15 Things I Want To Do After Covid-19

Ever since lockdown first began, everyone has been talking about all the things that they can't wait to do the moment the virus is over and it's safe to live our lives again. I've even found myself daydreaming about all the things I'm going to do when it's safe again... and then I remember I have chronic illnesses and I'll still be housebound once the pandemic is over. I won't be able to just resume my old active life where I left off like a half-watched movie on Netflix, and do all the things I long to do like everyone else. I'll have to continue the mostly house-bound life of a spoonie I left off in March 2020 instead, which wasn't much different to lockdown life apart from I got to leave the house for medical appointments, and the occasional trip to the supermarket. Maybe a concert once or twice a year, if I was lucky.

The funny thing is, as boring as that life was, I still miss it. At least pre-Covid, I got out of the house from time to time, and there was no distancing, face masks, or anti-bacterial hand gel required to do simple every day things that we all took for granted. I could go get the medical care I needed, and enjoy an occasional reprieve from confinement. I could cope with being housebound because I knew I would eventually get a couple of hours out of the house, whether a week, a month or a few months later, and I had that to aim for and look forward to. A freedom I haven't had since the virus arrived.

I realised the other day that I haven't left the house in six and a half months. The last time I went out was in early February (pre-Covid), and that was only briefly... to buy a mattress topper from the supermarket. I haven't even been downstairs or in to the garden in my own home since Easter. I've been struggling a lot with worsening chronic pain this year, and was already enjoying my own personal isolation because of it before the Corona Virus arrived, and the government placed us on lockdown in March. I've ventured out a grand total of three times since Christmas. Then lockdown happened, everyone was suddenly forced to stay home to stay safe, and I both couldn't and didn't want to leave the house for fear of catching the virus and passing it on to my family. (Which makes me laugh as I thought everyone was overreacting in early March). As much as I miss the outdoors and life in the outside world, the thought of going out during a pandemic, even with distancing measures, does not appeal to me at all. It makes me feel anxious. I'd rather stay home and stay safe. I don't want to risk anyone's life to get my hair cut, have a few drinks at the pub, or spend a day at the beach. It's not worth it. It can all wait until it's safe again.

That's not to say that I don't miss pre-Covid life, and all those little things that we all used to take for granted. I'm looking forward to the day when we've beaten this terrible virus and life has returned to normal. (Or some resemblance of our old normal. Can life really be the same again after Covid)? There are so many things I can't wait to do once it's safe again, and we don't have to worry about safety measures to be able to do them. (Even if it'll be at my own pace, which could take a while). I know we can technically do most of them now lockdown restrictions have eased, but I don't personally feel safe yet. and would rather wait until the virus has dissipated or we have a vaccine before I do most of them again.

The good thing about living housebound for almost nine years is that it's taught me patience with staying home a lot and weeks or months passing between outings, whether they're essential or for fun. I've waited this long, and I know I can wait as long as it takes us to beat the virus to do all the things I want or need to do. It doesn't stop me dreaming about all the things I'm missing out on, though, and I'm looking forward to the day when normal life can resume.

So, here are fifteen things I miss and can't wait to do when Covid-19 is over.

Go to the hairdresser's and get a hair cut
I haven't had a hair cut in over three years, and what was a long bob is now about a month away from being long enough for me to sit on. I'm in danger or turning in to Cousin It, and since I don't want to resort to cutting my hair at home, a hair cut is definitely a priority when life is safe again. I can't wait to get it chopped off.

Go to the opticians and buy myself a gorgeous new pair of glasses
I'm in desperate need of new glasses since Specsavers dented my Cath Kidston frames during a glasses adjustment, and one of the lenses keeps falling out multiple times a day. I'm dying to get myself a new pair so I can stop feeling like that dorky kid at school with taped-up glasses.

Go to all the concerts 
As a concert addict, I'm missing gigs so much, and am most looking forward to that first live show after lockdown. A couple of gigs I was supposed to see this summer have been rescheduled to January, but something tells me I'm going to be waiting a lot longer to see them.  All I know is, once it's safe again, I'll be going to all the shows to make up for lost time.

Take a holiday to Cornwall
I was supposed to be going on holiday to Cornwall with my sister in September, but we've both agreed it's not safe, and have postponed our trip 'til next summer (or whenever the virus is under control, if it's still with us a year from now). I'm so disappointed as I've not had a holiday in years, but I'm looking forward to going back, feeling the sand between my toes, having a paddle in the sea, eating pasties and cream teas, and revisiting some of my favourite places.

See my sister and brother-in-law without distancing
I live with my parents and younger sister because of my health, and didn't see my relatives often before lockdown because we don't live close by, so I've mostly missed seeing my older sister and brother-in-law. They've just moved back to England from Germany, and it'd be great to be able to spend some time with them without social distancing and wearing face masks. Sure, socially distanced visits are better than nothing, but they're not quite the same, are they?

Resume my health care, and refer myself to pain management
As someone who is chronically ill, one of the weirdest things about this pandemic is not having stepped foot in a doctor's surgery or a hospital in six months because non-emergency health care is on hold. I would normally have at least a couple of appointments a month. I guess it's been nice to have a break from it all, but it's frustrating, too. I was just being referred to pain management when the pandemic arrived in March, but obviously, that got put on hold because of the virus, and with my chronic pain and arthritis worsening, I'm eager to explore this route again once life is back to normal.  I had a bad experience with a panic clinic 8 years ago, but I want to find out if pain management from a different hospital could be beneficial, and particularly wonder if hydrotherapy could help with the arthritis in my knees, and other leg joints, and get me mobilising a bit more.

Take a cinema trip
I haven't been to the cinema since Mockingjay Part 2 as sitting in a chair for two hours was causing more back pain than I could handle. I used to go at least once a month, and I really miss seeing new films on the big screen, so I want to try going again post-Covid. Maybe if I find a cinema with luxury leather seats, I'll be able to get through an entire film without writhing in pain, and spending two weeks recovering. I think Oxford has one now, so I'll have to look in to it.

Go out for a leisurely lunch / dinner
One thing I miss doing is going out for lunch or dinner and having a chatty catch up with some good food and cocktails. I need to do more of that when life is good again.

Go book shopping
I can't wait to be able to have a good trawl through a book shop again. Online sellers are great, but I miss browsing for new books in person, discovering new reads organically, taking in the smell of paper, and admiring all the pretty clothbound and leatherbound books. You just don't get the same experience from ordering books online.

Spend a day or two in London
I miss the hustle and bustle of the city streets, sight-seeing, going to shows, shopping, being able to order food at any hour of the day or night, and even being crammed in like sardines on the Tube. I can't wait to enjoy all the city has to offer again.  I'll probably end up booking my next concert there just so I have an excuse to stay over a night or two and spend some time enjoying myself there.

Get my eyebrows done
It probably sounds weird, but I miss getting my eyebrows done. They look so much better when they've been threaded, and it's a treat not to have to do them myself.

Take walks in nature
Being confined indoors makes me miss the outdoors and nature much more than frivolous things like shopping, meals out, and beauty treatments. I'm looking forward to the day when I can take walks in the woods, or by the river without worrying about avoiding the other 9853819017 people who are doing the same. I miss being outside, and enjoying the pretty Cotswolds countryside. Maybe I'll have to find some quieter spots I can visit this autumn.

See a musical at the theatre
Seeing musicals at the theatre has long been one of my favourite things to do, and boy, do I miss it.  I'm gutted I never got to go see Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act this summer. When performances resume, and we're allowed to be in the audience again, I'm definitely going to book tickets for a show in Oxford or the West End.

Stock up on craft supplies at Hobbycraft
It's a silly one, but I miss visits to Hobbycraft to stock up on craft supplies. It was often the only thing I got out of the house for. I'm looking forward to returning to my local store, and stocking up on all the craft supplies I never knew I needed.

Take a trip to the zoo
As a huge animal lover, I love a good trip to the zoo, and I'm eager to pay one a visit soon to see all the animals and plants. I think it's one of the few outings I'd feel comfortable doing during the pandemic as my local zoo has so much open space it would be easy to social distance from other visitors. I'd like to attempt a visit once the school holidays are over and most kids are back at school, so it's a bit quieter. My sister and I have also talked about taking a day trip to Whipsnade Wild Animal Park before the summer is over, which I can't wait to do. It also has loads of open space for distancing safely, and we'd take the car in to make getting around a bit easier on me as the zoo is huge, so at least that would give us somewhere to retreat to if it got too busy.

And those are some of the things I'm looking forward to doing once the Corona Virus is over. Whenever that might be.

What are you most looking forward to doing again?

Erstwilder Art Nouveau Brooches

Over the last few months, I've added quite a few new brooches to my collection that I haven't yet blogged about. I've still got purchases from a few Erstwilder collections to show you, including the recent Care Bears and Woodlands collections, but first, I want to show you a couple of pieces from their recent Art Nouveau range.

Back in June, Erstwilder launched a beautiful eighteen piece Art Nouveau collection, inspired by the luxury and opulence of the late 19th century / early 20th century art movement. It featured a stunning mix of brooches, necklaces, and earrings in the distinct style, which is heavily inspired by the natural world, resulting in lots of animal designs and a generous use of greens, teals, and browns.

I couldn't afford to treat myself to much from this collection, but I bought one brooch on launch day, and paid for another in installments. I had hoped to get my hands on the peacock brooch, my favourite piece from the collection, but it sold out so fast I didn't stand a chance. Sad face. I commiserated myself with the frog brooch, and then went back for the seahorse brooch, after realising I couldn't live without it.

Who wants a closer look?

First up, is the frog brooch, a charming little critter called Leaps and Bounds. This little green amphibian has so much character and looks like he should be an illustration from a classic children's book. I love the pistachio green resin he's made from- it's shimmery and has a pink iridescent sheen. He also has one marbled evergreen leg with a golden shimmer, which is also used on the back of the brooch. Both resins are so pretty. I've worn Mr. Frog a couple of times already, and think he'll be perfect for pairing with autumn and Halloween-themed outfits, as well as anything nature-themed.

The other piece I bought from the collection was a seahorse brooch called Lovers Entwined. I've always loved seahorses, and I just couldn't resist this pair of loved up ocean steeds. It's so elegant and beautiful, and the way their tails are entwined is adorable. The smaller seahorse is made from an amazing iridescent cream resin with a pistachio and pink sheen, and the bigger seahorse is a fiery dark salmon. The best part is they both have a silver shimmer running through them, giving the brooch a discreet sparkle without looking childish or tacky. It's understated and elegant. I can't wait to wear the brooch on future trips to the seaside and to aquariums when the pandemic is finally over. I know I'll wear it to death on future holidays to Cornwall. (Is it crazy that I already know which brooches I'll pack for my next holiday to Cornwall? Who cares? I've built up a nice little collection of marine animal brooches that are perfect for the seaside, so it's a no-brainer).

Both brooches seem to be sold out everywhere now, so check eBay or Erstwilder fan resale pages if you want to hunt either of them down. There are some pieces from the Art Nouveau collection still available from Erstwilder and their stockists around the world, though, so if you like the Art Nouveau style, be sure to check them out.

Did you buy anything from Erstwilder's Art Nouveau collection? Which pieces are your favourites?

You Might Also Like

Erstwilder Exuberant Easter Parade Part Two
Erstwilder Exuberant Easter Parade Part One

Erstwilder x Pete Cromer Brooches

Erstwilder With Love Valentine's Day Brooches

Erstwilder All Wrapped Up Christmas Brooches

Erstwilder Halloween Jewellery 2019

Erstwilder Endangered Animal Brooches

Erstwilder Brooch Haul May 2019

Erstwilder Kitschy Christmas Brooches

Erstwilder Festive Splendour Brooches

Erstwilder Out of Africa Brooches

Erstwilder Brooch Haul

Erstwilder South American Socialites Brooches

Erstwilder Australiana Brooches

Erstwilder Exuberant Easter Parade Part Two

It's been a while since I last documented the newest additions to my Erstwilder collection on the blog, so I've got a bit of a back log to work through. I'm going to start with the second half of my Exuberant Easter Parade brooch collection today, and then I can start showing you newer pieces- like my purchases from the recent Erstwilder Care Bears collection!

A few months ago, I reviewed the first half of the Easter collection for you, but three of the six brooches I purchased were on lay-away until May, so I chose to split the reviews in to two posts. I'd intended to blog about the second half as soon as they landed on my doormat, but I've been struggling with my health over the last few months, so it's all just gotten away from me. I know it's a bit weird to be blogging about Easter brooches in July, but these three pieces aren't distinctly Easter-themed, so I hope you won't mind too much.

So, the Exuberant Easter Parade collection is a nineteen piece jewellery collection featuring adorably kitsch brooches, necklaces, and earrings designed by Carmen Hui. While it is an Easter collection and it naturally features Easter inspired designs like Easter bunnies and Easter egg baskets, there are plenty of cute animal designs included in the collection subtle enough to be worn throughout the year. The three pieces I have to show you today definitely fall in to that category. 

My favourite piece from the collection has to be the chipmunk brooch- Chocolate the Chipmunk. It's easily one of the cutest brooches I've ever seen. This little critter's made from the most amazing caramel-coloured wood-effect resin, with a white bubble resin for its stripes, and dusky pink and lime green ripple-resins used for the flower she's carrying in her mouth. She's perfect down to the last detail. This brooch is definitely one of my favourites right now, and I've worn it quite a few times over the last couple of months- even if I have only been wearing it around the house, sometimes just pinned to my pyjamas. She's too cute to keep caged up until life returns to normal.

Since it was Easter when I purchased these brooches, and I used to have a couple of pet bunnies, I had to add an Easter bunny to my brooch collection. I choose Junior & His Tulip. Junior is a happy-looking grey and white bunny made from beautiful textured resins, with a giant yellow tulip nestled in the crook of his arm. (Yellow tulips are one of my favourite flowers, so I was sold on this detail alone). The greenery features the same lime green ripple resin as the chipmunk, and the flower is a vibrant yellow bubble resin. It's such a lovely design, and subtle enough that it doesn't just have to be reserved for Easter. It's a great piece for wearing throughout spring and summer, and could be worn all year if you really wanted to. I've been enjoying rocking it with black and white polka dots lately.

The final piece I bought from the collection was Proud Mother Hen, a brown mother hen rocking a vibrant red bonnet with her adorable little yellow chick by her side. I love the retro style of the design, and the brown and white marbled resin the hen has been crafted from- it's so beautiful. While the design is quite simple, the little splashes of yellow, orange, and red bubble resins make it really fun and eye-catching, and it definitely makes a statement out of any outfit.

Fun fact: when I was in my late teens and early twenties, I worked in a pet shop out in the country that sold chickens as pets. (I live in The Corswolds; a lot of people have farms or a lot of land). They all had their own personalities and some of them could be really affectionate. Chickens are so underrated, but I always enjoyed looking after them. I guess part of the reason I was drawn to this brooch is because it reminded me of that era of my life, spending my days surrounded by animals. Sometimes I miss it; so much has changed in my life since then.

If you'd like to see the other three pieces I purchased, you can find part one of my Erstwilder Exuberant Easter Parade reviews here.

Many pieces from the collection are still available from Erstwilder and their stockists around the world, and there's no better time to help some small businesses out by buying a cute brooch, or even getting ahead for next Easter. I still have my eye on Dolly the Dainty and Buttercup the fawn.

Have you bought anything from Erstwilder lately? Which piece do you like best?

You Might Also Like
Erstwilder Exuberant Easter Parade Part One

Erstwilder x Pete Cromer Brooches

Erstwilder With Love Valentine's Day Brooches

Erstwilder All Wrapped Up Christmas Brooches

Erstwilder Halloween Jewellery 2019

Erstwilder Endangered Animal Brooches

Erstwilder Brooch Haul May 2019

Erstwilder Kitschy Christmas Brooches

Erstwilder Festive Splendour Brooches

Erstwilder Out of Africa Brooches

Erstwilder Brooch Haul

Erstwilder South American Socialites Brooches

Erstwilder Australiana Brooches

Birthday Wish List

Hey guys!

I'm back!

I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post. It has to be the longest I've gone without blogging since I started this blog over eight years ago! I have tried to blog almost every day, but I've been so fatigued lately, I keep falling asleep on my laptop every time I've tried to write. Chronic illness is a bitch.

Would you believe it's also been three and a half months since I last posted a wish list?! I usually post one every week or two, but it hasn't felt right to be wishing for things during lockdown while people are dying, and many others are struggling financially from losing their jobs or being furloughed. However, tomorrow is my birthday, so I figured it wouldn't hurt to put together a birthday wish list, which is something I've done every year for as long as I can remember.

My birthday wish list isn't a list I go around thrusting in my family's faces, demanding that they buy me presents from it (although, my little sister did ask me to put one together to give her some ideas). It's just a list of things I like that I can suggest to people should they ask for ideas, or that I might treat myself to things from should I be given any money for my birthday or want to spoil myself to cushion the blow of turning another year older. It has to be done, right?

What's on this list, I hear you ask? Well, you can see for yourselves...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13

1. This pink pineapple print swing dress from Collectif is adorable, and looks perfect for rocking in the summer sun. It even goes up to a size 26 on Simply Be!

2. I love toucans, and this tropical toucan cardigan from Collectif is too cute. I've actually wanted tattoos like the toucan motifs on either side of my collar bones for years. 

3. This Seaside Souvenirs backpack from Vendula London has been high on my wish list for months. The design is amazing, and it can be converted from a backpack to a cross body bag. It would be ideal for future holidays to Cornwall... y'know, if we ever get out of lockdown.

4. These monstera earrings from Erstwilder would be the perfect finishing touch to any tropical summer outfit.

5. My parents gave me some money towards this gorgeous Cath Kidston Sweet Strawberry tote bag for my birthday! I can't wait to get it... even if I have no idea when I'll next be able to leave the house to use it. I love the print so much.

6. This Raven Mad raven brooch from Erstwilder has been on my wishlist since Halloween, I'm dying to get my hands on it so I can wear it all year round. It's also on sale now, so maybe I'll have to treat myself...

7. How gorgeous is the Too Faced Born This Way The Natural Nudes eyeshadow palette?! Those metallics and shimmers are dreamy. I don't need any more make up, but this palette sure is tempting...

8. Lady Vintage's Lyra dresses are my favourites to wear- they're so comfy and flattering- and this new dark mint green heart print dress looks beautiful. I love how it looks like leopard print, but instead of spots, the print is made up of hearts.

9. Is there anything cuter than a fawn wearing a daisy crown, like Buttercup the fawn brooch from Erstwilder? She's been on my wish list since Easter.

10. I'd also love to add the adorable Dolly the Dainty brooch from the same Easter collection to my Erstwilder brooch collection. The retro design is super cute.

11. With it's applique strawberries, Cath Kidston's Sweet Strawberries Perfect Shopper would make the cutest shopping bag for shopping in style (and reducing the use of plastic bags) when life gets back to normal.

12. I've wanted to read Dracula by Bram Stoker for years, and the Puffin Clothbound Classics edition is so beautiful.

13. I really want one of Bon Maxie's wooden earring holders to display my earrings on, but I can't decide whether I want this earring holder on a stand, or a hanging version to save space on my dressing table. 

If you'd like to see more of the fashion, beauty, and homeware items on my wish list, check out my wish list boards on Pinterest. You can also find all previous Wednesday Wish Lists here.

Which pieces do you like best?

Surviving Lockdown With Animal Crossing New Horizons

When people ask you what you did during the Covid-19 lockdown, what are you going to be able to tell them? I learnt a new craft? I took up gardening? I read a book a day? Me? I will have to admit that I spent most of my time glued to my Switch playing Animal Crossing New Horizons.

I have played Animal Crossing New Horizons every day since it was released on March 20th, and have been enjoying it so much, I've already clocked up over 570 hours on the game! I'll admit I'm totally addicted, but I'm loving this game so much, and it's proving to be a great distraction from everything that's going on in the world at the moment. It's even helped to settle my anxiety, which was all over the place when lockdown first began in the UK. It could not have been released at a better time.

Before New Horizons was released, I was a big fan of Animal Crossing New Leaf, and had played it every day for over fifteen months after receiving a copy as a Christmas present from my younger sister. So, I was naturally excited for New Horizons as soon as I heard about it last year, and bought a Switch Lite just so I could play it.

I preordered the game and began playing it as soon as it arrived on release day. It took me four hours and a lot of resetting to settle on an island I liked (no, I'm not joking!), but once I was happy with a layout, island fruit (oranges), and airport colour (yellow) (all very important factors, as any AC devotee will tell you), I jumped right in to the game, and I've barely stopped playing since.

It didn't take me long to fall in love with this game or to become addicted to it just like I was with New Leaf. It's just so cute and wholesome.

I love that it includes many of the popular aspects and characteristics of previous Animal Crossing games we all know and love like fishing, catching bugs, expanding and decorating a house, cross breeding flowers, designing your own island, shopping for clothes and furniture etc., but with a new high def make over, and a ton of new features that were missing in the past. Some of my favourites include: Terraforming (waterfalls; waterfalls everywhere!); the ability to dig up trees and bushes and replant; crafting furniture from materials found on the island; wishing on shooting stars to earn star fragments for special furniture; having a large selection of clothes and accessories to shop from each day; being able to change your character's look at any time and getting a choice of skin colours; the ability to choose where to place villagers' houses and move the buildings; being able to send gifts to friends; and by far my favourite, the ability to place furniture outdoors! It used to frustrate the hell out of me that I couldn't do this in New Leaf! Now I can place sun loungers on the beach, and make a cemetery out of gravestones. It provides much more creative freedom.

Another thing I love is that the anthropomorphic animal islanders are even cuter in New Horizons than they were in New Leaf. I love how they now sing, run around air-planing, sit in random places eating snacks, and do yoga, I don't know why it amuses me so much. I've already said goodbye to a few characters since the beginning (Ken, Bruce, Bubbles, Zucker, Doc, Diva, Huck), and had several new ones move in, and I'm fairly happy with my current selection. I currently have Iggly, Mint, Gala, Cheri, Pinky, Poppy, Bianca, Nana, Tia and Eloise. I'm still hoping to find Lily and Peanut again, which were two of my favourites from my New Leaf town, but every time I island hop for new characters, I seem to find the worst characters like the eagles and gorillas. Or Ken. Ken's a creep.

I'm really enjoying visiting friends and my sister's islands to hang out, trade, shop, and find island inspiration, and having them visit me to do the same. It's the new cool way to socialise since we can't do this together in real life right now, and we don't even have to worry about social distancing! We can just run round islands together, wish on shooting stars, and beat each other with nets! Haha! (Still waiting on the return of the toy hammer, so nets will have to do for now!) The only bugbear I have about visiting other islands is that you now need a Nintendo subscription to be able to visit friends, which I feel is cheeky considering the price of the game. (You don't need the subscription to visit friends or family playing nearby via local play, though). I think it should be free and accessible to all players.

I've invested so many hours in to my island trying to make it look as pretty as possible. I've got loads still to develop, but the front section has been turned in to a housing estate with the plaza, a playground, and a cafe in the middle. I've got azalea hedges everywhere, and the gardens are filled with pink flowers. My funfair is taking shape, and I love my little cemetery and secret beach that I dug down to out of the cliff face. I'm still working on furnishing my house, but so far I'm happy with my pink and mint basement diner, and the pastel coloured playroom in my attic. I also began a Cute room this weekend, for the Cute furniture I have so far, and just added a second human character so that I could add another house to my island to decorate because six rooms are not enough for all the ideas I have planned. (It's also a great way to get extra storage when you've used up your 1600)!

I'm mostly aiming for a pretty, pastel, natural look for my island, but with fun, and creepy areas added in, but it's sure to change a thousand times before I'm satisfied with it. It's one of those games where you find yourself constantly tweaking and improving the look until it's perfect. It's all consuming, but it's proving to be the perfect distraction from the Corona Virus and isolation. It's given me something else to concentrate on and stops me thinking about all the awful stuff going on because I'm too busy trying to catch butterflies, craft recipes, and construct the perfect layouts. Even the natural sounds of the waves and the waterfalls are really calming, just like being near water in real life. It makes you feel like you're outdoors, even though you're cooped up indoors doing your part to stamp out the virus and keep everyone safe. Gah, I love it!

If you enjoy social simulation games and are looking for a fun way to occupy your time on lockdown and distract yourself from virus life, I couldn't recommend Animal Crossing New Horizons to you more. It's fun, it's cute, it's a great game to play with friends, and there is always so much to do. Yes, it's pricey, but it's worth every penny. Everyone I know who plays the game is addicted. Just be prepared to be, too! Once you start playing, you won't be able to stop!

If you play ACNH and want to hang out or trade, leave me your friend codes!

Do you play Animal Crossing New Horizons? What do you enjoy most about it?