up with that friend you've not seen for yonks and go out for a few too many bottles of Prosecco, not to mention all the prearranged Christmas parties, and well just sitting in with the heating on full blast chugging down on gallons of red wine and scoffing on blue cheese. All the excessive booze consumption and late nights can make working 9 to 5 a painful chore.

#LikeAGirl

I'm just going to leave this here...

 

Gift guide - buying for guys

Well Black Friday has whipped everyone into a bit of a frenzy hasn't it?  We all seem to have forgotten we're British - reserved and respectable; choosing instead to adopt a more manic, crazed state where we elbow, shove and shout to get at whatever item is displaying a generous 10% off for one day only.

Years & Years, Desire

 

 

I am loving this song, I think it's a real summer tune that would sounds amazing in the sunshine.  I recently shared it with my Aussie best mate so she could sample it in the correct setting!

 

I'm really pleased to hear this morning that Years & Years have been shortlisted for the Critics Choice award at the Brits along side another fave of mine, James Bay. Years & Years are certainly one of my tips for 2015... for what ever that's worth! 

Elvive Fibrology

 

Don't you just love how brands make up words as part of their marketing bullshit to sell stuff to us?  What the fuck is Fibrology anyway?? Well it worked, I was suckered in and bought this thickening shampoo from L'Oreal Elvive that promises 'luxurious-looking body & bounce'.

Spiced Pear at Hepworth

My sister and her boyfriend love fine food and a good glass of wine, and as such they eat out quite a bit. This results a steady stream of live reviews on where and where not to go for every possible dining occasion.

Last week was her birthday so when the family arrange to go out for Sunday lunch I knew we wouldn't be heading to local Toby Carvery. Instead she suggested the Spiced Pear at Hepworth which is about half way between Manchester where I live and Wakefield near where she lives.

George Maple - Talk Talk

 

I cannot get enough of this song at the moment, playing on repeat.

Some Kind A Gross

I was bought this Benefit set a while back.  I'd not really used Benefit much before but it's a nice little kit and always nice to be bought something that you can try for new.

Fazenda Manchester

A new restaurant opening in Manchester, that's new! This city is awash with places to eat especially in Spinningfields, an area which is slowly transforming itself into the culinary hub of the city centre. It's possible to travel the world without actually stepping more than a few metres. You can experience anything from high end fine dining to street food for that fast snack on the go.

Winter Pastels

Healthy Chicken Linguine

I know what you’re thinking, how can a creamy pasta sauce possibly be healthy? Well this sauce has no cream and no cheese but is still packed with flavour. With none of that fat it’s a much healthier option for those looking to still enjoy their usual favourite dishes.

Autumn Nails

It's been a bit of a mixed weekend in Manchester. Saturday was beautiful throwing out 19 degrees, I went out in standard October attire... a coat, and ended up roasting. Sunday was more what we were used to, grey and drizzly. The sun shining through the trees on Saturday was beautiful, the colours on the turning leaves all orange and red.

Tough Love

 



To some people music is just background noise, something they can flick between and barely take notice of. For me music is so much more, it runs in my veins and has the power to set me alight, change my mood in an instant and provoke a reaction that can bring me to tears.
It sounds so corny to say, but music is my medicine. If I'm in a bad mood I have songs that I know will lift me out of it in an instant, tunes that get me motivated or sounds that just help to reflect and get some perspective.

The Simple Things

I read so much about fancy expensive beauty products or make-up that's so dolled up that it's really not wearable for everyday. I love reading about these aspiring products in the vein hope that one day I might have enough Boots advantage points to afford them, however what I really want to know about are those fail safe, go to, everyday high street essentials. 

Everyday Clutch

Eat, sleep, work, repeat.

Dinner - feta, beetroot and walnut salad with balsamic dressing

Have you ever written down everything you've eaten in a day, or even a whole week?  I mean everything, every Haribo ring and every stolen crisp; that cheeky chocolate bar and that one little crumpet. A dietician friend of mine said that taking a note of very thing you consume is one of the most successful tool for managing food intake and subsequently, managing weight.

Peppermint Rescue

"It's been two weeks now and all we've managed to do is make Regina's face smell like a foot."

According to my boyfriend my feet are disgusting. Personally I don't think it's my feet that are disgusting but all feet that are disgusting. But it's safe to say that years of cramming my tutsies into six inch heels and slipping on the trainers for 10K runs hasn't exactly helped them look as dainty as Cinderella's.

Alt-J ~ This Is All Yours

 

 

Alt-J have been streaming their new album, This Is All Yours, on Spotify this week ahead of it's official release next week. I've had it on repeat, well worth a listen. 

Sunday Lunch

I found this picture on Pintrest

Forgive me, I know it's Tuesday. I've been on the hunt for the best Sunday lunch but keep stumbling over the same watery gravy, shop bought Yorkshire pub, over cooked beef monstrosities leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

Packing up for universtiy

        What I thought I looked like heading off for university.

 

It's nine years this September since I packed up my belongings and took the two hour drive over the Pennines to Manchester to start my first year of university, nervous excitement fluttering in my belly.

Getting Ripped

Life Changing

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it and join the dance.”

 

The turn of September always marks a time of change for me.  It probably hankers back to days when the turn of the month would mean new shoes, a shiny pencil case and different class at school. But despite those days being long gone I still get the same anxious excitement and nostalgic longing at this time of year.

And so it begins... again!

“I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland    

I just can't seem to shift my compulsion for blogging. Having dabbled with many different blogs on various different subjects I've come back full circle and decided to revisit 'lifestyle' blogging.

Lifestyle, a word to cover all ground.  I can get away with just about anything that takes my fancy. Lifestyle covers habits, attitudes, tastes and standards of an individual which I will share with a hope that someone will at least feign interest in what I have to say.

Blogging has always raised mixed feeling for me, the narcissism of it all conflicts with my humble modesty... I can't be that modest right, I'm still doing it anyway. I'll attempt to maintain some integrity, I'm not here to over share or suggest that I have any sort of wisdom to impart. Hopefully it will all just be a bit of fun and my way to fill my compulsion to write down my thoughts on the internet... oh and I heard it can make you rich!