tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73525957662628635552024-03-06T09:15:53.669+00:00she loveslucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-75101384631522231432018-11-14T15:08:00.000+00:002020-04-30T12:07:40.683+01:00The Red Queen Series | Victoria Aveyard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, as previously promised, I got to the end of the Red Queen series. It took me a little while in between work commitments, health issues and various other excuses that meant I couldn't find as much time to read as I would have liked.<br />
<br />
And it was a journey, let me tell you.<br />
<br />
In my full review for <a href="http://www.thethingssheloves.co.uk/2018/08/red-queen-victoria-aveyard.html" target="_blank">Red Queen</a>, I ended up giving the book three stars, because I decided I did want to know what happened next. So let's do a quick run down of the next books.<br />
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<b>Glass Sword </b><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><br />
<br />
The characters that kept me reading Red Queen, I am afraid, may have been the Glass Sword's downfall. It took right until the end of the book for me to actually get behind Mare as she is really quite un-likeable, it was Shade's plot twist that really made me get behind the characters and that is very much at the end of the book.<br />
<br />
As for the story, good lord it takes a bit of time to get through, so many people, places, locations and yet somehow it really is hard to picture and takes a long time. There were definitely times I wanted to give up, I even wrote a blog posts (unpublished) asking for opinions on whether you give up on a book you're not enjoying, but kind of want to know what happens.<br />
<br />
But I stuck with it, and although this whole book feels like it could be a lot shorter and get through the first 85% a lot quicker.<br />
<br />
That ending.<br />
<br />
The ended had me driving to The Trafford Centre at stupid o'clock to pick up...<br />
<br />
<b>King's Cage </b><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; text-align: justify;">★ and a half</span><br />
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King's Cage again suffered from far too much description in between each point of action, making the book feel more drawn out than necessary. I definitely enjoyed King's Cage more than Glass Sword, and thought that having Mare captured by Maven definitely made for interesting reading and an interesting dynamic between the two of them, when those scenes happened few and far between.<br />
The punishment on the whole left me wanting, Maven is created as this utterly masochistic character, yet her only punishment seemed to be silent stone, and Maven, more or less, left her alone.<br />
<br />
The premise of this book had me really excited, but I am afraid it didn't quite deliver on the scale I was hoping for. I did find myself reading this book far faster for Mare's inevitable escape, and I really did enjoy the dynamic between her and Cal that was being developed, but I still had a really hard time empathising with some of the choices Mare made, particularly when it came to her family.<br />
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With so much potential, and overall a fairly OK read, it's <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; text-align: justify;">★ and a half.</span><br />
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<b>War Storm </b><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; text-align: justify;">★</span><br />
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War Storm is definitely a book of two halves. Well, maybe three-quarters and a quarter. The last part of the book is page turning, fast, action-packed and I enjoyed it immensely. The culmination of the books means that the story does feel more exciting than the previous two, we know there is going to be a conclusion one way or another and...<br />
<br />
I actually really loved the ending, I won't spoil anything but I thought that it was a really interesting way to finish the book and leave some interpretation to the reader (even if it left me a tiny bit frustrated at the same time).<br />
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There was also a part of me that was a tiny bit disappointed in the level of storm Mare could conjure. Now, I know conjuring lightning cannot be easy, but after all she had been through, in the final battle, I wanted no-mercy look-at-how-badass-Mare-is storms, but they never really came. It must have been a choice to keep her on a more level playing field with abilities but after the way she discovered them, I just wanted a little bit more.<br />
<br />
I did like the multiple points of view, I know they have received mixed reviews online, sometimes it did feel distracting, but boy did it keep me page turning to get back to the point of view I was interested in. I also thought it was interesting to read from Maven's point of view.<br />
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<b>The Red Queen Series </b><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; text-align: justify;">★</span><br />
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Well bookish people, we made it, I finished War Storm and the full series. If I had to come down on a side, as this is perhaps the most ambivalent I have been over a book in a while, I would say I am happy that I have read it, which is the reasoning for the three stars, but there were times when it definitely feel like a slog.<br />
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Overall, I cannot help but wonder what book we would have read had Maven been who he said he was, and Cal ended up being the tyrannical, murderous king.lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-81597023729617992122018-08-24T10:59:00.000+01:002020-04-30T12:08:07.320+01:00Red Queen | Victoria Aveyard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>The world is divided by blood - red or silver.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in
possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old
Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, discovers that, despite her red
blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy
the balance of power.</b><br />
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Intrigued? I was.<br />
<br />
Coupled with the fact that I seemed to be seeing this book all over Instagram, I headed over to Waterstones and grabbed myself a copy.<br />
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I must admit, before reading this book I had seen <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4622890-emily-may" target="_blank">Emily May</a>'s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1009341169?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1" target="_blank">review</a> on Goodreads (which is less than glowing), so my expectations were a bit all over the place.<br />
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Let me start by saying this book is a slow burner, it seems to take a long time for anything to happen and I honestly feel like things could have happened a little bit quicker, but I suppose the theory was character building, so let's talk about characters shall we?<br />
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The characters individually were one of the main things that kept my reading the book, I was interested in their different motivations, powers and following Mare was enjoyable for me. However, I really struggled through the book to believe the relationships between the characters, Mare seems to have all the boys falling at her feet for no reason I could quite figure out. I started to invest in the relationship between Mare and Maven, but I felt like I knew what was coming there (as much as I didn't want it to happen).<br />
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Cal had the potential, but what happened with the dancing (trying to keep as spoiler free as possible) felt like it honestly came (a bit) out of nowhere, there was no real build up and I was left feeling a bit confused. Now they have some tension, I am beginning to invest in their relationship a little bit more.<br />
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Kilhorn, again, it's like we are just supposed to accept that they are besties and will constantly protect each other, but we are taken away from him so quickly at the beginning, I don't feel like we see enough evidence of that before we are expected to just believe it.<br />
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The revolution takes a bit of a back seat in the Red Queen, which is what I am hoping comes out in the next three (three!) books. I am going to purchase Glass Sword, give it a go and see if there is a bit more story to come out now we know the characters.<br />
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I am really hoping Red Queen is like the first episode of a TV series, lots of background and building so we can get into the good stuff in the coming weeks, so due to the fact that I read to the end, and I definitely want to give the next book a try, <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">. </span>lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-53870627086787198772018-08-07T20:25:00.000+01:002018-08-24T11:22:54.015+01:00What I Learnt Planning My Sister's Hen Do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was my sister's hen do this weekend! Yaaaaaaaaaay!<br />
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Planning a hen do can feel like a giant thing getting closer and closer until you've suddenly got a second job you didn't plan on having and 20 people to organise and get to all be in the same place at the same time. So, I thought I would impart some of the knowledge I gained from planning my favourite person in the whole wide world's hen night.<br />
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<b>You will get stressed. </b><br />
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There are no two ways around it, with all the best will in the world, you will find planning the hen do stressful. I found it best to feel the feelings, make a list and try and move through it.<br />
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<b>Make lists. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Having a list infront of you with all your tasks on makes life so much easier. It also makes it easier to see if you could, perhaps, ask for help from other bridesmaids or attendees.<br />
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<b>Let go of the little things. </b><br />
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I spent far too long agonising over what should be in the gift bags - and in the end it turned out to be the wrong theme and I couldn't send them back, so in the bag went a unicorn present for a mermaid themed hen night - but it didn't matter, people thought the gift bags were cute and a nice touch, so there was no need to worry!<br />
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<b>Take a disposable camera. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The playlist for the barge was on my phone, and I was unable to take as many photos as I would have liked. I have all the photos other people took, and one or two that I managed to snap, but I really wish I had taken a disposable camera to take more. Also for the delayed gratification of looking forward to getting them developed.<br />
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<b>People are there to have a good time. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Hopefully, all the people who are coming on your hen evening are there because they mean something to the hen. That means they all want both the hen, and themselves, to have a good time. You plan the actives, they bring the attitude to enjoy themselves.<br />
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<b>And finally, there is only so much you can do. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
If I could have, I would have given my sister the world, but unfortunately I can't. I did my best and everyone had a brilliant time and that's all you can do!<br />
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Have you planned a hen night? Do you have any tips?lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-43257245589104940212018-07-30T13:34:00.000+01:002018-07-30T13:34:47.343+01:00Everless | Sara Holland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Time is a prison. She is the key. </b><br />
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Ooooooooooooooh. Right?<br />
<br />
I will try and stay away from spoliers, but there are definitely some hints in this review that may influence how you read the novel.<br />
<br />
The world Holland creates is bloody gorgeous and clever, and I really do believe this would make a great film or TV series for the young adult audience. The play with time was very much my favourite part as I am fascinated with it to begin with, the characters bleed time out of their blood to keep the ruling family happy, and the metaphor for the class system and capitalism is something that is really beautiful throughout the entire book.<br />
<br />
Jules as a main character is incredibly likeable, and I really enjoyed following her journey back to Everless. However, HOWEVER, the relationship with Roan felt like a vehicle for the story, rather than something believable.<br />
<br />
HOWEVER again, Liam really felt like a much more fully formed character and subsequently, their relationship felt fully formed.<br />
<br />
The villains in this novel (which I will definitely not be giving away) were the biggest twist for me, it also taught me that as I reader, I concentrated on the potential of romance and this feels like it is done deliberately by Holland and she sneaks the villains by you in plain sight.<br />
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I really enjoyed Everless, I did, I read it in two sittings and enjoyed sitting and falling into the world, however, there were a couple of things in the story that I was expecting (one twist I was expecting to be slightly more hard hitting than it was), and I found that for a strong female character, she was far too obsessed with a boy.<br />
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Other than that, I don't enjoy half stars, so due to the fact I am definitely looking forward to the second and it was such an intoxicating world playing with time, I am rounding up to <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">★. </span>lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-64294097375267463192018-07-02T16:53:00.000+01:002020-04-30T12:08:32.816+01:00Brunch with Mamma | Wild & Wild, Congleton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Growing up in South Cheshire, I have always known Congleton, however in recent years it seems to have had a fair amount of regeneration (I may be very late to the lovely Congleton party but I am there, don't come for me please).<br />
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I took my Mum out on Sunday, we'd originally headed out to get supplies for my sister's wedding trial makeup party, but we decided that we would pop into Congleton for a spot of food at Wild & Wild first.<br />
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My Mum had stumbled upon Wild & Wild when taking my Aunty to buy some mobility apparatus from a shop in Congleton and had be waiting to take me because she said I would love it.<br />
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Don't Mums know best people?<br />
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I fell head over heels in love with the place the second I walked in, then I found out they did Yoga and they stole my heart (could I BE any more Millenial) ((the answer is yes, put a Friends reference in your sentence)).<br />
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The decor is exactly what I would like my house to look like, I am in two minds about ringing them and asking what the paint they used for their feature wall is, but I have refrained so far. If my house suddenly changes colour, you will all know where the inspiration has come from.<br />
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To drink I had a beetroot latte and for food I chose a Buddha Bowl to try and get a taste of everything. If you follow me on Instagram, you will know just the amount of love on my feed and in my stories I had for the beetroot lattee, it's making my mouth water just thinking about it. The whole baked cauliflower was definitely a highlight food-wise, and my Mum's peanutty wrap she had (unfortunately, I cannot for the life of me remember what that was called).<br />
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I did not try the unicorn cupcakes but look how cute they are?!<br />
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Could this place get any more Millenial cliche? Probably not.<br />
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Did I asbolutely love it both aesthetically and for the taste? Very much so.<br />
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If you're around Congleton, I definitely suggest heading in for a spot of lunch, it's not too pricey and the staff were all lovely. Just forgive that everything is a tiny bit on the hipster side if that's not your normal thing (it's definitely mine!).lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comCongleton CW12, UK53.162856 -2.21892300000001853.124776 -2.2996040000000182 53.200936 -2.1382420000000177tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-20664734282712370402018-06-14T11:06:00.001+01:002018-06-14T17:34:31.852+01:00Legendary | Stephanie Garber<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You're going to have to give me a moment, because it's taking all my energy to not just have this post all in caps declaring my absolute adoration for the perfection that is Legendary. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I DEVOURED this book. There's no other word for it. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I spend four wonderful evenings in the confliction between my eyes wanting to read every word faster, and my brain wanting to read slower just so I could stay in the world that little bit longer. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Before I held this painfully beautiful book in my hands, I must admit I was sceptical. In the first book, I wasn't really sure about Tella as a character and the thought that she was going to be the narrator in the second book put a small barrier up with me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Good God was I wrong. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tella is perfect as a voice to carry this story on and I fell head over heels for her charm, bravery, wit and feminist outlook on life (which, let's face it, is always important). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dante... I don't even know what to say about Dante, other than I have purchased a candle based on him. So there's that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Their chemistry is just gorgeous to read and I enjoyed every moment they spent together, and I also enjoyed every moment of discovery Tella had on her own. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The story was gripping, </b></span><b>sexy, </b><b style="font-family: inherit;">magical, beautiful and over all too quickly. </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the things I found really interesting about the experience of reading both Caraval and Legendary, is that after reading Stephanie Garber's letter of intent on Instagram, I felt everything she intended me to feel. Caraval drew me in and intoxicated me, where Legendary completely consumed me and gave me every emotion. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As much as I do not believe in perfection, I am nailing my colours to the mast and giving Legendary a big fat <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">★.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I bloody loved it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What did you think? x</span>lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-69211779269667057922018-06-07T13:39:00.000+01:002018-06-11T14:37:31.387+01:00Why I've Gone Cruelty Free & My Favourite Cruelty Free Brands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Firstly, I apologise for the click bait picture of my sister's dogs Casper and Luna (a picture that I give her full credit for), but this post will kind of be about animals, so I figure it isn't too bad of me to put<br />
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Secondly, I do not want this post to be preachy, I just want to help people see that going cruelty free isn't hard, and you can feel great for doing a tiny thing to make the world a better place.<br />
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Right, now they're out of the way, let's talk about going cruelty free.<br />
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I first went cruelty free when I saw quite a graphic post on my Facebook feed from The Dodo. It explained what *some* companies do to Beagles when testing productions on them, and that was pretty much it. That was my decision made to do my absolute best to never purchase a product that had been tested on animals again.<br />
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As you can tell from my (sort of) click bait above, I bloody love dogs.<br />
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So, here are some of my tips to try and live as cruelty free as possible (I am not perfect, I definitely do not know everything about animal testing but I am doing the best I can and trying to share what I learn as I go).<br />
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<b>Blogs </b><br />
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Blogs like <a href="https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/" target="_blank">Cruelty Free Kitty</a> are absolute bibles for me. As I said above, I am new to this and definitely don't know everything there is to know about the cruelty free world, so I research what I can and see what others are saying and blogs are a great way to do this.<br />
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<b>Brands</b><br />
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Some brands are very transparent and open with their policy on animal testing and selling products into China. Here's where I am arguably a bit naive, but I trust their policies and feel far more comfortable shopping there.<br />
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Some of my favourite outspoke cruelty free brands include;<br />
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<b>Make Up </b><br />
Lush (yes, I know Lush can be Marmite)<br />
Glossier<br />
The Body Shop<br />
Superdrug Own Brand<br />
Stila<br />
Charlotte Tilbury<br />
Eyeko<br />
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<b>Household </b><br />
Method (absolute fave!)<br />
Ecover<br />
Aldi Own Brand<br />
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Once you start looking, it gets easier and easier to find products that you like, enjoy buying, and feel guilt free buying!<br />
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Don't get me wrong, it can be challenging when you have run out of hair shampoo and you are stood in the shampoo isle of Sainsbury's desperately Googling every hair brand they have on offer in the hopes that one will come back cruelty free. But I've made the break now, and I am never going back.<br />
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Do you shop cruelty free? Any tips?lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-85980773678918995922018-06-04T17:21:00.000+01:002020-04-30T12:08:46.342+01:00Birthday Brunch | Pot Kettle Black<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was my birthday not too long ago (I am a May baby and proud!), and to celebrate turning twenty-eight, we went to do one of my favourite things in the world... eat. I am an absolute sucker for brunch, cliche I know, but I love avocado, salmon, poached eggs and most of all mimosas.<br />
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I am making it my mission to try every brunch Manchester has to offer, and in this instance, <b>Pot Kettle Black</b> in <b>Barton Arcade</b> was up. </div>
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Now for starters, I have lived around Manchester for most of my life, and I don't know how, but I didn't really know Barton Arcade was there, and so didn't know about Pot Kettle Black until I did a bit of googling to see where I fancied. </div>
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Low and behold, nestled in Barton Arcade is a very photogenic brunch destination! </div>
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If you can't tell from the first picture on this post, I decided to go for Eggs Royale, a flat white and a mimosa, because it was my birthday and I ordered all the drinks. The food was really lovely, if I am being honest, I could have done with a little bit more salmon, but the eggs were cooked beautifully and I really enjoyed it. The coffee was great and the mimosa was potentially the best one I've had yet. </div>
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<b>My main recommendation would be to try one of the brownies, I went for vegan blueberry and honestly it is not only the best vegan brownie I have had, but is up there with the best brownie including dairy options</b> (obviously not better than my boyfriend's which is perfection). </div>
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It was a really lovely way to spend my birthday and I am very glad I now know it's there. </div>
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Have you been? Do you have any other North West brunch recommendations? x</div>
lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comBarton Square, Manchester M3 2BH, UK53.4826501 -2.246384300000045253.4823546 -2.2470148000000454 53.4829456 -2.245753800000045tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-20064148568620692462018-05-31T11:11:00.000+01:002018-06-01T17:02:28.487+01:00The Cruel Prince | Holly Black<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span id="goog_1998162582"></span><span id="goog_1998162583"></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">No matter how careful I am, eventually I'll make another misstep. I am weak. I am fragile. I am mortal.<br />I hate that most of all.</i><br />
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I finished The Cruel Prince by Holly Black last night and oh my, I have a whole lot of feelings to work through.<br />
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If you haven't read this book yet, I would probably steer clear clear from the rest of my post, but to some it up in one line;<br />
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<b>The book is compelling, complex and full of surprises. For me, the second half is definitely where the story really comes into it's own. The Cruel Prince really does leave you winded, and yet yearning for more. </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">★</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">★</span><b> </b><br />
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It is also worth mentioning that there are definitely trigger warnings in this book, it deals heavily with violence (in many forms) and may be YA, but this is definitely something to keep in mind when reading/recommending.<br />
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Ok, now onwards with you people who have already read the book (please leave comments, I am dying to talk to someone about it!)...<br />
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Firstly, lets talk about the ending. The ending has absolutely left me shook and desperately googling ways to see if I can get the next book. The final twist, surprisingly not by The Cruel Prince himself, left me feeling betrayed, and yet incredibly satisfied by the direction Black chose to take the book in.<br />
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Seriously, can I get The Wicked King now please?<br />
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I definitely got more swept away with this book the more I got into the story, but even with that said, the first half(ish) of the book definitely had enough to keep me turning those pages and I devoured the whole thing pretty quickly (I have a full time job y'all).<br />
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The Cruel Prince is definitely not perfect, I do think that the story line with Jude/Taryn/Locke jars for me, the relationship with the sisters needed to be developed a bit more, and I found the fact that they duelled over a boy rather frustrating. But here's hoping that this gets explored more in The Wicked King because I am more than happy to be wrong!<br />
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The world created is terrifyingly beautiful, and every character really buys into this theme as well, as Black never really affords us the luxury of trust as things start to unravel. There are definitely familiarities about the world presented, but to be honest, that is exactly why I picked up the book in the first place, it is the characters that really make this a stand out YA fantasy novel.<br />
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Have you read it? What did you think?lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-32042393428780501112018-03-08T16:18:00.001+00:002018-09-20T11:59:00.685+01:00February Book Round Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, February appears to have finished, and whilst I only really got back into my reading towards the end of the month, I managed to get a couple of books in to give my (probably totally unqualified) opinion on!<br />
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(I don't have a great photo, my original idea was to Bookstagram the hell out of the ones I wanted to review, but I just haven't had the time and it's already the 8th March!)<br />
<b><br />The Girl of Ink and Stars | Kiran Millwood Hargrave</b><br />
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Starting with the hardest book to review. Hmmm. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this world, and the characters, and I am a sucker for a magical quest of some form, but there was just something lacking. I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover and decorated pages, and I am really glad I have read the book, but I don't think I will be in a rush to recommend the book to any of my friends, especially compared to the two other books in this review.<br />
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I am well aware that this is a children's book, and a really great one at that, but I don't think it quite fits into the young adult category that I was sold the book under, as I don't think it quite builds the world, the romance or the characters up enough to keep an adult completely engaged.<br />
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<b>★</b><b>★</b><b>★</b></div>
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<b>Heartless | Marissa Meyer</b><br />
I will tell you what was heartless...THIS BOOK IS HEARTLESS.<br />
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The premise is a young Queen of Hearts, so I feel stupid telling you that whilst part of me knew going into the book that this could not end well, I was still absolutely heartbroken at how the book ended. I read on in naive hope, but the Queen of Hearts needed to become the character we all know from Alice in Wonderland, and whilst it was heartbreaking, it also left me incredibly satisfied.<br />
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The world is definitely easy to recognise as Alice in Wonderland, but I also really feel it would stand alone if you didn't have any real knowledge of the original story. The characters are well crafted and Jest is just gorgeous, I found myself, not unlike Catherine, flicking through the pages until he appeared again (and I am not sorry about it).<br />
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Heartless is easy to fall in love with and hard to forget.<br />
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<b><b>★★★★</b></b></div>
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<b>Caraval | Stephanie Garber </b><br />
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I purchased this book on a bit of a whim in Waterstones when I was in a particularly bad mood and decided that books were what would cheer me up. I did a bit of googling before I began to read it (I couldn't help myself) and the reviews seem to suggest this book is Marmite to a lot of people.<br />
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I am definitely in camp love, I can see the faults, and I definitely think Emily May makes some good points in her review, but I found the book intoxicating, which made me forget a lot of the things I would normally be judgemental about.<br />
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The islands, the game, Scarlett, Julian, I just fell head over heals for them all.<br />
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I picked up this book with low expectations and in the mood to be proved wrong, and I read every page with wild abandon and let every ridiculous metaphor lead me into the world of Legend. I shall definitely be purchasing Legend when it comes out, even with my reservations of a change of narrator.<br />
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<b><b>★★★★1/2</b></b></div>
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Guess I have had a pretty lucky month when it comes to the books I have chosen to read! What are you reading at the moment? x<br />
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NB I did not mean to put these in order of stars, that is not what I intended, it's just the order I read the books in.lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-28999026052734908082018-02-20T10:53:00.000+00:002018-06-01T12:21:14.205+01:00Back To Blogging<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a little minute since I blogged, and while I am still firmly of the belief that only a select few people read this blog, I have come to miss putting words on a page, taking nice pictures and working my own weird brain out.<br />
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The world itself hasn't got any better,but my ability to deal with the anxiety about the state of the world has.<br />
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So, I am coming back.<br />
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I can't promise that I will post often, and whilst I am going to try and keep a general direction for my blogs; mostly books, food and house renovating; I will not be forcing myself to publish when I do not have content that I like, and I will not be judging myself against my own blog, or judging my blog against other blogs (which we all know if far too easily done).<br />
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Where have I been?<br />
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Well, Gareth and I bought a house! We purchased his Gran's house and have chosen to do a full renovation of a two-up two-down, so there will be many posts about things I have learnt, how to chose the right builder, and how to lay a slate floor evenly!<br />
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I have been reading a lot to try and both keep my brain active, and practice self care, as reading allows me to enter a little bubble of escapism. I am hoping to get more book reviews on here to kid myself into feeling productive and closer to a job where I just read books all day.<br />
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I have gone completely vegetarian. I don't think I have previously blogged about this, I think this has happened since my last post where I went silent. I had been toying with the idea for a while as I have always associated a certain amount of guilt with eating meat, and one day I woke up and just decided I wasn't going to do it anymore. This epiphany came about a week before my new chick babies (Oliver and Ginger if you're wondering) arrived. My family now also do not eat chicken. Of their own volition.<br />
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Before I make this blog an essay, I will wrap it up there. They are the three main factors in my life at the moment, but it will soon ramp up to include a baby shower, three important weddings and a very important hen, so I am sure I will find a blog post or two in there somewhere.<br />
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I also need a quick look back over the things <a href="http://www.thethingssheloves.co.uk/2017/05/27-things-for-my-27th-year.html" target="_blank">I promised in my 27th year</a>.<br />
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Thank you for reading x<br />
<br />lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-80799876265124746632017-06-05T16:47:00.000+01:002018-06-01T12:45:17.386+01:00I Have To Say Something, Even Though I Have No Idea What To Say<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello!<br />
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Hope you had lovely weekends.<br />
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I am going to start by saying I am not 100% sure what this post is going to be about. I don't know what to say about the world at the moment, I don't have any of the answers. The world sucks, I wake up and if my BBC News app goes off, there is a sense of dread to what I am going to be looking at next.<br />
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But last night something kind of magical happened.<br />
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The One Love Manchester concert happened.<br />
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And whilst the world hasn't changed, our terror level is still at severe, tragedy happened in London which is a city that is so close to my heart, there are people facing levels of hurt that you hope to never get to, the concert really made me feel one thing.<br />
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<b>Love. </b><br />
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<b>Is. </b><br />
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<b>Always. </b><br />
<b><br />Present. </b><br />
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And that is no small feat. All you need is the glimmer of hope and suddenly, day by day, you get through this. I do feel angry and upset and anxious. But love is my glimmer of hope. I will live my life by it and I will refuse to become cynical.<br />
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I am angry, and there is no way I will be getting rid of my anger any time soon, but I am complex, and as long as there is a glimmer of light at the end of my mental tunnel, then I will get up and do my damn best to be the best person I can be.<br />
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I am not a writer, and these are just my confused thoughts on a Monday morning, but I had to say something, even though I had no idea what I wanted to say.lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-25540911215518665652017-05-30T16:30:00.000+01:002017-05-30T16:30:06.390+01:00Rediscovering Polaroids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Photography and myself have a love hate relationship. I love it, it hates me. That is probably a little bit harsh, but whilst I really do love taking pictures, I really do wish I was better at it, particularly with regards to blogging and blog photography.<br />
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However, whilst this may apply to digital photography, I recently purchased a new Impossible Polaroid 600 film to pop into my 15 year old (!) camera and hey presto, it still works! So off it popped with me to Barcelona and let me tell you, the photos I got I could not be more in love with.<br />
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They are snapshots in the truest sense of the word. I cannot edit them, I will never be able to repeat them exactly, you wait tensely over the thirty minutes as all the colours fully develop and I absolutely bloody love them.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, I am fully aware that £17.99 for a film of eight pictures is an expensive hobby to have, and as Impossible are the only manufacturers of the film I need, I am at their mercy. But for how much I love the photos, a film every so often really is worth it for me.<br />
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Do you take Polaroids? xlucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-57311932196651856972017-05-22T11:58:00.001+01:002018-06-01T17:04:13.079+01:0027 Things For Turning Twenty Seven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was really tempted to do a 'Things I Have Learnt' posts, but to be honest, the one thing I have definitely learned in my time on this planet is the more I learn the less I know (try not to sing UB40 here). Somehow the later I get into my twenties, the more I realise how young your twenties are.<br />
<br />
So, instead, on each of my birthday's I am going to create a bucket list for the next year ahead. It will generally be the number of things associated with my birthday but if I am still blogging at 40, I may have to reassess this idea.<br />
<br />
As it's 27 this time, here are 27 things I would like to do in my 27th year.<br />
<br />
My plan is to strike through each one as I do them. Barcelona will be struck out first as that's why I did for my birthday and it was incredible, as always.<br />
<br />
1.. Begin to learn a new language.<br />
2.. <strike>Go to Barcelona again.</strike><br />
3.. Dance more.<br />
4.. Drink more tea.<br />
5.. Drink less alcohol.<br />
6.. Buy a house.<br />
7.. Get over 300 Instagram followers (if you would be so kind; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lucymaycairns">https://www.instagram.com/lucymaycairns</a>)<br />
8.. <a href="http://www.thethingssheloves.co.uk/search/label/Ask%20My%20Mamma" target="_blank">Ask My Mamma</a> lots more things.<br />
9.. Buy some slipper shoes.<br />
10.. Save money.<br />
11.. Go to a blogging event.<br />
12.. Hand write a letter.<br />
13.. Take another pottery class.<br />
14.. Master my skin care routine.<br />
15.. Learn a DIY skill.<br />
16.. Be a bridesmaid for one of my best friends.<br />
17.. Get under 12 stone.<br />
18.. Get my 5k time down.<br />
19.. See live music.<br />
20.. See a firework show.<br />
21.. Attend a Christmas Market somewhere that isn't Manchester.<br />
22.. Bring in the New Year somewhere special.<br />
23.. Change my hair colour.<br />
24.. Learn something about myself.<br />
25.. Meditate more.<br />
26.. Get a new piercing.<br />
27.. Get a new tattoo.<br />
<br />
What's on your bucket list? xlucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-41687519171562015392017-05-10T15:07:00.001+01:002020-04-30T12:09:52.336+01:00DUBLIN | Photo Diary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you have seen my Instagram recently, you will have seen my photos from Dublin. It is such a gorgeous, incredibly photogenic, city, so I thought I would try and do it justice by creating a bit of a photo diary.<br />
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Before I let you look at my favourite pictures from a weekend away, I thought I would just list a few of my favourite things to do/about Dublin!<br />
<br />
.. Christchurch<br />
.. ALL the coffee shops<br />
.. ALL the Guinness<br />
.. The Guinness storehouse (has to be done)<br />
.. Going to see a comedy show in Vicar Street<br />
.. Temple Bar<br />
.. ALL the live music<br />
.. The adorable streets<br />
.. How it is (fairly) straightforward to navigate<br />
.. The vibrancy<br />
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I think that covers most things, as for coffee shops, I would definitely recommend Brick House Cafe and The Queen of Tarts. I also recommend Badass on Temple Bar. Yes. Badass. It's fun.<br />
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With that, onto the photos!<br />
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Have you been? What did you think? xlucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-65466904645318896492017-05-05T17:16:00.000+01:002017-05-05T17:21:22.260+01:00A Few Blogging Lessons I Have Learned<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been blogging for a little minute now, I have had several blogs over the last 5 years, but none have ever seem to stick as well as The Things She Loves and what that is currently developing into. My previous blogs have never quite felt right, and whilst I kind of wish I could still see my oldest posts (because it would be hilariously embarrassing), I feel like changing and growing my blog in the way that I have chosen to do it has taught me a few things.<br />
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<b>..Always use your own photos </b><br />
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I absolutely ADORE <a href="http://unsplash.com/">unsplash.com</a>, the photos on there are so beautiful and I could look at them all day, they are also completely free to use and there is always a photo that you can adapt to your post.<br />
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But don't.<br />
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They are just not yours, and whilst I have relied on them a lot in the past, I have now made a promise to myself that I will always use a photo that I have taken unless the post specifically needs someone else (for example, my <a href="http://www.thethingssheloves.co.uk/2017/04/insta-love-vol-ii.html" target="_blank">Insta Love</a> posts, but even with them, going forward I am going to get creative with my main picture).<br />
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Not only does using your own photos put something of yourself into your blog, it also helps you to find a photography style and see what colours you are naturally drawn to.<br />
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<b>..Domains can be changed</b><br />
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This point links in to what I was saying in the introduction, instead of changing the domain names of my blogs when I wanted them to be different, I deleted them and started again. And whilst there is definitely something in deleting and starting over, if I had just changed the name, I would still have all my old brilliantly-embarrassing posts.<br />
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I changed the name from In Search of Cosy to The Things She Loves and I really love that I can still see all my old content. Whether I like it or not is another story...<br />
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<b>..Don't delete</b><br />
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Definitely carrying on from the point above, if you have taken the time to carve out a post and looking back on it you see only flaws, try not to delete it, it is all part of you carving out your online identity.<br />
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<b>..Don't be jealous</b><br />
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This is perhaps the hardest thing to do while blogging. We all want to put our best foot forward and create the best content we can, content that people hopefully enjoy reading, but don't get too bogged down in what other people are doing. Enjoy their content, enjoy your own. If you spend too much time getting jealous of other people's and imitate them. Imitation may be the best form of flattery, but I want to read your blog for you.<br />
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<b>..Comment</b><br />
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And not just so they comment back. Comment on post you like, get into the community spirit of blogging because it may just make you feel like you're a little bit part of something.<br />
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<b>..Enjoy it</b><br />
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Enjoy what you write about, enjoy learning coding if you want, enjoy the community aspect. Enjoy your blog and hope that others do to!<br />
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What have you learned from blogging? xlucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-62037101697918237552017-05-03T10:29:00.000+01:002018-06-01T16:46:13.594+01:00An Ode to Instagram<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've all done it. Don't pretend you haven't. In my bored moments I have scrolled through my own Instagram looking back on old photos and let me just say, for me, <b>this is what Instagram is for. </b><br />
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Don't get me wrong, I definitely feel like my Instagram recently has become more about the aesthetic than recording my life, but I still try and make sure all the key moments are there, whether I have a perfect photo or not! </div>
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I will admit that I fall out with Instagram <strike>all the time</strike> sometimes, it is really hard to look at all the people you follow who may be on holiday, or have the job you want, or can cook better, but I think on the whole it is a really lovely way of documenting your life.<br />
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The scroll back I have just done this second (and what sparked the post) has left me with a really nice feeling of gratitude at all the great things I have done with my life, rather than my every day feeling which is struggling to feel like I have accomplished much (Me? Self-deprecating? Never).<br />
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So here's to Instagram, a pretty way to see all the lovely things I have done in the last five years (!).<br />
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Also for nostalgia, here is my first picture from when borders were a thing, please comment with links to yours! x</div>
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A post shared by Lucy Cairns (@lucymaycairns) on <time datetime="2012-09-08T14:11:54+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Sep 8, 2012 at 7:11am PDT</time></div>
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<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-62599040101320700462017-04-25T16:01:00.004+01:002020-04-30T12:10:28.653+01:00Evelyn's Cafe Bar | NQ, Manchester<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You May have seen a couple of pictures of my Instagram of a beautiful white and green space. That white and green space is Evelyn's Cafe Bar in the Northern Quarter and it is high time you knew about it.<br />
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Previously a newsagents, the cafe bar is one of the prettiest in Manchester and has an extremely <a href="http://www.evelynscafebar.com/#homepage" target="_blank">interesting menu</a> with dishes including laksa, masala hake and bucatini pasta.<br />
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The rumour is that Chef Byron Moses created the menu to be healthy, but not in a preachy way, just delicious meals that you can enjoy, full of flavour, but that are also going to make you feel good. </div>
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I went with Stephanie, pictured above, of <a href="http://www.acupofcreative.co.uk/" target="_blank">A Cup of Creative</a> (and also one of my best friends), we went for a coffee and cake. We both ended up going for the Lime, Avocado and Honey Cheesecake, which I would thoroughly recommend. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but it was most definitely mine! It was so silky and wasn't too sweet and the fact that it can even be said within the same realm as healthy is amazing!<br />
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We saw some food coming out that all looked so tasty and fresh, but unfortunately I wouldn't be able to tell you what it all was or recommend anything. Don't worry, I will be going back soon and will definitely update, or please let me know in the comments if you have tried and loved anything.<br />
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The atmosphere was relaxed, but definitely had a fancy-ish feel about it, somewhere that you really could throw on a dress you love and get out for a lovely brunch.<br />
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With a bar opening in the basement soon and so many tempting dishes I haven't tried yet, it is safe to say that if you see me in Manchester, it is more than likely to be here for the foreseeable future.lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-29705246076890837552017-04-21T10:45:00.000+01:002017-04-21T10:45:25.843+01:0040 Things Every Girl* Thinks When Dying Her Hair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It seems I had a fair bit of thinking time whilst my at home colour was developing and decided to write a list post of 40 things what every girl (*just me) thinks when they are using at home hair dyes.<br />
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So, if you are interested in what was running through my head when I was dying my hair last night, here we go.<br />
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Just for reference (this post is not sponsored in any way), I used <b>Casting Creme Gloss 515 Chocolate Truffle.</b><br />
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1. All these girls on the box are so pretty.<br />
2. Do I SLIGHTLY resemble ANY of them?<br />
<b>3. Let's go for this one, it'll be a change.</b><br />
4. But is it too dark?<br />
5. Why is it called Chocolate Truffle?<br />
6. Now I want truffles.<br />
7. Right, ok, how in the world do I pierce the dye bottle?<br />
<b>8. Have I just put the condition in instead of the dye?</b><br />
9. No, it's changing colour.<br />
10. Ok, it's go time.<br />
11. Roots first.<br />
12. Should I do roots first or just whack it all on?<br />
13. No, let's do roots first.<br />
<b>14. Ok, I think my roots are covered.</b><br />
15. They definitely wont be when I was this out but I think they are.<br />
16. 15 minute timer, it's not a long time.<br />
17. Why isn't this 15 minutes over yet.<br />
18. Shit. I have dropped some on the floor and it is developing.<br />
19. Just as I settle into Say Yes To The Dress, timer goes.<br />
20. Ok, rest of the hair.<br />
<b>21. Why do I have so much hair?!?!</b><br />
22. Ok, I have to be clever but I think that I can make this last.<br />
23. I can't make this last, thank God I bought a second bottle.<br />
24. Will this develop differently as it has just been mixed?<br />
25. Wow, shaking this formula for the second time is a fair arm workout.<br />
26. Ok, I am pretty covered.<br />
27. Waits ANOTHER LONG 15 MINUTES.<br />
28. Wow, my bathroom looks like I have murdered someone.<br />
29. Do I use shampoo?<br />
30. I will use shampoo.<br />
31. Ok I think it's all out.<br />
<b>32. Let's pick a towel to ruin. </b><br />
33. My hair texture is definitely dry now.<br />
34. But hey at least it looks pretty even.<br />
35. It's definitely darker than on the box.<br />
36. Let's not judge it without make-up on.<br />
37. It's a bit patchy.<br />
38. I don't hate it.<br />
39. I definitely should have gone to a salon for this.<br />
<b>40. But I saved around £40. So let's do this all again in a couple of months.</b><br />
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NB. When using Casting Creme Gloss specifically, 41. The condition smells so weird.<br />
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What goes through your hair when using hair dye at home? xlucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-864359097424237932017-04-18T16:17:00.000+01:002018-02-19T11:26:01.292+00:00A Few Of My Anxiety Coping Mechanisms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Being healthy means a bunch of different things to different people, one thing that is healthy for all people is learning to love yourself whatever package you come in. And while some people naturally can look in the mirror and say that every piece of them is exactly where and how it is supposed to be, for the vast majority of us we have to work at it, and it is a very uphill struggle.<br />
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People learn all sorts of different coping mechanisms for mental health issues, the one I have the most experience with personally is anxiety. So I just thought I would share a few if my coping mechanisms in case on of them helps you out in some way!<br />
<b><br />..Deep breathing helps</b><br />
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It's an oldie, and perhaps a cliche, but definitely a goodie! Take a deep breath.<br />
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Inhale. Exhale.<br />
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That's all you have to do to keep going.<br />
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<b>..Animals are food for the soul</b><br />
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I will advocate being around animals until the day I die. And so does <a href="http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/pets-depression" target="_blank">science</a>.<br />
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<b>..Distance yourself from negative thoughts</b><br />
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Anxiety feeds on your thoughts, for me personally, all these different scenarios build in my head until I have figured out what the most feasible worst case scenario is that can happen. It is not going to happen. I just need to figure out the worst in my own mind.<br />
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Whilst I will never beat myself up over these thoughts, I am trying to learn to distance myself from them. To have the thought, and visualise putting it in a box, so that I can see it for what it is; my anxiety taking hold.<br />
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<b>..Get outside </b><br />
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I am not taking about exercising, yes sweating out an adrenaline can be INCREDIBLY theraputic, and if you're up to it, I would always recommend exercise.<br />
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But right now I am talking about getting into nature. Go for a picnic, find a wood to explore, breathe fresh air. It all works wonders.<br />
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Obviously this is significantly more enjoyable in nice weather. Although I will admit being out in the rain definitely has a cleansing feel to it!<br />
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<b>..Write it down / Commend Yourself</b><br />
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Even writing this blog post and realising that I have developed coping mechanisms has made me feel lighter. I am not my anxiety and seeing all this written down makes me feel like I am pretty proud of the way I have learnt to deal with things. It is so far from perfect it is untrue, but I really am happy with some of the things I have developed.<br />
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These are just a few of the ways I have learnt to not let my anxiety take over, I have written a couple of other posts on mental health/coping mechanisms in case you want any more; <a href="http://www.thethingssheloves.co.uk/2017/02/ways-to-cope-with-emotional-exhaustion.html" target="_blank">Ways To Cope With Emotional Exhaustion</a> and 10 <a href="http://www.thethingssheloves.co.uk/2016/03/10-ways-to-get-out-of-rut.html" target="_blank">Ways To Get Out Of A Rut</a>.<br />
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<b>Disclaimer: I am by no means qualified to talk about mental health, I am just sharing my coping mechanisms, if you feel you can't cope, your GP is a great person to talk to. </b><br />
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What ways do you cope with anxiety? xlucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-64067898213008767472017-04-11T11:19:00.001+01:002017-04-11T11:19:51.623+01:00A Mini Catch Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I must admit it has been a very busy weekend, between day dates with one of my favourite lady friends, <a href="http://www.acupofcreative.co.uk/" target="_blank">Stephie</a>, and running around after a three year old, I didn't have much time for a DIY project or time to nicely photograph anything I was cooking!<br />
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We all know that coffee is needed for these things, so grab yourself a cup and let's catch up!<br />
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<b>If we were having coffee...</b><br />
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First of all, I would ask how you are doing. Tell me in the comments!<br />
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<b>If we were having coffee...</b><br />
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I would tell you that I had a lovely weekend, that I managed to have a good catch up with Stephie over coffee and a lime, avocado and honey cheesecake which was delicious! We also watched Table 19 which was very enjoyable and unexpected, a great Sunday afternoon film. We also had topped popcorn, topped with Galaxy Golden Eggs, Stephie was a fan, I was not.<br />
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<b>If we were having coffee...</b><br />
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I would tell you that I have a couple of posts that I cannot wait to write up, including re-staining my table that I made, my own take on the lime, avocado and honey cheesecake and a lovely meatball recipe that is great when you fancy something a bit healthy.<br />
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<b>If we were having coffee...</b><br />
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I would tell you that I still love my re-vamped blog from In Search of Cosy to The Things She Loves. Which is crazy because normally I cannot wait to change everything around from the name, to the layout, to the photos.<br />
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<b>If we were having coffee... </b><br />
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I would tell you that I am still struggling with my weight a little bit, but I am still getting in the gym around three times a week and trying to eat healthy. And that the countdown to September is on when I am going to be a bridesmaid for on of my best friends, and I don't want to feel self conscious the whole day. Which I probably wouldn't anyway, but it would be nice to have that bit of winter podge off.<br />
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<b>If we were having coffee... </b><br />
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I would finish by telling you that I am really looking forward to Easter Weekend, but that I might be quite quiet on the contact front. I have a full scale Easter Egg hunt to organise, a very special Easter Egg for my sister, and will be cooking a HUGE meal for all the family on Sunday.<br />
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What would you tell me? xlucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-10043861252788215222017-04-04T12:30:00.000+01:002018-06-01T16:46:39.874+01:00Insta Love Vol II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Back in August, I really enjoyed writing my <a href="http://www.thethingssheloves.co.uk/2016/08/insta-love.html" target="_blank">Insta Love</a> post, so I thought I would do a volume two, showing you the Instagram accounts I am constantly checking <strike>in jealousy</strike> for inspiration.The post's picture is from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/poetryofmotion/">Poetryofmotion </a>whose account I could honestly stare at all day. I would love mine to be a bit more moody and atmospheric but for now, I am happy with some sort of cohesion!<br />
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<b>For aesthetic pleasure...</b><br />
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Welcome to two of my it's-not-fair-how-pretty-their-Instagram-is accounts. These are the accounts that I look at when I have fallen out of love with mine (which is most of the time). I particularly want to develop my low light photography and get images that are as beautiful as these!<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BSQVcMFju22/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Ahh this weather! 🌻 Is it too early to dig out the summer wardrobe!? 🙊</a></div>
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A post shared by Poetry of Motion🐚 (@poetryofmotion) on <time datetime="2017-03-30T08:16:32+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Mar 30, 2017 at 1:16am PDT</time></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BSWIBJJjE8H/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">These cream textured wares are off to Oregon @alderandco Alder East opens the doors to their new store in NY today. Thinking of you!!🍸Well loved and beautifully soft, aged hand made leather bag was made by my friend @neoma_design</a></div>
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A post shared by @sarahjerath on <time datetime="2017-04-01T14:14:42+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Apr 1, 2017 at 7:14am PDT</time></div>
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<b> For tattoo ideas...</b><br />
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I am really craving a new tattoo at the minute, I have a lovely piece on my back (done by Lydia - pictured below). I only got it done in October but there is definitely something in the air at the moment that is causing me to crave another.<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BJNILrgjEoI/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Cute little Elephant! 🐘 Really want to tattoo this so get at me before it's gone! For any enquiries, tattoo requests or commissions please message me on Facebook or Instagram and I'll reply as soon as I can. ✨ #tattoo #tattoodesign #blackwork #linework #elephant #elephanttattoo #mandala #mandalatattoo #elephantmandala #rose #rosetattoo #flower #flowertattoo #blackworkers #lineworktattoo #linedrawing #tattooapprentice #uktattoo #design #art #drawing #girlytattoo #artwork #artist #artsy #instaart #tattoos #tattoosketch #dotwork #teiratattoo</a></div>
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A post shared by Tei (@teiratattoo) on <time datetime="2016-08-17T09:40:25+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 17, 2016 at 2:40am PDT</time></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BR022m8gD4U/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Getting my red rose prints ready for @scottishtattooconvention next week! Will have them available when I get back on big cartel 🌹❤️#ntgallery #neotradsub #neotradtattoo #neotrad #tattoo #tattoodesign #tattoocollection #tattoolife #tattooartistsmagazine #linedrawing #neotraditional #neotradsub #oldlines #ntgallery #uktta #uktattoo #tattooworkers #bestofbritishtattoo #manchestertattoo #floraltattoo #rosetattoo #botanicalillustration #botanicaltattoo #botanical #shnaynayprinting #tattooprint</a></div>
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A post shared by Lydia Hazelton (@lydiatattoos) on <time datetime="2017-03-19T16:09:46+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Mar 19, 2017 at 9:09am PDT</time></div>
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<b>For anything blog related...
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I am just going to take a second to really, really recommend <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BlogsAndLattes" target="_blank">Blogs & Lattes</a> for anything blog (particularly Blogger) related, Amanda has been absolutely brilliant in helping me with a rebrand (and rename!) of my blog. She also does amazing brush lettering, so if you are in need of any of the above, hit her up!<br />
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A post shared by a m a n d a i n e z 🌻 (@amandainezz) on <time datetime="2016-05-01T02:36:51+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Apr 30, 2016 at 7:36pm PDT</time></div>
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What Instagram accounts are your go to's? xlucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-22578758011353899652017-04-02T13:00:00.000+01:002017-04-02T13:08:05.645+01:00Going To The Same Place Twice | Barcelona<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"I don't see the point of going on holiday to the same place twice, there are so many beautiful places to explore." </blockquote>
This is me. This is what I have said multiple times. And it was true, it really was. If I am going to buy a plane ticket, pay for a hotel, save spending money, then I want to see somewhere new.<br />
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Until <b>Barcelona </b>happened to me (and a bit of Ed Sheeran but onto that later).<br />
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My boyfriend (who from now on I will call Gareth because I have written about him a few times and can't keep him un-named) and I have my birthday week booked off work, and we have been talking about where we want to go. We were both say on Expedia looking at different destinations for city breaks, weighing up the costs and what we could do in three days.<br />
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Then Barcelona came up. At a very reasonable price.<br />
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And suddenly all this excitement bubbled up inside of me, the though that I could be walking down the flowered streets again, that I could stare at Gaudi creations again and walk around the Cathedral and I couldn't help myself.<br />
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I tried to put it to the back of my mind. Then I listened to Barcelona offof Ed Sheeran's new album an I was done.<br />
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There was also so much of Barcelona that I felt we missed last time, we didn't go in any of the major attractions because the queue was crazy, we then learned that you could pre-book (which I would strongly recommend), there were so many restaurants we wanted to try that we didn't get chance,we also accidentally went on Easter Weekend so some things were closed.<br />
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So I am off to Barcelona in May, and somehow seem to have the best of both worlds, all the excitement of a city break without the pressure of seeing everything as we have a hit list of things we missed last time.<br />
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It turns out I may be converted into a repeat visitor!<br />
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Have you been to destinations twice? Or more times? xlucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-58449961239527948772017-03-26T11:57:00.000+01:002017-03-28T15:54:24.008+01:00Ask My Mamma | Advice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Happy Mother's Day!</b></div>
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My Mum is the most special person in the whole entire world, and I always say if I can be half the woman she is, then I am going to be ok.<br>
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With this thought, I decided maybe I should share my Mamma with the entire world, or at least the people that read my little blog. So, I have made a feature out of the wonderful, sparkly, beautiful woman that is my Mamma that is going to ask Dawn one question that she will delve into and hopefully we can all take something from it. No pressure Mamma. <br>
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<b>So, question one; What piece of life advice would you give me?</b><br>
<a href="http://www.thethingssheloves.co.uk/2017/03/ask-my-mamma-advice.html#more">READ MORE →</a>lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7352595766262863555.post-39968475398160313062017-03-22T10:30:00.000+00:002017-03-28T15:54:34.963+01:00Ibérica Spinningfields, Manchester<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So this weekend was one of my favourite people's 27th birthday! In a weird start to the year for all of us, we all admitted that it has kind of crept up on us. The birthday girl also admitted that she had no idea what to do for her birthday (and that her house had no plumbing so a night in at hers was out of the question!).<br>
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Cue me getting on Open Table, tidying my house and getting them both round for Prosecco and out for a meal.<br>
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This is where Iberica came up! I love Spanish food (and <a href="http://www.thinkmakedoblog.co.uk/2017/03/going-to-same-place-twice.html" target="_blank">did I mention I have booked to back to Barcelona?</a>) and I asked Chef-boyfriend-Gareth what he had heard about it and he said only good things so we traipsed into town for wine and tapas.<br>
<a href="http://www.thethingssheloves.co.uk/2017/03/eat-out-iberica-spinningfields.html#more">READ MORE →</a>lucymaycairnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15702696537935763119noreply@blogger.com