Woe

My engagement band snapped. Straight down the middle, I always knew it was a thin band and eventually would have to be built up - I was hoping I could put it off for as long as possible, but nope.

On Wednesday morning I was fiddling and noticed the break, cue my heartbreak.

Currently, it's sat back in it's box on my night stand and, as is habit, my thumb is searching with it in my ring finger as I'm very prone to fiddling with it. Sad face.

A few weeks ago, I made an appointment at Fur Coat No Knickers in Carnaby Street but I had to cancel. There'll be no early jaunt to London for December like I'd planned.  Instead, we'll only be going after Christmas to see my family and celebrate my parents 34th Wedding Anniversary!

I don't know why I'm so keen to go, I haven't had a day to try on wedding dresses but I know the dress I'm having and I've found a woman in Cardiff to make it. I was even perusing a pink vintage cocktail dress as an option. I'm super fickle lately!

Things I Love Thursday

E4 are showing Gilmore Girls re-runs, I used to have the box sets but I think I donated them - trying to share the Gilmore Goodness, but now I'm enjoying basking in the wonderfulness of Stars Hollow. Loreali Gilmore - Power Animal.

Christmas Rap, anyone?

Hogwarts at Night, wonderful!

This <3 p="p">

Say  hello to the Baby Pudu Deer, and while you're at it - LOOK AT HIS TONGUE!

What if Adele was Mrs Doubtfire? Best. Blog. Ever.

I don't have a source for this one :( 

What else?

♥ I say this a lot, but I'm so thrilled to have Ceri as my best friend and partner. There isn't a day that goes by when I'm not laughing to the point of tears and he has been wonderful and so supportive lately. I could gush about him all day

♥ My Future in-Laws! Ridiculously warm and welcoming. Every Sunday we go for dinner at Ceri's Parents house and it's always filled with awesome food and welcoming and URCH I love them!

♥ Yankee Candles in Christmas Smells! Normally we just rock a nice, easy vanilla but we've got Gingerbread on the go right now and it's delicious! 

Weight Loss Wednesday

Loss this week: gained 3lbs

Loss overall: 48lbs

Pounds till target: 36lbs

I didn't weigh for the whole of November, until now, and I wasn't particularly mindful of what I was eating either. I eat a lot and I drank a lot. But 3lbs isn't bad considering!

I've been thinking I want more control or at least to think about what I'm eating and take more responsibility, so I downloaded the My Fitness Pal app and I'm going to try calorie counting for a while. Just to see how it goes.

Instagrams

1 // Kaelah made beautiful placquards and as soon as I saw them, I knew I had to have one! It arrived on my doorstep at just the right time. It sits on my beside table until I can hang it, but I wake up looking at it and fall asleep the same way. I can't wait to marry Ceri and become Mrs Burke Davies! (no hyphen, it annoys him!)

2 // I've been battling a strong urge to cut all my hair off in the vein of Michelle Williams or Anne Hathaway.

3 // A new restaurant has opened in Cardiff called Bill's and it's SO good! My only problem with it is that it's on the main high street opposite John Lewis and I hate it when neat places to eat are no longer my little secret!

4 // Bonfire night was spent eating hot dogs and trying to stay warm in Pontypridd.

5 // We're on a tight budget for Christmas this year, we were going to do little hampers for everyone and although we're sticking with that theme - it's going to be a handmade feast!

6 // I finally got Ceri to try to Irish Soda Bread. When I was a kid, it was always in the house and would be eaten with Jam and tea. I don't know if he's as much of a fan as I am!

A Hiatus

I took an unintentional hiatus, at first it was because I didn't know what to say and then my world turned upside down a little bit and they haven't settled yet so I've felt a bit lost and didn't really know what I was doing with myself or what to say about it.

But I am here!

Christmas Wishlist!

Is the beginning of November a little bit early for a Christmas Wishlist? If so, I don't care.

I've tried to hold back the tide of my festive feelings and they're slowly seeping it. Ceri has already placed his "order" and my mum asked me what I might like, so of course I had to give it some serious thought!

1 // Nigella Lawson - Kitchen. I was never the biggest Nigella fan until this year, I just didn't get the hype but after trying some of her recipies - I TOTALLY DO NOW!

2 // Kitchenaid - because who doesn't want a kitchen aid?

3 // Cute brown boots - these beauties are from modcloth but I can't get boots from the internet because I have big calves and I have to make sure they fit!

4 // Curling Tongs - I have tongs already but the curls are quite small. I've just got a hankering for these

5// A dressing table - not this one in particular, just any dressing table I guess! I'm tired of getting ready sitting on the floor or standing up

6// A DUFFLE COAT! I saw one a few weeks ago in Topshop and it was £80 or £90 which seems extortionate when you have no money or generally only spend £40 - £60 on a winter coat but this duffle was to die for!

A weekend trip to London

Now that we have the car, getting around is a lot easier without having to pay obscene rail fares. I haven't been to see my parents since April despite the fact my Mum has made regular visits, so we felt it was time to hop along the M4 and bestow them with our presence!

We left on Friday night after work, the wind was blowing a gale, the rain was pouring - which all made for exceptional driving conditions! Luckily for me, I'm not legally allowed to drive on the motorway until I pass my driving test so the responsibility lay with Ceri! We made it in 2 hours and my parents bought us Chinese food. Which was alright, I like my egg fried rice super eggy, but this wasn't (boo!).

On Saturday morning, we woke up early and headed into London around midday, someone was sick on the train (nice one) and then when we got into Waterloo station, a guy walked straight into me and when I apologised to him (sarcastically) he said it was alright. AHH LONDON! I haven't missed you that much!

We walked along South Bank for a little bit and over to the Houses of Parliament. It was cold and full of tourists so I was glad to get into the warmth of the tube! Then we went East to meet Kirby for some Lunch at Duke's Brew & Que which was delicious! French toast and pancakes - yes, I'm 5, but so good!

Then through the rest of the afternoon we walked around Camden, Covent Garden, Soho and eventually getting the train back to my parents house where my Dad made us BBQ Chicken & Chips - all homemade!

Going back to London makes me homesick for the place and Ceri and I discussed maybe moving there in the future, but I'm not sure we'd be able to pull it off financially - plus I feel far more at home in Cardiff now as London has changed so much since I grew up there. 

Movember!

Movember is my favourite month, like ever. Who doesn't love loads of men walking around with facial hair?! 

Movember is when dudes grow facial hair in order to raise money for prostate and testicular cancer. Ceri, after much pestering from myself, is taking part! His grandfather had prostate cancer, so this is something that is particularly close to his heart.

You can sponsor Ceri HERE and I'll be posting regular updates about his progress!

This is Halloween!

We had a quiet Halloween this year, I think it had something to do with the fact that it fell on a Wednesday this year, it was lashing with rain all night and it was super cold!

Ceri and I did make some grand plans for decoration that we didn't manage to pull off - maybe next year? But one of our neighbours put the entire street to shame! I was super jealous!

We got some super cute trick or treaters through the evening though, in addition to one or two of questionable age - but I still gave them sweets. I don't think they would've had the smarts to egg my house if I hadn't anyway!

Things I Love Thursday

It's November! Already! Which means it's that time of year when I wear socks and a jumper to bed every night and curse that none of the windows in the front of our house are double glazed. Prepare for me to be moaning about how cold I am from now until April!

Can we talk about how Beyonce doesn't touch lesser mortals?

Whilst I'm not "loving" Hurricane Sandy, I am loving two things, a) this amazing picture and b) my family in New York are safe, even Niesh - a friend who is visiting - is safe and sound + now Chicago bound!

Mean Girls inspired Cross Stitch!

Linkages!

Who wouldn't want a baby elephant in their house?!

Old Hollywood

The Jurassic Park Special Effects team has some explaining to do 

Two Ladies shock an anti-gay protest march in France

Horror, Reimagined.

The Guardian Picture Desk!

Beluga Whales making human sounds

Kaelah's wedding! Here or here!

Other bits and pieces

♥ We're off to London this weekend! We were going to surprise my parents by just rocking up but Ceri didn't be an imposition so we let my Mum know! Also going to eat loads of scrummy food and walk around museums! I'm exciiiiiiited!

♥ Pumpkin Carving! We did awesome pumpkins and didn't waste any of the goodies inside!

♥ 8 WEEKS TILL CHRISTMAS! NEARLY 7!

♥ My hair has looked more good, than awful the last few days -YIPEE!