Smiling on Sunday | What a Week!

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This time last week I was psyching myself up for a mini-break to Bruges after the most beautiful Saturday evening with my sweet boy at Secret Cinema's showing of Back to the Future.

Today we're having a family leaving party for my sister who is off to Hong Kong in just 10 days! After spending a lovely day and a half with our friend's Tom and Matt, this whole week will really have been a great one. Even the Thursday down time where I took the day off to get my life together post-holiday before popping out in the evening for a lovely collegue's leaving do and a pulled pork burger.

As action-packed weeks go, I think this was one of them and I feel like I'll be finishing Sunday up feeling rather blessed indeed - not a bad way to go in to my birthday week even if I do say so myself - just under 6 days until I join The 25 Club!

I'm kind of aware that I'm a bit behind on things as far as posting photos and stuff goes, I haven't even shared my Bruges photos with Moon yet, but I needed to get some words out there, you know... to let you know that I'm doing pretty darn well, actually.

Here are some other nice things from real-life and the Internet.

IRL:

• Starting a fresh, new notebook ♥ - I'm well and truly converted to bullet journalling and it's the way forward for me as far as keeping myself productive goes. This time I've gone against Moleskine for something a bit more purse-friendly but I can tell we're going to get along just fine
• The return of Great British Bake Off - I missed the first half on Wednesday as I was still on my way back from Bruges via London but was able to insta-catch up as soon as it was over. So sad that Iain isn't nearly as good a baker as he is a beard grower but I guess time will tell. Do you have a favourite yet?
  
• Seeing Moon get a bit excited about my birthday - Because we've been together since we were quite young, have been together for quite a long time and now live together, I sometimes feel like there's less room for elements of mystery and surprises - Moon has proved me wrong. I wouldn't at all call him romantic and I quite like him the way he is but to see him get all giddy about the place he's booked for us to go to dinner on my birthday and be completely schtum about what we're doing during the day does kind of set my heart into a flutter
  

Must-Try Recipes:

• Lemonade Cucumber Spa Pops - Having just discovered the delights of Qcumber water, these really sound good to me, so easy too!
• Rosie's River Cottage Soda Bread - I just picked up a new recipe book about baking bread last week - Rosie's recipe is a bit simpler than the one in the book, I can't wait to give it a go.
• Salted Caramel Rice Krispy Squares - I'm obsessed with salted caramel lately, I blame Haagen Dazs.
• Rhubarb Upside-Down Yoghurt Cake - I've never made a yoghurt cake before and I think this one would be a good one to start with, not sure I could make one quite as beautiful though.

Lovely Links:

Kaylah's birthday posts always bring a smile to my face, such beautiful bright colours.

Rosie's short but sweet post about her and her fiancé reading together is so nice. Moon and I have been reading a lot more recently so this might be something to try when we finish our current books, makes a nice change from staying up and watching TV.

I really liked Clare's golden hour photographs of her allotment, something I love about this time of year. Even as a Photography graduate though, lighting's never really been my strongest point I wouldn't say but Clare has nailed it - her blog has also had a cheeky makeover too, which is really nice to see.

50 Songs from the 2000s That Will Instantly Put You in a Good Mood - Go for it, there are some real gems there.

Hope you have a fun-filled, relaxing Sunday. x

Fam.

Last Tuesday saw me finishing work early and heading all the way back to Dorking for my cousin's 21st birthday. I know she's not really all that much younger than me, but it's so strange to me that she has finally reached the grand age of 21, especially since it really doesn't feel all that long since it was my 21st birthday - I'll be seeing in my 24th in a matter of months (eeep!). Although we do get together in clusters, it's pretty rare that everyone makes an appearance so it was great (even if my sister didn't manage to make it) that we were all able to be there.


I love my auntie's interior design, I've totally had my eye on similar string lights for ages.


Speaking of realising how quickly people grow up, I don't recall the last time I saw my twin cousins, but they certainly weren't full-on toddlers before. Luckily this time they didn't make us all ill, I can't believe how blonde they are, or how mischievous. It's lovely to see their sister turning into a real little lady, but it makes me feel so old to see them grow up so fast.










Of course, it's just as important to pay as much, if not more, attention to your animal-hosts when attending any kind of gathering.I do relish in catching up with my family, I only wish moments like these lasted a little longer. Perhaps it would have been more relaxing if it wasn't on a weeknight, but it did mean the day felt longer and that I wasn't just pottering around the flat looking for things to do. I look forward to summer, when the days are longer and there are more opportunities to spend evenings like this.

My Week in Meals.

Looking back at this, my diet from last week actually makes me feel a bit silly. There's a lot of junk in here that I wouldn't normally eat, but it was just one of those weeks, plus the Chinese on Friday night was down to circumstance rather than actually going out of my way to get it.

Despite a little bit of shame, I thought I'd share these meals with you anyway because the food that wasn't take-out, was pretty delicious - mainly thanks to my house-husband, Moon. It's pretty good to reflect too as I now know that this week I would like to be slightly healthier.







Monday - Sausages, beans and mash potatoes.
Tuesday - Takeaway - Saveloy and chips from 'The Plaice'.
Wednesday - Spaghetti Bolognese ♥
Thursday - Garlic and herb salmon, boiled new potatoes and broad beans.
Friday - Takeaway - 'Eastern Chef' thanks to Moon's dad.
Saturday - Cheese and tomatoes on toast with Worcester sauce.
Sunday - Roast chicken with potatoes, carrots, courgettes and mushrooms.

My favourite - Sausages, beans and mash; top tip, never buy cheap sausages - although my roast is a pretty close second.

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I don't want to keep apologising for being a bit MIA but I really did need to relax and sleep over the weekend. It's pretty good though because it's meant that I've been able to come back with a fresh head and some more ideas, so stay tuned.

Surprise snow.

That crept up a bit, it's a bit melty now though. I didn't go to Shortlist today as it was still icy and snowy this morning and the trains from New Malden are slow and late on a regular basis anyway, let alone when you throw freak weather into the mix. Seems like a bit of a waste because although it's a two week time span so far, this would have only been my sixth day...

I'm nervously awaiting an email from the company I had an interview with on Monday. It would be nice to just be told, even if I don't get the second interview, which I hope I have. Both Long and Chris landed jobs this week, I'm really hoping this is a sign of of good things to come and that Moon and I will get something soon. I have another interview on Monday through a recruitment agency, which sounds quite promising so I'm a bit excited. I've been semi-researching rental properties in anticipation and I think it's begun to depress me so I'm going to stop.

Anyway, here are some photos I've taken this week. It's all been a bit uneventful and I've been so sleepy but I've spent today trying to psych myself up, so hopefully that will work and next week will be pumping.

Tuesday was a bit of a 'why not?' kind of day and I re-discovered this dress, which I love but just haven't worn in ages.
Cardigan: Primark
Necklace: Gift from Moon's mum (Accessorize)
Dress: New Look
Belt: Dorothy Perkins
Tights: Dorothy Perkins
Socks: New Look
Shoes (current fave, so comfy): Dorothy Perkins


Everyone has full-on caught Valentine's fever this week, almost putting me off it a bit. It does remind me that I have to work on Moon's card over the weekend though. So thanks, Pizza Express



I do really like McDonalds, but it is pretty annoying that it's one of the better places to eat for under £5...



This is a cake that my sister made for her friend's 18th birthday. It's quite nice, but you definitely have to love chocolate.


Thursday's lunch - Itsu, High Holburn




Obligatory posey kitten picture.


I know these aren't exciting but I like them. Like I said, I'm hoping things will pick up soon. I'm planning on starting on the Photography book my sister got me for Christmas so I'll share my efforts from that with you. It's just all about finding the time at the moment, and when I finally find the time, I just want to eat and sleep.

brb, gonna hibernate.

So far, this week has not been the best.
My lights broke at the weekend.
My shoot on Monday was rubbish.
It's costing more than I thought to print out the Gomes photos.
My replacement parts for my lights came a mere five minutes after I told one of my half-Chinese subjects to go home.
It took me nearly an hour to put in the new modelling bulb before I found out that part of the old one was still in there.
I was accidentally late for my tutorial this morning, thinking it was at 10:40 when it was actually at 10:20, my tutor was understandably pissed.
I had to send a grovelling email to the aforementioned tutor.

Swallow me up please. It's these little sod's law annoyances than make up an even bigger annoying picture.

On the plus side, I have a reshoot of Monday's shoot this afternoon (hopefully), and a shoot tomorrow and Friday, as well as one that I arranged ages ago on Sunday. I should have a decent amount of work piled up by next Monday and then maybe next week won't be so demotivating and terrible. URGH!

Allsorts.

An assortment of images from this week. Once I am back on top of things I'll be more up to date. I've finished my documentary practices images but I'm not putting them up until they're printed and framed. I'm pretty sure it will look badass IRL.