NaNoWriMo???

Have you heard of NaNoWriMo? No? Me neither, until this week.

It stands for National Novel Writing Month, a challenge to anyone who has

ever dreamt of writing a novel to do just that, 50,000 words worth of a novel, in one month.

Source: runnersami.wordpress.com via Freya on Pinterest

That's right, write one, 50, 000 word novel, in 31 days.

I know, I'm crazy.

But I've ALWAYS wanted to write a book, so I thought, why not have a go.  Not like I've got a life or anything.

So, now, I start tomorrow.  I'm aiming to write between 1600-2000 words per day to stay on target.  I have planned a little bit, I kinda know the theme and the over arching story line, but I really only learnt about it the other day, so I will totally be flying by the seat of my pants.

I'll let you know how it goes!

Pray for me, egg me on and keep me accountable to my commitment,

Freya May

Friday Feeling

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It turns out that Friday Feeling is Exhaustion.

Phew, finished my first ever full week of work (please ignore the fact I only work mornings- I do get to work at 750am!). 

I feel like I'm finally finding my feet in the office, but as of Wednesday I'm on my own, so, really, I had better know what I'm doing by then!

So, School receptionist.  What exactly am I doing with my time?  EVERYTHING is the answer! Everything!  And my biggest challenge so far has been telephone work.  If you know me, you'll know I am not very comfortable talking to strangers over the phone.  I have this fear that people will judge me when I stumble over my words or am not as informed as I should me. 

But there is no room for insecurities here, I've got to get on with it.  And yes, I've messed up a couple of times, but I've learnt my lessons.  Namely, take all the information you can!  Don't be shy to ask them to repeat and NEVER patch through to a senior member of staff with out talking to them first.

We'll I'm going back on Monday, so, it can't have been too bad :-)

Freya May

A Shiny Button

This is my new button, which, if you look to the side of the screen, you'll see you are able to copy the link below it and post on your blog to link back to mine.

I had to learn the tiniest amount of HTML to do this and put up the link, so I really am quite proud of it :-) Go me!

And I am more than happy to post one for your blogs too, just let me know if you want me to.

Freya May

Wicked!

Source: google.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Hubby and I booked tickets to see Wicked aaagggeeeessss ago, intending to spend a couple of days in London over half term.   Then, I got a job (yay), in a school in Leicestershire, which meant that I started that same week we had planned for!  So we headed to London just for the afternoon instead, and drove back late last night.

I've wanted to see Wicked for a while, it feels kinda like I'm the last person ever to see it.  Everyone has told me its Amaazing, so I was a little worried about it living up to the hype.  But, Yay!  It was just as Amaazing as I was promised! 

Happy Days.

Freya May

Working Women

Source: None via Freya on Pinterest

So, I've been exhusted.  I started work on Monday as a school receptionist at a local
highschool.  And this is how I'm feeling. 

Don't worry, its actually been quite good fun, but early mornings and learning new things and interecting with lots of new people = tired little Freya

Freya May

Oh, Keele, I've missed you too!

A beautiful weekend, up at the old place, here is the story

It started with a lot of baking!!!

First, I made a batch of cupcakes for Helen, who was putting us up for the weekend.  She doesn't drink alcohol, so the usual bottle of wine was out of the question.  I had a go at fresh vanilla and white chocolate cupcakes.  I used the seeds from a vanilla pod, as an experiment, and piped white chocolate ganash on top- yummy!

Then, I made baked cheesecake for my mum.  She had family visiting for the weekend and I will take any excuse to practice my baking skills.  Obviously, I didn't get to try it, but I heard everyone enjoyed it, so I count it as a success!

Anyway, much baking, then Tom picked me up! We headed up, Keelewards, in the morning while Hubby was still at work.  But, DRAMA!  Tom's car broke down on the way :-( Lucky for us though, the AA were called and came and fixed us up nice and quick.

Tom checking the AA man was doing a good job

On Friday I had lunch with the lovely Mim, hung out in the chapel and met some of the new students, and went to the Chapel Quiz Night that evening.  We didn't win :-(  

Hanging out in the office, just like old times

Team Awesome at the quiz!

Actually, we had yet more DRAMA! The quiz ended with two teams with identical scores, leading to a tense tiebreaker- of some insanely difficult question!  Cut to the end, Shuker's team won, BUT, as he is handed the box of chocolates, another team stands up and says 'Wait! Our score was added up wrongly- We win!'  The chocolates are taken from Shu, and handed over.  Shame.

The tiebraker round

'Still in a Meeting' were not happy they'd lost!

The rest of the weekend was pretty much drama free.  I had coffee with some people, visited the local towns charity shops, went of for dinner and drinks with people on Saturday eve, went to church, bring and share lunch, went to the cinema for a lazy afternoon.

And that evening, wonderful hubby was preaching at The Late Service, on 'It's the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)'.  It was a great talk, about being ready for when Jesus returns.  Everyone said he was fab, he is a great speaker, and is getting more and more confident all the time.

Hanging out in Lindsay bar

After drinks at the local student pub, we headed home and I crashed into bed, as I started work on Monday!!!

Love you, Keele, and all those who make Keele what it is.  It was good to be back, but it was really odd, even though I miss being there soooo much, I don't want to return to Keele as a student anymore, it has changed, with a new dynamic because of the new students.  The trip helped me feel like I had properly left my time at Keele behind properly, finally!

Freya May

Friends, Sun and a nice walk

Here is Chris, Emma, Hubby and me, on a walk around Calke Abbey's grounds.  We were blessed with such wonderful weather, it was truly a beautiful day.  We walked for about a hour and a half, ate a delish lunch from the National Trust cafe, and pondered on whether or not we are old enough to be considering joining the National Trust, or is it something only people with children and the retired do.

 I had so much fun!  It was great to catch up with Emma and Chris, and I really do love going for walks, and relished the rare opertunity.

Freya May

Chore Sheet

Hello!

I'm always trying to organise myself to have a cleaning routine that I can stick to and means the house stays nice and tidy! It's not that I don't want keep the house clean, it's just finding the will power to do chores over the other, fun, stuff I could be doing, like waisting hours on Pinterest and what not. 

So, I quess I'm just really hoping that having it set out, all pretty and easy to see will, you know, help with the motivation and mean that there is some method in the madness. 

This is the chart I've put together, will see how it goes.  As it's not much to do each day- and it leaves weekends free! Yay!

I stole the heading from Amy Gregson's blog, but edited it down because I don't have as big a house or so many rooms.

Feel free to pinch it, edit it to your own needs or what not.  I get the impression we all want to be that little more organised, maybe this'll help.
Freya May

Last Friday Night

Just been out with hubby to watch the Three Musketeers 3D film at the local cinema, so this post is about three things-

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The Film- Awful, do not bother seeing it unless you are very bored, have nothing better to do and enjoy the cinema experience no matter what.

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3D- The more films I see in 3D the less I see the point in it at all.  It seems to me that 3D filming distracts the film makers from any actual substance and makes them focus on the trivial details of things poking out the screen.  Unnecessary and a waste of money for all involved.

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And, finally, The Local Cinema-  Amazing! :-)  Loughborough has the one cinema, a little independent/ tiny chain called 'Reel'.  It is this fabulous art deco decor, and it has the film times on the outside of the building as they used to be.  Tiny screens, sure, but it is a very cool, very old skol experience that I for one don't mind one bit!  AND, bonus, they have a bar and let u take drinks in to the film with you- Score!

All in all, I've had a lovely Friday night.

Freya May

Pumpkins are Back!!!

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I love Pumpkins! I love Pumpkin Pie!  I love the idea of using them as decorations!  I love the colour!  I love them in cupcakes! I love the time of year when they arrive in stores!  I love Pumpkins!

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Freya May

A Signature Bake...

After seeing a pic on pinterests (which I've since lost) I had to have a go at making something similar.  Lucky for me, opportunities to bake are not scarce, so I made one for Hubby's colleague for her birthday!

It turned out brilliantly! I will totally be making it again :-) and if you need anything baking, let me know!  I'm looking for any opportunity to bake at the moment. 

Recipe

• 300g Sugar
• 200g Butter
• 3 eggs
• 300g Flour
• Vinilla Essence
• 1/4 cup milk
• Hundreds and Thousands

Cream the butter and sugar, add the eggs, fold in the sifted flour, add the vinilla essence and the milk.  Add the Hundreds and Thousands just before dividing the mixture between three cake tins and bake at 180 degres C for 30min. 

• 500g of icing sugar
• 250g butter
• dash of milk
• Any food colouring you'd like.

Cream together all the ingredients.  Simple.  Sandwich the cakes with a liberal amount of icing, and cover the whole cake with very thin layer.  Fill an icing bag, and pipe dots of icing all round the cake, and accross the top. smudge the dots around the edge of the cake with a back of a tea spoon.  Sprinkle hundreds and thousands on the top, and your done!!!

Freya May

Loughborough Vintage Fair

Naomi, Susie and I wandered down to Loughborough town hall for Loughborough Vintage Fair :-) 

 

Look at the beautiful town hall where it was held- super stunning inside too!  The ball room was jam packed with a ton of different stalls selling everything you could imagine.  There were genuine vintage clothes, remodeled second hand clothes and home made dresses, then shoes, bags, belts, scarfs, jewellery, kitchenware, bunting...

Here is Susie and I with our shopping, she was lucky and found the perfect boots, and I found a great new (old) cardigan:-)

It was sooo much fun, so will totally be visiting the Leicester Vintage Fair when it comes to town at the end of the month.

Freya May

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More Baking, I'm on Fire!

I made Shortbread cookies.

Yummy:-)

I gotta practice biscuits though, I'm not great at them because I usually make cakes.

Freya May

Any tips for me?

So, I'm sure you've noted that I'm not the thriftyest person ever, mostly I blame my creativity- I like to buy stuff and create things and dress up in creative ways. 

However, basically- I have a job! YAY!!  Working part time as a school receptionist.  I've calculated that between when I start at the end of the month and when my inital contract finishes at the end of term I will be, thankfully, out of all bank based dept!! Woo!!  Woohoo indeed!!

I don't know if I'll have a job after Christmas, so I NEED to practice trifting and stuff so that whatever happens afterwards, I am happy living on the cheap. 

Here are some tips I've found on the internet, but please feel free you add more!!!

There are so many out there, so I've toiled to find the best, most practical ones :-) A lot just don't seem to apply, or, better, I found I already did a lot of them too!

1. The 'Packet' money system- taking out the money to spend each month/week in cash, limiting yourself to what is in your hand, once it's gone, it's gone!
2. A '30 day list'- listing any impulse buys I fancy, waiting 30 days, and only buying it if I still 'need' it after this period.  One issue I must deal with is the compulsion to shop, avioding that will be my first step to spending less.  This is probably my biggest weakness, so will deal with this asap.
3. Going vegitarian 2-3 times a week to save meat costs

From kids activities blog

What I am also doing is having a go at making lots of Christmas presents myself, so watch this space.

Freya May

A Question for you

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I have always loved learning, big fat book worm.  So this period of inert, jobless state I'm looking forward to a time when I can afford to take on an evening class or something.   I'm also looking forward to doing a Masters as soon as I can afford it.  I also hope you look quite as stylish as the student above while studying again :-)

I'll probably enrol in a evening class every year, but one option I'm thinking of doing is further A-levels.  I've done some research and it turns out they only cost £200 for the year.  Maybe I'll do one next year if I don't enrol in the Masters at Leicester University I've got my eye on. 

I'd want to do the A2 level year for English Literature, having an AS under my belt already, but I didn't carry it on to A2 because I was thinking I'd need Chemistry for university (I was wrong).  As I was better at English this was a shame, but I think it'd be fun to carry on as I still LOVE English and reading.

So, the question for you... is there a subject you wished you had done/ hadn't dropped at A-level/high school or what not?? 

And another question (spur of the moment addition)... What, out of everything, would you be interested in studying in a evening course?

Freya May

Chocolate Orange Delights!

I've been playing in the kitchen, one of my Life Time Ambitions is to get published in some form, and a cookbook would be a great idea and achievement!

This is the recipe for my very own Chocolate Orange Cupcakes, this is a super easy and very tasty cupcake, that Hubby has declared his love for!

Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 200g Caster Sugar
• 200g Butter
• 2 eggs
• Rind and juice of one orange
• 200g flour
• 1 table spoon of cocoa

1. Cream the sugar and the butter, then add the eggs, orange rind and juice until smooth.
2. Sift in the flour and the cocoa.
3. Divy up into large 12 hole cupcake tin ( I chose orange cases, 'cos I'm like that)
4. Bake for 20-25 min, until the cake is spongy to the touch.
5. Cool ready for icing.

Ok, there are two types of icing you can use, and they are both very sweet.

The one I used in the photos is orange butter cream.

Ingredients

• 250g icing sugar
• 100g butter
• juice of one small orange
• 1tsp of orange colouring (if you want, gives the best colour but isn't necessary)

Cream all ingredients them pipe on to the cooled cakes.

or, Chocolate Ganache, which I'm doing on my second batch of cakes.

Ingredients

• 400g dark chocolate
• 375ml cream

Melt the chocolate over a saucepan of boiled water, off the heat, add the cream, and let cool, out of the fridge, before use, pipe on before it sets.

And the decorate how ever you want!  I've used orange segments, but go wild, have fun and put anything you want to finish them off.

Happy Baking!  If I ever write a cookbook, this will totally be in it!

Freya May

T-Shirt Quilt

This is the quilt I made this month.

I've wanted to make a t-shirt quilt for ages, and have been collecting shirts for even longer.

You'll need:
>12 shirts/side with image/text on- the more you have the bigger it'll be, I've got 20 in mine and its about 60" by 35"
Backing fabric- i.e. fleece
Sewing machine
Thread (Black)
Scissors

First, cut out all your shirts, which ever side you what to use, in to even rectangles, or even better, squares.

Then choose a soft/warm/comfy backing fabric.  I chose fleece, as it is very warm and soft and easy to work with.

Then cut out a piece of the backing fabric to fit each shirt piece.

Sew the shirt to the backing with a big X through them.

Once they are all sewn together, lay them out in the order you like.

Sew each piece in to strips, with at least a half inch hem, raw edges to the front of the blanket- this is important, you'll see in a moment.

Once you've got all the strips, sew them all together!  Again, at least a half inch hem and raw edges to the front.

Now, sew another half inch boarder all around the out side edge of the quilt.

Then, get your scissors out again, and start the hard part.  You might think it looks a little scruffy, with all those raw edges sticking out the front.  I certainly did. At this point I had a moment thinking 'Well, that looks like a mess'.  Well, you'll want to take them scissors and cut tiny little cuts into the raw edge, up to but not over the hemming.  This is the part that takes forever (and might give you blisters).

before

But, once it's done, you can totally see the difference!!

after

So there we have it, very simple T-shirt quilt.  Will be making another one in a few years once I've collected enough Greenbelt shirts :-)

Finished article

Have Fun!

Freya May