Keeping up

I feel like I haven't blogged in ages! I have been so darned busy with work and University that I just haven't had the time!

Work has just been mad. I am enjoying it so much but the time just fly by and I am trying to keep on top of all the work. I have never been in a job before where I get in to work, look up and realise that it's lunch time and the morning has flown by. It's really refreshing to be somewhere that I'm not bored 80% of the time and that keeps challenging me. There are so many different events taking place as well as the weekly tours around the school that I have to do for people. This weekend I worked Saturday as we had an Open Day and I spent the whole day rushing around making sure it all went smoothly. We've also had a Fashion Show and we are having a Garden Party next week. It's just all so much fun :)

University has also been non stop. I've just handed in my final essay of the course and now I have just 3 weeks to try and revise like mad for my 3hour exam and I am terrified! I have a massive stack of books to get through and this isn't even half of them:

Looks like I'm going to be doing lots of reading over the coming weeks but I have taken half term off so I'm going to have a few extra days to study! I've also just signed up to my final course in my degree - Advanced Creative Writing and I am really excited that I am finally nearly there and that I am finishing on something fun.

Although I've been super busy I have still found time to make my garden grow, it's amazing that I have managed to keep something alive as I am normally completely rubbish with keeping plants alive.

I have also started my 'I must lose a stone' diet again so I've been making some very yum and colourful dinners. It is hard to stick to all of this when there is a buffet lunch available every day for me but I'm going to try and be good especially with Summer approaching (although I say that optimistically).

Things are ticking along nicely with a holiday being booked soon and another Summer in London approaching.

xxx

April Favourites

This month has been full of sunshine and happiness and lots of favourite things.

Let's start this off on a happy music tone!

Music

Starting off with my favourite album. I have been enjoying Pharrell's new album for a couple of months now. All the tracks are happy, upbeat and bouncy and is the perfect album to dance along to. My favourite song off the album has to be 'Hunter' or 'Brand New' ft Justin Timberlake.

My new favourite song is 'Stay High' by Tove Lo and Hippie Sabotage, check out both the Habits remix and the original.

Books

I read Wool and Shift last month but had to take a break to read my Uni books which killed me as I couldn't wait to start Dust. If you haven't read the Wool series make sure these get bumped up your reading list as they are brilliant. The story is set in a post apocolyptic future where the world outside is unhospitable and a few hundered humans survive in a community exists in a giant underground silo.

To live, you must follow the rules. But some don't and their punishment is simple and deadly. They are allowed outside.

They keep you guessing from start to finish and I wish there was a 4th!
 

Food/Drink

Bit of a boozy one this month but I just need to say it. I'm slightly addicted (dont tell my doctor) to Strongbow's new Citrus Edge cider. With it's matt finish can and it's lemon and lime taste it is literally yum in a can. I can't even. I want one now. How many units are you allowed a day?

 Please drink responsibly.
Life
I don't normally do 'Life' favourites but what with the weather changing and the sun shining there have been a few things that I have been loving. 

Hanging washing

It sounds so simple but I honestly don't care how much 'Fresh Sheet' fabric conditioner you use you are never going to get the same fresh, clean smell that you get from hanging your washing outside. 

Gardening

I am not a gardener. I hate worms and I hate bugs. However my friends were very kind and gave me all sorts of gardening equipment for my birthday so I could sort out my jungle of a garden. Now I have chopped back trees, planted herbs and made friends with the wildlife. I'm learning!

Home

Another birthday present! (I was spoilt this year!) I was given this adorable recipe box for all the lovely ideas and recipes that I want to jot down. The box is from Wilkinsons - they have a brilliant home range department at the moment and I want everything from there!

I have wanted a cookbook stand FOREVER. I just hadn't got round to ordering one but the other day I thought enough is enough and went on the hunt. This simple cream Colonial Home Cook Book Stand was from Amazon and holds the pages back perfectly although when not in use I just like to keep my prettiest cookbook on it.

Fashion

You know me I can't go 10 minutes without buying new clothes and so here are two of the favourites from the month. They both have a real spring like feel to them and I am finally appreciating the midi - which my mother will be happy to hear as she's been telling me for years that they suit me best. I've been wearing the skirt with a black cami top and black heels and I love that it sits on the smallest part of my waist and shows off my calves. 

 Dorothy Perkins - Blush Textured Pleated Midi - £20 

NB: They only stock this skirt in a size 20 and 16 now but Dorothy Perkins have loads more Midi Skirts instore, including this one in black

This grey floral dress just makes me happy inside because it combines all my loves: grey, floral and a longer sleeve. It is quite short so I have been wearing it with thicker tights but for those more daring then me bare legs would be fine.

H&M - Grey floral jersey dress - £9.99

There we have it! My April favourites. Sorry about missing March, apparently I didn't like a damned thing. Let me know in the comments anything you have been loving with all of your heart.

xxx

A fox named Reggie...

When my boyfriend and I first moved into our new house with our concrete low maintenance garden I thought “Great! I’m not a gardener so this should be quite easy”. Except we moved in March when it was bloody freezing and nothing had started to grow. My garden is now a wilderness with trees and creepers and plants that must have been hiding. I am patiently waiting for winter to arrive so it can do the gardening for me.

However because it is now so overgrown we have attracted a new visitor to the garden. I’m assuming that he is happy because he can hide. Well this is what I thought until I came down the stairs Sunday morning and there he was, curled up on our patio table sunbathing......

I managed to get some good pictures of him in the 4(!) hours he was there. It got a bit silly though, I ended up hanging my washing inside because I didn’t want to open the back door. I mean, yes he’s very cute and although there are plenty of urban foxes to be seen in London from afar it’s a bit special to have one so close but I am worried that once we start letting the cat out again once her leg is stronger that she is going to go straight into the jaws of hungry Mr.Fox.

We haven’t been feeding him and we are going to knock on the window if he returns to try to deter him but has anyone else got any suggestions on how to politely tell him that he needs to find a new sun lounger?!