Brighton Hen Do

The first of my 2 hen do's was an intimate affair in Brighton, starting with some afternoon tea in Metro-Deco 

Sarah and I had one of their beautiful blooming teas, Sofe stuck with Earl Gray.

We had little open sandwiches, ham and mustard, egg and cress, brie with chutney, and salmon and cucumber. 

All the old favourites.

Cakes!

We then had a layer of traditional scones with jam and clotted cream. 

At which point I was shocked to find out Sophie had never had one before. 

I know she's French but that is just crazy. I'm pretty sure it won't but her last though.

We then quickly devoured the tiny top layer cakes. 

My only disappointment was that all the tiny cakes were all different flavours, and as we were sharing I couldn't really try them all. 

The girls did give me first choice though, so I can't complain too much.

  

Cocktails

Next we moved on to the hard stuff, we found an interesting pub down the road and dived in for a few cocktails. 

I can't remember what we had but I do remember that they were good.

We had a few more cocktails in a couple more bars, then on to my final surprise a visit to the Dreamboys. 

Now I have to admit this is not really my cup of tea, and in fact I found it quite terrifying! 

Selfie!

All the hens and birthday girls were handed a Dreamboys sash, but once I realise this is what they looked for when dragging girls on stage it was very quickly scrunched into a tiny ball.

Public humiliation is not on my bucket list so no regrets.

We then met up with Wayne an honorary hen, and talked and danced into the wee hours before getting a cab home from The Rather Excellent Carriage Company.

After Wedded Bliss

We got married just over 3 weeks ago, it seems like forever ago and only yesterday all at the same time. It's sounds so cheesy but it really was the best day ever. We had so much fun and I couldn't have wished for a better day. The weather held out, and all our friends and family just made the day so special.

Things haven't really settled down yet either, we had a much needed week away in Paris after the wedding. We managed to cram in all the sights as well as making time, for plenty of down time in various coffee shops. Then we got home to hear we have had an offer on our flat!

We managed to get in a couple of viewings and have found the perfect home, so now it time to move.

2014 really has been a huge year for us, and it's not over yet. I am hoping to do a few catch up posts to cover the hen do's and honeymoon. And now wedding planning isn't taking up all my brain space I'm looking forward to revisiting all these recent memories. 

One Year Older

I have been feeling pretty overwhelmed lately, it seems everything is happening all at once, some things are my doing, others are not. But you know when you get to that point when you either want to smash something to pieces, or just sit in a corner and cry your little heart out. Well that's where I was on Thursday, it may have just been a coincidence that it was the day before my Birthday, or maybe that's was why I was so highly strung...

Thankfully my lovely boyfriend and I had already planned a much needed weekend away to celebrate, and re-charge. We made a pact before we left not to discuss any of the stressful subjects and just chill out. We did lapse a couple of times but on the whole we succeeded and it made the world of difference. I felt totally relaxed, and really enjoyed our break. We managed to fit in a lot of walking, a bit of art, some comedy and one or two cocktails. What more could you ask for.

Unfortunately the stress levels did creep back up on the train home as reality was getting closer and closer, but I do feel in a slightly better head space, so hopefully I will cope better and just get stuff done, instead of worrying about it.

How do you cope with stress, any tips?

If you were wondering, I am stressing about, wedding stuff, moving house, difficult neighbours and work!

Eels Live

Please excuse my terrible iPhone photos I did take a better camera but didn't realise the battery was flat grr.

Thursday we went to see the Eels at the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill. It's relatively small venue but on the odd occasion they get some really good names.

First up was the support act, Daughters of Davis. These girls were actually quite surprising, they have a slight 40's sound.  Their in-between chatter fell a little flat sometimes but they were sweet, and they can certainly sing. Check them out if you get a chance, and maybe even buy them dinner to help on their tour.

Next up were the Eels. This is the first time I have seen them live and I can't believe it took me so long. They were a favourite of mine as a teenager, and I still have big love for E's voice. Most of the set was their newer stuff, there were a couple of the oldies thrown in for good measure, although played with a twist so barely recognisable.

        

You like the lining?

  

"this next song's a real bummer"

We were quite close to the front, and the lights kept coming up which strangely made it feel more intimate like the band could see you, so they really were playing for you. Didn't matter that I was there with a couple hundred other people.

The Chet on the sad machine :o(

The Chet on the keyboard with a staw thingy

Near the end of the gig E came off the stage for a hug and pretty much got bundled by the front few rows. I wasn't quick enough (sad face) but it was fun to see.

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this gig and I can safely say I loved every second. Given the chance to see them live, I'm there. I am currently revisiting the back catalog on spotify. 

Coffee from Bali

I have some serious wanderlust going on at the moment. My bestie came over on Saturday night with tales from her travels to Bali and a bag of delicious coffee as proof. It is so good, already had four pots of the stuff, shared of course.

Her stories of a massage every other day and a visit to a nigh on deserted island, make me green. But I still love to hear them and dream of getting away.

We usually get away a couple of times a year for maybe a long weekend and a week or 2 somewhere else, but with the wedding coming up we decided to wait this year. I know we have a week away booked for straight after the wedding and planning for a couple of weeks over Christmas somewhere, but I want to go now *stamps feet and pokes out bottom lip*

Oh well I guess I will just have to wait, I mean it's not really that far away (about 13 weeks! eek), I think I am just feeling a little frazzled at the moment. Time is flying and I just feel like I'm trading water, planning a wedding is not easy when you're as disorganised as me.

A Walk in the Park

Our local park is beautiful, and sometimes I forget. 

It is a five minute walk from my home and I should really visit it more often. We have been having some lovely weather lately, and now it doesn't get dark until gone 9 in the evening I thought I would take advantage and go for a walk.

It was about 8 and nice and quiet, and although the park is on a busy road, you don't even notice once you are among the trees.

Such a cliché but I love roses, and they were in full bloom, beautiful.

I had a little sit in the Peace Garden, it's closed off, no dogs allowed and I had it all to myself.

So under the bamboo I sat to contemplate, and rest my mind ready for bed, I made it home about 9.30 soul lifted and a smile on my face.

Excuse the less than amazing iphone photos, I may take the big girl camera next time.

Homemade Nakd Bars

This weekend I made some of these beauties for snack time at work.

 I keep reaching for the chocolate now I have a readily available vending machine and it has to stop. So apart from not taking money to work with me I had a go at making my own Nakd bars.

You would not believe how easy they were, I checked a few different recipes on line and it seems that providing you use equal amount dried fruit (mainly dates and sultanas) and nuts, you won't go far wrong. Chuck everything in a blender for a few minutes until everything is chopped up small and combined. Tip out and mould into whatever shape takes your fancy. Individually seal in cling film for freshness and you are done. Yum

So the yellow one is a version of pecan pie, the green one is choco mint, I used a mint options to flavour these, and choco orange with cocoa powder and the rind of an orange.

They all taste great, I might even go so far as to say they are tastier than Nakd bars, I guess because they are a little fresher?

Next time I might experiment with some flavours, maybe cocoa and cinnamon, ginger and lemon or even coffee I'll let you know how it goes.

Week Off

Last week I took a week off work, with the best intentions of getting some wedding to do boxes ticked, and other general household bit's and pieces done.

Well I did some stuff but I'll have to admit I wasn't overly productive.

I made these...

Home made lemon curd, Italian meringue and waffles, from the Meringue Girls cookbook, seriously scrummy.

Played with fire (BBQ at a friends house), had a couple of sessions with my personal trainer, and went to the cinema to see X-Men Days of Future Past, which I loved. Did some wedding crafts,

more on those later.

Knitting,

yoga mat bag that I may have ruined with bad wool, damn me trying to be thrifty with left overs...

And enjoyed a happy hour with my fella.

So I guess I did do stuff, just not the stuff I wanted to do, oh well no point fretting, I had fun at the time.

Surely I'm not the only one that unintentionally wastes time on things not on my lists? Am I?

Keeping Tabs

On a whim whilst in TK Maxx I bought these little note books, I'm not sure why if I'm honest I was just really feeling drawn to them at the time. They are little leather bound books, each with a different theme and alphabetised tabs to make notes. I love the idea of making notes for different aspects of your life, a way to remember the important things.

But I'm ashamed to say that now I have them I'm a bit apprehensive to actually write in them. I don't want to ruin them, that's really silly isn't it. 
No point having them if I'm not going to use them, so I'm sure I'll get over it and put them to good use soon enough, especially the wedding one.

It made me think about all the other thing's I've bought just because they were pretty, and never used. Like  soap, milk jug or a fancy candle. I even have a whole tea set that's never been used, in my defence it was only £2 from a boot sale and it is orange. It seems quite sad that these things just sit looking pretty, I really should make a point of using these things, if only to prove their worth, we don't really have the space for frivolous items at the moment.  

So maybe now is the time for a huge spring overhaul, a use it or lose it type cleanse, maybe I'm brave enough? Or am I just too sentimental, I'll probably just fill the loft and kid myself that these pretty unused things will find a purpose when we move... 

  

Sunday Snaps

Sleepy Molly 

Sunday Knit

Morning Coffee

Mum made Star

I should probably make more of an effort to get out of the house on a Sunday. But you know meh, this is what's been going on in my world this today.

I might attempt some yoga later, but at the moment I am enjoying a spot of knitting and coffee drinking.

Enjoy your Sunday.

Ring Bling

This is it, the ring I will wear for the rest of my life as of the 13th September. 

I didn't mean to pick one with quite so many diamonds, it just happened. We were just looking around local jewellers in Hastings for ideas and we stumbled upon this beauty. I didn't try it on straight away, first we had some lunch and a spot of window shopping, but this little sparkler just kept popping into my head. So I decided I wanted to try it on and see what I thought, get it out of my system as it were. So we walked into the friendly little family run jewellers, and pointed out the ring. The shop lady then told us that it was second hand, and because the diamonds go all the way round (yes, all the way round!!) if it didn't fit they couldn't resize. I held my breath as I slipped it on.... and would you believe, it fit like a glove. In my head that was fate giving me a sign that Adam needed to get out the credit card. 

So that's it, the story of how I got my bling. Cute ain't it?

Lunch on the Bus

Lucky for me the company I work for has just relocated, and we just happen to be next door to this beauty. 

Bacon sarnie, mine didn't last long enough to take a pic, this is half of the take away I got Adam. The bus in the car park of an industrial bakers, and the bread is awe-some. 

They also make a pretty mean custard danish. (Other cakey goods are available)

Boy Jumper

I have been knitting this jumper for my love for what seems like months, and to be fair it probably has been.

He had better wear it!

The last month or so I have been slowly getting through the sleeves, both at the same time but usually only 6 rows in a sitting so I don't lose my place in the pattern. Although the colour is dark, and the pattern simple those sleeves have helped me pull my shizknit together. I got a little overwhelmed recently and everything seemed to be getting on top of me. You know that feeling you get when it's 2 steps forward and 1 back, I was feeling like I had to get so much done and was drowning in self inflicted lists and projects. So I made a conscious decision to stop, just stop. So I put down all other hobbies, fledgeling and established and focused on those sleeves.

Best thing ever, not only did it mean that I actually got to finish one of my biggest knitting projects to date. It also meant I could give my poor frazzled brain a rest. Now I am ready to get back on it, I am just going to be aware to tackle one thing at a time, and not let it all get on top of me again. Do you ever feel like you take on too much?

Think I got a bit carried away on the sleeves...

Wedding Cake

I don't know how you feel about wedding cake, but personally I think they are overrated. I love cake as much as the next girl but seriously it's just a pretty cake, can you really justify the cost when weddings cost so much already?

So as I've mentioned before I'm taking the plunge and making it myself. I've done the cake decorating classes got all the kit, and now to pick a recipe.

We are both lovers of the traditional fruit cake so it makes sense to stick with that, it also means I can make it weeks in advance as they just get better with time. Preventing last minute cake related stress, see perfect. So far we have done dummy runs with The Fabulous Baker Boys and Nigella.

I think this was the Baker Boys recipe, and maybe Nigella's didn't last long enough for a picture. But ultimately Nigella won out, if only because she gives the quantities to cover 3 different sized cakes. Anything that makes the process as simple as possible is a winner for me. It was also a more suitable cake than the Baker Boys. As lovely as their cake was it was too cakey for us, what we were really after was a heavy, fruit laden, brandy soaked cake, which is what Nigella delivered.

So there we are, now I just have to find the time to bake the 3 different sizes (not eat them) and feed with bandy until it's time to decorate.

Sunday Drinking

It was a bank holiday this weekend, so Adam decided he would like to take me out on Sunday.

This is us out.

It was easy to forget what day it actually was, totally felt like a Saturday. We went out quite early so we could catch a bit of sunshine to go with our drinks, which was lovely, there were so many people out and about. 

To be honest we probably had a few too many, ended up with burger and chips, and tucked up in bed by midnight. I had a bit of a headache on Monday, but it was worth it because I had a lovely evening out with my fella.

North at Easter

I think this picture says it all.

We spent the Easter weekend in Stoke saying with a friend, it was just nice not to be at home. We didn't really do much, but we did eat, a lot. But my favourite meal of the whole weekend was this Steak and Stilton Pie with chips peas and gravy. Mmm Mm it was good, I don't think anything I could say would do it justice.

It was really nice to do nothing for a weekend, but I am looking forward to the coming bank holiday, to crack on with a much needed spring clean in the flat. Although if anyone could recommend a cleaner....