Maddie's Cupcakes.

The lovely Maddie has graced me with her experimental baking skills again :) It's amazing what a little thing like a cupcake can do. She made a whole batch and could have kept them all for her and her fiancée, but she had a little thought of me. She had the kindness to think to bring me one in work (where, let's face it, we can all do with a pick-me-up now and then). She boxed it up and made sure to check we had the same lunch break. She is so lovely and maybe I just need to go to bed, but I don't know which is greater, how wonderful the golden syrup icing was, or the sentiment in preparing and bringing me a treat in work for a mid day 'pick-me-up'.
Thank you! x

'Save Me' Treatment/S.O.S. update.

I did it, I've worn this polish for 14 days and despite my previous disbelief I have witnessed an improvement. It claims to reduce chipping and splitting, leaving nails stronger and harder. Well, my nails still split as much as ever but my nails are actually loads thicker, which means less chipping for sure. During my first week of wearing the polish the nail on my right index finger split right the way across, going back half way up my nail so I was a bit annoyed at that, but maybe it had to get worse to get better. Since that incident things have gone well. So well infact that this morning I have reapplied the same polish as it's a nice clear coverage that generally just makes my nails look neat. Perfect as a base coat too.
Verdict: Not too shabby.

New accessories!

I might have sacrificed phone credit to buy shiny things, but look how cute they are! They both cost £1.50 from trusty Primark. Cheap and cheerful! I pride myself on being a brilliant hunter in Primark. You have to wade through heaps of poorly sewn and tacky looking garments to uncover something pretty amazing (like my jeans that cost £11?! Thick cream cable knit cardi for £14?!) and when you do, you feel like a MASTER. Yes, the other shoppers usually look like they have crawled out from under a rock, but hey who am I to judge. Yes sometimes it hardly seems worth it. But the glory when you find something that looks amazing and is a super bargain can't be beat. To all of you who scorn Primark, I guess it's nice to not worry about how much you spend when you go shopping. (But I get about five outfits from the money you spend on one!) x

Cupcake!

I was pleasantly surprised by Maddie in work today, with CAKE! I call her an experimental baker, experimental as she hopes for the best with her trial and error technique and baker as the result is bloody good.  I was particularly pleased with the cake - icing ratio. That's my kind of cake topping. She's done a wonderful job on the butter icing, I tried this once with cocoa powder and it's easier than you think. Here's the glorious confection I found in the fridge with my name on it.

Thank you! xoxo

龙年(Year of the Dragon).

Being born in 1988 means I am considered a dragon, I'm told an earth dragon at that. I have loved this painting of an earth dragon since before I can remember. The artist Peter Pracownik gave me and my brother a signed copy when I was a very little girl at a festival back in the early nineties. It's currently framed up in Newcastle with my family... I think with my little brother? For some reason Mr. Pracownik signed it to "Jill & Jake"... pfft, I'm the one born under the earth dragon sign (not bitter at all). If you're not sure what type of dragon you are, someone made it clear on wikipedia here. 

So apparently this is my year. I can live with that.

新年快乐! (Happy New Year!).

Jack & Jill went up the hill.

Well I've had a totally brilliant Sunday - massive lie in, breakfast in bed with a movie, a nice walk in the sunshine (and blowing gale) and a quick stop at Starbucks. Our walk took us up above the retail park in Cardiff Bay from the river. I'd recommend it, but maybe tie your hair up (I look very windswept and interesting) and wellies. Despite the wind and occasional muddy spots (there are two grubby pairs of Converse that will need a clean) we had a great time. You get a brilliant 360 view of Cardiff from the top.

Travel.

So I'm looking at travel to Newcastle in May (my amazing little brother Jake is turning 21!), and it looks like I'll get the train. That's a lot of reading and iPod time, but yay because I love travelling by train. Also it's less hassle than the short train journey to Bristol, then a coach to the airport, then a little bout of stress when my luggage might not be the permitted amount at check in, then waiting for my gate to open, then queueing with huffy fatties to board the plane (god I hate scum class). I mean, I love flying, but the prospect of not having all of that and just having to change from one train to the other from the same platform... Well it's a no brainer. Maybe if I had an affinity to NOT pack 50 kilos* of clothes, shoes and accessories I could go through so many stops and starts across public transport. But I don't. It's like I'm sick or something (what if I need flip flops, Converse, Uggs, ballerina pumps, leopard pumps, black patent pumps, tan heels, nude heels, velvet wedges... a blue coat, a green coat, a black coat... my fuzzy fat, my beret... how many skirts, shorts, jeans, hoodies, pyjamas, camisoles, cute tees... only two wash bags? Serious?! But I have hair spray, dry shampoo, heat protector, serum, body moisturiser, face cream, make up wipes, deodorant, my comb and brush, nail colours, varnish remover, cotton wool, make up, razor, shampoo, conditioner, face wash... how many accessories? Necklaces, bracelets, watches, earrings, rings, hair clips, bows, belts... When will the madness end?!) and I'll probably go shopping while I'm away too, because 'I don't have anything'.
So yeah, trains! Woo.

* exaggeration.

Love/hate feelings for Lady GaGa.

Her expression through fashion, her namby-pamby pop music (which is glorious and I play it nearly every day), her odd tweets. She's wonderful. I recently watched Perez Hilton's superfan show, in which I was a bit repulsed but glued to the screen as I watched her parade around like she was in a cheap sitcom. Is her whole life like this? Maybe it's something I don't get. Anyway, here are some of my favourite GaGa looks. Enjoy! x

YouCube.

Last night we went for dinner with my Boyfriend's family. This was the first time we met since before Christmas so we all swapped belated gifts.
If you know me, you'll understand my glee when I ripped off the paper (well I tried, it was really well wrapped, it took me about five minutes!) to reveal the Soap & Glory logo. It was a YouCube! Contents: The Righteous Butter (body butter), Flake Away Body Polish (body scrub), Clean On Me (shower gel), a 'fluffy super sudsy puff' and *drum roll*... HAND FOOD! So happy to get hold of this. It really is as great as I'd expected it to be. Thank you, Boyfriend's family!

What's In My Handbag?

I have joined the WIMH crowd and if any of you are psychiatrists I'd rather not know what under lying issues you have interpreted from the contents of my every day satchel. Now that I have taken this photograph and sat in front of my computer I feel a little silly, but here goes.
Umbrella. I usually carry this and a pair of sunglasses with me at all times, living in Cardiff comes with weather issues, it can actually be sunny and raining at the same time here.
Make up bag. Until three years ago I didn't feel like I needed to carry around my make up, but now it has become an emotional comfort blanket. Do my brows need a touch up, or do I need cheering up with a bit of lippy, or have I forgotten to apply mascara this morning...
Diary & Parker pen. I write everything down. Even birthdays of people I barely know. Dinner this Saturday with my boyfriend's family. My shifts at work. Addresses. Work details. Reminders. Last year it became my scrap book but I honestly haven't had a chance to get it started yet.
iPod Touch. I can survive without my phone (I think it's in my bedroom?), without my diary, without my camera. But not my music. I cry a little bit when I reach my limit on memory space. If you have any suggestions for music you should hear before you die, let me know.
Miss Dior perfume. My fragrance of choice.
Bobby pins. Those of you born with a natural 'cowslick' at the front of your hairline will understand. I can just about have a side fringe if I pin it down for long enough after I wash it.
Purse. A messy array of barely used 'loyalty' cards, receipts, debit cards, discount cards, privilege cards, point cards, notes and coins.
Hello Kitty camera case. It's actually a child's coin purse but it fits my Fujifilm Finepix in neatly.
That's it folks!