October recap… Happy Halloween! 👻

Wow this past month has flown by! How is it 31 October already – this year has just disappeared. It will be December before we know it…
When I think back on this month I just think of the cold – so instead of treating myself to a new handbag this year, I’ve gone all out and got myself a new Ted Baker winter coat 😊 Love it so much!
So to the past month… there was lots of long days at work and training but let’s just focus on the good bits (outside work) 😊
We went to the cinema a few times – we got ourselves Cineworld Unlimited cards this year so try to go a few times a month. Touchwood in Solihull near us have recently opened up a steakhouse called Firejacks which is delish and we’ve been a couple times before the cinema. You can get chips with any toppings which are so morrish. I love the waffle fries with bacon bits and cheese mmm 😍

This month was also full of tasty cocktails – who doesn’t love a gin or cocktail 🍸🍹. I’ve even got the hubby into rhubarb gin as long as its with ginger ale – basically so it doesn’t taste like gin…

The frozen Margarita was a nice treat after my hubby did the Birmingham Half Marathon. I gave it a miss this year but am very proud of the hubby who managed it around in the rain ☂ We loaded up on burritos and Margaritas and then made our way down to Longleat Safari park for a couple days. I’ll be writing up a blogpost on Longleat but here are a few pics from our day! It chucked it down all day but was a nice day out. Definitely a better way to spend a Monday than at work 👍 This past summer we watched Animal Park Summer Special which was a flash back to our primary school days. Who doesn’t love a bit Ben Fogle and Kate Humble! 
My parent’s have recently moved out of London to Bray near Windsor so we popped by one weekend to check it out. Their house is an old cottage with wooden beams everywhere. I’ll have to take better pictures when we’re next there but here are a few tasters. There’s a huge fireplace with a log burner – I’d love a log burner one day but alas you don’t get them in a new build…
I was in London for a couple days of thrilling US PCAOB training and made sure to pop by Dominique Ansel Bakery in Victoria. I’ve wanted to try one of their Cronuts for ages so popped by to bring some home for the hubby and I to try. The October flavour was popcorn and caramel and was so good! If you get the chance do go and try one.
This month I also caught up with some friends and had some tasty meals out. After being in London for training I saw a good friend from my old work in London and we popped by Bone Daddies close to her new work in Victoria. I had a very yummy crispy duck ramen – I’ll definitely be having ramen again!
I saw went to Sabai Sabai with a friend from work for a lunch catch up. I LOVE Sabai Sabai and they do a good value lunch meal. I mean look how much you get for 1 person in the lunch deal… That afternoon I was so full but very content after this meal 😋

Looking back over the above all I seem to do each month outside work is have some tasty drinks as well as tasty meals out but hey! you only live once!
One thing that did suck this month was getting a not very nice cold 😓. I was a bit of a wuss so stayed away from the gym for a couple weeks… Feeling much better now so I have no excuse for November! Let’s reassess in a months time how this past month at the gym has gone… I’m hoping well 😜

Ted Baker had a sample sale in Birmingham which I popped along to. I’ve never really had Ted Baker before but got a couple bits as the price was so good! I got 2 dresses for £20 each (same dress in black and blue) a black lace top for £15 and a jacket for £25. All fits nicely so was a good gamble for the value! Can’t complain!

I managed to get 5 days in Italy with my mum, nanny and great aunt. The weather was so nice! It was in the low 20s every day so it was a bit of a shock to the system when I came back home and it was raining and having to defrost the cars in the morning! See here for my blogpost on my trip to Lake Garda and Venice.

Italy is one of my favourite places so I love going back but it was nice coming home to have a few days of pure chilling! After getting back on the Thursday, I literally spent the Friday on the sofa chilling watching TV – definitely needed after a busy 3 months. Saturday eve was spent seeing Enrique Inglesias at the Genting Arena – we’d forgotten how many of his songs we actually knew! After a late night, Sunday was our final chill day before getting back to work on Monday.
We popped out to Raja Monkey Sunday night which is run by the same people as Lasan in Birmingham and it didn’t disappoint. Its been suggested to us a few times by friends and we’ll definitely be going back. (The decor was also cute!) We both shared some Samosa Chaat and Pau Bhaji which was the best part of the meal. We then both had the Nawabi Kebab Thali. YUM!!!

So here I am on 31 October with the Pumpkins carved and the sweets ready but no trick or treaters 😓 Oh well!

I am not enjoying this absolutely freezing weather at the mo… I don’t mind being home wrapped up in a blanket with hot chocolate but having to be outside when its freezing and its raining is not any fun! We’re off to the fireworks on Thursday so I will be wrapping up nice and warm!

Anyone else seeing any fireworks this next week?
We’re going to the Vale Fireworks – always nice to pop back to the UoB Vale to see what it looks like since we left Birmingham Uni in 2011. Brings back lots of memories!

Until next time…

Cathers x

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