The true meaning of Christmas?

Joyeux Noël, Feliz Navidad, Merry Christmas

Tis the season to be jolly! I love the holidays its my favourite time of year. Curling up in front of a warm fire, hot chocolate, mulled wine and all sorts of cinnamon aromas about the home and especially the Christmas movies that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Oh im getting all excited just writing about it. Im currently sat on the sofa about to wrap Christmas presents and it occured to me what is this holiday about.

Some people say its about family. Getting all your family and spending quality time together which is wonderful but also a little bit hectic. Some say its about the presents. Everywhere I turn everyones seems so concerned about doing their Chritmas shopping and picking up last minute gifts. Well its not easy when you have two families to cater for is all I can say everybody is different and you worry so much about what to get everyone whether you buy stuff make stuff or go sentimental or just materialistic. Some say its about the food. Whether you have roast turkey, roast beef, roast chicken or even mexican like we did at my mums lat year its seems to revolve around food and lots of it. 'Food glorious food cold jelly and custard'. It also tends to be more than one course. I can feel my trousers groaning at the thought of how much I'm going to stuff myself over Christmas. I might invest in a good pair of eating pants/sweat pants with plenty of room. Some say its about giving. I think alot does get confused in the word giving .People tend to give with the intent to receive but the true joy of giving comes in not expecting anything in return. Some people say its about Christ. After all he is in the word itself CHRISTmas without Christ why thats just Mas no meaning and no point. The whole reason we celebrate is the birth of Jesus Christ in a stable in a manger. A star led the shepherds and three wise men to him with gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, 
stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” 
― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

So whether you believe in Father Christmas, remember the baby Jesus, love food or are a grumpy old Scrooge (like my husband)  just enjoy the holidays. Be grateful for everything you have and spend it with the ones you love. Happy Christmas.

Made some gingerbread cookies in YWs yum

My 1st ever wreath not the best

My miniature tree

Funny- Santas Butt ale. Very Bad Elf ale. Seriously Bad Elf ale. Rudolph The red nosed White Horse beer

Options, options way too many options

11 July 2012 I graduated from University. Wahoo I have a law degree people yes A LAW DEGREE!!

There were times when I thought I would never be finished with school oh my days the early mornings the essays, the exams but finally its all over I couldn't be more relieved ...I think. I can finally ........ what are the benefits of not being a student hmm I now have to pay Council tax, as well as normal working tax which means getting a full time job , adult job (scary). A full time job means early mornings ugh I am not a morning person my husband can attest to this I nearly bite his head off every morning poor guy. Ok I'm supposed to be listing benefits aren't I. Are there any apart from money but thats earned money unlike Student loan which is free money that you technically have to pay back but way way in the future. Future what a scary word! My future wasn't something I had to worry until well the future but its now. Now is the time .... to make all my dreams a reality to put all the things I've learnt to good use. So what are my options ey?

Option 1 - Use my Law degree to get a law related job. No I do not want to be a barrister or a solicitor, sitting in court all day and possibly representing potentially a murderer doesn't appeal to me. So that leaves possibly a Paralegal job or maybe a Legal secretary. Theres also maybe working for the Citizens advice bureau hmm.

Option 2 - Apply for some Graduate schemes. I've missed the deadline for this years so would be applying for next years. There's a lot of companies out there that do these but the question is what the heck do I wanna do.

Option 3 - Get an admin job. Everybody always needs Administrative staff right and its alright pay. I just need to learn to use Microsoft Excel cause I haven't used that since High School which was 6 years ago!

Option 4 - Have a Baby. My sister who is studying to be a Midwife constantly keeps saying have a baby I want to look after one not just deliver one. We've been married nearly 2 years now and in Mormon world that means why the heck haven't you had a baby!! Aaargh how can I have a baby I still feel like a baby.. nah but seriously babies are expensive we did a mock shop on Mamas & Papas online and for just the basics no clothes it was £800 eeshk. Plus I want to have a house before a baby. I put our photos online to see what our baby would look like & yikes funny looking eyes what a skin colour difference.

 

Option 5 - Live in a tent! My husband has suggested this many a time much to my dismay. I hate camping!! Its cold and dirty and damp. you can hear the outside, the outside can hear you. You don't have electricity, running water or comfort. I am a material girl I hold my hands up I love the perks of modern technology such as a roof over your head!!

Option 6 - Win the lottery. I personally like this the best cause we could go on holiday to the South of France (Monaco, Cannes, St Tropez) or America (San francisco, Florida, the OC) or The Seychelles, The Maldives. Well to win you have to enter and as Mormons we don't gamble so lets hope someone gives us some money ha ha.

Right now I don't know what I'm going to do for the rest of my life. I just now I'm happy!

Marriage is no walk in the park

Wow been married nearly 18 months it feels like an eternity ... No wait we've still got eternity :/ jk it's totally flown by at points but also dragged at points. Now real marriage starts all the pretence is gone he's annoying I'm annoying & now we just have to learn to live with each others annoying habits ha. Although I've got him pretty well trained in terms of gift giving ;) still need to cure him of a disease all men seem to suffer from leaving your socks on the floor. I find them on the bedroom floor in the bed under & in the couch who knew one person could have so many socks! I am being tested! Another challenge is he's learning to drive & I'm supervising bad idea. If you really wanna test a relationship & your crazy then this would be fine. He has his way of doing things & I have mine it always comes down to it I've been driving 4 years no accidents :P & do as I say not as I do. The question is who is more stubborn.  

Nobody sits you down & tells you. Before I got married I had this pretty little picture in my head getting treated like a princess living in a mansion with a huge garden & going to lots of parties. No housework & no bills. Then reality struck. Getting married young means being a student being poor eating supermarket basics beans having to work & have church calling to juggle too. I had never cleaned a toilet till I got married eww. To this day I still struggle.

Me & Ed are total opposites I like designer bags & shoes he likes camping & mountains! This equals interesting disagreements he is adamant our kids will be wild & wield axes at 8 (not exaggerating here) & I'm adamant they'll go to private school & do plenty of extra curricular activities such as violin lessons & ballet.

All I know is I'm going to let him know every step of the way I'm fat because I'm carrying his babies & it's my way or the high way when I'm pregnant. He reckons I'll be nicer when I'm pregnant, as if the cheeky beggar I'm not that bad.

There are times when we want to kill each other I say we I mean me. I've found a solution 

I've got it on order ;) no I love him to death really & I think he's the perfect man for me cause I don't think anyone else in the world could put up with my craziness. Being married is hard work & it's continuously falling in love over & over again with the same person. It's forgiving & sometimes being slow to anger which is ridiculously hard cause boys will be boys. Ok honestly being married is brilliant I wouldn't trade it for the world I love my husband & I love our roller coaster life.

Hair today gone tomorrow....

Ok a lot of people comment on my hair. Your hair is different today, your hair is different colours, your hair is soo cool. Then all the questions.. How long is your hair? Can you make your hair stick up? Does your hair get greasy? What products do you use? Well here goes my answer.

Black women change their hair more often than you think. One day its a wig the next its extensions maybe clipped in and the next its a weave which means its sewed into your hair. Being black I am not exempt from this hair obsession. My poor husband has to listen to me moan about buying new hair extensions all the time. Why not stick to my own hair you ask?  You have to relax afro hair which is a process similar to a perm. It basically chemically relaxes (straightens afro hair) It makes afro hair look straight smooth and sleek. The down side relaxer basically burns your scalp. I get my hair relaxed every 6 weeks and I can guarantee my scalp gets burned. Also afro hair DOES not get greasy it doesn't naturally produce oils so as a result you have to put grease in it aka products. You have to use special shampoo & conditioner then special moisturiser and petroleum jellies which act as hair food. I didnt take care of my hair for 3 months and it fell out FML it had gotten really long as well. It was all different lengths and you couldnt do anything with it. Whats the alternative? Grow an afro! However cool you think one is it aint you cant brush your hair it gets fluff stuck in it all the time and its just untameable! One important thing to note NEVER ever touch my hair if you want to lose an arm you go for it. Also I never let my hair get wet. When its raining I am NOT going outside!.

Dont get me wrong Im not trying to say I hate my hair Im just trying to say it is alot of work.
The proof that my hair is a pain Before and After my hair gets done noooo it didnt grow overnight!

When I wake up my hair looks like this !

After I have just gotten my weave done 

Healthy eating to the MAX !

Having now been dieting for 2 months and going to the gym 4/5 times a week I have only lost 6 lbs. All that staying away from takewaways and chocolate cake and consuming an average of 1200-1300 calories a day I have only lost a measly 6 freaking lbs uuurgh. I have had a blood test that confirmed I am not diabetic or pregnant and have just got another one today to find out why my iron levels are low but hopefully why my body insists on holding on to this extra 3 stone my wonderful hubby helped me gain.

My new plan of action is no carbs plenty of water fresh fruit and veg. I made my first ever smoothie today. 4 apples 5 nectarines 1 mango and 1 banana later we have a thick fruity blend!

I have had a look on pinterest for some smoothie ideas as well as healthy meal plans. Im very motivated and very excited bring on the healthy food. Im ready for a lifestyle change!

Skinny girls stay out of the gym

I am speaking to all you girls out there who go to the gym and you look like this

 

or like this

 

don't even think about saying "oh I'm such a fatty I shouldn't have had that bag of crisps"

If your thighs are smaller than my arms and I see you at the gym I will kick your butt so hard outta there you won't be able to sit down for a week!

Now Im not saying I hate anybody who is skinny at all cause I understand that some people can eat whatever they want and not put on an ounce of weight ( lucky things). Its just skinny girls who go to the gym with their super toned bodies make the rest of us skinny deprived souls feel a little bit poop. You walk in without a care in the world and you run on the treadmill for ages without even breaking out in a sweat! Stay at home and have some cake not just for you but so the rest of us feel a little less inadequate!

One such person who is annoyingly blessed whom I love very much is my sister Michelle. She has been going to the gym all of a week and has lost half a stone, is back down to size 6 jeans and her top half must at least be even smaller than size 4 now which is basically smaller than the US size 0. Im almost tempted to tell the gym to ban her from coming until I've lost a billion stone and don't feel as fat next to her. Oh the joys of being a woman ...