4 month countdown!

Four months to go! This seems quite scary. In the middle of my dental-pain fug (more on that later) today it struck me that today's the 4th. This is quite scary; how has this milestone crept up? My nerves were not calmed by the fact that I was reading a wedding magazine at the time (the 'budget' dresses at £1000 each made me laugh) and the helpful 'countdown' section informed me of all the things I should have done by now..... I've disregarded completely the command to 'think about my beauty regimen' and 'write my wedding vows', however in the last week I have successfully been all bridal: 

I have chosen my wedding dress material. No going back now! 

I have, after lengthy Twitter discussions, decided on a veil. This has not been bought yet. But I want one! (Again, more thoughts to come) 

I have bought my wedding headpiece. From Anthropologie. I know, I'm totes a hipster bride. I'm not showing you though, in case the boy sees it. For we all know he's an avid reader of the Bridestock blog.... 

I have also bought the bridesmaids gifts. Tempted though I was by some of the hideous 'gift options' available for 'my girls', I desisted from purchasing a set of velour tracksuits with 'bridesmaid' emblazoned across the arse and went with, basically, something pretty, that  I would like to receive, instead. 

Today, however, saw the arrival of the Bridestock wrist-bands! Everyone knows you can't get in any VIP area without the correct wrist-band... so here they are! I personally can't wait to see one poking out of the sleeve of whatever Escada suit my Posh Nan will be rocking come 4.8.12.! 

In other news, it's the Easter break. Hurrah and thank Crunchie for that! What are you up to for the long weekend?

What the...?

At first, when I read some of the RT'd comments on Twitter this morning about Chris Brown, I thought they were ironic. I *hoped* they were some bad taste - foul tasting - joke.
 


From here

Indeed, I know that some of the 'girls' tweeting this crap were bots... but the worrying fact is that I don't think all of them were. The glamourising - which is little more than tacit approval - of domestic violence is abhorrent in so many ways that I don't think I can even begin to express it.

Putting aside the twitter hype over the 'Chris Brown' thing the fact remains that girls seem to be growing up thinking that it's a part of life to do things they don't want to do with boys - whether it's a seemingly 'normal' handing over of a phone to be checked, a hair-pull, an RnB singer being beaten up by her boyfriend in a car. In my career, I have dealt with girls who, at the age of 11, have made excuses for their boyfriends' pushing them in the playground. Just what is happening to make girls behave like this?

When did it stop being about 'girl power'? (Yes, a true 90s child, I am.) Why is there seemingly a whole generation of girls growing up to think that it's normal to 'have to do' what their boyfriends want? I think it would be very easy to lay the blame at the door of MTV videos: I know I don't stand alone in wishing that, just occasionally, there could be more focus on the music and less focus on the use of 'girl wearing fake tan and dental-floss as a complete outfit whilst waiting around for her thug-life fella'. 

But it's deeper than that. For some reason, it's not 'cool' to be seen as feminist. Whether this is strictly apathy or something much more worrying, Caitlyn Moran certainly got it right when she stated "by “feminist”, I mean “all women”, really, unless you have recently and decisively campaigned to have your voting rights removed."    

In fact... I'd go one stage further: it's not about being 'feminist' to think that domestic violence is not ok. The act of one person hurting another, deliberately, and against their will, is truly disgusting. Why does Chris Brown still have a career again? Oh, is it because we've all colluded in his absolution by watching him on MTV, presenting him with a Grammy, allowed our daughters and sisters and friends to buy his music?

Just a thought....

Midweek Merriments

Another hectic week. I don't trawl the interwebs anywhere near as much as I used to (what with being back in a *real* job now and all) though I'm still a photo hound. Here's what made me smile from the 'net and my (so-called) life this week: 


Forcing my Year 10s to listen to Joy Division was possibly a low point, professionally speaking, this week. But I like to think of myself as an all-round educator. This keeps popping up on my iPod: 

Waking up to this picture message this morning from my sister. I loves me some Mean Girls action! 

I came across this hair-do on the A Beautiful Mess blog... I need to learn how to do it! This picture is adorable: 

This week marked the start of my diet (yes... another one...) so to celebrate - commiserate?- we had the feast to end all feasts on Sunday. Why, yes.. that IS the biggest dinner in the world, since you asked. Lush! 

Yes, I know these pics are badly cut-together, but I'm too hungry to care

My house currently looks like the chavviest house on the street. Yes, more than normal. I know what you're all thinking! For once, though it actually isn't my fault. Naughty Minnie has managed to scale the nets and do this! 

How a 4 month old kitty can cleave an entire window of nets into two has yet to be ascertained...

But we'll forgive her. Because she's cute. 

According to my Mother, my brooch bouquet is coming on well. I found this pic from here. It's pretty. I like! 

An origami bouquet.

Lots and lots of wedmin (I think that's a word) to do this weekend... I'll be updating when plans are in place! What are your plans? 


:-) 

Wow... it's been a while!

So, I seem to have lost my blogging mojo. It's been a hectic few months... new job, changing living arrangements, the Christmas behemoth and my post-grad dissertation looming large in my mind... But I came home from work today and thought I'd have a little catch up! I hope you haven't forgotten me. Naturally, I'm still bleating away on Twitter!

My last post was October *scrolls through mental Rolodex to remember what was happening* which seems incredible! It seems most important to introduce the new love (apart from Mr Bridestock) in my life: Minerva! Named for McGonagall (naturally) this small ball of fluff is the sweetest, naughtiest fur-baby anyone has ever met. She has an affinity with books which my post-grad mentor has informed me in all seriousness is 'the spirit of a literary heroine, reincarnated'. Quite.

Minnie!

November saw our long-anticipated (thankyou, rioter goons!) engagement shoot with the beautiful and talented Miss Laura Babb. Our shoot was featured on the always-awesome Rock My Wedding blog. The weekend of the engagement shoot was also Bonfire Night, so we went along to Laura's incredible high-rise balcony to watch some fireworks to drink wine and eat snacks.

Here's a couple of my faves from our shoot (I must do a 'proper' post about them):

A cheeky Instagram one from wandering around Camden Market afterwards

Our weekend in London also meant that I finally met the beautiful and extremely talented Fiona of The Corner Of The Internet That I Call Home, who's 'Pay it forward' thing I signed up to months ago. If I'm honest I had forgotten all about it until I received this in the post a week or so ago. How talented is this lady?! Beautiful.

I'll try not to bore anyone still reading with tales of Christmas over-indulgence; suffice to say I put on 8lb in December, and I'd defy anyone not to when presented with a feast such as this:

New Year passed in the usual quiet and sophisticated way, with in no way a ridiculous amount of alcohol and Singstar. At all.

This wasn't between just 6. Really.

And so.. here we are in January. I'm getting married this year! Eek! (More news on The Big Day soon!) What's new with you?!

Midweek Merriments

It struck me that maybe I'll start putting the song on my merriments at the top of the page, so it can be listened to while the rest is being read... Good idea, or no?


Anyway maybe it was the scary-but-awesome (in equal measures) Kitty from the Xfactor performing this last week, or remembering how much I loved it when I was at school, but this song... LOVE it!

Half term is here! So far I have been more productive than I thought... Amazing how artistic I become when it comes to doing displays as a procrastination activity instead of marking controlled assessments (coursework). Suffice to say, my classroom is going to be looking sensational, but my markbook sadly lacking... Anyway, I think we can all relate to this:

In some shameless self-congratulating, I am posting this picture of myself because I've now lost a stone and 3lb. Hurrah! I'd like to say it's a combination of gym action and cutting down on alcohol (and it partly is), but it's more true to say that I am so busy I don't have time to eat.

Please note: the Crocs aren't mine.

Here are some new pretty bits I found last week but hadn't got round to photographing:

Though I've read all the TrueBlood books (and they are AWESOME!) I hadn't seen any of the TV version, and yes, I'm aware that I'm a million years late to this particular party. Having borrowed the first series last night.. .I think it's safe to say I am addicted. Mr Bridestock, look away now, because..... Mmmm, Bill, you can bite me any time! 

Pic from here

How's your week shaping up?

A black wedding dress?!

So... Vera Wang's introduced a line of black wedding dresses. Hmm. I'm not sure how I feel about this: naturally the Daily Fail has had a field day with it - 'what does it say when a bride herself chooses the colour of mourning for her nuptials? ' - but I can think of ways in which it could work. Aside from the obvious goth/alternative ideas (and really, if that was you would it be Vera Wang you'd go for? Possibly not), what about black for a chic evening reception? Or a second wedding?


 Anyway, who says brides have to wear white? Most of the monstrous confections I tried on - before sensibly deciding to have it made by a family friend) would look a damn sight better if they were in a darker colour. Certainly the sight of myself in full regalia in one shop made my mother seize up with silent giggles. 'A ship in full sail' is so not the look I'm going for on this day of all days!


In all honesty, I'm feeling rather 'weddinged-out' at the moment: there really are only so many strapless, pale, ethereal dresses one can look at on all the eye-candy blogs (though I still read them. My faves are here). So, in fact, Vera Wang coming up with something like this just goes to show that I'm not the only one feeling it. 


Will I be rocking a black gown? Not this time, (!) but they certainly are something out of the ordinary. 


Here are my faves: 

Thoughts? 

Midweek Merriments

Brr, it's getting colder every week! But that does mean Hallowe'en, Bonfire Night, and, of course CHRISTMAS are on their way! Not to mention Half Term (3 days... and counting)! This can mean only one thing: the search for our annual Christmas knitted jumper has begun. Last year's efforts were good:

A beardless Mr Bridestock!

... but I think they can be bettered. And yes, if you were wondering, we do have matching ones. What of it? You may well think I am jumping the gun, being as it's not even November yet, but frankly, come December, you'll all be wanting one; and the early bird catches the best (worst) jumper!


Half term brings with it (as well as the squillions of work things I must catch up on) the resigned knowledge that I really must catalogue my vast china collection, which is currently folornly housed in crates int he conservatory. That means, also, that I should stop buying new pieces, so it's a blessing really that this Anthropologie teapot is £228.

I'm also (much to the chagrin of pretty much everyone I know who hates my tattoos) hoping to get the next step in my tattoo collection soon - though I haven't quite decided on the final design etc. I found this on the fabulous Little Chief Honeybee blog a while ago, and just love it.

And... it's true, so don't mess. Ha, who am I kidding? I can barely fight sleep.

Huevos Rancheros - I'm desperate to try this for breakfast at the weekend (if I do I'll Foodie Friday it): 

Who remembers the band Eels? I heard this the other day and I forgot how good they were! :-) 

How's your week going? :-)