Friday, 31 October 2014

Diary entry 3: Happy Halloween


Hello 

So today is halloween, my favourite time of year other than christmas. This year though it is not as exciting. My children are not home so there is no point in me celebrating today. I made a slight effort though. I brought three giant bags of sweets for the neighbourhood children. No knocks yet however, so my children will probably be excited when they arrive home tomorrow. 

Tonight I am contemplating whether I am brave enough to watch a scary movie by myself. There are quite a few to choose from such as Paranormal activity five and a very scary looking one American Mary. As I have to be up early tomorrow and slightly chicken, I will probably choose Halloween classics such as Hocus Pocus or Beetlejuice. Any other suggestions?

My Children seem to be having a very fun Halloween this year. Their father has taken them to three parties. He was very kind enough to send me a picture of this years costumes. 

Darth maul and Frankenstein


Alfie is the Darth maul. Like most boys he is obsessed with star wars. I had packed Tom a devil costume to wear. As usual, it looks like he changed his mind. He looks amazing as Frankenstein though. 



What are your plans for Halloween or if you are reading this the next day, what did you get up to? If you are a fellow blogger, I have added a link up below so you can share your halloween posts. 


Gem x






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Thursday, 30 October 2014

Diary entry 2: Walking off my thoughts


 “Life is a bowl of cherries. Some cherries are rotten while others are good; its your job to throw out the rotten ones and forget about them while you enjoy eating the ones that are good! There are two kinds of people: those who choose to throw out the good cherries and wallow in all the rotten ones, and those who choose to throw out all the rotten ones and savor all the good ones.” 
― C. JoyBell C.


Today was another tough day at work. I couldn't concentrate. I had a ton of stock checking to do but my brain refused to add up the numbers. This was down to receiving some really disturbing comments about my blog. They told me I was immature for blogging, that I use it to gain attention, and the worse of all that it was utter rubbish. I don't know who this individual is and I know its just a bored person out to hurt people. I'm not going to let them get to me though and I didn't confront them. People like this seek attention and enjoy getting a reaction. I enjoy blogging and the community it holds. I am making so many friends from this and gaining so much support from people in the same situation as me. There is no way I am stopping and I don't care if its rubbish, at least I am enjoying myself. As with the comments that the post in question was a 'feel sorry for me' post. It definitely wasn't meant to come across that way. I write for myself mainly, to get things off my chest etc. Also I really didn't expect anyone to read it. 


After work, I decided to go for a walk. I had nowhere to go, I just really hated the idea of going home to an empty house. Walks are great, I could go for miles and miles. Being out in the open, in the fresh air really clears your mind. I felt great afterwards, almost at peace. I thought about all the amazing gifts i have. My health, my boys, my dad, my sister, my niece and the niece or nephew that will be joining us soon. Also I have a pretty decent Job which I work very hard at and I know most people would fight me for it. So why was I being so miserable about life?

Where I ended up today. Antony House, Cornwall. 
I ended up walking miles to one of my old hang outs from my childhood, Antony house. You may recognise it from Tim burton's Alice in wonderland. The grounds of the house are so beautiful and peaceful. There was no one else up there today so i was able to sit on a bench and just be. I loved it. 

I have decided that today marks a fresh start. I read through my last entry yesterday and thought to my self 'you need to give yourself a good slap round the face and stop feeling sorry for yourself'. Why am i dwelling on people who hate me and treat me like garbage. They are not worth my time, my tears, or my energy. They have a complete lack of care for me and I will definitely never come face to face with them again. Their opinions, hate and lies shouldn't matter to me. I have so much that i should be grateful for. I also have achieved so much this year. I should be smiling and very proud of myself. I am a strong, independent human being who is blessed with two amazing boys.

Gem xx



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Wednesday, 29 October 2014

The Autumn Tag!


Hello

I saw this tag while reading one of my favourite blogs Sailor Jennie and I couldn't resist taking part. I love all things autumn so definitely won't be difficult for me to answer the questions within the tag.


1. What is your favourite seasonal drink from Starbucks/ Costa/ Cafe nero?
As I am not a huge fan of coffee and tea, I always go for a nice hot chocolate with all the trimmings. I always get excited for Costas honeycomb and cream hot chocolate this time of year.


2. Accessories. What do you opt for- boots, scarfs or gloves?
All of them! I can never leave the house without them during autumn. I'm the worst at being cold. My favourite item if i had to pick one would be my ankle boots I brought recently from new look.


3. Music. What do you love listening to during the autumn?
I love my rock music. I tend to go for more softer, more easy listening rock during autumn. Alter bridge and Paramore have always been on my most played list in my iTunes.


4. Perfume. What's your favourite scent during Autumn?
I don't really change up my scent throughout the year. I know most people do for summer especially but I stick with what i like. I have always worn Viktor and Rolf flower bomb.


5. Candles. Which scent will you be burning this season?
I tend to go for spicy scents. I love cinnamon and apple scents. When ever i light them, people always comment on how they are reminded of Christmas.





6. What do you love most about autumn?

I love wrapping up in my cosy winter coat, wellies and scarf and going for long walks while playing with the fallen leaves. I love the colours and the atmosphere of autumn. 


7. Favourite makeup look?
I am not very brave when it comes to makeup. I should try to go for a more smokier eye and darker lips during this season. I do however like to try a more rosier blush. 


8. What are you looking forward to most during this season?
I am mostly looking forward to Bonfire night. I love the smell of the bonfire, fireworks and sparklers. Also the food on offer during these events. I am really looking forward to eating a hog roast, nibbling toffee apples and sipping cider while watching the beautiful firework displays.

 Plymouth's display, where we will be attending this year. 



This Tag is open for anyone to do. So feel free to answer the questions on your own blog and if you like you can link your posts below. 

Gem xx



An InLinkz Link-up

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Diary entry 1: Trying to relax.

Hello ✩

Today I have been thinking a lot about the content I am posting on my blog. I advertise it as our little family diary but haven't really been posting a lot of our day to day life. From today I am going to try and post little diary entries of our lives. I hope you like this idea.

                                                                                  ✩✩✩


At the moment my children are away for half term, spending time with their dad up north. I find this time extremely difficult especially being a single mum. It gets really lonely at home with no one to chat to in the evenings after work. I miss their cuddles, kisses, and laughter. I keep telling myself 'just a few more days to get through'. Yesterday and today have been the hardest though. I passed my drivers theory test yesterday which I was so nervous about. I couldn't be happy about it though. In fact i felt completely alone. Despite the thirty people who liked my status congratulating me, i wished for an actual human being, someone to be there to hug and talk about it. I ended up tearing up and eventually went to bed early. How silly of me. 

Today, I have been trying to be more positive about things. However, Today is my wedding anniversary. My husband and I split up in the early summer and I have been trying so hard to get over this awful experience. My family have been good not to mention what today is and I have been trying to occupy my self as best as I can. I guess its difficult to get over someone who you considered your soul mate. I worked extra hard at work today and afterwards popped to the shop to stock up on bad foods like chocolate, Pringles and wine. I think I deserve to ruin my diet a little bit. When I was home, I thought I would make the most of being alone. I took an afternoon bubble bath with my favourite Lush bath bomb, Twilight while blasting out the music my children dislike. This  evening, I have lit my favourite candles and curled up with my kitten to watch one of my all time favourite films Labyrinth. 






Gem x
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Sunday, 26 October 2014

Visit to Looe, Cornwall




Hello,

Yesterday was a very sad day for me. It was time to for my children to go stay with their dad for half term. He lives very far from me so it's extremely hard to let them go. I miss them terribly. To cheer me up my dad took me out for a day trip around one of my favourite Cornish towns, Looe.

Looe is a pretty seaside fishing town situated on the South coast of Cornwall. Its is famous for its cafes, shops, harbour and beaches. It has always been my favourite place to visit and have so many memories from my childhood here.






Firstly, we took a little stroll through Looe town. It has some little touristy type shops from galleries, souvenirs, clothing and jewellery. My favourites though are the little cafes and pasty shops. Oh course, we all had to have a Cornish pasty for lunch. They are the best ones I have ever tasted here. 








With our pasties in hand, we decided to go and sit on the beach to enjoy them.




From left: My step mum, step sister, my youngest sister, my dad. 


Greedy seagull


The beach was gorgeous. It was fairly clean other than a giant mound of seaweed in the centre but i suppose that's down to the recent weather. Poor Looe always gets a pretty nasty battering during the autumn/winter months. My younger sister Natalie, built sandcastles and splashed in the sea while the adults chatted about life. I could sit and watch the waves come in for hours. 


After the beach were we all still slightly peckish even after the pasties so we headed for another Cornish favourite, cream teas. These were all eaten up before i could manage to get a photo but were so lovely. 


Crabbers on the lake




We finished our lovely day in Looe at the park. It was a chance for my little sister to burn off the rest of her energy while us adults had a little relax on the bench before heading home.

If you ever get the chance to visit Looe, I would definitely recommend it. Also its neighbour Polperro which is equally as beautiful.

Gem x
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My Sunday Photo


Hello

This is my sunday photo from today. I had a lovely time with family in Looe, Cornwall eating pasties and enjoying the beach.


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Tuesday, 21 October 2014

My autumn wardrobe wish list



Autumn Wardrobe by gemma-stevens featuring Autumn Colours





Hello

Its that time of year again when I have to sadly fold away my summer wardrobe and bring out my comfy knitwear, tights and boots. Some of my autumn clothes are not looking so fresh and became a little misshapen in the washing machine. Above are just a couple of items I have got my eyes on to buy for this year. Also they have the colours which I mainly love to wear which are tartan, mustard, plum, brown and grey. 

The mustard jumper

This jumper is from Toast costing £103. I probably won't be buying this particular jumper (price is too high for me) but I love the style and colour. I'm sure there will be some pretty good dupes on the high street. It will look great paired with jeans, leggings or over a dress. 

The long sleeved Plum Dress

This colour is such a perfect statement for autumn. I will definitely be looking out for this one. I love the 3/4 sleeves, perfect for the colder days. It will look great for both night and day paired with tights and knee high boots. I have seen these in new look but this particular one is from House of Frasier costing £79.

The knee high boots

Every winter I tend to treat myself to a new pair of boots and they always tend to be black. This year I want to step out of my comfort zone by wearing brown ones. I really like these Mod cloth ones costing a bargain price of £40/ $65.

The woolly hat, scarf and gloves

I know most people like to have all matching sets but I like to mix my accessories up a little. I am really loving tartan for this season. Tartan never goes out of fashion so it is well worth the investment. This beautiful scarf is from Selfridges costing £25. It looks so warm and cosy. Also very cosy is the woolly hat from my favourite store Fat Face. It cost a reasonable £16. The gloves are also from Fat Face  costing £20. I would never pay this for a pair of clothes but they are super cute and I love the flap over mitten feature. 



I hope you enjoyed this post. What is your autumn stable this year and what are your favourite colours to wear?

Gem xx














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Monday, 20 October 2014

Autumn Bucket List

Image: Pinterest 


Hello

Yesterday I posted a very autumnal post about our lovely walk through the local woods. The pictures I took were some of my best shots I have ever taken and I am quite pleased with them. Of course I am giving full credit to autumn with its crispy brown and orange leaves, gorgeous sunlight and the cosy chill in the air. 

Today, as I am feeling inspired by yesterday's post,  I wanted to create an autumn themed bucket list. This is for myself to check off all of the things I cannot wait to do this season. 




1. Try a pumpkin spice latte

2. Watch an entire series on netflix wrapped in my duvet while drinking hot chocolate 

3.  Roast marshmallows on a bonfire

4. Make a den and fill it with fairy lights

5. Cover my house in fairy lights

6.  Finish an entire book

7. Watch a firework display (last year i missed all of them)

8. Take a foggy morning run

9. Visit a local farmers market

10. Take a walk along the coast

11. Dance on the beach

12. Make leaf collages with the children

13. Collect conkers and teach the children how to string them. 

14. Carve the best pumpkin on the street

15. Watch Hocus Pocus at least five times

16. Sip apple cider by the fire

17. Light a cinnamon candle

18. Rediscover toffee apples

19. Bake halloween inspired cupcakes

20. Cook an amazing beef stew






I could probably go on for ever with this bucket list but these are my favourite things to do at this time of year. I am really looking forward to ticking each one off my list. Do you have an autumn bucket list? Feel free to create your own and leave your links below. Would love to hear your own ideas. 

Gem xx



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Sunday, 19 October 2014

Into the woods


Hello

Today I woke up, looked out my window and smiled. Why? We finally had some blue sky!! The weather this week has been terrible so there was no way I was going to be staying in doors today. Unfortunately though my bank balance was looking a little empty so it was time to use our imaginations and attempt a fun day out for free. 

Nearby is a little woodland with a park at the end of the trail so we put on our boots to go for a little explore. 



Not many people use these woods so it's such a peaceful and beautiful place to take a Sunday stroll. Through the middle is a little stream which the boys loved to splash in and throw rocks into. There are also so many places to climb and hide.


To keep the children from getting too bored and moaning about walking, I came up with a little activity to do. I gave them a challenge to find as many different species of bug as they could. 


The boys didn't have any success. They only things they found were cobwebs, some flies and a little ladybug. All the bugs must have been hiding today. 

At the end of the trail is a lovely little park. Its kind of a big reward/ goal for the children for getting through a long walk. 



Overall, it was a lovely relaxing Sunday. The children had a lot of fresh air, exercise and fun without me spending a penny.  I hope your Sundays were relaxing too and all ready for the new week. 

Thank you for visiting. 

Gem, Alfie, Thomas. x



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Saturday, 18 October 2014

Taking a teddy on an adventure


Hello


Yesterday at school, Thomas won star of the week. His prize was to take home the classroom mascot for the weekend which is a little hedgehog named Ham. Ham comes with a scrap book in which the children have to record where they went on an adventure together. I think this is a great idea but a little stressful for us parents as it quite tricky to think of somewhere great to go. After much discussion, the children and I decided on our nearby aquarium in Plymouth, Devon. We took many photos around Plymouth Hoe, the Barbican and the aquarium which I wanted to share with you. Also there is a little video of our amazing day on the bottom of this post. 



Windy day
The Mayflower steps
The cutest ice cream van and coffee shack. 
Eating chips hoping the seagulls don't attack. 


Plymouth Aquarium









Thank you for visiting.

Gem, Alfie and Thomas. xx



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