Lazy Sunday TV Marathon

I love lazy Sundays. After a long week at work, there's nothing better than relaxing on the sofa with a box of chocolates, having a TV marathon. Here's my top 5 TV shows for a Sunday marathon.

1. Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl was probably one of the first TV series as a teenager that I got really hooked too. I think I spent a good few weeks of summer break watching the first series on DVD. It's probably a more girlie TV show, with the storyline following a group of teenagers at a private school on the Upper Side of New York where their secrets are shared through a website. It's amazing how much can happen in their lives....school definitely wasn't this eventful for me. As they get older, the group leave school and we see them trying to set up their own lives and careers, but of course Gossip Girl doesn't leave you alone when you Graduate and the group are still constantly on her radar.

I'll admit, I took a big gap between watching series 4 and series 5 of this because I got a bit bored. But I finally got DVDs for Christmas last year, and rekindled my love for Gossip Girl. The relationship between Chuck and Blair is what brought me back. They are the Ross and Rachel of our relationship, and I had to see if they did or didn't end up together.

The series ended the way it had to, with everyone finding out who Gossip Girl was...and it wasn't who I expected, but it was a good twist and a nice finish.

2. Vampire Diaries

I've said before, I have a strange obsession with Vampires, and it's thanks to this program that I have. Based in Mystic Falls, the program centres around a teenage girl who falls in love with a Vampire, but they're aren't destined to have an easy life together and they soon find themselves fighting a wide range of other supernatural beings. My favourites are the original vampires. (They now have their own spin off series called The Originals....I haven't seen enough of it to have it in my top 5 just yet).

While a girl falling in love with a Vampire may sound a bit like Twilight, its not. I can't get away with watching Twilight...it just annoys me despite my obsession for Vampires, but I love Vampire Diaries. And with regard to the Team Edward or Team Jacob debate, after a few episodes of VD you'll have a different debate...Team Stefan or Team Damon,


3. The Walking Dead

I'll start out by saying, Zombies really freak me out. When Omar first asked me to watch this I protested, A LOT, but in the end gave in. Once you get over the fact that the walkers are really creepy, the programme is actually really good. If follows a group of individuals trying to survive, not only the walkers, but other survivors too. The main characters all have very different personalities, and relationships with each other. You will fall in love with them all at some point, but believe me...no one is safe!

It's a really interesting storyline, and the writers are brilliant for providing cliff-hanger season finales and midseason finales. There has been times when the finales have been so brilliant, you're so annoyed with the programme for making you wait till the next season starting again to find out what happens.

4. Broad church

ITV did amazingly well producing Broadchurch. Set in a little coastal village, the community is shocked when the body of a young boy is found on the beach. A who done it series which keeps you hooked from one episode to the next.

You will feel at times that you have no idea what's going on, and that none of it makes sense. Trust me, keep going. There's so many twists and turns, with everyone being a suspect in Danny's murder, it isn't until the very end that you finally managed to piece it all together.

And now there's series 2. I was skeptical about how this would work when ITV announced a second series, but again I was hooked. Focused on the trial of Danny's murder there's also the added introduction of some new characters from the Sandbrook murder trial you hear about in series 1.

5. Dexter

When Omar tried to convince me to watch a program about a serial killer, I wasn't convinced I was going to like it, but within a few episodes I was hooked. The series is very well written and you do fall in love with Dexter very easily. There's a new killer each season that Dexter and Miami Metro are hunting for, the best in my opinion are Trinity and The Ice Truck Killer.

The major problem with Dexter is the ending, I expected much more. After being hooked for 8 series, the ending is a bit of a let down. Whilst the idea of Dexter being outed as a serial killer may be rather predictable, I feel like I'd have been more satisfied with that ending than the one I got. But they have left it open for the opportunity to do a follow up series in the future.

Sarah x

Dear Grandad...

Dear Grandad,

Today we said our last goodbye and I can't believe how hard it was. It didn't hit me until now that I'm never going to see you again.

You've been the best Grandad I could ever wish for. You've given us all so many happy memories and been a real inspiration to me as I've grown up. I'll never forget you walking me to school every day for seven years, taking Stacey, me and the dogs to Finchle Abbey, strawberry picking with you and Grandma, our holidays to Scarborough (particularly Primrose Valley) and Great Yarmouth, and teaching me to play the trumpet.

You were such an amazing trumpet player with so much knowledge and experience to share. I'm glad you shared some of it with me. We found a video of you playing at a WI concert in 1996 the other week, with a bit of modern technology we managed to make a medley of all the songs from that night together and played it as part of the service today. It ended with I'm the King of the Swingers. And you definitely were. You were up there with the greats in my opinion.

I'm sorry I upset you by giving up music. I had an a great ten years playing in the bands, and competing at Blackpool was an amazing experience, but my enjoyment for that lifestyle faded as I got older. My priorities changed and I had to give it up if I wanted to concentrate on uni, work and enjoying my life. I'm sure you understood why I had to do what I did, and you're proud of how I turned out.

I am so thankful that I got to know you and spend 23 amazing years with you. You were a great man who put his family before everything else, and I hope that you and Grandma are looking down on us all smiling. I hope I make you proud and that if I ever have a family of my own, I raise them just as well as you raised us.

I love you and miss you so much.

Sarah x

My Spring Wishlist

Friday was the first day of Spring, and to mark the occassion here's my Spring Wishlist.

1. Opi Gel Nail Polish - Warm Me Up - £15.39

I love this colour so much. It's a beautiful browny/grey colour that changes depending on the light and what you're wearing with it. Some times its very dark, almost black. Other times its got a more purple/copper tinge to it. It's my go to colour when I get my nails done at my salon back home, but having the ability to do it at home would be perfect.

2. Jack Wills - Tinsbury Crew - £59.50

I love my Jack Wills jumpers...I have four already. But the colour of this one is great for summer, so light and bright, and it'll be nice and warm on those cold days we're bound to still get. 

3. Hedgehog Love Mug - £13.39

I'm a bit behind the times, and only recently discovered Etsy but since I have I'm addicted. This is a recent find that I love. It's such a cute design.

4. Oasis - Printed 2 Part Flat Shoes - £20 (currently in the sale, originally £28)

I've been eyeing up these shoes for ages thinking they'd be great for spring/summer. Lovely colours and pattern, and brilliant for day or night. Now that they're in the sale for £20 I'm definitely going to have to purchase....as soon as the website lets me.

5. Mango - Flecked Cotton Dress - £49.99

Mango isn't somewhere I'd normally think of looking in for clothes, but on a desperate search for a black dress the other week I ventured in and fell in love with this dress. It's a great style, super soft, and a brilliant length for work. I'd have bought it the day I saw it if it'd had been in my size. Unfortunately it wasn't, but I have it on order and I can't wait for it to arrive.

6. Next - Ceramic Tealights - £12

Next is brilliant for it's home range, there's always lovely accessories to suit all different room styles and colour schemes. These would be brilliant in my bedroom. The colours would go perfectly and the  'Love' theme is so cute.

7. Brita Maxtra Filter - £16

This is probably the least exciting item on my wish list, but it's really high on my to purchase list. I've been spoilt at my parents as they have a fridge with built in water cooler and ice maker. Now that it's getting a bit warmer I'm really missing having cold water to drink so will be treating myself to one of these very soon.

8. Three Diamond Ring - £202.83

This is definitely an if I win the lottery purchase, but it's so pretty! I like very simple and subtle jewellery, and when I saw this I fell in love. It's looks so delicate and worth a lot more than it is. I love Etsy for finding things like this.

9. Always Tank Top - £15.13

This is another of my favourite Etsy finds. I'm a big Harry Potter fan and already have a Deathly Hallows phone case, but this t-shirt takes it a step further combining the Deathly Hallows sign with 'Always', the phrase which changed everyone's outlook on Snape. It'll be perfect with a pair of jeans/shorts in the summer, or for wearing to dance or to cover up with by the pool on holiday. When I reach my target weight, this is going to be my treat to myself.

Sarah x

Song Sunday - Gresford

Gresford

Written by Robert Saint

Played by Black Dyke Band

This week I lost the greatest Grandad in the world. He passed away peacefully in hospital after suffering with cancer and a respiratory infection. He was a great man known well in our local area for his musical talent, and for being a wheelman at the pit. In memory of him, my song sunday is The Miner's Hymn, Gresford. I will always love you Grandad.

Sarah x

February in Pictures

1. Girls' Night at the Full Monty

The Full Monty show is a doing a UK tour at the moment, and arrived at our local theatre last week. The girls from work and I have had tickets for ages, and we've been all been looking forward to it. I was a bit unsure about what to expect from the night. I've seen the film, but wasn't quite sure how the show would come across. It was far better than I'd ever imagined. Definitely a good show for a girls' night out.

2. Broadchurch

The first series of Broadchurch was amazing, I was addicted to every episode. I wasn't quite sure how the second series would follow on from such a dramatic ending, but it was brilliant. I'm now excited for series 3.

3. Post Exam Haul

I passed my exam! Therefore I needed a celebratory shopping trip. Read about my haul here.

4. Starbucks

This month was a time for treats. Starbucks to celebrate my last day of college and to calm pre-exam nerves.

5. I ran 3k!

This may not seem impressive to some people, but I don't know if I've ever ran 3k before. I'm building up to 5k and should hopefully manage it within a few weeks.

Sarah x