Tuesday 30 March 2010

Fed up with a capital Eff.

So today I feel like shit. Maybe it's because the last few days I've been in a hangover fog... but that's almost gone now and I feel shitty still. I feel really sad and down.

It may be because the venue manager for Vintage Pretty is dicking me around. I called him up to arrange the next date yesterday, and he was either out or too busy. he asked me to call back today. So I just did. One of the first things he said was, "I told you to call back at 3.30". He didn't. So I told him that if he had I obviously would have called at that time. And then on and on and on he went about how busy he was, how he'd just walked in the door, he had meetings... What really got to me was when he said it wasn't a convenient time for him. Erm, well how about me? You think I have all day to call you? I'm at work 9-8pm today, I don't have all the time in the world to try and arrange a date for the fair sorry. I just came off the phone feeling really shitty. Especially as they'd mucked me around on Saturday (telling me that the doors wouldn't be opening until 12pm, even though last time it was 11am and I had put that on all of the flyers and posters. Asking me if we could all get out by 5pm as they had something going on in the room afterwards... I mean we already knew that anyway, but it was like, jeez, want us just to go home now?! And then of course charging us for the bar being open, and then it wasn't. Though luckily I got the additional money back for that one.)

My foul mood could also be helped along by the pure selfishness of people around me. People that only message me to talk about themselves, or to say how they're doing. That's ok, don't ask about me or anything. And then there's the constant disagreeing for the sake of it (if I say it's night, it's clearly day), the 'competing' to be right all of the time, basically acting as if everything I say is dumb and needs correcting straight away.

I'm sorry, I know I sound like a douche, and I'm pure negativity right now... just feel so fed up and disillusioned with things around me. I am also just so sick of struggling with money, when I work my ass off, even in my spare time.

I'll cheer up later, but I'm just gonna wallow for now I guess.

Monday 29 March 2010

Saturday Night

Hangover = quiz.

Still feeling like death.



Had the Chicken pox: yes, twas awful :(
Ever gotten a scar: i have a few
Had a broken nose: no, thank goodness!
Had your tonsils removed?: no
Had ice cream in the morning: when i was younger, i loved sweet stuff in the morning... now, not so much. i must be getting old!
Had to give the heimlich: no
Dated outside your race?: yes
Given a hickey?: hmmm... maybe years and years ago?
Dated your good friend/best friend?: nope
Sung in the shower?: not often
Spit in someone's drink?: eugh, no
Dumped someone?: yes, i was meaner at the age of 17 and under.
Opened your Christmas presents early?: don't think so.
Peed outside?: when i was very very very young!
Seen "The Goonies" more than 10 times?: i'm sure i have.
Had more than five REAL bf/gf?: i would say more like 3
Played a computer game for more than 5 hours?: noooo
Ran through the sprinklers naked?: nope
Ate food that fell on the floor?: of course!
Went outside naked?: not really... maybe as a baby?!
Made out with your best friends bf/gf?: no way jose
Mooned somebody?: nope
Been on stage?: as a kid, for school plays... hated things like that so much :(


Made someone cry?: yes
Been in a parade?: no
Been in a school play?: see above *shudder*
Drank beer?: yes... yuck
Gotten detention?: don't recall so...
Been on a plane?: just a few times
Been on a cruise?: nah, don't like the look of 'em
Broken into a house?: no way!
Gotten a tattoo?: oh yes :)
Gotten piercings?: just a couple
Cried so hard you threw up?: not quite
Gotten into a shouting match?: yes indeed
Been skinny dipping?: nno
Spun yourself in circles to get dizzy on purpose?: as a kid, hehe
Laughed so hard it hurt?: haha, yuss
Tripped on your own feet?: often!
Cried yourself to sleep?: yes
Cried in public?: yep



Thrown up in public?: oh dear, yes :( sambuca again... i never learn!
Lied to your parents?: often, but nothing very major... well, usually
Skipped class?: all the time in sixth form
Slept in class?: no
Would you eat a live hamster for $1,000,000?: vegan.
If you were stuck on an island, what people would you want with : mikee
Do you admire anyone?: my family and my closest friends... and of course people that have come through amqazing struggles and are still good, decent and strong individuals.
Who is the last person that called you: driving instructor
Who was the last person you slow danced with: heidi, very briefly on saturday evening, haha!
What makes you laugh the most: lots of things
What makes you smile: lots
Do you like filling these out: hmmm, not especially... just trying to make time go faster so i can go home and crash out
Do you wear contacts or glasses?: no... though i may book an eye test soon, they're not feeling too great lately
Do you like yourself: yeah mostly, though sometimes i really don't
Do you get along with your family: yes, miss them a lot
Have you stolen anything over $30?: nope. stealing is awful.
Are you obsessive?: very
Are you compulsive?: very

Want to have children?: pleai hope to eventually
Do you like mornings?: once i'm up and out of bed, sure
Do you enjoy seafood?: eugh, no
What are you listening to right now: office type noises (i'm at work)
What makes you happy: lots of things... especially animals
What did you do yesterday: felt like i was dying, heidi and i slept most of the day and then mikee and i took her to the train station for 3.45pm.
Got any awards: never been an award winner kind of gal!
What car do you wish to have: any!
Do you want to get married: asap please :)
If you could change anything about yourself, what would you change: i'd lose this anxiety and come off the tablets
Good driver: not yet, still having lessons!
Good dancer: nahhhh
Good Singer: nope, i just tend to hum
Have a lava lamp: no
How many remote controls are in your house: 3 perhaps?
Are you double jointed: not at all
What do you dream about: strange strange things...
Last time you showered: last night, was much needed!
The last movie you saw at the theatres: wolfman
Scary or happy movies: scary, but i like happy too
Root beer or Dr. Pepper: dr pepper please
Mud or Jell-O wrestling: mmm, neither?
Vanilla or chocolate: vanilla
Skiing or Boarding: neither

Summer or winter: winter
Silver or Gold: gold
Diamond or pearl: neither
Sunset or Sunrise: sunset
Sprite or 7up: neither really
Orange juice or apple juice: orange juice... so refreshing
Cats or dogs: dogs, but i love all animals (cheesy but true!)
Coffee or tea: tea all the way
Phone or in person: don't do phonecalls (except for family)... so, person
Oldest, middle, youngest or only child: youngest
Indoor or Outdoor: indoor
Describe Yourself In One Word: anxious
What's your biggest fear?: dying i think... in all ways, but mainly my loved ones passing.i try not to think it over too much, because i know it happens to us all, and that will never change.
What's your biggest mistake?: staying with my ex for almost 5 years
Your proudest accomplishment:realising i'm a hard worker
#1 Priority in your life: the people i love
Dream job: my own boss,doing something i love
Causes you believe in: lots... but animal rights, always
Special talents: being creative?
Where are you right now?: work
Where would you rather be?: home
Famous person you'd like to meet: not really into 'famous' people... but i think kristen stewart would be cool (sorry sam!)
Place to visit before you die: oooh, i don't know...
Song to be played at your funeral:i'm not sure really
Your good luck charm: don't believe in them really
Best song you ever heard: there's way too many to even know where to start
Stupidest thing you have ever done: stayed with my ex for almost 5 years
What's your room like: messier than i'd like... but the flat needs tidying bigtime after the weekend! if you mean bedroom... a mess... still wanting my dream bed!
Last thing you said: "i think we just had too much" (in regards to heidi and my drinking over the weekend!)
What is beside you: lots of things
What shampoo do you use: anything vegan... preferably a Lush shampoo bar
Something that has happened to you this year: my job has got busier!
Worst thing that has happened to you this year: nothing comes to mind (which i am very thankful for)
Your body type? : skinnier than i was a month or so ago! (totally unintentional i assure you!)
Your skin tone?: pale i guess
Your most missed memory: spending more time with my parents (like when i was living in wolverhampton)
The first thing that comes to mind whhen you hear: florence and the machine: true blood.i cannot imagine 'howl' not put to the video of true blood! i guess i gave florence and the machine more of a listen to when i started adoring true blood!Today's date: 29th march, 2010.
What is the best grade you've ever gotten on an essay: maybe an A?
Your happiest moment?: many
On your feet?: work shoes (i desperately need some new ones though!)
Given anyone a bath: the boys!
Smoked: never
Bungee Jumped: noooo
Made yourself throw-up: when drunk... though it's rarely worked
Gone skinny dipping: naw
Put your tongue on a frozen pole: no,haha
Broken a bone: my hand :S
Played truth or dare: not sure actually
Been in a physical fight: yep!
Been in a police car: no, hate the police so i'm glad i haven't!
Come close to dying: kind of... totally self-inflicted though
Been in a sauna: no
Been in a hot tub: been in an outside jacuzzi if that counts?
Ran away: no
Broken someone's heart: think so :(
Cried when someone died: of course
Flashed someone: no!
Cried in school: must have
Fell off your chair: yep
Sat by the phone all night waiting for a call: pretty much
Saved MSN conversations: nah
Saved e-mails: yuss
Made out with just a friend: nope
Used someone: i think we all use each other at some point, often not even meaning to
Been cheated on?: kind of :(
Done something you regret?: of course!
Stolen Anything: no
Been drunk before noon: don't think so...
Had sex in a public place: nope
Got caught telling a lie: maybe :S i try not to lie though... it's rarely ever right to lie
Got a speeding ticket?: don't drive yet!:p
Littered?: no
Fantasized about a co-worker?: eugh, no
Cheated on a test: nope
Cheated in a relationship?: not in the usual sense... long and painful story and something i would never ever do again. there's no excuse, except that having been with a violent and abusive man for almost 5 years, all love and respect had long gone. i still felt like i was dying inside though.
Failed a class?: i'm sure i have
Screened your phone calls?: not answered them you mean?yep!
Cried during a movie: yuss, most recent one... the lovely bones
Had a one night stand: i had a one day stand... but it wasn't meant to be that way (and he was the one to end it almost immediately after)... not pleasant
Favorite kind of pants: pyjama bottoms! nothing better than getting changed into pj's and chilling out on the sofa!fuck going out!
Favorite Number: eeek, i'm ocd-ish so i don't really like to have a favourite number! haha
Boys Name: couldn't say really
Girls Name: dahlia rose, winter, autumn, wednesday... and i am not even kidding. i am that gothic!
Animal: all of them
Drink: changes all the time... currently, orange juice
Sport: no
Fast-Food Place: wok to walk
Month: not sure
Band: so many!

Movie: again, way too many to choose! though obviously the twilight saga is my favourite, but not my only favourite!
Breakfast: toast
Perfume: thierry mugler 'angel' (when i can afford to get a new bottle anyway!)
Cologne: none
Favourite cartoon character: don't have one
Color: black
Food: pasta
Ice Cream?: prefer sorbet to vegan icecream
Shoes: my 'geek' shoes
Place to relax: home
Magazine: don't have one
Person to hang out with: my friends and family :)
Place to go on the weekends: out and about
Thing to wear to bed: cosy clothes!
Time to shower: before bedtime
TV show: true blood/dexter
Season: autumn
Holiday: christmas maybe?
Smell: vanilla (as long as it's not too strong)
Book: twilight: new moon
Thing about the opposite sex: mikee
Cereal: weetabix
Do you have a bf or gf?: boyfriend
Best place to go for a date: not really sure, never really gone out on dates as such
Longest relationship: almost 5 years
Shortest relationship: couple of weeks?
Outgoing or introverted?: depends
Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?: of course
How many gf/bf have told you they love you?: all of them... debatable though!
Have you ever thought you were going to marry someone?: yep
Are you crushin' on someone?: oh yes, mikee is still my biggest crush
Are you happier single or in a relationship?: with mikee thanks
Have you ever been with someone who was taken at the time?: nope, that's not right
Have you ever had your heart broken?: yes (but hasn't everyone?)
Have you ever broken someones heart?: i think so
Do you talk to any of your ex's?: no way
Do you believe that you are a good bf/gf?: i try my best
Have you dated people who were not good for you?: oh yes
Have you ever been in an abusive relationship?: oh yes
Have you ever dated someone older than you?: yes
How about younger than you?: yes... it didn't last long!
Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?: not anymore, unless in extreme situations
Believe in love at first sight?: yes
Ever been given an engagement ring?: no
Do you want to get married?: very much so
Ever stolen someone's bf or gf?: no
Does heartbreak really feel as bad as it sounds?: yes.
Is your gf/bf the most amazing person?: i think so. though nobodies perfect.



Full Name: maria
Single or Taken: taken
Sex: female
Birthday: january 4th
Sign: capricorn
Siblings: twin brother: kevin, elder brother: robert
Eye colour: blue
Shoe size: 6-7 (big feet!)
Height: 5'3 maybe?
Country born: wolverhampton, england
Innie or Outie: innie :)
What are you wearing right now: work stuff
Where do you live: cardiff, south wales
Righty or lefty: righty
Any pets: bambi the papillon and bela the jackchi <3 they are my world.
Where do you work?: cardiff women's aid
When did you start using Facebook?: a little while ago
How much time do you spend on Facebook a day?: a lot of time!
Do you own a cell phone?: yep
Do you like to text?: can't be bothered a lot of the time
Play an instrument?: used to take bass lessons, many years ago!

Thank you Indy Grrl

For the awesome documentary references... will have to see if I can stream these online. Though I think both will be pretty tough viewing for me.

Fail of a post.

Awesome weekend, but am currently dying a death of over consumption of sambuca and Jager shots. Will post pics later... and you will no doubt see how wrecked Heidi and I were. Sob, I wish I was at home :(

Friday 26 March 2010

My week in documentaries.

Some documentaries I have seen lately:

Dawn Porter is awesome. First of all I watched her Geisha Girl episode. I love geisha (used to be over-obsessed with them even!) but I didn't enjoy this much. I don't think it helped that Dawn really didn't enjoy it, but to be fair to her it is extremely hard and uncomfortable work.)

However, the next episode I watched was on Free Love
, and although it really isn't my thing, I really enjoyed it. The people themselves seemed kind and gentle, and as long as all those involved are doing so by choice, why not? Surely 'free love' is better than the hurt and pain that fills so much of the world today?

I'm pretty pleased that I have stumbled upon the Dawn Porter episodes on Youtube. I'd heard they were good, and I'm a sucker for a good documentary style show!

Lastly, Mikee and I watched Nick Broomfield's 'Kurt and Courtney'. I usually enjoy Nick Broomfield's documentaries and Mikee is a fan of Nirvana and Hole, so we thought we'd give it a go. It was so interesting, and my dislike for Courtney Love has not waned... however, if you see her dad in this film, it may explain why she is the way she is! I must say though, I don't really believe that Kurt was killed by Courtney.



Last week I also really enjoyed Nick Broomfield's 'Biggie and Tupac' and I felt so enlightened by it. I also felt silly that I believed the whole gang war/feud excuse for both killings... it may be that was the case, but there is so much I didn't know. And that's my fault for assuming I wouldn't like the programme as I don't like rap. Silly girl! Just goes to show that it's always good to widen your horizons... even when it comes to what you watch online/on tv!



And lastly, a programme I turned off after 20 minutes or so... Meet the Foxes on Channel 4/4OD). I thought it would be interesting, as it is a group of rural foxes filmed over a certain time period. Instead all it featured was snooty families calling pest control on them, and trying to dictate where another living creature can go. When will humankind learn that we do not control everything in this world?

The part that really made me angry was when a fox was trapped (in a 'humane' trap) in one of the families back gardens. It showed the dad with his two kids looking through the cage at this sodden, wet, cold and scared young fox, talking about what would happen to it now. The father said the people who laid the trap would come and collect the fox and release it into some woods, a distance away. if this is true, of course it is better than killing these magnificent creatures. But as the young son pointed out (very rightly) this meant that the fox would be taken away from it's family. But hey, who cares, as long as the pesky fox isn't in their garden right? Makes me so mad, and so disappointed in human nature. Sigh.

A few things I'm loving this week.




Fill In The Blanks Friday

Pinched from the lovely Lauren.

1. The best piece of advice I was ever given was you die if you worry, you die if you don't.

2. If I had a million dollars to give to one charity I would give it to the Dr Hadwen Trust.

3. If I got to choose my "last meal" it would be the Indian meal Mikee and I have at least once a week from the takeaway (taka dal, vegetable samosas, poppadoms, vegetable biryani, rice and chips).

4. My hair is big, and synthetic (though some of it is human), and tangled. My real hair is dreading nicely at the back too :)

5. If at first you don't succeed don't give up until you do.

6. I have always been very passionate about those/things that I love.

7. Oh....and by the way.... I still have not sent out my giveaway yet, which was forever ago! (Sorry little lady, I promise you will get it eventually! I'm hopeless with mailing stuff out!)

Thursday 25 March 2010

Overtime.

Now ready to go home. K. Thks. Buh.

Wednesday 24 March 2010

Tattoos - numero trois!

This is Grace. She lives on my right hand, and was beautifully created by one of my very favourite tattoo artists Jurgen Eckel.




I adore Eckel's work and was so amazed when I managed to book in with him for the 2008 London Tattoo Convention. As he's originally from Germany, I always thought that he'd be an artist I'd admire from afar and not actually get work from! But I was thrilled to hear back from him to arrange my appointment on the Saturday, and told him he could pretty much do one of 'his blue ladies'. He's known for them, as well as stunningly beautiful art (both on skin and on canvas).

So when I arrived at the convention on the Saturday he showed me the design and I was absolutely blown away! It did hurt (the actual tattoo process took around two hours at the most) but I already had my left hand tattooed so knew what to expect). Eckel kept apologising for the pain, and I kept apologising for squirming!

I was so pleased with the end result, and it is my favourite tattoo to this day. Eckel seemed so lovely, and although we didn't chat much (mixture of slight language barrier and big shyness, on my part anyway!)I really enjoyed getting to meet someone whose work I admire so much!

(Eckel has also done my Riding Hood neckpiece, already featured. I'm hoping eventually for him to do the wolf on the other side of my neck, when I can pluck up the courage to handle the pain again, and when he's back over in the UK!)

Cute stuff!





Found here.

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Mornin' Lovelies

First of all, apologies for the lack of blogging lately! I'm either super busy, or super tired. It's getting me down lately how I always feel so listless and have no energy... I think it must be the medication I'm on (just one of the many reasons I'll be glad to be rid of the damn pills!). I also need to catch up on my blogging, so I think I will need to try do that today... over a cuppa and some bourbons I think!

Anywaaaaay... Though I've been busy, it's been the usual stuff really. Promoting this weekends upcoming Vintage Pretty Fayre (who'd have thought just advertising an event could take up so much time?!), making things to go on my stall, driving lessons and of course, working!

On the work front, I have been asked whether I would like to make some of the extra tasks I have been doing for some time now, official. And for doing so I will be on just under a thousand more a year. Any extra money is good of course, but this will work out at £40-50 extra a month, which I'm a little disappointed with. I love the extra jobs I have been asked to do (officially) but I will still only be on approx. £1000 a month (that's a pretty low/standard wage for office work in the UK). And the jobs that I will be taking over are usually done by somebody on a lot more money than I'm on. A lot!

Now don't get me wrong, it's not all about money for me. I'm not obsessed with money by any means, but at my age, and after around 10 years of working for a living, I was hoping that for once I would be on a comfortable wage. I am always in my overdraft (which is half of my wages normally) and am always desperately awaiting the next pay day (usually a few days after my actual payday too!). I would love for once to be able to go out and buy some clothes and not worry that it's not going to make me broke for the month.

And then of course, my new role would include: reception duties (which are a lot on their own), counselling admin (and arranging), on-call admin (and arranging) as well as any other daily admin duties I am asked to do by the other supervisors. I love being busy, and I love doing this (as I do already) but I was just hoping to be paid a little more.

But you know, I really don't mean to moan and I love that I'll be responsible for more. So hopefully this will be a stepping stone to something higher paid. Money doesn't make everything perfect, but I think it can give you just a little more freedom. And it's nice to be able to get takeaway once in a while! ;D

Here, Here Brian May!

Save the badgers!

Friday 19 March 2010

New Moon - Soon!

I can't wait until Monday for the release of New Moon... here's some of my favourite scenes... fellow Twihards, I'd love to see your favourites!

This was the closest I could find to the actual scene in the film... please ignore the screaming... it's just silliness. The score to this scene (in the final film version) is amazing, really heart wrenching.

Blows me away every time...

So heartbreaking... (and I love the New Moon soundtrack/score)

<3

Makes me laugh so much... "Alright, let's do this!"

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Just *some* of the new Dolly Dearest stock



I really need to get a proper website up and running, or at least update my Folksy store! However if you search Maria Wilkes (location: Cardiff, UK) on Facebook you can add me (if you want to that is!) and see my newest creations on my photo albums :D

* Will link my profile on here shortly, my work computer won't let me as Facebook is blocked!

Kukula

It's like she has stepped into my head and drawn all the things I love! Visit her here





Tuesday 16 March 2010

Survival of the Dead


Mikee loves George Romero. I'm kinda indifferent to be honest, but I actually really enjoyed Survival of the Dead. Mikee really loved it too and he's a big zombie film/Romero buff. I can understand that some people may not like it as it's a little, ahem, different to the others (though I prefer it to Land of the Dead and Diary of the Dead), but I think it was refreshing to have a different slant on the Dead films. And any film with a zombie on a horse has to be worth checking out!

Monday 15 March 2010

Day #30 - Whatever tickles my fancy.

So my lovely vegan fair buddy Heidi, is coming down for the weekend in a couple of weeks (yay!) and we are going out on Saturday evening for a mutual friends birthday (Lewis, who was also my flatmate/housemate a little while ago). It is fancy dress, and Heidi and I were trying to think of what we could go as. Lewis actually came up with the cool idea of going as the twins from The Shining. And this reminded me how amazing The Shining is. It's an absolute masterpiece, and anything Jack Nicholson is in is usually awesome (except Wolf, haha).



I also really love 30 Seconds to Mars' interpretation of it for their video of 'The Kill' (I do love 30STM though the new stuff hasn't really floated my boat just yet!)

Day #29 - Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days

Apologies for the delay, I have been in Wolverhampton with the family over the weekend!

Again, I'm not too fussed on this days topic/question... It's way too vague, and also super hard to think so far ahead!

All I will say is that if any of these happened I would be very happy!:

* Mikee proposing.
* Getting a higher paid job (though I would want it to be in my current workplace).
* Passing my driving test.
* Continuing to do well with Dolly Dearest and crafting/selling.
* Vintage Pretty Fayre going from strength to strength.
* Good health for all my loved ones.
* Being more involved in the Animal Rights movement.

Friday 12 March 2010

FITBF (And you know I read that out in my head as I typed it!)

1. The best day ever was you know what? There have been too many to choose one... My mom being told her cancer was in remission... Mikee telling me he loved me... Bambi and Bela coming into my life... My niece Jasmine being born... Just too much to pick one. This question has made me realise how truly lucky I am, and I am very grateful for every shred of good luck I have had/have.

2. My favorite meal of the day is any! because I love food!

3. This weekend I am going to see my family in Wolverhampton. It's been a few weeks since I last went, and it is also Mother's Day on Sunday, so I have told my mom I will treat us to something to eat.

4. Never in my life have I used drugs or smoked. Although I'm no longer straight edge, I still would not touch drugs or cigarettes (and besides, that wouldn't be very vegan of me!)

5. The only thing better than being vegetarian is being vegan.
*(Sorry I know that's stupid but I didn't know what else to put! No disrespect meant to veggies at all, after all I've not long made the move to veganism myself!)

6. I could really do with some food and a fizzy/fruity drink. I am about to rectify this situation right now by popping to the corner shop by my work.

7. The most recent thing I bought myself was True Blood - Season One boxset (finally found it for a half decent price! Just £17.99). I didn't set out to buy it but I also finally preordered New Moon for the 22nd March, and once I'd brought that it recommended True Blood to me! Why HMV, how did you guess?! Hehe.

Day #28 - My year, in great detail

Ok so please don't be mad lovelies... but I just don't have the effort or inclination to do this one! Plus if anyone wants to know about the past year, it should all be tucked away somewhere in this here blog!

xxxxxxxxxx

Thursday 11 March 2010

Day #27 - My month, in great detail

I have to be honest, I think this day's 'task' is a bit lame! It's almost impossible to outline a random month, and in detail!

But just so I have something to put for this one, here's a very brief and random calendar if you will, of what I aim to do each month! I just don't plan that far ahead!

Driving lesson once a week.

Fairs:
A Fashionable Af'Fayre at Le Pub, Newport - First Saturday of each month.
Northcote Lane Market at Milgis bar - First Sunday of each month.
Vintage Pretty Fayre - Saturday towards the end of the month.

Visit my family at least once a month in Wolverhampton. This is nowhere near enough though, and I'm hoping once I drive I will see them a lot more.

Documentaries.

I love them. I like nothing better than picking a documentary off 4OD (though it takes me ages, there's so many!) and watching it as I craft. * By the way, to non-UK people, 4OD is an online offshoot of terrestrial uk tv's Channel 4... the OD is for On Demand, as these are all tv programmes that are available to watch online for a little while after they were aired on tv.

Anyway, so I watched 3 tonight... this one I would highly recommend. Such a shocking story... but Katie Piper is stunning, inside and out. She is a real inspiration.



This one was kind of sad... to see that a young man can take all his anger out on innocent people, instead of dealing with it personally... it's a real shame. The BNP and National Front will always be wrong, however they try and dress it up. Racism is racism, simple as that.



The other documentary I saw tonight was also really interesting. I have so much respect and admiration for John, and his mother.


Apologies that the links aren't great... I'm not even sure whether you can access the 4OD site/youtube channel if you're overseas.

Thud (the sound of me hitting the floor)

Gossip girls.

I met up with one of my bestest friends ever (I know, I can be so childish!) Saffy last night, to celebrate her 21st birthday which is today. 21! Sometimes I can't believe there's 5 years difference between us! I love her to bits though, and we always have such fun and some awesome gossipy chats!

Anyway we had a drink and a Chickpea and Sweet Potato curry (vegan) at The Gatekeeper pub up town. I gave Saffy her presents (most of these were handmade, but the brought one I forgot to get a picture of! It was a huge ornate/baroque frame in lilac, from the amazing-frames-and-homeware-stockists Tk Maxx!) She seemed really pleased with them, which was nice to see!




Handmade with love for my Saffy!



The first little owly I have ever made! With added vanilla essence inside so it smells lovely!




A little haircomb I put together...








Cameo! Saffy said it's me and her ;)



Birfday box!



Honestly, I did not even consider the Twilight reference until after I'd done this... truthfully!



Tattooed lady journal.



Saffy and I love Johnny (and Elvis)!

Wednesday 10 March 2010

please email me (again) where Sam bought her yellow gorgeous coat from - kairaine@gmail.com and how do i get a sock monkey?

Hiya, I think Sam got her coat from Next!

And to get a sock monkey (from me anyway!) just ask! x

Ask me anything

Just because.


I just wanted to say a big thank you, and send my love, to all my followers. I often feel my blogs are very self-centred and that I don't acknowledge it's readers enough... and if I don't comment your blog, don't take it that I'm not reading! I promise you all, I do!

Love and kisses and hugs to all you special ladies (and token men!) xxxxx

Random... with added sadness.

Today is a sad day, Corey Haim has died, aged just 38.



I think watching Lost Boys tonight will be a fitting tribute. What a shame though.

On a more cheerful note, it has been rumoured that the teaser trailer for Eclipse will go online at 6am (US)/ 2pm-ish (UK) on Thursday. I've read it's only 10 seconds long... but then another site mentions this 10 second teaser, and then mentions a full length teaser? So we shall see. 10 seconds or not, I am so so excited!!!!



EDIT: I literally just googled it now, and here's the 10 second trailer!



And it has been confirmed the full trailer will be released online tomorrow! *Faint!*

Day #26 - My week, in great detail

Actually, not great detail. I think that will be way too boring! So, here's a usual week (if there is one?!) in not-very-much detail. Before you go any further I am a total homebody so don't go out much at all.

* Also note that a couple of weeks a month I do fayre's on the weekend, and one weekend I usually go to Wolverhampton to see my family.


Monday

9-5pm - work.
5.15pm - 6.15pm - Driving lesson.
6.15pm onwards... food, films, crafting.
12pm or over... Bedtime.

Tuesday through to Friday.

Pretty much exactly the same as Monday but without the driving lesson (though I am meant to be having an hour on a Friday too from next week).

Saturday
Sleep in until 12pm usually (I know! I never used to be such a sloth!)
Usually head into town for a wander round, but this isn't every week. We really don't have a set routine on the weekends so I don't know what else to write!

Sunday
Similar to Saturday, but usually without the trip to town!

Tuesday 9 March 2010

Day #25 - My day, in great detail

Here goes... brace yourself for the excitement!

8.00am - Alarm goes off... reset
8.05am - Alarm goes off... reset
8.10am - Alarm goes off... reset

Repeat the above until...

8.50am - Get out of bed in a hurry, as realise I need to be in work for 9am.
Get dressed, put hair extensions in, put make-up on (if have time). Leave at around 8.58am (I guess I get ready quite fast huh?!).

9am - Arrive at work right on the dot. (I literally live across the road from my workplace... how spoilt am I?!)

9am onwards... Turn the answerphone off, take any messages (and put in the relevant staff members pigeonholes), make sure the blind is up on the front door, check the copier has paper.

9.05am - Cup of tea time! (And while kettle is boiling, apply make-up in the toilet, if didn't have time at home!)

After cup of tea is made, do work type stuff (opening mail, answering door and phones, dealing with counselling/on-call/volunteering admin, checking emails, greeting clients... mainly Receptionist type duties, but with a lot of added tasks while the Counselling and Volunteer Co-Ordinator is away).

12pm - Lunchtime! Go home (another perk of living just across the road from work!), see the boys (Bambi and Bela), walk them if Mikee is out. If he's in I don't need to walk them as he has by now (hopefully!).
Make lunch! (Some of my current faves: houmous and salad on white bread... crisps... noodles and fried tofu... good old beans/spaghetti on toast... obviously not all at the same time!)
Maybe check emails/Facebook, read my book, or just lie on the couch until it's time to go back to work! The last option is the worst as I never want to go back to work if I've chilled out... I'd rather stay at home and nap!

1pm - Back at work, do the same kind of stuff that I did in the morning!

5pm - Finish work for the day (though it's usually more closer to 5.10pm by the time someone comes to take over on reception... boo!)

5.15pm ish - Get home, walk Bam and Bela if Mikee is out.
This varies, like if Mikee is in, or if I have a driving lesson. For example, last night I had to run in, change my shoes and run out as my Driving Instructor was picking me up outside the flat for my 5.15pm lesson (just an hour this week, it's normally an hour and a half lesson. I love the hour lessons... they go so fast!)

5.30pm onwards - As it normally takes me a half hour or so to get in and do some bits and bobs, I normally sit down/crash out like a slob about 5.30pm.

I normally have my evening meal between 6 and 8 really, just depends when we're hungry (though half the time it's just me as Mikee is out at work) and can be bothered to cook!

8pm (ish) - For years and years I have rung my parents (seperately, as they have been divorced a long time!) around this time. Every night, unless they're out or I'm out/sleeping (I fall asleep a lot at home! Central heating and comfy sofas do that to me!). We usually chat just for a few minutes, but I like to ring them. Keeps us connected, and it is a long tradition of mine! Every few days or so I'll ring my brothers too. I actually dislike talking on the phone to anyone else, I just like to chill out at home... maybe it's because I answer the phone/go to work all day!? Or maybe I'm just an antisocial grump?!


The rest of the night is usually spent crafting... but I usually have a week or so where I'm all stocked up for the fayres so I don't have much to do. The other couple of weeks are usually looooong evenings of crafting! I do love it though! I can be crafting from 6pm until 1am sometimes, but I'm definitely not complaining! These are usually the evenings that Mikee is working so the boys will spend the evening napping/sitting next to me and I'll be camped out on the floor making stuff (and making a mess!)

On the nights I'm not crafting I/we watch a lot of films. And I'm reading a lot more lately. I'm a natural bookworm, though sometimes busy-ness takes over and I don't read for a few days at a time. That's a life fail right there!

Bambi and Bela get walked/taken outside a few times an evening as we don't have a garden (as well as their walks in the daytime), which is a bit sucky.

12am onwards... Bedtime... or 'sometimes fall asleep on the sofa time' until Mikee goes to bed and wakes me up, which is usually a couple of hours later (his job makes him a bit of a natural night owl I think!).

And then... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Monday 8 March 2010

Tattoos! Part Two!

I am a movie geek. More precisely a 300 geek. I friggin' love that film. It took my breath away when I saw it, especially the battle scenes. Some people say it's lame because a lot of it was filmed against a green screen, some of the muscles on the Spartans were airbrushed on, etc etc. But I have to disagree, I think it is an amazingly epic piece of film.

The soundtrack is amazing... Nine Inch Nails and Azam Ali... just breathtaking. The score itself evokes so much emotion in me. The actors (namely Gerard Butler and Lena Headey) were brilliant I thought, I couldn't imagine anyone else in their roles. And the story really took my imagination away... and the ending... wow, it moved me to tears. You see, I love the film Gladiator (Don't worry though, I know the two stories are very different, hehe)... but it lacked something that I feel 300 has... A bit of darkness underneath the historical story, and an energy that just sucks you in.

Anyway, so, this is why I chose the tattoo I have on my forearm. I love the 300 artwork, and I loved the strength of Lena Headey's Queen Gorgo. I'm not feminist by any means (I believe in equal rights for everyone, and I think there's good and bad in both of the sexes...) but the character of Gorgo is so beautiful, so composed and so strong... I just knew I would feel comfortable explaining my choice of tattoo if anyone thought to ask!

I was intending to have it done on my leg, but then decided to have it on my forearm... which was quite a step for me as I did not have any lower arm/hand tattoos at that point. My tattooist Mandie (who I helped out at the studio for a few months... loved it so much!) was chuffed I decided to have it somewhere more prominent. We toyed with the idea of having Leonidas tattooed somewhere too... but then decided that a tattoo of a muscly and sweaty man probably wouldn't suit me! Haha.









Once Mandie had done my tattoo, I was just in love with it. She nailed it. And I still absolutely adore it. It's the only 'portrait' style piece I have, but I would love another portrait style tattoo again, there's something so special about having an amazing image copied line for line onto your skin. I was thinking of having a Johnny Cash portrait done at some point... Who knows?!






Day #24 - Whatever tickles my fancy.

So this weekend was my 'busy weekend', as two fairs take place on the first weekend of the month. Saturday was in a pub called Le Pub (coincidentally!) in Newport, this is a good day, just a little quiet sometimes.

Then Sunday is my absolute favourite out of the fairs I do that I don't organise myself (even though I have only done it twice now!) The Northcote Lane Market is held at a super cool bar just down the road from us (and just outside the city centre) called Milgi's.

I love the bar/cafe itself (it has a yurt, aka. a big tent with comfy chairs and furnishings!, out the back); I adore how it's decorated, it's DIY arty approach and that it promotes a lot of organic and Fair Trade food and drink, though it'd be cool if it had a more vegan friendly menu too. Anywho, the fair itself is pretty busy and it has a really 'buzzy' vibe... I really enjoyed it last night, it feels a lot less like hard work when the venue is awesome (though to be fair, all the venues I sell at are cool in their own way!)






Saturday 6 March 2010

Eric Northman

In the books. In the TV series. Even in Lady Gaga videos... yuss. That is all.







* It took me until just the other day to realise Alexander Skarsgard (aka. Eric) was in this video, despite the fact that I have been watching this video since it came out as i love it! So not only is the director of the video awesome (Jonas Ackerlund, who also did some of the Pumpkins' videos),the song is brilliant and I quite like Lady Gaga... but yummy Alexander is in it too. Major win right there I think!

Day #23 - A YouTube video

I was hoping their would be a fan video for this Florence song (as it mentions the word 'twilight')... and there are loads! They're actually really good too! This one I think is awesome.

Easy as A - Z

A: Age - 26 (and Sam thinks she's ancient!)

B: Bed Size - Double, but our bed is horrible. I still have my bed fund (ie. any spare money I have is going towards my dream bed).

C: Chore you hate - Vacuuming.

D: Dog's name - Bambi Von Papillon and Bela Lugosi. Bam and Bela for short :)

E: Essential start your day item - Hair extensions!

F: Favorite color - Black.

G: Gold or Silver - Gold! (Though you can't beat a bit of silver!)

H: Height - 5'2-3ish.

I: Instruments you play - I attempted bass when I was younger... but gave up. I didn't like my guitar teacher, he was scary.

J: Job title - Receptionist

K: Kid(s) - Hopefully some day.

L: Living arrangements - Live in central Cardiff with Mr. Junko, Bam and Bela.

M: Mom's name - Jane (Middle name is Maria, whereas I am Maria and my middle name is Jane. When I was younger, I thought my mom had copied my name for her middle name. I'm so dumb, never occurred to me it would be the other way round, seen as my mom was born, and therefore named, before me. Duh!)

N: Nickname - Don't really have one.

O: Overnight hospital stay - Not hospital, but clinic... yes (5 months to be exact, haha).

P: Pet peeve - Ignorance. The root of most problems.

Q: Quote from a movie - Pretty much anything from Garden State... or one that makes my heart skip a beat from Twilight/New Moon (there's a lot of them, believe me). One of my favourites is: (Edward to Bella) "You don't know how long I've waited for you".

R: Right or left handed - Right.

S: Siblings - Twin brother, older brother.

T: Time you wake up - 8.45am-ish on weekdays (only takes me 10 minutes to get ready for work, and a minute to get there seen as I live just across the road!)

U: Underwear - Black and simple.

V: Vegetable you dislike - Courgette... clammy cucumbers *shudder*

X: X-rays you've had - Teeth, hand/wrist... not sure what else (if any)?

Y: Yummy food you make - Any food I make I find yummy.

Z: Zoo animal you like: None (they'd be better out in the wild as intended... though obviously it depends what the threat in their natural habitat is).

Friday 5 March 2010

Day #22 - A website.

Google. I google everything... images (all the time), places (a lot), films, addresses... everything google. Yep.

I heart Kristen Stewart.

I know a lot of people hate her awkwardness and manner, but I love it. And it's what makes her so perfect to play Bella Swan. Yay for geeky girls that find it hard to be in the spotlight!







* What I love about the last clip is that Kristen obviously doesn't feel comfortable with the reporter trying to make out that she (Kristen) is some kind of goddess... it endears her to me as she seems down to earth. And really, why is it our business who Kristen is dating?! (Even though I am happy her and RPattz are together, it's awesome!) All she is meant to do is act. Not to give her life away to the press.

Thursday 4 March 2010

Day #21 - A recipe.

I don't really do baking. At all. But if I did, I would try this.

Vegan red velvet cake.



Ingredients:
2-1/2 cups unbleached flour
1-1/2 cups turbinado or other natural vegan sugar
1/2 cup of softened magarine
1 cup soymilk
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoon cocoa powder unsweetened
1-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 ounces red food coloring (or beet juice)

Frosting Ingredients:
1 cup confectioner's sugar
8 oz. vegan "cream cheese"
1/2 Cup vegan margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 to 1 cup soymilk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a cup pour the soymilk and add the lemon juice. Let sit while preparing the next dew ingredients. This makes "buttermilk". Cream together the margarine and sugar and then add the applesauce.

In a small bowl mix together cocoa and food coloring to form a slight paste. Add it to the creamed mixture. Mix the salt and flour together and add it to the batter alterately with the 'buttermilk' in three batches mixing after each addition. Add vanilla extract. Mix in baking soda and vinegar. Pour bater into 2 greased cake pans (I used round) and bake for 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Frosting:
Mix cream cheese and softened margarine together. Add sugar vanilla and soymilk. Mixture will be very soft (almost a gluelike texture). After cake cools slightly put one layer on a plate and pour some frosting over so that it runs down the sides. Let cool a little more and add the next layer and repeat process.

Serves: 10

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Wednesday 3 March 2010

Books that made me into a worm.

Bookworm that is. Get it?! Hmmm.

Ever since the lovely Danielle mentioned the books she used to read before/during her teens, I have been thinking back to the time when I used to read all the time. And I really mean all the time. So, seen as I've posted a couple of reminiscent posts tonight, here's another one, with the books I loved as a kid.


BSC!





I loved her books, but Paula Danziger just bugged me. I mean, no offense to her, I'm sure she's lovely... but she just used to repel me with her 'wacky' larger than life image.





Wow... seriously. these books made me who I am. The TV series... I liked it, but it was never the same.





I loved Point Horrors so much...I remember how exciting it was to buy a book, and my dad brought me one once when we had gone up town on a Saturday (not long after my parents' divorce I think) and it was like £1.99 or something. If only books were so cheap now! I read some just plain Point. books, but Point Horrors were my favourite.



I really loved the Judy Blume books and remember the big fuss about Forever being a bit, sexual, but I wasn't too into the book (once I scanned for the 'rude' parts of course... I always did that but in an innocent way I guess!).



I much preferred Judy's more usual theme of stories. Much more my thing, yes.