Freebird. ♥

#MusicalMonday: Empire of The Sun

2012-02-27T23:55:00.000Z

This weekend I have been getting really nostalgic and was routing around in my old laptop when I found a playlist completely dedicated to my first year at university. This song in particular by Empire of the Sun just inspires me to travel and explore. I also totally LOVE their stage presence and outfits! Enjoy!

What's your song for #MusicalMonday?

Always A Way To Shine.

2012-02-26T23:40:00.000Z

♥

Everything shines and falls in the city of mine

Everywhere else that I've been, I've always felt like I was on the outside looking in

I would never have known that wherever I was and me would ever go together

All I want to do is live fast and go forwards. So, I try to be good and I try to do my best

Once in a while there's someone that tries to get in my way

So what can I do? I'm sure not going to change my course

To this day, everything that's happening is like a dream to me

But this is all real and nothing will ever be the same again

I keep telling Bonnie that LA is falling apart and that everything for me is falling apart

And it seems like I keep falling down

And she says - Yeah, but you can always rise up again

To this you smile and say, "well, I guess that's how things go down now"

You see, even though things look real dark, so dark you can't see - so dark you can't see

There's always a way to shine!

And I know what's coming, and I know I'm feeling still

But I just feel so clear

When I'm in mid-air, the kinetic energy is always there

And I know what's coming, and I know I'm going to spill

But I just feel so clear

[My favourite 'poem' by Neosonic]

Friday Fancies: Hollywood Glam with Gucci

2012-02-24T16:05:00.000Z

Hollywood Glam with Gucci

Jessica Simpson platform high heels, $99, Alexander McQueen leather clutch, £930, Napoleon Perdis Lip Pencil, $20, RGB Nail Polish RGB Nail Polish, $16

This week, I am channelling my inner celebrity! I've always imagined myself to be a strong, powerful woman when it comes to being on the red carpet - so with that imagined, I created my set with that in mind :) This gorgeous Ikat patterned dress by Gucci is perfect for a red carpet moment and I'm loving cornflower blue right now :)

Happy Friday!

#MusicalMonday: Whitney

2012-02-20T23:00:00.003Z

I'm not sure if you all saw Whitney's heartfelt funeral on Saturday but I can honestly say it was incredibly moving and spiritual that I was weeping pretty much the whole way through. It is true that there is definitely one song by Whitney that truly defines a moment in our lives - mine was "How Will I Know" which was one of the songs that played on my favourite day on a holiday a few years ago! This week, I am dedicating Musical Monday to her. She will definitely be missed!

Happy Birthday Mamma :)

2012-02-19T18:16:00.001Z

I love you ♥

Let's get physical with Davina for Next: The Final Update.

2012-02-15T23:00:00.000Z

So, I have come to the end of my feature with Next and Davina but by no means am I at the end of my journey!

The Highs

The trainers - Really comfortable and light on my feet and I feel that I look great with them on and they're not too clumpy :) Really impressed with it!
Finally joining the gym
Seeing that I had lost weight on the scales
Aching and feeling incredible after a good gym session
Davina Racer-back Sports Vest - Can't believe how much this supports me and how great it makes my chest look! It doesn't flatten or push my boobs down - which is what my other sports vest does. The best thing is that it doesn't loose shape when it's been washed - perfect!
Trying new recipes and making healthy decisions

The "Lows"

Suffering from Snack-Attack :(
Nintendo Wii-Fit telling me I have put on a pound or two - which annoys me!
Feeling heavier than I am
Having cheesecake be my favourite dessert.... ever!

Quickfire Round!

Calories eaten = God Knows! Around 80,000 [eww!]

Miles walked = 3,000 roughly... maybe?!

Classes attended = 2.. working my way into them

Chocolate scoffed = 10 bars :/

Pounds gained or lost = -6 pounds-ish

Which item of the Davina was your favourite = Sports Racerback Vest

Healthy discoveries = Homemade soups

Which resolutions you’ll be taking with you into 2012 = Making sure I make healthy decisions and hoping to loose around 3 stone before I leave university.

Thank-you all for following my journey :) I have had fun and realised a lot of things need to be changed about my diet and fitness regime. Thank-you to Next, Laura Janssen and Davina for this amazing opportunity and I will continue my journey towards a better me and will definitely keep on blogging and sharing my progress every week :) Thank-you all!

Budget Threads - Careers Conference

2012-02-14T22:24:00.000Z

Blazer - Primark, Playsuit - Forever 21, Scarf - Peacocks, Bow Flats - Primark

Happy Valentines day everyone! Today, I went to my second conference this week all about careers and becoming a professional after I have graduated - so I decided to dress more "professionally" with this playsuit from Forever 21 :)

#MusicalMonday: Django Django

2012-02-13T23:43:00.001Z

I'm one of those people that always takes advantage of free things and now I have discovered that iTunes release free tracks [I've been living under a rock obviously!] I have been discovering some great new artists. One being Django Django, a British psychedelic quartet whose song "Default" has captivated me and had me singing it for hours on end! I also recently learned that it was the drummer of the band, David Maclean, that printed out over 4,000 frames to add paint to them for their video making the end result vibrant, inspirational and mesmerising! I was so impressed that I bought their album and what can I say - I'm in love! Hope you enjoy this song as much as I do!

Myspace Last.fm Twitter

Fridays Fancies: Red and Pink Favourites :)

2012-02-10T17:19:00.000Z

Red and Pink

H m dress, £15, Juicy Couture slim fit shirt, $110, Preen red mini skirt, £269, Supra red shoes, $125, Friis Company zipper bag, €65, Revlon Vernis à Ongles Couleur N°040 Fushia Fever, €11

I have to be honest, I am not a HUGE fan of the colours red or pink - possibly because sometimes those shades just don't suit me! However, I have peiced together a few of my favourite pink and red items that are out now :) I'm in love with that Juicy Couture bow top and that bright red zipper bag is so cute :)

Happy Friday Lovelies!

Let's get physical with Davina for Next: Week 5

2012-02-08T23:22:00.000Z

Hi lovelies :)

Got quite a few things to fit in this week - I'm so excited!

First of all, a weight update. I have lost a further 2 pounds [yay!] however I still could definitely push myself that extra mile so me and my gym buddy have signed up for Zumba to get the sweat on :) I'll let you know how it goes after our first session :)

Davina Collection Update

As many of you Brits know, we had the sudden unexpected (I don't pay attention to the weather forecast) bout of snow. However, this did not stop my usual trips to the gym. I decided to test out my Davina trainers out in the snow and see if they would be steady enough to walk in. Everything was A-OK but I don't suggest walking or running up and down hills as you could end up in a sticky situation (wet bum). However in further news, the trainers no longer rub so have put that situation down to my feet just magically expanding! The sports vest still fits like a dream and make my boobs look huge (not complaining) and I'm still loving the lounge top which my friend has borrowed a couple of times :)

Davina - Ultimate Target

So after my weekend away, I arrived back with a little surprise :) The new DVD from Davina called Ultimate Target was waiting for me! So naturally.... I put it on! Here's the details:

There are two self-contained 30 minute workouts, a fantastic abs routine and three target workouts to focus on those problem areas.

Fabulous Fat Burner - Cardio workout with some funky Latino moves

Brilliant Boot Camp - A squats and toning fest to give you a sculpted body

Target Abs - 15 minutes of terrific tummy toning

Target Workouts - Three short but very effective routines, targeting specific problem areas:

1. Bingo wings

2. Summer shoulders

3. Bikini bum

After the workout - I look disgusting!!

After the first time of completing this workout, I was drenched in sweat and completely warn out but I absolutely feel amazing after! I'm addicted to the Brilliant Boot Camp and Target Abs - believe me its amazing!

More Later :)

How are you all getting on?

Wonderlust: Canterbury

2012-02-08T00:44:00.001Z

A few weeks ago I went to Canterbury to watch my best friend graduate. I never realised how chilled out and rustic this place was and in particular was besotted with the Cathedral. I remember the first time I wondered through here and was really mesmerised with the stained glass windows and all the history that had gone down here.

Look how wonky this building is :)

While we were there, I got the chance to explore some amazing dainty pubs, small vintage shops, a swanky wine bar and had the chance to eat at a fancy restaurant. The whole city is romantic and I would love to be taken here for a romantic weekend... wink wink imaginary boyfriend!

Fridays Fancies: Spring Fever

2012-02-03T15:20:00.000Z

Spring Fever!

Stolen flower print dress, £10, Boyfriend jacket, $130, Boyfriend jacket, $130, Leather ballerina flat, $150, Valentino bow bag, Chain jewelry, $16

Happy Friday Everyone :)

This week for Fridays Fancies we're all getting excited about Spring :D Even though we are currently waiting for snow to reach us this weekend [I hope it doesn't come - I'm not snow's biggest fan!] I can't help get excited about floral patterns, beige, bows and coloured boyfriend blazers! And as today is such a beautiful day, I am definitely excited for Spring :)

What you all doing this weekend?

Let's get physical with Davina for Next: Week 4

2012-02-01T20:15:00.000Z

♥

Hi my lovelies!

This week, I have to admit I have been finding it really hard and gone a bit everywhere! To be honest, I don't feel like I have been pushing myself as much as I can and I have had a serious case of snacking :( I found this image about how to think about hunger and whether I really do need to eat or if its just me being an emotional wreck! I clicked on the blog I found this on called We Will Do It Together and found some nice inspirational photos which might help you to:

I have to admit though that even though I'm going through a little moment - my Davina kit makes me feel so happy and confident even if I'm not feeling so confident myself - Thanks Davina & Next!

How do you keep up motivation and fight off snack-attack?!

Inspiration: Wonderlust!

2012-01-31T23:54:00.000Z

I have to admit that lately, all I have been wanting to do is get out of the UK and explore! Everyone's going away and having their little adventures and I'm just here at university buried in paperwork all the time! But as my degree is nearing to the end - I'm thinking about whether I should jump straight into my career or just take some time out to wonder?

Places I Stumbled-Upon

1. The Pretty House - Bouddi Peninsula [ just north of Sydney, Australia]

2. Preachers Rock - Preikestolen, Norway

3. Plitvice Lakes – Croatia

4. Marble Caves - Chile Chico, Chile

5. Bern - Switzerland

6. Riomaggiore - Italy

Where's your favourite holiday destination?

I'm thinking of doing a mini feature about travelling so if you have been anywhere that you loved and would like to share email me or comment below and I'll reply to you :)

Want A Free Graze Box?

2012-01-30T13:18:00.000Z

Just a quick drop-in before I plough through all my university work (boring!) and before I post my Musical Monday post for the day :) Anyone heard of Graze? I think quite a few people have but I have only just heard about it so bare with me while I talk about how much I loved mine coming through the door this morning!

Graze are a UK based company that deliver (by post) different boxes of food to your desk for as little as £2.99. You can choose what you want in your box, ranging from fresh fruit to nuts and Olives. Your food is then hand picked, boxed and sent to your home or your office with free first class delivery :) You can also allocate the day you want them to arrive and how many you want in a week! I picked one box to come every monday - nice monday treat!

The thing I loved most about this was the element of surprise when you get your box as I had no idea what I was going to receive! I ended up getting the Honeycomb Flapjack [I had this for breakfast this morning - yummy!], The Herb Garden, New England and Copacabana [dark and milk chocolate buttons with brazil nuts - double yummy!]

So do you fancy a free box for yourself?

Go to Graze.com, sign up [there's no contract - so you can cancel straight after your free box!], tell them what you like and where you are and enter this code when you upload your details:

DKC81GCC

Or you can click here and it applies it for you - easy huh?

Everyone loves something free once in a while :)

Happy Monday :)

#5

2012-01-29T23:31:00.000Z

Tuesday I celebrated my birthday with my uni friends by participating in the Charity Shop Challenge
I've become quite stuck with my university work :( but have been working really hard to turn it around
I lost half a stone that I put on over Christmas thanks to my fitness regime!
I went to Canterbury to see my best friend graduate this weekend :)
I bought some new boots from Shoedazzle because they're closing down :(
I started my new feature - Musical Mondays :)

"Some women choose to follow men, and some choose to follow their dreams. If you're wondering which way to go, remember that your career won't wake up and tell you it doesn't love you any more"

- Lady Gaga

Fridays Fancies: Blog Swap - Rock n Pop! w/ AJ :)

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000Z

Hi! I'm AJ from Cashmere&Candy, a small town girl from Wisconsin living my big time dream in DC.

For our swap, we've decided to pick outfits that for each other...and since I know she loves a little bit of sass, and a lot of color, I pulled together some great textures in black:: velvet jeans, leather lined jacket, spiked heels:: which she could pair with any color!

for nadine

Thank you so much for this AJ :) I'm a HUGE Sam Edelman fan and those shoes are gorgeous! I love how all these tops would go with that tuxedo blazer!

Check out Long Distance Loving for some more blog swap madness and go to Cashmere&Candy to see my outfit for AJ :)

Happy Friday!

Let's get physical with Davina for Next: Week 3

2012-01-25T23:35:00.001Z

So it's week three of my health and fitness adventure - and I am proud to say I have lost the 7 pounds that I have put on over the Christmas period :) yaaaay!

This week, I am looking to start working out more at home - specifically looking at posture, legs, bum and, of course, tum! I talked to a personal trainer at my gym and she suggested doing a few of these [found images from Google]:

Open Knee Tucks - 20 Reps

Plank Pikes - 20 Times

Squats - 20 Reps x 2

Lunges - 10 reps on each leg

Plank - 2-3 minutes

I have to admit - I hate doing planks but apparently they work wonders on your abs so I shouldn't really complain. I am aiming to do these at least 3 times a week and hopefully I can start getting rid of this belly fat and start looking a bit more trimmer ;)

DAVINA COLLECTION UPDATE

A little update for you all about the collection! I had a little blister incident with the trainers however I think that may be because my feet have grown! The sports vest and top have maintained colour in the wash and didn't stretch or shrink which I am extremely happy with! So far, I have no complaints :)

Next week I am going to share with you my favourite healthy recipes but until then, I'll leave you with a little inspirational message from Davina:

Keep up the hard work! :)

Let's get physical with Davina for Next: Week Two.

2012-01-18T20:43:00.000Z

Hi everyone!

So it's the second week of my new fitness routine and I am loving it and feeling great! In this week's post, I am going to share with you my fitness routine at the gym and my personal goals :)

I have got to admit, when I joined the gym and went for the first time, I was so self concious of what other people thought of me but now I've been a few times, no-one cares what I'm doing! I did have one nice lady ask me where my trainers were from :D and answered (proudly!) that they were from Davina's new range from Next. She said she was going to look into get some as they look really nice :)

What I do at the gym

I have two different routines that I alternate when I go to the gym:

Routine 1:

Cross Trainer - 3 minute warm-up
Leg Press - 1 minute
Converging Shoulder-Presses - 1 minute
Stepper - 5 minutes (1 minute fast + 1 minute slow - alternate)
Converging Chest Presses - 1 minute
Diverging Seated Row - 1 minute
Treadmill - 1km fast pace walking on an incline
Lat Pulldowns - 1 minute
Rope Climber - 1 minute

I try to do this twice in one workout - ultimate killer but have started to get used to it :)

Routine 2:

Exercise Bike - 20 minutes
Treadmill - 25 minutes incline, fast paced
Rower - 10 minutes
Cross Trainer - 5 minutes

So, I have many goals that I would like to achieve but I've tried to condense it down into manageable pieces :) Here's my goals for the next four weeks:

Lose 1 stone
Tone my arms
Encourage others to come to the gym
Join a spinning class
Go to Zumba
Start to get rid of my spare tire!

Those are my main goals but here's some other ideas that you could all try:

What's your fitness goals for this year?

Inspiration: Girl Crush!

2012-01-18T00:32:00.000Z

After starting my new fitness routine, I've been looking for inspiration from strong women that just inspire me physically and mentally. These are my choices:

1. Kim Kardashian - I'm in love with her curves and her beautiful face! How can someone look so flawless!?

2. Kelly Osbourne - I admire the way she turned her life around - lost all that weight and managed to deal with her demons! I absolutely love her on Fashion Police... meow!

3. Lola Monroe - She's just a boss chick with killer eyes!

4. Tara Lynn - My favourite plus size model! Absolutely stunning and the way she deals with criticism is incredible - I salute her!

5. Beyonce - It goes without saying.... :)

So many amazing women in this world!

Who's your girl crush?

Hope everyone is having an incredible week so far!

#2

2012-01-15T23:54:00.001Z

I received my Davina for Next items and absolutely fell in love with them!
I finally joined the gym - and loving it!
I started at my new workplace and really enjoyed it there :) everyone is so friendly!
I used my new screenprinting kit for the first time - it went well, can't wait to start up more projects :)
All this week I have been melting gummy bears to make paintings with - all will be revealed this week.

♥

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing"

- Helen Keller

Fridays Fancies: Colour Crush Blues!

2012-01-13T22:37:00.000Z

Hello my lovely readers! Hope everyone's enjoying their day! I'm back in full swing with Friday's Fancies with this weeks theme being Colour Crush. I thought long and hard about this and decided my favourite colour at the moment is Cornflower Blue and everything I found in that colour - I fell in love with.. instantly! Although those Jeffery Campbell studded flats are not blue, look how cute they are?! I love a good stud now and then and think those flats would add edge to any outfit - even if you are rocking a work uniform!

Colour Crush Blues!

Ruffle dress, Jeffrey campbell flat, $170, Jessica Simpson high heels, $110, Chanel tote, Yves Saint Laurent blue jewelry, $395

Don't forget to head over to {long.distance.loving} to check out other Colour Crushes :)

What's your favourite colour at the moment?

happy friday ;)

Let's get physical with Davina for Next: Week One.

2012-01-11T21:45:00.000Z

Today marks the start of my new workout regime for the new year and some of you may (or may not) know that I am testing a few pieces of clothing from the Davina for Next collection for you and for the Next Bloggers Network [exciting!]

Yesterday I received my items of clothing that I picked which includes:

These cute grey sports trainers that are made with 25% less pressure on the balls of the feet. At first these shoes felt quite strange on as I wasn't used to the shape of the soles - but when I worked out in them and wore them in, they became really comfortable and I got used to them.

This racer back vest that has an inner bra shelf, which is so comfortable and really flattering. It also lifts my boobs and makes them look fuller and rounder - which is always a plus ladies! [I'll spare you the photo of my upper half!]

This is my favourite - the Burnout T-Shirt. I decided that I'm not going to use this for the gym because it's just so cute so i'm going to wear it for lounging :)

Overall, I am so impressed with Davina's collection and today while I was at the gym, I felt super confident and comfortable in the collection and am looking forward to continuing my new fitness regime.

Next week: I am going to share my fitness schedule and my goals for the next few weeks :)

In the meanwhile, what's your favourite workout item of clothing?

Links: Davina Pumps, Davina Trainers, Work out with Davina gym wear

Today.

2012-01-10T23:59:00.001Z

Today I tested out my new screenprinting kit. Although I was really sceptical at first, they turned out really well! Didn't get as much work done as I hoped though but hopefully tomorrow I can just crackdown and get on with it. Hope you all had a great day!

Makeover.

2012-01-10T01:53:00.000Z

♥

I decided to rename my blog Freebird.

Named after my favourite song by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

'If I leave here tomorrow, Would you still remember me?'

This song, for me, symbolises this year for me - I graduate this year and I will be free to explore the world, get stuck into a career and settle down - or just be content - whatever I fancy.

So, here's to 2012! Here's to my lil' blog! Here's to you! & Here's to me!

#1

2012-01-08T12:10:00.001Z

I toasted the New Years in with Easy A with a nice meal and chocolate pudding - *NOM*
I became more organised with my uni work and set myself daily tasks to make sure its all manageable.
Started to thinking about re-branding the blog - watch this space!
Finished working at Paperchase as a Christmas Temp...
... found out that I start as a permanent member of staff next Saturday :)
Arranging to see my friend's new born baby - Heidi-Grace next week [born on Christmas Eve!]
I was selected to trial the new Davina For Next range after my post was liked by the Next Blogger Network.
I reached 100 followers :) Thank-you for following and all your support :) LOVE YOU GUYS!!

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. - Oprah Winfrey
[Good ol' Oprah!]

♥

What happened to you this week?

Have a great week!

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-04T15:53:00.000Z

Happy New Year everyone!

Ever since I moved back to Sheffield, everything has been so hectic! University, Work, Life = CRAZY! However, I have decided to make a few blog-revolutions for 2012. So here we are;

A complete blog makeover: new layout and possibly a new name - know any good blog designers - give me a bell!
More regular features - I've had positive feedback on my inspiration boards that I make and would love to get other bloggers involved :)
ART - Being a fine art student, I haven't shared much of my artwork with you all. This year, I am going to make a conscience effort to share with you my working progress :)
Musical Mondays - In my last blog [before someone hacked and deleted it - pfft haters!] I did a feature called Musical Mondays where I shared a song with you all that means a lot to me or reflected the week. I'm going to bring it back with a vengeance and open it up to others to share their favourite songs :)

The one I'm looking forward to the most is the blog makeover - I love change [sometimes] and I need something fresh for 2012.

So, do you have any new years resolutions this year?

I hope the best for all of you this year and hope all your dreams come true!

Biiiirthday Love

2011-12-31T12:57:00.001Z

Biiiirthday Love by nadiiinex featuring high heel booties

Rare Opulence evening party dress, $230
Balmain ivory blazer, $2,505
Rupert Sanderson high heel booties, $1,115

Davina For Next

2011-12-23T01:11:00.000Z

Davina McCall, one of my favourite TV presenters, has designed a new fitness shoe and clothing collection for Next. The Davina for Next collection provides the ultimate workout and post-workout clothing range along with a range of innovative everyday shoes featuring F.I.T technology to reduce load-bearing stress on joints and provide additional support.

As 2011 draws to an end, I have been thinking about my fitness routine and have decided (like many people no doubt) that one of my New Years Resolutions is to focus on my fitness and diet. Of course, there's no time like the present and a few days ago, I joined the gym. When I recieved an email about the new collection by Davina, I was really excited to see what there was to offer. I am extremely impressed!

I'm actually in love with that gradient crop top [I love it in pink even more!] and the burnout top. I think it would look super cute at the gym and will definitely hold me in while hammering the treadmill. On the other hand, the pink striped vest would be perfect to wear with these leggings after a session at the gym or on a lazy day :)

Davina For Next promises to shake up what we wear before, during, and after workouts, with comfort and style assured. The range addresses active pursuits, from aerobics to running, power-lifting to pilates and are great modern shapes, fabulous colours and outstanding fabrics.

Davina says:

“My approach was to concentrate on what I would wear. I’ve thought very carefully about the details that matter to me, like a place for an MP3 player, or reflective strips on the bottoms – essential when you’re jogging in the early morning or at dusk. And I’ve ensured the workout tops are extremely solid and secure so your boobs won’t be bobbing around while you’re working out!”

I'm so excited for this collection to come out!!

Babylon.

2011-12-15T00:44:00.000Z

A few snapshots of our work Christmas Party :) Was nice to hang out with everyone and the drinking games were fun! Can't wait to go home though and see my family - Only 8 days to go!!

I love Stylist Pick!!

2011-12-11T14:26:00.000Z

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!! Tonight is my works Christmas Party so it's just a quick drop in post before I go and get ready!
Today I saw an advert on TV for Stylist Pick and I adored every pair of shoe they presented to me that I just had to sign up straight away! If you are a shoe lover - check out this website ASAP!

Inspiration: DIY Christmas Ideas

2011-12-06T22:34:00.000Z

There is only 19 days left until Christmas (and I still haven't begun my shopping yet - eekk!) and while preparing an outfit for my upcoming work party, I am also cooking up ideas for our upcoming house party we're hosting for our friends on Friday. While looking up decorations, I came across a few ideas that you can make yourself and they look rather effective. Here are a few of my favourites;

These Rice Krispy Ornaments - perfect to make if you have kids or as a fun indoor activity with the girls!

What a cute way to serve hot chocolate! Perfect for chilly weather! :)

This card wreath is a sweet way to display your Christmas cards - This would look adorable in my room!

I am definitely going to try this tough tutorial out - think these paper stars would look cute on top of my Christmas gifts :)

Remember that there is good in the world and to remember those who are less fortunate...

So there we have it! My favourite DIY ideas for this festive season :) I love how Christmassy it's began to feel recently - work has finally switched their music to the Christmas playlist and everywhere has began to sell Christmas scented candles! It's not so long now!

Anyone have any DIY Christmas tips to share? Link or comment below!

Happy Monday! xo

Exciting News...

2011-11-30T23:51:00.000Z

This year has been one of my least favourite years to be honest. It wasn't all I hoped it to be and I haven't really achieved as much as I wanted to. Obviously, that has been down to me not pushing myself hard enough.

Next year, I graduate from university [hopefully with a 2:1] and I have been left wondering what I am going to do with my life. I'm nearly 22, have no relationship, not much responsibilities - arghhh! I started thinking about going out and seeing a bit more of the world and have always wanted to see a bit more of the US and venture into Canada. But how do I do that with a tight budget?

After hours of research and a lot of contemplation, I decided to apply to work at a summer camp in the US as a counsellor or an arts and crafts activity leader. I'm not sure if I will be good working around lots of children or if I will crack and really miss home - all I know is that I need to find something. I feel like I'm missing adventure and excitement in my life and I think something challenging like this will be a start.

After camp [if I get a place] I am thinking of taking a TrekAmerica tour around San Diego, LA, Vegas and Grand Canyon.

Has anyone experienced summer camp or worked at one and have any tips?

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week x

Fridays Fancies: Well, It Is Black Friday!

2011-11-25T17:12:00.000Z

Hello everyone :)

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all had a lovely day (and dinner!) Even though the British don't celebrate Thanksgiving, I am attending a nice evening out tonight to celebrate a friends graduation and although there isn't a lot of sales happening at the moment - I found so many nice clothes in my wardrobe that I haven't worn in ages including the floral kimono jacket below from H&M :) I will probably wear it similar to this tonight minus the heels as my feet are aching after work eekk! What are you doing this evening/weekend? My parents are coming to visit me on Sunday! I am really excited! It's been ages since I've seen them! Hopefully I can haggle a cheeky jumper or two from them - we'll see!

Black Friday

H m dress, £7.99, H m, £15, Fogal opaque tight, €115, Yves Saint Laurent chain bracelet, £510, Necklace, $14, Nail Polish, $6, Gold/Black Nail Set, £7.50

So there you have it! What do you think?

Make sure you check out the other fabulous sets [inc. mine] over at {long.distance.loving} :)

HAPPY FRIDAY LOVELIES & HAPPY SHOPPING!

Fridays Fancies: Mix-Up-Ish

2011-11-18T13:44:00.000Z

Hello everyone!

I'm finally getting back to my Fridays Fancies routine [yay!] This week's theme is Mix and Match and although I know if I wore this I would definitely look like an idiot [I don't suit peachy colours] I definitely like all these things matched together! There's something really quirky about them together and I'm in love with these McQueen leggings - wish they were mine!

mix-up-ish

Sass Bide pleated dress, £370, McQ by McQueen printed pants, $235, Leopard print pumps, $86, Ensor Civet striped bag, ¥4,620, Lipsy leopard jewelry, £12

Go over to {long.distance.loving} to view all the sets other bloggers have made and don't forget to vote for your favourites :)

Happy Friday!!

Instagram Shopping Trip

2011-11-14T23:34:00.000Z

Hi everyone :)

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! Even though I was working on my dissertation all this weekend [which I have finished, printed, bounded and handed in - so now I can come back and blog regularly!] I was still able to get out of the house and hang out with one of my uni friends. Even though I had little money, I decided to go around taking photos of everything I would have bought if I had the money in my pocket! And seeing as I only had my Blackberry [my point and shoot camera broke!] it was easy to whip out without people thinking I was a complete lunatic! I loved all the shoes I saw and the underwear in Primark was better than I expected!

What did everyone else do this weekend?
Happy Monday!

Inspiration: WINTER :)

2011-11-08T00:12:00.000Z

images from we♥it

So, I know it's not anywhere near Christmas but it is November and cold, so in my books it is winter and time to slouch around in chunky knits, slippers and bobbly hats :) I have yet to buy all these things, but when I do - I am definitely going to do an outfit post so you can see my lovely buys :) So, enjoy my little inspiration post and don't let the weather depress you!

What's your favourite item of winter clothing?

Introducing...

2011-11-02T17:18:00.002Z

Hi everyone,

Just a quick little post and a little promotion for a friend of mine :) My housemate/coursemate/friend has started her own little blog called Easy A Easy B so it would be nice if you lovely lot would pop over and give her a warm welcome and say hello :)

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-01T14:34:00.000Z

I am finally back in the flow! Still writing my dissertation but haven't forgotten about you all! On Sunday, we hosted a Halloween party :) I decided to go as a zombie chef, Amy as a zombie and Hannah as a bat! Other costumes at the party included; Captain Kirk, a clown, nurse, stormtrooper, cat and a couple of bunnies :) We played alot of party games and had lots of cute nibbles nom nom!

What did everyone else get up to and what was your costume?

P.S. keep your eyes peeled for a cheeky giveaway later ;)

22 Things Before 22: Update

2011-10-11T00:08:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone :) We still have no Internet - ANNOYING! So this is totally scheduled [I'm sorry!] I'm currently writing my dissertation eekk! [If anyone is interested, it's about whether reality TV programmes like Work of Art and School of Saatchi, devalues the status of contemporary art - ooo la la!]

Anyway's I thought I would drop in and let you know how my birthday list task is doing :) I have finished a couple of them yaaay! So it the past 5 weeks, I have:

1. I visited a new city - Nottingham [30.09.2011]

5. I went to the seaside for a daytrip :) Redcar [25.09.2011]

10. I finally rode on the tram :) [10.10.2011]

15. I got a part-time job while at uni - well actually, I got two :) The Perfume Shop and Paperchase [1.10.2011 + 10.10.2011]

20. I bought 7 new nail varnishes - I only needed to get 5 but, you know, I'm worth it! [2.10.2011]

That's what I did so far :) It's been really fun so far! Sorry, this post is very vague but I am dead busy with this dissertation! I miss you and your blogs so much - leave me a comment below to let me know how you lot are doing and if you had a good weekend or not!

I will be back really soon :)

I'm back!

2011-09-29T10:43:00.000+01:00

Well kind of! We still have no internet and we have really bad teething problems with the house [both bathrooms flooded at the same time!!] So, hold tight and I'll be back in no time with normal procedures :)

Thank-you to all my guest-posters :) Love you girlies

Also, uni is going great and it was great to reconnect with some old friends [see above photo! - what a mess I am aha]

I'll keep you posted but follow me on twitter for some up to date details or if you fancy a chat :)

Baby Baby Baby... ohhh!

2011-09-24T16:00:00.000+01:00

I am currently visiting one of my close friends that is expecting a baby girl in a few months time. And although she is scared, she is so excited about seeing her baba for the first time and buying her some amazing clothes. Stuck with ideas of what to buy her [seeing as I don't have any children or know anyone that has had any recently] I took to good ol' we heart it for some cute ideas!

Maybe not heels... just yet!

This made me chuckle!

Any ideas of what to get? I'm so stuck on ideas!
Those kiddies are so adoreable!

GUEST POST: We Love Markets

2011-09-23T19:30:00.000+01:00

I'm so happy Shelley agreed to do a guest post for me. We discovered each others blogs after being paired up as pen pals and I am so happy I was paired with her :) I love her blog and her Bitchy Bags - I hope you all enjoy her guest post she wrote for me :)

One thing that me and My Paddy love to do is go to all sorts of Markets. Craft Markets, Flea Markets...the Market Market. :) It's our "thing". We've spent two months in Europe going from market to market. We don't get a lot of time together since we have 4 jobs between us and he is away for half the month, but Sunday is OUR DAY.

We get up late after morning cuddles, go to Leoni's for the best Eggs Benny in town...then head off for our weekly adventure. This involves us playing rock, paper, scissors to see what direction we are headed into the country...then driving for hours.

We stop at Thrift Stores, Flea Markets and Garage sales all over the place. We get the greatest stuff, and this is how we pretty much furnished our new home, and started our business.

It all started with a simple coffee table I bought to make into a bench. I had foamy in my garage and we needed a bench for the end of our bed. Then we did some dining room chairs for ourselves. We had gotten 8 chairs for $40 and painted them bright red.

One day our neighbor asked me to go to the Brockville Farmers Market with her. I did and I took the bench and chairs not knowing what else to pair with my homemade cards. I sold that bench the first hour, along with a red chair and 10 cards.

I was hooked. :) That was in June...and since then we have added our funny artwork, Bitchy Bags and way more furniture!!! We became 2MESSY. :)

Loving our lives.
Cheers,
Messy

Thank you for sharing this Shelley - absolutely LOVE those bags :)

GUEST POST: Five Favourite Things

2011-09-22T19:00:00.000+01:00

I am really happy to have Jem guest post for me :) I'm in love with her blog and all the beautiful things she makes and finds! She has recently embarked on participating in Our Creative Spaces which is filled with talented creative people and she has inspired me to get back into collaging and playing with paper :) Hope you enjoy this post!

I'm excited to be guest posting for Nadine, not only do I enjoy her blog and friendly style but I always come away smiling, feeling inspired by the gorgeous looks she puts together and I'm often nodding my agreement (to nobody in particular) when she talks about body image and self esteem too.

My post today is a snapshot of the things making my little world a happy place at the moment. First up, books! For the most obvious reason; I'm an obsessive book lover but also because they are gorgeous in themselves. Colour code them on your shelves and you end up with a totally different feel to your room, wrap anything in a bow and it looks like a present ....

Rediscovered my retro wind-up alarm clock, it was a 50p find in Cancer Research a few years ago but it stopped working out of the blue and wouldn't wind up again for love nor money. I couldn't bring myself to throw it out because it's pretty and now I'm glad I didn't - it decided to start ticking again, I'll be honest and say I was a little creeped out initially because to my knowledge it hadn't been touched in months!

Thirdly: scarves! I can get a little obsessed with them and have around 30, the thing with scarves is that they're so versatile - they keep out the chill, you can add a pop of colour to your outfit with a vivid shade or some texture with a chunky knit, a little sparkle goes a long way and scarves with a metallic thread here and there are so eye-catching. Then there's the fact that you can tie a scarf in so many different ways! Patterned scarves are my obsession at the moment, especially this skinny one with a dainty horse print all over it, it was a £2.99 New Look bargain and tones in nicely with the coffee shades I've seen popping up in the shops for A/W 11.

Brand new Converse boots. Well, brand new in that they've never left the box as yet! They were a Christmas present last year and I've been itching to thread them with rainbow laces and start wearing them but I already had one pair on the go and was determined the old pair would head to the Converse graveyard before I started on these. The time has come!

Lastly, my chunky watch. Bright coloured gems set in a vintage inspired, aged brass metal. I haven't worn it in such a long time but it always feels more of an A/W accessory to me anyway with it's rich jewel tones. Pretty keen on the little sparkly dish it's sat in too but that would be six favourites and the title is five!

Thanks so much for reading! Pop by Beautiful Clutter if you're a fellow magpie,
Jem xXx

Thank-you Jem - That watch is gorgeous :)

Inspiration: Tattoos

2011-09-20T18:30:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone, I hope your week is going OK :)

I've always wanted to get a tattoo but 1. never got round to saving the money and 2. I get really anxious about the experience. My friend just got her 4th tattoo and am thinking maybe I should get one when I finally finish uni. Obviously, I have to think very carefully about what I am going to get and where but I have a good 9 months to think. In the meanwhile, check out these cute tattoos I found on we♥it;

I LOVE Roman Numeral Tattoos

Has anyone got a tattoo? What made you decide to get one?

GUEST POST: It's the most wonderful time of the year!

2011-09-18T14:00:00.000+01:00

Jodi is one of my favourite bloggers and is full of talent. She takes beautiful photographs, creates amazing pieces in for her etsy shop [my favourites are her camera bag pins - ultra cute and they're buy three get one free!]. I had the pleasure of guest posting at Jodi's blog a few months ago and am so delighted that she agreed to do one for me :) Hope you enjoy!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Everyone knows this little tune.

Mom and Dad are excited that their kid is finally headed off to school and their kid can't get to school fast enough! It's win, win!

I graduated University almost 16 years ago so when Nadine asked me to guest post for her while she gets ready to head back to school, I couldn't resist living vicariously through her. I headed over to Etsy and picked out what I would take with me if I was going with her.

I would start with personalized leather luggage tags.

I apologize to the PETA members but these are great!

Luggage Tags

I would then make up my side of the room with this gorgeous bedding set.

It's perfect for sleeping late on the weekends.

Groovy Bed Set

This desk would inspire anyone to do their homework!

Funky, up-cycled Desk and Chair

Don't forget about your java! There will be lots of it and with these cozies there

will be no confusion when you're so tired that you can't see straight!

Yours and Mine Coffee cozies

No student should be without this bib. It's oversized to catch spills so that you can put

your laundry off until you go home next weekend.

Italiano Bib

Don't forget to dress up your walls with some funky artwork!

The Teacher - reproduction mini giclee

And, if in the event that you realize your parents haven't called you in a few days, you can always

send them this! Ha!

'Ya miss me' note-card

Good luck to those headed off to school. Be safe.

Thank you Nadine for letting me hi-jack your lovely blog!

If you get all your homework done and you'd like to read more of my ramblings, I can be found

blogging here:

http://creative-life-designs.blogspot.com

and here:

http://livinglifephotographically.blogspot.com

Thank-you Jodi! I absolutely LOVE those luggage tags and mug cozies :) Stay tuned for my other lovely guest bloggers :)

What are/were your back to school essentials?

I'm moving house today!

2011-09-17T09:00:00.000+01:00

here

I'll see you in a week [hopefully if we get internet sorted on time!]

In the meanwhile, make sure you check out my lovely guest posters and a few inspiration posts throughout the week!

I hope you all have a great time - I will be catching up with your blogs via blackberry and will be on twitter so come say hello when you have a minute :)

Have a great week lovelies!

Productivity....

2011-09-16T13:07:00.000+01:00

here

Today consists of;

Packing
Scheduling blog posts
Emails
Updating CV
Tweeting
Packing
Writing a guest post
Listening to music
Oh and did I mention packing?

There's no friday fancies today and there was no thursday ten :( sorry! But there will be next week - hopefully!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Inspiration: Dream Luxe Bedroom

2011-09-14T23:56:00.000+01:00

There's only 2 more days until I spend my last night at home! However, I still have a lot of things I need to buy. When browsing one of my mum's magazines, I saw some beautiful bedroom things under the title "Pretty Luxe". I adore the luxury colours and have decided I am going with this sort of theme for my new room at uni.

1. Antique Glass T-Light Votive by Belle & Thistle - £4.50
2. Chiffon Flower Cushion from Sainsburys - £12
3. Finest Fairfax Cocoa Duvet Set from Tesco - £8
4. Heart & Keys Jewellery Stand from Urban Outfitters - £32
5. John Lewis King White Peony's from John Lewis - £20

What's your favourite item?

What I bought today

2011-09-13T23:28:00.001+01:00

Hi everyone! I hope everyone is having a good week so far! I can't believe that there's only 3 more days until the weekend and that's how many days I have left to pack and get things sorted out for the new house! The landlord emailed me today to say that contracts have come through and that he will meet me at the house when I arrive - I am so excited to get back into independence and see everyone again and I can't wait to share my house with you all!

So today, I went to town to window shop for some new clothes for uni [I like to look around before I impulse buy - I learnt that skill in my first year when I ended up with loads of clothes and no money!] and even though I did buy some chino's in a very "autumn-y" colour [I will photograph tomorrow], I also found some Matt Top-coat nail varnish that I knew I had to try and because Boots has a 3 for 2 offer on cosmetics, I couldn't resist and had to buy two new shades to try the matt with :) Here's what I got:

Rimmel London - Professional Matt Finish

17 Lasting Fix in Sweet Kisses

17 Fast Finish in Nightshade

I love 17 polishes because they have so many nice shades [not as nice as rimmel but just as good!]. Sweet Kisses remind me of a McDonalds strawberry milkshake and the Nightshade a slight dark green tint to it. The only downside to the 17 polishes, is that they are very thin - so you have to put quite a few layers on before you get a solid bright colour.

The matt varnish is amazing! It's thick and watching it dry and work its magic is fascinating [I'm easily pleased!] and it leaves your nails feeling velvety - i love it! It costs £4.59 but it is definitely worth it. 17 also does a matt top coat but I'm not too sure if that's good or not - I know its about £1 cheaper - I'll have to try it!

Very sloppy application - sorry! I just wanted to try it asap aha.

Has anyone bought any cute nail colours lately?

Never Forget.

2011-09-11T22:53:00.001+01:00

here

For the husband who told his wife he loved her before his plane went down in a field. For the wife who stopped in the stairs to call her husband to say she will love him forever. For the mothers and fathers who kissed their kids goodbye that morning for the last time. For the policemen, firemen, and other rescue workers who rushed in to help others and lost their lives. For the soldiers who fought back and made the ultimate sacrifice. Today, tomorrow, years from now, we will remember.

Fridays Fancies - Party Like A Boss

2011-09-09T10:30:00.002+01:00

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE :) Last Night was Fashion's Night Out in NYC. I was so envious seeing tweets from celebs and fashionistas going to all the stores and partying the night away. So for this week's theme, Fashion Forward, I tried to imagine what I would wear on a night out like this! I made this set ages ago so I'm really happy to use it in a Friday's Fancies :) Hope you enjoy!

Party Like A BOSS!

Sass Bide sweetheart cocktail dress, £1,000, Sara Berman suede leather jacket, $335, Sam Edelman black boots, $314, Halston Heritage fold over clutch, $195, House of Harlow 1960 enamel bangle, €269

Don't forget, if you like this set go vote over at {long distance loving} by clicking on the button below and looking through all the other wonderful entries :)

Thursday Ten #7

2011-09-08T21:19:00.003+01:00

Hi everyone! It's been a lovely steady week and I am ready to spend my last weekend at home and spending next week getting ready for uni. Only one more day left until the weekend :D Here's what I loved this week:

1. I have no fancy nails this week :( I know, I know criminail [aha!] but I adore these nails that I found here.

2. This amazing video that shows chimps seeing daylight for the first time in years after being locked in cages for animal testing. It bought a tear to my eye when one turned around and hugged another and they all smiled! Watch above!

3. DIY scratch cards :) I am definitely going to try these for a future project! Found here.

4. These outdoor spaces displayed in Lonny Magazine - This one was my favourite!! What's yours?

5. I absolutely ADORE the paintings of Matte Stevens. This one just makes me want to go to SanFran even more! See more of his paintings at Poppytalk Handmade.

6. I'm in love with these mini notebooks made by Miniature Rhino.

7. Download, print, glue to sticks and enjoy :) Found here.

8. I'm still dreaming of owning my own cupcake shop hmmm.. I have become so ambitious lately! Here.

9. Talking of cake and yummyness, check out this recipe for marshmellow crunch brownie bars = mmmmmmm! here.

10. My plans for a project that will benefit a lot of people has started to come together :) I will be raising money for various charities and I hope you will all get involved! If you are an artist, crafter, designer or anything creative, fun and amazing and would like to participate in this project or find out more information, let me know and I'll send you details. As it is the run up to Christmas, there's a lot of people that don't have anything and are suffering. Equally, there are people out there that will be celebrating their last Christmas, so remember anything that we do to help will be greatly appreciated :)

What have you loved this week?

Yo-Yo Dieting and Claire Richards

2011-09-07T23:59:00.000+01:00

Tonight saw the start of Claire Richards' new documentary, Claire Richards: Slave To Food. For those who don't know, Claire was in a famous band called Steps, in which she was a slim size 8. She left the band at the height of their fame and completely dropped herself from the spotlight. A few years later she came back into the public eye like this:

Before and After

Claire went from a size 8 to a size 20 and was publicly ridiculed by the press. In the first episode of her documentary, she talks about all the diets she has tried - including Weight watchers, Slimming World, Atkins and not eating [the worst one of all!] but nothing has worked. In the episode, Claire gets ready to do a photoshoot in Closer magazine in a bikini to show how much she has lost. Under contract, she has to 10 stone 4lbs or the photoshoot will get pulled. Closer send her a personal trainer to help her exercise but the problem is her relationship with food.

What kind of annoyed me about this episode was that Claire released a DVD year or two ago called 5 Step Fat Attack - which is supposedly the way she got slim but now seeing this documentary, I wonder why celebrities put false hope into people's eyes by saying that this is the way they can lose weight!

For Claire there is a food issue and in the programme she explains that she eats and eats until she feels sick - which at times I can identify with [I am a classic comfort eater - I'm slowly growing out of it... slowly]. However, this has made me realise that no typical "diet" will work apart from eating well and exercising everyday. What I love about this programme, was how Claire experiments in all kinds of weight loss techniques - the coal diet, hypnosis and next week she looks into liposuction. The only thing I disagree with, is the way that Claire went on a serious crash diet so she could lose half a stone in a week, which is not a good idea if you are trying to lose weight in the long run. However, she did have a photo shoot to do but I think it could send the wrong message out to viewers that are looking for a solution.

I think Claire is absolutely stunning and this documentary has really opened my eyes and made me realise that not even a celebrity can be happy in their own skin, money cannot work miracles and never trust celebrity fitness videos [apart from Jillian Michaels]

50 Films - Week 1

2011-09-07T23:30:00.001+01:00

As part of my 22 things before 22 project, one of my goals is to watch 50 films I've never seen before. This week I have only watched 6 films but I think it's a good start :)

1. Sarah's Key - This film follows a journalist (Kristen Scott Thomas) in modern-day Paris that finds her life becoming entwined with a young girl whose family was torn apart during the notorious Vel' d'Hiv Roundup in 1942.This film made me cry and was one of the best films I had seen in ages. It makes you feel absolutely sick of what the Nazi's did to all those people segregated and placed into camps and this tells the story of a girl that escaped the camp and what her life was like after. Amazing film - makes you cherish life so much more. 8/10

2. Captain America - I'm usually not into superhero remakes, but I absolutely loved this film. The action, drama, romance and THAT body on Chris Evans - Ding Dong! The film was not what I expected and the ending really surprised me! It's definitely worth the watch! 7/10

3. Eat Pray Love - I haven't read the book so I wasn't too sure what this was about. However, I did really like the concept of the film and the aspect of travel and falling in love with life but oh my gosh was it boring! I felt like the romance was really rushed and packed in at the end and the acting so flat that I switched off in many parts. I was left feeling really disappointed with the film :( 4/10

4. Final Destination 4 - I've seen the first 3 and never got round to seeing the 4th one until the other day. It was gory as I expected but never thought the storyline and the deaths [that sounds so wrong!] would be as good but I was really surprised. I really enjoyed seeing some references from the other 3 films at the beginning! 6/10

5. Skyline - I have no idea what this film was but it freaked me out. Alien invasion, sucking brains out, pregnant lady - not my kind of film at all! The only good thing was that Donald Faison from Scrubs was in it! 3/10 and that is generous

6. The Town - This film was quite slow and something for the men. I just watched it for Ben Affleck that looked quite good in the film. This film is very rough and brutal but some of the filming was good - the car chase was pretty good and Blake Lively was really good in this film! 6/10

If you have any film suggestions let me know :)

Guest Posters Needed!

2011-09-06T17:55:00.001+01:00

here

Next week, I will be moving back to university into my new house :) I will be without internet for a week, so I need some lovely bloggers to fill in for me. Your post can be about anything; art, inspiration, handmade goodies, fashion, tutorials, life, school, uni, food, photography, wrestling - whatever you would like to write about :) If you are interested, email me letting me know and what you're planning to write about. I would need the posts by Wednesday 14th September so I can get them formatted and scheduled in time :)

OH, and before I forget, the lovely Rachel from Life of a Sweetaholic has just reached 400 followers and is having a giveaway! So if you love nails and Model's Own go on over to her blog and enter her giveaway :)

Birthday Cupcakes

2011-09-04T23:20:00.000+01:00

This weekend we celebrated my best friend's 22nd birthday and I thought it would be nice to make her a cake. As I knew loads of people were coming, I thought I would make her cupcakes so everyone can have one :) They turned out like this:

Made cupcakes and they didn't come out right? I've had that happen plenty of times until I followed this recipe:

EASY CUPCAKES [Makes 24]

INGREDIENTS

250g (8oz) unsalted butter, softened
250g (8oz) caster sugar
250g (8oz) self-raising flour
Pinch of salt
4 medium eggs
4 tablespoons milk
Ice-cream scoop (optional)
2 x 12-hole muffin tins, lined with paper cases

Set the oven to 190°C or Gas Mark 5.
Tip the butter into a bowl and beat it until softened. Add the sugar, flour, salt, eggs and milk and whisk until the mixture is smooth.
Use a traditional-style ice-cream scoop, or spoon, to divide the mixture between all the paper cases.
Place both muffin tins in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, then swap over the position of the tins over and bake for a further 3-7 minutes, until both trays of cupcakes are a light golden colour.
Remove the tins from the oven. Leave the cupcakes to cool in the tins for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool.

[For different flavours: Chocolate: Use 2 level tablespoons less flour, and add 2 level tablespoons cocoa / Rose: Use 1-2 tablespoon less milk and replace with 1-2 tablespoons rose water / Coffee: Omit the milk and, in its place, use 2 tablespoons instant coffee, dissolved in 4 tablespoons hot water]

BUTTERCREAM TOPPING

INGREDIENTS

220g butter, room temperature
500g icing sugar
3 tsp vanilla extract
60ml milk

Add butter, icing sugar and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl, then beat for about 5 minutes with an electric whisk until smooth.
Pour the milk gradually if you need to loosen the mixture.

image from here and recipe from here - I swear by it - they came out perfect!

ITS AS EASY AS THAT! Now you can decorate - use your imagination and experiment with different patterns, colours and ingredients [nom nom!] :)

Friday Fancies - Hooray for Labor Day :)

2011-09-02T03:00:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone! For this weeks fridays fancies, its based on Labor Day. Now, i'm not familiar of this holiday but I think it's the equivilant to our bank holiday! The only exception is that Labor Day is the last day that you can wear white - which means goodbye summer :) So I tried my best to style L-Day well and I hope you like it :) I love that lipstick shade!

LABOR..

Monsoon zipper dress, £80, ALDO strappy gladiator sandals, $82, Dorothy Perkins tote hand bag, £59, Fallon jewelry, $265, Wet Seal bangles jewelry, $13, Retrosun see through shades, $285, CHANEL SOIN TENDRES LEVRES Hydra-Treatment Lip Care SPF 15 | Nordstrom, $29

Thursday Ten #6

2011-09-01T23:43:00.004+01:00

Hello everyone - quick post as I can feel a headache coming on :( but here's what i'm loving this week!

1. These Hello Kitty nails I painted for my friend -they turned out good I thought!

2. Absolutely love these envelopes and how they can be made into a calandar - Adorable! here.

3. Went to see Captain America today and Oh My Goodness - Where can I find my own Chris Evans?!

4. Make your own clock - This one was my favourite!

5. This map journal by mypeachtree - I love maps and travel!

6. Quilling - I love this image - I love handprints and identity within arts and crafts.

7. String tree wall mural - love the bird pictures :)

8. Birthday Cupcakes :) here.

9. Adam Richman and this giant pizza :) NOM NOM!

10. My hometown on a sunny day :)

22 Things Before 22

2011-09-01T13:09:00.000+01:00

HAPPY SEPTEMBER EVERYONE :)

Summer maybe over but autumn is upon us so queue the falling colourful leaves, the boyfriend knit wear and the leopard print macs! For me, I am looking ahead to my 22nd birthday that is vastly approaching [its on the 30th of December but this year has flown by so quickly that before I know it, it'll be my birthday tomorrow!] So, I have made a list of goals that I want to achieve by the day of my birthday and because of the day, the end of the year. I think these goals are achievable and not impossible.

START DATE: 1 September 2011
END DATE: 30 December 2011 [My Birthday ♥]

1. Visit two new cities
2. Pass my theory test
3. Watch 50 new films
4. Volunteer at a charity shop
5. Go to the seaside for a day trip
6. Drop 2 dress sizes before my birthday
7. Go to a comedy show
8. Create 10 new paintings
9. Sell 5 handmade things
10. Ride on the tram
11. Write letters to 20 new people
12. Pay off half my overdraft
13. Read the paper everyday
14. Save £1 everyday
15. Get a part time job while at uni
16. Learn to say hello in 25 different languages
17. Create the perfect playlists for special occasions
18. Learn how to knit
19. Host 3 giveaways on my blog
20. Buy 5 new nail varnishes
21. Discover 6 new bands that I like
22. Send everyone in my address book a handmade Christmas card

I'll be regularly posting about this throughout the next 3-4 months and keeping you up to date with how everything is going.

What goals are you working towards by the end of the year?

My first year at uni and how I survived!

2011-08-30T23:45:00.001+01:00

When I first arrived at uni, I was so excited that I couldn't get my parents to unload my stuff out of the car quick enough. However, of course, it all hit home pretty quick and I became really emotional and missed all my friends from home, I caught "freshers flu" [I thought I had swine flu - I was that ill!] and my shower and toilet was broken when I moved in and took like a week to fix.

Despite all this, after a few days, I found that my flatmates were lovely and genuine and I loved coming back to the flat every night to hang out with them. On the first few nights, everyone came out of their flats to hang out in the courtyard - it was such a weird experience because no-one knows you but everyone asks you questions and you get to know people and form groups of friends pretty quick.

I learnt a lot in my first year of uni, from how to handle money and budget to learning to cook and fend for myself. So, if you're going to uni/college for the first time - here's some tips that I learnt that may help you!

Make sure you talk to everyone in the first two weekTalk to people in your flat, in other flats, on your course, in the clubs - wherever! It's vital you make loads of friends and socialise to optimize your experience and so you don't feel the pressure of being away from home as much.

Don't attach yourself to one group of friends in freshers week
When I moved into my flat [I lived with 7 other people], the first girl [Noo*] I met wasn't really my cup of tea and she had already made friends as she moved in the day before. The next day, another girl moved in [Loo*] and we got on alot more and found that Noo was hanging out with the other group of people. After a week, Noo found that she was being pushed out of the other group and was left feeling upset and alone. However, me and Loo made sure she still felt welcome to hang out with us and have a good time. You should always form a bond with your flatmates as you are going to be living with them for the year!

Get a Natwest Student account
The interest free overdraft is amazing but you should get a Natwest account for the free railcard that can be renewed every year for up to 5 years :)

BBC iPlayer, 4OD and Sidereel should definitely be saved in your bookmarks

You should download Spotify so you can play your favourite songs before a night out

You will find that Poundland, 99p Store, Netto and Aldi will be on your weekly agenda when shopping. Especially for snack foods, glow sticks and other cheap essentials

JOIN IN!
Go to the freebies fair, fancy dress parties, union club nights and don't forget to sign up to some clubs. Our favourites were zumba, streetdancing and nintendo game nights :)

Last but not least...

Study
I know, I know its boring but it's the reason why you are there. Once you start going to lectures and hanging out with course mates, you hardly realise that you are studying and it will all be worth it when its over :)

I wish I could go back and do first year again - it was definitely an experience. Onwards and upwards I say!

Got any freshers stories or going to uni this year? Let me know, I love a good tale!

[* = Nicknames]

Follow me on Bloglovin'

2011-08-29T13:23:00.000+01:00

Finally got a Bloglovin' account :) [click on the image above to follow]

Artistic / Crafty / Creative people needed for new project :)

2011-08-29T00:54:00.000+01:00

As September is vastly approaching, I have become more and more anxious about returning to university and about my dissertation that I have to tackle. Also, I have been feeling very uninspired to make anything and feel like I'm going through a dry-spell :( Does anyone else go through this?

Anyways, I was thinking about gathering a few people and running a blog full of art, design and crafty goodness. My vision is that people can find inspiration, exhibition reviews from all over the world, new artists and can share their own work by guest blogging and linking up. Of course, there will be giveaways and I'm also thinking of running crit-group sessions, where you can show some work or a new project you've been working on and get feedback and suggestions about it :)

What do you think? I am definitely up for all suggestions and would like people to get involved and help me run and post on the blog. If this is something you would be interested in, and I hope that you are, please leave a comment below with ideas and your interests and I will get back to you by email. Failing that you can always email me directly [click here] Don't forget to link me to your blogs if I don't already follow :)

Sunday.

2011-08-28T23:31:00.001+01:00

"It seems like it is high time for the realization that art is everything and everywhere. That the conception of art occurs in every individual in day-to-day life in endless forms and ideas and is indefinable because it is different for each individual. That life is art and art is life"

- Keith Haring

Friday Fancies - Wedding Guest Blues!

2011-08-26T09:30:00.001+01:00

Hello everyone! Friday - yaaaaay! And it's bank holiday - even better! Don't be fooled by the title of this set, it was just to match the colour theme not the mood! I have yet to go to a full on proper church wedding but I can't wait until my friends get married and I can wear a pretty dress, killer heels and a fascinator - oh how I love fascinators! I hope you enjoy this set and don't forget to go over to {long distance loving} to vote for the best set and to check out the others :) Happy Friday!

Wedding Blues.

One shoulder party dress, £15, Shoes, 140 AUD, John hardy jewelry, $1,295, Bride hair accessory, £60, Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Sheer Candy - 1: Lush Coconut, $30

Thursday Ten #5

2011-08-25T21:09:00.000+01:00

One more day until the weekend! I swear, summer is drifting away faster everyday! I am so excited about going back to uni and seeing everyone again. It feels like it's been forever so it will be good to see what shenanigans will occur! In the meanwhile, however, here's what I have been loving this week:

1. My nails for the week - Snake-skin transfers thanks to Rachel @ Life of a Sweetaholic.

2. How to make these rolled paper flowers - here

3. These images of Francis Bean Cobain - Oh, how she has grown, she looks so stunning. here

4. Who wants perfect curls like this? here

5. These amazing ballpoint pen drawings - WARNING: There's nudity ! :O here.

6. I love this Animal Print Blouse from Evans - here.

7. Deadweight's etsy shop :)

8. Jersey Shore - I have totally got into it :)

9. DIY Doily Lamps :) here.

10. I found this photo! How amazing is this chair?! here.

What you loving this week?

Desert Dream

2011-08-25T01:00:00.002+01:00

I've joined up to Next Blogger Network as I heard it was good :) At the moment, they have a styling challenge using soft palettes of blush, browns, corals and light pinks for an easy going transition to autumn. So, for this challenge, I picked out my favourite pieces. I would definitely buy the pleated tunic - not only is it a gorgeous colour, but the fabric and the cut is a dream!

Pleat Tunic £36, Chocolate Tote Bag £32, Belted Textured Dress £38, Mid Flat Boots £75, Pretty Bangles £12

Remember...

2011-08-24T23:21:00.000+01:00

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

- Maya Angelou

Inspiration: Bedroom Love

2011-08-22T23:44:00.001+01:00

We found a new house to rent while studying our last year at uni. The house is newly decorated, new furniture, new kitchen, new bathroom, new living room - it's an absolute dream :) So, as we are finalising the contract and deposits, I am left dreaming about how I am going to make my room my own space!

images from here.

What's your favourite thing in your bedroom?

Review 8/100 - Wax vs Shaving!! Part 2

2011-08-20T21:05:00.001+01:00

OK, just a really quick review [because X-Factor is on!!] about this shaver after my last post about waxing. I've had one of these for a few years but only recently started using it because sometimes I am in such a hurry that I forget to shave and have to run back in the shower - ANNOYING! So, I started using this because you can use it on wet or dry skin and is effective either way.

THE GOOD

Has three separate foil settings for underarms, bikini line and legs :)
Each foil switch allows you to choose the correct setting easily to ensure the shaver glides smoothly over your skin - silky :)
The shaver runs on batteries - I've had the same batteries in for 2 years and it still hasn't ran out :)
As said before, it can be used on wet and dry skin - so perfect if you are in a hurry
No cuts - you can press down firm on your skin and it won't cut - yaaay!

THE BAD

Unfortunately, the shave is not as close as I would have liked which means you have to do it over again.
It is so noisy that my parents thought I was playing around with a lawn mower [true story!]

Would I recommend that you buy this? - I think it's a good thing to have in case of emergencies or if you have stubble and can't be bothered to climb into the tub but wouldn't recommend for everyday use.

So who won - wax or shaver?

For me, personally, waxing. My legs felt so silky smooth after and the effects lasts for weeks. I am, however, on a mission to find a shaver that will leave my legs feeling like they have just been waxed. Does such an object exist? I'll let you know ;)

Review 7/100 - Wax vs Shaving!! Part 1

2011-08-20T14:00:00.004+01:00

I have a confession! I have never waxed before in my life!Which means I kind of fail a little bit as a woman :| But alas, I got given a wax strip tester and thought "you know what? I'm going to try it!" So, I waited till no-one was in the house [so my pride will still be intact just in case I whimper and cry] and I bit the bullet! Eekk!

The wax strips in question are the new Veet EasyGrip Strips for normal skin. Now, I'm not usually a fan of Veet - especially their hair removal cream. Although it does remove the hair and leave your skin silky smooth, boy does that cream smell horrible! Anyways, these strips are designed with a tab so you can pull off the wax fully and effectively.

I must admit I was really impressed with these strips. I had shaved a while before using the strip so had minimal hair left on my legs but it did take off the little growth that I had without pulling at my skin. You can also use each strip about 4-5 times because of how sticky the wax was. The only problem is that because the wax is so sticky, some residue does get stuck to the skin but Veet provide some oil to remove it so no big whoop :)

My expectations of the pain? Not what I expected! Very quick and easy even though I did cut my strips into manageable sizes but hey, God didn't make the universe in a day!

Should you invest in these strips? I think they are good to have in case you can't get to the salon and you're looking for a quick fix - all you need to do is rub the two tabs together, pull apart, apply, grit your teeth and pull - Easy! :)

You can buy these from any local pharmacy or drugstore :)

Not a wax fan? That's OK - I have a review of a great shaver that you can use on wet and dry skin - Check back later, where I will give my verdict on wax vs shaving and who won the battle for me! :)

Fridays Fancies - Back To School

2011-08-19T05:30:00.004+01:00

Friday at last! And what better time to participate in the Fridays Fancies feature over at {Long Distance Loving}. For some, it is nearly time to go back to school and for others yesterday saw them planning for their future as they recieved their highly anticipated exam results! [If that was you, I hope you did well!] For me, school is a long distant memory but I can still plan for my last year of university! Oh, how I wish I was still at school...

Back To School

Paul s Boutique stripe cardigan, £50, Oasis ivory shirt, £35, Alice Olivia pleated leather skirt, £295, Dorothy Perkins slouchy handbag, £59, Mixit bangles jewelry, $8.99, Forfex Sex Studs hi-tops, £130, Colored Knee Stripe Sock (3-Pack), $24, Mtp-1094e-7bdf Casio Men'S Wristwatch, $40, Nail Varnish, £2.99, Sharpie Twin Tip Fine Permanent Marker, $2.25

Don't forget to click on the link below and vote for my outfit and check out all the others :)

What are your Back To School essentials?

Thursday Ten #4

2011-08-18T17:05:00.001+01:00

Hello everyone! Once again, there's only one more day left until the weekend! I can't believe it - the week goes by so fast! Here's what I have loved this week:

1. My nails for the week :) Water marbling has such a great effect! [Mine doesn't look as good at the tutorial but hey, practice makes perfect!]
2. This tutorial on how to make a laptop case from a hoody - no scissors required :) See all steps here

3. Pencil vs. Camera by Ben Heine. Click here to see more of this series. Amazing work.

4. Rock, Paper, Scissor Politics - here

5. I laughed so hard when I saw this, that I just had to share it! My favourite is the 2 men camouflaged to the noticeboard - genius!

6. Got a case of severe wanderlust like me? Then check out this list of amazing places you must experience - the photographs are incredible!

7. This picture made me so happy! I love Nail Polishes :)

8. Are you up to scratch with your international dining etiquette - Click here to take the interactive quiz :)

9. These painted owl rocks I found on pinterest - so cute!
10. Elmo's midnight face :) She's so cute!

What are you loving this week?

How To Make A Face Scrub For Dry Skin

2011-08-17T23:58:00.001+01:00

Just a really quick post! If you read my post yesterday, I said I would share my recipe on a face scrub you can make with ingredients from home :) Enjoy!

Let me know of any homemade remedies you have :) I find they work really well!

How To Make A Morning Face Scrub

2011-08-17T00:08:00.001+01:00

I have always suffered with bad skin - it's really annoying! Sometimes it comes and goes naturally and other times it's because I haven't been eating very well or keeping well hydrated [that's all about to change!] But, for the last week , I have been trying out a homemade remedy for my skin to see if it would help with pimples and scarring. Obviously, nothing is perfect and it doesn't fully prevent acne but it has definitely reduced them and has broke down dead skin cells and has tightened my skin. Now, when I put make-up on, I haven't had to use primer everyday which means I can save it for a special occasion.

I definitely recommend trying this remedy as it is so cheap to make and is made by using natural ingredients. Here's what you need and how to make it! It takes about 2 minutes to make and requires minimum effort.

Using Baking Soda is optional - I find it works well with my skin but it might not work for everyone. I find the best time to use this scrub is in the morning when you wake up. Just a quick extra tip, after you have washed off the scrub, spray yourself with some body spray and the smell will wear off :)

Got dry skin? Don't worry, I have another scrub that will hydrate your skin evenly :) I will post that recipe tomorrow!

What are your homemade tricks to keep your skin nice and healthy?

Winners

2011-08-16T21:49:00.001+01:00

Thank you all for taking part!! Congrats to Adri and Kate, I will be in touch soon to confirm details :)

Stay tuned for my next giveaway in September :)

Inspiration: Road Trips / Elizabethtown

2011-08-16T00:57:00.001+01:00

Anyone seen Elizabethtown? It is one of my favourite films ever. It has everything - a love story, death, positivity, roadtrips, enlightenment, a loungey soundtrack and has always made me shed a tear... I love this film! I have always wanted to go on an amazing roadtrip and collect everything on the way and I love the custom roadtrip Claire makes for Drew. Anyone want to make me a must-do roadtrip location like this?

I love this quote!

Last Chance...

2011-08-15T12:00:00.001+01:00

here

Just a quick reminder that my giveaway ends today at 11:59pm GMT

So click here to enter if you haven't done already!

Review 4/100

2011-08-15T00:34:00.002+01:00

Just a really quick post about these amazing straighteners I bought from Tesco last week. My GHD's have broke (Typical) and I really didn't want to pay out for another pair or the however much it is to get them fixed so as I was looking around Tesco, my mum pointed out these ceramic straighteners in a pretty cheap, plain and rather tacky box. I bought them because I was in desperate need for some and thought that because they are ceramic they would be good but obviously not as good as GHD's.

I took them home and tested them out almost immediately. Turned them on and I was surprised how quickly they heated up - quite possibly on par with GHD's. The straighteners have a dial where you can change the heat depending on how hot you need them to be. I usually use around 180-200 and could definitely tell that they reached that temperature.

It took about 10 minutes to do all my hair and I have got to say that I am totally impressed. They did such a good job and were just as good as the GHD's. And you wouldn't believe how much they cost?

£9.60 - That's right! They were less than a tenner!

So impressed! You should definitely go down and buy some of these - they are so worth it! A great essential for anyone getting ready to go to college or university!

Get yours here or you can get the other ones that are even cheaper at £6.29 [don't know if these are good but they are ceramic] here.

Friday Fancies - Sheena Is A Punkrocker

2011-08-12T05:30:00.002+01:00

Hello lovelies! It's FRIDAY [*Queue Rebecca Black*] and of course, it's time for my favourite feature - FRIDAYS FANCIES! This week's theme is Rockin' Reds which is so appropriate for me as I just started to reconnect with some old school bands that I used to be in love with! Bands like X-Ray Specs, The Buzzcocks, The Stranglers, Blondie and the best of the best - The Ramones! So, while putting this outfit together, I thought of The Ramones and somehow I thought of Grease! Why? I have no idea! But I hope you enjoy my selection :) And as usual, do not forget to go over to {long.distance.loving} to look at others, link up and like my set :) Enjoy.

Sheena Is A Punk Rocker

TopShop tie front top, $48, Lot78 zip jacket, $985, Dark denim shorts, $70, Rupert Sanderson suede boots, $1,045, Alexander McQueen skull handbag, £695, Stussy snake jewelry, $15, Punk necklace, £5.95, Studded belt, $19, MAC Lipstick, $15

Thursday Ten #3

2011-08-11T23:19:00.001+01:00

Hello everyone! Doesn't the week go so quick? Here's what I have been loving this week:

1. My nails that I hand painted myself - both hands! :)

2. This gorgeous illustration by Lily @ Little Birds.

3. My Giveaway which you should all enter before it's too late! TWO prizes up for grabs! CLICK HERE!

4. I have started reading this and have found that it has made a difference to my attitude, thoughts and experiences - AND I'm only a quarter of the way through the book!! Do you know the secret?

5. My forever ending dreams of travelling around America. I will do it soon - promise! here.

6. This print by Desiree @ Cozihome inspires me to keep dreaming and planning my perfect adventure.

7. Writing letters and sending little crafty packages through the post :) If you want letters from me or want to send me one, let me know!

8. My returning love for Gavin DeGraw [Get Well Soon]. I'm in love with this song!

"Love has a reason, there's a meaning to the world. We're giving love"

9. Keep organised with this To-Do List pad by BoyGirlParty @ Etsy.

10. This gorgeous bag from Evans - still haven't got it yet but will be the first thing I will treat myself to when payday comes!

So, I have some good news! Tomorrow I am going for an interview for a temporary job that will keep me going until I go back to university :) If successful tomorrow, I could be starting as soon as Monday :) So, keep your fingers crossed for me!

How's everyones week going?

The Volcano Diet

2011-08-10T20:29:00.002+01:00

While reading last week's Grazia [I always manage to be a week behind on Grazia and Look!] and came across this "new" diet that has graced the pages. It's called the "Volcano Diet" and is designed to speed up your metabolism and ultimately make you lose weight quicker.

Thermogenesis is what happens when the body uses energy to create heat that helps you burn extra calories. The way the diet works, is by eating small and frequently and Grazia's plan has been designed with 3 meals and 2 snacks a day. If some of the things in the plan don't take your fancy, you can design your own using the certain foods that will raise your metabolism like lean meats, fish and chillies.

Of course, exercise shouldn't be cut out of the picture! Just 30 minutes a day doing lunges, squats and the dreaded press-ups, can burn up to 200 calories in 48 hours. The Volcano Diet not only gives you energy but it also suggests that you could lose half a stone in just 2 weeks!

Looking through the glossy pages, the food does look delicious and very healthy. I was surprised that they had not cut out carbs, which are my biggest weakness! The food is so colourful and rich in goodness and vitamins that it would be silly not to try it. I cannot wait to have control of my kitchen and food shopping again [as much as I love being cooked for every night!] I am definitely going to custom make my own mealtimes and recipes so that its not all restricted and orchestrated.

In a previous post ages ago, I stated that I had gone to the doctors about getting help with losing a couple of stone. Unfortunately, this system has failed me, as they haven't contacted me about the clinic course I was meant to start, despite all the contact attempts I have made! So, I have taken things into my own hands. I have started working out and watching what I eat and I have lost a few pounds here and there but not as much as I would like. But, a loss is a loss and I am very determined to meet my goals by next year!

What top tips do you have for keeping positive and determined when on a diet?

Inspiration: Organisation/Filofax

2011-08-08T23:59:00.001+01:00

In the past few weeks, I have done some thinking about the future and thought about what I want to do. I've always want to work for myself and do something creative and fashionable but never thought I'd be able to do something like that. However, with the help of my mum [she's the best!] I have finally realised what I want to do and determined to get there. I'm not going to reveal anything at the moment but i'm hoping to have a hobby of mine available for all you lovely girlies by the start of October. So keep your eyes peeled throughout the weeks for my ideas to be revealed :)

With all the planning and ideas I have, I found my Filofax that my mum bought me for christmas. It's red and is embedded with love hearts. I never knew what I could put inside my filofax but have found loads of different refills that you can buy. So I hunted to find some Filofax inspiration to get me started on making mine look pretty :)

Images found here here here and here

Cannot wait to start organising and customizing mine :)

Review 3/100

2011-08-07T18:00:00.002+01:00

I am a huge Cosmopolitan fan and am obsessed with nails and nail polish, so when the two were combined with a free polish in this months issue, it was a no brainer that I had to buy it!

This month's Cosmo

Missguided is a fresh, catwalk inspired online store that aims to stay on top of the latest trends in order to provide all the fashionistas out there with the best that fashion has to offer.

This is Misstique, a dark turquoise colour that is perfect for all occasions! The bottle is simple and model with the slogan "peace, love & polish". The varnish is great and application is smooth as a baby's bottom and will cover the nail boldly with two coats! However, it does start to wear away after about 3-4 days. I even used this polish to try out SRSLYLIZ's leopard print nails tutorial:

Misstique and other gorgeous shades are available at Missguided for £5.00 a bottle.

Would I pay £5.00 for their polish? - Yeah, I would. The application is really smooth and there is hardly any streakiness. I am definately impressed and will get the Missbehave Pink polish next.

Incoming Mail!

2011-08-06T20:10:00.002+01:00

Happy Saturday everyone! Remember me saying that I needed some visual inspiration to grace my room and my creative surroundings? Well in the last couple of weeks I have had some lovely things through the post - including a giveaway I won at Paper Sparrow's Dr Who party!

First in the mail, was this gorgeous postcard from Michaela:

Next through my door was this nice little package from Michelle (I've got yours ready and waiting to send!):

This is what I received from Andrea [I LOVE my passport holder!]

This came from The Netherlands from the talented Kitty Darkness Designs [Check out her Etsy!]

So, thanks to these ultra fabulous ladies, my inspiration board has progressed:

Thank-you so much for sending me lovely things. If you want to swap mail, art, zines or just nice letters and cards - email me and we can swap addresses :)

Fridays Fancies: Maxi-licious!

2011-08-05T06:00:00.001+01:00

Hello my fashion lovers! Today is Friday which means it's time for my Friday's Fancies :) This week, the theme is Maximize! Everything maxi dresses and maxi skirts. I chose this Modcloth dress because it's a gorgeous colour and one-shouldered - one of my favourite cuts. Enjoy!

One shoulder dress, $55, Lot78 quilted leather jacket, £315, TopShop flat leather sandals, $40, Cara Accessories retro jewelry, $88, Lancome L'Absolu Nu Replenishing And Enhancing Lip Color, $29, Nail Varnish, £2.99

What do you think?

Don't forget to go over to {long distance loving} to check out the other Friday's Fancies and like my selection :)

Happy Friday!!

Thursday Ten #2

2011-08-04T20:41:00.002+01:00

Hello! I've been extremely lacking with my Thursday Ten recently (sorry!) I will definately make sure I will keep it up-to-date more often! Here's what I discovered and loved this week. Oh, and if you still haven't entered my giveaway - shame on you! (only kidding!) You can enter here :)

1. These Japanese Paper Balloons by Uguisu.

2. This banana, chocolate and peanut butter vegan ice cream recipe by Elycia - NOM! NOM! here.

3. This gorgeous colourful playsuit from ASOS Curve.

4. These Lady Gaga-esqe shoes by Jeffery Campbell. here.

5. This D&G inspired clutch tutorial by Andrea. Found here.

6. This Aztec Drawstring bag! Great with some jeans and slouch top! here.

7. Now, lunchtime can be extra cute :) here.

8. This blot top from Forever 21+

9. The Winston bag at Shoedazzle - Perfect for back to school/university/college!

10. The journal collection of one of my favourite artists - here

There you have it! My favourite things this week!
What are you loving this week?

Wednesday Heat!

2011-08-03T20:55:00.003+01:00

Hello :) Nothing much has happened in the past few days so I thought I would show you my day in photos.

Review 2/100

2011-08-02T17:00:00.007+01:00

A few weeks ago I went to watch Bridesmaids, thanks to Orange Wednesdays, to see if it was as funny as everyone was reporting.

Annie is single, broke and recently un-employed but has to pull herself together when she finds out that she is the maid of honor for her best friend, Lillian's, wedding. Naturally, things don't go according to plan. Joining Lillian's bridal party is Helen, a rich, attractive lady who is out to take Annie's spotlight. With Helen's contacts and sweet gestures, she turns Lillian into a bridezilla and it's up to Annie to save her from her new ways.

What follows is a crazy line of events, that will make you laugh out loud or possibly crying on the floor. The film has a great cast and the storyline was smooth-flowing. This is a film that everyone can relate to, especially if you are single and all your friends are cuddled up with someone.

The film takes a sad situation and turns it into something quite humorous. Just because you're best friend is starting a new life, you are still as important to them as before. So, grab the girls and boys and go catch this must-see movie. It's easily the best film I have seen in a while! I think every girl should go watch this and remember that friends are forever not just for weddings!

Inspiration: Dreaming Of My Own Little Boutique

2011-08-01T22:54:00.000+01:00

I've always had big dreams of owning my own business and owning my own little boutique selling fabolous gifts and inspiring artwork! Hmmm.. now I just need to start thinking about what, where and how I am going to achieve this!

images found here and here

In other [bad-ish] news, I have decided to re-examine my Teatime Tuesday as I recieved some quite negative response from it :( However, this will not stop me from doing features in the future and I will come back with something even more amazing! :)

ALSO, If you haven't entered my giveaway yet, there's still plenty of time! So, go get involved!

Love!

Hidden Secrets!

2011-08-01T14:37:00.001+01:00

Hello Lovelies :)

Hope you all had a great weekend!! Just a really quick post! I did a few collages last year for uni based on secrets and confessions. Ages ago, I ordered these pieces to be printed as photographic prints so I could make them into postcards or just cards that you can frame or use inside a scrapbook. They never arrived.... until today!! Finally, I ordered them about 5 months ago!

I think I'm going to call this set "Dirty Laundry". I'm not sure if I should put them in my shop yet?
What do you think?

Friday Fancies: Polka Polka

2011-07-29T11:10:00.001+01:00

Hello everyone :)
Its Friday [yaaaaay!!] and it's time for my Friday Fancies! This week I opted for two of my favourite things: Polka Dots and Playsuits/Rompers :) This is just a simple set this week but I think sometimes, simple is enough! I found this cute bicycle necklace which I completely adore and can be worn at anytime. I hope you enjoy my set :)

Polka Polka Dots

Strappy Playsuit, £25, Michael Antonio platform boots, $50, Forever21 filigree bracelet, $6.80, Stainless steel chain jewelry, £28, Linda Farrow clear aviator sunglasses, $353, Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Pearle - 102: Coral Sun, $34, Nail polish - cheap nail varnish sets - nail polish makeup UK, £1.99

What do you think?
Don't forget to go over to {long distance loving} to like my set :)

Happy Friday!

P.S. Don't forget to enter my summer glam giveaway :)

Summer Giveaway :)

2011-07-27T22:29:00.001+01:00

I just want to say a HUGE thank you for all the readers, followers and those that are kind enough to leave me comments :) It's a nice feeling to know that someone is paying attention to me!

Remember when I won that competition to go and work at the More! Magazine office for the day? Well, we got given some really nice goody bags and inside were two items that I unfortunately can't wear [I don't have my ears pierced] so I've decided to use them in my giveaway!**

Of course, each prize will be filled with extra goodies like nail varnish, paper goods, maybe a few illustrations from yours truly and surprises! :)

How To Enter

Each entry in a separate comment please :)

MANDATORY

[x] be a follower of Nadiine-x on GFC

[x] leave a comment below on which pair of earrings is your favourite

EXTRA ENTRIES

[x] follow me on twitter :)

[x] tweet about the giveaway @nadiiinex

[x] blog about the giveaway

[x] link back to this post using my giveaway button:

This giveaway will end on Monday 15th August 2011 and two winners will be picked at random!

This giveaway can be entered by anyone worldwide :)

Good Luck :)

** These are brand new and have never been worn.

Get Into The Groove!

2011-07-26T23:19:00.001+01:00

images via

I have a few ideas that I have been thinking about today, which I'm not going to reveal just yet until I've worked things out and have the income to do it but in the meanwhile, how amazing are these photos? I adore 1980s makeshift fashion. My mum was telling me stories today about how she used to make her dresses and customise them herself for a night out. She gave me loads of her fashion designs that she drew as a teen and they are amazing! After looking at some amazing photos, I am definately in the mood for some 80's classics - so I thought I would delight you with this one!

I am compiling a playlist with some 80's classics as they have inspired my creativity lately!
What's your favourite 80s song?

Let me know so I can add them into my playlist :)

Hope everyone is having a great day! OH and don't forget to check out my puzzle feature, Teabreak Tuesday :)

Summer Forts Guest Post

2011-07-24T00:10:00.000+01:00

via

Hi everyone, just dropping in quick to let you know i'm guest posting at Living Life Photograpically :) Go check it out here :)
Happy weekend!!

Review 1/100

2011-07-22T21:43:00.003+01:00

Hi guys :) I am starting a new project called Review 100 where, you guessed it, I review 100 products by the end of the year. Which I think I can definitely achieve :) If you have any products that you have reviewed or would like me to review, I am happy to try them out or post your reviews as a guest blogger :) Sharing's caring! Just pop me an email and we'll talk :) Also, there's a button so if you're feeling friendly you can link up ;)

First Aid Beauty (or FAB as I like to know it as) is a new skincare brand fresh from the US that is highly effective and luxurious. Launched by Lilli Gordon in 2009, First Aid Beauty products target specific skin issues such as eczema, aging and acne while being safe for even the most sensitive skin types and it’s free from harsh chemicals and known allergens. I was lucky enough to receive the Face Cleanser to try as I have sensitive skin and wanted to see how effective it really is.

PROS:

• Smells like classic soap which makes you feel and smell fresh!

• Don't be fooled by its siple designs it does exactly what it says on the bottle. It removes surface oils, skin toxins, make up and grime (yuk!) and is perfect in the morning if you have grease on your face from where you have slept on your hair (it happens at the best of times) or have passed out with your makeup still on.

• I have been using this every morning and evening and can definitely see and feel the difference in my skin. Even after first use, I found that my face was rather smooth.

• Only need to use a small amount (about a 10p/dime sized blob) so the full sized tube will last for about 3-4 weeks.

This is a bit more than 10p sized as I had loads of makeup on

CONS:

• For the full sized tube (5 oz.) it costs £13 which is quite pricey in my opinion.

However, this is such a great product that personally I would definitely pay to have this in my kit bag every month. Plus, who doesn’t want to splurge a little bit on themselves now and again? My spots have definitely eased down – I have no redness, scarring and no blackheads. With the Antioxidant Booster it has brightened up my skin and I have a healthier glow than I did before. All in all, I would totally recommend spending the money on this amazing face cleanser and am really looking forward in trying some more of FAB’s products.

You can pick up some of FAB's products at their website or if you're in the UK you can get them at Boots :)

Have you tried anything from F.A.B. before?

Happy Friday :)

Friday Fancies - Sophisticated In White

2011-07-22T10:00:00.020+01:00

So, it's Friday again! Doesn't the week go past so quickly? I'm participating in Friday Fancies again hosted by {long distance loving} and this week, the theme is based around the LWD (Little White Dress). I decided to go all sophisticated this week and based my selection a formal-ish occasion. For example, this could be worn to a graduation party or a work night out! Or maybe you want to show any potential husbands out there that you can rock any white dress anytime, anywhere and that you would make a wonderful bride! Hope you enjoy!!

[here]

TopShop white bell sleeve dress, $96, TopShop tailored jacket, $130, Sam Edelman suede high heels, $314, Halston Heritage clutch hand bag, $195, Belle Noel clear crystal jewelry, $43, Michael Kors Watches rose gold jewelry, £125, Elke Kramer geometric jewelry, $93

Make sure you click the button below to 'like' my outfit and browse othe outfits too :)

Happy friday!!
P.S; Im guest posting over at Pixie Mama :) Go check it out xo

Puzzled?

2011-07-20T23:50:00.003+01:00

images from here

I've recently rekindled my love of puzzles! As a kid, I would always do the Criss Cross puzzles in my nanna's Take A Break magazine and learnt how to do Sudoku when I first got brain training on the Nintendo DS. With this inspiration, I am going to create a new feature where I will be posting up a free printable puzzle compiled, illustrated and made with love by me! You can print them out, have a cup of tea and chill out on your break with one of my fun puzzles! I used to make puzzles when I was a kid so this is a fun way to re-live a tiny piece of my childhood ;)

I'm hoping to start this feature on Tuesday 26th July and make it a weekly occasion.

So who's up for my coffee break tuesday challenges?

Rainy Days

2011-07-18T20:47:00.004+01:00

just kicking back.
Window Seat - Erykah Badu
[That is me in the photo aha]

Let's Get Nautical!

2011-07-16T23:36:00.000+01:00

Admiral Navy Sailor Dress - $88.00 - Shabby Apple

Just a quick post regarding this ultra cute sailor dress I saw on Shabby Apple. They emailed me asking me to join their affiliate program so I had a browse around their site! They have some gorgeous dresses, especially for upcoming bridesmaids and their jewellery is beautifully handmade and have a lovely vintage feel to it. Make sure you go check Shabby Apple out if you have the time!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend :)