DECISIONS, DECISIONS... FOR CINDY

CINDY IN THE FAB HOUSE!

So, dear blog-reader, here it is – my first post, ever.

Yes, I know. YAAAYYYYYY! … I feel it too!

A mere ten years behind in joining the blogosphere, I arrive fashionably late (of course) to celebrate this special day, and let me start by saying Gung Hay Fat Choy!

…Let me explain.

My boyf is half Scottish, half Chinese (yep, interesting combo) and every year, though he’s more British than anything else culturally, his family see in a second new year – Chinese New Year. This time around, Chinese New Year falls upon today, 3^rd Feb 2011 (The above Cantonese phrase translated is ‘May prosperity be with you.’).

While from year to year the pivotal date changes, the plan does not. Food, fun, family and firecrackers. Oh and there’s fung-bao – little red paper pockets of money, which are gifted between family members, usually from elders to young’uns. (yay for me and le boyf :D lol)

On said special occasion, which I particularly enjoy, being that it brightens up the otherwise dull and cold January/February, I get to eat, like, loaaaadds, of one of my favourite foods….

Italian. 

No, (teehee) obviously I’ll be eating Chinese cuisine, and at one of the nicest buffet-restaurants Milton Keynes has to offer (Zen Gardens, Milton Keynes, UK). Yummy.

Only problem is, although I’ve spent all day trying to find a ‘parent-friendly’ (since his parents will be joining us) and Oriental-inspired outfit (I’m never one to turn down a theme, plus if I’m going to look like a tourist, I may as well do it to my best ability), I’m stuck for choice. Thus, the perfect outfit planning is not going well and I’m kicking myself for not buying something ahead of tonight. (If it weren’t for my previous New Year’s resolution, not to buy new outfits for every event, I would be stress-free right now!)

While rooting and blogging simultaneously and in a panic, I found this navy, floral number that I picked up last year over Chinese New Year, which I spent in Mauritius with the boyf’s family. I found it in a little outlet called ‘Redsnapper’, and it cost me 400 Rupees… that’s a delicious £8 fyi.

(How I do love impulsive buys that stay in the wardrobe forever until one day, when they literally save your (style’s) life…)

I add some red lips and nails (because red is typically worn for the occasion, as the colour is believed to be lucky, and to effectively chase away bad spirits.)

With those tiny details settled and the main garm sorted, (with it’s perfectly floral/bird printed pattern, oh so of the orient) I begin to build tonight’s ‘look’.

Here’s how I’ve chopped (hoy-yah!) and changed the ensemble so far…

My first edit is built upon le dress, which is Britished-down with Bertie brogues, Topshop tights and a blazer to add some smarts. I’m also sporting this unusual suede and leather torquoise bag I got at The Clothes Show for £3. Mmmm, cheap….  But I worry it’s a little too dark, since bright colours are typically worn for the occasion.

Ditching the blazer and replacing the brogues for suedette Asos shoe boots, and changing to a suede envelope clutch by Faith, I try to dress the dress up a bit…

Since it’s cold, methinks a woolly cardi should replace the clutch – a more sensible accessory. Plus, I feel every dressy outfit works best with an element of cas(ual) and this woolly lightens the look…

I also add some oriental-looking black and gold drops and clinch the waist with a vintage black woven belt, to define myself against the baggy cardigan. 

I next try some extra-cas appeal and work the dress with some ballet pumps by John Rocha, and a sleeveless, tied up shirt, buttoned up to the top for a vintagey take…

Adding my boyf’s black cardi and a piece of ribbon to the neck. This looks a little quirky and fash but maybe not right for tonight…

Typically Virgo, my search for perfection is running me late – it’s T minus 3 hours until the meal! (Or, perhaps I’m being typically Rabbit - my Chinese zodiac - and being indecisive…)

Either way I just decide to get some online inspiration, and it’s lucky I do, as I stumbled across a little gem of information… For Chinese New Year, ‘people typically wear new clothes from head to toe to symbolise a new beginning in the new year.’

Elated, I finish this post by saying a very Mandarin Xin Nian Kuai Le! (Happy New Year!) so I can quickly nip out for some necessary shopping (you read the above, I’ve more or less been instructed, lol).

Loving the excuse – ahem, reason - to ditch that resolution, I’m off to spend. Wish me luck…

NICS GOES ON A JUNK FOOD RAMPAGE!

NICOLA IN THE FAB HOUSE!

Phew... What a busy week! FAB finally hits 1000+ WHSmith and other independent UK stores (hooray!), as well as FAB proudly winning Magazine of the Year at the Future Awards in Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday. I think I may have also publicly announced last week that I will be starting my 'New Years Resolutions' of eating healthy, staying in and no alcohol from the 1st of February, right? But did I? Did I really? Did you REALLY read that?

Because something cakey, usually something caramel/chocolate and creamy, a chocolate bar of some kind, along with a pack of crisps, maybe another cake and maybe something else at the end of the day is my vice - and I mean, ennnnnndd of the day, sitting in bed reading a book/magazine/watching a film before bed time... And that's bad, I know, they say you should not eat after 8pm and only sleep in bed... I eat, chill, work - do everything sitting or laying down in or on my bed. Maybe that's why I can do everything BUT sleep in it :/ 

But the point was that though I do work as a fashion model, hence I should actually NEED to steer clear off regular in-take of such bad things, I just CAN'T help it! It's my reward for my work day -  a treat or two, or three or four.. Shall we say:

I went and bought the drinks, Curly Wurly, the crisps and the chocolate cookie cakes, I didn't realise the sponge cakes were in my cupboard till i got back and looked! And they were bought for me... My mum knows what I'm like... I will eat all of the above... Tonight. I also got the red box of Family Circle biscuits - which my nan brought especially for me - just in case too. . 

Now I know, i should not be publicly showing how much of a secret junk food binger I am, but it's because upon taking this picture, I have decided: YES, I will go on that diet. YES, i will eat a bit more heathily. YES, YES, YES. Because as yummy as it is, I should not be making the above a regular. Okay, I'm lying, it's been a nightly occurrence for a while. If I carry on. come Valentines, I'll be indoors alone with only a six pack - of cakes.

The film, if you're wondering is not a rudey one (Suby, I'm talking to you, ha!); it's a comedy called Sex Drive - like a ruder and cruder American Pie. Lovely bit of wind down, funny crude trash before bed. If you haven't seen it and have a random, quirky, bit of a crude mind like I do, watch it. It's too funny. Like actually makes me LOL - not just in my head. Unlike the voices. Ha, jokes! I think... This film is the only bit of sex drive I'm gonna be getting tonight, so I thought: Yeh, lets do it; naughty the night up a bit more. No Suby, it is NOT a blue movie!

So wish me luck! No food, no alcohol, no men too (if you read my last post); have I just totally deprived myself? Watch me end up making myself go mad and end up on a heavy duty cake-man binge come Valentines, ha! Who knows? 

Night all... I'm now off to stuff my face and savour every last bite as if it was my last. Next week i could be showing me apples and peaches off! ;)

Catch up with me next week when we will be one week away from Valentines Day where I may actually have a date. "Oh really?" you ask. Well, yes! Thought I'd save that bit, didn't I?;) I know I'm saying 'No Men' - shall we say - but as I'm going cold turkey, I need an incentive to keep at it and that cake-man binge is sounding FAB... haha.. Catch ya next week!

Yayyyy again to all the TEAM for the past week. You guys are FAB. We ROCK!

And big up Oseyi Ikuenobe, one of our many FABulous USA FAB followers. See I told you! :)

THE JOYS OF FEBRUARY AND BEING SINGLE

Okay so here I go on my first blog ride... thanks for climbing aboard. 

So January... the time most of us are trying that new diet, skin care regime, gym class, eating healthy, determined this New Year is the New You. Have you, like me, already ditched one, if not all of your 'resolutions'? Well, my new theory is to start them in February. January is the month after that time of the year where you relaxed and indulged so much that cold turkey starts to take its toll on the unwilling dieters, food lovers and regime rebels come mid - okay early - Jan... like me.

I kinda like February, it's nice and short, it's closer to Spring which means that we are also closer to the time in England, where we MAY just get a little sun - I think it's called Summer. 

February is also home to Valentines Day, which yet again, I am single  for.  Considering I am the male relationship adviser for FAB Magazine, maybe I should get myself an adviser on how to bag myself one. (Joke!) I don't need help, it's just that I have NEVER had a boyfriend on Valentines Day. I have NEVER been on a date and I have NEVER even had a card. It would just be nice to have a romantic and rude Valentines Day to remember/recount but it doesnt bother me. 

I say I AM single again already because I know that in the next four weeks when it does come around, I AM going to be. I want to be single. I dont really have the time for a boyfriend. And to be honest I have never been one to 'have to have a guy' to make me feel good, or happy or secure. I like being single. 

Don't get me wrong, there are times where I'd like nothing more than a hot man to cuddle up with, but when not in a relationship, you don't have to answer to anybody about how short your skirt is/how little you have on - unless you're caught out by your dad on the way out... (Sorry, Dad!) -, what time you stroll in - unless your rather tipsy self smashes a glass upon getting in at 4am and trying to pour a glass of water.. (Sorry, Dad!) or who that text/bbm/facebook message is from every time your phone beeps (Thank God my dad is not a technology geek)... And on Valentines day if your single self does go out at least for one night of the year, you know every male/female out is almost certainly also single. Giving you flirting availabilties down to - ermmm - anyone you want. And who doesn't love a flirt with someone sexy? :)

So stroll on January, bring on February where I'm actually starting to look forward re-starting *cough* the gym, start swapping the cakes for fruit and drinking water on nights out. Where I can stay my single self indoors and get onto my work, my missions, ideas and goals to becoming successful, "coz I just wanna be, I just wanna be..." (If you got that, okay, I admit that was kinda bad). And where I can flirt with any sexy person I want to whenever I do choose to go out, or online in my PJs with hair scraped back and no make up on. Because I'm single. And I can!