Autumn Bucket List

Autumn Bucket List

Wednesday, 16 October 2019

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In my previous post I waxed lyrical about my love of autumn. And all of it was true I absolutely adore the season, it's my favourite. My only gripe with it is that it isn’t long enough. We’re not really allowed to enjoy autumn for too long before Christmas is thrust upon us long before we’re ready to embrace it. But I am determined to squeeze everything I can from this autumn before the Coca-Cola Christmas ad hits our screens and all the beauty advent calendar content starts. So here are all the things on my autumn wish list.

Autumn Reads

Autumn Reads

Wednesday, 31 October 2018

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It's that time of year where all I want to do is curl up in a cosy corner with a mug of tea and my dog and read all of the books. I just love the idea of sitting by a window, with the leaves falling, and getting completely lost in a book. But in all honesty it's been a very long time since I've done that. And this year, for the first time in a very, very long time, I’ve actually done it. I  have read loads! Loads!  I haven’t read like this since before I went to university, and ultimately, destroyed my concentration and ability to focus on anything that wasn't instagram for longer than 30 seconds. Over the last six weeks I've made reading a serious priority, and have really reminded myself of how much I fucking love books and reading. I love it so much. Why did I stop? Anyway here's just some of the books I've read and loved recently.

No Further Questions by Gillian McAllister

If you love a slightly trashy but compelling crime novel (my fave!) then look no further (is that a pun?!) Told from the perspective of both sides, No Further Questions is a courtroom drama, about sisters, Martha and Becky, who are embroiled in a court case, where one of them - Becky - stands accused of murdering the other’s baby. Despite the quite dark subject matter, not going to lie I don’t love reading about children being murdered, I was completely consumed by the story, which drew me in from the very first page and kept me reading until the bitter end. It’s a fantastic read.

What Would The Spice Girls Do? by Lauren Bravo

What Would The Spice Girls Do? is an exploration of the Spice Girls and their undeniable impact on pop culture and, not to be overdramatic, the world. More importantly, it's about the Girl Power generation and how we grew up. 

I was only five when Wannabe came out and set the world on fire, so I am a fully paid up member of the Girl Power generation and a former Baby Spice wannabe. I grew up with the Spice Girls. I was obsessed with them. I loved them! And I loved reading this book because of that. Reading it was so nostalgic, because I lived it all. I was obsessed, I had the dolls, I had the photo cards, I had the Impulse body spray, I ate the crisps and I even had an unofficial blue Spice Girls t-shirt that my mum got me from the market. And you probably did too. 

Now even if you didn't love the Spice Girls - you did, you know you did! - it's still a fascinating and hilarious read. It's whip-smart, hilariously funny and stridently feminist without being preachy. I'm a total Lauren Bravo fangirl, and the way she writes is just *italian chef finger kiss* It's brilliant.

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

Set inside a Women's Clinic in Mississippi which has been taken over by a shooter, A Spark of Light is an incredible book about abortion and the different arguments on either side of this very contentious topic. Starting at the end, the story works backwards and is told from multiple perspectives, including that of the shooter. It's very cleverly and sensitively done, but it's also incredibly well written. I'm reading it at the moment, and I'm about half way through but I'm finding it to be a really compelling read. It's utterly addictive and compelling but thought provoking and incredibly relevant. I think it's amazing and I can't wait to find out what's going to happen. 

My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen

You don't have to be a fan of Lily Allen's - I wasn't particularly, I am now - to think that her autobiography is a spectacular piece of work. It's honestly incredible and I wasn't expecting to be as emotionally invested in it as I was. My Thoughts Exactly is Lily's answer to all the tabloid stories and trolling and all other horrible bull shit she faces on a day-to-day basis. It's her story told  in her words, and those words are bloody brilliant. She's very open and honest, to the point where it's painful  at times, but she's also funny and warm, and her story is really moving. I loved it.

This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Phillips 

Okay, so this is the only one I haven't read yet, but it's next on my reading list. Lately, like the rest of the world, I've become a bit obsessed with Busy Phillips. Her autobiography, This Will Only Hurt a Little, from what I've heard, is funny, brutally honest, refreshing, heartbreaking and awesome. I cannot wait to get stuck in. 

So those are my reading recommendations, what are yours? Let me know xxx

The Autumn Tag 2016

The Autumn Tag 2016

Thursday, 27 October 2016

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Autumn is my favourite time of year. I'm all about Autumn, I love it. I love the leaves changing colour, I love Halloween, I love wrapping up warm and I'll take any excuse to wear my pyjamas all the time. October is nearly over (HOW?!), and the smell of Autumn is barely still in the air, so I figured I should probably do the Autumn Tag while it's still Autumn. (Sidenote I saw this tag on Makeupsavvy and I loved it. If you'd like to do the tag then I've left the questions at the end of the post for you to copy and paste.)

What signifies the start of Autumn for you?

I get really, really excited about Autumn really early on, like in the last week of August, and it frustrates me when it doesn't act like Autumn when it is Autumn, if you know what I mean. For me it really feels like Autumn when it's cold and crisp in the mornings, conkers are on the ground and the leaves are on the turn. That's when I'm happiest anyway.

What is your favourite Fall scent?

I really don't like anything pumpkin spiced, I don't get the hype at all. I find the smell of pumpkin really sickly. I'm more into woody scent. I have an Eadie and Wallace Opulent Sandalwood, Clove and Cinnamon candle which I'm obsessed with. It's really woody and spicy but in quite a subtle way, it's definitely noticeable, but it's not heady or cloying and it smells incredible. I also have an Apple Cinnamon Yankee Candle which I love burning, it's not too overpowering, it makes my room smell like a bakery and it just feels really nice and cosy. If we're talking about perfumes then my favourite Autumn scent is Tom Ford's Black Orchid. Painfully expensive but absolutely gorgeous. It's a very dark and sexy scent, very woody and spicy but with some floral notes to balance it. It lasts really well too.

What is your favourite Autumn colour?

If I'm wearing it then I'm really into burgundy or deep berry reds. If I'm not wearing it then I love the golden yellow that leaves go. It's a gorgeous, gorgeous colour and is the epitome of Autumn. I love it.

What is your favourite Fall drink?

Hot chocolate, preferably from Costa with a shot of caramel syrup, marshmallows and whipped cream. But for everyday I love Gingerbread Green Tea, Twinings does an incredible one (not sponsored, just a fan!), it tastes amazing! Really spicy and warming. I've been waiting all year for it to be cold enough so I can drink this, I love it so much. I also love Twining's Intensely Buttermint Tea, even though it's not available anymore... sob! It's sweet but refreshing as well.

What TV show, new or old, are you looking forward to this Fall?

I'm so excited for the third season of How to Get Away with Murder. It's addictive!And everyone should watch it. If you don't know HTGAW is a legal drama produced by Shonda Rimes AKA the Queen of all the Awesome TV. It's gripping and full of shocking twists and turns, I never ever know what's coming next. I've also been thinking about re-watching Stranger Things, I watched it so quickly that I feel like I definitely missed some things, and it is the best TV I have watched this year. If you haven't watched Stranger Things, you need to change that now, because it's incredible. Also Breaking Bad, I've just started Season 2 and I'm really enjoying it. I love Jesse.

What is your favourite Fall fashion trend?

Wearing pyjamas and my completely ridiculous and amazing unicorn slippers as much as I possibly can isn't exactly what I would call a fashion trend, but they're my favourite thing to wear throughout Autumn/Winter, and the rest of the year if I'm being honest. I just like to be both cosy and comfortable at all times, it's my natural state. When I have to leave the house, and be seen by and interact with other humans, I tend to wear a uniform of black ankle boots, opaque tights, skater dresses in Autumn-y colours (I have a lot of them!), my leather jacket and a blanket scarf that I can snuggle up in.

What is your favourite frugal Autumn activity?

Curling up with a good book or a film and a big mug of tea when it's cold and rainy outside there's just something really lovely about being all snuggled up and listening to the rain. I love walking the dogs on a crisp autumn afternoon. I love walking dogs anyway because I'm a crazy dog lady in the making, but there's something especially nice about walking a dog in the autumn. I think it's because seeing a dog, particularly a small dog, bounding through a pile of autumn leaves is life affirming. 

What is your favourite make up look come Autumn?

Autumnal make up is my favourite kind of make up! My go to make up look when the weather turns colder is always a warm toned, bronze smokey eye, winged liquid liner and a plum or berry lip. To be honest this is my favourite make up all year round but especially so in Autumn when it's seasonally appropriate.


The Autumn Tag questions:

What signifies the start of Autumn for you?
What is your favourite Fall scent?
What is your favourite Autumn colour?
What is your favourite Fall drink?
What TV show, new or old, are you looking forward to this Fall?
What is your favourite Fall fashion trend?
What is your favourite frugal Autumn activity?
What is your favourite make up look come autumnal weather?

What are your favourite things about Autumn? Let me know by commenting below - I always reply so check back -, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

Lola loves... Autumn

Lola loves... Autumn

Thursday, 24 September 2015

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As of yesterday, my lovelies, it is now my favouritest time of year! Autumn is just the best. I'm so excited. Can you tell? So to celebrate the end of the (non-existent) Summer I thought I'd put together a list of all my favourite things about Autumn. 

Crunching through Autumn leaves

Long Autumn walks

GIANT scarves, because they are quite literally the best

Halloween (AKA the one night a year I will watch horror movies) is coming

Christmas is also coming

Crisp Autumn mornings

Salted Caramel everything 

Snuggly evenings with blankets, books and netflix

Hot Chocolate (with marshmallows)

Bonfire Night = Fireworks & Sparklers

Being able to watch Hocus Pocus & The Nightmare Before Christmas. It's socially acceptable now

Warm snuggly socks 

Ridiculous snuggly slippers

Wooly hats, mittens, jumpers and boots

Giant coats

Listening to the sound of the rain

Tea. All of the tea

Binge watching tv boxsets because it's literally too cold to do anything else

Berry lips & winged eyeliner 

Dark & glitter nails

Dark nights 

Onesies become socially acceptable again 

My mum's home made chicken soup 

Christmas shopping 

Trick or Treating 

I'm probably missing loads off this list but for now these are the things I love about Autumn. What do you guys love about Autumn? Let me know in the comments, by dropping me an email to lolarocknroses@gmail.com or on twitter. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolanrocknroses - & pinterest