A Long Weekend in Copenhagen

Up front warning: Copenhagen is extremely photogenic, this is a fairly photo-heavy write up!

Post-Positano, there was talk about going away again soonish – in the new year. Initially we talked about Spain, or Greece, but it would still be not-warm (my visa is up early May, so really no where would have proper beach weather while I was still in the UK). At work one day I had a look at flights to colder areas in late January. I wanted to go in winter to give myself a better chance of seeing snow. I’ve only seen snow twice in my life – a light flurry in Prague last Easter, and during the great snow storm of 2011 in Wellington – where I still only saw light flurries, as the real snow happened up in the suburbs, which were inaccessible due to icy roads. So all my family got snow, but I was stuck in the city. I saw flights to Copenhagen for £37.50 return, messaged the others, and within two hours flights and leave were all booked.

Quick Update/Daily Make Up

I’m in the middle of writing a post about Copenhagen this past weekend – which was totally amazing, I’m struggling to choose which photos should go it – so have a quick selfie instead! Super proud that I’ve managed to do my hair and makeup almost every day this year – I only missed two days when I was sick, and it all would have ended up coming off on tissues anyway, so it totally shouldn’t count. I end up doing my hair like this a lot – kind of half up half down, and I think I’ll keep growing it out for a while.

This is my basic work make-up – moisturiser, BB Cream across the top of my cheeks, on chin, down nose, up and out in a blended fan over forehead. I don’t like wearing a full face of foundation if I can help it! Light brown eye shadow on the lids, dark brown over the eyebrows (I have a proper eyebrow kit that I love, but it’s a bit too much for work). Liquid eyeliner (the only type that stays on for me) on the top lid – as thin as I can go (often not all that thin!). Then different lipsticks dependant on what I’m wearing – this is my favourite red lipstick. It matches my new op-shop red cardi yay!

Copenhagen should be up by the end of the week – I don’t want to leave it too long, what with going to Dublin in a couple of week! It’s a busy start to the year!

Freezing In Early December – Berlin

In April, on our way home from Prague, R and I were talking about where else we’d like to go. R mentioned that he’d always wanted to go to Berlin – to the point where friends back home had actually assumed he was moving to Berlin, not London. Even though he’s now been in the UK 10 years (!) he had never got to Berlin. I decided taking him to Berlin would be the perfect birthday present – his birthday was a fair way away mind, this was April and our birthdays are early December (yes, we have very close birthdays, but I once dated a boy for 6 months who had the same birthday as me, so 6 days is perfectly reasonable).

Couch to 5K – Look Mum, I’m a runner!

I have always detested running. Until recently, I think the most running I’ve done in my life was the dreaded beep test in High School. In September, some kind of switch just flipped for me, and I was raring to go for the Couch to 5k program. I’m sure you’ve heard someone talk about this in the last couple of years, it’s responsible for thousands of people – my mum included – becoming runners. You know, that friend who comes to the pub, and tells you how fantastic they felt after their 35 minute run this morning. Yeah, the one you roll your eyes at (not judging, I did too). Running can’t make you feel that good, can it?

Well, get the eye roll ready, because I’m about to become that friend: it really does.

Op Shopping!

As promised, I went shopping in second hand stores on Saturday. I didn’t quite get what I wanted to, and I did cave in a fabric store, but I did get some useful items.

I only had a budget of £20 today, and after my £2.50 bacon and egg chapati that was down to £17.50. I have to say, the majority of that was spent at the fabric store, but on the upside I have fabric and lining for my next ‘Perfect Work Skirt‘, which I’ll make a tutorial for (now that I know what I’m doing and aren’t just winging it). I bought two items of clothing, work skirt fabric and lining, and lace for when I get to underwear making. I’m on the look out this week for a light blue or white cotton – the lace is light blue – although I might do some more research first into exactly what kind of fabric is best for underwear. I also still need elastic for that project, but if I just go for one puzzle piece at a time it shouldn’t take too long, and it wont hit my weekly budget too bad!

Of the two items of clothing I bought, one was something I’ve been keeping an eye out for – a new cardigan. Well, new to me in this case! I was going to buy a blue M&S cardi like this one here (which I already have and love in emerald green); but when I saw the cardi below on the far right in Oxfam Tooting I couldn’t resist. Wine red will throw a nice splash of colour into my very black wardrobe, it will look good with the green side panels of my first work skirt, and goes with my cowboy boots! This last one is the ultimate test for buying new clothes, as I’ve not worn any other pair of shoes to work in at least two months, if not three. Plus, it’s nicely thick without being dowdy or jumper-ish, my size and only £3! Score! As you can see, I now have cardigans in Pink, Grey, Green, and Red, – not a black cardi in sight! Progress. EDIT: I have since looked at the cardigan and realised that it is a M&S cardi, abet a fairly old one (the tag has a very old fashioned logo, although it’s been looked after well, there’s no piling and it looks almost new)

Aren’t they awesome?

The second item of clothing was not on my list – although I had been thinking about pyjama trousers, if only for when we’re in Copenhagen next week – but was completely necessary. See, they’re Peter Alexander PJ trousers covered in musical notes. How could I resist? I didn’t even know if they would fit me when I bought them, but if they were too small I could think of several people who would appreciate the beauty of these lounge pants (as I’ve decided they are too fabulous to be relegated to the bedroom). I am happy to report they fit perfectly (nothing fit me last time I had a look at Peter Alexander, so that make me feel quite good about myself). They are extremely comfortable, soft and warm.

In related shopping news I bought a beautiful dress last weekend from CollectIf in the January sales (which are still on – up to 75% off!). CollectIf is vintage style clothing, and can be a bit hit and miss for me – I’ve never bought anything there before, although I’ve seen one or two dresses I’ve liked. This floral summer dress was only £20, when really it should have been £80 looking at the fabric and quality of finish. Score for me! Not sure when I’ll wear it – it’s definitely not a winter dress – but it’s skirt has a very similar pattern to my work skirt, including pockets! I might see if I can pick up a slightly more work-like fabric and replicate the pattern – I can easily see myself ending up with a work wardrobe that’s three or four of this dress in different colours and weights, and the same with the skirts! Now I just need to find a good blouse pattern and do the same and everything will match…

I was hoping to pick up a men’s shirt or two to amend into a blouse, but I couldn’t find one that was nice and big enough to play around with. Maybe another time – there are plenty more charity shops around London just waiting for Ange and I to hit them!

My Summer in Italia

I went to Rome, Venice and Positano (which is on the Amalfi Coast, just south of Naples) in July 2015, when my parents were over from New Zealand. It was, honestly, the most amazing eleven days of my life. In all honestly this should probably be three posts, but I experienced all this in such a short time, I feel like it’s all connected.

DIY To-Do List

I am easily distracted. I’m very aware that I move from one project to another often without completing the first, and end up going around in circles, unsatisfied because I haven’t actually finished anything. Or, I jump in the deep end too quickly, get disappointed when it doesn’t work first time, and end up drifting onto something else. I’m going to try and stick to the up coming projects below though. Most of these need fabric still, so I’m going on a fabric hunt this weekend – through various charity shops (what we would call op shops in NZ).

Living in London

As I look towards my departure from London – my visa is up May 7th, and so I must go – I am also looking back on my time in this spectacular city.

Don’t get me wrong, London is hard. I’ve been through 4 jobs (including, total, about 2 months of unemployment), and moved several times. Yeah, that’s not something I’ll miss. I’ve also been to 6 countries other than London, 11 cities, and spent countless hours in London itself. I’ve meet the man I love – from my home on the other side of the world, here in London – made some fantastic people and am going home a stronger, healthier, more grounded person. That’s the whole point of travel, right? The highs have far outweighed the lows – although that may be the current high talking!

I’ll be posting some highlights (under NMKG Travel Diaries) over the next couple of weeks, but have a look at some of my favourite London photos below.

See if you can spot the three pictures with St Paul’s Cathedral – undoubtedly my favourite building in London. Feel free to ask me any questions about living in London!

Tagliatelle and the Perfect Work Skirt

I sat down at lunch today to finish a travel diary for next week – I have about 6 half written for the next couple of months, but none of them are actually finished – but got distracted by my successfully domestic weekend!

MisFit

 

I’ve been trying to be healthy and fit for a couple of months now, and last week, after some research (read: price comparison) I bought a fitness tracker. It is… a MisFit!