The Fox and The Hare

 

The fox has long been one of my favourite animals and I'm pretty delighted, to say the least, that Mr Fox has found his way into fashion. Hurray! You are looking at one very pleased 20 something year old! I first spotted this dress on a fellow bloggers outfit post and instantly fell in love, at the time Christmas was coming up so my mum bought this dress for me as part of my Christmas present. Thank you mummy dearest! I also received this Aubrey bag for Christmas from my dear old Grandma. Thank you Grandma! Aubrey have one of the best logos - a running hare. I think it's that alone that made me fall in love with their handbag range. For some reason I always end up with blue handbags, I always find myself drawn in by them but it's been getting pretty tiring as there's only so much of my wardrobe that matches with my blue bags! My best friend bought me a beautiful black bag from Accesorize for my birthday in October and now I have this orange number to add to my collection. I also think my new bag goes well with my new Dune shoes. As you may have noticed I love a bargain and these shoes I'm happy to say were a steal. I recently found a charity shop nearby that sell Dune samples off cheap. Very exciting! They had so many beauties and all in my size, I'm surprised I only came away with one pair but I'm trying to be good spending wise. This pair are a sample from 2014 autumn winter or so says the label that was stuck to the bottom. They're so comfortable and go with so much in my wardrobe and all for £15.

 

Last week I came home to find an exciting package from San Fransisco from my dear friend Julie. Inside I found a selection of beautiful vintage San Fransisco postcards and two packs of fun party hats. Que Mr Fox fascinator- how could I leave him out of this post?! Oh she knows me so well!

Dress: Asos 

Shoes: Dune

Socks: Dorothy Perkins

Bag: Aubrey via Asos

Necklace: Accessorize - gift from friends

Fox party hat: set of 8 party animals by GamaGo

These photos were taken on my way to my Friday appointment. I've been longing to post and had two planned but sadly I've been too unwell, so this Friday I decided to make the most of my health and the surrey hills.  I failed to think about how cold it would be! 7 degrees on a windy hill is pretty damn chilly! Thankfully I did have a coat, I'm not that brave! I can't wait for spring though. How much easier is blogging when it doesn't give you a chill?!

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.

Emma Xx

And Smile

I've had my eye on this necklace ever since I saw it on Instagram. The lovely Viktorija sells jewllery and art that she's made on Etsey. Well worth a look. Viktorija's lovingly made illustrations of the swallows and heart have been made into this gorgeous necklace using shrink plastic which makes a very adorable peice, perfect accessory for Valentines day. You can't find anything like this on the high street, which makes it feel unique. I was so excited when I finally ordered these two love birds as a Christmas gift to myself! (One of two!!) Viktorija sent my necklace out straight away and it turned up in a lovely gift box. Im so delighted with this necklace and I'm finding out that it goes with a lot more outfits. This is the first outfit I wore my new necklace with but when I'm not dressing up I love to wear it with a striped burton top. The necklace compliments that style of top very well. I can't wait to pair this necklace up with summer dresses too. I'm really looking forward to summer, not just for the sun ( go away rain!) but because this year my dear friend Danni who also has ME has invited me to go to Greece with her, her mum and a few of her friends. I've not been on holiday out of the uk since I was 8! Until the weather gets warmer though, I will enjoy wearing velvet and knits, a consolation for the cold grey sky and heavy rain.

 Top: Topshop brand new via eBay £7

Vintage Skirt: Moschino Cheap and Chic - gift from my mums friend

Shoes: KG by Kurt Geiger - 21st birthday present from my best friend

Tights: M&S 
 Necklace: And Smile £15 - with code

If you fancy a necklace just like mine or a nosey - check out And Smile on Etsey. Currently 25% off with the code YAY25.

Emma Xx

Rose Gold - Last outfit of 2013

I adore New Year's Eve get togethers, and luckily for me this year I was well enough to see some friends. Since I was about 14 I've spent many New Year's Eves at my house with my best friend Primrose, we would watch the count down and get merry. It was great fun althought starting the new year with a hangover isn't great is it? Tradition?...Maybe. I'm more carful now as I know I'm already going to feel the effects of the night the next day without a  hangover. I spent this New Year's Eve at my house with three friends, watching films on tv before the count down, eating chocolate and drinking disaronno. A quiet night which is the best thing for me when I'm staying up so late. I decided on the last day of 2013 that life is far too short to save sequin dresses for sometime in the future. After all, I did buy this dress in mind for New Years Eve months ago, so why not wear it? Yes I did envisioned that I'd be 100% well and spending the night in some crazy night club or party, but thinking about it, maybe this was nicer. I told Primrose months ago about this dress and how I so wanted to wear it on New Year's Eve, when I told her that I was still wearing it she decided to join in and wore another beautiful sequinned dress. Who says you can't dress up and stay in?

Dress -French Connection (brand new with tags via eBay) £15

Art Deco necklace - accesorize £7.50 (in sale)

Shoes - Asos £25 (christmas gift)

Tights - Marks and spencer 

Ring - Marks and spence £19.50 (christmas gift)

If you went out or stayed in, whatever you did I hope you had a fantastic New Year's Eve.

Emma Xx

"So this is the new year...

...and I don't feel any different." - Death Cab for Cutie

As far as years go living with an illness, 2013 was actually a good year for me. I started going to art classes in April, where I've met some lovely people and learnt many techniques. It's been great for me having somewhere I've got to be once a week where I can lose myself in a painting for a few hours. I signed up to a photography course too in autumn and although I've stuggled to manage both classes at times and have missed some due to being too ill - I'm still so pleased I joined. I might have got an A in a level photography but I was clueless on how to use my camera on manual. Now I have more of an idea and will be learning more when I go back in January. Four hours study a week might seem very little but for me it's a massive step in the right direction. Theres no way I would have been well enough to manage it before now.

I've had three lovely holidays, two in Cornwall with my mum and one in Bognor with my closest friends. Never underestimate the power of friendship, especially when it causes tears from laughing.

My brother took me to see my favourite folk singer, Mike Rosenburg aka Passenger - twice. I suppose it's safe to say the sound track to my year has been provided by Passenger. I've been listening to him for a year and a half now and I still can't get enough of his amazing music.

I started blogging again in May and since then I've felt happier within myself. I've loved planning and sharing outfits, working with a designer to produce photos for her website, meeting bloggers from the south of England, reading loads of blogs and most of all the friendliness of you all. Every lovely comment has made my day. All of this has helped me regain confidence that ME has taken away. This last year I've felt more like myself again. A gift you've all contributed to. Blogging has become one of the most positive things in my life and I'm so greatful for it.

I won a cake decorating competition with Waitrose in September. Something I'm very proud of and still need to blog about my prize!

My hopes for this year are the same as those for the last year and the three years that came before. I want this year to be the year that I fully recover from ME. Because of this hope, I find the end of years very difficult. Its time to say goodbye to yet another year living a life tainted by chronic illness and to start a new with it. I've learnt a lot since being ill, I'm now a lot wiser, I have my priorities in the right order and I've found peace through meditation. In 2014 I will continue to put my health  and happiness first. I know now that looking after myself is the most important thing. I don't know what will come this year, I'm going to try my best to avoid stress, to stay happy and to get healthy. They're the most important things I could hope for. However, I do have a few New Years resolutions:

  I want to continue blogging, hopefully more oftern.

 I want to visit more art and fashion exhibitions.

I want to eat healthier by cutting out some more sugar. ( already failing on this one - ive been stuffing myself with left over Christmas Chocolate!)

I would like to attempt (if the brain fog lets me) to resume learning Italian.

I am looking forward to all the good things 2014 has to offer. I have my fingers crossed that this year will be my year.  I also hope it will be a great year for you all.

 

Emma Xx

All photos in this post were taken in 2013 and are from my personal Instagram page.