The Relaxation Edit

I don’t know about you but I’m craving a little me time (and definitely not feeling 22).

Relaxation. It’s something we all need in our crazy, hectic lives. The ‘slasher’ generation, as millennials are sometimes referred to, not in reference to a fondness for 90s horror films but instead due to the multifaceted way in which young people often approach work, could really do with a little R&R.

Even those who aren’t so busy could benefit from a little me time. It’s so crucial for refreshing, recharging and feeling much more energised the following day.

As you can probably tell, I’m a big advocate for taking time out daily to do what makes you feel calm and help to forget the perpetual worries that are a nasty side-effect of adulthood. I realise switching off can be more difficult for some than others, and poor mental health won’t be solved by simply lighting a candle, but the act of taking care of oneself and prioritising needs and wants is something that has certainly helped me during challenging, stressful times.

The wonderful thing about relaxation is that it’s so personal. Years ago, writing my dissertation I found glimmers of light in stepping out of the house – and the prison that was my bedroom/study room/personal hell – and going for breakfast or coffee with a friend. For another housemate, she found solace in losing herself in a world of video games. It’s each to their own and I find that so charming.

Growing up watching romcoms, my image of relaxation was always centred around the fabulously glamourous heroine, surrounded by thirty candles in a bath that never seems to lose its bubbles, while sipping elegantly on a glass on fizz. I’ve tried to recreate it and it doesn’t quite work that way. Well, not unless you’re willing to use an entire bottle of bubble bath. And don’t even get me started on the fire hazard from that many candles, which is frankly stress-inducing and enough to extinguish any feelings of bliss.

There is something romantic about the idea of relaxation, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to romanticised into a perfect image, such as the one above. It’s about a feeling, and not about trying to attain what you think it should look like. 

It also doesn’t mean that money needs to be thrown at the problem. I realise that may come across as a tad hypocritical, given this is an edit, and therefore essentially a buying guide. For me though, buying lotions and potions and using them is a relaxing act of self-care and I’m aware that other beauty bloggers feel the same.

This is my personal pick of relaxing buys, but remember to do what makes you happy – and more importantly, relaxed. 

I love coffee, that much I know. Wear your heart on your sleeve, or, erm, PJs with this Topshop nightie, £16. It’s wonderfully oversized – as the best PJs are – meaning maximum comfort. It seems that a new ‘revolutionary’ type of gin is released each week (salted caramel flavoured gin, no thanks), but pink gin is the one that has outlasted the hype and earned a place on our spirit shelf. This Gin Lane 1751 gin, £24.85, has a medium-sweet taste, as perfect in cocktails as it is with tonic.

Speaking of booze, have you tried an alcohol-scented candle? Me, neither, but make a start with this lush Next Home Prosecco Jar Candle, £8. Other than that, is there a scent more relaxing (and sleep-inducing) than lavender? With complimentary mint, this John Lewis candle, £10, has a burn time of 40 hours. 

Let's talk skincare. Admittedly out of my price range, I couldn't not include the Glamglow Glitter Face Mask, £44, because, well, look at it. At the lower end of the price scale, while they may evoke memories of teenage sleepovers, I've always loved face mask sachets. This Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Mask, £1, is a delight – and a bargain. Win win. Also a winner? Soap and Glory's Face Soap and Clarity, £8. It leaves skin feeling soft, refreshed and has a delicious citrus scent.

I find nothing more relaxing than sitting back and enjoying a book in the evening, and Dolly Alderton's memoir Everything I Know About Love, £10.99, is at the top of my wishlist. For healthy hair, L'Oreal Botanicals Geranium Hair Mask, £9.99, restores dull, lacklustre hair back to excellent condition, thanks to its infusion of geranium, coconut oils and soya. And finally, no relaxation edit would be complete without socks. Let's not fight it: socks are cool, and yes, I have reached the stage where I hope I receive them for Christmas. These Monki ones, £6 are so fluffy and cosy. 

NG <3

5 Things That Got Me Through January

The 25^th marks not only Burns’ Night (I shall belatedly raise a glass of whiskey with friends this weekend) but also that exactly one month has passed since Christmas. Wow. How did that happen?

As January comes to a close next week, it’s a fitting time for reflection on the past month. In truth, I don’t think the clichéd language we apply to the beginning of the year – January Blues, Blue Monday, etc – is necessarily helpful. It can often seem daunting and I wish there was a drive for more positive connotations for what is often a challenging month.

No, I am not suggesting we shrug off the difficulties the month brings and laud it as ‘Happy January’ (an alternative phrase for the 31^st December, perhaps) but it is hard to feel optimistic about a month when it is so often associated with unhappiness.

January is a difficult month. Lack of daylight, bitterly cold, early mornings and persistent guilt that you haven’t quite realised your ‘New Year, new me’ self, not to mention a financial hangover from the gluttonous spoils and excess of Christmas are all contributing factors. But – breathe – the month is almost over. You made it.

Feeling low, and that I’d ‘wasted’ the month, I sat down to write a list of all the things that have made January great so far. On reflection, seeing memories I had made or seemingly inconsequential things that had made me smile on paper offered some perspective. I have laughed a lot this month, more than I realised, something that can quite often be overshadowed with the enormity of the ‘bigger picture’ of a daunting month.

Let’s focus on the positives as the month comes to an end. Make a list and celebrate your personal triumphs, no matter how insignificant they may seem. If something put a smile on your face I’d say that’s a win.

Here are the five things that have got me through January. What are yours?

Conversations with friends
Nothing beats the surprise of hearing your phone buzzing, glancing down, expecting to see an incoming sales call, but instead being greeted by your friend’s ugliest Snapchat to date (which you promised you wouldn’t screenshot and set as their contact photo) and spending the next hour having a spontaneous catch-up. So much of our communication now is done behind a screen and there’s something charming about picking up the phone and asking someone close what’s going on with their life.

Throwback playlists
Perusing my Spotify account recently, the sheer volume of playlists left untouched since my undergraduate days intrigued me – as did their names: Power Hour/GraduOcean Pres/Cocktail Night Partayyy, to name but a few. They provided the soundtrack to that day, an eclectic mix of tropical house, 00s indie and unapologetically cheesy hits. Revisiting old playlists was a welcome dose of nostalgia and may have prompted me to book a ticket back to the city I called home for three years for a reUNIon…


Wearing a silly hat for the day

I couldn’t possibly post the five things that made me smile in January and not include the delightful weekend of my MA graduation. It was a wonderful day to celebrate (with lots of fizz and food, of course) the achievement that some of my closest friends and I have worked so hard towards.

Colouring
I was apprehensive. Spending half an hour reverting to my childhood and scribbling on a page was not at the top of my to-do list. I will eat my words and say I was wrong (my boyfriend will attest that is not a phrase I use often). I have been pleasantly surprised by the therapeutic calmness that comes from spending time focused on something creative in the name of self-care.

Solo missions

One lazy day, I was sat about to hit the ‘yes’ button when Netflix asked if I was still there. Uncharacteristically, I shut down my laptop and set off to enjoy a solo day of culture. I started off with Somerset House’s ‘North: Fashioning Identity’ exhibition, followed by a brisk walk along the South Bank to explore the Tate Modern and National Theatre. There’s something wonderfully liberating about a spontaneous day exploring alone, and it’s something I’ll definitely endeavor to do more of in 2018. 

Do let me know what has put a smile on your face so far this year!

NG <3

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November Beauty Wishlist

We’re in the penultimate month of 2017. I’ll just give you a minute to let that sink in.

I can’t quite believe that I’m already compiling a list of November’s most covetable beauty buys. It got me wondering, what is ‘November’ synonymous with in the beauty industry? What glamorous party makeup is to December and pastel hues are to April, November is that tricky in-between month, wedged between Halloween and Christmas.

With the emergence of winter weather and a plethora of ‘miracle’ products on the market, it’s arguably a ‘beauty self-care’ month – in other words time to tackle annoying issues such as frizz and dry skin. As useful as such products are, however, I can’t quite imagine that an excellent face cream has quite the same impact as the instant gratification of a bold lipstick. With this in mind here is my November beauty wishlist. Who says December has a monopoly on all the fun? 

From left to right:

Fenty Beauty Galaxy Eyeshadow palette, £39

Following suit with the glamourous mood of A/W17 (ballgowns at Balenciaga, embellishment at Dolce and Gabbana and those bedazzled Saint Laurent boots), Fenty Beauty has gone all out with this dazzling palette. Rihanna described the Galaxy range as "glitter on glitter on glitter" and this shimmery collection of 14 shades does not disappoint with everything you need to create out-of-this-world looks (sorry, I couldn’t resist). Second only to my desire to finally own Naked Heat, this is surely one of the prettiest palettes to drop for quite some time.

Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask, £1.99

Winter is here and, right on cue, my usually oily skin is a victim of the chill and has become noticeably drier. Enter this tissue mask from Garnier that claims to "diffuse the equivalent level of hydrating serum as per one week's use of day care." It’s a super hit of hydration, with pomegranate extract, hyaluronic acid and plant serum, that works its magic in just 15 minutes. I’m yet to try a sheet or tissue mask (late to the pamper party, I know) but I’m so intrigued by the recent shift from gloopy peel-off masks to more convenient, targeted ones. 

November Birchbox x Vogue, £10

Netflix. Spotify. Apple Music. Subscription services are big business – and not just in entertainment. Brands such as Beauty Pie, which offers members discounted products at factory cost, and beauty box services are slowly becoming the new norm. Monthly service Birchbox has collaborated with Vogue for its November box resulting in packaging as stylish as you’d expect and five personalised products to match from the likes of Benefit and Bumble and Bumble. And speaking of Vogue, I’m eagerly awaiting November 10^th so I can get my hands on a copy of Edward Enninful’s inaugural issue at the head of the glossy. 

L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Balmain Lipstick in ‘Domination’, £12.99

When L’Oreal collaborated with Balmain, the result was likely to reflect Parisian elegance. Sleek and luxurious, while it may be more costly than a standard L’Oreal lipstick, this collection of 12 bold shades promises rich colour with a moisturising matte finish. The standout shade for A/W is definitely ‘Domination’, a deep red with an attitude that certainly matches its name. 

Benefit 'Beauty School Knockouts' Makeup Kit, £25.07

The best things come in small packages, right? Well so is the case with this compact kit of six popular Benefit favourites. While they might be miniature in size, the variety of products is the real winner here – from Gimme Brow to POREfessional primer: face, lips, brows, eyes and cheeks are all catered to in this set. Even better? The reduced price means that the cost equates to just under £4.20 per product. In the words of Tom Haverford: Treat. Yo. Self. 

Matrix Oil Wonders Volume Rose Pre-Shampoo, £9.55

‘Pre-shampoo’ seems to be the new beauty buzzword. Who wants the basic routine of shampoo followed by conditioner when you can add a touch of luxury and some hardworking products into the mix? Admittedly, part of me does wonder why, if a brand’s shampoo is as good as it claims, we need to add yet another costly product into our routine, but having said that I am a sucker for novelty new products, especially ones that promise to regenerate strands from root to tip and leave hair softer, smoother and thicker. 

What beauty buys are you coveting this month? 

NG <3

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Spring Beauty Wishlist

Spring has officially sprung. I never pay attention to equinox dates, ‘the first day of spring or summer etc…’, because let’s face it, the weather hardly matches. It was only a few years ago that I remember the start of spring was marked accordingly with a sprinkling of snow. 

But now it really feels like spring; it’s noticeably warmer (hello denim jacket- I’ve missed you) and there’s a fresh sense of energy in the air, probably resulting from leaving the newsroom after working on a computer all day and being greeted by daylight. The countdown to lazy summer afternoons spent in the beer garden has begun; I’ve even had my first glass of Pimms of 2017.

Before I ramble on about the weather for a whole post, (it’s possible, I am British after all) I will get to my point, after all Oscar Wilde once said “conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative”. Guilty as charged. 

Spring for me signifies change. Time for a refresh. As we move from A/W 2016 into S/S 2017 and welcome tulle, fuchsia and the 80s revival, it’s a chance to update your beauty routine and invest in some spring buys. Here’s my beauty wishlist for the next few months (all donations kindly accepted): 

Left to right:

Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Colour, £8.99

I’ve been recommended this lip colour by the beauty pages of just about every magazine going. The promise is velvety, matte lips without the drying effect that many similar products have and there’s a variety of vivid shades available. Top of my list are ‘Flirtation’, a summery coral shade, and ‘Love’, for a more dramatic red lip.

Makeup Revolution 'Beyond Flawless' Palette, £8

I’m a recent convert to Makeup Revolution products after becoming obsessed with their blush palette and finding that their products are just as appealing as their price point. I’ve been lusting over Urban Decay’s Naked Smoky palette since I bought Naked 2 (treat yo self) but now that my student status has been reactivated I’m all about quality bargain buys. The ‘Beyond Flawless’ palette features 32 shades, ranging from dusky pinks to shimmery bronzes to jet black. All you need for the perfect smoky eye. Oh, and it works out 25p per shade. Like more incentive was needed…

Sleek 'Solstice' Highlighter Palette, £9.99

A shift has happened over the past few years in my make-up collection and highlighter has become as much a staple in my routine as mascara. I always find myself complimenting my friend Rachel (check out her blog here) on her highlight and she is an avid fan of this Sleek palette. I’ve got a lot of time for Sleek products. I always find they have amazing staying power and I’m so tempted with this palette due to it featuring a mix of cream, matte and shimmery textures. 

Origins GinZing Moisturiser, £24

I don’t use the term ‘the one’ lightly but when it comes to this moisturiser there was no hesitation. It’s lightweight, oil free, boosts hydration levels and smells incredible. The problem? The price point. Eeeek. Like l said, all donations kindly welcomed. 

Benefit Rollerlash Mascara, £20.50

Benefit, you’ve done it again. Just when I thought Bad Gal could not be topped I tried Rollerlash. I’ve never got on board with They’re Real, finding it a little too clumpy for my liking, but Rollerlash creates natural, curled lashes that are perfect for daytime. Plus the packaging is soooo pretty. 

L'Oréal Elnett Glam Waves Hairspray, £6.63

Despite the smell I’ve always been a fan of Elnett and I’m so excited to try out the brand’s new release that promises to ‘magnify all types of waves’. I have naturally wavy hair and I can’t resist amplifying it with my Babyliss hair wand and using at least half a can of hairspray to preserve volume so I can’t wait to use this. 

John Frieda Beach Blonde Salt Spray, £6.99

Summer is the time of year when I desperately try to emulate Gisele’s sun kissed beach waves. Sadly I never reach the desired effect but if I start to practice in spring surely I’ll get there by June? Or maybe July? Probably not but regardless, I have faith in John Frieda. 

What's on your spring beauty wishlist? 

NG <3

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Photo credit: Camdiluv ♥ via Flickr

Growing Pains

Something surprising has happened over the past few months; I think I’m finally growing up. At the start of the year I turned 23, hardly geriatric, but truth be told if my younger self looked a year ahead and saw me now I feel that she’d describe me as that word I once dreaded the most: boring. And I’m perfectly happy with that.

 A friend recently asked me on a night out in my hometown and I politely declined. The idea of spending a good hour layering on make-up and agonising over which black dress to wear (I swear they’re all so different) to spend an eye-watering sum of money on radioactive looking shots (drinks should not be acid green), only to wake up next to a greasy, potentially food poisoning inducing kebab did just not appeal to me.

I’m being hyperbolic of course, I’ve had some fantastic nights out in my hometown but of late I just can’t seem to fathom the idea of spending my night sticking to a club floor when I could be in bed indulging in a novel or my latest Netflix find. Bacardi and coke? I’ll stick to a peppermint tea and my book on the Brontës, thanks.

I recently took a walk down memory lane and returned to Nottingham, the city where I spent three years living as a student. It didn’t quite feel the same. During my gap year working I would escape to Nottingham any chance I got to visit my friends there. I suspect a secondary reason to my frequent visits was partial denial at the fact that I had graduated and wasn’t quite where I expected to be in life. I clung onto how walking through Lenton, my former stomping ground, made me feel like a student again, the future still full of possibility while the luxury of not having a definite plan was just part of the package.

I can’t pinpoint the change in my attitude, although I suspect it probably shifted when I began studying at Sheffield. Rather than view my MA as retreating back into a security of student life, I approached it knowing that it would pass quickly and that I would have to consider the future from the minute I stepped foot on campus. It’s daunting but I’ve embraced it. During my gap year I felt stilted; despite having a full time job I was hovering about and didn’t feel quite like an actual adult while I was so fresh out of uni. Ironically, returning to university has made me feel more grown up than ever.

We reached peak Ocean in 2013

During my recent trip to Nottingham I returned to a student club where I spent many boozy nights as an undergrad. I swore I’d never grow tired of the place, from its overpriced VK chasers to the eclectic playlist that jumped from the Arctic Monkeys to Paul Simon to S Club 7 within an hour. “I’m too old for this shit,” I told my friend, barely audible over ‘Lady Marmalade’ (told you the music was brilliant).

The real sour cherry on top of the cake was when the only member of the opposite sex outside the group I was with spoke to me: “So are you a first year then? What hall are you in?” he asked. “No, I’m 23,” I replied. I then gave this very fresh-faced fresher a pearl of wisdom that I certainly didn’t take on board when I was 18: “you’re going to have the best three years of your life. Enjoy every minute. It’ll be over before you know it.”

I felt like I’d moved on from my days in Nottingham, being there felt like I was replaying a happy memory in my mind, in a ‘been there, done that’ sense. And so my friend and I left before midnight, got in our cosiest PJs, had a cup of tea and played a game of monopoly. This ‘boring’ life isn’t so bad after all…

NG <3

Cat photo credit: David O'Hare via Flickr

Post Uni Blues

It's been a year since I graduated now. A whole year! That's a scary thought. But with this daunting reflection also comes pride when I see my friends graduating this year donning their mortarboards and robes as I scroll through my timeline. Never was the Facebook 'Love' reaction more applicable.

A few months after graduating I hit a wall and suddenly the question of what I wanted to do with my life kept me up at night. I'd always wanted to be a journalist but then came another worrying thought: how on earth would I find my way into the industry? That's the problem with negativity, one worry snowballs into another. Around that time I was feeling ever more nostalgic for my student days and I published this article on my Wordpress site.

I thought now would be a fitting time to reshare it. The moral of the story? Everything will be ok. It just takes a little time and perseverance to enter the big, scary adult world. I don't know a single person who fell straight from final year into their dream job. Sometimes taking time out to think and revaluate is invaluable. So many of my friends who graduated at the same time as me are now starting to settle into their careers and I couldn't be prouder or more excited for them. As for me? A year out has given me clarity and focus, and the determination to pursue journalism.

Originally Published September 2015:

Ahhhhhh. That’s the long drawn-out sigh of me coming to the realisation that now September is coming to a close a new set of freshers are currently embarking on the wonderful rollercoaster that is starting university life.
 
It has now been 3 years since I also made this transition from the mollycoddled security of sixth form and my parents’ home to become a newly independent, little fresher (and I use that term literally, for me Freshers’ 14 was unfortunately no myth). This September, however, for the first time I am not returning to formal education as the perpetual student status I held for 17 years will officially be redundant.

Quite frankly, it’s terrifying. No schedule. No one instructing you on what to do and when it needs to be done by. I always moaned about returning to school as a child but I secretly relished in it: the promise of a fresh start, the intellectual progression of moving up a year, and most importantly the trip to WHSmiths to buy that shiny, new pencil case. Essentially, September has always been more of my ‘new year’ than January ever has.

The preparation for the sudden halt to the conveyor belt of education has been slowly introduced over the years. First it started with free periods in sixth form. Expectation: Heading up to the library and spending an afternoon being oh-so-studious. Reality: Lounging in the common room playing Shithead (a card game) and hiking up the road to Macdonalds. Then came the uni days. Spending a mere 12 hours on campus was certainly a welcome shock.

Luckily I do still have an outlet to pretend I’m a student. This weekend I got to go back to my uni town and spend time with my friends who are still studying. It was then that I realised it is the student lifestyle I miss the most. I miss the “it’s ok, I’m a student” approach to life. Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to live off instant noodles, order another round (or five) of sambucas or spend all day in bed as a student. As an adult not so much. Unfortunately there is no student loan payment coming every 4 months once you enter the big, bad world.

I even miss the library. Yes, the library. Something I never thought I’d feel, let alone admit. Those times were dark: the all-nighters, the overpriced cappucinos, the many breakdowns when my laptop died and I forgot to hit save. But some laughs were had there also, especially when procrastination was the goal. I suppose it’s like a break up; you hone in on the positives. A big chesire cat smile comes across my face when I recall the nights that ended in the best way, eating questionably cheap pizza while having a heart to heart with my nearest and dearest. Yet I don’t quite seem to reminisce how awful I felt the following day. I look back with affection at my last student house, somehow forgetting the occasional slug infestation and icy atmosphere on a winter morning.


I heard a quote recently that struck a chord: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened”. What a brilliant way to view life. University was undoubtedly the best time of my life so far, but it was only one chapter and there are many more to come. I will always have the memories to look back on but now it’s time to create some new ones.

So a word to the wise for this year’s freshers: enjoy it. Every last minute of it because it really will be the best 3 years of your life and it will be gone before you know it.

NG <3

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Photo Credit: John Walker via Flickr.

We Were On A Break

Greetings, it's been a while. A very long while. On a whim I scrolled through NG a few weeks ago, partly out of curiosity, partly to indulge in nostalgia. I smiled as I looked through old posts, the connections established with fabulous bloggers from around the world and nostalgia soon snowballed into motivation; it's time to start blogging again.

I didn't stop posting for any reason, something reflected in my last post, dated 29th March 2016, a list of my favourite lip products. Life just got in the way. I hit third year and the work piled up, I became an editor for my student magazine and time that wasn't spent in the library or magazine office was spent with friends, enjoying our last year of all living together in Nottingham. When I graduated I had a summer deciding what I wanted to do with my life, researching different options, before eventually settling on my first plan of action, go back to uni and get an MA. I can't wait to begin this September.

I've missed blogging, having a platform to create a conversation, express your opinion, discovering new, exciting blogs. I'm wondering why I ever left.

See you very soon,

NG <3

Crazy for you

Is it really possible to beat such a wonderful item as a multi-seasonal piece? When taking these shots I originally thought that I had not posted this playsuit on the blog before but I was wrong, I actually did last July, during a heatwave. I've swapped the wedges for brogues and bare legs for tights.

 I'm wearing a New Look coat, brogues and bag, H! by Henry Holland playsuit and Primark tights.

  

Sorry I haven't posted much lately, I left my camera at home which was really annoying (these pictures were even taken on an iPhone!) but now I've retrieved it so expect more outfit posts coming your way!

 

 

NG <3

 

 

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The New NG

I've ran this little blog for over 18 months now and as much as I love it, it is undeniable that sometimes things needed jazzing up, trimming around the edges, and a little transformation. So I present to you the new NG. You may have noticed the little redesign that I've been, and are still, working on, and I believe (and hope!) that this marks a new phase for NG. Sometimes as bloggers we can be guilty of posting for the sake of it, to fill in a weekly quota, which in turn affects the quality of the posts. Similarly, I am just as guilty for letting my blog take a backseat, especially at busy, overwhelming times. So my aim for NG? To produce consitent, high quality and more personal posts.

Sometimes, change is good. Welcome to the new NG.
 

NG <3

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May Favourites 2013

I have two things to tell you. The first? I'm free! As of today the shackles of University have been loosened and I no longer have to learn Old English inflections or the phonetic alphabet, well at least not for a few months. You see, at half past ten this morning, I walked out after a beast of an exam, knowing that my days as a fresher are behind me. Scary stuff. And the second? Well, I've finally plucked up the courage to film a video. Believe me, sitting in front of a tripod, talking to a camera wasn't my idea of comfortable, but after a few (many) bloopers I finally have a finished product and so, ladies and gents, I present to you my May favourites-21st century style.
 



NG <3

Amongst the chaos...

You may have noticed I've been posting less lately and I just wanted to explain why. I'm coming the the end of my first year at Uni and I didn't realise quite how organised I'd have to be-hence the lack of posts and influx of caffeine- and therefore I feel it only right to let you know that I won't be posting on NG for the next few weeks while I take my exams. I'm sorry to do this but it means I'll be fired up with content for my return in summer!

Hope you have a great few weeks-see you soon!


NG <3

I got bitten by the blog bug!

A huge thanks to Lulu over at 'Hey it's Lulu' for nominating me for this award.You should definitely check out her blog, it's fab!

1) When and Why did you start blogging? I started blogging a few years ago, under a different name and on a different blog, The Natwalk. I really enjoyed it and as an aspiring writer it was a great place to practise my skills. In the end that kinda trailed off though-posts were few and far between and I wasn't that proud if it. This blog is very new, I only started it this Summer, after a holiday inspired me to go for it and pursue my passion :)


2) What do you love to blog about and why do you like it? Fashion, beauty, culture, my life. It's just a general mismatch! I love having the chance to write about what I want and post my thoughts, opinions and pics. One thing I would like to do more of is outfit posts-watch this space.


3) How did you get your blog name? I couldn't think of anything-I just used my initials and it kind of stuck.

 4) What do you think is your best post yet? I don't have many to choose from, NG being fairly new. I  would have to say it's probably my most recent post 'New York Fashion Week S/S 2013'. I put a lot of work in editing the pictures and I think it was probably one of the better written pieces. I'm planning to do a similar post for London, Milan and Paris fashion week-will have to find a window of time during freshers week!!

5) What is your inspiration for blogging at present? This is going to say cliche but anything and everything. Pictures I see, articles and blogs I read, people I meet, places I visit, the list goes on.


6) Message for your readers- Thankyou so much to all my readers! I get so excited seeing a new follower or comment, getting feedback is one of the best things about blogging. That's another reason I love blogging so much-it connects you to people around the world from different cultures and with unique styles, I find that so interesting. People reading my blog really are my motivation so I owe a lot to you!

The six bloggers I would like to award; 

• Cafe fashionista
• Luxessed
• Ellie
• Jump into puddles
• Jessica Stallard 

NG <3 

Starter for 10

I have some amazing news to share! I'm very pleased to inform you that I have a place at the University of Nottingham to study English Language and Literature after meeting my target grades at A-level! Alongside brushing up on my English skills I'll be blogging from Nottingham about student life, style, culture, interests and just general NG stuff. I'm so excited to be one step further to my dream career and to be going to such a prestigious university with graduates like D.H Lawrence. Tough footsteps to follow in, but here's hoping.

 

 Celebratory champers!!

So stick around, things are about to get a little more mature and a whole lot more crazy ;)

NG <3

All the world's a stage

New blog, new (blogging) start. Or prehaps that only works with New year, new you. I must admit I can’t say I’m a blogging virgin, and these first posts are always the grinding your teeth, screwing up bits of paper ones. It’s important not to be too smiley and cheesy-”Hi! Welcome to my blog!”, although I’m a bubbly person. Then again, diving right in at the deep end with a regular post seems a little too impersonal. And so, I’ll make it brief and not bore you with my life history, right down to my favourite page of my favourite book, but I’ll just finish with a quote from the fabulous Audrey Hepburn. Yes, I do love clothes, fashion and beauty but it is very important to hold the sentiment that Hepburn talks of:

“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.”

— Audrey Hepburn

And with that I’ll sign off and say stick around, keep stylish and stay cultured.

NG <3