Miss Periwinkle

Stripes and a Smoothie

2012-03-14T18:00:00.000Z

blazer: H&M; blouse: Topshop; leggings: George @ ASDA; loafers: Ecoté @ Urban Outfitters

I noticed that every single one of my recent outfits have been totally black and white. So to spice things up a bit, here's a smoothie to mix things up a bit (was that a bad pun? I hope not). Plus the smoothies they sell on campus are totally amazing and I have to physically stop myself from buying one every day.

Besides smoothies, I am also over the moon in love with this blouse. I'd seen it in my hometown's Topshop way back in November but they didn't have my size and I never saw it anywhere else. I figured it was a goner and since then had been searching high and low for a substitute. Fast forward several months, I go to London with some friends, end up in Topshop on Oxford Street and, just as I was about to leave, I spot this shirt. It was meant to be, I tell you. A match made in monochromatic stripey heaven.

Day in London

2012-03-10T00:26:00.000Z

On Thursday (which was also International Women's Day, I hope you all had a good one) I went down to London to see some friends for the day. We walked around Camden, Covent Garden and Soho and went to the British Museum before having an amazing lunch at Maxwell's (I've never been before but I'd recommend!) followed by red velvet cupcakes at Candy Cakes. Delish.

I'd have taken more pictures but the autofocus on my 18-55mm lens is broken, as is my point and shoot camera. So, I only had my 50mm lens on me which takes really close up pictures, making it pretty difficult to get some quick touristy snaps. I'm not having a lot of luck with cameras lately...

nail polish: No7 'Temptress'; lipstick: Revlon Lip Butter 'Red Velvet'; coat: H&M; scarf: Edinburgh Woollen Mill

oh, and a sneaky McDonald's before we caught our train, of course!

Sunday Favourites

2012-03-04T17:44:00.000Z

cardigan: Topshop; top: Zara; skirt: H&M; watch: Sekonda; nails: Mavala 'Milky'

I had big plans for today that never really happened. First I overslept, which is never a good start. Then I spent ages deliberating over whether wearing a pleather skirt in the day was something I could pull off or not before I decided, who cares? So I wore it regardless. Except then it wouldn't stop raining all day so I stayed in and no one saw me in the skirt anyway. It was also too dark to take any decent pictures of my outfit except in my tiny bathroom. So, all in all, today was a bit of a failure on all counts.

In light of my rubbish day, here's a small list of things that I've been enjoying lately instead:

-Grimes - 'Oblivion': The music video for this reminds me a lot of Rihanna's 'We Found Love' a.k.a. it looks likes a 15 year-old Tumblr queen directed it. I wasn't even sure if I liked this song or not at first but I've been playing it nonstop for 2 days now so I guess it's grown on me.

-Geordie Shore: Not the most intellectually stimulating of ways to pass time but I can't stop watching this ridiculous show lately.

-Smoothies: It's looking more like Spring every day and it's making me want smoothies all the time. I might even buy myself a little blender so I can save some money and make my own.

Day 2 Night

2012-03-01T21:15:00.000Z

jumper: H&M; dress (worn as skirt): American Apparel; tights; Primark; shoes: Converse; necklace: River Island; lipstick: Topshop 'All About Me'

dress: American Apparel; tights: Primark; shoes: Topshop; watch: ASOS; lipstick: Topshop 'All About Me'

Being a student, especially one in a town with pretty good night life, means I go out a fair amount. Sometimes I'll go all out and get changed, redo my make up, even put together an entire costume for theme nights. Then there are the days when I've been stuck in the library working for hours and really can't be bothered.

Which is why I love the American Apparel Double U-Neck dresses. They are the easiest way to transition your outfit from day to night (here I go again, giving you cheesy magazine style advice, my apologies). Throw a jumper or a cardigan over them during the day and when it's time to go out, just change your shoes. Presto, the lazy-girl solution for when you really cannot be arsed to spend ages getting ready to going out.

I'd recommend getting a code from a site like Groupon (this was how I bought mine) or buying them when AA have their flash sales though. Much as I love the dress, I'd never pay full price for AA. Failing that, loads of places on the high street (Topshop, New Look, H&M, Forever 21, etc) do really similar versions.

'Does Barry Manilow know you raid his wardrobe?'

2012-02-28T15:23:00.000Z

cardigan, necklace: Topshop; t-shirt: Primark; skirt: H&M; boots; River Island

This outfit is, in many ways, a little out of my comfort zone. I don't usually shop in Primark for clothes. I'll only pop in occasionally for socks or tights. I also don't typically wear graphic t-shirts. They remind me of when I was 14 and went through an emo band-tees-and-too-much-eyeliner phase, it wasn't pretty. But when I saw this t-shirt in the Primark menswear section the other day, I knew I had to have it.

I'm a big John Hughes/bratpack/80s film fan so this shirt is kind of a dream come true (apart from how Ally Sheedy looks a bit like a creeper/gremlin, poor thing). Yes, I may have been born in 1992 and never actually lived through the 80s. However my father likes to think the 80s never ended, so I grew up in a bubble watching films like Some Kind of Wonderful, The Breakfast Club and listening to way too much synth pop. (I am pretty awesome at 80s music quizzes, I won't lie)

Nothing To Wear

2012-02-25T15:45:00.002Z

jumper: Topshop; jeans: J. Crew; flats: Tory Burch; nails: Revlon 'Fuschia Fever'; lips: NYX 'Tea Rose'

Everything I tried on today felt wrong. Maybe it's something to do with the warm weather we've had lately; my wardrobe is definitely not ready for Spring. My hair and make up were no problem but I had clothes all over the floor and still nothing seemed 'right'. It's times like this that I think about setting my clothes out the night before, like your mum did for you as a kid.

In the end, I gave up and threw on something this jumper which has become my new uniform. I've worn it every day since I got it in the Topshop sale. (I nearly bought it for full price too, one of the few times being indecisive has paid off!) It's ridiculously comfy and I'm trying to make the most of 'sweater weather' before it's too late.

Sick Day

2012-02-19T00:21:00.000Z

coat: H&M; jumper: Topshop; jeans: Hollister; flats: George @ ASDA; hairband: my sister's

I've had the 'flu or something since last weekend so today was the first day I was actually able to get dressed and go out in a while. Opted for comfy options to ease myself back into the world of real clothes; all I've worn all week is PJs.

My sister did my hair. I'm far too cack-handed to bother with anything other than a plain old ponytail. I might have to give one of these hairbands a go though. I'm always looking for quick, lazy-girl friendly ways to distract from bad hair days.

Things I Learnt From My First Semester At Uni

2012-02-07T14:57:00.000Z

I'm now in my second semester at university and while I'm not claiming to be The World's Greatest Student™, I do feel like I've picked up a few bits of knowledge along the way based on my experience. I feel like I should share what (little as it may be) I've learnt so far because, as shown by my choice of Hello Kitty stationery, I take this university stuff very seriously...

Fresher's flu - it happens

Twice, actually. I basically spent the month of October bedridden and surrounded by used tissues (grim). My advice to you: always keep a supply of cold medicine on hand. University is full of germs, guys.

Snacking is expensive - learn to cook

Presumably, you'll be paying for all your own food now so when you finish that packet of chocolate digestives, the only person who's going to go out and buy another is you. After a while, all those biscuits add up and you don't feel quite so flush anymore. Instead, try and eat 3 decent meals a day so you don't end up blowing all your loan on junk food (spend your biscuit money on a student cookbook if you're totally hopeless - they do help!) and put your leftovers in the fridge for tomorrow's dinner.

Say yes to new things, and don't be afraid to go alone

You'll have heard it all before, but it's true - there really are so many new things to try at uni. Definitely sign up for a few societies or clubs, go along to their meetings and keep an eye out for interesting lectures. Yes, it can feel absolutely terrifying to go alone sometimes (trust me, I've been there) but once you're there, you'll meet other people and feel really stupid for being so worried. Take yourself out of your comfort zone a bit. There's nothing wrong with doing things for yourself and/or by yourself.

University can be a lonely experience

Television and films may lead you to believe it's all getting drunk and going out, which isn't totally false, but you also spend a lot of time alone working. Whether it's in the library or in your room, uni can sometimes feel quite isolating, especially when you're away from home. Just don't go into it expecting to have fun constantly. You will have a lot of fun, but there's also a lot of downtime too.

Make friends with everyone, not just your flatmates

Yes, it is easy to settle into a little group with your flatmates and they may be lovely people. But there are other people out there too. Bear in mind: you are not with your flatmates out of any mutual interest, most of the time you'll be put together through sheer random selection. Talk to people in your classes, lectures, societies, the pub, wherever. There is a world outside your flat; explore it.

No seriously, don't leave it 'til the last minute

Your first year may not necessarily count towards your degree but it never hurts to get into good habits. Yes, I sound like a total swot saying that but it is a really good idea to make sure you don't slack off too much (you're still allowed to have fun). When you get an assignment, start it sooner rather than later and definitely not a few hours before it's due in.

It's (Really Bloody) Cold Outside

2012-02-05T22:30:00.000Z

dress, top: Zara; tights: H&M; boots: River Island; watch: Sekonda; nail polish: Revlon 'Carbonite'

I call this 'what I wish I wore today'. In reality, I wore this plus a million other layers because it's -5C outside. Huge ugly cardigan, winter coat, scarf, boots, you name it, I was bundled up in it. It keeps threatening to snow too, much to my displeasure.

Oh god, you know what I just realised? It's February and I'm wearing a heart print dress. I hope no one took that as a strange nod to early Valentine's Day festivities...

Recent Favourites

2012-02-03T03:30:00.000Z

Here is a list (since I love lists) of a few things I've been enjoying lately:

-L'Oréal Color Infallible Eyeshadows: I want to buy these in every shade. They're so easy to wear; perfect lazy day make up. My favourite is 'Sahara Treasure'.
-Revlon 'Red Velvet' Lip Butter: I've mentioned this before but it's just that good. I've worn it every day for 2 weeks now, which is unlike me, and I always get compliments on it. At first I wasn't convinced but now, it's probably one of my favourite lipsticks I own.
-Lana Del Rey Born To Die: Yes, I'm an LDR fan and this album is constantly on repeat. I couldn't care less about the matters of her personal life (I'm the same with any artist), I just like her music.
-Parks & Recreation: Why I had never watched this show before? I want to be Leslie Knope. Admittedly, the first season is absolutely rubbish but once you get past that, Parks & Rec can do no wrong.
-Twitter: Lately, I feel like I've been enjoying Twitter more. I'm not sure why; I've used it for years and it's one of my favourite places on the internet but right now, I'm just on a Twitter kick.
-Bloglovin: In a similar vein, I've been using Bloglovin more too. Usually I go on, get overwhelmed at how many blog posts I have to read and click 'Mark all as read' then log out. But I decided to be brave and read through them all and I've really been enjoying it.

Other places you can follow me: Twitter // Tumblr // Bloglovin // Pinterest

Black and Blue (and Grey...)

2012-02-01T03:30:00.000Z

blazer, blouse, skirt: H&M; tights: White Stuff; boots: Clarks

Here's a little story. When packing to move back to uni, I totally forgot to bring any of my tights. So I had all of these skirts and dresses and no tights. I'm definitely not brave enough to go barelegged in January - I'm a wimp and will feel the cold through a million layers. For a while I felt a bit lost, if I'm honest. I never realised how much I wear skirts and dresses until I couldn't.

It's all good now though. I picked up a few pairs on a recent trip back home and I'm all set. Now I can make up for lost time and wear tights until I'm sick of them and begging for summer. Perfect.

Bog Standard

2012-01-30T01:30:00.000Z

cardigan: H&M; t-shirt: Forever 21; jeans: Topshop; boots: Dune; watch: Sekonda

Managed to get enough light into this little room that I could finally take a full-length outfit shot so I jumped at the opportunity, regardless of my fairly plain outfit. I wore this to my 10am class. I'm not a morning person (at all) so it was a case of throw on something simple and get out the door.

Lately I've been pairing everything with these Dune boots I got a few winters ago. They are ridiculously comfy and I don't have a full-length mirror so, quite honestly, I neither know nor care if they go with every outfit. Looking at these pictures, I'm not crazy about the way they look with my jeans but oh well, some you win, some you lose.

Treat Yo' Self

2012-01-27T22:34:00.000Z

I've had a bit of a tough time over the last few weeks so I decided to take a little inspiration from one of my favourite shows, Parks and Recreation, and treat myself. I even marked it down in my diary in lime green capital letters, just so I wouldn't forget.

Sure, I now have a sizeable dent in my bank account and have put myself on a shopping ban, but it was worth it. A little treat every now and then does wonders.

dresses: H&M; shorts, shoes: Topshop

Revlon Matte eyeshadow in '008 Aubergine', L'Oréal Color Infallible eyeshadows in '015 Flashback Silver' and '014 Eternal Black'

Obnoxiously Preppy

2012-01-25T12:09:00.000Z

shirt: American Eagle; jumper: Tommy Hilfiger

I picked up this jumper on my last visit to the US. It was one of many amazing finds in TJMaxx. I really wish the UK version, TKMaxx, had half the selection of their US counterpart. (Don't ask me why one's a 'K' and one's a 'J', I have no idea)

I love the ridiculously big 'H' on the front, although it earns me a lot of 'So, what's your name then? Harriet?' conversations from people who think it's a Weasley-esque homemade number.

Photobooth Sunday

2012-01-22T16:31:00.000Z

I was talking to my sister yesterday and she brought to my attention that my face has been rather absent from my blog of late. Being without my camera at this moment in time, all I have to offer are these self-indulgent Photobooth pictures.

Now that's all out of the way, let me invite into my Sunday. It's been incredibly lazy, as Sundays should be. I've spent the majority of it sprawled in my bed, eating Nutella from the jar with a spoon.

I did get up long enough to put on some make up. Decided to go for the classic look: a cat eye and red lips. I rarely ever wear eyeliner anymore. It was my 'signature' look in my mid-teens. I wore it every day without fail for years and got a bit sick of it. Who knows, maybe I'll bring it back. The red lipstick is actually one of those new Revlon Lip Butters that are the rage with the YouTube gurus and beauty bloggers at the moment. I wasn't convinced at first but I'm warming to it. This one is 'Red Velvet' and after going through a phase all winter where all I wanted was a nude lip, it's a nice change to vamp it up a bit.

Been flicking back and forth between reading Ferdinand de Saussure (What is a word, eh?) for uni and Mrs Fry's Diary. I've gotten out of the habit of reading for pleasure lately. 2012 is going to be the year I rekindle my bookworm habits, with the aid of my Goodreads account. If you have one, you should add me on there! I go through phases where it use it tons and then forget about. I will complete their 'Read 50 books in a year' challenge yet!

Other places you can follow me: Twitter // Tumblr // Pinterest // Bloglovin

My Morning Routine

2012-01-18T21:25:00.000Z

On the odd occasion that I wake up early enough to have a leisurely morning, I really like to take my time and enjoy it. Getting up at 8am is usually a pretty miserable affair. I'm hopping about in my cold room, waiting for the heating to kick in and checking out how horrible and grey it is outside. It never really gets much brighter in my room either, since it's north facing.

I always eat breakfast. I'm not the kind of person who can skip the first meal of the day. It takes long enough for me to get out of bed in the mornings (I need at least 3 alarms, plus a phone call from my mother before I'll even think about it) and if I don't refuel, I'm likely to just curl up and fall asleep again.

So this morning, I took a quick shot of what has, of late, become my morning routine. I sit at my desk with whatever I've selected for breakfast (I'm on a granola and yoghurt kick lately) and watch an episode or two of Parks and Recreation, then put on my warpaint/make up. It makes me feel a little bit more ready to face the day. Or at least not feel like I'm going to fall asleep standing up.

January, So Far

2012-01-12T20:35:00.000Z

Things I have done so far in 2012:
-Flown a 7,000 mile round-trip alone.
-Used a shotgun.
-Bought a ridiculous amount of sweaters.
-Visited the Central Park Zoo.
-Discovered the 'Pin Hole' setting on my new camera.

Channeling Morticia

2012-01-03T01:22:00.000Z

There's nothing quite like wearing all black. It makes me feel like I'm a member of the Addams family or something, and I'm okay with that. Maybe it's a throwback to my high school 'goth' phase when people told me I reminded them of Wednesday.

Even now, a little older and, one can hope, wiser, I still love dressing totally in black sometimes. There's just something about it that makes me feel confident and, dare I say it, a little tough.

dress: H&M; top: Zara; watch: Sekonda; lipstick: Kate Moss for Rimmel '#04'

Also, I must give kudos to my sister for the lipstick. It was a Christmas gift and I love it. I'll wear any shade, red, pink, orange, purple but this one definitely stands apart from the rest of my collection. If you have the Kate Moss for Rimmel collection anywhere near you, I really recommend you give this colour a look. Sadly this isn't the best picture of it but trust me, it's gorgeous!

Holiday Indulgences

2011-12-31T01:06:00.000Z

This a blog post about food. Or, more specifically, how I ate a lot of it over the holidays. I think I'm still full from a meal I ate two days ago. So. Much. Food.

Thank god it's all over. I like the holidays but by the time New Years rolls around, I'm already totally over all the festivities and ready for it to be summer again. Take down the gaudy lights on your house, stop playing 'Last Christmas' by Wham in every shop and just give me some sunshine.

Gifts For Myself

2011-12-23T20:29:00.000Z

We've all been there. You spend all day dragging yourself around shops with the aim of buying presents for others and end up coming home with more for yourself than anyone else. I am pretty good about getting my Christmas shopping done on time, but this year, with university assignments wearing me thin, I was in need of a little retail therapy.

L-R: Sleek 'Au Naturel' eyeshadow palette, GOSH 'Rose Quartz' nail glitter, POP 'Aquatic Glitz' nail polish, POP 'Pink Glitz' nail polish, Hearts & Bows cardigan from ARK

Sleek 'Au Naturel' eyeshadow palette

Marks & Spencer LED lights (a.k.a. the hipster fairy-lights I've always wanted)

It could have been worse. At least this year I don't need to put myself on a shopping diet. That said, I don't think I'll be buying any (/many?) new clothes for a while. Lugging all my stuff to and from uni has made me realise just how much clothing I have accumulated over the past few years. I think my New Year's aim is to downsize my wardrobe somewhat, rather than fill it with new things. We'll see how well that goes.

Happy Holidays

2011-12-22T01:21:00.000Z

The past few weeks have been all over the place. Assignments for uni, the student newspaper ball, Christmas shindigs with flatmates and other friends, plus the mammoth task of carting all my stuff home now it's winter break. No more seminars or lectures until the New Year! Bliss.

I've been home a few days now and the novelty of sleeping all day and eating all the food has worn off so I finally did something productive: wrapped all of my gifts to give to people. It took a bloody long time too. The handmade bows were the most time-consuming part. I must have spent a few hours on those alone!

Eyeballin'

2011-12-08T21:47:00.001Z

ring: Topshop; nail polish (not that you can even tell...): Revlon 'Carbonite'

I saw this ring in the £5 and under jewellery section of Topshop the other day and couldn't resist. It's kind of creepy and a bit tacky but, as you may know, I'm rather a fan of tacky rings.

I'm currently in the middle of writing 3 assignments that are due in before the end of semester so most days I'm sporting some kind of leggings and oversized jumper combo. I go home for Christmas break at the end of next week and I'll be doing some travelling too. I can't wait. A month without being woken up by fire alarms at ungodly hours and stressing about essay deadlines. Bliss.

Birthday Lunch

2011-11-30T19:53:00.000Z

Today was my mum's birthday so she and my sister came up to see me to do some shopping and get lunch at Wagamama. Somehow, I managed to oversleep and ended up dashing out the door in a panic after getting up 20 minutes before I had to leave. After countless mornings where I woke up 10 minutes before my bus to sixth form came, I like to consider myself a pro at the dress-and-dash scenario. I even managed to remember to pack my mum's presents before I left so any disasters were averted, although I think I'll be having some early nights this week to avoid any repeat performances.

glitter nailpolish: Confetti 'Tasmanian Devil'

cardigan: Topshop; playsuit: Missguided; watch: Citizen; nail polish: No7 'Temptress'; lipstick: MAC 'Lollipop Loving'

Home Comforts

2011-11-27T13:32:00.000Z

As much as I enjoy being at university, sometimes it's nice to be able to hop on a train and come home for a few days. Being able to sleep in my own bed, have my dinner cooked for me and watch telly are quite a luxury these days.

shirt, shorts: H&M; necklace: Forever 21; ring: Dorothy Perkins; bracelets: I have no idea
(This is actually my sister. I slobbed around in jogging bottoms all weekend)

Uni Organisation

2011-11-18T16:13:00.001Z

I'm not the most organised person there ever was but I do take a strange pleasure in sitting down and filing things for hours on end, so I like to think I'm not too bad at it. I've been at university for nearly 2 months now and slowly, but surely, I've figured out ways to keep on top of not only my workload but also all the mundane little chores I never had to do before. For instance, that pile of washing in your laundry hamper? Doesn't just magically disappear and come back clean and neatly folded like when you lived at home, surprisingly!

I thought I'd share a few tips on how I keep myself organised. After spending the first few weeks here running out of vital food staples, putting off writing essays until midnight on the night before it was due in and generally being a bit all over the place, I decided to get myself sorted out. It's made schoolwork and living on my own quite a bit easier, plus it's a great excuse to buy lots of new stationery.

1. Highlighters (and pens in general)

Basically, have loads of them. You're going to need them. Have them in every colour you can possibly get your hands on and, although I know it's tempting, don't buy the cheap crap. It will only run out after a handful of uses and end up costing you more in the long run. Personally, I like to use Stabilo Boss highlighters and Bic Cristal biros, which you buy in bulk on Amazon.

2. Post-It Notes

The same rules apply as above. Have an endless supply of them that you put everywhere. I am a massive fan of writing lists: shopping lists, to-do lists, etc. I write them out and stick them all over my room and in my diary and anywhere else I will frequently see them. Having constant reminders of stuff that needs buying, tidying, writing or researching keeps me on track. They're also good for sticking on things in the fridge that you don't want anyone else to eat...

3. Notebooks and planners

Use them and use them wisely. I have a separate notebook for every class I take, just so I don't get confused, plus one for any notes and quotes I may need to write down from a book I'm reading (I'm doing English Lit so this is essential), one for anything extra-curricular - if you write for the school newspaper, like I do, for example, and various others for any notebook emergencies that may arise.

A good planner is also essential. I plumped for the Moleskine this year but as long as it's sturdy and has enough room for you to write stuff down in, any will do. Write down anywhere and everywhere you have to be and you'll, hopefully, never be late for a lecture again.