You know those days when you jump out of a plane?

Ey Up Lovers! Well, yesterday I did on of the best things in my life EVER! I have literally always wanted to do it, so much so that my Mom can remember me going on about it when I was about 10! Now 21, my chance to Skydive came along, and was something I was never going to miss. If you are thinking about doing it yourself, I am going to put down my experience, if not just read on anyway, you might want to after!

With my old work, we decided to group together and do a dive for charity, and mine was the British Heart Foundation as unfortunately one of my cousins passed away in his 20's due to a heart attack, so this was the best charity to chose for myself. The other divers on my team were doing it for other great causes such as Breast Friends, and Macmillan. Together, we have managed to raise around £2,500 for the charities, so a great success! 

This was in the morning, on the way to the Skydive centre. I didn't sleep hardly at all the night before (hence why I have big ass suitcases under my eyes), and I was up at 5am having a bit of panic time. We stayed down in Cirencester the night before, so we were only 15 minutes away from the grounds. Once we pulled in to the site, I saw the plane I would be jumping from, and I must admit I began to fill up with tiddly tears!

Once we were through the gates, I saw my friends from Moor Hall, Kev and Seb. This was when my fear turned into sheer excitement, and I was totally ready for the experience. We went in to pay our final bits of dosh, and then my Mom pulled into the site with my little brother and sister! I also went with Ed, his sister and her boyfriend. It was really great to have them all there to encourage me! So then we went into the briefing, where we had a step by step talk about exactly what happens, and all the safety instructions. 

Me, Seb and Ryan. Fellow jumpers!

Here we all are waiting for the briefing. 

After the briefing I was good to go, I had done a practise land showing I could lift my legs right up so I don't snap them, and practised an 'arch', which is the position you leave the plane in. I could not literally wait to board the plane. I was in the third lift, so the plane had already been up and down twice before I got on it! The first 3 people from the left of the above photo went first, then Seb in the middle, then Me and Kev at the end. So we got a great view of them landing, and their experience before our turn.

Here I am in the jumpsuit! Holding a pretty sexy helmet.

See what I mean? Wouldn't say no would you, really?

Me and my Edbud, who thinks I am mad but loves me all the same I hope!!

Me, Sexy helmet, Edbud and Mom.

All geared up, and ready to fly! Man, that harness was tight! Better to be tight than fall out of it though!!

Then our names were called. I grabbed my instructor and dragged him to the minibus ready to go go go!! I also have had professional photos and a video done, so as soon as I get those I will do a post with them on too. I got in the minibus with Kev, and about 14 other people who were jumping singly just for kicks. They were a really nice bunch who made me feel even more excited, as they had done it so many times before!

When we reached the plane my legs were shaking a bit so I staggered up the steps onto it. You cannot stand up straight in it it's so small! There were two benches which you straddle on to, getting nice and cosy with the people in front and behind you!

To my surprise, the plane took off and we were sat backwards, which is really surreal as obviously on a normal plane you face the way you are going. We got up to 12,500 feet, and the others only did 10,000, because all the single divers wanted to go higher so that meant a longer freefall, which was great. 

Once we reached 8,000, I was instructed to get on my tandem instructors lap - with great difficulty - who I felt extremely sorry for! But this was so they could really tighten the straps of our harness together, so there was no gap between us. Once we reached altitude, a light turned red in the plane, meaning the single jumpers could open the door. Then it turned green. Out they piled, jolting the plane with the weight that had been lifted. Within literally a couple of seconds, we shuffled straight forward along the bench, straight onto the floor of the door, onto the edge, and OUT! 

I was freefalling, in the sky at 12,000 feet, and did a 360 degree tumble out of the plane. Wow. What a feeling. Your breathing is compressed due to the obvious pressure, and the harness digs in a little, but that is something you can put up with when you are in this surreal world with the ground coming towards you. It felt like a dream. I didn't even think about worrying whether the parachute was coming out or not, I was too busy taking in what I was doing, and also thinking about how dry my mouth was as I opened it the whole time! The video will be hilarious.

That's me up there! I had been thumbing up the camera man, which I hope I had my head up for, when the parachute was deployed. The feeling was a very strong pull up of the harness and a bit of a jolt, but once it fully opened it went all quiet and we were drifting around. My ears totally blew out I could hardly hear a thing! He gave me the parachute toggles to have a go at steering and it felt awesome. He swiftly took them back off me, and we did what he called 'Twiddlys' where he spins the parachute so you spin in a big circle, which was great! I always like to do stuff to the full, if I'm doing it anyway, might as well go all the way. 

We then did a practise landing in the air, where he told my to bring my legs right up. I did it totally fine so we were set to land. It was a mad feeling with the ground  approaching you, but not once did I feel unsafe or at harm. It was pure exhilaration. The landing was totally smooth, my legs went high enough so that I landed on my feet, which I was so glad about as I have a coccyx injury. Then some helpers unhooked us and I was just in a total daze, continuously shouting "Wow" I think! I went a bit dizzy but after a few seconds I was fine. Then my family came to greet me and I was on cloud 9! Literally! 

It was one of the best things I have ever done, and the top of my bucket list completed. I am already considering planning my next one, and would absolutely love to do it alone one day I think!

  

Here is the final picture of us all with our certificates! It was a great day, spent with great people and couldn't of asked for better. Once we finished, and went to get something to eat, I started to spiral downwards a little. I think after all that adrenaline I was absolutely exhausted and had a banging headache, probably because of the tension the previous night! It was a big sigh of relief that my feet were on the ground, although in the end I was totally relaxed about it, even in the plane! I would urge anyone to do it, it is an amazing feeling, and really isn't as bad or scary as you may think. They are fully trained with clever, expensive, super-safe kit and they have done it thousands of times. If you get the opportunity, DO IT. It's mind over matter and I can guarantee you will love every second.

I am now due to get a little silhouette of a plane tattooed on my ankle, in commemoration of my first (hopefully not last) Sky Dive, and my love for travel.

Thanks to everyone at the Silver Stars centre for their help and encouragement, and especially George and Matt who were my Tandem and Cameraman instructors.

A day I will never forget.

Ciao for now XxX

Trip to Cyprus ♥

Greetings! I Hope you are doing diddly dandy! What a week. I am going to have to split it into two posts so as not to bore you! I will warn you that these are going to be picture heavy, but I like to look at pictures so you might do too. Firstly I am going to waffle on to you about our holiday to Cyprus. Not to make you well-jel or anything...but just to share our experience! 

This is a little picture of the make up and nails I did for the journey! I went for a coral look, especially as coral nails look fab when you have a bit of a tan! So this is Models own nail polish in Tropical Sun...I think it  is called, available at boots. Eyebrows are MUA matte brown in shade 19, available in Superdrug, and my lips are a number 17 lipstick, in lasting fix Hot Chilli. It really does last quite well, and they aren't too expensive! One of my favourite corals.

Waiting to board the plane, I grabbed these amazing sunnies from Claires at the airport, they are a great match for my hair! Also, Monarch give you these fit to fly tags for your hand luggage! Me likey. I also forgot to mention I got full body searched through security, as I always do, because I have ears full of metal with 9 piercings, 2 in my belly and then I had a big chain necklace on and set the bleepers off =/  I am an idiot. I just walk through with my arms out ready now!

On our plane, a woman decided to neck back neat vodka from a bottle she bought at the Duty Free. As you can imagine, always fun when you are confined at 30,000 feet. She kicked off and luckily we were at the back of the plane, but she ended up punching a passenger and pulling an air hostess' hair! We had to wait for the police to arrive when we landed before we got off the plane. This was about 11pm. Then, we had a transfer from the airport to our hotel in a little minibus, which to our suprise, also was to carry the drunk woman to her hotel. Unfortunately, Mr Cypriot minibus driver didn't believe us, and so didn't leave the airport until an hour later without her.

At 12.30am, we arrived at our apartments. We checked in, got our keys and headed up. It looked a nice enough place, until we went in. Long story short, electrical wires over the floor, bathroom full of dust and grime, unsafe cooking equipment, and last but not least a smoke alarm which intermittently bleeped every 10 seconds. You pay all that money and get all these extras for free! Hmm...not extras we would prefer to be honest. So after trying to fight the annoyance of the smoke alarm, we gave up, packed up and headed to reception to ask for a room move. They moved us to the one underneath, which was exactly the same but you could hear even more bleeps down the corridor! We just couldn't stand it, so at now 1am, we ventured to the hotel next door which was a large complex, as our reception had locked up and gone home! So no security either!

The manager at the new hotel gave us a lovely room with a view, so we went and took our cases, unfortunately had to pay for a whole other week, but at least we were happy. We checked out of the rubbish one the next day! This is what we could see from our window now. =)

Just a little poster that amused me...

The first day was sunny and overcast so I didn't think I needed any sun cream...I was incorrect.

It was pretty rainy for a couple of days then it brightened up towards the end of the week, so it was cocktails all round!

As it was easter when we went, they had these huge plastic bunnies and eggs all around the roads! Very different to the UK!

A Praying Mantis. I don't think I had seen one before, but someone had trodden on his leg =( poor thing, so I was trying to help him into some safer bushes. Good deed for the day!

Ed and his mammoth Pitta Kebab!

One of the nights out to eat. Liner is the usual Fluidline in blacktrack from MAC, and the lipstick is the MAC Chenman range in Force of Love, with matching Lipglass.

Finally, I gathered up the guts to Parasail while I was there! It was a great experience, really relaxing actually! Just gliding smoothly over the sea as you do! I was a bit hesitant and nervous at first, but my inner adrenaline junkie always gets the better of me, and I am really glad it does. Experiences like this make me feel glad I am alive!

Which gracefully brings me on to my next blog which shall be up very soon, about my Skydive!!!

Thanks for reading guys, sorry for the waffle!

Ciao for now XxXx

When your knickers are inside out... ♥

Hello! Nice to see you. Are you having a good day? I sure hope you are and that it is better than mine! As you can probably tell from the title it hasn't all started out that great! So about half past 6 in the morning Ed and I were half awake to notice that the weather was all of a flurry of snow! We were in T-Shirt conditions last week, and now it is snow. So, after nodding off for a bit longer, I wasn't looking forward to getting up and venturing out in it anyway. The roads are fine which is good but it just keeps raining now and everywhere is all sludgy. Below was the view from our bedroom window! 

So, after putting my knickers on inside out - which always tells me what kind of day it is going to be - I went to my car to begin my journey to work. Or so I thought. I put the key in the ignition, to hear a sound as what only can be described as an effortless groan, showing that my car really didn't fancy the trip to work today! GREAT. So my car battery is dead. Luckily one of my family friends was dropping something into the other office which is right near me so she kindly gave me a lift to the train station.

Already late, I was greeted by this sign.

I know it is an awful thing to happen, and I feel for the person, but why does it always happen when everything else is going tits up too?! So the train was delayed by 20 minutes and it was freezing and heaving down with sleet! So that was it really, but we are only halfway through the day. I wonder what else the demons have in store for me, because I have to try and get home yet, and call the breakdown company so they can come and jump start my poorly car. I really hope I don't need a new battery because I am fully skint this month. So rant over, just thought I would share that with you, so you can feel your day is much more successful than mine!

Ciao for now! xXx

Bits, Bobs & a Revlon Lip Butter ♥

Bonjour! Spring has sprung, and I have a few random things to share with you that don't really fit anywhere else, so I thought I would shove them into one post. I took this photo of a Magnolia tree on Sunday. It has been pretty warm in England over the last week or so, but now the temperature has dropped and it will be -3 degrees on the nights of the weekend, and they are now telling us to expect sleet and snow! What is going on with the world!? Ah well, I'm flying into 25 degrees on Friday, so I can cope with that! Wahooo! I'll try and blow the sun back over for those reading from England!

Thought I would just show you a few of the make up looks I have been sporting recently. I went to see the Devil Inside last Friday, which isn't the best film I've ever seen I must say...and so I wanted something quick and easy. Here I am wearing MAC Fluidline in blacktrack, which I live in, a bronzer from MUA which you can't really see due to rubbishy camera! Then for those of you that are fellow Glossyboxers, I got the Burberry Lipstick in Rosewood in my Harrodds edition, and I love it! It isn't a colour I would ever purchase initially, but I really want the full size of this now, it's pretty sophisticated! Lovely formula too and has good staying power, so that is what I have on here.

This was for a meal out, and I am wearing Maybelline colour tattoo in Gold. I am sure it is called Forever gold or something but the website says Bold Gold, I haven't got it with me so I'm not sure, but the gold one anyway! Blimey do these do what the say on the tin! They do not come off, they are great! They don't crease either, and while Boots have their nifty 3 for 2 offer on, I would go and grab yourself a few because they are great to work with, on their own or as a buildable eyeshadow base. The turquoise blue colour is from the 120 palette, another staple for make up-heads. Available on Ebay.

Anyone got draw something? I am the worst drawer in the world but I have managed to get to level 99 with another player! However, when it reaches 99, the score doesn't increase it just sticks at 99. So for those that excel at draw something, the excitement gets battered by a non rising score! If you are beyond bored and fancy a game though, my username is tilldazzled.

Here are my current nails. In most Superdrugs, they are doing a reduced box full of GOSH products at the moment, and there are bargains to be had! Half price nail varnishes! I love their nail varnishes too because the majority of them are one coat wonders and are great at resisting the chip. This colour is called Midnight Blue I think, and is a lovely swirly Navy blue. On the accent nail is a Bourjois glitter topcoat, which I'm not sure what the name is because I swiped a brush of it from my Mother in Law! Sorry Guys, there are plenty of glitter top coats out there though!

I thought I would take advantage of the Boots 3 for 2 offer myself, as I really wanted one of the Revlon lip butters many youtubers and bloggers have been loving recently. After swatching nearly the whole range on my hand, I finally decided to go for a pale pink, which is shade 055 Cupcake. They smell nice and vanillary, and are so moisturising! I have had it on for about two hours and can still feel my lips nice and moisturised, with a hint of colour. They are very sheer, and a little buildable. There are bolder colours such as the red and orange and they can come out very bright. This was £7.99, and I think it is worth it because I know my lips won't suffer while on my holiday! 

I also got a Models Own nail varnish, as I have wanted to try one for ages. They have got some gorgeous colours and glitters, but I got one in the shade Tropical Sun, which is a fine glittery Coral. I thought it would be a great toe colour too, especially with a tan! Then I got the nail art pen, so I can try out some designs! Models own Nail varnish - £5.00, Nail Art Pen - £6.00, available on 3 for 2 at Boots.

Here is the colour of the lip butter, a lovely light pink! It's a lot darker on here due to bad lighting, my apologies. I am too lazy to take it on my camera whereas with my phone I can upload straight to blogger, so I  can get more posts up for you readers! Anyway, I have also been trying out the Maybelline falsies flared mascara. I actually really like it, because they say that use the spoon side against lashes first, then the flat side to flare them out. This is great, but also because the flat side has little bristles, it is great to separate the bottom lashes, without making them look clumpy or anything. A nice mascara for a drugstore buy, and I think it is around £8.00.

So that is enough waffle for now, I might do a holiday essentials blog before I go, so you can get an idea of what is good to take, so you don't weigh down your case!

Ciao for now XxXx

Vintage Fair & Thrifty Times! ♥

Oh Hai Der! >.<

So yesterday I went to a Vintage fair at my local town hall, and MAN was it busy! I knew it was going to be popular, but I didn't realise it was going to be a can't-even-get-a-look-in jobby. Fighting through all the hustle and bustle, I managed to get some sneaky pics with my phone of some of the stalls. They aren't great but if you haven't been to a vintage fair before, it gives you the idea of what it is all about. I love them, but there aren't many round here. I like that with a bit of imagination and thriftyness, you can get some lovely pieces!

Here was a stand with handmade bag pins. I didn't have any money left at this point but I thought they were pretty cute! There is a pink 'T' I had my eye on towards the bottom of the picture, but I was all spent out! To be honest, I could probably make these myself with a bit of practice!

Gotta love a bargain bin! If you do go to a fair like this, make sure you have a good rummage through things like this. I found a gorgeous scarf in this one that I am going to use as a headscarf for that 'rockabilly' look, as you will see in a picture further down.

Cupcakes! Theres always plenty of yummy cupcakes at a vintage fair! But me being on a diet, couldn't indulge in the pleasure. I bought Ed a red velvet one though!

A Sweet stall! Everything with sugary goodness you can think of.

They had some entertainment on called The Pin-Ups, and they were really great actually. Singing and dancing with all the vintage gear on, they looked the part! All the men that had been dragged there were soon glad they came.

This was a stall that had loads of pieces, I was eyeing up a gold chain that I really liked because it was short, so it would look great under a shirt collar. It was a fiver and I only had about £20 with me so I carried on looking around, but I kept wishing I had got it. So I went back to the stall and a lady had it in her hand! I was like nooooo! Then my Mom saw her put it down so I grabbed it! I'm glad I did I love it. Picture further down.

Some cute little pins!

Here are my purchases. A scarf from the bargain bin at £1.00, a gold chain for £5.00, some turquoise and gold clip on earrings for £3.50 and some exfoliating sugar scrub in berrylicious for £5.25 - which smells yummy! I think I did fairly well and really like everything I purchased! If you get chance to go to a vintage fair, I'd definitely check it out, because it's interesting and there are always quirky, weird and wonderful people there! I feel right at home!

We then popped to one of our local charity shops as we were in the thrifty mood, and I just loved this big pink wedding hat! Was a wickedly pink colour, but I am not or won't be a mother of a bride for quite some time yet! Lipstick = Force of Love by the MAC Chenman Ltd Edition Range.

I did however, come across this mint green shirt. Mint and pastel colours are all in this season as you probably know, so this just stuck out to me. It obviously looks extremely old granny, but you will have to work with me here! I love the criss cross detail along the collar and button strip, so what I am going to do is put some gold buttons on it, and material on the inside about halfway up the sleeve, to enable to sleeves to be rolled up and buttoned. 

Here is the detail a little closer. I think it will look pretty good when it is finished, for £3.95 you can't go wrong!

So that is all I have for now really. We have had confirmation that the wedding date is set! Wahoooo! So just going to be our trip up in May now to go and put the deposit down. I have also found a dress I really like, but it is way too early to be posting pictures like that so nearer to the time I will!

Ciao for now! xXx

A wedding you say? ♥

Hello Strangers! I hope everybody is spiffingly well. Putting the title of this blog to one side for a minute, I shall firstly persevere with our little weekend trip to the lake district! Please be aware this post is going to be picture heavy!

We had a great weekend and couldn't have been luckier with the weather! We went to the same lovely hotel we went to before, and it was gorgeous. On Ed's birthday, we did some shopping around Kendal, and had plenty of grub (diet oh-so-slightly out of the window this weekend). I did manage to kind of be good, but we were celebrating so I had the first alcoholic drink, and chocolate in a month. Must admit my date with the scales didn't go too well after that.

We got looking around a few charity shops, because you never know what you might find, and being thrifty can save you money, and land you some unique items! Ed wanted some whiskey glasses for his office, and I just wanted to see what bits and bobs were about. Here is what we came out with!

Just a view from a side street pub we sat at! So cute!

I had seen glasses very similar to these at an arts and crafts village near to us, and they retailed at around £17.00 each. I really liked them because they are so different and hand blown and painted, but for that price I would be frightened to use them! So in one charity shop, I was having a good root around, and these little beauties caught my eye! They were in a locked cabinet under the sales desk and they were just like what I had looked at previously, but ALL FOUR for  £12.00! They still had a sticker on that said hand blown, so I doubt they had ever been used! SOLD to me! I just soak them in a bowl of hot water and fairy liquid, and they will be just as new!

Then we were on the hunt for Eds whiskey glasses and decanter. In two separate shops, we firstly found the decanter. It has a slight crack in the top but nothing you would notice, and that was £4.99. It has a lovely crystal detail and perfect for what he needs. Who knows what he might have paid from a shop. We then went into another, and saw the set of glasses.

The glasses were in the same shop as these lovely vintage scent bottles, but the glasses were £5.00 for all six, and the bottles were £12.00 for four. So we asked if we could have the lot for £15.00 and kindly the shop assistant agreed! Bargain! It pays to barter a little, but not too cheekily! The vintage scent bottles are so different and unique! I have never seen anything like it, and they will look great on my dressing table after a soak!

Then I found these beauties. I love looking for vintage earrings in charity shops, you can get some really interesting pieces. These pair of earrings are so different, I have never seen anything like it and the detail on them is so unique! Great catch for me, especially at £1.50!!

I also popped into Superdrug and managed to get two of the new Maybelline colour tattoos. They are really great, the staying power of the cream eyeshadows are brilliant. I had a gold swatch on my hand, I went swimming, and in the shower and it was still there! So you have to scrub if you want it off, or some really good make up remover. Great staying power!

Onto the exciting bit then....As you may or may not know, Ed and I have been engaged 8 months now, and haven't really discussed much of the wedding. HOWEVER after having going to the lake district twice and loving it so much we have decided to get the ball rolling! We are actually booking the date! We are going to go for the Friday 25th of April 2014. We would have had the 18th, but that date is that years good Friday, so it is bound to be more expensive then. We have two years to do it all, so that gives me time to lose weight, save up, and tailor it to how we want. We are pretty much keeping it to family, as you do have to draw the line somewhere, and with it being two and a half hours away, not many people will come just for the night do.

I am beyond excited! Even though it's ages away, I am sure it will come round pretty quick!

 This is the lovely hotel!!

This is the little pagoda that we want to get married in, fingers crossed for the weather!

Here we are at the hotel, love it!

So stay tuned to see my gradual wedding plans, and if you want to see some of my wedding ideas, add me on Pinterest. CLICK ME

Woooohooo!

Ciao for now! xXx