Day 06

Day 06 - Short goals you wish to fulfill by the end of the month

Ok, so by the end of the month I'd like to have finished my 2 assignments, so then I have a comfortable amount of time to look over them before final submission in May.

I would like to have sorted out a bit more for the Graduation Ball, maybe have some serious ideas for dresses as I have hardly had a chance to look!

I'd like to think I can control my money a bit better so I stand a chance at maybe a cheap holiday deal after I finish my degree in the summer.

That'll do for now! Keep 'um realistic!

Loves,

My Day Yesterday and Day 05 & 06

I was quite busy yesterday. I attended the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Congress 2011 held this time in Liverpool at the Echo Arena. It was a great day with lots of stalls (and freebies!), I attended some really interesting seminars! One in particular about Facebook. Did you know that a page you 'like' can use your other 'likes' to compare you to other fans? It really got me wondering about Facebook and who I am sharing things with. Facebook is making their privacy settings increasingly complicated. Have you ever thought how many people could be viewing that picture of you on a night out if your settings are 'friends of friends'? If you have 300 friends and each of them has 300 friends and they are also set to 'friends of friends' that is more maths than I can even do! You are really relying on your friends privacy settings. I know I'll be reviewing my privacy settings.

Day 05. 5 interesting facts about your family.
Ok...

1. My Dad is one of 11 brothers and sisters, My mum has a brother and a sister. I however am an only child.
2. Nearing the end of the WWII my nan was a volunteer in the WRENs and my Grandad also recieved a medal which I keep safe. Sadly I don't know what this medal was for.
3. On 23 September 1943 my Dad's uncle, Private Joseph Layfield 3775137, 1st Bn., Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), died at the age of 23 (only 2 years older than me now) fighting in WWII, he is buried in Salerno War Cemetary. I'd love to take my dad to visit his grave.
4. My Mum was born in Somerset.
5. My Nan was from Dudley, she didn't speak like anyone elses Nan which made her even more special to me.

Day 06. What you would find in your bag.
You would find a lot of receipts, my phone, my filofax, my purse. PLENTY of lipsticks, glosses, balms. Girly things. Pens! Paracetamol, Ibuprofen... You name it, I'll have it.


Loves,

Trollbeads

I don't know if you will have heard of these, but I love them! Almost a new take on the charm bracelet, quite similar to Links and Pandora bracelets, although this is my favourite.

I started my collection on my 21st birthday in November. I received a Troll ring which I'd picked out off of my Mum and Dad. I absolutely love it, it is quite unusual looking and the engraving is gorgeous.

Jugend Pearl - the picture really doesn't do it justice, but I love it.



Then, as a surprise my boyfriend bought me a bracelet with 2 starter glass beads and a silver bead, and since then I have continued to add beads that relate to me.

My beads are, from left to right, French Anemone - which reminds me of Spring as I love flowers, Scottish Terrier - obviously for my gorgeous Dougal, (Discontinued Glass Bead) - I won this in a Trollbeads competition and the colours remind me of holiday and Greece, Carved Flowers, I picked this bead out off of Paul for my 21st (I later found out how expensive it was! - oops!), White Bubbles, reminds me of winter and all the snow, Heart Prints was picked out for me by Paul, Milan, strangely reminds me of a different city in a different country. It reminds me of Parc Guel in Barcelona which I loved when I visited nearly 2 years ago. Lastly is my newest addition, these photographs don't do it justice, it is called Green Flower Mosaic and it is a beautiful sparkly green! This was given to me by Paul on our 2 year anniversary.

I just love how you can attach your own meaning and there is SO many to choose from! My next one I would like is called Mocha which is a coffee bean design, this reminds me of my Nan as when I was younger she wore a coffee bean on a gold chain and it means so much to me to transfer this with a modern twist, and perhaps I can pass it down, like my Nan.

With Troll you can also choose the design of the lock on the chain, mine is lace flowers, so you really do feel unique with your bracelet!

I think they are a fabulous company with many, many beautiful designs. I would recommend their jewellery to anyone.

You can visit their website at www.trollbeads.co.uk or

you can follow them on Twitter: @mytrollbeads

and on Facebook by searching for My Trollbeads

- they occasionally have some little competitions running with lovely little prizes!

Loves,

It's Day 04 in the 30 Day Challenge

Day 04 - 5 things you love right now

Ok, I'm usually full of love for things so I shall try and narrow it down!

1. Sad, right I know, but these last few days of sun have really made my nails grow! So I'm loving how fab my nails look painted. Also I'm loving nail art at the minute, looks ace!

2. I am loving how warm it's been! Granted today has been dull where I am, but it just goes to show it's nearly summer time!!

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 is out now on DVD! I'm a geek.

4. Microwave Popcorn. Salted. Mmmmm... so tasty, so moreish!

5. And lastly, my new placement on ITU, granted only done my first day today but it was really interesting. Feeling like I won't want to leave in 4 weeks time.

Loves,

An actual post!

Though I'd write a little something about nothing.

Some might find this morbid, but today me and my boyfriend took a walk around a Memorial Garden near where we live called Flaybrick. The cemetary dates back to the 1860s and it is just fascinating to walk round. Today was a beautiful day and all was quite there, it's minutes from the road but you can hardly hear the cars going past. The history behind it is so interesting, for me anyway, and in particular the story of Lock Ah Tam is one of intrigue (if anyone wants to go wiki him). I'm very into my history. The sad thing for me is that a large proportion of the grave stones are unkempt, as some date back to 1890's and even more of them are broken and shattered. The cemetary had 3 chapels so that tells you how large it is! One was demolished and the other 2, last used in '75, are now in considerable states of dereliction. I suppose that's just through generations of people moving on. The Gardens are now a conservation area. I just think it would be lovely to have tried to have kept them in condition so people could see how grand they would have been over 100 years ago! Ok, so I love my local history. They're my roots. My Great Grandmother is buried somewhere in the 26 acres so it's now my mission to try and find her plot. I'll see how I get on!

Anyway, tomorrow, after my 2 weeks off, I'm to start on ITU for 4 weeks. Quite nervous but I'm hoping it should be really interesting. As most of the patients will be poorly and unconscious it will be weird not being able to interact with them.

Lastly, how ACE is Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World!? I watched the majority of it last night before falling asleep and I'm going to finish watching it tonight. Possible new favourite modern film here. If you haven't seen it, pay a visit to a Blockbusters near you!!

Loves,

Must learn to not go off on tangents...

Day 03 - Are you still out there?

Wow, I'm consistent. So here is day 03!

Day 3: A picture of you when you were a child

Sitting in my Nan and Grandad's back garden with a biscuit tin of stones. As you do.

And there we have it! Easy that one wasn't it!

Loves,

30 Day Challenge - Day 02

Wahey you're still here!
Ok, so today is this, Day 02- Where were you 5 years ago?

Well step inside my Flux Capacitor and allow me to take you back to 09/04/2006! Ok, ok, so I can't remember what I was doing exactly to this day, BUT I can tell you a few things that happened around this time.

And there is me then, on the far left!

So, I'd just lost my lovely Nan way before her time on the 14th of March 2006 and if that wasn't horrific enough, I was also just about to do my GCSE's that summer and leave what had been my safe, comfortable place where I had met my close circle of friends for 5 years. Lastly, I was in a relationship with a bit of an idiot (it only took me another year and a half to figure that out!)

Troubles aside that time will always stick with me, of course losing my Nan was an awful time, but she was suffering, and nobody wants to see a loved one suffer,  Strangely, that is probably the most grown up I have ever felt. That realisation of leaving school, leaving all you know, and being free to make your own choices, how very liberating yet scary! It picks you up and shakes you with a force to your feet!

Looking back makes me sad, how care free you can be at 16 and how laden with cares and worries I feel now at 21. How everything can come to an end, when at one point you couldn't even see the horizon. Of course not everything has a happy ending. As girls can be, most went their seperate ways, and I was left with one friend out of our tightly knit circle. Which in turn went sour as you grow up and grow away towards your own Sun, to what makes you who you are.

If falling out with everything I'd known hadn't made me bitter (which it did for a while, before I picked myself up and found new people who suited me more at that time) what was to happen 2 years later certainly would. But hey that's another story! Aren't I depressive?! Jeez.

As to conclude my little trip down memory lane, I'd like to say 16! What an age! But what fun, and what drama you have at that age! Looking back now, what made you scream and shout and cry would make you laugh and turn the other cheek now. But that is growing up for you! And isn't it great!



Me just started College.





Me in a college Media shoot. Haha!



Hope to see you all for Day 03! It's like therapy!

Loves,

30 Day Challenge

Wanted to break myself back into the world of blogging easily so here goes.
This particular 30 Day Challenge will be about me, so you can get to know me, fun hey! You are in for a WORLD of excitement!

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 facts about yourself:

This is me, two days ago, at Burton Agnes. I love Daffs.

1. Interesting fact, I'd already wrote out this blog and Blogger decided not to publish it and now it shall be lost in the cyberweb.

2. I should be sleeping. I spent 5 and a half hours in the car today, in this baking heat.

3. I'm training to be a nurse. I'm in my last year currently. Hopefully by September 2011 I should be the proud owner of a BA(hons) and a piece of paper that says I am a Registered Adult Nurse. I'll have people's lives in my hand! Scary huh?!

4. I love flowers, therefore I love flower. Soon will be the day I own all things Cath Kidston.

5. My Nan and Grandad, although they left a long time ago, remain so close to me. Funny how only a Grandparent can make you believe a sweet (those Refresher sweets) that she keeps in her first aid box will make it all better. Worked though!

6. I'm always tired. I realise I'm more 51 than 21. I'd rather sit in a pub than go clubbing. Drink thrown over my nice clothes and crushed toes no thank you!

7. I absolutely love the whole Harry Potter world. Fantasy at its best.

8. I have so much love for female artists showing everyone what they've got!

9. I love my dog Dougal! He's a 9 year old Westie and still acts like a puppy. He's set his tail on fire 2 times, he is a dope. But he's my dope.

10. My left arm has come out of its socket 3 times.

11. I've never broken a bone ever though. Resillient like that. *touch wood*

12. I would love to be doing musical theatre. I've seen over 10 musicals from Liverpool to London. If I had the confidence in myself, I'd be up there centre stage belting out showtunes!

13. I love anything vampire-y, Interview with a Vampire, Twilight etc. I've had this obsession since I was younger.

14. My two favourite films as a child; Nightmare Before Christmas and Beauty and the Beast.

15. I always paint my nails. Except when I'm on the wards. I've recently started doing nail art on my self and I'm not too shabby. I love experimenting. I currently own all of the Barry M Nail Paint collection, plus 100+ other brands. Some may say obsessed. I say prepared.

Ok, well done if you have survived the last 15 bullet points.

Now I challenge you to last the next 29 days. What do you say?!
There are no prizes. Just pride!

Loves,

A day of ups and downs (only little downs)

So starting with the up, I don't mean to brag but who passed their module assignment with 75%? Me! I did! I couldn't believe it, I still can't believe it! I was completely sure I'd failed and would have been content with a straight down the line pass! I definitely did a double take when I saw the little 75% (A first!!!) when I sat refreshing my page over and over - my University is not known for its reliability! Truly gobsmacked! So I have treated myself to a hair appointment on Tuesday to add another style to the many changing styles of Claire. Blonde slices, bob, grown out bob, full fringe, shoulder length choppy cut, asymetrical bob, pixie crop, grown out, full fringe, bob... What will be next!?

On the down side of today I've had to pay £63 for dental treatment!! Scandalous! Never had a filling before and now I'm old enough to pay I need one! Got some crazy seal stuff on now, strange texture but on the plus side it tastes like bubblegum. S'only a little down though, because I am supercrazyhappy today!

Wisdom teeth coming out 19th February too! Under GA, scary stuff!

This week I'm mostly buying...too much.

Ok, I'm a great lover of fashion. I don't claim to be great at what's hot to wear and 'on trend' but I know I like what I like. And if you wear what you like and what you're comfortable in rather than what you think is fashionable, it shows. This year so far I've been a great lover of tailored pants and bought two pairs already!

The first outfit I bought was this little ensemble:

The trousers are navy twill paperbag trousers, £29.50, Dorothy Perkins. The top is a blue bird print blouse, £28.00 from Dorothy Perkins. Both items are in the New In range and Dorothyperkins.com is currently offering 15% off your new spring wardrobe off this particular range.

I love this outfit on! I feel really comfortable and on trend! I'll post a picture further on with what it looks like on a Z-list model! I dressed this up with some bright coloured shoes, a berry colour - but I think any colour would be suitable. The bright coloured shoes gives it more of a pop as the other items are quite neutral and more of a blank canvas to really accessorise it up. I'm wearing mine to a house party so I've added a chunky beige cardi over the top (Primark have some nice ones in at the moment.). This outfit has a real 40s/50s feel for me so I'd complement with loose waves, and a bold lipstick with minimal eye makeup with the exception of maybe the feline flick! Go for a bright nail polish too as matching lip colour to nail colour is very now!

So I'm loving my first new outfit of Spring/Summer 2011!

My next outfit is pretty similar, but you gotta love these trousers. This is more a relaxed outfit.

These pants are dark green chino trousers, £32.99, River Island. The top is an orange/coral coloured basic button through sleeveless shirt, £18.00, Topshop.

With this outfit you could add a cut off denim jacket or a neutral coloured cardigan. You could dress this up from daywear by swapping cute flat ballet pumps with some shoes with attutide. I'd stick to my fathful Topshop lace up shoe boots that have lasted me all the way from Autumn/Winter 2009. Minimal makeup with peachy tones, minimal mascara and just a lip balm would complement this look also use a foundation that will give a dewy look. Tie hair back in a messy ponytail for laid back cool!

Finally a special thank you to maireadclabbyfashion.blogspot.com for naming me Most Stylish Blog Reader of the Week! Much appreciated!

Cupcakes! Recipe - Cinnamon, ginger and orange cupcakes.

I made these in the week and they were pretty popular! I love following new recipes so I thought I'd add some of my favourites to my blog.

FOR THE CAKES

• 175g (6oz) caster sugar
• 175g (6oz) unsalted butter or alternative eg. Stork, at room temperature
• Finely grated zest of 1 orange
• 3 medium eggs
• 175g (6oz) self-raising flour
• 2tsp ground cinnamon (this can be altered depending on how strong you want the flavour)
• 2tsp ground ginger (this can be altered depending on how strong you want the flavour)

FOR THE ICING

• 200g (7oz) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 400g (14oz) icing sugar, sifted
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• 1tsp ground cinnamon (can also be altered)
• additional ginger if you wish.

Getting Started.

Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4. Beat together the sugar, butter/margerine and orange zest, using an electric mixer or hand mixer, until it is light and fluffy. Paying attention to this bit is important as this will make the cakes light and fluffy. Add 1 egg at a time, with a spoonful of the flour to stop the mixture from curdling, and mix. Once all 3 eggs are added, mix in the remainding flour.

Spoon the cake mixture into 12 cake cases sitting in the pre lined tin. Place in the oven for 20 minutes, until the cakes have risen and are lightly golden. Check with a knitting needle or fork that they are cooked through. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

While the cakes are cooling, beat together the butter, icing sugar and vanilla extract with the ground cinnamon until it is light and creamy. Then if you have a piping bag you can pipe the butter cream icing onto the cakes, if not a generous dollop will do! To decorate you can add anything elso you fancy, I sprinkled demerara sugar over the top to give it a little crunch.

Her skin is white cloth and she's all sewn apart and she has many coloured pins sticking out of her heart. - Voodoo Girl

So sitting here eating Nutella on toast (ADDICTED by the way!) I thought I’d use my time wisely and write a second post! (First time for everything! Or second…) I’ve got a few ideas on what I’d like to bring to my blog, firstly I think I owe it to myself to indulge and write ode and to generally just gush about Tim Burton

The first time I came across this brilliantly and weirdly creative man was when I was roughly 5 or 6 years of age. I can’t remember how I acquired it but someone, thankfully, put The Nightmare Before Christmas in my hands and I watched it. And I watched it. And believe me I was engrossed! I watched it religiously every Sunday after (some may call it blasphemous?) singing and quoting word for word. Can you imagine my Dads joy when one Fathers day, while I was heavily influenced by NMBC, he received a handmade card adorned with Jack Skellington’s image in a grave yard. Strange that I was so in love with the film, because I was a scared of everything as a little child; of the wind tapping at the letter box (I even thought I saw Jack Frost. He wasn’t a nice man.) and to be honest still am!



My Jack Skellington Pumpkin in the middle!



I own, pretty much, every Tim Burton film or have at least seen it. His poetry books are oddly fabulous! I feel I owe Tim Burton a lot, I wouldn’t have read the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, I probably wouldn’t have been exposed to so much Johnny Depp (mm…) and now own a signed picture of him! Next stop, Tim Burton signature please!

The way Tim Burton creates his films and has particular trade marks I think are the traits of a great producer/director. A Tim Burton film doesn’t feel the same if it doesn’t have music by Danny Elfman!! And believe me I can tell the beginnings of Danny Elfman music a mile off. Obsessive? Fanatical? You decide! I’m even training the boyfriend to pick up on the little things.

The thing I love about this man is his creativity, the way he plans out his stories and the sketches which have so much detail. So childlike but seem so intricate. How he can start out with a poem and turn it into a fantastic children’s film. I may be biased, I grew up with a love for his style. The whole story of the Nightmare Before Christmas and the idea of these separate lands concerned with only one day of the year and the characters behind them fascinates me!

And so I go on to my Top 6 Tim Burton films. Ok I couldn’t narrow it down anymore…

Beetle Juice (1988) – A film about the afterlife! This coming from someone who is scared of their own shadow! Michael Keaton in this is fabulous as Betelgeuse! I love the little things added in like Jack Skellington’s head on a headpiece Betelgeuse wears some 5 years before the release  of NMBC. It also has Winona Ryder who I love as an actress. No wonder this film is one of Michael Keaton’s favourites of his own.

 Batman Returns (1992)  – Tim Burton as director and Batman what’s not to like? A hunky, caped rich man fighting crime and Michelle Pfeiffer in PVC as Catwoman. So much hotter than Halle Berry.

Alice in Wonderland (2010) – Just a fantastic story! Who doesn’t like Alice in Wonderland?! Johnny Depp AND Helena Bonham Carter!!

Big Fish (2003) – Another moving story, so beautifully put together! Never fail’s to make me cry! I  think a lot could be taken away from it. Ageless.

Edward Scissorhands (1990) – I love the fact that the idea came from a drawing by a teenaged Tim Burton. Can you believe Burton’s first choice for Edward was Michael Jackson!! I find this  film so moving!

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – without a doubt. Has a lot of sentimental value to me as well.

And look who I met…



To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die - Thomas Campbell (1777-1844)

15/01/2010 - Start of my blog.
I don't particularly know what I am doing here, I suppose I want to use this year to do something out of the ordinary, document things. 2011 the year I have to become an 'adult', at 21 I should already be one but this year is different. I finish being a student and get a job, a job where I'm not just responsible for my life but for others too. Potentially saving peoples lives! Scary stuff!

Some background info on me then! (I love reading about others so treat others how you wish to be treated and all that!) As I've said I'm 21 and very much into my last year of being a Student Nurse. Not where I probably saw myself even 5 years ago, loved Drama and English, was very much into performing and that's where I thought I was heading. But then it came to applying for Uni and someone asked me where a degree in Drama would get me and I buckled and chose something that I thought would put me on a steady path to a career at the end of it, Nursing. (Yeah thanks David Cameron and Nick Clegg!) Aside from my studies then, I'm very much into theatre, music, poetry, and films, fashion, make up and candles(!). So at some point while I decide where I'm going with this blog I'll probably do some reviews of things I like, as suggested by a lovely lady on the Facebook More page, and some other bits and bobs.

I want to seize every opportunity this year, make the most of everything put my way, work hard and achieve what I need to get me where I want to be in life, make my parents and boyfriend proud, and most importantly myself.

Inspirational and meaning full quotes are my thing!