30 Day Snap #29: Nasty Cold, Go Away!

Day 29

Desperately trying to keep this cold at bay until after my concert tomorrow! Steaming, Olbas Oil baths, (fake) Lemsips, multivitamins... Fingers crossed!!

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30 Day Snap #28: Strawberries and Ice Cream

Day 28

My granny and Aunty Linda (mum's sister) are staying this weekend for the Sunday Club Picnic tomorrow then my concert on Sunday. Tonight we had strawberries and ice cream. The strawberries were amazing (Tesco finest* in case you're wondering) and although I really like the ice cream (Mackays vanilla - not sure if this is sold all over the UK or just up here?) I didn't have any as I don't want anything cloggin up my throat when I'm trying my hardest to keep my voice/throat in good condition for Sunday!

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30 Day Snap #27 (a day late, sorry!): Ceilidh with Glenfiddich friends

Day 27

Once again I've had to steal a pic, this time from my lovely friend, Fiona, for Day 27 (apologies!). I went to a ceilidh ("kay-lee") with the the other guides and had a fab time. It was a lot of fun. From left to right: Hannah 2, me (spoiling the photo!), Yasmin, Paul, Hannah 1 and Emma.

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30 Day Snap #26: Out for Dinner!

Day 26

I was out for dinner tonight with the other Glenfiddich Guides. We went to a Pizza House called Scribbles in Elgin, then to The Cooperage bar for drinks, and it was a lovely evening. As I forgot my camera, I've cheated and used a photo that my lovely friend Emma took. (Check out her blog here!!)

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30 Day Snap #25: Bedtime Snuggles

Day 25

As my sister is still away, I am on evening-duty looking after my niece (my dad does the morning!). This is us having a quick snuggle at bedtime earlier. (They are actually my High School Musical bed sheets. I'm not ashamed!)

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30 Day Snaps #23 and #24: Wedding and Lunch at House of Bruar

Day 23

Yesterday I went to the wedding of my childhood friend, Sheryn. I hadn't seen her in over a decade and we had a bit of a love/hate relationship when we were younger so I was a bit nervous, but as my mum is besties with her mum, and my sis was doing the official photography, I was invited to come along (really so I could assist Weez by holding the softbox - cue aching arms!). I actually felt quite comfortable with Sheryn after all and it was a really good day! So these pics are just of me, my stunning mum and beautiful niece before heading off (Weez was already photo-ing Sheryn getting ready).

Day 24

It was just me and Aria in the car on the way home (mum was working in Stirling today and Weez is staying in Dundee with a friend for a couple of days). I took the A/M9, which is a beautiful route and nowhere near as busy as the A/M90, but it was a bit lacking in places to stop off for lunch. So I took the turning to Blair Atholl, to find it also lacking, so after a few more miles we came across House of Bruar near Pitlochry. It was very posh-looking (whatwith all the countrywear, etc) and when we eventually found the restaurant (not well signposted at all) we got some grub and took a seat. My soup and homemade bread was very nice, but there wasn't much for children. Aria didn't like anything that was on offer, so I gave in and just gave her a brownie. She loved it, of course, but I felt guilty that she didn't get proper food... I'm sure one Brownie-for-Lunch Day won't hurt!

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30 Day Snap #22: NOTD

Day 22

My lovely friend Zocia did my nails the other day and I've kept them for the wedding I have tomorrow! This is gel base and top coats with 3 coats of Topshop's Adrenaline nail polish in between. It is just a super, super sparkly polish which looks literally like diamonds in the light! I love it and am definitely going to try and get my hands on my own bottle. Sorry the photo isn't great today, I'm in a rush! About to drive almost 200 miles down to Falkirk for the wedding tomorrow.

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30 Day Snap #21: Read All About It!

Day 21

Article in the paper about my concert next week. It's a small town. Rather excited! :)

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30 Day Snap #20: Whisky Galore

Day 20

I enjoyed a lovely evening of tasting various cask strength Glenfiddich malts tonight with the very knowledgeable and respected Brian Kinsman (Glenfiddich's Malt Master/Chief Noser). As I was driving, I only had a sip of the 34-year-old Sherry cask (bottom right), which was very nice, and about 20 minutes after adding a little water really blossomed into a mellow, fruity whisky, which I (surprisingly) quite enjoyed! Lovely. :)

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30 Day Snap #19: Back to Black Watch

Day 19

Now, this wouldn't be very exciting for most people, but today I got my kilt back! Basically, I've worn the same kilt every season at Glenfiddich since starting 5 years ago, and this year was the first that my kilt was not available (as it was waiting to get dry-cleaned). So in substitute, I was wearing a black version of the Stuart tartan, which I did like, but it was a bit loose plus I preferred the simpler, subdued tartan of the Black Watch. The Black Watch tartan wasn't a family/clan tartan like the Stuart and many others, but a tartan with camouflage qualities worn by an infantry regiment in the Highlanders called the Dark or Black Watch, who were basically like Community Support Officers in the 18th Century! (This 30 Day Snap really makes me do my research!) This particular garment I'm wearing here is not an actual kilt, but a kilt skirt; a lighter, more feminine version of the kilt. Normal kilts are much heavier; they have the fringing/opening on the other side; and often have belt hoops for the full traditional dress.

So glad to have my Black Watch back. Oh how I have missed it!

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30 Day Snap #18: Seaside Lunch with Zocia

Day 18

Today I went through to seaside town, Buckie, to visit my beautiful friend, Zocia. We travelled to the other side of Buckie, called Portessie, and had a lovely lunch at Aurora. The place overlooks the sea, so with a view like that, I had to include it in today's photo! For lunch I had Cullen Skink (which I'm sure most of you haven't heard of), which is basically a smoked haddock and potato chowder and it was lovely. If you don't already know, it originates from another coastal town up here called Cullen, hence the name - often nicknamed Cullen Stink because of the fish! Then I had a slice of amazing carrot cake (you know the proper homemade kind, with mascarpone icing on top?) and a cup of tea, of course. We then headed back to Zocia's where she did my nails (she does all that gel nail stuff), so I now have super sparkly nails, which will hopefully last until Sunday as I'm going to a wedding that day! I'll do a NOTD later in the week. So just a lovely lunch/afternoon with one of my besties, and now onto catching up on everything I need to do! :D

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30 Day Snap #17: NOTD

Day 17

Today I'm wearing Moon Dust by Barry M. It's one of those magnetic ones, and I quite like it, but the magnetic part only covers part of the nail which isn't fantastic, but it's alright if you don't look closely! :)

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30 Day Snaps #14, #15 and #16: Operatic Weekend Away

Days 14, 15 and 16

Sorry I couldn’t post over the weekend. As I said in my Day #13 post, I didn’t have access to the internet, so I am finally getting to it now! As I have quite a few photos from over the past few days, instead of just doing individual ones for each day, I thought I’d compile them and treat you to them all!

Pretty flowers (or weeds, rather) on the way to the station at 5.30am on Friday.

At Keith train station at dawn!

I was up at 5am on Friday to get the train down to Doncaster, arriving at 1pm, to then head straight to an afternoon rehearsal, then onto an evening performance in Sprotbrough. I got to bed at 11pm, and as you can imagine I was shattered.

Three ladies to the Queen of the Night in Mozart's The Magic Flute on Friday night in Sprotbrough. (I'm First Lady, in the middle.)

On Saturday I went through to Leeds to meet up with my friend Vicki (who I lived with at uni) for lunch. We went to Pizza Express in Headingley which was lovely as usual. (My favourite pizza in the world is the Pollo ad Astra pizza. It’s sooo good!)

The beautiful Vicki.

Then it was onto rehearsal and performance again, this time in Leeds. Both performances were sold-out and we were received very well, getting some great feedback! The performance on Saturday night was especially fun as the audience were so responsive. In the Carmen excerpt of the show, there is audience participation where they come onto the stage and can join in the fun with a glass of wine, and the people who came up on Saturday were great fun! We all went to a nice pub along the road afterwards and as the cast is all great fun, we had a really nice night.

Me and the beautiful Sarah (I'm on the right) as Dorabella (Sarah) and Fiordiligi (me) from Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte. We've just come off stage, so are super shiny!

Anyway, I stayed with my musical director, John, and his wife, Mary, in Knaresborough which was lovely. It’s like staying in a really good hotel, so I was quite happy!

Beautiful spare room at John and Mary's.

Nice decor!

Very fitting for a Musical Director's house!

Yesterday it was back home (another 8.5-hour train journey). All in all, it was a really good weekend, and feeling so tired today was definitely worth it! :)

Some of these pics are from my Instagram - I'm not that great-a photographer! :)

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30 Day Snap #13: Opera!

Day 13

I have a couple of opera performances this weekend (Sprotbrough tomorrow, Leeds on Saturday), so I'm spending the night revising my parts. This music is from the Act 2 Finale of Mozart's Così fan tutte, which is one of many excerpts of well-known operas which make up the show. Thankfully it's all in English and it's a really funny show, so if anyone's around, come along! (For anyone who reads music, I'm Fiordiligi, the top line.)

If anyone wants to see a video or anything of me singing, let me know. I don't know how much of that side of my life I should include in this blog!

(Also, just a warning that I may not get any internet access over the next couple of days, so I may have to post days #14 and #15 on Sunday/Monday!)

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30 Day Snap #12: Wuthering Heights

Day 12

Aria dressed up in her Kate Bush outfit, ready for her StageStars (stageschool) show. Not a bad impression I think!

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30 Day Snap #11: Delorean Family Time

Day 11

We hardly ever get to just hang out together and relax, so tonight my sister, niece and I are watching Marty McFly at his best!

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30 Day Snap #10: Bedroom Clear-Out Finds...

Day 10

It's amazing what you find when sorting through stuff which has built up over months and months. A never-been-opened advent calendar and a musical (yes, musical) cake slice are among the random things I have lying about in my bedroom. And I've barely even touched the surface; there's still so much to do (and find)!

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Things I am Loving at the Moment: June

This month's post is mainly foody and naily. (Mmmm, that sounds lovely together.)

Cadbury's Marvellous Creations Jelly Popping Candy Shells Chocolate

This is my new favourite chocolate. I love it. And unfortunately for my waistline, big bars of this have been half-price in Tesco recently, so I haven't been able to stop buying them! It is so bad how much of this I can eat in one sitting. In case you've not tried it, it has popping candy, smartie-type things and jellies inside it. It doesn't sound the nicest, but it's really, really good! There’s also a Cookie Nut Crunch kind, but I've not tried that one.

Banoffee Pie

I had always been a bit prejudiced towards banoffee pie as I've been dubious about banana foody things in the past. But now that I actually really like banana in food, I'm loving banoffee pie. And this easy recipe is so good.

http://instagram.com/wendy_carr

Tesco Italiano rolls

I love these so much. They are so tasty, so are perfect as part of a sandwich or just with butter. They remind me of those Italian herb and cheese rolls you get in Subway. Neither are probably any good for me, but I've eaten so much chocolate and banoffee pie recently, I'm hardly breaking a healthy diet!

Sally Hansen Mega Shine Top Coat

I have almost finished my bottle of the Mega Shine Top Coat that I only bought about 2 months ago. It is fantastic. It gives my nails a super shiny finish and actually helps to smooth out any streaks left in the polish underneath. It dries fairly quickly and is very easy to apply, with a lovely fanned out brush and thick formula. The resulting effect is almost bonded, like that of a gel polish, so it doesn't chip for ages! The only weird thing about it is that it's going a little bubbly now that it's coming to the end of the bottle… But it's hardly noticeable!!

Revlon Charismatic nail polish

I posted about this nail polish here. Still one of my new faves!

Models Own polishes

… namely the Neon Pink Punch and Scented Banana Split polishes. I've posted about them here and am still really happy with them. Models Own polishes only came into my life recently and I think the formula is fantastic: it applies well, lasts for a long time without chipping (i.e. 3 days at least) and has great colour, so you can get away with one coat! Definitely recommend them.

(Taken from Google Images)

Les Misérables the Movie

This is not foody or naily, but I have to include it. I flipping love this film. I can’t stop listening to the soundtrack (if I'm not listening to it, I'm singing it!) and when I have the time I have to watch the movie. Anne Hathaway surpasses herself in this (well-deserved Academy Award!), Hugh Jackman is unbelievable and the whole cast together is fantastic. I now have a particular interest in Aaron Tveit, who plays Enjolras in the film. I hadn't heard of him before, but I could listen to him sing all day, I love his voice that much. He's a broadway star and has had many screen roles including parts in Ugly Betty, Gossip Girl and is starring in new series Graceland. I imagine Graceland probably won't be broadcast here in the UK though (at least not on Freeview!). It helps that he's not bad on the eyes either, haha! Plus, it's nice to see familiar face from BBC1 talent show I'd Do Anything, Samantha Barks, finding global fame through her beautiful portrayal of Éponine. So yes, if you have been living under a rock and haven't seen Les Mis yet… do it now!

Hope you enjoyed reading!

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30 Day Snap #9: Charity Concert Poster

Day 9

Just finished the poster for the Charity Concert I'm putting on with my dad at the end of June. I haven't put on a full concert in my hometown in 9 years, and it'll probably be another 9 years before the next, so I'm super excited! (Any readers in the NE Scotland, come along!) I love showcasing all the different styles I perform in all in one evening, so hopefully everyone enjoys it! :)

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NOTD: Aqua Sparkles

(They're not the neatest today! Need to work on that...)

I used one layer of Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in "Greenberry" which is actually slightly greener than in the photos. Once it was completely dry, I then cut up some masking tape and placed it at various angles on my nails. I painted another thin layer of the same polish on the exposed areas, then used just a cheap paint brush to place the glitter on top. Once that was dry, I used a layer of Sally Hansen Mega Shine Top Coat to set it (which as you can see in the pic below has started to go a little bubbly as it's nearing its end!). I think the end result is a nice subtle sparkly pattern, which you can make bolder by using different colours of course; the next I'm going to try is a white base with perhaps red glitter (although that's maybe a little too festive-looking for this time of year!).

l-r: thumb-pinky

Let me know if you've tried anything like this, and if you have any suggestions for anything I can do with my nails, and I love doing them up! It's quite relaxing :)

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30 Day Snap #8: Cooking Fail

Day 8

I'm pretty much brain-dead after a day at work, so... things like this happen! I wish I could say this is a one-off, but it's a regular occurrence. I don't even bother starting to make toast anymore! To be honest, this photo doesn't even do the burnt...ness justice; it's much worse than it looks! Oops!

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30 Day Snap #7: Organisation is Key

Day 7

This is pretty much all my clothes. I haven't had time to properly sort through everything since moving back up to Scottyland over 2 months ago! Oops! So although it is my day off, while the sun has been shining, this is ones of the things I've been doing today to sort out my life before moving to London. Priorities, priorities!

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30 Day Snap #6: Music of the Moment

Day 6

It arrived! If I didn't sing it enough already, I can now have it on repeat all day! My car journeys are sorted. (Aria already knows all the parts to One Day More. She's 8. I'm such a good influence.)

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30 Day Snap #5: Sports Day!

Day 5

I had a long-awaited day off today, and it happened to be Aria's Sports Day at school, so I headed along to watch for a bit. This is her in the skipping-rope race. She came 2nd in the wheelbarrow race, 3rd in the egg (well, potato) and spoon race and 3rd in the three-legged race. So proud!

Thought I'd include a couple of extra snaps too, seeing as I have them!

Wheelbarrow race with her friend, Emma

Sack race

(All of these pics are the most zoomed-in that they can be, which is why they are so blurry!)

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30 Day Snap #4: Apple Blossom

Day 4

Had to take a pic of our beautiful blossoming apple tree. (Not that the apples are ever any good!)

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30 Day Snap #3: NOTD

Day 3

One of my all-time favourite nail polishes, Brompton Place by Nails Inc. Great colour, great formula. In this pic I'm only wearing one coat (and no clear top coat).

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30 Day Snap #2: Aria's Close-Up

Day 2

My beautiful niece, Aria, at teatime tonight.

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30 Day Snap #1: Sunny at Glenfiddich

I've decided to do the 30 Day Snap taken from Louise at Sprinkle of Glitter. It's a pretty big undertaking as I probably won't have the time to get good photos everyday, but as June has a bit more going on than in some other months this year, I thought I'd give it my best shot! I've already seen a few Day 1's of other people's 30 Day Snaps, so I think it'll be lovely to share more parts of my life with everyone, just as I enjoy seeing other people's!

Day 1

Glenfiddich was beautiful this morning (before the crazy rain this afternoon!)

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