Alphabet Dating - A

Alphabet dating is something I came across on Instagram recently (I wish I knew who to credit!) and decided to do a bit of research into it. When looking for answers on google, I discovered that is was quite a common thing and something that I thought was a fantastic idea. I broached the idea to James and he was also up for it and thought it sounded like a great thing to do once a month.

Alphabet dating is where as a couple or even a new person you are just starting to date, you choose a ‘date’ beginning with a particular letter. We decided that one month I would choose and arrange a surprise date and then the month after James would choose one. When March began, we decided to start with A and as it was my idea I offered to go first. You could of course do this every other week, bi-monthly or whatever suits your dating pattern.

‘A’ was a really convenient letter for me as I had already pre-planned an Alton Towers trip for James’ birthday. After recently attending Scarefest with Kim and telling James about it, he mentioned he had never been and would love to go. I really wanted to take him for his birthday weekend but found out that it only opened a few days before and I didn’t want it to be insanely busy. I forgot about the whole idea when an email landed in my inbox telling me about the service day, 2 weeks before the official opening. The service day is open to all emergency services and armed forces at a heavily discounted rate and with free parking. Perfect! I booked the tickets there and then. Unfortunately this then got cancelled due to the weather we had so I had to come up with another idea!

I decided to plan something for a couple of weeks later. We couldn’t make it to Alton Towers the replacement weekend as James had work so I thought I would plan our date more locally. The first thing that came to mind was Afternoon Tea, and to stick with the ‘A’ theme I thought we could have it in Aylsham. It was between here and The Assembly House but due to having been to The Assembly House before, I went for Aylsham and booked us into Biddies.

We both had Afternoon Tea and were stuffed by the end of it. I had to take my brownie home with me as the sandwiches and scone had filled me up. It was really nice just to get away and chill out and enjoy our meals.

We did also attend Alton Towers at a rearranged date and had a really nice time so I am incorporating that into the A date too.

The idea of alphabet dating is to encourage you to think outside the box and have fun and try new things with your partner. There are so many options that could suit so many budgets and I am already plotting things for date ‘C’, it could be anything to a coffee and cake to a curry or even a cinema trip! In the meantime I will await next months ‘B’ date which James will be planning. Let me know if you want me to continue sharing these! Do you have any ideas for ‘C’?

Wedding Planning Update*

It’s been a while since I posted about my engagement and I thought I would update you with some of the things I have planned, and what I still have to do before the big day, which is just over 10 months away now!

Venue
One of the first things I sorted was my venue, as there was no point in having a wedding without somewhere to go! I looked online to find the perfect place and browsed countless websites and price lists trying to find somewhere that stood out to me. In the end we narrowed it down to just a few and decided to go and look at them in person. When we found the one, we instantly knew it was perfect for us. Our first date was at the zoo, so we chose somewhere that was right next door to one – convenient or what!

Centrepieces
Carrying on from the zoo theme, we thought we would make our centrepieces to fit in with different animals. I started to source plastic animals and then spray painted them with gold. We are having a red/gold/silver festive type theme so thought they would go quite well in the middle of the tables. I still have a few different animals to get but I am getting there slowly. We will have these alongside some poinsettias which are really good value for money and readily available at that time of the year.

Dress
The dress was also up there with one of the first things I sorted and I am so pleased this is out of the way. I will talk more about my dress after the big day but for now I will say I have bought it, it is ready and waiting for my first fitting in April. Luckily this is only a length fitting so I still have some time to get to the weight I want to be before they start doing the width. I will be wearing converse on the day which I haven’t yet bought but will wear an older pair for my fitting to get the correct height.

Hair
Although I have no idea what I am going to do with my hair yet, I have got my hairpiece. My mum bought me this gorgeous winter flower arrangement from Etsy which will go perfectly with my theme. I also have a veil, so this will clip onto the top of that nicely.

Invites
This is something I have only just started as I wanted to make all of my invites from scratch. I have bought all of the materials from various places such as The Range and Hobbycraft and have officially made about 3. There are still a lot more to go but this is something I aim to do over the next few months so they are ready to go out at the end of the summer season.

Finishing Touches
Next on my list are a few finishing touches including, signs, banners and favours. These little things are all available in one place on the confetti website, which is really convenient for me. I think it is important to have little bits and pieces here and there to really set off a theme. It’s the finishing touches that can really make a difference on the day!

Are you getting married? What plans have you made?

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Five First Date Ideas on a Budget*

Dating can be expensive and when you first meet someone, you may not want to commit to spending a lot of money in case things don’t work out. I have come up with five ideas for dates that won’t break the bank, but at the same time give you the opportunity to really get to know someone. You never know, it could lead to extravagant meals in nice restaurants, but whilst starting out there is no harm in doing it on a budget.

Home Movie Night
I know it may seem a bit strange on a first date to invite someone round to your home, but some people may be comfortable with this. If you wanted a casual opportunity to “get to know someone” then why not invite them over for a home movie night. Get some popcorn in, maybe cook some nachos and stick Netflix on. You don’t have to spend a lot and you also don’t have to sit in silence like you would if you went to the cinema. You may also feel more relaxed in your own environment.

Games Night
Similar to hosting a movie night, you could also host a games night. You really get to know someone over a game of Monopoly – this is when true emotions are really shown. It can be a fun way to lighten the mood and if you’re nervous or run out of conversation you always have the games to talk about and keep you going. Ask your date to bring over any games they have, it could be a chance to get nostalgic with old favourites such as Jenga or Snakes and Ladders. Make it interesting by turning them into drinking games, loser takes a shot.

Walk in the Park
You don’t have to spend any money to go for a walk and if it’s the right time of year, a trip to the local park can make for a nice first date location. Choose a central location and meet up for a walk and maybe a take-away coffee. This is also a great idea for dog owners as you can get to know someone whilst also seeing what your dog thinks of them. Dogs always seem to be able to judge character I am sure of it. If you live near the coast, the beach is also a good option. A portion of chips and an ice-cream will cost you about £5 and you’ll benefit from the fresh sea breeze.

Pubs with Extras
The pub can make for a great first date location due to the atmosphere and the flowing drinks you’re bound to avoid any awkward silences. Choose a pub that has some extra facilities, perhaps a pool table or darts. You can then add a bit more fun to your date and also get a feel for how competitive they are. It’ll also help settle any first date nerves and help you to pace out those drinks so you don’t make a fool of yourself.

Bingo
As strange as it sounds, I recently went to bingo and had an amazing time. It cost me less than £10 for my game and meal with a drink. You can get to know one another between games and generally have a good laugh. You may even win something which would be an added bonus! I didn’t win anything when I went but we still had a great time and a few hours’ worth of chatting can be just what the doctor ordered!

If you want to try some of these ideas out and want to go on some dates then why not visit senior dating. The great thing about these date ideas is that you can do them regardless of where you live including Aberdeen dating and Hampshire dating. There are some lovely pubs in Kent if you fancy Kent dating and for the perfect beach date why not try Norfolk dating.

What have you got to lose?

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Recreating Our First Date*

One of the first posts I wrote about on this blog when I revamped it was all about my first date with my fiancé. Where it all began. It’s hard to believe that was over 4 years ago now. He took me to the zoo to show me how to use my camera (well that was his excuse anyway!).

Recently we decided to recreate that first date and head back to the same zoo. It was such a nice experience to go back. It brought back memories from the first time we went. When we first went, James brought a picnic along with him so we did the same again. I packed sandwiches for us, sausage rolls, grapes, crisps and drinks. A bit more elaborate than the first time we came!

We wandered around the zoo pointing out things that we did last time and places that we looked around all those years ago. I remember thinking this was such a fun first date, a lot different to the types of dates that you see on TV. Having never really ‘dated’ before, it definitely was one to remember. I think first dates definitely set the mood for the rest of the relationship. A rubbish first date may mean that you won’t see the person again.

First dates can be anything from a meal, a quick drink or something a bit different like a zoo trip. If you are looking to date then a good place to start would be trying out some of the best dating sites. Depending on where you live there are plenty of sites available such as Cumbria dating site, Wiltshire dating site or dating agency Shropshire.  There really is something out there for everyone, you could even date divorced singles. Why don’t you give it a go - you never know where it may lead!

Where would your ideal first date be?

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Being Engaged and How to Find the One?*

If you don’t already know, I recently got engaged and thought I would put into words a few things that I have noticed along the way over the past few weeks.

Firstly for the first week at LEAST you will not be able to stop staring at your hand. I found myself looking at my ring at every opportunity. Driving home I’d catch a glance at it, even at the printer at work I would be standing there admiring it. Everyone else will want to look at it too, I had to get my nails done purely as so many people were looking at my hands. You’ll think it’s fallen off so you’ll have to keep looking to reassure yourself. For the first week I would wake up in the night and check it was still on my finger! The first question people will ask is “how did they propose?” so be prepared to tell your story over and over again. I think in the end I copied and pasted it onto a word document so I could send it on if anyone asked.

Not my actual ring!

Everyone will want to know if you’ve set a date before you’ve barely settled into the idea. If anyone you know gets engaged and you are reading this, please just let them enjoy the moment and don’t pester them for dates! Saying that we booked ours after just a few weeks, but I had been secretly browsing for months so had a few ideas. People will also have an opinion on how you should do things. Just remember it is YOUR day, what you do is completely up to you. I only want one bridesmaid as I can’t afford to have more and don’t want to cause arguments amongst friends and whilst this is not particularly traditional I have to think it is not about anyone else. Don’t feel the need to invite people that you haven’t seen or spoken to in years even if they are family, at £45 a head on average it’s not cheap and I can’t afford to have anyone and everyone attend. You do what you want to do. I have started planning some of the finer details using my gorgeous Jardine of London Suffolk Leather Journal. I was lucky enough to win this journal in the East Anglian Wedding Magazine Giveaway! I am in love with it. It fits my wedding theme perfectly and retails at £75 if you were looking to get one for yourself.

Friends that are married (especially recently married) will become a god send for advice and tips. I wouldn’t have known where to start if it wasn’t for a couple of people who’ve just got married telling me all of the tips and tricks. Take all of their advice on board, it really is useful. Find out what they thought was worth the money and things that were not so worth getting. You will feel a different kind of love for your partner. No matter how long you have been together, being engaged means this shit is real. Someone actually wants to be with you for life. I felt a massive surge of love after I got engaged, I was on cloud 9 and felt like the luckiest girl alive. There’s no feeling quite like it.

Weddings are expensive. When you do start looking at different venues you will be shocked at how expensive weddings really are. I mean, sure they can be done on a budget so shop around where you can. I find myself thinking, do I have beans on toast for a year so I can afford flowers for my wedding? And it is a tempting option! You will find that friends and family with certain skills will be very generous in offering their services so grab the offer with both hands. I really do feel grateful for people that are willing to help.

Me and my fiancé know each other by association at sixth form but rekindled our friendship online. I think it can be a really effective way to meet someone, especially if you lack confidence talking to people face to face like me. If you are looking for the one then why not try out a dating site? Depending on where you live there are plenty of sites available such as Exeter dating, Highlands dating, Plymouth dating, Birmingham dating and for the more mature audience there is over 50s dating.

For those who want a ‘no strings attached’ relationship there is the option to sign up to an adult dating site. This site is more suited for people who want a quick fling rather than a long term relationship. It then leaves room for people who are serious about the long term to join the other sites I mentioned above. Why don’t you give it a go - you never know where it may lead!

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The Jewel Hut - Pandora Love Heart Charm*

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s great to start thinking of ideas on what to buy that special someone. If you’ve got some ideas of what you want, what better way to hint than by sharing posts and links with your partner in the hope that they pick up on the idea. Single – no problem, there is no harm in treating yourself. You don’t need an occasion to check out the lovely jewellery available at The Jewel Hut, especially the wide range of Pandora items available.

I received this beautiful ‘You Are So Loved Heart Charm’ which costs £30. Perfect to give as a gift to the one you love. It really is very charming. Elegantly sculpted into a heart shape, this charm is engraved with the words ‘You are so Loved’. This carries great sentiment and would make the perfect gift for a friend or partner, especially for Valentine’s Day to really show you care. The charm is silver and would complement all other charms on a Pandora bracelet.

The Jewel Hut is an online jewellery store offering some of the best branded jewellery at competitive prices. Not only can you buy Pandora you can also purchase from brands such as Links of London, Thomas Sabo, Swarovski and many more. You are bound to find something for that special someone. When I received my item, it came packaged with the official Pandora box and gift bag which was easy to assemble when preparing this as a gift.

What do you think of this gorgeous charm? Will you be visiting The Jewel Hut to see their fantastic range of branded jewellery?

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

The Jewel Hut - Pandora Openwork Heart Bead*

The Jewel Hut is an online jewellery store offering some of the best branded jewellery at competitive prices. Not only can you buy Pandora you can also purchase Links of London, Thomas Sabo, Swarovski and many more well-known brands. I have previously reviewed the Around the World Pandora Charm and some of the Valentine’s Day gifts.  When The Jewel Hut contacted me again with another charm I couldn’t say no to adding a gorgeous piece to my collection.

I received this gorgeous Pandora Open Work Heart Charm which would make a lovely gift for a friend, loved one or even for yourself. At just £20 it does not break the bank and is a really affordable gift idea. The charm comes complete with genuine Pandora packaging ready for you to use if you are giving this as a gift.

The charm is so delicate and I love the openwork hearts that form this beautiful piece. Show a loved one how much you care with this charm or add it to your own collection alongside your current charms. The charm is made of sterling silver and comes complete with the relevant stamp.

I received my parcel very quickly from The Jewel Hut which was nicely packaged and I cannot fault the service in any way.

What do you think of this charm? Will you be visiting The Jewel Hut to see their fantastic range of branded jewellery?

*I received this item free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

Valentine's Day Gifts feat. Snapfish*

The most romantic day of the year is nearly upon us and I love buying my other half a gift that is not only personal but unique. Whenever I am looking for personalised gifts, I always turn to Snapfish. They have a great range of Personalised Valentines Gifts consisting of beautiful photo books, canvases, cushions, mugs and many more items that can be personalised to your exact standards using any photos or text that you like. There are endless possibilities for product customisation so you can really make a unique gift that can be cherished for years to come and help you to preserve those special memories.

My boyfriend and I are planning to move out this year so I chose some special gifts that we can bring into our own home. The Snapfish Photo Cushions can be personalised however you like and make a great gift. I toyed with the idea of having a photo of us on there, but went for something more subtle and designed it with a romantic quote “You are my sunshine”. I just know the cushion is going to make us smile every time we sit down. I designed the cushion using  photo editing software and uploaded the design straight onto the website. The 11x11 sized cushion is perfect and only £19.99 . I was really impressed with the quality. The front face of the cushion is made from heavyweight fabric with a canvas feel to it. The reverse is soft faux suede in a ‘fawn’ colour. The cushion cover features a hidden zip too.

I also bought one of the Snapfish photo prints that I put into a frame. Prices start from just 7p a print which is absolutely excellent value. The quality is always sharp and you can order a range of sizes for your prints.

The final gift I purchased was the personalised photo keyring. I used the same photo as I did in the frame of me and my boyfriend. It is something he can keep close by and the photo is protected in a sturdy good quality acrylic housing.

My order arrived very quickly and is always nicely packaged in ‘do not bend’ envelopes. Snapfish https://www.snapfish.co.uk/ have never let me down when it comes to good quality personalised gifts.

Order by 9th February to get your gift in time for Valentine’s Day. For 30% off photo panels, cushions, phone cases and mugs use code SP216 by 14th February 2016.

*I received these items free of charge in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way. Please see my disclaimer for more information. 

Valentines Day Gift Ideas under £5

Looking for that perfect Valentine’s day gift but don't have a lot of money? Me too! I have tried to come up with a few ideas that could save you money, let me know if you have any ideas too, I'm coming up stuck with what to get my boyfriend! 

Home made food gifts always go down a treat.. literally. I recently made this Rocky Road on a budget and you can find this recipe here . Wrap this in cellophane with a nice red bow, or pop into a nice gift box and you're good to go! You could also make cupcakes or salted nut crunch or cookies.. The possibilities are endless!

Image source: John Lewis

Charbonnel et Walker Mini Red Heart Champagne Truffle, 34g £4.00

Alternatively if you have no time to bake something, you can always buy something edible. Chocolates and sweets are always a winner - well especially with me they are! John Lewis do a great selection of chocolates for under £5 and anything in a heart shaped box screams Valentines does it not?

Image source: Not On The High Street

'Bee-Mine' Bee Friendly Wild Flower Seeds £3.48

Not on the high street is a great place for personalised gifts and I love these little 'bee-mine' seeds. Not only is this a practical gift, it gives you and your Valentine an excuse to do something together (plant the seeds of love). Great for gardeners and outdoorsy-types.

And last but not least, the best bargain of them all! These hearts filled with love are the perfect gift especially if you are on a budget. Not only are these designs great for Valentine’s day, they also make great anniversary or wedding gifts. The words and colours can be personalised to suit you, you could even add little phrases which mean something to the recipient or dates which mean a lot to you.

The print is only $5 (that's like £3?!) and what you do with it is endless. I have chosen to print mine and frame it with a cheap frame from Ikea. A fantastic bargain and a great gift that will last a lifetime.

Purchase your JPEG file here for just $5 for you to print and customise at your own will.

What will you be buying/making for Valentines Day?

Day out in Holt

Recently me and my boyfriend James decided to visit Holt one Sunday afternoon for something to do. Holt is a small market town in Norfolk and is about a half an hour drive from where I live. Little did we know, most of the shops in Holt are closed on a Sunday, as well as the fact that Cromer Carnival was on nearby, Holt was totally dead. We still had a nice time though.

Whenever I visit Holt, I HAVE to go to Byfords. Byfords is thought to be the oldest building in Holt, with their cellar dating back to the 15th century. It used to be a hardware shop back in the early 1900's and is now a café and B&B. The one thing that brings me there is the cake. Their cake is amazing, I try and have something different every time, and I am yet to find a cake that I don't like! Their Fridge cake is THE BEST. As it was lunch time, I also decided to have some chips as well as a slice of coffee sponge and a teapot full of green tea. They were all delicious.

After lunch, we decided to walk to Holt Country Park, as many of the shops were closed. This area is abundant with nature, we even saw some cows grazing in the distance! After getting lost, we finally found our way and went on a nice 5 mile walk along a few of the routes. There are quite a few routes to choose from and you can pick up a trail map in the visitor centre.

I had a lovely day in Holt, and think it will be nice to go back on a Saturday or during the week and have a look around all the lovely shops that they have in the area, and of course, stop off for another piece of cake!