February Favourites

It's February! Know what that means? Days not being entirely enveloped by encroaching, chilly, dark nights? The first, tentative buds of spring finally reaching from the waterlogged flowerbeds? The anniversary of BBC's EastEnders pilot broadcast? The day on which Byzantine Emperor Justinian ordered the building of a new Orthodox Christian basilica in Constantinople in 532BC? No silly, it means It's a month 'til my birthday.

Time for some February favourites.

#1. Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate

There is nothing more pretty than an elegant, sheer, tinted lip: and because of this, lip butters have been my go-to beauty product of the last year. After finally hitting pan with my trusted Korres Lip Butter in 'Plum' (a gorgeous, rich purple-y shade ideal for Winter), I thought it wise to update my collection with a colour more suited to Spring- and 'Pomegranate' did not disappoint. As always, the lip butters are hydrating, easy to apply, smell lovely and leave a delicate sheen and colour on the lips.

#2. Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream in Ivory 

I have a real struggle when it comes to buying foundations, especially as I have awkward pale, combination skin. However, this CC cream applies smoothly, has an absolutely perfect colour match, with just the right amount of coverage and, when paired with a good concealer and setting powder, leaves and almost flawless finish. I'm impressed. 

#3. 'S' Necklace 

I adore personalised necklaces, and this one that I bought from Illusy on Etsy is definitely my favourite so far. Set on a thin gold chain, the pretty gold disk with an 'S' punched partially though it looks beautiful with anything. I wear it almost everyday, and it has even survived a few (accidental!) trips in the shower. 

#4. 'On Chesil Beach' by Ian McEwan

Read as a recommendation from my A'Level English teacher, this wonderfully poignant novella is one of the best things I have read all year. Set in 1962, the story follows the wedding night of young newlyweds, Florence and Edward. The couple's love is undeniable, despite their differing social backgrounds; Edwards callous sexual eagerness; and Florence's sheer terror when faced with physical intimacy. The narrative swiftly alternates between the night in question, and the development of the couple's relationship; leaving a subtle aftertaste of the sweet blushes of timid romance, to the wobbly strides of nervous courting, ending in the awkward, and somewhat anti-climatic, embarrassment of first time love-making. It's a really beautiful, beautiful novella.  

A song for NYE

My lovely friend Georgie, of Georgie Talks Nails, introduced me to this song- and I really, really love it. But sadly, as much as I would love to be out dancing to this song with my friends this New Years Eve... I shall be working... aka pouring drinks for inebriated pensioners. I'm sure your heart bleeds.

A song for a Friday morning

Sam York - The Script



This morning was a good morning. After an incredibly stressful day of exam preparations yesterday (my first Journalism exams are next week!), a lazy morning with my boyfriend was definitely necessary. Anyway, today I also discovered this song: and I think It's really beautiful. In my opinion, It's a little reminiscent of a Ben Howard/Matthew West/Jack Williams combo... if that's even possible.

'It must have happened as I lay in your arms, and I listened to the beat of your heart'

Lily & Madeleine - Come To Me

Thank goodness for Rookie magazine, and their Sunday Videos, or else I would have never stumbled across this musical duo. With beautiful folky melodies, paired with ethereally haunting vocals, Lily & Madeleine produce wonderful, wonderful music. They remind me a little of Swedish Folk duo, First Aid Kit? Well worth a listen.

What I've Been Listening To

Oh God, I just want to be the 4th Haim sister, okay?!? I can just be the ever-so-slightly less elegant, cool, edgy and beautiful one that shovels grated cheese into her mouth at the back of the stage, while the other 3 harmonise and swing their glossy tresses in a serene and stylish manner.

Regardless of that strange mental image... the song is wonderful.

5 Books

Firstly, I apologise for the blog neglect. But prior to writing this, I spent the first half of the summer in a miasma of blind panic as A'Level results day grew ever nearer... and the latter half will now be spent in a similar state, as in two weeks I leave for University. Therefore in preparation for my impending last step of education (19 days) not that i'm counting or anything, I thought a post that was somewhat more academic might be in order. So here are 5 books- not necessarily my top 5 favourite books- but books which have not only changed my perspective on literature, but in some rare cases, life in general.

1. Tess of the d'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy

Okay, I lied slightly during my introduction... because this is my favourite book in the entire world. So much so, I decided to write my A'Level English coursework on it! The controversial nature of this novel (originally published in 1891) was the feature that initially enraptured me as a reader. The manner in which it challenged sexual morality and the social taboo's of the Victorian era resulted in strong criticisms- possibly gaining Tess the title as one of the most important novels within English literature. Set in impoverished Wessex, the novel follows the life of Tess Durbeyfield, most notably her cruel transformation from a naive young girl, to an experienced mother and woman, and the callous seduction, ending in rape and pregnancy, at the hands of Alec d'Urberville. But what really gets me is the catalytic nature of this novel. Furthered by Hardy's brutal and often judgemental narration, the reader is encouraged to see that Tess's situation could have been altered by her own choices- therefore posing the dreadful irony that perhaps she deserved her tragic misfortune and untimely demise.

"A strong woman who recklessly throws away her strength, she is worse than a weak woman who has never any strength to throw away" 

2. An Education - Lynn Barber

You may be familiar with the 2009 film adaptation of these memoirs starring Carey Mulligan? If so, you are in the same situation I was: having seen and loved the film and desperate to know whether this wonderfully relatable story had any resonance with real events. You're in luck. Similarly to the film, the book begins with Barber's schoolgirl love-affair with Jewish, and deliciously cultured, conman Simon Goldman; with the story casually following her endeavours into city life, affluence and sexual inexperience. But as the film ends, the memoir continues into her Oxford education, career as a female journalist, marriage, maternity, and the eventual death of her husband. Since reading An Education Lynn Barber has somewhat become one of my female icons, and if I am ever half the journalist she is, it will be a job well done.

"She's a suburban girl who's frightened that she's going to get cut out of everything good that happens in the city. That, to me, is a big story in popular culture. It's the story of pretty much every rock 'n' roll band." - Nick Hornby

3. Wide Sargasso Sea - Jean Rhys

Now, just to throw it out there, i'm really not a massive fan of Jane Eyre. Honestly, I just wish Jane would stop dithering, passing out and would pull herself together- but what can you do? However, this 1966 postcolonial parallel novel by contemporary writer, Jean Rhys is a whole other kettle of fish. Acting as a prequel to Jane Eyre, Wide Sargasso Sea follows the life of Antoinette Cosway (later known as Bertha Mason) through her semi-orphaned Caribbean youth, unhappy marriage to Mr Rochester, and eventual relocation to England. It's a story full of duality, not only Antoinette's cultural ambiguity where she neither belongs to the black Jamaican's nor the white European's, but the duality in her declining mental state and her role as a Creole woman in a heavily patriarchal society. To read this novel, it's probably also worth reading Jane Eyre (sorry!), but it really does add a whole new level of sympathy and understanding to Antoinette/Betha's character. And, arguably, debates whether her mental decline was inevitable or induced by Rochester's cruelty.

"There are always two deaths, the real one and the one people know about"

4. Lady Chatterley's Lover - D.H Lawrence

I know, there had to be a saucy book, didn't there? But I really, really love this novel. First published in 1928, Lady Chatterley's Lover was subsequently banned for it's vivid descriptions of sex between a working-class man and an upper-class woman, and for including words which were then unprintable (even the notion!). The novel's protagonist is Constance, a young married woman whose husband has been left paralysed from the waist down due to a war injury. Alongside his physical injury, his emotional neglect of Connie leads to marital distance. Her frustration leads to an affair with Oliver Mellors, the gamekeeper of their grounds. The prose is absolutely beautifully written, creating developing themes of injustice within society- where intellectuals dominate over the working-class, and the impossibility of living without physical intimacy and with the mind alone.

"We've got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen" 


5. The Conquest - Elizabeth Chadwick

This was a difficult one, as I have in fact read almost every book by this author and loved them all. Set just after the battle of Hastings in 1066 (all of her books are set within the Medieval period) it follows two different time periods. Starting with Ailith, a spirited mother who loses her husband during the battle of Hastings, later to be saved from suicide by the handsome and womanising Norman invader, Rolf De Brize. And finishing with her daughter, Julitta- and her impoverished childhood leading into a loveless, arranged marriage. Chadwick's historical accuracy and vivid descriptions really add colour and personality to a historical period which I previously knew little about. Other good reads are 'The Greatest Knight', 'The Wild Hunt', 'The Marsh Kings Daughter', 'The Champion' and 'The Falcons of Montabard'.

"Handfasted, like a bride and groom, they entered the keep"

Do you have any book recommendations? 

Books that have made you change your outlook on things? 

'The World's End' (2013, Edgar Wright) Review

It's true, to say the least, that Edgar Wright's third instalment of the renowned 'Cornetto' trilogy packs a
real punch. Differing from the satirical horror of 'Shaun of the Dead' and the mock action-thriller that is 'Hot Fuzz', 'The World's End' is a witty and humorous payment of sci-fi hilarity and male mid-life discontentment.

Similarly to the last two films, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost adopt the roles of the increasingly unsure protagonists: middle-aged and immature, they stagger through the scene of lack-lustre suburbia attempting to complete the celestial 'Golden Mile'... well, at least that is the goal of one character. Pegg plays 'Gary King'. Now living alone in his 40's, he represents the epitome of a man whom clearly peaked as a teenager. With his dyed black hair; cheap jewellery designed to pay homage to whichever heavy metal band was around in the early 80's and dodgy long, Belstaff coat; he appears to still live, behave and speak as his once 'cool' teenage self.  

The story follows as expected: after reuniting his, somewhat reluctant, teenage posse of Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Eddie Marsan and Paddy Considine (all now wonderfully middle-class and successful, obviously) the 5 attempt to complete a mile of pints in their old home town- which they previously failed to complete in a drunken stupor aged 18. However- set as a possible nod to bureaucratic identicality of the modern high-street- everything appears to be somewhat... robotic? Each pub is a carbon copy of another, each sporting the same mundane selection of cheap larger and a barmen who fails to recognise his 5, previously most valued, customers. Suspicious to everyone but Gary, who continues to down his drinks with youthful vitality, they continue on their quest to inebriated glory until a blue-blooded brawl in a bathroom seals their fate. 

The film is cleaver, enjoyable and funny; as it skilfully provides a plausible explanation to the ever impending apocalypse. Complete with robot chavs, dynamically awakening 'modern art' and an omniscient alien leader (voiced by Bill Nighy), this movie possesses enough to live up to the acclaim of its satirically mocking forefathers. I give it 4 stars. 

Picture 1: http://www.sfx.co.uk/2013/05/22/the-worlds-end-new trailer

Picture 2: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a478980/edgar-wrights-the-worlds-end-debuts-new-pegg-frost-poster.html

My 3 Wonders of the World

It's fair to say, I've been about a bit... and not in the licentious sense, (cheeky!), in the globe-hopping, aeroplane sense. This makes me incredibly lucky. Not only has traveling broadened my outlook of the earth we inhabit, it has also made me genuinely appreciative of other cultures, foreign cuisine, history and sheer natural beauty.

Thats the gushing stuff over with.

So, here are 3 places which I have visited, photographed and loved. It's quite simple really, enjoy!

p.s All pictures are un-edited and have been taken by me, on my trusted Olympus Pen.

1. Yosemite National Park, North America 

In the summer of 2012, my family and I embarked on our biggest adventure of all: a 3 week road-trip across California. Not only did we have to get to grips with driving, and parking, a 32ft R.V- the challenges of Bear Lockers (seriously, to stop bears breaking in and stealing your cake), sewage pipes and falling pine-cones proved somewhat of a struggle. However, after abandoning Gladys (our trusted motor-home) in a rickety and dusty campsite we were rewarded with Yosemite. Nothing can prepare you for the sheer natural sublimity of this place. With a scale beyond imagination; tumbling waterfalls, dense forestry and softly domed mountains greet you upon entry. Few places have reduced me to a similar state of awe. 

2. Pompeii, Italy

School trips, for me, have scarcely stretched beyond the mundane. Usually involving cramped coach journeys, travel sickness, feigned illness and mashed potato, they are hardly my fondest memories. But clearly A'Level Geography has it's perks, as this cheeky jaunt to Sorrento has got to be one of the highlights. Pompeii is eerily quiet. With twilight encroaching as we wandered the crumbling, dusty streets, you feel not only stunned by the absolute quality of that which remains, but an overwhelming sense of sadness for a society which lost everything. Preserved in ash, entire corpses, mosaics and buildings remain. Does it almost feel like nothing changed at all? ... Sorry, couldn't resist a Bastille quote.

3. Hua Hin, Thailand

Hua Hin, a beach town, south of Bangkok has long been a destination for my family. Embarking on my 11th trip there this summer, it's safe to say my experiences of this extraordinary country have helped to mould my cultural outlook. A first trip to Thailand is a little like an assault on the senses; immediately you are stuck by the pungent, aromatic odours; resplendent colourings and the invasion of a thriving community in full, noisy cry. Embrace it, and you will certainly be hungry for more.