Loveaudrey

Loveaudrey Gets Married ~ The Wedding Planner: Lucky Sixpence Events

2012-02-10T09:28:00.000-08:00

Jenna and I in the photobooth on my wedding day

For the most part, organising our wedding was heaps of fun.

I thoroughly enjoyed the hours of essential research that allowed me to immerse myself in the online world of weddings. What a world it is! It overflows with, with... well, prettiness. I'm having a hard time tearing myself a way from it now the wedding is over, that's for sure!

Then of course there were the girly shopping trips. Who could fail to appreciate a champagne lunch at the Designer Wedding Show or time spent in the Westfield branch of Jimmy Choo? All heavenly.

Upon reflection, even the dreaded wedding DIY was enjoyable in its own way. Sure, it's monotonous {and perhaps a little soul destroying}, but for just over a year I had this amazing creative outlet open to me, as well as the perfect excuse to peruse Hobbycraft to my heart's content.

However, eventually reality hit. Beyond the daydreams of twinkling fairy lights and jam jars filled with wildflowers, lies a very different realm of wedding planning. There are guest lists to compile, RSVPs to keep track of, contracts to sign, budgets to manage, suppliers to keep tabs on, venues to liaise with, timings to think about and logistics to oversee.

Suddenly, you're throwing the biggest party of your life and none of it can be left to chance. It's the part of wedding planning that isn't pretty, no matter which way you look at the countless excel spreadsheets required to survive it.

It's not just the Wedmin either. As I curated a multitude of Pinterest boards that reflected the details we wanted to include, and even as my stash of wedding paraphernalia grew at an alarming rate, I never once gave a thought as to how all this 'stuff'' was going to be transformed into something worth revealing to our guests.

If these notions were far from my mind in the early days of planning, then the thought of hiring someone to help me with these aspects of the wedding was even further. Totally absent in fact.

A chance meeting last summer changed all that. I met Jenna from Lucky Sixpence Events at the fabulous Love My Dress Soiree and, although I don't remember much of our first dalliance with conversation thanks to the free flowing mojitos, it didn't take long for us to bond via twitter over out mutual love of tea and porridge. Now, a shared interest in breakfast goods may not be the most appropriate foundation upon which to base the selection of a wedding supplier but, in this instance, it served me very well indeed.

At the risk of flirting with hyperbole, Jenna made our wedding what it was. She was central to the smooth running of the day and the key to keeping my sanity in tact during the final weeks of planning. There's just something about her manner, the way she writes an email, that is so soothing, so calming. She sent spreadsheets I could never have compiled myself. She contacted suppliers on our behalf and organised them efficiently. Everyone knew when and where they needed to be, not because of me but because of Jenna. She liaised with the venue and, unlike myself, took last minute changes to the guest list in her stride. In many ways, the term 'on the day coordination' just doesn't cut it, she did so much more.

Of course, there was this too...

Sure, I decorated the jam jars, picked out the candles, stamped all the luggage tags and baked the cakes, but Jenna made it happen, turned the image in my head into a reality. And she did it with such attention to detail, such style.

We could have managed without her.

Maybe. At a push.

The week leading up to the wedding would have been hell, fielding emails and phone calls on top of everything else. We'd have had to spend hours at the venue the night before setting up too, instead of sitting down to a huge family meal at our hotel, catching up with friends that had travelled miles to be there, watching our children run amok in the dining room and celebrating Mr. LA's birthday with cake and candles.

That's what I learnt from the experience of hiring a wedding planner. Their involvement in your day is not the indulgence. Instead, it's the freedom their presence gives you, the freedom to enjoy every second of what the day is really all about. Friends, family, love, community, a coming together... whatever you want to call it. That's what Jenna gave us.

Brides-to-be, have you thought about the darker side of wedding planning? Anyone booked a wedding planner to help with all, or part, of the process?

Loveaudrey xxx

I've written and re-written this post numerous times before publishing, for fear it sounds a little too much like a poorly written piece of PR. Truth is, Jenna is an amazing woman running a wedding planning and events company that deserves a lot of love. If my humble blog can act as a platform for promoting a small, independent, female run business, even just a teeny tiny bit, then so be it. She didn't ask me to say any of what I've written here, it's just how I feel.

Photography copyright (c) 2012 Eliza Claire

Leave Your Hat On ~ My Hello Strumpet Headwear

2012-02-06T13:12:00.000-08:00

'A hat is a flag, a shield, a bit of armour, and the badge of femininity. A hat is the difference between wearing clothes and wearing a costume; it's the difference between being dressed and being dressed up; it's the difference between looking adequate and looking your best. A hat is to be stylish in, to glow under, to flirt beneath, to make all others seem jealous over, and to make all men feel masculine about. A piece of magic is a hat.' ~ Martha Sliter

I adore hats. I don't wear them nearly as often as I'd like. I think Mr. LA gave me a bit of a complex years ago when he pulled a series of unimpressed faces at me while I sampled an array of toppers in front of the mirror at my local branch of Accessorize. But hey, what does he know, right?!

As with all things sartorial in my life, my true passion is for hats with a generous nod to the past, particularly the 1930s through to the 1950s. I have long admired the millinery collections of some of my favourite vintage loving bloggers, Vixen Vintage and Tuppence Ha'penny to name but a few, all the while dreaming of amassing my own assortment of glamorous hats. The wedding, and more specifically my hunt for the perfect going away outfit, finally provided me with an opportunity to indulge my ultimate hat wearing whims.

My prayers were answered by the delectable Kitty and Wanda of Hello Strumpet.

'Having had such fun with scissors as children, Kitty DuBois & Wanda Von Wink continue their love affair with all things lacy, frilly, tweedy and delicious. They long for the days when hat wearing was de rigueur and ladies made a real commitment to glamour on a daily basis. Bespoke cocktail hats for all occasions – weddings, bar mitzvahs, cruise liner launches or indeed, all day, everyday, using beautiful, lovingly sourced, vintage fabrics and trimmings or made to order incorporating your own chosen fabrics.'

Just after Christmas, a mere 3 weeks before the wedding, I approached the talented milliners about the possibility of them creating a bespoke cocktail hat to compliment the LK Bennett suit I had already purchased. A swift email exchange ensued and in no time at all I found myself the proud owner of this beauty...

Isn't she wonderful? *sigh*

After perusing the online gallery, I naturally went for the 'Audrey', which Kitty and Wanda made up in a beautiful pearly grey damask print fabric and some heavily textured silk dupion. The design was finished off with a stunning vintage mother of pearl buckle and lined in deep red silk.

I felt fabulous wearing this at the close of my wedding day. It definitely added something special to my going away outfit. Not going to lie, my husband didn't want me to take it off, if you know what I mean ;) He will actually kill me for typing that, I believe his Mother reads my blog! Moving swiftly on...

Hello Strumpet also have a divine wedding collection which would be perfect for any brides looking for something a little different. Can you imagine a gaggle of gorgeous bridesmaids in floral 50s style prom dresses and a pretty pillbox hat? Fabulous! I'm certainly looking for an excuse to order myself another millinery masterpiece. The craftsmanship is faultless, the service impeccable and the prices affordable. I highly recommend.

Are you a lover of hats? Tempted by Hello Strumpet?

Loveaudrey xxx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2012-02-06T03:18:00.000-08:00

Waking up in a bit of daze after the third night in a row of interrupted sleep. Jesse came down with a vicious tummy bug on Wednesday evening and life has been one long blur of vomit, dirty nappies and cuddles on the sofa ever since.
Eating an omelet for breakfast.
Sipping tea.
Taking a lengthy shower while Mr. LA comforted Jesse on the sofa.
Trying to give Izzy some much needed attention.
Indulging her daydreams about becoming a fashion designer by helping her seek out plenty of style inspiration. She flicked through my collection of Vogue magazines while I set up her very own pinterest board.
Admiring my daughter's good taste. She pinned plenty of Elie Saab and just a sprinkling of Dior.
Gazing through the window at the fine dusting of snow that settled outside.
Watching it disappear as the snowflakes turned to raindrops.
Worrying about Jesse.
Making carrot and coriander soup from scratch. It seemed like the only reasonable course of action on such a miserable day and with such a poorly child to feed.
Trying to make some headway with the mountain of washing created by my child's almost constant vomiting.
Watching Jesse eat some soup and bread.
Feeling deflated when the food came right back up again an hour or so later.
Panicking when the little man went very floppy and became scarily unresponsive.
Depositing Izzy with a neighbour before rushing up to A&E.
Battling my serious hospital phobia.
Feeling the anxiety rise up in my chest.
Hugging Jesse a little tighter.
Being rushed through triage and into resus.
Trying to keep the images of my Dad in hospital out of my head.
Loving Mr. LA just that little bit more as he leaned over and told me I was being very brave.
Feeling relieved as the doctors and nurses tended to Jesse. They quickly ruled out septicaemia and reassured us that his vitals were good.
Trying to persuade a sleepy toddler to drink.
Waiting a very long time for Jesse to be seen by a paediatric specialist.
Staring intently at my son as he slept.
Walking over to the children's ward in a bit of a daze just before midnight and with Jesse all bundled up in his blanket.
Kissing Mr. LA goodnight and wishing he didn't have to leave us there.
Trying to get some sleep.
Watching the nurse check Jesse's vitals by torchlight.
Climbing into bed with Jesse when he woke up.
Smiling as he sat up in bed and ate some toast.
Watching a lot of CBeebies and willing Jesse to feel better.
Hugging Mr. LA and Izzy when they arrived to keep us company.
Laughing at Izzy as she paraded round the room with an empty puke bowl on her head.
Dozing with Jesse.
Phoning my sister to say bon voyage. Last night she set off with her rucksack for the first stop on her epic journey round the world. I may not see her for 2 years. There were tears.
Crying {again} as the nurses took some of Jesse's blood for testing.
Wanting to throw my arms round the doctor and give him a massive hug when he told us Jesse was well enough to go home. He's still not 100% better but the sickness seems to have stopped and he's slowly regaining his strength.
Only realising how exhausted I was when we made it home. Must have been surviving on adrenalin.
Bathing the children, helping them into clean pyjamas and tucking them into freshly made beds.
Collapsing on the sofa with Mr. LA.
Savouring a glass of wine.
Eating a kebab! Not as scuzzy as it sounds... there's an amazing Turkish fast food place locally to us that delivers what can only be described as the best kebabs I've ever tasted. I had mine with plenty of garlic sauce. Yum.
Wishing I could order another weekend to recover from this one.
Climbing into bed and falling asleep very, very quickly.

Loveaudrey xxx

Loveaudrey Gets Married ~ 'I Have Put my Heart Near your Heart'

2012-01-30T08:25:00.000-08:00

I really wasn't looking forward to the ceremony. I'd even go so far as to say I was dreading it.

I know, I know... it's kind of the whole point. You pitch up, you say your 'I dos'. That's what makes it a wedding, no?

It's just, I was so nervous. I worried about tripping over, about fluffing my lines or, worse, saying the wrong name entirely, a la Ross from Friends. I just wanted to speed through that part of the day and get on with the serious business of celebrating with our guests.

So, when I awoke from a fairly inadequate night of slumber that frosty Saturday morning, my bridal gaze was firmly locked on the post-ceremony cocktails and canapes. When I discussed my nerves with anyone that would listen I kept repeating the same phrase, as if saying it enough times would speed up the whole process. 'I'll be fine once the ceremony is out of the way'.

The thing is, all of a sudden you're there, gazing into the eyes of your betrothed, and it hits you. The full weight of what you're doing.

And it's incredible.

Carl spoke his vows perfectly. I tried to absorb what was happening, that the person standing in front me was promising to love me forever. No matter what. My eyes filled with tears and I could feel a wave of emotion swelling in the back of my throat. My heart felt so, so... well, full, I guess.

Today I give myself to you.
I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you,
and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle.
I promise to love you in good times and in bad,
when life seems easy and when it seems hard,
when our love is simple, and when it is an effort.
I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard
These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life.

We didn't write our vows from scratch. We couldn't. Much respect to people that do. It was just too great a task. Even I, a lover of words, couldn't find the right ones.

Instead, in what can only be construed as a wholly unromantic act, they were lifted from a random website on the Internet. I tweaked them a little, but there's no getting away from the fact they came from a Google search rather than our hearts.

It's saying them out loud that makes them count though. Surely they don't become vows until then? Until we put them out there into the universe, in the presence of our children, family and friends, they were just words on a page. Regardless of where they came from, they were spoken from the heart.

I needed a moment to compose myself before I could begin. As I dabbed at my tears with a tissue I joked that going second was much more difficult. It was. I wanted to do the words justice. I wanted Carl to feel the full force of them, as I had as he said them to me.

I think I spoke clearly. I know my voice faltered as I said the words 'and when it is an effort'. I guess getting married after 8 years, and 2 children, gives me a little insight into what that line actually means. I remember concentrating on Carl's face just as purposefully as I was the words. It felt so powerful, all that emotion, contained only by the look we were giving each other, the gaze we were sharing. It was as if you could reach out and touch it.

All of a sudden we were kissing, and, for a brief moment, it felt like it was just the two of us in the room.

I pulled away from Carl and laughed as I saw my red lipstick smeared across his lips. I wiped it away as our guests clapped and cheered.

Loveaudrey xxx

PS. A few details I couldn't weave into the words above...

We had three readings. The first was A Lovely Love Story by Edward Monkton. I really do love shopping and my husband really can be distant and peculiar at times. This was followed by the lyrics from 'Tonight Tonight' by The Smashing Pumpkins. Our friend Gav Mac did an incredible job of speaking these words, I suspect the temptation to sing them was great. Finally, my Uncle read an extract from Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres.

Photography copyright (c) 2012 Eliza Claire {have I mentioned she's amazing?}

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2012-01-29T13:53:00.000-08:00

Grabbing some early morning cuddles with Jesse.
Staying in bed just a little bit longer while Mr. LA went downstairs with the children.
Drinking tea.
Making pancakes for breakfast.
Wearing one of my favourite dresses.
Heading into town for some last minute party supplies.
Treating Izzy to a new dress. The poor thing was devastated when we realised her bridesmaid dress hadn't fared too well at the wedding. I believe some rather adventurous dance moves may have been the caused of the damage. Anyway, a new frock was purchased and all was right with the world once more.
Cooking and eating carrot and coriander soup. The homemade stuff really is superior to shop bought, and nowhere near as labour intensive as you might think {the trick is to forgo any chopping of vegetables in favour of grating... genius}.
Spending the whole afternoon baking. I've developed a slight obsession with four layer cakes. I mean why bake two cakes when you can bake four, right? Izzy's 7th birthday party seemed the perfect excuse to create something very, very pink so I had a bash at an ombre effect too {inspiration here}. I feel a little more food colouring is required next time, but the birthday girl was suitably impressed when we cut into it.
Listening to Lana Del Rey on repeat.
Putting the children to bed.
Enjoying some wedding champagne and cooking dinner for my husband.
Wondering if the novelty of saying or typing the word 'husband' in relation to Mr. LA will ever wear off.
Cuddling up on the sofa in front of a couple of episodes of Breaking Bad. This is a new viewing addiction for us, bloody good TV.
Warming up with a huge bowl of porridge for breakfast.
Madly tidying the house in preparation for the party.
Loving Lush's limited edition A Million Kisses Lip Tint {as seen on my lips in the picture above}.
Helping Izzy into her dress and curling her hair.
Watching Izzy prance around in front of our bedroom mirror and wishing she might always feel as beautiful as she does now. I dread the inevitable self loathing of the teenage years.
Bracing myself.
Cursing the parents that arrived early with their offspring.
Watching 9 little girls dance round our front room to the sound of No Doubt circa. 1996. Our CD collection may be a little bit lacking in the Katy Perry/Lady Gaga/whatever rubbish the kids are listening to these days department, but it didn't seem to deter these tiny dancers.
Settling everyone on to the sofa with snuggly blankets and plenty of snacks before popping the DVD on.
Comforting the more timid children during the scary bits.
Giving up and letting the scaredy cats {!} play in another room.
Munching popcorn.
Feeling relieved when Mr. LA got back.
Cooking a lot of pizza.
Singing happy birthday and watching Izzy blow out her candles.
Wondering where the last 7 years have gone {even though it's not officially her birthday until Tuesday}.
Feeling even more relieved when the parents started to arrive.
Eating cake and clearing up.
Replacing our wedding cards with the first of Izzy's birthday cards.
Putting two very sleepy children to bed.
Ordering a cheeky takeaway.
Very much looking forward to climbing into our freshly made bed.

Loveaudrey xxx

Loveaudrey Gets Married ~ 'Music is Love in Search of a Word'

2012-01-27T08:55:00.000-08:00

I stood behind the closed doors of the ceremony room, my arm entwined with that of my step-father, and wondered if Izzy would be brave enough to walk down the aisle alone as we had planned. I tried to picture Carl waiting for me at the end. There was a quiet mumble of conversation around me and moments later we heard the music start up. I hoped our guests were smiling and listened closely for any ripples of laughter.

I'm at the cinema with my Dad, grasping my box of popcorn tightly. The auditorium is dark and we're bathed in the glow emanating from the enormous screen. My knee brushes against my Dad's as he reaches over and helps himself to a large handful of the obligatory cinema snack. I take a slurp from my huge cup of coca-cola, swishing the ice around with the straw.The familiar jingle starts up and Dad and I begin to bob around in our seats, perfectly in time with the music. 'Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Baba, Baba, Baba, Baba, Ba Ba Ba, Baba, Baba, Baba, Baaaaaa Ba'. We collapse into giggles.

There was a short pause before the next song started and the large doors were opened. Jesse darted through them quickly and careered down the aisle, blissfully unaware of the significance of the moment. Izzy made a start towards the door before thinking better of it and retreating in search of my sister's hand. They entered the room together, and my other two bridesmaids followed behind. They all looked so beautiful. My companion and I slowly edged closer to the doorway. I could see our guests, their cameras and phones poised in anticipation of my entrance. We walked towards them, too quickly at first. I saw Carl. He was smiling.

'Oh I LOVE that film' I said, nodding fiercely with agreement. 'Patricia Arquette isn't it? She's amazing as Alabama'. Every conversation I had with the good looking chef was charged with a certain energy. Not just deep attraction, but the overwhelming need to appear effortlessly cool and totally disinterested. Almost every movement I made was self-conscious and calculated, so great was my desire for him to like me. My mind wandered though, and I reached for the napkin sat atop the garish PVC tablecloth and begun doodling with a biro usually reserved for noting down orders while our conversation continued. 'You're so cool, you're so cool' I wrote absent mindedly as I repeated Alabama's famous line from the movie. Years later the chef would stand in front of the friends and family gathered at our wedding and tell them this was the moment he fell in love with me.

I was dreading the first dance. We'd practised something that could pass as a romantic shuffle in the kitchen at home, but the whole thing seemed far more daunting as we made our way to the centre of the vast ballroom. The lights had been dimmed but I could sense what felt like a thousand pairs of eyes fixed upon us. The music began slowly and quietly at first, but the gentle strumming of a single acoustic guitar was soon accompanied by the steady crescendo of the drums and bass. As we moved the rest of the room seemed to melt away until it was just the two of us drifting awkwardly around the dance floor. I forgot we were being watched. It felt perfect there in my husband's arms.

Carl's room was tiny. He paid less rent than any of his student housemates, and it wasn't difficult to see why. The narrow single bed was wedged between the wall and a pine wardrobe. The small square of carpet that was left exposed was usually buried under clothes and CDs which meant it was sometimes easier just to dive straight for the bed as you came through the door, rather than attempt to step carefully across the floor. There was a small window above the bed. I learnt out of it carefully as I lit my cigarette, using my free hand to protect the flame of my lighter from the cold breeze. It was 1, maybe 2 am, and Carl had gone back downstairs to carry on with his work. He preferred to work at night, felt more creative then or something. He'd left the CD playing for me and I listened to the Placebo cover of an old Pixies track as I stared out at the night sky. I wrapped the duvet round me for warmth and wished Carl would come back to bed and fall asleep with me.

Loveaudrey xxx

Photography Copyright (c) 2012 Eliza Claire

'Music is love in search of a word' ~ Sidney Lanier {1842-1881}, American musician and poet.

Loveaudrey Gets Married ~ The Cheap Dress

2012-01-25T23:44:00.000-08:00

It was a fairly miserable Saturday morning. London waslooking decidedly bleak, all doom-filled skies and depression. The murky cloudsspewed out that horrendous fine drizzle that looks like nothing up close butleaves you soaked through and bedraggled. We – my sister and mother and I –clambered off the tube and begun the ascent to ground level at Oxford Streetstation. It was early October. The pavement was heaving and the shops alreadybuzzing with the electricity of Christmas and all that comes with it.

I wasn’t looking formy wedding dress that day. At least not in an official capacity, anyway. Isuspect most brides-to-be keep one eye on ‘the dress situation’ from the momentthat precious ring is slipped on their finger. It’s just always there in the back of yourmind, whatever you happen to be shopping for. Either way, I certainly didn’t expect to find mine hanging in thewomen’s wear section of John Lewis a whole 18 months before my wedding day.

I think I had probably envisaged something a little more Sex and the City. You know, the dressmontage? From the movie? Carrie gets to model all those designer weddingdresses for Vogue and she looksfabulous in them all and her friends are there and they’re all sippingchampagne and then Samantha cries and they all know the Vivienne Westwood oneis THE ONE. Yea, just like that. All glamour and designer tags...

Instead, my mother picked up the coat hanger, draped thelong swathes of fabric over the crook of her arm and led the way to thechanging room. We even queued. My sister wedged herself into the tiny cubiclewith me and helped do up the zipper. Uh huh, it has a zipper... no pearlbuttons, no corset to cinch ... just a plain old zipper.

I had half expectedit to be too big. I’m a little on the scrawny side and sometimes high streetsizing refuses to co-operate with me. But as my sister stepped back and I spunround to look in the fluorescently lit mirror I could tell it was perfect. It had the slinky silhouette I’d pictured for myself, andthe delicate puddle train I’d imagined. There was lace and sparkle which Ihadn’t considered, but when faced with it in the reflection in the mirror itjust seemed right.

My sister approved and my Mum nodded encouragingly as Istepped out of the cubicle. There was no champagne, no tears, but a small crowdof sales assistants gathered at my end of the changing room and showered mewith compliments. A party of shoppers a little further up poked their headround the curtains of their changing rooms and told me I looked beautiful,stunning. I was aware I couldn’t stop smiling.

But this couldn’t be the dress, my dress, could it? I mean,it was just so, so ... cheap.

I doubt I’m alone in having had designer aspirations for mywedding day attire. And I’m sure my Mother isn’t the only Mother to tell theirdaughter to shop with her heart and not her head for this particular frockeither. ‘Look at the price tag last’ she had told me as I slipped on an expensive JennyPackham number a few weeks previously. What I realised was, the same rule applies if you findyourself shopping at the other end of the bridal market.

In that moment in thechanging room I felt fabulous. The price tag was irrelevant.

In an attempt to stop the whole thing feeling too impulsive, my Mother suggested we paused to eat lunch. As I devoured the reassuring bowl of pasta I couldn’t get theimage of the dress out of my mind; how I’d looked in it, how I’d felt, how I'd glided alongthe aisle of the changing rooms secretly humming ‘here comes the bride’ inmy head.

So, when we were through with lunch, I bought it. I took ithome on the tube in a John Lewis carrier, clutched to my chest as I sat in thecrowded carriage all the way back to south London.

And you know the best thing about buying a ‘cheap’ dress?There’s plenty of money left over for shoes.

Mine start with a ‘J’ and end with‘Choo’. And they cost more than the frock.

Carrie would be proud.

Loveaudrey xxx

'Eve' dress from Phase Eight {they no longer stock this style but the 'Elizabeth' is similar}, 'Lace' shoes by Jimmy Choo and head band by Magpie Vintage.

Loveaudrey Gets Married ~ Skip To The End

2012-01-25T08:36:00.000-08:00

'But I don't want to go, I don't want it to be over'.

I looked into my husband's eyes and wished we could stay frozen in the moment forever, that our wedding day could go on indefinitely, that our guests would keep dancing, that the party would never end. People around us were clapping and cheering. The best man replaced the microphone on the table having finished his announcement and we reluctantly headed towards the door of the ballroom. I waved energetically at the blurred faces of our friends and family and, knowing that the experience was fleeting, tried to burn the image of them smiling and cheering at us into my mind forever.

We walked through the bar and along the dimly lit corridor towards the exit of Heatherden Hall. A crowd slowly gathered behind us and followed us towards the weighty oak doors. We were stalled by something, I struggle to recall what now. Perhaps a key player was missing, a parent or a bridesmaid. I saw our photographer through the window, camera poised, ready to capture our departure. I remember thinking she must be cold.

They were ready for us, and we stepped out into the cold night air. I looked straight ahead of me, and then down at the red carpet beneath my feet, as we were pelted with hundreds of pressed flower petals. Everyone whooped and cheered and the homemade confetti whirled and twirled though the air. I shook it from my fringe and dusted it from my lips before throwing my arms round our parents to say thank you and goodbye. We posed for one final photo and Izzy hurled the last of her petals over us.

I hugged Eliza who was suddenly there at my side. 'Stay in touch,' she said, 'after the photos I mean'. 'I'm afraid you're stuck with me!' I joked, inwardly wondering if everyone wants to be best friends with their wedding photographer.

The driver opened the door and I slid into the car. Carl was beside me moments later and we waved at the crowd that had gathered to see us off, until their cheers and laughter could no longer be heard and we were too far away to be seen through the velvety darkness of the cold January night.

'I'm your wife' I whispered, holding Carl's hand in mine.

'I know. I'm your husband' he replied.

Back in the hotel room I slipped into the bathroom to undress. I removed my pale grey pencil skirt and folded it neatly on top of my suitcase, stowed there earlier that day to give my bridesmaids more room to get ready.

I had my back to the mirror as I unbuttoned the matching jacket. I slowly lifted my black top over my head, looking down at the tiled floor of the bathroom as I did so.

A sudden burst of confetti cascaded over my bare feet and the tiled floor was bathed in petals. Pale gold with tiny flecks of blue and purple and pink. I laughed out loud, pushing open the bathroom door as I did, and begun to tell my husband what had just happened.

Loveaudrey xxx

My 'Going Away' outfit ~ Suit {past season}, shoes and clutch from LK Bennett, black body {worn underneath} from net-a-porter, pearl bracelet {just seen} by Erin Cox, and a bespoke hat from Hello Strumpet. Overwhelming love, joy and happiness: Model's own ;)

Photography copyright (c) 2012 Eliza Claire She's a genius. Book her, book her NOW.

Loveaudrey Gets Married ~ Love My Dress

2012-01-25T00:24:00.000-08:00

Photography Copyright (c) 2012 Eliza Claire

Just a quick note for those of you waiting patiently to see photos of our big day. Annabel, the amazing woman behind my favourite wedding blog Love My Dress, has kindly featured our little wedding today. Go take a peek...

Loveaudrey xxx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2012-01-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

Graduation from loveaudrey on Vimeo.

Relying on the 2 human alarm clocks to wake us up.
Panicking when we surfaced at 8.40am and realised they hadn't.
Frantically trying to get ready.
Eating a breakfast of poached eggs with smoked salmon and hollandaise sauce.
Wearing my 'going away outfit' from the wedding.
Greeting my parents, sister and Grandmother as they arrived.
Collecting my robes.
Looking ridiculous. Does anyone actually manage to look stylish in a mortar board?
Hanging around the University reception, waiting for the ceremony to start.
Seeing old friends from my MA course and realising just how much I miss them.
Feeling a tiny bit jealous of those of them that have been brave enough to start a PhD already.
Heading into the Great Hall to take my seat.
Loving the pomp and circumstance.
Listening to Floella Benjamin {chancellor of the university} open the ceremony.
Feeling a touch nervous.
Edging ever closer to the stage.
Finally hearing my name and striding towards Floella who greets every student with open arms.
Hearing my family cheering from the audience.
Being told to change the world. Obviously, I fully intend to.
Asking Floella to wave at my daughter in the audience.
Posing for pictures. Lots of pictures.
Heading out of the hall and into the drizzle with my family.
Being greeted by a huge rainbow.
Sipping champagne and catching up with my fellow graduates.
Missing my Dad.
Craving academic life.
Having lunch at Strada.
Despairing at Jesse's behaviour.
Quipping that it was harder getting through the 45 minute meal with my two children than it was completing my MA with them. I was only joking though. Sort of.
Strolling home.
Drinking tea.
Trying to be brave when I said goodbye to my sister Nicola. She's off travelling in a couple of weeks and will be gone for at least 2 years. I think I'm in denial about it at the moment, but I know I'm going to miss her desperately.
Giving my little sis some good advice. Avoid the really weird men. Moderately weird ones on the other hand...
Feeling too lazy to cook.
Giving in very quickly when Mr LA suggested a takeaway.
Drinking champagne and watching 'True Romance'.
Getting very excited when Eliza sent us the link to our wedding photos.
Staying up far too late looking at our wedding photos.
Waking up with a serious case of too much champagne/not enough sleep.
Cooking an amazing breakfast {even if I do say so myself!}
Being very lazy for what felt like the first time in aaaaages.
Eventually getting dressed.
Meeting a dear friend at the cinema.
Munching popcorn and enjoying 'The Artist' very, very much.
Sipping tea and catching up.
Heading home to hang out with my husband.

Loveaudrey xxx

These are a few of my favourite things {2011} ~ Eyes/Lips/Cheeks

2012-01-19T01:27:00.000-08:00

I know, I know.. we're too far into 2012 to be talking about what I liked in 2011.

I also know you want the wedding, not me wittering on about lippy.

Humour me.

I did have this post pencilled in for the beginning of the month, but the small matter of getting hitched [and essentially throwing a massive party for over 100 people} somehow managed to get in the way of it going live. However, my love for these products is too great to let them pass by without mention. They deserve their moment in the spotlight.

You might think that for someone with a makeup collection as vast as mine, picking favourites would be a daunting task. Not so. These three items are like old friends to me now. Always there when I need them, reliable, easy to be around and guaranteed to make me feel good. I don't always wear them together, part of their attraction is that they go with so much. They've had to work hard for their place in my heart. At times, I've even entertained the idea I could survive with them alone... ditch the eyeshadow quads, get rid of the red lipsticks {gasp!}, perhaps even eBay the entire contents of my beauty box, just so I can be alone with these perfect products...

#1 Eyes ~ Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Illusoire

This would have to be my most worn eye-shadow of 2011, which is saying something considering it was only released in August. The appeal for me isn't just the amazing long lasting, crease resistant formula, or its ease of application, or even the fact that it looks so darn pretty. No, I love that it works just as well for daytime as it does for night. I don't get out much you see, at least not in the evening or to anywhere more exciting than the playground/library/toddler group. There's little call for elaborate, sultry eye makeup in my life, but that doesn't mean I don't crave a bit of sparkle. Therefore, an eye-shadow that provides the kind of shimmer I can get away with on the school run is worthy of holy grail status in my opinion. Illusoire resembles molten metal on the lid and looks stunning worn with my other favourite eye-shadow MAC Vex and a smudge of MAC Grey Utility Powerpoint Eye Pencil {pictured above}.

#2 Lips ~ Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Fetiche

A super hydrating, could put it on with my eyes closed, go with everything, my lips but better tube of perfection. I bought two, because I never want to be too far away from this lipstick. I love the colour and the way it lifts my complexion. The formulation is also divine. It's not long lasting {these juicy lipsticks never are} but it's the kind of product that's a joy to reapply, so you won't loose any sleep over it. I know I'll need to investigate this line of lipsticks more come the summer. The glossy finish, if I can find it in an eye-popping pink or coral, would lend itself perfectly to warmer weather.

#3 Cheeks ~ NARS blush in Sin

When I first purchased this blush I liked it. That's all. It wasn't love. It wasn't even lust. It looked pretty, and I reached for it whenever I was tempted to sport a purple toned lipstick or gloss. It took me almost a year to realise it's true potential extended far beyond the realms of MAC's Up The Amp lippy. Not only does this blush seemingly go with everything, it does wondrous things to my face.It may look like nothing more that a murky purple with subtle gold shimmer in the pan, but on the cheek it imparts an almost bruised flush that leaves me looking wide awake and infinitely more healthy and alive than I actually am. As with all NARS blushes I've tried it's incredibly pigmented and requires a light hand and lots of blending, but the fact it lasts all day, even on my oily skin, only makes me love it more.

Do you share my love for these makeup items? Could you narrow things down as much as I have and pick your favourite product for eyes, lips and cheeks?

Loveaudrey xxx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2012-01-16T13:16:00.000-08:00

Waking up alone in my hotel room at 5.30am.
Forcing myself to stay in bed until my alarm went off.
Making myself a cup of tea.
Informing all of twitter and facebook that it was wedding day. You know, just in case they had forgotten.
Taking a shower.
Sipping tea with my sister.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed while my hairdresser {and friend} Barbara set to work on my bridesmaids.
Feeling a little lost when I found myself with nothing to do.
Hugging Eliza Claire.
Opening a gift from my almost husband.
Curling Izzy's hair.
Gasping at how beautiful the bouquets were when my friend {and florist} Hayley delivered them all to my room.
Inwardly breathing a sigh of relief when Katy arrived to do my makeup.
Getting lost in all the comings and goings of the morning.
Wondering what Mr LA was doing.
Loving the sight of my Mum in her finery.
Feeling grateful to those who made me eat something.
Having my hair done.
Feeling more than a little star struck when a certain wedding blogger came gliding elegantly into my room.
Realising it was time to get into my dress.
Stealing a moment with two of my bridesmaids in the bathroom.
Stepping out into the hotel room, standing in front of the window as wintery sunlight streamed in and waiting patiently for my Mum to fasten my dress.
Wondering if it was all real.
Feeling more beautiful than I have ever felt in my life.
Admiring my bridesmaids as they readied themselves to leave for the venue.
Feeling very blessed to have such amazing women in my life and knowing that their love and support extends far beyond the realms of my wedding day.
Suddenly finding myself alone in my room with Izzy.
Being aware of how precious the moment was and wondering if she will remember it in years to come.
Taking a call from my Bonus Dad down in reception.
Slipping my coat on, taking Izzy's hand in mine and stepping out into the corridor.
Feeling like an old Hollywood movie star as I climed into the black Rolls Royce that would take us to the wedding venue.
Pulling into Pinewood Studios and arriving outside Heatherden Hall.
Being told to hang back as we were early. I'm always early. For everything.
Bursting into tears when the registrar asked me to spell my Dad's name.
Watching Jesse throw a tantrum on the floor.
Commenting that this is probably why people wait until AFTER they're married to have children.
Linking arms with my Bonus Dad and waiting for our cue.

To be continued...

Loveaudrey xxx

One Day

2012-01-12T22:37:00.000-08:00

I've tried to think of something profound and meaningful to write on this, the eve of our wedding, but my brain is so full of last minute details for the big day that I simply can't. So I'll share a quick story. Some of you will know it, some of you won't, but it's sort of the tale of how we got here, Carl and I, one day away from getting married...

8 years ago I went to a birthday party.

I agonised over my outfit choice beforehand, strutting in front of my sister in multiple ensembles and asking her how each one looked. I settled on a pair of dark grey trousers and a pale blue sweater, worn with a pretty pair of pale blue pumps with a huge black bow on them. I gave myself a generous spritz of Davidorff Cool Water before I left the house too.

I had a huge crush on the birthday boy. I was convinced he wasn't interested in me. Not like that anyway. We were friends, that's all.

I was wrong.

We kissed.

I spent the night. I can remember leaning out of his bedroom window for a post-coital cigarette as the sun came up over West London.

A few hours later, I got dressed, said an awkward goodbye, and did the walk of shame back home.

Tomorrow the only walk I'll be doing is the one that will take me down the aisle to marry him.

Happy Birthday Carl.

All my love,

Your almost wife

xXx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2012-01-08T13:33:00.000-08:00

Waking up far too early for a Saturday morning. I've not been sleeping well at all these past few days and, although everyone has assured me it's perfectly normal to feel a little anxious in the run up to your wedding {6 days to go!}, I'm a little fed up of feeling so sleepy and stressed.
Creeping downstairs to watch Breakfast at Tiffany's. The opening credits of my favourite movie have an instant calming effect on me, much like a stroll past the famous jewellery store does for Holly.
Sipping tea and waiting for the rest of the house to wake up.
Eating fried egg on a hot, buttery muffin.
Madly checking my wedding 'to do' list every five minutes.
Enjoying a long shower.
Heading into town in the sunshine.
Dropping Izzy at a birthday party and window shopping at the vintage clothing stores nearby.
Taking Jesse to Wagamamas for lunch.
Making some last minute wedding related purchases.
Listening to Izzy read Matilda aloud.
Feeling very relaxed during a facial and back massage. Just what I needed, and my skin is glowing today.
Cooking and eating tray baked salmon with green beans, olives, tomatoes and anchovies.
Baking the last of our wedding cupcakes. After a quick twitter poll, I decided on Red Velvet. I made a double batch so we'd have some to eat right away, but the rest of those crimson beauties were stacked neatly in the freezer with a tub of cream cheese frosting, ready to be thawed and iced the day before the wedding.
Going through the wedding play list with Mr. LA and feeling overwhelmed by the urge to dance.
Eating a cupcake and snuggling on the sofa.
Both giggling at the thought that this is our last weekend as girlfriend and boyfriend.
Sleeping soundly.
Lying in.
Wondering where my appetite has gone. It's not like me to skip a weekend breakfast at all. Another symptom of pre-wedding stress perhaps?
Wearing very little in the way of makeup.
Finally taking down the Christmas tree. Two days after twelfth night. What can I say? We like to live life on the edge.
Halfheartedly nibbling a slice of cheese on toast for lunch.
Smiling as I read messages and fielded phone calls from friends and family telling me how excited they are about next weekend.
Almost wishing I could stay in this moment forever. The anticipation is magical.
Taking the children to the park.
Loving the sound of their laughter.
Heading home for Sunday dinner.
Eating too much pie and mash.
Putting two tired children to bed.
Trying not to think about the fact it will all be over soon.
Very much looking forward to the week ahead.

Loveaudrey xxx

Hello 2012

2012-01-01T07:20:00.000-08:00

Mr LA and I saw in the New Year from the comfort of our sofa. We tucked the children safely in their warm beds, cooked some steaks, ate some steaks, drank some wine, watched a movie {Black Swan... *shiver* creepy stuff}, watched a little of Jools Holland, kissed at midnight and then went to bed. It was perfect.

Looking back...

Where to start with 2011? Have I achieved all that I set out to at the beginning of the year?

Well, I wrote a 20,000 word dissertation, finished my MA and was awarded a merit for my efforts.

We've planned our wedding. I've mailed invites, sorted the table plan, agonised over our outfits, decorated jam jars, wrapped favours and baked wedding cakes. Hard to believe it will all be over in 2 weeks.

The children have grown so much over the last year. Izzy will be 7 in a few short weeks and she reminds me so much of myself at that age. She rarely has her nose out of a book and is never happier than when she's writing some kind of elaborate story, usually to be read aloud by me. Jesse makes me giggle about a million times a day. He's permanently attached to his toy cars and often seems to drift off into an imaginary world filled with dinosaurs, tigers and bears.

Looking forward...

It's funny, today doesn't really feel like a new beginning. I can't really focus my mind on the things I hope to achieve this year and for the first time in forever I feel as if I don't have plan. No resolutions, no grand designs. I suspect this is down to the wedding. Perhaps waking up the morning after, on January 15th, will feel like the first day of our fresh start.

That said, I think I'd like to read more in 2012.

I definitely want to write more. And have people read what I write. And maybe have them like it too.

I hope to find my way to a career somehow. I'd settle for a job that lets me use my brain a little, even if it doesn't set my deepest passions alight.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Happy New Year! How did you welcome in 2012 and what are you hoping to achieve this year?

Loveaudrey xxx

These are a few of my favourite things {2011} ~ The Shoes

2011-12-28T12:47:00.000-08:00

Ahhh shoes... my ultimate weakness.

That said, it's been a year of rare investment purchases rather than one filled with stacks of shoe boxes. It was easy to pick my favourites, what I have bought has been fairly life changing footwear {and if you don't think shoes can be life changing, you need to read Cinderella}.

OK, perhaps a slight exaggeration, but I am talking about my wedding shoes and they are Jimmy Choos...

#1 'Lace' by Jimmy Choo

These beauties may not have seen the outside of my bedroom yet, but they've already managed to bring me an unbridled amount of joy. If I'm ever in need a of a little pick me up, when I'm faced with what Audrey would call a case of 'the mean reds', all I need do is peek inside that pale pink box, inhale the warm leathery smell it contains, and allow myself to drift off into a wedding daydream filled with sparkle and shimmer. I love these, and I always will. Much like the man I'll be marrying on their first real outing.

#2 'Sledge' by LK Bennett

These heels only came home with me earlier this week, but I feel they're more than worthy of a place in my best of 2011. I spied them months ago and decided to save HARD so I could eventually bring them home with me. Every time I was tempted to give up and blow my pennies on something else I'd stalk them online, or head in store to stroke the patent leather. The pewter pumps will provide the finishing touch to my going away outfit at the wedding, accompanying my fitted fifties style pale grey skirt suit and the gorgeous cocktail hat I've purchased from Hello Strumpet. The heel is high on these, but they're stupidly comfortable thanks to the slight platform, and they look just as good with skinny jeans as they do with more formal attire. I can't wait to slip them on! If you're tempted they can be found here.

#3 Pink Suede Peeptoes by Dune

I'm a sucker for peeptoes. I find strappy sandals more hassle than they're worth, so if I'm dressing up in warmer weather it's usually shoes like this that you'll find me in. These were definitely THE shoes of summer 2011 for me, and I'm already mentally building the evening portion of my honeymoon wardrobe around their pretty pink uppers. They're comfy, but sexy, and the perfect pop of colour for any summer ensemble.

So, tell me about your shoe lusts and loves for 2011. What footwear purchases do you have in mind for 2012?

Loveaudrey xxx

These are a few of my favourite things {2011} ~ The Clothes

2011-12-27T13:31:00.000-08:00

2011 hasn't really been a big year for me in terms of shopping.

Before you shoot me down for crimes against blogging, that's not entirely true. I have made an awful lot of wedding related purchases.

But pure, unadulterated retail therapy, where you just shop because... well, because you can, has been few and far between.

So picking out my favourite sartorial acquisitions for the year was relatively easy. In 2011 I have tended to favour rare investments rather than vast hauls from Primark or H&M, and what I have bought has been worn repeatedly, and in countless different ways. Here's my top three...

#1 The Little Blue Dress

Easily one of the biggest splurges of the year, I find it hard to describe how much I love this frock. From the moment I slipped it on in the changing room, I knew we would make many happy memories together. So far it's already had two outings this year, and I'm mentally wearing it to numerous events in 2012. I adore the fit and quality of Reiss clothing generally, and I feel the cut of this particular dress does great things for my figure. You may be interested to know it's currently in the sale here.

#2 The Kimono Top

Perhaps the hardest working item in my wardrobe this year, I have worn this top to death! For me, it works equally well for day as it does for evening and pairing it with a simple jersey top, skinny jeans and ballet pumps has become my fool proof no-brainer outfit for those mornings when I just can't be bothered to agonise over my choice of outfit. The light, billowy sleeves and draping fabric also give me the opportunity to waft, and we all need a little wafting at times, no? I'm determined to add more kimono tops to my wardrobe in the near future. Currently lusting after a couple in the Warehouse sale here and here.

#3 The Zara Blouse

As a mother to a particularly grubby 2 year old boy this top should ring plenty of alarm bells. A sheer cream blouse? Surely that's just a chocolate/baked bean/jam smearing accident waiting to happen? What can I say? I'm a risk taker. Besides, making it through the day grime-free in this top gives me a deep sense of achievement. I love the cropped sleeves and the ruffles and the fact it goes with everything.. skirts, jeans, heels, flats.. everything. Zara excels at multi-tasking items like this, which is why I'd love to counter the simplicity of this cream number with the busy print of this floral blouse.

So... what were your top three fashion purchases in 2011, and what are you hoping to get your hands on in 2012?

Loveaudrey xxx

My Christmas has mainly been spent...

2011-12-26T02:31:00.000-08:00

* Merry Christmas *

Getting Cosy #4 ~ Feast {A Christmas Meal Plan}

2011-12-20T13:12:00.000-08:00

It's finally beginning to look a little like Christmas round here. The tree is up and a festive wreath hangs from our front door. The children and I made an early morning pilgrimage to the shops today and a plump turkey and juicy ham now nestle safely in the refrigerator. We also took a delivery from those friendly folks at Asda and lined our cupboards with almost everything we need for the big feast.

I'm an avid meal planner at the best of times. It helps save money, reduces what we waste, and gives me a sense of order in an otherwise chaotic world. In line with this, I approach high days and holidays with a military precision. There are multiple shopping lists for the week ahead, and I've already begun preparing the things that can be cooked well in advance.

So, presented here for your perusal, is what we'll be eating over the festive period...

Christmas Eve

I'll be working until 2pm on Saturday, but as soon as I've rushed home and had a quick cuppa I'll be slipping Beer Braised Beef Casserole into the oven. It will remain there, content in it's heavy cast iron pan, for the next 3hrs, while I busy myself wrapping the last few presents, watching Christmas movies and sipping mulled wine....

Nigella's Vin Chaud {serves 6-8}

from Nigella Christmas pg. 261

You will need:

1 x 75cl bottle good robust red wine

4 cinnamon sticks

1 x 13cm curl orange zest, shaved off the orange with a vegetable peeler

75g sugar

1 star anise

5 whole cloves

80ml cognac

Pour the wine into a large pan and add the remaining ingredients. Bring to an almost boil, don't actually let it boil, then turn down the heat and let it simmer gently. The mulled wine is ready when the sugar has dissolved, though you can leave the pan on a very low heat to keep warm. This is best served in small cups or heatproof glasses with handles. To make a non-alcoholic version, replace the wine with 500ml pomegranate juice and 500ml cranberry juice, and dispense with the cognac.

Christmas Day

Having weighed out the ingredients the night before, we'll be able to rifle through our stockings {no doubt at the crack of dawn} while nibbling Christmas Morning Muffins, accompanied, in my case at least, by a hefty mug of tea. If people are peckish mid-morning {and knowing my gluttonous children, they will be} there's the possibility of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs too.

It's just the four of us at home this year, for the first time since we moved to Devon almost 6 years ago. I am excited and anxious, in equal measures, about the prospect of cooking Christmas dinner. Cross your fingers nothing goes wrong for me!

The main event will consist of...

Roast Turkey with AllSpice Gravy {which I'll lovingly prepare a couple of days ahead using the bird's giblets}.

Redder Than Red Cranberry Sauce {already sitting invitingly in the fridge, a gorgeous shade of crimson and just waiting to be devoured}.

Gingerbread Stuffing

Bread Sauce

Roast Potatoes

Maple-Roast Parsnips

Brussel Sprouts with Chestnuts

... and probably some peas, red cabbage, pigs in blankets {shop bought and waiting patiently in the freezer, for shame} and Yorkshire puds too!

Chocolate Pudding {for Christmas Pudding Haters} with Chocolate Sauce

Boxing Day

We'll be joined by my Mum, Bonus Dad, sister and a family friend on Monday so there will be plenty of hungry souls on hand to help us wade though the leftovers. I'll also be cooking Ginger-Glazed Ham to satisfy Mr. LA's carnivorous cravings and a Chocolate and Cranberry Cake for dessert.

With any luck, at this point we'll all collapse into a food coma and there will be no need for me to enter the kitchen for at least a week.

Tell me about your Christmas feasts. What will you be cooking and eating? Any favourite tipples or treats you like to indulge in at this time of year?

Loveaudrey xxx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2011-12-18T11:41:00.000-08:00

Snuggling in bed with the children.
Trying to keep the little ones quiet while our house guest slept in the front room.
Failing to keep the little ones quiet while our house guest slept in the front room
Cooking fried eggs in an attempt to make amends.
Enjoying multiple cups of tea and a long, hot shower.
Packing Izzy off to a birthday party.
Strolling into town to visit the recently re-opened Royal Albert Memorial Museum. The museum closed for major refurbishment a few years ago and, as it was a favourite haunt of ours when Izzy was little, we were really excited about finally being allowed back in. They've done an incredible job with the place and Jesse had a fantastic time exploring the different galleries and exhibitions. I'll be heading back with both children later this week.
Eating too many mince pies.
Watching Christmas movies. We made our way through The Nightmare Before Christmas, Father Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street.
Finally hanging our Christmas wreath on the front door. We just need to get our tree up and we'll be all set.
Putting two sleepy children to bed.
Enjoying my first Baileys of the season. It just isn't Christmas without it.
Cooking and eating tray-baked chicken, crushed new potatoes and creamed spinach {from Jamie's 30 Minute Meals}.
Drinking too much red wine.
Completing the epic online food order for Christmas.
Stretching my mind by watching Inception. Amazing film.
Debating Christmas songs with Mr. LA. He reckons there are only about 20 well known festive tunes in existence {and therefore not enough to justify a whole radio station dedicated to them... hello Smooth Christmas}, but I beg to differ. What say you?
Loving Mr. LA for letting me lie in.
Eating scrambled eggs on hot, buttery toast.
Preparing a fish pie {Jamie's again}.
Greeting Mr. LA's family as they passed through Exeter on their way back from Cornwall.
Hiding Christmas presents.
Sitting down for lunch.
Getting goosebumps at the thought that the next time we'll all be together is at the wedding {4 weeks!}.
Settling down to some wedding DIY. Next up on the to do list is 150 drink flags, made with just a little help from Etsy seller HeSawSparks.
Bathing and bedding the children.
Inhaling the aroma of Nigella's Praised Chicken as it bubbles away on the stove and looking forward to a late supper.

Loveaudrey xxx

Getting Cosy #3 ~ Vintage Christmas China

2011-12-14T14:34:00.000-08:00

{Getting Cosy ~ The who, what, where, why and how of winter in the Loveaudrey household. What we love to cook, eat, wear and do in the colder months, with perhaps a little sprinkling of Christmas magic too.}

My Great Aunt Liz passed away earlier this year. It was quite sudden. She was ill and then she was gone.

It feels strange to face Christmas without her. I know we'll all miss her presence, energy, and enthusiasm for time spent together as a family, especially on Boxing Day which was traditionally when we all shared a meal and exchanged gifts.

I found a book she gave me the other day when I was sorting though a box of things for Izzy. It was a copy of 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott and inside the front cover was written 'To my darling bookworm and Great Niece, Merry Christmas'. As I stroked the inscription, I wondered if I would have loved reading quite so much if she hadn't fed my addiction with beautiful, carefully chosen texts at every available gifting opportunity. I've passed the well worn copy on to my own little bookworm now. I can't wait for her to meet Jo and the others.

Liz was a passionate collector and hoarder of things. Her tiny west London home was like an Aladdin's cave, heaving with trinkets, crockery, glassware, books and much, much more. Her complete inability to throw anything away meant those charged with clearing her possessions faced a daunting task, but from the chaos emerged a few precious pieces that could be passed on to the next generation.

I spied this china on a low shelf in the cramped living room. I didn't examine it particularly closely, even failing to appreciate it's festive motif at the time. Instead, it came home with me that day because I recognised it as possibly belonging to the 1950s, and felt it was a thing of beauty, something I would enjoy gazing at in my own home.

Imagine my joy when, while flicking through my shiny new copy of Nigella Christmas a month or so ago, I spied the very same china laden with the festive nibbles and treats of my favourite foodie writer. A quick google search revealed it is in fact the 'Stockholm' range, somtimes called 'leaping deer', produced by Royal Crown Devon in the 1950s.

I spent a morning carefully unwrapping, dusting and washing the entire set the other day and the whole process gave me a pleasant sense of calm. The china is far from perfect, but I like to think its chips and flaws somehow speak of Christmas past. I intend to keep an eye out for more 'Stockholm' over the course of next year, adding to what is now my collection via eBay and the like, in the hope that it can become a permanent part of our Christmas future.

Are you a lover of vintage china? How do you dress your table for Christmas?

Loveaudrey xxx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2011-12-11T13:44:00.001-08:00

Briefly snuggling in bed with Mr.LA and the children.
Sending the children downstairs to climb into bed with my Aunt who came up from Cornwall for a visit.
Eating fried eggs, hot buttered toast and sipping tea.
Feeling just a little bit smug about my homemade Christmas presents.
Finally finishing the dreaded table plan. This task took hours and, if I'm being brutally honest, was the most stressful part of wedding planning so far. I know there are fancy computer programs designed to help you seat your guests these days, but we went old skool with our bits of paper and post-it notes to manoeuvre almost 150 people on to 14 tables.
Making a start on Christmassing up the house. We haven't managed to pick up a tree yet, but lighting some candles and erecting a mini red felt tree from Ikea instantly made the place feel more festive.
Hanging mistletoe.
Kissing under mistletoe.
Strolling round Izzy's school Christmas Fayre.
Sipping warm spiced apple juice while the children spent their pennies on as much tat as their little arms could carry.
Watching Izzy on the bouncy castle.
Eating olives, bread, chorizo and a roasted balsamic onion pie for lunch.
Sending Izzy off to a friend's house for a sleepover.
Wishing Mr. LA didn't have to spend the whole night at a video shoot.
Cooking and eating fritatta.
Feeling a little sorry for Jesse as he struggled to fall asleep without his big sister for company.
Sipping red wine and eating a mince pie.
Watching '27 Dresses' and thinking about my own bridesmaids. Hard to believe they'll be walking down the aisle with me in only 5 weeks.
Giving myself a home facial. A thorough cleanse and scrub followed by a mask and finally a massage with my beloved ESPA facial oil.
Being vaguely aware of Mr. LA rolling into bed at around 6am. Working nights sucks.
Waking up at 6.35am and desperately trying to keep Jesse quiet while his Daddy tried to get a little sleep.
Mooching around the house in my PJs, drinking tea and watching Peter Pan with J.
Making Mr.LA a strong cup of coffee.
Taking a long shower.
Enjoying a leisurely stroll round our local Waitrose while I shopped for lunch and dinner. Foodie heaven.
Collecting a very sleepy little girl from her sleepover. I believe hey were up until almost midnight after watching'Elf' and XFactor.
Introducing Izzy to 'It's a Wonderful Life'. I felt quite proud when she came rushing into the kitchen as the movie finished, looking very perplexed, and said 'Oh Mummy, the film has such a happy ending it just makes me want to cry' before promptly bursting into tears. That's my girl.
Daydreaming about what I'm going to cook over the holiday period. A recipe for chocolate and cranberry cake in the latest Waitrose magazine has me drooling.
Preparing Sunday dinner. I tried out Nigella's recipe for maple roasted parsnips and they proved incredibly popular with the littlies. Jesse proclaimed them 'just like sweeties'.
Loving the look of deep concentration on Jesse's face as he played with his trains in his jammies.
Bundling two sleepy children into bed.
Trying to crack on with wedding tasks but being beaten by tiredness.
Lying in bed with Mr.LA in the darkness and falling asleep to the sound of the radio playing.

Loveaudrey xxx

Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair...

2011-12-06T03:33:00.001-08:00

Aaaaaachoooo!

I'm poorly sick dear blog readers, and this post is being brought to you through a nurofen induced haze, so please forgive its many shortcomings.

My talented friend Susie braved the wind and rain earlier this week to hand deliver a little something she's been working on for the wedding. In so doing, she made one excitable little flower girl very, very happy...

Adorned with real pearls and moonstones, I fear my photos don't do the piece justice. It looks quite magical in real life. Here it is 'in situ', with a cheeky sneak peak of Izzy's frock too...

Susie doesn't quite have a website up and running as yet, but if you're interested in her work {and I can't recommend her enough} drop me an email at loveaudrey@talktalk.net and I'll gladly pass on your details.

After this brief floral interlude, it's back to the far more gruelling job of compiling our table plan, which is, it has to be said, quite possibly the most soul destroying wedding-related task of all.

Loveaudrey xxx

The Trials and Tribulations of Growing One's Eyebrows

2011-11-29T06:49:00.000-08:00

Perfect vintage brows

Some brides endeavour to loose a little weight in the run up to their big day. Some grow their hair, determined to have their newly acquired mane coiffed into some elaborate up-do for their nuptials. Others spend time perfecting their fake tan application. Many agonise over achieving perfectly manicured hands with which to show off that all important ring. Some even invest in botox.

I, on the other hand, decided that the most pressing beauty challenge I faced in the months preceding our wedding was.... growing my eyebrows.

I can't remember exactly what it was that provoked this urge in me. I mean, I've long been aware of the importance of well defined brows. My 'old' pair may have been a little on the thin side, but I've always tried to cultivate a decent shape for them and kept them well groomed.

I might just blame Kate.

You know, Kate... the princess, married that guy William? Her eyebrows looked FIT on her wedding day. I watched in awe as that full, dark, defined pair made their way down the aisle at Westminster Abbey. My they were elegant!

Although I had no desire to rip off her bridal attire, I did want to rip off her brows.

And paste them to my own forehead.

And of course there's Audrey...

What I wasn't quite prepared for was just how difficult the whole process was going to be. You know how you get that infuriating in-between stage when you're growing your hair? When all you can do is tie it back and hope for the best with a few strategically placed kirby grips?

Well, you go through exactly the same stage with your eyebrows. Except you would look {even more} ridiculous with a kirby grip stuck in 'em. You just have to ride it out, hope for the best, and pray they won't always look quite so, well... bushy.

My top tips for fashioning a fresh pair of brows:

1. Hide your tweezers. The urge to give up and pluck those wayward beasts will be strong. Just remove all temptation.

2. When you can't pluck, trim. I learnt this line of attack fairly late in the game when I had my wedding makeup trial with Katy, who just so happens to specialise in eyebrows. This tactic allows you to keep the hairs in check, without undoing any of your hard work.

3. Invest a really good eyebrow pencil. I've still got a bit of a way to go in terms of filling my eyebrows out completely, so a decent pencil is essential for masking the few sparse areas that remain. Without wanting to sound too dramatic, discovering Laura Mercier's eyebrow pencil in brunette was a life changing moment. It's the perfect colour {just dark enough and devoid of red tones}, texture {not too hard, not too soft, really easy to apply}, and, after I set it with a little matte brown eyeshadow, it lasts all day

So, Lets examine my progress shall we...

Here I am, and they are, around 7 months ago. Not completely awful, but pretty thin and lacking a defined arch.

And here's some pictures taken last week...

I have to say, I'm pretty darn proud of myself! My achievement really hit home the other morning when Mr. LA turned to me from the bed, all bleary eyed with sleep, looked at my freshly made up face and said 'you've got eyebrows'. It would seem that, despite almost 8 years together, he had only just noticed them.

Tell me you can see the difference, please? Tell me all that effort wasn't in vain?!

How do you feel about fuller brows? Tempted to have a go at growing some?

Loveaudrey xxx

Getting Cosy #2 ~ Winter Skincare: Dr Weil for Origins Mega-Muchroom Skin Relief Soothing Face Cream & Advanced Face Serum

2011-11-29T05:58:00.000-08:00

{Getting Cosy ~ The who, what, where, why and how of winter in the Loveaudrey household. What we love to cook, eat, wear and do in the colder months, with perhaps a little sprinkling of Christmas magic too.}

Exeter looked beautiful this past weekend. There were clear blue skies and the air was crisp, cold and refreshing. When the sun began to set the Christmas lights that were only recently hoisted above the shop fronts of local businesses began to glow, thousands of fairy lights flickering to life, and it took all of my will power to resist the urge to gorge myself on mince pies and mulled wine.

I love this time of year, I really do. But there is a downside to the drop in temperature. Just as those blustery, cold winds begin to blow, and I'm overcome with an uncontrollable urge to crank the central heating up to full blast, my skin promptly decides to have a little freak out. And not in a chic way either. Nope, sadly, it tends to have a kind of a dry, inflamed, sore, spotty thing going on.

This is exactly how my face was feeling at the beginning of November when I wandered into my local House of Fraser and ambled up to the Origins counter. After my recent experiences with their Night-A-Mins Cream, and daily use of their VitaZing SPF15 Energy Boosting Moisturiser throughout the warmer months, I've come to expect great things from their skincare range.

After staring vacantly at the vast array of products on offer for a few minutes, I found myself drawn to the Dr Weil range. I've had positive results from products in this line before {I'm no stranger to the face serum, do have a read of my original review here} so I had an inkling it was just what my suddenly sensitive, severely dehydrated skin was crying out for.

My instincts were right, and after using a sample of the face cream for a couple of days I headed straight back to the store to pick up a full size pot. The Dr Weil for Origins Skincare Collection offered fantastic value and allowed me to stock up on my favourite face mask too. Bonus!

The cream seems quite rich in the pot. In fact, I was a little concerned it would be too heavy for my spot-prone {but-not-actually-as-oily-as-I-think-it-is} skin. However, upon application, it melts into my face perfectly without a hint of grease or stickiness {but Origins do also offer a lotion as a part of the range, which might be better suited to those with genuinely oily skin}.

Afterwards, my skin feels soft and smooth to the touch and my makeup applies wonderfully. As with all of the products I've tried in this range, it has one hell of a funky smell. It's kind of herbal and mushroomy, and I can't say I love it, but I'm able to get past it because the benefits to my skin are obvious.

Indeed, the difference these products have made is pretty phenomenal. Although, I haven't banished those pesky spots completely, my skin is noticeably calmer. The redness and soreness that was plaguing me has disappeared and my skin feels generally more comfortable and better hydrated. In short, together, these two products have been just what my winter skincare routine needed.

*flicks the central heating on, pours glass of mulled wine, eats mince pie*

Are you a fan of Origins skin care? How do you take care of your skin in the winter?

Loveaudrey xxx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2011-11-28T01:16:00.001-08:00

Waking up very slowly, with multiple cups of tea and snuggles on the sofa with the children.
Eating omelets for breakfast.
Enjoying a long shower with some new REN products I recently purchased. Loving their Neroli and Grapefruit body wash.
Wearing MAC Dame blush. I've been making a concerted effort to switch up my cheek products recently after finding myself in something of a NARS Sin rut {which is not exactly a bad rut to be in, it's a beautiful blush, but I hate the thought of all those unloved products gathering dust in my makeup box}. As soon as I swirled my brush in this pot on Saturday I was reminded just how pretty it looks on my pale skin.
Remembering how fantastic Lily Lolo mineral foundation is.
Packing Izzy off to Crealy Adventure Park with a friend.
Having a very lazy day. There was endless cups of tea, a bit of pottering around the house and a leisurely stroll around town to show Jesse the recently installed Christmas lights.
Indulging in an ESPA facial. My skin has been screaming out for some TLC and, as we're well and truly into the wedding count down now {7 weeks to go!}, I was very relived to see the post-facial glow.
Cooking and eating sweet onion fritatta, a really easy, and very cheap, supper that proved popular with the children.
Settling down for an evening of wedding DIY, in front of a DVD and with a {very large} glass of wine in hand.
Letting Mr. LA have a lie in.
Bubbling with pride at the sight of Izzy playing the Angry Pixie from The Faraway Tree in her drama class's end of term show.
Treating the little actress to some chocolate cake after the performance.
Enjoying some peace and quiet while Jesse napped and Izzy was at a birthday party.
Day dreaming about Christmas. I can't wait to get our tree up and adorn the whole house with decorations.
Craving mulled wine.
Taking Jesse for a walk. The sun was just beginning to set as we headed out and the light was beautiful, bathing everything it touched in gold.
Marvelling at just how much joy a 2 year old can derive from walking along the top of a wall.
Picking Izzy up from the party, painted face and all.
Eating mince pies.
Enjoying the ritual of cooking Sunday dinner. I find the whole process deeply comforting.
Filling the house with the scent of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg as I prepared spiced apple shortcake for pudding.
Making peace with someone close to me. Sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest thing in the world.
Kissing the children goodnight.
Sipping hot chocolate.
Snuggling on the sofa with Mr. LA in front of 'Shaun of the Dead'. I <3 Simon Pegg.
Tumbling into bed and falling straight to sleep.

Loveaudrey xxx

Kiss Me ~ Our Pre-Wedding Shoot with Eliza Claire

2011-11-26T04:27:00.001-08:00

Reasons I love our wedding photographer Eliza Claire:

1. She has manged to produce a set of photographs of myself that don't make me recoil in horror. As I gazed at these images on my computer screen this morning I couldn't help but think that I look, well... quite pretty. I never feel that way about photos, especially not ones where you can see my profile {it's shall we say, a little distinctive, no?} or all of my teeth {it sure ain't no Hollywood smile} or my fringe is misbehaving {curse my wayward hair}. But these, I love.

2. She actually got a picture of Mr. LA smiling. I mean a proper grin, where he looks genuinely happy. I have about 3 photos of him with a similar facial expression, and two of them are of him holding our babies moments after they were born {when you can't really do anything BUT smile}. It really is a rare occurrence. Thing is, when he does manage to shrug of his brooding 'I'm too cool to smile in your picture' facade, he looks pretty damn hot, and Eliza has captured that perfectly.

3. The shoot {and post-shoot drinkys} were loads of fun. I felt terribly anxious in the run up to having our pictures taken, partly because I felt a little self-conscious about my face/skin/teeth/body and partly because meeting someone in real life, who you've only ever interacted with online, is pretty nerve wracking in its own right! But after a few minutes with Eliza, I knew our afternoon spent wandering around London's South Bank was going to be fabulous. She helped us both relax and even the Mr, who is really not a fan of having his photograph taken, enjoyed the experience.

4. She's going to take beautiful photographs of of our wedding day. That much is obvious, right?

A few details about my ensemble....

My LBD is from Oasis. I love it because it makes me feel {even more} like Audrey. My red shoes are from Next. They look pretty but they were crippling to walk in all day. I slipped into flats at the first available opportunity. My much loved, and well worn, coat is from Topshop over 2 years ago. I got my hair did at Hershesons in Topshop Oxford Circus {it's the 'bardot') and my makeup consisted of Estee Lauder DoubleWear foundation and concealer, Chanel loose powder, NARS Sin blush, Chanel eyeshadow quad in Kaska Beige, Clinique gel liner, Max factor Masterpiece Max mascara and a faint smudge of Chanel Rouge Allure lippy in 'Lover'. My nail polish is 'Revlon Red' and it's the colour of a Louboutin sole!

You can find Eliza's full blog post of images from the day here. So, brides-to-be, are any of you planning a pre-wedding shoot?

Loveaudrey xxx

Photography copyright (c) 2011 Eliza Claire

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2011-11-21T00:58:00.001-08:00

Waking up in Cornwall. With a mighty hangover. Friday saw myself, Mr LA and my baby sister {that's her looking FIT in the pictures above}heading to our sten {stag + hen = sten} weekend at Treleaven Farmhouse in Mevagissey, Cornwall. We were greeted by 12 other friends and copious amounts of alcohol. The party got underway almost immediately and didn't wind down until around 5am on Saturday morning. Ouch.
Cooking an EPIC fry-up to cure all those sore heads. I fried 30 eggs and felt a little bit like a school dinner lady.
Drinking many, many cups of restorative tea.
Feeling very glad I got in the shower before all the hot water was used up!
Taking a stroll down to the harbour.
Loading up on the carbs at lunchtime. We cooked a huge pot of pasta and munched on garlic baguettes. Something about lining our stomachs...
Doing a booze run.
Catching up with my best friends/bridesmaids over cups of tea and bags of Haribo while the boys headed to the pub to sample some local ale.
Cooking a vat of chili. There's something deeply satisfying about cooking for 15 people. Especially slow cooking a rich, spicy meat sauce that they fall upon and devour within moments of it being placed on the table.
Toasting my Dad.
Settling down for some hilarious drinking games. Yes, yes, I know... we're far too old and sensible for such shenanigans but oh! How we laughed!
Being forced to accept I'm no good at picking a cardboard box up off the floor with my teeth. Many alcohol based forefeits did ensue.
Drinking too much cheap vodka.
Drinking a little more cheap vodka. And some gin. And a few sips of beer too. Whoops.
Trying to recreate Uma Therman's dance from Pulp Fiction.
Singing along to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. Very loudly.
Leaving the hardcore drinkers to it and ~~passing out~~ retiring to bed.
Sleeping until almost 11.30am. This was a momentous occasion as neither of us have slept past 9am in around 7 years. Not even the horrific hangover could sully the moment we realised how late it was.
Needing tea and a bacon sandwich in a big way.
Cursing the lack of ketchup {a shopping oversight on my part}.
Clearing up after the night before.
Chuckling at video footage of Mr. LA drunkenly dancing to Prodigy. Boy got MOVES.
Marvelling at how amazing our friends are.
Wishing the weekend didn't have to end {but also itching to get back to my babies}.
Saying goodbye to everyone and realising the next time we'll see most of them will be our wedding day. {There's less than 8 weeks to go! Eeee!}
Taking the train back to Exeter.
Munching on a Wispa and sipping diet coke.
Cuddling the children and saying goodbye to my parents.
Ordering pizza.
Eating said pizza on the sofa in front of old episodes of The Office.
Collapsing into bed.
Vowing never to drink again ;)

Loveaudrey xxx

Getting Cosy #1 ~ Crumble

2011-11-14T12:08:00.001-08:00

My children love crumble far too much for it to be confined solely to the chillier months of the year, but I personally feel more of an urge to produce this comforting, nostalgic dessert once Halloween has been and gone and bonfire night is a distant, yet explosive, memory.

Crumble is one of those dishes I make from memory, it's composition somehow lodged deep in my subconscious. I weigh the ingredients without thinking and rarely pay much attention to how long it's in the oven. I suspect no two crumbles are the same, I wing it, adding different types of sugar for texture and varying the spices for flavour. As such, the finished product is instinctive, and all the better for it I would argue. Moreover, the ease with which I find the ingredients, slice the fruit, and rub the butter into the flour is what makes this bake so therapeutic. That ,and the boundless smiles it produces in my children.

In line with this, I wholeheartedly encourage you to use the recipe below as merely a starting point for your own kitchen adventure. Add oats if you like. Switch the cinnamon for ginger. Vanilla sugar could be good. And of course, in terms of fruit, the choices are practically limitless. I'm a purist, it's apple for me almost every time. Which is why I'm hoping Santa will bring me one of these for Christmas.

You will need:
300g plain flour
a pinch of salt
175g sugar {I like to blend 100g demerera with 75g light muscovado. It makes for a beautifully golden crumble}
200g unsalted butter, cubed and at room temperature

Approx 450g apples, peeled, cored and chopped.
I like to precook mine, just a little, especially if I'm using cooking apples {which also require a touch of sugar in the pan as you do so}. Sprinkle with about a tablespoon of water and let them bubble on a low heat for around 5 minutes before transferring to an oven proof dish. You can add some cinnamon while they warm too, and even a little flour if you prefer a bit of thickness to your fruit filling.

1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4.

2. Place the flour in a large mixing bowl. Taking a few cubes of butter at a time, rub into the flour until the mixture resembles bread crumbs. {I often find I have 2 extra pairs of tiny hands that want to help with this bit!} Technically you can attempt this in a food processor, but I find it gives you a texture that is too sandy. You want a glorious rubble, not dust, and fingers do the job far better in my opinion.

3. Stir in the sugars using a fork so as not to disturb the mixture too much and add around a teaspoon of cinnamon {but only if you've left your apple plain} and a pinch of salt.

4. Spread the crumble topping over the fruit and press down gently. Place in the oven and bake until golden and bubbling {I normally slip mine in as we sit down for the main course and find it's ready by the time the children have cleared their plates}. Serve with cream. Or custard. Or both.

Are you a lover of crumble? What filling gets you going? What's your favourite winter pud?

Loveaudrey xxx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2011-11-14T05:46:00.001-08:00

Waking up in my Mum's flat in London. Mr. LA and I travelled up alone on Friday evening. That is to say, we had a child-free weekend in the big smoke!
Sipping tea and chatting to the Mr while we both got ready.
Braving 4 inch heels for a day of walking all over London. I didn't loose my senses completely, a trusted pair of flats nestled safely in my handbag in case of emergency.
Heading to Sloane Square and the wonder that is VV Rouleaux. This shop is incredible and filled to the rafters with every sort of ribbon and trim imaginable. There was satin ribbon, velvet ribbon, wired ribbon and grosgrain ribbon in each colour of the rainbow, and all the others in between. There was striped ribbon, tartan ribbon, gingham ribbon and polka dots. There were feathers and bows, and tassels and cord too. I came away with a bag full of everything I needed for the wedding {and maybe even a little more beside!}
Taking the tube to Oxford Circus and rushing into Topshop just in time for my midday appointment at Hershesons blowdry bar. I selected the 'Bardot' from the hair menu and sat patiently while the stylist backcombed my hair to within an inch of its life.
Wondering why no one but me can get my fringe to sit right. I really must remember to tell everyone else, however qualified they may appear, to step away.
Munching on delicious dim sum at Ping Pong.
Strolling down Carnaby Street.
Loving the Christmas displays on the fourth floor at Liberty {my favourite London department store}. It was as if the multitude of twinkling fairy lights that were draped from the ceiling throughout sent me into a drunken yuletide stupor. So much prettiness! I wanted to buy it all.
Making our way to South Bank.
Suffering from a touch of shoe-induced grumpiness.
Meeting Eliza Claire for our pre-wedding photo shoot {a sneak peek of which can be seen here}. I felt terribly nervous as we made our way there, but as soon as we found Eliza and she took the first photo my worries seemed to disappear. We walked along the Thames and took in some of my most beloved London sights while Eliza snapped away. The whole experience was a pleasure and left me feeling even more excited about our wedding photos.
Sipping wine and chatting about anything and everything with Eliza once the last bit of light had faded. Feel sure we made a new friend.
Jumping as the fireworks for the Lord Mayor's show exploded overhead.
Setting Eliza free {after a cheeky second round of drinks} and taking a stroll across the river and along Charring Cross Road.
Stopping for dinner at LEON. I just adore their sweet potato falafal! I think Mr. LA had hoped to take me somewhere a little more upmarket for dinner, but you know what I'm like about brown rice and veg... heaven!
Finally tumbling into bed.
Cursing my body clock and it's inability to let me sleep past 7am.
Enjoying a Starbucks hot chocolate before catching the train to Langley for a visit to our wedding venue, Heatherden Hall at Pinewood Studios.
Loving my new dragonfly necklace from Accessorize.
Talking through our plans with the venue's wedding coordinator, Alison. It felt like there was an awful lot to cover, but it really made me feel like the day is starting to come together.
Strolling round the grounds with Mr. LA.
Feeling electric with anticipation.
Taking the train back to Paddington.
Grabbing a quick pub lunch.
Travelling back to Exeter.
Loving Reese's Pieces. Peanut butter + chocolate = heaven.
Finishing 'The Lovely Bones' by Alice Sebold. A great read, incredibly chilling.
Hugging the children.
Knowing that I have the best Mother in the world when I realised she had left a cottage pie cooking in the oven for our supper.
Reading James and the Giant Peach to two very sleep children.
Feeling far too exhausted from our wonderful weekend to blog about it on Sunday evening!
Falling asleep in Mr. LA's arms. Best place to be.

Loveaudrey xxx

20th Novemeber 2005

2011-11-10T02:34:00.000-08:00

I want to write about the night my Dad died. Not because I think it will make for a particularly pleasant read, but because the words need to escape my head.

In the aftermath of death, no one asks you about the gory details. They'll listen to your anecdotes about the person who's passed. They'll ask how you're coping with the grief, how you're holding up, that sort of thing. But they won't ask what happened that night, how you felt, what you said, where your mind wandered as you sat in the dimly lit hospital room with your father's dead body.

I'll start at the end because this is, after all, about the ending.

I wasn't there when he took his last breath. I was in the car with my Mum, making nervous chit chat about whatever it was the radio had to offer just before midnight on that cold November night. We'd made the same journey from our home in West London to the imposing QE II hospital in Welyn Garden countless times over the last few days. Even in her sleep deprived state my Mum could have done the journey with her eyes closed.

Earlier that day I'd watched a 10 month old Izzy crawl all over the ugly grey flooring that ran throughout the hospital. I'd tried to feed her lunch in the cafe on the ground floor, apologising for the mess all over the table as we left. Dried apricots and some kind of orange-hued mush mingling together in a heap on the cheap formica table. Defeated by Izzy's tightly closed mouth and disinterest, I climbed back up the stairs and let her loose once more. My sister and I watched as she went round and round in circles in front of the lifts that stood to the left of the ward's entrance.

At one point the large shiny doors sprung open and a black man in blue hospital scrubs stepped out, wheeling a large metal coffin-like object behind him. It wasn't rectangular like a regular coffin but triangular, almost pyramid like, and it was that dirty cream colour that seems to be standard issue within the confines of tired NHS buildings. I noticed just how normal the man pushing the ominous contraption looked, not how you would imagine someone who works in a morgue at all. My sister and I stepped back and I hoisted Izzy up from the floor and on to my hip. We tried not to think about what the ugly coffin-on-wheels was for. I inwardly prayed my Dad would never see the inside of it. But I already knew he would.

The previous morning I'd sat in my Dad's living room. His first wife, my mother, was there, silent and respectful. I looked at my step-mum and younger sister as I sat in the blue arm chair in the corner of the room, willing them to know what I was already certain of.

Dad was dying.

We all had to accept this fact, stop trying to figure out how he was going to live, and help him find a good way to die. Let him know it was OK to go. I tried to speak, fearing my sister would hate me for saying the words out loud, accuse me of lying, of undermining Dad's status as a 'fighter'. You're not allowed to be anything else when you're only 50 and you've got cancer.

He's not going to beat this. But that doesn't mean he's lost. Let's get him home. Wouldn't he want to die here, in his own bed, with us? We have to fight for him now.

I can't say for certain, but I think denial reigned. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough, firm enough, brutal enough. The doctors certainly weren't. Why didn't they shake my step-mother, shout at her, slap her, make her see, bring her face to face with the reality of the situation? He's going. You've got to let him go. This is it. We're done.

They didn't. That's why we drove home on Sunday night. Ate supper together. Talked about driving back again in the morning, about spending another day hanging around the hospital, drinking too much tea and avoiding eye-contact with the doctors and nurses, lest their gaze should tell us what we didn't want to know.

Carl and I put Izzy to bed. I think we watched TV. I don't really remember. There are lots of gaps in my memory. Deep black voids where my feelings are warm and safe.

I remember lying in bed, sometime after 10.30pm, and hearing my mobile ring. I grabbed it, not with fear or concern for what the call might contain, but because I didn't want the shrill ring tone to wake Izzy who was asleep in the corner of our bedroom.

'I can't promise you he'll still be alive tomorrow. You might want to come now, to be here with him'.

I felt like I was crumbling. Like bits of me were falling away, my body disintegrating, turning to dust in Carl's arms. I didn't know what to do, I didn't know if I wanted to be there when it happened. I wanted to ask my Dad what he would do in the same situation.

I can remember climbing into the car. Just me and my Mum. My sister didn't want to go. Carl was charged with looking after her. I don't know how they spent those hours of not knowing. They were both in bed by the time we got home in the very early hours of the following morning. My sister was asleep on a mattress on her bedroom floor, an unusual habit that went unquestioned by those she lived with. My Mum and I crawled in beside her in the dark and told her it was over. I don't remember the sound of her tears. I don't remember leaving her to go into my own room. I just remember Carl sitting up in bed, and me not being able to cry anymore. I fell into a deep sleep. When I woke the following morning it was like loosing him all over again, coming to and realising it hadn't been a bad dream.

We had pulled into the empty hospital car park just after midnight. The radio clicked off and we moved to get out of the car. I saw my step-mother walking towards us through the mist. I forced a smile and armed myself with an apparently cheerful greeting. But as I stepped on to the icy tarmac she shook her head and suddenly the ground was rushing towards me.

My memories are silent, all I can see is my mouth open wide in horror. I think I screamed, or wailed. I know I cried those heavy tears that leave your chest aching for days, your eyes swollen and red, your face puffy and sore.

I was helped to my feet and escorted through the empty corridors of the hospital. My step-mother held my hand and my mother walked behind us, still silent and respectful. We walked by the cafe on the ground floor, ascended the staircase and passed the lifts just outside the ward. Dad was in a private room on the left-hand side. Rows of patient-filled beds stood opposite the closed door. They were cloaked in darkness, but you could see the eyes of the other sick men and women, trying not to stare at the family of the recently dead man.

My uncle and aunt were already in the room, their eyes wide like an animal caught in the headlights of a fast approaching car. My Dad was in bed. I screamed again, or at least let out a deep loud sob, and the others tried to hush me. The ward was silent but for my wailing. What must the other patients have thought? I didn't care at that moment, I'd lost control of my actions. My head wasn't working anymore.

And then I was alone. I moved closer to the bed and looked at his face. He really did look like he was just sleeping, like he could stir any moment, like he might sit up and rub his eyes before turning to me with a smile. 'Hey kiddo, how you doing?' he'd say. But his chest wasn't moving up and down, his lungs weren't filling with air. His lips looked too dark, tinged with purple and beginning to turn blue. His skin appeared papery thin, almost transparent. My mind makes it greyer than it was, but I know it looked wrong, different.

I tried to tell him things. The things I thought you should say to a dead person, the things they would want to hear. You're the best, Dad. I love you. There was no past tense yet.

Then, I'll miss you. Goodbye. You can go now.

We all sat together in the family room while the nurses did what they had to. I tried not to think about the metal coffin. Or the morgue. Or my Dad's body on a cold metal slab, in a bag, labeled like a piece of lost property.

We drove home. It was quite foggy and the roads were icy. My mum drove carefully. The radio played slit-your-wrist music for insomniacs and people who were only awake because someone had died. The journey was all at once familiar and completely unrecognisable.

None of it felt real, but it was.

And just like that, he was gone.

Loveaudrey xxx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2011-11-06T12:50:00.000-08:00

Waking up with a severe case of champagne headache after celebrating my MA results with Mr. LA.
Drinking multiple cups of tea and eating a huge bowl of porridge with golden syrup.
Enjoying Lush's Snow Globe soap. It smells like an amped up lemon sherbet. Incredible.
Slipping on my frock and beautifying myself in preparation for my friend's wedding.
Wondering if Chanel illusion d'ombre in Illusoire worn with MAC Vex and Print is my favourite eye shadow combo ever.
Loving grey nail polish.
Waving goodbye to Jesse who was being looked after by my parents and heading to The Great Barn. Such a stunning wedding venue.
Feeling a little nervous about doing a reading during the ceremony.
Welling up as my beautiful friend walked down the aisle wearing her Candy Anthony dress and ruby red, sparkly heels.
Managing not to fluff my lines.
Loving the colourful wedding palette. The bridesmaids wore black dresses with coloured sashes that matched their bouquets, and each groomsman had a different coloured tie and pocket square. This rainbow of shades ran throughout their paper goods and was mirrored in the centrepieces at the wedding breakfast and their three-tiered cake.
Admiring the florals. I knew they would be good, the bride's a florist after all {in fact, she's doing the flowers for our wedding!}.
Letting off party poppers as the newlyweds emerged from the barn arm in arm.
Sipping champagne and nibbling canapes.
Catching up with old {and new} friends.
Marvelling at the ease with which children will strike up a friendship. Izzy and the bride and groom''s niece played together as if they'd known each other their whole lives.
Heading outside for a surprise firework display.
Enjoying the sight of almost 100 people twirling sparklers simultaneously in the dark.
Tucking into a delicious three course meal. There was a mezze sharing platter to start {great ice-breaker that got everyone chatting as they handed the food around} followed by roast beef and all the trimmings. The meat was carved by a different guest at each table which made for lots of fun. Pudding was wedding cake served with fresh berries and plenty of clotted cream.
Relishing a few glasses of red wine.
Looking on as Izzy made a home for herself on the dance floor. She barely left her spot for the entire evening. She danced to almost every song and many of the other guests did their best to emulate her interesting moves. She certainly pulled shapes.
Wondering if there is anything more wonderful than dancing on your Daddy's feet.
Having fun in the photo booth.
Watching the bride and groom take to the dance floor for their first dance.
Having a bit of a boogie myself. I've got nothing on Izzy though.
Feeling quite tipsy.
Bubbling with excitement at the prospect of our own wedding {10 weeks people, 10 WEEKS!}
Taking a very sleepy little girl home.
Creeping in the house so as not to wake anyone.
Nursing a killer hangover.
Having the laziest of lazy days.
Eating a cooked breakfast... at around lunchtime.
Wishing Mr. LA didn't have to go to London {again}.
Preparing Nigella's praised chicken, a delicious, warming and generally life affirming meal. The ultimate in comfort food if you will.
Deeply inhaling the soothing scent emanating from my largest casserole dish {the use of which gives me the greatest pleasure} and indulging in kitchen daydreams about what I'll do with the leftovers.
Watching the Wizard of Oz with the children while huddled together under a blanket on the sofa.
Feeling very content after eating a generous bowlful of chicken and brown rice topped with fresh dill and a smudge of English mustard.
Breathing a sigh of relief as the children finally bedded down for the night.
Planning an early night with a good book {currently reading One Day by David Nicholls, which I highly recommend}.

Loveaudrey xxx

Loveaudrey MA

2011-11-06T07:37:00.000-08:00

The boy arrived home on Friday evening armed with a bunch of roses for me. There was also a bottle of pink champagne, but that didn't last long enough for me to snap a photograph.

We were celebrating you see...

The university released my results.

It's official. I am a Master of Arts.

With merit.

Go me.

Loveaudrey xxx

P.S Without wanting to sound overly sentimental, I just want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you that has offered words of encouragement and support over the last year. It has meant more than you probably realise, often giving me the motivation and strength to carry on when things have seemed impossible. So... thank you :)

Weddingness

2011-11-01T13:44:00.000-07:00

I had a bit of a moment earlier today. An 'oh my goodness the wedding is really close and there's still so much to do' moment.

The pretty pink envelopes containing our guests' RSVPs fly though our letterbox daily and, while my excitement grows at the thought of finally walking down that aisle, I can't help but feel apprehensive and, well... just a little bit nervous. The guest list hit 75 today. That's an awful lot of people.

My 'to do' list seems endless and random wedding related objects float aimlessly round my head at all times....

Candles {must buy them}, ribbons {but which colours?}, jam jars {they need scrubbing}, Mr LA's suit {a serious bone of contention}, wellies {I need some}, cuff links, gifts, cakes, table names, ....

And so it goes on.

Despite my neurosis, I have managed to complete a few wedding related tasks of late.

1) I picked up these pretty 1930s style pyjamas for my bridesmaids to wear while we get ready in the morning. Now I just need to find myself something equally fabulous to waft around in.

2) I laundered all the vintage linen my Mum and I have collected thus far. I was so nervous about washing the delicate lace tablecloth we snapped up for a tenner earlier this year. After soaking it overnight, gently rinsing and then handwashing again it came out looking much whiter. The odd stain remains but I figure that's just part of it's history. Many a happy meal spent, if you know what I mean. I shall look forward to ironing these beauties in the days before the wedding.

3) I finally found an affordable bag for my bridesmaids in the form of this pewter embellished clutch from Next. Everything feels expensive when you have to buy three, but £16 for something so sparkly seemed reasonable.

There were also wellingtons {destined for the feet of my maids, as soon as I've prettified them with that ribbon that I'm yet to buy} and much stamping of place names. I'm off to London for my hair trial on Thursday and our pre-wedding shoot with Eliza Claire is less than two weeks away. Busy busy busy...

Of course, it will all get done.

Won't it?

Loveaudrey xxx

My {half term} week has mainly been spent...

2011-10-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

Taking a trip to A&E. We kicked off the school holidays with an early morning ambulance ride after Jesse developed breathing problems overnight. We were unsure about dialing 999 but as soon as the paramedics told us his oxygen level had dropped to 87% {when it should be over 95} we knew we had done the right thing. They hooked Jesse up to a nebulizer, dosed him up on oral steroids, x-rayed his chest, and kept him in all day for observation. We were finally sent home with inhalers and the usual 'we really don't like to diagnose asthma in under 5s {but that's probably what it is}' line. Either way, with two children on asthma meds, it would seem I'm just not very good at making babies that can breathe properly.
Frantically packing for our week away at the in-laws.
Somehow managing to squish my self in between the two children and their car seats in the back of my FIL's teeny tiny sports car.
Surviving the 4 hour drive to Derby.
Settling in for a week of relaxation. Think endless cups of tea, far too much food, sleeping in, drinking lots of wine and being generally quite lazy. Bliss.
Making the most of the beautiful autumn weather and taking a leisurely walk to Elvaston Castle.
Climbing trees, chasing the children, and pretending that all the most derelict buildings and darkest caves were haunted by evil witches.
Staying up late to watch movies. I finally got to see The King's Speech and I loved it.
Shopping in Nottingham. I could have spent a small fortune, but I was very restrained.
Falling in love with Tom Ford's Black Orchid perfume. One sniff in Space NK and I can't get it out of my head. I need it in my life.
Taking the children to a local play cafe. There was a soft play area and a ball pond and the opportunity to make lots of noise. Pure heaven for the littlies.
Spending time with Mr. LA's niece and nephews.
Eating my own body weight in junk food. I really over indulged. We had Burger King three times and a Subway and more chocolate and crisps than you can imagine. Bleugh. Detoxing is now essential.
Strolling around Derby's Westfield shopping centre.
Longing for more clothes for myself. Things were so rushed when we left Exeter I only ended up packing a couple of jumpers and my jeans!
Wishing Mr. LA didn't have to leave Derby unexpectedly due to work.
Heading out for dinner with Mr. LA's mother and sister. We sampled the wonder that is Derby's Slice of India. It was incredible, I've never seen a buffet restaurant like it. I particularly enjoyed the authentic street food prepared by the chefs right in front of you. I ate so much I could hardly move.
Transforming Izzy into a vampire for a Halloween party hosted by Mr. LA's sister.
Suspecting Jesse may be the cutest skeleton EVER.
Drinking too much wine.
Waking up with a bit of a hangover.
Curing aforementioned hangover with an epic cooked breakfast.
Making the long journey back to Exeter.
Loving that feeling you get when you come home after a trip away.
Hating the mountain of post-holiday washing.
Enjoying one last indulgent meal. Pie, mash, veg, yorkshire puddings and lots and lots of gravy. Yum.
Very much looking forward to sleeping in my own bed.

Loveaudrey xxx

Oh the Glamour! ~ Lush Volcano Foot Mask: A Review

2011-10-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

For me, one of the greatest beauty perks to accompany the changing of the seasons at this time of year has to be the easing of one's strictly regimented grooming regime. Because, as we pack away our skimpy summer clothes and usher in the altogether more forgiving thick tights, snuggly boots and cosy knits, the need to primp and preen becomes less and less.

The waxing can wait, we tell ourselves, and the razor lies untouched on the side of the bath. With no need to reveal our tootsies in sandals, we go weeks, rather than days, between pedicures. Body brushing becomes a distant memory, far too ghastly to even consider in a bitterly cold bathroom in November. Many even abandon the fake tan *gasp*.

However, this year, in what can only be considered a gross oversight on my part, I rather inconveniently scheduled my wedding for January 14th.

With less than three months to go to the big day, I'm acutely aware that I simply cannot 'let myself go' this winter. I may be sat in my dressing gown and fluffy slippers as I type this, but in a few short weeks I'll be walking down the aisle in a figure hugging wedding dress and a pair of Jimmy Choos. Now is not the time to be slack with the beautifying. No sireee.

I suspect this {rather unwelcome} realisation may have played a part in my latest Lush love affair....

I had long dismissed Volcano foot mask as one of Lush's more 'gimmicky' products. You know the kind... all talk and no action {yes, YOU, emotibombs and toothy tabs}.

I mean, who needs a mask for their feet? Your face, maybe. Your hair, at a push. But your feet? They're just fine with their usual scrub and a healthy dollop of foot cream thankyouverymuch.

But I have to hold my hands up and admit I was wrong on this occasion. This product has bought a whole new level of luxury to my foot pampering exploits. Here's what Lush say...

'Kaolin cleans and repairs. Pumice helps you to rub away dead skin. Papaya has an enzyme that digests dead skin and loosens it for removal. Tomatoes are deodorising and cooling. Menthol, lemon and cinnamon stimulate circulation and give a very cool feel to the skin's surface. All that is cleverly blended together to create a mask you can use regularly to keep on top of dry feet that tend to split, tired hot feet that have been standing all day and feet that have been shut up in shoes and need to breathe and cool – leaving you ready to step out in style.'

After washing my feet and patting dry, I smother them in the zingy, minty mask. I quite like the scent. There's a hint of cinnamon in there too and it's the kind of smell that implies a product will have some clout. It feels scrubby as I apply, but not too coarse {indeed, if I've been really slack with my foot care, they might require a bit of a going over with another product afterwards, I adore Lush's Stepping Stone}. I take a moment to massage it into my problem areas {mainly my heels} before slipping my feet inside two plastic carrier bags and knotting the handles around my ankles.

Yup. That's right. I said carrier bags.

Cue the least glamorous photograph ever featured on Loveaudrey...

Don't enlarge. I have stubbly ankles.

I leave the mask on for 10-20 minutes, all the while fielding comical jibes from Mr. LA about my appearance.

While it's doing it's thing, my skin feels cold and tingly, but not uncomfortably so. I really wish I had discovered this product while I was pregnant as it seems to do wonders for the circulation in my feet, it really gets the blood flowing.

When I finally wash the mask off, the skin is left soft and smooth. My feet really do feel like new, and using this regularly has all but cured my dry heels and their tendency towards splitting {my own fault, I'm quite partial to walking bare foot in the street when the children play outside our house}. It will be a definite repurchase when the dinky pot finally runs out.

And besides, I kind of like schlepping around the house with my feet wrapped in carrier bags. Who wouldn't?

Are you a fan of Volcano? Any foolproof foot care you think I should try to get my feet Choo-ready in time for the wedding?

Loveaudrey xxx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2011-10-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

Sleeping in. The children didn't wake until 8am, which is practically unheard of.
Waking up very slowly with multiple cups of tea, snuggles on the sofa with the children and a long, hot shower.
Feeling incredibly grateful for my MAC Face & Body foundation.
Strolling to a recently opened branch of Waitrose to pick up some tapas style treats for lunch. I can highly recommend the piri piri houmous and the sweet potato falafal.
Popping a beer-braised beef casserole in the oven. It's comforting scent wafted through the house while it cooked for 3 hours.
Loving the sight of Izzy all dolled up in her party gear. She seems to have inherited my weakness for sparkly shoes.
Browsing a few jewellery stores in an attempt to find Mr. LA a wedding ring.
Pouring over the newest addition to my recipe book collection and beginning to feel just a little bit festive. I <3 Nigella.
Tentatively stamping the first of the place name tags for the wedding. 20 down, only 100 or so more to go. I found a beautiful set of alphabet stamps on Amazon which seem to be working a treat so far.
Tucking into the delicious casserole. It was divine, seriously tasty! Comfort food at it's best.
Feeling really cosy.
Putting a very sleepy Izzy to bed when she got back from the party with a belly full of pizza and a new build-a-bear.
Sipping wine and watching a movie.
Sleeping in again. The children were on a roll and didn't wake us until just before 8. I really could get used to this!
Frying eggs and grilling bacon for breakfast.
Packing Izzy of to her Sunday morning drama class.
Loathing my skin.
Making sweet potato soup for lunch. It was definitely all about Autumnal comfort food this weekend.
Walking into town with Izzy to pick up a few baking supplies.
Lusting after kitchenalia in Lakelands.
Loving the crispness of the air and the colours of the leaves.
Baking Guinness ginger bread. I highly recommend this recipe, it produced such a moist, moreish cake. It will definitely be featuring as part of our cake buffet at the wedding.
Wishing our clothes would wash and dry themselves.
Drinking tea and eating cake.
Desperately searching for clutch bags for my bridesmaids that are cheap but don't look cheap. It is proving impossible.
Making fish pie for dinner.
Chuckling at Izzy and some of the novel uses she found for the humble pea.
Enjoying the peace that the children's bedtime brings.
Deciding to clean the hob.
Wishing I hadn't.
Parking myself on the sofa for some blog reading and ER DVD watching.

Loveaudrey xxx

Our Wedding Invitations #3 ~ Some Enchanted Evening

2011-10-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

Our evening invitations were something of an afterthought on my part. Not the guests themselves of course, just the means by which to solicit their attendance.

There were but a few weeks to go until the great invitation exodus was due to commence when I placed an order with Leah of Golden Apple Designs.

Leah and I first met at the Love My Dress Soiree back in August. From what I remember {I'd had a few mojitos} we spent some time giggling together while we queued patiently for our turn in the Snaparazzi photo booth. Leah was wearing the most fabulous frock from Oh My Honey and I remember thinking how stylish she looked.

Upon my return home, I took a peek at her website and was instantly drawn to the art deco fonts and exquisite illustration used on her Leaves design.

After exchanging a few emails about colours and text, Leah produced a digital proof for us before finally crafting the invitations, complete with glamorous ribbons. They arrived just in time for my self-imposed mailing deadline.

We decided to use the pink and grey from our colour scheme and Leah mirrored the ivory card stock used in our main invitations with her choice of envelope. We also opted for a postcard style RSVP. I can't wait for these to start arriving on our doormat!

Wanna see?

Behold the pretty...

I quite enjoyed stroking the beautiful card stock before I slipped them into their smart envelopes, I really did.

So, here ends the tale of our wedding invitations.

I'm not going to lie, I'm a little sad I no longer have an excuse for googling paper goods all day or pouring over images of beautiful stationery now this task has been well and truly crossed of the {rather lengthy} wedding 'to do' list.

Still, there's always the order of service to think about.

Oh, and the menus.

And I'm sure I can find some other ingenious ways to sneak more pretty paper into our day...

Loveaudrey {your friendly wedding stationery addict} xxx

Our Wedding Invitations #2 ~ The Main Event

2011-10-13T01:29:00.000-07:00

A slightly epic post I'm afraid, but here they are.

Drum roll please...

I had big DIY plans for our wedding invitations. I'd gathered all the inspiration and picked out the materials, a friend had even produced the hand drawn artwork, when, some time back in June/July, I realised I just couldn't handle crafting my own wedding invitations on top of juggling a dissertation, part time job and motherhood.

Yes, even I have my limits.

Around the same time, I stumbled across LetterboxInk on Etsy. I instantly fell in love with the work of US based graphic designer Laura Nehls and quickly set about placing an order for the vintage ticket wedding invitation. I was particularly taken with the way the RSVP tears off, just like a real ticket.

The design process was fairly straightforward, and not hindered at all by the great distance between us. Mr. LA and I selected the text for the invitations and picked out all the fonts and colours. We also provided Laura with a regular map of the venue which she was able to turn into the beauty you see in the top right-hand corner. Various proofs were emailed over to us and once we had given her the go ahead, Laura had our design printed and shipped.

However, it was not all rainbows and unicorns people. Certainly not. I learnt two very difficult lessons while selecting, ordering and mailing our wedding invitations. The first was this:

Despite having the online proof checked by 4 other people aside from myself and the Mr, we managed to miss a spelling mistake in the directions printed on the back of the invitation. I can laugh about it now, but when I spotted the error, having first ripped open the beautifully packaged parcel and excitedly poured over the beautiful paper goods it contained, my heart sank.

There were tears.

I may even have kicked a chair.

And said the F word.

Just a little. {OK. A lot}.

But hey, you live and learn I guess. God knows I won't make the same mistake next time I get married ;)

We could have sent the invitations out typo and all, but in the end we decided it was worth re-ordering that part of the bundle. Laura was happy to oblige, and the second package arrived just as speedily as the first.

My advice to anyone ordering invitations in this manner would be to, wherever possible, print a copy of the design proof. While we all missed the spelling mistake when viewed on screen, it jumped out at me from the paper within seconds of casting my eyes over them.

Oh well. *sigh*

The only addition we made to the invitations was a Moo Minicard with our gift list information printed on the reverse. The front features a black and white image of Gregory Peck {swoon} in front of the Pinewood Studios sign that I pilfered from the Internet. I think I paid around £10 for 100 of these. They're miniatureness {yes, that is a word} pleases me no end.

As you know, once envelopes had been stuffed and stamps adhered, I skipped along to the post office, my entire being overflowing with glee, and mailed these beauties to our 100+ guests. Here lies the second lesson learnt:

Check, and then double check, and then triple check that you have paid the correct postage on your wedding invitations.

I'm not a complete imbecile. This thought had occurred to me. When I visited my local post office to lay down a considerable amount of money on stamps I had enquired as to whether a second class stamp would be sufficient. The nice lady sat behind the desk pushed one of our envelopes through the slotty thing {I *think* that's the technical term} she had stashed beside her till and told me it would be fine. She did not, at any point, check the length of our invitations.

Alas, a week or so later, guests began to inform me they had received those cards that tell you to collect an item that has been mailed with insufficient postage.

Turns out our invitations are literally milimetres over the maximum allowance for second class post and should, therefore, have had a large letter stamp. It's barely visible to the naked eye but, as the manager of my local post office has since informed me, the member of staff should have checked it against their measury thing {again, a technical term}. He also told me that, and I quote, 'someone at Royal Mail needs to get a life'! The discrepancy is minimal, and it's so obviously a wedding invitation, that you'd think that, well, someone would have a heart, just maybe?

My advice? Measure and weigh your invitations yourself. Check it against the figures online and then get them to check it again at the post office.

We were left with no choice but to contact every single guest to (1) apologise profusely and (2) ask them if they would mind paying the £1.22 to collect their wedding invitation. It was mortifying. And time consuming.

My story has a happy ending though. The invitations seem to have made it. Our guests have laughed and smiled and expressed their excitement, despite our postage blunder. We jokingly refer to the incident as 'The Great Wedding Invitation Saga of 2011'. And the RSVPs have started rolling in.

All's well that ends well I guess.

Loveaudrey xxx

PS. You would think that was it, right? Invitations DONE. But no, I'm yet to share the beautiful paper used to solicit the attendance of our evening guests. Bet you can't wait!?

*makes mental note not to ramble so much, it's just paper*

OOTD ~ My Bride-To-Be Party

2011-10-10T06:17:00.000-07:00

Like any self-respecting glamour puss, I had a whole series of outfits for my weekend of decadence and debauchery in the big smoke.

OK. I had two.

For day, I opted for an old faithful from H&M that makes me feel fabulous. I paired my full-skirted floral dress with some suede coral court shoes that I picked up a while ago in the sale from LK Bennett. I managed to keep the October chill at bay with a cardigan from Oasis {also from a past season}. The one new addition to my outfit was my handbag from Accessorize. Mine is in the shade 'mink' but it comes in a few colours and, truth be told, I wouldn't mind nabbing them all.

For the evening I changed into my new dress from Reiss. I'm in love with the Livia. It fits me perfectly and the draping makes it a little more interesting than your average frock. I plan on wearing it to my friend's wedding in November and at the dinner we have planned for the night before our own wedding. A dress like this requires multiple airings to justify the hefty price tag.

On this occasion I kept things simple with black accessories in the form of an ancient jacket from Topshop {note the missing button}, a clutch bag from Accessorize and my trusty New Look heels. The sheer tights that make my legs look beige in the first photograph were a misguided puchase from M&S.

I wore an old LE YSL polish on my nails. I love this gorgeous grey shade, I believe it's called Stormy Grey but the bottle unfortunately isn't marked. I opted for a soft smoky eye using the Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Illusoire, MAC Vex and Print eyeshadows and lashings of black liner and mascara. I wore Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Fetiche on my lips.

Oh how I wish I had an excuse for this much glamour and excitement all the time!

Loveaudrey xxx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2011-10-10T05:26:00.000-07:00

Waking up in my Mum's flat in west London. My friend Kate and I had travelled up by train on Friday evening for my bride-to-be party weekend {a hen do by any other name}, sipping bubbly and eating Sainsbury's Taste the Difference crisps all the way.
Drinking tea and enjoying a breakfast of fruit and yogurt in my Mother's sunlit kitchen.
Heading to Westfield for a spot of wedding related shopping.
Buying my wedding undies from Rigby & Peller. It's definitely an indulgence {read: the most expensive bra I've ever bought} but worth every penny. The assistant was happy for me to try my wedding dress on over everything and I was thrilled with the image that gazed back at me from the mirror when I did. If you're somewhat lacking in the boob department like me, and looking for something you can wear with a wedding dress that has straps, I highly recommend the Simone Perele Nina Bra in ivory.
Feeling grateful for Spanx. Don't worry, I'll slip into something a little, ahem, comfier, at the end of the evening!
Welling up a little when my Mum bought her outfit for the wedding. All she needs now is a fabulous hat.
Window shopping in Tiffany's.
Arriving home to find my sister Nicola, bridesmaid Sarah and friend Laura had decorated the flat with balloons and pretty pictures.
Meeting more of my gorgeous girlfriends outside St. Pauls tube station.
Strolling to Bea's of Bloomsbury where we enjoyed the most incredible afternoon tea. There were delicious sandwiches, a seemingly endless selection of teas {I sampled the jasmine, it was divine}, scones with jam and clotted cream, brownies, blondies, cupcakes, pistachio meringues, and homemade cinnamon marshmallows. It was, quite simply, heaven.
Loving the teapot lampshades that dangled above our heads.
Travelling back to my Mum's flat for a few glasses of prosecco while we slipped into something a little more glamorous. Our adventures in hair and makeup were accompanied by my sister's fabulous ipod play list of cheeeezy music. I do love a bit of Britney!
Taking the tube to Leicester Square and walking to Kettners in Soho.
Bumping into a few Zombies on the way!
Admiring the restaurant my friends had chosen for dinner. Kettners oozes glamour and I felt as if I'd wandered on to the set of Breakfast at Tiffany's. There was a champagne bar, a beautiful spiral staircase and a gentleman playing at a white baby grand piano.
Struggling to decide what to eat, it all sounded so delicious. In the end I went for the fishcakes with pease pudding and shrimp butter. It was incredible, the kind of meal you remember eating forever.
Drinking a delectable rose wine that just so happened to be called 'Pretty Gorgeous'.
Enjoying myself more than I thought possible and feeling very, very lucky to have such fabulous friends and family.
Trying {and failing} to elegantly drape myself over the banister of the opulent staircase for a photograph. I fear I looked more 'hooker' than 'hollywood starlet'.
Chuckling at the friendly Belgian on the tube who told my Mum we were the most sophisticated hen do he had ever encountered.
Laughing at Laura when she sauntered up behind me on the escalator and said 'I just have to tell you, your bum looks amazing in that dress'.
Polishing off the prosecco, giggling, and chatting with my friends back at the flat.
Tumbling into bed.
Waking up with a teeny tiny hangover.
Enjoying an epic cooked breakfast courtesy of my Mum and my sister.
Wishing the weekend could last forever.
Saying goodbye to friends and setting off for home.
Wondering if the children were more excited about my arrival or the box of leftover cakes from our afternoon tea that I bought back from London. I suspect it was the latter.

Loveaudrey xxx

EPIC MEAL TIME with the Little Loveaudreys

2011-10-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

Note to self: Next time you leave Mr. LA alone with the children remember to lock the kitchen, hide the joint account card, and warn the local pound shop not to serve him.

The Inspiration

The Ingredients

The Chef

The Making

The Eating

Just another one of Mr. LA's healthy, nutritious meal choices for the children *sigh*.

Loveaudrey xxx

PS. I can assure you no milk teeth were harmed in the making of this pizza. The children brushed their teeth as soon as they had come down from their sugar high.

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2011-10-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

Waking up full of anticipation and excitement.
Packing my overnight bag. It predominantly contained shoes. I found myself temporarily unable to comit to a single pair. So I took three.
Eating one of Mr. LA's delicious omelettes for breakfast.
Walking to the station in the blazing hot sunshine and boarding the train to London.
Whiling away the journey by giving myself a manicure with Chanel Graphite {LOVE}, reading wedding magazines, sipping evian and munching on a wispa.
Stepping on to the platform at Paddington and being overwhelmed by a feeling of coming home.
Wishing I still lived in London.
Loving the sunshine.
Meeting my best friend {and bridesmaid} Sarah near her flat in Ladbroke Grove.
Drinking tea and catching up.
Strolling down Portebello Road.
Admiring all the vintage clothes for sale. Especially the winter coats, but it was simply too hot to even contemplate such a purchase.
Wishing I still lived in London.
Discussing ways to ~~manipulate~~ gently persuade Mr. LA to move back.
Getting dressed in my dark denim skinny jeans, black top and nude peep toe heels.
Loving my Chanel Gondola pedicure. Such a pretty shade.
Sipping rose wine and eating a meal prepared by Sarah's fiance, Dom. It was a kind of satay chicken thing wrapped in crisp green lettuce and it was delicious.
Heading to Holborn for another friend's hen do.
Reluctantly sipping warm wine through a willy straw while inwardly wishing Tattybojangles and her Vintage Hen House would take over the world.
Enjoying a ridiculously expensive mojito in a bar in Covent Garden.
Feeling a little nostalgic for my {misspent} youth.
Wishing I still lived in London.
Turning down shots. How very, very sensible of me.
Surviving the tube and the night bus on the journey home.
Cursing the children when I found myself wide awake at 6.50am. Kids don't half screw with your body clock.
Enjoying a bacon sandwich.
Enduring a tortuous journey to Stevenage {oh! engineering works and rail replacement buses, how I despise thee!} for my wedding makeup trial with Katy.
Being made to feel very, very beautiful. I've come to the conclusion that Katy is a genius. She managed to work her magic on a slightly hungover bride-to-be, even though she was 39 weeks pregnant and in sweltering heat. Plus, she's lovely.
Feeling very grateful after Katy drove us to the end of the Picaddilly line so we could get back into London without the fear of missing my 5pm train back to Exeter.
Grabbing a snack and stocking up on trashy mags for the journey home.
Wishing I still lived in London.
Watching the sunset over Bath through the train window.
Throwing my arms round Mr. LA as I entered the house
Giggling as he stared in amazement at my beautifully made up eyes {that were still immaculate after 9hrs of wear and a cheeky nap on the train}.
Tumbling into bed and dreaming of London, dreaming of home.

Loveaudrey xxx

Our Wedding Invitations #1 ~ A Promise

2011-10-03T07:23:00.000-07:00

I, Loveaudrey, hereby swear never to take a wedding invitation for granted ever again.

Should one arrive on our doormat, I will skip with glee to retrieve it. I will stroke the fine envelope and admire the penmanship employed to scribe our address.

I'll savour every second of the opening, slowly peeling back the seal of the envelope, inhaling the papery goodness within as I do.

I'll imagine the fair bride {because, let's face it, it's usually the bride} sat hunched over her precious mountain of invitations, stuffing envelopes and adhering stamp after stamp after stamp.

I'll recognise her dedication to the task, continuing on even when her tongue was left numb by the repeated licking of the glue used to seal her beloved bridal paper goods.

As I read what's printed on the card, I'll relish every detail. I'll admire the font, the choice of colour and the weight of the paper.

And if the invitation appears to possess even the slightest hint of a DIY detail, if I detect a smudge of glue, or crisp edges that could only have been fashioned by a bride-to-be wielding a craft knife, or if there is ribbon or twine that has been tied lovingly by hand, I swear I will double my efforts and linger even longer to appreciate the magnificence of such efforts.

As my eyes scan the text, I'll acknowledge the thought that will have no doubt been put into selecting the words on the page, the sentences that express the very essence of the object. Someone is getting married and they want us to share that moment with them.

After all this, I will respond swiftly with my R.S.V.P. I will include a personal message expressing our gratitude and excitement. I'll tell the bride-to-be and her groom that their invitations are exquisite {whether they be to my taste or not}.

Because invitations take hours.

There is blood, sweat, and tears.

There are spelling mistakes, paper cuts and stamps.

Lots of stamps.

And because, if the sender is anything like me, she'll have hesitated in front of the wide mouth of the post box, the stack of invitations clasped tightly in her hand, and felt a mixture of nerves and excitement and anticipation as she finally let them fall.

'This is it,' she thinks, 'it's really happening'.

Loveaudrey xxx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2011-09-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

Missing Mr. LA. Again. He was working away in London from Friday to Saturday evening and both myself and the children missed him terribly.
Feeling very, very sleepy. Jesse suffered another attack of night terrors on Friday night. I'll be SO glad when he's grown out of these, I cannot stand seeing him so scared and upset when there's absolutely nothing I can do but cuddle him and tell him everything is going to be OK.
Strolling into town in the sunshine. Is it just me or is September shaping up to be warmer, drier and generally nicer than August?
Embracing Jesse's urge to carry a pink, sparkly 'man bag'.
Eating an M&S picnic lunch on cathedral green.
Excitedly opening a beautifully wrapped parcel of evening wedding invitations from Golden Apple Designs. Leah has done a fabulous job and I cannot wait to mail these beauties. She even snuck Audrey into the package for me. Tres chic!
Spending a lot of time at the park.
Loving the sight of the children traipsing through crisp, crunchy fallen leaves.
Chuckling at Jesse's apparent exhaustion on the walk home! 'Go fast asleep mummy' *makes snoring noises*.
Watching 'The Land Before Time' with the children. I do love me an 80s dinosaur themed cartoon.
Eating too many Percy Pigs.
Pining for Mr. LA.
Cooking and eating macaroni cheese.
Watching old episodes of ER while snuggled under one of the children's blankets.
Dashing to the front door as Mr. LA's key turned in the lock.
Hugging and kissing.
Enjoying a lie in.
Reading trashy magazines and drinking diet coke while I had my hair cut and coloured.
Wondering if anyone actually likes their hair right after it's been trimmed. I always long to wash and blow dry it myself, no matter how good the stylist.
Indulging in a new frock from Reiss. It wasn't cheap, but I did a little girly maths and, as I've already got 3 events in mind to which it can be worn, it was *technically* a bargain.
Heading to Giraffe for dinner. I ordered sesame noodles but I wished I'd gone for a burger after I saw Mr. LA's meal arrive.
Buying the children McFlurrys on the way home.
Marvelling at the mess created by aforementioned McFlurrys.
Cleaning the children up and tucking them into bed.
Settling down to an evening of addressing wedding invitations. Stuffing envelopes and adhering stamps has never been so exciting.

Loveaudrey xxx

Date For Your Diary

2011-09-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

I fed my stationery addiction this week. I purchased a new diary.

I fully embraced the desire for newness that September brings {a throwback to school days and the customary addition of a shiny new pencil case, lunchbox and book bag}, indulging in a small, soft backed, 18 month Moleskin. It's a beauty. Behold...

I spent an evening filling in important dates. Our wedding day ranked pretty highly on the list, as did our honeymoon.

Did I mention we booked our honeymoon? Two weeks in Koh Samui, Thailand. WITHOUT CHILDREN.

Uh huh, that's right, sans enfant.

Believe it or not, it will be our first holiday together, on our own, EVER.

Unless you count that weekend of camping in north Devon the first May bank holiday we were together. Technically, I was already pregnant with Izzy so we weren't really alone, in the true sense of the word. Besides, we were in a tent. And we only had one sleeping bag {although Mr. LA didn't seem to mind too much *wink*} and we weren't even calling each other girlfriend and boyfriend at the time. At least not out loud. My, how things have changed, hey?

Anyway, we're booked into the Sala Samui and we'll be jetting off a few months after the wedding. I've never fancied honeymooning immediately after the big day, for reasons I can't entirely fathom, but when I realised my graduation ceremony would be the weekend following the wedding, I knew I simply couldn't miss it. Currently toying with the idea of giving my wedding dress a second airing under my robes. My Jimmy Choos will compliment the mortar board perfectly, no?

The pages of my beloved Moleskin will be perfect for honeymoon packing lists. Exactly how many bikinis does one require for a two week stay in the sun?

Where did/will you go on your honeymoon? Are you a fan of Moleskin notebooks? They make me go a little weak at the knees, truth be told. Please excuse me while I stroke its pristine pages...

Loveaudrey xxx

A Walk in the Park

2011-09-19T12:33:00.000-07:00

What would you do if the man in your life was, at times, defiant and agressive?

If he was capable of screaming and shouting at you, sometimes even slapping and kicking?

What would you do if he pulled your hair and screamed 'NO' every time you asked him politely to do something?

How would you cope if he had violent mood swings? If he was all smiles and laughter and affection one moment, but tears and sullen looks the next?

What if he insisted on running away from you in public? Or, at times, behaved in such a way so as to embarrass you profusely in front of both friends and strangers alike?

What if he refused every meal you lovingly prepared for him, throwing cutlery and plates on the floor in the process?

And how would you cope if his personal hygiene, his toilet habits, left much to be desired? If the only way he'd 'go' was with you, seated on the floor next to him, reading or singing while he tried to pee?

What if your relationship with this man was so exhausting, so draining, that you lacked the energy for anything else?

And what if you loved this man completely and unconditionally?

Terrible 2s. It's no walk in the park.

Loveaudrey xxx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2011-09-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

Missing Mr. LA. Loads. He was away filming all weekend at the Budleigh Literary Festival. In the process of wielding his camera he was able to meet some pretty famous authors and listen to a reading by the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy. He came home with a signed copy of a book by Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall {that's right, Hugh's Mum}, 'The Ministry of Food'. Really looking forward to attempting some wartime recipes.
Taking the children to the library. Great way to kill a few hours on a Saturday morning. Izzy and Jesse really enjoy picking out their items to borrow, and we always come home with a huge stack of picture books and story CDs. Izzy is really into Enid Blyton at the moment and likes to read a few pages of The Enchanted Wood, before listening to Malory Towers while she falls asleep.
Being consumed by a sudden, uncontrollable urge to make soup. It must be autumn.
Making soup. This recipe for speedy sweet potato soup with coconut was delicious, incredibly easy and perfect served with mini garlic naan breads.
Feeling thankful for Jesse's nap time.
Taking a stroll to the park with the children during a brief burst of sunshine, in what was otherwise a very wet Saturday.
Snuggling up on the sofa to watch Mary Poppins. Hot chocolate, fluffy marshmallows, and toffee popcorn provided sustenance throughout the afternoon.
Bracing myself for mess as the children settled down to make their own pizzas for tea.
Marvelling at just how many olives Jesse can fit in his mouth at once.
Drinking wine and talking wedding flowers with my friend and florist, Hayley.
Getting very excited about bouquets and table arrangements. I can't wait to see all our plans come to life. There will be roses and lilies and carnations and eucalyptus and brunia... {have a peak at my inspiration board on Pinterest here if you want a clearer idea of what we're hoping for}
Loving the children for sleeping to almost 8am.
Hating the rain.
Dropping Izzy at drama class and dashing to Starbucks with Jesse for hot chocolate and a danish pastry.
Feeling very shaken after arriving home to find our front door wide open. I was worried we'd been burgled or that we might be about to disturb an intruder. Luckily our neighbours were home and could come into the house with me. Thankfully nothing was awry. I probably just failed to close the door properly, meaning it could be blown open by the wind. Still, scary stuff.
Hugging my Mum when she arrived a short while later and then sipping tea to calm myself down.
Shopping for my Mum's wedding outfit. We came home empty handed but I think she might be closer to finding what she wants.
Thinking that 6-7pm must be Jesse's witching hour. It was tantrum central at our house during supper, bath time and right before bed. What fun *insert sarcasm emoticon*.
Breathing a BIG sigh of relief when Mr. LA came in through the front door.
Flinging my arms round his neck and hugging him. For a long time.
Planning a lazy evening on the sofa and an early{ish} night.

Loveaudrey xxx

It's the little things...

2011-09-16T00:42:00.000-07:00

When you're planning a wedding, crossing the big things {venue, dress, photographer etc} off your 'To Do' list feels great.

But it's the little things that get me really excited. Especially the little things that require online shopping and the subsequent receipt of multiple packages.

Oh yes, wedding planning may have taken a backseat while I put ~~myself through hell~~ finished my MA, but I still managed to accumulate a veritable stash of wedding bounty. While I build myself up/summon the strength for a few of the DIY projects these items are destined for, it's all being stored in my vintage suitcase. Each time I crave a quick fix of weddingness, I need only lift the lid of the battered old case and I can breath in all the anticipation and excitement it contains.

Our guests will sip their welcome cocktails through the striped grey stores {purchased from Papermash} while they snack on canapes after the ceremony. The mini chalk boards {Calico Crafts}will be used to label the baked goods at our cake buffet. The luggage tags and the grey bakers twine {both Ebay finds} will eventually be transformed into place names for our guests at the wedding breakfast {inspired by this wedding, the bride from which blogs here}. I'm yet to buy the set of alphabet stamps required to emblazon them with the names of all our guests. I dread to think how long it'll take me to make just over 100 of them!

Tucked away, just hidden from view, there's also a kraft square scrapbook from Paperchase, which I plan to tart up a little and use as our guest book. Currently toying with the idea of adhering a small sign from Vicky Trainor's The Vintage Draw collection. I think 'love notes' would work well, don't you?

Anyway, I'm rambling. I guess I'm just excited that, with less than 4 months to go to the big day {eeek!} and my studies finally over, I can now throw myself into the many wedding tasks that lie ahead.

What do you think of all these bits and bobs? Did you enjoy the little things while planning your wedding?

Loveaudrey xxx

Sneak Peek {of the paper variety}

2011-09-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favourite things.

This bundle of wedding invitations arrived from the US weeks ago and it has taken every ounce of willpower in my possession to resist ripping off the packaging and immersing myself in their papery goodness.

Alas, I knew, if I was to allow myself even the slightest glimpse, I'd loose hours of valuable study time to addressing envelopes and adhering stamps.

So I decided mailing our wedding invitations would be one of the many rewards for completing my dissertation.

You can expect a full reveal once they've all been sent out and received by at least the handful of guests that read my Internet based ramblings.

I'm off to lick a few stamps.

Loveaudrey xxx

Night Night, Sleep Tight ~ Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins: A Review

2011-09-14T04:35:00.000-07:00

The idea of religiously applying a night cream each evening before I go to bed has long appealed to me. In the vintage dream world of my imagination, I would sit at an opulent vanity table and scoop something rich and unctuous from a weighty glass pot with an ornate lid. I'd massage the heavy cream deeply into my skin with perfectly manicured finger tips before retiring for the night. All this would of course be accompanied by the swooshes and swirls of my billowing silk negligee.

Yea right.

In reality, my skin wouldn't take kindly to such a cream at all and I'd probably wake the following morning with a face full of spots. As inviting as such a ritual might seem, night creams just aren't for me.

Or so I thought, until about 6 weeks ago when I stumbled across Origins latest offering, Night-A-Mins, while wandering aimlessly around my local House of Fraser in a desperate attempt to distract myself from my dissertation.

The cream's promise to brighten my complexion, coupled with the fact they offer a lighter version for oily/combination skin, ensured a pot came home with me that day and, after a fair few weeks of solid use, I can safely say I'm well and truly smitten with this product.

I can certainly attest to the accuracy of the products brightening claims. I've been stressed and exhausted throughout the dissertation writing process, and insomnia really began to plague me towards the end. Despite this, I had countless compliments from friends and colleagues about how rested and healthy I looked. Sure, makeup helps in these situations, but I'm convinced this product makes a difference, leaving my skin smooth, plump and, well, radiant.

I love the gel-like texture of this cream, never giving me any cause to fear it would break me out. It sinks in quickly and I can see the pot will last me well as it spreads beautifully, meaning I only require a small amount for each application. Which is a good thing, as it's certainly not the cheapest cream on the market.

My only criticism, if you can call it that, is the zingy orange scent. I understand this fragrance fits with the products brightening capabilities but I personally find it a little stimulating for something I apply right before I bed down for the night. Nonetheless, this will be a definite re-purchase for me when the pot eventually runs out.

I've taken to keeping my pot of Night-A-Mins on my bedside table. I cleanse and tone before I clamber into bed and then, after a few pages of a good book {currently re-reading Hemingways's 'A Farewell to Arms' before I work my way through that stack of F. Scott Fitzgerald books}, I apply my Night-A-Mins, kiss Mr. LA good night {'you smell of oranges'}, and do my best to sleep tight.

Are you a fan of night cream? Have you tried Night-A-Mins, or anything else from the Origins range? What's your bedtime ritual?

Loveaudrey xxx

Hidden Gems

2011-09-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

My wardrobe is in desperate need of an overhaul after months of not having time/money to shop. I feel as if I've been wearing the same old outfits in rotation forever, and I really need to get myself out of my skinny jeans/grey top/black ballet pumps rut. However, as the children conveniently decided to grow like weeds over the summer, meaning they now require a heap of new clothes, funds with which to dress myself are despairingly low. This situation was particularly apparent the other day when, having just spent almost £100 on new shoes for both Izzy and Jesse, I found myself sticking my £20 pumps from New Look back together with superglue. Such is a mother's life.

So you can imagine my joy when I spied some bargains in Next this morning. I have to admit, I don't often browse the rails of adult clothes in this particular store, opting to make my way straight to the kid's section on the 3rd floor instead {see, there they go again, spending all my money}. However, after spotting a few bloggers like Jen modelling some interesting items, I decided to take a closer look. If you can get past the overwhelming range of corporate wear and strange blouse/cardi combos {I mean they're actually sewn together, what's that about?} then there really are a few great purchases to be made.

Black Blouse {crochet front/sheer back & sleeves} ~ £22

Teal Blouse ~ £24

Navy Jumper ~ £18

The black top looks lovely on. I'm tempted to pick it up in cream too, to wear with some brightly coloured skinnies I've got my eye on {teal or burgundy? I can't decide} and a black blazer.

I could live in blouses like this teal one. I like the boxy shape, perfect with my staple skinnies and flats. It can also be dressed up really easily with the addition of a pair of heels and some statement jewellery.

The navy sweater is incredibly soft and cut really well. I love the grey flecks. This comes in a couple of other colours {charcoal grey and dusky pink I think} and at only £18 I may well have to pick up another one. I'll probably wear this layered over a grey vest with jeans, tan boots and a heap of silver jewellery. I feel warmer already.

Have you ventured into Next recently? Do you have your sartorial Autumn wish list all figured out yet?

Loveaudrey xxx

The Scent Series #6 ~ Ormonde Jayne Frangipani: A Review

2011-09-12T02:09:00.000-07:00

Confession time.

In the last few weeks of writing my dissertation, I may have, ahem... *whispers* 'let myself go'.

Just a little.

OK. Maybe quite a lot.

My uniform consisted of pyjamas and my hair was generally unwashed {ick}. I went days without makeup and all my lotions and potions lay untouched on my bathroom shelves. There were no leisurely soaks in the tub, I scrimped on the body scrub and skipped my usual body lotion altogether. There just wasn't time and, to be honest, chained to my desk with no cause to set foot outside my own home for days, there simply wasn't the inclination either.

In light of my generally horrific appearance during this dark period of academic torture, it's not hard to appreciate why perfume became something of a lifeline for me. A quick spritz was enough to convince me I hadn't let things slip completely, instantly transforming my mood and lifting my spirits.

One scent in particular really stood out for me this summer. Frangipani by niche London perfumery Ormonde Jayne called to me from the moment I opened the discovery set I ordered way back in July, when I first began compiling The Scent Series.

The name instantly conjured up images of Mr. LA proposing in Bali last year. The grounds of our hotel were bursting with Frangipani trees, and the white blooms decorated the table during the romantic open-air evening meal which saw my then boyfriend proposing on bended knee. I even slipped one behind my ear for the rest of the evening.

I hoped this perfume would transport me straight back to that candle-lit spot under the stars.

But it didn't.

So, initially, I dismissed it, and set about amusing myself with all the other wonderful perfumes in the set. I found my way back to it in the end though, and eventually came to love it as I do now.

Frangipani is fresh and uplifting when I first apply it. I get a burst of lime on my skin, which I love. This soon subsides though, revealing a delicious creamy floral that's fun, rather than old fashioned. Then, as it develops further, it is sweet, but never cloying, and I find the vanilla and musk that lingers hours later immensely comforting. There's something incredibly soft and billowy about the fragrance, a quality you probably wouldn't expect from its zingy opener. Tania Sanchez describes it perfectly in Perfumes: The A-Z Guide when she says it maintains 'a seamless impression of just-picked dewy freshness and intensity for hours, from the burst of its lemony start, through its long, cool, cedary dry down'.

I like Frangipani for day, but would be equally happy to reapply for evening, especially a warm evening spent outdoors {preferably sipping mojitos and watching the sunset}. Although, I suppose now that September is upon us there won't be too many of those *sigh*. As my perfume tastes change dramatically in the winter, I can't see myself reaching for this much during the cooler months, but I am determined to invest in a full size bottle by the time next summer rolls around. In the meantime, I'm rapidly falling in love with Tolu. But that's another story for another day...

Have you sampled any of the Ormonde Jayne range? Do you have any favourites, or are you tempted by Frangipani?

Loveaudrey xXx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2011-09-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

Waking up with a teeny tiny hangover. I finished my MA on Friday and finishing an MA calls for lots of wine, Chinese take away and a late night lying in bed with Mr. LA chatting about the future, no?
Snuggling in bed with the children. Everything felt different this weekend. There was no rush, nothing to tear me away from Izzy and Jesse. So I made the most of those sleepy cuddles under the bed covers. It was wonderful.
Eating porridge and drinking tea.
Taking a long, hot shower.
Wearing proper makeup again. My daily face has been incredibly minimal of late, and I simply didn't bother on the days where I didn't leave the house {which was more than I care to remember}. It's wonderful to pop a bit of blush on again, curl my lashes and apply some lippy.
Finally strolling into town for a quick food shop.
Realising that when you have a toddler with you a 'quick' food shop just isn't quick enough.
Preparing an indoor picnic.
Marvelling at how much more enthusiastic children are about food when you let them eat in on the floor of their playroom.
Being instantly transported back to my youth with one taste of a Frazzle. One question though, how can something that looks and tastes exactly like a bacon strip {in crisp form} be suitable for vegetarians?
Settling down on the sofa for an afternoon of movie watching. We draw the curtains, fill huge bowls with toffee pop corn and pretend we're at the cinema.
Cooking bombay pie for dinner. I tweaked a recipe I found on the wonderful food blog She Cooks She Eats to create what was basically a huge samosa. It was delicious!
Struggling to relax once the children went to bed. I was beginning to worry I might actually have forgotten how to. Eventually Mr. LA intervened and forced me to park myself on the sofa in front of my ER DVDs.
Having a lie in. Mr. LA took the children downstairs when they woke up and then, when I finally emerged an hour later, he cooked me an omelet. He is love.
Loving the sight of Jesse 'cooking' in his snuggly onesie {you can't beat Primark's fleecy jammies for little ones at this time of year}.
Eating chili bean soup and toasted bagels for lunch.
Cleaning the kitchen. I mean properly, stupidly cleaning the kitchen. Scrubbing cupboard doors and dusting the washing machine type cleaning. It was incredibly therapeutic.
Taking a long walk down to the river. It was a beautiful day. Cold enough for a coat, but not freezing, with just enough of a gust of wind to leave you feeling really refreshed by the end of it.
Spending the rest of the afternoon in the kitchen. I made fish pie {Jamie Oliver's from The Return of the Naked Chef, it's the best} and a huge plum and pecan crumble for pudding {a Nigella recipe from How To Be A Domestic Goddess}. It was fabulous, and perfect for our first Autumn weekend.
Trying to remain calm in the face of a huge tantrum. Jesse spent most of dinner on the naughty step and missed out on pudding. Did he care? Did he heck.
Having second thoughts about my no smacking policy*.
Putting two very sleepy children to bed.
De-potting my MAC shadows. Finally. I've been wanting to do this for the last year. Quite strange to actually have the time to do it.
Planning an evening of blog reading from the comfort of my bed.

Loveaudrey xxx

* I joke. Just in case you were about to call the NSPCC or something.

Things I have learnt while studying for an MA in English...

2011-09-10T01:02:00.000-07:00

... ya know, aside from all the, er, English

1. When I decide I'm going to do something, I bloody well do it.

2. Postgraduate study is intense and unrelenting. If it doesn't hurt, you're probably not doing it right.

3. Despite all the hard work, student life is pretty fabulous. A few seminars a week, nice comfy sofas to ~~snooze~~ study on in the library and a Starbucks on campus. They even give you money off in Topshop.

4. I am totally incapable of dressing like a student. I cannot bring myself to wear my pjs to lectures, I don't own a hoody and I'm allergic to Uggs. I much prefer gliding around the library in a nice frock, heels and red lippy. Overdressed, moi?

5. I'm going to have to find a new way to indulge my stationery fetish now that I no longer require an endless supply of pretty notebooks and folders.

6. Stress wreaks havoc on my immune system. I have never been as ill as I have over the last year. Flu, chest infections, general exhaustion ... you name, it I've had it. Bleugh.

7. I'm rubbish at looking after myself when I'm under pressure.

8. Mr. LA is fabulous at looking after me when I'm under pressure.

9. Maintaining a good relationship with your fiance while you're studying/working part time/raising two children is incredibly hard.

10. But it's worth it.

11. I am my harshest critic.

12. This is both a blessing and a curse. I may berate myself for perceived failures, but its the same mindset that drives me to work incredibly hard.

13. I'm useless at returning things to the library on time.

14. Having a cute little boy in a buggy with you when you go to pay your library fines usually results in them being revoked. This is one of the few perks of being a student parent.

15. Writing a 20,000 word dissertation is really, really hard.

16. I can write a 20,000 word dissertation.

17. There is no such thing as too much tea or chocolate when you're writing a 20,000 word dissertation.

18. When people tell me I'm a super woman it makes me cringe a little.

{19. But secretly, I know they're right.}

20. Achieving something people assumed you never would may be the greatest feeling in the world.

Loveaudrey xxx

P.S This post was very much inspired by Laura of Lollipop Loves . She posts a similar list each month which I love to read. Her blog is FABULOUS, go there now.

The End

2011-09-09T09:29:00.000-07:00

Dissertation Hand-In from loveaudrey on Vimeo.

Loveaudrey xxx

P.S Please excuse my dodgy fringe throughout. The 'director' failed to inform me that it looked like I had some kind of weird comb over going on.

P.P.S I DID IT!

Almost There

2011-08-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

Audrey. Just Because.

I wanted to write a quick post explaining why there will probably be a complete lack of posts from me over the next few weeks.

It was supposed to be something along the lines of 'I'm finishing up my dissertation, it consumes me and leaves me bereft of the creativity and inspiration required to write something worth reading'.

I've stared at my laptop for the last 15 minutes and not managed to find a wittier or more eloquent way of saying this, thus proving my point.

Writing a 20,000 word essay sucks. I'm simultaneously dreading the September 13th deadline and willing it closer.

Anyway, I'll see you on the other side.

Loveaudrey xxx

My weekend has mainly been spent...

2011-08-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

Missing the children. The bath time snapshot was taken on Friday evening as they passed through on their way to the other set of Grandparents. They'll not be back until late on Thursday. Can. Not. Wait.
Studying. A lot. I passed 15,000 words on my dissertation this morning which felt good. With 75% written and less than 5000 words to go it's feeling very achievable this evening.
Watching old episodes of Sex and the City.
Eating noodles and king prawns, lovingly prepared by Mr. LA.
Drinking pink wine and snacking on chocolate brownies.
Watching a documentary on the metal band Anvil. Mr. LA's choice {obviously} but I actually quite enjoyed it and found myself willing the aging rockers to make it big by the end. It was all a bit Spinal Tap, very amusing.
Waking up earlier than a person should when there are no children in the house.
Leaving Mr. LA to lie in.
Drinking tea.
Writing about Kubrick's 'Full Metal Jacket' for 3 hours.
Getting The Surfin Bird stuck in my head as a result. Thanks Kubrick, thanks a lot.
Having a good skin day. So good I went without foundation.
Strolling into town in the sunshine.
Falling out/making up.
Lusting after autumn/winter clothing in the shops. Try as I might, I just can't bring myself to buy a thick, snuggly jumper on the 21st August.
Spending my birthday money at the Chanel counter.
Loving Graphite nail polish.
Lunching on toasted crumpets with marmite. Yummy.
Writing until my brain screams.
Looking forward to using the baking supplies my friend gifted to me for my birthday. I <3 polka dots.
Enjoying a big dinner, again cooked by Mr. LA. He really is keeping me nourished throughout this stressful dissertation-filled time.
Preparing for an evening spent relaxing {and not thinking about my dissertation} on the sofa.

Loveaudrey xxx

The Scent series #5 ~ A Tale of Two Sisters

2011-08-20T10:35:00.001-07:00

The third guest post in The Scent Series comes from Scribblings of a Brit Girl, a.k.a Sara. It's a good one people, read on...

If there was one thing to define my family it would be our choices of scents and the memories they have created. My mother loves scent, and even to this day her dressing table has a cornucopia of well-known names littering its top, some dabbled with as a change, but the oh so familiar smells of either Channel No5 or L’Air Du Temps intermingled with cigarette smoke are ones that immediately take me back to witnessing her get ready to go out or coming back late and creeping in to check on us.

My dad’s chest of drawers also had a similar amount of aftershaves on it, and in the dead of night, in that place between awake and asleep, sometimes I think I can smell Givenchy Pour Homme Blue mixed with soil, newsprint and the smell of a hot cup of tea.

But it always astounds me that you can have two people with a shared history like that, and so many shared memories, yet such different choices in scent. My sister and I have both been lucky to be appreciative of scent in the same way as our parents, but that’s where It ends.

My sister, although younger in age, is older in spirit and her perfume choices reflect this. Her current defining scent is Armani Code for Women. Its distinctive bottle, draped in an exotic floral pattern, dark blue and with an almost hour glass shape, screams her. Orange Blossom, Vanilla, Honey, Jasmine all blended together to create ‘An unforgettable fragrance that exudes a mysterious charm’. Anyone that knows my sister would say that she’s the sort of woman that leaves an impression on you that you wouldn't forget easily.

The other scent that she used to wear rather a lot, and again makes me think of her, is Boss Femme. Apparently representing ‘ultra feminine beauty', this creates 'a radiant cloud of softness ... with a sophisticated and captivating aura' that 'lets your inner light radiate’. Now I know that it’s talking about the perfume, but seriously, it certainly tells us a lot about my beloved sibling. Not only that she prefers perfumes in the oriental floral end of the spectrum, as again it’s a similar combination of notes – tangerine, stephanotis, oriental lily and rose petals.

So, I hear you cry, what does yours truly favour? Well, I consider myself to be a bit of a fragrance floozy, and I've dabbled with many over the years. I think it was because I wasn't comfortable in my own skin, I didn't truly know who I was. I think you have to know yourself well to find the perfume to match your personality perfectly.

At this point in my life, being older and wiser, I embrace Marc Jacobs, and his two iconic brands – Daisy and Lola. Daisy is apparently ‘Radiant and enchanting ... a sparkling floral bouquet - spirited and fresh, wrapped in comfort and warmth'. At its heart 'Daisy is a floral with a vintage edge: Violet, sophisticated with a touch of whimsy…’. I like to think this would be considered a good way to sum me up.

Despite being schooled to think differently, I actually tend to prefer Eau de Toilette for its lightness compared to its more grown up and robust sister Eau de Parfum, which is what my own sister would usually plump for in a fragrance.

So, to Lola, which is probably my more often worn of the two. It's quite a complex scent, ‘playfully alluring and irresistibly tempting ... created for a free spirit’. But I think the fact its considered to have an ‘ultra feminine heart’ is what captures my nose…. its notes of (wait for it, it’s quite a list) pink peppercorn, pear d’anjou, ruby red grapefruit, peony, rose, geranium, vanilla, tonka bean and musk seem to create a floral girly scent that is somehow fresher and more grown up than the very very girly ones I favoured when I was younger.

For me, I know that anything that has peony, rose, and geranium in will always get my attentions. I think I like to see myself as a the sort of girl that has vintage down pat, and has an eclectic way of dressing and being, even if that’s not necessarily the case. My sister favours lily, jasmine, and all varying blossoms, sending out the message she’s a classic, classy, sophisticated sort…. the type of person that has a confident and striking persona.

I’ve always thought that scent has such power to create a vision of how people see you, and despite us having oodles in common, our scents will always mark the two of us out as very different indeed.

(quotes copyright of Boots.com)

Reading Sara's wonderful words really got me thinking about my own sister's scent selections. She's also a fan of Daisy and, while I appreciate the fragrance on her, it's not something I've ever been drawn to myself. I feel the need to peruse her perfume collection at the next available opportunity and compare {fragrance} notes.

Do you wear any of the scents mentioned here? Can you relate to this sisterly scent memory?

Loveaudrey xxx