Lions, Tigers & Bears - Oh My!

So, i spent yesterday's beautiful sunshine at Colchester Zoo with my lovely friends: Jess, Lisa & Sam. The weather was absolutely glorious and actually got pretty hot, especially when we thought it was a good idea to sit and watch the flying birds show in the midday heat - slightly sore faces on the way home after this, i even got a pink nose! Despite the heat, it was a lovely day and i thought i'd share some of the memories with you!

This is what i wore for the adventure; (these shorts sort of make me feel like an explorer!):

Shorts: New Look / Top: New Look / Belt: Peacocks / Necklace: Via Grandma / Cardigan: H&M / Tights: Tesco

I'd first of all like to introduce you to Jess; she really is one of a kind and gets herself into all sorts of situation, some of which are shown below.

This last picture is Jess trying to get herself into the pouch of a large Wallaby or Kangaroo. This is probably made for a 5 year old so it is not surprising that she didn't quite make it, however it did make for very humorous watching.

I took some lovely pictures of some of the animals we spotted along the way and here are just a taster!

Parrot / Columbian Monkey / Red Lemurs / Meerkat / Lion / Elephant / Giraffe / Hyena / Wallabys / Baby Monkey! / The Seal Tunnel

I spent a lovely day with some lovely friends, and i love getting driving experience other than my day to day travels. It was a relatively easy drive from where we live, so it wasn't too stressful which was nice! We spent the Morning and early Afternoon wandering around the zoo seeing what animals we could spot; my favourite was by far the Meerkats! They are so adorable, i took so many pictures of their cute little faces! The babies were especially gorgeous, as these Meerkats weren't very big anyway, the babies were tiny and super cute! It was nice to spend some time outside, in England, without a cardigan and actually experience some proper sunshine heat! Made a nice change.

After wandering 'round the zoo, we sat out on the grass and ate the picnic we collectively put together - it consisted of sausages, sausage rolls, tortilla chips, salsa, frazzles, pringles, brownies & rocky road. It was super yummy and was nice to be able to sit outside and eat. However, while we were sitting having a good natter a bird (somehow) managed to poo directly into the frazzles bag. It was seriously good aim and it had us all in stitches. We just heard it splat onto the bag, it was truly disgusting but gave us the giggles! We decided not to eat any more frazzles after that incident.

This is a picture of said incident.

If you don't live too far away and want a nice day out, especially with little'uns i definitely recommend Colchester Zoo! It was nice for a day out with the girls.

On the way home, we stopped off at Braintree Freeport for a spot of shopping! There isn't that much there that interested us, but there were a few places we stopped off and i got a few goodies to share with you. Now, ever since i was a little girl i have always had a complete infatuation with Claire's Accessories. Even now, the tacky gets me every time! They had a Claire's Outlet with 30% off everything - well, that was never going to end well! I came away with 4 lovely necklaces that you would never tell were from Claire's. I've been looking for a long necklace to wear with my dress next week and now i have 4 new options!

All from Claire's Accessories Outlet.

The little acorn caught my eye first and it all went downhill from there! The little mirror is very Alice in Wonderland, and originally came with a small, white, lace bow attached but that made it slightly tacky and very Claire's Accessories so i took that off and am happy with the result. I especially love the the little gold ball, a jewellery designer that we saw at the Clothes Show 2 years ago sold little gold balls like this and ever since i regretted not getting one, so this is a nice and cheaper alternative!

I am also always on the look out for bits and bobs for me to take to university with me, in September, and when i saw this cushion - i just couldn't resist! I have been longing for some homely, squishy cushions to take with me to make my room feel that little bit more snuggly and i just had to have this one!

Cushion: Past Times

I have a few bits & bobs from Past Times, and am always drawn to it's retro products, and as this lovely cross stitch cushion was in the sale, well, i just couldn't say no.

All in all, we had a fab day and i couldn't ask for better friends! xo

(p.s. this gets me every time, and i'm sure everyone has seen it by now but if you haven't - you really must check out the Morrison's Advert feat. Freddie Flintoff, keep a special eye out for the little welsh girl "and a royal weeeeedding" and right at the end the little boy who forgot the quiche! Seriously, check it out, it's such brilliant advertising!)

Friday Feeling #11

WARNING! Heavy Picture Content In This Post.

001. So, this Friday Feeling is going to be a little different from normal, as i just have so much to share with you!

On Sunday April 3rd, aka My Birthday, i woke up to find my lovely Lucy sleeping slap bang in the middle of the spare room floor. Why, you might ask, and i would reply: that is a very good question, and i really have no idea! She usually likes hiding and napping in cosy little confined spots, but maybe this beautiful weather is getting all too much for her and she's taken to sitting somewhere a little more breezy (not that the centre of the room is heavily breezy!)

002. & As i told you in yesterdays post, we bought some of my favourite cupcakes, from Waitrose, to make up my ever so lovely birthday cake. I've never been a huge fan of having one large cake, as i rarely eat it anyway, so cupcakes are a nice alternative, meaning you can eat them one at a time and whenever you feel the need! Piled high on a vintage cake stand can also be far more lovely than a run-of-the-mill cake from Tesco.

003. This is where this post becomes a little higgledy piggledy. The day after my birthday i went to spend a couple days with the Mr, at his lovely home in Ely (i'm jealous because i love Ely!) I even took the time to snap up my (2nd) Birthday outfit for you, from the comfort of our room. - This picture was taken post Cambridge shopping trip and post baking session, so apologies if i'm looking a little exhausted!

Shorts: Birthday Gift - H&M / Top: Birthday Gift - Dorothy Perkins / Necklace: Via Gift, Accessorize / Tights: Tesco / Cardigan: H&M

I absolutely love these red shorts, they're like a dream and fit me like a glove! They're made out of a lovely soft, sort of silky fabric that would seem like it would crease to the nines but in actual fact after a day of mooching in Cambridge and baking the afternoon away, they were more or less not much worse off than when i put them. What's even better is that for a leggy girl, like yours truly, i find it difficult to find shorts that are long enough to cover my bum - and these are the perfect length! I wish all shorts were a little longer, however this would probably do nothing for my bank balance as it would be hard to resist.. & as for this adorable peter pan collared top, it's just delightful! I also received one in the same style but cover in big red poppies - perfect for the spring & summer months.

004. Talking of gifts, i have to show you what my wonderful Mr bought me for my birthday - something i have been longing after for months now!

Red Snake Lock Satchel: River Island

Isn't she beautiful!? I have honestly wanted this bag since it hit RI's Online store. The gorgeous colour and the super retro clasp are what drew me to this lovely piece of 'arm candy' - always wanted to say that. I plan to use it next week when me & the Mr go see We Will Rock You as it'll set off my outfit perfectly (I'm wearing duck egg blue & grey) Even the inside is gorgeous! The faux croc type outside is super lovely, and well finished - it just feels good to carry. It may be a little small for my every day use but that seems to make it all the more special. I can take just the essentials on special occasions.

005. Gifts, gifts & even more gifts! I really wasn't expecting anything this year as i have been gifted with my beautiful baby Macbook Pro - that i am using as i type - but my wonderful parents had a few bits & bobs that i could open on my birthday. It's often nice to get things you don't need, but just want.

Shoes: Topshop / Teen Vogue Handbook: Amazon / Style Diaries: V&A / Holes & An Education: Amazon / Kirstie Allsopp Correspondance Set: M&S / Spotty & Poppy Peter Pan Collar Tops: Dorothy Perkins / Red Shorts: H&M

It was so lovely to have some bits & bobs that i just wanted; the books & the dvds were such a lovely addition as i rarely buy myself books or dvds - and after reading on other blogs about books, it always makes me want them! My lovely Mum picks up on these things and keeps a note in that brain of hers. An Eduction must be one of my new favourite films, i think that everyone should watch it - it may be a bit girly, and i think a lot of girls can relate but it's just generally a lovely film. As for Holes, it's just a classic - the book is one of my favourites! & i finally got my mitts on the Kirstie Allsopp Correspondence Set! I can't wait to get using it, it's so lovely!

006. My Mr is perfect and made me scrambled eggs just because i wanted them! Purrrrrrfect.

I can't wait to show you my adventure to the Zoo with my lovely college girls: Sam, Lisa & Jess. I had a lovely day in Colchester, and the weather was perfect! We even managed to fit in a spot of shopping on the way home! Summer is finally on the way!