Month by Numbers: old friends, old exes, old patriarchal shit

7 favourites...

1.) I rung in the 2017 with some of my oldest friends. 2016 was a bit of a tough one, but it's heart-warming and comforting to know that people can grow up and further away, but that doesn't necessarily mean you grow apart. 

2.) To beat the January blues, I got the opportunity to go see Cirque Du Soleil's Amaluna show and I was completely blown away by the bedazzling and jaw-dropping talent. It also made me want to finally sign up for those ariel acrobat classes, but that's another story. I also went to see one of my friend's band. They all work 9-5 jobs but they're also following their passion. The crowds are getting bigger and bigger names are noticing them. Morale of the story to both of these shows kids? Follow your heart and follow your dreams y'all.

3.) Everyone has highs and lows in their work life, but undoubtedly the no.1 high is the work family I've gained. Not only do they turn dreading my commute, into looking forward to chatting all kinds of ridiculous rubbish with them in the office, but I've gained a whole bunch of new friends who inspire me, support me and encourage me (whether that be in work or to drink)

4.) An old flame of mine got in touch with me out of the blue. He called time out on our relationship, and after 6 months of silence and moving on, he decided to call once again. This time on my phone. I don't know what his intentions were or the words he had to say, and I gave up sticking around to find out when we parted ways, so I guess I'll never know what he wanted to say.

5.) You know what? We should all take random days off work more often. I did for a friend's birthday and we just wandered around London without feeling like we were running late for work. We drank hot chocolate that was 90% toasted marshmallow, and we went to the You Say You Want A Revolution? exhibition at the V&A. Yes it was about the music and fashion of the the 60s, but what I didn't expect was for it to go into the social issues and movements of that time too, which seem more relevant in this current moment in time in society, than ever.  

6.) The Women's March left me feeling proud, united and hopeful in humanity and the scary uncertainty of the future. There were people of all genders, ethnicities, ages and walks of life, caring about, well...people. And that's all it is people!

7.)To me, Chinese New Year every year means family time, tons of food and the tradition of receiving money in red packets (which I don't think I'll ever get bored of)
But, every year, I want to learn more about my heritage, and do so over a bottle of red wine with my dad. Basically, it's like a 2nd Christmas for me and I'm more than OK with that.

5 tweets...

1.) "I've started off the new year w/fizz, a puppy, chanting 'Stoke' @robbiewilliams on the tv & my tit tape sweating off #Hello2017"
2.) "I'm having pigs in blankets withdrawal symptoms "
3.) "Newbie at boxing yday came up to me at the end saying 'thanks for being a cheerleader when I was struggling!' Girls are THE BEST "
4.) "My thai green curry has gone pink cus I put red cabbage on it. Pretty on-brand tbh "
5.) "Friends say I'm more youth-like than usual this week. Strange as I've said sensible things: 'My side hustle is so extra, it's gonna be lit'"

3 songs....
1.) Ed Sheeran - Shape of You

He's back, and with a funky and sultry sound. And I'm a big fan of this and it's flirty lyrics.

2.) Childish Gambino - Redbone

If this doesn't make you want to snog the person you fancy all over, then I don't think you're listening to it right.

3.) Snakehips and MØ - Don't Leave

This sounds gorgeous and the lyrics are oddly heartbreaking. All the feels, all at the same time.

Just a small, town girl...

For the past 2 weeks, I've been on a placement at a national magazine in London, and as if I didn't love the capital enough already when I lived there for my fashion internship, my love for it grew to a dangerous level this time...

I used to hate the city. It was too busy, everyone was always in a rush, I didn't understand the underground, everything was too expensive, and I didn't like how every person on the train didn't say 'Hi' to one another...

But just like people grow and change, their perceptions and aspirations do too, and my god, I cannot wait to be in the centre of this bustling environment now...get me down there ASAP!

Bauer towers, the office I was at, was based in Camden, and if you just skipped across the road, you'd find yourself at the Camden Lock canal. And everyday, I was armed with my lunch and my book of the moment and spent an hour soaking up the British sunshine, and it was glorious!
Bella was such a great enviroment to be working in, and as I often feel like I'm playing catch up with the rest of my coursemates when it comes to journalism, this give me a confident boost, and made me more ambition and wanted to chase after that career that I dream of, more than ever.

In lil' ol' London town,
There's always lots to do...

I met up with a friend, who found out on Twitter that there was an event at Selfridges to celebrate Magnums' 25th birthday, where you could make your own personal Magnum! As well as metallic and glamorous displays, there was a smorgasbord of toppings you could choose from, to sprinkle onto your Magnum, made up of your own chocolate combination. I went for cinnamon sugar, popping candy and silver leaf. As much as that sounds like a tooth cavity waiting to happen, it was one of the most fun and tasty ice lollies that I've had....I'm drooling now as I look at the picture...

There's always lots to see...

I've had tickets booked to go to the Wedding Dress exhibition at the V&A for a while now, with 2 of my old housemates and closest friends. And when I found out Kate Moss' dress was going to be there - which makes my heart flutter and what my dress dreams are made of - I couldn't wait to go, and it did not disappoint. It had everthing from the history and evolution of 

wedding dresses, to celebrity ones and how they differ in different cultures. And before I met up with my friends for that, I popped on over to the Quentin Blake exhibition at the newly opened House of Illustration by Kings Cross. It was so interesting to see how those drawings that I cherished while growing up, were developed and created. And with a trip to China Town, some strolls through Kensignton, and a secret garden discovered, I couldn't think of anywhere else I wanted to be at the point.

There's always lots to feast on...

Bad news for my tummy! Or good news, as I ate everything from cupcakes and cheesecake slices from the Hummingbird bakery and creamy milkshakes, to a sophisticated lunch of charcuterie and cheese boards with a glass of champagne and Dim Sum with blossoming jasmine tea, to just a FEAST of Brazilian barbecued meat. And it'd it all again. In a heartbeat.

There's always lots to shop as well (bad news for my bank account unfortunately)...

From the great British high-street, to market stalls and even a spot of fabric shopping from an iconic department store...my wallet took a bit of a battering...

And most importantly of all, there were lots of lovely guys and gals to share it all with!

As well as meeting lots of great new people at my workplace, I caught up with family that I don't see as much as I should, childhood school friends that make me feel like no time has passed, old housemates who I've spent many a night playing stupid pranks with, and newer housemates who I've spent this past year with.

It seems just like yesterday that I was writing about how scared and excited I was to move to a new city and move to Sheffield. And now as I type this, my room looks like a tornado has hit it as I try and pack up my life and move out - and it's been one of the happiest, hardest-working and mostly, most fun years of my life so far. And if that's what a year in Sheffield had in store, I can't wait to see what my life has in store for me when I move to face the real world (I can't believe I've been in education for so long!)

This post is a little bit different - a little update if you will! (Do you like posts like these?!)

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon!

A.x

We could be heroes, Just for one day

I'm sure most of you have seen that David Bowie is the starring in Louis Vuitton's new campaign, set in the apt and stunning city of Venice, and the whole short film is just an absolute dream.

With Arizona Muse strutting in and making an entrance, David Bowie follows to serenade her with his legenadary tones, while tinkling on the piano, while they are surrounded by a part of whimsical and weird affairs.

As if David Bowie didn't have style icon status already, being the King of re-invention and pushing boundaries, sporting everything from eye patches to the instantly recognizable lightning bolt. David, along with flame-haired persona of Ziggy Stardust, has always used his clothes as a tool of self-expression, whether that be the most glittering and fabulously sparkling pair of platforms your eyes have ever seen, or the trousers so tight that they'd give Mick Jagger a run for his money.

The 66-year old is just as talented, amazing and relevant nowadays, as he was back in his prime, so much so that the V&A recently just gave him his own exhibition, and now with this prestigious honor from Louis Vuitton, David Bowie shows now sign of stopping anytime soon in the style stakes. Now only that, but with his most recent album being a critically acclaimed success, that was Mercury Prize nominated and a personal love of mine at the moment as well, he's not slowing down on the music scene either.

Check out the campaign underneath if you haven't done already, what do you think of Bowie's style and longevity?

Sources: bbc online, guardian online & elle uk

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x