It's been a while...

It dawned on me recently that I used to blog all the time. And, to be honest, I found it really therapeutic.
But for some reason I haven't written on my blog for nearly two years. This radio silence happened by complete accident.
I can't even lie and pretend the past 18 months have been a whirlwind.

Weeks after my last post in Nov 2011, I got engaged. Which, OK, was a pretty big deal. Not long after that I was asked by Wedding Ideas Magazine to start a weekly blog on their website documenting my plans, anxieties and the general build up to our wedding. Some of the articles are below, if you're interested.
Part one , Part two, Part three, Part four, Part five



wedding day


Me and my now husband Jimmy got married the following summer. I planned our wedding in six months and we got married in my parent's garden in July 2012. Well, in a church in my childhood village, but the reception/ dinner was held at my parent's house. I put my heart into organising our wedding, we didn't have a wedding planner, a restaurant manager, kitchen staff, waiters - all the usual people you have to help and advise you when you get married at venue. Instead we had to plan it all ourselves. We wanted a festival style wedding, so had giant tipi's, an open fire and a garden full of flower pots an gazebos.

Trying to organise a wedding on your own, in six months, while holding down a job as a tabloid newspaper showbiz editor was tough. When I wasn't at my desk writing my column, or out at night at a showbiz party searching for a story, I was beavering away on my laptop contacting flower suppliers, caterers, porta-loo services, looking at generators, choosing cake stands, trying to find a dress, organising the music and lighting, making table plans, creating invites, choosing favours. The list seemed endless at the time.

However, the wedding was a success. Everyone got drunk and danced all night. Both sets of parents had an amazing time, and I came away with a gorgeous husband.

Our wedding was covered in the real-life section of Wedding Ideas magazine and I've been writing health, beauty and celebrity features for the mag ever since.

Since then we were fluky enough to have two honeymoons. A week in Lake Como (a surprise wedding gift from my brother) and two weeks lazing around the Cook Islands before a week driving a camper van around New Zealand. All completely amazing, never to forget trips. 
 


Our private honeymoon beach in Aitutaki, Cook Islands

  

our campervan in New Zealand



Oscars day...Day Seven

The day of the Oscars….dun dun dun.

I was staying on Sunset Boulevard which means I was literally in the hub of everything happening.

There were film crews, transmission trucks, glamourous TV news reporters everywhere.

There was also a man dressed as Jesus wandering around blessing everyone with “love and gratitude”. Only in LA.

Here's a quick run down on what happened on Oscar night…

Anna Hathaway was a brilliant host, which was quite surprising for all. She revealed her secret weapon was to “change my dress as often as possible, so people pay more attention to what I’m wearing than my nerves.”

Leonardo DiCapro plans to move in on Russell Brand’s older woman Helen Mirren revealing: “Id love to work with Helen, she’s an amazing actress and seems fun. I’m gonna try and get it sorted tonight.”

Florence Welch gushed: “I'm so excited, I never dreamt I’d be in Hollywood at the Oscars doing a duet with Sir Elton John.”

After scooping best actress Natalie Portman admitted she will not be calling her unborn baby Oscar saying: “That’s really funny, no one’s asked me that yet, but no, there’s absolutely no change I will choose Oscar. We can stop that rumour, right now.”

Russell Brand has officially turned his back on his rock n roll routes. He proudly brought his Mum to the Oscars instead of wife Katy Perry.

Scarlett Johansson admitted: “The ceremony’s so long people sneak food into the theatre, I know it’s not very glamorous but it’s true”

And Gwyneth Paltrow shocked everyone by announcing she wants to turn her talents to hip-hop. “I would love to do a duet or collaboration with Jay Z," she said, "he’s a genius and I’m a massive fan.”

The after party everyone wanted to go to was at the Vanity Fair party…which looked like this from outside our hotel.

Still no signs of Cheryl Cole….

Oscars Eve...Day six

We started the day with a quick drive up to see the Hollywood sign in the hills and had a general cruise around Melrose Avenue and Beverly Hills

in our Beetle. The sun was out, so naturally the roof had to come down. Come on, we’re Brits abroad after all.

Me and my column mate Sonja attended the Golden Raspberry Awards in Los Feliz on the evening.
It was the biggest waste of time imaginable. Not one celeb, seriously not one.

Not to worry tomorrow is the big Oscars day.

Los Feliz is cool though. A compact bohemian area about 15 minutes out of town.
Littered with men sporting beards, tattoos and old skool Adidas jackets, hanging around in quirky bars with their Mac books.

We met our LA based showbiz journo pal Nadia and whipped out our laptops over some tea... Chamomile and honey to be precise.



Nadia, Me and Sonja



Day Three

We hired a convertible Beetle and took a drive out to Santa Monica to check out Muscle Beach and Venice Beach.
It wasn't just a beach jolly though, we heard Gwyneth Paltrow, who was singing at the Oscars ceremony, had just checked into posh 5star hotel Shutters On The Beach.

However, after a few hours we realised Gwynnie was nowhere to be seen.

We did, of course, spend some well deserved time rubber necking sexy, buff men, working out topless on Muscle beach. It's impossible not to look. Come on.

men pumping iron in the sunshine

We walked the entire stretch of the beach (took over two hours) while gawping like tourists at all the different people - LA is full of eccentrics and weirdos. 

There was homeless people everywhere, looking ultra chilled out in the sunshine. Smoking weed and drinking 'liquor' out of brown paper.bags,

Travellers trying to sell anything and everything. Joss sticks, paintings, palm readings, wood carvings and so on.

One budding entrepreneur caught my attention straight away. A young punk who had a board around his neck with “Kick my butt for $1” written on it.

Never before had I contemplated hurting someone for my own pleasure, let alone pay for the privilege.
But I have to admitt, I was very tempted.
Who wouldn’t pay a mere 50p to boot someone in the ass? For a laugh?
I refrained though, in the light of day, it seemed a tad harsh.

walking our friends dog Killer.

CALIFORNIA Dreaming... Watchout Oscars here I come

So, it's the night before I jet off to Los Angeles for the American showbiz event of the year...THE OSCARS.
Feeling excited, nervous, animated and restless all at once.
I've packed the necessary stuff, passport, driving license, sunglasses, selection of dresses, vast array of high heels and the most important creation... my eye mittens - I can't sleep without those beauties. They've travelled the whole West coast of America, been to South Korea, Thailand, Mexico, Cuba, God knows how many Ibiza trips.... they are my secret sleep weapon.

Right off to bed now, fake tan sorted and alarm set for 9am...