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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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

A Tale of Two Cities

"We need a break. We need a break desperately," my friends and I thought as 2016 came to a close. Determined to make the start to 2017 unforgettable, (and eat as many local delicacies as we could before our New Years resolutions started) we headed off on a whirlwind 3 day city break across two countries.

The first stop was Cologne in Germany, a beautiful city with spectacular views of the Rhine (the  picture above was taken on a chilly morning walk). An early rise at 4am to catch our flight made for a tiring start to the trip so as soon as we left the tram we headed for a very strong coffee before consulting the guidebook and planning our day and a half in Germany.

Megan on the Rhine bank

We went to the main square so we could explore the city centre and cathedral. 'Impressive' would be an understatement when describing the cathedral. Feeling a bit daring (and in my case overestimating my fitness) we climbed 100m to the viewing platform of the tower, which offered stunning views spanning the city.

Post climb we enjoyed a well deserved Kölsch, the local beer, in one of Cologne's beer halls (an absolute must) and tucked into a traditional schnitzel. We were fortunate enough to stumble upon the Christmas market on our way back and couldn't resist enjoying a gluhwein (mulled wine) while watching people ice skate round the rink at the market. It doesn't get more festive than that...

Cologne Christmas market

Apparently chocolate is a BIG deal in Cologne (not complaining tbh) and so naturally the chocolate museum was on our to do list. If I could recommend any culinary delight from the trip it would be the Baileys hot chocolate we sampled at the museum café. I took one sip and was in heaven, although a word of warning, it's so rich it's a meal in itself.

Next stop, Brussels, the capital city of Belgium. The first thing we did was make our way to the Atomium. It was an impressive structure but sadly it was an extremely foggy day and the queue was huge so we decided against actually going inside. Instead, we explored Brussels city centre, took in the sights of the Grand Place and spent a few hours in the square's museum.

The Grand Place

Group shot...I look like a giant here

Night time soon crept up on us so we stopped off for a carbonnade flamande (a Belgium beef stew) and a local beer before heading to the city's Christmas market to try a delicious waffle for dessert. When in Belgium...With a few hours to go before 2017 we headed back to the hotel to get ready and found ourselves in an Irish bar just in time for the countdown to midnight.

To put it simply, we ate a lot, we drank a bit and saw some beautiful sites. I can't think of a better way to have ended the year...

Hope you had a fantastic New Year!

NG <3

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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.

A Room of One's Own

I need a change in my life. I need to change my room.

I love my bedroom but I can't help but feel that I've outgrown it slightly. Up until last summer I'd spent the last three years of my life living in student accommodation, which isn't exactly famed for its chicness. My first year room, although lovely, wasn't far off a cell with its exposed, unplastered brick painted over with a dull shade of grey. I endeavoured to cover this with that oh-so-cliché Audrey Hepburn poster. Whenever I bought bedding I went for bright colours and prints to brighten up the place, the more mismatched the better.

My second year room was the worst. It was situated on the ground floor, the single-glazed window onlooking a busy street. I think I've spent warmer nights camping. This property came with a no posters on walls policy, meaning my big, empty room felt even bigger and emptier with this lack of stereotypical student decoration. So I went a little crazy in third year with the posters: Paris, New York, London, Thailand, maps of the world, basically any image that conjured wanderlust.

And now? I'm back in my childhood room. What once had a colour palette- baby pink, black and white- has now been taken over with my eclectic attempts to make drab uni rooms more fun. Take my bed at the moment for example; my aqua bedding is interrupted by splashes of flamingo pink and sunshine yellow in the form of florals and birds, decorated with a mismatched (yet all neatly placed, I'll add) cushions ranging from a fair isle knit style patterned owl to an Eastern inspired, gold and fuchsia beaded delight.

I love this fun approach to décor but I've lately found myself favouring a more minimal Scandi design with vintage, feminine elements.  The key word is cosy. Enter Pinterest with it's never ending display of #designgoals...

My current room is far from being Pinterest-worthy but for the meantime here is my wishlist...

Top row, left to right

Ikea Bed, £79
Ikea Map, £65
Next Flowers, £8

Bottom row, left to right

Next Candle,  £12
Primark Organiser Board, £5
Next Cushion, £10
Primark Picture Board £6
BHS Boxes, £14

But on second reflections my room isn't actually that bad. Sure it could use a lick of paint but it's my room, meaning my space and that's the important thing. It may be a treasure trove of eclectic design elements but these are the pieces I've collected over the years. Then again, I am quite the hoarder...


What are your interior design inspirations?

NG <3

Deadlines

Alas, the coursework is in, the exams have been sat and my deadline week is officially over! It's been a stressful, emotional, exhausting, occasionally optimistic, mostly pessimistic week with some bizarre statistics;

• 1 birthday party with a very painful game of musical bumps
• 0 pre-3 AM bedtimes
• 100495960493 words written
• 1/2 of a bottle of wine (drank at 2am, out of the bottle, no less)
• 2857 gallons of caffeine consumed
• 1 stress-fuelled Boohoo order
• 3 Ginsters steak slices
• 2 all nighters
• 1 day where revision was abandoned to go shopping which resulted in 1 Benefit purchase (it was my birthday!)

And now? I'm making the most of Netflix before the next semester begins on Monday. Good luck if you still have exams!

NG <3

Promises...

Firstly, a very happy new year! I hope that this year brings you joy and success, and that you had a fabulous time bringing 2014 in (it feels so strange writing 2014). If I'm honest, I had probably the quietest new years yet and part of me is kinda glad I didn't go out. The run up to Christmas this year was so hectic, especially with the new puppy and the house being decorated, so I just wanted to sit back with a glass of cava and chill. How did you celebrate?

With the start of a new year, comes new year's resolutions. I have a love/hate relationship with them. On one hand I relish in making a long list of promises to myself, in an attempt to kick start a new lifestyle, yet at the same time I am so cynical when it comes to keeping them. Take, for instance, the phrase 'new year, new me', for me, it's a load of rubbish. You can't and won't change who you are. So I propose a new tag line; 'NEW YEAR, BETTER ME'. And that's what I aim to do this year, be the best version of myself that I can be (well, to a certain extent-I'll never be able to wave goodbye to cupcakes and 'bad' carbs, nom nom).

I suppose my main resolution for this year is a broad one; to be happy, healthy and live life to the fullest. It scares me that I'm already half way through my degree, so this year I want to embrace it more, before it's too late and be grateful for every opportunity given to me. In terms of being healthy, the latter end of last year wasn't amazing for me in that respect. I seemed to have a continual succession of flu, and despite medical tests showing everything was fine, I think I can pinpoint the trigger exactly; my lifestyle. Before, I hardly got any exercise, lived off noodles and chocolate and had a very lazy attitude. So this year, it's time for a change. More fruit and veg-student living is no excuse for such bad habits. At uni I have gained weight, I'm not exactly overweight, but if I'm truthful, my weight at the moment doesn't bother me, rather it's the sluggish, unhealthy feeling I hate. I want to be fit again and feel strong. But not to the detriment of my sweet tooth-life's too short to not enjoy treats every now again, but I'm trying to not make it as regular as I did last year. Fingers crossed...

What are your hopes for 2014?


NG <3

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O Tannenbaum

I think, aside from 'scheisse', the only vocab I remember from my German lessons is 'tannenbaum', from the German original of the song 'Oh Christmas Tree'. I suppose it is fitting for this post, given the Germanic origins of my family's Christmas baubles. Each year a new addition is added to our tree from German and Scandinavian stalls at various Christmas markets. Personally, I love the unique effect it adds to our Christmas tree and the happy memories evoked by each bauble. Here are my favourite ones that my family has collected over the years...

I'd love to hear if you have any similar traditions at Christmas and how you decorate your tree!

Keep festive!


NG <3

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Duck Egg

It may be my inner Blair Waldorf. Or it could possibly be my obsession with interior design on Pinterest. Whatever it is, my latest love is influenced by the wonderful world of home decor. Ever since summer I've fallen for the colour blue and its calming connotations and now my adoration has progressed even further; I want my bedroom in all its rose pink glory to be transformed into a blue haven. This is quite a drastic change for the 13 year old who swore to never have any other shade on her walls than pink (Elle Woods was my icon at the time).

My chosen shade is duck egg, a light, pastel blue. I find it so regal and when I see the shade I'm instantly reminded of Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette and Downton Abbey. The truth is though, seeing as I'm not actually living at home at the moment and only spend a few months a year away from my student dwelling in Nottingham, the transformation's on hold. All the more time for Pinterest inspiration I say!
So as an antidote for my craving blue, here are my top pastel blue style picks!

NG <3

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What's in my Bag? University Edition

This is my third 'What's in my Bag' post. Forgive me for being a tad repetitive but I bloody love these posts! My latest offering is a peek inside my uni bag that I use day-to-day...

I love using a rucksack as I carry so much stuff and it's easy to just throw everything in and sling it over my shoulder. Mine is from Primark and I love the distressed effect the leather look gives. A few essentials in my bag that are generic to most women's bags are my phone, ipod, umbrella and a pack of Strepsils, because you never know when freshers flu might strike again!

As an English student I carry a lot of literature around with me, mostly coming from my reading list. Why do they have to make core textbooks so, so heavy? Aside from my course books I carry a notebook in case I get random inspiration and also a diary to know what I'm doing next. On the left is Impact, Nottingham Uni's student magazine which I always find a great read and handy to have in my bag for between lectures.

As a beauty blogger I like to stay looking fresh on campus but I also like a low maintenance daytime look so I only keep a few select products with me on campus. I have an oily complexion so I rely on Rimmel's Stay Matte Pressed Powder to keep shine at bay and if I have a lot of blemishes at the time I will keep a concealer with me. I adore the fruity scent of Boot's Natural Collection Wild Strawberry Body Spray for quick top ups between seminars. I have also found a new favourite in the Charles Worthington Shine Spray to give my hair a touch of oomph when it starts to look dull throughout the day. And last of all? It's all about the lips. I usually carry whatever lip gloss or lipstick I apply at the start of the day and this is the make up product that needs reapplying the most. I always find a Chapstick handy, especially in winter, just incase my lips get dry!

What is in your day-to-day bag?

Hope you've had a great weekend!


NG <3

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Date Night

Last night I cooked a meal. Well, I use the term 'cook' very loosely but I did put said dish in the oven so I suppose I can say I cooked a meal on a technicality. The truth in the matter is that I am a terrible cook, I think I blame my dad. He is somewhat of a culinary whizz and so I've never really had to fend for myself. Luckily I just sit down and await whatever Provincial dish is on the line up that day. I was lucky enough last year to be in catered halls at uni therefore food was not a worry. But next year? I'm living in my own house so unless I want to survive solely of tinned soup and the occasional pasta when the mood takes me, I need to start cooking. But last night was important, so last night wasn't the night to start.

Photo from my instagram @natashagregson

My boyfriend's birthday is coming up this week and my parents were away so I decided to throw a romantic 4-course dinner for him and I wanted everything to be perfect, so me cooking wasn't on the agenda for the night. The menu is was as follows;

Pre-meal nibbles; Ciabatta bread with an olive oil dip and cherry tomatoes. It was due to be served with balsamic vinegar also but the clever little chef I am I didn't check that we had any in the cupboard until five minutes before he arrived *FAIL NUMBER ONE*.

Starter; Lobster Bisque served with seeded bread rolls. Thanks the heavens for Baxter's tinned soup, the fact that I laughed when telling him what ingredients I put into the bisque kind of  gave my faux attempt away *FAIL NUMBER TWO*.

Main; Catalan chicken with potato wedges, with help from Sainsbury's bistro ready prepared meals. I nearly got away with it until he heard me popping the film lid *FAIL NUMBER THREE*.

Dessert; Chocolate souffle. Ok, it was fairly simple; remove the packaging and place the pot on the table but surprisingly *NO FAIL HERE*.

Onto the outfit of the night. In the tradition of sticking with fail-safe options for the night I went for a classic LBD.

The dress is from Boohoo, I believe it was only £15, and it's named 'Natasha'. Yes, that was partly the reason for my purchase. The picture isn't amazing quality but I only had limited time to take a few pictures before my boyfriend arrived. In terms of jewellery I opted for classic, delicate styles in silver to complement the dress. The necklace is by Jon Richard, the bracelet's a gift and the earrings were from Primark.

The hair and make-up was also fairly simple. I quickly curled my hair and ran serum though the ends before spraying hairspray on. Make-up wise I wore a slick of liquid eyeliner, slightly thickening the line above the lashes before applying a few coats of mascara and a layer of red lipstick on lips, although it looks pink on the picture!

I hope you are having a great weekend! I'd love to hear what have you been up to so far?


NG <3

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July Favourites

Wow, July. Sorry to sound a touch cliche but you flew by! It's that time again when I fill you in on my best products/pieces/literature/films of the previous month. Sometimes I consider not doing these posts anymore as this area of blogging is over saturated but I don't think I'll stop doing them purely for the fact that I have so much fun putting them together and revisiting the previous month. And because I never tire of reading them.

Max Factor Wild Mega Volume Mascara

Now I've heard some mixed reviews about this cheap and cheerful product from Max Factor but I have to say it is a winner for me. Although I do hold the opinion that mascara is slightly similar to foundation, as in what works for one won't necessarily work for another. My mascara checklist is as follows;

• Volume-and lots of it!
• Length-even in the daytime I still love big lashes.
• A product that's relatively clump-free.

To be honest for the price, £4.99, I wasn't expecting it to give me the bold lashes I craved but I was pleasantly surprised. The packaging is a lot less sleeker than the typical Max Factor products but at least it's easy to spot in your make up bag!

17 Back Lash Mascara

As you can tell I've been on a bit of mascara binge this month and to be honest the only reason I purchased this particular mascara was because it came with a free eyeliner! I don't think I've ever tried a 17 mascara before so to be honest I had indifferent expectations. It's a great mascara for subtle length and is not too OTT. Honestly, this is just a great back-to-basics mascara. Nowadays there's so many different formulas, brush shapes and effects so its refreshing to have a simple mascara that gives you a little length.

Sleek i-Divine Palette in 'Snapshots'

I'm no beauty wild-child but I do love a bright colour! What I love about this palette from Sleek is the variety of colours, from sugary pastels to vivid brights. The colours are highly pigmented and to be honest the only grumble that I have concerning this product is the Sleek administration and their customer services regarding faulty orders. The next time I purchase Sleek products it will definitely be in superdrug and not over the companies' website.

Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in '16'

This was my first ever Kate Moss lippie and I actually bought the shade by mistake, picking out the wrong number. And, boy I'm glad I did. It's not a colour I'd usually go for, and is quite peachy and fluorescent but to be honest but it worked so well even with my pale complexion-especially when teamed with smoky eyes! It's not the longest lasting colour but I do love the creamy consistency and to be honest I'm won over 100% by the shade.

Blue/Turquoise/Green Rings

There's something about the colours blue and green in summer. They just automatically take my mind to a refreshing, aqua coast in the Mediterranean, even on the gloomiest of days. I found what I've been incorporating my new favourite colour into the most is accessories, particularly rings. These are my two favourite ones at the moment, the one on the left was from a holiday and the one on the left I got from Accesorize years ago as a gift.

Bag, a gift

One of my favourite places to shop or receive gifts from is far away destinations because you know you're really getting a unique piece. My parents got me this from Tunisia and it, quite literally, has not left my arm this month. Dark brown is my favourite colour for bags and I love the glossy finish of the leather.

 

Warm Bodies

At the start of July I was left in sole charge of a house and a dog, I think it was secretly my parents way of forcing me to live more independently, whilst they jetted off to Africa. So what did I do? Probably the opposite of what your standard 19 year old would do (i.e many parties, even more alcohol), and went to Blockbuster and rented a stack of movies to catch up on. Yes, it was all very thrilling, I can assure you. My favourite film I watched of the month, and probably the year, was Warm Bodies, the zombie romance (yes, really) starring the deliciously brooding Nicholas Hoult and my new girl crush Teresa Palmer. So the whole vampire/ human love story has been done, as has the werewolf (I'm looking at you Mr Lautner)/ human/vampire love triangle. So it was inevitable that a zombie romance would arise from the grave. And, surprisingly, it  worked. Sure, a zombie can't exactly work the rugged good looks of Damon Salvatore, but it was actually a really sweet, well-thought out plot with characters that were likable, and SMILED. Even the zombie.

Elle Magazine

If you are a regular reader you will know that for me Elle is the one. It's an inspiring, thought-provoking magazine (the world's best selling fashion magazine, nonetheless). A couple of months ago Elle had a 'digital-age' makeover and to be honest I wasn't impressed. I'm not the biggest fan of change. But now the magazine has had several issues to warm up their new layout and I have to say I love the change now even more so than the original layout.


What have been your July favourites?


NG <3

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Catch Up Cuppa

It's been a while since I've written a post so I've decided to pour a cup of hot chocolate (yes, I am a Brit that does not appreciate tea) and fill you in on what I've been up to for the past two weeks....

1. In an ideal world I'd tell you that I've been absent as I've been sailing round the Caribbean in a charted yacht. But in reality, I've been working. Yes, it's more cinders pre-ball. I have allowed myself some fun on my days off though, travelling up to Flamingo Land, a theme park in north Yorkshire. I'm no adrenaline junkie but I did force myself to grit my teeth and try out the world's steepest roller coaster. I'd love to tell you that the picture featured of me looking particularly beautiful in 1 was on said roller coaster but I have to admit it was on a less scary one. At least it gave my family and friends a laugh.

2. 3. Last week I spent such a lovely day having a catch up with Momma Gregson. Sometimes there's nothing as nice as having a girly day-especially if it's with someone you can REALLY rely on to tell you if your arse looks big in those jeans. Even better? An alfresco lunch, especially if it includes sunshine, burgers and wine followed a H&M fest. In the words of Charlie Sheen, WIN.

4. Don't you just love a good catchup with friends? The ones where you don't see each other that often but within minutes of meeting up it's like you're back in the sixth form common room? A highlight of this summer has been catching up with my closest friends, which is sometimes extremely difficult to do when you live hundreds of miles apart. I can't wait to get back to university though and catchup with my friends there!

And now? Currently I'm watching GG repeats whilst resting my ankle-apparently I'm not used to 8 hour shifts. Excuses, excuses.


I'd love to know what you've been up to!


NG <3 

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Black and White

One day it was summer. Then came a storm. And lots and lots of rain, hence the indoor photos. The last time I wore this dress it was with flip flops and sun cream but it's amazing how you can accessorise a piece into a new season option.

I'm wearing H&M dress, cardigan and necklace, Barratt's boots, Debenham's earrings and Primark rucksack and bracelets.

Today is a quiet day. I wore this for lunch with family but apart from that I've got nothing planned. Sometimes it's nice to sit back and chill, or wait for spontaneous events to pop up. Because I've found out the spontaneous things are often the best.

As always, hope you are well!


NG <3 

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Summer Resolutions

For me summer is a time of reinvention. Even more so than New Years day. I know, it's not exactly the conventional way of thinking. Each year at the turning of the year, millions flock to gyms and swear to never gossip again. I can't deny that I am one of those said people, but I find summer a more successful point of reinvention than the new year. Why? I could blame it on the hot weather, an inspiring holiday or the juicy brights that my eye spies when the sun is shining. But, frankly, I have no idea. I suppose I've known nothing else other than being a student and the luxury of full time education is that you actually have time in summer to sit down, relax and think.  And so, as a very personal post, I've decided to share with you my 'summer resolutions'.

 
This Summer I have...

• Kick started my healthy eating plan at the start of four weeks into summer. I disagree with diets, I think finding confidence comes from a lifestyle change- and one where no foods groups are eliminated! I was subjected to the 'fresher's 14' curse (basically the average fresher gains 14lb in their first year of university) and I suppose having Dominoes on speed dial doesn't help. But one step at a time I'm working towards a healthier, happier me!

• Posted on the blog consistently and focused on the content of my posts.
                
• Kept myself active, trying new things. At University I got sooooo lazy. And I don't want to repeat that habit next year so I'm prepping myself for my second (and what I'm determined to make my best) year of uni!

• Managed to get a job, albeit casual work, but it's a job nonetheless.    

This summer I will...

• Get courageous and actually SUBMIT some of my writing. Good lord, I think I may need serious help on this one.

• Continue making more youtube videos. Nerve wrecking? Yes. But I love connecting with you guys in a more visual medium.

• Become a tennis ace, if you pardon the pun. 

• Start clashing more prints and colours.

•  Read whatever I want before the autumn semester reading list is issued. At the moment being able to read something that I choose to read if ridiculously refreshing.

Do you find summer motivational? If so what are your summer resolutions and what have you achieved already?                                  


NG <3

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The Chapel

Some of you may know that a week ago I was in Wales on holiday with some family. I shared some photos of my outfits on NG but I haven't shared any pictures from the main family camera yet but I really wanted to show you the uniquely beautiful place where we stayed, a converted chapel, and some photos of the stunning scenery of North Wales.

Hope you have had a great weekend!


NG <3

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