Today I bought a swimsuit, it arrives tomorrow and I'm terrified.

I haven't worn a swimsuit since I was about 13, and haven't worn a bikini for about 4 years. The last couple of beach holidays I haven't been in the sea, and that makes me sad (I really love the sea). I just don't have the confidence, my body is far from good. My stomach and hips are the worst and the parts i'm most conscious about. So obviously, a swimsuit, or any kind of beach wear is a huge no go. But I NEED to go in the sea, and I want to not feel over dressed at the beach, maybe tan a little, so I have taken the plunge.

I did go for a 'swim skirt' first, have you heard of them before? I never had, anyway, I HATED it. Gross, back to the shop it goes. I searched and searched for an alternative, and there really is very little comfortable, non-underwear like alternatives, huh? I suppose that makes sense. So I went for a full swimsuit, what do you think? It's cute (on the size 8 model), not convinced I'm going to feel great in it.

Spot Tie Front Swimsuit- ASOS

Actually, I'm still not convinced I'm going to wear it, but I'm really going to try. I am working on getting my own good body,  running, eating better etc, so this time next year I will not have this issue, but for the time being I do. I dont think I can lose a few stone between now and Tuesday. I really don't want it to ruin my holiday. Plus, I am only going to be with my boyfriend, and two really good friends, so it shouldn't matter really? But it does. Surely there must be other girls out there that have the same issue?

Wish me luck.

I'm busy making some wall art for our very very very bare walled flat. Save the Day wall art to be precise (The best kind, surely?!). Okay, it doesn't look great yet, BUT I have loads of scraps of material that i'm going to entwine around the letters to brighten it up. Saves the Day are by far my favourite band ever, I could listen to them forever, so it took me agggess to settle on what lyrics I was going to use. I'm still not convinced I've settled on the right ones! So this is a bit of a prototype, but its exciting! Ahhh... I need more pipe cleaners. I'll let you know how it goes.

Other languages really fascinate me. I always feel awkward as hell speaking another language and usually push Dixon in front of me at bars or in shops when we're in other countries, but I always try to learn a little, and this trip to Portugal I'm going to try harder.

After going to Barcelona for the last couple of years and thinking we would go back again every year for the rest of my life, because I genuinely love that city (and saying Hola to everyone I see, hola hola hola!), I spent a lot of time learning some Spanish (and a little Catalan), through podcats (I loved Coffee Break Spanish) and books, hoping that next time we go there I'll have the confidence to make conversation. Everyone in Barcelona is amazingly friendly, and I wanted to be able to be friendly back in their language.

As you all probably know by now though, we're going to Portugal instead this year (in one week, eep!), so I have a new language to quickly learn, which can't be a bad thing, huh? These are the basics I'm trying to ingrain in my mind;

Hello / Bye- Olá / Adeus
Good Morning!- Bom dia!
Thank you- Obrigado.
Yes / No- Sim / Não
How Much? (does it cost)- Quanto custa?
Two beers please - Duas cervejas por favor
Without milk/cheese/sauce- Sem leite/queijo/molho

Am I missing anything? I always learn 'two beers please' everywhere I go and being vegan too its important to recognise words like 'milk', 'cheese' and 'egg' on menus, or in ingredients on packaging.

What about you? I'm interested to know what lanaguages you can speak, or if there is a phrase beyond the basics you always try to learn? What language would you love to learn? Teach me!

As you probably know, or can probably tell, last week the sun was out in all its glory. It was amazing (and still is, surprisingly). The sun means I try and be outside as much as possible. I was up in Durham for work because of an early early morning seminar x2. I spent the night in a rubbish basic hotel, but the seminars were in the BEST places! Ramside Hotel in Durham, then back to Leeds to Weetwood Hall (potential future wedding venue?). I really wish I had chance to explore because they were both beautiful, the grounds were full of bird, flowers and huge trees, and I saw a little rabbit bob past whilst I was watching slides on pensions too. Urrg. Hopefully I can go back one day.
We went to the park with friends, and I actually tanned a little. We finished off last night with chocolate peanut butter cupcakes and an early night. This week was great!  And, even better, only 7 days until we fly to Portugal!

I can't believe all these amazing looking plants come from seeds that all look the same, how do you do it nature?! I'm so excited to see everything grow, and flower, and fruit. The plants are loving the recent bout of sunshine we're having as much as I am, and it means we can leave things outside overnight without worrying about them getting cold. (The basil got a little droopy after a cold night out a couple of weeks ago). Above is the beetroot, my favourite looking of everything we're growing, I wonder whats going on under the soil? Below is blueberry, spinach, gooseberry, peruvian purple chili, a forest of carrots and marjoram.

This weeks round up comes a little late, but life is busy! Last week was all about getting ready for the race, saving for our holiday, tasty food, relaxing and enjoying my first ever face mask (completely in love with them). The sun came out, and my blueberry is doing amazing! I was really worried it was going to die, but how great does it look? Berries this year, maybe? The golden fleece is in a Starbucks in town, its from the Leeds coat of arms, which is definitely the coolest I've seen. Leeds is full of awesome things like this. Also, how cute is Dixon?
 I hope your week was as great as mine.

I actually did it, I ran in my first ever 10km race, and didn't do terribly! I was aiming for 1hr 30minutes, but after being ill and training nowhere near enough as I should have I knew I would be happy with anything below 2hrs. I actually did it in 1hr 33minutes, look ! Dixon did a whole lot better than me at 1hr 10minutes.

Since I put up the Bird Feeder I made, bird have been around constantly! I'm sure i'm driving Dixon crazy pointing them out every time they land. The feeder has been a big hit with the Great Tits, who come around constantly. The occasional Gold Finch, Blue Tit and Coal Tit have made an appearance too. I'm not too sure we'll see many other varieties, the balcony is quite small, so when a Magpie drops in it isnt for very long. It's great to have these right outside our window though, and hearing them sing when the door is open is amazing!

I'm going to go pick up my old binoculars from my parents house in a couple of weeks and get my stalk on. I know there are kingfishers down on the river, and who knows what else I'll see.

In other news, the apartment we booked for our Portugal trip fell through, but we managed to book a hotel today, which is a huge weight off my sholders, now I can look forward to the sun, only 19days to go! First though I have to manage my 10k, which is 3 days away, i'm going out for my last run before the big day tonight, see how far I can make it. I didnt realise, I get a medal for finishing! It'll be the first medal I've ever received, which has made me a little more excited, and a tiny bit less terrified.

1. I love the contrast arms, thanks New Look. 2. New Look again, the Aztec type pattern is all over at the minute, and I love it! 3. Vans do some amazing wayfarers, these ones are available via Surf Dome. 4.You can't really go wrong with tortoise shell huh? These basics are from Ark. 5. And finally, probably my favourite of the lot, purple crackles from Urban outfitters, I think I'll be off to get these shortly.

Can't wait to get in the sun, it's hitting 30'C in Porto, its 11'C here in Leeds today, huge difference. Come on tan time.

Sky Highs colour is impossible to capture, it is beautiful, my new favourite nail varnish. Go get some!

That better way to destress after a tough week at work than messing with some lard? (yuck!) But I looooove birds, so I decided to make my own Bird Feeder for Fun Food Friday.

Originally I went into a store to buy a selection of feeders and I was a bit worried by the ingredients on the fat/suet ones. 'Edible glue' does not sound appetising, and every one had 'Not suitable for human consumption' splashed all over the packaging, which maybe something completely innocent, but I thought I'd rather know what I was feeding to the little guys.

So I read up on a few how-to's on making my own bird feeders and animal lard is a great ingredient to attract a whole range of insect feeding birds, which is exactly what I want.

You'll need:

 
Okay, it doesn't look great, but I've only had it out for about 30minutes and already had a couple of Coal Tits and a Blue Tit have a taste. Wonder what else will come along?

My friend Chris pointed out this awesome tip too, if you're putting this out in your yard, squirrels HATE chilli, but birds can't taste it, apparently?

What do you think? Have a good weekend!



Small Print: Firstly, lard is obviously an animal product, but I am not going to impose my vegan ways on my feathered friends. Lard and hot weather do not mix, it can go rotten realllly quickly which will make the birds very sick, so be careful. Salted nuts are a no go. Keep things far off the ground, away from cats or squirrels. and always provide water, its a great way to attract birds to your yard, providing shelter is also a great plus.