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!

South to East

South to East

This weekend was for adventures and exploration.

I left my south London cave and made the journey east to spend the day with Sheldo, sashaying around wearing the trench coat and tote bag of dreams. Work is busy... GREAT, but busy, with that in mind I wanted this weekend to involve a smaller quantity of booze than prior and a larger quantity of fresh air. I met Laura in Shoreditch, hotdog in hand, ready to head to our first destination - Anorak Magazines 'Drawing Imaginarium'.... It wasn't exactly what we were expecting... there were a lot less activities and a lot more children. In true trooper style, we gave the event a solid 30 minutes before giving up and heading to the Whitechapel Gallery. The main exhibit "Parallel I-VI" by Harun Faroki was super interesting, the space was made up of a variety of screens leading you through the evolution of gaming, it's actually amazing to witness technology growing at the speed it is. I still think I prefer the games that actually look like games, super obvious pixels and such... but alas, Assassin's Creed it is.

Although the pictures look pretty sunny, Saturday was freezing so we decided to base the rest of the days itinerary based on where the pockets of sun led us... we arrived at St Katherine's Dock and explored every small alley along the way. We found an open door to the Thames, a dolphin fountain, a peace garden where all faiths can congregate and be at peace, Morris Dancers, a building that looked like a remnant from War of the Worlds and a really good pub.

Overall, it was the perfect London day - oh hey Monday, I'm ready for you!

Laura Sheldo has a new collection of T-shirts, prints and totes out today - go, go, go! I 100% need this tote bag in a T-shirt!

Trench - Marks & Spencer, Top & Pants - Topshop, Tote Bag - Laura Sheldon

Walking With Dinos

Walking With Dinos

Oh Sundays, glorious Sundays - I wish there were so many more of you in the week.

This particular Sunday was spent dino spotting in Crystal Palace... yes, you heard that entirely correct - dinosaur spotting. Crystal Palace is a wondrous place - it has foregone the usual route of chained restaurants and big superstores - they have instead embraced independence. I would take a quirky coffee establishment over a Starbucks any day, big bravo CP.

The Palace has a pretty fun history, apparently when the park first opened in 1852, a full dinner party for 12 people was held inside the 'Igaunodon'... oh to be alive in a time in 1852 to feast amongst the extinct. We did manage to blow some bubbles, drink some cider and eat a few snacks whilst viewing the creatures, same?

This also happened to be a typical England Sunday - flipping between extreme heat, icy wind and rain, which is where 'the flasher' comes in extremely handy. I have begun to live in this coat (I am sure you must have noticed its overwhelming presence by now...) and I am happy in my new habitat, it appears to just 'go' with everything and makes me feel a bit like Batman in the wind - all things I am pretty happy with.

Go to CP and report back? Until next time...

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 :)

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