this week.

1. The three day week - I don't know if I could do it all the time as I actually quite like working and having a routine, but it was very good having a three day week due to the mega bank holiday weekends.
2. Having a tidy flat - we've had a bit of a spring clean and the flat is looking really great. I love it when everything looks fresh and tidy and there isn't any clutter.
3. Kick Ass - we finally got this on DVD (and I got IDed in the process - rather embarrassing!) and we were not disappointed. Hit Girl is my new hero. Cardy bought me the graphic novel for Christmas so it's my current bedtime reading.
4. My friend's roller derby blog - she's working on a book and has started a blog telling the story of her trials and tribulations as a trainee roller girl. Well worth a read!
5. Fire and Stone in Covent Garden - Peking duck pizza, need I say more?

this week.

1. Looklet.com - I've never quite grown out of that girlish love of paper dolls so when I heard about Looklet.com I was THERE. Created in association with Vogue and featuring fashion from real designers it is every little girl's dream wardrobe simulator.
2. Skating at Earl's Court - as there was a bout on Saturday we had our training session at Earl's Court. The floor is concrete and a bit lumpy but it was so much fun! I couldn't really walk for three days, but there you go, that's derby love for you.
3. Valentine's Day - Cardy and I aren't hugely into Valentine's but we do exchange cards. I was also treated to a post-training back rub. He's a good'un.
4. Cardy's ever increasing Japanese game collection - Cardy has recently got a Sega Saturn and Dreamcast and he's been buying Japanese video games from eBay. I'm eyeing up ChuChu Rocket! - oh the excitement!
5. Late night noodles - I don't usually like to eat too late but on Saturday I really needed some food before going to bed so it was noodles in teriyaki sauce the rescue. Delicious!

this week.

1. Meeting up with old friends - I met up with a friend from uni on Sunday and a day of window shopping, Wagamama and gossip over Starbucks was had. It's always great when you meet up with someone you haven't seen for a while and you pick up the conversation like you'd only seen each other the day before.
2. Japanese pickles - Cardy is torturing me by keeping a jar of red pickled veg in the fridge. I fear I may wake up on the kitchen floor one morning with the stuff smeared all over my face.
3. South Park - thank you Viva for your week night showings of this fantastic cartoon. Cartman truly is a legend.
4. Wearing PJs during the day - I was meant to have a girly day with a friend on Monday but she was 'more snot than human' (her words, not mine) so we had to cancel. I therefore spend the day in the flat, wearing pyjamas and eating pasta. Happy times.
5. Creating palettes on Colour Lovers - so far I've been a watcher more than a do-er, but I've tried my hand at making some palettes and I've really enjoying it. Sometimes it's very frustrating, other times it just clicks.

1. Firefly - Cardy fancied watching some Indiana Jones last week but we don't have any of the films on DVD. I suggested that Captain Mal might be a good substitute and so began a week of watching Firefly over dinner. Although I won't deny that it would be nicer to have more episodes of this amazing show I'm sort of glad that they cut it in its prime. Now it will have the tragic luxury afforded to those beautiful people who die young - it will be forever brilliant.
2. Training so hard I have to sleep afterwards - exercise induced slumber is pretty wonderful.
3. Super Mario Bros. - I don't want to sound like I'm full of myself, but myself and Cardy do rather rock when it comes to playing video games together. We manage to reach a level of Ultimate Zen Coupleness which allows us to become this perfectly in tune gaming machine. And when we don't do too well we find it absolutely hilarious. We're therefore greatly appreciating the experience that Super Mario Bros. offers.
4. My new bag - I'm a bit gutted in that the custom bag that I'd ordered hasn't ever materialised, but I decided that rather than sit around a mope I should do something more productive about it. So I went out and bought a new one. From Desigual. Any excuse really. Needless to say it's a dream and I'm still not over the novelty of actually being able to fit my stuff in my handbag.
5. I Love Katamari on iPhone - absolute glee! Portable Katamari = ultimate love.

this week.

1. The return of Being Human - myself and Cardy are both happy to see Series Three of Being Human on BBC3. A werewolf, vampire and ghost sharing a flat? Yes please!
2. Choir - one word. Madonna. My WORD I am looking forward to our concert!
3. My new haircut - I've got my Louise Brookes bob back and I'm loving it. I'm not having to sweep the hair out of my eyes anymore and it looks so glossy.
4. Nakd's 'Cocoa and Orange' bar - I decided to try this out as an 'on the Tube' snack on my late nights this week. It's delicious and strangely filling. Definitely going to become a firm favourite.
5. Cardy's bolognese - last weekend Cardy cooked up some bolognese for the freezer which we cracked into on Tuesday night. While it was defrosting he told me that he hadn't even tasted it. He didn't have to worry, it was brilliant, especially with garlic bread.

1. Skinny jeans - roller derby is excellent. I can buy skinny jeans! And I don't look like a beast!
2. Glee - namely the Britney Spears episode. 'I petted a snake'. Good for you Britt!
3. Desigual's new collection - especially this top and this skirt. I'm already saving my pennies.
4. Paramore - after last week's Glee I tracked down the original 'The Only Exception' and found Paramore's fantastic music video. I won't lie, I've been doing my usual trick of having my iPod on repeat.
5. The 'just ordered new dolls' feeling - I finally ordered my Luka and Chloe. Now the waiting game starts! I don't mind the long production time, I've got so much to organise before they get here.

resolutions.

I don't usually like to make resolutions as I only feel guilty when I break/don't achieve them, but I'm feeling rather positive about this year. This is what I'm hoping to achieve over the next twelve months:

• pass my roller derby minimum skills test
• pick up my DSLR camera more and not just to take photos of dolls
• start writing again
• actually pick up my guitar instead of just using it as an ornament
• develop my professional knowledge at work
• continue to save up for a mortgage
• save up and buy Neko and Blythe
• try my hand at photostories
• finish my Project 365

this week.

1. Scrimmage - we had our first roller derby scrimmage session on Saturday and, if such a thing is possible, I'm in love with the sport even more. Absolutely amazing. I got some beautiful bruises!
2. The work Christmas party - having worked exclusively in schools since graduating I haven't really had the opportunity to go to a proper work do. So I was more than happy when the Routemaster bus turned up to take us to the London Transport Museum. A good time was had by all.
3. The Kill Bill films - myself and Cardy have watched both Kill Bill films over the last two weekends. I hadn't seen them in far too long. Uma Thurman is the only person who could work a canary yellow tracksuit.
4. My new Irregular Choice shoes - I'd been looking for a reason to buy Irregular Choice's Mini Magical Floral shoes in purple and this week's Christmas party was a brilliant excuse. I'm already looking for the next occasion on which I can wear them.
5. Timesplitters 2 - because we all need to shoot stuff up sometimes. One day I will graduate from playing it on the easy setting. One day...

this week.

1. Snow - yes, it leads to slippery pavements and the trains can't run, but it's white, fluffy, sparkly goodness and I had a jolly good time prancing about in our snowy front garden this evening. And this is coming from someone who didn't even get any time off work due to the stuff. So stop with the snow hate!
2. Pesto in toasties - we cracked out the toasted sandwich machine at work today and made pesto, cheese, ham and onion toasties. I think I may have a new addiction.
3. Unexpected curry - my Dad was meant to be staying with us on Thursday evening and was going to pay his board with Chinese food, but a combination of snow and a headache meant his trip was cancelled. We ended up going to the Indian takeaway on the corner and feasted on curry. All in all a good evening.
4. Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - now we've got our second hand PS2 up and running we're finally able to play the games that Cardy has been gathering for the past year. At the moment one of our favourite evening past times is playing Broken Sword, and not only for the childish innuendo about George's tool. It's nice to be playing a game that isn't just about running about shooting stuff (although that is rather fun, especially TimeSplitters 2).
5. Not breaking any bones in roller derby - there was a horrible moment in this Saturday's practise where I thought I'd had my first serious derby related injury. I'm a bit bruised, but nothing's broken. What a relief!

this week.

1. Fireworks - I know that some people find them a nuisance and I will admit that it sounds like a war zone outside, but I feel a certain childlike glee whenever I see fireworks. The best thing is that we didn't even have to leave the flat to see them. Result!
2. Waitrose pizza - myself and Cardy used to have a tradition, 'Pizza and Glee Night'. Every Monday we would stick two pizzas in the oven and would then delight in the cheesiness of Glee. But then something changed. More to the point, our usual pizzas changed and we weren't able to find a suitable substitute in Brixton. Today on my lunch break I decided that it was time to try something new, and it would seem that Waitrose has stood up to the test. Bravo Waitrose. Bravo.
3. Making my own jewellery - I'm by no means a pro at this, but I still find it highly enjoyable. At the moment I'm perfecting my memory wire bracelet technique. Seed beads are addictive!
4. Spontaneous dinners out - I got out of work early on Tuesday and rang Cardy to see if he wanted to meet up and go out for dinner. Half an hour later we were sitting in Wagamama, chatting and enjoying not having to cook. It was really lovely and unexpected.
5. My new Riedell Vandals - my new skates are AWESOME. Slightly scary, but awesome. I managed to get up to 20 laps on Saturday. Still not 25, but getting there

this week.

1. Skate Attack in North London - when I decided that I was going to be joining the LRG Rec League I searched for a shop in London that would be able to kit me out. I tried one of the recommended skate shops in Central London but they hadn't even heard of the training skates I was after. So I decided to travel that little bit further and go to Skate Attack in Southgate. Myself and Cardy went on Saturday as he had decided to get his own skates after watching the bout. He now has all the gear he needs including a swanky pair of Diablos, and I ordered some Vandals which arrived at work this morning. I'm really looking forward to trying them out tomorrow!
2. My fingerless gloves - we've had some really bitter mornings this week so I've been glad to have my gloves with me. I'm going to have to find some proper gloves for when it gets really cold though.
3. Buying my lunch in the morning - four words: pecan and maple yumyum.
4. Sitting by the radiator at work - pretty self explanatory really!
5. Roehampton hospital - I'm so glad that I'm lucky enough to be in the postcode range for Roehampton. They really are amazing.

this week.

1. The Chilean Miner story - call me soppy, but it was so heart warming to see the fantastic concluison to what could have been such a tragic story. I have been struck by the number of people who will openly tell how they had tears in their eyes watching footage of the capsule rising to the surface. It's rare that we have something positive and reaffirming on the news, and I am so happy for the miners and their families.
2. Live bouts - on Saturday myself and Cardy went to our first roller derby bout and it was amazing. We were there for five hours and, despite feeling rough as hell due to a sore throat, I had a briliant time. Cardy was so impressed that he not only bought himself one of the team t-shirts (The Harbour Grudges - boy has good taste) but he's planning on getting himself some
3. Napoleon Dynamite - this was our Sunday evening entertainment. I'd watched it with Cardy a while ago and didn't quite 'get it', so it was good to watch it again and understand the humour behind it. I definitely appreciate it a lot more, and I wish I could draw unicorns that
4. My new pencil case from TokyoInspired - I couldn't resist this fabulous pencil case from TokyoInspired on Etsy. Comical cats are always
5. Hot Vimto - I don't tend to drink that much coffee when I'm at work and so I will be relying on hot Vimto to warm my cockles over the winter months.

this week.

1. London Roller Girls - I went to my first training session on Saturday morning and I am in love. I'll admit that I was aching for days afterwards, but I had so much fun and I'm so excited about the next practice.
2. My first BJDs - I took some photos of the Merchant Twins the other day and remembered just why I fell in love with Fairyland dolls in the first place. They still take my breath away.
3. The 'Love Lewin' Collection at T M Lewin - I'm starting a new job on Monday so went out to do some work clothes shopping today. I found the most amazing purple shirt. The ruffles!
4. My parents - when I was at university my Mum would sometimes come and stay with me for the weekend. We would eat ice cream in bed and watch a chick flick, then go to Manchester and eat Nandos for lunch. We had so much fun. Last night I got to play host to my Dad. He crashed at the flat as he had to attend a two day conference in London. He treated myself and Cardy to a Chinese takeaway, I treated him to some Polish beer and we watched The Thick of It. I love being able to socialise with my parents.
5. The Thick of It - Two words. Malcolm. Tucker. Google it.

this week.

1. Trikky by Kidrobot - I've been tempted to have a go at customising one of these for a while so I picked one up this week. Now I just need to decide what to do with it!
2. My new skating gear - I start training with the London Roller Girls rec league tomorrow. I'm feeling slightly apprehensive but I'm really excited!
3. Lego Mind Storms - Cardy has splurged and bought this fancy robot kit from Lego. So far we've built a robot that can shoot things and a robot that can boogie. Cardy has a grand plan to turn it into a prototype Tachikoma. I can't wait to see how it turns out!
4. Futurama Season Four - Futurama at it's best is absolutely magnificent. And I really want Lela's hair.
5. My Archaic Smile t-shirts - my Mum posted some of my old t-shirts up to me so I can wear them when I skate. I don't think they're quite 'me' anymore, but they'll be perfect for when I'm wearing all my gear.