No more over-packing.

This post is basically me planning my packing for my upcoming holidays, but I thought I could make it useful. I have always been an over-packer and a 'just in case' person when I pack my clothes, because I never want to feel without when I'm on holiday. Having a capsule wardrobe has helped in this area, because I have put more thought into my style and what goes together, so when I pack I instantly know what I wear all the time and what thing go together so I don't need that random extra top just in case. This is just a fashion packing post, because I can go on for hours about packing which no one wants. I am in no way a packing expert, but I thought I would share my process and simple rules. 


What is your style? First of all I always try to continue what I learnt in 'The Curated Closet' about knowing your own style because if you get that down then everything will fall into place. If you haven't got your style down then not many things are going to go together so you will probably need more items to create an outfit. Cohesive means less I think.

What kind of holiday is it? Another obvious point is think about where you're going because there is no need to back a crop top if you're going to Iceland and you don't need a winter coat in Tenerife. This year I am lucky enough to go to Cornwall and St Andrews so I wont need a bikini but I need to appreciate our random heat waves this month. This is something to think about when you read my list as it may it is a guidline/inspiration especially if your style is different or are going somewhere particularly hot or cold. I also think about what I'm going to be doing while on holiday because this can affect our outfits me than you think. I'll be doing lots of leisurely walking in Cornwall around Nation trust properties and going to the beach which means I need to be comfortable but I don't need to go full D of E practical.
I know it sounds painfully obvious, but think how long you're going for. Think about how often you change outfits in a normal week, because many people won't wear a pair of jeans for one day and then leave them, so why do that on holiday?

Write a list.  Before I go searching for my suitcase in the spare room I will right a list. I usually form it in a day to day style, so I can see what my week will look like. I will write out what particular items I want to take like a certain top or jeans then I will plan my outfits day to day, so I don;t keep adding items endlessly hoping I can make something work when I get there.  I'm not too rigorous with this as the weather can change and I might fancy something different. I wish I can be like my Dad who can pack a few t-shirts and be done.

Leave space. Purely because it means I haven't over packed and I have space for anything I want to buy while I'm there.

So Bon Voyage!

This is a really basic list to start with. It doesn't have to be much more complex though.
Clothing. (For a week)

Underwear/socks/tights

Pyjamas                           
 
Bottoms                                     
Jeans                       
Denim Skirt
Shorts

Tops
2 Light knits

Shirt.
4 tops.
(Mixture of long sleeves and short sleeves)

2 dresses.

Coat

Shoes
Converse
Sandals
'Nice' shoes.

My F Word.

This post comes from two things. I was seriously inspired by the book; 'The F Word' by Lily Pebbles and my best friend. Our female friends are amazing and I don't think that relationship is given enough airtime.

This mostly came from a conversation in Tesco where me and my best friend were buying snacks as usual and she joked about me writing a post about her. We laughed but the idea came came to me that I really wanted to say how much I loved that Lily Pebbles didn't just write about herself or romance, she wrote about something equally as important but is often forgotten about. The idea of a girl group  or having a best friend is clearly seen in books, films and tv shows, but can be put aside to a main romantic plot or if it is the centre theme then it tends to go along the lines of bitchiness and drama. This is not the stereotype good friends deserve. 

I thought I would tell my little story about friendships. I have always loved making friends, because I am so sociable. A friends mum once said I was the most sociable little girl she had ever met which could have been a very polite way of saying talkative, but I'll take it either way. With such a big age gap between me and my siblings I had to make friends because I didn't have a little brother or sister to play with. Mine were adults and had adult things to do, however if you include gentle sibling tormenting as playing, then yes. We played. When they weren't threatening to put me in our water barrel we did have fun. Even though she is my sister, she is basically one of my best friends as well. 

The story is short because I grew up in a village where I went to Pre-school, Primary school the Secondary School. I didn't even change when I did A-Levels, so my friendship group has stayed very similar all my life. I'm still bestfriends with people I knew at Pre-school and I'll be completely honest, I feel so lucky, because, Lily, I could not have survived without you from being cheering me up to keeping my hands warm on the way to school. Through primary school you develop your social skills and learn to spot a true friend and that is a lifelong skill. 

 And at secondary school I found my tribe so to speak. It was The friendship group and still is and it doesn't matter that we have all gone off to uni all over the country, (get ready for the soppy) because it doesn't matter how far away we are, we're still best friends. Gross, I know. However, there is nothing wrong with having different friends as we all have our own hobbies we made friendships through those. Something I have learnt is that there is no point getting jealous about other friends because their friendship does not take away from yours. I have actually made new friends by meeting my bestfriends' other friends. And although we are a solid group you do get the occasional drama, but if you're mature that you can get over it quickly or avoid it all together. Have patience and remind your friends that they are important to you every now and again, because they will always have your back. And friendship is always quality over quantity. At my secondary school there was a massive group of populars as you get at all schools, they thought they were so cool...But I lost count of how many times I over heard them saying horrible things about each other. On social media they appeared to have all the fun at their parties, but I'm pretty sure most of them couldn't stand each other. I'm not going to get into mean girls even though when you're 13 this is the worst thing ever (not to be dramatic), but this is a positive space, but I will say this; I was told that the best revenge is to live well. Just focus on your real friends. 

Starting uni can be challenging for everyone, but you're all in the same boat, so you're all trying to make new friends. I was very lucky to find my best friend on the first night of freshers week. Which makes it sound like a couples 'how they met' story, but here it is anyway. We chatted a little bit then agreed to go shopping the next day. The next day summed up is, we got lost. The first thing I learnt is that she has no sense of direction, so we walked around Sheffield talking for so long. Then we continue to talk when we got home. The conversation flowed for hours and still hasn't stopped one year on through the ups and downs uni has provided. Its amazing to think that someone has you have only known for a few months can be so important to you. But back to my previous point, my older friendships are still just as important.  And as Lily said in her book, the reward of friendship is so much greater than any friendship fall backs. 

So instead of setting girls against each other we should empower each other, because we're better together. Empowered women empower women and that is what we need right now. Its time to step up our game encourage one another, because girl power can help change the world for the better. 

 And I wanted to say thank you to all my friends who put up with me. 

Below I thought I would include some photos which aren't too embarrassing. 

The Basics. #capsulewardrobeseries

The next installment of this capsule wardrobe series is about the basics that can kick off a cohesive wardrobe. We all have those pieces that we would happily live in and go that one extra day without washing it because we're so desperate to wear it. In my last capsule wardrobe post I said I would write a something about getting the basics of a capsule wardrobe together. Before I get into it, I'd just like to point out that these are items that suit my style. In my previous posts I explained how the fantastic book, The Curated Closet, gives step by steps to really understand your own personal style and how your wardrobe works for you -- although I think these items would be great for anyone. It's so important to have feel comfortable in your own skin. If your basics are trainers and leggings, then that's great, whatever works for you.

As I'm starting with the basic, I made sure that the pictures really represent my wardrobe -- me with no make up, in a jumper and jeans. It may not be exciting, but that's what I wear. When I started planning my wardrobe, I thought about what I wear everyday and the things I feel comfy in, because I wasn't about to get rid of all my clothes and start again -- that would be expensive and wasteful. These are items that I already had that have formed the foundation for the rest of my clothes, so this is also a little nod to doing a capsule wardrobe on a budget.

Instead of going through item after item, I thought I would put them together in outfits to show why they are my basics. My casual every day outfit is a pair of jeans, a stripy t-shirt and my Converse. I love both black and blue jeans, and as I live in both and it wouldn't right to not include one. There isn't anything particularly interesting about jeans except knowing what fits. In most shops, jeans come in your usual 8s, 10s, etc., but that doesn't mean the size you usually go for will fit perfectly. I've been buying my jeans from Asos for years now so I can get my waist and leg length correct. I have the problem that so many people have: it will fit my waist but no way are they going over my bum, so I have to resort to getting a size to go over my bum, but it ends up being too big around my waist. I'm a pretty average height at 5 foot 5, which isn't tall but not short enough for petite jeans, so Asos lets you chose the length of your jeans which is one of the best things I have ever discovered in the fashion world. I no longer have the baggy ankle look and I think clothes that fit well can often look more expensive. I know Topshop do the same thing, but Asos are nearly half the price.

My Joules Harbour tee is such a weekend item, in my opinion. It encapsulates relaxing days out and having pancakes for breakfast. I can't wait to write about this gorgeous brand when I visit Cornwall next month -- it definitely suits the countryside and coastal towns of Cornwall. I don't think I could ever be without a stripey t-shirt because I don't think they will ever go out of fashion. Prints come and go, but you will never look bad in stripes. I'm adding to this outfit with my cosy grey jumper that I can wear with skirts, jeans, and cigarette trousers. I really recommend looking for jumpers in H&M because some of their jumpers are as soft as cashmere, like I said, we're on a budget! I've previously written posts about both my Converse and black Chelsea boots, so I wont bore you and repeat myself. I wear them all the time  -- that sums everything up.

My next outfit is called 'I actually want to look put together'. This outfit gives the impression that you've got your life together when you really just want to go home and watch Bake Off in your pyjamas with some chocolate. My navy cigarette trousers were in my spring favourites because I have been wearing them every week without fail. My favourite thing to pair them with is a simple white blouse and leopard print shoes, to mix the plain and interesting. The theme with my basics is that they will never go out of fashion because they are more of a style than a trend. That sounds really pretentious, but I purely go for that because it saves a lot of money.

This outfit is for those 3 day summers that we get here in England. A button up denim skirt and a classic short sleeve tshirt. I surprised myself when I wrote my list of basics because I used to wear skirts all the time. I didn't feel comfortable in trousers until I found ones that really flattered me. Trousers are much more practical when you're a busy person, however, I always need a skirt in my life. I keep to plain, A-line skirts that come in at my waist and skim over my thighs. In the summer, I live in a denim skirt, which were really popular a few years ago. I'm not ready to let it go yet because I think it has gone from a trend piece to something a lot of people own -- probably because it goes with so many things and denim can take a little wear. It can often improve the look, so we're not held back at any point. I included this skirt over the others because, apart from a couple of dresses, it is my most worn item in the sunshine and since we had a ridiculous heat wave last week, I remembered how much I love it. I loved the heat wave until I had to go to work, because I have never resented wearing trousers more in my life. Also, getting a classic dress that you can pull out whenever is the best thing! In the future I'm going to do a post about formal dressing with a capsule wardrobe.

I hope this post has given you a little idea of how to start off and build on what you've already got. There's no need to spend a lot on these items so I like to shop at Asos, H&M, Joules and Primark. You can pick and choose where you spend more money, depending on your day to day life. For example, I'm quite happy with £3.50 t-shirts from Primark, but I do like to spend more money on my jeans, so they fit really well.

I thought I would include a list to make the items clear if you feel inspired:

• Black/blue jeans
• Grey jumper
• Denim skirt
• T-shirt
• Converse
• Black boots
• White shirt
• Striped t-shirt
• Classic dress

My Brow story.

I thought this week I would do a little story time. I started talking about my brows in last weeks post when telling you all about my current favourite brow product, but we will get to that later, and it got me thinking about my brow evolution. And how I got the point of today where I like them.

So many of us can relate to feeling like we should do something to our brows and maybe we should do less as the in the last 8 years or so brows have really become a 'thing'. Like everything else brow stles have come in and out of fashion from the leave them alone bushing to the drawn on line. I'm sure each had their good points, but we have all seen that person who took it too far. But then again scouse brow as I have heard been called is a 'look'. Most people have a complex relationship with theirs brows especially when we look back at old photos and think why did we do that?! I think our brow thoughts have intensified buy the beauty industry who have filled the market with products over the past few years to saturation point. There are products everywhere now that didn't even exist 10 years ago. 

My story starts out like my people's; I had no thoughts about my eyebrows as a child. Why would I? But then as I grew into a teenager I started to notice that lots of girls were doing stuff their eyebrows like plucking or filling them in and as a naive girl I thought I should join the crowd. It was either year 7 or 8 that I found some tweezers and went to work and basically had Angus Thongs and perfect snogging moment. (Where she accidentally shaves half of it off). It wasn't that bad but I remember trying to get this one hair and failed to notice that I was taking more and more hairs out. It looked terrible. 

Instead of helping me or explaining what to do next time because I was only 11 so how was I supposed to know anyway, the people around me made sure I felt extremely embarrassed and miserable about the situation, so I didn't touch my eyebrows for 7 years! Apart from brushing them so they were neat and filling in the sparse areas for a presentable look. Luckily bushy brows have been in thanks to people like Cara Delevingne and Amelia Clarke, but those little hairs still annoyed me. Luckily my best friend is an export on the whole plucking brows thing and went to work on mine. After she finished one she said 'now I know what I'm doing' which made me laugh so much, because that is not something you say to someone as you pluck their eyebrows. She just meant that was getting used to someone else'es brows, but it was funny no the less. 

The ulimate brow product that topped all others is the Benefit Foolproof brows and it does what is says on the tin. It is a natural looking powder with two shades so you can get the perfect shade for your brows. The best thing about Benefit is that you can take a quiz on their website so if you really don't know where to start with the millions of brow products you can answer questions about your current brows and what you want them to look like. They will tell you what you need and also have a really fun virtual brow try on which is so helpful and funny to do at the same time. My brow routine after plucking now consists of brushing them through then using a really the Benefit brown brow powder to gently fill in any sparse areas as I found pencils look way too strong on me. Its another situation where less is more

The transformation is complete and I am so happy with my eyebrows, so please learn from me.

Don't feel pressured to touch your eyebrows because everyone else is doing it. You probably have great eyebrows. I know my sister never needs to touch hers because they are naturally good. 

And if you do want to change them then get someone else to do who knows what they are doing. Skip the embarrassing part and go straight to having good eyebrows. Its more fun that way. 

Spring favouites.

I know a lot of people do monthly favourites, I for one love to see what my favourite Youtubers are loving for inspiration and recommendations, but for me I'm too committed to change it up every month. I've decided to bring together all the things I have been loving this season. My everydays and the things I've almost used up. This will be an on going thing through at the year so I hope you enjoy my seasonal round ups.

I think I'm going to start with a thing that represents a lot of other things. I have been loving reading 'The F Word' by Lily Pebbles. I don't always buy Youtubers books, because I'm not always interested about the subject even if I love them as a person. And if I bought every book that a youtuber brought out then I'd be a little poor. However, 'The F Word' really intrigued me. Female friendships are amazing. I know I rely on them everyday from my best uni friend to my sister. They are are not given enough credit, so a whole book to celebrates this is fantastic from my view. And you can't go wrong with some fun anecdotes on how she met her friends. They're pretty funny and I'll go into it more in my next book review post to round up my reads.  But this book also represents how much I have loved reading this year. I have really kept with it and I am determind to finish a New years resolution. Plus, keeping you updated here makes me wants to do it even more, because I don't want to have write in a post;"I failed". We can do this!

Okay, don't judge me but I got my eyebrows plucked for the first time a few weeks ago. The idea of someone plucking my eyebrows into oblivion has always put me off because I love my thick eyebrows and I'd look silly with the classic 90s look that other people can pull off. My uni best friend was the person I put my faith into. (See, female friendships are amazing) and poor her. She had a job making my brows look presentable, but she achieved the impossible. I am now far from Yetty land. But the thing that makes them presentable for the outside world is the Benefit foolproof brows. My brows are thick, but sparse so I use the lighter shade to fill them in. I love them! I think this is perfect for a brow novice as the powder is so natural and as long as you don't go in too heavy handed and its super easy. None of this precision faff stuff. I've never been this happy with my brows and I now 

depend on this product which speaks volumes. 

Winter is the time for many things. Jumpers and hot chocolate, but for me its the coming of the dry skin plague. I moisturise intensely  until the cows comes, but still those cold dry days will get me every time. I got this Lush moisturiser as a Christmas presents and I finished it last month which was so sad. This is a creamy moisturiser that is full of hydration and perfect for sensitive skin. I lathered this on everyday and it left me with soft moisturised skin. I've said the word moisturise too much, sorry. Anyway, I have been so impressed as a dedicated user of heavy duty coco butter. I definitely want to get more next winter.

On to style favourite. I've always been a little wary of trousers because I though for some reason that they wouldn't suit me, I don't know why. I bought these Asos Cigarette Trousers because they were navy and highwaisted so I eased myself in with my safety nets. I wear these every week! They were exactly what my Capsule Wardrobe was missing and the amount I wear them shows this. How did I live without these for so long?! They feature on my Instagram, so pop over there if you want to see how I style them, especially the Insta highlights that I have saved. I am going to do a whole post about them soon, because they deserve a whole post. Nothing sums up classy and chic like cigarette trousers and I am honestly obsessed with them to the point where they really need a wash, but I want to wear them again. I can't let go!

The last two items are a but random, but they deserve to be included. the first is this little cute postcard from Paperchase which represents how much I loved International Women's day. People really loved my Girl Power Post which made me so happy and humble. I have really learning how to feel confident about my self and have healthy view points. I have worked really hard and I'm excited to celebrate myself and all my amazing girlfriends who inspire me. Current affairs at the moment are miserable and very intimidating, so if we can learn to stand together and love each other then bit by bit we can make a positive contribution to the world. 

The second random thing is very random, so i'll keep it short. I am planning on doing a whole post on my house plants, (Yes, I am 70) about where I get them from and how I keep them alive. To be hoest I'm surprised I have kept them alive and that I've only had one casualty along the way. Minute of silence for the succulent I over watered.....My Swiss cheese plant has brought me so much happiness, because its beautiful and it represents a little achievement. (That its not dead). I know these are really popular at the moment, but I don't mind because they should be. I'm thinking about naming it so I'd love to hear any suggestions. 

And thus rounds up my Spring Favourites. I'll check in again in a few months with my next round of favourites, but for now here a few of my favourite blog posts from this year if you fancy a read. 

More Girl Power Please. 

A Fresh Start

The Start of my Capsule Wardrobe series. 

My Valentines day post. 

My (pretend) Shoe Capsule Wardrobe.

So you will all know by now that if you've been keeping up with my blog that I have begin the adventure that is having a capsule wardrobe. I've gotten rid of clothes that don't fit, things I'm never actually going to wear and items hat I have held on for too long. I kept my favourite items and slowly added items that almost all go together. I've found my style and I'm really happy with how thought out my wardrobe is now. I can now start putting those winter things away and go into full on Spring/Summer mode. I'm looking forward to having a smaller but more edited collection of clothes. No more hording. Oh wait. 

Something I am yet to tackle, is my shoe collection. I've mentioned before that I like a have a lot of shoe variety and when my boyfriend said that I only have two feet. I answered; "my feet go to lots of different places." Which in my opinion is a fair answer. 

However, I really do want to make my shoe collection more edited and think about what shoes I wear the most so this is post is all about my most worn shoes and basically if I had a gun to my head, which shoes would I pick? This are my top picks, not including rarely worn yet necessary shoes like wellies or waking boots. I've tried to pick from each category like boots, flats, heels, and shoes I wear nearly everyday. 

I have spoken about Chelsea boots a million times on this blog. They're my extra limb. My constant. My rock. Yep, I wear these so much! As soon as I have worn through and wrecked a pair I buy another. If I was to ever buy a designer pair shoes, (The kind that costs more than my monthly rent)it would be these beauties because we go together like cheese and chips.  (Please don't judge my love of cheesy chips). These will definitely be my first capsule wardrobe pick if I ever make myself do it. 

I've written about the wonderful world of piratical converse recently in this post, so I wont go into too much detail. Basically, they are not the cheapest shoes on the high street but I'm pretty sure I have got my moneys worth already, 4 months in. 

These are my summer shoes and I really hope they will last. These are from Primark so they were a bargain, but may not last a long time. (I'll let you know after summer) I try to stay away from trends, because surely they can't be classic if they're a trend, but I've made an exception as these are so pretty! In my defence they are a classic shape and are very comfortable. These are going to warm weather shoes and realistically I only need one pair of summer shoes living in England. You know, for those 2 weeks of hot weather. 

I have had these for years now so these had to be included in my fantasy capsule shoe collection. These are my 'out there' shoes which will seem silly for some people. But Leopard print is the only pattern I own apart from a floral dress. This is definitely my wild card item. I have found with these shoes that paying a little bit more for a brand that isn't Primark, New Look etc has really payed off. Kurt Geiger has really impressed me with the quality of these and there is nothing better than the proof of time to show how good they are. 

A nude court shoe should be in everyones' capsule wardrobe. Believe me it will go with everything at every event. Got a wedding? Sorted. Graduation? Sorted. Any party? Sorted. Kate Middleton really made these popular because who doesn't want to be classy like a Duchess? Also, they are very aesthetically pleasing. I think BooHoo is underrated as brand when it comes to shoes because I have some great pairs that I still haven't worn through and I am pretty heavy on my feet and also, very clumsy. 

Maybe one day I'll be able to say my shoe collection is a little thin on the ground, but until then I'll keep planning out the pretend capsule wardrobe and maybe try experimenting with putting my rarely used shoes away to see of I would actually miss them. In the future I am planning on re creating this post to see if I would swap anything or add to it. I'd like to give an honourable mention to some other favourites; my vans which are currently my work shoes, my joules trainers that I am very protective over and my flat Chelsea boots that are classic and practical at the same time. Whats not to love? 

Wish me luck my newest venture. 

Lashes to empower?

When it comes to your beauty stash you're allowed to splash out in certain places. I don't think you need to go high end for everything and I think that depends on what you want to focus on. For me, my eyelashes and eyebrows have always been a faff. I have thick but sparse eyebrows so I rely on the god send that is the Benefit Brow range. They understand the natural look so I don't have resort to over drawn in brows. My second self pet peeve are my lashes. They are short and the most straight things in the world. I am pretty sure that they are curl resistant, so I need a little helping hand because I'm not naturally blessed with fluttery lashes.

The brand Charlotte Tilbury feel s like a beautifully classic brand that's been around forever, but it actually only started in 2013 which is an amazing achievement. I've found myself buying the odd Charlotte Tilbury product over the years because I've definitely bought into the hype. We've all done that though haven't we? And also I don't have the money to buy everything. I would if I could. This mascara is probably my most worn item because to be honest it does what it does on the packaging. ( Which is soooo pretty) It gives you Legendary Lashes.

We all deserves to feel lengendary and empowered everyday because it lets us be our best selves. We shouldn't feel like we have to be anyone else, because we are all amazing in our own right. I know a mascara doesn't really empower you but its a small step to towards that goal.

 Your lashes will be longer and thicker which is right up my street especially when it only takes one coat. Speed when getting ready is the dream which I spoke about in this post. I don't want to change my lashes even though they are my small day to day pet peeve, but I'm going to enhance them so I can be my best self.  And I love having this bit of luxury in my makeup bag everyday and I see it as an investment. 

What do you have that makes you get a step closer to feeling empowered everyday? 

World of Converse.

Oh Converse, how did I live 18 years without you? There has been a converse shaped hole in my heart for many years, but now my life is fulfilled. Right. Now I've said my dramatic piece for a pair of shoes, we can get down to business. (To defeat the huns...name that film.) These have been my current obsession since buying them at the start of this year, hey, who knew you could be fashionable and comfortable? And I am all for things that help me get my step count up on my Fitbit. So this is just a little post, because I couldn't not talk about the things that are nearly permanently attached to my feet at the moment.

My typical outfit with these are some Asos jeans (Blue or Black) and a cosy jumper which equals ultimate comfort while looking effortless chic. (Hopefully) Then you look at my messy hair and any je ne sais quoi  is lost. As the Spring and summer months approach I'm planning on wearing them with some shorts or boyfriend jeans for a really casual look that keeps me cool. I rarely find a pair of sandals that don't rip my feet to pieces so the light canvas of the converse are perfect. I am hoping to make them last as long as possible because no.1 They are a little more than what I might normally spend on shoes, so I want my moneys worth and no.2 I really want them to be a complete staple in my all year round capsule wardrobe. |Could these be the shoes that gets the ball rolling on my adamant postponing of making my shoes join the world of the capsule wardrobes. I'm looking forward to showing them as a whole look for spring sometime soon. Keep an eye out. 

The only downside to these perfect editions to my capsule wardrobe is that white is a difficult colour to wear and care for as you can see from the front of them. I gave them a good wipe so any cleaning recommendations would be much appreciated. And you do have to deal with the issue of good ankles in the winter, but just make sure you've got some cosy socks waiting for you at home. I can deal with these little hiccups because I freaking love them! 

What I've read so far

1. Read more book. That was my first New Year's Resolution and I think a lot of people can relate. We all love the idea of reading more, drinking more water (I'm an actual prune) and doing more exercise, but how many of us can actually stick with it? I tried to make the goal as realistic as possible, so my target was to read 2 books a month. That's it. I don't need to read more or read a certain type or length of book. Nothing wrong with baby steps.

I have always been a huge book worm and I spent my teenage years with my head in a book constantly. I don't even think that I am exaggerating that, because I never went anywhere without a book. My family can vouch for this. During my A-levels and starting Uni reading books unfortunately went on the back burner like my other hobbies hence my Fresh start blog post. But I started to get my read on. 

Its so nice to have something that stops me scrolling through my phone endlessly because it is so unnecessary to check Instagram a million times and there isn't anything quite like losing 

yourself in a story or learning something or feeling empowered to make a change.

 These are the books that have made me feel all these things. 

It by Alexa Chung. I'm kicking it off with an easy read. I flew through this book, cover to cover. Its basically a collection of her thoughts and images about her life. Alexa has really added her personality into the book and it sort of feels like she is talking to you which I love. Its like a good old chat with your girlfriends. The whole book gives you a taste of her laid back sense of humour and classic style. I feel like even if you're not a huge fan of her like I am, you can enjoy her aesthetic and fun outlook. Also, its very photogenic. 

Women and Power by Mary Beard. Now this book was perfect for International Women's day. I read it back in January, but I gave it a quick flick through again last week, because wow. Mary Beard's intellectual nature mixed in with the history and information and everything else was fantastic. I found it so interesting and it really opened my eyes. I don't want to try and explain it, because I wont do it justice, but please give it a read! Get your girl power on!

How to be Parisian by Sophie Mas, Audrey Diwan, Caroline De Maigret and Anne Berest. 

I wish this book was my life basically. The authors give a fun and amusing version of the traditional Parisian stereotype. It made me laugh out loud at the fun contradictions and I was definitely inspired by the fashion because that is the look I try to achieve. (Try being the key word) I think this a great edition to anyone's coffee table. I'm totally ready to wear a red lip every day now. 

The Curated Closet by Anuschka Rees

I spoke a little about this book in both my Capsule wardrobe posts because it is the holy grail and Bible of creating a capsule wardrobe. The thought that has gone into this book is amazing and I actually felt like I learnt something. If you have ever thought about investigating the world of capsule Wardrobe this is where to start. I thought the book might be a little boring because I thought surely there can't be that much information about a wardrobe clear out, but it is so many details that are important but may skip over, like how to find your style and how your wardrobe fits into your life.  It will be your new obsession though. 

The Sun and all her flowers by Rupi Kaur. I had never read a book like Milk and Honey which is Rupi kaur's first poetry collection. Her words and images are truly beautiful and empowering. She speaks about sexual assault and a variety of important subjects. Again, this is a book that makes you think and could bring a tear to your eye. 

Some other reads that deserve a mention.

The Balance plan 

Undergroud Railroad

In order to live

How it works; Sisters

Bad Girls thoughout history. 

My Capsule Wardrobe experiment #capsulewardrobeseries

Do you ever feel like you have a ridiculous amount of clothes but till have nothing to wear? So many people can relate. I would wear the same items on repeat, the same jeans. skirt and selection of tops. I always went back to my favourite clothes so it seemed obvious once the lighting struck; I should try a capsule wardrobe, so this is how I created it. 

 I have talked about my inspirations and what made me want to start a capsule wardrobe in this post, so we can skip to the fun stuff so here is how I have started my experiment. I call it an experiment because I am still creating it and finding out what dynamic I like and dislike. A little disclaimer is that I haven't yet included shoes in my capsule wardrobe. That is a work in progress. A little conversation with my boyfriend sums up my relationship with shoes.

Him; "You only have 2 feet"

Me; "But my feet go many places".

My interpretation on the capsule wardrobe is that the classic magic number, 37 is a guideline. If you're a few items under or over then that is okay. This isn't about having restricting rules that makes you hate your wardrobe.  My other issue that I am going to trial keeping my seasons apart. The capsule wardrobe queen; Caroline who writes the blog; Unfancy, moves her wardrobe around every 3 months so her summer clothes are stored away while its winter. What I'm trying to do is first of all find a place to store my items because I currently live at Uni and secondly, I am very much of the mind set; 'What if I need it?'. In some ways this silly because I obviously don't need a pair of denim shorts right now in March, but I am slightly justified because in British Spring time we can get freezing days as well as beautiful hot day. I remember having a BBQ in the Easter Holidays last year, so I am currently trying to separate my clothes more. 

There we go. That's how I'm still testing the water so bear with, but here is how I started. 

Know your style. I think this is the hardest because if you don't know then you will just have to wait and see it develop. Also, you may never find a specific style because you are your own person and not a carbon copy of someone else. I take elements from my inspirations but the way I sum up my style is mostly monochrome, Parisian chic (which sounds pretentious, but I'm really into those classic pieces) and mmmm...let me think, probably smart casual. I'm pretty pleased I could say that because the one of the things the Curated Closet challenges you to do is to describe your style in one sentence which can be harder than you think. Don't be afraid to give it a good think and to ask others. Their answers might surprise you.

A little tip is to sometimes go through the styles you don't like if you're struggling. I know I'm not into the sporty chic purely because its not me, but it looks cool on other people.

Whats your lifestyle? You need to be aware of your lifestyle and how your wardrobe will reflect what you do. For example if you work in an office 9 to 5 Monday to Friday then your wardrobe is going to focus on versatile pieces suitable for the work place instead of loads of casual items that would seriously limit you on a day to day basis. For me, personally, I am a student so I am in my 'normal' clothes everyday as my work as a specific uniform that I have no control over. Its ugly...Anyway, my average day is going to uni and being with friends so I have no need for 5 smart shirts in comparison I don't need super practical clothes for a on the go person.

The Basics. I really didn't know where to start. I had a big mess of clothes that I didn't like and a limited budget, so I made a list. Oh I love lists. I wrote down the basics that makes up a wardrobe. (for my lifestyle) I was really lacking in so many basics and I thought no wonder I'm finding it hard to get dressed. I'm missing so many simple things like a plain grey top for example. You need to find the back bones of your wardrobe that supports the metaphorical body of your wardrobe.

I'm going to write out a full basics list in a future post where I explain what is exactly in my wardrobe. 

Don't get lost in Fashion. From this point you can start to get more specific items. Those things are my style, but I like picking fashion pieces to compliment each season. Quoting Yves Saint Laurent; "fashion comes and goes style is forever". I'll be doing a future post on how I shop with a Capsule Wardrobe because I think there is a knack to avoid those impulse purchases and fashion items that you are not going to be wearing in a years time. I'm so guilty of that, but I'm getting better.

I excited to show you my capsule wardrobe and how I style my clothes in each season.

I am hoping that in the future I can do a full starting a capsule wardrobe step by step post when I'm happy and sure with my new wardrobe, but at the moment I am still testing the water. 

More Girl Power pls!

What a wonderful day. A day that is dedicated to being a woman and everything that means. No matter what shape, size, colour, origin or religion, we can all celebrate how cool it is to be a woman. We've never had it so good in the history of 'civilised' society. (Side note; The Ascent of Women on Netflix is amazing and it shows that in some of the first groups of people, there was complete gender equality, as men and womens' contributions were seen as the same) However, I think we can do better.

There are amazing individuals and groups that have been dedicated to girl Empowerment longer than I have been alive, so I am but offering my very humble story.

My story of girl empowerment or feminism or whatever you would like to call it started off with my parents. As a little girl I was encouraged to get outside and explore, play with a variety of toys and be my own person. My parents tried to stop gender stereotypes before it was a'thing'. I was taught to have my own thoughts and opinions, and believe me I did. I was always slightly different to the girls at school who had more barbies than a child could ever want or need. But as much as my parents did to encourage me to be an independent person, guess who I wanted to be like? Yep...the Barbie girls. I loved pink and dolls and pretty things which is no bad thing but it must have been a little frustrating for my parents who were not Disney people.

This hideous theme of pink carried on for years and my mum didn't really know what to do with 'that girly stuff'. There were so many tears when I had to have practical school shoes and not pretty ones. (Who else can relate?) But underneath the pink everything there was a little girl who loved a million other things like tree climbing and muddy puddles and castles which I wish I could have shown more.

As I grew up I couldn't help but find my true self bit by bit and that meant I didn't exactly fit in, because I wasn't being a carbon copy of someone else. I loved to read and I loved to know things, but at secondary school that means you get teased. And as a little 12 year old I didn't have the self security of myself that I have now. Horrible people, 1. My self esteem, 0.

Skip a few embarrassing teenage years,  I was procrastinating as usual and I started reading all these articles about feminism that I agreed with so much. Yes, of course we should have gender equality. It's so obvious. But then I looked for more information and I came across negative comment after negative comment about how feminists are crazy women who have become so radical that they are now sexist themselves. When I started talking about feminism at school people made those negative links as well.

But I am an independent woman who knows better than to listen to those voices. I am a proud feminist who believes that we need to help both men and women for a better future for everyone.
I have come full circle and now I know that I can love fashion and beauty as well as reading, learning and being outdoors. It's okay to be me and it's okay to be you.

 Being an empowered woman comes with some fun perks like confidence. I love having confidence even if it just means that I have the confidence to do little things by myself which opens up a world of possibilities and fun. But don't get me wrong, I still get self conscience and worry about things but that is okay when you have loving people to support you!

Something I heard and love is that 'empowered women empower women'. I love spending time with my girlfriends who are all amazing women in their own right which inspires me to believe in myself. We can all be girl bosses.

But very importantly being empowered allows you to see the problems in the world and it makes you stand up and listen and then speak out. We can all do it especially when issues are constantly having light shone on them with campaigns like 'Times up' and 'Me too'.

Girl power takes time but its pretty cool in my opinion when we get rid of that girl on girl crime and surround ourselves with empowered people.

 I wanted to mention some amazing people who have helped empower me.

•My Mum has taught me how to be independent. I know I can rely on myself which makes me feel pretty sassy.
•My Dad taught me to have my own thoughts and opinions and that you don't need to follow the crowd.

•My Sister has taught me that you have to love yourself, because it will be a lifelong romance.

•My Boyfriend's Mum has taught how to be a strong woman who doesn't need to take sh*t from anyone.

•My Boyfriend has taught me that I can do anything I set my mind to. (He is a fantastic poster boy for feminism)
•My Auntie has taught me that it is always right to speak out against what is wrong in our society for a better future. 

So I think in order to celebrate Interntational Women's day and gender equality we need some more girl power and to work hand in hand with men. Lets not preach to half the sky.

Things that are making me happy right now.

We are almost half way through the season of lent, which for me as a Catholic is a period of time to prepare for Easter. I have given up chocolate this year and wow I miss it. But I am sure I will survive. Lent is also a season for positivity and reflection, so I have been trying focus in on the good things in life and also setting my ducks in a row. That's the right phrase, isn't it? So, here are a few things that are making me happy at the moment.

Ignoring my view out the window, it's spring! And that means beautiful flowers and fresh Spring fashion. I am so excited to share my capsule wardrobe with you in next week's post. I'll explain how I have put it together and certain rules I am trying to keep. Nothing too strict though. I have been making a list of clothes to add to my wardrobe so it is spring appropriate, because before all this beast from the eat nonsense came I could leave the house without a jumper on. But my wardrobe dynamic has briefly gone back to jeans and jumpers. And 5 layers underneath....but bring on Spring! I'm ready.

As of yesterday it is 3 weeks until I get to see my boyfriend again and that makes me the happiest person in the world. I talked about my long distance relationship in my Valentine's day post and how well we have dealt with being so far apart, but nothing can beat that first embrace. Internally it feels like the GIF of screaming Jonah Hill and externally it probably looks like that too. I'm not that cool and collected. But you do happiness however you like.

Something else that has been keeping me cheerful is that I have so far kept my new years resolutions. The main one was to read 2 books per month and I have actually gone over that. Once I got back into the swing of settling down with a book, finishing book after book became very natural. A great tip for keeping a reading resolution is make sure you always have a book in your bag because when you're out and about you have the option to get a chapter read instead of scrolling through Instagram for the millionth time. I am very guilty of that. I will be doing a book post in a couple of weeks about the books I have read so far and the books I am planning on reading. There is mixture of genres for everyone so I'm pretty pleased.

The final thing that is making happy is that I am slowly, very slowly getting organised. One by one I am ticking jobs off the never ending to-do list. It's all about the list making for me because there isn't a happy feeling quite like ticking those annoying and boring jobs off so you can relax and have fun. To be honest I still need a little motivation in some departments but we will get there!

I would love to hear about what is making you happy right now and keep an eye out for a cheeky midweek post coming on Thursday for International Women's day.

Morning motivation. (Or lack there of)

This time last year mornings were not an issue. I always considered myself a morning person and rarley slept in even on the weekend. A lie in for me consisted of sleeping in until around 10 then probably having a pyjamas day.  I had spent nearly my entire life in one routine; get up for school which is not optional, wear a uniform for 5 days a week and pack the same belongings into the same bag. I think it was the lack of options that made it so easy.

What a life, but fast forward to now mornings have not been so idyllic. I have moved a million miles away from my school life routine which had trained my body clock perfectly to the adult life where suddenly the option of sleeping can be really appealing. I am not saying that uni is optional and I have never treated it that way (100% attendance thank you very much), but the lack of....mmm... policing maybe? That isn't the best word, but what I mean is that if I don't turn up to uni then no one will check up on me. And trust me this can be attractive. My other so called excuse for lack of morning motivation is that I work at night which exactly is a pretty good excuse. If you read my Fresh start post then you will know that I work as a bartender which means I get the joy of finishing work at anytime between 1 and 4 in the morning. And wow that can take it out of you, but I've come up with some things that really help me in the morning so I don't slip into bad habits. I have no intention of getting up at midday on a daily basis.

Go to bed earlier, yes this is painfully obvious, but so many people will go to bed in good time but have no intention of going to sleep. I'm guilty of taking my phone to bed, but on my nights off I make a conscious effort to have a night routine so I can get to sleep at the earliest opportunity. I've heard that the sleep you get before midnight tend to be the deepest and best sleep to get so surely it will make the mornings a little easier.


Make lists. This will help clear your head of those busy plans and a million little things you need to remember. I find this so helpful and relaxing and then in the morning I am motivated because I have a list I can follow. I can remember a million song lyrics, but trust me I will forget to put my washing on.  And in the morning, the prospect of getting up and getting on with the day is a lot less intimidating when you know what you're doing. I'm really bad for putting things off when there is a lot to do which makes it even worse. Lists are a huge motivation. 

You do you. You have to be kind to yourself, so do whatever you need to do to get that motivation going. For I don't close my curtains entirely so in the morning I get to wake up to a bit of sun light (Depending on the time of the year) which means I don't feel as errh about getting out of bed. I like a light and warm room when I wake up so I can jump out of bed....once I have scrolled through social media. That wakes my brain up and allows me to get going. Who else is guilty of picking their phone up as soon as they wake up? Lets get motivated!

Benefit Pinks for Spring.

I feel like Benefit has been every where recently! They went above and beyond when bringing out their new mascara; Bad Gal Bang. Like flying Youtubers out to the Maldives above and beyond. I loved how hyped they got about a mascara, because I feel like a brand that puts so much effort into just one product must be worth buying. I have loved Benefit for so long and I always end up going back to them because when buying high end makeup I want to know its worth my money. I have never been disappointed by any products and its nice to feel like a brand actually cares about the customer. Who else agrees? 

Today I will talking about this adorable benefit set which I think is perfect for spring. I love wearing pinky colours in spring to compliment the season. They always makes me think of flowers and warmth and it really contrasts with the dark and autumnal colours from the colder seasons. I'm really looking forward to introducing lighter colours into my new Capsule Wardrobe and experimenting with them. You can read about my little trial here.  But focusing more on makeup now...

First of all I love this mini Roller Lash Mascara because its going to be so useful for when I go on holiday later on in the year. I can stick it in any handbag while having my big one in my makeup bag. I love what it does for my lashes and I tend to wear it as an everyday mascara rather than a going out one. I won't go into it too much because I have already written a full post on it here if you want to know more about it. 

The next little joy is the Dandelion Dew which is probably my favourite apart from the classic Roller Lash Mascara. I was initially  a little weary of the bright pink dew as I don't tend to wear blush because I have naturally very pink cheeks, so I try to avoid the clown look. However, because it is liquid you can blend it perfectly for a subtle pink dewy which is my cup of tea as I wear dewy makeup all year round to avoid my naturally dry skin. 

The Posie tint makes me so happy because you can use it for both your lips and cheeks. What a perfect little item to have in your handbag. Just imagine when you're half way through the day and you feel meh, but then you can get your Posie tint out your bag and be renewed for the day. A quick brush of the tint with your fingers onto your cheeks and lips and you will glow! This pink is definitely a bright summer shade as there is nothing dull about it. 

The final part of the set is a good old blusher. I love it, but I'll be honest I don't wear it as a blush because it is too pink for my cheeks, however I wear it as an eye-shadow. I actually have it on now as I write this. I use a fluffy brush to apply it on my lids and blend and that's it. Its great for my simple makeup look that applies no thought what so ever and basically wear it nearly everyday. All these products are effortless and light weight on the skin which sounds like Spring makeup to me 

What is your spring colour? 

Valentines day to me.

Valentines day means different to things to different people. For some its a normal day, for some its 'galentines' and a chance to celebrate friendship and for a few its a chance to show a romantic side. I do think Valentine's Day is a little too commercial and is trying to sell the idea of romance, but I also think it is a positive day that we can all enjoy. 

  Valentine's Day for me this year is a little different, because my boyfriend and I are currently in a long distance relationship while we're at uni unlike last year where we had the typical cute date. So Valentine's Day will consists of Face-timing as usual and receiving our cards through the post. Some of my friends feel bad for me and have offered to do something with me which is sweet, but when you miss someone everyday a particular holiday doesn't make you feel better or worse. Long distance isn't for everyone, but we have made it work for us, so if you think that person is worth waiting for then do it! We don't let other people's thoughts get in the way. I've actually had people say to me that long distance doesn't work which wasn't particularly helpful, however that person doesn't know anything about our happy relationship. We're both aware of what people think, but being able to show everyone that we can do it is romantic to me. 

My view of romance has changed over the years as I've grown up. I've gone from being enthralled by the Disney world full of damsels in distress and handsome princes as my parents were divorced this was the image of relationships that I was regularly presented with. This lead onto

 to young adult fiction, as a young teenager, full of silly dramatic love that continues to paint an unrealistic concept of romance. Some of these relationships are borderline unhealthy (and they usually involve vampires....). None of this helps you prepare for the real world of romance. I was unprepared and thoroughly let down in all ways by a few nasty boys when I did go into the real world of 'dating' or whatever you would like to call it. Its not that my expectations were too high, but I was expecting the wrong things (and had a thoroughly bad taste in boys from the age of 15 to 17)

But then I met my boyfriend and he instantly became my best friend and I was shown what real romance is. Its not a tacky card and red roses once a year. Neither is it huge expensive gestures to show your superiority to other couples. I think romance is having the constant support that a good partner provides. He is always on my side and doesn't mind when I have a sulk (I'm quite good at that). He can always make me happy and that doesn't include expensive jewellery or cliched gifts. Its made up of laughs and cuddles and making pancakes. Romance is different to everyone, so I think the commercialisation of Valentine's day doesn't really do it justice.  So maybe instead of trying to be romantic once a year, make it a constant in your life through small meaningful gestures.