Work Hard, Shop Harder!

Heyy, 

"Why am I up so early on a Saturday?!" I thought as I rolled over and tried to turn off my alarms before they woke Mr. Warehouse. Listening to my new addition cry and whine downstairs (and yes the puppy trauma through bedtime routines and trying to keep our little Frankenstein happy in his own company is still an issue) I remembered that today was the day Miss Tweedle-Dee and I visit the worlds biggest Primark in the heart of Birmingham's Bullring shopping centre. 

Primark describes itself on its website as coming a long, long way since they opened back in 1969 under the name Penny's in Dublin (of which in southern Ireland it still operates under that name). Today, Primark operates in more than 330 stores in 11 countries across Europe and America. With the biggest share of the fashion market in the UK, Ireland, Spain and Portugal they are able to stand out from the crowd by offering amazing fashion at an amazing price. Being able to buy in volume from over 700 suppliers in 37 countries gives the store an advantage to bring us all quick and speedy trends in double-time and at rock bottom prices! Primark justifies its low prices with claims it spends nothing on advertising and has tight profit margins thus helping it to improve itself and thrive on an already suffering High Street in Britain. 

Whilst Primark's reputation has not been glittering in recent years with criticism over staff pay as well as the environmental and social impact of so-called "fast fashion" it has stood the test of time as it opens its 187th store in the UK - The biggest one in the world. Set over five floors, the 160,000sq ft space once occupied the entire site of the former Pavilions shopping centre in Birmingham's New Street. The new store features Disney’s first officially licensed cafe located outside of its resorts and cruise ships, a barber shop called Mills x Primark, a beauty studio chain Duck & Dry Xpress, as well as Primark’s standard range of value clothing and accessories. Truly a one-stop-shop for everything to pamper yo'self! 

Store design director Sanjay Dihman had no trouble explaining to retailgazette.co.uk as to why Birmingham was the chosen city for the world’s biggest Primark. With its completion rumouring to have cost around £70 million the store now employs more than 1000 people, 430 of whom were existing employees who have transferred from the former New Street branch. A further 500 brand new jobs were created, plus another 100 for partner-run in-store experiences including chefs, hair stylists and beauticians. 

On arrival, Miss Tweedle-Dee and I headed straight to the top and to the new Disney-themed cafe which is strategically situated on the same level as the cute kidswear range I assume to attract families and keep everyone entertained as they wait in line for their Mickey waffles and pancakes. The cafe features a Mickey-Mouse-shaped entrance and digital tables where children are able to play games while dining in, not to mention TV's with Disney cartoons running all the time!  Although one disappointment was the fact that the tables were jam-packed so tightly together it was very uncomfortable to be sat so close to one another, not to mention getting in and out. I say that our trip to the Disney inspired Cafe was brief, however, it still took well over twenty minutes to get a simple latte for my bestie. Although this was nothing in comparison to the poor lady sat next to us who had been waiting for her Mickey pancakes and waffles for her and her two children for well over 30 minutes before she asked for them a second and even a third time before finally demanding her money back and walking out!

Our experience, as Mr Warehouse put it, was very much like any other Primark shop with all the latest in womenswear, menswear, kidswear, lingerie, beauty and homeware all thrown together with some little added benefits such as free wi-fi and a seating area fitted with phone chargers for men when they get bored! It was massive and after a pit-stop in the Disney cafe to grab some breakfast we headed out to find some bargains. Although the sales and reductions were few and far between it is to be expected when you have just opened a new store with thousands trudging the kiosks and stands each and every day. 

One of the things Miss Tweedle-Dee and I did miss out on and something I certainly missed was the Custom Lab – the bespoke print lab for t-shirts and other items – something which seems to be popping up in an increasing number of its stores which has been growing in popularity. And so it appears I may have to return sometime soon ... 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Magnets, Gold and Bubbles - All in the Name of Beauty!

Hello, 

Surely I can't be the only one that feels like today has been ever so long for a Monday. So busy. So many calls. So many issues. So many things to do. My weekend feels like it was years ago! Oh good lord send me back. It started well as after healthy eating I weighed myself in for the first time in months after initially starting my diet-that's-not-a-diet. And I lost! Half a stone, so not huge amounts but a great start and has really spurred me on. With the week I had as well what with visiting Cadbury's World and then having chocolate cake every day after dinner as Mr. Warehouse bought us a serves-sixteen massive chocolate cake. Makes me wonder what would have happened if I actually made the effort. 

Anyway after an early start seeing Mr. Warehouse off to Eurogamer EGX in Birmingham with Mr. CWG, I headed home and revelled in having the bed back all to myself as I slumbered until mid-morning, snoozing with the dog, watching pointless Youtube videos on crap and snuggling alone! People have often asked what Eurogamer EGX is and from what I know (which isn't much since I have never been) is basically a convention for all the new games that are coming out in the next few months on the count down to Christmas! The classics were all there including Call of Duty, FIFA and Far Cry as well as the smaller lesser known games that are attempting to break into the hard market of gamer-pleasure. As well as the host of games on offer there is also a abundance of talks discussions and places to buy merchandise from brands and gamer's themselves who are well established on Youtube, Twitch and other gaming networks. A small part of the event from what I have heard is of Comic Con also plays a large part in the day with people from all walks of life dressing up in everything from Manga and Anime to Pokemon and other gaming characters. What is slightly off putting for myself would be the fact that whilst you are playing your game, after waiting potentially anywhere up to four-hours or more, that other people are staring at you, literally face up against the glass watching you play a game. Weird if you ask me. 

Back to my comfy bed all to myself, but alas I had to get up, for I needed to be at Miss Tweedle-Dee's house ready for a night of pampering. But first I caught up on some telly and took pooch for a nice long walk in a local park and nature spot. After our walk I thought that in the good spirit of it nearly being Halloween I would head into town and look at some of the charity shops in order to try and piece together an outfit or at least get some sort of inspiration for what myself and Mr. Warehouse would be going as. In the next six weeks we have three fancy dress parties to go to, an eighties theme, a nineties theme and a Halloween one. Normally by this time of the year in late September I am all set and ready for Halloween with an outfit planned already, however this year I am again leaving it till last minute it would seem with the eighties themed party less than a fortnight away. 

With town centre charity shops being a let down I figured I should maybe just head down to "Home" early and maybe pop in to see some family whilst I'm there. Having a catch-up with my Auntie and Uncle is always cathartic as it makes me realise just how far I have come from the scared little 17 year old that ended up living with them all those many moons ago. And my cousins are growing up ever so fast too, the eldest nearly the same height as me?! Jumping back in the car I took the normal route I would through the winding streets and villages surrounding my home ground to Miss Tweedle-Dee's. Suddenly it hit me, Vivienne and I whizzing through the meadows. If my life had a not have taken the term that it did all those years ago, if my father didn't have an affair, if parents didn't divorce and if I had gone to Uni, I could be still taking this route home after visiting my Auntie, Uncle and Cousins to my old family home where I spent most my childhood, maybe to have dinner or maybe to get ready for a night out on the tiles. Maybe we as a family would be meeting my Brother's girlfriend for the first time or maybe I would be the one bringing home a boy! As surreal as it was I soon snapped out of it and wondered would I be there person I am now today? No I would probably be even more entitled than I think I am, with an additional side order of arrogance and sass. I would be the princess of my family and rule the roost as such being the only niece, daughter, sister and granddaughter. 

Arriving at Miss Tweedle-Dee's we all settled in for a night of wine, pizza and pampering. Starting off with make-up I started out with a sexy smokey eye and vampy Halloween lips, however I then found some glittery blue eye stuffs and before I knew it I looked like a man in drag. Wiping it off and resetting our faces we began the detox that was starting with a bubble face mask. Now for those of you that have been hiding under a rock or just avoiding Instagram for the last year or so, bubble face mask's are the latest time to hit the beauty industry from our good friends over in the east. Applying the creamy yet gooey consistency to your face, watch as your face starts to tingle and almost feels as though you have popping candy on you. After a few moments you will start to see small bubbles appear on the surface where the cream once was and in time your face or blow up to look like a massive Storm Cloud complete with chipmunk cheeks and poofy features. 

Cleansing afterwards we then all tried what I thought personally was the best beauty treatment yet. Magnetic Face Masks and T-Zone cleaners. Applying either all over your face or alternatively in areas where you feel there may be more toxins than others such as the t-zone, on your nose, forehead, cheeks or chin. Letting it sit and absorb the toxins from your pores a while later you can grab a hold of the magnet that the product comes with and gently rub it over the skin and without actually making contact with the covered area you will see and feel how it just pulls it away from your face, attracting the product back. This is 100% something I will be adding to my Christmas list this yeah and definitely would recommend it to anyone. 

Heading to bed, tired and sleepy, Miss Tweedle-Dee, Momma-Dee and others all agreed will certainly be doing that again for sure, Oooh, just think of the Christmas looks we could all do on each other with make-up and nails as well as what new fad face thing comes out. Maybe next time we'll even ramp it up with a Lazy-Boy spa for the weekend! Ahh Bliss ... 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Sweet Like Chocolate!

Heyy, 

Today is a special day. This day twenty-six years ago, I breathed for the first time as I came kicking and screaming into the world. Its funny, I don't think I have ever blogged on my actual birthday. Suffice to say that I have been well and truly spoilt, at least by those that I have seen on or before my birthday like Miss Tweedle-Dee, Miss Tweedle-Dumb and Mr. Warehouse. Oh and also the dog! Unlike myself entirely I have been very unorganised in organising something for my birthday to do with Mr. Warehouse, The Tweedles and myself. What with being preoccupied in terms of Mr. Warehouse's birthday, the Christening and the disaster of the cupcakes as well as the holiday and packing or unpacking, sadly the narcissistic way I seem to plan something to do for my birthday every year has taken a bit of a back seat. As such when I came back to work last week after being on holiday, I sort of forgot that there was less than a week until my birthday and with the Tweedles wanting to know plans and ideas for what we were going to do (and rightfully so) I racked my brain for things to do on my pre-birthday weekend. 

If I wanted to I could have forced everybody to go to a spa in order to have a nice relaxing day, but with paydays falling awkwardly for Mr Warehouse and I as well as our friends it was probably not in the best interest as none of us had the money for that. Maybe a day out at a theme park or city centre would be a great idea, however again that involved money and was probably going to end up being pricey. Miss Tweedle-Dee, Miss Tweedle-Dumb and I had already done a farm visit, I didn't really want to wander round a Zoo in the cold drizzle of Saturday afternoon, so what else was there?! I was losing hope when I came across the brilliant idea of something we can all do together that wouldn't break the bank. Cadbury's World! "Why did I not think of this before" I thought sat at my desk Thursday afternoon - I love chocolate and whilst I had only just started my healthy eating plan after overindulging slightly on holiday, I had been pestering Mr Warehouse for us to go for months. I suppose in all fairness if I had planned it a bit better then I could have booked a cheap hotel room and maybe even spent some of the morning wondering around The Bullring hunting bargains before engorging myself. But alas I was busy with other things and so the last minute decision was made, tickets booked and before I knew it we were on our way - At least Miss Tweedle-Dee, Miss Tweedle-Dumb and I were as Mr. Warehouse chose to do overtime in order to save for Christmas and our next holiday. 

Cadbury's World is less than a couple hours drive from where Mr Warehouse and I live, situated within the purpose built village of Bournville. It was here in the late 1800's that the Quaker Brothers, Richard and George Cadbury, decided to move the factory from smoke-filled and the industrial smog of Central Birmingham to the leafy Suburbs of Bournbrook. Captivated by the beauty and serenity of the English countryside, the factory soon grew and with it so did its work force. But these people were hard-working and needed somewhere for themselves and their families to live. And so houses and homes were built around the factory in order to keep the employees close and loyal. In time new hospitals, schools and shops sprang up in the local community helping it to thrive even more-so. With Cadbury's introducing their workforce into a whole host of new benefits never before seen on the employee spectrum with everything from holiday and sickness pay, right through to five-and-a-half-day weeks, Cadbury's was certainly a company worth working for. 

An absolute British Institute Cadbury's had seen the world through some of its toughest decades including rationing, two-world-wars and changing society. Tastes had changed over the centuries and the last few decades had showed that not just the rich can afford the delectable delights that is chocolate because now it was a substance that was a household name within Britain and the world, playing a major role in any special day throughout the calendar including Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Birthdays, Christmas and Easter. most cultures just like Britain can hardly imagine any of the aforementioned days in the year without thinking about chocolate. And that, in part anyway, is all down to Cadbury's.

The sad thing is that when I was a child Cadbury's World seemed like a dream come true. A real life Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It was magical and mystical to watch the chocolate being transformed from sticky, brown liquid, to being molded and shaped into all my favourite types of chocolate bars. Back in the day before Mondelez took over production of Cadbury's in 2010, you could watch the chocolate go whizzing through the factory being made, dipped, dunked and wrapped before being boxed up and put on lorries or the shelves downstairs in the shop, still warm from the conveyor belt. But now there is none of that as the production has been shipped off to a new factory in a different location from its heritage and there has been rumours that the British favourite of a glass and a half is not even being made in the UK any more and is instead manufactured in cheaper eastern Europe factories. Either way to I was slightly disappointed. No longer are you visiting a factory where pleasure of the mouth is made (no sniggering) but just a shell of its former self, and with a lot less chocolate bars than the eight or ten you received before - Now it is only four. This is not to say I had a rubbish time as I thoroughly enjoyed myself and it was definitely a good day out, and probably one of the better ideas that I had. With the price of the ticket coming up to less than I would spend on a night out, I can surely say that it was money well spent and something everyone should do at least once in their life, especially if you live close (or even closer) like I do. 

As for the rest of my birthday celebrations, today has been pretty plain since I still have to go to work that is. Mr. Warehouse cooked me a lovely roast dinner for tea tonight and I will be seeing friends and family over the coming weeks to celebrate in our own special way. I suppose that is another year over and done with, but I must say that whilst I am only a few hours into being twenty-six I am certainly feeling my clock more than ever. 

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Falling Out and Flying High

Hi, 

I sometimes wonder to myself why I make company with the people I do. They are very odd, permanently hilarious and sometimes a bit stroppy but nevertheless they are both a good waste of my time and an even better use to spend it. And this weekend has been no exception ...

So Thursday after work I hopped on the train with all my luggage for my weekend in Birmingham with the Tweedles and Miss Stuu and then onto London afterwards to have a photo-shoot and see my dearest Mr. Cheese I went to dinner with Miss Chocolate. Now this proved very interesting not only to discover that I have my wing-man back, but she has also rekindled an old romance, although I am sure she wouldn't call it that by a mile. Still it was entertaining to watch her waddle across the car park, screaming in agony at the fact that her lover had quiet literally left her 'walking funny'. After a ravishing conversation about sex and the in's and out's of what we both like and crave from a partner in the bedroom I finally arrived at my last destination of the evening, Miss Tweedle-Dumb's house. Waving goodbye to Miss Chocolate as she whizzed off in her little white car I took a step back in time entering Miss Tweedle-Dumb's family home. I was greeted by the dogs as well as the rest of the family before we escaped to her teen-hood bedroom to gossip and tell stories. Soon though hunger took over for my old friend and on went the coats to brace the twilight breeze. And so off to get fast food we went!

Fast it was not though. And so whilst I was lapping up my ice-cream (yes at eleven o'clock at night) Miss Tweedle-Dumb fizzled with angry-anticipation in the drivers seat and the more laughable the situation. Finally the cheeseburger Miss Tweedle-Dumb had ordered arrived. Cold. But her hunger was satisfied and her mood had improved thus no-longer hangry (By the way 'Hangy' is where you get so hungry you get angry because of a empty stomach). Settling down under the covers in my usual position on the floor of Miss Tweedle-Dumb's small room dressed in a unicorn onesie we giggled as we watched re-runs of British box sets until we fell asleep. The following morning we awoke to a call from Miss Tweedle-Dee stating that is about time we got up and ready to leave. So much for our lye-in. Well it was half-ten I suppose. I would have had half of the days work done by now if I hadn't taken the day off. After being prised from our beds we each took it in turns to shower and get ready before jumping in the car to collect Miss Tweedle-Dee and hit the road, picking up Miss Stuu along the way.

After a six hour car journey, a breakdown, several karaoke tracks, a coffee break and meeting a look-a-like boy band we had arrived at the hotel. But things were only just getting interesting. You see in the beginning of this tale it was only planned to be myself and my Tweedles and so we had booked a room for such. However after a conversation somehow, somewhere Miss Stuu ended up coming along too. Although no one thought about the fact that it was too late to change the hotel booking and even if we did it would cost us a hell of a lot more than what we originally paid. So we had only one other option, and that was to sneak Miss Stuu into our room without the hotel staff finding out. Now as successful as this was over the weekend I definitely would not be doing it again in a hurry given that it did cause some very big concerns and at times a lot of tension. Quickly unpacking we headed straight back out again. Miss Tweedle-Dumb and Miss Tweedle-Dee went to a rock gig whilst Miss Stuu and I got to know each other a bit better over some sophisticated cocktails and boy-chat. Granted we did end up getting quiet drunk on not a lot of cocktails but nevertheless was better than spending the night in waiting for the others to come back to the hotel. Although it ended up that's exactly what we ended up doing.  Once our drinks were empty, Miss Stuu and I went back to the room and read magazines in bed until we could here the trundle of drunken stomps down the hall outside. Yes they were home ...

As Miss Stuu and I sat in bed like Mommy and Daddy Tweedle, we watched our babies wander around drunk and hanging out their arse like alcoholics at Bargain Booze. Miss Tweedle-Dumb had come home with a poster of the lead singer whom she is convinced he copied her hairstyle whereby Miss Tweedle-Dee had spent more money on a top than I had on t-shirts in the past year. Giggles and laughter descended into the night until we all fell fast asleep, only to be woken by Miss Tweedle-Dumb's horrendous snoring throughout the night, but I knew this may be the case and so had armed myself with a barrage of shoes, hairbrushes and a TV remote to use in the battle against the snore! And it would work; for a few moments; until she fell back asleep again. 

But as Saturday morning broke all of the previous night's antics were washed away as were the panda eyes as we prepared for a day of shopping in one of the countries biggest shopping malls. The Bullring! Although I was on a mission to find something nice to wear at my photo-shoot on Monday I was no-where near as determined to find an outfit as Miss Stuu for her graduation the same day. So as we trundled in and out of shops after her, looking at all the pretty dresses I couldn't help wonder what it would feel like to be pretty and skinny just for a day. To try on anything and make it look even moderately good. With her curvy bum, long legs and tight waist; Miss Stuu was definitely envied for her features and while she could have easily graduated in a bin-liner and some sticky tape, she decided on a little monochrome number from the High Street. Heading back to the hotel, feet aching from all the walking we had all done it was decided that maybe tonight we should go out and explore what Birmingham had to offer. It wasn't a mad one, simply because we were mostly skint and tired from shopping. But that isn't to say we didn't have a memorable night. Oh no! I shall be brief in saying that the night started with food and several drinks and  ended with us in fits of laughter, one of us nearly weeing and another trying to make accessories from left-over dinner. Please not that onion rings do not make good bangles.

Sunday was a lazy day and relaxed as we wandered around an Aquarium looking at fish, sharks and other sea life whilst taking selfies under the water! Very fun indeed until Miss Tweedle-Dee started a war with me over a social-networking site for articulating another side to an unfolding story which I myself had no initial involvement in, nor a belief for what had been said or asserted. After being called a homophobic disgrace for a best-friend we barely spoke the journey and it hurt me bad that Miss Tweedle-Dee of all people would think that of me; a liberally laid-back, down to earth, twenty-something female whom has no problem sharing her own sexuality and or with the expression of others. After the Sea Life Centre was done we all bundled into the car for long journey home, after which I would still need to make it into London. After a long old day and an even longer weekend I quickly dosed off in the back of the car as we hurtled south on the motorway. 

A sultry evening followed when I finally arrived in London just after half-ten at night with Mr. Cheese consisting of snoozing in bed between light kisses and whispers of sweet nothings, but not before some surprising love-making whereby my favourite foreplay made a welcome appearance that hasn't been seen since my birthday. I am glad that it is not just a Christmas and Birthday kind of thing. I'm a girl who enjoys giving as much as receiving and am happy to lay back and think of England whilst someone goes to town on me. I think with a little more practise and I could be flying higher that heaven every time Mr. Cheese works his magic. And it wasn't just foreplay. The sex matched the raunchiness that was preludes, so much so that even as I collected my stuff from his flat in West London on Monday after my photo-shoot and make over I just couldn't help but to have him one last time. Jumping on-top of him I made sure that he was given something to think about on the long tube journey to work the next morning. And the next morning. And the next. Definitely the most earth-shattering, hard, and exhausting sex I have had in a while and as we came together in a long, drawn out orgasm to finish on I can't see that Mr. Cheese would be complaining that I did so. Mmm, this leaves me anticipating the next time we meet ...

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx