The Big 3-0

So here's the deal, last June I turned 30. There was no massive party or fan fare.....I just wasn't in the right place. And also, maybe I'm actually a bit of an introvert - the thought of being centre of attention makes me feel excited and sick at the same time, but mostly sick!

Sometimes this blogging world is scary - for me it's an online journal where I get to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly. I started blogging when I hit a low in 2012. I love to write and felt that it was somewhere to be positive about the future. I still feel the same way about it, just maybe it's time to get real. I don't want this blog to solely be a "highlight reel" of my life. Although I am a very lucky girl, and I have a great time, but it's not always the way it may seem. We've all had, and are maybe going through, our fair share of tough times.

Recently I've had a few girlfriends tell me about friends who are going through heartbreak-hell, and for similar reasons to where I've come from. I'm not sure if it's the timing but it's made me look at my life and realise that everything really does happen for a reason, although it may not feel like it in that moment.

On my 30th Birthday I was full of confusion, my life didn't look like what it was "supposed" to look like. Wasn't I supposed to be married (or at the very least engaged) with a wonderful career and children on the horizon?! I was nowhere near any of these, and when you hit a milestone the realisation of where you are in life comes and slaps you full-force in the face.

Source: lollipops.bigcartel.com via Ali on Pinterest

If you're turning 30 this year, just be kind to yourself. Maybe your life doesn't look like everything you imagined it would but I bet you it will all turn out exactly as it's meant to. You will look back on this time and think "Oh....that's why".

For me, my 30th year has represented some highs and lows, but it has mostly been a year of acceptance.

Source: google.com via Ali on Pinterest

And this is quite simply the best piece of advice ever, you never get to be 30 again - enjoy it!!

Source: inspiredjoyfulchaos.tumblr.com via Ali on Pinterest

Let's see what the last few months of being 30 brings, eh? x

Style | Blue Leopard Print

With animal print still all over the high street and looking like it has staying power, I've been on the prowl (!) for new ways to wear the trend.

I've seen a lot of photo's of celebrities lately wearing blue leopard print and really like the look of it. Whilst I wouldn't necessarily spend a lot of money on a piece of clothing that isn't a classic, I like to get involved and have fun with the trends.

Cheryl Cole (www.denmanbrush.com)

Rachel Bilson (www.marieclaire.co.uk)

Milla Jovovich (www.glamourmagazine.co.uk)

Miranda Kerr (www.posh24.com)

I saw this top in TK Maxx and immediately tried it on! I think it's supposed to be a swimwear cover-up but I think it looks just as good with jeans (and shorts in the summer). I also really like the tribal detailing around the neckline.

I paired it with dark blue skinny jeans and slouchy beige fringe boots (both from Miss Selfridge) for a girls dinner.

What do you think of this trend?

Food | Skinny Spag Bol

When the sun begins to shine I can't help but dream, wish, hope for a long hot summer where we all get to float about our lives in sundresses, cute shorts and t-shirts and don't feel cold for at least four months.....

Reality check, this is England. Bristol to be precise. We may get a hot weekend somewhere in the next few months and who know's when it will be....when it happens you have to seize that moment!

Last year I did the Bikini Dream Team Challenge and have (mostly) continued to put into practice the helpful advice on exercise, nutrition and motivation that I learnt from that time. However, lately I stepped on the scales and it was not pretty - I blame Easter (and quite a few wine fuelled dinner parties)! 

I love my food and there is not a chance I could ever "diet" as such, but it's pretty simple to tweak your favourite dishes to make them that little bit healthier without losing any of the flavour.

Here's my Skinny Spag Bol I threw together last night (I dare not call it Spaghetti Bolognese because it is so far removed from the orginal, Italian's the world over would string me up for slander).

You will need:

500g Extra Lean Turkey Mince
1 Onion
2 (small) cloves of Garlic or 1 large one
500g Italian Passata with Basil
A good sprinkling of dried mixed Italian Herbs
2 Smallish Bay Leaves

Soften the onion in a frying pan with a good glug of olive oil.
After a few minutes add the crushed garlic and turkey mince.
Leave to fry until the mince is white.
Add the passata and approx. 200 ml of water, the herbs and bay leaves.
Give it a good stir and leave for 15-20 minutes for all the flavours to come together.

I served mine on a bed of baby spinach, avocado and steamed broccoli instead of pasta. But you can pick any combination of green veg/salad.

This quantity will easily serve 4.

Maybe I'm just used to eating this way now but I actually don't miss the pasta! The sauce is the bit I crave and this is so tasty and tomatoey, it totally hits the spot!

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This weekend I......

On Friday night I met up with Jenna and Mel for dinner and wine at Brace and Browns. I can always tell when I've had too much to drink because I forget to take photo's...so annoying! We had a great night though, the tapas there is amazing and the weather was warm enough to sit outside (under the heaters) whilst we put the world to rights.

Saturday morning Dan made me breakfast to cure my "wineache" (a Mel phrase that describes the pain of too much wine). He makes the BEST breakfasts, and we had this out on the balcony in the morning sunshine.

Yes! It was actually sunny in Bristol this weekend!

Lunch consisted of cookies, apple pies, flapjacks and sunglasses (all that chocolate is leftover from Easter) at Tia's. We also played with the Shellac kit I posted about here, so it was semi-productive.

I then went for a little wander around Clifton Village, it was such a beautiful day and it's the perfect place to just mooch around.

In the evening Dan and I headed over to my brothers for dinner. He was cooking up an Eastern Mediterranean inspired storm of lamb and grilled aubergines, followed by fresh mint tea and baklava. Seriously good!

On Sunday we went for a little stroll in the countryside near Castle Combe.

We played pooh-sticks and paddled in the stream.

We then wandered through the grounds of the beautiful Manor House.

Before a spot of lunch at The Castle Inn.

I went for a Ploughman's and a half of cider, it just felt right.

When we got home we chilled on the sofa with tea and cake (bought from an honesty stall in Castle Combe) and watched the Disney version of Robin Hood - bliss!

Whilst I was messing around on Pinterest I saw this:

I couldn't agree more!

Five Friday Favourites

Happy Friday everyone! Phew, we made it...

Here's a round up of what's made me happy this week.

It's 2 weeks this Sunday until the Bristol 10k-eek! Until yesterday I hadn't been running for a while due to illness and a toenail injury (it's horrible, don't ask). I had a really great run last night, blasted away a load of cobwebs and was running at a decent pace so fingers crossed I'm on track to get a PB!

Dan makes the most amazing chicken fajitas! I don't like to eat bread though so we had fajita salads instead, soooo damn good!!

I heard Rudimental in the live lounge on Radio 1 and had to buy this single. They were so good live and I love this song and their energy. It's a great tune to run to!

Cadbury's Fruit & Nut, need I say more? What's not to like?

We've begun planning our long weekend in Athens. There's 8 of us going in September and I can't wait!! I like to know what's there to see/do/eat/drink etc.

What's made you smile this week?

Review | At Home Shellac Nails

When I have "treatments" it's never usually a manicure or pedicure. Despite the fact that I love a bit of pampering and all things girly, I just feel weird about paying someone £30 to paint my nails when I'm ok at doing it myself...I dunno.

I've been toying with the idea of buying my own Shellac kit for a while now. Quite a few of my girlfriends have gel/Shellac nails and I thought we could all get some use out of it and it cuts the cost of buying loads of different colours each.

I bought my kit on Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk) and here's what I went for:

- Proxima Direct 36W UV Lamp £19.95
- Bluesky Shellac Top & Base Coat £9.65
- Bluesky Shellac French Manicure Kit (Studio White & Clearly Pink Polish) £9.40
- Bluesky Shellac Polish in Neon Lavender £6.20
- Bluesky Shellac Polish in Rosebud £5.50

Total: £50.70

After watching a few YouTube videos on at home gel nails I decided to do my own on Sunday morning.....and it worked!!

It's not rocket science really, it just requires a steady hand and some patience! French Manicure was probably not the best place to start as I haven't done one of these on myself for ages, but I'm pretty pleased with the overall result.

I can't wait to try my other colours. I'll put the Rosebud colour on my toes and then try the Lavender on my hands in a couple of weeks when the French Manicure comes off. I'm pleased with the quality of these Bluesky Shellac polishes as well. They are so much cheaper than the CND ones, I'm not sure why, but they appear to do the job perfectly. I'm pretty 'hard' on my nails and so far they're showing no signs of wear and tear.

The light is great too. It comes with a 120 second timer so there's no faffing about with your phone.

I think the scariest part is at the end when you wipe your nails with nail varnish remover to get rid of the sticky residue that gel nails leave behind - it feels completely wrong!! Take a deep breath - your nails will be just fine!

Please excuse my cuticles....maybe should have done something with them first, impatience got the better of me!

Arm Candy

I've lately taken to piling on my "arm candy" and really like the look of lots of bracelets/bangles scattered together for casual everyday bling.

The gold and cream bangles are all old purchases that would have been inexpensive. I'm sure you can still pick something like this up at New Look, Primark, Accessorize etc.

The rose gold mesh bracelet is from John Titcombe in Clifton Village, Bristol. I bought this as a present for myself at the end of 2012-I'd had a thoroughly crappy year and survived moving house and felt I deserved a treat!

The neon pink chain bracelet I picked up the other day in the sale at Miss Selfridge for £5, bargain. It caught my eye because it's so vibrant and a nod to the current fluoro/neon trend.

Do your accessories change with the seasons? Now the weather seems to be getting warmer I like to brighten things up a little bit, fingers crossed we don't get snow next week!

This weekend I.......

I've had a lovely weekend, again! Although I feel like I've eaten a mountain of food! This is what I got up to:

Friday night we met some friends in The Lion for the most tasty burgers (I went for the New Yorker-Emmental, pastrami and gherkins, so damn good) and wine. The perfect way to finish off the working week.

Saturday morning I was up early and drove to Bath to have my hair done at Melanie Giles. I love that place, I really should find somewhere in Bristol, but the girls that do my hair at Melanie Giles are great! I went a little shorter and blonder for summer and really like it.

I then raced back to Bristol to meet my friend Annie (and her 14 week baby Ralph) for lunch, we went to Pizza Express and I had what I ALWAYS have, a Padana Romana pizza, and literally inhaled it.

Dan had asked me earlier in the week if I was free on Saturday afternoon for a surprise at the harbourside. After lunch I found out what the surprise was - a bungee jump!! There was no way on this planet I was jumping off a crane with a piece of elastic attached to my feet but I was happy to support my adrenaline junkie. He did amazingly well, I went up in the crane with him and can't believe he just chucked himself off the edge so happily! Euuughhh, the thought of it makes me want to be sick.

Sunday morning I played with my home Shellac kit (tried a French Manicure) practice definitely makes perfect, and popped to Cabot Circus to pick up a couple of online clothing orders. Then onto Quinton House for the most amazing Sunday Roast I have had in a loooong time, I ate so much!!

Sunday night rounded things off nicely just chilling on the sofa and watching the closing round of The Masters with my boy.

This week I am hitting the gym-BIG time!!

P.S. Dan gave me this Hello Kitty hat, LOVE!

Five Friday Favourites

It's Friday! Here are the top five things that made me smile this week:

1. I came across this Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Body Lotion in Stockholm Airport and loved the smell but was having a sensible day so didn't buy it! I saw this one on sale in TK Maxx for £7.99 and grabbed it, I love it! It will be finished within 2 weeks....

2. One of my favourite stars on the cover of Vogue; I literally love her so had to buy it obvs.

3. Dan works with some companies based in China. He mentioned to one of his colleagues that I have a bit of a thing (some call it an obsession) for green tea, and then this arrived! A whole box full of loose leaf Tea, amazing! I love that it is so beautifully packaged. Just need to dig out my teapot now....I have a million boxes in storage.

4. These two cuties always make me smile, I love that they love each other! #bromance

5. And finally, the new season of MadMen started in the UK this week! It's recorded on my planner and I haven't had a chance to watch it yet. It's one of my favourite shows-I can't wait to get stuck in this weekend!

What 5 things made you happy this week?