A Saturday At My Disposal

My housemate has gone away for the weekend and even the doggle has gone for a mini-break at the kennels. So I have enjoyed a day devoted to me, the best type of day in my opinion. This morning it was raining heavily so I stayed in bed and read my library book. It is universally acknowledged that the best remedy to grim weather is a good old trashy novel; I'm currently reading Cuckoo by Julia Crouch which I'm finding difficult to put down and get back to the real world. But I did have to put it down because I had to go and meet my friend Laura for lunch in town. I donned my most loved day dress and a few of my favourite accessories (whilst dancing crazily to the Pitch Perfect soundtrack, as one does on the average Saturday morning), and managed to take a few snaps; I definitely need to make this a future outfit post, maybe my first as I haven't done one yet! Maybe when I get a better camera/volunteer photographer.

Dress: New Look.   Belt: New Look.   Cardigan: shop in New Zealand. 

Boots: Republic.  The best part of a rainy day!

Bracelet collection: each bracelet has a special memory attached.

I managed to arrive for lunch without looking like a drowned rat (all hail umbrellas!). The chicken soup and my giant hot chocolate were absolutely delicious and a pretty good accompaniment to a good old girly gossip with Laura. 

Delicious and warming chicken soup. Nom nom!

By the time we emerged it was blinking into the beautiful sunshine. We looked in a few shops and I fell in love with a floral crop top and pair of denim dungarees in New Look but was super well behaved and resisted, I do have a cruise to be saving for after all! Besides, I want all these summery delights even more than the dungarees! Rich shopaholic brain stuck inside a poor student financially sensible body. Having said that I did then buy this rag rug from a stall at the market on the way home, but come on, it's waaaaay too gorgeous to have left behind for the mere tenner that it cost me! Plus I was in desperate need of a rug for my bedroom and already had my heart set on a rag rug and volia! I just happen to walk past the perfect one on my way home. Destiny...

Rag rug from Lancaster market

Such gorgeous colours!

I was well behaved and did a bit of house spring cleaning this afternoon, and then was bad behaved by rewarding myself with almost an entire large bar of Dairy Milk. Left the last two squares just so I didn't feel bad for eating the whole bar. I have zero willpower... Now chilling on the sofa with the duvet about to watch The Shawshank Redemption, such an epic film. Just missing a cuddle partner if anyone wants to join, you can have the last two chocolate pieces?....

Just to finish off here are my 10 words to sell yourself as is today's BEDM challenge set by Jenni at Story of my Life.

When Its Summer Time And The Weather's Fine

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

My inner being is yearning for a good summer clothes shopping spree. Alas, it is raining outside and my bank balance isn't exactly in a condition to withstand a beating right now. Still, a girl can dream!

I've already started thinking about clothes for the cruise next summer as there won't be much opportunity for summer shopping because we go so early in the year and immediately after I will have emerged from a mountain of university coursework too. So I'll have to be on the ball and get some extras this year in prep. I'm definitely thinking of getting a white sun dress; they are such an elegant classic and can be wore in so many different styles. I'm dying to get a floral dress too, in a really lovely light material I'm hoping. Modcloth, Boohoo and Polyvore have some great ones. I'm also completely crushing on pastel shades at the moment; this green skater dress is absolutely gorgeous and I might have to give in a just buy it! Also loving the pretty pastel nail paints by Models Own, especially these new scented polishes which I'm dying to try.

I'll finish off with today's BEDM challenge: most embarrassing moments.

Three main events stick out in my mind. The first is what I have always thought of as my most embarrassing memory and I've already referred to it on the blog here. I was only seven years old at the time though so now I can look back on it and find it hilarious, though I think I cried in embarrassment at the time. I was at the airport with my mum and dad because my dad was going to South Africa on a work trip. While we were waiting for his flight to be called I went to the toilets with my mum and I remember running ahead of her on the way back to find my dad in the cafe area. I spotted him on account of his bald spot and cream trench coat and dashed over, giving him a massive hug and shouting 'Daddeeeeee!". Unfortunately more than one man in the world had a bald spot and a cream trench coat in Manchester airport that day and this one was not my dad. I was mortified but he seemed rather amused and even thanked me for the hug before I ran away in shame.

The other two events happened more recently. One was the Christmas before last when my brain didn't kick in fast enough and I swore, very loudly, in front of Elliot's parents (doh!). Model girlfriend, I think not...The other time was a moment I should probably be embarrassed by but instead I just find it funny. I think that airport incident might have numbed my embarrassment sensors or something. My bedroom in my second year at university was in the attic so my windows pointed upwards, meaning not having curtains was never an issue in terms of preserving my modesty from the neighbours. Alas, one can evidently become too used to strutting around nude whenever one fancies it because I carried on doing this when I moved home for the summer. Where my bedroom overlooks the neighbour's back garden. And they employ gardeners. You do the math. 

I probably have a million and one other embarrassing moments which have happened over the years but, let's be honest, most of those were probably drunken times and those don't count! 

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend. I'm off collecting dissertation samples with the Mothership who has kindly offered to trudge around a moor with me in the pouring rain, and plan to spend the rest of the weekend in my pyjamas getting reacquainted with Netflix (what a babe!)

Thankful Thursday

First things first, the BEDM challenge for today is a moment in your day. Today was a pretty dull day to be doing this; I went to work, did work, came home for work. A friend of my flatmate, who I also know from the office, came over and we all watched The Hunger Games. But honestly the highlight of the day was...this epic chili with garlic bread.

I must remember to post the recipe for this bad boy! It's is seriously delicious and even better served with garlicky bread goodness. I cobbled this recipe together myself when I was in my first year of university and was missing some of the usual chili ingredients. Its cheap to make, its fiery, it's....it's making me drool just writing this. So cooking and eating this is the moment I choose to share with you guys today.

Onwards with the thankfulness - it is Thursday after all. How quick do these posts come around by the way!? (Hint: the answer is super quick.) I think the awesomeness of the bank holiday weekend down in Aberystwyth, frolicking in the sun with Elliot and my other uni peeps, made this week disappear like a shot. Already can't wait to be back there in a month and for a whole week. Hellooooooo annual leave, you absolute beaut! Other things I'm thankful for this week:

Drunken reunions with old friends

Sambuca flavoured courage to dance like a crazy person

Pints in the sun

 Early morning trains which can get me across the country before midday

My mothership who is willing to wander around moors in the rain on her weekend to help me with the ol' dissertation

Huggles with the boy (who just became an uncle - exciting times!!)

Cinnamon yogurt icing

BBC iplayer

Summer planning

The excitement of next summer's cruise (ahhhhh!)

Making new friends

Living next to the sea

BEDM Catch Up

This evening I am catching up on two things; Masterchef and the Blog Every Day in May (BEDM) challenge which was started by Jenni over at Story of my Life. She's devised a post topic for every day of the month which I thought this was an epic idea and apparently so do hundreds of bloggers who have joined the challenge. So I'm joining the masses. However, because I was away this bank holiday weekend having joyous times with the Boy in Aberystwyth I'm now having to do this quick catch-up for the last week of posts. Here goes!

Day One: The story of your life in 250 words.
Once upon a time a baby girl called Holly was born. She may have looked like a boy for the first two years of life but believe me she is definitely a she. Cut to two years old - see, lovely curly hair...wait, is that ginger!? This shy little girl with a ginger afro grew up in the middle of nowhere, North Wales and spent her days running around the woods with her family dogs and her imaginary friend Dan. Don't worry, I did have real life friends too. My family and I moved to a town in North East England when I was 10 and this really helped me grow out of being such a massive scaredy-cat. I was one of those freaks that loved school because of the sense of achievement that went with it. Naturally I then went to university where I study Physical Geography. I chose Aberystwyth university because going to the university open day felt like going home, and I'm so glad I did; I've met some amazing friends, a charming bearded man, and had some unforgettable experiences. Last year I took a break from university and currently live in Lancaster working in the environmental research sector with three months left until I return to Aberystwyth to finish what I started. And I can't wait!
N.B. Alas, Dan moved to Australia, and my hair is no longer an afro.

Day Two: Educate us on something you know a lot about.
I'm a student. Therefore I go out and get drunk! write essays. Here are 20 fool-proof steps for how to write a successful essay in perfect student style:
1. Procrastinate. You have ages until the deadline.
2. Ok, so your essay is due in 24 hours. You took step 1 to perfection, as every student is guilty of doing.
3. Go to the shop and spend too much money on a mountain of essay snacks. The mountain should not include anything remotely healthy.
4. Clean your room. You can't possibly work in a messy environment (sneaky further procrastination disguised as a useful task).
5. Take a deep breathe. Now write the essay title.
6. Climb into bed and cry.
7. Eat handfuls of the snack mountain with one hand whilst typing with the other hand. Optimal productivity. Boom!
8. Post a facebook status to tell the world you've achieved 100 words. Only 4900 words to go.
9. Re-read the 100 words. They are awful, delete them.
10. Write, write, write. Don't even think about it, its just word vomit but at least words are happening.
11. It's 2am. Take a Pro-Plus tablet. Run around the house like a crazy person because you're suddenly  so hyperactive. When this essay is done let's take over the world!! Woooooooooo!
12. Half way through. Major caffeine and sugar come down. When this essay is done let's quit university!! Boooooooooo!
13. Dawn. Only a few hours left until the deadline and 1000 words left to write. Waste valuable time stalking people on facebook that you haven't spoken to since primary school.
14. Done! Proof read it with your eyes closed because you're so tried. It reads perfectly, no mistakes. Excellent.
15. Press print. Error message: your printer is out of ink. Scream. Bribe a flatmate to use his printer in exchange for bacon.
16. Queue for a million years in a line of similarly haggard looking folk to hand in your essay 2 minutes before the deadline.
17. Eat a fry up.
18. Sleep.
19. Go out and get drunk.
20. What's that? You've got another essay due in?...(see step 1)

Day Three: Things that make you uncomfortable.
I know I'm a chronic worrier but I wouldn't say much makes me uncomfortable as such. These are a few things I can think of off the top of my head:
- People who make very intense eye contact during conversation.
- People who over-share.
- Peeing in the wild.
- Being forced into making quick decisions.
- Making phone calls to people I've never met. This was why email and texting was invented.
- Insects. The sights of creepy crawlies literally makes me itch all over.
- Arguments.
- Public speaking. The worst thing EVER!

Day Four: Favourite quote.

I saw this quote by Maya Angelou, the American author and poet, several years ago and for some reason it struck a chord with me. Although there are countless incredible quotes I could refer to here, this one instantly popped into my mind. I just think its a fantastic quote which really jolts you into thinking optimistically about whatever challenges you're up against. Sure, life is a bitch but I'm going to be this awesome young girl Angelou talks about and kick some serious butt! Who doesn't want to be that girl?! Google Maya Angelou - she's come out with some amazingly inspirational quotes in her time.

Day Five: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends or a real-life friend.
Honestly I don't really have blogger friends. I've only recently started blogging and though there are a few people's blogs that I stalk obsessively, I'm a rubbish human being and don't leave that many comments. Subsequently, I can't really answer this question in respect to blogger bezzie mates. Real life friends I'm better at. I'm one of these people who prefer to have a small number of very close friends. Moving around between Hexham where I grew up, university in Aberystwyth and working in Lancaster, I've got a few close friends in each place. So, huge shout out to:
My Hexham peeps: Rosie, Bryony, Kate and Jill.
My Lancaster girlies: Laura, Chloe, Lizzie and Fran. And my 'homeboys' James and Theo.
My uni crew: Elliot, Mike, Melissa. And the rest of you.
Love y'all.

Day Six: If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question 'what do you do?'
I eat.
I pray.
I love.
(sorry, this question required too much thought at such a late hour)

Day Seven: The thing(s) you are most afraid of.
I'm sure I share my biggest fear with almost everyone; losing the one's you love. Living without my loved ones is unimaginable, it scares me to even try. Other big thing that scares me is the future. This includes everything from 10 years in the future down to tomorrow. I like to be uber prepared and organised but the future is full of the unknown and unanswerable questions. Still, the thought of the future, and being in control of where it takes me, excites me enough to (mostly) overcome the fear and to just to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Day Eight: A piece of advice you have for others.
The piece of advice that instantly comes to mind is to just do it. Whatever 'it' may be. You maybe have hopes and dreams which seem unattainable right now. I can almost guarantee they are not if you deal with whatever it is that is stopping you. Things can be scary. Things don't get handed to you on a plate, you've got to work and work hard to get places. But...just do it.

When I decided to go for a year in industry away from university I was terrified. How was I even going to find a job? And if I found one I won't know anyone there, and by the time I get back to Aberystwyth everyone I know will have graduated. I'd never had a job in my life; what if I failed miserably in the real world? But I did it. And I would go back and do exactly the same again, regardless of how difficult it's been at times. Because in 10 years time I could have my perfect job because of the experience I've gained in this year, and regardless its made me into a much more well-rounded person. Having doubts about something similar? My advice; just do it!

So sorry these answers are rushed but I wanted to get caught up. I'll try and make future BEDM posts a bit more interesting but I'm never one to leave a job half done, or in this case start a job half way through. Make sure to zoom on over to Jenni's blog and see all the others that are taking part in the challenge, and then join in!

Meat-Free Monday #1 - Roasted Vegetable Couscous

Thank you world, for our house and lives are once again blessed by internet connection! I hate to hashtag but its just so appropriate...#firstworldproblems (sorry, sorry!). Seriously, I don't know how the developing world live without the joys of Google chrome at their fingertips.

Anyway, I've decided to get some more regular blog features on the go because I enjoy writing the Thankful Thursday posts so much; its something to look forward to each week and its also great if I'm ever a bit stuck for something to blog about. I thought I'd maybe try out a few ideas but posting weekly on a theme which will last a month and then I will change to a different theme. This way I get to try out a few ideas to see what comes most naturally, what I enjoy writing about and what you guys enjoy seeing on the blog (please feel free to write comments on anything I blog about, I love love love reading what you think!).

So to get the ball rolling, I thought I'd make this month Meat-Free Monday May. Every Monday in May I'm going to cook a vegetarian dinner and share it with you all. I came up with this plan when I realised how much I've cut down on my intake of meat in the past few weeks. My housemate is a vegetarian and, although I don't think I could ever give up all meat products forever as he has, seeing him cook has definitely inspired me to try out new meat-free recipes, simply because when he cooks it just looks and smells so yummy. For example, he made this butternut squash casserole and I copied him and now make it quite regularly. I'd never used butternut squash before I made this casserole and its safe to say I am now an butternut squash fangirl. Eating less meat recently has definitely saved me money and made my meals healthier, and I've come to realise than a vegetarian meal doesn't necessarily equate to rabbit food. I really want to continue to enjoy trying new meat-free meals and hopefully Meat-Free Mondays throughout May will encourage me to carry on.

So this first week I've made roasted vegetable couscous. It really is the easiest thing in the world to make and that's because I didn't have the opportunity to go shopping for ingredients for a planned meal. so I just grabbed a few veggies out the fridge and got down to chopping. I chose to use sweet potatoes, red bell pepper, courgettes and butternut squash. You could add pretty much any vegetables which are suitable for roasting; other goods ones include red onion, aubergine, and tomatoes.

Once chopped I simply placed these all together in a roasting tin and drizzled liberally with olive oil before popping them in the oven which I had preheated to a high temperature. Depending on which veggies you are using you might want to put those which take longest to roast in the oven first and add the others later but, to be honest, I couldn't be bothered with such organisational skills.

This recipe is great for if you have something else to be getting on with as now all you have to do is wait for about half an hour until they are roasted to your liking. I had nothing really to be doing though so I read my book and grabbed some doggy love.

Just as the vegetables were starting to look yum-tastic I sorted out the couscous (the food so nice they named it twice!). Simply add boiling water, stir, wait 5 minutes and then fluff up with a fork. And voila!

It might not look it from the picture but this meal was very filling, and most importantly delicious. I would definitely make this again on an evening when I am running low either on ingredients or time.

Any one got any ideas for some other vegetarian dishes I could try out next Monday? Until then, I challenge all the meat eaters out there to try a new meat-free meal this week. Be sure to comment below and let me know if you do!!

Thankful Thursday

No dear readers, I am no idiot, I do know it is Friday. Buuuut I have no internet at home still and so am posting this on a day late now I am in Aberystwyth for the weekend and able to use the boyfriend's internet to my heart's content. Or when he's not looking and I can run away to a dark corner with his laptop anyway...

At the moment I’m sitting in glorious sunshine with the promise of an epic bank holiday weekend just round the corner and feeling pretty content with life, so it shouldn’t be too hard to list the things that I’m feeling thankful for this week.

Crusty bread.

Sunshine.

Free wifi in pubs.

A giant bar of Aero after a hard day of fieldwork.

The huge number of flexi-time I’ve accumulated. Hello days off!

The delicious being that is gravy.

Boyfriends who carry all the heavy stuff when you move house.

No exams next summer. Hooray for coursework assessed modules!

My legs are finally getting shapely and muscly again.

M&S flatbread sandwiches.

Lazy Sundays on the sofa.

The attractiveness that is Robert Downey Jr.

Orange Wednesday deals at the cinema.

The look of joy on people's faces when you surprise them.

The beauty of the Welsh coast.

Morgan's sandwiches.

Quick update of what I’ve been up to since my last Thursday post. I’ve moved house but just to another further down the same street. I had a cute little Lancaster weekend with the boy. We had a small house warming party. I’ve seen all three of the Iron Man films and developed a love for Robert Downey Jr’s face. I’ve hiked up Great Dun Fell to take photographs of grass for my dissertation (I wish the dissertation was marked on effort, that walk knackered my legs!). I saw a snake close-up in the wild for the first time. I made a name for myself in Wetherspoons as the person who buys a pint of coke and makes it last three hours while I steal their internet because ours isn’t connected yet. I chose my modules for next year at university. I booked my holiday for next summer I finish uni, helloooooooo Mediterranean cruise!! I travelled to Aberystwyth for the bank holiday weekend as a surprise for the boy.

Pretty awesome fortnight. What have you guys all been up to? I miss unlimited access to Bloglovin so I can stalk you read what you are all doing.

Looking into growing a mustache. What do you guys reckon?

Why yes, I am slightly crazy...

30 Ways To Save The £'s

To celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the £1 coin, moneysupermarket.com is running a competition for bloggers to share their 30 ways of saving money. You can see details of how to enter the competition here. A winner will be picked randomly when 1000 entries have been submitted so get cracking on your own 30 money saving ideas!

This competition has come at a very appropriate time because I am about to start saving my ass off! I’ve just booked to go on a Mediterranean cruise with the boyfriend’s family next summer which should be a great celebration for the end of my university finals. Exciting times! However, this holiday isn’t going to be in any way cheap and I’m aiming to save as much money as possible between then and now so it doesn’t cripple my car fund too badly. And, to be honest, going back to university next year after my placement finishes will probably be a massive shock to the ol’ bank account; I’ve got way too used to having money when I want it. I need to get back into the student mind set, the mind set of a cheap-skate. So I’ve put together 30 ways to save money when you’re a student.

1.  Don’t go food shopping on an empty stomach

2.  When things you buy regularly are on offer, buy them in bulk

3. Make a list before you go shopping. And then stick to it

4.  Swap items like DVDs, books and clothes with your friends instead of buying brand new

5.  Sell old course books to the new influx of students

6.  Have a pot to add small change to, it can build up surprisingly quickly

7. Shop around for the best student bank account deals. Mine came with a free young person’s railcard 
which is renewed for every year I am a student. It must have saved me hundreds of pounds in the last two years

8. Don’t be a snob about supermarket own brands. Asda chopped tomatoes wont taste any different from Circo when it’s in a chilli con carne

9. Eat less meat. You’re save money, save carbon and stay healthy

10. Use discount cards, loyalty cards and vouchers

11. Ask for student discount whenever you pay for anything, more places take money off student purchases then you might think

12. Invite friends round for tea. Cooking together and sharing the cost works out much cheaper than buying and cooking for one, as well as making a fun night in

13. Use the washing line rather than the drier. One load every week for one year at university can cost £50.

14. Make a packed lunch. Buying lunch on campus each day can cost more than an entire week’s worth of packed lunches

15. Get a library card rather than buying books

16. Use iplayer and 4od rather than forking out for a TV license

17. Use cash to pay for items rather than card, it’s easier to keep track of

18. Stick to the allowance on your phone contract. The charges once you go over the limit can be extortionate

19. Take advantage of society and club taster sessions and introductory socials before you pay membership

20. Make the most of early bird and weekday deals when eating out or getting a takeaway

21. Use Orange Wednesdays. Use and abuse any friends that are on Orange if you’re not

22. Cold? Don’t turn the heating on. Wear a jumper. And then man up.

23. Make gifts for people’s birthdays and Christmas. Everyone loves homemade cake and it’s so much more personal

24. Make a motivational wall. When I was saving up to go to New Zealand I got a big map of New Zealand, marked out the route we planned to travel and tacked it up on the back of my door. Every time I was about to leave to go on a midnight Spar run for chocolate supplies it reminded me that maybe my pennies could be kept for better purposes

25. Walk to lectures. Yes, it may be up a hill but just think how you will also save money on not needing to go to the gym later now either

26. Make Friday nights in the new thing. A film, a girl friend and a bottle of wine. Bliss.

27. Ok, so you need to go out? Pre-drinks rather than headed straight to a bar can save a bomb

28. Break expensive habits. Smoking, for example, is a financially crippling habit. And also a grim habit, in my opinion

29. Look after your body. Dentist bills and prescriptions are really costly

30. Bored? Get into the outdoors. Its beautiful and totally free!

Posting your own 30 ways of saving money? Share a link below in the comments so we can all look at each others and get even more ideas!