Looking For Alaska // TGIF

THIS BOOK. I have always loved John Green novels. They are always so beautifully written: funny and poignant and guaranteed to move someone of any age (despite them being marketed for 'young adults').  John Green just seems to have this remarkable talent of making you laugh one page and cry the next. I had read his other books 'Paper Towns' and 'Will Grayson, Will Grayson' before but with the release of the movie of The Fault In Our Stars, John Green seems to be more popular than ever. Finally this genius is getting the credit he deserves.

Looking for Alaska is a beautiful tale of Miles, who moves to boarding school and meets a new set of friends, or just friends, something he'd never had before. And he also meets Alaska Young. The story sees how Alaska changes his life and what an impact she has on him. And, as per every other John Green novel, is the perfect mix of funny and heartbreaking.
Go. Read.

iLife // Thursday's Thoughts

We live an iLife. In this country in 2014 we live a very technology-led life. When I was at lunch with my Mum a few days ago, the couple on the table next to us came in, sat down, orded their coffees and then proceeded to spend half an hour sitting opposite each other in silence, not looking up from their phones.

Now don't get me wrong, I love my phone, and I love my computer and we are so very lucky in this country and age that most of us have access to these things. But sometimes I feel that we place too much emphasis on what we see online. You can have the perfect Twitter or Instagram feed, edit your Facebook profile to be whoever you want to be. So people's set their standards by these 'perfect' people and their 'perfect' lives they see online, when everything they're really seeing is through a filter (probably X-ProII).

Anyway, that was a tangent. I really just looked at that couple, both glued to their phones and thought it was a shame that we have become so fixated on the internet, and that we should learn to be able to switch off sometimes and interact with real people again.

...She says, typing her opinions and posting them online...

Cooler than the Red Skirt // On Wednesdays We Wear...

Nailing the mirror selfie

Winter is my absolute favourite time in terms of fashion. Maybe it's becasue I'm naturally pale [and pasty], but I like nothing better than pairing my black tights and boots with a pretty skirt or dress. And a collar of course. This scallop collared shirt is a new accquisition and I love pairing it with a statement necklace. [Check out New Look, their chunky necklaces are on point at the moment!]

This is what I wore to lunch out with a friend on Saturday and I love that the red skirt is so bright, Winter doesn't have to mean dressing in black!

New Look Necklace: Can't find it online, but I got it from thier Oxford Street store
New Look Boots: http://www.newlook.com/shop/shoe-gallery/boots/black-buckle-side-block-heel-chelsea-boots_320976301
Asos Shirt: http://www.asos.com/asos/asos-shirt-with-scallop-collar/prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=3117708&clr=White&SearchQuery=scallop+collar+shirt&pgesize=8&pge=1&totalstyles=8&gridsize=3&gridrow=1&gridcolumn=2
Asos Skirt: Old, sorry.
Leather Jacket: from Ebay
Lipstick is Rimmel Kate Moss in 107 

Let Your Soulshine // Chewsday

When I was home visiting my parents we went for lunch at my favourite local cafe; Soulshine.  Soulshine specialises in organic, healthy and locally sourced food and is, to put it frankly LUSH. They do the most amazing smoothies and juices, breakfasts (which are served all day) and gluten free, vegan brownies and treats. They make all their own bread on the premises and thier sourdough is to die for!

They also have a little shop selling handmade cards and books and a kiddies play cupboard to keep little ones entertained.

I ordered cheese toastie on wholemeal sourdough bread which was ridiculously yummy and came with a side salad. All for £4.50!! I also had a Healthy and Here smoothie, which was a green smoothie with lemon and ginger.

My Mum went for red cabbage Bubble and Squeak which cam with two poached eggs and a Totally Tumeric smoothie, which was made with coconut water.  

We didn't have a gluten free brownie but that is one of my favourites when I'm in the mood for something sweet.

Healthy and Here Smoothie (mine): Leafy green, lemon, ginger, banana and apple juice. Totally Tumeric (my Mum's):

"Did you know that love can grow in any place where people go" Don Mclean. This wall in the cafe made up of maps was my favourite.

My Mum's red cabbage and poached egg Bubble and Squeak

My AMAZING cheese toastie on wholemeal sourdough

The cakes! Note the gluten free, vegan Brownies in the background (LUSH). The gluten free flapjack is also incredible.

Not only does Soulshine make incredibly tasty food, it's also just a lovely place to be. The walls are crammed with cool maps or quirky photos and drawings and the windowsills house a mixture of fresh herbs and interestinng ornaments. I think it's the cafe's individuality that attracts me and once I'm in I never want to leave!

Follow Soulshine on Twitter: @soulshinecafe

Another map on the wall

The beautiful garden, which has outdoor seating.

What's on my face // Make Up Your Mondays

Like a lot of other girls in this country, I wear [probably an unessesary amount of] makeup every day.  I'm definitely a drugstore gal: I just can't bring myself to spend what little money I have on a £40 foundation. Quantity not quality, isn't that the saying?... No? Okay.

Anyway I thought I'd share a quick look into what I slap on my face at the moment.  I'm no guru, I know just enough to make myself look half decent for a selfie, but I'll talk you through the products I use and why.

Clockwise from left: Kiko Eyeshadow Quad, Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation, Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, Maybelline Baby Skin, Revlon Colourstay Concealer, Rimmel Brow This Way, MAC Lipstick in Pattiserie, Soap and Glory Love at First Blush, Kiko Eybrow Pencil, Loreal Superliner Perfect Slim, Loreal Voluminous X5 Mascara

My everyday makeup of the moment

My Kiko eyeshadow quad in number 100 is my new love. It's four neutral shades ranging from creamy beige to dark brown are all very shimmery (which I like) and I blend the lightest and darkest shade together on my lids.

The Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in True Ivory is a little to full a coverage and slightly too shimmery for me so I mix a drop of it with the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in Light Beige. The Bourjois one is much lighter coverage, almost more like a tinted moisturiser, which I prefer.

Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser is a clear silicone-y product which I use under foundation to make the skin smoother. It's a very good dupe for Benefit's Pore-fessional though, at less than half the price.

The Revlon Colourstay Concealer in 02 Light is a bit yellow-toned for me but is perfect for spots. I use the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 02 Cool Medium (not pictured - laying forgotten in the makeup bag) under my eyes.

I use the Rimmel Brow This Way clear gel to fix my brows. And boy do they need fixing.

My favourite everyday lipstick is MAC Patisserie. It kind of looks like I'm not wearing any lipstick and that's why I love it.

This Soap and Glory Love at First Blush is new. I'm not a huge blusher fan so this is perfect - light, not too pigmented and with a really pretty shimmer.

This Kiko Eyebrow Pencil in 04 is my EXACT eyebrow colour, so I just use it to neaten up my brows.

Loreal Superliner Perfect Slim in Intense Black has always been my eyeliner of choice. I'm a liquid eyeliner girl and I do love a good smokey eye or a cat eye and this felt tip makes eyeliner easy.

Loreal Voluminous Mascara X5 in Extra Black. Another Loreal fave, I only bought this because the brush is an almost exact match to the Clinique one I was using before. This is just as good, and much cheaper!

The eyes

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Autumn Evenings // SaturDIARY

So the clocks go back this evening: winter is officially on it's way.  What I LOVE most about Atumn/Winter is the cosy nights in and the TV. God I'm so boring but tonight for me has been spent watching Strictly and Doctor Who and X Factor and last week's Downton Abbey.

I arrived back at my parent's yesterday, after a long ass train journey. I'm visiting them for part of 'reading week' (where the only thing I read is Glamour and some John Green novels) and today I was invited to a vow renewal/celebration of marriage thing. I'm never sure what the official name for these things is...
Anyway, this couple have suffered through illness and more illness, never sure whether they were going to still be here in 2014. But they are. And love is really something. I'm not someone who's easily moved by these things but hearing the couple say their vows again today was really very special and I think going through (and watching others go through) ilnesses and tough times makes you treasure those close to you and really puts things into perspective.

And on that emotional note...
Back to watching X Factor with a curry. #autumnevenings

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Blog Off

So blogging is THE thing huh...
Everyone's doing it; social media is is developing and changing faster than you can refresh your Instagram feed and now struggling to explain to someone that you 'have a blog' is now a thing of the past. This is stuff is now mainstream.

Anyway, I'm a full time performing arts student living in London who feels like they haven't picked up a pen in ten years. So this is my way of getting some literacy exercise. ("Literacy Exercise". That doesn't even make sense: see what I mean.)

So I'll just type out stuff that interests me and see where we all end up hey?...