A Shark's Tale

On Saturday I took part in a charity shark dive at the blue planet aquarium. I agreed to do the dive in a fit of madness (I was over excited at the aquarium and just agreed to it on a whim) but turns out it was one of the best things I've ever done.

 no one will ever look good in a wetsuit...fact

I got to the aquarium at 2 with my mum and step dad who were there to take photos to preserve the moment and was instantly whisked away to a classroom where I learnt the basic skills of scuba diving. I have done this once before and didn't really enjoy it that much (slight panic over the breathing thing). After the lesson and disclaimer signing to say I couldn't sue if dismembered, we were taken to a training pool to get used to the equipment before getting in with the sharks. I was happily surprised that I didn't feel uncomfortable at all with the equipment, although my mask wasn't too comfy (and it gave me chronic face marks - not a good look) by the point I was more concerned about what I looked like in the wetsuit...green peace weren't quite trying to drag me back into the sea. Myself and a my dive buddy Laura had agreed to be the second pair to dive, so that meant that the other 2 ladies who were doing it were ready for the tank....they looked nervous, I felt nervous for them. Unfortunately one of the ladies didn't feel comfortable in the tank so stopped the dive midway and came out, I felt bad for her but was determined not to bottle it myself. 

The Rays are my favourites!

Then it was mine and Laura's turn, 30 minutes in a tank with a load of sharks, rays, eels and other large fish types. When we were at the bottom, it was surprising how calm I felt considering that the largest shark was about 12ft long and had some of the largest sharpest teeth I've ever seen. To be honest the whole thing went too quickly for me, I could have stayed in there much longer but we were on a tight schedule. I was so instantly in love with scuba diving that I have enquirer about joining my towns local diving club, the shark dive also counted towards a bit of the PADI open water course that I've been contemplating for a long time now.

Tooth from a Tiger Shark found at the bottom of the tank

The charity I did the sponsored dive for was the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and I was able to raise £469 which I was pleased with. On the day I met some children who were fighting muscle disease which was heartbreaking, but the money I raised will be put towards providing free practical and emotional support, funding world-class research to find effective treatments and cures ,campaigning to raise awareness and bring about change and 
awarding grants towards the cost of specialist equipment, such as powered wheelchairs. * official wording from MD website. 

My Certificate, I feel so proud :) 

Vogue

So its actually happening, the Vogue Fashion Festival on the 20th & 21st April...I already have my ticket which I am totally thrilled with.

The line up looks really interesting and with tickets prices at £75 per session its almost too good to miss, tickets for the whole weekend are a bit pricier at a whopping £280.

It was a hard choice to pick but I had limited myself to only going to one session, as I am trying to save.  Friday was the hardest one for me to choose from, Christopher Bailey in the morning or Stella McCartney in the afternoon,....in the end I opted for Bailey, mainly after watching the live stream of the Burberry show last night, it was utter perfection.

I managed to get some screen shots of my favorite looks from the show...

Born to Die...for

Two words....Del Rey.  

This is the new Mulberry bag revealed at this mornings show at London Fashion Week named after singer Lana Del Ray.  This sketch was released on the Mulberry.com blog this morning and then Lana herself was sat front row with a bespoke white ostrich leather version of the bag.  Let the savings begin.

The show seemed to have a "where the wild things are" theme, with editors posting picture of furry seats and monster sweets on twitter.  Other front row celebrities spotted were Michelle Williams, Olivia Palermo, Elizabeth Olson and Bill Nighy (random?) as well as The Wintour herself. Also it only took till look four for a dog to be featured in the show. 

pictures from www.mulberry.com

Happy Sunday

Well Sunday is drawing to another close, back to work and the real world tomorrow.  Just thought I'd share a lovely little purchase from today.  I treated myself to this Russian doll notebook from Paperchase, its covered in a really nice hand stitched fabric cover.  I just need to have something to write in it now. 

 I also discovered whilst getting a coffee and  a slice of cake from Starbucks (sorry diet!) that Starbucks are giving away music.  Each week they have vouchers by the till of a different single with a code on the back that just needs to be typed into iTunes for you to get a free download.  Usually things like this are always bands or singers I've never even heard of, but I have heard of Emeli Sande and I like what I've heard.  I wonder if I could put in requests for music that I want for free?.....

White Shirt Chic

White Shirt Chic by sophies-picks featuring diamond earrings

Jil Sander collared shirt
$530 - net-a-porter.com

Uniqlo stretch pants
£35 - uniqlo.com

Rosiesunday
$20 - senseofashion.com

Jimmy Choo wedge heels
$595 - net-a-porter.com

Proenza Schouler suede handbag
$895 - lagarconne.com

Dana Rebecca Designs diamond earrings
danarebeccadesigns.com

Miu Miu Canadian Grey Fox Collar
£449 - profilebrighton.co.uk

To Juice or not to Juice

I have been given this book by a friend to try out the 7lbs in 7days juice diet, lord knows I could do with a kick start to the old diet (still making cakes) and then maybe the quest for the perfect jeans wouldn't be such a horrid task - I am of course linking the fact that I want to lose weight to the problem of not being able to find jeans...surely if I was thinner they'd fit better??

I have spied these Burberry bad boys on net-a-porter but at £150 they are a bit pricey for me to just splash cash on - THEY MUST BE PERFECT!

However they would totally go with the Isabel Marant boots that I have been lusting after for a few months....luckily for my credit card they are sold out at the moment in my size - bank may just be breathing a sigh of relief. 

Any way, back to the topic of the juice diet, the shopping list for the first 3 days seems pretty ridiculous...35 apples??! I will look like a right mental buying 35 apples among other bits of fruit and veg....I think that you may lose half a stone in a week because all that fruit and veg will just go straight through you, to put it plainly.  Jason Vale aka The Juicemaster is the man behind Jordan's post baby body. I thought that was a plastic surgeon.  However if it gets results, its worth having a go, no gain without pain...or no loss without pain as the case may be!  The shopping list is split into days 1-3 and then 4-7, the shopping list for the second part of the week isn't so intense....looking at £60* for a full weeks worth of food.  You also need to have a juicer, they can be bought quite cheap on eBay - I'm borrowing one from a friend, no point in investing if juicing is going to be a one off.   When I start, I will give daily updates on fave recipes, how I'm feeling and whether I'm about to chew off my own arm for need of solid food.  I may (if you're lucky) divulge some weight and inch information so that any loss can be recorded...depends how much I feel like sharing ;) 

Here is the FULL SHOPPING LIST  for the 7 day course....

*priced using tesco.com 

 

I am in LOVE with this necklace from Anton Heunis at  My Wardobe I am thinking that I may get it as a sneaky self treat - maybe a 6 month early birthday present...who can I convince into buying this for me?

Work Wardrobe

I need a new work wardrobe....

http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/188145

I love a striped dress, and this one is £100 By Malene Birger, am sorely tempted as I lusted after a Sonia Rykiel one last year and never bought it and regretted it ever since.  It could be worn bare legs and sandals, black tights and boots, over skinny jeans....(trying to justify it to myself).

I do however need to get loads on new clothes for work instead of spending money on other things.  On the list of things for work wear are these Hobbs Kendall trousers, expensive but a definite investment.  Can be worn with Breton stripes, as well as sheer blouses.

I have spied some pencil skirts from Zara too that I want to invest in...but which one to choose?

There is also this spotty one from Topshop...

The only thing about wearing a pencil skirt is that you have to wear heels, which of course means NEW SHOES!! 

Vogue Paris Website relaunch

Emmanuelle Alt and the editors from Vogue Paris star in this Wham video...as well as several models doing their bit as backing singers.  The video is for the re-launch of the Vogue Paris website, check it out at www.vogue.fr I think its really good to see that even the editors of Vogue don't take themselves too seriously, although I really can't imagine Anna Wintour doing something like this!

The Perfect Eyebrows

A bit of a new obsession for me at the moment are eyebrows and how to make mine look like Cara Delevingne's.  The lovely Katie at Benefit managed to make mine look like the above*, but try as I might I can't get them to look like that myself! I have the "Browzings" kit and have been doing what she said to do (start in the middle with a flat edge and then brush out following the natural shape of the brow) but I just end up looking like a child has attacked my eye area with a brown crayon.  I am going back for another lesson on the 19th Feb, so hopefully she will show me again.

* Apologies about the picture, I look very grumpy as it took me ages to take a photo which I didn't look cross eyed in!

Another French One

Another French One by sophies-picks featuring 14k earrings

By Malene Birger cotton dress
£99 - vanmildert.com

Oasis tight
$15 - oasis-stores.com

French Connection tassel loafer
$61 - asos.com

Victoria Beckham leather handbag
$2,995 - net-a-porter.com

Rachelleceline 14k earrings
$32 - simplysoles.com

Bobbin Bicycles
£499 - bobbinbicycles.co.uk

Moschino Cheap & Chic Paris Eiffel Tower T-shirt
£80 - harveynichols.com

Sheer Magic

I am always on the look out for the perfect blouse, and here are two very decent ones from H&M.  They are a semi sheer fabric, so a vest underneath is definitely need.  They are £24.99 each, which can't really be argued at.  Looks great tucked into trousers or a pencil skirt...more on those topics coming soon!  Roll on pay day, when one of these (probably the navy one as I have super pale skin) will be finding its way into my wardrobe. 

Elle Collections S/S 12

Elle Collections is just divine