Hitched & Ditched hit the airwaves!

A while back our very own Ditched, aka Miss Independent, appeared on student radio show Exposure FM, to give her advice on all things relationship. Have a listen below and let us know what you think!

Listen here

Hitched & Ditched join Instagram (finally!)

Hitched and Ditched have finally taken the plunge and joined the fabulous world of Instagram. Now we may not have a bizillion followers like Rihanna (although our Ditched is willing to pose semi nude to make this happen…) we will be uploading our fave images to the account for you lovely, lovely folk to enjoy.

Follow us at #hitchednditched

Thanks for your continued support!

Second Hand Men

If only choosing a man was as simple as buying a car…

I recently bought my very first car at the grand old age of 28; yeah yeah it may have taken me longer than most relationships last to pass my test but I’ve always been a slow starter.
I spent many a weekend looking for the ‘perfect’ car; my definition being a nice shiny colour, cute shape and furry dice thrown in for free. After a quick test drive I fell in love with the sheer basicality (new word, just go with it) of the car, and bought the blue beast there and then.

*Adopts Carrie Bradshaw voice* So this got me thinking, if we are so quick to take a chance on a used car, with surface damage and some miles on the clock, why aren’t we as quick to take a chance on men who have been around the block?

I’m not saying that guy you met in a Yates wine lodge, who has openly slept with 100 women, should be número uno on your hit it then quit it list, but perhaps having more of an open mind to men who have a bit of a past could lead to something amazing. Of course, we all want to step onto the relationship forecourt and bag ourselves a brand new ride (smutty minds laugh now), but unless you have come into a small fortune, or have Kelly Brook’s chest, then you’ll have to do a bit of bartering to get what you want.

Everyone has a past, but some are more colourful than others, and for me they are far more interesting. If I think about the celebrity men I want to go horizontal jogging with, all of them have a colourful past, e.g: Tom Hardy once had a drug habit and was a bit of a rebel. Now I’m not saying that the bad boys should always be catching your eye (oh eh oh eye), but no relationship comes with a warranty or insurance.

One of the most fascinating part of a relationship comes after the first date, flowers and fumbles, but when you start to open up about your exes, expectations and things you rarely tell even your closest friends. So having a guy who gives you the wow factor without having to swing by Ann Summers or the florist is pretty special.

 

Do you agree with Ditched? Comment below

Happy Birthday Hitched!

Hey guys! Muchios apologies for not posting anything since 2000 and late, but we have been very busy ladies; what with Hitched becoming a lash extension artist, and Ditched eating ten tubs of ice cream to get over yet another Valentines Day alone.

But we want to take five minutes out to say a huge HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY to our very own Wedded Miss; here’s wishing you a fabulous day and many more blogging memories to come; now where’s that champagne?

XXX

WIN! A fabulous beauty goody bag

If you’re anything like us, your faces are arid from the harsh cold, you struggle to rise from your pit as 7am still resembles 3am, and the last time you truly pampered yourself was back in 2012; yikes. But never fear ladies, as we have conjured together a fabulous goody bag full of lush products to leave you feeling hotter than that Joey Branning bloke from Eastenders on a Summer’s day.

But what can I win? We hear you cry….

The Hitched & Ditched winter damage control kit includes *drum roll please*

2 Miners cheek tints
Kitoko hair cleanser and balm sachet
Spa Strength Within Beauty Supplements
Squeezed Lemon Face Mask
Philip Kingsley Elasticizer hair treatment
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturiser
Right Guard Xtreme Dry deo
No More White Bits self tan mousse
Dead Sea Spa salt brushing sachet
Soap and Glory hand food cream
Susan Posnick mineral foundation
Boots Almond Body Butter
Victoria Beckham body lotion
Lily Lolo south beach bronzer
Miners plum lipstick
Mini Benefit eye potion
Nazila Love Glamour luxurious lashes
St Tropez everyday dark moisturiser
Anatomicals eye mask
Refreshers lip balm

WOW! So how do you win these beauty-luscious things? Simply drop us a line with the subject ‘Beauty Bag’ telling us why you deserve it, along with your contact details, to editor@hitchedandditched.co.uk

Good Luck ladies!

one entry per person. Competition ends Sunday 13th January

Happy New Year: Things to be thankful for from 2012

Like many folk, we reminisce at this time of year at things, people, places and experiences gone by. Our little blog is less than a year old, but as it approaches it’s 1st birthday Wedded Miss and Miss Independent look back on a fabulous year and pin point their top three moments of 2012.

Miss Independent aka Ditched

1. Being shortlisted by Cosmopolitan Magazine & attending the blog awards

As an aspiring writer (I don’t see myself as a proper writer until I bag a paid gig!) I have always wanted to gain recognition for something created from my own big bouffanted mind. Me and Lauren started the blog for a girly giggle back in January 2012, but since then we have gained a decent following and created something which is unique to the blogging world. We decided to enter the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards, and as with anything; you never really think you will make it! But to our sheer delight the Cosmo team liked what they saw, and chose us to go through to the final stages of the sex and relationship category, which also meant attending the glam ceremony in the heart of London. We may not have won, but we were privileged to be recognised by one of the biggest magazines in the world; we rock!

2. Fell in love with boxing

This year I was lucky enough to attend the Carl Froch vs Lucian Bute fight in Nottingham, and I immediately fell in love with the sport all over again. I remember watching bouts as a youngster with my Dad and brother, but never thought I would enjoy seeing it live; boy oh boy was I wrong! The atmosphere was electric, and although the crowd can be a little intimidating, it is all in the name of boxing, and it wasn’t long before I was joining in the choruses of ‘we are Nottingham!’ I also had the pleasure of meeting Carl Froch after the fight, and also attending his celebration party a few weeks after. My passion for the sport also saw me attend a couple of boxing sessions myself, which is something I aim to pick up again in 2013.

3. Feeling the fear and doing it anyway

I’ve always been a worrier; what if this and what if that, and anxiety plays a huge part in my life even aged 28, which can make the simple things that little bit harder. So looking back on all I have done in 2012; going on a regular placement in London on my own, taking (and failing!) 4 driving tests but just carrying on and laughing about it, applying for numerous jobs and attending scary interviews, going to events on behalf of publications and blagging/ blogging my way through the year are all massive achievements for me. In 2013 I aim to manage my anxiety much better, while still being true to myself and accepting that things might not be perfect all of the time, but there’s plenty of fun to be had!

Wedded Miss aka Hitched

1. Found a career that I love

I have never done a job that I have properly enjoyed or found interesting enough to hold my attention for very long.
Earlier in the year I was in and out of temporary administration jobs which I detested and found utterly boring. I wanted something interesting, something that was a challenge for me but not emotionally draining like my previous career in social care.
Finding Flutter (mobile semi permanent eyelash franchise) has been the best thing that has happened to me, I’m passionate about my business and my career again, I love being independent, making people feel beautiful and meeting amazing new people everyday!
Kathryn, who set up Flutter, has been an inspiration to me and I feel so thankful that I met her and that she has trusted me with this venture.
I’m not going to deny that it has been a difficult and challenging few months, but I’ve learnt so much, grown a lot and felt my self confidence returning slowly but surely. And that is more than I ever thought I’d gain at this age and stage in my life.

2. Was a bridesmaid for one of my best friends…..

I’ve always wanted to be a bridesmaid, I think it’s such an honour to be asked and trusted with such an important thing. So helping Claire plan her hen do and being part of her wedding day was amazing for me. I loved everything about it and I’ve gained a new, very good friend in Michelle, her other bridesmaid!
Making Claire feel special was so important this year and going on her hen do was fantastic fun. But seeing her get married to Phil and being part of making that day a happy one has made me feel so lucky.
Having been a bride the previous year, I understood a lot of the issues she faced, the emotions she felt and the tricky decisions you have to make. It was lovely to be able to impart a little bit of my otherwise pointless knowledge and feel like I’d maybe helped her stay mildly sane in some small way! Let’s hope so anyway.
It was an amazing day and I hope that she knows how grateful I am for letting me be part of that.

3. Celebrated my 1st wedding anniversary….

I wasn’t pregnant, I hadn’t just had a baby, I got to properly celebrate my 1st anniversary! We went back to Harts (our wedding venue), had an amazing meal, had a few drinks and reminisced about our fabulous wedding day a whole year ago. It was just brilliant.
I cried more on my anniversary than my actual wedding day, I’m not sure why, I think I was just pretty emotional that we’d made it to a year and we were happier than ever – it was a pretty awesome feeling!

Overwhelmingly, my feeling from 2012 is how very lucky I am, and how very happy I have been. It hasn’t always been like this and I am especially grateful to my husband and his never ending patience, support and love. Soppy as it may be, it is a fact. #factsof2012.

Also big thanks to my little sister for the comedy and the laughs. #neverforgetcharades2012. You are an actual star.

Love to you all and may 2013 bring rays of sunshine into your life.

A Very Couples Christmas

For me, Christmas time has always been about proper family time. I am not religious so it is essentially a day to get presents, eat, drink and be merry!

When I was young, me, Mum, Dad and my sister Sara would all go to Christmas eve parties at friends of the family then be together all day Christmas Day, opening presents, eating, going for our traditional walk to my best friends house then home for games and more food!

Basically I have never spent a Christmas away from my family and since we lost Mum Christmas has been harder, more emotional and for a few years quite shit for all of us.

I met Rich 5 Christmas’s ago and it was still a difficult time of year for us as a family, so me, dad and Sara all tried to stick to together and have just a nice time; we went away and tried to form new traditions which helped.

But it’s different when you are with someone and especially when you get married, that person is who you want to be with on Christmas day. You want to form new traditions as a family, but also incorporate both of your traditions into one day and try to make it all go smoothly!

Of course there are 2 sets of parents to please as well….we are both very family orientated at Christmas and so this makes it even more complicated! I feel like whatever we do someone won’t be happy or will be missing out on something. There is guilt at every turn!

Despite the difficulties and emotions that Christmas time inevitably brings, since I have met and spent Christmas days with Rich, my love for the festive season has returned and I can appreciate my time and traditions with family – both mine and Rich’s.

I feel so unbelievably lucky to have 2 families that I love and love me. So whether you are single or coupled up this festive season just remember – it could be worse! Take the time to enjoy stuffing your face with turkey, having a day off work, staying in your onesie all day and playing with all the new things you get!

Raise a glass to lost loved ones and hug your nearest and dearest, even if they do drive you to the brink of sanity sometimes!

Merry Christmas and a very thankful New Year to us all!

Love Lauren aka Hitched