Hectic Times!

Since my last post all I seem to have been doing is working and sorting things out for Christmas! I feel like a big kid with it being Christmas Eve and me being soo excited! I have finally sorted out presents and they are all wrapped looking pretty under the tree..sooo looking forward to seeing everyone's faces tomorrow opening them! Thank you to everyone that has sent Christmas cards and presents in the post, I will be texting you all tomorrow!

What's more.....tomorrow is the deadline day for my spending ban! I am soo relieved it's over..Cannot actually believe I managed FIVE MONTHS without buying one item of clothing or any accessories for myself...this tells me I really do have too much! - There have been a couple of things I have been eyeing up so if I don't get these for Christmas I may perhaps treat myself with the money that mum and gran bet on me that I wouldn't manage until Christmas! :) 

Even though it is early I am going to make a dash to bed as need a good sleep for my busy day tomorrow and was up at half 4 for work this morning...lovelyyyy! This is the first year that I am going to Liam's for Christmas dinner and spending half the day there with his family...Eeeek excited!!

I hope everyone has a fantastic day tomorrow, gets spoilt rotten and eats and drinks a little too much!! Have fun!

Lots of love,

Gina xoxo

 (These photos are taken from google images)

Christmas Time!

I have seen this on Rachel's and Emma's blogs so thought I would give it a go as I am so excited for Christmas this year! I have also nicked some of Rachel's pics as they go well with my background...hope she doesn't mind!! :P
 

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Without a doubt, it has to be hot chocolate..with cream and marshmellows YUM! I don't even know what egg nog is...

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

His elves wrap them, he delivers them under the tree :)

Coloured lights on tree/house or white?

Coloured lights on the tree, mainly because that's all we've ever used, although outside we have white icicle type hanging ones that are pretty!

Do you hang mistletoe?

My mum does from the light in the lounge.

When do you put your decorations up?

We put our decorations up at the house in Manchester at the start of December, but mum and dad don't like putting decorations up too early, so hopefully they'll be done, or can be done this weekend!

 What is your favourite holiday dish?

Definitely the good old Christmas dinner, turkey and all the trimmings! (soo hungry right now!) I also love having the meat cold in baps on boxing day :)

Favourite Holiday memory as a child?

Running downstairs and seeing all the presents wrapped up by the fire...although I still look forward to that!

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

Ermm when my mum said to me, "I have something to tell you about Santa.." and I just said, "He's not real is he?" I had already guessed but didn't want the stockings to stop, and had to keep it quiet from my brother who is 3 years younger than me.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

No, but we always go to Midnight Mass at church on Christmas Eve so when we leave it feels soo christmassy! Since I have been with Liam we have done boxing day presents as it is his family's tradition...it is just a £1-£2 present for each person though, but makes the celebrations continue!

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

With lots of pretty decorations, tinsel, flashing lights etc 

Snow! Love it or Dread it?

I love it! Just hate driving in it! I love being wrapped up in a coat scarf gloves etc and just hearing the crunch noise..I made a snow angel last year too! My first one :)

Can you ice skate?

No, I am awful! I grab hold of the person next to me, and hold on for dear life! I think I could if I tried, but I have heard of too many accidents and get scared.

Do you remember your favourite gift?

I honestly don't have one favourite, I get so many gorgeous presents off my family and Liam that I couldn't pick one single thing...I'll let you all know after Christmas if I have got an extreme favourite though ;)

What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

Spending good quality time with my family and with Liam. (Rachel if you're reading, I feel like I'm copying you! Haha. I also love just lounging about..eating, drinking, giving and receiving presents, but it wouldn't mean anything without my family and Liam being there.

What is your favourite Holiday Dessert?

Strawberry pavlova! and a crunchie and grape pudding my mum makes, that is to die for!

What is your favourite holiday tradition?

Ok, this is going to be a bit confusing...every other year we spend Christmas Day at home so there's me, mum, dad, my brother, granny and nan. Then the next year we will go to someone's house or everyone will come to ours..as in Aunties, Uncles, cousins etc. Every other year this happens on Boxing day though. This year is a bit different for me though.. Granny and Nan are coming over, but we may not be seeing everyone else on Boxing Day as they might be too busy. I am however, going over to Liam's house for lunch and Christmas day night which should be fun!

What tops your tree?

A gold pretty star!

Which do you prefer giving or receiving?

I know you may not believe it, but I love love giving presents as the people I give to really appreciate it..especially family and Liam. I love seeing that my planning of presents has paid off. Obviously, don't get me wrong I LOVE receiving presents too! :)

Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum?

YUMMMM!

Favourite Christmas show?

I don't have just one..I love all the Christmas stuff the put on tele over Christmas and Boxing Day..I think even if it's complete rubbish, you love it anyway just because of the time of year! My favourite Christmas film has to be Love Actually though! I know it's not your usual christmas film but makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! :)

Saddest Christmas Song?

I cannot think of one at the moment, as I have Michael Buble's christmas album playing-love him! Failed at that question!!

What is your favourite Christmas song?

All I want for Christmas is you! Makes me think of Love Actually and am listening to the Michael Buble version at the mo! <3 :)

Have a great christmas everyone! xx

A big sorry! - Word heavy post!

I just want to say a big sorry to everyone that I haven't posted in almost a month! I don't know where the time has even gone! So here is a little...(well, rather large) update!

Firstly, thank you so much to all my followers for sticking with me! I now have 50 followers and am over the moon! :)

Graduation has been and gone..I actually got a different dress from ASOS as the dresses I posted up before weren't in my size or in stock boo hoo! :( But love the one I wore in the end! :) Mum even bought me a new pair of shoes to wear with it (photos to follow!)

My spending ban (on clothes and accessories continues!!) I can't believe it... By christmas it'll be 5 months that I haven't bought clothes for..and if I get any money for christmas I have already decided that I want to buy a new lens for my SLR camera...yes, there are a couple of clothes I have on my wishlist for christmas, and if I don't get these I would like to buy them possibly in the sales but I don't want to go on a full spending spree...what has happened to me?!!

My photography course is going really well :) I just need to get on and update the blog over the christmas holidays! Am hoping to do a studio photography one after this has finished in the new year.

I also cannot believe how close it is to Christmas and New Year! Yes, I am a little child and asked mum and dad to buy me an advent calendar again this year; I may be 22, but that is never too old for some chocolate! I have almost finished all of my christmas shopping, just waiting for a few items to be delivered..I couldn't hack shopping in town much this year (mainly in case I get enticed to buy an item of clothing for myself!) so have done a lot of online shopping this year!

I am going back home for Christmas next Sunday night so will get everything wrapped up then...hopefully by then decorations will be up at home! Mum keeps saying it's too early to put them up, but once it turns December it is never too early in my eyes! We had a house christmas meal last night, was sooo yummy! And are giving presents to each other on Thursday night before we all go our separate ways for christmas.

This week is pretty much party week...even though I am no longer at uni, I am going out on a lot of socials with my housemates. On Wednesday night we are having another christmas meal out and drinks with lots of other people that go to the Dodgeball society so that should be a good laugh! And then when I'm back home, I am going to work's Christmas party on the Sunday night...lots of food and fun times ahead!

Right, I need to stop babbling now and do some work for my course! Hope everyone has had a good weekend :) x x

Graduation Dress

As it's less than two weeks to go until my graduation and mum said she would buy me a dress for it, I thought I'd best start looking for some dresses! 

I have come across two that I love! As I am still not feeling great, mum is gonna be lovely and pop to town for me tomorrow to get them for me to try on...

I want something that is simple, I can wear for the ceremony, but also when we go out in the evening, and most importantly, that I will wear again!

Option 1:

Part open back dress

Option 2: 

2 in 1 dress with sequins on shoulders

I love both of these so think I am just going to see which look best on! 

Which do you prefer? should I wear tights with the dress in the daytime? 

*Fingers crossed they actually have these in stock in my size in store!* 


Gina xx

My Christmas Wishlist

As I have been looking through loads of websites for people's Christmas presents, I have come across a few things that I would like! As I saw the Coca Cola advert whilst watching X factor last night, I thought it's no longer too early to do this post!! So...If anyone is feeling really nice........ well, here goes :)

H&M Polo-neck jumper £14.99

http://www.hm.com/gb/product/92819#article=92819-F

Cable Knit Hooded Tunic £24.99 - although the link is to the navy one, I sooo love it in burgundy!

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/knitwear/cable-knit-hooded-tunic_239726041

As I've seen on lots of blogs...I quite fancy trying a tangle teezer which can be found here

http://www.modelsownit.com/box-sets.html

I am loving Models Own Nail Polish at the mo, and as I couldn't take advantage of the 50% off sale they had due to my shopping ban..I am hoping to get some of these in my stocking this Christmas! If not, I am definitely buying once my spending ban has ended! I am in love with the Glitter Collection and Autumn/Winter Collection :)

This one I may have to get myself due to the cost...

Urban Decay 'Naked' eyeshadow palette - around £30 

I will add more to this post as Christmas gets closer :) 

Gina xx

Who loves a discount?!

This bit doesn't follow straight on from the title but you'll get the jist! I had a wisdom tooth out yesterday and as the dentist said, tomorrow I might I look like I've been in a fight with Mike Tyson!...I do! Although the process didn't actually hurt, obviously the injections to numb it did and once it had worn off it did, as was not as simple a procedure as they first thought it might be :(

In the mean time, in between popping what feels like about 100 tablets a day I have been looking for presents for Liam, friends and family for christmas! 

I will put up a little wishlist of what I have found and am lusting over in another post in case anyone was feeling really nice and wanted to buy me anything! Haha.

Whilst looking, I came across one particular website..I know lots of different ones are advertised but I had heard good things about this particular one and I urge you to use it! 

There are simple instructions:

1. Create an account

2. Think of a present you want to buy someone or yourself

3. Log on to topcashback.co.uk and type the website you want to buy from onto their website search.

4. If they offer discounts / cashback/ vouchers for that website, the details will appear on screen

5. Click on the website through topcashback to start earning rewards!
6. You can take the money out of your account at ANY time, even if you only have 10p in there!

As soon as you have claimed £10 back, I will get a reward for referring you...and you can do the same with others! :) so please visit the website using my own link here

Thank youu to anyone who does! and Happy saving! xx

Winter is here! OOTD x

I have to say that in the past few days winter has definitely hit! It was only on bonfire night we were saying that it was pretty warm compared to what we remember it being like in November.....I mean I had a Mr. Whippy icecream at the fireworks...who would do that on a standard November evening?!!

The next day however, it was freezing! Luckily I didn't have to work or anything so I wrapped up warm in my cosy clothes and stayed in!

Here is my OOTD post....for some reason it went really blurry on the whole outfit so I have done a close up too! 

...Don't think Liam was too keen on the pink wardrobe I planted in his room! hehe :)

Baggy Jumper from USC £19.99, and SoulCal joggers from Republic £5 (both in the sale!) I love this outfit as it is soooo cosy and wear these joggers all the time with this cold weather!

Do you have a favourite 'cosy' / staying in outfit? xx

Love this quote!

Have to say this is a very inspirational quote for me...after everything that happened with Liam at the end of October and finding out that if I hadn't taken him to hopsital that night, he may not be here now is pretty scary!! xx

Plans for November

I am hoping over these wintery months, my blogging becomes a bit more frequent. I had a very stressful end of October with Liam in hospital and thank god he has out of there and all ok! Moving on from that, it is now November and I have lots in store for this month...

Tonight (Tuesday 8th November):

Liam and I are going to see Lee Evans on tour. I cannot wait as am a huge fan, and these tickets Liam bought me ages ago...from what I have heard it is a very funny gig and I am so excited!

Thursday 10th November:

My flatmate Katy's 21st birthday and we are all going out on the Wednesday night to celebrate...as there are better nights on! Looking forward to that as we have not all been out together in what feels like ages!

Wednesday 9th November:

(I know I'm working backwards here!)-is Liam's mums birthday. We are both going home at the weekend though to celebrate it which should be nice to catch up with everyone, as last time I saw his family they were up in Manchester visiting Liam in hospital..not a very nice experience! 

Friday 11th November:

I am having my wisdom teeth out back home....eeeeek! I hate any kind of injection, so this is something I am really NOT looking forward to! :( wish me luck!

Every Tuesday I have my photography course which I am loving, and you can check out the blog for it here! :) Nothing much else is happening in November until the end of the month, when I graduate!!

Friday 25th November: I graduate!! 

I am pretty excited for this as get to see everyone again, and we have all booked a room at some hotels in Leeds so that we can all go out together for the last time in Leeds! I am sure it will be an emotional night but one I am definitely looking forward to!

What's more, it will be exactly one month until christmas which I am extremely excited about this year-I feel like I'm a big kid again!! :)

What are everyone elses plans? Anyone else as excited about christmas as me?! xx

Professional Beauty North

On Sunday 16th October, Professional Beauty North 2011 was being held in Manchester. I had arranged to meet up with Charlotte   Rachel and her best friend Lisa, as we were all really intrigued about what would be there..especially as we managed to get free tickets!

It was a great day and lovely to meet with the girls after so long of talking! I was so nervous and shouldn't have been as we all got on really well. I think if we owned our own salons or businesses to do with beauty we would have been a lot more interested in the event, mainly because most of the things to buy were £200+. Nevertheless, it was a great experience, saw some interesting stands, including a woman having botox whilst people were walking past.....I could never do that! And also saw a Callum Best lookalike...at least we think he was a lookalike!!

There were a couple of great stands which we loved, as they had cheap nail varnish on them! I have bought a couple for presents, so will talk about them after christmas!-sorry!

After we had been to the event, we went to Pizza Hut which was amazing mmmm! even though we did have a weird, cheesy waiter who kept seeming like he was trying to chat up our table. 

All in all, it was a great day out and I cannot wait to meet up with them all again! :)

I won!!

Back at the end of September (this is how behind on blog posts I am!!) I won a prize from Paprika :)

I entered the competition via twitter just telling them why I deserved one of their goodybags! 

When I received a message saying that I had won I couldn't believe my luck! And then when I was asked my dress size I got really excited!....I have been doing my spending ban for 12 weeks tomorrow so got really excited at the prospect of something new!

When I had the package delivered I couldn't wait to open it and this is what I found...

The goodybag with a note from Paprika x

A peek inside the goodybag!

The dress!

I was really pleased when I found this in there as it is not something I would normally have chosen just as I don't have much that colour but I love it! They also gave me a cute bracelet too :)

If anyone would like to purchase this dress you can find it...here!

Thank you Paprika! and I can't wait to wear it out! :) xx

Wow!

It has been so long since I last posted.... I've been working soo much, and now I have lots on my mind as Liam is in hospital :( It feels so weird without him here, and the consultant said yesterday he'd probably be discharged tomorrow (as in today)....yet they've now said the earliest he'll be out is Saturday..how rubbish! Soooo if I'm not too busy this week working and visiting him I will try my hardest to do a couple of posts! xx

Rain!

Annoys me. Sorry for the ranty post, but I am sat here updating the blog for my photography course..please take a peek! :) And the rain has been non-stop all day, and all night...I know it's Manchester and it always rains in Manchester, but please either be Summer or Christmas..that would be perfect!! 

(*A more substantial post will be updated later when I get back from my photography course...hehe*)

My upcoming week!

I am really enjoying this week so far, and what's left of it as I have done my photography course for the week but have lots to take photos of for next weeks session.

Yesterday, today and Friday I have a few small shifts at work which will be good to keep me busy whilst Liam and all my housemates are out at uni. Yesterday was my housemate, Ben's, 21st birthday. We went out last night for a night out which was great fun...(minus the fact I forgot my ID and remembered as we got to the door of TigerTiger so had to go all the way home again to get it..oops!)

Tomorrow is mine and Liam's 29months and we're thinking about going out for a nice meal to somewhere we haven't been before...are thinking of Chiquito...anyone ever been or can recommend somewhere like this?  :) This weekend will be the first day in a long while where Liam and I are both free to spend the day together! We will probably have a lazy weekend, maybe go to the supermarket - fun stuff! then just settle down and watch X factor in the evening...I know it may not sound the most enjoyable day, but I love days like that!

On the Sunday, I have a ticket to go to Professional Beauty North 2011. My friend Rachel told me about the event happening in Manchester, and that you could get free tickets if you applied early enough. Luckily, we did, and I am so excited to be meeting her, Rachel's best friend and Charlotte there :)

From the look of the voucher pack we got sent with the free ticket, it seems like it should be a great event, with lots of discounted beauty products! (which I am sure I will do a post up about soon after!)

Right, I'm off to have a laze in front of the TV as I am shatteredddd from being out last night! xx

New Photography Course! ♥

I have begun my new photography course, and have been a little busy with sorting things out for that (excuses, excuses I know!)

I promise though, I'm back and will be posting more often than I normally am!! If anyone would like to take a look at the blog I am doing as part of the qualification for the evening course, you can take a look using the tabs at the top of this blog page!

Happy looking! :) xx

My Past Week!

I have had a veryyy busy week, and it has meant travelling to and from home, so haven't had much access to the computer. Now I have, and this post may be a little photo heavy!

Over the past week, I have started my job at Sports Direct. Although it is again in the retail sector, it is very different to my other job, always mentioning targets that need to be beaten, and is in a much bigger store than previous jobs I have been used to, so everyone uses a radio to communicate-scary stuff! But so far it is all going well!

Last week (Saturday) I went to the Spurs game. We won woohoo! and we waited to get signings and photographs of the players after the game.

Before the game

After the game Adebayor threw his shirt into the crowd

Bale clapping to the fans :)

Liam with Brad Friedel

Van Der Vaart - mmm :)

Van Der Vaart

Harry Redknapp - manager

Sandro

Scotty Parker

A great day was enjoyed by me Liam and his friend Ali...who is now my friend too, as we all work at Sports Direct together! :)

I had my first shift on the Tuesday, and also had my first photography session of my new course on the Tuesday night. It was great fun and have met lots of what seem to be lovely people all doing the course for the same reason! Can't wait until the one tomorrow night! I am thinking of setting up a photography blog showing people what I do on the course - good / bad idea?

Wednesday and Friday night I also worked at Sports Direct, drove home Friday night and back to a 12 hour day at Co-op on the Saturday. Having worked both days at the weekend and driving to and from Manchester I was very glad of a day off today! - Am now going to continue relaxing tonight waiting for Made in Chelsea to come on before another hectic week! xx