New Year Resolutions!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I hope everyone has had lovely Christmas holidays and had a good time seeing the new year in. My apologies for being 5 days late but I have been being a busy bee skiing in France, in fact this is being drafted ... feet above Paris and on under 4 hours sleep so please excuse any mistakes, I don't seem to function on little sleep.

I was just thinking of sharing my new year resolutions, firstly because I love being nosey and reading other peoples resolutions and secondly I think I may stick to them more if they are out there. Fingers crossed anyway.

1) to make more effort - the last 3/4 months I have been getting lazy! I have started wearing minimal/no makeup to work, 'forgetting' to brush my hair and even venturing out in my boys clothes, looking slightly like a hobo and definitely unfit for public consumption! This is really not ok and I'm worried I might bump into Johnny Depp in my local sainsburys so from now on I want to make the effort to look at least half presentable 80% of the time. 

2) do something out of my comfort zone - I have mainly got this from my recent holiday... I'm a bit of a home bird and struggle in new situations or things I haven't tried before that I don't think I will do well at. I am much more comfortable sitting at home with my Charlie. Even venturing on a night out that isn't at the local bars with my girls seems to be a massive event for me. But after trying skiing I realised that the world isn't going to break down and crumble away if I try something new and I quite like it. So this is a sort of 'say yes more' resolution.

3) eat healthy, do exercise - this is pretty self explanatory... I want to loose my Christmas chocolate chub!

4) spoil my wardrobe! - as I just moved into my first flat 6 months ago I have had very little spending money since and haven't really treated myself to anything other than complete necessities. But I am terribly bored of being sensible with my money and fancy going a little wild so be prepared for lots of new purchase posts! 

And a little list of things I want to achieve:

- BE MORE ORGANISED!!!

- buy a new car (a Nissan figaro!!)

- raise money for charity

- travel somewhere I haven't been before 

- take up a new hobby, either some type of dance or learn a language

- make myself at least one item of clothing per month

- stop being so messy

The list is rather long so wish me luck!! 

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Home planning!

I have big news to share with all of you.... I have fallen in love with a kitchen!! And oh my gosh its wonderful and I need to shout out to the world how much I love it! I came across the images on some blog which I am now unable to find again but have since done my research and found the pictures all over google, instagram and pinterest and its probably doing the rounds on tumblr somewhere as well. 

In case any of you are unaware I can't cook. Fullstop. I mean I can attempt it but unfortunatley it usually ends in tears so I gave up a long while ago. Therefore it doesn't bother me that my kitchen is the size of a shoe box, no exaggeration. If my lovely boy is cooking dinner I literally have to climb over him to get to the washing machine!! This hasn't bothered me until now.......I want to be the next Delia or Mary Berry. I want cakes and sugary creations coming out of my ears. I want pink icing covering everything that passes my lips but I mainly want a kitchen like this to do it in. Let me show you and you will soon understand and possibly even share my kitchen love insanity.

I KNOW RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! Can't you feel the butterfly's doing a little tap dance in your tummy!? I know this isn't everyone's style but it definitely should be!! It fulfills my need of a 50's kitchen with the diner themed stools and chairs and also the muted checked floor in blue, but it isn't so in your face that it screams 'TAKE ME BACK TO AMERICA AND GET ME A LIFE-SIZED CUT OUT OF ELVIS'!! I adore the pastel colours that reminds me of my mums house (she does shabby chic cottagey things in her home), but with the quirkiness that makes it more me.

There are even matching/not-exactly-matching-but-still-matchy-to-the-theme crockery. This is a kitchen in which nothing is forgotten!

I can't imagine I will ever need 2 kitchenaid mixers, let alone one but they go so beautifully I actually want to fork out half my wages just so I can have a kitchen like this!

Yum yum yum, gosh I wish I could cook! 

I am practically lying in bed dribbling over this. All the jars of sweetys and the fantastic cakes, its absolutely gorgeous! So there you have it! My future kitchen! Right, best be off, going to go experiment in my shoe box kitchen so I am a fully prepared cooking goddess when it comes to actually owning a kitchen like this!

Toodle pip lovers!

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My New Favorite Colour

In case anyone hasn't realized I am absolutely awful at blogging! It was my birthday almost 6 weeks ago, yet I am only just getting my 'birthday blog' written now! But never fear dear readers! I am working on being more organised and blogging more, and I am finally getting the internet! Woohoo! I know what your thinking, who has a blog and doesn't actually have the internet right? Well, yes that would be me... but internet is on the way so expect to hear a lot more of me you lucky munchkins! I am almost investing in Glossybox so will have lots of nice new things to write about! 

Anyway... I have come to explain what an absolutely thrilling colour brown is!!!!!!!! Honestly! I have recently fallen in love with it and it is all due to my lovely Grandma and the amazing birthday presents I have from her! Now when I say Grandma everyone imagines a little old dear sitting in front of the fire with slippers, grey hair and some knitting. My Grandma however has crazy curly hair which changes colour every time I see her, is far more fashionable than I could ever hope to be and also owns leopard print boots! She is incredibly glamorous and I absolutely love her! Anyway shrine over... I came here to explain how she has a knack for amazing presents and how it created my obsession with brown, I'm just diving headlong into showing you birthday presents, you will then understand!

My favorite present was my handbag! Just wow! I haven't managed to get amazing pictures as they are all off my phone but you can see what I mean! This is a 1940's style bag which is in absolutely amazing condition, no marks, nothing broken, perfect! It has a lovely little clasp in the shape of a horseshoe and is a mahogany colour all over. It is perfect handbag size, enough for necessity's but not big enough so that I feel I need to cram it full of everything except my kitchen sink and then look like I am lugging a suitcase round. Anyway I do believe this is the perfect bag *happy sigh*. 

My other present from her was 2 fur stoles. Now I am not sure where everyone is at on the fur situation but please don't throw paint over me, I am a nice person sometimes! Where I stand is that I collect vintage, any and all forms of vintage. Fur falls into this category and I collect it because it represents the era that I love. Anyway this is far too deep to get into for a Monday morning blog! So the first stole was a large one, more like a wrap with a stripey effect and beautiful colours. The second was smaller, a darker brown and one that would be used more as a collar to dress up a plain coat.

Both were such beautiful presents!! It kick started a maternal love for the colour brown which I have very little of in my wardrobe. So the first thing I went and purchased were these little bad boys! I bought these off ebay for under £15 including p&p! BARGAIN! They are styled on the late 30's/40's and remind me of something a little old lady or a school teacher would wear (clearly I go for the 'sexy' look.....). They have a lovely small heel and are so easy to dash about in, therefore are mainly kept for more casual outings when I'm doing errands and what not. I think I may just go and put them on now I have such cravings for them!

I was going to include other small purchases such as a brown cardigan but then I thought gosh how boring can I actually be, raving about a plain brown cardigan, so I decided not to bore you. But please expect lots of lovely future brown themed outfit posts! I know your all sitting at the edge of your seats and can hardly wait!! Until next time!

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10 Little Beauty Secrets Tag

Ooo my first tag! Spotted this the other day and thought this is quite an easy one to do! So, here's my top 10 little beauty secrets.....

  What product makes you feel a million dollars?

Red lipstick all the way! I just don't feel ready to leave my house with out it on. I also love the way it totally transforms any outfit... before the lipstick goes on I feel a bit 'plain jane', but as soon as that lipstick hits my face I'm like POW lets go save the world!

What’s your skin care secret/a passed down tip?

My Mum always taught me to take my makeup off before bed, I always feel so much fresher in the mornings! I keep my routine very simple and just moisturize daily but then once a week will have a pampering evening which will include cleansing, toning, exfoliating, face mask's etc. the works! 

What’s your hair care secret?

I feel like I'm not really looking after my hair that much at the moment so need to reassess my hair care routine but I swear by TIGI Bed Head Head Rush which is a shine spray, it always gives my hair a beautiful healthy shine!!

What’s your biggest diet rule?

Gosh I don't believe in diets! The more I concentrate on food and what I am not allowing myself to eat, the more I crave and end up eating the food I have banned! I let myself eat what ever I fancy at the time and my body usually works it out for me, if I eat nothing but chocolate for 2 days I get sick of it and really fancy smoothies and fruit for the next week!

Any workout tips?

Unfortunately I am not one of those people who rolls out of bed at 6am and thinks 'yes, exercise time!'. I prefer exercise that isn't exercise, I will take a friends dog for a really long walk, go crazy on the dance floor for a solid 4 hours with my girls or do star jumps while I am waiting for my toast to pop! 

What’s your perfume secret weapon?

At the moment I seem to be wearing Paco Robanne One Million an awful lot. I feel like I smell the same as every other boy as it is so popular but it just smells so good!

Which item of clothing always turns heads?

For me personally a 1950's circle skirt with a petticoat, I always class 50's as the 'casual' side of my wardrobe but I find more people notice what I'm wearing as it's rare to see someone in the cinema with a big poofy skirt on. 

What’s your most treasured piece of jewellery?

I have 3 pieces that never come off; my step-mums engagement ring, my Tiffany thumb ring from my Aunty Nellie and my Tiffany key necklace from my Pa.

Who’s your style crush?

I don't really follow any celebrity styles but at the moment it will have to be Lady Gaga.. please don't judge me!!!!! She just wears the most ridiculous outfits and has managed to pull it off so that it is almost acceptable and normal. I would also say Grace Kelly for her elegance. 

Tell us something we don’t know about you.

I want to shave my hair off for charity but worry if I do my Mum's heart would break, therefore am in the process of thinking up something as daring but that won't make my Mum cry in the process!! 

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I'm Feeling Christmassy!

Now I know Christmas is still 43 days away but I am unfortunately one of those annoying people that start rabbiting on about it at least 2 months too early..... and I am putting my Christmas tree up tomorrow!!! No I am not loosing the plot and suffering from Christmas fever! I have many good reasons! Firstly being that I have lots of rather beautiful/very cool Christmas decorations!!!!! My flat also is rather bare. I have enough things in it but I like a busy home with too much stuff in it...it gives me that cosy feeling. Therefore I feel a Christmas tree will take up quite a bit of space and it will be all cosy and wintery!! The plan is that all my lovely girls are coming round to help me, we are putting on Christmas music and having a big dinner cooked (my lovely friend Jen is a chef, I'm not adventurous enough in the kitchen to cook for myself let alone numerous other people). Anyway as we all work evenings and the Christmas period means less time off, this is probably one of the few times leading up to Christmas we will all have an evening off together!!! AND I am going away on boxing day to go skiing; I won't be back until after New Year, therefore my Christmas tree needs to come down before I go as I get rather superstitious about bad luck, soooo I thought as it is going down early it can go up early. Anyway enough excuses, I want to put it up so its going up, lets get christmassy!

This post isn't here to ramble on about my Christmas tree (although do expect lots of lovely pictures of it!) I am actually doing my Christmas wish list! 

Top of my wish list is the Pearl coat from Collectif which has just been released today, I'M IN LOVE! I have been on a wintery coat hunt for at least a month now, and although I rarely wear brown I was given the most beautiful brown vintage handbag for my birthday from my Grandma and have since gone a little nutty for the colour, with brown shoes, hats etc. being purchased. I just need a fabulous winter coat to match! 

Secondly is Black Orchid by Tom Ford. It is a mans perfume (I'm not sure men cal it perfume, but I don't know what else to call it) and I am completely head over heels in love with it! I much prefer wearing men's scents, although it probably means I am only attracting women it is something I am willing to contend with if it means smelling like a god. I'm considering buying it for my boy and hoping he will leave it at mine! Devious plans!

I am in LOVE with Nichole De Carle!! There isn't one specific thing I would like, I pretty much want the whole collection for Christmas! The picture I have used is showing the classics carry forward last testament brief with braces and the classics carry forward last testament bra, both of which are probably my favorite but only by a pinch. Unfortunately I seem to have a small thing for items with a large price tag, anything from here won't come cheap but a girl can dream right?

I hate to say it but where would Christmas be if there was no such thing as Christmassy knitted jumpers? I'm taking it a step up this year and would like a full on, in your face Christmassy knitted onesie!

This one isn't exactly on my Christmas list but more of a 'New Year shopping list'. I have decided in the new year I am going to save up my pennies and spoil myself with a 50's freestanding kitchen unit. This is just one I found on eBay as unit-inspiration!! I think they are incredibly cool, a little bit different and would suit my flat perfectly! I would also quite like a 50's diner booth but unfortunately money doesn't grow on tree's so I am going to tackle this one sexy piece of furniture at a time!! 

Best be off, going to go get my Christmas decorations out in preparation for tomorrow! Woooo! 

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Shall We Dance?

Good evening beautiful people!

I have had the most fabulous weekend and thought it would be rude not to share what I have been up too... My lovely friend Jo is a dancer, an incredibly good one if I may say so, and I have just spent last Sunday watching her compete! I've never been before and it was amazing!!! The atmosphere, the beautiful dresses, the incredible dancing, gosh I can't even begin to explain it! Unfortunately I got incredibly swept up in the moment and was too busy watching to get many good photos, didn't even think to pick up my camera and snap away at the really cute 8 year old's ballroom dancing in their little suits and dresses! They also all move rather quickly so getting a good photo was pretty much impossible!

So.. there were two types of dancing (Jo competes in 12 different types, this was just on this particular day) which were ballroom and latin. The two most different types of dancing ever! I can't really explain much about them, I'm rather clueless but it was rather awe inspiring just watching. And the dresses I have fallen in love with and made myself a promise to make one! 

Unfortunately my outfit wasn't as eye catching or glittery as those on the dance floor but I have included a little outfit post! I really struggled with what is 'normal' to wear to these things. You obviously have all the dancers glammed up to the 9's (is that the right saying?), the pushy glamourous mothers of the cute little kids who dressed as though they were about to hit a very posh bar, and then the extreme of people in their comfy clothes and hoodys. Therefore I went for my 'go-to' casual day outfit....

Dress - Lindy Bop

Late 1950's Bag - eBay

Seamed Stockings - Present from my Grandma 

Shoes - Charity Shop

I also had my navy blue thick wool coat from Zara but didn't get any snaps of it, so I will therefore save it for another day!

Apologies for all the photo's, my blog is becoming more and more photo orientated rather than much content, but I doubt anyone would like to read me moaning on about old lady's clothes etc!!!!

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A Few Photo's

Hello lovely people, long time no speak!

I recently took part in a photo shoot for the most loveliest of photographers Stephen Keighley, and had the most fabulous time. Other than messing about with friends, or taking photos for my blog I haven't actually modeled for anyone before, with the exception of a friend for a project, therefore I was incredibly nervous about what to expect! But all went incredibly smoothly!!

He is located in Launceston, the small town where my Mummykins lives so it was all organised for my visit down there. The photo shoot itself was SO easy, I quite fancy being the next Kate Moss if this is the norm! I made sure I had 3 hours spare, I have no clue what for but it is always better to be prepared yet it was over and done with in 45 minutes! There was no rushing and without being big headed I would like to say I personally think the photos are amazing for such little time and effort. I even had a little tour of the town so all in all I am a happy girl! 

I am very happy with the photos! I'm one of those girls who can pick faults in all pictures ever taken of me but I love these! There was a little hair issue in the fact the my dearest Mummsy stole the hairspray therefore my curls lasted a total of 9 minutes, but despite the argument I had with my hair all is good! I wore my Stop Staring dress, the coat is from Topshop, my ever trusty handbag from my Mum, seamed stockings and simple black heels. I hope you like it!

Stephen's twitter

Stephen's Facebook

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