Keep it on my bookshelf

Image from HERE

You may remember I did NaNoWriMo in 2009 and up until the start of 2011 I hadn't started to read what I had written. I did write some utter rubbish in parts but despite that there are some good parts. It's not about writing a masterpiece it's more about challenging yourself to do something.

Alice you're terribly late you know...naughty!

How gorgeous is this Wedgewood tea pot, I want it. Anyone would think Alice in Wonderland was out in the cinemas the amount of Alice themed items around. I'm also loving this necklace from Love Hearts and Crosses

Shock horror - I just don't like coffee!

It's true I don't like coffee! I like the smell of it but the taste makes me make a funny face and say "bleurgh". You'll have seen in my blog The You Code that I learnt a few things about my daily choices and body language and my choice of not liking coffee meant that I was a wuss! A wuss yes that's right.

I drink tea and I love hot chocolate it's just I don't like the taste of coffee. I never have and until I read the book I thought I never would. I've tried at different times to get into liking coffee by having the odd coffee drink when I'm out, just to say I've tried it and I didn't like it.

Apparently though it takes 21 days to change my cycle of disgust. So I decided I would start this coffee challenge, and see if after 21 days I would continue to drink coffee and most importantly drink it out of choice. Spurs boy loves coffee and possibly drinks too much coffee a day. I think he'd prefer to order as he puts it a much more "normal hot drink" for me when we go out rather than hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows :-) We have a nespresso machine that I use only to make Spurs boy his coffee but I will try out in this challenge and try making my own.

I knew I'd have to start off with a very weak coffee to start off with and would need it to be very milky! Otherwise I'll be put off from the start.

Day One -1 very milky coffee with 2 sugars, finished it.

Day Two -1 very milky coffee with 2 sugars, finished it.

Day Three - Spurs boy made me an espresso and it was far too strong, he likes the nespresso capsules of strength 8+. I did finish it after topping it with milk though

Day Four - 1 nespresso latte strength 3, with 2 sugars, finished it.

Day Five -1 nespresso cappuccino strength 3, with lots of foamy cream, finished it.

Day Six -1 nespresso cappuccino strength 3, with lots of foamy cream, finished it. Also went to Starbucks and got a vanilla extra foam cappuccino - this was yummy!

Day Seven - 1 nespresso latte strength 3, with 2 sugars, finished it.

Day Eight - 1 nespresso latte strength 3, with 1 sugar. finished it.

Day Nine - Starbucks vanilla extra foam cappuccino, again yummy!

Day Ten -  Another Starbucks vanilla extra foam cappuccino, addicted I think!

Day Eleven - 1 nespresso cappuccino strength 3, with 1 sugar, finished it.
Day Twelve - 1 nespresso latte strength 3, with 1 sugar, finished it.
Day Thirteen - Starbucks vanilla extra foam cappuccino, again yummy!
Day Fourteen (today) - 1 nespresso cappuccino strength 3, with foamy cream, 1 sugar, finished it.

So far so good. Although I'm only having one coffee a day at the moment I still sometimes find the taste too much and that's why I've needed sugar to make it sweeter. I bought a vanilla syrup today that from tomorrow I will be using as I really like the vanilla cappuccino at Starbucks (you may have noticed).

I don't feel that drinking a coffee is a chore each day and in fact I've liked the routine of it, so maybe I was a wuss. I'll let you know how the rest of the 21 days go.

Do you like coffee or are you a wuss? Is there anything else you don't like that maybe in 21 days you could end up liking?

The You Code

I received my free copy of The You Code by Judi James and James Moore from the Facebook group page Ebury's Free Book Group and it is a fascinating if a somewhat freaky read.

The You Code: What your habits say about you and it gives an insight into yourself, your friends and family and even your boss! The book looks at different aspects of body language and how the smallest things we do can send out messages to others. It works as a guide that you will keep coming back to as you meet new people and of course if you wish to change the way that you are perceived it also provides a guide to that too.

I found out these things -

• Because I don't drink/like coffee I'm a wuss. I will blog about this discovery next.
• My choice of still water means that I'm seen as sensible and reliable.
• My across the body style bags show I'm locked in Enid Blyton world (LOL) and I have a practical approach to life. A typical head girl or hockey captain.
• As a brunette I have healthy self esteem.
• My curly hair shows I like spontaneity and lack of control. 
• I prefer slipper boots to wear out of choice which shows I want comfort but I can have sex on my terms rather than wearing killer heels!!!
• My wedge mule slippers bring out my inner diva (So where is she?).
• I often say "If you like" which means I'm passive aggressive.
• As I fiddle with my necklace this shows I feel under threat by someone/something
• Doodling boxes shows a desire to create order out chaos
• My hair twiddling can be seen as flirting. Also parents got you off to sleep by stroking your head as a child (apparently this is true!)
• I'm careful with magazines and books and I like to prevent creasing means that I want approval worthy behaviour from those around me
• Highlighting TV programmes in the TV Guide shows me as a troubled perfectionist and apparently my parents made my "bowels as regular as clockwork" as a child (apparently also true)
• As I like to twitter/tweet I live in the belief that the world is waiting to hear what I have to say
• Using facebook shows I have low self esteem
• As a blogger I like a public performance!
• As I like a clean tidy hallway this shows that I'm a keeper of order
• Having a schizo bed (tidy on top and chaos underneath) shows my life is about firefighting and that I drink too much!
• Because I call the toilet "The toilet" instead of loo, lav etc shows me to be honest, open and a bit bland
• I like prawn sandwiches as a choice and this shows me to be a giggler, young at heart and I like to gossip
• I like to listen to my iPod on long commutes which shows me to be anti-social and vindictive
• Bourbon biscuits being my favourite shows that I like to get my own way
• Having a black car shows me to be personally competitive and not a team player

Spurs boy had a read of it afterwards and he was also a bit freaked out.

Have you read it?

Sarah Loves... Winnie The Pooh

You may have noticed I like to have a look around Etsy every now and then. I'm reading Return to the Hundred Acre Wood: Inspired by A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard and I absolutely love Winnie The Pooh and all the stories and this carries on the delightful stories. I had a look around and found some gorgeous Winnie The Pooh inspired items on Etsy and just had to share them with you all.

   

The first is this - Wise Words by Winnie the Pooh Gift Tags Set of 8

These would be perfect for birthdays, valentine's etc and they are just lovely!

     

Next is this quote sign board It's more fun to talk to someone... Winnie the Pooh quote wood sign  

This is one of my favourite quotes and I actually have it on my favourite bookmark. And now I want it!

These are absolutely fabulous for keeping up with all your letter writing or maybe birthday card. I want these winnie the pooh cards . pack of four

 

Another beautiful piece of jewellery from Laura's Jewellery :-)) This Beautiful Winnie the Pooh Card Necklace is just one of various styles available

'The Lovely Bones' Trailer

November seems a good time to write a Novel

I wrote a blog post back in September about my failings of being able to write a book and perhaps writing a screenplay. Well since then it has moved on quite a bit but maybe not as originally planned.

I had planned out the story in full that I'd been thinking about for a few years now and found the actual starting to write a book quite daunting. I had started to write it as a screenplay but found it didn't seem easy either, and then for a few weeks did nothing with it. Probably waiting for a day in the future when I would find my notebook with all the planning in it and try and start again. But then I came across this website which every November runs a competition called National Novel Writing Month.

Every November 1st participants start writing with the goal of a 175 page (50,000 word) novel by midnight on November 30th. In 2008 they had over 120,000 participants and more than 20,000 of them made the deadline. So I've entered!

Now I'd said I found it difficult to start to write my story down as a book, well not now. As soon as I opened my Word document to start writing, I just started and it seems to be going well so far. I've got an amount of words to do a day but I try where possible to go over this amount as much as I can. Maybe it's because there is a deadline that it seems easier to write or maybe it was just time to get it all down - Who knows?!?

So anyway this story that I had all planned out, and I mean all planned out eg, characters, what happens in each chapter, has changed. Only a few of the things that I had planned are still relevant now as I continue writing a few days later. Strange really...maybe planning wasn't a good idea and then maybe it was? As I type it seems the story is pulling me into a new direction which is exciting as I have no idea where it's going. Maybe this is a good thing? We'll soon see.

I'm not saying that I'm writing a masterpiece, far from it. It'll probably not be very good but at least on November 30th I'll be able to say that I have written a novel and I will feel super proud of myself!

Is anyone else doing the competition? Or anyone else writing a book at the moment?

Crazy week so far!

I am apologising again as I will be doing EVEN more football posts as I am now writing for wdkf.co.uk (We Don't Know Football), I'm very excited about it and I'm still smiling from ear to ear, if you see WDKF in the blog labels you know it's also been posted on their website too. Football fans should check it out and join in the debates, we wouldn't get anywhere without people's viewpoints. If you're not a football fan, still drop by and something might take your fancy! My first big article on Women's football that I also posted on here has got quite a reception.

With all this excitement I haven't got round to starting my own book yet, I will start it soon though. My friend's book that I mentioned I had been asked by him to read; FINALLY (stupid Royal Mail) arrived! Only got the first 3 chapters but it's really good. All I can say is that it's a science fiction story... and that's all I can say! 

Tai Chi this week was really good, although I'm finding it now a little difficult, everything is done so slowly and through the years of doing more "active" fitness regimes, I'm used to using more power! It is quite hard to slow punch!

It's a beautiful day to day, the sun is out and it's actually pretty warm out! I'm off to Woburn Abbey Safari Park tomorrow as a volunteer with a charity that supports people with learning difficulties. Although sun or rain we still will have a great day! 

I will be making some cupcakes again next week, I haven't made any for ages and I feel the need... the need for cakes!

I'll be watching Flash Forward on Monday night on Five, the trailer has had me hooked for weeks. Let's hope the programme lives up to the trailer!

That's all for now, take care y'all

Happiness is...?

It's a good question - What is happiness?

There is no real definition of happiness and I can't really tell you what happiness is, but I can tell you what makes me happy right now. This is my happiness list (in no particular order);

Eating a bag of peanut m&m's all to myself
When Manchester United win
Reading a good book or watching one of my favourite TV programmes/films
Seeing my god-children and realising how grown up they get each time I see them
Sharing a smile with a stranger
Making a music playlist
Sitting in the sunshine
Seeing a beautiful rainbow
Having a good laugh - you know the ones that make your sides hurt!
Spending time with friends and family

Happiness can not really be described or calculated - it can only be felt, and experienced. Quotes like these can give us a clue

"Remember happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think."
-- Dale Carnegie

"It is a sad thing to look at happiness only through another's eyes."
-- Marquerite Blessington

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
-- Gandhi

And, this one by Woody Allen:

"I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose."

I believe the key to happiness is to stop pursuing it, to realise that happiness awaits...within yourself... in all of us.

It's about accepting yourself, your life, your situation, and enjoying all of these things without wishing for more.

It also means you accept your mistakes and have the desire to start all over again. Happiness is not perfection but learning to accept your own shortcomings. For as long as you believe in yourself, others will accept and believe in you. For as long as you know how to give love, love will be given back to you ten folds.

What is on your happiness list?

Trying to write...

I feel I should apologise for the Football posts that I have put on here recently as it's been quite a lot. I'm not saying that there won't be more as Football is important to me, but I will try to blend it in with all the other posts that I do.

I have been planning my long awaited first foray into book writing, the more that I planned it the more I was worrying about if I could actually write the book. Lots of people had suggested to me about writing it as a screenplay maybe first and I was thinking that maybe this would be best. In a blog post by Stephen Fry he was talking about writing, and mentioned that it is difficult to overcome the fears of writing a book, mainly worrying about how difficult it sounds rather than actually trying to write one. If you understand how difficult it is, it becomes easier to understand the theory (apparently). I admit I haven't actually ever started to write a book, so this much is true, I am only imagining how difficult it must be to write one. I hope that I can write it as a book but will just see what happens with it I guess, I feel putting myself under pressure of doing it will not make it any easier to happen.

This being said someone I know has just finished their first book and I have been asked to proof read his book. I personally see this as a great honour to him, I know nothing about the story and should be receiving the first few chapters this week. I'm quite excited by it and cannot wait to see what he's done. At college we wrote a script together for a project we were doing and I remember him coming up with lots of weird and wonderful ideas and always knew he would get into writing of some kind. He has since been working as a low paid journalist and this could be his big break. I will also pick his brain on how he started writing his book too, hopefully he might have some tips to share. Are any of you trying to write a book?

This week I also have my first Tai Chi class, I have been VERY lapse on the Wii Fit and must also get back into the habit of using that too.

I have also decided after buying many different styles of notepads that I am going to get a little creative and decorate my own. I'll let you know how I get on.

As for TV programmes, The re-runs of The Wire and ER are now over. I still have a few more episodes of House until that Season ends (Season 6 is apparently due to start in October with my other favourite Lie To Me returning also), this is by far the best Season of House and I think this Season end could be particularly interesting if it's headed where I think it is.

I'm watching The Unit (Season Two will start in two weeks time on Five) and Without A Trace (Season Six, on Channel 4) is now on and is a welcome addition to my week's TV viewing. Of course there is still One Tree Hill (Season 6 on e4) and I still love Economy Gastronomy (BBC2).

A little while ago I posted about my favourite character from ER, the Aussie hunk Doctor Simon Brenner and it has been noted by some friends that there is someone I know who is not totally unlike to the actor David Lyons (sadly without the accent). Make of that what you will...

I will end this post with the below image that got sent to me in an email from a friend this week. it is pretty widely available and used, but came at a time when I needed a little pick-me-up, hope it does the same to someone else!



That's all from me for now.

Take care

What Have I Been Doing?

First of all on my trip to ikea yesterday I was after a few things but mainly a new mug for my hot chocolate and soups and bought the one in the above picture, yes it is huuuuge! But I love it! Although it reminds me of the teacups ride at fairgrounds!

I rather stupidly have purchased Zoo Tycoon Collection (PC CD) and have become completely addicted, this version has the original Zoo Tycoon game with the additional expansion packs of Marine Mania and Dinosaur Digs. I used to have years ago Zoo Tycoon and Marine Mania, but Dinosaur Digs is all new to me and playing it makes me feel like I'm in Jurassic Park: The Ultimate Collection 4 DVD Boxset.

Another game that I have been playing again recently is The Settlers IV: Gold Edition (PC CD), although the dark tribe are quite a formidable force, I still enjoy the hours (and I mean hours) of preparation before you are ready to fight.

I'm thoroughly enthralled into The Monster of Florencebook, although it is a harrowing account of Italy's own Jack The Ripper it is written with such tension and detail that you want to find out more. Have read 3 chapters of this again today, should have it finished next week I think.

A while ago I posted a blog piece about having a notebook and the types of things that I write in mine, having seen this Go Stationery A4 notebook Blue Cupcakes, I am trying to write a lot more in my present notebook to use it up so I have the excuse to get this one! Looks good enough to eat!

At the weekend I will be making some banana cupcakes from my favourite cake book 500 Muffins and Cupcakes. Speaking of food I love my new cookery book arrival this week of Economy Gastronomy: Eat Better and Spend Less, has some great tips on how to spend less on your weekly shop and this doesn't mean dull meals.

I treated myself this week to something else purple...for my iPhone U-Bop Maclove Face-Off Series Rear Leather Feel Protector Patch For Apple iPhone 3G, 3GS (Purple) + U-Bop Invisible & Mirror DefenderGUARD Screen Protection Kit (Full-Face) "Twin Pack". So as well as purple on my new look blog here and on my twitter page (@blissbubbley), I also have purple iPhone. It does actually mean that I don't "misplace" it as many times as I have done recently!

I'm off hunting new things in the world of twitter and well life in general really. Speak to you all soon

The Week Ahead...

All I keep thinking about is that One Tree Hill is back tomorrow night (E4 at 9pm), so very excited! I have managed to avoid any of the spoilers for this series except that I obviously know that Chad Michael Murray (Lucas) and Hilarie Burton (Peyton) leave at the end of this series.

I will be making more cakes at some point this week, and definitely using the same icing recipe that I had used last week. I forgot about posting the recipe for the cakes I had made and will do that later this week too.

My book planning has slowed a little, I thought I was more than ready to start writing it but after much research I have realised I still have a little more planning to do. I've read its good to write a history for each of your characters, nothing too much but enough so you can start to really understand each of them better.

I cleaned out the fish tank again yesterday, Luke is definitely still the tank bully. He enjoys chasing the zebra danio's out of his way, I'm sure he thinks soon the others will leave and he will be left with his tank all to himself again. They got treats this week of bloodworms and brine shrimp, I read on the internet the worse it smells the better it is. This stuff I got must be the best as it really does smell out the place!

My lovely gerbera's that I have been growing, I only now have one left - some little or maybe a big bug ate the leaves on all the others. I have now safely placed the remaining plant on my room windowsill and it seems to be developing well. I knew that they were hard to grow and they really weren't kidding about that!

Also in the process of setting up another blog but this one is devoted to Brothers and Sisters (the TV programme). Will be a steady progress as I set it all up, at the moment it just has quotes on it but will soon have information on characters, seasons, the stars of the show and all the latest news.

The Ashes is on this week so this will take up most of my days towards the end of the week I will try to multi task!

On Friday it is the season finale of Dexter, the trailer for it looks good. Could Dexter be about to get a taste of his own making?

Write more soon

Sarah x

Today's Update

4 new fishes for the tank! Katie, (named after Kate from The Apprentice) a white and red oranda and 3 zebra danio's. Luke, who we have had for a week seems to be boss of the tank. There was a chance we weren't going to be allowed more fishes as Luke was not well yesterday, but a change of diet and he is all better.

Next week will be my first attempt at proper cupcake making. I say proper as of course I've made cupcakes before but never made any proper big iced ones before. My brother found a recipe and it always helps in a recipe book to see a picture of what they look like or "should" look like! I have now made that sound like I'm a bad cook, I'm not, I even have Home Economics as a GCSE!

Yesterday I lost a little more weight which just put me in the ideal bracket on the body mass index calculator. Played wii tennis for about an hour this morning and now my arms are aching so badly.

Tonight is the season finale of Grey's Anatomy, and yes I know what happens! Twitter kindly told me as the series was finishing in America, and then it became a trend so I clicked on the trend and there was post after post about the ending! Yes I have learnt my lesson.

I interrupted my writing to set up my wireless broadband connection, easy it was not. Over 4 hours later and I'm back online wirelessly. Also I ate 4 bourbon biscuits to deal with stress which maybe I should claim back!

I'm off to watch a bit of tennis now, Hewitt and Roddick through already today. I wonder if Andy Murray will get through...

Sarah

x

Thinking about writing something serious

I have had an idea for ages about writing a story. I now think it might be time to put it all down and start a (dare I say it!) book!

I've read a few articles about starting writing with some clever folk saying "Once upon a time" is a good place to start! Haha very funny!

But along with my cupcake research I am going to start planning out the story, chapter by chapter.

It's quite weird but I don't have an ending for the story, I'm thinking writing it will help and then the ending will just occur.

And before you ask it's not a cupcake book....yet anyway.... I might write one in the future!

Sarah

x