Nothing to say here

Lately i've had nothing to say here. Peaks and troughs is what its been like. Barren.

You'll maybe have noticed. I have. I want to say things but I'm not sure it's what people want to read. It's my blog, I should post what I want, shouldn't I?

One thing I decided was this. I'll not be doing a post whereby I recap the year gone and set lists for the year to come. I say this now, wait for a few weeks and a list will likely appear. The last list I wrote was my 35 things in my 35th year. That was back in March. we're still in my 35th year though but the list has long been forgotten. Maybe i set my list items to high. Am I aiming too high? Am I not aiming high enough? All I know is that most things on that list haven't yet been achieved. And that's not something you want hanging over you is it. See, aiming too high?

Saying that, there are still 3 months left of my 35th year and i'm sure if i really put my mind to it I could start crossing off some things on that list. Couldn't I? Let's see shall we...

THE LIST
AGAIN.
hashtag #35InMy35th

1. a road trip north, south, east and west
2. wear pink lips - done! light pink MAC Angel and Dior Lucky!
3. a sunshine holiday
4. show off my iPhonography - it's pretty cool - done. Instagram. that works for me.
5. go out dancing, in heels! - YES, the Christmas night out at work. Once in a year. Lame ;)
6. ride my bike to work 2 days per week (disclaimer: in summer!) - oy, big fat fail.
7. bake more cakes - does sticky toffee pudding count. Yes!
8. have a dinner party
9. be 8 stone, consistently - how about 8 stone something? Yes!!
10. see a movie at the IMAX - hello Batman! - DONE, TDKR. It was good. Not sure IMAX is worth it though.
11. meet new people that like me just the way I am
12. wear a skirt to work regularly - Once or twice is enough isn't it?
13. eat less sweets and chocolate - FAIL FAIL FAIL...
14. Alton Towers day trip! - 2013 for sure!
15. try not to bother what anyone else thinks about me. I'm awesome. - i can't help this...
16. get full series of a tv programme and watch them all (LoveFilm) what do you suggest? - still looking for suggestions?!!
17. get some cools photos of me done
18. say "yes" to a social outing when I want to say "no"
19. make some of the things from my Crafty board on Pinterest - snowflakes for Christmas!
20. collaborate with someone on a project
21. keep my skin healthy - my skin is dry, i have to face that. It'll never be flawless. But i'm keeping it as best i can.
22. finish reading the book on my bedside table - Fail, but i have read more books this year!
23. get an international check in on Foursquare - OH MY. Failed. 
24. tweet a picture from somewhere AMAZING - again...fail...
25. have more faith in my gut instincts. They're usually right. - I did trust my gut this year. I am right. I WIN AT THIS.
26. get this blog sorted. If anyone wants to help me please shout! - still looking for some help?
27. see a real life Banksy (this has been on most of my lists) - 2013, for sure, it can't be that hard to find.
28. don't keep new clothes in the cupboard 'for a special occasion', wear them now! - or throw them out. Done a few charity bag drops this year.
29. blog more, and for others - not sure about this one now.
30. catch a sunrise and sunset in the summer - in dream land...
31. meet some of my favourite Twitter people whom I've not yet met - 2013 FOR SURE. I'm looking at you Jonny Rose @98Rosjon
32. step outside my comfort zone at least once a fortnight (I know, it's me we're talking about though!)
33. stop buying stuff and things. Stuff does not define me. - oh dear! Must try harder...
34. write a letter and send it every month - FAILED. I did write some letters though. And cards.
35. laugh, smile and be thankful - I have certainly done this.

Oh and just as i said i wouldn't be doing lists again, look at one of my fab Christmas presents. My Listography book. It's brilliant. Thanks Ms Nicola!!

Angela x

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35 Things n my 35th Year: an update

I'm now just over 4 months into my 35th year and i thought i'd go back to my 35 things in my 35th year list to see how much i've progressed with it. As a reminder, HERE is the post and the list is below... I'll add little notes next to the items as a sort of report on its progress.

1. a road trip north, south, east and west
2. wear pink lips - yes this has happened. Once or twice. Not for a while though so i may do this again tomorrow.
3. a sunshine holiday
4. show off my iPhonography - it's pretty cool
5. go out dancing, in heels!
6. ride my bike to work 2 days per week (disclaimer: in summer!)
7. bake more cakes - sticky toffee pudding has been my staple. It's Eric Lanlard's recipe i use. It's tasty and light and the toffee sauce is to die for. No, really. You'll have to come and try some.
8. have a dinner party
9. be 8 stone, consistently - not quite but i'm getting there. Consistently hovering around 8st 12lb just now. So you'll see i've a fair way to go.
10. see a movie at the IMAX - hello Batman! - HELLO BATMAN indeed. This will be happening this week. Woohoo, can't wait.
11. meet new people that like me just the way I am
12. wear a skirt to work regularly
13. eat less sweets and chocolate
14. Alton Towers day trip!
15. try not to bother what anyone else thinks about me. I'm awesome.
16. get full series of a tv programme and watch them all (LoveFilm) what do you suggest? - I've started Game of Thrones and am on episode 6. I have to admit to falling asleep when watching it but i'm going to try to stick with it. Everyone raves about it after all.
17. get some cools photos of me done
18. say "yes" to a social outing when I want to say "no"
19. make some of the things from my Crafty board on Pinterest
20. collaborate with someone on a project
21. keep my skin healthy - It has been not too bad. I get the usual hormonal breakouts with a particularly bad spell about 2 weeks ago but other than that it's the same. I've just bought a new cleanser after using Origins cleansing oil for a few months. I'll monitor the progress.
22. finish reading the book on my bedside table - Well, not technically the book on my bedside table but yes, i have read 2 of the Fifty Shades books and am currently on the third one. This for me is a miracle. I;m not a big reader you see.
23. get an international check in on Foursquare
24. tweet a picture from somewhere AMAZING
25. have more faith in my gut instincts. They're usually right.
26. get this blog sorted. If anyone wants to help me please shout! - Still trying to work this out. I tried to add new fonts last week but it didn't work. If anyone wants to help me out on this please do shout. I'd provide tea!
27. see a real life Banksy (this has been on most of my lists)
28. don't keep new clothes in the cupboard 'for a special occasion', wear them now!
29. blog more, and for others
30. catch a sunrise and sunset in the summer
31. meet some of my favourite Twitter people whom I've not yet met
32. step outside my comfort zone at least once a fortnight (I know, it's me we're talking about though!)
33. stop buying stuff and things. Stuff does not define me
34. write a letter and send it every month
35. laugh, smile and be thankful

As you can see i've not completed half of the items on the list. To be honest, i'm not sure the international check in on FourSquare thing will happen this year. Although i'd very much like i to. There's really no excuse for a lot of the items not being ticked off. But there's still 8 months of my 35th year to go. 

So, who wants to help me with my list? Come on... Join me. Would you like to go on the road trip (1)? to Alton Towers (Please!!!!!!) (14)? Perhaps a nice out dancing, in heels (boys, you can leave your heels at home)? Let's catch a sunset? Suggest me some topics to blog about?

Or if all that fails, send me your address and i'll write you a letter (34).

Thanks for reading

Angela x

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New York, and the one where I tick number 23 off the list

Recently I've been finding lots of new people to follow on YouTube. Quite by accident. It started off with one and then they tagged their friends and i went and had a look and now in my YouTube subscriptions are a bunch of people who blog and vlog (video blog) about their lives, and mostly about beauty things. Anyways, this little group of people (3 from England and 3 from USA) met up in New York and vlogged their way around that city. I got so addicted to watching these vlogs to capture some of the atmosphere and sites of this place that is so mystical to me. It's a place that probably everyone should visit at least once in their lives, shouldn't they?

There were vlogs from the stairs of the Met, top of the Rock, Central Park, hotel rooms, countless restaurants and plenty of shops! I got excited watching them. Of course it helps that this little group of friends seem like such lovely people and such fun. They made the most of their trip and I wanted a piece of that.

Unbeknown to me, turns out this group are pretty popular on YouTube from their beauty channels. Their trip to New york coincided with the IMATS show (international make up artists show) and they decided to do a meet up there for their followers. Lots of young (mostly) girls turned out to meet them and they seemed really overwhelmed and grateful for the showing. I couldn't help but think what a great bunch of role models this group are for their followers. And they say only bad things happen from the internet. This goes to show it's not all shadyness. In fact the complete opposite. I smiled when I wandered through New York with them via their vlogs.

Soooooo......I've already planned my trip in my head. Me, wandering through Soho...grabbing a cupcake at Magnolia...running (or riding a bike) in central park...seeing views from the top of the world (almost)...shopping...Times Square...the Guggenheim...the M&M shop (and I don't even like them!)...walking the Brooklyn Bridge...a boat ride to the statue of liberty...St Patrick's Cathedral...breakfasting on pancakes...riding the subway...a show on Broadway...an international check in on FourSquare (yippee!)...and lots and lots of photos.

So thanks to Tanya, Fleur, Ingrid, Nikki, Jim and Alison for the inspiration, number 23 on The List is being planned. So if you have any hints or tips for great hotels or places to eat or if you want to come or...anything!, let me know. And watch this space.

Angela x

Links to the YouTube channels
Tanya - http://www.youtube.com/user/tanyasvlogsandhauls
Fleur - http://www.youtube.com/user/FleurDeVlog
Ingrid - http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGridMonster
Nikki - http://www.youtube.com/user/NikkiPhillippiTake2
Jim - http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogswithjim
Alison - http://www.youtube.com/user/AllisonVlogs