Let the Christmas (party) season commence!!!

Hi folks,

This last week at work has been so stressful and busy but it’s the run up to Christmas and as you can imagine – the start of the many work (and personal) Christmas parties I’m due to attend. This time last year, I wasn’t exactly doing the most glamorous of jobs back in Wales (see here) so its fair to say the Christmas party I attended last year wasn’t as much a Christmas party as it was an excuse to get drunk and give my liver a good battering.

A bit of a sidetrack here but I just remembered that I’ve not even begun Christmas shopping yet. I do tend to leave it till the last minute anyway so there’s nothing out of the ordinary there but for some reason, I’m starting to stress about it. I say stress but it’s more like I remember every three days that I’ve still not started and I try to look on Amazon/Selfridges/Play.com and eventually get distracted by the shoes or bags, which I end up never buying. It’s a vicious cycle.

Anyway, after a stressful week, I was looking forward to one of many Christmas parties and it was going to be a laid back event with lots of friends and promised to be a good night. I showed up at the event which was pretty swanky in my old jeans, heels, and a Beatles shirt I got from a thrift shop in Camden and a nice little jacket (lazy and laid back – just how I like it! lol) and I felt like the bees knees… until I walked into the room and realised it was a black tie event! Oh the shame... *shakes head* I literally have no idea how this happened.

I’m not the kind of person that doesn’t take dress codes seriously and I even asked a few times this week about what the dress code for the event was! It was so cliché I just couldn’t help but laugh (not all out crazy laughter – more like an inside laughter) I already looked out of place standing at the entrance of the venue dressed like I was going to a concert or off to do my laundry - there was no way I was going to let people think I was crazy as well.

I looked at my invitation, which made no mention of a dress code thought it did mention a champagne reception and a nice 5 course meal. Retrospectively, the fact that it was a 5 course meal should have sent alarm bells ringing in my head but hey ho… After about a minute of laughing and trying to compose my self, I decided there was only one thing to do – go in there, have a great time and drink my faux pas away! I did get a few (okay, more than ‘a few’) strange looks but all in all, it ended up being a fantastic night!

These are a few of my favourite things...

Another instalment in “These are a few of my favourite things”.  So, without further ado, these are the things that are either rocking my world or that I aspire to get to rock my world. Not the most exciting or adventurous of lists but winter’s round the corner and its hibernation time! Hahaha!

1.) Nandos – You can beat that Piri piri chicken. I swear I practically drink the sauce everytime I go. And I always go extra hot as well!!! Partly because I like it (I love spicy food!!!) but also partly to prove to my friends that I can!

2.) Champagne – Especially free Champagne! Haha! I like the bubbles – not so much the hangover the next day if you’re fortunate (or unfortunate – I can decide which) to get drunk on it.

3.) Open fire – I love going back to the country side and snuggling in front of the fire place. It’s like my favourite place in the house at winter.

4.) The Inbetweeners – H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S!!! Amazing show! And I fancy two of the guys! Joe Thomas (who plays Simon – hubba hubba!!!) and Blake Harrison (who plays Neil). Another ‘don’t judge me’ moment here – I looked on Wikipedia and it turns out they’re actually older than me, so there. Haha!

5.) D&G Mini Bag – Fantastic on a night out! Stores the essentials – keys, mobile phone… you get the picture.

6.) Orchids – These are, without a doubt, my favourite flowers! Sorry but roses just don’t cut it with these bad boys around. They take ages to bloom but they’re so worth it!

7.) Archie comics – these are such a throw back to me growing up and I like them as much now as I did before! I just stock piled on almost 40 of them for Christmas time. (I did say it was hibernation time)

8.) Chanel Watch – such a classic design! I want one! So much… So, er…. if you wanna treat me to something nice for Christmas… * hint * * hint *

9.) Pugs – Sooooooooooooooooo cute!!!!!!!!!!!! Need I say more!

10.) John Lewis Christmas advert - This is one of my favourite things mostly because it totally took me by surprise! I’d ignored it initially till one day I was watching TV and stuffing my face my pizza and I watched it properly. I was crying by the end of it – and I assure you, I don’t cry that easily. Not with adverts anyway. Lol! I expected a different ending as well, which added to the surprise.


And that’s all folks! Catch you soon! xoxo

Love, Life and Amsterdam

Guess it’s about time I finally gave you guys an update on my neighbour/love-life situation, eh? (See last post here). It’s been so hectic at work lately and I’m ashamed to say this but asides the occasional meet up for food/drinks/sex/whatever, there’s not been much on that front. Totally my fault (or rather, my choice) - I’ve been so busy with work and I’m finally getting to travel lots with my job and as a result I’ve not had as much chance to actually commit properly to anything. He’s been pretty awesome though and I have a great time with him but there’s nothing ‘major’ happening there apart from both of us having a good time together – whenever I can fit that it (Hahaha! That makes me sound like such a self-important diva! I’m not! I swear!)

Also as you all might have noticed, I tend to be a typically happy-go-lucky kinda girl however I have just gotta gripe about a little pet hate I discovered this weekend - Overly confident drunk guys… lol! (keyword there being ‘drunk’!). So, I was out with work colleagues and after my experience the previous week (see post here), I figured I’d best stick to one drink and then grab some dinner. No workday hangovers for me, no sireee! So not worth the headache… literally! Anyway, seeing as there was no way one cocktail was gonna get me drunk, I was pretty sober and as a result, pretty observant that evening. Side note - my body has become so tolerant to alcohol which is pretty bad news for my purse methinks! I digress… At the first bar, there was a barmaid who was flirty with one of the guys on my team - she gave him a free pint and all. Everyone noticed and he got her number before we left –This moment was the creation of a monster! For the rest of the night he kept trying to chat up every single lady who served us (even in the restaurant) it was so unbelievably funny watching the uncomfortable waitresses squirming and trying to be polite while doing their best to get away. Worst thing was he was so drunk he didn’t seem to pick up on the fact that he was a one-hit wonder (and that one-hit had little to do with his ‘pick-up’ skills – the waitress went out of her way to get his attention). I know I’m not one to judge as I like a drink or two myself (make that ten... or twenty, hehehe!) but his oblivion to his faux pax was hilarious! This is definitely a pet-hate I can handle.

In other news though, I did get to go to Amsterdam this week. I loved every minute of it! Apparently, I get to go to other cities as well as part of the project I’m working on – can’t wait! I officially love my job!!! In usual tradition, I took a few photos…

Finished it off with some fantastic sea-food! Deeeeeeee-lish!

What do Adele, Sarah Jessica Parker and Lewis Hamilton have in common?

O-M-G! I’ve been so busy this week but I had an amazing end to my week! On Thursday I got to see Adele perform live (and for free!) and also Lewis Hamilton and Sarah Jessica Parker *faints*. Adele is so amazing live and she is so crazily funny! Lewis Hamilton seems like such a gentleman and SJP is such a doll! Also got to see Jonathan Ross (British TV Presenter) so if you’re pretty clever I’m sure you can already guess how and where I got to see them all! Jonathan is so funny too! Glad he's back on TV again! For those who don’t know who these people are (how?!!!) here are pictures below…(we weren't allowed to use our own cameras at the event - sorry folks!)

Adele

Lewis Hamilton

Sarah Jessica Parker

Jonathan Ross

After this I figured I’d pop into McDonalds for a quick snack…yes, my non-existent diet has totally gone out of the window.  I’m more of a KFC girl myself to be honest but McD’s was a lot closer so went for the lazy option. (Lazy and greasy, help me! Lol!) Sometimes, I’m not sure if I have the best friends ever or  just the worst (I love them all the same!). They’re so supportive and encouraging with everything I do – which you would think is a good thing but when you’re not sure if you should get three ice-creams, go large with your meal and get an extra portion of chips, encouragement is the last thing you need.  I ended the night feeling sick from eating too much ice cream, okay maybe the extra chips and the large meal added to that too but I definitely think it was the ice cream that tipped the edge.

Still, it was a great evening! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Adele!!!

Quick Dinner

So the other day I met up with friends for drinks and a catch-up and in between bars, we stumbled on a random restaurant where you get to select different stuff and have them cooked for you. I just love the fact that the food is cooked right in front of you! There's something special about seeing everything flambéed! 

And of course I had to finish off with dessert!!! Yum!!!

Dessert Surprise

 

(WARNING: FAIRLY RANDOM SUNDAY MUSING...)

I love dessert. It's probably my favourite part of any 3 or more course meal. Doesn't even matter what it is, it just needs to be called dessert. So imagine how confused I feel when you're offered a meal at a friends and you (shamelessly) stuff your face full, and when you're so full that only an industrial style tractor can move you off your seat, they then announce that dessert is ready.... I mean, come on! You coulda warned me before hand. Im left so conflicted. On the one hand, I'm so full I can barely (...actually scratch that, I can't) move and on the other hand I absolutely LOVE dessert so in the end I just give up and give in. I carry on eating till I feel  so sick and unbelievablly round (...at this point, I'm scared shitless of needles or any sharp objects, one prick and I'm guaranteed to burst! Pardon the pun)  and the end of it all, I'm pretty certain of one thing - I love dessert but I hate dessert surprises.... (Apologies for the randomness of this post)