H is for...

Hair

Sorry it's been a while everyone, but here I am with the latest addition to my A-Z of Beauty :)

For this entry I seem to have the tagline for that shampoo advert Tess Daley does the voiceover for stuck in my brain..."a change to your hair can make a big change to your head", or words to that effect.  For me this is definitely true; when I'm feeling bored or rebellious it's a bottle of dye or the scissors I reach for (thank goodness I've got the tattoo solution out of my system!)

I was going to do the usual and offer some tips for haircare, but I think I'll give that a miss.  We're girls, we all know how to take care of our hair right?  Instead, feast your eyes on my little collection of all things hair:

Image taken from cherylanncole.co.uk

Ultimate celeb hair icon right?  I love the colour, I love the curls, I love the glamour.  Not a fan of her current extentions though.  for me it's either the long tresses or the short style, not this mid-length look she's currently going for.  She got so much praise for the short hair, why go back a step to the extensions again?  They just look so fake :(

Image taken from elle

Another of my favourites (obviously!). I love the relaxed boho vibe she has and out of the chestnut or honey hues I think I prefer it blonde.  Major fringe envy here. 

Image taken from refinery29

Ombre hair.  Need I say more?  Check out LLYMLRS for some DIY tips.

Image taken from blackberrysherbet

Thanks to Alexander Wang the fishtail braid was the look of 2010 (is this picture actually a fishtail braid though?  For some reason I can't tell!)  Easier than a traditional plait, you split the hair into two sections then keep swapping a small piece from one side to the other.  Not a great explanation, check out *Glitterdollz7* for a video.  

Image taken from Trends Covered

When I fancy a change it's usually my fringe that gets the chop.  I've developed a teeny girl crush on Abbey Lee, whether it's her make up, tattoos, or hair, and it was her who inspired me to have a full fringe chopped in early on this year.  In fact, googling pictures of her and Nicole for this post has given me the itch to go for it again.  But nooooo, I will persevere and grow my fringe out!

Which hairstyle are you sporting right now?  Whose your hair icon?

T x

Betty Hula - The Secret

Product taken from Betty Hula

Whilst on a blog trawl last weekend I found myself on Cowbiscuits reading about Betty Hula products.  I'd never heard of Betty Hula, but being a sucker for kitsch beauty products I was immediately sucked in by the cute hula girl, and upon reading the Cowbiscuits had noticed a "great improvement on a line on my forehead" I knew I had to give it a go.  With a 25% discount code to be used, I happily added a 30ml bottle to my basket and received my The Secret within a few days.

The Secret is designed to reduce signs of wrinkling and help problem areas of skin.  It has a "a special blend of ingredients working in harmony with your skin, to help repair damaged and tired cells, combat dryness and reduce wrinkles to reveal your most radiant, youthful self" and contains natural ingredients.

After using the product for a week, I have to say I personally haven't noticed anything.  BUT my beloved Ed (who was the one who counted the seven wrinkles on my forehead within a few weeks of us dating) has assured me that he has noticed a difference.  With regards to problem areas....at the moment my skin is suffering from the change in weather, and as a sufferer of sensitive skin and eczema on my forehead, I wouldn't necessarily say that true results have been seen in my case.  Whilst my head hasn't been flaring up with angry red skin, I'm not sure whether this is due to The Secret or my use of specialist cream.  Perhaps I'd see a different result if I used the oil during the summer when the skin on my forehead is less temperamental?

That's not to say I wouldn't repurchase.  I love the cute little bottle that the product came in, complete with a Betty Hula tag attached around the neck (reminded me of the "Drink Me" bottles in Alice in Wonderland...) and I love the company's use of Twitter to get in touch with their customers on a more personal level.  The oil really smells like it's doing my skin some good, and the tiniest amount (two tips of the bottle with a cotton pad placed over the top) gives a generous application to my skin. 

With three scented moisturisers to choose from, and my indecisive nature, I'm sure that more Betty Hula products will be making an appearance on my bathroom shelf once payday hits. 

Have any of you tried Betty Hula?

T x

Book Review: We Need To Talk About Kevin

Brace yourselves, this is an incredibly long review for an incredible, incredible book.

Image taken from bookarmy

Written by Lionel Shriver (a woman, not a man), the blurb says this:

"Eva never really wanted to be a mother; certainly not of the boy who murdered seven of his fellow high school students, a cafeteria worker and a teacher who tried to befriend him."

Pretty gripping stuff, hey? The book is formatted as a series of letters sent by Eva to her estranged husband, and this inventive style of writing was something that I really enjoyed in this book. I do however have to admit that this took some getting used to, and I struggled with the story at first. It’s my own book snobbery, but I tend to prefer those written by English authors over American books. I think it’s the use of language, and with this book that definitely was a factor in why I took so long to get into this story, as well as the use of overly descriptive detailing that this book uses.

The characters in We Need To Talk About Kevin are extremely well developed. By using the letters, Shriver really gives an insight into the mind of Eva, who is brutally honest about her feelings at times. Kevin himself is horribly repulsive and the behaviour he exhibits is unbelievable, yet somehow it is all so realistic.

I was talking to a friend about the point in the story where Eva tells baby Kevin “Mummy was happy before widdle Kevin came awong, you know that, don’t you?” and her response was to feel sorry for Kevin. I on the other hand pitied Kevin at no point during this story. At the end of the book there is an afterword by the author where she also details the divide in attitude of her readers that she has noticed.

"One camp assesses a story about a well-intentioned mother who...is saddled with a "bad seed", a child evil from birth... The second camp of readers appears to have read another novel entirely: about a mother whose coldness is itself criminal."

The one word I would use to describe this book is shocking. I couldn’t put this story down, and after finishing it at about 8:30am whilst sat in the office before work I was literally dumbstruck. I sat there in a state of shock and it took me a good half an hour to get back to normal. Never before could I have said that a book had the possibility to do this. The reason for this is (without giving too much away) that the reader’s entire belief throughout the book is shattered 13 pages before the end. You’ll have to read it to see what I mean, but hand on heart try and tell me you didn’t see that coming.

This novel was a break from the norm for me. I never usually go for crime stories nor (as I mentioned before) American books. But this book has stomped its way through to my top 5 books, perhaps even top 2. Seriously girls, give it a read. The Daily Mail said that it “knocks you sideways and takes your breath away…horrifying, original, witty, brave and deliberately provocative” and it quite rightly won the 2005 Orange Prize. If you like your books to be a more than the usual fluffy chick-lit then please give this disturbing tale a go. Not enough people have, and it has left so many thoughts in my mind….I need someone to share them with!

Have any of you read We Need To Talk About Kevin? Or any of Lionel Shriver’s other books?

T x

Reason to Smile 05

Jewellery!  Is there anything to put a bigger smile on your face?  Back when I was a fair bit heavier and clothes fit me horribly my motto always was....accessories never let you down!  5st lighter and I still live by this rule, when I can't find any clothes to buy I always head for the jewels!

And by now you should all know my obsession with all things Richie.  So here are the pieces I'm lusting after from House of Harlow 1960...there is one piece I'm waiting to get when Ed gets paid, but for now I'm keeping that information classified as I'm terrified it'll sell out!

And whilst we're on the topic of jewellery, seems like a good time to share my new necklace with you all :) When it comes to necklaces I seem to be addicted to quaint and quirky ones at the moment. You'll all remember my camera/watch...well recently I got a little red globe and now it's this magnifying glass!

Ahem, please do excuse the screwed up Turby Towel on the end of my radiator :)

Whose your favourite jewellery designer?

T x

100 followers giveaway!

As I said yesterday, to show my gratitude for all your support I am hosting a 100 followers giveaway! The winner will receive the following prizes:

TRESemme Root Boosing Spray

To give your hair longstanding lift!

Tabitha Bluebell wraparound charm bracelet

Gorgeous faux suede bracelet in electric blue wth gold charms

Origins Incredible Spreadable Scrub and Ginger Souffle

Moisturiser and exfoliator which smell yummy!

Boots Strawberry Swirl Soap

Because who doesn't love to smell like strawberries?!

I think I may have caused some confusion.  If you commented on my earlier Giveaway Time post you will need to officially enter the competition by commenting on this post.  Comments on Giveaway Time will not be counted.

The Rules:

* Giveaway ends on midnight Sunday 24th October (GMT).

* This competition is open to followers only.  International followers may also apply.

* The winner will be chosen using random.org

* To enter, leave a comment below saying "ENTER ME + what you like about this blog/suggestions for future posts" along with your email address.

* For an extra entry, tweet @tabithabluebell is hosting a giveaway - http://tinyurl.com/34bur7f

* For an extra 3 entries, post a link to the giveaway in your blog using the top picture.  Say that you've done so in your post and leave me a link to your blog so I can check.

Good luck!

T x

If I were Katy Perry, what would I wear?

Dress & Fascinator - asos

Shoes - Carvela

Barry M Dazzle Dust - sugarscape

Tigi Shine Blaster - chemistdirect

The future Mrs Brand has the ability to rock a glam look on the red carpet, yet look wonderfully at home wearing items from The Great British Highstreet...River Island bear hat anybody?

Always pushing the boundaries in a less extreme way than Lady Gaga, Katy uses wigs and bright lipstick to always surprise us with her look.  My favourite?  Sleek black curls paired with beautiful make up to enhance her stunning eyes.

What's your favourite KP look?

T x

Giveaway time

Nowwww I know I haven't yet made it to 100 followers, but I'm oh-so close!  So if I do reach my goal I'm planning on hosting a giveaway to celebrate and say thank you :)

Not entirely sure what the prize will include yet, but the lucky winner will definitely be receiving a Tabitha Bluebell bracelet, much like this one as modeled by the lovely Beckiangel.

Picture borrowed from Becki's blog!

So keep your eyes peeled....the standard length of time a blog giveaway runs for is pretty much a month right?  And if you're thinking you'll enter, please comment below - no point going to the effort of gathering stuff if no one wants it eh?

Thank you all for following!

T x

In the Spotlight: Lauren's Dressing Room

My featured blogger this week really does seem like a bundle of life and a barrel of laughs all wrapped up into one.  She strikes me as the type of girl who doesn't take life (or herself) too seriously, and for that reason I love reading her posts.  They're always enthusiastic and fun to read.  Not only that, I was genuinely overwhelmed by how nice she is.  Spotting a pair of gorgeous boots in a post of hers, I emailed to enquire where they were from.  Not only did she take the time to reply, but she actually hunted down a website that sold them, as the one she used was out of stock.  Do they come much nicer than this?!  Not sure....so ladies, get acquainted with

Lauren of Lauren's Dressing Room 

1.  Starting as we always do, sum yourself up in five words...
Socialite, Creative, Enthusiastic, Optimistic, Random.

2. What’s your blog all about?
Anyone who reads my blog will know that I’m a sucker for fashion. There are a lot of beauty and make-up blogs out there, and as much as I love beauty & make-up (and do try to include a lot about it in my blog); I prefer to stick to the fashion side of things. The title ‘Lauren’s Dressing Room’ pretty much sums it all up!

3. Who or what inspired you to start blogging?
To be honest, it was one of my friends who had set up her own blog. I’d never really heard anything about beauty blogging or beauty gurus on YouTube. It was all quite alien to me. I began reading my friends blog, enjoyed reading and thought to myself ‘why not?’ and started up my own too. I’ve always enjoyed taking photos and reading fashion magazines – I’ve always had my own thoughts on different things, and what's more perfect to showcase all this than starting up your own blog. I don’t really look to anyone else for inspiration. I kind of just have a good imagination and think to myself “What would I like to read if I was one of my followers reading blog?” I try and make my posts as enjoyable as I can to keep all my lovely followers interested. I try to post a lot of images as I think they’re really important in keeping the post exciting

4. What do you do for a living?
When I left school I went straight into a Childcare course at college for two years. Once I completed my course and got my qualification, I was offered a job straight away at a nursery I did my training placement at. I’ve been there ever since. I think it’s nearing six years now. My job titles are: Nursery Officer/Student Mentor/Behavior Coordinator.

5. You seem to have an endless supply of clothes…. what’s the one thing in your wardrobe that life would be incomplete without?
Leggings! They go with absolutely anything and everything. They’re very multi-purpose and I literally live in my leggings.

6. What is your most-loved piece in your jewellery collection?

That’s quite a tricky one, because I have a few that mean a great deal to me. I’d have to say my Vivienne Westwood jewellery because my boyfriend has treated me to various items over the years and they’re very special to me. Also, my Gucci necklace and bracelet because I treated myself to them when I jetted off to New York for the first time. Every time I wear them it reminds me of my holiday in New York.

7. Which is your favourite decade for fashion?
I’d probably say the 1960’s, purely because I think it’s the decade most similar to my own current fashion. The 70’s is a little bit TOO hippy for me, 80’s far too biker and 90’s far too trashy. However, I also love the 1940’s, really sophisticated.

8. How would you describe your style?
Hmmm, I’d probably say on trend yet with my own quirky edge at the same time. I’m not really sure how to describe it. How would YOU describe it? Ha, ha!

9. Which celebrity is your ultimate fashion icon?
Another hard question because I love so many – and they’re all very different. I love a mixture of Mary-Kate’s effortlessly cool façade, Nicole Richie’s colour splash, Lauren Conrad’s delicate girly chic and Sienna Miller’s “I just slung it all together’ look.

10. Are there any outfits you’ve worn that you’d rather forget?
Ha ha, oh god yes. But, I was really young, so it’s forgivable right? I was really into the Spice Girls when I was younger and had a pair of platform trainers! Ha, ha! Fashion Police please?

11. Which trends are you looking forward to in AW 2010? Have you any style predictions?
I know that the colours; Rust, Khaki and deep purple are going to be really popular this Autumn/Winter, so I think I’ll be investing in a lot of those colours. Hmmm, style predictions... Snoods made a comeback last year and chunky knitted hair bands – I think they’re also something I’ll be investing in.

12. If you could only fit five items in your desert island survival bag, which beauty products would you take to keep you looking gorgeous?
Sun cream – I wouldn’t want to burn as I’m presuming the desert island will be scorchio! Vaseline for my lips, baby wipes to clean my face, mascara and shampoo! I wouldn’t want scruffy hair now would I?

13. Which blogs do you enjoy reading?
My all time favourite reads are:
Milly at Pearls & Poodles
Zoe at Zoella
Julia at Jules
Jazzabelle at jazzabelle's diary

14. What can we look forward to on Laurens Dressing Room?
Lots more outfit posts as they are my favourite to do! And hopefully more product reviews as I haven’t done many lately. I need to get cracking with those. I’ve tried to do a couple of posts about my every day life as I find it important for my readers to get to know the girl behind the blog. If anyone has any requests though, feel free to let me know. I welcome all suggestions!

15. Do you have any tips on how to make a successful blog?
I always sit and think to myself; “What would I like to read?” I tend to write about things I’d enjoy reading about myself. I try to keep my updates as frequent as I can to keep my followers interested and like to vary my posts.

Any more requests/questions I have Formspring and my username is: laurensdressing

Youtube account name: laurensdressingroom

The Spice Girls reference has really taken me back...I had a pair of those god awful trainers!  Very difficult to walk up stairs though, I lost count of the amount of times I tripped cos I forgot to lift my feet far enough to avoid catching the platform!

Lauren's Dressing Room really is a must, I love her accessories addiction and her outfits always look fresh and achievable.  Have a look at her recent post to see - her take on X Factor's Cher was spot on!

Who here is a fan of Lauren?



G is for...

Glowing Skin

Image taken from india-forums

First of all let me say hello to all the lovely people who have chosen to follow me lately.  I've opened myself up to Twitter in a hope to extend my blogging community and so far it seems to have worked!  So anyway, hello...thank you for following....hope you like, and remember to join in and comment!

Ok, so do you have any idea how hard it was to come up with a post for G?  Blimmin tricky!!  In the end I settled with glowing skin....it's something we all want, right?  Oh, and let me just add, I'm not a huge Hayden fan - not much of a fan at all in fact - but isn't her skin just beautiful in this pic?

Now please remember I'm no expert.  But to get beautiful radiant skin you need to start with exfoliation to slop off the horrible dead stuff (what disgusting imagery I've just created...).  You might remember from an earlier review, but the No.7 Hot Cloth face wash is great and promises more radiant skin, so I suggest giving this a go.

Next, moisturisation is key.  I'm a convert to Nivea Visage's Natural Beauty Radiance Boosting Moisturiser.  It's got a delicate fragrance and is a champagne-y  colour which leaves a subtle shimmer across the skin.  Bingo for a glowing complexion!  For an added boost I use Benefit's Moon Beam....the same as High Beam but with a warmer apricot tone.  I'm sure you don't need me to tell you, but dot this across your cheekbones, temples and nose before foundation to get a bit of highlight.  It can be used on its own as well for a more intense look....just make sure you blend well!  I underestimated how pigmented it was and spent a day with people telling me I had "pink stuff" on my face.  *cringe*!

Now don't get me wrong, I do love blush.  But when I'm going for a real shimmery look I like to leave my cheeks fairly bare and just let the shimmer shine through.  That said, MAC's blush in Melba does have a nice coral-y sort of shimmer to it....although I'm doubting myself now.  Perhaps that's just a bit of warmth?  Does anyone else have Melba?  Anyhoo....I'm loving the Sleek Contour kit I picked up recently and have been using it to give me sculpted cheeks with the perfect amount of highlight.  I used to have Avon's radiance pearls as well, and these were good to give a nice pink-ish glow.

Another trick is to remember to highlight the browbone.  Once I've done my eyes I pop a light colour on the browbone to do this.  In the Sleek Storm Palette, I think it's the second one on the top row in that's good for this.  Otherwise I use a Dior white/cream shadow I got in a sample palette....it really does make a difference to your whole look.  Simple but effective!

Hmmm so I think that just about rounds up my tips for glowing skin.  Like I said, I'm no expert, but I think the key is to keep your look light and fresh to compliment this.  Too much make up drags the skin and complexion down....too much shimmer just makes you look shiny/borderline sweaty!

What do you all think?  Any top products you rate to give you this devine complexion?

T x

Reason to Smile 04

Image taken from weheartit

Supportive friends...need I say more?

T x

In the Spotlight: Lily loves Lola

Sorry it's late girls....I had to drive to Leicester and back after work on Friday and thought I'd made a scheduled post although actually this had just disappeared :(

This week's blog has it all.  Discount/free gifts for readers at Eyeko and Gift Girls?  Check.  Lifestyle posts?  Check.  Product reviews?  Check.  Hair updates?  Check.  Great giveaways?  Check.  Gorgeous pugs in adorable little t-shirts?  Check, check check....what more could you want?!

Now, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is another blogger who is just genuinely nice.  Her blog is welcoming, posts are accessible, reviews are straight-forward and to the point....plus did I mention the cute cute pugs?!

And yep, I'm sure these pugs have given the game away.....today's blogger is Victoria of Lily loves Lola

1. Shall we start as we always do? Sum yourself up in 5 words...

Friendly, worrisome, animal-lover, funny, perfectionist.

2. How would you describe your blog?
It's a mixture of everything - clothes, beauty, home interiors, pets, trips out. I like to keep a bit of variety definitely!

3. Who or what inspired you to start blogging?

I stumbled across a couple of fashion blogs at the beginning of last year and from that I found beauty blogs. I remember religiously reading Hele Says and Yummy Mummy's Beauty Blog, and one day I thought, you know what, I'm going to write my own! But I never thought it would be so popular. Not in a million years!

4. What do you do for a living? Is this your dream job?

I work as a Human Resources Administrator. I was working in a different department when the position in HR came up and they asked me if I'd like the job. I jumped at the chance - I have always wanted to work in HR and I can honestly say it's the first job I've had where I don't dread going in, and most days I really enjoy it.

5. We've seen you sporting a variety of different hair colours on your blog. Will you be sticking with the glossy brunette colour you have at the moment?
Yes for the moment - it's my natural hair colour after all! But I loved being blonde and had blonde locks for six years so it's still very strange and I'm still getting used to it. It's nice not having to worry about paying for expensive highlights every month (more money for clothes!)

6. Which haircare brand is your favourite?
Ooooh a tough one. I do really rate L'Oreal Professional products. They're a bit pricey but they work a treat. Cheaper brands I like are Lee Stafford and Herbal Essences.

7. As an ambassador for Eyeko you have lots of their nail polishes...which shade do you wear the most?
I wear Posh Polish the most because it's suitable for work and has amazing lasting power! But I also love Vintage Polish, Punk Polish, pretty much all of them. I adore Eyeko polishes, I really do.

8. What product have you tried lately that you now could not live without?
I'm going to cheat because it's not a product that I've tried lately, but the one and only product I could never live without is Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation. It is the best foundation for covering blemishes and uneven skin tone and it has amazing lasting power. Plus a bottle lasts for months and months.

9. Would you rather go out with no make up but styled hair, or messy hair with make up done?
Messy hair with make up done. I dont' wear tons of make up but I do feel quite self-conscious without foundation and a bit of mascara. Plus messy hair is kind of "in" so I think I'd just about get away with it :)

10. Which high street stores do you shop in most regularly?

Probably Primark and River Island. Primark because it's so damn cheap and you can't go wrong - especially when it comes to their basics and pumps. I live in pumps! But I also really like River Island and buy quite a few things from there. I love their slouchy tees and maxi dresses!

11. Which fashion trends for AW 2010 are you most looking forward to wearing?
I have to be honest, I don't know what the trends are! I don't follow fashion, I buy what I like and what suits me and wear it till it falls apart! I live in my Uggs even though they're not fashionable. I don't have the time or money to keep up with the latest styles! Although I really envy people who do. I wish I could be more stylish!

12. Are you subscribed to any magazines? Which do you like to read?

I'm not subscribed to any but I regularly buy Look and Company. I love Look's fashion pages and I love Company for the real-life stories and mixed content.

13. Which blogs do you enjoy reading?
I have so many that I love. Firm favourites are Frassy,...love Maegan, rockstar diaries and Little Blog of Horrors. As you can see, I like a mixture of beauty blogs, fashion blogs and random/mixture blogs just like mine!

14. What can we look forward to on Lily loves Lola?
More of the same! More cute pictures of Lily and Lola, lots more reviews, outfits, updates on my life and living on my own for the first time, shopping and my weekly Monday Summaries!

15. Do you have any tips on how to make a successful blog?
Yes - write about what interests you. Update regularly. Keep the content clear, easy to read, and free from spelling mistakes! Reply to emails/comments. Be friendly and approachable. And most importantly, enjoy it!

(Lol I'm giggling to myself because ironically I just spelt "mistakes" wrong!)

And so that rounds up this week's In the Spotlight. Check out Lily loves Lola if you want to read an established blog written by a girlie who knows what she's doing. And for the pugs of course!

T x

Primark image taken from Ealing Broadway Shopping

If I were Mary-Kate, what would I wear?

Trousers, shirt, shoes & hat - Topshop

Casio - asos

Cocky - Tigi

Messed Up - Boots

Her effortless Boho-Hobo style is the envy and inspiration of many.  Once described as the female version of Pete Doherty, Mary-Kate Olsen has an individual style that manages to look both chic and comfortable at the same time; a rarity on the fashion world.

What would you choose for an MK look?

T x

Twitter

So I've finally given in and joined Twitter. After deleting Facebook a year or so ago, I've avoided social networking sites but now I'm thinking this is a good way to really join the blogging community.

I've joined with enthusiasm and have been eagerly following my favourite bloggers that I've managed to find! Lots of you are still hidden though, so if you feel like being a friendly face on my following list then click here....

I'll follow in return!

Or maybe leave me a comment below with your twitter username/url?  Oh, and any tips on how to use the site are a much needed bonus as well!

How is everyone's evening?  Did I miss anything on X Factor?

T x

Book Review: Obstacles to Young Love

Image taken from davidnobbs.com

Apologies for the delay here (assuming you care about a book review, that is) I actually finished this book a while ago and am on to my next, it's just taken me a while to get around to reviewing this!

Obstacles to Young Love is the story of two teenage lovers and spans across 25 years in their tale of love and the journeys upon which life takes them.  I'm a fan of books which follow the characters through the paths of many decades, so this book appealed to me when I picked it up in the library.  The main characters are Naomi, an actress, and Timothy, a taxidermist.  Timothy is a devout Christian, whilst Naomi has an irrepressible urge to convert people away from God.

This is a humourous book, and I love the feeling that I've watched a character grow over the years.  This book picks up when Naomi and Timothy are 18 and ends with a 25th year reunion for their school, so I definitely got the sense of growth here.  It's lighthearted and easy to read, and what's interesting is that it's a romantic book written by a male author.  Not to say that blokes don't know romance, but in general I prefer my chick lit to be written, well, by a chick.

With comparisons to P.G Wodehouse (no, I'm not sure who he is either...), the author, David Nobbs, has written 17 novels as well as numerous television series.  The book is well written and the characters are very real.  I wouldn't say this is a great book, but it was comfortable and worth the read.

What books are you all reading at the moment?

xx

Reason to Smile 03

Image taken from weheartit

I've just got home from a lovely evening out having dinner with my friends. Surely a reason to smile?  Good food, good chat and a chance to relax at the end of a stressful day at work - bliss.

We just went to the local carvery and had some pub grub....potato skins with garlic bread mmmmm.  Where are your favourite places to eat out with friends?

T x

If I were Beyonce, what would I wear?

Dress & shoes - asos

Earrings & ring - glitzy secrets

Lip gloss - skinstep

My favourite songstress, Beyonce has had some memorable outfits in the past.  Not always fabulously fashionable I know, but always bootylicious (*cringe*).  In all seriousness, I did at the time love the co-ordinating outfits the ladies in Destiny's Child wore and I love that Beyonce has now joined forces with the creator of those matching looks, her mother Tina, and is now behind fashion labels Dereon and House of Dereon.

If you had access to Beyonce's wardrobe for a day, what would you wear?  Which of her looks was your favourite?

T x

In the Spotlight: Sofia's Journal

My featured blogger this week is creator of one of my favourite blogs in my reading list.  I haven't subscribed to her for OOTD posts (she doesn't do those) nor do I look for EOTD posts (she doesn't do those either) or even beauty hauls.  This blog is in a league of its own in my subscriptions, and I love it for it's individuality.  If you're looking for a user-friendly, unique and easy-on-the-eye blog then look no further.  With its clean white background alongside subtle injections of colour, this blog really is aesthetically soothing.  Not to mention the blogger herself is intelligent, a great writer, a dab hand at interiors, polite and, well, really incredibly genuinely nice.  Upon spotting that striking picture of the gorgeous girl with the green headband hiding behind her camera I was hooked.  And if I hadn't revealed who it was in the title of this post, I'm sure you would have been well on your way to guessing that this week's In the Spotlight (a day later than usual) is...

Sofia of Sofia's Journal

1.  Let's start off relatively easily.  Sum yourself up in five words...
Loyal, determined, quirky, stylish, compassionate.

2.  In amongst the list of fashion and beauty blogs I’m subscribed to, yours is a fairly unique blend of beauty, interior design, life and tutorials. For those who are unfamiliar with it, can you give us an overview of Sofia’s Journal?
Sofia’s Journal is basically my personal Journal where I talk about anything and everything that influences and shapes my daily life – a great breakfast I ate, a photograph I took of a memorable place, a beauty product I can’t live without.

3.  Who or what inspired you to start blogging?
I liked reading blogs. A lot. The more I read the more I realised that I’d love a creative outlet of my own and a way to connect with likeminded people. At first, I really just wanted to test out my HTML skills and see if I could put together a site that looked good. Later, I recognised that I actually love writing. By committing to blogging I’m hoping that my writing will improve over time.

4. With so many regular posts on your blog (Sunday Click List, 100 Things, Things I *heart* Thursday…) what are your favourite posts to do?

I really enjoy putting The Sunday Click List together every week because the web is an amazing wealth of information and I love to share the cool stuff I’ve found.

5. What do you do for a living? Is it what you hope to be doing for the future or do you have other career plans?
Without going into too much detail online - I work for a Manchester based model agency. It’s an interesting and varied role but I don’t envisage it in my long term future. I feel most alive when I write but I don’t know how viable it would be to make a career from that. I’m still at an age where I have all the time in the world to explore different opportunities until I find exactly what makes my heart sing.

6. You come across as a generally positive person who always finds the good in things. How do you stay so cheerful all the time?!
I’m naturally a glass-half-empty kind of girl who has had some pretty traumatic life experiences so being cheerful (and ultimately ‘happy’) is something I have to work at day in day out. I think happiness is a choice not something that falls at our laps or just happens upon those ‘lucky’ people as if by magic. When negative thoughts creep into my mind (and they do, often) I drown them out by considering all the good things in life to be grateful for. I’ve always found that positive things happen to positive people so I reckon it’s worth the effort.

7.  What's the last book you read?
Affirmations by Stuart Wilde – an incredibly enlightening book if you’re into spirituality. Before that, the entire Twilight Saga (for the second time)!

8.  What's your beauty must-have for the moment?Well, I’ve shared quite a few beauty raves on my blog of late so it’s difficult to pick one! Max Factor False Lash Mascara is certainly something I’ll be rushing out to buy again. It’s great to have found an inexpensive mascara that works for me.

9. Besides refurnishing bedside cabinets and making gorgeous notice boards, what do you like to do in your spare time?
More than anything, I love to spend time hanging out with friends. We usually eat out, grab coffee or hit up the cinema.

10. Do you have a style icon?
I don’t hold any particular person upon a pedestal in terms of their style and I never try to emulate someone else’s look. I think you should always dress for your body shape and express your own individual personality through your clothing. Obviously I take inspiration from others but that comes from many sources; the girl on the street as much as specific celebrities. I do love a quirky girl who looks like she hasn’t tried too hard - Rachel Bilson definitely comes to mind. I also admire the laid back LA vibe of Audrina Partridge.

11. Which blogs do you like to read?
I subscribe to literally hundreds and I love them all for different reasons. Check out my ‘Link Love’ page on my blog for a list of my current faves.

12. How do you come up with fresh new ideas for your blog?
Before I began my blog I had a vision of the kind of topics I wanted to write about (beauty, interiors, fashion, life) and luckily, because I’m so passionate about all these things it’s been easy. I now have a list as long as my arm of things I want to chat about on Sofia’s Journal.

13. What can we look forward to on Sofia's Journal?
Oh, I have lots planned! I’m currently flat hunting so I’d like to feature some kind of home tour and share how I kit out each room on a budget.

14. Any tips for upcoming bloggers?
As a fairly new blogger myself I’m not sure I’m equipped to answer this, but my advice will always be that you have to write about something you are truly passionate about. A nice, clean site design with great photos is a must, as is a regular posting schedule. You don’t have to blog every day (some of the best blogs publish only once or twice a week) but be consistent. And finally, always remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day - it takes time to build a blog, so stick with it.

Sofia seems to me to be a rare breed.  When I read her blog which she herself describes as the "whimsical ramblings of a 25 year old English girl" she really does seem to me to be delightfully English.  Difficult to describe, but when reading posts I hear a Bridget Jones-esque voice in my head.  In a world where we are so easily connected by the wonder of the internet, there's something incredibly refreshing about coming home to a blog as familiar and comforting as a cup of good old English tea.  I don't think my summary is doing Sofia justice, and I don't think anyone's ever could.  Click out and have a look now.  I bet you'll become one of Sofia's biggest fans as well.

T x

only your shadow

Look at the state of that....no, not my hair.....my god awful camera.  Bought by my lovely mum as a birthday present ages ago, referred to as "the brick" for a good year and recently banished to the back of a drawer.  But as you know, I'm yet to save up the pennies for a new one so we'll have to make do.  I was planning to wait for Mr. B to come out of the bath and take a picture for me so it didn't have to be such a close up in the mirror but an hour and two draft posts later and still no sign of him so I had to give up.

Yep I guess this could be my first outfit post as there is no real need to show you this just thought I'd show my love for my new necklace.  I offically do love it, I've received so many compliments and you would not believe how much the kids at work love it.  We had to watch a dance performance at assembly and it worked like a charm to keep some of the lively characters around me quiet!  I should get another necklace I ordered through in the post tomorrow so expect a post on that as well!

The top I'm wearing is one from Topshop last year...longer length with pockets.  I used to wear it with leggings then as it got a bit worn I just wore it as a top to work.  But something seems to have happened to it recently, or perhaps I've had a sudden weightloss (you know that last little bit that suddenly makes a big difference?) because suddenly it's like a dress.  If it weren't so shapeless it seriously is long enough to consider wearing it out with bare legs!  I really wanted to wear it though because the colour looks so good against the necklace so for the first time in my life I tucked a top into my jeans.  And you know what? ...I quite like it!  It gave it a better shape (not that you can see in the picture) and an instant update.  I mentioned it before, but because of weightloss I have serious psychological issues about what size I am.  Recent things I've bought have been in a size 8, yet I'm always drawn to size 12s in the belief that they will fit me.  Because of that, sometimes I like this top, other times I fear it makes me look like a flump.  Today I liked it.  What do you all think?

I'm so chuffed with my 77 followers (hello and thank you!) and am thinking of doing a give away when I reach 100.  It won't be much as MAC has cleared my bank account out, but I'll be making a bracelet and collecting some other goodies hopefully to give away.  So watch out for that!

Thoughts on the outfit everyone?  Or thoughts in general on how to take a better photo?  Perhaps that's a better question to ask....God knows I could use the help!

T x

and don't ever look back

My much-anticipated necklace arrived today!  Because of the weekend interruptions, it really did feel like this would never arrive...but today it did and I love it!  Being of the slightly busty variety, I do find these long chain pendants tricky to wear.  Where they would sit normally on other people, the just balance on my chest and look pointless.  This is a perfect length though and I'm so pleased with it....the clock in the lense is just charming!

Again, please excuse the bad photography...every picture I take pushes me closer to splashing out on a good camera.  And ignore the clashing gold Michael Kors watch - I wore this all day and was so excited to try my necklace out when I got home, I only just noticed that the two really look awful together.  And yep, that's a bracelet of my own creation on my other wrist - have a look at all the colours and email me if you want a lovely handmade bracelet (shamless plug I know ;) )

My MAC order arrived yesterday - I got their paint pot in IndianWood and a Viva Glam Gaga lipstick.  The lid of the lippie was strangely bent though - the plastic had gone white and there was a weird bump.  The boxes it came in are all perfect though, so I guess this defect happened before it was even packaged.  I was slightly disappointed with this so emailed MAC.....and, result!  They're sending me out a new Viva Glam Gaga for free!  So chuffed I sent that email!  I just ordered another lippie from NYX at cheapsmells - have a look because at the moment they're giving away a free NYX gift with every purchase and the lipstick was only £1.99 to begin with which can't be bad!  I've just had a look at their nail varnishes too, lots of them for just £2.50 so I'm beginning to wish I'd ordered some of those too!  But no, I'm trying to restrict my spending.  Must.  Be.  Good.

That's pretty much all there is to report for the moment.  I might have a try at writing the next addition of the Beauty A-Z or perhaps a new book review while Mr B is in the bath and I have some peace and quiet!  Just started a new book; it's one of those deep American novels a lot like the Jodi Picoult ones.  A bit hard to get into so I'm on the look out for a new one to read....any suggestions?  What's your all-time favourite book?

Has everyone had a good Tuesday?  Looking forward to tomorrow....undoubtedly the best day, right?

Take care girls - don't be shy with your comments ;)  What are your thoughts on the latest addition to my jewellery collection?

T x

Reason to Smile 02

Image taken from weheartit

"Peanut butter is like honey.  You can not have it for months and months, then when  you have it again you realise how damn good it is..."

Obv not for those with allergies :)

Peanut butter on toast....who's a fan?  Crunchy or smooth?!

T x

ordinary now

Excuse the slightly (ok, very) wide-eyed, little bit wonkey and almost scary stare.  I've still not quite got the hang of EOTD posts so any tips from those with experience would be gratefully taken aboard!  IRL my eyes are quite normal too - promise!

So this is what I managed on my first day back to work using my new Sleek Storm palette.  I also picked up their contouring kit and got the brush for about £2 so I used that as well and was pleased to notice a difference in my cheekbones!  Although I did get asked if I was ill because I looked a bit pale....erm, no, just been laying off the fake tan!

It was a planning day today which meant no kids were in so I thought I'd make a bit of an effort for the first day of term and wear my new shirt that I picked up from New Look the other day.  I also thought I'd try my first ever outfit post but due to the rubbish 7:30am light/not enough space in my room/trying to take a picture in the mirror/crap camera, I failed miserably.  I am working on it though, and me and the Mr are headed off to a show thingy at the weekend so I've got an outfit planned for that and will hopefully succeed in taking a few pictures to share! 

Speaking of the planning today, we had to watch a video about why people buy into brands.  I can't put it into words properly, but it got me thinking about A Perfect Lie.  It pretty much came down to the question of if you don't believe in something, how do you expect other people to?  It's very hard to explain now, and for that reason I'm investing into a little notepad to carry around with me for whenever inspiration strikes.  I have been scribbling down notes in my diary I bought (first ever diary I've used regularly!) but it's becoming a bit of a mess now - covered in order reference numbers for my internet shopping, orders for bracelets and appointments etc.  It's even more messy with me trying to fit in blog ideas so a notepad is a wise investment I'm thinking.

This is more of a chatty post tonight and I hope you're enjoying it.  I'll be posting my second Reason to Smile later so have a look for that.  I'm thinking that now I'm back to work I have less time to sit around and think up ideas for here so I'm just gonna go with the flow and write my thoughts as they come.  We'll see how that goes hey!?

Anyway, my dinner is calling me.....jacket potato with chilli, sour cream and grated cheese mmmmmm - what's everyone else having?

T x

p.s.  Are you all excited for the opening of H&M's online store?

Musings: 5/9/10

Image taken from aliceharold.co.uk

Back to work tomorrow - boo! So as I sit here watching Mr. B play COD and snatching precious moments on blogger in between his online games (“Bdubz…you’re stealing my megabytes!”) my mind has wandered into my blog’s territory.

I want a successful blog. Not because of the….I want to call it fame, but I know it’s not that - but what is the word? Notoriety I suppose? Anyway, not because of that, because as it is I barely know whether I want to show my face on here or not. Call me crazy but I’ve become a complete internet-phobe; no more face book for me, as I’m terrified of being recognised and developing a stalker! In all honesty, a small part of me would be terribly embarrassed if anyone I knew ever found me on here. A handful of people know about my blogging habits, and even though the boyf encouraged me to make this blog he’s never been allowed to read it.

All the same, I want other people to read it! But right now I know I don’t have anything unique that makes my blog stand out. I’ve had a nosy through some of the big blogger’s early posts and feel heartened to see that they didn’t always have such a following, but it’s a long process and I have no idea if I’ll ever actually make it to a fraction of their loyal readership. So blogging friends, I’m calling on you. Have you any blogging ideas for me? Things you’d like to see more/less of on A Perfect Lie?

You'll probably have noticed the latest of my blog overhauls (how could you not?). This is my attempt to “cool” myself up a bit and give me a new outlook on the future of my blog. As a previous law student and a total bookworm (Bdubz = BW = BookWorm) I know I have a tendency to start using unnecessarily long words so I’m going to start working on making my blog a bit more accessible. I think the way forward is to write my thoughts down in the way I would actually say them. After all, this is my form of a diary I guess. And perhaps it’ll give me a chance to connect with the reader a bit more…? I dunno. Rambling already!

So my thoughts are this:

• Features give you something to aim for right? I’m busy on the A-Z of Beauty and I’m thinking my other regulars (Reasons to Smile, In the Spotlight, Celebrity Sunday) will give my blog a little bit of purpose and something for my friendly followers to expect from me. We’ll see how they go anyway…
• EOTD. I’ll stick with eyes for now anyway, whilst I work my way to possibly FOTD. But I guess it’s a bit of the personal trainer analogy - you wouldn’t want to go to the gym and get trained by someone fat, right? Deep down I’ve always known that the way to gain a little more respect is to bite the bullet and show more of me. After all, you don’t want my beauty advice if I’m a mess IRL do you?
• OOTD. Tricky one this, as working with kids doesn’t give me much of an opportunity to put my best fashion foot forwards. And in all honesty, I’m not particularly fashionable. I enjoy wearing jeans far too much and need to step out of my comfort zone. I’m aiming to make more effort with my clothes at the weekends, and will hopefully be posting OOTDs when I’m feeling positive about what I’m wearing. I’m so inspired by all of the fashionable people in the blogging community, so I’m hoping that some of their style may just rub off on me one day.

I’m aware that this is a boring post, but with the return of work I will have less time to spend blogging so want to make sure that my time is put to best use. And of course, as the readers of this blog your opinions are always valued. I want to give my blog a shake up, but just don’t want it to become false, know what I mean?

Bear with me whilst I find my blogging footing

T x

If I were Nicole Richie, what would I wear?

She's the wild child gone good...hellraiser turned mother of two fashion designer...our favourite celebrity socialite - Miss Nicole Richie!  Queen of the Boho Chic, always immaculately (yet seemingly effortlessly) turned out; Nicole never puts a fashionable foot wrong.

So if I, for just one day could be as amazingly styled as my fashion icon, here's what I'd wear.

All images taken from asos

What would you wear?

Product Review: No7 For Men Anti-Fatigue Eye Stick

Though strictly not a beauty product review, I thought I'd include this one in case you were looking to buy a little treat for your other half/dad/uncle/any male in your life you might be buying for!

I generously donated my £5 No.7 coupon to Mr. B and picked up this Anti-Fatigue Eye Stick the other day.  He's not really one for cosmetics, but has been dying to give a review on this, so here goes....

"Cooling and refreshing.  Works within 10 seconds. Can't even tell it's on"

Yes.  That's all I got from him.  So it's been left to me to fluff this review up a little bit.

Although it's marketed on Boots' website in their Anti-Aging section, I was drawn to this product's promise to "act as an eye wake up call".  Admittedly it does have a bit of spiel about fine lines and wrinkles, but I bought this product solely on the idea of for once successfully being able to drag Mr. B out of bed and into town on a Saturday without the usual 20 minute wait "for my eyes to stop hurting."

So far however, this product has not managed to do this.  I'm beginning to think this eye-hurting thing is actually a ploy to have a lie in, hmmm..... However, when he wakes up at 5:30am for work every day it's the product Mr. B swears by.  It's quite similar in look to 4head if you've tried it, the menthol product to stop tension headaches?  I'd advise not getting these two mixed up though, I imagine 4head could sting quite a bit if applied under the eyes!

With regards to the anti-aging properties I can't really comment on this, because as I said it's not what I bought this for and Mr. B doesn't yet have any fine lines or wrinkles around his eyes.  I have however just asked him whether he thinks his dark circles are better in appearance (I'm not sure he ever had any to begin with) and the answer I got was "guess so".

If, like me, you've bought pretty much everything No.7 has to offer with your voucher then why not give this a go?  It gave me some extra brownie points, and for a man who never gets enthusiastic about products this one has certainly given Mr. B something to rave about!  £2.50 + the possibility of hitting the shops earlier is definitely an offer too good to miss!

Did anyone else treat the man in their life with this offer?  He's now becoming a little bit too interested in skincare and wants to buy more....any recommendations?

T x

Image taken from Boots

In the Spotlight: a sense sublime

It was fairly early on in my blogging days when I came across a sense sublime.  And yes, I've not used capital letters on purpose...it's how she spells it y'know.  There's something inherently cool behind the minimalist look of this blog.  You get the sense that this is a blogger who just 'gets' fashion and when you see a piccie of the owner with her new, back-to-her-roots blond hair you realise that she does.  I use the word "indie" tentatively and I don't know whether she'd appreciate that description, but then I balance that with the fact that "indie" is the word I use when someone is so comfortable in their style and can pull off 'cool' looks in a way that I never could.   Perhaps it's her roots in art, because every outfit is always well-thought out and beautifully put together.

See what I mean?  I'd definitely say this girl has a unique look with her Marianne Faithfull-esque style and this is balanced out with what a friendly blogger she is.  Her blog is one to subscribe to, whether to keep up with the best new clothes at Topshop, have a look at the latest funky jewellery she's lusting after or to see what's going up in her sublime world (see what I did there?) with her own version of the Guardian's 'The Measure'.

So now ladies, it's my pleasure to introduce those of you who aren't familiar with her, to Christina Sanders of a sense sublime.

1.  Let's start off relatively easy - sum yourself up in 5 words...
Artist, writer, fashion-obsessed girl!

2.  What do you do for a living?  Is it what you always imagined you'd be doing?
I currently work as the manager of a boutique shop for babies and toddlers.  It is a cute little shop and I love my job.  It's not fashion or art related, but for a first job after university is a great experience.  I am thinking about maybe going into teaching in the future or doing more with my writing - I am doing a journalism evening course at the moment.  Of course the overall dream is to work as an artist!

3.  What (or who) inspired you to start blogging?
I was inspired by blogs such as Style Bubble - I thought it was great to see normal girls who were experimenting so much with clothes and trends.  It offered something different and more real than fashion magazines.
I also do some writing about art and fashion for a few websites, so having a blog seemed like a good way of staying in touch with what was going on and practising/developing my writing style.  When the blog started I covered both art and fashion, though now it is mostly just fashion.  It has become such a big part of my life - I have friends who I just know from blogging and watching the blog grow has been so much fun.  I am still surprised that people read it and every comment I get makes me unbelievably happy!

4.  A tricky one, but if you had to choose would it be art or fashion?
That's so hard!  But if I had to choose it would be art.  Art is my true love - fashion is more of a hobby.  Though I see them as intertwined, both art and fashion are about creating something interesting and/or beautiful.

5.  What's your favourite shop?
Probably Topshop.  It's predictable I know, but their clothes are just so fashion-forward and exciting!  I also get a lot of things from ASOS and recently I have been loving everything from Whistles.  I love going to vintage and jumble sales - as I always seem to find some good things whilst rummaging.  I find jumble sales are normally more fun than proper vintage stores as you can still find real bargains!

6.  Who is your favourite designer?
At the moment Alexander Wang.  In my blog I seem to mention him all the time!  I am also in love with Bora Asku's dresses - they are a great mix of girly and rock 'n' roll.  I have seen a few of his London Fashion Week shows in the past and have always been blown away.  In terms of the more classic designers - Chanel and Burberry never seem to put a foot wrong.

7.  Who is your fashion icon?
My ultimate fashion icon would be a mix of Marianne Faithfull, Stevie Nicks and the Olsen Twins.


8.  What's your favourite item of clothing that you've bought recently?
Probably the 3.1 Phillip Lim cocktail dress I got from Susie of Style Bubble's yard sale.  Phillip Lim is one of my favourite designers and the dress only cost me £5!  It is beautiful - emerald silk, one shoulder with a thick lacy and bead trim.  I love it.  It is a little big but I am going to get it taken in so soon it will be perfect.  I am hoping to wear it to a friend's wedding in a few weeks.  It is the first piece of designer clothing I have ever owned to it is pretty special to me.

9.  Are there any fashion trends you wish you'd never become a part of?  Any fashion disasters in your closest?
I've worn some pretty awful things in the past but I don't regret any of it.  Fashion is about experimenting and some of those experiments are bound to go wrong, but along the way you discover your own personal style.  So embrace the mistakes!
Having said that, I do have some cheap fake Ugg boots hidden in the back of my wardrobe.  I had a foot infection earlier in the year and couldn't get any of my shoes on so had to buy them.  They are very comfortable but so ugly.  I am not a fan of the Uggs look.  Now I just wear them for taking the recycling out.

10.  What's your fashion pet hate?

I really dislike Primark.  I know that you can get some things that look good there - recently they seem to have upped their game and gone a lot more fashion-forward, but I hate the whole experience of shopping with them.  The clothes are so badly made, the sizes always come up wrong and the clothes get misshapen the first time you wash them.  I hate the lack of respect for the clothes, people just chuck them anywhere in the shop and on the floor - I guess it is because they are so cheap but I like shopping to feel a bit more special than that.

11.  As a girl with her finger on the fashion pulse, what are your style predictions for the near future?
Well Autumn is approaching now and I am really excited about it style-wise.  Autumn/Winter is always my favourite season for clothes.  I am really loving the neutral colours that are around at the moment and I think they will stay for a while - it is all about the camel and olive green at the moment!  I also think that maxi skirts will transcend being a Summer only thing - I think long skirts  can look great with oversized, chunky knitwear.

12.  Which are your favourite blogs to read?
I love LLYMLRS.  Lily who writes it seems like such a sweet girl and she has great style.  Unlike a lot of bloggers though she is not obsessed with designers, she is pretty much purely high street and I think she shows just how good the British High Street is, which is really interesting - she shows you don't have to spend thousands to be stylish.  She always looks amazing and has a real talent for putting an outfit together.
I recently discover Fabric of my Life, which I am now addicted to.  It is more about lifestyle and interiors than fashion, but it is so beautiful and inspiring.  Kate who writes it has such a good eye for lovely things.  I might be moving this year so I am a bit homeware-obsessed at the moment!

13.  What's the last book you read?
I don't read books nearly enough - it is shameful.  I haven't read a novel in months.  The last book I read was The Road by Cormac McCarthy.  I wanted to read it before I saw the film.  It was bleak and heartbreaking but wonderful.  I would definitely recommend it, but be prepared for how relentless it is.  I like books that are depressing though - so for me it was perfect!

14.  What can we look forward to coming up on a sense sublime?
I am trying to do more outfit posts.  All the fashion blogs that I really enjoy reading have loads of pictures of the writers' outfits.  Also from a blogging point of view I think fashion bloggers should show their own style - after all, that is what it's all about!  Having said that, I still feel really self-conscious about it all!

15.  Have you any tips for upcoming bloggers?
Just write about what you love and try and find your own voice.  Look to blogs you like for inspiration - but remember that people will come back to reading what you have to say if you're original.  And don't forget to have fun with it!

How many of you are already subscribers to a sense sublime?  If you're not, I urge you to scoot on over there and click the "follow" button.  Intelligent writing style coupled with great fashion style is a winning combination for me.

For those of you already following Christina, did you learn something new?  This blog's become a bit quiet lately - join in the conversation ladies!

T xx

Primark image taken from womenclothingforall.  'The Road' image taken from kapiticoastlibraries