Warwick and Weekends May 31, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Life, Chatter & Politics, Photos.5 comments
Well, this week has been interesting. The flat I was meant to be moving into on Saturday fell through thanks to only being given 1 small shelf in the kitchen (and a number of other limitations). This gives me 10 days to find a new place to live, and someone to live there with. Currently I have a few possible options that I just need to look around, so fingers crossed this new plan works out.
Anyway, my parents have been up this weekend to keep me company and look after me, we went to Warwick. I took some photos, as following a really wet day on Saturday the weather turned out lovely!
Warwick Castle
The tower at Warwick Castle
Chocolate Ice Cream
The plane flying overhead
The Beautiful Red Rose
Gorgeous Iris
A Temporary Leave of Absence May 24, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Depression, Life, Chatter & Politics.Tags: break ups, relationships, single
10 comments
Just to let you know guys, I am taking a bit of a leave of absence. My relationship with Ben ended on Friday night, on my instigation, and I just can’t face blogging or typing away at the moment. I also can’t face eating, thanks to the fact I am clenching my jaw all the time and thus have trouble opening my mouth. I was drunk when we ended, Dutch courage of sorts, but I am filled with all kinds of regret over the way it happened and can barely look at myself, let alone write about myself any more than this. I have apologised, and he has forgiven me, but I still feel bad.
Just for a while I need not to post. I will carry on writing shallow waffle at I Should Wear…? and suchlike, but for now I need a breather.
Thanks for understanding 
You never know, I may well be back in a few days – but I don’t want to have to set myself a date.
A sure-fire way to lower self-esteem May 21, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Advice, Life, Chatter & Politics.10 comments
I can officially declare that there is no better way to lower a girl’s self-esteem than to ask her if she is pregnant. When she is not.
This is exactly what happened to me today. There I was, feeling all summery and happy in my beautiful floaty maxi dress. I was buying a drink and a snack from the sandwich van, went up to pay and wham – Banjo’s lady said – “oh – are you pregnant?”. My face must have been a picture as I stumbled to inform her that no, no I was not pregnant, not at all – and not only that but I had been feeling quite happy in my body until that minute. She was fast to backtrack, of course, declaring “oh, it must have just been the wind going up your skirt” – but it was too late, the damage was done.
Although it is funny, and has made for a good laugh and lots of cheeky “congratulations” from my workmates, this has also made me feel quite unhappy in my body. After all, if I look pregnant when I think I look good, what on earth do I look like when I feel I look crap?!
A general rule of thumb, therefore, is never ever to ask if someone is pregnant. Wait for them to tell you, or for it to get to the point when the are so front heavy it couldn’t be anything else. Never, ever assume - it is a recipe for disaster!
Can you tell… May 20, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Blogs, Fashion.1 comment so far
That I have been watching MadMen?
I Should Wear…? is full of wiggle dresses!
A Really Yummy Tomato Lunch May 20, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Foodiness.Tags: Food, food writing, oven-roasted tomatoes, recipe, tomato
1 comment so far
I had the most wonderful night out with the SMB girls last night. It was a social, and this essentially means that we meet up at the pub and gibber away for hours on end. Despite the fact that there were lots of lovely new members we still all managed to chat pretty much non-stop the entire time we were there, covering such diverse topics as online dating and the translation of literature to film. It was great, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Anyway, I thought today that I would share with you one of the yummiest creations I have made in the past few weeks. I didn’t get a photo of it as I ate it all far too fast for that, but believe me when I say it was ultra yummy! It was a oven-roasted beef tomato (with a twist!) served with cous cous, and I could see it becoming a major cupboard staple.
To make your own:
Cut the top off a large beef tomato, ensuring to remove any chewy green bits in the centre – I essentially chopped out the centre lump. Cut a clove of garlic into 2 or 3 pieces, and push these into the flesh fo the tomato, spacing it out evening. Pour a generous amount of olive oil and balsamic vinegar into the tomato – don’t worry about it being spread out evening, it never happens! Then simply sprinkle basic, unground sea salt and lots of pepper over the top! Put in a pre-heated oven and cook until it is starting to sink onto the tray.
I served mine with cous cous, to which I had added a cheeky knob of butter and a heaped teaspoon full of pesto (plus salt and pepper of course). It was gorgeous – try it and you will see!
There is something about the sweet and delicious simplicity of tomatoes in the summer that just keeps bringing me back for more!
Semi-Daily eBay (Etsy) | Yava Recycled Bottle Glasses May 19, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Semi-Daily eBay, Thrifting.Tags: daily ebay, eBay, etsy, glasses, retro, Semi-Daily eBay, tumblers, vintage
1 comment so far
Glasses made from recycled bottles
I had to share these gorgeous little glasses with you! I know that we have seen a plethora of recycled bottle glasses hitting the shops over the past few years, but these little tumblers are different. They are cute, retro, and above all else the variety means that they stand out from a crowd. They would have to be kept on display though, to show off their gorgeous looks!
The curling smoke May 19, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Fashion, Media, TV & Film.add a comment
The Cast of MadMen
Well, well, well. I have just started watching MadMen. After a night tucked in front of the TV avoiding the work I was meant to be doing, I have managed to work myself a good few episodes into this incredibly successful programme, and am starting to see what makes everyone wax lyrical about it so much. Despite the fact that really very little has happened I have been sucked in without a backwards glance, and all the tiniest subtleties have started meaning a whole lot more. It is a sumptuous feats for the eyes and the ears, and I proudly announce myself a convert.
Whilst watching the DVDs there were a few thoughts I couldn’t get out of my head. firstly, how much does everyone smoke?! I knew that smoking used to be popular, but I had never accepted the extent to which everyone did it – it seems as natural as breathing or talking to all of the characters on the show. There is scarcely a scene that goes past without a couple of cigarettes being lit, sensually drawn on, and then expelled in curves of wafting, strangely attractive smoke.It really brings home the difference between ”then” and “now”, especially when they talk about doctors advocating cigarettes as safe. It is incredible really.
The next thought was, predictably, about the clothes. Christina Hendricks as Joan Holloway is hypnotic, with her curving hips and gleaming smile. She is utterly sexy, and has become a full blown girl crush of mine. All the dresses are beautiful on all the characters, and it turns out a man in a fedora can make me swoon! When I saw this amazing Joan Holloway inspired dress on Pin Up Girl I nearly bought it, before remembering how dire my finances will be this month!
Amazing Christina Hendricks Style Dress
My particular favourites from the first few shows were the 50s style swing dresses, if only because I don’t really have the hips to carry a wiggle dress off. I am so jealous of them!
Word and Worry Free May 16, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Life, Chatter & Politics.1 comment so far
Since starting up I Should Wear, I have becoming increasingly free of words. The refreshment of writing a blog post with minimal words and purely shallow fashion based topics has been incredible – I never notice how stifled I am becoming by “having” to write in my blog until I have something else to do. As such, I have spent most of this week playing around with fashion inspiration and ideas on my beloved Polyvore, and neglecting you lot completely and utterly. Now I am back, refreshed and free of any strange blogging issues that were cluttering up my brain.
On other news, I saw a flat today. It was my first viewing, and was a flat share in Lansdowne Crescent. This is a gorgeous crescent of tall white Georgian properties, typical of the sort of luxurious Spa town that Leamington Spa is. In fact, the springs and therapeutic quality of the water even earned the town the name Royal Leamington Spa, and this gave birth to the expensive houses and beautiful gleaming white architecture.
Let me just say that this second floor flat was beautiful. Dark wooden floors throughout, original fireplaces, and a kitchen to die for. The bedroom I would have, enclosed at the back of the property, featured a bright and sunny window, with views down the high street and over the rooftops. It wasn’t a huge room, granted, but it comes with a big double bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers. Needless to say, I fell in love, and am going to be meeting up with my lovely future flatmate (fingers crossed!) later this week to discuss the details!
SeeI may be free of words – but I am free of worries too!
How I am Me May 13, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Life, Chatter & Politics, Wordy Business.Tags: friends, identity, Life, Love
3 comments
Thanks to the wonderful Cie and Nat, I have been musing today. Musing, and perhaps moping a little, because I doubt I will ever be able to write anything half as eloquent as they have. In spite of this, however, I have decided to see if I can scribble down some of the things that have made me the person I am today.
I often wonder if I have always been “me”. Thanks to my wonderful parents, I had it drilled into me from a young age that I can be anything, and anyone, that I want to be. I spent most of my childhood trying to decide between being a fireman (yes, I hadn’t quite grasped gender) and a writer. Later on I set my sights on being an architect, until I realised I found the nitty gritty a little boring. If I had had any interest in being an astronaut, I have no doubt that I would have believed completely and utterly that I could do it, if I just put the effort in. For this, I salute my parents. Despite the fact that (as with most people) I had low self-esteem, my parents had still managed to instill in me a sense of self belief, and because of this I am quite grounded in who I am.
In fact, I think the me I am now is almost entirely down to my parents. Their views, their beliefs, the fact that they love me no matter what – this has created the me that has a well-rounded collection of opinions of my own. Without them I doubt I would be someone I respected, and I am so glad I am lucky enough to be close to them.
However, there is more to me that just the way I was bought up. Sixth Form was what really shaped me, discovering groups of friends and a social side to myself that I never knew existed. In a matter of weeks I suddenly established a network of friends who I was inseparable from. Never before or since have I known a group quite so close-knit - they saw every side of me, and supported me through all the dark times without hesitation. This was followed by uni, a time that hard, and sad, and brilliant and fabulous – with people to match.
I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my friends, although I see them far too rarely. People at home in Devon, who stopped me drifting away, are only seen a few times a year. My uni friends too are seen too rarely, although I love that they let me be as mad as silly as I want, and that they will join in. I hope that one day we will all live closer to each other, so that I will be able to see you more – and I promise that I will phone more often so that we can keep in contact. Thankfully now I have friends in the area who are shaping up to be very important people in my life, and of course I have Ben, who knows me inside and out – and has been house training me for some time now.
Sometimes, however, I wonder what it must be like to have a friend like Cie has in Nat and vica-versa. A person with whom you have shared a long relationship, someone you love completely and who loves you back. Someone who makes you brilliant and wonderful, and the very best version of yourself that you can be. I don’t have this yet, but I hope that one day I will. For now, however, I will just keep being deeply envious, and respectful of their wonderful relationship.
Getting On top of my fashion May 12, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Fashion.1 comment so far
Right, that is it. Now that I am running I Should Wear…? I am actually going to take some of my own advice. Which means that tomorrow I will be following today’s inspiration, and wearing socks with heels. I am quite excited about the prospect, having dallied with the idea before!
The main thing for me is that socks are either bright, cute, or knee-high. In these situations they are clearly being used as a fashion statement, rather than because you forgot to take of you socks when you left the house! In addition, socks should always alway always be worn with heels, preferably cute ones that fit with the Glee-style fashion. Think little old grannies and vintage suits, and that is the sort of shoe style that should be worn with your pretty little socks.
Oh – does anyone know of anywhere that stocks ruffled ankle socks for adults?
