Is that an ENGAGEMENT RING?

The answer – hell yes it is!!

Hello Creatives,

On the 6th May 2019, 5 years, 5 months and 8 days into our relationship, George got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! FINALLY!!!

Oh and the ring, don’t get me started on the ring, I’ll cry all over again!

If you’ve been following my blog for long enough, you’ll know that back in 2016 my beautiful grandma sadly passed away. She adored George and as she was hard of hearing, was convinced his name was John for the first two years hehe bless her.

After her passing, my mummy gave George one of her rings for him to either propose with or redesign should he ever get his act together wish to…

He used two of the four diamonds from the ring mummy gave him, bought a smacker for the middle and commissioned his own design. IT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF JEWELLERY EVER.

I now carry a sentimental, personal, memory of my grandma and commitment of love from George that is like no other (see image attached to this post).

I truly could not imagine anything more perfect.

We walked up Coombe Hill, the highest point of the Chilterns which overlooked our home at the time and an area we were potentially going to move to. We walked around to a quieter area and found a peaceful bench to sit on.

When I turned around after chatting about the view I see the love of my life on one knee with a blinding object in an open box… eeeeeek it was the moment I’ve waited for for yeaaaaars!!! – I’m assuming I don’t have to clarify that I said yes right?!

This was the second massive life update that had taken place for us and it was only May!

Oh so dreamy…

Lana xxx

Hard Work Pays Off

Hello!

So here we go with the series of life updates.

January 2019, one year after I started my job, I moved on to join a new company. I made the big switch from public sector to private sector!

Long story short I was pushing for my goals and tried for months to get a promotion, which would allow me to get the salary I deserved for the level of work I was doing. After months of proving myself, the council I worked for created a new role within the team to accommodate me at the appropriate level – success!

As you can imagine it a humongous spanner was thrown into the works when my first manager (who had left to join his wife’s private sector company) approached me and took me out to a business lunch. Let’s cut to the chase – he offered me a job before we even walked in and a day later I accepted AHH!

My mind was everywhere, I felt like I’d played a massive game with my current workplace just to leave them on the home stretch. But then the private sector role offered so many more opportunities to develop and grow within myself and my career. I was so torn.

It was the best decision I ever made (and did I mention the pay rise?!)

Ok ok ok so now onto George…

The job he was working was drilling him into the ground. My George wasn’t my George, he was miserable.

As soon as I took my new job, it gave us financial freedom to allow him to outright quit his job and devote 100% of his focus on finding something bigger and better… and 3 weeks later he cane away with 3 interviews. INCREDIBLE.

Oh, and that turned into two job offers!

Accepting an amazing new job position completely brought back my George and our future was so exciting. Ugh I am forever proud of him. March 2019 was a good’un.

So that’s the first massive life update complete. NEW JOBS!

Until next time…

Lana xxx

Wow – It’s been a while…

Hello World,

It’s been two years since I posted my last post on here and my goodness has my world changed since then.

I think the best way to update you all is a series of life posts, are you ready? Can you guess any of the changes in my life?

Let me give you a hint…

You can probably guess most of the life updates from the photo associated with this post but I’m intrigued to see what you guess!

Until my next post!

Lana xxx

Thought of the day – 1st ‘Sick’ Day

Hello Creatives!

Today I write this post from my bed whilst sick as a bug with the flu!

With starting my first proper full time job comes a lot of new experiences. I love my job, I love my team and on days like this where it is physically impossible for me to work, I still can’t help but feel guilty that I’ve phoned in sick. I’ve not been sick since 2016 (don’t ask me how…) so this illness has hit me like a truck! I just feel like I’m ‘skiving’ work.

I was sent home from work early yesterday when I was coming down with this flu and under strict instructions to not log in from home, and I totally appreciate that my team care about me that much, but I honestly struggle to lay here in bed on a Wednesday without doing something productive towards my job!

Ah well, there’s a first time for everything though I guess. Fingers crossed this passes quickly because I can’t cope with sitting still for another few days!

Do any of you feel the same?

Until next time,

Lana xxx

Life Update | Finding that work/social life balance!

Hello Creatives!

So I have now started week FIVE of my new job! How on earth has that flown past so quickly?! I adore my job and everything that comes with it – the people, the atmosphere, learning something new everyday… it’s fantastic!

The one thing that I am still learning however, is how to cope with seeing less of my better half. I get up in the morning at 7am, head off to work at 8am then don’t get home till around 6.30pm. George makes me dinner every night, we talk about our days, and by 9pm I’m already tucking myself into bed because I’m just so tired! I finally appreciate weekends!

Also, having to go to public places on weekends because that’s the only free time you have to go shopping is horrible.. I can’t handle the crowds!

I also find that with having to dress myself up and look presentable everyday of the working week, I just want to be in comfy clothes for the weekend.. my casual sense of style has flown out the window!

And lastly, but definitely not least, I HAVE NO TIME TO CROCHET! This makes me so sad. I have mittens I’ve made Georges brother (I say made but they’re not finished yet) that are the colours of the football team he supports that stare at me every evening but I just don’t have the energy to pick them up! They were originally for Christmas, then for his birthday (which is tomorrow) and now it looks like they’ll just be a ‘oh I made these for you for no special occasion’ present! (Which isn’t such a bad thing).

Adjusting to full time working life as well as a brand new location at the same time is hard. I won’t lie, there’s been a fair share of tears that George has had to wipe away and tell me everything will be okay, but I just don’t love this place as much as I loved Nottingham. Maybe that’s because I don’t know it yet and I’ve not had the chance to explore? Maybe it’s because it’s so much more expensive due to it being commuter belt to London? Who knows. I know I love my job and I know I come home everyday to the person I love, so what else do I really need – I shouldn’t be greedy.

Anyway, once I FINALLY get my act together (or you could say settle into a routine) and finish the mittens/gloves, I’ll be sure to show you them!

Life update complete!

How do you balance your work and social time? Any tips? Also, enjoy the picture/featured image of our new kitchen… it’s pretty dreamy. (P.s. we now have the worlds smallest washing machine – more on that another time – and bar stools!)

Until next time,

Love Lana xxx

2018 Health Kick?

Hello Creatives!

Twenty Eighteen has finally arrived and I can’t help but want to make it a reason to start new and make some changes in my life – beginning with my health. 

I go through these phases where im super unhappy with my body, so drastically change my lifestyle for a short period of time, then once im feeling better about myself again i let myself go and its a vicious cycle! I just cant seem to maintain the motivation! Anyone else feel this way?

I would love some tips and tricks about how to stay motivated. I will be starting full time work on the 22nd of this month, and im hoping that it will push me into a routine that ill be able to keep up with (really hoping that without being able to have ‘lazy days’ on weekdays, ill be able to stay focused).

I dont currently have a gym close to me, or the money to pay membership for one, so im really hoping ill be able to find a home work out program of some sort that ill be able to follow! Any suggestions?

Ive had a go at a few free apps, but so far the Nike Training Club app is my favourite! You can create a plan and it will give you different work outs to complete in order to reach your goals. Theres options to complete work outs with out without equiptment, and from beginner to advanced and low intensity to high.

I pretty much need some motivation so if anyone wants to give me a kick up the arse, go ahead! Haha!

Until next time,

Lana xxx

Officially an Adult!

Hello Creatives!

I hope you’ve had a magical Christmas and a wonderful new year! I was lucky enough to spend mine in Spain with my mum and dad, however the wonderful trip has come to an end!

The trip was filled with beautiful views:

Wonderful food:

And the best company – My parents ❤️

I’m sat writing this on my Ryanair flight back to Bristol from Malaga whilst waiting for everyone to board and I can’t help but realise that this was my last holiday before full time employment begins, where holidays may not be so spontaneous anymore!

I’m so excited to get back to George, and I can’t wait for us to celebrate Christmas again together! Well… open presents (as I couldn’t bring mine to Spain, apart from ones mum and dad brought for me – some beautiful wool and a Fitbit!).

This evening will be relaxed, and tomorrow we set off at the crack of dawn to Aylesbury to view a few properties to move into for our next adventure!

Oops I better go! Doors are shutting and fingers crossed take off will be shortly (we’re already delayed by 10 minutes… typical!).

Until next time, where I’ll update you on our adventures,

Love Lana xxx

Snow Day!

Hello Creatives,

How are you all? In between George and i’s masters graduations (you can find that post here!) we took a little trip down to Telford where my mums side of the family live and we managed to hit the snowiest few days Telford has seen in at least 6 years (apparently…)!!

George said himself that he hadn’t seen snow as deep, fluffy and heavy as it was since he was a child (and the boy is now 24!), so it was great fun for us all. Isn’t it funny how snow can turn the most mature of adults into children in a split second! Snow balls were flying left right and center, snow angles being made in every fresh patch of snow to be seen. It was soooooooo much fun! And thanks to previously working outdoors as an Ecologist, I had wellies in the boot of my car to wear!

The car park of the hotel we stayed in unfortunately didn’t grit their land so my wee Ford Fiesta was left there to gather snow whilst we used dads Range Rover to tackle to roads!

Here… look at this… this took forever to clean (cheers to George’s mum/my mother in law/Claire for my scraper! It saved the day!):

Unfortunately due to the mad snow, our booked family Christmas dinner at the Iron Bridge had to be cancelled as all roads leading to it were closed to do weather and the restaurant itself lost power – oops!

But as one of my aunties lives in Lawley, there’s a little local pub within walking distance, and it was the perfect spot for 10 of us to enjoy each others company!

Here we are, loving life:

Snow days don’t come around too often here in the UK! How do you enjoy your snow days? Are your christmases white? Or hot? I’d love to know!

Until next time, and Merry Christmas for tomorrow!

Love Lana xxx

We are Masters of Science!

Hello Creatives,

Goodness me, it has been ages since we last spoke! My life has (as per usual) been going 100 miles per hour and the excitement never ends!

George and I graduated our Masters Degrees (both with Merit) recently and as exciting as it all was, I forgot how bloody mind numbing graduation ceremonies can be Haha.

I’m sure most of you know or have an idea of how graduations go.. you collect your gowns, get photos taken, get more photos taken, sit through a ceremony, and then drink copious amounts of alcohol!

I’m just going to throw a few photos onto the page below of our big days and hopefully you’ll get a feel for how it went!

I opted for trousers instead of a dress as it was absolutely freezing and I was not ready to brave the cold that day!

Georges was thankfully a good 45 minutes shorter than mine, however, was at the bloody break of dawn…

Oh, and how could I forget, Georges older brother coincidently also graduated his Masters Degree on the same day as George but up in Leeds! So each boy had one parent, and here’s Joe below with his mama! As soon as George’s ceremony was over, we made the two+ hour drive up to Leeds for a big celebratory dinner.

ANDDDDDD if the boys’ graduation day couldn’t get any better… I was offered a job! (Sorry to shit on your parade boys… 😂)

Oh it was a simply fantastic week.

I’m writing this from a cosy sofa in our Spanish apartment where I will be spending Christmas with my family this year.

Merry Christmas everyone! Only two more sleeps to go!!

Until next time,

Love Lana xxx

Nottingham Yarn Expo 2017

Hello Creatives!

As an ecologist my job takes me all over with lots of overnight stays, and the last location I was placed at was Leicestershire! The area of Leicestershire that I was based at was only 45 minutes away from my old home grounds of Nottingham, and coincidentally was also over the days of the Nottingham Yarn Expo 2017, which I 100% could not miss!!

I bought a ticket online as soon as I found out, and once I’d finished work on Saturday (11th November) morning I quickly got back to my hotel, freshened up, and was off on my way to the expo!

The venue was filled with colour, beautiful hand dyed yarns, crafts of other sorts and passion – everyone was wearing one of their own handmade items, and many took a break to continue knitting or crocheting their latest projects!

I spent close to 4 hours there, taking time to look at every stall, and squishing every ball of yarn I possibly could! (The alpaca merino mix is still my favourite)

I managed to capture a few photos at the beginning of the event, because as time went on, the more engrossed I became!!

Some people even made all their yarn from their own sheep!

I also managed to find some t-shirt yarn! Which although I didn’t buy, I now know where to get!! The yarn below is one that seriously caught my eye! I was so close to purchasing it but I just couldn’t do it as I didn’t know what project I wanted to use it for, and it was so bright and exciting, it would have to be a project to gift! (Christmas is coming around so perfect timing!) I did however then sign up to their mailing list and got a scratch card, in which I won 10% off my next online order… PERFECT!

One thing I really did notice, was that the majority of the stalls at the expo were more about knitting than crochet, and there were a crazy amount of example knit socks! I would never had said this before, but it seriously inspired me to give knitting a go – again… for the hundredth time – but this time using the magic loop technique on the laced knitting needles!

As much as I wanted to purchase one of the home dyed yarns, they did average about £15 per skein, and I seriously didn’t know if the whole sock knitting thing is something I’d stick to/enjoy! So I figured I’d pick up some needles, and a cheaper ball of yarn (that still creates a wicked pattern) and give it a shot. If I stuck to it, then I’d go online and buy buy buy!

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Here’s the yarn and the stall I purchased it from! I’m very excited to start my socks, and I’ll keep you updated on how that goes!

Here’s all my purchases from the day, and I’m impressed with myself for not buying endless amounts of wool!

P.s. that little gadget is a row counter, if you hadn’t already guessed! And it attaches to your finger – I love it!

After attending my first yarn expo, I can’t wait to have a google of more yarn or craft expos around me, i thoroughly enjoyed it!

I’ve attended to photograph the business cards of the stall in each photo and placed it below the photo, just incase you want to have a nosy at their websites! I have a few other cards that I picked up along the way that I didn’t manage to capture a photo of their stall, but if I find myself using them, I’ll definitely give you all the details!

P.p.s. I’m still buzzing from this event, is that super lame?

Until next time,

Lana xxx