it's beginning to look a lot like...

2 days till my birthday
1 week till I'm home!
10 days till Christmas

Last night we had a festive dinner at the halls...sooo cute!

wearing a paper hat from my christmas cracker (haha), a vintage necklace (thanks grandmother!) and a trac top (from mendocino).
yum, yum, yum for home-cooked roasts!

Really looking forward to the Hilton for drinks and secret santa tomorrow night and my birthday festivites on Thursday! Trying to fit in working on those things called term papers among all this fun (such a jam-packed last week in Manchester!!!)

vintage throw and bow

vintage, black dress: urban outfitters

Went to the Manchester Vintage Christmas Markets yesterday at the MET but didn't manage to pick anything up. Still on the hunt for that birthday dress! Also went to ASDA and got lots of Christmas decorations for my themed party on Thursday, soo excited!
Last night was the x-factor final, voted for Olly, and he made it to the top two wooo. Then had a fun girls night out at The Ritz, full of santas, dancing, fake foam snow, and a bouncy castle!!!

sequins and lights

sun.sun.sun. --- that's right, there was actually a little bit peaking through today!

earrings: quiz, scarf: miss selfridges, jean jacket: zara, graphic tee: topshop, sequined harem pants: primark special edition, boots: topshop

The course girls and I finally went and checked out the Trafford Centre together, which is one of the largest shopping centres in the UK and definitely on my Manchester to-do list. Looked in every store shopping for a festive frock for my birthday party next Thursday -22 in 1 WEEK!- but didn't have much success. Errr running out of time and options...did at least get a few Christmas presents! Think I'm going to stick with my Arndale shopping in the city centre from now on though (same stores, but larger and less crammed selections).

Decorated palm trees?? ...reminded me of one of my favourite malls, the Millenium mall, in Orlando, FL!

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree

Festive AND talking...

feet run out of ground?

My weekend involved christmas movies, wine, free nando's, the font for drinks, full day of sunday shopping, sushi, x-factor...

faux-fur vest: TKmaxx, sequined pineapple jumper: thunder-egg boutique manchester cut-off jean shorts: abercrombie&fitch

but now...

supply chain term paper proposal and quiz tomorrow!

soo many term papers to work on!

still need to do ALL my christmas shopping and find a birthday outfit!

= stresssss

but then i just think:

the hilton & secret santa.

my christmassy birthday celebration.

home!

seeing my fam & friends.

FLORIDA.

christmas & the holidays.

...yup, that should get me through!

you've got the love

Dree Hemingway for VOGUE 2010

Mila Kunis' for Blackbook

Blake Livey for Marie Claire

Claudia Schiffer

 SJP

 

Lady Gaga

VS

You know it's December 1st when...

The VICTORIA SECRET FASHION SHOW IS ON!
Gonna miss watching it when it airs this year...AND missing the usual tradition of watching it with my BFF.

SO enjoy the beautiful Christmasy sets, gorgeous models and music of the angels strutting their stuff on the catwalk!

the holiday wardrobe

GAP, H & M and Anthropologie holiday campaigns.

Cozy knits, hats, scarfs, mittens and plaid.

Lots of good Christmas party and NYE outfit ideas.

Pearls, tights, lace, sequins, fringe, velvet...and of course adorable party dresses!!!

Tis the season to be jolly

Had the SUCH a fun day yesterday! Really enjoyed my first football match, the atmosphere is unreal, the fans are crazy and it was such a good game (tied 1-1)...then afterwards went to GBK for dinner and walked around through the Christmas markets. Manchester is sooo festive with it's christmas lights and decorations, ice-skating rink, roasted chestnuts, mulled wine....just so much to do in this city this time of year and there is such a great atmosphere in the air!

Watched "The Holiday" last night and it's one of my very favourite movies- such a cute and feel-good movie to get you in the spirit! Cameron Diaz's wardrobe in it is absolutely to die for too. She screams winter chic with her cashmere coats, sweaters and scarfs, chunky knits, cozy turtlenecks, leather boots, heels and party dresses!

The Holiday by herstyleways featuring Lipsy