back to basics.

a serious downsizing of my make-up bag.

I feel it's probably no secret that I really like make-up. Boots is essentially my second home and I spent a large proportion of my teenage years making various product related faux pas that I probably shouldn't mention this side of the grave (read: metallic gold lips, pink shimmery cream eyeshadow, and Nivea young tinted moisturiser that definitely did not adapt to your skin tone no matter what the box said.) But then, thankfully, I discovered Urban Decay and things started to look up. In short, I've always been a bit of a product junkie, but recently I've discovered that it's often better to just strip it back to the essentials.

the week in pictures #5

Once again, I've found myself without enough pictures from the last week for an Instagram collage. Another epic fail. So instead, in recognition of the fact that if we hadn't already graduated we'd be returning to university right about now, I've decided to share a photo from a little while ago of myself and the sisters I've never had.* This is potentially my favourite photo ever. For various reasons: one of them being that we just look incredibly, blissfully happy; and the other being Alice's post-tequila face. Babe.

  tequila. tequila.

Now, after that little jaunt down memory lane, back to the week in question. Honestly, I've been mostly working, which is nice, because I'm actually really enjoying it. I like meeting lots of different people on a daily basis, and some of them are just super lovely - a customer the other day said to me: 'You must get this all the time, but you look so like Kate Middleton!' Top marks for her.

midweek motivation #5

source.

This week's midweek motivation is one that I feel Obama would approve of. And that's not only because it bears a striking similarity to a statement often uttered during his 2008 presidential campaign, but also because it's focused around self belief.

antiquing like a pro.

country gals.

I really hate the idea of labeling this as a 'lifestyle' post, because that seems to imply that I believe I live a lifestyle worth people's attention. In all honesty, I don't. In many ways I find the idea of writing a 'lifestyle' blog really quite pretentious and self important. This is mostly due to the blogs that seem to become platforms purely for showing off: 'Look at me, I just had dinner at The Ivy/cocktails at Mahiki/Tea at Claridges!' are almost definitely things that you're never likely to read about on this blog. But, having said all of this, I do love a lot of blogs that might be classified under such a heading, and I find their content highly interesting as opposed to offensive. So I do hope you'll forgive me for entering the realm of lifestyle blogging today. End of disclaimer.

Up until a year or so ago I thought antiques were just for the aged. Old things for old people. If 'Antiques Roadshow' or 'Bargain Hunt' ever came on TV, I would excuse myself sharpish, not wanting to see Fiona Bruce standing outside yet another stately home as if she owns the place, or hear once again the rambling story and heritage behind 'Clarice Cliff' or 'Royal Doulton'. But then I saw the light. My mother is probably most to blame for this. She has long had an obsession with taping 'Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is' and 'Antiques Roadtrip' and watching them at 11 o'clock at night, and she eventually managed to convince me to sit down and join her. (After much coaxing and the promise of a chocolate biscuit or two.) Needless to say, I became hooked - partly due to the fact that Charlie Ross and Charles Hanson are utter darlings, and partly due to the hilarious editing and background music of both shows. The people in post-production certainly know what they're doing.

the week in pictures #4

poops and phats.

This week's 'week in pictures' is actually a strange one, because it's sans an Instagram collage. Unfortunately, I haven't taken anywhere near enough pictures this week (I believe the grand total is 3), and so I've instead just included a photobooth-esque picture of myself and my bestest Poops, aka my younger brother. He's a doll.

midweek motivation #4

source.

Firstly, I'm sorry that this week's midweek motivation is actually reaching you all past that crucial midweek point. My main excuse for this is that I recently got a job, and therefore I've had less time to write blog posts. Hopefully though, once I get used to not being on a constant holiday anymore, blogging schedules should return to normal. Hopefully.

So, straight down to business. The image I've chosen for this week's post is a simple one. As is it's message. Because sometimes the simplest things are actually the hardest to remember. 

BIG names on the blog.

sorry i'm not sorry.

Today's post is essentially a high-end haul, so I'm sorry if those offend you. In my defence, it was my birthday...* Also, this is quite a long one, so you might want to get a cup of tea before you start reading. Just a heads up.

I've discovered in more recent years, that I've become increasingly careful with what I spend my birthday and Christmas money on. Clearly, one of the true perks of being a poor and lowly student for the vast majority of the year (as if being reduced to eating dry ryvita weren't enough of one on its own), is that I've started to give a lot more thought as to where I should drop the sizeable amounts of money that such happy occasions tend to amass. This time, I chose Boots.

There's something very special about Boots, and I'm not sure I could ever really pinpoint what that is. But something about it makes me keep wanting to return. I've tread it's hallowed halls many a time, most frequently with my shopping partner in crime, Alice, or with my (very reluctant/unfortunately beady eyed) mother who has a tendency to ask all the wrong questions: 'Do you really need another mascara?' and 'Didn't you buy a lip gloss just the other day?'. The worst thing I've probably ever done is introduce her to Origins, namely because she now knows just how much something has cost when it appears in the bathroom. But that's a whole different story.

the week in pictures #3

I feel like things have been a bit quiet on the blogging front this week, and for that I'd like to apologise. I've actually been unwell - but that annoying type of unwell, where you're not ill enough to legitimately stay in bed all day, but you're also not well enough to do anything productive. In the end I mostly ate a lot of macaroni cheese and watched an awful lot of gangster films (new favourite genre). But it's most annoying because I even had some posts planned and everything. But, there's always next week. For now though, as has become something of a routine, I'm going to share a few photographic snippets of this week:

   1. reunited, 2. winter is coming, 3. to read, 

4. signed copy of 'it', 5. antiquing like pros, 6. the very best, 

7. betty's birthday mouse, 8. there's no place like home, 9. throwback.

midweek motivation #3

source.

Life is unfair. Often very much so. And it's this sentiment that today's midweek motivation post is centered around. But not in the sense that 'life's unfair and therefore let's all sit about and feel sad' - although admittedly I do occasionally find myself casually wallowing in some supposed 'misery' brought about by a first world problem or two - but instead, in the sense that 'you only get out of life what you put in, and therefore it's super important to give it your best shot.'

laundry day.

It's probably fair to say, that when it comes to washing my make-up brushes, I'm the worst person in the world. I think you should probably wash them around once a week, but honestly I never seem to get around to it. So, since my brushes were crying out for a cleaning, I thought I'd write a blog post about how I go about it - mostly because it would force me to wash them...so, welcome to a post detailing how I wash my brushes aka 'laundry day'.

the week in pictures #2

That's right, it's that time of the week again. Friday. Cue an audible sigh of relief. This week has been like pretty much every week in my life currently - a bit boring. But I promised you a weekly round-up of pictures and, dammit, that's what I'm going to deliver. I'm sorry if you find these kind of posts tedious, or indeed if you actually follow my instagram, because you'll have seen all of this before, but I like reading these posts on other people's blogs so that's why I'm doing them. Yep, my 'market research' literally consists of me and the things I like. How very representative.

1. pancakes, 2. i'm a really colourful person, 3. hooray for george,

4. i don't like mondays, 5. serious blogging face, 6. pasta bake, 

7. 'triumphant'*, 8. law school research. punny, 9. happy birthday daddy!

midweek motivation #2

source.

I've recently come to the realisation that the world isn't always a very nice place. What took me so long, right? As I explained in last week's 'midweek motivation' post, I've recently become a much more positive person, and alongside this I'm now something of an optimist. I try to see the best in everybody, but that's not always an easy thing to do, particularly when you see people around you doing/saying things that can't be perceived as anything other than downright mean.

the liebster award.

There's something a little bit different on the blog today. It actually wasn't until the lovely Rebecca nominated me for the 'Liebster Award' that I was even made aware of it's existence. Oddly enough Rebecca and I both began our blogs on roughly the same day, and after a few twitter messages I can assure you all that she's a super lovely person. But that's enough of analysing strange coincidences. I was actually really interested to read about the concept of the Liebster Award, because I feel like it's a great way to find new, up and coming blogs to follow. Something that I'm currently on the look out for. The rules are as follows:

1. You have to answer the 10 questions that your nominator gave you.

2. Nominate 10 people who have under 200 followers and link them in your post.

3. Think of 10 new questions for you nominees to answer.

4. Let them know you've nominated them so they can post their responses.

best for the desk.

left to right: Bach Rescue Remedy, L'occitane Ultra Rich Lip Balm, Origins Peace of Mind On the Spot Relief, Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream, Crabtree and Evelyn Rosewater Hand Therapy. 

Recently I've found myself sitting at my desk more and more (I'd honestly forgotten just how much time and effort goes into maintaining a blog), and all that time spent on my swivel chair got me to thinking. Now, it's probably fair to say that some people (naming absolutely no names - mother), might be of the opinion that there's no real place for products of the beauty persuasion on a desk. Amateurs. Whilst I'll admit that it's almost certainly not the place to unpack the entire contents of your make-up bag - although, the urge to fill your desk drawers with colour coded lip products will no doubt be there forever - I still feel that there's always room for a few 'essentials'. And the fact that my concept of 'essentials' has had to be heavily slimmed down for the purpose of this post, is neither here nor there...