It Seems I'm Miranda {Fashion Forward}

Now, I must admit that I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do for this week's Fashion Forward post. I wasn't sure whether to pretend that I had plans for New Year's Eve and put together a glamourous, swanky little outfit or whether I should just admit that I far prefer to stay in with a good book and my hot water bottle. (My life it just full of excitement, I tell you!)

However, you've been saved from pictures of me in my worn out PJs by The Steve, who mentioned that there was a new Sex & The City film coming out in 2010. His actual words were, "I saw the trailer for Sex & The City 2 earlier and it made me want to yank on one of my testicles so hard I could strangle myself with it." - I knew then that I'd have to put together a little 'tribute'. Just for The Steve!

Funny what inspires me, isn't it?

Items in this set: Donna Karan Infinity Dress; Christian Louboutin Pigalle 120 Patent Pumps; Roger Vivier Black Verni Bag; Gregg Ruth Diamond Necklace; Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge For Lips & Cheeks

I was never a huge fan of the show (I liked it, but I never lived for it, you know?) but I was always a huge fan of the fashion. I took the What's My Sex & The City Style quiz, to determine what style I would suit me best and I came out with ... Miranda. I can't argue - I'd kill for her structured suits, tailored dresses and pulled together look. Whose wardrobe would you raid, given half the chance?

Pop on over to see Katherine and Co to see what's inspired everyone else's Fashion Forward this week.

Peace & Good Scrapping!

I've been on quite the journey this year and I'm facing 2010 with several major hurdles to overcome, but I have a growing sense that things are improving and that I'm up for the challenge. However, sometimes I feel as though I've got so much to think about and so much to tackle that it can seem difficult to think about my goals without feeling overwhelmed. So, in order to keep things simple, I decided to concentrate on one simple goal for 2010 - to find peace within myself.

Imagine then my surprise and delight when Melissa (who co-ordinates our DT over at AAM) told me that All About Me and Scrapbooking From The Inside Out were teaming up to issue a seasonal scrapbooking challenge - with the theme of peace. Do head over and take a look at the rest of the layouts from the DT and, if you can find yourself some peace (and quiet) to join in, there's a beautiful kit prize to be had.

I wanted my layout to feel seasonal so I tackled it in my usual way - by gathering up all of my current favourites. I ended up with a sheet of musical cardstock (no idea who it's by) and several scraps leftover from making my December Daily album (which I've not got around to starting yet!) The embellishments that I've included, both the dove and the beaded branch, are handmade by me - I'm such a clever so and so! :)

I then distressed the life out of all the cardstock and paper pieces (this is great for ridding yourself of any seasonal stress) layered everything up, then stitched and glued it all down. I love the way it's turned out and, actually, just looking at it feels like a small acheivement in itself!

I'm not going to be around now until the next Fashion Forward on the 28th, so I'll take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Christmas (or Season's Greetings.) See you then! x

Christmas Calm {Flickr Favourites}

I just wanted to share a cute little collection of some of my favourite flickr favourites from the past week. Forget about the stress of cooking, cleaning and remember that this time of year is supposed to be peaceful.

1. Silberkugeln, 2. Silver Bells, 3. Christmas Snowflake Balb, 4. Zimtsterne (2/4), 5. Snow White, 6. I'll Be Home...

Put the kettle on, then head on over to Mitsy's to see more collections of the good stuff and give yourself a break for a few minutes.

Too Much Choice? {Fashion Forward}

Last night, I sat down to write today's Fashion Forward post and I suddenly found that I was unable to decide what to write about. Would it be sequins, studs or skinny jeans? Would I write about my current love for soft pinks and warm greys? Or would I choose to tell you about my, rather unhealthy, obsession for creating sets in Polyvore?

Faced with seemingly unlimited choice I couldn't make a decision. This morning, I realised that this is exactly how many of us feel when we go shopping for clothes. So, in the run up to the holiday sales - and the complete lack of judgement we all experience when faced with a half price coat that we've wanted for ages, but just happens to be a size too small - I thought I'd share some of my favourite fashion guides (and this super stylish set I found whilst wasting time, um... I mean researching ideas, on Polyvore.)

Charming Lady by Kristen-Funny

If you haven't seen Sally McGraw's blog, Already Pretty, then please head on over there immediately for the the most sensible advice on finding your own style I've ever read. When you love yourself, and the body you have, you'll find that your clothes will bring you enjoyment as well as confidence. (I'm still working on this!)

For advice on putting together a classic, capsule wardrobe full of elegant clothes, you can't beat a bit of advice from Auntie Gok. Gok Wan's website is full to bursting with advice, trends and competitions - and there's a really handy Style Consultation which will help you choose the right clothes for you and your body type.

There's also Academichic - a style blog full of the most amazing outfits that, get this, actually work in the real world. There's a fastastic Fashion 101 section, full of advice on fashion basics like combining colours, playing with patterns and working on your own style.

After all that, if you still find yourself trying to make a tough decision during the sales, just remember this essential piece of advice from my mum - "If you wouldn't buy it at it's full price, don't buy it just because it's on sale."

If you want to play along today, please pop on over to see Katherine and leave us a link to your post!

Oh Shit!

It's Monday tomorrow - and on Friday, it's Christmas. I've not done any cleaning; any shopping or any present buying. Oh shit! It just doesn't feel like Christmas is coming. It doesn't even really feel like December. At least it didn't until this morning when the the ground was covered in a blanket of white - that is big, white hailstones the size of bricks that set off all the car alarms outside!

Mondays. Bleh! by OPCreative on Polyvore.com

Is it just me that isn't really feeling it? Has anyone else had trouble getting into the Christmas spirit this year?

Challenging Times

If life isn't challenging enough in December - when you're running around buying last minute presents, tidying the house before your parents visit or battling your way through the masses in the supermarket - then you might be interested to know that I set the Weekly Challenge on UKScrappers earlier in the week and that you still have time to participate.

I really wanted to keep the requirements simple so that people could incorporate the challenge into their December Daily or Journal Your Christmas albums (if they wanted to.) I asked everyone to -

1. Scraplift - Having a bit of inspiration makes scrapping so much quicker. Make life a little easier on yourself and scraplift one of your favourite layouts.

2. Sew - I love the detail that sewing adds to a layout. Use some stitching on your layout to add detail and texture. If you don't have a machine, you can hand stitch or draw 'stitches' and if you do digital that's okay too! (I'm an all inclusive kind of girl!)

3. Scrap - I'm a big believer in using as much of that precious paper as possible. Pick out some of your favourite scraps (large or small) and use them on your layout.

I'm a huge fan of Amanda Johnson and love the way she manages to use the bare minimum of supplies and still make her layouts look amazing. I scraplifted her two layouts - 1 Day and Summer Fare - and I'm not sure that I managed to do them any justice, but it did get me thinking about new ways to approach my scrapbooking and that's the point, right?

There have been some amazing entries and sadly, there are no prizes (not that I'd be able to choose a winner) but maybe you could pop over and take a look to give them some love?

Have a good weekend folks x

We All Have Our Guilty Pleasures

Can you believe that it's actually time for another All About Me Design Team Reveal? And this one is all about our guilty pleasures. Oh, come on, you know you have one. Or maybe two!

I really had some fun with this one. I wanted to do something a bit unexpected and not many people expect me to be overly 'girly' - despite my current obsession with pale pinks and ruffles. Deep down inside though, there's a true girly girl with a passionate love of downright trashy chick lit. There's something rather comforting about predictable, romantic comedies and guaranteed happy endings.

To see how the rest of the DT have intepreted this one and then have a go yourself, head on over to All About Me.

A Little Light Relief {Flickr Favourites}

I'm still craving light, bright and open spaces. So, the weather still being a fickle friend, where better to look for some light relief than some favourites from my wonderful flickr contacts? A talented bunch, I promise you.

1. Slippers, 2. Home, 3. Untitled, 4. I ❤ To Read.

If you'd like to see more flickr inspiration, you should head over to see Mitsy who hosts our flickr favourites every week (and her own choices are always pretty stunning too!)

Flouncy Femininity {Fashion Forward}

There's a new trend emerging as a strong contender for my favourite look of Spring/Summer 2010 - ruffles. That's right, I said ruffles. (See Chloe, D&G and Valentino.)

I must admit, I haven't always been a fan of the flouncy femininity of ruffles. Especially when you consider that, for most women, ruffles can be seriously hard to wear without appearing to be as well rounded as your taste in music!

The key to wearing ruffles is to combine the softness of the ruffle with the structure of something tailored - lean jeans, a boyfriend blazer, an edgy pair of boots - and to find a piece that works well with your body shape

And if you're not sure what will work well with your body shape? There's always this beautiful bag.

Alice + Olivia Cheryl Silk Drawstring Blouse, $210; Nordstrom Satin Ruffle Clutch, $88.

If you want to play along pop on over to see Katherine and leave your link love there so everyone can stop by and take a peek!

Snow Wonder {Flickr Favourites}

I may not be the biggest fan of winter weather, but I am happy to make an exception for snow. There's something about snow that still fills me with the wonder I had as a child and there's nothing quite like waking up to find the world covered in a brilliant blanket of pure white.

I know that I'd probably feel differently if I lived somewhere snow fall wasn't quite so uncommon, but since I don't, I'm quite content to dream of sledges, snowmen and snow boots.

1. k, 2. Untitled (365/306), 3. Elderberry Revisited, 4. Mystical Snow Flickrman

If you'd like to see more flickr inspiration, you should head over to see Mitsy who hosts our flickr favourites every week (and her own choices are always pretty stunning too!)

Bright Here, Bright Now {Fashion Forward}

Although I'm hankering after one particular little black dress, I'm also thinking about the need to inject a little bit of cheer into my dreary winter wardrobe.

It's quite common, at this time of year, for the high street to fill up with jewel tones and metallics, but what about livening things up a little with a pure pop of colour to make you stand out in the crowd?

Couture Bow Sheen Dress, £18; Raisins Bali Bliss Swim Cover Up, £26; Alice Yellow Bow Evening Dress, £65, Bubble Tulip Dress, £60; Sheen Bubble Pleat Dress, £9; Cutwork Shift Dress, £45; Green Strapless Dress, £35;

These dresses are all flattering, require very little in the way of accessories and, more importantly, can be bagged for as little as £9. So you need less time to get ready to go out and you'll have more money to party with! Hurrah!

Fashion Forward is with Katherine this week. If you want to play along (or would just like to have a bit of a nose at the trends taking everyone else's fancy this week) pop on over and say hello.

Edited: I'm assuming Katherine is having trouble with internet connection, so I'm going to link everyone up here for today. We'll sort something out for next week and point everyone in the right direction. Sorry folks! :)

And what's with the big, red crosses? Obviously going to be one of those days!

Crafty Christmas Cheer

The All Day Christmas Crop at our local scrapbooking club is always a huge success. Twelve hours of non-stop scrapbooking (unless you count the short breaks for photography; cups of tea and the eating of cake) is never a bad thing.

With challenges and competitions it's always a hive of activity - there's stuff everywhere. Pretty stuff, granted, but it's everywhere! Health & Safety just wouldn't know what to make of all the cutting tools, scissors and heat embossers!

After a bit of a crappy week, full of unexpected crises and traumatic banking (!) a day of non-stop laughter and festive cheer was exactly what I needed to recharge my batteries and get me back in the Christmas spirit.

And, of course, being joined by my bestie Cheryl topped it all off nicely. You can't beat a hug from a good friend!

The Holidays Are Coming!

I am still having difficulty believing that it's December! That means it's time for another All About Me Design Team Reveal. Yay!

I'd like to say that I gave this one as much thought as usual but...um...I got the prompts muddled and put this one together yesterday afternoon. There's a lot of stiching, because I just couldn't find the double-sided sticky tape! Being pushed for time forced me into using the template and using the sketch made it a lot easier - so you might like to bear that in mind as we enter the holiday season.

The prompt is all about processing the holidays - our memories, traditions and thoughts about this time of year - so our layouts are all incorporating a little more journalling than usual.

Mine reads - No matter how many times I've heard the same tunes every time I go shopping; no matter how many mince pies I've had thrusted in my direction and no matter how many 'festive drinks' I've knocked back, for me it isn't Christmas until I've sat down to wrap all of my presents.

I know some people find wrapping presents just a little bit of a chore, but for me it's one of the Christmas traditions I most look forward to - I know. I'm weird. I blame my mother. (Sorry mum!)

On Christmas Eve my mum would always be busy cleaning the house and making preparations for Christmas Day. To keep me occupied (and out of the way) I was given the role as 'Chief Present Wrapper' - a role I took very seriously.

We would crank up the radio - full of seasonal tunes - and I would spend the next couple of hours writing gift tags; wrapping presents and arranging them under the tree, accompanied by the smell of mince pies baking in the oven. I would be happy in the knowledge that I was helping out and doing something important.

I still do all of my wrapping in one evening - no mean feat with a family as big as mine. I sit myself at the dining room table, surrounded by bags full of presents, wrapping paper, pretty ribbons and several rolls of sticky tape. Christmas tunes blazing, twinkly lights twinkling and cinnamon biscuits baking in the oven and I'm instantly happy.

If you managed to read through all that and would like to see some more takes on the challenge then head over to All About Me to see what the rest of the design team have come up with.

Oh No!

I'm such a doofus! I've had to spend this afternoon scrapbooking (oh, woe is me!) because I muddled up the design team prompts for All About Me's December Challenges - and since the reveal is tomorrow.....I didn't want to let the lovely Melissa down. Still, it means that I'm now ahead of myself - because I've already got my layout ready for the prompt later in December.

Why am I telling you this, you ask? Well. I've not had time to edit and upload photographs and write instructions for my promised tutorial. Note to self - next time you promise a tutorial, have it finished first! It's always the way, half and hour to make - several afternoons to write the tutorial. So, the tutorial may appear later today, or it may appear some time tomorrow. I think!

In the meantime, I'm going to leave you with this photograph of a little lovely that came in the post today. It's a gift from Kylie. So, so pretty. Kylie's embroidery skills are pretty amazing, don't you think?

Winter Afternoons {Flickr Favourites}

I've been much inspired by our weather lately. That is, I've been inspired to stay indoors - preferably underneath my duvet - drinking copious amounts of tea whilst crafting. This week, I've pulled out the threads, buttons, beads and ribbons to try something a little different (and I've been putting together a tutorial that I hope to have ready by this evening. We'll see!)

In the meantime, this is what I'd like all of my winter afternoons to look like. If you'd like to see more flickr inspiration, you should head over to see Mitsy who hosts our flickr favourites every week. She's so good like that!

1. Mobile Swap, 2. Cloud Love, 3. Untitled, 4. New Brooch Detail, 5. Colours, 6. Doilies, 7. Vintage Seam Binding & Key, 8. Oh Sweetness, 9. Sunday Afternoon