I've been pretty quiet on the blogging front since the holidays as I've been a bit unwell; still unsure quite what but it's majorly unsociable and means I haven't really felt like doing much. I'm going to try and make a conscious effort  to "get outside" so I decided I'd take a proper walk to get some fresh air into my lungs. I am most definitely the type to get cabin fever and after watching 300 episodes of The Good Wife and reorganising the cutlery drawer, I realised it might be time to leave the house. That and that the dog was about to wet himself...

I've felt pretty overwhelmed during 2017 so far; this year could be quite a big one for me if I put my head down. For the first time (over Christmas) I really felt affected by social media and it's made me think about what I'm projecting out to my followers. I was scrolling through the perfect feeds with the perfect outfits, lives, flat lays and houses and felt inadequate - Why would anyone read my blog? Was I good enough to write one? Was I thin enough to write one? Do I have enough followers? What if people don't like me? 

Then I got a grip of myself and took a good look. I'm healthy (ordinarily, not right now, but still) which is a bit of a miracle given I've spent more time in hospital than your average rugby side. My flat is tiny but lovely. I have wonderful friends and family, even if my sister and I do bicker like teenagers on a weekly basis. Gus rocks - I won't go into it as I know my single friends have a real thing about those who gush about their love lives on social media, and I totally get why. When I was single seeing couple-induced-happiness on Instagram used to really get me down...

I wasn't one of those who went into January with a to do list. I went in with a sick bucket, and (sadly) it wasn't because I'd stayed up all night partying. When you see all of these "10 Ways I Made Myself F*cking Awesome And Better Than You" posts on Twitter it just makes you want to scream. So, I'm giving you, me. I'm behind already and it's January the 5th. I haven't done my taxes yet, and I've lost my debit card. I hope thats ok... My posts in January will be more of the tone "Things to buy to get you through this dull AF month without killing yourself." In fact I think I might start that one right now...

All that said, this year for me is about consolidating and empowering myself. Two big words I know, but let me explain. I've been working for myself for nearly three years now and although on the surface of it I get to do some really cool stuff, see really cool places and work with really cool people, I'm ready to take it to the next level. I've never quite got there, at least in my opinion. You probably won't have heard of my little consultancy One Roof Social, but we're taking shape nicely and we're hoping this is our year. We did some work at the end of last year that I'm super proud of, and I've got the team I've always wanted to work with which feels really good. I'm also going to do some consulting for some very cool businesses, which as soon as I can, I'll share.

Blog wise, I'm going to try and work on my narrative a little as there's lots I think about and don't write about. I've seen through my Instagram Stories (here) that you guys seem to quite like my ramblings, so you're going to see a bit more of them. I'm going to write about how I'm getting on with my business as well as all the usual fashion, beauty and travel stuff. It's not going to work to a strict content schedule for a while because actually my blog exists because it's fun, it's a hobby and I'm keeping it that way. So there.

The last few weeks have most definitely taken a turn weather-wise (and thats before I even start with our weekend in Stockholm - so cold) and for the first time I've actually had a proper "wardrobe switch" from summer to winter. I packed up my tops and tees and was left looking as a pile of grey, navy and rust. As much as I love all that, it wasn't the most inspiring set of clothing so I set about searching on ASOS for something with a little bit more "oomph." And I found this.

The colour is just really uplifting. I know that sounds a bit silly, but I'd forgotten how much I like wearing green. I have a years-old cashmere knit from Reiss in the same colour and whenever it goes on my mood is instantly brightened. When it comes to this shirt I love the colours, the floaty bits (sorry, I'm sure there is a far more official word), the florals and the fact you can look just as good as it on a skinny day as you can a fat one - a necessity during these bleak, roast-and-wine-induced-bloating months to come...

It's from a Korean brand called Stylenanda which is pretty new to the UK market (I think ASOS are the only ones to stock them) and having done some investigations they're a pretty big deal (2.4 million followers on Instagram). I was a bit worried that the sizing wouldn't work for me as Far Eastern brands often come up incredibly small but this is a small and fits me really well (I'm a standard size 10, with arms and thighs I wish were a tad smaller).

I'm all for adding in a bit of colour and patterns to my otherwise thrivingly-neutral (read: boring) wardrobe and have since spied a few more bits. I'm not prepared to spend a fortune on prints, with the exception of an Equipment shirt I have tracked down to a boutique in Berlin and paying an extortionate amount of money to own... It arrives this weekend. So, with double the reason to by frugal this month I've found this pink top from ASOS and this green kimono dress. I haven't bought them yet but fully intend to this weekend (pay daaaaayyyyyyyy).

The jeans, as pretty much always, are from Paige. You just can't beat them. If someone told me I'd be an advocate for a £200+ pair of denims a few years ago I'd have laughed out loud. However, having worn these beauts for a while now I can honestly say the difference is outstanding. They keep their shape, they actually fit and they're so soft they often fall through my hands when I'm putting them on... Find the majority of their collection at Selfridges here, or as a tip try hunting down a pair on sites like The Outnet here or Paige's own sale page here.

You may have noticed my hair, and thank you to all of you who commented on it over on Instagram, really meant a lot. It's not like I got my head shaved off or anything but cutting my hair really does take a couple of vodkas for me. When I was ill last year it thinned a lot, more out of stress than anything else. So it means I now have lots of new hair coming through thats an awkward 7/8 inches long. Cutting my hair shorter makes it far less noticeable as it blends in with the layers... When I got it done at Sassoon I really thought it would be a short term solution but I think I might stay like this for a while!

Whatever you're doing this week, I hope you have a good one! Nearly payday, Halloween and Bonfire Weekend, etc. Enjoy!

shirt = as worn, Stylenanda at ASOS / similar in pink / similar style in a dress

jeans = as worn, Paige Denim

shoes = as worn, LK Bennett

bag = Celine at Bicester Village / similar pre-owned from Vestiaire Collective

Mentioned: green jumper, Reiss / Stylenanda collection at ASOS 

I'm very much of the opinion that a blogger should show their audience what their lives are really like, as it's the main point of difference between us and editorial content. For some people that means endless images of avocado, eggs and perfect pins. For me, it's more "dog just rolled in a puddle and I forgot to put the towel in the car." Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you my Easter Monday problems:

This is a really good example of what I wear when I'm relaxing, I guess you could call it off duty style. Although I've been brought up in London, my family are down in South Wales and I've spent a huge amount of time plodding around outsides in waxed jackets and wellies. I got this jacket last week when I was up at the Barbour factory (shooting something quite exciting which is coming up in May). I am absolutely thrilled with this, and can't wait for it to get a little more muddy and worn. As soon as I put it on it takes me back to being a kid, mucking out horses or being very, very cold in the "Welsh Spring" on the beach...

The wellies are Hunter, because is there another wellington boot brand? I mean, really? These are actually my mums (I think, I found them in the garage at home - could well be my sisters...), we have a number of pairs floating around the house. I can't wear the higher versions as my "dense" calves don't fit in them, but these are great. I really like the black, they're less of a statement... Look awesome covered in mud too, which is convenient.

Keeping up my new "thing" of wearing colour, I wore my trusty L.K Bennett Mariel bag (unglamorously the two compartments are brilliant for dog walking - my stuff in one, Lopez's treats, bags and bits in the other). It sold out in a millisecond I think, but ever so often ones pop up on the site so do keep and eye out here. The jumper as I mentioned is from Wyse London, and I'm obsessed with it. It's so soft. Apparently I look like a childrens' TV presenter in it, but I always wanted to work on Blue Peter when I was little so I'm quite happy with that... Lastly, my sunglasses are fast becoming my staple, every day pair. They're a really good shape for me as I've got an annoyingly round face unless I wear things that add contouring (not Kim K style, I mean as in angular shaped accessories and they're from Hugo Boss here. 

We just managed to dodge the rain storm to get Lopez in the car. He had a brilliant time printing his muddy paws across the back seat - us, not so much. Hope you had a fantastic Easter break, and Happy Spring! Feels like the sunshine is finally here, almost.

Not sure about you, but I've been spending as much time as humanly possible inside in the warm. London has got cold all of a sudden, which we can't really complain about as we were spoilt with a mild December and January... Any way, last week I mustered some strength and left the house for breakfast with friends at Riding House Cafe in the centre of town...

As you can see I kept it pretty simple; wrapping up in my Karen Millen camel-coat (still available in their clearance section, here) and my trusty Jimmy Choo Youth boots (2 years in and still going strong - best investment ever) are the easiest things to wear for this kind of day. Yes, a bunny or two may have passed away in the making of them - but they're bi-product rabbit fur and so, so warm... They're very expensive, but you can find them at their Bicester Village store for much cheaper (more on them in a minute)... My jeans are my standard Paige wonderful-ones... Between these and my Topshop Mom jeans, I need no other denims...

And the jumper? Well, I may be going a little old-school but a couple of weeks ago Anneli and I went to Bicester Village (read her post here) and I snapped up this bargain from their Kenzo store. It's been years since I wore this designer, everybody had one of their Tiger tees a few seasons back. There definitely was an element of nostalgia that influenced the purchase. Ooh and not to mention how incredibly soft and comfortable it is. Basically like wearing your pyjamas...