Project 365 - #005 and #006

Really sorry I'm only just putting up yesterday's photo...I was applying for jobs, working, came home from work and got ready straight away to go out for a friend's 21st..busy day! As it's valentines fast approaching (where has January gone?!!) I've been seeing lots of cute cards. Anyone that knows me knows I love cards and would love to get one of those huuuuge ones hehe! Saw this and thought it was lovely :) 

Today I woke up feeling absolutely awful.....I haven't drunk in a while so it hit me hard!! Luckily I had the day off work so when Liam came back from uni we decided to go out for a meal. We went to Chiquito's as have only been there once and loved it. I had Chicken & BBQ ribs with chips and coleslaw which was amazing, and even better we had a voucher to get a free starter or dessert so shared a starter platter which had BBQ chicken wings, garlic bread, onion rings, nachos, corn on the cob, and chilli poppers mmmm!

Sorry for the awful quality pic from my phone!

Have a good night lovelies,

Gina xoxo

Project 365 - #004

As Liam and I were travelling back up to Manchester tonight, mum made us a roast dinner plated up to take back up with us - best thing about a Sunday!! Only problem was, most of the gravy escaped :(

Gina xoxo

Project 365 - #003

I stayed at my boyfriend's house last night as he came back from Manchester for the weekend. Nothing was really planned for this weekend though as all I'm doing is working!

Lovelyyyyyy....although makes it all the more worthwhile when payday comes!

Gina xoxo

Project 365 - #002

I have literally just managed to get access to a computer which is the reason for my not posting yesterday on this project. 
However, I had infact taken a photo early on in the day.... I woke up, came downstairs, looked out of the window and this was the first view I saw..11 Canadian Geese and a load of ducks outside on our fishing pool! I can't wait until the summer to see all of the birds flying over and dipping into the pool to cool themselves off!

Gina xoxo

Project 365 - #001

For the first time since June I've had my hair done today. I love having it cut, coloured and straightened as it just feels so light and lovely! As much as I try, I can never ever get it to go as my hairdresser does it though!-Anyone else find that or just me?! Can't believe how long it's got even though it has had a cut - love it! :) 

Gina xoxo

Project 365: How to take a photo a day and see your life in a whole new way ♥

Some of my friends have recently started a project called Project 365. Even though they have just started, I have loved seeing these photos pop up every day on my feed!

Project 365 is all about documenting a year of your life through a single photo. As I love my photography, I have easily been influenced to start this project! 

Also, on the front page of our local newspaper it showed a photographer who has been doing this for a couple of years now...this has told me I need to do it! He posts his photos to a website called Blipfoto which I think I may start adding mine to, as well as posting on here. 

Other projects can be found on Project 365 and Flickr and also on my friends blogs - 

Rachel's Life as a Sweetaholic

Charlotte's Confessions of a Small Town Girl

Emma's From Fallen Angel to Yummy Mummy

Rachel's Island Girl Insights

As well as being able to look through these as a group to remember my past year, I am hoping it will continue to enhance my photography skills too! 

I will be starting my Project 365 tomorrow... wish me luck! :) 

Gina xoxo

Quote of the week!

Hey lovelies, this week happens to be a little different with my 'Quote of the Week,' as for this week only.... it's going to be 'Quotes of the Week.'

Recently, I've been getting a bit down and fed up..well, more than a bit. I've come out of uni still unsure what I want to do, doing extra courses but still not 100% sure where my career path is heading. I think what's made it worse is since having my wisdom tooth out I've just been sat contemplating what to do rather than getting on with stuff! 

The past few days I've just been applying for new jobs, but also getting myself really down thinking that I don't actually have a clue where this is all going and worried I've wasted time getting into debt. Also what's not helping is I just compare to how lots of my friends are settled in their careers. I'm always comparing myself and know that's stupid but it's just me. I had a long talk with mum about it last night, got upset as you do and then just realised I just need to believe in myself....something will come along when I least expect it. I believe in fate and am sure things will piece themselves together in time - I just have to have a bit of me time and never give up. What's better, I applied for a Teaching Assistant job yesterday and have just seen my horoscope that says I will be offered a teaching job....I can dream, right?! 

So for this week, there are a few quotes I need to take note of and listen to! 

"You'll never believe in yourself if you just keep comparing yourself to others" 

 

Hope you all have a lovely night, I will sat in front of the log fire all night, trying to persuade my Mum and Dad to watch One Born Every Minute... but we will see how that goes!

Gina xoxo

TAG: Getting To Know You, Getting To Know Me

Do you have any nicknames?
Not many really, Gina or G by most people or bubs/bubby by Liam as more of a pet name.

Apart from the obvious make up / beauty hobby, what other hobbies do you have?

I love to read. I love being on holiday and actually having the time to start and finish a great book. I really get into them and feel like I can almost disappear into the story. Obviously, I also love to write which is where blogging started. It was like a diary for me and just continued when I found out people actually enjoyed reading the ‘diary posts.’ More than anything I love to photograph. Although I didn’t do a photography degree (which I kind of regret now) I love it. I love the simplistic things within a photograph and am so excited to be the photographer at one of my friends weddings next February 2013! It will be a huge challenge but I am so excited.

What do you do?
I’ve recently graduated from an Art & Design degree, and now have two jobs..one at Sports Direct in Manchester and the other at Co-op when I’m home. I really enjoy them both, but am looking into some kind of a teaching or office job.

What would you like to do?
There are so many things I'd love to do..I'd love to work for a magazine company, within PR & Marketing, but would also like to work in a Primary School as that is something I have always dreamt of..(why did I not do that at uni?!) Whatever happens, photography will always be a big hobby of mine and if this leads to paid work, even better!

Tell us something embarrassing, but that you love doing?
I love to play computer games. For Christmas my boyfriend bought me Professor Layton on the DS and I am obsessed with it! I also love to play the Sims, creating make believe lives...I get a bit obsessed with it though.

Tell us a little something that we don't already know about you
I am very maternal; especially now that ‘One Born Every Minute’ is back on our screens. Whenever I see a baby I do the whole ‘Awwww’ thing and picture my life with a baby, and again, getting all broody writing this! My boyfriend and I have talked about starting a family (although realistically are going to wait quite a few years yet because we want to get married, buy a house and settle down with careers first-he also has to finish uni yet!) I get all emotional just thinking about us having a little family…sad I know.

What achievement are you most proud of?
There’s a couple of things..getting 100% in my GCSE Art & Design exam. I was so so chuffed about that, but more recently and I guess much more importantly, getting through my degree. There were so many times where I was close to packing it in, through disliking lots of it and also very difficult times mentioned last year in my blog. Even in the final year I was thinking of giving it all up but I’m glad I didn’t even if I didn’t quite get the grade I wanted. I am just so proud of myself for sticking with it and proving people wrong that I would even manage to leave home and fend for myself for 3 years. It has definitely changed me as a person for the better. (Bit emotional and carried away there, sorry!)

What do you most like about yourself?
I’m very sensitive. I always try to put others first and sometimes this gets the better of me but I think people close to me know that I am very kind at heart. Physically, I love my legs. I especially love how tanned they get in the summer. Yay!

What would you change about yourself if you could?
Physically, the area around my tummy. I'm very happy with my body in actual fact but due to my extreme laziness and poor diet, my waist is not as small as I'd like which means I can’t wear the tightest of dresses and tops…I will eventually try to do something about that this year though. Also, when I get angry, frustrated or passionate, for some reason, it always seems to come with the the overwhelming urge to cry! (Liam knows about this more than anyone!) This means I generally can't speak to retaliate, because I just burst into tears! So stupid. So I just have to remain silent and then spend the next couple of days thinking of all the great comebacks I could have said.

I'd also change my lack of self discipline. I always leave things until the last minute to complete, such as work for deadlines, which meant every deadline we had at uni my flatmate and I did all nighters to complete it in time. It is awful. Although I did well with completing my dissertation...maybe it was something to do with my love of writing!

If you could have anything in the world (that doesn't cost any money), what would you want?
Good health for all my loved ones. But also, love. I feel so lucky to have found someone I want to share my life with who makes me so happy. He is the man I thought I'd never have but was lucky enough to have a second chance with. I am sure it is down to fate and I just feel so blessed to have him as my best friend and boyfriend. (Ok, I’m going to stop before I make you all sick!! Haha.)

 Link me up if you decide to do one of these :) 

Gina xoxo

OOTD post

Hi everyone, I'm trying to keep busy this weekend as you may have read that I had my second wisdom tooth out on Friday so at the moment my cheek has blown up to the size of a melon! Not pretty and really hurts, but at least I'm getting to eat lots of icecream! To keep myself busy I have been having a look through all my photos and realised there's a couple of things I've forgotten to post so here goes...

Last Saturday was my Dad's birthday, so my brother and I came back from uni to go out for a meal. As I haven't been out for a meal in what feels like ages, I wanted to dress up a little so I got my brother to take a photo of me for an OOTD post as it is so difficult to in my mirrors-you will see why soon!

Top - Republic January 2012 Sale £5

Flower Necklace - Dorothy Perkins Autumn 2011 Sale £5

Jeans - Dorothy Perkins Jan 2012 Sale £10

Boot Heels - Marks & Spencer £25

 As you can see, trying to get a decent, clear OOTD photo in my wavy mirrors is proving to be very difficult!

 

Close up of eyes - 17 Eyes Metallic Toffee palette

Rimmel 001 Black Glamour Liquid Eyeliner

Rimmel Sexy Curves 001 Black Mascara

(For some reason they were all bloodshot that night, so have cropped it a lot!)

 

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend!

Gina xoxo

Cute Blog Award ♥

I was awarded the Cute Blog Award from Rachel over at Life of a Sweetaholic a while ago, so thank you very much! :)

 

For this award you:

 

1. Link back to the person who awarded you. - Done

2. Answer the award questions. See below

3. Tell something about yourself that you haven't told anyone on your blog yet. See below

4. Award as many blogs as you think worthy of this award. See below

5. Make sure to let these you gave this award to know that you awarded them. 

The Award Questions:

 

1. What is your go to make-up brand?

I love Clinique as it's all I've ever used, but being a student find it so expensive so I use L'oreal and 17 products when I can't afford Clinique! I remember being told once the most important thing is to use a good foundation so I try to use Clinique as much as I can.

2. What was your favourite fashion trend of 2011?

I loved the block colour chunky knit items of clothing. I was lucky enough to get a couple for Christmas which I love and keep me so warm!

3. What is your favourite dessert?

This is a toughie as I LOVE loads of desserts..as I can't pick one I would have to say icecream, strawberry pavlova, or strawberry cheesecake mmm :)

4. Favourite colour?

Coral

 

5. What is your middle name?

Louise

 

6. What's the last song you listened to?

One Direction - One thing....I don't care that I'm too old for them I love them and their music!

7. Cats or Dogs?

Dogs 100%

Something about me that you didn't know...

My hair does my head in...unless it has been straightened or I'm going to wear it up I have to wash it every day otherwise it just looks like I've rolled out of bed...

I pass this award on to...

Charlotte - Confessions of a Small Town Girl

Emma - From FallenAngel to YummyMummy

Rachel - Life of a Sweetaholic

Corrie - dizzybrunette3

Laura - belles-boutique

xxx

Sale Shopping

Hey lovelies, now I have finished my shopping ban of five months...(I still can't quite believe it!) I have been able to have a little look around in the sales, although not wanted to do too much looking as don't want to tempt myself too much!!

Back in December I bought a couple of dresses in the sales. I didn't want to get anything that I've already got lots of which is why the first dress I bought is something completely different to what I have..in fact Liam picked it out and I love it! What's best, is that it was reduced to about £13 and then I got 10% student discount off that.

New Look - £11.70

Also in the sales I got a couple of things from Jane Norman. I am so glad of living in Manchester now that I can still shop there as that is about the only place I know that still has a stand-alone store, however these were from a Jane Norman store in House of Fraser.

I got this gorgeous floaty dress..Again, I haven't got anything like this, but love the material and how it looks on.

Jane Norman reduced from £40 to £15

The photos of me wearing the clothes were from in the changing rooms, hair all messy and are rubbish quality but you get the idea!

Reduced to £15

This picture is taken from the website, and looks very stretched but is shorter in real life..or maybe that's just because I'm tall?!

And lastly, got a low cut simple top reduced to £8

Overall, think I did quite well with my reductions! What do you all think? (I have been on another shopping trip since then, but these will be in a post to come later..) 

Anyone else got some good bargains in the sales?

Gina xoxo

Quote of the week!

(Photo is taken from google / tumblr..not my own)

New Year, New Blog Layout!

So I thought my blog needed a new look and with the help of Rachel over at Life of a Sweetaholic, she pointed me in the right direction of where to design a new header :)

I tried to use everything that interests me...hearts, love, summer, my camera and then add flowers to the background to make it a bit more girly..

Let me know what you think, and hello to my new followers! 

Lots of love,

Gina xoxo

Round up of 2011..

I can't believe how fast 2011 has been and gone. In a way it made me appreciate things a lot more, and what I take for granted, namely Liam. I am so lucky to still have him here and 2012 is going to be a year for appreciating friends and family a lot more!

I never really make resolutions as I generally just break them, but I have one main one for this year and that is:

-To be happier! I worry and stress so much, and let silly things bother me when I know I shouldn't but I am going to try my hardest to make myself happier, even if this means cutting people out of my life who I always try so hard with... and then get all sad when things aren't like they used to be!

Other resolutions are:

-To get fitter & join a gym in Manchester....uh ohhhh, two takeaways already since Sunday?!-That resolution will have to wait until next week!

-Actually use the cook books we have and cook a meal from scratch once a week with Liam

-Make sure we have a date night at least once a month

-Try harder to save money-now my spending ban is FINALLY over after five months, I have to make sure I don't just go and waste money.

-Look into new jobs to do with what I actually want to do in the future...I'm hoping to now go into an admin / business job (complete change I know!) so I will update on the progress of this!

-Start a new course

-Spend more time with true friends 

and finally,

-Smile more!

Resolutions for the blog are obviously: 

-To regularly update the blog and to blog more...I have been slacking lately and I apologise for that but 2012 is a new start since this blog turns 1 soon!

-To do a "favourite quote of the week" post as I love cute photos and quotes I thought this to be quite appropriate. 

Anything else you'd like to see on the blog?-Let me know!

I'm off to watch One Born Every Minute now, time to feel broody! Have a lovely evening everyone!

Gina xoxo

What did Santa bring me? Late post!

Hi everyone! I cannot believe that Christmas is all over again for another year (and also that I am writing this post so late..oops!) I was very very spoilt and had such a lovely time. For those of you who don't want to know, stop reading now...but I love finding out what people received for Christmas as I'm a little nosy so I am going to tell you all about my lovely presents! :)

I haven't photographed everything I got..but most of it and I've missed out lots of underwear and PJs and anything I've already begun using as this post is a little late..

Most of my lovely goodies!

Christmas morning I woke up and got all excited seeing a big pile of presents. I was very lucky and got a Joules gilet I wanted off mum and dad, along with a new pair of boots, a cosy chunky cardigan from my brother as well as lots of other bits from all of the family.

Chunky Knit Oversized cardigan from Next

Our cousins came round a bit later with Nan and Granny before I left to go to Liam's house for Christmas lunch mmmm!

Once we had eaten a very yummy Christmas dinner we sat down to watch TV. I find one of the best things about Christmas are the things on TV! We all watched Michael McIntyre's Christmas Comedy Roadshow, laughed a lot and then went to bed after our busy day.

Here are a selection of goodies I got throughout the day:

Black Makeup Bag-Debenhams

Simple Set-Facewipes & moisturiser

Strawberry Body Shop Set

Cath Kidston Manicure Set

Heart Makeup Bag

Vaseline Lips Set-Set of 4 Vaseline pots

Avon Lipglosses

Colourworks Makeup Collection

Lacoste Touch of Pink Gift Set

Glitter Eyeliners

Accessorize Lipglosses

 Cosy Slipper Boots-Debenhams

Spotty Welly Socks

Two Pairs of Heart Slipper Socks

Foot Warmer Socks (everyone knows I get frozen

Heart Socks

 Me2u Special Friend Bear

Heart Handwarmers

Me2u Purse

Dvds- Happy Feet

Remember Me

Leap Year

Spotty Blanket with feet holders!

 Peacocks Strappy Bag

Peacocks Purse

Photo Album filled with lovely photos of memories! 

Heart Toiletry Bag

Pink and silver scarf

As you may have seen in an earlier Christmas wishlist, I wanted this knitted top from New Look and had kind of forgotten about it until I unwrapped it in the mountain of presents from Liam! :)

Last but not least, my main present was a new digital camera...a pink one I have to add! This was totally a surprise as Liam knew I wanted to buy one in the January sales, and I had told him of a couple I liked. However, he'd told me none would have been able to come in time for Christmas so kept telling me to not be disappointed with my presents....have to say, I wasn't! 

Even better, for all us posers, it has a screen on the front so you can see yourself when taking photos... amazing!

As I stayed over at Liam's house on Christmas Day, on Boxing Day it is tradition that the men go to the local football game that is on, and the girls go bowling which I love! As in past years, Liam's parents have found little presents they forgot to give out on Christmas Day, they now do a Boxing Day present which is something around £1-£2. Being the geek I am, I received a Sudoku book (which I love) and Professor Layton from Liam...which is way over the limit but apparently was meant to come for Christmas Day. It is a great game whoever has a DS!-The other presents I have included earlier on in the group shot.

I had such a lovely time, and enjoyed having half the day at home and half the day with my second family! Can't believe all that preparation for the one day was over so quickly!

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, thank you so much for all my lovely presents to anyone reading this and hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas period as much as me :)

Lots of love,

Gina xoxo