My nails this week: 

In honour of V-day, along with these:

Lurrrvely!

In other news, had a 'Boner Night' The official term right there - like a date night, but with more excitement! (Was going to explain that it's a standard female boner thing, but then read the description & it's not quiiiite what I mean...) with the BFF, during which we discovered possibly the best toilets in the world & remembered just how much we love living in London <3

Now just waiting for payday to roll around before we go somewhere else & do it all over again! 

Any suggestions for places to go in central welcomed - but in general we're pretty up for the whole getting-lost-and-loving-it thing :)

As for now, I'm just gonna sit back & watch the #LFW tweets roll in! 

Limited facial expressions

Yesterday Sj & I went shopping at Westfields to find her a party dress for her birthday next week! Exciting stuff. 

But before we got down to the serious business of selecting outfits & shizzle, Sj took me over the road to the smaller, tackier shopping center to show me the most UHmazing thing ever - one of the photo booths that takes a strip of different pictures & gives you two copies! 

After the first set, we were hooked (& proceeded to go into the Poundland opposite for props)...

And then took a few more, just in case...

BIG love for this - we're already planning our next trip ♥  

A thought...

One of my best friends really doesn't like ska. 

Actually, quite a few people I know seem to feel fairly indifferent towards it. Which I totally don't understand! How can you not enjoy it?! It's just so happy & uplifting! Big love. Especially for this song at the moment (although having just watched the official video I don't think it really does it justice. But hey ho). 

What are your thoughts on Ska? Love, Hate, or somewhere in the middle? 

Recently...

Playing (and winning!) scrabble at the Fitflat - what can I say, we're pretty wild...

A day of mooching around Southbank with Sj

& Simon

We went to the Press Photographer of the Year 2010 exhibition (which I would highly recommend! It's free, and totally worth a visit). 

I spent the day in Camden with Leanne, and after a spot of chinese & impulse buying, we spent many happy hours in a really cute cocktail bar...

Thanks to the legendary Leanne Effect (and happening to know someone who had just started work there), we got the happy hour prices all night long! 

Totally worth a re-visit. 

I've also been putting my culinary skills to the test, and made my first Mac'n'Cheese! It wasn't quite as good as The Mothers, but there again, what is? 

There are about 4 dishes I can claim to make pretty well, but if someone stays for more than a week it's pretty much destined to be beans on toast after day 5 :) 

I've also been working on my nails a bit more, and collating all the pictures into one (online) place. The oh-so-wittily named nailing-it*. 

I wish I'd thought of taking pictures of my nails right from the start, but oh well. I just thought it might be nice to see them all together, especially as it's rare for more than a couple of days to go by without someone commenting on them/asking how I did them/if they're wraps (definitely not!)

But check out, enjoy & let me know if anyone tries any/has better designs I can steal adapt...

*Feel free to throw any better nail-related puns my way...

Dreaming of a space to count sheep...

The time to move out of my Gran's (actually really lovely) house & into a flat of my own, with my BFF Sj is drawing ever nearer - & I couldn't be more excited!


The contract on her current flat (in Southampton) is up at the end of June, so we've got May & June to flat hunt! Which is going to hopefully be super fun! :) 

In the mean time, it means I can have bit of a think about how I'm going to decorate my room. This is really rather exciting because it means buying new bed linin, throwing away a whole bunch of rubbish & having a lovely new sanctuary - which I guess is pretty standard with a new house! 


The bedding-thing especially excites me because I've been putting off buying anything that could be classed as 'decoration' or 'furnishings' since I've been in London as I was staying with my Gran, & really didn't want to make it feel permanent. But now...! 


This all leads to looking at dreamy pictures of bedrooms, and other people's houses in general, mostly on Elledecor.com, Sweethomestyle.tumblr.com & the 'interiors' sets on Polyvore.com; 

Quite liking the general simplicity of this picture...I guess as more of a 'mood board' than anything else, but it's cute.

 (http://imgspark.com/image/view/all/1615306/)

Love the fuzzy chair! Is it just a rug that's been put on a regular chair? If so, I know what I'm going to be getting at Ikea!

(Both above, from ElleDecor)

I selected 'bedroom' & 'beach' & these were just a couple of what they came up with! Uhmazing. 

The idea of having a balcony coming off the bedroom is just dreamy <3 

Soft white bedding will always look irresistible! Plus, I think I just really quite like this picture - it reminds me a lot of a picture my friend Oli took (he did photog at Uni & it was part of a project) of my bed when we lived in the same house a couple of years ago. I swear his pictures just make everyday objects look like something amazing. Super talented person, really. 

I think I really just want somewhere I can paint white, have super soft bedding with just the right amount of far too many pillows, minimal clutter and the biggest bed the space can take :) 

All of the above, in London, on a budget...easy, right? 

xo

Job + Flat = The Dream.

Time's been going so quickly! I've now only got about a month left at my internship (this is my excuse for lack of blog-posts - all my blogging effort has gone into this blog.  Check it out, it's pretty jazzy. 


But this means that I've got to start looking for a 'real' job now! Which is exciting & scary in equal parts...Well actually, I think that now I've had this experience in an office environment & know that I'm actually capable of doing the job, I'm more excited. 


Which is definitely a good thing! Because with a job comes a flat (hopefully)! 
Therefore, it should come as no great surprise that I've spent many hours already looking at property porn.
Ranging from the 'I could never afford this in a million years, but isn't it beautiful'

 

For the Super Rich only

*sigh*
But having said that, there are a few gems I've come across too, which aren't eye-wateringly pricey, which is nice to know. Only thing is, I don't know where I'm going to be working, or who I'm going to be living with (either The Boy or Sj) & where they'll want to live...Because I don't really have a preference at the moment, as long as I'm near a tube or train. 
This is mainly because my hatred for busses can threaten to become consuming at times.  

And another awesome side to moving out will be being able to decorate!!! Eeeee.
Hello Ikea!

As for the job hunt - well! 
The websites I've been casually looking at include:
Artshub 
Creative Review 
Brand Republic 
University of the Arts 

I think I'm going to start applying to a few jobs listed soon (when I know my current leaving date, etc.), but a couple of friends have mentioned that it might be easier to sign up with a recruitment agency, so I might just do that too! 

FIngers crossed :]


xo

Recently...

Interning (InDesign, Excel, Phonecalls, Shoreditch, Office, Sitting, Fun!)
Swimming (& trying not to drown)
New Years (Wahoo, 12 hours, Dancing, Drinking)
Sammie-Jo's birthday (Lunch, Kaos, Messy, Cute)
Bracey & Megans (Drinking, Films, Games, Food, Pj's)
Ikea (Meatballs!)
Plan-Making (Weekends!!)
Future Planning (House & Job Hunting)


Loving Life ♥

Lists & Shizz.

After spending much of the day reading other peoples blogs (partly on a recommendation via twitter) & it made me realise that I haven't posted anything of interest in ages.
However I'm partially inclined to blame this (in a roundabout way) on the boy - blogging was usually something I did when he was playing something on the console...now my background is more grandmother-shaped, & a hellofalot more "Oo, did you see that?", & "now, not to be annoying, but what does this button do?". Aka; distracting!

However, I have made myself a short list of things to blog about (I find this helps. Mostly because during the day I think of things that would be cool to blog about, but promptly forget five minutes later!)

The 'list' is as follows (in a slight shorthand, which will allll become clear later. Hopefully):

• Job hunting- new plan.
• Top five fave brands & why? 
• Making notes with a black marker
• HW, Sj & Lyzz coming to visit
• Need for picnics/BBQs in parks
• Bank Holiday in Soton

As these are in no particular order, other than the way I thought of things, I shall start with the one that makes most sense at the beginning, although probably the least sense on the list;
Making notes with a black marker.
  I guess I just wondered if anyone else feels the same about this...When making a 'to-do list', or just general scribbles to myself, I really enjoy using a black marker pen to do so. Like a Sharpie or something.

Ha, this picture was called 'angry sharpie' - I think it's quite sweet, seeing as it not only includes a "thank you", but also a smiley face =) I'm a fan.

So moving on from that pointless piece of information...

Job Hunting - New Plan.

This is basically a short idea about a new plan I have job-hunting-wise. Because it's been about three weeks now that I've been applying for jobs & hearing one of three responses - 1. Time wasting - getting me to phone them, asking me questions, asking me if I have used (insert computer program I've never heard of) to which I say no - which they should have known already based on my CV, & then hearing nothing(!). 2. Phone/face to face interview, but being told I don't have enough experience, or 3. Nothing at all. 

All of this gets a little depressing after a while, sooo I figured that the best thing for me to do would be to apply for internships! 

I really think that this would be a good idea because not only would it give me some experience & therefore look good on the CV, it also means that I can go for different jobs/companies for a few months at a time before either deciding exactly what it is I want to do, or (ideally!) being offered a job at a company that I not only know I can do, but will really enjoy! 

Because I had a think the other day - if someone was to ask me where I would like to be in five or ten years time, I would say in a job that I really enjoy, within a really nice, friendly, creative company, doing something that I look forward to doing every day. Ahh, I can but dream!

 (Offices at Pixar)

Oh yeah! So the rest of my plan is to get regular work (in a shop, or something along those lines) for a couple of months 'till I have the pennies to work for free :]

Next on my list is HW, Sj & Lyzz coming to visit.

Not all at once, obviously, but during the next month I am going to have quite a lot of visitors!
This obviously requires pictures!

(Lyzz & I, looking sexy)

(Sj & I...we've been working out...)

(An old pic of Me & Helen - dressed as super girl - looking fabulous!)

 

Lyzz is the first, as she has some time off next week! Think she's coming on the Sunday night, & staying for a coupla days, which will be nice. Due to lack of funds, it means we'll have to find some fun, free things to do, but in London that shouldn't be too hard! In addition to this, her other half Oli happens to be in the big smoke for the next couple of weeks too, so I expect we'll meet up with him, & our other friend Danni (who works in selfridges & gave me free cakes! New favorite cake person - pics soon). 

 I'm not sure if Helen or Sj will be next on the visiting front - I know Helen & her other half Adam will be down for a day or two over the May bank holiday, which will be really nice. Especially as Adam (from what I can gather) doesn't really know London that well, so will be nice to show him it's really quite a delightful place!

(Sj & I a couple of years ago outside Buckingham Palace)

Which made me think of my next point -  Need for picnics/BBQs in parks. I'm not fussed whether they're in Soton, or London, or even Eastbourne/Brighton...I would very much like a picnic (or BBQ if there are boys around to tend to it) + good friends + gin&juice + frisbee or something similar + music of some sort + sunshine. Now if someone could just arrange the weather accordingly, that would be grand. Please & thank you.

And while on the subject of London - a poster I love! (On the left).

Oh! My other two points (Bank Holiday in Soton & Top Five Brands & Why?) I think should go in a separate blog entry, so I shall do that in a bit.
Enjoy!
xo

What a week!

Apologies for the lack of posts recently, but it's all been a little hectic recently! But I will start from the beginning anyhow;

Since I last posted, I have moved to London (finally)! Which is pretty exciting. I'm currently living with my Gran, in the lovely area of Southfields (where the highly artistic arrows are pointing);

It's a really nice place to live, because it only takes me about 20 minutes into central, but isn't too noisy, busy, or 'stabby'. & as for living with the Gran - it's lush! Getting used to having dinner cooked for me again is ace! Although I can just see myself adopting her phrases such as "woppit" (a term of endearment), "the hairy clappers" (a speed...as in, "it goes like the hairy clappers!"), & "widder, widder, widder"(when paraphrasing someone else)...


In the days leading up to moving day I didn't really do much, except pack! Which I have now decided I hate, partly because it makes me feel as though I have far too much stuff! Which is clearly not true...probably.
But for my last night (after some frantic last-minute packing), my beautiful friends came out for what turned out to be the best night out I've had in ages!
We managed to take 141 pictures. Shocking! To be fair though, most of them were of the boys, who got on like a house on fire;

(Dan, Jd & Adam)

& there were a couple of nice group-shots too;

(Me, Dan, Jd, Sj, Adam & Helen)

After that, the night got a little messy & we all seemed to be slightly worse for wear!

(Joe, Simon, Adam & Helen)

I think the only down point of the night was that in the morning, I woke up (at 8 o'clock) to find I'd left the electric blanket on all night & was cooking slowly...not fun! But all in all, it was lovely <3

The following day consisted of shopping with The Mother for "work appropriate" clothes, due to the fact that everything else I owned was apparently "scruffy". I prefer the term "casual", thanks! 

Then it was more packing, & driving to London (for her, not me). When in London we just had time to swiftly dump everything in my new room - pictures to follow - before heading out for an Indian with my Gran!

The Indian was really good! It's a local place in Southfields, but I can't remember what it was called! Next time I go past, I'll have a look & try to update this with a website or something. The food was delicious though! I'd definitely recommend it if you're in the area. 

 Anyway, after the meal The Mother (very kindly) drove us back to Eastbourne (where the family live), because it was Bracey's birthday! 

Technically it was her (22nd) birthday on the Saturday, which I had to miss due to moving. Boo! But it sounds like she had an amazing time with a kid's themed party! They played pass-the-parcel, had a treasure hunt, did face painting, dressed up & load more stuff! 

However I didn't miss out on all the fun - on the Sunday we went down to the seafront for a walk along the prom & fish & chips on the beach. Bracey was even wearing a swimming costume underneath her clothes! Madness. However after dipping her feet in the sea, she agreed with us all that it was far too cold to swim in April...

 (Click to enlarge - this was the weather on the day...not exactly warm!)

(From www.timeanddate.com)

We then watched Julie & Julia - which although was a nice story, heart-warming, etc. It did seem to drag a little. Could have done with sharper editing, maybe? I think the funniest part had to be Meryl Streep playing Julia Child - I can't really explain the eccentricity of the part, but I did enjoy it.

 

An 'official' review from IMDB:

"Julia Child and Julie Powell - both of whom wrote memoirs - find their lives intertwined. Though separated by time and space, both women are at loose ends... until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible. Written by Columbia Pictures

 

In 1949, Julia Child is in Paris, the wife of a diplomat, wondering how to spend her days. She tries hat making, bridge, and then cooking lessons at Cordon Bleu. There she discovers her passion. In 2002, Julie Powell, about to turn 30 and underemployed with an unpublished novel, decides to cook her way through "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in a year and to blog about it. We go back and forth between these stories of two women learning to cook and finding success. Sympathetic, loving husbands support them both, and friendships, too, add zest."

We also watched Orphan. It's a horror/thriller, about a nice couple who have two children & after a still-birth, decide to adopt another older child...cue the adopted child being a bit sinister, a lot of 'accidents' happening & eventually the whole family is in danger...dum dum dum! 

Overall, I did like the film - it was an interesting concept, with a beautiful look about the whole film - not once did you see a really bright colour, & it was snowing the whole time...really visually appealing. 

The following day I returned to London, to settle in/unpack & so on. However after two days of job-hunting, I thought I might go stir-crazy in the house! So I went for a jaunt in central. I visited Topshop, where the changing room doors are made for giants!!

(bearing in mind I'm 5"8)

I also saw a fun display in H&M;

Made me feel all spring-y! & for now I'm really quite enjoying living with my Gran, partly because this is what happens at "tea time"!

Lovely ♥

xo

Lazy

A slightly lazy post tonight, because I haven't uploaded any pictures from my Devon trip just yet, & also realised that I haven't done a picture (or three) of the day about HW! (Or Helen, sure).

(Helen & I dressed up for Sj's birthday...about a year & a half ago)

(& this is just a delightful picture of Hw in Kaos one time-loving life!)

This picture makes me giggle :]

I love Helen. We met because she started working at the bar I work at (for 5 more days!) & then we went out a lot...& the rest is history!

I think one of the things I love most about her (the way she dresses & cares about it as much as I do aside), is her amazingly positive attitude & outgoing-ness! She's always such a hyper, happy person...♥♥♥ it.

 (From the German Market, Christmas just gone, with hot chocolates after our fake Christmas day♥)

xo

La Cantina

Earlier today, The Boy & I went for for an impromptu lunch at a local Mexican restaurant called La Cantina.

It wasn't quite how we had planned to spend the day though...
At around midday, I received a message on facebook from Vodka Revs:

However, when we (Sj, Jd, Dan & myself) got there at ten past three, we were told that too many people had come & they weren't giving any more out!
At the time, I wasn't sure what to be more offended about - the fact we looked like we'd just come for the free lunch, or that they hadn't stated anything about availability on the email! Tsk.

So after that Sj & Jd went for a wander in the rain & me & Dan were planning on going to Asda (to stock up on essentials like doughnuts).

But then! We walked past La Cantina & it happened that the 'A-board' outside was advertising their weekday lunch offer, which is amazing!

I didn't happen to take a picture, but luckily they have one on their website;

I had the quesadilla with 'yucatan'(pork) & fajita spiced fries, Dan had quesadilla with fajita chicken & fries too. We also got some chilli popcorn to share as a starter.
It was Amazing! Really, really good food, service & atmosphere!
Or, as Dan puts it "the food was sooo good!".
Will definitely be going back soon!

(A small grab from the website)

Outside;

Inside;

I really like the little touches such as the real chillies hanging from the ceiling. & the music was pretty good too - I can't remember any specific songs that were played (useless), but it was a good mixture & pretty daytime appropriate.

(If you happen to be in Southampton & want the address, it's 

2a - 3a Bedford Place
Southampton
Hampshire
SO15 2B)

xo