The Top Secret Hen Do

So, Iv reached the age where everyone around me seems to be getting a mortgage, getting married and having babies. 

My friend Bex got engaged around a couple of years ago, and of course the wedding planning starts.   For the last 10months me and around 12 other girls (which I was soon to meet for the first time ever) have kept this massive secret from one of our friends Bex, we are going to BENIDORM for her hen-do.

Keeping this a secret was so god damn hard, Bex began to ask question after question. "Where am I going for my hen-do? Why have you become friends with my mum and sisters of Facebook? Do you know why I have these dates booked off work?" Ohh... The list of questions went on and on, but somehow the planning managed to remain secret. The ladies who planned the whole hen do I believe it was, her sisters, her mum and her best friend.

A few weeks ago, the Hen-do date came around, but still, the secret remained. Every detail of every second of the weekend went perfectly. I wasn't really looking forward to going away as the dates fell on my boyfriends birthday, I don't really drink alcohol and I was nervous of entering an environment outside my comfort zone.

On Friday 8th April, I picked up my friend Chanelle. We had our passports, euros & suitcases packed with summer clothes. We dropped our cases off in secret at Bex parents house where her brother-in-law and dad (Phil) were waiting with everyone else's suitcases to remind us ITS A SECRET... 

Apparently Bex was told to pack Wellington boots, a pair of high heels, an evening outfit, a bandana and a rain jacket, the ladies planning the hen do also followed these instructions. Clever thinking hey... 

For months we had a secret Facebook group to discuss our weekend together and had arranged to wear legging, a pretty top and high heels, thankfully and perfectly everyone did so.

We finally met up with the other hen ladies at the pub for the first time, introduced ourselfs and knew this was our last time meeting Bex knowing to keep this all a secret, we were all handed a Hen-Do sash whilst Bex had a wedding vale with a tiara on top. We all kept giggling like teenage girls knowing what was planned whilst Bex had a confused & worried smile on her face.

A little while later the mini bus arrived, we all piled in with excitement, the prosecco was flowing, the games had started, whilst Bex's dad chauffeured us too moors valley, where Bex reaction was "what the hell we doing here? What's at Moors valley too do?" This was fun, every one of us girls were in on the act of trying to make it look like we were doing an outdoor activity, moments later, we laughed excitedly, got back onto the mini bus and drove to paultons park, awkwardly, the park was shut.

We were actually heading to Portsmouth where there was an adults only evening in a soft play area, with ballpits, slides, climbing frames. It threw us all back to our childhood, except this play area had a bar. We continued the games, getting to know each other and of course keeping our mouths shut until our evening came to an end.

Around 11pm our chauffeur Phil arrived, Bex began to question where we were going for the evening, as we settled back on to the minibus, on our laps was a present, Bex opened hers up first. It was a T-shirt with the words 'Bex hen-do 2016 Benidorm' YAY the secret was out, and Bex burst into tears of happiness whilst we all shouted "WHEEYYY"

For the next hour we all told Bex that we all knew for ages, the planning, how she questions far too much, what her parents had planned, what clothes her mum had brought, how her fiancé knew, her sisters went into her flat that morning and grabbed all the essentials for her.  How, how, how was all this planned behind her back?? Amazing....

We turned up at Gatwick, all very tired from lack of sleep and waited to board our plane to Benidorm. I've never been to mainland Spain before, so this is when the excitement hit me. As day light started to approach we all boarded our plane, some of us slept, some of us were so excited, but by 9am, We had landed in sunny Benidorm, we were met by our rep Danni, who looked after us AMAZINGLY! From the minute we got there, to the minute we left.

The girls who organised the hen-do also put together a goodie bag for every hen, all the little gifts inside that Bex loves...

I'm not going to bore you with every minute of every day, as for us girls it was our adventure, but what I will tell you is that we fell in love with Benidorm, here's a few of our moments...

 

We had strippers, cocktails, free shots, free champagne, laughter, love, heart touched moments, locked a pad lock to a well, went to try tapas... left before we tried tapas, a random old man stopped to take a photo of us hens, the friendliest taxi drivers, kids handing out leaflets to strip clubs, met other stag parties, sunbathing, scooter driving, bucking bronco, frank from shameless, chips, chips and more chips, dancing, a cheeky party check list, plastic willies, no sleep for 30+ hours straight, pictures with a dwarf, willy sculpting with plastcine, champions the bar, eating in the titanic, plastic naughty dolls, went to the famous Solana hotel, loads and loads of photos and memories, and with 12 girls, and not a single argument, it was one of the best weekends of my whole entire life!!!

As one of the girls said when we were on our way back to the airport...

"We went on holiday together as strangers, and came back as friends"

Now just you wait until her wedding, I couldn't be more proud to call you my friend Bex, and as my first friend to get married, I can't wait to share your special day.

Life's for living, you can always make money, but you can't always make memories. Enjoy life 

Katie xxx

 

BACK IN THE GYM AFTER YEARS

Today, I went to the gym for the first time in like 4years... I know it doesn't seem like a big thing for most of you... But. Oh. My. I was soooo nervous to take up the gym and challenge myself after knowing iv put on alot of weight! (I'm not just talking Christmas weight either) but... Let's face it ladies, we all own that one peice of clothing we all love, that doesn't fit us anymore. (Mines my whole wardrobe.. Oops) 

It all started off last Monday at work, the girls and I booked to go to Aqua fit after work Wednesday night...

 I'd normally go straight home and chill out in my bedroom, watch YouTube, put on a few candles and totally relax...but instead, we decided to kick out the winter blues & finally I felt like I had something too look forward to after work.  

Aqua fit is an excersize class that takes place in a swimming pool, with music to get you motivated and an instructor on the pool side that gets you working out. 

(This photo is not mine, an example of what Aqua fit is)

It was such good fun and I loved every moment. 

When I went too sleep that night... WOW..... My leg muscles were killing me! I even rummaged through my handbag in the middle of the night to find some paracetamol as the pain was keeping me awake. The next day I woke up and my legs were fine. They weren't hurting as much as I thought they were going too. Apparently it's because your using muscles that you don't normally use and have shocked them into working out. 

This weekend just gone, I signed up for my first ever gym membership! I'm doing this alone as I work alot harder and push myself further when working out in the gym, each day I may find I want to push my body into breaking out 10more calories each day at the gym per week. I suppose it helps if you set your self a goal. I suppose it helps motivate you in the gym that everytime you scan your gym card, you also get points in new look, John Lewis, currys. Etc. So I feel like this will help towards my new wardrobe (aha!) 

 I haven't been inside a gym for around 4/5years and tonight before I went into the gym I was extremely nervous to even walk up the stairs let alone actually jump on a machine and work out. When I was 18 I used to go to the gym alot and have put on alot of weight since, I love socialising and having date night meals with my boyfriend and I'm a massive sugar addict. (I love chocolate SOOO much) I can still enjoy these moments but I need to start making healthier choices.

What did I do at the gym? I decided to try out most of the machines in 10minutes intervals. I used the cross trainer, excersize bike, tread mill, step counter and vibrate plate. I came away after an hour feeling confident and excited to go again tomorrow after burning my first 270calories. It helps by having music and TVs around the room so your still not missing your favourite program. 

Today was just the beginning.. I'm already looking forward too going to the gym again and seeing my body shape change for a healthier me the more I use the gym. Obviously I have changed the way I eat, I find this the hardest part, but when I start seeing results, il know it's all been worth it. I'm so lucky I have a very supportive boyfriend, and friends that come along and enjoy Aqua fit with me. 

I hope I have motivated some of you to option for a healthier lifestyle, if not, please don't forget... If you want to change something about the way you look or how you live your life. Do it for yourself. No one else! 

Iv also just treated my self to some new trainers, as I find my old ones rather heavy. 

What do you think? Do you like them? 

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't. Don't let anyone get you down. Don't let anyone make you feel uncomfortable. 

Do it for yourself! 

I am...

How many of you already go to the gym? What's your favourite equipment? Let me know... 

Love Katie xXx

NEW YEAR, NEW HAIR

A fresh new year obviously comes with a "New you" plan. Im never one for fad diets, il try and be good, but let's be honest... What's fun about munching on a lettuce leaf when a bar of chocolate tastes SOOO much better! Plus after Christmas I end up with a bunch of chocolate and sweets given too me as presents and there's no way am I giving these away!! (Greedy I know, count yourself lucky if I even share them out, aha)

So what could I do to make myself feel good at the beginning of a fresh new year....?

During the Christmas period I moved into my boyfriends parents house to look after their home whilst his parents were on holiday, when they were due back, me and my partner both cleaned the house throughly, but apparently when his parents got back home they had to empty the Hoover 4 times with my hair! (They do have a little Hoover) Does your hair get everywhere?  Everytime I brushed my hair, I could easily make a wig with the left over hair that has got caught up in my hairbrush. I think most girls have this problem? Right? So it's time for my hair too have some TLC. 

This is a before photo! I really couldn't cope, the condition of my hair felt like cotton wool and iv never been one for being able to style the back of my hair. I'd often come into work with a big matte mess on my crown. 

As a hairdresser, this wasn't a very professional look and quite surprising it's quite shocking I'm a hairdresser with crazy, messy, bad hair. It was time to have the chop and go for a different look, I absolutely love Khloe Kardashians hair and wanted something similar, so it was time to create the POB

My friend at work gave me a makeover, I  had a full head colour applied too my scalp instead of highlights and roughly around 3/4inches cut off. She has done a beautiful job!! 

My hair feels so much healthier and to be honest, everytime I look in the mirror my new hair style reminds me of when I was a salon junior, (It's knocked years off me, aha!) as I always had a blonde bob. I do NOT miss my long hair, I thought I would but my POB style is so much easier to look after. I blow dry it under with a large brush and section off each section and straighten my hair (Using heat protector, obviously!) 

Its easy too look after, my brush doesn't get that hairy and I just feel so much sexier, move out the way Khloe Kardashian! 

What was your favourite hairstyle you've had done? Do you give yourself New Years resolutions? 

Love Katie xXx

HAPPY FIRST BLOG BIRTHDAY

Happy birthday too me, happy birthday too me, happy first birthday to my blog, happy birthday too me! 

Today 12th January marks the day Iv had my blog one whole year ago today!! 12 whole months, 365 days... Blimey! 

Anyway, happy new year guys, (sorry I'm 12 days behind) and a whole load of months since I last wrote my last blog post. I admit I lost my blog touch throughout September leading up to Christmas, I had a lot on my heart and mind and was focusing on myself for a while. It's January 2016 and a fresh new year so Iv decided that one of my new year resolutions is to be more organised with my blog and upload a post at least once every two weeks. (Well I shall try too) so stay in touch and you'll be reading more posts from me this year very soon! I do hope you all had a lovely Christmas and new year. Have you set yourself any new year resolutions? What do you have planned for 2016? 

Love Katie

xXx 

(Picture does not belong too me) 

HAPPY SEPEMBER... 10 things I love about Autumn

Pinch... Punch.. First of the month! 

It's 1st September today... I can't believe how quickly this year has flown.. I'm sure if you had £1 for every time you heard that line you would be a millionaire by now plus it won't be long until it's Chri.... Yea yea no one really wants to hear that word just yet! 

But..

School holidays are over, your journey to work/school doubles in time in the mornings & the evenings start to get longer. 

Our summer days are officially over and autumn is heading in thick and fast, but it's not all sad as there are some amazing reasons to love Autumn. Here are my top 10 reason to love this time of year.  

1. Dig out the oversized, cosy scarves to wrap around you, an accessorie that never goes out of fashion!

2. The trees turning a beautiful shade of orange and red whilst decorating the ground in fallen, crisp leaves which you can find in a huge pile to jump into. 

3. Dust down your hot chocolate tubs from the back of your cupboards (& of course a delicious pack of bickys too dunk into your hot drink)

4. Netflix and Chill just got so much better with a roaring fire, blankets and lots of snuggles 

5. Halloween.. Which means you can be a big kid and carv pumpkins (which can be a little sticky and groose but funny to carv what ever you like without any skill, munch on toffee apples and dress up as whatever you would like to scare a lot of people. 

 

6. You can also start wearing your chunky knitted jumpers that have been hogging space in your wardrobe over the summer. 

7. Cinnamon, spiced or apple scented Yankee candles that light up any room to give you the cosy autumn glow at night. 

8. You reinvent yourself and your make up bags with red or plum lipsticks teamed with gold glittery eye shadows... 

9 Roast Dinners... I can't eat these in the summer! It has to be a cold, gloomy day which gets brightened up by piles of vegetables, Yorkshire puds & gravy! De-luscious! 

10. Okay... You just know that Christmas is just around the corner and you start writing a list to Santa knowing you've been very good this year. 

Not all the photos belong to me!

What do you love the most about Autumn? 

Love Katie xXx

 

BIGGER, BOLDER, SEXIER

THIS IS SOOO EXCITING.... Iv been desperate to get my little mitts on the new 'benefit they're real beyond blue mascara' for AGESSSS... 

Benefit advertise this mascara range as "Bigger, Bolder Sexier lashes!" 

94% volume

90% base to tip curl 

94% visible lift

100% long wearing results 

Recently Benefit have released TWO new 'they're real mascara' colours £19.50 each along side FOUR new 'they're real push up liners'. The new colours are: Beyond blue mascara and Beyond brown mascara and the push up liners come in beautiful shades of Beyond Blue, Beyond Brown, Beyond Green & Beyond Purple £18.50 each 

So much more colour ;-) 

This range has been extended from the original they're real mascara and push up liner in the Beyond Black collection. I get so bored of wearing black mascara everyday, I thought to myself that I wear different shades of lipsticks daily so I thought why not wear different shades of mascaras? 

The beyond brown mascara would probably be worn as a more neutral makeup look, I'm not a natural kind of makeup girl. I didn't purchase the brown mascara, not for any particular reason, it's just not for me and I'm not going to lie I'm all about the Beyond Blue Mascara as it looks more dramatic and F.U.N

The blue mascara is such an 80s look, and as I was growing up blue mascara reminds me of my mum. Did your mum wear blue mascara? This is the only colour she would wear when I was younger. She wore bright blue eyes and bright red lips, although as the years have gone on the blue mascara obviously went out of fashion but my mums bright red lips have remained still to this very day. 

I also didn't purchase any of they're real push up liners today as I don't really wear eye liner anymore, I do go through stages where I love a winged eye liner look but today just wasn't one of them days! I must add though that I do own a Beyond Black Liner and its perfect for people who can't hold a steady hand. The gel tip glides across your eyes giving you more control and it also dries very quickly. Quicker than you can say "Be ready in 5 minutes" (you should already be out the door) although I am SO tempted to go and buy the green, blue & purple liners dust down my liner skills and give my eyes more of a dramatic look go to with my blue mascara. 

What colour is you're favourite? 

Have you purchased any of the 'they're real collection'?

Let me know... Love Katie xXx 

OUR EGYPTIAN HOLIDAY

I usually write a diary, and for a change I'd though I'd share it with you, as this holiday means ALOT too me. 

Sunday 5th July

The holiday blog! The one I've properly been so excited too write for a long, long time. It's finally here! We're thousands and thousands of miles up in the air heading to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt to celebrate mine and my boyfriends 6th year of being together.  We sadly had to change our holiday from Tunisia due to the awful, heartbreaking news of a shooting. As a couple we have faced many challenges along the last six years and this has been the first time were able to hop on a plane and head thousands of miles away from home to make an amazing memory that shall last a lifetime in our life together.

The view from my seat is MAGICAL. I choose a window seat as  I haven't been abroad many times before so the view keeps taking my breath away. I'm pretty sure in all honesty that it doesn't matter how many times you have been on a plane before this view stuns everyone, every time especially from a bird eye view. We flew over some really amazing countries, these included France, Italy, Greece and Turkey. I saw beautiful mountains and Coast lines views that I would never see from Land. The flight is around 5 hours long. As the hours are going by, day light is also fading, yet again leaving a beautiful picturesque evening sky line. 

Monday 6th July

Waking up to my first full day in Egypt, and it's like we've landed in paradise. The heat hits you, like KABOOOM! It's sooooooo warm... It's 8.30am and the patio doors are wide open, fresh air blowing through the Egyptian cotton nets into our room, and people down by the pool putting down their towels to reserve their sun loungers. I can not believe I'm really here. I feel like I'm in a film! I won't bore you too much about my holiday. Today's highlight: My other half being asked if he's Egyptican... TWICE... By two different men! Hilarious... It's an on going joke. Tobias has dark hair, brown eyes and he tans so easily! If he had a pound for every time he was asked if he is foreign, I'd be engaged by now! 😊 

Tuesday 7th July

Staying by the Red Sea we have been told that snorkelling is a must do! I hate getting my face wet so we only purchased one snorkelling kit for my boyfriend. We headed to the sea in search of some exotic fish, after around 15minutes Tobias persuaded me to try out his snorkels, needless to say he ended up giving in to begging me for them back.. He went off to buy me some 😊 it was amazing! Our first snorkelling experience together, we saw a puffer fish, it was surreal! Tonight we have planned to go to Egypts SOHO market, it's like the land of the rich. It had African dancers, streets entertainers, dancing fountain, ice ring, ice bar & restaurants floating on a river through the street market which they called the River Nile (obviously) A no hassle shopping mall with so much choice. The streets were immaculate, it seems hotter in the evenings than during the day! We were both BOILING! P.s our tans are coming along nicely. 

Wednesday 8th July

More sunbathing, relaxing and lounging around the pool was on today's agenda. At 7.30pm we had planned to go on an excursion we booked on Monday. We headed to Egypt's Old Market, apparently one of the oldest towns in Egypt. It was very much an experience to say the least. We got hassled by every man there was, every shop we walked past & an defiantly eye opener to what we saw.  A complete different world away to the SOHO market we went to yesterday. There were men on camels everywhere, kids playing on motorbikes, people driving around with no sense of the high way code, stray cats & dogs wondering around, the roads had rubble and rubbish scattered everywhere, & a heavy stench of fish, but we did grab ourselves some good bargains. Apparently it's the place to go shopping for all your "designer needs" I'm glad we did this market, I'd go again. I think it's more the shock of how England and Egypt are worlds apart. 

Thursday 9th July 

Tonight we walked into charming Sharm, took around 30minutes each way, every "taxi" that went past they hooted their horns and flashed their head lights half of the vehicles that made out to be a taxi were crammed with Egyptian men. Every shop we walked past we got asked to head into "we have good prices, like Primark, I make you good deal my beautiful english friend" but we only went for a McDonald's and a few souvenirs for our families. Our McDonald's was HUGE, and delicious. If your reading this blog Mr. Ronald Mcdoanld we need a spicy chicken Big Mac in England! (obviously!)

Friday 10th July. 

Today is our 6th year anniversary, this is why we're on holiday! This morning me and Tobias exchanged anniversary cards and presents. He brought me a 'looky looky Cartier love braclet' that he brought at Soho Marjet and I brought Tobias a stainless steel braclet from home. Today we decided to do a VIP Red Sea Cruise. Nothing I say, show or gabble on about will ever justify the amazing memories we saw today with our eyes. It was amazing! The best day we've had so far. We were collected from our hotel around 9am, taken down to the Old Market Port and headed out to sea with a snorkelling crew on a very posh boat. We stopped at three different destinations in the Red Sea And snorkelled around! I'm a little sad I didn't see any turtles but I suppose that's the beauty of this excursion, your never granted to know what your about too see. I can't believe the amazing sea life that lives beneath us. It's beautiful. If you ever come to Sharm El Sheikh you MUST MUST MUST do this cruise!! (I can't swim and I managed to doggy paddle around) 

Saturday 11th July

Our last full day in Egypt 😞 we've not had the time to use our hotel beach yet, so we spent all day there. Its covered in sombrero style umbrellas to shade people from the sun, camels walking up and down with a few piers branching off. We were told during the week that if we snorkelled off the pier, we would see massive fish.  We had to wait for the yellow flag to appear for it to be deemed safe! I still got knocked around and a massive bruise appeared on my leg (ouch) after the sea bashed me into the stairs (personally this yellow flag could of waited another half an hour before it went up, My legs are black a& blue) but it was all worth the view. I don't remember the names of the fish, but I think after this week I feel happy I actually faced a fear of getting my face wet as what lies beneath the sea is breath taking. 

Sunday 12th July

We fly home today (I'm so sad!) it's been amazing! We can't think of one negative thing to say about our holiday (except it's ended too soon) The hotel staff have been sooo friendly, and can't even help you out enough. Showered us with drinks, smiles & plenty of ridiculous English words. We just sat around the pool getting our last minute tan top up, when the time came to meet our bus back to Sharm El Sheihk airport I literally thought I was going to cry. IV had the most amazing holiday ever and can not wait to go back again...

My last photo of our holiday.. The beautiful birds eye view of Sharm El Sheikh. 

We were staying at Jazz Mirabel Beach hotel, Sharm El Sheikh. Its a 25minute drive from the airport. When we got to the hotel we were greated by the hotels friendly staff, check in was really quick and we had a golf buggy waiting for us at the hotels entrance with our luggage on the back. The entrance was beautiful with a fountain in the middle of the lobby. Its a five star hotel with its own private beach that you can snorkel off with a few piers either end of the beach. The beach also contains several beach bars to top up on drinks and snacks. Two large family swimming pools, with pool bars around to grab plenty of refreshments, a sports swimming pool and two children's paddling pools, plenty of sunbeds too choose from. Tennis courts, spa and an amphitheatre for entertainments. Our room was cleaned everyday, with fresh towels and new bedding and air conditioning. Our hotel balcony over looked onto the pool gardens. Plenty of restaurants to eat from & a little shopping market complex to buy bags, sunglasses and souviners from.  It was just amazing! 

I'm sorry I wasn't able to upload any photos of the Red Sea as they are on a different camera and I haven't been able  to sort them out for my blog xx

Where did you go on holiday this year? Have you ever been to Egypt?

Love Katie xXx

Just a few lines that the Egyptian men said to me & Tobias that we thought we're funny:

 Hello my good friend/ boss

Asda price like tesco 

Cheaper than primark

I love England, my cousin from Camden 

You lucky man

Dogs bollocks

Hey sister, sister 

Ah I love England!

My names Adam. 

If you call an Egyptian Mohammed, you've proberly got his name right. 

Lovely jubbly

See ya wouldn't wanna be ya