Wrapping Up For Winter

I did mention a certain new coat a little while back, and I'm so pleased with it, I thought I'd dedicate a post to it.

The search for a new coat after my trusty H&M Mac finally gave up the ghost last year, has been a long one and a frustrating one. Over the summer I discovered ther joy that is eBay in particular people selling Burberry coats on eBay. I really really want one, but even the eBay prices of the ones I like are a bit out of my league. So it is that H&M have come to my rescue once more.

I was only poking about on the H&M website because they sent me a 20% discount e-mail, having already looked in various branches I wasn't really holding out much hope. But it was pretty much an instant decision. I love the length- just above the knee, it pulls in really nicely at the waist but the skirt of it isn't too flared so it doesn't look too fancy dress, and it's a wool mix which means I can wear it for day to day but it also works for smarter occasions.

And all of that for £49.95! Well actually I only paid just under £40 with my discount, so I was even more pleased. Who doesn't love a bargain?

I was also pleased to find the 63% Wool content of my new best friend is recycled wool. Now I'm not actually that clued up on ethical/green/fair trade fashion, and it's something that I know I really should pay more attention to, but what I like most about the recycled fabric content was the idea of ethics, fair trade and recycling finally making it to the main stream high street. H&M are showing it's possible to make a move towards being environmentally friendly in large scale production and without compromising style.

 The only thing I'm not sure on is the buttons. I'm not sure I like the gold ones, and may have to have a hunt for some less obvious ones whilst at home over the Christmas Break. Any thoughts on what might look better, or do you disagree and think I should leave the gold ones as they are?

The buttons in question

Fortunately for me we have no snow here (well, not yet anyway), it is still horribly cold and I'm very glad of my new coat having just returned from days lectures, in the dark, on the ice and with a bag full of translation dossiers, text books and possibly a sneaky carton of my favourite smoothie.

Here's hoping keeping warm is as much enjoyable for you as it is for me.

Pretty As A Picture

I am the first to admit, my photography skills are non-existent. It's one of the reasons it took me so long to start posting photos as part of the blog. However, someone I know (a photographer) recently started an "Unofficial Photography Club" on Facebook. The idea is blissfully simple. All the members of the group take it in turns to pick a theme/subject each week, and we each post five photos we've taken.


When I saw the group flash up on my News Feed I simply thought it was just a clever idea for more than a few people I know who are keen photographers, then I got to thinking (dangerous I know) what better way for me to have a play with my camera and try and improve on my own photography, and truth be told a welcome break from French translation.

So hear goes, a couple of the five photos I took for the theme of "Household Items".

So there we go. My trusty desk lamp. I really enjoyed having a play with the settings on my camera- which by the way is a very basic 4 year old Samsung S1030. I have no idea what the letters and numbers mean, or what the techie acronyms mean though.

Anybody else interested in photography or improving their pictures but too scared of the proper photographers to give it a go? I decided to set up a photography blog to keep track of my pictures and my progress so introducing Pretty As A Picture...

Geek Chic

Like lots of bloggers I know, I'm a student and I'm also in my final year. My degree is French, German and Spanish (hence I spent so much time abroad) and it's also fairly unique because it's a triple major, unfortunately it means my workload is pretty horrific just at the moment, my observations have been limited to uses of the literary tenses in French, target audiences for German translation and some particularly nasty paraphrasing in Spanish. I know you're all horribly envious of me right now, aren't you?! So that said, I thought I'd try and inject a bit of my fashion passion into my study regimen.

My chic accessories this week have for the most part been:

The Laptop- Like many, I don't think I could live without it. I know lots of language students who have specialist software packages or digital dictionaries, but I'm quite boring, so long as I can SpellCheck in French, German, Spanish and English, I'm happy.

The other bonus is that the laptop is a very funky blue colour. It didn't really show on the pictures of it before I bought it, so it was a little surprise when it arrived. It's the little things right?!

Cupcake Mugs- These were a Tesco find.

I like a good cup of coffee, and I'm also a fan of Lemon and Ginger tea from Twinnings. These mugs almost always make me smile, because if you can't have real cake, there has to be something.

The Books- Possibly the least stylish things (but at the moment most used) I own. Well I did say Geek Chic...

So there you go, my geeky week. And now... onwards. There's German Grammar calling my name.

The London Life

To quote my grandmother "You need a bit of London in your life, don't you."

Last week was reading week for me, much needed as it would appear the final year of my three language degree is pretty tough. Like most of my department, I spent most of the week prior  wandering around in a haze of paraphrasing, translation and manic revision and reading. It'll be worth it in the end, or at least that's what I keep telling myself!

As well as a week away from halls and scary sized dictionaries, I also managed to squeeze in a long weekend with a certain guy who shares my love of the big smoke. And another of our mutual loves, one of the many joys of  London, is people watching. For me there's nothing better than taking in the busy streets with the biggest cup of coffee I can find.

I find the difference in style and trends between London and the North really fascinating. Whilst some of my favourite bloggers are based in the North and could never be called anything less adventurous and gorgeous, I find Londoners generally a bit bolder and more trend conscious. I admire the girls who dare to wear the leather dress I saw in River Island but couldn't face trying on never mind buying, and the ones who would probably never dream of buying something as simple as my new (but very lovely, might I add) jacket.

 

Tuxedo Style Jacket from H&M with pale pink lining and lapels



Jacket, H&M £34.99

The jacket was a little purchase to go over a dress I wore on Saturday night, as we went to the Ministy of Sound. I've never been huge into the club scene, but I love a good night out and I happen to have a connection who can get me onto the guest list. Would have been silly not to!

Now it's back to the grindstone. The joys of my final year workload are still firmly refusing to go away, so am contenting myself with lots of layers, bucket loads of coffee and a childhood favourite of mine- SESAME SNAPS!



The only things missing from this picture are a bucket of coffee, Sesame Snaps and Spartan Apples


So if my continuing assessments and workload are anything to go by, no dear Grandmother I don't need a little bit of London in my life, I need a whole lot more than I had time for.