23 - an update

On my 23rd birthday I posted about 23 things I wanted to accomplish this year and today marks the first quarter of the year! I though it would be good to have a check back and to see how I am doing with my goals. 

23 things to do while im 23!

1) Read 23 books

Read: 
- "This way for gas Ladies and Gentlemen" - Tadeusz Borowski- "The Kill/ La Curee"- Emile Zola - "Into that Darkness" - Gitta Sereny

Currently reading: 
- "The Husband's Secret" - Liane Moriarty

Next up: 
- The Book Thief (again- in preparation for the film) - Sherlock Holmes - The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes 
 
2) Visit 4 new places

- Visited Bath with my favourite girlies, you can read about it here! - I was in Morocco for my birthday, but seeing as I was already there I am not counting it as a new place! - Next trip - Singapore

3) Get a haircut that differs from the usual

- Not achieved....yet, although I did try a new hairstyle for the Blitz Ball, maybe that counts? 

4) Get a degree

- Working progress 

5) Do something that scares me

- I thought long and hard about this one and I have come up with two possibilities. As the idea of singing in public completely horrifies me, karaoke could be the way forward, or maybe I could conquer my fear of needles and give blood? 

6) Find a lipstick colour that suits me

- I think I have it sorted, thanks to NT's help, but I will find a picture for the next update!  7) Learn some Spanish

- Again, working progress

8) Learn how to shoot in manual with the camera

- See above, although I have been getting to grips with Istagram which has been a new challenge for me! (Follow me on bethanyscthomas)

9) Host a dinner party

- I have not hosted a dinner party but tomorrow night I am hosting a mince pie and mulled wine christmas party, so maybe that counts? 

10) Watch less trash television

- It is hard to tell but I think I have reduced the time I spend watching rubbish. I could go further with this one though! 

11) Set up a linked in profile and use it!

- This WILL happen soon, I am sure of it 

12) Make a proper Christmas cake

- Plans are in progress for the next few weeks. I have been hindered with a lack of a kitchen at university so as soon as I am back home I will be invading Mama T's kitchen!

13) Finish a knitting project

- Have yet to start let alone finish a knitting project. However, I do have in mind a certain something for a little secret santa present. 

14) Run 5k

- ERM....moving on 

16) Have my first massage

- Sadly no, it's on my Christmas list! 

17) Redesign my blog

- I have not been able to completely re-do my blog, but I have changed some of the colours....crazy I know! I have also added my Instagram feed to my sidebar, I am nothing if not radical! 

18) Wear yellow, at least once

- I feel this jumper is as far as I can go on the yellow front! 

19) Make far too much effort on a dressing up costume

- As yet not achieved, however I did don a cheeky sailor outfit for a recent dance performance, does this count? (Thanks to EB for the photo) 

20) Try a new style of dance (twerking not included)

- Yes yes yes!! I have tried not only hip hop but also belly dance! This is me and JJ before our first every belly dancing class as proof! 

21) Bake homemade bread

- Not yet! 

22) Attend a Ted talk

- Not yet! 

23) See the sunrise

- I feel this should happen at New Year!
 
Mood - Optimistic! 

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A Trip to Twickers

As many of you will know I have a little soft spot for a good game of rugby. My family are very rugby focussed and it could be said that it was a given that I would become involved! I have very vivid memories of cold, rainy sunday mornings spent on the pitch at the local rugby club as a child, so much so that I continued to play all through school. At the age of 17 I became a proud member of a girls rugby team, known officially as "the greatest team in the world." What can I say, it was fate, the beginning of a love affair that I am sure will last a lifetime. 

Proof! (circa 2007)

Last weekend I rekindled a few memories and spent a cold afternoon watching the Barbarians defeat Fiji at Twickenham, the glorious home of English rugby. It was great to see papa T, HT and BF again and to enjoy several hours of tense sporting excitement. 

We cheered, we sang, we danced, some of us drunk, (3 guesses who) and we had an all-round fantastic time. 

Thanks papa T for organising the tickets! 

Mood - Bring on the HK 7's 2014

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Insta-moments

I am relatively new to instagram as I only recently joined the modern world and bought a smart phone! I am being honest when I say that one of the main reasons I chose a smart phone was because of instagram, I realise that makes me about as uncool as you can get, but it is a title I more than willing to accept. What can I say, instagram has not let me down! Call me pathetic but I love the freedom of being able to capture sweet little moments, from the insignificant to the big occasions. It really is amazing how freely we are able to photograph the world these days and how incredible it is that everyone has the power to become a photographer. Not that I am counting myself as a photographer, but you know, now I have won my first photo competition and everything I am more keen than ever to get involved.

These little snaps capture my daily life, not just blog-worthy moments that are often contrived and carefully arranged to be photo ready but fleeting little wonders. Follow me on bethanyscthomas to see more! 

The last of the summer berries, you just can't beat a bowl of fresh summer fruit

A lovely little lunch date let to this wonderful moment! TS is a true butterfly whisperer

Love that vintage element to this railway station, so simple and perfect, it almost makes train-travel exciting, almost

A large proportion of my life in the last few months has been spent here, it wouldn't be fair to leave it out. I guess, as libraries go this isn't a bad view. 

Modern London, there is something very iconic about a London bus heading to Waterloo on a foggy, grey day in the big smoke

Outfit of the day, first day cold enough to merit a wooly tartan scarf, candy-pop trousers and a crisp white shirt

Two of the sweetings things in the world NT and a bunny, could there be anything cuter? 

Lights in London, christmas is coming! 

I whole heartedly support Movember, keep up the good work lads! 

French inspired jewellery can only make French class more fun! 

Snuggles with Miss LP and Teddy, hands down the best way to wake up in the morning! 

Knobbly, spotty perfect pumpkins in Borough Market! So good you could eat them! 

Real love comes in a handmade mug filled with hot, chocolately goodness

Mood - festive 

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Bath Beauties

Last weekend I was reunited with the wonderful dance girls in the beautiful town of Bath. Being back at uni is just not the same without these girls and so weekends like this remind me how special they are and how much fun we have together. SH was the hostess with the most-ess and welcomed us all with big fat cuddles and endless supplies of food, she knows the way to our hearts! After a good old catch-up and exchanging of belated birthday gifts (thank you!) we headed out into town for dinner. Sadly I was far too busy enjoying the incredible cocktails and wine that I forgot to take photos of dinner, nevertheless I can reassure you that it was delicious! 

And any restaurant with this motto is a winner in my book! 

The next morning, we all packed into the car and headed out on the SH driving tour of Bath. Due to the slight drizzle we decided that going by car was by far the best way to see the city, despite being a little lazy. We visited the Crescent, the Circus, the Pump Room and the Abby as well as the loveliest little bridge across the river. Bath is honestly one of the prettiest towns I have ever visited and I cannot believe that I hadn't visited before. One thing is for sure, I will be back, especially as we didn't have the time to visit the spa, which is apparently amazing. 

Thank you girlies for a wonderful weekend of cocktails, presents, gossiping, hump-back whale impressions, cake, board games and all round dance committee fun! Go team! 

Mood - Missing the girls already!

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The Blitz Ball

Last week the beautiful IL and I got all dolled up and put on our glad-rags for a fun filled evening of war-time frivolity. The blitz ball is an annual event at my university and it is one of my favourite nights of the entire year! I love that everybody puts so much effort into looking the part, with vintage dresses, fur coats, rouged lips and carefully rolled hair. NT was wonderful and helped us to roll our hair with the classic victory rolls donned by all the best 1940's pin-up girls.

Hair prepped, lipstick applied we rushed off to find a few handsome soldiers. There is nothing quite like a man in uniform to send a girl's heart a flutter, on that I think we can all agree. 

The great hall was decked out with union jack bunting, war time posters and other war-time treats to really set the scene. The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the incredible band who played for hours and really got people onto the dance floor. We had a fabulous time dancing the night away, largely helped by the fact that the drinks were not rationed! The night ended with a rousing chorus of Jerusalem until soldiers, sailors, land girls and air-raid wardens rushed off into the night and back to the present. 

I am more than upset that this was my last blitz ball but I have a sneaky suspicion that I might pop back next year! 

Mood - reminiscent 

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