The Sport of Shopping

Shopping! What a glorious activity. It's such fun finding an item of clothing that you like, that fits you, that looks good and that you get to take home with you. That's what I did yesterday when I realised that I need to expand my wardrobe repertoire to more than... jeans. So I went to find some new wardrobe entries and welcomed 3 skirts, 2 dresses and a top (just for good measure).

I've also sorted through my bags and scarves and have a pile ready for photographing and uploading onto eBay so if you're looking for something new for your wardrobes (at a bargain!) check this space as I'll upload the link when they're done.

Welcome Emily

A big Congratulations goes out to my dear friend Clare and her husband David on the birth of their beautiful baby girl, Emily Helena who came into the world today, January 28.

Friday Cupcake Goodness

Don't these cupcakes look divine? Well... they were! :)

My (soon to be ex-) colleague, Sarah, baked these and got them in for us as a farewell gift.

I took the one with the white icing and the chocolate centre. I really ought to see if I can bake without the use of a mixer. It would be a good way to build up some arm muscles I guess!

Share the Beauty

Isn't this sky just beautiful?

The colours are so warm, yet vibrant, and I love the way they blend into each other effortlessly.

Wouldn't it be lovely to see a sky like this every evening?

Love Sprinkles

Kindle, With Love

My Christmas present arrived yesterday! Paul bought me the Kindle and after 4 weeks of patient waiting it was delivered. I think I made the DHL guy happy because I told him that he made my day when he delivered it.

I haven't actually used it yet because I got home late and I just didn't have the time or energy, besides it needs to be charged before it can be used and I want to make sure that I follow the instructions carefully.

It's the weekend though and I'll likely be spending it at home because I'm having a small treatment done tomorrow and I don't know how sore/uncomfortable I'm going to be afterwards, so that gives me lots of lovely Kindle reading time :)

Book: The Gift

Yesterday I finished reading Cecelia Ahern's The Gift. I really enjoy her books because they're whimsical and different. They've got a tinge of chick-lit to them without being totally stereotypical or sticky with sweetness.

I don't think they'll be everyone's cup of tea because there's a certain amount of faith, magic, un-realism to them which people might snub their noses at, but that's why I like them so much - because there's the element of believing in them.

So if you want to try something new to read, pick up a Cecelia Ahern book. For those of you who have read her novels, what's your opinion?

Burlesque!

Watch the trailer then watch the movie.

It's the first film that I've watched at the cinema for 2011 and I loved it.

The singing is fabulous, the dancing too and I adore Stanley Tucci.
That is all.

It's Panto time!

I've been attending panto ever since I can remember. It was always an annual event that we would never miss and I still find it strange that there are people who have never attended a pantomime in their lives.

I think panto is a great part of Christmas fun and attending the theatre is a great hobby of mine, so the combination is quite superb. Panto in Malta is apparently very different from panto in the UK (I would love to watch a panto in the UK at least once) because in Malta a lot of jokes centre around local current affairs and politics and well-known people are made fun of in the midst of whatever the story may be.

I attended two pantos this year, namely FM Theatre's Cinderella and MADC's Scrooge.

For Cinderella I still wasn't too well so I couldn't join in with the hissing at the baddie and the singing and all the audience participation that goes along with panto, unfortunately. Another unfortunate thing is that on the night that I went the audience seemed to have no idea of 'traditional' panto feedback such as the, 'Oh no you didn't', 'Oh yes I did' duet. That was totally lost and I pity the actor who had no feedback to work with!

Scrooge... was utterly amazing! It was one of the most impressive pantos I've ever seen. Everything was wonderful. The scenery was exceptional, the singing was top-notch, the costumes were lovely and the story was delightful (they kept to the original script for the most part and added panto bits to it, rather than having it all panto on a skeleton of the original story). I was truly blown away by this performance and could have watched it for longer.

So now here's looking forward to next year's offerings and seeing what they bring.

'Scrooge' photo courtesy of Pearl Works

Seeing in the New Year

I'll start by wishing you all a very Happy New Year. I hope that you ended 2010 in style and have welcomed 2011 with an open heart and open mind ready to accept anything that it may throw your way.

I've had to accept being ill. I had a good New Year's Eve and just about managed to get through New Year's Day lunch (albeit not finishing my salmon steak and eating even less of my lemon sorbet). By the time I got home though, I knew that I had to give in and rest so I cancelled tea which I was meant to host, got comfy under my quilt and spent a few hours on the sofa, in between bouts of dozing and coughing. 

Paul is being the best fiance ever though and is brewing tea and making me toast, and massaging my aching neck :)

I did manage to sleep throughout the night, even though I was plagued with the oddest and most detailed dreams. I reckon fever does that to you. Now it's another sofa day, with the footie playing on TV as I bang out these words on my laptop. This might be the perfect excuse to get a few more updates in...