Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for making notes.

I'm exhausted today. Really, if all had gone how I wanted it to, I should have been spending this weekend with MYB at his place but sadly it's been delayed until next weekend. Must admit I was a bit gutted but he never promised anything and he is a daddy so all is forgiven.

In absence of constant kisses and beautiful hand-in-hand countryside walks, I've kicked off my weekend by making an abundance of notes on everything from television to British history to Brixton to future political change. I need said notes for various projects and my thoughts that it would be boring were dashed after I spent about five hours listening to music and learning so many new things.

My brain has had a total workout today and I needed a physical one too so I did another hour long run and feel incredible for it. I'm doing well!

The outfit for today is clearly not designed for the gym but is designed for an entire afternoon spent sitting at my desk listening to Zero 7 with notebooks, glue and scissors for snipping at bits from newspapers and every colour pen I'd ever need for colour coding. The waistcoat is Superfine, the tee is Luella and the simple but chic skirt is Forever21. I've gone for bright blue tights from Toast, the bag is vintage and the watch is Marc by Marc Jacobs. Finally, some fabulous floral Dr Martens to finish the look!


Making notes. by hollieanne

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for going running.

I am successfully sticking to my resolution and, although it's only 48 hours into the year, I feel brilliant! I made the decision that my ill fated Converse, which I sometimes used for the gym, were going to cause me a stupid amount of pain if I carried on using them for sport. MYB, the sensible one in our relationship, informed me of ever so many troubles that bad footwear would cause for my spine and the like so I made a trip to a sports store (a sports store!) and picked up some new footwear which I simply purchased out of my love for the silver and pink colouring.

This evening I threw on my gym wear, popped my iPod in my ears and went jogging/running for an hour with Rihanna blasting in my ears. I aim to do it around three times a week and perhaps attend some yoga classes by the end of the month.

Therefore, in the need to feel fashionable and fit, I've picked an outfit created entirely from the ADIDAS and Stella McCartney fusion rather simply because it's the most gorgeous and desirable sportswear out there. But I must add that the water bottle is by William Morris.


Running. by hollieanne

Hollie-Anne Brooks dresses for the new year.

Happy New Year! What are your plans for 2009? I'm sure we've all made resolutions, most of them ones we make and break each year, and promised ourselves a better year than the last but I really do think I'll stick to mine. I've been meaning to make a few life changes for a while, mainly involving the size of my hips, so now appears like the perfect time. With Christmas and New Year food and drink pretty much out of the window, I'll be replacing my large glass of wine on an evening for a small one once a week and my chocolate breaks during Monday evening lectures will soon turn into fruit breaks- small changes but they'll do.

Apart from the weight issue, I have the follow plans/resolutions:

1) Go for a mini-break with MYB outside the UK: this is a major one for me (and MYB, of course) as we're both long overdue a holiday. Sadly, we need to straighten things out a little to make sure everyone is fine with us jetting off but that should be sorted by the end of the month and we can then look forward to a little European boutique hotel break. Fun times!

2) Read more: I adore reading, especially media/fashion/marketing/self-help books and need to set time aside each evening to do an hour or so of it. Rather than browsing Facebook for half an hour, I need to pick up that marketing book and learn, learn, learn!

3) Cut down phone calls to the BBF: 5 times a day isn't good for my finances and I could be reading and the like during that time. Shall aim to make it only twice a day from now on!

4) Take more photographs: now that I have my beloved new camera, it shouldn't be a problem. And I've started a Project 365 on Flickr!

5) Make sure my nails are always painted nicely: I currently have a weird grey and pink polka dot thing going on but at least they look perfect. No more chipped nails!

It looks a lot but they're small life changes I've already began to make and look forward to the affect.

I spent today at a hospital appointment and then came home to spend a while cuddling the guinea pigs and taking photos of them: New Year's Day is always dull, right? Therefore, the outfit I've picked for today is casual and will do perfectly for meeting Your Boy for a pub lunch. The Topshop tee is a perfect way to start the year as I aim to be Wonder Woman all year through! The wide leg trousers, a definite staple in any wardrobe, are by Luella Ike and the earrings are, again, Topshop. Keeping with two main colours, I've gone for blue heels from Forever21 and this beauty by Chloé. Red is represented by a Miss Selfridge beret and some pretty gloves by Mulberry. Hope you keep your resolutions!


01/01/2009. by hollieanne