This week (work aside) three websites have had my undivided attention. Apartment Therapy, eBay and Etsy. Now I'm settled into the flat, I'm able to seriously think about decorating and actually buy all the things I have my eye on. Sort of. Obviously money is a problem, but I'm very good at hunting down the cheapest option, and I was given a bit of cash by my family to spend on the flat.

The bedroom is getting there, the kitchen and bathroom are done (minus a bathroom mirror) and I finally have a doorbell and a lamp in the porch. So I'm now on to the living room, which is going to be mainly black and white, because I need to use my zebra print throw somewhere. My nasty sofas are covered, and I'm beginning to make cushion covers (half black, half zebra) to finish them off. I've just ordered one of these in black...


...to go above my fireplace. These decals are great because they can be removed without damaging the walls. On the opposite wall I'm going to put my three black and white Marilyn Monroe prints (I don't care how predictable and girly that is, I'm still doing it). I've even found special picture hanging stickers which - again - won't wreck the walls. Oh, the things you have to consider when you're renting.

Now, I have my beady eye on this, which I think would be the perfect finishing touch.

Sadly, it's not at all within my budget at £60 from Oli. Just because it has Maria Grachvogel's name attached! So I headed to eBay to find a suitable alternative. I discovered this, which looks the same but less...dangly. I've been trying to count the drops and I swear they both have the same, so maybe I've found my winner?

I might have also bought this on eBay today.


I know, I know, but it's Ben De Lisi, it cost me less than £20 and it looks like Dior circa 1947. It called to me. Neither of us would have been happy if it wasn't mine. How fabulous will it look with seamed stockings, black heels and gloves?

Yes, in my head I live in a black and white movie.

My stalker colleague Zara was kind enough to point out I'd not done my usual showing off by posting this...



It's from ASOS.com's customer magazine. The feature is about online talent, and also includes some other familiar faces - my good friend Susi, fellow fashionista Michelle and The Lipster's Rebecca (among others).

Every time I look at it I just think 'I wish my hair was straight'. This says a lot about my priorities, doesn't it?

The lovely Mel and Jaz both tagged me to do the Three For Three meme.

I love a good meme as it means I don't have to think about what to write, so here goes...

Favorite non-work Websites

1. The Daily Mail
I confess, I love reading the Mail every day. I'd never pay for the paper (or even be seen with it) but the website is my dirty little secret. It infuriates the hell out of me, but it also makes me feel much better about myself as a human being. There's nothing like some futile NIMBY outrage to get your blood boiling.

2. GraphJam
The people behind lolcats bring us more stupid memes, this time silly graphs about all kinds of random stuff. I'm particularly loving this one at the moment. The internet imploded when they did a graph about Rick Astley.

3. SomeeCards
I wish I had the guts to send more of these to people. Right now, there are only two or three people I know who I'm confident would get the joke.

Favorite cocktails

1. Bellini
I've discovered you can make these cheaply if you a) hang out at a lot of fashion events and b) live near a Lidl. Lidl sell peach juice (unlike any tesco friggin' local, which don't even seem to sell bread most of the time) and fashion people have a tendency to give you little bottles of champagne in goodie bags. Mix the two, et voila. On holiday in Corfu they made their Bellinis with apricot brandy, which was even better, if a little more headache inducing.

2. Amaretto Fizz
Tastes like Refreshers sweets. Fact.

3. Strawberry Daquiri
I like them with fresh strawberries and a tiny bit of lime juice for a kick.

Favorite karaoke songs

1. Hold On by Wilson Phillips
This wasn't on the list at K-box, which saddened me. Who doesn't want to do their best Carnie Wilson impression (minus gastric band) while trying to mumble the words (and the harmonies) after too many glasses of Pinot Grigio. Just me? Oh well...

2. I Just Can't Wait To Be King from The Lion King
Trust me, if you'd heard my colleagues Zara and Duncan singing this, you'd agree.

3. Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks
Have you see School of Rock? Yeah. I wish I was Joan Cusack.

And I tag Amber, Keris and Alex.

One thing has struck me since getting the keys to the new flat and being able to show it to people.

The utter shock on people's faces when they get there.

Not just to the flat, but to the surrounding area as well. I've been greeted with shocked exclamations of "Wow, it's nice!" from just about everyone. I think they all expected me to have found some poky little hovel in a disgusting area or something. The fact I have a big flat on a safe, quiet road in a nice area close to a station seems to have shocked them all immensely.

All this is good, of course, but it does make me wonder what people thought of me before, when I lived near the notorious Bakers Arms on the border of Walthamstow and Leyton, in a house with ancient wallpaper, disgusting carpets and a mustard bathroom straight out of the seventies. Did they think that was what I planned to do for the rest of my life?!

I think this is why I'm being so ridiculously picky about the new place. I spend hours scouring eBay for the perfect things to put in it. I want it to look and feel like home. When I invite people over, I don't want to be apologetic about anything. I want amazing bedlinen and matching furniture and gorgeous trinkets and scented candles and pretty crockery. I'm obsessed with having the perfect place to the point where I spent half an hour on Sunday staring at the living room with a frown on my face trying to work out how the hell I could arrange it (the boyfriend disagreed with most of my suggestions - good thing it's not his flat). I'm still not sure what to do, but I have discovered that 'original features' can be more trouble than they're worth. By that I mean fireplaces are lovely, but they don't half take up valuable wall space.

Things that I love about my flat:

- The bedroom is huge, and now has shabby chic bedlinen in place
- The living room has space for two sofas and a table and chairs
- The bathroom is white, modern and has a decent shower
- I have a dishwasher, which is good since I HATE washing up
- Nobody can ring my doorbell. This will be great at Halloween

Things that I will grow to love about my flat:

- The only built-in storage is in the bathroom. The freezer is in there
- The freezer stinks. Fun cleaning job ahead!
- The bed has seen better days. And that's putting it mildly
- My upstairs neighbours appear to have wooden floors
- There is only one working plug socket in my bedroom