Home Sweet Home

Finally home after 4 weeks of pretty intense work, deadlines and revision... Unfortunately though, it's not over yet! But I have over a week until my next exam so I took the opportunity to come home mainly so that I could ride my horse after what seems like a very long time of being deprived of riding! And to see my family, of course... Probably should have put that first. 


My first, and last for a while, exam was on Monday and whilst I'm honestly not sure how it went at all, I managed to come out in such an amazing mood! I gave myself the day off afterwards and watched, as I promised myself after the exam, the Vampire Diaries Season 3 finale! And what a finale! Absolutely incredible. A post-review will follow in due course even though I'm more than a little late watching it! I just need to spread my love for this program! 


The weather has been so gorgeous too and it was such a good feeling to be able to go and sit by the lake in the middle of campus and sunbathe without feeling guilty for not revising! I am now suitably sunkissed. It was made even better with the addition of half price Frappuccinos from Starbucks during their happy hour this week! The Chocolate Cookie Crumble is definitely worth a try!! It's my new favourite.


Nevertheless, I'm absolutely loving being back! No matter how at home I now feel at uni, this little village is just a little slice of perfection. I've already jumped my horse twice since getting back yesterday and he's coming on so well! I'm still aiming to do my first show with him in summer- it's been a long time coming! In my excitement at seeing the horses again, I almost forgot my little cat (pictured) called Pearl, she's an ex-show and breeding Snow Bengal with gorgeous blue eyes and has been acting like the spoilt princess that she is! 

So this weekend is the Jubilee!! Yay! I have to say I'm so excited! (A lot of excitement in this post, I know.) The village is hosting a party for it with readings, short plays and a BBQ and buffet. It's actually one of the reasons why I came back for the week: I've been asked to act as part of a poetry reading which will be fun, especially because I'm dressing up all vintagey. I will post outfit photos after the weekend! 


This is also the perfect excuse to go red, white and blue crazy so I decided to go all out and do Jubilee nails!! You'll have to excuse the paint around my nails that I hadn't removed before taking the photos but otherwise, they didn't go too badly! I've used the Rio Nail Art set which I would so recommend to anyone with a nail obsession because although it retails at about £20, the set has lasted me a good 18 months now with pretty regular use and they dry so quickly! 

The main white coat I used was actually from a Sally Hansen manicure set so it is meant to be used for the tips but it's been great! Because it's quite thin, chipping has been minimal thus far, although I did just get cocky so I'll now be expecting a chip sometime soon!


I also realised with great sadness and dread that yesterday was 30th May. Which means that a month yesterday, it will be my birthday and I will be 19. Now I'll apologise in advance to those 18 and above (because I keep getting disapproving looks everytime I say this) but I don't want to be 19!! I never wanted to be 18 either because it meant I was closer to 19 and then to 20 and that sounds soo big!! Not old, definitely not old, just mature and adult, i.e I really do have to start acting like an adult with horrible and serious adult responsibilities! Yuck, yuck, yuck. But I have come to the conclusion whilst coming back on the train yesterday that ageing is, unfortunately, inevitable so I may as well enjoy each day as it comes. And this year has been brilliant! In fact, for what I have lined up next year, things can surely only get better! 


Anyway, whatever you have planned for this weekend's Jubilee celebrations, enjoy it and I hope you have a great time! Make the most of this fantastic excuse to be all British and have afternoon tea and buffets! xoxo

Could this yellow splodge in the sky be sun?

Yes, that's right! (I know I'm probably speaking too soon and jinxing the whole thing but...) The sun is finally here! And apparently it's here to stay if you listen to the forecasts. I'd be a little happier about it all if I wasn't going to be stuck inside all day though. I can't even go to revise with my friends by the lake due to two really inconvenient commitments which are going to make me feel very guilty if I don't revise for the rest of the day. Sucks. Apparently revision week isn't just for revising.
I've already been up for a good hour and a half because me and my friend, Billie, went for a run together and conquered the horrendous steps up to Guildford Cathedral (anybody who knows the area will know those stairs!). Yay! *victory dance ensues*
So now that the sun is actually shining, I think it's the perfect excuse I've been waiting for to wear this little number that has been sitting in my wardrobe for two months waiting for warmer weather...

From Miso at Republic, £25. Click here for the link.

It looks so gorgeous when it's on, teamed with a little pair of brogues or dolly shoes (I'd also like to invest in some little frilly socks too), accessorised with pearls and a little cream across the body bag. With the addition of my cream Guess sunglasses, which are my babies this summer, et voilà!


And I just have to give a mention to this beautiful skirt that I've just seen on their website. It is now my new obsession until I get it which probably won't be anytime soon. Being a poor student sucks sometimes.

From Miso at Republic, £25. Click here for the link.

Time Flies

Hello! So, yesterday was my last seminar of my first year at university... How crazy is that? It barely feels like it's been a month since mum and dad left me with these strange people that I now consider as my best friends. Oh, how time flies.

On a slightly more chirpier note, I thought I'd finally get round to posting a picture of the dress I wore to the Colours Ball on Saturday 12th May (an awards night held for all the sports clubs at the university). It was a really great night, from the performers and the rodeo bull, to the free wine and (amazing) chocolate tart. Praise to the Surrey Stage Crew for the amazing set up they produced! So this is the dress which I saw, and was eventually persuaded, to try on back in November when I went to visit a relative. 

So this is a picture of my friend and housemate Georgia (thank you for letting me use the photo!) and me (right) just before we left. Georgia's dress is from Asos and mine is from Ted Baker for £129 (style- Renii) with ruffle sleeves and a bodycon fit. The shoes were an ebay purchase and are Dorothy Perkins. I took a silver clutch from Accessorize that I took to prom and hasn't been worn since so it was high time to get that out again. I debated A LOT over this dress and decided not to buy it because of the money but I must have gone on about it a hell of a lot because Mum ended up getting it for me last Christmas. Naturally, I was extremely excited to finally go to an occasion where I felt I could wear it! 

I based my hair on a style that Blake Lively had at the BAFTA Brits to Watch Event in 2011 (see here for piccis). It is loosely plaited down one side and gathered in a low messy bun at the back with loose curls around my face. Could have turned out better but I ended up rushing it! 

Also, as I said I would report on the trial of the red lipstick. It's actually a tint gloss from Maybelline called Super Stay 10h Tint Gloss for £6.99 in Endless Ruby. However, 10h stay time is extremely generous if you plan on actually drinking during that time, otherwise it stayed put. The colour was nice and rich too but it did have to be applied a few times. Considering I never have colour on my lips and if I do it's barely noticeable, this was a shock for a bit but I have to say, I do like it! 

Anyway, I am now right in the middle of revision/exams until 13th June so I'll apologise in advance if posts become a bit haphazard again! And now I've just realised it's 16.30 and I have definitely spent more time right this post this afternoon than I have on revision... My queue to go I think! x

Random Updates

This past week has been a bit crazy and I can't believe it's been so long since my last post! Not good! But there's a lot that's happened so this is going to be a bit of a random post really!


So, first of all, I have some very exciting news that I just have to share...


I have been elected News Editor of The Stag (our university newspaper) next year AND have been elected as Treasurer for the Equestrian Society!! (Let's ignore the fact I study English and haven't done Maths since GCSE... I did get an A though!) 


I was elected for both positions last week and since then have had deadlines and meetings galore which sucks. But things have calmed down a little now, hence why I finally got round to making this post!!


There are also two Vampire Diaries episodes that I've watched since my last review and now there's only the finale left! (Crazy excited dance ensues) I know America has already had the finale so I've been desperately trying to avoid all spoilers until next week. So let's start with Do Not Go Gentle (Episode 20)... This episode was an emotional roller coaster to say the least! It did, however, lose me at several points and I was left thinking 'wait, what? How did you get to that conclusion?'. Don't get me wrong, I loved the episode and I, yet again, praise the writers of this programme for their ability to trigger such a huge range of emotions from their audience. But, and whilst I know you constantly have to suspend your belief with this programme which is never normally a problem, it was actually quite difficult with this episode and, rather than being completely absorbed in the action, I found myself outside of it sort of baffled at times. 


Because of that I was concerned about the rest of the remaining episodes but Before Sunset did not disappoint! In fact, I would say it was one of its best episodes this season. It combined the perfect amount of epic fight scenes, tragic moments and comedic relief as well as subtly ensuring that the audience followed the twists and turns this episode took. Pretty awesome.


On to another completely irrelevant topic... Yesterday (thank you to Dani and Billie for finally helping me to decide!) I bought my first red lipstick (a sort of deep red) which is extremely different for always-natural me but I'm trialing it tonight so I will post a picci in due course! 


Another purchase recently are these beauties... I, number 1, didn't even want these to begin with and, number 2, am having to practise walking in them but they were in the New Look sale for £14 so temptation was put firmly in my way. And I saw no way round other than to buy them!


I'm on a bit of a shoe/ring binge at the moment. A random combination, I know! But it's because I recently found an antiques places near to where I live (I have no idea how I've never found it before but what a discovery!) and they have some gorgeous jewellery but I have yet to buy anything. I'm hoping my next trip home will result in some new accessories. It's a major bonus that there's also a horsey section so I can buy a new pair of riding boots whilst I'm there!


I'm currently on a time limit so I'm going to have to leave it there but a more topic-specific post is on its way, I assure you! 


Sorry for the randomness!

A Heart of Darkness

Courtesy of vampire-diaries.net. Check this site out, it's one of the best fan sites out there.

I should currently be doing work but I just had to write about this...
So I have just finished watching season 3, episode 19 of The Vampire Diaries, "Heart of Darkness" (which is airing tonight in the UK) because I couldn't wait any longer and my god, if you don't watch this program you are seriously missing out. 


Anybody who knows me knows that I freaking love this show. The kind of love that makes me go all shaky excited whenever I talk about it, to the point where it verges on becoming an addiction. Actually no, scrap that, it is an addiction. 


For those of you who already love this program as much as I do, you can empathise with my love here but I'm telling all of you who are sitting there thinking 'I won't bother with that; I don't feel like sitting through another Twilight', this is a thousand times better. And I don't say that lightly; I love Twilight after reading the books in Year 10 and falling deeply in love with Edward. But since I'm now nearly 19, I'm finding that Twilight (notably the films) just isn't as exciting anymore. Enter The Vampire Diaries. 


First of all, for those who vaguely know the storyline is similar to Twilight, The Vampire Diaries came first in the form of a book series written by L J Smith back in 1991. Yeah that's right 1991, a whole 14 years before the release of the Twilight novels. So you can get that 'she copied Twilight' idea out of your head! 


And second, if you want a bit of eye candy, this is the place to look. I swear The Vampire Diaries have the best-looking cast on television by a long shot. Nina Dobrev and Candice Accola are stunning, and Paul Wesley is hot. But this post wouldn't be complete if I didn't drool over Ian Somerhalder who is so perfectly suited to playing Damon. Maybe it's his bad boy style character (which I'm a sucker for anyway) or maybe it's just those eyes but if anything is worth watching this program for, it's him. Put him and Paul Wesley together and you have an amazing combination.


I do have to applaud the writers of The Vampire Diaries. I have yet to find another program that keeps me as gripped as this does (and yes I have tried True Blood). Apart from 3 episodes of the latest season which seemed to have lost a bit of their usual pizzazz (and let's be honest 3 out of 66 ain't bad), every episode throws up amazing twists that 1. you never see coming no matter how on-the-ball you think you are and 2. you have no idea how the characters will overcome. But they do, even if it means killing off main characters and that's something that makes this program brilliant because they aren't afraid to take such a risk like that. And believe me, it always pays off.


If you've been convinced and now think you might give it a go, don't read on because there are a few spoilers that would ruin the experience for you, because, quite frankly, you should discover these things yourself.


For the rest of you fans, this was one of those episodes that was beautifully written. And here's one word bound to make thousands squeal: Delena. It finally happened! I say finally but I know it's happened twice before, yet somehow each time seems like the first time?! Regardless, this was even more perfect than Damon's deathbed scene. The longing looks, the tender touches and finally that passion- Nina and Ian acted this moment flawlessly. Plus, the music choice fitted the moment so well (Florence and the Machine- Never Let Me Go), as it always does. I think I may have stopped breathing with excitement during this whole scene. As you can probably tell, I'm rooting big time for Delena but I can't help thinking that it might not be all that exciting anymore once it really happens (by that I mean not just stealing forbidden kisses here and there). But I have complete faith in the writers that this won't happen. 


Now that I have that out my system (to my friends if you're reading this- you need to start watching so I have someone to discuss these things with!)... I love the one-liners in this program; they never fail to disappoint. From Stefan's "Get the hell out of my house" to Caroline and Rebekah's "No!" in unison. And I had to laugh at the "He thinks he's so funny" moment when Elena and Alaric find Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde which Damon had given him to read.


But of course the highlight was the ending with yet another twist. Esther in Rebekah's body? Brilliant. I can see another amazing season finale on the horizon with allies formed out of enemies, and love blooming from lust.