SEASIDE DAYS

Zara Pleated Trousers | Topshop Leather Jacket | Asos Handmade Sunglasses

 

On Sunday Josh and I went on a good ol' seaside day out. As we both work so much we don't often get to have days out, and he was working on my Birthday. So this was my little treat. He took me rowing just like in the Notebook (minus the heavy petting), we looked round a vintage shop and then we went to the sea front for fish and chips out of a bag. I have not felt so English in a long time... except every time I cried at someone singing the national anthem/winning a medal in the Olympics like 2 weeks ago.

So these photos aren't very fashion & definitely are not chic, but it's nice to share with you what I'm up to. Murky water & all.

 

I had a bit of a Zara splurge recently and ordered quite a bit online, and for this first time in ages I loved everything and didn't send anything back. These cropped pleated trousers are one of them. Josh hates them, but what do boys know anyway. My best friend liked them and she knows her shit. Apart from the look of them, they're so god damn comfy. You don't get any of that wedgy business when you wear skinny jeans. I felt as free as a bird! They also do them in pink which I am absolutely going to invest in.

 

I'm dying to show you the rest of my Zara purchases, but I think it will have to wait for a couple of weeks. I have a super super exciting project coming up with my illustration business. I won't say to much now, but I'm actually pinching myself and cannot wait to let the cat out the bag when it's all finished. Needless to say, the next couple of weeks I'm literally not going to have a minute spare. Probably not even a second. I'm trying to smile through the stress at the moment and live by the old "dreams don't work unless you do" mantra. I feel like I literally need about 3 clones (minimum) of myself to get everything done that I need to do. Who needs sunlight and sleep anyway hey?

 

x 

BEING 27

 

On Thursday it was my 27th birthday. The day I went from being mid twenties to late twenties. I had a little freak out about it the month leading up to it, but then I had a good think about it and was actually pretty ok with it.

 

Granted, I'm 100% not where I thought I'd be at this age. In my teens I had a really strict schedule for myself that I was sure I would stick to. I was going to finish school with good grades, go to uni, get a good job, be married at 21, have my first child at 24 and the other at 26. A boy and a girl obviously. That all seemed really sensible and realistic to me, but now the thought that I would have already been married for 6 years and be responsible for a 3 year old makes me want to shed a little tear with laughter. I have really beaten myself up about all these age goals before, and what I should have been doing each time I hit a Birthday. It's only now I'm starting to cut myself a bit of slack. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I wake up in a cold sweat at night freaking out about the fact I'm 3 years off 30 and do not have my shit together, but who really does?

More than anything, I've learnt not to give a fuck what other people tell me I should and shouldn't be doing. I'm not going to beat around the bush and pretend I'm a cool cucumber mind you, I'm super worried about peoples opinions of me... but much less so now. Especially since I got engaged. People around you, some who are supposed to love you, are really quick to get their two pence in. I've become really used to the miffed look you get when you say you have no plans to set a date. One time, after grabbing at my hand to see my ring, someone (whose never touched me before) asked me how old I was. I said 26 and explained I'd be waiting a few years to get married... "but you don't want to be an old Bride!" she said with a horrified look on her face. I was speechless and equally as horrified. Looking back I wish I would have said "actually, yes I do... I want to be an old Bride who has brought a nice home, worked hard on my career and knows what the hell I'm doing". Jennifer Aniston (my mega idol) wrote a big piece recently about the constant questioning she gets about not being married and having children at the age of 47, and why should those things have to define her happiness. It was literally spot on. I felt like raising my hands to the sky and letting out a big "HALLELUJAH." Give it a cheeky Google if you haven't already read it.

Saying all this, another thing I have learnt is that for all the people who like to have an opinion about what I should be doing, there's the friends who support me regardless. The handful that you can let you guard down to, admit you don't have a clue what you're doing and they will nod knowingly and tell you it's ok. Hold on to these ones.

 

So in my next year on good ol' planet Earth, I am absolutely not going to beat myself up. I'm not going to listen to people who want to tell me what to do, I'm going to wing it and only listen the opinions of people who want to support me in doing what's right for me.

I am still alive, I have my own growing business and I can make a lasagne sauce. I think I'm doing ok.

 

 

x

DATE NIGHT (BIRTHDAY EDITION)

 

 

 H&M Trumpet Sleeve Blouse | Asos Farleigh Jeans | Zara Bucket Bag | Asos Tipped Belt | Mango Sandals

 

 

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!

 

Last night Josh and I went to our favourite sushi restaurant in Cambridge (which may I add, is closing down on Sunday... devo'd). This is what I wore and It's my favourite outfit I've worn in a while actually. Probably because, dare I say it, it's more Autumny than what I've been wearing lately. Although I love Summer, I feel like a lose all my identity and don't have a clue what to wear. So it's nice to pop on a pair of jeans rather than shorts and a top with some sort of sleeve. I got this blouse yesterday while having a little mooch round the high street. As soon as I saw those flared, pleated sleeves hanging amongst some basics on a rail in H&M, I was in love. I did that thing where no one was around my but I frantically grabbed at them looking for a size 10, like a mob of people were going to sneak up behind me and snatch them from me. It didn't happen. I safely and quickly found a 10 and all was well.

 

I'm obsessed with anything with a fluted sleeve at the moment, and I've always been partial to a high neck. It makes me feel like a Victorian, in a good way. I'm not a very elegant person and I feel like Victorians would have been. So I can channel my inner Queen.

 

I'm off out for a spot of coffee and cake now, I'm also wearing a huge badge like a massive child, I shall not be taking it off until tomorrow morning.

Living the dream

 

x

HOLIDAYS & BEING A BAD BLOGGER

 

So I've just got back from my holiday today, I'm scrolling through my camera... & thinking shit, I have literally got no photos! I am the worst blogger ever.

I think to be completely honest, I needed this break SO much, that I didn't want to be snapping my outfits (also I didn't wear any make up for 90% of the week & no one wants to see that). I have been so super busy working the whole year, that I just didn't want to consider what I was wearing. I think I'm allowed that 1 week out of 52, right? I wore the same Zara jumpsuit for about 4 days and if I wasn't wearing that it was my old battered Levis or a bikini. I just needed a break. Also, I didn't have my boyfriend with me, and God bless her soul my Mums not too nifty with a camera.

So I do apologise, I feel really bad that now I'm back and in work mode already (ive been back 2 hours and am working!) I dont really have anything to blog about. But here's some nice scenery & a Grazia mag.


Sorry not sorry.

x

HELEN HIRD ILLUSTRATIONS

 

Lipstick Illustration  | Chanel Perfume Illustration | Burberry Illustration  | Chanel Illustration  | Giambattista Valli Illustration | Happy Birthday Card  | Precious Greetings Card | Girl Gand Greetings Card

I cannot tell you how happy I am to be writing this post. For the last year I have been working my little butt off for my one woman business. If I'm not at work work (my retail job) I'm working at home. I could probably count my proper full days off on one hand. So It's so rewarding to finally have my website complete with shop! I am completely technology illiterate, I can just about run my blog, but any website building is far beyond my capabilities. Luckily, I have a friend who is in the website business... he has his own business in fact. So he has helped me every single step of the way, been at the end of the phone when I've done something wrong and am having a melt down, and very patiently gone through every little step with me while I've scribbled various illegible notes down. Also, I don't think he's done all this because we're friends. I think he would do it for any of his clients, and it's just the really personal way he wants to run his business. So if any of you are thinking of getting your own website, or even need help with your blog then give him a shout. You can find him at Pud Design.

 

I thought id share with you a few prints and cards that I have up on in my brand new shop. I've branched out a little bit from just fashion illustration and have dabbled in beauty and accessories, and I'm really pleased with the outcome in the form of my perfume bottle & lipstick prints. They've been really popular so I think I will be giving more of this sort of thing a go. Nail varnish is next on the agenda. Plus I really enjoy it! I'm also going to try not to restock things once the batch is sold. I want to keep it really fresh and kind of exclusive. Limited edition if you will! So hopefully I will be updating the shop with new bits and bobs quite regularly.

 

It's also worth mentioning that Bridal and wedding pieces are still my thang. Although obviously I don't do prints of these... who wants someone random in a wedding dress on their wall. It's all about the personalisation with these pieces. After all, its the most important day of your life in the prettiest dress you will ever wear. They're super popular for gifts as well. So if you're looking for a unique, personal gift for your Bridesmaid, Best friend, husband, wife, whoever it happens to be, then you can drop me a message via my contact page and i'll be sure to get back to you with all the deets!

 

I have worked, and continue to work really hard for myself, and I'm not ashamed to say how proud I am of me. I have never studied business, I am useless with technology and I'm not the brightest tool in the box, but I'm giving it my best shot. So I'm going to take great pleasure in clicking the publish button on this post and sharing my blood, sweat and tears with you all.

 

 

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