The Single Girls Guide To A Happy Valentines Day

Let's face it, Valentine's Day can be a rough holiday if your single. From being bombarded to death on television by adverts and out and about in shops it can be a time when being single can be a tad crap. It's not all doom and gloom though; I've taken a completely different approach to things. Who said Valentines just has to be for couples?

This Valentine's I decided to show my best friend just how much I value her. Chloe's been there for me through alot; a real testament to her great character and kindness. I got her a few gifts as a surprise; a gift set, a pair of disney socks and a hilarious card (thanks to Clintons).

She even got few a few things; a big set of candles (for the pyromaniac tendencies I have), a card and a big dog teddy as I was getting a puppy later that weekend. To save the kitchen from disaster I ordered in a chinese from our favourite in Belfast - Nom Nom Noodles. Afterwards we went out to Lavery's for some mad dancing. All in all, a great night.

Tips To Survive Valentine's Day

1. Avoid scrolling through social media (especially Facebook) on the day. Will only cause a state of depression.
2. Do invest in snacks and ice-cream and have a duvet day. Easy way to avoid the day, vegetate and not leave the house. 
3. Spend time with friends;  friends will always cheer eachother up.
4. Head out with friends for drinks; alcohol always helps. 
5. Enjoy what you have in life, if your single your more than likely to be happy about it. 

Next Ava Vintage Fairs

Fast approaching in the month of March are the next Ava Vintage Fairs. The next fair will be in the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Belfast on the 9th of March. This fair will be focusing on antiques and will be a great spot to find some excellent paintings, porcelain, furniture, silver, tea sets, jewellery and vintage clothing.

The next fair will be held in the Slieve Donard Resort in Newcastle, County Down. This fair promises to be big with loads to choose from; in both antiques and vintage wares.

If your looking for something different for the house or even a unique present for someone else it's a great place to find that special something. Each venue has parking on site and great locations to make a day out for all the family.

Here are a few pictures from the 2013 fairs.

February

Sofar the month of February is shaping up nicely. Soon deadlines will be nothing but an unpleasant distant memory...until March at least. I am really looking forward to having a week off from college also. It means I can do the things I never get the chance to usually do. Like have a lie-in (if the builders next door do not rudely awaken me), get to spend time with family and friends and run those errands that seem to never get done...

I've forgotten how much Valentine's Day is advertised; getting to the point of being publicised and as a common a topic as what you wear as a Halloween costume or what you want for Christmas.

My week off has actually turned out into my busiest week; mainly due to buying a puppy. Have to say I never considered myself as 'the small dog' type but I have fell in love with my wee shihtzu...with a face like this who wouldn't?

Lord knows what I've let myself in for...

Piercings Update

I thought it would be good to include a fashion related aspect that many people have - piercings. The majority of people I know have piercings. Personally, I began experimenting with other body piercings when I was 14/15 years old.

Presently, I just have my tongue, 2 belly piercings and left side of nose done sofar. Piercings in my ears include the standard ear lobes and both left and right tragus.

I used to have many more. In the past I had quite a few in my ears (however these had to be taken out over time). Some of these included industrial and cartilage piercings. I have also had some dermals done; I had 2 in my bellybutton and one on the back of my neck. Other body piercings I have had include a Monroe.

Winter Blues

Feeling absolutely horrible today; I hate Tuesdays in general, but today was even worse than usual...By 1pm I'd started to fade; I feel exhausted and just generally achy with a good dose of crappyness as well for good measure. It's on days like this that cosy clothes don't even seem to do the trick.

Achieving a healthy work/study time/social balance is proving difficult. I always seem to spend more time on one factor and not enough on another. Looming deadlines prove a difficulty too...I don't know how some people do it - is it pro-plus? Highly caffeinated drinks drunk by the barrelful? Or simply being better organised?

Whatever it is I haven't found it yet....so to be somewhat pro-active I'm taking this afternoon and evening shift off from work and heading straight home and jumping into bed. Usually everything feels better after a sleep...

Braces at 20

Having braces at my age is something no-one really wants. But for me I didn't mind. I've never liked my teeth; they began to misalign when I was about eleven and gradually worsened over time.

I'm pretty old to get braces by UK standards; most people get them on around the age of 14 or even earlier. I didn't. I've had terrible experiences with dentists so wasn't overly fussed on the idea of braces.

Things changed though as I grew older. I guess the turning point for me getting braces was from my formal photos. Lovely photos, but all I could see was the smile I hated (especially in candid photos). I began smiling less and less and when I did it was a conscious smile, with no teeth. 

After the NHS being very slow and not referring me on multiple occasions I finally got my consultation when I was around 18, after 3 years of badgering them. The consultation itself consisted of getting photographs taken of my teeth in their state at the time and getting moulds made. I was told I had to have 4 teeth extracted due to overcrowding and that I would have braces for approximately 18 months.

It was over a year before all 4 teeth were extracted so that I could have my braces fitted. Not the best time-wise and I did have a terrible experience with one extraction done by an inexperienced dentist. 

Braces were finally fitted just before my 20th birthday. A strange experience in itself. Not sore, just a strange sensation of pressure. Wasn't great for the first few days having them. It was strange to eat and was uncomfortable when I did - chewing wasn't fun at all.

The uncomfortableness subsided though after the first few appointments and didn't happen much afterwards - just sometimes the odd niggle or tenderness. The gaps in my mouth were a problem due to the extracted teeth; the brace wire was easier to break at the back. I only broke the back of them twice, both times for mauling pizza.

Other than the aforementioned first 'teething problems' (terrible pun lol) I hardly knew they were there. I did get my tongue bar stuck one time but it was easy resolved though I did freak out at the time. I avoided bread for the first month I had them on; it is one of those foods that gets stuck everywhere, unfortunately...

bloglovin

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11624951/?claim=rcfxvv6ucxz">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>