Enthalpy change of formation

Shirt - H&M

Cardigan - Next

Jeans - Next

Brogues - Schuh

I wore this outfit to go and enquire about a job vacancy that I'm pretty sure that I didn't get. Every potential employer wants so much commitment and I'm completely undecided about my future, and even if I did know exactly what I want to do in life - it doesn't mean I'm more likely to get there! It's all just so annoying and feels completely hopeless.

The chemistry reference in the title is because I'm currently posting purely so I don't have to do any more revision - I'm trying to make revision cards and it's just so dull and I have so much to do over the holidays. I have five lever arch folders of work and I need to revise everything inside them, I probably shouldn't be blogging should I?

Me and Hannah have signed up for the A to Z Blogging Challenge for next month which is going to be really cool as it means we have to blog every day apart from Sundays so hopefully it will get us into more of a routine. 

You can sign up to the challenge here but hurry, you only have the rest of the day to sign up!

Might just quit now

I went for my college interview this evening, for any of you that don't know my current predicament regarding my education (that sounded fancier that I meant it to) read School Sucks.

Anyway, my intention was to carry on with English and Psychology, but begin Textiles with the possibility of doing both AS and A2 in one year, but when I went to college tonight they told me that they aren't running Textiles next year, which puts me firmly back at square one.

This means that I can carry on with any three of my four subjects next year at my current school (the thought of which makes me want to die) or I can carry on English, Psychology and Chemistry at college, and there is absolutely no way that I'll be able to get a decent grade in Chemistry, today's lesson went completely over my head. It was one of those where the teacher has a fantastic idea that we will "teach each other" so nobody knows what they're on about and she gets to sit on her arse all lesson.

GUH.

So I don't know what to do next year, and I don't know what to do after sixth form, and I don't know what I want to do in life. Maybe I should just resign now and settle for a job in a SCS or something, not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just that I always thought I'd do something cool with my life.

I guess I could write that novel I've always wanted to write. HA

Prom

We got our invitations to the prom on Thursday and I'm in two minds whether to go or not. I'm not exactly popular at school so I won't have many people to talk to and the venue is about an hour's drive away, and I won't be old enough to drink but loads of people will be and if I have to look after anyone who's in a state I won't be happy.

On the other hand, I really enjoyed prom last year - especially when we were all jumping around to Chelsea Dagger - my feet still hurt the next afternoon.

Also, there is a gorgeous dress from Coast that would be perfect, as apparently this year's prom is a little more low-key so the dresses are more casual.

Daymee dress - £150 - Coast

Although the dress is expensive, I can wear last year's shoes and use last year's bag which will save a lot of money, and we won't be getting a fancy car there which would be one less expense. 

As the venue is quite far away a lot of people are talking about staying in a local Travel Lodge which is a tempting idea, then I could just get the train home the next morning.

It isn't until July though so there's plenty of time to decide and talk Mum into buying me that dress.

Rose Photoshoot

I had to take some photos of flowers today, harshly lit with a bicycle light. I used a rose because we had a vase full from my mum's birthday and they are starting to look a little dead which I thought added to the effect.

I know I don't post too much of my Photography stuff (mostly because I know it's all bollocks) but I'm rather happy with how these came out and we haven't posted since Monday and I don't want you to think we've forgotten about this blog because we really haven't, it just hasn't been a very inspirational week.

Oxidation state of -1

Jumper - Topshop

Skirt - Miso at Republic

Tights - Primark

Boots - Office

I bought this skirt from the closing down sale that turned out not to be a closing down sale at Republic in half term, I like it because it's black and so goes with everything, but the subtle texture of the fabric stops it from looking too much like a school skirt, which is something I try to avoid as I go to a sixth form and are surrounded by the lower school (otherwise known as the cretins) so I don't want to look like them!

The jumper is an oldie-but-goodie bought from Topshop little over a year ago. I wore it to go shopping in Leeds with my cousin and the girl working in Topshop actually commented on it and said that she had wanted one but they went out of stock before she could get one. It really is the nicest thing when strangers compliment your clothes, because you know that they had absolutely no obligation to do so.

I was at school today which was nothing exciting; I had Photography all morning where Miss gave me a 15 point list to be completed by Easter. I absolutely detest Photography and cannot wait to be rid of it at the end of the year, but I've put in so much work now that I can't drop it, my exam is on 1st May so I don't have long left at all. I also had Chemistry and I understood what both teachers were telling me which makes a change. I hate Mondays.

I really can't wait for it to start warming up, I recently purchased the loveliest spring mac which makes me feel all sophisticated and it's been too cold to wear it yet!

Spring, where are you?

I have so much work to do.

I don't know if it's ever going to end. I seem to have breezed through the year, and suddenly, I have got to manage so many different things at once, I don't know if I can manage.

 

 

This month, I aim to 'spruce' myself up a bit in time for the ever impending arrival of spring, and this is how I intend to do it.

 

 

1 Get a fringe cut in. There is something very annoying about having no structure to the front part of my hair, unless I do something about it, I resemble, not so faintly, Snape or Lord Farquaad. I wish it was just a 'simple straightening' job or ideally, 'wake up okay' job. I'm feeling something similar to Bella Thorne's (pictured).

 



2. Wear edgier clothes and hairstyles. Over the years I've slowly dressed in weirder things, until I am at the point now where the people I am around accept and expect it from me. I love wearing my hair in these cute 'manga-esque' buns, and when I saw that Hayley Williams had done it for a recent concert, it just made me want to wear them even more. My face doesn't really suit updos, but I love this style. I also love the clothes she is wearing, the denim jacket and the shoes especially, and I'm not really into those disco pants, but on her they just look so cool.

3. Eat more consistently and healthily. I eat a lot of food, or I eat hardly any food at all. I just go through phases where I have a huge appetite, or none at all, and it often makes me feel ill and my body feel out of sync swapping habits so drastically all the time. I have decided the best way to go about it is too try and regulate it and find a better balance, for example, when I have no appetite, force myself to eat more than is comfortable, and when I have a massive appetite, try and eat less than I think I want. Also, I need to eat more fruit and vegetables,  instead of pizza 24/7. (I don't know what the food is in this picture but it looks delicious.)

 

4. Buy some pastel nail varnish. Barry M do all of these lovely pastel colours that are really fresh and pretty.

 

 

I hope spring comes soon as all this bad weather is not nice for waiting for the bus in. I just want it to be warm enough so I don't have to wear a coat, and for the sun to be out. It seems like it has been years since it was warm and bright.

 

 

Thankyou for reading!

 

 

Finished project: Quilt

Yesterday was an inset day and since I was incredibly bored and my heating is broken so the house is freezing (well, not so much today because I've pulled a little oil-filled radiator into my room that my dog has sat in front of all day, she's such a little cutie) I went over to see my cousin and we had something of a crafty afternoon: she knitted a snood from some gorgeously fluffy burgundy wool and I finally finished the quilt I've been making in stages at her house every time I've been over to visit for one of our crafting sessions. 

I bought the fabric over a year ago with my Christmas money as I was determined to spend it on something different to clothes like I do every other year, and only just did the edging yesterday. The blanket is only roughly one metre square, so I can't fit completely under it. You can't see from the photograph, but the reverse has some lovely purple fleece that is keeping my legs nice and toasty as I write this post.

I'm not usually one to toot my own horn (what a cute expression that is, I may have to use it more often) but I haven't sewn anything in ages and this is one of the few proper* projects I've ever done. 

It really was easy to make, it just took a while because I get bored of doing the same thing for a while. But if I can do it, anyone can. Honest.

I followed the instructions for the Stack 'n' Whack Quilt from Kirstie Allsopp Craft (£12.80 from Amazon) which is a really good book full of lovely projects.

* By proper I mean that it took more than half an hour

Hair Tutorial: Messy bun (short hair)

The messy top-knot has become something of a staple hairstyle for the past year or so now, with celebrities such as Gillian Zinser rocking the trend as a cool yeah-I-just-rolled-out-of-bed look (even though we all know that professional hair stylists probably took two hours over the 'do, but I digress)

My point is that all the celebrities we see with the hairstyle (and most of the girls we see walking down the high street) all have really long hair, but girls with short hair can get the look too.

This is me sans make-up and without having done anything to my hair apart from brushing it, as you can see my hair isn't far past my shoulders. This style works best on unwashed hair because the backcombing doesn't fall out as easily.

Start by styling any hair that you don't want in the bun, I usually straighten mine but you can do whatever you normally do.

Next, backcomb the Hell out of the rest of your hair - the more you backcomb it, the bigger your bun will be.

Then, use a brush to gently brush over the top of your bird's nest so that you keep the backcombing but it doesn't look too crazy. Then tie the rest of your hair into a bobble. Since my hair is short it won't go all the way up on top of my head, so I settle for having it right at the back of my head.

(Excuse the tip that is my bedroom)

Using a similar technique to if any of you have used a doughnut, take about an inch section of your hair, roll it around your fingers so it tucks in and secure with a hair grip.

Keep going all the way around and secure with hairspray. Voilà! 

That's fucked up

Cardigan - Sparkle & Fade at Urban Outfitters

Vest - Primark

Necklace - An adorable little shop in Durham

Jeans - Next

Worn with flowery Dr Martens

Today was quite a good day, I had an early-morning driving lesson before school and did my first parallel park (I was way to far from the kerb but atleast I didn't hit anything!) then I had three free periods, during one of which me and David did our normal trip to Sainsbury's and bought a bag of Mini Eggs and some Pepsi because Pepsi was cheaper than Coke.

We've all been told to make revision timetables at school which means I have to make one to avoid getting in the shit even though I will not stick to one and I'm not really feeling the pressure when it comes to exams just yet so I really, really don't see the point, but nobody likes to upset the apple cart do they?

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

£3.85 from Amazon

I just finished reading The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and wow, what a great book! 

If you've read anything by John Green in the past, you'll know that he tends to ask the big questions in life in the setting of American teens, but this isn't just any teen novel, it's like the Mean Girls of teen books, absolutely perfect.

I'm trying really hard not to give too much away about the book, just be warned that I did shed a little tear at one point, and I never cry at books or films, so beware!

And yes, there are lots of lovely quotes - what else would you expect?

Leeds Festival

 

So the final headliner for Reading and Leeds was announced at 7.15pm last night, and it's Green day!

They're going to be incredible, and it has really tempted me to get a Saturday ticket, as there are 4 bands I like on that day. Just got to save £90 now, which is easier said than done with so many temptations to spend EVERYWHERE.

 

 

I just think that they'll be such a good band to see live, at a festival, with thousands of people singing along all around you.

 

 

 

Here's the line up that was released last night;

 

Linophobia

I just wanted to show you guys this work I did in Photography today, since it's one of the few things that I've done and actually like.

My work is all based on fears and phobias, so I took this hand mannequin that Miss had in the cupboard and positioned it based on a "drowning man" and then wrapped string around it because the piece was to be focused on linophobia - the fear of string. Also, the string is supposed to represent how irrational phobias "constrict" a person's everyday life (blah blah photography student shit blah blah) and then I added all the text using Photoshop which took forever but overall I think it's pretty good.

What do you guys think?

Spring Wishlist

As spring approaches (even though it was hardly springy today, brr!) so do lots of new trends and items in the shops, so here I have pulled together the items I want to acquire over the next couple of months to complete my summer wardrobe, although where I'm going to put these purchases is beyond me, the rail in my wardrobe is already crippling under the weight of my clothes, I need to have a serious sort out!

First of all I would really like to have my tragus pierced, however my mum won't fund any piercings so I have to pay for this myself, the horror! I only want a simple silver stud like the one pictured, I darn't stretch my ears so this is my way of still feeling a little rebellious with a more reversible outcome.

Multi flower print corset - £30 - Topshop 

I know that this purchase is a little daring, and £30 is a lot of money for so little material, but I really like the contrast between the girly pattern and the structured shape. Me and Hannah are planning to start Zumba tomorrow but I think I'll need a little more than that before I dare to wear a bralet, although I would only wear one with high-waisted jeans, ofcourse.

Spot Frame Handbag - £55 - Cath Kidston

I know that I already have one Cath Kidston bag and that should be enough, but look at it! I love the unusual shape but it can be used as a shoulder bag which is perfect for me as I don't like to carry a bag around in my hand, that and the pattern is really nice.

Light wash bleached denim shirt - £32 £20 - River Island

I really want a denim shirt to wear over dresses and shorts in place of a cardigan over the summer (I may even rock the double denim if I'm feeling particularly daring) and this one from River Island is perfect; the bleached colouring means that the shirt looks light and summery while the studding on the shoulders keeps the shirt looking up to date.

Stone tipped swing mac - £35 - BHS

Okay, so I know that BHS doesn't exactly spring to mind when you think of fashion, but this coat is just what I need for the coming months when it's too hot for my winter coat and too cold to go without one. Also, the neutral colours mean that I won't look silly pairing it with my coloured jeans and bright yellow school bag and it is smart enough to be worn wherever I go, so when you think about it, £35 is something of a bargain.

Spot Canvas Rucksack - £35 - Fat FaceBackpacks are everywhere at the minute, but my favourite is this spotty one from Fat Face. A backpack would be the perfect size for me to take essentials when I go to university open days over the summer, and any trips I go on with school. I don't really like the idea of using them as a handbag because it's all too easy for someone to reach in and grab my purse without me realising, but if they want to nick a university leaflet they can feel free!That's everything I can think of for now, I'm sure I'll pick up some more bits and bobs along the way, if any parties or gigs come up I will ofcourse need a new dress, but we'll cross that bridge if we get to it!