Ice Ice Baby...

So far, so good. The resolution for a post a day is going well!

Today, having had a very lovely 'date' day, the boy and I finally went ice skating. I mean, it's only been there since the middle of November, so it felt like an achievement to actually don the horrific complimentary blue ice skates and imagine myself as the better half of the next Torvill and Dean. Having had a slight stress at realising I had the dead weight of my Kate Moss for Topshop bag slung on my arm and not enough change for a locker (it would have definitely either killed me, or a small child, or both, had I taken it on to the ice...), the lovely woman behind the counter offered me a locker for free, having taken pity on myself and my lack of preparation. Unfortunately, my haste to get on to the ice meant I forgot both my packed socks (I was slightly prepared...), my camera and my gloves, meaning I had cold feet and hands and nothing to take my anticipated wintery snaps with. Oh well!

Despite the little hiccup in my plans, the skating was fab, and I didn't fall over once, even though I had many near-collisions with children and chavs alike (I'm a pro you see...). However, I hate to admit that a five year old put my skills to shame. Whilst I skated round hand in hand with the boy (both for the niceness of it and to prevent some over-enthused teen knocking me over), this tweenie child was skating round by herself, and she was actually amazing! I was slightly jealous at both her young bravery and her skating boots (she had the nice white ones I've always dreamed of). I really hate the plastic blue skates they always provide you with at rinks. For a start, they're horrific looking and so uncomfortable, what with those three belt-like straps holding your feet in like a straitjacket. Given that ice-skating is ultimately an elegant sport, it's difficult to comprehend why they give you the equivalent of breeze blocks for your feet. It's like giving ballerina's Doc Martins rather than pointe shoes. It kind of defeats the object...

Dream skates. The ones the ice rinks should provide you with rather the tragic plastic alternative.

 Moving on from my skate snobbery, I have to profess that I really do love ice skating. I always imagined myself as a figure skater, and as a child I was convinced I'd be alright at it given that I did ballet and all that jazz. However, this dream was taken away from me because I was brought up in the middle of nowhere that lacked an ice rink, and so my dreams of lycra were dashed and so we will move swiftly on...

I'm still convinced that this could have been me...

 Ice skating to me just seems so romantic. I love the idea of Victorian ice skating, where the men and the women met in their Sunday best. I bet it was a right dating hotspot...

All the single ladies... I'm loving the fur hats, I've ordered a vintage one just like them (kind of).

One of my favourite books from my childhood, Tom's Midnight Garden, is probably responsible for my idealistic view of ice skating: when Tom and Hatty used to meet at the midnight chime of the grandfather clock and skate on the frozen lake - him using her Victorian skates. And the endless images of the ice rink in Central Park always make me want to go ice skating and be in NY. I tried to find the ice rink when I was there in June, but unfortunately the Summer season was against me and sadly it was not to be found.

All this ice-skating talk is making me want to don those plastic skates and go again. The only thing stopping me is the realisation that unfortunately, there will forever be chavs and children alike on Newcastle's rink, which just is not big enough to cater for my taste. If I had my way, I'd have a whole ice rink to myself. Like this:

I love this image. An empty ice rink makes for perfect skating. I bet no chavs skated into Mrs Hobson...

 

 

 

 

Or, I'd just live in New York, where the ice rink is huge and big enough to avoid those pesky collisions...

But regardless, I did love my skating session today, and if I can convince the boy to part with another £16, I'm sure he'll take me again. Or at least take me to NY for the Central Park rink! (I jest. Well only slightly!) Given that we both sadly return to work tomorrow, ice skating was a lovely end to the festive period and we had a fab day. And now we're about to bake, with my Christmas tree cookie cutter (I refuse to let go of Christmas, clearly). Oh how I love date days...

Dear Santa...

So, the snow has arrived in Newcastle! Yesterday afternoon I looked out of my window to see the pretty snowflakes falling from the sky. It looked so beaut, as the snow remained untouched by human footprints and the sky was bright blue. This pre-December weather has however gotten me all excited about Christmas, and so I've been putting together my Christmas list to send off to Santa. I really hope he takes pity on me and grants me my wishes, as I do think I've been a good girl this year so I can't imagine my name would be on the naughty list. I just wish I had applied to be an Elf in Lapland, where the snow would be plentiful and Christmas cheer would be everywhere! Next year, perhaps I will get my wish of meeting Santa and his reindeer...

Until I get to Lapland though, I shall just have to make do with the snow here. How pretty does it look?

Back to my Christmas wish list.

Well, I've already purchased my Christmas present to myself, in the form of a Vogue subscription. How ideal! As much as I'll miss buying the new issue on the shelves, it does seem wiser to pay half the price for it... And I got a free Benefit gift! I am eagerly awaiting the heavy thud on my leopard print doormat, signalling its arrival.

Other than that, there are lots of other things I'd like to find in my stocking on Christmas morning (George Lamb mainly, but I somehow don't think that's going to happen).

I heart this tapestry bag from Urban Outfitters. I've coveted another one since mine broke in sixth form. I've never quite gotten over it, so I feel this would be lovely to store all my essentials.

                                             I also really heart these lace-up boots.

I also really want this. I feel it will go well with the above boots: Topshop velvet detail tweed blazer

Recently I have been feeling that I need to branch out from my staple fur coats as I'm starting to think I'm predictable. The only problem is, they're just so warm it's impossible to get them off my back in the chilly Newcastle winds! This sexy coat would however enable me to do so, and with the leopard-print trim, I would still be able to be faithful to my true Bette Lynch self: Leopard detail swing coat.

I really heart this coat. Sheepskin is everywhere at the minute and I fell in love with this as soon as I saw it. I doubt it will arrive in my stocking this year, but one can only wish! It's just a shame my own sheepskin coat I bought at a flea market for a mere fiver last year doesn't fit me as it's too big... It fits my boy perfectly, but I have yet to convince him to wear it, even though he does look like an absolute babe in it. I would quite happily donate it to him if I could have this one in return: Sheepskin pea coat.

I also heart this knitted basic. It's available in so many colours and they're so wearable. My favourite is the cranberry colour, but I'm a bit fan of the peach and dark blush ones too: Scallop edge basic vest.

I'm massively into stoles lately. This one is amazing: Mongolian fur cape.

I also love these chandeliers. Edie Sedgewick would be jealous: Facet drop chandelier.

I'm in dire need of a laptop case, as mine is suffering badly due to my lack of one. This one is fab: Leopard print laptop case. However, in order to avoid a leopard clash with the majority of my wardrobe, I feel this one would be more suitable: Quilted laptop case. I'm enjoying the Chanel-esque quilting.

I also want this fur stole a LOT: Fox fur stole. It will go perfectly over my Bettie Page dress, and with these seamed back tights I'm hoping to get as a stocking filler:

I also heart this fox fur coat. Even though I said I was trying to branch away from the animals, I love the fur of this so much that I feel I might just be able to make an exception: Vintage fur coat.

This stole is also amazing. Gawd, I am so predictable: Vintage fur stole.

And not to be forgetting those Vivienne Westwood wellingtons I so crave...

I'd also love a Polaroid camera. You can get them for next to nothing on eBay; the only problem is the fact that the films are non-existent, and subsequently cost about 20 sheets for 10 shots. So until Polaroid decide to start producing them again, I feel my wish will be put on the back burner.

These Urban Outfitters slippers are so adorable:

I do not however expect Santa to bring me all of these wonderful delights this Christmas, this is merely my wish list. There are other things I could add to this list, but I do not want to bore you with all my wishes as the list is endless... And so from now until the first of December, when I can start opening the doors on my advent calendar that I've yet to purchase, I will be hoping that Santa has Internet access and can see my blog, as I'd love for some of these to be under my tree this year...

Holidays are coming.

Yesterday, I started to properly get into the festive spirit by watching Elf and Miracle on 34th Street back to back. Tucked up on my chesterfield sofa with my Cath Kidston throw and my gas fire on, it was my idea of Sunday afternoon heaven. The only thing lacking was my new Christmas pj's and mince pies. You see, I LOVE Christmas. It's my favourite time of the year. And ever since I saw the first viewing of the Coca Cola advert, my anticipation has been increasing by the day. And more than anything, I'm looking forward to buying my first proper Christmas tree and decking my house out in seasonal decorations. In my University houses, we all returned home for Christmas mid-December, and so having a Christmas tree seemed a bit pointless. So this year, I am embracing the decor, and cannot wait to buy my first real Christmas tree. And even though I will be returning to my motherland for Christmas day, the boy and I plan on having an early Christmas dinner together on the 23rd, complimented by my decorations and a Christmas film marathon. You see I have such a large family it simply wouldn't be Christmas without them and without the noise and laughter, and of course the Frank Sinatra finale we have to any family celebration, which consists of badly singing along and dancing whilst my dear grandmother sits in her chair, drunk on a bottle of Bailey's by this point, takes it all in around her.

For me, Christmas has always been a time for family, and I love buying gifts for everyone. I like to think I'm quite good at selecting presents (for my best friend's 21st birthday I bought her the Vogue from November '88, ergo the month and year of her birth. She loved it so much she cried!) I love watching people's faces as they open their gifts. Seeing my boy's face when he found out I'd bought him a Glastonbury ticket made my two and a half hour stint on the laptop trying to get them worthwhile... But presents aside, I just love the Christmas season. I love real Christmas trees and fairy lights, and some of my all time favourite films are Christmas ones. They always have such a feel-good vibe to them. It's A Wonderful Life is a beautiful film. And I heart Jingle All The Way, known to my family as Turboman. It's one of those films that is on every Christmas without fail, and it wouldn't feel like Christmas without a viewing of it. I bought it on dvd last year, just so I have a back up in case Sky fails me... I love the Boots three for two deal and I love wrapping Christmas presents. December wouldn't be the same without an advent calendar to count you down to Christmas, and every year the closer I get to the 20's, the more excited I get. I love Christmas cake and mince pies, and I love the traditional turkey roast with crackers and Christmas hats galore.

Christmas gives me that warm fuzzy feeling whenever I think about it. I always have a very nostalgic image of winter, wrapping up for the cold and buying winter coats and gloves and going ice skating and for jolly rambles in the countryside. I love the Christmas markets that come to town, where you can fill your belly with all sorts of cullinary delights and mulled wine. And I love snow. Well, not the snow of last year, which was mid-calf in depth and not enjoyable having to slog to the library in it every day in inappropriate footwear, however snow for a day or two is fun. Just the right amount to build a snowman and have a snowball fight is perfect.

The stress of last year's snow though has made me realise that those Vivienne Westwood for Melissa wellington boots I have coveted for a long time would surely be a very useful present. After all, at the minute I'm walking around in a pair of Topshop's leather ballet flats - not exactly ideal for the winter weather, given the fact that my feet are soaked every time the ground has a bit of water on. In the Westwood wellingtons, I wouldn't have to try and skirt around that massive puddle, as I could just splash on right through like I did in my patterned wellies and little pink mac when I was five. And they're so cute and delicate, they're not really like wellingtons at all. More little booties, with the fab gold buttons displaying the orb down the side. I'd like them for Christmas quite a lot...

And on that note, I'm off to make my Christmas list to send to Santa before I go for my first ice skate of the season. I cannot wait.