Full title: Things I've Been Obsessing Over Instead of Worrying About Actual Problems Or Contemplating the Incontrovertible Truth That Everyone I Love Is Going to Be Dead One Day.

Because distraction is the best policy, right?

1. My coat

It's my 30th birthday today (see how I dropped that in there? So subtle), so in honour of the occasion I've decided it's time to treat myself to a grown-up winter coat. This is the third winter for my trusty Topshop duffel coat, and while I still love it with a fiery passion, it doesn't really say "professional person and grown-ass lady." I'm pretty sure a client thought I was a messenger the other day until I spouted off some incredibly boring piece of legalese and they realised, no, I was just a lawyer in students' clothing.

I had initially toyed with the idea of a leather jacket, and was sorely tempted by this handmade one from Etsy, but realistically I wouldn't wear it until spring and that's too long to wait, dammit. Then I thought a classic camel would be a smart choice, but it turns out classic camel coats are difficult to come by. Plus I'm not convinced that camel is my colour. (I have genuinely been obsessing over this, in case you can't tell.)

So we arrive at option 3: a classy but stylish grey overcoat. Simple, chic, goes with everything. After a pinning spree - I mean a serious, weeks-long pinning spree - I concluded that the perfect coat simply does not exist in the UK. To meet my highly specific requirements, I had to cast a wider net. Finally, I've narrowed the choices down to two almost-but-not-quite-identical coats.



The first one has a silky soft leather collar, which gives it a cool edge and satisfies my leather jacket cravings. It's also French, for bonus points. The second one has a more interesting texture and I love the stylised lapels. They're both nice! They're both more expensive than any other coat I've ever bought before! WHICH SHOULD I CHOOSE?

2. My Party

I have no qualms about turning 30, and I'm grateful to be able to spend today with my family, but with my mum's health deteriorating, and some of my dearest friends out of party action for reasons both good and bad, I knew this birthday was never going to be the wild celebration that I might have imagined.

However, in a moment of crippling self-pity, I decided that I was entitled to bit of birthday cheer and I was just going to have to make it happen myself. Which is why, tomorrow, I will find myself entertaining 27 people and 2 children (I suppose the children are technically people too) in our very tiny flat. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

No, it IS a good idea, it just involves slightly more advance planning than I had initially anticipated. Particularly since I spent an embarrassing amount of time devising a Betty-Draper-meets-vintage-Scandinavian-Christmas theme. Did I make a Pinterest board? You're damn right I did. Of course, in reality, the only evidence of this party theme will be inside my own head, since Betty Draper was unavailable and I don't live in Sweden, but that's beside the point. At least my invitations are on message:


Because this gathering is taking place immediately after four days of not being at home, not being able to shop and not being able to fit anything in the fridge, it is proving a bit tricky to cater. Undeterred, I have made several dozen different lists and I'm feeling confident. Ish. As long as there are ample quantities of rum-spiked mulled cider, people won't really care what I feed them, is my theory.

Might need to make a few more lists, just in case.

3. My Man

Five days to go, people. He's coming back.

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Images of the glammy lady: Barefoot Blonde