stand by me;

 I have been utterly useless of late but I promise that is going to change. 

I have finally got into the routine of full time working life and have lots of lovely things to share with you. I am really enjoying working at Urban Outfitters and it is definitely the people that make it so good - thesweet discount definitely helps too. We had staff appreciation last week so I FINALLY bought the Crosley record player I have been fawning over for about a million years. 

 Work aside, my social life just got interesting too. I had a rare Saturday off, so Oliver and I

decided to go carbooting with his sister Alex.

 If you have never visited the car boot sale on York race course 

on a Saturday you are severely missing out, it was pretty much the best I've ever been to. 

I had to hold myself back on several impulse buys though next time i'd probably not have the same sort of will power -I bought the Dirty Dancing OST on vinyl for £1. 

Oliver had to buy a friend a birthday gift and picked out three items, 

a Star Wars toy, a cowboy hat made from animal hide and my favourite of the three, a signed Blazin' Squad photo (yes, you heard right). We were done and home by 12 so we made a picnic and headed out on a bike ride near his house. Pot holes are no ones friend, needless to say I have a very bruised bum. We decided to play with an old Super8 video camera of Ollies', the countryside was the perfect setting, though you only get around three minutes worth of film per roll but I am excited to see how it turns out. Oliver showed me the eighties classic "Stand By Me" that weekend too, it's such a brilliant
coming of age film, definitely a must-see if you haven't already.

Alex and Chris's puppy Blossom.

Thursday was my brothers twenty first and so we had a bbq party in his honor. There was a pinata, cocktails,and of course rainbow cake. Blythe and Oliver came over to keep 

me company and we had lots of fun playing on my beautiful bicycle.

I went out for coffee with my friend Claire after work and discovered the most 

amazing, oversized treats in Costa Coffee, and of course I had to sample them - I genuinely

don't think the Costa guy had ever known anyone be as excited about the giant biscuit as I was.

We recently held a surprise birthday dinner for one of my lovely friends Stephie down in Nottingham. 

I introduced her to one of my best friends Will in December and they've been together ever since, one of my 

fave. couples EVER.

Mama and I recently attended a 40's war weekend at a stately home near our house. We decided

to take a break from the tradition and fuss to look around the gardens and discovered this hidden beauty spot, I need a walled garden!

Finally, another car boot sale bargain, I found this vintage thermos flask for just 50p, isn't it a peach. 

I also managed to pick up several vintage childrens books to add to my collection for very little money too.

I love carboot sales.

Have a lovely Wednesday.

Sincerely, Alexa ♥ 

what kind of bird, are you?;

I am super excited about Moonrise Kingdom, I love pretty much everything Wes Anderson 

has ever done so this will definitely not be a disappointment. Have you seen it yet? Take a peek 

at this trailer, are you excited as me?

Sincerely, Alexa ♥ 

lie for a while with your ear against the earth and you'll hear your sister sleep talking ♥ ;

I have recently discovered this band and I absolutely cannot stop listening

to this particular song - the video's pretty special too. I really can imagine 

falling in love to this song, it's a peach. 

Sincerely, Alexa ♥

amsterdam;

Recently I took a trip to Amsterdam with three of my favourite girls. It was probably the most fun I've had in such a long time and I definitely needed the break before I started my new job. I didn't take a whole bunch of photos but I thought I'd share my favourites with you.

The erotic museum, funniest cartoons I ever saw, but a bit of a let down really.

View from the boat, Hull looks surprisingly beautiful.

Any kiddo who grew up in the UK in the 90's will understand how amazing this find was.

Hannah and our lovely new American Friend, Mark.

We managed to get a pretty cheap deal £150 for the ferry and hotel (though I have since learnt that you can take the megabus for just £8!) and a 4* hotel at that. 
We squeezed in so much over the three days we were there and it's definitely an eye opener. 
We visited Anne Frank Haus and it was one of the most moving places I have ever had
 the privilege of visiting. We went to the red light district, ate steak, saw a peep show and visited several museums. It was a peach of a holiday and I highly recommend Amsterdam for a short break.




 Sincerely, Alexa ♥

i've got a wealth of new ideas;

I've been making plans of late for some little projects that I'll be sure to write up 

tutorials for to put up on here. These are some of the photographs that

have inspired me.

Photographs a, b, c e, g c/o Pintrest.    Photograph d c/o Flappergirl    Photograph f c/o Paper Pastries

I've decided I need to tone up and get healthy for summer and what better way to show off 

my gorgeous bicycle than to get it out on the road. Two birds one stone ey?

Not my actual bicycle, but I own the same one! Isn't she a peach? Photograph c/o Pintrest. 

I'm super excited for the weekend because me and three of my favourite girl pals are 

heading to Amsterdam for a holiday. I'll be taking plenty of photographs to share with you, which 

you can get a sneak peak of on my instagram (username is 5ampicnics). I know it's late notice

but if anyone knows of any great places to eat or visit or go out, please drop

me a comment. 

Have a lovely weekend kiddos.

Sincerely, Alexa ♥

these photographs, keep me alive;

Here are just a few instagram pictures from a day trip to the Lake District.

It was an absolute peach of a day, I don't think I've ever seen the Lakes so sunny.

My new favourite skirt ♥

Two of my best one's and one of my favourite couples ever, Wills and Stephie.
Aren't they gorgeous?

Sincerely, Alexa ♥

a smile and a ribbon;

In the year since I graduated finding full time work is something that has not come easily.

 I am one of the lucky ones who managed to find a part time job and even though it was 

a whole other city away I counted my blessings. I know I am not the only one of my friends

who was in this situation but it really truly got me down - silly I know.

Recently I remembered something my Papabear said to me about positive thinking and so I

decided that the only way things were going to change and get better

was if I kept positive and told myself they were definitely going to happen. So I applied for some

jobs and I thought positive and I got TWO interviews.

There was one I wanted more that the other (but I obviously went along to both)
 and so I kept thinking about just how much I wanted it.

I was told over five hundred people had applied and that I was in the lucky 100 that were

being interviewed and out of those around twenty would be hired with only seven full time positions!
Oh my gosh, what a lot of pressure. 

So I went to the interview and tried my best not

to ramble on and keep my calm and be myself and be honest.

So for the few days after my interview I kept telling myself, this is it, just keep positive.
And on Monday, I got a phone call from my new manager telling me that I'd really impressed them and that they'd like to offer me a job at the new Urban Outfitters opening up in my town. 

So from now on I've made a promise to myself to keep positive, it's not a bad life, it's just a bad day. 
I also decided a new job needs a new hair cut, and so I decided to do something daring 
and got a full fringe too. Eeek! Let me know what you think.

Tomorrow I'm going to the Lake District for the day, and I absolutely cannot wait, it's my favourite place in the world.

Sincerely, Alexa ♥





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