Winter Wonderland

Lately I've been...

My all time favourite nail varnish, Essie's 'Ballet Slippers'.

Friday night and new shoesies! £12 from Primark, ta very much!

What you feel is what you are and what you are is beautiful.

Worst photo ever but I went to see the Goo Goo Dolls when they played in Newcastle last week and they were amazing. I had such a good time singing along to every song even though I'd lost my voice the night before. Nothing better than hearing the songs you adore live.

Granny at heart.

Apple & Elderflower Room Spray, £4, M&S

I recently have discovered a love of elderflower cordial which led to me picking up this room spray whilst I was in M&S en route to buy Percy Pigs (classy I know). Anyways, it smells divine. Light, fresh and with a good bit of lasting-power. Not bad M&S, not bad.

Taking Stock

Courtesy of Pip from Meet Me at Mikes

Making : score cards for a bar crawl this evening
Cooking : soup and pitta bread (if that actually counts as cooking)
Drinking : tea
Reading: Wolf Hall 
Wanting: the iPhone 5s/ a new fall wardrobe
Looking: like a right state because I need to shower and get ready for work!
Playing: a cheeky bit of Sean Paul
Wasting: time because I can
Sewing: as if!
Wishing: I didn't have to work this evening so I could be part of all of the festivities
Enjoying: bopping to Sean Paul in my room and my new winter coat
Waiting: for my student loan, ha!
Liking: being back in a busy, bustling flat filled with beautiful girlies
Wondering: what to wear this evening
Loving: life (cliched but true)
Hoping: that work will be okay and go quickly
Marvelling: at much more organised and tidy I have become since first year
Needing: another cup of tea
Smelling: my room air freshener - coastal breeze
Wearing: shorts and a hoody
Noticing: the time and realising I should probably get a move on
Knowing: I have some great friends
Thinking: I'm lucky to have them
Feeling: happy, a little tired and excited to celebrate a birthday
Bookmarking: wintry recipes to try 
Opening: cute cards from my ever doting Nana
Giggling: at the antics my friends get up to
Feeling: good.

In my everyday bag.

What can I say, I'm not exactly exciting...

Make-up bag - old

Pencil case - Paperchase

Umbrella - Totes via Asda

Brush - Boots

Sunglasses - Stolen from my sister

Purse - Mango

Key rings - MCFC, Maid of the Mist etc.

Filofax - Paperchase

Smile.

Life this week: trains, football and time with my family.

Whatsername.

Typical day.

Miss Selfridge jeans, Mango top, Primark flats, Miss Selfridge jacket, Mango purse.

Dreaming in Portofino

My new favourite scent has to be Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue Dreaming in Portofino. I've been looking for a new perfume for a while now and this is everything I've been waiting for. I am not a fan of sickly, sweet perfumes (think the Britney perfumes - my sister wears them and gets complimented all the time but they're just too much for me) and I prefer fresh, summery scents. It sounds cheesy but every time I spray myself with it, I think of lazy, summer days lounging in the sun. Perfect.

From the Sephora website:

"Go on a sensual journey through dream locations of the Mediterranean. Named for the picturesque fishing village and resort of the rich and famous on the Italian Riviera, this spellbinding fragrance, Dreaming in Portofino, bursts with an utter feeling of summer, precious pastimes, and true delight. Notes of sweet litchi and musky ambrette seed join with rich floral tones of soft iris and exhilarating osmanthus, bringing to mind summers filled of relaxing getaways and vivacious voyages. 

Notes:
Citrus Accord, Pink Pepper, Crisp Aquatic, Geranium, Amber, Patchouli. 
Style:
Sensual. Adventurous. Fresh."

 PS. It's also on offer at Boots at the moment for a bit of a bargain price.

Last minute bikini dilemma.

My sister and I plan to book a last minute holiday in the next week or so, which of course is lovely. However, it has left me with the problem of there being F*CK ALL swimwear left in the shops. All my bikinis are looking a bit grotty and so I definitely need at least one before I go.

So here we go, my best of what's left:

ASOS also has some half decent things left but sadly it's a roulette game of whether they have your size left at the moment. Fingers crossed ey?

Move Along.

My week of boredom, rabbit food, homemade carrot and coriander soup (this recipe), slouchy jumpers with hot chocolate before bed and day-to-day dressing.

Sleepy streets and a really pretty blue sky.

Summer Wishlist

Summer Wishlist by lauray 

Blazer Topshop / Miss Selfridge printed romper / Zara heeled sandals / Patent leather handbag / Light Blue Dolce and Gabbana fragrance

Lil Star

'I may not be the brightest, nor am I the last one you'll see.

But as long as you notice, that's just fine with me'

⃰⃰⃰⃰⃰⃰☆

- Kelis

A long walk in borrowed purple hunters and then an icy pint of Strongbow sat by the canal. Summer's good.

I bought books.

Amazon is my best friend.

This weekend, in outfits.

Saturday & Sunday

dress: Forever 21, boots: Zara, crochet cardi: Topshop, top: M&S Limited Collection, denim shorts: Zara, bag: H&M

I spent my weekend working (I waitress), doing chores and generally trying to do as little else as possible. Much as I love having my schedule crammed with fun shit, sometimes it's nice to relax.

Catch-up

So this summer, I'm staying in Newcastle to work which sort of sucks because I miss getting chance to go home for a while and be spoilt but hey ho! I've been getting up to some nice things in the meantime which has been good and I have plenty planned to ensure the rest of the summer flies by before scary 3rd year commences.

I went to Wimbledon and saw the Men's Semi-Finals which was amazing. London was beautiful in the glorious weather.

My gorgeous little sister turned 18!

I've spent some nice afternoons drinking and eating in the sunshine in quirky places around where I live.

I moved into my new flat and I'm loving having another blank canvas to begin decorating.

All in all, I've been pretty busy even though sometimes I look back and question what exactly have I been doing with my time. I need to start taking more photos of the things I get up to so I can use this blog as a bit of a timeline of my life - boring and exciting things!

Even though you don't know my name.

Overpriced yet yummy green juice, just hanging out with the two cuties that are my sister and cousin, new Zara boots, healthy and nutritious breakfast, being a good granddaughter at the garden centre, happy girly on the beach. 

Forget the Bahamas, I love British beaches!

Even on an overcast day, I adore being on the beach. Sometimes I forget how beautiful England is and why I do actually like living here. Even though I deny it 360 days a year.

If you've had a long day at work...

Stick this on and have a little sing-a-long. You'll feel better I promise.

Tastes like freedom and summer.

So I finished my exams on Tuesday and have spent the remainder of the week doing sweet f**k all. It's been bliss.

I finally have freshly dyed hair (gone back blonde baby!), a clean(ish) room, have written out thank you cards for my 21st presents, treated myself to some bits and bats and finalised a summer job! Phew.

Last night I went out with some of my friends for drinks and we bar hopped along the quayside. I love this area of Newcastle and it looked so lovely as we took a stroll across the Millennium bridge.

and an out-take of yours truly being daft:

Plans for today  include an afternoon BBQ, making myself beautiful and then a Gatsby-themed blow out to say goodbye to our hilarious big gay house. So long mirrored ceilings and dodgy chandeliers! We'll miss you!

I neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed these boots in my life (Zara). But they're sold out wahhhhhhhhhhh.

I need them for slouching about in summery dresses and sunglasses. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE come back in stock.

Thanks,

Laura.

[update: I GOT THEM yayayayayaya! come to mama]

'coz life aint like a movie but you still wish it could be.

Procrastination ahoy there.

this is for those 20-somethings, time really moves fast you were just 16.

It's been a while, I'm sorry. Been super busy with essays and revision and trying to get through these last few weeks of second year in one piece.

I had such a lovely 21st birthday. I swear I didn't stop moving for a good 5 days.

It started on the Friday night with a merry trip to Brewdog and then onto a cocktail bar for some delicious drinkies. Pretty chilled in anticipation for the rest of the weekend!

Saturday began in the best of ways with the arrival of my gorgeous little sister to celebrate with me. We grabbed a cheeky Nandos before heading back to my house to get ready for my parddddy.

The party got off to a great start with beer pong and some terrible disposable camera snaps before heading out to my student union who do a decent night on a Saturday. 

Sunday was spent BBQ-ing and sunbathing on the roof/balcony. Some of the boys had given my water balloons as a random present the previous day but they ended up being one of my best birthday presents because we ended up having a hilarious water fight where we pelted the boys on the roof and generally soaked each other.

Sunday evening was another night out, packed because of the Bank Holiday the next day. I love Newcastle but the locals are insane. Cannot tell you the amount of time my sister and I had to fend off guys touching our arses, giving us proposals, trying to take us home... madness!

Monday morning I headed home to Manchester. My lovely father picked my sister and I up. I had planned a chilled afternoon of drinking icy lemonade and eating my weight in cake but little did I know that my naughty mother had planned me a mini surprise party which loads of my family turned up to! The weather was incredible and I couldn't have asked for a nicer few hours being spoilt and catching up with what everyone had been up to. My mum and nana worked so incredibly hard planning everything and slaving away in the kitchen to put on some yummy food so a BIG THANK YOU to them.

Tuesday was B-DAY. Dual meaning in it being my actual birthday but also BEYONCE DAY (I think I was more excited about the latter!). She was INCREDIBLE. We hit town afterwards but it was so dead. Manc, I love you loads but dayum you had some weird people about on that night! Still my girls made it a good laugh and we all cuddled up in our (slightly gross) Travel Lodge bed knackered but happy! 

Thank you to everyone who made my 21st one of the best birthdays I have ever had. I love you all.

Now for the important bit - the photos!

Bit of a random order but you get the jist! Big love to my family & friends ♥♥♥