Send It...Post It!

So good news!! The offer has been accepted!! We are making progress, we have a solicitor and mortgage organised, the next steps are just making sure things are hunky dory before hopefully we can move in before the end of this year. I always knew that 2012 would be a year to remember but I don't think I ever expected in my wildest dreams it could be as good as this!

Today I received this cute little card from my mum. The value of a letter is not one to be overlooked. Yesterday was an emotional roller coaster and my mum just knows how to put a smile on my face. Perfect timing and well needed.
I love this card and if all goes to plan I think I might to have this framed in the new house.

Every night I go to bed dreaming and wishing on happy ending...watch this space it's going to be a nerve racking couple of months!!! 

Happy Halloween

I don't have many plans for tonight and I'm not expecting any trick or treaters with living in a 4th floor flat and if I'm being honest I'm still recovering from the weekend of fun, frolics and ghoulish games!
I think I was also successful in achieving the dead doll/ broken doll/ porcelain doll look! Check out the results and some of the other scary pics from the party! Muchas fun was had, drinking laughing and dancing! You can't go wrong!! Though important note for future...gin, vodka and cider is not a clever option as a drink!!!

From house to home

Today has been an eventful day, a step towards the future. My fiance and I have been viewing properties and have fallen in love with one in particular, that much so we have made an offer. We are expecting that we are going to be outbid but this is my little moment of hope, that we are made for this house. To have hope that somewhere, someone, something is looking over us. Where's the star to wish on when you need one?!
It's going to be a sleepless couple of nights until we hear more....

Double Double, Toil and Trouble!

This weekend I will be celebrating Halloween at a friends house in line with a house warming. I have never ever known someone who loves Halloween as much as she does! 5 pumpkins, red light bulbs from the internet and creepy music are just some of the things which she is splashing out on in honour of all things ghouly!!
Stepping up the creepy vibes people are making a lot and I mean a lot of effort with their outfits! From little red riding hood to an assorment of masks it's going to be one scary evening.

Feeling the pressure and need to break out of my standard cat/ witch vibe I am going to try something new!
With the power of the internet in my hand I have stumbled across 'dead dolls', here are some of my favs which I hope to recreate.

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-do-scary-doll-makeup

Prepare to look ghoulishly glam, I just need to find the right outfit now!!

Challenge...Look at Me Now!

Following my recent post about the heart board which I had made for a colleague, I asked for some pics of it in situe now that they have had it for about two months. I'm loving how it looks, it's going to look fab once it's completely full...long way off yet though!

http://trueblondeambition.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/challengecomplete.html

Heart Canvas

Heart within a Heart

Back in January I made lots of fabric hearts out of scraps of left over materials. I played around with the images below...

Finally I got around to doing something more permanent with them and after applying some glue to a pre painted canvas, here are the results.

Heart Canvas

Having originally being on display in my living room, after a small redecoration and a shuffle of furniture later these are now on proud display above my bed in the bedroom.
I've got to admit I'm made up! There is something about making something yourself that you can be proud of, that adds that extra wow...pazazz every time you look at it!






http://trueblondeambition.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/heart-within-heart.html

Challenge...complete!

I'm back!! I've been off the blogging scene for a while now but I've been stimulated to write and get back on the blogging scene.
 

Heart Badge Board - made by @GlitteredPink

Back in Feb I wrote about a challenge I had been set by a colleague to recreate a padded heart board for his daughters. Not one to turn this down I set about the task and check out the results!

Heart Badge Boards - made by @GlitteredPink

Materials:
- MDF wood cut into hearts by a specialist
- wadding
- fabric, lined with iron on vyleen
- staples
- badges to decorate

The finished size of each of these hearts is approx 1 metre by 1.5 metres.

With his daughters aged 3 and 8 the plan is for these hearts to be filled with badges and pins of places which they have visited, a visual diary. A cute idea of a way to remember all the fabulous things you have done as a child. The badges featured are in honor of the Jubilee and the exciting year which it has been for the UK.
I wish I had made one for me, next time!

The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee

The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee 

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full.  They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions--and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else--the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your  spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first--the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

 

Thank you for being my friend

Spending times with friends has and always will be a large part of my life. As what is life if it is not shared with ones you love and friends.

This weekend in the words of twitter is going to be #amazeballs! I have a fun filled and busy weekend ahead. 

Friday - night in with work friends
Saturday - full day sesh' with uni buddies reunion
Sunday - hungover and sleepy uni buddies
Monday - ex work pals meal and drinks



By the time that Tuesday rolls around I think I will be exhausted! 

Tomorrow I am spending with current friends from work. I have been very lucky over the years to work some amazing people and the group now is quite possibly the strongest! We are having a good old fashioned night in with some wine, karaoke and dance party! Think I will have to have a couple of wines to get me through the singing and the dancing at that!! Prepare to be embarrassed! What shall my karaoke song be...humm need some suggestions! 


Saturday my bestest friends from uni are coming to stay and we will be having a good old fashioned girly gossip, with wine and pizza. Followed by a hard core boogie to burn some calories. 
Sunday I will more than definitely need as a day off recovery, followed by Monday a catch up with two friends I used to work with and miss dearly.  My friend Shelly aka Bean is one of the closest friends I have. When I first met her I had no idea how important she would be in my life. Shes always there to listen and give advice, even if she lives 2 hours away from me she always has time to listen. Oh to la Bean! ♥

So here and now I would like to say a thank you to all of my friends. Here it goes...


Thank you for the good times
Thank you for listening to me whinge
Thank you for not laughing at my dancing
Thank you for helping me home on those nights I can't remember
Thank you for those nights...for some there have been many and I'm sure lots more to come!
Thank you for helping me through the hard times
Thank you for making me cry (in a good way)
Thank you for having time for me
Thank you for putting up with my high pitch squeak (trust me I sound normal/deep in my head)
Thank you for not judging me through the fat times
Thank you for putting up with my crazy and sometimes ridiculous suggestions (Barbie party will happen...trust me!)
Thank you for believing in me
Thank you for your words of wisdom
And thank you for being you! 
Without you all I would not be the person I am today. And that includes you too Tom (fiance and my best friend, always and forever)
I love you all. 

Pin Happy

Ok so recently my blog has taken a little bit of a back seat as I have fell in love with Pinning. I can't stop... I have found myself lost within a world of boards and peoples likes and imaginations and I love it! Not only this I have I found some comfort in this, I have also been enlightened and my creativity is flowing!
Want to find out more you can find me on Pinterest and just remember...

Gossip Gossip Gossip Girl

My favourite show of all time is Gossip Girl! The glitz, the glamour, the outfits, the drama I love it all!! I want to be in this show!
Tonight the 100th episode aired and I was watching in suspense hoping that Blair would not marry Louis and would run away with Chuck! This show has it all and tonight I even shed a small tear when Blair walked down the aisle with her two dads. Any dad, daughter moments in films or shows make me cry...I will have to address this one day but not today!

One small piece of disappointment was when Georgina was announced as Gossip Girl...I don't know how I feel about this!? I preferred the mystery of not knowing! This however will not stop my love for the show and the gorgeous actors in it!
Let me now say hello and thank you to Ed Westwick, Chace Crawford and Penn Badgley! Beautiful men...not as gorgeous as my own fiance but I am allowed to appreciate their style!

I would also like to say how much I love the styling in this show, one of my favourite moments to name a few would be the below scene with Blair (Leighton Meester) and Serena (Blake Lively) in Paris.They look like they are having a genuinely great time!

Gossip Girl here. Your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite.

And who am I? That's one secret I'll never tell. 

 You know you love me. Xoxo, GossipGirl.

Spring is on the way!

March has arrived and already we are 3 days in…where are the days going?! Today I managed to regain some creativity, which is fair to say has been lacking recently.  Instead of trying to look what I have in front of me I have been looking forward into the future and the exciting days to come.

Mother’s Day is two weekends away and making sure I am ready in plenty of time I have begun by making a card. Not satisfied with one design I have made two. 

Then on a creative roll I have experimented with a cross-stitch heart onto a paper red heart, an idea which was sprung from a design I saw on Pinterest.

This is a slow start to my creative flare being back in full force but it’s a start. Inspired I am saying thank you to my beautiful scented white lilies, which are on my side.  There is something about lilies which make me smile! 

Bye Bye February

Another month down, where is this year going?! And with an extra day this February it has allowed more time for fun and to be creative!

To sum up... February is:

Best Enjoyed with: Friends

Drinking: Cocktails - especially a Limoncello mojito

Listening To: Old School tunes mashed up with R&B beats (Gold Dust, Give It To Me Baby, Super Freak)

Wearing: an outfit inspired by Chanel

Having a: Party in the snow

Reading: A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

Making: bunting

Sharing with: loved ones

February has been a short but very long month. Looking back I feel like I have accomplished more than I thought! Snow, birthdays, valentines, working away, visiting friends and family, making bunting - the lot! In February I have done it all!
What I haven't done however is write every day like I had planned. Unfortunately some days life just takes over and this month as got the better of me being a social butterfly and I am exhausted! This however will not stop me from Springing into March! That's right Spring is on the way! Bye bye snow and hello daffodils and baby animals.

Things I am most proud of this month...my bunting! This was so much fun to make and even though I was not able to see it in full glory being used at the party, there where plenty of pics for me to admire.

Football Frensey

My weekend often involves football, this weekend was one of the same. I watched my gorgeous fiance referee a 0-0 game, listened to football while driving in the car and then today watched my little brother play a full game of under 12s football. I have never been so proud of when he took a penalty 3mins from the end of the game, to score the winning goal! So woo hoo to the football spirit!

Moustache Gift Bag

It's my friend's birthday coming up and she has a crazy obsession with moustaches, so in true 'tash style I have created this mini bag for her present. I hope she will like it. If she doesn't then tuff...I think it's pretty cool!

Chanel Style

I have never been a true fashionista or a big follower of trends, thought  I do take an interest that is normally all, an interest. Tonight however I am channelling my inner Chanel and without even realising I was! 

 The beautiful Fearne Cotton was captured wearing this fabulous combo last night at the Brit Awards which I think has influenced my purchases today! 

C/O Glamour.co.uk

I have purchased the below vintage dress from a a store in Sheffield and also made sure to buy some new shoes to go with it. A girl can never own too many shoes and besides these are different to any I currently have.

I love Fearne's hair in this pic too but when I get around to wearing this outfit I might have to team it with a simple and elegant up do. I love these found on bklynbrideonline

A girl should be two things:

Classy and fabulous ♥

- Coco Chanel

Mood Boards

Sometimes words aren't enough to explain what I am thinking so here goes something else:

Working Weekend

It was always going to happen a quiet weekend with no blogging. However my weekend has not been as quiet. I have been working away at Moda, well and truly in my element. I love events and exhibitions, the set up, behind the scenes drama followed by a successful show!
I have only been to Birmingham once before briefly and didn't get chance to explore, this weekend however I was able to. My friend and I went wondering into the vibrant city to check out the sights. We also treated ourselves to tea in Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant one of the many first of the evening. In a beautiful industrial building with a rustic edge it was the perfect start to the evening. Words to describe it....mmmmm!! The food was to die for. Limoncello mojito, the world's best olives, wild truffle risotto topped with wine. Enough said. I would recommend and even go again!
Exploring further we went to the Jewellery Quarter, where I had my first Ameretto sours, again yum! Followed by some more regular mojitos and girly gossip! The perfect evening and a fabulous weekend. Even if it was work!
Today back in the office and feeling rather tired. After a winning game of netball, I'm knackered. To bed for me as another busy couple of days ahead! But I'm not complaining!

Getting on board

So working in the world of marketing, coming to terms with all these different online channels can be hard. So I have decided the best way to learn is give it a go. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Bebo, MySpace I thought I had them all, all very different but I love! I now have a new number 1 love - Pinterest. Wow! What a site, clicking on things I love, sharing them with others and finding even more things that inspire me. It's still early days but if you like what I say on here then maybe you will like what I post on there. http://pinterest.com/fay5/

I'm looking forward to creating some boards in the next couple of days and expanding my boards, likes and pins. 

If I'm missing a site which you think I might enjoy please let me know.

Challenge

I love challenges. Having goals to work towards is what motivates me to be creative and in a timly manner. Today I have been set lots of goals, many of these work related but I have also been set my first bespoke creative task. I have been asked to create a padded heart board, made of fabric, channeling Brigitte Herrod as a reference. The task is not easy, I have no idea even where to start, but I'm looking forward to what I can achieve.

Image from http://www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk 

- Brigitte Herrod

Brigitte Herrod is new to me as an artist. After some research from trusty Google I'm hooked and also a little shocked that I have not come across her sooner! Maybe I have but have just not realised who I was looking at. Note to self to make more of a conscious effort to find the creator of things that inspire me!

I will be calling on Google again soon for some help with this project but am looking forward to working on something on a bigger scale and out of my comfort zone! Here's to pushing the boundaries!

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day 2012! ♥♥♥

It's official, the most loved up day of the year is here! How did I celebrate....well after a long day at work I came home and had green soup. Okay not just green soup but broccoli and cheese soup but it was green! Then me and my fiance went for a couple of drinks, how did the night end...well after 3 beers my fiance was sick at home. Green soup topped with beer is not the recipe for success!! Happy Valentine's everyone. 

I did however grow a stronger appreciation for Justin Bieber today...after watching his film it's fair to say he is a true talent and will be a success for years to come. 

So in the words of Bieber... Never Say Never!!

See I never thought that I could walk through fire

I never thought that I could take the burn

I never had the strength to take it higher

Until I reached the point of no return

And there's just no turning back

When your hearts under attack

Gonna give everything I have

It's my destiny

 

♡❤ Valentine's Eve ♡❤

So tomorrow is Valentine's Day, the most loved filled day of the year, that is assuming you are with somebody and are truly madly deeply in love! I am one of those lucky few who has found that perfect someone and am looking forward to celebrating our love for one another tomorrow. 

Although I love all the flowers, wine, chocolates, cards etc. I don't agree with how this holiday has become so commercialised, that however will not stop me partaking! So get out those pens and scribble an I ❤ U to that special someone. Who knows you might just get one in return! 

I would also like to pay tribute today to the late Whitney Houston, a true star and performer with a voice and talent I could only dream of.

Some of my favourite hits:

- Saving All My Love for You

- How Will I Know

- I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)

- I Will Always Love You

The last of these was a big part of my childhood, I would spend hours singing along to this hit and those from other stars such as Celine Dion, Shola Ama and Tina Arena on my microphone plugged into the CD player. Oh how I will always love the female greats and their fabulous power ballads. So warm up your vocals and give it a bit of (drum roll please):

And I will always love you.
I will always love you. 

❤❤❤

Pasta Perfect

Looking for a low calorie dish with lots of taste, try out this yummy recipe from Weight Watches:

Beetroot and goat's cheese twists

- 1 small onion, finely sliced

- 1/2 tsp dried thyme

- 120g dried pasta

- 50g cooked beetroot, chopped

- 100g low fat creme fraiche

- 140g baby leaf spinach

- 20g medium fat soft goats cheese. chopped

1. Cook the onion and thyme

2. Meanwhile cook the pasta in a pan of boiling water for approx 10mins (until cooked)

3. Add the beetroot and creme fraiche to the onion and thyme and stir 

4. Cook for 2-3mins

5. Drain the pasta and mix with the spinach. Add this to the beetroot mixture and stir until the spinach wilts

6. Divide between 2 plates and top with goat's cheese to serve.

A yummy and healthy dish with loads of flavour...enjoy!!

Stick to what you know

I'm a true believer in 'change is good' 'embrace change' this might be the case but not when it comes to restaurants! Tonight my fiance and I decided to have a early Valentines meal and go to a new Indian restaurant which has opened around the corner. After waiting for over 40mins in a very busy bar area we came to the conscious decision that we had been forgotten off the list and left. There was no acknowledgement or apology as no one noticed. I'm guessing from the length of the wait and the aromatic aroma that the food is good but I couldn't bare the thought of being spending an evening here if the service was anything to go by.

Instead we decided to leave and go to our favourite Indian restaurant. A small family owned restaurant where the service is always superb and food is delicious.  I felt almost guilty that we hadn't been to them to start with. I am a true believer in supporting local and small companies and this one in particular I love. We got a meal to go as it was a bit late but I was by no means disappointed, as always everything was yum! So if you are ever in Sheffield and looking for a good Indian restaurant then I recommend Kababish Original on West Street (previously Sahib).

Back to today! I have been piecing together my bunting on to the rare yellow bias binding which I have been searching all over for! I couldn't be happier with the results. My first attempt of making bunting and I'm cuffed to bits!! Take a look:

So to sum up today, service does matter in fact it matters as much as the food or the purchase and making bunting will always brighten up my day!

I Dream Of

I wanna be where the people are
I wanna see, wanna see them dancin'

(Ariel, Little Mermaid - Part of Your World)

I love testing out my princess hair styles, but if I could have hair like any princess it would have to be Ariel. To have think, volumised, floating mermaid hair would be the dream. 

Who knows one day my dream might come true as a 'dream is a wish your heart makes'

Summer Hues

When it's wet and snowy outside there is nothing than I like better than brightening up my wardrobe and look! And this season I'm in luck as colour blocking is in! From coloured jeans and playful pastel pumps to modern bold statements on delicate lingerie designs. These are looks you will adore! 

**Images c/o Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Asos, New Look

With this in mind, I have been experimenting with colour on my nails. Starting small but adding colour to my nails makes my hands become more dainty and delicate and I feel 'polished' I have started today with lush lilac, now the decision of what to team it with tomorrow....a contrasting blue or a coordinating deep purple. humm...decisions decisions. 

In the mean time I have found another up do which I adore. eBeauty Blog shows you step by step how do this elegant up do, perfect for work. I have decided to flaunt this look tomorrow and will add a jewelled clip for some extra va va voom!

Next step, to invest in some coloured jeans to team with my many pairs of pink shoes which I already own!

Be bold, be beautiful and embrace the seasons colours though all areas of your wardrobe!