Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for photography in the garden.

I had a final resting day today before I prepare myself to head back into education after a week and a half at home due to illness. I have to admit that I'm a tad nervous about tomorrow for some odd reason but I guess it's like the feeling we all get about going back to school/college/Uni/work after the holidays, isn't it? My mummy sorted me out with cuddles and shakes.

My portfolio pieces are increasingly growing and I'm loving the stuff I'm producing right now. MYB asked me to e-mail some pieces over for his viewing (I heart how interested he is in my work!) and I'm waiting to hear his responses- let's hope they were a hit! I produced a few more pieces today but it makes me nervous as to how close the deadline is to have it all finished. I have by no means started on my "Suri Cruise: My Personal Style Icon" stuff and nor have I even began to pen any words regarding how I ended up in the silly world of journalism (MYB and I, Jan 6th several years ago, All Bar One, Chinese man crossing the road... it's a long but beautiful story). I'm sure I'll manage.

When I wasn't doing portfolio pieces I was out in the garden. My parents have a beautiful garden which I love discovering. I didn't embrace the outdoors and the garden over the summer due to illness so I'm really looking forward to the sun coming along and walking down towards the apple tree via the stepping stones. I've taken the opportunity over these past few days to sneak out amongst the snow and snap away with my camera. We have some beautiful plants and flowers in our garden which have allowed me to take some incredible shots. I'm hoping to venture out amongst the plants and trees more often for some photography sessions. It's my happy place right now.

This super pretty outfit is perfect for staying home and being comfortable and creative in but also warm enough for half an hour out in between the trees and flowers. I find myself in love with this cardigan which is by Oscar de la Renta; it has a major price tag but it's absolutely gorgeous! Under the cardigan I'd wear this sweet little pocket silk tank by Alexander Wang and slip on some simple True Religion jeans. Chloé have produced these simple but pretty stack wedge heels and I've added a wonderful investment buy by Bottege Veneta. Jewellery is all cheap but chic: the owl ring is Miss Selfridge, the earrings are Topshop and this statement necklace is available from ASOS.



Photographs in the garden. - by hollieanne on Polyvore.com

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for UPS.

My BFF and I are, quite frankly, rather crazy. We have the sort of super silly friendship that I feel is rather rare. We bond over our private jokes which have lasted years and not a single person in the world can make me laugh as much as he can. We've been through everything together: bereavement, break-ups, career heartbreaks and finance issues. I doubt there is a single thing we couldn't do together.

And so this all brings me on to the theme for today. My BFF and I have a silly argument about the UPS mail service. Is it pronounced U.P.S or is it pronounced "ups" as in up and down? My BFF is a wee bit dim and thought it was the latter but I clearly knew it was single letters. So I e-mailed UPS today and explained our little situation. I explained that, if I were correct, I'd be forcing my BFF to wear my favourite pink lipstick.

I'm sure you all know I was correct, don't you? Thanks to the lovely UPS bloke who cleared it all up (or ups, even) and proved my stupid but gorgeous BFF wrong. So, BFF, you ready to pucker up?!

My outfit for today clearly celebrates my win. Dinner in style on my BFF as seen as he got it wrong. I've used some Dorothy Perkins jeans but dressed them up with gorgeous black Brian Atwood shoes. The silk cotton cardigan is by my future wedding dress designer, Oscar de la Renta. I've added a vintage bag, Juicy Couture ring and a Forever21 necklace. Finally, some Marc Jacobs sunglasses to wear as we drive through the country roads and farms near casa de BFF.


UPS - by hollieanne on Polyvore.com

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for her Dateiversary.

It's my Dateiversary! Actually, the Dateiversary of both MYB and myself. Wondering what it is? Well, my Loves, today marks two years since MYB and I had our very first date! OK, so we haven't been together for 2 years but two years ago today we had our first ever romantic date. And, I can safely say, it was one of the most wonderful days of my life.

On the day that MYB and I went out together romantically, I made the decision to change how things were and within two weeks I was interviewing my favourite band for a journalism piece. What can I say? The man inspires me to no end. It was also the second time I'd ever been to London (I was staying with my BBF for a week or two at the time) and walking through the streets of Kensington, visiting the V&A and walking past LCF students made me realise that this is where I had to be. And nine months later I was. That day changed my life forever.

And I've adored MYB more and more each day since then. It's taken us a long while to finally sort ourselves out and get together properly but it's been more than worth the wait. OK, so we're not in the most straight forward of relationships in terms of the age-gap and his extra family but I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm not saying I want to spend forever with MYB but what I am saying is that, on Janurary 6th 2007, it clicked with me that it was him and only him. Always.

MYB and I are spending this coming weekend together (can't wait!) but this outfit fits the bill for a pretty romantic evening. The dress is by Giambattista Valli; I adore this label and plan to marry in one of their dresses (or an Oscar de la Renta number). I'd pin on this pretty poppy brooch and continue the theme with an ASOS hairband and Chloé ring. The look is stimulated with some incredible heels by Alexander McQueen and a Chanel bag. Finally, for my darling MYB who will remember all those moments we shared in the rain that day- a poppy umbrella!


Dateiversary. by hollieanne

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for 27 Dresses.

My Yummy Mummy I were alone today so spent the afternoon finishing off the tin of chocolates, having chips with melted peanut butter for lunch and watching 27 Dresses. It's been ages since we've done anything like that and it reminded me of all the past Saturdays we'd have when my dad was at the football match (or sleeping with some tart) or when my dad left and it was just the two of us hibernating in our utter disbelief. We must have watched Bridget Jones' Diary a million times.

I'd been wanting to see 27 Dresses for ages and it didn't disappoint. OK, so it was a typical girly film that I should be growing out of by now but I can't help love the idea of being that late 20something who has a crush on an unsuitable man and is then finally swept off her feet by a man she'd never taken any notice of in the past. Yeah, I'm a sucker and believe in the Disney fairytale but after not having the easiest romantic relations in the past 2 years or so, I cling on to hope that my darling Prince Charming will come along and marry me in the garden of our four bedroom country estate. But that's unlikely.

Despite adoring MYB, I still watch the likes of Bridget Jones and think I'll be that sad singleton in my 30s. And there's nothing wrong with that, I loved being single as much as I do being in a relationship, but I need to face the fact that the Prince Charming type blokes are only in movies and that all the hot, romantic, kind AND rich lawyers/journalists/doctors are always taken- whether I'm 19 or 39! Saying that, I have a very hot journalist of my own but one day at a time and all...

Watching 27 Dresses made me think about how many times I've been a bridesmaid. The total so far is 5. That's a lot for my age, right? I'm hoping the next time I'm a bridesmaid will be to my mother and her partner. My farther and Muffin Top? Er...no way! Even when I was 7 and was bridesmaid for an aunt, I'd have people say to me: "Always the bridesmaid and never the bride, Hollie-Anne!". It's clearly been installed in me from a young age that I'll never be a bride myself.

I have a clear stance on having children and people therefore always assume that I'll never want to get married either but that's not the case at all. When Peaches Geldof came out recently said she didn't think marriage always had to last forever (or some such), I found myself firstly disgusted but then in total agreement. I'm not saying I'll be a Joan Collins but I have to face the truth via the fact that my parents were divorced and I'm madly in love with a man who was divorced several years ago. My parents were married for nearly 20 years before they departed ways and I think that's rather beautiful and quite an achievement. People never quite realise that getting married is massively high on my agenda and is not far behind the major career success I crave. OK, so if MYB proposed now I'd totally freak out but in ten years time? Sure. And I'll be wearing an Oscar de la Renta dress and Gina heels- I've promised myself that for years.

With the theme of never being the bride, this outfit fits the bill for a pretty and modern bridesmaid. I admit, I haven't been a bridesmaid for a few years so haven't had to face the horror of disgusting dresses for a while but I never understand the need for all the bridesmaids to look revolting; sure, the bride looks better but I'd rather have super stylish bridesmaids and better looking photos, wouldn't you? Whoever asks me for my bridesmaid skills next should allow me to wear this pretty outfit- I adore the simplicity of golds and peaches. This Tomas Maier is gorgeous and would look perfect at a summer wedding and I've added gold Louboutin shoes, a Roberto Cavalli clutch and some pretty Alex Woo leaf earrings. To finish the look, a gorgeous Gabriel & Co. bracelet and pretty pearl ring.


Always the bridesmaid... by hollieanne

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for lunch after lectures.

I'm in such a brilliant mood today despite only a few hours sleep and many a looming deadline. Today saw me feeling confident and smiley on a freezing cold North East morning; my trench was back on, the peep toes I wore were freezing my feet off and my over sized clutch was like a comforting daytime teddy bear.

I attended my philosophy lecture this morning and successfully pointed argument out, debated and pouted my way to such respect from my fellow classmates. On my way out of campus, Pussycat Dolls on my iPod and lipstick freshly applied, I bumped into an old classmate who I hadn't seen in ages due to timetable changes and we exchanged chats and smiles that kept me grinning for the rest of the day. Finally, I waltzed into town and met my darling mummy for lunch and a catch-up. As a friend said to me today: "Lunches with mums are the best" and she is so right. I can always trust my mum to tell me I look nice, make a few corrections when I don't and generally amuse me.

After the entry yesterday about surprise contact from MYB, I thought it couldn't get too much better in terms of loved-up, romantic and flirty mid-day messages but clearly I was wrong. MYB and I exchanged text messages all day that made me feel all beautiful and safe despite MYB working in the capital today and your darling blogger being Up North.

Lunch with mummy was fabulous, MYB has pretty much made me the happiest girl in the world today and nothing beats a decent philosophical debate. So, to express my happiness but a need to still dress smartly for lunch with mummy, Dressing For is colourful but chic. I'm a major Oscar de la Renta fan and have been spying on this silk bow blouse for a while. I've paired the aforementioned blouse with some simple wide-leg jeans available from Warehouse and some wonderful heels by the fabulous Georgina Goodman. Now, you'll have to forgive me for yet more purple but I cannot resist and have therefore gone for a purple flower ring, a Fiorelli laptop bag and some bangles available from ASOS. Got your glass of wine in your hand, mother opposite you and smile on your face? Your look is complete!



Lunch after lectures. 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