Friday 29 November 2013

Friday Frocks #141 - I wish everybody knew what's so great about you.


I don't know about you, but when I've had an amazing time, I find I never know what to say when someone asks me how it was. 'It was amazing,' doesn't seem to cover it, you know? Even when it WAS amazing. That's how I feel about my trip to the States, because it was absolutely amazing.

The absolute highlight was the whole reason for the trip, Erin and Pete's wedding. Erin is absolutely one of my favourite people in the entire world and so I'm not surprised that her wedding was incredible. There were so many cool little details, and I loved the novelty of going to an outdoor wedding. It was held at the breathtaking Huntsville State Park in Texas, at the Raven Lodge. Check out the view of the lake!

From beautiful flowers to amazing desserts to the best gosh darn canapes I've ever had, it was a perfect day. There was a photobooth (I think I need to buy myself a Viking helmet to wear to every party), dancing (including my attempt at leading the Saturday Night dance) and many, many cocktails.

I finally wore this dress which I blogged about months ago. I'd already decided to wear my red sparkly Dorothy shoes with it, but when I was having a trying on session at home before I went away, I rediscovered this belt which I'd totally forgotten about. Perfect match! Plus, I'm not really sure an outfit can have too much glitter. That's like saying a meal has too much cheese on it, right?

Dress - Jasper Conran
Belt - Topshop
Shoes c/o Shelly's via Spartoo
Hairclips - H&M Kids
Bracelet - Swarovski
(all old)

I must say though, after tearing in to the canapes like deep fried mac'n'cheese and meatballs-on-sticks, I did slightly regret wearing a dress with a boned bodice. But I'd do it all again for more deep fried mac'n'cheese. Wouldn't you?

And now I have no more weddings to look forward to. SOB. I'll be crossing my fingers for some NYE engagements, because goodness knows I LOVE a wedding. I'm not sure if I mentioned that.

Congratulations Erin and Pete!
















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Wednesday 27 November 2013

Oh, don't tell anyone I'm here, I've got time and no one near.

I'm back from America, and guys, it was amazing. The food, the shopping... and of course the people. I got to hang with three of my best girls for a little bit, and it was joyous. On Friday I'll share some photos of my friend Erin's wedding in Houston, but today I wanted to quickly share the littl bits of shopping I did when I was away.

Guys, I love shopping, I love it like I love disco, but I did not do all that much! I was anticipating coming back with bulging suitcases of clothes, but I only kept two items from my Modcloth order and I only bought one dress when I was out there! It's like I'm losing all my powers or something.

I did still buy a few bits though...


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Monday 25 November 2013

How to make a wedding cake (for a total beginner!)


Do you remember a little while ago, I posted about an epic project to make a wedding cake for my friend Gemma's wedding? Well, it's over, and I did it. It was a big project, and a big challenge, but one that I'm glad I stuck with. There were moments when I was tempted to give up - most notably after my first trial, in which I produced the lumpiest fondant covered cake ever - but I am not a quitter, and I did not quit.

I wanted to gather together everything I learned about making a wedding cake here so if I ever do it again - or if any of you are thinking about it - you'll hopefully benefit from my tips. So here you go...
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Friday 22 November 2013

It takes an ocean not to break.

I guess it's apt to feature a heart print dress whilst I am away celebrating love. Okay, maybe that's a bit cheesy. But wedding! And, not just wedding - awesome fun with people who are awesome. I HEART THIS WEEK.

This adorable number is from Primark, and is incredibly similar to a Topshop dress that was out earlier this year which I foolishly didn't buy. It's a funny dress though, because even though it fits nicely when it's on, it's incredibly hard to GET on. Unstretchy sleeves and a side zip mean uber awkardness. I just hate side zips. I hate them so much.

That aside, it's a very nice dress. I feel like it's a party dress, but I actually wore it this time for hanging out with my family and cuddling my nephews. But hey, who's to say that's not a party?




Dress - Primark
Tights & Shoes - New Look

PS - I'm in New York now! YAY! But I come home tomorrow. BOO.
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Wednesday 20 November 2013

The happy elf.


Honestly, sometimes I think that I am just fighting the urge to be an elf. Or a small child, I'm not sure - certainly a lot of my wardrobe would back that up. But when I went exploring with my friends a couple of weeks ago, I definitely came over all fairytale creature.

My coat already makes me feel like Little Red Riding Hood, and so as soon as I found a wooden mushroom to sit on, I was embracing my inner fairy. And yelling 'I'M A FAIRY TAKE MY PICTURE' at my friends. I'm so cool.

Dress - Primark
Boots c/o StylistPick
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Monday 18 November 2013

Why I batch cook (and so should you!)


I am very much, definitely an adult by now. I’ve looked at my birth certificate, and it confirms it. But I really only feel like I’ve been properly taking care of myself for the last couple of years ago, probably because until last year, I’ve always lived with people who were happy to take care of me and I am a lazy, lazy person. The biggest lesson living alone has taught me though, is food preparation. I’ve been tweeting and instagramming a lot lately about my cooking and I’ve been asked to talk a little bit about my methods, so I wanted to focus on batch cooking. Because it’s the best.

I’m sure there are a fair few of you out there who can identify with the habit of grabbing a ready meal from Tesco or M&S on the way home. At £2 or £3 a day it never seems like too much money, but it adds up. And if you live with an M&S petrol station on the way home like I do, you’ll know that it’s closer to £5 a pop. It’s a bad habit, guys. Stop it. Stop it now.
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Friday 15 November 2013

When you walked in, the air went out.


I find it super hard to pre-schedule posts without crowing about where I am. So I'm just going to get it out of my system. I'M ON HOLIDAY!!! Right now, I'm in Houston, Texas where the weather is WARM. Hooray! Tomorrow is my awesome friend Erin's wedding (I'm wearing this dress!). I've been so excited about this trip all year so I'm frigging psyched that it's finally here. FRIGGING PSYCHED. Tonight we are going out for real Texas BBQ. YUM.

Anyhoo. Isn't this a pretty dress? Dorothy Perkins always seem to get it right - the perfect combination of ladylike and quirky. So many of my favourite dresses come from there, so I was a happy girl when they asked if I wanted to review something. And isn't this bird print dress a dream? It's just such a lovely print and I adore how it fits. I'm a sucker for red and navy together, so couldn't resist teaming it for work with a red belt and shoes. These shoes are so battered, but I'm refusing to let them go even though I totally should. They cost £3 in the New Look sale about 4 years ago. They mean too much!

I have a few posts scheduled over the next week and a bit whilst I'm away so you'll barely know I'm gone... apart from probably how I'll be mentioning it regularly. And how I have wifi in my hotels so there's probably going to be some instagram spam. I apologise in advance. There are going to be a LOT of photos of food.




Tights & Shoes - New Look
Belt - Tesco
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Thursday 14 November 2013

Books Are Amazing... October Edition!

This month's book post is dreadfully late, and it's all my fault. There's not a good excuse, I'm just dreadful. And late. This month's poster is the lovely Georgina from Caramel Latte Kiss! Take it away, George...


Well, hello lovely Essbeevee readers! I’m George, and I blog over at Caramel Latte Kiss. Reading has always been a big love for me; I was always the kid with my head in a book, and I’m still that person now. Asking me to pick a favourite book is like asking a mother to pick her favourite child. I have books I read when on holiday, books for the train, books for when I’m sad, books for when I’m ill... you get the idea.
So without further ado, here are some of all time favourites.


I Capture The Castle – Dodie Smith
“I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.” That might be one of my favourite ever opening lines. I always struggle to explain exactly what it is about this book that I love so much. I’ve reread it so many times, and each reread is like sinking into a warm bath. There is an air of the fairytale to this story; the poor family living in a house built into castle walls, a romance that begins with DeBussy and fountains and the heroine with dyed green hands. Smith’s book tells the story of the merry-go-round of love, and the games we play to find it. You know what, finish this post, then go and read it. You won’t regret it.

The Secret History – Donna Tartt
This book gave me the chills when I first read it. I don’t want to say too much about it, but the book opens with a murder. You start the story knowing who has been killed and who did it. The book then jumps back to before the murder, and the story continues, told from the perspective of one of the murderers, and builds back up to the murder. By the end, you find yourself in the uncomfortable position of understanding why the murder has to take place. Tartt writes beautifully and this book is a must-read.

Life of Pi – Yann Martel
Forget the film (although it is very good), this book is magical. It’s the story of a boy, stranded at sea in a lifeboat with a tiger. The book’s theme is faith; which story do you believe? The boy and the tiger or a far more bleak tale of survival?


How To Be A Woman – Caitlin Moran
This ought to be required reading for women everywhere. I wouldn’t advise reading this in public though, it’s laugh out loud funny and will make people look at you like you’re a bit mental. How To Be A Woman is Caitlin Moran’s feminist manifesto, intercut with stories and memories of her own life, which will have you cackling like a maniac.

The Sleepwalker At Sea – Kelly Grovier
I was lucky enough to be taught by Kelly at University. Kelly is an American poet, who’s taught at several British universities. The Sleepwalker at Sea is his second collection (his first, A Lens In The Palm is worth a read too), and explores aging, love, loss and memory. The poems here are beautiful and haunting, and question what it means to be in the world. Kelly’s work is utterly engrossing. If you’re interested in poetry at all, you need this on your bookshelf.
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Tuesday 12 November 2013

Take me on a trip, I'd like to go some day.

When I'm planning a holiday, I find it really hard not to tell absolutely everyone about it. And I've been planning my trip to the States for months now, so... yeah. I'm basically the most annoying person in the world. And now, even though I know you know, I'm going to talk about it again. I'M GOING ON HOLIDAY! On Thursday I fly to Texas for my awesome friend Erin's wedding. We're there until Monday, when we fly across to NYC for shopping and eating. Oh, the eating. I'm probably going to undo all my hard work on Weight Watchers in the space of a week. It's going to be awesome.

I've already started my shopping though - Erin kindly allowed me to mercilessly use her address to do a big Modcloth order. I am obsessed with Modcloth, but I get totally scared away by the customs and delivery charges and the stress about returning something trans-atlantically. Being in the country means that returns are MUCH easier. Wanna see what I bought?

Mustard skirt! MUSTARD. Yellow is not my colour but I fell in love with this a little bit. I think it would look adorbs with a black and white striped top, non?

This dress is so simple and yet I think it could potentially be that classic wardrobe item that I wondered what I ever did without.

I last blogged about this awesome skirt months ago. FINALLY IT WILL BE MINE! MWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

I love this! It reminds me of a Vivien of Holloway, but shorter and more therefore wearable for a shortarse like me. I also really like the colour - and I don't think anyone else will have an olive green polka dot number. Win.

Dress of DREAMS! I saw this months ago too, but it was out of stock. Thank you, fashion gods, for allowing this to come back into stock just in time for me to place my order. So lovely.

Obviously I'm expecting - and also kind of hoping, you should have seen the total - that I won't be keeping everything here due to fit and the like. I shall report back! On location instagrams, perhaps. I'm also hoping to have SOME spending money leftover, because there are so many clothes out there I am coveting right now - it's all about the winter dresses, ladies!

~+~
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