Arriving in Abu Dhabi 2014

I'M BACK!! 

Yep, I am back from an amazing two weeks in Abu Dhabi. Back to a rather cold and miserable England! 

I was out in the UAE visiting my boyfriends family who live there, being showed round the place where he grew up was just amazing. 


So I want to share with you what I have been up to, there may be a few posts about this (i can't cram everything in to the same one - it would be the longest blog post ever!) 

We made our way to London Heathrow - lugging very heavy bags (and yes mine was the heaviest!) through the underground. The plane we flew on was brand new type which has two floors! (Yes the plane has an upstairs!). The seats had mini TV's in with SO many films and TV programmes, so we put some films on and ate plenty of food and drink - it was free so why not?! 

All ready to get on the plane!

We landed in Dubai and then had a long drive back to the house during sunrise (Which was beautiful to see over the skyline!), grabbed a few hours sleep then headed into the pool! 

I loved waking up to this every morning! 

Amazing!

On the first day we went to a place called Emerites Palace.  The whole inside is gold plated and all the chandeliers are made from Diamonds and Crystal. 

Were in there somewhere!

The outside of the Palace 

The whole place was so beautiful and was speechless on the way round. It is also were parts of fast & furious 7 were filmed and we were lucky enough to see some of the cars they use in the film!! I'm not a big car person - but even I can appreciate these! (We were very interested to know what was under the covered one!)

With very hungry bellies, we couldn't wait to head for Lunch, so we were taken to a proper arabic restaurant and ate some gorgous arab food!

Getting very hungry just looking at this!!

You will have to read the next one to find out what we did next, but here is a sneak peak photo from the next post! 

Quick Charity Post!

For those who have read my 'Doing my bit for charity' post (go and read), then you will know that I am cutting my hair for charity! 

I am firstly cutting it and sending it to a great charity called 'The Princess Trust' - they make wigs for children who have had cancer, chemotherapy and therefore lost their hair. So soon my hair will be used for a little girl who needs my hair much more than I do!

Secondly I am also being sponsored to do this. All the money I make by being sponsored will be going to Macmillan cancer support. I'm sure many of you have heard of them and the great work that they do supporting those who have cancer and their families. 

Now I am having this hair cut tomorrow!!! I can't believe it has come round so soon. It would mean the world to both me and those who will be supported by the money - if people gave a little bit. Even if it is just £2 - every little helps!

If you can help then please either click the link at the top of my blog saying 'Just Give' or click on this link here to take you straight to my fundraising page

http://www.justgiving.com/Samantha-L-Charles 

Thank you in advance for any donation you make! :)

Liebster Award!

So the other day I had an email from Bloglovin to tell me that I had been nominated for  a 'Liebster award' At first I thought wow that's awesome, but then actually wondered what on earth this was! 

Firstly thank you so much to Book Of Babble for the nomination! It's a great opportunity to get more followers and views being a new blogger. Go and check out the blog! 

But before I answer the questions i'm going to give a little description I found of what these awards actually are. 

"Well, its only an AWESOME award given to up and coming blogggers. Given by up and coming bloggers.Its' a cool way to find other blogs and feel like you are getting into the blogger stratosphere. It is simple, your nominated by someone else, mention their page and a link to their blog in your Liebster Award post, answer the 11 questions they give you, then tag 11 other nominees and give them a new set of 11 questions to answer." 

This is from Book of Babble's blog! 

1. What are your plans for the future?

I am at university and wanting to be a teacher - plans are on track so far! Other than that I want to travel a little and one day start my own family hopefully!

2. How long have you been blogging?

Only since January 2014!

3. How long to you want to continue blogging?

As long as possible and as long as people will read what I write!

4. What inspired your blog name?

It is my first and my middle name!

5. Why do you love blogging?

I just love documenting what I am up to and to be able to tell everyone else about it and for them to enjoy what I read! :)

6. Do you own alot of makeup?

I have just been on a big make up shopping spree so at the min I have lots that needs sorting! 

7. What is your favourite brand of makeup?

I think i'm going to have to go for Rimmel London. I LOVE their wake me up foundation and don't want to use anything else!

8. What is your number 1 DON'T when it comes to makeup?

I don't wear eye liner AT ALL. I have bright blue eyes so it really doesn't look good at all!

9. 1 random fact about yourself?

I live in the town that makes Marmite and Carling beer! (Not that interesting but all I could think of right now!) 

10. When reading another persons blog, what do you look for?

Pictures. I always like to see pictures on a blog, which is why I try and put as many pictures on my blog as possible. 

11. What makeup item should every girl own?

Red Lipstick. I think a good going out outfit is never complete without a good red lipstick. Even a natural day look can also be broken up with a bit of red!

So the other day I had an email from Bloglovin to tell me that I had been nominated for  a 'Liebster award' At first I thought wow that's awesome, but then actually wondered what on earth this was! 

So those are my answer and here are my nominations...

A Letter From Em

Beauty by Bex

Sarah Smiles

City Pretty

I wrote a little something

Every Beauty Talks

That Curly Girl

1. What are your plans for the future?

2. How long have you been blogging?

3. How long to you want to continue blogging?

4. What inspired your blog name?

5. Why do you love blogging?

6. What's your make-up bag essential?

7. What is your favourite brand of makeup?

8. What is your number 1 DON'T when it comes to makeup?

9. 1 random fact about yourself?

10. When reading another persons blog, what do you look for?

11. If you could us 1 word to describe your blog - what would it be?

Hope you enjoy! :)

Mothers Day, Home Comforts and Cocktails!

So last weekend was of course Mother's Day! (I hope you all remembered!) and it was the first time I had been home in a few weeks, so was very excited to see my family and eat lots of food! 

I didn't get back home until quite late on the Friday night due to being at rehearsals for a small play I am directing... more info soon! So by the time I got home I was very ready for bed. Me and my family decided to order Chinese and it went down very very well, we tucked into it, watched a family film and went to bed!

Saturday we woke up nice and early - my brother went off to play football and me and my mom went for a bit of girly shopping. I bought some new black jeans - which are so comfy!
I rushed back home and started getting ready for the evening as I was meeting an old school friend Lizzie who I have known since I was about 7. We both went to university at the same time, so when we find we are both back home at the same time, we never miss the oppotunity to have a catch up and some drinks. We decided to head to a bar in the middle of town called The Dial.Its a great resturant and bar with a roof terrance upstairs and its lovely to sit up there in the summer with a glass of wine and snacks. We went for their huge range of cocktails they have so so many, with a wide range of different flavors! 

The first one I went for was the Amaretto Sour. It was something I have had before at bars in Sheffield but wanted something which I knew I love to start me off. Here is the ingredients if you want to make it yourself!

Amaretto, sugar, fresh lemon juice all shaken hard & served over crushed ice

It was served in this cool zomie style glass, which I love! 

Lizzie went for something a bit more classic and had a Long Island Iced Tea. It was so nice she had a second one! The glass is more simple, but still really classic!

Again here is the recipe! 

Sauza tequila, Brugal rum, Tanqueray gin, Belvedere vodka & Bols triple sec shaken with sugar & fresh lime juice, topped with cola

Next I wanted something a little different that had lots of flavors that I love. So went for the Salted Karamel Latte Martini. I love the taste of salted caramel and I am a massive fan of Coffee! It was delicious, the salted caramel came in at the end and gave a great kick to it. It was served in this really nice Martini Glass with coffee beans on top. 

Stolichnaya Salted Karamel vodka, shaken with fresh illy espresso, Bols Chocolate & ice cold milk

Lizzie went for another classic of a Cosmopolitan, which she thought tasted really good and I love the little twist on Lemon peel on the top!

Belvedere vodka & Cointreau shaken with fresh lime, sugar & cranberry juice

We spent the whole night talking about uni and catching up on everything since this last time we saw each other and before we knew it we were being asked to leave because the bar was closing! Lizzie and I decided that the night was certainly not over and headed into the middle of town and spent the rest of the night dancing away with drinks until 4 in the morning (I can definitely say I woke up with a very sore head the next morning!). 

A couple of photo's of me & Lizzie - there really bad quality - sorry! 

The next morning me, my step-dad and brother got up early (well not that early after the night before!) and decided to make my mom breakfast in bed. We prepared bagels, scrambled eggs with smoked Salmon on top served with a bowel of strawberries, she thought it was great and we even got to have a bite too!

The next morning me, my step-dad and brother got up early (well not that early after the night before!) and decided to make my mom breakfast in bed. We prepared bagels, scrambled eggs with smoked Salmon on top served with a bowel of strawberries, she thought it was great and we even got to have a bite too!

After a spot of shopping we headed to a restaurant called 'The Brewery Tap' . It's on the site of the brewery which the town is built upon and therefore has a lot of history surrounding it. We hadn't been there for years, so we wanted to see what it was like now. For starter I had salmon flakes served with salad, horseradish cream and dill. My mom and Step-Dad went for a goats cheese tart with a balsamic dressing. All of us then had the carvery which had a choice of either pork or Beef, served with roast potato, honey roasted parsnips, carrot and swede mash, red cabbage and so much more! It was all topped off with the best gravy I think I have ever had, it was really meaty and they had used some of the beer from the brewery next door to add some great extra flavors.  

My Salmon Salad

Goats Cheese Tart 

We spent the rest of the afternoon on the sofa watching films before packing ready to leave the next morning. I had a great weekend spending it with family and catching up with friends.

What did you guys get up to?

"The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege"

Charles Kuralt