Phew!

The past week has confronted me with some major challenges. I won't go into detail but the graduate job I began working at didn't turn out to be what I thought it would. I made a risky decision to resign but I'm looking forward to delving into a new job adventure.

Just so you know, I've been given a very exciting writing opportunity at The Daily Touch website (http://www.thedailytouch.com) so keep looking for my fashion articles which will be published from next week onwards! Also got some other volunteer-related things to look forward to doing!

It feels so good going for what I want to do. I'm currently learning to the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, writing this blog, mentally preparing myself for tomorrow and organising my study schedule. Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to go two steps forward :-) 

I have therefore decided to go and find a part-time job, cut back on my spending, enjoy my free time to study, pass my exams and have time to spend with my boyfriend, family and friends. Tomorrow I'm going to an interview for a very exciting opportunity, which (fingers crossed) will work out. It would be absolutely brilliant!

I've mentioned it before on my blog but it really is my dream to become a primary school teacher. I love being around children it gives me the happiest feeling when I can assist in their learning. Due to personal circumstances I have experienced a delay in taking my GCSE examinations in Science and Maths, which is why I'm doing them now at the grand age of twenty-two! :-) Next year I will hopefully be applying for my PGCE at a university and I will then be able to apply for my dream job!

Here's a few pictures from my week:

Here's a picture of my new Cath Kidston bag. My previous one has lasted two years :-) but it now yellow at the handes! It's quite icky (excuse my terrible expression, there) and needed replacing as I couldn't fit my college folders inside any of my bags! I love this because it was actually very reasonably priced for Cath Kidston (especially with student discount!) and you can just fit so much inside! I want to call it the Tardis Bag - it is deceptively large! It's particularly useful for Science - I seem to have so many handouts!

Teaaaaaaa

I never buy nail varnishes but fancied trying out some colours on my nails for a change! I got this dark green and rosy red matte varnish by Barry M! :-) I'm hoping that they will look nice! I also picked up a 'Very Berry' face pack as I felt like having a pick-me-up after a hard week!

I'm also currently reading James Joyce's 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man' which is a very engaging read. The only problem is I'm finding that I'm too tired/feel guilty into doing something else, i.e. studying or job hunting. I'm going to make sure that I read much more this weekend :-) I've only got less than fifty pages left of this novel. I'm wondering what to start on next?

Valentine's Day fashion!

More cynicism than celebration happens on Valentine's Day, which is a shame because I think it's really lovely. I know it's commercial and blah blah blah ... but it's nice, and it's nice having an excuse to spoil your other half and watch films that make you blubber! I thought I'd write a post about how I've decided to dress up today!

My plans for today are really casual, so I've opted for a cute jumper that I got from work (yay) and a pair of dark jeans. As you can see, the jumper has a really cute bow on it, and bit of green detailing on the bottom of it (which you can't!). It's really simple and feminine! I love it.

 My makeup is very natural today. I'm wearing Mua eyeshadows (£1 each, amazing!), some Bourjois translucent powder to remove shine, Shu Uemura mascara, BeneFit dandelion powder and moonbeam highlighter, and dash of raspberry lip balm! My hair is naturally styled, with some dry shampoo for volume and freshness! So yes, a very natural and easygoing look! Perfect for a night-in or a trip to the cinema with your loved one.

Here are some other cute outfit ideas:

Topshop £38.00

Team this up with black tights for an afternoon in a vintage tea shop!

Asos.com £20.00

For a more sophisticated look that is adaptable, this slashneck skater dress from Asos helps make the perfect transition from day to night.

Cath Kidston £35.00

 This gorgeous skirt from Cath Kidston would be perfect with a light blue cardigan. As it's quite cold at the moment, a skirt option might be ideal if you're planning to stay inside somewhere for the majority of the day. It's definitely a cute staple for summer!

Emma Loves: February 2013

The second in the series of 'Emma Loves' posts. To explain to new readers of Written On The Sky, it's a post in which I list ten things that I find special/interesting about the month. It can be things I've bought, things I like or appreciate in that particular month. I hope you enjoy!

1. My new bunting mug. It's so cute, and perfect for herbal teas. 

2. Spring: Initially, I thought that Autumn was my favourite season. Orange leaves, hot chocolates and snuggles in bed. Spring 2013, however, has led me to think that maybe Spring is indeed my favourite. It's revitalising, fresh, interesting and fun. I look forward to the sun shining more in the early mornings, being outside in fields and having picnics, wearing ballerina flats and listening to the new Alessi's Ark album. A year ago I was turning twenty-one, and I was in Paris. A year later, I'm turning twenty-two, I've just started a part-time job in fashion, I'm spending my third Valentines Day with David, and I'm finishing my very last semester at university. I feel enveloped in a reassuring atmosphere, as if "everything will be alright" in the end, and I will reach my goals and fulfil my wishes. It's quite lovely, really.

3. My birthday! I'm turning twenty-two, and I'm very excited. It's one of my favourite numbers too.

4. Alessi's Ark

I'm very much looking forward to the new album recorded by Alessi's Ark. The Still Life should be available in April, but the new single is out now! So be sure to get it. It sounds great!

5. Dresses

I'm loving skater dresses at the moment. The fit and flare style suits my figure perfectly, as I have a small waist and big hips. Here's one I adore!

Red Fit & Flare Dress - £20.00 from Topshop

6. Sex And The City - £29.99 (Entire Series Boxset)

I know quite a few women that don't like Sex And The City, but I think it's hilarious! It's brilliant because it delves into issues that men don't think women discuss, and it has lots of touching moments that remind us why our friends are very special to us all. I'm on the last series, but I don't think I will be watching it all until I finish studying! Boo.

7. Quorn Cocktail Sausages - £2.85

I've been a vegetarian for eight years, now. There was that month when I started eating meat again at university because I thought it would be cheaper. But it wasn't, and I gave myself food poisoning after cooking green bacon. However, Quorn have recently brought out these cocktail sausages. As soon as I had one, I went back to being eight years old again, feeling like I was at a friend's birthday party at Snakes and Ladders. Being a veggie doesn't have to be lacking in tasty food anymore, and this particular product brings back a bout of nostalgia without hurting anyone or anything. Marvellous!

8. Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel is a beautiful and ditsy woman to look up to! Her sense of style is amazing, and being extremely clumsy myself, she provides women everywhere in the world with an excuse to be that way and be proud of it. I'm a big fan of She & Him, and was very happy to hear that there will be a new album coming out soon! I've not kept up-to-date with New Girl, but I thought the first series was hilarious.

9. New duvet cover!

I love the new duvet cover we've got. It's from Tesco and it only cost £10.97, I believe. Such good value, and reminds me a lot of a Cath Kidston duvet cover I had in my first year of university. Unfortunately it was a single sized one!

10. Studying

I'm hoping to become a bit of a Hermione Granger in the month of February. I'm learning to love studying and appreciate what I've got left of my university experience. Hopefully I can notice an increase in marks, too! But yes, lots of work to get through in the upcoming weeks despite lots of fun and interesting holidays i.e. birthday and Valentines

Happiness In A Blog Post

Me hugging a Happy Tree

Here's a list of things that make me happy! For some reason, I always feel much happier after reading other people's happy lists. It's infectious!

- Cups of tea. Cherries too!

- Smiles :-)

- The Strokes having a new album out!

- My adorable hamster, Scout!

- Hugs

- Flowers (daisies)

- Rom-coms (I know, not very sophisticated)

You've Got Mail

- Being around friends, and giggling over the silliest of things.

- Going to Starbucks with David the other day because walrus and snail impressions happened! (With the aid of many straws)

- Elephant sneezes.

- My hot waterbottle, Ernest. He's a penguin!

- Merlin, a little owl I received as a present last year. He's meant to inspire me to write my university work! Heehee.

-Being all cosy, and spending weekend mornings in bed.

- Being able to wear my brogues outside again, now the Spring is on its way.

- Reading in bed, when the sun is glaring through the window.


- Children's books from when I was younger. Also, when I saw the Cath Kidston book design for Ballet Shoes my heart sank a little!

- Pandas are sooooo cute.

 - Paris!

 - Baking (yum yum)

- The snowman that David and I built. His name was Herbert George, after H. G. Wells!

Sales!

Hello everybody! I hope that you all had a fantastic introduction to the new year. I'm afraid that I have been very busy as of late. I have returned to University, and have had much reading to do (some of my books are 900 pages long) and essays are being set already. Although I do not intend for this to be a review, a 'haul' style post seemed like a fun idea.

When I say "I'm not a sales person" I do not mean that I won't buy anything that is offered at a reduced price. Instead, I'll mean that I refuse to buy anything at a reduced price because I don't need it, or due to its reason for being placed in the sales aisle i.e. damage or item does not conform to current fashion trends. I find the idea of shopping at Oxford Street on Boxing Day quite traumatising, even when I am just contemplating it! Crowds, labels on the floors, toes being trodden on, humidity and severe stress. So, while I was drinking cappucinos in the rural countryside during the seasonal fesitivities, I looked at my list of things necessary purchases. I logged onto Zara.com for the very first time, and to my surprise, I had seen products that I had looked at for a while - at reduced prices.

The main tip to buying in sales is to remember that you are only saving money if you are buying something you would have bought regardless. Unfortunately, I used to be one of those people who would buy all sorts from sales just because of the brand names. It is worth investing in a £19.99 jumper from Uniqlo that will keep you warm throughout winter as opposed to spending £15.00 on a dress from Topshop, that you can only wear out once and does not particularly flatter your figure anyway. Psychologically, most people are encouraged to think that the reduction compensates for what the items are lacking. So be careful, ladies!

To make the post a bit more interesting, here is what I bought from Zara.com!

Basic Ballerina with Bow - £16.99 reduced from £19.99

I adore classic ballerina flats. I always feel so elegant and yet practical when wearing them. They really are the most versatile style of shoe! I often purchase my ballerina flats from Primark, which cost roughly £4.00. Although Primark's version of the classic is both comfortable and affordable, they unfortunately rip apart after two or three months. So, I've got high hopes from Zara, as they are a company that is renowned for their quality attire.

Basic Shopper £16.99 reduced from £19.99

The basic shopper has been one of the most sought after bags amongst fashion bloggers across the internet. After receiving the Office City Bag for Christmas, I still didn't have a 'handbag' of my own. I wanted something that was smaller, and yet similar to my Uni bag. This seemed perfect! The original retail price is extremely 'cheap' in comparison to other Zara bags in the range.

 

Basic Button Neck T-Shirt £9.99 reduced from £17.99

Needless to say, the 'basic' range by Zara is perfect for purchasing wardrobe staples. I prefer simplicity over anything, when it comes to fashion. Simple clothes aren't boring, they are timeless. I envisage the shirt above to combine perfectly with black jeans, black ballerina flats, beige mac coat, shopper bag with a dash of red lipstick  on the lips - maybe Mac's sheer 'Lady Bug' lipstick (£13.50).

Box Wallet with Studs £9.99 reduced from £19.99

I have a real problem with purses. They're either too small, or too large! I've been eyeing up this clasp purse for ages. The mini compartments inside make it easy to store your cash and cards. I'm not a big fan of studs, but the 'box' design is very sophisticated.

Fashion: Zara Office City Bag

Image: Own

For Christmas, I have received the Zara Office City Bag from my generous parents. I was looking for the perfect 'Uni bag' and this had proven to be impossible during the past two years of study. I needed a bag that could not only carry my 15" Macbook Pro, but also fit in notebooks/textbooks and essays! I also wanted a little compartment to hold my personal items i.e. purse, phone and keys.

The bag itself is beautiful. It was much bigger than I thought it would be. As I'm now studying in my third year, I wanted a bag that was not only stylish but just more 'grown up' than my typical brown satchel or Cath Kidston box bag. What I love most about this bag is the shoulder protector on the strap. There's nothing worse than carrying lots on my pleasant half an hour walk to Uni and then having a sore shoulder, too! The little handles on the side mean that you can just carry it, as well, if that's more to your taste.

Image: Own

Inside the compartments (there's five altogether) there's plenty of space to neatly organise your belongings. The burgundy coloured lining inside the bag also conforms to the 'berry' colour trend this season. In the middle one, I managed to fit my Macbook in quite easily, which was a wonderful surprise! Two of the compartments do not have zips, however, so I'd advise that these are used for books, magazines or diaries. I'm definitely looking forward to using this next month when I return to lectures!

Fashion: Ankle boots

I'm slightly obsessed with one of the most popular fashion trends of this season. Ankle boots are not only practical in the winter, but they can make any outfit look tres chic! Black ones look stunning with black tights, and gives us girls an excuse to wear dresses! A brown, more tan-like colour, would be more likely to go with jeans. Here are some ankle boots that I've discovered online, all of which are at student-friendly prices!

TopShop 'Mighty' Black Leather Zip Ankle Boot: £41.50 (with student discount).

Dorothy Perkins 'Chelsea Block Heel Boots': £28.00 (sale price)

Asos tan ankle boots: £12.50 (sale price)