Revenge Friday- New Year, I am fucking reflecting

 Hello darlings

I am back darlings. I hope you had a fabulous Christmas. It was okay but... I couldn't have felt any less Christmassy. I find Christmas Day actually quite boring; I nearly started doing work at one point (one of my family members was so bored they actually did end up doing work for three hours). I do feel like sign of a good day is having a low screen time and I spent hours on my phone on Christmas... how long did you spend on your phone? It wasn't even like I was on my phone responding to people's Christmas messages (not many messages lol) I was simply scrolling Instagram.

I cant work out if I look cute or a bit mental... or both.

The new year is going well and it sounds so weird but I really feel like I have found myself in my job. I was at work a few days ago and my work colleague was saying 'aw ruby its so nice how you have come out of your shell'... omg I wanted to die from cringe and in my head I was like okay like I am going back in my shell now. I feel like this might be my comeback year.

What is one new years resolution you know you should have... but you aren't ready?

Obviously this time of year you are reflecting and maybe you have come up with some resolutions or some things you want to do next. Maybe its something positive like lose weight, learn to drive (this one is me) and save money. I have all that but I have something playing on my mind that I want to change but... I can't face it. 

Maybe you are the same, like you have something on your mind and you know deep down you want to change (or you know you really should change) but you really don't want to or you just don't feel ready. It could even be something taboo or maybe not cool or maybe even something dramatic like breaking off an engagement idk. Maybe it is something that won't look too cute on an aesthetic manifestation board. For me, I want to change my crippling fear of cooking but I am not ready to change. 

What I got for Christmas

I asked for money towards driving lessons for Christmas so I only got a few gifts. I am actually really good at staying hydrated and I always like to have water next to me, so my parents brought me a new glass. I was also gifted a bento box Christmas tree decoration. I was also gifted an umbrella and some Anya Hindmarch Uniqlo socks (these match my purse).

My partner brought me a bottle of YSL Libre which I have been loving wearing to work- it is my classy work perfume for my very unsophisticated job but it is such a pretty scent. He also gifted me some skis. I went skiing a very long time ago... and I was not good.

I haven't got my Christmas presents from my sister yet (I assume she has brought me something lol) but she did her Christmas shopping in Cuba so I think I can guess what I might be gifted. 

New Year Notes

I am stressed because we are already quite a few days into the new year and this whole New Year New Me hasn't really materialised. I do have a few ideas for this year.

• This year in my Lana Del Rey year because I really got into listening to her music in 2024 and I am discovering and listening her songs. So, LDR is all I have been listening to atm and I am going to see her either with my dad or with my sis in July sometime I think.
• I am going to France soon (surprise) which is really exciting because I haven't been since August I believe. I am reading Tender is the Night (it has taken me a while with a bad phone addiction) and it is set on the French Rivera- I think Cap d'Antibes. However, it sort of gave me the inspiration to maybe visit that area and retrace F.Scott Fitzgerald's footsteps.
• I made a list of 10 or so goals for this year which I think are do-able so, they aren't too heavy and more fun so I think I will achieve them.
• I am just scared about waking up at 40 with not a huge amount to show for my life lol.

Chat next week.

Love

Happy Hippo x

Revenge Christmas- Shopping in London, Christmas preperation

Hello darlings

This is going to be a really chatty post.

I have been watching a few things recently. I have been watching Wolf Hall; I watched the second series first but I am now on the first series. I watched Black Doves, which… I didn’t actually like that much. I also watched Withnail and I one night last week which is one of my favourite films.

Revenge Day Trips

I have had a few revenge Christmas trips out. I popped to Dulwich one day for a browse  and we went and got lunch in a Swedish café called Soderberg which was really good; they had some singers performing for Saint Lucia day which was really sweet. When I was in Dulwich I also purchased a rug for my 2025 boudoir transformation. 

I went to Oxford one day, Shoreditch for a bit of shopping and I also went to Crystal Palace- so yeah I have been keeping myself busy.

Sad news: I am really obsessed with a bush which is in the shape of a bunny which I pass on my way to Crystal Palace; I went passed it a few days ago on the bus... it's died. 

Late Night Gift Wrapping

Late night gift wrapping is one my fave things to do at Christmas. I put on a Christmas film in the background and did some wrapping (took forever).

I did go out to London last Friday and I did some shopping for last minute presents. My partner wanted a 'scent for 2025', so I brought him one from Sunspel. I brought my mum a few gifts as well; I brought her a little gift set and I brought her a Larry King hair product.

I am finally done.

Revenge Friday

Today, I met up with my friend in Peckham and we went for lunch at Persepolis, which is a really good vegetarian restaurant. We shared some meze plates; the food is really delicious and prices are reasonable.

We had originally planned to go to winter wonderland but our other friend had a last minute commitment and the plan just fell through... but honestly that might have been a blessing. I have actually never gone; it has a reputation for being really expensive so maybe its good we saved ourselves some money (I wonder what the average spend is).

I had a really nice time out and I am glad I squeezed in a catch up with my friend before Christmas.

Christmas Plans

I am working up until the last minute but I have some time off after Christmas. We have selected what we wan to eat on Christmas Day (nut roast and butter bean gratin) and I fancy going on a Christmas Day walk somewhere (maybe Hampstead). Inspired by watching Wolf Hall, I want to visit Tower of London sometime maybe before the New Year. I haven't been since I went on a school trip there in Year 6 and this school trip was sort of a disaster... my class was out of control (I think we got told to leave). It will probably all come back to me.

I hope you have a lovely Christmas and I will definitely chat sometime before the New Year for a Christmas debrief.

Love

Happy hippo x

Revenge Christmas- Wrapping presents and shopping trip

Hello darlings

I hope you have had a great week. I have sort of just been adjusting to my new job.

I was absolutely gripped this week when I watched the BBC documentary Lucan which is about the suspected killer Lord Lucan who disappeared. The documentary follows the son (Neil Berriman) of the murder Victim (Sandra Rivett), as he tries to find Lucan, who he believes is still alive. The first episode is really gripping however, the second and third are just wild as Neil fabricates an identity called Bezza Dougal to investigate a lead in Australia. This documentary is really fascinating and thought provoking (it feels slightly unethical at times) but I would say give it a watch.

I brought these grey pinstripe trousers last week and I got a new haircut.

Come wrap with me

I haven't brought everyone's presents yet but I have purchased a few. I'll show you what I have purchased so far.

For my friend I brought her a second hand floristry book because she is really interested in flower arranging at the moment and I have had a flip through and it is quite inspiring. I will also buy her some chocolate; a second hand book is a bit sad on its own. Then for my sister I brought her this Sol De Janeiro gift set in the Black Friday sale (at Space NK) which I think she will love. My sister loves Sol De Janeiro and I picked this set because it has products she doesn't own, so she can try them out. Then she is being given her pyjama shorts which I made. My sister is one of the easiest people to buy for, so I will be probably be buying her a couple more gifties. Then for my father I brought him this DIY model set from Japan because he kept on looking at them in the shops and I could tell he really tempted to buy one, so when his back was turned I got one for him. The model is of a matcha tea and ice cream shop.

I am going to use white tissue paper and twine to wrap up my gifts this year. I want to get the old Christmas cards from last year and make little gift tags from them. What is your gift wrap aesthetic this year?

A few years ago I brought a Eucalyptus plant and I wanted to wrap peoples gifts with a sprig of eucalyptus but I recently looked back on a photo of my wrapping from that year (I was very proud)... the sprig was literally mouldy.

Revenge Friday

Today I went into town because I wanted to buy a few things. I got some boring black Supergas for work; I needed some trainers for work that I didn't mid getting dirty. I had a browse of Liberty's, Covent Garden and Carnaby Street. I got some sushi for lunch from ITSU (actually I am feeling slightly nauseous while writing this and I can't help but think it might be the sushi). Inspiration didn't really strike for Christmas presents because it was just hard to browse when it was so busy. Anyway, it was really relaxing being out and yeah I needed to get out and about.

Next Revenge Friday I fancy maybe doing a Christmassy activity- I am going to have a think.

Okay lovelies. I hope you having a good Revenge Christmas so far and I will chat next week.

Love

Happy hippo x

Revenge Christmas: Craft sesh and Revenge Christmas announcement

 Hello Darlings

This is the first Revenge Christmas blogpost. I have a few ideas but definitely let me know if you have any ideas on anything you want me to do a blogpost section on. I apologise it is being posted late; I have recently started a new job and it has been a bit busy. Then I recently passed my driving theory (one step closer to getting my Porsche). So yeah I am working on my 2025 revenge life. 

I have been watching some good things on TV at the moment. I have been watching Wolf Hall and also Slow Horses. I recommend both. 

Craft Sesh

I made these really cute pyjama shorts last weekend. I made them for my sister in gingham with cute little heart buttons; my sister loves gingham so I think she will appreciate them. The PDF pattern. The Darcy Boxers, is a pay what you can pattern (link for it here). It has variations for male and female. Instructions were really clear; I had never sewn a fly before but it turned out really neat. I am really pleased with these.

This was one of the fabrics I wanted to use up, so I am really pleased I have managed to make something from it. 

Revenge Thursday

I had to go shopping because I have a new job and I needed to buy some trousers and work shoes. I had never done much online shopping but I decided that I would buy some trousers off Asos; I purchased four and they were all.... abysmal. I returned them all. I just thought it would be easier to order them online rather than crying in a changing room but obviously not. 

I was at Victoria Station 5 minutes and some weird man had come up to me and started threatening me- completely unprovoked. It was really unpleasant and I just wasn't in the mood for shopping after that but I needed trousers. I brought a grey pinstripe pair from Mango which I am really pleased with. Then a really boring pair of black trousers from Zara. After shopping I met my friend for dinner in Peckham which was really good.

As you can see from my face I’m fucking thrilled with these.

Okay I will chat again on Friday (probably) and yeah I have a few ideas for Revenge Christmas blogposts. 

Love

Happy hippo x

Revenge Friday: Winter survival guide, causing trouble at a book club and nail care

Hello darlings

I have been so fatigued the past few weeks but I am back with a blogpost. I thought I would share some winter tips (a survival guide sounds sort of dramatic) just some things I do to make winter easier. Obviously I know winter doesn't start till December but I don't really acknowledge Autumn. 

This whole self-improvement thing is hard.... I booked a ticket to attend a book club however, I got uninvited (I forgot to fill in a form) and refused a refund on my ticket. So, now I just have this bloody book in my boudoir taunting me and I haven't read it because I am so annoyed I can't look at it. 

Winter Survival Guide

Fill your diary: Fill your diary with a few nice things (try not to get uninvited and refused a refund lol) because sometimes it is hard to feel motivated to leave the house this time of year. Book like an event, talk, cinema, a restaurant, something like that. I have been doing a few things the past few weeks.

Also if you are going into central London have a plan and book somewhere to eat because I went with my partner into town on Saturday for dinner and it was horribly busy- there was nowhere to eat. I am not making that mistake again this year.

Dress snugly: I want to treat myself to like a really nice winter coat- not sure the style I want yet. I was thinking about going to a sample sale in the hopes of picking up something slightly discounted. 

Winter woollies: I recently went to my grandmas house and she was trying to get rid of loads of vintage jumpers that my mum had made. I picked out two which I need your opinion on because I am really not trying to look like... a history teacher. 

So the first is an asymmetrical collar cardigan which I actually really like and its really soft (100% wool but I am not sure what type of wool) but I was thinking maybe to elevate it that I swap out the buttons for something a little more glamour. 

Then I also got this pretty fabulous wool shawl neck jumper. I normally don't like this style of neckline but actually I think the jumper looks really cute on.

Start your 2025 goals: I probably say this every year but now is a good time to set goals for the new year. I have set a list of ten goals (I need 10- my life calls for drastic change) and there is one I am working on at the moment just to ensure a better chance of me completing it by 2025. I feel like you have to really consider your goals, so set them now and get to work!

'Spring' cleaning: I feel like I have a few things on my to-do list which I want to do now its Autumn

such as:

• Taking some things to the dry-cleaners (coats ect)
• Having a clear out before Christmas
• Wash bedding
• Putting away my summer clothes
• De-mould my handbags (my handbags keep on going mouldy lol)

So I would say write a big to-do list and try and tackle it one weekend.

Do the fun Christmassy bits early: I don't necessarily mean like buying present and preparation, although I do believe in buying Christmas presents in like November. Last year I was doing last minute shopping and I kept on setting off the security alarm in every shop (couldn't work out at all what was causing it) and... it was like my final straw. But doing nice Christmassy things like family and friend dinners, Christmas film night, ice skating, craft, baking ect. Anything Christmassy you want to do but maybe won't get around to come December. 

Nail Care

So I have decided to establish a nail care routine. So my nail situation is that my nails grow very quickly however they break easily; slight cracks appear on the side of the nail, they get caught in textiles and my hair, they chip and they just seem to all break off at once. I have no qualms over the look of my nails, they aren't like an ugly shape.

I am not someone that paints my nails particularly often so I never really bothered with nail care but I realised that is not right and nail care can be just as rewarding and important even if you aren't someone that paints your nails. So, I reached the end of my tether about my nails breaking so easily and I decided to do some research into nail care.

So here are some things I am starting to do:

• So all the forums were saying to use a glass nail file and so my mum gave me one that she doesn't use.
• Leading on from that one of the things I learnt was that the shape of your nail impacts how likely they are to break and square was the most susceptible to breakages. So far, since filing the sides curved, I am seeing a slight reduction in the sides getting cracks. 
• I have also purchased a nail oil which I am advised to use frequently. If I get on well with this I think I am going to consider doing a DIY nail oil (there are loads of instructions online) which is apparently better and actually works out more cost effective. I just brought one from a health food shop.
• I decided to omit like any nail strengthening polishes from my routine because I read that actually some of them can lead to increased breakages and since I wouldn't describe my nails as being weak I don't want to risk it.

I know to a lot of you this is probably no new information but actually I have found it so helpful reading the articles. It is really nice to know that there are some quite simple things to do to look after your nails. It is such an simple glow up thing to start doing. 

Revenge Friday

So I decided to go to Dulwich to have a look around the boutiques. I just brought the odd thing. It was such a hassle getting there; I spent more time traveling there and back than time I actually spent there. Anyway I had a nice time out and when I got home I did some craft which was nice. Yeah I just had a relaxing day tbh.

Okay I will chat again with you next week- I swear I will this time. Have a lovely week!

Love

Happy hippo xx

Revenge Friday: Portobello Road Day Out

Hello darlings,

I hope you are having a lovely week and enjoying Halloween festivities.

Day Out in Notting Hill

My sister has graced us with her presence and she is back from France for a few days so, of course we had to have a daytrip to Notting Hill. We did our usual browse in Ladbroke Grove, have lunch and then walk up Portobello High Street. The clothing market wasn't on because we went on a Thursday although tbh I was not that fussed as last time I went, I could hardly afford anything anyway.

My sister and I have both had our eyes on an Indian block print quilted jackets and loads of shops are selling them now (definitely at least 4 shops) on Portobello Road. My sister and I both purchased one. Funnily enough we both ended up picking up a jacket in the same base pattern... a huge selection and we end up picking almost identical jackets. I really like it and I think come spring I will be wearing this lots- I think these jackets look good in a basic, running errands outfit.

We looked in a few vintage shops and charity shops. I purchased this gorgeous Free People dress in one of the charity shops and I am soo pleased with it; I feel like this would look stunning at a summery wedding. 

We also purchased a pumpkin candle from a market stand for our mum because she loves Halloween decs- the candle actually smells really nice.

Then we walked to High Street Ken and stopped for a coffee and slice of cake. We popped in a few shops and then we made our way home.

Revenge Friday

I was in central London during the day for a meeting and then afterwards I just had a browse of a few department stores- it was raining so I wanted to be indoors. Then I met up with my parents for dinner because they were going to a play. Then they discovered they actually had a spare ticket so I ended up going as well. It was really good; it was a comedy called Juno and the Paycock. So yeah, I had a good day.

Okay I will chat next Friday (I will try to actually post on a Friday for once).

Love,

Happy Hippo x

Sewing 3/4 New Makes and Fabric Sort out

 Hello darlings x

This is the third quarter of the year sewing blogpost unfortunately 2/4 never materialised. Well I just never got round to posting it and now this one is being posted late as well. 

What I have been sewing

I made some pyjamas for my partner which were meant to be a gift for Valentines Day and then they ended up taking me ages because my sewing machine broke... then the iron also broke.

There are variations on what pockets you could choose: a top breast pocket; four pockets; two bottom pockets and a breast pocket; or two bottom pockets. I went for four pockets because I think it gave it a more vintage look. There was also piping around the collar which I made myself using a zipper foot. The waistband was drawstring and elastic.

I used this really helpful video to learn how to do the pattern matching on the centre and on the pockets (something I had never done before)- it's so easy to follow and amazingly it worked.

I brought the fabric online. The fabric is a William Morris design. I have a lot of this fabric left over and I am not really sure what to do with it because there is probably enough for like another garment but... idk I just see this fabric as more masculine and I wouldn't wear it. I have a metre and several large scraps... I am going to have a think.

The sewing pattern I used was McCall's M8262.

I hope my partner liked them. 

Fabric Sorting

One of my goals this year was to clear out my fabric stash so it fits into a box and I have actually managed it. I sorted through most of my fabric. I had two boxes and a bag and I have managed to reduce it to a box and a bag of scraps. Some of the scraps I started cutting up into patchwork squares and hexagons- it was sort of just a relaxing task to do in front of the TV.

For larger pieces of scraps I think it would be a good idea to make a pair of the pyjama/boxer shorts (you know the ones all the scandi girls are wearing?). There isn't a huge amount of these fabrics however I think I could probably manage it.

These are the larger scraps.

Hawaiian Camisole

I made this camisole from this really cute Hawaiian style fabric I bought last year. I whipped it up a couple of days ago. It has a facing, darts and a slightly sweetheart neckline. I think it will look really cute with a pair of shorts in the summer. I have leftover fabric from this and I was thinking of making a bucket hat to match- idk tell me if that is a vibe or not.

I do need to hem it but that shouldn't take too long.

You can see the neckline slightly better in this photo.

Okay chat in December or so. Leave me a comment if there are any projects you would recommend for fabric scraps and small pieces. 

Love

Happy Hippo x