Operation Christmas Child 2013

I thought I'd just drop by briefly to tell you a little bit about Operation Christmas Child - an amazing project in which thousands of people wrap up shoe boxes full of small gifts for underprivileged children across the world who might not otherwise receive anything for Christmas. Last year the Operation Christmas Child in the UK sent nearly 1 million boxes to children in Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia - personally I think that's a pretty impressive figure!

There are fairly strict rules about what you can and can't send, but the idea is that in every box a child will find some sort of toy, something educational like stationary, a hygiene item like a toothbrush and other small things like sweeties, gloves hairclips etc.

This year we sent two boxes - one for a buy and one for a girl. Sadly I didn't get a chance to include anything handmade this time round, but here's hoping whichever children get these boxes will like what they find when they look inside.

If you want to find out more about Operation Christmas Child then why not hop on over to their website. Or visit the wonderful Forty Percent Fringe: Sixty Percent Face and Wild Olive blogs who have also done boxes this year.

Did you join in with Operation Christmas Child? I'd love to know what you sent if you did!

Life Lately - October 2013

October was a pretty big month for me this year. Aside from becoming another year older, I finished my summer job (which I am missing like you would not believe), moved back to Dorset from Sussex, got my first car, spent a lot of time catching up with friends I haven't seen in far too long, made a Christmas cake and of course enjoyed some spooky Halloween shenanigans. As you can see Hector really enjoyed being dressed up as a pirate.

I also did a fair bit of reading - 3 books in fact, which is pretty good going for me, considering one of them was a Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) book and therefore a bit of an epic both in terms of plot line and number of pages.

So it feels like Uni is now officially over, now that I am no longer working on campus or living in my university town. It's a bit sad really, but hopefully I will return to Sussex one day, although hopefully not as an Undergrad student again!

All Change

Image Source: Pinteresthttp://www.pinterest.com/pin/266064290459342479/

So it's been a busy few months since I officially finished uni, in fact I still can't believe it's October and it's actually been about 5 month since I finished. That's practically half a year. I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that I'm not a student any more, I'm a Graduate!

So what have I been doing? Well working mostly, but the good news is I now know what I want to do with my life career-wise. But otherwise I've mostly been drifting along waiting for my 'new normal' to materialise, but that's getting a bit boring now, so I've decided to embrace the abnormality and go with the inconsistency that is my life at the moment. Well they do say if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Image Source: MaryKateMcDevitt on Etsy

So where am I? Well as of about a week and a half ago, I have finally 'finished uni' and am back in Dorset. For now anyway...

And what am I doing? Mostly unpacking (you try stashing the contents of a 3 bed house away in your childhood bedroom!) and waiting to hear if I've got an interview for my perfect job.

What am I doing tomorrow? Heaven knows...

See you soon, 

July 2013

Yet again it's probably closer to the beginning of September now than the end of July, but never mind! This month I have mostly been -

Celebrating summer with Pimms and BBQs

Graduating and going to Glyndebourne

More fun in the the sun, this time at my parents' house

 Paying a visit to BBC Maida Vale to rehearse for a Brighton Festival Chorus Concert

This month also market to arrival of my kindle, a present from my parents for my graduation, so I have of course had a sudden urge to read again. In July I read The Beach Cafe, Life of Pi and One Perfect Summer, which is fairly good going for me! Reviews shall follow just as soon as I get back into a proper routine come September, but in the meantime if you're on Goodreads you can find me here.

*all three links to books above are affiliate links, you can scroll down to find out more*

22 before 22 update

First up I want to say a little thank you to Not So Granny for reminding me that it's about time I got a wriggle on with my list! I've got just over two months now and counting to achieve all 22 things I wanted to do before my 22nd birthday, and at my last count I have only achieved a measly three and a half, maybe four of those things. 

So, in list order I have achieved - 

4. Graduate! 

6. Get a job. It's only a temporary one, but still I am really enjoying it, despite having to behave like a grown up for large parts of the day (something I don't always achieve successfully!)

7. Have a go at patchwork

21. Go to the opera

Sorry things have been a little quiet recently, I'm going to blame it mostly on number 6!

See you soon, 

aLittleBlonde BSc (Hons.)

I did it, I finally made it to graduation!!

Well at least that's one thing I can tick off my 22 before 22 list...

(BSc)

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June 2013

June was a funny month, busy and yet quiet at the same time, and full of post-deadline recovery.

Aside from flitting too and fro between Dorset and Sussex I had my first ever go at patchwork which I shall be sharing as soon as I can. I really enjoyed making this block though, so there are definitely more of them on the horizon.

a trip to Brighton to celebrate my freedom / a celebratory tea cake at Bills on results day

Cheeky fabric purchases in the sale / rediscovering the joy of packed lunches at my summer job

What have you been up to this month?

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May 2013

Deary me, it's taken me so long to get this up that it's practically July! Never mind, better late than never.

first strawberries of the year / dissertation writing / emergency microwave brownie

printed.com delivery / serious list making / dissertation hand in

first afternoon of freedom / fish & chips with the parents back home / bedroom sorting

snuggles with my boy / playing with dad's train / a trip to Glyndebourne!

pretty bus in Lewes / mahoosive strawb! / slightly random list

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Getting my mojo back!

Deary me it's been busy around here recently! There was me spouting off about how nice it would be to have a nice 9-5 job where the evenings would be mine to do whatever I wanted with, but in reality it doesn't work out quite like that does it? By the time I've got home, had dinner, chatted to my house mate and got ready for the next day I'm absolutely exhausted! This pin about sums me up at the moment really!

Source: Pinterest

If I'm honest I think I've just got out of the habit of blogging recently, so I've decided it's about time I got organised and got my mojo back, so keep your eyes peeled, I'm on a mission!!

This week...

...I learnt to do some patchwork!

I said I wanted to have a go at patchwork as part of my 22 before 22 list and now I am absolutely hooked! This is just the practice run for another ongoing project which I can't really say any more about now in the case the person(s) involved happen to see this post (unlikely, but you never know), but I'm hoping I should be able to reveal all in the next couple of weeks. In the mean time I'm planning a desperate scrabble round my craft cupboard to dig out every last little scrap of fabric so that I can get back into my sewing grove and get patching!

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Pottering

Pottering. One of my most favourite activities and a pretty good word at that. You know, just pottering here and there, doing a little bit of this, a little bit of that. No deadline, no stress, no real agenda. Just pottering about having a little bit of a tidy and a sort, uncovering things you forgot you had, stopping to have a look, maybe colour in a little bit of the old colouring book you just found. No need to work to a to do list, just make it up as you go along. Time to just let your thoughts wonder, or just not have to think too hard at all. Making plans and dreaming, but nothing urgent. Moving things about, gently organising, just sitting, considering the little things, a little bit of head space. Just pottering.

Today I shall mostly be just pottering.

Printed.com

A little while ago the lovely Claire of Claireabellemakes had a whole series of giveaways, one of which was for a £10 voucher for Printed.com, a new mail order printing company. They sell all the usual things you would expect such as business cards and flyers, but they also print stickers (eep!). As tempted as I was by the stickers (I will happily admit I am a sticker addict) I wasn't overly sure what I would do with them, so instead I decided I would spend my voucher on these great Instagram polaroid-style prints -

I've been pondering the fact that I never seem to print my photos any more, so these seemed like the perfect step forward for me, and aren't they cute?

It was quick and easy to upload the photos I wanted printing as Printed.com pulls your photos straight from your instagram account, the delivery was quick and they're great quality. My prints also came in really cute packaging - you've got to love a bit of silver and hot pink!

So all in all a happy customer, and I think I shall be visiting the site again in a few months to print more of my as yet un-taken instagram photos. I'm thinking these would look great strung up with pretty pegs on a washing line on the wall in my room, at least that's the current plan anyway.

Please note: This is not a sponsored post, I just really liked the concept and thought you would like to hear about it too!

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22 before 22

You may remember me posting about this a little while ago here, but if not here's the low down- I decided that to keep me busy after finishing uni I would create myself a list of 22 things to do before my 22nd birthday starting from the 15th of May, the day I handed in my last piece of coursework. It's taken me a while to come up with a list I'm happy with, but I think I'm there, so here's the finished version:

1. Start a ripple blanket

2. Finish the springtime throw I started ages ago

3. Make a dress

4. Graduate!

5. Get involved in musical theatre again

6. Get a job

7. Have a go at patchwork

8. Redecorate my bedroom

9. Remodel at least one item of clothing I would otherwise have taken to the charity shop

10. Visit another country

11. Learn to knit

12. Blog a recipe I've come up with

13. Reteach myself to crochet. It appears I hold everything wrong!

14. Make myself a pair of socks

15. Go to London on my own

16. Give blood

17. Make french macarons

18. Pass my driving theory test

19. Read a classic novel

20. Make something in miniature

21. Go to the opera (done! post coming soon...)

22. Make an item of clothing from scratch without using a pattern

So that gives me about 5 months to get all this done. Right, I'd better get a wriggle on!

You can find the master copy of the list in the tabs up the top where I shall of course link in every time I achieve one of these or to find all the posts about 22 before 22 you can click here.

My first day of freedom

Today is my first official day of freedom having handed in my dissertation on Monday and my last essay yesterday. I cannot believe I've actually finished my degree, it doesn't seem real! What on earth am I supposed to do with myself now?!?

Well I decided to make myself a list and just make things up as I go. So what's today's plan? Well first up I'm think a couple of hours catching up on other people's blogs, and working on things for my own, then perhaps a quick jaunt to the shops, followed by a little baking, maybe coffee with a friend (we need to test the baked goods you see) and then a bit of cross stitch in front of the tv or perhaps I will dig out my poor old springtime throw which is languishing somewhere in the bottom of my craft cupboard.
Edit: now I've realised I first blogged about the springtime throw a year ago today, I think I'd better go and dig it out!

I have an awful lot of things to share and an incredibly long lost of projects to be working through, not to mention my list of 22 things to do before my 22nd birthday which I am officially supposed to be starting today and shall be posting an update of tomorrow.

Anyway I shall love you and leave you and hope you are having an absolutely marvellous day. What are you up to? I'd love to hear!

PS I am of course listening to this on repeat at full volume and dancing round the house like a nutter! At least until my house mates return from their exams/uni that is, then I shall be silent nutter and contain the dancing to my room ;)

Today...

 

...I handed in my dissertation!

 

 

 

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April 2012

Just a week left until freedom, eek! So much stress yet so much excitement, I really cannot wait!!

Anyway, having handing in one of my essays earlier I'm taking a quick sneaky study break to post up what I've been up to in April. Boy does April the 1st seem like light years ago. So here's what I've been up to:

biscuit baking / making progress with my hoop art / first attempt at nail art

the results of said biscuit baking / making the cross stitcher keyring

visiting the Breakthrough Breast Cancer research centre in London - soon to be blogged once I've finished my dissertation! 

So that's it! A little less exciting than usual, but not too bad considering I'm finishing my degree next week!

See you soon, 

Cross stitch rose keyring

Well it's taken me a while, but I am finally please to present my finished cross stitch keyring!

If you've not seen it before it was a free kit that came with Cross Stitcher issue #264 and instagram seemed alive with a frenzy of people stitching it the week the magazine dropped on everyone's doormats.

I can't be doing with seeing the messy side of things, although the back of my work is usually fairly good, so I decided to stitch a circle of felt onto the back to tidy things up and add a personalised touch.

I'd heard a lot of people were short changed when it came to the blue thread so I stitched the background in 3 strands instead of the suggested 4, and I've got loads left! So if you're reading this and were one of the ones who came up short leave me comment and I'll happily post what I've got left to you.