Road Trip

If you follow me on Twitter you may have seen a few Tweets from a very unsocial hour (try 3am) just before being collected by the parents and younger sister for our 7 hour road trip to Keele University. I'm already missing my sister like mad but it must be all in my head because I never saw her loads when she lived down here! I think it's about her being so far way with no family around.

We set off in total darkness, had a few debates which were really not suitable for such early hours and eventually both my sister and I took a half hour kip trapped under her full length mirror and other student must haves! When I woke up the sun was breaking through the clouds and the day was finally beginning!

We arrived in good time and set about getting my sister all set up. The process was actually surprisingly quick and even the ques for party tickets and freshers passes weren't that long. I found myself getting excited and I wouldn't even be staying!

Bracelet to be kept on all week to get into
all Freshers events!

After all the excitement of becoming a proper signed up new student we located the accommodation blocks and began unloading. We all took it in turns to take bits and bobs up the 3 small flights of stairs to my sister's room which is a lovely size (it's bigger than the bedroom she's had to leave behind) There's plenty of storage space, a nice big desk, phone all ready to go and a lovely view with a tree to the left which actually gives her some privacy. The block she's in is at least a couple of miles from the actual campus so it's like she's totally removed from the university and actually in the countryside. I'll be visiting!!

It didn't take long to get all of the car unloaded and I helped put things into place. We're both pretty organised little beings so I don't think she'll move too much stuff that I put out. When the bed was made and all the boxes flat packed her room looked lovely and cosy. All it needs now are some photos on the notice boards and a little homely touch. 

The first items to be removed from storage! Sourz, I am told,
have already been consumed!

I snapped a photo of the campus as we were walking to her blocks. It's so peaceful and lovely I really hope she'll be happy there. I could see myself immersing into crafting communities and eating cupcakes on the lawn!  

After unloading the car we took my sister off for some much need first week shopping! Seeing all the lost students was such a funny sight. Everyone was having the same conversations about how to use a washing machine, what were dryer sheets and how do you use them? Do I need this, that and the other (usually a 'no' from the wise parent). 

We've been lucky in that we've always had to muck in with the washing up and laundry. Because our parents have never been 'well off' like so many we've learnt to budget and prioritise and save for the luxuries. I don't live by this all time though, life's for living after all!

 The shopping came to a reasonable price given we bought items in bulk so she won't have to spend much over the next few weeks. My sister is really adamant on using meats and vegetables from the local market on campus so I hope they are offering students a good deal to enjoy the fresher foods.

We left my sister at 3pm making one stop on the way. I think I fell asleep for another half hour about 10 minutes into the journey. My phone didn't die until we were an hour from home which was good going considering I had been busy on Twitter and reading blogs during the journey up! 

We made one stop at 'Road Side Chef' which was OK. Nothing amazing but then where can you stop on a road side that will be 'amazing!?' My Dad asked us to buy him something, 'just not a burger,' he said. That was a problem seeing as we were standing right in front of the only shop open which a huge sign displaying the name 'The Burger Bar'! Mum and I grabbed some fries and picked Dad up a surprise Krispy Kreme. I hate the fact I can't eat these delicious looking doughnuts but apparently it was 'Yeah very nice. Professional like,' nom nom nom....Hmmmm

I've since heard there's already been a bit of partying and a rather successful comedy night on campus. I'm really pleased my sister has already made friends and I haven't contacted her yet. Breathing space and all that! I'm writing her a letter tonight so hopefully she'll get that and put drinking aside to give me all the weekend gossip and details of upcoming excitement! She better be getting me some freebies while she has such a great opportunity!

If you'd like to read all about my sisters lead up to leaving for university you can do so here. When she has the Internet up and running again you'll be able to read more of her thoughts as a new student as well as lots of tips which will be handy for any newbie students.

CupcakeMumma

A Bargain of a Day!

I visited Truro a couple of days ago with my sister. I went primarily to get a few bits for the Halloween party I'm really looking forward to treating my 2 and their cousins to. I hope they like my bunting and tinsel! All of the above was from Poundland so no where too exciting but for once I was with someone who didn't mind doing a bit of good old charity shop 'scavenger hunting.'
I'd like to show you some really pleasing finds.

First of all I bought this fab mug which my sister spotted. This was in the Cancer Research shop and although it wasn't second hand the money still goes to a good cause right? This was £6 and is a totally cool mug. It's made like those Starbucks coffee cups. The top is silicon and has a plastic covering. I had my first hot chocolate in this last night and it retains heat so well I'm going to need a knitted mug warmer so I don't burn my hands! I love it though, very CupcakeMumma!

My second find was from a box containing a few fabric scraps and old dolls clothes from a lady in the market. I found this very cute little handmade cushion. I'm not usually one for nautical themes and to be honest, I'm not sure where it'll fit in but because I love it I know I'll find a home for it.

A beauty one here. Poking about Superdrug waiting for my sister to decide between two different types of stick on eyelashes (she bought both in the end in case you're interested) I found a little box of polishes and trashed make up. I don't wear make up and the varnish colours where fairly ugly. However, amongst the brown varnishes I found this top coat polish which we all know can be very handy. As it was 99p I thought I'd better not miss out on it!

 How cool is this cupcake? The perfect finishing touch to my kitchen decorations I thought. I've placed it on my windowsill and as you can see it's also a handy little box. I don't think ill use it for anything but maybe a few stray 5p's will find their way in? 

I love bunting. No. I adore bunting! And this is roughly 2 metres for £2.50 from the same lovely old lady at the local market. I love the colour and already have a place in mind. It does have some letters sewn on so I'll unpick them and give it a good iron before pinning it up on my desired spot.

Finally, a couple of very retro and very cool postcards for my collection. I've decided to get some of my favourites (these included) out of my tin and put them in photo frames to display around the house. Watch this space!

I had a great day and am up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to jump in a rather cramped and full to the brim car with my sister and our parents for a 6 hour trip to Keele University. I'm hoping we'll be doing a bit of walking about before coming back to good old Cornwall, I don't escape very often after all! I've packed lunch and baked some cupcakes for the journey so all that's left is to hope the roads and the weather are kind (and I don't get too travel sick sat in the back!)

Have a great weekend what ever you get up to.
CupcakeMumma

Little Miss Sunshine..

I was watching this film the other day. I like watching it because the little girl (Olive) reminds me of my sister. My sister has just turned 18 and pretty soon she’ll be going off to university in Staffordshire. Now, there are 4 years between myself and my sister but growing up we were quite close. All 3 of us were to be honest, my little sister, brother and I. We made art attacks in our front room, we played made up games like Lion King and Final Fantasy.

We helped mum cook a lot of cakes and we had a load of ducks we loved to chase back into their hut for bedtime. We’ve always shared a room too. I used to sing her to sleep when she couldn’t drift off herself and we would sometimes stay up and talk for ages. She copied me a lot as I entered my teenage phase of dark eyeliner and black clothes.

Eventually though I met my other half and became pregnant with my daughter. I lived at home for a while and then I moved out with Other Half. Sure we moved back but our relationship was a lot different from then on. At the time, my sister was entering her own teenage phase where she became quiet, started discovering boys and there was a time when she just didn’t seem like the little sister I grew up with.

I remember one night when we had a quiet heart to heart. From that moment on we came a little closer once again. I soon moved out permanently but I enjoyed the fact she stayed over now and again. It’s always nice because she cooks  dinner, I’ll make a dessert like my famous cheesecake and we’ll look at stuff online, pop a movie on or even watch another episode of Friends which we’ve seen a million times!

So yes, my ‘little’ sister turned 18 recently and was on the road to her first gig. I’m not one for gigs so she took a close friend along with her. I heard she had a brilliant time although a few photos emerged of them stranded in Bodmin with nothing but a van selling those hotdogs and drinks. 

Thank goodness for car insurance that’s all I could say after yet more photos popped up of them being towed away back home! I don’t think her 18^th birthday would’ve been quite the same stuck in the middle of no-where freezing cold and drinking not so great tea from those awful polystyrene cups!

She got home though and I eventually got around to seeing her. My aunt’s birthday falls the day before hers so we had a big roast dinner, 2 cakes and some pressies which was a lovely day. Little Miss even treated her to a Peppa Pig balloon!

I’ll miss my sister loads when she goes all 300 miles away from us all. Of course I’m happy for her and wish her all the best but that’ll never stop me missing our film nights, chats and her tasty risotto! On the plus side, we’ll start writing to each other instead and we all know how much better it is to receive a letter from a loved one than a bill in the post!!

Cupcake Mumma