Give 'em the old razzle dazzle

How many of you have seen expert you tubers giving tutorials and tips on make-up, nail polish and general beautery?

Well, this particular one - made by Lisa Bidet (a great name I think you'll agree) is hilarious. It's quite sweary in parts and is generally all round nastiness but it's a mightily funny piss-take.



Whilst we on the whole beauty thing - over Christmas, my sister's friend told me that you can get something done called 'vejazzling'.

I think I'm probably the last person in the world to hear about this but apparently it's putting decorative crystals on your lady bits. Lasting a few days depending on 'useage' CRINGE.

Must dash, I need to find some lovely swarovski numbers for my bottom.

Cause I've got a golden ticket, I've got a golden twinkle in my eye

Ever since I first saw the Wonka Bar handbag by Helen Rochfort I have lusted after it - and who wouldn't.  It encapsulates childhood memories and the quirkiness that I love in independent designers. 

So, when M was lovely enough to treat me to one (without me standing over him with a cricket bat) I was thrilled.  I went for the limited edition chocolate scented one.  Hell, if you're going to do something you might as well go the whole hog.

It came yesterday.  Its. Perfect. I. Totally. Love. It. I. Am. In. Love. With. A. Handbag. Help.

   It came in a handbag equivalent of a sweet shop paper bag.  ACE!  

Front of the bag.  

 Closer up of the front.

It really does smell of chocolate too.  Nom. 

Back of the bag.  I wish I could win a golden ticket.

The very sparkly clasp. 

Stupidly I didn't take any pictures of the inside.  The material inside is bright pink, similar to the wonka bar pink.  There's plenty of space for everlasting gob-stoppers and three-course dinner bubble gum.  It also comes with a detachable shoulder strap.

I suspect it will be more of an evening bag rather than a day bag, although I think I'll probably wheel it out at weddings, christenings, bar mitzvahs etc.  I think everyone should buy one.  Or two.

Today we've been out to Tropical World - I'll blog about that tomorrow.  Now I have Sunday tunes playing and I'm drinking tea, bliss out.

Hope your Sunday has been like a marvellous river of chocolate.  As long as you didn't jump in and get sucked up the chocolate extractor pipe, silly.         

Go on, grab your hat and fetch your camera. Go on, film the world before it happens

May I introduce to you my lovely shiny red Holga camera (picture taken on my rather shitty camera phone).

I have long since been a fan of Lomography.  Although recently, I reawakened my urge to buy one and experiment with it myself.  Enter some gratefully received Christmas money and a pretty toy camera arriving in the post!

I personally think that the actual art of photography is dying a little.  Anyone can buy a point and shoot and get a decent picture out of it, despite ability or skills.  Obviously that's a double edged sword.  Photography is alive in the masses now and that can't be seen as a negative. 

The things that I loved about photography when I was growing up have all but disappeared now. 

The mystery of not knowing what the picture looked like instantly.  The feeling of always trying that little bit harder to get the best shot possible so as not to 'waste' film.  The excitement of queuing up to get your photos after they'd been developed - so much excitement that you tripped several people up on the way out of the shop because you'd stopped to look at them.

In the same way as many children will never visit a library now, I think it's sad that children won't experience the full process of developing pictures.

So, anyway - enough ranting.  I have purchased film (eek) and I also bought the flash cheaply off ebay.  It was less than £10 and came really quickly from Hong Kong so I was a bit pleased with that. 

I went for the 35mm version of the Holga in the end.  I think I would have found it too difficult to get the 120 film developed and that might have put me off using it more.

I'll be back to show you some of the pictures I take, good and bad.  Probably more bad than good. 

In other news, we watched Big Fat Gypsy Wedding last night on Channel 4, it was ace!  I laughed and was scared in equal measures.  How did the dress maker lady break her arm?  We reckon she dropped one of the frackin huge dresses on her arm.  I'd love to go to that shop just to see the dresses, they looked immense.

Best get on with some work now - have a nice day peeps.

Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying

Hello!  Merry 2011 to you all.   

Many apologies for disappearing off the map during the Christmas period.  I meant to do a few seasonal posts but to be honest, once I'd got through my blog roll of festive feasts and sang Little Donkey a few times I was all Christmassed out.   

Suffice to say, we had a marvellous time with family and friends.  It was really lovely to spend a few more days down South and really enjoy everyone's company.  Now just to make more of an effort to get down there more this year. 

Life tends to take over a little and by the time the weekend rolls around it's nice just to get out into Yorkshire for a walk or see something new.  But, if I was making resolutions - which I'm not because I don't believe in them, that would be one. 

We came back home for New Year - just had a very quiet one, which I liked because I'm really not into New Year unless it's at a house party with friends and not with crazy drinkers throughout the land. 

I made toad in the hole.  I don't really have anything to add about that, other than I have completely cracked the whole yorkshire pudding thing.  It puffed up so much I had to move the oven shelf for maximum capacity! 

My theory is that because I've now been in Yorkshire for 2 years I've finally been accepted into the secret society of the North cookery and subsequently can bake all manner of things.  Including Fat Rascals and Curd Tarts.  I haven't actually tested this theory out yet but it would seem the only explanation.  Maybe.

On Sunday we had a lovely day out in York.  It was really quiet compared to a normal Sunday there which was super.  We haven't done any sales shopping over the Christmas period (were people really online shopping on Christmas day?!) so it was nice to have a bit of a browse.  Oh, I'm lying - I did have a Rob Ryan splurge when we went to Wickham for the day with Juli - but that was just by chance, I wasn't actively sales shopping so it doesn't count.  Does it? 

We were also there to get M's new swanky Nixon D5000 camera, which apparently is 'ours' but I haven't had a play with it yet - we didn't really bother with presents for each other this year.  M has been busy stocking up on electrical equipment for the house and I get spoiled all year round anyway so it's nice to just have special things when we want them.

We bimbled around the shops for a while - it was quite chilly but I had my lovely new snuggly coat which I purchased last year from Monsoon.  I actually bought it last summer but then left it in Poland when we went over in September.  It then made it's way back to the UK to my grandma's house in London.  My dad then tried to take it to my sister's house but left it in the boot - so after it became the most unworn, well travelled coat in history it made it's way to me, hurrah!  It's so cosy and warm, a very good buy.      

Nothing strange to report from York.  A few people walking around like zombies and a queue at Bettys - annoyingly.  We decided to just purchase some tea and cakes to take home with us.  I got a chocolate bomb and M had his usual Curd Tart. 

Items purchased in York:-

Bettys goodies, a Cath Kidston bag which I need to carry all the crap I take to work that doesn't fit into my buldging handbag and some of my favourite perfume.  Not really bargaintastic.

I've been meaning to get a recipe book for ages.  I have accumulated a rather large pile of scrap paper consisting of various recipes which I have to leaf through every time I bake - I will enjoy writing them all up. 

I also always get a diary every year and try to keep it up to date.  This year we have loads of things coming up so I'm going to make an extra effort to enter stuff into it!

I bought this book on a recommendation - so far I love it. The topic is a particularly sad one,

but sometimes you have to get emo about stuff to appreciate what you have.  Or at least, that's what I do.

May I also present to you - The Gruffalo.  According to M, I am the gruffalo.  It has become my new name in the last couple of months and I'm not sure if it's endearing or rudeness.  I like to think the former - so he bought it for me to remind me of myself, I think. 

Although if you read this:-

I'm sounding a little bit scary. 

Anyhoo speaking of soft toys - just before Christmas I saw on the Donkey Sanctuary website that they sell knitted donkeys which are hand knitted by supporters of the Sanctuary.  Naturally being a huge donkey fan (my first question on meeting someone is normally "have you ever been to a donkey sanctuary") I had to purchase one.    

Meet Dustin.  He was just chilling there next to the Christmas lights to keep warm.  He asked to be called Dustin as he's a bit fan of Dustin Hoffman - particularly his portrayal of 'Ratso' in Midnight Cowboy.  If you have 5 minutes have a look on the website at the donkey cams - they are mega ace. 

M got a bit annoyed with me the other night because I was watching them for ages and the most conversation he got out of me was "oh look, it's eating something" or "one of them is bedding down for the night!" *excited*.

Finally - I managed to stock up on marvellous Rob Ryan stuff which I'm so pleased with.  The thing that I love the most about his work is the sentiment.  I could really just lose myself in his words all day long.  Anyway - I got these together mugs, these wonderful set of plates, this wonderful stand alone plate - which I'm going to display lovely cakes on and finally this acetastic vase.  Love love love it all. 

Now, I should probably get on with some work.  However I will add, if you haven't seen Tron Legacy yet you simply must.  The soundtrack is absolutely superb, really dark.  A daft punk triumph.

Toodles.