LIFE: Girls night – staying in or going out?
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LIFE: Girls night – staying in or going out?

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*In collaboration with Ladbrokes Bingo*

I’m always eager for any excuse to wear heels – even if it isn’t really much of an excuse!

So when I meet up with the girls, you can be absolutely certain that I’m going to be sporting a pair of heels – the most fabulous ones I can dig out from my wardrobe.

And when I do meet up with my lovely ladies, one thing is certain. As long as I’m with them I can be sure of a good night.

But I’m still undecided about whether I prefer a quiet night in or a raucous night out these days. Recently I read a survey by Ladbrokes Bingo about exactly this and was pretty fascinated by some of the results so I thought I’d share some of them with you and get your thoughts.

Going out

Night out

Ok, so according to the survey, 65% of women said that going out on the town was best for a bit of ‘randomness’ whilst 62% said it was better for excitement. (I can definitely see their point here!)

But there were also other factors that aren’t so positive, in regards to a night on the tiles, that came up in the findings.

A whopping 74% of those surveyed said that you can be sure of spending lots of money on a night out which definitely has to be one of the downfalls, especially in these testing economic times.

If you’re making a proper night of it and going all out to have a good time, eating out and then drinks after can really stack up those precious pounds. Add a nightclub entrance fee on top of all this and well, let’s just say, you won’t have much change left in your purse by the end of the night.

I was delighted to see that many of the things that annoy me about a night out also featured. Half of those surveyed said it was pretty irritating having to pay to get into a club or a bar while 45 per cent said that getting a drink spilt over their stylish outfit was one of their main gripes. We’ve all been there!

But ladies what is going on with this?! Only 6% of those surveyed said that they thought their heels breaking was the worst part of the night! Now I don’t know about you, but that would definitely be one of my nightmares and yes folks, I have had it happen to me before, albeit a long time ago. *Shudders at the memory*

Staying in

Night in final copy

In regards to staying in, some of you may know that whenever I’ve had the girls over, I love making my own cocktails. Why? Well they taste great, are far more glamorous than a glass of plonk and cost a fraction of the price they would in a bar. I adore Cosmopolitans and Mojitos, but am also always open to try out any other ideas my girlfriends have.

Unsurprisingly, the survey said that one of the best things about staying in is the chit-chat with 57% of women questioned agreeing and I have to say that for me this is definitely the best bit.

After all, it’s pretty hard to catch up on all the gossip when there’s music blaring out all around you! Plus, I have to admit, now I’m a mummy to a little one, staying in and having fun means not having to worry about a babysitter too which is a massive plus in my book.

So what about you? Which do you prefer? Are you always up for a night out or do you find that these days, you’d much rather have a cosy night in?

Till the next time, it doesn’t really matter how you catch up with your girlfriends, just make sure you do!

Katie

x

SASS: My thoughts on what makes YOU beautiful…
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SASS: My thoughts on what makes YOU beautiful…

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FORGET the fakery, forget the pursuit of perfection, when it comes to lasting ‘beauty’, it’s your uniqueness that stands you apart from others.

That makes YOU special. That makes YOU beautiful.

Forget what the media and advertising executives want you to believe, real beauty is so much more than skin deep.

Example? Have you ever been bowled over by a visually stunning person in real life only to see their beauty diminish before your very eyes as you find out they’re actually rather dull or pretty unpleasant?

This is because the way you look is only a tiny part of what makes you beautiful. The rest has to come from the inside. From the very core of your being.

Corny? Perhaps, but yet totally true.

Think of the people you know who you consider to be beautiful and for a moment, forget about their style, their luscious hair or prettiness and look a little deeper.

My guess is that it’ll be something else, something perhaps that you might not even be able to put your finger on, that makes them stand apart in your mind.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a total advocate for making the most of ourselves and looking our best. We all look and more importantly, feel better, with a bit of spit and polish.

But true beauty isn’t something that can be created with a slick of lipstick or a bottle of the finest fake tan.

No, no, no. This can only really come from you character, your joie de vivre, your spirit.

Think of yourself as a beautifully wrapped present. Yes you want the packaging to look lovely and enticing but the real value of you, the actual present, lies inside not out.

It’s the happiness in your face when you laugh, the twinkle in your eyes when you’re thinking something naughty, the compassion when you smile warmly at someone, the movement in your body when you dance.

So…

* Showcase your imperfections, don’t hide them.
* Celebrate your age, don’t fear it. Age does NOT define us, but it will if you let it.
* Be proud of who you are but humble enough to be gracious.
* Appreciate your body and be thankful – yes thankful – for what you have been given.
* Be kind to yourself. Only show yourself love and respect.
* Stop comparing yourself to others.
* Realise that life is too short to chase perfection and that actually, it’s in imperfection where outstanding beauty lies.
* Enjoy life so much that it’s written all over your face! I’d rather have a face full of well deserved laughter lines any day than be a bitter-faced misery scared of cracking a smile. Wouldn’t you?
* Rejoice in all that makes you, YOU (Including the bits you don’t like).

Till the next time, know that you ARE indeed beautiful.

Katie

x

The picture above is of a precious drawing created by my niece when I was pregnant over a year ago. Why have I used it? Because it was a time in my life when I looked a million miles away from perfection but yet felt totally and utterly beautiful. Thank you Ella x

SECRETS: How to make money from your clutter…
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SECRETS: How to make money from your clutter…

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clutter

WE’VE all got stuff that we no longer like, need or want cluttering our lives.

I for one, have got all manner of things gathering dust in my home, that no longer tickle my fancy.

Most of it is in either a reasonable or pretty perfect condition so isn’t fit for the trash, but definitely needs a new home or to be put to better use.

Since moving house back in September, I have found all kinds of stuff that needs to be shipped on and shipped out of my home.

And now Elsie is with us, well, let’s just say, unless you’re a parent, you just cannot believe the amount of toys, books and clothes she has gone through already and she’s not even 11 months old!

So this weekend I’ve decided to finally take some action and begin to tackle the clutter. I’ve bagged up stuff for charity shops, kept a few bits to one side for family and friends and have started wading through our mammoth mountains of things that we no longer love but someone else might.

And because, like for all of us, it would be nice to have a few extra pounds in the bank, I’m also going to start putting together a pile of items I am going to sell.

I’m going to wade through our vast collections of CDs (remember those?!), books and games and flog them, together with my Nintendo Wii, with the help of the genuis site Music Magpie.

Seriously, I don’t know how I have never come across the site before as the service is so easy! But if like me, you’re a novice, let me explain.

Basically you can sell all manner of odds and sods through the site from DVDs to books to clothes! All you need to do is gather your saleable items together and then visit their site or use the mobile app to get an instant valuation price.

Once you’ve got all your items covered, you’ll then be asked to pop them all together in a box and drop it off at a designated send shop or have a courier pick it up from you, for absolutely free! When your items have been checked at Music Magpie you’ll then receive your cash.

I mean, think about it, when a service like this, is this good, is there any excuse to be holding onto things you no longer want that can make you money?!

Admittedly, having a clear out isn’t particularly my favourite way to spend a weekend but I’m keeping focused on the job by thinking about what I’m going to do with the lovely extra money when it lands in my bank account…

Shoe shopping and champagne cocktails anyone?! ;-)

Till the next time, ditch the clutter!

Katie

x

*Please note – this is a sponsored post.

FRIDAY FIVE: A Cornish holiday…
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FRIDAY FIVE: A Cornish holiday…

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family

JUST a few weeks ago I was sat on a beach in beautiful Cornwall, listening to the waves and thinking, this is the life.

Our little break definitely did us all the world of good and weather wise, well folks, we got pretty lucky. Not quite Carribean temperatures but perfectly pleasant indeed.

For Elsie it was a week of firsts – her first touch of sand, her first ‘swim’ in a pool, the first time she’s seen the sea, her first taste of icecream!

ElsieAnd for us? Well as two exhausted parents, it was a chance to enjoy a much needed change of scene, a few lie-ins (thank you big sister and niece!) and to relax a little.

In honour of our first family holiday, here are five things I did on holiday that I absolutely loved, including a few of my favourite holiday snaps. Afterall, a holiday isn’t a holiday without sharing a few pics!

Swam with Elsie 

Elsie swim

The pool at our holiday let may have been too cold for Elsie but that didn’t stop us going for a splash! On one of the not so pleasant weather days, we ventured to the local swimming baths in Launceston and took Elsie for her first dip in a pool.

Any reservations I had about her being ok disappeared almost as quickly as we went in. She was – as I’d hoped – as happy as a fish in water and completely in her element. (Perhaps no surprise as she is a water sign!)

For me it was the first time I’ve been in a swimsuit since being pregnant and although I can’t say I was completely looking forward to the experience, a few weeks of sensible eating beforehand and my amazing swimwear, *the Oceanus black swimming costume by Miraclesuit, meant it wasn’t nowhere near as painful as I thought!

(*Seriously, this swimsuit is genuis. If you feel insecure about your figure or need a little help, invest in one of these. It flatters, tightens and lifts in all the right places.)

 

Ate fish & chips on the beach

fish &chips

A British holiday just would not be complete without tucking into some fish & chips on the beach. Joined by my sister, brother-in-law, two nephews and niece, it was one of the loveliest moments of the holiday.

Yes the sand got everywhere but boy did the food taste good! There’s nothing quite like eating fish and chips on the beach in the sunshine. Bude beach, our fish & chip destination, was pretty damn marvellous too. Well worth a visit if you’re in the area.

 

Visited an otter park

otter

I love animals. Always have, always will. So I was more than a little excited when I discovered that there was an otter park in our vicinity.

As well as cooing over the ridiculously cute otters (they really do make the cutest sounds!) we fed deer with our hands, saw the most beautiful peacocks including white ones (I kid you not) admired many birds of prey and got up close and personal with wallabys lurking in the bluebells.

Tamar Otter & Wildlife Centre is a great and relatively cheap tourist place to visit and spend a day, especially if you’ve got little ones. Just don’t expect quick service from the cafe!

 

Bought a vintage teapot

Teapot

When it comes to vintage crockery, I just can’t get enough. So when I spotted a fabulous little antique shop in the pretty town of Launceston with an even more fabulous teapot in it’s window, I could have jumped for joy.

This teapot is the perfect finishing touch to my vintage china collection and I can’t wait to get it out for my next vintage tea party.

On a side note, Launceston is a charming little Cornish town. Featuring a medieval church, Norman castle, antique goodies and plenty of impressive charity shops, it’s just the place to while away a few leisurely hours.

My top tip? If you do go, just make sure you pay the ‘Cornish Delicacies’ cafe a visit, opposite the church. It’s one of the best cafes I’ve ever eaten in, with an authentic charm all of it’s own. Truly brilliant.

 

Spent time with loved ones
the gang

Our first family holiday was spent with some of my extended family. As my family don’t live local to me, it was such a treat to spend quality time with everyone.

Spending time with the people I love the most was a reminder that the many stresses and strains of modern life can often get in the way of us catching up with our nearest and dearest.

I miss them all so much already that it’s making me more determined than ever to get dates set in the diary for many more lovely occasions. Afterall, creating special memories is what life is all about.

Till the next time, never underestimate the power of a ‘change of scene’!

Mwah,

Katie

x

Disclaimer – the swimsuit was kindly gifted to me, but as always, has only been given a mention because it deserves one for it’s brilliance. Yes, it really is that good. 

And the sassy ‘know yourself’ competition winner is…
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And the sassy ‘know yourself’ competition winner is…

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Pic sass winner

I LOVE announcing competition winners on my blog but I especially love it when I have news like this to share…

To the three ladies who took the time to comment on my ‘SASS: How to get to know yourself a little better’ post, (that’s you Jennifer Rowe, Honest Mum and Suzi) I have amazing news.

The very kind and lovely Rachael Hibberd has decided to choose not just one winner, but three!

Yep, as all your comments were so brilliant and inspiring, Rachael has very kindly offered you all a complimentary one hour massage or reflexology treatment at her new premises in Sheffield.

Well done to you all and a huge thank you to Rachael for not only providing some wonderful words of wisdom for the post but for her incredible generosity too.

Enjoy your treatment ladies, (I can recommend the reflexology!) I will be in touch shortly with the details of how to claim your prize!

Till the next time, love yourself. Every. Single. Incredible. Inch.

Katie

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