Rachel's Hen Do in Somerset

Right, we’re down to the final numbers now. Save the Dates are going out next week and B and I are just about to decide on the layout! So exciting!

Speaking of weddings - I was away for Rachel’s hen do last weekend which made it so much more real. I still have a long way to go, I know, but I can’t get over how much fun this has been so far! (With a few minor hitches!).
We had an amazing time! We went to the Yurt Retreat in Somerset - http://www.theyurtretreat.co.uk/. I can really, really recommend it! I loved the whole experience, sitting around the fire singing, cooking and eating together inside the logcabin, chilling inside with a glass of wine with the girls, dancing to Beyonce... My kind of holiday! I would definintely come back here for a proper holiday with the family actually!
We drove down on the Friday. There were quite a few of us in Rachel's tiny car, but we didn't mind really - who doesn't love a ROADTRIP!? We got to Somerset for about 5pm - ish and had lovely food and drinks. The weather was nice so we lit the fire and had games, singing and laughing around the fire outside.
We made jewellery on the Saturday. Rachel' sister Sarah makes jewellery for a living and i LOVE her style. It's rather vintage looking and I absolutely loved the lesson. I made two rings and a rather pretty neclace! We also made saucy pants, seeing the girls (and boy) trying them on was hilarious!!

On Saturday night we went out for drinks and a gorgeous meal. I can safely say that I've gained about a stone during this weekend away. But man was is worth it! So so so much gorgeous food!

Sunday we spent chilling and roaming around Crewkerne before heading back to London.

I had a great time but I was absolutely knackared on the Monday and the plan was to go on a family holiday - back to where I just had been! Hilarious!! In hindsight, I should have stayed in Somerset and then just met up with the family in Longleat!

Inspiration

Here a few things I'm looking at for wedding inspiration

Centre pieces...

Wedding Cakes...

Bridemaid Dresses...

and Shoes to go with the dresses...

Flower girl hair garland

More vintage wedding stuff...

Style Icons...

Grace Kelly

Marilyn Monroe

Cinderella

Jackie Kenney

Change of Plans

Set a Date. Tick.
Book Venue. Tick.
Book Church. Tick
Sort Bridesmaid dresses. Tick
Buy The Dress. Tick.

To say the least, we had a few busy weeks deciding, planning, um-ing and ah-ing. We’ve made some significant changes, but I’m very pleased by the outcome!
So, we’ve decided to have two weddings! Why have one when you can have two? (And I get to plan TWO parties – nothing beats that!)
We’ll have a small ceremony with our closest family and friends in Sweden and then a blessing and party in the U.K.
I’m so excited about our new wedding plans! Things are definitely looking up.
We saw the perfect bridesmaid dresses the other day. The colour is perfect and I think the cut is really flattering too. It’ll suit all of the girls.
We’ve booked a venue in Sweden and are on the hunt just now for something suitable in Hertfordshire.

We’re sending out our Save the Dates next week. Just had a look at some designs we like. Just have to pin the hubby-to-be down to approve them!

So.excited.com!!

Yes, things are definitely looking up… Well, I say that and then our car broke down this morning! B was due to film in London and so it couldn’t have happened at a more inconvenient time. London Transport is fantastic when it works. But it seldom does, particularly on weekends.
I don’t get it, London – the largest city in the United Kingdom, a rich, multi cultural melting pot, with all its technical advances and still they can’t seem to sort of the transport system? I think secretly we just love to hate it too much!

So why is it then when something goes wrong, everything seems to go wrong? So the window broke in car the day before yesterday, then today it won’t start… What’s next?

I’ve been applying for a lot of jobs lately. I’m hoping that something good will come through. Heavens knows we could do with the money right now! One thing is certain; weddings are NOT a cheap business!
There are a few marketing jobs out there, some of which sound really interesting and it would be amazing to get on that ladder.

As we’ve moved the wedding date B will be able to do Edinburgh next year, if he can/wants to. I think it’s a good decision. He really missed it this year and it’s important to be up there if you want to do comedy. Again, it depends on what sort of jobs he can get this year in order to save money… Fingers crossed. (Hopefully that means Jackson and I can go up and visit too – I LOVE Edinburgh!).

Right, off to search for some wedding venues for the UK wedding party!

Brighton and my birthday

My wonderful fiance treated me to a trip to Brighton for a few days for my birthday. (I know, he's a keeper!).

We had a wonderful time and it was so nice to relax and be by the sea. As I grew up by the sea, I do miss it in London and the concrete jungle. (Mind you, Hertfordshire is rather green and surburbian..).

We stayed in a really nice hotel in Worthing, right by the seafront. It was only about a 20 minute drive into Brighton and we managed to do a lot of shopping and sightseeing. We've been to Brighton before many times, as Brooks and I love it so much, and it was nice for Jackson to come back too. (We went last year in the spring).

We went down the Pier, down The Lanes and the Sea Life centre. We also ate a lot of nice food. I must have put on half a stone!
The boys in particular loved the Sea Life centre. It was so cool! I loved seeing the turtles being fed and there was this tunnel where you could see the sharks, sting rays and turtles swim around and over! It was so amazing!

I do think it's important to get away sometimes. It's like taking a nice, big breath in before continuing you life, isn't it?

Aaaaaaaand exhale.

Cater or not to cater?

I sort of see the advantages with having less time to organise a wedding. What I mean is, when you have over a year to think about things, one tends to change ones mind. A lot.

We have been looking at other venue options, trying to figure out what we really want. We're keen to find something that really represents us, (within our price budget), and we're finding it difficult. I'm not worried though, I know we'll find something fantastic! We could either stick with the Sarratt Hall, (which is a great venue), but that does require us to find/hire caterers, linens, napkins and chair covers etc, or we go for something completely different that already have everything included in the price. A tricky one!

We have been meeting with caterers though and have found one that is fantastic! Very accommodating and he seemed very passionate about food and providing a great service. He's been a chef himself for many years and had some great ideas when it came to bring some "Swedish style" food to the menu.

As we're off to Sweden soon I'm also planning to go and search for my dress next week. So far I have seen a lot that I like, but not yet "The One". To be honest, I'm quite enjoying the search in itself!

New Year, Lots of New Changes.

Every year, I make New Year Resolutions. Well, there tend to be a few, and they tend to be the same. Generally they go, in no particular order:

Loose a couple of stones.
Make/Win/Steal lots of money - pay off mortgage.
Get+Stay Healhty.

This year, however, I didn't have to. (well, on the first one anyway).

B and I met ten years ago, at drama school, and have been great friends ever since. We fell in love during some mad Midsummer Night Rehearsal, during our last year at Drama School six years ago and moved in together shorthly after.
In 2009 our beautiful baby boy was born and now, in July next year, we're getting married!

To say that I was happy at the proposal is an understatement.
To say that I was darn pleased to see the amazing ring is also an understatement.

I always thought, in a sort of movie romantic kind-of-way, that I would be a sobbing wreck as my man got down on one knee to propose. That I would quietly whisper a yes to him and then sob some more. That didn't happen.

I did cry, but much later when my friends joined us and I could tell (scream in their faces) the happy news!

It was a perfect moment, of course. It's New Years Eve and fireworks are going off everwhere, we're standing next to each other on the balcony, looking at the sky when he gets down on one knee. He didn't even have time to finish his speech before I yell YES! YES! YES! and start jumping up and down. I did a lot of screaming. A lot.

It was definitely one of the highlights of my life so far.

So now: dress shopping, cake picking, mood boards, flower arrangements, card designs and lots and lots of glorius spreadsheets!

In February they finally removed my sodding gallbladder. It's been a long process but it's over now and I feel so much better.
Removing my gallbladder meant changing my diet which then also resulted in me loosing a stone half! (See - still going back to the NYE resolution?)

I can't stress this enough - if you keep having stomach pains/feeling bloated and they tell you that it's IBS and you still feel something isn't right - Please, please have it checked out. Demand to have an ultrasound right then and there!

2011 is definintely a good year.

Health

So it turns out I have a stone in my tummy.

I mean, I can't actually feel it moving about as such, but I know it's there. I've seen it. Live on TV!

Lying there on the familiar ultrasound chair, almost expecting the ultrasound-man to say "and there's the baby!" - I was really nervous as he was moving the stick-thingy around over my tummy.
The doctors had been running test all day, ranging from x-rays, EKG-ing and now this so I was knackered and worried.

The man grunts and nods slowly.
I almost panic. This is is. I have some weird, really unusal disease and I only have five hours to live...

The man looks at me blankly and goes:

"Yup. It's a stone alright."

I gasp and look at the black mass on the blurry screen.
In comparison to the gallbladder itself it's massive! I'm strangly impressed and repulsed at the same time.

"Do you think I need an operation?" I ask tentatively.

I didn't heal so well last time I was cut open and so I'm not exactly thrilled at the prospect.
He looks at the stone on the screen again.

"Yes. It's just going to get worse from now." he says plainly. "Alright, better get going now. Busy day today!"

I'm rushed out from the room and back to my ward for more testing. Nurses and doctors all come up to ask how I'm feeling and if I need more painkillers etc. Thruthfully, (part from feeling starving from the nil-by-mouth malarkey!), I felt fine. Just like normal even.

The difference, I suppose, was that I know knew that something is wrong. I had just seen it with my own eyes.

And that was a good feeling.

A few years ago I went to our family doctor back home complaning about stomach pains and bloating. I knew that something was wrong and I was desperate for someone to help me.
That particular doctor thought it may be gallstones, but he was also quick to add that "I'm too young for such illnesses." (Oh great. So glad to be the exception!)

I went to my GP and she was adamant that I had IBS. There was NO waaaaay I could have gallstones!
Now, I know people with IBS and I've read lots about it and some of them suffer so badly, they can't leave the house. My pains would come and and go, and completely random.
It didn't feel right somehow. I knew something was wrong!
So I asked again if she could send me for a scan. She almost laughed in my face and said, in a round-about way, that it would be a waste of everyone's time.

I soon after fell pregnant and my priorities changed. I would still have pains but was busy listening out for my baby.

My point of all that is - stick to your guns.

I mean it.

I should have done. I knew something was wrong. I wish I had followed my gut feeling (no pun intended!) and forced them to give me an ultrasound.

"If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want." ~Elbert Hubbard