Lipstick & Loose Ends

Katy B: Crying for no reason

2013-11-19T13:31:00.004-08:00

Since Katy B released her debut single as a garage and funky house singer in DJ NG's 2008 'Tell Me', hours of my time have gladly been stolen by her voice. Now as I write this blog, the singer's latest Soundcloud post 'Crying for no reason' has already claimed 44 minutes and counting...

From the first we heard of her in 2008, good ol' Katy B from Peckham has flowed with the tide of mainstream party music. She's dabbled with a multitude of subgenres, including dubstep in her 2010 'Katy on a mission', and a bit of house in her recent single, '5am'.

The track which I have now developed an addiction to, 'Crying for no reason', is quite different. It was first broadcast on Radio 1 as part of Zane Lowe's Sessions. Check it out:

Not quite what you expected? Me neither...

'Crying for no reason' is an immense piano-led power ballad - quite a swing in the opposite direction of Katy B's usual dance tracks. It displays a whole new side to her which, quite franky, I'M LOVING!

There is also a studio version of this track available, however I've chosen to post this live version as I think it truely captures the deep emotional tension in her words. Not just like any other pop star belting out yet another song about a failed relationship...

Katy B is singing about something which I think ALL of us are guilty of; letting things build up inside without expressing them. Then, inevitably, the day will come where everything you've kept inside will come crashing to the forefront. You've had days where you've been dying inside, yet you've covered it up with a smile, haven't you?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a depressed, angst-filled person, but I do appreciate a bit of emotion. And Katy B's 'Crying for no reason' really hit the spot. Just love it.

...And if you love it as much as I do, you'll be glad to hear Katy B will be releasing a new album, 'Little Red', in February next year!

Love or hate Katy B's new track?!

Let me know your thought in the

comments box below :)

Kate Moss Obsession

2013-10-16T16:13:00.000-07:00

Today, for the first time in years, I came across images from Maria Sorrenti's 1992 Obsession campaigns for Calvin Klein. Boy, did it take me back! I remember the first time I saw these images... They shot my eyes with a glue gun. Today was no different. There's something about them which never quite gets old...

Kate Moss was 14 when she was first scouted off the street and 16 when she had her iconic 'heroin chic' shots by Corinne Day published in The Face magazine. When you look back, it doesn't take much to work out how she's become one of the greatest and most idolised supermodels of all time.

It's not just how she broke the boundaries with her waife-like figure - opposite to those of other supermodels at the time, including Cindy Crawford and Elle Macpherson. It's also way more than just raw beauty which makes her so fascinating to stare at.

I think it's the relationship she holds with her photographers. There is an openness and trust that is so plain to see in her early images. She's so naked. Not just where clothes is concerned, but in the fragility she displays. It's all truly effortless. How could anyone possible ignore that immense connection to the camera?

The below photographs from Calvin Klein's Obsession campaign were shot by Kate's then-boyfriend, renouned fashion photographer Mario Sorrenti. She was 22 at the time.

Whilst Kate Moss obviously remains a great model and a massive fashion icon, nothing quite compares to the profundity of these. I don't think anyone could ever attempt to recreate them...

Do these images hit you as hard as they hit me?

Let me know your thought in the

comments box below :)

Soulful Sunday Soundtrack

2013-08-11T12:12:00.003-07:00

Sunday is that one day a week which I think everyone should keep for themselves. At least for the most part. It's a time where I think it's important to be alone, reflect and just enjoy doing whatever the hell it is YOU want.

My Sundays almost always begin with a lie in. This will be followed by a massive Sunday lunch and a couple of glasses of wine with family. From then on you will find me locked in my room enjoying the company of yours truly.

I'm looking up random crap on Google. Pinning on Pinterest. Eating peanut butter. Impulse buying from ASOS. Scanning Facebook. Dreaming of the interior of my future home. Reflecting on past events. The list never ends.

They're such miniscule activities, but I wouldn't underestimate them. Everyone needs time to escape that inevitable rush of life. Or before you know it, the tide will have sucked you in and you'll wake up one day in your 30s thinking: Who am I, where am I and how did I get here?

So before I go too deep into my ramblings (as you can see I am already 'in the zone') I'll let you in on the most important part of my Sundays. And that is, the perfect soundtrack!

Below is a selection of tunes which make up my 'Soulful Sunday Soundtrack'. Have a listen and you might just end up stepping into the zone with me...

1. Begin with a little something you can scream along to and release any built up frustration you may have conjured up through the week:

2. You heard; Let it all go!

3. Turn your frown upside down, it's time for a gentle bop:

4. Next, turn up the volume, loosen up and dance around your room to this:

5. Now slow down your groove. And remember, you're the hottest thing in the world right now:
*WARNING: Explicit content*

6. Ok chill out. It's Sunday, remember?

7. Let's get a little reflective:

8. And now, just keep it loud and let the music speak for itself:

9. Let it get under your skin:

10. And if you're still not QUITE in the zone, shut your eyes and listen to this song:

Got any suggestions to add to my Sunday soundtrack?

Let me know in the comments

box below :)

Rihanna brings sporty chic into fashion!

2013-07-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

That's right: Thanks to Ri Ri, sportswear adorned with metallic foil-printed numbers and teamed with chunky bling is no longer simply suitable for the dark alleys of Soho! It's official. Since Rihanna's been rocking our sterios and taking over our TVs, sportswear luxe has become one phat trend this summer...

You'll now find chic sportwear-inspired garments all over the high street. But let's get one thing straight; don't be wasting the look on your local gym!

Rock the look with a few of my favourite pieces below:

h&m t-shirt dress, £14.99.

Rihanna for River Island trucker hat, £25

Topshop number 56 sweater, £29

h&m chunky chain necklace, £7.99

Criminal Damage yen dollar pound t-shirt, £27.99

Would you wear any of these ghetto sportwear luxe pieces?

Let me know in the comments box below
:)

Fulham Palace Art Fair: Millie McCallum

2013-06-04T12:20:00.003-07:00

The Fulham Palace Art Fair returned this year, bringing an eclectic mix of artwork to a gloomy afternoon in London. The fair was packed with admirable artists; one of them being my uncle, with his breathtaking 'Jewel of the Universe'. But there was also another artist, Millie McCallum, whose work really caught my eye.

Below is a stunning selection of McCallum's work. All pieces featured in this blog are available for purchase (that's if you love it as much as I do!). Take a look...

Kipling Cotes, watercolour and ink on paper 110cm x 77 cm

Those of you who've read my blog for a while now will know that when it comes to colour, I'm a sucker for black and white, with a contrasting splash of brightness. This painting has 'Jasmin' written all over it...

'Dean' Linocut. 100 cm x 70 cm £400

How could it be that I love this piece so much? Perhaps my love of Monkeys... Perhaps my love of Red Indian inspired headdresses... Or perhaps the fact that both are put together in a beautiful and artistic way?!

Kipling Cotes, watercolour and ink on paper 110cm x 77 cm

I just love the emotion on this tiger's face. Alongside vibrant, fresh colours and a delicate style of painting, this piece has a wonderfully dreamy feel. Though much less 'modern' than I would usually go for, it's gorgeous in its own blissful way...

'Rita' Linocut. 100 cm x 70 cm £400

A super stylish piece here, 'Rita' the ostridge would look divine against a feature wall! A supermodel of an ostridge she is... Would you just look at those pins!

'Peggy' Edition of 50. 50 cm x 70 cm £150

Last but not least, meet 'Peggy' the flamingo. She's looking good, feeling fine, and she's ready to hit festival season in style this year! Nothing like some artwork to suit the summer vibes...

If you love Millie McCallum's work and my blog alone hasn't given you your fix, check out her awesome site. Here, you can wonder through beaut artwork all day long - despite missing the Fulham Palace Art Fair...

Which painting is your favourite?

Let me know! :)

I miss you Amy...

2013-05-17T12:56:00.001-07:00

What a track.

Since Amy Winehouse passed away there has been a distinct lack of decent new music. I really can't stand all the crap I hear on the radio nowadays. I'm sick of the same old, same old.

I actually cringe each time a pop "singer" releases a 'new' song. Sounds exactly the same as the last one. And right now every song which pops onto the charts is guaranteed to contain yet another break out of so-called 'dance music'.

Does the mainstream music industry always have take a great genre and rip it to shreds?!

Anyhow, struggling to find something decent, I ended up on the track above. Perfection in its purest form.

Oh Amy, where has all the decent music gone? Your presence is definitely missed...

Let me know your thoughts in the

comments box below :)

How to be a happy person

2013-04-23T14:55:00.003-07:00

Oh dear blog, how I have missed you. It has been far too long since my last post - and for that I apologise. I have been busying up my time like a maniac in times of late and I've finally got the time to sit down, reflect, and out pops this blog post! My little 5 step guide to being a happy person...

STEP 1. Remember your priority: Happiness!

As much as making that next career decision might bog you down and seem the like most important thing in your world - it isn't. Your priority must always be happiness. Happiness is the key to... a happy life! Wouldn't have guessed that now, would we?

Sometimes it's easy to forget that life doesn't end when you're stressed, when your boyfriend breaks up with you, a family member dies, when your cup of coffee turns cold...

Life goes on.

And whilst the bad times can really suck, the good times are really great. Without both, how do you even know when you're happy and when your sad?

Ultimately, the worse the bad times, the more you appreciate the good. Never underestimate how much happiness you can get from the smallest most insignificant thing - even just a friendly smile from a passer by on the street.

Embrace that moment and remember not to take life too seriously. You don't have to have been bought a lambourgini to be happy. Pleasure is pleasure.

I believe that ultimately, your own life is in your hands and it really is only ourselves that can control our happiness. Let yourself be happy!

STEP 2. Invest in your friends

No matter how many friends you have, from 5 to 5000, a person will only ever truly have a small selection of close friends. Those who you make you feel good about yourself, acknowledge your problems, will make an effort to fit around your tight budget, don't cancel on you, and go out of their way to make sure that you're OK.

And to keep these good friends, you must also reciprocate.

It's incredible the difference that a good friend can have on your life. No matter how tired you are, how much you don't feel like socialising, it's your good friends that will bring comfort to you in the worst of times.

STEP 3. Acknowledge you have problems

Every human being has problems. Even that tall skinny 'bitch' whose facebook pics are packed full of photos of amazing adventures and flawless skimpy bikini snaps.

If you don't have problems, you're a freak. Your life must be packed with unhappiness because that's just not normal.

I think it's incredibly important to admit that you have faults. I, for example, have this massive issue when I want something so bad. I'll do anything to get it, and almost always I ruin things for myself. I get so damn nervous trying to be 'right', I end up totally wrong.

That's one of my faults... It takes me a long time to get fully comfortable with someone. I'm far too self aware.

Because of this, I always think to myself GOD Jasmin, will you not just be yourself! I know if I just chillaxed my ass down I could ace every opportunity I get! Or at least do my best and be satisfied with the attempt...

But that's just the way it is. That's who I am. I'm not going to pretend I'm not like this.

This is me, everyone! I suck sometimes. Poo.

But I love me really. You have to love yourself - otherwise you're not living life properly. Don't get me wrong and think you're God's gift to the world! But you do need a sense of 'me love' or you'll never be happy!

STEP 4. The above image says it all...

Never ever ever ever stop yourself from doing what you love most. Even when you've got piles of work on your shoulders, at least take a 10 minute phone call out to your best friend and talk shite. It's definitely necessary!

STEP 5. Do stuff you wouldn't normally do

It's sometimes nice to stick within your own little bubble; same coffee every morning, same pub every Friday night, same hairstyle, same holiday location every year.

I'm constantly pushing myself to do things outside of my comfort zone. I practically force myself to do stuff. But it's these times of immense anxiety and the overcoming of it which makes you a better person.

... And one last thing: DON'T GIVE UP!

When things go wrong as they sometimes do...

When the road your trudging seems all uphill...

When the funds are low and the debts are high...

And you want to smile but you have to sigh...

When care is pressing you down a bit...

Rest, if you must, but don't you quit...

Life is queer with its twists and turns...

As every one of us sometimes learns...

It may be near when it seems so far...

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit...

It's when things seem worst you must not quit.

Got any tips for me?!

Let me know in the comments below :)

Let's kill grey.

2013-03-24T15:18:00.004-07:00

I am so sick of the gloomy weather right now. It's actually affecting my mental health. So it's about time we took the situation into our own hands and killed the grey...

The weather seems to think that summer is never going to happen. That's unacceptable. Seriously - are your just going to sit there and let the weather get away with this?!

No! Let us rebel!

We shall not stand for this any longer! If the weather wont make it sunny, we must take the situation into our own hands.

Let's face it. This is pretty much our only option. I'm sorry it has had to come to this.

... But it has.

Strip out all signs of grey from your wardrobe. Throw it out! Seriously, that stuff is depressed.

In order to be a positive person, you must surround yourself with positive things. Grey is bad for your mental stability.

Now I demand that we all start wearing colour. As much as possible. Right away.

We've got to dress as much like it's summer as we possibly can - taking the circumstances into consideration, of course.

The aim: To make the world a happier place by cheering people up as you pass them on the street. So here's 4 ways of injecting colour into your look:

Same garments, brighter colours...

Pink jeans are a yes. Jeans are jeans after all. The colour of them doesn't make them any hotter/colder. So wear ones in happy colours.

Chunky knits are necessary in this freezing coldness. Wearing a white chunky knit will keep your outfit bright, whilst keeping you snugly warm at the same time! It's the perfect choice.

All hail opaque black tights...

Dig the summer clothes out of your wardrobe and dress like it's 30 degrees outside.

Now stick on some 80 denier opaque lack tights. Voila! Perfection.

It's summer if your hair says so...

If you don't want to buy new colourful clothes and you hate your old ones, dying the crap out of your hair is definitely the answer!

A box of dye usually only costs around a fiver. Get a permanent one and you'll never be sad again. Happy days!

Take action now! And remember - if you're thinking of picking out something grey to wear tomorrow, you'll make people around you depressed. That's screwed up. You better think again...

Will you be brightening the lives of everyone around you from now on?!

Let me know your thoughts in the

comments box below :)

My fashion epiphany...

2013-03-19T12:51:00.001-07:00

As you may already be aware, my name is Jasmin Andrade and I'm addicted to shoes. It's genuinely shameful. But today is (hopefully!) the day that things might finally change!

I'm that girl who clicks side panel adverts on web pages if they involve shoes. Shoe shops' displays vacuum me in for at least 5 minutes at a time. I'm always on the hunt for my next pair of shoes. Even if I just bought a pair.

I'm THAT bad.

If people monitored the amount of time I spend oggling shoes they would probably refer me to 'Shoe Addiction Rehab'.

So today I had an epiphany. It all started yesterday when I did everything I could - beg, borrow, steal - to get not one, but THREE new pairs of new shoes:

No, your vision's not going funny. They are in fact all 'same same but different' (I've loved that phrase ever since travelling to Thailand!).

Here's my reasoning / what I'm using to justify my purchases:

Those shoes you see pictures of above are not JUST shoes! This is where my epiphany comes in...

A feature of these shoes might just SOLVE my shoe problem. It could make me feel like I'm wearing different statement footwear every time I leave the house:

!!!!!!!!!! DIFFERENT COLOURED LACES !!!!!!!!!!

Kaching! Booyah! I've really outdone myself this time, right!? GENIUS.

The idea is that one day I will end up with laces in every single colour imaginable. And (hopefully) new shoes will no longer be necessary!

I will no longer have to SPLURGE out on new shoes... All I'll need to do is splash out on a new pair of laces every day!

I'm overjoyed with my epiphany! I feel like I've just got a buy-one-get-one-for-every-colour-of-the-rainbow-free AND MORE deal! This is huge. Oh, the endless possibilities!

Do you reckon this is the answer to all my problems? Let me know :)

Make good of a bad situation

2013-03-10T14:17:00.002-07:00

I have an absolutely gorgeous, bubbly blonde friend. Her name is Sam Denny, and this post is dedicated to her!

A very young Sam and her Dad

So last year my gorgeous babycake Sam lost one of the people she loved most.
It happened so fast. First came the terrible news, almost out of nowhere, that her Dad had been admitted to hospital. Sam was heartbroken, understandably. But no one expected the terrible news of him having Cancer coming next.

On 20th September 2011 Sam’s Dad sadly passed away. It won’t come as any surprise that Sam was left in pieces.

It was a horrible time. It felt hard enough for those around Sam, including myself. It really hurts when someone so close to you goes through a terrible ordeal that you have no control over. Nothing you say or do can possibly make the situation better.

Sam was traumatised. She had spent nearly every night in the lead up sleeping at her Dad’s bedside in hospital, ridden with anxiety - just waiting for the inevitable.

It was unavoidable that it was something which Sam would have to go through. It’s impossible to imagine what it was like for her - unless you’ve been through a similar situation, of course. Perhaps you have?

Luckily I haven’t. But as they say, you never know what the future will bring…

Nearly a year on and Sam has made it! She’s back on track and going strong!

She’s returned to Uni to finish her degree. Plus, she works a part time job as a Sales & Finance Executive in London on the side! I am SO proud of her!

And THIS April 27th, on Sam's Dad’s birthday, she’ll be swimming a whopping 5k for Marie Curie Cancer Care! It’s all in an effort to make sure that people like me and you don’t have to suffer in the same way that she did.

So please, sponsor Sam and help make all her efforts worthwhile. Just imagine if it were you in her situation. Make good of the bad situation she’s had to go through. Put a smile on her pretty face; there really is nothing that would mean more to her!

Simply visit her Just Giving page here, or text "SAMD80" followed by the amount "£XX" to 70070. Don’t forget to follow her progress in her swim blog by clicking here.

Thank you so much :)

My skirt length means nothing!

2013-03-05T13:13:00.001-08:00

It's International Women's Day this Friday 8th March. And yes, women have come a long way. That's cool! But why am I still having to worry about whether my skirt is too short to wear to work?

Above: Not a happy short-skirt-wearing bunny.

I recently started a new job. I'm loving it. However, it's now my third week in and already I'm struggling for what to wear tomorrow...

A large chunk of my modest-sized wardrobe is taken up with short skirts, short shorts and see-through tops. I'm not talking fully see-through. But that kind of see-through which you LITERALLY cannot avoid if you enter ANY high-street shop in search of tops right now.

Yeah, that's right. I'm not a slut.

I'm perfectly comfortable wearing these garments on all occasions. I don't feel like I'm exposing too much. I'm not saying I condone those ridiculous 'knicker short' concoctions. My bum's fully covered, I'll have you know!

So yeah, if you look closely through my top you'll see my bra. But who cares? My bra covers my nipples. Would you rather see THEM?!

Either way, if I were to go shopping for appropriate clothing right now, I wouldn't find anything.

There's either proper suits suits - which are expensive and overdressed for my office. Or there's pretty, short skirts and cute see-through tops. So what am I do to?

You know what?! Let's stop there.

Why am I even in this situation in the first place?! Why am I so scared to wear something too short or slightly see-through to work?!

Oh, of course! It's inappropriate. Improper. Unfit. Offensive!?

The more I think about this the more it gets me... How is it in any way inappropriate to wear a bum-covering short skirt? Or slightly see-through top?

Lots of offices are full of jean-clad employees, so it's can't be because clothing which 'pretends' to reveal more is too casual.

Ohhhh..... Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh......

It all comes down to sex!!!!

We may not have to wear burkas in this country, but the fact that I can't wear short skirts for fear of them being inappropriate for work is pretty much the same thing. Less extreme, but the same concept!

I can't STAND the fact that middle eastern women have to completely cover themselves up because men can't control themselves. It's pure insanity!

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with them believing in religion. But oppressing femininity like that is JUST not right.

Our country's nothing like that though, right? Hmm.

People think that kind of stuff is way beyond our territory. Well it's clearly not the case!

And even if everyone in my office couldn't care less about the length of my skirt or opacity of my top, I couldn't help but feel like they were under the impression I'm trying to attract a mate!!

Lend me some sugar and please let me

know your thoughts? :)

Musical meds: Elli Ingram

2013-02-25T14:52:00.000-08:00

I've been frustrated recently. It's been a while since I've found a piece of music which has hit me hard. That's until I stumbled upon the track 'Poetic Justice' by Elli Ingram...

I often find myself toying around with a multitude of tracks all of the same genre. Each one somewhat resembles the other...

Sometimes I'm lazy like that. I just get sick of the same tune all the time and go find myself a 'same same but different' one to keep me partially sane.

But tonight - well I was bouncing around from track to track on Soundcloud... Then out of the blue this tune randomly started playing?!

How odd. Dr Soundcloud clearly knew I needed some musical medication, I see!

And this is what he prescribed:

This musical beauty, produced by Felix Joseph & Rudi Redz, mixes jazzy vibes and hiphop with the most satisfying proportions.

It's got everything I need. Bass. Beats. Umph. And I must admit - I'm a sucker for gentle female vocals with the appropriate levels of sass.

Purrrrrfect!

So thank you Dr Soundcloud... <3 you more and more each day!

Will you be checking out more of Elli Ingram?

Sort your home out on a budget

2013-02-17T13:41:00.000-08:00

'New year, new start' was often said in the first month or so of 2013, but how can you start fresh when you haven't updated your home since the dark ages? It may be mid-February ALREADY, but here are 5 simple steps to revitalise your essential living spaces... Let's face it, you probably hadn't got round to doing anything yet anyway!

STEP 1: De-clutter

Get rid of all your junk. Come on, really? Are you ever going to wear, see, hold or use that ever again? Only if you're moving house in the future, most probably!

So get rid of it. Car boot sale, Ebay, Charity Shop, whatever - there's plenty of ways to get rid of your endless amounts of crap. Free space, free mind!

STEP 2: Paint

First thing to attack is your walls. You'll most likely have accumulated a load of hand prints, coffee drips, perhaps even puke on your walls. Get it the hell off!

If washing them doesn't work, re-painting them is your only option. Often a new lick of paint can brighten a place up instantly anyhow.

For god's sake don't have a heart attack at the prospect of picking up a paint brush! First, invite your friends, relatives, extended friends group - you name it - over to your house.

Then, disguise the event as some sort of super-fun social gathering and ask them to wear their most imaginative binbag fancy dress outfits. No risk of them claiming they're not wearing the right clothes then is there? Who said anything about deception? It'll be fun anyway!

Next, have a look at your furniture. Is it old, scratched and/or just generally obscene? Get some damn paint on them too! Or even just some gloss to refresh them! I hate that feeling of worn, oldness. This will instantly elliminate that.

After all, bad furniture can make a decent, mould-free house somehow conjure up a smell of dirt in our minds. So get to it.

STEP 3: Hang

Your walls may now be clean and fresh, but are they lifeless, with no pictures, nothing? The 'bare' look may suit the baby's bottoms featured in Pamper's adverts, but not your walls! Get some damn pictures on them.

All you need is a few decent posters, a frame in a contrasting colour to the picture itself (don't you dare stick the poster straight on the wall - yuck!), hammer in a nail and hang it up. Simple!

Make sure every room has one large statement picture, or a variety of small ones.

STEP 4: Reupholster

If your sofa and chair covers are dirty, gross, and/or dated, get them reupholstered. It shouldn't cost much and will make a huge difference to your home.

Plus, stick a few cushions in contrasting colours and fabrics to the sofa and throw them on. This will instantly brighten the room up.

If however your cushion covers are as disgusting as your sofas and chairs, you can easily get some new ones for cheap cheap cheap. My favourite places to buy home wares are H&M home, ZARA home, and even sometimes Ebay!

STEP 5: Get new sheets

If you've been hanging on to the same bed sheets for years it's time for a new set! That's like spending years in the same town and never venturing out; same stuff, all day, every day, nothing new - BLEUGH! If you live with other people, your bedroom is your sanctuary. New bed sheets are the icing on the cake and can work wonders with how you feel too!

Get inspiration from some
interiors I <3 here

Shock horror: Valentine's Day approaches

2013-02-10T13:03:00.004-08:00

Valentine's Day approaches once again my friends, and as usual the entire population of the western world commences into frenzy mode. To put things straight, I've responded to a few common reaction to the fateful day. Enjoy!

So which number best describes you right now?

1. A depressed person collating a list of potential places to commit suicide?

Chill out. First things first you should never be relying on a relationship to keep you happy. You must first learn to be happy within yourself, way before any other person can join the picture.

Maybe that's why you haven't met anyone yet? You have to have 'me love' before you can have 'I love', or you'll be plagued by jelousy in relationships!

Either way, being down all the time is unattractive. Sure, we all have our insecurities, but a fundamental thing to keep a relationship going is being able to make each other happy. Even if it's just the tiniest little thing.

Try thinking of the people in your life who DO love you - your family, your friends... Why not spend time and develop amazing relationships with them first?

2. A singleton signing up to dating sites in an attempt to fix a Valentine's Day date at some cringey single-person's-bar?

Again... Valentine's Day is just any old day. If you're serious about being in a relationship then you should be actively doing something about that, yes, but not just for Valentine's Day!

A girlfriend is not just for Valentine's Day!

3. Pooing your pants over whether or not to sign the Valentine's card to the person you're lusting after with your real name, or simply 'your valentine'?

Yeah, OK, everyone gets nervous. But what on earth is the point in giving someone a Valentine's card without revealing who you are?

If you're serious about this person then what are you waiting for? How are things going to move forward if they have no idea how you feel?

Sign your damn name!

If you're worried they're going to be horrible to you then why would you want to be with them anyway?!

4. Containing your excitement for receiving loads of gifts and compliments every year without fail? 'Hooray, I'm so in demand.'

Lucky you! You can't help that you're a gorgeous, beautiful person. Just don't go rubbing it in other people's faces. Bitch.

5. A 'taken' girl shopping 24/7 for the perfect gift for your boyfriend? 'Any excuse to shop - yippee!'

Gifts, gifts and more gifts are great. But remember, Valentine's Day isn't just about showering your lover with gifts! You should be trying to make your boyfriend happy every day of the year.

6. A 'taken' guy freaking out over where to take your girlfriend and hoping this isn't the year you're expected to propose?

Do something on the day which you both enjoy! Sure, every girl likes to be wined and dined, but don't think it HAS to be a fancy, expensive restaurant.

Me and James went into London last year looking for a nice place to eat and ended up in Pizza Hut. We had an awesome evening!

Just because you're trying to show your love doesn't mean you have to start acting like a rich bitch. If she's cool, then you shouldn't have to try and be something you're not. If you're right for eachother, even the most low-key date should be fun!

As for the proposal, don't give in to that crap unless you genuinely both want to.

If you love her and you're happy then what on earth is marriage going to do to help you? Check out my blog 'May Alarm bells ring on the most hypocritical day of your life' for more on how I feel about marriage.

SO EVERYONE, JUST REMEMBER:

If you're single, who cares? Let it ride. Stick with people who do love you. The rest will come in time.

And to those in relationships: It's not about the dinner date. It's not about the size of the card. For Christ's sake, it's about having a great time with the one you love!

I honestly think Valentine's Day means the most to couples who have survived a really tough year together... The ones who come to the realisation that they've been neglecting the person they love, and then decide to make it 'Valentine's Day' every fortnight. Even if it's just setting the time aside to cuddle up in front of the TV together!

Let me know your thoughts in the comments box below :)

The Pret a Manger predicament

2013-02-03T09:04:00.000-08:00

DAILY MAIL'S BREAKING NEWS: Pret a Manger expect employees to 'be charming', 'have presence', create a 'sense of fun' and not 'annoy people' or be 'bad-tempered'! Emotional slavery, I say! Or perhaps just normality?

So according to a recent article from the Daily Mail, the 'bizarre' revelations on Pret a Manger's guidelines for employees are somewhat shocking.

Uhh... Since when was encouraging your employees to provide good customer service out of the ordinary?

Customer Service

Good customer service is being attentive, friendly, positive and helpful. So what exactly are Pret a Manger doing wrong? Surely - like any other role which is customer facing - a personable attitude is a requirement in the job description!?

Could you imagine a job interview where the interviewee explains how they are naturally irritable and feel insulted when customers ask them for help? I can't.

Would they get the job after insisting: 'If customers want something done, they can do it themselves'? Don't think so.

I hate going into shops where there's grumpy, rude people at the counter! Or having to wait around while co-workers argue or finish their gossip session before being served. That's bad customer service.

Hypocrisy

The Daily Mail then accuse Pret a Manger of taking down the list of things they 'do' and 'don't' expect of their employees from their website because they were so TERRIBLY ashamed.

No.

As expected, a spokesman for Pret told the Daily Mail that 'they are for internal use for staff and the website is an external facing platform for communications with customers.'

Duh! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work that one out.

I can't believe the Daily Mail even published the article after realising that they were dramatising something so far from noteworthy.

Either way, where are guidelines for working with the Daily Mail on their website? Nowhere to be found! Hypocrites.

Get over it

The article can be compared to a little kid throwing their toys out of the pram because Mummy wouldn't give them Haribos... Kicking up a fuss over something which doesn't truly matter - since Haribos aren't vital to the wellbeing of children. In fact, they're bad for them.

The only difference is that the Daily Mail is made up of adults.

At the end of the day, it's not like Pret a Manger are forcing their employees to continue working there as slaves. If the employees don't want to provide good customer service then they can go attempt to find a job elsewhere. Perhaps a job working in the back-end of some shop sorting out deliveries would suit?

But then again, even that requires some sort of human interaction!

I would love to know your opinion in the

comments box below...

A terrible start to 2013 menswear trends

2013-01-26T16:40:00.000-08:00

Following my previous post 'Women Should Wear the Trousers' I now feel urged to challenge what is APPARENTLY now acceptable legwear for men...

I'll start by explaining how the apparent 'trend' has come about...

Once upon a time someone invented tights without feet. They called them leggings. Women wore them under their skirts and dresses.

One day, some slut decided that since leggings had no feet, they were pretty much trousers. 'Less is more, right?'

Well, the trend soon caught on, and before we knew it even the most obese pink-thong-wearing women were wearing them too. Yeah, I know for a fact it was pink. I could see everything.

So then some bright spark decided to make leggings look like jeans. Clever clogs! They called them 'jeggings'.

Before long, even trousers came in legging-form, under the name 'treggings'.

Now... low and behold, someone has decided to take things one step further and offer the very same stretchy concoctions for the likes of men:

Oh dear.

Conveniently enough they go by the name 'meggings'. How original. Will every letter of the alphabet soon become an affix for some sort of '-eggings'?

Anyhow, according to the Telegraph they are "taking the fashion world by storm". Some news that is! Why can't the papers only print happy stories, huh?!

Personally, guys in skin tight clothes freak me out altogether.

I've never been overly keen on a guy in skinny jeans. Me and the 'muscle man wearing UNDERsized All Saints t-shirt' trend never quite hit it off either.

Did any ladies actually enjoy such guilt-free exposure of men's bodies? Hmm.

Either way, meggings definitely take things way too far in my opinion. The 'if you've got it, flaunt it' rule should NOT apply to men’s, ahem, packages.

Eugh. Cringe. Icky...

Take men in Speedos. Hot? Nooo!

Put it away! I don't want to see that! It's always old men or cocky, body-confident, arrogant guys that wear speedos too - which makes things even worse. Double yuck.

Women wear tight fitting clothes all the time, I know... But men just shouldn't, OK?

That's my opinion. Does it make me sexist?

I do hate to judge on first impressions. But guys, unless you're some performance act - like the frontman of The Correspondents or The Darkness - then just don't go there. Please <3

And ladies, just answer me one question:

Would you date a guy who wore meggings?

Women should wear the trousers

2013-01-21T08:39:00.002-08:00

If women can wear the trousers in our relationships, why not wear them on our legs? No, not jeans. Not leggings. Trousers, darling, trousers...

Right now I think us women are a little too carried away with dresses, dresses, and more dresses. I, for one, don't like to dress the same as every other woman on the planet.

Reset your habits and open your wardrobe up to trousers.

I'm not telling you to cut out dresses completely. Why would I say that? But trousers are the way forward.

Whether it's for a daytime date, evening dinner, or an all-nighter, trousers can be worn on ANY occasion.

After all, people who abide by the following are just plain boring:

daytime = floral dress or t-shirt/ jeans, pumps

evening = cocktail dress/ court shoes

all-nighter = short, tight dress/ same old classic court shoes, or up-the-bum shorts/ cropped vest top

The way that a lot of women dress when they're on all-nighters does really wind me up sometimes. Why dress like the prostitutes I saw around Asia? Sure, you want to look sexy. But you also want to look classy, sophisticated and fashionable, right? Maybe even a little bit edgy?

So here's some inspiration from some super cool fashionistas on Lookbook.nu to show you how fabulous you could look in trousers:

DAYTIME LOOK:

EVENING LOOK:

ALL-NIGHTER LOOK:

All you have to do now: HEAD OVER TO MY 'TROUSERS' BOARD ON PINTEREST. You will find all of my favourite trustworthy 'trews' available online. Just click on the images of the trousers you like and you will be re-directed to the site of purchase. So now you too don't always have to look like yet another girl in a pretty frock!

Will trousers be making more of an appearance in your wardrobe from now on? Let me know your thoughts :)

Fabric nightclub 11/01/13: WTF?

2013-01-13T15:36:00.000-08:00

Dosed up to the eyeballs on cheap wine, two excited young ladies stumbled into Fabric on a Friday night ready to get down low to some dirty bass. What was to happen next was quite unexpected...

Fabric nightclub + Friday night = drum & bass. Standard. Right?

Room 1

In we bopped. The crowd was huge, hyped and absolutely loving it. Cool.

The music... Drone, drone, flipping drone.

What is this sh**?!

Well, lets not dismiss it just like that. Lets try to feel the vibe, this IS Room 1 after all. All the best artists play Room 1.

We shut our eyes. Did everything we possibly could to try to feel the music and ride the vibe.

It's just not happening.

"Lets try Room 2, I can't take this anymore."

Room 2.

O......K then. Same stuff. Is this even a different room? Sounds exactly the same.

Right now I'm confused.

Agh. I feel as if I've been sober for the past year. Where did all that wine go?

Frustation is setting in. We are in dire need of some good vibes, or at LEAST some form of a bassline to keep us going. Off to the next room... Third time lucky, please!

Room 3

And just like that, our hopes and dreams crumbled to the ground. It was as if we had opened our Christmas prescent from Santa in excitement, just to find a pile of dog poo wrapped in a gold ribbon.

...A huge, obese gold ribbon! The place was full. SO full. Yet SO bad. SO SO SO bad.

Just listen to this rubbish:

...Make it stop, make it stop!

Seriously?

I've never heard anything like this before in my life. And that's not a good thing this time, damn it.

100% we actually couldn't have stumbled across anything worse. How - in the name of the God which I don't believe in - could there possibly, ever, EVER, be worse music in the world?

If this utter crap drags hundreds of people to a club with an £18 entrance fee, how much worse does music get?

Am I missing something?

Is this some kind of insane music which only works when you're high as a kite? I did have one guy, chewing his face off, ask me for some gum.

But that's not unusual. It's everywhere.

Plus, I think you'd have to be higher than the moon on the hardest drugs possible to enjoy this musical vomit. That guy asking for gum could speak perfectly fine...

I just don't get it.

Don't get me wrong, I love music. I really do. I'm one of those people who, when you ask what my favourite music is, I can't tell you.

I don't just dismiss stuff 'cause I think it's not my scene.

My musical tastes are so diverse. I like everything from jazz, to house, all the way to metal. Not all of it, obviously. Just the good stuff within each genre.

But this? Hell no!

Pretty pretty please, help me, if you will....

Put me out of my misery and tell me what the appeal is with Ben UFO and the like?

AlunaGeorge makes my ears tingle

2013-01-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

Seeking something to satisfy my constant craving for new sounds, I came across the gorgeous AlunaGeorge, a honey-scented musical shower of refreshment for the ears.

AlunaGeorge's sweet-as-candy voice juxtaposed with strong bass, set on a backdrop of delicate beats and chilled-yet-funky rhythms is just delicious.

Check this one out:

Gahhh!!! So beautiful. It really does make my ears tingle. It gets under my skin.

See... I love coming across new artists. I could search for hours before I find something truly yummy. The discovery of AlunaGeorge just reinforces the fact that, other than oxygen, food, water and sleep, I actually couldn't live without music.

I'm practically high on music right now.

So thank you, AlunaGeorge. And please, when you get big, don't start releasing generic crap. Mwah <3

What do you think of AlunaGeorge?

Mmm... Ombre lips!

2012-12-13T11:47:00.000-08:00

I was born, naturally, with a love of lipstick - but ombre lips, well, I never thought of this one!

I'm in love! In case you were wondering, 'ombre' is a french term for a transition from light to dark. Check it out:

Well well well...

I'm the kind of girl who likes a lipstick which stands out, lifts the face and makes it go POP! The ombre lip, however, is a whole new statement-lip opportunity! Oh, all the endless possibilities!

Do you love ombre lips as much as I do?

Clean Bandit : A&E

2012-12-10T13:13:00.000-08:00

You should definitely check this out. Beautiful song. Nice chilled dancy vibe. Awesome video. Pretty cool, creative and different. Me likey. That is all.

Hey wait! You likey too?

London's little secret: the Soviet T-34 tank

2012-11-28T10:56:00.002-08:00

Following my blog on Singapore and its lack of creativity and unconventionality, today I came across something which could only be found in a vibrant city like London... A city on the other end of the spectrum from Singapore.

See, this is why I cherish my home town. The very sight of something so random plonked on some land surrounded by Bermondsey estates makes my eyes smile.

Installed in 1995, you will find this Soviet T-34 tank at the corner of Mandela Way and Pages Walk - just minutes from where I once called home in Bermondsey, SE1.

Cool, right?

But guess what? It has a history with a message behind it.

The fascinating - what would now seem to be a landmark - was installed by a landowner who is said to have failed to get planning permission on the site. What makes it even more exciting is the gun's direction, facing towards the local council offices.

Give it a few days, weeks, or years and here you have it. A piece of art.

Graffiti, rust - you name it. The tank is truly reflective of London's artistic flair and personality.

And that, my friends, is one of the things that makes London rock my socks off.

God help Singaporeans if they ever found the Soviet T-34 tank in their city, however. The culprit would most likely be tortured, before being given the death sentence.

LOVING LOOKBOOK.NU

2012-11-13T13:47:00.001-08:00

Are you a fashion and creativity lover who has yet to discover LOOKBOOK.nu? I suggest you check it out! The site is bursting with inspirational looks; from the classically beautiful, to ensembles you would never have thought would work.

Here's a few of my favourite looks to whet your appetite... Bon appetite!

Mirella Szymoniak brings us bling-tastic ghetto-chic! Brap, darling!

Adam G uses all of our favourite autumnal colours in one look - nicely done!

Quite the contrary: Who knew you could dress in the same colour head to toe and still look this gorgeous? Natalie Liao clearly did, through the use of a variety of textures...

Tamara Gonzalez Perea teams shocking pink and electric blue accents with stripy monochrome trousers in this daring look.

Tricia keeps things clean-cut and sophisticated with monochrome. Who needs contacts when you can look this chic in glasses?

Which is your favourite look?

Does life just feel like one big game?

2012-11-09T15:26:00.000-08:00

If so, turn to Lauryn Hill. She is an absolutely inspiration to me. Not just because I love her music. Hear me out…

I may not believe in God in the same way as she does. I don’t aspire to be just like her. But I agree with the vast majority of her very considered and well thought-out ranting that features in her MTV Unplugged No.2 album of 1992.

Anyone that has spent 24 hours with me will have been subjected to at least a song or two of Lauryn’s. She keeps me sane. I find her meaningful lyrics and chatter so refreshing, instead of the usual “you sexy, I sexy, let’s do it” malarkey.

She constantly talks of “reality” and life lessons that she’s learnt… Whilst she still takes to the stage, she has now ‘retired’ from being a performer.

One of her most inspiration songs is ‘I Get Out’ which is about her no longer compromising and repressing her true inner self for other people:

‘I get out’ is directed towards the record company Lauryn was under. How it was in their best interests for her not to be herself. To sell records. To go far.

I think we can apply Lauryn’s lyrics to all situations.

But is that really how you should be living your life? One big game, parade, facade of false perfection?

Instead of trying to be something you’re not to feel accepted, why not just be yourself? You will still be liked! Stop trying so hard to be what you think people want you to be.

I think everyone’s guilty of this in some place or other. Even in the simplest instances… Refusing to leave the house without makeup, for example.

Face it. No one looks their best without a lashing of mascara. That is reality.

In the words of Ms Hill: “Fantasy is what people want when reality is what people need.”

Don't you agree?

A Londoner’s love/hate relationship with Singapore

2012-11-08T07:38:00.001-08:00

First timer’s to Singapore be warned: The first culture-shock that’ll smack you in the face is the immediate and distinct LACK of graffiti, tramps and chewing gum.

Lets not forget that the distance between your feet and a pavement-dwelling cigarette butt will span far over a metre. In fact, make that 1000 metres, a million metres, however many metres you bloody want. You won’t find one.

And no. It isn’t because Singaporean’s are genetically predisposed to be clean freaks. Obviously there’s got to be some laws laid down to create a place which probably squeaks if you rub it with your finger.

You might have heard Singapore being described as ‘a fine city‘, but never quite figured out exactly what’s what. To start, here’s a few things to avoid:

SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES: $500 fine - stick to designated smoking areas and bins
LITTERING: $1000 fine and litter picking duty
JAYWALKING, SPITTING, FAILURE TO FLUSH A TOILET: Sizeable fines
VANDALISM: Fines up to $2000, a prison sentence of up to 3 years and between 3 and 8 strokes of the cane. If you fancy yourself the next Banksy, Singapore isn’t a place you want to hit up
DRUGS: Lengthy prison sentence/ death penalty.

Harsh? It’s arguable.

Anyhow, the list goes on… It truly does. Did anyone mention even a sip of water on the tube will cost you $500?

But the result of all these rules is that Singapore, quite frankly, is pristine. It really is an achievement that they’ve managed to create such a rule following society.

Since I got there it was noted that I tend to walk with my handbag swung round the front of me, clutched close into my chest like a newborn baby. Then there’s how anal I am about hiding my pin when I withdraw money at a cash point. I won’t even leave my bag lying next to me when sat at a table outdoors. To me, every child without an adult is a pickpocket.

Apparently all that jazz is simply not necessary there.

Everywhere is safe. Everything is so clean. Hypochondriacs, get your butts over there, the place is heaven.

How they managed to keep it that way is beyond us all. It’s fantastic. Grand. Amazing!

Take London; there are fines for littering. However, even taking one step out of your front door will show that clearly the rule isn’t enforced enough - if at all.

Yet Singapore is perfect. Or is it?

Well, no. I’m afraid not.

Sure, it’s got its plus sides. The city is beautiful. It’s kind of nice that everything’s so god damn perfect.

If you happen to find yourself in the area, get a cable car ride round to Sentosa at night. The panoramic views over the city are stunning. Sentosa on the other hand… not so much.

Either way, the novelty of a “perfect” city soon wears off.

You get bombarded with disappointment when you’ve spent your time searching for something a little quirky and it’s just not there. Say you fancy a dance, the authorities have even set up a designated ‘partying area’. Draw your own conclusions.

The place is so ‘staged’. People say there’s no such thing as perfect. Well, they are right…

To live there would be like becoming a kid whose parents keep them in a cocoon, hidden from the harsh realities of life. Or in this case, the dirty habits of back home.

The place has no soul. It drones through life.

You never thought you’d miss the singing tramps stumbling through the roads late at night. Or avoiding gangs of kids outside fast food shops on your way home, for fear of being stabbed. But these are things that come from a place where rules are not so strict.

In Singapore, the most out-of-the-ordinary thing I’ve seen is a man with bright red hair. Fascinating, or just plain dull?

On the other hand I do love the place. It’s fantastic. It could be seen as the ideal city. But only if all you want to do is eat, work and sleep.

I’m no extremist. I don’t jump off the world’s tallest buildings for thrills. But it really is the sense of 'unusual' - subculture, rebellion, danger, that a new piece of graffiti will turn up - which make life interesting.