Flower delivery from Flowerworld UK

Everyone knows how much I love flowers so imagine my absolute delight when I found out I had won a competition with Flowerworld to win (wait for it)..... a bouquet every fortnight for a whole year!!

Whaaaat?!! I actually couldn't believe it. I screamed!

Everyone loves flowers but I find that with being stuck in a lot because of my illness, having fresh flowers around the house makes me smile. It makes me feel happy.

After I found out I had won (and freaked out a bit/a lot) I waited for the site to launch and made my first order. I am so impressed with the whole service that I decided to blog about it. They have not asked me to or anything but I just want to share as it's so good!

You never know with online flower delivery places how good the quality will be. I have seen so many expectation V reality photos from very well known companies and they have sometimes not looked anything like advertised.

I chose a bouquet called the Summer Meadow which was stunning and it looked like this online

It was really easy to order and did amuse me writing a message for myself on the card! I waited with anticipation the following day and I got giddy when I saw a delivery van pull up and the lady knocked on the door with a huge box. Eeeek...

I'm not sure what I was expecting but they were arranged beautifully and wrapped in lovely cellophane.

I couldn't believe how gorgeous they were and not only did they look exactly as they did online, dare I say they looked even nicer! Three huge sunflowers with roses, lilies, stocks and a few others with a lovely bow amongst them. Simply stunning.

I couldn't stop looking at them and felt incredibly lucky to have won.

Another thing about Flowerworld that made me smile is that their tagline is 'send happiness'. Everyone who knows me knows how much I love a Random Act of Kindness and I often send stuff to people to make then smile :-) I am allowed to send the flowers to other people too so perhaps you will get a surprise at some point over the next year...

It's now just over a week since I got the flowers and they are looking as amazing as they did when they arrived. The lilies have just started opening and I think they will last a good while yet. They make me happy every time I see them. Instant happiness!

When I was browsing the site I noticed that they have 20% off first orders with the code FIRSTORDER20% so if you are looking to send someone (or yourself!) some flowers then I would definitely recommend them. The prices are pretty reasonable too for what you get.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Flowerworld for picking me as one of their winners. I really do feel very grateful and I can't wait to keep my house full of pretty blooms for the next year!

They have an animated journey on their website showing how the flowers go from being picked to being delivered which I found really interesting!

Let me know if you order and which bouquet you go for :-)


Ali 
xx

Say yes more!! Inspired by Danny Wallace

I started most of this post a week or so back and between then and now it's been a pretty horrendous week. The mass killings in Orlando and then the horrific murder of Jo Cox 2 days ago in the town where I used to live. It's made a lot of people question what the world is coming to and a general feeling of sadness has been apparent everywhere. I am however determined to keep smiling and try and focus on the stuff I've written about below.

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During my fundraising (see previous post) someone asked me if I had ever read any of Danny Wallace's books. I hadn't but I was intrigued. I bought the ones I had been recommended, Yes Man and Random Acts of Kindness.

I haven't read a book properly in ages but as soon as I started reading Yes Man I couldn't put it down. I have also been trying to establish a bit of a better night time routine to try and help with my sleep. Not watching stuff before bed is one of the things I need to stop, so I thought some reading might help relax me.

I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it and may want to, but the general message from the book is to say yes more. Say yes to opportunities. Say yes to having fun. Say yes to living life. Say yes to being positive! Obviously having chronic illness, saying yes is very difficult in a lot of situations but I am all for positivity and this book certainly gives you a kick up the backside!! Danny is a comedian and I laughed a lot whilst reading which is also good. Laughter is the best medicine isn't it...

I have now started reading Random Acts of Kindness which is basically a long list of things you could do to spread happiness to other people. 365 ways to make the world a nicer place. Some of the suggestions make me laugh but if everyone did at least one nice thing for someone else, can you imagine how much happier the world would be?

One of the suggestions was to write a note in a book which you are returning to the library. I have actually done that before in a book I read which was really inspiring (One Million Lovely Letters by Jodi Ann Bickley) and I love the thought of the next person reading it and smiling. I wrote something like "never forget you are amazing". I also did the same thing  in the same book I sent my friend and she cried when she found it!

The book is rather old and the idea of 'rewinding a video tape before returning it to the video shop' clearly shows how old!! Nice gesture though all the same.

The one that says 'if someone cuts you up in traffic, instead of flicking them a finger, smile at them and wave at them like a lunatic' did make me laugh.

There are loads of simple things you could do which would make a real difference to someone's day. I love random acts of kindness so much and am always sending little things to people. Try it, it makes you feel good and you make someone smile. What's not to like about that??!

I also think people don't smile enough at other people so why not try smiling at the next person who you walk past? Seeing someone smile back at you is lovely.

Or do something like buy a friend a cupcake. Send someone a card in the post. Offer to buy someone a cup of coffee! So many simple things that are actually big things when you see how much they make people feel good.

In a world where there is so much nastiness (& this week has proven just that) people really should try to make it a nicer place. Even if you can't do something for someone then just be kind. Kindness costs nothing. I've seen some really nasty behaviour too recently. Totally unnecessary and just really pathetic. Perhaps acting like that makes people feel good but I would rather feel good for doing nice things!

Let me know in the comments if you've ever done any random acts of kindness or whether you plan on doing!

Lots of sparkle


Ali 
xx

Spreading a little bit of happiness

Wouldn't it be nice if we had a switch on our bodies so that on bad days we could just say NO & make it stop!

It's been a very poorly week for me with the M.E & I've been pretty much bedbound. I know it's because I dared to do something fun.. Payback is never nice when you have a chronic illness, but it's slightly easier when you have something to show for it. If you read my previous post you will know I was going to a party with some of the Crown & Glory Glitterati girls. (The Glitterati is a montly subscription box of hair accessories for those of you who are not familiar with it)! It was a Mad Hatter's tea party to be precise & it was really lovely. I am so glad I made it & finally meeting Sophie & Gareth, as well as the lovely ladies was great. My little Miss took a shine to them both!

We were treated with delicious afternoon tea, bubbles & the most amazing goodie bags which seemed to have an endless amount of stuff in them!! There were things from some of my favourite independent businesses, as well as a special piece of Crown & Glory, so I was very chuffed. Sophie even gave my girlie a goodie bag & she was (& still is) super grateful :-)

Big thanks also to my fab friend Sian who made me some brilliant accessories to go with the Alice in Wonderland theme. I absolutely love them & had lots of comments about them so thank you sweetie!

I won't go on too much about how bad I've been as I am still trying to stay positive. My positivity did waver during the week for the first time this year but I always find that happens when mega bad days (as oppose to the usual bad ones!!) go on & on. I have started on some supplements - Q10 g Vitamin B12 - so will see how they help. I'm feeling more sparkly again now & am just taking each day at a time.

I thought I would share a few of my favourite quotes as I do love a good positive affirmation & have various ones dotted around the house. I've just put a hanging frame thing up in the conservatory with some postcards I got from Lucky Dip Club which makes me smile lots.

So I'll leave you with these...

"Don't let anyone ever dull your sparkle"

"A smile is the prettiest thing you can wear"

"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if you only remember to turn on the light"

"It may be stormy now but it never rains forever"

"Enjoy the little things in life as one day you will look back & realise they were the big things"

"When it rains look for rainbows & when it's dark look for stars"

"The butterfly is proof that something beautiful can emerge from something completely falling apart"

"The best people are those whose tutus are a little twisted" (this might be the best one!)

Keep smiling :-)


Ali 
xx

Sound of Music inspired.. a few of my favourite things!

We watched The Sound of Music last week & my daughter hadn't seen it properly before so it was lovely. Of course the songs are total classics & I keep singing "raindrops on roses & whiskers on kittens".

I'm still managing to be pretty positive despite feeling like I've been trampled on by a herd of elephants every day!! See my previous post here.

So, as inspired by Julie Andrews in the film, I thought I'd mention a few of my favourite things...

Hearing my little girl laughing has to be up there at the top. Children's laugher is such a fab sound & my girlie's giggle hasn't changed since she was a baby. Everyone always says what an infectious laugh she has & it's true. A few weekends ago we had snow & she loved it. She thought throwing snowballs up at me in my bedroom & splatting them onto the window was hilarious! I managed to get a good action shot photo of her laughing. It makes me smile so much.

Fresh flowers always make me smile. I would have a whole house full of them if I could! I sometimes buy myself a bunch of something pretty but receiving them from other people is even better. My lovely friend Katie sent me a surprise bouquet last week from Bloom & Wild who do beautiful letterbox flowers. They came wrapped so well with little nets over the buds to protect them & they look so nice. Over a week later they have all opened & they are still going strong!

Sunshine. Not only do I really love the sun but it is also my nickname for my daughter. I say that she is my sunshine on cloudy days! I love nothing more though than sitting with the sun on my face, a nice blue sky & an ice cold drink in my hand. I have a new cloud hair clip from Crown & Glory which we got in the last subscription box & I've actually stuck it on the wall near my bed as it makes me think of my girl.

Happy notes make me exactly that. I love writing little notes, letters or cards for people. I am always leaving them in the house for my daughter & she now leaves them for me too which is just the cutest thing. I have been putting them in a scrapbook that my friend Sian got me for Christmas & I love looking at them. I'm one big sentimental softie!

Music. I don't have any particular type that I prefer, it just depends what mood I am in. I really love stuff that reminds me of being young (er!) & songs that spark memories. I sometimes just sit listening to the radio for ages but I do tend to prefer older stuff than more modern. I think music is amazing as it just makes you forget everything for a while & it can make me feel so happy (or sad) which has to be a good thing.

Glitter is an obvious one for anyone who knows me! I am obsessed with the stuff in absolutely any form & I am just drawn to it. People always send me glittery cards & gifts which is the best.. I know I'll never grow out of my love for all things sparkly!

The sound of rain but not particularly the feel of it or what it does to my hair!! I love being inside & listening to it bouncing off the conservatory roof. Strangely relaxing.


Pineapple themed stuff seems to have become a bit of a problem for me!  have no idea when it started but I am just drawn to all things pineapple... I'm not an overly huge fan of the fruit itself so I really can't explain it. People now buy me pineapple stuff (as well as glittery!) & my friend Emma got me a fab sparkly one for Christmas which I absolutely love! I recently found a top in the sales online with a pineapple shape cut out at the back & I have a few vest tops with them on as well as various other bits. Yep I'm obsessed...

The Michalaks on YouTube are so lovely to watch. They make family video diaries & upload a new one every Sunday. I find them so relaxing to watch & they are such a lovely, funny, genuine family. The vlogs are so well edited & I recommend them to everyone. I am actually going to publish this post & put their latest video on. It's my favourite part of Sundays!

Crisps are my absolute downfall. I am quite happy not having sweet stuff but I just cannot cope without crisps! Walkers are my favourite, especially cheese & onion flavour, so can you imagine how I felt when I won a SACK OF WALKERS CRISPS!!! Yes, a whole sack full. It was a competition on Twitter before Christmas & they recently arrived. I am not sure I've ever been so happy. I haven't had to buy any in weeks & I gave a fair few away too. Woo hoo!

So for future reference, buy me anything glittery, with pineapples on or crisps and I'll love you forever!!!!!

I could probably go on and on but I shall stop here! These are just a few of my favourite things but I have lots more. Remember that even though it might not feel like it, there is usually something positive in every day. Even if it's a really small thing. I have been writing a line in a diary each night with something happy from the day so I can look back on my worst days & remember them. Chronic illness is rubbish but try to find the little things that make you smile if you can. As Buddy the Elf says "Smiling's my favourite"!

I'd love to know some of your favourite things?


Ali
xx

Some of the things I'm liking at the moment

I see a lot of the 'monthly favourites' videos on YouTube & I really like watching them so thought I would do a post with some of the stuff I'm enjoying at the moment.

1) Obviously my daughter! Although we are in the midst of Summer holidays & she had a few days in a row of being a very stroppy little thing but that seems to have settled down again now. It's really hard in the holidays keeping them occupied (I am working on a post at the moment with some of the stuff we've done) & especially when you are poorly but it has been nice spending lots of time with her. I do find school holidays difficult too though as everyone is always posting about all the fun places they have been on social media & due to my illness I haven't been able to do a lot of it so it's not easy to ignore but we make our own fun a lot of the time so I shouldn't let it get to me.

My girlie makes me laugh so much & really lifts me when I don't feel so cheerful! Last week we went to a play place with one of her friends which was fun. I love seeing her enjoying herself.

Photos are so important to me which leads me onto my next thing...

2) Before we went on holiday I got a new camera as the one I'd had for years was long in need of replacing. I wasn't sure which to get as I didn't need anything really fancy but still wanted something that took decent pictures.

After a bit of research I ended up getting the

Panasonic Lumix TZ55 (which is on Amazon at a really good price at the moment!).

I am really impressed with it & I enjoyed taking lots of snaps on holiday. Even though the auto setting takes nice pictures, there are various editing tools too if you want to change them around. For those who like taking sefies or for group shots it has a flip screen too which is a good feature.

I also had to get a new phone last weekend as mine had totally broken. I upgraded early to the Samsung A5 & I am so impressed with the image quality. I have also realised when taking selfies it makes me look airbrushed which can't be a bad thing either!!

3) Some of you will know I enjoy making bracelets when I feel up to it but I seemed to totally lose my mojo. However I have finally got it back & have been making some bits this week. I really enjoy doing it & I love gifting them to people which makes them smile so of course that makes me smile. And my new phone captures the beads so well too! This is one I made for my sister.

4) I am loving (as always) positive quotes. I just received a card from my friend today saying "never let anyone dull your sparkle" I have put it on the wall next to my bed. I have various different ones & just love the idea of a wall of happiness! I have some postcards with nice quotes on too so I just need to get a frame for them & can put it up.

5) My friend Meg started a YouTube channel fairly recently. I had never really been into YouTube until then but I am hooked now. I don't think I am just bias because she's my friend because she's just so lovely! I really enjoy watching her videos & I am clearly not the only one who thinks so as currently she has 18 & a half thousand subscribers & it is going up all the time.

I am so proud of her & not only does she make me laugh a lot but she's so genuinely nice you can't help but like her (plus we share a love of Thomas Shelby from Peaky Blinders!). Please check her channel out at MegSays & if you enjoy her videos, leave her a little comment telling her I sent you!

6) This is quite an obvious one for anyone that knows me but it is my hair accessories from Crown & Glory! As you probably know I get their monthly subscription boxes & I love how much gorgeous stuff I have. No matter how rubbish I am feeling I just reach for one of my many pretties & I feel so much nicer with something in my hair. I recently got a new cake stand to put some of them on as the one I was using was too overcrowded so now I have several places where I keep my stash!! If you want to read my unboxing post for the August box it's here.

I could probably go on & on but I will stop now! I'd love to know what sort of stuff you're liking at the moment. Leave me a message in the comments & I may hold you responsible for me developing an obsession... I mean a liking... for the same!

Thanks for reading,

Ali 
xx