K-Middy, Catherine Middleton, The Duchess of Cornwall: MY IDOL

What's not to love!?

Yes, whatever name you may use to refer to Prince William's new wife (personally, I prefer the friendly "Kate"... we're on first-name terms like that, you see), nothing can take away from her awesomeness. It's hard to put a finger on exactly what it is about Kate that makes her such a good role model for girls and women around the world, but the fact that she is such a good role model makes me love her even more. I'm going to have a peruse of what it is that I love most about Kate (seriously, Wills had better watch out!):

• Her classic, effortless elegance: Kate always looks classy and well put-together, and never EVER has a hair out of place. Most women will agree that this is a marvelous feat in itself. I genuinely think Cheryl Cole's role as L'Oreal lady could be under threat... although, Kate would never endorse a product, I'm sure. Whatever Kate wears sells out instantly, and I love the way she wears high-street pieces, then rewears them *gasp*, and champions British designers too. I'm particularly looking forward to seeing some snaps of Kate on her North America trip - she and Wills left for Canada today, and Kate's taken at least 30 possible outfits, so I hope we're in for some treats! She's a powerful lady, and could really help out British designers a lot by wearing their pieces abroad. Kate boarded the plane today boasting this Mulberry Polly Push Lock Tote in Midnight Shiny Grain (which will set you back a casual £895!), and je l'adore! (My Mulberry fund is a work-in-progress... Le sigh) And doesn't she look so chic!? Who doesn't want to be Kate right now!?
  

Kate with her Mulberry today

Another of my style icons is Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf (oh, to be able to scheme like that!) and so I love the fact that she and Kate both wore this same Jenny Packham dress. Ironically, Blair wore said dress in an episode when she was about to become a Princess. Kate left hers in the original longer length than Blair did, and wore it to the Ark Charity Gala on 9th June this year. I love both ladies, but in my view, our Duchess wears it better!

Blair Waldorf and Kate both wearing Jenny Packham. What a waist!

• Kate is always composed: It's true that we haven't heard her say very much, but in a way that adds to her aura. It creates intrigue, and puts her on an altogether higher, angel-like level above us mere minions. Whenever Kate does make public trips, she is always charming and keen to get involved with everything. She and Wills just seem like such nice people! Am I the only one who kinda feels like they're my cousins!? Just look at how sweet Kate was when she met this seven-year old little girl on the recent Armed Forces Day! According to the Daily Mail, the little girl's mother said: "It was really daunting but Kate completely put [her] at ease". Awwww. Anyone else totally jealous?

Kate on Armed Forces Day

• Kate is "one of us": Except she's not, is she? Not in the slightest. But still, it's nice to think that Kate is "the people's princess", having slightly more modest roots than the rest of the royal posse - her mum used to be an air hostess. What's more, the Middleton family seem quite nice and normal to me. I feel lots of middle class families can somewhat relate to them. I also love anything to do with James and Pippa, but I guess Pippa in herself is a whole other blog post (what the hell is the big deal with her arse!? I've seen way better in my time. Don't get it...)

I'm now realising that it is EXTREMELY difficile to pinpoint exact reasons as to why I - and most of the world - love Kate so much. She just seems so lovely! Yes, that's it. She's utterly lovely, in every way. Can anyone think of another actual reason!?

Daily micropleasures of 2011 - installment 9

So we're about half way through 2011, and I'm definitely not running out of little micropleasures in my daily life. Here's the next installment to cheer you up:

3rd June - The taste of the milk at the end of a bowl of cereal.
4th June - When your biro writes extra smoothly having been in the sun.

90210's Shenae Grimes rocks it.

5th June - Doing the perfect topknot. Usually when you're not even trying, I find.
6th June -  When something you ordered online arrives. It's like being given a present... from yourself...
7th June - A chilled drink on a hot day.
8th June - Catching up with old friends.
9th June - When your family and friends are all supporting you.
10th June - Excitement after applying for something.

I think this women thinks she's an angel in heaven.

11th June - Getting into bed with enough time for a long read. And the subsequent dilemma: mag or book?
12th June - When a song comes on that completely reflects your mood.

Some of my granny's old jewellery.

13th June - Wearing something that used to belong to a relative. My late granny's vintage jewellery, for example.
14th June - The post-exam feeling. Wahoooooooo!
15th June - Getting a whiff of a nice smell as someone walks past.
16th June - When it's warm enough to walk home at night.

yum!

17th June - When fruit comes away from the stone easily. Like with a nectarine or a peach type of thing. It's rare, I find.
18th June - The first sip of a drink you love. Banana milkshake, anyone?
19th June - When the car you're overtaking slows down. Later, slowcoach!
20th June - Finding something you'd lost. Especially if it's one half of a pair!
21st June - When there's nothing hanging over you that you actually have to do.

I love these Edward Monkton designs.

22nd June - A "good luck" card. The little things that show people care.
23rd June - Booking holiday travel.
24th June - When you look at something and remember the story of when you got it.

Some beauties from my garden.

25th June - The smell of roses on a rosebush. It's just not the same once they're picked...
26th June -  A dog barking in its sleep. Never fails to amuse me.

Big-eared dogs are so cute!

27th June - A dog's ears flapping as it runs. My dog is like Dumbo - I imagine she'll take off into the air one day.

Awww

28th June - A dog chasing its tail. Mine is such an idiot, bless her.

And that brings us up-to-date, folks. As you can probably tell, I was thinking about my hilarious dogs towards the end there. Do your pets have any funny little traits you often take for granted? I hope that's brought a smile to your face, and don't forget to check out the last installment if you missed it.

Bridesmaids mini film review: JUST SEE IT!

Today I went to see Bridesmaids. It is simply the best film I have seen in my recent memory. That is not hyperbole, dear readers, I am being genuine. I know that everywhere you look there are rave reviews - from both critics and us normal folk - so I'm not going to tell you what it's about or bang on in detail... you know all that already. But I just want to reiterate that all the hype is justified.

I think the sign of a reeeaaally good film is one that goes down a storm with both critics and the public. Usually, I'm not put off by bad reviews because to be honest, I like films that make me feel good, have fun, and relax. I'm not ashamed of liking your classic cringey, unrealistic, clichéd romcom, despite the fact that critics slate them. Sue me.

Bridesmaids, on the other hand, is just all round super. My friend and I laughed our pants off... along with the rest of the cinema (which was albeit rather empty as it was 10.25am on a Monday - I didn't know that tickets are cheaper before 11am either! A definite student win there). What I especially loved was how the film seemed real (yes, as everyone has said), what with the girls having chipped nail varnish, for example. Oh, and I also loved the puppies in pink berets. Well, who wouldn't?

So go! Just go. Step away from your computer and run to the cinema. Well, actually, maybe check the times on your computer first so you're not waiting for hours for a showing, but then go! And let me know your thoughts too :)

Preparing for prom - the perfect, dress, shoes, jewelley, clutch, hair, makeup...

Classic and flowy... and similar to mine!

Actually, mine isn't technically a "prom", it's a "leavers' ball", I'll have you know. But potayto, potahto eh? Whatever it is, it's suddenly sprung up on us school leavers after seeming like a distant dream for years. The ball is a very big deal, trust me. Some girls genuinely had their dresses over half a year ago (which then proceeded to stress me out, having not even thought about what dress I wanted). Afterall, it's all about the dress really. A lot of my friends knew exactly what they wanted, whether that's a certain colour, backless, with a slit, embellished... you get the picture. I, on the other hand, was uncharacteristically low maintenance... that's to say I didn't have anything in particular in mind. But I sure knew what "feel" I wanted. Ah yes... the "feel". It's sort of like "The X Factor" really... you can't word what it is, but some people - or dresses - just have it. At our school, everyone wears full length dresses. It's tradition. Mum said to me, "But your legs are your best asset! Why don't you show them off in a shorter dress?" But I was pretty adamant not to. It wasn't that I was being a sheep and just following the crowd, I just really wanted more of a ball dress. You see, we've been in little cocktail dresses for years, but the ball is a chance to dress up like a bit of a princess for a night, and in my eyes, that means something long and flowy. NOT Big-Fat-Gypsy-Wedding-style-pouffy. got that? Good.

So I found my dress about 4 weeks ago, and I LOVE IT! It's simple and classic, and mum and I decided that was the way to go. It's a Coast dress, so not too pricey - and even better: we got it at Bicester Outlet Village, so was extra bargainlicious. (Mama said this meant we could spend more on other aspects of my look. Huzzah!) I have to admit though, my heart lurched as I tried on what seemed like hundreds of ridiculously gorgeous (ridiculously expensive!) designer dresses while we were there. But hey, I'm a student. There's plenty of time yet. It's funny... some of the girls are showing everyone pictures and describing their dresses, whereas others are keeping their dresses top secret. It's sure gonna be interesting on the night. I predict there'll be a huge range of styles - from wannabe WAGs to overly tacky fairy-a-likes, but that makes it all the more fun!

Now a lot of you may be thinking (guys, mainly) that after getting the dress ticked off, that's that. Done and dusted. Oh but how wrong you would be! The dress is only the beginning. The next task is to complete the look with shoes, jewellery and accessories. I've gone for a silver and (fake) diamond theme - fakes look the same as real, I swear. These are my shoes:

A rather fabby Dorothy Perkins find, and they were only around £30! Sweeeet! Sure, they squeeze my feet ever so slightly, but they're so pretty and such a good price that it's worth it, right gals? My dress isn't a floor-scraper either, so these beauts will be on show to all the world. Naturally, being the freakishly organised person that I am, I've been wearing them in around the house for the past few weeks, usually combined ever so stylishly with chunky socks and a dressing gown (I've been stuck at home revising, don't judge!)

Next up, jewellery. I was - and still am - so over the moon with the earrings I found in my local vintage shop (it's where all the best finds usually are). Regardez:

How awesome are these!? So different to anything I've ever seen. AND they were doubly awesome at a mere £5.40 (well, £6 minus a 10% student discount. Yay!) My dress is strapless, so I'd been planning on finding some little studs and wearing a statement necklace, but now I feel these earrings make statement enough. Don't wanna overdo it now, do we? What did the legend Coco Chanel say?

"Before you leave the house, always take off your last piece of jewellery."

Or something along those lines anyway. One to take note of, girlios. Chanel was one smart lady (in both senses of the word.)

Today I also hit up Accessorize, where I found this rather blingin ring:

Pretty lush, if I do say so myself. Only £8, dear readers - and if you're a cheeky student, don't forget to ask for your discount! Seriously, I ask everywhere... it's SO worth it.

Now, at a ball, I figured you need a clutch. Step forward another Accessorize find:

Now this was a bit of a splurge at £30, but having been so thrifty with the rest of my look, I feel it's justified. And hey, mum and the sis will get lots of use out of it too, I'm sure. Sharing is caring, guys... I love being a smiliar size to them both!

And then there's hair and make-up. Always tricky. Hair-wise, I'm leaving it to the professionals, so I can have something special. Hopefully something along the lines of this:

Classy, but not too harsh. Up so it's not in the way, but with enough loose bits to frame the face. Make-upwise, I'm somewhat left to my own devices, so shall be studying smokey eye tutorials online (such is the beauty of Youtube. Geddit? Beauty? Oh dear...) I have limited resources, so wish me luck! A lot of my friends are getting professional spray tans done, but I'm not. Firstly, because I've never had one and am afraid it'll go wrong. "Why not get a practice one beforehand?" I hear you ask. Well that's because secondly, the costs really do start to mount up. So I'm sticking with my trusty Clinique, which has never failed me... so far. *touches wood* I started gradually building up the colour a couple of weeks before the ball, so fingers crossed I should have a healthy I've-just-spent-two-weeks-in-the-Algarve glow. On my finger nails, I'm upping the sparkle with this Nails Inc polish:

And that's where I'm at. Pretty chuffed with it all, and cannot wait to get all glammed up and princessified. Let's face it, the getting ready is half the fun! Sure, it would be nice to have a delicate, diamond tennis bracelet round my wrist, but I don't have one, and unless someone exceedingly generous decides to give me one this week, I'm not going to. I make do with what I have, and it should be a sparkly, spiffing evening. Has anyone else had proms or balls? It could just be very emotional for us all, to be honest. I'd love to hear your tips, advice and stories. What do you think of everything I've got?