80 whole pounds

Is that too much for a pair of very fine looking flip flops?

At Selfridges

Answers on a postcard please.  Ps.  I will be back with a bigger update very shortly.  

Play on, Play on, Play on

So we saw Paloma last week.  She was absolutely awesome.  

The whole show was a triumph.  The venue - Sheffield O2 arena was quite nice.  A little bit sticky carpet-ish with a slight smell of sick - they obviously use it as a nightclub at the weekends.  Overall, a rather good place to see a band because you can see the stage from most of the room.

There were lots of people at the gig who were clearly trying to be Paloma, and not quite pulling it off.  Some were better than others, but overall there was a whiff of failure on the old outfit front.  No matter, I guess the effort is the most important thing.   

I wondered if she had a little collection of fans with a certain name?  Palomaettes?  Faithers?  There were some rather cute little girls of about 8 or 9 with little 50s dresses on they looked lovely. 

It occured to me, it must be really nice to 'follow' someone at that age that you can copy the style of.  I suppose it's a bit like Madonna in the 80s.  More accessible than Lady Gaga just because of what you can buy on the high street these days.  And there's something so nice about old 50s glamour.  How lovely that girls want to look old Hollywood actress again.  Much nicer than Keisha or some other current pop tartlet.

As an aside, I decided to try out my new topshop bright red rio rio lipstick and it was brilliant.  It stayed on all night and I was still pouting away in the car on the way home.  Finally a matt red lipstick that stays on, and doesn't give me red teeth!  

So she came on, dazzled the crowd with her exquisite voice and left us all wanting more.  She did all of her album with a couple of excellent covers.  The Beatles - You never give me your money and a beautiful version of Etta James - At Last. 

She also jazzed up 'Do you want the truth or something beautiful' into a fab 80s version which went excellently with her band who were dressed in smart suits with sharp hair dos, very Grace Jones.

She is a ball of funny, quirky, modest brilliance with the most natural voice that could move you to tears or lull you quietly to sleep.  Although I hate to make comparisons I think she beats Amy W hands down.   

I'm very glad she is here, and I hope she'll be doing her do for many years to come. 




Before I go, I think I have found the bestest necklace in the whole world. 

If you look more closely you can see little skulls inside the cherries.  LUSH. 

Also from the same website - Eyeball hair slides.  Yes, that's right, eyeballs.  Pretty gores.  When will I grow up?

This teapot's gone to heaven

Please can I work here? 

Ok, so it's a petrol station and I have little knowledge of pumping gas - well, except in my own car.  But just take a moment to imagine the delights of working in a teapot! 

• Non-stop cups of tea.
• Feeling like the old woman that lived in the shoe minus the children and broth and the shoe element (working progress).
• Afternoon cakes, every afternoon.  And possibly some cucumber sandwiches.   
• Someone reading your tea leaves (optional extra). 
• Doing the 'I'm a little teapot' dance periodically through the day.  

And many more things which I will be pondering over night.

The full story about this lovely little place is here. 

Unfortunately, it looks like it's now closed - although this might be a perfect opportunity for me to mooch on over to Washington and turn it into a vintage teapot.  You heard it here first people.   

Carpe Diem

Gosh, what a busy week!  I've been working hard, loving my life and spending time fueling my makeup addiction, eyeing up wedding dresses and planning holidays.

In other news, I'm 30 in less than three months time.  Arghh.  Big birthday times!  Actually, I'm not too worried about it, I'm feeling really positive at the moment for the following reasons:-

• My job is really great, so happy I got it.  I like that it's a new role and I get to decide the boundaries rather than filling someone else's shoes.  I'm not sure where I'll eventually get to within the NHS but there's so much opportunity.  Interestingly I found out that I was short listed from 180 people.  Yeah, go me.  
• I'm really feeling like Yorkshire is my home now.  Last year was all about settling in and trying to find stuff.  Now I can really relax and enjoy my surroundings and think about which bit we'd like to settle in permanently, which is fun.  Plus working in town really makes me feel like I'm in the thick of it all, and it's exciting - seeing different fashions and people.  
• I have loads of lovely 'events' coming up.  A Warsaw wedding in September, Lovely Lola Face's christening in July, Jane's hen do in Newcastle where I've never been out before (which is so odd considering I was up and down to Middlesbrough so often for ten years when I was with smerphf).  Then her actual wedding in August.  Plus some awesome gigs like Paloma Faith next week.  Eek! 
• We're planning some lovely holidays at the moment too.  I have some decisions to make as to where I want to go - and I have some places I need to go!  I need to visit my dad in Dubai before he moves onto somewhere else.  My mum has said we can go to the villa in Spain if we want so that's an option too.  But we also want to have a lovely Greek island or Turkey/Cyprus type holiday at some point in the year, possibly Christmas.  I was looking at Peru yesterday, utterly fabulous and I'd completely love to go.  Although I'm going to have to take a very large net in which to cover myself to keep insects at bay. *shudder* 
• I have finished my creative writing course now.  Last assignment done and handed in, phew!  Now I just need to decide what I want to do next.  I'd quite like to do some kind of fashion/textiles/dress making stuff.  I'd love to make some of my own clothes.  I like knitting and sewing and putting funky buttons on stuff so I think I'd be able to make some cool numbers.  But I was also chatting to a midwife on my NHS induction last week and I had a thought that I might like to do that.  I'm so fickle.  But at least I have my job and my hobbies and I'm happy to be expanding my skill set, even if it's just something to 'do' - would probably be good to merge the two but, we'll see. 
• I have the most wonderful fiancé.  In the month since I've started my new job he has been so good.  He makes me tea and toast while I'm getting ready, he drops me at work and picks me up, he makes dinner when I'm sleepy, he has really stepped up his contribution to the house work and he surprises me with lovely gifts (see below). ♥ plus he's perfecting his guitar hero so he can be a super cool rock star and I'll be one of his groupies.  Maybe. 
• And finally I am surrounded by so many lovely people.  It feels like I'm making a new friend weekly at the moment.  Of course I have my bestest friends that I miss always.  I miss Juli so much, I can't wait to see her again, Lola must be getting so big!  Going back to the title of this post - carpe diem, 'seize the day' - someone did that a month or so ago and got in touch.  I'm so glad she did, the start of a beautiful friendship. :)  

Because I finish at 4pm and M doesn't pick me up till 5pm it gives me an hour to mooch around town and check out the latest bargains/trends.  I saw on another blog (can't remember which one) that Topshop were now stocking a new range of makeup so I went in and bought some on Thursday.  I got a nail polish, a liquid eye liner pen and some really bright red lipstick.  It all came to £19 so the prices are very competitive for high street.

The nail polish is divine.

It actually looks blue on this picture but its more of a dark blue/purple colour on.  It's a nice polish, it doesn't feel cheap at all.  I'm yet to try the eye liner or lipstick but I'll let you know what those are like too.

Yesterday I went to my lovely hairdressers and had a cut and colour.  I didn't go all Paloma like I was thinking during the week.  I talked myself out of it after remembering how annoying trying to wash red dye off bathroom tiles is.  I've still got my natural brown as a base but the blonde bits are now red.  It's a nice hint of colour.  I really don't like my natural colour.  It's like ash brown, why?!  Why couldn't I have been born with red hair?

Today we went into town and had a wander.  We decided to get a drink at Primos in the Corn Exchange.  M had a gourmet hot dog, which didn't actually look very gourmet and I had a greek salad which was a little sad.  Definitely wouldn't go in there again.

Then we walked up to the Victorian Quarter and I decided to have a little browse around the Links of London shop.  Whilst we were in there I was checking out the sweetie bracelets thinking it would be nice to have one and M asked me if I wanted one and promptly bought it for me!  I'm in love with it.  I'm so glad I've got one so I can get some special charms for special occasions.  It actually came with a stiletto shoe charm which is very cute.  I'm so spoilt.   

Tonight I've been having an MTV fest and catching up with some guidos on Jersey Shore.  It such good cringe-worthy telly watching.

Oh and another thing...how cool are Jim's Pancakes?!  Mega cool. 

What will next week have in store for me I wonder?

Gonna dress you up in my love....

Today's eclectic fashion love goes to:-

Vampire Bunnies, Pick your own cartoon dress = AWESOME!

Crochet Lace Band

Heidi Seeker - Skull and Crossbows v neck 

Lilly Lewis at Dolly Dagger Sun hat (in case the sun gets his hat on any time soon).

 Schuh - Buckles and Wedges? Yes please.

 Oh, and they're called Rambo, obviously even cooler.  

Ps. I have hair boredom, again. I think I would like my hair the colour of Paloma's.
Time for Hairdresser Holly to work her magic again!

I feel fine, don't wake me up yet

Good morning! Ok it's afternoon but it's Saturday, it's chill day and it might as well be morning (even if it is 3pm).

This week has been super hectic brain wise. Lots going on at work to keep my mind occupied and feeling rather sleepy.

On Thursday I received my lovely little parcel from Love from Hetty and Dave. I hadn't forgotten it was coming but I still get really excited about receiving creative goodness through the post. The moustache necklace - which was made to order was in a lovely little box tied up with a pink ribbon. I'm so chuffed with it, it's really well made and looks gorgeous. I continue to be amazed with the amount of talented people who make 'things'. I'm really pleased that I avoid the high street and choose the internet boutiques instead, quality with a smile.

Here is the said necklace:-

I think you'll agree it's awesome. 

Last night we went to see Four Lions at the pictures.  I have linked to a proper review because I couldn't have put it more eloquently myself.  It was really funny and the cinema was packed.

We were going to go and see the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street but it got really *really* poor reviews and despite me wanting to make up my own mind on things, I didn't want to ruin scary 1984 Freddy, my still vivid memories of hiding behind cushions and not being able to sleep through the night for at least two weeks after watching it.

Today we are mostly just relaxing to the max.  M is currently watching the grand prix and I am hunting around for pretty goods, doing some cleaning and washing and wondering what to make for dinner.

I'm also listening to My Robot Friend:-

Take me to the paper world so I can be a geisha girl and make noodles. 

Down in Mexico - Tuesday Tune

(and some hot lap dancing in one of my favourite films).

Ps.  I want to be a vampire.  Thanks.  

I'll dream of you tonight my pretty....

Could I get away with these without being a hooker?

We hate it when our friends become successful

Well, what a week it's been!

My new job is absolutely awesome. I'm still the new girl which is a bit ugh but overall, it's fabby. On Tuesday I attended a meeting with the VIP people in the pharmacy department who decide which trials are going to be happening. How frackin amazing is that?!

On Wednesday a couple of colleagues took me to the new aseptics department that has moved back to our hospital from another site.

We watched through a window (there was a room inside a room inside a room) whilst the scientists did their scientisty bits with those machines you put your hands into through gloves, I've always longed to use one of those! I wanted to sneak back and see if they'd all stop and chat, pick their noses etc after we'd gone, they all looked so serious.

We walked back to our department underneath the hospital which I loved. All those bustling people above us while we're sneaking around underneath.

I need to stop getting drawn into drinking coffee though.  They all seem to drink so much of it and I am normally only 'a couple of cups of tea a day with water' type gal.  Next week I will be more disciplined, I promise, myself.

It's also been a lovely couple of days off too.  I love having bank holidays that are relaxing rather than rushing around ones.

On Saturday night I went out with the boro lasses to Chapel Allerton.  We went to the lovely Sukhothai restaurant.  I adore Thai food and Michelle picked a blinder.  I've not been before but I'll definitely go again.

The waiters were adorable, the veggie food was deliciously and fresh and the atmosphere was very pleasant.  And they bowed on exiting the restaurant, what more could you ask for.

After the meal we had a little walk down to the bars, drank cocktails, shots and danced to salt-n-pepa, just what us classy ladies like to do.

Yum yum, rasberry mojitos. ♥ ♥

Today I won a competition on Facebook which was a lovely surprise. After seeing a rather nice headband on The Kitschen Sink Blog I joined the facebook page for Love From Hetty and Dave. I had no idea that there was a competition running but I got a lovely message saying I'd won!

I won anything that I wanted from their fab quirky range. I chose a necklace with a moustache on it (it's not on the website but there is a moustache brooch which I fell in love with so I asked and was told I could have it in a necklace - lovely people, lovely website - result)!

Tonight we've been watching a programme about the volcano in Iceland that caused all the flight fuss a few weeks ago. I'm really quite glad I was rubbish at Geography at school and chose History instead. It's pretty scary stuff all this tectonic plate/big cracks down Iceland (like) malarky. *gets scared and hides under sofa*

Oooh I almost forgot the crazy dream I had last night/this morning.  I dreamt I was hosting some kind of house party with some of M's friends.  I then heard a knock on the door and it was a rep from some kind of 'Disney at Home' company.  They were trying to persuade me that I'd ticked a box on a form that and I'd sent off for some of their stuff.

But not only that, I couldn't get out of it now as I'd won the competition and I had to tick more boxes and get more stuff delivered.  It was most bizarre.  All I could think of was that my guest were upstairs (in the lounge bedroom I had) starting the roast dinner without me.  Oddness.  

I need to get to bed now as it's a school night, although how soon that will happen is debatable.  Don't let the bedbugs bite your little feets.