GEMMA SEWS DON'T YOU KNOW

I know I have been away for a long time and I don't really have a good excuse, I've just been busy enjoying life since I completed my Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. I'm not going to lie and tell you that it has all been easy, because it hasn't but I have certainly found more fun in life.

I've put great energies into my work and picked up some really exciting work and I have my fingers crossed that I will get some work for White Sands Australia. I have moved into a lovely new place with Mr Well Done and am in the process of making it my own. I turned 30 and decided it was a time I picked up a new hobby and started sewing.

Of course I am going to be the next Vivienne Westwood, so take a look at the first few pieces I made back in the summer, before I hit the big time :)

A little strapless number in a rather jaunty fabric.

The first thing I made and proudly owned by my sister.

Stay tuned for some further pieces I have made with my own fair hands. Any sewing tips would be greatly appreciated and if anyone has any ideas what I could do with a couple of metres of faux leather fabric, that would be great.

Gems

SHE SQUATS BRO!

This weekend was not the best weekend to live in Newcastle city centre. On Sunday it was the infamous Newcastle vs Sunderland derby and following Newcastle's embarrassing 3-nil defeat, the city centre descended into chaos. Bottles were thrown, bins were set on fire and I was caught in some sort of moron stampede when Newcastle fans decided they would run through the streets looking for Sunderland fans...idiots!

So much for a peaceful Sunday afternoon in the flat...non-stop yelling and relentless sirens put paid to that. At least Saturday was better, spent visiting family and napping up a storm...trust me I had earned it. I have started up the 30 days squats challenge to tone up and I've been walking like a penguin for days...thankfully it is day 4 and a rest day. If I don't look incredible by day 30 I will be p**sed.

Dress, New Look Limited Edition - Similar Here.

 How has your weekend been?

Gems x

MONOCHROMATIC

I seriously starting to get bored of the night terrors that are caused by one of my medications. Last night I terrorized by XOR (yep the 1980's logic game you were forced to 'play' at school), chasing me through that weird and seriously dull maze of chickens and fish...what do they have to do with anything?

So I'm a wee bit tired today, which explains the fairly poor pictures...still I'm loving my squeaky pants - the way they make that funny 'whaa, whaa, whaa' noise when I walk, it cracks me up.

Dress (worn as top), Topshop - Similar Here.
Leatherette Trousers, H&M - Similar Here.

Has anyone else been having strange dreams recently?

Gems x

THE WORLD'S TIGHTEST PANTS!

It is quite a claim, but it is also true. Although these trousers are probably my all-time favourite, it is an absolute mission to get them on. Regular readers will know that I'm not coming up short in the bum department...in fact genetics has been rather generous to me when it comes to the arse. Since the zip is at the back of these trousers its a case of stuffing the cheeks in and forcing the zip up, little by little.

Yes they are tight and sitting for long periods of time in them could lead to me blowing out a seam, but I love them anyway. It was rather a bad hair day if I recall, my hair was sticking flat to my dreadfully lumpy head (seriously it's like the surface of the moon) so I had to pop some extensions in for a messy side-plait.

Shirt, H&M - Similar Here.
Trousers, H&M - Similar Here.

Ancient Belt, H&M
Bracelets, Prairie Charms and Matalan
Rings, Church Charity Event.

Big bum and little boobs - it kinda works out?!?

Gems x

TIE-DYED

Has anyone noticed that it's April and it's still freezing? It's still so cold that I have to still sit around in my Nana blanket. I want to be going into coffee shops and order fancy pants iced drinks, not hot chocolates, although the whipped cream is a bonus. I don't want to be chained to my bra all day long, but with icy nipples that could cut glass, it's best to keep them under wraps.

Anyway, I'm still obsessed with '90s-style fashion and this week, I'm all about the tie-dye. Yes it looks gross and a bit too hippy when it is in that dreadful rainbow variation, but I am all over the more subtle versions and was happy to get it all over me when I picked up this bargain through Ebay.

I wore this outfit for a catch-up with an old friend, which was awesome - we laughed about the old stuff and some new stuff too. Good Times!

Dress, Cameo Rose via ebay - Similar Here.
Shirt (worn underneath dress), Glamorous - Similar Here.

What have you guys done recently that has made you smile?

Gems x

SHADES OF GREY

No it's not what you think, I haven't been reading mummy porn, all throbbing this and heaving that! I couldn't take that much cringing...if I had burning loins I'd see a doctor. Anyway, the title refers to my current obsession with the colour grey. Maybe it's my inner emo trying to express itself...can you still be an emo at almost 30?And can you be an emo if you genuinely like your parents and don't talk about how terrible music lyrics describe all your feelings?

It's still bloody freezing, so the leatherette pants are still getting worn to death, even though it's a right chore to pull them over my arse.

What colours are currently dominating your wardrobe?
Or have you been reading a little bit of mummy porn?

Gems x

THE WANDERER RETURNS

I honestly don't know where my blogger mojo has gone. I think with the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy going so well, I have been spending a lot of my free time doing my 'homework'. Those who have had CBT will know what that means, put simply it is practicing doing the things that scare you. It's the best homework I have ever had, I really think I am getting somewhere...no panic attacks for 4 weeks (touch wood).

But, I think it's time for me to really get back into the blogging. It does make me happy to connect with my blogger chums. So I may as well start off with an outfit I wore ages ago, but since winter has lasted literally forever, it is still weather appropriate...This stupid country.

Jumper Tee, Dorothy Perkins - Similar Here.
Shirt, H&M - Same Here.
Leatherette Trousers, H&M - Similar Here.
Spiked Platform - Christmas Gift
Necklace, H&M - Similar Here.

 

Did everyone have a lovely Easter? What did you guys get up to?

I'm glad to be back.

Gems x

SOMETHING FOR THE BOYS - FIRST DATE TIPS

The mushiest holiday of the year has arrived...Valentines Day! It's amazing how many of you get sucked into this crap fest, on what other day of the year would you think it OK to gift someone you barely know with a card containing your innermost (and often disgusting) feelings along with a vomit-inducing teddy bear hugging a giant heart. Now before you think I'm being all bitter because I'm alone on Valentines Day, I actually do have a boyfriend, we are both just about as romantic as a 2 by 4.

But anyway, getting into the spirit of things I thought I would give the fella's out there a few handy tips for that first Valentines Date, drawing on my own disastrous date history and plain old common sense for inspiration.

• DON'T (and I really mean don't) bring a friend with you for moral support. I turned up to a first date once to find his friend with him and needless to say on a trip to the bathroom I 'took ill' and left without saying anything. Harsh, but fair, how else will they learn.
• DON'T wear fake drainpipe jeans and fake geek glasses, thinking it's cool. A girl does not want to be able to count the change in your pocket through your pants, because if she can count the change, what else do you think she can see...it's cold in February.

So True..

• DO impress your date with a single red rose, but do not overdo, showing up with a life size teddy bear and Ann Summers voucher. It looks desperate, creepy and a little bit rapey. A first date one bought me chocolates, flowers and champagne...I don't even drink. My mum glugged the champers while I lost his number.
• DO remember the grooming - a first date is not the time to reveal that you have a ruthless monobrow that is trying to take over your face, tame it into two separate entities for the night. And I can see you picking up that fake tan, just put it down and back away. Finally, if it isn't already obvious, deodorant is not a substitute for a shower. 

Nutella?

 And remember her eyes are about 10 inches up from where your probably starring....slow your roll romeo!

Happy Valentines Day!

Gems

TREND ALERT: GLOVE CLUTCHES

So I just thought I would start off letting you know that the Cognitive Behavior Therapy is going well. I had my first in person appointment yesterday at Newcastle Talking Therapies and yes it is hard seeing what you do to yourself and the cycles you get caught up in, but I am really starting to believe that knowing is the way to break the pattern. I love life, but I know that there is s much more I could get out of it if I sorted my issues with anxiety, so I'm ready for the journey...nervous but ready.

So anyway back to the whole fashion thing. I have noticed that a new trend appears to be emerging - the knuckleduster clutch, made famous by Alexander McQueen and replicated extensively, has seemingly evolved into the gorgeous 'Glove Clutch'. Simply put instead of a handle or wrist strap, you grip onto your clutch via a fingerless glove that is attached. Amazing.

'How I Met Your Mother' (God awful show, I know) star Cobie Smulders recently rocked the £2,200 Perrin Paris version an that had me lusting after one of my own.

How I Met Your Mother star Cobie Smulders (Getty Images)

A few years ago Alexander McQueen released a range of glove clutches that were to die for and I am still waiting for copies to hit the high street, so if anyone has seen any fab glove clutches anywhere please let me know.

Those fab Alexander McQueen Glove Clutches

I had been eying the fabulous leather glove bag from Maison Martin Margiela for H&M, but slept in on the day of release and they were sold out by the time I fell out of bed. So my search continues.

Maison Martin Margiela for H&M

So has anyone bought any enviable bags recently...I need to live vicariously through others since I am so poor :)

Gems x

BOOK CLUB: THE GOD DELUSION

I'm never one to make New Year Resolutions, if I haven't forgot them by the end of the first week of January, I've already broken them. Promising to get fit and then spending as much of January as possible laying on the sofa is a total cop out, and I feel enough guilt shoving biscuits, cakes and crisps into my mouth at every opportunity.

But one thing I wanted to do more of in 2013, was reading. I used to be such a book worm I could get through two books a week, but when I started working for myself a few years ago all the time for reading just disappeared. Well I've made the time for reading and finished my first book of the year last week, The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins - a Christmas gift I couldn't wait to get stuck into.

As quite an infamous book, most of you will probably know it is Richard Dawkins relentless logical arguments on how religion is unnecessary and how the concept of a supernatural God is beyond the realms of possibility. As an atheist myself due to my love of science and logic (nerd much) I agreed with all of his points and loved the beauty of many of his arguments.

It is a book that should be read by all, maybe you don't agree with Dawkins, but you can't fail to appreciate his infuriating logic. The reason I loved this book so much came with the arguments against there being an afterlife. My favourite message was this: The reason life is so special is because it comes to an end.

Religious or not, challenge your beliefs with Dawkins.

Have you guys read any good books recently? I would love some suggestions!

Gems x

BRINGING LACEY BACK!

Before you think I am a total mental case wearing something so skimpy when it is so crazily cold outside, I should say that this outfit is from way back in September 2012, when we had a few days of warmth before descending into the nightmarish cold winter. I feel sad when I see these pictures because I only ever got to wear this gorgeous lace-back tee from Bershka the once in the summer months as we never had the weather...well at least it will seem fresh next summer if it ever arrives.

Has your little world come to a stand still with the weather? Still desperate for a wardrobe since I have moved in with the boyfriend, but the weather will just not allow me to get to IKEA...not that I'm too eager to be herded around the store by the IKEA nazi's...why can I not just go directly to bedroom furniture, why must I be led past all the tempting candles and nic-nacs thatI don't need but buy anyway!

Lace Back Tee - Bershka
Denim Shorts - H&M
Leopard Tights - Topshop
Studded Loafers - Matalan
Beaded Bracelets - Prairie Charms
Rings - Church Sale

 

 

So how are all my online chums riding out the wintery weather? Snuggling under blankets with some DVD's? Or a giant mug of tea and a good book? Think I might do both. Is anyone reading any good books at the minute, I am reading The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins...it is right up my street as an atheist with a logical and enquiring mind.

Until next time...

Gems

IS IT THE '90S?

I am loving all the 90's-inspired grunge fashion that is hitting the high street - think washed out khaki's, ripped denim, camo-prints, over-sized shirts and leggings a-plenty. I dived right into the trend (when I had money obviously) and picked up some charcoal grey, leather panel leggings and an over-sized white shirt from H&M and I just love them.

I wore the comfy combo, when I headed to the flicks last week to see 'Life of Pi', which is a movie I would recommend everyone to see - it's joyful, heartbreaking, beautiful, exciting and just wonderful. Ang Lee has done a wonderful job and the young lead, Suraj Sharma has a very bright future ahead of him, he is a star.

Shirt, H&M - Same Here.
Leggings, H&M - Same Here.
Creepers, Tribeca Shoes.
Collar Necklace, Christmas Gift.

What do you guys think of the '90's grunge fashions that are everywhere at the moment? 

I hope everyone is wrapped up warm, this weather is ridiculous I might have to go and work under the duvet.

Stay warm peeps!

Gems x