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

Bloglovin' . Twitter . Instagram

The Netflix Binge List

Is there really anything more delightful than spending a chilly, summer afternoon curled up on the sofa, neglecting all adult responsibilities by indulging in a Netflix marathon? As the phenomenon of the streaming site grows so to does the immense amount of choice we have at our fingertips and now that Netflix is a prominent force itself in the production of increasingly expensive films and TV programmes, it appears that the selection available is only going to hike. Here are my top five programmes to lose a day (or 3) to...

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Crazy Ex is a relatively new find and, although there’s only one season available so far, boy is it a treat! Rachel Bloom is brilliant as Rebecca Bunch, a successful, yet deeply unhappy lawyer who declines a dream promotion and instead relocates to a sleepy town in California after a chance meeting with an old flame. Rebecca is immediately likable, in spite of her flaws, and her desperate attempts to win back her ex is soundtracked by a hilarious medley of satirical songs which perfectly parody modern pop.

Community

Carrying on with the theme of lawyers, charismatic Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) is reluctantly forced to go back to community college when his degree is found to be fake. He accidentally sets up a study group in pursuit of a fellow classmate, Britta (Gillian Jacobs), and thus a beautiful (albeit dysfunctional) friendship begins. Community is laugh-out-loud funny, a term that is too often overused but a label that the sitcom decidedly deserves.

Gossip Girl

Oh, GG, the ultimate guilty pleasure. If you have yet to watch the amazingly extravagant show it focuses on a group of over privileged, elite Upper East Side teenagers acting years their senior. From royal weddings, sex tapes, trips to Paris, the Hamptons and LA, countless couture gowns, and more salacious scandals than gossip columnists could ever dream of, this is, quite possibly, the most ostentatious series (all 6 seasons of it!) available on Netflix.

Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars follows Hannah (Ashley Benson), Aria (Lucy Hale), Spencer (Troian Bellisario) and Emily (Shay Mitchell) as they try to pick up the pieces a year after their Queen Bee’s murder. But the girls have a tormentor: A, an anonymous harasser who knows all of the girls secrets and isn’t afraid to expose them. Thrilling and compulsive, it will make you think twice about who you trust...

Skins

Quite a departure from the polished, American shows focused on youth culture featured in this list, Skins isn’t that dissimilar to Gossip Girl (a group of unattended teenagers misbehaving), yet simultaneously it’s a stark contrast. Often labelled as gritty and edgy, the controversial show set in Bristol focuses on a different member of the friendship group each episode, offering us an insight into their often troubled lives. Growing up this was the show that everyone watched in the UK, and I suspect possibly not with parental approval.

What are your favourite shows on Netflix to binge watch?

NG <3

Bloglovin' . Twitter . Instagram

Images sourced from the respective shows, Netflix UK, The CW, NBC and E4.

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

Bloglovin' . Twitter . Instagram

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

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

Hot Lips

When it comes to daytime make-up, although my look is less dramatic than at the night, I'm not one to shy away from experimentation. In regards to eye make-up I tend to go for the same colours, but when it comes to lipstick and gloss I like to mix it up playing with different hues and finishes. Here are my favourite daytime lip products from my collection...

Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick in 'Tantalizing Taupe'.

This is the newest lipstick to my collection. The colour is very natural and low-key for daytime, yet the shimmery, matte finish gives a touch of sophistication. I prefer to team this nude colour with quite dark eye make-up, so to allow this to take focal point, whilst still having a subtle flush of colour.

Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Balm in 'Plushest Punch'.

This bright, fuchsia shade is probably the most vibrant of my selected daytime colours. The best thing about this product is it's versatile; you can build up the colour to create an intense look, or dab the chubby stick lightly on the lips for a more toned-down look. Plus the balm has moisturising properties, meaning it's a great product to use for the long term.

Seventeen Lip Lustre in 'Talk That Talk'.

This lip gloss offers a peachy shimmer to lips, making them seem more voluminous. It can be a little sticky, but as an inexpensive gloss it's a great product. I often layer this over matte lipstick to give a hint of gloss.

Rimmel Kate Lipstick in '16'.

This is by far one of my favourite lip colours yet. I actually bought this by accident, mistaking it for another colour, and I can honestly say I'm so glad I did. The colour is a pink shade, with coral undertones that is perfect for spring and summer months! The texture is very creamy and this lipstick works well with many different make-up looks.

Rimmel Apocolips in 'Luna'.

It's the colour of this lip gloss that has won me over. It's a highly-pigmented, peachy shade that brings a brings a fresh, unexpected twist when adding colour into your 'daytime' make-up collection. I also love the glossy finish.


What are your go-to products for daytime?


NG <3

 

Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram

#nomakeupseflie

When I saw the first 'nominations' I was very sceptical as to whether not this overnight trend was actually helping at all. I should probably explain before I go further. In the UK, many women are taking selfies of themselves with no makeup on, and posting the pictures on social media sites. Why? It's all for charity. Originally my thoughts were 'surely they're not getting people to sponsor them' and 'how exactly is this helping?', but as the phenomenon has increased, so too have my positive perceptions of the campaign. The idea is that when you get 'nominated', and post your picture online, you are responsible for donating the small amount of £3 to Cancer Research UK via text. This does not seem like a lot of money, but when you consider that over £1 million was raised in 24 hours due to these text donations, it is an astonishingly successful campaign.

You may ask 'why not just donate the money anyway?' but the #nomakeupselfie hashtag is getting people talking, and is partly a reason why this has become so successful. Whilst going make-up free is hardly an amazing feat, it's something that catches your eye when scrolling through a generic series of posts on your news feed. It's something that every woman can do, and the fact that you donate yourself and it's not a sponsorship means not having to rely on others for their donations, making this a much more quicker and easy way to give to charity.

I can understand people's criticism regarding this trend, but surely anything that spreads awareness and raises money for a good cause is a positive thing, no matter how small the effort or donation. I've bared all-now it's your turn!

 

 

NG <3

 

Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram

The Search for a Spring Jacket

The course of finding the perfect Spring jacket never did run smoothly. This is a very hard lesson I am currently learning. I feel like I should invest (if you can consider a £30 coat and investment) in a new key item for Spring; the jacket. If there is one thing I should advise it is don't have anything in mind. Now I just need to learn to take my own advice...

This Topshop biker jacket (left, £60) is a beauty. I can't resist a bit of shearling and the effortless, laid-back cut of the collar is perfect for a spot of nonchalance edge, yet the indigo wash gives it a bit of a Spring update. The problem? The price.

Again this ASOS trench coat (centre, £60) is perfect on paper; the tan colour, the sixties inspired cut, the lightweight material but it's double my budget. It's just so pretty though, I mean, do I really need that Shakespeare textbook...

This go-with-everything number from Boohoo (right, £40) is slightly more on budget. I love the relaxed style and the navy colour as an alternative to black. I must say I do love the shirt and jumper combo underneath though, maybe it's a sign this jacket is for me...

Help me out please guys; which one is your favourite?


NG <3

 

Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram

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

 

 

Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram

Baby, it's (still) cold outside

I don't care what they say; it is most definitely NOT Spring in the UK. Ever since 26th December stores have been inundated with florals, pastels and macs. As much as I love a piece of the Spring pie, leaving the house without a woolly coat is simply not an option in this (so far) bitterly cold year. The sales have been, well and truly, picked over now but luckily I've managed to find a few pieces, reduced and new season that are appropriate for winter and the transition into Spring...

• Topshop Cat Umbrella, £16

An umbrella is mandatory in the UK unless you want to end up looking like a drowned rat (or cat, given the brolly?), so I love the concept of making such a boring, functional piece fun and quirky. Sure, it's a little more then what I would usually pay for an umbrella (hello Primark!) but it's just too adorable not to.

• Dorothy Perkins Check Pencil Skirt, £22

I try to avoid midi skirts at all costs given my short legs, but I must admit I am so tempted by this Dorothy Perkins beauty. I'm sure you're aware that tartan is 'a thing' this season, so if you have a particular interest in following trends this skirt is perfect, both aesthetically and for keeping you warm.

• Aldo INDU Loafers, £35 £24.98

My love affair with loafers, brogues and any footwear that looks androgynous continues. The soft, feminine colour and tassel detail contrasts with the basic shape of the shoe. Buy now, wear now.

• Carvela Kurt Geiger PAULA Boots, £195 £99

Yes they are pricey but think of them as an investment;

1. They have just under £100 off.
2. They will be great quality so will last as long as probably three pairs of cheap boots.
3. They go with EVERYTHING.

I'm sold. If only it were student loan day today and rent wasn't due...

• Boohoo Boyfriend Jeans, £25

I love the cut of these jeans and the casual-yet-sophisticated silhouette they create. Of course jeans are a winner in winter but the loose fit and light colour of these jeans make them an excellent pre-spring purchase.

• H&M Wool Blend Jacket, £34.99

The effortless way that this jacket falls is enough to convince me that this is a key, budget piece. Complementing the cut, the black and white checked pattern radiates a nonchalance rebellious attitude-perfect for crisp, winter days and cool, spring evenings.

• New Look Shirt, £14.99

As soon as I saw this I headed for the changing room and proceeded to the tills, debit card in hand. The fabric is lightweight so I wouldn't advise wearing it alone on a cold day but the sleeves can be adjusted, so you have the option to roll the sleeves up for a warmer day, making it an ideal transitional piece.

• New Look Check Print Scarf, £7.99

A scarf, come autumn, winter, spring and even summer (thank you Great British weather!), is a key piece in my wardrobe. Over the years my obsession has grown from borrowing one of my mum's scarves every so often to not being able to leave Primark or New Look without one. This scarf looks super cosy and the pattern is bold enough to brighten any simple outfit up.

• River Island Fluffy Jumper, £35 £25

I don't think I've ever seen such a toasty looking jumper as this. When you live in student housing you soon realise that the humble jumper is your best friend. I can just imagine wearing black skinny jeans and Chelsea boots with this on a cold day, and a black miniskirt come Spring.


Keep Warm!


NG <3

Bloglovin . Twitter . Instagram