Life Lately #3 | I'm back, baby!

So, does anyone know where the last six months went? One minute I was happily writing some posts but then all of a sudden, it's December. Yes that's right, I've been totally MIA for a while (okay, for a long while). I don't know want to dwell on that too much but over the last six months, my life has had more twists and turn than a fairground ride. So, what has been happening in my life over the last several months? I feel like I need  to have a big ol' catch up before I start diving back in to my super-long list of blog ideas that I've been coming up with but not had chance to write. Well let's start with what HASN’T happened in the last few months?! Only joking. My life has honestly been pretty average - unfortunately my life is no 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' series quite yet... 

TURNING TWENTY-TWO! 
In amongst my crazy life, I managed to find the time to celebrate a birthday - a 22nd birthday if you hadn't already guessed from the title. I think one of the most exciting reason to turn twenty two is that you can sing Taylor Swift's infamous song "I'm feeling 22!" - if anyone says that they don't sing it on their 22nd birthday - they're lying! Anyway my 22nd was pretty ordinary; got up, went to work, a birthday cake was presented and I got to spend time with some incredible family and friends. 

BECOMING A TIDYING NINJA... 

For anyone who truly knows me, tidying and organising are my forte. Yes that's right, I'm a bit of a clean freak - I like things in order and to be tidy. There is nothing wrong with that, right? Inspired by a book that I read whilst I was on holiday, I've since become an even bigger tidying ninja than before. The book is called 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying' by Marie Kondo and it is my new bible - it's incredible. 

The book talks about how millions of people love to keep things because they think they mean something to them but truthfully most objects are kept because people feel bad about getting rid of them. In truth when tidying you need to do it in categories oppose to randomly and each object ask yourself 'Does this spark joy?'. If there is one thing that this book has taught me it is that tidying isn't about getting rid of items that you might not want, its about making a change to your lifestyle bringing joy in everything you do. The student tidier has become the master tidier - said no one ever!

AMBITIOUS BAKER!  

Inspired by the latest series (and last series on BBC - *emoji with tears entered here*) of the Great British Bake Off, I've become quite an ambitious baker over the last few months. I find it as a good way to relax and unwind after a long week at work and what's not to love about baking; you get to try lots of new things, ingredients and you get to be the ultimate taste tester! From flapjacks with yogurt topping to truffles and brownies, my amateur baking skills are definitely improving and with the big day fast approaching look out for lots of festive treats! 

UNIVERSITY REUNIONS

I think one of hardest things about finishing university was leaving my best friends behind but whilst we may live a fair few miles away from each other, reunions make that distance all worth while. Two reunions happened in summer - one in Portsmouth and the other in Devon but one thing was clear, these places weren't ready for us. One was busy catching Pokemon, another was hoping not to get lost in a place they'd never been before and the other we needed to distract from purchasing the whole of Ralph Lauren. Whilst the reunion was a blast and we couldn't control our laughter for more than 10 minutes at a time, there were some valuable things that we learnt along the way:  

1. Bubbles do count as alcohol, no matter how much or little you drink.
2. Rosé is NOT our friends {I think it should come with 'Warning! This will make you stupidly drunk and feel rubbish in the morning when you drink with friends.'} imprinted in big letters on the bottle.
3. Spontaneous evenings are the best especially when you're with your best friends.
4. Looking at every restaurant menu in hope that what we want to eat will jump out at us doesn't actually work {you just end up going back to the first one you looked at - just pick one! I think we were walking around gunwharf quay for 45 minutes looking for somewhere to eat}
5. Playing games when you've had one too many to drink always ends in uncontrollable laughter. 

SIX THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY! 

1. The sound of traditional Christmas songs playing no matter where you go. 
2. The smell of mulled wine, cinnamon and pine during the festive season. 
3. Reconnecting with old friends.
4. Spending the evening wrapped up in a fluffy blanket on an chilly and frosty evening reading a good book with a homemade Christmassy treats.
5. Bonne Maman Caramel Spread. That's all!
6. Planning holidays for 2017! :) 

FIVE THINGS THAT HAVE MADE ME SMILE IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS:

1. Reuniting with my best friends from university {I think we can all agree that Rosé is NOT our friend}
2. Booking West End tickets to see Mamma Mia in the New Year. 
3. Buying new Christmas decorations {I know this is small but it just makes me feel super festive} 
4. Celebrating that I'm twenty two! 
5. Getting a new car... Say hello to Aly Audi! 

Until the next life catch up or blog post (hopefully it won't be as long until the next one)... Au Revoir! 

Love,

Lauren xo