New year sweetie, darling

All images and credit can be found here

Sorry for my boring and unexpected absence over the Christmas period. I kind of over committed myself with work and seeing friends and family so my spare time is being eaten up by uni assignments. I had the loveliest Christmas, it went so quickly though. I received some beautiful things and I've also picked up a couple of sale bits that I will share asap. Tomorrow I'm working again and then straight out to dinner and then I don't have a clue what's happening after that. I'm not a NYE eve fan really, too much hype and room for disappointment, I definitely prefer to play it down a little. What are you up to? Anything special planned? Whatever you're doing, I hope you have a brill time! Massive thanks to readers, followers and lovely commenters...my next post will be in 2012!

LUCILLEX

Five boys, six girls, four parents, two drivers, and a partridge in a pear tree

experimenting with sparkle:brill choice:amazing house xmas dinner:cinnamon and vanilla cider:MEAT:sangria with the girls:wrapping presents:Barry M festive nails

homemade maltesers fudge:H&M leopard jacket:Warehouse jumper and H&M dress:Tree:GOSH nail glitter:lantern parade:Lola the pug:labelling solution

Currently writing this to the sounds of Home Alone. I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to watch Home Alone or Elf which is ridiculous. I can't remember a year that I haven't watched Kevin get left at home/lost in New York and I'm not starting now! This is my first free day this week so sorry for not getting as much blogging in as I thought I would be able to. I'll try again next week! 


I've been making sure to take lots of festive photos  (ie of food, drinks and sparkly nails) so I could do a pre-xmas rounds up post. I've been having lots of fun and food with friends and family and am so excited for that to continue today and tomorrow and the next day and for however long it continues after that! What are your plans? Mine will be a big big family day and my Mum has gone to town on the food shopping. I also don't have a clue on my presents which makes it even more exciting! Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!


LUCILLEX

Keep the change

Blazer: Urban Outfitters, Fur: Topshop, Jeans: Topshop, Leopard top: Topshop, Sweater: Topshop

Why not try out the garden for some outfit photos? What do you think? I'm a bit annoyed that I cut off my feet in all the good ones, just wasn't thinking about them. I was wearing my leopard loafers though so nothing too interesting. It's freezing today! Had my first day at the boutique and spotted lots of lovely things while I was there and I think everyone rushing around Christmas shopping has made me feel very festive and excited! Catching up with the Michael Buble programme and obviously enjoying myself immensely. Nearly there everyone, the build up is almost as good as the day itself!

LUCILLEX

(How embarrasing that my outfit is almost entirely Topshop. I was wearing my grey AA hoodie too but you can't see it in the photos. Will be making sure this doesn't happen again haha!)

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Coat: Topshop, Sweater: Forever 21, Tee: New Look, Scarf: Vintage, Trousers: H&M, Nails: Barry M

I'm home! I'm so happy! The tree is up, the pugs are sat on my feet and there is plenty of food to be eaten. I wore this outfit yesterday for a quick meeting at uni. It's the most groomed I've looked in a while and I'm enjoying that fact. The trousers are the faux leather ones from H&M with the panels at the sides. The waist is quite small so I don't end up wearing them often just in case I get caught out sitting down for a long time or something. They do look lovely though and are so much more interesting to wear than jeans. Warm though! The sweater/top was such a trusty buy (and bargain) from Forever 21 and if I could have it in a million colours I would. And of course the Topshop coat. I love it both with or without the fur collar but seem to be wearing it more without at the minute with different scarves to change it up a bit. It was pricey but so worth it, I'm just in love with the tweedy fabric and the masculine cut, I will be wearing it for a long time to come.


Today I've not done much but settle back in at home after a quick trip to Ikea (brill). Tomorrow I'm probably going to visit the new shopping complex in my hometown, catch up with my siblings and enjoy the Strictly final, I lead a wild life. On Sunday I'm hoping to see the new Sherlock Holmes and in all honesty, I'm very excited to see my boys Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr as Holmes and Watson again. I was never that taken with Sherlock Holmes, written or otherwise, but something about the last film with these two I just enjoyed so much. Action films generally aren't my thing (sorry to say, I fall into a complete female stereotype when it comes to films) but this one I would recommend again and again.


LUCILLEX

New Hair

Guys, I have to say I am absolutely in love with my new hair! I went yesterday armed with photos of celebrities (mostly Fearne Cotton) and while I clearly still look nothing like the beautiful ladies I was admiring, I absolutely love what the colourist did. Basically, I had a full head of highlights a few months ago, and while I liked them a lot, the regrowth was just such a nightmare even though my natural colour was only a shade or so darker. To get technical on you, my natural colour is an 8, so my hairdresser took me a shade darker to a 7, so a dark blonde. She left some of the highlights at the end to create a subtle ombre effect and also put in some strawberry blonde/reddy toned lowlights which are a lovely addition. I don't know if other people are going to notice and love the difference like I do, but this is the darkest my hair has ever been and I guess I'm just thrilled that I didn't leave the hairdressers crying!

I'm thinking that I could maintain this colour a bit cheaper with a home dye kit. I never wanted to use them to go lighter but I'm comfortable doing it if I'm going darker. Any reccomendations because I have literally never dyed my own hair? Sorry for such a mememe and my beautiful hair post but I thought I'd share for anyone else having colour dilemmas like I was just a few days ago! I have an outfit post coming up tomorrow and am also home then too, so expect to see and hear more of me!

LUCILLEX

Part 2

Boyfriends, dads, brothers, does anyone else find men an absolute nightmare to buy for? I always, always just buy my boyfriend clothes that he asks for and I find that so boring but I can't get a straight answer about what they want from any of the men in my life. It's not as fun to buy for boys, nothing sparkly or pretty to be bought. What do you buy for the guys in your life? I put this together as a kind of round up of ideas for dads and brothers/boyfriends. Obviously, dads probably won't be rocking the red headphones while you might not want to give your boyfriend a coffee machine, or you might, who knows. Why must they be so difficult...

Watch: Casio via Urban Outfitters, Shoes: Fred Perry via Asos, Headphones: Urban Outfitters, Hat: Topman, Slippers: Fat Face, Coffee Machine: Magimix via John Lewis, Holdall: Fred Perry via Selfridges, Skincare: Clarins, Print: Chris Simpsons Artist via Big Cartel

LUCILLEX

Christmas Rapping

5 days until I'm back home with time and space on my hands for some serious blogging (and some serious eating as well of course). I have so many lovely things planned, the week before Christmas is going to be non-stop but so brill. I'm starting a job this Christmas at my boyfriends mum's boutique (Fifi and Moose in Newbury). If anyone is from the area make sure you pop in, she always has gorgeous things and I can't wait to get my uniform!

So, basically, I've bought quite a few presents but am still struggling to finish all my shopping. I like to buy people presents that they will definitely love and use and just cringe if I waste money on something that I know they won't touch after the 25th. So for your benefit and mine I've come up with my own little gift guides for some of the people I find it tricky to buy for. Let me know if there's anyone else you're struggling to find things for and pop back tomorrow for another installment!

Scarf:Michael Michael Kors via Net-a-porter, Mug: Emma Bridgewater, Clutch: Cos, Ipad case:Marc by Marc Jacobs via Net-a-porter, Bag: Zara, Face Creams: Kiehl's, Truffles: Charbonnel et Walker via Selfridges, Phone case: Mulberry

Now I wouldn't say my mum is a difficult person to buy for, but she just buys everything that she really wants for herself and leaves little for her present buyers to play with. She appreciates quality things, pretty things and sentimental bits. She loves her two pugs as well, hence the mug which I can't decide if it's hideous or not?! What are you all getting your mums? I always make sure she gets the biggest, most special present because she really does do the most for everyone, it's just finding her something or some things that she wants or needs that she doesn't already have!

LUCILLEX

Hot Drinks and Mince Pies

Hello everyone, hope you all had a beautiful weekend! I did a little bit of Christmas shopping, had a drink at the Christmas market and acquired a new Christmas jumper so all still very festive for me! Unfortunately I have a deadline coming up and two after my Christmas break, so I've got a lot of work at the minute and not so much time to blog, or at least blog the things I want to. I'm excited to get home and settle back in for 3 weeks in a spiderless room. My brother has moved out so I have his whole bedroom for taking outfit photos which I am dying to try out, my uni room couldn't be more of a disaster for lighting and space and everything so I've given up until I get back.

Just a little photo post today, I need to remember to take more throughout the week though but I'm always too slow. I have been trying out a couple of new things with my nails but have also been trying to get them back into good condition so have been nail polish-less for the first time since probably about June time! I'm really getting into the spirit of everything and often let Mr Buble sing me through the evening while I browse the internet for peoples presents. If anyone has any brill ideas for presents for mums, please let me know! I want to get her something nice but am on a bit of a budget this year so everything I see that is perfect for her is just out of reach right now, annoying!

LUCILLEX