Showing posts with label birthday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birthday. Show all posts

Monday, 4 May 2009

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for being so sorry she missed an entry.

Yesterday was my birthday and, in the evening, I was rather too drunk for words- literally. My birthday was a little stressful (the whole weekend didn't go to plan by far) so when I finally went out in the evening with my love, we were stressed and in the mood for one too many cocktails.

We sat sipping on AMAZING cocktails and it didn't occour to me that I hadn't blogged. And the more cocktails I had, the less I thought about the real world and the more I thought about tramp food, swine flu and penguins. The conversation got silly, we got giggly and we had a legendary night out.

Thanks to my lovely family and friends, my birthday was wonderful. I have the most incredible people around me who know my taste so well and know just what to say at the right times. I treasured every second of this weekend, even in the really low points, I was happy just to be Hollie-Anne and I'm never going to change that, people love me for it and that makes me happy.

The outfit styled for tonight would be worn for more celebrations- perhaps a tea party with my family or a pub lunch just like I had earlier today? I've kept it simple with shades of blue and yellow- a colour combination that spells happiness and fun. This Marc by Marc Jacobs dress looks like it would be so flattering and the colour is gorgeous with a tan. I've added a Monsoon bracelet, a gorgeous daisy ring by modcloth.com and a clutch by Dorothy Perkins who are my current fave. Finally, some gorgeous as gorgeous can be heels by Brian Atwood which are perfect for dancing the night away. Hope you've had a lovely holiday weekend.


Thursday, 30 April 2009

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for cancelling her birthday dinner.

Today has just been a big load of fail from the start and it's got worse. I'm just exhausted and tired. I got very little sleep last night and had an unproductive day of work. When I got home this evening, I took my mother to one side and explained how tired and low I felt. I cancelled dinner with my family tonight despite looking forward to it. I've been in bed since 4:30pm and I just plan on sleeping through the next few days. I'm sorry this entry isn't very happy and smiley, things aren't great tonight.

Anyway, this is the outfit I would have put together for a relaxed dinner with the people I love the most. I've used a vest by Splendid which I'd wear tucked into this stunning Dorothy Perkins skirt. I've added Chanel-a-like shoes from Topshop, an ASOS bangle and an Alexander McQueen scarf. To finish off the look, I've gone for a Marc B envelope stud bag.

Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for birthday tea with her father.

I'm heading off to the land of love for my birthday thus I'm catching up with friends and family this week. Tonight, it was the turn of my father. I rushed home from lectures, dismissing the pleasure of drinks with friends, and made sure I looked fabulous and had something equally as fabulous in the oven.

My father didn't offer to take me out tonight. My father asked me if I'd make him tea, I said yes because I hate to argue. I popped a quick dinner in the oven and slipped into a pretty dress, my tattoo looking beautiful as it sat on my arm and reminded me how proud I should be of myself.

When my father arrived, we sat down and drank tea and he looked appalled at my quirk on my arm (although later got used to it and loved it). I served dinner at the table and we continued talking- but that was the problem.

My dad drained me tonight. All he went on about was Muffin Top, booking an expensive holiday with Muffin Top and er...Muffin Top! He went on and on about getting in trouble at work, almost being proud of the fact. My father always has been a mess, he has nothing to his name but a car and half a dozen items of clothing. I don't feel sorry for him, he doesn't put himself across as a sad man, but I do feel cross. Why do people feel they can mumble through life without any stability and normality? Call me middle-class if you will.

I'm off to bed soon, happy in the knowledge that tomorrow night is my birthday dinner with my mother and step-family. My father gave me cash and a card, both of wish I don't need.

I've made up a stunning outfit for today. If my father has to put me down, I may as well look stylish as he does so. I've picked this stunning dress by Thurley which is a clear show stopper wherever worn. I've colour clashed the outfit with a turquoise Pucci clutch and jewellery by Bijoux. The pretty hair comb is designed by Salcome, the sandals are by Azzedine Alaia and the look is finished with a Topshop ring.


Sunday, 26 April 2009

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for the start of the birthday week.

My birthday is one week away. On Sunday May 3rd, I'll turn a year older and I'm welcoming a new and beautiful stage into my life. My birthday plans are unsorted at the moment but I always struggle with unhappy memories of birthdays past (hi, rubbish father running away and getting engaged to his mistress on my birthday) and therefore a huge party has never been to my taste. I think I'll go out for lunch and then stay in with some birthday cake, DVDs and an extra load of cuddles from my love. I look forward to it.

Yesterday, my mother ruined my brown rice and grilled fish healthy week by taking me out for lunch and, with my parents split and friends all over the place, this week is going to be a busy one. Tomorrow, however, I have the day alone and plan to rest and write before the formalities of birthday teas and champagne cocktails take over.

My mother took me out to purchase my birthday gift today. A shiny new iPhone. It's so pretty! I'm an e-mail addict and all my work is organised by e-mail now that I'm living in the North so having access to my inbox is a must for me. I fear the iPhone will make me even more of a work-a-holic but at the same time, I'm hearting the Elle Canada application with fashion news updates- nice one! So, for those of you who have an iPhone, what are your favourite apps and how has the iPhone changed your life so far?

This time in 48 hours I'll have my tattoo- eeek!

The outfit I've picked for today would be worn to a pre-birthday lunch followed by sitting in the garden with cups of tea and lots of gossip. All the items featured here are certainly on my birthday wish-list, MYB- take note! This stunningly simple pleated dress in a flattering shade is by Viktor and Rolf, I've added a Topshop bracelet, Juicy Couture necklace and a Roberto Cavalli ring to really give it that 'wow' factor. These beautiful shoes featured are Yves Saint Laurent and I've used this ostrich bag from one of my favourite labels of all time, Bottega Veneta.

Wednesday, 11 March 2009

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for dinner with her mother.

My mother celebrates her birthday tomorrow. I'm clearly not going to reveal my mother's age but I've become more and more fascinated by her astonishing beauty and wonderful skin. As one ages, it's dictated that beauty becomes less of a focus but my mother looks better with age.

We went out for dinner tonight and then to the cinema (we saw 'He's just not that into you' and it is well worth every penny- loved it) and sat sharing ice-cream as we nodded our heads in agreement with the characters on the screen who were all going through some sort of melodramatic but realistic love issue in their lives.

Dinner with my mother is always odd, I always feel the need to impress and to shine despite seeing her everyday. Is it just me or does having dinner with mummy always signal a slight success or fail feeling? My mother is one of my best friends but I'll never stop having a certain driving force behind me to impress her.

I've selected a simple but pretty outfit this evening. I often find that the most simple outfits work best. LBD, black clutch and heels? More than fine! And that's just the look I've gone for here. To me, this Fendi dress is perfection as I adore the shape and the detailing of the belt. I've added a Louboutin clutch, some heels by Giuseppe Zanotti and an Alex Monroe 'love' necklace. Finally, it's colour o'clock with a bright Marc by Marc Jacobs cotton trench. Until tomorrow...


Dinner with my mother.
Dinner with my mother. - by hollieanne on Polyvore.com

Sunday, 1 March 2009

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for MYB being 38!

Bugger, do you think MYB is OK with my revealing his age? Hope so! Anyway, as you may have gathered, My Yummy Bloke has his birthday today! I've known for for a few years and I think it's fair to say that the man is becoming incredibly more gorgeous as the years roll on. Well done me!

I recall last year very briefly. I remember the sun being really hot in London on a Saturday afternoon as I wandered around Hyde Park listening to music and then eventually popping into Laura Ashley to purchase a floral cushion I'd had my eye on for ages. That afternoon I sent MYB a picture message of me grinning on the sofa with said floral cushion looking pretty next to me and I wrote some generic happy birthday text.

This year isn't much different. I still don't get to spend his birthday with him because of the kids and I still find myself feeling a little low about it. Days like this hit me the hardest and I realise I'll never come first in the life of the man I am madly in love with. It's not a problem, as such, but I'm left to daydream about the plans I would have made for today (birthday cupcakes for breakfast, lunch with his parents, a pretty late afternoon walk and then I'd cook dinner in the evening with lots of champagne and cuddles).

I feel selfish to the point of tears. Why am I sat blogging about feeling sad about today when I should be happy for MYB? I am happy for MYB! But I want a cuddle from him. I wish things were more simple. I wish MYB would get over some little fears he has. I wish I was cooler and perhaps I'd go from the boring younger girlfriend to the one with an incredible music taste and perhaps impress his kids more. I wish I could have baked him a birthday cake or kissed him the very second he turned 38. Most of all, I wish our toes were touching right now as we watched Mean Girls or something equally as shallow but fabulous together.

I like the tiny things and I crave domestic bliss (cooking together, Sunday duvet days and working away on separate laptops but grinning at one another as we type e-mails).

I'll get on with the clothes, yeah? I've picked something rather glam for today, something incredibly beautiful and something that one would wear for cocktails in Mahiki. The colour theme would work brilliant with my colouring and this Jasmine Di Milo dress has been on my lust-list for ages. I've gone for simple but stunning Loutboutin heels, a Louboutin velvet clutch, a ring by Topshop, earrings by Kara Ross and bracelets by Philippe Audibert. Happy Birthday, MYB- I love you endlessly.


MYB is 38.
MYB is 38. - by hollieanne on Polyvore.com

Wednesday, 25 February 2009

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for shopping for MYB!

This week is leading up to a very exciting end as, on Sunday, it'll be the birthday of the most delightful man I know! MYB will be opening cards and presents and suddenly feeling much closer to 40 come Sunday ;-)

As I'm not spending the weekend with MYB, I've been super organised as regards his gifts. I bought his card last weekend and I went on a lovely shopping spree this afternoon to buy pretty little gifts for him. I adore shopping for other people but shopping for MYB is something else; he has such incredible taste in everything (apart from music!) that I find myself feeling wonderful as I marvel over the geekiest and most gorgeous sections of department stores.

Clearly I cannot reveal what I ended up buying but I know, come Sunday, he'll adore them and perhaps feel that little more inclined to marry me!

I've style the outfit for comfort today. Lectures, writing, dealing with PR invites and shopping has taken it out of me today and I'm headed for an early night! I love denim dresses but this one here, by 3.1 Phillip Lim, is so simple yet so right. I've gone for red accessories with some Marc by Marc Jacobs mouse shoes, a See by ChloƩ bag (number 1 on my lust-list right now!) and jewellery from Lady Luck Rules OK! Finally, a pretty blue beret from Forever21.


Birthday gifts for MYB.
Birthday gifts for MYB - by hollieanne on Polyvore.com

Monday, 9 February 2009

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for: "Happy Birthday, BFF!"

Celebrations all round as my wonderful BFF turns 24 today! My little boy is all grown up now...well, perhaps not grown up but he's getting on a bit. We've spent some brilliant birthdays together, the best probably being when we were a couple and I threw him a surprise tea party for just the two of us; we were eating party food left overs for days after and had loads of fun popping the hundreds of balloons I'd blown up for the occasion.

Sadly, however, we spent this year apart. Clearly it was for practical reasons but not being with my BFF on his birthday today was a tiny bit painful. I'm chuffed that he spent the day out with his Love Interest at the cinema but I have to admit that I am jealous that she got to be with him today. I must have called my BFF about ten times to sing happy birthday to him and I think I began to get on his nerves a little but he appreciated it all the same.

The worst thing about today was hearing "our" song. My BFF and I once spent a thrilling and highly amusing evening together at a wedding party, we dressed up and I got rather tipsy. At the end of the evening, we went in search of cigarettes for a family member which ended up involving driving all around Essex and popping into a very creepy pub to buy- what we later found out- the wrong cigarettes. High on the happiness of the day, I clicked on my iPod as my BFF drove around and blasted this certain song. My BFF and I were so busy singing and dancing along to it that he ended up driving over a crossroads and being beeped at by about five different drivers. It might not sound much but we still laugh about it over 18 months later and the song I heard on the radio today reminds me of that very hilarious and wonderful day.

BFF, Happy 24th Birthday!

Clearly, I'd wear this outfit out to my BFF's party. I may find myself falling in love with this Paul Smith pretty floral dress. I've gone for neutral colours with some Miu Miu slingbacks, a Betsey Johnson necklace and earring set and all other jewellery by Louis Vitton. But it's the clutch that really makes this outfit for me, it's from the one and only Butler and Wilson and is a brilliant statement piece. Until tomorrow...

Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday - by hollieanne on Polyvore.com

Thursday, 5 February 2009

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for shopping for boys.

My BFF is lovely. I'm sure you all know how much I adore him as I go on about him a lot in my blog but he's very much annoyed me today. Monday will mark the 24th birthday of my darling BFF and I am very proud but birthdays means gifts and gifts mean trouble.

Shopping for Christmas gifts for my BFF is easy as I buy the generic DVD and computer game sort of things and then pile up loads of little silly gifts and chocolate. However, his birthday is always difficult for me for some odd reason. There's a computer game I know he'd like but he's been meaning to buy it himself for ages so it lacks creativity. What is a girl to do?

He doesn't like football, he isn't into fashion or labels, he's not a cook and nor does he have a need for any home items or any gadgets. He's so hard to buy for! What I opted for in the end is actually brilliant but not exactly unique but I know it'll make him happy.

People find it odd that I have a straight male for a best friend; OK, so we've been "there" (2.5 year relationship, actually) but we get along like brother and sister now. My father (as the idiot he is) thinks my BFF and I will get married and have children one day. But both my best friend and I feel rather sick at the idea of us kissing or that we ever did. It feels weird- urgh!

Today is pretty and feminine to substitute for the major male influence of today. Tibi have to be one of my favourite designers and I'll probably opt for one of their dresses once my hips become drastically smaller. This Tibi dress is bold but pretty and costs around £150 which I feel is well worth the price. I've gone for simple black tights and a purple flat shoe from Monsoon. The red glitter heart bag is delicious and is from the High Street love that is Topshop. Accessories keep in with the colour theme with purple beads, a red flower ring and a big purple number. Finally, my favourite look of the moment, a pretty corsage to pin hair back with- this one is available from Topshop.


Shopping for boys.
Shopping for boys. - by hollieanne on Polyvore.com

Sunday, 18 January 2009

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for flowers.

I was given flowers today! What a wonderful surprise it was indeed and the pinks and reds of the buds sit beautifully on my inspiration desk on the right hand side of my bedroom.

So, as I'm sure you're all wonderful, who sent the pretty petals? I can tell you now that it certainly wasn't MYB and nor was it my Yummy Mummy. I can also inform you it wasn't a gesture of love from my BFF or an apology gift from my father. The flowers didn't come from Office Man or some lecturer of mine to say congratulations; they actually came from my Ellie! Ellie is the partner of my mother (my step-dad, if you will) and he bought them as a congratulations for my top marks in philosophy. It was really kind of him and I'm very grateful.

I last received flowers a few days before my sixteenth birthday and they were from my BFF who, back then, was my boyfriend. I was sent 12 red roses which lasted for weeks and I remember feeling ever so sophisticated at having flowers delivered to me. I was a loser, yeah?

I'd like MYB to buy me flowers but it's a bit of a silly romantic gesture with little thought and MYB knows very well that, to me, romance equals holding my hand over the dinner table or running me a bath when I'm exhausted. But. MYB, I would adore some lillies!

Another part of my day was finding the perfect pair of boots therefore I've popped a beautiful pair Miu Miu patent boots in this set. The boots are in good company with a black polo neck, simple black ribbed tights and a beautiful floral dress by Forever21. The glam earrings and pretty petal ring are also by American label Forever21 and this wonderful piece of arm candy is by Stella McCartney. Until tomorrow...

Someone gave me flowers...
Someone gave me flowers... by hollieanne

Saturday, 4 October 2008

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for a pizza party.

Today saw the 12th birthday of my step-brother, Anthony. It almost made me sad to realise that I was only a year older than him when I was struck down with depression equal to an adults and a future which would be controlled by it. Only now, at 19, am I in control of what is now diagnosed as Borderline Personality Disorder and I almost live out my childhood losses in my two step-brothers' eyes. I enjoy their giggles, innocence and silly games knowing that I missed out on a lot of that. I feel privledged to have two such vibrant and mischeivous rascals to call my brothers.

And the giggles were at full speed today as we gorged on pizza, salad, cookie dough and stack loads of ice-cream until we were all nearly sick. We sang Happy Birthday at the top of our voices, popped the balloons which were blow-up for the birthday boy and chased each other around as if we were in a playground. Our laughing gained a few looks from fellow customers who perhaps thought the woman with the pink pout, dip-dye cardigan and smart wide-leg pants had too much sugar that morning. And what if I had? Today, I felt 12 too. And it was great!

The outfit picked for today represents the joy of being mature but young, silly but sensible, child-like but with so much life experience. I adore these La Garconne trousers which would be suitable in any editorial office or University meeting, the Topshop tee could easily slip under Yves Saint Laurent's "Le Smoking" tux for a quirky look and the Converse are commuting essentials which are swapped for killer heels on the corner of 6-8 Old Bond Street. I have a killer flu and this Topshop cable-knit scarf would be a welcome comfort. The Hello Kitty ring? Something I would have picked when I was 12 and something I'd probably still pick now, if truth were known.