Sunshine.

A little bit of sun on my skin is all it takes to lift my mood and make me feel more energetic and enthusiastic for making plans out and about. Last week I drove over to my parents house and, while I was waiting for them to come home from work, took a few photos of the cute ponies who live just across from their garden. They were happy to pose for a few photos (probably in the hopes I had a carrot handy - next time, promise!)

It feels nice to leave the house without a winter coat on with a cardi or jacket in its place, and Lily and Lola definitely prefer the brighter weather. Walking them when it's raining, cold, snowing or windy is basically impossible!

I hope you're all enjoying the slight change in weather. Let's hope we've seen the last of the damn snow!

You have read this article diary with the title diary. You can bookmark this page URL http://oscarthemaori.blogspot.com/2013/04/sunshine.html. Thanks!

Bank Holiday in photos.

This Bank Holiday: 

• Jonathan turned 30 and to celebrate we played crazy golf and had dinner with his family.

• I discovered I was reasonably good at crazy golf. 

• I decided after this post and your comments and tweets that I will definitely get my hair chopped off soon and have a consultation for the colour change.

• We had dinner with friends at a local restaurant, ate until we were stuffed then went home to play Mouse Trap.

• I tried to get to grips with my camera and actually took a photo I was pleased with *hallelulah!*

• I made an epic salad which was probably the only greenery I ate in all 4 days.

• the sun made an appearance which made up for losing an hour of sleep.

• Jonathan and I watched episodes of The Walking Dead behind our hands and finished series two.

• I wore my new peplum jumper from Next and looked slightly pregnant.

• I ate chocolate until I felt sick.

• I painted my nails to look like Mini Eggs.

• I took regular naps.

You?

You have read this article diary with the title diary. You can bookmark this page URL http://oscarthemaori.blogspot.com/2013/04/bank-holiday-in-photos.html. Thanks!

Last weekend.

This week has run away with itself a little bit therefore it's almost time for a brand new weekend when here I am talking about the last one! Nonetheless I thought I'd share what we got up to last Saturday and Sunday along with a few photos I took with my new camera.

On Saturday I consumed way more crumble and custard than any one human should, paraded round in my new studded pumps as it stopped raining for all of 10 minutes and saw both my family and Jonathan's family.

My sister was back at my mum and dad's for a few days (she lives on the Isle of Man) so on Saturday they drove to Rotherham to see us. My sister even brought one of her dogs, Chilli the Chihuahua, who I love so dearly but haven't seen in so long. He's a little old man now and, as my sister got him as a wee puppy, he has been in our family for a rather long time (he's about12 years old if I'm not mistaken!)

After a cup of tea and a catch up we headed out for lunch at the Golden Ball in Rotherham, one of our favourite places to go for food. Service was a little slower than it has been for us in the past but we put that down to there being 5 of us instead of just Jonathan and I, plus we weren't in a rush. I had vegetable soup with bread and butter to start with, followed by a sweet potato and bean burger with chips, then finally the biggest bowl of apple and cherry crumble I have ever seen complete with ice cream AND custard.

Needless to say this lunch was more of a lunch and dinner all in one and probably my whole calorie allowance for the weekend, but not to worry. It was great to see my folks and my sister, who I don't get to see very often, and any excuse for a huge meal!

On Sunday we headed to Jonathan's mum and dad's house for a big Sunday lunch which is always followed by a cup of tea and a large quantity of biscuits and After Eight mints. Well if you can't treat yourself on a weekend, when can you?! ;)

The theme for the weekend ahead mainly revolves around food. We're going for dinner with friends and having a relaxing day on Sunday when no doubt we will cook something tasty and probably slightly fattening.

Have a good Friday folks!

You have read this article diary / lily and lola / Sarenza with the title diary. You can bookmark this page URL http://oscarthemaori.blogspot.com/2013/03/last-weekend.html. Thanks!

Canon 1100D.

I recently took the plunge and treated myself to a new camera. The Canon 1100D to be precise. I wanted to step up from my digital camera without venturing too far into fancy camera land, and this model seemed to be the one most recommended for beginners.

My digital camera has served me well and will still be used all the time, but it only takes good photos outdoors or indoors on a bright, sunny day which isn't always ideal.

I love taking photos on holidays and days out, as well as capturing outfits, makeup and the Pugs for my blog, and I thought it was about time I made an investment into something that would be more reliable.

Still very much sticking to "auto" mode, but dabbling slightly in the macro and sport settings, my initial impressions are very, very good. Since I bought the camera the sun hasn't made an appearance but even indoor nighttime photos using the flash come out so much better than my digitial camera ever did outdoors in perfect conditions.

I am really excited about getting into photography a lot more and (hopefully) taking some great photos. Lily and Lola have been very patient models for me and I have been enticing them to keep still using their favourite treats. But before they become obese through doggie treats I plan to venture outside or take the camera on a day out somewhere to really give it a good testing out.

Do you have this camera? Any tips for a beginner like me? Have you done any photography courses or would you recommend doing one as a newbie?

You have read this article diary / miscellaneous with the title diary. You can bookmark this page URL http://oscarthemaori.blogspot.com/2013/03/canon-1100d.html. Thanks!

Cocoa Wonderland, Sheffield.

At the weekend my friend and I ventured into Sheffield to visit somewhere we have had our eye on for a while but not found time to visit; Cocoa Wonderland. Sounds pretty fancy doesn't it?

I originally stumbled upon their website when I was trying to find some book and craft clubs in South Yorkshire, as Cocoa run a book club and a knitting club on a regular basis so they popped up in my results. We weren't too sure whether there was the option to sit inside and have treats as well as buying chocolate to take away, but we decided to take a drive up there to find out.

When you walk inside you're met with a small shop area with chocolate everywhere. It's brilliant. It was so busy when we arrived, possibly due to lots of people purchasing last minute Mothers Day presents, that we headed straight through the shop into the small downstairs seating area. Luckily there was a little cosy corner with a couple of free chairs and a table just right for the two of us. There was more seating upstairs, and I'd have loved to go up to have a nosy at the decor, but we stuck to downstairs and perused the menus.

If I ran a chocolate shop/cafe, I would want it to be kitted out just like Cocoa is. Well-worn armchairs, vintage framed postcards and artwork covering every wall surface, and shelves full of pretty items to purchase from giant Easter eggs to fancy photo frames, stripey drinking straws, paper lanterns, and fabric purses.

It can only be described as the Alice in Wonderland of chocolate shops. I only wish I had taken my 'proper' camera instead of having to take snaps with my iPhone, but hopefully you get the gist of it!

What happened next can only be described as a distinct lack of judgement when we placed our orders. We both went for hot chocolate AND a chocolate based cake. Katy had the Rocky Road hot chocolate along with a huge pecan brownie. I opted for the "thick" hot chocolate and a huge slab of double chocolate gateaux.

My chocolate gateaux was delicious and I ate every last morsel of it. The thick hot chocolate was just too rich for me and I utterly regretted not going for a strawberry and white chocolate milkshake, a cup of regular tea, or a normal milky hot chocolate.

Katy polished off her hot chocolate which was topped with "rocky road" goodies but only managed half of her brownie (although I think the other half lasted for about 30 minutes once she got it home...) I had a cheeky bite of the brownie and can confirm it was delicious!

We will be going back without a doubt! Next time we would like to sample one of the tasting platters and I am determined to try a milkshake, as I had complete envy over the other diners who had opted for one.

On our way out we needed to pick up a few bits from the shop for Mothers Day but it was still heaving, with the queue snaking round the shop and nobody quite knowing who was next. The girls behind the counter did a cracking job of serving us all quickly with a smile on their faces, and the time in the queue gave us chance to have a look at the truffles behind the counter and some of the bars of chocolate on display, although it was difficult to get a look at everything. 

We ordered our boxes of truffles, which were wrapped beautifully, and made our way out of the shop and back to the car feeling a little high on sugar but happy nonetheless.

You have read this article adventures / diary / share the love with the title diary. You can bookmark this page URL http://oscarthemaori.blogspot.com/2013/03/cocoa-wonderland-sheffield.html. Thanks!

The week/end.

This week I have been:

• making the most of a week at home before returning to normality (i.e. work) next week. I get a sad pleasure from seeing the washing basket empty.

• cross stitching my little heart out trying to finish the February square from my Woodland Sampler.

• playing with my new camera and not really knowing what I'm doing (thanks for the help Rosie!)

• watching episodes of The Walking Dead and The Following, mainly hiding behind my hands.

• bawling my eyes out at the last episode of Derek.

• searching for a well fitted blazer that will go with jeans, black work trousers and smart dresses but not managing to find one.

• stroking my latest shoe purchase (Jeffrey Campbell studded pumps c/o Sarenza) and wishing the rain would go away so I can actually wear them.

• reading The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets and wishing I enjoyed it more.

• exercising like a woman on a mission and feeling pretty great.

• enjoying my peachier rear (see point above).

• making old Yankee Candle jars into storage pots.

• attempting to give blood before having my appointment slot cancelled as apparently I didn't give enough notice. Don't they realise if I book it too far in advance I will chicken out!

This weekend I will be:

• cleaning the house ready for visitors on both Saturday and Sunday.

• taking a jaunt to Meadowhall to find a perfect blazer (see earlier point).

• visiting Cocoa Wonderland for tea and cake.

• having curry with friends.

• playing games and being silly with said friends.

• ringing my Mum to wish her Happy Mothers Day and to check she got her gift.

• cooking for Jonathan's family.

• enjoying an early night on Sunday ready for the start of a new week.

How about you?  What have you been up to this week and what plans have you got for the weekend?

You have read this article diary / lily and lola / Sarenza with the title diary. You can bookmark this page URL http://oscarthemaori.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-weekend.html. Thanks!

Flashback Thursday: seeing Zooey Deschanel in the flesh!

Back in 2010, just after dying my blonde locks brown, before I lost a heap of weight and before Jonathan and I had met, I went to London to watch She & Him. I'm a huge fan of their music and have been since I first heard their beautiful, easy-listening sound, so when I heard they were coming to the UK I snapped up some tickets.

They were superb live, and the small venue meant we were super close to the stage. Zooey is absolutely tiny in real life and, of course, very beautiful.

Unfortunately the camera I had back then didn't cope well with their louder songs plus the sound cut out when I zoomed in (#fail) but never mind. I still managed to put together a few video clips and I thought, in the spirit of "Flashback Thursday" which I have seen floating around Instagram and Twitter, I would share the video once more.

I store all of my videos on Vimeo, as You Tube scares the living daylights out of me, so feel free to have a nosy if you're bored!

She & Him - Koko, London (7 May 2010) from lilyloveslolavideos on Vimeo.

You have read this article diary / music with the title diary. You can bookmark this page URL http://oscarthemaori.blogspot.com/2013/02/flashback-thursday-seeing-zooey.html. Thanks!

Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

On Saturday morning we woke up feeling rather optimistic that it wasn't as cold outside as it looked, so we decided to take a trip to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park armed with woolly gloves, hats and a bag full of food.

I have been to YSP once before, probably about 8 or 9 years ago, but as it's not far from us and the sculptures are always changing (not to mention I can't remember what I did 8 or 9 months ago, never mind years!) off we went.

The Pugs sat this one out and stayed at home in their nice warm bed, which was probably a wise move. On the drive up there not only had the temperature dropped by several degrees but it had also started to snow ever so slightly. Lily and Lola are very particular about the weather they will venture out in and I'm not sure their little legs would have made it, as it's a pretty big place.

After about an hour and a half, spotting a fair few sculptures and taking a long walk round the lake, we admitted defeat, mainly due to frozen fingers and snowy faces.

We will be heading back in the warmer months (there's that optimism again!) as it would be a great spot for a picnic and a warmer stroll around the grounds.

The exhibition due to start in Spring of this year looks pretty interesting I must say!

Have you ever visited YSP?

Ugg Australia Dylyn boots and Mellow Yellow handbag c/o Sarenza

You have read this article adventures / diary / Sarenza with the title diary. You can bookmark this page URL http://oscarthemaori.blogspot.com/2013/02/yorkshire-sculpture-park.html. Thanks!