Year: 2015

NEW YEARS EVE STYLE

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE

Well what a year! 2015 has been a crazy 12 months, I have tons to be grateful for, my family, friends, a good job, successes on my blog, a wonderful home, plenty of travel and some fabulous achievements. But 2015 has also taught me a lot, it’s been a tough and demanding year professional and so I feel ready to welcome in a fresh year, with new goals & exciting things to look forward to.

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This new years eve i’ll be keeping things low key, homely & a little relaxing. I’m not one for going partying on New Years, i always find it somewhat a let down, and starting 2016 in bed with a hangover doesn’t feel quite right. Perhaps its age, or maybe just my personal sentiment towards welcoming in the New Year.

For me, it’ll be a little party at home with a couple of friends and Jase. A few bottles of our favourite fizz, a canape spread full of my classics & the fireworks on TV. Simple but the perfect celebration in my opinion.

Despite the low key affair, i’ll still be making the most of the occasion to get dressed up, and my new festive metalic Cos dress will be making another debut (first time at my Christmas party at the Shard). It’s such a cool garment, i fell in love immediately. It looks great with a classic pair of ankle boots, my Reiss Marley boots fit the bill perfectly.

How will you be celebrating the New Year. I hope you all have a wonderful night, and here’s to a healthy, happy and successful 2016.

December 31, 2015
HOW TO SET ACHIEVABLE NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

MAKE 2016 YOUR YEAR

Resolutions are a funny old thing, the making of resolutions is a ritual most of us embrace each year, but i’m sure only a few of us actually fulfil or remember past January. The reason why, mostly because they’re so generic, broad or unachievable. This year i’ve decided to think a little more SMART about my new years resolutions (which i’ll be sharing with you tomorrow) and so I thought i’d share my tips and advice for making yourself better, achievable resolutions for 2016.

HOW TO SET BETTER RESOLUTIONS & MAKE YOUR 2016 RESOLUTIONS MORE ACHIEVABLE.

#1 SINGLE MINDED

When it comes to setting resolutions, we can all be tempted (i’m sure) to create a list to the moon and back jam packed full of anything and everything we want to change in the year ahead. Usually this is based on things we’re unhappy about now, and want to set to change. In principle this is fine, but the reality is you end up with a list of things which have stemmed from a negative place, which all in all is going to be pretty hard to deliver on. And that won’t make you feel great.

So this year, take a step back and try and be single minded with your ambitions, goals and resolutions for the year ahead. Pick the things you really want to achieve & allow yourself to give them your full focus.

#2 MEASURABLE

And to that point, there’s no point just having a whole list of unachievable and unmeasurable goals, make sure the goals or resolutions you pick are clearly defined, and measurable too. How will you know when you’ll achieve them? Be sure to set dates, specific actions etc, so you can actually deliver on them. If you have a 2016 bucket list, make it measurable by adding specific actions like booking flights etc. It’ll help you actually achieve your resolutions.

#3 ACHIEVABLE

To achieve your resolutions, they need to actually be achievable. So back to point 1, keep your resolutions focussed and single minded. If you want to ‘get fit’ in the new year, make your goal achievable by setting a target, a date, and clearly working out how you can get there. Don’t just write ‘lose 4 stone’ … because good lord that’s hard & you’re probably just setting yourself up to fail.

#4 REWARD

For me, celebrating and being sure to track and monitor your results is really important. Especially on big resolutions which take a lot of time, work and effort, being sure to reward your successes, acknowledge your progress and treat yourself when you have achieved something will only motivate you to keep going, do more or tackle the next goal.

#5 TENACIOUS

We’ve already talked about making your resolutions timely, so i’m going to talk about tenacity instead. Being tenacious, being determined, committed, motivated to keep going, keep trying, keep pushing. I fear in this world we give up to quickly (at least senior leaders in society represent this), if we don’t first succeed, we resign & just give up … and that’s just not the spirit. If at first you don’t succeed, pick yourself up, and start again. Live & Learn.

New Years Resolutions are too easy to give up on. So this year … why not make one of your resolutions all about tenacity.

I hope you find these tips helpful?

I’d love to hear about your resolutions and goals for 2016?

December 30, 2015
SUEDE EVERYTHING PLEASE

SUEDE EVERYTHING PLEASE: THE SUEDE COAT

2015 has been all about suede. Suede everything. This year has seen the revival of the best of the 70’s sartorial trends, one such trend being suede, and despite my reservations to 70’s style (I shall never accept flares, i’m sure of it) the suede revolution has been one such trend i’ve embraced whole heartedly. Namely through my a line skirt collection, but more recently in the coat department, with this Miss Selfridge sleveeless suede coat.

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. MISS SELFRIDGE SUEDE COAT (SIMILAR) . J CREW KNIT JUMPER . WHISTLES JEANS . REISS FEDORA . RUSSELL & BROMLEY LOAFERS .

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The countdown to New Years has officially begun, Jase and I have decided to have a little party at home in London this year, making the most of all the fizz we’ve collected throughout the year & i’ll be whipping up some of my infamous canapes (I say mine, but they’re my mums really). A low key New Years is always my favourite, having said that, i’ll still be getting dressed up in my new Cos dress … and sharing the outfit with you all NYE day too.

What are your New Years plans?

December 29, 2015
CHRISTMAS UNWRAPPED

HO HO HO MERRY CHRISTMAS …

Well Christmas has finally come to a close, and I have to say it’s been the most wonderful few days, full of fun, food and far too many presents. I’ve been utterly spoilt this year by all my family and Jase, i’ve been blown away by the thoughtfulness of all my gifts & today thought i’d do a little show & tell with you all.

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I was blown away by all my presents. I still cannot believe i’m going to see Adele in concert, Jase really outdid himself managing to get me tickets to see her (it sounds like it was blood, sweat & tears to actually get a pair of tickets too, but it was the most perfect gift for me … i’m obsessed), not to mention the Russell & Bromley loafers which are just pure perfection.

My Mum, Dad, Nan Harriett & Lily bought me the most wonderful & thoughtful presents, the Zara patchwork suede skirt i’ve wanted for months, a vintage light up ‘M’ which i’ve wanted forever but never been able to find the perfect one (my mum found this at a Vintage fair), my wish list of books (Brooklyn Street style has been on my wish list since I saw it in NYC, turns out my sister had already bought it for me), and of course a few of my favourite home & beauty treats too, toffee nut syrup & a Starbucks mug, Bare Minerals & benefit Makeup and lots of little home treats too from Santa. Even more amazingly, my sister Harriett has hand knitted me a grey puff for my flat & a knitted clutch bag … absolutely incredible.

My dad spoiled me rotten treating me to my first Chloe purse, i’m a huge fan of Chloe and have been ever since the Spy bag stole my heart all those years ago, so the fact I got a Chloe purse was such an incredible surprise on Boxing day. So all in all, i’ve been spoiled rotten.

I’d love to hear about your Christmas and what lovely gifts you received too x

December 28, 2015
WINTER WOOL

THE CHRISTMAS AFTERMATH

Well Christmas has been and gone, and what a magical little whirlwind it was again this year. Christmas is my favourite time of year, from the return of toffee nut lattes in starbucks, festive lights that twinkle around the villlage and Christmas parties and events to celebrate the festive period, to of course the big day itelf with gifts for loved ones, delicious Christmas dinner and jus time spent relaxing and enjoying time with your family. It’s just the perfect time of year in my opinion.

In years gone we’ve had the perfect white winter to boot (and that really is a treat) but this year England has decided to give us Summer round II (I mean it’s probably the same temperature now as it was this summer right?), so wrapping up in my winter warmers has been toned down a little … even a wooly hat is a push!

. WHISTLES MAGGIE WOOL COAT . WHISTLES NAVY TROUSERS . RAG & BONE KNIT . RUSSEL & BROMLEY LOAFERS . ACCESSORIZE WOOL HAT .

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So rather than my new fur Reiss gilet (which is patiently waiting for a cold enough moment to make it’s debut), and my chunky winter boots, i’m sporting loafers & a classic wool coat. The only sign of winter truly, is my wooly hat. A purchase I made pre-empting the winter weather, but has been left rather redundent since.

This ensemble is the sort of thing I’ve been living in this winter, a classic colour combination, and a comfortable fit. My Whistles trousers which I picked up in the Summer have managed to hold out all winter so far too, they look great as a duo with my new wool coat, and I borrowed my sisters Russel & Bromley loafers to finish things off. Although I have to say Santa spoilt me rotten this year and so I now have my very own black leather pair which i’ll be showcasing soon no doubt.

How was your Christmas and Boxing day? Did you have a wonderful time?

December 27, 2015
HAPPY BOXING DAY

. CHRISTMAS ROUND II .

For me boxing day is Christmas Round II, spent with my Dad and Jase back in London, it’s always full of fizz, delicious food & plenty of presents. I love having two Christmas’s and it’s nice to make something special of boxing day. As it stands the Rose champagne is poured, sausage rolls roasting & the Boxing day dinner is roasting in the oven. What are your boxing day traditions?

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The festivites don’t stop here though, New Years is fast approaching, and i’ll be spending 2016 on the slopes in Val D’isere for my annual ski trip. Another tradition we’ve had since I was a little one & a slalom racer to boot. These days our trips are far more leisurely & as much about the mountain cuisine & apres ski as they are about the skiing itself. Not a bad end to 2015 & start to 2016 hey.

Have a wonderful Boxing Day x

December 26, 2015
HAPPY CHRISTMAS

. HAPPY CHRISTMAS .

Just a little note from me today to say a very happy Christmas to you all, I hope youre day is filled with food, laughter, love and merriment. I’m spending the day at home with my family, with all the traditions we’ve had since I was a little one, still in tact. Which means Christmas dinner is soon to be served & the final few presents we’ve tried ro resist will be opened.

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Have a wonderful day x

December 25, 2015
CHRISTMAS EVE & A TARTAN TOUCH

. CHRISTMAS EVE & THERE’S WRAPPING TO BE DONE .

It’s Christmas Eve and it’s really beginning to feel like Christmas. Today we’re off to the matinee performance of the Winchester Panto where my sister is starring. It’s always such a good show and really gets us in the festive spirit. This evening will be a cosy one spent in front of the fire, eating home made mince pies, drinking baileys on the rocks & some freshly brewed mulled wine, finished off with some serious wrapping. My favourite Christmas eve tradition.

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. WHISTLES WOOL COAT . TOPSHOP SUEDE SKIRT . J CREW KNIT . TOPSHOP MAGNIFICENT BOOTS . CELINE NANO .

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Sadly it’s not set to be a white Christmas here in the UK this year, in fact it’s looking like a rather wet one instead. But that hasn’t detured me from dressing for the occasion, I love celebrating Christmas Eve as much as Christmas day in many ways, so i’m wearing a few of my favourite things for the occasion. A little suede mini, teamed with a cosy oversized navy knit, my magnificent boots & of course a long wool coat to keep me warm. And that’s Christmas Eve sorted …

How will you be spending your Christmas this year?

Merry Christmas for the morning x

December 24, 2015
HOW TO BE MORE MINDFUL IN 2016

. BEING MINDFUL .

Mindfulness has been a hot topic in 2015, it’s not a new phenomena or way of living, but it’s something that’s certainly become more prevalent in recent months. And for good reason too.

With our lives becoming ever more demanding, stressful and busy, often we can forget to be mindful, live in the moment and be in tune with ourselves. I for one can admit to this and so for me, 2016 is set to be a year of mindfulness and wellbeing. Simply, I want to start taking more care of myself mentally and physically … and i’ve set out 5 key ways I can start to become more mindful which I thought i’d share with you today too.

. 5 WAYS TO BECOME MORE MINDFUL IN 2016 .

#1 LIVE FOR TODAY

One of the wonderful elements of mindfulness is focusing on the present moment, too often we live in the past or the future, and we forget to stop and simply enjoy life right now. With busy lives and busy brains, we forget to stop & smell the roses. Literally we do. So in 2016, I’m going to make a concerted effort to truly live for today, appreciate each moment by moment (in real life, not just virtually) and take the time to really embrace life around me. It’s not hard, it just takes commitment.

#2 KNOW YOUR LIFE KPI’S

I’ve been thinking more and more about ‘life KPI’s’ lately, they sound overwhelming, but really it’s just about knowing what you want, what makes you happy & what you want to achieve in life, and ensuring everything you do is working towards these goals. In many ways, defining your life KPI’s will help you focus, eliminate the bad stuff & generally help you live a happier life everyday. What’s the point of stressing about something, if ultimately it’s not important, and probably needs to be changed anyway? Define your life KPI’s, and do what you need to, to help you start achieving that life happiness.

#3 TAKE TIME TO PRACTICE

Mindfulness isn’t something you do one day, and then your mindful forever. It’s a way of living, of being, and therefore it takes practice and dedication. Of course some days you’ll be swept up in the challenges life throws, but the important thing is to come back to your self when you can, and start a fresh, tune into your mind and your body & get yourself back into a good state of mind. Practice makes perfect, and so taking up some hobbies which will give you a defined time to be mindful is a great idea, I want to take up Pilates again in the new year & also try some meditation on my commute.

#4 START YOUR DAY RIGHT

A good day is all about your mental state of mind. So starting the day in a good place is always a good idea. Spend 5 minutes when you wake up to think of 5 things you’re grateful for or 5 things you’re looking forward to for the day ahead … big or small, it doesn’t matter. But the process will set you in a positive mindset for the day ahead.

#5 PHYSICAL & MENTAL

It’s not just about mentally being present & well, it’s also about being in tune with your body, and keeping your body healthy too. My health and fitness is something i’ve really not prioritised this last year, and I have to say it’s noticeable. 2016 for me, is all about putting my wellbeing first, and so dedicating some time each week to hit the gym in my lunch break is going to be non negotiable. Even a simple pilates and spin class each week will make the world of difference, not just to my body, but my mind too.

Do you practice mindfulness? I’d love to hear your lifestyle for healthy and happy living?

December 23, 2015