The Reintroduction of Wispa - The Verdict!

Well I managed to grab a couple of Wispa bars from the airport before I went on holiday and I have to say they were as yummy as they always were but like most chocolate bars they were a lot smaller! Why on earth do manufacturers do this - do they think we won't notice an inch of chocolate bar is missing!

Beach Babes!

More pics - me and my mum being beach babes!

The Wanderer Returns!

I am back !!! Returned to cold and dreary England late on Sunday night! God what a change! the temperature in Cyprus never dropped below 30 degrees during the day!

I had fab time - the weather was great, the hotel and resort was lovely, the food was great even I found something to eat - great cheese, veg, yogurt, eggs and cocktails ;) I even put weight on!

The beach was fab and was really relaxing - I have had colder baths than the sea all with ickle fish swimming around your feet. The shops were really good too and I bought loads of stuff including jewellery, smellies, candle holders and of course handbags! We went to Nicosia too which was a nice change from the beach and there were even more super cute shops and big department stores like Debenhams.

Perhaps though the best thing was that I hardly felt a single ME ache or pain in all the time I was there - admittedly the heat made me tired and the airport was a bit bleurgh! but the warmth really helped my aching muscles - that was a huge plus point and is a major reason why we will definitely go back!

Plus the kitty cats seemed to have a good time too what more could you ask?

Here are some pics to make you jealous!

Sunshine Here I Come!

Well here it is my last post for about a week - tomorrow I jet off for a week of hopefully sunny sun in Cyprus. I hope I will be OK with the heat and I don't have any bad spells while I am away. Hopefully the change of scenery and heat will be a good thing (fingers crossed) Obviously feeling a bit erm about leaving the lads but they will be having a little holiday of their own not in any cattery you understand but a cat hotel! so hopefully they will be OK!
Not much else to say really apart from the fantastic news that Wispa bars are been reintroduced on a limited edition basis - well done Cadbury for listening to your consumers Wispa Golds now please!
OK chicks see you soon (hopefully when I am nice and tanned!)

Friends, FAT, and Lactic Acid!

Had my usual week of bits and bobs happening. The week started off by meeting Helen and her bit of fluff Ken who were up north for a few days (Hi Guys!). It was my first meeting with Ken and I have to be honest and say he seemed canny! If you know me I am always very honest so this is a good sign of approval from me!
Me and my mum went to the Metro Centre on Wednesday to do a bit of shopping (see my Primark thread) and have a meal. We had a lovely meal in Chiquitos - they have a new menu out and I had a lovely filling Spanish omelette's but there a few more menu choices which are all possibilities for food allergy awkward girl me.
Only problem is for the next two days I felt absolutely lousy aches, pains , exhausted - generally bleurghhhh! Damn you lactic acid build up! Typical every time I go anywhere and feel normal I feel so bleedin awful afterwards - must improve pacing!
Another negative is that from Wednesday onwards I have eaten like a bleedin horse! Today is the only good day I have had diet wise since then - I am really going to have to show some serious willpower if I am going to hit my holiday target!
Plans - more serious rest so I can hopefully make the Newcastle V West Ham game on Sunday afternoon and maybe some thinking about my holiday packing

Primark Makes Me Scream!

There is a fab article in this months British Elle by Sarra Manning entitled "In Primark no one can hear you scream"
I went to Primark for the first time in a bit on Wednesday and I have to say I couldn't agree more! Clothes chucked all over the floor, chavs everywhere, and queues stretching halfway round the shop grr!
OK I got some lovely cheap stuff but it gets worse - I got two cardigans in black and teal both exactly the same bar the colour so I only tried one on. I got home and realised the teal cardi was on the wrong hanger and was two sizes too small.
Thankfully my mum went and exchanged it today for me - unsurprisingly enough the only one left was the one in the size I wanted on the hanger that matched the size I ended up with!
I think I have learnt a lesson here - always check the size on the garment not the hanger!

Guilty Pleasures - Part 4 - IKEA!

Don't you just love it !

Cheap as chips self assembly furniture, free catalogues and pencils ;), more tealights than you can shake a stick at and free drink refills in the Cafe - you can always find something you just can't live without!

However what IKEA really does well is its foodie stuff. Obviously being veggie the herring and the meatballs are out but yummy dime bars and cakes are most definitely in! Being a fussy foodie and not being able to eat gluten IKEA sells amazing chocolate and safe cheesecake esq desserts including Blabarskaka, a kind of yummy blueberry cheesecake, and the amazing Almondy tart with Dime bar topping! Drooooooooool !

Gluten Free goodies which are definitely a much loved Lou Lou Guilty Pleasure!!

Mam's Birthday Yum Yums !!! Nigella Eat Your Heart Out!

As you know it was my mum's birthday on Friday -Happy Birthday Mum! - Being the lovely daughter that I am I decided to make her a yummy birthday meal!

I slaved over a hot stove all day and made her a yummy mushroon lasagne! (I got the recipe from here but used gluten free lasagne and a homemade gluten free cheese sauce http://www.polkadotmittens.co.uk/recipes/pasta/mushroomlasagne.html) It is absolutely gorgeous and a real change from usual veggie lasagne offerings - we just finished it today and it gets better the longer you leave it - drool!

Also heated up some gluten free garlic and rosemary bread, and made my own garlic and herb butter to go with it!

For afters we had a pudding I got from the Barefoot Contessa cookbook - Frozen Berries in Hot White Chocolate Sauce - yummmmmy!

By the end we were totally stuffed and the diet had gone right out the window - never mind it isn't everyday we eat that well and it was gorgeous - I have had indigestion all weekend it was so rich and I am sure I haven't lost any weight I may even have put some on!

Damn pleasure = pain karma!

More Craft!

Well eventually manged to get my Mum's birthday cards made - a lot of work on these the forget me not flowers are all hand coloured but it keeps me busy!

I also managed to make a Thank You card for one of my friends!

Christmas Comes Early!!!!

Just popped into the Supermarket today for a few bits and look what I saw! Chocolate Santa's, Selection Boxes and even Advent Calendars! It has only just turned September! There is no use me buying stuff like that now - I would have eaten it all by Christmas! LOL!

New York Scrapbook Pics

Here a a few pics of my New York Scrapbook Album as promised The Statue of Liberty, Shopping!, the Chrysler Building and Manhattan Skyline!

Heinz Tomato Soup - A Great British Institution !

Funny Pic Alert!

The title says it all really - a true cornerstone of British society reflected in my Pyrex dish!

I swished the tin out with a bit of milk and poured it in the bowl - microwaved it for a minute - took it out to give it a stir and look -a good representation of the British Isles !!!!

Shame I couldn't sell it on ebay like the Virgin Mary Toast or the Lincoln French Fry! LOL!!!

Shopping Bargain !

Due to aforementioned nasty letter from the bank my purse strings are indeed tightening before my holidays! I have listed some bits on ebay to try and make a bit of cash but in the meantime I am looking in the bargain basement of the fashion world!

I managed to get this fab tunic dress from George at Asda for only £2 in the sale - Bargain!!!

Ears, Photos, Nasty Letters and Hummus !!!!

I don't think I ever have a week which doesn't involve some sort of drama.

All my plans for last week pretty much disappeared. I felt yucky pretty much all week... By Saturday I felt bleurghhhhhhh forcing me to cancel my opticians appointment and to cancel my trip to the Newcastle / Wigan game (Sorry Again Dawn!) Typical the game in the game I miss Newcastle win their first home game since February! (Which reminds me good luck at West Ham Nobby we will miss you x)

Anyways I had a doctors appointment for today anyways and it only turns out I have an ear infection!!!!!!! Cue the nice pic of me with cotton wool and ear drops in which I have decided to treat you all too - fan bleedin tastic!!

It always seems to be the way when your feeling yucky things go wrong and you end up having to rush round and do things you never expected too and this week has been no different. My new passport photos were rejected because I was wearing glasses!!!! so I had to shell out £3.50 to get another set done - fingers crossed my new set are OK - I am rapidly running out of time!!!! Then today I got a rubbishy letter from the bank cue more running around and stress! Least said about this the better really but its all sorted now!!!

On a positive note I got some super dooper Yankee candles this week, in Jasmine, Baby Powder, Sheer Gardenia, and Pineapple Citrus - I love my smelly candles! Also made some lovely hummus today too which is yummy so very pleased about that! I also found out that my mate Helen (of Prospero the bear fame) is definitely coming up this month so that is something to look forward too!

Plans for the rest of the week plenty of rest, card making and making my mums birthday meal on Friday :) - I am also taking the kitties for their injections, planning on doing some ebay listing, some blogging and maybe a bit of light yoga, hmmm - I think though I will take each day as it comes my life never seems to go as planned

Funny Pic Of My Bairn!

I just thought this was a funny, if slightly scary picture of Jasper that you might like!

Diplomas, Holiday Shopping, Diets and Housework!

I have came to the ultimate conclusion that ME sucks!
I have managed to do a little bit of holiday clothes shopping in the last week or so but by god am I paying for it now. We went on thursday morning and now on Saturday I am still completely shattered - I feel like I have been bleedin kicked! I am now trying to do some essential tidying whilst sitting in an office chair!!!!
At least the diet is going well another half a stone and I will be bikini ready! Only problem is my favourite jeans are now to loose - you win some you lose some LOL !
Another positive is that I have passed my psychology diploma - at long last I got my final grade and it was yet another A! I am really chuffed despite my MSc and stuff I was never an A grade student but I have proven to myself that despite my ME I can still achieve something! Wahoo for me! Thanks too to Dawn for the homemade congratulations card !
Talking of homemade I have also just finished my New York holiday scrapbook - I am reallly pleased with it - it is a great reminder of a great holiday experience! I will try and put a few pics on when I get a moment so you can all have a look at my hard work!
Plans for the week to come not a lot - attempting more tidying, maybe making a few cards for my mums birthday, chilling and having a good rest! If I wasn't in pain life wouldn't be bad! LOL!

Passports, Refunds, Contemplation and Nausea!

It's been a funny week for me!

Ridiculous summer heat and a nasty virus has lead to almost constant nausea and sweating fits! Bleurgh! Feeling a bit better now though thank goodness!

I have spent my time reading a huge pile of library books - all of which my mum described as miserable! Ruth Picardie - Before I Say Goodbye, Justine Picardie - If The Spirit Moves You, Frank Gardner - Blood and Sand and Rachel North- Out Of The Tunnel. I also have another batch looking at similar experiences. Why am I reading books that are sad and make me cry? I don't know really lots of reasons - all these books are about people who have a positive and strong outlook despite terrible experiences and circumstances, and that maybe makes me put my own life and problems into perspective! I would recommend every single one of them if you want to read a book that really makes you think!

I eventually got my Dorothy Perkins discount after nearly 3 months but no apology - charming!

Still waiting for my course mark after resubmitting it because they lost it ! Grrrr!

Big news this week is that my mummy has booked a nice holiday for the two of us in October to a lovely looking 4 * hotel in Cyprus. Fabbity fab - hopefully nice weather and a bit cooler by going later on in the year! Cue more shopping! and having to fork out a fortune on passport renewal (to be on the safe side 8) !!!) and travel insurance for ill people!!! Hurrah!
Diet going OK but I have had a major cheese craving lately which can't be solved ho hum - will have to work harder to look half decent on the sun lounger!

Not Much Doing!

I haven't posted for a while for the pure and simple reason I haven't done anything worth mentioning. A bit of tidying, a bit of scrapbooking and loads of rest doesn't really constitute anything interesting for you to read about!
I did have a much needed day out with my bestie Dawn the other day we did an ickle bit of shopping and we went to see Hairspray. I quite enjoyed it actually - a real feel good film and fab hair! - I am still not convinced though that John Travolta makes a good woman but I suppose that's the point! LOL!
I have had a bit of a whinge in the last few weeks. The customer service at so many companies is absolutely shocking at the moment - I still haven't got my psychology grade and I am still waiting for a refund from Dorothy Perkins after nearly two months - grrr!
Diet still going OK I have now lost over a stone but I seem to have hit a bit of a plateau so any tips appreciated that don't involve exercise (stupid ME!)
I am also having Internet problems at the moment it is so slow!!!! and it keeps disconnecting - triple grr!
Other than that not bad at the mo - doctors next week which is always something to look forward too!

Live Earth - Don't Make Me Laugh!

I can't believe the hypocrisy of this whole event - designed to highlight awareness of climate change and caring for the environment - a good idea in theory but come on!
Concerts all over the world, top stars performing, thousands of fans watching!
Excuse me but how did they all get there erm private jets, road, trucks with equipment on - all environmentally damaging!
Also look at all the resources and power that the concerts used and needed, not to mention the rubbish thousands and thousands of people created - not exactly green!
Environmental awareness is all very well but don't destroy the environment to do it
Even artists like David Gray who actually performed could see the hypocrisy and pointlessness of if all - no wonder there were some bands and artists who wouldn't take part!
If they had wanted to raise awareness surely they should have been out planting trees on something - its a funny money and media obsessed world we live in

"One of life's mysteries is how a 2-pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5lbs"

I don't know where this quote originally came from but I pinched it form a fab scrapbook site found http://www.scrapbookvillage.co.uk
It's a fab quote and just about sums how I feel at the moment - Needless to say I have now been on my diet for nearly a month - It's going well but I am having a really iffy week - womens troubles = need to stuff face! I am making a chinese for tea so that should be good plenty of veg and protein!
I have lost a bit already so I have used as a nice excuse to buy some new clothes!
Popped into Asda and while my mam was in first aid (a long story but she's fine bar a nice blue plaster!) and happened to notice the new Colleen modelled must haves range! I normally repel white jeans but the outfit in the advert looked amazing so I bought it! £16 for a pair of jeans and a tunic - bargain! I can be poor and still buy clothes :)

Time For A Rest!

Well my course is finished at long last - I am just waiting for my final grades (bites finger nails!) - I have really enjoyed it and it has given me something to do - I am just thinking what to do next, maybe a counselling course or something. That is something I think I would be quite good at, I have some good life experience and keep being told that I am a good listener -hmm I need to think positive that I will eventually get over my ME and that I will be able to rejoin 'normal' life and get a job again and some money!!!!

I need the money too, I got my new GHD's despite the fact I have no money- they are amazing though lovely straight hair!

Musings On Life !

Its been a strange few weeks for a lot people at the moment with floods, and a new terrorist threat :(
It does make you think doesn't it - its a strange world we live in and it makes you wonder what people have done to deserve this!
The world is nasty and so are some of the people who live in it :(

A Funny Few Weeks In Lou Lou Land!

I have some funny weeks in my life and the past few have certainly been right up there!
New bathroom fittings, ridiculous neighbours, aches and pains, psychology assignments, starting a diet, and then yesterday my hair straighteners caught fire!
I can't live without them and can I afford some more good ones can I hell!
All in all not a good week so far!!!!

Please Follow The Link

Sorry but I couldn't look at this site and not post a link x

http://www.findmadeline.com/main.html

Happy Birthday To Me!!!!

Okay
So I am a day late but I am officially a year older as of yesterday!
Birthdays aren't the same as they are when your a child - no party bags or balloons, or pass the parcel, and not meaning to be ungrateful but you can't play with money, clothes or smellies can you.
Never mind huge thanks to everyone for my lovely pressies and good wishes -only one more year to go till the big 3-0! - argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I did have a birthday cake and candles though which is no small feat though - a fab wheat and gluten free carrot cake with cream cheese frosting - lovingly made by my mummy! Thanks Mam!

Celebrity Fashion Ranges?

This week has saw the launch of yet another celebrity inspired or designed clothing range "Lily Loves" - Lily Allen for New Look - not all of it too my taste but the peep toes were yummy and I did get a nice blue dress :)

The Kate Moss launch at Top Shop the other week looked mental and to be honest in my opinion it wasn't really that great anyway - I am not the biggest fan of the waistcoat and hot pants look and on bank holiday Monday I saw 3 pansy print dresses!! Admittedly I got a couple of vest tops from the range from Top Shop online and I do like them but I have to say you are probably paying for the Kate logo, they are just normal button detail vest tops that Top Shop would probably sell for £6 without the Kate link !

True I have also succumbed in the past I love the Celia Birtwell stuff for Top Shop and the Stella McCartney for H&M but surely it has to stop I have only bought things because I like them but some people have a tendency to buy anything that vaguely has a designer link for a bit of cheap prestige - I saw a girl today swinging her Kate carrier bag like it was a bleeding Fendi! and that isn't to mention the ebay money making £154 for a Lily Allen dress - people must be mad or incredibly intelligent one of the two!

I suppose all stores see the potential success of a designer link up Colleen with Asda and even the Katie Price swimwear range for Asda 8) - a popular celebrity or designer means a hike up in profits and loads of good publicity - If people keep buying it shops will keep doing it - just make sure its something nice and wearable!

I Am So Lucky!!!!!

I am officially a lucky girl!
I've only gone and won over a grands worth of Versace handbag! courtesy of Elle magazine!
It is in a gorgeous warm silver shade, with a soft gold/beige suede trim and a silk lining!
My pic really doesn't do it justice!
Amazing!

Wills and Kate - Who Cares?

I wonder if I am the only person not to care about Prince William and Kate Middleton's Split! They are going on like someone has died, news headlines saying "tragic", people are dying all over the blinking world and this is the lead headline!
Get A Life People!

Sunny Weather Again!

I Know Its Boring To Talk About The Weather But It Has Been Lovely Lately Hasn't It -Another Excuse To Buy More Summer Clothes!
Lets Hope It Stays This Way!

Happy Easter !

Happy Easter Everyone!

Not only a bank holiday but also legitimate reason to stuff our faces with as much chocolate as we can! Hurrah!

I'm A Genius!!!

Amazing got my grade for my latest Psychology assignment and I got another A - 98%!
I mustn't be a fluke!

Guilty Pleasures - Part 3 - TK Maxx!!!

Don't you just love TK Maxx!

Yes it looks like a jumble sale at times but there are some real gems to be had!

The other day one of my local branches had some fab designer stuff including Missoni, Calvin Klein Couture, Cerruti and the wonder that is Emilio Pucci all for loads less than the rrp !

I am the world biggest Pucci fiends, the colours, the swirls - amazing ! and to get a bag for over £100 less than the retail price made me a very happy Lou Lou!

I've bought some fab Missoni, Chloe, CK, Matthew Williamson and Givenchy in the past - amazing labels for a cheaper price

With TK Maxx we can all afford a bit of designer in our lives - brave the jumble sale like rails, practise your rifling and grab a bargain!

Boredom Relief ! Ahhh!

When your ill and bored you really need something to do to keep you thinking positive and to keep your brain working.

As well as my Psychology Diploma - I am also doing a bit of crafty stuff at the moment - making greetings cards and scrapbooking my New York holiday pics

Here are a couple of Mothers Day Cards I made - the floral one was from me and the butterfly one was from the cats signed with a paw print stamp :)

Really satisfying and enjoyable!

Belated Greetings !

Belated Birthday Greetings for Helen for Saturday - Your Getting Old Chick! - One More Year Till Your Thirty! LOL!

Also Belated Mothers Day Greetings to My Fab Mum! I Don't Know Where I Would Be Without You x

Top Shop "K" Jeans - A Miracle!

Eventually managed to find a pair of these babies in my size and boy am I pleased I did!

They make your legs look longer and they squish my bum and tum in with the high waist detail - I don't think I am brave enough to tuck things into them yet but even with thing over the top they give you a fab shape (despite the rubbish photo!)

Guilty Pleasures - Part 2 - Primark!

Don't you just love Primark - the pocket money clothes shop that's turned into the fashionistas favourite!

Fair enough the quality isn't always the best and the ethics are questionable but that is no different from anyone else on the high street - The prices though are amazing a jacket for £15, dresses for less than a tenner, and my fab top for only £8 - magazines are full of Primark items and high eBay prices and sellouts are common !

A huge thumbs up fashionable items for a fab price - a bag of goodies for less than £40 is amazing value and makes shopping a money saving exercise ;)

The Only Boys In My Life!

Guilty Pleasures - Part 1 - QVC

Surely I can't be alone in my affection for QVC The Shopping Channel!

Once very much a standing joke it is now the place to shop - with fab top of the range beauty products, craft, and jewellery all without leaving your chair!

Like Innovations catalogues and Lakeland you can always find something you desperately have to have even though a minute ago you never knew it existed!

My latest must have is a fab invention called the Grip To Me Coat Hanger - sort of skinny velour coated coat hangers - the clothes literally cling to them and don't fall off and because they are so thin you can fit more items in your wardrobe.

Its quite embarrassing to get excited over coat hangers but they have made such a difference to my wardrobe - they have created more space and you know that that means - more shopping and more clothes!

Yup once a haven for naff porcelain dolls QVC does it again and brings us something fab!

Welcome To Lou Lou Land !!!

I always said I would never have a blog - too much effort, pointless, only weirdos have blogs! Yes I thought all of this so whats changed! Not a lot really more spare time to think and more spare time to spend sharing my musings on life!
Okay - maybe this isn't exactly going to be Belle De Jour but who knows where it will lead - one thing is for certain though my bestie mate Helen has first rights to do the movie script!