LIFESTYLE, PARENTING
Whhaaaaaat it’s the end of September?? Autumn is fast approaching and it’s getting noticeably chillier up here in the North East; even if it’s sunny you soon feel it when you’re in the shade. Lots of people seem to be big fans of autumn and I must admit that, although I’m a sunshine lover, I am coming round to the idea of cosy knitwear and living in Doc Martens for a couple of months. So, looking back on September, what did I get up to? CONTINUE READING
Planning a wedding is no mean feat. It can take up months of your life and if you’re not careful it can become overwhelming and more of a chore than an exciting part of your life that you look forward to planning. I’m relatively lucky in that I am a Project Manager for my day job, so being organised is just part of my life. (I promise I kind of am, even if I might not seem it at times!) Despite being relatively organised, I do however have a terrible memory and if something needs doing I have to write it down first. So I knew I would have to be organised when it came to planning the wedding and keeping on top of all the details.
This weekend Andrew’s Mum came up to visit from Lancaster. After spending most of Saturday sitting around talking to Trailfinders about our honeymoon (more on that later!) we took advantage of the beautiful, sunny weather on Sunday and drove up to Northumberland to see the poppy exhibit at Woodhorn, have a bite to eat and head further up North to Amble for a spot of tea and cake.
*Warning – spoilers!*
I have seen quite a few people reading The Girl on the Train – either posting on Facebook or Instagram saying how much they were enjoying it. It’s also been hailed by critics as the next Gone Girl and debuted on The New York Times Fiction Best Sellers of 2015 at number one. So I was pleased to be given it by someone second hand to read. (As an aside, I still don’t have a Kindle and, despite how awkward it is when travelling, I prefer the feel of a real, paper book. Plus it means I get freebies every now and then! You can’t share electronic books.) But, apart from knowing it’s a psychological thriller, and seriously popular, I didn’t know what else to expect.
On reading this post, you may think that it is sponsored by Arla. I assure you it is not! But they are one of my go-to brands for lacto free products that still taste good. They are a life saver for us poor, intolerant souls. So what products would I really recommend if you’ve found out you’re lactose intolerant?
Since finding out I was lactose intolerant, ice cream has been one thing I’ve really missed. Summer is not the same without creamy, chocolately Magnums – especially when the sun is shining. The world of ice cream retailers don’t seem to have woken up to the joys of the cold, icy stuff without cows milk in it yet, so it’s impossible to get a dairy free 99 on the go. (Yes there are ice lollies, but they’re just not the same!) It’s therefore all the more important to make sure my freezer is stocked so that I can munch some ice cream when I get home.
A couple of years ago I started to get excruciatingly bad tummy cramps followed by a really *bad belly* (eek, so embarrassing). It happened randomly and frequently enough for me to know that it wasn’t just because I’m a lady, but I couldn’t pin it down to anything in particular. Being the pessimist I can sometimes be, the first thing I did was Google my symptoms and ended up thinking I was dying of a brain tumour. Thanks Google. Andrew eventually persuaded me to quit my whinging and go to the Doctor to see what s/he had to say.
*Warning – spoilers!*
For me, reading is one of life’s great pleasures. There is nothing quite like curling up with a good book, losing yourself in the lives of other characters and living in their created landscapes. I’m not afraid to say I’ve got a pretty good imagination and a good author can cause it to escape to places I’ve never been before through my mind’s eye. Reading makes me relaxed and it genuinely makes me happy. My life would not be the same without a good book!
To round off the end of a wedding-focused week I thought I’d give a big Friday shout out to my favourite wedding blogs! There is a whole wealth of information on the internet to help you plan your wedding day, but I find real weddings the most inspirational. The brides that give you advice have been there and done it, they’re not being paid to push a certain product and they’re totally realistic – you see what’s achievable for your budget, your location and your style. So which are my favourite wedding blogs to keep checking back for some Pinterest inspiration?
My previous wedding post was all about having the budget conversation and how important it is to be clear from the outset on how much you want to spend on your wedding. Hopefully, having got that bit nailed, you’re ready to pick your venue!