FOOD | Clark & Ravenscroft

Apparently my friend Bridie features in all my food posts. When we get together we love to eat. One of my favourite things about living in Norwich is how easy it is to support local businesses and eat somewhere new. Clark & Ravenscroft was recommended to me by a friend so, when it was pouring with rain this weekend and Bridie and I were craving lunch, we decided to give it a go. It's tucked away in the Norwich Lanes, with a cosy seating area in the back. We immediately loved it. 

Both of us got the soup. Soup is my favourite winter food. I could eat it every day. I even bought a slow cooker recently so I can make my own soup. I love it. Luckily Bridie feels the same. The sweet potato and lentil soup had the option of a toasted cheese sandwich on the side (with a choice of 3 types of cheese) and was the perfect hearty lunch on a cold autumn day. My drink was also amazing - it tasted like sweets. Definitely a spot I would recommend and I will be heading back myself as soon as possible. 

INSTAGRAM | #11

22nd birthday gifts; a large glass for the birthday girl; homemade roast from scratch

some spiky new pals for my windowsill; finally got my hands on Taint magazine; piecing my room together bit by bit

Somehow it's October and I've nearly been living in my new place for 2 months. My 22nd birthday came and went, and I ate ridiculous amounts of food and spent time with my favourite people and tried not to feel too old. I've also been buying bits and pieces to decorate my house slowly and it's all coming together a bit more every week. Graduate life has been a definite adjustment, it has its ups and downs, but as long as no one asks me about my future or my career plans I should be okay. I'm looking forward to the next few months. I love everything about Autumn and all of the exciting things coming up like Halloween and Bonfire Night and, of course, Christmas and New Year. I can't wait.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram for more graduate life updates.

OUTFIT | #238

shirt, jeans: Topshop; shoes: Converse; watch: Casio

I worked 12 days straight recently and when I finally got a day off, I wanted to wear clothes as far removed from from workwear as possible. I have risked jeans a few times at the office - always very black so they could be mistaken for tight trousers unless inspected closely. But mom jeans are probably pushing it. I was running errands all day in town, on an unseasonably warm day, and they seemed like the perfect day off option. The Topshop variety are incredibly soft and comfortable; sometimes I wear them around the house in lieu of joggers.

This outfit was inspired by a particularly well-dressed girl I saw walking around the campus I work on the other day. She wore an oversized plain white shirt (sadly I don't own one of these, which seems like a sartorial oversight if ever I had one) with baggy mom jeans and loafers. My loafers aren't quite comfortable enough for a day of running around so this is more loosely inspired by her. I love seeing well-dressed women and making a mental note of what they're wearing for later inspiration. People's personal style, when they're just wandering about living their lives, is my favourite place to get some wardrobe inspiration.

RECENT FAVOURITES | September 2015

I've been moved into my new place for a month now and things are settling down. My things aren't all packed in boxes anymore and I'm pretty much back into my normal routines. Including a few new introductions that I've picked up along the way and really enjoyed. I'm still putting my room's decor together and I bought 2 flowering cacti at a plant sale on campus this week. They were super cheap and sit on my windowsill now. I've never had plants before but I figured even a total beginner can't kill a cactus, right?

NO7 BEAUTIFUL SKIN CLEANSING BALM

I mentioned this product in my recent post about cleansers for dry skin. So far this is my favourite because it's so simple to use and feels lovely to apply. I've been really enjoying using it every evening before bed. It leaves my skin feeling super clean but not dry and stripped.

BOURJOIS ROUGE EDITION VELVET IN 'NUDE-IST'

Another post, yet another rave about these lipsticks. This shade is my new favourite of the lot, I wear it to work nearly every day. Working in an office doesn't mean I've abandoned the brights but this is somewhat more muted for days when I prefer to opt for a less bold look.

BENEFIT HERVANA BLUSH

Despite own more blush than any one person needs, I'd never owned a Benefit boxed blush before this one. I swirl all the colours together on my blush and it gives a long-lasting cool-toned plummy finish that I'm really enjoying as Autumn draws in.

OUTFIT | #237

jumper: H&M; skirt: Missguided; shoes: Dr Martens; watch: Casio

The living room is one of the only parts of my new house that is almost completely decorated. The fireplace is my absolute favourite part of the room so I decided to take my outfit pictures there today for a change of scenery. Hopefully I can stop taunting soon and actually make some posts about home decor as I've been promising for a while. My time at my summer office job is drawing to a close just as it gets cool enough to wear knitwear to work. I must admit I'm pretty disappointed. With the threat of imminent unemployment looming, I've been trying to make the most of office wear before days spent in my pajamas watching daytime TV in between job applications become the norm.

Tights really are my favourite thing about the colder months. Mostly because suddenly any skirt becomes appropriate for any occasion. All the skirts I'd had to ignore over the summer while I worked in an office can now make a reappearance. My interest in putting interesting outfits together wanes to almost nothing over the summer but now it's cold again, I should get some of my inspiration back. Hopefully. Waking up on pulling on any old thing becomes pretty dull after a while.

OUTFIT | #236

t-shirt: Zara; trousers: H&M; loafers: Bass; watch: Casio

Over the past month, I've learnt that moving into an unfurnished house is a lot more work than moving into a student place. My house is slowly coming together. We're picking up furniture in dribs and drabs and there's only the last few things to sort out now. My room is no longer filled with half-unpacked boxes so taking pictures is becoming less of an endeavour. Although taking pictures of my work outfits is another difficulty in itself.

I basically wear the same few outfits day in, day out. And when I get in after work, all I want to do is throw on my joggers and do nothing all night. My sister leant me these trousers and I'm tempted not to give them back. They fit perfectly and make it look like I made a lot more effort than I actually did. I pair them with a plain shirt most days and my Bass loafers, that are finally worn in enough to slouch around the office in. 

LIPSTICK | Rouge Edition Additions

Bourjois Rouge Velvet Edition lipsticks in Frambourjoise, Peach Club, Pink Pong & Nude-ist

You may remember me singing the praises of Bourjois' Rouge Velvet Edition lipsticks very, very recently. I absolutely love this lipstick formula and I knew it wouldn't be long before I bought more. I really couldn't help myself. I want all the shades. And, thanks to some birthday presents and payday, I'm nearly there now. My collection now stands at 6, out of I believe 8 current shades. (I'm secretly hoping they bring out more for winter. I know, I'm absurd. But I love them.)

Now in my possession are 4 lovely new shades that I've been trying out and adoring of late. They are: Frambourjoise - a warm berry shade, Peach Club - a peach that errs on the edge of coral, Pink Pong - a bold, almost neon pink, and Nude-ist (which is, surprisingly, my favourite of the lot) - a perfect matte 'my lips but better' colour. I wear one of these nearly every day. There's always one in my make up bag. They're just so long-wearing, and will of course be featuring in the post I'm planning very soon comparing my 'kissproof' lipsticks/stains.

OUTFIT | #235

This weekend my housemate, Zoe (who also has a blog: check it out), and I went to town to do some furniture shopping for our house. We ended up snapping up a fab white sofa and arm chair in British Heart Foundation and went for lunch at Strangers Coffee House to celebrate. I'd never been to Strangers before but went on recommendation from a friend. If you're in Norwich - definitely check it out. I have it on good authority that they have fab coffee. Sadly, I don't drink it myself anymore but the selection of tea is pretty exemplary too for those of us who are sensitive to caffeine.

jumper: Gap; jeans: Topshop; shoes: Nike; bag: Zara; necklace: mynamenecklace.com

Perks of having a blogger for a housemate: A live-in photographer and mutual understanding that all days out must be documented for blogging purposes. Since it's September now, the weather is a little chillier and I couldn't be happier. I love everything about dressing for colder weather. Dark lipstick, darker clothes, constant opportunities to layer. It's my absolute favourite. I've been looking longingly at all my jumpers and itching to wear them all again. 

My mum gave me this old Gap turtleneck jumper of hers when I was last home. I remember her wearing it tons when I was a kid and when I unearthed it in a pile of old clothes, I decided to bring it back. In a former life, it was black but now it is well-worn and incredibly comfortable. I've been wearing it non-stop and can't see myself stopping any time soon now sweater weather is drawing in. 

SKINCARE | Cleansing Dry Skin

If you've ever seen my skincare routine post, you'll know I've always been somewhat scared of cleansers. I honestly never used them until recently. I am lucky in having very well-behaved skin, in terms of break outs, so it never really made a difference if I was cleansing it or not. Cleansers have always left my dry, sensitive skin feeling tight and irritated in the past so it just didn't seem worth it to me. It was only in the past few months, as I decided with my mid-twenties were nearing I probably needed to take better care of my skin, that I decided to give them a go again. Apparently the world of cleansers has changed since my last foray into it and things are looking up for people with dry skin. In a surprising turn of events, I've managed to find two cleansers that I really rather enjoy.

GARNIER NOURISHING CLEANSING OIL

This product is, unfortunately, not available in the UK market. I picked it up when I was in the US this summer and my skin was acting up. I'd never even heard of cleansing oils but I'll definitely try some others once I've finished this one. I love using oils to moisturise my skin so I suppose it makes sense that using them to cleanse dry skin works pretty well too. I massage one pump onto my skin and then rinse it off with warm water and it leaves my skin feeling incredibly smooth and soft. 

NO7 BEAUTIFUL SKIN CLEANSING BALM

Another more moisturising cleanser, I've been interested in cleansing balms for a while. It's less messy than an oil, definitely more travel friendly, but I use it in a pretty similar way. Massage it into the skin (which feels lovely, like a thick moisturiser) and wipe it off with a damp flannel or cloth. I get zero irritation or dryness using either of these cleansers, but this one in particular leaves my skin feeling almost soft enough to skip moisturising afterwards.

DAYS OUT | 22 in London

Despite the camera issues mentioned in my previous post, I did manage to get a few snaps from my 22nd birthday weekend celebrations in London. Only from the first morning but I suppose it's better than nothing. I love London and couldn't think of anywhere else I would want to spend my birthday. My family came with me, leaving sleepy Suffolk for a few days to indulge me in showing them around my favourite sights of the city. We did a whole bunch of fun stuff, but, lacking photographic evidence, you'll just have to use your imagination for most. I did manage to get a few pictures in the V&A though; we popped in to peruse a few exhibits and then caught lunch at Comptoir Libanais. I've wanted to go there for ages and it did not disappoint. I'm sure I'll be back and make sure to properly document the experience another time.

OUTFIT | #234

top, skirt: Topshop; shoes: Converse; bag: Fjallraven Kanken; watch: Casio

It's my birthday on Monday so I spent this weekend in London seeing some sights, museum hopping, and eating a lot of great grub. I had intended on bringing my camera and taking pictures of everything and making a really great blog post, or two, to show you all the fun stuff I did and some of my favourite places in my favourite city. It was all going so well. Then halfway through the first day, my battery died and the plan all went to pot. Blogger problems, eh?

My next post will be a little mini-taster of what I got up to. I did manage to snap a few pictures of Saturday's outfit while I was in the V&A before my battery gave out. I'm rubbish at packing outfits for trips and had to throw a bag together quickly after work on Friday night. I wanted to wear this Topshop skirt with my denim jacket but the weather in London was super muggy and I ended up being far too warm. I'm so confused by the seasons lately. Is it autumn? Is summer clinging on a while longer? Who can tell. It makes looking cute 24/7 so tricky. Can't somebody help a girl out?

TIPS | Clearing Out Your Wardrobe

I just moved house, which makes blogging a bit tricky because everything is still packed in boxes and my house is a mess and still mostly unfurnished. Soon I will have a bunch of fun home decor posts for you all. In the mean time, moving has brought one issue very much to light. I own too many clothes. I'm no stranger to a grand wardrobe clear out. (My issue is the rate I fill it up again.) Most summers I do a bit of a sweep and along the way I've learnt some simple, but effective, key tips to the clear out process. Whether you're donating your clothes to charity or making a bit of spare money on Depop or eBay, these tips should help you along your way.

1. BE STRICT

Clearing out your wardrobe can be a stressful process and often involves parting with clothing items you may be somewhat overly attached to. Daft as it sounds, just try to power through. No one said minimalism was easy. But remember that being soft and letting things pile up is how you got here in the first place. 

2. WHEN DID YOU LAST WEAR IT?

This one is pretty simple. Have you worn it in the last 12 months? If not, it needs to go. We all have those items we like but always pass over for clothes we like even more. 12 months is long enough that you've been through all the seasons or events you could possibly be faced with and if you still haven't worn it after that, it's time to say goodbye. 

3. IS IT BROKEN?

We all buy things that we put aside to be mended at a later date and then never get around to it. This is the time to decide either you fix it or it's time to get rid of it. That skirt you always meant to take in a bit? The blouse with the missing buttons? The dress with the split seam? It's now or never. If you haven't picked up a needle yet, are you really very likely to?

4. DOES IT FIT?

Hanging onto clothes you no longer fit into or are aiming to fit into does no one any good. Don't be mean to yourself. Clothes are meant to make you feel good. Don't let them become something that means you criticise your body. And if it's miles too big and you're not into the oversized look, pass them on to someone else who'll get more out of them.

5. GIVE IT TIME

This is a tip I heard from Vivianna's recent video that immediately made sense to me. If you're still wavering and unsure if you want to get rid of something, hide it away. Put it in a bag, put it somewhere out of sight, and leave it there for a few months. If in that time you miss it, then keep it. If not, it's another one for the donation pile.

LIPSTICK | Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick

Bourjois Rouge Velvet Edition lipsticks in Hot Pepper & Grand Cru

A while back I mentioned how much I love the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick formula. It's become one of my favourite lipstick formulas. So far, I have two colours but I pretty much want to buy them all. I can't quite pinpoint exactly what I love so much. The incredibly affordable price? The long-lasting, surprisingly non-drying formula? The pretty great colour range? All of those things? Probably. I've been on a real lip stain kick for the last few months and these were the first ones I tried. I was on a somewhat serious, somewhat jokey quest to find a totally kiss-proof stain. There are a few others brands worth a mention on this journey, and I'm sure posts on them will come later, but the Bourjois offering still pulls me back in.

While I haven't completed my collection yet, I wear the two colours I already own a lot. Especially on a night out. They last pretty much an entire night of dancing and drinking. Plus they're small and purse-friendly and won't melt if you're in a sweaty club all night. 'Hot Pepper' is a bright reddish-orange that has been a firm favourite all summer. 'Grand Cru' is more vampy and wintry, although not as dark as it appears in the tube. It comes out as more of a lush raspberry stain, if you're into that 'I've just eaten a whole bushel of berries' look (and I am). 

INSTAGRAM | #10

The Beautiful Word @ The Bicycle Shop; exploring new watering holes; chip shop dinner

post-work bar crawl; a graduation gift from my sister; new house keys

I've been settling into my new routine of working 9-5 and trying to adjust to graduate life. Thus far, this has involved trying out new pubs beyond my old haunts in the student union, seeing some live music (check out The Beautiful Word - they're really fab), and sorting out a new grad pad. I finally got the keys to my new house this week. Roll on the next few paydays so I can start decorating and putting up some home decor posts for you all. I'm so excited, and only slightly terrified. I suddenly feel very adult. Or at least like someone pretending to be an adult.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram for more graduate life updates.

WHAT'S IN MY BAG | Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C.

For my 21st birthday, I was a very lucky girl and received a Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C. from my family. I was never especially into small bags, always preferring to cart my life around with me. However, in recent years, I've taken to a more minimalist approach with my bags and ditched all the excess crap and stuck to the basics instead. I wear my Mini M.A.C. for pretty much any occasion - going out for dinner, a night out, a jaunt around town in the day. It's my favourite bag, after my beloved Kanken. 

Being rather compact, it forces me to really think about what I bring out with me. It isn't absolutely tiny however - I have been able to fit my iPad Mini in this sucker a few times when I was in a hurry to get out the door. It's deceptively roomy and the various pockets are super handy. 

Typically, these are the essential items I carry in my Mini M.A.C.:

-River Island purse

-Topshop blush (also doubles as a mirror

-Jack Black Intense Therapy lipbalm

-whatever lipstick I happen to be wearing

-my keys

-iPhone 4

OUTFIT | #233

top: MissGuided; skirt: American Apparel; boots: River Island; necklace: gift; belt: Topshop; watch: Casio

This week, myself and some pals decided to go on a weeknight bar crawl to while ago the time after work. We headed to some of my favourite spots around Norwich, and some I'd not been to. I've decided now I'm not a student I should explore more of my city, beyond the university campus I've come to know like the back of my hand. If you're ever in East Anglia, make sure you go to the Playhouse for a pint and a packet of Salt & Shake crisps. It really can't be matched.

The weather's been cooling down of late and I kind of hope it's here to stay. Summer's novelty always wears off pretty quickly for me and working all the time means I don't get to enjoy it anyway. I want to wear layers, sweaters, boots, all of my beloved winter clothes. It was a chilly evening and I was more than happy to break out a turtleneck sweater and some tights. I always feel so much more 'me' when dressed for colder weather. Plus I can already tell this burgundy tennis skirt will fit right in with my winter wardrobe.

OUTFIT | #232

jacket: Levi's; top: Zara; skirt: Topshop; shoes: New Balance; necklace: gift

Working 9-5 is making me feel pretty boring and frumpy lately. A lack of suitable work clothes means I wear the stuff day in day out. My evenings have been spent trying to enjoy the few hours I have off every night so I've been exploring pubs in the city I've never seen been to before and went to a colleague's gig one evening. Funny story: I wore this to the pub one night and while we were taking these pictures, some French girls walked past and thought I was someone famous. They ran over and asked for a picture with me and paid me lots of lovely compliments. It was all quite surreal.

Back to my clothing limitations currently, I decided to go a bit wild and dress up even though I was only going for a few drinks. Cue shiny skirt. How I've missed it. This skirt and I have been on countless nights out over the past year. It felt good to bring it back. I toned things down a bit with my New Balance so I didn't look super overdressed. Plus they're super comfortable, like walking on air, which is always a plus when traipsing from pub to pub on a weeknight.

WISH LIST | 22nd Birthday Gifts

Nuxe huile prodigieuse; Casio watch; In God We Trust 'Sweet Nothings' necklace; Nike Air Force 1 Lo; Gucci Guilty

I turn 22 on September 1st and, in light of recent queries from various people in my life, I've been compiling a little birthday-inspired wish list. The gold theme was unintentional but hopefully it's a good omen. Something about 22 turning out to be a golden age maybe. Everything 21 was hyped up to be and didn't quite live up to, or something like that. (Although overall, 21 wasn't too bad at all.)

The Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse is something I've seen on blogs and in YouTube videos for months now. I own a million moisturisers and oils, on my constant quest for super soft skin, and this top of my list to try next. I feel like I always have watches on my wish lists. I love a good watch. Bracelets? Not so much. I wear a watch everywhere and as I enter my incredibly serious and professional new graduate life (or y'know, something to that effect) I figure a good watch is essential. Casio watches are among my favourites; I already own two. Then, as a little confidence boost for the moments I'm struggling to adjust to post-uni life, this In God We Trust necklace should serve as a nice reminder. 

While I was 21, I developed a real penchant for trainers. I foresee this being a passion that follows me in my early twenties, starting with a pair of bright white Air Force 1s. I'm not a fan of the hi-tops, more of a lo-top girl personally. But with an all-black outfit (naturally) and a great winter coat, I can see these looking pretty fantastic. Possibly with an all-new scent too. I feel like entering a new life stage is a good time to get a new perfume. Certain scents I can't wear anymore because they remind me too much of uni. I always like Gucci Guilty when I smell samples of it so perhaps it could be my next new fragrance.

NAILS | Top 5 Nail Polishes

I own a somewhat absurd amount of nail polish but it struck me recently that I stick to a few solid favourites every time I come to repaint my nails. I'm a creature of habit and we all know my colour palette preferences, lipstick aside, are limited. So I'm sure it comes as no shock that out of my large collection, only a small selection get used regularly. Now that I'm no longer a bar tender, I don't have to worry about the harsh chemicals we use to clean the bar stripping my nail polish so I've been painting them more which lead me to thinking I thought I'd show you my all-time favourites.

ORLY 'SMOLDER'

I love a metallic nail polish. Partially because with a good top coat they're super high shine, but also for the convenience factor. They dry ridiculously fast and have saved my arse many times as I've been rushing to get out the door for a night out. 'Smolder' is a beautiful dark red that I wear pretty much constantly in the winter when I favour a vampier palette.

ORLY 'RAGE'

Originally someone described this nail polish to me as a 'rose gold' shade. Since buying it, I would say it's more silver-based. Definitely no gold in this polish. It's a cool silvery pink colour with a slightly 90s vibe that I'm a big fan of. This is one I wear all year round because it goes with pretty much everything.

REVLON 'CARBONITE'

The last of the metallic finish polishes, 'Carbonite' is supposed to be exactly the same as the much coveted Chanel 'Graphite'. Not willing to shell out big bucks for something that will only chip after 24 hours, I stuck to old faithful Revlon for this shade. (Revlon are one of my favourite brands for nail polish.) Another multi-tonal shade, this looks dark grey in some lights and silver in others. 

BARRY M GELLY 'BLUE GRAPE'

This one's a bit of a wild card. An eye-poppingly bright blue. Not a typical shade for me but I absolutely love this colour nonetheless - so much so that I've mentioned it in a Recent Favourites post. It looks great against a completely black outfit, a.k.a everything I ever wear. I love the Gelly formula from Barry M. It's so shiny, even without a top coat, albeit slightly thick and a bit tricky to apply in a hurry.

BARRY M GELLY 'BLOOD ORANGE'

Another Gelly formula addition. It's probably my favourite nail range from any brand. This is a total misnomer - there's absolutely no orange in this shade. It's a true classic red. I love red nails, from any brand and have gone through countless bottles of red polish in my time. This one is my current favourite.

SALLY HANSEN INSTA-DRI TOP COAT

I don't do a heck of a lot to my nails but I never go without a top coat. Mostly because my nails are very weak and peel a lot so top coat is a must to stave off chipping. I've tried several, including blogger fave Seche Vite, but this is my favourite. It's well-priced and don't get incredibly thick and gloopy in a few months like a lot of top coats I've tried in the past.

HAIR | Current Haircare Routine

I've been talking about doing a haircare routine post for far too long now. While I still switch back and forth between products now and then, this has been my constant routine for several months. I had to adapt the products I used when I cut my hair at the beginning of the year and I think I've finally figured out what works for me. 

Full disclosure: I have difficult hair. My hair type is dry, curly/wavy, and frizzy. It's thick and, when left to its natural texture, pretty coarse and unruly. I can put a lot of products in my hair without worrying about it becoming greasy. I also only wash my hair every 4-5 days. My main aim is to combat frizz and keep my hair moisturised so if you have fine hair, these may not be the products for you.

L'OREAL EVERSLEEK SMOOTHING & INTENSELY NOURISHING SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER

I switch back and forth between various shampoos and conditioners a lot. At the moment, I've gone back to this range. I used them a while back and remember really enjoying them. I like that they're sulphate and silicone free and leave my hair feeling moisturised. I also feel like this range helps stop my colour from fading for longer - which is always a concern for those of us with colour treated hair.

JOHN FRIEDA FRIZZ EASE EXTRA STRENGTH SERUM

I've sworn by this serum since I was around 14. I am never without it. I apply 2 pumps to soaking wet hair and comb it through with my fingertips. It helps stop my hair from frizzing while it dries and keeps the texture more manageable. They've changed the packaging recently though and I can't stand it. It's hideous and I'm almost tempted to branch out and try a new serum.

IT'S A 10 MIRACLE LEAVE-IN PRODUCT

Another product I use to tame my frizz and put moisture back into my hair. I comb 3 pumps of this through my damp hair and scrunch it to maintain the curl. You can just spritz it straight from the bottle but I find it distributes quite unevenly and doesn't have the desired effect if used that way. 

SCHWARZKOPF BEACH MATT TEXTURISING SALT SPRAY

I've mentioned this product in a previous Recent Favourites post. I spritz it liberally on my damp hair, after using the It's a 10 spray, and scrunch even more. Scrunching is kind of key when you have curly hair. I'll also use a few sprays of this on dry hair if it's looking a bit limp and lifeless, to add back a bit of texture.

ORGANIX MOROCCAN ARGAN OIL

This is kind of an emergency haircare product I keep around for days when my copious serums, spritzes, and leave-in treatments still haven't managed to stop my hair feeling drier than the sahara. I put a really small amount into my palm and rub it into the ends of my hair. It adds a lovely shine back to my hair when it's looking especially dull.

AND AN EXTRA TIP...

My final, and most essential, haircare tip to leave you with is this: don't dry your hair with a towel. I use an old t-shirt instead. It makes your hair so much less frizzy. I twist my hair up in an old shirt, leave it for 5-10 minutes to dry a little bit, and then let it down and begin using the rest of my products. I also never use any heat on my hair. Letting it air dry does take quite a while, but my curls turn out so much nicer and is much less damaging to my hair.

OUTFIT | #231

top: Zara; skirt: Miss Guided; boots: Topshop; necklace: gift; watch: Casio

Graduating last week involved seeing lots of friends, lots of nights in the pub or local bars catching up, and dinners out. I wore this out on a little date night before things go too hectic. I'll spare you any details but it involved a bit of restaurant hopping and a rather pleasant 40% discount off our wining and dining. I popped a leather jacket over the top of my outfit but probably could have worn something heavier as it was pretty cold in the evening. Investing in a proper moto style jacket is top of my clothing wish list.

I decided to keep it pretty simple. I love this pink skirt from Miss Guided. Pink isn't a colour I would ever really wear in a top or a dress but I do enjoy a jazzy little skirt from time to time. I haven't been able to wear it lately while I've been working so I pulled it out for this occasion. I also wore some Topshop boots I'd almost forgotten I owned. I have so many shoes and not enough space to store them so sometimes a few pairs get overlooked in their dusty hiding spots.

OUTFIT | #230

dress: Topshop; shoes: H&M; bag: Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C.

Guess who's a graduate? That would be me. I crossed the stage ('strutted' according to those watching) and collected my certificate on Wednesday. It's been a strange week since. Too many goodbyes, a lot of sunshine, and not much sleep. While I would have loved to have wandered about campus drinking champagne all day in my cap and gown, it was far too hot and I cast them off as soon as the group photo was taken. I still don't 100% know how I feel about it all but I'm mostly looking forward to some grad life adventures - whatever the heck they will be.

I wore a white dress from Topshop for the ceremony. White isn't a colour I ever thought I could pull off but with a tan and some encouragement from friends, I felt pretty great. My robes were salmon and navy. Not the world's easiest colours to pair things with. So white was perfect, although difficult to photograph. I paired it with my beloved turquoise H&M heels. I get so many compliments every time I wear these shoes. Mothers were coming up to me saying how lovely they were all day.

OUTFIT | #229

top: MissGuided; skirt: American Apparel; sandals: River Island; watch: Casio

No more work for a week means I get to bring my short skirts and crop tops out again. Thank goodness. Dressing incredibly conservatively on a limited wardrobe means you run out of options pretty fast. I'll be glad when I have some money to buy some more office appropriate clothing. For now, it's my graduation week and I'm spending it with family and friends, not in front of a computer. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts.

Keeping up the ol' tennis fashion vibes here with the addition of a fairly sporty-looking white top. I bought this ages ago and never wore it for some reason. It looks good with this skirt though. Anyone would think I had some natural sporting ability or even a vague interest in it, but you would be wrong. I was the kid in PE that refused to run or catch a ball or do anything (Everyone hated me. Understandably.) I don't watch any sports, I don't know the rules to anything, and the only time I break a sweat is if I run for a bus. Such an imposter. But I look pretty cute, so I guess that makes up for it.