So much to do, so little time... again.

So I have lots to write about. Soap and Glory. A Blogger award. Glossy Box. Couch25k, running, weight, diet and Davina. Twitter. My new shower gel. My possible move. My nails and Sally Hansen.

But girls, I just have so little time what with work, searching for jobs, a new flat, boy and friends. So I promise, the second I get an hour or two (hopefully tomorrow) I'll be on here for about 4 hours, tapping away.

So please just watch this space!!

Much Love, L xxx

Showing my age...

So I have *just* added myself to Twitter.

No idea what I'm doing and friendless.

Follow me please!! @Lilly_tweeting.

Much love, L xox

Updates

Now I hope I'm sure you've noticed, I've changed my background and theme to the blog. It's sooo pretty and I'm really proud of myself for making it but it just doesn't fit!!

Now I've checked several websites but they all seem to quote different sizes so I'm really struggling. If anyone has any guidelines or help for me at all I'd be really grateful! :D

Also if anyone would like me to have a go at making a background for them, I'd love to have a go if you have any ideas.

As an update to my working out... I've not lost ANY weight. I really don't understand. I'm eating a low carb, full of fruit and veg diet and working out 5 times a week for between 30 and 50 minutes in an evening. I guess I thought the weight would fall off me as I really haven't tried in years and I'm working so hard I'm drenched after a work out!

The Boy says I need to be patient, that my body is doing that "hold on to the fat in case I'm starving" thing and it will go if I just keep going for a couple more weeks. Some of my other friends think it may be just muscle being heavier than fat and as I'm gaining muscle and losing fat, nothings changed. All of them however say that they have seen improvements, but I still can't fit into my skinny dress.

This is my skinny dress <3

I brought it after I totally fell head over heels for it, searched for it on Ebay after Easter and managed to bag it for a complete bargain price of £15! Unfortunately it still has tags on because I can't fit into it. Give it time... As soon as I do, I promise you'll all be the first to see!

Much love, L xox

Oh My Gucci!

So here I am, browsing dresses on pay day (nothing exciting, just looking for something cool and pretty for work rather than roasting like a chicken) and I found something that made my jaw drop.

There I was on TK Maxx, as occasionally they have something surprising and I found their new Gold Label Range. A hight street store selling luxury designer labels?! No kidding. That sale shop has REAL Versace. And Cavalli.

Apparently affordable? No, even with up to 80% off I don't really thing I have near on £200-1000 pounds a dress sitting in my bank account, but at least I can drool at them. Especially this one.

Miaow!

Work it baby!

So I've actually finally got around to working out! I did three sessions last week and one today :) So technically I should be feeling all happy with myself and totally pumped but instead I feel just really deflated. Mainly because I'm even more unfit than I first thought, I mean i know it's not like I'll work out one and be uber fit and run the marathon next week or anything, but I wasn't expecting this...

Well I didn't go out to do my Couch to 5k thing as amazing as that idea is. I thought to myself that people are going to look at me at some point. What they will see is an over weight girl huffing and puffing desperately to breathe, galloping towards them. This actually isn't so bad, I can get over that because I've never given a damn what strangers think so why would I start now?

But then I realised that I'd be wearing working out clothes. Now this looks hot on anyone slim but when you put a chubbster in lycra... It's not a pretty sight. Now to add insult to injury, when I exercise ALL of the blood rushes to my face. Now I know you're thinking "Oh,so does everyone's", but you're not getting this. I don't get rosy cheeked, I get a BRIGHT pink face. My whole face. And it doesn't actually go down for about 2 hours after exercise. This pink. I'm not exaggerating, promise.

Now as much as I don't care what strangers think, I don't need their horrified faces silently gawping at me as I run, it's a bit distracting. Also I live in a VERY small town and I know about half of the people in it so in all likelyhood my pink face will be all over facebook at some point.

So anyway, I had this brilliant idea that I would do work out videos for a little while in the comfort of my own home so no one had to see my giant pink face, so that when I got fitter I would then go out running. I have gone to the goddess of all work out video makers and one of my biggest idols, Davina McCall! I love Davina, she's gorgeous, really funny and just a normal person so I thought it would be more accessible to go to one of her work out video's to get fitter. I also have a list of friends about as long as my arm who swear by her videos so I thought I'd give it a go.

I started training using 'My Three 30 Minute Workouts' because these fitted in nicely with my lifestyle and everyone knows that 30 mins, three times a week is what people should be aiming for. This DVD consists of a cardio video which is 30 mins of cardiovascular exercise (duh) in a cardio boxing form, a "pump it" video which is a mix of cardio and weights, and then a pilates 30 mins.

I'm not really a fan of pilates or yoga, neither do I have any weights so I've been focusing on the cardio section, especially as this is particularly good for weight loss. The first session I found satisfyingly difficult, as in it was hard but I knew I could do it and get to the end even if I was drenched in sweat and exhausted at the end. I'd really recommend this to anyone who has either never done exercise on a regular basis or had not for a long time. There are two trainers with Davina who do the exercise for people at different paces and also for low impact training. I found it great fun especially with Davina cracking jokes and falling about the entire time. I was also quite proud of the fact I managed to keep up with the DVD the entire time though I truly felt like I'd had a full work out.

By the third time of using the workout I thought I should try something else so not to get used to those exercises to keep burning fat, so I switched to another very popular Davina DVD called "Super Body Workout" which has two 40 minute workout's on it "Super Fit" another massive cardio box thing and "Super Sculpt" which has weights and aerobics. On top of this they have smaller work out routines lasting 10 minutes to do on top of the other routines which work separately on key parts that you won't to work on, which are Abs, upper body, legs and super six pack.

Today I tried "super fit" and now I feel like collapsing. It's a very hardcore work out and I DO NOT recommend someone starting on this without quite fit to start off with! I really struggled with the routines as they weren't hard to follow but I just could not cope with how difficult keeping up with it was! I was sweating and out of breath within minutes and was simply exhausted by 20 minutes and had to carry on the work out following the low impact trainer as it was utterly impossible following Davina (who I must say has legs I'd kill for in this). I am totally determined to carry on though and will do this everyday if i have to until i can keep up with Davina, but I really wasn't expecting not to be able to keep up with a workout video!!

So here I am typing this blog an hour later, very pink in the face and a bit disappointed though determined. But I would really love someone to work out with, even in a virtual sense to just keep my morale up when the going gets tough.

Another thing is that everything I see and read contradicts itself. I thought doing these three times a week with better healthy eating would get me slowly but surely losing weight. However I've recently read an old issue of Glamour, which has said that if you want to see any real effect in the short term you'd have to do an hours exercise everyday and eat healthily for FOUR WEEKS!!

Goodbye wine, I'll miss you.

I love the summer but...

I miss winter fashion. I know I sound all kinds of insane, but honestly I love it. I think it's all the things you can do with it, the layers, glitter and glam is just something you don't see as much of in the summer which I find is more about short skirts and bikinis.

The things that get me really excited are the recurring fashions in A/W, things you cant actually bet a Mulberry on being in next season.

Furs, forties, tailoring so sharp you can cut yourself, bandaging or something sort of fetish, evening dresses that graze the tops of thighs and a pair of Mary Jane's underneath.

The thing that excites me the most is when it FINALLY filters down to high street and that means I can afford it!!

I've been looking at some of the sparkly accessories to hit the high street from recent press conferences!

 New Look (so excited, my favourite colour!) Image from ReallyRee and her amazing fashion blog.

Very.co.uk (as taken from their facebook website) and they're gorgeous quirky shoes:

 and River Islands beautiful Accessories <3

Star shaped earrings? I'm sold. Time to start saving...

To make you all just a teeny bit jealous...

I'm such a lucky girl. I'm being taken on holiday by my boy's wonderful family. To possibly one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and I couldn't be more excited.

NEW ZEALAND!

So I choose that particular picture because that's where I'll hopefully be spending a huge portion of my time, the hot tub. That exact hot tub actually. Yeah, that's where I'm staying. There's also a sauna, 10 acres of land and 6 bedrooms. And I'll be staying there over Christmas and New Year so it'll be hot and sunny too.

So I have like six months to get a really hot bikini body. Someone help!

So much to do, so little time...

Because i'm such a bloody busy person, I barely have time to write this blog. So here's a little download of what's been happening in my week.

So, I work as a boring administrator for 9 hours a day and then a hours travelling to and fro, which takes up a huge hunk of my life. I actually worked out that I spend more hours with my boss than my boyfriend who I live with. Bit worrying eh?

Because of the above and actually wanting social life, I've not really managed to keep up the new exercise schedule... like at all. As in not even begun to start it. But tomorrow is a new day and I have pretty high expectations actually. trainers are by the front door and everything.

So after starting on this massive downer I do have some pretty lovely things to talk about.
I went out with one of my best friends, Jessica for the first time in about a year. We've hung out loads but not gone out or got drunk. Now I have no pictures of us out (we ladies like to keep things classy because man I look rough after drinking), but my outfit was faboosh! This dress in bright blue:

Giant sparkly waist belt, suede high heels, cream blazer and quiff. Followed by the purse in the only picture of the night...

 

 Another lovely thing is that my boy came back from a field trip to Spain for 10 days. Yeah yeah, I can hear you all retching but he makes my happy. Especially when he comes back with presents from duty free. Hello Chanel perfume and giant bars of chocolate :D

Also, Ellie, one of my bessies from uni has come back from her year travelling around Europe and is seeing me this weekend. Excitamundo!

 

Ooooh! Almost forgot!  I just wanted to thank this Gorgeous Unique Lady for my new award!

 

Rules Of Award

1. Write a random fact about yourself

 I am *actually* a magpie. I LOVE shiny things. As in I will literally stop to look at anything shiny, will buy endless shiny things I don't need... It goes on.

2. Pass The Award On

I totally don't have any people on here right now! I really need to change that and steal some friends. This is really sad... People follow me!

Love L xox

I like the word "indolence." It makes my laziness seem classy.

One of my biggest problems is my lack of motivation. For instance, here I am on Sunday night and I've done NOTHING all weekend. No no, I mean NOTHING. Without even a hint of a lie, there is even an indent of my butt in the sofa. I have showered and got back into pyjamas. I have eaten biscuits and tea as I can't even be bothered to cook something. Facebook has been my only friend this weekend and I don't think I've actually spoken with my mouth in over 48 hours.

And this is slowly but definitely having a detrimental effect on my figure. A few years ago I was a hot size 10/12. I looked a bit like this. I'm the skinny brunette next to the uber hot fiery redhead.

But over time I've got good at drinking. Really good at drinking. And amazing at cooking, partly due to cooking for a gastro pub though my third year of uni. And I love eating. Generally I don't eat sweets or crisps or normal snack bad food, but I do eat carbs and I'm really good at baking and I LOVE chocolate. Here's some of the stuff I make: pyramid cake, double chocolate muffins, Cherry Victoria sponge with strawberry icing, Croissants filled with bacon and scrambled eggs with sausages on the side, a rocky road, King Prawn spaghetti marinara, Rose cupcakes and tea, and a Manhattan. And most of this comes with wine.

 All of this eventually lead to me being quite a few sizes bigger. I know it sounds silly but you kid yourself that it's not happening, that everything you're eating isn't taking an effect even when you are starting to buy clothes bigger sizes because yours don't fit any more. But I think it hit home a couple of weeks ago when I went out with some of my girl mates and there was a picture taken, which made me realise I'm much bigger than i thought before.

This is me, the much bigger one in the middle. Size 16. I used to be as big as the wonderful lady behind me.

So I have found something that I am starting tomorrow. Yes I know you're thinking I'm procrastinating but I'm not, I'm postponing because it's late now. Cough.

Anyway, it's called couch to 5k from the NHS Website. This should get me running 5 km in half an hour in 9 weeks time if I keep to it. This will give me three training sessions a week and I should be able to run 5k just before my boyfriends graduation, so therefore looking gorgeous and slender as it should burn a pound a week off and that's almost a stone in 9 weeks. WIN! Wish me luck!

Loves, L xox

I have more fashion sense than Gok Wan has in his little finger...

Before I start this I just though you should all know I've been on the wine for a little while now. I had an amazing seafood thing so I cracked open the white wine. What can I say, it was dope. So if this make no sense I apologise now.

On to the post!

I love fashion. I love it more than I love getting stuffed on chocolate and watching trash on TV (and trust me I totally love that). I love the glamour of high fashion, the ideas behind the designs, the materials and colours, experiments with something new, the tiny minuscule details which make outfits pop, the way it filters down though luxury brands to eventually high street where I can get my grubby but very excited paws on it. The thing I love most that excited feeling when you see something you've just fallen in love with, and more when you just spontaneously buy it and it fits like a glove and you feel like a million dollars. And that' s what it should be about, how it makes you feel.

A little while ago I interned at London Fashion Week for the whole week, helping designers out with their presentations which was completely epic. I got to dress runway models (yes, the hot guy ones too), set up presentation rooms, get into the make up and hair room. Every day of that, I learned more about the designers, their passion, and what they wanted to achieve with their clothes. The two designers I loved the most were Louise Amstrup, who's prints were just the most amazingly refreshingly original thing's I'd ever seen which were teamed up with feathers and the most amazing panels.

I also loved this Men's fashion brand, a couple of guys with a label called Braille, they were ever so sweet and so nervous as it was their first presentation though they had no need, as their coats at the very least were to die for, and the rest quite inspired.

A Child of the Jago (designer is the child of Vivienne Westwood) was also an amazing show. Unfortunately I don't have any photo's as the guy I was dressing was a drunk but pretty douche bag and needed babying. but I just thought I'd steal a picky of the one my friend dressed.

I worked with and got Nandos for House of Blue Eyes who has also worked with and for Haus of GaGa, Lady GaGa's fashion and ideas house. If you think Lady GaGa's insane you've NO IDEA because Johnny Blue Eyes is simply the maddest man I've ever met. He painted his face blue, rolled around on the stage, and walked the catwalk himself.

 There's loads of other things too, but I don't want this to go on for years. So here's some more pictures.

Loves, L xox

Under Construction

Isn't it funny, I've been thinking for weeks about starting a blog, thinking about all the stuff I'm going to write about in here, and here I am two hours later staring at the same blank screen. This is partly not my fault. I'm very distracted because I'm watching Brothers and Sisters and there are FAR TOO MANY beautiful men in this programme that walk around either topless or in suits/army outfits. Especially these one, nom.

 

I've just realised that this is the best way  of ever starting off a journal, a hot body. I might make this into a weekly thing.

ANYWAY, this isn't going to be a blog just gawping at men (unfortunately). I'm not sure what it's going to be about yet. But definitely about me, my life and the things I like, so here's a small introduction.

 

This is me. I like clothes, shoes, bags, food and accessories. I like wine, dancing, and chatting with my girlfriends. I like sunbathing, cupcakes, shopping and curling my hair. I like chilling out on the sofa watching trash or curling up with my boyfriend doing nothing in the evening. I hate oranges. And the colour orange, especially clothes. I hate my thighs. I when I promise myself something, I NEVER change my mind. When i think of more stuff I'll add it in. But this'll do for now.

Bare with me a bit guys, I'm having a bit of trouble with the background and sorting out the theme, give me some time with the construction, and it'll be pretty soon enough. 

Much love, L x