Wise Words No.26

image via englishmuse

The Weekly Musing - AprilWeekFour

Exciting News
Please welcome a new addition to our party!

This baby lamb is now just three days old! We've been having a sad problem with the sheep which currently live in the field behind my house. A band of crows have been pecking the newborn lambs quite viciously, and has made many of them blind and damaged their joints. This also makes these injured lambs a target for foxes and at risk of being abandoned by their mother's as they can't walk to feed. We've lost fourteen lambs so far this spring...

We managed to rescue this little sweetheart before the farmer - erm, put him out of his misery, ahem.  When we adopted him, he had horrible red marks on his neck, legs and face from where he's been pecked at. Now, I'd never heard of crows doing this before now - but according to out local farmer it's very common. 

My new nickname is going to be Mary, because now he's feeling a little better - he follows me around the place. We're feeding him special formula milk for the moment, but he'll be ready to start nibbling grass in 2-3 weeks!

One thing we are having trouble with, is coming up with a name for him! Any suggestions? 

p.s - If anyone suggests 'Dinner' or 'Lambchop', I'll eat you myself. With Mint Sauce on the side.

This Week's Web Browsing

I have discovered a new blog I adore!

Little Miss Careerist has lots of fantastic advice and some great image-quote which I may well feature in 'Wise Words' sometime soon!

Two of a favourite blogging-people, Zoe of Zoella and Louise of Sprinkle of Glitter, have teamed up to open  an online shop called, (wait for it) Louella! I wish them the best of luck in their exciting new adventure. I bet Brangelina will shop there... Heh.

That's all for now folks! I have a cute lamb to play with after all...

Please stay tuned however in the coming week, because I'll be (finally) updating that gorgeous looking 'Adventures' tag right up there. We also have a guest post to look forward to and another imminent Giveawaaaay! And you all know how much I love free stuff.

Have a great weekend!

Little April Showers

This post was inspired by Deer Little Fawn's post - here-. Please take a look at Beth's blog if you don't already follow her. She's one of my favourites.

Today, was just not my day. I've been being kinda naughty, and in an attempt to avoid having to pay parking charges six days a week when I go to work, I've been leaving my car in a Supermarket carpark. But, shhh - don't tell them. 
However, when it chucks it down with rain, like it so charmingly did today the walk across town is not so fun. Especially seeing as I wear canvas shoes. So, yeah, bad day weather wise. It made for a very grumpy and soggy Amber.

Hence, I'm fully advocating staying indoors in protest until I get some damn sunshine out of that Welsh sky. You too? Well good, here's some ideas for things to get up whilst we wait out the storm. 

We Heart It

Have a Movie Marathon

Perfect opportunity here to watch all the Harry Potter films back-to-back, or even Lord of the Rings! I however spent my rainy days this week with my favourite television series - Gossip Girl, Big Bang Theory and Doctor Who. The ultimate nostalgic rainy days films are of course Disney! Which is your favourite Disney film?

Have a Pamper Day
Deep condition your hair, conduct all your grooming maintenance, give yourself a manicure and bring out the LUSH Body Butter. Take your time and enjoy it.

Bake Something Scrumptious
Biscuits, carrot cake, chocolate cake, cheese scones - whatever takes your fancy. Try out this amazing recipe for Chocolate & Raspberry brownies from Sofia's Journal. 

Play Hide&Seek
Now now, don't turn your nose up at this one! Remember, when hide and seek was played in C.S.Lewis, they found Narnia in a wardrobe. It's worth a try, right?

Brave it
Put on your Hunters and an overcoat and enjoy a stroll in the rain. Jump in puddles, have a run in with Mr Darcy a la Keira and kiss in the rain. That's something on everybody's to-do list.

We Heart It

Get Organised

Have a file overflowing with bank statements, online shopping receipts, bills and payslips? Well now would be the time to have a proper spring clean! Alphabeticalize the lot, and set aside anything you definitely wont be needing again into a pile for shredding. Get yourself some rainbow coloured file dividers and get it sorted!

Do The Same With Your Wardrobe

Make sure everything is ironed, cleaned and mended. Sort out what you do and don't want to keep so it's all perfectly up to date. Now comes the fun bit! Play dress-up! Try on all your clothes, and have fun discovering more outfit combinations! If your wardrobe is in dire need of a refurbishment - check out my guide -here- 

We Heart It

Go Shopping!

Online that is. And what better to shop for when it's drab and drizzly than a new umbrella? Especially when there's some as glorious as these out there.

Lulu Guinness

What do you usually do when stuck indoors?

Wise Words No.25

Outfit Plan: River Island Black Print Dress

Outfit by arthomas
Dress, Necklace, Earrings, Shoes: all River Island, Clutch: ASOS

I bloomin' love that dress, and it's just calling out to be made part of my little clothing collection. However, I'm getting quite strict with myself when purchasing new clothes - in that if I can't think of an outfit using things already in my wardrobe, no buying. 

Keeping this is mind, I've been trying to clip the online equivalent of items I purchase and things already in my repertoire to Polyvore, so that when I'm considering buying something - I already have everything there, ready and waiting to arrange into an outfit. This may seem a little OTT to some of you, but have you ever been faced with the 'I have no friggin' clue what to wear' situation which results in your trying nearly everything on and then having to spend half an hour tidying and rehanging everything. No? Well I do it a lot. 
Being able to have a play around on Polyvore whilst watching The Big Bang Theory is so  much for fun - not to mention less stressful. Win all round.

So I'm pretty thrilled with this little outfit I now have all together and lovely above. Thrilled. Although, I've also considered how it might look if I decided to dress it down a little as well.

outfit by arthomas 

As before plus - Cardigan: Charia Fashion, Ballet Pumps: H&M, Bag: Marc Jacobs

What do you think?
Do you have any certain 'rules' you follow when buying clothes? Or do you just buy what you love and piece it together later? Comment and let me know!

The Weekly Musing April:WeekThree

This Week's Web Browsing

Glamour tweeted yesterday afternoon about Dakota Fanning's interesting choice of hair accessory, and is asking readers to vote on whether it's charming, or dorky. Whilst perhaps in theory this was a good idea, it kinda reminds me of being a kid and tying pieces of ribbon around my head and pretending to be an elf out of Lord of the Rings, and then later Padme Amidala from Star Wars (because who wouldn't want to be Liv Tyle or Natalie Portman?) Also, it's a bit lopsided. So, my vote? Dorky.

I really loved The Beauty Department's post on organising your hair stuffs. Although I think I enjoyed the fact that we were painting mason jars gold most of all. I am actually going to try this in order to keep my things nice and tidy. So keep an eye out for pictures next week.

image via The Beauty Department

I've been lusting over more home decor this week at my favourite interior style blog. This French style home is actually in Vancouver. Pop over to Daily Dream Decor for the rest of the images.

image via Daily Dream Decor

I shared this over at 'According to Amber's Facebook page. I mean really!? Who would try sitting on that fence? Are you following on Facebook yet?

I also loved reading about the Books&Videos that inspire at Sofia's Journal.

My Life This Week

I read this really fantastic blog post the other day about getting fit and training and how to make achievable goals. However I didn't clip the url to Evernote and now can't find it anyway. The internet ate it. Damn.

However, it did explain very eloquently about how we don't lose the desire to get fit or lose weight, it just isn't pressing enough in our minds to be a priority. Nothing's at stake for us. So we have to invest something in our goal to give us more focus. This guy suggested money. And taking out a gym membership isn't enough, because it doesn't give us a DEADLINE. And we all know that those are very important.

So. My plan is to run the Race for Life this year. And I've told everyone at work I'm doing it. So every time I go in for a shift it's always, "How's your training going?" With a suitably smug smile because they all how how my attempt at getting fit via taking out a £30 a month gym subscription went. It didn't. 

I now have a deadline, and am trying each time to run as much of 5k as possible then walking the rest. One day, I will manage the whole 5k without:

a) Looking like I just suffered for cardiac arrest,

b) Looking like a beached whale in Addidas. i.e a Chav

c) Sneakily walking part of it, and taking regular "water breaks"

P.S - Welcome all you lovely new followers! I'm planning another Giveaway for when I reach 50 followers on GFC or Bloglovin. So if you currently only follow on one, perhaps quickly sign up for the other too? 

If you missed the 100th Post Giveaway - clickhere-

Girls Gone Wild In The Red Light District

image

Please watch the video above before reading below.

Last week, I just finished reading Trafficked by Sophie Hayes, about her experience of being tricked by a man she believed to love her, and trafficked into prostitution in Italy. What was so shocking to me about her story, was that this man was not a foreigner whom she had met on an internet chat room, nor had this had been a whirlwind romance - or any of the other clichéd circumstances that would sometimes spring to mind.

On the contrary, she had met this man in a bar on a night out in the UK, and had developed a close friendship with him over a few years before agreeing to visit him for a short holiday in Italy. 

Having read her story, and knowing the horrors this girl experienced, watching the video above reminded me that even Amsterdam's Red Light district, which while known to be a little seedy, is a popular destination with Brits for entertainment. Who can know for sure, what any of the girls and women working there have been through.

"STOP THE TRAFFIK is a growing global movement of individuals, communities and organisations fighting to PREVENT the sale of people, PROTECT the trafficked and PROSECUTE the traffickers." Stop The Traffik is a celebrity and corporate endorsed charity, which is supported by names such as Natasha Bedingfield, Boris Johnson, Bill Bryson, Paul McCartney, Rhys Ifans, and Bob Geldof. 

So, what is Human Trafficking?

Trafficking is...

to be deceived or taken against your will, bought, sold and transported into slavery for sexual exploitation, sweat shops, child brides, circuses, sacrificial worship, forced begging, sale of human organs, farm labour, domestic servitude.

Trafficking is...

where family members and friends deceive parents to release their children or sell them for as little as $20 each, selling them on to local gangmasters or serious organised international trafficking rings.

Trafficking is...

growing. 2–4 MILLION men, women and children are trafficked across borders and within their own country every year. More than one person is trafficked across borders EVERY MINUTE, which is equivalent to ten jumbo jets every day. a trade that earns twice as much worldwide revenue as Coca Cola.

Trafficking is...

where victims usually suffer repeated physical abuse, fear, torture and threats to families to break their spirits and turn them into saleable commodities. a person can be sold and trafficked many times.

If you'd like to know more, or get involved with the charity yourself. Click here. Have you heard of Stop the Traffik before? Did you find their video campaign effective, were you shocked by the ending? 

Delectable Decor: Neutral Boston Home

images: Charles Spada via Daily Dream Decor

Wise Words No.24

Some things, no matter how hard you try to forget - just refuse to be forgotten.

The Weekly Musing - AprilWeekTwo

The Week's Web Browsing

Megan of Charade is still travelling through the USA! Check out her photos from SanFran.

Do you know how to eat your dinner? I enjoyed reading the illustrated guide to dinner etiquette at Cup of Jo.

Alexis Russell Design

I discovered this store via an advert of A Cup of Jo - and instantly fell in love. I love the earthy rough cut stones teamed with the elegant design of all their pieces. Prices are in American dollars but I can still tell they're pretty expensive! *sigh* Beautiful though right? The rough cut diamond studs are my favourites.

I've been reading...

Disclaimer: I am NOT reading this book by choice. I have to, for college. I did protest. 

After the above, you might think I'm not enjoying this book. Well, you'd be right. But also, very very wrong. The book is good. I'm enjoying the characters, the storyline is bit slow for liking but the plot is unfolding nicely. There's lots of metaphorical spookiness which is fantastic. However. 

I watched this interview with Sarah Waters courtesy of The Guardian back at the start on term, in September - and oh my days she annoyed me. Lots. It was just the sound of her voice. I'm sure she's a lovely lovely lady, but her voice and I, did not get along. So now, sadly, when reading this book - my brain reads in aloud in an imitation of her voice. 

I can't wait to finish reading it. 

The Writing People
If you're a writing and fancy reading some decent stuff, or maybe you write decent stuff and fancy joining a group of decent writers where you can post your stuff? Either way, please oh please check out The Writing People quickly. A girl I know writes there, she's awesome, her name's Elena - you'll love her.
(I'm looking at you Emily. <3)


My Life This Week
This week I caught the flu/plague/a cold - and ended up doing a lot of sleeping and watching Gossip Girl. You win some, you lose some. 


I have also officially given up caffeine! Yay! It's taken me nearly a month to wean myself off my 7cupaday addiction to PG Tips, however I have now learned to love Green Tea in the mornings, Peppermint Tea through the day and Camomile Tea in the evenings. To start with this was living hell. I felt tired non-stop, and I'd get very irritable and mopey - so much so, that I couldn't blame it all on PMS. Those poor hormones can't take the blame for everything.

P.S - I need to find a Harvey Nichols so I can buy one of those. Amaze-balls. (Nope, I'm still not the kinda girl who can get away with saying that.)

P.S.S - It's Friday 13th btw. Oh dear. I'm going to watch Casper the Friendly Ghost. 

Wanderlust | The Faroe Islands

The magical Faroe Islands, are the real Land That Time Forgot, as whilst they are merely a stones throw from the British Isles they've been hiding from the public eye (well, do you know where they are?) The Faroes are a scattered collection of 18 islands, which roughly sit in the shape of an arrowhead - very Viking. 

These mysterious islands are north of Scotland and nearly halfway to Iceland, however they totally aren't British. The Faroe Islands are self-governed, but belong to Denmark. You'd buy a coffee using the Danish Krone. Or much more likely, a fish.

The islands are quietly and majestically beautiful, with the stark, rugged landscapes really speaking for themselves. But not everything is so shockingly green, as the Faroese seem to have a fondness for brightly painted buildings and harbours, it's like a much more elegant and artistic Ballamory? But don't tell them I said that, I'm sure they'd be offended.

Images from Lonely Planet

Let's Take a Trip!

If you're after the three S's - Sun, Sea and Sand - The Faroe's aren't for you. The climate is know for it's mysterious unpredictability,  and it has been known to snow as late as May. The summer months average about 11c so you should still dress warmly, but it's perfect weather for a brisk warming hike - and considering the playground of a landscape you have to explore, what else would you want to do?

Atlantic Airways seem to be the only boys bad enough to fly all the way up there into Viking territory, and a return flight will cost you about £250.

The Faroe Island are on my list of places I'd love to travel to, because I'm completely enchanted by them. The scenery, the remoteness and simplicity of the place - and partly because I'm hoping to find something akin to How To Train Your Dragon hiding on one of the islands. 

If you need romanticising further - please watch this video. Enjoy the misty mountains!

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Why Being Single Is Awesome

• Being able to spread across the whole of a double bed. Blissful. 
• Being able to paint your nails, taking as long as you like without anyone complaining about the smell. 
• Never having to compromise about wanting to watch your favourite girlie film for the tenth time. 
• Or the entire series of Don't Tell The Bride and having your motives questioned. 
• No more nights sat in front of the TV because somebody couldn't be bothered doing anything else. 
• You can go out and flirt as much as your heart desires, without a worry in the world. And the free drinks at bars! Men seem to know when you're single.
• Being able to make your life decisions based on you, and your dreams, not someone else's.
• Being able to go out for the evening with your BFF without having to check your phone every five minutes.
• When someone awesome comes along, you're single and ready to mingle.
• The serene sense of superiority at your own drama free life, whenever one else is having domestic issues.
• There's no need to be impeccably groomed at all times. Lovely stuff.
• Having that real sense of freedom, knowing your life is completely your own. Enjoy it while it lasts. <3

Do any of you have favourite perks about being single? Please comment!

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I Love: Kittens

There's one thing that it right on the top of my wish list, if anyone fancies buying me one - and that's a kitten. I have always been more of a cat than a dog person, although I am definitely both. Sadly, the cutest bundle of fluff out there is a rag doll kitten, and they are pretty expensive. But look how gorgeous!

 

Pastel Kitties - I can't decide if this is cruel or genius.

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