Weekly Love - Week 51 (Happy New Year!)

+ Happy New Year everyone!

+ Taylor Momson for John Galliano's latest perfume - such a pretty bottle too!

+ A great big screw you to those to tell me it's uncool to like Taylor Swift. In the current issue of Nylon actor Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars) has chosen the song 'Haunted' off of her new album for his mix tape, explaining that "I'm an unbashed T-Swift fan. Her new album's great, and I'll shank anyone who says otherwise." Take that.

+ The Burlesque film trailer - I really want to go and see this before the holidays are over.

+ Hello to all my new readers who have found your way here through the lovely Lily's blog - that girl is amazing, and inspiration to all us bloggers out there!

+ Lunch and shopping with my friend Kathryn and her beautiful new Mulberry handbag. We bumped into Gem from Gem Fatale's style blog. That was fun!

+ Nylon Magazine's 2010 best dressed list. I agree with it almost 100%.

+ Grit & Glamour has created the loveliest post to make you a better blogger in 2011.

+ A special shout out to my friend Tristan, who you may recognise from some of my past 'Weekly Loves'. He was very sad he didn't get a mention last week though he's been keeping me entertained via bbm over the holidays. Thank you Tristan! x

+ Amber Grey has shot a beautiful wedding dress shoot for Brides.

+ Have you entered my giveaway to win one of two boxes of bath goodies from Lush yet?

What have you all been enjoying this week?

The Best Of 2010

As 2010 is swiftly drawing to a close, I think this is a really good time to take stock and look back on the year that has passed before looking forward to next year. I've done this in the form of going through my blog and picking out which posts I have enjoyed writing last year, which I think have made the most impact and just those I has so much fun putting together! 

Editorial

Office Outfit Staples Every Girl Needs | Top Tip For Freelancers: Write About What You Love (Why I'm No Longer A Fashion Journalist) | Does It Really Matter How You Dress?

Beauty

Product Review: Topshop Makeup | Choosing The Right Lipstick For Your Skin Tone | What's In My Makeup Bag (18/05/10)

The Business Of Blogging

How To Write An Album Review | Top Ten Websites For Fashion Bloggers | What Is The Point Of Outfit Posts? | What Do People Who Don't Blog Do Online?

Miscellaneous

Britain's Next Top Model Live | Product Review: Coco Rose London Shoes | The Pretty Reckless at The Academy, Islington | The Best Dress Shop In The World & The Best Cupcakes In The City (My Weekend In Photos) | Make Your Dreams Come True Day - January 13th

Which blog posts have you written this year that you think are worthy of a mention?

Goodies from Santa + Friends

When you're little Christmas means lots of sweets and toys, visitis from Santa and lots of fun and games. But, when you get a little bit older it's, if you're not religious, like me it's all about spending time with your family. One of my favorite parts about the festive season (apart from decorating the tree in the hallway in my parents house with my Mum) is shopping for presents for my close friends and family. Though, it's also lovely to receive presents from your friends and family too! 

I actually got Fifi Lapin's book What I Wore Today a few days earlier than December 25th because my Mama (my maternal grandmother) wanted me to open it a few days earlier, but it doesn't make the illustrations any less beautiful - it's a wonderful book that I really wanted - and I didn't even ask for it! 

I've wanted to try coloured mascara for quite a while, but as I'm allergic to most eye makeup I was very excited to find that Benefit, who's mascara I can use brought a line of them out. I have blue eyes and I wear brown eye makeup so I thought plum would make my eyes pop. I've already tried it and I'm already in love. Also, if you have unruly eyebrows Benefit's Speed Brow is an absolute lifesaver. I've been out for ages so this has to win the prize for the most useful present I received! Also, Miss Dior Cherie perfume. My official new scent. It's just a massive bonus it's in a pretty, pretty bottle too!  

As worlds biggest bookworm I was over the moon when Santa got me a penguin classics book bag (now I have a bag to obsess over as much as I do my penguin classics mug). Even better it was full of four books I really wanted to read; The Red Queen, the new historical novel by my favorite author Philippa Gregory, The Confession of Katherine Howard by Suzannah Dunn, another one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Also, I got the first four Vampire Diaries books. I foresee I'm going to become as hooked to them as I am the TV show!

I'm a bit boots person so I made sure to ask my mother for some thick grey Scottish wool long socks to wear inside my boots. Also my mother got me this striped pink and purple Joules beret style hat. I tried it on when we were in Fenwick and fell in love with it - she also got me the matching scarf and hand warmers. I love my Mummy. My Grandma also got me a white fluffy beret hat. They know I love my hats! 

My Mama also brought me a makeup lesson at Benefit, and their 'Her Name Was Glowla' kit which is absolutely amazing. It contains their black Bad Gal mascara which I use and love but had run out of, Highbeam face highlighter which I love and use, a pallet of brown eyeshadows (I was runing out!), lipgloss, a Moonbeam highlighter and Coralista blusher - all of which I wanted to try! In case you haven't noticed I'm a bit of a Benefit junkie! 

In my stocking I also got a set of nail pens because my nails are so bad - a nail polish correcting pen, a nail nourishment pen and a cuticle softening pen. I've already started using them - if they work I think I'll ave just have found my new favorite set of beauty products. 

Finally I'd like to introduce you to Brutus, the puppy I found hiding in the top of my Christmas stocking. All I can say is he's absolutely adorable, isn't he! My parents also got me the entire 7 seasons of The West Wing on DVD. I know 112 hours worth of a TV show about White House politics may not be everyones cup of tea, but it's my idea of heaven! 

What did you get for Christmas?

Weekly Love - Week 50

+ Switching over to Blogger to host my blog - what do you think of the design? Be sure to follow me on Google Friend Connect! 

+ Urban Outfitters Creative Warehouse photos. I want to work there! (via Gala Darling)

+ Finally putting up the Christmas tree.

+ To follow my blog with Bloglovin!

+ Creative Boom - an eZine that is a must read for bloggers & small/ online business owners.

+ Launching Pilgrims Proverb, the online vintage & second hand bookstore - be sure to check it out!

+ Colour changing lipstick at Urban Outfitters. Do you think this is a good idea?

+ The first food blog I'm actually going to add to my reading list. Absolutely to die for.

+ I don't know how long I'm going to run it for, but my little illustration blog project: The Devil Wears Burberry.

+ Homemade lychee martinis. 

As some of you may have noticed, this is the 50th edition of 'Weekly Love', and to celebrate the lovely people over at Lush have kindly agreed to give two lucky readers a 'Happy Bathday' gift box, containing six celebratory ballistics for an explosively fizzy bathday party, including Avobath, Big Blue, Butterball, and Blackberry Bath Bombs, a Karma Bubble Bar and a Mini-Blue Skies Bubble Bar. The box is also chocked full of party hats, blowers and streamers! - When I saw what was in it I got quite upset that I'm not allowed to win my own prize!

This giveaway is now closed.

So how do I enter? I hear you all asking... Each person can have up to 4 entries. You can...

Leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite Lush product is. If you've never tried anything from them before, you can head over to their website and let me know what you'd love to try!

Sign up to get blog posts delivered right to your inbox using the 'Email Subscription box at the very bottom of this page! (if you've done this let me know the email address you signed up with in your comment because I will check!)

Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect. Also let me know if you're already a follower as well as if you're new!

Let all your lovely followers on Twitter know about this giveaway by tweeting something like @makingmewonder is giving away two boxes of goodies from Lush, follow the link to enter! http://bit.ly/hLn6tM

I'm afraid this contest is only open to people who live in the UK - sorry! (I'll try and have an international giveaway soon!) You have until the 6th of January to enter, and make sure you leave your email address or Twitter handle so I can let you know if you win! If I don't hear back from you within 48 hours I'm afraid I'll have to pick someone else! I'll be choosing the two lucky winners using random.org.

Good luck everyone, and Happy Christmas!

Mon Décembre Français

As some of you may know on Thursday I got back from a lovely and refreshing mini break at my house in France. As usual, I have lots of lovely photos from the places I visited and of the lovely food I ate. Yes, I am addicted to France!

One of the best things about French supermarkets has to be the excess of very cheap but very, very good wine. After dinner one night I was testing out a macro lens and Canon camera I'd borrowed over Christmas (I'm more of a Nikon girl myself but I'm looking to go macro) so that's why my glass of rose is covered in my finger prints and you can see my mothers reflection in it!

Because they have such amazing brioche bread I mad my absolute favorite as a treat breakfast on my first morning; scrambled eggs with smoked salmon on toasted brioche - it's to die for! If you've never tried it, you really, really must! I always order it if it's on the menu when I'm going out to brunch!

See also, lots of chocolate pudding and vanilla ice cream!

I go into photographer hyperdrive when I'm in France; I was carrying four different cameras around with me! I handed a couple to my mother to hold while I was getting some photos for my coursework unit on religion in the local cemetery, and as one of the cameras she was holding was my usual SLR that she knows how to use, so got quite a few snaps of me in action, huddled up in the camel coat because it was absolutely freezing (but, incidentally much warmer than it was in England!)

On the first day I was there it was sunny as well as freezing, so my mother and I wrapped up warm and ventured out for a walk around the rural roads near our house. My mother hates being photographed, but I love her beautiful red hair!

I love the area usually when I visit in summer, but it was the first time I had visited in winter; the landscape looked so striking with all the leaves down in winter!

We went to the Christmas market in Rennes, but what I really, really loved was the most amazing smelling chocolate shop on one of the main shopping streets in the city centre. All the different chocolates looked amazing, but...

... the mountains of macaroons were TO die for! The vanilla was lovely, the raspberry (usually my favorite) were not actually the best I had ever tasted, but the rose macaroons were the best macaroon I'd ever tasted in my life. My new favorite - next time you see one you must try it!

Another food photo, the amazing French french stick you get in bakeries, supermarkets and cut up in baskets with your meal every time you go out. This basket I snapped in St Malo and I had with my mussels cooked in white wine!

What's your favorite thing about going on holiday?

Pilgrims Proverb

One rainy November afternoon I started to plan a little online business with my mother: Pilgrims Proverb, an online vintage and second hand bookstore. We launched it today, and to say that I'm excited would be the worlds biggest understatement, and I'm even more excited about adding some more stock over the next few weeks! I'd love to here what you all think!

An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde, £20

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, £20

Persuasion by Jane Austen, £10

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, £12.50

Be sure to follow us on Twitter, add us on Flickr and Facebook, or add this banner to the sidebar on your blog!

<p><a href="http://www.pilgrimsproverb.bigcartel.com/"><img style="float: left;" alt="Advert" height="150" width="150" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/5271429112_32eafaff12_m.jpg" /></a></p>

Happy shopping!

Outfit Post: Vintage Convert

I have to admit, since raiding my mothers wardrobe and coming away with a massive haul I'm a total vintage convert. Except for my boots, I was actually quite surprised with myself when I realised I had got dressed and ended up wearing a vintage coat a vintage coat - nothing new. That was quite a feat for me! I think I've become a vintage convert...

Camel Coat - Vintage

Green Jumper (worn as a dress) - Vintage

Boots - Kurt Geiger

I've been 101% obsessed with this coat and it's epic shoulder pads ever since I got it - I love it now it's got much colder, because wearing it is like walking around wrapped up in a nice thick blanket it's so cold!

Is there anything in your wardrobe you're absolutely obsessed with at the moment?

Holiday Gift Guide: The Fashion Blogger

1. Miss Dior Cherie Eau De Toilette, £48 - My new favorite perfume of the moment, grown up but sweet and girly all at the same time. And every fashion blogger should have the beautiful bottle on their desk, and failing that the breathtaking Parisian ad campaign for it shot by Tim Walker above their desks instead!

2. Black Vintage Wallpaper Patterned Laptop Case, $45.90 - Made specially to the fitting requirements of your Mac Book or your PC, with extra pockets for document storage, power cable, your phone and your pen drive. Did I mention that it is super stylish too!?

3. Metropol Filofax in Raspberry, £24 - The Filofax is the new Moleskine in the fashion blogger world, and you can reuse it every year! This super sweet raspberry colour is a must. Mine is black. Pink is just so much cooler.

4. Lime Crime Opaque Lipstick in Retrofuturist, £14 - Every girl needs a true red lipstick in their arsenal, and Lime Crime's Retrofuturist is just that. Add it's turbo staying power and the cute unicorn packaging an you're good to go!

5. Cotton J'taime PJ Bottoms, $45 (AUD) - I have a think about having cool and quirky PJ's (at the moment I have red flannel with satin ribbons) so these white cotton bottoms with illustrations all about Paris (bows, poodles, bicycle) are bloody amazing. You need to get yourself a pair if you're not going to be giving them as a gift instead!

(Remember to check out Wednesday's guide for the Literature Lover in your life!)

What are you going to buy all your fashion blogger friends this year?

Holiday Gift Guide: The Makeup Mistress

1. Lime Crime Magic Dust Eyeshadow in Troubadour, $14 - I absolutely love Lime Crime Magic Dust eyeshadows, the colours are so bright and they last so long! I am just the littlest bit in love with this fabulous turquoise, and online exclusive. And the packaging is just to die for!

2. Benefit Slant Powder Brush, £18.50 - I absolutely love Benefit makeup brushes, they're absolutely fantastic, and after a fluffy eyeshadow brush for blending, what's the most important tool a girl should have in her makeup kit? A big fluffy brush brush!

3. O.P.I Burlesque Mini Teasers Nail Polish Set, £12.15 -  Burlesque has to be one of my favorite O.P.I collections for absolutely ages, so instead of buying all the full size bottles, you can get more for your money by buying this set of adorable little shimmers that are great by themselves, or layered up!

4. Lush Snow Fairy Gift Box, £9.95 - Lush's handmade and all natural (and great smelling) bath products + a pink box = the perfect Christmas gift. And if no one gives you any Lush, be sure to look out for a special giveaway on New Years Eve that Lush have kindly agreed to sponsor!

5. Love & Toast Coconut & Honey Hand Cream, £14 - I'm pretty sure that Love & Toast make the best hand cream on the planet. It smells great, really moisturizes and it has a really, really pretty tube!

6. Clinique Superbalm Lipgloss, £12.50 - Though MAC's clear lipglass is my favorite clear lipgloss, I'm absolutely in love with Clinique's Superbalms. Non sticky, gives a beautiful colour tint and moisturizes too keeping your lips nice and soft and supple. I love them by themselves or over my lipstick for a bit of extra gloss!

(Remember to check out last week's guide on what to buy the Literature Lover in your life, and Monday's guide on how to shop for your Fashion Blogger Friends!)

Holiday Gift Guide: The Literature Lover

So unless you've been living under a rock for the last month, or you've just been holed up in your house without turning on the TV, computer or venturing out to the shops you would have realized that the holiday season is upon us at last, and that means one thing (among others!): you've got to start gift shopping. I usually hate doing this, I find it so hard to buy for people!

Over the next two weeks I'm going to be sharing my holiday gift guides for three of your 'friends' - The Literature Lover, The Fashion Blogger and The Makeup Mistress - I hope they help you out with your shopping!

1. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (Penguin Classics Special Edition), £14.99 - One of Jane Austen's greater novels, and with this beautiful printed linin hard cover and binding. A book that is not only brilliant, but looks pretty too. Too nice to go on the shelf, how about giving them to people to use as coffee table books too?

2. Penguin Classics 'Wuthering Heights' Mug, £8.95 - If you've been reading this for a while, you'll know all about my obsession attachment with my Penguin Classics mug, and I think everyone and anyone who is even partially literary inclined should have one to drink the obligatory tea or coffee out of while they are curled up with their book. Preferably in front of a nice wood fire.

3. Leather Cambridge Satchel, £75 - Every book worm needs something to carry their books in. These leather satchels are handmade in Cambridge and you can get them in loads and loads of different colours. They look both vintage and adorable, as well as being very practical!

4. Vintage Pink Cashmere Bed socks, £28 - The price tag may be decadent, but these White Company bed socks, that also come in white and grey. Soft. And snuggly. And warm. And brilliant.

5. Hotel Chocolate Pink Champagne Truffles, £17 - My favorite festive activity is to curl up (wearing lovely and soft bed socks!) on the little one man sofa in my room and read a good book, while eating my favorite pink champaign truffles from Hotel Chocolate. You can order them online in the USA as well as in the UK now, and they truly are decadent. Melt in the mouth champaign filling, creamy milk chocolate, all dusted with a light sweet strawberry sugar. Bliss.

6. Moleskine Book Journal, £15.99 - I've never been good with book journals, but this one is by Moleskine, and everything by Moleskine is fantastic. I think every reader should have one of these, because however bad they are at updating it, once they get the hang of it how useful would it be to have a reminded of every single book you've ever read all in one place!?

What are you going to buy your literary inclined friends this year?