That ’70s look + glitter.

It’s been a while since my last post. I could lie and say I have been very busy over the Christmas/New Year period, but I’m not one to lie; I’ve been drinking tea (or wine) and lounging on the sofa – the perfect life one could argue.

Let’s move on.

That ’70’s look.

The ’70s are starting to take over our wardrobes and full them up with eccentric patterns and clashing colours.  I have spied a lot of uuhhhhmazing ’70s outfits out. From suede to mini skirts to patchwork denim to high boots, but it is something about the flares which catch my eye. The Austin Powers/Abba look is here for Spring/Summer 2015 and it’s something I cannot wait to delve into.

For me, nothing creates a ’70s look more than swapping a pair of your skinny jeans for a flare – be that a slim boot cut flare or a proper out-there flare. Flares are making a comeback, in a good way (not the way I remember them from my childhood in the 1990’s, thank goodness!).   If you dare to delve deep into the realm of the 70’s, try a psychedelic print to really make the outfit pop and some chunky boots to complete (of course). It is understandable that the look may be too outlandish and if you are not ready to take the big step out of reality and just fancy updating your denim wardrobe, the flare works perfectly with casual tees, polo necks and shirts. This is keeping that seventies chic at bay.

I cannot wait for payday to purchase a pair.

£40 ASOS

£29.99 Zara

I feel that to jazz up the flares, or any outfit in that matter, glitter is a must. Glitter, or anything that is metallic and has a sparkle to it, is my go to item of clothing. It brings an outfit to life. I have become a magpie to all things glitter. Whether it is from a subtle hint of sparkle, or sequins everywhere; if it is metallic, glittery and shiny, I have to have it.

The Christmas/January sales did not disappoint me.  There was plenty for me to chose from to add to my already glitter-fulled wardrobe.

Topshop provided me with a beautiful metallic bronze, pleated midi skirt (£40 down to £22). I have to be honest, I did clutch onto this item for a while whilst I made my decision whether or not to buy it. I bought it obviously. My thoughts were that it works perfectly both day and night. Casual and smart. Two outfits in one.

Bronze Midi Skirt – Topshop Sale £22

My one true love has to be the pink sequin shoes I spotted on ASOS.com. I understand that these my not be the most practical of shoes, yet I just had to have them. They will make the classic jeans/white shirt combo stand out of the crowd. Thinking about it, I may even wear that to work today, brighten up a tuesday in the office!

ASOS SOUTHY Pointed Heels – Pink glitter – £17 sale.

P x

A Christmas Day Out

It’s December (or Christember, does that work?) and everything we do has to be related to Christmas – the Christmas hats, jumpers, socks, films all come out to play for this month of festivities. As do the markets, all German of course because no other country knows what a Christmas market is. The Germans don’t say ‘Lets go to the English Christmas market this weekend’ because we don’t have English Christmas markets and that’s probably good a thing.

Birmingham is one of my favourite cities and it looks adorable all made up in its Christmas glory.  I’ve heard the market in Birmingham is one of the best, not only in the UK but also in Europe (don’t hold me to this fact, I’ve heard it on the grape vine) and therefore had to go.

I told myself I would wear my glitter leggings and my Christmas jumper, you know, to be the epitome of Christmas fashion but I soon realised I would look ridiculous so my all black outfit had to do. Once I had arrived, I soon realised that my glitter leggings and jumper would have look very normal in comparison to what some people were wearing.  An awful lot of people had fully embraced the idea of Christmas, and that was lovely to see when walking through with the Christmas stalls shining bright. Some, who I guess call themselves ‘lads’ embraced the ‘lad’ culture being rowdy and drinking their umpteenth Stein. Lads. Lads. Lads. Beer. Lads… Debatable.

Glühwein was drunk like there was no tomorrow as we wondered through the busy, very busy, streets of Brum. And, unlike Winter Wonderland in London, the glühwein came in a mug, not a paper cup. A MUG! A HEART SHAPED MUG. Simple pleasures for me.

And do not even get me started on the food! Unfortunately, I did not eat any as we headed off to a Thai restaurant for dinner (one of the nicest Thai restaurants I’ve been too, but then again, I have only been to two, so who am I to judge). My. Oh. My. The smells that were surrounding me made me want to try everything. Every unique flavour combination and dish smelt incredible. I would have been rolling home if I had the chance to eat it all.

Nutella was everywhere, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Nutella pancakes, waffles, doughnuts, and then the sweet stalls – one even had had the sweet craftsman up in a room and the crowds could watch him create the sweet masterpieces. How adorable is that?!  And for all you meat lovers out there, Bratwurst was everywhere, with every topping you could possibly imagine. I’m sure many market goers were way into the meat sweats. The only food stall I found a little odd was the garlic bread stall. Now, do not get me wrong, I, and I’m sure you do too, love garlic bread but in a German market?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas is a time of joy, love, and happiness, and we share all the joy and happiness with everyone we love. But proposing in front of the entire Christmas market is not my idea of romance. PDA is no go. Even over the festive period. Is it bad that I was kind of hoping she would say no? Luckily for the guy, who had a lot of balls to do such a public proposal, she said yes and I’m pretty sure my mother shed a tear of happiness for them – cringe!

Worst of all, I was there a day and I managed to pick up the accent. I sounded ridiculous.

Until next time,

P x

 

 

Beep Beep Boop.

It’s Sunday Morning (afternoon). It’s December tomorrow (I can start wearing my Christmas cat jumper, which has bells on, all the time!!!). I’m hungover (I blame Sam). The sun is too bright (It’s winter, go away sun).  The sound of the lawn mowers are grating on my already delicate head. My cat attacked me. All in all, a perfect Sunday morning.

Tea.

Tea and more tea please.

3 things.

1. My internship came to an end on friday (I’m still doing 1 day a week until Christmas, which is exciting). My good god that went super fast; it’s one big blur! It’s been such an amazing experience! I admit the commute was starting to frustrate me and being ridiculous hot and sweaty on the tubes is not an attractive look. So it is safe to say I will never meet my prince charming on a tube. But, it’s the gateway into London and London is where I want to be.

My penultimate event. I was lucky enough to stay for the entire readers Christmas lunch event. Who knew 60 plus year olds still got a little too tipsy and throw up? Worse than me at university.

Waking up at 4:30am to get the 5:50am train to London was not glamorous or fun or exciting. You find some strange people on the trains and tubes at that time of the morning. Yet, there was still someone playing the piano at St Pancras. As lovely as it was, it is not what you want to hear when you’ve been up at the crack of dawn. Upon arrival at the Rosewood Hotel, in what looked like pyjamas (I clearly did not fit in with the Rosewood cliental, but comfort over style at that time), I was welcomed by 300 bags to be filled and placed on seats. It looked a daunting task. But, it was a (stressful) breeze. I got over my tiredness, perked up and had a lot of fun packing 300 goody bags. Easy.  It was a beautiful set up there, and I got to take home some of the beautiful flowers (I did get some very strange looks and comments on the train home about carrying a box of flowers, I think they are all jealous).  I can now understand, and appreciate, the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes at events. Sorting the seating plan and dietary requirements out was the bane of my life, let a lone folding ALL the thousands of raffle tickets; the not so glamorous side to working for a magazine event.

At my last event, in conversation with Patricia Cornwell, I made a joke to the security man. Never make jokes to security. He did not find it amusing and left me feeling a little scared.

2. I finally went to Winter Wonderland. CHRISTMAS IS HERE! (nearly, I really don’t like super eager Christmas people, freaks me out). I found a new love for hot toffee apple cider and watched the circus. BLIMEY. that circus had you on the edge of your seat, biting your finger nails and making you jump. There were no happy, funny clowns prancing around (even though a clown is not my idea of funny nor happy. Scary and creepy fit better).

3. Unbroken Premier. I was too scared to take a selfie on the red carpet. Totally regret that now.

I’m halfway through

Welcome to post-uni life! It isn’t what people told you it would be like. You do not walk straight into a job (well, most of us don’t). Months go by where you just sit on the sofa, in your pj’s and maybe you haven’t washed for a few days, watching awful daytime TV and applying for job after job after job after job after job after job after job.

Soul destroying.

The novelty of having no money, less than when at university and doing nothing all day wears off pretty damn quick.

In my eyes, the word intern is an American word and I naively thought it was something spoilt little rich kids did during their summer vacations.

Oh how wrong I was. Interning is an English thing too.

I blame American TV shows for this.

Scrolling through twitter after weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks (you get the gist) of applying for jobs, I saw an opportunity for a marketing intern at woman&home magazine. And thought, why not?

Interview on the Wednesday. Got the job Thursday. Started Monday. Quick turn around.

First day. Nervous as hell.

I had so many thoughts running through my head and no idea what to expect. I just had ‘Devil wears Prada’ running through me head. It didn’t help I got stuck in the lift. Just going up and down up and down wondering why on earth it isn’t stopping on the 7th floor. The lift didn’t go to the 7th floor. I found that out the difficult way.

I’ve settled in quite well now, I’ve got to grips with what I am doing. I think. I’m halfway through.

My first event. It was so much fun.

I had no idea what to expect or anything. I made over 100 goodie bags for the guests, which took hours, it was like a workout making those goodie bags. I got to watch the event, Seize the Day. It was incredibly interesting and the speakers were inspiring, and the stories being shared amongst the guests were really encouraging, it made me want to go out there and do something! However, I didn’t. I’m in bed if I’m not at work.  It was such a lovely experience to see how much the guests enjoyed the event, and how much more confident they feel about themselves instantly after. I met a lovely couple of ladies, who hugged me goodbye. So I must have been doing something right to get goodbye hugs.

There was another event on at the same time, some software thing, and it sounded as if there was a party or a rave. It was like the offices had turned into a nightclub. Flashing lights, loud music.

It was like I was in Hifi

My second event; An evening with Jodi Picoult. Even though it was in a freezing, yet beautiful church, it was superb. She had such a personality that made you adore her and so much work goes into these books that it is fascinating. She is so passionate about what she does, and that is truly amazing. I had never read any of her books before and I got straight onto amazon at the end of the night and downloaded nineteen minutes to read on my commute. I may only be two chapters in, but already it’s one of my favourite books I have read.

Things took an odd turn at the end of the night.

There was a riot. I got caught up in a riot. Thousands of people in white masks marching down the streets setting flares and fireworks off. They were very intimidating and rather scary when they walked past and approached. I then got chatted up by some really bizarre man on the tube. I can’t describe what he was like but jeez, he knows how to make a girl feel uncomfortable. Worst tube journey.

So, I’m halfway through-ish. The commute everyday, it’s draining but it doesn’t bother me, as it’s not a bad commute at all. Although last night, I had a man come up to me and say he sees me on the 8:29 to St Pancras every day, how my phone irritates him as it is so smashed and that he liked the jumper I wore on Friday. I can’t wait to see him on the train tomorrow.

There seems to be a running theme of odd men.

The internship itself is enjoyable, really enjoyable. I’ve not had a day go past where I’ve thought to myself ‘I don’t want to go to work today’. I still can’t believe that I work in London, after years of saying how much I wanted too. After not getting jobs because the interviewers saw me as a girl who wanted to be in London. And I guess now, I’m halfway there, and I couldn’t be happier.

I’m going to end on a joke…

Did you hear about the magic tractor?

It was driving along and turned into a lane.

Weekends fly by

After my penultimate shift at New Look last Friday, I powered walked, ladened with bags, over to the station to go to London to stay with Em (my bff, my other half, soul sister)

I packed enough for a year (I wish!) but no, just 3 nights

Perfect Friday: after a mad rush getting ready, We got our groove on and headed toJjewel bar in Piccadilly (very snazzy bar with a delicious array of cocktails that I could have drank forever) where we were reunited with a few friends from uni.

we spent the whole night hugging and telling each other how much we had missed one another (aren’t we adorable?!?!)

Ideal Saturday: Being a tad fragile and incredibly stuffed from the night before (Em and I ordered 3 large pizzas, one and half for each of us) we got our skates on and went to Borough Market. It was my first time to Borough Market and it lived up to it’s high expectations.

quirky, quant, and quite eccentric, right up my street!

First of many: I HAD MY FIRST FISH AND CHIPS. EVER! I hate myself for never ever trying this classic English dish

I feel as if I am a true English woman now

Sunday Funday: The last of the sunshine was not to be wasted. Em and I hired a borris bike (finally!) but my oh my what a kerfuffle it was to rent them. After asking numerous people, all unhelpful (living up to the London stereotype) and phoning tfl, we got our bikes and went on a cycling adventure around Hyde Park and to top it off enjoyed some mouth-wateringly delicious treats from the hummingbird bakery.

if you haven’t had a delightful sweet treat from the hummingbird bakery, we can’t be friends

Hummingbird treats!

oh my god, delicious!

I love autumn. I miss summer.

On this gloomy monday evening, whilst munching away on caramel digestive’s and drinking my umpteenth coffee of the day, I think to myself ‘I want summer back’. I love autumn, don’t get me wrong, the autumnal colours and wrapping yourself up in your cosy jumpers that haven’t seen the light of day for a few months, but it doesn’t compare to how I spent summer frolicking around all over the globe, with not a care in world (so cliché, ay?).

Summers best bits:

Spain with my BFF, Emily (we were joint at the hip whilst at university, and most of summer considering most, if not all, my adventures included her).  Emily found a holiday romance, and I drank cocktails as I could in a week.

3 week break from Emily before our graduation. The only time we were apart those few days was during the ceremony.

4 week break. 

Turkey. The first family holiday in two years, and surprise surprise, Emily joined, as did my brothers girlfriend, Emily. Lovely holiday but my oh my turkey is sweltering!

1 day break.

From ridiculously hot Turkey to a chilly Peru (I packed for a South American summer, not winter), Em and I tackled, well rather enjoyed a four-day trek across the Andes, with final destination Macchu Pichu. INCREDIBLE. No further explanation needed. We swiftly moved on to Ecuador and drank one to many white Russians to then head over to the Galapagos. We loved the Galapagos, however, the Galapagos did not love us, at first.  Our passports got taken hostage and our debit cards were not accepted at any of the ATMs bar one. Apart from those slight issues, I got a selfie (as everyone does now-a-days, don’t say you’ve never had a selfie) with some sea lions and turtle so I was happy.

total flights: 14
I hate flying.

Mud, Mud, Glorious MUD.

Llama selfie.

Camping – Andes style.

Prior to the trek, we bought bread and bananas for the Peruvian children we encountered on route. They were amazing, full of life and even though there was a language barrier, we were able to have a giggle and some fun with them. Such brave and inspirational children.

oh yeah, we made it