Goodbye August

 

Today is the 31st of August. Where has that gone?

I'm sure it wasn't that long since it was July and I was decided to do a post everyday this month. Which I am happy say, as soon as I upload this I will have achieved. I don't care that my blog messed up last week, I posted that Doctor Who thing on Sunday, look!

 

It's been fun. I've enjoyed trying to come up with something each day, even that has meant sitting in bed at 11pm scratching my head and going what I am still conscious enough to write about.

There are things I wanted to write but haven't manage to fit in such as:

• Age is just a number (coming in September).
• Embarrassing stories when shopping.
• What I wore to work this week.
• Favourite book list.
• Games Day with Marie and Rose.
• A thing about A Level Results.

And probably many more.

 

August has been a busy month for me. There have been some very high highs and some pretty low lows but I still loved it so much. I have my fingers crossed for September. I hope that it brings fun and good fortune for everyone I know. My friend Sam has challenged me to watch a new film (ie a film I haven't seen yet) each week in September. Sam, I officially accept.

 

I hope to keep up to regular posting although I don't know if I will manage a post everyday yet.

If you read my recent book review then you will know I am feeling inspired to get stuff done at the moment so maybe there will more 'how-to' or 'I made this' or just general 'doing stuff' posts.

 

Anyway, thank you for reading my ramble. 10 points to your house of your choice if you know what calendar I have from the picture up there. If you do, let me know so I can aware the points!

 

Enjoy the last day of August.

Love, Charlotte

 

Back to Work Survival Tips

Hello! I have made it through the first day back relatively chirpy and unscathed. I know, result!

 

I am very aware I had a lot of luck and given different circumstances it could've been a nightmare but good fortune was shining down on me so I figured I'd make the most of it!

Here are my tips for getting to the end of the first day back without crying in the kitchen. (I have done this. It's not fun and highly awkward when people come in to make a brew).

 

• If possible go for a hike or something the day before. If you tire yourself out then you'll find it easier to drop off at the appropriate time for getting up, rather than staying up late like you probably have been. Plus it's a nice way to end the holiday with one last fun activity.
• Remember to set your alarm the night before. Maybe set two. After all you've just gotten out of the habit of getting up early and now you have to force yourself back into it.
• Hope for a sunny day. Yes it's annoying to be at work and not the park when it's sunny but it's always easier to get up when it's bright rather than rainy.
• Have a decent breakfast. I failed to have breakfast at home so I treated myself to a bacon bagel. There was no way I was making it through my inbox without this:

• Pray for a quiet day. This is where I lucked out. I came back to work on the last day before a big deadline. It could've been manic but luckily, my colleagues had obviously bucked down while I was off and there was a sensible amount of work waiting for me.
• Take your lunch break. I know it can be easy to feel like you have to work through lunch but don't. Get out. You are legally entitled to that break-make the most of it!
• If you can get a treat for the afternoon because the memory of breakfast isn't enough to sustain. Me and my admin buddies had genuinely booked 'Costa Monday' in before I went on leave.

White Chocolate and Raspberry Cooler anyone?

• Make sure you get your train. (Or bus. Or get back to your car before the ticket runs out). Even if that means running and finding out that even after only a week off you've gotten pretty unfit.
• Listen to something you enjoy. Whether it's music or a podcast or the sound of the sea, it can really help your mood.
• Walk home. I appreciate this might not be an option for you but I find the walk home is a good opportunity to detach from the working day and get back into 'your' time.
• Arrive home to 'Share a Come with Sis'

 

The cynic in me says that this can't last and that tomorrow will obviously be extra rubbish to make up for today. But I'm loving August so far so I'm trying to stay positive. There's no reason I can't have another good day. After all, the worst one is out of the way!

 

I would love to know what little things you do you to cheer up your day, I'm always looking for tips and tricks to try out. Oo alliterative!

 

Pip pip,

Charlotte x

 

 

Oranges. Part of your 5-a-day

Happy Sunday!

 

For day 3 of August it seemed appropriate to do Product Review number 3 from my mini Soap and Glory Haul. Let's jump right in shall we?

 

The product in question is....

Orangasm: Super Tonic Fragarance

 

If you've read my other reviews then you will know that this is product 3 of the 3 for 2 offer. The others were practical. This was more of a fun purchase.

 

I don't really buy perfumes or sprays. I don't understand them properly and find the amount of choice out there a tad overwhelming. And I'm too lazy to go round the shop testing them all. I know I like citrusy smells, but how you're meant to know if something is going to smell like walking through an orange grove from the bottle I have no idea.

I thought I was onto a winner with this. It looks orange. It's called Orangasm for goodness sake. I had a cheeky spritz in the shop and boy did it smell orangey.

 

This is it! I've found it! My (practically non-existent) search is over!

 

And with a fresh burst of excitement I disregarded all other 3rd item options and headed to the tills.

 

Packaging

As per usual, the packagining is lovely (although it did keep falling out of the bottom of the box in my bag which was annoying). I'm not 100% convinced by the name. I can see what they're doing but it don't think it's as clever as some of their other offerings. Orangasm. It looks good. Harder to say.

 

Product

But what about the important thing? The actual smell? Well, we already know I think it smells pretty darn orangey. But what is disappointing is that the smell does not last very long at all. I know it's not a proper perfume so it's probably not going to last all day but I did have to respray quite a few times through out the day. This isn't what I was after really. And for something called a 'Super Tonic' I expected a little more longevity. If you don't mind respraying in the day then that's okay but for me, it's a quite a big bottle that I don't want to cart round all day with me. My bag is already weighed down enough with various 'essential' bits a bobs. I've got a bad back coming any day now.

 

Price

Even though this was the last thing I chose on the 3 for 2, it was the most expensive so I did actually have to pay for this. £12 I paid. At first, I thought it didn't seem too bad. It's a big bottle after all. And it smells lovely. Much cheaper than a proper perfume. But actually, I'm not sure how long it would last if I used it all the time. I've bought it now and I am happy with it but I'm not sure yet if I would buy it again.

Maybe next time I'll just get a body butter.

 

If you haven't read my other reviews and are interested they can be found here:

Heel Genius

Pulp Friction

If you have read them, forgive me for the cheeky links. :-)

 

Have a wonderful day,

Charlotte x

 

My Mission to cross the Discworld

Hello all,

When I was about 5 I got my very own library card. It was possibly the most exciting day of my life up to that point. I have managed to achieve one or two other things that have surpassed this in the following 20 years but it was a tough act to beat.

It was at my local library that my love of reading was kindled and it's something that has never gone away. I don't think I have a particular favourite genre, but I do like a 'young adult' novel. You know the kind that tend to be about dystopian futures and get turned into films. But I also like mysteries, real life adventures, fiction in general and of course fantasty novels.

The only thing better than a good book is a good book series! The king of book series' on my shelves has to be Harry Potter but any when I was younger I loved Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and the Artemis Fowl stories too. The anticipation of a series is part of what makes it great. Knowing there's another book waiting for you, or that you have to wait for. The bittersweet feeling of holding the last book in your hands knowing that this is it. The end. You never wanted it to happen but it's what you 've been waiting for all this time.

 

More recently, the trilogy seems to have taken over from the longer series. I'm thinking:

The Hunger Games / Catching Fire / Mockingjay

Crossed / Matched / Reached

Divergent / Insurgent / Allegient

 

I haven't finished the last trilogy yet but I very much enjoyed the first and am looking forward to starting the second one in the near future. But even though I enjoy a good trilogy, by their very nature, they just don't have the same feeling of journey, the same peaks of excitement when a new books is released, the build up a of anticipation that only grows as time goes on and the series grows with it.

 

A few years back now, my mum bought me the first three Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett. I was thrilled.

This is it! This shall be my new series. And BOY what a series. I've just had a quick look on his website and there are currently 40 Discworld novels (not to mentions lots more that aren't part of this series in particular). But hmm... At around £7 a go this is going to be a pricey investment. I'm all for spending money on books. Better books than booze in my opinion. But £250ish spare pounds just isn't something I have.

 

So (inspired by a work colleague who did the same for another series) I am on the hunt. The charity shop, car boot sale, market stall hunt to complete my collection for a fraction of the price

As you can see, I'm not really close to completing my collection. But I will... One day!

Mort, Sorcery, Pyramids and Moving Pictures were an average of £2 each from the amazing Barter Bookshop in Alnick (please go an visit if you're in the area) which I don't think is too bad.

But... The Hogfather came from a car boot sale for just 50p! Bargain!

 

For the sake of my memory I will be putting a list of all the Discworld novels in my phone so I can be prepared at all times should an unsuspecting book cross my path!

 

I always love a recommendation so please feel free to share!

 

Happy Reading,

Charlotte xx

 

August Challenge!

Pinch! Punch! 1st of the Month!

Hello and a very happy August to you too.

I would also like to wish my very good friend B a happy birthday (she will probably never read this) and to wish everyone out there a jolly happy Yorkshire Day too. Why not celebrate with some tasty puddings?

 

Anyway, enough of that.

After taking July off I have decided to have another go at the 'Monthly Challenge' by attempting to do a blog post everyday in August.

 

I started this little blog back on the 31st of March because I wanted to do something a bit different from my day to day day drudgery. To get back to doing something creative. And for the most part I think it has helped. But recently, I've found it hard to muster up the concentration to write. I've found it hard to marshall my ideas into sentences and paragraphs. I'm also starting to get that sinking trapped feeling again. Just a little bit. In the very pit of my stomach. And I don't want to let that take over. Not when I know I can make things good if I just keep at it.

 

So, here it is. Post a blog every day. I'm not bothered if it's a review, a diary, a story or a general musing. I just miss having something to aim for. This sounds like the perfect thing to me.

 

If you have any suggestions of things you might like to read about please let me know. Any ideas will be gratefully received: I've got another 30 days worth of content to think of after all!

 

If you've read this far, thank you.

I wish you a Happy Friday and an even Happier August!

Pip pip, Charlotte xx