Softly Softly

You know when you get one of those days that REALLY doesn't go to plan? Yeah, that would be yesterday. I got home from work expecting to be able to chill out and unwind but ended up with some unexpected stresses that had to be dealt with and it really dragged me down.

Pfft. The trials of being a grown up, eh? By the evening, thanks largely to the wonders of twitter and my ever understanding parents things were on the up and this morning I was able to dust my hands of the biggest problem!

It did give me some insight though, on how stress makes me view myself. Instantly I had gained 20lbs and was worthless. Instead of the strong, capable (and not every expanding) girl I had seen earlier that day.
A learning curve, for sure...and the residual negativity this morning I am pushing to one side and carrying on as usual.

Which brings me to my outfit,
the second item from Pixie Knitwear which no one guessed correctly! Most people thought I'd gone for the maxi dress, and whilst I did toy with that idea, I wanted to break out of my comfort zone a bit and go for something girly and feminine (and pale...I don't do pale, I drink too much black coffee and eat too much ketchup to do pale!)







And a close up of the tights, which were on super sale in Accessorize and I was forced in to buying by my shopping partner in crime (who knows who she is!)



I mentioned on twitter last night that I'm expanding my blogging horizons a bit and shall be venturing in to some food reviews soon. This is something I have wanted to do for a long time and I finally feel more comfortable in making it a regular thing. I hope you'll enjoy them and share some foodie favourites with me, too.

But before all that, comes a giveaway....that goes up tomorrow, watch this space!

xxx

P.S. Charli has featured me on her blog Feminine Bravery

I'm a Pixie Girl!

Helllooo! Happy Mid-Week! Allow me to introduce you to a new found wonder! PIXIE KNITWEAR

Please note the very exciting SALE sign that means you get pretties for less! As you know by now I am hopeless at descriptions so I will let the website speak for itself.

"Pixie is an independent UK based fashion label specialising in knitwear. Founded in 2008 Pixie was born on a foundation
of love for gorgeous, fun, great quality, sexy knitwear.

Always at the forefront of fashion, Pixie was snapped up in its first season by Topshop and stocked in its iconic Oxford Street
store. Pixie is now stocked in some of the best retailers from the UK through Europe, Canada and the USA.

Pixie is fast becoming the knitwear brand of choice for the fashion concious crowd as well as its celebrity followers from
Mischa Barton and Katie Price to Fearne Cotton, bloggers also love Pixie and can often be found styled up on lookbook nu"

I found Pixie through another blog that had recently featured them (speak up if it was you!) and started to stalk/follow them on twitter. The next day an e-mail popped up from the sweetheart brains behind the movement offering me the chance to try a couple of pieces from the store.

Here's a small sampling of the goods on offer!



These are the bold, graphic pieces from the collection...with my choices I decided to go down the softer, more girly look and I'm wearing one of those pieces today.

The Stripe and Bow Sweater (quite possibly the softest and most beautifully made sweater I have ever owned in my life)







Have you heard of Pixie Knitwear before?
Who wants to guess the second item that I picked?

xxx

Green with Envy

(Image from weheartit)

Top of my secret wish list this Spring is an allotment,
or at least a vegetable patch in my garden. I think there is nothing nicer than sitting down to a meal involving home grown fruit, vegetables or salads (my grandad grows the freshest tasting salad leaves and makes FRESH peppermint tea).

Is this likely to happen any time soon?
*shakes head*
I fail to look after a pot plant. I was bought a Gerbera last year. It died a rapid and painful death within a week.

I actually have seeds, in the garage, to grow in pots. Tasty things like pumpkin, rhubarb, strawberries...
dare I try and plant them? NO. I just can't take the heartbreak.

(note to self, ask Dad to plant them and claim all success for myself).

Every time a blogger mentions their gardening adventures, or an ex-neighbour brings round a stuffed veg box of home grown goodness I start to turn as green as the produce I've just laid eyes on. Maybe gardening skills will come with age...although memory deteriorates with age and this is my main downfall...
I'd have to set alarms to water the bloody plants.

Maybe this year though will be my year of joy...when I am proudly showing off home grown goodness later on the blog, just don't ask if it was grown by me or some un-suspecting friend/relative. Ignorance is bliss, ok?

How about you? Have you had any joy with growing vegetables?

I've just given myself the worst craving for (home grown) carrot cake.

xxx

Poor

Poor as in
"Poor excuse for a post"
"Poor picture quality thanks to the sun not raising it's head yet"
"Poor...because it's STILL not payday"
"Poor-ly; this cold aint budging.







But at the same time, I am RICH.

RICH because I have family who love me no matter what,
Friends that have stuck by me despite me not reciprocating even half of what they give.
Rich because this blog has led me to knowing some of the sweetest people out there, who have shown kindness beyond what I ever imagined existed.
Rich because I am alive and kicking to write this poor excuse for a post.
A year ago I made a decision.
It was the right one, not the easy one, it's been a long hard slog...but in the end I made it and it was worth every second.

There are a lot of sad people out there right now, who have been dragged down or who face uncertainty.
I WISH I could scoop you all up in to a massive group hug, but I can't.
Keep fighting loves, look deeper and see how rich you are...and don't ever give up the fight.

xxx

((Oh help, I'm turning in to a happy-clappy preacher, I'm sorry))

Variation on a Theme

In other words, this is my third day of wearing a floral dress.





Awful photos, sorry, sorry. Combination of the sun not yet having some out to play...and my camera being well, old. Ah well, Birthday at the end of April, I know what I'm asking for!

I used the Frizz Miracle conditioner that Aussie sent yesterday and woke up with hair like this



Aussie...Miracle is an understatement!

Now I need to brave a hair cut, it's been a year...eek, and straight, my hair is below my bra level. I hate having my hair cut, HATE it. Someone in my personal space for what feels like years?! No thanks...
and also the indecision over what to have done! Subtle? Drastic? Longer? Shorter? Shave it all off? Whatever I pick, I'm guaranteed to hate it after a few days no matter how good the cut is.

Oh help.
Someone sedate me and get me to a hairdresser

((that might be Mum's next tactic!))

Happy Monday my lovelies!

xxx

P.S. to all you who say I have long legs...I say
NOT WITHOUT SHOES ON I DON'T!

Because Sharing IS Caring

Presenting Tempus - Richard Parker (live)

Tempus - Richard Parker (live) from Ben Saffer on Vimeo.

It's been a little while since I did a post about Richard Parker; as some of you know, this is my brother's band
and whilst I may be accused of being bias...they are pretty damn good (and very nice young chaps too...mad as hatters but ever so cheery)

I know they have a few gigs coming up, let me know if your interested and I'll pop the dates up when I have them!

Check them out on Facebook, too and let me know what ya reckon!

Hope your having a WONDERFUL Sunday!

xxx


EDIT

- I WILL SEND CHOCOLATE/some other random gift to the first commenter to tell me which band member my brother is! Further proof we really don't look much alike in my eyes..but prove me wrong!

In Brief

This weekend....

Wearing; FLORALS because I am a walking Spring cliche







Jon Richard ring available here!


Sunshine; The weather has bought out the best in me, I am definitely a S.A.D. person. The emergence of Spring, warmer days and bright, beautiful sunshine has turned me in to a chirpier, more confident version of me.
I celebrated by purchasing these oh so adorable sweets!



Thanking; Witch skincare for coming up with this primer! My saviour!



Geeking; Geeking out over new drug rep pens at work (Becca, if your reading this...the obsession continues!) and these ones are PINK! I will forever be envious of my Mum's leopard print one.



Hi, my name is Laura and I hoard pens.

Wanting; SO MUCH! It's always the week before pay day that I find infinite things I want and need in my life, only to have lost interest or not be able to find them when the time arrives! Currently top of my list is this dress from River Island



I have new found love for this shade of blue!

How about you?
xxx

Molly Brown London

I don't know if it's just me, but come Spring I am always in need of gifts. Christmas is comparatively easy because there is so much themed tat/special gift sets around,
but Spring, and Summer seems to call for something different...and something suited to a variety of occasions...

Molly Brown London could well be the answer to my prayers for the most treasured of these occasions...
Mothers Day gifts, Christening Jewellery, Special girly Birthdays...a treat for yourself along the way...
Here are my favourites!
The Aurora (peppermint) fairy pendant falls under the Christenings category, now, in my 24 years I think I have only ever been to two Christenings but maybe now I'm growing up and friends will be starting to breed (oh I am crude) I will have reason to buy something so utterly adorable.


Deep Pink Festival Friendship bracelet (also available in three other colours) may not be the cheapest of gifts at £32, but I think for an 18th or 21st present for your very best friend..or a Mother's day gift for dear old Mum it is perfect and a gorgeous accent to bare arms for Summer! It also reminds me of teenage years at festivals being happy and care free, I will always have a special place in my heart for friendship bracelets!

The initial necklace...a classic, personalised present for alllll occasions! Seriously, how can you go wrong? I'd be tempted to buy an initial for a nickname as an extra personal touch!


JELLYBEAN pendants. Can you guess who's birthday I think one of these would be ideal for? (It's April 28th by the way...thankyouverymuch)

Check it out at www.mollybrownlondon.com and let me know your thoughts!

What's the most treasured gift you've been given? For me, there have been too many to mention, I'm a sentimental fool like that,
but on a superficial level, the Irregular Choice shoes that Alex and Char bought me last summer would be topping the list for sure. Remind me to wear/blog them soon!

xxx

Kreativ (apparently I am)

Ok, shame on me because apart from Sophie and Beth I have lost track of who else passed me this award...please shout if you did and I will add you on!
Thank you all so much, I love reading other people's answers and feel honoured to be nominated myself

*Oscar worthy speech over*

The rules are:

1) link 10 blogs;

2) tell these bloggers about the award;

3) write 10 facts about yourself;

Ok, so lets crack on.

Ten things about me…

1. Please don't judge but I typically wash my hair once a week, twice at a push. I find it really doesn't need more than that, and behaves better this way. Lucky, or plain lazy? I don't care! Thank goodness for Bastiste to keep it smelling fresh!

2. I am a complete child at heart. Matey bubble bath, kids TV, polly pocket, jelly tots...the list goes on.

3. I also like to think I can save the world, anyone having a hard time and I feel gutted I can't fix it for them, but I will always, ALWAYS offer support. It's my little way of paying back the support my family and friends (including you, dear blog readers) have given me.

4. Once upon a time many moons ago my favourite activities were Judo, Kayaking and general outdoor sport madness. I have fond memories of white water rafting on a body board in Austria one summer.

5. I am a foodie. I always have been and always will be I think. I kept it quiet for a while, due to having been ill and people assuming my interest in food stemmed from that. Truth is, I've always loved the stuff. Give me Good Food magazine over Vogue any day.

6. I love fashion, really I do, but for me it's not about the runways and haute couture. Highstreets and real people inspire me more; seeing clothes on real people and knowing that price wise, they are more within my grasp is much more endearing. Saying that, I will happily drool over runway images and editorials..but purely for dreaming purposes, I never aspire to own the latest from Chanel in the way I do the new arrivals in Topshop or New Look.

7. I drink stupid amounts of coffee in a day...8 plus cups. I must be immune to the caffiene though as it doesn't boost my energy or give me sleeping trouble.

8. My heart belongs to American candy. And their snack foods in general. The UK cannot compare...especially cereal bar wise.

9. I go through phases of only eating, or liking certain things. Greek yoghurt, smarties, certain TV programmes, certain teas, certain clothes. And then BAM, I want nothing to do with them anymore. The exception to this being my addictions to both tights and greek yoghurt.

10. I will be 24 next month and still don't know what I want to do when I grow up. Do I care? Not.one.bit. Right now I am happier and healthier than I have been in 9 years and I plan to live in the moment and embrace every second of it!

Now,

I cannot possibly pick just a few bloggers to pass this on to,

so I pick you ALL!

Gratuitous cat paparazzi picture for your time!

Happy Saturday xoxox

Diet Coke x Karl Lagerfeld

I couldn't NOT blog about this! Oh Diet Coke, I may cheat on you with Pepsi Max from time to time but you will ALWAYS be my favourite!

Diet Coke takes another stylish step into fashion this Spring by announcing its second fashion collaboration with international creative genius, Karl Lagerfeld. The world-renowned designer will create not one but three new and exclusive designs for the iconic Diet Coke bottle.

Available this summer, the ‘Diet Coke Limited Edition Collection by Karl Lagerfeld’ is totally irresistible and is set to become the perfect accessory for style conscious women everywhere.

Using the light and playful elements of his identifiable trademark style, such as graphic cuts, a contrasting black and white palette and clean lines broken with colour or detailing – Karl Lagerfeld has created a bold, contemporary yet instantly recognisable collection.

Referring to his first design for Coca-Cola light in 2010, Karl Lagerfeld said, “I love this bottle but it’s time for a new one. Actually I want to do three bottles.” He also added, “I loved what we did last year but I will love 2011 even more. I’m delighted about this collaboration.”

For this collection, Karl Lagerfeld has taken inspiration from the new Diet Coke heroines; Bernadette, Eleanor and Irene, the stylish puppets will appear in the brand’s latest TV campaign launching across Europe.

All three designs feature Karl Lagerfeld’s famous and instantly recognisable silhouette – the designs are also numbered (1,2,3) which makes these beautiful bottles truly ‘must have’ collectibles.

The ‘Diet Coke Limited Edition Collection by Karl Lagerfeld’ bottles will be available individually or as a set in an exclusive stylish prism-shaped Collector’s Box created by the designer.

As well as designing the collection, Karl Lagerfeld, already a reputable photographer within the fashion industry, has shot the Diet Coke advertising campaign featuring supermodels Coco Rocha, Heidi Mount and Jeneil Williams. Just like the bottles, each of these three supermodels has a distinct, individual look whilst working in perfect harmony together.

Inspired by the Diet Coke girls, these models will bring to life the characters of the puppets and perfectly encapsulate the brand’s playful and fashionable spirit.

Karl Lagerfeld is pleased with the latest collection and campaign, he comments, “It’s exciting for me because I love the idea and as everybody knows, I drink Diet Coke and nothing else, night and day. It was pure pleasure to do a campaign with people I like and for a product I love.”

Further exciting activity to celebrate this fashionable partnership is planned for later in the year, so watch this space…

Which bottle has caught your eye? Will you be on a mission for these? I don't normally go in for this kind of thing, but this one just HAS to be done!

xxx

Blossom

Another quick outfit post, I'm going back in to work today and I'm trying to conserve brain power.

Finally managed to get myself to wear these trousers again...pants photos I'm afraid, my camera batteries were dying and I had no backup!







Oh hi there, I'm full of cold and cough and germs and woe, please pity me



If I pull this face enough, I'm hoping someone will make me a cup of tea.


Happy Friday xxx

My Tights [I wish!]

So, the other day I posted about my bargain House of Holland tights from TK Maxx, (again, £3 for the house print ones, could not refuse!)
I've long been a fan of his tights collection with Pretty Polly and one day fully intend to own these pairs (and then some!)

This achingly hip collection for Pretty Polly from Henry Holland - the maestro behind House of Holland - has got the fashion world panting with desire, and we can see why. So rarely is cutting-edge style so comfortable - and affordable! These nationwide sell-out Henry Holland tights have been seen on Alexa Chung, Pixie Geldof, Fearne Cotton, and Agyness Deyn.

Super Suspender, £12 from mytights.com

Sheer fringe hold ups, £15 from mytights.com ... these are SO impractical but at the same time a total must have for me!

Superstar, £15 from mytights.com ...these are my favourites, by far. Argh, hurry up pay day, I want the gold version as well...so summery and perfect as I don't do bare legs. Ever.



Mytights stocks the whole House of Holland range (including a few pairs at half price right now- house print inclusive!) and with delivery only £1.95 it's quite affordable too!

Oooh someone please tell me NOT to buy any more tights this month. Honestly, my collection has taken over my bedroom (I think I'm in to triple digits now...)

Does anyone have the city collection tights? I really wanted a pair but couldn't narrow it down at all, and really really couldn't justify ordering all of them. Hmm....so many tights, so little time (and so few pairs of legs!)

Tux Up

A quick, and for me fairly wordless post today. I am STILL full of cold and if I didn't have an appointment this morning you bet I would still be in PJs and no makeup making woe is me noises and wishing I had a servant to bring me endless cups of tea (which is exactly how I spent yesterday).
I hate having a cold, and it turns me in to a drama queen...though it's not quite a full blown case of man-flu.









Both this (now ancient) Topshop bow tie vest and ASOS velvet shorts are perfect for when I want to to look smarter than I feel!

I'm hoping to get out and get some sunshine later today (I have penpal letters to post, exciting!) and be back at work tomorrow, so normal posting/posing will resume, just in case you were missing it too much!

How are you celebrating this gorgeous weather? Anyone had a picnic yet? What are your top picnic foods? For me it has to be bite size anything...quiche, sandwiches...anything in miniature!

xxx

Floral

The dress I wore yesterday is another recent ASOS purchase...and yet another purchases aided by Twitter...I swear I would not be able to make a decision without you guys!

I think this has become my feel good dress, as soon as I put it on I knew it was a keeper and it became my work outfit for yesterday.







I have had cravings for a shirt dress for a while, but most I found were too short...or just...bland (although I am a sucker for the sleeveless versions around right now). This floral one met my needs perfectly and it is suitable for both work and play....and a perfect length!

I accessorised with another of my London Wishes pieces and flower ring from Jon Richard





And finally got around to swapping my earrings for a different pair (does anyone else sleep in their earrings no matter what type? I ALWAYS forget to take mine out)



Today I am a little bit full of snot and wearing full on comfort clothes (the work version, of course) hence posting yesterdays outfit only! Colds in Spring should be BANNED...
right?

Anyone else sniffling?

xxx