My World

All posts in the My World category

It’s Friday!

Published 06/01/2012 by Amy

This is supposed to be a Fashion Friday but I still haven’t gotten back into the swing of blogging in 2012. I suck, I know. But I am here! Next week will be back to normal. I promise. I’ve been starting a lot of new things in this first month of January and they kind of took over.

I’ve decided to make more of an effort with my relationship with God this year so I’ve taken up the Bible In A Year challenge and will be doing daily blogs sharing my thoughts on daily readings and stuff like that over as Soup Spirit, and using some Wordlive resources. Also vlog-a-day challenge for the whole month of January on my OddSockChic channel. I uploaded Day 6 today. I’ve created a DeviantART account for my photography and any sales made on prints will go to Guide Dogs UK.

I’m still working on my Wreck This Journal I picked up some felt tips this week! so I should be able to see what I’m doodling now – that’s good right? I love watched Enastasia’s WTJ updates – check her out. I also got a haircut !

My friend J who I haven’t hung out with for probable a year a or so came over yesterday and it was super fun! I got to have a go on a sewing machine and I wish I had one of my own. I just need someone to invent one that not only auto threads the needle but also winds the bobbin around so I can just sit there guiding the material and flooring it on the foot pedal. I can’t believe it’s half past four in the afternoon and it’s only now starting to get dark. It was pitch black by half three- four o’clock not so long ago! See you all Sunday for 10 Things I Love Sunday

x A&E

Follow a Rainbow

Published 02/01/2012 by Amy

I know it’s supposed to be Foody Monday but I haven’t been home enough today to bake anything so instead I come to you seeking forgiveness with a pretty Rainbow that made my day while we were driving to Torbay.

Ok I lied I have been home long enough to bake something, but I’ve seriously been sat on the computer since we got home in the -3 degree darkness and been editing videos for my vlog channel also blogging over on my new Bible blog for the ‘Read The Bible In A Year’ challenge I’ve set myself.

Tomorrow’s weather looks bad so it’ll be a staying in day – perfect for baking – Foody Tuesday!

Goodbye 2011 Hello 2012

Published 31/12/2011 by Amy

2011 has been quite an eventful up and down year for me and my family. As I look back on it tonight I smile at the good moments and try to push the bad ones as far back as possible. December seems to have flown away from me. I thought at this point I would have assembled a list, possibly alphabetical or chronological or perhaps even reverse chronological, as this is a blog and that is what a blog does, of good memories, but I haven’t been as organised or nerdy enough to have compiled one in time. Also.. that might be a bit boring for anyone other than myself reading this. So.. I’ll leave it at that.

Instead I wanted to just give out a quick shout out and general thankfulness to keep this short, snappy and positive while I make ready for the New Year coming in – I’m afraid we don’t do many New Year Traditions, such as opening the door for the old year to leave and the new one to come in, we just watch fireworks on tv – if we are still awake and try to pop party poppers as quietly as possible because Ellie doesn’t like the noise but loves the string.

I want to thank my family for putting up with a very trying year. I know I am not the most easy person to be with, even on a good day. Also thank you to my closest friends Kiera, Jenn, Liz, Matt, and CJ. I know I’m not with you in person as much as we’d all like, well, maybe I don’t know – you might be happy that it’s majority text communication. Especially Kiera – It’s been a crazy high and low year for you but I’m proud of you and I’m so excited for your Journey with Mr G

. I want to thank RNIB and Guide Dogs UK for their continual support and inspiration. My Subscribers. Followers and friends on my blog and youtube channels. I really didn’t think any one would be interested in a shy girl who talks a lot about how lonely a blind life can be and how exciting new experiences are.

And Ellie of course, you rawk my world girl.

And finally – I think.. you know me I usually forget something. Just wanted to say a quick shout out to Scarlett of Teen Granny (blog) I really enjoyed sponsoring her throughout December 2011 and I hope to do so again sometime but I don’t want to hog space!! I’m thinking of offering Blog ad spaces in the future, I’ll put a poll on my blog in the new year to see if there is any interest. Scarlets an inspiration and very creative craft wise so check her and her Twitter Twit Knit club out.

I’m off to find the party poppers and put some extra layers on.

!!!!! HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!

Greetings. what’s new with you?

Published 30/12/2011 by Amy

Hello!

It feels like ages since I’ve written in my blog and it has probably been the longest gap between writings since it’s inception but what can you do when holidays come around? ditch the blog for presents and food of course.

I don’t want to brag but I’m just so excited that I have my dream computer and I want to virtually yell that I AM COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM MY APPLE MAC MINI YAAAAAY!! Ok I’ve done it, you can all laugh, boo, crack up, face palm, look disappointed, shocked and give the virtual thumbs up … now.

Yes – so it wasn’t technically a Christmas present as I got it yesterday but it feels like a Christmas present that’s been a long time coming. I will do a review of the Mac Mini when I’ve had time to play around with it, I was just excited that I’m finally using it that I had to mention it in this update.

My Christmas was pretty strange but in a good way. My parents worked over Christmas so our Christmas Day didn’t really start till 3pm when they got home from work. I did open a couple of presents when I got up, Ellie and I sat in the front room with our caffeine fixes, well I had mine, Ellie just had her squeaky toy. I don’t recommend giving your pets caffeine unless the vet specifies it. I’ve been watching a lot of Christmas haul video’s on youtube and I have no idea why I like them so much, why would listening and seeing a bunch of awesome things that you didn’t receive be something you choose to watch? who knows.. anyway they generally always started off with the line ‘I’m not doing this to brag, it was requested’ I did upload a Christmas day/week photo album up on Facebook which did feature photos of presents and list of who from.. but that was because my Facebook is made up mostly of family and friends who sent me the things in the first place, so I thought they might like to see that I got them and loved them

as well as a bunch of photos of Ellie sporting the Christmas spirit and of course, food. I don’t plan on making a Christmas haul video but I might throw in some fav Christmas pictures in this post.

Instead of buying or making a Christmas cake we decided to try out these Christmas Cupcakes with Brandy Butter Icing, we had passed them several times but we waited till they were half price right before Christmas to get them! I don’t recommend getting your icing sugar and flour packets mixed up which is what I did and the mixture turned out to be a lot more than the cases could handle, it worked out okay then, just a big volume! good job we had some regular icing sugar in the cupboard, the brandy butter was nice, but very rich so you don’t need a lot of it, we went a bit mad.

So this is how they turned out, the bag made 12 as you can see they are huge, I don’t think they are supposed to be that big but they tasted good all the same, dad liked them especially.

Ever since I’ve had Ellie, almost two years now, she had been on a dry fish and potato diet to help her skin, she had some irritation as a pup so I haven’t taken her off it as her coat and skin is healthy now. But for a Christmas treat we thought we’d give her a change. A can of Beef in gravy by Pedigree which is the brand Guide Dogs recommend and it’s Yellow so easy to find in the supermarket, providing you are not down the butter isle, it’s Yellow city there. Ellie loved it and kept going back to check if there was any more, even after dad washed up her bowl. Bless her.

Here are all my presents, I took pictures group pictures of presents from family and friends in my Facebook album. I got so much stuff and I love it all, it’s so pretty! I got a new shoulder bag with birds and butterflies on, a new Laura Ashley makeup bag and purse, butterfly umbrella, always handy! a notebook that says Can’t Sleep Write Now so I will def be using that for my midnight stories, some holy socks! they have sheep on and I can’t decide if it’s Moses’, Noah’s or St Peters crook. The final Harry Potter movie, ER season 4 to replace the one my chair rolled on, Laura Ashley notebook, 3D sudoko puzzle I love sudoko! a box of yummy biscuits with a cute tin, Hello Kitty necklace, Snow man (not in the shot) a hand knitted bunny from my braille tutor, pink Smarties, a head band and gloves from my family in America it’s from Walmart* which I’m geekily happy about so much so that I’ve kept the Walmart tag!! I don’t know why I like the name Walmart* just sounds so much better than our English version of Asda.

All of Ellie’s presents, several toys, edible cards, special doggy chocolate and a candy cane all from the Dogalogue (guide dogs catalogue)

Colour changing LED snowman. I love, love, love this. My best friends Liz, Matt and CJ gave me this and I adore it, I have it by my bed next to my Daisy Reader the batteries run out really quickly and they are the funny C something batteries so I’ve been raiding dad’s pound shop supply

I think I need to get a fibre optic light to have on for the rest of the year next to my bed, something tactile and colourful. If you know where I can get something like that online or offline, recommend in the comments!

Ellie surrounded by paper and modelling a Christmas paper hat! you put up with so much from me thank you girl x

My parents finished work around 3 ish so when they came home we jumped in the car and did our traditional forest walk which wasn’t the same without the snow we had last year, still it was nice, blew the cobwebs away. My wellies are having a 2nd Christmas photo in the mud

I hope you all had a great holiday whatever you celebrated.

Thanks for following, reading and listening. it means a lot.

I hope to continue my journey and taking you along with me and Ellie over 2012.

Happy New Years

Forever 21 Goodies and OOTN

Published 22/12/2011 by Amy

I’ve had a pretty crazy day, by my usual standards, today. Last night was the epic finale to my frustration over the state of my room and my lack of wardrobe space. I couldn’t sleep, I was almost in tears and I was at my wits end. Mum to the rescue, oh with a little help from Argos. Good old Argos, not only do you make me smile with you aliens and their beautiful coffee maker machine but you actually solve my space problem, at least for now.

I haven’t taken any pictures of the funky, awesome, supreme, inspiring rack full of my 10 most worn outfits I adore this autumn/winter as it was pretty late by the time we finished it and I had colour blocked and arranged by item and length. But I promise as soon as I have it exactly the way I want it I will do a room tour type thing, with my bedroom and now my walk in closet which is basically the entire room next to mine.

I did however take pictures of my Forever 21 Goodies which arrived this afternoon, it always surprises me how quick they turn up!

I practically live in over the knee socks and my favourite pair of stripey ones can no longer really be worn with the amount and the size of the holes, they are pretty much leg warmer status now. So I thought why not combine my love of Hello Kitty with the practical and essential over the knee socks? Also featured in my OOTN video.

I know these tops/hoodies look huge but they are S and personally I think Forever 21 sizes are very generous but I would recommend always checking the measurement on the item description if you’re between sizes.

I love this it’s super soft and as usual hats are always to big for me, the fun of being microcephalic ah well.. covers my ears and will do the job. Bonus – in my favourite colour.

I love, love, love this print, they had a fox version too which was uber cute but I couldn’t afford both so next time hopefully! can’t wait to pair this up with some jeans and uggs or maybe tan brogues.

Green hoody = perfection. It’s ridiculously soft the picture doesn’t do it justice, it’s also a slightly darker green (I think anyway) then the light is showing up here. This is featured in my OOTN video. I’ve started adding daily vlogs and OOTD’s videos to my new girlie youtube channel OddSockChic so stay tuned and check it out. I will still be updating my main channel when I have something blind related to add and of course answering questions!

Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad 27 years strong.

Apologies.

Published 20/12/2011 by Amy

Some things just do not go to plan do they? Our internet has always been dodgy – it’s super sensitive to weather, rain, sun, clouds.. it’s never happy. Anyway.. it’s been playing up so I couldn’t log in let alone blog and upload pictures, which disappointed me because I was just getting into the swing of four weekly updates. It was probably just as well because with it building up to Christmas I was busier than usual and this weekend was pretty hectic and energy draining so I didn’t get around to completing a 10 Things I Love Sunday post and I didn’t get anywhere near the kitchen to prepare a Foody Monday (Which I’m doing this afternoon).

We went around to my Grandparents home yesterday to put up their tree and decorations which took a lot longer than expected, the time was zapped by Grandma’s laptop not wanting to play ball with Skype and for some reason Adobe Flash wanted to update but when we let it, it didn’t install properly so now we are stuck in Flash limbo and not sure what to do about it.

As I said earlier, when I get of this I will be doing a Foody Monday even though it’s Tuesday. I’m thinking of making cookies, it’s not a new recipe like I try to do for Foody Mondays, trying something new and fun. I’m going to give my cookies a twist though, instead of making the usual choc chip cookies I’m substituting choc chips for Banana pieces covered in Ambrosia Custard and as I’m not sure about putting food colouring in with the dough mixture, as it’s not runny like the sponge mix I’m worried about it not blending well. Instead I’ll save the food colouring for the icing and make red and green icing to go with the Christmas theme.

I read an article a while ago, I think it was actually around the time I was starting my blog. I read a lot about blogging and styles before I started, but anyway digressing… I read one about apologizing and how annoying it can be a whole page full of apologies for not updating very often or something. Well I agreed to a degree. I don’t want to visit a favourite blog or youtube channel to be greeted with apologies and no real content. But at the same time.. I like to know the person is alright so a quick post or vlog to say I’m still here just been busy.. doesn’t bother me.

I wanted to put something up because I know friends and family read my blog as well as new internet friends so I wanted to let you know that I am alright, I haven’t been taken by the Migraine Monster and that I do plan to keep up four weekly posts but like everyone else I do get distracted around holiday times so it’s to be expected a little bit.

I’ll take some photos/video of my Foody Tuesday lol and probably edit and include it in this post, or just delete this and put a brief apology of absence at the end of a new one.

I have now skype set up so I’m playing around with that and looking forward to having video conversations with some new youtube friends from over the pond. Holidays are SO exciting!!

Also yesterday (the 19th) marked the 6 month anniversary of my blog, which I realize doesn’t mean an awful lot to anybody else but it means something to me! Looking forward to another 6 months and as long as I enjoy blogging I’ll keep going.

Thanks for reading!

Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb Review

Published 15/12/2011 by Amy

Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb

I’ve been wanting to try this perfume for some time but the price has always put me off, I didn’t want to spend £60 and upwards on a scent I’d never smelt and probably wouldn’t like, knowing my fussy tendencies.
I’d cruised along the usual online perfume shops (I don’t go into the nearest city much let alone in December) so there was no chance for me to go to a shop and find it to try it) and I eventually landed on Ebay, which is usually the last pit stop for pretty much everything I buy, what would I do without you dearest Ebay?

As expected at Christmas time, prices were jacked up and numerous listings for said item were completely laughable, however scrolling down I did manage to find some mini versions going for a lot cheaper so I zoned in one on that was offering 7ml mini for £14. Now this still seemed like a lot considering I have much bigger perfume bottles that last a good 3/4 months for about the same price and I knew this wasn’t going to be a spritz top which I prefer, the dab on ones are messy! But it seemed like the cheapest way I was going to get it and try it then if I liked it I could save up for the proper size with the funky black seal like the old fashioned perfumes used to have I think I was more interested in the bottle than the perfume, that’s usually me though. Packaging has to be supreme!

My Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb 7ml arrived in the post today and it really is diddy. The box is nice and the bottle is uber cute even minus the black seal tag. It’s a very strong smell, obviously because it’s small it’s more concentrated. It reminded me a bit of musky smell or a masculine smell. I put the tiniest amount on and forgot about it while I was diving into my December Glossy Box and making a video of the products. I didn’t notice the perfume again until I was out walking Ellie. I have to be honest and say I wasn’t to keen on it when I first put it on but by the end of the day I couldn’t get enough of it and kept waving my arm in front of me for another sniff like I do with my other perfumes, so on later reflection I do really enjoy this perfume and I will save up and get the bigger version with the spritz. It takes time but it will definitely grow on you.

dream.

If you love Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb or perfume in general! and you want to get your hands on some mini cheaper samples to tide you over the holidays check out ‘la_cosmetique_online’ on Ebay they have some fab stuff for fab prices. Or visit www.lacosmetique.co.uk

Don’t grow up a jpeg

Published 14/12/2011 by Amy

As usual I have lots of projects and ideas but never sure where to start and also not wanting to set myself up for disappointment. Some things I can just write off like no way am I going to be able to do that independently so don’t even try it you’ll just get frustrated and then a family argument is bound to ensue with “Why didn’t you ask for help?” or “Why did you even bother trying?” but I don’t want to bring you guys down with my negative and self doubt tendencies.

I’m knitting more squares, for my own blanket this time, It’s pink/yellow and grey/black I don’t have any pictures to show at the moment because I didn’t really want to duplicate stuff I’d already done. They are the same shape, size and pattern as the previous knitted blanket squares I did for the last project. I’m also going through hundreds of photos on my hard drive because I want to make several themed scrapbooks or photo albums. The two themes I’m working on so far are my dog Ellie, I’m thinking of making a Blurb book full of photos but very little if any text, and Autumn/Winter. Autumn is my favourite time of the year, I was born in Autumn/Winter I live in layers all year round, I Prefer cold to hot be it drink or weather. I am the Ice Queen of Devon hahaha.

There doesn’t seem to be a lot of traditional photo albums about whenever I look, people just don’t seem to print out their photos and stick them in albums anymore, which I feel is a real shame. So a scrapbook is probably more practical, that way I can stick more than just photo’s in, extra things to make it pretty and maybe some text/braille as well.

My colours our fading fast and very unreliable, I’ve always been able to tell the difference between green and red and now I can’t, it’s a really odd feeling and dwelling on it is making me more upset than angry. So that’s kind of what prompted met to get my jpegs printed, all those beautiful colours of Autumn/Winter and Spring.. in my hands for as long as I can make them out because they’ll be a life time gone.

In other news. My PenFriend review got picked up by the RNIB and they’ve also subscribed to my youtube channel, how cool is that? Made my day anyway! my blog review link was posted on their twitter and their facebook page. I can’t believe it! thank you!!

Ellie and I are about to brave the cold and she’ll ‘be busy’ before we all pile in the car, Penfriend and labels included as we trek to Tesco for the last shop before Christmas and hopefully meeting up with J (more like lob stuff out the window and duck and she lobs stuff in through the window) to swap last minute pressies and then back home to warm up under the duvet.

Something else that bugs me that I really need to conquer by this time next year.

Brave the kettle and make my own hot water bottles. I’ve mastered the oven and the microwave, well almost anyway why can’t I get to grips with the kettle

PENfriend Review

Published 13/12/2011 by Amy

The PENFriend is an audio labeling device that enables you to record you own voice onto the special various size and shape labels. You can pretty much stick them anywhere! The possibilities are literally endless, you can be creative, or just totally practical. I first heard about the PENFriend while I was routinely going through RNIBUK’s youtube channel. I was hooked. Such a small hand held device could provide me with all the information I needed via my own voice, without any sighted help? Get real. They did.

I’m quite fussy when it comes to the voices and accents I listen to. If it isn’t clear and easy so follow I zone out. So, the idea that I could use my own voice to record things rather than a synthesized voice or an accent I’m not used to hearing, was really appealing. Also the idea of being able to organize myself and be more independent is totally for the win. I’ve never been able to use general stationary ie.. diaries from let’s say general high street shops that sell stationary. In the last few years I’ve luckily had talking software on my mobile phone enabling me to use the calender and diary functions on there but to me, nothing beats a good old paper diary with ‘stick its’ and things making it pretty and tricky to keep closed. I’ve had a couple of large print diaries from the rnib shop and they are great but now with the PENFriend I can walk into any high street shop pick up a pocket size diary and I’m off.. just like the ‘sighted’ folk. Stick a label on every day so I know the day, date and year, then add extra stickers for different events. I feel compelled to quote that famous and loveable Meerkat, Aleksandr Orlov “Simples”.

The PENFriend looks pretty chunky when you get it out of the box and it does feel a bit unnatural when you first start using it. But I was surprised by how light weight it really feels, when I have it around my neck on the lanyard and tucked in my hoody pocket I don’t really notice it. It might take awhile to get used to holding and also getting the distance right so that your recordings aren’t crackly or fuzzy but I’ve had no real problems. When my recordings aren’t very clear I just do them again, and you don’t have to worry about wasting labels, you can record on top of previous recordings just press the record button and touch it to the label to start a new recording. The buttons are easy to find and you don’t have to push down hard which is good, on my Looky I have to press the buttons really hard to get a response and it bugs me. The volume buttons are particularly comfortable the slight angle makes them easier to distinguish and use. The most comfortable position I found holding the PENFriend was with my first 3 fingers and thumb and you can use it left handed or right handed in the same way, still a good grip and find the functions. I’m ambidextrous so it’s nice to have gadgets that accommodate for that.

I cannot recommend this piece of technology enough. In such a short space of time my life has been so much easier, less stressful and frustrating. I can get on with things when I’m home alone now, that truly is independence for me. Obviously you can’t use it for everything – I don’t recommend you taking it in the shower to find your shampoo and conditioner or body scrub, but for the majority of things it really does help. I made a short clip video of some of the uses I’ve put mine too. I have way more ideas and it’s going to be accompanying me on my local weekly shop to the supermarket, labeling things as they go into the trolley, packing stuff away at home will be a doddle!

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

It is a considered purchase at £60 with registered blind/partially sighted status knocking of vat and postage but I believe it’s worth it. Compared to the extensive list of other gadgets I’ve needed to help me live a normal day to day life, this is on the more affordable scale and you will really use it every day.
I love how intuitive it is, there are just four buttons nicely spaced out along the length of the pen, I was also very impressed by the instructions. No big manual that I’d have to wait for someone to go through with me, no CD I’d have to fire up the computer or Daisy Reader and listen to, just turn the PENFriend on and place on the 8 labels stuck to the cardboard inlay. I’d recommend you watching the RNIB’s demo video/tutorial first, which is what I did before and after I bought it, then I listened to the instructions that came with it at least twice before I started labeling and recording. It was so easy, I was home alone and I managed to do it all by myself, from opening the package, finding the on button and working it! it comes with batteries so it’s ready to go straight out of the box. I really like the box/container it comes in it’s compact and durable, also a handy place to store your extra labels, and I recommend stocking up on those! I opted to by Pack C along with the PENFriend and I’m glad I did. The provided lanyard is also helpful, but it does mean that I now have 3 things around my neck, my doro phone, my braillepen12 and now my penfriend

It also comes provided with a USB lead so that you can back up your recordings on to your computer, and also transfer computer files such as MP3′s and audio books on to the 1GB PENFriend memory.

I give it a 5 out of 5

Well done RNIB and CNIB

For more information on the PENFriend check it out on the rnib website or check out their youtube channel.
www.rnib.org.uk/shop

www.youtube.com/rnibuk

FOODY MONDAY: CHEWY MICROWAVE FLAPJACK

Published 12/12/2011 by Amy

Chewy Microwave Flapjack: Serves 12
3oz Butter/Marg
5tbsp Caster Sugar
2tbsp Golden Syrup
5oz Porridge Oats
6oz Sultanas

Put the marg, sugar, syrup into the microwave in a microwaveable bowl cook on high power for 1 1/2 – 2 minutes (we did ours for 1 1/2) until butter is melted. Stir in the oats and sultanas and mix well.
Put in into a greased microwaveable dish cook on high for 4 1/2 – 5 minutes until the center is bubbling (till it sounds like squishy version of rice crispies! we also did ours for 4 1/2 minutes)
Then slice into 12 and leave in the bowl to cool about 30-1hr.

We adapted this recipe from one we found at allrecipes.co.uk here is the original.

3oz Butter/Marg
5tbsp Light Brown Soft Sugar
2tbsp Golden Syrup
5oz Porridge Oats
2oz Sultanas
2oz Glace Cherries Chopped
2oz Dried Apricots Chopped

same directions.