Powered by Blogger.

MAGAZINE HAUL

When you miss your bus, buy magazines?




Magazines are my weakness. 
And when you're annoyed about missing your bus, and end up with an hour to waste, you buy more magazines? All but one of these magazines, I've never bought before. 



"SUITCASE magazine exists to change the way you travel. Forget underwhelming tourists cliches, and embrace the adventurous appetite of the next generation."
SUITCASE retails at £6.99 (I bought my copy from WHSmith) and they're currently selling Issue22. Issue 22, that I bought, is about Bangkok, Detroit, Johannesburg, Shanghai, Taipei, and Tel Aviv. 



02. frankie magazine.
"frankie magazine is a national bi-monthly based in Australia, aimed at women (and men) looking for a magazine that's as smart, funny, sarcastic, friendly, cute, rude, arty, curious and caring as they are. We cover design, art, photography, fashion, travel, music, craft, interiors and real-life stories - we aim to surprise and delight readers with every turn of our beautifully matte pages, and have a good old laugh while doing so."
I've bought frankie several times before, but I decided to drop it from my regular buys when it wasn't as easily available to me. I would say it's more teen orientated, but that might because I discovered it back in college. Sold at £7.99.




03. Oh Comely.
"oh comely is a curious, honest and playful independent magazine. It's a place to meet strangers, hear their stories and look at life a little differently - where our readers are our writers and our models, too."
Oh Comely, is a classic to me. I've got a subscription with the magazine and adore seeing their covers come through my letterbox. Comparable to frankie magazine, but, essentially, the British equivalent (side note: I'm starting to feel shame about the idea of something British, and have a struggle with calling myself British or English now - I get negative connotations from it?). Sold at £6.00, but slightly cheaper on subscription.



04. Project Calm Magazine.
"A brand new magazine bringing mindfulness into the craft room...
When our hands need a break form fervid crafting we like to relax with a cup of tea and a good read, so we are delighted to introduce our new sister magazine which merges both craft and thought-provoking articles: meet Project Calm. This new magazine is packed with contemporary crafts including calligraphy, paper cutting and origami-style paper folding, as well as creative ideas with herbs, maps, stamps, and beach finds - it's 'Mindfulness Through Making'."
Project Calm is a magazine that I had seen floating around a few magazine stores for a while. I didn't realise it was a sister company to Mollie Makes; which is a magazine that I have picked up time and time again. From what I can tell Project Calm is a craft alternative to other mindfulness magazines. A little pricier then other magazines, at £9.99, however a lot of components are included to make many of the projects inside. 



"Breathe magazine is the original mindfulness mag for a calmer and more relaxed you. This body-and-soul guide to a happier, healthier life. Includes 5 sections - wellbeing, living, mindfulness, creativity and escape. The aim of Breathe magazine is to help you "make more time for yourself". Each issue includes beautiful illustrations, craft projects, and inspiring features such as how to achieve relief from stress, increase resilience and find greater happiness."
Again, another magazine I had seen floating around for a little while. Mindfulness and mental health is coming more and more into the front of the public eye, and I don't think there is any harm in a magazine to work towards mental health. 

What are your favourite magazines?





Mid-Week Slump

I'm writing this post as a form of procrastination.


As I'm writing this, it's Tuesday evening (7.04pm to be precise) and I've spent all day finishing off part of my hand in for Thursday. I've had my afternoon slump, and now is my post-dinner slump where I'm too full of food to concentrate on my work. Realistically this project could be completely finished and handed in tonight, alas! procrastination. 

Anyway, here are some thoughts running around through my head right now...

Firstly, I cannot quite believe that after this project I have ONE more hand in and I'm finished with university. Two degrees and I'm done. How have those years just disappeared? 

Secondly, my birthday was yesterday (Monday, to you) and I feel like I should make some goals of something for the next year. I didn't get swept up into the new year resolutions - dissertation deadline - I think after this deadline it might be good to set myself goals and get myself back on track again.

Thirdly, from all the typing I've done today; I am whizzing through this blog post. Typing so fast, it's crazy. You can't tell but my frazzled brain wants you to know.

Fourthly, and finally, I want to really focus on my reading again. I keep saying it, but I'm yet to finish a book in 2018. I set myself the goal of reading 30 books this year and I'm SO behind. I've started many books, but I've stopped reading for fun and remembering to read when I've got time off. 

So, here we're; procrastination session is over. This blog post is mostly written, minus when I reread it tomorrow and realise none of it makes sense. 

If you fancy it, leave me a book recommendation below. A book that you would read after an EIGHT MONTH reading slump!

my everyday jewellery collection

I've upgraded from the costume jewellery I wore at 14. Goodbye green fingers.


It's taken me a while to work out what jewellery I like, what jewellery is practical for me to wear every day, and find out what jewellery I'm comfortable with. It's 90% silver. 

Watch. I gifted myself this Daniel Wellington watch at the end of my FdA and have worn it *almost* every day since! I believe I went for the Classic Petite Silver Bristol (here) leather strap and I, also, got the Bath fabric strap (although I cannot find it online, I would definitely consider the Cornwall strap (here) now) - but I've never used this strap. Since getting this watch I've not been able to go a day without wearing a watch. If I'm not wearing my DW watch, I wear a Sekonda watch that Andrew got me for Christmas - similar here

Alternative watch that I wear for work. Super cheap and from Argos. Here.
Bangle. I saw that Daniel Wellington released this bangle, but didn't want a bracelet that said 'daniel wellington'. So for my 21st, my mum and I went into Exeter and went into all the jewellers until we found one that I liked and fitted with my watch (here). It wasn't the cheapest. However, it's doing really well after a year of almost daily wear. 

Necklace. I realise how fortunate I am to have this necklace. And it was a 16th birthday present and I have no intention of ever owning anything from Tiffany again. *BUT* I wear it every day, sleep with it on, shower with it on, I can't remember the last time I took it off - maybe four years ago?

Hoop Earrings. A 21st birthday present from my Mum (here). I only started wearing earrings again 'full-time' a couple of years ago, so I try and buy silver or gold - so my ears don't turn green. I adore these hoops, the clasps are super easy, they minimal, and they're really comfy to sleep in. 10 out of 10, would buy again. Might buy again. 

Earrings. I pretty much always wear a hoop earring and some variety of stud. Normally a hoop in my first lobe piercing, and the stud in my second lobe piercing. These are some various ones that I own and rotate between here, here, here, and here. Really rate ASOS and Claire's for silver earrings - because I wear them every day I don't want to spend *loads* of money on silver earrings that eventually will get bent. I, also, wear some blue topaz studs a lot - no idea where they're from, I got them for Christmas over 10 years ago, but these are ~similar~.

Bracelet. I'm 22 and my bf & I have friendship bracelets (here). These are cute and fairly cheap from Next.

Rings. The band with polka dots is from an independent maker, who I cannot remember the name of. The feather ring is from Country Chic in Launceston - again, I don't know the actual brand. And the circle ring is from ASOS (here). 

My requirements from jewellery are for it to be silver (or white gold), minimal, classic, and comfortable. 

For work, I wear my necklace, earrings, and my cheap Argos watch. 

I don't own much costume jewellery anymore. I'm trying to buy less often, but of a higher quality. Which does mean I have to wait until a birthday or Christmas and have some financial support from family to buy a bracelet that fits the style I'm after. I, also, like wearing jewellery that has a memory/person attached to it, all of my jewellery was for an achievement, birthday, or from a loved one. 



what's on my bedside table

Spoiler: clutter. 


I got this bedside table over seven years ago from a random recycling furniture shop. I only got it because a) it was cheap, and b) I wanted a bedside table. Before this, I had a 'high' bed - meaning it was very impractical to have a bedside table 4ft below my actual bed. It's a fairly basic three drawer setup (see similar here, here, and here). The bottom two drawers are where I keep my underwear, and the top drawer is a glorified junk drawer - from remote controls to matches, to receipts, and light bulbs. 

I'm constantly fiddling around with the top though, after trying to keep it looking lovely and stylish, I've decided cluttered and practical is my need. And apparently a lot of floral prints.



The basics:

Lamp (similar here - almost identical) is originally from B&Q - probably the cheapest one they were selling when I wanted a new lamp. This lamp has traveled to uni and back home again with me, you have to replace the bulbs every year or so, but overall a good choice. I, almost, exclusively use the lamp in my bedroom and detest using the main light. I prefer the cozy 'hygge' look. 

Photo-frame (a gift from my Great Gran - probably something she found in her elderly center on a charity table - bless her soul). It holds a photo of Andrew and I from a couple of years ago. 

Reed Diffuser (Molton Brown here) - I bought my Mum a reed diffuser (here) a few years ago from Molton Brown and she loved it. So, when Christmas came around I asked if she would buy me one in return - they're pricey, and definitely not something you want to buy for yourself, but they smell so lovely! And this one is still half-full after a year of use!!  

Trinket Dish (see Great Gran's extensive collection of 'tat' - can I be a snob and say it's vintage?) this is where I keep my daily jewelry at the end of the day - and other odds & ends that make their way beside the bed. 



Interchangeable extras:

Laptop. Sometimes it makes it onto the bedside table. Other times I end up putting it on the floor beside my bed.

Magazines. Currently, I have the Spring(?!) issue of Oh Comely magazine (here) on my bedside table. But other favourites are; Elementum (here), Frankie (here), bedboat (here), and Cereal (here).

Bullet Journal. Like my laptop, this just ends up plonked in random corners of the room. This is the leuchturrm 1917 A5 in anthracite [see: grey.] (here). I'm reaching the end of this bullet journal, I think once this chap is finished I'm going to downsize to the A6/pocket bujo. 

Book. I constantly have half-finished books on my bedside table. I recently moved them back to the bookshelf - because I've been trying to read Bridget Jones' diary since last October! However, I'm currently reading Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews (here) (short review, although I'm only 100 pages in, you can tell it is written by a man).  

Flowers. I normally let my flowers dry up. I actually think dry flowers look nice, but they can be messy. This vase (correction: jug) is another find from my Great Gran and the flowers were £1.34 in the Tesco reduced bin. 

Drink. In the past, I've had a collection of various glasses gather on this table. But recently I've invested (an understatement at the cost) in a Chillys water bottle (here) and I've been taking it everywhere with me! (Might do a post on cutting plastic out of my life? Interested? Let me know.) 

Other items that end up on my bedside table are my purse, keys, trinkets around the room, various plants, and beauty products that go walkabouts around the room. 



Honorable mentions:

The various hairbands/clips that gather on my bedside table, 
the layer of dust under my lamp, 
and to my iphone charger
Other stuff: cable holders (Tiger), drawer knobs (B&M), and decorative heart (Primark).

What essentials do you have to have on your bedside table? Or do you exist without clutter next to your bed? 


P.S. Italic style font? Yay or nay? Let me know if it's awful. Or if you prefer the classic font?

April Goals.

April showers bring May flowers.


I know everyone else will be saying the same words, but where has the year gone? It's April, month four, a third of the way through 2018. whut. 
I've spent February & March starting projects and just cruising through the weeks. But now April is upon us and I have a looming deadline, my own birthday (gulp), and I'll be starting the final half of my last semester in uni. 

Anyway, here are some plans/goals for the month...

01. A holiday. At last. Sounds incredibly boring, but we're heading up to Cheddar tomorrow for a week. I've got my new swimsuit, I've got books to be read, I'm prepared to go full holiday mode in cold April - in England. In all seriousness, I'm so excited to have time off that isn't taken up by work -albeit I have a load of uni work to take with me. 

02. Second-to-last deadline of the final year. My next deadline is the BIG one. From this point on, I'm putting my other project on the back burner and will be focusing exclusively on my professional practise module for a couple of weeks. 

03. READ AGAIN. I am yet to finish a book in 2018, awful? I know. Normally I'm flying through my reading goals by March, but I haven't been able to commit to reading a whole book. So, while on holiday, I'm going to read a book. A whole book. 

04. Using my days off (from work & uni) to meet up with friends more. When I do have time off, I forget to see people and collapse on the sofa for a day. So, I'm going to use my days off to have fun and see people I *actually* like. 

05. Bullet Journal. I fell off the bandwagon last month, a mixture of stressing about what other people thoughts, trying to do what others were doing, and a lot of self-doubting. But I'm convinced that April will be the month for me. (There is going to be an extra blog post on Wednesday with my monthly spreads in! (UPDATE: I never wrote this post and went on holiday before remembering. Sorry. We will try again next month?)

Considering my deadline is on the 19th and I'm on holiday this month, I don't want to put too much pressure on myself. But here are some brief goals or plans for April. 

All in all, an exciting and fast-paced month! What have you guys got planned?