Promises, Promises, Promises ...

It is currently the day before New Years Eve and I am in no way shape or form reflecting on the past year like the majority of my friends on various social media sites seem to be doing! Should I be? Is this something everyone has to do? Like an unwritten rule or something?

Quite frankly 2013 has been a shittier than shitty year but I think for the majority of us 2013 hasn't been too swell from what I can gather.

Earlier on this year I started this blog as a way of releasing my thoughts and putting down in words whatever was taking up space in my head that was overstaying it's welcome a little. In more recent months by blogging has lacked somewhat ... I say lacked ... What I actually mean is that is has been non existant ... I have written nothing, nada, zilch! I think in my last post I vowed to write more etc and keep you updated with my life and I am pretty sure that was about 2 months ago.

My blog is more like an online diary, I do not tell you about new things you can buy, share outfits with you, give reviews on anything, it is purely so whoever reads this knows that maybe they aren't alone in having random outbursts about things and that no one is perfect and to be honest, I write down things so maybe you can get the tiniest bit of enjoyment out of my ridiculously dysfuntional life!

On that note, I am sorry to disappoint but nope I shall not be making any new years resolutions to write more, I am not going to write certain posts at certain times BUT what I can promise you is that whenever I feel the need to write something down and share something with you I will. 

It may not be everyday but who cares? We do these things for our own enjoyment and when they get a little too much we take a step back and give ourselves time to recuperate!

I hope you all have had a wonderful time over the festive period and I shall see you all in 2014!!!!

xxx

Is Anybody Out there?! ...

WOW! So I guess it has been a whole 4 months since I was last around ... Is anyone even there anymore?

I used this blog as a way to express my feelings after a pretty tough breakup and having to move back in with my mum. I carried it on once my mind became a little more sane but I then became stuck in a rut and every time I went to write my thoughts down, the words just wouldn't come out ... I even tried making a video but that went horribly wrong!

I'm in a pretty crappy place again and I need somewhere to air my thoughts so I thought to myself, why not air them here. I made some pretty amazing friends last time around and if anyone can help me through this time it's you guys.

Please let me know if you're out there! Send me a cheeky hi so I know all of this is worth it! 

Much Love

Jazz

Xxx

Chester Rocks 2013 ...

As camping is one of my all time most hated pastimes, festivals are somewhat of the unknown to me! 

On Sunday I went to the Chester Rocks festival in the UK, which is a 2 day 'no camping allowed festival' which consists of music acts, fairground rides and ridiculously overpriced food and drink stands. This is completely up my street as it has all the qualities of a festival just without the sleeping in a canvas house lacking in any toilet or shower facilities! HAPPY DAYS!

On Sunday the line up was as follows:

Scarletts Roses

Charlie Brown

Amelia Lily

Lawson

Jessie J

Before the festival the only act I was excited to see was Jessie J as I think I am a little in love with this woman and would actually marry her if I could!

I was surprised by the other acts as they were all fantastic!

Scarlett's Roses were the biggest surprise for me on the day as I had never heard of them before and therefore had no expectations at all! 

They are a London based live band with quirky, upbeat and catchy songs which are guaranteed to have you dancing the whole way through. They are generally a pop band but hip hop, reggae and ska have a heavy influence on the music which is apparent in every song you listen to.

The great thing about all of their songs is that their lyrics are so relatable. Another surprise I had from the band was when I came home and searched for them on YouTube immediately is that I found a song uploaded 3 years ago and they are STILL not signed to a label which I find ridiculous! 

You can follow them on Twitter @Scarlettsroses and join in the campaign #GetScarlettsRosesSigned.

Charlie Brown was fantastic and his new single 'Floodgates' is a slow but catchy song which I anticipate will do very well.

The highlight of the night for me though was definitely Jessie J! This was my first time seeing her live and she exceeded all my expectations of what she would be like. I was in the 2nd row from the stage and couldn't be any closer if I tried! Here is a picture of her looking right at me ... OH-EM-GEE!!!!!

Did you go to Chester Rocks? Have you seen any of these acts before?

I hope you all had a fab weekend,

Enjoy your day!

Jazz

xxx

So Lately ...

As of late my presence in the whole blogging world hasn't been too great. I have needed some time and space for myself and now I have had that I am ready to share my findings in life with you once again!

To give you a brief overview on what I have been doing and where I have been, to be honest not a great deal has changed for me since we last spoke.

I am still endlessly searching for a job and being spectacularly unsuccessful with it! My love life is equally as abysmal as my job hunt with more and more idiots reappearing in my life that I should just ignore but instead I do quite the opposite and humour them until I end up getting hurt! Top marks!!

The only thing that does seen to be going well at the moment is my weight loss. I am now in a comfortable 14-16 clothing range as opposed to the 20-22 I was a year ago and I couldn't be happier!

I have so many thoughts to share with you now that hopefully you will enjoy them as much as I enjoy sharing them with you!!

See you very soon and I hope you all have a fab day!!

Jazz

Xxx

What A Difference A Year Makes ...

I was going through my wardrobe in a 'I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR - FML' sort of way yesterday and I came across a blazer that I haven't worn in just over a year.

I put it on and it immediately felt so much more comfortable than it previously had. I knew I had taken a snap wearing this blazer last year so I decided to promote my 13 year old sister to my photographer for the moment and I couldn't believe it when I saw the difference!

In the first picture I am around a size 20/22 (I was kidding myself saying I was an 18) ... And in the second 2 pictures I am a size 16 (more towards a smaller size 16).

With regards to actual weight loss, the difference is 1 stone 9 lbs (23lbs). I have noticed by body shape is changing due to excersize also.

When I look at the first photo it really upsets me that I looked like that and was kidding myself about how much I did weigh. Last year was when i was at my all time heaviest and I was in such a bad place with food.

Don't get me wrong I still have a loooong way to go as my goal is to lose another 2 stone and be in a comfortable size 10/12 clothing. I think that's perfectly healthy for my height. If you set unrealistic goals then you will never achieve them, get upset and have to start back at square 1. 

The lovely Liz over at Aspirations Of Glam said something to me yesterday that I shall leave you with as a final thought ... 'Work hard and you can have anything you dream of'.

Enjoy your day!!

Jazz

Xxx

Brain Freeze ...

I can't count how many times over the past couple of weeks where I have sat at the computer,  started writing on my phone and even sat in front of a camera to relay my current thoughts on life for you ... truth is all my thoughts have been somewhat negative and I really dont want to throw a bunch of negative thoughts at you which is why I have been lying low.

Life has been throwing obstacle after obstacle at me lately and I have needed me time to work out how I am going to approach them.

Not a lot has been going on, I have another interview lined up on Thursday which I am excited about.

In other news my love life is 10 times more complicated than the last update I gave you.

Other than that nothing else has happened! 

I hope you are all keeping well and I am enjoying reading your blogs!

Enjoy your day

Jazz

xxx

Q&A ...

Hello you lovely people!

I am planning on filming a Q&A video to upload for you all so this is just a shout out for you all to send me questions. I could do a normal 'Get to know me' tag video but I thought I would answer your questions.

Can you tweet me @Jazzabelled and ask your question and use the hashtag #askjazz.

You can be as personal as you like and I shall try and answer them all.

I look forward to seeing what questions you come up with =D

Enjoy your day!!!

xxx

30 Days Of Sheer Pain ...

Or Should I say 30 Day Shred.

For anyone who doesn't know what the 30 Day Shred is I shall give you a brief run down now. Jillian Michaels, a well known personal trainer in American who you may have seen on 'The Biggest Loser USA', brought out a DVD a couple of years ago called 'The 30 Day Shred'.

The way it works is you do it for 30 days and do each level for 10 days within those 30. Each level is harder than the last and it really helps you push yourself and build up core strength.

Each level lasts just 20 minutes so it is a very quick intense work out.

I am sitting here nursing sore legs,arms and stomach after only 2 days and to be honest I am DREADING completing it later after a gruelling session at the gym.

One thing that is keeping me motivated is looking at before and after pictures on Google. I have taken some pictures from day one and will take them on each tenth day. I have also taken my measurements and I shall be taking them on each tenth day.

I must stress I am also eating a VERY healthy diet at the moment so I am combining healthy, clean eating with excersise which gives the best results. You can't have one without the other.

Have any of you tried the 30 Day Shred? How did you find it? How much pain were you in?

xxx  

If Music Be The Food Of Love, Play On ...

It's amazing how listening to a three minute piece of music can transport us back in time and help us relive a particular memory or feeling. Lately me and my friend have been listening to some songs that we haven't heard since we were 16/17 and it's amazing what I feel and remember when listening to these songs.

One of these songs is a dancey type song, most people will not like it but it is Mickey Modelle ft Jessy 'Dancing In The Dark'. This takes me back to the time when I was best friends with the guy who we shall now refer to as 'Army Boy' (this post explains) and we were going through a pretty horrible time. If you aren't familiar with the song then here it is just for you!

You can't have an evening out with me without me shouting 'Oh my god this reminds me of ....'. It's just what music does to us. Music is a universal language in which everyone can communicate through. Music helps us with all sorts of emotions. For example, when I am angry or sad I like to lock myself away and just listen to music, generally ballads, and then I feel fine. When we are happy we listen to music and have a dance about, when we are sad we listen to music and cry, when we are angry we listen to music to relax. It also has the opposite effect. Listening to a certain piece of music can instantly change our mood.

Due to us remembering certain memories or feelings it helps keep the music popular, take the Spice Girls for example, even now, when I hear any of their songs I am instantly uplifted and happy as it reminds me of being so happy with my friends in my childhood. 

There are also a couple of Adele songs that remind me of certain boyfriends I have had in the past and I always think of them when I hear those songs. 

I find it funny how in just three minutes and a few words with a tune behind can change our whole mood or make us remember good or bad times. In those few seconds we are transported.

Do you have any songs that stand out and remind you of certain people or memories?

xxx

My Uncles 40th Party OOTN ...

Last night I went to a big family party to celebrate my Uncle's 40th birthday. I thought I would share with you an OOTN, As I didn't intend on doing this post, I haven't got any close up shots of make up or accessories but I hope you enjoy all the same.

This was the outfit. I was going to wear something completely different but the skirt needed taking in (hoorah!) and the Mother didn't have enough time so I threw this together.

The top is just a vest top with the Union Jack and Jessie J's face printed on it (I love her and would actually marry her if I could) which I bought from Asda for about £9 last Spring. The skirt I bought for about £12 at the end of Summer from Primark last year. You can't really see but its got a dipped hem and is like wrap over style at the front.

I teamed it with my mums leather jacket from Next and some patent platform black shoes. As I was in a rush I completely forgot about jewellery so I just had my everyday Thomas Sabo and my Swarovski Pandora style bracelets on.

As for the make up ...

I went for a minimal base with only a slight contour and a sweep of light pink blush from the back of my cheekbones towards the apples of my cheeks. For the eyes I went for Jest by MAC across the lid which is a gorgeous shimmery light pink. I then created a cat eye using the MUA waterproof eyeliner and softened it by using Black Tide from MAC which I took one third across under my eye. In my waterline I used the Black Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeliner where the black shadow was and for the rest I used the Nude one. 

To top the look off I filled in my brows and popped on a pair of lashes and set the look using some MAC Fix+ Spray. 

For my hair I just used my GHDs to create soft waves and I didn't set it with any hairspray to keep the look natural and my hair shiny and soft.

What look will you be sporting this weekend?

Jazz

xxx

All You Need Is Love ...

As you guys will be aware, life isn't too brilliant for me at the moment.

Usually I am the type of person who doesn't really share how I am feeling with my family and I usually ask advice from my best girl friends and or partners. Lately however, my Mum has been the best shoulder to cry on I could ask for.

A few days ago I had a little bit of a cry and moan (when I say a little it was more like an actual meltdown but we shall overlook this), she was absolutely fantastic! She is helping me out financially whilst I am trying to look for work/sort out some financial aid which is brilliant. Paying my phone bill, car insurance and debt, I couldn't ask for more!

Also with being single etc, I have come to realise lately that as long as you have friends and family in your life you have all the riches you need in life! As long as you have that love in your life, you have already won in the game of life.

Houses, Cars, Money, Clothes, Jewellery, Technology ... they are nothing unless you have loved ones around you to share it with. 

We take so much in life for granted, sometimes we need to just stop and take a second to look around us and realise that everything we need is right there, we already have everything we need in life.

This is an extremely old photo of my Mum and me, It was taken Christmas 2009. I thought I would share it with you all the same.

Also I have been toying with the idea of doing some videos. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Enjoy your day!

Jazmine

xxx

Life Snippets Round 2 ...

So my Endometriosis has been taking it's toll on me lately ... hence the lack of activity on here of late. The pain has got so much worse so again instead of leaving you with nothing I thought I would give you some other life snippets.

 

These life snippets are going to be totally random, in no specific order and complete and utter ramblings as my brain is just going to be emptied.

 

Music

 

Here in the UK most people's opinion of Cher Lloyd is rather negative, most people see her as the annoying chav that was on a reality show. The American's however, love her and her success over there has been phenomenal. Whilst having a browse on YouTube a few nights ago, I came across an actual diamond of a tune by Cher and have not stopped listening to it ... So I thought I would share ...

 

 

I think the song is simply beautiful and reminds me of the guy who I told you about a few posts ago ... You know the one who said he liked me, then I didn't hear from him ... you can read it over here.

 

TV

 

I am completely and utterly obsessed with the ABC show Revenge. It is so gripping and I find myself always wanting to know more once an episode has finished. After the first series I didn't think they could make a second as good but it is in fact a whole lot better than the first.

 

Also I have been super excited about the return of Catchphrase and I am actively trying to find out how to apply for the show as since I was about 6 I have always said I have wanted to appear on it and to be fair I am pretty good at it!

 

Food & Drink

 

Being the absolute fatty I am I had to include what I have been obsessed with of late! As a lover of a good old coffee house Iced Latte I love trying out the different flavours and speciality drinks. My local coffee house is Costa which I like but I much prefer Starbucks. I have however, discovered a cheeky little drive through Starbucks not too far away from me. This is where I have discovered the peppermint iced latte which was like an actual party in my mouth ... simply amazing!!!

 

Men

 

I need a break from them, they are just irritating me now! They boy who I went on a couple of dates with, I think is taking our friendship too far in his head and I just need some time to be myself without boys getting in the way in a serious, emotional capacity. I think I need to use and abuse them for a bit and use them as my play things!

 

Work

 

Lets just not even go there!!!

 

I hope life is going well for you all and you are enjoying your day!!

 

Jazmine

 

xxx

 

 



Life Snippets ...

Due to the fact I have been suffering something chronic with my Endometriosis pain the last couple of days, I haven't really been able to focus on actual thoughts for me to relay them in a proper post. I have decided however, to give you some little life snippets of how life is going for Jazzabelle at the moment.

 

Some of you may have seen yesterday on Twitter that I made some more MUA purchases, this time around I bought two nail polishes in 'Moody Mink' and 'Natural Days', I also purchased the Power Pout in 'Broken Hearted'.

 

I just want to comment on the new packaging for the MUA polishes, they are extremely comparable to the Essie packaging and I love it! They are such a good size and for £1 the polishes are extremely opaque. Another thing I would like to comment on is the fact that MUA have listened to us and are actually giving names instead of just shade numbers to the products which I love! MUA are one of my all time favourite brands and they just keep raising their game which leaves me impressed each and every time.

 

'Natural Days' is a milky baby pink colour, it is one of those almost white colours with just a hint of colour. It did take a good 3/4 coats for me to achieve the colour density I wanted but it is definitely buildable.

 

'Moody Mink' is just the most gorgeous grey/purple colour and is such a sophisticated colour, it is perfect for the office. This is the first dusky colour in my polish collection, I usually go for pastels or brights but I am super impressed. It took 2 coats for me to achieve the colour shown which again left me very impressed.

 

The polishes dried super quick on my nails, literally within about a minute. I have a few other MUA polishes in my collection in the old packaging and I am convinced they have changed the formula as well. I cannot use enough words to tell you just how impressed I am and I am going back to my local Superdrug tomorrow to buy more!

 

I am yet to try the Power Pout tint & balm but if you would like me to do a review/first impressions post just let me know.

 

Yesterday the above arrived and I was so excited. It is a Swarovski crystal Pandora style bracelet which retails for £110. I actually purchased this through Groupon and I snapped it up at a fantastic £20! I couldn't actually justify leaving it there and I have been waiting for it to arrive for about 3/4 weeks so I was so happy when it finally arrived. It is a silver bracelet with silver, purple and pink crystal and glass charms. WHAT A BARGAIN!!!
 

 

*In Other News*

 

* I am going on a second date with the boy from Saturday ... Excellent!

* My job hunt is going from bad to worse!

* My driving lessons are going very well ... I WILL pass soon!

* I am extremely hungover and need stodgy food but I am determined to eat healthy!


One of my bestest friends in the whole wide world is dipping her toes into the blogging waters so I would love it if you popped over to read what The Little Butterfly is getting up to =D

 

Feel free to share a little life snippet in the comments!!

 

Enjoy your day

 

xxx

Don't Stop Me Now ...

 

Sometimes in life certain things happen that make us take a step back, take a look at our life and really think about where it is headed. A few months back I went through a pretty tough break up and this really made me think about making some pretty major changes in my life.

 

If there is one thing my ex taught me is to always see the positive in things and to go for whatever you believe in. He always pushed me to go for what I wanted in life when we were together and our relationship ending has been a massive life changer for me.

 

Obviously my life was turned upside down and I had to move back in with my family but I really have come through, I am now on the other side and I am going to start reaching for those goals I thought would never be possible. Dreams are only impossible if you never try to achieve them.

 

Yesterday I made it my mission to step outside of my comfort zone and really go for my dreams and this time I will not give up until I reach them. Ok so maybe I don't have a ton of qualifications or degrees but it's not like I am going to try and become a Lawyer or a Doctor, I want to share my life experiences with the world and if I get a hundred doors slammed in my face along the way, so be it, there will be one that stays open!

 

I know it will be a loooooooooong journey and a tough one at that but if we really want to succeed in life we need to work at it!

 

I hope that has given you a little food for thought. Has anything happened in your life that urged you to make big life changes?

 

xxx

 

 

*Image Ref: google.com*

Starting Again ...

As bloggers we are leaving ourselves almost vulnerable, we write all of our thoughts, feelings and emotions about something and then publish it online for the whole world to see. Sometimes people like what you write, other times they don't, but that's just life, we don't have to like everything all the time. Life would be boring if that happened.

 

Being in this vulnerable position we are constantly questioning the content of our blogs and questing our individuality and our creativity. I see blog layouts change all the time and even sometimes, a blogs name changes. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as people grow and are changing all the time. Again if everything stayed the same in life, that too would make us live in a very boring world.

 

Lately I have been questioning my writing style and capability. I see so many fantastic blogs out there that I just don't think I can compare to but then I stop myself and realise that I am writing my blog for me. I am so thankful to those of you that take just a few minutes out of your day to read any one of my posts as sometimes my life is just too boring but I still share snippets with you which you seem to enjoy.

 

Of late I have been writing about more general things and that is not what I initially set out to do with this blog. I wanted it to be an insight into the life of a confused 23 year old who currently is sitting searching for jobs as the last one fell through. I have so many dream careers and my ultimate goal is to have novels published about my time abroad.

 

This is why I am taking a step back, looking at my blog and I am going to have a bit of a fresh start. I am going to concentrate on the way I write and the content I post.

 

I think to have these changes and recognise these within ourselves shows that we can grow as people and we don't just stick with 'the norm'.

 

So watch this space people ... who knows what is around the corner!!!

 

Do you often question your writing abilities? Has it changed throughout your time as a blogger? Are you comfortable with sticking to 'the norm' or do you like change? I would love to hear your stories!

 

Enjoy your day

 

Jazz

 

xxx

THE date ...





If you follow me on Twitter you may have seen that on Saturday

 night I went on THE date. If you don't know what I mean by THE date then hop over to my Taking The Plunge post which will explain all there!

 

We decided to meet at our local wine bar as it was within walking distance from my house and there was a car park right by for him. I won't lie ... my whole body was LITERALLY shaking as I was walking there, this was all so new and I didn't know what to expect.

 

We walked in and it was PACKED! We ordered our drinks and found a comfy sofa upstairs where we could sit. The conversation flowed and there wasn't really any awkward pauses where we were stuck for conversation which is always a bonus!

 

We mainly chatted about films, shared drunken tales and spoke about holidays.

 

I am so glad I went as I not only got over the irrational fear I had but I also got to spend time with one of the nicest guys I have ever met. Did I feel a connection, I don't know. I am still undecided but I am going to be seeing him again, this time we are going out for a meal. I am really looking forward to it and hopefully I will notice that spark then. 

 

Now I couldn't write a post about my date without sharing with you my hair, make up and outfit of choice for the evening.

 

CUE HIDEOUSLY DODGY PHOTOS!!!

 

Hair - I opted for loose curls/waves as I thought this showed effort but not too much!

 

 

Make Up - I decided to go for gold across the lid with brown in the crease and created a bit of a cat eye with the liner. I kept the rest of the face pretty neutral as I went a bit mad on the tan so just added a slight contour and a peachy pink lip.

 

Also I apologise for how my chin looks in the above picture ... I PROMISE it does not stick out that much!

 

 

Outfit - I chose black skinny jeans with a long black vest and a sheer black shirt with gold foil butterflies on. The shoes are black peep toe boots with gold studs.

 

I would apologise for my messy room but I can safely say this won't be the only time my room looks a mess in my pictures =D

 

Also as I like to treat you once in a while, I thought I would share with you my misfortune of Saturday day whilst getting ready. My tanning fail ...

 

... Thankfully my shoes were enclosed as I think that is a pretty spectacular way of putting a guy off!!!

 

 

Overall the date was a success and I am looking forward to seeing him again.

 

Have you ever met with anyone from online? Dating disasters? Tanning fails?

Also let me know if you think my make-up/hair/ outfit choice was a good one!

 

Enjoy your day

 

Jazz

xxx

Jazzabelle ... Who Are You?! ...

There is nothing worse than reading a blog which is so candid about someone's life and feeling like you don't 100% connect with that person. I don't think there is anything worse than not being able to see a picture of who you are reading about.

 

This is why, over the last week or so, I have been thinking about changing my blog from relatively Anonymous to letting myself be me free and completely open and letting you guys know what I look like and who I am.

 

This may sound a little strange and some of you may not have a clue what I am on about but there is something more personal tweeting or commenting on someone's blog when there is a picture of them for you to see.

 

The online community is such a fantastic one that I am actually looking forward to giving you another little insight to who I am. I figure that no matter what/who I write about ... If anyone I know sees it, they probably know that about me already and as for the boys I write about ... They wouldn't even know where to start with a blog!!!

 

So here it goes ... You ready to meet me???

 

....

 

*I like the way Marylin casually photo bombs ... and she's looking god dam sexier than me!!!*


So that is me and my face!

I thought I would share some facts about me with you so you can get to know me EVEN better ... what a treat!

1. I named my blog Jazzabelle as this is a nickname my Grandma has for me.
2. I worked in Portugal, Greece and Lanzarote as a Holiday Rep.
3. I find squeezing spots WAAAAY to satisfying for any normal human being.
4. One of my dream jobs is to be on Coronation Street.
5. I am a hopeless romantic.
6. Barbie is my idol.
7. I want to write a series of novels based on my experience as a Rep.
8. My favourite colour is Pink!
9. I do karaoke ... a lot!
10. I applied to be in the group S Club Juniors ... Just think I could have been in the Saturdays right now!

There you have it guys, I hope you enjoyed seeing my face ... as much as that is possible and I hope you feel a bit better knowing exactly who you are talking to now!

Enjoy your day!

Jazz
xxx


P.S. It's date night tonight so wish me luck EEEEEEK!!!



Something For The Weekend ...

Today I am writing my first requested post. It was requested by a good friend of mine and ... it may not be exactly what you expect. Todays post is all about Tia Maria.




Tia Maria is a coffee flavoured liquor with vanilla and caramel undertones. It is generally served over ice but I think Tia Maria is overlooked when it comes to cocktails. There are so many delicious concoctions you can come up with using this gorgeous liquor and ladies ... I think it's time we experimented!

I am going to share with you a few of my favourite simple cocktail recipes for you to try at home.

Jaffa Cake

 

 

1 part Tia Maria

1 part Cointreau

2 parts Cola

 

Add all ingredients into a glass, throw in some crushed ice, serve with an orange wedge and voila!

 

White Russian

 

33ml Tia Maria
50ml Vodka

33ml Cream

 

Over ice in a glass pour in the Vodka and Tia Maria, stir and finally add the cream on the top. Do not stir before serving, it should create a layered effect in the glass.

Calypso Coffee

20ml Tia Maria
150ml Coffee
30ml Cream

Leave the coffee to cool then pour in a glass with the Cream and Tia Maria over ice.

 

 

Box It Up

 

15ml Tia Maria

15ml Amaretto

 

Throw both ingredients into a glass over ice and there you have it a simple yet effective cocktail!

 

 

 

These are just some of my favourite cocktails using Tia Maria as they take little effort and time to make. Why not get the girls round for a girly night in, Each bring a different cocktail ingredient and experiment with your Tia Maria.

 

Next time you reach for your Tia Maria, don't just pour it over ice, think about making your drink that little more fun!

 

What drink do you usually reach for? Has this inspired you to be more adventurous with your weekend tipples? Will you be trying any of these?

 

Have Fun!!!

 

xxx

 

*Remember to drink responsibly and only drink if you are of the legal age for your country.





**This post is by no means sponsored and was purely a request from a dear friend of mine and I have not profited in any way from this post.



*Image Ref : www.tiamaria.com*

Taking The Plunge ...

 

 

 

 

After my online dating post went up I decided to take the plunge and agree to a date with a guy who I have been talking to for about a good week or so now. He lives not too far from me and he seems very genuine and kind and we have a lot in common.

 

I am still PETRIFIED to meet him as I am diving head first into the unknown but I just thought, I have nothing to lose and if I don't do it now, I never will.

 

I can't take all of the credit though, me and two of my best friends decided to make a pact. We have each been talking to guys who we quite like so we decided, If one of us asked our guy out on a date, the rest of us had to! I was the first one so the other two took the plunge with me. It was quite comforting knowing that two of my best friends will be sharing the journey with me.

 

The guy and I have decided we will go out just for a drink at the weekend and then if we hit it off we will do dinner another time. The only problem in which I have now is ... WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR?!?!

 

I have two outfits in mind. I know I will wear skinny jeans, heels and a vest top. Over the top I am thinking either a blazer or a sheer shirt to look a bit more casual. Let me know in the comments which one you think I should go for.

 

I have however, just had to explain in a text what a blog is ... not the easiest task!

 

If you want to know how it goes just let me know ... and PLEASE le me know your suggestions on the outfit!!!

 

xxx



Twitter Feed Is Blocked ...

The more popularity blogging gains, the more people start to blog and the more popularity blogs get the more bloggers feel inclined to hold a giveaway. Giveaways usually occur when blogs reach a certain milestone, generally a certain number of followers or a blogs anniversary.

 

Now I am all for giveaways, everyone likes a freebie don't they! What I am not liking these days is what you have to do to enter these giveaways.

 

Bloggers usually start a giveaway by saying that to say thank you they are giving something away to us. They then proceed to explain the giveaway 'rules'. The word giveaway to me indicates us gaining something with ease. This is not the case.

 

Generally, these days to enter a giveaway you have to leave a comment, follow the blogger on GFC or another site, follow the blogger on twitter, tweet about the giveaway, write a blog post about the giveaway and follow facebook pages.

 

This completely puts me off! Generally the only giveaways I will enter will be where I only have to be a follower and leave a comment this is mainly because I don't understand why we have to do a million things when we can just do two and still have the name chance as before.

 

I am getting increasingly frustrated these days with giveaways as my Twitter feed is just getting in and dated with tweets about giveaways and it's not just the odd one, it's around 20 at a time.

 

I suppose the point I am trying to make is that I think bloggers are taking giveaways a bit too far and surely as long as we are following their blogs and comment surely that's entry enough as it is after all supposed to be a thank you for following.

 

What do you think about giveaways? Do you use giveaway 'rules' when you hold them?

 

xxx