Monday, 30 December 2013

New Year Wishes


My last post was dedicated to the story behind my blog name, and why I chose it so I decided to continue the tale and talk about how I plan to ‘carpe that diem’ in 2014!

2013 has been a whirlwind year for me:

  • I stressed about my A Levels and about my uni choices
  • I passed my A Levels and got into uni
  • I started- and, unfortunately, ended- friendships and relationships
  • I started as a presenter on hospital radio, which I fell in love with
  • I took up yoga, which is something I love to do
  • I was chosen to become a volunteer at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow- too excited for this!
  • I started uni and moved from my small village abode to the bustling streets of London
  • I had panics and worries about whether my course was right for me- these are ongoing- and about what I want to do in the future
  • I set up my blog about two months ago and have LOVED getting it going and trying to increase my readership

As well as a tonne of other adventures! It’s had it definite ups, and its definite downs, and I can safely say that I’m more than ready for 2014!

I’m hoping- and rather determined- that 2014 will be my best year yet. There’s quite a few wishes that I have and will be making when the clock strikes midnight tomorrow evening...(soz, can’t tell or else they won’t come true!) But I will however keep you updated on here!

I can honestly say that I am more than eager for 2014 to begin, and to see what it hopefully brings! At the moment I find myself quite confused about my future and definitely plan for this next year to confirm what it is that I am aiming for! Above all, I really want to live up to my blog name and start to seize every day, and every opportunity, that I get!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
NEW YEAR, NEW ADVENTURES, NEW EXPERIENCES!

What are your hopes for the New Year? Let me know below!

Carpe That Diem?


So, many of you might be wondering what the title of my blog actually means and, well, you’re in luck because this post is dedicated to explaining why I chose this Latin phrase…and why I shoved a ‘that’ in the middle…

I took me quite a while to pin down an appropriate name for my blog. I wanted to write about everything so a general name was needed. At that point (and still now) I haven’t revealed my identity- mysterious, I know- because, to be honest, I’m quite scared about doing so! I wanted- and still do- to know how people would respond to my ramblings before I revealed who I actually am! Therefore, any title including my name was out!

I was watching TV when I actually heard the phrase being used- I think it was the o2 advert actually- and, in a bid to understand what I meant, I looked it up online. Turns out this Latin phrase means, roughly, ‘seize the day’…an appropriate name, no?

I liked the way it sounded and how it was quite ambiguous, and therefore allowed me to write about life in general and possibly tales about how I’d ‘seized the day’! So, I chose it for my blog name. However, problems arose when I found that the simple ‘Carpe Diem’ name had already been claimed, so I had to come up with some way of adjusting it. This is how carpe-that-diem was born, in other words, roughly- ‘seize that day’! A demand that is not meant harshly, however!

So there you lovely people have it- the evolution of my blog name! A short history of carpe-that-diem!

How did you come up with your blog names? Share below so I can check out your blogs- it’s my new obsession!

Saturday, 21 December 2013

Christmas Decorations

One of my favourite parts of the Christmas season is- undoubtedly- decorating my house! Every year we pull out the ladders and make the (quite dangerous) climb up to the attic to retrieve the boxes upon boxes of decorations that really bring the house into the Christmas mood.

This is the one time of the year that I'm not too frightened to venture up to the lofty heights of the attic, where behind every box there could be a mouse, and above every light there could be a spider...Nope, as soon as my mum puts on 'The Best of Christmas' CD my fears disappear and I'm ready to brave any form of animal that I may encounter up there...

We spend the entire day getting our house ready for Christmas. In the morning it's choosing our Christmas tree (we have always had a real one-mainly because of the amazing smell they have). Being expert shoppers, one would've thought that tree shopping would be rather easy but, unfortunately, one would be wrong. Me and my mum spend approximately 2-3 hours scouring the local area for the perfect tree. We start at one tree farm, find our favourite, take a picture of it, then we drive to another farm and another farm, and another farm- repeating the process each time. Then, after careful consideration, we choose our favourite from the bunch of pictures I have collected on my phone, and head back to purchase it (in the hope that no one has beat us to it!)

So, after the Christmas tree has been chosen, then comes the task of decorating it. This is usually my job, whilst my mum and dad put up all the other hundreds of decorations we have collected over the years.

Then, after a full day of Christmassy goodness we slump on the sofa and watch TV in amongst our Christmassy home.

After so much effort has gone into preparing my house for Christmas I thought it only right to let you lovely people in, and show you some of my favourite decorations of this year...



The three stockings-one for each of us, me, and my two sisters- the star lights and the heart at the bottom, are my favourite decorations on the garland we wrap around the staircase...as well as the little angel that a friend of my mum's made for us this year!

The bubals are also some of my favourite decorations. We got them as a present years ago, there are three-one for each of us (you can see a pattern emerging here)! Mine is the gold one and I love it's oriental pattern! (Sorry about the quality of the photo-it was dark and the lights on the tree wouldn't work with me!)

This windowsill is perhaps my favourite decorated part of the house. The wreath looks so nice when it's dark, and the little angel that my mum has not only matches the colours in the kitchen but just looks so cuuuute!

And last but not least, the fibrotic Christmas tree! It sits in the window next to our front door and at night it looks beaut! I remember being really young when we bought this, and I used to sit and watch the colours change (yes, before you ask, I was such a wild child!)

So these are some of my favourite decorations in my house, which-every time I look at them- make me feel all Christmassy inside!

 
MERRY CHRISTMAS! <3



Saturday, 14 December 2013

Proud to be Pale


I’ve never been tanned, and am DEFINITE that when I go on holiday I actually come home paler than I was when I left! When I was growing up I found it infuriating that without the aid of tanning products, my skin was constantly milk bottle white- something which I have only just learnt to love.

I just have never possessed the ‘normal’ amount of melanin to turn me from milky white to chocolate brown in the presence of the sun, and after trying a vast range of tanning products from Garnier, to Johnsons, to St Tropez and Fake Bake, and even a spray tan (the consequences of which meant I didn’t leave the house for three days), I have FINALLY learnt to love my ivory complexion…


‘Alabaster skin is a chic, classy, beautiful look that’s been gunning for a renaissance,’ says celebrity make-up artist Lee Pycroft, ‘It’s been cherished by the fashion world for several years — but now it’s taking centre stage’. I’m glad to hear it, Lee! It seems that now that obtaining that ‘bronzed goddess’ look is so easy- with the help of a multitude of fake tanning products- the opposite has become more desirable! WIN!

Not only this, but, like my mum always told me, ‘you’ll be glad for your pale skin in the long run’. This little quote that she would offer me every holiday when I’d complain about how unfair it was that everyone else was so sun kissed and I was just white with hints of red burn, never sat well with me until now. You see, pale skin really does preserve your youthful and vigorous appearance as you age. With its growing importance in the fashion world, to its aging benefits it’s no wonder that so many celebrities are starting to ditch the tan too, in favour of showing off their pale skin…

 
Take Perrie Edwards for example, she just looks AMAZING with her pale skin. Here, her pale pins really stand out with the aid of the black strappy heels she’s rocking as well as the other hints of black in her ensemble. The Little Mixer has her own little style and is helping to influence the younger generation that the pale way is the best way...

 
 
As a brunette, I couldn’t help but feel that my dark hair colour only accentuated my pale skin sometimes making me look, to be honest, half-dead. However, with the help of some fellow brunetters this fear has quickly disappeared and I now feel more like an English rose than a dead one…
Step forward Anne Hathaway! Not only is she one of my favourite actresses but I just love her sense of style and, obviously, her pale skin! Even back in the ‘Princess Diaries’ days, Ms. Hathaway was not one for slapping on the tan! She has helped pave the way for pale skin, and has looked every inch the English Rose whilst doing so.
 
 
Now, we can’t talk about major leaders of the ‘fair skinned army’ without mentioning Nicola Roberts. Actually, it’s probably fair to say that she is one of the main reasons why pale skin is now seen as being so fashionable! She looks like a completely different person now than she did back in the early days of Girls Aloud when she would slap on the tan in order to match her band mates. Her documentary which aired back in 2010, entitled ‘The Truth About Tanning’ explored the culture of tanning amongst young women and men in the UK, and the extremes they will go to in order to obtain the perfect tan (well worth a watch!)



So, why not join me and ditch the fake tan, the spray tan and the sunbeds and opt for the healthier, more fashionable and all round much more beneficial ‘veil of pale’! After all, you can't deny that mahogany definitely looks better on furniture than it does on skin!

Are you a lover of the fake bakes? Or does the pale approach appeal more to you? Let me know in the comments below!


 

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Outfit Envy


Jealous? Who, me?

So, I’m back in the North of England for Christmas and, as a result, am now no longer able to blog about my adventures in The Big Smoke. Therefore, I’ve decided to turn my attention to blogging more about fashion and life in general (and throwing in some cheeky Christmas posts for good measure).

I was going to attempt Blogmas i.e. blogging every day for the whole of December but, as I’m a newbie, I thought this may be one step too far…and may also cause me to fail my January exams, and I’m doing pretty well at achieving that all on my own!

As a lover of fashion magazines, websites and blogs I am usually found with quite a serious case of outfit envy, and have picked the latest outfits that I’ve seen which I believe to be the most envy-worthy! Take a look…


Two of my favourite things together in one outfit: tartan and jumpsuits. Well done Ashley Madekwe! I love this outfit, and the white pointed court shoes just enhance this love. A perfect outfit for meeting up with friends, days out or sophisticated drinks in the evening! Whatever the occasion, I’d be more than happy to have this outfit hanging in my wardrobe!


My jealousy towards the British actress’ outfit choices has grown even stronger with the help of this evening ensemble. The skirt is beaut! I love the detailing and the way it brings this otherwise plain black outfit alive! I NEED this girl’s wardrobe!!

 
 
It’s only on a very rare occasion that I’m not caught swooning at the gorgeousness of the outfits Miss Bilson dons on a day to day basis, and this occasion isn’t any different. If only the weather was nice enough in London for this outfit! I love the brown midi skirt, and the way she pairs it with this plain sleeveless tee. And, well, the bag…need I say more? This outfit is effortless yet incredibly chic (my new favourite word) and I’m simply in love with it!
 
 
I’ve seen a whole lot more of Selena Gomez on the pages of fashion magazines, websites and blogs recently. And, with this effortless day-to-day look I can understand why! Who was it who said that tie dye is one of this century’s biggest fashion faux pas? Well, whoever they are I think they need to retract their statement! I love this black and white tie dye top, and the trousers that she’s teamed it with! Though I do feel the scarf and the sandals contradict each other slightly the Versace bag definitely makes up for it! If only my student loan could stretch that far…
It seems that I am now even more jealous and desperate to get my hands on some new clothes! If only I didn’t need money for food, rent, travel and Christmas presents- why does student life have to suck so much?!
 
Any outfits you’ve seen recently that have made you swoon or green with envy? Or, any fashion websites or blogs that you love to browse? If so, comment below!
 

Thursday, 5 December 2013

Festive Cheer!


It's December 5th and I'm officially in the Christmas mood! I'm heading back t'north tomorrow and I'm so super-duper excited!!!

I had a dream the other night that my Mum had put up the Christmas tree and all the decorations around the house without me, which made me wake up in a cold sweat. As soon as it became a reasonable time to call home I did (just to assure myself that this dream wasn't a premonition) and, thankfully, she assured me that she would not go near a Christmas tree farm without me. This made me feel a lot better, and thus I went straight back to sleep.

I've slept a lot this past week, and when I say 'a lot' I mean 'A LOT'. The other thing I love about Christmas time is the way everything starts to slow down e.g. uni and uni work. I had a total of 2 lectures this week (both after midday, which was grreeeaaattt) and NO essays due! Woooohooo! So, therefore, I was left with a lot of time for sleeping, catching up on Nashville and The Carrie Diaries (which are my absolute FAVES at the mo) and, most importantly, eating!

Aside from all this sleeping I have actually managed to do quite a bit to get me even further into the Christmas spirit! I went to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park yesterday, and had just the best time! I ate waffles with chocolate sauce and whipped cream, and then proceeded to go on a Giant Wheel (which I mistook for the London Eye) and a few very twisty and very fast rides! We then headed indoors for a hot drink and a sit after all the spinning, and listened to 'Joseph' a German fella who blasted out some real classics- Cotton Eye Joe, Sweet Caroline and The Macarena amongst many.

 
 


My friend from the north came down for the weekend and we had a ball! On Friday night we made- and devoured- pizza and watched Sex and the City 1&2 in preparation for the busy day ahead. On Saturday we braved Oxford Street, shopped ourselves silly for a few hours (doing a lot of damage to our bank accounts in the process), and then headed to Covent Garden and Leicester Square for a wander, and a cheeky visit to M&M world where we helped ourselves to the array of different coloured sweeties- YUM.

 
In the evening we headed to Canary Wharf to try out Byron Burger which was amazing, before continuing to a few bars and ending up in London Bridge at The Old Schoolyard, where we drank many cocktails and danced the night away to classics such as Hips don't lie and Jenny from the block


Sunday was also full of foody fun starting with Smiths of Smithfield. I'm not usually a breakfast person but I have to say I've been converted! I ordered blueberry pancakes and a Strawberry, Blueberry and Banana smoothie, which was equally as delicious.
 
 
So, all in all I've had a pretty good start to December, and I'm pretty sure that as the big day gets closer, it'll get even better!
 
Are you as excited as me for the arrival of 25th December? Any suggestions on any more festive events happening around London?
 

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