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Saturday 30 November 2013

2014 Blogger Challenge!

I hardly ever know what to blog about. Most of the time - as you'll have probably gathered - it's just me rambling. That's why, when I read on Jess's blog about the 2014 Blogger Challenge, I got a bit excited.


Head over to Gaby's blog for more information because I'm sure I'm not going to explain it very well. Basically, fabby Gaby (cheeky nickname already!) is, twice a month, going to send out an email to anyone who wants to participate with a topic for a post. And then the idea is you do the post. Obviously.


Anyway, this is a pretty cool idea and Gaby is a little genius. Definitely head over to her blog to investigate further. There are already close to 300 people doing it and  you will feel so left out if you don't it's a great way to bring everyone together.


I'm excited, are you?

Thursday 28 November 2013

L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Lipstick: 380 Luminous Coral

Hi everyone. In today's post, you will be treated to some (extremely grainy, ridiculously poor quality) photographs of my kitchen, and a mini attempt at a review of my new favourite lipstick. First, let's talk about the packaging: it's lovely. It looks pretty classy and expensive (£8.19 on the Superdrug website, and there's also a 3 for 2 deal, go get!). I loved the colour of the product before I even tried it out which is always a good sign. Plus, 38 is my lucky number and this shade is 380, so it's a sign. I saw the sign. (Please forgive my Pitch Perfect obsession.)






 Again, I know the quality of these photos is pants but the colour is so lovely. I've also included a cheeky selfie so you can see what it looks like as a whole on the face. Does that make sense? I hope so. It's also an excuse to take moody looking pictures of myself, and who doesn't enjoy that? I find this range of lipsticks really moisturising and I love the finish they have; it's kind of glossy but also subtle if you don't reaaaally go for it when applying it.



I'd say anyone should try out one of these because I've really enjoyed wearing mine, and I probably will right until it runs out, and then buy about six more tubes of it. What am I talking about, you don't get tubes of lipstick, do you? You really don't. Agh, what is it called? A stick of lipstick? No. Please tell me what you call it if you've even read to down here, to my incoherent rambling. I'm off to do two geography essays now, wish me luck.

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Prom, July 2014

Prom, July 2014





Tom Ford lips makeup
bergdorfgoodman.com


Lips makeup
etsy.com


Essie nail polish
kohls.com



This is the prom look I'm planning to go for next year. It's more of a cocktail bar and sit down dinner at a posh suite than an actual prom, but I'm still looking forward to it. I've already bought my prom dress so now I just need to get hunting for a nice pair of coral heels and a really cute necklace. I think I've already decided on my lip colour (and no, it won't be Tom Ford. Can you say expensive?!). I might do a post on it at some stage because I've been wearing it every day for the past couple of weeks. I believe it warrants a post! I can't promise I won't forget though...

Monday 25 November 2013

I've got nostalgic pavements

I'm finding it hard to believe six days have slipped by since I last blogged. If you'd have asked me, I'd have said maybe three. Everything's flashing by so quickly right now. I'll be doing a little bullet point list of what's happening right now (as usual) because I'm feeling pretty lazy.


1. Only thirty days till Christmas! (Cue Nevershoutnever) It's also my friend's three year anniversary with her boyfriend. She was fourteen when they got together, and he was thirteen. I don't know how they do it. I can't last two months with someone without feeling all weird and freaking out, so hats off to them.

2. I actually love my job at McDonald's. The people are so lovely, although I'm feeling a bit weird because two guys there asked for my number this weekend and I'm definitely not used to that kind of thing.

3. I have a bloody lot of work from school right now. I've even made a little homework plan and, let me tell you, I haven't done that since May when I had six exams in ten days. It's getting that bad.

4. Sometimes I feel all cold and have the urge to be cuddled but let's refer back to point number one and realise it's not going to happen anytime soon. What are best friends for, hey? Cuddles, that's what.

5. I finally finished my EPQ essay today. As I'm doing an artefact, the accompanying essay only needs to be 1,000 words long, yet my supervisor wasn't happy. She told me to look at my extremely attractive friend's (aka my future husband's) project from last year as he also did an artefact. His essay to go with it was 5,000 words long. Mine is currently 1,300... I don't smell an A* coming my way.

6. I donated blood for the second time on Thursday. I love the free food they give you afterwards, best part if you ask me. I did feel a bit lightheaded afterwards and had a bit of a headache but I coped. On Saturday though, I felt horribly weak when I went for a run. I ran so slowly that I'm not sure it even qualifies as any more than a shuffle, and I got the slowest time I have for months. Ah well, it's worth it, save a life and all that!



7. My best friend from year seven to year eleven, who dropped out of school in June, who failed all her AS exams, who started smoking regularly and doing drugs, who has an STD from sleeping unprotected with multiple guys in the past few months, who lived on the streets for several months, has just moved in with her twenty seven year old drug dealer, convicted criminal boyfriend. She's eighteen. I don't really know what to do about that one.

8. Apart from big occasions like parties, I haven't worn eye makeup in about two months which I'm pretty happy about. Like, I've become so used to not wearing it that when I do, the effect is ten times better. Try it, it really makes you feel good about yourself!


And there ends the lowdown on this week. I just realised that point number seven really puts into perspective how trivial all my problems are, yet it's difficult for me to feel sympathetic as all said-ex-best-friend's problems, well, she brought them on herself. I might do a post on it all later, I'm a bit lost about it. She's doing okay, though. Hope you're all having a good November!


Song of the day:


Tuesday 19 November 2013

Cheeky package




I know what's in here. It's my most-looking-forward-to Christmas present. My family are all out and we have the day off school so guess who got to sign for her own parcel? Me me me! Can you tell I'm pretty blooming excited? Blooming is such a cute word, isn't it? Like flowers and spring time and freshness, but also meaning like beautiful growth. I know I'm wittering on madly but yay for the package being here! Only thirty six days until I can open it. That's five weeks and one day, did you know??


Just hear those sleigh bells ringling jing jing jingly joooo, dingly lingy lingy bin bog bee (pretty sure those aren't the right lyrics, oops...)

Monday 18 November 2013

Mundane Midweek Post #2

I know it's not midweek yet but hey, let's make this a Mundane Monday post instead. Try to say that five times, hello tongue twister. I'm already going a bit off track. I don't really have a great deal to say right here but these are some things going on in my life right now:


1. I don't keep a written diary anymore, which is a bit sad but after three and a half years, I'd just got bored. I have one of those minds where you never forget anything, so it's not even like I'm writing it down to remember it. I suppose I can always read this blog to my grandchildren when I'm old and grey, just not my diary anymore.

2. For the past four weeks, we've been having our bathroom redone and I think he's going to be finished by Thursday this week (fingers crossed!). I'm pretty excited to have an actual shower back in; I hate taking fast baths but I've had to do so every morning before school. #FirstWorldProblems.

3. I'm getting so excited for uni. Ten months to go!!!!!

4. Did I mention I'm seeing The 1975 in January? I'm seeing The 1975 in January. In January, I'm seeing The 1975. You can probably tell I'm looking forward to it just a little bit.

5. I've become so addicted to the Shaytards. What a fab family they are. It makes me want to drop everything now (meet me in the pouring raaaain... hi Taylor Swift) and get married and have five kids, just to film them all and stick it on YouTube. Oh the fun we'd have.

6. I have a serious Pepsi Max addiction (no calories, yay).

7. It pisses me off that the school say we're adults, that we act like adults so they'll treat us like adults, that we need to be independent and prepare for life at uni, yet they send letters home to our parents and demand meetings with them. What is the point of telling my parents about my progress at school if I haven't been asked how I think I'm doing first? That's not treating me like an adult. I'm not stupid, I know I'm still young, but practice what you preach, you know? Don't expect me to act like an adult if you treat me like a child. You can't have it both ways, lady. Sorry, little rant over! (I could do a whole post on this, just watch.)

8. I played my first Ring of Fire on Saturday night. Maybe I'm a bit late for that, but hey, better late than never.

9. Thirty seven days until Christmas and I'm already practically wetting myself with excitement.

10. I watched Pitch Perfect for the first time yesterday. I am in love. I just want to pack up and go off to New York for college, and join an a Capella group (let's forget that I can't sing, okay?). I want a beautiful boy to sing to me from his car window and watch the Breakfast Club with me, and for me to make best friends with Rebel Wilson. Well, a girl can dream.


I believe that's everything I've been thinking recently. I think a lot. I've had a lot of alone time in the past few weeks; I don't even know where my social life went. Hope you're all well and having fun!


Song of the day:


As you walk on byyyy, will you call my naaaaame...

Friday 15 November 2013

Dear Katherine...


Chester is the dream, and holding this letter in my hands makes it seem real. That's oh-so cheesy, but still. I can actually see myself at university next year. Not necessarily Chester, but I'm starting to believe I'm actually grown up enough to go and study for a degree. Mad.


UCAS update: My fifth and final offer came in last night at about half seven. I let out a little squeal, I can't lie. I hope everyone else applying to uni gets what they want. You deserve it. xo

Thursday 14 November 2013

My Life: Meeting An Internet Boy

My Life: Meeting An Internet Boy



Label Lab hooded parka
$140 - houseoffraser.co.uk



Vintage tote
etsy.com


Totes rainbow umbrella
target.com




This is the second post in a series of Polyvore sets I'm doing about what I wore on momentous days this year. Well, momentous for me. Feel free to read the first post hereThe day I wore an outfit similar to the one in this post was in April this year. In fact, I did a whole post on that day too which you can find here. Hope you're having a great week, everyone!


UCAS update: I received offers from Chester and Kent yesterday and today, so I now have four offers of my five applications. Just waiting for Aston now, fingers crossed!

Monday 11 November 2013

Promises; swear them to the sky

The prettiest collage, courtesy of Rookie.



Song of the day:



UCAS update: I now have an offer from Anglia Ruskin too! Two down, three to go.

Friday 8 November 2013

University Offer #1

I've been wanting to submit my personal statement for a few weeks now but my form tutor hadn't finished my reference (can you say useless?!) so I was getting pretty frustrated. So many people have had offers already - one girl at my school got her fifth and final offer last week! But today, today was glorious day: I submitted my whole UCAS application to the universities! I applied for English Language (or similar) at Anglia Ruskin, Aston, Chester, Gloucestershire, and Kent. Some friends of mine had waited eight to ten days for their first offers so I was expecting a response from the unis a couple of weeks from now. I checked my UCAS four hours after I'd sent it though and... an offer from Gloucestershire to study English Language and Creative Writing! I felt a bit lightheaded which is pretty stupid but I got excited. Four hours might be some kind of record.


I'm feeling pretty happy and I hope that anyone who's in my position, who's sent theirs off, is getting offers or will do soon. Good luck guys! I'm off to bed now as I need to leave for work at 7am tomorrow and won't be back until 6pm. Eleven hours spent in a McDonald's uniform is too long. Good night! xo



Thursday 7 November 2013

My mum's wedding dress

My parents got married in late August 1995, about eight months before I was born. They didn't want the wedding to be a big deal so they only invited about fifty people - just family and close friends - and kept everything really casual. The ceremony took place in a registry office near the town where my dad grew up, and the reception was back at my grandparents' place. There was BBQ food cooked by my grandad, and alcohol my parents bought in France for a discounted price. The wedding cake was one tiered. There were no hymns or flowers. No professional photographer. They didn't - and still don't - like the idea of having a huge wedding where the stress of planning it overshadows everything else.


This view extends to my mum's wedding dress. When I was younger, I was a bit upset that I would go to my friends' houses and their mums would sometimes bring out their wedding dresses for us to see. They were big and white and extravagant. My friends never saw my mum's wedding dress because she insisted it was nothing special. In the eyes of a seven year old, no, she's right, it's probably nothing worth seeing. No sparkles, no ruffles, no princess-like qualities.


When I was looking for a prom dress last year, she asked if I'd like to try on her wedding dress. I said no because I remembered it as a brown-ish, old lady like affair. I was wrong! I loved it but didn't end up wearing it to prom. I asked her to get it out again recently because I wanted to try it on again and maybe get some photos.





I don't think my crappy webcam really did it justice. It's a gorgeous burgundy colour with bits of gold detailing and little flowers. The material reminds me of chiffon (I'm not sure if it really is) and it fits me perfectly - a bit depressing that I'm the same size my mum was at 31 years old, but I comfort myself with the thought that she dieted for months.. kidding! Anyway, I love it a lot. I think she said it was about £90 from Monsoon which sounds like a bargain to me.


People have said oh I can't believe she wore a RED wedding dress, think of the connotations but I'm glad she did. Red is her favourite colour and she saw a red dress she liked, so she wore it on a special day. And I think she looked pretty beautiful. Go mum.

Tuesday 5 November 2013

The "I Don't Care" Montage


Monday 4 November 2013

Life update

Hi November! This year is seriously going so fast but is probably the best of my life. I'm a bit worried because every year seems to be better and better for me, and there's going to come a stage when I'm like oh well last year was better. And I don't want that time to come. Maybe it's showed in my writing, maybe it hasn't, but I've been a bit glum lately. Things have picked up though, as least today they have. I feel good about life - which is the way I've felt for my whole life, bar this past month or so. So that's good. 


My best friend has a page where she asks people to send her submissions anonymously which she'll use for a school project; I think she'll analyse them and the effect on people that sharing their stories and troubles has. If you want to take part (it's a bit of an experiment, I think), message me and I'll send you the link. She and I were both feeling pretty down for different reasons a while ago, so we each wrote it all down to submit for her project. I think she only published them a couple of days ago, but I got to read hers when she did and ours were surprisingly similar. It almost looks like they're written by the same person. Mine went like this:

"If there’s one word to describe how I feel, it’s stupid. Or shit. Either of those. I’m an upbeat kind of girl usually, so this is all a bit alien to me. I don’t really know what’s going on but I’m pretty sure it’s a case of “you always want what you can’t have”. Right now, I’m 99% sure it’s an impossibility.

I had it and I threw it away. I hope someone sees this and understands and I’m kind of hoping they’ll know it was me. Someone, anyone. I feel like I’m drowning. Maybe I’ve been in the ocean for a long time but I’ve managed to keep my head above the water. Lately though, I’ve been starting to slip under.


I’ve never really understood depression but now, well, now I think I do. You slip further and further into the water and eventually you’re so far down that no one can pull you out. Perhaps it gets to a stage where you don’t want to be rescued. I don’t want that to happen and I’m determined not to let it.


I’m not going to cry either. Some people say tears are a sign of strength, or show that you’ve been strong for too long, but I don’t think so. For me, it’s going to show I’ve cracked. And I’m not going to crack. Because I’m strong and I’m not done yet."



When I read mine back, I was a bit worried. Because I sound horribly sad. I'm not. I know how I'm feeling and it's not quite that bad. But there's something in Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why where the character discusses analysing your own poetry or writing and you'll get more from it than if you merely wrote down your feelings. I've tried to analyse it and all I'm getting is depression. I wrote it when I was feeling pretty sad but it's definitely not how I feel now. I think it's helped me to snap out of whatever it was that was getting at me. I'm happy.


Here's a photo of me and said best friend loving life, posing. (I'll make it clear again that we are most definitely posing!)



Song of the day:


Sunday 3 November 2013

Sakroots purse

I was a bit bored on Friday so I popped up to Kensington with my mum (yay for mother daughter bonding time) and visited an exhibition at the V & A. After a stop for lunch at Wagamama - of course - a trip to TK Maxx was in order. If you're ever in the Kensington area, definitely go to the high street and visit TK Maxx. It is superior to any other TK Maxx I've ever seen, and believe me, I've seen a lot of them in my seventeen years.


I've been on the hunt for a new purse, or what Americans call a wallet - am I right? -, for ages. One in particular leapt out at me from the shelf and I became very attached to it. So I bought it. It was a bit pricey but it's a really cute design and amazing quality so I like to think it's worth it.







The amount of pockets this thing has is crazy - but that's a good thing, right? This beauty is going to hold my keys, any loose change (goodbye coin purse) and all of my cards. I love having everything all in one place so this ticks all the boxes. I think I'm in love.




It's almost as big as my head but for purses, the bigger the better, in my opinion. It's made by a really cute American company called Sakroots so definitely go and check out their website. They have everything from rucksacks to phone cases to rain boots in a ton of colourful prints. My pattern favourite is One World. Haha, it sounds like I'm advertising them - I'm really not - but I do think you'll love them. They even have really cute pages like this where you can read about the inspiration for the prints.


I'm so bloody happy with this find because we all know the TK Maxx rule - "there's only one of everything". It's just amazing luck that this happened to be in Kensington on the same day I did.


Song of the day:


Saturday 2 November 2013

Ombre rain jackets

Ombre rain jackets


Volcom jacket
karmaloop.com


Volcom hooded rain jacket
karmaloop.com



Words cannot explain how much I want one of these jackets. I thought creating this set would make me feel better, but no, it's almost made me cry with longing for them.

My Life: The First Meaningful Kiss

My Life: The First Meaningful Kiss


Alexon blue jumper
$50 - houseoffraser.co.uk


Label Lab hooded parka
$200 - houseoffraser.co.uk


Galaxy skirt
etsy.com


Steve Madden combat boots
$130 - johnlewis.com


Canvas purse
etsy.com


Etro scarve
luisaviaroma.com



I thought it might be fun if I did a Polyvore range of sets featuring outfits I wore on special days. Obviously, I don't have any of the items in this set but they're very similar to what I did wear - just more expensive! As the title of this post says, this is what I wore on the day I had the first kiss I actually cared about. It was pretty cold because it was winter in England at about 11pm, so I was wrapped up warmly.


I don't know how long this collection of posts is going to go on for but I hope you enjoy looking at them. Happy November kids. xo