November - This Month I Loved...

November can be a bit of a strange month here in the UK, Once you have Halloween and Bonfire night out of the way at the start of the month there is nothing separating you from Christmas, so it can be quite difficult to find things that you love. Normally Bonfire night would be on my list however due to a busy work schedule I missed it completely this year which was disappointing. So here is my list of things I loved in November.

1) Hot Chocolate - There is something really satisfying about having a mug of hot chocolate when the weather has dropped cold and it’s even better in the run up to Christmas as all the coffee houses are doing their seasonal specials which mean you can make your hot chocolate a bit more special depending on your mood. I favour a shot of peppermint syrup, or cinnamon sugar, in mine normally however last week I went to Costa and had their Salted Caramel syrup, which is out for their salted caramel lattes and it was amazing! I'm so thankful for the poor barista that had to deal with me as I was asking all sorts of questions until I finally made my mind up on my order. Thankfully their patience with me means I may have found my new go-to winter warmer.

2) Good Friends - November was a bit of a rough month for me but I was lucky enough to have friends that will listen to me, make me laugh or distract me when I need it.

3) Christmas Shopping - Ok so it depresses most people and the thought of heading into the city can send some people into a mild panic but I kind of love it. Deciding what to get people and thinking up the best and most thoughtful gifts you can. I even enjoy the challenge of sticking to my budget. Christmas may be the time of giving but not at the expense of putting yourself into debt. So Make presents and shop around but do not re-gift, it shows no thought and to me it’s the thought that counts more than the cost.

4) Layering up - Colder weather means you can layer your clothing and look all snuggly as well as warm! Getting your winter jumpers out from their summer hiding places, wearing long socks, knee high boots, hats, gloves, scarves, coats, blanket cardigans you name it and you can layer it.

5) Candles - I adore candles, especially as the nights draw in and days get shorter. They add ambiance to your home not just inviting scents. I prefer fresh or fruity fragrances that aren't too sweet especially if they remind me of the season. My favourite brand is definitely  Yankee Candle as the candles are designed to have scent from the first time you light the wick until they extinguish themselves for the last time. Scents can help provoke memories or even make days, every year since discovering Yankee Candles I have always burned their 'Christmas Eve' candle on Christmas Eve so no matter what I know the holiday is just around the corner.

What did you love this Month?

Emmie xo

Lookbook: Winds of Wander

Leather Mix Jacket - Warehouse

Jumper - H&M

Jeans - Topshop (Leigh)

Boots - Rocket Dog

Scarf - Present from Parents trip to India

Emmie xo

Pink Friday

I've always fancied having pink in my hair especially like a dip-dye, however I've never wanted the commitment just in case I didn't like it. I read a while back that you can temporarily add a pink tone to blond hair using colour conditioner for 5 minutes. I tried it and I will admit I love it. it only lasts a few days so there is no great worry about if you don't like it. I started by just doing a few streaks but I am  thinking of going for a bolder effect.

Left - with flash

Right - without flash

I left my streaks on for about 10 minutes (I got distracted, opps) so they did appear a little red at first but once it was dried it was almost a perfect baby pink. Next time I think I'm going to do all of my blonde ends for a really pink effect as it fades off really nicely too.

Have you ever tried this or any funky colours in your hair?

Emmie xo

Trend: Novelty Knits

It seems as though looking back at old photos and looking at that Christmas jumper your Grandma got you thinking "Oh Dear!" is set to turn into "How Stylish!". There seems to be a trend emerging for christmas of novelty knits is bright colours and patterns emerging in every store from Primark to Asos.

Top Row L-R

ASOS Christmas Jumper - £32.00

Topshop 'Sheepish' Jumper - £50.00

Wildfox '4th of July' - £150.50 (on sale at ASOS at time of posting)

Bottom Row L-R

A Wear Penguin Jumper - £35.00

ASOS Christmas Cat - £30.00

Topshop Robin Jumper - £50.00

Will you be sporting this Trend at Christmas?

Emmie xo

Never Was So Much Owed By So Many To So Few...

Remembrance, what does this word mean to you? Today in the United Kingdom we are holding Remembrance Sunday to pay tribute to all those who have fought and are fighting to keep our country safe. I’ve always watched the proceedings on TV since I was young but as I’ve gotten older it has started to have new meaning for me. I have friends in the armed forces and I understand more than ever the sacrifices they make to protect the country and people they love, to them it is unconditional.  

My grandfather fought in the Second World War over in Belgium and France but he would never tell me or my sister about his experiences when we asked him for our school history research into the wars, I believe he knew he had made his sacrifice count. I cannot imagine the things the soldiers in the First and Second World Wars had to witness but I can understand why so few of them were willing to speak about their experiences. They do not want to remember.

I visited the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire recently and it was incredible how moved I was by it all. Just sitting in the presence of some of the Memorials almost moved me to tears. The Shot at Dawn Memorial was particularly moving with its set out. Tall Conifers growing and a single statue of a boy bound and blindfolded, target adorning his chest. The conifers are set out to represent the small distance between the target and the shooters, barely over 2 meters away. Posts behind the statue in a semi-circle gaining height as they go back each adorned with a name, rank and company, date and age each representing its man accused of deserting and shot for his ‘Crime’ even though most would have been shell shocked. The memorial was built alongside the recent pardoning of all these men, though too late for the spite and accusations their families would have faced after their fate.

There are many memorials in the Arboretums grounds and to cover them all would take a full day but all are built with remembrance in mind. The Still Birth and Neonatal death memorial is another tear jerker though you’d struggle to find it unless you know where it is. A small gate gives way to a winding wood chipped path lined with stones each painted and decorated by a loved one with their own message or name on. Some of the messages are incredibly moving and it is heart-breaking to see stones decorated by the same family after having lost more than one child. At the end of the path the wood chips give way to a circular grassy patch surrounded by flowers and a tall hedge to give you shelter and quiet to grieve, remember or in my case contemplate what the parents must have gone through and felt.

Remembrance to me is gratitude for what you have been given at the sacrifice of others, giving your thoughts and prayers to those who have felt adversity and making positive movements towards the future. It is being thankful for what you have not what you wish you had and remembering all I have been given could be very different. So today buy your poppy from one of the vendors, or better yet direct from the Royal British Legion, and wear it with pride, donate money to our forces through organisations like Help for Heroes and the National Memorial Arboretum and be thankful for your elders who sacrificed for your future especially since there are so few of them left now.

"Never was so much owed by so many to so few" Winston Churchill

Emmie xo

GIVEAWAY at So East Style!

Image property of soeast.blogspot.co.uk

Just a quick note today! My friend Claire over at So East Style Blog is having a little giveaway of a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.

Please pop on over to her blog to have a look the Giveaway post can be found here.

Good Luck! and make sure to check out her Lookbook posts too!

Emmie xo

Lookbook: Little Talks

Leather Jacket - H&M

Stripe Jumper - Sugarhill Boutique

Jeans - Topshop

Scarf - India, present from my parents travels

I put this outfit together when the weather started dropping cooler and wore it with my black converse hi-tops. I wanted something i could move in but would be warm as my friends and I were off to a fair and didn't want to take a big coat with me just in case it was really warm.

Hope you are enjoying your autumns. What do you wear when the weather changes?

Emmie xo

October - This Month I Loved...

This is something new I'm going to add to my blog. I feel that it is so hard to be positive nowadays, people seem to find it easier to be negative and complain than to see the good in every day. SO I decided I'd high-light some of my 'Loves' each month and hopefully anyone who happens to stumble across my blog will feel inspired and tell me what made them smile, be grateful and Positive.

1) Autumn Leaves - I love the colours of the leaves in Autumn, its like an artist has dipped his brush and painted a wondrous spectrum of red, orange, ochre, yellow and mahogany across the landscape. Leaves flutter from the trees in the cool Autumn breeze and carpet the ground like confetti. To me there is no season better than Autumn.

2) Time off work - I had some holiday left so I took 6 days off to give me a grand total of 12 consecutive days in a row! I've been non-stop for the last 2 months with going back to college and having to do all my homework from that as well as my normal hours at work having time to relax, spend time with my loved ones and even clean was greatly appreciated.

3) Clear Skies - I love stargazing and unfortunately all summer the UK was under a massive cloud that just would not seem to leave us alone day or night. So this month I have been grateful for some reprieve from clouds at night so I can watch the planets slowly shuffle across the skies and learn some more constellations.

4) Hallowe'en - OK, so in the UK we don't really make a big fuss of Hallow e'en but there is just something wonderfully mischievous in the air for me on this date each year. Whether its the 'Witching Hour' or just the idea the spirits come back and have some playful fun again (or maybe just dressing up silly) Hallowe'en is possibly my favourite holiday of the year.

What did you love in October?

Emmie xo

October Nails

Black - OPI 'Lady In Black'

Multi Glitter - OPI 'Mad As a Hatter'

Gold Glitter - No.7 Glitter in 'Gold'

Gold - Topshop 'Heart of Gold'

Peach - Barry M ' Peach Melba'

Brown - China Glaze Capitol Colours 'Mahogany Magic'

Fine Glitter - L'Oreal Laqui-resist 'Gold

Large Glitter - No.7 Glitter in 'Gold'

Lilac - Topshop 'Parma Violet'

Yellow Teddy - Nail Rock Wraps 'Meadham Kirchhoff SS12'

Lilac - Topshop 'Parma Violet'

Dark Purple - Topshop 'Late Show'

White - OPI 'Alpine Snow'

Nude - OPI 'Bubble Bath'

Heart - OPI 'Off With Her Red'

Orange - China Glaze Capitol Colours 'Riveting'

Glitter - China Glaze Capitol Colours 'Electrify'

Busy nail month for me this month!

Emmie xo