Make-Up Storage...

I've noticed most of the time, my posts may come across a tad 'serious' and I didn't want my blog to become bogged down with issue posts all the time, even though I get a great response to them and really appreciate the feedback, at the end of the day I'm still a girlie girl who likes make-up and shoes, so... I tweeted the other day about finally getting a storage system for my make-up and a few people wanted to see it, so I thought I would tie it in with my new year outfit. Sorry if you get bored of the pics, there are quite a few, and sorry if you are under-whelmed, I don't particularly have a lot of make-up, I do love it though, and if I had more money to part with I would fill these draws to the brim, but it's work in progress and honestly, I'd rather spend money on things for my camera so there we go...

I got this set of drawers from the WHSmith sale for £5.99, I thought they were ideal, top draw is lips, second eyes and third is face. I have a few palette's that don't fit in to the draws like my Urban Decay NYC etc. So yeah there is my 'collection' and storage, nothing too exciting, just handy and easy for me to get at things. Everything sits on top of my bookcase, and I keep everything beauty related in my bathroom. I also did this to my bed the other day, I love it...

Here is my outfit for later, I got the dress in the Dorothy Perkins sale for just £17, reduced from £35. Dale is wearing grey, so I thought I would get silver to match him. The clutch I got last year in the New Look Sale for £12, I really love it, it has a chain handle, just like a Chanel, but I've taken it off for tonight.

Sorry about the lighting, I had to use flash, as my room is quite dark. Are you all excited for new year tonight? What are your plans? I'm going for a 5 course meal at a hotel with Dale and friends, in fact I better start sorting things out, I resemble Amy Winehouse drunk atm. Have an incredible time whatever you are doing, and I hope your hangovers aren't to bad in the morning, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Lots of love...

The future...

To say I want 2011 to hurry up, is something of an understatement. I'm not one to wish time away, as life is precious, and every day counts, but I'm so over 2010 and 11 is my lucky number...I'm lying it's 4, but still. There are some things and certain people that I want to completely forget come the new year, even friends, just wipe them from my life and start again.

It's such a cliché, but 2011 will be my year, it's not even that, it HAS to be; I'm so fed up of my life not starting, it sort of stumbles each time it leaves the blocks. I think it's going to race ahead, but no, failure at the very first hurdle. I'm not moping, I can hear people thinking "Oh here she goes again, moan, moan, moan!" I'm listening, this is it, no more the world owes me a favour, no more why doesn't my father care about me? (he's just a selfish man with a rotten heart) so over it, no more I'll do it in a few days. I say it all the time, I'm told it all the time, "Your life isn't going to knock your front door, you have to make it, you have to create your own dreams!" So that's my new years 'resolution', to finally create my dreams, that and actually learn the recipes in my stack of cookbooks!!

I have so many things to look forward to in the up coming year, me and Dale have decided to move in together, and for me that is a big step, as my last 'live in' ended disastrously, but you know what...all men aren't the same. I love him, he loves me, he's my best friend, end of story. I have two photography gigs booked in for early January, hopefully big ones; I'm hoping to fly to New York in the spring, I might be getting engaged at some point *smiles* and hopefully, just hopefully, a Mulberry handbag will be bought, with my own, hard earned cash, but that's a luxury, I don't need it to make my year......ok maybe a lot little.

As Roosevelt said:

♥ "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of dreams." ♥

He has a point, so 2011 is going to be the year where I believe in myself, no matter how hard things may get, I'm going to pick myself up and brush myself off and try again. The five main things I'm taking in to 2011 are...

Self belief, creativity, true friends, love and determination...
And the one thing that comes with me every year?

Laughter.

I'm leaving 2010 happy, but I'm hoping I will leave 2011 even happier, and then every year after I will leave even happier and so on. I'm 25 in May, time to start making something of my life, time for me, time to be happy, time to feel...whole ♥

What are you taking in to 2011? Do you even make resolutions? Catch my things learned in 2010 post here.

Food coma?

The fact that I woke up and ate a gammon and stuffing sandwich signifies that Christmas leftovers are coming to an end and it's all over for another year. I have never been as thankful for new cosy pyjamas and slippers as I am today, after filling my face with plate after plate of delicious buffet style dinner, glasses of Jack and strawberry daiquiri's at Dale's parents house yesterday, all I want to do today is drink copious amounts of tea and lounge around. Which I have done now for the past few hours, but which has to come to an abrupt end as my flat looks like a bomb of random mess exploded and then had a party. Is it bad that I am sighing at this prospect, and just want to go back to sleep in my pit of strategically placed mess? *Yawn*

Santa was very kind to me this year, I was visited by Tiffany, Mac, YSL, Benefit, Apple, along with a large group of famous chefs and singers, an Audrey Hepburn style teapot, Yankee Candles, Forever21, Starbucks, lots of lovely things for my home and many other pretty things. My dinner was delicious, honey roast turkey and vegetables, rocky road cheesecake and an array of bubbles topped up throughout the day by my beautiful mother, all in all, a great Christmas.

I braved the sales yesterday morning, it actually wasn't as manic as I thought it was going to be, although the top floor of Selfridges was emptied by 2pm, and a very nice older lady managed to nab the last Mulberry envelope clutch bag in a beautiful cranberry colour, whilst I was 5ft away, booo. Dale managed to get some lovely boots and I picked up a few things from F21, whilst we both indulged in large Starbucks, him a hazelnut latte and me a classic hot chocolate, bliss. Here are a few snaps from my festive few days, thanks to Lauren for giving me tips for adding a Christmas style light to my photos, if you want to have a go, I just saved a picture of out of focus Christmas lights, opened my photo in Photoshop, opened the lights picture in a new tab then dragged and dropped the Christmas lights photo on top of my picture and changed the level opacity in the right column, quite simple once you know how...

Have you all had a wonderful time? I'm making preparations for new year now, the dress I wanted has sold out, so I think I'm going to go look for one in the sales tomorrow, I couldn't find anything yesterday, the only ones I liked were still over the £100 mark, and funds for that are not available! Although I've ate an immense amount of food over the past few days, me and Dale are going out for an all you can eat chinese meal later, joy, will start the diet....in January...right now I have to go find my marigolds, have a lovely day.

Merry Christmas...

Hey you, yes you my reader, Merry Christmas. I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank you, for supporting me, thank you if you have ever left a comment, or sent me a supportive email. Thank you for taking time out of your day to read my blog and listen to my rambling. It's easy to get caught up in this blogging world, and I still think some people take it far to seriously, but I never forget you are here, and hand on heart I really appreciate it. I really hope you have a wonderful Christmas and it's a special one for you to remember. You have made my year a special one, and I will be thinking of every supportive word and of all the wonderful, amazing friends I have made throughout the year when I toast my glass tomorrow.

To me Christmas isn't about the presents, it's about family, and I'm grateful that the remaining members of my family and loved ones are healthy and happy. I'm looking forward to seeing my brother's faces and spending quality time with my mother, because forgetting everything else, all the superficial, she is the best present I was ever given, and I am thankful for that everyday. I hope you are all in good health and high spirits, and yes I'm talking about rum, pass me another eggnog!!

I want to especially thank Emma, Michelle, Sarah, Victoria, Morven, Steph, Beth, Stacey, Laura, Sofia, Emma, Ayden, SJ, Lyzi, Laura and Irene, for being absolutely amazing to me this year, if that's been linking to my blog on more than one occasion, advice, or being there as my friend. Every single one of you girls have made me smile more than once this year, and for that I am forever greatful. I really, really hope you all have a fantastic Christmas.

Thank You to everyone who has joined my campaign, and added the button to their blog, it really means a lot, I know we are a long way away from stopping haters and bullies, but we can still carry on trying to block and delete them.

I'm looking forward to spending time with Dale, as he has been a prince charming in skinny jeans this year, I can't wait to start a fresh in 2011 and forget all the bad that has happened to me in 2010, but he is the best thing I am taking forward, and I hope for many, many more years to follow.

To everyone who is thinking of blogging, I'm going to say "Never let the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game." It really is wonderful, this blogging lark, why not give it a go? It's most certainly made my year, and kept me entertained.

Merry Christmas everyone, here's to 2011.

Here she is...

Hello people, sorry I've been a tad m.i.a but I've been going through a few personal things, that I won't get in to, as I'm so over it, and I've been decorating my mom's kitchen, seeing friends and fitting in shopping, all amongst heavy snow and freezing temperatures, and a bloody stinking dose of the flu. Ahhhhhh, better. How are you all, I feel so out the loop!! I seem to have acquired some new readers, so hello to you and Merry Christmas. I seriously think I may start my shopping in May next year, it's too bloomin stressful and expensive!! Have you all finished your shopping? I think I'm done with mine now, and if I'm not and I've missed anyone out, tough poo. Also, how fookin expensive are cards these days, well personal ones, £3.00 odd for a card, that isn't even that great, robbing divs!! Anyway, here are a few snaps from my week...

First, is my attempt to make my front door look a tad more festive, this actually came on my presents from my nan, but it was wasted under the tree, so I added it to my knocker, as I have no way of putting a wreath up, as my door is one of those plastic ones. Really wish I had a heavy wooden door, you know the ones with a circle piece of glass in, like the hobbits had in LOTR? No? Ok, just me then....

Second is last night after me and my best friend polished off two bottles of rosé, that Dale dropped round for us...erm, sorry girls but you might have nice fella's, but no lad will ever beat my Dale *sticks tongue out*

Then third, is just some snow, no explanation needed, it's doing my head in, because travelling around is limited, it's going to take Dale a while to get home tonight and we're supposed to be going to his brothers to eat lots of yummy food and drink eggnog. Booooo.

I also wanted to show you the wonder that is this...

My beautiful snitch necklace from Wallpaper Rose Jewellery, I  L O V E it, it was sitting under Dale's tree, but he gave it me early, naughty, naughty. I had to have it, I'm the biggest Harry Potter fan going!! I think they are now currently out of stock, but I know they will be available again in the new year, head on over to Louise's site anyway, she has such beautiful things. This retails at £12, and for the quality and creativeness of the hand made product, I think that's superb.

Hope you are all ok, I'm off to get ready for eggnog, I'll be back tomorrow. Love you all lots,

Gem this is your life 4 #

Early bird/ Pigs in blankets/ Something that made me chuckle (wagner)/ Merry Christmas/ Spot the robin?/ Brrrr/ Tron (crap)/ Christmas at Dale's parents house/ Snow/ Festive/ Having fun in the cold.

Weekend Wonders Issue 11

As I write this snow is falling outside my window and my porridge bowl is officially empty, it certainly feels like winter. It would be a lovely day if I could breathe through my nose, stop coughing and feeling like my head and neck had been ten rounds on Nemesis at Alton Towers, alas the snow is pretty. I still haven't finished my Christmas shopping, and the prospect of putting myself through hoards or elbows at dawn just to get the last few bits is kinda daunting, has to be done though, just not today. Here's a few things that have made me smile and howl with laughter this week...

Laurens spoof video, quite possibly the funniest thing I've ever seen, I watched it when I woke up the other day, at 5am, I've been doing that a lot this week, I was howling, my neighbours must of thought I was mental, anyway take a look, genius...

Also this week, the lovely beauty nerds contacted me and asked if they could feature me on their site, to be their British Beauty Nerd, so obviously I said yes, as I love the girls and have followed their blog since it began earlier this year. Have a look see, it's a really great blog.

I'm loving Barry M blue glitter nail polish, I also want Raspberry and Burgundy, what colours are you girls painting your nails atm? Think I've found my dress for new year, going for a little red number, just hope it doesn't sell out...

Have you made plans for new year yet? We are going to have a five course, champagne meal at a hotel, which I'm pleased about, as I've so gone past wanting to go clubbing at new year, the disco after the meal will suffice for me. To be honest I've really been feeling my age this week, don't know if it's because my close few friends are a few years younger than me or what. I just feel so far removed from that scene now, I literally can't dance in a nightclub, everyone looks 14 and my feet start to hurt at 12pm. I'd much rather go and have a meal, or go to a bar or a pub, or heaven forbid stay in and pig out in front of the sofa. I think I've got to that age now where I'd rather host a dinner party than a house party, don't know if that makes me sad or elated. Have you got snow? Is it ruining your plans for the weekend? Think I'm going to see Tron later with Dale, let's hope the snow doesn't get worse :(

2010 #

Inspired by the fantastic Ren this is my look back on the things I have learnt in my life in 2010, I'll be doing a follow up post of the things I am taking with me in to 2011.

1# You can't save him...

No matter how many times you think he's going to change, he's not. If he's been like that forever and his friends are even questioning why you are with him, why are you still there? It doesn't matter how much you love someone and want things to work, if they have that inward destruction button, you're not going to be able to turn it off. When you finally get the courage to walk away and they swear to become this reformed character, it's too late then, no matter how much it hurts, you HAVE to switch your heart off. Lesson learnt.

2# Don't give up on love just because of 1#...

As Taylor Swift sings "I see it all now that you're gone..." Sometimes it's so easy to turn that tap of love off in your heart, especially after it has been broken. If 2010 has taught me anything, it's to not give up on the fairytale, the perfect guy for you might be just that little bit closer than you think. Painting every man alive with the same brush of perception may make you blinded towards the true wonders of love. I'm so glad I opened my eyes and my heart again and let myself fall in to happiness, I'm going to throw it out there and say this is the happiest I have ever been, relationship wise.

3# Your dreams won't come to you...

You can sit and dream about things you want to do with your life, places you want to go, things you want to achieve, but they're not just going to fall in to your lap and say "Heeey here I am!" You have to grab it by the horns, I'm so proud I applied to The Prince's Trust, it gave me the push to follow up on things I've wanted to do for a long time. Meeting people with aspirations is truly inspiring, especially when they are from the same sort of background as you.

4# Follow it through...

Making the first step is the easy part, keeping it up is the hardest, away from all the encouragement and self-confidence boosters on courses and fellow dreamers, you can easily slip back in to how you were before, a girl with a dream. You have to push yourself and not procrastinate, ref 3# When I left the PT I became complacent again, you really have to push on through. If you're stuck ask for help, it doesn't matter if it's a friend or through a forum, someone will have five minutes to help you and give you a boost.

5# Don't give up...

There was a point where I was stuck in an un-creative office job, well I've had many of those. I never in a million years thought people would want to pay me to take pictures, but someone did, and people still do. It's so satisfying being paid for something you love and adore, I have projects lined up for early 2011 that are really exciting. It's so easy to give up, try not to.

6# You don't know everything...

My friend was going through a difficult time with her eating this year, I just thought it was because she was a picky eater. It turned out she had actually started making herself sick after eating, she was having trouble with her weight after someone she cared about started taunting her after they fell out. Just goes to show that sometimes you might think you know what's going on in the lives of people close to you, but sometimes you have to look a little a bit closer.

7# Stay to true to yourself

Life is far too short to waste time on making everyone around you happy bar yourself. If you're not happy and being the real you, all your relationships and friendships are based on a false pretense aren't they? Eventually you'll crack and people who have known you will be so used to this un-you than the real you, and who wants to waste time making them like us all over again? Live life for yourself, be who you want to be, do what you want to do and firstly and foremost make yourself happy. If you're not true to yourself and who you want to be in your life, then what's the point? Love yourself, you're all you have.

8# Appreciate people close to you...

After a few years of losing people in our family, and discovering my true friends, and reflecting on today, the one year anniversary of my uncles death, I have learnt to appreciate all the people close to me in my life. Especially my mother, who I know is reading this, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank and tell her how much I love her. I love you mom, thank you for being a constant source of love, guidance and belief. Without you I wouldn't be the person I am today, and even though I'm not with you every day, know that I think about you always, and you are and always will be my best friend in the entire world. Try not to hold grudges, and surround yourself with people who care about you just as much as you care about them. I've tried so hard to connect with my father, but this year has proven to me that our relationship is beyond saving, and I will not waste my time caring about someone who quite frankly doesn't care about me, when I could be spending my time and effort on the people that do.

Lots of Love...