Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for refreshing the page.

Oh my god, I hate the Internet! I had some stuff to sort out online today and the website went down/crashed/died and I spent ages in my pajamas just wishing for the website to work. After many phone calls, a few tears and hours of stress, all was sorted and I'll reveal some information very soon.

But, for tonight, I feel low. Deadlines and idiots being the main problem but isn't that just life as a journalist? Not even chocolate could help me cope tonight but I keep clicking through the beautiful pictures of my beautiful man and I at the weekend and I grin when I'm reminded how stunning we look together and how happy we look. I think the best way to deal with stress is just to scream and cry all you want through it and then think of some beautifully happy times.

I'm going for an early night tonight as I think it'll do me some good. I'm off to Manchester tomorrow for work, a little shopping and perhaps a romantic late dinner with my love. I'll make sure I blog!

The outfit I've picked for today is so cute just for staying at home and working in. I love this quirky McQ scarf/tee which I've paired with Miss Selfridge jeans. The pink shoes are Converse, these sweet seahorse earrings are Topshop and this gorgeously classic bag is Anya Hindmarch.

Refresh, refresh, refresh. by hollieanne featuring McQ by Alexander McQueen t-shirts

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for being an editor.

Well, an editor of my own work. As many of you know, I'm working on my first novel and I'm finding it much harder work than I ever thought despite it being an utter pleasure. The editing of all my writing can take so long and I change my mind over things all the time so a lot of work needs to be put in. When I write, I just go and go and go and I often scribble 5,000 words in a day without taking a moment to stop and do some editing. Then it catches up with me. I've spent today just working my way through it all and doing some much needed editing of my book. My mind feels so much clearer now.

I'm exhausted today, though. I have that quite nice feeling of being sleepy and warm and needing a nap. I'll sleep well tonight!

My outfit for today is all about comfort but style- popping out to the shops for a newspaper and a sly bar of chocolate, sitting at my desk and working away with Radio 2 in the background, laughing at photographs from the past few days and scribbling down feature ideas. This top is so stunning but I sadly have no idea where it's from, I believe it's some sort of Japanese label. The jeans are Stella McCartney, I've gone for some cute Converse and added a gorgeous Prada bag. The ring featured here is Disney Couture, the watch is DKNY and the bracelet is from ASOS.

Editor. by hollieanne featuring Stella McCartney jeans

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for travel.

It feels so weird to be blogging in the morning and perhaps a little weird for a lot of you to be reading the Tuesday and Wednesday entries at the same time. As I explained previously, I'm off on a bit of a work/catching up with friends trip but because of the situation, I'm not sure I'll actually get to blog over the next two days. All sounds a bit top secret, right? I'm sure you'll find out in due course.

It's so early right now. I'm normally only up at this time for lectures but there's a final load of packing to be done and lots of beauty treatments to be conducted before I even think about stepping onto any train! I have less than two hours to finish up blogging and replying to work e-mails as well as making myself look ravishing and making sure I haven't forgotten anything. This is all going to be worth it, though. I have a feeling this trip is going to be very productive.

If I don't manage to blog on Thursday and Friday, I'll try and get my lovely blogging assistant to pop a message up letting you know. I'm hoping I can but it may not be possible. Forgive me? I am giving advanced warning. I shall return on Saturday and fill you lot up with more lifestyle rubbish and fashion crap. Have a great few days, guys!

Oh, what? You want an outfit? Oh, OK! I need to dress pretty enough to impress people today but also comfortable enough for survive about six hours of travel! I think this outfit would do the job. I've used a silk pleat Vanessa Bruno top which I'd wear tucked into this stunning Moschino Cheap & Chic bow front teal skirt. I've actually gone for white Converse to dress the outfit down and add maximum travel comfort and the pink leather weekend bag is from trustworthy M&S. Finally, the jewellery is from Topshop- how cute is the bird necklace?! OK, I need to run a bath and make myself look half decent. Have a great few days, everyone.



Travel. - by hollieanne on Polyvore.com

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for feeling really low.

My eyes are a little sore from crying. That makes me sound like an emo, right? Hope not! Haven't had the best of days, mainly induced by my father as mentioned in yesterdays blog.

I've spent today lazing on the sofa and feeling totally exhausted after a disturbing night filled with nightmares. I wore my comfort hoodie today, it's the only one I own and is about 3 sizes too big and from the mens section in H&M. I feel like a slob. Yuk. Never will I start the day by eating Marks and Spencer New York cheesecake again; it'll only make me feel fat and yucky for the rest of the day. No fun!

MYB, bless him, had the pleasure of hearing my moan at him this evening and then hear my cry as I recalled how low I've felt today. We got through it together- like we always do- by giggling and pointing out how much of a typical silly girl I actually am. I adore him.

I'd wear this outfit to take the train to MYB's place and get ready for a night of cuddles and hot chocolate. Shame it's not happening tonight, right? C'est la vie. This outfit is really different from my own personal style but I'd love to be able to dress more casually and feel really comfortable. The checked shirt is a snip from Forever21 at around £7! I'd wear the shirt a size larger and wear it with some bootcut jeans like these by 7 For All Mankind. To add a slightly more girly touch, I've gone for blue sequin Converse and a pretty bow ring by Miss Selfridge. The satchel bag is Cath Kidston, the necklace is by Juicy Couture and the pretty pink watch is by Coach.


Feeling low. by hollieanne

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for hurting her back.

Ouch! A simple shopping and lunch day turned into me almost crying with the pain in my back. Not good. I was out for lunch with the family when I slipped on some spilt juice that hadn't been cleaned up, nor had a caution sign stuck up. I was fine at the time but a few hours later, rushing around Toys'R'Us and trying to gather last minute gifts for my brothers, I felt the pain. And it has not stopped, despite taking pills.

I could do with an early night tonight to soothe the pain. I'm wondering if a hot water bottle might help? I certainly think being stretched out in the bed I share with MYB on occasion could help but sadly he is busy and I'm in too much pain to hop on the train.

But if MYB and I were to be enjoying a night of tea, Strictly Come Dancing and cuddles, I'd wear this. The outfit is comfortable, stylish enough to pop out to Tesco with and is a perfect mix of textures. These pants are pretty much my dream pair of trousers but sadly Roberto Cavalli won't stock these satin beauties in my size. Same goes for this amazing Paul Smith tee, really. But I'd probably have better look with a simple grey cashmere cardigan like this one here. Pre-back accident I found myself buying some silver Converse shoes so I've popped some in my set for today. Also featured is a beautiful blue Chloé bag and a kitsch apple ring by Dolly Dagger.


I have broken my back. by hollieanne

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for having the plasterers in.

Note, that title says plasterers and not painters! Hello, Readers. Short time no speak. Why on earth am I in such a good mood? In all fairness, I shouldn't be writing this having just come off the phone from MYB as I've had a stupidly awful day.

Picture the scene, it's Saturday night and you're wiping away the tears after seeing your inspiration that is Britney Spears perform on X Factor. As you're about to curl into bed you think of the day ahead; caramel coffee, cashmere cardigans and pj bottoms, Heat Magazine and some styling. You drift off to sleep with MYB on your mind and all is well...

Until you're woken up at silly o'clock by men in your kitchen. Yes, I forgot the platerers were coming and that they thought it would be great to hammer down walls or whatever they do early on a Sunday morning. I tumbled downstairs to find my mother et al happily sipping tea which has been made in a makeshift tea room in the front room after said plastering men have taken over your kitchen. My Hollyoaks sessions was ruined by banging, workmen singing along to Leona Lewis, constant cried for cups of tea and the scraping of plaster hitting the kitchen walls. They didn't leave until 6pm after which I headed down the pub for half a bottle of wine and a rather fancy dinner with friends.

Dressing For is about lost Sunday comfort. It's slouchy but, after being covered in dust, it's glam enough to make you feel all pretty again. I love this Donna Karan sequin vest- it's perfect for the party season if you don't fancy wearing a dress. I'm wearing some Diane von Furstenberg tuxedo jersey pants on my legs and silver Converse on my feet to dress the whole look down. For accessories, I've picked a Juicy Couture bag and jewellery from Forever21. Thank God I get a lie in tomorrow!


Plasterers. by hollieanne

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for being fine.

"I'll be fine, I'll be fine. No, really, I will". I keep telling myself this and it shocks me how much the low mood on today has crept up on me after the joy of yesterday but that's the way it goes, right? Especially when you have BPD.

I'm a creature who is both amused and saddened by the little things. A cupcake at the Hummingbird Bakery, wearing a corsage, seeing MYB stand at the bar and order cocktails for the two of us...bliss! Not having an umbrella when it's raining, getting a question wrong in class, running late for an appointment... floods of tears. I ain't by half one sensitive soul, really.

I guess that's what it is today, isn't it? I just keep welling up with tears over the smallest reasons on earth and am having to tell myself to stay calm and stop being silly. Perhaps it's all just part of being a girl? Or maybe I am just a simple creature.

I could do with the biggest cuddle from MYB though. There's something about that man where, as soon as I'm in his company, I just feel warm and snuggly and safe. He's better that caramel hot chocolate which tends to have the same effect on me.

Dressing For is today about being in between; about needing a little cry and a huge smile. I'd wear this to go for a walk with MYB and then back to his for a few tiny tears, lots of massive cuddles and scribbling down my feature ideas as he did some work. Purple is the main colour of today as it's that in between colour, it can be happy but it can also be sad. We're sort of in the middle today but how could you not be happy with these purple sequin Converse on? I'm actually in love with them. And to me, there's not really much more comfort that pairing some smart wide-leg trousers with a pair of Converse so I've used these ones by Oscar de la Renta. Keep the happiness theme with this super cute Disney tee and, because they always make me smile, wear some pretty Pucci ear muffs. Continuing with the purple theme, I've used a pretty Miu Miu bow scarf and one of my favourite handbags ever- the patent purple Mulberry Bayswater. Stay happy!



I am fine. by hollieanne

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for having a major cold.

It's the time of year where you can never escape the horrible bugbear that is getting a cold or flu virus. Everyone is sneezing, people are coughing all over the place and your office is littered with stack loads of new tissues. So why do we always act as if it's such a shock when the symptoms start to show?

I noticed it last night. As soon as I came through the door, the sniffles started and the sore throat began to creep up on me. Thankfully, I was fine during the weekend so could enjoy cuddles and cocktails without so much of a splutter in sight but it may well be the weekend that could have caused it.

I ventured out at the weekend, like the legend of any woman who grew up within a 50 mile radius of Newcastle states, without a coat. I wore a pretty strapless and short dress with a very thin shrug cardigan and thin black tights. I was also in the company of a certain someone with a slight sniffle. And it's November! But all the logical reasons didn't stop me cursing and practically crying when I couldn't breath through my left nostril and my muscles ached like mad. Please flu, go away!

I need to be nice and wrapped up today and, as MYB isn't near to provide me with zillions of cuddles, I'll gladly made do with this outfit. I love the draped front cardigans that I own but this Micheal Kors one pretty much beats them all- if only for the colour. Add a striped tee from American Eagle and some slim leg wool pants by Helmut Lang. To keep the chill away, add some cashmere gloves and a pretty floral scarf available from New Look. Lastly, add more colour to cheer yourself up with some dotty Converse and a bright Chloé bag. I think we're all suffering from the dreaded winter illness, aren't we?



Cold and flu. by hollieanne

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for BARACK OBAMA!

This is all that needs to be said today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jll5baCAaQU

Hoodie is available online. Jeans are Sass & Bide at Topshop. Sequin shoes are Converse. Tote is the official Barack Obama site and the ring is available online.

I am happy today.


OBAMA! by hollieanne

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for the feelings of not being bothered.

So, after my rough day yesterday which ended in a tearful call to my boyfriend ("But I just *sniff* want to do... *wail* weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllll!"), I woke this morning not caring about any one's disrespectful attitudes; this then reflected in my outfit.

On those days where you really do just throw everything on (Ms.Moss/Sienna Miller/Peaches bleedin' Geldof, this is NOT you- no matter what you say and try to portray) you should really embrace it. My actual outfit from today is pictured below and hey, I might be a circle shaped Northern bird with little sense of style but I don't care and my Converse All Stars kept my feet warm!

There's a great satisfaction in picking up the first few items you find- on the floor- and creating something new that feels more comfy than a pair of M&S pjs. I do wish, however, that my floor contained these beauties of a Marc by Marc Jacobs hairband (yup, Cheryl Cole did wear it on X Factor last weekend), Topshop's fugly but hot tiger tee and the most luxurious See by Chloé tights. Yummy, aren't they?

Until tomorrow...



And finally, the pouty and circle shaped creature named Hollie-Anne Brooks: