March's Most Wanted

Wall Decor ♦ Heels ♦ Book ♦ Box Set ♦ Jumper ♦ Cat Necklace 

It's that time of the month again - no, not that one! We're talking about March's Most Wanted items, and I've got some great picks this time that hopefully you'll love as much as I do. Who knows, maybe your mom shares my taste and you'll find the perfect Mother's Day gift.

Although I'm still living at home with my parents, I'm very into home-ware and am constantly fantasizing about how I'll decorate my flat when I finally get the funds together. I absolutely love these unique wall decorations from Gems of the Soil. It's perfect for an apartment as it gives you a taste of the outdoors without the need for a garden.

I don't know about you, but when I check out ASOS I also head straight to the sale section. Luckily, ASOS never disappoints and I found this beauty. These delicate yet quickly heels are perfect for jazzing up a daytime look. 

I have seen the film Persepolis and really enjoyed it, so it seems a crime that I haven't actually read the book. I found this online at Urban Outfitters, but I would probably actually just purchase it on my Kindle. Plus, Kindle books are always a little cheaper, so that's a bonus!

Okay, this is a bit of a random one, but hey, it's my most wanted, so instead of picking the latest cool tv series I may as well be honest. I've recently been watching Ugly Betty on Netflix, but to my horror, the realisation that it only carries up to series two quickly dawned upon me. At this stage, my bank account is definitely not healthy enough to splurge nearly £25 on a eight year old programme box set, but maybe I'll cave as I really want to see what happens next! (Even though I've already seen it...) 

This boxy sweater is totally my style and the shiny panel really adds something to it. It would go with so many things, and since the weather is just beginning to turn, it would be perfect for these in between winter and spring days. 

How cute is this little kitty necklace by Eclectic Eccentricity - it looks just like my Casper cat. You can choose from several different breeds of dog too - take a look and see if they have one that resembles your pooch! They are hand-painted and ceramic so they aren't they most hardy pieces of jewellery but I think they are adorable.

What do you think of my March wishlist? 

♣

January's Most Wanted

Deer screen - Argos ♦ Mint lipstick - Lime Crime ♦ Vintage fawn jumper - Candy Candy ♦ I Origins DVD - Amazon ♦ Collar bib - River Island ♦ Flower globe pendant - Resity

So Christmas is well and truly over, but that doesn't mean I have to stop wishing for stuff! This month, I'm lusting over these lovely items. Have a look and see if anything takes your fancy too...

 I have no idea where I would put this decorative screen in my bedroom, but hey, lets just say I'm saving for my bottom drawer? Regular visitors of this blog will know that I've really got into to weird and wonderful lip colours, and my latest obsession is this gorgeous mint. This cute fawn sweater is on sale at the moment, and it's taking everything in me to not click and buy it - there's a high chance I will. I Origins is out on DVD and Bluray and, after seeing it with my best friend in the cinema, I'm desperate to get my hands on a copy. It's such a brilliant movie. And check out this collar bib - what a great idea! I really need to get myself one of these, maybe I could make one myself? And lastly, I'm in love with this beautiful globe pendant I found on Etsy by Resity. Their delicate jewellery is definitley worth a look and is pretty reasonable. 

What do you wish for this January?

♣

The A/W Edit 14

The temperature has plummeted, the nights are drawing in and the dark lip stains are coming out. Despite an unseasonably warm September, in comes November and we are in no doubt that Autumn is here and Winter is on it's way. So put your brolly away, make a cup of tea, get your feet up and enjoy my picks for everything you need in the beautiful seasons of Autumn and Winter. 

The Outfit
Keeping warm and stylish in the cooler months...

do I have resting bitchface..?

I typically wear darker hues at any given time but in the latter end of the year, they seem most appropriate. I love this faux fur collar from eBay and have been wearing it with everything - it instantly adds a touch of glamour to even a simple outfit. Boots are must - these are from New Look. I picked up this hat in an Antique/vintage store in London and I think it's perfect for the season.  

The Beauty Stuff

Wind-resistant hair and smoky eyes ...

My make-up is pretty minimal when it comes to my eyes, but recently I've been smudging a little eyeshadow on my lowerlash line and flicking out out towards the end. It gives a grungy yet pretty look, I've been following Beautycrush's tutorial below to achieve this.
My hair is mainly covered up with a hat through most of the colder months, but when I do decide to brave the elements with a bare head, I have to make sure my locks are on point. My go-to hairstyle recently has been a high ponytail secured with a cute bow hair bobble. I find it's easiest to achieve if you tip your hair upside down in order to gather all the stray hairs. I also love a fishtail plait to the side as it looks good on it's on or peaking out under a hat. 

The Music & Movies
The sights and the sounds ...

Halloween may be over, but that doesn't mean you need to put the scary movies away. I used to hate horror movies but recently I've found myself watching lots, from golden oldies like Poltergeist to the absurdly awful Drag Me to Hell. When it comes to new movies, I'd highly recommend Gone Girl - at two and half hours it's a long one so I'd skip the large-size drink if I were you! I also am cautiously optimistic when it comes to the new Paddington film (Nov 28), I just hope it doesn't ruin my childhood!

Of course, when Halloween and Bonfire Night are out of the way, it's time for festive films! One of my absolute favourite Christmas films is the Patrick Stewart version of A Christmas Carol - I watch it several times on the run up to Christmas.For nostalgia, I love Mickey's Christmas Carol and when I'm done with all the mushy movies, I just have to crack out Bad Santa!

Recently, I've been listening to Justin Sane's album Life, Love & The Pursuit of Justice. His mardy, whiny voice is right up my street and just puts me in the mood for the cold weather. I have to be honest, the new tunes haven't really dazzled me this season, but I'm loving Janet Devlin's second album Running With Scissors, checking out her Friday I'm in Love cover.

The Food Stuff
What to munch on ...

My spicy bean burger with cheese and mango chutney - amazing!

Of course, candy apples are the way to go! My friend Alex posted a great tutorial last year for these treats, check them out here. When it comes to dinner, one of my favourite winter warmers is a large steaming bowl of chilli (veggie of course) and tacos. Chilli is one of the easiest meals to cook as you literally just throw everything in a pan and let it do it's thing. If you don't fancy cooking, The Spode Cottage in Rugeley is one of my favourite places to eat - they do amazing burgers with really delicious and unusual topping combinations. If you'd like to check it out, I have a review of the place here 

The beverage of choice has to be a milky hot chocolate - preferably with squirty cream and a little cocoa powder dusted on top. However, the amazing Divas Can Cook recently uploaded a tutorial on how to make delicious caramel apple spice drink. I'm yet to try this myself but it's definitely an activity for chilly cosy nights. I was recently introduced jasmine green tea which I'm loving. 

Hope this gave you some ideas for the upcoming months!

♣

Disney Goes FASHION

I am a huge art fan, fashion freak and what girl doesn't love a bit of Disney? Combine all three and I'm pretty much sold! I recently came across this amazing work by artist Sashiiko-Anti, or Sasha. She has imagined amazing couture style outfits inspired by Disney Princesses and Villains. The illustrations are so detailed and the thought that has gone into each design is meticulous from the shape of the dresses to the added embellishments, you can see that she has studied each character carefully in order to represent their personalities and original costumes. 

You have to view this image in full size to get the full impact of the delicate brush strokes and careful detail. I'm not sure I could pick a favourite but if I was pressed to choose a few I'd have to say I really love Ursula, Shan Yu, Ariel and Aurora, purely because of how creative the artist has been with the characters. The blended pink and blue of the Aurora dress is spot on, and the shape of the necklace is very similar to the classic. Just stunning!

Which is your favourite Disney couture design? 

Check out the artist's work here 

♣

My 21st Birthday

It seems like only yesterday I was a fresh-faced seventeen year old anxiously awaiting my eighteenth birthday. Fast forward a few years (very quickly, I might add) and I've just turned twenty one. Oh my gosh, you guys do not even know how fast the time has gone, it is actually truly frightening. In recent years, I haven't really enjoyed my birthdays much, Don't get me wrong, I've loved spending time with my friends and family and I've been incredibly grateful for my gifts and money, it's just the thought of growing up was a pretty scary concept to come to grips with. Now I'm graduating from university, the reality that I'm no longer a girl but a woman is dawning on me. But this time, I felt positive from the start of the day until the end and can say without a doubt, my 21st was one of the best birthdays I've had. It may not be the typical wild night you'd expect from a twenty one year old, but it was perfect for me. Lets jump in!

Derren Brown

For the first part of my birthday treat, I went to see Derren Brown's latest show, Infamous. You guys know I'm the biggest fangirl of this guy you'll ever meet, and just like Svengali, the show did not disappoint. We're sworn to secrecy so as not to spoil the show, but I will say both Jack and his friend participated in some way - and it was truly the most bizarre thing I'd ever seen in my life, and made the night even better! You need to see this show, as always, this man continues to blow my mind with his brilliant brain. A serious hero of mine, I'm giving good old Derren a huge thumbs up!

The Big Day
On the 9th May (the big day itself), I had a lovely relaxing day which consisted of playing with my puppy and cats, visiting my Grandma and enjoying the company of family members who came to wish me a happy birthday. Later, we ate dinner at one of my favourite restaurants, The Spode Cottage. I ordered a Vegas Spicy Bean burger (which is topped with cheese, pineapple and sweet chilli sauce), my favourite!

Spicy bean burger topped with cheese, sweet chilli sauce & pineapple with salad, coleslaw & chips - delicious!

My 'blowing out candles' face 

Jack & I 

My brothers & sister; William, Edward, Rosie and I

I've received so many lovely things, including a beautiful gold bangle from my parents, Pandora charms, an Instax Polaroid camera, a Pandora ring and a golden chain belonging to my Grandma. Here's some pictures of a few of my presents.

Today, I finished university. I handed in my last assignment at nine o'clock, grabbed a bus home, took a shower and fell straight to sleep. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster, but surprisingly, the third year has been the calmest for me. Was it a good experience? Hmm, it was mixed. I've met some wonderful people and worked pretty hard but of course, the end of my studies have left me questioning my future. Next week I have work experience at a prestigious paper and I'm hoping it will help put all the little thoughts whizzing round my head into some order.

Here's to the next step.

♣

Storm Ridden

This Spring is the moment of the British rock bands - Bastille and the 1975 to name a few personal favourites. Independent bands are always my port of call when looking for new music and Storm Ridden are latest Brit-band to step into the spotlight. Based in Wolverhampton, Storm Ridden is a four-piece who are influenced old school rock like Black Sabbath with an added a pinch of blues flavour, creating an eclectic style of music that is difficult to place. This band is proving that rock 'n' roll music isn't best left to the oldies and with the right amount of modern touches, is still totally relevant. 

The group are made up of lead guitar Ryan, bassist Luke, drummer Alex and vocalist Tom and were formed in the Summer of 2013. Tom has a really unusual voice which really adds to the uniqueness of the band - I really love his vocal style as it's unlike anything I've ever come across before in the modern music scene.  The guitar is spot on, with some really catchy riffs. The bass nails a focal part in the intro In The Summerhouse and drums add a strong rhythm to the songs, giving them a heavier edge. Storm Ridden play the kind of music that fans of heavier rock 'n' roll and even metal are bound to love but those who are into to a more current vibe will enjoy too. 

It's not for everyone, but for you guys who love old school tunes and are on the lookout for new band that will conjure up nostalgic feelings of the glory days of rock yet still keep things fresh, you should definitely check out these guys.

Check out their video for In The Summerhouse below

You'll enjoy if you like

Black Sabbath ♦ Guns & Roses ♦ Iron Maiden

Check out their Facebook
& Soundcloud

♣

I watched ... CARRIE

When I heard there was going to be a remake of classic horror movie Carrie, I was skeptical. I'm not a huge fan of remakes and when it was announced the lovely Chloe Grace Moretz was going to play the leading role, I couldn't see how it would work. Sissy Spacek had the weird loner thing down, Chloe is just too pretty. Carrie is one of my favourite books and I love the film so I hoped they wouldn't completely murder it (no pun intended). Warning, there may be spoilers!

Just to give you a brief idea of the storyline, Carrie White is a teenage girl who is bullied mercilessly at school and sheltered by her crazy puritan mother. Things change when Carrie is asked to prom by a popular boy and has an amazing time, until she is pushed too far and things get a little bit terrifying. The whole school discovers that there's more to Carrie than meets the eye.

The Good

The 2013 film is directed by Kimberly Peirce. What I thought was cool about the film is that it's not just a remake, it's a modern version of the classic. I didn't realise until one of the girls whipped out a camera phone during the infamous shower scene. It definitely made it a bit different to the original, while still sticking to the story. 

As I mentioned, I wasn't sure how Chloe could make a convincing Carrie however she totally pulled it off. In fact, although Sissy was incredibly creepy looking in original, I might dare to say that Chloe's interpretation in was a little more relatable for today's teenage girl, which has surprised me. The reason was because she was more real - an outcast but not so weird that you couldn't put yourself her shoes. There's a scene where she is crying in the locker room that I really could imagined how she felt and I never really got that with Sissy. Lots of reviews online disagree with me on this, but that's just my opinion.

I don't want to give too much away, but the death of lets just say two really horrid characters is a lot better than the original. I mean a lot better, I was always slightly annoyed by how rushed this particular death was in the 1976 version, it felt like it should be a bit more epic. In this, I feel they really got what they deserved. 

The Bad

Honestly, I think they did a pretty good job with this one. The one thing that did annoy me was the ending. It's not really a big deal, but I was really bracing myself for the famous hand out of the grave grab ... but it never happened. Slightly disappointing. 

This is going to sound very vague, but in the very end of the film there is an important death scene which I always thought was executed brilliantly in the 1976 film. However, it didn't have the same shock factor or painful irony in my opinion, it's a shame as all the other deaths throughout the film were pretty great. I do feel they fell at the last hurdle there. 

Not that Carrie was ever the scariest movie, but in my opinion, Sissy definetly trumps Chloe in the freaky scale. The transformation from a sweet girl to a monster is so much more abrupt in the original which is great, who could forget that famous terrifying silent scream face? Chloe, bless her, just isn't that scary. Don't go see this if you're expecting a conventional horror filled with fright, it isn't. It's more of a disturbing revenge flick.

The Bottom Line

Despite going in with doubts, I really enjoyed this remake. It made the story it's own and Chloe did a fantastic job in my opinion. It's not scary but it's literally the perfect film if you're getting picked on at school, it's the ultimate bullying victim's revenge. If you love the original film and book don't fear, chances are you'll be a fan of this version too. I highly recommend it.

Rating 

★★★★★

I watched ... THE PURGE

 If you lived in a world where any crime was legal for just one night, what would you do? Would you hole up in your home and try to stay safe until morning, or use it as a chance to release your carnal animal instincts? That's the premise of James DeMonaco's thriller The Purge (rated 15 in the UK), in which a family find themselves in serious danger when they let a stranger in need into their home.

The Lowdown

For those of you expecting a serious scare, you may be disappointed. In my opinion, the advert (and movie poster) sells a film that this, well, just isn't. It's full of suspense, tension and it's pretty violent, but it's not exactly scary. I am a huge wimp when it comes to films and I can say with some confidence this won't be keeping me awake at night. However, I can guarantee it will spark a lively debate between you and your friends after watching, it gives you a lot to think about. I personally like these kind of films but if you want a slasher horror flick, it's not likely to deliver. 

Considering twists are one of the most important aspects of a good thriller, I found this film a tad predictable. Having said that, it has quite a few small twists throughout which I think keeps the audience on their toes.  I thought the actors were all rather good, I didn't spy a wooden one amongst them, which can really ruin a good film (looking at you, Mr Radcliffe). My favourite character was the 'Polite Stranger', played by Rhys Wakefield. He was without a doubt the best of the bunch. Is it strange I found him weirdly attractive? Must have been the charm.

The Bottom Line

The Purge is worth a watch if you want a thriller that's more tense and interesting than scary. You might guess the twists before they happen, but it doesn't really take anything away from the story. I found it a bit unsatisfying as nothing was able to surprise me, but that's not to say everyone will see what's coming.   Although I enjoyed it, I can't say that it completely lived up to my expectations. Even so, I'd recommend it for a late night cinema trip, it's a pretty good film and makes for an thoughtful discussion on the drive home.

Rating

★★★★★

I'm listening to ...Nina Nesbitt

A lot of you may know Nina Nesbitt, aka singer/songwriter of Stay Out and Ed Sheeran's latest gal pal. And I'm girl crushing hard.  

A while back, I heard Boy while browsing Youtube and presently shoved it straight on my iPod - and I'm ashamed to say I kind of forgot about it. Recently I heard a familiar sweet voice on the chart show - and there was wee Nina was her latest hit Stay Out. Needless to say, my love affair with Miss Nesbitt was well and truly rekindled. 

18 year old Scottish Nina has already supported both Ed Sheeran and Example and is now making her own waves in the music scene, so far reaching an impressive 21 on the official chart with Stay Out. What I find shocking is that her 2012 debut single Boy only reached 139 on the chart, I mean what?! This song is amazing, the lyrics are deep and sparkling with emotion and of course her beautiful voice is totally addictive. Seriously, I've had this song on repeat so much I'm surprised I haven't broken it. Check it.

I love Nina's style in Stay Out, it's right up my street. Also got some serious hair envy. But yeah, the music. Still acoustic  folky and upbeat, it's literally just the perfect getting ready, chilling out tune and I love the fact that she gets ID'd in the vid. Some verisimilitude, I like it! 

She tackles the issues that most of us girls go through, but she spins them into insightful and enchanting songs with innocently ethereal vocals. Plus, she's a total style icon. Definitely one to watch, and perfect music for Summer. You will love. 

You'll enjoy if you like

Ed Sheeran ♦ Gabrielle Aplin ♦ Ellie Goulding ♦ Belle and Sebastian 

The Phantom of Camden

My friend Alex's birthday falls on Halloween, and instead of going for a night of clubbing, we decided to do something a bit different.

 My other bestie Jordan is studying up in London, so we combined visiting her with a day-trip for Alex's 20th. First we went to Camden town; where we explored the weird and wonderful shops and stalls and ate doughnuts. It was freezing, but awesome.

Amazing masks , how appropriate 

So cool right?

These collars were beautiful, but pricey

The weirdest yet wonderful place I've ever been

After a meal of pizza came the main attraction of the day: The Phantom of the Opera in Her majesty's Theatre. It was absolutely amazing; I'd love to see it again. All the actors had incredible voices, but the girl who played Christine really blew me away. Wow.

It was such a great day, I really must start going to the theatre more often 8) Shame I'm a broke student, eh. I'm totally obsessed with this show right now, I'd go see it again and again. I can't wait to get back into London; next time will be Big Bang's concert at Wembley. Unfortunately I won't be able to have a look round then but who cares - it's BIG BANG!

Ménage à trois ;D
Me, Jordan, Alex

Hope you had a great Halloween ..♣

GD says 'Get Yo Crayon!'

Just a quick music post about one of the most stylish guys I know - it has to be GD.

I've mentioned G-Dragon before, but for those of you who don't know, he is a Kpop star who sings as part of the amazing group Big Bang and also as a solo singer.

 Along with many other Kpop singers, he influenced my style in many ways over the years, so I really want to show you guys his latest MV, Crayon.

GD once again has blonde hair, this time with a tint of ice blue. I'm loving it! To me, although I love all the different colours and styles he's experimented with, he's never looked better than with blonde hair. Hawt.

This is just a fun, care-free song with a hilarious video that is guaranteed to put you in a good mood. It's perfect for a party, or getting ready for a night out with your friends. Actually, it's perfect for the club, but I think it's very unlikely I'm going to hear it in any nightclubs round here soon :')

Personal style favourites in this vid are the distressed camo jacket, shiny black jacket and rainbow striped jacket. I like jackets. G-Dragon rocks the metro-sexual look like no other.

Image from G-Dragon's twitter @IBGDRGN

What do you think of GD's latest tune? And of course, what do you make of his unusual style?

♣

What I'm Listening to .. Of Monsters and Men

Did anyone else read the book Of Mice and Men at GCSE? No? Well it doesn't matter, because this band has nothing to do with it.

They're actually an Icelandic six-piece folk band, which admittedly doesn't actually sound that appealing, but trust me, you'll love them.

Great styling too, don't you think?

Chances are, a lot of you will have already heard their debut single, Little Talks, but if you haven't, you need to right now. What I like so much about this song is that it's good, proper music, it's utterly catchy without the bleeps and bloops you get in 'songs' to these days. I think it actually has a kinda ska feel to it, because of the brass instruments used.

I also love the music video. I happened upon it whilst channel flicking the other day and was entranced - it's deliciously gothic and reminds me of that book, Where the Wild things are. I'm drawn to weird things, so I immediately jumped on Google and looked into the group.

The members are: Singer/guitarist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, singer/guitarist Ragnar "Raggi" Þórhallsson, guitarist Brynjar Leifsson, drummer Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson, piano/accordion player Árni Guðjónsson, and bassist Kristján Páll Kristjánsson, but they also recruited trumpet player Ragnhildur Gunnarsdótti into the mix for their 2012 tour. Props to anyone who can pronounce their names. 

Here's a live version of the song too, how beautiful Ragnar's voice? Swoooooon 

Trumpet solo! The music industry needs more trumpets, fer serious.

I only wish I'd discovered them sooner, I've been looking for some new music to listen too for quite some time so I'm seriously gonna get their album! Incidentally, if you guys are listening to some cool jamz at the moment, drop me some names, my iPod needs something fresh. 

☺

You'll like this group if you enjoy:

♦ Mumford and sons ♦ Ellie Goulding ♦ Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Chucking another song out to you, Dirty Paws.

Their album, My Head is an Animal, is out now.

Check out ... Kyla La Grange

It's not easy to find proper music these days. By proper music, I mean instruments, not computers - and voices, not auto-tune. Sure, it serves it's purpose in a club when you just wanna let loose and dance, but if you're anything like me, it doesn't quite cut it when you just wanna chill to something a bit more, er, meaningful sounding. Enter Kyla La Grange.

It was her style that drew me in first. Known as the 'Watford Witch,' she looks so grungy yet glam and I absolutely love her hair, it's exactly how I'm wanting mine right now! According to an interview in Company mag, she has her mom to thank for her rockin style - she borrows her mother's old '70's clothes and weird pendants. I hoped that her tunes would live up to her cool image, and luckily, she delivers gold with a gothy sound. She has raspy yet sweet and strong vocals over her melodies. She kinda reminds me of Kate Bush. 

The Kyla songs I've listened aren't exactly perky, so it's not really the kinda vibe for a party, but it's perfect for winding down with your iPod and indulging. It's just the right amount of darkness and catchy-ness, so will appeal to most, especially if you're an Adele fan and like sad songs. I'm totally a fan of her, she's helping to usher in the new age of real music.

This is her latest single Vampire Smile, which she says was written about someone she really liked so much it was driving her mad. Ouch, love hurts. Check it, it's not as Twilight-y as it sounds, it's cool :)) Her album, Ashes, is out on June 30th.

Let me know what you think of her ☺

An Evening of Wonder

Happy May, babies! My buffday is in a mere 8 days woop woop :3 I'm still excited, as last night, Alex, Jack and I went to see Derren Brown's latest show Svengali at The Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton, and it was truly incredible! 

Hi five for the random sticky up bit 

Unfortunately, I can't give any details about what happened by request of the great man himself muaha but trust me, it was mind-blowing!

I was at Jack's the night before and had only bought a few clothes with me which meant I had to come up with a suitable ensemble with limited resources. Wahhh. Luckily, I always seem to have a pair of heels at his hood and I'd brought my new mint green jeans and this seemed the perfect occasion to break them in :3 I wore a pale pink lipstick to go with my pastel jeans. 

I wish I could tell you all what happened that night, but I can't! You'll have to wait until it comes on yer telly boxes, but take it from me, it will amaze you. All the show-manship, dry wit and wicked humour you'd expect from him, but nothing can prepare you for what he has in store, take it from me as an avid Derren fan-girl :') 

Gotta love Derren ♥ 

Top - Republic

Jeans - Topshop

Jacket - Peacocks

Heels - a gift

Watch - Jeremy Scott for Swatch