18 Things I Have Learnt.

As it is my 18th birthday (hbd to me) I thought it very fitting to make a list of things I have learnt over my 18 years on earth, so enjoy!

1. Having a birthday in August is the worst! There are always half your family and friends who are on holiday and cannot celebrate you and being waiting for your 18th is excruciating (yes I could have gotten a fake ID, but I am not cool enough to play it off).

2. You cannot please everyone - sometimes people just do not / want to like you! Just accept it and get on with your life.

3. Wear more colour - it makes you stand out from the mainstream 'masterpieces' we see strut down our streets.
 'Be yourself, everyone else is taken' ~ Oscar Wilde

4. Rochester and Jane are my OTP over Darcy and Elizabeth. I know shock horror in the Literature world, but I find their flirtatious encounters endearing and to me, they are connected in a more emotional sense than that of Darcy and Elizabeth who's (in my opinion) is more superficial...the novel is called Pride and 'Prejudice'...

5. It is okay to be sad - I have had a couple of emotional tragedies so far this year and I've tried to be strong for myself and other around me. Being disconnected from your emotions does not make you strong, it makes you an idiot.

6. Eyebrows are important - the frame the eyes and can enhance your facial features. I support the Korean- inspired straight eyebrows because they are youthful and make my eyes appear rounder.

7. Ed Westwick shall always be my guy crush - he is just beautiful.

8. 'Goals' are not 'goals' - life can change like the wind, you do not know what it round the corner and that is the beauty of life itself. And 'goals' come on facebook... don't be tagging that with a picture of someones eyebrows...

9. *the last leads me onto my next one* Appreciate every moment - yesterday is history, the tomorrow is a mystery and today is a present.

10. Earl grey tea is amazingly delicious! I have never been a fan of tea in general, but working in a coffee shop makes you think what all the hype is about, and earl grey is my newest discovered love.

11. I want to live in London - I absolutely love it because there is always something new to see or do and I am a fan of the theater, love musicals. And good for my bank account and the environment I would not really need a car. Win win.

12. Change is good - being an extremely habitual person I have found change quite difficult in the past, however whilst it will still be a challenge of everyday through out my life I have became more accepting of it.

13. Always conceal the undereyes - it makes a huge difference.

14. Due to its high salinity the Dead Sea allows one to float on the water - how amazing! (just pretend you have not heard that fact before okay)

15. Move more - I got into such a habit of just sitting around, especially since finishing school. During my revision period all I could do was sit around and cram stuff into my brain. Summer kicked in and I would just come in from work and just watch TV! Now I make sure I am out in fresh air as much as possible - even though working 9 hour shifts I will make it a priority to go for a run - it makes me feel great.

16. I am never going to take all my clothes to Uni - which is a travesty because my clothes are like my children!

17. London underground workers are friendlier than one may suppose - when I got a bit lost when in London (self-navigating) I got lost around Regent's Street - a lovely underground worker called Tracey I believe was so helpful and guided me back to Charring Cross!

18. You cannot always trust people that you think are your friends - some will stab you in the back for their own benefit, which is one of life's little surprises. It will hurt at first but then you just need to remember that true friends will stand the test of time - hold on to them

Thanks for reading

Holly

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Last post: 13 things : Drew Barrymore's 90's style showed us

13 things: Drew Barrymore's 90's style showed us

Drew is one of my favourite actors purely for her effortless style both on and off the screen.

1. Flower crowns are totally cool

2. When styled right (take note JT and Brittney take note...) denim on denim is iconic - I mean she looks great





3. Who said twinning is not in?

4. Rock that 'red lip classic' with a biker

 



5. Eyebrows are essential - do not over pluck!





6. How to style a slip dress...90's style




7. Do not ringlet short hair, but chokers are win win





8. Embrace that volume and get your scrunch on

 



9. Mom jeans are always a staple

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10. Who said underwear cannot be outerwear?





11. Always pre plan outfits - Drew what was going on here?

 



12. Mix textures





13. Always wear your smile

Thanks for reading

Holly

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Last post: Forget where I see myself in 5 years...where do I see myself when I am retired?

Forget where I see myself in 5 years...where do I see myself when I am retired?

Watching the news I found this endearingly inspirational story about a one man and his ice-cream van. 

103 year - old (years young really!) Giovanni Rozzo rides around in his vintage 1971 Vauxhall Viva to show that even though in his retirement days, his love for his 27 year career as an ice cream man, has not faded with the time that has passed.



(Photo above: sourced by itv.com -  link on picture)


I absolutely adore this story because Mr Rozzo is an inspiration to us all - that even though one may be at the age of 'retirement' it is by no means always meant to be a time of slowing down. I hope if I ever make it to 103 years old I will have a passion like Mr Rozzo's.

Why take a back seat in life when you can take the front seat?

Thanks for reading

Holly

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Last post: Midnight Ramble: London and Sunsets 

Midnight Rambles: London and Sunsets

One of my favourite things to do on my days off from work is go to London.








Even if I have nothing in particular planned and I usually just end up walking round for ages until there is nothing left to see. The other week I was in London with a friend and we ended up passing the same shop about 5 times.

Last week when I went it was drizzling with rain which made everything look dull and dreary but I love that too about London because it reminds me of the scene in Mary Poppins (my favourite childhood film) when Mary, the children and Bert are dancing and then it begins to rain and the paintings are washed away. The simple relief of finding shelter from the rain is comforting and reminds me of this scene from Marry Poppins.









Reading on the train in my opinion is so much better than 'plugging in' - this is because unlike being in a car (for some) it does not give you travel sickness or a headache. Also train journeys can be awfully boring, reading helps time fly.

As you can see on my left the picture looks quite sunny - I went into London a second time that week and the weather was quite the opposite. I managed to navigate myself from Regent's Street to Charring Cross Station - with a little help from a lovely lady who worked in the Underground.










And I shall leave you with this picture of a very picturesque (#nofilter) photo of a sunset I took on Saturday - the sky was clear and the air was warm. I love the pink hues which frame the landscape.

Thanks for reading

Holly

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Last post: Juliets: More than just cake.

Juliets: More than just cake.

Last week I went to of one of the most unique coffee shops in my local area, which combines vintage and shabby chic and I just love it! The charm of the place is filled with miss matched crockery and buzzing chatter. 

The cafe is called Juliets (if you didn't quite get that from the title of this post...)

They have an amazing selection of hot and cold beverages - like Italian hot chocolate with whipped cream, Elderflower presse (which is my FAVOURITE) and amazing juices and smoothies! 

Food wise: there is endless selections of delicious cakes (e.g. baked vanilla cheesecake, rocky road and lemon and poppyseed drizzle cake)

The selection of lunch options are great, they range from sandwiches to salads. I haven't tried the salads but they look so fresh and colourful. 

When I was there for lunch the other day I chose to have the smoked salmon sandwich which tasted homemade - the bread was soft and the filling had a delicious flavour to it. My friend had a ham and cheddar toasted sandwich and she said it was so filling and delcious!

Service is always so friendly and efficient - for a quick coffee or a luncheon it is the perfect spot to add a little creativity into your drinking (and of course eating!)

Thanks for reading

Holly

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Last post: Going for Gold: Brazil

Going for Gold: Brazil

As Brazil holds the 31st Olympic Summer Games, the fusion of sports and lifestyle is met.

Brazilian traditional jewelry is centered around using colourful stones of precious quality, as Brazil is home to almost all of gems imagined. However the classic look of gold and silvers still is apparent in many jewelers. Celebrating the culture of Brazil and how jewelers proudly incorporate the life of brazil (in the cut and colour) but the sophistication as well.

E L E C T R I C (which can be found here)

Fernando Jorge - a Brazilian jewelry designer born in Brazil who is inspired by his home country - taking its laidback and effortless sensuality and implanting it into his designs.   

This beautiful collection is inspired by exuberant movement and energy, which is shown through the pear shaped stones - almost like pulses.

This collection represents the movement of athletes and the energy of the stadium which they perform in - crowds cheering and the adrenaline...

The collection comprises of an array of beautiful pieces from gold to emerald.

My favourite piece has to be the Electric Shock Ring because of the exquisite use of the colourful stones. This statement ring is just so beautiful and would be the perfect acompliment to any outfit and celebrates the colourful life and energy of Brazil.

R I O (which can be found here)

Carla Amorim - a Brazilian born desinger who is inspired by Brazilian architecture and nature in all its forms. Her jewelry focuses on cut and clarity rather than colour.  

This collection is absolutely stunning! The jewelry is split into lines named after traditional Rio de Janeiro neighborhoods like Barra, Gávea, Dois Irmãos, Urca, Recreio, Jardim Botânico, Humaitá, and Baía da Guanabara. This collection is assosciated with women - 'as versatile as the Rio de Janeiro woman, these creations continue without ever losing their essence' 

This collection showcases the richness of Rio's culture through the gold of the jewelry, I love all the collection because it is still inspired by Brazil but differed because it does not include lots of colourful stones but it does not diminish its beauty. 

My favourite piece are the Gavea earings as they offer detail but it does not overwhelm the smoothness of the gold.

Earings are one of my favourite pieces of jewelry to play around with because they can almost frame the face and can come in so many different styles, cuts and colour. 

All the best to all athletes in the Olympics going for gold...

Thanks for reading

Holly

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DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of these photos - rights still remain to the designers website (which are linked over their names/collections)

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Last post: 13 things: I do before bed

13 things: I do before bed

Now before we get into this  - by no means am I saying I have a 'routine'..however there are certain things I do to prepare for bed because they either keep my skin happier or help me get to sleep. I think I am able to skip the usual like brushing my teeth and washing my face - you get the gist...

1) Chill playlist

Music soothes my mind and relaxes me for bed - it helps me to reflect on the day and all the blessings I have in my life. It helps me to prepare my body for rest.

2) Cold cream

I use the one by a brand called Ponds (which can be found here). This is an extremely affordable product which works wonders on my skin, keeping it smooth and hydrated. It is thick and rich in texture but it doesn't make my combination skin oilier, I apply it mainly to the under eyes and smile lines. My great grandmother used to use it and her skin was beautiful. Cold creams were historically used  as a cleanser to remove makeup - women would apply, sleep in it and then rinse it off in the morning... cleaning their sheets must have been a nightmare...

3) 1 glass of water

No only does this help my skin revive it's tired old self over night - it also helps keep my stomach from bloating in the morning, I also find that my under eyes are less puffy in the morning. I do the same when I wake up before I eat anything (for the same reasons)

4) Vaseline 

This is another one of my 'holy grails' (stupid word), I apply it to my lips and eyebrows and eyelashes to condition and encourage growth.

5) Place a jumper by my bed

I do this just in case I have to run out the house in the middle of the house - I know it is so silly but it is just what I do, that is all I can say about it really.

6) Prepare clothes for the next day

This includes undergarments and sometimes even my makeup - I am and extremely organised person with a fear of being late to anything. So doing this allows me to sleep at night! It also helps me to make my morning a little bit more calmer and so I can have a some what relaxing start to the day. I only do this if I have somewhere to be the next morning.

7) Clear away anything around my room

I cannot stand to wake up to a messy room, and I can never sleep in one either! Doing this takes me about 5 minutes which is such a little amount of time out of my day - it makes me less grumpy in the morning!

8) Peppermint tea

Not always but sometimes I like to drink something warm as well as my water - especially in those colder months. Sometimes if I can remember I put the teabags in the fridge and use as an eye pads for the morning.

9) Apply lotion 

Just to keep everything feeling smooth and to help prevent ageing skin.

10) Put away all electronics

This is so important for me to be able to have a good nights sleep and to relax my mind. What has happened in the day it is important to give our busy minds a rest and just soothe the mind. Technology releases energy which prevents us from falling asleep as easily.

11) Read

Even if it is just one chapter it is an escape from my everyday world, it also helps me get to sleep.

12) Open a window

I love a cool room to sleep in - I would rather be too cold than too hot. Also it is not good for the complexion to be in humidity over night - it dries the skin out.

13) Count my blessings

This is the very last thing I do before I shut my eyes, I have so much to be thankful for - cannot let it be blurred out by everyday life, also it helps me to think about those who aren't as fortunate.

Thanks for reading

Holly

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Last post: Wednesday Writing: Fashion Through the Ages