Grace wants dinner!

Gagging for Graduation

With my first day of lectures starting tomorrow, I can't help but feel yet another wave of third year blues.  I'm not alone...  There seems to be a common crisis which occurs in the final year of doing a degree - the I-hate-my-course, what-am-I-doing, should-I-change-career panic when the workload gets tough and motivation is merely a distant memory.  However, with only a few months left before graduation all I want now is for it to all be over.  Give me the ugly hat and cloak combo, a lovely certificate, and a well deserved celebration; it couldn't come soon enough.  Any aspirations for good grades and a great portfolio are second in priority to just wanting my degree to meet a final end.  Please, just make it stop!

Lately I have found myself longing for summer, not only for the long lazy days and sunshine, but because by then I will no longer have to suffer endless late nights of coursework cramming or the demoralising sense of doom when you read the harsh 'constructive criticism' scrawled over your work.  'They' say that the uni days are the best years of your life, but they also said that about school (which I couldn't miss less if I tried).  Okay, I do enjoy the 10% discount in shops, never starting before 10am, and meeting new friends, but the stress, pressure and hassle you can well and truly keep.

All I can say is bring on my BA; I will be counting down the months...

A Month Without Facebook

It might sound strange, but on Christmas Day I decided to de-activate my Facebook account.  The site had been grating on me for a while but after a Christmas Eve full of old friends ruining news with 'oh yeah I saw it on Facebook,' I'd finally had enough.  No more would I be able to 'stalk' or be 'stalked'... Not that I ever had much interest in viewing other people's drunken photos or overly emotional posts in the first place.  I was going to get my privacy back.

Time for me lately has been very precious, with little to spare and a million and one things to do.  So why would I want to waste my time on an interfering social networking site?  I didn't.  Since the removal of my page I've had several people ask me why I have deleted them.  Maybe I should have sent round a group message to let my 'friends' know what I was up to, or maybe they should have just known better.  Some people have stayed in contact, others haven't.  Those who have are the ones with something to say and who (let's be honest), are much more fun and to put it bluntly, better friends, anyway.  I can't say I miss it.

No longer do I have to see the tide of worthless information that Facebook floods you with.  No more photos of ex-boyfriends new girlfriends, no more parents new children from their latest wives, no more evidence of friends cheating that you don't approve of... What really was there to miss?

The fact of the matter is this: if someone really wants you at the event they're hosting, you'll get a phone call with the details;  if someone abroad has news, they can always email you; if there are photos from a night out you want to see, it's better to get them printed.  There's nothing to lose and only privacy (and maybe even a little mystery,) to gain.  If all else fails, just type back in your password and all that pointless word vomit will come back up as if you'd never left.

Deleting Facebook is something I'd highly recommend, if this was a review, I'd give it ten out of ten.

Louis Vuitton S/S 2012 Carousel

Despite criticism that the latest Louis Vuitton show has copied the Chanel carousel from back in 2008, I still think that it's gorgeous and worth sharing with you all!

At Long Last... The Perfect Black Ankle Boots

I've been searching for these for ages.  Black boots that I can wear constantly but don't get destroyed within a couple of months.  Yes I might have splashed out a bit by paying for Hudson boots, but I don't regret it one bit.  May I introduce the Hudson Multi Suede Black ankle boots:

You can buy these beauties direct from the Hudson website or to avoid postage returns if they don't fit, do what I did and get them from Urban Outfitters so that you can take them straight back to the store.  

The fit comes up quite small and relatively narrow - perfect for my shallow feet.  The boots are light, comfortable and have a small heel on them - plus, I love the worn in, slightly battered finish that the suede has on them. 

Having previously wasted money on £40 boots from high street shops which aren't as comfortable or attract as many compliments, I'm glad to have taken the plunge.  Hudson boots, I salute you.   

Tim Walker for Mulberry

Has anyone else fallen in love with Tim Walker's latest ad campaigns for Mulberrry?

They remind me not only why he is one of my all-time favourite photographers, but also how much I want it to be Summer and to own one of those bags!

Feast your eyes upon these pastel-perfection images...

FHI Dryer Review

Now I know it's unusual for me to write such a girly post, but after going through several hairdryers over the past few years I have finally found one that I really like.  After mine made a very dodgy sound and failed to work the other day I found the FHI Nano Weight Pro 1900 Pink Dryer online and decided to take a chance. I'm not one to enjoy shopping for electrical appliances at the best of times, especially when my previous dryer had given up on me unexpectedly.  However, in this instance, I was pleasantly surprised.  

After ordering the FHI Nano Weight Pro 1900 Pink Dryer online from Hair Trader it arrived promptly, wrapped in that awesome giant bubble wrap which we all know we secretly still enjoy to pop.  It was going well so far.  I've found that unlike many other models, this one actually IS very lightweight and easy to use (I have really weak wrists so I notice the difference).  The diffuser made my straight hair nicely wavy and messy; just how I like it.  Plus, my thick hair took no time at all to be bone dry.  I hope you're starting to see why I'm so impressed.  


For once, something small, pink and pretty, also works fantastically.  Yes, I definitely would recommend it to a friend, or anyone for that instance.  Hair drying perfection if ever you could find it.


Thus ends the very girly review!




FHI Nano Weight Pro 1900 Pink Dryer

New Girl

Being such an avid film fan, I don't often give television the time of day.  Having said that, I've been watching New Girl online since I saw the trailer on the internet a few months back.  
I'm a huge Zooey Deschanel fan and this show does not disappoint. As of Friday, it's not just for the American's... The series will be showing at 8.30pm on Channel 4.  Don't miss it!

Seek & Adore

Yesterday was my first day at a new internship.  I will now be working part time for the website Seek & Adore.  They have a unique twist to shopping online - everything is made by a 'designer maker' rather than in a factory, so that you know whatever you are buying has a story behind it and won't be in half of the homes across the country.


After finding an advert for the position last Spring and not being able to take up their offer, I am very glad to have kept contact with the owner Hatty Fawcett, so that I could finally get a chance to gain work experience at the company.  Part of an interview I did with Hatty when I was investigating the reality of running your own business, is included in my feature in the post below .  


The plan is that my role is going to be based around social media and using my journalistic skills to write some pieces which will (hopefully) gain publicity for the site. 


As we all know, first impressions count.  I wasn't certain what to expect when I left on the cold Tuesday morning, the first day back to reality after New Year's antics.  Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised by a relatively easy commute as well as a lovely bunch of people to work with.  


Click on the banner below to view the Seek & Adore site; there's even 10% off right now, so it's definitely worth a browse!

Investigative Feature: The Reality of Owning your own Business

Beginners: A Film Recommendation

After a friend sent me the link to the trailer above for 'Beginners', I had the film on my never-ending 'to watch' list which floats about inside my head.  


The other night, at long last, I finally got to watch it.  I was not disappointed.  


Directed by graphic designer and artist Mike Mills, 'Beginners' has an interesting style which I found refreshing and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny. 


Unlike the generic cinema which Hollywood routinely churns out, this little gem was witty and uplifting.  If you enjoyed '500 Days of Summer', I'm sure you will love this.


Sophie 

New and Improved!

Hello and welcome to my new blog.


After a manic eight months, my last URL was neglected and unloved, so I decided that it was time for a new name, design and more content.


I have been very busy juggling my third year of uni alongside a new job; but there's no time for excuses... sorry, hello and enjoy!


Sophie