Hi everyone!

I love this shirt from Chinadoll Boutique! I don't usually get super enthusiastic about things on my blog but it's the morning, I've had my cup of tea, I've made some important decisions and I feel really really good about life right now, and at this point in time, 'life' includes this shirt.

I have worn it in so many outfits haha but this is the only one I've taken a picture of. Firstly, because I was enjoy collared shirts. Secondly, because of the print! I don't usually like floral prints but this one is bold enough for it to look nice. Also, I'm not usually entirely into the whole shoulderless thing, especially because on me I fear it looks a bit like I'm pretentiously showing off my arm tattoo. However, it does make it look a little more fancy. Also, with the help of some safety pins, you can make it into a regular shirt, which I've already done a bunch of times haha. So it's good.

Everything else is vintage, including those shoes which I bought super cheap from my local Oxfam store. It's not often I find nice 60s vintage in good condition from a charity shop, especially the local Oxfam which is super expensive. So I'm pleased!

But anyway, let me tell you about what I've been doing as of late.

One of my best friends from Sydney visited me! I love it when people from Australia visit me, not only because spending time with good friends is always nice, but also because for some reason there are barely any Australians in Durham. In Brighton there were quite a few for some raisin. But not so up north. So we hung out. Ate a lot of food. Went to London and Brighton.

We also went to Edinburgh again! These are my only photos.

Excuse the instagram-ness. We walked around, searched for macarons for Elena, went to this slightly fancy area where everyone had pet dogs, missed our train by 30 seconds and had to go crying to East Coast office where we were kindly allowed on the next train (I'm an adult, yes I am).

Then we went to Spain! Unfortunately we had thought it would be a good idea to split our trip in half and spend a little time in Barcelona and a little time in Madrid, but as with any city, a little time is never enough. That being said, they were both absolutely amazing. Here are a few Barcelona pictures!

Amazing juice in the morning, Sangria during the day and at night, incredible buildings, the beach, tapas bars... it was a good holiday. We were really sad to leave, especially as there was obviously so much more to see. Then we went to Madrid!

Not even sure what photos to post. It was a beautiful city. We just did a lot of touristy stuff, and spent a lot of time trying to avoid the heat (it was 39 degrees while we were there). We also spent kind of a lot of time at our hotel cafe haha. Usually I would think that to do so is really depressing, but... it was a good one. This one waiter who worked in the afternoons made incredible gin and tonics (hohoho) and we got free tapas. So yeah. SPAIN!

A couple of days later, Charlie and I went to Germany. Once again we split it between two cities - Berlin and Cologne. I won't post too many photos of Berlin because I already have a bunch on this blog from last time. Basically we just saw a few touristy sights and wandered around some areas I hadn't been to already. And had my first vegan pizza in a few years haha.

And then we went to Cologne!

(our hotel in the background)

(the interior of our hotel! haha)

Cologne was actually so nice. We spent the whole time just walking around, getting drinks, and generally relaxing. Also, I just have to express that there are four things that we saw everywhere in Germany: Dunkin' Donuts, bubble tea, sushi, and vietnamese. Not what you'd expect!

So now I've bombarded you with photos, it's time for me to sign off. I'm back in Durham Starbucks, soon to get one of those new tasty limey drinks haha. Trying to relax and get a few things done before I leave for Australia in a couple of weeks! I haven't seen my family since Christmas break so quite exciting.

Bye!

Waking up in London

(wonderful shoes from chicnova)



Hi everyone!


As usual, long time no post. I've spent the past few weeks being simultaneously very busy and very bored. Like the short bursts of busyness have sucked away all desire to be productive during the periods of freedom haha. But that being said, I've enjoyed myself!



I moved into a cosy (though very studenty) apartment in the city centre with a couple of friends of mine, and a couple of days before that I went to Edinburgh for the night with a few people.



I didn't take my camera with me so thanks Micaela for letting me use her photos!





The view from outside our hostel!



The first day we just wandered around the Royal Mile / Grassmarket area, went to some pubs, had dinner, saw a film and then went out. Yeah.




And the day after we had a lovely breakfast (I had carrot juice for the first time in ages, yum), perused the shops and went over to ... The other side of the station (not sure what it's called) which was so lovely!







And back in Newcastle!

I hope this post works. I'm using the blogger app for the first time and there doesn't appear to be any rich text option hoho. So fingers crossed. Anyway, must go show Elena the sights. First we are going to the borough markets, then the Tate Modern, then the museums. Should be a long but enjoyable day!

Hello summer! ...for a week

Hi there. So the week after exams it was ridiculously hot. And by ridiculously hot, I mean quite warm - 22 degrees was the maximum temperature I believe? It may seem mild, but considering the fact that prior to that week it had been hovering around 12 for what seemed like an age, everyone was in exceptionally good spirits. Arms and legs were bared, sunscreen was applied, Asos sunglasses were purchased... Durham had been delivered a lovely little taste of summer! And yet for the past few days we have suffered a return to cool temperatures and misty rain. WHY??

Anyway, despite the awful weather, the other day I received a wonderful sundress from Dahlia. It's a brand you probably know, especially if you like to venture into the Oxford St Topshop, and one that always manages to come up with especially adorable things!

(I need to stop looking down in photos haha)

I was not able to wear it in a sunny way for long, but still. When the sun does shine again (which it seems to be kind of doing now, at last, at 7pm) I know to which dress I can turn. And when does the sun does not shine, it still makes for a cheerful outfit. So there! Thanks Dahlia!

Aaand here's what I wore yesterday. Pretty much worn this outfit many times before but yesterday I finally got out my feather pillbox! I've had it for months but had never worn it before yesterday. I wish I was wearing a better bag to go with this outfit but I didn't originally plan on taking pictures of it. On another note, I have also now discovered that I can take perfectly fine outfit pictures with my iphone. So bizarre that I have a fancy phone now considering I've lasted the last eight years or so with the cheapest ones I could find... but there you go. I now apparently have a reasonably good camera with me at all times, so I'm happy.

So, off I go. Spending the night wearing these...

As I always, without fail, leave costumes to the last minute. And now I must leave. Goodbye!

I am now 21!

Just a little update. How time does fly. I definitely do not feel 21. At all. But there you go! So I've finished my exams, and I have pretty much nothing to do for a couple of weeks. I have a few things in mind but as of yet have formed no concrete plans for anything other than moving into my new place come July and my trip to see my family.

I pretty much just want to work on my health and fitness and read as much as I possibly can for my courses next year, but I will also finally have time to do some more sewing and go on some more trips. The big one, of course, is Australia, where I'll get to see my family and do some work experience, so that will take up a big chunk of time. But also I'm going to Barcelona with my lovely friend Elena, and to Berlin and Cologne with Charlie. So I pretty much also have to spend this break being as frugal as I can possibly manage haha.

(Also, if you are from Berlin / Cologne or know them well, please recommend me places to go / things to do!)

From the time I spent preparing for exams I realised I was literally over £100 better off than I would otherwise have been at that time of the month simply because I spent pretty much all of my time either in my room or in the library studying, and spent no money on snacks, going out, train tickets, or anything. So I'm trying to be a little more careful now haha.

But in other news, apparently Summer has arrived in Durham because it is HOT. And when I say hot, I actually mean 22 DEGREES but considering how cold its been over the past few months, a mere 22 really does feel sweltering. It's good though. Really good. It feels as if we were finally able to wander around Newcastle properly without dashing from cafe to cafe for shelter. It is a little worrying though, in the sense that... if it feels hot at 22, how am I going to cope when it reaches 30? Christ.

But anyway. Here are some photos of the outfit I kind of posted in the below post?

 The shirt is from Sheinside. I am seriously in love with it. So clean and simple and just... idk perfect. You've In terms of the rest, the coat is vintage and the shoes are by Bertie.

Bye everyone!

tutorial: a lazy girl's beehive

So, being a lover of 50s / 60s fashion, there is only so much of this...

and this...

and this...

... a girl can take before she's popping down to Boots to get the cheapest hairspray she can find. So I've done this a couple of times, using tutorials I found on Youtube. It looked pretty good. But there was just one problem! The detangling process. I hate backcombing. It's irritating to do, it's irritating to get out, and you risk damaging your hair if you do it often (especially in my case, as my hair is bleached and not super strong).

Now there are lots and lots of tutorials out there for beehives, so this isn't anything super special. The only difference is that I'm doing absolutely zero backcombing, so it's something you can do every day, and it's really easy to take down.

What you need...

A hair doughnut (you can get them from Primark right now for a pound or two)

Hairspray

A million bobby pins

What you must do...

As you can see, I have relatively long hair. This is where all the fullness in the back comes from pretty much (though I definitely have more than I need), so if you have shorter than medium-length hair, you might need to use a different tutorial? I don't know!

Start off by vaguely sectioning off your hair at the front-sides and the top (behind your fringe). It doesn't have to be super precise...unless you want it to look super precise? idk. The top section should not include the hair on the crown of your head.

Tie up the front section so it's out of your way, and pin up the side sections in the direction of the crown.

Get your doughnut and, using the hair on the crown of your head only (leave the hair about half-way down the back of your head) create a bun with the doughnut just so the hair is covering it. Use your bobby pins to make sure it is secure, and hairspray it.

Hahaha, christ.

Get your front section and distribute it over the bun you just made so it sits on top in a round shape. You should do this quite loosely, and use a lot of hairspray. 

Keeping in mind the shape you want it to be, gather all of the hair from the back into a kind of ponytail type thing.

From the bottom of your hair, basically twist the ponytail around, but so it incorporates your hair on the sides with it. Do this more tightly at the nape of the neck, and more loosely as you go towards the bun. Tuck the excess hair into the twisted ponytail on the back of your head, and pin until it all feels secure. Hairspray!

Hooray, a beehive.

Plus accessories hoho, plus the blouse is from Sheinside.

Bye!