Old Friends

Every new year, people tend to re-evaluate and think about their lives.

If you are like me, you think about whats important; friends, family and good health.

This new years day we joined Tara and her family for a walk around the Lickey Hills. All of us (adults) were feeling a bit jaded and worn out after Christmas, but on this muddy walk we all slowly came back to life, chatting about Christmas, what we had done, who we had seen, how good it had been. It cleared out the fog of eating to much and not getting enough sleep.

And as we were coming to the end of our walk and we reached the 'climbing tree' (if you have kids and have been there, you will know where I mean) we saw this.

This is my eldest, Heather and Tara's eldest Dan.

Both Tara and I have mentioned them before, they have known each other since they were months old when they were at nursery together, and just get on.

So here they are, not talking (which is a rarity for both) and just quietly contemplating the view. Sitting together and taking it all in. Lovely - It will be ten years this year that they have known each other. Old friends.

Meanwhile at the climbing tree....

Happy New Year !!!

A Post Christmas Conundrum

So Christmas, after all the build up, has come and gone. Presents have been opened and the mountain of recycling, from all the packaging and wrapping paper is clogging up wherever you leave your recycling.

Now Christmas is forgotten for another year (well, until September) and we look to the new year for new starts and new beginnings and it all starts again.

I am now grumpily looking at all the Christmas decorations and thinking, shit, it will take ages to take all this down. It will be all dusty and horrible and there will be sneezing, and I will marvel at how vast our living room is without all the crap that is associated with Christmas.

Now don't get me wrong, as I write this, I realise that I may be coming across a tad Grinchy. Which I am not. I love Christmas. The trouble is our decorations went up the first weekend of December (due to obligations we had on the other two weekends leading up to Christmas) so the decorations have been up for AGES.

I get all caught up in the excitement of it all, I watch certain films to get me in the mood (Love Actually and The Holidays), I build Lego Santa's and Christmas scenes, and they get 'distributed' at home and at work. My children, get caught up in my excitement - they write their letters to Santa and get their PNP message. They get a new Christmas tree decoration each year, or make something. They help me cook Christmassy fayre.

The point is, after all this, it can be a tiny little bit disappointing. I don't know what exactly I am expecting. A bit of real Christmas magic, a personal letter from Santa, a surprise stocking of my own. I have no idea, I get beautiful thoughtful gifts from my family and friends, I see the joy on my children's faces as they open their presents and their stockings, totally believing in all that is Christmas, and I marvel yearly that I manage to maintain this for them, surely that is the magic?

Is it just that I have finally grown up and see the commercialism and the ridiculous amount of money we spend? Beautifully wrapped presents, minutes later all that beautiful wrapping ripped, torn and thrown away.
Anyone who knows me, will know how sad it makes me a) to realise I am growing up, about anything! and b) to think anything beautiful is wasteful.

So a conundrum, maybe I am just on a post Christmas low, or am I growing up. Either way I have only two words.

Bah humbug!

Style Icon: Alexa Chung.

Not only is Alexa Chung a TV presenter, she is also a model (which kicked started her career at the age of 16) and most importantly, a fashion icon. While my style differs greatly from her preppy and occasional flirty and girly looks, Alexa Chung has no doubt inspired me with her varying yet personalized way of dressing.

Nobody does the menswear, monochrome look like she does.

Absolutely love how Alexa cleverly mixes girly with a tinge of edge, typically with her footwear.

 P.S. I love the Sofia Coppola for LV bag!

With this stylish girl, you'll never look at a simple sweater in the same way again.

 There's that gorgeous Sofia Coppola for LV bag again!

Learn how to do preppy chic.....

...and full-fledged feminine looks from Alexa.

Doesn't she look like such a classic beauty?
She who never comprises style, even on casual days.

Fun fact, if you didn't know it already: the Mulberry Alexa messenger bag was named after Alexa Chung!
Also, do check out Alexa Chung for Madewell at Shopbop - lotsa gorgeous clothing for you to recreate Alexa's looks!

The Royal Couple.

My favorite "celebrity" couple, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited Centrepoint in London for some charity work and the adorable Prince William showed off his dance moves:

ISN'T THE PRINCE JUST SO CUTE! :))

Love it when I see Prince William placing his assuring hand on Kate :)

*credit: Just Jared

Enrique Iglesias New

Enrique Iglesias

Enrique Iglesias

Enrique Iglesias

Trend Alert: Daily Blues.

Celebrities all over have been seen in this universally flattering color. Blue is definitely the new black, with the differing shades allowing for playful matching or clever mismatching. 

The color was all over the runway for the 2012 collections: Spring, Resort and Pre-Fall. Here's a look:

So don't throw out your blue clothing, and update your look with the season's latest accessories and separates!