THE LIFE EDIT: The semi-hiatus is over!

Phew, I've been gone for a minute, moving house is hard! The past few weeks have been spent moving out and cleaning my old student flat, moving back in with my parents, trying to find a job, getting very ill and lots of family ups and downs along the way! I'm back settled in my tiny old box room with plenty of time to share with the blog now!  

Moving back home from university is a  very weird adjustment - funnily enough my parents aren't up for random shots and pizza dance parties at 3am. Who would've thought? It's all about Netflix and early bedtimes now. 

I thought I'd share some Instagram shots with you of the last few weeks to catch you up to speed about life back in Berkshire and what I've been doing with my time! 

In no real order, I moved out of my Southampton flat, got reacquainted with the natural beauty around Berkshire (sunsets at the lakes are my favourite), a family wedding, caught up with my best friends, enjoyed Wireless Festival (even the Kanye speech...kind of) and passed university!! 

A bit of a mad few weeks where I also managed to watch the majority of the US Office, because I am a graduate with my priorities straight! For a more regular look into what I'm getting up to, follow me on Instagram  or Twitter! I will always follow back or say hi! (Also if anyones wondering, I'm now an A-List celebrity on Kim Kardashian Hollywood which has taken the majority of my time, not even ashamed!)

What have you been up to this summer?

Back to regular blogging now! xo  

THE LIFESTYLE: Book Review 'If You Have to Cry, Go Outside' by Kelly Cutrone

Kelly Cutrone is like a scary old head teacher I used to have at secondary school, but with a serious contacts book and fashion credibility to make any intern quiver. When I discovered her book, 'If you have to cry, go outside' on an Amazon binge shopping trip, it ticked all my reading boxes, and here's why...

I've joked about a quarter life crisis before in a couple of posts, but if you're in a situation where you're at a crossroads, or you're not entirely happy with where you're going/what you're doing (aka, any graduate, or general twentysomethings)  Kelly Cutrone has written the book to give you a big ol' kick up the, well you know...

I picked up this book last year on a whim from Amazon, not really expecting much than a good read for train journeys, but I couldn't bring myself to put it down. Kelly's do-it-fucking-now-and-do-it-right attitude is infectious. Not in the way that she was a scary boss you'd do anything for  from her appearances on The Hills and The City, but in the way she makes you question what you're doing, why you're doing it, and why the fuck isn't it going right. 

Kelly is a successful business woman, and the book tells the story of her experiences of creating her own PR company People's Revolution -  from witty ditties to shocking lows - even to a surprising spiritual level. One of the most successful women in the industry, Cutrone is known for her no-nonsense attitude when it comes to her work, her personal life, and her pared down style. Famously named 'Kell on Earth', this book goes a long way to show why Kelly is the tough cookie she is, how she learnt from her own experiences and what it takes to make it in a tough industry.

Having just finished university - and the academic world forever - I found myself a bit stuck on my next move. I rediscovered this book during the big move home and had to read it again, if only for the wise words to fire me into some direction of a career path. For the second time, I finished it with record speed and was completely invigorated by Kelly's story. 

If you're looking to read an interesting fashion book, a book to take for a weekend away, or a motivational book with none of the preach, 'If you have to cry...' is it. An engaging enjoyable read that will make you want to dress in all black, ditch your job and run off to New York. I'm packing the suitcase of black now. 

Do you have any must-read selections for me? Let me know below or on Twitter! 

Testing, testing...

Phew. It's been a minute, hey? 

SUMMER PLAYLIST PART 1

My ridiculously long uni summer holiday has certainly been good for one thing: my playlist game is top level. I've been working on a SUMMER PLAYLIST the past few days and thought I'd share some of my favourites right now! 

Panic! at the Disco feat. Lolo - Miss Jackson

Cue endless chanting of "Miss Jackson, Miss Jackson, Miss Jackson, are you naaaastyyyy." One of my favourite tween bands is back with a brand new single this summer, and so far it's been on repeat all day. Decapitating pretty girls, car-park dancing and a big-ass sword...if that's your thing.

Best Coast - When I'm With You 

Having a song you don't know properly stuck in your head is so frustrating. Especially when it's one of those perfect songs like this one. I don't even know how I found this song but its top of my summer playlist and is the best driving-in-the-sunshine-good-summer-vibes song you'll find. And the video has Ronald McDonald walking on a beach, if that doesn't float your boat I don't know what will. 

Jay Z feat. Justin Timberlake - Holy Grail 

Post Wireless festival blues are running strong. Opening their set on Sunday night with this killer album opener gave me total body goosebumps. Best. performance. ever. Obviously it's going to be top of the playlists for a while now, as well as the rest of this utterly perfect album. 

 

The Maine - Like We Did (Windows Down)

Adding to the perfect-summer-vibe songs, Like We Did (Windows Down) from The Maine's third album Pioneer is an easy breezy summer essential. Reminiscing of "being young" while dressed up as wrinkly old men, The Maine provides a song perfect for road trips, beach days and singing along with all your friends. 

Let me know what songs you guys have in your summer playlists! xo

The Forever Alone Diaries: Valentine's Day Edition!

Hello. It's that time of year again. And yes, you're single. 

Valentine's Day turns your average lovely, sweet, ordinary girl into three types of girls, I have found:

1. The crazy girlfriend - big on V. Day - overly mushy Facebook statuses and Instagram pictures of what her PERFECT boyfriend treated her to. Generally annoying, but even worse on February 14th.

2. The ANNOYING AS FUCK single girl - everyone knows this girl. She is SO DESPERATELY sad about being single on this dreaded day and will let everybody know this on every social media platform possible. Yes. That girl.
3. The girl not in a relationship who doesn't become a psycho/doesn't realllllly care that much about it all. (I'm putting myself here, not bias of course.)
(There is of course the lovely average girl in a relationship who doesn't get affected by all this Valentine's Day crap, but she is too normal and lovely to write about here, so sorry if you're that girl!)

Last Valentine's Day or as I have heard it described 'the worst day ever' - see girl number two - three girlfriends and I decided to spend the evening on a double-date. A fun dinner with the girls, with lots of wine in a restaurant overlooking the marina. Sounds like the perfect night, right? 

So the four of us were all dressed up beautifully, of course, and were off to celebrate what would be my first real Valentines day. After I'm labelling myself as girl number three, V-Day has never really meant anything to me, the odd card from my parents when I was little and that's about it. Not very romantic at all. 

Annnnnyway, back to the dinner. In general, the evening was perfect. I had fun, I felt and thought that I looked good - that sums up a good night right? Except, everyone else in that restaurant around us seemed to have a problem with the four single girls giggling away over some rosé. The restaurant chose not to decorate our table with candles etc like the other tables. The walk to our table was possibly one of the most awkward of my life. Every set of eyes, from pitying women to confused men - what were we, four single girls, doing out in a restaurant, couples territory, on Valentines Day? No wonder single girls go crazy when they're without partners on February 14th, we're pretty much conditioned to either be in a relationship or be miserable that we're not. 

This Valentine's Day, I'm learning my lesson not to flaunt my fabulous single fun 

and keeping it low-key with a girlfriend, a new dress I treated myself to and some drinks. 

What are your plans for the most romantic day of the year? *voms*

My chronically single Christmas, and why it'll be amazing.

My name is Laura and I am a chronically single girl.

Pheeeewww. It felt good to get that out of the way. 

Do you know what is possibly seen as the worst part of it though? Being single around Christmas. 

However, here is my list of reasons as to why being single around Christmas doesn't have to be a horrible experience involving hideous Christmas jumpers, endless crying and generally being that single girl but that the festive period is the best time of year to be single. Honestly, it is. Bear with me.

Reason number 1: So. Much. Cheaper. You don't have to buy your partner any presents. Or their mums. Or worry about how much is appropriate to spend on them. To make it even better, I spent the money I may have used if I had a boyfriend on myself and bought a fur stole and some cool band shirts. Surely this is a win-win situation?

Reason number 2: Guilt free holiday time. That's right, you CAN spend all Christmas Day in your pyjamas with your family (not his, never his) not really doing anything at all and that be it. Then party New Year's Eve up with your best friends and some random New Years Kiss and not feel guilty or be stuck being the other half to a boring "romantic night in" couple. I think I know where I'd rather be this New Years, and it doesn't involve a sofa but does involve some drunk midnight kisses and fun with my friends thank you very much. 

Reason number 3: No stupid drama about the rubbish present your other half is bound to get you. "Oh wow, a lovely pink Parker pen with my name on it? How sweet..." Fan-fucking-tastic. Instead of being down about your relationship status, buy yourself something you actually want, or spend some money on drinks with the girls and actually enjoy yourself rather than having to fake loving whatever awful present your man could have thought up. Trust me, it feels so much better. 

Reason number 4: Office party snogs. Okay I don't have direct experience of this, but office Christmas parties are made to get completely silly on cheap mulled wine and have a cheeky kiss with that guy from work. 1. You can blame it on the mulled wine. 2. You can also blame it on the mistletoe. 3. Any reason to drunkenly kiss a lovely guy from work is completely okay in my book. Embrace being single, and that glass of mulled wine. 

Reason number 5: You don't have the worry about getting an awful present/getting dumped/having an awkward Christmas dinner with his family. You know why? Because nobody wants to spend Christmas with a box of mansize tissues and a face like a wet seal has repeatedly slapped it (this is my crying face, with some added running mascara). Spend it how you want to instead, without having to worry about your other half, or losing your other half even. 

Enjoy Christmas being your own, get shamelessly drunk or stay in your pyjamas eating cranberry sauce straight out the jar, but don't have a Bridget Jones "All by myself" moment about being single over Christmas, because, well...does that even need an explanation?

(And another point, there's no shared presents. I mean, what are they even about?!)

Sounds of the week: This Century ft Austin Gibbs

I first discovered This Century when they supported The Maine in London on their UK tour in September and quickly fell in love with their catchy sound that I've literally been dancing around the house to all week. 

This Century is a pop punk four piece band from Phoenix, Arizona, but their songs have such a dancey feel-good vibe they've been one of my Spotify top artists pretty much since I saw them in September!

For anyone missing the warmer summer weather now, This Century is pretty much the perfect reminder of summer fun, definitely what you need if you're stuck in the cold like I am!

They recently released a single "Skeletons" - the perfect addition to any Halloween/party playlist for this week, check it out below!

Can't keep my hands off the gothic trend...literally!

It started with the new dark hair, then it was the purple Topshop lipstick, and my love for all things dark this season has finally reached my nail varnish collection. 

I'm usually into very bright or pastel nail colours, lilacs, coral pinks, you name it, I have the colour (or three of them). 

But a recent Boots 3-for-2 Rimmel shopping haul left me with one free item, so I decided to experiment. I had already picked up a deep red colour called Rapid Ruby that was the perfect compliment to all my new Oxblood pieces - I told you all I had an oxblood problem. 

Soooo this time I decided to try a darker colour that wasn't black, black just gets way too boring for nails now. This brings me to the Rimmel 60 Seconds nail varnish in 600 Deliciously Dark. This colour is dark enough to work an evening look, stands out enough without being a boring shade of black and is bang on trend. What more could a nail varnish do? 

I do realise this picture makes it look very close to black, but it honestly is a much deeper purple/black blend. 

Harrods Windows get a Disney makeover!

All my Christmases have come at once this week.

As if I needed any other reason to be in love with Harrods. This year Harrods are decorating their Christmas windows display with a magical Princess makeover, with a high fashion twist on the Disney Princesses.

Some of fashions biggest names including Jenny Packham, Elie Saab and Versace have put their stamp on the classical princesses style with their own creations of the dresses, which will be displayed in the windows from November onwards.

Not only the ridiculously beautiful window display, Harrods are also featuring a 7,000 square-foot Disney Princess pop-up boutique - I actually squealed at this - that will be open from November 1st and is deeeefinitely worth a visit!

My favourite is definitely the Elie Saab Sleeping Beauty dress - it's so classic Elie Saab but is still perfectly in style with Aurora (my favourite Disney Princess) that it's just perfect! And of course Cinderella by Versace is worth a mention, how elegant is that dress? It's just so...Cinders! Without all the floor scrubbing and just the Prince Charming onwards.

(Apologies for my Disney madness, I am a teenage girl what can I say?)

Sounds of the week: “Put on your dancing shoes and come to the show”

Move over Justin Bieber and Carley Rae Jepsen. Hamilton based super indie group Arkells are officially the best thing to come out of Canada since maple syrup and annoying teen stars. 

You probably aren’t familiar with the Canadian Football league, or the hugely successful Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Admittedly, neither was I until their new ridiculously catchy new team anthem “Ticats are Hummin”, courtesy of Hamilton based super indie group, Arkells found it’s way to me.

The perfect accompaniment to the colder weather and autumn showers, Arkells are the ultimate warm up and jam out band. Harmonies to make you tap your feet to the contagious rhythm of their guitars; the Arkells epidemic has truly caught on. Far from the dubstep remixes and hits of the Top 40, the Canadian group are bringing a vibrant new sound to the charts, says vocalist Max Kerman – “The most exciting part about music for me is hearing something that is so fresh to my ears.”

“For this new record [Michigan Left] we weren’t trying to make something more abstract, we tried to make three and a minute songs that were fun to listen to in your car, walking down the street or thrown on at a party. We really focused on getting a good economy to the songs.”

If contagious rhythm and rock music to make you tap your feet and dance around to, Arkells are the only band you need for your playlist. Lucky for you, the band is touring the UK this September with tween favourites turned country rockers The Maine. An evening made for warm beer and awkward swaying; Arkells are set to dance their way into your playlist with their new album Michigan Left.

Check out their single Kiss Cam on the right sidebar. Such a good song to remind you of summer in this awful Autumn weather!

New year at Uni is making me all sophisticated!

Okay my girl crush on super woman Michelle Obama is just going too far now. 

Some back to uni shopping last week found me in the shoe section of River Island trying on these nude court shoes, which I immediately fell in love with. Far from my usual studded pumps and boots style, I found myself going all Michelle Obama on the shoe section, strutting around as if I was a First Lady of the high street! Mrs Obama has some serious style, the epitome of ladylike with some of fashion's biggest names in her wardrobe and big fans in some of America's biggest names such as Mrs Beyoncé Knowles herself! 

At a lovely and affordable price of £25, these shoes are the new staple of my wardrobe - can be worn day or night to add a little bit of elegance to any outfit. 

Maaaaajor.

Michelle Obama on the Jay Leno show earlier this year            River Island - £25

Time to get darker...I'm brunette!

The beginning of October means saying goodbye to all my cute pastel crop tops and bright sandals and hello to the deep rich colours of Autumn/ Winter. Oxblood has replaced all the bright colours as my latest style obsession - I'm not even kidding, if it is oxblood I need it, it's an actual problem. Along with all the seasonal colour changes, and moving back down to Southampton for my second year of university, it must be the optimum time to try new things. So I'm trying one of the riskiest things I've yet to try - dying my hair dark. dun dun duuuuuuunnnnn.

I know what you're thinking, this really isn't as big a deal as I'm making it. Over the past 5-ish years I've been dying my hair every shade of blonde that exists (including super peroxide, but I don't like to talk about that.) I'd always wondered what I'd look like brunette and one day it just snapped, I needed to do it. 

So here it is, in a few days I have gone from a bright yellow-y blonde (and yes I went to Disneyland this September, I am a grown up) : 

to this! 

I'm really really happy with it, although I do keep forgetting about it and scaring myself when I see my reflection. Anyone else going darker this Winter? 

Finally clean after a dirty weekend at Reading...

Festival season, as well as our summer is officially over. :( 

This weekend was the Reading & Leeds Festival, in my opinion the best UK festival (and that's not just because I'm a Reading local!) With headliners including The Cure, Kasabian and Foo Fighters and the festival falling on the weekend of mine and one of my best friend's 19th birthdays, could the weekend get any better?

Reading Festival is a street style dream, with so many different styles with of course the standard festival outfit of short shorts, cute tee's and wellies. However the rain held off mostly and I actually made it all weekend without wearing wellies! Shocking I know, although my black biker boots were given a new look with ten or so layers of dust and dirt on them! 

All Time Low, You Me At Six, The Horrors and We Are The In Crowd are some of my highlights from the festival - aaaand of course the legendary Foo Fighters! Who ridiculously good was their set? The perfect end to an amazing weekend!  

If you went to Reading, let me know your highlights! 

My ultimate wedding venue: the home of Downton Abbey!

Having one of my best friends as a tour guide at the beautiful Highclere Castle in Hampshire served me, and my wild imagination, very well this week.

After a lovely picnic in the gardens and walk around the grounds - how very English Summertime of me, I know - I discovered my ultimate wedding fantasy. The most beautiful folly, a pillared temple built a little way from the main building for decoration in 1743 called Jackdaw's Castle. The gorgeous small temple is raised and looks onto the house and surrounding grounds in the most breathtaking way - especially on a clear blue sky day - as you can see from the pictures I took below.

Looking onto the beautiful house with a spacious lawn area - how perfect would this be for seating rows for a wedding ceremony?

Getting married in front of this gorgeous little temple is officially a part of my dream wedding - Vera Wang dress, Tiffany ring and all. Just need to find the groom now and I'm sorted.