Want to get to know me a little more?

August 22, 2016September 4, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 26 Comments

Today you get two posts as I’m celebrating the milestone that is 500 followers on my blog!

I feel like an actress who’s just walked onto a stage to collect an Oscar – I want to thank all of you. Thanks for being part of my tribe – I think you’re all amazing (read why here).

So, I thought I’d celebrate by sharing a little more of who I am with you.

So here it is, the A – Z of me:

Accessories– I am seduced by pretty accessories, high heels, red lipstick, painting my nails, jewellery, handbags…you get the idea!

Beautiful – I look for something beautiful every day; an object, a person or an act

Coffee – couldn’t imagine a world without it…or did I mean to say cocktails? I need both basically!

Dancing – I love a good old dance around the handbags

Exercise – I don’t always enjoy going but love how it makes me feel!

Feminine – Sometimes I’m girly, sometimes a woman, occasionally a bitch but always proud of who I am!

Gratitude – I live a grateful life and end every day thinking about things that made me smile

Happy – I love making people smile (including myself)

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Inspiration – I love reading all of your blogs and being inspired to create great content. But I also get it from music, art, life’s experiences and talking to people

Juggling – my blog, family and a full time job!

Kids – mine are the best! They are my happy place.

Love – it’s what makes the world go round and can change lives

Music – I have an eclectic taste, depending on what I’m doing and the mood I’m in! Heavy metal, jazz, classical, 80’s hair metal, 90’s club classics all feature on my iPod!

Nature – I love long walks in the fresh air – fields, forests or the beach. Somehow the outdoors soothes my soul.

Old – I love ‘old stuff’ but I like to call it retro! Think photos, 50s style dresses, Victorian cake stands, vintage jewellery and handbags…

Poetry – I write poems that I rarely share.

Quotes – if you’re a regular reader, you’ll know I cannot resist a good quote. I get excited when I find one that fits perfectly.

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Romance – I’m an old romantic…think candlelight, roses, soft music, holding hands…swoon!

Shimmer – My blog inspiration. It’s like shining only softer, quieter, prettier and with more class!

Tears – I am emotional. I regularly shed a tear – at films, kind words, stories, spontaneous acts of kindness.

Unique – we should champion our differences. It’s what makes you, you.

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Volume – I like life to be quiet unless I’m in the gym, then the music in my ears needs to be loud (and heavy!)

Wishes – I make them all the time. Every time I see a white feather, a rainbow or blow a dandelion clock.

Xoxo – hugs and kisses are so important to me and I need them everyday.

You – I love connecting with everyone who leave messages on my blog.

Zzzzz – my bed is my favourite place to be.

Hope you enjoyed this random list of things you didn’t know about me – don’t take it too seriously!

Tell me one random thing you’d love me to know about yourself in the comments below.

Nicky xo

It’s the little things 21/08/16

August 18, 2016August 21, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 3 Comments

It’s the little things in life that make my heart lighter and my day seem brighter.

Here’s a round up of the little moments this week that have brought me joy!

Cocktails that match my nail polish perfectly!

What I love most about writing these posts is that the are all about the things that make me smile.

Me.

Not anyone else. Just me.

They help me feel incredibly grateful for my life and I’m all about the gratitude.

What little things are you grateful for this week? Le me know below.

Nicky xo

It’s the little things 14/08/16

August 14, 2016August 8, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 12 Comments

It’s the little things that put a grin on my face and a giggle in my heart.

Here’s a round up of some of the moments that have made me smile this week.

Finding poems that were written a long time ago

Midnight cinema showings…coffee essential!

This week has been full of nostalgia and newness! What a fabulous combination!

Tell me, what’s made you smile this week?

Nicky xo

Not Your Average Opening Night @The Beech House

August 13, 2016September 4, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 8 Comments

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Hold onto your horses Solihull, there’s a new gal in town!

With the refurbishment complete, The Beech House has finally opened its doors to the public.

If you’re thinking the old ‘ Lazy Cow’, has just had a lick of paint and a new name – you are in for a shock as this Oakman Inn has had a major transformation!

It has a completely new look including open plan theatre style kitchen, beautiful seating areas inside and an impressively landscaped outdoor area.

It’s this exciting outdoor area that first greets the eye on arrival. Where once there was a small seating area overlooking the front car park, there’s now a pretty terraced dining area, complete with pergola and overhead lighting and a trendy artificial grassed area that houses comfortable seating and an al fresco bar.

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Further exploration through the restaurant revealed another outdoor seating area…

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…and a stunning double tepee that can be used for functions, including its own bar made from a shipping container.

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The restaurant itself is light and spacious with a variety of options for seating. Experience the bar in full swing…

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…relax by the fireplace,

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA …or choose to sit in this beautiful space to eat your meal.

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Alternatively, sit with a view of the open plan kitchen.

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This enables you to watch your food being cooked. Oakman Inns are famous for their Josper charcoal ovens and wood fired pizza ovens too.

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We sampled canapés of cured salmon with avocado purée and chicken liver pâté and if these are any indication of the food that will be served – it will be amazing!

I also partook in a little cocktail tasting – well it’d be rude not to! And if you’ve been following me for a while, you know that it’s a weakness of mine.

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This was the rhubarb and custard – it came highly recommended, made with Warner Edwards rhubarb gin and was so worth it.

Hubby had a virgin Mojito which he assured me was very good too.

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Solihull I believe, will welcome the arrival of The Beech House with open arms and I am certainly looking forward to sampling their full menu.

So far so good!

The Beech House

727 Warwick Road

Solihull

B91 3DA

The evening was a pre-opening event and by invitation only; however I did not receive any reward for this review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own and all photographs were taken by me unless otherwise stated.

Monthly Challenge Playlist Poetry #2: Anyone up for a bit of sass?

August 12, 2016September 4, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 2 Comments

Sassy; confident or showing confidence

This is my go-to playlist for when I’m getting ready to go out or need to dance around the kitchen on my own. It’s the one I listen to when I’m generally feeling proud to be a woman!

The Sassy Females Playlist edition

A fire’s gotta burn

They tried to make me go to rehab

I’m in the business of misery

Who made up all the rules?

There’s only two types of people in the world

I suppose I should tell you what this bitch is thinking

Can you keep up?

She got a body like an hourglass

After all you put me through

Please don’t come around talking bout that you love me

Songs

Amen – Halestorm

Rehab – Amy Winehouse

Misery – Paramore

They – Jem

Circus – Britney Spears

Hard Out Here – Lily Allen

Lose My Breath – Destiny’s Child

Bang Bang – Jessie J

Fighter – Christina Aguilera

There you go – Pink

Again, not a bad piece of poetry eh? Totally created by the first line from the first ten songs in a playlist when you hit shuffle. I dunno about you, but I think this poem has more than a little sass to it! And I’m not apologising for having a Britney song in there!

Check out this post about the playlist shuffle game if you fancy a go and want to know how I got started!

What’s your go-to song for when you’re strutting a little sass?

Let me know below…

Have fun!