A letter from Emma about: A Year of No Resolutions

Dear Reader, 

This year I have decided not to make any new years resolutions. Not because I won't keep to them but because I  believe that you have any opportunity for change throughout the year and this should not be exclusive to the start of January. 

As many of you may know I really like quotes, so this year instead of resolutions  I have written a collection of my favourite quotes, which I hope will inspire me for the new year a head: 

"Ah yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. "

- The Lion King

"Worry is a misuse of imagination."

- Dan Zadra 

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling,

but in rising every time we fall.”

- Nelson Mandela 

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."

- Dalai Lama 

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." 

- Oscar Wilde 

"Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

- Abraham Lincoln 

"The first recipe for happiness is : avoid too lengthy meditation on the past." 

- Andre Maurois 

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

― Mae West

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness 

was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I 

wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I 

didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t 

understand life.”

- John Lennon 

I have just noticed that lots of the quotes are about happiness, and I guess that what it's all about really: so have a 'happy' new year. 

I would love to know of your new years resolutions or any of your favourite quotes? 

Yours, 

Emma Dilemma

P.S. Quote of the day- all the above. 

A letter from Emma about: Cake

Dear Reader,

Today's post is about one of my favourite things in the world: cake. But also about the dilemma of sending Christmas gifts to family and friends who live far away. Since starting Uni I have moved far away from home and also most of my friends have done the same, which means that often gifts have to be posted. We all know sending gifts can be difficult, not only it is hard to get companies that deliver on time and but it's also difficult to find a thoughtful gift without it costing lots of money.
Baker Days offer a great solution to this problem, they deliver letter box sized personal cakes. This week they sent me a lovely Christmas themed cake to review:

 

I really like the sprout cake because its a bit different, and what's more traditional than sprouts at Christmas (even if you're not a fan)! Baker Days have lots of different Christmas designs to choose from,  and you can also add personalised messages and even photo's to the cakes.  You can even choose the sponge type ranging from chocolate to gluten free cake. The cakes are delivered in a compact box, accompanied with a Christmas cracker and party hat, and they taste pretty good too. The box is also small enough to be delivered through the letter box, so none of those dreaded red slips!

Although this is a Christmas themed cake Baker Days also cater for other occasions and with lots of my friends turning 21 this year I shall be ordering from them, I just think its a nice way to say happy birthday. You also don't have to worry about whether or not they'll like the gift because, let's face it everyone loves cake.

You really can have your cake and eat it too! Sorry, I couldn't resit. 

Yours, 

Emma Dilemma

P.S. Quote of the day- "Let them eat cake."
- Marie Antoinette

A letter from Emma about: Bunny Slippers

Dear Reader, 

Today's post is all about slippers, well to be specific bunny slippers. The lovely people from Jolly Bunny sent me some bunny slippers to review. I love products which are unique and original so I was very excited when they arrived: 

Heating is very expensive and with the cold weather upon us slippers are a great way to keep warm as well as prolonging turning the heating on. When I moved into my student flat last year for the first time ever I lived in a house with floorboards and tiles, whilst this is great for me as I am prone to spilling drinks, I definitely missed the warmth that carpet gave my feet. Immediately I invested in slippers (for the first time ever) and I felt so much warmer. I don't know about you but when my feet are cold, my whole body is cold too! Which is why these slippers from Jolly Bunny are so great, because they keep my feet super toasty. I also like the humour element of them and love the little rabbit's tale. When my niece comes to visit next week I am pretty sure she is going to love them too. 

Yours, 

Emma Dilemma 

P.S. Quote of the day - "It's easier to put on slippers than to carpet the whole world." 

- Al Franken 

A letter from Emma about: Monochrome

Dear Reader, 

Today's bargain was not located in a charity shop but instead on the high street, although I love shopping in charity shops I do not locate all my clothes from them. This dress is a bit out-there and I am pretty sure you will either love it or hate it. I guess I could call it the marmite dress, so here it is: 

 

This dress was originally £46 from Topshop, however it was reduced in the sale to £25 and then further reduced to £10, with my student discount it came to the gran total of £9. Not bad, considering it's original price was over £30 more than what I paid. When it comes to high street fashion I rarely ever pay full price for anything... it's just not worth it. With a little patience and planning you can buy your favourite high street clothes at a fraction of the price if you wait for a sale. Often I decide on a price I'm willing to pay for something and refuse to buy it before it is reduced to that price or until the store do a 'student discount' special. 

It is also important to note that when your buy something brand new and at full price it's value dramatically reduces. So, the less you pay for an item the more likely you are to make a little bit of profit if you decide to sell it on. 

This year monochrome has really made its way back into fashion, and at first I wasn't overly convinced but after consideration I really like it. It brightens up 'black' a little bit, also if you are clever and buy horizontal monochrome pattern clothing its very flattering (plus stops you from looking like a robber).

Anyway, I quite like the dress. If all else fails I can wear this for fancy dress; either as a Zebra or a Mint Humbug.

Yours, 

Emma Dilemma

P.S. Quote of the day-  "There is no black-and-white situation. It's all part of life. Highs, lows, middles."
- Van Morrison

A letter from Emma about: Celebrating Plutonium Sox's 100 post

Dear Reader,

In this post I have linked up to Plutonium's Sox's 100 blog post celebration. For all of you who may not be aware Plutonium Sox is my lovely sister's blog,  and it was her who inspired me to start blogging at the beginning of the summer. Her blog is brilliant and I'm very proud of her for reaching her 100th blog post.

It's a nice short challenge, and if you to fancy linking up and finding some lovely blogs to read you can do by clicking on the link provided. 

Here goes: 

1. Things I love

Charity Shops, Strawberries and The Moomins. 

2. Places I love

The Seaside, The Cotswolds and Home. 

3. I love this photo because 

Goat's in a tree!? Whats not to love. 

4. Charities that deserve some love

WaterAid 

Against Malaria 

Street Child World Cup

Acorns Children's Hospice

(I know that this exceeds the 10 word limit, but hopefully I will be let of because they are all such deserving charities). 

5. What's funny?

Charley Bit Me! 

6. On a dessert island I would need

Tea, cake and an endless supply of good books 

7. This week's news

One of the sister's is staying with me in London. 

8. My best ever bargain 

My 99p polka dot top. 

9. What I enjoy doing

Painting, drawing, shopping and spending time with my lovely niece. 

10. What I hate

People who unnecessarily moan and negativity.  

Yours, 

Emma Dilemma

P.S. Quote of the day- You can't live a positive life with a negative mind. 

-Anonymous 

A letter from Emma about: A Onesie

Dear Reader, 

To onesie, or not to onesie: that is the questions: 

And subsequently what today's blog post is about. 

The onesie craze gained status about two years ago, and I have always been on the borderline about whether or not to join in. Yes, I want to be warm but I don't want to look like a full grown adult in a baby grow. However, Onesie Warehouse have some lovely onesies which look great as well as keeping you soooo warm and they were kind enough to send me one to review: 

Emma + Onesie = One very happy student. 

Oh, I love it!

 With in two minutes of putting it on, I cant believe I ever doubted them or lived without one. I love this wonderful world of onesie wearing full of warmth and comfort, and this world has so many benefits. One of the biggest adjustments after moving out of student halls was the high price of heating bills, they are just so expensive. Therefore, one way to avoid putting the heating on is to wear warmer clothing, and I cannot stress just how warm onesies are. I am pretty sure that my average body temperature has increased by 5ºc  since having my onesie. Also, the warmer I am the less likely I am to turn the heating on = lots of money saving.

Onesie Warehouse sell some very reasonably priced onesies, starting from as little as £15. I have my eye on an animal dinosaur one next, yes I have been completely converted. Oh its great, and not only are they the warmest pyjamas in the world, but also they are great for chillin' around the house in.

So how about you:

To onesie, or not to onesie? 

Yours, 

Emma Dilemma 

P.S. Quote of the day-  "A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval."

- Mark Twain

A letter from Emma about: Canvases

Dear Reader, 

Throughout my years of charity shopping I have learnt that you can find all sorts of things in charity shops (and they often come with the reasonable price tag too) which is what I discovered this week when I paid a visit to the Geranium charity shop for the Blind. 

As some of you may know I really enjoy art, but a well known difficulty that all art enthusiasts encounter is the high price tags of art materials. Which is why I was over the moon when I came across a selection of brand new art canvases... yep, they were still in their packaging and still with their original price tags: 

Originally £13.95 for three 20x60 canvas's , I paid £3. 

Originally £5.99 for one 30x40 canvas, I paid £2.

In total I brought five canvases, it wasn't until I got home that I found the original price tag on each canvas. I totalled it up and worked out that I got £25.93 worth of canvases for £7. Amaaaaaazing, and all of the £7 that I did spend went to a lovely charity. I'm so happy with my purchases and I'm really looking forward to doing some painting, I think that these could make great Christmas presents. 

Yours, 

Emma Dilemma 

P.S. Quote of the day- "A picture is worth a thousand words".

- Napoleon Bonaparte