A Lovely Video

A friend just shared this on facebook. I can't deny that it made me cry, but in a nice way. I'd just like to share it with all of you.

Pass it along and make someone else's day.

Definite Pet Hate.

Getting a bit too click happy this evening but inbetween the work I've been doing, I found this.

It is a library book, and it has writing ALL OVER IT. well not all over it, just the chapters that I am the most interested in. So now I can't read the book without getting angry at some fool who doesn't understand that books are precious things. I could cope with this, just, if it weren't in at least 3 of the books that I checked out from the library. The writing looks the same so this person and I must be writing the same assignment, the difference is, I WON'T WRITE ALL OVER THE BOOK. I'm tempted to rub it out just so another person isn't as angered. 

Want list

I found so many clothes that I NEED in my life. BADLY. But I spent all my money on a tattoo. 

Until the last one I could definitely see a colour scheme going on! Any donations welcome..

Birthday Card

It's my step dad's birthday on the 18th so I went to my mums house and made him a card. It very simple, but I really like it like that.

I went round the edges with a gold ink pad, and then rubbed the inner edges just slightly to make them shimmer. Then I went around and over again with a more yellow shade of gold. and then again with a shimmery brown, but that wasn't over the page, that was just around the edges. 

The I used a distress ink pad colour and letter stamps for the message. I think it's very pretty :)

New Tattoo!

Hey guys :)

today, my mum and I went to a local tattoo shop that a good friend recommended so that I could get my second tattoo! I showed the lovely man what I wanted, he drew up his idea, we changed a few things round, got the size, got the position and off we went! I'm pleased with the final piece and have a sneak peak to show you, it is still swollen and bloody and obviously it hasn't healed yet.. but I'm too excited to not!

It crappy quality cause I took it on my phone - awkward angle too! Yes that is my bum, yes those are my pants. Apologies.

Beautiful Pages

I haven't had much time to scrapbook recently, what with the training and uni work I've had to undertake, and I still don't have time now... but that doesn't stop me from looking at a few cheeky scrapbooking blogs. I'm awe struck by Mary Ann's beautiful new designs, she's just completely my style; 

You may think I have over-stayed my welcome reposting allllllll of these pages, but she has 61 in total! So I think I have done pretty well only posting 23. Hope you appreciate them as much as I do!

Sara made my day..

I've just come across a really lovely post from Sara at welcometotheblogofanarmywife,

On my way to work this morning, I passed a school zone with a Soldier acting as a crossing guard. This little boy walked up, struggling with his jacket and tiny gloves. This Soldier immediately removed his gloves, dropped to one knee and helped zip up the jacket and situate gloves. The Soldier then stood up, gave the little boy a high five, and stopped traffic so he could cross safely.

Just wanted to share.


as did I.


I've also found a really interesting blog of armywives, I'm obviously not an army wife or a girlfriend, but I do send my best friend things when he's away and I'd like to use some of these ideas! It's really lovely that they've been shared.  I won't put my favourite/next present up cause he might see it and the surprise would be ruined!

Halloween Craft Ideas

Leanne over at organizeyourstuffnow has THE best Halloween craft idea! I love Halloween; I love pumpkins, ghosts and ghouly's, so this idea for halloween bunting is beautiful and so apt.

Amanda at craftsbyamanda makes boring jars into beautiful halloween luminaries. Again, I am a sucker for anything considered to be a pumpkin, so a few of these jars will definitely be made by me this year!

Melissa at anotherlunch made an AMAZING lunch box for her children specially themed for Halloween. HOW I WISH I HAD THIS! If you have children, please do this for them! 

Oh how I love Halloween, I hope you have now been inspired to love Halloween too! 

It's home time.

I have a reading week next week so I am going home! Cause I live so far away (5-7 hours sometimes), I usually wait until I get a week off as it's not worth going home for a weekend. I do normally drive it but this time I've decided to get the train; I have so much work to do that I need the journey to get it all done! This way, I still get to go home, but I don't lose two days of work. Perfect.

I don't really have any kind of relevant photo to add to this, so here's a cute one instead;

I'm going crazy.

2 of my housemates have gone out this evening and the other is in her room doing work.. I'm, all alone. And super bored of being alone. I've organised the titles of my assignments so I can have a quick reference should I read something that might be relevant, sorted some questions I need to ask a lecturer tomorrow, decided the books I'd like to get out of the library, sorted out scanning some flow charts I need to memorise, found some interesting articles to read for my dissertation and started to plan another assignment. I also feel overwhelmed and confused when I think of how much work I have to do; I'm not good at doing more than one assignment at a time (e.g. switching from topic to topic) so I've sorted out which days I am in lectures for which subjects and then which gaps I have to do my own research/work so I'm in the right frame of mind for it. SUPER BORED OF BEING ALONE NOW. I've also listen - and sung along quite loudly- to a few of Ed Sheeran's albums.. I best the housemate that is in is more bored of it than I am!

My housemate Alyna made something pretty funny the last time I was out for the evening..
it reads ' The GOBLIN KING has taken the toasdstool for his collection of Oddities (my toadstool mug). A ransom of 3 hubba bubba packs +1 fairy slipper must be paid by noon, or toadstool will not be returned. Yours truly, Goblin King.'

So this time, I've borrowed something from her room and made my own note;
Crazy cat lady, who was very lonely and bored, stole something and has hidden it some where in the house, if you find it within 3 days, you love it and can have it. if you don't, it becomes hers. FOREVER. Time starts now...

Theana's home again now so it's not so bad... goodbye!

Roasted Nectarines with Vanilla Mascarpone and flaked almonds

I love mascarpone on desserts, my mum makes an amazing carrot cake using mascarpone, so I reckon this would be really nice too!

25g butter, extra for greasing
4 large, ripe nectarines or peaches, halved and stoneless
1tbsp maple syrup
1 clementine, finely grated zest and juiced
1 tbsp demerara sugar

for the mascarpone cream;
100ml double cream
150ml mascarpone
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp maple syrup

preheat oven to 200/GM6
butter oven proof dish and arrange the fruit in it, cut side up
dot a little butter in the middle of each half
in a small bowl, mix the maple syrup, clementine juice and half the zest, then drizzle over the nectarines, sprinkle the demerara sugar and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until softened slightly, but still holding their shape.
in a bowl mix all of the mascarpone cream ingredients and sprinkle with the remaining zest.
divide the nectarines and syrup between bowls and sprinkle with the almonds.
serve while warm, with the mascarpone vanilla cream.

mmmmmm

Baked apple slices with cinnamon cream

I love cinnamon, I always got the cinnamon grahams as a child while my sister moaned and got the golden ones, so this is a recipe right up my street!

what you need;
4 dessert apples
4 tbsp brown sugar
1 lemon, juiced
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
300ml whipping cream

preheat oven to 180/GM4
core the apples, slice and peel. Place in a small, shallow oven proof sih.
sprinkle with brown sugar, squeeze the lemon juice over and bake for 20-25 minutes.
Whisk the cinnamon into the cream
serve the apples hot from the oven, mixed with a good dollop of the cinnamon cream (you could use low fat creme fraiche if you're watching your figure).

What a simple dessert! Enjoy!

Rice, Coconut Milk and Hazelnut cakes

One of our local supermarkets back home, Tesco, has a free magazine that features recipes. Flicking through one I got over summer I've found this really interesting recipe that I'd like to try, it goes like this;

2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, peeled and diced
2 spring onions, finely sliced
3 tbsp chopped hazelnuts
300g basmati rice
300ml coconut milk
1 tbsp chopped fresh coriander (which I hate so I wouldn't add)
2 eggs
knob of butter for frying plus extra for greasing

heat the oil, add all the onions and hazelnuts.
cook for 2 minutes, stirring regularly to not scorch the nuts.
add the rice gradually, stir and cook for a few minutes until the rice is translucent.
pour in the coconut milk and 200ml of water and season.
mix well and bring to the boil, stirring regularly to avoid  the rice sticking
turn the heat down and simmer until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender and fluffy.
allow to cool completely, add the coriander and the eggs ones by one, mix well until the egg binds the rice.
butter a large sheet of non stick baking paper and place on a baking tray.
dollop spoonfuls of the mixture onto the paper and flatten slightly to make patties.
chill for 8 hours in the fridge.
when ready to cook, heat the butter in a frying pan and cook the rice cakes on both sides, until heated through and golden brown on both sides.

serve!

If you try this or have tried anything like it, please let me know who they're like!