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. - by hollieanne on Polyvore.com

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