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5 Things for 2019 – update #2
What a busy and turbulent quarter 2 2019 has been! Here what’s been happening with my original goals, plus a few extra bits of gossip…- Shop in my own closet 75% of the time
Dress, Joanie / Shoes, Vans / Location, Aloft Liverpool
- This one has still been going OK, but mostly by default – can’t see much in the shops that I like, and when I have tried to do any shopping most of the stuff has gone back as it just isn’t right. I’m planning to spend a bit more this month to update my summer/holiday wardrobe as the weather has kicked it up a few notches and I’m making summer vacay plans (more about that in a bit)
- Get a home bar
Progress of this one is pretty straightforward – we actually have a bar in an area of our home, we just haven’t made it functional yet! As you can see by this pic, it has quite a specific look, so it’s going to take a bit of time to work out how to decorate around it. We’ve managed to set up and style a full bar cart (which has been done since the New Year, I just haven’t written a post about it yet) so we’re part way there.
- Un-join the gym and get outside
This one is going ok, particularly now the UK weather is getting a bit warmer and the nights have been lighter. Still a bit hit and miss on occasions; sometimes I can be out and about and pretty active, other days it’s a bit more of a challenge, so I’m just trying to do as much as I can when I can. I still have a regular little walking group with my pals to keep things on a social and motivational track, myself and the Mr also pop out sometimes after work as a good way of unwinding from the day and setting aside some properly quality time.
- Get out of the house more
- Dranks out, drinks in
I’m going to be honest and say that I think I need to take this one off the table. After reviewing the goal and becoming more sociable in the evenings (as per goal #4) I’ve decided it’s not achievable because I don’t want it to be at the moment. Part of setting foals is to review and track their progress , then make changes if the original plan isn’t working out, so that’s what I’m doing. I’d still say that about 50% of the time in social situations I’m driving and having soft drinks, but still
So, what else has been happened since we last caught up?
- I booked a summer holiday
Ya gal is heading back to Greece! After a fabulous trip to Santorini in 2018 (I did a series of blog posts on Island hotspots, best things to do and a guide to Greek food) the Mr and I are heading to Mykonos. If you have any top tips for things to do (other than take loads of money) or places to go, please let me know. We considered going to Ibiza but, as my other half so eloquently put it when he saw the cost, “it’s getting ideas above its station with those prices! ” and I got my first choice of vacay. Yay.
- I went back to the dark side
- To keep my hair looking healthy and easy to manage, Chelsea and I decided to give me hair a bit of dark chocolate makeover for summer. I know right; I’m the only person who goes dark for the summer months!
- I turned 36
Ugh. Not one I like to admit, but it’s happened and I’m dealing with it! To mark this ‘milestone’ I did a bit of a different blog post to any I’ve done before, but I really enjoyed putting it together!
For the past few years I’ve done a dedicated ‘what I got/did for my birthday’ but this year was a bit more low key due to some persona and family illness. Instead I thought I’d just do a little roundup here (like I did with my Lanzarote holiday in my last update post) of some key parts. Had some lively food, went to a Shappi Khorsandi gig and had a quick but lovely visit to Liverpool
And that brings us nicely to the present day and in to quarter 3 of 2019, I wonder where it’ll take me…
Thanks for reading,
J xx
- Shop in my own closet 75% of the time
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Make your own Pomada: the official fiesta recipe of the Balearics
Remember a little while ago a did a post about things I liked before they were cool and mentioned I’d share a cocktail recipe shortly after? Well here it is! Well, I say cocktail, it’s more of a localised G&T recipe, but they’re practically one in the same these days right?
The drink is called Pomada and it’s a Menorcan concoction traditionally drank at fiestas. You can also buy it on the island in a pre mixed form (made with lemon juice, so slightly different from the recipe below).
Much like alcohol at a UK festival, people will take their own Pomada and swig it as they walk around enjoying the fiesta as they slowly get wasted throughout the evening…thank the lord I attended them before the days of social media and camera phones!
Pomada is a super simple and refreshing summer drink, and I’m determined to get more people in the UK drinking it so that Xoriguer gin will start being stocked in the UK and I can re-live my youth!
You will need:
- Xoriguer gin
- Fanta Lemon
- Lemon wedge
- Ice
Official method:
- Put 2-3 chunks of ice in to a tumbler
- Add in a 35ml of gin
- Top up with Fanta Lemon
- Add lemon wedge to serve
Fiesta method:
- Pour out half the Fanta Lemon from the bottle
- Fill the other half up with the gin
- Give the whole thing a bit of a shake
- Off you go to get your fiesta oooonnnnn
Which ever recipe you choose, always follow the same final step: always drink sociably.
If you want to find out more about the traditional Menorcan fiestas (which you definitely should if you’re ever planning a visit) this website has a decent amount of information.Salut! And thanks for reading,
J xx
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My non-alcoholic “Pimms” recipe (with one super bizarre ingredient)
It’s official: the weather is pretty nice, the sunnies are firmly fixed on our faces and the beer gardens are once again full…hello Spring/Summer you cheeky devil!As I’ve mentioned previously, this year is about drinking a little less often but still being sociable, so I’m reaching for drinks that still allow me to enjoy some of the summer trends but allow me to keep to my goals.
My faux Pimms recipe is perfect for this as it tastes the same (in my opinion) as the real deal but you can still be the designated driver after a massive jug full of the stuff. Plus, you can make it with key ingredients that you may already have at home:
– Tall, cool looking glass (mine is from the homeware section at
– Lemonade (I used Schweppes slimline, but any standard lemonade will be fine)
– Balsamic vinegar
– Lemon and lime wedges cute in to segments
– Ice
Step 1: put 2 or 3 large ice cubes in the bottom of your glassStep 2: fill you glass 2/3 to 3/4 way up with lemonade
Step 3: add 1/3 to 1/4 balsamic vinegar to top up (I would recommend adding in a lower amount and then tasting so that you’re adding an amount that tastes nice to you and not too vinegar-ey)
Step 4: add in segments of lemon and lime
Enjoy!
Thanks for reading,
J xx
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36 Words of wisdom, wonderings and randomness.
Happy birthday to someone I have known my whole life – frenemy, fashion eclectic (and by eclectic I mean ‘swings between too glam to give a damn’ or ‘how many days have you not washed your hair and worn those leggings for gurl?) and THE best card DJ you would ever have the pleasure of riding with.Me!
I’ve written down 36 thoughts below, one for each year. There’s nothing more profound than that I’m afraid, but I hope you are enjoyed and amused by at least a few of them!
1. Bridget Jones had it right on the money – whether my dress size says I’m a 10 or a 14, I will always be just a little bit fat.
2. A walk goes a long way to clear your head.
3. Diets do not work. At my lower moments I have hoped and prayed they would, but they don’t. If you go on a diet you have to come off one sometime. To prove it, last year I tried one of the latest weight loss fads, Boom Bod, click the hyperlink to see what happened.
4. Get me on karaoke to Iggy Azalea’s Fancy and I will crush it.
5. Victoria Beckham didn’t start her uber popular fashion brand until she was 34 after a whole other career, so there’s still a chance I could become some kind of mogul yet.
6. I happily fall asleep listening to something ‘murder-ey’ – Snapped: Killer Couples or Deadly Women are my faves.
7. 9 months is pretty much the maximum I can have a hair style/colour before I must change it immediately…then pining for my old look immediately.
8. In this life you’re one of two things: good at selfies, or not good at selfies.
9. I have the same eyebrow lady as Scary Spice (I wonder if she has a pre-appointment pink lemonade like I do?).
10. Some flaws are easier to embrace than others – it turns out what I thought were freckle clusters that came out in the sun are actually a skin condition called Melasma, but I think it’s cute so I don’t actively seek to cover it up.
11. Travel the world, but don’t forget what’s right on your doorstep – get to know the culture and beauty of your own country.
12. Only follow people on Instagram that make you happy or positively inspire you.
13. You can go to Benidorm an experience cool rooftop bars, instagrammable spots and fabulous steak. Trust me I’ve been there and done it!
14. Kusadasi is beautiful and very affordable part of Turkey to visit, but boy do most of the locals seem to despise British holidaymakers…
15. An Aperol Spritz becomes an extra lil’ something when you sub the soda water for fresh orange juice. Aperol Mimosa – you’re welcome.
16. Sunsets are one nature’s most beautiful occurrences, but so are sunrises. Plus, you don’t have to share them with as many people.
17. Why is it called hot chocolate if it’s frozen…is THAT the Serendipity??
18. If you’re in New York City and want to visit Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment, the address is 66 Perry Street in Greenwich Village. It’s a small road just off Bleacker Street, and NYC cabbies have nooooo idea where it is when you ask them to take you there.
19. Strategically placed glitter can cover up sunburn a treat…but can literally take days to remove from your body. Even even when you think it’s all gone…bam, there’s a fleck on your right boob.
20. Not everybody will have the same beliefs or make the life choices as you; one size doesn’t fit all in this life and nor should it have to. You don’t have to understand why others do what they do, but you do have to accept it.
21. I am not Boiler Man.
22. For anyone who questions my driving ability – earlier this year I transported 16 cups of hot coffee from Costa along a very busy road and did not spill a drop (here’s a photo of my friend Rachel who was here to witness this crowning moment).
23. The first time I slept in a tent (well, yurt) as an adult, I woke up surrounded by heavy snow.
24. Meeting Santa is blooming brilliant, even if you don’t have kids.
25. I make a really nice paella.
26. I recently found out that I use the same Smashbox colour correcting primer as a well-known former football manager.
27. There’s a cult phenomenon in Hull called a ‘Shit on the grass’. It’s a shot available in the Old Town called the Manchester Arms, and if you’re ever in the city (or a local that has never partaken) you should stop by and check it out!
28. I once met Chubby Brown (unfortunately on purpose, but not by choice) and he said “testicles” to me.
29. I have also read Chubby Brown’s first autobiography (on purpose) which I quite enjoyed.
30. There’s ALWAYS something good about the place you live (well, I’d say a solid 95% of the time in exceptional circumstances. Find it and be proud! I love that the city I’m from is quirky and filled with street art galleries, comedy and music. Also, don’t let anybody talk smack about your home town unless they have the genuine insight to back it up.
31. Sometimes you’re weird because your are family are weird and they made you. You didn’t stand a chance.
32. Look up. Look around. Do it often.
33. The Dunelm Teddy Bear range is cosy AF, I’d recommend investing in some immediately if not sooner.
34. If we could all truly see the things that others thought were awesome about us for ourselves, the world could be…I don’t know how to finish this because we probably never will, but just imagine.
35. I’m the exact age I’m meant to be . It’s only myself that gives a shit what that number is, and only me that can stop myself feeling oldAF (if anyone has any tips to achieve this, please do comment below!).
36. I am so proud, thrilled and excited to be a co-founder and member of the HEY Bloggers community. I’m glad to say I count many of the people I have met on this journey so far as friends and all round lovely people. Thank you xx
let me know which number was your fave! Thanks for reading,
J xx
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The art of not giving a fuck
I did think about putting a couple of ** in the title, but then thought “why? The whole point is NOT to give a crap right?
Throughout all of this, however, I’ve learned that unfortunately, you can’t always alter your mind perception (at least not fully, 100% of the time) and that you have to seek out another way to cope so that you can get up and leave the house every day.
And for me, the answer was given to me by the good folks who wrote Book of Mormon: turn it off.
Turn it off. Push the feelings of feeling like utter crap to one side, put my fingers in my ears singing “lalalalala I can’t hear you”, utter state of denial. This may not sound healthy, but it’s what I do.
Think of it as being a model or actress. In front of the camera, they become someone else, another character, and get the results they needed. So that’s sometimes what I feel I need to do. Beyonce has Sasha Fierce, Stefanie Germanotta has Lady Gaga, and I have Princess J-Bar*.
* I don’t actually refer to myself as Princess J-Bar; I once joked to the Mr that this would be my rap name so refer to that when I’m trying to be funny.
Swimsuit, Next / Rose gold sunglasses, ASOS / Black sunglasses Dorothy Perkins / Biker jacket, ASOS / Dress, Dorothy Perkins
So now you know. You may not agree with it, and that’s fine, but you may also think “I could totally try that” and it may just be the thing that gets you out of the house and back in the game.
Whatever you think, cheers for reading my ramblings!
J xx
About Me
I’m Jenny, nice to meet you. I’m a thirty-something who likes fashion, holidays and wondering about life. A lot.
Jenny Chat 