Smiling Sunday (Things I love #11)

1.Wedding flowers-
My friend got married last weekend in a beautiful simple ceremony.  She did the floral arrangements herself for the table decorations and very kindly said that eveyone could take the flowers home.  Lovely and so pretty!

2.Cute wedding decorations-
Also from the recent wedding, these little birds with tiny feathers were on the tables, soooo cute! The photo doesn't quite show how tiny they are, they are each about as big as a 1p!

Inspired by 'The Ring'- Image via Sandra Holmbom

Inspired by 'Alice in Wonderland'- Image via Sandra Holmbom

Image via Sandra Holmbom

3.Eye art by Sandra Holmbom- I recently bought this month's Company magazine and there was a page about this awesome make-up artist from Sweden. She is extremely talented and I love her amazing designs.  I'm astonished that someone can create such detail in such tiny pieces of work!  You can see more on her blog http://psychosandra.blogg.se/

4.Fresh blackberries, little bubbles of sweetness! It seems to be the right time of year for collecting blackberries from our garden. They are delicious, I have been dipping into them all week from our fridge.

5.Jam! My mum had loads of blackberries so decided to make some blackberry and apple jam.  I'm not the world's biggest jam fan but this is pretty good!

6. Vintage Bakelite Autophone-
I spotted this in a charity shop this week and couldn't resist! I love retro telephones and appear to be accumulating a small collection... It needs converting to be in full working order but lovely to look at, if nothing else!

Image via The Guardian

7.Tribe- Bruce Parry
This week I saw a great documentary as part of the 'Tribe' series with Bruce Parry.  This episode featured the people of the island of Aneuta, near the Soloman Islands, a population of around 250 people.  It was a fascinating programme which gave a real insight into the day-to-day lives of the local community and showed how Bruce interacted with them and attempted to follow their traditions.  It was amazing to see a tribe like this still exists within such modern times.  There are of course, some drawbacks to their island paradise which Bruce explores in the episode. You can find out more information from the BBC webpage.  The episode is available on BBC Iplayer until Tues 10th Sept if you live in the UK.

 8. Anything could happen by Ellie Goulding.  I still love her voice and I think she has made so many great tracks.

9. After the Fall by Kodaline. I uploaded this for free from Itunes a couple of months ago and recently started listening to it.  It feels quite anthemic and dramatic!

What has made you smile this week?

Peebreeks xx

Running- my experiences so far!

I started running in June this year because I entered the Race for Life to raise money for Cancer Research.  I didn't want to make a complete fool of myself so decided I had better start jogging!  I did the Race for Life on the 16th June. It was a really rainy drizzly day but everyone was in good spirits.  I would really recommend this for a first race, Race for Life is all women and I felt like everyone was supportive of each other. We did a fun Zumba warm-up before the race began.  The spectators were really encouraging, clapping for everyone around the course and towards the finish line!  I completed the race in 34 or 35 minutes I think! I was extremely grateful for my medal, snack and bottle of water at the finish.

A few weeks later I entered a village 5KFun Run which took place on Sunday the 7th of July. I decided to enter to see if I could beat my previous time and to enjoy the village event.  As it was a fun run, I thought it would be enjoyable and have a nice atmosphere, I was right.  It was a hot day (the hottest so far of the year at that point!) and some of the course was on a track with no shelter from the sun, it seemed pretty hard-going at times.  The support from spectators was fantastic, one villager had a garden hose to cool everyone down! Everyone clapped and shouted encouragement.  I drank water and carried on and kept going all the way to the finish. I felt really proud and again received a goody bag with banana, water and some goodies.  I completed the race in 34:34!

I then decided to enter another race as part of a running event which included an annual half-marathon and 10K, but this year they added a 5K to the event, so I decided to enter! You were not allowed to run with mp3 players so I was quite nervous because I always train with music to get a good pace going and to keep me going. I had been running 5K everyday for the couple of weeks leading up to the race. I gave it my best shot but I thought my time would be slow because of the heat.  I did the race in 28:56, I couldn't believe it!  It was an extremely hot day and I have no idea how the 10Krs and Half-marathoners got through it, they were awesome! I cheered them on when I had finished, the last part of the race is pretty gruelling; it's all uphill and very little shade so I really admired their determination and strength.  Again, I found the crowds were really encouraging, one family had the 'Chariots of  Fire' theme playing loudly out of their house, which brought a smile to all the runners' faces!  Lots of people cheered me on and clapped as we all ran by, it was great.

I never would have thought that I would get into running, I'm not the most confident person in the world and thought I would feel really self-conscious.  But I bought some trainers, whacked my ipod on and just got into it. The more you run, the better habits you get into.  You learn a lot along the way.  I would now recommend always stretching fully after you run or you will feel it in your muscles. I had problems in my shins after running and have found that a protein snack/shake and lots of stretching really help.  I always shower straight after running because you sweat so much (gross I know!) and it can give you bad skin. I also think my running posture is getting much better, you should run with relaxed shoulders.

 I'm by no means an expert and still have a lot to learn and I know that there are people who can run much further and faster, but I feel proud of my achievements.  I am so glad I started because I think it has built my confidence and taught me to go for more opportunities.  You will always be sweaty and messy running, (as you can tell from my photos) so any vanity is out the window! I'm hoping to enter a 10K next to stretch myself even further, I think running is a bit addictive!  I now run 5K 2 or 3 times a week.  I don't time myself, I just run to keep fit and healthy and to switch off for half an hour!

What sports do you enjoy?  Have you discovered something that has given you more confidence?

Peebreeks xx

What I wore today

Ombre top- H & M
Necklace- New Look
Denim shorts- Asda
Starry converse- Ebay

Today has been hot! Quick, get your shorts on!  Trying to capture every last bit of sunshine before Autumn is upon us. Also, wearing pale shades to make the most of my (fading) tan from Spain :)

This is the first outfit post I've done, so sorry for chopping my shoes off the shot and I didn't notice my shorts were rolling up on one side, d'oh!

Peebreeks xx

Monday make-up: MAC mineralize moisture foundation review

So... am thinking of doing a make-up post every Monday, let me know what you think!

Whilst in Barcelona, after seeing the sights, I decided to make use of the fact that I was in a big city with department stores and make-up counters. (Can you tell I'm a small-town girl??!!)   I thought I would try out MAC Mineralize Moisture foundation.

The assistant matched my ( actually tanned?!!) skin  to the shade NC40 and my skin looked good with the foundation- sorry no photos of this!  I usually have dry skin and this foundation didn't show any dry patches or sit badly on the skin. It looked dewy but gave a good coverage (it can be built from light to medium) and has SPF 15.  I was really pleased with the foundation and delighted when the assistant gave me a free small sample of it in a cute dinky MAC bottle!

It was very humid whilst I was there and I felt that the foundation felt quite tacky and slippy on my face, but I am certain that this was due to the humidity (Around %60!) as I haven't had the same problem when wearing the same foundation back in the UK.  

You can buy MAC Mineralize Moisture Foundation in the UK for £27 for 30ml.  I really liked the finish of this foundation and would recommend it for dry skin, if you like a satin finish.  I doubt that this would photograph well because of the SPF, but a good everyday foundation.  If you like a heavy or matte coverage, this foundation probably isn't for you.

Via MAC website

Have you tried Mineralize foundation?  What did you think? 

Peebreeks xx

Smiling Sunday! (Things I love #10)

Hope you are all well, this week seems like a bit of a catch-up of things I meant to post a longggg time ago but never got around to. Hope you like it :)

1. Black studded handbag

I bought this way back in May but haven't featured it yet! I bought it from Topshop in Swindon, it was half-price in the sale; £20 reduced from £40, it isn't leather.  I love it.

2. This book by Emma Koenig.

  I bought this a few months ago from Urban Outfitters.  It is a really funny book with cute illustrations and I think a lot of us can relate to the messages about day-to-day life as a supposed adult!

3. Chris Evans' 2nd book

This week I read 'Memoirs of a Fruitcake' by Chris Evans.  I listen to him on Radio 2 sometimes, but am by no means a massive fan and thought he seemed pretty arrogant back in the day but I found this book brutally honest.  I think he admits his faults openly, has faced a lot of his demons and makes a point of showing affection for the people who have truly meant something to him in his life so far. I find him to be very witty and the book was hard to put down!

4. My new shoes!

I bought these this week, they are made by Bussola and are the in the shade 'tan'.  I bought them in the sale in Mastershoe.  They are real leather and I bought them for £19.99 reduced from £45.99.

5.Flaws by Bastille: I know this has been around for ages but I go through phases of listening to things non-stop, then forgetting about them, then rediscovering them! Beautiful lyrics and I love the tones of Dan Smith's voice.

6.That's the Way- Led Zeppelin.  I came across this on the soundtrack to Almost Famous (love that film!) and often play it when I'm out for a stroll! It seems like such a warm summery song.

7. That kiss!!! (Nick and Jess in New Girl.)
Via Tumblr

Via Tumblr

via Tumblr

 I know this all aired agggges ago in the USA but it has only been shown in the UK over the last few weeks and I can't believe I haven't put it on my blog sooner!   I am a hopeless romantic, hence several pictures/video clips for this tension-kicking moment.
I maintain that 'I meant something like that' has got to be one of the best screen lines after a kiss, ever!!

P.S. I'm a little bit in love with Nick Miller at the moment.. Yes, I am fully aware he is a fictitious character.

If you haven't seen the kiss you can check it out above (via Youtube), just ignore the cheesy reporters, sorry!

8. Daisy ring

Got this cute hand-made ring when I went to Sidmouth Folk Festival recently. It's relatively simple and made from Fimo but I think it's fun for summer. For more info check out her collection on flickr or contact helengilbert@live.co.uk
The nail varnish I'm wearing in this photo is 028 'Minted' by Revlon.

9. Cherries fan

Saw this cherries fan in a shop window while I was away in Barcelona.  So cute for keeping cool! It was quite pricey though :(

What has made you smile this week?

Peebreeks xx

Smiling Wednesday! (Things I love #9)

So late in posting this week, sorry! I have been away in Barcelona for 10 days, I will do some more posts about my trip as soon as I can :)

1. Books
Whilst away, I had time to get a lot of reading done and really enjoyed two books by Bill Bryson:  'Neither here nor there' and 'The Life and Times of The Thunderbolt Kid'.  He is a really funny writer and I had to contain my laughter when in public places.  'Neither here nor there' was my favourite and is basically a series of anecdotes about his travels around Europe, brutally honest and unashamedly humorous.

2. There was a closing down sale in an artist's workshop in one of the streets in the Gothic Quarter. I saw this beautiful chair for only 20 euros, if I had some way of putting it on the plane back with me, I would have!

3. Saw this guy on the main street on the way down from the Parc Guell.  He was really eerie but strangely fascinating and funny! :)

4. Treated myself to a large bubble tea from 'Wow Boba' whilst away on holiday.  Yummy and refreshing on a hot day, I had black tea with tapioca (that's the dark parts at the bottom!) and a bit of honey.

5. Yves Saint Laurent Pastel handbags.  Love these, really sweet colours. Spotted them in the shop window and had to take a picture.

Via npr.org

6. Had not been in a big city alone for a while so was at a bit of a loose end at times! So I decided to go and see 'Before Midnight' in the cinema on Calle Verdi in Barcelona.  I haven't seen the previous films in the 'Before' series (Before Sunrise and Before Sunset) but this didn't seem to matter as I felt that the film stood alone and made enough reference to the previous plotlines for me to catch up with ease. I don't want to talk about the plot too much as it will spoil it but it basically deals with the everyday life of a couple, years into a relationship, when it's no longer fresh and new and how they relate to each other and their family and friends. I thought Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy were great in the lead roles and the film seemed to end just as you wanted to learn more.

7. This clouds and rainbows jumper by Modcloth featured on Scathingly Brilliant's blog. So cute!

Via the lucky elephant

8. Navy blue and coral- I saw a woman wearing these colours and thought it looked really cool. This pic shows some outfits in the same colour palette, I think they look great for end of summer.

9.I discovered Cacolat a few years ago during my time living in Spain, it is a yummy chocolate-flavoured milk, made in Barcelona.  I think the packaging looks quite retro and fun.

10. Jayme Dee
Discovered Jayme Dee recently via  her cover of  'Ho Hey' by the Lumineers on the Sunday music sessions on Marcus Butler's Sunday Sounds blog.  She has a great sound, I really like her covers of 'Fix You' by Coldplay and 'I Will Follow You Into The Dark' by Death Cab For Cutie.  Some of her guitar playing reminds me of Amy
Winehouse.

Via Mountain Home Quilts

11. Something else made me smile this week. Something a lot of you will have done in your lifetime.   I was walking along by the port when I noticed a father waiting for his young daughter, who must have been around 6 years old.  She was stood in one spot, wearing a mid-length rara skirt and was spinning around and around in circles.  It really made me smile, I expect a lot of us remember twirling in a dress/skirt when we were young.  I don't quite know why it amused me so much, I think it's just that free feeling, that expression without embarrassment.  Her father wasn't bothered in the least, I suppose he knew that as a child you can indulge in such simple pleasures freely but as you get older, you would probably seem quite strange and attract some puzzled looks. :)  This picture isn't the actual girl but I thought that the photo illustrated exactly what I'm talking about!

 Do you remember spinning in swooshy clothes??  Comment and let me know!

Peebreeks xx

MySpace style questionnaire!

I recently discovered Pink Milk and Cookies' blog and noticed that she had completed a Myspace-style questionnaire, I thought I would give it a go as I think they can help you get to know someone better.  It's just for fun, so if you find this boring, please skip it!

Three items you will always find in my bag:
My phone/ ipod, kirby grips, keys.

My favourite guilty-pleasure is:
Music-wise: Status Quo (!)
Food: Cold custard
TV: Millionaire Matchmaker

If i could have lunch with anyone, who would it be?
There are so many to choose from... Umm... Alive: Stephen Fry, Michael Palin, Johnny Depp (obviously!), Woody Allen.  Dead: Amy Winehouse, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Gene Kelly.

My favourite song lyric is: 
'You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one, I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one.' - Imagine, John Lennon.

The piece of clothing in my closet that i have had forever is:
A tartan sundress that I bought in Paris 7 years ago, I don't really wear it now though :(

My favourite children’s book is:
Anything by Roald Dahl but I remember also loving 'The Faraway Tree' by Enid Blyton.

I am currently reading:
Sick Notes- True stories from the GP's surgery, by Dr. Tony Copperfield

My favourite place to be is: 
By the sea.

One thing on my bucket list i haven’t done is:
Been to India.

 My bringing-down-the-house karaoke go-to song is: 
 Never done it! But I like to think I could rock 'Son of a Preacher Man' by Dusty Springfield.

I am afraid of:
Sharks, specifically great whites. I watched 'Jaws' at far too young an age I think.  I can't even look at pictures of them without my heart racing. Errrrrr *shivers*  For the same reason, deep open water freaks me out sometimes.

If you want to complete the same questionnaire, just copy and paste the questions below!  Leave a comment and I will have a nosey at your answers.

Peebreeks x


Three items you will always find in my bag:

My favourite guilty-pleasure is:

If i could have lunch with anyone, who would it be?
My favourite song lyric is:
The piece of clothing in my closet that i have had forever is:
My favourite children’s book is:
I am currently reading:
My favourite place to be is: 
One thing on my bucket list i haven’t done is:
My bringing-down-the-house karaoke go-to song is: 
I am afraid of:

Smiling Sunday! (Things I love #8)

Have been hopeless at posting lately...

1. I really like big watches at the moment! I especially like this one, The Canterbury- I first saw the Daniel Wellington watches on The Londoner's blog: The Londoner- Daniel Wellington watches.  I notice that Kim Sears often wears large watches at Wimbledon.

2. Speaking of Kim Sears!- I really liked the mint lace dress she wore to the Wimbledon final.  It is from the Victoria Beckham Spring/Summer collection 2013.  I know it was heavily criticised in the papers at the time, as she was wearing long sleeves in the midst of a heat wave, but I thought she looked really elegant.

3.  Must be having a mint-green phase I think!  Have noticed these Figaro cars by Nissan more and more recently, so cute and retro-looking :)

Via tumblr.com

4. I recently enjoyed watching the BBC Imagine 2-part documentary on Woody Allen. I thought that it had obviously been well-researched and was filmed beautifully.  I know Woody has drawn a lot of controversy over his scandalous personal life but you cannot dispute that he is a very funny comedian and a talented film maker.  I loved the insight into his childhood, background and individual quirks- such as the fact he always types his scripts on a typewriter that he bought decades ago, if he makes a mistake, he literally has to cut and paste the changes! A more extensive review of the first part of the programme can be found on the Daily Telegraph website: Woody-Allen-a-Documentary-part-one-BBC-One-review.html

Via The Daily Telegraph -Woody-Allen-a-Documentary-part-one-BBC-One-review.html

5. Nails this week are 'Mink' by Marks & Spencer, BUAV approved so not tested on animals :)

Via www.marksandspencer.co.uk

6.  We have had an amazing heat wave in English which brought fantastic weather for 3 weeks and then some stormy showers. There's some music that I love listening to when it's raining,  I hope that's not too strange! Some songs or artists seem to be cosy and soothing.  One of my favourite albums to listen to during the rain is 'Sleep Through The Static' by Jack Johnson.

7.  In the sunnier moments, I have been rediscovering Fleetwood Mac! Awesome on a sunny afternoon...

Via www.fanpop.com

8. 'Forrest Gump' was shown on TV last week, I have seen it before but had forgotten how great it is.  So funny but also had me in tears for the sad parts.  Tom Hanks is a fantastic actor who has made some wonderful film choices.  He won the Oscar for the Best Actor for his leading role as Forrest Gump in 1994 is and I think you can clearly see why, he is fantastic in this film.



That's all for this week I think!

Peebreeks xx

Strolling by the canal

Today we went for a walk along the towpath by the canal.   We often come here for walks and I like to look at the old barges.  I was really lucky to see a bit of wildlife too!

The swans were first to appear, don't get too close or they hiss!!

Then the ducks.....

Seeing ducks up close and hearing them quack often reminds me of 'The Magic Finger' by Roald Dahl when the family swap places with a family of ducks!

Was really chuffed to see a beautiful heron fishing in the canal!

Where do you go to see local wildlife?

Peebreeks xx

My take on The Great Gatsby

Have been busy for some time but now hoping to blog more often!

I went to see the Baz Luhrmann version of  'The Great Gatsby'.  I really enjoyed it and thought that the film was engaging all the way through.  I was surprised and impressed by Leonardo DiCaprio's performance,  he seemed to play it just right, nervous and emotional moments teamed with mystery and aggression.

 Via http://gatsbyluxury.wordpress.com/tag/great-gatsby/

Tobey McGuire was also pretty good as Nick, observing and narrating.  To be honest, I wasn't blown away from Carey Mulligan as Daisy.  She has given great performances and she is pretty, but something wasn't quite right.  In the book, Daisy seems charming and enchanting but I felt that she was a bit bland and helpless somehow. I loved the set and costume design and some of the music.  I'm still not sure about the modern music blaring out at the 20's parties, it took me out of the film and to a different era, so seemed confusing at times.  The exception to this was 'Young and beautiful' by Lana del Rey, I really like this song.  

What did you think of the new Gatsby?

Peebreeks xx