Showing posts with label Ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ideas. Show all posts

Wednesday, 16 December 2015

Blogmas - Day 14 - My List of 'Things To Do This Christmas'


Source: WeHeartIt

As the years go on the list does indeed get smaller and smaller in ways of the list not subjecting around materialistic things but better quality things such as spending time with family.

But each item on our list, we treasure it dearly.

- Getting my hair done with Mum, for the holidays and for her Anniversary meal with Dad. Since my brother and I are both now away from home, mum and dad wanted for us to spend the time together.

- Decorate my room. Even though my room is filled will fairy lights and tea candles I'm going ro attempt if I can fit any more. Finally I will be sticking up my glow in the dark stars that my cousin so kindly gave to me.

- Go to my Mums Christmas Carol Service in Church. It'll be nice to listen for a change and not take part. I do enjoying listening to music without singing along. I prefer other peoples voices to my own.

- Walks in the night. Only if it's a starry night. I just miss going for walks in the dark, where all you have is the moonlight to guide you. Night time walks are very special to me. I've been doing it, walking the same route, the block is what we call it where I live, ever since I was 9. I used to go with my aunt, sometimes the two if the other were home from England, and we'd chat while walking. Coming back home, Grannys house, we would come in absolutely freezing running for our cups of tea and sitting next to Gran, either ready to say the rosary or watch the news.

- I may be 22 but on my list is laying in bed with mum watching Coronation Street. I may be too old for cuddles, but I will always be her daughter and she my mother/ big sister heehee. Love is unconditional so when people sneer and think that 'you should act your age' I think it's quite silly really. As a baby I'd only ever want to go into bed with mum cos she was always so warm.... using her as a hot water bottle people haha. Nah but I always prefer to sleep next to someone knowing that I'm not alone. Having no boyfriend really can be the saddest of times.... *sigh*

- Watching movies with the family. I usually take my seat on the rug with my hot chocolate next to fire, like a cat. I always like hearing Dad telling me facts about the movie. Mum just smiles, having no idea what's going on, or in any case what movie is being played. We do spend a lot of time together in our family. Alone time over here is a necessity but when I'm with my family not so much. Growing up with Gran I never had alone time, she was always there. But I still did the things I wanted with her being there, was very much in my comfort zone.

- Dressing up. In England, I surprisingly don't get dressed up as much I used to when I was back living in London. Being here I'm always wearing a uniform. And the nursing uniform is the most uncomfortable, unflattering thing in the world! It's like wearing cardboard!
In Ireland, I'm always on the road. So it's nice to get dressed and feel like a girl for a change. Instead of being someone invisible in a uniform or a tracksuit and hoodie.

- Staying in bed all day. Today I woke up naturally at 1pm. No more stress you see from Uni, so I really did catch up on my sleep. And the bed I have here has my back in such bad aches. The bed I have back in Ireland may not be the comfiest but it's a lot better for my already messed up back.

- Wearing cuddly, cosy jumpers. I love them! The more old fashioned and quirky they are, the better.

- Going to my friends 21st. Even though we'll only be separated 10 days we'll still have to see each other. It'll be nice to meet her sister and family properly. We're all acquainted on Facebook and Skype calls but it'll be nice waking up in the house and seeing how my friends life usually is in Ireland.

- Playing my music as loud as I want in my house. My friends over here already know I'm odd. They say that because I have different, weird tastes in music and movies and yes my favourite food is just plain food. After all I was brought up with a Granny who would feed me a half plate of burnt whatever and I LOVED IT!! If you grow up with it, you'll love it. So as soon as I get home, the following morning, I'll be banging on the piano keys and singing alone with Puccini and Jennifer Hudson. Hey, they're too darn loud for singing along to with the neighbours... and plus the house-mates really don't stay away. They just walk in and expect a show of some sorts.

- Watch Downton Abbey Season 6 with my brother. Unlike me and my Dad who watch it every week, my brother waits to watch it all with me, all before the Christmas Special. So I will not be forgetting to bring over the DVD. Trés important!

- Take a piece of straw from the crib at church. We always do this in my family. Gran would always feel as though little baby Jesus would be welcomed in our house. So this year I'll take it to her grave and lay it beside her.

- Visit my grand-parents and great-grand-parents graves. I usually prefer to do it alone so I can chat to them. More so with Granny. I tell her what's been going on with my life in Canterbury. Who I've met, what I think of them. What my worries are, what I'm excited about for the future. Of course there's tears but I feel better thinking even though she's not in my life realistically any more, she can still be with me on my journey. I'll tell her about my first relationship, about the hardest losses I've faced with being a nurse, my first kid, my first house. You always feel as though the loved ones in your life will be there for your life changing events. 

- Make butternut squash soup. I've just been craving it for a long time now. And it s after all my favourite soup. Pumpkin is tasty with it as well and carrot, but I'll stick to having it plain with some lovely soda bread.

- Re-watch some of my favourite boxsets. My friend said that I am the only person she knows who collects boxsets of different genres, with tv shows and movies. If it is only a show that I love then I'll buy the collection. I just fall in love with the characters, wanting to be them, wanting to be in the directors mind, the costume designers minds, the composers minds. I do get disappointed sometimes thinking that my life will never live up to a movie. That it'll be predictable. My reasons for loving fantasy and sci-fy is simply because I believe in that little bit of magic.

- Shopping with mum in the winter sales. If I am wanting a new coat and if it is perfect that's my day made. That and sitting in a café with mum while people watching. Trying to suss out what peoples lives are like and admiring peoples outfits. Hey we're nosy but it's fun!

- Spend some catch up time with friends. See a movie, eat something maybe and chat, chat, chat.

- Watch the new Star Wars and Daddys Home movie with my brother and dad. I really need a laugh this Christmas and Will Farrell never fails!

Just think that tomorrow is my last day here in Kent... Hey I love it, but eating, living and walking with the same people can be exhausting. My flight is at like 9pm on Thursday and me and my Irish lassies are heading to the airport like 6 hours early. Firstly, because of the security over here, don't want delays or stress. Secondly, we're going to shop around in the airport and have some food and drinks. And lastly, we're just too freaking excited!!

Thanks for reading my little elves x





Saturday, 5 December 2015

Blogmas - Day 4 - Secret Santa Christmas Gift Ideas


Source: Etsy

Etsy

These beautiful gems I recently bought for my housemate (for Secret Santa) from Etsy. The problem with Secret Santa is that for certain people you would know well what to buy them, mine was quite difficult. In the end if she doesn't like the gifts she could give them to her sister or mum. Not a total loss.

But I have come up with an idea. Something of which I'd like... not so sure about my housemate.... sure we'll see on the 14th of December, the day we have our Christmas dinner and open our gifts.

Onto the gifts....

I bought a medium sized blue glittery box for all of the gifts to go inside. I also bought a long white lace strip of snowflakes, so that will be stuck around the box to add a little more Christmas dazzle to it. Not forgetting the silver bow on top... duh!

Inside, stuck to the lid of the box will be a note to my housemate.

"Nurse's Survival Kit.... Especially for you.
+ Sweets (fudge freshly made from a shop in Canterbury town) - to give you energy.

+ Candles [3] (oyster filled turquoise soy wax candles in rose and vanilla scents) - your smiling face lights up the room.

+ Matchsticks - to keep your eyes open from working the night shift.

+ Teabag - relax and put your feet up with a cuppa.

+ Coffee - to keep you awake during long shifts.

+ Marbles - to replace the ones you have lost.

+ Elastic band - for when you are stretched to your limits.

+ Safety pin - because you keep your patients safe.

+ Wooden plaque - a sign that your heading down the right route.

+ Oyster (used to hold jewellery) - You can do anything you want - the world is your oyster."

Let me know what ideas you have. Opened to anything really.


Monday, 16 June 2014

30 Day Snap #15 | Check-lists & a Yankee candle farewell!


Hello all,

Yesterdays Snap collage involved a day of making my usual check-list for the week and of also planning out a list of needs & wants for my returning to Ireland.
I felt peckish before heading off to work, so I had a cup of tea and a Mr. Kipling's lemon slice. I also had the misfortune of saying goodbye to my Yankee candle. Don't laugh, it was a very emotional time for me! The flame going out and me silently screaming, "Noooooooooooo!"

I'm making plans already for home, I'm just going over and over in my head in what to bring. Deep down I'm excited but I'm trying not to show it so much. My brother tells me not to raise my expectations, that I could become easily disappointed if anything bad happened. Thanks for cheering me up Aran!

Ooooh, that reminds me. I need to make a list of what to do while I'm on holidays in Scotland. I already have a Harry Potter related list for Edinburgh, thanks to my very good friend Peachy.

Do you find that writing a check-list helps you? I myself like to have it colour coded, making it more personal and creative.

Thanks for reading sheep peeps,


Tuesday, 6 May 2014

My 1st Bloganniversary (5th May)


 "I want to thank my Mom, my dad, my pet rabbit Robert, the gardener-------" *Exaggerated crying with a microphone*

Well guys it's actually been a full year since I wrote my 1st blog. I can remember that day so well. My friend Edel had urged me to start one *real lame attempt of a cowgirl* and boooooy was she right!

Life has changed so much since last May. I was living in Galway, in the west of Ireland and I was in a course that was full of lads (nothing bad there every girl says). But since September I've been living in England in a class full of girls. Slight bit of a difference.


What do I enjoy most about blogging?
I have gotten on so well with many different bloggers from all over the world. Each having something about themselves that I can relate to. Lifestyle, beauty & fashion, even travel. I've taken my blog as a diary. I do write a journal but difference with a blog is people get to read it (scary somewhat)

Since September I've only been putting up posts that I know will suffice. But now it's been a year and I realise I have a lot to catch up on. I have two more assignments to finish. And hopefully I will REALLY PUSH MYSELF! To start some new exciting blog posts. My inspiration comes from the amazing bloggers I follow. I've seen their confidence soar and this gives me so much joy in how much they've accomplished with themselves.


What's next for 'The Giggles of Life'?

Well I've been thinking of some ideas, but please, any of you that do know me and have a sense in what interests I have, please let me know :)

Monthly favourites:
I had infact given this a chance last September but wasn't sure how confident I was with it. So maybe I'll be willing to give it another go.

Sit down Saturday:
This was only an idea I thought of a while back. Once a week, on a Saturday, I could just have a chat with you, on what's on my mind. It could relate to anything, life, fashion/media, movies, books, whatever it is I'll be looking for ideas on what to discuss.

Season style Album:
I LOVE fashion and beauty, so it only makes sense that I combine the two together and organise a post series with it. Each season I would give you a few examples into the outfits that I would wear.


Advice for new bloggers?
 - Relax and be yourself. Don't try to be like some blogger you idolise. You want people to relate to you not BE you!
- Keep to a consistent plan on when to publish your posts. Trust me on this. This is the only way on getting people to follow your blog. This allows them to know that you're not a waste of time, that you will write posts on a weekly/monthly basis.
- Add your original touch to it. You want your blog to be eye catching whether in the photos or in your writing style.
- Connect with others. This can easily be done with emails, twitter, instagram, pinterest, etc. It's a great way in advertising your blog and reaching out to people that you never expected to speak to. People that have the same interests you do or are going through similar difficulties that you are facing.

What I got up to
So on the day of my actual bloganniversay, it was a bank holiday so what best to do than to take a brisk walk in the sunshine.
I never knew there were little woodland pathways right beside where I live. So I have no reason to say no to jogging anymore. I dislike jogging with my headphones in, with being so close to the main road you see.
So from now I have a lovely quiet area to go to.


Today, I had a lovely morning with walking through the park, lighting a few candles in church, getting my free cappocino in Waitrose with a fruit salad and then meeting my lovely Peachy pal for some breakfast. We got ourselves some pastries to bring along with us to College. I myself chose a cinnamon danish twist, Mmmmm, tasty and well Peachy chose some paracetamol with her chocolate, hazelnut croissant, strange combo I must say.

I spent the day laughing mostly. Firstly, there was a fire alarm. I was packing away my things in the library, with the librarian telling me it wasn't a drill, Haahaa! I decided to leave my work (not fully finished yet, due in today) hoping that if there was a fire it would shrivel up and be gone forever. No need for the whole 'my fish ate my homework' excuse... fish, dog, whatever!
I then bought myself a little cupcake for my little special occasion on celebrating my 1st bloganniversary.

After legging it out with my friends from College, hiding from a certain tutor (not in the least way bothered to finish her work) I got home to organise some wonderful flights. Yes that's right Mauritius was simply not enough. What could be better than 3 weeks in Mauritius, I'll tell you, 22 hours in Dublin, along with 5 days in Edinburgh.

 These plans may sound silly/daft/WHAT THE HELL LIKE! but I just want to step on Ireland soil again and kiss the ground. So, silly plan being, on the 24th of June I will be going to Dublin, staying the night with my Dad in the Capitol, have my Mum, brother Aran and bestest pal Edel meet us the next day to go to the airport AGAIN! Reason being, that we will ALL be traveling to Edinburgh to visit by grand-parents, aunts and cousin. It will be 5 days of awesome and plus I get to practice my Scottish accent again.

I chose this silly way of getting to Edinburgh because the funny thing is, the plane ticket to Dublin and there, is cheaper than the train ticket from London.

What a year guys.
I hope that I have scared you a little with my weirdness. That way I make great friends.

Thank you all to everyone that has followed my blog up until now, I will try my best to keep you interested and entertained.

Love you all lots and lots like jelly tots,