Thursday 30 June 2011

Love is..... doing a reading at your friend's wedding

As I said in another post I was asked by one of my close friends to do a reading at her wedding and I agreed.

I was after the vows and just before they were pronounced husband and wife. I was so nervous, I really had to calm myself. I was called up and read it without sounding like Larry the Lamb. It was only when I took one of my hands away from holding the page my other hand was shaking uncontrollably. I looked up a couple of times at the happy couple to see their beaming faces. I managed to keep it together until the last line when I looked up and started to cry with happiness as I walked away.

I felt so honoured to do it, but I have no intention to do it again any time soon. I just hoped that I did my friend proud they both said thank you, people even came up to me after and said how well I did which was good.

It was a beautiful day and my friend was a beautiful bride. And the weather made it the perfect day.

Below is the reading I did, it is beautiful and very poetic although I cannot find it in the book...

'Love is a temporary madness,



it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides.


And when it subsides you have to make a decision.


You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together


that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.






Because this is what love is.


Love is not breathlessness,


it is not excitement,


it is not the declaration of eternal passion.


That is just being "in love" which any fool can do.






Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away,


and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.






Those that truly love, have roots that grow towards each other underground,


and when all the pretty blossom have fallen from their branches,


they find that they are one tree and not two.'

Tuesday 28 June 2011

Crazy, crazy, crazy!

Since I started my new job I have had a busy few weeks. On my first day I saw The Rifles at Southampton, not ideal when you have a two hour commute, they were really good though.

It was fairly quiet for a bit then I had my friends hen weekend, cocktail making, clubbing and dinner at Jamie's Italian. For the first time I had a Cosmo and it was really tasty. We had a competition, racing how to make a cocktail, I raced the hen to make a 'woo woo' fairly easy vodka, schnapps and cranberry juice. I got very nervous and got most of the vodka on my hands, but we drew so I had to drink a flatliner... Tabasco, sambuca and tequila AWFUL! My mouth burnt. It was a really good weekend though.

Then the weekend after it was my birthday and Denis did the Stockholm marathon again, then it was my birthday and I spent the day with Denis just chilling.

It's been fairly quiet but last Wednesday I went to a gig at the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth. I saw Warpaint, a four piece girl band from America who I first heard on Fearne Cotton's show as part of the Music Generator. They played most of the songs from Fool album including Warpaint and Undertow, they were just beautiful live, such a harmony to their voices. They are not big at the moment but they will be. I could imagine them maybe being on a Twilight soundtrack some of their songs have a tortured quality to their songs that would fit perfectly alongside Paramore and Anya Marina. They are playing a lot of festivals so if you can go see them live make sure you do.

Then on Saturday I went and saw the matinee performance of Glee at the O2. I will admit I am a gleek! They played for about an hour and fifteen minutes which was a bit of a disappointment but overall they were really good. Amber Riley who plays Mercedes has a phenomenal voice and Santana (Naya Rivera) was exceptional, especially when they sung River Deep Mountain High. Lea Michelle was also amazing, her voice would not be out of place in Wicked, I really think she could play Elphaba in Wicked and be just a good as Idina Menzel. A bit different from Warpaint but more of a show than a gig and they were all really good.

On Sunday it was my friend's wedding but there will be a separate post on that.

Thursday 23 June 2011

Skin deep

I do love make-up.

I'm mostly about the eyes, I don't wear it day in day out but make a real effort when I go out.

As you know I have a wedding on Sunday and to treat myself I indulged on some make-up. I went to the Body Shop as I saw outside a board about Mineral make-up.

I went in and had a potter and a very helpful sales girl asked me what I was looking for, so I explained that I wanted good coverage but didn't like foundation as it makes me feel like my skin can't breathe and can be a gloppy. She then tried out the new minerals foundation and had me convinced.

It is a powder which you blend in with a foundation brush and it provides even coverage and a flawless finish. It goes to a cream-like finish not thick but light. It is amazing, I wore it all day today and it was great. It is SPF 25 so good for the sun, it is £16 but I think worth it, much better to spend that on something that looks good then £5 for something that gives tide marks and makes you look like an orange.

She matched my skin colour, she did half my face and asked what I liked, I did look weird but I think when buying something like foundation you should ask a make-up person to help  you as even if the shop light isn't natural they can give you a better view that you trying it on your hand (don't do you skin colour is darker on your hand and different texture) or you hurry as you don't want to look like a shoplifter.

I will admit as well I bought a foundation brush, it makes me think if I have the tools I will be able to do the same end result as the shop girl. The brush is so soft.....

That's all I will say on that brush. I will give a review after the wedding as I will be putting it on myself but as far as when she did it was very good.

For those that would like to have a look here is the link....
http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/_en/_gb/catalog/product.aspx?ParentCatCode=C_Makeup&CatCode=C_Makeup_Face&prdcode=58039m

Sunday 19 June 2011

Wedding Bells ringing again

I am at the age when people I know or went to school are getting married and settling down. And next weekend is no except, next Sunday one of my closest friends is getting married and I am over the moon, I can't wait to see her walk down the aisle as I have yet to see her dress so it will be a surprise and I know she will be a beautiful bride.

Even though I am excited, I am also a teeny, tiny bit nervous as I am doing a reading. I feel very honoured to be involved but I am very nervous about it as I have not always been a big fan of public speaking. Over the past few months I have gained a lot confidence in going up to people and talking to strangers as in my job if you don't have the confidence to go up to someone then you are in the wrong job. So I feel a little more at ease with talking to a room of people.

I suppose I just feel the pressure of speaking at her wedding as it is a big day. And I really, really, really don't want to ruin it for her. I know the pressure is coming from me, but I just don't want to disappoint. I am reading a bit from Captain Corelli's a beautiful book and I am honoured, truly am to be part of her special day.

It occurred to me today that I might be a mess at the wedding. She is one of my closest and best friends and I know when I see her walking down the aisle I will be a happy crying mess! Waterproof mascara I think.

So wish me luck, I'm sure I will be fine and at the end of the day it will be over before I know it.