Sunday, 13 November 2011

Sophisticated like a hooker?

One of the things that I adore about Mac, my husband, is his enthusiasm to show that he takes an interest in my life. Last night I mentioned, as I was getting ready for dinner, that I hadn't decided what makeup to wear. His response was "a smokey eye, a red lip and some Nars".

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I do dread to think what I might end up looking like if I let him do my makeup!!

Monday, 7 November 2011

Philosophy 'Have a Cherry Christmas'

There's absolutely no link between cherry flavoured shower gel & Christmas, but obviously the pun of "Have a Cherry Christmas" was too much for the bods down in advertising at Philosophy to pass up.

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I'm glad they didn't because it. is. gorgeous. I just bought the shower gel on it's own, but you can also buy the set, which includes the lipgloss, instore at Boots. The shower gel on it's own is £14. If you love delicious sweet heavy fruity smells, you need this.

I will be buying backups to last me the year before this sells out! Yum!

Saturday, 5 November 2011

Pudsey Nail Rock Nail Wraps

You can buy these super cute Pudsey-inspired nail wraps in Boots for £6.65. I don't normally bother with the faff of fiddly things like these, but I couldn't resist these & they are very pretty!

25% of the £6.65 will go to Children in Need

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47 things about me

Something a little bit different...

1. I have a 'deep down in the pit of my stomach' fear of turning 30 in January

2. I wish I could get over it

3. My blonde hair is naturally this colour.

4. I am petrified of the dark & ghosts & if I'm home alone, I sleep with a light on.

5. I fundamentally can't reconcile the real world, religion & how people can exist in one AND believe in the other.

6. I am completely aware of the conflict between 4 and 5.

7. I thought my 6 or so best friends from school & I would never be apart. 12 years after moving away from home, we keep in touch on Facebook and I haven't seen most of them in about 10 years.

8. I can't believe I'm a grown up.

9. I have a twin brother (and a baby brother).

10. My dad & brother (twin) are both Navy men and I have a giant traditional swallow tattoo down my left ribs in honour of that.

11. I have had 5 operations performed under a general anaesthetic.

12. One of those operations was to have my ears 'pinned back'. 2 different surgeons operated on my ears and so one ear had 20 stitches & the other had 10. They are both completely at odds with each other and are as pointy as Noddy's. But I'm still glad my parents had it done.

13. Another operation was to have a mole removed from my eye. An actual mole from my actual eyeball. Gross.

14. I yearn to be one of those women who can wear red lipstick flawlessly all day, every day.

15. I was once told my big toes look like thumbs. All I have seen since then, when I look down at my feet, is weird hands. I can't shake it & think perhaps I need therapy.

16. My mum used to be in a show choir & I thought it was the most glamourous thing ever.

17. Hoarders annoy me to my very core. I have no nostalgia for crap. All my stuff is current & I use it. Otherwise it goes in the bin or to the charity shop.

18. People are usually quite surprised to hear that I would love to be a housewife

19. I don't know if I ever want to have kids, but if I do, I'm seriously interested in adopting.

20. I wish I was a dancer in L.A.

21. I feel very privileged to have been able to go to university 3 times and study what I wanted. I completed 2 years of a Fine Art degree, but dropped out as I was too young & had no idea what I wanted. I went back 3 years later & completed a Sociology degree with Distinction & have since completed a Post-Grad in Human Resource Management.

22. I used to work in a chip shop.

23. I was approached my STORM modelling agency when I was 15 in Piccadilly Circus. I told them I couldn't join them as I was doing my Standard Grade exams.

24. I've regretted that decision my entire adult life.

25. I love my husband more than I ever thought possible...

26. Worringly, I think I love my cat as equally as much. The cat certainly doesn't get shouted at as much.

27. I wish I lived in New York

28. I once tried to dye my hair black but it went green. I was a rubbish goth

29. I love my MUA work and would do it for free if people weren't prepared to pay.

30. I love silence

31. I haven't eaten chocolate in over 2 years. It's a small insignificant fact to others, but it amazes me on a daily basis.

32. If I could apply that type of willpower to the other aspects of my life, I'd be running marathons, be a size 8, always have clean socks & be a millionaire.

33. I am still seriously considering a career in politics. And it's not because I have an enduring crush on Nick Clegg

34. I want to be fit. I want to see muscles in my arms and legs. I want to feel energised & like I can do anything. Weirdly, my inspiration is usually Vikings - they were so strong, just from going about their daily life. I can't imagine Vikings being worried about being obese or having to abstain from chocolate.

35. When I was 15 I had a boyfriend who was 18, had a car & I thought was the coolest thing ever. He treated me like utter shite & so I'm still smug to this day that when I saw him 10 years later, he was working as a waiter at TGI Fridays.

36. I always let bus drivers pull away from bus stops. It's in the green cross code people!!

37. I can speak a small amount of German. I would love to be able to speak French or Italian.

38. I'm not (never have been) particularly interested in visiting either France or Italy.

39. I want to write a book. I have no thoughts on what it would be about & I have a crap imagination. This blog post is probably the closest thing to writing a biography I will ever get.

40. I worry far too much what other people think of me, to the point where it inhibits things I want to do or say. I'm working on it.

41. I used to work in a bar where we were expected to get up on the bar and dance to the Grease megamix whenever the DJ saw fit to play it.

42. I loved that job.

43. I have a constant paranoia that I have killed someone and have suffered from some sort of stress-related amnesia forcing me to forget the incident & the police will turn up at any moment.

44. If my dad had had his way, I would have been called Guinevere. I secretly wish I had.

45. I loved the movie 'The Craft' and to this day wish I had magical powers.

46. I love fashion but I only ever wear the most simple of outfits.

47. It took me 5 attempts to pass my test, but I've never had an accident. Everyone else I know in my 'immediate circle' has crashed, had penalty points etc. It makes me a little smug.



I stopped at 47 as I couldn't think of anything else interesting & didn't want to put fillers in. I'll maybe do another one, another time. Was this the most boring 7 minutes of your life?!


Sunday, 23 October 2011

An evening with Shaun Leane at ROX

On Thursday, I had the utter pleasure of attending an evening with Shaun Leane at ROX in Glasgow. There was champagne, diamonds & schmooze and it was brilliant! The evening has truly set the tone for christmas coming...

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If you are unfamiliar with Shaun Leane, you might want to check out his website where I am sure you will recognise a few iconic items, such as the bespoke brooch he created for Sarah-Jessica Parker .

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Or the Diamond Glove created for Daphne Guinness; heavily influenced by his long friendship with Alexander McQueen, whose untimely passing meant he never saw the finished piece. As a bit of an exclusive, Leane did let it slip that there will be work on additional pieces to the collection, so keep your eyes peeled!!

In fact, McQueen had been right by Leane's side for much of his career, meeting in a pub when McQueen was studying for his MA. From the get go, the pair clicked and Leane cites McQueen as having a massive influence throughout his career. One of Leane's most recent collection 'Bound' has been influenced by the coiled corset he created for a McQueen show, taking the african elements from the coils and building them into a gorgeous, wearable pieces. Leane talked very tenderly of his relationship with McQueen and it's clear that he will continue to draw on the friendship for years to come.

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I think one of the things about Leane that particularly appeals to me is his appreciation and understanding of the feminine form & attention to detail. Instant nostalgia & romance are qualities I love in my jewellery. I look for a story and I think with Shaun Leane, you get one. Check out the Sam Taylor Wood 'Tear Catcher' ring. It makes my heart melt!

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Pressed on who he would like to collaborate with in the future, Leane earmarked Viktor & Rolf and Cartier. Cartier would be amazing! On stating he'd like to revisit their archive of 20's pieces & rework them, there were a few weak knees in the room (and I'm sure my husband's heart stopped momentarily even though he was 150 miles away!).

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On predictions for the future, Leane reckons the trends will be leaving the intricate, twisted details of previous collections behind and make a move towards minimalist, clean and bold lines. I absolutely can't wait to see what his future collections will bring. What I do know is I need to snag a pair of these before that collection disappears!

Thanks goes to ROX & Toni for inviting me a long. It was something so different & the train journey was definitely worth it!