It's been a while

It's been quite some time time since my last post and as much as it pains me to admit it, it's down to pure laziness opposed to a busy schedule. So, it's now February. I assume everyone has given up on their 'new year new me' vibe and is back to the usual sloth-like ways. I know I have- my New Years resolutions were given up on approximately January 3rd. Dedication is not my strong point. Nevertheless, I've decided to unleash my inner hipster and start some new month resolutions- let's see if they actually happen.

Currently I find myself drowning in half-finished a-level work and I feel like it's time to make some sort of attempt to get my shit together. So the aim is to start actually trying with school, despite the strong urges to run away and join the circus and just be free of a-levels. After coming out with two ds and an E in my mock exams, I think that's a bit more of a push to work hard. Or so I hope, anyways.

My next little 'resolution' if you will, is to look like kim kardashian by the time summer. A tad optimistic, but I'm booked up for a week in Italy with school followed by five nights in Marbella and I won't be able to deal with looking like a whale whilst there. Kim I is the goal, but as I say  ... Optimism.


It's starting to approach exam season- wahoo. Since I'm in my first year of sixth form it's also time to think about universities. Whilst on this thought I suddenly realised I have NOTHING to put on my ucas application. Panic stations. So in the interests of future-me, I've decided to start looking into volunteering in things such as libraries and art galleries. This is easier said than done. You'd think that considering I'm offering unpaid work people would snap my arm off trying to take it. You'd think wrong, I cannot find placements. Ultra panic.


I'm hoping that my little mid-February resolutions will encourage me to seriously get it together, a mid life crisis at 17 is not cool.

Emma x

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

A bombardment of christmas posts. 

If you've read my last few posts, it's quite clear that in getting into the festive spirit. Fairy lights and excessive candles- it sounds quite similar to my usual room decor however at christmas there's added tinsel and sequins. It's ever so fabulous.

Teddies in Santa hats. Need I say more? 

I made this fabulous little sign last year, I cut the letters out of cardboard and glued the bronze sequins on top. I then stuck it on white paper-mounted cardboard and edged it with lace. It cost absolute tuppence to make and looks amazing. I put it on my window sill with this little embossed glass latern from paperchase and a bronze candle stick holder from wilkinsons. A very simple but festive arrangement if I say so myself. 

My mini tree was £4 from paperchase and I've decorated with battery fairy lights and teeny tiny baubles. I went for the hipster option and used a sassy leaping reindeer with glitter antlers in place of a star. I'm just really urban like that. (That is dripping with sarcasm for those who couldn't tell). Light up twigs and festive scented candles complete my dresser arrangement. 

My favourite part of the christmas decorations. The hessian bunting was £2(ish) from home bargains- also known as my spiritual homeland. I wrapped a sting of plastic leaves that I got from eBay around my fairy lights, they took like 3 months to arrive but I did pay 99p so I can't really expect it to be flown over on a private jet for the next day.  

I hung mine and my sisters stockings either side of the fairy lights and added a cute light up tree to my self, alongside some tartan bird houses and a Harrods bauble from way back in 2008. Vintage. Again, my inner urban showing. Excessive cushions,blankets and teddy bears in Santa hats finished my highly over the too christmas set up. 

I hope my little festive room tour has given a few ideas for decorating for christmas. 

Emma x 

Christmas shopping done right.

The stress of christmas. 

The thing I hate most about christmas is the stress of actually buying people presents. I'm pretty sure everyone feels the same. My biggest fear is the happiness when someone opens your gift; you feel relived that you got it right only to discover three hours later that it's been put on eBay with a starting price of 99p and Infact they hated it. (This isn't a real example, but I could think of a few people- I won't name names) *cough*my sister*cough*

How do I get around this issue? 

I'm the sort of person that thinks more is more. If a gift doesn't have 27 elements and some sort of 3d pop up, exploding card, is it really worth it? Being this faffy has it's perks, especially if you have a somewhat unlimited budget. But evidently, I do not. I get £3.79 an hour, and despite recently terexperiencing a 7p payrise (insert explosions and snoop dogg in background with money falling from the sky and loads of chains and then cool sunglasses)

 this does not cover the cost of my ideal gift. I suppose really I have no way of getting round it and in actual fact this whole paragraph is a rhetorical question. BUT wait, I hear you cry, what about that wonderful thing we call the internet? GASP

Not to get all extreme couponing up in here, but I must say google shop has been the most helpful tool in my christmas present purchases this year. With it being my first christmas that I can just about afford to buy real gifts for everyone, I wanted to get things people actually want, and hence curving the whole will it/won't it go on eBay scenario. (Again, I'm talking to you Alex, I swear to god if I find your present on eBay I'll weep) 

Take my dad for example. There's only one place he'll be if he's not at work or at home and that's on his bike. So it's pretty obvious that I had to get him something bike related. This is where the wonders of google shop step in, I had the fabulous idea to get him some personalised bike wear (I'm thinking banter written across is large letters will be perfect), so I just typed this into google, clicked shop and ordered according to price. I was actually quite shocked at the amount of personalised bike wear specialists, surely it's not that high demand? Apparently so. So as I trauled this page (for approximately 17 seconds) I came across exactly what I wanted and all for £5.47- what more could I ask? 

So, in this plea, I urge you to follow suit and literally use google to do your christmas shopping. I can't guarantee it won't be sold on, but I can gaurentee you won't really be that bothered because they'll probably get more for it than what you paid. Win win all round. 

Oh what a marvel this internet-ma-bob is 

Emma x

Glitter

The festive season. 

The festive season is upon us- Starbucks have their red cups and the wooly hats are out. Not only does this time of year mean we can indulge in a toffee nut latte, but it also means we can wear glitter. Glitter everything. I mean, by November my daily outfit is approximately 67% glitter. Whether it's on my nails, clothes or eyes, I just cannot get enough. 

(This is a firework from bonfire night that is pretty irrelevant but it's just amazing to look at, I nearly cried) 

I thought I'd share a few of my festive glitter pieces, in the hope that a few fellow glitter lovers will also indulge. 

The first is a glitter midi skirt. £3 from primark, need I say more? I've been wearing it to sixth form, I know it's not the most appropriate choice of clothing but it's knee length so technically no rules are broken. 

Here's a little collective haul that contains three of my all time favourite sparkles. The two dresses are from h&m and are quite possible the bargain of the century. £9.99 each!! They're not quite dress appropriate length on me but I'm sure I can adapt them too be tops. They're amazing and at that price so Ideal for the christmas season. My other love is the mac eye dust set from their new christmas collection. The packaging alone is enough to make me weak at the knees. Glittery goodness. I'm also really appreciating the 17 eyeshadow trio in the shade metallic toffee. It was £3 (ish) and is so creamy and shimmery. It's just delightful. 

Eye glitter is my favourite thing in the whole world (I'm talking on par with cake, that is serious love). Assuming everyone follows glitter and hence eye glitter trends with as much passion as I do, I turn to the stila metallic foil finish eyeshadow. Every glitter lovers must have item for the festive season, but at £31.50 a pot who the hell got time for that?! That's where this AMAZING dupe from make up revolution in super drug. An exact copy of the stila shade kitten and to top it off, it was only £5. Wowza. 

Amazing rose gold colour and it's amazing how similar it is to the real deal. 

Next item on my glitter list: the lush glitter bomb. I spent 2 blissful hours in the bath all because it was glittery. Really it was my idea of paradise. The water felt like silk and I nearly cried and how pretty it is. I would highly recommend, it has a lovely and relaxing floral scent, win win all round Id say. 

I'm slightly distraught that I haven't posted I over a month- sixth form is so much more work than I expected and apparently you actually like have to do it and can't just leave it until 11pm the night before it's due despite my best attempts. I do apologise to anyone who does read my posts. Unless it's just my mam and in which case mother I sincerely apologise. However this apology does spread further for any other readers. 

I hope you enjoyed my short post on glitter and how to introduce it into all aspects of life, 

Emma x 

DIY Elsa costume

Halloween 2014 

It seems as though frozen is a craze that will never end, and I am I full supporter. I love all things disney related, hip and urban I know, and frozen is just the icing on the cake. I could actually cry at how much I love it. I just have to think of olaf and my mood is lifted. So it seemed fitting that for Halloween this year, I went as Elsa. I put a substantial amount of effort in and I was pretty pleased with the finished result. I made the dress and cape myself and wore with sparkly sandals to add the extra delight that comes with all things glittery. 

                     

                     

I primed my skin with this w7 primer, a dupe of smashbox. I have to say, for £1.99 it does an excellent job, I can't complain. 

               

Since Elsa is the snow queen, I wanted my skin to be really pale. This isn't difficult when you're from the north of England and by nature have an anaemic-like complexion. 

                      

I then applied my Dainty doll concealer all over my face to look even paler- I too was shocked that this was possible. 

                      

This seventeen foundation is a bit too light for my skin and is really thick, so it was great for this look. I applied with my real techniques stippling brush all over my face and neck and the transformation to albino was complete. 

                      

I went with a REALLY dark blush for this for that 'I've just been frolicking in the snow and that' look. This blusher is a bit too strong for everyday wear but great for things like this. Then it was time for the exciting bit; highlighter. Oh boy, oh boy how I love a highlighted cheekbone. 

                      

                      

Obviously I went with the staple mac soft and gentle and benefit high beam. You don't mess with a classic. 

                       

I had to get creative when it came to the eyes. As it isn't 2002 anymore and people don't really wear pink eyeshadow daily, I had to use two shades of lipstick on my eyelids to get the lovely pink look that elsa has. I went with this lilac topshop colour and a hot pink from the Kate moss rimmel range. 

                       

                                    

I applied the lilac all over my eye lid and put the pink into my crease. I then put this dark purple shade that I have in a palette of eyeshadows over the crease. 

                                   

I went with my favorite red cherry lashes (no 43 if you're wondering) and an excessive amount of glitter on the side of my face to finish it off. 

         

         

                                   

                                             

I simply plaited my hair to one side and wore a clip in fringe backwards to give those faffy little bits elsa has at the front, so I didn't have to wear a full wig. It worked rather well If I say so myself. The only full length picture I have of the dress itself is with my friend, Luke, who went as Amish man, and Hannah who went as a bat. 

                                     

All in all, a pretty easy diy costume and a rather hilarious Halloween. 

Emma x

Edinburgh for the day.

Train delays and soy lattes. 

A brisk awakening was necessary this fine Wednesday morning; my grandma, cousin and I were Edinburgh bound. I found myself awake at 5:30am, too cold to sleep, and ready by 6am. Talk about organised. After some brief faffing and a spot of breakfast, we marched from my grandmas house to the metro station, braving the freezing temperatures and paying extortionate prices for single tickets to the train station.

(£2.60??? I nearly died!) 

In central station and 20 minutes early, we were rather chuffed, wasting time buying chewing gum and overpriced coffees. But this joy at our organisational skills didn't last long - delays. First a ten minute delay, then twenty then false hope as it fell by a minute, only to rise by five a second later. 

There was then an announcement stating we had to be at a different platform, meaning a lengthily trek over a steep bridge, a difficult task when you have your elderly grandma and cousin with a broken foot. Eventually, 50 minutes later than our arrival at the station, we boarded the train 30 minutes behind schedule. Annoying that the only time we've ever been early for anything in our lives it's delayed. Nothing is ever straightforward, but then again where'd the fun in that be? 

On the train and ready for the day, i started out with a brief wave of excitement, to be followed by a small nap and then a brief period of annoying my cousin by tapping her head continuously. Oh the banter. Then it was time to take cute selfies with my grandma. 

Then we arrived and we were HUNGRY. Food was all we could think about. It took us a long time to navigate our way around and we found ourselves hopelessly wandering with no brunch location in sight. Then we found  a 'tea boutique'. We felt ever so working class. 

One word - AMAZING

After a bite to eat, we had a shop around. Some serious damage was done to my already minimal bank account, after a 5 story primark and a 3 story H&M I have barely a penny to my name. Le cry. 

As I say, I was with my grandma and cousin who has a broken foot. This meant they couldn't keep up with my shopping-adrenaline fuelled speed and lots of pit stops on benches. I wasn't complaining. 

Edinburgh is a lovely place and is great for shopping. However if I see another packet of Westie shaped shortbread ever again I will probably cry, they seem to be on sale everywhere. Who doesn't love a tourist cliché aY? 

After all of that shopping, sitting down and drinking coffee, we felt it necessary to have dinner. We were looking for a cheap and cheerful pizza place, or as I prefer to call it; a shitalian. 

Instead, we found ourselves in what can only be described as the ritz of pizzerias. A place were there was marble spiral staircase to the toilets and portion size is negatively correlated to price (that's a bit of mathematical humour for you all). We ended up here by total fluke. If it was by choice, we'd have been in subway having a sub of the day and a drink for £3. Nevertheless, it was amazing and we all had a giggle at our gateshead  clampit ways.  

I ended my day in the greatest of ways- with a Mars bar. 

BEST. DAY. EVER. 

I really had such a lovely day. 

Emma x

DIY bag and room decor.

Friday night antics. 

Fridays. For me, there's no middle ground - I'm either out until 3am or lying in bed in a onesie with a take away ordered by 5:30. Today, it was the latter. So, with nothing better to do than homework, I did what any good student would do and avoid doing any work at all costs. This evening I decided that I would get a little creative.

As a as level student, I find myself laden down with 40,000 files daily (no exaggeration). So I came up with the solution of carrying my files in a separate bag and using a a smaller bag. Obviously being a cool and urban teen that I am (ha ha ha) I opted for a hessian carrier bag - a must have accessory for all of the cool kids. So this evening was dedicated to jazzing-ing up my bag. 

Ok so, to do this little diy you'll need;

-hessian bag

-buttons

-glue

-glue gun 

-fabric

-cup of tea (optional, but preferred)

                               

I started by organising which buttons I wanted, I then decided I wanted bunting across the front of my bag. 

I glued a long strip of gingham ribbon across the top of the bag with a glue stick and hot glued a button either side. 

Next I cut small triangles of the patterned fabric to make the bunting flags and glued them on with a glue stick. 

                                  

For extra pazzaz, I used a hot glue gun to add these peace studs. I just thought they were sweet so decided to add them. 

                                     

                                   

Finally, I used the glue stick and stuck this thick strip of mint green lace along the bottom of the bag. 

                                   

                                                                         Ta-da!

Finally, after my bag was finished and I had devoured my chinese takeaway, I decided to creased this lovely little frame for my bedroom wall:

     

I had to improvise slightly for the lettering, but that just gives it character, or so I'm telling myself. 

So here's a little insight to craziness of my Friday night antics, 

Emma x