Frigid is the New Cool

Hi guys! 

I was reading my book on the way to work this week (Dawn O'Porter's 'Paper Aeroplanes') and came across a word I haven't heard in years: 

Frigid.

And suddenly all these memories came rushing back to me about my teenage years. The ages ranging from 14 to 19 aka the stage in our life full of fun, frolicking and firsts (first kiss, first date, first makeup purchase, first alcoholic drink, first time...). 

An era when house parties were 'the thing'. When Snake was as addictive to teens as cocaine to a druggy. When evenings were spent sitting on a park bench drinking Strongbow with friends. When cannabis was legal. When 'emo' was a stage in one's life. When MySpace was cool.When first, second and third base were part of one's everyday vocabulary. When Sunny D was on every supermarket shelf. When witches existed in the form of Sabrina. When cafes were divided by Smoking and Non-Smoking areas. When penny sweets were treats (fruit salads and blackjacks were my fave). When Blue was more than just a colour (Duncan, you'll always have a special place in my heart, even if you are bisexual). When One Direction were just foetus' in their mums tums. Shock horror. 

Weird how one word can lead to so many other thoughts, right? I imagine touring my brain would be an experience rather similar to Stealth at Thorpe Park; fast paced, random and crazy.

Anyway, back to the point. It also got me thinking about the meaning of the word frigid, a term thrown around many times when I was a teen, particularly one I was used to, being the second last to experience my first kiss out of our big girl group of friends. We called ourselves 'The Sheenies' because we all lived in Sheen. Originality at its finest.

Urban dictionary, the source of all knowledge, defines it as 'being afraid of any interaction with the opposite sex' or 'being sexually unresponsibe, pokerfaced to his/her attempts to kiss/hug/have any interaction with you', whilst the Oxford Dictionary defines it as 'very cold in temperature' or 'stiff or formal in behaviour or style'. These all have negative connotations. When I was a teen, it was cool to be easy, to get with any and every boy, to be a slut. There was an immense pressure to be this way or risk being tagged a 'loser' or 'unpretty'. 

However, I feel like there has been a complete change with this and in 2014, it's cool to pick and choose wisely, to have an heir of elegance, to be classy, to not put out for everyone and anyone.

Yep, frigid is the new cool. 

Either that, or I'm just oblivious, old and ignorant as to what the younger generation get up to these days! 

Peace & love from a very nostalgic Nish

XOXO 

My Valentines 'Love Story'

Valentines Day...a day which most certainly divides the human population. For singles, it's a painful reminder that you're alone, and for those in a relationship, it's a chance to prove how much you love your partner. Romantics like me love the idea, while pessimists view it as one big gimick. One thing I know for sure is that it's every card shops dream!

This year was the first Valentines I've spent with a boy (I don't count the last minute less-than-romantic meal I spent with my ex in Zizzi, which ended in a standard explosive row). I took my spontaneity and rash decision making to a whole new level when I booked flights to Dublin to see Mr. Irish who I'd met in Thailand travelling three summers ago. 

Little did I know that by the end of it, the phrase to be "treated like a princess" would be one I could relate to (princess Jasmine, if I had to choose). 

Rather like a scene from Love Actually, I was greeted at the airport with the biggest and most beautiful bunch of red roses I've ever seen, shortly followed by my favourite chocolate strategically placed in the car door! 

After a class-A lunch with his parents down at his local pub, we spent the day at the Guinness Storehouse where I experienced my first ever Guinness brownie (ridiculously disappointing if you're a Guinness fan as it tasted nothing like the stereotypically Irish drink, but mouth-wateringly tasty to a chocoholic like me...it was a brownie, after all). Oh and yes, my 'sugar free' month was put on hold. 

Facts of the day: 

Arthur Guinness had 21 children...all I can say is I feel sorry for his wife's poor lady parts.

The brewing process used to take 5 weeks, now takes just 5 days. 

There's a way to drink Guinness properly...in big gulps, and big gulps only. My attempt at this was poor to say the least.

'The Guinness Diet': if you're looking to pile on the pounds then this drink was invented for you!

We ended up at the top bar where we saw The Guinness Storehouse in all it glory...

... Dublin has breathtaking views right? Hmmm. 

And of course we had to have a pint of the black stuff...!

In the evening, we indulged in a three course meal at a gorgeous restaurant where we sat by a log fire. My tummy had a whale of a time, being fed duck, pear and rocket, pan fried salmon and mashed potato, white chocolate cheesecake and apple crumble, vanilla ice cream, custard and of course copious amounts of prosecco and wine. Yum. 

The royal treatment didn't end there, as I was cooked a very late but well worth it breakfast/brunch which consisted of croissants with bacon, cream cheese and chocolate (no, not all together, although I think that mix sounds quite tasty...just me?), and home made nutella and banana pancakes. Basically, a heart attack on (several) plates, but it was laaavely nevertheless. Oh, and he also watched Mean Girls with me, aka the best chick flick of all time. He must be a keeper!  

Saturday evening I got to experience Dublin night life and am now firmly convinced that the country should have its very own "Made in Ireland", or "The Only Way is Potato". (Kidding!) But I'd be a big fan of an Irish reality show. 

Lesson of the night; never tell a posh Irish person that they sound American. Apparently it's an insult. 

So, I guess the point of this post is aimed at all those cynics out there (including the former me!). As much as I'm a romantic at heart, I never thought I'd get the chance to experience a weekend like this, especially after my Tinder article a few weeks ago in which I pretty much concluded that romance in the 21st century is dead. Yet by some sort of a miracle, I had a weekend I'll never forget. 

Girls, you will have your Noah/Allie moment if you live by this one important phrase:

YOLO 4 lyf. 

XOXO 

A Lesson in Adulthood: Fleeing the Nest & Budgeting

Today marks the start of a new & improved Nish for two reasons. 

1. My sister & I have decided to give up all foods containing artificial sugars for one month. Yes than includes all forms of chocolate...how will I survive? Every cheat-eat means giving the other £10, so I'm either going to end up a poor unhealthy failure, or a healthier, richer version of myself...I know which one I'd rather!

I must say, we aren't doing this because we want to lose weight but because we want to feel and be healthier people. We've finally realised that all the sugary, junk foods which we regularly consume leave us feeling lethargic, sluggish and low on energy, or in other words, like a modern day Henry VIII. They also do my skin no favours. So day one, give it your best shot! I love a good challenge.

The best thing about this whole no sugar thing is that at the end of the month (Saturday 8th March to be precise) we're going to treat ourselves in the form of shopping & spending! New clothes for a new me. Shop Shop Shop, shop till we drop. And I haven't been on a big shopping trip in months, so to say I'm excited is an understatement. 

2. This improvement is way more exciting!

On this ordinary cold and wet Friday in London, I made the extraordinary (for me, anyway) decision that I am going to move out! Yes that's right...come March 4th, I will officially be a proud resident of SW12 ("South West London gal", always and forever). 

It's all happened so fast. My best friend Elisabeth Saggers, less formally known as Beth, Bethy, Betty, Sags and my personal fave...titties, is embarking on a similar adventure and leaving her extravagant country pad and travelling lifestyle behind in favour of an exciting life in London. And I'm fleeing the nest and leaving the comfort of my lovely (rent free) family home and my mama's home cooked meals in favour of a beautiful house in Clapham (Cathles Road to be precise, for all my stalkers out there!)

The opportunity only came about yesterday; Beth was looking for a place and her friend from Bristol just so happens to have two double bedrooms available to rent from March, in a five bedroom spanked out house with a garden in the heart of my favourite place. It seems too good to be true...I work in Clapham , I play in Clapham, I gym in Clapham. It only makes sense that I sleep there too, right? 

Anyways, out of several hopefuls, we are lucky enough to have been chosen to fill the bare beds with our crazy selves. Woop woop! 

As positive as all of this is, I am also sceptical. How the hell am I going to be able to afford to live? I can barely get by as it is, let alone with half of my monthly salary going straight towards rent and bills. 

Sitting down with a pretty notepad, a pink pen and my number-riddled head has only served to heighten my concerns, as after taking into account rent, house bills, phone bill, gym membership cost, food budget, makeup / toiletries budget and travel expenses, I was left with a less than impressive fiver for my two arguably most important loves: 

1. Socialising ie. getting drunk, going out, seeing friends 

2. Shopping ie. buying copious amounts of clothes, shoes, jewellery! 

I'm not going to let this put me off though. Instead I've written a list of ways in which I can save: 

1. FOOD: Shop in Tesco's, not Waitrose. Fuel my caffeine addiction with Kenco's finest instant coffee rather than Starbucks, Costa and all other over-priced coffee houses. Bring in home made lunch to work. And the obvious one...just eat less. 

2. EXERCISE: Join the Fitness First in Balham, which is £30 cheaper than the Clapham Junction one I am currently members of. 

3. SOCIAL: 

Getting crunk: Predrink. A lot. House parties as opposed to going out. 

Meals: "Voucher codes" is the one. 

Cinema: 241 Orange Wednesdays, always. 

Alternatively, meet a lovely boy who will pay for all of the above...

JUST KIDDING!

4. TRAVEL: Walk everywhere. Like I said, my life is pretty much based in Clapham anyway so it's not like I'll need to be paying for transport to Timbuktu and back! 

So for anyone thinking about moving out but worried about the costs, just remember, if I can do it, you definitely can. Life's all about making sacrifices, and it's going to be a challenge, but as I said before, I do love a good challenge. 

As for the pre-planned shopping trip on 8th March, that'll be my last for a very long time. Pinky promise!  

Bring it onnnnn. 

XOXO