I just had to share these images. They are from Jennifer Collier's website, jennifercollier.co.uk

Jennifer makes her items completely out of paper using different techniques.    I love how she has made everyday objects  and the detail is amazing.

Check out Jennifer's website for more lovely things :) xx

Today I am Loving....

funky nails!!

The Beauty Department: Your Daily Dose of Pretty.

If only I had the patience and the steady hand!

The above come courtesy of thebeautydepartment.com a fab website I discovered today. :) xx

Paper planes and kites....

I spent most of today with Emelyn and his daughter Caitlin. We made paper aeroplanes out of Emelyn's calendar, one that has an aeroplane to make for everyday of the year. He hadn't made any for the last week so we made a few this morning.

It's been a windy old day so we took Caitlin's kite to the park. She is really good at flying it and she also let me have a go. Some of the photos are courtesy of Caitlin and my phone!

On a different note, it has been two months since mine and Emelyn's first date. Very happy! :) xx

Centre Parcs 2012....

I had a lovely weekend at Centre Parcs, Longleat. We went for my friends birthday for the second year running and I can't wait to go back. Here are a few photos from the weekend. I didn't get to take nearly as many as I wanted...as usual!

The Plaza

The pool is fabulous and we had so much fun on the slides. The outdoor pool is heated and the rapids are brilliant fun!

The pool from the outside

From the cabin

Mini Golf!!

My destination this weekend...

I can't wait. It'll be my second time going and hopefully the first of a few visits this year! xx

A new way of life.....

 I so want to clean up my diet. I'm not generally unhealthy. I don't always eat fast food and I rarely buy crisps and sugary snacks but I really want to clean it up properly.

I find it so frustrating that there are no healthy eating plans out there for girls like me who don't really want to lose weight but just want to be healthy. All I want is to maybe tone up some muscles and lose a little bit of fat that lingers right where it isn't wanted! I already have a gym plan and weight training....more on that another day. I just want a back-to-basics eating plan that I can keep up for life!

The other day I discovered the Clean and Lean plan by James Duigan. It goes back to basics and, yes it is mostly common-sense, but it lays everything out. What not to eat and drink and why....just what I wanted.

It starts with a 14 day kick-start where you cut out the CRAP (Caffeine, Refined Sugar, Alcohol and Processed food). I can have a cup of good quality, organic coffee a day but everything else is lean protein and complex carbohydrates.

For a while now I have known that certain foods have an affect on me, and not in a good way. Pasta and bread tend to make me feel bloated and uncomfortably full. I always figured I had a slight wheat intolerance but I thought it was fairly normal as I tend to eat quite large portions, especially at dinner. The Clean and Lean diet means that I will cut out all wheat-based foods so I am hoping that will put an end to that uncomfortable feeling.

Deciding when to start this is the tough part! I am going away this weekend and in a fortnights time. Although there won't be anything too heavy, I can guarantee there will be alcohol and bad food galore so there isn't much point starting the kick-start plan only to be interrupted half-way through. I don't want to delay too much but I also want to do it properly so I have decided to start by slowly cutting out the rubbish over the next week and starting the 14 day plan next Saturday.

I will post an update each day of the plan so I can share how it's going....wish me luck! xx

A weekend in Bristol...

I had a lovely weekend in Bristol meeting the boyfriend's family. I saw his Dad's band play which was brilliant and had a family meal. It was not at all scary and to be honest I don't know what I was worrying about.

We stayed at his parent's house which has a lovely view of the building below. I tried to find some information about it but all I have found is that it is a listed building converted into flats and that it was a stable. Not much but I thought it was a lovely building so I wanted to share it. :)

A trip to Bristol would not be complete without acknowledging the work of Banksy. I found the below picture online.

A night in...

I am having a night in on my own tonight. The last one before the Christmas decorations come down. It's actually quite nice really.  I am all cosy on the sofa in my slippers with a blanket around my shoulders. The TV is on and I have a glass on Malibu and Coke on the go (soon to be followed by a cup of tea no doubt!).

The next few weeks are going to be pretty busy starting with a trip to Bristol this weekend to see the boyfriend's parents for the first time (eeek!!). Why is meeting a partners family so scary? I guess there is always the fear that they won't like me or that I will make a fool out of myself, slightly juvenile fears I know but there it is. Anyway, we are going to see Emelyn's dad's band play tomorrow night which I am really looking forward to. It'd be good to get out for a few drinks and listen to some live music.

Time for a cup of tea! xx

This new year....

2012 has begun and for the first time I really have high hopes for this year. I have a feeling this is going to be a good year.

I am not usually one to make resolutions if only because it seems a little pointless. They are never kept, even with the best intentions. Having said that, I do have a few things I really want to do over the next year and it only seems fitting that I write them down here. Maybe it will mean I actually stick to them this time....

(By the way, these are in no particular order)

1. To get back to my healthy eating and exercise. Yes I know this is a cliche and everyone puts fitness on their resolution list but I really want to keep up with my fitness and get my weight training back on track.

2. My coursework is going to take up so much of my time and I really want to make sure I can get the best mark possible. I have neglected it over Christmas and I know it's going to be hard going over the next few weeks while I catch up and get my next assignment in. I have so many more distractions now but I really want to make sure I can knuckle down properly.

3. This year I want to put more effort into my crafts and baking. Its something I really enjoy doing and I really believe that we should put just as much effort into the things we enjoy as we do in our work.

4. Finally, I want to get some of my debt cleared. I dont have a lot but I have neglected it. I have a few credit cards that could so easily be cleared in a few months if I start putting some money aside. I could save myself a lot of money a month in the long term. It's one of those things I should have done years ago but could never be bothered!!

I think thats everything. I am sure I will think of some more but I have listed the most important for now. Al that is left is to wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2012!! Xx