Brighton: A Day of Running and Cheering (Mainly Cheering...)

Brighton: A Day of Running and Cheering (Mainly Cheering...)

One of my best pals lives in Brighton (oh hey Simon *waves*), so it doesn't take much for me to jump a train to the beach. This time, I was going with a purpose - head cheerleader. Simon was running the marathon for the second year on the trot and wanted to beat his personal best.... challenge accepted - I grabbed my pal Milla, warmed up my vocal cords (and northern accent, cheerleading switched me into full northern mode 'go on love, you can do it') and went to shout words of encouragement very loudly.

I suppose pom poms would have been more appropriate attire, but I went with pink velvet boots - let my feet take part in the action, you know? I loved the whole day, marathons bring out the best in humanity. Everyone standing on the sidelines was cheering (genuinely) for every single person that had made it to the last mile and you could see it in the runners face that it made every bit of difference. We saw one guy who looked completely ruined but the determination to finish was driving him on, we all started chanting his name and it was like he had been re-fuelled! He started running again like a complete badass.

Simon conquered the marathon and managed to beat his personal best (we obvs made it happen), we ate a lot of chips and I managed to locate the coat of dreams in the Brighton Marks & Spencer. The day was a good'un.

Top - & Other Stories, Jacket - Missguided, Pants - Topshop, Boots - ASOS, Earrings - Toujours Toi Family Affairs, Ring - Made be ME!

Filming, The Aftermath | Hearts & Glitter

Filming, The Aftermath | Hearts & Glitter

If you have seen the latest video to go up on my YouTube channel (if not, please oogle here – Ashley’s YouTube space) you may be wondering on how I managed to pop balloons full of glitter / confetti without making a mess...

Well my friends, I made a mess, but at least it was a big glittery mess – the type of mess that makes rubbish and outdoor spaces look fancier. I think it is an improvement to our garden if I’m honest, luckily my housemates share the same opinion.

My video is entitled ‘what happens when you break up?'. I decided that popping (bursting the bubble, if you will) heart balloons full of glitter and shiny things would be a great way to signify the end of a relationship. I also had the idea of making the balloon gather all of it's contents and sealing itself up again at the end, signifying a more mended, post-break up you, ready to take on the big bad world (aka, Tinder). 

I hope you enjoyed the video and I hope you enjoy seeing the beautiful mess :)

The Lily Allen Effect

The Lily Allen Effect

Sometimes you need to channel Lily Allen, this day happened to be one of those days.

This particular evening, I was making the trip to Surrey for dinner and drinks. I decided to get dressed up for no reason whatsoever, sometimes no reason, is the absolute best reason. I have been on the hunt for a pair of trainers for a while and couldn't quite bring myself to cave and get the Nike Free Runs, instead I decided on a pair of Adidas Sambas (mens - the women's selection just didn't cut the mustard..). The whole outfit selection, including a hipster half bun, felt very 2006 and I loved it.

The night consisted of steak, great company, good music and cider tasting (a bit like wine tasting but if you spit the cider out, people pelt you with apples - don't waste cider kids...). I know it's August so it is actually meant to be warm, but I am still amazed when I can sit outside at 11pm sans a coat / blanket / duvet. The only thing making me want to relocate indoors was the apple tree, that kept dropping apples uncomfortably close to my head - I survived, but only because I was supporting apple kind with my choice of booze...

Until next time :)

Dress - HM, Trainers - Adidas

Making Hangovers More Fun

Making Hangovers More Fun

Hangovers are not fun, fact.

On a hangover day, I retreat into a cave of darkness, eat KFC, watch Netflix and just write the day off as a bad one. Last week, I decided to buck that trend, leave the house and actually enter society. If you are going to join me and be one of the 'brave one's' who leaves the confines of the bed then there are four things you absolutely need to do:

1. Shower, that booze scent is probably going to follow you around for most of the day but any attempt at masking that is definitely the way to go.
2. Put on a fancy outfit, including shoes that will brighten most peoples days (sunglasses are also a must).
3. Hair of the dog, always. 
4. Take a pal on the journey with you.

I had a few reasons that taking a 'write off' day wasn't going to work, for one it was sunny, but more importantly, I was absolutely desperate to take my new shoes out for a walk. Me and Milla entered the outside world, nursed and beer and then went for a jaunt around our local park. Anywhere you can walk into and you feel like you are wandering into some type of magical land covered with wild flowers is a good idea any day.

This was also the day I found my dream winter coat in the newly refurbished 'Jim Dandy' vintage shop in Camberwell, you will see her just as soon as I can wear her without collapsing into a pool of sweat. Fate it appears, came a'calling.

I felt better, Milla felt better and the shoes were welcomed into my life.

Top & Pants - Topshop, Shows - ASOS, Sunnies - Vintage, Bag - TK Maxx

Love Lambeth Country Show

Dress - Topshop, Sandals - Dune, Sunnies - Vintage

Love Lambeth Country Show

The Lambeth Country Show is becoming an annual tradition for me, it is the highlight of the South London summer calendar (yes, even including you Brixton Splash). For the past three years, as soon as that LCS weekend hit, I have donned a fancy outfit and marched myself straight to Brockwell Park and then, almost immediately to the Chucklehead Cider stand.

This year, the outfit choice was this seventies vibing, shirt dress of dreams. This dress was the dress that you buy despite it possibly wiping out your finances for the rest of the month, just because you can't live without it - having the dress counteracts the hardship... not a massively healthy view on clothing items as saviours of the modern day, but anywhoo...

I'm not sure I have ever explained my love of dogs to you, if I haven't, I have probably saved you a good few hours worth of gushing. Just so you don't feel left out, I will touch on the subject now. I ADORE dogs, I want my own as soon as I am a capable enough person to look after something other than myself. LCS always gives me the perfect opportunity to indulge from afar as dog spotting is rife. I'm not usually a Chihuahua fan, but we were ransacked by three of the lads and were fully won over.

Usually, I make time to take in the all the sights and sounds the show has to offer, including big veg, camel racing, delicious food, haystacks... (you know the country show drill) but this year, it was about cider, dogs and good company. I was fully content sitting, having a little tipple, talking and swaying to the wonderful music that is always hanging in the air.

Safe to say my head feel rather flat the following day, but as always - completely worth it. Until next year my friend.

My First Event

My First Event

So, this was my first event (not in life terms, that's always eventful) at work and it went bloody WELL.

Our company were participating in the London Festival of Architecture and I wanted to do something slightly different, something creative and fun, which led to the first ever 'Great Architectural Bake Off'. We had eight design firms and three prominent judges descend upon our office to create / judge iconic London buildings out of cake, as you can see by the images - the teams went all out!

Bricks and mortar were switched artfully with Battenburg and icing. The teams arrived with van (actual vans, no exaggeration!) loads of supplies, team aprons, pre-baked cake bases, blow torches and Dremel drills!!

I enjoyed the whole thing, from the spark that started the idea, to pitching the idea, getting people interested, designing collateral, creating hype, emailing, organising, planning, blogging, photographing, managing, wheeling and dealing, eating and to top it all off drinking and celebrating.

Masterpieces were created, fun was had and we have created an annual event!! You can see more about the event and the champions here.http://www.watg.com/index.cfm/view/blog

Top & Trousers - Topshop, Smug look - models own...

So, I have awesome friends who gave up a day to help me! Laura & Milla!