Pinky Promise!

I am ashamed to say this is my first blog post since March!
It's taken me nearly 7 months but last night, while I was struggling to sleep, I felt I needed to do something productive and so I took to my notepad and wrote down any decent articles ideas I could think of!
And number 1 was to write a promise to start blogging/being productive/do something useful/make something of myself. You get the idea!
I would love for this to be an interesting, inspiring piece but hopefully they will come with time!
And as it's a written promise, which is published and available for people to read, I need to stick to it!
That works right?

So, what's new?
Uni assignments, exams and going out with my friends. In a nut shell!
A summer of living back home, celebrations, enjoying the glorious weather (all 2 weeks of it) travelling with my friends and going back to my beloved job as a cashier in M&S.
And what's even newer?
I've started my second year at uni and some new modules have encouraged me to write articles and blog in my spare time again, which is exciting as I love writing.

Unfortunately my lack of blog posts is just down to me being a lazy student!
But that's all about to change! I hope...
After all I can't go back on this once I hit 'Publish'.

So watch this space, for more of me! :)

Holiday fever!

Not even spring yet and already most of us are having that holiday feeling. 

It isn’t long until the summer months when we can escape our day to day lives for a weekend, a week, or for the lucky ones, even longer.

For us students, there’s two weeks left until the Easter Holidays which is the reason I’m feeling slightly fed up and like I need a holiday!

Everyone loves a break away, whether it’s sightseeing a historic city, relaxing on a beach somewhere exotic or skiing in snowy mountains.

This has got me thinking about the memories I’ve had on holiday, and my favourite places which is why I have decided to share my experience with you!

During my two years at sixth form, I was fortunate enough to have various opportunities to travel to different countries experiencing foreign cities and new cultures.

Studying an Art and Design A Level took me to Italy, and the beautiful cities of Venice and Rome, while Business Studies offered an amazing trip to New York.

I remember begging for extra shifts during weekends and half terms to afford the spending money!

But it was worth it.

Venice, November 2009

To leave the drab school halls behind and embark on a journey to an incredible city like Venice was so exciting.

But the anticipation was nothing compared to the experience I look back on now.

Visiting numerous museums and exhibition was as unforgettable as walking the back streets surrounded by canals and amazing views.

Along with the sightseeing and eating yummy food, my coursework required me to actually produce some work whilst away!

In the environment, my studies seemed much less of a chore, and sitting amongst the bespoke buildings and landmarks made my work come to life.

Being out of the hotel and busy by 8am everyday was tiring, but it was stimulating to be creative during the day and be able to enjoy the company of friends and classmates in the evening at Italian restaurants and bars.

Who said you can’t burn the candle at both ends?

Venice, November 2009

My time in New York was also crammed full of activities from touring Wall Street to ice skating at the Rockefeller centre.

Only ever having lived in villages and small towns, I’ve grown up desperate to experience city life.

The atmosphere and buzz of a remarkable city like New York is something which can’t be explained.

The 13 hour flight and jet lag didn't faze us once we landed in JFK and stepped out onto the snowy streets. 

No matter how tired I was I couldn't stop looking out of the window for five minutes as we travelled over Brooklyn Bridge and into Manhattan. 

I loved every second of my five days spent in the Big apple. 

American style pancakes for breakfast in Soho, Times Square at night, shopping on Fifth ave, Liberty Island in the snow are just a few of my favourite memories.

New York, February 2011

Although I love visiting native cities, where you are moving at 100 mph, taking everything in as you speed past sight after sight, it is sometimes nice, when having time off from work or education, to relax in different surroundings, without having a jam packed itinerary. 

Whether it’s the coastal towns of the UK, or sunny beaches in Greece and Spain, it’s always nice to get away and make unforgettable memories.

Happy Mother's day!

Mother’s day is quite literally just around the corner (Sunday 10th), which is why I thought it was appropriate to blog about ideas and presents for the occasion! 

We all know how much our mums do for us, whether you’re still living at home, away at University, moved to another city or are married with a family of your own.

So show them how appreciated they are by putting some serious thought into the perfect gift!

Time is not on your side if you haven’t already bought a gift or sent a card. So here are some suggestions...

Paperchase have got the pretty, girlie and thoughtful cards covered with their selection this year, with plenty of intricate designs of flowers, hearts, butterfly's etc. to choose from!

Their gift collection is smaller than the cards, however they do have some pretty choices!

Known for their stationary, Paperchase stocks plenty of notebook and pen sets, Filo Faxes, photo albums, frames and other little trinkets.   

I was disappointed when looking at the website, as there isn't a display of their full range; but it’s worth a look, if you aren't lucky enough to have a store in your area.

 www.paperchase.com

If you’re looking for a slightly cheaper option, Clinton cards is a good place to start.

They have the biggest choice of cards, but they've brought out gifts especially for Mothers Day too.

The impressive gift selection accounts for all ages, with ‘Mummy’ ‘Mum’ and ‘Grandmother’ sections.

From teddy’s and figurines to chocolate and mugs, all these gifts are perfect for Mum’s and aren't too expensive either!

www.clintoncards.co.uk

Thinking of something a little different away from the usual cheesy stuff?!

Yankee candles make a fantastic present.

They’re great long lasting candles which smell almost good enough to eat!

The scents range from every fruit combination you can think of to fresh beach smells, and even Christmas themed smells!

There are tons from Fluffy towels to Hazelnut coffee coming in a choice of shapes and sizes.

The tea lights come in boxes of 12 and can be a cute addition to any gift or card, costing £6.75.

The small, medium and large candles come in jars which are lovely packaging as well as decoration, these start at £8.39 for a small jar.

Simply tie some ribbon around the lid and you've got a nicely wrapped gift!

Yankee candles are stocked online at www.yankeecandle.co.uk as well as in a couple of your High Street shops.

It’s always nice to add a personal touch to a gift.

Photo albums and frames are an ideal present for Mothers Day and can also end up being quite cheap!

Every store you pass these days have frames in stock, there is almost too much choice.

John Lewis, Next and Debenhams have pretty and slightly more expensive frames in their stores.

Matthew Williamson and Rocha John Rocha have a selection of frames from Debenhams which are lovely.

Stores like TKMAXX, Asda home, and The Range also have a variety, which are slightly easier on the purse strings.

This year I decided to go down this route for a present for my mum and after looking and browsing for a week or so in all of these shops, I finally found a set of three frames from The Range which was perfect (and a bargain)!

Some presents have more of an impression than buying any old thing to go with a card, and spending more time and effort on a unique gift with a personal touch pays off.

So have a think about what your mums will really appreciate this year, even if you only have a week to go...

Good luck!

CJG for Topshop...

This isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned Topshop on this blog (and it won’t be the last)...but I couldn’t resist posting about the incredible shoe collection by Chloe Green.

She has the pleasure of hanging out with the cast of Made in Chelsea, she’s Heiress to a fortune including Topshop AND she designs amazing shoes. It’s fair to say we all want her life.

She’s recently been seen in magazines and websites for her new controversial love interest, J Lo’s ex, but who cares about her personal life? LOOK AT THESE SHOES!

As if the first collection wasn’t beautiful enough, the CJG original line is back with a few high fashion changes.

It’s clear the middle class style icon has a talent.

Her new and improved line manages to radiate daintiness while channelling rock chic, something which reflects her own edgy style.

The only thing disappointing about the range is that there isn’t enough of it, however I’d like to share with you my personal favourites.

Silver metallic stilleto £115 

With prom season around the corner, teenagers around the country will be stressing out about finding the right dress, let alone the perfect accessories to match.

So, if you’re looking, save yourself some trouble (or make the hunt 10 times harder) and look for a dress to match these stunning stilettos. 

The beautiful nude colour on the platform is easily matched by any colour and the metallic colour creates a unique twist to a shoe that without it, let’s face it would be quite boring.

The studs along the bottom finish it off nicely by adding a flare of grunge to the pretty shoe.

Pale green stilleto £115

The same style is also available in pale green which is also perfect for a prom outfit and although the collection was released in the November, these trends are easily transferred to your spring/summer wardrobe.

The cute pattern on the bottom is Chloe’s signature stamp, fitting flawlessly with her name and appears on all of her designs.

Although it’s not quite like owning a pair of Louboutin’s, it’s enough to make a girl feel special!

I am also head of heels (pun) in love with the thunder lace wedge.

Thunder lace wedge £130

The pattern on the platform is just enough elegance, anymore and there’s danger of overkill, cleverly balanced with black.

Wedges are also notoriously more comfortable than stilettos...bonus!

The great thing about this pair is they can be dressed up or down.

Black goes with anything (apart from blue, black and blue will never do) so the colour or material of your outfit is sure to match and the white lace detail makes a stylish statement. 

The collections been out since November 2012, so if these weren’t on your Christmas list, you’ve missed a trick!

The budding designer has also extended her recent line to include jewellery and a unique silk scarf. So watch this space for more from CJG. 

Exclusive to Topshop and Selfridges, the items are still available in store and online.

www.topshop.com

  

Treat yourself!

This week I've decided to blog about things I'm loving at the moment!

Although we are very nearly into Spring..some of us are still feeling the Winter blues, so here are 3 things that have cheered me up considerably when I've been having a down day.

We all need a bit of self indulgence every now and then, whether it's music or fashion, sport or films...

Whatever you are interested in, take some time this week to enjoy yourself. :)

Of Monsters and Men

These guys are new on the music scene and I absolutely love their debut album, My Head is an Animal.

Forming in 2010, it took the Icelandic five piece, whose style is described as indie/pop, nearly 2 years to release their unique folky style to the UK with their first single, Little Talks in 2012.  

The album is definitely worth a listen, particularly if you are a fan of bands like Mumford and Sons and Arcade Fire.

Although their music is of a similar style, Of Monsters and Men are a completely new sound which I cannot get enough this year!

My favourite tracks on the album (this week) are Mountain Sound and Dirty Paws.

They have been the soundtrack to my blog writing this week!

Download, buy, YouTube, spotify, whatever! Just make sure you aren't the last to discover their fantastic sound!

Herbal/flavoured/fruit tea

I feel like I might be a bit behind on this one as everything you read on health or dieting these days indicates that herbal teas are a must, but better late than never..

Twinings fruit tea

They really do work guys!

Whether it replaces your daily morning coffee or late night hot chocolate, a cup of herbal tea is not only better for you, it tastes good too.

From peppermint to green tea, strawberry flavoured to vanilla, there’s a flavour for everyone!

I love Twinings fresh and fruity cranberry, raspberry and elderflower. 

It’s great in the mornings with your bowl of cereal and in the winter when you are full of a cold, it’s a great remedy for clearing your airways.

Twinings are a great choice but nearly all teabag brands have these flavours as well as supermarket own brands, so there is no excuse not to make the healthy swap!

Daredevil nail varnish by Topshop

It is unlikely that I need another reason to adore Topshop, but if I do this nail colour is it!

Topshop nails in Daredevil

It works in winter (I bought it back in November) and I’m still wearing it now.

The beauty of it is it’s so versatile.

The sparkly deep red looks good, no, great with black, cream, grey, gold, brown, orange and just about every other colour!

It’s perfect for a night out and a day trip...

It’s so good that my ultimate style icon, Millie Macintosh was wearing it last month.

So if you haven’t already dashed out to the shops to buy it, get up and go before it’s too late!

Magnetic nail art..

Like most girls, buying and trying out a new nail varnish can make my day.

There's something exciting about choosing between all the glossy colours and putting the first fresh coat on, which is why I couldn't wait to try out Barry M magnetic nail paint!

At £4.99 it sounds pricey but for a good quality nail varnish, I'm willing to shell out.

The magnetic nail trend is new, (I feel like a bit of a guinea pig trying out the new fad) and only Barry M and Nails Inc have brought out products. 

I chose a safe navy blue for my first effort, although the new collection boasts 4 amazing colours to choose from..

After applying the second coat, you hold the magnetic strip on the lid over the nail for 5 seconds which creates the pattern.

At first it can be tricky (I smudged a few nails on my first attempt) but you'll soon get the hang of it! 

I'm pleased with the results of my last few nails, but I think a top clear coat is crucial to make sure the design stays on.

I'd advise all you to get down to Boots and try it out for yourselves..
They have a 3 for 2 on all Barry M products at the moment too!

Or check out the Barry M website..
www.barrym.com

a charm; something worn or carried on one's person for its supposed magical effect

My own charm bracelet

Charms can often mean different things. Some people collect them as memories, wear them to bring luck or simply buy them to look pretty on a bracelet or necklace.

For my 18th birthday present I got a Links of London bracelet and I've added their charms to it. Although I wear it as a fashion accessory I like to think the charms have meanings and each is personal to me. 

Links of London's new collection has inspired me to blog about different charms. 

Whatever your price range is, there are plenty of collections to choose from with different styles. 

Birdcage Charm

It's a bit pricey (It costs sixty five of your English pounds) but the new birdcage charm is one of my favourites! It's so cute and would make a great birthday or Christmas present. 

Love Note Acorn Amazonite Charm

Thinking of a smaller budget? £45 will get you the love note acorn charm. The pale blue gives it a quirky edge without it being bright and bold. This one is on my wish list for my birthday! 

Dragonfly Charm

I've always liked the dragonfly charm, it’s summery and I love that it's different. It costs £35 which is a standard price for a links charm, but they can be as cheap as just £10!

There are plenty of charms which would make any occasion special from birthdays to graduations, mother’s day to weddings. 

I love my Pisces charm which I got for my birthday last year; I think it adds a burst of colour to my sterling silver bracelet. This charm is also personal to me as well looking stylish! 

Your charm bracelet can be whatever you want it to be. Links of London offer gold charms which can be family keepsakes passed down through generations as well as sterling silver pieces worn as fashionable jewellery.

I hope this post has inspired you to start your own charm collection!

Check out the Links of London website!

http://www.linksoflondon.com/gb-en/