Month by Numbers: gals & good times

7 favourites...

1.) One of the reasons I love my job so much is because of the people. So when there's a chance to drink and be merry with said people, that's time well spent, especially when that day is Valentines Gal-entines Day. A day of love spent with my loves!
 And you can beat anytime that the Bella Babes are out on the town, there's bond to be prosecco, espresso martinis, Instagrams on fleek, laughing in unison and hazy memories the next day.

2.) Continuing on my bid to see more of the country I live in, I headed to Oxford to spend some time with some of my favourite uni babes, and Oxford just happens to be the same distance for all of us to travel. We ate, we drank, we wondered around feeling uber-British and we climbed up a castle in the rain. Time. Well. Spent.

3.) I got my bake on this month y'all. Because when you need to bake a surprise cake for your bff's birthday, only a chocolate cake with Nutella frosting and a peanut butter glaze will do. Oh, and covered in gold stars and glitter of course. 

And would you just LOOK at this bad boy! Not only is it the first time I've ever made a swiss roll (hence some cracks on it...don't worry, just throw some glitter on it, that's what I do for everything else in life anyway), but it's drench in motherflipping emojis. You're welcome. 

4.) If you know me in any capacity, you'll know how much I love Adele. She's gotten me over heartbreaks and gotten me into sassy 'over you' mode. She's hilarious, engaging, has ALL the emotions and let's not even get started on her voice. 

So when she won Best Album at the Grammys and said she couldn't accept her award because she though Beyonce deserved it, and then shared her award with her Cady Heron outta Mean Girls style? Well, my love for her just went up another level. 

5.) After nearly 3 years of living in London, I finally got round to seeing some of the iconic sights. And all it took was for a London newbie to move into town so I could use the excuse to show them around. Lizzie was in the royal house and Big Ben was chiming. 

6.) And on the flipside of all the London tourist sights is all the greenery that the big smoke has to offer. Some Sheffield huns came down to visit and we spent all day just meandering around Hampstead Heath, coo-ed at all the doggos, sang Disney songs, and the sun even came out for the occasion. 

7.) Social media is fucking great. Not a surprising statement to make from this millennial here, I know. But there I was, scrolling away, and then came across someone sharing some pretty badass t-shirts, and as a slogan tee obsessive, I clicked on it straight away. But they were so much more than a sassy slogan tee. Lolli, aka Girl Stole London, is the genius behind these tees, and also the babe that is kicking cancer in the tits. She writes about her battle in a really honest, real and hilarious way in which her personality really shines. As someone who's seen their loved one go through cancer, it can be scary and you can have fear instilled into you constantly and it's refreshing to hear about it from a down-to-earth and logical way (read more here boo).

So if you love a slogan tee as much as I do, get one from here, look great with 25% of proceeds going toward Breast Cancer Haven, do a great thing while doing so.

5 tweets...

1.) Work wifey @anna_tabs: "I'm looking at houses to buy" 

Me: "...I'm looking for lace0up bodysuits to buy" 

2.) Woman in the office: 'you always wear nice clothes, I have wardrobe envy!' Girl, I've been curating that shit all my life 

3.) I'm wearing a mini-skirt & the lipliner is ON...I think I'm over the worst of the illness guys! 

4.) Booking a Jacqueline Wilson event & drinking honey & lemon, while in my boxing kit listening to Skepta...I'm multi-faceted ok 

5.) Finished a double page health & diet feature at work, just in time for cake o'clock 

3 songs...

1.) Katy Perry - Chained to the Rhythm

This pop bish is back y'all, and doing what she does best. Good, ol' pop, but this time with an important message to say along with the catchy tune.

2.) DJ Khaled, Beyonce & Jay-Z - Shining

All the swag you could ask for to accompany you on your morning commute.

3.) Starley - Call On Me

This makes me so ready for summer, WHERE ARE THOU?!

Month by Numbers: brunch, birthdays & babes

You know when I decided to do weekly favourites? Yeah, well, who was I kidding - we all know that I was gonna fall behind on that so let's start afresh and turn this into a monthly thing yeah? Because, you know, life and shit like that tends to get in the way.

7 favourites..

1.) I've been counting down the hours until it was December 1st and I could whack out ALL the Christmas jumpers and put Mariah Carey on full blast, but that did mean that I had to say bye to a homely November that was filled with wintery frolics and old-school memories.

2.) One of the highlights of the whole month, was when I went to brunch. Yes. A meal was a highlight of mine and I'll tell you for why - it had been in the diary for about 3 months, it was with 3 of my dearest friends from Uni and it was at an absolute dreamy, tropical, palace. We went to Bourne & Hollingsworth near Farringdon and many a yummy treat were had: cripsy potato hash, bacon, maple syrup, french toast, salon, hollandaise sauce, and of course, bottomless bellinis. It was such a lovely day of chatting and wondering around the festive lights of London and it felt like no time had gone since we finished Uni together 3 years ago.

3.) And Uni friends aren't the only ones I've been catching up with as it was my 5-year school reunion and it was weird and wonderful all at the same time to walk back through those school days and share a glass of wine with the teachers that used to tell me to stop chatting so much in class. What it really made me realised is that everyone has taken so very different paths in their lives and you know what? Everyone's just happy for everyone and no-one's judging one another for what they have or haven't done - you do you babes, you're doing fab.

4.) Ok, so I know it's only just turned December BUT I've had the festive spirit bubbling under me for a while now, so it's hardly surprising that before the festive month had even arrived, I'd already indulged in twinkly lights, the Coca-Cola truck, and eggnog cocktails while roasting marshmallows in front of an open fire on a rooftop Wig Wam bar.

5.) And with friends, comes family, and this month saw the 3rd birthday of the youngest munchkin in the Lo family and as my nephew ran around with excitement ripping open presents, I fully indulged in some priceless Lo family time (as well as eating all the jelly and ice-cream on offer of course)

6.) But it's not just birthdays that means loads of Lo love. I spent a whole week fulfilling Aunty Amy duties. In case you don't know what that entails, it means drawing ice-cream shops, giving piggy-back rides, watching cartoons and playing hide-and-seek (which can prove to be rather difficult when you're a grown adult and the only places you can really hide is behind doors and the side of beds.)

7.) The soundtrack of my November has mainly consisted of 3 albums: Adele, Justin Bieber and Tame Impala. And lucky me is going to see one of them next year! (Can you guess which one?)

5 tweets...

1.) Honestly, one of my worst traits EVER is video snapchatting when I'm out and drunk...

2.) Oh GOD I've got a sore throat. This is it guys. This is the beginning of the end. Crack open the Lemsip and blankets.

3.) The past 2 weeks have been pretty indulgent in terms of calories, alcohol & my bank account. Oops.  #winterbulking

4.) Can't stop eating gherkins today. Gross but delicious (story of my life)

5.) Listening to #Adele25 and I keep staring meaningfully out of the window as I travel through London

3 outfits...

tshirt:Topshop, skirt:Topshop, boots:Daisy Street, coat:Missguided, sunglasses:RayBans

Even when you're a 23-year-old adult, you can put on a t-shirt that Lizzie McGuire would've worn and a long ol' shearling coat that looks like it came out of a S Club 7 Christmas music video to take on the day. Over the knee boots and wrap around icy blue skirt are perfect to make this into an ice princess outfit (grey dip-dye hair and fits of giggles optional)

LEFT- jumper:& Other Stories, skirt:Topshop RIGHT- dress:Topshop, boots:ASOS

Winter also means the time for jumpers, and what better knitwear to snuggle up in that a navy blue number with gold stars - I'd fit right in with a Christmas nativity don't you think? Paired with a furry leopard print mini skirt and a high ponytail and you've got yourself a pretty sassy ensemble.

Not quite as sassy as channeling your inner Posh Spice though in a cheeky cut-away LBD and black over the knee boots. Hi-Ce-Ya, hold tight!

Until next time,

A.x

Week by Numbers: underground secrets & fun by letters

Hope you'e all been enjoying the long weekend and having lots of Easter fun, you lil' bunnies!
Netflix marathons and copious amounts of travelling have meant that this week by numbers is more or a fortnight by numbers, but hey, I won't tell if you don't.

7 favourites...

 

1.) First of all, how on EARTH is it April already?! I've always loved April - not only because it's the month of my birthday (HOLLERRR) - but because to me, it's the beginning of Spring, flowers blossoming, the sun making more of an appearance. But before I jump into April, here's what my March looked like.

2.) Anyone who knows me knows that one of my favourite movies is Clueless. And it's not just cus of the killer outfits that I wish I had and could disect for hours. It's based on Jane Austen's 'Emma', it's nostalgic, and is so damn quote-able! So when my bestie told me that it was being played at an underground cinema where seats are massive bean-bag-beds and blankets, I was there in a flash. 

There was pillows, and afterwards, board games and ice-cream cocktails were had. A perfect playdate, defo.

3.) I bought an alphabet necklace and it's the best £3 I've ever spent. I can express my philosopical musings and emotions solely via my neck from now on.

I need never express my feelings verbally again!

4.) I'm a sucker for different cases for my phone. And I unfortunately go for novelty and design over practicality and protection, every time. And this newest member of the family, may be the most ridiculous of them all - and I bloody love it.

5.) My nephew and niece came to visit, so I was faced with a very tough conundrum when one of them wanted me to play MarioKart with them, and the other wanted me to make Disney Princess bracelets with them. It was a dilemma I tells ya. Of course, I zoomed round course throwing red shells, whilst wearing a Cinderella beaded beauty around my wrist.

6.) I cannot stop wearing/buying/being drawn to suede and denim at the moment. I have enough denim jackets and dungarees at my disposal to dress a 90s pop band, but I keep trying on more. And this lime-yellow suede skirt is my new BFF - soz rest of my wardrobe - but may also take the making taking care of. Rain, spillages and accidents, STEP AWAY FROM THE SUEDE.

7.) I went a bit overboard with the festively-themed nails. Which is something that happens more than it should. Speckled mini-egg anyone?

3 thoughts...

"Clueless, is truly, fabulous."

"Is Adele coming back yet? PLEASE."

"AHHH IT'S HAPPENED - THEY'RE ENGAGED! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!"

1 outfit...

dress:Topshop, shoes:ASOS, necklace:Topshop

I went out (OUT-out) in the town that I grew up. It was a last-min affair, so I peeled my sweats off me and grabbed a LBD. Since pastels and swishing around are my fave things, a bodycon little black dress is something that you'll rarely see me in, but hey, variety's the spice of life right? I felt ridiculously old amongst teenagers, and at the same time, like I had taken a time machine back to when I was 17 and underage drinking. But it was a jolly way to spend a Good Friday nontheless. That's what Easter's for, right? 

Stay Happy!

Until next time,

A.x

We were born & raised, In a summer haze

Do you ever have one of those night where you watch a video YouTube, and there's that bar of related videos down the side, and you think, "oh, i'll just watch this video too....just one more", and before you know it, you've clicked on your 20th video and you've ended up watching a cat jumping into a box, when what you started off with was a cover of a Lordes song...

Well, this happens to me on a regular basis. I fall into the Youtube trap so much, and before I know it, it's 1am and the article I promised myself that I would finish is still a half-done string of words.

This is exactly what happened the other night, but what I ended up watching at the end ofthe line wasn't some furry animal, but a lioness with luscious locks and lungs of steel.

I watched Adele live at the Royal Albert Hall, which I actually hadn't seen before but heard nothing but amazing things about, and, just....WOW.

Her songs get played so much I think it's easy to forget sometimes just how outstanding her voice is. She belts out those notes with what seem like such ease, and her lyrics are so beautiful and human that you can relate with so much, it sometimes feels like she's written about your own life.

Watching her live is absolutely mesmerizing. he can tell each lyric she sings is dripping wth passion and emotion, and is taking her back to that very moment when she wrote them.

And obviously, I'm not the only one who thinks she's the bee's knees...

She has such a great raport with her audience and is such a joker you can't help but to cackle along with her. She seems down to earth, sat there drinking her mug of hot honey, it feels like a friend has invited you round to catch up and chat, but then the music starts and this majestic, sophisticated, elegant and glamourous eagle just soars.

Also, how amazing doe her hair look?! I have complete envy! How is it even possible t have that much and volume and curls so bouncy!?

Not only is her voice stuning, but she always looks it too, with her smouldering smoky eyes and tousled hair.

                                 

She's found what works for her and plays around with dark and myterious dresses that shimmer across the stage. I love her style and how much it suits her. It's a kind of old-fashioned glamour that you really don't see too much of these, in the world of mid-riff bared twerking where sex always seems to sell. There is a simple yet extravagant elegance about Adele that remains.

                 

I can't wait to see what she does next and for her to come back, and I'm gonna have my fingers crossed that I can go see her perform live with my own 2 eyes!

Are you a Adele lover? (how could you not be?!)   What your favourite song of hers?

image sources: vogue, yahoo fashion, outnet, tumblr

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon,
A.x