Meeting at the Wedding Venue

Hey everyone,

Today we had our first meeting with our wedding coordinator Jen. She is amazing, she gets my vision and agrees lighting makes such a big difference to the event.

We spoke about what we have included in our package and what the optional extras were. We discussed timings and actually booked our time with the registrar office!

It is really important you have an order of the day to work to. This way everyone knows what they are doing and there is no panicking or lack of momentum to the day.

Remember to schedule in some YOU time as this is YOUR special day and you need to have memories of the day together.

Enjoy your surroundings and your guests company don't be in a constant rush, take it easy and take your time.

I went in with a list of questions to ask, would you like me to do a post /guide for you? 

Take Care xx

Weigh in 3: 22/01/18

Hey everyone, I hope you all had great weeks! So this week I lost -2lbs, I feel disappointed. Why? This week I was 100% on plan, I measured and counted. I did several 1 hour walks and 1 mega walk ( details below). I feel like I should have lost more and that I deserved a bigger number. I am going to stay positive and hit it again this week and see what the scales say on Monday.

So I have to tell you about this week's amazing discovery, that is Halo Top Ice Cream, it tastes and has the same texture as Hagen Dasz or Ben and Jerry's but you can have it in your syns! Paul and I shared a tub so it's half the syns. There are loads of amazing flavours and it feels really naughty.

How did you do this week? Take care xx

Weigh In 2: 15/01/18

 Hey guys this week was my 2nd weigh in and I was so pleased as I lost -5lbs. I got my half stone award and won slimmer of the week.

 I find the stickers and certificates very motivational. They help me want to keep going and when I have a bad week remember what I have achieved so far.

My focus this week will be to be more active and to add as much activity into my day as I can. I will walk the dogs with Paul on my days of, do house work and try to be focused.

How d

Weigh In 1: 8/1/18

Hey guys, I hope your all having a great start to 2018 and have made some fab new years resolutions.

One of mine was I want to reach my target this year so I rejoined Slimming World. I say rejoined because we hadn't been going to group and having more treats than when on plan but we were still loosely following the plan.

So we went to Monday night weigh in As we normally do and I lost 3.5lbs this week which I am pleased about. 

I love Slimming World because it's an education on healthy eating, I'm not deprived of anything or hungry.

I love that I have a goal and every week I can check in and it's a fresh start.

Are you on a weight loss journey? Have you had success with Slimming World?? Let me know in the comments below

Take Care xx

Skin Care 101

Hey guys, today I wanted to talk to you about something that I really try and focus on at this time of year.... my skin. 

Now we wrap up warm in our jumpers and coats and keep our feet toasty in cozy socks and boots but we forget about our face. Unless you are willing to wear a balaclava our faces are exposed to the elements. We need to keep it clean, help it recover and protect it from future damage.

Below are some hints and tips for everyone no matter your age or skin type. The diagram tells you what products you should use and in what order.

Do you have a skin care routine already? Are you going to start on? Commitments/ Pledges and comments below 

Take Care xxx

Disney Honeymoon Research

Hey guys, I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and that you are enjoying the lul between Christmas and New Year! I was at work today, even though I love my job it get like it was too soon to be back!

So as mentioned before with Paul's heart attack we have had to put the honeymoon off until 2019 and focus on the wedding for 2018. So I called Disney and they cannot make any amendment until April/May when the 2019 deals/prices are released. I must admit I was a little disappointed but I understood. I was then advised that we would lose £50 of our deposit and have to pay an additional £50 to change the reservation, I did think under the circumstances that was a bit mean but hey life is unfair sometimes. 

So I have heard on the grapevine that Disney may not do Free Dining for 2019 because of all the new things and so many of the resort's finishing construction. This could be a game changer for us. We chose to stay on-site and sacrifice space and a private pool for the free dining and easy cash free eating in the parks. When I hear more on this I will let you know.

So I have been looking into the resort's (let's presume free dining is on for 2019) we know we want to stay at a moderate or delux. I am loving Coronado Springs still as it will be finished with anazing lake side dining, restaurant on top of the tower, refurbished rooms and new two storey grand lobby. The theming and the pool are great it's like a Mexican  relaxation holiday within a Disney holiday!

My fiancee really likes Animal Kingdom Lodge we both love animals and many of our dates were to zoo's and wildlife parks. The luxury, amazingrestaurants, pools and closeness to Animal Kingdom Park are all great pluses but is it worth the extra money?? 

I will keep researching and when the prices get released crunch some numbers!!

Where have you stayed or would you like to stay? 

Take care xx

New Year New Goals

Hi Guys!

So I know it's been a while since my last post it seems Every time something else comes up. Paul is recovering from his heart attack just frustrated that he is not allowed to work yet. 

I want to really focus on my blog and vlog this year while planning my wedding, my weight loss journey and our honeymoon planning.

I think it's important to have goals, things to focus on and aim for.  So what are yours? I hear you say!

1. To Have the most amazing but budget friendly wedding! 

2. To loose weight and reach my perfect size so I can feel confident and enjoy fashion again.

3. To share loads of tips, tricks and ideas with you.

4. To make memories and take more pictures. 

What are yours, let me know in the comments below:- 

Christmas look2: Quick Change

Hey guys,

So today I wanted to share with you a super quick make up look. Lets imagine you have just got home from work and a friend reminds you it's your Christmas get together tonight and she will pick you up in half an hour. You need a nice party look that doesn't take hours to apply.

So you quickly grab some moisturiser and apply it to your face to give a soft dewy looking base. Next take Moodstruck Addiction Palette 5. Using a large eye shadow brush e.g. real techniques delux crease brush apply suspicious from your crease to your lashline and blend blend blend! Then take victorious and run it along your lashline and into the outer corner of the crease and blend. To finish off use EPIC mascara. There you go, in no time you look party perfect and ready to go.

Take Care xx

Christmas Look 1

Hey guys,

I hope your all doing well, Paul is having loads of tests but is feeling ok in himself.

What I thought would be quite fun is to do some Christmas make up looks for you. Let's call it The 12 Days of Christmas Looks!
Everyday I will do you a different idea for this festive season.

Today I went rather traditional with Green. I created my base using the Fab 4. I have then used Tender from Addiction Palette 4 from the brow bone to the lashline. This is a light shimmery base to catch the eye and highlight the brow bone. I have then taken Splurge Cream Eyesgadow in the sgade Assertive to go from my lash line and blend into the crease. I do usher the look using our amazing EPIC mascara.

Love it! It has the feeling of evergreen and Christmas trees.

I hope you likes it.

Take Care xx

Life Update

Hey guys,

So it's been a while since I write anything and here is why.

My fiancee had a heart attack while driving his lorry and was in hospital. Then he has not been allowed some. Lots of medication and tests etc. He still has more to go through but all the time u wasn't at work was taken up with all that. Now we are more on top of things and so I wanted to start writing again.

We have had to bring the wedding back to Kent and scale it back as he had been stressing about the wedding and honeymoon which contributed to the heart attack  The honeymoon has been put back to 2019. I'll tell you more about those later.

What's happening in your Life??

xx

Becoming a Makeup Artist

Hey guys,

I know I have been AWOL but internet has been down and thanks to a blocked full exchange we  are having issues finding a supplier.

Anyway! I have some really exciting news for you....... I have been studying to be a Makeup Artist! As you know I love make up and I decided why not learn more about it and see where it takes me?

I have found it so useful and enjoyable at the same time. I am learning tips and tricks of the trade that I will share with you.

I want yo bring you on this journey with me and see where it takes us.

I really want yo know what sort of posts you want to see and get this to be much more interactive. Let me know in the comments below.

Take care

xx

Save the date/ Wedding photographer/ Freebies

Save the dates

Hi Guys,

I was so excited that today finally came! We posted out our save the date cards!!!

Now, I have learnt a few things here.

1. Writing these out is going to take to. each so plan to do a few let's say 10 a day. You will then make sure they are sent on  time.

2. Personalise shop bought ones to match your theme and taste. This makes them unique but not too expensive.

3. When posting group save the dates together in an envelope.  So I have quite a few cousins so what I did is send them to my Aunty house and when they visit her they can pick them up.This will save you £s on postage.

4. Buy extras because you will make mistakes and you will get rejections. These places will want to be given to someone else so you will need the extra cards.

I will post you pictures of our save the dates soon, I just had to share this with you. 

I would love it if we could get some more interaction going. Please comment and ask questions.

Take care

Grace

Rejoining Slimming World

Hello guys,

So my fiancee and I decided to join Slimming World fresh this week by rejoining as new members. We have not been for a few months and alot has happened in life so we felt like we wanted to draw a line and start again.

I would like to share more with you and be more honest and open.

What I will do is take a photo of my book so you can see my loss/gain/maintain each week and I will discuss how I'm feeling.

Please join in the comments and let me know how you have done and what's on your mind.

Take Care

Grace

Perfume buying guide

Hi guys!!

Summer time really makes me appreciate  my sense of smell. Fresh cut grass, flowers in bloom and the sweets smells of doughnuts, ice-cream and candy floss at the beach.

I love to have different perfumes for different moods and seasons. I am loving the fragrances by  Marc Jacobs. They are so light, fun and last for ages.

So how do you find a new fragrance that's right for you..... first of all think of things you like the smell of. This will give you a hint to which fragrance family you should steer towards do you like floral or sweet perhaps your more a wood or spice kind of person?

Once you have the fragrance family then take a visit to your nearest shop that has testers. Use the  perfume strip to find 4-6 ones you like. Now spray these one on your wrist one half way up your under forearm and one in the crease of your elbow and the same on the other arm.

DO NOT RUB IN! leave the perfume to dry on your skin. Now perfume reacts to your temperature and body chemistry so smells different on everyone who wears it. So you need to leave time for them to settle.  So take a look around the store and after about 15-20 minutes smell the test patches and see which one smells best on you. There you have it your new fragrance!

I like to link fragrances to memories so if I'm going on a holiday, to an event or next year my wedding and honeymoon. I will be picking out fragrances then in the future when I smell that fragrance my memories will come flooding back.

What's your favorite perfume? Let me know in comments below x

Take care xx

Slimming World

Hey guys,

I hope you are all well and enjoying the great weather we have.

Paul and I are not able to go to slimming world at the moment but we are planning to get back on plan soon. We are sharing a car but work an hour apart and both of us work an hour away from our home.

We will be stocking up on our speed food and yogurts and going back to taking food to work.

I have really noticed my energy levels have gone down and I am craving sugar again for the fake energy rush.

How are your diets going??

Take care xx

Wedding Flowers

Hey Guys,

For a whole I have been doing research on wedding flowers. I have looked at different styles and different flowers to include and ones I didn't like.

We have decided we like the traditional symmetrical designs with added personal touches in keeping with our theme.

So the next decision was real or artificial..... so we decided on artificial. It means that I can make them myself which is so exciting and makes it feel so much more personal and thoughtful for our guests  It is very cost effective costing a quarter of the price of real flowers.

One downfall is that artificial flowers do not smell..... so we are going to have Yankee Candles all around to recreate that amazing smell.

Also we will be able to keep an arrangement ourselves for our home and give them to family members who want one.

Now I am researching where I will buy them from. We have already found the vase we will use from B and M at the bargain price of £6 each.

I will be making a mock up and I will show you that and do a video documenting the process

Take Care xx

About me updated

Hi Guys!

I am thirty which to me means I am now a 'proper' grown up! So I thought I would start up  my blog again to reflect this time in my life and share my thoughts, experiences and advice with you.

Firstly this year is a big year for me. I am getting married to an amazing man who I have been with for 10 years when we get married. He is my best friend and he is my rock. I will be sharing plans for our wedding and tips and tricks with you.

I am also planning our Disney Honeymoon. I am a major Disney Fan and  have been since I was little.  Paul and I went to Disney World Florida back in 2013  with friends. This time it will be just us and there are  loads of new lands and attractions open for us to explore. I will be giving you lots of Disney related posts so watch out for those.

We have two dogs so if you like animals there will be a few posts for you too.

Make up and beauty are also really fun and interesting to me so I'll share tips and tricks on that too.

I really love to talk so please follow my blog  and chat in the box below.

Take care xx

Planning a Disney World Holiday

Hi Guys,

The first thing to decide when booking a Disney holiday to Florida is when you want to go.  Disney has its busy peak during school holidays that is UK and USA holidays so if you can book in term time then I suggest you do. You can check the forecasted busyness of the parks using crowd calendars.   We don't have any children so that leaves us free to book when we like.

The second thing to help you choose dates is events. If you don't already know Disney host lots of events through out the year ( more on those in a separate post ). Have a browse through the Disney website or my Disney Experience App and have a look if there are any you would like to attend. For Paul and I we have heard great things about Mickeys Not So Scary Holoween Party and we love Christmas so Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party is also on the list. Therefore we planned our dates so that we would be able to attend both of these.

The parks are always beautiful but seeing them decorated for different holidays is amazing.

OK so you know when your going to go but how will you get there and where will you stay.

Paul and I went to Disney World in 2013 with friends, we flew with Thompson as they always did and stayed in the villa they always stay in. We flew in economy I feel there was enough room more room than you get on bus or in a standard car if sitting in the back in the UK. I don't drink coffee or tea very much so although we were offered this twice in the flight I declined. With meals you do get a small flat tub of water but I would say it's not even enough to fill a tumbler glass. This along with the great reviews has made my decision to fly with Virgin on our next trip. Soft drinks and snacks are complimentary meaning no dehydration yey!!

To stay onsite or not to stay onsite that is the question!

As I said we stayed in a villa last time it was great to have the privacy of your own pool and your own washing machine. The cooking and washing up was not such a vacation treat though! Also we found 'junk' food to be cheap in the supermarkets but good quality meat, fresh fruit and veg not so much. Hiring a car is essential to get to the parks  when staying in a villa but I like the flexibility of having a car regardless.

This holiday we have decided to stay onsite at Disney for several reasons. With the current promotions it was cheaper than hiring a villa and all associated costs.  The fact that everything is easy on the magic band room key, fast pass and food all with one touch of a Mickey. Also that Paul would not have to drive if he didn't want to.

How can staying onsite be cheaper?  I have been doing my research on when is best to book flights. Tracking ticket prices etc for a couple of years so I have worked out the cheapest price of a villa if everything is booked at the correct time.

So what do you get if you stay onsite at Disney( with current offers through Virgin) We have chosen which hotel we are staying in but ill do a seperate post on that. You get your accommodation for the duration of your stay, free food for the duration of your stay ( what you get depends on which hotel you choose post on that seperatly too ). Free transportation you choos which is either free car hire (usally £600+) or airport transfers on magic express and Disney busses around Disney property  Free parking on Disney property ($20 a day to off site guests) You get 14 day for the price of 7 on your park tickets we upgraded this to 21 day unlimited ticket and are saving £60 over buying from Attraction Tickets Direct. We are also saving £60 on our Universal tickets too. Your flights are also included meaning they are booked and reserved now and you don't have to wait until 11 months before to reserve your seat. You can book your Dining Reservations before off site guests and book your fast passes before off site guests. Also Virgin are offering  $200 gift card to spend anywhere on Disney property! All Disney Ticjwts also include the Memory Maker Photo package for free. Best of all you can reserve all this with a small deposit of around £375.

This is our honeymoon so we wanted miminal stress and worry during the trip and just enjoy and make memories. 

Have you been to Disney, where did you stay? Do you have any future plans? Let me know in comments box below

Take care xx

Slimming Workd 22nd May

Hello everyone,

This week I have been mostly on plan with a couple of days going over my syns by 5 but other days not having any so it appears I cannot save syns. I lost 1lb this week. The negative is that it is less than I wanted but positive is the number is still going down.

I have 4lb to go until I am back to my lowest and will be working towards my next certificate and sticker.

My plan is to get this within two weeks realistically but I would love it if I could get it in one!

How did you guys do let me know in the comments below.

Take Care xxx