Shaving

Hi everybody,

I have had such a hectic week! University has been nothing less than deadline after deadline. And I started my new job- in the EE shop. (So, any of my lovely readers who are in Scotland/Edinburgh... and need a new phone- let me know! I will sort you out ;)) Anyway, I've been browsing the pages of www.postsecret.com (if you have never visited it, I apologise for providing you with a new obsession). It's fantastic, it renews every Sunday with new secrets that people have sent in.

There was one particular postcard that stood out for me, and I just thought I would say "Hallelujah!" on behalf of all women in/who have experienced long distance relationships.

Well said! It is quite possibly the only thing that there is to celebrate about being away from your loved one for any length of time. The chore that is shaving is misunderstood by men. They shave their face, an area that they can see, in the mirror and even with a few tricky areas- it's a pretty easy job.

For women, we have to be extremely flexible able to balance on one leg, on a slippy surface, trying to keep your balance. Not to mention the fact that it's a battle to know whether you should:

a. turn the shower off and face the sdifficulties of cleaning the razor

b. keep the shower on, and reduce any chance of keeping adequate amounts of shaving cream on your legs.

And that's just for the leg region.,..

The amount of time that a "hair removal" bath/shower takes up is highly underestimated by the majority.For that reason, I embrace the times without my manm simply for the reduced need to have silky smooth legs, 

Thanks for reading! 

Jessie x

When life gets in the way

Hi all,

So, don't worry... I'm not going to preach about "moving away shows who your true friends are", because in my opinion, no matter how close or how far apart you live, the key to fantastic friendships is the mutual understanding that:

life gets in the way

Everyone has read a text, and thought- I will reply to that later, I'm too busy unloading the shopping/doing the dishes/finishing an essay/on the phone to Mum/watching a really good film/half asleep/just simply can't be bothered to type back right now.

PLEASE NOTE:
This is not a crime.

Just like any other girl, I've picked up and thrown out friends along the way. It's a tricky process, some just seem to slip off the face of the Earth and you are left wondering if they are even still alive; others treat you like a doormat and you suddenly realise they need out! Some of my friends I have known forever, others only a short while; some I met whilst travelling; some through work- it doesn't matter how, or how long you have known a person for them to become a huge part of your life. They just need to fill a gap.

Fill a gap? Yes, well, I have this little theory whereby you have different friends for different things. Someone to laugh with; someone to cry with; someone for support; someone for a crazy night out... etc. etc. 

This picture is really special for me, as myself and two of my closest friends have "guardian angel" bracelets. 

Having friends who live all over the world, or who live round the corner but you just never seem to have the time to catch up with is just part of life. So I absolutely love the quote above because it just reminds me that I know they are there, but I don't have to speak to them alllll the time. And my very closest friends know exactly the same themselves.

Whatsapp

However, I have found that I have almost become closer to some of my friends. I have almost become more reliant on them than I was before! For this, I actually have "whatsapp" to blame. Whatsapp groups are brilliant. Anyone who is a member of one will be familiar with looking at their phone and seeing something like this:

Yes, this can be slightly frustrating when you are trying to do something and your phone is constantly going "buzzzzz buzzz"- put it on mute! It's wonderful because even when you are busy, and you don't have time to talk, someone else does and so you can just catch up on it later. It means that even though you're not always speaking directly to one another, you still know what's going on in their lives. 

I have a whatsapp group with two of my closest friends, and it has honestly become the "go-to" for me, if I have a problem- straight on there "girls... what do you think..."; if something funny has happened; just anything. It means that we are constantly in contact. And I absolutely love it. 

However, all three of our boyfriends have at some point complained that we spend too much time on our phones- but when you live so far away from each other- it just kind of happens!

Skype

This is another point of call when living away from loved ones. At first it seems a bit weird- the whole idea of needing to get your laptop out, and feeling like you should look nice... But actually, it's so precious. Since my friend Rosie moved to Paris, and I'm in Edinburgh, and Nicola (the one that adds terrible to the trio) is still down at home... we have spent hours on Skype to each other. Literally. 

It's wonderful, you can do other things at the same time, and it's just as if they are there in the room with you. And you loose track of time too! I think the average time I spend on Skype is roughly two and a half hours!!!

Life gets in the way

The real point though, is no matter how far apart you are, how busy your lives are. There are a handful of people who will be exactly the same when you see them next, whether you last spoke to them yesterday or three years ago. People you share a very special bond with. People who understand you to the core. And understand the key to friendship: 

knowing that life gets in the way.

I know the internet is littered with "friendship quotes", and I have to admit, my pinterest "Quotes" board, is one of my most frequently used.

Follow Jessie's Juicy Jargon "Quotes" on Pinterest.

So I'm not going to post a load of quotes on to here, you've been kept reading for long enough.

Just remember, when you can, when you have the time and life allows it. To send a little message telling those wonderful friends you have, that you love them.

And on that note, I wish you all a goodnight!

Thanks for reading!
Jessie x

TGIF

Exactly that! Thank God it's Friday! I've had a pretty busy week with uni, and it's left me looking forward to three weeks today when I will be reunited with three wonderful things. Two of which are my best friends Rosie and Nicola, and the third:

TGI Friday's:
"Summer Peach" Cocktail

This huge glass, is a glassful of happiness. Made up of a frozen mix of my favourite drink "Archers Peach Schnapps", orange juice and orange sorbet served with cranberry juice. Mmmmm tasty! It's safe to say we drank a few too many of these last time we were there!

Why don't you go to the TGI Friday's website to find your closest restaurant, then head on down to have a lovely Friday cocktail?!

I simply cannot  wait until I am reunited with Rosie, Nicola and  Summer Peach. What three things are you looking forward to?

Distance loving: Open When Envelopes

Hi Everyone!
In the first chapter of "Distance Loving"; I am going to tell you all about "Open When" envelopes.

So, I have now created a bunch of these on two separate occasions. They are a perfect gift as they are thoughtful, creative and personal. Not to mention the fact that once you have bought the envelopes that is pretty much the only essential purchase that you must make in order to make them special. You can of course spend money on a few special things to pop in the envelopes, but like I said, it's not essential.

The first time I made a set of these, it became a very fun project for myself and my lovely friend Rosie. At the time, we were both caught in the "Long Distance Relationship" trap, with my Euan living in Scotland, and her man in Paris. Together, we decided to make a set of Open When Envelopes for each of our men as a little reminder of us whenever they needed it. So, we set off on our efforts of envelope making and managed to get together a list of "Open When's" which I have listed below. I have also listed what I put in to some of the envelopes- but some are pretty self explanatory and others just had a wee note from me in it.

1. THE RULES

• Never open more than one per day
• Make them last
• Makesure you feel like the one you chose to open
• Let me know which envelope you open and when you open it
• Don't rush them away, save them for a day when they will mean something.

2. Open when we have just said goodbye

I'm a strong believer of looking on the bright side of every situation, hence the note in this envelope:

3. Open when you don't know what to eat

I went through loads of magazines and ripped out recipes that I thought Euan would enjoy making/eating in order to give him inspiration for something nice to eat.

4. You hurt yourself at rugby or the gym

I used a permanent marker and drew flowers and kisses all over some teeny tiny plasters, and then also wrote a note.

5. Open when you need some fun

6. Open when you're thinking about us

Photos- lots of photos of some of the fun times we have shared.

7. Open when you're in need of a laugh

A silly photo

8. Open when you are bored

For this envelope I made him a wordsearch, and a puzzle (I did the puzzle by cutting up an old card so that the picture was nice and the paper was strong enough!) Whether he actually ever did either of these I will never know! 

9. Open when you're hungover and tired

In this one I put a packet of paracetamol.

10. Open when you're short of change

This one consisted of lots of really small change.

11. Open when you feel like winding someone up

I bought some water balloons for this one.

12. Open when you've run out of teabags

Pretty obvious- this one had some tea bags in!

13. Open when you're thinking about what to get me for Christmas

This one was probably the thickest envelope out of the whole bunch. Here I went through tonnes of magazines and just ripped out anything that I fancied for Christmas, ranging from Lindor chocolates to a brand new Range Rover (which I stuck a personalised number plate on)!!

14. Open when you want to see a really cute face

I printed off a really cute picture of Euan's cat as a kitten.

15. Open when it's Halloween

For this one I drew a picture:

16. Open when you're on your way to work

17. Open when you are seeing me soon

18. Open when you're supposed to be revising

19. Open when you want to read something interesting

20. Open when you can't sleep

This one had lavender oil for his pillow and a packet of hot chocolate in it. 

The second time I made a set, was actually for my lovely friend Rosie, when she moved to Paris earlier this year. Obviously the list was slightly different, because this time it included ones such as "When you are missing home". It was such a special present to give as she had said to me when we made the envelopes for our men that she would "absolutely love someone to do that for [her]". I was thrilled when I thought of it.

I think that they are a fantastic idea and they can be adapted to any for of distance loving. Be it your best friend moving to Paris; your boyfriend living far too many miles away or just for your mum because you don't have the chance to see her nearly as often as you would like to,

Why don't you make a set for someone as a Christmas present? Or just a "just because gift"- they are the best after all!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the read. Let me know if you make any yourself!

Jessie x