What I done with my week off August 2018

This is up a little later than planned just I have been busy enjoying life! I haven't had a full week off from work since my birthday last November so this week off was certainly needed to just completely forget about work. I have had days off since last year but they have been like long weekends not actually some good time off. I did make some plans for my week off so I knew it wasn't going to be completely relaxing especially with the bank holiday but it's just what I needed.

I finished work on the Thursday and come 5pm I was running out the door, I was happy all the way home as I knew I wasn't going to be back until the 3rd of September. It sounded so good every time I thought about it.

Friday

Me and Sharna had planned to go to Now That's a Festival where they had a garage evening and few artists performing like General Levy, Sweet Female Attitude and DJ luck and MC Neat. It was in Dagenham so we drove down and stayed near by. We had such a good time apart from the weather, as we was about to leave the hotel it started to rain then stopped but about an hour after we got to the park it started to rain! It didn't stop people and we just had to make the most of it!

Sunday - Tuesday

One of my fav things to do every year is go Notting Hill Carnival in London, if you have never been I would highly recommend it if you love music, good vibes and amazing food. There was 5 of us who stayed both Sunday and Monday night and there was few other friends of friends who met us for just the day.

We drove down on the Sunday and as we was getting closer to London the rain was pouring this wasn't going to put us off as we went prepared with rain macs and all sorts. Despite the rain there was still a lot of people who attended and everyone was in good spirits and we was so thank full that one of my friends friend lives like right next to carnival and we all went back there and carried on having a good time then we got some food, which had to be the best food I had (curry goat, rice and peas), then made our way back to our hotel.

Luckily day 2 there was no rain forecasted. In the morning, the girls went down to breakfast and was just laughing so much about the day before and looking at everyone's snapchats to see who caught who off guard there was certainly some funny videos. We all got ready and made our way to carnival, where we followed one float in particular for a bit and then we just went where ever the music took us. With all the people in the area you don't think you will see anyone you know but it was so crazy that I actually see Sharna's mum and auntie. When it came to the end we all kind of looked at each other and said food? I was determined to get some fish and mac and cheese which I succeeded in!

Carnival weekend is always full on and full of good vibes, when I got back on the Tuesday I literally managed to watch Made In Chelsea but then passed out for the rest of the day.

Wednesday - Friday

I chilled for a couple days, watched some TV but also met up with a couple friends for a bit of a catch up as I had some time off. I always love a catch up with Nowara we will browse through some shops but always end up in Costa with a coffee and can sit there for hours if we could just talking about everything!

Saturday - Sunday

So I ended up back in London, why not?! I met up with a friend of mine who I've known for so many years and went for some drinks in Shoreditch which turned out to be a really good night but I was so disappointed that my Ted Baker sandals had broke luckily it was at the end of the night! After a late night I stayed in London most of the day chilling really and popped out and got a cheeky Nando's it was needed! Then got the train home but as it was a weekend there was rail replacement so it was slightly longer than it needed to be.

Overall I had quite a busy week but I enjoyed myself, I was back and forth to London (which is like a second home to me), spent time with friends and lived life. It makes you realise why you work so hard throughout the year, to have good times and make memories!

Did you get up to anything over the bank holiday weekend or had some time off recently?

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Xx

5 places I want to travel to

Mid August last year I renewed my passport after it had been expired after some time and went Amsterdam just after my birthday in November with a few of my friends, if you haven't read the post click here. Going away just for that one night I realised how much I want to travel more visit different countries and try new things. This year I will most likely be looking at booking a little break somewhere. There is definitely an excitement of having something to look forward to and not being at work for a week or so.

I've listed just a few places I would love to go to, hopefully in the near future I can tick these off my list and have new destinations.

The top of my list has to be Jamaica, now if you know me I have already been here before but I was 14 at the time and couldn't do as much as I wanted to but I would definitely return for a holiday. What more could you want amazing food, rum, music, sun, sea and good people?

Hello 2018

How are we mid way through January already? It does not seem that long ago that it was Christmas and everyone was celebrating New Years? I hope everyone had a lovely time spending it with their loved ones and stuffing ya face till you can't move anymore! That's what it's all about really oh and presents, who doesn't love a presents?! Especially when you wasn't expecting it or it's something you really wanted. I had spent the days that I could with my family but unfortunately throughout the festive period I was not feeling 100% so I spent a majority of the time in bed with my teddy hot water bottle watching Netflix. 

Now all the festivities are over it's back to reality, 2018 here we come! Probably like a lot of people I'm not setting no resolutions because if you want things to change that much you will do it without it being a new year new start or fresh start crap because come on who really sticks at their new years resolutions? This year for me I want to do more whether that's jumping on a plane to go somewhere or find new places to explore in the UK either do it alone and with the people I love. Getting back into a healthier lifestyle is key for me as well, small changes at a time will make a difference. Some may say that I have set resolutions but these are changes I've been trying to make these for past couple months. Overall I want to look back and say this year was a good year with a big smile on my face!

The Birthday Month

Oh my! November has been an extremely busy month for me for a long time which is why I haven't actually posted anything, I've either been out of Ipswich or out the country. It made a change do have so many plans in one go!

For those wondering (and don't have me on snapchat), it was my birthday on the 1st and I've had a week and various other days off throughout the month. Keep reading to see what I got up to and how I celebrated my birthday this year ! :)

Where have I been?

Hey, I hope everyone is well?!

I just wanted to give a mini mid year update (all be it a little later then I planned) and an apology as to why I've been so quiet and not as active with uploading any posts like I have been previously. I suppose I've taken a little break hoping to get back on track soon as I love trying new things out and letting you guys know what I think and what I'm getting up to.

Weekend in Manchester

A couple of weeks ago me and some of the girls went to Manchester to surprise Naquelle. She moved up there a couple of years ago or so and we hadn't all yet made a trip there for a girls weekend. We had a group chat with all of us and it was discussed of doing something towards the end of May as it was Naquelle's and Shonola's birthdays (both are very close) and there was talks of going Manchester but it didn't really go any further, little did Naquelle know we had created a separate group chat and decided we would go down for the weekend and surprise her. The main group chat things would be mentioned again about doing something even going London but none of us really responded to it, it was all an act, an act we all played our parts very well, Natalie's sarcasm just comes naturally. We would go back to the "secret" group and discuss things we should say and have reasons if we couldn't do that weekend. We had Naquelle's boyfriend involved (thanks to Sharna and Shonola) and he was in on it all making sure she had time off work, she had no idea. 

It came to the Friday and this was the day. There was a major surprise for Naquelle as her boyfriend had proposed to her in the morning! How cute, romantic, sweet, perfect, I could go on but you get what I'm trying to say. Sharna drove down and we did have some jokes along the way, we got stuck in traffic and someone spotted a good looking guy in the car behind so we made a sign on tissue (don't worry we didn't ruin a lipstick we had a pen lol) I think it said "we think your buff", me and Natalie held it up so he could see it and well we made his day, he was smiling and giggling slightly lol. Sharna is the sign still in your car?! So a few hours later we arrived, it was time to surprise her even more so we ran in her house screaming with balloons and party poppers. The facial expression was priceless she had absolutely no idea we was coming at all. It was safe to say we planned a surprise and no one or nothing gave it away. We done it!

Weekend with my family

How beautiful has the weekend been?! The sun has been out but not too warm, just lovely. I think almost everyone has now come out of the winter hibernation. I'm just hoping that the bank holiday next weekend is just as nice too!

I was supposed to go London Friday after work and spend the weekend but after a long and busy week I didn't make it and I stayed in Ipswich. Friday evening I popped into town and met up with some people from work for drinks, I didn't have a heavy night of drinking but it was a late one, there was some crazy snaps going around.

My bank holiday weekend away

Wow this past week has been very busy and now I'm back at work time flies when you're having fun. On Saturday (before the bank holiday) me, Sharna, Pauline (Sharna's Mum), Shonola had made our way to Nottingham for the bank holiday weekend and visit Leeds Carnival on the Monday. We stayed with Pauline's friend Mandy luckily she had enough space for all of us.

This had been planned for quite some time and we was all looking forward to it so much, mainly to get out of Ipswich and do something different. We got there early evening Saturday and we had gone out that night to see what Nottingham it was like. It was a good night but the event we had goe to was not aimed at our age even though we enjoy the music, it was more older reggae don't get me wrong some good tunes were played but we wanted something a little more up to date. We did take the oppourtunity to take loads of pics though, below are the better ones *hands over face*.

A trip to Birmingham

Over the weekend I had gone to Birmingham, I needed some away time I haven't really been away since early December last year which is unlike me! I went Birmingham once about 5 years ago for a night out with some friends it was a good night and I always said I wanted to go back but never did until now. London is often/always my first choice of destination but this time I wanted a new place to venture to. This visit was more to get my bearings for future trips as I know I will be returning. 

I was up around 7am on my day off, as you can imagine that was not the part I was looking forward to, I had to straighten my hair and finished off packing well mainly decide what clothes I wanted to take, then I took a taxi down to the train station and that’s where the journey begun. The train left Ipswich shortly after 10:00, I then passed through London and left by 12:00 and arrived in Birmingham about 13:30pm. The journey itself was not bad at all, it went quite quickly to be honest, possibly because of the changeover in London. I had a little bit of an agenda on the way, I needed to complete my previous blog post, Maya, which had a few finishing touches to be made (now completed) and to read my book Strong Looks Better Naked by Khloe Kardashian, with some headphones in so I wasn't distracted by people talking. 

Stripes and Floral (oh and London)

Recently I haven't blogged as much as I've wanted and it's not that I cannot be bothered or think I will do it later, unfortunately I have been letting some things get the better of me (I know I shouldn't) and I suffer with migraines which can last days. Anyway I am back on the blogging got a few things lined up, so lets go...

A couple of weeks ago I went on an impromptu trip to my fav city, London. The main reason I went as I was lucky enough to be given a voucher for Links of London and I'd seen these adorable rose gold skull stud earrings which were calling my name. Now when I was getting ready it had taken me an age to find what to wear because it was sunny a little but warm but I knew once the sun went in it would be a little colder so I needed to take a jacket of some sort. I always find this time of year a little tricky because most days the sun is out and skies are clear but as soon as you go in the shade or it gets dark, it gets cold and you totally was not ready for that. I remember that I bought a long shirt dress from Asos Curve last year that I had my eye on for ages, I bought it but I hadn't found the right time/place to wear it until now. It's very different to what I would usual buy as it has a mix of patterns, stripes (horizontal and vertical), floral and plain white patch. I see it in my wardrobe and said yes perfect! I can take my "leather" jacket down for later when it gets a bit colder and I will be sorted. I paired it with some ponte trousers and black Chelsea boots. The good thing I love with this shirt it is versatile as it can be worn with trousers or on its own as a dress. Before I left my mum had seen it and she loved the look as much as I did, after a couple pics I made my way to London and got my earrings and had a stroll down Oxford Street. It was a relaxing evening and I definitely need to do it again sooner rather then later!

x

A Stroll Before I Go Back To Work

*UPDATED*

Yesterday was my last day off before I go back to work after just over a week off :( I didn't wan to just sit around and do nothing so I popped to town just to have a browse and possibly buy a pair of leggins I'd seen in New Look Inspire a few days ago. I couldn't decide what to wear so I wore what I know best.. Black (lol). I wore the most comfortable leggings I own stretchy plain black leggings from Marks and Spencer, these are the best I have come across after years of searching but for the last two years they have never disappointed. I had this long line dip hem shirt (purchased a couple years back) and a pair of simple black sandals, 

both from New Look. They no longer stock the black ones but they have them in white or here is a similar pair in black. I think I have a bit of an addiction to New Look, they have got some nice statement pieces coming in this season, I'm a little excited an excuse to shop!! I was very minimal with my jewellery as I only wore the cutest little dainty Scorpio necklace I got from River Island a few days prior. I almost forgot my leopard print bow belt from Primark which matches my phone case :)

Family Reunion - Cardiff 2015

Back in February my Nan (mums side) told us that the family in Wales are arranging a family reunion where my great grandmother lived, immediately we said yes we are going, it was something that had no question about it. My mum was born in Wales but hasn't been back for over 25 years, myself and my dad have never been, it was a chance to meet some more of the family as I met a small amount whilst a few of us went to London in 2010. Now I've been told soo many times I have a big family and a lot of cousins but because we live so far away from them its sometimes hard to believe. Anyway last weekend we drove down to Cardiff which has some beautiful scenery along the way and as soon as we got to our hotel that was it, there was the start of the crazy weekend. If we wasn't at the hotel or shopping we was at my mums cousins house, Karen. My nan, both aunties and cousin styed with Karen for the weekend so we popped round Karen's the Friday to meet and greet have a few drinks and catch up, a couple more of my mums cousin came round with their kids and all we did was laugh. Also we had noticed that Karen had a picture of my great grandmother and some of her children, it was so amazing to see how beautiful she was.

My great grandmother and some of my great aunties and uncle

Saturday was the day of the reunion at Butetown Community Centre, we arrived and my mum stood there for a few minutes just remembering how it was when she grew up and how much it had changed since she was last there. We all walked in and it was kind of like erm now what do we do because there was a lot of people there we did not know as there is two sides the family, Grahams (us) and Ernest. We came across a picture of a couple in Victorian times which turns out to be my great grandmothers parents and we sat there for a little bit trying to work it out which seemed confusing to start with but it was explained to us and that was where we all came from.

*Continue reading for more pictures*

Bank Holiday Monday

For a few months I have been planning to go to Carnival but was unsure what day I was going on or anything. In the end me and my two aunties and nan decided to go. We had been looking at the weather until the morning we was leaving and it was just showing pure rain the whole day non stop. It was sure to be right because we got soaked but that did not stop us. We had set off from Ipswich from early due to there being rail works on part of the journey we got to London Liverpool street and got our underground ticket and set off. We had to buy rain macs to try keep us dry a bit more, it did work to a point. My feet were drenched to the point I was squelching as I was walking but hey it was funny we all was squelching. We did have a laugh besides the weather, had some drinks danced in the rain. Unfortunately I did not get many pics because of the rain but I did manage to get selfies with the family lol...