{a guide to : feeling under the weather}

Under the weather is an understatement of how I've been feeling as of late. Diagnosed almost a month ago with glandular fever I've had a deadly dose of flu-like symptoms with optional added extras like glands as swollen as Kim Kardashian's pregnancy breasts, a desire to sleep for twenty-three hours per day and the urge to reject most foods beside chocolate croissants - which I've ultimately been living off.

Don't run away just yet, this isn't (another) post-long whinge, but a remedy for shitty, awful and annoyingly "untreatable" viral infections, colds, and general un-wellness.

Basically -all the cure involves is many, many hot baths laced with relaxing and soothing aromatherapy oils or lovely achy-muscle-reviving bath salts. Countless cartons of Innocent Smoothies, I've developed a penchant for the superfood antioxidant one with Acai and the mango & passionfruit container of joy for vitamins and to help soothe a raspy throat. Countless pots of green and herbal tea with fizzy aspirins  day & night nurse, extra strength Nurofen liquid capsules - all chased with honey and lemon throat sweets - and a 'hot toddy' where necessary. If you don't know what the latter is, google it and you'll thank me later. 

A plentiful supply of Kleenex Balsalm is also essential (red noses are only chic for Comic Relief) and that was a whole week ago) and any treats you can score to cheer you up; see my chocolate croissant obsession, piles of glossy magazines, macarons, cupcakes and when your feeling up to it - hours of DVDs and your personal Sky Plus edit followed closely by online shopping.

As much as I tried to fight it - it ultimately does come down to plenty of sleep and total bed rest, a month later I've never felt better than after spending four full days in bed. No work, no emails, not much of anything really. Of course this isn't entirely practical, and I've found it near impossible to take time out from a busy work schedule but the bed rest has been used well and I'm not far from back to my usual self..

{a glamorous mix : for a not so glamorous week}

This 'bad blogger' business is only getting worse, nine posts throughout the entire of February is definitley disappointing  I can excuse myself for the last week which has been almost entirely written off due to a viral infection which has today been diagnosed as glandular fever.. lucky me!

The last week has been spent primarily in bed, on the sofa or in the doctors surgery - with a little shopping (hiya, nice new bath-time lovelies and Topshop purchases) with a little Nando's trip thrown in to try and sweat out out a fever. Glamorous, I know.

{two beautiful things : breakfast & romance}

"Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze."

~ Elinor Glyn.

{a glamorous mix : a little romance}

Good Afternoon beauties; I'm indeed alive and well, just a little dazed and behind schedule with a pile of fun and exciting things that've been happening lately...

From London Fashion Week coverage entwined with too many pancakes and a lovely, romantic Valentines day and weekend, an incredibly entertaining and extensively filled Daily Mail app (how much crazy news can happen in a week?!) and a spur-of-the-moment haircut leaving me with a fringe you could certainly say I'm not too keen on (and trying to find ways to disguise the Farrah Fawcett qualities of it.. on tonight's agenda, manicure-monday and a session with a barrel of heated rollers..) you guys have taken somewhat of a back seat. I'm a bad blogger, and I promise that I'll try to do a little better..

Whats been happening in your worlds? By the way; I've been trying a few very exciting new beauty products out as of late so keep your peepers peeled for the unveiling of some exciting things.. rachelle xo

{the rachelle edit : valentines day treats}

If you're of a less sentimental disposition, or don't like valentines day, then you'll most likely be sick of me bleating on about it; here and here. And here now, too. Fear not, I'm not about to launch into a deceleration of love for my boy, neither will I bore you with details of our last valentines days (although I probably would like it..) but, prepare a comprehensive gift guide to help you buy lovely gifts for your other half, drop heavy hints at what you would like them to buy you - or to treat yourself if you don't have a sweetheart to buy you nice things...

1. Nothing says 'I love you' like a beautiful pair of Louboutins you've been lusting after for what feels like an eternity, right? If you find a nice boy to supply said shoes, leave any of  his siblings details in the comment box below.. 2. Just when you think Smythson notebooks cant get any sweeter, they pull out the Valentines day "I love you because...". Awwww. 3. Charbonnel et Walker champagne truffles, a stunning bouquet of flowers and a bottle of your favourite champagne all put a spring in my step! 

{the month : have a romantic february}

We've done it - gotten through the unmistakably most miserable month of the year, and now one more month of winter bleakness resumes before we are greeted with the promise of spring and the excitement the rest of the year has to follow...

My favourite part of February is Valentines Day, which I posted a little more about here (and expect to see quite a lot more of where that came from..).

I always feel really positive at the start of January, there have been celebrations to say farewell to 2012 and excitement that 2013 promises and of course - resolutions made. A Rachelle regular - the Lust List - made a popular return and there has been fashion inspiration aplenty...

{beautiful details : smokey violet}

Loving the juxtaposition of bright spring bouquets against smoky lavender and charcoal grey marble, of course with some ornate details; chandeliers, gilded mirrors and marble . . .

{the rachelle edit: organise my year}

I always have been, and probably always will be, an organisation freak. I like lists, lots of lists, plans and a detailed agenda - a diary is of utmost importance in my Mulberry. iPhone calendars, reminders, to do lists, voice notes and schedulers come and go, but when a new year rolls around nothing sates my organisation appetite like a fancy, preferably snakeskin, organiser. So by the fourth of January and I still don't have one, I start to panic.

t h i s  y e a r s  s h o r t l i s t . . .

Smythson has been the place to go when it comes to stationery for the last 125 years, apparently. Missing 100 of those years due to not yet being born yet, I wouldn't know but presume the statement is true - seeing as three of four in this selection (1,2 & 4) are made by Smythson. Far left is the perfect desk diary, the 2013 Fashion Diary. Printed calf leather, featherlight pale blue pages with gold embossing  day-to-page, an address book and more note space than even I could fill - this doesn't come cheap at £200 and wouldn't squeeze in my bag.. but it would look perfect on my desk.

At the Office: Desktop Delights

Love it or hate it, we all spend a huge majority of our lives at our desks, surely we should be making all of the time spent there as enjoyable as possible? A stylish desk, filled with things to inspire and help you through your working day is essential. I think a monochrome colour palette is the best place to start - its simple, chic and clean. You can add accents of a bright colour pop as your mood and the seasons change quickly, and relatively cheaply.

A quick look through any fashionistas desk will reveal just as much as what she carries in her bag; these are the day-to-day gospel products which can are consistently reliable. The iPhone (complete with a chic Marc by Marc Jacobs shell £30) used to coordinate the days schedule and tasks to uploading your latest instagram picture. A beautiful bunch of flowers, a statement-making and well-placed lamp  (like this £60 one from Zara Home) and Jo Malone (a favourite is the Pine & Eucaluptus £45) diffuser all help make the place a little more pleasant to whittle away the hours. A Diptyuque candle always helps to relax the atmosphere and soothe square-computer eyes. 

A New Week.. and Late Weekend Links

When the 'Happy Weekend' links don't arrive until Monday, you know its been a good weekend. Its been one of those special ones you know that you're going to look back on and smile in the years to come; live music and gin, gorgeous restaurants and a pub in the afternoon, lie-in's til noon complete with breakfast in bed and a healthy dose of lying with entwined limbs, candles and a glass of wine or two...

Hope everyone had an amazing weekend and we're all starting the week as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as I am...

Happy Weekend: Velvet & Floral Details

There's something about the cold weather that's consistently drawing me to warm, luxurious colours and textures; grey, mink and dusty pink in rich velvet with a little chiffon detailing.

How have your weeks been? I've been in a wistful blur from the incredible, romantic time that was last weekend where we celebrated the boys birthday with cozy nights, too much lovely food and an amazing end to the weekend at The Killers gig - and the following comedown! There's also been fireworks (in more than one respect on bonfire night..), make-ups, an evening at the races and more fireworks and most importantly - terrible things in the form of terminal illness that really put things into perspective...