Older and Wiser ❤

hello dearhearts, here I am, back at last from my travels! I actually got back late Thursday night but i've been so busy with appointments and stuff i've only just found time to sit down and work on a little blog post to share with you all.

in case you don't keep up with me on social media, let me tell you that yesterday was my 24th Birthday!

Shoot by Laura Stolfi

I spent all day yesterday out with my closest friends in the South of the Island (which made a nice change seeing as I live in the North and rarely get to visit the South any more). I don't really have any photos of the evening out in Port Erin but it was lots of fun, even though it was cold and raining! I'm lucky that they were all kind enough to come out for a few drinks and some food on my Birthday-Eve.

one of my birthday cards, since i'll never really grow up!

I know that to most people Birthdays can be quite a big deal but I come from a family where it's usually 'just another day', we don't really go out for Birthday celebrations or throw parties (I had parties when I was a child but as i've gotten older, Birthday's have become less of a big deal). I don't mind this though, as long as I get a cake, i'll spend the day doing whatever!

this year's delicious Birthday Cake + glitter crown!

I'm sure i'm not the only one that feels this way, but I can often find Birthday days to be a little overwhelming, when family and friends call or demand I make 'proper' plans and expect me to spend the day doing things. I have been known to lock myself in my room on May 31st and refuse to answer any phonecalls or open any presents until later in the day or the evening. I'm not sure why but the stress or expectations of the day can get to me and spark off some anxiety or panic.

a lovely colouring book gift from my friend Simon

 But this year I didn't have any of that! Which was brilliant. In fact NO-ONE called me all day (it was so great!) and I only got one text message. I woke up and had chocolate for breakfast (as is tradition on both Birthday and Christmas) and opened some really lovely gifts, then I spent the entire day in my room reading my new books + listening to music and editing a new illustration. Just another day...

the beautiful book my sister Nicky gave me

Seeing as it was my Birthday and i'm now a 24-year-old (which is scary) I thought i'd take a moment to look back on the past year and some of it's ups and downs! As per usual it's been a mixed year, sad times and happy times and some times in between.

lots of goodies from my friend Lorna including 30 rainbow bouncy balls!

 Since I lost my wonderful job last June, I've been in a constant state of flux, darting from one thing to the other, coming up with and discarding new ideas on a daily basis. I still miss the Family Library more than anything but I try to keep myself busy and relatively structured; spending my time at home trying to build up my online profile and promote my etsy shop via social media every day. As you know I also started painting again and i'm always working on new products for my shop. I'm not making a 'living' per se but i'm trundling along, doing my best.

one of my more unusual Birthday cards!

 It's not where I saw myself being in 2015 when I celebrated my Birthday this time last year, I figured i'd still be employed for one thing, hopefully in my own Flat at long last, maybe learning to drive, who knows. But in the immortal words of the Rolling Stones, 'you can't always get what you want'! So here I am, back where I was a few years ago only now I don't have the excuse of being a college student. It's frustrating of course, I know where I 'want' to be, but like most people, don't necessarily know how to get there. But I intend to figure it out, eventually.

Star Wars Birthday gifts from others and from me!

It's been difficult coming to terms with some of the changes this past year has brought, i've lost a lot of my already ramshackle independence (no steady income means no apartment in town) but by letting myself be cared for by family and friends i've realised that it's not a bad thing to ask for help, there's no shame in needing someone to lend a helping hand or to just sit and listen for a little while.

the lovely Danish watch Mama Boylan gave me.

It doesn't do well to dwell on the negatives, I know that only too well, so let's look at the positives!

Some Highlights of the past year include:

• Reading and devouring book after book from my 'to be read' pile (currently on number 46 of my Goodreads reading challenge).
• Lovely holidays away in Cyprus, Andorra, France, Spain and trips to see family in the UK.
• The helpful support and treatment for my ongoing Depression and Personality Disorder.
• Lots of evening trips to the Movies with my best friends.
• Fun days out with my little cousin Sienna.
• Heaps of unnecessary cheap retail therapy via Ebay (no-one needs inflatable flamingo cup holders from China, but that did not stop me).
• Creating brand new rainbow haired ladies for the Candy Doll Club.
• Some nice new products for my shop and an increase in UK sales.
• Watching my two beautiful nieces continue to grow into incredible young women.
• Working on some new paintings for no reason other than that I want to paint.
• Adding to my ever growing 'desk collection' of random bits n' bobs.
• Making new friends on the island + lots of new internet friends as well.
• Getting new international sales to countries I haven't sent stuff to before.
• Treating myself to Ghostbusters Lego (not even kidding, one of the best parts of 2014!)
• Gaining new followers online and reaching 14.7k followers on Pinterest.
• Finally getting back in touch with long lost friends, because life really is too short not to!

an entire set of beautiful Nausicaa Manga from my friend Danny

May 2014-15 has been a mixed bag but i'm another year older (definitely) and wiser (possibly) so all I can do is continue to take life one day at a time and hope for the best. As always, i'm eternally grateful to my family and friends for being so nice and supportive and brilliant and for always putting up with me no matter how much of a pain I am! I wouldn't be able to make it through some days without them, whether it's a warm hug and an assurance that things will be ok or a sarcastic message telling me to stop being a prat, they're always there for me and if you'll pardon the pun, they keep me sane.

a little graphic I whipped up for my birthday

So that's that, another year done and dusted, and only 364 days left until I turn 25, I'd better start thinking of things to fill the time! 

thanks for stopping by, i'll try to make the next post a little less serious (aka boring).

so until next time, toodle-ooh! I hope to see you again soon xX

 

Post Birthday Blog!

Well... it certainly has been a while since I last posted anything on here! Lets see, it's been just under seven months since I last published a blog. Yikes!

Never mind, i'm here now anyway, that's what counts. In fact you may or may not have noticed that the blog has a brand new look. That's right, here it is resplendent in all of its eye achingly colourful glory. Yay!

So what's THIS post all about I hear you cry? Simple really, on Saturday I celebrated my 23^rd Birthday and I thought what better time to re-commence my blogging habit than on my birthday. Or a few days after it as is actually the case.

Anyway, I thought i'd share a few snaps of Birthday related bits n' bobs with you all. I don't really have anything else to talk about at the moment. so it's going to be a mostly picture laden post. And there will definitely be a significant number of exclamation marks used throughout. Enjoy.

For starters, feast your eyes on this terrifically tasty treat of a Birthday cake! (i can verify that it is indeed delicious)

i was also surprised with a lovely bunch of flowers from my Aunt and Uncle. i hardly ever get flowers so these really were a lovely gift + Gerbera daisies are my absolute favourite flowers.

i got ever so many cards this year, by the end of the day on my Birthday i was beginning to run out of room for them all!

I was very VERY excited to find a little parcel of Birthday cards from my fellow Librarians waiting for me on my Birthday. I was even more excited when i opened the parcel to find presents as well! Even more so when i realised just how brilliant the presents were.

It's no secret at the Library that i'm a bit of a Sherlock fangirl (understatement!) so imagine my delight when i opened up the parcel and find this BRILLIANT Benedict Cumberbatch colouring book 

If i'm not busy fangirling over Benedict and his glorious cheekbones, i'm bound to be rambling on about my other fangirl crush Tom Hiddleston. I'm not sure if i could ever choose between Benny and Hiddles and decide which one is my absolute favourite, so these pencils really are the best thing ever because now i don't HAVE to choose! It's printed on the pencils so it MUST be official.

And as if all of that wasn't fabulous enough, there was even some of my favourite sweeties in the bag! what a lucky duck i am. Yum!

After spending the day at home (in my pyjamas) I made my way into Douglas to meet my friends for Birthday drinks.

My super duper pal Lorna gave me this luuurrrrvely Mary Poppins necklace (which i immediately put on and wore ALL evening). Mary Poppins is one of my favourite characters (i think i secretly want to be her) so i couldn't NOT love the necklace. + it's a locket, so Lorna says i have to put pictures of Benny and Hiddles in it. Obviously!

My flatmate Matt got me a Ghostbusters mug (and a Lady Raincorn wristband) which i was v chuffed with. Ghostbusters is my favourite movie, i can't believe i didn't already have a mug. Well, now i do!

For my actual Birthday outing, i celebrated the same way i did last year, by heading out on the Promenade with my friends to enjoy the atmosphere of the Funfair and the TT beer tent + music stage. Luckily it was a sunny day and a balmy evening so it was all good. As has become Birthday tradition, i slathered on some red lipstick and got vaguely dressed up, i debuted my latest purchase, a lovely vintage circle skirt. 

Here's the obligatory Birthday selfie...

All in all it was a good Birthday. i got to celebrate it with my family and friends which is exactly who i'd want to share a day/evening with. So i'm another year older now, definitely not any wiser and undoubtedly still a big kid at heart (the highlight of the evening for me was getting a big bag of pink Candy Floss on my way home from the beer tent!)

So here's the being 23, completely immature and as ever, utterly oblivious to what the future might bring! Fingers crossed it's a good year...


And on that typically peculiar note i'll say goodbye, i can't think of anything else to write so this will have to do for now!

farewell folks xX

Happy Birthday Mum ♥

so today is my mum's Birthday . . .

for those of you that don't know, her name is Joy and she is totally awesome! (fact)

here is a charming photo of my mum + me taken in Leamington (last year) by my darling niece Madison

so i'd like to take a moment to wish a big ol' Happy Birthday to mama Boylan . . . Happy Birthday mum! x

also, here is the deliciously yummy big toffee cake i got made especially for her Birthday

the letters are kind of ruined now but it will undoubtedly taste wonderful! 

big thanks to the lovely Liesl at 'The Alpine' cafe, for making it for me

* * *

in other news . . .

in a strange twist of fate and utter madness i decided to wear trousers today (shock horror!!!)

i'm really REALLY not a jeans kind of gal but today i didn't feel like putting on a dress (which is odd for me) so i grabbed some jeans + a pair of wedges + the lovely yet hideously bright coat i got in Cork, Ireland last August

and look . . . i also wore one of my new ribbon flower corsage anywhere clip thingymabob type things

and last but not least . . . i also now have slightly darker hair!

i always feel somewhat left out since pretty much all of the women in my family have really dark brown hair and i just . . . don't!

well, now i do!

* * *

wasn't that a thrilling post!

geez louise i really need to stop writing such boring blithering posts, it's a wonder i have any readers at all! 

we're supposed to be going out to dinner tonight for the Birthday celebrations but i am literally falling asleep here so i might have to be bad and stay at home like the boring person that i am!!!

thinking i might have a nap then get to work on the new plushies i have to make + pop some tunes on, maybe Sliimy or Mika or something, i need something bright and happy

and now i'll stop rambling on and on and on and on and on and on

until next time, that's all folks . . .

◕‿◕ ★ xX 

♥ New Year ♥

So it's nearly 2011 at last...

2010 has flown by, if you ask me, but i'm anxious to see what next year will bring

this is the last blog post of the year (for me) so i'll keep it short but sweet

so whether it's already 2011 for you, or you're still counting down the hours to the New Year, like me, 

i'd like to wish you a Happy New Year

may 2011 bring you everything you want...

* * *

on another note, I found out this morning that this blog has been featured on the front page of 'bloggers' today which is a nice New Year surprise

they feature a few blogs every day and post them on the front page of the site so i'm very chuffed that I was featured at all really

to visit my bloggers profile click here - J A D E

and to see my blog feature on the front page for today only, click here - bloggers

* * *

STILL not had many entries for the Giveaway! 

come on guys... please enter it!

if i don't get more entries soon i'll cancel the whole thing and retreat back to my cave of solitude and misery...

yeah, that's what will happen if people don't enter!

are the prizes really that sucky?!

if i add some better stuff will more people enter????

read THIS post right here to find out how YOU can enter the Giveaway and win a heap of prizes- 

★ ★ ★ Giveaway ★ ★ ★

* * *

that's it for today, 

hope you have fun celebrating the New Year

until next time,

that's all folks...

♥

★ Christmas Eve ★

only one more sleep until the big day!

Christmas has almost arrived at last and it is soooooo exciting!

the gifts are all wrapped...

the decorations have all been put up...

oooooh it's so close i can almost taste the candy canes!

is there anything more exciting than that magical feeling you get on Christmas Eve! 

the thought of all those presents waiting underneath the tree to be opened on Xmas Day

i KNOW it's not all about the presents but come on... it's CHRISTMAS 

so to me that means it's time to get giving and getting...

my older sister Simone has been baking all day (from what i can gather) which means she's been cooking up a batch of undoubtedly delicious and yummy muffins + a big chocolate cake! sadly i won't be getting any because she's in Coventry but wow, jealous much...

and my other older sister Nikki is currently in New Zealand where i'm told it's already Christmas Day and has been for a while! she'll no doubt be lounging in the lovely sunshine and having a great time i'm sure

so a big Merry Christmas to both of my wonderful big sisters, we can't all be together this year but i know they both will have (had have) great days with their families and friends xX

i know that my nieces Madison and Daisy (and my nephew Josh, even if he is the same age as me) will ALL be verrrrry excited about it being Christmas tomorrow!

and i'm sure that my God-daughter Bonnie, her little sister Hanna and their older brother Robson will also all be beside themselves with Christmas excitement! 

there is literally a massive heap of presents beneath their tree so they should be beyond excited...

my little cousin Sienna is in Manchester for Christmas with her Daddy + his family and i know that she will be having a fabulously festive time, so lots of love to her as well x

i'd also like to wish a very merry xmas eve to all of my closest friends here on the island + the ones that are away for Xmas.

i shan't name them all individually but i'm sure they know who they are...

now all that's left for me to do is make some Festive cocoa/hot chocolate

and curl up in front of an appropriately Christmassy movie with a cake... 

or two

i would like to wish a Merry Christmas to ALL of my family and friends, although i can't mention you all on here, that doesn't mean i've forgotten about you x

same to all of my blog followers and readers, have fun whatever you're up to today and tomorrow

oh and don't forget to leave some treats out for Santa and his Reindeer...

i WILL be posting tomorrow (at some point) but until then i would like to wish every single one of you a VERY 

Merry Christmas

wherever you are in the world and whatever you're doing to celebrate, whether it's already Christmas where you are or whether you still have to wait for it (like me) i hope you have a lovely Christmas Day

lots of festive luuuuurve from Jade ◕‿◕ ★ xX

ps - ALL of the beautiful images included in todays post were collected from various sources on tumblr, i've spotted all of these ding the xmas rounds on there over the past few days and thought it would be nice to post them on here for you all to enjoy! Happy Holidays x