Easter bank holiday weekend

 I. This weekend has consisted of lots of walking and also eating a large amount of bad stuff (tasted nice though), so hopefully the exercise cancels it out! Made an cake for my mum's birthday that contained an epic amount of raspberry cream filling, and got lots of chocolate bunnies for Easter.

II. Went up on Dartmoor in the sun to go letterboxing and to climb a tor. Saw some amazing views but the clouds meant that any pictures didn't really come out properly.

III. Also went to Dunster Castle in Somerset on the Sunday, it was a lovely day and such a beautiful place with a very pretty village, also saw an adorable french bulldog with gorgeous little ears like a bat haha. Had quite a spooky experience on a staircase inside the castle, but felt nothing in the rooms where the majority of the ghostly sightings are meant to take place- typical. We came down the back staircase and it was freezing, like walking into a fridge, but only I felt it, my parents said it was warm. The feeling also followed me until the next room, not a pleasant experience, but I really want to go back on a quieter day and see if anything else happens. There was also an exhibition about the castle ghosts, and people had sent in pictures of the castle where things had appeared which weren't there when they were taken- it was so interesting. I looked at my pictures when I got home but there wasn't anything weird in them sadly. 

IIII. Today is so wet and horrible I don't really feel like doing much except drinking lots of tea by the fire and consuming more chocolate, I have lots of vanilla buttercream frosting left over from cake making, so I might make some butterfly cakes this afternoon. Diet is slipping I fear...thank god Easter is once a year!

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real techniques/mac soft & gentle

 I. When I got paid the other week I decided I needed some new makeup and brushes, a girl can't have enough! Went to Boots and took advantage of the 3 for 2 offer, bought the core collection and the stippling brush by Real Techniques...simply amazing brushes, they really do live up to all the hype around them, the buffing brush has overtaken my Sigma F80 foundation brush by miles. I love them. I just wish you could buy them all individually. The little case they come in is very useful though, as my current makeup brush holder (a mug) is quite full.

II. Then I went to the mac counter and picked up Soft & Gentle msf, it's very pretty and my new favourite highlighter, I've used it everyday since I bought it, it gives such a flattering and lovely glow to the skin, and I can see this working on pretty much every skin tone. I use my real techniques contour brush to apply it, so soft!

III. I have lost over a stone now, and I feel so good about it, everything seems to fit me so much better, although nearly every pair of skinny jeans I own are now quite baggy, might have to live in dresses until I can afford smaller ones, unless it snows of course!

IIII. Went out at the weekend for my friend's birthday, such a fun night, but I didn't take my camera, it was so nice to see everyone but it makes me think realise how far we've all moved away from each other, I really appreciated seeing everyone and having a good time- very much needed!

V. Just working this week and then making lots of yummy stuff for my mum's birthday on Saturday, then I'm off for a family day out on the Sunday to a castle, going to hopefully get some nice pictures and use up some more film.

Have a nice week/Easter! :)

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vintage wheels

 While at my boyfriend's this weekend we went to Beaulieu, the motor museum in the New Forest. Lots of lovely vintage cars, minis galore and beautiful monastery ruins, accompanied by brilliant sunshine and blue sky. The Topgear and James Bond exhibitions are brilliant and well worth a visit. The entry fee is a little high, but you can book in advance online and save 10%. If you gift aid your entrance fee then you can come back again within 12 months and get in for free. I also entered a raffle to win a bmw mini convertible for £1- fingers crossed, it's drawn in November!

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russian dolls & white tiger rugs

 All taken at Lanhydrock, Bodmin, Cornwall (a National Trust property) a few weekends ago. I was particularly proud of the little robin who seemed to love having his picture taken. What a poser. There was some seriously yummy stuff in that house, think beautiful oak furniture, stuffed animals galore and vintage pieces- my dream house, I could happily move in tomorrow!

 I went for a nice walk on Dartmoor today in the sunshine, found a sheep's lower vertebrae which I'm planning on turning into a necklace. Also found a pretty impressive shetland pony skull which has joined my little collection in the conservatory, the neighbours think I'm a little odd...haha ;)

 Haven't spent too much this week, just restrained myself from buying a NARS blusher & highlighter, going to wait until next payday for those however, as I cannot justify it at the moment. Instead I got my bf some birthday presents and might have got myself a cheeky topshop grey marl dress in the process (justification is that it's a good 'basic' and can be layered/worn alone in summer, at least that's what I tell myself).

 Back to work tomorrow, and it's going to be busy, why can't weekends last forever??

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On a Sunday V

Fresh marmalade, seedlings, catkins, salmon skinnies & asos silver cross, crossed thorns, catkins & flowers.

 Kinda missed out on last Sunday's post, but today's objective was to get out in the sun and photograph some catkins. Mission accomplished! Also washed my make up brushes and made an effort to bake macaroons (epic fail there) that turned out to resemble pink squishy blobs.

 I had a massive hair disaster on wednesday night, bleached my ends to get an ombre look and it went very very wrong, think coppery orange/yellow, not a good look. Cue a very panicky early phone call to the hairdressers in the morning and luckily I went after work (had no time for any lunch so grabbed a slice of bread that kept me going for four more hours), I am now a lovely blonde shade all over, quite a change but I'm really enjoying it and no more orange tones I am very glad to say :)

 Also I have lost 10lbs overall, still a little way to go but I feel so much better, had to size down to buy the above jeans, I know I mention this weight loss in nearly every post, but I am proud of it and it's a very positive thing, if you don't like it then feel free to skip over it.

 Last week I went to a National Trust property in Cornwall with my family, I took lots and lots and lots of pictures, so I will put some up later in the week.

 Tonight I'm making soup and watching Crufts, haven't seen many pugs so far, but I'm rooting for the Newfoundland to win best in show, love them and their dribbly ways haha!

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