The English Mademoiselle Diaries

Hannh Sykes

Bana

Noora Pajari

Sabina Saga

Emanuela Giannelli Design

Hooray for in ability to blog at all for far to long, if I told you how long I have had this post pretty much ready to post you would fee embarrassed for me. So I will try to make this short. Now you may have seen that last season that I attended the OFS shows in Oxford, but while they were enchanting and showed me the wonderful mayhem that is pre-runway show it pales in comparison to the LFW shows. There was more of a buzz surrounding these shows, as well as an incredible location, Devonshire Square anyone?!

I am going to do a more in-depth post on one or two of the designers because I couldn't get over how much i loved their designs. But for now these are some of my favourite shots and looks from the shows. If you want to see more obviously head over to the OFS website (here) to take a closer look and find out about tickets for next season.

Sorry this post is oh so short, but I have so much to say about some of the designers that they need their own post or maybe a video I don't know yet. But it is coming I promise.

XO, Miriam

With so much going on in my life right now I'm struggling to find the space to just breathe.

In, out, in, out, in, out

And even when I do catch some time it is like watching time fall through my fingers like the way the sea moves past my body as I walk out into the surf. Where do you begin to look for the space to breathe?

I've found it in strange places: the utility room, on the swings, talking to the loveliest homeless woman on the way home from work, while sat drinking flat whites and green tea, just inside the front door. All of these places aren't new to me, they just happen to be the places I find the most peace. Where nothing reminds me of him, where I can breathe freely for a moment before my brain begins to start again.

XO, Miriam

There is so much I want to do right now, there are so many things I'm looking forward to doing. But there are also parts of me that don't want to do those things because if I do I leave things behind. Things I love, people I love and lost, memories I don't want to give up.

*listens to Audrey Hepburn sing Moonriver*

The thing is moving forward when there is so much to let go of is hard, harder than I expected. It means asking for help in unlikely places, and from unlikely people. It means cutting off, burning bridges, and not turning back. For me I know I need to move forward, and not once consider the alternative future that could've been.

*lets housemate into the house*

The problem with losing someone you care about is that you need to find you again. A you that doesn't co-exist alongside their values all the time any more, a you that stands alone to face the world and everything in it. A you that is the truest for of yourself in that moment.

Moving forward is as scary as it is freeing, as exciting as it is painful. Cause damn this will be hard, but I'm going to do my best.

XO, Miriam

The addiction to smoothies continues forever... And the simpler the better in my eyes!

So grab these things from your fridge/freezer/cupboard or wherever else you may keep your food.

4-6 super spotty bananas

1 cup of baby spinach

1 cup of mixed tropical fruit

1 cup rice milk

1-2 cups of ice cold water

Blend the spinach with the coconut milk into a paste first, then add all the fruit and the water and blend blend blend.

*and the vegans are going to blend blend blend*

Drink up and be happy.

XO, Miriam

Tah-dah! Another 'What I Eat In A Day' post, I wanted to do these more often than I have but I don't always have my camera near by when I'm eating...

Breakfast: As always I started the day with a big bottle of water, and on this day I had marmite on brown toast (get that B12 in people) and a bowl of oranges.

Snack: You guessed it more oranges, I happened to have loads of really juicy rip oranges so why wait to eat them!

Lunch: *please excuse the over exposed photo* *cringes* Can we all raise our hand to me finally putting blueberries in salads because this is the best! I made this salad with a mix salad bag, falafel, thai crackers, sesame seeds, tahini, chai seeds and moron hummus. I had two bowls of this, because second helpings are important to me okay...

Dinner: PIZZA! I bought some remade bases from the supermarket and put loads of veggies on top of some tomato sauce. The veggies included onions, potatoes, spinach, peppers, and mushrooms, all topped with siracha.

So there you have it what I eat in a day.

XO, Miriam

By the Stars by Jessica Marie Baumgartner 3.5/5

Not long after New Years, European Geeks Publishing & Eleventh Hour Literary Press sent me this lovely little e-book to review. I have always been fond of Sci-fi and anything to do with space but i haven't made time to read any over the past year favouring historical fiction... So naturally when I saw that this book was about 100 pages long, how could I say no!

I had no idea what to expect from this book, I might have gone in with slightly high-expectations hence the 3.5/5 star rating. But hey do you know what I connected with the book, I could relate with all of the characters on some level be it the irritation of not being independent to the wanting to stay the same and not have to adapt. There definitely was an addictive quality to the story, you want to know what happens, and why everything is the way it is, I personally would have loved some more detail in terms of flashbacks etc but I would assume that comes later in the series when it is released. And even though at times I felt the language was quite simple, the story was one of the more compelling sci-fi novels I have read in my time (oh great now I sound old...). I'm not sure if I will continue with the series as they are released, but do you know what it makes a nice little stand alone.

XO, Miriam

Follow me over on GoodReads to keep up with all the books I read.

//Shirt - Thrifted//Dress - Topshop//Tights - TU//Boots - Ted&Muffy//

I'm not one to wear dresses all that often so when I buy one I have to be completely in love with it, and with this dress I wasn't sure until I put it on. I was one of those things I tried on for a joke and now can't stop wearing it.

*takes break from writing this post for 2 days to listen to The Fray*

Now where was I, oh yes this darling little dress, complete with a criss-cross lacing detail at the top, never has a dress been more perfect to take from day to night, loosen the lacing, swap in a leather jacket, and you are ready to have a great night. But for me by far the best thing about this piece is that compared to the rest of my wardrobe it is quite girly and not to mention it isn't all black...

*takes another break to eat some instant noodles*

Yes I think that will be all for this post. I promise to write something more interesting next time!

XO, Miriam