A madam of a month

January, you have been a tough one. I don't ever recall feeling like this during previous January's but for some reason I have felt the strain and emotion of post Christmas blues. (Sorry, that will be the last time I mention that C word for 11 months!) 

Perhaps being in my mid thirties gives me permission to turn into a grumpy old woman. I hope not! Then again, when you're battling against whatever storm the met office have named, trying to get your head around a new diet plan when you're already so in-tune with the old way, paying out for dodgy oil leaks (my car, not me) and unnecessarily panicking over direct debits that have already come out, it makes for a stressful few weeks. 

Good job I opted out of Dry January! Not that I don't think it's a good idea, mind you, but when January is depressing enough on its own, not having a vodka or two does make it even more dull! Saying that, the hangover I suffered today after the bottle I unexpectedly went through last night with my sister has made me question whether I should have committed to it this year. Nah, who am I kidding, everyone knows I love Vodka too much and I have to admit, it was a great night. We only went to meet our brother and his family at the pub for a couple of drinks; a standard Saturday for us, but after he invited us back to their house for a few more drinks, quickly followed by a dinner, it would have been rude to say no! Nine hours later, I staggered into a taxi and welcomed with one mother of a hangover today. Suffice to say, I dragged my sorry self out of bed at 5pm this afternoon and haven't done much else since. Let's just hope I don't get hit with boozy blues now!

Despite the struggle of January, I feel like I'm leaving it on a high and entering February on a positive note. Payday has arrived, the diet is back on track and Valentines Day is on the horizon so who knows, maybe the prospect of a new love interest is heading my way. I hope so. Being single sucks....but that's a whole other blog for you to look forward to!

Time to head to bed now. Sweet dreams lovelies! 

Happy New Year!

Welcome to the year 2016! Can you believe we are already into another new year? Seriously, where does the time go? To think, this time last year I was blogging with apprehension as I was starting the year without a job and unsure whether I would be able to pay my bills. It really was a worrying time, I have to admit.

Roll on 12 months later and I am starting this new year two months into a brand new, permanent job, that I am absolutely loving and learning so much from and despite the festivities now at an end, I don't have that same dread I felt last January, In fact, I am filled with anticipation and excitement that I am going to continue to get stuck into my new role even more and hopefully flourish with it too. It's a great feeling!

I also hope to bring new features to my blog this year and a lot more articles and short stories for you to get stuck into, so keep an eye out because I've got one or two things up my sleeve and I can't wait to share them with you!

For now, I wish you a very Happy New Year, I hope the celebrations into 2016 were as merry as mine and I look forward to chatting with you all more regularly over the next 12 months. 

Love Tanya xx

Under the Sea

Shopping for new beauty products is definitely something I love to do so when I was sent a couple of products from The Soap Lagoon I couldn’t help but get a little bit excited about it!

A new local business, set up this year, The Soap Lagoon specialise in ‘Hand-made soapy beauts’ including Deep Ocean Treasure, Shaving whip, Moisturising soap bars and a range of exfoliating products.

After I was sent a couple of exfoliating whips, I couldn’t wait to get sampling them! The first was a Lemon Poppy Whip. As someone who suffers with dry skin, I am always on the lookout for a gentle exfoliator that I can use regularly and if it moisturises at the same time, then even better. This product does just that! Not only is it gentle on my skin, but you also only need a small about because it ‘whips’ up into your skin, mositurising it at the same time. Perfect for me!  The smell of it is amazing, so much so, there is a disclaimer on the packaging that says not to eat it and I can see why!

The second I tried was a Berry Cream Poppy Whip. Again, this is another gentle exfoliator which smells so good and doesn’t feel like I’m hacking away at my skin. The poppy seeds make is kind to your skin and is perfect to use regularly without drying it out.

Both of these whips came in plastic pots with spoons, so much so they looked like ice creams or desserts when I opened them - I loved them straight away – and all the products are made by hand with natural ingredients so they are safe to use and good for the environment too!

I have already recommended these to my friends and family, and with Christmas just around the corner, they would make lovely gifts or stocking fillers!

To find out more about The Soap Lagoon visit them on Facebook or Twitter. They have products suitable for everyone so you never know what treasure you might find!

Go Fish!

An element of nostalgia hit me today when I was going through the memories on my Facebook page and found the following status update:

The reason why I felt the warmth after reading it is because not only did it take me back to a great night out I had with my friends, but it was also a conversation that prompted me to begin this blog and was the opening piece!

Four years later, I have been lucky to have had some of my writing published, been a runner up in a short story competition, and have attracted over 27,000 page views all achieved through the support of my amazing friends, family and army of Twitter followers!

I have to admit, I never imagined all of this would happen when I first started it, so I want to thank everyone for your continued support, it really does mean so much to me.

If you want to read that opening blog, click here and watch out for a new short story coming when I hit the big 3-0k mark!

When tomorrow comes

As an avid X Factor fan, I was gutted to see that Jamie Benkert didn't make it past Bootcamp, but have still watched with anticipation over the last 2 weeks as we have seen Rita Ora and Grimmy battle it out with the audience to get their final groups together in the 6 seat challenge.

Despite Grimmy's poor start to his category, I was cheering at the TV like a true Gogglebox contender as I watched the amazingly talented Che Chesterman and Seann Miley Moore easily gain seats, and was cursing and shouting with just as much passion with the audacity of Mason Noise and his arrogant backlash towards Simon for not allowing his 'art' to get the air time it deserved. To top it off, I was on the verge of heart palpitations when poor Tom Bleasby got swapped and brought back on again after Grimmy realised he'd made the wrong choice. It was all just too much for a girl to handle on her own on a Sunday evening!

I survived though, but tonight I heard, despite the rollercoaster he went through, Tom Bleasby has quit the show due to personal reasons. Taking to twitter he has said "the X Factor is just one path...one that wasn't right for me. I will make music".

I have to hand it to him, it must have been hard to make that decision especially when you are given so much exposure and could potentially go on to great things from such a platform, but if you know in your heart it's not right, you have to follow it, and it shows a lot of strength in doing so.

I don't doubt that something amazing will happen for him, especially with his appearance on the Ellen show last week where he sang live and un-rehearsed with Jessie J! Whether that has had an impact on his decision, I don't know, but judging by the reaction he has had, I don't think on this occasion he needs X Factor. I think he just needs a straight out record deal and he'll be laughing...or maybe singing!

No doubt this weekend's programme will be just as dramatic with the editors showcasing his departure and airing who Grimmy will give a second chance to. Not to mention watching part 2 of the groups fight it out in Cheryl's category, whilst hopefully we see Simon eating a huge slice of humble pie after his disrespectful reaction to finding out he has the over's category. Roll on Sunday!

If you didn't catch Tom on the Ellen show, you can watch it here:

"Hold my Heart"

Every now and again I like to put pen to paper and try my hand at a bit of poetry, and although I have previously shared one or two with you, I was put to the test recently when my best friend, Becky, asked me to write something and read it at her wedding which took place on Friday 11th September.

Being one of her four bridesmaids, I already had an element of responsibility, but when she asked me to do this, I knew I couldn't let her down. Initially I started to write very much as I usually do, but what I wanted to say wasn't flowing and I was suddenly struck with what I feared was writers block!

Realising I was just over thinking it, I took a step back for a while and low and behold, in true Tanya style, the words came to me at the most unexpected and inconvenient time whilst sitting at work one Wednesday afternoon! Quickly scribbling them down (the perks of always carrying around a notepad) I found I had the beginning of what I wanted to say and surprisingly enough, it was in the form of a poem.

After tweaking it here and there, I finally had my reading and with the approval of my sister and an emotional thumbs up from Becky's mum, I knew it must be ok. What I hadn't bargained for when I got up to read it was being overcome with emotion as I was reading it in front of the bride and groom and their guests! I did it though and the response I have had since has been so overwhelming, and most importantly, Becky and her now husband Dan, absolutely loved it. Win-win all round!

So now they have heard it, I thought I would share it with you all here too:

"Hold my Heart" by Tanya Shirley

 

Hold my heart I am here to stay

As we stand together on our special day.

Face to face as we say "I Do"

Hold my heart it's me and you.

 

Hold my heart the pledge we now make

Through the good and bad, we will not break.

Today we are here side by side

Hold my heart forever confide

 

Hold my heart and then take my hand

As you look my way we will understand.

The love we have will always be

Hold my heart for the world to see.

 

Hold my heart a new journey now

The promise we made is our love to avow

Together as one, we align

Hold my heart you heart is mine.



Jamie's got The X Factor

So after a short break from blogging, I find it only fitting to come back to what I love by writing about someone local. Sitting down this afternoon to catch up on last night's X Factor I watched in anticipation waiting for singer Jamie Benkert to audition in front of Simon, Cheryl, Rita and Grimmy for a place at Bootcamp.

 

Any regular readers of mine will know who I am talking about. It was nearly two years ago that I wrote a piece on him after a friend got in touch asking me to do a write up on a charity single he was involved with.

 

Since then I have been watching in the background on Facebook and Twitter and keeping up to date with the singing he has been doing so it was very exciting to see on Friday when he posted to social media that he had auditioned.

 

Seeing the clip of him being compared to Olly Murs did make me chuckle given I had the same thought back then too, and knowing he was an Olly tribute act over the summer, I was intriegued as too how Jamie would be portrayed on the show.Naturally, Simon's mention of the movie Single White Female after his audition set the stage for the producers and editors to portray Jamie as Olly himself!

 

Despite the goulish music and the extensive focus on Jamie's admiration for Olly leading up to him singing, I have to say the boy did good! Starting off with an original song, 'Dance All Night', which again was referenced by Cheryl and Grimmy to Olly's 'Dance with me tonight', Simon asked him to sing his second choice and straight away he entertained the audience with a mash up of Hold On We're Going Home by Drake and Uptown Funk' by Mark Ronson ft Bruno Mars.

 

Thankfully, the judges were impressed and Jamie made it through to Bootcamp with a yes from three of the judges. Although he didn't win over Simon Cowell this time, mainly I think because he appeared somewhat bemused by the whole Olly comparison, I think next time he will. However, it's Nick Grimshaw that will have the final say as he will be mentoring the boys.

 

So get rehursing Jamie because im sure I'm not alone when I say it will be amazing to see you go through to the live shows. Good luck and I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

 

Check out Jamie's audition here: