Sunday Summary #56

Another week has come and gone. The light is starting to draw out, which means spring is on its way! Horray. Feels like so long since the summer ended. Its been pretty cold again this week, warming slightly this weekend and the sun has even made an appearance. I love how much happier you feel when the sun is shining. I didn't spend much this week as I was planning my Valentine's meal and sorting out birthday presents for next week. Its one of my brother's and my oldest youngest brother's girlfriends birthdays. Its been so hard to think of things after Christmas. My brother just got an iPhone so he asked me for a case and an iTunes voucher as he's always downloading music so that was easy. The girlfriend was hard as she's not as girlie as me so I can't cheat and buy her make-up. I had a brainwave on Saturday to buy her a travel guide as they're going away in the summer and my boyfriend found a huge mug as she loves coffee and hot chocolate.  As a family we bought her a go karting experience so finally all birthdays are done until June (I think!). I spent Tuesday evening at my boyfriend's for his Dad's birthday. We got a Chinese takeaway on the way home from work and I got the most amazing chocolate cake from Marks and Spencer's. Honestly their cakes are insane. I adore their food as you certainly get what you pay for. Their prices aren't too high and when the quality is so good it justifies the slightly higher price of a supermarket. I definitely got good girlfriend points for the cake as it went down a storm. Having Chinese on Tuesday meant we didn't want it again Thursday so opted for a three course home cooked meal. I wasn't too excited on Thursday despite decorating the dining room the previous evening as I was rushed off my feet at work. It wasn't until I was on my way home that I felt excited. We had a prawn cocktail for starter as we both love them. My boyfriend wanted steak so I had salmon and I got gastro chips, green beans and carrot, garlic mushrooms and mushrooms we fried in butter (naughty but heavenly). I got a cheesecake for dessert but we got the fondue out and we were so stuffed after a few fondue bites. My boyfriend doesn't like salmon so it was so nice of him to prepare it and cook it for me even when I insisted I'd do it. My lovely gentleman was very naughty as we agreed one tiny present, and he surprised me with a beautiful bunch of roses and a Me To You ornament (well over budget). It was so unexpected and I hadn't seen it yet so it was a huge surprise. I can't wait to have my own house with an ornament cabinet for all my treasures. I think it'll be amazing to have a collection you can look at and remember who got you what and when for.
We had a chilled evening in last night with a massive Dominoes order. The dough balls they do are SO good and I love their potato wedges. We started the Lord Of The Rings boxset last Sunday but I fell asleep halfway through so we watched what I'd missed and the rest followed by Toy Story 2. I am so excited to watch Toy Story 3, it could be my favourite of the three. We woke to a beautiful sunny day this morning and then we went to see This is 40 at the cinema. It was funnier than I expected but I hope my life at 40 isn't like that! There is one truly hilarious scene where they get room service...there was a trailer for a film called Side Effects that I can't wait to see. It stars Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum and Jude Law (babes!) and looks like its about a new drug affecting a Rooney's character and getting her into trouble. I originally thought it was the follow up to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as Rooney was the first you saw. I haven't got to the cinema much lately but there's not been anything much on so really looking forward to getting back into it.

River Island satchel £35 (ASOS)

I have wanted a satchel for years but I'm so fussy none have ever been bought. When I saw this I really liked it and being from ASOS knew it would be easy to return if I didn't like it after all. I literally gasped when I opened the box. I'm not a nude girl but there's something about this, I love the detail and the contrast between smooth and texture. I'm anxious it might rub on my thigh and get that awful dark mark but I'll try to walk more with it in my elbow than on my shoulder. This bag is so big too, I'll be able to fit loads in.  

 River Island "love makes the world go round" bangle £6

I made a cheeky order on River Island as my bag browsing led to me finding some jewellery I just had to own. I really like this types of bangles but some can be so expensive so I thought this was a great alternative.

River Island Anchor ring £3

An anchor ring was obviously going to be mine. I love this little one so much. 

River Island Luck & Hope rings £4

More rings. I used to always go for big statement rings but am swaying more towards little ones recently. 

 River Island Heart thumb ring £2 

Bit of a long story but when my Mum got her first full time adult job pay packet she bought herself a gold ring with four hearts in a row, two up and two down and she gave it to me when I was little. I've treasured it and its so special but I've never seen anything remotely like it. I won't wear this as a thumb ring but on my fingers. Its the most similar I've ever found so I just had to buy it!

My only purchase this week was for these! I only bought these two colours and went back the next day for the green and pink ones have sold out. I'll get them I'm sure. Mine were 2 for £6 in Superdrug and usually £3.99 each. Boots won't have them for a while yet so Superdrug is the place to go!

 My wonderful boyfriend spoilt me on Valentine's :) 

I'm working more hours again this week so I've definitely got the Monday blues tonight. Sigh, its all money in the pot. Me and my boyfriend are thinking of our summer holiday destination so that's getting me excited and it seems Spring may just be starting to creep in. 

Hope you've all had good weeks 

Sunday Summary #24

Had such a lovely week, enjoying my boy now he is home from holiday. Couldn't wait to get him round and just be in his company. He was an absolute babe and got me the cutest presents. He really does know me so well! A wooden anchor with a timer inside, a wooden seaside chest, postcard (incase his didn't turn up which it hasn't yet...) and a keyring with an E on. It meant so much more he'd really thought about what I would like. In the end I didn't give him a MAC duty free list as I didn't want him to go out of his way and I knew if he didn't get anything he'd be upset. We're going shopping together to somewhere with a MAC counter soon though. The absolute babe he is, went into MAC anyway but couldn't choose a lipstick as "they all looked nice and like what you already have" and they didn't sell nail polish as he'd know a colour I don't already have. Bless his cottons. Had a Chinese out with work this week which was very nice, finding it harder to eat with the heat though. The humidity this week has been unbearable, hate it. Glad its gone its just hot and windy now which is frustrating as you need something for the wind but the pockets where the wind can't go you're boiling.
Just had an amazing weekend with my boy. We've been together six months now and I am so insanely happy with him. It's just such an easy relationship, we get along so well and I love every second I'm with him. We saw The Five Year Engagement yesterday, I love Emily Blunt and she's so good in it! A funny film but some tender moments too. Went for Storage 24 today, I'm a massive fan of Noel Clarke and British films...so I wanted to see this as soon as I heard about it even if I don't like scary ones. Very jumpy, some gory bits and an horrific alien/monster. Just been perusing new films coming out and seen an alien type one set in the Underground of London. I'm pretty obsessed with the tubes (?!) and my boy might want to see it. We watched Batman Begins last night as I need to know the story ready for The Dark Knight Rises in a few weeks. Literally totally get the whole love for these comic book characters. Such an epic film and I think Batman is so cool with his cape, bat ears and the Bat Mobile! I so wanted to watch the Dark Knight next but it was at my boys house so will wait til this weekend. Usually watch movies on a Saturday night as we have more time and not got to be up early for work. Plus I'm usually so tired during week day evenings (old lady alert!) I hate trying to concentrate on films when I'm tired. Also my boys excitement for the Amazing Spiderman is rubbing off on me well, the trailer looks great and I'm really getting into these sorts of films after Avengers Assemble, I've been missing out!!
An extremely quiet week shopping wise! Got a few Accessorize sale bits which I'm posting separately as I always seem to every time the sale comes around!

Cool treat after work. My boy brought white oreos home <3<3<3. Ronnie love. Presents from my boy. Really white clouds. Vanilla coke! Sunday morning skies! 

This week has definitely been about down time and chilling. My hayfever has been bad and it makes me hate going outside. Got a week off work in a fortnight which I'm really looking forward to, going to work in sunshine sucks. Then my seaside weekend with my boy in August is creeping ever closer, seriously can't wait. And the weekend after is bank holiday, love a four day week far too much. 

Hope you've all had good weeks :)

My First Tattoo

I finally had my tattoo done after months of knowing exactly what I wanted and where. Everytime I planned to go with my friend something happened or I was ill. Then I had a right rough time of it at the end of last year and it was the last of my priorities. As far as I knew I hadn't told my Mum about my plans to get a tattoo, I was debating whether to tell her on the day when I couldn't back out of my appointment and deposit or to just turn up with it already done. She totally surprised me one night when we were having a heart to heart a few weeks back and she told me I should get my anchor. At first I didn't know what she meant, and then it slowly dawned on me. I have absolutely no recollection of telling her, but with everything going on in the last few months maybe I did, I have no idea! She proceeded to surprise me even more by saying she wanted one! Believe me, my Mum is the last lady I would expect would like tattoos let alone actually get one! Within days she'd scouted out a studio in our town, booked our appointment and put the deposit down, all I had to do was pop in to confirm my design and size.
I've always loved anchors, I have no end of nautical clothes, jewellery and bags. I particularly love anything with an anchor on. I decided I wanted an anchor on my wrist, a small one that would hide under my watch if I ever needed to conceal it.
Tattoos originally gained popularity between sailors who spread tattooing around the world with nautical symbols being some of the oldest modern examples of tattoo designs. An anchor holds a ship still, keeping the sailors safe from winds and currents which could drag them away. Its due to this anchors are associated with safe voyages, stability and protection from adversity. The anchor is reliable, safe and unchanging. It keeps ships and people grounded and constant. In religious terms the anchor is an ancient symbol used to represent a hidden cross. Like the fish it was a symbol that the wearer was Christian and faithful to the religion. They were safe and trustworthy. For early Christians, the anchor symbolised steadfastness, determination, strength, loyalty and devotion. The surrounding currents and changing winds cannot move the anchor, and the faithful Christians could likewise not be moved or altered.
Although my anchor is not in anyway connected to the religious history, it does symbolise to me what the Christians saw it as. I'm very close to my family and the anchor represents how I feel about them because they always keep me safe and close to them.

The day came round so fast. I was advised my tattoo couldn't be as small as I wanted because it would blur. As it got closer to my appointment time my excitement started to mix with nervousness and on the actual day I was pretty scared. The previous tattoo had overrun so we had to wait about half an hour which wasn't so bad as you have to fill in a form for the studio and read through a sheet about after-care and the science of tattoos. It was probably a good thing to get used to hearing the gun going, made it less scary when it was my turn. I went first as I was pretty scared and didn't want to be put off if my Mum's hurt haha. As advised by friends I'd taken a sweet drink, Cola Lucozade (seriously good!) and had been drinking it while waiting. My tattooist has to be the nicest, most professional guy I could ever have dreamt of. He wanted me to be 100% happy with the size and location. He kept making little jokes to make me laugh and told me off for looking so nervous as it was making him nervous! He told me it would feel like someone was pinching me and not letting go, and it was similar to a cat scratch. I don't remember a pinching sensation but the cat scratch is spot on. People say the outline is worse than the colour but I couldn't really tell a difference. He kept asking me if I was ok but I'd started to feel really hot and faint, and had to ask if he had a fan. It was with most urgency he shouted for his assistant to get one haha. The cool air really helped, so glad they had a fan! The worst part was the curves of the anchor, quite painful compared to when he was going straight. I felt such elation when he'd finished and clingfilmed my wrist. My Mum went next and ended up getting hers shadowed rather than solid black, I love how hers has turned out, it looks so striking. I think sitting down after mine and drinking the lucozade really helped, don't think I could have walked out straight afterwards. The next 90 minutes were pretty awful, the pain was pretty intense, just a continuous throbbing. I was wishing I could just put some germolene on to ease the pain. I went shopping with Mum for a while then off to Asda to get Mothers Day supplies as I was cooking. I got the occasion stabbing pain, but when we took the clingfilm off that evening it really hurt, probably the air hitting it.

day three, still swollen and red 

For the first three days we were instructed to wash the tattoo a minimum of twice a day with Dettol soap to keep it clean as its a wound that can become infected. After three days a sparingly amount of Savlon is allowed. When you read the science of tattoos it makes you realise how many people don't care right for their tattoo. The pigments are a chemical which is housed in a carrier solution, the carrier being water. Oil and water don't mix, so using Bepanthen or Vaseline which are oil based will pull out the pigment. Savlon is the least oil based antibacterial moisturising cream so that's what they told us to use. 

The evening of getting my tattoo it was stinging quite a bit, but I was in and out of the house, taking a coat over my arm and the change in air temperature probably contributed. As soon as my boyfriend saw it he said my arm was swollen but I hadn't noticed, but when we woke the next day you could tell it had been as my tattoo looked much smaller. The second day it was quite red around the tattoo but not much pain, just the occasional throb and it had started to feel tight.

i've twisted my arm to take this, scabs 

Day three I didn't have anything to report, again it looked much smaller and I was still being careful not to knock it. Day four was the day of the great tattoo scabbing itch. The tattoo looked like it was going really dry and was pretty itchy. I was quite good at distracting myself, and ignoring the itch. I wouldn't dream of touching it let alone scratching it, its a lifelong investment so needs to be looked after. The skin felt tight and I couldn't wait until I could moisturise it!
After a week my tattoo was still slightly scabby and incredibly dry. I had a manic few days and I never used Savlon to moisturise it and I think this is definitely why it went so dry. As soon as I started to regularly put Savlon on the improvement was amazing. I'm now all healed, and got rid of the dryness.

mum's chinese 'love' symbol 

my anchor 

I'm now thinking of my next tattoo. I'll probably get a swallow next, bit of a sailor theme going on but I love them. I've found some amazing ones on Google so just need to decide on my design and location. A lot of people say tattoos are addictive and I have to agree. I am the biggest wimp pain wise so for me to say I'll be going through it again must mean it can't be that bad. I would stress though tattoos are a massive step and you should be a million percent sure before you go ahead and do it. Even when I was getting mine done I was thinking this is forever, oh my god.
I'd love to see and hear about your tattoos!
Em x