January's Favourite Things

Linking up with Ashley, Katie & Jena today 

                           

This cheerful card that my beautiful girl made for my cousin's birthday.  She loves art but struggles sometimes with her muscle problems and I am so proud of all the effort she puts in.  It also shows that children with ASD do have a compassionate and caring side, that people often think is lacking.

           

That the snow has been and gone.  I really enjoyed messing around with my favourites in the snow, cuddling in the warm with blankets and hot chocolate and the beautiful scenery.  But the flip side of six days of school and not being able to get to work etc. even got the children down.  So now we are pleased to be back to normal!

This quote that I found on Pinterest led to this post (here).  I've referred back to it many times over the last couple of weeks and have made a few changes to the house already :) 

I know I blogged about meeting Anberlin yesterday (here) but it really was one of the best nights! I can't wait to see them again tomorrow!

Pinterest saves the day again! I have been looking up photos of tropical beaches and anything spring / summer related just to look at a bit of sun! I can't wait for some sun, warmer weather and the new spring / summer make up collections that are coming out. I may start wearing them soon in the hope the sun will take the hint and come out to play!!!

Help I'm becoming a groupie!!!

 

Linking up with Shanna for Random Wednesday 

 

 This weekend was amongst the best of them! Seriously good but I have learnt two things....

That you can buy fleece lined leggings! - seriously where have these been all my life?

and....

I am seriously uncool when meeting my favourite band...like hello who am I and what have you done with my real self???

I think it is safe to say that I should not have had more than one drink. Not that I had many but when I have more than one I become ridiculously talkative. Now throw that in with excitement and I think we can see where this is going!

First off though I am in love with my new shirt! We stopped off at the shops before heading to Bristol as it was still freezing out with the snow and ice and I wanted something to cover up my vest top and wear under my jacket.  Here I found fleece lined leggings (which were so much more comfortable than the jeans I had planned to wear) and this soft, brushed cotton shirt! Best bit, my sister works there and I got 25% off everything :) I'm so in love with the warm leggings I think I may wear them every day.

Shirt from New Look

Anyway, on to the gig. The support acts (The Getaway Plan and The Xcerts) were both great but I was also kinda distracted by Christian who was stood right next to us!  Luckily we got right to the front so had an amazing view :)  As always Anberlin were awesome and the gig seemed to fly by. 

Stephen Christian :)

So after singing, screaming, and getting my copy of Stephen's book, 'The Orphaned Anything's' signed as he left the stage, we decided to stay around for a drink as everyone else left.  I also knew from previous experience that the band would more than likely be returning once everyone left!

When they played Cardiff on a previous tour I was lucky enough to meet Stephen and had a long conversation and hug which resulted in lots of tears (non groupie moment, it was a bit of a deep and meaningful conversation which may or may not warrant a future post).  Saturday, it was my turn to meet Deon and Christian (below).  The conversation turned to Cardiff and rugby as they are playing there Friday (going to that one too!!) and the Six Nations Rugby Championships kicks off the next day. Dave had to put up with Deon and I talking about the rugby as he wants to go and me offering to show them around!! This resulted in me ending up with their tour managers contact details sorting out passes for the stadium! I think Dave got me back on the uncool stakes by questioning Christian on the Pearl Jam covers though.  He is a big PJ fan but seriously talking about another band at their gig was a bit embarrassing!

Deon - Bassist

Lead guitarist - Christian :)

As we left I was kinda on a big high and couldn't wait to share the evening especially when Stephen tweeted me.  The next morning I cringed when I woke up to find this Facebook status.....

....I seriously could have died, it may not sound too bad and I wasn't drunk or too OTT, but I seriously lost my credibility gushing over a guitarist, especially when Dave told my sister he was the cool one that night!! 

I'm still really looking to Friday though when we get to do it all over again, with my friend Tyler and Deb over at Walking By Myself. Although I am going to ensure that I am cool, calm and collected if we get to meet them again! I most definitely do not want to get to groupie status! I must also remember not to be too busy having photos with the band that I forget to have outfit shots taken and maybe also a photo with the bf...oops!! 

St Dwynwen's Day / Dydd Santes Dwynwen

Although barely known outside Wales, every year on 25 January we celebrate St Dwynwen’s Day, the Welsh patron saint of lovers.

The story of Dwynwen dates back to the 5th century, when Dwynwen fell in love with a Prince called Maelon Dafodrill. Her father, King Brychan Brycheiniog, was determined that she would marry another man.

Dwynwen was devastated that she couldn’t marry her true love and begged God to make her forget Maelon. An angel visited Dwynwen and gave her a potion. The potion was supposed to make her have no memory of Maelon and turned him into a block of ice.

Dwynwen was then granted three wishes. Firstly she wished for Maelon to be thawed (I would have personally left him as a block of ice, but that's why Dwynwen is a saint and I'm not!), secondly that God meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers and thirdly she wished that she would never marry.

Dwynwen devoted the rest of life to God’s service, founding a convent on the island of Llanddwyn. You can still see the remains of the church on the island today.

On the island, there is a well where, according to legend, a sacred fish swims. It is said that the fish can predict the happiness of relationships. Visitors still go to the well today, hoping that the water will boil, meaning that love and good luck will follow them.

We are a romantic country – we also celebrate St Valentine’s day on 14 February!

This 'n' That

Linking up with Katie and Jena

This weather is so so pretty but is causing chaos. Thank goodness after six days the schools are now open and I can get into work. Not that I've minded being at home in the warm, with yummy food and pj days, or playing in the snow with my favourite people, but my bank balance has!

That this weekend sees the start of three weeks of gigs! Starting Saturday with my favourite band Anberlin :) I'm so excited, although of course pretending (not very well) that I'm a grown up and can control myself.... yeh, failing miserably!

This cat has made me laugh so much over the last week or so.  He hates the snow and has often been found sulking like this....

Have a good one....
A xx