Thursday 29 December 2016

WHAT TO WEAR // CHRISTMAS DAY


Presents were unwrapped, many glasses of bubbly were dunk,
and far too much food was eaten.

Which meant the skinny high rise jeans were resting on their laurels in the wardrobe,
while another pair of trousers had to be sourced that would allow me to eat my own bodyweight
in nibbles and stuffing.

Luckily these beauties were hanging in my wardrobe waiting for such an occurrence.

Comfy yet stylish and definitely fast becoming a regular fixture in my wardrobe.  


Tuesday 20 December 2016

LOVING LATELY // SCRAP BOOKING


As a stationery lover it was only a matter of time before I really got into scrapbooking and all the extras it gives you an excuse to buy.

Monday 19 December 2016

THE SELLOUT // PAUL BEATTY


How many times have I promised that this review will be arriving soon...well drumroll please: it is finally here!

Sunday 18 December 2016

LOVING LATELY // VLOGMASES


There is a lot to love about Christmas: the food; the excuse to sit and just eat for days; fairy lights; gifts; bank holidays and vlogmas.

This time of year is my favourite as there is always something to watch on YouTube and they are vlogs which for a nosey person like me is perfect.

So here are my top five vlogmases (is that even a word? Is now!) to watch:

Saturday 17 December 2016

HOME-BODY & BLOG PLANS


When I am in the mood I love to go out and paint the town red and firmly let my hair down but sometimes quite a lot of the time I love being at home and doing home-y things.

So rock 'n' roll, am I right?

Friday 16 December 2016

CHRISTMAS ACCORDING TO A FOUR YEAR OLD


While Ava and I were colouring the other day I asked her a few questions to get her take on Christmas and this is whats she said. 

F.Y.I. I have spelt things how she said them.  I am not the best at spelling but its not that bad I promise.

Wednesday 14 December 2016

CHRISTMAS THINGS TO DO // THEATRE TRIPS


Having recently been to the theatre myself, it made me realise:
(a) I really should go more
and (b) I should do a post about what I would love to see.

Here goes:

Tuesday 13 December 2016

CHRISTMAS-ITIS


So we are half way through December, Christmas is just what is in reality a blink of the eye away, and all the hard-to-buy for people are left to find gifts for (Hi Dad!). 

It is getting serious. 

Sunday 11 December 2016

LIFE LATELY


Watching: lots and lots of vlogmases.  I just love watching what people get up to in their day: I am nosey like that.  there will be a blog up soon with my favourite blogs to watch at the moment.  

Reading: The Sellout by Paul Beatty.  This won the Man Booker Prize and I can see why.  It is a really clever satire but with a plot at the same time.  I am really enjoying it and want to finish it so I can write a review for you guys.

Listening: to festive tunes especially the classics.  Who doesn't love a bit of Wham or Mariah at this time of year?  I am also hoping it will get me into the festive spirit because I am not feeling that Christmas-y.

Eating: cheese and marmite toasties.  They are just good I love them.  

Thinking: about 2016 and looking forward to 2017.  2016 was rocky to say the least but I got through and survived and I will be happy to say goodbye to it.  And now I am thinking about next year and what my word for 2017 will be.  Have you chosen your word yet?

Up next: fitting in watching Elf while wearing my lovely festive Elf t-shirt with a hot chocolate in hand.  It wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't do this at some point.  

What have you been up to lately?

Saturday 10 December 2016

D.I.Y. // CHRISTMAS WREATH


Last year I made my own Christmas wreath for the first time and I really enjoyed doing it and was rather proud of how it turned out.  So this year I started to make it a tradition and do it again.

Here is a quick D.I.Y. post of how to make a traditional foliage based wreath incase you fancy giving it a go.


Friday 9 December 2016

LUSH HAUL // CHRISTMAS SPECIAL


I love a bath to relax in and nowhere does bath stuff like Lush, especially at Christmas.  So of course the other day when I just happened to be walking past I had to buy some things and here is what I got with a few other pearls of wisdom.

Thursday 8 December 2016

MAKE-UP I AM LOVING HAVING ON MY FACE AT THE MOMENT





With the festive period basically here that means way more opportunities to go out and socialise which means the perfect excuse to spend way to long putting on my make-up.

Here is what I am loving wearing lately and there is glitter because if you can't wear glitter at Christmas when can you?


Wednesday 7 December 2016

CHRISTMAS TREES


Would this really be #blogmas without a Christmas tree post?  I think not.

I would be a failure to the blogging community if I didn't mention Christmas trees during the Christmas period.  So here I am ticking that box but to be a different spin on it here is what the Christmas tree choosing has taught me this year:

Tuesday 6 December 2016

WHY MEN LOVE BITCHES // SHERRY ARGOV & BAKU MAGASINE


Sometimes you need to read something that isn't winning literacy praise for its use of similes or deep symbolism but instead you need to read something that is rather tongue in cheek and was given to you because the title would make me laugh.


Monday 5 December 2016

THE MAGICAL LANTERN FESTIVAL // BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS


After seeing the lantern festival unlit in Chiswick House gardens last year I knew that if I ever had the opportunity to see them lit in the dark I would have to take it.  And then as if by fate they appeared in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and it was a sign that I had to go.


Sunday 4 December 2016

#OOTD // THE BOOTS I HAVE FALLEN HEAD OVER HEELS FOR


Sometimes you see something and your heart skips a beat.  That is the sign of love at first sight which totally exists despite what anyone says because I fell in love with these boots at first glance.

Saturday 3 December 2016

CONVERSATIONS WITH A TWO YEAR OLD :: CHRISTMAS EDN


Some of the little things that Esme comes out with that make me laugh so much.  That kid has so much personality.  

Friday 2 December 2016

BLOGMAS & GIFT GUIDES


This year I have decided to do blogmas which to me means having a new blog post up every day.

Now that doesn't sound that bad but as the person who has to come up with all the posts it now seems a bit overwhelming.

Hopefully though there will be something for everyone with fashion, beauty, lifestyle and a few more personal posts thrown in.

Some will be Christmas-y, some not, but hopefully it will give you a chance to get to know me better so please bookmark my blog or follow me on twitter to keep up to date with my posts.

And now on to the gift guide.

Thursday 1 December 2016

NOVEMBER ACCORDING TO INSTAGRAM


I thought this could be a new regular feature where I choose some of my favourite photos from my instagram (follow my at @lottie_mvp) and just do a bit of a recap of the month focussing more on the lifestyle personal side of things that don't feature as heavily over here.

So here goes...

Sunday 27 November 2016

HIS BLOODY PROJECT // GRAEME MACRAE BURNET


This book is made up of supposedly real life documents relating to the case of Roderick Macrae, a murder Graeme Macrae Burnet apparently came across when he was researching his family history.

Roderick's own account of the what happened takes up the first half of the novel and then is followed by witness statements, a mental examination by a leading authority on criminal insanity, and then reports of the trial itself.  The events are set in the Scottish Highlands late 1860s-1870s. in a remote crofting community, the main character is a seventeen year old who has by his own admission committed a triple murder, and the question is whether he was insane and therefore not able to be hanged for his crimes.  

Thursday 24 November 2016

BEING THANKFUL


As an english girl through and through I have never celebrated Thanksgiving and had no idea what it was about until I googled it and now I have a vague idea.

But what I do really like is the idea of taking a day out to celebrate everything we have to be thankful for because I sometimes forget to appreciate all the little things that I am so lucky to have in my life and there is a lot I have to be thankful for.

Tuesday 22 November 2016

COSY SUNDAYS


Sundays for me are for big snuggly jumpers, cups of tea, blankets on the sofa with a family film on.  Ideally there would be some good food included along with some time reading the Sunday papers.  

Sadly I do not always get to tick all these boxes but one thing I have got down is the big snugly jumper because of course that had to be the number one priority.

Sunday 20 November 2016

LIFE LATELY


Watching: A Girl on the Train.  This was the last film I saw at the cinema and I was worried it was over hyped and one of those films where all the best bits were in the trailer.  They weren't.  Really good but not one to watch if you want a funny light hearted rom com but if you want some suspense, go see it.

Reading: His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet.  Really into this and am dreading finishing it.  Is it reality: is it not?  And it brings together my love of the law, crime and the psychology behind committing criminal acts.  There will be a full review up soon when I finish it.

Listening: to whether Esme has got out of her bed in the middle of the night.  Are they her little footsteps I can hear?  She is a sleep walker which is weird when you wake up to find her standing right by your bed asleep but with her eyes wide open.  Very freaky.

Eating: alone.  That makes me sound rather tragic but it really wasn't.  I had a rare day of me time and I decided to take my time and take myself out for lunch, sushi to be exact.  It was just me, my book and my sushi and it was strangely liberating.  I always had dreaded such things in the past because of looking like a loner but I got to: people watch to my hearts content; drink as many cups of green tea as I wanted; and I didn't have to share my spicy tuna rolls with anyone.  Win win in my world!

Thinking: about potential summer holiday plans for next year.  It is freezing and miserable which makes me crave sunshine and warmth but I would also like something to see.  Any ideas?  Oh yes and it also has to be suitable for two little people who just want to spend all day in the pool.

Up next: The Man Booker Prize winner The Sellout.  Really looking forward to starting that one.  

Thursday 17 November 2016

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE & PLANNERS


I recently stumbled across a planner that is so perfect it is unbelievable and I bought it, even though it is an 18 month planner that started in August and I have months of empty pages, because it made my stationary heart jump with glee.  

A little too much?  Probably...

But in all seriousness it has monthly overviews and weekly pages too.  Everything I could ever need to plan my life right down to a tee.  


Monday 14 November 2016

THOUGHTS & GIRL AT WAR BY SARA NOVIĆ


Blogging is something that seems to come in fits and bursts with me.  It is something that I wish I was more consistent with but at the moment that seems futile.  The more I try and lay down plans and  targets with publishing posts and the such like, the more overwhelming I find it and the more sporadic the posting becomes.

Go figure...*eye roll*

And this has happened again and the longer the break became the more pressure I felt for the next post to be ultimately amazing and more editorial.  But at the end of the day that is not how my blog is and although I love reading those blogs and they make me feel so inspired that is not my bag over here and that is ok.

So I am back basically with a book review because I love reading and I hope some of you do to.  

Thursday 3 November 2016

SKINCARE :: LAURA MERCIER // FIRST IMPRESSIONS


Now you all know how I love skincare and that is where I spend my money in terms of beauty. If your skin looks good then the makeup that you put on it looks much better. 

So while I was at the Laura Mercier counter picking up a new foundation I was intrigued by their skincare and what it has to offer. 


Tuesday 1 November 2016

ANOTHER SATURDAY, ANOTHER AFTERNOON TEA //THE RITZ, LONDON


The girls got me an voucher for a champagne afternoon tea last Christmas and I thought it was about time I put it to good use.  So while the girls were away I booked in and off we went.

I love afternoon tea.  I think it is something about the tradition and how it harks back to a more decadent age where there was time to sit down regularly and eat little sandwiches, scones loaded with fresh cream and jam, and dainty little cakes.  

Thursday 27 October 2016

FITNESS INSPIRATION // TRX 3 WAYS


Earlier this year I signed up to the gym and I wrote a previous post about it here.  To be honest I am still surprised that I stuck at it and enjoy it as much as I do.  It has really made a big change mentally and physically.  I am more than happy to write about this so let me know in the comments if it is something you would like to read.  

Back to todays post: I thought it was about time I shared some of what I do in the gym to maybe give some of you guys a few new ides.  I am always on the lookout for new ideas and things to add to my circuits and I thought you might be too.  


Tuesday 25 October 2016

AFTERNOON TEA & SELF LOVE


A kid free Saturday mean afternoon tea with the girls in Harvey Nichols, because why ever not?  Lots of little sandwiches were eaten along with scones and decadent cakes.  And so much tea was drunk.  I love tea but even I might have been all tee-ed out by the end.

The best part was the company and the long winding chats and my eureka moment.

Sunday 23 October 2016

HAUL // BOOKS


Reading has always been a passions of mine.  As a young child I always had my nose in a book and that has not changed.  However recently I have found reading is something that seems to ebb and flow in my life and over recent years it seems to have ebbed more than it has flowed with sleep taking precedence.  The life of being a parent to two small children: permanent exhaustion.


Wednesday 19 October 2016

LATELY...


watching: Cold Feet.  This programme just gives me the warm fuzzes.  It is British and that great British humour that I love and I might have been brought up around it.  My Mum is a massive fan and might have cried when Rachel dies: oh yes she is a mega fan.  

Monday 17 October 2016

#OOTD // THAT SKIRT


In winter I go one of two ways.  Either: skinny jeans and layers and layers of jumpers which makes me somewhat resemble a sparrow; or I pull out a skirt, normally above the knee, and a pair of thick tights.


Monday 10 October 2016

ABOUT ME // WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY


Today is World Mental Health Day, as you probably found out by reading the title of this blog post.  But what you probably do not know is how important this day is to me and why.

Despite posting pretty photos of outfits and focussing on the good parts of life, this blog unsurprisingly just shows a very small proportion of my life; my interests and me.  And the things I am about to share are something that I have only recently shared with some of my closest friends and that for a long long time I just kept to myself.

Tuesday 4 October 2016

#OOTD // FEELING THE CHILL


I wore this outfit on the first day of October when the temperature suddenly dropped and it felt like Autumn.

September with its mildness had made me forget how chilly the early mornings get, but really I am loving it because I was sick of the unpredictable humidity and just wanted the crispness in the air so I could break out my new boots.

Wednesday 28 September 2016

ADULTING // BETTER SLEEP TIPS & TRICKS



Some people can just put their head on the pillow and fall asleep instantly, and I am so jealous of those types of people.  For me sleep is something that I never take for granted because my sleeping is rather sporadic to say the least.

Basically I am a classic over-thinking worry wart who when stressed fails to sleep and wakes up multiple times for many hours, resulting in a dragon lady with massive dark bags under her eyes and a temper that can barely last ten seconds.  

Anyway I digress...over the years I have found some things that help me nod off and stay asleep and I thought I would pass them on for anyone else who is finding it hard to get into good sleep habits too.

Monday 26 September 2016

LOVING LATLEY // CANDLES


It seems the weather has suddenly become really autumnal.  There is a chill in the air in the mornings and the light starts fading that little bit earlier every evening.  All this makes me smile as Autumn is one of, if not, my favourite season.  So much so that we did consider calling one of the girls Autumn at one point.


Friday 23 September 2016

ME, MYSELF & I


"How would you describe yourself in three words?"

When I hear that question being asked immediately: my heart rate quickens; my foot begins to twitch; and my palms begin to sweat.  

I know it brings out the best in me.

And at that moment I feel like replying with "At this moment?  Wanting to run!"

Wednesday 21 September 2016

A WEEKEND IN LONDON


My intention was to go down to London see my friends and do a really good job of documenting it.  

Well, two out of three isn't bad.

I went down to London had an amazing time and was enjoying myself so much that I forgot to take photos.

I know worst blogger ever.

However I have noted down some places to check out if you are down in London yourself, so it wasn't a total loss.