Polka Dots

• Shirt from Next
• Skirt from Motel
• Shoes from H&M

Is it too soon to banish my coat to the most awkward hook to reach in the cupboard? I stupidly put it on this morning, and didn’t need it at all. I’m weirdly excited to get back in my mac. I love my coat, but I’m bored of cold. Plus the poppers are falling off and I’m too lazy to sew them back on. I can put it off a bit longer if I don’t need my coat for a while.

I’ve just come back in, after sticking around at work to watch My Week With Marilyn. I know I’m behind, but we’ve only just screened it. It’s gorgeous. Michelle Williams looks stunning in it, and has Marilyn’s voice and mannerisms to a tee. The clothes are gorgeous. If I remember rightly, they did use a lot of vintage for the wardrobe. I might have imagined that though. It was a good fun film, and looked lovely. I’m busily adding a load of Marilyn Monroe films to my Love Film list now. I’m more of an Audrey Hepburn fan, but Marilyn is certainly stunning to watch.

Which are you? Audrey or Marilyn?

London Fashion Weekend Goody Bag

I went to London Fashion Weekend on Saturday, as you know, and coughed up to have the goody bag. I paid before hand, and picked it up on the day. So, the bag itself. The design is by Holly Fulton, supposed to reflect the graphic print she uses in her collection. I don’t think there was anything special about the bag really, just your average cotton tote, but the graphic print is pretty cool. The fact it has a whopping great coffee advert on the other side slightly kills the cool factor though, and definitely drags the bag out of ‘limited edition, fashion item’ to ‘yet another tote plastered with advertising’. I’ll probably end up using it to transport my lunchbox to work.

And here’s the contents. Not pictured is an orange and shortcake Galaxy, which I ate on the train home. I think that was probably my favourite thing in the bag. Otherwise there is:

• A Toni and Guy giftcard. Unfortunately there is nothing to say how much this gift card is worth. I assume it’s not much, as the bag cost me £8! Does anyone know? I’ll pop into my local Toni and Guy hairdresser on Saturday and find out. I’m due a haircut anyway. Hopefully, it’s a reasonable amount and I can pay for most of my cut with it.
• LavAzza coffe. I don’t really drink coffee at home, so this wasn’t much use to me. I’m sure my mum will use it though.
• Kleenex Eye Make-Up Removal Wipes. I had no idea Kleenex made eye make-up removal wipes. I guess that’s why they’re in the goody bag. The packaging claims the wipes are made from ‘ecoform natural fibres’ whatever they are, which means they have a lower environmental impact than a standard wipe. So that’s good. I will use these, when my current eye make-up removal pads are used up. I generally prefer a cotton pad and proper make-up remover for shifting eye make-up, but wipes are nice for travelling. I’ll let you know if they’re any good.
• Impress Press On Nails. I’ve never worn false nails. These are a nice colour, and look simple enough to apply, but they also look a bit cheap and plasticy. I had a look at them against my own nails and they look like weird sizes to me and really square. Maybe my nails are just a funny shape. I won’t be using these.
• Label M Protein Spray. This is for hair. As far as I can gather from the packaging, it’s supposed to stop coloured hair from fading in the sun. Useful for all the Fashion Weekend fashionistas and their ombre hair, I guess, so a safe bet for a bag like this. I don’t have coloured hair, so this is another product being passed on to Mum.
• Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. This looks like a pretty nice hand-cream. I know the brand, which was nice, and while 30ml isn’t much, it’s a nice handbag size. I was pretty pleased with this, actually.

All in all, I was pretty unimpressed. Of seven items, I’ll use four. One of which was a chocolate bar. I was actually keen to test out only the hand-cream. If the card is a good amount, I’ll be happier, but I highly doubt it is. Not sure I’d bother again, to be honest.

What does music mean?

I’ve been listening to Frank Turner a lot lately, especially this song. I first heard it at Reading Festival in 2011, which was the first time I’d heard of Frank at all. It was hot, baking hot that day, and I was there with my very best friends, as usual. We bounced along in the crowd, all hollering the chorus of this song back at the stage. This, I thought, is what it’s about. Good friends, good music and good times.

My experience of music is very much tied into my relationships. As a child, I absolutely worshipped my older cousin. She was older than me, and discovered an alternative style of music to the 90s era pop much earlier than most. Through her, I learnt to listen to, and enjoy, a multitude of genres. She introduced me to the idea that it was perfectly acceptable to like both S Club 7 and Eminem. I still like music from all kinds of genres, and still listen to a lot of the music and bands she introduced me too.

At high school I met a girl who was a big fan of 90s boyband, a1. So was I. We bonded over that. We both loved Ben Adams, and didn’t much like Christian Ingebrigtsen, and initially our friendship was formed over this shared love. She’s still my best friend.

Now, there’s Muse. Me and my two best friends (one of them is the a1 fan) are all big fans. We’ve made so many friends through this fandom. We met two girls through Muse’s website, one from Wales, who is now another really close friend, who we met when she joined us to see Muse at a festival. The other lived in Luxembourg when we first knew her. She joined us for a few gigs, and we all became friends. She lives over here now. When she came, she knew she already had friends here. Us. We met through a band.

I’ve met some fantastic people through being a Muse fan. Next month, I’ll be meeting up with a girl from Chicago, who we met in the queue to see Muse at Wembley Stadium. At the NIA in Birmingham, we met a girl dressed as Wonder Woman who, to celebrate her birthday, shared cake and champagne with the people around her in the queue. We all missed the last train home that night, and spent a night sitting in New Street station with this girl. We’ve seen her several times since, always at gigs.

It might seem crazy to some people that we spend hundreds of pounds on tickets and merchandise, and travelling miles and miles around the country to see them. But it’s not about the band. It’s about the music, the music that brought us as a group together. I’ve had some amazing times following that band around and met some incredible people. That’s the point in it for me. These times and these people. Whatever happens to the music, I’ll always love and treasure these times and the silliness of it all.

On my first date with my boyfriend, we talked about music. Our tastes are quite different, but we recognised in each other another person who felt that music was not only entertainment. We might not agree most of the time about what makes good music, but the fact we both care enough to argue it out formed part of that all important early bond.

My dad is a big music fan too. There was always music when I was growing up. I have always known names like Joe Strummer, Bruce Springsteen, Freddie Mercury, Clarence Clemons, Johnny Cash, Paul McCartney…I grew up hearing the names before I really knew who they belonged to.

My dad was the one to teach me that music matters. It’s important. Music can be life-changing, and life-affirming. For every feeling you have, for every moment of life, there’s a song that will speak to you about it. Music is about memories, if you ask me. It connects to moments in your life, and will transport you to those moments in an instant as soon as you hear the right song.

What does music mean to you?

I still believe in the need
for guitars and drums and desperate poetry.
I still believe that everyone
can find a song for every time they’ve lost,
and every time they’ve won.
So just remember folks
we’re not just saving lives,
we’re saving souls
and we’re having fun.
Frank Turner – I Still Believe

London Fashion Weekend

• Top from New Look
• Skirt from TKMaxx
• Necklace from Wired Jewellery
• Tights from H&M
• Shoes from Next

I felt a bit Mad Men in this get-up for work, hence the pose. This skirt has been languishing in a drawer unloved for a while. I love it, but never quite know what to wear it with. Turns out keeping it simple is the key. Who’d have thought.

The necklace is my new favourite piece of jewellery. I cannot reccomend Wired Jewellery enough. Gorgeous pieces of great quality. I managed to detach the pendant from the chain by messing about with it absently. I tweeted about my own silliness, and within minutes, they’d sent me me a message offering to repair it. Now that’s customer service!

Last night we had the guest night for our Youth Theatre’s production. It was great to see the final work after seeing bits if pieces or rehearsals and working with some of the cast on the PR circuit. I was really impressed with them actually, there’s some serious talent in that group. I think people often assume Youth Theatre will be god-awful stagey brats, but ours are certainly fantastic.

Today, I got up early and headed off into London. I met up with my best friend, which was amazing. I don’t see her nearly enough. We had a good wander around Covent Garden, ate too much in Nandos, then strolled down to Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square, where we sat in the sun. It’s been gorgeous all day, surprisingly warm in the sun, considering it’s February.

We went our separate ways at Somerset House and I went in for London Fashion Weekend. Now, I’d been really looking to it, but I have to be honest, I was rather disappointed. I’ve never been into Somerset House before, and it looked lovely. I’ll be back for a visit to see it another time, for sure. There were some fabulous looking people walking around, but instantly there were large groups who seemed to be there to eye up and down everyone else and look judgemental. I can’t say I enjoyed that sensation much. Generally, I think it was just too full. The rooms were small and hot and rammed, so I couldn’t really look at anything. Outside was nice, but still packed. I left after about an hour, hot and a bit crotchety. I’m glad I went, but I don’t know that I’d bother again. My trouble is, I just don’t have the patience to dig about in messy racks, and elbow through people to get at said messy racks, especially at about a zillion degrees!

I didn’t end up taking any photos, it was just too packed. Apologies to anyone on Twitter expecting pictures of fashion, and instead got the Paddington Bear statue in Paddington Station. I just couldn’t resist him!

Was anyone else there and LFWend? What did you make of it?

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector Review

BB Creams are all over the place at the moment. They were first a hit in Japan, I believe, but have started to take off in Britain now too.

BB Creams, or Blemish Balm, are designed to work as multi-purpose product. They generally have a slightly different claims, like skin brightening or evening skin-tone or improving wrinkles, but usually they’re a bit of a combo of face cream, primer and tinted moisturiser.

I’ve been using Garnier’s Miracle Skin Perfector for a couple of weeks now, in shade 02, Light. As a tinted moisturiser, it’s lovely. It feels light on the skin, absorbs easily and doesn’t leave that yucky greasy feeling some products do. I find it super easy to blend, and Light is a very good shade for me (I’m quite fair-skinned). The coverage is nice, but not one for girls who like a really heavy coverage. For me, it’s perfect, very natural and soft looking. I’ve been favouring this over wearing foundation, and I think my skin is thanking me for it at the moment. I wouldn’t use it totally instead of foundation, but for light day-time coverage, at work, it’s nice.

As a primer, I can’t really compare it to any others, as I don’t use a primer. It does sit well under the rest of my make-up though, and I haven’t noticed a decline in how long my make-up lasts, so I can only assume it’s doing a good job.

As for being a face-cream, it’s moisturising without adding excess oil or anything nasty, which I’m happy about it. I haven’t noticed any change in the general appearance of my skin that I wouldn’t get from my usual moisturiser, but then I haven’t been using it all that long, nor I do I have any skin issues I was looking to fix. My skin looks bright and hydrated though, even if I haven’t seen miraculous changes.

The Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector is quite bargainous, under a tenner in Boots when I bought it, and I’m delighted with it. Definitely a recommended product.

Just Bloody Noise

• Cardigan from H&M
• Belt from Peacocks
• Shirt from Peacocks
• Jeans from Next
• Shoes from Dorothy Perkins

Yet another simple work look. I haven’t got my brain switched on today, I don’t know what’s going on. I should have known it was all going to go a bit fuzzy after I left my carefully prepared lunch in the fridge. Gutted when I realised!

I’ve made some exciting plans for the weekend. Today my ticket for London Fashion Weekend got delivered. I don’t feel it’s worth my while yet heading over to Fashion Week, but I’m hoping the Weekend will be good fun. I didn’t manage to get catwalk tickets, but I’ll like the shopping and nosing at stylish people. My best mate lives just outside of London, so we’re meeting up, which will be awesome. I haven’t seen her for ages. It’ll be great to have a good catch-up and a gossip.

I’ve settled in for the night to watch the Brit Awards. It’s making me feel ancient. The music is confusing me. Rizzlekicks, Olly Murs, Ed Sheeran, One Direction…totally passes me by. Looking forward to Adele and Blur though. That’s proper music! I have a lot of love for James Corden too.

Anyone else a bit confused by the Brits?

Neverland

• Dress from Topshop
• Top (collar showing) from Next
• Shoes from TReds

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to wear this dress without the top underneath again. The Peter Pan collar makes it so much cuter! It may be a whopping blogger cliché, but I do love a good Peter Pan collar.

I’m having a pretty good week so far. Something’s dropped into place with actually getting off my bum and doing some exercise. I don’t know why I avoid it so much, I definitely feel the difference in my energy levels when I’m good about it. I’ve been trying out a couple of Jillian Michaels’ DVDs, and my God, she is tough. I always feel like I might die about half way through her workouts, but then hit a second burst of energy, just about survive, and then feel absolutely incredible afterwards. Anyone else a fan of her DVDs?

I shipped off a load of DVDs and CDs to Music Magpie, which will be a nice start to the new laptop fund. I have such a long list of gadgety things I want to buy. Hardcore saving up in order, I think. My laptop really is dying a death know. It’s struggling to power up, and often fails to start up at all, which is a right pain. Hopefully it will survive long enough for me to save up for a replacement. After that, I want a fancy camera. I love my little point and shoot, and I won’t be parting with it, as it’s a perfect day to day camera for being out and about, and it’s tough enough to survive nights out and gigs. But I think a proper DSLR, with a tripod and remote would make so much different to my blog photography. We’ve just a new camera for the department at work, which is a nice and neat little DSLR, so I’ll have a good play with that and see if it looks manageable.

MrKiss had a job interview in the week, which if it works out, means he could be moving about half an hour away. Keep everything crossed for us, please!

Roses are red

• Dress from Dorothy Perkins
• Belt from New Look
• Tights of forgotten origin
• Boots from New Look

Rocking the fall-back dress. Again. Only with a different belt. This dress is always my choice when I don’t know what to wear. We all need a good fall-back.

Well, I’ve been away a little while, haven’t I? First off, I was on the AMA Level One Retreat in Cambridge. Sounds swish, right? It was. I am so full of new exictement for my job, and came away with lots of new friends. The others on the course were an amazing bunch.

I came back to a somewhat hectic couple of days, although that has settled down again thankfully. I know it’s going to be a bad day when I’ve spoken to the press twice by lunchtime!

I spent my weekend down in Somerset with MrKiss. The train was packed solid; the first leg of my journey took me through Newport and the train was full of rugby supporters making their way to Cardiff for Sunday’s game. I made it there alive eventually though. It was so good to see MrKiss. Life’s just got in the way lately and we haven’t had a free weekend at the same time for quite a while. I do find being away from him very hard, but you just have to keep on keeping on. We’ll get to a point where we can live in the same town! We just have to hang on until then.

Oh yes, uh, happy Valentines Day. I’m not much of a one for this holiday, I must confess. The panic, the over-spending, the sudden leap in price for nights out. No thanks. Last year, MrKiss and I stayed in with a film and a take-out. This year, we’re doing nothing, as we won’t be seeing each other. I’d rather celebrate dates with meaning to us as a couple, and keep today pretty laid-back. I have been enjoying watching the desperate men in Sainsburys though. I live next door to the supermarket, so pop in on my way back from work most nights, and yesterday the shop was full of men, in pairs mostly, wandering the shop looking vague and dazed, clutching roses and cards. Today was much the same, with more panic. I saw one man frantically writing a card in the doorway.

How have you spent your Valentines Day?

Snow!

Look at all this snow!

I wasn’t going to blog until I was home, but I have an hour before dinner and wanted to share this snowy shot and let you know I’m not dead.

I’m in Cambridge, on an Arts Marketing Association retreat, and it’s amaaaaaazing. I won’t go into details, this isn’t a marketing blog, but I’m learning so much and making lots of new marketing chums.

The Moller Centre, where we’re staying, is incredible. The rooms are great and the food! So good, and appears as if by magic pretty much constantly. Multiple courses at every meal, and freshly baked goodies every time we break from the modules. I am staying here forever.

If any of you are interested in what’s going on, I’m tweeting throughout from my work account, @georgecourtyard, or we’re all using #amaretreat.

Regular programming will resume on Thursday, when I return from this magical land of snow and scones.

Girl Crush: The Styling Dutchman

I wasn’t going to blog tonight, as I’m busy packing to go away for some work training, but then I had to pick up on this amazing post by the gorgeous and wonderful Annebeth, of The Styling Dutchman.

Annebeth is one of my very favourite bloggers. Her style is covetable, she’s a delight to read posts from, she’s funny, she’s likeable, and you know what, she’s damn smart too. She often peppers posts with little references to her feminism, with the occasional lengthier debate.

This post is remarkable. She invited comments about how people felt about her discussing her feminist beliefs on her blog, and feminism in general, and then responded with this beauty of a post. Read it. Be educated. Feminism has out-grown extremism, bra-burning and man-hating. Feminism is about equality for all. Who doesn’t want that?

There is often the attitude that feminism is out-dated and not really needed in today’s world, at least in the Western world. This is absolutely ridiculous. I think most women encounter stigma in their day to day lives on a regular basis, probably without even realising. It is so important to have smart women like Annebeth shouting about their beliefs, to show that feminism is not about extremism. It absolutely fits with an ordinary life, and doesn’t mean you have to be a stereotyped image of feminism. All women can be feminists.

I have nothing to add to her argument that she can’t say better. I suppose I just wanted to add in my ringing support, and agreement.

Pinch Punch

January is finally over! Why does January always seem to last forever? To celebrate it’s demise, here is a little round-up of my outfits from the last month.

I think I need to take outfit pictures more often. And wear the leaf necklace a little less. My personal favourite is the navy polka dot number, hence it’s pride of place as the biggest image. I am so ready to pack away my jumpers and boots though. I hate the cold. My office is often roasting hot, while the rest of the building is cold, and I walk to work, which makes for an interesting layering challenge to say the least. I’m looking forward to being able to stay with one amount of layers all day!

Anyone else more than ready for some warm weather?