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Sunday 19 June 2011

A Short Break

I'm off with my stick and hanky to the sunnier climbs of Bournemouth for two weeks which means i wont be able to post.

Stick with me though, i should be back with great photographs and tall stories from my travels!

In the two weeks that i'm there i plan to find a place to rent and a new job (how hard can it be right!) all whilst getting out and about to discover the best the City has to offer.

See you all when i get back and in the meantime here are some beachy photos for you xx








Wednesday 15 June 2011

Custom made

So this whole fancy dress idea has really got me hooked. Here's a rough sketch of the look i'm going to try and pull together using whatever i can lay my hands on (and yes that is a bird cage in the hair!). Colour wise i'm thinking gold, gold and more gold.


Anyway, after lusting over the Louboutins that I can't afford i decided i needed some gold shoes. I'm not sure why but about 3am this morning i woke up thinking gold leaf.

Going with this 'mad morning moment' i dug out some old suede heels that i never wear, covered the heels with glue and sprinkled liberally with the gold leaf of my dreams.



So far so good so i got all bold and decided to do the whole shoe


Ta da


Once the glue had dried i rolled the gold leaf with the shaft of a pencil to flatten out the coating. I'm pretty impressed with the result even if i do say so myself.

Now all i need to find is a mahusive ball gown and an even bigger wig and i'll be all set!

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Marie Antionette.....

I've been set a new challenge - come up with a fancy dress outfit by September. It's an open theme so anything goes.

I once went to a fancy dress party in an Orangutan outfit, it's a look you can only do once so i had to channel some other ideas.

Given my penchant for dressing up I've decided to do a 'Marie Antionette'. Not all that sensible now I've started researching it all. Finding a dress is going to be problematic or should i say a dress of the right proportions! My seamstress skills are going to need some polishing to pull this one off!


Then there's the shoes - these Louboutin numbers will set you back over £6k. Such a shame, they would look great on my feet.



At least the hair should be easier. I've always wanted to wear a birdcage in my hair (blame it on the children's books of yesteryear) - my hairdresser is going to have fun with this one.



So, my shopping list will need to cover

1) second hand ball gown
2) lots of net petticoats
3) extra fabric to drape on dress
4) hair extensions
5) birdcage
6) pearl embellishments
7) satin heels
8) bows
9) white face powder

I can't wait!

Wednesday 8 June 2011

To Rome or not to Rome..... that is the question

So i'm currently debating a September holiday to Rome. It's one of those cities that i have always wanted to visit because of the architecture, history and of course the atmosphere (who doesn't love the Rome depicted in the old black and white movies).

I have never managed to get myself organised enough to book a trip but with all the recent changes in my life i'm starting to think i should make a concerted effort to get over there. This is the year for positive action after all, or at least that's what my horoscope keeps telling me.

(Image courtesy of Skvots.net)

I can't help but drool at the thought of all the photo opportunities, from the Vatican and St Peter's Basilica to the Trevi Fountain and the Catacombs.


(Images courtesy of rome.info)

Then there's the fashion and street style. I can people watch for hours and something tells me i wouldn't be disappointed with the characters that would cross my path.

I'm not sure i could be this glamorous but i could give it a good go!

(Image courtesy of Chictopia.com)

(Image courtesy of Fabio Derby's Photostream. Flickr)

With all this bumbling around my head i couldn't help but snap up these sandals. They just seemed to scream 'Whilst in Rome' right at me when i passed the shop window. Now i know i shouldn't be spending money on such fripperies at the moment but after the 18 months i've just had i'm not going to give myself too hard a time. Hopefully these little gems will carry me through the cobbled streets and i'll be reporting back on a holiday i was glad not to miss.





(Sandals from River Island)









Tuesday 7 June 2011

A little bit of sunshine

Isn't it funny how just a little bit of sunshine can really lift your mood.

Earlier this week i was out pottering in Oxford and i saw this street performer. I am always amazed at their courage, just getting up in front of a street full of strangers and doing their thing.


It got me thinking about ordinary moments of courage, when we push ourselves outside of our comfort zones. 

A couple of weeks ago i visited Cheltenham for their first Arts Week. One of my friends was exhibiting and despite her fears she's done great with a couple of sales under her belt and plenty of great feedback (the painting to the left is one of Elsie's)


I will pushing myself out of my comfort zone this year by moving to the Seaside (most probably Bournemouth). Fortunately i have great friends and family around me for the moments when i might wobble.


I can't wait to get my toes in the sand and start my new adventure. 

What will you be doing this year to push yourself outside of your comfort zone?



Thursday 2 June 2011

Flower Power

You will all know that i lost my job last month. Since my income is (temporarily) reduced down to that  of a street urchin i am forced to budget (a word that tastes like soap when formed in my mouth).

Thankfully, there are some great bargains to be had on our great British high street like this little number from New Look (£10 in the sale). I'm so happy with it and best of all, it goes perfectly with my old cloggs (Dune). Brilliant!





Ring - Accessorize. Orange T - Jack Willis. White embroidered T - M&S. White Trouser - Topshop