I’m definitely not your typical fashion-loving blogger. I don’t usually read Vogue or Elle unless I’m in a waiting room or I have a long train journey and need something light (at [...]]]>

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I’m definitely not your typical fashion-loving blogger. I don’t usually read Vogue or Elle unless I’m in a waiting room or I have a long train journey and need something light (at least in terms of ease-of-reading – often I regret buying them later because of how damn heavy they are to carry) to read that’ll last a few hours. My wonky back makes me a difficult fashion consumer, as it’s quite difficult to find clothes that hang correctly on me, especially dresses and tailoring, I have a wardrobe full of skirts and tops, and I tend to wear something forever if it suits me, whether it’s fashionable or not. If there’s a style that suits me particularly well on trend and in all the shops, I try to take advantage of this and buy several. 

My style icons are women who wear beautiful clothing that I love, and those who can put together fabulous outfits, but I don’t necessarily dress in a similar way to these people. Having a non-standard body shape, much of the time I’ll see an item of clothing I love but it’ll look terrible on me! (After 28 years of experience most of the time I can tell this without having to see the garment in person, which makes Online shopping so much easier). I may occasionally buy a piece I’ve seen on a blogger I admire, for example, or something similar, but the chances that I could style it the same way are very slim. My style is very much my own by default – if I copied other people I’d look seriously awkward 99% of the time! 

This isn’t a pity post, far from it. I actually rather like the fact that nobody could ever accuse me of trying to copy someone else’s style! I would love (one day, can’t afford it right now!) to work with a professional stylist sometime, to see how they would work with my somewhat unique features, and perhaps that’s something to save for. It would certainly make for an interesting blog post! (Hell, if anyone knows anyone who’s brilliant and charges reasonable rates, drop me a comment / email!)

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So it may seem like I’m something of a glutton for punishment, a fashion masochist who sits and watches the streams of the shows, fawning over all the pretty dresses she couldn’t wear even if she  could afford them. The shows are supposed to be aspirational though, aren’t they? They’re for inspiration, not direct imitation. I also adore all the candid shots of bloggers and editors posing in their stylish best between shows. I guess part of it is voyeurism – it’s all about glimpsing a little bit of someone else’s life and personality through what they wear, which is also why I love it when people show off their home decor and the contents of their handbags on their blogs . Ultimately though, I am firmly on the YES side of the fashion-as-art argument. As Stanley says in The Devil Wears Prada:

[...]some of the greatest artists of the century? Halston, Lagerfeld, de la Renta. And what they did, what they created was greater than art because you live your life in it.

I don’t think many people can challenge the fact that it requires a creative mind and artistic talent to design and bring to life the amazing, intricate and multi-faceted garments in the couture shows, but beautiful fabric prints, seams placed to perfectly flatter a woman (or man)’s body, it’s all artistic work. Putting an outfit together too, requires a certain understanding of colour, draping and texture to pull together the kind of looks that the more admired fashion bloggers are known for. The bloggers I admire represent between them a tremendous disparity of styles, all of which I take inspiration from in one way or another, but I’d have a lot of trouble singling one out as my main inspiration, or similar to my “look”. I enjoy outfits in the same way as I enjoy art, as something beautiful to be admired, and something fun to create. 

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I may not fit the fashion “mould”, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get creative with what I wear. I used to be terribly self-conscious, using clothes to hide my shape, only to realise that trying to cover perceived “flaws” with baggy fabrics, etc. only draws attention to them. Now I prefer misdirection! A really bright, eyecatching skirt, something (anything!) sequinned – I adore sequins, I’d wear them on everything if I could – or an amazing accessory for example, is so much better at drawing the eye away from the bits you don’t want people looking at. This revelation alone I think really fostered my love for fashion and style. My boyfriend now despairs at the size of my wardrobe, the amount of bags I own and the fact that there are miscellaneous pieces of jewellery all over the flat where I’ve taken a ring off to put hand cream on, or removed my necklace because I kept accidentally dipping it in my drink (you’d be surprised how often that happens). I still wear a lot of black (I’m really quite fond of my inner teenage goth and don’t want to kill her entirely) but I’m no longer scared of bright pink. 

You’re unlikely to see me running around London Fashion Week any time soon, for one thing I don’t think my health is up to it, although by all accounts I think my usual “lean up against wall, pretend to send really long text message” tactic when I need a rest but don’t want people asking me if I’m OK wouldn’t look very out of place. I am however, appreciating it vicariously through other bloggers, and watching the streams from the comfort of my laptop whilst nursing a cup of tea. I might not get a goodie bag for that, but I don’t get blisters either!

Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, my favourite show this season so far is Alexander McQueen, it’s all absolutely stunning! Congratulations if you read all that! 

Tomorrow is one of my favourite days of the year, and I only realised yesterday, that’s the trouble with Easter falling at a different time each year! Although I eat pancakes all year round [...]]]>

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Tomorrow is one of my favourite days of the year, and I only realised yesterday, that’s the trouble with Easter falling at a different time each year! Although I eat pancakes all year round – they’re my favourite cinema trip treat as there’s a crepe café at my local cinema – pancake day is a tradition I will never tire of. 

I prefer thin pancakes, i.e. crepes. I find big thick American-style pancakes are better for Saturday breakfasts, and don’t seem like such a treat. Crepes remind me of the pancake days of my childhood, as well as eating huge crepes with lemon and sugar in Cannes, and plate-sized crepes piled high with toppings in The Netherlands. 

I’ll always be a lemon and sugar kind of girl, although I have been known to use orange on occasion, however it’s only in recent years that I’ve started to branch out into other toppings. a few years ago I thought savoury pancakes were sacrilege, now one of my favourites from the cinema café contains sunblush tomatoes, pesto and goats cheese. 

For pancake day though, we have a foolproof formula for the most delicious pancakes ever (as long as you’re a meat-eater anyway). Place a few slices of thin-sliced pancetta in a heated, non-stick pan, and allow it to cook on that side until almost done. Pour the pancake mixture into the pan on top of the pancetta, so that when you turn the pancake, the meat’s properly cooked on that side and it can then crisp up on the other side. The bacon also provides just enough fat for the pancakes to cook nicely without having to add any extra oil. Drizzle with maple syrup and enjoy!

How do you like your pancakes? 

I shouldn’t really be surprised that barely going out (due to a lack of funds) has left me with something of a dearth of things to blog about, however I didn’t realise I’d left it quite as long as I had! [...]]]>

I shouldn’t really be surprised that barely going out (due to a lack of funds) has left me with something of a dearth of things to blog about, however I didn’t realise I’d left it quite as long as I had! Still, things are looking up, so here’s a few of the thing that have kept me feeling optimistic!

* Job leads – I have some work to do, and I’m working from home for the first time! I’m loving not having to drag myself out in the cold each day, but it’s taking all of my self-discipline!

* Spending time alone – I really like having so much alone time tat the moment. Its making me look after myself a bit better than I usually do and it makes me really appreciate the time I do spend with other people.

* Socialising at home – Sometimes (well, a lot of the time actually) it’s so much fun having a big group over and socialising at home or in someone else’s house instead of going out to pubs and bars. Also, drinking champagne at home is cheaper than drinking vodka and cokes out, so it’s a great excuse to break out the bubbles! 

* Wrapping Up – It’s freezing cold this week, and I’m making the most of it by bundling myself up in hoodies, leggings and slipper socks! Throw in a few cups of tea and I’m all set for the day! 

* Other – Writing late at night because that’s when I work best, trying out new pens, stroopwafels, posh yoghurts, plans to spend the weekend shooting zombies, leaving post-it notes everywhere, sleep! 

What’s making your world sparkle? 

TiLT is inspired by Gala Darling

Last year I made some wishes for 2011, instead of New Years Resolutions. I wasn’t particularly successful, I must admit. I have therefore decided to start 2012 with [...]]]>

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Last year I made some wishes for 2011, instead of New Years Resolutions. I wasn’t particularly successful, I must admit. I have therefore decided to start 2012 with one simple goal: Self-improvement. Be it my health, career, relationships, personal wealth, this year I intend to take every opportunity I can to improve upon my current situation, and to be proactive in seeking my own solutions. 2011 wasn’t the best year for me, but I’m putting it behind me in the hope that 2012 will be better. 

Hopefully, this will also give me plenty to write about!

What are your resolutions, hopes and dreams for the year ahead? I hope you had a wonderful 2011, and that 2012 is even more spectacular! 

I hope you all had an absolutely fabulous Christmas and are looking forward to a sparkling New Year! The Boy and I spent our first Christmas alone as a couple, so it was a [...]]]>

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I hope you all had an absolutely fabulous Christmas and are looking forward to a sparkling New Year! The Boy and I spent our first Christmas alone as a couple, so it was a laid-back, quiet celebration involving great food, buck’s fizz with breakfast, squealing with delight over books and Secret Santa delights, Doctor Who and Downton Abbey,  lie-ins and days spent curled up on the sofa. 

I’m feeling re-charged and ready for an exciting 2012, I hope you are too! 

Firstly I must apologise, as this review is a little late since I’ve been suffering from a bad chest infection and been totally unable to concentrate long enough to blog. I must say however, that the amazing

Firstly I must apologise, as this review is a little late since I’ve been suffering from a bad chest infection and been totally unable to concentrate long enough to blog. I must say however, that the amazing Choi Time tea I was sent to review was wonderfully soothing and I reckon it helped nurse me back to health rather effectively!

The teas arrived in a gift set as shown in the photo (from the Choi Time website) along with some brochures with useful information about each type of tea. By far the best thing about these teas is that once you’ve finished your cup / pot, you can keep adding hot water to produce cup after cup of lovely tea without having to add more of the pearls / flowers to the mix. You can get an entire relaxing afternoon’s worth of tea out of a spoonful of flowers!

The three teas I received were:

Jasmine Green Tea Pearls – My favourite of the three, these make a delicious, fragrant tea that’s fragrant and delicious!

Giant Flowering Tea Bulb – These things are impressive, they open up into a big flower that sits in the bottom of your cup, and taste divine! This one changed the most throughout the brewing process, starting off quite strong, and finishing very smooth and delicate after a few dilutions. 

Chrysanthemum Flower Tea – I swear this stuff helped me get rid of my chest infection! Slightly bitter in taste which I rather liked (but it also tastes lovely with a drop of honey) this one has loads of health benefits and I think makes a nice morning drink. 

All in all, I absolutely loved these, and I’m planning on trying the rest of the range soon!

* Job interviews – OK, so I don’t actually love the interviews themselves, in fact, they make me crazy with nerves, but they signify that things are looking up on the job-hunting front!

This week, I love:

* Job interviews – OK, so I don’t actually love the interviews themselves, in fact, they make me crazy with nerves, but they signify that things are looking up on the job-hunting front!

* Amazing cups of tea courtesy of Choi Time – review coming very soon, most likely tomorrow. 

* Typing a genre into last.fm and launching the radio – instant music to match my mood!

* Managing to apply a screen protector to my phone correctly FIRST TIME! I consider this to be my greatest achievement of the week, considering I usually ruin four or five before I get it right! 

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* Family – meeting my new niece last week,  and spending time with my parents, brother, sister-in-law and nephew. Also the cat, who received a disproportionate amount of my time and affection, naturally!

* Researching interesting ideas – I have some… I hesitate to call them projects because they may never happen / be made public so I guess ideas is the best way to describe them at the moment. Researching things I’m excited about is an exceedingly rewarding way to spend my time! 

What’s making your world sparkle this week?

TiLT is inspired by Gala Darling

I think everyone who reads this blog probably realises I’m a huge caffeine fiend, and that I love a good cup of fresh coffee. When I received the opportunity to receive a bag of coffee from

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I think everyone who reads this blog probably realises I’m a huge caffeine fiend, and that I love a good cup of fresh coffee. When I received the opportunity to receive a bag of coffee from Kopi, who deliver a different bag of gourmet coffee every month – a bit like GlossyBox for the caffeine-addicted, I couldn’t resist! 

In their words:

Kopi love coffee. Our premium bean habit warms us up, wakes us up and inspires us to shake things up. Too long we’ve put up with one-size-fits-all coffee from supermarkets and only danced around posher brews. Until now.

Kopi are dedicated to bringing you really good single-estate coffees from around the world. Beautiful, freshly-roasted brews you won’t find in the usual places – delivered straight to your doorstep, once a month.

We also share our insider knowledge on how to get the best out of your coffee – how to make it, how to enjoy its perkily unique characteristics – and reveal some of the remarkable stories behind each one. All for the price of two grande lattes and a banana muffin.

The full-size bag of coffee arrived in a box that, as advertised on their website, will fit through most letterboxes. It came in a resealable bag with the date of roasting on it so you can be confident of getting a nice, fresh cup! I was particularly impressed with the information booklet that came with the coffee, featuring tasting notes and brewing instructions as well as information on the provenance and growers of the coffee. 

Their first coffee, which I received, is a single-estate coffee from Antigua in Guatemala, and is a medium-strength coffee with tasting notes of dark chocolate, nuts and vanilla. I like my coffee quite strong, so the first cup I brewed according to the instructions provided, was a little weak for my tastes, but I added a little extra the next time and brewed it to my own strength preference and it made a really good cup! Not really a morning pick-me-up, I’d drink this more as an afternoon treat, perhaps with a good dollop of double cream for extra indulgence. 

All in all, this looks like a fantastic service for coffee-lovers, and would make a lovely gift for the caffeine fiend in your life. It’s a little pricey, at between £7 – £9 depending on which subscription you choose, but these aren’t coffees you can buy a bag of in your local supermarket. The only real quibble I have with them is that they aren’t certified fair-trade. This is explained on their website:

We always pay premium prices for premium coffee to premium growers – far above their cost of production or the Fairtrade minimum. While we fully support the Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and Soil Association initiatives, not all our coffee is organic or Fairtrade certified and here’s why:

1. Fairtrade only certifies co-operatives. This excludes many superb growers and smaller farms who like to sell direct – this means lots of high quality small family farms would be excluded if only Fairtrade stamped ones were selected
2. Fairtrade is tied to the commodity price to secure a minimum to the growers. The market price for a long time (18+ months as of October 2011) has been consistently well above the minimum price.
3. We strive for a symbiotic relationship between ourselves and the growers to create a sustainable business model for everyone involved.

http://www.kopi.co.uk/sourcing

It sounds like they do strive to adhere to fair trade practices, however I must admit the lack of any formal credentials to prove this does make me slightly uneasy, and I’d welcome a slightly clearer explanation on their website to prove that the growers get fair compensation etc. as the current explanation is a little buzzword-heavy. 

I can assure you however, that the coffee is excellent! 

Full Disclosure: I did receive this product for free, however all reviews on this blog reflect my honest opinion on the product or service in question. 

Y’know, there are plenty of things to love about being unemployed, as long as you can survive on very little money and enjoy your own company (which I really do). This week I love:

* Good wine

Y’know, there are plenty of things to love about being unemployed, as long as you can survive on very little money and enjoy your own company (which I really do). This week I love:

* Good wine * Roasted root vegetables with thyme * Warm fuzzy slipper socks * Counting down until Skyrim’s release tomorrow * A long, stress-free and uninterrupted night’s sleep * Welch’s grape jelly – hard to find in the UK, but I love it * Sending away for free samples of.. all sorts of stuff * Trying out new healthy recipes – I keep being tempted to start a food blog, but the truth is I eat the same things most of the time  so although I love food, I’d probably run out of ideas pretty quickly * Waking up, grabbing my Kindle, and reading for half an hour before moving to start the day * Going to a gaming night tomorrow evening with some really good friends and their adorable cats * Absent-mindedly drawing on the backs of old envelopes * Organising my stash of cosmetic samples * 

What’s making your world sparkle this week?

TiLT is inspired by Gala Darling

It’s time to get the winter survival kit ready! I like to have everything ready for when the cold weather really sets in. 

To me, this means:

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It’s time to get the winter survival kit ready! I like to have everything ready for when the cold weather really sets in. 

To me, this means:

* Stocking up on delicious hot drinks! – I completely fell in love with the “Fragrant Green Tea Treatment” by Bloom Tea that I received in my first Boudoir Privé box (yes, I was one of the few people who loved the surprise addition of teabags in a beauty box) so I’m ordering some of that as soon as possible. I also “need” (well, it feels important to me) more white tea, lots of coffee, and plenty of hot chocolate!

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* Ensure I have my winter Lounging Essentials – I really feel the cold, but I resent receiving enormous electricity bills, so warm clothing to wear around the flat is a must-have, and will be particularly useful this year if I remain unemployed for much longer. Yoga pants and hoodies are my favourites for curling up on the sofa, with thick fluffy socks or Ugg boot-style slippers (Primark have some every year, they’re cheap, comfy, and usually come in nice cheerful colours). 

* Buy More Scarves! – I have a weakness for “pashmina” style scarves (the type you can purchase for a few pounds from market stalls and eBay as they’re cosy to wrap up in and come in just about every colour imaginable! I love to coordinate them to my outfits. 

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* Make and freeze some delicious winter food – Soups and stews – I adore winter meals, and my favourite cold-and-flu-beating soup always comes in handy! (I suppose I should add a disclaimer here really – something along the lines of it’s not medically tested, but it seems to do the job for me!)

* Prepare a Winter Reading List – I always read more in winter. I know lots of people love reading on sunny beaches or in parks, but for me, nothing beats curling up on the sofa in a warm blanket, or in bed under a heavy duvet with a good book. I currently seem to be reading a lot of post-apocalyptic “young adult” fiction (blame Suzanne Collins) 

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* Other little Essentials – Some other suggestions!

• Trilogy Age-Proof CoQ10 Booster Serum – I know it’s quite expensive, but it’s totally worth the money, my skin feels amazing when I use this stuff!
• Muji Touch-Screen Gloves – These were an impulse-purchase last time I was in Birmingham (I love Muji, and I’m still upset that the Nottingham store closed) and they work brilliantly, plus they’re comfortable and come in a few different colours. 
• A heated computer mouse! – I don’t have one of these yet, but a friend bought one recently and loves it, and as soon as I saw it I knew it would be going straight on my winter wishlist! It’s so hard to operate a mouse with gloves on, so a heated mouse will be wonderful for winter gaming!
• Echinacea and vitamin C for fighting winter illnesses. 
• A cat! – Sadly I’m not allowed one right now, my house contract says so, but really there’s no better winter comfort solution than a softly purring cat!