Big Fat Sozzages and Mash

So, I feel I have some sorrying to do.

I have utterly failed myself and the four (maybe six?) people who read this, I've been terribly busy/lazy when I should've been thinking of my adoring/bored readers...or something like that. 

So, in brief update;

I did a photo shoot for Lush Cosmetics! Their website is currently being redone, and I got to be part of it! Very exciting, cool and potentially a tad embarrassing. As and when it relaunches I'll let slip which products I've tested, depending on how I look on camera (no paparazzi darling!)

It's almost the end of my penultimate term as a students, which means essays and dissertations and all things terrifying. I'm going to be putting a whole appeal for test subjects for upcoming projects in its own post, so keep your eyes peeled (how horrible is that saying? I'd much rather you keep your quite frankly sexy eyelids where they are). 

I've almost raised enough money for my charity cause!

Since October, I've been collecting money for the family of a lovely alumni student from my university who very suddenly passed away last year. I'm hoping to send her husband and two children to legoland, all expenses paid, and I'm nearly there! My next fundraising night is next Monday (March 17th) at The Star Inn in Guildford, from 7.30. If you're about, just sayin'. 

I've started applying for postgrad jobs!

What an utterly, pantswettingly horrible thought. I have to be A GROWN UP. Pardon? What? No, thank you muchly, I'm fine as I am thanks. 

But it is just a tiny little smidge exciting. Keep your fingers, toes, eyes and nipples crossed pleases, much ablidged. 

Annnnnnd....it's nearly warm again!

Yes, for anyone who's living in a panic room, spring is trying it's hardest to leap into our lives. I wore flip flops for the first time this year on Tuesday. I KNOW, how thrilling. 

So, that's it. A real roundup into my boring life. Oh, and I've been addicted to Sara Bareilles' first album again, Little Voice. So go and listen to the song Vegas and dream of long evenings of sun, barbecues and longing to be somewhere else. 

ALL THE LOVE IN ME, FROM MY GINGER HAIR TO MY CREEPY TOES. 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In Shoes I Choose To Trust Ehh

So here it is! Ta-da. 

Shiny and beautiful, like a lovely little bird on a Spring morning, or a giant Krispy Kreme (once a chubber, always a chubber).

For this week, I made the possibly inept decision to ask what I should write. I posted to my Instagram (@ryyhethers), and got the replies 

"How much you love your Clarks shoesies, and therefore, me" 

and

 

                     "About how people from Canada are amazing?". 

Never thought these two subjects would come near each other, but here it is.

This is Karen.

She's my oldest friend's big sister, and essentially has been my big sister since about four years old. She now works for Clarks shoes, and holds the proud title of...

My Shoe Pimp

It's less of a 70s, Brooklyn-esque pimp situation, and more of a Mama Morton role she plays - in return for the beautiful shoes, I am going to make her the biggest and best Lush bouquet for her wedding (this is also my way of fishing for an invite...yes?)

Now with all the build up, don't get too excited, but here they are; my rather sexy, if a little battered, shoe collection.

This is a brown leather loafer, with some lovely detailing by the tongue, and some fun tassels too. They are taking forever to wear in, but I know that when they have been they will be my favourite shoes and so comfortable to bumble around it.

These go really well with a pair of woollen trousers I own to create a Mad Men, 1950s era look.

This pair of boots have been the most usable for me. They took me about a week to break in and since then have been a dream. The only slight annoyance for me is that only one side of the zips work, but I'm unsure if that's only on my pair as they're samples of the collection. 

They're a slightly lighter colour and work really well to make a casual outfit look a bit smarter.

These really quite sexy Chelsea Brogues are my most stylish shoes for nights out. They give good support without being clunky, and the brogue detailing on them jazzes up plain Chelsea boots into something more exciting.

As you can see from mine, they can scuff, but do polish up to a really good shine in a matter of minutes.

Lastly, but my no means leastly (is that a word?) my favoruitest pair of boots ever, and if I could I probably would sleep in them....

I've named these my Indiana Jones Boots, as they're really easy, knock around boots that work with almost any outfit and more importantly make me want to go on adventures. The leather is really supple and has moulded completely to the shape of my feet, making walking any distances a breeze, and the super flexible sole provides additional comfort.

Ok, so there's one recommendation down, now for the second.

NAME AND SHAME TIME:

This is Katelyn.

She's from Sarnia (which is apparently both a real place, and I've been told is like Narnia), which is in Canada. 

We met because Kate started working at Lush Reading with me as a Christmas Temp, and is now part of the permanent staff, and I'm really quite happy as she's a pretty good friend now.

So...yeah. Canadians, and by default Canada, are absolutely fantastic. They're polite, helpful, and that Canadian there has shared my love for TV shows that I've never found in someone else (oh good lord it sounds like I'm proposing). 

Not that I could; Kate has been dating the same guy for the last six years, and he's kind of the reason they moved across to the UK. They're a tragically sweet couple, even when 'discussing' who left crumbs on the sofa.

OH! And Katelyn's Mumma came to visit before Christmas and she is awesomely cool and lovely too, and through Kate has taught me the tale tale signs of if someone's had surgery (hint; check out the neck), so needs a shout out and a little section for her too.

Katelyn has a blog of her travels and life, and you can find it here:

kate123.blogspot.co.uk

So that's all for today. Comment with what you want to hear/learn/see for the weekend and I'll work on making it happen, if not you're getting a book review.

okloveyoubyyyyyye 

New Year, New Start.

14 Things for 2014...

Or more appropriately, If I Write It On The Internet, I'll Have To Do It.

So, I'm a week late in doing this. Sozzages and mash (yes, that has just happened). This little lady is jumping on the blog-train so that all of my friends, and possibly several other billion people who browse the web, can judge me. Ho hum, pig's bum.

I've been added into a group by a friend of mine called 14//2014, where we all share 14 things we wish to accomplish in 2014. Rather than create these unrelenting resolutions for ourselves, where we purely set ourselves up for failure after the first 3 weeks (do not fear, I am still doing them too), we are creating a bucket list of goals we wish to achieve before 2014 runs out.

And so, before I ramble further, here they are:

1. Complete all the technical challenges from 2013's Great British Bake Off.

I have realised something over the last couple of years; I SUCK at cooking. I need more time and patience to grow as a cooker, but I also want to have a skill in the kitchen. TA-DA, baking! So, in order to grow and become a better baker, I want to make (and document), all my attempts at the challenges.

2. Go vegetarian for 2014.

This is purely a challenge for myself. My sister did it, therefore I must do it too. Sibling rivalry?

3. Learn to knit.

I've been promised a hand-knitted scarf for the past forever, so now I'm going to do it for myself.

4. Go to a festival.

I'm putting no limit on what constitutes a festival - music, food, literary - just some kind of a festival.

5. See old friends.

I've bumped into a few old friends over the Christmas period, and we exchanged "we really must catch up soon", but can we really catch up?

6. Make my scarf parachute.

This is an odd one. I work for Lush, where we sell vintage/ethically sourced scarves. I have about 15 of them, and have wanted to sew them all together to make one giant parachute, then attach it to my bedroom ceiling, and that way I will feel like I'm sleeping in a fortress always.

7...Learn how to use a sewing machine.

Can't make a scarf parachute without knowing how to use a sewing machine.

8. Photograph more.

I keep forgetting what I've done.

9. Go to an LGBT Pride Event that isn't in Reading.

For a university assignment I researched where there will be Gay Pride events this summer, and it's given me the bug to see how other places celebrate being different. Plus, boyfriend-hunting.

10. Perform at an event that I haven't organised.

I sing, and arrange music nights. I want someone to book me to perform, not just myself.

11. Pimp out my Linkedin Page.

I apparently have good things I can put on there. Now I need to do it.

12. Cook dinner for my family.

I know I said I can't cook, but that doesn't mean I won't force myself to try. Then, if it's terrible, my family will have to lie and say it's good, as that's what families do.

13. Get a window box/my own plant area.

Always wanted one.

14. Don't kill wildlife within a month.

A special talent of mine.

And, because it is bad luck, one more...

15. Keep this blog going!

It'd be cheesy not to, right? Right guys?

So there we go, my lovely bucket list. My aim is to update this bi-weekly, so hopefully I might entertain some people with what goes on in my life. The least it'll do is give my friends ammunition for my 30th birthday.

ok, 

loveyoubyeeeeeee