Good Vibes 2016

Hi Everyone,

My apologies it’s been a while. You know how it is with commitments you have to focus on. To keep you updated in my world, I am currently undergoing a re-vamp of both my blog site and my fashion label site so I am working closely with my  web designer to push and make this happen hence the not many blog posts floating your way.

On the other hand, I also want to reassure you, I am still here and not going anywhere. Let’s just say my good friend Helen told me the other day 2016 is all about good vibes and I would like this to transcend within my blog and label.

I will without a doubt keep you updated and let you know about my launch day for both sites.

Have a good day, week and weekend xoxo

Engaging in my holiday fantasy!

The one thing I look forward to throughout the year is a holiday. Some people may think I enjoy myself a little too much, or my boss pays me too much or maybe it’s easier to gallivant because I live at home. Maybe your right on that last comment lol, but don’t get confused. With the many holidays I go on I still try to save as much as I can and plan for things other than a holiday. 

Suppose apart of me is trying to make up for lost time and what I’m about to say is a broken record but I’d spent too much of my twenties chasing jobs and having too many knock-backs. Knock-backs, which has made me the person I am today – strong and even more determined to succeed. Sometimes I believe a holiday or should I say a vacation as the Americans say is an escapism. A way of seeking entertainment and engaging in fantasy. For me personally, I use a holiday as a way of exploring something new, different people, scenery even culture such Paris or Barcelona.

       

My favourite thing is the morning/evening preparation and the journey to the airport because I believe that’s where the fantasy really starts. It’s a virtual fantasy. A way of ending up in a distant land where know one knows who you are or where you come from, to the natives, I am just a tourist for a few days. According to me, this is my fantasy which I have the pleasure of taking pictures, videos, and writing about in this blog. 

Obviously I won’t be doing this every year excessively like I have been doing for the past few years until I hit the forty mark because I have plans for myself. It’s just a matter of applying those plans into an action but at least I can say I have lived.

Fun Weekend in Birmingham

Sometimes you like to take risks and fly off or jump on a train and go anywhere on a spontaneous whim. I had the opportunity of spending last weekend in Birmingham with my sister and our close friend. Luckily I had the time off work so I jumped on the train early morning and was at hotel before 1pm. Got myself some nibbles to eat, even had my portable DVD player to hand and a couple DVD’s and room service on the side. Kept myself enetertained for the rest of the afternoon/evening until my sister arrived. It was lovely and definitely what I needed. A well deserved time out.

Time out from work, family, outside social activities etc. You need spare time to gather your thoughts and get back to the basics. I had the pleasure of bringing the best genre of films with me which you can see is Comedy but adding in a few Rom-coms in there too. My selection of my Friday films:

                                                     

To be honest, it turned out to be a good day. Weather was dull and gloomy but it was nice peering at the window screen and holding the sheer excitement of not being among the cold and drizzle. Plus I also realised how tired I was from going bed too late the night before and exhausted from the cold which I’ve been trying to shake off and still not succeeding. But oh well. That’s just life.

By the time my sister arrived in the evening, that’s when the fun really started. We didn’t have the energy to hit the pubs and clubs, but we did spend the evening watching TV and jumping around like lunatics to our favourite Grime artists such as JME and Giggs. Oh lord, I sound like a rough ryder. lol, but I suppose I needed to jump around to take my mind off the ill feeling. After all the jumping around, we were stuffed from food, exhausted and fell asleep to Freeview TV.

Saturday was even better. We got up early and had a great breakfast, got ourselves sorted so we could spend time with our friend Vanya who was making her way on the train. Once she arrived we scoped around the shops and checked out the new Harvey Nichols store. I’ve been wanting to see the revamped store since last year Summer when it finally opened to the public, but never had the opportunity to make my way up there. It was gorgeous, geometric shape flooring, polite and helpful staff. Everything was laid out beautifully, staff was very approachable. Harvey Nichols definitely lived up to caption in front of The Mailbox store “Life Made Beautiful”. Everything you could ask for in a retail store.

The whole point of going there was to check out the store and see what I’ve been hearing about for the past several months. I have to say I wasn’t going to buy anything, but I couldn’t help myself. With my sister and Vanya around me, there was hint of encouragement to treat myself to an APM Monaco sterling silver ring.

APM Monaco

It was gorgeous, beautifully shaped and glistening, I couldn’t resist. With the pleasure of my discount, my sister and our friend Vanya even managed to treat themselves too. It was great afternoon. An afternoon of taking pics, shopping and exploring.

 

We walked around the town, visited the Bullring shopping centre and did some more shopping, had a coffee and dessert at Café Rouge and a lovely afternoon meal at Bills. Enjoyed well made grilled seabass with potato coated underneath. Sounds delicish, doesn’t it. For the rest of the evening we didn’t fancy doing the usual, going to a bar or a club, so we decided to visit the Grosvenor Casino. This was definitely the highlight of my weekend. We dabbled in the slot machines and the roulette tables, that was eye opener for me.

All in all great weekend, I managed to explore so much and enjoy myself again at the same time. Little short trips like these is very useful. A time to chill, kick back, see and explore something new.

 

 

 

Benefits of living with your parents!

I have lived at home for the past 32 years and have seen our home change and change over time. Once upon a time, our kitchen was so small and narrow to the point where 3 people was enough in the kitchen at a time. We always had a decent size living room where as a child I would practise my gymnastics to mum extending the kitchen and making it wide to fitting a breakfast table. Now, we have extended our patio further to have the advantage of still keeping a decent size shed for our belongings but on the other hand, having the space for sun loungers, sun umbrellas and barbecue parties. I have to say, I am looking forward to Summer now.

At 32 years old, most people are either married, getting engaged, having kids. I would prefer to get a place I can call my own and what I’m aiming for is to BUY. I’ve put BUY in capital letters to emphasize this is my final aim. Rent is not option. Don’t get me wrong, I would never turn down my nose at people who do rent, my sister has been renting for the past 4 years and I’m proud of her but eventually both us would like a place we can all our own.

So, I’m giving myself at least 5 to 6 years, maybe even 7 of living at home and saving as much as possible. I’m not going to bore you with statistics and figures, but the average young singleton adults my age will not have the opportunity of owning their own house until mid 40’s.

I want to say I wish the government can do more to help people like myself or there were more schemes to help but I suppose you have to deal with what you have and appreciate what you got. I don’t know where I would be without the foundation of my parents. I feel I’m truly blessed.

This is what I call the benefits of living at the family home.

Having the ability to love one another, getting the support from your parents and I don’t mean taking money from them, lol, but they possess the strong will power to keep you on the straight and narrow at all times regardless whatever age you are, having long evening talks about present, future or even past, remembering memories and photographs that we once had in the old album. This is why I like living at home, this is why I like coming home and if I ever get a dream home of my own I would like it to be like this one for another 32 years or more.

 

 

Have a refresh on things

Amazing how you spend your Saturdays in your pyjamas, you have the ability to wanting to go out and get the little bits that you need, but you feel you have to build enough energy to motivate yourself to do so, that is how I felt today folks.

Instead I felt in the mood to cruise on the net and look at things that I cant even afford due to the fact that I’m going on holiday in the nearly 13 days. It sounds like I’m going by a countdown at the moment. Well, it is needed due to the fact my friend and myself really need this holiday to get away and have a refresh on things, whether it’s work related, home-life related or relationship related but I will say this, we really need this holiday and I cannot wait for sun, sea, sand and hotels rooms. What more can thirty something ask for.

But lets not get to ahead of ourselves, I still have a few more days to go. So, for the next few days it’s about keeping myself busy by doing more sessions at the gym, maybe wake up a few minutes early in the morning for a spot of yoga and stretches to perk myself for the day, still undergoing my driving lessons and a spot of museum visits as well.

This morning while I was looking at my emails, I stumbled across the Botticelli Reimaged exhibition at the V&A which I have been meaning to go to, but there’s always something that pops up either work, emails, socialising with friends or gym. So, my mum and I have agreed to take a visit on one of my day’s off coming up, away of re-establishing my creative juices and familiarising myself with my love of Art and painting. What a great day that will be.

If you feel in the mood to be inspired and wake up that creativity you once had, check out the rest of exhibitions happening now at the V&A. Check out link: http://www.vam.ac.uk

 

 

 

Jewellery – a woman’s best friend

Out of all the different types of accessories out there, my ultimate favourite has always been jewellery. Whether it’s rings, necklaces, bangles, costume jewellery, Ive never been a lover of pendants, but the rest of the objects I’m a big fan of not leaving the house without them. I can’t explain. I guess I feel naked without jewellery like something is missing. It’s the complete finish of an outfit. Women and men in some cases like a hint of sparkle or a statement piece to complete their outfit. I can only speak from personal experience which brings me onto the subject of London Fashion Weekend when I treated myself to a few jewels. Nothing too bling, but I wanted to treated myself to couple pieces that you wouldn’t find on High Street, so I did.

I dazzled among brands such as Rachel Jackson London, Love Bullets, Daisy Knights, Wolf and Moon Jewellery and Niza Huang Jewellery. Now just to clarify, these are brands I’ve never heard of but they court my eye. They were fun, creative, and different. These are brands to look out for A/W 16. I can’t wait to see what they come back with in September.

Check out some of my pictures. Brands to watch:

Daisy Knights, Love Bullets, Niza Huang

Wolf and Moon

 

 

 

Mother’s Day, be thankful

Today is one of the most special days of the year. It’s Mother’s Day. The day for you to give thanks to the woman that brought you into this world

1. Thank you for being a best friend.
2. Thank you for being my rock.
3. Thank you for listening and giving good advice.
4. Thank you for all the times of putting me to bed.
5. Thank you for teaching me the morals of right and wrong.
6. Thank you for being by my side all these years.
7. And thank you for all your help and support.

I’ve have spent 32 years with my mother and have not regret one little bit. She is the most intelligent, witty and strong woman I know. Always willing to help everyone and put herself second. She spent 43 years as a Nurse, always willing to help others who are in need and still had the ability to juggle being a great wife and loving mother to 2 girls. Two years ago my mother retired from Nursing, she felt it was the right time in her career and for once she putting herself first, but still manages to help others. She is the angel that I come home to every single day and for that I feel bless to have her in my life.

 

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY MUMMY

LOVE YOU ALWAYS

CHAR XXX

Lazy Weekend/Positive Weekend

I woke up yesterday morning, feeling not in the mood to get up or do anything. You know how it is, you have one of those weeks where your work life literally drains you because your surrounded by issues, emails, and paperwork. This is what work is all about The I.E.P.

With I.E.P, you have your knowledge, your fingers, your glasses/contacts if you wear any, a computer, pen and paper to make it work and this all has to be done in the 5 days of the week possibly 6 days depending on the job role. But for now, lets focus on the 9-5 job. Wants Friday comes, everyone is happy for Friday to arrive and they know it’s the weekend to relax.

I on the other hand, was craving for a lazy weekend of doing nothing. Before I stepped out of the house yesterday morning, I was surrounded by my thick duvet, pyjamas and my comfy pillow. The sensible thing to do was to get up, sort myself out because at the last minute I decided to treat myself to a pampering morning. My thoughts was it’s been long overdue and because of my exciting trip coming up for the Easter bank holiday, I thought why not be organised and get things out of the way.

So I decided to get my nails and feet done. I felt so happy when I walked out of nail shop. This sounds silly, but the mini pampering session yesterday made me smile. Now I do sound like girl lol, but I can’t help it. I’m not the sort of woman that does the ultimate pampering session like the nails, feet, sauna, body waxing, going to the hairdressers every week. I live a life where I have to do everything in moderation and on a affordable budget especially knowing the fact I have leftover spare change after pampering which went to my shopping for the week. You know what I’m talking about, the special deals at Tescos such as the two for £6. You can’t let those pass you by.

Once I did what I needed to do, I felt even more happy and liberated within myself because it was a nice day so far and things got ticked off my list of things to do.

Let’s get Physical, I wanna get Physical

This evening I left work on time because I felt in the mood to embrace the fun complexities of the gym for day 2. After having a good session of body pump yesterday, I thought to myself, why not. As I got home to get ready and prepare my gym bag, I felt myself slipping into the idea of staying home and not willing to face the cold. I felt unhappy that I made that decision but I will be making up to myself this week. After all, I did have a good session on Monday and I have an exciting holiday to think about at the end of March so my positivity levels are gradually raising.

For this evening I decided to sit in with mum and rest my fragile muscles. Undergoing body pump Monday evening was definitely awake up call to my muscles. They were shaking continuously within the session. My instructor said it was a way of my muscles waking up and not using them in a while. At that moment, I  was thinking heeeeeeeeeeeeeeelooooooooooooooo, lol. “Is this a sign of getting old” or will “it will be shaking in the next session” but I had to snap out of it and make sure to put in the effort for Thursday’s session. One of my colleagues at work goes to the gym at least 4 times a week, that is what I call “dedication”. Dedication of getting fit, eating health and minimising the calories, and people’s favourite  – feeling good about yourself. The first thing I said to her is “I need to take a leaf out of your book”, but then I thought to myself, my reason for the gym is toning up my body, getting fit and sometimes I feel it’s way of clearing my mind from everything you deal with on a normal day such as issues and paperwork. I have no intention of losing weight because I feel comfortable with my curves and wouldn’t change a thing.

I’m a woman for Christ sake, I’m suppose to have curves.

Top Targets for this year!

Yesterday evening I finally plucked up the courage and booked my driving theory and my Spanish lessons which I’ve been wanting to do for ages. I felt if I don’t do it now, I’ll never do it. It was such a relieve because it’s two of my targets which I’m aiming for this year and it’s only February. The year has just literally started and I’m looking forward to making more targets for myself. I won’t be disclosing in my blog the date of my theory, because I don’t fancy ginseng the experience so this date will be kept a hush for now and as soon as I pass, I will make a promise to shout it from the roof tops.

On the other hand, I start my Spanish lessons on 23rd April and it’s for 10 weeks. Good news, it doesn’t interfere with my work. It’s on a Saturday morning which is perfect for my normal Saturday routine. On a normal Saturday morning, I’m either waiting in a queue to get my nails done, buying my lunch shopping or toiletries for the week, driving lesson have been keeping me busy lately, meeting up with sis for catch up down at our local pub. No worry, no hard liquor early in the morning, just my usual cup of tea and her cranberry juice lol. We usually go for the hard stuff after mid day instead.

The whole point of this blog today is that I feel I can pat myself on the shoulder and say things are finally moving in the right direction for once which is forward and I’m finally motivating myself to focus on things which I want to achieve. Driving is an activity which I’ve wanted to do for years now and the only reason why it’s been put back in the past was due to either money, studies and time. On the other hand,  booking my Spanish lessons was something that I’ve wanted to do for a while now and because I am frequent traveller to Spain or anywhere for that matter lol, I feel the Spanish will definitely come in handy especially with more contact with my Spanish friends.

So will see what the next couple of months will bring. I will continue to keep you updated. xoxo