#70 - Blog award

Haven't posted properly since my birthday; through those few weeks I've been pretty unwell and literally suffocating under all the uni work I have to do - I have an important piece in pretty much every week until Christmas, so it's all systems go!
Not to mention I went to see Paramore on Wednesday, and Deftones on Sunday. Both gigs were amazing, but Deftones was unbelievable for me - they've been my favourite band for goodness knows how many years, and I've finally seen them live. I am currently suffering from several bruises on my legs and arms, as well as as bruised cheekbone, but it was definitely worth it! They sound exactly the same live as they do on a cd. (The video for Diamond Eyes)

I was given this blog award by Alex at Life After 20 - I finally met her in person last Saturday at the vintage fair, and she's even lovlier in person, so go check her out :)

Here's my attempt at the answers:

1. Why do your blog?
I like to think I have a way with words, and even if nobody reads it, it always makes me feel better posting things up on here. I've "met" some lovely people through this and it's great to hear other people's opinions on things and to know that your voice does count!

2. Name your 3 best memories:

This took me a while to narrow it down!

1. When I met Jack; as cheesy as it sounds, he turned my life around, made me a more positive person, and is always there for me. He really makes me happy, even if we're just sitting with a movie on, pulling stupid faces at each other; I love him ^_^

2. Maybe four months after we had to get rid of our kitten, Tarmac, I come home from work to find an unbelievably happy dog sat in the kitchen. Turns out he had been abandoned and my dad found him in the Leeds-Liverpool canal and fished him out. He hadn't eaten properly for weeks, and after the month appeal nobody claimed him, so we got to keep him. We named him Hippy and he's the happiest dog I've ever known; always welcomes me home like I've been away forever!

3. When I found out I got a second chance at university. I had been messed about by my first choice, and thought I'd have to go to college or get a full-time job and miss out. But I rang up Edge Hill by chance and they offered me a place on the course upfront. I appreciate being given a second chance and I know it happened for a reason so I'm trying my best not to mess up!

3. Five best fictional books you have read.

1. Servants of Twilight, Dean Koontz
2. Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk
3. One Big Damn Puzzler, John Harding

4. 5 Best movies ever made.

1. Pulp Fiction

2. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

3. Shawshank Redemption

4. Hocus Pocus

5. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

5. Name 5 things you cant live without.

1. Family/friends

2. Good food, like my mum's roast dinners!

3. The photos I have, jam packed full of memories

4. My bed

5. Positive people

6. If you could change your name what would you change it to.

I really like my name, and think I suit it. People have said I look like a Rebecca or Claire though.

7. Tell us a unique fact about yourself.

I can only eat M&M's and Skittles in two's of the same colour

8. What do you love most about yourself?

That I don't know what's just around the corner but I don't mind that. And that I am finally comfortable in my own skin

9. If you had a freaky Friday experience who would you change places with?

As "original" as it may seem, I'd like to trade with Anne Hathaway or Emily Blunt - two people I look up to; they're both hugely successful, beautiful intelligent women who go against the grain, and I admire them for doing so and sticking to their guns

10. Whats the best thing about being a women?

Being able to look pretty; women have much more freedom when it comes to fashion, make up, etc. And not being told off for wanting to be career-forward

I give this award to:
Frannie
Emma
Rebecca

Victoria

Kelly

#69 - Big Vintage Fair, Manchester!

The UKs BIG Vintage & Fashion Fair hits Manchesters PRINTWORKS!!!

You really dont want to miss the BIGGEST Fair of the year, with 60 amazing stalls of Vintage, Retro, Designer, Accessories & loads more!

All the way through The Printworks, AND a MASSIVE (and we do mean MASSIVE) Pop Up Shop INSIDE PURE!!!

Get all your Christmas gifts & outfits sorted in one day!!

TOMORROW!
Saturday 13th November!
9 til 6
The Printworks & Pure
Manchester

If anyone's heading down to this, let me know, myself and Alex (her blog, Life After 20, have a nosey) will be working on the doors of the event, so make sure you say hi and let us have a peek at the bargains you snap up :)

Liverpool Vintage Fair!

This Saturday the Big Vintage & Fashion Fair is coming to Liverpoo's Met Quarter!
I've never been to a vintage fair before so I'm really excited! I'm also getting to finally meet Alex from Life After 20; she's lovely :)
They're also holding model castings for their next fashion show which is on 11th November, so if you interested get down there early to snap up the little bargains!

If you do fancy going, leave me a comment and I'll keep an eye out, always nice to put a face to the blog :)

For more information on the day, check their Facebook page here.

#66

Just a quick post as I'm procrastinating on my very lazy Sunday. Went out with some friends I haven't seen in a while, it was really fun. We went to Popworld, Django's Riff and ended up in The Krazyhouse, all the while dancing to Spice Girl mixes and batting away boys with suspicious Pokemon hair :')

I've been meaning to post a photo of the Limited Edition Barry M colour nail varnish for a while now; I've only had it a couple of weeks, but it's not left my nails!

Nabbed it in the 2 for £5 deal, it's not a typical Winter colour, but I adore it! It goes on quite a light pink in the first coat, but a second gives it a lovely purple, I think it's quite a delicate colour. Not sure if you can still pick it up, try having a peek in a bigger branch of Boots, I don't think Superdrug stocked it to begin with.

I also nabbed these three the other week, I've tried the Indigo and LOVE it; it's more of a bright blue but with dark purple undertones - perfect for Winter.
I picked up the Strawberry Ice Cream because I've heard good things about it, and also "Wham" which is a light grey, purely because I don't yet own a grey, plus it was £1.99, so I can't really complain if it's crap!

EDIT - Looking deep into my nail varnish drawer, I may have a slight addiction... will post more on this addiction tomorrow.

What colour have you been painting your nails?

#63

I apologise in advance for the mass amount of writing this post has!

As previously stated, I pottered along to Russell Brand's book signing on Thursday, I wasn't that excited until we got into the Waterstones, when my hands were shaking like leaves in the breeze!
Anyway, myself and Heather got to town about 12ish, and went for tea and bacon on toast in Soul Cafe; such a gorgeous little hideaway on Bold Street, I reccommend it highly, for the fantastic food as well as the friendly staff. (reviews can be found here)
We then stocked up on magazines and sweets to keep us occupied in the queue, goodness knows how long we'd be there for! Danni rang us, fresh from a uni lecture, and joined us in sitting on the pavement, while a multitude of people walked past, asking what we were all doing, when someone told them, they'd either scoff and call him something tedious, or pull a face and go "Oh right, Russell Brand..." I'm aware some people hate his guts, but at least have the decency to accept that lots of people enjoy his humour!

Thankfully we weren't that far from the front, and he kept to his word, and arrived at 3pm.
Strutting down the road like some kind of king, surrounded by bodyguards and hoards of screaming girls (and an equal amount of boys!) I snapped a blurry photo of the tall drink of water himself, and proceeded to wait until we were due to enter the shop.

As we got closer to the front, the more nervous we got - What would I say to him? Am I allowed to hug him? What if he doesn't laugh at my joke? I hope he doesn't spell my name wrong!

Once inside we weren't in fact waiting all that long, were given a post-it with our name on it on the right page, to quicken the process.

When it got to my turn, I was shoved into his face, handed him my book and proceeded to stare at him in the most gawky fashion. I asked if he enjoyed Liverpool, and said something about a roast dinner, what a boob!
He signed my book, and held my hand while talking to me, said I was lovely, thank you for coming and gave us a smacker on the cheek. I then walk away slightly starstruck and find my friends, we then skipped off for a chinese all-you-can-eat, yum!

My friend Danni getting acquainted with Mr Brand.

Apparantly it looks like we're just staring at each other, haha I was listening intently!

He's really a lovely guy, I can't fault him, especially now he's no longer bed-hopping round Europe and has settled down! I'm looking forward to finish reading the book tomorrow night after a hair/beauty show in Manchester with my mum, auntie and cousin that I had no idea was even going on, but I'll inform you all about it tomorrow night!
Below is the outfit I had planned on wearing to the signing, but I spilt toothpaste on the skirt as I was leaving, so made a hasty change and dashed out for the train, so as above I was in all black.

Top, Tammy, BHS - £7; Skirt, Necklace, Bracelets, H&M.

I'm trying out different places and angles to shoot my outfits; not very adventurous, but I don't have much space to work with when the family's in the house!

What do you think? Where do you usually shoot your ootd?

#62

Since Shorthand has been cancelled for this week due to my tutor swanning off to London, I have enough time to get my to-do list underway - I find making lists and spider-webs easier to manage than saving random notes in my phone!

I'm spending today updating this with a couple of posts, and sorting my room out and hoovering the house.
Tomorrow however, I am spending the morning stood outside Waterstones in town in single-file, to see Russell Brand at a book signing! I know he's not everyone's cup of tea ( the Mother said "Oh, never mind, you'll soon see sense" when I told her about it) but I find him hilarious, especially in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To the Greek - two of my favourite movies!

But enough of the incessant typing and chitchat, I have been inspired by Laura at Romance is Boring to do a tongue-in-cheek post on "What's in My Bag" as I also don't own luxurious hand creams and whatnot; the fanciest thing in my bag is my perfume and River Island purse, which was a treat to myself last year.

From top left, clockwise:
- River Island purse, with Voodoo Doll Sagai Warrior Girl attached
- An ever-so attractive buspass for the free uni bus
- Pink notepad
- Mini post-its/Page notes
- Caramel Squares bar
- Yesterdsay's Metro, handy for swatting the swarms of horrible schoolboys off the train!
- Hairbrush and comb
- Keys
- Carmex lip balm
- Lush Lip Scrub
- Nail File
- Hairclips
- Amor Amor perfume
- ELF "Complexion Perfection" Face Powder - absolute lifesaver, definite HG product
- Boots Powder Brush
- Glasses, just incase my lense pop out; it's happened before, rather embarrassing!
- Make up bag (A sneak peek of my make up can be found here)
- Fizzy strawberry sweets

What's in your bags, any goodies I should be looking out for?

#61

I've neglected this for the better part of a fortnight and for that you can slap my wrist. But due to returning to uni (second year only a week in is already twenty times more dramatic than first year!) and having one of the stupidest timetables ever. In short, my uni has had to stop running our Journalism course due to lack of funding and not having enough applicants - our class is down to just nineteen students! So we are the last year to be studying it in Edge Hill, you'd think that'd give us a somewhat leniant schedule, oh how wrong I was.
We're in everyday at 9 granted we finish at 12/1 each day bar Tuesday when we're in til 4. And we have Fridays off; although when we have essays and work due in it won't be as it's also our deadline day :|
But fingers and all possible limbs are crossed for a better timetable for our third and final year!

I must dash to my bed as I'm up when it's still dark to go back to the wonderful place for Online Journalism, hello useful connection :P Thus meaning that sometime soon (hopefully) I'll be able to post with lovely edited photos and have a well thought out blog style... A girl can dream :)
I'll leave you with a couple of songs I've been listening to a lot lately, especially when I'm relaxing; Jared's voice makes me melt!

Their cover of Kanye West's song, Stronger is so eerie, I love it.

Acoustic version of Modern Myth.

#59

Despite the above photos of my lazy Sunday night, I've had a busy weekend yet again, so I've been unable to update or have a peek at anyone's latest posts, but I'll get round to that later tonight :)
The Sunday just gone was my last full day in work; my official last day's this Saturday, but I'm only working 11-3 so it's not that long a shift.
I've been at BHS for over three years, but my schedule for uni this year is more demanding than first year, so there's no way I can handle four days in uni, followed by two days in work, so I had to do something. Thankfully my boss was understanding and didn't mind as my uni work's clearly more important. She's also said there'll be a job waiting for me after I graduate, which is lovely of her. I know I'm gonna be pretty emotional on Saturday, especially with the people that I've known since I started there, I love them all!
Looking forward to having a big night out after payday though, should be fun! :)
I'm hoping to find a new job within the next month, even if it is just a temp job to tide me over Winter; just something with a couple of evening shifts so I can have my weekends back to go sho... I mean do my work properly, promise.

The Sunday before I go back to uni will be spent frantically panicking over the Shorthand outlines that've fallen out my head over the past four, five months, drinking copious cuppas and trying to remember the basic rules for Print. Nightmare!
So from Monday onwards I won't be posting as often as I have been over the holidays, but I'm gonna try and keep posting at least on a Friday, basically an update on my week, and a couple of outfit/haul posts to keep you guys interested!

Ooh alsoo, I cannot wait for 14 November - Deftones play Manchester, and I get to see my favourite band ever!
Seriously I can't believe just how excited I am to see them play live; I missed them play Liverpool in '07 and have been kicking myself ever since, until a new friend offered me a space in his "hardcoremobile" (car) to go see them! It won't be the same with Chi Cheng still recovering from his accident, but my god, it'll be sooo awesome!

Sorry for the fat amount of writing and me thinking I'm funny, but I'll try and get a quick post on what I bought in town today with Heather; nothing too exciting, but it pleased me!

Are any of you looking forward to going back to uni/school?

#53

This week's been busybusybusy - had another full weekend in work so I was shattered, but hopefully the last for a while. I've only seen Jack once a week for the past month or so due to him wrestling camps all over the place which is hard; I'm proud of him though, he's been wrestling with El Ligero - Numero Uno in Britain! ^_^
Also putting up new furniture in my room and then spending the majority of this week trying to sift through all the crap I've hoarded away in my drawers over the years has taken the almighty piss. And it's still not finished!
I'll definitely post photos though, but I went shopping with some friends Monday afternoon, and picked up a few goodies for my room, and some comfy clothes to add to my Winter wardrobe!

Jumper - £9.99; Snood - £6.99; both H&M

Shirt - New Look; £15.99

I've been looking for a nice box or something to keep my rings and bracelets in; I have a jewellery box but it's not big enough for everything. But I came upon this dinky candle holder in work last week (below photo, right) I love that it's got an old, vintage feel to it, and I love butterflies so it sold me completely. With staff discount it came to about £2.50, bargain!
When I came home that night, I found the butterfly money tin (below photo, left) I forgot I had; so that holds my bracelets while the white one keeps all my rings safe, and both look so pretty on my new chest o' drawers!

Now don't judge, but i bought these shoes from the kids department in Barratts for £9 - they are sooo comfy too, and make me feel extra childish and summery. I'm planning on wearing them with a black dress and possibly a bright coverup to balance it out.

I'll be posting some of my outfits from this week soon, but adios for now :)

#50

Since it's my 50th post, I thought I'd treat you all to some new outfit posts - finally. Gosh I'm so exciting I can't move from the edge of my seat...
It's just outfits from the past week or so when I've remembered to take a photo.
I've stocked up on some new hair products which I'll review later this week too.

Jeans - River Island; Black vest, Blue vest and necklace - H&M.

I wore this last night to go for a meal at Red Hot - was delish! I recently re-found this necklace; I absolutely love it, but ahd to stop wearing it as it itched my neck. But my mum told me to put clear nail varnish on the back, and it works! In the close-up photo, you can see it says 'I love you' in different languages; it's also two-sided.

Vest, Cardigan - H&M; Skirt, Belt, Tights - Primark; Necklace - Vintage store online.

I wore this last Friday, going to town with Heather after our fun night out Thursday.
Totally lazy outfit, but it's soo comfy - and I looove my 'Cutest of Cupcakes' vest!

Hooded top - New Look; Jeans - River Island; Vest - H&M

And today's outfit was abit less exciting (haha) as we went for a pub lunch with family, so I tried to dress, ahem, 'politely', if that's at all possible?
(Apologies for the bad quality of the first one - dodgy flash and all)

Top, Skirt - H&M; Tights, Belt - Primark; Owl necklace - Bhs.

I'll probably find more photos later so I'll update this post after food!

#45

Some photos to keep you amused during the next few friggin' paragraphs.. going off on a tangent again are we Jessica...


Helloo, sincere apologies for the lack of updates recently, but I do, as always, have a few excuses...

- I'm still mourning over my camera, and I'm resisting going to the camera shop and enquiring about the fixing price as I fear it will cost more than the damn camera ¬__¬

- I've been in work alllll weekend, how dare it take over my two-day break from doing, well, not much. But it's been a hectic two days in the ol' shop - at lunch today I let some 'dude' walk into Tesco before me, he grabbed the last Chocolate Fudge Brownie milkshake, you should've seen the anger on my face! Both shifts went fast, but I panicked today as I had a VAT refund form to fill out (which sounds pretty easy, but I've never completed one by myself before, even after being there for THREE YEARS!) but I kept calm, messed it up, made a joke of myself, which I'm still not sure if the poor woman understood, but I kept my cool and fixed it... all by myself.
It's quite an achievement for me as I've always ran the other way and shouted for someone's help if I ever saw one of these forms in the past, but I feel a hurdle has been jumped, and this makes me determined to keep at it. However sad I may seem, I couldn't give a bigger shit as I'm proud of myself ^__^

Anyway, back to my lengthy and seemingly ridiculous excuses for my tardiness (my love for this word is astonishing) ...
I've spent the majority of this past week either with my friends, ordering far too much food for far too small a price, drinking Cider with diluting Ribena - try it, you won't be disappointed! Or laughing about some vile person she knows and I don't but I dislike him greatly, or curled up in Jack's, with a cuppa, some sweeties and a ruddy good movie (failing that, Alan Partridge has filled our time wonderfully)

My last excuse is my terrible, purse ruining addiction to magazines. I think I may have bought twice as many this week as I usually do. But it's not that bad considering I haven't yet renewed my Company sub, so seeing the last copy of September's issue in Sainsbury's was just fate.
Even if nobody else thinks it's fate, I do.
So is bagging the last box of diddy donuts and flapjack; 2 for £2.50, yeeeah ^__^
I'm so aware of how pathetic those excuses are, and with my head hung in shame, I'm shuffling off to watch Hocus Pocus and wait for Summerslam to come on. (No judgement, I'm a life-long wrestling fan!)
I promise I'll be back ASAP with pretty outfit photos and interesting blog posts, but for now it's adios.

(L)

#43

If you're anything like me, this news will excite you more than anything!
It's probably old news to most by now, but the first I heard about it was skimming through my blogs this morning...

H&M are opening an online store 16 September!

I'll happily admit that the majority of my wardrobe comes from H&M, thanks to their high quality, yet low priced gotta-have-them clothes. It's usually the first place I go when on the hunt for new beauties to add to my bulging wardrobe; I dread to think how much I've spent in there over the years.

However, the new website will bring me much joy, especially since I can never seem to find anything in store that I see in magazines... apart from, of course, the greatly stressful hunt for my denim playsuit, as seen here back in April - nowhere had it for a good month or so after I'd seen it in about four magazines. Found a size 10, too big! Then I hunted high and low for a few weeks until I found a size 8 hidden away in a rail of Sale (it wasn't in the sale, sadly!) But I still love it to pieces and wear it as often as I can!

My boyfriend, Jack always comments on how young I look in it, but with my (21st!) birthday getting ever closer, I secretly like when people say I look younger than I actually am!

Do you have any favourite pieces from H&M you can't stop wearing?

#26

Ok, new girl crush time... Sorry Anne but you'll have to sit on the shelf for a little bit, until I get over these two beauts from ANTM Cycle 14.
Watching the new cycle on the net has made me really happy; I don't like waiting for it to come onto Living as I manage to miss the cruicial eps :(
The one disappointment of this cycle is the intro music/video - they're definitely trying too hard to be edgy and modern, it just doesn't work. Less is more, the intros for cycle 7-13 were much better.
However, Tyra's definitely cranked it up a notch with these two - Raina Hein; looks like Jennifer Connelly/Denise Richards' hotter little sister and she seems totally down-to-earth. Usually I hate big eyebrows, but come to mama...

And the second girl crush of '10 is Jessica Serfaty - she got married at 16 and has a little boy, idc; she's fresh-faced and gorgeous!

Invisible shoes ^ (L)

Hubba Hubba.
I hope they make it big, but Raina should have definitely won :(