My week in photos 31

Sorry for the lack of posts over recent days - this week has been a busy one work wise and I've come home so frazzled that all I've been capable when getting in from work is collapsing on the sofa (or straight into bed).

Here's a glimpse of some of the things I've been enjoying.

 Clockwise from top left: I went to the newly opened Big Easy in Covent Garden with the maids for a strategy meeting - I arrived home from work when it was still light outside - Checking out a sink I know my Dad would find hilarious - Wholeheartedly agreeing with Lucy Mangan in Stylist

 Clockwise from top left: Realising I won't be living here for much longer (sob) - Checking out the newly opened Benugo for lunch (too much sauce on my salad, in my opinion, but excellent sandwiches) - A cheeky Wagamamas with The Boy - Rocking my new Gap trench, the perfect transitional piece of outerwear - Lunch at my desk - New additions to the cleansing routine - Finally completing the trilogy - Obsessed with my new hairbrush

 Clockwise from top left: Loving H&M mannequins in Selfridges - Looking through the engagement cards - Spicy Chicken Ramen on date night - A Sunday stroll with Zsa - Cocktails with The Boy - Sitting in the sunshine - Pancakes at My Old Dutch on the Kings Road - The annual creme egg addiction rears its ugly head

Childhood friends

Back in September when I was taking part in the Blogtember challenge I wrote about my beloved, well worn teddy bear, whom I've loved for all the thirty years of my life. So, it was great to read in a recent copy of Stylist magazine, that I am not alone in holding on to this constant companion and link to my childhood.

Much Loved, a book filled with images of long-loved toys compiled by Mark Nixon really pulled at my heart strings, with many of the bears looking not dissimilar to my very own Teddy, and reminded me of my many others, who now reside in the loft of my parents house.

Nixon's images in particular reminded me of one lonesome bear who didn't even originally belong to me. I found Lonely Ted whilst helping Mum at the jumble sale and vowed that if he hadn't found a home by the end of the sale I would take him home with me. He wasn't particularly special, he wasn't even new, he just needed a home, and I'm a sucker for a lost toy.

So, you can see why this book really tugs at my heart strings. Here's some of my favourite images from the book.

 Much Loved by Mark Nixon is available to purchase on here.

My week in photos 14

The 1st of December has brought with it Christmas fever, or so it would seem. The (real!) tree is up in the office, the presents are wrapped and almost all of my cards have been written - I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy inside!

Somehow I managed to schedule a fair few of my festive outings for this week (clever planning Laura) and I barely had a second to catch my breath but I suppose that's what Christmas is all about - getting together with friends and family over a glass of mulled wine or two, even if it does put you in an almost perminent state of exhaustion.

So, next weeks post looks set to be FULL but that's not saying this week hasn't been pretty busy - here's what I've been getting up to over the past week or so.

 Clockwise from top left: Present unwrapping at Christmas number one - Absolutely amazing and delicious Smoked Haddock Risotto at Albert's in Didsbury - Nice shoes boys (what are the chances?) - A REAL Christmas tree in the office! Yet another reason why the job move was worth it

 Clockwise from top left: Amazing oversized perfume bottles at Fenwick Bond Street - Gorgeous festive mannequins at Fenwick - Loving this Mr Porter advert in this week's Stylist magazine - There's something that I love about ripped advertising posters - The Boy admitting his greatest fear during a game of Mr & Mrs (rats) - Our gorgeous Christmas tree - The first turkey dinner of the season at Christmas number one in Manchester - Loving this window display at Jigsaw, Spitalfields

Weekly round-up

Well this week sucked. Pretty much everything that could have gone wrong did: I missed my power plate class, couldn't go to the Warehouse trend event and the less said about work the better. But enough about that, let's move on to bigger and better things!

This weekend The Boy and I have nothing planned and I'm actually really looking forward to it (sometimes doing nothing but what you want really is the best remedy following the week from hell). I've got big plans for an afternoon nap, some writing, catching up with Zsa zsa and maybe even some painting, who knows. I just want to spend some time doing things that I genuinely want to do, rather than having to try and fit them in around the drudgery of everyday life.

I spent some time on Friday afternoon clearing my head with a spot of retail therapy (more of that later) followed by a blustery walk home through Hyde Park. As much as I love living in the city, I do sometimes miss the peace and quiet of the countryside and the calming influence of the sea, so the silence of the park and the solitude of the lake were more than a little welcome after such a troubling week. I normally walk through the park from Marble Arch to High Street Kensington which cuts quite a bit of time off my journey and is a far nicer route than battling with the tourists at Hyde Park Corner. Today I took some time to sit a while near the Round Pond next to Kensington Palace, read my book and clear my head before meeting The Boy for some dinner and a DVD. It was a lovely end to an otherwise not-so-special week.

The week in pictures: sitting by the Round Pond, Hobbs on the Stylist cover wrap, my new cardigan, amazing new Revlon nail varnish.