152 // New Year Rambles

I had to share this photo Paige took when we met up last week - it was so bright we couldn't see a thing!

Being a student (and, you know, me) the period at the end of one year and then the beginning of another tends to merge into one (thus the stress extends) thanks to the existence of January exams. As I've only just handed in two essays (on Thursday, the day I arrived back in Nottingham, after spending a lovely time over Christmas and New Year back home with my family) the boy and I decided that yesterday, Friday 3rd January 2014 (why not make it official?!), we would take the day off and spend it together. And spend it together we did! We woke up late (I swear it was the latest I've ever got out of bed - around 11:30) and mooched a little (I cooked the boy a fry-up - veggie - to help soak up the not-so-nice after-effects of his work's Christmas 'do night out on Thursday) before deciding to watch a couple of episodes of Peep Show (actually, the entire Series 5 because we realised neither of us had ever seen it before - how the heck that happened we don't know!) and then whacked out the travel Monopoly for a (very) long game. The day was interrupted by an unfortunate-but-very-much-needed food shop, after which we returned to (further) revel in the company of Mark, Jeremy and Monopoly (before and after I cooked dinner - another Deliciously Ella recipe which you can find here)! It's safe to say the day was short but oh-so-sweet and, after nearly 11 days apart, it was time much-needed and very well-spent with my boy.

1 // Blouse, 2 // Book

Today it was back to uni work and on with revision, however, I did manage to pop out (honestly, I go stir-crazy if I'm cooped up for more than one day - maybe it's the peach walls?) and purchased a couple of items. No.1 was this floral, sheer blouse from New Look, bought using my much appreciated gift card from my parents (my Dad de-and-reconstructed mine and my brother's Christmas Crackers, replacing the insides with a gift card for each of us!). It's not my usual kind of item but, other than some roll-necks, I don't really have much else to pair with my jeans so thought I'd give it a go! No. 2 was Capote's In Cold Blood. The boy had bought me a copy of The Fault In Our Stars for Christmas (forgetting that I'd spoken to him about having read it on numerous occasions and ignoring the fact that my bright blue copy has been staring at us from the book shelf for well over a month!) so it was an in-store exchange. I've wanted to read it for a long time so today I jumped at the chance to get a copy.

Before I leave you to fend for yourself on this cold and miserable Saturday evening (though may I suggest tea and chocolate - anything leftover from Christmas you can get your hands on!) I must once again take the time to thank you all for your incredible support for me and Tori's Tales. Since writing my previous post, when I had reached 226 followers, the number has grown again to 252 (SAY WHUUUUT?!) and I am quite without the words to vocalise just how much that means to me. I have a feeling a lot of my new followers have found me thanks to the following three very special young ladies - firstly, the beautiful Mrs McMinn posted a '2013 Tag' YouTube video in which she spoke about both me and Tori's Tales, secondly Rosie very sweetly mentioned Tori's Tales in her 'Five Favourites - December' post as one of her 'five blogs I'm loving this month' and thirdly, Ellie popped Tori's Tales in her 'Blog love' post in a list of her favourite blogs - and I desperately wanted to let it be known that this support, from all three of these ladies, is absolutely overwhelming for me and I am more than honoured to be featured by them. Coupled with the love I've been receiving on twitter and via instagram from all of you wonderful, magical people, I have to say I feel a very lucky girl indeed!