The Five.

You know how each one of us is attracted to certain qualities in a person? Qualities that make our heart flutter and fancy the pants off them?

And I'm not talking about having blonde hair and blue eyes.

No, stuff that's much more deeper and meanigful than that.

I've wanted to make a post like this ever since I watched Will Darbyshire's video, where he writes a letter to his future wife. I'm not really a video person, and more a writing type of gal, but I decided to give it a shot. But after attempting a video, complete with horrendous bloopers, I couldn't put across what I wanted to say down in words, and it ended up seeming as superficial as I tried to avoid it from being.

That was until I read a post on the Man Repeller, about the top 5 criteria.

This is a list of 5 criteria that are most important to you when it comes to someone you mgiht approach into a relationship with. And as she puts it, it's important to be specific and positive, rather an negative. Because no-one wants an unkind, mean, stupid and horrible partner.

It's about stuff that really matters. Not just listing the thing physical attributes of your teenage heartthrrob that you plastered posters of around your room.

So, without further ado, here's mine...

1.) Love their food.

I love my food. Like, you will find me talking about how amazing food is, whilst I'm eating amazing food. Food and I have had a bit of a rollercoaster relationship, after having a rather chubby exterior while growing up. But I love the healthy stuff as much as the naughty stuff (and it's just as delicious most of the time!), whether it's cooking or dining out, food is more than just something to keep me alive. And I love so many different aspects of it - a world of traditional British grub, sophisticated sushi and endless mountains of pasta, wouldn't be enough! Dinner and good food is a big part of my family as well. It brings us together - whether through happiness or sadness. So dining out on McDonalds every night just isn't gonna cut it soz.

2.) Be Passionate.

About something. Anything.  I've been out with people who don't really have an opinion on anything. And it starts getting a bit tiresome trying to drag out some interest for a conversation. Anime, cooking, 1950s detective movies - anything! Have something that you love, not only for yourself, but then I don't feel as bad when I spend hours going on and on about why Elie Saab is the designer to make all girl's princess dreams come true. And just be passionate about it! 

(As well as being passionate in some other aspects in a relationship too...)

3.) Family-mad

I'm a proper family girl. Nothing fills my heart with as much joy as when my whole family gets together. I'd want you to get involved when my brothers challenge a duel on MarioKart, or my dad wants to share a tipple of cognac. And I'd want to feel like part of your family too. I've been in relationships where this has happened before, and it become so much more meaningful and homely.
The same goes with friends. As the Spice Girls once so poignantly said, 'if you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends'. Truth girls, truth.

4.) Not scared of intimacy or their feelings

Not necessarily proclaiming your love via a poem on MSN (yes, this has actually happened to me...), but also, I don't want to be guessing or trying to suss out how you feel about me or what you think about us. I've been in the situation before where I spend every second worrying and analysing, and it's not fun I can tell you..

5.) A big kid at heart

This doesn't mean immature. They're 2 completely different things. I care and work hard at my career and life, but also, I'm a massively young at heart. I'm a big believer in work hard, play hard, and when it comes to playtime, anything goes. I've been in a relationship where all fun and ridiculous ideas were thrown out of the windows and it made me feel like an idiot who needed to grow up. Surely being with someone where you can't fully be yourself, can't be healthy. So, please don't completely write it off when I suggest we go hunting for all the Paddington bear sculptures with marmalade sandwiches in our hands. When I get excited about a night out where there's a bouncy castle and a dance machine, I'd love it if you already had your Pac-man socks on ready to bounce (this is an actual event I've been to. It was amazing. Obviously).

One of the best present I've ever received is a box filled with Haribo heart sweets.

People say they don't know where all the single people are anymore, and I just think, 'Look around! They're everywhere!'

Could it be that people are so used to seeking and talking via the screens that they stare out, that they don't know how to talk to people in person anymore?

So go on - go talk to that person you've been looking at all night, and if there's a spark there, be nice & go for it! 

What have you got to lose?!

But most of well, just be yourself and don't worry!

 Things will happen when they're meant to.

Stay happy!

Until next time...

A.x

On Wednesdays, We Wear Pink

Unashamedly, one of my favourite colours is pink.

Yes it's stereotypically girly. Yes, it's mainly pink of the pastel varirety that you'll see me in. But I do love it oh so much. Even after all my years of tomboy-loving of navy blue and Addidas tracksuits.

So it's no surprise that my love of this sugary shade, goes hand-in-hand with my love with Mean Girls.

I quote Mean Girls nearly every day of my life. So to save the muscles in my mouth - I jabber on enough anynway! - what better way to fulfil my inner Cady Heron than with this extrmemly quotable t-shirt.

Complete with pink skirt and scarf, both in a knitted fashion, and a shearing lined denim jacket, I was ready to take on anything real world - or girl world - had to throw at me!

Oh, and the piece de resistance? This fantasticly fluffy bag.

Can someone say Cher Horowitz?

You know how magpies are attracted to sparkly and shiny things? That's me, but with fluffy things.

tshirt:Tee Island, skirt:ASOS,  jacket:Topshop, bag:Topshop, boots:Topshop

And this little fella is like my new bestie when it comes to fun frolics and adventures!

This alphabet scarf is also quite a little find. 

It's the softest thing that you would wrap yourself in to warm yourself up this Winter, and not only can you get a letter personalised to your name or initial, but also all the proceeds of it goes to charity - pretty pastels, cozy and charitable, what more do you need!

You can get your very own one here. All profits go to Alder Hey Children's Hospital Charity. 

During the weekend excursion to the country that this outfit accompanied me to, I enlisted the help of my good ol' friend Hannah. She lives half and hour from the Big Smoke, and that meant only 30 minutes until rolling hills - Yes!

As much as I love London and all it's fun, food and places to frolic, the country-loving girl in me does miss seeing green grass, stepping in muddy grounds and not constantly having bright lights shining.

And you definitely wouldn't come across a group of deers in the capital!

We went to Woburn Abbey and Gardens, where we stumbled over a secret rainforest garden...

She took me to Woburn - and was top tour guide may I add - which was beyond adorable (eveb the post boxes are precious!)

We wondered around muddy fields aimlessly, chatted over warm cups of tea, ate in a cozy pub with a roaring fire, and even had a mug of festive winter Pimms to tie it all up (trust me, it's a winner!)

Although we both work in London now, we never have time to see one another. And it was just so lovely to spend some downtime doing pretty much nothing.

Literally, the only word I can use to desicrbe that day, is lovely.

And just the much needed escape that I needed.

Stay happy!

Until next time...

A.x

You look like my next mistake...

Yes, I have been listening to Taylor Swift's 1989 album on repeat like the rest of the world. And yes I'm relating to all of the lyrics.

After a series of failed romantic encounters over the past year, I finding myself asking 'Why?'

As well has singing along to 'Blank Space' and 'Bad Blood' at the top of my lungs with all my heart, I also recently read Alexa Chung's book, IT, where in one part, she talks about heartbreak.

And as I was reading it, I thought to myself 'God, I miss that feeling'.

It's not that I miss feeling heartbroken and thinking that my life will never be as happy as before, because I can tell you, that fucking SUCKS. 

But I miss caring and loving someone so much, and being so emotionally invested with someone and my future with them, that it hurts so much when it ended.

And I haven't felt like that in a long time.

Yeah I've dated guys, and I've been excited and a bit nervous before seeing them each time. 

But you know those butterflies in your stomach? Well they're not a cliche, and I haven't had that feeling in so long. 

Things have happened out of the blue, but they've disappeared as quickly as they came along.

And it's even made me question myself..

'Is there something wrong with me? Why do guys always end up bailing on me?'

When there's no reason for me to feel that way. 

Hey! I'm a nice girl! Who has plenty to offer and be a companion to someone

 (Single, nice young guys - hit me up!)

It's just sometime things don't work. 

And that's OK.

I just like being in a relationship.

I'm good in a relationship.

I like caring about someone else in my life, and having them there for me. I love being part of a partnership. I like feeling like I could potentially have a future with someone - whether that's real or just filled with empty dreamlike promises.

And don't get me wrong, I'm genuinely really happy. 

I'm happy with my life and myself.

And I'm not one of those girls whose sole purpose in life is to be on the hunt for a boyfriend.

(Apart from that one time where I cried about how lonely I was after one too many tequila shots. Oh drunk Amy, why do you always have to embarrass you and I both?)

And even after a year of guys who were sneaky, dishonest, wrong timing, and things just simply not clicking...

I know for a fact that all those recent past romantic encounters, and less recent relationships, didn't work out for a reason. 

And I honestly wouldn't truly be happy in them now.

I'm so thankful for even experiencing something so deep and meaningful (vom.) already at the grand old age of 22.

And I wouldn't change any of it.

Because if you don't go for it, then how will you ever know?

It's easy to get nostalgia and happy memories confused with missing someone and genuine emotions. 

But, you can feel happy about a time in the past, without still wanting it now.

And I know when the right person comes along, and the time is right, it willl all come together, and it'll all be worth it.

I guess I just miss feeling...something. 

Something real.

Stay happy,

Until next time...

A.x