Sunday

Today I have had a very chilled out day, I've watched the washing blowing in the sunshine, spent hours organising my Pinterest, drinking lots of tea, picking myself flowers from our garden, organising my jewellery, painting my nails and cooking a delicious spicy sausage casserole. I am now sitting down and watching Harry Potter one, quite possibly one of my favourite past times.

I'm trying to make August a very organised month, so have been making plans and lists in time for our holiday in September. Dey is very meticulous, and it has sort of rubbed off on me of late...not saying that is a bad thing. I already have all of my holiday wardrobe bought and hung, paid all the bills, planned my money and started to make a list of all the things I need to get done.

I am sincerely dreaming of Autumn now, as much as I love the sunshine; I am ready for boots, cardigans and all the beautiful colours and smells that come with my favourite time of year. Also...my wedding dress will arrive soon, life is good.

Currently

When it gets to the end of the month and my money starts dwindling, I always tend to online window shop. Pinterest really doesn't help...at all, and the fact that there are so many lovely things around at the moment, I'm  spending my money in my head before it arrives. The amazingly beautiful McQueen dress above is my dream outfit for Dey's Brother's wedding nuptials, shame it's out of my price range.

The bralet if it was me, would be worn with a black blazer and some leather skinny's, for a night out on the wine. I'd most certainly have to wear it with these Zara heels though *dribbles*.

• • WOMEN'S UGG BOOTS
  • MEN'S UGG BOOTS
  • MEN'S SLIPPERS
  • ACCESSORIES
  • ABOUT UGG

  
  

• WOMEN'S UGG BOOTS

  UGG® sheepskin boots are a must-have in any woman's wardrobe. Once you try them on, you won't want to take them off. Tall or short, there's a pair for you.

• MEN'S UGG BOOTS

  Get your hands on a pair of men's boots from UGG® for men -  the hottest look for men this winter. Using only the finest materials, they give you a comfort that is like nothing else.

• MEN'S SLIPPERS

  Relax in style with a luxurious pair of men's sheepskin slippers from UGG®. With the legendary warmth and feel of UGG, you wear them in and out of the house.

• ACCESSORIES

  Slip on the luxurious feel of UGG®  leather gloves this winter. With its famous sheepskin lining, it's the only way to keep your hands toasty and stylish.

• ABOUT UGG®

  Make sure your UGG® Boots are genuine. Be wary of any websites selling discount UGG® boots. Visit the official UGG® Australia website for authentic UGG products.

Lace & Leather

I picked up this dress on a shopping trip today, I saw it online and instantly loved it. New Look sent me a £30 voucher to review something for them and I managed to get this dress and the cute dog belt that you can see below. I'd say that New Look as a store is always 70% consistent for me, I prefer the a/w stock as I feel it is a bit more 'grown up' for me. But when I go in I always love atleast a few things, which is no mean feat. I am actually in love with these atm.

In real life, this dress is a pale peach lace, but what sold it was the fact that it had a leather collar. For £24.99 I think it's a bit of a bargain and it covers my bottom! Hurrah! I would wear it in the day and dress it up for the night with some killer heels. Only downside though, although it has a lining it's still a tad see through, which sucks a tad.

Thanks for all your Instagram comments about my hair, it's a big change but as blonde is my natural hair colour...you could say I'm going back to my roots.

Write it on your skin...

I appreciate completely that my blog has been rather wordy of late. I know sometimes text heavy posts are sometimes hard to take in when you're tired or like me reading blogs in bed, but I've been through a bit of a tough time lately. My break was apt, it was needed; as short as it was.

I wanted to take the time to thank you all for the constant support I receive, I never expected to feel so cared for by writing a blog. But you all sincerely care and that is a rare quality to find in people, especially from some of you who I have never met. I could of sat here and wrote a load of crap, pretending that I was ok, but I really wasn't. I could be thankful that both my grandparents were ill at the same time, so as not to get over one illness and then be faced with another, but I am not.

My gramps went from being perfectly fine, blowing out candles on his Birthday cake, to a shadow of the man I know within 48 hours. After seeing him yesterday I am confident he is much better, but it's such a scary experience and put my life and all my plans in to perspective. So much so that me and Dey decided to scrap getting married in Mexico next May and have a wedding here in England. I just didn't want my family not to be there.

Look I'm babbling. Not a lot of people are comfortable spilling their life in public, I guess I just appreciate that you don't judge me.

So basically, thank you.

Hiatus

Not to sure if you all got to read my tweet the other day so thought I would let you know that I'm giving myself a little break. My family's health is taking a bit of a nose dive at the moment, along with the fact that I have a lot of other things to deal with. I don't have enough time to give the blog 100% like I want to. Hope you understand.

Gem

July Desktop

Here is my desktop for July, I hope you enjoy it. Just right click, open link in new window, right click and save. You can get to the rest by clicking on the 'Desktop Backgrounds' tag below the post.

Untitled

I wasn't going to write these fears down, so openly...see I'm still rather raw to the news. As much as this blog is open to public eyes, I still see it as my online diary and it is like my therapist. I spill out my life and it doesn't judge me, it just listens and nods and then when I'm ready it lets me move on to the next worry or happy moment I want to share with it.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that this is my blog. It's not a business, or a stepping stone to a career, it's just my space on the internet and sometimes I like to forget that anyone knows me at all. I just want to be able to write, without fear of people thinking I am doing it for attention, sympathy or praise.

This is one of those times.

On Thursday evening I walked in to my Mother's house to be greeted with an immense bubble of emotion, that seemed to have been popped by a cruel passing child. I was met with raw eyes and silence, that can only be described as overwhelming fear. I looked to my Mother, to my Aunt and to my Grandmother and was filled with a deep sense of worry and anguish. Something wasn't right, and the happy and excited pre-weekend away girl left me and ran back out the door. I was greeted with an extremely emotional Grandmother, who couldn't contain her tears, they seemed to be falling like the rain we can't escape at the moment. With one tear filled breath she said four words, I have breast cancer.

My Grandmother has breast cancer, my Grandmother has cancer.

Not only did my world feel like a Tsunami had crashed in to it, but my heart seemed to break right there on my Mother's living room floor. A feeling of not only grief but relief flooded through me, because yes my Nan has cancer but with breast cancer she has some sort of recovery hope? Doesn't she? She's going to be ok right?

She's going to beat this?

Everybody started to sob and the expression on Dale's face can only be described as equally as heartbroken. He was right there, sharing the news, sharing our pain and sharing with me in my heartbreak. Unable to come to me, and unable to know what to do, in that moment I wish I'd had the Neuralyzer from MIB. So I could take away the pain I could see in his eyes and for him to not have to worry about me.

My relationship with my Grandmother has become very close over the past few years, in her age she has mellowed and I have seen such beautiful sides. Such warm, generous and thoughtful things. Although our family has been burdened with Cancer on more than one occasion, this time it feels real. Too real, I want to wake up.

And repeat.

She's going to beat this.

The love I feel for my family is nothing I can describe, every member, even the ones I never see and the ones I never speak. I never want no ill feeling, I want them to be happy and healthy and for all their dreams to come true, but most of all I don't want them to have cancer.

Please make it go away.

South Wales Scrapbook

On Friday me and Dey went away to Herefordshire, for our anniversary. As a few weeks ago I was contacted by Groupon to review one of their deals, I chose this one night stay at Allt Yr Ynys and paid the extra. I thought the deal was great, a one night stay and afternoon tea for £63...quite a bargain really and the hotel looks lovely on the website. On the website, because in real life it offers about 50% of what you are expecting. The warm welcome they promise, was met with a cold hello and a walk up to our room with not so much as an 'enjoy your stay'.One of the main things that disappointed me, being the foodie that I am was dinner. The dining experience their photo's share was met with a more deep fried option; Fried chicken, fried potato, fried pancetta, chorizo fried within an inch of its life...which in turn made me very ill on the evening.

I feel it's a shame as the hotel is set in an idyllic place, opposite a river, surrounded by lovely land and cottages. The decor is old and quaint, it could do with a tiny bit of an update...a cream plastic bathroom suite is a bit too caravan esque I feel, especially as it took five minutes for the hot water to be exactly that. Also every window gave neighbours a show and tell, so if you wanted some privacy you had to close all the curtains, making you feel a bit like a vampire. Some light blinds or even a frosted panel in the dressing room and bathroom would make it great.

As for the surrounding areas South Wales is stunning, we got up early and headed out to the Brecon Beacons National Park. A vast, breath taking park of amazing natural beauty and a lot of very steep hills that got the better of me. We also visited the waterfalls a few miles away, which reminded me of where me and Dey got engaged in Scotland. Very fitting for an anniversary weekend and something that me and Dey love doing, country walks. All in all we had a wonderful time and we have decided to try and have a mini break atleast once a month, especially as if you think about it, this was just two hours drive from our home. All in all I think The mini break deals on Groupon are worth it if you have a look each day and find a great deal. I'd rate this one at 3/5 as the hotel wasn't at all welcoming or friendly. I wouldn't recommend this hotel to anyone as it was decorated as if everything was from a car boot, the food was awful and the staff were rude and un-caring. The place could be great, but for the prices they usually charge without the Groupon discount, it simply isn't worth it.

P.s You can find all my other scrapbook posts of our trips here.