Resolution Breakers

So, January 2 began like this...

COOKIES!!

Good job I didn't make that '2015 is going to be my Healthy Eating Year! Wooo bring on the kale!!' resolution hey? So far so good on that front (blog more and be happy, checked those two off by baking cookies and blogging about it, boom) ...aaaand now I can take these delicious little darlings to my nearest and dearest and bribe them out of THEIR New Years Resolutions...! (In my defence, these cookies have oats, that practically makes them a muesli bar for Gods sake)

My family arrive today and are right now on their way up from Sydney, I can't wait to see them! And, to be honest, eat these cookies with a valid reason rather than standing at the fridge picking tiny (ahem, massive) bits off the raw dough...  Which is how New Years Day was largely spent. Yikes.

The Friday Feeling

Woohoo! Its Friday! The sun is shining, which always puts me in a good mood for the weekend. I am heading up to town to celebrate my sister in law's (SO weird typing that) birthday. Really looking forward to spending some time in London and visiting Anthropologie on the Kings Road. My favourite shop in London. Sadly I can't afford anything in there. Not even the hair clips. £16 bobby pins, are you bloody kidding me?

Anyway, I thought I would do a quick round-up of all the lovely things that have brightened a gloomy November week up for me.

My new ASOS bag. Kudos has to go to my sister for this one. She is pretty much the most fashionable person I know and so hinted/instructed that I needed this bag in my life. And that she would need to borrow it. Done. It's a gorgeous colour, a brilliant size, furry AND on SALE! Win win win.

 

This slouchy oversized Zara jumper. They are calling it a coat for reasons I can't fathom. Who would ever call that a coat? Must be a Spanish thing. They clearly don't get the British weather system. Regardless, it literally is the perfect snuggly, bonfire-night-attending, hot-chocolate-drinking, give-me-a-cuddle piece of kit in my wardrobe. #obsessed.

And of course, a snuggly jumper needs a snuggly friend. Enter dream furry stole from Zara. It's perfect. I dont want to take it off. Ever. I am seriously considering getting a spare for when I spill hot chocolate or chilli down the front of it. You know it's going to happen. Is that weird? Do you buy spares of your favourites? No? Just me? It's so lovely infact, that it has spurned a series of copy-buys from my nearest and dearest. You know who you are...! (I just found out it comes in Leopard. This could be dangerous...)

I am taking daily inspiration from Jessica's blog. She writes with the most amazing humour and candour, and I want to eat EVERYTHING she makes. Like, everything. I mean, this girl hates vegetables. And loves bacon. And bourbon. And chocolate. How can you NOT love her? This week I made my second batch of the most delicious Banana Bourbon Cupcakes. I finished mine off with a dusting of cocoa powder rather than the bourbon chocolate ganache because I have the patience of a flea. They were sooo delicious I actually forgot to take any photos.

Twitter. I am so rubbish at this technology lark. I need help with the whole Twitter thing. Or mainly getting over my 'does anyone actually care what I have to say?' confidence nightmare. #writersblock

And lastly, this sunset at work. I mean, how beautiful are the grounds? So, SO stunning.

So, what are you guys up to this weekend? Tell me, tell me!

Laura x

Who's a pretty girl then?

Mouse and Lola has had a little makeover!

Okay, so with only two posts up its not exactly normal to go through a re-brand, but having messed about a bit with Blogger and being a complete novice with anything like this, I started to research into employing someone to make it look beautiful.

Silly I know, but the perfecitonist in me would NOT let me post something until it was perfect. Hence only two posts in two months. One of which has crap photography... But anyway. I wanted to put my thoughts down on a virtual space that looked absolutely gorgeous. So shallow. I like pretty things. Messy, half-assed things, not so much. I want you guys to stay and feel happy to mooch around this space and click and pin all the pretty things, all the time.

Enter Steph from Bonjour Belle. A gorgeous and totally talented Blogger who is also a brilliant designer. She whipped up the new design in no time and I am eternally grateful for her help in getting me set up. She is literally the only person I know (and that's only in internet-world) that has an actual blog, isn't that sad? 2014 resolution is to make more friends through blogging. And to get my real life friends into it.

Hang on, I definitely cannot start thinking about 2014 yet. So many more exciting things are still to happen in 2013! Birthdays, parties, secret thank-you extravaganzas, fireworks, engagement parties, BRUNO MARS and weekends away, all to fit in before the end of the year. Oh and it's eight weeks 'til Christmas tomorrow people, EIGHT WEEKS.

And in the meantime, now I have such a pretty virtual baby, you can expect lots more posts. No excuses now...

So, she's up, looking all sparkly and new. Go on, tell her she's pretty...

My first time...

No, not what you're thinking. My first blog post. This is the beginning, the very first blog of hopefully many. The process of allowing your thoughts to spread their wings and enter the virtual stratosphere. Nerve wracking, exciting, terrifying and thrilling rolled into one big 'dare-I-push-the-'Publish'-button?' panic.

So; me. I am a twenty-something with a passion for make up, baking, interior design and fashion. I live in the South of England with my new husband, and our little yellow budgerigar. More on her later.





The aim of Mouse and Lola is to share ideas, inspire, and excite. I am starting this blog mainly to have a creative outlet. I love Pinterest (follow me here!), but feel the need to gather my thoughts in word as well as picture form. It's just for me, with the hope that you will join me too.

I will be blogging about beauty products I love, different make up techniques, easy how-to's and tutorials. There will be recipe recommendations, baking secrets, dinner party fail-safes and naughty little treats. I will be sharing with you my favourite interior design projects, cute home wares and ideas to make your nest even cosier, whatever your budget. Finally, I am hoping to share my style with you, listing and discussing my favourite looks and accessories of the season, and how I am interpreting them.

I love discovering new blogs, and hope you will find Mouse and Lola a place to kick back with a cup of tea (and a biscuit, obviously), browse the posts and get involved.

Thanks for dropping by, stay a while and feel free to leave me some feedback - comments or email are both greatly appreciated! Let me know what you want to see. More fashion? Less tutorials? I'm in your hands people. Oh, and tell me, do you remember your first time?

Laura x