Blog: Still a weird word.

Two and a half years of blogging. I remember starting my blog as a way to share thoughts with friends and as a space to write without having to add a new facebook status every five minutes. I've ended up writing about lots of different things and it's nice to refer back and see what I was thinking a few years ago. Blogging has seen a sudden popularity increase recently and there are blogs for everything, including fashion, cooking, crafts and general ramblings.

A few of my blog favourites this year:

Temporary:Secretary - Recently won the Look Blogging Award and it was fully deserved! I've been reading for ages so I'm glad this was the winner. Full of fashion, jewellery and gorgeous pictures.which give an insight into her life. I love the way she puts her outfits together.

The Londoner - Rose's blog is a mixture of delicious recipes, restaurant reviews, fashion and lifestyle and beautifully composed photos. I've made so many of her recipes now that I have her to thank for getting me into cooking! One warning comes with this blog: You will want her life!


Le Fashion - Full of inspiration and outfit photos, this blog is just beautiful to look at.

Loveology - Packed with bright colour, texture and interior design ideas. This really makes me want to get back into arty things. I could look at this blog all day.

The Clothes Horse - Described as an 'artistic personal style blog', this includes magazine features, reviews, illustrations and outfit posts. A good mix of everything!

WIMH - What's In My Handbag is a new website with blog which works on the idea that you get a sneak peek into bags owned by others and you can select the items if you like them. The blog covers a variety of beauty related things and always gives me inspiration! They're also giving away a Mulberry Alexa bag for Christmas (which I blogged about here) so don't waste any time... get on board.

Now, I read a lot of blogs. These are just a few of the fashion/lifestyle type ones but I read a selection and I use Bloglovin to store my favourites. You don't have to have your own blog to do this. You can just sign up (which can be done through facebook) and then you select the type of things you want to read about. You click follow on each blog and then you have a list of blogs to scroll through and look at each time they update. It doesn't just have to be a 'girl thing' to read blogs, there are plenty of ones that appeal to guys too!

I read blogs to keep up with trends and also to get inspiration for things in general. I love reading and would read the back of a cereal packet if it was the only thing around! I need my daily intake of information, whether it be trivial or not, just to keep my brain going. Having said that, I have three books infront of me which need reading. Time to put the computer down for a while...

The more you care, the more you have to lose.

You know when you have a really rubbish day? Today was one of those. I wish I could wake up in a nice warm country with no worries apart from which cocktail I should have next and whether I should sunbathe or paddle in the sea. Failing that, I would just like to hibernate. In a Christmas jumper. With chocolate surrounding me.

 One day I will be in Paris to celebrate the New Year.

 Come back summer.

 Always happens...

And yes, the title of this blog is a Harry Potter quote. I know, I know. Geek.

I LOVE #6

Mulberry Alexa and Macauley Culkin

It's the first day of December and I officially have an excuse to be ridiculously excited about Christmas. My advert calendar has been opened, Christmas films have been discussed at length (mainly Home Alone) and many men are once again sporting a bare top lip. The only downside about Christmas is the freezing temperatures; I find myself rushing home from work just to get into bed immediately! I've done my nightly blog read and one of my favourite blogs have begun their own advert calendar style giveaway. What's in My Handbag? is full of fashion and beauty trends with bits of advice thrown in for good measure. The Winter Commandments was one of my favourite recent reads - who doesn't want to know how to look good during winter? I hope I'm not the only one that struggles to even feel human when the weather outside is blustery and dark.

The 25 Bags of Christmas giveaway begins with the chance to win a Mulberry Alexa bag. This is a bag I have swooned over for a long, long time. It's slouchy, satchel-like and preppy, and I need it in my life. You can enter the competition through the medium of social networking i.e. the more shares, the more entries. Hurry and enter now! Although I won't promise that if you win that I won't be a little bit envious...