Sunday, March 18, 2018

I Have A Thing For... Statement Earrings

When I was little, I begged my Mum to let me get my ears pireced. When I was eight, that became a reality thanks to my cousin getting married and me being a bridesmaid. Since then I have always loved playing around with the earrings that I've worn but since my uni years I've kind of stuck with plain old studs. Cue tassle earrings being less Pat Butcher and more boho chic and I am a woman obsessed with statement earrings. A bit like last month's 'I Have A Thing For...' post, I ended up buying the tassel earrings from H&M in two colours and have a least 3 more on my 'want list'...




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Monday, March 12, 2018

Prague Photo Diary...

#HunsOnTour strike again! This weekend has to be one of the most fun weekends I've had in a long time. On Wednesday, me and three of my oldest friends jetted (well as much as you can jet off on an EasyJet flight...) to Prague for a long weekend. After visiting Ljubljana in October, we got the bug for Central Europe and I couldn't be happier that we chose Prague. Beautiful architecture, delicious food (my sweet tooth was well and truly satisfied by Trdlo) and tasty beer - I can now officially say I like beer - it was the perfect girly get away. As usual, I had my camera in hand so here's a selection that didn't make it onto my Instagram account...

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Sunday, February 25, 2018

February Favourites...

It's monthly favourite time again and after what felt like the longest January in the history of time, I can't believe how quickly February went. Emotionally it was an odd month and being on a self-imposed spending ban means that Feb's faves are a little thin on the ground.


Some Kind Of Wonderful
If you couldn't already tell, I've somewhat recently come out of a long-term relationship so I was slightly hesitant to read Giovanna Fletcher's latest book. The tale of Lizzy who's boyfriend dumps her after 10 years rather than proposing was actually the perfect book to read. There were so many passages that resonated with me and despite it being fictional a little part of me felt hope that things do get better when you don't get the happy ever after you imagined. Aside from the personal/emotional connection, I love the world's that Giovanna creates and this one was no different! 

Hourglass Bronzer
Anyone else in some desperate need for some sunshine? I'm pale at the best of times so, in Winter, I start to resemble Casper the Friendly Ghost. I'm not that adventurous when it comes to make up, when I find something I like, I stick to it. For years I've been using Nars Laguna Bronzer but when I was in Liberty earlier this month, I couldn't resist stopping by the Hourglass counter. I picked up Luminous Bronze Light and so far have been loving it. I do use it very sparingly as it is very warm toned and can go on a bit heavy if I'm not careful but in general I\m enjoying switching up my daily products. I've even used this as an eyeshadow on days that I'm feeling bold!

New Hair
I used to be the person who hated going to the hairdressers, I'd go twice a year and that felt like too much. About a year and a half ago I decided to try George Northwood after seeing someone post about it on Instagram and boy am I glad I did. I am now a woman obsessed. I can't get enough - if I could go every month I would! I popped back in a couple of week's ago and of course popped the new do up on Insta

Tap
For anyone who has actually looked at my 'Behind The Blonde' page, you'll know that I did a Dance degree. Since graduating in 2013 (god that makes me feel old), I haven't taken any dance classes. Over Christmas, I decided that it was time to get back to what I loved doing for so many years and low and behold, I joined a Tap Company. I've been going since January and it's become a highlight of my week! The steps came flooding back after 8 years off tapping, now for my brain to catch up...
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Sunday, February 18, 2018

Fake It Til You Make It...

For the last two years, I've used Instagram as a platform for trying to express my creativity rather than a general social media site that I randomly upload to. Where possible I try to plan the content I'm going to upload so that I can post every other day. In some ways, it's fake as rarely do I post photos in the moment. 


The day that I posted the above image on my Instagram I was actually feeling like a giant pile of crap. I'd done the thing that apparently a lot of single people do, check their ex's social media accounts despite knowing it would only make me feel bad. And low and behold I saw something that did make me feel shit and in a moment of anger text my ex. What followed was a day of extreme mixed emotions but what I certainly didn't feel like was the laughing girl in the image I posted on Instagram that evening. Yet I still posted it anyway. 

Does this make me a fake person or am I supposed to 'fake it until I make it,' in this case fake the laughter and happiness and hope that it will eventually be true? I'm never going to be the person that posts doom and gloom on my IG - apparently I save that for this blog - but is it detrimental to not be 'authentic'? I'm not sure I know the answer and maybe I'll re-read this post in a few days/weeks and take it down for being melodramatic but a little part of me feels better for writing this all down so maybe faking it does work...
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Sunday, February 11, 2018

The Anti-Valentine's...

What happens when you're a true hopeless romantic but you find yourself alone on Valentine's Day after spending the last seven with the same person... This is the predicament I will find myself in this Wednesday when the 14th February inevitably rolls around. It's no secret that I'm a romantic at heart - why does it not happen like in the movies? - but after what I can safely say was a pretty shocking 2017 I've found myself predictably not really feeling the love vibes. Without wanting to sound like a debbie-downer, I thought it was an apt time to document some of the things I've observed.



Things that you suddenly notice when you're single:
  • You're guaranteed to spot at least one engagement ring on every tube journey that you take (now these were probably there before but for some reason, they jump out and mock my singleness)
  • Similarly, every other post on my Instagram explore page is a stranger getting engaged
  • Your brain likes to remind you of things that happened six years ago at the most inconvenient times. Hello 5AM, nice to see you!
  • A least three times a week you'll wonder if you'll be the girl who never finds 'The One' and ends up a cat-lady despite hating cats 
  • You find yourself in situations you would never have been in and meeting people who bring something to your life that enriches it and makes you have faith that there will be a day when you look back on everything and are glad it happened
  • You'll also realise that the people you chose as your 'group' more than a decade ago really are the greatest thing a girl could ask for 
  • You start to wonder if guys like Ansel Elgort (who are ALL about the IG PDAs) exist in real life and if they do, WHERE CAN I FIND ONE?!
Happy Valentine's, or maybe not...

*Side note: this isn’t supposed to be a doom and gloom post, it’s my attempt at humour...
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Sunday, February 04, 2018

I Have A Thing For... Zara Tops

I’ve decided to start a new style series called ‘I Have A Thing For...’ Now I am by no means a fashion blogger but this is my attempt at documenting the fades and phases I go through. I’ve got a bit of an obsessive personality, especially when it comes to clothing and accessories, and it seems when I find something I love I then have to go out and buy said thing in every colour it comes in... anyone else? No - just me then.

To kick off this series, here is my latest obsession; the Zara high neck top. You may have spotted this pop up on my Insta but I am OBSESSED. I bought the red and the black version at the same time and I'm seriously considering getting the white one because buying the same top in three colours is normal behaviour...


The £16 price tag was enough to convince me that I couldn't leave without this top in my bag but the flattering fit sealed the deal. Combined with the fact I can wear it work and at weekends there really was no way I was going to talk myself out of buying it!
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Sunday, January 28, 2018

January Favourites...

This year I want to take note of all the small things that bring me joy so low and behold, here are my January favourites. 


The Greatest Showman
Technically not a January favourite as I saw it in December but I've had the soundtrack on repeat ever since. There's something about the music in the film I find beautiful. Normally I like musicals for the dance element and have never really been that fussed by the music but I love every song on this soundtrack! It's funny how a film or music can come along at a particular time in your life and feel magical.

Beats Studio3
Having to squeeze onto the Northern Line every morning has a lot of downsides and one of the most annoying has to be having your headphones yanked out of your ears everytime someone in the 'packed in like sardines' carriage moves. Hello wireless headphones, you are my saviour! Aside from saving my poor ears from whiplash, these bad boys come with sound cancelling technology so I can now listen to podcasts (my new found love) without it being drowned out by the background tube hum.  

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
I've had Glossier on my 'to buy' list for as long as I can remember. When they're pop up came back to London in November and couldn't resist stopping by and may have accidently ended up coming away with both of the Phase 1 & 2 set... My favourite product by far is the Milky Jelly Cleanser. I have super sensitive eyes, even micellar water makes me teary but this cleanser is like a dream. I'm no beauty blogger - talk about obvious - but this is definitely a 'holy grail' product for me.  

&Other Stories sale
Anyone else feel like January has been going on for an eternity?! To make up for this it appears that my spending has become uncontrolable. As mentioned a few weeks back in my Teddy Bears & Leopard... post, &Other Stories opened up pretty much underneath my work recently and I couldn't resist the sale one lunch break. I ended up getting a velvet jumper with 70% off so that doesn't really count does it?
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Sunday, January 14, 2018

Teddy Bears & Leopards...

Talk to any of my friends and they'll tell you that I have a thing for leopard print, it's my guilty pleaseure. Skirt - check. Dress - check. Top - check. And now, boots - check. When & Other Stories opened underneath my work recently I knew it was going to be bad for bank balance... And during the sales I couldn't resist adding to my boot collection. Hello new favourite shoes!!

It seems that animal-themed fashion is a thing for me as I am now the proud owner of a Teddy Bear coat. Having seen so many pop up on my Instagram feed, it was inevitable that one was going to make its way onto my wardrobe and Topshop didn't dissapoint! Now the only question is; how make days in a row is it acceptable to wear the same boot and coat combo?


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Sunday, January 07, 2018

Looking back...

Anyone else fed up of January's grey skies? It's been a week of work and I'm already dreaming of time off in the sunshine. Seeing as there's been somewhat of a hiatus on here (stupid life) and to help ease some of the January blues, I thought I'd share some pictures from last summer's adventure to Corsica with my family. Now to get my arse in gear and book the next getaway...






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Tuesday, January 02, 2018

Looking to 2018...

So 2017 definitely didn't go how I thought it would. In fact, it probably went the complete opposite of the way I thought it was going to. As a result, things on here took an inevitable back seat. For 2018 I've decided not to make any resolutions which is hard for someone like me. Someone who is an endless list maker, someone who thought their they had their life planned out.

The only thing I'm deciding for 2018 is to live each day as it comes. Say yes to the new things that will come my way. Embrace the lonely days and know they will pass. Learn that no matter how settled I thought I was, life isn't like it is in the fairytales but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. Now to spend 2018 surrounded by those who have got me through the dark times and who I know will be there for me no matter what.




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