"Walking in a Winter Wonderland..."

Today, my mum and me went Christmas shopping in Manchester to buy Presents for everyone from my mum and dad. We had such a lovely day and we got some lovely gifts for people that i'm sure they will love. It was so nice to spend some time with my mum shopping as all of our lives get soo busy during the year and yes, i'll go with her to run little errands or whatever but we spent the whole day today just chatting, laughing and of course what girls do best... SHOPPING.
We walked round all of the shops in Manchester and were sooooooo tired. One bad thing about shopping in Manc is that the shops are all sooooo far apart so you actually feel like you've walked up mount Everest by the time you've finished your shopping. But I've really missed Manchester so it feels really good to be home. I have to pretend I hate Manc to Matthew as he's a Scouser haha. But really I am a Manchester girl and always will be. I especially love Manchester at Christmas time, they have the most amazing Christmas markets like soooooo many stalls with cute things on. And it just looks soo Christmassey.
Whilst we were by Jack Wills we saw a few people with Cath Kidston bags and obviously, from reading my other posts you'll realise I am probably a little obssessed with that shop so I just HAD to know where it was. So we asked people and found it.... OH MY DAYSSSSSSS I wanted to cry!!!!! It was the most amazing Cath Kidston store I had EVER been into. It had THREE floors and had absolutley everything in it. So, my mum being the most amazing Mummy in the world bought me a pair of...... CATH KIDSTON WELLIES!!! as my Christmas present from her and my Dad arghhhhhhhh! They are sooooooo cuteeeee!!! But i'm not allowed them until Christmas day wahhhh, I can't wait to wear them, and don't worry then I'll put a picture on of them.
So after doing lots of shopping and spending all of my Dad's money shh don't tell him. We decided to have a yummy Nandos to finish off a wonderful day. We could not move. Our feet felt like we had huge rocks attatched to us and we were sooooo hungry by this time we could have actually eaten the whole of Nandos haha. I love spending time with my mum, I hope when we have children and they grow up that they will want to hang out with Maff and I and not be embarressed by us haha!.
Now it's off to do some Christmas wrapping.... seriously I should have been an elf!

Manchester at Christmas time. My family and I used to drive in to Manchester to see this Santa and all of the lights every year. Soo lovely and Christmassey.

The Cath Kidston store in Manchester... the most amazing one i've ever been in!

Frozzzeeeennnnn!

For my work I am a support worker. So I look after a 15 year old boy with cerebral palsy. We know the family really well as they are in our ward and so they let Maff come with me for my 10 hours a week job (yayyyy I only work 10 hours a week.) So for tonight's activity, Maff and I took Cam to see the new Disney film called Frozen... IT IS AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGG!!! Definatley up there with Tangled.
Frozen is about a royal family and the princess is born with powers to create snow and ice. When her and her sister were young, they were playing in the snow that she had made but had an accident and the Princess ended up blasting her powers on her younger sister causing her to have ice inside of her. Because of this the Princess was so worried that something like that might happen again as she couldn't control these powers, so she hid herself away in her bedroom. Her younger sister was so wild and crazy, she just wanted to play all the time, but the Princess would not come out of her room. Unfortunatley their parents were in an accident on a boat and died and so when the Princess was at the right age she HAD to open up the gates to the castle to the people and accept her crown. She did, she came out of her room for the first time in years, was face to face with her sister and accepted her crown. Her and her sister get into an argument as her (now princess) little sister could not understand why her older sister didn't want to hang out with her. So they get into a huge row, and when the (now queen) becomes angry or upset, she creates more snow. She made the town a disaster and nearly caused harm to so many people, so she ran away high up into the mountains and she sang the song "let it go" so obviously she was free to make as much snow as she wanted. It was amazing. She made a huge palace out of ice and she made herself the most gorgeous dress! I wont tell any more of the story, you'll have to watch it yourself because it really is amazing. The songs are so catchy and probably throughout the whole film I had the biggest grin on my face because I just loved it so much! Cam and Maff loved it too. Cam was so excited when all the songs came on. Due to Cam being in a wheel chair we had to sit right at the front which at first we felt like we were breaking our necks but it was actually amazing, being 3d things proper jumped out at you. Usually I hate 3d films, I just think that they are a waste of money because nothing is ever actually 3d and the glasses hurt my eyes. But Frozen in 3d... wow! I definatley recommend. Frozen is DEFINATLEY a must see!!! I really went to be the ice Princess now in her gorgeous ice dress and Ice palace ahhhh!

"The BEST time of the year... When Christmas comes to town"

Christmas is my absolute FAVOURITE time of year. I love all the lights, the Christmas decorations, the Christmas songs, Christmas dinners, parties, being with family and of course it's one of the only times of the year where everyone is focused on Christ and his birth.

Usually I'm wanting to put the tree up and sing carols in September but this year I decided to cool it and do it  all in December and not get all stressed over everything. I absolutley love Christmas films, all of them I could watch over and over again until Christmas day. The grinch I think is so amazing... "what if Christmas," he thought, "didn't come from a store... what if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." I love that quote from the film. Recently I went Christmas shopping, and it was soooo busy you wouldn't even believe. So many people stressing about what gifts they were going to by, stressing that the perfect gift would be sold out by now, it's like CHILL OUT... They really don't fully understand the TRUE meaning of Christmas. It's not about the expensive gifts, the designer clothes, money etc. Christmas is all about giving, families, friends, love, peace, joy and hope. I'm not going to lie, I have had to tell myself this a few times over the years so this year I have decided that I'm going to do it differently. I have so much to be grateful for and this time of year I get to spend all of my time with them things and really think about the birth of Christ and all that he has done for me. " May we all make the journey to Bethlehem in spirit, taking with us a tender, caring heart as our gift the Saviour." (President Thomas S. Monson.) So, instead of thinking of all the gifts that I want for MYSELF this year I am thinking of what ways I can have a more tender and caring heart for my Saviour.

On Sunday we had our ward's Christmas Nativity- IT WAS AMAZINGGGG!!! All the Primary Children were dressed up as Mary, Joseph, the wise men, Shepherds and Angels and sang so beautifully and reminded us all of the birth of Christ. I just loved it. It was soo cute and they brought such a lovely spirit to the ward. Afterwards (because we had finished early) everyone stayed in the hall and talked with one another, it was so lovely to see everyone getting along and so happy with each other, this is why I love Christmas! From the spirit that it brings, it makes everyone forget about troubles that they are having or how bad their year has been,  and makes them happy instead and look forward to the New Year ahead with their loved ones. So to finish off this blog post, to anyone that is reading.... MERRY CHRISTMAS.... I wish you so much joy, happiness and peace as you go through this beautiful season <3

We are off on another adventure!!

So recently, Matthew and I moved in with my parents... eeeeek!! I was sooooo nervous before moving in, I didnt want arguments between us all, or for my parents to treat me like a little girl again but we have been here for about a month now and it has been amazing.
Before we moved my job had me sleeping over and staying away from Matthew ALOT, even on Sundays. So Matthew found things very hard as he had just moved from Liverpool, studying in University (so being very busy) to Wales, where he was working from home, his phone lost signal allll the time, I was hardly there and obviously it was out in the country so it was VERY quiet. So he just found it super hard. Having no Uni grants anymore, building up your own buisness and just working 25 hours a week made us not have a lot of money and actually made us lose loads! So things were very stressful for the both of us, so one day we just came up with the idea that if things get really bad we can always move in with the parents, we did a pros and cons list and reallllyyy thought about ho it would be at my parents and obviously things got worse so we ended up moving in.
When we moved in, that weekend was just D.I.Y the whole weekend (well, Maff did everything haha....girls aint no good at that!) So we made the bedroom how we would like our own home to be. Really classy and modern. We love it. Maff worked so hard on it all cause he wanted it to be perfect for me awwwwww!! (how cute is my hubby????)

                      This is our gorgeous new bedroom that my Maff made perfect for us.. 

Maff loves hanging out with my brothers, they get on really well and my little sister loves us being around. She's currently waiting for her boyfriend who is serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, so I think having adults around to talk to (other than the parents) is really good for her. She comes into our room every night and chats with us on the bed about everything really. Me and Char have always been the ones to play with dolls together and get in to so much trouble for being naughty and not tidying our room and I guess growing up I would never imagine Char waiting for a missionary cause she's always been naughty Char haha. So it's really nice to have adult conversations with her and hear about her life and how she's coping with her boyfriend away. She is absolutley amazing... I really don't think I could do what she's doing. She's growing up so much every single day, it's really nice to see.

                                 This is me and my Beaut little sister.... how gorgeous is she?! 

       My gorgeous Charly with her boyfriend who is serving a full time mission in Utah, Ogden. 




So, at the minute Maff is still working from home, buidling up his buisness, but he is doing sooooo well here! I'm very proud of him... I am currently working 10 hours a week, which I LOVE!!!! andddddd Maff gets to come with me for them shifts yayyyy, even better. I'm still a support worker but now I work with a young boy who has Cerebral Palsy. We know him and his family from church so we are very grateful for letting us work for them. But he is the most gorgeous boy in the world! We have grown to love him so much. He loves Matthew, as he's a scouser, he just laughs at Maff's accent the whole time haha it makes us laugh so much. This young boy is soo kind, and caring and loving and he has just the most sweetest spirit. You can tell that he loves his parents so much for everything they do with him.
Hopefully, Maff and I can save enough money up by next Christmas to be able to move out, and who knows maybe we'll have a little bambino ;)  Watch this space! <3

We're going this way, that way, forwards and backwards, over the Irish Sea...

Eeek, I have had soo much fun this weekend and right now feel sooooooo Christmasssy!
On Wednesday last week Char and I went to Ireland to see our big sister Jec, as she lives there now with her hubby and gorgeous baba... waaaahhhhh :( We had such a good time, Ireland is actually gorgeous at Christmas time. On the first night we went to their chippy- my sister LOVES chips and mushy peas. It was quite a drive away from their house as that is the only chippy that does mushy peas haha. It was a lovely drive though, some of the houses are HUGE. then on the net day we stayed in bed until around 11 haha but then when we finally got ready, we went to a gorgeous shopping centre called dundrum. IT WAS AMAZING! It was just like the Trafford Centre only a little bigger and had wayyyyyy better stores like Michael Kors (ahhhhhhh I really want a bag from there).. Hamleys toy store andddddd CATH KIDSTON, my favourite shop in the world.. and they made it look sooooo christmassy! It was such a good day out with my sisters and the baby.

                                                  I LOVE Michael Kors Bags and purses. 

                             Char and I outside Hamleys... The best toy store in the world. 

                                          Dundrum shopping centre all Christmassey :)

                             My favourite shop in the world.... CATH KIDSTON ahhhhh!!!


 The next day we went to a shopping centre right by them in Swords called the Pavillion. We bought some more Christmas presents for big Kelvin and Baby Kelvin. We then went to Seminary. as Kelvin teaches the class, and then afterwards went to Nandos mmmmmmmmmm.

                                   Pavillion shopping centre in Swords... rocking Santa's 

              My beautiful big sister and her scrummy baba... He loves his Mummy sooooo much

                                       Me ready for a day out shopping with my sisters 

                   Playing horsey, horsey don't you stop with Auntie Wissy and Auntie Char

                               My two best friends in the world. I love my Sisters so much!

 On the Saturday it was the Finglas wards Christmas party, we took baby Kelvin to see Father Christmas hehe. He was a little curious as to why this man had such a big white beard and dressed in all red but he didn't cry woo! Jec, Kelvin and baby Kelvin had a gorgeous family photo with Santa and recieved a little selection bo from him.. aww!!.. The rest of the time we just relaxed at home with the Troy's. All week we stayed up until all hours of the morning watching films and tv shows, played on Super Mario all together and chatted and had lots of giggles. It was amazing to spend some time with my gorgeous sisters as they are my best friends and I miss Jec soo much. It's so nice to see her with Baby Kelvin. He absolutley adores her, it's the cutest thing. She is such an amazing Wife and Mummy.

                                                 Cute photo with Father Christmas.

 He's getting sooooooo big, he wants to walk waaahhh!!! also, he pulls this face all the time hahah he's soo funny.

 Number one poser! Whatever he was doing, as soon as the camera came out he would strike this pose hahah.

   I love these guys soooo much!! My amazing Sister and Brother in law and their gorgeous baba.

Of course being away from Matthew for a whole five days was sooooo sad. I missed him as soon as we got on the plane to Ireland haha... I'm such a wuss I know. It was the longest we had ever been apart and it was just soo strange. I was sooo excited to see him in the airport when we arrived back in England. He said he missed me like crazy and my parents said that he was very quiet come Saturday night because he was missing me loads. Now, ever since I've been home he's been so needy but... I LOVE IT!! On my first night back he wouldn't let me go in the night he just wanted to hold on to me so tight and he even woke up and stroked my face and said "beautiful face." hahahaha. I tell him he did that and he cringes so much. It's to feel soo loved though and soo appreciated. I definatley realised how much I love Matthew after this week and how much I really appreciate him for everything he does for me.

"Hey Baby... I think I wanna marry you..."

So as my first blog post I thought I would write about how Matthew and I met and our wedding day as they are really where my adventure begins with the most amazing man in the world.
It was on a Thursday and I had just done a really long shift in Hollister. I was soo tired I just wanted to go home, put my pj's on and just chill out. But, my sister had been texting someone and was meeting him at Institute at the Manchester stake centre as he was setting up decorations for a dance for the following night with some of his friends from his stake. Then afterwards they were going to go for a krispy kreme doughnuts.
I really did not want to go, 1) I had never been to institute before and 2) who on earth wants to be a third wheel on a date or have to make small talk with people you do not know when your soo super tired... erm not me!!
So anyway's I decided to go in the end cause I felt bad as my sister wouldn't have met this guy if I didn't. So we arrive and we go and say hi to this guy who's stood in a group with all his friends, they all say hi to us and then carry on there conversations with others, but Matthew turns round, says hi and shakes our hand and chats with us. We head off to Krispy kremes and Matthew and his friend stay with me and Jec, chatting with us loads and making us laugh soo much...they are scousers after all and all scousers are hilarious! I come home quite happy that I went really as I had a really good night and then Jec comes in to my bedroom and says "erm Melissa, Roundeye likes you!" I honestly think I died a little in side! I just couldn't believe that he would like me when I felt so rough after work and he was so much older then me. I just kept on thinking about it all night and the next day and the next, and then me Jec, Matthew and his friend decided to hang out and go play crazy golf and get a bar burritos. Again, we met after work as me and Jec both worked in Hollister and so it was much easier for us to hang out at the Trafford Centre. We had such a good time! I was dreading those first few dates, eating infront of boys was soooooooo scary as I always make a fool of myself and I didn't want Matthew to think I was a reject haha thankfully, because I hardly ate and when I did, I ate very slow, no embarressing moments happened PHEWW!.. they just all happened to Jec hahah! We hung out quite a lot as four, I think like every weekend and the occasional weekday and each time was soo much fun and I just came away laughing my head off. Eventually, after about a month Matthew asked me out on a date on our own ARGHHHHHH how scary!! I was sooooo nervous as I'm quite shy so I didn't want there to be the dreaded awkward silences or embaress myself. We had such a good night! Matthew took me to a really nice italian restaurant by my house and then we went and walked around Hollingworth Lake. We talked all night and laughed at each other it was soo nice, we then went and sat by the lake and had our first kiss oooo!!! Beforehand, Matthew said that he only ever kisses girls that he is actually going out with so after our kiss he said "so, I guess i'm your boyfriend now." and held my hand as we walked back round the lake. I actually think I screamed ALOT inside! I was soo happy and excited eek, it was like something from a movie.
So we started dating in the June and told each other we loved each other in the September and just knew we wanted to marry each other but got engaged the following April. To some it may seem like a short time dating, but trust me, in the Mormon world one year dating is a VERY long time.

                                    At a Huddersfield Dance only a few months into dating. 

                   A date at the beach. We had been dating only a couple of weeks here awwww...




When Matthew proposed I just knew it was going to happen, I just had a crazy feeling all weekend. So on the Sunday he took me up to the Moors and we sat looking over Manchester (it actually looked really nice from up there) and he was telling me how much he loved me and me to him and then as we were going he stood up and said pick your bag up and so when I turned back round he was on one knee ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I just couldn't respond, I hugged him and all I could say was "oh my days oh my days oh my days." haha, ofcourse eventually I did say yes! I was sooo excited and happy and I just could not believe that I was ENGAGED! It felt like a dream, the most perfect dream!..

                                                  The day that he proposed hehe!! 

                                                   My favourite engagemt photo of us <3



So the stresses of planning a wedding came and on the 20th August 2011 I married my best friend in the whole world. It was the most perfect day I could ever imagine. Everything just looked amazing. The things that I rememeber the most now are being soo happy and just being with Matthew. I don't remember the food or any of the guests or even the stresses before hand because my day was just so special. The most special part for me though was the Temple. Being a Mormon, every girl dreams of their wedding day and getting sealed to their husbands for time and all eternity in the House of the Lord. It was even more perfect then I had imagined. kneeling across the alter making promises to each other and of course to our Father in Heaven, surrounded by our family and friends was just amazing. I am so grateful for my Parents for teaching me what's right so that I could live my life in such a way that would allow me to enter the Lords house with my Husband, knowing that I can be with my Husband and my children forever is such a beautiful gift.

 Maff and I with my Grandpa, Grandad and Matthew's Grandma... I wish my Grandma's could have been there too. 

                                         Matthew with the tiniest bridemaid...gorgeous girl. 

                                      Matthew with his best men and all of his best friends. 

                                My Daddy and I. So precious to walk down the aisle with him. 

                                                     All of my beautiful Bridesmaids. 

                                                 I felt like the happiest girl in the world. 



Now, Matthew and I have been married for 2 years and 4 months. WOW! What an amazing 2 years it has been. We have had some challenges like any other marriage but choosing to go to Institute on that night was the best decision I have EVER made. Matthew is such an amazing man. He teaches me soo much, he's such a great example to me and he really does treat me like a Princess. I know that he loves me with all his heart and that he would do anything for me and I love him more than anything in this world. I am so blessed to have a Temple marriage knowing that I am going to be with my best friend Forever.

                                           At my Jeccy's wedding... Such a beautiful day. 

                                                  Oreo milkshakes... YUMMMMMM.

 

                                          On holiday in Tenerife... The best holiday EVER.

                                    Our first anniversary in the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool. 

 My babe graduated from University with a 2:1 in Psychology... sooooooo proud of him. 

 Our Second anniversary, a night out in Cheshire Oaks... We laughed soo much that night our stomachs hurt.

I am the happiest girl in the world with my Maffry by my side. 

                                                   Date nights in the park ahhhh bliss. 

                                  TO BE CONTINUED.....