Someone say SURPRISE!

Drink me?

 It is nearly my 21st birthday (my birthday is the 25th) and my mum threw me a surprise tea party at my grandas. I wasn't told a thing about the event (just told to be there between one and half one...) so off I tottered to get my friend Lindsay (photo near the bottom of this post) from her house and we drove back to my grandas.
When I arrived I was not expecting an Alice In Wonderland themed party. Teacups complete with  "drink me" and cupcakes complete with "eat me" labels. It was AWESOME!

I couldn't believe that my mum went to all that trouble for me. In the photo below this writing and to the right you can see cupcakes and scones (the hot food was still in the oven) but the cupcakes in the photo below show my alice in wonderland teacup cake stand... awesome!!!

I must admit I had a beyond excellent day yesterday. Its hard to arrange photos on this blog sometimes as I make the mistake of uploading them all at once and then fitting my text around them. opps! I had such a awesome day!!! Best birthday party so far and that's a good achievement since I'm 21!!!

 This is me... and you can see my disney couture tim binns bracelet... you guessed it... alice in wonderland. I think I am slightly addicted to it! I wish my hair would get thicker though, and my eyebrow (just the one of them is being a bit huffy and taking its time to thicken)... but i can't complain.

 I promised my self that I would upload these photos onto my blog because they are too good not to share! (par the food.. that was too good to share!!) Till next time!

Eat me!!!!

White Roses (made from tissue paper)

O-PIN-ion?

I hope you get the play on words from the title. I want to talk not only about "Pinterest" but also the current media happenings!

Well Pinterest is my new found love at the moment, I find it hard to describe the websites role other than "a virtual pinboard" (which it is of course) but then they seem to find it difficult to comprend that you can either
a) like a picture (that links you to the orginal recipe/dress/outfit/place/room etc)
b) "re-pin" or "pin it" using the buttons
c) comment on the "pin" e.g. "I like the look of that room"
d) all of the above...

Now Pinterest is widely known for being used as "dream weddings" so that brides and grooms (or even yet to be brides who just are wanting to plan their wedding in secret) can pin ideas about dresses, flowers, colours, "save the date" cards. I didn't realise how addictive Pinterest could get. I will be honest, I first just wanted a Pinterest account because I loved the cute font that it used. But no, when I finally got an invite to join Pinterest... well I was amazed by the huge selection of "pins".

I myself have five boards: Alice In Wonderland themed, cute quotes/animals, Food and Books. I did make a new board today about places I would love to escape to (cottages, streams etc) but I'm unsure whether that specific "board" will stay. Mhh *thinks some more*

In the real world however there has been a mass of media happenings! I want this noted: I may skip news or write longer about specific news but it doesn't make it any less worthy (the actual story).

The first topic is business related (but of course! I am a Marketer) I was so sad to see La Senza go into adminstration but the list seems to be slowly expanding. Within the last few months businesses such as Peacocks and Tesco's have been reporting terrible sale figures with gloomy prospects. The recession has definitely got its second wind and is now tearing through both the unemployment/job benefit rate and the amount of businesses that are finding it hard to say afloat in these times.

I feel sorry for these shops, because at their prime they were once great shops with great quality goods to offer, yet the price sensitive customer has now become so price orientated and focus that these shops could lose their orginal objective: good quality and good customer care/support.

We now face a economy that has continual "closing down sales" or all year long sales, in which goods are becoming increasily poor in both quality and worth.

In terms of other news stories the most recent one would be both the Cruise ship and also the SOPA blackout.

Costa Concordia-Cruise Ship Disaster
sopa-stop-online-piracy-act

CCCSD: I don't have a opinion on this, other than I respect the divers completely. the videos shown on the media channels just give us (the public) a fraction of a glimspe into how hard that must be to go through a half sunk ship looking for bodies. Knowing that a body could be in the next door, whilst all the while not being able to see in front of your face... I don't think however the captain should be allowed at any stage to get away with his immediate wrong doings. I did not know that it was a crime to "abandon ship" as a Captain, but then again I am not on boats that much. I do however think that the captain did something right: he moved the boat (once it hit the rocks) nearer the shoreline to make it easier for people to be rescued. I DON'T think its the modern Titanic and in some ways, should never be compared to Titanic or any other similar tragic shipping event.

SSOPA: I think by watching an animated video about the concept of SOPA and the idea that the internet will be soon in the hands of government bodies. I have read up on this story line and to be honest I fully agree with Wikipedia when Mr. Wales (co-founder of Wikipedia) said this on BBC News (online)
We think it is a global issue because the US has such a strong impact on the internet.

"Many of the supporters of this bill portray those of us who are against it as being somehow pro-piracy. That is absolutely false. We are pro-freedom of speech. Many of us, including me personally, are quite anti-piracy. I just want to fight piracy in a way that will really work and make a real difference." (Mr. Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia)

I couldn't believe it after reading up on this. Correct me if I am wrong, but who decided that it was the government duty to kill free speech, to ask for money, to be given control of a digital form of communication?! No! I am backing the people of Wikipedia and other sites that think the US should take the Anti-piracy bill off the table!

Well folks that me for another while. I have nothing really more to add. Byeeeeee

Stolen Time?

Hair growth...

I do have a excuse! Exams! And then final cv hands in! So don't give me that look bloggy! I shall update you though. First the photo to the right is my hair growth so far. I went to the hospital the other day and they couldnt find me because they said my hair had grown so much that they didn't expect me to look like that. Compliment? Awk well I will take it as one anyway.

So firstly it is with great .... depression that I am informing you of my impending 21st birthday. Gah! I don't want to turn 21. It sounds so much older than 20. Also if you think about it, 21 sounds like you need to have your "life plan" sorted. What you want to achieve and basically be taking ACTIVE steps to getting there. Gah! I don't know what these steps would even be. (calm Jane!) So yes on the 25th I shall be 21. I dread the day when i say "Oh i will be 25 on the 25th" (weeps)

Shoeies!!!

I have been rather good with the shopping recently and have only really bought ONE thing this year... which are these prettyful shoes!!!  And the photo of the key is a cindrella disney couture necklace, which is soooo pretty (this is my photo of it below so you can see the writing on the necklace)

One of my 21st gift

White cell Ninja!

The second thing I want to talk about is boring hospital! I am now 9 months post transplant of la stem cells and the Prof (my consulant) is now thinking that maybe I will be one of the patients who can never really come off my anti rejection cyclosporin drug. My liver is not enjoying my decreasing of both anti rejection drug and steroid (for the skin) and apparently the bio chemistry blood test results weren't good. I am more annoyed in the sense of "i tried twice now and it doesnt seem to be going my way" more so that "argh i hate my life" because I would much rather have this immune system than my old one! And i suppose everyone wants to live in a ideal world, but ideal worlds don't usual exist unless you are high on drugs or completely drunken on a night out and think you are the bee's knee's. I suppose that is one thing i can be thankful of, no more empty drunk calories. I have no excuse now to eat take away or get that weird "this food is soooo good" feeling just because you are drunk and starving, so therefore everything tastes like one hundred times better.

The third thing is: I am moving in with a boy. A boy, you ask bloggy?! Now don't get jealous of him. After three years together me and my boyfriend have decided to take the next big step and move in with each other. Both scary and exciting along with a dusting of nervous but I can't wait. You never know till you take that leap (and boy is it a leap) but I think we will be okay dokey because I would be fab to live with (only messing).

I also want to do a post later on in the week about this SOPA thing that is currently in the news. I linked it below and will read more about it (haven't had time today as I have been doing my cv) and then I shall give you my full run down on my thoughts on recent news matter. sopa-blackout-day-

Till tomorrow or maybe later on, depending on my frantic life that I lead. Oh! remind me to talk about Pinterest as well (I am very addicted to that site)

x

Celebrations and Cheer

Have a happy new year!!!

31 days in December,  I can't believe that it has flown in. We wait all year for the one day that we can lavish presents on our most loved people that we share our lives with. I couldn't believe the gifts I got, I was so happy. I couldn't believe that my boyfriend, best friends and family actually got me presents that depicted my visual image. Feminine, vintage, womanly. All the gifts just shouted "me" to me. I thought for ages that no one really paid attention to my style or maybe what I like and dislike, but I felt terrible when present after present people seemed to give me gifts that I would have chosen for myself.

But the question is you wait all year for this one day... of present giving and food sharing BUT if you had the chance... would you say yes to everyday being Christmas? I have to say no, then it would become just like any other day. No Christmas Glitz and Glam, no angel hair on the tree. No stuffed food with lashings of luxury items. No once a year, sigh of relief when you climb into bed, either drunk or exhausted from washing all the pots and pans and say "thats it...over for another year"

Needless to say I do enjoy Christmas but I suppose everyone eventually thinks "thank goodness that month where we decided to put a living tree in our family room, which we then decorated is over".... but yet the madness doesn't end!

Boxing Day sales? Cramped shopping conditions as a frenzy of manic shoppers search for that last "size 6" coat. You could almost scream and no one would hear you through the drone of the tills clicking and the exchange of money. Along with the question of "well... your new years resolution?" Or personally for me "well Jane its only 27 days until you are 21!" I can't believe that I am turning 21, but indeed that post/topic is for another day altogether!

For NYE I am going to a charity event for Marie Curie Hospice, which is a brillant cause. This led me to re-think my silly "i shall stop fishing" NY Resolutions and I have decided to draw up at least three small things that I hope to aim/achieve in 2012.

a) continue my uni work to a high standard
b) start in the tourism board placement
c) Be less of a push over

But I want to remain positive along with grateful that I have once again got better and indeed I am decreasing my cyclosporin so now im taking 75mg both morning and night. I just can't believe what a difference over half a year makes to anyones life, I can't believe it was 8 months or just over, that I was getting my transplant. I might also enquiry how i can write a letter to the donor.

Toodles for now! Happy New Year to you all! Hope 2012 is either better for you (if you didn't have a great 2011) or continues to be good (if you had a good 2011)......

My Festive Story...

"HoHo"

Recently I have started to draw designs on my nails, and this has been the first day I have remembered to actual bluetooth my photos (from my mobile) onto my lappy wappy. Anyway the red nail design was my second attempt (the hand pictured is my left hand) I wanted to do small snowflakes for the entire hand but it took too long. In the end the left hand had "HoHo" and on the right hand I put "Xmas" with another snowflake on the thumb.

Reindeer?

I did like this design but then it takes a long time (three coats with red) then glitter and painting. My designs usually last about two weeks and people do seem to like them. Below are photos of my other nail designs.

I also took photo's of my Charlie before uploading the photos of my nail on blogger. I know I always upload photos of him, but I can't resist his face and I want to (even though this sounds highly morbid) collect photos of him so I can look back on them if anything happens to him. Depressing I know!


 I can't believe that Santa is leaving his home in 10 hours. It seems unreal. Meanwhile I lie in bed and watch tv programmes on Christmas food. I will probably write another blog post to make up for not coming on Christmas Day.

Have a lovely Christmas Eve Eve....x





Ps I learnt my nail designs from youtube and want to give a shoutout to "cutepolish" on youtube!!! so simple!!!!

Scattering, Basting, Glazing your Christmas

I am an avid fan of all things food. I wouldn't be the type of person who makes delicious food that turns people speechless as their taste buds start to do a dance of joy, but I do love watching recipes whilst I drool not only in envy but also in hunger. Food programmes never fail to make me hungry.

In the run up to Christmas people started to get more and more frantic. When I panic, I cook. Simple you say? "When will I find the time to get my gifts for people?" Well that is where Lorriane (link below) comes in. She not only shows you lovely food, that can make anyone drool but also small cheap gifts that are adorable to give to any friend. Home made gifts Jane? Well its a recession and also what happened to Christmas meaning family and not presents?

Iplayer- Lorraines_Last_Minute_Christmas

If Lorriane isn't your cup of tea, I am also going to recommend Hairy Biker's. You can't go wrong with two jolly guys who talk so passionately about British food and the real experience of cooking.

Iplayer- The_Hairy_Bikers_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas

And if that still doesn't grab you with mouth watering food then Nigella is the final card I give to you. Yes it might have been orginally aired in 2008 but who doesn't love a bit of  Nigella in the kitchen? She might make wives jealous and husbands gaze at the television in sheer awe, whilst Nigella makes food into some sort of mouth watering pleasure experience with her tone of voice and how she describes ingredients.

Iplayer- Nigellas_Christmas_Kitchen_Series_2_Short_and_Sweet

If you are looking for luxury this Christmas then desserts are a must. I haven't made up my mind about what dessert I want to try making this year, as its the first year I am either not ill or bald... a christmas hat doesn't look as nice on a bald head of a female. Anyway I can't wait for Christmas. As i write this its the 23rd December. I can't believe this time last year I was in hospital trying to contain my sickness whilst i was attached 24hrs a day to a drip. Actually this time tomorrow I will ONLY just be leaving the hospital, where (this is 100% true!) the snow slowly began to fall.

Looking back on that night (if i didnt want to vomit with every step I took) I would have thought someone was trying to make me smile.

Till next time (maybe I will have my dessert done and photos of the dessert.... Im hoping to do Ferroche Rocher cheesecake.... mmhhh)

Eat, drink and be merry?

Christmas is now FIVE days away. I went to the hospital today and everything was fine. They want me to decrease my morning dose of anti rejection tablet from 100mg to 75mg (just like my night meds atm)... Im not happy about that but I'm trying to not let it get to me. I don't think they understand that I have only just re-worked my skin pattern to get used to the whole 25mg of lower anti rejection which alone has let the donor cells attack me more and on top of that they are trying to decrease my steroids too fast. They never really let me have any peace with my skin, I never knew you could hate skin this much when its being troublesome, like a spoilt child huffing at the present they wanted but didn't get.

I'm trying to see the positives today but in general I'm tired and the hospital annoyed me. Although on wards and upwards I was in hospital this time last year having chemo over Christmas so I'm going to see the good side and be happy!

Speaking of happiness I got a email to say that the tourism centre loved my newsletter that I re-worded (to help them out) so I can't wait to see my actual words published in a newsletter that NI tourists will read for the duration of Winter 2011. I am really looking forward to doing more work to add to my CV as I think it will not only give me more self confidence but also gain a better understanding whether I want to go into that type of marketing when I graduate.

Share the happiness?

I love watching Christmas food programmes on the run up to christmas and have found a new food love of ... carrot and swede mash. Delish and whats better than Marks And Spencers Count On Us carrot and swede which is not only tasty but low fat and low calorie. Perfect!!! I can't stop eating at the moment, so I hope by the time Christmas Day comes I will eat less as I really don't want to be putting on the weight I have been working hard to keep off.

I know what I will be drinking LARGE amounts of... Diet Coke. Ice cold.... like carmel gold

Till next time (maybe I will not be as bad with my skin? Fingers crossed for me?)

Jane