A Trip to Pembrokeshire!

Hello there,

I have just come back from a lovely long weekend away with my family.  We decided a few weeks ago to take a short trip to St Brides Castle, in Wales during the holidays, and so straight after work on Saturday we nipped in the car and off we went.

Where we were staying was in a converted barn at the castle.  The views were absolutely gorgeous, and 
the picture below shows the view just from the carpark! There, as you would expect in Wales, were tonnes of sheep, and when we were driving up the road when we arrived, some were just sitting in the middle of the road! They weren't too happy about moving either! 

The beautiful view

Our Valentines was mostly spent in the car, but we enjoyed a lovely meal for four in our apartment, followed by Take me Out... does it get any better than that anyway??

Where we were staying, we were right on the coast, so where ever we went there were stunning views, and we were surrounded by remote beaches.  During spring and summer the area is really busy, but due to the season, everywhere was fairly empty.  In the morning me and my mum went for a quick dip in the pool which was really lovely (especially as the water wasn't too cold!) and we then went on a short walk along the coastline by the castle.  We also had a scrummy pub lunch on Sunday, and again it was still fairly quiet, even though it was Wales Vs Scotland in the rugby!!

We then continued along the coast, and visited some more beaches...

Following our long walks along the beaches, we then decided to take a quick dip in the pool, which was really lovely and relaxing, followed by a quick steam in the sauna (I mean really quick...bit too hot for me!!) and an evening in with Mr Selfridge.

Monday was our last full day, so we made the most of it! Firstly, we went on a quick walk up to the top of the cliff at Deer Park (a NT park), and from there we got the most spectacular views of the coastlines.  Which was made even more special as a lady pointed out a seal just below to us!! I expect it is really busy here during the summer, as the area is known for its puffins, and there is a ferry during the summer months to the island, where you can also see whales and dolphins! After watching the seal for a little while, we walked back to the car and decided to visit one of the beaches nearby (Marloes Sands), which as expected was absolutely gorgeous.  

Finally, on our final day we were keen to head back (as we had a table booked for 7:30 at Prezzo back home...Pizza waits for nobody!!) , but we thought we'd make a short trip to the town of Temby... and I'm so glad we did!  As it was pancake day, we thought it would be nice to get brunch at the beach cafe, which had stunning views, and the interior was absolutely gorgeous too! But brunch did come.. we were quite shocked at how good it was! I ordered pancakes, bacon and maple syrup and a hot chocolate.. and I was full till dinner! It was just what the doctor ordered, and we were really pleased as we thought we were going to have a Shrove Wednesday because we were out!  When we came out, there was a pancake race going on in the street for the children and it was all very exciting! 

Visiting Wales was a really lovely way to spend some quality time with the family, and relax after a few stressful weeks! Hopefully we will visit again soon!

Hope you are all having a lovely February! Been up to anything nice too?

Kate Heidi x

Scrapbooking

Hello there,

It has been a considerably long time since I last posted, sorry! I have been so busy in the past few months, and I have completely neglected my poor blog... who I have dearly missed!

aanyway...

I recently watched a You Tube video by Lily Pebbles on starting a Project Life scrapbook, and she was presenting to her viewers her scrapbook which she has clearly put a lot of time into, and the result looked amazing!!  (http://www.lilypebbles.co.uk/2015/01/how-to-start-project-life-scrapbook.html) 

I had never heard of Project Life before, but after watching the video I was keen to research into scrapbooking! I have had photo albums etc before, but I have a feeling this year is going to be quite a busy and exciting one, so I am keen to try and keep as many keepsakes as I possibly can, so I can look back in 50 years and hopefully remember 2015 to be gooden!

... you could say this post is slightly premature, as I haven't even yet received all of the the items I ordered yet.  However I am so excited I thought I'd let you know what my plans are for my scrapbook this year!

I have ordered my self a snazzy little album in the size (12x12).  I decided on this size because it means I can fit 6x4 photos in easily, as I tend to order photos in that size anyway when I get them printed. 

 

I also ordered the photo pockets in the same size (12x12), however I decided to order 2 different designs. 

 The first design has 4 (6x4) pockets, which are landscape with 4 (3x4) slots in the middle row. (as seen below).  I plan on putting all my landscape photos in the 4 larger pockets, and then making cards to put in the smaller slots where I can either decide to write a little synopsis of what the photos are showing, write a little title or put in little items which I have collected, for example tickets or other memorabilia.  I have also seen that you can (if you're careful!) slice a 6x4 photo in half and put it within two middle pouches, and I suppose you could do this within any photo size up to (12x12) in this case, I think this could be really effective.

However, I also have lots of portrait photos which I don't want to put in landscape pouches, so I also ordered myself the same thing, but with a slightly different design.  This one allows me to also insert 4 (4x6) photos and 4 (4x3) comments or journal cards.  

I plan on making my own journal cards using scrap paper, wrapping paper or postcards that I find, which hopefully will make it have a slightly retro style?

I am really looking forward to putting everything in, and customising it as I go along.  I know scrapbooking can be a bit of an artfom, but I think it would be a nice little hobby and I'm looking forward to seeing where it takes me!

Let me know if you have ever done a scrapbook before, or whether you have any useful tips for me when I officially start mine!

Kate Heidi x

The BBC

Hello there!

There is no way I can write this post as adequately as I would like.  So I'm just going to try my best! I have just got back from one of the most interesting days! A few days ago my friend offered me the chance to have a tour around the BBC by her dad, and of course I jumped at the chance!  I know that, when they were located in the old building, she had had tours previously, and has always told exciting stories about who her parent's had met in the lift at work the day before.  So when she offered me the chance to go with her, I couldn't refuse!
The BBC is a massive corporation which includes TV, radio and online features.  The BBC have constantly been broadening their audiences, after 90 years it hasn't stopped growing!
I was told how the new technology which is widely available to people has now allowed them to advance the ways that the corporation reach their audiences.  For example, now when you are listening to the radio, you are now able to also 'watch' the radio through various streams on their website, where listeners are able to watch live streams and watch the DJ's in the studios on either their laptops, mobiles or tablets.  Which to me seems crazy! It is also interesting to see the way the BBC has been able to incorporate social media into their work, as again with the radio, the stations are able to receive feedback and responses from their audiences through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and often Radio 1 puts up videos on YouTube of the content that they have had on their shows, or from the 'live lounges' (which is when a band will come in to the BBC and perform live to the nation, they will often play a song or two of their own, and then a 'mystery cover' which is when they do their own take on an already popular song done by another artist, which tend to be fantastic to listen to and watch!! - I'll leave a link to a few of my favourites at the end!).  
I was able fortunate enough to watch the professionals at work whilst the news was being presented.  I was able to see the director making split second decisions in order to direct the way that the programme would be presented, even when there were mishaps occurring behind the scenes, such as an unpreventable loss of connection to an interviewee, the viewers at home would be oblivious to the matter.  Which to me was proof of the talent of the people working for the corporation.  
The entire building, and boy was it large (!), had a fantastic buzz to it, and it was really quite surreal to me, as I was realising that this is the building which creates the news and entertainment which I watch, listen and read every single day.  Every morning I wake up with Grimmy nattering away about something exciting and playing some of my favourite music, and before I know it I'm listening to Newsbeat and finding out the most important news stories which have happened or are going to happen throughout the day.  Then I'll go downstairs and have my breakfast, whilst having the BBC Breakfast on the telly, which has various guests who give their opinions on the current affairs.  Sometimes during the day I'll have a quick spot check on the BBC website to see 'what's occurring' (yes, I did just try to use a phrase from one of my favourite BBC programmes 'Gavin and Stacey') throughout the day, just so that I feel that little bit more 'in the know'.  In the evenings I tend to watch programmes which interest me on either BBC 1 or BBC 3, which is also helped by the fact that they have NO ADVERTS (!) and then the next day I'll repeat exactly the same, yet the topics which have been raised will be completely different on the next day, because all of the people at this fantastic corporation have been working frantically to find new stories, and to keep us updated on exactly what we want to know, whether it's to do with the UK, world news, the environment, technology, you name it! They are constantly scouring the earth for current affairs, which they then broadcast using various different platforms which can be viewed by millions around the world.
If I'm honest, I'm completely bowled over by the work they do, and I'm sure they'll continue to be as much of an outstanding corporation in the future, and they will be able to continue to find new ways of reaching people according to the changes in technology. 

What do you think about the BBC and the work they do? Do you make use of the platforms they provide?

Kate Heidi x

Revision

Hello there!
It's that time of the year again, when all the students are knuckling down and trying to learn the final parts of their syllabus and, hopefully, before their exam date itself!  
I know there are lot of people in the same position as me, wondering how exactly they will manage to re-learn all their topics that they have learnt this academic year.  But the thing is, when it comes down to it, doing a few hours of work each night for a month or two is by far the better option than just hoping that the examiners will put exactly what you want to see in that exam in the paper!  When you put it into perspective, the number of hours is so much of a little fraction of how much time you'll have to spend in a job you don't love because you weren't able to do as well as you know you could have achieved.  I really think that education is key to everyone in our society, as without it we would (to put it politely!) be stuck in a rut! When you are young you have so many opportunities, and, well I can't make assumptions, but the amount of procrastinating I do is absolutely ridiculous, but I would hate to throw the opportunities I have away.   

There are so many different ways to revise, but just in case you might be stuck for a few ideas, I thought I would make a little list:

• Mind maps- these are one of the best ways to remember different points, whether it be for an essay subject or a subject with lots of topics which all slot together to create one massive subject!
• Writing pretty notes- this year I brought myself lots of notebooks which I can decorate with as many doodles as I wish, I then brought myself some lovely coloured pens and I am currently writing out all my notes, which I will then test my self on.
• White boards: I haven't tried this myself, but I think I'm going to order myself a whiteboard and pens, as this is what my friend does, and she writes up her notes, then rubs it out, and re-writes them as a bit of a memory game! (see? revision can be fun!... sort of...)
• Talk it through- for those who are better at learning orally, sometimes it helps me to just talk what I have learnt through to a friend or member of my family, and somehow your understanding of it just grows! This could also work  the other way round, and you could ask someone to read through your notes.
• Watching videos- for those of you who enjoy procrastinating, but without the guilt! Sometimes I watch TED talks, or search a particular topic on YouTube and having someone else explain it or give their opinion on something, which can be invaluable to some subjects!! Although BEWARE!!! Make sure you DO NOT end up watching other videos which are completely irrelevant, like dogs which can sing, THESE WILL NOT, I repeat NOT, BE HELPFUL!!!

I hope that these might have ever so slightly helped you?

What do you find is the best way for you to revise?

Kate Heidi x

A Trip to the Land of the Scots

This week I took a short trip to Scotland with my family.  We had a wonderful time, and it was really lovely to spend quality time, in a place where phone signal is unheard of, and to explore somewhere brand new to me and my sister. 

We were fortunate enough to stay in a beautiful hotel the Trossachs.  It was the most gorgeous hotel I've stayed in.  With lovely furnishings with tartan pieces, beautiful views (we were especially pleased with our beautiful view of the mountains, which, due to it being so cold, were topped with snow!) not to mention the beautiful pool, sauna, steam room and billiard room!

A picture of the hotel we stayed in, it never quite got this sunny though,
beautiful none the less!!

On one of the days we nipped into Edinburgh, which is somewhere where I have never visited before.  And there it was absolutely beautiful.  We went up to the castle, and then had a little adventure around the city.  It was lovely because it was so different to places such as London, and everyone in all of the shops were so kind and lovely.  And of course we had a bit of retail therapy too!

The lovely view from the castle of the water and the mountains in the background

When we got back we had a lovely candle lit fish and chips, and I tried some of the traditional haggis (and I'm proud to say, I'm a bit of a fan!!).  We later (after a game of snooker with Dad) lay in front of the telly, and watched the entire coverage of the Brits!  I am a bit of a sucker for awards shows like that, and somehow get a bit patriotic and emotional all at once! I love having a look at all of the outfits, and ALSO I always like listening to the radio 1 presenters getting all excited on the radio about the evening ahead, which they all get so excited for!  I am a massive fan of music, but unfortunately I am lacking in the talent department when it comes to musical instruments and all of that jazz, but I can respect all of these artists so much! And also all of the people that go into putting an album out!  I remember last year I was on the train in London the day after, and there was a girl talking to her friend about waitressing for all of these famous people, and saying how it was all so precisely thought out, I must have been impressed, because I've remembered it for over a year!!

One of the arches at the castle

Anyway Kate, keep on track!! ...

I was also fortunate enough to have a beautiful boat trip on one of the Lochs, the views were stunning, and at one time we even got a rare sneak peak at the sun!  I was lucky enough to be let loose with steering the boat, with instruction to 'keep off the grass', and I musn't have done too bad a job, because by the end, he'd asked whether I'd done it before!  Now, that may have been sarcastic, but I'd like to say it wasn't!!

The beautiful view of the snow-topped mountains and loch from the hotel

It was fantastic to spend some quality time with my family, and because had so much to do, there are tonnes of memories which we were able to make, which I'm sure it will last!!

I hope you've all had a lovely past week!!

Heidi Kate x

Festivals this Summer

Hello there!

I haven't been able to blog for a couple of weeks (sorry!) but I have tonnes to catch you up on!

It's that time of year, when Christmas seems AGES ago, and summer just can't come quick enough, people are planning their spring/summer wardrobes, their holidays and quite a few just trying to get through the exam period (if that includes you, good luck, good luck, good luck!).  It's the time of year when people are starting to get excited for the summer ahead, and are getting fed up of the weather, especially as here in the UK it hasn't snowed... instead caused some disasters flood-wise, and albeit no where near as serious... some seriously bad hair days! Why is it that the frizz decides this is a good time to come out??

In the UK there are many festivals which are getting lots of young people excited for the summer, such as Wireless, Reading and Leeds and the Isle of Wight (the list continues), and recently, in order to build up the suspense further and further, there have been a few line-up reveals.   Which I must admit, have excited me almost too much!

This year, so far, I have planned to go to the Reading festival.  Which for those of you who aren't quite sure what it entails, it is a magnificent weekend full to the brim of music from tonnes of different genres, from rap from the likes of Eminem, to Indie Rock from Biffy to Imagine Dragons (who,now, I don't want to brag, but I was RIGHT AT THE FRONT FOR!!).  The festival is also held in Leeds, also in the UK, and the bands play at both festivals, but on different days, so for example one band could be the headline on the Friday in Leeds, but on the Sunday at Reading.  There are thousands of people who turn up with camping gear in hand on the Thursday, or Early Bird on the Wednesday if you're lucky, and everyone's there to enjoy themselves and for a fantastic weekend jam-packed with memories.  Sell it to you yet?

So I thought I would give you a little R+L online mix-tape from the line up of last year, and the announcements of this year.

So here goes!

R+L 2013

Foals
Imagine Dragons
The Lumineers
Fall Out Boy
Bastille
Peace
Haim
Disclosure
FIDLAR
Sub focus
Amber Run- this is a local band, who unfortunately I didn't get to see, but I've heard they're fantastic live!!

R+L 2014

Line up 2014`

The 1975

Wilkinson

You Me at Six

Blink 182

Arctic Monkeys

Courteeners

Disclosure

Jake Bugg

Enjoy!!

Are you going to any festivals this year? Let me know in the comments!

Kate Heidi x

Liebster Award!

Hiya! I've just found out that I have been nominated for the Liebster Award by Emily, a fantastic new blogger who has some lovely blog posts which I have enjoyed reading!
For those of you who haven't yet heard of the Liebster Award, it is basically a lovely scheme where new upcoming bloggers award other upcoming bloggers.  I think it's a lovely way of showing people that you care and most importantly enjoy their content, and it's great encouragement to keep going!

So... The rules !
1. You must link the persons blog who nominated you for the award.
2. You must answer the 11 questions given by the person who nominated you.
3. You then pick an additional 11 people to nominate with UNDER 200 blog followers.
4. You cannot nominate the blogger who nominated you.
5. You must inform the nominees they have been nominated.

The questions which Emily asked me were as follows: 

What was your reason to start blogging?

The reason why I decided to start blogging was because I really wanted to try something new.  I have previously enjoyed watching YouTube videos, and I then started to get more interested in reading other people's blogs, and before I knew it I had made myself an account, and I haven't looked back!
What is your favourite item in your wardrobe?  
At the moment I really love my black leather jacket from Zara, I can wear it with almost any outfit, and it is easy to just throw on with a nice scarf if I'm leaving the house quickly.

Who is your biggest inspiration? 
 My biggest inspiration are probably all of my friends, I admire them all in different ways so much, and I always aspire to be able to react to things in similar ways to them, or to be able to have a talent like they do, or to have a more courageous spirit like them.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
  I would like to see myself out of university, about to start my career (who knows what in!) with a lot of experiences behind me, and with a positive outlook on life.
What is one product you can't live without?
I love to have a bit of Elizabeth Arden bronzer on me, because it is always able to brighten me up, even if I'm not feeling up to it!
What are you most passionate about?
 I'm passionate about trying new things as often as I can, and trying to say Yes! to as many things as I can.
If you were stranded on a desert island, name 3 people you would choose to be with you (fictional or not)? 
I would definitely take Bear Grylls, because I would definitely be able to survive, Jack Whitehall because I think you need a bit of humour when you're in a tricky situation, and my best friend, so we could have a laugh about it when we got back!
Who is your celeb crush?
I've got a bit of a thing about One Direction, so I'd either have to say Niall or Harry, I don't think I'm alone here!
Nail Varnish or Lipstick? 
Nail Varnish all the way! I'm quite lucky because I have naturally long strong nails, and I love having them painted in a nice colour on a pamper day!
Favourite band/artist? (I love knowing this from people!)  
I am way too much of a fan of 1D, and am VERY excited to see them later this year, but also I loved going to Reading Festival last year, and I enjoyed seeing bands like Imagine Dragons, Biffy, Haim and Fidlar, who are all completely different!!
What was your biggest new years resolution? 
To carry on with this blog, and hopefully people will enjoy it!

The blogs who I have decided to nominate are:

Rachna 

Aveen  

Kate

Hannah 

Native feathers 

Gwen and Elena

 Emily

 Soph

 Stephanie

Emily

Carly 

The questions I have for you are:

1. What was your reason to start blogging?
2. Where is your favourite place to be?
3. What's your biggest achievement?
4. What would you have liked to have achieved in 20 years?
5. What is one product you can't live without?
6. What topics are you most passionate about?
7. If you were stranded on a desert island, name 3 people you would choose to be with you (fictional or not)?
8. Who is your celeb crush?
9. Shoes or Handbags?
10. Favourite band/artist?
11. What are you most excited for in 2014?

Kate Heidi x

I had tonnes of fun doing this award, and thanks again to Emily for awarding me with this, it's really lovely to know that there are real people out there reading my blog! Good luck to the girls I have awarded too!