The French Connection Samantha Dress
I can see this dress worn with killer heels, a piece of statement jewellery - earrings or a ring - finished off with a box clutch and teamed with tanned pins, casual up-do and natural make up.

Attending Very's Christmas Catwalk Show.

Held in London's Bloomsbury with the X Factor contestants in attendance. Read my VBlog post about it here and see the rest of my photographs here.

But before you do, can I just share with you the shoe's Rebecca wore on the evening of the show - KG Isadora studded shoes. They're even more gorgeous in the flesh.

Katie wore this Love Label brocade dress with velvet bow and rose detail jacket, both from the Very Winter Collection. They completed her new ladylike look and chestnut pixie crop perfectly.



I have also been stuck in a lift, knitting tiny aliens, making Christmas cards and making great progress Christmas shopping... what have you been up to?

I rule, so I need one of these...
I also rock ;o)

This post is truly in the spirit of window shopping and wishful thinking.

Each is a joy to behold.

Bottega Veneta, Roberto Cavalli, Vivienne Westwood, Carolina Bucci, Giuseppe Zanotti and Christian Louboutin.

I loved my Christmas stocking as a child (and still love it as an adult). The little gifts and trinkets my Mum found to fill my stocking never failed to delight me.

I think a good Christmas stocking should have these things.
1. chocolate
2. a sugared mouse
3. a satsuma
4. hazelnuts (at least four)
5. something silly
6. something unexpected and pretty
7. something smelly (preferably pleasant)
8. something to do

This is what I have found...

When you think of it in terms of days Christmas Day doesn't seem so far away.

I have recently had reason to put in place self-imposed ban on 'treating myself' (more on that another day). So with Christmas only 39 days away I have been scratching my retail itch by purchasing Christmas gifts for others.

I rely heavily on Amazon for my online Christmas shopping. It didn't take my nephews long to get to grips with the amazon wishlist and being eight and 10 they're all about Ben 10, Puffles (I have no idea) and the DS. So, their gifts are a no brainer.

My Dad is always hard to buy for so my brother and I convinced him to make a wishlist on Amazon, which now has the incredibly helpful addition of the Universal Wishlist, where you can add anything from any other website. But Dad rarely puts more than half a dozen items on his list, so I always have to get a little creative when it comes to gifts for him.

This year Cox and Cox came to my rescue with this wonderful bee house. With the humble bumble bee hitting our headlines this summer my Dad planted a 'bee friendly' area in his garden and you can't have a garden without a house. I'd like one aswell but I must resist the urge to add two to my basket!

I adore Cox and Cox and Not On The High Street for gifts ideas, here are a few of my favourites...

Great for my nephews - Turbospoke


A great little stocking filler for dad - A walnut key

For my friend and her new home from Not On The High Street - Heart Candle Holder

For OH - Herdy Sheep Mug

Retro Wooden Race Car - every one year old boy needs one of these surely?


For the newly moved - address stamp


Bespoke Name Art

I could go on and on, I can lose hours flicking through the pages on these websites...

Christmas.

Christmas. So much to say, I'll start at the beginning...


My Childhood Christmases
As a child I remember the stockings. To me they were the most exciting part of the day and even though, at the age of four, my older brother told me that Father Christmas didn't exist, deep down I still wanted to believe. How else would my stocking be filled? Who else would take the carrot and drink the milk and eat the biscuit? My parents always nodded with a grin when I rushed into their bedroom to show them what Father Christmas had brought me on his sleigh, he never forgot to put nuts and a satsuma into the toe of my stocking. Once up and dressed in our 'best' clothes we would all have breakfast together. The only other time this happened was on family holidays but this seemed extra special as we were at home. My brother always cooked and delegated the setting of the table to me.

Once breakfast was cleared away (and how long did that process seem to take!) it was time for presents. My brother and I would hand out the gifts and, whilst we did want to savour the moment, the whole thing was generally over in less than an hour. Often my favourite Aunt would join us. She was super cool - she rode a motorbike and wore jeans and a leather jacket. She would sit on the floor with us and play games or read to us whilst Mum cooked the most fabulous - I've still never tasted better - roast beef dinner. My Dad wasn't a fan of turkey so this became our traditional Christmas Lunch. I was always given one tiny sprout and urged to 'just try it' but I always refused. The afternoon was spent playing games, watching films and eating too many bars of chocolate from our selection packs. More often than not we'd wrap up warm and go for a walk to shake off the late afternoon sleepy feeling. That was my family Christmas.

That was until the year my brother left home. I knew Christmas would seem strange without him there. Oh how I wish he had been. My Mum and Dad had been struggling in their marriage and on Christmas Eve when my Mum came in asking 'Where's your Dad', with a look that signaled she meant business, I knew that that was it. The next day was excruciating, although Mum didn't actually tell me what I already knew until Boxing Day. I wanted so much for it all to go back to normal but I knew it never would. I'd never cook Christmas breakfast for them or sit on the end of their bed in my PJs with my stocking ever again. I was 17 and I felt a million years old whilst also desperately fighting the urge to regress to my seven year old self and sit on my Dad's knee whilst he cracked walnuts for me.

The Christmas' between now and then didn't hold the same meaning for me. The dilemma of who to be with on Christmas Day was always hard. I came to dread it, I didn't want to be asked in October what I would be doing in late December. I tried to muster the festive spirit in the run up to Christmas but when it arrived I just wanted to be by myself until it was all over.

A few years ago I spent the day with my friends instead of family. I found it fascinating to see two families (my friend's and her in-laws) come together, each fighting to maintain their own traditions. I couldn't stifle a chuckle as the youngest sister, 21, sulked when she was asked to hand out the gifts saying 'I'm not a child you know'. I swear she actually stuck out her bottom lip! I was outside looking in and I relished every moment and not just because my friend asked me to be her bridesmaid that day, although it did make it pretty special. For once I didn't have to try so hard, it wasn't about me or the past, or trying to keep everyone happy. I just sat, ate, drank and took it all in.

Last year was my first Christmas with OH. His family, he told me, were big on Christmas. He was big on Christmas. I felt panicked, now I would have more to navigate during the festive season, more to juggle and endure. For him and his family a long standing tradition had come to an end. Every year of OH's life he had spent Christmas Day in his Grandparents farmhouse. He had lost both Grandparents that year and told me he couldn't imagine not eating turkey at their dining room table or opening gifts around the fire.

Christmas turned out to be one of the best for a long time. OH's sister had a baby, a few weeks early, on December 23rd, which of course threw everything in to chaos. But it was good, happy, fun chaos with everyone mucking in and making the best of it. It was exhausting but wonderful. It was the perfect Christmas for me to join in the celebrations because everything was new.

This year I don't know were we will be or what we will be doing but I do know I am looking forward to it. When I think of  Christmases to come I get a genuine bubble of excitement in my stomach. I want to create traditions that don't tie us to any particular place on Christmas Day but for the day to be about being with family and loved ones.

I still have the Christmas stocking of my childhood. My Mum made it for me out of a pillow case and some festive ribbon and I intend to do the same for my children and they will always have a few hazelnuts and a satsuma in the toe. The afternoon walk on Christmas Day is a keeper and I'm sure other traditions will creep in without us even noticing. I'm glad to say that we have already continued one Christmas Day tradition from OH's family, one from his Grandma, to have shortbread biscuits with our first cup of tea of the day.

I had forgotten that I'd ordered Sonic Boost Vibrating Mascara from Glynis, my lovely Avon Lady. I was reluctant to try it though as I'd recently found a friend in the form of Rimmel's Lash Accelerator Mascara, I was concerned that it's powers would wear off if I strayed...

My lashes are long but fine and straight and were, until recently, VERY badly behaved. Prior to trying Lash Accelerator Mascara my search for a mascara that whipped my lashes into shape spanned almost two decades.

Never-the-less, in the pursuit of fabulous lashes, I did try Avon's Sonic Boost Vibrating Mascara. Avon claim that '8000 vibrations a minute re-creates the make-up artist’s zig-zag hand motion, for spectacular separation, ultimate coverage and up to 6x volume'.

Did this vibrating mascara work? Yes, I was very pleased with the results and it didn't tickle a bit. So now, after many years, I have two mascaras that give me the results I desire. Not that I am complaining - two are certainly are better then one. That said, I think this mascara is better suited to daytime use - for me anyway - as too many coats left me with spikey, clumpy lashes.

I am reminded of this;

Bloody Men

Bloody men are like bloody buses -
You wait for about a year
And as soon as one approaches your stop
Two or three others appear.

You look at them flashing their indicators
Offering you a ride.
You're trying to read the destinations,
You haven't much time to decide.

If you make a mistake, there is no turning back.
Jump off, and you'll stand there and gaze
While the cars, the taxis and the lorries go by
And the minutes, the hours, the days.

by Wendy Cope


Avon calling...

Avon have been around for as long as I can remember. My Grandma was an Avon Lady and when I was at nursery school I remember playing with a Skin So Soft bottle filled with coloured pieces of foam (I assume they also had real toys for us to play with) and my very first, treasured lipstick came from Avon, the shade? Iced Champink which they are still selling today.

I'm a daily user of Glimmerstick Eye Liner, Invisible Light Concealer and Ideal Shade Smooth Mineral Foundation and would highly recommend them all.


Recently I have ordered a Luxe Lace SuperShock Gel Eyeliner Pencil that A Model Recommends recently gave a rave review (they're currently half price at £3.00 so get one while you can)






All images from Avon

Are you an Avon enthusiast? Do you tend to stick to the same brand for your make up or buy a mixture?

Knitting.
I had a deadline to finish knitting this for my friend's brand new baby girl, Lila. Until yesterday bunny had only one arm and no ears...

I almost don't want to give her away.

Sewing.
To keep me out of mischief I made up this corsage kit from Nonesuch Things, although I had to chuckle when I read on the back it was 'an educational craft, not a toy', typical that I'd buy myself something meant for a child - I wouldn't want to challenge myself too much!

None-the-less I enjoyed the distraction and found the huge plastic 'no chance of hurting yourself' needle super cute, it will also come in handy for sewing up my knitting. The corsage now sits happily pinned to my Alice Temperley shopping bag.

Smelling...
of Lolita Lempicka First Fragrance. I don't normally buy a new scent by reading a description alone but this one got me and I had to try it. An true advertisers dream I liked the fairytale bottle and googled for more information.

I was promised 'A fragrant note of Liquorice combined with Aniseed, Ivy, Violet and Tonka Bean with the sweet rich notes of Amarena Cherry, Vanilla and Praline. This blend gives way to a sensual floral note with iris and Musk undertones. It is a subtle blend of sensations that stirs the senses.'

And I wasn't disappointed.

and wearing...
Rimmel's Lycra PRO Beige Style nail varnish. Love.

What have you been up to recently?

Until next time...

With my Christmas shopping list still very much in its infancy, I remain firmly in winter wardrobe mode. The colder it gets the more layers I seem to buy! Please forgive the functional feel of my particular pieces this week, I have a cold and am in need of comfort clothes...

Curved Hem Pocket Jumper Very.co.uk
Slouchy, soft jumper for lazy winter Sunday's, just add sofa, log fire, cheesy film and boyfriend.



Brown Wedge Lace Up Boots River Island
Not exactly practical for wet, slippy days but beautiful none-the-less.

Queen of Hearts Ring

I am LOVING this ring. I found it whilst perusing nonesuch things (a regular indulgence of mine). It comes 'flat packed' and you just have to pop out the pieces and follow instructions to fit it together. Great idea with gorgeous results. It comes in three sizes and will cost you a mere £15.00 - what's not to love?

Take a look at nonesuch things its full of interesting, gorgeous bits and pieces. I'm addicted.

I was right when I said 'No doubt this list [of blogs I follow] will grow as I fall further into the world of blogging'. Blogging has me bewitched! I can spend hours reading blog posts, linking to other blogs that I end up following, following who my followers follow... you get the picture!

What draws me to a blog is getting a feeling of the person behind it, finding out about their style. I love blogs that have lots of photographs and links to unusual websites or products and interesting finds. Anything that brings a smile to my face or makes me laugh out loud is a welcome find.

Product trials are great too. I'm still reeling at the sheer amount of posts on nail polishes - but it has made me sit up and take note of my own nails. Even though I say so myself, my nails are currently looking pretty good.

I love anything that I can relate to on the everyday issues, challenges and the highs and lows of life as a woman. The sense of support, inspiration and respect that can be found in a post's comments is wonderful to read.


My recent blog crushes are;

Karla's Closet
Great outfit shots, great style - I love the pairing of a stripe top and vintage floral flares and her version of a classic jeans and a shirt combo, to name but a few. I will be digging out a clutch bag more often...



A Daisychain Dream
Laura's regular outfit posts and her obsession with hosiery has introduced me to Tabio with whom I am hoping to break my tights phobia. Also, her cat, Flash, makes regular appearances on her blog, he is totally adorable (nothing to do with him looking a little like one of my cats, Socks - honestly).



Little Bird Fashion
I will be checking in with Jen over the next week to see how her six piece wardrobe style challenge develops. I love wardrobe experiments but I can't imagine how anyone can cope with just six items of clothing. I find the subject endlessly fascinating. Jen has chosen six classic pieces in grey, blue, black and camel (which just happen to mirror the colour pallet of my wardrobe) so I will be interested to see how she gets on. You never know, this experiment may help me to create a capsule wardrobe for my next trip away.

I Want Dress
Generally I.DO.Want.Dress!


Hope you have enjoyed :)