August Round Up

I wrote a huge post on my way into work this morning but it didn't save :'(

August is over!  It flew by! We're heading into the last few months of the year, and Christmas is on its way. It's official. I saw christmas stuff in shops last weekend. Now I'm just waiting on the CocaCola advert.
August felt really busy, there was a lot going on!

August summary:
Week 1:
The month kicked off on a weekend, with a pool party at a friends house. It was not pool party weather, but we did it anyway. Typical me ended up with an awful cold afterwards. It was my brother's birthday at the beginning of the month, so I spent time with family having a take away and watching films. Good times!
The weekend was well recieved. I spent time with the usual suspects, went for a walk and hung out with some friends.

Week 2:
Work was busy, as usual! By Thursday I was more than ready to head down to Pip's for her birthday. Had a really busy weekend: party no. 1, go karting, party no. 2, riding, running, and a day shopping and sightseeing in London before heading home. I was exhausted!

Week 3:
Woo bank holiday weekend! I was really hoping for a nice relaxed weekend, but of course, that wasn't the case. I had a whole load of stuff to get done on saturday, including cleaning my bike with the intention of cycling to the train station for work. I also had to bleach sisterbell's hair as she had been bugging me to do it for a little while...I was also pulled into an impromptu shopping trip, which was tiring! Then there was a house party, which I was designated driver for... ended up staying up super late and dropping a couple of people home. I was glad to be home on Sunday night - after a cinema trip. I was looking forward to relaxing on the Monday, and I took sisterbell into town so she could pick up some running kit, and I could grab a cycling helmet. Of course that turned into a massive fail, as this is when the neck incident occurred. Ouch.

Week 4:
Great start to the week, couldn't move, couldn't work and went to A&E. Awesome. Ended up being off work until Friday, when I went in armed with the tablets I was prescribed at A&E. By that point my neck was starting to feel a bit better. (Yay!)
MrBoop and I were house sitting for a friend on friday night, then headed out on another imprpmptu shopping trip on saturday. Back to the friends house we house-sat the night before, for a gigantic barbeque. By gigantic I mean lots of food. Seriously, loads. That was our last hurrah to summer. I finally got a chance to relax on Sunday.

Goodbye August!

Hello September...

Bestie Birthday Wishes

Good afternoon one and all. 

Today is my BFF's birthday, I'm heading over to Pip's after work, for a weekend of awesomeness. There will be cake, presents and good times. And alcohol.

To Pip, 

I hope you enjoy your day (and evening)!

Enjoy the attention ;)

Happy Birthday

Love you!

And just because I can, here's some wonderful images I've been collecting...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

<3

The Place That Made My Head Explode

I am of course referring to the Harry Potter Studios in London.

Warning! Spoiler alert. Do not read ahead if you haven't been and are planning to go!

For my birthday Mr boyfriend procured tickets for us to go there, accompanied by my bestie miss Roanrider and her dashing other half. I can't tell you how much I was looking forward to this. It's beyond words.

Oh, and did I mention it was also animal actors week?

The first thing we did was explore the gift shop. I was spoilt by everyone and received a super snuggly Ravenclaw hoodie, a HP tshirt, and a Deathly Hallows keyring. Thank you, you guys are the best! 

Where it all began...

When we went in, you go into a room and watch a video, and the staff interact with you and give out birthday badges (of course I HAD to have it). Then you move into another room that is like a cinema, and Pips dragged us to the front row (her and Mr M had been before so knew what to expect). I am so glad they did. Long story short-and this is a SUPER SPOILER ALERT-after watching a short film with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint stood in front of the great Hall doors introducing the studio tour, the screen raises and reveals the real doors to the Great Hall!!! Aaaaaaah I nearly cried it was so awesome!! And it gets better, being in the front row and wearing a birthday badge, I was picked to open the doors. Yepp. Me. Out of a group of approx 40 people, I got to open the doors to the Great Hall! And they really do open into the great Hall. I was so happy, you have no idea. Even thinking about it now makes me unbelievably happy! I am in no way like a small child in describing this...

Don't They Look Glorious?

The Harry potter studio tour is spread over 2 studios, with an outside part between the two. (This is where the Butterbeer lives!) Seeing all of the costumes, sets, special effects and props was really surreal. I felt like I wanted to touch everything and see how it all worked, but at the same time hide it away so the magic wasn't ruined...

The animals were adorable, we saw Mrs Norris, Trevor, a baby Fang, Tarantula, the spuders Mad Eye uses in his DADA class, a hedgehog, the snake that Nagini was based on (a beautiful albino python), Crookshanks and a baby Crookshanks, and last but certainly not least, Hedwig.

The Butterbeer was loooovely. Though if you are not fond of sweet things I do not suggest having it...It's like cream soda, caramel sauce and foam. To be perfectly honest, it's not exactly what I imagined it to be when reading the books, but it was still yummy nonetheless!

I really enjoyed wandering around looking at everything, and going more than a little snap crazy... and I would recommend going to any HP fan. I could literally ramble on forever about this trip, but I had better stop myself now before it's too late...

But before I go...Oh my god...the last part of the tour...I was literally speechless. I had no words. I teared up yet again. I just...I cant even explain, you'll have to go there to see but just...wow. 

More pictures! I'm trying to refrain from posting all of them...there are a lot.

More than a little creepy, but so amazing!

Thanks for reading :) x

P.S. I know some of my pictures aren't amazing, however I don't want to post too much incase one of you lovely readers ends up going! 

Birthday Post

I am now 22. My birthday was on the 12th Feb (last Wednesday) and I really did not do a lot for it. I was sick as a...sick thing. So I was off work and bored out of my mind! The day was not very eventful, everyone was away at work\school so I pretty much just chilled out all day feeling ill.

The 12th Feb also happens to be the anniversary of when me and my wonderful boyfriend got together. This year is the 5 year mark, wows. So, being a wonderful boyfriend, A came over with a bunch of red roses just for me :) we hung out for a couple of hours watching TV, then he headed home.

Once my family were all back, we had my takeaway of choice (chicken kebabs) and watched Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters. Then FINALLY it was time for cake and presents. My dad made my birthday cake, it was yuuummyy.

I received some lovely cards and presents, the two main presents were a Nexus 7 from the best boyfriend ever, and a SatNav from my parents-sounds a bit random, but this is an awesome present because I am currently doing driving lessons and I would have been looking to get one in a couple of months anyway! Thanks mum and dad :)

At the weekend me and le boyfriend went to see Matilda the musical, enjoyed it sooo much! I would recommend seeing it. On Saturday I went for a meal with some friends at Chimichanga on Saturday night. On Sunday I went on a hike to train for BenNevis. You can read about my hike soon on here: BekBek

As of now I'm still ill, and hoping to fell better ASAP. I've had a great weekend and enjoyed my birthday despite feeling unwell.

Here's hoping for a good week of work, gym and getting back to normality!

My Christmas

I've seen lots of blogging about Christmas routines and whatnot, so I figured why not!

Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is my sister's birthday. We always try to make it special for her, so she doesn't get over-shadowed by Christmas too much! We do her presents in the morning, then spend the day playing with/using them. This year her main present was a blue violin, which she was extremely pleased with! Consequently we spent the day learning to play it! Later on she had her choice of take away-Chinese. In previous years we would go to the panto, but as sisterbell got older and tickets harder to get, we stopped going. (Which is a shame as I love a bit of panto!) in the evening we have family movie time, which is usually a new film on Filmflex that none of has seen yet. And, of course, this is accompanied by nibbles!

Christmas Day

Christmas morning I get woken up by my sister super early. It's a Christmas tradition from when we were all really small to open our stockings together. We used to do this with our parents as well, but as we got a bit older me and my siblings convene in one of our bedrooms and do it (so my parents can sleep for a little bit longer!!). My brother doesn't do this with us anymore (he prefers sleeping too) so it's just K and me. As we share a bedroom I don't get a choice in the matter! Once this is done, We sneak downstairs to see what Santa has brought during the night, and make tea to wake up the parentals with. usually. This year K couldn't wait so she went to wake them up before going downstairs. This year we did presents before breakfast, K passed the pressies out and we watched each other open them. then we had a lovely continental breakfast. Super yum! 

During the day we explore our presents and use/play with them, and pop on some Christmas TV or films. I also help with the Christmas dinner (sometimes!). Christmas dinner kicks off with crackers, jokes and paper hats. Then we eat to our hearts content! Afterwards we clean up, and have some yummy dessert-this year it was chocolate Birthday cake! One of my favorite Christmas things is having cheese and biscuits with my Dad. It's something we only ever do at Christmas, and I'm a huge cheese lover. 

In the evening it's time for boards games and movies, usually another new movie from Filmflex! with, of course, lots of nibbles! 

That more or less rounds off my christmas. It may not sound like much, but I love it all the same! 

P.S. I was very lucky to receive some lovely pressies this year. I got LOTS of socks I love socks, I don't know why ; a dress, top, chocolate, bath  fizzers, a photo calendar, a photo coaster, money, a necklace, makeup, more chocolate...the list goes on. 

I had a lovely Christmas and received some lovely gifts, and I am looking forward to next Christmas already!!