100 Words On Life

After seeing a post on Lust, Love, Lose challenging other bloggers to pen 100 words on life, I decided that I wanted to give it a go. I sat for a very long time with my notebook in front of me and my pen poised but nothing came. Or nothing of any real meaning or substance. So I decided to find some quotes from people who can say it far better than I ever could... in 100 words, of course:

Something For The Weekend: One Week To Go!!!!

Photos: by me; from Bardot in Blue and we heart it.

First off, apologies for the lack of a SFTW post last week (too many things got in the way of blogging for another weekend). It seems only right to explain the one thing that has taken much of my time recently: five weeks ago my beloved grandma suffered a stroke leaving her left side paralysed. She spent a week working on her speech and regaining some movement in her left leg. And then she had a second stroke. My mum, sister and I spent a week with her in the hospital after the second stroke with my sister and I taking it in turns to stay with my mum and grandma. She has now lost all ability to talk or do anything, really. She is able to move her right arm a little and can squeeze our hand when we hold hers. She can also venture a smile now. It is strange how when everything else is gone, something so small is such a joy. It has been a terrible month but it has been wonderful to see her whole family around her. So while Christmas has always been a time for family in our house, this year we will be making sure that family comes first and everything else will take care of itself.

In line with this month's theme on British Style Bloggers I have set up a JustGiving page to raise money for The Stroke Association this holiday season. Christmas is a time for giving and if you feel you can give a little, please visit my page.

The last two weeks have been two of the coldest here in the UK this year, I have spent them, wrapping up warm, decorating my Christmas tree, writing Christmas cards and wrapping gifts to put under the tree.

It seems that I am not alone in struggling to keep warm as temperatures refuse to go above zero:

Retro Chick asked readers, How are you staying warm?

Jill of Street Style London continues to make me wish for a snood with these beautiful photographs;

Haleigh of Bardot in Blue has taken some wonderful photos of Les Jardins des Tuilliers in Paris in the snow;

And Veshoevious of The Taxonomy of My Wardrobe looks cosy and fashionable in her double-layered look.

Make sure you don't miss out on anything on Sugar and Spice this holiday season and subscribe to the blog: either through Bloglovin', on Twitter, via Feedburner (on the lefthand side of blog) or Google Reader (at the bottom of the blog).

Today it is exactly one week until Christmas Day and I couldn't be more excited. Have you been keeping up with my virtual advent calendar? Last weekend the first 12 Days of Christmas came to an end and this past week I have been asking some of my favourite bloggers about their Christmas traditions.

This week I am actually off work, so I will be spending my time catching up with old friends and generally getting into the Christmas spirit. Maybe brunch with a friend and a cinema date with my sis?

I am still dreaming of a White Christmas... Now, wouldn't that be fairly fabulous?

Our Christmas traditions have changed a little in the past couple of years but this year, my sister and I will still convene as soon as we wake (it seems to get later every year) to open the stockings that our mum continues to lovingly fill each year! (She did ask last year if perhaps we were a little too old to still be getting a stocking - the looks on our faces told her she was wrong!) Then we will go downstairs where our dad will have lit the fire and all three of us will open our presents to each other. We will then have lunch together (a proper Christmas lunch with all of the trimmings!) before my sister and I head off to the hospital to spend the afternoon with our grandma, grandfather and mum. This year we have to wait until Christmas Day evening to get our presents from mum!!! It will be torture!

What are your Christmas traditions in your family?

All that remains to be said is, have a wonderful weekend as you get ready for Christmas. Of course, for all those who don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you can enjoy some time with your families too. And remember to check back for the rest of the week for a different blogger behind each door every day.

Something For The Weekend: Advent Arrives Again

Sources: we heart it; and me!

This weekend really does feel like the start of Christmas for me. This year's Christmas is tinged with a little sadness as my beloved grandma remains very ill in hospital but it has been heart-warming to see all of our family coming together which is what this time of year is all about for me.

Christmas is the time of year for spending time with family and good friends. There is nothing better and no better tonic than laughing with friends, don't you think?


Sources: (right and left) The Sartorialist; and (centre) Garance Doré


This week, I have been "dreaming of a White Christmas" and have been forced to abandon all of my pretty shoes in an attempt to dress sensibly for the wintry weather.

Unlike most people, I have never had a chocolate advent calendar... ever! My father always used to buy my sister and me a religious calendar each December in an attempt to remind us what the season was really about. As an adult, I haven't immediately dashed out and bought myself a chocolate advent calendar - mainly because I think I'd probably end up eating the lot on 1st December! Instead, I have chosen an advent candle:

How do you mark advent in your house?

I've also begun to get out all of my Christmas decorations in preparation of decorating my flat and tree next week. My theme this year is pink and silver (the boyf is not totally on board with this but he will see):

Decorations from a selection at Habitat; Paperchase; and Marks and Spencer.

When will your tree and decorations go up?

I've been dropping serious hints at home about what I would like to find in my stocking this Christmas...


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No! Not a diamond ring. But an egg blue box might be nice...

I am seriously coveting this lux ear cuff from next season for River Island which would do all the talking for an outfit!

Speaking of luxury, you might remember that a few weeks ago I asked, How do you define luxury? Well, I almost forgot that my answers are available in The Simply Luxurious Life's newsletter for you to read. What do you think? How do you define luxury?

This week I have also been itching to do some DIY fashion. I just need to get myself down to John Lewis for supplies! First up is this DIY Pom Pom Headband and this DIY tutorial for a full skirt. For now, though, I might satisfy the "itch" with the simpler task of adding a few gold buttons to the sleeves of my black knit dress.

I've been enjoying wrapping up warm in this wintry weather as the snow begins to fall and wearing my new favourite thing: my faux fur hat. Everything looks so much prettier in the snow, don't you think?

I wish it would snow enough to get a tabogan out. I remember so many happy hours as a child, trudging up a hill, just to sledge down it and then trudge back up it again and do it all over again, and again, and again:



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Finally, for advice on taking snow photos if you're out and about this weekend, you can find tips here.

Hope you all have a very happy weekend whatever you're doing.

Something For The Weekend: fireside fancies

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As the evening's draw in and the weather gets colder and greyer, all I want to spend my time doing is tucked up in a blanket, watching feel good films with a mug of something hot (and preferably alcoholic!). It is probably no real surprise then that this week I've been mostly finding myself reading posts about how to avoid the blogging blues and how to make my blog better. If you need some help to stop losing your blogging mojo too, check out these helpful posts: Problogger's Ten Tips For Writing A Blog Post; Vogue Mornings' How Not To Lose Motivation When Blogging; and Tickle Me Chic's Get Rid of Those Blogging Blues.

I decided to update my "look" this week by dying my hair, taking inspiration from Cheryl Cole's new hair colour:

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I chose L'Oréal's Casting Crème Gloss in Black Cherry. It's not quite as red as Cheryl's but that suits me as I'm not sure how such a bright red might have gone down at work. It is a nice warmer colour for the Christmas party season and I love how Casting Crème Gloss always leaves my hair so shiny (I can't stop running my fingers through it!). Have you tried it?

As the temperature continues to drop and the UK wakes to a blanket of snow this weekend, remember to check out my Christmas Wish List, which this week features some lovely faux fur treats from Asos where delivery is FREE everywhere in the world before Christmas. AND they are currently offering 20% off all Asos-own-brand with the code ASOS20 until Monday (29 November). So what are you waiting for? Go get warmed up!

Despite of my hair dying, I have been in the habit of covering my head this week. Taking inspiration from this lot:


Sources: Face Hunter; The Sartorialist; and Garance Doré


This week, I have been learning "How to be Chic" and have begun moisturising every day. Yes, every morning I make sure to moisturise my legs, my arms, my décolletage, my feet, my hands and my face. If I have time, I moisturise my torse too! I use either Jergens Naturals Body Moisturiser or The Body Shop's Shea Body Butter. I am hoping that this will soon become a daily ritual that I can't live without...

My Italian, as I discovered this summer, is more than a little bit rusty, so I have been attempting to brush it off a little by reading the fabulous and bi-lingual fashion blog: The Blog of Brunette.

I am preparing to spend the weekend with my family and by that, I mean that I will be at the hosptial where my grandmother currently is with all of her (my) family around her - I just hope she can feel all of that love surrounding her. So if I am a little slow visiting your blogs and commenting, please forgive me.

How about you? How will you be spending your winter wonderland weekends?

Happy Weekend everyone!

Something For The Weekend: relaxing reads

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After a week filled with travelling, this weekend isn't really turning out to be as relaxing as I had hoped it might be. But as I continue to be busy and look forward to a less stressful and more calm time soon, make yourself a cup of tea and Why Not ... [learn how to] Create A Sanctury in your own home?


Throughout the month of November, Fiona of How To Be Chic is planning to put some tranquility into her life by remembering thirty of her basic chic principles, one day at a time. You can read these basic principles here.

If you're looking for a lovely home-made treat to enjoy with your cup of tea, or coffee, or hot chocolate, or whatever your favourite hot drink is, why not make yourself some of these easy peasy Oatmeal Thins courtesy of Leia of Leia's Delights? I took Leia's advice and added cinnamon. They were so yummy.


Last week's obsession with all things winter wear continues, as the cold weather shows no sign of going away any time soon and this week Harriet of Where Is Harriet? has provided me with all of the inspiration I need for dressing with style and warmth in mind this weekend. These gorgeous and festive looking D&G-inspired mittens over at Bargainista Fashionista are just the thing to keep your hands warm when out and about this weekend.

If you're looking for inspiration to re-fashion your favourite old knits, check out the two videos here and here created for Global Cool. Global Cool is a green lifestyle organisation that inspires people to think differently and live differently. They work with celebrities and entertainment to show you how to live a greener life without sacrificing the things you enjoy. They are currently running a competition - Turn Up The Style, Turn Down The Heat - which encourages contestants to put a jumper on rather than turn on the heat. A very worthy cause indeed.

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Meanwhile, I am dreaming of travels near and far. Garance Doré is currently in Istanbul and her posts (here, here and here) are making me want to pack up my bags again and head off to the airport for another adventure. Instead, however, I will happily settle for a little quiet time in a comfortable place (the sofa? the bed?) with a blanket and a good read for company.

If you are continuing your Christmas shopping this weekend, or starting it, make sure you check out my gift guides and stocking filler ideas. Or, just treat yourself to something lovely this weekend!

What are your plans for the weekend? Also, I'm intrigued, what books are you currently reading?


Have a fabulous weekend, wherever you are and whatever you're doing.

Something For The Weekend: Winter Warmers

All I want to do when I wake in the mornings and all I can hear is the wind howling around our apartment building and rattling at the windows, is turn off the alarm and bury back down under the covers and emerge again in the spring. Or at least when the first snow falls and there is something more pretty to get up for! After a week of mornings feeling like this, it is now the weekend and I am at the "in-laws" and I can just crawl back under the covers and lie in for as long as I want, or pull myself from the warmth of my bed to the warmth of the fireside. Either way, I plan to spend the next two days in the comfiest and warmest clothes possible, drink copious amounts of warms drinks and read. Pure luxury.

Speaking of luxury, have you told me yet: How Do You Define Luxury?

It is no coincidence then, given my current state of mind, that the folder on my computer that I inventively named "inspiration" is filled with photos of girls in warm-looking knits:


Sources (and I'm sorry but I can't remember which is which!): The Sartorialist; Face Hunter; and we heart it


It is also probably of no surprise that all I want to buy when I hit the shops at the moment, is cosy knitted things: over-sized cable-knit cardigans from Next; motif sweatshirts from Asos; and this snowflake knit jumper from Topshop. Or that I have been lusting after this gorgeous Ocabini Luxury Cashmere poncho over on Forty Not Out.

I have also decided to try to teach myself to knit. (Please don't laugh, friends and family who know me!!) It is something that I have been keen to try for many a year but this post from PinkBow finally inspired me to make a mad dash to John Lewis on Thursday evening. Franca, of Oranges and Apples and this week's Style Icon Guest Blogger, has also provided inspiration from her entire blog! A scarf has been started.

Meanwhile, these adverts for Micheal Kors:

Have me "dreaming of a White Christmas".

On that note, have you got into the festive spirit yet, with a Red Cup from Starbucks?

Following that same theme, who has started their Christmas shopping yet? And finished it? I have started mine and will - I hope - be finished by the beginning of December. It feels so liberating and allows me to enjoy the real build up to Christmas during advent without the constant worry of having to go inside the heaving shops again. For those stumped for ideas, Emily of Cupcakes and Cashmere, has begun her Holiday Gift Guide series and I even been, for a few weeks now, posting a series of Christmas Wish List ideas.

Right, there's a cup of tea with my name on it, waiting for me by the fire and a good book.

Have a happy weekend, whatever you're doing.

Something for the Weekend #7: 29/08/2010

I saw this post on Retro Chick the other week and thought it would be an interesting exercise to do on my own blog. I have also been following The Problogger's 31 Days to Build a Better Blog and Day 18's task was to create a so-called 'Sneeze Page' which is intended to send readers off to discover some of the posts from your achives. So from the last month, here are Sugar and Spice's Top 10 Posts:


10. In at number 10 is Style Icon Olivia Palermo.


9. Next up is the "size debate": Friday Friday #2: Size. 


8. Every Sex and the City fan wants to know How to... Dress like Carrie Bradshaw and now you can too. 


7. Nigela's yummy White Chocolate and Raspberry Muffins are a fabulous treat when you're feeling peckish at about 11 o'clock. And with the respberries you can even pretend that they are good for you.


6. Just missing out on a top 5 spot is a post that I am particularly proud of: I write a fashion blog and I'm proud of it.


5. Style Icon Edie Sedgwick makes in to number 5. 


4. Next are the Wardrobe Essentials According to Me.


3. Style Icon Jean Seberg just makes it into the top 3.


2. My review of Sex and the City 2: an ode to friendship just misses out on the top spot.


1. And in at number 1 is asks what it is to be a role model: Christina Hendricks: curvy role model or another unattainable ideal?


Hope you've all had a fabulous weekend.


More soon. Love, SG

Something for the Weekend #6: 15/08/2010

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As I am now participating in the Friend Friday series, I have decided to move my Something for the Weekend posts to a Sunday. I hope this isn't too confusing.


Here are a few of my favourite posts from this week:


♥ For a bit of retro fun, why not spend your Sunday afternoon making a good old fashioned DIY Friendship Necklace?


♥ After all of the talk of Christina Hendricks on this blog recently, why not finish off the weekend with some Mad Men-inspired cocktails?


♥ For some of this week's best posts in blog-land, why not visit the Independent Fashion Blogger's Links à la Mode.


♥ If you are kind enough, I would love it if you would vote for me as Blog of the Year on British Style Bloggers. Thank you.


♥ This week I will be painting my nails with my new Chanel polishes.


♥ I will be also, this week, be eating my way through any number of sweet treats, like these strawberry pastries.


♥ I'll be ordering my holiday reading.


♥ And I will be packing for my holiday and getting more and more excited.


I do hope you're having a lovely weekend everyone. What have you all been up to? I had my mum to stay this weekend and we spent the afternoon at Barry Island yesterday, eating chips and walking on the sand. Lovely. 

Something for the Weekend #5: 30/07/2010

I know that a lot of blogs already do this and indeed even our very own Independent Fashion Bloggers has their own Links à la Mode and now I propose to have my own Weekly Links series.


This week:


♥ Why not check out Good Life For Less' Guide to Better Blogging?


♥ And Rachel Phipps' Top Ten Websites For Fashion Bloggers? 


♥ Discover a new blog with an exciting daily mission: at New Dress A Day Marisa seeks to create a new dress each day with only a $1 a day: read all about the project here.


♥ Visit my Stylish Sister's brand sparkling new website - Sew Beautiful Designs - which very soon will have all of her wonderful handmade stock right there for you to buy.


♥ There's a new Asos Magazine out now and there's no need to clutter the place up with more magazines - you can read it online. This month's cover girl is one of our very own Style Icons, Olivia Palermo.


♥ Whether this is your first visit to Sugar & Spice or you're a regular reader, if you like what you're reading maybe you'd kindly consider nominating my little blog for the first ever Cosmopolitan Blog Awards in the Fashion & Style section?


Of course, I'd love you to check out my favourite blog posts from the past week:


♥ Check out what's in My Jewellery Box;


♥ Share in my joy at finding a maxi dress that actually fits;


♥ Join the debate, what do you think? Delivery costs: fair enough or enough's enough?


And one final reason to be happy that it's the weekend: it's pay day today.


Have a good weekend one and all. And, if you have a post you'd like me to read this week, email it to me or leave a link in the comments here.


Photos from: New Dress A Day; Rachel Phipps; Sugar and Spice; Sugar and Spice

Something for the Weekend #4: bake a cake Friday

My mum bought me this gorgeous cupcake-patterned cake stand for my graduation. Now all it needs is some cakes to fill it?


This weekend, why don't you bake something yummy?


Like:

These gingerbread men?

Yummy white chocolate and raspberry muffins?

How about these Tia Maria cupcakes?


Hope you have a happy weekend.

Something for the Weekend #3

It might have rained for much of this week but I am really hoping that this weekend the sun comes out again. The girls are coming tonight to help me celebrate my graduation - which is today - and I really really want to take them to the beach tomorrow for a picnic.

With this in mind, I have compiled a few weekend summer outfit ideas:

Outfit 1: picnic in the park:

1. Warehouse Floral Maxi, £35

2. Topshop Vintage Stud Sunglasses, £18

3. Dorothy Perkins Three Disc Sandals, £25

Outfit 2: ice cream at the seaside:

1. Topshop Grid Floral Oversized Tunic, £45 £20

2. Dorothy Perkins Silver metal aviator sunglasses, £10

3. Topshop Harbour Gladiator Jellies, £12




Outfit 3: romantic walk at sunset:

1. Oasis Silk Printed Dress, £60

2. Topshop Waspy Knotted Wedges, £65

3. Asos Premium Wahsed Leather Slouch Bag, £80


What will you be wearing this weekend? And what will you be doing as you wear it?

Something for the Weekend #2

Since completely my Masters I suddenly have a lot more free time on my hands and one of the wonderful side effects of this is that I am managing to devour all of those books that I put off reading for the months and years that I was studying. Here are some of my favourites from the last couple of months that I would highly recommend if you are looking for some summer holiday reading:

The Time Traveller's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger


I don't tend to buy into the hype surrounding books and their big screen adaptations and so it took me a while to read this but I am so glad I did. It is a beautiful story that is just as beautifully written. I cried buckets and buckets as I neared the end and really didn't want to reach the last few pages, I just want it to go on forever. Enchanting.


That Mad Ache, by Francoise Sagan


Someone recommended this in Grazia magazine and as I was going through my "Paris/French" phase I was prepared to read anything that had even a vague connection to this theme. Francoise Sagan's books recall high society in 1960s Paris. They were, by all accounts, scandalous for their time. This story did not seem dated at all and the writing conjures up a decadent period in recent French history. Chic.


Atonement, by Ian McEwan


Again, I am terribly behind and should really have read this book years ago. I saw the film on the plane to New York 18 months ago and found this copy in a charity shop for 99p. I wasn't sure how I'd get on with it but I am obsessed. I am just halfway through but I can't put it down. McEwan writes superbly and captures the audience and draws them in. Captivating.


I Capture The Castle, by Dodie Smith


This is the perfect book for the bohemian inside of you. It tells the story of an eccentric family in a crumbling castle and of the torture of first loves. Charming.


Bonjour Tristesse, by Francoise Sagan


Another book by Francoise Sagan. This time her first book. A novella. As before, it captures high society France in the 1960s and again tells the stories of the love affairs and scandals. Perhaps not such a happy ending but the thinness of the book appeals to me and makes it perfect to take with you for a day trip to the beach. Enthralling.


Breakfast at Tiffany's, by Truman Capote


This is by far one of my favourite films and I had no real interest to read the book until I found a copy for £1. I am so glad I did. It is every bit as good as the film. As with the previous book, it is a novella. It tells of the loves and life of Holly Golightly, well written and well told. What more could you ask? Delightful.


A Moveable Feast, by Ernest Hemingway


This is another book that I picked up when trying to read anything relating to Paris. It is a delight to read Hemingway's descriptions of the Paris and people he knew. The cafes and faces come alive in this small book. Delicious.


The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho


And finally. I read By The River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept sometime ago and loved it, then found this in a charity shop. It is a charming story of self discovery. And, if you can see a theme occurring here, well done, it is a novella again - I just think they are perfect for summer days out when you don't want to be weighed down by massive thick books. Wonderful.


A Single Man, by Christopher Isherwood


After watching the Tom Ford film I went straight out and bought this book. And it lived up to the expectations of Ford's film. Another short book that is perfect for a summer day out. A little dark perhaps but with an underlying theme of hope.


The Return Journey, by Maeve Binchey


This one isn't photgraphed because I've lent it to my mum. I'm not sure it's very cool to recommend Maeve Binchey but I don't care I love losing myself in her world. This book is full of short stories that I found perfect for bedtime as they were just long enough to tell a good story but short enough that I could finish one before I dropped off! Some are sad and some are happy. Good mix.


For more options, check out Where Is Harriet?'s Summer Reading post which inspired this post.


What are you reading this summer?

Something for the Weekend #1

A long time ago now I did a list of 10 fashion-related films. Now I bring you my picks of television series from over the years that have influenced fashions, good and bad. So why not pick one of these boxsets and settle down with a nice bottle of wine this weekend and relive some of television's favourite fashion moment?



Dynasty*

Never seen it but I do know that the power shoulder pads caused something of a stir and inspired many women in the '80s and since to imitate the trend.


Friends*

Now this I have seen - again and again and again! Some of the outfits may look a little dated now but Rachel's hairstyles over the years certainly inspired many girls and women to ask for a copy. "The Rachel" is said to be one of the most popular hair cuts of the '90s:

Sex and the City*

What do I need to say about this that I haven't already said here and here?! The fashions of Sex and the City continue today and if Asos is anything to go by and their whole collection of SATC-inspired fashion, it remains an inspiration today.


Ugly Betty*

No question really: set in the publishing house of a fashion magazine and following the story of the unlikely and very unfashionable heroine, Betty. It takes a look at what it means to fit in and how clothes can aid that.


Gossip Girl*

When I ran my Blogger Style Icon series recently 3 of them (Harriet, Glamorous Grad Student and Leia) chose Blair Waldorf - off of Gossip Girl - as their icon. The fashions of the leading ladies have influence a new generation of television watching women and girls, from Blair Waldorf's preppy look to Serena van der Woodsen's immaculate elegant style and Jenny Humphrey's more experimental take on fashion. There is something for everyone in each of these.


Which television series has inspired you? Have I missed any out?


Have a happy weekend. More soon. Love, SG


*click through to buy from amazon.co.uk