Monday 16 January 2012

Walking with Jack Frost by my side.


I need to give a HUGE shout out and heart felt THANK YOU's  to all my new followers! I seem to have tripled my following number since last week! It's such a nice feeling and I really do appreciate each and every new follower and comment that spring up on Brag Doll. So, Thank You! Thank you for having faith in me and this space, and liking what you see enough to stay a while and maybe return for a few more helpings. I make you the promise, my new, and dedicated followers, that I will try to post more often, become less 'wordy' in my posts and keep Brag Doll evolving and up to date. As I've said before, if you have any advice or experience, tips or just general thoughts on how I can improve or grow, then please do drop me a line, either on here, twitter, or by email. I really appreciate each one.

The reason why I've suddenly grown is due to signing up for the Independent Fashion Bloggers site. I stumbled across it the other day via another blog and decided to try for membership. I got it and was quickly inundated with many, many welcoming emails showing support and tips on how to best get to grips with the website. I've found so many new friendly contacts, from all around the world! It really has cheered me up and pulled me out of the funk that I've been in since Christmas. I'm filled with such excitement at being involved in such an established community.

So this weekend we finally had some really, really cold weather. It was white with frost and ice with stunning blue skies. We put on our warmest clothes and headed out for a wander round the frozen town and scout out some new eateries for our visitors at the end of the month. We walked the scenic route into town, via Regent Road - if you know it. I love that way into town from our flat, it gives you a wonderful view of Arthur's seat, the parliament and the Old Town. It was strangely busy, loads of people with the same idea as us I guess. We stopped to take some poses just before the road drops back down to Princes Street. There's a fantastic view where these were taken, but it's difficult to make out because the sun was so low. I really want a decent camera, I look at other blogs and really love the look of their photos, and mine look so amateur in comparison. But my plan is to save up every month when I've got a regular income again. Bring it on.



I was so excited that it was so cold. I finally got to wear my sheepskin coat for the first time this year. I wore it LOADS last year in the snowy winter, it was so cold for months and it was the only thing that would keep out the chill. I love it, it's just so comfortable to be in and so incredibly warm. It's another one of my Mums old coats,  love inheriting her castoffs that she no longer wears or fits into. It's great. I don't agree with fur on clothes, not new ones, but vintage items, that have had a previous owner and were created before they became mine, I feel like it would be a waste for it to be binned or never worn.

Anyway, it's crazy warm! So warm in fact that I wished I hadn't put it on until we'd got to the top of the hill. It's so heavy too! But super for the extreme low temperatures.

Ok... so I'm wearing a Christmas jumper... and it's January now.... but I bought it and hadn't worn it yet, and it's still kinda a winter jumper, not just a Christmas one... so I just went along with it anyway... and got some seriously funny looks. Which I quite like - it gives people something to talk about when they get home and reflect on the day :-) I am looking forward to digging it out again next Christmas. I didn't quite get this one into the Chictopia Ugly Sweater contest..... next year.

I got the black satchel from Primark last week. I got a similar one from Accessorize's sale, but I'd like to keep that one good, for work (once I get some) and the job interviews that I've had and have coming up. It's a lovely dark red colour and is a perfect fit for the usual interview things, but not much else. So when I saw this black one in Primark for super cheap, and bigger than my other one, I thought Yes Please! But, it's not actually as good as I was anticipating. The catch just doesn't shut unless you do some sort of weird leaning, dancing, pushing manoeuvring... or get someone else to help :-P But I'm going to persevere and hopefully it'll become slacker and more co-operative.  
I'm also sporting my usual 'heilan coo' ear muffs, wrangler boots and thick jeans.... what you cant tell... is that I've got about 4 layers under my jumper... and thick thermals under my jeans (hense no skirt and tights), it was that cold! Look at my freezing red face too.... how flattering! I'm really looking forward to warmer days so that we can explore wider afield and not be shrouded in dark just at the beginning of the afternoon. Spring... please come and visit soon! I miss you!!
Our day was short, productive, but lovely! A wee jaunt into town enjoying the still, frosty, winter day! Cold, but intensely beautiful! The atmosphere had a wonderful shimmer and white sheen to it all as the air froze. All the greenery places were covered in ground frost (or hoar frost, tee hee hee). Really beautiful, and could so easily go unnoticed by many.

We walked back via a nice chain restaurant where we enjoyed a 'free' meal courtesy of Stu's Mum who wrote a wee letter to the chain about a previous meal we'd had before Christmas that just wasn't up to scratch at all! It was really quite awful what they put in-front of us and expected us to pay full price for! We said nothing at the time, just ate, paid and left. But we got a pair of £10 vouchers through the door last week with a lovely letter from the company and Stu's Mum. Such a nice surprise. So we had a nice Sunday dinner on them. Woo!

So that was our weekend recently really, nothing much happening, just waiting for the warmer, brighter days, and the daily routine of applying for jobs, being rejected from jobs, being taunted with interviews and the potential of jobs, then the rejection. It has to end soon.... right? I've lost count the number I've applied for. Thank goodness for Brag Doll, the distraction and other purpose that it gives my days! And all my lovely new readers and followers :-) The next few weekends should be good, a visitor next Friday, and then friends visiting for a joint birthday. Bring it on :-)

17 comments:

  1. That's a really cute sweater and that coat looks warm... I should look for one like that - am always freezing!!

    Xo
    meinmode.blogspot.com

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    1. Aww that's so nice, and so fast! Thank you :) If you're ever in Edinburgh you should head to W. Armstrongs and sons.... they specialise in vintage clothes at good prices. They have a lot of good quality sheepskin coats in stock. They also have an ebay shop so you should check there regularly :) http://www.armstrongsvintage.co.uk/

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  2. You live in Scotland!!!???

    I want to go there! All of my life I was dreaming to see this lovely country.

    P.S. You're lovely my dear, glad to follow your blog. <3

    xoxo
    -A.

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    Replies
    1. Aww you're so kind. Thank you! You should visit Scotland. It's an incredible country, I'm so lucky to have it as my home. But I do love visiting everywhere else.

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  3. great photographs! I want to visit Scotland someday!

    x Alexa

    http://brightandsassy.blogspot.com/

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    Replies
    1. Aww thanks. I do enjoy taking photos, but I need a better camera than my wee point and shoot. I'd love a tripod too. One day. You should visit Scotland! It's a wonderful country!

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  4. What a great post.I love your jumper,it looks so comfy!
    xoxo Sabrina

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    Replies
    1. Thank you :) It is REALLY comfy! Just a shame its acrylic, I'm not a fan, but couldn't resist with this. Thank you though!

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  5. That looks great! And I love your header :)

    xxx

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    1. Aww thank you :) It's not finished yet, it needs to be smaller and longer, and the title isn't how I'd like it yet.... so keep checking :)

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  6. You are rocking that sweater! I really like it!!!

    xo Stephanie
    honey & silk blog
    follow on twitter

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    1. Aww you're so kind. Thank you :) I wasn't sure about wearing it after Dec, but I think it's fine as long as it's not summer :P

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  7. Great photos. Feel like going to that place too.
    That`s a cute earmuffs.

    xoxo
    Love

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  8. Hey sweetie,take a look on my blog.I nominated you for an award!
    xoxo Sabrina

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  9. It's so nice over there - love the pics! :) I like your brown coat :D
    Could you take a look also at my personal style blog?
    http://violinstyle.blogspot.com/
    Follow me if you like it.
    I'll be happy to follow you back :)
    Greetings,
    Joanna from www.violinstyle.blogspot.com

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  10. SO beautiful photos!! amazing really...

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  11. Wonderful pictures, i follow your blog dear

    Herdiana Surachman
    http://deluxshionist.blogspot.com/

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