I wanted to share a few things which I have picked up recently that I've been really enjoying using/wearing. The first few bits are some items of clothing, these are recent Asos purchases. I have quite an unhealthy obsession with Asos, however all the orders which I have been putting through recently have just been going back as although I fall in love with the item online, when it gets to me, its just not right.
However (thankfully) these I have kept. Anyone close to me will tell you that I have been on the hunt for the perfect denim jacket for a while now, they go so well with everything but I always love denim for this time of year when it gets slightly colder. I used to own a very light blue one (also from Asos) that I worn to death before getting another (from marketplace) which was very cool and very oversized. I also wore this for a bit before deciding that I wasn't "cool" enough to wear it and in fact just looked like an utter twat.
The search eventually ended with this little discovery from monki, I was watching a try on haul on youtube which featured this jacket and I absolutely fell in love. I wanted a denim jacket which was a little be unusual and different to the tons out there and I think this fits the bill perfectly because of the black black which shows ever so slightly on the sides of the jacket. It is meant to be quite oversized so I got a small and it fits like a dream. The only downside is I have to be quite careful with what I wear with/underit as it attracts fluff like anything (something I discovered when I wore a scarf which is now definitely going back) however this is something which I can live with.
The very observant of you (well done) will also notice the bag which I have included, this is another new purchase (also from Asos) and is quite different for me as I ALWAYS like large bags (they make me look smaller and you can fit SO MUCH STUFF) and if I don't take a bag with me, I use my jeans pockets for my phone/cards/lipstuff. I think that this bag is the perfect in-between for what I want. It's big enough to fit all my essentials, I can wear it cross body and it looks really cute/goes with everything. I love the gold hoop detail, different texture AND it also has an inside pocket. This bag definitely has it all.
The third and final fashion purchase was the little black pair of sunglasses also (you guessed it) from Asos. I wanted to get some which were slightly cooler than my pair that actually help me to see, this style suits me quite well and they'll go with everything. It has not stopped raining since I picked these up which is just typical.
As well as the clothing, in the first image, the background is a new little rug which I picked up from UO as well as the pink floor cushion. These have made the area where I get dressed/put make-up on look so much more cosy and are some good additions to my room, I also had a 20% discount code so HAD to treat myself, ya know?
What purchases have you made recently?
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Now that I'm back at uni, I thought that I would share a few unusual magazines which I find really help me when I'm looking for inspiration and don't want to look in the obvious places. All of these magazines I picked up in Whsmith, I've found that the one near me does a lot of fashion magazines and tends to stock a few of the unusual ones. This is something which does change store to store I believe but bigger stores should have more of a range and I think you can check online what they stock and perhaps order them to store.
Suitcase is one of the first more unusual magazines that I picked up. It's a mix of travel and fashion and just has the most beautiful images inside which will appeal to most people. I like magazines with good inspiration images but with good articles mixed in. With a lot of Fashion magazines, I find a lot of the pages can be filled with adverts, so generally I like to pick up "other" magazines which can be quite different with their content. With any type of magazine, I don't buy them each month, I don't pick up the same magazine each month and I don't care about issues or dates. I've gotten "out of date" magazines on gumtree before for free which have been more inspiration to me then that months Vogue for example.
I would recommend any of these three magazines pictured as they are slightly more unusual with their images and content, yet are still inspirational and refreshing. Not pictured but also highly recommended is "frankie" magazine which is from Australia but again, you can find in Whsmith. These are all magazines which you can flick through, keep on your coffee table or sit down and properly read. I find that they are also quite timeless so I can also pick them up months later and they are still "current" or relevant.
I would love some magazine recommendations as I'm always on the look out for unusual/inspiration magazines.
After my recent post about some of my closet clear out tips I thought that it was only right that I share a few tips to help you get the most out of ebay, selling all those unloved clothes! I have to admit that I hardly ever buy from ebay however I have got some timberland boots from there once which were a bargain. I mainly use ebay to sell clothes however these tips apply to whatever items you need to sell, be it a car, radio or a shed.
My first tip is that you should always put things up for auction on the weekend - mainly Sunday. I've been selling on ebay for probably around two years now and have always found that whatever I put up on a weekend has always done better at selling then other items. I think that this is because people don't tend to work on the weekends if they have a normal 9-5 job so this is the day that they can be around to snap up those deals.
Another thing that might seem quite obvious but is so helpful is to take lots of photos of what you're trying to sell, whether this is a car or a dress, there is nothing more annoying then there only being one or two photos to look at. When I buy things, I always appreciate lots of images to flick through as this shows off the item and gives you a good idea of what you're buying. So for example, as well as taking front and back images of a blouse, I will also take photos of any detailing such as buttons and of the label. It also helps to take photos of any damage which you might have mentioned in the description box as more often then not, I find that this doesn't put people off the item but gives them a much better idea of what they're buying and a realistic idea if they can cover/fix/live with.
My final tip would be to send it off as soon as you possibly can and also make sure that you package it well/uniquely. You don't want people having to message you to ask where there item it when you haven't actually sent it yet. I wait for the buyer to pay before I package it up and then as it is usually a Sunday, I send it the next day on the Monday.
I always try to make something about my packaging slightly unusual, recently I wrapped the items I sold in plastic and then wrapped them in newspaper because the plastic was slightly see-through, this was the only thing that I had on hand however the women at the post office liked this so much she actually showed her colleague. Little things like this can really change the impact that your parcel has.
What are your eBay tips?
I picked up this weekly list planner as I thought it was such a good idea. I like that you can do it week by week instead of monthly and that you can tear the page off and throw them away when the week is done. I'm hoping that this will help me with productivity when I start uni, with planning and deadlines etc. It also doubles up as a really cute mousemat which I'm quite pleased about.
What are your uni/office essentials?
This is (as the title suggests) an extremely small haul! As I mentioned in my home wishlist, the bank holiday for me was going to be spent in ikea however while we were out we also looked around various shops and went into Primark. A lot of the stuff which I have been wanting clothes wise recently has been online (good old Asos) however I decided to pick up a few bits as I hardly ever get the chance to shop in Primark.
The first thing that caught my eye was these two scarves, I know that its still quite hot outside and it's only the start of September however I just couldn't resist getting these! My love of all things Autumn got the better of me I think. I picked up the black one as I thought it was simple but nice and although I wear a lot of black already, I could always pair this with a bright hat or coat. The second is a lot more bright but still simple, I already have something quite similar to this however you can never have enough scarves/winter wear (thats what I keep telling myself anyway).
As well as these two bits, while browsing I also picked up two things from the beauty range, the first being this silicone make-up brush which I did see on Lily's blog and she said it would be the perfect tool to apply skincare masks with, I thought that this was such a good idea which I've since told my mum about and she agrees, much easier and hopefully less messy then using fingers.
The second thing that I purchased was this brush cleaner. Now normally when I clean my brushes I use my hands and swirl the brush around in my palm to clean it however this brush cleaner could be a good way to really get into the brush and clean them properly. I know this is only cheap and that real techniques also do a similar but bigger brush cleaner but I just wanted to try this out and see how I got on with it with the intention to perhaps purchase a different/bigger one in the future.
What have you been buying recently?
This is something which I like to (have to) do quite regularly as it allows you to really see everything that you own and offers a good opportunity to re-organise your wardrobe. This should be done ideally every change of season as it allows you to look at what you have. I used to be really guilty of keeping stuff just because it was pretty even if I never worn it or it was too small. However recently I seem to have learnt more about myself and my style and what I enjoy wearing. I tend to wear everything in my wardrobe now and it really does make a difference.
The first tip that I would say which might seem pretty obvious to some is to do this on a day/evening when you can give it your full attention. This isn't something you want to start when you have to go out in twenty minutes nor do you want your whole room to be filled with clothes all day. Set out some time when you can concentrate and this will not only allow you to get through this task quicker but it'll be easier and less hassle.
Something that I find really helps me is putting on music, I like to do this when I'm doing any sort of task which could get a little boring after a while. I would suggest something like Adele (25), Fleetwood Mac or even something like Beyonce. This is going to make the whole process a lot more fun and enjoyable without you even realising.
Another tip which really works for me is to get everything out of your wardrobe before you start organising it. This allows you to see the amount of space that you are working with and also forces you to look at each item before making a decision about keeping it or not. If you decide to keep it then it can just go straight back in. I find that this really helps as you could have items which were right at the back hidden away which you'd forgotten about. It also allows you to organise your wardrobe as you put stuff back in straight away. I would say that if you're unsure about whether to keep something or not, then keep it until the next time that you come to organise your closet and if you still haven't worn it, then it's time to get rid. There's nothing worse then regretting getting rid of something. You just have to be careful you don't do this with every item.
I would definitely say that you should never keep anything which is "too small" with the hope of fitting back into it again, this is useless and will no doubt make you feel crap in the long run. Getting rid of it presents an opportunity for other items of clothing to come into your life which you definitely will wear! I think that you have to really be aware of what you feel comfortable in and what you like to wear every day, if you're a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, there no point owning 200 dresses. A minimalist wardrobe with plenty of basics and a few occasional items works well however this all comes down to personal style and taste, you have to find what works for you.
Once you have the items you don't need/want anymore, there is a variety of things you could do with them, give them to charity, friends, family or even put them on depop or Ebay. This is a great way of making a little bit of extra money, recycling and getting use out of something which was just hanging in your closet unused.
Have you got any tips for having a tidy, organised closet?
When it comes to reading it is always somethings that I love to do and that I often find is an escape, something which is personal and done to unwind and relax. However saying this, I also love discussing books as everyone has different opinions. Me and my Nan will often buy two books in Tesco to get the offer as a little treat and then we'll swap the books once we've finished reading them as we have similar tastes, like me she reads really quickly so this is something which happens regularly. I enjoy sharing this little past time with her as we'll often discuss the books and we each have our favourites. I normally go for quite "girly" books as I like something which I don't have to concentrate to much on. The above books are some that I have recently read (or am still reading).
Me Before You + After You
I first bought this when the trailer for the film came out as I wanted to read it before seeing the film as the concept really interested me. I really enjoyed reading this book and yes, it did make me cry! I also showed my friend the trailer as we were intended to see it together and she also decided to read the book first. For me, it was one of those books which you just instantly can't put down. I think the film was also really good and followed along the same lines as the book really well. However they did leave out something which I felt was quite an important event for one of the main characters and helped them both bond because of their traumatic experiences. I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read the book however I just felt this explained her character really well and made her who she was and without it she was just a slightly weird women..? I think that the book has real depth to it and is a good read for many people. It really gets you thinking.
The sequel to this (after you) was again, really good in itself as a book and did tie up what happened to all the characters really nicely if you felt like you needed to find out what happened after the first book however I just can't help but slightly dislike the direction that it was taken in. I really enjoyed parts of it however I think some of it was just written so they could release a sequel. I don't think that you absolutely have to read the sequel as the first book is just so good by itself.
Four weddings and a Fiasco
This was a really easy read which I enjoyed, one of the elements of this book is that the main character is a photography and this isn't something which is often used in books, their jobs don't normally come into the story too much. I felt that this was quite unusual. I know that they say not to judge a book by its cover but this book did catch my eye because of just how pretty it is! The colour blue is probably one of my favourite colours and I'm a sucker for gold foil but regardless of what it looks like, this was again, one of those books where you just have to read really fast to find out what happens.
According to Yes
I was drawn to this book by the author as I have always found her funny however I have never read any of her books (she has three I believe). I am currently still reading this book as although the chapters are short (something which I like in a book) I'm finding it a bit of a slow read. I'm about a 1/4 of the way through and not much seems to have happened yet, however I think that it will pick up slightly later on in the book. So far a 38 year old primary school teacher has moved to Manhattan to be a nanny for a man who has moved him and his children back home to his parents house while he is having a divorce. The concept of the book is that they are quite controlled by the grandmother as she likes order and quiet however the nanny is quite eccentric and really shakes things up in the household. I'm not too big a fan of how Dawn French writes, I find it a bit.. momsy? but not in a bad way, its just quite different to what I normally read. It has been nice to read this book quite slowly as normally I race through books.
What books have you recently read?
After realising that the blog that I created all the way back in November got put on the back burner for a little bit ~too~ long, I felt that now was as good a time as any to continue with the blog that I started with so many good intentions. I thought that showing you some of the things that I carry round with me on a daily basis would be a good place to start.
The bag in question is quite a large one from H&M which I got in the sale for £15. I always tend to favour large bags as I like to generally keep a lot of stuff with me and it is also the bag that I take to uni with me so it has to hold notebooks etc. I don't really seem to change bags very often, I prefer to own one for a long time and take care of it. I don't think I have ever owned a coloured/colourful bag, it will always be black. I tend to go quite classic with the intentions that it will go with everything! I try to just take the essentials around with me but I do tend to get carried away, and in no time its normally full of stuff, half of which I probably don't need.
The make-up bag is from Cath Kidson and was given to me as a Christmas present by a friend. It is a really good size as I like to literally carry around my entire make-up collection. I like that this is made from a wipe clean fabric as it makes keeping it clean a lot easier, as we all know how messy make-up can be!
I like to keep make-up for touch ups with me at all times, such as a foundation and a brush (obvs) and also mainly eyeliner and mascara as I tend to wear a lot of black eye make-up. I also find that keeping hairbands and hair clips are essentials, you never know when you (or a friend) will need one. As well as this, perfume/spray, a hairbrush and gum are things that I tend to have with me.
A few other little essentials that I try to always have with me is wipes, something that you generally will always need or use at one point or another. This also stands for hand gel and headache tablets. I always keep a pair of sunglasses with me as well and also lipbalm as this is something which I find myself reapplying at all times of the day and night.
Not pictured is things like my purse/phone/keys, things which everyone has in their bag as well as a carrier bag (damn 5p charge), phone charger, endless receipts and probably crisp/sweet wrappers. Things which aren't very photogenic, however saying that this has given me the perfect opportunity to clear out my bag.
What do you keep in your bag?
I have recently been spending all my time browsing Asos. After learning I got the job which I had interviewed for last week, I've been excited about getting back into a working environment, and most importantly - being able to treat myself again without feeling majorly guilty afterwards. Knowing me there probably will still be guilt but hopefully my nice new clothes will make up for that fact! Asos have been a favourite for me for a while as they just seem to have everything you could possibly want (or need). The delivery is always cheap and fast and I've never had any problems with them so far. The pieces below are some which I have recently added into my saved items and hopefully will be making their way to me soon.
There is a lot of chunky knits and cosy looking jumpers, perfect for this time for year. Also a few other items which I just like the look of (such as the Vans t-shirt), I'm a big fan of comfort while also looking like you're put some effort in! Everything is linked below;
New Look Suedette Ponte Front Leggings
Vans Oversized Boyfriend T-Shirt With Logo
Monki Roll Neck Slouchy Jumper
New Look Tassel Jumper
Asos Chunky Rib Jumper With V-Neck
Adidas Archive Panel T-Shirt
New Look Inspire Scoop Neck Knit Jumper
Reclaimed Vintage Button Front Tea Dress
These are just some of the things I have been lusting over recently, what is on your wish list? Have you brought anything from Asos before?
Madi x
There is a lot of chunky knits and cosy looking jumpers, perfect for this time for year. Also a few other items which I just like the look of (such as the Vans t-shirt), I'm a big fan of comfort while also looking like you're put some effort in! Everything is linked below;
New Look Suedette Ponte Front Leggings
Vans Oversized Boyfriend T-Shirt With Logo
Monki Roll Neck Slouchy Jumper
New Look Tassel Jumper
Asos Chunky Rib Jumper With V-Neck
Adidas Archive Panel T-Shirt
New Look Inspire Scoop Neck Knit Jumper
Reclaimed Vintage Button Front Tea Dress
These are just some of the things I have been lusting over recently, what is on your wish list? Have you brought anything from Asos before?
Madi x
After watching Esteé Lalonde's video I felt inspired to create my own post about things which I want to make more time for and share these to hopefully inspire some of you too. Coming into adulthood I have found myself getting busier and busier and letting the things which I enjoy doing just for me slip away and putting other things first. While this is sometimes necessary I do think it's always important to look after yourself and take some time to do things which you enjoy.
Me Time
One thing which I would like to make some more time for is looking after myself. This is something which should be done everyday but sadly most of the time doesn't as other seemingly more important things get in the way. Whether it's spending half an hour painting my nails, buying some magazines or books to read with a cup of tea or booking in to have my hair cut I want to make sure that I remember to pamper myself every so often.
Going Offline
Much like one of the points in Esteé's video, I think most people could benefit from turning technology off for a while. We are in a world which is overrun with phones, laptops and TV's so it is completely refreshing to spend some a little bit of time, even the afternoon away from them.Whether thats just reading a book instead of staring at the TV or hanging out with family I always find myself much happier when I've been away from my phone or computer for a while.
Photography
Being a photography student I am surrounded by photography all the time, whether it's creating work for shoots or researching into other photographers. Lately I have realised that I don't create much personal work away from uni anymore so this is something that I would like to change. I think this blog could really help with this, I am also looking to invest in a smaller camera so I can take it around with me a lot more which will make it easier for me to capture images.
Cooking
This is something which I used to do a lot however it has changed in recent months as I've become busier so instead of cooking meals I enjoy I generally go for the easiest, quickest option! I'm not the best chef in the world but I do enjoy creating/making dishes and I love a lot of flavour in my food. Instead of ordering takeaways I should definitely cook for myself more as it would benefit me health wise while also saving me money and is some much more satisfying.
Exercise
This one is something which I definitely need to do more of. I would love to get out the house a bit more and exercise as it is something which obviously has various health benefits and is something which I really enjoy to do once I get the motivation to do it! Even just taking my dog for a gentle relaxing walk or putting on a yoga video would be a good place to start.
These are a few things which I want to make more time for, what are yours?
Madi x
As it is half-term and I've had a very boring Friday I decided that I wanted to do some baking. I saw this recipe online and decided I wanted to give it a go.
For the cupcakes you will need:
175g Butter
165g Caster Sugar
3 Eggs
40g Coco Powder
125g Self-raising Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 pack Oreos
Before you start baking you want to pre-heat your oven to 180c (gas mark 4).
You will need to leave out your butter for a short while before baking to make it soft, this means it will be easier to work with.
To make the cupcakes you'll need to mix your butter and your caster sugar together until they are creamy and smooth. Then add your egg and mix.
After adding your egg you'll then need to add all your flour, coco powder and baking powder. I had these all combined in a separate bowl and added them this way. To make it easier you can add it gradually instead of all at once. Mix your batter until smooth and combined.
For my Oreo cupcakes I decided to add an oreo at the bottom in the cupcake cases to add a little surprise however you can leave this step out if you wish. You want to fill the cases getting them as even as possible.
Put them in the oven for 15 mins however check on them after every 2 mins from this time to see how they are cooking. Most ovens will be different so this is just a handy step to make sure you don't undercook them or burn them. You will need to insert a knife or skewer into the cupcakes, if this comes out clean then they are done and you can take them out the oven and leave them to cool.
For the icing I made a simple buttercream with added oreos. For this you will need:
100g Butter
200g Icing Sugar
Half Pack of Oreos
To make the icing always make sure that you use double the icing sugar to your amount of butter. You may think it won't work but keep mixing and it will. Cream your butter and icing sugar together until they are (surprise, surprise) creamy. You'll need to either put your Oreo's in a food processor or break them up by putting them in a bag, wrapping it in a tea towel and beating it with a rolling pin. As I don't have a food processor I used the latter and it worked well.
Once you add the Oreo's to the butter cream it will make it a lovely oreo colour. If you wanted to ice this onto your cupcakes I suggest putting a dash of milk in to make it easier however I felt like just messily putting it on with a knife, it was more fun this way and just as pretty.
You can also use half an Oreo to decorate like I did or you could crush some more Oreo's and sprinkle them on, either way is good.
I'm really pleased with the way that these came out, baring in mind I did use gluten free flour which I don't think has made any difference to the look or taste. My family have been eating them all afternoon so I think they're a hit!
Let me know if you've tried them and any tips of your own for baking!
Madi x
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