Party Outfit

Every single year I get myself into a right tizzy and have a last minute panic that I NEED a new dress for my work Christmas party. And every year I'll rush around desperately looking for something and end up spending £50+ on a dress that:

a) I don't like all that much
b) I will never wear again
c) I most definitely can't afford

So, this year I'm very pleased to say that I spent a mere £4 on my Christmas party outfit.

The houndstooth pencil skirt was bought at a jumble sale that I went to at The Cumberland Arms a few weeks ago. The skirt was part of a Chanel type suit that a lady was selling for £5. My friend was in love with the jacket, myself the skirt and so we struck a pretty sweet deal. 

As soon as I bought it, I knew exactly how I wanted to wear it. I tried to channel Marion Cotillard in the photo above.  I didn't manage to find a peach/orange coloured tube top, so settled for one that I found on a sale rail in H&M for £2.


I did buy some lovely red shows in the Urban Outfitters sale (£10- GASP), but sadly they didn't arrive in time. I just know I'm going to wear them to death though.

£10. Unbelievable.

Christmas Wrapping Paper

Someone gave me presents wrapped in brown parcel paper last year and I loved it! So, naturally I had to steal the idea. I've been thinking about ways to spruce it up a bit and have bought a lot of gingham and tartan ribbon in festive colours. I wanted to do something with the paper itself though. I thought about doing potato printing, but got home one night with an appetite (gettit?) for crafting, and no potatoes...so...this is what happened:

I think I get the most satisfaction from doing crafty things with bit and pieces that I already have lying around the house. The knowledge that I'm getting more than one use out of something stirs my thrifty soul and leaves me very content indeed. I had some acrylic paints left from candle holders that I made a couple of months back and some cheap sponges (that I planned on putting in a gap in my bedroom window...before I decided that it was a stupid idea) so I decided to make a stencil and make my own printed paper.

It was messy, but a lot of fun. In hindsight I should have made the stencil smaller, so that I  could have more trees printed on the paper, but I'm still quite pleased how it turned out. Plus, they say it's the thought that counts!

Health Kick

A friend of mine started a personal training course recently and I'd be badgering him to give me some tips to lose a little weight. I'm currently a size 10-12, but at 5'2 I still feel like I'd like to lose just a little weight and tone up.

I do eat well generally, but when it comes to carbs and sweets I am insatiable so it didn't come as a surprise when my pal told me that I was eating carbs for almost every meal and it really wasn't doing me any favours. He suggested some foods that I should try and encouraged me to keep going to boot camp to burn calories and build muscle, as apparently, more muscle means burning more calories?

So for the last 2 weeks I've really cut down on the carbs, but I havent ruled them out entirely. I've been eating a lot of nuts, sweet potato, eggs, cottage cheese and fruit and vegetables. Every few days I've had something with carbohydrate in, but I've tried to reduce the portion size. The first few days were awful and I felt really sluggish, tired and grumpy, but after my body adjusted I now feel less bloated and I definately feel more spitely. I've tried (and not really succeeded) with replacing tea and coffee with water and fruit tea and I've also braved the cold weather and walked into work instead of catching the bus.

Will (my personal trainer friend) said that I should have 1 day a week where I eat what I like, within reason of course, and this is the one thing that I have stuck too! When I was in Sainsburys  I saw that Vice Versas were back! Remember those? They are sort of like Minstrels but inside the brown shells there is white chocolate...and well...vice versa! Those were a little treat. Amazing!

Although I haven't lost a lot of weight I feel a lot better, I'm healthier and I've finally 'cracked' (getit?) how to make an omelette...although...I took a photograph of this failed attempt...I was so scared I was going to give myself food poisoning that I left it in the pan for far too long, eep!

Christmas Bunting

IT IS DONE. After many hours spent cutting out 100+ triangles, sewing them back to back whilst drinking wine and listening to Buffalo Stance I completed my first craft commission!

12m of Christmas themed bunting will don my place of work as of tomorrow and I will ensure that the money earned will be well spent when I go to Paris next month.

Usually I use my pinking shears when making bunting for myself, and as I always just hang it on the wall or across a mirror, I leave it single sided. However, for this I realised that I should do it double sided in case the folks at work wanted to use it more creatively. Lots of work! Lots of hunching over a sewing machine, lots of huffing and puffing when I realised I hadn't sewn it properly and have left a little hole in one of the sides! I'm really pleased though and at least I got to bond with my little red sewing machine, who had been rather neglected these past couple of months.

I even had a few bits left to make a couple of metres for my living room. I love it! I can't wait to get a Christmas tree, decorate it with handmade decorations, acorns and ribbon... I even plan to make 'mini-bunting' to use instead of tinsel.

Whoops...

...I haven't updated in a really long time. I've been using the past few weeks to catch up with friends who I felt that I'd neglected a little recently. I caught up with Gemma and we went to the Quayside market and some of the pubs around and about. The Crown Posada was the first was the most beautiful pub I'd ever seen (pics below) as well as being the oldest pub in Newcastle.We then went to the Bridge Hotel and snacked on wasabi nuts, crisps and salt and vinegar peanuts (which were amazing) before head  to Tilleys for fruity cider.

I also spent this weekend just gone in Leeds. I saw that Haim were playing Constellations Festival about a month ago and bought a ticket immediately. I caught the Megabus down there and wandered around the Christmas markets and Leeds Art Gallery before heading up the the Brudenell Social Club for the bands starting at 3pm. I couldn't  believe how lovely this little social club, which was tucked away in a bit of a rough student area was...and gin and tonic was only £2.15! Anyway, Haim were amazing and after 10 gins I found myself, strangely, still completely sober. I hardly slept the night before and had an early start, which I'm guessing is the reason for that. Plus, I had 'the fear' about being refused entry on the Megabus if I was all squiffy eyed and smelt of boozing.

Here are some pictures of my activities of late...(Sorry if this is a bit picture heavy).

Vampire Bunny, one of the oddities of Newcastle

The Crown Posada

And again...

And again!

Lovely view that I'd never seen, even though I've lived here for 7 years!

Me and my baby brother. I bought the houndstooth shorts from Topshop and the first time I wore them (this night) they ripped. Very sad as I loved them a lot!

A surprise on my bathroom floor after my Halloween night out plans fell through.

Inside Leeds indoor markets.

A cup of coffee and a book to try and perk me up after a long bus journey.

Christmas Markets

Incredible.

This Carousel was whizzing around so quickly. It reminded me of Catcher in the Rye. I really wanted to have a go on it, but I think an adult on their own would have looked creepy. The only downside to not having a travel buddy!

'Splitting' a sundae

Halloween night at Centre for Life

Free popcorn!

Make up done by a theatrical make up artist, and all for free!

Would have been slightly creepier if I wasn't endorsing Topshop.com with my bag!

A stroll along the Quayside followed by a cup of tea in the bike cafe. I long for Summer again so I can zoom along the riverside and stop here to refuel on cake!

Jam Jar Tealight Holders

I put a call out to my friends and colleagues months ago, asking for their old jam jars. I had the intention of making my own jam, but I never got around to doing it and I think the ship may have sailed now. Still, the jars were gathering dust in my kitchen so I thought that I'd turn them into candle holders. I bought some acrylic paint and masking tape and set myself away. Little tip, the cheaper the acrylic paint the better! I bought the green and burnt orange for 95p each from Wilkinsons, but I had my heart set on mustard to finish off the set. I bought this for £4 from WH Smith and I found it really difficult to paint onto the glass.

You can probably see I have avocado and Marmite in the background. I've seen a lot of foodie websites raving about Marmite and mashed avocado on toast so I gave it a try. I can confirm that it is absolutely delicious. I'm not really a fan of Marmite on it's own, but the creamy avocado really compliments it. Lushy!

Today's Outfit: French Inspired

I thought I'd do a post on what I wore today. I really love the weekend as it means I have a little more time to spend on my hair, make-up and wardrobe choices. I love clothes and fashion very much, but never enough to get up earlier than I already have to for work.

I wanted to look a little bit French today. I went for the Anna Karina inspired hair and followed instructions from my favourite Youtube tutorial for my make up. The striped top is from H&M and I wear it SO much. At least once a week. The pinafore is from Topshop. I bought this last week and I already know that I'm going to go a LOT of wear out of it. I love it! You can't see my shoes, but I'm wearing red suede boots that I got from Sicily. From the little boys section of a shoe shop of all places!

We own the sky...

On Friday evening I was lucky enough to go to Kielder Observatory with a friend for a special event they had on Aurora, or the Northern Lights. Kielder boasts the darkest skies in the UK and it most certainly seemed that way as we ventured along the windy roads into the back of beyond. We ended up (predictably) getting lost and had to pop into the local pub, where someone was kind enough to draw us a little map. Anyway, we arrived only 40 minutes late which I, as someone who gets lost regularly, regard as a small victory.

I bought this necklace from ASOS especially for my stellar jaunt.

I'm not sure the observatory was what I expected. It was sort of like a post modern (oo-er) wood cabin on top of a hill, it reminded me of the homes in the Woody Allen film 'Sleeper'.  We sat though a short presenstation on Aurora and solar flares and I found my jaw literally dropping. It's quite unsettling that we are due a solar flare and that the last time this happened in the late 1800's it kicked off big style and totally wiped out the technology used to send telegraphs. I'm trying my best not to wake up screaming. Imagine the havoc it would reap!

Sadly, the  Moon was too bright, which meant no Northern Lights. Boo.  So after the little talk I perused their telescopes and jumped at the chance to rotate the walls in the room by turning a wheel in the corner of the room. There was a chance to have a little break and stock up on sugar and hot drinks. They had a little 'tuck shop' of space themed snacks, which was sort of adorable. I spend the rest of the night stargazing. I loved being outside, it was crispy cold and windy, it's not very often I have to really wrap up warm in my Zara sheep-skin lined parka, with a bobble hat and the hood up. It was nice to feel that cold feeling on your nose and see your breath in front of your face. I also  couldn't believe how much more you could see compared to in the big ol' city. I saw the Seven Sisters Constellation as well as Taurus (which happens to be my starsign), Polaris which is more commonly known as the north star and have a good idea where the big dipper is.The astrologer pointed out a star that I noticed was more orangey than the others. He told me to imagine heating a electric hob, the hob starts orange and slowly gets bluer as it heats up. So this particular star had cooled down compared to the younger stars and was nearing the end of its life. You can also get yellow stars, which I guess are in the Autumn of their life and even blue stars, which are just little baba's. I looked at Jupiter and its moons through a smaller telescope that they set up on the decking outside. I saw Uranus, which was tiny and it was sort of mind blowing to hear about how far it was away from us. The night culiminated with a pretty impressive view of the Sea of Tranquility on the Moon.

The passion of all of the astrologers, fledgling and pro alike was astonishing and rather inspiring. One man had his teenage son there and he was serving teas and coffees whilst nattering about NASA and their equipment and the politics surrounding it all. Far healthier for a teenage boy to be doing that than raking the streets somewhere and kind of wonderful.The 'main man' running the event was incredibly knowledgeable and I found myself following him around, sort of like you hovered around the school dinner lady in Primary school. Desperate to hold her hand and walk around 'monitoring' the other children in the playground. Was that just me?

The drive home was actually really nice, apart from having to keep our eyes peeled for sheep running out onto the road or a hidden bend that would send me careering off to my death. When I got home I tried hot Ribena (Ohmygosh) and got warm infront of the fire before falling asleep on the sofa whilst watching Jurassic Park. Totally wholesome and probably the most fun I've had in recent months.

The next day I found myself feeling a little sad knowing that it was all over. I really do hope to be able to go back soon.

Golden Dreams Were Shiny Days: September

September, as told by my Iphone.

Making plans

Night in

Amazing evening at Tyneside Cinema.

Walking

New hat and changing to a middle parting for the first time in 10 years.

Rainy walk in beautiful Newcastle

Bike cafe

'These boots were made for walkin...''

Lunchtime treat from the Coffee Rooms at work.

Tea bags made especially to compliment 'hard' Northern water

Childhood sweets

Probably the most disturbing book I've ever read, but so amazing I ploughed through it in 4 days.

Rainy Sunday indoors

Book sale at City Library. You could fill an entire box for £2! I was in my element.

Loot

More walks

Pals