{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

{happy weekend : cream in your coffee}

Happy Saturday beautiful ladies, its been a little while since I've managed to squeeze in a little happy weekend post, things have been so crazy around here with both work and play; more birthdays than I can remember and more friends to catch up with than I have time to call..

Its my lovely little Mam (northern dialect; see 'mother'... sorry I'm not sorry) 's birthday today so we have an exciting weekend ahead, plenty of celebrations and champagne are in order but first - the boy and I have some very exciting things to sort for ourselves...

{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 . . .

{two beautiful things : winter whites & cozy nights}

So its January, its minus two outside, and bleaching down with snow. Nothing seems more appealing tonight than to curl up in front of the fire with my current read (The Perks of being a Wallflower, should you care) with only the pooch and a Thai take out for company. May even indulge in a glass of bubbles in a bubble bath, simply because I bloody can - and there has been a bottle calling my name for too long from the fridge. 

Something has to cheer up dull January nights, right? Its either that or I attempt solo sledging... 

Happy Weekend: Warm Winter Whites

As far as I'm concerned; the holiday season simply gets better and better. Parties, cocktails, Christmas shopping, mulled wine, tree decorating and snuggling up in front of the fire while sheets of snow fall outside have been highlights of this past week...

The weekend has been as perfect as this past week; Christmas shopping is all now but done, family meals and special time spent with the boy, festive coffee and more mulled wine while snuggling on the sofa watching (my future husband) Jahmene wipe the floor with the other contestants on the X Factor..

A New Month: Happy December..

"I thought that maybe we could make ginger bread houses, and eat cookie dough, and go ice skating, and even maybe hold hands!"

~ Buddy the Elf.

You know when its December when ten minutes of your morning each day is taken by scraping the ice from the windscreen of your car, each day sees you wrapped in more and more layers, your eyes are constantly on the look out for perfect Christmas presents and that perfect New Years dress, Saturdays are spent shopping for other people, Sundays wandering around Christmas markets with a coffee in one hand and glass of mulled wine in the other, there are too many parties to attend than there are nights in the calendar and of course - sharing your Hotel Chocolat Truffles for Two advent calendar with the boy...

Fashion Inspiration: The Lovely Lana

I am one of many of the thousands of people enraptured by the throaty, seductive voice of Lana Del Rey. Since falling for her first single, Video Games, I've become a huge fan of her album and developed a massive girl crush on the lady herself.

Channeling a somewhat '50s pin-up with bouncy, flowing locks and that feline-flick, Lana is undeniably as gorgeous to look at as she is to listen to. I found some stunning editorial shots from two recent cover shoots shes done for Vogue Australia and Vogue Italia. Enjoy!

Happy Weekend: Exotic Details

this week has been a crazy one; there has been everything from tension to relief, late night dinners and early starts, hospital visits and shopping trips, champagne and cocktails and champagne cocktails and of course - the hangover that follows. I'm exhausted (and still relatively rough from Thursday nights antics..) and so really looking forward to a laid-back, lazy & leisurely weekend.

Happy Weekend: Nicely Neutral

once again, the beautiful time of the week known as Saturday morning is upon us! I haven't been as excited about a weekend since the boy & I took a trip to Leeds a few months back.

I'm currently enjoying every second of a luxuriously long lazy morning in bed (don't judge - its my first day off since I returned from holiday sixteen days ago.. ahem) before a relaxed afternoon shopping and lunching with the boy. Tonight will be more lively; cocktails with the best lady and her crazy student friends - I can see me lying in this same place this time tomorrow, but in the fetal position and a gin hangover...

My Happy List { № 3 } : A Good Manicure

one fail-safe, quick, easy and cheap way to give both your mood and appearance a quick lift is to indulge a little 'me time' with a manicure. You don't need to spend £30 in the salon having freakish false talons applied (eurgh, pet hate of mine..), just set aside either ten minutes to throw on a coat or two of colour and a top coat; or really treat yourself to a hand massage, show those cuticles some attention and get creative with one of my favourites - a glitter ombre manicure or the effective ring-finger-mani.

Either way, I'm sure every female feels more glamorous, polished and pulled-together when she has beautifully cared for, glossy nails. rachelle xo

r a c h e l l e ' s h a p p y l i s t . . .

the first coffee  |  morning cuddles  |  a thick stack of magazines 

Places : Backstage | Dennis Basso spring 2013, new york

I have promised not to bombard you with fashion week looks as I eventually catch up on the catwalk action of September, but I couldn't resist sharing with you the most beautiful New York show, with ceilings painted as the sky, gilded archways and yards upon yards of silk drapery, golden chandeliers, and the most exquisite gowns, embellishments, beading and lace, an intermingling of tulle and ballerina buns. There are no other words other than magical.

The penthouse of the St. Regis is plenty fabulous without the newest and prettiest faces of New York's upper east side model agencies, decked in what is in my opinion, the best Dennis Basso collection yet. The dresses were bigger, the adornments were shinier, the fringe was fringier….