So today I did my first Mystery Shop. I am essentially a liar/spy in training. It felt a bit bizarre and nerve wracking making up this imagined life for myself.

Basically I have to check this gorgeous wedding venue out - i.e. pretend I'm getting married, which I'm not! and feed back on how they were. I'm borrowing an antique ring from mum to be my engagement ring and have outlined a whole wedding now, in case I get asked. Episodes of Don't Tell the Bride have prepared me well for this day. Finished the initial phone call part and now got to walk the walk.

I am also playing mall cop someday soon, which involves checking out every area of the mall - including how many lights are out - and testing their staff on questions.

Whether I'm going to enjoy this spying game, remains to be seen.

Ciao for now x

So.. I've been busy this half term catching up on creative projects and hiberating in my house. I've got an idea of a new Youtube spoof show, got interested in voice over artistry and re-edited the first half of my novel.

Yeah, so I finished a Masters in Creative Writing in 2011. I got the feedback and agreed with everything my tutors said but its such a huge project I just nibble at it now and again like rich cheese or chocolate. It's a classic western formula with a supernatural/pagan twist... oh and its set in Yorkshire, England's working man's countryside. It's pretty violent and bloody whilst also being ethereal and magical - think capturing the highs and lows of the medieval era as if people still lived by those standards of right and wrong.

Meanwhile, I drew some suicide girls

Tao



Noidd



and then from there, because I was in the mood, some classic movie icons which I'm now selling on my Etsy store www.etsy.com/shop/zuzuvintageshop

So today I visited a classic British landmark. Alton Towers with my girlfriends. It was sub-zero temperatures and I spent the day trying to warm my hands (I'm told Eskimos do this by lifting their arms up and down into the air, it worked a little - not as much as roller coaster adrenalin). Still, it was fun enough. Hope you enjoy the pics.

So today I discovered Money Magpie and have been exploring earning some extra cash in interesting ways. Amongst my search I've signed up for

Voice-Over Artist
Music Magpie - they take all your books, dvds, clothes and give you cash
Private Tutor
Mystery Shopper
Movie Extra
Busker?? - Would do this but need a partner in crime!
Stock Photography seller
YouTube tutor
Branding my rubbish car up with some company banner.

Will let you know if any of them come to anything... exciting!

Anyone know of anything else?

Log onto www.moneymagpie.co.uk if you want some more ideas...

I got the bug last night from the Steampunk group to go and look for some online retail therapy. Would love some advice if anyone knows a reasonably priced shop selling gypsy inspired clothing i.e. off the shoulder tops, pinched in waists, corsets, passionate colours.

Came across these images while I was searching and had to share, so damn sexy. I wish there was more ethereal fashion like these mysteriously gorgeous women.

So, every so often that bug comes back and I want to work abroad. I have a teaching degree and would love to just pack up and spend stints around the world. Does such a job exist where you can be home a month and away a month? Or just work online and make enough to work from anywhere?

I'm a bit of a Chinese divination enthusiast (feng shui, astrology) and been having these feelings just the last couple of weeks. Could it be the year of the black snake influence on me, suddenly ambitious and thinking of unusual solutions.

' The Snake has sneaky energy that can be to your advantage. Look for the holes in the loop. A new-found ambition to greatness will inspire you to be all you can be, and provide you with the follow through to actually achieve your goals, And, 2013 year of the Snake also supports added responsibility.'

Anyway, just putting it out there, maybe the universe will bring something back to work with...

Just made this amazing lemon, almond and chicken soup!

Serves 2 with some left over

So you need 1 block of chicken stock for each pint you make.
Dice chicken into small pieces
Fine chop 1 small carrot - grate if you prefer

Boil the water and stock on the hob, then throw in the chicken and carrot. Leave until chicken in cooked - 5 mins on my cooker on mark 5.

Then...

Add 2 spring onions chopped
Add a spritz of soy sauce
A sprinkling of ground almond
A sprinkling of flaked almonds
The rind of one lemon
Lemon juice to taste

Simmer 10 minutes for flavours to combine.

Et Voila!

Super healthy, light and very good to taste.

Today I got stranded in the snow A van stopped short and before we knew it six vehicles were stuck wheel-spinning on a long country lane.



I decided to go on an adventure. I love spontaneous things that go wrong like this because a) get out of some work and b) I am still a big kid and remember the excitement of walking home in the snow with school friends and getting to see another, more caring side of people.




Of course, being a half full sort of person I took full advantage of the beautiful sunny winters day and sunrise and took some snaps on my iphone.



These look like coconut chunks to me



Doing itLawrence of Arabia style,

Had this little vixen on sale for 6 months and just got my first sale of the print. Clara Bow would so have been an SG if she were born in the 80s



I take commissions. www.etsy.com/shop/sbeever