Snickerdoodles...

No, thats not a rude word! 

It's a very common and traditional American Cookie, also known as Snipdoodles, Cinnamon Sugar Cookies or simply Sugar Cookies. 
  
Growing up in Britain this type of cookie probably goes unnoticed and hidden away from the recipe books piled up in each Mother's kitchen. Even I didn't really know what one was until my honeymoon. I knew the name but didn't know what they were, I did assume some sort of sweet treat and MrD assumed something to do with a Snickers bar. Original or what! 

Snickerdoodles have been around for a long time yet often go overlooked even in the USA. It is more than likely due to their plain looking and less than exotic list of ingredients. But what these old fashioned cookies do have is great flavour, a flavour of which we found rather enticing during our visit to one of the great malls of Florida! We also found that it is true what they say about Snickerdoodles, it is almost impossibly to eat just the one. They are very, very, more-ish. 

Despite using the most basic of ingredients, when you do bite into one, you find the edges wonderfully crisp yet the centre soft and chewy with a lovely sweet flavour. 
So when I got home I searched the web for a recipe, but as you can imagine hundreds of links came up on the infamous Google, all American sites, measurements, ingredients etc. I couldn't be bothered at that time to sit and convert it over (it never goes exact, and can't really weigh out 364.543grams of an ingredient now can we?! You can't just round up or round down as may be incorrect!). So I closed the lid on my hunt for a decent UK converted recipe.

As for their origin. Well other than the guy at the Cookie Stall explaining it was the oldest cookie in America, a bit of a Google and Wiki later, I have come to learn that other than there being many sources claiming it of German or Dutch descent and around since the late 1800s that is it. As for its name, well.... I kind of favour the explanation that Snickerdoodles are 'simple a whimsically named cookie that originated from a New England tradition of fanciful cookie names'. Well, I did learn one 'historical fact'. Today's recipes are different from older ones as they tend to use baking powder as the leavener rather than cream of tartar and baking soda (if traditional is what you are after, replace the 2tsp baking powder with 2tsp cream of tartar & 1tsp of baking soda). 


Until today. I was sat looking through some pictures on the rather self explained Food Porn and amidst the droolage, Snickerdoodles popped into my head again. The hunt on Google began. I found a recipe from an American Mom living overseas, converted into British measurements. Perfect. So I gave it a shot. 

Even the most baking-phobic of us out there, and there are plenty about, can have a go at this. It is super easy.

Ingredients

375g Plain Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Coarse Salt
225g Unsalted Butter (room temp)
335g Caster Sugar plus 2 tbsp (for cinnamon mix)
2 eggs
1 tbsp Ground Cinnamon

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180'c. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Put butter and sugar into another bowl. In a third bowl mix together the 2 tbsp sugar plus the cinnamon.
Using an electric whisk, mix together the butter & sugar for about 3 minutes, until fluffy. Mix the eggs with the butter and sugar. Reduce the whisk speed to slow; gradually mix in the flour mixture. 

2. Shape the dough into balls of about 1.5 - 2 inches depending on how large you like your cookies. The dough might be quite sticky, you can add more flour but try to just go with it and get them into the sugar/cinnamon mixture soon, rolling them around to get a full covering. Place them on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper.Gently press them down with the palm of your hand or the bottom of a glass. 

3. Bake until the edges are golden, about 12-20 minutes. You may want to turn them halfway through. The timing depends on how big you made your cookie dough balls. 

Overcooking won't destroy them, you just may find that they lose their trademark chewy centre. Then leave them for around 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. 

I cooked mine for 5 minutes, turned them around, cooked for another 5 minutes, then another 4 minutes, another turn, and then a final 3 minutes.
I have a feeling they may have been fine without the final 3 minutes however MrD is definitely not disappointed and reckons they are still just as scrummy! 

Enjoy! x

Yes, Yes I Can

So we have established that I cannot get a job. 
This is clear. 

Today is A-Level Results day, which is a happy day for so many young and bright individuals, finding out they've got into their first choice universities, beginning the path down Freedom Lane, Freshers Square, Social Alley, Drinking Drive, working hard towards a degree, many new future Doctors, Dentists, Accountants, Solicitors, CSI investigators... great news and congratulations one and all. I do truly mean that, despite the way it may seem to be coming across. Genuine congratulations. 
However this also means that a new Academic year is right around the corner, meaning... plenty more unemployed graduates seeking employment. Many more people fumbling down Jobless Street, Inexperienced Avenue, Rejection Road. More applications to all the jobs that I can apply for. Making my search twice as hard as it already was. 
I'm not saying I am more superior or more of a priority than any of the other 253,121* unemployed people within the West Midlands. I am clearly stating that it will indeed become that little bit more difficult. 
So whilst I am struggling with this I need to put my focus on something else. 

Something that I can achieve. Something that I can do. I can't get a job, I can't magic up money, I so wish I could but alas I cannot, I can't bring World Peace etc. But I can do this. 

We all know I have been struggling to get back onto the WW wagon since the Big Day. I am no longer 6.5lb away from my goal, I am more like 24.5lb away. But this is ok. 
I spent the last 2 years focusing so hard on achieving my goal that I let it take over and become so controlling that in fact it had a negative impact. After a long think this weekend it truly dawned on me that I have let the plan control my every move in such a way that only rebelling was the key. I always took one step forward, five steps back. It got myself nowhere, and got myself feeling very low & unhappy. But not anymore.
I am reverting back to my original ways, the way I was when I first started. 2010. When I managed a 50lb loss in my first year. Unlike last year, with a total loss of 4lb. Yes 4lb in 12 months. It is still an achievement and I have still come along way since November 2010 but still. This is going to change. To change, to focus on it day by day, not week or month, not target driven to my next goal. Let the goals come to me.  

I signed up to become a monthly member at my local leisure centre with my Sister in Law. I found a few classes I enjoy and will start doing these on a weekly basis, some weeks I'll partake in more classes than other weeks. But I will not turn it into a MUST, but a WANT. If I don't feel up to the class on the Sunday morning then I won't go, if I go to a class and I mess up a move, then laugh it off, I am not letting it become so serious and controlling, else I'll give up. I don't want to give up anymore. 
I am not a gym bunny, never have been and never will be. I go with my head held high, I do the classes, if I mess up then I join back in, if I feel its getting to much I slow it down rather than standing on the sidelines and watching. I leave knowing I have done an hours worth of exercise better than last week, and I leave looking like a beetroot. But it will be worth it. 

I can't control much but I can control getting to my goal and becoming the Not So Skinny (but slimmer) Minnie that I have always wanted to be. I will achieve this. 
I know when that day comes I won't be truly happy and as most other women will always have this underlying dysmorphia around how I see myself but I will be able to focus on the positives and see how far I have come and knowing that, will get me through the down days. 

So bring it on Body Attack, Steps, Legs Bums & Tums, Aquafit, and whatever else I find amongst my way. 

I may not be able to control and sort out the other annoying rubbish going on in my life right now, it would definitely be so much easier if I could I can assure you BUT one way or another this I will sort out.

If someone wants to offer me a job along the way...  well, I wouldn't complain. 

*as of January - March 2013 reported in the Birmingham Mail 

Job Seeking: Employable or laughable?

Try and stay positive. 

It will happen soon. 

There's something out there for you. 

So many times I've heard this recently. I have one thing to say to those comments. 

Easier said than done. 

Funny though, what many people don't realise is, those who say that to me... they are the ones with a job. 
They are the ones who don't see behind the fake smiles and fake upbeat attitudes. 
They don't see you spending endless hours searching for jobs. 
They don't see the other side. 

The hours trawling all the job sites. Results show 1000+ jobs. 
Take the first 1000. Now look a little closer. How many of those 1000 jobs can you actually apply for? 
Firstly, rule out the 500 Manager roles, then the 250 odd jobs with a mix of Deputy Manager, Assistant Positions or jobs that require 5-10 years minimum experience within the specific role. 
That leaves 250 possible job applications. 
Out of those 250, 150 positions require alternative qualifications, experience within a specific area or at least 2-3 years minimum experience overall. 
That leaves 100. 
At least 50 of those are graduate positions. Maybe my luck has changed, I'm a graduate with a decent degree right? Great. 
No. 1-2 years minimum experience or a degree grade above what I have achieved. Kick in the teeth or what. 
50.
25 of these are no experience needed, no degree or other qualifications, immediate start, minimum wage. Fine. Let's apply. These are more 'up my street'. Read the fine print before clicking 'apply'. 
Sales & Marketing. No specific wage, commission based. 
Turns out one or two of these I have actually applied for before. Same job, on more than one occasion. Oh look, immediate interview, same spiel, same Manager scrawling all over some paper explaining the job role, same phone call 3 hours later to say I got through to the next stage - a staged door to door walk through. No. 
That leaves 25. 
15 are retail positions. OK that's fine. No. 14 require previous retail experience, usually a minimum of 12 months. Those that don't, are for 0-5 hour contracts. 
1 I can apply for. That 100+ others have also applied for. But I do. 
Woo 1 job application so far. 
10 left.
10 Admin based job roles. Majority of which 100+ others have also applied for. That doesn't necessarily mean 101 other people. It could mean 101, it could also mean 2-300 other applicants all looking for the same basic job role, filing, data capturing etc. That's all fine with me. Go for it.
10 more job applications made. Phew. 11 out of 1000. 

Better than nothing is what most people say when they hear I've managed to apply. 
Or is it?

No call back. No reply. Or if by some miracle I do hear back its usually a bog standard 'thanks for your application, we have reviewed the situation and unfortunately you have not made it through to the next stage. We have gone with someone more suited to the role'.

How? 
I have IT Skills, I know how to organise a folder and files, I have a good telephone manner, I grew up in a family business, I've done data capture, I'm a team player, I work hard, I'm eager to learn. 
What am I missing?

Oh what, the 1-2 years minimum experience needed to prove that to you? Maybe if you let me get to the interview stage and meet me in person you will see I am just more than a few words on a piece of paper. A CV doesn't show you Me.

A person cannot gain work experience without being offered work in the first place.

A person who tells me to stay positive, doesn't see all that.
They see no interviews, no call backs, no success story so automatically assume I'm doing nothing.
I say I applied for 11 jobs today. They say go you! Well done. I'm sure that one of those will be the one for you! It'll happen any day now. 
But when they don't see the any day now appear they just assume that I am sitting around on my lazy behind - which yes I may be doing right now as I write this - but what you don't realise is the 5 or 6 tabs I have open alongside Blogger, with job applications and job websites. 

The alternative comments off other people include 
"why don't you go in stores and hand out CVs the 'old fashioned way'."
I have tried that and there are usually 2 or 3 follow up comments.
'Please check our website for further details as we cannot accept CVs directly.'
'We have no job openings at the moment.'

Or even better, the ones that do accept CV hand-ins. A look that makes you feel so degraded, so humiliated for even asking the question that you wish you could snatch the CV back and erase the last 10 seconds of your life. The looks can vary from what on earth are you talking about, to oh dear me, asking for a job? My, you must be desperate, or don't be so silly do I look like i give a rats rear end that you're unemployed and seeking work, I'll just play along and say I'll put it aside and when something comes up we will be sure to give you a call.
Roughly translated as, as soon as you turn your back that CV is going on the pile to collect dust along with all the others that within a couple of weeks we will have accidentally on purpose forgotten about and there is no way we will be calling YOU back.

So back home you go, deflated, depressed, humiliated. 
Back to the laptop. Back to the Internet. Back to the Job websites. The cycle starts again. 

It's not all fun and games people. We can't all just stay positive. 

Here Comes The Bride....

.... or at least she did 8 weeks ago! 
No idea where the time has gone. But 8 weeks ago today I had been married for 5 hours 38 minutes. 

So think it's high time I got back into the ol' blogosphere and gave an all important wedding update! Well, important to me at least! 

I'm now a Mrs. I did it. I walked the plank. I made my dreams a reality. However you want to look at it. It happened. I married my best friend and had the most amazing day of my life! I'm extremely happy & loved up! 

Wedding update over. 
Nahhhhh, just kidding!! Would I really do something that short?! Don't be simple. My middle name starts with R. R for ramble. 

As most brides say 'it was the most wonderful day of my life', but it truly was. For starters I was unbelievably jammy with the weather. Or so my dear Mother so nicely exclaimed. 
The week prior to the big day it was cloudy and rainy, and the Saturday was looking like cloud & sun, and Sunday was reporting as 'cloudy'. Which was fine for me. As long as it stayed dry I was a happy bunny. That's all I wanted. So boy was I surprised when I looked out the window Sunday morning to see bright blue skies, beaming sunshine, absolutely beautiful. Grannypants truly was looking down on us today! 

I awoke at around 6.15am with the maid of honour. All calm & chilled, and very excited! We had our showers and then went to meet Dad with the key to the bridal suite for us to move into to get ready. Hairdresser arrived at around 7.30am & then it began.

It all kicked off with the mother. Then my maid of honour, then my bridesmaid & flower girl when they arrived later on. That's when the waterworks hit. From my bridesmaid. 
Me? I was sat on the sofa all morning, cool as a cucumber. Noone could believe or understand how calm I was! What was there to stress about? Pampering morning, shining sun, nothing to do for 2 hours! Bliss.

Then it was my turn. My hair first. That went fine. My stomach started to churn a smidge, and those pesky butterflies started to appear. It slowly passed.
Then it was my make up. My stomach started backflipping all over the place but with a serene calm look upon my face. 
As I went into the bathroom to put my dress on. Thats when it struck. Oh wow. Stomach knots, butterflies, backflips, all in one. 
It wasn't until I had done my interview and walked back round to meet the wedding party before the entrance that it truly hit. I looked over at my Mom and Maid of Honour & the emotions & waterworks began! 
The processional began. I followed with my Dad, gripping tight for what seemed like forever. Straight down the aisle - a little too fast if the video is anything to go by, but hey ho!
It was so overwhelming and emotional, the whole ceremony was a blur, now I know most brides say this, but mine truly was, my vision was blurred the whole time from holding back the tears! Whilst bearing the biggest smile I've ever had before! No wonder my cheeks hurt by the evening! 

Ceremony over, reception & photo time in the lovely gardens, sun shining, everyone chatting, everyone happy. Even being attacked by my dear darling cousin & a box of confetti could not wipe the grin off of mine and my HUSBAND(!!!!)'s faces! 

The room looked beautiful for the wedding breakfast. All my hard work felt like it truly was being paid off! All my secret Mickey's worked wonderfully throughout the day! 
The Grooms speech was beautiful, some lovely worlds about my girls and his new wife(!!!!). Ah shucks!! 

The evening reception room was also laid out beautifully. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Especially with the photo booth. This was a last minute extra, and boy was it worth it!!! We knew people would like it but we couldn't believe how successful it was. We got a copy of everyone's pictures placed into a Guest Book which was such a lovely keepsake! 

Our cake, well, what can I say. 

White Chocolate Sponge with white chocolate chunks & white chocolate buttercream.
Dark & White Fudge Sponge with fudge pieces & vanilla buttercream and Cadbury's Fudge shavings.
Sticky Toffee Sponge with toffee chunks & vanilla buttercream and toffee sauce. 
Yum. 
Some left in the freezer if anyone fancies a lick. 

The dance floor was never empty, which was my biggest worry. Even if at times it was only 2 or 3 of the children dancing away, it was never empty! Chris even got a few of his MJ moves in with his friends! Oh how proud I am!

It really was such a magical day, with close friends and family.
There were so many who couldn't share in our special day with us, but we know that somewhere, somehow they were all looking down on us, smiles across their faces, so very proud of us. 
A day never to be forgotten with so many lovely memories made. 

Maybe dreams do come true after all! 

Coo Eee... Over Here... I'm Back!!!

Cannot believe the last time I wrote on here. 
Have you missed me? 

For the record. No idea who 'you' are, but thank 'you' for sticking around & reading my ramblings! 

6th May. 20 days before our big day. 
It is now 55 days SINCE our big day. 
I am now a Mrs. I am also now 25. I'm all growed up. 

Or am I? Our Honeymoon included a week in Walt Disney World, my birthday involved a cinema trip to see Monsters University, I'm obsessed with the minions from Despicable Me, & cannot wait to book our next trip to Disneyland. 

Grown up, mature & sophisticated I am! Oh really?! 

For one moment I shall be. The moment I fill you in on the most amazing day ever. The day I married my best friend, my soul mate, my one & only, the love of my life....
*pass the sick bucket*
Honestly though, it was truly magical! 
It was an absolutely beautiful day, and that's not just going on the weather aspect.
But that mature moment isn't for now. It will come in time. 
When it decides. 

For now this is just a quick one to say I am back. 
So....

I am back. 

The new and improved Mrs. Well new name. Not so much improved I don't think. 

For now I shall love you and leave you. 

I Realise, I Know, Do I accept?

There is a huge difference between realisation, knowledge and acceptance.

I realise and know that my other half loves me for who I am. He loved me 2.5 years ago when I was 5 stone heavier. He loves me now, all 70lb lighter.

I realise and know that my friends love and care for me. Now and before.

I realise and know that my parents love me for who & what I am.  Not only that, but for who I was before.

I realise and know how proud they all are of what I have achieved so far.

BUT accepting that is a completely different story.

I know I don’t look good in a bikini.

I know I don’t look good in hot pants.

I know I don’t have a washboard stomach. No, I never want to.

I know I beat myself up if I’ve had a bad week with WW.

I know its wrong when I get sucked into the 3 for £1.20 offer on chocolates at Tesco.

I know all this stuff. I realise it.

That goes without saying.

I have my good days, I have my bad days. Weight Watchers isn’t easy for me. I go to my meetings and I hear these amazing weight loss stories, I hear about people losing 4-5lb in a week, or that they’ve upped their exercise and finally got to goal after losing 14lb. Me I’m 70lb in and still going. Not quite to goal yet. Sometimes it can be a bit disheartening when you hear a fellow member reached goal after 21lb and your still not there. You are so happy for them, as you know how hard it is and you are proud for what they have achieved, but at the same time, why not me?

It’s because I have my bad days. I let them take over; it then becomes a bad week. Low and behold you’ve put on this week Lou. Great. So I go and suffer in silence and stuff my face silly. It’s a vicious cycle, that even after 2 years; I have not learnt to stray away from.

But I know how far I’ve come, and this goes to show that the bad days don’t always win. And won’t always win.

It may take me another year to lose my final 7lb and get to my goal of 5.5stone loss. But it will happen. One day.

In my first year, I took WW my storm and did everything properly, I ate and tracked correctly and lost 50lb. I took each week at a time and if I lost then yippee, if I stayed the same that’s ok, if I gained, I looked at what I had done and changed it for the better.

In my second year, it became all about goals and targets and looking too far ahead. I lost 20lb. Yes I was smaller, so I would lose less anyway, but I spent that year on a you yo diet. I set myself my goal weight and to achieve it by Christmas. I put on weight. I didn’t achieve my goal.

In January 2013 I set myself targets and to be at goal by the wedding.

By April, I had 5lb to go. With 6 weeks, this was more than achievable.

I did the 5lb.

I did the 5lb the wrong way.  I am now 11lb off goal. So further away than 2 months ago.

It's taken until May 2013 to realise that in the last 18 months I have been so target orientated and focused on dieting I have completely messed up my weight loss journey.

Its not a bridal diet, it’s exactly that... A weight loss journey.

I have spent so much time and stress on this that I have done the complete opposite, I’ve retaliated. At every available opportunity I have gone out my way to eat something ‘wrong’. Yes with WW you don’t deprive yourself of anything and can have treats if you want but this wasn’t a treat. This was a full on retaliation.

I would then sit there and beat myself up over it, why do it to myself? You are so close to goal why risk it now?

And again, the pressure and stress on myself and these ‘targets’ would take over.

To most, they are achievable targets, I know that. I could of done it if I had just stopped, taken a breath and calmly given myself a pep talk.

I accepted last week I was not going to get to goal for the wedding. Yes it would have been nice but again I repeat it isn’t a bridal diet.

I accepted that I messed it up; I made things twice as difficult on myself.

I accepted that I have spent the last 18 months doing the complete opposite to what I should of done.

It took me an extremely long time to admit that I needed to do something about my weight. At the end of 2010 I made the biggest decision of my life. To walk through those WW doors. It sounds silly but it was the most horrific feeling ever, what if everyone stares, what if everyone judges me, you name it, I felt it.

The same thing happened when I finally plucked up the courage to walk into my first bridal shop. Dread, hate, scared, nothing positive about what is meant to be one of the most amazing experiences ever.

Yes since the start of 2013 I haven’t done so well but overall,

I know I have done well. This speaks volumes. These were way to snug and way to tight 2 years ago.

Whenever you have a bad day, it may not be saying what you want on those scales, but it isn’t always about the number written down. It is also about the achievements you make elsewhere. A pair of jeans that fall down, a dress that now does up, a before and after picture, inch loss with a tape measure. All these things count along the way, yet they seem to get forgotten.

So I walked in to the room and showed my other half the jeans. His face, priceless. I said I wore these to our first date. He didn’t believe me, for the first time he was speechless.

He always said he didn’t think I was big when we first started dating. He always thought I was beautiful and always knew he wanted to marry me.

Then I realised.

I already knew someone loved me for me, big or small, but at the same time it finally hit me that he wants to marry me. He wants to be with me. Louise Goodman. The oompa loompa and not the not so oompa loompa.

Why?!

He is there every Wednesday with a text saying,

‘Good luck tonight babe, just remember how much I love you and how proud I am of you xxx’.

Without fail. Every Wednesday before my weigh in.

There is something I have known and realised for a long time. But this is something that I am only just learning to accept.

That no matter what, I have someone there who wants to be with me, who loves me for who I am, who wants to spend his life with me. Now and before. 70lb heavier, 70lb lighter.

He wants to marry ME.

He accepted me for me. Why cant I?

It finally hit me last week; I don’t need to focus on the end result. I wont get there any quicker, in fact it will no doubt take me longer.

Teaching myself to breathe, relax and do it properly, like I used to, got me so much further than I ever thought possible, and right now, I don’t need the added stress or pressure.

I don’t need to focus to far down the line. It will happen when it happens. In its own time. It may take longer than I would of liked but I can be patient.

I don’t like myself, I don’t like my body, and I do cry over it still at times, there’s no denying that may never go away. I of all people know how hard it is to accept that people love and care for me now and even when I was bigger, and they are there to support me in the good times and the bad.

If I am happy in myself, then the weight loss journey becomes 100 x easier.

It may take an extra month or year to get there but I will in time. 

So in times of trouble and struggle, I accept that I need to sit back, take a breath and remember, there is one thing to focus on, that is more important than any squat, routine, or chocolate bar (yes I know…) someone who wants to spend his life with me, loves me for who and what I am, and gives me endless support and care no matter what.

I accept that bikinis and shorts are a no no for me, despite how far I’ve come.

I accept that I look slightly better in pictures.

I accept that I delete fewer pictures than I used to.

I accept that I still have plenty of bad days, and that will never go away.

I accept I will get there in time.

This is a continuous weight loss journey that has many twists & turns, but getting back on that wagon is just as hard every time. I can do it. I will do it.

This was never a bridal diet; it isn’t going to end in 20 days time.

The jeans I wear right now will join the other pair in a box some day. When they are ready.

When I am ready.

                                              

This blog may have been all love and weight loss but in anything you may stumble across in your lifetime, never forget every single one of us is beautiful in our own way and we wouldn’t be here today without the love and support of our close ones. We all have tough days, we all have down days, but we all have many days to be proud of ourselves for.  

Hen WEEK

Yes you read that correct. Week. 
My Hen was arranged for the weekend of 20-21st April but it all started a couple of weeks before to be honest. This blog may take another couple of weeks to explain it all, so apologies in advance for the length and waffleyness(yes new word. Leave it).

Hen #1

My OH decided that he was going to conjure up a surprise for me and my best mate. The only thing she knew was when this surprise would occur. As it needed to be when she had booked time off work. 
I wasn't aware of anything, was it a day, a week, 2 days, a night, a spa, a meal, a concert, no idea. 
So he made a private group on Facebook. Included me and Claire. Every few days he would upload mini videos he had put together or random pictures. 
All involving scary kids, eerie music, clowns, the type of thing you would find in a horror film! It got us thinking. 
Are we spending the night in an eerie haunted house, witnessing Most Haunted live, things like that. 
If that was the surprise then he did not know me at all! 
At one point he even uploaded a picture of a massive spider. My phone abruptly ended up in the middle of the living room floor. 
Then out of the blue he uploaded a picture of a shark and a dolphin. Then some lions. 
Is he sending us on a safari?
Then he uploaded some creepy gothic style images, completely baffling. 
The videos were even worse, had scary children sitting at tables, eerie winding roads, darkness, you name it, it was there. 

There was one video that got me thinking, it was a station of some sort. I recognised it but could not put my finger on it, it was on the tip of my tongue. Claire also recognised it. But we couldn't be 100% sure. 

The following video I was told I needed earphones & full volume. It was going to be a lot more 'helpful' so Chris said. It started off quite nicely, a nice country lane, car driving down, this could be quite interesting I thought. Then out of nowhere, a screaming lady. My phone flew across the room, I screamed out, my heart racing, I turned and Chris was just laughing at me. Comedy gold I was apparently. 
No more helpful than the previous videos. It was more helpful to him as he got to see my horror face. Thanks very much MATE.

Then Sunday evening, Chris was working on the next and final video. He was umming and ahhing over when to post it. That night, Monday or Tuesday. He wanted us to know the surprise by Tuesday. No idea why. But it may have also been because Claire's week off work began Saturday night. He had added an 'event' to the group that started Saturday night at 7pm. We were unsure as to whether this was the surprise or just acknowledgement of the start of her week off. 
We finally sweet talked him into sharing with us Sunday. 

The video included panning over this hotel I know quite well, and then the station again and then had a few slides where he had written a load of mush about me & Claire... it did bring tears I have to admit! Then a song started playing that Chris & I both know very well. 
He was sending me and Claire off to Disneyland Paris on Sunday through to Thursday for a mini hen break, just the two of us!
The music was the parade song we had fallen in love with the year before!  

The 'event' was us going to London and staying in the hotel near St Pancras the night before for the Eurostar Sunday morning. 
Amazing. 
The 'hotel' was the Dream Castle, the one Chris & I tend to stay at when we go and where Claire & I would be staying for the duration!

Claire guessed sooner than I did, but she did have a heads up, a bit more information than me! I was completely in the dark. She picked up on it when he said she needed to go to a hotel the night before so to finish work in good time. She realised that we tend to do this when we go to Disney and then clicked thats obviously what he was planning on but maybe only for a day or two. Not 5 whole days! 
All the pictures of creepiness stemmed from the haunted mansion & tower of terror - two 'scary' rides at the parks. 
The sharks/dolphins/lions were all linked to Disney films. 
There were odd images thrown in to 'throw us off course'. 

Even her mom got involved, Chris wouldn't tell her what he was planning but she got us little gifts to take with us on our 'journey'. Minnie ears, wine, chocolates, magazines, Minnie Mouse PJs. Claire also got us a little something too.

Boi oh Boi did I miss Chris, like I couldn't imagine but I had such a laugh with Claire. She is the best friend & sis anybody could ever ask for, and loved every second with her! 
As for Chris, I don't know what I've done to deserve such an amazing partner, soul mate, and best friend and I cannot wait to spend my life with him, and spending those years showing him just how much he means to me and how much I love him! 

Mush over.

Hen #2

We got back late Thursday from Disney, Friday was spent unpacking, finding an outfit for Saturday night & repacking. 
I went out for dinner with Chris, as it was our only time spent together in a week! 
Then early to bed.
Saturday morning meet the girls and off we go up to Leeds. 
There was a bit of mishmash over when certain things were going to happen once we were there but it all got sorted out. 
We arrived around 1pm, checked into our rooms and got ourselves freshened up.
We all made our way over to the bar where we had buffet platters and cocktails waiting for us. Lovely time to chill and for everyone to chat and get to know each other (for those who didn't know each other). Oh and sample a few shots & drinks along the way. 
Then was back to the hotel to get ready for the evening, full of cocktails! 
We had a cocktail making session. It was hilarious. No idea how many we got to sample, shots included, we all got a chance to go behind the bar and try our hand at cocktail making. 
The point where you went from stone cold sober to slightly tipsy... yeh, no point. It just happened. You don't know when, or how, it just did. But fun all the same! Plenty of giggles!! I would definitely recommend to anyone! 
We even got complimented, considering the age range was 20 - 27, he didn't believe us and didn't believe it was a Hen party! This was before the alcohol thank you very much! 
Then off we went to Pizza Express for a lovely 'sober up' 3 course meal. We all had Diet Cokes :D how cool are we. 
I didn't even finish my chocolate fudge cake, I cannot believe it :-(
Then back out we went back to Revolutions for few more drinks. Well some of us made a detour back to the hotel to change our footwear! 
To be honest, after rushing around all day due to unforeseen circumstances we ended up calling it a night quite early on in the evening, well I say early... it was around midnight. But we went back to the hotel and chilled in our jimjams, but think we were all safely tucked away in our beds by 1.30am!
Up in the morning for breakfast & away we went. 

The hotel and bar were full of so many hen parties, all dressed up to the nines in fancydress/bits/sashs/headbands/willies, you name it, all the stuff I am glad I do not like! 

It was a very busy and fun filled week, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I have some lovely friends and had a very enjoyable time, love them all to bits! 

No idea why but my best mate has one last 'night of freedom' planned for the weekend before the big day, so time to let the liver recover and see what she has in store for Hen #3. Hopefully no more creepy surprises or drives up the motorway. Maybe a sash or two would be ok, plus plenty of Strawberry Daiquiris & Woo Woos would go down well :D 
Whatever it will be, it will be full of plenty of wonderful friends, wine, fun, laughter and frolics.