Cosy Revenge Autumn

 Hi darlings x

Happy Halloween!

I got some Halloween chocolates from an LA Chocolate company, my dad got me them as gift when he was in America recently.

New Camisole

I decided to get my sewing machine out, I hadn't done any sewing this year... my sewing machine was in storage and the idea of getting it out just overwhelmed me, like I wasn't in the right headspace.

Anyway, I made a camisole using a UFO fabric I got ages ago. I fell in love with this fabric and I can't believe it has taken me so long to use it. 

The sewing pattern is free from Tammy Handmade, you can click the link here to get the download. It has a scallop neckline, which on mine is... subtle. It doesn't have darts so its very easy to sew other than the slightly fiddly scallops which you can omit if you fancy. I think it is great pattern and I will defo use it again. It is a very quick sew and one of those reliable projects. 

Please overlook the terrible photos-  my back camera was playing up (my phone is 5 years old and the back camera likes to just decide not to work from time to time) and the room has the worst lighting!

I am very happy with this and I just know I am going to wear it allll the time.

Wintery Things

I have started doing some planning for winter and Christmas. I have been putting some money aside weekly for Christmassy gifts and activities. There is going to be a Winter Wonderland style of event in Lewisham this year. I have booked in advance for the Ice Skating... and I am actually excited; I think it will be nice. The location is really lovely.

I have decided to make a few gifts for people this Christmas. I want to make my sis some pyjamas and my friend I will make him some pyjama bottoms. I have the fabric for both projects, so I just need to get cracking and do my best to project manage them to get them completed on time.

I also have like other Christmas craft plans... but its literally fucking November next week so I need to get cracking. I want to make some cross stitch cards.

I have been seeing lots of DIY rosettes on Pinterest (google what I mean) and I think I might make one for my sister- something cute like 'visited by Santa' or 'I am on the good list'. Hopefully you are seeing my vision.

Also I am sort of fancying sewing a stocking for my partner. I don't know I have a lot of idea but you really have to plan ahead to get everything you want to do before Christmas.

I am feeling the Christmas vibes this year- normally I am mentally checked out of Christmas but I am feeling the vibes this year.

Revenge Friday

I was having a convo with someone today about how Friday evening is such a struggle. I don't have a social life tbh so... I am always at home on Friday. But I am too tired to do anything but I am also energised and excited for the weekend. I want to do something but I can't think straight because I am so knackered. I am just couch potato but I am too restless to even focus on a TV Series or a craft project. 

Give me advice if you have any.

I think its my hormones tbh. I am looking forward to a pedi on Saturday morning and yeah just read my book and relax, get a matcha.

Speak soon!

Revenge Friday: Mini Haul and Battersea Power Station

Hi Darlings,

Sorry I have been away; I have had PMS, which I get I get badly.

Honestly, I have actually been in my feels recently and just feeling sort of lost. It got so bad that I am considering seeing a psychic as I just want like another perspective or insight on my life, and guidance.

Idk, I just have a lot on my mind.

Battersea Power Station

I finally went! …and it was so much nicer than I thought it would be- it is really nice. They have more like high end shops and it has a really nice ambience.

I am planning to go to Sri Lanka in the New Year, so my mum and I were looking at potential footwear in Office. I am sorted for sandals but I think I could do with bringing some trainers. I was thinking Solomons maybe. I need to consult my sister- she normally helps me with decisions like this.

I went in a few shops that I don't normally go in which is quite nice- like sportswear shops and make up shops.

My mum and I looked in a Korean supermarket and we picked up some bits: miso, crispy chili oil (my fave), kimchi and those sugary treats which were on Squid Game.

I had a nice trip out. It isn't the easiest for me to get there but I think definitely revisit.

Sri Lanka Vinted Haul

Like I mentioned, I am planning to go to Sri Lanka in the new year. I realised I don't have any modest clothes (Tbh); my summer clothes are like mini skirts and camisoles- that's my thing. So I purchased some modest things on Vinted.

I thought it would be nice to get some lace or broderie anglaise trousers. I picked out these ones from H&M, the lace is like on the side and its really pretty. 

Then I got a little top, which says 'the world is your oyster' which I thought was really cute. Not quite sure what it means.

I brought another pair of trouser which were really nice.... or they would have been if they actually fit. They were meant to be a small but I think they would fit a medium. Zara sizing is the worst. I will find someone to give them to because they are nice.

Falafel Friday

I was at work until six but after work I stopped by Kings Road and I browsed a few shops for half an hour. Then I went home and ate a ready meal... really boring.

At home, I watched My Life with the Walter Boys, which is soo bad. Please recommend me something good to watch this Autumn- I need to get into a new series.

Chat soon!

Happy hippo x

Revenge Friday: Wedding guest look, Day Out in Islington

 Hi,

I hope you had a lovely bank hols. I didn't get up to too much. I went to Greenwich one of the days which was really nice. My mum and I walked through the park to a food market where we picked up some Ethiopian lunch. It was nice.

I did actually have a driving lesson, it was my first time ever driving a car. Honestly, I felt really sad afterwards, not sad but like... fuck I actually have a lot to learn. I didn't even have like any anxiety before, but afterwards I felt so daunted.

Wedding Guest Look

I attended my parents wedding last week. This is the look I pulled together.

There was a lot of pressure to look good as obviously I will be in the pictures... like there is no hiding when it is a close family member's wedding.

The dress was a Free people Sample I picked up in the charity shop for £26. Actually when I tried it on in the charity the first thing I thought was- 'this would look so nice for a wedding' but I hadn't been invited to a wedding at that point.

The sandals I brought from Vinted and they are NEXT (cost me maybe £7). I think they are really pretty; I did have a pair like this in the past but I completely wore them out, so it is nice to get a replacement. The bag I borrowed off my mum and is from Chloe. 

I did actually buy some ballet flats for the wedding but actually when they arrived I wasn't sure they worked with the dress but I kept them because I thought they were really gorgeous. They were stripey rattan. Ironically the most expensive thing I brought for the wedding and I didn't wear them.

Day Out in Islington

I went to Islington with my mum and sister last weekend which was really lovely. We walked from Highbury and Islington to Angel, which has some really lovely boutiques, cafes and charity shops on route. We got a coffee and cake from one of the shops.

The charity shops are really good round there. My sister brought quite a few things actually as she was in the market for some long sleeve tops.

I picked up a gorgeous skirt, this is a old Topshop piece and I paid £6.50. I have some ballet flats that look really cute with this. The headband I had brought a week before from a charity shop I think I paid £2.

Camden Passage has a really sweet row of shops and there is normally some antiques stands too which is good for a browse.

For lunch we went to a restaurant called RE:1996 which did Lebanese small plates. I would definitely recommend, very good.

Anyway its a really cute day trip if you are staying in London for the Summer.

Chat soon,

Happy Hippo

Revenge Friday: Haul and Day Out in Portbello

 Hi Darlings,

I hope you are doing well and enjoying your bank hols. I was in Cumbria last weekend and I have ended up with a backlog of blogposts and I am just piecing things together so everything is out of chronological order, but I will try not to be too perfectionist about that.

I was in town a few weeks ago and I tried this crumble place that has gone viral. I wasn't a fan.. there wasn't a good ratio of crumble and compote but you know you have to give these things a try.

Fruity Booty Haul

I sort of fancied treating myself recently to some new underwear because whenever I go on holiday in the summer I always buy myself some underwear... but I am not going away this summer (I am on the grindset). I was looking at some underwear brands (please comment below recommendations for cute underwear brands) and I found this really cute brand called Fruity Booty.

This is so stupid but I had picked out what I wanted and it was in my basket but I didn't feel worthy enough to buy it. So I am not joking, I asked universe- give me a sign, if I am meant to have this, give me a sign. A few days later I won some money and so I logged straight on to the site...

what I wanted was sold out...

Luckily a few days later they restocked what I wanted so I made my purchase. This is what I got: a pink stripey bra and knicker set, a cherry pant and also they had a complimentary tote bag promotion with a dolphin on (the flipside is a picture of some sardines- its so cute).

I think after all that, I will gift the cherry knickers to my sister for her birthday- I just think its more her vibe than mine.

Day Out in Portobello

I went to Portobello Road last Saturday with my friend and yeah it was really good. I thought it was going to be hell on earth but actually it was nice. When we got there we were feeling a bit frazzled when we arrive so we went and got a light bite to eat in a Cafe on Westbourne Grove- it was quite naff, it was called Juice Baby. Westbourne Grove has lovely boutiques and it is sort of away from the crowds.

We had a browse of the (overpriced) Fashion Market at Ladbroke Grove. My friend saw some ceramics he liked and I brought him something as a house warming gift- he was really pleased.  We went to a bar at the bottom of Portobello Road near Goldbourne Road. Goldbourne road is not as touristy and they have some boutiques and bars.

It was quite busy in the restaurants there and we weren't ready to eat so we decided to have a stroll to High Street Ken and from there we got on a bus to Soho. We just went to an Italian restaurant and I had my first calzone.

I so recommend the visit to Notting Hill this summer- it is really nice. My friend and I had visited a year prior during the summer but he had spent 1.5 hours driving round looking for a car parking space by which time the shops had shut- so we didn't get to see the best of it.

Okay chat soon!

Happy Hippo

Revenge Friday: Easy Summer DIY

 Hello darlings,

I hope you have been having a good weekend. 

How are your new years resolutions coming along? I wrote myself out a list of 10 goals to achieve this year and I checked in with them recently... yeah admittedly I haven't achieved any of them so far. However, I have made some effort with them. I wanted to read 12 books, pass my driving test (this one might not be possible as I have left it a bit late), finish a HR Course and also purchase a car among other goals.

Anyway, I have made some strides in achieving them. I have scheduled some driving lessons and  that HR course has been on my mind-it is quite boring but I have already dedicated so much time I don't want it to be for nothing.

I am going to create a new manifestation board.

Easy Summer Craft

My sister made me a friendship anklet and I wanted to make her one aswell. So I got out ym craft supplies and I made her an anklet with wax cotton cord and some beads I found in my stash.

These waxed cord bracelets are really simple to make and they actually hold up- unlike a lot of the things I make which seems to unravel shortly after making them. You can find a youtube tutorial on how to do the sliding knots here The best 3 adjustable sliding knot bracelets! How to tie simple bracelets fast

For mine I used 1 mm waxed cotton cord which I think I picked up in hobbycraft. I did have more colours but I gave half the packet to my sister.

This is what I made... 

So the first one I made for myself out of some red beads that my grandma gave me- she had lived in Kenya and I think that might be where the beads are from. I thought the blue cord looked cute with the red.

The second is re-threaded from an anklet my sister my sister had brought me which has an evil eye and a star- the old cord was looking really tatty so I just replaced it

Then the third one I made for my sister with some pink beads and evil eye beads I found in my stash- really cute.

Anyway, give it a try it is so much fun.

Professional Girlies Tips

I thought maybe I would share some tips with you for the professional girlies. There might be a part 2 to this because this is just what I have thought up briefly.

• I had a revelation the other day that bananas are actually really budget friendly. I was always buying snacks on the go ect if I needed something to tie myself over and recently I have been just going into Tesco and purchasing a single banana for under 30p. 
• Uncross your legs. This is so random but the other day I realised I have never sat with my legs uncrossed in my life and I am not entirely sure how healthy that is... I don't think its healthy. I am scared to google it but I don't think it is good for you- you do your own research; I'm too scared. I have been really trying not to. I think maybe I do it because I have quite restless legs so I think it is my way of quelling it. So maybe yeah don't sit with your legs crossed all day at a desk. I am really trying not to.
• I haven't quite completed mine yet but I am trying to get a pouch of supplies to keep in my office with pads, knickers, deodorant just so I have everything. You can pick up a cheap pouch from like the charity shop if you don't already have one lying around (I have hundreds) and put some bits that might be useful to keep in the office. I have also realised that if you go to a big supermarket you can buy the own brand pads which are under 50p for a pack of 14 and they are no less good than the branded ones. But yeah maybe I do a separate post with what I keep in my work pouch.

There will be a part 2 to this but for now this is all I can think of lol. 

Falafel Friday

I didn't do very much on falafel Friday. I did grab some food for lunch from a food market. I went for Jamaican and it was lowkey not good- admittedly it is because I went for a vegan wrap and it just didn't have much in it. Oh well... you have to give these things a try. 

I always want to like switch up my routine after work, and idk walk to a neighbourhood for a browse and something to bite. However when I leave work I am always in a trance like state and I can't not do my normal route home. However recently I have been switching it up every so often; I like to walk to Tower Hill from my office sometimes. Anyway, that is what I did on Fri.

I have been reading Brideshead Revisited and I finished it on Fri. I really liked it. I watched the ITV series (it is really good and it is free to watch, you just need to download the ITV app) and I liked it, however I was left feeling mildly perplexed and like I was missing something. That is what motivated me to read the book. 

The book begins with the narrator Charles, unintendedly returning to a house (Brideshead) which was inhabited by the Flyte family who he had befriended and the story is a flashback which narrates his relationship with the Flyte family. He meets Sebastian Flyte at Oxford University and he goes to stay in Brideshead. One of the main themes of the book is Catholicism - which is maybe why it slightly went over my head. It is a really interesting book- also witty. I read the book and I just wanted someone to talk with about the book.

Okay chit chat next week (most likely).

Love,

Happy Hippo

Revenge Friday- Back by Popular Demand

Hi darlings 

It has been a very long time (I’m sorry), so I will try to make it up to you with a fairly big blogpost.

What I have been up to

• I am in my yuppie era. I started a new job in July and now I am settled, I am loving it. The job is very me. It is really exciting working in London (the novelty hasn't worn off yet). Something I really like to do is get a falafel for lunch on Petticoat Lane market on a Friday- Falafel Friday.
• I went to Kew Gardens a few weeks back with my partner which was really lovely actually. I couldn't ever remember going before- I now understand the hype, it is really lovely.
• I have been to a few exhibitions in London. I went to the Cartier exhibition at the V&A... it was good although I feel like it should have been free (I am a member but still) because it is sort of just an advert. There was a lot on display and it was quite a relaxing experience especially as it wasn't so busy when I went. I was manifesting in the room with the tiaras- they were soo pretty (I want one).
• I went to see Lana Del Rey last week and I had a great evening. I have also now been converted into a Addison Rae fan- she was fabulous. 
• I have been watching a great TV series, Shifty, it is a documentary by the filmmaker Adam Curtis; it is about hyper-individiualism at the end of the 20th century. It is really interesting; it is on BBC iplayer and defo watch it! 
• I also saw recently at the cinema 28 Years Later, it hasn't been getting the best reviews but I actually found it really entertaining. It didn't feel very cohesive and it is a bit strange at times but I thought it was entertaining and creative. 

Wedding Guest Shopping

I am attending a wedding in August and tbh I don't often attend weddings, so this is exciting. It is a very understated town hall wedding- I am one of three guests. So I went, with my mum, dress shopping on the Kings Road which is a great place to shop if you have a very special occasion. It was nice to go in shops that normally I have no reason to go in such as Farm Rio or Rixo.

I think I have decided to wear a dress I already own and then... I have more money to spend on accessories. At the bottom of the blogpost I have some contenders, if you fancy weighing in- I would appreciate some advice.

For lunch, we went to the Duke of York food market- it has a great selection of food. I went for a vegan Carribean which was really good.

I didn't buy anything but I have been inspired.

Birthday week

I went to Edinburgh the weekend before my Birthday with my partner to stay with his brother. I really like Edinburgh and I was sad it was only a flying visit but I will defo be back. We walked up Carlton Hill and we nearly walked up Arthur's Seat; tbh I can't remember why we didn't walk all the way up. We didn't do much else because it was pissing it down. On the Sunday we had a nice browse around the town and also Greyfriars Kirkyard which is soo atmospheric.

I had a good trip but it was so brief I didn't even take any photos :(

I was at work on my birthday but when I got home I had some presents and pizza.

What I was gifted:

I don't want that much for my birthday. I was going to get a rucksack for traveling (you know like a big one to put your clothes in)- I haven't actually got it yet. My partner brought me a bottle wine. 

My sister got me some books and a cute beaded cherry coaster. I have really got into reading again (this was my new years resolution to cut down on my screentime and to read 10 books- got off to a very slow start but I am now on track) and I asked my sister to get me some books for my birthday. I told her to get ones that she likes the look of, so I can read them and she can have them afterwards. I have just finished reading Blue Sisters.

I cannot wait to read these- I have already started reading the top one.

My parents were in Berlin and they brought me the sweets I like- they are like marshmallow mice, crocodiles and teddy bears (if you are going to Berlin you have to check them out).

My mum got me a cute Mofusand top (I fell in love with the adorable characters when I went to Japan) and some bear socks.

Falafel Friday

For Falafel Friday I actually took the day off and my partner and I went to a concert it was Van Morrison, Cat Stevens and Neil Young. The weather was great in the evening (it was unbearably hot before 5 pm tho) and lovely atmosphere. It was a really good evening. 

Wedding Guest Outfit

I have these two dresses, one is a navy silk lace slip and the other is like a floral shift dress. It is an indoors summer wedding and the reception will be in a Soho restaurant.

I am leaning towards the floral shift and I think I will borrow one of my mums handbags- she has a gorgeous Chloe leather clutch (purchased from the charity shop for £15). With maybe a pair of colourful suede ballet flats (then I can wear them to the office or with a pair of denim shorts for casual).

Chat soon!

Revenge Friday- Culture in Mayfair, Kings Road

Hello darlings,

I hope you had a good weekend. I am sorry that this is being posed late, admittedly I had pretty much written it but I was struggling to write the intro bit- I am worst blogger. Anyway here it is...

Day Out in Mayfair

I went to Mayfair because I wanted to go to Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo at the RA. The exhibition was really fabulous, and his drawings are so atmospheric and characterful. I would recommend going; also if you are under 25 you can get a half price ticket (I think it was like £7.50).

I then walked down Bond Street and I needed to respond to an email so I went to John Lewis Cafe for  a cream tea (OAP vibes) and yeah did some emailing. Then after that I was sort of ready to go home, so I slowly walked back to Victoria station. 

Revenge Friday

I went to Chelsea on my own because I wanted to have a browse of a few shops. I went to a bouji stationary shop and picked up a couple of items. Then I received a text from my father to say he was in Kings Road Five Guys with spare chips and I legged it down Kings Road to Five Guys. I got myself a milkshake and had some chips. I then walked up Kings Road. I looked in Zara because I needed some black work trousers to wear when I am on my period; I didn't see any I liked. I looked in Peter Jones and Waterstones- nothing took my fancy.

In the stationary shop I purchased a chic notebook for work (navy, lined paper, ring bound and lovely quality) and I got a box of stickers that I thought my sister would like (my sister is visiting LDN in a few weeks and I just like to give her a little something something whenever she visits). Now when I got home I was excited for my new purchases and so I opened the box of stickers... it was empty... there were no fucking stickers inside the box... I was sold an empty box. I then proceeded to piss myself laughing for like an hour. 

I had a good day. I really like going to Kings Road- it is defo one of my fave places to go if I want to do some browsing of shops. If you have any recommendations of caffs or restaurants on Kings Road let me know.

Okay that is a wrap for this week. I will chat to you next Friday. 

Love

Happy hippo