Mistletoe and wine!

After waiting for what felt like a year, (groan), December is finally here!! 

We decided to decorate the flat for our last 2 weeks in Berlin so we could get into the christmas spirit. 

For weeks i have been collecting little decorations, making felt gingerbread men, drawing up floor plans, and making pom poms.

We bought the She&Him christmas album and Elvis' christmas album, both on vinyl, to celebrate the night and what a night it was!

I made my own easy mincemeat and mincemeat pinwheels. It was super easy. I mixed sultanas, raisins, and apples with mixed peel, nutmeg, cinnamon and brown sugar. Coated it all in a Bacardi Oakheart bath, (i urge you to try this delicious drink!) and mixed it all together. 

Bought my roll out pastry. I know it's lazy, but i am terrible at making pastry, i can't even tell you! 

Brush butter on the pastry, sprinkle on some sugar, add the mincemeat, roll up, and slice......

Pop them in the oven for 10 minutes and add a dusting of icing sugar and tadaa! Lovely tasty and a very easy alternative to mince pies.....less bloating too :-D

I put together a small deccy night buffet for us. 

Then we got to decorating <3 Yay!

Little christmas bells and the reindeer candle holder.

This is my favourite spot in the flat, my handmade pom pom garland, our fake wooden xmas tree, and the gorgeous smelling pine wreath. 

It's not xmas without annoying multi-coloured lights!

This is from the weekend, i made pizza for us. The only thing i didn't do was make the dough lol, i told you i am rubbish at pastry, dough is no different!! 

Here i am looking horribly 'suggestive' with a brattie. Hah! We went to our local christmas market and dipped into the mulled wine supplies, bbq'd meats, and toasty waffles. 

Then yesterday i went to the mall to pick up some last minute presents. I was also on the lookout for a "nice" top i can wear around xmas/on xmas day. I found one in h&m but it was €25 and it was just a top, lol, a plain black top. Couldn't justify spending that amount. I'm poor.

In 5 sleeps my sister gets to Berlin to celebrate her birthday and i cannot wait! I've bought her lots of lovely little treats that i am super excited to give her. 

I have also been shredding my ass off thanks to the 30 day shred. I think i'm losing inches, but no weight yet. I have however discovered that the implant i had fitted in 09 causes many women to rapidly put on weight then have trouble shifting it so i'm thinking of having it removed. 

Not to lose weight, it's done other things to my body that i don't like, but just the fact that this thing is putting hormones in me has finally started to freak me out...

Has anyone else experienced any problems with Implanon? Any alternatives you can suggest??

xx

PomPomPom

Hello everyone! 

Well, what a busy month i've had. 

The boyfriend's parents visited, we've had lots of gigs, our ice hockey team The Bruins had a 10 game winning streak, i got a small babysitting job, started the 30 day shred. Much to tell!

I can't believe it's almost December. We made a pact this year to decorate the flat on the 1st, which is THURSDAY!!!  I'm a wee bit excited lol, i love christmas, i love decorating and making and baking!

I am happy to say i've bought all of my presents and they are at home, in my cupboard, awaiting my arrival on the 17th. I can't wait to get back and see them all and wrap them.

It's my sister's birthday when she visits in a couple of weeks (!!!!) so i've been making her some birthday pom pom garlands. We have a family tradition where we decorate the dining room table with presents, cake, sweets and balloons. It's so much fun, but i won't be home for her birthday this year :( sad face. Instead she is coming to me in Berlin! 

Best birthday ever.

Especially when you live next door to a Bahamas bar with sand as a carpet and €4 giant cocktails!

Yesterday was the first advent sunday. The German tradition is to have a wreath on the table with four candles, you light each one each sunday leading up to christmas. I'm not holy or churchy, but i remember doing it when i was little and it reminds me of Germany so i have to do it!

We didn't get a wreath, to be quite honest we just couldn't be arsed making one, so i made a make shift advent candle. You like!? I hope we have 4 candles otherwise i'm going to need to find some more ha!

After making my sister's garland i got jealous and wanted my own, so i made a christmas one, and then put it on my head as a hat. Fancy, no?

I have fallen in love with that bobble pom pom jumper on the Monki site, but i can't afford it at the minute, and i'm probably too big for it, so i'm thinking of making my own.....could look a bit awkward though i think.

The biggest news this month is that i FINALLY, yes, FINALLY started the 30 day shred. This is my new favourite treat, peanut butter on banana. Mmmm, seriously delish. 

I'm currently on day 8, well, today is day 8 but i am putting it off. I just don't feel motivated, i will do it, just can't get the dvd in!!

A usual Saturday for me and the boyf includes a trip to the record store. This weekend i found the Thin Lizzy 'Live and Dangerous' album and i had to have it. Seriously. I went into proper full on sulk mode 'please please please please pleeeeaaaaaasssseeeeee'.

I got it! Yay! Love Thin Lizzy. Thing is, i don't like any other of those big stadium rock bands, ACDC, Kiss, etc. Just this band. I think they're music's a bit different, it's got a bit more soul. I don't know. I just like it lol. 

We also got the Elvis Christmas Album, which i am not allowed to touch until deccy night (!!!), and the Amy Winehouse Ska e.p, which is amazing. 

On a final note, lookit my lovely cat shoes! I've been wearing these T.U.K cat shoes for about 3 or 4 years now, but the plain black creeper type ones. These are my first pair of the mary jane style with that heel and they are gorgeous! Only problem is they literally ripped a hole in each of my heels!

You know when you wear in a new pair of Docs? Yeah, just like that.

So tonight i am babysitting, it's really fun, i get to draw and play and not talk a lot without grown ups judging me. Love it. 

So, after a long break, for no other reason than i kept putting off writing this post, i bid you adieu :)

Speak again soon, i am doing lots of xmas crafting so i have much to share!!

Is everyone else sorted for Christmas? Visited the markets yet? 

Oooooh :) x

Gingerbread

I made a gingerbread man out of felt this weekend.

He looks rubbish, i can't think what it is....maybe it's his scary face?

I told my boyfriend i was worried about it coming to life in the night, i woke up this morning and it was missing. I went looking for mr gingerbread and found him warming himself up in the oven with the meringues i made last night. 

Cheeky!

Loving that Frankie is still in X-Factor, i find it truly hilarious. People are getting so worked up about it! He's not going to win, and who cares if he does?! It doesn't really affect your life does it?

He is rubbish, and he totally RUINED a classic Clash song, but he winds Louis up so much that it makes it a little worth it. 

So that is the extent of my weekend, oh, as well as an impromptu watching of The Lion King which was amazing! 

x

Beyond The Grave

I got a tattoo a few years ago. 

My Opa died and i wanted to get something done for him, to demonstrate how much he meant to me. As i was planning the design it occurred to me that if i got a tattoo for everyone i knew that passed away, i'd be struggling for space. So i decided to get a memory tattoo, so to speak.  

A way to collectively pay my respects, and remember people that have been lost.

This is the tattoo i got. 

It's pretty self explanatory. There is a couple, this expresses love. Whether it is heart wrenching love for a partner, or that bonded by blood love for a parent or family member, it symbolises love as a whole. 

The scroll, 'Beyond The Grave', literally means i will always remember, no matter what, because i have this little reminder on my arm.

One of my oldest friends had some terrible news recently. It's impossible to know how something like this affects people. You hear all the time about tragedies and you feel sympathy, but you can never really fully understand how to feel until it happens to you, or to someone you know. I find myself getting on with my day, but every so often i'll remember, and i have to catch my breath. 

I love my friend so much. She was the first and best friend i ever made in England so she is a very big part of my life. She truly is the strongest person i know. I wish i had her strength, because I have never felt so far away at such a pivotal moment in her life. I hope she knows that if she needs me, even for a hug, she just needs to ask and i will find a way. Even if that means flying alone!

I think she knows though.

The world lost an extraordinary person this week, a kind, genuine, 'salt of the earth' guy, but he will forever be remembered, because he is of course, in all our hearts, and with us always with the memories we hold.

x

A sad circumstance

Oh dear sorry for being AWOL...

Had a fair bit on this past week or two, hard to believe what with my lady of leisure lifestyle and all that. You'll be happy to know though i am now thoroughly up to date with cycle 16 of America's Next Top Model.

I'm joking. Or am i?

Anyway the reason i've not updated in a while is my boyfriend's aunty passed away recently after a long struggle with breast cancer. It was tough on everyone and the funeral was last week so we flew home for it. They were a really close family and we couldn't not pay our respects. 

I have to say, not making everything about me or anything, it was my first funeral and i was terrified. On the way to the service i just couldn't stop crying, i don't know what it was, i think it might have been the build up and anticipation of the whole thing.

When we got out of the car my boyfriend's mum gave me a big hug to try and help me to calm down and what did i do? I did what every other future daughter in law would do in the same situation, and i punched her in the face. 

I'm being totally serious. It was an accident obvs, but was embarrassing to say the least! It helped me settle down anyway.

The funeral itself wasn't as traumatic as i was expecting, i kept thinking about my Opa though which made it a little more tough, i chose not to go to his funeral as i genuinely didn't think i could cope. 

Well, i really wasn't expecting to write this much, it was supposed to be a little 'proper post 2moro promise' sentence, i guess sometimes you just tend to let your fingers do the talking. 

I hope everyone else can handle death and funerals a little bit better than me.

Here i am guzzling through a bottle of MezzoMix, it's a German creation, a mixture of Fanta and Coke and it is gorgeous, no joke, try it at home, coke & fanta.

Will speak again 2moro :) Promise x

A-Z

Look at me spoiling you with 2 posts in a day!

This post is inspired by the lovely Ella Masters. I seriously adore this girl, her illustrations, and her blog. 

Go check her out, proper love her :)

Doing this because i am a nosey bitch at heart and love reading others like this.

A. Age: 25

B. Bed size: Double bed

C. Chore that you hate: Hanging out wet washing

D. Dogs: Can't get enough of them! Love them!

E. Essential start to your day: Checking my email, facebook, and twitter...hey i'm away from home!

F. Favorite color: Pink, maybe black lol

G. Gold or Silver: I used to hate it, but gold

H. Height: 5’4" maybe

I. Instruments you play: None :)

J. Job title: Unemployed. Wannabe illustrator, author, and photographer

K. Kids: No thanks, never

L. Live: Berlin for now, and Warrington, UK

M. Mother’s name: Birgit

N. Nicknames: Shelly, smellyshelly, shell

O. Overnight hospital stays: Gall bladder removal, omg anyone who has ever suffered with gall stones i feel for you!

P. Pet peeves: Bullying, ignorance, people trying too hard-just be yourself

Q. Quote from a movie: Anything from Ace Ventura:Pet Detective

R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: 1 sister who is amazing :)

U. Underwear: Is pretty boring

V. Vegetable you hate: White asparagus, bleugh

W. What makes you run late: Bad planning and timing

X. X-Rays you’ve had: Multiple ankle x-rays from P.E in school

Y. Yummy food that you make: I have been told my lemon drizzle loaf is awesome

Z. Zoo animal: Elephants, bears, meercats, ooooh any! I love the zoo, i'd live in the zoo happily :D

Yay, a-z's are way fun! x

Festival of (sh)ite!

Hello peas, i have been procrastinating a lot this week. Sending lots of emails to a friend re-united, finding tattoo inspiration for my next piece, trying to draw said tattoo! Basically i should have done this post on monday....but put it off ha! Sorry!! Anyway....my exciting weekend.....

This past week in Berlin has been the festival of lights, all around Berlin there are light installations on famous monuments, landmarks and by artists. We were here this time last year and had heard of it...on the day it finished! We missed it! So we were determined to go this year, we decided on saturday night because we wouldn't be able to watch X-Factor till the next day.

So 10pm rolls around and we head out into the city, i know, we're too cool. Starting at the TV tower in Alex, which looks amazing. It kept changing colour then there were animations travelling the length of it, so interesting. Then we headed over to Museum Insel, where the above building was lit up. We should have stopped here, but no.....

We decided to walk down Unter Den Linden to the Brandenburg Gate. No! Soooo long and boring and annoying a walk. We kept getting bustled along by proper photographers with tripods and sticks and just getting annoyed in general. Me and my bf, we're not particularly people people. Ha. It was a good night though, we saw some nice things and we actually left the flat. Was just a bit of an anti-climax!

Sunday was a nice lazy day. We got up at dinner and stolled to the calzone place, which is next to the bakery. Picked up a nice little calzone each and chose a cake, carrot for me, rhubarb for the boy. 

We then had a bit of a Would i lie to you marathon, watched 5 episodes in a row. It was seriously brilliant, my eyes were squinty from laughing so hard.  

One of the highlights of the weekend, Greg Davies' 'Hoot owl of death' drawing. 

He wants my hat and keeps stealing it!

Lovely bathroom and toilet holder shot here. Classy, not trashy :)

What i wore to the Sick of it All gig on friday, my hair was bugging me with it's whispy bits so i just pinned it off my face.

SOIA.

Hardcore heaven ha!

Laters x

SWAG!

Well howdy doody!

When my sister and me were little we had shared possession of this tiny straw hat that clipped into your hair. I found a picture of her recently wearing it and tagged her on facebook, she was livid! She's coming to visit me in Berlin in December for her birthday and yesterday in h&m i found this....

What do you think?! Reckon she'll rock it as much as me?! Hoping it'll make her laugh anyway. There's an old fashioned black and white photobooth down the road from us so i'm sure it will inspire some fun pictures :)

Some christmas stuff i picked up. I know it's not for another few months, but i am in Berlin until December 20th (ish). I miss out on the whole build up to the big day. The decorating, the shopping, the warmth, the secret planning with the family. I'm missing it! So i have grand plans to decorate the flat for a couple of weeks so i at least get that xmas feeling earlier than 4 nights before xmas eve! 

Before we left England i meant to pick up an empty notebook for myself, totally forgot though so picked up this little thing for cheaps. The paper is a wee bit thin, but, it'll do. The necklace was on offer, €3 from €12, winner. I also saw another one with a rams head on it, black braided cord, sounds a bit satanist but it's not, was just chunky and cute. Really wanted it but got the cheaper necklace instead. Hoping the xmas fairy gets me the ram!

Bijou Brigitte. 

Again, for my sister. He is cute, not entirely sure what he is....but i like him! 

My swag, the cardi i was after in england that sold out. The blue stripy top i already have, but it was on offer for €3 and i wear it all the time, good to have a back up! The other stripy one was also on offer. 

I got the fox purse to go with my shiny new fox love mirror by the lovely Nicola Rowlands. Really want one of her Man Friends and pillows too.....all in good time.

To end another picture of me in a hat, furry hat! Was after a wolf one from Merrimaking, but this was cheap so i got this. The wolf can wait!

Everyone excited for xmas? Anyone else being weird like me and already getting decorations ready?

xx

Warning, picture heavy!

Hello lovely people :) I have come down with some sort of head cold and am feeling pretty sorry for myself. Yesterday was a huge duvet day, just snuggled up on the couch in about 5 layers of stuff plus 2 blankets. Looked a bit of a state. 

So i decided today to get out and walk aboot, maybe do some shopping and try and cheer myself up. 

I ended up being SUPER lazy and got the ubahn 1 stop to the mall, ha! Laaaaazy!

So here i am in h&m, this is what i wore today, bit rainy but i was on the U so didn't get that wet.

My selection of treats.

Totally into elbow patches, so glad they're finally back in.

How's the skirt over pants look treatin' you!? Bit fit right?! Haha, i wasn't keen on this, but looking back now, i should've got it, it's kinda cute, and i didn't feel uber rotten in it either.

No. Stripes are not working for me.

My cardigan! This was sold out in the UK h&m so i am well chuffed i found it today, it was the last one too.

Wanted this because of the hood, but it was just a bit....bleugh. 

Hello! After leaving h&m i got a text off someone to say i was about to get a little surprise.

Look who joined me for lunch! Yay! 

All in all i had a lovely day and am now back home all tucked up with a cup of tea and watching Being Erica. 

I was going to post my haul from today but i'll save it for another post 2moro.

Hope everyone is well and not struck down with a snotty cold!! xx

 Hello hello, i am back!! Back to blogging and back to my lovely adopted home town, Berlin!!

This is my new view. Gorgeous no? All the leaves are changing and the air is getting crisp. It's still warm enough to leave the house without a coat, long sleeves maybe, no layers yet. Not like all these mental Berliners, i've never seen a population wear so many layers in such a great heat! Winter i can understand, it gets pretty nippy here, but summer? Granted, it is the end of summer now, however i saw people wearing a myriad of layers a few months ago. Crazy.

I've been out exploring the 'new area' and have discovered that it's not very new at all. I know where everything is, i know where to find certain shops, buildings, tram stops etc. It's basically where i want to live. We're sandwiched between a deli (geddit geddit!) and an amazing cocktail bar. Drinks are super cheap, way cheaper than i've seen here. They don't use measures, just bung everything in. The floor is not a floor, it is sand. Yes, the bar is a beach inside. Finally, and most importantly i think, they bring you complimentary pretzel sticks. Woo :) Oh yeh, and did i mention it's right next door?!

  

Dave Hause, Joe Ginsberg (bass), Jon Gaunt (fiddle),  Brian Fallon, Chuck Ragan and Dan Andriano.

After arriving late Tuesday night, and cleaning the flat all of Wednesday, on Thursday we went to a gig, the Revival tour. What a show. They were all amazing, can't fault anything, felt the music in my heart and that's all that mattered. Dave Hause really blew me away though, his little 'set' was too good. Chucks harmonica playing was insane. Brian Fallon can do things with his voice that do things to my soul, no joke. That boy can SING! 

Highlight of my night was watching this guy. Joe Ginsberg. I can say no more. Whenever i hear a stand up bass it just gets me. He really knows how to play his bass.

Swooning over! A little sneak peak of our lovely new accommodation for the next 3 months. It's dead nice and spacious, lots of room for our (my) crap.

The t.v corner. The best corner! We watched the new Office this week. I nearly fell off the couch from laughing. So good. I think Steve Carrell leaving has really given it a bit of an injection that it needed. I love Michael Scott, but he made a good decision leaving. Robert California is pretty awesome.

I foresee lots of hilarious new storylines. 

Also, watching The New Girl with Zooey Deschanel (huge crush.)

It's worth a watch if you can. If you are a bit of a girl nerd, you will totally relate to Jess.

I shall end with a sexy photo of my round face. Popped into c&a, yes, i am THAT cool, for a bag and i found a studded bucket bag, yay, and a little bobble hat, should have been €41 but i got it for €25. 

Winner!

Here i am doing a victory pose in my new hat.

Much love all, coming up this week.....

> catching up with more american tv

> gig tonight, Red City Radio, plus a trip to Burgermeister

> eating out somewhere yet to be decided

> a trip into Lush to get some bath bombs because i now have a bath again!!

Peas xx