What A Blur

It’s been a busy past week in the world of me. Everyone who lives in Cheltenham knows that normal life comes to a bit of a standstill when it’s Gold Cup week and that’s just what it was last week

Yes that is a tank behind us

Before jumping full swing into the races spirit, I had an important University competition called IBM Business Challenge. For those of you (the majority) that don’t know what this is, it’s basically a business simulation, whereby teams act as directors of a business and have to make crucial decisions to try to make the most profit possible. Our team made it to the semi-finals and came 2^nd which was brill!!  (Although I can’t help feeling a little disheartened we didn’t come first…).BUT we did win sponsors challenge, which put simply, was a competition to come up with a volunteer project for the company Serco. So we'll be meeting up with Serco to help them to develop and roll out the idea. Pretty cool.

Then I entered the world of horse racing! Having worked at the races every year since living in Cheltenham, my housemates and I thought we’d treat ourselves this year and actually go to the races on Friday, Gold Cup day. So we got all dolled up and splashed our cash betting on horses…one time, I even risked betting a whole £5 on a horse!! (It didn’t win…). I came out from the day £15 down, but minus the rain, it was a great day! My housemate and I even treated a packed pub to our dance performance.

My Housemates. All dolled up and ready to go!

Note to self: Must stop doing this in public.

Now it’s back to dissertation, dissertation, dissertation. And here’s where you come in. If you haven’t already, PLEASE complete my survey. And if you have already, please pass on to friends, family, cats, dogs. ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY.

http://freeonlinesurveys.com/s.asp?sid=m8kw0xz7lq65jyp207769

Lets leave things on a positive note... Goats yelling like humans. The best thing since sliced bread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpccpglnNf0 

Enjoy...  

Toodle-oo x

What A Weekend

I took a trip to London this weekend to visit two of my friends from home that I have been friends with since we were little nippers, aged 4. It was a really nice opportunity for the three of us to meet up as I can’t remember the last time we did!

My 8th Birthday. Clearly I've always had a love for food... check out the burger shaped  birthday cake!

As per usual, our day on Friday revolved around food. No sweets, chocolates or goodies might I add! (Despite my entire house failing at lent, I’m still going strong! Sometimes I do ask myself why I’m doing it, but there seems to be a little man inside my brain that just won’t let me fail!)

After wandering around the beautiful streets of Covent Garden (Oh I can’t wait to live in London) we ended the day in a bar in Clapham called Lost Society*. I won’t forget this place for two reasons:

1. They had the best cocktails I have EVER tasted (resulting in a £70 drinks bill between the three of us. OH. GOD.)

2. I watched my first Burlesque show! Although we spent our time scrutinising the girl’s bodies and dancing skills  (this is what happens when girls watch other girls strip…) we actually really enjoyed it!

Then me being me....I managed to lose my massive chunky scarf, which has been my friend through three winters. It was quite a feat losing such a big item of clothing, so I really think I should be congratulated on this loss. AND in fact the loss of the scarf actually ended up being a positive (kind of)....

Here I was mourning over my scarf on the train whilst changing into flats for the walk home (before I continue this story, it’s probably best you know that we were a little drunk by this time) and this sparked a conversation with two guys on the train. Well once we got chatting, we thought it only best to get more and more people involved, so we made eye contact with people and smiled (not at all creepy) until they joined in a conversation with us. By the time we reached our stop at Twickenham we had half of our train carriage chatting...what a change from the usual solemn, silent train journey! We even managed to spark a bit of a love affair between two complete strangers, just call us cupid.

Buzzing from our train revelation, we made a pact that every train journey from then on we would chat to a new person, on a mission to make London friendlier.

Well, lets just say that didn’t last. By day two we had failed.

So everyone, share the love...scrap the whole don't talk to strangers (Disclaimer: Does not apply to kids)

Ciao x

*If you want to venture to a bar in London that’s a little bit different, definitely give Lost Society a visit. Check it out: http://www.lostsociety.co.uk/

We Are Victorious

Yesterday was a good day. As I’ve said before, I play for the University volleyball team and yesterday we had a volleyball tournament fancy dress fun day and I managed to roundup a whole one of my housemates and two other friends to join me.

Never being one to shy away from fancy dress and regularly enjoying bouncing around the house pretending to be a bunny (you think I’m joking), I grabbed hold of the opportunity to draw a bunny/cat/mouse (I’ll let you interpret it as you wish) nose and whiskers on my face.

....From the face paint, came the inspiration for our team name. ‘The Pussaaaays’ (grow up).

Anyway, after four games of intense (arguable) volleyball, who else came away victorious but, The Pussaaaays!! Thankfully we’d left before our crowning ceremony, as I was told later that our prize was a cake and having given up everything good for lent and still going strong, this would have been torture, not a reward! 

On another note, yours truly has become a professional blogger! (Possibly a slight exaggeration…). I applied for a job as a blogger for Endsleigh* and have been successful! OK, so it’s not paid, but with the economic market as it is, we students need anything to stand out! And hey, I’m quite enjoying this whole blogging malarkey so it might be fun!

Bye for now x

* http://www.endsleigh.co.uk/Student/hub/Pages/student-hub.aspx 

 This is where my blog for Endsleigh will be located

Not Just One for The Girls

After a lifetime of close to perfect skin (I can say this now that I’m suffering...) I couldn’t cope with blemishes, spots and dry skin attacking my face at the age of 22. Out of nowhere, I started getting really dry skin around my eyes and lips (my housemates kindly told me that I looked like an old woman, cheers!) and red blemishes and spots that just wouldn’t budge.

I had to find a solution.

After trying out a few different options, I came across Manuka Doctor products, all thanks to Millie Mackintosh from Made in Chelsea (See, you can learn a thing or two from reality TV).  After trying a few of the products in trial size, I decided to go the whole hog and buy the full-size skin serum treatment. At £18.99 for a 30ml bottle, I didn’t take this lightly. But my oh my was it the right decision.

The serum contains Purified Bee Venom which apparently works wonders…who knew! A month in and I’ve seen huge improvements. At last, a beauty fad that actually works!!

For all of you having difficulties with your skin or if you’re one of the lucky ones and just want to perfect your almost perfect skin. I would highly recommend it. And guys, that’s you included. Don’t be afraid, us girls won’t judge.

If my words of persuasion haven’t tempted you, I’ve just heard today (hence why I was spurred on to dedicate this blog to Manuka) that Superdrug are now selling Manuka Doctor Products!! And…and… wait for it….they’re offering Buy 1 get the 2^nd Half Price.

**HALLELUJAH!!!**

Enjoy your perfect skin.

Ciao Bella x

Two Life Lessons

This weekend has been a good one. I had two Volleyball matches on Saturday (who cares who won) which I really enjoyed, largely because I got to wear my brand spanking new trainers! (£12 instead of £40, what a deal!)

Then my friend from placement, Lizzie, came to visit me and see the sights of Cheltenham. If you do only one good thing today, let it be to follow @LizzieAJohnston. A friend in need.

We decided to take a trip into town today, what else can you do these days… once upon a time meeting up with friends meant putting on shows for the parents, making a tent out of bed sheets and performing dances (ok so the last one still stands). Anyway, the trip to town taught me two life lessons:

     1.      Always get your travel insurance from Debenhams

     2.      Complaining gets you everywhere

Professional skier - tricks and everything

I was lucky enough to go skiing earlier this year (First time and I’ve definitely caught the ski bug) and I decided to take out my travel insurance with Debenhams…what a great decision it turned out to be. After spending £11 on the insurance I was then rewarded with two £5 vouchers to spend in Debenhams. So off I went to buy myself some £21 concealer* (I know) and with an addditional 10% discount, I came away with the product for just £8.90. Pretty much daylight robbery! 

mmmmmmmm....

Next stop, TGI Fridays. Having contemplated what to have for a considerably shorter amount of time than usual, some people might say I’m indecisive, I decided on a chicken and bacon burger with Brie and Maple syrup (You will learn that I like weird mixes of sweet and savoury. i.e bacon and banana toasties, one of the best combinations ever invented) >>>

The burger arrives. No Brie or Maple Syrup. Obviously I’m totally outraged (If you know me, you know that outrage for me isn’t too scary a thing) and I demand (ask for politely) a discount. Well the £2 off I’m offered is more of a micky take than a favour so rather than settling, the battle continues resulting in me getting the meal for free! Melissa 1, TGI Fridays 0. The moral of the story? Complain....nicely.

That’s all for now.

See you x

* Lancome Effacernes Concealer – The best concealer EVER.

Who Needs Clothes?

Wednesday nights are sports night at my university and everyone gets dressed up, has a big social with their team and heads over to a club to meet with the other sports teams. Although I’m a keen volleyball player, this Wednesday my loyalties faltered and I went along to the tennis social with the rest of my housemates.

The theme was ABC (anything but clothes) so I used my creativity and designed myself a dress out of bin bags and tape. 

<<< Might make my clothes more often...student life.

I decided that the social would be a perfect opportunity for me to sing a song that I made up in year 7 (yes I still remember it) which went wonderfully (and no I can’t sing)…Followed by performing a dance with my housemate which we insist on performing endlessly on nights out. Could it be that I’m missing my days of dancing and drama??

On another note, Papa Steve sent me a very interesting video the other day which I had to share. It’s called ‘The Secrets of the Science of Persuasion' and teaches you all about how to make people say yes. Not the worst thing to learn!

Trust me, It’s 5 minutes of your life you won’t regret… http://www.wimp.com/persuasionscience/  

Vale x

Today is a Big Day

What better time to write my second post, than on Pancake Day.

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE food. So this means that Pancake Day is quite frankly one of the best days of the year. As a reward to myself for all my hard work on my dissertation (umm…) I decided that I would only eat pancakes all day.

MASSIVE FAIL

I start the day with just one pancake as I’m running late for work. Well that’s more of a tease than satisfying. Get to work (in the students union) and the refectory aren't selling pancakes. IDEAL.

I’d like to pretend that the pancakes in the picture are my creation, but in fact I've had to resort to Bing search (Microsoft have brainwashed me) to find something oh so delightful that I can set to work on tonight!

But what makes this such a big day isn't just pancakes, today is the last day of all things good, today is the day before tomorrow, when I give up everything good in my life! (Well…sweets, chocolates, biscuits and cakes). Being someone who can’t go a day without a sweet treat, this is going to be a challenge and a half!

Why am I doing it?? Because nobody thinks I can.

Wish me luck!!

Ciao x