A Festive Meal - with ALL the Trimmings!

On Monday the 14th of December, as part of our yearly tradition, my friends and I enjoyed a Christmas feast at a local pub! For years, we've been gathering every December to exchange presents and share in a little holiday spirit with each other (before inevitably stuffing our faces with delicious goodies).

Organising the event this year was a little rocky in places, with some last minute cancellations from friends causing a few issues, but I'm pleased to say that the meal was still great fun anyway!

We went to Table Table (Medina Quay) in Newport for our Christmas meal and we weren't let down! The staff at Table Table were extremely kind and understanding about the last minute changes to table numbers and bent over backwards to make us feel at home.

Em and I—it's not Chrismas without a festive photo of us together!

The portion sizes were incredible and the food was excellent value for the price. I wasn't able to try the set Christmas meal, due to having celiac disease, but the staff worked really hard to offer me a meal which was just as appetising—and looked just as festive!

My celiac-friendly chips, peas and cauliflower cheese!

Table, Table outdid themselves with portion sizes, presenting thick cheesecake slices, which looked like door stop wedges, and large plates filled to the brim with tantalisingly tasty treats. Amazingly, we were able to get three whole courses, with generously-sized portions, for just £15.99! For anyone with smaller appetites, two-course meals were also available for just £12.99. I would definitely consider going there again next year as the staff made the whole process so easy and were so friendly!

Domi with her delicious cheesecake!

For anyone looking to jazz up their Christmas meal, I'd also recommend the use of photobooth props. We were kept entertained for ages with fake beards and elf ears, as you can see from the photos below!

Of course, you need to be a certain level of 'silly' to use the photo props kit...but thankfully, my friends are only happy to pull funny faces in front of the camera in the name of fun!

When all else fails, turn your beard into a beak...

We used the 'Elf Yourself' Photo Props Kit, which was £4 and included elf hats, beards, ears, spectacles, holding sticks, a picture frame and even one bald elf head! It's worth shopping around to see what else is on the market though, as you never know what gems you might find for a bargain!

Whatever you're doing to celebrate Christmas this year, I hope it's magical and fun—with just a hint of 'silly'.

F x

How to Become Emotionally Independent in a Relationship - Part 2

Last time, I started to explain how to become emotionally independent in a relationship. I really want to help anyone struggling with this so today we're going to go through a few simple exercises that will help keep you grounded in the present time. By living in the moment, you should feel more relaxed and less worried about what might happen in the future with your boyfriend or girlfriend. Your thoughts will be absorbed in what is happening in the present moment, rather than on concerns about what might happen in the future.

So, how do you live in the "now" and stop worrying about the future?

I've outlined a few techniques and exercises below which I hope will help teach you mindfulness and distract you from worrying about what's going on in your relationship.

1) Connecting with the people and objects around you:

If the weather is fine, take a few minutes out of your day to go for a walk outside. Focus on what's around you, paying attention to any road signs you see and making an effort to notice the tiny details e.g. the different types of flowers in a hanging basket, the windows above a tatty shop building, the golden name plate on a park bench etc. By doing this, your thoughts should quieten and you should find it easier to enjoy living in the moment.

Whenever you feel that your thoughts are becoming chaotic with worries and concerns about your relationship, place your hands down on your thighs and focus on the weight of them. Notice how each finger feels against the fabric of your clothing and keep focusing on that until the thoughts quieten.

To help you further, have a quick look at the people around you when you're outside. Remind yourself that—just like you—those people have laughed, cried, smiled and known a lot of the emotions that you're experiencing. This will help connect you more with the people around you and take your mind off of your current worries.

2) Breathing techniques:

Meditation and breathing techniques are really helpful for easing worries. Whenever you start to panic or feel insecure, calm yourself with relaxing meditational music and good breathing techniques. 

Breathing Technique: Hold your breath for the count of four seconds, inhale through the nose for seven seconds, and then exhale through the mouth for eight seconds. Repeat until you feel calmer.

3) Resist the urge to check in on your partner all of the time:

I know it's hard when you care about someone and are itching to hear from them...but try to stop yourself from texting your partner all the time for reassurance. Even more than that, if you do send a text, do not follow that up with another text if they fail to respond. Give them some space and do not chase. It can be quite emotionally draining to receive text messages from partners who are constantly seeking reassurance so try not to fall into that trap.

If you think that you might struggle with this then have a "go to" group of friends who you text whenever you feel yourself itching to message your significant other. Your partner is much more likely to respond if you don't chasing him/her for an answer.  

4) Believing in yourself

It's really important that you try to build up your own self-esteem. You have to believe that you are worthy of your partner. The fact is that he or she chose you for a variety of reasons. You have to trust them and have faith in your own self-worth. If you trust their decision and value yourself then everything else will fade away.

5) Make time to do something you love or develop a new hobby:

A little space in a relationship is healthy. You and your partner both need a few hours where you can do something separate from each other—something you both love. It also means that you both have more  things to talk about when you come back together. If there was a hobby that you enjoyed doing before you got with your partner then I suggest taking that up again.

Above all else, remember that your partner is in love with you. Love isn’t about needing proof or evidence—often it’s about having the faith and courage to believe that your partner truly loves you. Trust that your significant other wants you.

10 Romantic Things To Do For Dates

I've always loved the dating period and I really enjoy keeping the magic of a relationship going through the odd date night. After all, sometimes it's nice to schedule in a little one-to-one time with your partner. However, trying to find different things to do for those dates can be decidedly less fun.

To help out anyone else experiencing that headache, I've scribbled down a few ideas and suggestions below of things that might be fun to do on dates:


1. Cinema:

Cinema dates can be great fun for couples. There's something rather wonderful about sharing tubs of ice-cream and packets of popcorn together whilst at the cinema. The only issue is that you and your partner might have different eating speeds. For example, I used to dip my hand into a packet of popcorn―only to find myself left with a handful of crumbs (and a suspiciously guilty-faced partner).

Can't afford the cinema? How about having a romantic DVD night at home instead? My ex-boyfriend and I used to curl up together frequently and watch cheap DVDs or films on Netflix. Staying in can be just as romantic as going out.

2. A romantic dinner at a bistro or restaurant:


Dressing up nicely and going out for a meal can be a fantastic treat. You and your partner get to see each other dolled up in fancy clothes and you can both chat away to each other whilst everything else is taken care of for you.

However, if you cannot afford a romantic meal out somewhere then cooking something up at home can be just as romantic. My ex-boyfriend used to cook me the most amazing fajitas and then we would cuddle up and indulge in a spot of ice-cream. A few candles and a little effort will do the job just as brilliantly as going out to any restaurant or bistro.

3. Ice-skating:

Although it's fair to say that I've never managed to look particularly graceful whilst attempting to find my footing on the ice, ice-skating is a great way to spend a few hours with someone you love. Whether you're wobbling around and attempting to stay upright, clinging to your partner's hand, or chasing each other around the rink, there's a wealth of different things to do on the ice.


4. Bowling:

Bowling can be great fun, especially during double-dates. Add in a little friendly competition or a dash of healthy banter and you've got yourself an exciting evening of entertainment.


5. Picnic:

A picnic in a park or on a grassy verge somewhere is absolute bliss. Simply prepare a few sandwiches and some of your favourite bites to eat and then head out somewhere nice for the day. There's something quite lovely about sharing food and exchanging kisses with your partner whilst the breeze is breathing across your skin and tickling through your hair. Better still, it's an extremely cheap date!

6. A romantic beach or countryside walk:

Obviously, if you live in a built-up area then this might be harder. However, I've always loved strolling along the beach at sunset, watching the waning sun splash brilliant hues of liquid amber and hazy magenta across the sky―and it's even better when you have someone with you to share the view.

7. Bushcrafting, kayaking or rock climbing:

In my part of the country, there's no shortage of adventurous outdoor activities to do with your partners. My ex really loved fitness so this was a perfect way for us to have fun on a romantic level with each other.

8. A trip to the theatre to see a musical or pantomime:


If you want something a little fun or light-hearted then a pantomime can be absolute perfect. Actively encouraging audience participation, pantomimes are great fun and highly immersive. If you're stuck for ideas then it is definitely worth checking out what's going on at your local theatre.

Failing that, there's usually a wealth of plays or musicals around to watch. If you can't afford to see a professional musical in London then try going to a few local amateur productions. In my area, there's a plethora of local talent and productions are always highly polished.


9. Spontaneous trip to Paris:

For people living in the United Kingdom, taking a day trip to Paris could not be easier or cheaper these days. Hopping onto the Eurostar can get you from London to Paris in just 2 hours for as little as £70 pp return. (For more information: Eurostar website)

NB: If Paris isn't that close to you then you can always grab your car keys and go on a road trip somewhere closer for a couple of days.

10. Scuba-diving or snorkelling:

This is a great idea for anyone who enjoys exploring or adventuring. Snorkelling, in particular, is one of the easiest underwater activities to enjoy and is very simple to learn.  There's something relaxing and exhilarating about venturing into shallow waters together to seek out different types of sea life.

Best Homemade Gift to Give a Loved One

During my time with my last ex-boyfriend, I worked really hard trying to think of an anniversary present that would be really meaningful. I was happy to get something material for him but I also wanted something that he could look at fondly each day, too. It's fair to say that the creative juices were not running high that afternoon though and I was utterly stumped about what to do. Anyone who knows me can clarify that I like to get organised months in advance and I was determined to put a lot of effort into ensuring that my gift was something he would remember.

As with all matters, I took to the internet in the hopes of getting some inspiration and I'm pleased to say that I wasn't disappointed. Before long, I stumbled across a beautiful idea that I was certain would not disappoint. It turns out a guy on Reddit had ingeniously shown his love for his girlfriend by creating an incredibly touching and meaning 365 Day Love Jar. (More info: Reddit)

The idea is actually really simple. You simply take an old jam jar or something similar and fill it to the brim with 365 loving notes for your partner. The partner then picks one note out each day and gets an instant pick-me-up. The Reddit guy even colour-coded his notes so that his girlfriend could pick out whatever she fancied on that day. For example, his categories were:

My categories were pretty much identical:

1) Reasons why I love you
2) Fond memories we've shared together
3) Loving quotes that remind me of our relationship.

To ensure I had the right amount of quotes, I craftily used the numbering in Microsoft Word to make sure that I knew how many notes I'd made (it would have been a touch embarrassing if I had told my partner that I'd made 365 love notes and then it turned out I had only made 363) and then removed the numbers at the end before printing. I printed each different category out onto different coloured sheets of paper, cut the notes out, folded them up neatly and then started to fill up the jar with them.


Your reasons for loving someone can be anything. For example, some of my notes were as follows:

Cautionary Warning:

Make sure you give your jam jar to your partner before any fights or arguments. My partner and I sadly broke up before I had fully finished putting 365 love notes in my jar and I'm still a little gutted that I never got to show it to him.

Also, if you know that your partner balks at sentimental words and might find it overly-loving then I'd look elsewhere for the perfect gift. That being said, I never used to enjoy sentimentality one jot...but I'd be pretty happy to receive this from someone who truly loved me.

Cherish the love you've shared and give your partner something truly wonderful. It's so brilliant looking back over all the great moments you've shared and it really helps you to treasure what you have with your partner.  I'm sure it'll put a smile on your partner's face every morning when they dip into that jar and pull out a new note.

Top 10 Quotes About Love

1. "So it’s not gonna be easy. It’s gonna be really hard. We’re gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day…"
― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

2. "Pleasure of love lasts but a moment. Pain of love lasts a lifetime." 
― Bette Davis

3. "I’m scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you."
― Jennifer Grey, Dirty Dancing

4. "Love is something eternal; the aspect may change, but not the essence."
― Vincent van Gogh

5. "Don’t forget I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."
― Julia Roberts, Notting Hill

6. "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."
― Lao Tzu

7. "You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not."
― Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper

8.  "Love is needing someone. Love is putting up with someone's bad qualities because they somehow complete you."
― Sarah Dessen, This Lullaby

9. "This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something."
 ― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love  

10. "What's meant to be will always find a way."
― Trisha Yearwood 




If you've enjoyed these quotes, you might also want to read: 'Top 10 Inspirational Quotes'.

Top 10 Inspirational Quotes

These are just some of the quotes that have helped to pick me up in the past when I've been flagging. I hope they inspire you just as much.

1. "I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all of the time."
―Anna Freud

2.  "In any project the important factor is your belief. Without belief, there can be no successful outcome."

―William James


3. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
 ―Gandhi

4. "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover."
―Mark Twain 


5. "The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any."
 ―Alice Walker 


6. "In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure."
  ―Bill Cosby 

7. "So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their endings."
―J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit


8. "It is never too late to be what you might have been."
 ―George Eliot 


9. "Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly."
―Langston Hughes

10.  "The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty -- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God."
― Mother Teresa

Dreams - Kissing

Dreams which involve kissing another person are actually a lot more common that people would care to admit. I'll happily be hold my hand up and admit that I've had dreams about kissing people. To be perfectly honest, I've even dreamed about kissing an ex-boyfriend or two in the past. I'm pretty certain, in those instances, that the dreams weren't foretelling my future...so let's get on to what dreams involving kissing can actually mean.


Dreaming that you're kissing a friend:

To dream that you're being kissed by a friend signifies the deep respect and care which you feel towards that person. It may also signify a wish to deepen your bond and friendship.


Dreaming that you're kissing a celebrity:

This often denotes a strong desire to succeed in something you're doing right now. If you're working on a new project then it might mean that you're desperate to succeed there.


Dreaming of kissing a stranger

If your dream involves kissing someone you don't know then it might signal a desire for a fresh start in some aspect of your life, or a journey of self-discovery that you're undertaking. There might be some aspect of yourself that you're only just beginning to discover. Alternatively, it might mean that you're finally recognising some aspect of yourself that you'd previously repressed.


Dreaming that you're kissing an ex-boyfriend:

This can mean several different things so you'll have to decide which feels most right for you and the dream you were experiencing. I know some people hope that a reconciliation with an ex in a dream is a premonition for the future. I'm afraid I can't offer that guarantee, just as I can't disapprove it either. It's possible that your subconscious is picking up signs that are coming from your ex...but it's also equally possible that the dream is just trying to help you work through something.

Dreaming about kissing an ex-boyfriend suggests that the ex-boyfriend is on your mind. However, it could simply mean that your brain is looking back on the positive experiences that you had with your ex and is yearning for something similar with a new love. If you're single, it's possible that your brain is acknowledging the positive points of a past relationship so that you can work out what you want in future relationships. If there's been a significant shift or change in your life recently then the dream could also signal how far you've come since that relationship.

To dream of kissing your first love may be symbolic of fresh love or romance blooming in your life. If you're already in a relationship but dreaming about your ex then it could mean you need to add a little more passion and romance into your existing relationship.


Hints and tips: 

• If your dream involves kissing a stranger then is there anything about him that is at all familiar? Does he look or remind you of anyone? 
• Different parts of the body mean different things. For example, someone kissing you on the neck suggests passion, lust and giving into your desires. Alternatively, if you are kissing someone's foot then it may signify the respect you feel for that person. Similarly, dreaming of kissing someone on the cheek often denotes respect and friendship.

A Little Christmas Hope and Love

A festive season and an appropriately festive celebration to mark it. This year, the Christmas celebrations have gotten just a little bit more special though.

 

Today, two of my friends got engaged and are spending the Christmas period celebrating their love for each other. The pair have been together for five years and have stayed strong through everything. They are so perfect together and now they get to spend the rest of their lives celebrating that fact. I wish the happy couple a world of happiness and a lifetime of days filled with sunshine. I cannot think of a lovelier couple and I will be raising a glass of wine in their honour tonight.

The thing about Christmas is that it opens our hearts up to love again. The emotional walls erected come crashing down as the joy of Christmas seeps through and offers us renewed hope. Even the most battered and emotionally bruised heart starts to dare to dream and make wishes. Keep hoping and believe in achieving the best for yourself. Love really is infinite and endless―you just have to let yourself receive it. Be willing to receive and good will come to you.

Christmas is all about love and letting the people around you know how much you care for them. Take a couple of minutes today to tell someone important that you love them. Take the time to step out of your comfort zone and open your heart up to the people you want in your life. Seize every moment because―even if you don't end up where you'd like―then at least you won't have to look back with regret in later years. Take a chance on love and see where it leads.

To all the couples out there that are getting engaged or reuniting, I wish you so much luck and happiness. To all the people lonely or hurting over the Christmas period, I really hope you get your happy ending soon. Please don't despair because nothing is ever hopeless unless we believe it. Things change every day. The only thing constant in this world is the fact there isn't really much that is constant. Good will come to you eventually―and it'll be worth the wait.

<3 Happy Christmas! <3

"You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it, however."
Richard Bach

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."
Martin Luther King, Jr

Christmas Spirit: The Non-Boozy Kind

It's been a long time since I've sat down to write a blog post so you'll have to excuse the rustiness and verbal diarrhoea which may shortly ensue.

Christmas is just four days away. With all the festive frolics, steaming mulled wine and crooning carollers, it's easy to see why Christmas is considered the most magical time of the year. This year, though, everything has changed. Instead of throwing myself into Christmas preparations with a glorious joyeux de vivre, I find myself longing for the coming New Year and the beginning of 2015.

Maybe it's the endless consumerism, the barrage of stressed shoppers scrambling around for the best Christmas deals, the growing anxiousness to get the "perfect present", or maybe it's because this time of year is a constant reminder of things lost...but I’m finding Christmas less and less enjoyable this year.

In all the bustle of Christmas, it's often easy to forget that Christmas can be the loneliest times of the year for some people. Watching other people excitedly getting ready for a Christmas packed with family and friends must bring a sharp pang to the heart of anyone who has recently experienced a loss of some kind.

People can be snapped away in an instant. So, if I could impart one message about Christmas—if I've learnt anything from this year at all—it's not to take the people around you for granted. They can be gone in a heartbeat, leaving you filled with so many regrets. Christmas is a stressful time but don't lose sight of the fact that you probably have a lot of people out there who really care about you. If you love someone, hold onto that love and don't let it slip away.

As someone spending Christmas single this year, it is hard to believe that this time last year I was giggling in the arms of someone who I thought was the most special guy in the world: The guy I thought I would be spending every day with for the rest of my life. Twelve months later and that dream is hopelessly lost—and no amount of work on my part can fix it, nor any prayer change it. I've lost my dream…but it's made me more determined than ever that everyone else gets their happy ending. Make your wishes come true. Keep hold of the magic of love this Christmas and enjoy every moment you spend together—because it can all end with just a few heated comments. Don't let rash words or the strain to create "a perfect Christmas" bring with it an avalanche of regrets. If you love someone, keep them. Love isn't about never having cross words or always agreeing with each other—but it is about being prepared to compromise and loving each other enough to try again. Love is not about walking away forever because you're scared something may not fit further down the line; it's about trying to make things work regardless.

I know of so many couples who are struggling because of the strain which Christmas brings and it simply isn't worth it. Christmas only lasts a few days—so, please, if I could ask one thing of anyone reading this, it's this: Don’t do anything you might regret further down the line. Do not split with a partner unless you've truly stopped caring for each other. Who cares if he forgot to buy the cranberry sauce? No one likes it all that much anyway. What does it matter if she's invited that aunt who you've never liked to stay for a few days over the Christmas period? It's only two or three days and then you have the place to yourself again.

Keep the people that you love around you for Christmas and enjoy every moment. Pull crackers, groan at the silly jokes, get merry on tipples of wine, stuff yourself full of roast dinners and Christmas pudding, live in the moment… and have a wonderful Christmas.

“The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than in things.” —Thomas S. Monson.