VEGAS!

Last summer I spent a week in... VEGAS, baby!!!! 

And I know, I know. I should have filled you in then. but as much I had a story to tell, (shhh shh. "What happens in Vegas..." and all that), I hadn't the snaps to add. But all of that has changed.now. 

From an unknown source, (my cousin), came these little rascals. Photos. Evidence. And it's been a long time coming. 

So, without further ado, here's a snippet of my Vegas adventure in a few snaps. I daren't add the one of me passed out in a bath tub, mind. 

It all started off so sweetly. Here we are at Gatwick airport. "Ooh, Look. There's a massive teddy bear, Lets's go make friends." say's my cousin and I. So off we went.

Having landed in Vegas, the heat was a shock. As we searched for the taxi rank. I stated, '"It feels like when you open an Oven door and get a wafting surge of heat in your face. Except this is constant...and all over my body. Then off in an air conditioned Taxi we went in search of our hotel.

As each night fell, out came our drinks in the hotel room for a little preparation for the nights events...

And so our partying began.

Don't ask me who this guy is. I have no idea.

The day's were often filled with strolling and lounging around, often in search of these alcoholic Slushies.  

Having spent the first two nights at the Paris hotel, we moved to spend the rest of of our holiday in the Cosmopolitan hotel. (it was a lot cheaper that way, trust me). With the hotel being slap bang in the middle of the strip, check out the view that greeted us from our balcony both by day...

,

......and night

Day: Strolling, lounging, searching for more slushies...

Night: Slap on the make-up, and party.  And Repeat.

We were on a loop, but it was a good'un.

xx

On the Second Day of Christmas... | Boxing Day

…Annnnnnd the secrecy, wrapping, and distribution of gifts continue.

I love taking out my well-hunted pressies from their hiding places, wrapping them up and seeing them look all pretty with their bows, which leads me to one of the things I love about Christmas.

Giving presents.

As a child it was always about wishing to see what it was that was under the tree for me, but now, finding that one thing I feel fits that certain person, seeing the look on their face as they receive their well wrapped gift, especially if it turns out they really like it, feels sooooo good. I love it. It's a serious natural high for me, people. A serious natural high.

What about you, do you love hunting, wrapping and handing out presents, or does the mere thought of next Christmas's present hunt fill you with dread?

On the First Day of Christmas... | Love and be Loved

Merry Christmas!

The last few days of advent has seen me running around like a headless chicken on the hunt for presents (which, like every year, I had planned to do in advance, but, as usual, failed) and stocking up on lots of yummy nibbles, drinks and food for this Christmas period.

And so it begins. Christmas is here. The first day of Christmas. A day where family can row and food can burn like never before, but before doors start slamming, or possible wishes for the day and Christmas period in general to end, take a second and look around you. I mean really look. Look past all of the annoying little stuff. Look past the present you possibly hate, the effort you've put in to something that seems to have been overlooked, the rowdy aunt in the corner, or the cremated food, and take what's there in. This is your family, no matter how big, small, annoying, or loud. These are your friends. This is your Christmas. Love and be loved.

So, whilst I'm about to go and bang the turkey in the oven, whilst half of my family are still asleep, and the other half are nattering in the living room, I just wanted to say that, wherever, or whoever you are with today, be it family, or strangers, I send you lots and lots of love and wish you a merry, merry Christmas.

Kartonia. xx

Notting Hill Carnival Monday | Dancing in the Rain

I write this post (on the 26th of august) with a sore throat (I must have been doing a lot of screaming), Sore hips, thighs, shoulders and feet that are refusing any sort of weight on them.

And that, my friends, is how I know that Carnival was AMAZING this year.

Even my tights told me I had a good time. Look at the state of them. (Just so you know, they're not supposed to have holes in them.)




Don't worry, I'm not going to upload a picture of what I look like right now. I don't want you to fall off your chair/bed, choke on what your eating or give you nightmares. I will, however, give you the likes of these...

It poured. Oh my goodness did it pour. Carnival Monday saw buckets and buckets of rain fall down on us and those brave enough to turn up. Did it dampen spirits? Of course not. If anything, it added fuel to our figurative flames of excitement and passion.



It's like my Dad said, "Rain on carnival separates the average partier from a true raver." Yes, he said "raver". And he couldn't be more right, because, in telling me that the best carnival he went to when he was younger was one where it poured, I snapped him on that. I could relate. This was an amazing carnival.

I was soaked to the bone by the end of it. My corset was drenched, my hair was soaking, but funny enough my make up hadn't budged. Honestly though, dancing in the rain for seven hours probably isn't the smartest thing to do, (I was shivering like crazy when I got home, even after I came out of steaming, hot shower), but boy was it fun.

So, to those dark clouds swelled with rain I say... bring it on. You can't stop us from partying through the streets.

Where were you on Carnival Monday?