I told you it was going to get messy...

Since we last spoke, things have gone a bit mental. My best mate (one of my two bridesmaids) has withdrawn from the wedding. Shocking I know - I'm still hurt and disappointed and I don't think that's going to change any time soon. Basically, because we've got the no children rule (we don't have any children in the family and don't know many people with children), she feels that she can't come and that I'm making her choose between me and her family. That's in a nutshell but there was plenty more in the emails we've been exchanging. Her family and her follow Attachment Parenting and I've read up about it over the past two week to try and understand it a bit better and come to terms with why she feels she can't attend. Whilst I understand and respect any way she wants to raise her family, I just can't believe that her parenting style is so limiting that she can't leave a 6 year old and a 2 and a half year old for the day with someone familiar to them. During my research about this parenting style I've realised it's something that most mothers and fathers do with little ones but it's the extent to which they follow it which is the reason they can't and won't attend. Possibly a touch more hurtful that its her choice, not because she can't come. I've been made aware that she leaves the children for knitting groups and offers to let her mother take them overnight so I am struggling to understand how this stops her from going to share in my special day.

Frankly I'm just so broken hearted that I've asked her not to come at all as her compromise was her attending the ceremony whilst her children and husband waited somewhere nearby, and then going straight home and this wasn't what I envisaged for our special day. It would upset me so much to be looking for her in the congregation and knowing she was not by my side as I'd wanted her to be. After all ladies and gents, this is going to be one of the most special days of my life and after nearly 29 years of friendship I didn't think it was going to be such a big problem.

Pouty times in the Chatter household.

I love Lighting

Ever since we moved into our lovely little home, I have loved choosing bits and bobs to give it character and put our stamp on it. One of my favourite bits to pick has been the lighting - lamps and lampshades and fairy lights (oh my).

Some of the things I've fancied have been bought and look amazing in their chosen places. Others have proven too expensive for me right now and some have not met with Mr Chatter's approval so I'm going to work on him whilst saving up the pennies.

Whilst I do so, here's some examples of my current favourites.


The Emily Saloon Chandelier


Image taken from www.furnish.co.uk

Jeeves and Wooster Pendant Lights

Image taken from www.furnish.co.uk

Tea Pot Lights



Image taken from www.design-milk.com

Pantene Pro V - the collection.

Over the past few weeks I've been road-testing some products for Pantene in the form of their new collection. Rather than have a one-fits-all policy, Pantene have thought up a collection of three different types of products to suit the most common hair needs. After all, something that is good for coloured hair isn't necessarily going to work for someone with fine, never dyed hair etc etc.
I have quite dry, coarse hair that splits quite easily, especially because I use heated things on it quite a lot to tame it into a proper style. The Pantene formula I tested aims and claims to"smooth rough edges and prevent damage" so I was eager to see if it would in fact do those things.

A little known secret of mine (until now I guess) is that I haven't had my hair cut for about 4 months so the ends were starting to get a bit urgh. I was hoping that these Pantene products would help me limp along and keep my hair looking pretty until the next time I could afford a hair cut!

I loved the shampoo and conditioner from the first use. They smelt really nice and you didn't need a lot to give your hair a right good lathering and conditioning. As for the Split End Serum, I tried that on a separate hair wash so I could see the results of the shampoo and conditioner and the serum independent of one another. They all have their own genuine qualities and don't weigh down your hair. I found with these products I could go three days without having greasy, lank looking hair which other products have caused me to have in the past after just one day so I must say I was very pleased with that. I even got told at work the other day that my hair was extremely glossy and healthy looking and the lady was shocked when I mentioned how long it'd had been since my hair had been done. I already had a Pantene leave in conditioner and found that on those occasions where you don't have time to shampoo and condition your hair properly on a morning, their existing products went together really well with their new ones. So don't worry ladies and gents, your money hasn't been wasted on the others!


Do I have to find a negative? OK, the only negative I can scrape the barrel with is that when you share a house with two boys, they use far too much shampoo (and shower gel and face wash...) and the fact that the shampoo is quite thick means they use more than they should. In my experience, men will just squeeze a load of *insert bathroom product here* no matter how much you are actually meant to use.

In Conclusion: Thumbs up to Pantene for a collection of great products, thumbs down for me for being so lazy about getting my hair cut!

Wedding decisions and awkward times

I've hit my first controversial point when planning my wedding. Do we or don't we invite children?

On paper it seems quite straightforward. Neither myself or Mr Chatter have children or young family members and only know a handful of couples that currently have kids so should it matter if we don't invite them? Well it kinda does it seems as there has already been some indication of pouty pet lips and they are belonging to the parents!

A couple of years ago I was at a wedding where the children cried all through the vows and had to be constantly entertained. Apart from the fact the parents looked run ragged, the children mere mindlessly bored and suddenly the couple getting married become caught up in trying to book balloon artists etc etc. It also irritated the other guests having screaming children legging it about all day. However, I have also been to weddings where the children have been very well behaved but all in all parents and young children alike seem relieved by a no kids rule. One couple we know actually looked forward to it as one day off to be just a twosome again before going back to their lovely family life before they missed their kiddies too much.

In all the excitement when I was telling people we'd set a date, I didn't think about telling people about our decision so I'm nervous for the response to the email I've sent the lucky couples only five minutes ago. Uh oh. I can feel a nervous nights sleep coming on...

Appreciation of a very important job

For a majority of last year I worked as a Medical Receptionist. It was something I'd never done prior to then and despite taking the role as a 'bill payer' I actually came to absolutely love it. Before March last year, I was someone who was nervous on the phone and had no medical knowledge. By the time I left in October (to start a new career in Pharmacy would you believe) , I knew bag loads more than I ever thought I would. It's the same with everything though I guess...if you get chucked in at the deep end you sink or swim and thankfully I swam.

Medical testing, medication knowledge and major multi-tasking skills were the results of my 7 month stint and it was only due to an employee working from long-term sick that I ended up having to leave.The thing that surprised me most was how much was involved with the job. On a daily basis you needed to not only have a basic medical knowledge just to get you by but you also needed to be able to make decisions about urgency of patients wanting emergency appointments and how to deal with very unreasonable people. Of course I don't excuse the blatantly miserable people who I myself have had to deal with as a customer but no matter what the previous patient had been like, I never took it out on the next person at my window. These people are mostly vulnerable, sick people who probably want a smile and a bit of kindness when they're not feeling their best.
My most favourite part  of the job was the people. In some ways I maybe became harder just to cope with the sadness that the job involved. Of course there are time wasters as is true with anything but I was lucky enough to get to know some very lovely people. Some of these people still come and speak to me in the pharmacy and in the street now and I'm always gutted to hear of bad news or deaths of those people I've come to know.
I was really pleased to see an article by Dr Jenna Ward in the Daily Mail (Tues 3rd Jan 2012) painting a more accurate picture of life behind  the desk of a Medical Receptionist. It's definitely worth a read and might change your perspective a bit. I know the experience certainly changed mine.

Does age matter?

There's been a lot of publicity about the Harry Styles and Caroline Flack pairing and it made me realise how we're still hung up about age difference. We've all done it where we've seen an older man or woman with a younger partner and scoffed at the thought but then when you think about it why should it matter at all? The only time such an age gap will surely matter is when one person is a lot more infirm than the other one that changes their lifestyle and even then, love should get ou through if it's the real McCoy!

There was a similar age gap between my grandparents and they were happily married for over 40 years. On the flip side, I'm not even 30 yet and one of my friends was married and divorced in the space of 4 years to a person just a couple of years younger. Age clearly doesn't equate to remaining happily married until death do us part.

In my opinion, you love who you love and that spans across lots of years. There's too little love in this world these days to start discriminating about who qualifies to end up with who. Just let them be happy together!

GIVEAWAY 2

Right guys. In the spirit of Christmas here's another giveaway. Lovely Christine from Planet Events Direct has provided some lovely prizes from her even lovelier shop.

It's not too late to get crafty for Christmas. Making gifts is a great way to spend less but give more. And practically everyone loves things that are made with lots of love and thought put into them rather than the first thing you can dash into a shop for. Check it out for yourself as she has lots of beautiful findings, trimming and accessories.

If you don't have the time to spare just now, you can also buy things ready made up (like these stunning earrings .) As these earrings are my total favourites, Christine has agreed to give me 3 pairs to give to you lot! I thought that would get your attention!

I think they're beautiful - aren't they just divine?  And they can be yours in time for the party season. If you can bear to give them away, you could even use them as a great Christmas prezzy!

Here's what you have to do....

*Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect and comment (maybe something chatty - I do love a good chat with followers!) under this blog post to say you are a follower! Remember to leave a twitter ID or email address so I can contact you if you're one of our lucky winners!

*BONUS ENTRIES
- Let us know your favourite thing about Christine's Folksy shop whether it be your favourite item or something less obvious but just as good. Remember to identify yourself though!
- Retweet our competition tweet.

RULES
-UK entrants only this time I'm afraid.
-We'll try and get the prizes to you before Christmas but please allow 28 days from the closing date of the competition to receive your prizes.
-This giveaway closes on Friday 9th December 2011.
-Three winners will be selected and winners must reply to our tweet/email within 7 days or other lucky winners will be selected.