TODAY I AM

New Year, New Skillz

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:38:00 +0000

Putting a 'z' on the end of skills makes me totally down with the kids, right?

ANYWAY.

It's day 21 of January and I've already failed pretty much every single one of my resolutions. Yep. Still eating ALL OF THE FOOD, still getting myself a Grade A in procrastination and still not keeping up regular blog updates.

I'm too old for this new year, new me BS.

So, since I'm still nurturing my food baby (it's due in a week. Send presents), I decided I'd focus on a different mantra I'm trying out for 2015.

NEW YEAR. NEW SKILLS. Or SKILLZ. Potato potata.

Nope, I'm not talking about breaking the World Record for how many Celebrations I can eat in one day (although I'd smash that tbh). I'm taking ACTUAL SKILLS. Sidenote: I haven't properly thought this through, because I felt like chucking all my ideas on here whilst I remembered them. A bit like word vomit.

Whatever. I'm getting cheese fries.

Right. So, instead of thinking about how I'm going to change myself into some sort of flawless Beyoncé sidekick, I've decided that I'm gonna try and learn some new skills to make myself seem more interesting instead. That's the plan anyway. I'll keep y'all posted.

I've been staring at a blank screen for about three days now and I've only come up with three things so here goes.

1) Learn to drive. I've wanted to learn to drive since I turned 17, but my excuse was either not having enough money (I once got paid 82p an hour by accident...), not having time or just being scared. So, to give me a big fat kick up the ass, I ask for a few starter lessons for Christmas and TA-DAH. I have started to learn to drive. Two lessons in and I can officially go forward, turn left AND not run anyone/anything over or drive on the path. Call me The Stig.

2) Learn more pole skills. I stopped going to my pole fitness class in July last year after fudging up my knee somehow. I was ready to go back in September/October time, but again fear held me back. Fear of causing more injury, fear of being crap, fear of - well, everything really. And a hint of laziness as well.

I actually started going back to classes a few weeks ago, and although I've actually remembered a LOT more than I thought I would, I'm still a long way off where I left off. I'm pretty determined to get right back up there, so I've decided to learn one new trick or skill a week, even if it's something I learnt before and need to re-learn if that makes sense. I'm rambling.

I've already learn new hoop and silks skills (fanceh) and done my first ever headstand, so I think I'm off to a good start. Until next week, where I'll probably spend the whole class falling off or something stupid.

3) Learn to ignore the #haterz. Figured I should learn some sort of new life skill too, so I've decided to try and stop reading comments on things I write and just let the haters, er, hate.

If you didn't know, I'm a freelance journalist, and I mainly write for Sugarscape and Yahoo Celebrity. As you'd probably expect, not everyone is always so keen on what I write, how I write it and why I write it, and some stories get some pretty brutal comments. Or I get tweeted telling me I suck and need a new career. Not exactly a confidence booster.

SO, I've decided that I need to stop letting stupid comments like that get to me and realise that I'm actually doing okay as I am thanks (until I'm asked to change something by editors, of course). I'm not perfect, my writing's not perfect and we all make mistakes now and then. As long as I try my best and work my backside off, I figure I'll be okay.

Although the two sites I write for are keen for an 'informal' style of journalism (don't know if that's the correct phrase, but y'know), and like their writers to add personality in their writing, mainly in hinting at opinions on the story within the story. That probably doesn't make any sense does it? ANYWHO. I obviously try and stick to this style, but I also try and make sure I'm not being derogatory towards anyone, and I try to never, ever comment on whether someone's supposedly looking 'ugly' or 'fat' or something ridiculous, instead trying to focus on complimenting someone on looking like an absolute dream.

Sometimes I get it wrong and sometimes people don't agree, but hey - at least I'm trying. And I would never, EVER lie in my work. Let's not tar all journalists with the same brush, eh?

That got a bit deep. THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID.

Alright, I'm blabbered on about nothing of anything importance for long enough so I'll end it here.

Oh, and don't worry. I'm not gonna start chucking my driving or poling in your face. I'm game for a tweet or whatever every now and then when I've achieved something because we all need to celebrate each other, right? But I just cannot stand being told every. Single. Time someone hits the gym, or goes for a run, or goes cycling yada yada yada. No. Keep it casj, guys. Chill.

Sorry if this is really boring and no-one cares, but I felt like venting things y'know?

Let me know if you've got some goals for the year or if, like me, you've got a mild addiction to leftover Christmas chocolates. I'm on Twitter - @rachelpilcher :)

Thanks, and 'til next time,

Rach x

New Year's Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:00:00 +0000

Resolution No. 1 - Start using this blog again.

Totally clichéd I know, but I'm quite honestly appalled at how much I've neglected this outlet for the past six months or so. It's not that I just can't be bothered (oh alright, SOMETIMES it is), but I really haven't had the time and I didn't want to warble on about something totally irrelevant just for the sake of it.

So, since I'm supposedly starting the whole 'New Year, New Me' thing tomorrow by obviously losing weight, never ever procrastinating, looking after my skin more etc etc, I figured it was as good a time as ever to make some sort of non-spectacular comeback and talk about that thing that looms over everyone's head as December draws near.

Yep, I'm talking NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS.

Highlight from 2014 - MALTA

Originally, this was going to be some sort of self-indulgent post about all the resolutions I've made for 2015, how I'm totally going to succeed and how it's going to be the best year ever. Of course. But once I got talking to one of my closest friends about what the heck I was going to write it, she made me realise two things.

Firstly, the fact that aside from losing weight and procrastinating less, I really had made NO resolutions. And secondly, why should I feel so pressured to turn over a new leaf in 2015?

In fact, pressure's probably the reason I can't think to particularly change about myself this year. Sure, I've got things I want to achieve - driving, goals in work etc etc. But why should we feel like we HAVE to find something to change/achieve/do JUST because we're told we're should. If you feel passionate about doing something and changing for the better then I'm right behind you of course, I wish you all the best and I hope you can stick to it and achieve it this year. Insert some sort of encouraging emoji here.

However, if you're choosing to 'try' something just because somewhere, someone or some website has told you to, then are you REALLY going to stick to it? Do you really WANT to do it? Are you doing it just to please someone other than yourself?

Cool kids in Majorca

My friend made a really good point when I was still procrastinating over whether to do this. She questioned why we all wait until the New Year to make a change. If we put on a little weight from indulging in exotic foods and/or chips on holiday, we don't make a 'holiday resolution' to lose weight. We either choose to do it when we come home or we don't. Simples.

Life is far too short to be making resolutions and feeling completely guilty when we break them. Good luck if you're really determined to do something, but don't feel like you need to have a list as long as your arm of things you need to do this year. Just take it as it comes and live in the moment. My friend told me "resolutions are aspirations that people have that should come about in their lives." I like that.

Here's to more nights out with the best lot of friends I could ask for. CHEESY.

Sorry this got a bit deep, but I couldn't come back with any old crap could I? If you need me, I'll probably be here tomorrow afternoon, ruining my resolution as I stuff my face full of chocolate.

NEW YEAR NEW ME x

Making a comeback: Attempt #2 (AKA Holiday Essentials)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 20:36:00 +0000

About a month ago, I tried to be really funny and clever and make some sort of hilarious comeback on my own blog, which basically ended in a really shoddy past about diddly squat that I was far too embarrassed to let loose on the general public. Yeah, it was pretty atrocious. So, here is attempt numero deux at making some form of 'welcome back' post that isn't completely shit.

I've just returned from a beaut of a holiday to Majorca with some friends, where I got the first tan of my entire life (whut), took part in some hilarious water aerobics, and pretty much just sat by the pool drinking cocktails all day, every day. It looked a bit like this:

Hashtag no filter. Oh alright, maybe on the first one. Anyway, since I am the universe's actual worst packer, I've been thinking all about holiday essentials, especially since I've got to pack for two weeks away at the end of August which I'm actually dreading. If anyone wants to come help, holler at me.

Since I'm whacking this out late on Sunday, I can't guarantee anything fancy or well put-together here, but we'll give it a shot. LEGGO:

SUNCREAM. Ok, let's start with the obvious. If you're going somewhere where sun exists, you're gonna need to be whacking the stuff on. My top tip for suncream is to start high-ish (I started around 40 but I have the skin of a ghost so 30's probably fine) and then work your way down. Probably pretty quickly if you're anything like my mother.

AFTER SUN. Another pretty obvious one, but it's a godsend of a creation, even for the slightest of sunburns. Really good for getting moisture back in the skin too and doubles as an everyday moisturiser. I've always used a Nivea one, just because it's never let me down and is incredibly moisturising:

EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS: Shampoo, conditioner, deodrant etc etc. Blindingly obvious, but if you don't write it down, chances are you'll forget. Easy to pick up at the airport if you want, but I always nip to Primark for empty bottle set. Only £1 and saves spending more on new shampoos. OH, and do not forget a TOOTHBRUSH and TOOTHPASTE.

PASSPORT and TRAVEL INSURANCE DOCUMENTS and MOOLAH. Yeah, probably naht a good idea to leave these behind.

FIRST AID TYPE KIT. Just make sure you've got a good selection of essential medicines like ibuprofen, paracetamol, bug bite cream, Imodium and stuff like that, just in case.

SUN PROTECTING SPRAY. I swear by Charles Worthington's Takeaways Sun-Shine UV Protection Spray for keeping my hair looking not too shabby in the heat, especially since I dip-dyed it. Spray on before you hit the pool, and again once you've been in water. The shampoo and conditioner counterparts are pretty awesome too.

iPod SPEAKERS: When you're getting ready for just about anything, it's always good to have a banging' playlist on, so make sure one person brings some speakers. Oh, and get someone to create some sort of holiday playlist to keep everyone happy.

SUNGLASSES: Obviously, but essential. A cheap pair is good for going in the sea, but I think it's worth investing in a decent pair to get the best protection for your eyeballs.

MAKE-UP. Waterproof mascara is an absolute must, so you don't look like the joker when you glide effortlessly out the pool/sea/unexpected downpours. I'd also highly recommend BB Cream, and I swear by this Maybelline one for £7.99. I don't like putting much make-up on abroad as it feels so heavy, so this BB cream is a godsend, and is perfect for putting on round the pool too, as it contains sun protection. Also, bear in mind that with a tan, your normal make-up might not fit, so don't go too cray cray. Sun protection Vaseline or Nivea Sun Protect stick for lips are also highly recommended to save from nasty sunburnt lips.

SHOES: Alright, here's where it gets tough for me. I normally bring abut 5 pairs too many, but on an essential level, I'd opt for some flip flops, a couple of pairs of sandals, perhaps a pair of nicer wedged heels for any nights out. You could chuck in a pair of espadrilles in you're not a sandals fan, and I've also just fallen in love with jelly shoes which are AMAZING. I have these ones from New Look, which are £9.99 and only gave me blisters at home. Sounds bad, but I walked over two hours in them (an hour each on separate days) and they didn't hurt one iota.

CLOTHES: Again, this is pretty subjective, but as long as you've got a couple of bikinis or swimsuits, some underwear and enough outfits to last, you'll be good to go. I always take a few cover-ups for if you want to pop out to the shops too - kimonos are a new favourite of mine, because you can also add them to other outfits to jazz them up. Perfect for a bit of cover up if it gets a bit chiller in the evenings. I always over pack outfits for choice, but a good variety of day and night options will be perfect, in case you plan any day trips and whatnot. A couple of dresses/playsuits, a couple of pairs of shorts and some tees will see you through. OH, and a good hat is a wonderful idea too. So is jewellery. AGH.

Supermarkets abroad are pretty damn good, so don't worry about food or anything if you're going self-catering. 6l of water was about 6Euros in Majorca, so stock up. The alcohol was surprisingly cheap as well, so if you forget any, ne panique pas. Just drink Sangria and Pina Coladas and forget the rest. OO, reading material - Pack a good book/magazine for pool times.

This has turned unnecessarily long and that's all I can think of for now, but I might come back to this if I think of anything more that's needed.

Please comment below which anything you can't go on holiday without :)

Love y'all
x

Featured Post: Mallzee App

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 15:21:00 +0000

So, it's been a horribly, disgustingly long time since I lasted blogged, and I can only offer sincerest apologies. I am trying to do a post ASAP about what the heck I've been up to recently (nothing too amazingly life-changing, soz and all). BUT, for now, I am here to let you all know about something that miiiiiight just interest you.

A while back, I started spreading the word about Mallzee, a brand new shopping experience that's completely tailored to you. Now, the lovely Laura from Mallzee has told me they've done so well (they were named one of sMarta’s top 10 Mobile Businesses of the year in 2013 don't'cha know), they've developed their own iPhone app. Halle-freakin-lujah!

Being hailed as the Tinder for clothes and a 'personal shopper in your pocket' (I've always wanted one of those), the app searches over two MILLION items of clothing (yep, that's two ruddy million) from over 200 top retailers to learn YOUR style and find you the clothes you actually want. Pretty much the dream app if you're tired of searching through pages and pages of clothes that don't interest you at all right? You can rate or hate the clothes you see from major fashion faves including ASOS, Topshop and Urban Outfitters, to find your perfect Christmas party outfit faster than you can say 'I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!!'

PLUS, much like the website, the Mallzee app also lets you share outfits you've found with your friends to gain that all important second opinion. AND because Mallzee knows how important second opinions are, it won't let you buy anything until your friends agree. A bit like persuading my Mum I NEED those heels before she decides they're a suitable purchase (would've got them anyway but y'know. Context, people).

Just in case you still aren't persuaded (c'maaaaan people), CEO and founder of Mallzee in 2012, Cally Russell, had this to say about why he created Mallzee: “in the modern day, as people have less and less time to spare, we wanted to create a product where people could quickly find clothes that suited them. We search over 200 top brands to create an effortlessly simple online shopping experience- just like a personal shopper in your pocket. there shall be no more trawling through hundreds of pages of clothes online, thanks to Mallzee.”

So why now?: “Now’s the perfect time for Mallzee to be available to everyone. We’ll make sure we find you the perfect outfit to keep you looking stylish this festive season and ensure your Christmas party is a roaring success.”

Let's all join together for a great big thanks guys. THANKS.

So, get downloading the free app right now. Trust me, you are gonna LOVE it.

Mallzee, the iPhone app revolutionising the way the world shops, is launching fully to the public this week in time to save you from Christmas party fashion disasters. The iPad version will be released before Christmas.

*DISCLAIMER: I am not receiving any money for this post, merely spreading the word of a unique new shopping experience!

A Japanese Visitor and a New Job...of sorts

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 20:09:00 +0000

After my tirade against David Cameron earlier this week, I thought I'd end the week on a slightly more humourous note and fill everybody in on what's being going on in my life. I know how much you all care of course (and if you don't, JUST PRETEND OK?!). Sidenote: Who suddenly ordered all these spiders?! I HATE THEM. That's all.

EXCITING THING NUMBER ONE

Six years ago, my GCSE Japanese class and I travelled to Japan for a two week tour of Kyoto, Hiroshima, Mount Fuji and Tokyo, where we completely a one-week homestay. Last year, a friend and I travelled to Tokyo, where I meant up with the girl I stayed with. AND THEN, last week, FINALLY, said friend visited England for the first time and stayed with me for a week. HURRAY!

We spent the week sightseeing around London, Hastings and little ol' Tunbridge Wells, where we experienced a very traditional afternoon tea (yuuuuuuuuuuuuuum). We went for a cruise down ye olde River Thames (which I had actually never done before and LOVED) and had a quick spin on the London Eye, where the views over London are simply stunning. It's probably easier to sum the week up with photos, so I've put them below (minus my phone pictures which are being useless once again). I had such a fantastic week and it was fab to actually get out the house and do something different for a change - even if I did prove myself to be a bit of an awful tour guide! I hope Seiko had a brilliant week too, and I hope we can meet again soon :)

^ Yes, that man is almost floating. WHAAAAT?!

YES, there was a fake-Psy doing Gangnam Style in British gear in London. Bloody brilliant.

I also had the chance to quickly say hi to my boyfriend. Obvs.

EXCITING THING NUMBER TWO

Last weekend (yes, it was a very hectic week) I started writing for Entertainmentwise.com, live tweeting the Strictly shows and reviewing them afterwards for the website. I'm really enjoying it, and it's giving me great experience for online writing, using a CMS and for improving my social media experience. I'll admit I also still find it exciting to see my name on an ACTUAL WEBSITE - don't judge me. I'll be putting all the reviews under 'Portfolio of Work' on here if you fancy a ganders by the way... please read them. Please. This is all working towards a job - any experience is good experience and I can only hope someone will see my writing, like it and offer me a job. Ahem.

Tomorrow I'll be starting two weeks of work experience at Mother & Baby magazine, which I'm both hugely exciting and very nervous for- eek! Wish me luck!

Until next time (and hopefully a longer post. Sorry.),

How Do You Solve a Problem like Benefits/Unemployment/Youth Employment?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 20:48:00 +0000

Not by taking away money Mr Cameron.

Today, David Cameron promised that if re-elected at the next general election, he will strive for a "land of opportunity," where those under 25 will no longer be entitled to housing or jobseeking benefits. Instead, they will have to be earning or learning. Cue a barrage of swear words from me, and a backlash instantly erupting on Twitter.

Here's why Davy C's new big idea is naive (Apologies in advance if this isn't my usual vaguely humourous/less drivel. This might actually be somewhat comprehensive and informative. WHO KNEW?!)

I am in total agreement that something needs to be done, that something needs to change to help our economy and that we need to stop people just scrounging off benefits and never getting a job. What I don't understand, is how taking away help for young people is going to somehow create a bunch of jobs and get rid of youth employment. It just doesn't work like that. To me, this just seems like another example of blaming and punishing the young (and, more often that not, ambitious AND hard-working) for going to university like Mr C encourages but sadly, coming out to find no jobs. Surely, the bigger problem is those who have been on benefits for 10 years and have made little or no effort in finding employment.

Trust me, out of all those I know who are or have been on jobseekers' allowance, not one of them (including myself) have wanted to be there. I personally find it somewhat soul-destroying rocking up to the job centre with my degree just to confirm that yes- I have been looking for jobs, yes- I have had rejections and no - there really aren't jobs. Promise. For every job there is, there's a couple of hundred or more applicants standing in the way. It's all becoming a bit of a lose-lose situation. We're grateful for the help of course, but choosing jobseekers' is not the easy option. When I signed up, I felt like I was admitting defeat. It's mentally and emotionally tiring, even more so when you then get penalised for unpaid work experience that will help you get a job, but will stop your monetary help in the mean time (but that's a whole other debate).

What annoyed me EVEN FURTHER was this comment :

"Think about it: with your children, would you dream of just leaving them to their own devices, not getting a job, not training, nothing? No – you'd nag and push and guide and do anything to get them on their way … and so must we. So this is what we want to see: everyone under 25 earning or learning."

Here's the thing David. Of COURSE my parents would rather see me working than on benefits, and of course they're helping me the best they can. But they cannot just give me a job on a plate. What you're suggesting is that my parents have just left me to my own devices and I've strayed over to benefits. Bit offended by that. Unfortunately, we're not all born in huge amounts of wealth, where Mummy and Daddy can fund every part of our lives. I feel that's what you're seeing through your rose tinted glasses. My parents know I hate being on benefits, but they can't afford to keep paying for me, and would rather I was getting help until someone finally decides to employ me.

Mr Cameron seems to lack any understanding of the graduate climate right now, seemingly thinking that because we don't have jobs, we are not hard-working. Bollocks to that. Bollocks even more to the idea that taking away our money will suddenly magic jobs into our worlds. Again, that just isn't the solution. Even telling us to get training isn't a great help, as training can cost MONEY that we only get through JOBSEEKERS which you want to GET RID OF. Good one. I'm all for tackling those who are too lazy to work, but let's not target those who are genuinely working their butts off to get some form of work. The internship issue will only get worse, and some of the poor will end up poorer. As per usual.

I always knew my career would be a difficult one to get into (whole other kettle of fish right here), and jobseekers, until I get some work, is the only thing pulling me through. Monetary-wise anyway.

So Mr Cameron, I end my rant here. Stop generalising us and tarring us all with the same brush and realise that WE DO WANT TO WORK, there's just no jobs. Or the jobs are over-subscribed. Please tackle those on benefits who need to be tackled. Back to the drawing board and back to your bread-maker.

Anything to add to the debate? Comment below :)

Normal service resumed next post...

Ciao! x

The Pros and Cons of Becoming an Adult... of sorts.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 17:37:00 +0000

Sincere apologies for my complete lack of blogging lately. Since last time, I've completed two brilliant weeks of work experience, firstly at GoThinkBig (I'll put a list of the articles I've written under a new page) and then at Top of the Pops Magazine, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. I've also had my adenoids removed, celebrated my 21st birthday and officially become one of those adult things.

Credit for photos to the lovely Jack and Sophie. Please enjoy the beautiful hospital gown, and know that I did actually have a sophisticated birthday with family... the photos just won't load on my laptop. First world problems

Unfortunately this means I have to become somewhat of a sophisticated, mature, independent, financially stable young lady... something of a difficult task when you're still living in the delightful town of Tonbridge with your Dad, paying £7.30 for a drink in Tunbridge Wells because there's nowhere remotely good in Tonbridge. End of rant. This is why I've decided to write a really quick and short post debating the pros and cons of effectively becoming old, although I am genuinely struggling to find some pros thanks to the above difficulties... hold tight everyone.

The Pros?

The only pro I'm going to highlight here is INDEPENDENCE: You've got actual real money from an actual real job to spend on actual real things that you actually really want (I'm not including myself in this one... hello unemployment). You can go out to a pub with friends whenever you want. You can vote! You can act all sophisticated drinking cocktails! The list really is endless.

And the easier part: CONS

Money: You have to pay for everything. You may still be in a student overdraft. You may have no money (this is where I take inspiration from my dear self). Now adult life gets tricky...
Hangovers get significantly worse: Perhaps even lasting two days, perhaps made worse by texts and photos (no I will not 'send you a pic') reminding you of the night before. Highly unfair.
Unemployment: This one might just be me, but I'm feeling like somewhat of a disaster still being unemployed almost three months since leaving uni. This is a whole other debate, but being an adult no longer means I can simply reply to any 'why don't you have a job?' comments with 'I'M STILL A STUDENT GOD'
Being ID'd for a drink when you're 21: Not sure whether to take this as an insult of a compliment. Hashtag youthful face
Shopping: You are now expected to spend money on important things and 'work clothes' rather than all the fun 'student night out' clothes you find on Missguided. Sadface.
And finally- Judging acceptability: Just how acceptable is it to still be watching Toddlers and Tiaras? And how acceptable is it to want to go on this Helter Skelter?

Sorry if this was a little dull, but I thought I'd keep you all up-to-date on how life is going. Here's a promise that next time will be tonnes more exciting.

If you can think of any more pros and cons that you've experienced since becoming an adult, comment below...

Ciao!

My Week in Pictures #4

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 12:03:00 +0000

This is going to be a bit of a mismatched post, as I try and cram a few extra bits in. This is because I may not have a chance to blog properly for a while as I have racked up a couple of weeks of work experience HOORAH!!!... followed by turning 21. I'll let you know how that one turns out. Hashtag I am getting old.

Moving on...

Firstly, MISSGUIDED. I'm going to make a separate 'Summer Wishlist' post at some point, which turned out to mainly be consisted of Missguided products. Yes, I'm a little obsessed. During my last couple of years or so of university, I'm pretty sure my housemates and I kept Missguided going, judging by the amount of parcels we had delivered to our house. I don't doubt the delivery man began to recognise that. There's so much stuff I could buy from there, especially thanks to their new 'Sweet Deals' range, and I thought I'd just share my favourite dress on the website at the moment. I'm obsessed with it, and I keep having to debate with myself over whether or not I can afford it (newsflash: I really can't. Someone please buy it for me). It's this lovely skater dress...

... and you can pur-chase it from here. For me. As a present. Thank you very much (IT'S MY BIRTHDAY SOON).

Secondly, just thought I'd draw your attention to my current eBay. I've started uploading a bunch of clothes to sell that I don't like/don't wear/don't fit into anymore, and I've got a tonne still to come, so go have a ganders... because I am poor. Thanking you kindly in advance.

FINALLY. The point of this post. My week in pictures. This week I have been catching up with uni friends in Primrose Hill (as featured in the collage) and in Leicester Square, celebrating my sister's birthday with a delicious roast, experimenting with my Mum's new record player and doing a tour of London food markets, from Borough Market (which holds the biggest meringues EVER) to Southbank's food festival. Also thrown in what the Science Museum thinks I looked like as a child. Not accurate AT ALL.

Apologies for the blurriness of this collage, can't quite figure out what's going wrong but I'll keep trying to fix it. That's all from me for a bit. Looking forward to my next few weeks of work experience and birthday-ing and perhaps a bit of blogging in between. Have a lovely weekend!
x

The Circle of Life (As A Graduate)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 12:37:00 +0000

Unlike the film, the circle of life as a graduate sadly doesn't begin by being lifted and presented to the animal kingdom as an awe-inspiring bundle of fur, soundtracked by THAT Elton John gem.

(Sorry, couldn't resist)

In fact, quite the opposite happens really. Instead of being presented as perfect, we're thrown straight into the lions den. The only activity that goes on here is shouting, every unemployed graduate for themselves.

'EMPLOY ME, I HAVE ALL THESE SKILLS,'
'NO, EMPLOY ME, LOOK AT ALL MY EXPERIENCE,'
'PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD EMPLOY ME, I AM DESPERATE FOR MONEY.'

Ok, maybe not the last one, but we're all thinking it. Except, there's just one problem. To get to a lot of jobs these days, you become stuck in the black hole that is WORK EXPERIENCE AND INTERNSHIPS. I don't want to bore anyone, because I know just how many blogs post about this. Trust me, I've read most of them in hopes of finding any way out. I'm not completely writing off unpaid internships by any stretch of the imagination. I knew when I decided I wanted this career that interning was vital in succeeding. They can be an essential way to network and get contacts that will prove priceless in the future. They give you the knowledge you need/can then brag about on CVs and covering letters that make other companies pass out from excitement. Well, almost. Most importantly, if you impress and you're there at the right time, they can be the important stepping stone you need into a journalism career. If you're lucky (I am not. Unfortunately).

Here's the catch, and the most frustrating circle we find ourselves in. To get a job, you need experience. Fine and dandy. HOWEVER, to get said experience, you are expected to break a bank to be able to afford to travel to and from London in peak times, since you're not even being paid expenses. Unless you live in London (where you may just be able to claim expenses for the tube. WOO), or are handsomely loaded, you're stuck between a rock and a very hard place.

This is exactly where I'm currently stuck. I've got a few weeks of experience lined up shortly which I'm really excited about, but I am panicking as to how the heck I'm going to afford it. Depressingly, I've had to sign up to Jobseeker's since many companies won't employ me part-time in case I leave in a few months when I get a better offer (HAHAHA sarcastic laughter). Even this is a bit of a failure in itself, since they won't pay you the allowance if you start working for free, although you can apparently ask to get your expenses covered. We'll see. What I'd like to campaign for is work experience that pays you somehow, even if it's just expenses and lunch. Us graduates are willing to work for free (within reason, we don't want to basically be an employee within the company and not get paid), because we all agree that we need these skills and such to be able to progress. A grand don't come for free and all that. But the vast majority of us are stuck in that lion's den, broke, crying and waiting for Mufasa to present us to the kingdom of employees as the perfect candidate for the role, and we're quickly discovering that it's just not happening. Even though we may have the full range of skills needed and then some, we're constantly being beaten down by those who can afford to travel without robbing the bank.

Apologies if this turned a bit rant-y. It was going to be a really well thought out and articulate piece of work but this whole internship-payment argument is one of the most frustrating things in my life right now. Day in, day out of constant job and internship applications has become exceptionally draining and I just want to run around London yelling employ me until someone calls the police on the crazy person. Contrary to popular belief, we are trying eveything. Signed up to every job site available, we've lost sight on what day we're even on now. And even worse than rejection? Those companies that just point blank never reply... that's a whole other blog post.

So what do you think? Should internships be paid, even if it's just expenses? Leave me a comment below, as I know how fiercely debated this topic is!

Until next time. Here's some Robin Thicke to make everything better.

x

Day Seven - University Lessons #2

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 08:20:00 +0000

It's finally time for the second half of my 'university lessons' post, which this time, will be used to share lessons I've learned/tips that I hope will help future university students. Hold tight, this could be a long one, so apologies for a lack of photos...

1. Make the very most of first year. I know this seems like pretty simple advice, and you've probably heard it all before, but it really is one of the most valuable things I learnt. Sure, you'll have some hilariously brilliant nights out in second and third year, but nothing can beat the careless feeling of freshers. Trust me. Obviously you need to work and get the first year grounding, this is the only year you will have had in three years where your work counts towards nothing. It makes no bearing on your degree, so make the most of it. Experience all the clubs and bars and experience what your university and city/town has to offer. Make new friends, especially with your surrounding flats if you're in halls, because they may just become friends for life... and you need someone to live with in your second year. Be sensible... but also be a bit reckless. I have some regrets, but I'll always remember first year as one of the best years I've had. Go to the Fresher's fair, join societies, join the gym, get lost somewhere... enjoy your freedom!

Sorry not sorry for these photos guys...

2. Work hard in second year. Again, you've probably heard this before, but it honestly makes a huge difference in your final year, pressure and potentially, results wise. The jump from first year to second year is shocking, but work hard, and you'll come out smiling, and with some of the third year pressure lifted.

3. Spirits don't mix with anything. Something I learnt from a dangerous mix of vodka followed by 3/4 of a bottle of wine. The next day was a struggle... and that's an understatement.

4. Drink a glass of water before bed after a night out. You will love yourself the next day.

5. Coke settles your stomach. Seriously, Nina taught me this trick and it's the best thing I've learnt. You will feel a gazillion times better, I promise.

6. Things to bring. You've probably all got lists from your university/friends/family etc but there's a few things that I can guarantee you will be forever grateful for bringing. For me, these were a printer (the queues at library printers can be outrageous), a mirror when you move into a house (if your room doesn't have one) and weirdly, storage boxes. Makes packing a million times easier at the end, and they provide a handy place to store all your snacks away from the eager eyes of thieving housemates.

7. Don't leave your dissertation until the last minute. It just won't work.

8. Get a job. I'm not really one to talk, since I only had a very short term job in my first year, but if you're short of money, try working at the student shop or bar. From what I've heard, you'll make a tonne of new friends and it's only a short walk from where you live (supposedly). You'll appreciate all the money to spend on ~~nights out and fun activities~~ textbooks

9. Make sure you read the housing contract thoroughly and make sure everything you want is written in there. Do the same with your inventory. Again, sounds simple, but this is really important and will make so much difference if/when things go wrong in the house and when you move out. Similarly, make sure you inform your landlord immediately if anything breaks and goes wrong in the house. For example, one of the switches in our house broke, so that everytime we swtiched it on, it tripped the electricity and the house plunged into darkness. We told the landlord who sent his maintenance men round... who then rewired the house. Result!

10. Graduation. Last tip for the meantime. Take safety pins and kirby grips. Look up with your walk up the steps. Overall, enjoy the day. It's so much fun to see everyone for one last time, so just enjoy it.

There are loads more tips I could give you. Stay safe and never walk home alone. Visit your friends' universities. Get library books out early, they will disappear. These can be the best three years of your life and a chance to really embrace your independence so the best tip really is to just enjoy it.

Have you got any tips for future students? Comment below!

x

My Week in Pictures #3

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 18:29:00 +0000

This is more like 'two weeks in pictures,' but I thought I'd show off the two main events that have dominated the past couple of weeks- our holiday to Tenerife (TAKE ME BACK) and my amazing graduation (AHHHH!!!!). The reality that university is completely and utterly over for good has yet to hit me, meaning I am completely in denial that I need to get some form of job (although if anyone wants to employ me, I won't say no!). Enjoy...

Tenerife

I won't describe these collages, as they're pretty self-explanatory. I'll be honest, most of my Tenerife photos are of food and drink, and it was down to my housemates to get the lovely group ones. This is a quick look at how our holiday went, from the delicious food (see tapas and ice cream) and cocktails, to the gorgeous views and just having a great relaxing time together (all together now... AWWW).

Graduation

Again, won't be explaining but here is a snapshot of my graduation. Amazing day all round!

There are more photos of my holiday and my graduation on my Instagram feed if you fancy a ganders, with more to be added I'm sure. I'm hoping to put up a feed on the side of this blog too (when I figure out how) so keep an eye out for that :)

Enjoy your weekend!

Featured Post: Mallzee

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 17:34:00 +0000

I was recently contacted by the very lovely and friendly Laura from Mallzee, and although I had not previously heard of the site, I was keen to have a nosy. Once I'd had a good look around (I got quite into it, I must admit), I decided this was definitely something my readers need to know about!

Mallzee work with 200 brands (including Little Mistress, Asos, Motel and Miss Selfridge to name just a few!) to create a completely new online shopping experience that is completely tailored to you and only you. You pick exactly what types of clothes (via a short quiz) and brands you want to shop, only to have them all handily in one place. You can also create a wardrobe of the clothes you want to buy, which then shows you recommended pieces to go with your chosen items, so you can quickly and easily find them again. Sounds better than rifling through pages of clothes you don't like right?! This is what my Mallzee currently looks like...

Mallzee also makes shopping social, letting you shop with friends using their built-in chat features, as well as allowing you to create polls to get your friends opinions on what you should buy. Much quicker than sending clothes back and forth over social network sites!

Need more convincing? In addition to ALL this, you also get paid to shop. Yes, you read that correctly. Don't look so shocked! For every £3 you spend, you get 1 Mallzee dollar to spend, meaning more clothes and more rewards!

I currently have VIP membership, and you can do, if you click on the link below. You lucky things!
Your one click access to exclusive features and offers

Last but not least, Mallzee are running a Pinterest competition, the details of which I'll add below.

Happy shopping!

*Disclaimer: I am not receiving any money for this post, merely spreading the word of a unique new shopping experience!

My Week in Pictures #2

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 16:36:00 +0000

Apologies in the rather large delay in posting this. Picasa was refusing to acknowledge I had uploaded any of these photos, so I ran out of time between finding out I'm graduating with a 2:1 (yay!), going to my last ever Summer Ball (sadface) and jetting off to Tenerife (SUN WOOP YEAH etc.) to post this. As a slight warning, this is the post that will officially establish myself as a massive fatty. Also, the next post after this will be post-Tenerife, so jealousy may ensue when I post a gazillion pictures of THE SUN. Again, just a little warning...

1. Dodgems at my last ever Summer Ball. Definitely as fun as ever

2. An artistic representation, courtesy of friends, of the three burgers in two days I consumed whilst in Manchester. The sensible part of me regrets this decision... the greedy part does not.

3. High Contrast was one of the acts playing at our Summer Ball, and a managed to grab a quick photo with him, courtesy of Anna, before his set, which was awesome.

4. Just one of the yummy £2 cocktails we found in a bar called The Font in Manchester, during a visit to my home friend Lizzy. This was, as far as I can remember, a Mudslide, which was super creamy and really moreish. You can browse the whole menu here, if you ever wanted a visit.

5,6, 9, 10. During this visit, we were also taken to Home Sweet Home, a quirky little café where we had Loaded Fries, which were a mixture of standard and sweet potato fries, topped with cheese and bacon. Unbelievably delicious and very VERY fattening. I also had a Sweet Carolina burger, which you can see at the bottom. This is a pulled pork burger, with breaded pork schnitzel, bacon and Carolina slaw. Again, DELICIOUS, and something I would definitely revisit in the future. Pulled pork is up there with one of my favourite foods in the whole world. The 'quirky' theme of the café was continued in the presentation of cutlery in a teapot, and straws in the drinks. All-in-all, a cute and recommendable café. You can peruse the menu here.

7. Our final night in Manchester was spent playing a drinking game related to the show The Bachelor. Introduced to me by Emma, this is a show you HAVE to see, especially the American version, if only to laugh at all the horrible clichés the contestants come out with. It was a really nice way to end a fun road trip up North.

8. Finally, this is an (admittedly slightly shoddy) photo of James Arthur, another of the acts playing our Summer Ball. Sadly, I was pretty disappointed with the performance, and opted to get a hog roast instead. Good shout I say.

Finally, courtesy of Emma, here one of the last photos of all my housemates together. I will miss these guys a lot, and I can't believe three years have flown by so quickly. Currently considering a sit down protest in my house as I'm definitely not ready to leave quite yet.

Ed Sheeran & Taylor Swift - Everything Has Changed

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:58:00 +0000

*CUTE VIDEO ALERT*
Quick music post... couldn't not blog this because it's just too damn cute. Plus, the song is pretty awesome thanks to a dream duet.

#nowplaying

My Week in Pictures #1

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:37:00 +0000

NEW FEATURE: Decided to start doing 'my week in pictures' that I'm hoping to routinely update, depending on how medial my week may have been. This week's is coming slightly late, so it now spans from last Monday - yesterday (Tues 5th June).

Now Playing: Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines

1. Last Monday was glorious, so we decided to move our sofa outside into our (disappointingly not so glorious or sunny) garden. Best idea we've ever had, and I think I may consider a career move to a removal person...

2. Below this, Monday night is Q Bar night... for any Reading students, need I say more? Picture 2 is me and my housemate Prema.

3. On Wednesday, we headed to Anna's house in Gloucester, which has an amazing view (which sadly I don't have a good picture of), as Gloucester is a lusciously green and serene place which we are now all in love with. Picture 3 is the first night of late-night, Bachelor-watching snacking.

4. On Thursday, we went to Anna's family friend Julianna who gave us our first manicures for just a fiver. I loved the pink sparkly colour I went for, and Julianna did a fabulous job. Highly recommended!

5. The day we left ( :( ) we went to see the bluebells Forest is infamous for, and they were glorious. The top picture is my housemates Emma and Prema in the bluebells, and the picture at the bottom shows a close up.

6. On Saturday, we went to Surrey to celebrate our bonus housemate Lucy's 21st Birthday at an amazing party (as you can see by the champagne). Free bar, gorgeous buffet (which we may or may not have run to as soon as it opened) and loads of dancing... what more could you want?! Happy Birthday Lucy!

7. Last but not least, yesterday I went with my home friends to El Mariachi, a Mexican restaurant which has recently opened in Avebury Avenue, Tonbridge. I had spicy beef nachos, chilli con carne potato skins and spicy chicken enchiladas, all of which were delicious. However, perhaps my favourite part of the evening was the £3 cocktails (it was Senõritas' night... wahey!), so I (obviously) took full advantage, opting for a Piña Colada, a Chiquito and an Amaretto Choco Cream... or words to that effect. They were SO good, and I would highly recommend giving the restaurant a visit if you're in the area.

I'm now onto a week of job and internship applications, followed by a trip to Manchester, so I'll be posting more pictures very soon!

Day Six - (Slightly Premature) University Lessons #1

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:20:00 +0000

Even though I technically have another 5 weeks left of essay/dissertation/exam-free university life (cue daily posts about how I vow to never drink again, and how my bed is my new best friend... not that I ever get drunk. EVER. Hi Mum and Dad), I thought now was a good a time as ever to think about the lessons I've learnt in my 3 years at Reading. I was going to do them all in one post, but it turns out the first lesson (living with boys) became pretty long, so to save boring you all, I'll spread these out into different posts, and I may edit this at a later date. If that makes sense.

After spending my first year in a predominantly male flat, and second year being outnumbered 3:1 in a house of boys (HI GUYS), I definitely learnt the joys of living with girls. It's been a peaceful year, away from having my room trashed on a daily basis, and being locked outside of my bedroom.

Ahh the joys of university boys. Not. Strangely, the second year in particularly, was definitely not as gross and dirty as I expected, and I'm pretty sure I was the owner of the messiest room on several occasions. Not surprisingly, there was a healthy daily dose of BAN-TAR ("you look like you've been dragged through a bush backwards" and the vandalism seen below)...

...but if you can cope with that, you're onto a winner. They may not be the best allies when you're ill (thanks again for the lovely dinner when I had mumps...oh.), and they may sometimes drive you completely insane (see writing all over my stuff, my brand new mirror in particular...NOT FUNNY, and taking off my bathroom door...)

...and they can sometimes be the most infuriating, aggravating and rude species ever, but they make great cock-blockers, and will look after you when the sweat starts dripping from the ceiling in Sakura (great club, great club), or when you throw yourself into a bush after a particularly heavy Carnage (again, hello parents). I'll keep my dignity by saving those photos for private viewing.

The top tip from living with boys? ALWAYS LOCK YOUR LAPTOP IF YOU LEAVE IT. ALWAYS. If you don't, you will get fraped. Badly. Unfortunately you can't lock TVs, meaning they can make it look like you've been watching Gay Rabbit. I wasn't.

Day Five - Tunbridge Wells Food Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:31:00 +0000

After a scrabble-filled couple of days stay with my lovely Nan, today I headed off to the Tunbridge Wells food festival, where I ~~ate and drink a hell of a lot of~~ definitely stayed well clear of all the food and drink samples, and had one of the best burger-like things I've ever had in my life. Thought it would make the post stupidly long if I put every single photo separately, so I decided to put them into collages... unfortunately this has cut some of the photos, not least because of my editing non-skills, so apologies for that. It was great to see so many local people enjoying LOCAL produce.

Couldn't find all the producers online, but these are ones I've found so far, and I'll add to the list if I find others:
- Arcade Fisheries (Hastings)
- Elizabeth Santer Creative Catering
- High Weald Dairy (West Sussex)
- Potash Farm (St Marys Platt, nr Sevenoaks)
- Yumptious Cupcakes
- Kieron's Game (Tonbridge)

More important, LUNCH. My Dad opted for a venison burger (seen first,) but I opted for the monstrosity that was pork belly with crackling and apple sauce. I had no idea it was going to be so big, but it was insanely good, so I struggled my way through it.

The food festival is on again down The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells. Well worth checking out if you've got the time.

Day Four - A Shop Sizing Experiment

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:33:00 +0000

There are plenty of articles and blogs about sizes, which sizes are healthy, why size doesn't matter and so on, but there's one thing that really bugs me and I feel it's time for a rant.

Maybe it's down to my body shape (any sign of fat seemed to skip the very top half of my body and roll straight down to my stomach, sizeable butt and thighs. Seems unfair to me), but I couldn't tell you the exact sizing of clothes I need, because I could almost guarantee that it would be wrong in at least one shop. It's most problematic on the bottom half, where I can vary from a 10 up to a 14. In fact, in one instance, the first size that actually fit and did up in New Look was a size 16, at which point I promptly had a tantrum and quickly exited the shop.

Take these clothes for example...

Top to Bottom: Size 12 - Primark; New Look; New Look (high-waisted); New Look
Size 10 - American Eagle Outfitters; Topshop

Top to Bottom: Both Size 10 - Rare London; Primark

Top to Bottom: Size 12 - New Look
Size 10 - Republic

I think it's most obvious in the shorts how different shop sizes can be, although granted some shorts are in differing styles. It seems the biggest offenders are New Look, whose size 12 are pretty much the same size as a size 10 elsewhere (such as Republic, seen in the trouser photo), and actually seems to differ between their own clothing! I'm even more startled by the tiny sizing of a Topshop 10!

Although, as is the case with many girls, I have my body hang-ups, I don't feel I should be ashamed in any way with the clothes size I buy. However, particularly in New Look's case, their unpredictable and small sizing feels like it's designed to make you feel bigger than you actually are, and has made me feel fat on more than one occasion. What I can't understand is why there's not a standardised sizing that all shops need to stick by, as it seems ridiculously that you can vary so much from shop-to-shop. There's already enough magazines and photo-shopping making us feel like we need to be much slimmer/fitter/this that and the other than we are, so it's about time shops did something to counter this. And don't even get me started on bra sizes...

By no means I am saying that being obese (or anorexic, or any other eating disorder) is OK, but by potentially making us feel bigger than we actually are, shops are doing nothing for women's self-esteem. I for one am sick of being embarassed of sizes, and would love to see women (and men!) stop being defined by whether they are a size 8 or a 16.

Any thoughts? Feel free to drop a comment below :)

Day Three - Beats, BAFTAs and Bikini Body Battles

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:40:00 +0000

ALBUM OF THE DAY

Bit of a long one today...

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

After 7 years without a studio album, Daft Punk are back with the collaboration-filled Random Access Memories. Since Get Lucky has already maintained four glorious weeks in the number one spot, and doesn't look to be going anywhere anytime soon (thank GOD, since it is the only song I know that has the ability to be played 24 hours a day without getting boring or repetitive), the album has a lot to live up to. There aren't many compliments I could pay this album that haven't already been said elsewhere, so I'll be keeping this to a very brief mini-review.

From the punchy opening beats of Give Life Back to Music, to the slightly strange ending of Contact, via the chilled-out The Game of Love, the musings and teachings of Giorgio by Moroder, the string-based build-up of Beyond and the old-school, disco, relaxing feel of Fragments of Time, RAM is full of brilliance and surprises, forever keeping you on your toes. Coupling a feeling of nostalgia with sounds that are as fresh and relevant as ever, RAM proves just why this duo have still got it after 20 robotic years.

You can stream the album now on iTunes, by going to their artist page, and feel free to comment below with your thoughts and any favourite tracks!

BAFTA Fashion

In other recent news, the BAFTAs happened on Sunday [winner's list], and as expected, there were some amazing and not-so-amazing dresses all round. Thought I'd present some of my favourites here, although feel free to pop a comment below if you disagree (or agree!). All pictures thanks to Google Images... naturally.

Monochrome seemed to be the trend of choice at the awards, with Sheridan Smith, Louise Redknapp, Tess Daly, Laura Whitmore and Claudia Winkleman, to name a few, all in dark ensembles.

Some of my favourites, however, came from Zoe Hardman, who's fitted number beautifully showed off her enviably figure, and Millie Mackintosh's thigh-high Sass & Bide dress, with gold detail, showing off her long legs and slim figure.

Away from black, nudes, whites and creams were another favourite amongst many, such as Jenni Falconer and Louise Thompson, with my favourites being Jenna Louise Colman's simple maxi dress, completed with statement clutch, and Lucy Watson's white embellished design.

Finally, a pop of colour provided many glamorous red carpet moments, from Binky Felstead's pink jumpsuit (below), to Imelda Staunton and Mary Berry showing that you can look fabulous at any age. My favourite, however, and perhaps one of the best outfits of the night came from Sienna Miller, who wore a gorgeously detailed powder blue dress from Matthew Williamson teamed with an up-do hairstyle, a simple clutch and studded heels.

Like any of these? Any favourites I haven't mentioned? Let me know :)

And Finally...

With a mere 35 days until I head off to Tenerife (TAKE ME THERE NOW PLEASE), the battle for a bikini-ready body is definitely on, so I'm ending this post with a little insight into how I've tried to start to get into shape today aka the healthiest day I've had in a VERY long time (nb. I am definitely no fitness expert!!). Starting the day with a bowl of porridge, I then completed 50 squats, 50 sit-ups and 2 minutes of butt-kicks, high knees and mountain climbers. Afterwards, I had the best Covent Garden Leek & Potato soup, with one slice of white bread (preferable wholemeal but we had none), followed by a banana. I'm hoping that a few changes here and there will help me get ready for the beach, so I will keep you all updated!

Day Two - An Ever-Growing Barry M Obsession

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:22:00 +0000

As any of my housemates will tell you, I am a teeny weeny bit obsessed with Barry M nail paints, so much so that it takes most of my strength not to buy a new colour on every shopping trip. At the last count, I own almost 30 paints, and 2 nail art pens. Bad I know. So, to kickstart my venture into the realms of beauty blogging, I thought I'd review some of their products.

[L-R, clockwise: Paints used; nails in daytime light; nails under flash photography; close-up of 'watermelon' colour; paints used under flash; paints used without flash]

Forgive me for the shoddy painting, I am definitely no artist. I'm not sure how clear the Watermelon colour is going to come out, so I've added a close-up picture to hopefully help. These colours are both fairly dark, so next time I would probably not use the black nail pen with them, although this could be a good look for the Winter months. However, I love how easy the pen is to use, although I was already hoping this was the case from all the different designs I've seen from bloggers. The best thing about the gelly paints is their shine, as they look smoother than normal paints, and last a lot longer without chipping. Brilliant for summer, when nails are always scrutinised, as there will no need to repaint every five minutes. Looks even better topped with Barry M's (surprise) base, topcoat and nail hardener, although I have slightly cheated with an old Rimmel topcoat in these pictures as I left my Barry M one in Reading #cry.

[L-R, clockwise: Paints used; nails in daytime light; nails without flash photography; paints used under flash; nails under flash; paints used without flash]

Again, forgive me for the shoddy painting and dodgy flash in the middle, although I'm sure these pictures are making it look worse than it is. I won't repeat the whole review of the products here, as they worked just as well with these colours, although the 'art design' is severely lacking on this hand, as I find it extremely difficult to draw with the hand I don't write with! I particularly love these pastel colours for summer, as they brighten up rainy day (of which I'm sure they'll be loads of in the lovely British summer), and fit really nicely with the pink pen. I know the lilac colour in particular is a hit with many of my friends, and if I had to choose between the two colour combinations in this blog, I would definitely choose this one, if only for the summer.

I hope this has been useful. Please feel free to comment below with thoughts, favourite colours, or perhaps a different brand of nail paint I should be trying!

Day One - Sorting, Nostalgia & Some Amazing Headwear

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 May 2013 15:20:00 +0000

So I'm trying out my first new idea, bare with. I thought it might be interesting to dab my hand in the world of lifestyle blogging, to document what my day-to-day life involves. I've always said my life could be made into some sort of comedy book, so here's my chance. Obviously, I know my everyday life is really not that exciting, so I'll only blogging things that I think will be of interest. This might not make any sense, and might fall completely flat, but I am up for giving it a try! [Please forgive me if this first post is a little lengthy].

So. Day One. Home from university for a few weeks, decided to start sorting my room out in preparation for the inevitable panic that will hit when I realise that all my accumulated stuff will not fit back in my room, as you can see from the chaos below. Hashtag hoarder.

Yes, that is a whole box of CDs [middle top], in addition to the two almost completely full CD stands [bottom left]... just in case anyone was in doubt of my near obsession with music. The first thing I found was a whole stash of photo albums, which, as you can probably predict, completely screwed up my tidying plans, and provided me with hours of entertaining. This is a selection of my favourite baby photos of myself...

There are many things I learnt from these pictures:

1 - I had excellent fashion sense, even from a young age. Just take a look at those amazing hats [unfortunately some of the top left picture has been cut out, but I assure you, it was a beaut]! My favourite has to be the velvety burgundy creation I apparently wore to the park [middle picture], which went beautifully with those dungarees.
2 - ~~I had the chubbiest legs~~ I was just the chubbiest child when I was younger. I'm not sure how clear the middle picture on the right is, but hopefully that will showcase that. If not, just look at the roundness of my face in the bottom right-hand photo.
3 - I have always loved my food. And, as you can see top right, I also like to take regular naps after I eat.

The thing that struck me most, however, came from organising all the books I own. As you can see below with books like the Winnie the Pooh collection, a Roald Dahl trilogy and a very large pile of Jacqueline Wilson books, I used to adore reading as a child, but somewhere along the way, that love dwindled, and so I have very few 'adult' books to read.

[L-R, Clockwise: Bookshelf, Photo albums and Chest of Drawers; Best photo of a deer on an island in Japan; Selection of dance certificates (I would love to get into dancing again); newly organised chest of drawers; kimono given to me as a gift years ago, bookshelf close-up]

It'd be great to blame university life for the disappearance of my reading habit, but there's definitely more to it than that, and I really want to get my read back on. If you've got any suggestions, please feel free to comment below! I'd also just like to point out that less than an hour after I did all of this, that whole bookshelf fell of the wall, hitting an apple and making it explode, but luckily not harming anything/one else. It could only happen to me...

This is just a brief 'about me' introduction, and hopefully posts will get far more interesting from here on in!

Experimenting, Expanding, Extending

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 11 May 2013 20:33:00 +0000

Bare with me on this one. I have loved blogging about music for the past five years or so, and my love for music isn't going anywhere any time soon. However, whilst I still wish to include music in almost every post I write, I feel it is time to expand this blog to find with my expanding interests, and to showcase the other interests I have. So, I have made the decision to not start a new blog, but to evolve this blog into something new. I may run with a few ideas for a while, and see which one works best, so any feedback would be greatly appreciated :)

As I said, I am hoping to incorporate music into as many posts as I possibly can, as music is, and always will be a large part of my life.

I apologise now if technology fails me when I'm trying to rejig stuff on here. I will try my best to not mess it up!

Feel free to comment or message me with any suggestions or opinions :)

AlunaGeorge - Attracting Flies

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:00:00 +0000

A little slow on the uptake of this I know, but I've become really addicted to it. It's really catchy, and has already hit the Radio 1 A-List, so I've no doubt big things are coming to this duo.

Bloglovin'

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 11:39:00 +0000

Follow">http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/6577827/?claim=4fg4eedxnyn">Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I've finally joined the world of Bloglovin... so if you're on there, please give me a little follow!

Paramore - Now

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:54:00 +0000

Uploading this is far more entertaining than my essay. This is another review I wrote months ago, which has been sitting as a draft on here for far too long. So here it finally is... Paramore are one band I haven't outgrown since their new material is still brilliant (in my eyes at least). I'm definitely looking forward to their new album.

Paramore have had a tough few years, with the departure of two members surrounded by controversy thanks to a questionable post-leaving statement. Not letting that deter them, Paramore are back as a trio, with new single Now.

Despite losing two members, it seems the band has lost none of its spirit nor energy. Hayley’s vocals are as powerful as ever, though this time having somewhat of a more ‘pop-y’ edge to them, fitting the direction this new track seems to go in. Instrumentally, Now has the rawness and determination that Paramore have perfected over the years, making it almost impossible to remember that there are only three members of this band now (aside from a studio drummer).

Paramore have seemingly come back fighting to give us a track that shows us why they still deserve their place in the music industry. Clearly their sound has progressed, but this is certainly a good thing. Welcome back guys.

4/5