Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Usually I am a lover of the Snow, but not when its at that stage where I can still get to work! A couple of centimeters more and I will be snowed in...COME ON!!!

It has also been a minefield getting dressed for work the past week, too cold for skirts and dresses, so must wear trousers, too treacherous on the ground for heels, and layered up the tops and cardigans.  I am going to work looking like the Michelin Man.  It wouldn't be so bad but my building starts off freezing till about lunch time then gets boiling hot all afternoon...Its a dilemma!

Shopping

In the new year I plan to mainly save my money - as per my previous piece listing my Resolutions.  There are a few things that I am going to buy and another addition to the list is Canon Powershot D10. 

This will be useful for my Australian Holiday.  This camera will be great for underwater snaps when diving the Great Barrier Reef :) I am totally trying to justify some expensive purchases.  Maybe I can request the camera as a birthday gift, although my Mum has said she will buy my plane tickets - what a LEGEND!!

I have been trying to get back into my photography, I have been looking through my Flickr account (if you want to have a look its "arohanui_travel") there are some terrible pictures I took at gigs, I tend to dance about to much to keep the camera steady.  There are also good photos from my travels like the one below.

I have been looking at summer clothes to get ready for my holiday - although its a bit early and shops seem only to have wintery things in at the moment (can't wait to snap up bargains in the sales - Net-a-Porter will start on Boxing Day I believe or is it Christmas Eve...I can't remember) I have found an amazing bikini website that will ship to the UK from Australia called Hive Swimwear http://www.hiveswimwear.com/ They have some really lovely swimwear ranging from bikinis, to tankinis to one piece swim suits.  I really want something from the Slider Collection and the Reef Swirl Collection. 



Christmas Crisis, New Year Promises

On Friday I battled my way round Chester to get the final parts of my Christmas shopping done (the wrapping paper and tags, and I couple presents for people I'd forgotten) It was mayhem.  I had to treat myself in Topshop to get over the stress of the crowds.  I figured it can be worn over longer sleeved tops and dresses.  And then as a thrown on top over vest tops in the summer...Yes I was justifying my purchase!

New Years Resolutions

I know that Christmas hasn't even arrived yet (only a week to go!) but I have already started thinking about my New Years Resolutions,

1. Less drinking
2. More sensible shopping, less frivolous buys, therefore better saving
3. Have a successful fitness regime...actually go to the gym I spend £40 a month on.

As I was looking for a good fitness class to go to, let it be known there seem to be non in the Chester area, I stumbled across this blog (http://cooler.mpora.com/news/shape-roxy-beach-body-workout.html) which had details on a class called Roxy Beach Body Workout.  It looks amazing, but is only available at Virgin Active gyms http://www.virginactive.co.uk/ and not at my own gym, Total Fitness.

The blog did however have some details of some of parts of the circuit that is completed in the work which are below (all linked back to the blog)

"1. The Squat

Place your feet hip widths apart, push your bum back, bend your knees and keep your heels pushed into the floor then come back up and repeat.

2. The Hip extension
Place your hands and knees on the floor and lift your leg up at a 90 degree angle, squeezing your buttocks and trying to move as little as possible through your torso, then lower your leg slowly and repeat.

3. The Side Lunge
Step out to one side, bend the knee of the leg that you stepped out with and push your bum backwards then return to your original position and repeat.


For each of the following do 15 repetitions, have a little rest then repeat this twice more.

4. Tricep Push Up
Start lying on your front with your hands under your shoulders and your elbows pointing up. Engage your abdominals a lot by drawing your naval in towards your back. Breathe in and as you breathe out push your whole body up in one piece and balance on your hands and toes. Slowly lower down making sure you maintain a long straight line in your body.

5. Oblique Twists


Lay on your back with your feet off the floor and your knees bent. Keep your arms out in a low V shape by your sides and engage your abdominals before your start. Keep your shoulders down throughout and move your hips and legs over onto one side towards the floor. Hold your legs off the floor then bring them back to the centre and repeat on the other side."

My body, by the time of my Australian holiday will look like this.......

                                                              

YEAH RIGHT!!!!

Christmas Stresses

What a weekend!

Manchester on Saturday can only be described as a nightmare.  Although I did get to buy treats from Selfridges in the form of a lovely Cos dress and a Michael Kors watch (which I then had to give to my Nanna as it was her Christmas present for me). 



The main upset wasn't the horrendous crowds, and believe me they were awful, it was the fact that Topshop had been closed in the Arndale due to student protesters....I was furious.  Especially as I need a new outfit for Tuesdays date night!  I will have to wear the Cos dress now!

Money Plans

I have also made the decision that as much as I want to spend my money as fast as it comes into my bank account, I need to save for next years Australian Adventure.  I am also joining Weight Watchers as I dont want to be fat on the Aussie beaches. 

Reading

Am re-reading the Sookie Stackhouse books, they are bloody brilliant (ha! excuse the pun!!) If you have watched True Blood then you may have heard about these books, they are what the series are taken from.  Perfect escapism.  Have just finished the first one in the series and starting the second one.

Listening To

After seeing Scissor Sisters in Manchester on Saturday night I have been re-listening to their music.  It was such a good show, and Ana Matronic's outfits were AMAZING!! 

What is Mr Winkle?

As I have been of work ill today, I have been catching up on my Sex and the City box set, while feeling sorry for myself.  While daydreaming about the clothes and shoes, I noticed the weirdest dog - series 5, The Big Journey. The dog is Mr Winkle.  Who is this creature and what type of dog is it? Its cute but weird.

Sparkly Shoes



I really want a pair of Christmas shoes.  I have absolutly no way of achieiving the Louboutins below, the Miu Mius (left) are a credit card dream, but the Reiss black glittery platforms (right) at £149 are a major possibility.

The Christmas Jumper

I am coveting this christmas jumper that I spotted on the Elle Website, I can't wait to go to Manchester on Saturday with my mum...shopping then the Scissor Sisters concert at the M.E.N - its our Christmas treat to ourselves.

 

Hair Fashion at The Fashion Awards

It seems that I have hit a trend with the fringe, I actually have the same haircut (except for a few more layers) as the lovely Claudia Winkleman.  



Fringe Benefits

After umming and aahhing for about a week now I have had a fringe cut in…well I cut it in myself with the kitchen scissors! Some may say not a wise move but as I have a hear of the hairdressers it’s the best option and I only have myself to blame if it goes horribly wrong.  I seem to follow a pattern of cutting one this time of year pretty much every year, so its not a complete shock to the system, however it wasn't till after it was cut that I remebered the "fringe wash" that I will need to do when I dont have time to wash and dry my hair in the mornings.  Nightmare, oh well its better than a greasy fringe!

Magazine Tuesday

Tuesday is the day that Grazia comes out - YEY! the one magazine that I don't get by post (Elle and Vogue are of course delivered by Mr Posty) Haven't fully read it yet, but I have decided that Bag of the Week isn't to my taste so this week I will not be texting in.  I did laugh at the "arm spanx" or Ch'Arms on the Going Down section of this weeks mag....like Grazia, I am not convinced.

Digital Photographer of the Year

Have been looking at the winners for Digital Photographer of the Year today on the Telegraph website.  My favourite of the bunch was the overall winner and winner of the Adreneline catagory by Jon Wright from Australia...

Christmas Party Excitement!

Tonight is the night of my works Christmas party, I wasn't looking forward to it at all untill the purchase of the most divine dress ever on Thursday.

Most of the girls in my office will be opting for something micro mini and covered in sequins, I however have gone for a black floor length  Carla Crepe French Connection dress - its a classic and I cannot wait

to wear it.  Also thanks to the lovely magazine that is Grazia I got 20% off! When I say "I" who I really mean is my Mum, it was a lovely Christmas treat from her :)

 

I am thinking of teaming it with my Louboutin slingbacks and a long string of pearls.  Underneath the dress are the remarkable Spanx, for all formal events they are a lifesaver, no unsightly wobbly bits - genius.

Christmas List

I have been thinking a lot about what I would like for Christmas (if money were no object of course) and I would really love a Mulberry Alexa bag, my mum just laughed when I asked her (the £875 price tag kind of puts you off a bit) and my dad didn't even know what one was.  I'll let him off, he does live in the coutry and exists in a life of tweed, barbours and flat caps.

If the Alexa doesn't appear under the tree, and I strongly suspect that it won't its been added to the list of contenders for my bonus next year.

There are 4 contenders to the (prospect) bounty.

1. iPad
2. Mulberry Alexa
3. Put towards my Big Australian Adventure
4. Put into savings

Listening To

In the last week I have really been listening to Adele's album 19, I had forgotten how much I love it, can't wait for her new album 21 next year. 

Also been listening to Kings of Leon in preparation for their gig in Birmingham on the 16th December.  I must admit that although I am a massive KOL fan, I have not really liked the last 2 albums that they released, I am definately more of a fan of their old stuff.  Aha Shake Heartbreak is a blinder of an album.  More of the old stuff please KOL!!

Reading

Have just finished reading a brilliant book called "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey, what an eye opener.  Its a memoir written by Frey about his time in rehab at 23 for being an alcoholic and crack addict.  Its not the usual type of stuff I read but I thoroughly enjoyed it.



Laughing At

For some reason I saw a clip of an old Sooty and Sweep show yesterday and laughed my self silly over it, my friend Jenny showed it me as she thinks its one of the funniest things she has ever seen....Sweep is by far the funniest one, when he falls asleep in his cereal is hiliarious...we definatly had that Friday feeling in work



Hello Christmas, Hello Kitty

Today is officially Nearly Christmas.

I have opened the first window of my new advent calender...a Hello Kitty Calender, my step-brother Dan has a lovely Thomas the Tank Engine Calender, clearly whoever my mum sent to get the calenders didn't realise that I am 25 and Dan is 20...