A Mess In A Dress

It's a mixed up life...but someone has to live it. [email protected]

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Theatre Review | Buffy Revamped | Theatre Royal, Nottingham

It is a very rare occurrence for me to go to the theatre and not know what to expect, but if “Buffy Revamped” is anything to go by, I need to take more risks more often. “Buffy Revamped” is a 70-minute, one-act, one-man show which sets out to chronicle all seven series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (that’s 144 episodes!), as told from the perspective of Spike. (Or William the Bloody, if you want to…

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Theatre Review | "Oliver" @ Nottingham Arts Theatre

Disclaimer: Complimentary tickets were gifted for review purposes. All views and opinions are my own Oliver, Nottingham Arts Theatre Tuesday 21st February, 7.30pm Last night, the girls and I were lucky enough to be invited to an impromptu trip to Nottingham Arts Theatre to watch the opening night of their latest production, "Oliver!". "Oliver!" is the classic musical by Lionel Bart, which…

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Theatre Review: Puss In Boots, Nottingham Arts Theatre

Theatre Review: Puss In Boots, Nottingham Arts Theatre

Disclaimer: Complimentary tickets were gifted for review purposes. All views and opinions are my own Puss In Boots, Nottingham Arts Theatre Saturday 3rd December 2022, 7pm Over the past few years, the Nottingham Arts Theatre pantomime has become a firm feature of the run-up to Christmas in our house. I’ve even been fortunate enough to join them on-stage a time or two. So we were very excited to…

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Theatre Review: Sister Act, West Bridgford Operatic Society

Theatre Review: Sister Act, West Bridgford Operatic Society

Disclaimer: Complimentary tickets were gifted for review purposes. All views and opinions are my own Last night, Freya and I were treated to a joyful evening of entertainment at West Bridgford Operatic Society’s opening performance of the hit musical “Sister Act”.  It’s incredibly late as I sit writing this, but I couldn’t wait to share everything I loved about this uplifting and heartwarming…

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Theatre Review: Anything Goes

Theatre Review: Anything Goes

Anything Goes, Barbican TheatreSunday 22nd August, 2.30pm I cannot begin to explain how good it feels to be back in theatres and reviewing shows again. And if you want something spectacular to welcome you back to the theatre, you could not ask for better than Anything Goes, currently playing at the Barbican Theatre. The show recently opened to rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, and,…

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Christmas at Wollaton Hall

Christmas at Wollaton Hall

Although Christmas was very different this year, we still managed to squeeze in a few events to try and make things seem a little normal. I’m going to share them here over the next few days, so that when I look back on this year in the future, I can remember that there were still some good points amid all the drama. As we were unable to partake in the majority of our usual festive treats this…

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The Green Man Review

The Green Man Review

The Green Man in Ropsley is the winner of numerous awards including Camra Pub of the Year and “Lincolnshire’s Best Pub”. After sampling their wares during our October half term trip to Church Barn, it was easy to see why. Over our 4 day short break, we ate from The Green Man a whopping 3 times! Twice we made use of their takeaway service and once we ate it. We loved it every single time. Meal 1…

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Author Spotlight: Julia Quinn

Author Spotlight: Julia Quinn

As a reader, there is nothing better than discovering a new author that you love. What is even more exciting is when that same author has an extensive back catalogue of books, allowing you to settle in and binge everything they have ever written. That’s pretty much what happened when I first discovered Julia Quinn. I couldn’t tell you the exact date, it was maybe around 2005, but I do know I was…

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Our 10th Wedding Anniversary (+2) || The Wedding Day

Our 10th Wedding Anniversary (+2) || The Wedding Day

And here we are with another post that has been sat in my drafts folder for far too long. I first started writing this post back in 2018, on our 10th wedding anniversary. Then, I blinked, and somehow 2 more years had passed. Today we celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary with a quiet lunch at home. We don’t usually bother with cards or presents, so I thought instead I would finally finish this…

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Theatre Review: Aladdin, Nottingham Arts Theatre

Theatre Review: Aladdin, Nottingham Arts Theatre

For two years I reviewed the fabulous pantomime at the Nottingham Arts Theatre. And then, nothing. Why, you might ask? That would be because last year I was lucky enough to be onstage for the pantomime, instead of in the audience. I had planned on doing my own behind-the-scenes review, but discovered that doing 21 shows in 3 weeks is actually REALLY time-consuming and doesn’t leave much time for…

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My December To Be Read List

My December To Be Read List

Wait a minute, I hear you say. Two posts in one day? Stacey, are you feeling alright? I’m feeling fantastic. In fact, I’m feeling inspired. And it feels good! If I had to pick one hobby that I couldn’t live without it would be reading. I love the theatre, performing and blogging, but I wouldn’t want to live in a world where I couldn’t escape into a fictional world whenever I wanted to. Even…

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A Very Merry Covid Christmas

A Very Merry Covid Christmas

I think we can all agree that Christmas is going to be a little bit different this year. I mean – I kinda knew, all the way back in March that there was a chance that this whole Covid fiasco may stretch as far as Christmas, but I don’t think I ever actually believed it, you know? Yet, here we are facing a Christmas unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. It would be oh, so easy to let current…

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These Covid Days ||Church Barn, Ropsley

These Covid Days ||Church Barn, Ropsley

After an intensely difficult half term, and with the ever-looming threat of a “circuit breaker” lock-down, we decided to seize the moment and book a few days away to escape from reality.

It was quite doubtful for a while that we would actually get to go on our mini-break, but finally, thankfully, one rainy day in October, we packed our bags, loaded up the car and drove the short distance to…

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These Covid Days: Chatsworth House & Gardens

These Covid Days: Chatsworth House & Gardens

Ah, Chatsworth.

Our home from home. Not literally, obviously , but it is a place where I have spent many, many lovely days over the year and it’s very dear to our hearts. Due to the UK’s lockdown, we hadn’t visited Chatsworth in over 6 months and it was sorely missed.

Over the Summer, while we were still in semi-lockdown, we celebrated both mine and Freya’s birthday. There wasn’t much we…

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First Art presents The Secret Picnic

First Art presents The Secret Picnic

At the beginning of September, I had the joy of self-isolating while we awaited the results of a Covid test that I was almost 100% sure was going to come back negative. (It did, in case you were wondering) If you haven’t already heard the full story and would like to, let me know, but in a nutshell it was a long and tedious wait where I didn’t go to work, the kids didn’t go to school and most…

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Dear Diary: Turning 35

Dear Diary: Turning 35

I can’t believe that it’s been over a week since I turned 35!

Before sitting down to write my annual birthday blog post, I decided to go back and have a read of my post from last year. It was actually surprising to see how different my general mood and mindset was from 2019 to 2020.

Last year I was rather positive, motivated and excited for the year ahead. This year, not so much. In…

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The Wedding of Mr & Mrs Smith

The Wedding of Mr & Mrs Smith

I started this blog post the week after my sister, Kim, got married. In case you’re wondering, today is her first wedding anniversary. I can’t believe it’s been one whole year and I haven’t yet written anything about the wedding on the blog, or even shared any photos on social media.

Wait, scratch that, I can absolutely believe it. I’ve been totally rubbish at keeping up with the blog in the…

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