Month by Numbers: Kylie, Kiss-mas & Kicking Back

With December being the festive season of gifts, drinking and eating until you resemble a pig in a blanket, it was a hella hectic month, broken up by a stint of Crimbo limbo where you do nothing but sit on the sofa and only move to grab another chocolate out of the Quality Street tin - and it looked a little something like this...

7 favourites...

1.) When I set myself a goal to document more little bits and moments of my life this time last year, I didn't actually think I'd stick it out for the whole 12 months! (My attention span isn't the best..) But Even if it's just me and my odd cousin who I don't really talk to anymore watches it, I've loved doing it and it's made me see my day-to-day life in a different and more creative way. And it gives me a outlet for all the random bits of clips that I record or save from my Snapchat story - they're not just wasting away on my hard-drive. Here's my December and last mini documentary of 2015: there was lots of family time and lots of festive fairy lights.

2.) I love getting post, and I wish I got more or sent more. Maybe it's because it's the festive season, or cus my friends are just thoughtful munchkins, but I came home from work to find quite the few Christmas cards - from friends at home to friends on the other side of the world - and even a little letter just to say hi. Everytime I saw an envelope with my name on and ripped it open to read what was inside, I was grinning like a Cheshire cat and my heart felt all warm & fuzzy. So maybe this year will be the year I get my pen & paper out...

3.) One of the massive perks of my job is getting tickets to go see something that I might not necessarily have been able to or have thought about going to. And one of occasions is when I got to see the pop princess that is Kylie Minogue perform a one-off Christmas spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall with my bestie. It was one big camp, colourful and carasmatic Christmas party, and I left feeling hysterical, overjoyed and exhausted in equal measures (and with no voice...)

4.) If you know me, I'm all about the activities. Yeah yeah, going for a drink or a coffee is all perfectly well and good, but why would I want to go for a flat white when I can skating on the ice white? And with festivities well and truly in full swing for the festive season, I did everything from skating - roller AND ice - to going to Christmas markets and pop-up versions of Tokyo. 

5.) Budapest was the perfect winter getaway - filled with twinkly lights, beautiful buildings & hot coco that essentially was jut melted chocolate (which was completely necessary in the cold & rain). Sights were seen, wine was drank and many miles were walked. Budapest? You were the Buda-best!

6.) Christmas means home. But not driving home for Christmas a la Chris Rea cus, y'know...trains and shit, but every time I come back home and see my family and catch up with my friends, my heart feels all warm and fuzzy inside. 

7.) And speaking of Christmas, what a Christmas it's been this year. This year, I felt well and truly excited and content at the same time. Food, family and fun is what it's all about, and everything else on top of that is just a brilliant extra. Now I have little niece and nephews running around putting cookies out for Santa and ecstatic for the morning of the 25th, it makes the festive season all that more magical.

5 tweets...

"I've eaten a mince pie every day of December so far - Christmas is off to a 

brilliant start y'all "

"Listening to @britneyspears as I do yoga is making me feel sassy & serene in equal measures "

"Pretty sure at this festive point my blood stream is 70% mulled wine, 20&% gin & 10% glitter "

"Oh man! Dude on the train just sprayed an aftershave that smells just like my ex. Definitely don't miss the ex but god I do miss that scent"

"Today's the first time in about 6 days I've not had red lipstick on. Feels strange "

3 outfits... 

dress:ASOS, skirt:Mango

I spent most of the month looking like some form of wintery ice queen. Whether that's in a sparkly and bejewelled dress to honour the pop princess that is Kylie Minogue when you go see her festive spectacular. Or covered in a wool and shimmering textured mad mess of a skirt with complimenting glittery nails. 

top:Nasty Gal, skirt:Mango, boots:Daisy Street, earrings:New Look

Or you could just go all out with your trusty fluffy and shimmering skirt once again, with a low-cut, flared sleeved top (did someone say ABBA?) Add some equally as fluffy pom-pom earrings and some knee high boots for good measure and BAM! You've got yourself a snow angel. Extra festive points for icy silver hair.

Until next time,

A.x

Think Pink

So if you haven't looked out of the window, or don't live in the UK, a crisp, clean, white sheet of snow has fallen and covered everything, turning even the daily walk to uni, into a magical, winter wonderland.

It came down pretty hard and was not stopping on Monday while i was in uni, so in m lunch break, the big kid within me just couldn't hold in the excitement any longer and me and some friends went outside for a little frolic in the snow.

It was like being a kid again for a brief moment, in the midst of all the hectic work. Sometimes i feel a bit sad, as silly as it sounds, that people moan about snow and how much of a hassle it is. And it is, it's a bitch to drive in, public transport is all out of whack and everything is, well...just a bit more of a hassle. But it's so magical! When that first snowflake falls down, everyone gets a sparkle of excitement in their eye, and there is just nothing like it. It brings back all those childhood memories you had building snowmen and sledging, when you didn't have to deal with the hassle that comes with it. So in my head, i just think, why not enjoy it like you used to?!

A few snowballs were thrown and it was still coming down like no-body's business, so after a short while, back in we went to thaw out.

Coat: New Look, Jumper: Laura Ashley, Skirt: Urban Outfitters, Hat: Accessorize, Belt: Asos

I must have been channeling 15-year old me that day, as i had a lot of girly pink donned on me. Also i find too much of this pink can be a bit sickly, I love pastels and i thought it looked so serene amongst the crisp white background of the snow. This skirt is one of those items of clothing that I've had for quite a long time, but have forgotten about and recently discovered how much i love it once again. The watercolour effect is so pretty and reminds me of oriental artwork.

I also like the subtle bits of glitter that glimmer in this jumper, not too different from the snow and ice sparkling outside.

My friend, Hannah, also pointed out how my outfit kind of slotted in nicely with my work and wall space, which made me think that m work may be subconsciously taking over my life more than i thought!

I hope you're all wrapping up warm, as there apparently seems to be more snow heading this way, and hope that you got a cheeky play in the snow too ;)

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

Baby it's cold outside...

I am a big Christmas person, so i get into the festive move pretty early on and it is just getting more and more intense as Christmas draws nearer. So, with my festive jumper protecting me, i braved the cold.

On my way into uni today with Hannah, the backdrop was just beautiful. The was frost caressing every twig and leaf on the trees, and it was just so goregously wintery, like it was right out of a christmas card scene.

Along with a fetive jumper, that has carefully placed sequins and beads that sparkle like fairy lights, i also wore a skirt that just sums up winter and Christmas for me.

With strands of wool and golden threads running through it, i love the texture and look of this skirt and is unlinke anything that i own.

Hannah was also wrapped up warm in her cozy grey coat from Zara looking snug, with her leather rucksack in tow, ready for any frosty, fun adventure.

Walking through this racecourse everday, sometimes i forget how lovely the nature is within it. The weather just enhanced this and altough it may not be the Taj Mahal, it definitely shoudl be not taken for granted.

Do you look forward to the winter weather and have yoru fingers crossed for snow? Or do you find it more of a pain and a hindrence?

Coat: New Look, Jumper: Monsoon, Skirt: Mango, Faux fur collar: Coast, Boots: Timberland

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

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Hi all!

So the festive period is creeping up! I love Christmas, it's such a wonderful time of the year and for me is all about spending time with all the family :) Christmas shopping has been bought and i think I've been enjoying wrapping them up a bit too much, sometimes i think i enjoy giving gifts to others more than i do receiving...is that normal?! As nice as it is to recieve gifts, i love finding items that i think a certain person would like, and i love wrapping them up all nice with ribbons and the whole she-bang!

To get me even MORE into the festive spirit though, 2 of my housemates and i went along to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park in London, and if you haven't been before, i highly suggest you do if you love all things Christmas!

There was everything from creepy Santas and fake snow, to cute-as-a-button tree decorations and personalised cookies. There's all so much yummy food that you're stomach won't know what to do! I enjoyed a spicy german hotdog, a heart-warming cup of cocoa, and sinfully delicious churros drenched in dark chocolate.

If you go, i suggest you wrap up warm and the weather is getting evermore chilly!

While i was in London, i also finally got to go to the Hollywood Costume exhibition at the V&A, which i would say to anyone that if you get the chance you definitely should go! It was honestly one of the best exhibitions i have ever been to. It wasn't merely just costumes on models, it was a complete experience and there was something for everyone, there was elderly people there reminiscing back to the silent screen era, kids being amazed by Darth Vader's armour, guys wishing they were Spiderman, Batman and every superhero in between, and girly girls at heart swooning over Satine's costume from Moulin Rogue and Natalie Portman's tutu from Black Swan. Not only was it mind-blowing to know that these costumes were in some of the most iconic films and some of my all-time favourite movies, but the way it was all set out was phenomenal, with scripts and sketches whizzing about on projected tables, and images of the actors flickering with the costumes. There was interviews playing of costume designers and actors and there was so much background information about them also. At the end, the pieces that everyone was waiting for, Dorothy's gingham dress and ruby slippers from Wizard of Oz, and Marylin Monroe's iconic white dress. They were absolutely incredible to see in real life and to think that these talented and beautiful women of the past were once in these pieces. Unfortunately i have no images as photography wasn't permitted.

Have you been to the exhibition? What was your favourite parts?

And are you in the Christmas spirit?! Or is all the festivities a bit too much for you?

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