Who Are You Again?

Why hello there!

Who are you again, you ask?

I've been asking myself that same question lately!

I apologise profusely for my lack of existence on here in a loooooong time. I honestly just haven't felt like blogging for a long time. A lot has been happening in my personal life as well as uni kicking my ass - they weren't lying when they said third year was going to be a testing year! I also got a new job a few months ago, so juggling that and my uni work is proving to be... a little challenging to say the least.

It's nearly Christmas though! Woop woop!

And we all know I have a deep love for Christmas. I've been to the Nottingham Christmas Light Switch-On (again), and then of course I've been around the Winter Wonderland market here (obviously).                                

I also went to meet my bestest girl in Manchester so that we could catch-up whilst drinking mulled wine and touring the huge Christmas Market there - it was incredible (again, obviously).     

I officially finished all of my uni deadlines for this term on last Friday too, which means I've finished all my deadlines for this year! How freakin' crazy is that?! It does mean I could relax a little bit more though for my final week of uni before I go home and get all the baby cuddles and snuggles. Then again, a lot of said babies are getting older now and try to wriggle away when I finally catch them to steal a cuddle *insert my sad, pouty face*.

I guess I have a hell of a lot to catch you up on then, considering the last time I blogged was in June - I'm a bad person (and blogger), I know.

So what's there to tell you?

Well, I spent most of my summer working and going around lots of UK beaches with my grandparents in their caravan (I made a nearby beach be the specification to whichever campsite they looked at).

And of course I spent a hell of a lot of time with all my little ones. I took Daisy to Edinburgh for the day with my friend and we went to the zoo during my summer break as a late Christmas present/early birthday present for her. The week before we went and all of the day we went she was singing "We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo" which is apparently a nursery rhyme she sings in nursery now, or so she told me. Whatever the case, it was the frickin' cutest thing you've ever seen!

Talking of my little munchkins, it was three of their birthdays and two in the same week during summer and they had an adorable little, frozen-themed, joint birthday party, which I was chief photographer for because I am the queen of taking too many pictures...

I also took way too many pictures a few months ago when we all went away for a little camping holiday which provided a well-needed break from uni as well as smiles and cuddles from a huge amount of cuteness!

My mama and I had a lovely little break away for a week in Glasgow. It was so relaxing and we got to catch up with some old friends too whilst we were there. My mum even let me drag her around the shops for the day, and anyone who knows my mum will know that this is a BIG deal because she hates shopping. And when I say 'hate' I mean hates shopping. So thanks for grinning and bearing it for me, mama.

I moved into a house with some of my uni girls, and my room is the best and the homiest ever (once again, thanks mama Fi *mwah*). I have a picture wall in the form of wardrobe doors this year, just to mix it up a bit. 

I was also lucky enough to get to go and see Imagine Dragons whilst they were in Nottingham on tour and it was, without doubt, one of the best concerts I've ever been to (although I feel like I say that about all of the concerts I go to).

I'm struggling to think of anything else worth telling you now... I've been so lucky to do so many lovely things lately that I just can't think of them all at once. That always happens, I sit down to write, thinking I've got so much to say, then realise, actually, I have nothing. Nada. Zero. Noth-ing.

Oh well. I hope you've enjoyed this little catch-up and, who knows, maybe I won't leave it six months before I blog again. Then again, maybe I will. Guess you'll just have to watch and see!

Katie x

(If you haven't already, please read my last blog post, it's an important one about the suffering my little hometown is going through at the moment. Just click HERE).

My Month In Pictures

Hello!

I decided to be super cute today and make a collage of all my favourite pictures from this month because, you may have noticed, I love to take snaps of all the lovely moments! Now I have the cutest collage that rounds up my month and all the beautiful things that happened this month.

Most of them I've probably already blogged about somewhere in this little internet world because I like to make sure I keep you guys all up to date with my life and I find it nice to look back on myself today and see all of the lovely things I've done.

There was my lovely grown-up niece's birthday and then, of course, Miss Princess Daisy's birthday (I wrote a little something for her HERE, if you want to pop over to it), then the day after was the James's birthday, and two days after was my Grandpa's birthday! There are way too many birthdays to handle in just one month!

I also had a night out with some of my friends from home amidst all of this and a day in Newcastle with my bestie. There have been plenty of days out with all of the Little (and Big) Ones that I can't even tell you about them all but I did posts on a few of them HERE, HERE and HERE. I also found time to have an operation on my ear at some point and get a job (which I did a little thing on HERE)! It's actually been quite a busy month now I'm trying to remember everything I've done!

Have you done anything nice this month?

Katie x

A Mid Week Pick-Me-Up #8

Hello!

This week's quote is dedicated to my best friend; she's on holiday at the moment but I'm seriously missing her and I thought this quote described our friendship perfectly!

"The best friendships usually steal up on you, you don't remember their start point." - You Had Me At Hello (Mhairi McFarlane)

This is one of the truest quotes about friendship that I've ever heard... or read, actually (it's from a really great book, you should give it a read). I know that I certainly don't remember when my best friend and I became the best of friends. I do remember when we first met because it was over a skipping rope and she likes to constantly remind me of that story, but that's definitely not where we became friends!

I don't think I remember the start point to any of my best friendships, maybe it's just because the best ones have been around for that long I can't remember far enough back, or it's because the friendships happened that quickly that I just don't know how to pinpoint the start point.

I've definitely had my fair share of "bad" friendships because, as my best friend likes to constantly remind me, I'm a softy and let people off with things because its easier than arguing with them - I really don't get on well with confrontation, I'm too quiet and shy for all that!

I don't know what I'd do without my closest friend some days; she's always there for me and I think she knows more about me than I do! We both go to different universities too, which can take its toll on some friendships (I know it has on other friendships of mine), but we still text all the time, and skype; we even started sending each other actual written letters, I loved that, it was super cute - not enough people hand-write letters anymore! 

No matter how far away from each other we are, we still tell each other everything and any problems we have we always tell the other first. I know that if I'm feeling a bit down or something really bad has happened, she is going to be the one person who can pull me out of that and pick me up. 

Soooo, my best friend is this weeks mid week pick-me-up because she's always there to pick me up and I'll always be there to pick her up. Awww, all the feels and the mushiness (sorry!).

Katie x

A Mid Week Pick-Me-Up #7

Hello!

I know I say this a lot but I seriously LOVE writing these pick-me-up's - they just get me thinking, I hope they're as helpful and thought-provoking for you as they are for me!

I've been going to post this quote for quite a few weeks but every week there's been a different one that I thought went better with that week. Well not this week! This quote is finally going to get its time to shine!

"No Ragrets" - We're the Millers

This quote will make soooooo much more sense if you've seen the movie We're the Millers. If you haven't seen it though, then no, I haven't had some spelling problems of epic proportions! 

Without spoiling anything, in the movie, there's a boy with a tattoo that reads "No Ragrets". It's an ongoing joke between my friend and I now, whenever one of us does something stupid we'll say "NO RAGRETS" and the other will say "not even one letter?" and then we burst into laughter!

Basically, the whole point of this week's pick-me-up post is to say never regret anything. At that moment, it was what you wanted. There's no point in wasting your time regretting something that you can't change. Just move on, tomorrow's a new day and all that. If you're anything like my friend and I, you'll just cringe and then spend a lot of time laughing about it! I think that's the best thing you can do, too. Laugh about it! Make it into an ongoing inside joke, whether you're the only one that knows it or it's with a friend, just laugh! 

However, if you do have a tattoo that says "No Ragrets" then I might have a little word with the tattoo artist if I were you, or tell everyone you did it on purpose as a twist on the words; you have no regrets that's why you put an "A" in there to show that. Something like that!

Katie x

Have you read the previous Mid Week Pick-Me-Up's?

A Mid Week Pick-Me-Up

A Mid Week Pick-Me-Up #2

A Mid Week Pick-Me-Up #3

A Mid Week Pick-Me-Up #4

A Mid Week Pick-Me-Up #5

A Mid Week Pick-Me-Up #6

Just Another Little Shopping Spree

Hello!

If you read THIS post, from yesterday, you will know that my best friend and I took a day out for a shopping trip in Newcastle!

I didn't go crazy (although I really wanted to), due to the whole summer-means-no-student-finance-which-means-no-money situation, but I thought I would share the things I did buy with you!

(Like last time, I'll add a little collage at the end of the clothes being worn because I know how different things can look until you see them on someone).

An essential to any students shopping trip is Primark, of course.

Primark - £8.00

I used to have a bag extremely similar to this which was also from Primark but the clasp finally broke a few months ago, probably because of my extreme over-usage of it... Anyway, I saw this one and thought it was similar, just a different colour, and thought it would do as a good replacement for the one that's gone to handbag heaven (R.I.P. little bow bag). 

I really like this bag and, as you can see, I've already started using it. The only thing is, it's a little bit of a tight squeeze to fit a lot in and I always like to stuff useless and pointless things in my bag, but maybe it will teach me to be more ruthless!

Top - Primark - £3.50
Shorts - Primark - £4.00

How cute are these pj's?!

I have a pajama obsession. I definitely have more sets of pajama's than necessary BUT I only have one set of short pj's, so these were a necessity! Or at least that's what I'm going to tell myself. I know there's not much need for short pajamas in England but we're having a particularly hot spell of weather at the moment (or hot for us English people, anyway) and I can't stand being too hot on a night. So, I bought these. Don't judge. I need pajamas.

Primark - £6.00 each

Two cardigans, one in black and one in navy blue. A bit boring but they were needed - even though it's kind of hot in England at the moment, you still need to take some sort of cardigan or cover-up; the weather can change quicker than you can click your fingers here!

Primark - £6.00

Oh hai there, little bag!

Okay, so I didn't really need another bag. It's cute though, right? I already found a use for it when I went out the other night (also explained in yesterday's blog post, *hint* *hint*). It's actually a really good size. I managed to fit my purse, phone, a small amount of make-up (mascara, lipstick, etc.) a little tin with hair grips and hair ties in it and something else that I can't even remember now in it. So it's perfect if you're trying to be concise and limit what you take out with you.

Primark - £4.00

This one was actually from when I went on a day out with my brother a few weeks ago (I blogged about the day HERE, if you're interested) but I thought I'd just add it to this post, considering it was the only thing I bought that day.

It's definitely not something I would normally pick up, never mind buy, but I was obviously feeling extra brave that day and went for it. It's super pretty actually! The colour and the pattern just scream spring/summer to me. I just need to get used to the round neck, I don't normally wear anything with a high neck but I think the top is lovely. It's a little bit on the big side for me but I don't think it looks bad being a tad too big because it's made of a meshy kind of material. I would wear a vest top under it seeing as it's see-through, but the light material makes it cool for a warmer climate!

Dorothy Perkins - Wallis - £12.75 (with student discount)

Now this was from Dorothy Perkins, or Wallis in Dorothy Perkins, to be exact. The colour is what caught my attention - it's sooooo bright! It's definitely something new for me; I don't normally go for colours this bright but I do love pink so I had to buy it. Once again, it's something good for the warm weather because it's a sheer kind of material and light and airy.

Boots - Benefit - £15.50

Alas, the £15 eyebrow pencil I told you about yesterday (it was actually £15.50). It's by Benefit so obviously it was going to be expensive but Benefit are normally a great brand so I splashed out. 

I really didn't want to use it once I bought it - all I could think was "don't ruin this, Katie. You paid £15 for it - don't be your usual clumsy self with it!". I did finally bring myself to use it though and it's amazing. It's the best eyebrow pencil I have ever used. I'm not much of a make-up person but, if I'm going out somewhere, I'll always at least use concealer, mascara and an eyebrow pencil (there's my little tip of the day!). It's the perfect colour for my eyebrows, stays on incredibly well and it has a little spooly thing (is that what you call it?) on the other end to tidy them up! As my friend said when she convinced me to buy it - it will last at least twice as long as any cheap one you would buy because you don't have to top it up and it's amazing quality.

And that's everything!

It was a lovely little day out and who doesn't love a bit of relaxed retail therapy?!

I hope you liked this little shopping insight, let me know what you thought or if you've bought any pretty summer-y things lately!

A candid moment of me falling over mid-twirl to end - I'm so graceful - thank god the bed was there, or that could have been more painful than it actually was!

Katie x

Exciting Days!

Hello!

Sorry for the lack of a post yesterday but the day suddenly got really busy, really quickly!

I thought I'd give you a little update of what's happened over the past few days because I've been a busy, buzzing bumble bee!

I feel like I've done nothing but run around since Wednesday, when I went to see my great aunt. It all started to get super hectic Thursday though.

I had to be up at 7AM on Thursday morning and, can I just point out, I don't think I've gotten up that early for about a year now, considering most of my lectures were after 10AM - it nearly killed me (of course I'm not exaggerating)! Anyway, I had to be up early for an orthodontist appointment, then I was meeting my best friend, Feef, so we could go to Newcastle for the day and have one of our epic and wonderful shopping days! We literally only made the train with seconds to spare but hey ho! What fun would it be if we were always organised... 

We did nothing but chat the entire way to Newcastle, and the whole time we were there. And the whole way back, actually. We just talked. A lot. We have one of those incredible friendships where we can talk about anything and everything without even thinking about it, and we can make fun of each other but if anyone else does it, they're dead meat (not literally, obviously, I don't advocate violence... Seriously though, we always have each others backs). Our day in Newcastle started with a lovely meal in Pizza Hut; it was yummy - I'm one of those awful people that goes to somewehre called Pizza Hut and gets pasta because what's the point in going with the flow, right? It was delicious though, without a doubt, one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had. 

We also had a lengthy discussion about tattoos (something I'd love to know your opinion on, by the way, I know not everyone is a promoter of tattoos). I personally wouldn't mind a tattoo, I'm just not sure if I could handle the pain, and I wouldn't know where to get it either. I like tattoos as long as they're not too big; I don't really like the whole cover-your-body-in-tattoos-because-it's-so-cool look and, I'm not meaning to be sexist here but I know everyone will say it sounds like that, I don't think girls suit having heavy tattoos, like sleeves or a whole leg covered etc., I do love to see other peoples tattoos though and get to know the meaning behind them.

We spent over an hour and a half in Primark and I'm sure over half an hour of that was spent in the fitting rooms! Of course, we needed a coffee break after that (any excuse). A trip to Boots ended up in me spending £15 on an eyebrow pencil - don't ask - after Fee persuaded me I was in desperate need of it, which I'm sure I am... Maybe. It's okay though, we went to New Look after that and I told her that the denim jacket she was looking at was a necessity and a bargain, plus, every girl has a denim jacket in her wardrobe; it's a staple. Apart from me, oops! We went other places too but our feet were killing by this point and we were knackered and now I'm struggling to remember everywhere else we actually went into, and I need to stop saying 'and'. 

Before we went to wait for the train (we actually had to wait for this one, rather than jump on it at the last minute) Feef went and bought one of the smallest Machiato's I've ever seen - her whole hand could cover it, and she has tiny hands!

We had a great, girly day, now we just wish we hadn't spent all of our money so that we could go back and do it again!

(I had to put all of the pictures into a collage, there was that many!)

We made an impulse decision the next night for us all to go out, like a mini reunion for those of us who are back home from uni. Only problem was, I'd already arranged to go and see the Megan, Sophie and Daisy, so I had to pay a flying visit to their house (I pretty much did fly in and out of the door, too!). The night resulted in a lot of alcohol and a lot of pouting - I'm not even sure why we were pouting so much, we're obviously just too cool for school! I don't drink that much either, so I guess there wasn't that much alcohol for me. Every picture I have from the night was what we found on Snapchat the next day - some of us were definitely drunker than others, I'm proud to say I was not one of those - It was an phenomenal night full of laughter and a whole lotta new 'drunk jokes'.

Anything interesting been happening elsewhere?

Katie x