Home is where my heart lives

After two weeks away from home there is nowhere I would rather be than in my room. I think you can tell a lot about a person from their bedroom; then I wonder what mine says about me? Pink (naturally), bunting hung with bras that I have decorated, or old ones that are simply too pretty to throw away, a framed Vogue cover (one of my favourite possessions) and walls covered in magazine pages. And, of course, my bookshelf. Every time I walk in to my room and scan the shelves bursting with fashion books and past copies of Vogue my heart is glad and I am reminded why I want to be a fashion journalist / ultimately the editor of Vogue. Not that I need reminding very often.

Libby

I miss art...

When I finished school one of the things I was most looking forward to was never having to go to an art lesson ever again. To me finishing school meant finishing 2 years of the stress, tears and frustration that accompanied A level art. It would mean - shock horror - FREE TIME, and no more panics about how many pages I had or hadn't done in my sketchbook.

Yet there is now an unnerving emptiness in my life. Yesterday I was enjoying the new found freedom that finishing school and finishing exams has brought to my life. And guess what I did? I delved into the drawer I had vowed never to open again and drew out paintbrushes and my sewing kit. I can hardly believe it. I miss art.

I miss having paint flecks permanently decorating my nails, I miss the feel of a brand new sketchbook, I miss sewing. I never thought it would happen.

Anyway, in a moment of nostalgia I found these photos on my computer of some of my art work over the past 2 years. It is safe to say I was never destined to be an artist, but nonetheless I am proud of some of my work - be it my favourite poem painstakingly hand-stitched onto a canvas or a dress made from old photos and postcards - not because they're particularly good, but because I had a go and enjoyed making them. And having a go and enjoying it is one of life's mantras that I think is worth following with gusto.

Libby

Happy Feet

Reader, I bought them.

I went shopping for a hairclip and came home with a hairclip, underwear and my dream shoes. As soon as I saw the Dune shop in Southampton, and the 'Sale' posters plastered across the windows my heart started racing. Could it be...? Could my shoes really be there, the shoes I fell in love with weeks ago and vowed to one day possess...? Dune still hadn't emailed me so perhaps they had run out of stock full stop...? And then I saw them. Elbowing the other shoppers out of the way and sending shop assistants scattering I bee-lined towards the shelves, diving on the shoes and scooping them tightly into my arms. £24.50 in the sale.

They are just as beautiful as I remember, and every time I look down at my feet they make me giggle with happiness. I even have toe cleavage when I wear them, which makes them even more fabulous. I was right, I now have very happy feet. :)

Libby

Domestic Goddess

Yesterday I made a cake so beautiful that I had to stand back and admire it for a while, revelling in my newfound role as Domestic Goddess. I was unashamedly proud.

I love baking. For me there is nothing quite so relaxing and with quite such satisfactory (read yummy) results. I take a disproportionate amount of pleasure from feeding people cake. If I ever had children I would be one of those mum's that spoils them rotten with freshly baked goodies. My kitchen cupboards would be filled with an array of tins and cookie cutters that would no doubt topple out every time I opened them. At school fetes my competitive streak would raise its ugly head and I would spend sleepless nights with a wooden spoon and mixing bowl in an attempt to prove myself as the ultimate woman amongst all those other mothers. Any burning / inadequate icing issues would bring on a wealth of insecurities and most probably tears. All in all I would be a bit of a nightmare. One of the reasons why I think it's probably best that I never have children. Ever.

Nonetheless, when planning what to bring with me to university I realised a cake tin and scales are essentials. I could not last 42 weeks without baking a cake. I recently found out where I will be living coming September - in a university owned building in Hackney split into flats of 4 rooms. I am beginning to become slightly concerned about what will happen if one of the other 3 have a strong aversion to pink / girlyness. My room is going to be tiny but I'm planning on Libbifying it with pink cushions, bunting and pages from Vogue decorating my wardrobe. I will be bringing with me a pink apron, pink collander, pink cooking utensils and a cake tin. Oh dear. They are going to hate me.

But at least I will bake them all cake.

After all, this is me, and Minnie Mouse IS my style icon. (See image above: Minnie Mouse's Kitchen. And if I only knew the Disney Store made pink Minnie Mouse play kitchens like the one below when I was younger...)

How could you fail to love this pink cookie cutter (£1.75) that just happens to be shaped like a bunny. No prizes for guessing what my favourite animal is.

Nigella Lawson offers up the prettiest measuring jug I have ever seen. (£22 John Lewis)

And for taking the freshly baked cakes out of the oven: this pink gingham oven mitt will fulfill all Minnie Mouse fantasies. (£5 John Lewis)

I heart cakes. (Pink silicone cake mould £10.99 at Rainbow Princess)

Pastel pretty cupcake cases from Lakeland (£1.29).

To achieve the full effect when using these flower shaped cases (£8 for 12, John Lewis) top the cake with some fresh flower petals.

What an egg timer... (£5.50 John Lewis)

And this apron (£17.50 John Lewis) is so pretty I'd be tempted to wear it out and about. Either way, it is the perfect apron for a Domestic Goddess.

Libby

Holidays à la Libby... Stage 1: Packing

It is fair to say I am far from an inconspicuous traveller. My luggage repetoire consists of: mini pink suitcase for make up, pink polka dot wheelie number from Animal, leather satchel to fill with books, passport and sweets for the journey, bright pink Longchamp holdall, and pink basket for the beach. Oh and just incase it's not obvious which suitcase is mine, a pink sparkly 'L' luggage tag.

When embarking on holiday I think it is always important to think to oneself, what would Elle Woods in Legally Blonde do? Would she throw her clothes haphazardly in a grey suitcase? I think not.

So here's to the pink suitcase. Holidays are supposed to be fun after all...

When I was younger I used to want to go to boarding school, however this yearning was based purely on the jolly-hockeysticks books I used to read, full of midnight feasts, pigtails and gossiping girls. Despite having long since grown out of this fleeting wish, I long to channel my Malory Towers dreams by packing my things in this classic pink trunk...

(£156 John Lewis)

...or this baby pink version, big enough for a deliciously substantial amount of dresses, bags and shoes.

(£259 John Lewis)

However for all this without the price tag, I present this gorgeous pink Kangol suitcase (£99.50). Perhaps I may not REALLY need another suitcase, but I am extremely tempted to add this to the collection.

Just look at that lining! I am in love.

And it also comes in a vanity case version, perfect for all those bits and bobs that always seem to take up most of the room in my suitcase (hairdryer, hairbrushes - plural- , make-up, toothbrush, toothpaste, moisturiser.....ah the pains of being a girl). (£24.99 Kangol)

This Radley suitcase is incredibly stylish, and the colour of strawberry ice cream to boot.

(£145)

I love the wacky print on this Animal suitcase (£70 at John Lewis)

Baby pink and complete with furry monkey... (£185, Kipling at John Lewis)

...0r fabulous hot pink. (£164.42 Kipling)And who said pink can't be practical? This North face holdall proves that you can be intrepid and love pink at the same time. (£69 at John Lewis)

And for stylish weekends away, opt for this pretty overnight bag. (£41.99 at It's Gorgeous)

Of course it doesn't end at the luggage. To achieve the full effect it is essential to whip a hot pink passport from your bag when passing through security. Preferably from Smythson like this one. (in the sale for £39. You can have your name stamped on the corner for an extra £5.95 per letter. At that price I'd be tempted to just do it myself in Tipex, however I feel the finished effect might me somewhat less glamorous)

And to attach to your bag, this Smythson luggage label (£40). Of course, where it says 'Destination' you do NOT write Bognor Regis or 'my friend's house'. Instead *insert exotic location here*. Naturally.

And a little bit of flower power never goes amiss, not even on your passport cover.

(£24 Radley)

And finally if you love the Smythson but are working to a budget, go for one of these (practically identically but shhh don't tell Smythson that) passport covers that come with matching luggage tags. (£7.95 The Original Gift Company)

Bonnes vacances!

Libby