2015 at a glance

2015 has been a year of learning and growing for me. I've realised people will only bring me down if I let them, and I've taught myself how to be happy (which really grinds on some people). 

I'm so thankful for everyone that has been a part of 2015 as I've learnt so much. I'm certain that all of the people im ending 2015 with will be with me throughout 2016. 

I wish you all a fabulous new year & I hope you spend it with those you love the most. 

Now, I don't usually set resolutions however I have made 2 for 2016;

1) To blog more - I've been a bit inconsistent this year and want to get into a schedule of blogging. 

2) To learn calligraphy (To make pretty wedding invites/ save the dates/ bridesmaids cards) 

Me and Paul wildly rode into 2015 fast asleep in our new home (We had only moved in two weeks before). Yes... We didn't even stay awake until midnight! 

I do have a blog post on our home too if you want to check it out. 

We celebrated Valentine's Day at our favourite restaurant Amalfi White. We love it here- it has lots of special memories for us as we have been going since we first met. 

Me and my gorgeous mother went for a champagne breakfast at Morley Hayes (just because). It was amazing and when we came to pay the bill we were told it had already been settled. Paul had rang them before hand and paid (never fails to make me smile) 

We started celebrating my 21st birthday early as I was away for the actual date (2nd May). Me and my mum went to Birmingham for the day for champagne, shopping and more champagne. 

I was absolutely spoilt- my mum took me straight to Harvey Nichols and bought me these beautiful Christian Louboutins! 

We then went to Selfridges champagne bar & had lunch. 

We had such an amazing day & laughed so much!

Birthday month! My 21st... And we were off to Barcelona. 

I haven't blogged about Barcelona before so I'm going to go into a bit more detail. 

We were looking to go away for my birthday and originally was thinking London to see a show. Then a friend recommended Barcelona to me and I was determined it's where I wanted to go! We searched for hours to find the most perfect hotel- I'm unbelievably picky when it comes to hotels- and then booked Condes de Barcelona. It was on the main shopping street and we were surrounded by Chanel, Rolex, Cartier, LV .... Of course I was in my element! 

The hotel had a rooftop Moët champagne bar which we spent most of our evenings. It would have live music which made it so romantic. 

We sipped cocktails overlooking the city and laughed about anything and everything. One evening I thought it would be a good idea if we chose a cocktails for each other.... NEVER again will I be drinking a Mai Tai! I don't remember much after that! 

We were there for 4 days and we did champagne breakfasts, tapas, shopping (I treated myself to some Jimmy Choo's), even the tour bus! The weather was absolutely beautiful whilst we were there. 

On my birthday evening we ate at the Mandarin hotel Seafood restaurant. It was the most incredible experience and we were treated like royalty. 

Paul really wanted to go to the Barcelona football stadium... I was not that ecstatic... But it was worth it to see his face when we got there!

It was honestly the most special weekend and we would go back in a heartbeat! 

Pauls birthday was the 31st May so I arranged for us to have a spa day at Centre Parcs at the beginning of June. We had a lovely relaxing day and we both had the Elemis Lime and Ginger salt scrub treatment which left us totally refreshed and relaxed. 

I also landed a new job in June! The interview was extremely scary (included a presentation, maths test, accuracy test and competency questions!). So I was delighted when I found out they offered me the job! I work in the Marketing Team at Boots head office and I love it! 

At the end of July we went to Essex to see our friends which we met in Kos! I won't go into it too much as I have a separate blog post All About Essex! 

We had such a lovely time. Shock horror ... There was more champagne! 

Towards the end of August we travelled to our favourite hotel in Kos. We were there for 11 nights and it was pure relaxation and luxury. It was our 3rd time at this hotel- we love it so much we just can't keep away. 

So, this was the month Paul asked me to go engagement ring shopping with him. I was beyond excited. And we found  

THE engagement ring. Here is a photo of when I tried it on in the shop... I'm sure you can see why I fell in love with it!

Ollies birthday and Autumn walks. 

Yes call us crazy but we celebrate the dogs birthday as if it was our own. Paul (Daddy) went into work an hour late so we could give Ollie his presents! Every time we sing Happy Birthday he gets so excited. 

We had quite a chilled month taking Ollie for lots of walks. 

Me and Paul always try to set aside some Saturday nights for us to go out- so we went to one of our favourite cocktail bars in Derby! It's one of the first places Paul took me so we love going back. We had 4 cocktails each... Then decided we wanted pjs and pizza... So we did exactly that!! We have never been the partying couple, we just love to have some drinks and a chat. 

December has always been an exciting month for me! With mine and Pauls anniversary and Christmas! Now it has a whole new meaning. I got engaged on 11th December! (And I'm still coming to terms with it)!! 

See my 'The Best Night of my Life' blog post to read all about it. 

Christmas was also so special- we spent the day at my parents with all my close family. It was just perfect. 

And now for NEW YEAR...

We are off to the beautiful Amalfi White for a White Ball. There's going to be a live swing band in the Ballroom... mulled wine and blankets in the garden, canapés and cocktails... Oh- and lots of champagne! 

I have a floor length black ballgown with a fishtail train from Ella June Designs (Check them out on Instagram). 

I hope you all have an amazing New Year... Here's to 2016! 

Lots of love 

Em 

X

The best night of my life

Incase you all didn't know....

I would firstly like to start by thanking everyone for the congratulations and kind messages! They won't go forgotten. Those who shared my celebration with me mean a lot more than they will ever know. 

Some people may think this is a private part of a relationship but I've had so many people ask 'How did he pop the question?' & I would just LOVE to share it (as it was perfect). 

Back in September Paul and I decided to go away for our 3 year anniversary (8th December)- we chose the Hilton hotel, Deansgate Manchester as I have always wanted to go! 

In the meantime Paul suggested we went ring shopping. We had spoken about getting engaged and Paul wanted an idea on what ring I wanted. I always pictured a big diamond with a halo cluster and diamonds on the band too- but when I tried them on they didn't flatter me. 

We ended up in Judith Hart jewellers in Derby Intu Centre. The wonderful Rosie helped me pick some rings and explained diamond colour/ clarity to me. She knew exactly what I wanted and managed to find me the ring of my dreams. She measured my finger and wrote it all down for Paul. 

From that day a lot of my friends were convinced he was going to propose in Manchester. I really hoped so! 

I always said I would know if Paul was planning it (as he's like a kid when it comes to keeping secrets and surprises from me). Well he proved me wrong!

Two weeks before we were due to go to Manchester Paul told me he had upgraded us to a King Executive Suite! I was so excited! Once again my friends were convinced he was going to propose- I kept getting myself all excited and then had to slap myself to come back down to earth. 

Anyone who knows my gorgeous mother knows how rubbish she is at keeping secrets so I can't explain how many times I tried to crack her! Nothing! 

Friday 11th December we travelled down to Manchester- I felt so excited (and a little annoyed I had worked myself up thinking I was going to get engaged- if it hadn't of happened I would have been gutted and I would have only had myself to blame). We spent the day shopping and looking around the Christmas markets before going back to our hotel to sip champagne and relax in our robes. The view was beautiful as we were on the very top floor of the hotel! 

To start our evening we went to the Alchamist cocktail bar. If you haven't been you must go! The cocktails were amazing. We then went to dinner at The Grill which again I would highly recommend. 

We headed back to the hotel around 10.30pm to go to Cloud 23 cocktail bar but Paul insisted on going back to the room to 'freshen up'. I won't say what I thought he was going to do! 

Before opening the door he turned to me and said 'ready?' Which I think is hilarious looking back, it's like he was mentally preparing himself. 

He opened to door and I saw this....

I was that shocked I walked back out the room!! 

He told me to walk forward towards the love heart, he followed me, said some lovely words, GOT DOWN ON ONE KNEE, and asked me to marry him. I don't even remember saying yes! I was so overwhelmed. And it was THE ring, the one I fell in love with, the one he worked so hard for me to have. 

I cannot express how overwhelmed I was. 

The thought and planning that he had put into it was unreal. Those 'toilet trips' he kept having during the day were really times he could hand the rose petals and candles to the hotel, or to call them to check it was ready, or to hand over the drawing he drew which showed them exactly how he wanted the room to look. 

We celebrated by going to Cloud 23 cocktail bar where I made him tell me everything! 

Yes he asked my dad, and yes my mum knew! I'm still amazed she kept it from me. 

Paul had to make dodgy trips to asda car park to exchange the ring with my dad, and it made me cry when he told me my dad hugged him and welcomed him to the family! (Not that he wasn't part of our family before)

My mum had been with Paul to buy the ring. 

He had hid the box of candles and roses and my ring in the boot of his car on the way down to Manchester (of course he packed the boot with our bags so I didn't notice)

Paul told me he had to start arguments with me whenever I bought up the ring to try and throw me off! 

It truly was the most special night of my life. Paul is the other half to me and he would never stop short of making me happy. 

I'm still over using the word fiancé... And I still look down at my finger constantly and get butterflies. 

Wedding planning will commence in the new year. We already have ideas on the venue (we've known for ages) but we can't wait to explore and to enjoy the engaged life!

Again, thank you to everyone who congratulated us. We were overwhelmed with well wishes. 

Here's to our future! What a perfect way to finish 2015. 

AHHHHH IM ENGAGED!

Love always

missekwalkerx 

X

If you are anything like me there really is no place like home. I am so proud that at the age of 21 I own a beautiful home which is PERFECT. Paul and I bought the house last year in June and spent 6 months renovating it. We moved in a week before Christmas 2014. 

You name it- we did it! We knocked down walls and re built them, floorboards were pulled up and ceilings down. Windows and doors removed... we changed even the finer details (YES I did put the new window handles on backwards). I like to think I was more of a help than a hindrance- I'm not sure Paul will agree. 

My home is my complete pride and joy- and of course, home really is who you share it with too. 

The day we got the keys we started work right away and from then on we spent week nights and weekends there. Our Saturday nights were swapped from cocktails and dinner to trying to keep warm next to the portable heater. The house was pretty much derelict for 5 months. 

Now let's get the not so pretty photos out of the way. The below shows our kitchen / diner, our hallway and our lounge. Hard to imagine I know! 

Below I'm going to share all of my favourite photos. I'm not going to mention where EVERYthing is from as i would be here all day... But if I haven't mentioned it and you want to know please leave a comment. 

Glasses and real marble board- Next Home

Circular lamp- Next Home

Console table- BHS

Fur throw- BHS

Glitter clock- Next Home

Lights - BHS & B&Q 

Set of two boxes and large mirror jewellery box - Laura Ashley

Candle holder- BHS 

Sofas - Next Home

I hope you've enjoyed this post- thanks for reading. 

Lots of love

Emily X