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In 2017 I will be writing A Sentence a Day. You can read more about why here.
Today is the 6 January 2017.
Question:
Where do you live?
Answer:
I live in Walthamstow, East London, E17 and when I have to provide my postcode the 15-year-old East 17 fan in me still giggles (Deep Deep Down).
In 2017 I will be writing A Sentence a Day. You can read more about why here.
Today is the 5 January 2017.
Question:
What made you smile today?
Answer:
After offering my son Evan three different choices of food at breakfast, steaming and pureeing and mashing and toasting but with no luck, I sat back to take my first gulp of tea (despite being up for three hours) and read one line of Mama Disrupt magazine when suddenly a piece of toast hit my head and I heard him chuckle. Well, I had to smile didn't I?
In 2017 I will be writing A Sentence a Day. You can read more about why here.
Today is the 4 January 2017.
Question:
What is the last song you listened to?
Answer:
Charlemagne by Blossoms.
(Thanks Simon for the present / recommendation) x
In 2017 I will be writing A Sentence a Day. You can read more about why here.
Today is the 3 January 2017.
Question:
What three words best describe your day?
Answer:
(1. Looking after my 7 month old who is a gorgeous, solid-food eating, playful bundle is a full-time job in itself. 2. It was my hubbie's final day of the Christmas holidays and we all went out for lunch and a walk and 3. because I got 45 minutes out of the day to escape to the gym, a bit of time to answer some blog emails and post this post and even 2 minutes to decide what book to read next. Bliss).
In 2017 I will be writing A Sentence a Day. You can read more about why here.
Today is the 2 January 2017.
Question:
What kind of person do you want to be?
Answer:
A loving, successful, satisfied person who flops into bed at night celebrating what I achieved instead of berating myself for what I didn't; well-read, educated and interesting (but still curious) and a kind and considerate someone who others want to hang out with, dance with, laugh with, talk with and be happy with.
So long, farewell 2016 - it's been emotional.
As years go, you've been a rollercoaster and I'm looking forward to having a blank canvas today, day 1 of 365, ready to paint.
Luckily, help is at hand.
My sister Michelle and her husband Craig gifted me this beautiful journal from Kikki K- A Sentence a Day - as they know I'm a sucker for gorgeous stationery. It provides a daily space to capture the little moments that make life big. Each day poses a question to answer - something to reflect on or, as cleverly suggested by Michelle, something to inspire and lead my day down a lovely new path.
So today, the 1 January 2017, is a very sensible place to start in creating my Sentence A Day for the year ahead.
Question:
What is your New Year's Resolution?
Answer:
To be the best Mum to my beautiful son Evan and Wife/Daughter/Sister/Friend/Relative I can be and...
As well as writing my own blog, I'm also a contributing writer for RockShot - a popular UK based online music photography magazine that features live gig reviews, festival coverage, interviews and portraits.
My fellow writers and photographers really know their stuff, and together we have compiled a list of the Albums of The Year 2016 which you can find here.
My personal Top Ten Albums of the Year are below (in no apparent order).
Even The 1975’s frontman Matt Healy said “I’m challenging people to sit through an hour and 15 minutes and 17 songs that all sound completely different from each other. It’s quite an emotional investment”. Challenge accepted, it’s teeming with clever, brilliant tracks (and one of the most memorable album titles of the year even it if was too interminable for some people).
Following the success of gold-selling Home Again, which contains one of the most haunting tracks ever produced, Bones - the follow up doesn't disappoint. It’s complex and at times beautifully tormented and fragile, but overall a powerful collection of soulful music.
You don’t have to be an electro-head to appreciate French duo Justice. The explosive blend of disco, dance, rock, funk and more is a delicious antidote to a year that most of us would rather forget.
Beyoncé's Lemonade featured on most of the 'best of' compilations of the year, and it's easy to see why. A politically charged, confident powerhouse of a record tackling a number of important themes including female identity, black empowerment and infidelity, Beyonce continues to dominate. Becky with the good hair needs to be worried.
The kings of Brazilian jazz-funk Azymuth, are back after a five-year break (and sadly the passing of keyboard prodigy Jose Roberto Bertrami in 2012) to regain their crowns. A heady blend of bass, synths, percussion and vocals radiate a wave of energy of warmth.
Kadhja Bonet has been described as sounding “like someone who fell to Earth from heaven” - and she does. The Visitor is beautiful, mysterious and ethereal and touches upon a spectrum of genres including soul, jazz, and R’n’B. It is smooth and clear but it sizzles too.
Chaleur Humaine spent the majority of the last two years in the French Top 40 and it’s easy to see why. It’s rich and rewarding electro-pop and very cool, just like Héloïse Letissier herself who secured the global-recognition she deserved this year.
Ology is one of those albums that attaches itself to you on one single listen, in a really good way. Sultry R&B grooves recall the ‘80s and ‘90s but Gallant offers a modern, poetic take and an impressively broad vocal range. Skipping Stones is exquisite.
Born Lucky, written by Poyer during his time in Mexico, is an impressive, 7-track collection of acoustic music that demonstrates a genuine attention to his craft and the sounds of driving, melodic Americana.
A Seat at The Table had a lot of people very, very excited on release, and deservedly so. It reflects Solange’s evolution and represents empowerment and strength, proving she is an artist to be taken seriously, just like her big sister. Raw and powerful.
Extracts from this list appear on RockShot's Albums of the Year 2016 along with some excellent music recommendations. It's a diverse and brilliant collection of records - check it out.
I’m an adopted East Londoner, having lived in Walthamstow since 2008 (when I announced to my long-suffering husband, then-boyfriend, that I would be moving in with him for two weeks until I found my own place and NOT A WEEK MORE).
Fortunately for me, I never left and eight years later I’m still rinsing the life out of E17 and discovering exciting new things. Spaces including The William Morris Gallery, Central Parade and The Mill E17 have created a hub for creative thinking and working, and with the continued expansion and redevelopment it looks like the innovation just keeps on coming.
I thought I knew the ‘Stow quite well but I didn’t realise just how many creatively-minded folk actually hung out here. By the power of Instagram and my love of all things sartorial, I recently stumbled across womenswear website BORN AT DAWN and was excited to discover that (a) its founder, Lucy Knights (@magpie_fashion), is based in Walthamstow after migrating from the North of England (b) there were so many things about her style, her creative outlook and the impressive way she balances motherhood, work and general life that I could relate / aspire to and (c) the concept and thinking behind the brand is right up my street.
So what is BORN AT DAWN? It’s a multi-brand e-commerce website launching in early 2017 that promises to offer rising fashion and accessible luxury. With the current deluge of womenswear websites available - but with differing and sometimes questionable price, quality and style - BORN AT DAWN heralds the beginning of a new way to shop.
There’s lots of things that made Lucy’s brand stand out for me and piqued my interest in its launch next year…
Lucy has spent the majority of her career specialising in luxury fashion retail, and having worked with Harrods on their womenswear sales and strategy prior to conceiving BORN AT DAWN, it’s safe to say she’s an authority on all things elegant.
So it comes as no surprise that one of the most exciting elements of BORN AT DAWN is the range of brands that feature as part of the collection, many of which are Scandinavian and French inspired and so naturally exude that timeless, effortless look.
Brands include Samsoe & Samsoe, Selected Femme and Mads Norgaard and the very cool Maison Scotch - based in Amsterdam and known for scouring the globe to discover unique pieces - which has me particularly animated. Eager shoppers can expect beautiful shirts, soft sweatshirts, easy embroidered kaftans and summer dresses when the brand launches for SS17. Also, 2NDDAY, the Danish progressive womenswear label whose foundation is denim, leather and tailoring and part of the Day Birger et Mikkelsen group features as part of the BORN AT DAWN collection for SS17 and will offer special leather pieces, jumpsuits and perfect boyfriend jeans. Simply heavenly.
BORN AT DAWN and what it stands for spoke to me on many levels. I've reached a point where in my *ahem* mid-late 30s, I seem to be busier than ever and juggling a huge mound of stuff. This doesn’t mean my enthusiasm for fashion has dissipated, quite the opposite, but I simply don’t have time to embark on long shopping trips or spend hours browsing loads of websites. Sometimes, I’m lucky if I can have a wee.
I still want to be on trend but sometimes outfits need to be versatile as I mostly have a wriggly, dribbly baby attached to me and dash around at full pelt. I’ve always had a preference for the experimental and as I’ve got older and wiser my sartorial choices are (hopefully) a little more refined. I’ve never been a fan of the over-done look and favour a minimalist, clean aesthetic that labels like The Finery London and & Other Stories offer, or Jenna Lyons and those super cool Scandi girls radiate. Crucially, on a maternity leave budget I need mid-range prices but with undiluted quality and need to feel that by dipping into my savings to buy the odd piece it’s at a price and quality I can justify.
Lucy explained that the brand's woman is “…a strong, down to earth, creative, social individual. She is confident, accomplished and successfully balances the many different roles she has in her life”. It’s like someone has tapped into my brain and discovered what I’m aspiring to be.
BORN AT DAWN and Lucy’s vision could not have come at a better time for me. My little baby boy is now six months old and whilst he keeps me completely on my toes, I think I’m...gulp...ready to fully embrace fashion again. Yes! Bloggers like Dress Like A Mum and Mother Pukka have realised that many new Mums, like myself, struggle with their identify after having children and are striving to change the bad reputation of Mum dressing. The struggle is real - I’ve lost my nerve and am stuck in a uniform of feeding-functional, easy-to-fling on garb but I'm starting to rebel.
So, here’s to the power of creativity and accessible luxury. Wishing you all the best Lucy and I can’t wait to experience BORN AT DAWN when it launches next year.
I’m excited to dress like me again.
