Week by Numbers: culture vulture & pop princess

IT'S OCTOBER HOW ON EARTH DID THAT HAPPEN. While I freak out over how quick time's going, the weeks have just completely bypassed me and before I knew it, it's not a week by numbers anymore, it's just recently by numbers. So without further ado...

7 favourites...

1.) This was my September. It's filled with family reunions, odd exhibitions and confusing feelings about relationships and dating.

2.) Two of my friends from school came down to visit me in London, and they're the first ones to do so, so it was really nice to kinda bring my old home to my new home. Both being rugby fans, we went to the pub to watch England play - and sadly ultimately lose - against Australia. Despite feeling a bit confused at what on earth was going on watching my first ever rugby match, the night completely spiralled out of control from a couple of pints at the pub to tequila shots and dancing to Depeche Mode. And my god, was it glorious.

3.) How did a weekly tv programme about baking become such a vital part of my week? With me and my flatmate making something every week in the theme with the show, the final was worthy of a four-tiered, pinata filled, ombre cake. It lasted a whole week in our flat. It was a monster. I know it's just a show about cakes but it's so not - it unites the whole nation together is such a ridiculous and stereotypically British way and produces wonderful quotes from wonderful people like this:

4.) The words 'Britney Vs. Beyonce night out' is like music to my ears. So when a night out consisted of exactly that, I immediately got my best Britney gear out and was more excited than a kid at Christmas. I was doing body rolls and arm pops in the club like nobody's business - THE CORRS WAS EVEN PLAYED. It felt like a school disco and it was brilliant. 

5.) Recently I made my way to The Strand to see the Louis Vuitton Series 3 exhibition, and it interesting to say the least. Forget your standard views of what you thought exhibitions were like - this had mirrored rooms with flashing lights, catwalks shown in a room full of screens and a live workshop or artisans constructing LV products. Oh, and I think i've got the LV Parisian posing down haven't I?

6.) My mum and dad have been away in Hong Kong for 5 weeks, and even thought I've gone that long without seeing them before, with them not having internet access there, I forget how easy we have it now when it comes to communication. Needless to say I missed them like mad and FaceTimed them as soon as they got home.

7.) I'm on a bit of a hair journey at the moment. Apart from a few regrettable blonde highlights and my on-off fringe that I got cut because of Zooey Deschanel, I've not really been that experimental with my hair. It's pretty much just been long and the same since I was 15, so, I'm having a bit of fun now - and I'm dead excited, like.

3 tweets...

"My flatmate gives stellar love advice: "tell him it's waiting his texts and YOUR time" she says while slipping her shades on. SASS "

"Just woke up to be told I'm 'more of a girl than @JessicaMPlatt will ever be' & shown a video of me drunk singing by @joannaolivia92"

"Am loving the combo of legs out, long autumn coat and sunglasses on right now. This British autumn weather man "

1 outfit... 

top:ASOS, skirt:Girls on Film, shoes:Topshop

So a Britney vs. Beyonce night out is worthy of a Britney-poptastic outfit right? That's why the metallic leather mini skirt was whipped out along with the fluffy heels. Add a sassy side-swept style into the mix and you're set for your school disco girl.

 Oh, and some glitter on your face is always a must.

Stay happy!
Until next time...
A.x

September scarves & sillyness

Autumn is well and truly here. And for the first time EVER - I'm welcoming it with open arms.

Being a proper summer bunny, usually when the temperature and the leaves start to fall, I am clutching onto those last few rays of summer sun and refuse to give into the cold.

But this year, I'm saying 'yes' to the open fires, 'yes' to long coats and 'yes' to being wrapped up in layers.

And what better layer than the humble scarf? Seriously, where would me and my cold neck be without you?

Whether to top off a school-girl worthy denim ensemble - complete with rucksack - or fluffy enough to brighten up any pint-sized outfit

Outfits with all the fiesty skirts a girl could own may I add - leopard print and pink leather? Yeah, go on then.

And the perfect way to top such outfits? With your trusty hat of course - instant chic points, zero effort into doing your hair. Win-win all round.

But when those glimpses of sun still do manage to peep through, make sure you're got your glittery sunglasses and a plait in your hair before you leave the door. Oh, and any kind of floral dress will gain you compliments of lovely elderly women at the park.

If you thought September was all about the autumnal cover ups though, how wrong you were. September's just as silly as the rest of the year.

Enter, the glittery lucky cat bag. Putting the fun in functional!

And all sensible layers can be removed when it comes to bedtime in exchange for the most fun and flirty pjs you ever did see.

And yeah sure, when England rains, it really rains, but who needs a boring waterproof when you can have a yellow fisherman's jacket to shield you from the weather?

Oh, and looking like a french ballerina is always an option for work if you've got your blue stripes and lilac tutu to hand.

And if not, then get ready to go back-to-school with a polka dot heart shirt, topped off with your denim dungaree skirts.

Add in a swishy and sassy ponytail and your light-up rollerskates and you're ready to take on the world.

And anyone who tells you otherwise? Well, you can just tell them to kiss your sweet behind!

Stay happy!

Until next time..

A.x

16 signs that you're morphing into a Londoner

The other day, as I got to the platform feeling a bit bleary-eyed after a couple of drinks after work, all I dreamt of was getting home and collapsing onto my bed...only to just to see the train pull away.
"No biggie" I thought, and looked up to the board to see the next one was in 3 minutes.
Three. Whole. Minutes. What.
 Before I knew it, I found myself puffing and sighing under my breath. And at that point I know what had happened. Yep. I'd turned into a flipping Londoner.

And that's not the only glimpse that I've had that I've realised that I'm morphing into a one of those city types down in that there London...

1.) You become REAL impatient

We may be the nation that queues, but just like the 3 minute tube incident, you just ain't got no time for anyone or anything. Someone walking slightly slower than you in front of you? You overtake with fury while all that poor sucker was doing was enjoying the sights of their holiday.

2.) "Sorry, I'm busy this weekend - I'm off to another pop-up activity/exhibition/bar"

Yep. Welcome to the club. You've become one of those dickheads who does wacky and ridiculously niche things but you just can't help it. THERE'S JUST SO MUCH FUN TO BE HAD DAGNAMMIT!

3.) To the left, to the left
You find yourself judging people who are standing at on the left hand side of the escalator

"Move to the right hand side of the escalator please people! I'm running 5 mins late to work and I'm carrying a bag with a my packed lunch and an umbrella in it and I'm not afraid to use it!"

That is, until the one time you rush down the left hand side and get your bag caught and end up tumbling down them in a sitcom fashion. Yep. That happened.

4.) You get angry at people who don't Oyster card out and ready

You know there's going to be a gate you have to go through, right? But then you feel instantly terrible because it's just a poor parents who taken their kids down to see all the sites for the weekend, and as if keeping 2 kids in order wasn't overwhelming enough, they now have you tutting at them for not having their ticket out RIGHT AWAY. Shame on you.

5.) You avoid Oxford Street like the plague

Imma stay at home and buy that birthday present online thanks. I'll just end up angry, irritated and being a moody cow adn no-one wins.

6.) Everything's either too far or just down the line

"You're East? Oh, I'm West...yeah...sorry, this isn't going to work out between us. It's not you, it's me. No wait. IT'S LONDON." But while my love life might have taken a few hits through Zone dilemmas, apparently I will travel far and wide for food and booze. Food festival all the way over at Ally Pally? Karaoke in Hoxton? Gin bar in Greenwich?? I'm there! Just give me 45 minutes...

7.) Remember that thing called personal space? 

That vanished long ago when that drunk guy on the tube feel asleep on your shoulder, or when you your face got pushed up into that person's armpit on your commute.

8.) You dread people outside of London asking you about rent

While you think you're rent's pretty decent talking to others in London, as soon as you leave the big smoke bubble, you realise that it's not.... Yes, I know that with the amount I pay I could probably put a down-payment on a house and get on the property ladder somewhere else in the country, but right now in my life, there's no place I'd rather live and frolic around in. You do you, I'll do me, kay?

9.) Your concept of what's affordable is messed up

"£2 for a bottle of water?! That's preposterous! Water's a human right!.....£20 for a mini lobster burger dipped in a wasabi mayo and a pint? Oh, and there's a queue? Yeah sure!" Priorities am I right?...

10.) You're an absolute boss when it comes to walking

Didn't think there was anything more to walking than putting one foot in front of another? Well, no you dodge round people like it's a slalom course, pivoting on your feet and everything (glad to see those netball skills still come in use)

11.) You're a master of navigating your way home when you're drunk or hungover

Need to locate the nearest tube stop from the pub, get there before the last tube and in under the time that Google Maps that says it takes? No problem. Even after 5 G&Ts in, I promise we'll get there. It's amazing what auto-pilot mode you can get into when you've got booze on your side (or not in the case of the morning after the night before)

12.) That being said, you still rely on Citymapper like a bitch

I can confirm that it is possible to get lost using GPS, and for you to be 15 minutes late because you walked past the place you were supposed to be about 5 times before realising that you'd reached your destination.

13.) You DREAD seeing the 'seek assistance' sign flashing at the tube gate

Having to scour away from the gate and try another gate, or worse yet, having to find the staff while everyone tuts at you and walks into you. Getting heart palpitations just thinking about it...

14.) You have the superpower to Tetris-fit your way into any tube carriage

No matter how over-crowded it is, you'll find some way to fit yourself in there. Cus gosh darn-it, if you have to wait another 3 minutes for the next time...

15.) But equally, you get hella creeped out when a tube carriage is empty...

What in fresh hell is this ghost town?! It feels far too weird not having someone accidentally fall into me as the train stops - Is there a party going on that I missed a memo on...

16.) You say 'Have a nice day' and someone still seems surprised

You tell someone to have a lovely weekend, or ask that girl that her shoes are amazing, and they seem so shocked by olive branch of human contact that they're a bit taken aback. And then you realise you're not THAT terrible stereotype that everyone thinks people in London are like - you know the one where they think everyone's grumpy and no-one talks to one another?
 (Yeah, it's pretty much a load of boo hockey - yeah, some people ARE like that, but they're probably just mardy anyhow y'know?)

Yes you might run up the escalators like a man person to get to the tube, but you also run after that man in the park to tell him how cute his puppy is.

Until next time...

Speak happy!

A.x