Busy, busy, busy!

14/10/2014

Hello there everyone!

Just a quickie! I just want to let you all know that I may not be posting on here for a while as I have quite a lot going on with my life at the moment and I haven't got a moment spare.
I am very sad to be saying this and hope you all understand so please bare with me!

Lots of love, 
Koren 
xo

10 things to love about Autumn

03/10/2014

Hello everyone,

How are you all on this lovely Autumn evening? I hope you are well and looking forward to the weekend ahead.

The weather is now getting colder in most parts of England as the shorter days are in full swing. Even though we may be looking longingly at this Summer's photographs and reminiscing at all of the happy warm memories made, it has to be said that Autumn is a breath of fresh air! So let's embrace this season with 10 things to love about Autumn..

Source.

1 - The Leaves

I think it looks absolutely beautiful when all of the crisp brown and orange leaves start to make their way to the ground and settle creating that perfect crunchy blanket when you walk over them.

2 - The Fashion
I love to wrap up in cosy woolly jumpers, thermal leggings and my ugg boots. It doesn't just stop at daytime fashion - I adore wearing warm pyjamas and onesies to bed!

3 - Apple Pie
They may be available all year round but apples are the best at this time of year! Cobbler, Strudel, Crumble and Pie - take your pick! (Don't forget the custard!)

4 - Crisp Mornings and Chilly Evenings
This isn't one of my favourite parts of Autumn but it makes a change from the heat of summer! I suppose I don't mind as long as I'm wrapped up in a nice coat and scarf.

5 - Autumn Themed Candles
I love Yankee candles and have plenty in my room though I love it when they bring out different scents for different times of year!

6 - Halloween
Even though I'm not a kid any more I still get a bit excited thinking of all the tasty treats around at this time of year! (It's great when I get invited to a fancy dress party so I can dress up as a witch) Mwahaha!

7 - Carving Pumpkins
I've already mentioned Halloween but this is the hallmark of childhood! Spooky faces glowing everywhere you look.

8 - Hot Chocolate
I love this all year round but it's great when you're sat at home in the evening, wrapped in a blanket with a hot chocolate. So, so cosy and yummy!

9 - Bonfires With The Family
It's just so nice to be standing out in the cold nights air next to a roaring bonfire, and the smell is just lush!

10 - The First Fire Of The Season
Nothing beats lighting the first fire of the season, it's just one of the most comforting warming things in the entire world! I love being all cosy.


These are some of the best things about Autumn. I hope it's helped some of you beat the blues and look forward to the cold season ahead.

What's your favourite thing about Autumn?
Great Quote!


Lots of Love,
Koren
xo
















Petite Problems

25/09/2014

Hello everyone!

Don't you just hate it when you're looking for a new coat, a pair of trousers or even a dress and nothing seems to fit right? Just lately I seem to be experiencing this problem more than ever and not just with clothes - with shoes too! I am a different size in each shop and honestly can't say I am just one size.

I've just been on a quick trip into the town near where I live with my nana this morning and went into Dorothy Perkins. I decided to look for a new winter coat being as they have a 30% off everything at the moment and tried on a few. The first one was a petite size 6 which fit perfectly on my body but was a little too short on my arms. The next coat was a size 8 but ended up being way too big and I thought I would try on a small size 10 (more like a size 8) which did look lovely though was also too big for my little body. It's strange because when I tried on a size 8 coat in Matalan the other day - it fit perfectly, so I will probably end up going for that one. Every shops size is different! A size 8 in shop A isn't the same as the one in shop B.

Just recently I've lost a lot of weight due to illness which has caused me to go down a few sizes so I have bought a whole bunch of smaller clothes until I put the pounds back on again. I've not only gone down in clothing sizes but my feet have shrunk from a 5 to around a 4 and sometimes even a 3 (it depends where I purchase the shoes from). I never knew it was possible for feet to shrink - hehe!



I would just love to have a fashion designer who tailors clothes for me and my body. It would be so much easier than traipsing round different shops spending endless hours in the changing rooms just to find something to fit! Hopefully when I've put on weight I will find it a little easier to find clothes to fit me right.

Overall I've found that I fit into most things in my size at New Look, they have a great range and a lot of pretty clothes to choose from in different styles. I have quite a wide variety of New Look clothes in my wardrobe. Talking about this has made me want to have a quick online stroll around the clothes shops websites - not to say I will buy anything because I ideally need to try the items on.. but there is no harm in having a sneaky peaky right? ;)

Do any of you girls out there have the same problem when finding clothes to fit?

Lots of Love, 
Koren 
xo 

The British Tag

Hello there everyone!




I have decided to do the British Tag as I am proud to be British and thought it would be an interesting post to do for all of you to read. I haven't actually been tagged by anyone but thought I should start the ball rolling for me and my close blogging friends, there's always got to be someone who does it first otherwise these things will never start, right?


How many cups of tea do you have a day and how many sugars?
I have around 3-4 cups of tea and they're always strong (wish a dash of milk) and no sugar. I don't think tea with sugar in tastes very nice - I love the refreshing crisp taste without.

Favourite part of your roast?
Well because I'm a vegetarian I am definitely NOT going to say the meat! I would have to say the yorkshire puddings - they're just lovely, or the mash potatoes. Yum.

Favourite dunking biscuit?
My favourite dunking biscuits are the digestive or malted milk. The malted milk biscuits tastes gorgeous when dipped into tea, its very soothing and melts in your mouth when all soggy from the tea.

Favourite quintessentially British pastime?
I would say my love for a good bargain, I am constantly trying to get a good bargain on anything I buy. Whether it be using a voucher code from a website, buying something in the sale or second hand! I love looking in charity shops and purchase quite a few of my things (especially books) from them. Looking for a bargain is quite a British thing to do hey?

Favourite word?
I honestly do not have the slightest clue what my favourite British word is, there are too many to choose from.

Cockney rhyme slang?
I quite like the saying "Apples and Pears" for stairs, it sounds pretty cool. I'm off up the Apple and Pears to bed *giggles*.

Favourite sweet?
Oh wow my favourite sweet would have to be the Foxes Glacier Fruits (boiled fruit sweets). They're absolutely gorgeous, so juicy and tasty.

What would your pub be called?
I would call my pub Rose and Crown because I think it sounds pretty. I love roses, it just reminds me of something elegant and royal.

Number 1 British person?
I would have to say Kate Middleton, she's just so beautiful and a great role model for all women throughout Britain! My grandad works in the last ever lace factory in the UK and made the lace on Kate's wedding dress, though he didn't find out until after the wedding! We were all so proud of him.

Favourite shop/restaurant?
My favourite shops are Paperchase and Primark and I don't really eat out at restaurants (because of my emetophobia) so I can't comment on that.

What British pop song comes into your head?
Well it's not a pop song but the British anthem of course.

Marmite
Well.. you either love it or hate it. I am a lover of Marmite, from when I was a little girl (my uncle got me into it).



Well that's the end of the British Tag and I really enjoyed it! I want to tag Emily, Catherine, and Rosie and of course, anyone else who would like to join in.

Thank you for reading this.
Lots of Love
Koren

xo














My September Paperchase Wishlist

24/09/2014

Hello there everyone!

A lot of you may know already that I love Paperchase and would love to buy everything displayed in the whole entire shop, that would be a dream come true for me! I'm obsessed with stationery and have WAY TOO MANY notebooks, pens, stickers and other items. I love girly stationery the most - anything with the colour pink on, butterflies, flowers etc. At Paperchase there is a whole variety of stationery and they also sell phone/tablet cases, headphones, bags and keyrings along with a whole host of other things which makes me very happy indeed. Whenever I go into town with my boyfriend at the weekend we always end up in Paperchase and he just stands there waiting for me to take a long look around without complaining, bless his heart.. that's just one of the many reasons I love him.

Anyway the reason for this post is to show you girls my September Paperchase Wishlist! I get so excited looking at the website here (go on, take a look) you know you want to! I was looking at the website earlier on today and found four items which I really, really want and wanted to share them with you all. Here they are..






Number 1 - Butterflies Mechanical Pen
The first one is this really pretty pink butterfly pen! I think it's a great pen as it's got a sort of vintage look to it and I love the little charm which is attached to the end of it. There is also another version of this in a sort of grey colour though I'm not keen on that one (probably because it's not pink, haha). You can purchase this here.

Number 2 - Elephants Hand-stitched Notebook
This is the picture on the bottom left, the beautiful hand-stitched notebook! It looks very well made, suitable for somebody who likes to carry a notebook around with them, I think it would be a good notebook to take to college. I love the design and have a writing set which matches this. I may just have to get it to add to my snazzy elephant collection. Another thing which attracts me to this is all of the wonderful bright colours. You can purchase this here.

Number 3 - Lush Mush mini sticky notes
These are so cute and I love the little designs inside. There are a few animal sticky notes including a cat and owl, 5 different colour thin sticky notes and a main larger one with a cute little bird sat at the top of a tree on it. I am a person who likes to write everything down and am extremely organised - these are perfect for that streak in my personality. You know I'm going to say that the PINK colour is just the best! (Pinkaholic Syndrome Warning). You can purchase this here.

Number 4 - A5 glitter cupcake week to view diary 2015
This diary is just perfect for me, I adore cupcakes, the colour pink and glittery stuff - can a diary get any better?! I also love the funky repetitive design. I love having a diary because as I said above I like to jot everything down so I know what's what and I am quite a forgetful person so it's useful to have it down on paper where it'll stay (unlike my fish like memory, 3,2,1 and it's GONE). I may purchase this diary for next year, but am not too sure yet as I already have one, ouch! Can a girl have too many diaries? *squeezes eyes shut and hopes you say no*. Anyway, you can purchase this here.


I hope you've enjoyed looking at my mini September Paperchase Wishlist and hopefully I've inspired you to get some more lovely stationery.

Where do you like to purchase your stationery from?

Lots of love, 
Koren
xo


That Autumn Feeling (Life Update)

Hello everyone,

I can really tell that Autumn is coming especially in the mornings when there is such a chill in the air but thankfully it's been quite warm still throughout the middle of the day (nothing can beat the warmth).The sun is shining down right now and I am sat in my lovely bright, warm conservatory with my cat enjoying a cup of tea, my fave.

I had a job trial yesterday afternoon from 1:30 until 4:30 which went quite well, the position is for an "Office Junior" where I will hopefully get trained up on all aspects of working within this sort of sector (that's if I am successful in getting the job). The office is quite small with just three other ladies working there - my ideal kind of environment. I was quite nervous as I took a walk to the office and had to take some deep breaths though after I'd been there for a little while I soon calmed down and felt comfortable. They got me to do a whole variety of jobs which I really enjoyed! I will know if I have got the job next Monday or Tuesday, hopefully.

I've done some more baking today and I feel that they had quite an Autumnal feel to them, I made some Honey, Fruit and Nut Flapjacks (I sort of made up my own recipe) and a flourless Banana Bread which has desiccated coconut, milk and once again "Crunchy Nut Clusters" in them amongst other ingredients - I seriously can't get enough of that cereal! ITS SO DELICIOUS. The Flapjacks turned out incredibly well and are scrumptious to eat though the Banana Bread ended up being a little more sticky than I would of liked. Next time I bake Banana Bread, I'll try a different recipe or tweak the one I used!

Looking outside now through the windows I can tell that the weather is a little more chilly as the warmth of the day is fading and the trees are blowing in the wind. I'm going to stop writing now and think about what I want for my tea later on,  I might have some Sundried Tomato Basmati Rice (Tilda) which I've not tried before, but looking forward to. I bought it last night on mine and the boyfriends trip to Tesco's and also bought some new snacks to try including a Red Berry mix, Kiwi pieces and sweetened dried Apple - I'm trying to cut down on my obsession with chocolate and replace it with healthier things which I think will help with my IBS.

What do you have planned for this evening?

Lots of love,
Koren
xo





My Honey, Fruit and Nut Flapjacks

The Liebster Award

19/09/2014


Hello there everyone!

I have been nominated by the lovely and beautiful Emily-Rose (you can find her amazing blog here) to do the Liebster Award! This is a great way to get the word about smaller blogs who have fewer views. So here goes... 


The Rules

You must answer 11 questions given to you by the person who nominated you



You must link back to the person who nominated you



You must nominate 11 bloggers (with under 200 followers) and give them 11 new questions



You can not nominate the person who nominated you



You need to leave your nominees a link to your page so they know what to do


The Questions

1. What genre of blog do you read the most? Beauty, fashion, lifestyle, or other?
I mostly read lifestyle blogs, I'm very interested in how other people live their lives including the way they eat such as any baking recipes, where they get their stationery from, their shopping wish lists, a new good book or just a general update of life. I could scroll through these sort of posts forever and they'll never fail to entertain me.

 
2. Are you a Summer or Winter person?
This is such an easy one for me to answer - Summer! I love the longer days, the sunshine, the chance to wear pretty clothes without having to cover them up with a coat, the beautiful flowers which come to life among other things! I hate being stuck indoors and love to visit places in the summer like the zoo.


3. What's one thing people may not know about you?
One thing people who aren't that close to me won't know about me is I have a severe phobia of sick! (Emetophobia) It is such a debilitating condition to have which effects every day life from going out with friends, going on holiday to eating due to daily panic attacks. I would say that eating is the biggest problem for me and I am quite underweight.

4. What are your top three travel essentials?
My top three are sun lotion as I burn VERY easily (boo!), some fruity boiled sweets to suck on the plane and an entire case full of new pretty summery clothes/bikinis. 

5. If you could time travel to another era, where/when would you go?
I would love the chance to be able to travel back to the swinging sixties. I adore all of the fashion, hairstyles, make-up and music from that era and am so jealous that my grandparents got to live through it! I would love to look like Audrey Hepburn even though she was born in 29' - she's beautiful.

6. If you were the opposite sex, how different do you think you would be?
I honestly don't know the answer to this question, maybe I would be different? I do think that I would look pretty camp with the way I'd dress my self. I would constantly be in tight jeans and designer shirts with my hair like Spencer's from Made In Chelsea. Yeah, I think I would be a MIC boy.

7. What's the one beauty product you wish you never bought?
I can't really say one in particular because I haven't bought one I haven't liked in a while, maybe some cheap foundation which didn't sit on my skin right?

8. How would you describe you fashion style?

I would describe it as simply VERY GIRLY! I adore cute, ditsy, floral things.

9. What are your top five films?

I haven't got a top 5 though I do have a top 1 - 
DIRTY DANCING



10. Do you have a happy place? If not, describe what your happy place would be like

My happy place is my bedroom when I have my candles lit and a good book in hand! I feel the most happiest and safest at home especially when I am feeling very anxious that day (which is quite often, like now) :(

11. Post a selfie!




I nominate

Rosie at - 
http://www.rosielucky.co.uk/

Catherine at - http://catherine-cleevely.wix.com/simplybeauty

(Okay so this isn't 11 people but these are my two best friends and the only blogs I know with fewer than 200 followers) 


The questions for my nominees
1. What did you do and play as a child?
2. What's your favourite hobby (other than writing a blog)?
3. Do you prefer the countryside or the city?
4. What made you start a blog?
5. What's your favourite food and drink?
6. What is your idea of heaven?
7. How do you like to start your day?
8. What's your favourite season?
9. What's the best thing to you about Christmas?
10. What are you doing most days at 5pm?
11. How do you relax?

And there we have it, my completed Leibster Award - I hope you've enjoyed reading it. 

Lots of love,
Koren 
xo




Recipe: Crunchy Nut Cluster Vanilla Drops

My Paperchase Recipe Book!
Hello there everyone!

How are we all on this rather dull Friday lunch time? I hope you're not letting the weather get you down TOO much. I've just been on a quick walk to the local shop and bakery with my Nana, I can tell you that Autumn is definitely on it's way and it's best to be positive about it. I absolutely love to see the view of orange and brown leaves falling from the trees ready to crunch as you walk through them in the crisp Autumn air.

This is just a quick post of the recipe which I wrote about when I had a baking day here. I am an avid baker and sometimes like to twist things around when making recipes. I don't change the recipe ENTIRELY but I just try a few subtle changes such as using Crunchy Nut Clusters instead of Cornflakes in this recipe (which does taste much better in my opinion).

Crunchy Nut Cluster Vanilla Drops

Prep Time: 10-20 Minutes
Serves: 18 little balls
Cooking Time: 17 Minutes

Ingredients
4oz/100g Softened Butter
2oz/50g Caster Sugar
½ teaspoon Vanilla Essence
4oz/100g Plain Flour
oz Crushed Crunchy Nut Clusters 
Yummy!

Method

1. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla essence until light and fluffy

2. Stir in flour and Crunchy Nut Clusters (crushed)

3. Roll out 18 little balls, then flatten slightly

4. Put on baking tray well apart

5. Bake on 190C/375F/Gas no 5 for 17 minutes

6. Leave on tray for 1 minute before transferring to cooling tray

7. Sprinkle with caster sugar or more clusters if desired


And there we have it my lovely bakers! I hope you enjoy baking these as much as I do (I'm going to bake them in about an hours time - yay). They're extremely easy and a firm family favourite for us.

Please let me know of any recipes you think I should try!

Lot's of love, 
Koren xo



  

Book review: A Proper Family Holiday by Chrissie Manby

16/09/2014

Hello there everyone!

I hope you're all well and enjoying your Tuesday with whatever you're up to. I have just finished reading another book and would like to do a little review for you all.

'Could you survive a week-long holiday with your entire family? Newly single magazine journalist Chelsea Benson can't think of anything worse. 

Your grubby small nephew torpedoing any chance of romance with the dishy guy you met on the plane... Your eighty-five-year-old granddad chatting up ladies at the hotel bar... Sarcastic comments from your older sister who's always been the family favourite... And all this is before your parents drop their bombshell.

Is a week enough time for the Bensons to put their differences aside and have some fun? Or is this their last ever proper family holiday?'

I really enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down when I had to do other things! It took me around 2-3 days to read (like most of my books).

This book is based around the Benson family taking a weeks cheap holiday in Lanzarote for Jacqui's (Chelsea's mum) 60th birthday. It has sibling rivalry and family misunderstandings throughout the book though it is written in quite a comical way - it made me giggle a lot of the time!

Chelsea and Ronnie are sisters and haven't spoken in two years but the story is written in a clever way where you get both of their perspectives of the situation. You soon realise that they have a warped view of each other's lives, thinking that other has the better.

This story is hilarious, fun and fast paced, perfect for a beach read whilst you relax on hopefully not quite as an eventful holiday as the one occurring in the book!

I would definitely recommend it for all of you who likes a great holiday read to pop into your beach bag! You can purchase it on Amazon here.

The next book which I am about to begin is Sophie Kinsella's - Twenties Girl! (I shall do a review of this after I've read it - hopefully in a few days time)

Lots of love,
Koren
xo







Let's bake!

05/09/2014

Hello there everyone!

Crunchy Nut Cluster Vanilla Drops
I hope you're all doing okay and have had a great week with whatever you have been up to. At least the working week has come to an end now and you can relax for the weekend. What do you all have planned? I think I'm going to do a bit of shopping tomorrow as I need to get a few bits and bobs from Tesco's. I also need to clean out my cute little lady Poppy (the hamster) oh what fun!

I'm at home a lot being as I don't have a full time job and can get quite bored but one of my favourite past times is baking. I have a variety of different hobbies but baking has and always will be one of the most enjoyable for me!

Cheesy Loaf
I bake all sorts from cakes, scones to biscuits and loafs. I have a cute recipe book from Paperchase which was around £8 where I write the recipes I make the most often. I would love to build up my collection and fill the whole thing.

Today I have been baking and I've made a homely Cheese Loaf out of my nana's old recipe book and something I call "Crunchy Nut Cluster Vanilla Drops". They're originally called Cornflake Vanilla Drops but I much prefer them with the other cereal! Either of them do taste lovely though, it's whichever one you fancy putting in. I will write a post with the recipe in for you keen bakers to try! :)

Do you have any scrumptious recipes which I am able to try? I would love to hear from you so I can discover some new baking recipes.
Lots of love,
Koren
xo

Bonjour!

27/08/2014

Chailland public gardens
Hello there everyone!

Even though this has been posted now that I'm back home in England I am currently writing this as I sit in the lovely country kitchen at my uncles holiday/future home in France. I hope that makes sense. We're in a tiny little hamlet next to a village called Chailland (pronounced Shion) somewhere around the Loire valley - it's very picturesque with lush green fields and tall trees covering the valley surrounding us.

The hamlet is quite out of the way from the hustle and bustle of people and different to everyday life in England. The French are VERY laid back and its their national three week holiday at the moment so not many places, like cafes or shops are open. I don't think I have ever visited somewhere this quiet before and beautiful as it is, it can get rather boring for somebody who's used to being in a busy village/town where there is mostly always something happening or something to occupy yourself with. Me and my cousin Nicole who's 18 (two years younger than me) are finding it hard to live without
Chailland village
WiFi!

This is my first time visiting France and I have to say it's very similar to England weather wise, it's nearly the end of August and has been quite chilly with a cool breeze this week, along with a few hot sunny breaks throughout the day. I really wish I had bought some more warmer layers, I have one cardigan and quite a thin coat which I've been living in (literally) whilst I've been here as this is the warmest of my clothes I bought along with me! I am a person who feels the cold extremely easily.

We've had a pretty laid back few days here mostly just staying around the house, garden and hamlet. They're quite a few children who live in the hamlet (perfect for my younger cousins aged 8 and 9) and a lot of freedom for them to roam around or play on their bikes etc. On Thursday I spent the afternoon being a child again playing out with the other kids and my cousins on bikes and making dens in the back garden - it was quite nostalgic.

On our last day we visited a beautiful large Fortress/Castle, the biggest I have ever seen! It was wonderful to look around and take a step back in time. We went up two towers with spiral staircases and these took AGES to walk up and down, I couldn't of put up with living there and having to do that every day (haha)! The town surrounding the Castle was absolutely lovely - very vintage and chic with cute cafes, shops and gift shops.

Overall it was a quite a nice break away from England though it's great to be back to a more lively atmosphere and WiFi! Oh yes, our WiFi at home is being horrendous again so I am going to have to ring them back up again! :(

Have you ever visited France, if so - what was it like and where about did you visit?


Lots of Love
Koren xo
The town where the Castle is

Off to France we go

19/08/2014

Hello everyone!

I'm very sorry for not writing up as many blog posts as all of us would like. Our broadband at home has been terrible for the past three to four weeks! The BT man spent a long four hours at our home and up telegraph poles yesterday trying to sort it out which hopefully he has - at least for now anyway!

Today I am going to France and will be visiting my uncles holiday home in the Loire valley (they've had it for around two years and have been doing it up, but now it's ready for visitors!). A lot of my family are already over there and I will be travelling with my Nana, Grandad and cousin Nicole. The flight is at 1:50pm and we will be taking off from East Midlands airport.

I've always wanted to go to France and I really can't wait to share all of my pictures with you when I get back. I will make sure I take plenty :).

I hope that all of you are all right and enjoying these last few weeks of summer before autumn sets in.

Lots of love,
Koren
xo

Ps - I've got a new job in a little cafe where I live called "Little Pickle" at two days a week to start off with and I start next Tuesday. My interview tips paid off! Yay x

10 things which make me happy

07/08/2014

Hello there everyone!
There I am, reading away with my cuppa.

I thought I would give you all a little insight of the things in life which make me happy. Everybody is different and certain things which make one person happy may not make another feel the same way. At the end of the day we all have those lovely little comforts in life to fall back on when times are tough or when you just need a little me time. Here are my top 10!

Number 1 - Reading
Okay, so you all could of probably guessed this one. This is one of the main things in life which can turn my frown into a smile before you can say strawberry. I have an unhealthy (or is it healthy?) obsession with reading - whenever any of my friends ask what I'm up to, they know what answer is coming "I'm reading" of course! I'm into a variety of genres including chick lit, romance, children's books such as those by Jacqueline Wilson as I think she's an incredible author and any others which catch my eye whilst browsing through the bookshop.

Number 2 - Magazines
This goes hand in hand with reading, I adore reading and browsing through magazines and I do have my favorites including Cosmopolitan, Glamour and Essentials. I have signed up to Cosmopolitan's subscription service so when this arrives through my letterbox each month I do a little leap of joy and want to kiss the postman/lady! The September 14 issue arrived at my house this week which I still have got to read - can't wait. I love most of the stories which are published in each of these magazines and find the problem pages quite interesting. I always used to want to become an agony aunt, in fact I still would (maybe one day, huh?)

Number 3 - Oh so wonderful cup of tea
Okay, I can't go a day without a cup of tea I think I would die if I attempted this? The first thing I reach for in a morning when I rise from dreamland is my beloved little bird mug and make myself a cuppa. I must drink around 3 - 4 cups of tea a day and it ALWAYS has to be strong with no sugar! I don't understand why people have sugars in their tea, I prefer the crisp refreshing taste. Somebody want to come and make me a brew? Anyone?
My lil' birdy mug

Number 4 - Chocolate
Now this IS an unhealthy obsession of mine which really needs to stop. I consume way too much chocolate on a daily basis - my favorite being Milkybar (the white kids chocolate). It's just so sweet, smooth and makes me happy. I love to put it in my mouth and let it sit there to melt and finally slide away into nothingness. Once it has gone and slid away I have to repeat the process to continue this mood boosting process though I draw the line at some point, otherwise I shall be turning into a chocolate bar before I know it. I'm sure all of you chocolate lovers out there can relate! ;)
A pretty lavender candle in my room

Number 5 - All things girly
Many of my closest friends will know I am probably one of the girliest girls out there in the world. I love all things pink, floral, cute, pretty, vintage and Cath Kidston. I would describe my bedroom as VERY girly - it has lots of those little plaques with quotes on hanging around everywhere, beige wallpaper on one wall with shiny butterflies, vines and flowers on, cute little trinket boxes and candles lying around. Which brings me to my 6th happy point...

Number 6 - Candles duh!
I love candles and I am the owner of many. I have quite a few Yankee candles which have been given to me as presents from family and friends, a couple of Blush candles which smell devilishly divine and other random ones I have picked up on shopping trips.

Number 7 - Animals
Animals never fail to cheer me up when I am feeling down. They have the power to boost your mood by one little stroke or touch of their silky smooth fur. I have two pets - a cat called Jessie who's mostly black though she has tiny little white patches on her chest and belly. I then have a baby hamster called Poppy which I have recently wrote about here. Animals just seem to love you unconditionally no matter what life brings and they are ever so cute!

Number 8 - My little brother
Wow, my brother means a lot to me. When my mum first announced she was pregnant I was absolutely over the moon - I never thought I would have a sibling, it was a dream come true.
My brother is called Charlie and will be three in December, time has flew by since the first time I met him with his cute little fingers and his tiny little button nose, such a lovely bundle of joy and happiness. Charlie is such a character now and into everything, though one of the main things is, he never fails to make me smile and laugh. 
Me and my fave


Number 9 - My family/friends

I'm ever so grateful for my wonderful family and friends, I couldn't live without these special people in my life. They are here for me no matter what life throws at us and I will always be here for them. I have been going through a rough patch with my anxiety/panic attacks over the last few years and couldn't thank them enough for everything they have done to support me and help me through the bad days. You all know who you are and you will always be in my heart safe.

Number 10 - Technology and blogging
Ah okay, so this is a bit of a silly one compared to what I have been writing about but I honestly couldn't live without my phone and the internet. I am so glad I have found the blogging world where I can express and write about anything I want to in my OWN special place. I also love exploring new phone apps, websites and other various things on the internet as I find it fun and it helps to pass time when there's nothing else to do. I find the internet quite comforting in an odd way. Does anyone else feel this?

There are lot's of other things which make me happy but these which I have listed are the main ones.
I love sharing who I am and what I love with you all and hope you can do the same with me. Thank you for getting this far and reading all of this quite long blog post!

What things make you happy? Comment below if you want :)

Lots of love,

Koren xo
Do what it says :)







Meet Poppy

02/08/2014

Hello everyone,

I would like you all to be introduced to my new little pet called Poppy who's a Syrian hamster aged between 11-15 weeks now.

Hello I'm Poppy!

I've had this little lady for around two weeks now and am still in the process of taming her. I would love to be able to just pick her up and give her lots of cuddles as I find her so adorable but unfortunately I will have to wait until she feels a little more comfortable in her new surroundings, around myself and my family. We must be like ginormous moving sky scrapers who make funny noises to her.

A lovely thing is I have realised that when she's on her wheel or going about her own business in the evenings and I come up to her cage she will stop what she's doing and come up to the bars to say hello to me! This makes me smile :)

Do any of you have any good tips on taming a hamster so they feel comfortable?

Lots of Love 

Koren xo

Interview tips

27/07/2014

Hello there everyone,

How are we all on this lovely Sunday night?

This post is going to include a few job interview tips for those of you who are you going through the tedious job searching process like me. We've all been there and done that when it comes to looking for a job and it can be quite stressful but once you've bagged yourself an interview it is your time to shine and most importantly be yourself!

Tip number 1: SMILE

On my past interviews I have realised how important it is to go into that room with a great big smile on your face, it shows the employer you're happy to be there and are a confident person. Even if you're not so confident - smiling will certainly help you to feel better about yourself as it releases endorphin's (those helpful happy hormones). So go ahead, step inside and show off those squeaky clean teeth!

Tip number 2: BE YOURSELF
I think it's important to always be yourself when speaking to your potential new boss, if you're putting on a "front" it might be hard to upkeep if you do land a job there. Express your strengths and weaknesses to the employer when asked and be honest about these - open up to them, they'll appreciate that. If you let your natural self show you'll be a lot calmer and relaxed and come across better whilst speaking!

Tip number 3: DRESS APPROPRIATELY

When going for an interview I think it's best to make an effort in your appearance. I usually wear a nice blouse with a skirt and tights with smart black shoes. Everybody is different and has their own sense of style so I would still include some personality in there, I do this by wearing my favorite jewelry or having my nails painted in my favorite polish. That way some of you is still peaking through just that little bit :). Most importantly though - make sure you are comfortable in the outfit and it isn't too much out of your comfort zone as this will show in your body language.

Tip number 4: BE HONEST

When answering the questions be honest with your answers and don't make anything up - this goes hand in hand with BEING YOURSELF! Answer to the best of your abilities and don't be put off if you don't understand anything, they should explain if you ask them to. If you're not happy with something about the job role, working hours, etc. then voice your worries/concerns to see if they can come up with a solution like training to help you feel more confident in the role. This way if they do employ you - they'll ensure you are happy which should be their main priority :).

I hope these tips put your mind at ease if you have an interview coming up. If you're not lucky enough to have one just yet - please, please don't give up! There is something out there for everyone - it's just about being patient and waiting to find that perfect role (which is what I'm having to do!)

Do you have any blog post suggestions? What other subjects would you like me to write about? -- POST BELOW!

Lots of love,

Koren xo



Life

17/07/2014

Hello there everyone!

One of my Livingstone Daisies in the garden!
I'm ever so sorry about not posting as much as I would like too, I feel extremely guilty and sad that I haven't been able to! I honestly don't know how many of you girls and guys read my blogs posts - I could just be chatting away to myself though I don't mind because I love writing about different things.

What have I been doing lately I hear you ask? Since I've come back from Menorca (oh how I wish I was back there lazing around in the sunshine) I've been to a few various interviews, all of which are office/administration roles as this is the ideal sector I would love to get into along side marketing and journalism. The interviews went as well as an interview can go and I have had a work trial along with a second interview tomorrow with two directors of another company - SCARY STUFF!!
Whilst I'm speaking about careers and what not, I've started writing for a new online magazine called Screencity and have just finished my first article about ten minutes before writing this and that's been emailed off - hopefully they'll like it enough :)

In my spare time I've been spending a lot of time with my friends because the weather has been absolutely too beautiful not to miss! Me and one of my best friends Rosie have had a few shopping trips and yesterday evening her fiance and our friend Jack came along with us both to a place called Trent Lock. I live around 5 minutes away from here, it's a lovely place to walk around especially in the spring/summer seasons and is very popular with people who own narrow boats who stop off for a few days here on the canal. There is also a Golf Club with two golf courses, mini golf and a driving range so we all had a laugh on the latter! I would love to start going out more on walks and make the most of this hot weather.

I mentioned above that I've been on a few shopping trips and I might have to do a blog post to show you what I've bought or maybe even interview tips for those of you in the same boat as me? If you have any other blog post suggestions then please, please don't hesitate to get in touch either on the comments or email me at korenabbie@hotmail.com

Thanks so much for reading if you've got this far and I hope you have a lovely rest of the day whatever you have planned.

Lots of Love

Koren xo

Book Review - Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

07/07/2014

Hello there everyone!

Being as I'm such a bookworm as a lot of you will know if you've read some of my other blog posts, I have decided to start reviewing books which I've read. The first book I will be reviewing is Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella!

"It's all gone wrong with the man Lottie thought was Mr Right. Then out of the blue she gets a call from her first love. She decides it muct be Fate, and rushes off to marry him and rekindle their sizzling Greek island romance.
Lottie's older sister can't believe she's doing something so crazy. No more Ms Nice Sister, she's stopping this marriage. Right away! And she'll go to any lengths to do so..."


This book took me around three days to read (I'm quite a quick reader when engrossed in a good book!)

Throughout the book each chapter is told by the two sisters Lottie and Fliss taking it in turns, meaning you're getting two different perspectives and thoughts of each of these characters which is really clever and makes the story a lot more interesting.

Lottie is a very dreamy girl and her imagination can run away with her quite a lot so her sister Fliss is always on hand to bring her back down to the real world. It's very funny when Lottie goes off into her own perfect romantic world though - happening often during the story! Thank goodness for Fliss.

It's a fast moving story of love, hopes and dreams (on Lottie's behalf anyway) and also of Fliss realising how strong she actually is as a single mum after a failing marriage.

I would recommend this book to any of you who like chick lits and light hearted, funny romances! You can purchase it from many places though I have included a link of Sophie's official site here.

This book gets a 5 out of 5 for me as I thoroughly enjoyed every word.

Lots of Love

Koren xo

We're all going on a summer holiday

30/06/2014

Hello there everyone!

How are you all doing?

As promised this post (as you've probably guessed) is about my recent holiday. I've not long come back from a beautiful weeks break away in Menorca, it was the best holiday I've been on by far.

I went early on Wednesday 18th June and came back on Wednesday 25th June, the flights were smooth and we had no problems at all in-flight but we was delayed coming home due to the French strikes. We was meant to be taking off at 10:20 am but didn't actually end up departing til 12:40 pm! We boarded the plane and got settled then the pilot announced that we would have to sit there for around an hour to wait for a slot so he let us take a look at and sit in his cockpit, this was amazing :) something I've always wanted to do as I quite like planes! Anyway, we got home eventually and here I am writing this.

We stayed in Insotel Club Punta Prima which is right next to the beach. It is more like a holiday village set on a hill - all of the apartments are spread out across it in little lines. Luckily our apartment wasn't TOO far up the hill as it was pretty hard work walking up it which we discovered when going up to the indoor pool/Jacuzzi and spa. Also at the top of the hill was an Italian restaurant and snack bar, a large pool, children's pools, a theater room with a connected bar and supermarket. Various activities such as Rifle Shooting, Archery and Volley Ball took place up here.

At the bottom of the hill was the main pool with a bridge going over to the snack bar where you could help yourself to ice cream and various drinks. Next to the snack bar was a BBQ serving meats, potatoes and salad every lunch time meaning you had a choice whether to eat there or in the main restaurant with the daily buffet. The buffet was always on at breakfast, lunch and dinner with a great choice of foods! Perfect for my other half who can eat for England. There was also a Mediterranean restaurant down at the bottom of the hill though you had to book at the reception to eat here.

Throughout the day there are plenty of activities going on such as Aqua Zumba and Aerobics, Yoga, Pilates, Rifle Shooting, Archery, Volley Ball, Bike Hire, Water Polo and lots of others (too many to put down!)  There is also a animation team keeping everyone entertained and a kids club.

At night in the show bar either the animation team put on a show including Moulin Rouge or outside acts such as African Footprints (African dancing and acrobatics) keep you entertained for the night. Before the show started the kids had a mini disco with lots of fun dances though a lot of the adults joined in as well! ;). Usually after the show they played recent chart/house music and a lot of people danced the rest of the night away.

There was unlimited access to drinks, food and snacks with it being an all inclusive hotel. The accommodation was very modern and clean (the maids came in most days) and there was also a flat screen TV in the living room with English freeview channels instead of the news! It definitely deserves the five stars it has been awarded and I certainly will be staying there next year!

You can check it out on the Thomson website who we booked with here.

Have you enjoyed your break away this year or are you still looking forward to going?!

Lots of Love

Koren xo

Hey there!

26/06/2014

Hello everyone!



I feel awfully guilty being as I haven't done a blog post in just over two weeks though I have been very busy preparing for and going on holiday to Menorca. I arrived back in England yesterday around 2 pm after being delayed due to the strikes going on in France, it was a relief when we touched down on British ground.

The holiday was absolutely wonderful and I shall be writing another post on my blog about the entire holiday with pictures shortly so that's something for you all to look forward to!

I hope you're all alright and are up to lots of exciting things :)

Are you going away this year, or have you already been?

Lots of Love

Koren xo

Botanics - All Bright Hydrating Night Cream

09/06/2014

Hello there everyone, 

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, this is a review of the night cream from Boots which I have been using for around a month or two now. 

Before I start writing about this particular night cream, I would just like to say that it's a great idea to use any night cream as it moisturizes, rejuvenates and refreshes your facial skin for the next day. Once I wake up in the morning, I can feel a difference in my skin than if I hadn't of applied night cream - it feels smooth and a perfect even base for the days makeup ahead. 

This night cream I've been using smells absolutely lovely, it has a fresh floral smell to it which always seems to relax me at night. Even after 15 minutes of laying in bed the smell still lingers, it's great. 

The consistency of this cream is rather thick and I would say that it is rich. Even though it's like this, it does soak into your skin perfectly well and doesn't feel sticky or uncomfortable. It has quite a cooling sensation when you first apply it, but this subsides as you begin to rub it in. 

Hibiscus

Botanics - All Bright Hydrating Night Cream special ingredient is Hibiscus. As it states on the Boots website "Hibiscus is nature's brightness booster and a wonderful hue of pink". I would say that I agree with this statement and my face does seem to be a little bit brighter than before I was using it! I also think this is the reason it smells so wonderfully floral! 

This product contains natural AHA's (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) from the Hibiscus itself. These are mild acids derived from natural produce such as flowers, fruit and plants. AHA's help to remove the dull outer layer of the skin, rejuvenating it. I think that the results from the AHA's are very subtle and you can't really tell that much of a difference, though it's nice to know some natural goodness is in this product helping to renew and refresh your skin.

It is fairly cheap at the moment on the Boots website, being priced at £3.99 when usually it is £4.99 - so you're saving a little bit of money. Along with this purchase you also get 399 Boots Reward Card points, a lovely bonus if you have one of these (these are free, so if you're interested ask at your local store). 

Overall this is a great product which comes in a cute little box and inside is the tub itself, which is also plain but pretty. I would definitely purchase this product again as it suits my skin - combination! I don't see why it wouldn't suit other skin types either making it a great product all round.

You can buy it here :)

Which night cream have you used before and felt it did its job?

Lots of Love

Koren xo 
The cream itself.




Moments like these

06/06/2014

Hello there everyone,

How are you all on this beautiful, warm sunny day? I wasn't expecting the weather to be quite as lovely as it has been today being as it's been terrible for the majority of the week - we're talking rain, clouds and dull skies.

This evening, not so long ago I hadn't much else to do so I thought I would go and sit on the garden bench. I found myself thinking how lucky we are to have outside spaces to enjoy and the amazing things which come a long with it such as the flowers, the lush green grass, the towering trees above and the blue skies - not to mention animals like birds!

I also love the scents which come from all of the flowers and different plants (happy face) it relaxes me. Another one of my favorite smells is freshly cut grass. One of the garden benches needs desperately painting so I think I will persuade my parents to paint it a nice pastel colour, hopefully pink.

Whilst I was outside in the garden I took some pictures for you to enjoy, a few which I have put in this post.

I think it's important to treasure peaceful moments like these and be grateful for the free enjoyable things in life. It's a bonus if you always have a cup of tea on hand too ;)

What relaxes you? What moments do you treasure?


Lots of love

Koren xo

(Ps - I am so happy that one of my favorite authors Lindsey Kelk has started following me on Instagram - Yay!)

Bits and bobs

04/06/2014

Hello there everyone,



I hope you're all alright and are having a great week up to now, even though the weather isn't at its best. Hopefully it'll brighten up ready for the weekend, that's my wishful thinking anyway because today it's so miserable and rainy, boo hoo!

I had a lovely day yesterday. Me and my Nana went to the local town to take a look around a few shops, I love cheap shops such as Home Bargains, Family Bargains and B&M Bargains (you've probably guessed that you can find quite a few great bargains in these ;)). We're lucky to have all three where we live.

I mostly go into these bargain shops to look at the stationery and home ware along side getting my essential toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner and face wipes. They are always updating their stock so it's always nice to look around especially if you've not been in there for a while.

I got some lovely pencils and pens from Home Bargains to match my room and some lovely vintage floral storage tins, all amounting to no more that £4! BARGAIN! (I will post a picture of the tins in another post soon)

Another cute little treat which I got myself from there is my first ever onesie! I told my friend Lucy last night and she was saying "Finally! I told you to get one last year Koren" Oops! Now that I have got one I slept in it last night and I absolutely love it! It's white with lots of little flowers on, very girly indeed and only £9.99.

After a busy morning of shopping, I spent the evening with two of my beautiful best friends Chloe and Rosie who I love to pieces! Rosie bought me a beautiful bird cage tea light holder for my room, which I am so grateful for (again, I shall have to post a picture up on my blog sometime, it's very pretty).

Have you come across any bargains lately?

Lots of love,

Koren xo

Maybelline Forever Strong - Pink in the Park

01/06/2014

Hello there everyone,

Pink in the Park
Today I am going to be writing a quick review on a nail polish which I have been using for the past few weeks - Maybelline Forever Strong in the colour "Pink in the Park". Whilst I was browsing the Maybelline section at my local Boots, it caught my eye because I adore everything pastel and pretty!

It it such a beautiful light pastel pink colour, perfect for the S/S14 pastel trends on the catwalk this season. There were also other colours including yellow, blue and green - which I will probably end up trying soon.

This nail varnish is very easy to apply with a wider brush than most polishes allowing it to cover the majority of your nail. On the first coat it barely covers up your natural nail - you definitely need at least 3-4 coats! I know this can be annoying as you have to wait for the various layers to dry though this shouldn't take too long as long as they're not TOO thick.

Once it's dry and you've built up the layers it is honestly one of the most gorgeous nail polish colours I have ever owned! It is very elegant, dainty and spring like.

I also recommend putting a top coat on top because even though it say it's "Forever Strong" it is a chipper! This is the only down side (sad face) - it doesn't put me off using it though.

What polish are you digging at the minute?

Lots of love

Koren xo