Dressember? Getting Dress-ed Up November 29, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Depression, Fashion.Tags: Dress, dressember, dressember challenge, Fashion, fashion challenge
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Well, we have probably all heard of Movember, a month for guys to grow their very best moustaches in the aim of raising money for prostate cancer sufferers. Well, now comes the girls alternative, not quite as biological but just as fun nonetheless.
The basic premise is this. During the month of December (or Dressember, as it shall now be called), participants do their best to ditch the trousers, and wear a dress each and every day. There are some exceptions – you are allowed to wear trousers, for example, for sports, or for climbing that mountain in those minus figure temperatures. As long as you go home that evening and collapse in front of the TV in your very best cocktail dress. The target is one dress a day, for the entire month, each and every single day.
Getting Dress-ed Up
Now, for me this is a surprisingly difficult challenge. After all, this isn’t June, the temperatures are practically nonexistent outside the house, and this means that the tights will be coming out in force. There will be some days, I am sure, when all I want to do is tuck up inside a pair of cosy trousers and pretend that the world outside doesn’t exist. However, I pledge right here and right now to resist these lazy winter temptations, and to brave the snow in a tutu each and ever day if I have to. After all, the aim is to raise money for charity, and that seems a good enough reason to me!
Every day I aim to post an outfit shot of that days dress, so that you know I am sticking to the challenge.
If you want to sponsor me, I am raising money for Depression Alliance. Obviously it is a cause close to my heart, and if I can raise even a fiver that has to be good!
To support me though Dressember, donate here!
Living an Adventure November 28, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Dreams, Inspiration, Life, Chatter & Politics.3 comments
One of my main worries in life is that I will float through it, without ever actually getting around to do any of the things I want to do. I grew up with amazing parents, telling me tales of getting appendicitis under bushes in the Ukraine, or missing getting a train destined to be bombed in Iraq. Tails of hippy hysteria, tomato picking, 3 course meals at the end of lines of vines in France. They are so full of stories, have done so much, that I know I would be so incredibly disappointed in myself were I to never get around to creating my own life stories to tell my own kids one day down the line.
It is so easy, you see, to settle. To get used to the comfort of a familiar job. To push your adventures further and further away, until you never get around to living them at all. To sit in the warm and read books rather than get things wrong, make mistakes, and live dangerously.
Thinking about this recently has resulted in a number of aims. I want to go to London, work in fashion, and have a bit of an adventure. I know I can always come back to Leamington, the place that has somehow become home. I am planning to go travelling next year – and currently am thinking of going to the US, Australia, and New Zealand, as I have friends in all. I want to learn new skills – and so in the new year I will be taking up pole dancing with Helen, and considering learning Swedish just for the hell of it. I am going to train myself in Photoshop and web design, and consider doing some graphic design, as I have always wanted to.
My new years resolution, no matter how early, is to have at least one bona-fide adventure by the end of the year. Simples!
Welcome to the Collective November 24, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Wordy Business, Family, Meme.Tags: collective nouns, nouns
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At the pub last night, I got into a conversation about the wonder that is the collective noun for a group of animals. You know – a bellowing of bullfinches, a battery of barracudas, a parliament of owls, a murder of crows, a shiver of sharks – the list goes on an on. It got us to thinking, if there were a collective noun to represent each of us, what would it be? It ought, really to be based on our foremost characteristics – our personalities, our looks.
As such, I proudly present our first three contributions to the mix!
A stumble of Laurens
An embarrassment of Riches
A consideration of Nics
It also got me to thinking about what some of my nearest and dearest would be called, were they to travel in groups…
A sweetness of Roisins
An intelligence of Lysys
A paling of Carys’
A drive of Nathans
A flame of Carolines
A giggle of Helens
A nattering of Nommis
A fondness of Lauras
Welcome to the collective guys!
What would your noun be?
Mmm, Yummy – Valentino Patent Peep-Toes November 24, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Fashion, Semi-Daily eBay.Tags: designer, Fashion, Heels, Shoes, valentino
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Is it just me, or is there something just… well… wonderful about these Valentino heels? I suppose in part it is because of the classic and elegant shape, but generally I think the shade is the winner. Not quite pink, not quite purple, not quite really bright and not quite muted. It is one of those sweet and downright edible shades that is simple at the same time as being really unusual. For whatever reason, I love them. I don’t love the £164 price tag though, although when you think that it is down from a mighty £410 it almost becomes a bargain…
Valentino Peep Toe Patent Pumps
A Wonderful Life November 21, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Depression, Family, Inspiration, Life, Chatter & Politics.3 comments
2010 has, to put it bluntly, been a bit of a bitch. It has seen breakups, and fights, and hurt. It has seen broken hearts, depression, and mind-blowing loneliness. However, weekends like this are the sort of thing that make it all worthwhile. The sort of time that just makes me realise how absolutely fabulous my life is, and how nothing in the world could make me give it all up!
I began the weekend with a lovely date night on Friday, a night that made me feel sexy and funny and just generally good on so many levels. That was followed by a casual saturday strolling through town, drifting into the charity shops and trying on shoes so coated in glitter that they could easily blind you if you were to look straight at them! After snuggling up in Starbucks with lunch and a brilliantly good book (Enduring Love, by Ian McEwan), I traipsed home, where I snuggled on the sofa to read more, before I was joined by the thoroughly gorgeous Helen for a long over-due catch up.
We chatted, gossiped, and giggled the night away. It has been so long since I have had a proper chat with her, and it was so much fun to be able to enjoy dinner, wine and cocktails in town, all the while knowing that there wasn’t such a thing as too much information, and that neither of us would ever judge the other for our drunken behaviour. I wore my Irregular Choice “No Pace Like Home” shoes, sparkly red beauties that make me feel like Dorothy the moment I put them on. I glittered, spangled, and clicked my heels throughout town, making friends and losing at American Pool against 10 lads on the way. Well, not losing actually, I certainly thrashed a few – but I didn’t win!
Today, remarkably hangover free, I enjoyed a long lazy Sunday lunch with the people who have, between them, been the reason that Leamington is so much my home. I couldn’t imagine this town without them - without the conversation, the hugs, the fun and the friendship. I honestly love them so much, I couldn’t dream of living in this town were they not there with me. Knowing that we have so many plans to meet up and enjoy life together makes me feel like I really belong, and like I would be missed were I no longer around!
Finally, tonight I head into Birmingham with the lovely Sarah, to watch one of my favourite bands, Jimmy Eat World. I am practically bouncing around with excitement, and cannot wait to see those beautiful songs being performed on the stage under the hot bright lights.
In short, what a wonderful life I have. What a heady, delicious, hilarious life.
Seth Lakeman November 19, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Music.Tags: crushes, gigs, Music, Seth Lakeman
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Last night saw me at the Seth Lakeman gig, so here is your 5 second warning as to an inevitable collection over-enthusiastic superlatives and swooning metaphors. Oh, and him and his brother definitely kept smiling at Laura and I (and yes, I can here you in the back, muttering about optimistic stalkers and such like…).
Anyway, the gig was great, the crowd really picked up after a quiet start, and by the end we were all stamping out feet, clapping, and in my case, twitching in a vague approximation of a dance. My toes kept going numb in my boots, so the twitching wasn’t entirely my fault. The music was great, and actually the support act, Delta Maid, was very talented too. I do admit quite freely, however, to the fact that I tapped my foot throughout her act, whilst waiting in an obsessed groupie way for the man Himself to arrive on the stage.
Of course, he didn’t disappoint. There he was, talented as ever (people, he sings AT THE SAME TIME as playing the violin – I challenge you to tell me that that isn’t just DAMN hot), with those gorgeous muscular arms and sexy voice. Honestly, I spent most of the time perving over him in the most immature way, and I don’t regret it at all! Why he hasn’t realised that I am ripe and ready for the taking though, to be swept of my feet, is simply beyond me!
OK, so this post is (a little) tongue-in-cheek. But honestly, one of my favourite artists, ever!
What I Wore: Wrap Dress & Heels November 15, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in What I Wore.Tags: daily outfit, Fashion, outfit, What I wore
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All Wrapped Up...
I love this dres. The shape, the satin fabric, the big bow around my waist. It doesn’t, however, photo very well at all – the flash makes it look kind of shiny. Sooo comfy though!
Dress: Fever Designs
Heels: Irregular Choice
Oh! What a Day! November 14, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Wordy Business.Tags: prose, smells, weather, winter, Writing
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There is a smell in the air today that seems to me so very wintery. It is part smoke, the drifting winter scent of bonfires, burning fronds of conifers and sizzling damp leaves. This is layered across that tangy smell the airs gets when it has just stopped raining, the scent that hangs heavy in the morning and which burns off once the weak winter sun has gathered its strength. Then, to make the smell of winter all the more complex, there is the addition of the harsh smell of frost, a tingling feeling that makes you wiggle your nose to try to release it, that makes you wish you packed gloves or mittens.
Oh! What a fabulous day!
What I Wore | Knee High Socks and Jumpers November 11, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Fashion, Life, Chatter & Politics, What I Wore.Tags: Clothes, dieting, exercise, Fashion, hypnosis, outfit, What I wore
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Getting Warm
You can tell it is properly miserable and wet at the moment. This morning I snuggled up under the covers for as long as physically possible, before dragging myself out into the wet and windy weather much to my brain’s chagrin! Anyway, these are some of the first photos recently that have made me realise how much weight I have put on. It is quite remarkable! I don’t mind that much, but I miss being fit, having that energy that comes with being slim, in shape and toned. Still, I liked the outfit – it was part smart, part warm, and part utterly comfortable!
Tomorrow evening I have a hypnosis consultation – we are going to hopefully start doing some sessions, all of which will deal with the same thing – my lack of will power. That same bit of me that refuses to stop biting my nails/fingers even when I know I could, which doesn’t eat healthily just because it can’t be bothered, and which makes it so hard to get off the sofa and exercise. You never know, soon enough I may be toned and fit, with clear skin and beautiful undamaged girly nails!
Wish me luck!
Dress: Slip from a Lypsy dress
Jumper: Vintage
Xmas style socks: Vintage
Waistcoat: Warehouse
Simple Exhaustion November 10, 2010
Posted by Lauren Cooke in Depression, Life, Chatter & Politics.Tags: exhaustion, hugs, Love
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Well. I am in a funny mood tonight. I have spent the afternoon in a barely controlled state of hysteria following a very long and very tiring meeting down in the delightful area of Croydon. Having finally got back (and having a grand 10 minutes in the office), I then proceeded straight to the downer following the huge Red Bull I swigged in the car on the way home.
Now I am feeling kind of funny. Just a bit simple and empty and tired, and in need of a good hug, a bar of chocolate, and someone to look after me a little.
How strange. How odd that these moods over come me, and that all of a sudden I will need a hug. And I don’t really have anyone to hug me at times like this, and that can be really hard. How strange!
I’d better be chirpier tomorrow!
