SEASONAL YOGA.

I first started practising yoga a few months ago and I guess I went into it very naively. I just wanted to be more flexible.
I honestly never would've imagined the affect it would have and how much of a part of my life it would become.

26/52

Well here we are. Halfway through the year.

 I am really proud of myself for sticking to this project and I have really enjoyed it so far (and I've only cheated a couple of times!)
The first six months of 2014 have been wonderful. Bring on the next.
 

Wedding Anniversary Weekend

24/52

For the past few weeks, myself and six friends have been doing our own Come Dine With Me.

The concept is simple- to cook a meal for your guests and entertain them for the evening (or get them moderately drunk)

This week we decided to arrive by bicycle. A great idea... until we realised how awful our hire bikes were!

22+1/52

 

Back to normality this week so not much to report.

But I returned from a blissful week in the Spanish sun rejuvenated, refreshed and relaxed (and with some pretty shocking tan lines!)

 

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Today, the 20th of April, is our first wedding anniversary.

It's also Easter Sunday. But this year, Easter has taken a bit of a back seat.

Last week, all four days of it, were spent in anticipation of the long weekend. Mr H and I desperately needed a break. 

This photo pretty much sums up our wedding day- full of fun and smiles, sneaking off for a cheeky kiss, oh and a filthy wedding dress to show for it all!

Love List :: April

A. Breakfast in Bed.

B. This clever little night stand. Genius.

C. These beautifully dreamy rings.

D. Signs of Spring.

E. This sweet vase snug. For those spring flowers, of course.

Blimey, it's April already! This time last year, I was frantically running around putting the finishing touches to the most important day of my life. So, this April, I'm hoping to have a bit of 'me' time.
Our first wedding anniversary falls on Easter Sunday this year, so we're hoping to make the most of it by getting away for a few days.

11/52

Sorry I have been a little distant lately- I'm having a bit of a stressful time at the moment.

But a day at the spa with my mum has sorted me right out!

 

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and managed to get out and enjoy the sunshine?

Back to school... An update!

 

Well, I am half-way through my 10 week photography course... where the heck did those 5 weeks go!? I've already learnt so much but I still have a long  way to go.

 

My one downfall? I just can't seem to find the time to get outside and practice.
But as my lovely Nan would say, "There is no such word as can't!" So I need to start making the time, otherwise I simply won't get anywhere.

This morning, I had a quick look through some photos that I've taken this year... And I must admit, I'm pleased with my progress so far.
I just hope the rain stops soon!

6/52

(Ok, yes I know this week is just a photo my legs- you'll have to bare with me on this...)

 

Mr H 'celebrated' his birthday on Tuesday, but ended up working all evening. So not much fun.

This weekend has been lovely- quiet, restful and calm. And the highlight was stumbling across these beauties.

Love Upcycling- Magazine feature

Back in November, I was asked to feature in a new magazine entitled Love Upcycling- 'a printed magazine full of ideas, projects and inspiring Q&A's to help readers get thrifty and beautify their homes'.
'Coby cushion' illustrates a tip on applique that reuses scraps of fabric and is featured in a list of 33 thrifty tips for upcyclers. Applique is a fab way to use up odd pieces of fabric you've got lying around and it's super easy to do.
The magazine has a really lovely feel and is a brilliant read for anyone who feels a bit thrifty! You can grab a copy at WHSmiths or larger supermarkets.

Rehabilitate.

...to return someone or something to a good or healthy condition, state, or way of living.

 

After reading this post a few weeks ago, I was inspired to make this year a very different one.

Twenty thirteen was a wonderful year (probably the best yet), but it was also a hectic and stressful one.

 

So, my word for 2014 is Rehabilitate.

I've set myself some pretty ambitious goals for this year but all of them are about rejuvenating my life, my loves and my relationships.  

                                                                                                                               

* Explore the UK. Learn to appreciate this amazing and beautiful country we inhabit.
 

* Renovate and restore a 'house' to make it a home. Start a fresh. De-clutter and live a simpler life.

* Give myself space. Realise that it's ok to relax and have some time just for me.
 

* Cherish the time with my family and friends. I cannot take them for granted. Tell them how much I love and appreciate them.
 

* Eat better and look after my body. Breathe deeply. Laugh often. Take a yoga class. Make soup. Give Blood.

* Reignite that creative spark. Take my blog in a new direction. Be inspired and actually do something about it.

4/52

This week, I celebrated my twenty-third birthday. I was thoroughly spoilt and ate far too much cake.

For me, birthdays are about family time- they are the best excuse to get everyone together for a chat and a giggle.

Back to school

…Well college actually. Almost five years (yikes!) after leaving my old college, I am a student there again and it feels like I never left (I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not? I may have regressed slightly...)

After the recent impulse purchase of my swanky new camera, I thought I should probably learn how to use the thing!

So I have enrolled myself on a ten week evening course in photography. It’s actually a course on how to use an SLR but I thought my camera would be up to the challenge.

This week I had my second class. We jumped straight in with apertures, shutter speed and exposure.
There isn't much to show you just yet but I can assure you, I am learning a lot!
I’ll keep you updated and share my newly improved photos with you.

3/52

This week has been one of highs and lows.
Number 7 is now officially on the market, with the first viewing yesterday. It all feels very real now.

We also found our dream house, lost our dream house, then snatched it back again. All in one week.
I'm not getting overly excited just yet- there is still a long way to go. But we are keeping everything crossed for this house.

House hunt.

The hunt for our dream home has officially begun. The first two weekends of the year were spent viewing houses. Six houses to be precise. And I'm pretty sure there will be many more to come!
 

But, in case you were wondering, that does mean we are saying farewell to our beloved number 7. We've simply outgrown our little flat; it's bursting at the seams with all our belongings.

Mr H bought number 7 back in 2008- only a month before we met each other. We've had some wonderful times here and we will be a little sad to let it go.

I'll keep you updated on how our hunt goes and if that dream house comes along...

2/52

A 'healthy' lunch with a very dear friend- we always have loads to catch up on when we see each other but never enough time. She's my go-to-girl when I need some practical advice.

On reflection.

Twenty thirteen has been a darn good year.
But sometimes you don't realise how good a year it's been, until you take a step back and reflect.
And what better time to do it, than in this strange vortex of time between Christmas and New Year, where no one really knows what day it is.

I spent a perfect weekend in Northern Ireland, with my husband to be, to make our wedding bands.
I gave blood three times.
I started a new job, with a lot of future promise.
I spent a whooole lot a time with my family.
I treated myself to a shiny new laptop.
I visited my best friend in Switzerland.
I took up horse riding again.

And best of all, I married my best friend. My one and only.
It doesn't really get much better than that.

Happy New Year to you, one and all.
x

Christmas traditions

We all have our traditions at Christmas time; whether its ones with the entire family or ones you keep for yourself.
I have always always adored our family traditions but they're harder to stick to as I get older. Things change. Kids grow up. People get married. People drift apart. That's life I guess. 

But this year I realised that it's time to make some new ones. 2013 is the first Christmas that Mr H and I will be waking up with each other on Christmas morning. We went back to the place we bought our tree from last year and I'm joining the Hinns' for the Christmas Eve cinema trip.

(However there is one tradition I'd be happy to get rid of... Being ill at Christmas! It happens every single year. So here I am, two days to go until the big day, cuddled under a blanket with a lemsip. Yuck! Oh well, at least it's in my Christmas mug!)

Wedding ring number two.

Well, it was only a matter of time before Mr H 'misplaced' his wedding ring. To be honest, I was quite surprised it lasted as long as it did! But the inevitable happened a few weeks ago, on the way to a wedding reception (yes, ironic I know!)
So it Mairi to the rescue! We very nicely asked if she could make a replacement ring for Mr H and she didn't let us down.