Friend Friday - It's all in what you read

I finally have time to get in on another FBFF post. This one is hosted by our founder Katy over at Modly Chic, so nip over there if you want to see what everyone else is reading.

This weeks theme is totally un-fashion based, which is cool for a bit of a change. We are actually discussing what we are reading/have read. So here are the last 5 books I have read/am currently reading.

Mini Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella

Just started this, but it's a super easy read. I have read the rest of the Shopaholic collection and I can say this one is just as good.

Jilted Generation: How Britain has bankrupted its youth - Ed Howker & Shiv Malik

This is an on going read as I only read a little at a time, but it is a very interesting and informative book, even though some of the stats freak me out and make me angry. Worth a read if you are part of the Jilted Generation (post 1979)

City of Bones (Book 1: The Mortal Instruments) - Cassandra Clare

Another Vampire/Fantasy series. The first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy, I did enjoy it, but it was a little slow, so I have taken a break before I read the next book in the collection.

The Cry of the Go-Away Bird - Andrea Eames

As I know Andrea via the blog world (A Cat of Impossible Colour) I thought it was about time I read her debut book. And truthfully I loved it. Definitely a good read, easy going but still quite deep in parts.

Shame - Jasvinder Sanghera

I had been bought the 'Daughters of Shame' a while ago and final got around to reading it a few months back. I didn't know it was the second book from this author until I started reading it, so once finished I got my hands on the first book 'Shame' which is a brilliant book. Haunting and shockingly real (as its a biography) it is a smack of reality and so touching.

Read any good books recently?

Daisymay X

Mr & Mrs Thomas's Wedding

This weekend I was at the wedding of a very dear friend Lindsey to her beloved Philip!

Here are Jon's photos of the day.

Phil is in the RAF!

Me, My sis (Briony) and Linds

Dad, me, Bri and Jon

Isn't she a beautiful bride?

We are off to London for the night today. To see We Will Rock You! Very excited! Jon has never seen a West End show before so I can't wait to take him.

Lots of photos when we get back!

Daisymay X

Love Magazine

Has anyone else discovered LOVE magazine yet?

It's only on issue 6 and seems like it only comes out twice a year.

Well I discovered it 2 weeks ago when I spotted this striking cover in amongst all the other usual ones! Now £6 is a bit steep usually for me, but I had just been paid so I thought bugger it and bought it anyway. And I am so glad I did! £6 isn't much if it's only twice a year and this magazine is great.

Ok, like all other high end magazines it is primarily 75% adverts, but saying that I think this mag has possibly got every high end retailers A/W collection adverts in it, making it a piece of fashion history. If I bought every issue of this you could literally track fashion and its advertising, smart eh?? Lol. Ok so that isn't the greatest reason to buy a magazine but really this is a great magazine. It has introduced me to high end designers (and generally fashion people) that I never even knew about and has taught me lots about them. The articles are interviews or profiles almost of designers, stylist etc and their collection/design ideas alomost. There isn't any hot picks, celebrity style or trend articles, it is all about the people behind the clothes and I think it is amazing.

There are a few fashion editorials but they are interesting, striking and innovative, and even a little shocking at times. But I kinda like that as it is outside the box of general 'fashion beauty' and what we have come to expect.

Plus they have the new Westwood advert! Yay!!

My year long shopping ban is in the home stretch now and I am very proud of myself and excited! You can see my countdown clock in the right hand side bar > see almost there. To be honest it hasn't really been as hard as I was expecting and I think I could say I could probably go another year if I really tried and wanted to. I am looking forward to being able to buy some new essential items that I think my wardrobe is missing or I have realised I need new ones of during this no shopping year.

Jeans for instance. I realised how badly fitting some of my old pairs were now and then I ripped a pair, so I truly think I need a good new pair and I have figured that I should probably invest in a good pair that will last. I have also come to realise I used to spend to much on disposable clothes when I could spend the same amount on a few more classic, key pieces by higher end designers. So when I do start shopping again I am going to be more conscious of what I am buying.

Has anyone else been on some sort of shopping ban any time this year? How did you find it?

Daisymay X

Sunday Inspiration - Organised Office Spaces

Hello Ladies, today's inspiration is Organised Offices, as that is what I am dreaming about for our new flat. In our new home I have a proper office space for my writing and crafting, but sadly at the moment it will be the last room to get done as the bedroom still needs a lot of work. So there are boxes still piled up everywhere and all the general crap which we have yet to find room for anywhere else.

But when we are finally done I hope it will be able to look something like these amazing offices. I think utilising your space well is key. And I love how all these offices are compact but still manage to find space for so much stuff.

Cimots

Rellas Bellas

Happily Nested

Real Simple

Just a Little Bit

Abigail Ahearn

House to Home

Which one is your favourite? Do you have any tips or tricks for keeping an organised office?

I shall show you a pick of the office very soon. I am slowly getting somewhere with it, it's just very slow work.

Daisymay X

An update and some pretty pictures

Well ladies I have been doing a bit of reshuffling on here, as you can see. I have been cataloguing my wardrobe and will be updating it every time I show a new piece on here. It was eye opening to see what I am willing to show case on my blog. I found it very strange that I have shown you so many outfits with dresses but very few trousers/shorts because in my everyday life I wear a lot more trouser outfits. I have decided that I need to start showing you my everyday wear. I need to move away from only showing you my (idea of) perfect made up outfits, and show you the everyday me, the normal me, the me that bums around in jeans and jumpers, lol. So I shall be aiming to take photos everyday, even if my outfit isn't all styled up. It is also kinda embarrassing how extensive my wardrobe is. I have never had it all in front of me in one go to be able to contemplate it properly. So doing all this cataloging will allow me to see what I really have, and what I need (which in all honesty is probably nothing), and will allow me to see new outfits and hopefully rediscover old pieces. As well as sort my closet properly, to get rid of pieces I simply don't wear or like.

So, now saying that I went thrift/charity shopping today, sounds like a really stupid thing, lol. But I was actually taking my friend who had not been charity shopping since moving to the UK to help her find some work wear for an office job. So I decided that I would try find some items that I know I don't already have in my wardrobe, simply because they are not the type of item I would usually buy and wear. And I did manage to find a few items, but I'm not gonna show them yet, I am challenging myself to style them and work them into my wardrobe. So I will hopefully bring them to you this week sometime.

I have also been altering all my labels so everything is a bit more organised. And most can now be found properly sorted under one of the buttons in the link bar. Plus I am redoing all my blogroll, which can now be found on my linkbar, instead of down the side off my blog. This is mainly because the list is getting so long it is taking over! I have only just started so it is currently a work in progress.

Ok enough of the boring stuff, onto more interesting things. As you can see up on the right I am now displaying some advertisers. I have joined Affiliate Window and Commission Junction to see if I can turn this blog into a bit more of a business. So if you are interested in being a sponsor just drop me an email to discuss. I shall be adding a proper sponsor page soon when I get the time. Plus I shall be writing a post on my experience of using Affiliate programmes, to hopefully help some other bloggers. So from time to time I will also be adding up some coupon codes in the coupon section, because in all honest who doesn't like to save some money when shopping.

I have also been working on making it easier to follow me. So if you aren't already, why not follow me on twitter or Facebook, as I just set up a page. Or on Chictopia.

Ok so onto the reason I have been so absent this week. I have taken on not 1, not 2 but 3 unpaid writing internships! I know I'm mad, lol. So I am now writing for a local magazine called The Community Times, plus I shall be writing for The Agenda (an online womens News Magazine) and The Handbag Fairy (a shopping websites blog). This was my first week so I was kind of freaking out over having to churn out 3 pieces. Hopefully as I go along and get used to juggling my work load I will calm down and be able to get back on track with everything. I shall blog the links of my pieces when they go up so you can all read them. But if there is anyone out there wanting me to write a piece or review something, just send me an email, as I am still up for more work (need to expand that CV, big time).

Ok so I am sorry for the ridiculously wordy post but I thought I should update you all on whats going on with me.

To make up for it here are some stunning photos I have been drooling over this month

Catherine McNeil by Nicole Bentley (A Fine Romance - Vogue Australia September 2010)

Good Night Ladies.

Daisymay X

A sad day

Today is a very sad day! After all my bad back problems I didn't think this week could get any worse. But of course it did. Late last night my little baby bunny got sick, she hadn't eaten all day and was all tired and floppy so I had to rush her to the vets. They took her in and said they would do all they could but sadly at 2am this morning she passed away.

My baby was only 2 and half years old but had had a very happy and fun life. We loved her so so much and are missing her already. She was so special to us, she was our first proper pet together and was my 21st Birthday present off Jon.

So this is just a little post to say goodbye to her and show you all what she was like.

This is how tiny she was when we first had her, but she grew quickly and got her little head tilt when she lost sight in her left eye.

She spent most of her time laid flat out like this, either in her litter box, cage or on the wooden floor which kept her cool in the summer.

She was a very inquisitive little bunny and loved discovering and exploring new places.

She was our little tiny bundle of fluff who loved having her nose rubbed so much, she would stick her head under your foot just so you would rub her little nose. And she loved a good cuddle.

And she loved going for a little walk in the park on her harness. She was a grumpy, stroppy teenager but we loved her so much. And she is going to be missed lots!

Love you Tipsy!

Daisymay X

Hello Everyone!!!

As you know this is my first post, and i thought it would be a good idea to post some things about me.
I like to watch films, and this blog is going to be devoted to film comments, reviews and trivia facts.

I am going to have a special day each week called "movie mondays" where i write a full review of a film (preferably old as they are by far the most interesting!), but that is not to say that i won't blog on other days too.

But anyway i just wanted to tell y'all about the blog!

~Bette
P.S. please follow me!

The photos are in!

I apologise in advance for the total photo overload that this post will be and no doubt a few posts over the next few weeks! (there are 95 photos that I am totally in love with! And this doesn't include any of the family/friends group shots!) But I just have to share some of the professional photos from our wedding as I finally got to see them yesterday. So here are a few just to get you started! I shall do them in batches to make it easier.

Bride Before the Wedding!

The beautiful dresses

My Daddy

My Louis Mariette Headpiece

Me getting buttoned up

My girls Headpieces (made by me)

My girls necklaces (made by mum, plus they had matching earrings and bracelets)

My 'Something Blue'

My darling Heather in the biggest dress ever!

Me and Heather (patiently waiting for the other girls to get back from hairdressers)

Me and my bouquet

Mum and Dad

Daddy's girl photos!

Me and my parents

Even the Alf got in on the action! (looking very handsome!)

Family shot

The ladies!

Me!

Me and my sis (Briony)

Can't believe I have been married 8 weeks already! We have been looking forward to seeing the photos for ages, so it has kinda kept the wedding excitement going. Now we have the Honeymoon to look forward to in 19 weeks time (gosh that feels like ages, but time will fly no doubt!)

All photos are by the very talented Mark Button!

So thats all for now, will bring you some groom before the wedding next.

Daisymay X

p.s. I am now a Rosebud after joining the Bon Bon Rose Girls Network. So please go visit them and become a Rosebud too

p.p.s I am almost at the 300 followers mark (some please hit follow and put me out of my misery!) so will be hosting a giveaway very very soon!