Little Letters #2

Dear sunshine,
It's good to have you back. You make everything better, so please stick around for a while. I want to bask in your rays until at least September. However, I would appreciate it if you could be slightly less hot for Glastonbury this year? I dislike sunstroke.

Dear quark,
I doubted you. I feared you. But you really do make a lovely mousse, when combined with sugar free jelly crystals, a bit of hot water and a Muller Light. It's almost good enough to make me not crave chocolate brownies. ALMOST.

Dear Manchester,
I bloody love you. Really, I do. I have my moments of doubt, and bouts of restlessness, but on Summer nights, with fairy lights in the trees and good company, there's nowhere else I'd rather be.

Dear Twitter,
You never fail to make me laugh. Don't ever change.

Dear house,
You're taking shape now, slowly but surely. Sometimes I resent you for stealing all my money and sometimes I get frustrated and say bad things about you. But you're the best thing I've ever bought and I can't wait until you're finished so I can actually enjoy you properly.

Dear exercise,
I'm sorry I neglected you for so long. I don't know what I was thinking. I'm at the stage now where I look forward to going to the gym and I enjoy that aching feeling in my muscles afterwards. I've missed that feeling, although I didn't realise it.

Dear stomach,
You're going to be flat by the time I go on holiday. Oh yes you are. Whether you like it or not, you flabby minx.

Dear Slimming World,
It's good to be back.

Dear boys,
You confuse me. Eternally. So I've decided to stop trying to understand you and just let what will be, be. Life's far more fun when you don't think so much and just let things happen.

Outfit Post: Sun Is Shining...

...the weather is sweet.

Oh yes it is. Still. I've been thoroughly making the most of my eleven days off (shall I shut up about that now?) and, inbetween bouts of decorating, have been basking in my yard. Very very glamorous. This was what I wore to meet a friend for lunch today and I also wore the dress when I went out on Saturday with my friend, D. It's too short and far far too booby so I'm fairly sure that most of Manchester got a flash at some point. Apologies to all concerned. This dress creates mischief and it must be restrained.

I've bought quite a few things over the last couple of weeks, having bought nothing for a couple of months, and everything is RED. Apparently red is my colour this year. I have red skinny jeans, a red pleated skirt, this dress and some red shoes. Redsville, Tennessee.

The shoes are, of course, the Swedish Hasbeens x H&M clog/sandal things and I'm smitten with them. My Dad says they look like orthopaedic shoes. I say WHATEVS, POPS.

So, what have we all got planned for the Bank Holiday weekend? I'll be watching the Royal Wedding (I'm excited, I don't care what anyone says... I love a good do!), getting my hair did, singing karaoke, having a couple of drinks and who knows what else. Do I have to go back to work? Really?

Dress & Ring - Topshop

Sunglasses - H&M

Sandals - Swedish Hasbeens x H&M

Belt - Primark

Necklace - Paraphernalia

The Joys of Homeowning

Today I:

-- Got up at 6.45am because I was due to have a delivery from Tesco Direct between 7am and 7pm. YES, JUST A 12 HOUR WINDOW.
-- Painted. A lot. Mostly myself. See photo above.
-- Got criticised by my Mum for my weight. Yeah, cheers.
-- Took delivery of my chair from Tesco at 4.20pm.
-- Opened chair at 4.22pm.
-- Realised chair was broken.
-- Cried a bit.
-- Ordered a replacement chair. Re-delivery is on Thursday. So that's another day of holiday wasted on WAITING FOR A CHAIR.

Most. Frustrating. Day. Ever.

However,  now I'm going to wash the paint out of my hair, put Daft Punk on at an offensively loud volume and dance like a fool, look for flights to a far flung destination (all part of the master plan) and laugh at how upset I got about a chair. It is, however, a pink chair. So I'm sure you can all understand my trauma.

Outfit Post: Floral Dance

This is actually what I wore yesterday in an attempt to brighten up my life, having crawled in at 4.30am after my friend K's birthday night out. I am officially too old for raving theses days but that doesn't stop me trying every now and again. I wasn't going to mention how GLORIOUS the weather has been, given that everyone has been banging on about it for the last two weeks, BUT it is incredible. Sun makes everything better and makes everyone happier. FACT. Please ignore my roots. The black is going in a week and my hairdresser made me promise not to dye it again before my appointment. First I chop it all off, now I change the colour. What next!

I realise that my left foot looks freakishly small compared to my right. It's not. I was just standing in a strange manner and these sandals have a tendency to slip. They are ridiculously comfortable though. I wore them every single day in New York last year and not a blister in sight.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off for drinks and merriment. God bless Bank Holiday weekends!

Dress - Topshop

Belt - Primark

Cardigan - Dorothy Perkins

Sandals - Office

Nails - OPI's 'Lucky Lucky Lavender' and 'Alpine Snow'

Five Steps... to the Perfect Bank Holiday

Weekend Loves

After a strange few months, today I feel completely and utterly in love with my life again. Which was how I felt pretty much every day last year. I've missed it. I'm not entirely sure what's happened, or what's changed, but I'm not questioning it. Sometimes, when things are getting to me, I think I just don't see that I actually have such a lovely life.


Things that make me terribly terribly happy:


--- My house. I was starting to question whether or not I'd made the right decision in buying it but, after a week spent away, I've never been more in love with it. EVERYTHING about it is delighting me today. The sound of post dropping through the letterbox, pictures I've painted and photographs I've taken on the walls, fresh fruit in my fridge, sunlight streaming through the windows, the fact I can make up elaborate dance routines to the new Britney album and not get judged, singing at the top of my voice while cleaning the bathroom. See? Everything!

--- Exciting plans for the next few months. London (x2), Take That, Glastonbury, Spain, days out, adventures and MORE. I long for camping in the countryside and days out to the seaside.

--- Leisurely Saturday mornings. So far this morning I've lain in bed for an hour after waking up (at 7am, WHY?!), been for a run, opened all the windows, watered my herbs and pottered around in the yard, eaten cereal and two apples, drunk peppermint tea, had a lovely chat with the Sainsburys delivery man, watched half of Saturday Kitchen and cleaned. I even enjoyed the cleaning. That's how much I'm enjoying this morning.

--- And..... Tom Vek - Nothing But Green Lights; MAC Russian Red lipstick; dried apricots (always and forever); homemade hummus (tip: always roast the garlic first); choosing wallpaper and paint (hello there middle age); the incredible light that streams through my bedroom window first thing in the morning; green tea (I could not function without it); nice text messages that make my heart beat that little bit faster.


What's rocking your world this weekend, my loves?

Playing Catch Up

I thought it was about time I did a non outfit post and filled you all in on the happenings in my life. Whether you like it or not...

I've been struggling slightly with my diet this year. I've just never really managed to get back into the Slimming World lifestyle after Christmas. Yes, I'm aware Christmas was nearly four months ago. I am getting there slowly though and I wrote a guest post about my weight loss for the wonderful 'Where Are My Knees?' blog, which you can find here. Disclaimer: Contains a HORRIFIC photo of me from when I was at my biggest. Enter at your own peril.

My parents have been on holiday in Spain for the past week, resulting in me taking on dogsitting duties at their house. I've missed my little house in the ghetto but it's actually been really nice to have a week away from it. I feel like a lot of the things (well thing) that have been clouding my head recently have dissipated and I'm feeling extremely... serene and at peace with myself. Ugh, sometimes I despise myself!

My house is coming along.... slowly. I'm actually extremely frustrated and am looking forward to being off for ELEVEN days over Easter so I can get my DIY on and make some real progress. I intend to buy lots of brightly coloured furniture, wallpaper a bit and paint some canvasses. Job done. Apart from the small matter of a new bathroom and a new kitchen. Home ownership - far more expensive and time consuming than I ever imagined!

Other miscellaneous things I have been doing include: planting herbs! Yes, I am officially middle aged and LOVING it; attending my friend B's baby shower, and eating the sweets from the goody bag in approximately 5 seconds; basking in the 22 degree heat on Sunday. Yeah baby, the playsuits are back!


How've you been, loves?

Outfit Post: Getting Lippy

You wait weeks for an outfit post and then three come along at once. Well, when I say at once, I'm well aware that my blogging skillz have been lacking recently. A post a week at most. Must do better but things have been confusing and more than a little strange recently. What will be will be though, that's my new mantra.

After making a plea for recommendations for a decent red lipstick with staying power (NOTHING stays on my lips) on Twitter yesterday, I was inundated with responses. Girls, you know your lipsticks. Consider me impressed. In honour of that, today was a red lipstick day (this one's Rimmel, which lasts a surprisingly long time). By 8.30am I'd already been called 'glam' twice, so it may have to be repeated.

My new favourite ring, reduced in the Topshop sale to £3.50. I refuse to pay full price for Topshop jewellery, as it's ridiculously overpriced, but I tend to go mental in the sale and can usually be found hoovering up rings with the veracity of a hungry elephant who's just spied some peanuts. The leather shorts are from last year, bought for my holiday to New York. I own far too many pairs of leather shorts but these are my favourite. I love the airtex detailing.

I'm not entirely sure why I look so miserable and/or harrowed, I've actually had a wonderful day. In honour of the fact it actually feels like summer today, I bought ice lollies for the entire company at lunchtime. If you want to make 20 adults squeal with delight, buy ice lollies. Trust me.

Top & Ring - Topshop

Cardigan - New Look

Tights - River Island

Shorts - ASOS

Boots - Miss KG

Necklace - Tatty Devine
Sunglasses - Gift 

Nails - OPI's 'Miami Beet'

Outfit Post: All That Glitters...

Last Sunday night was one of my very best friend's 30th birthday party. I decided to go all out for the occasion and wear this RIDICULOUS skirt that I bought at the end of last year but have never worn. Let's face it, there's not too many places that you can wear a skirt like this without getting laughed at. Even the gay village on a Sunday night was pushing it, to be honest. Having to walk about a mile to a working cash machine in this outfit was also slightly mortifying but, thankfully, I'd had a few glasses of wine by that point.

The crinoline didn't come with the skirt but, for maximum ridiculousness, I thought it only fitting that I wore it. Thus rendering me completely incapable of walking past a table without knocking over glasses. Seriously, I've never felt so immobile in an outfit before.

The party was incredible but, even more incredible, was me still wearing the outfit at 1pm the next day and having to get cash out in the middle of a Manchester suburb. A new low. Anyway, that's my last big night out for a while now, due to training commencing in earnest for the Great Manchester Run. I'm running for the Prostate Cancer Charity and, if anyone has any pennies to spare, I've set up a Just Giving page. Thanks, loves.

Skirt - See by Chloe

Crinoline - eBay

Shoes - ASOS

Cardigan - Dorothy Perkins

Top - Topshop

Nails - Topshop 'Lead', Sephora by OPI 'Only Gold For Me'

Necklace - Tatty Devine