Tutorial: Fish Tail Braid

Yesterday I decided to make a youtube video on how to create a fish tail braid after getting a few compliments on a previous blog post.

How long I keep this video up will probably depend on how mean the comments are! That said let me know what you think in the comments below. This is the first ever hair tutorial I've made so it wasn't perfect, but I hope you like it and can learn how to do the fish tail braid if you didn't know before.
Em xx

My Dressing Table

 

So for anyone who has been following my blog for quite a while, you'll know that my bedroom is a huge uncompromising vortex of mismatched furniture and no storage space! I have no imagination when it comes to room planning, I need some professional help which alas I cannot afford, so it looks like I will be living in this vortex for the rest of my days! (Unless I find a hunky decorating-type kind of guy, or a fairy god mother.... Please send your applications to my email inbox)

There is one small section of it that I love though, which I thought I would show you in a very picture heavy post! I adore my dressing table. It fits perfectly to my tastes, which is vintage-style pieces decorated with lots of modern titbits. 

I envisioned and had been looking for my perfect dressing table for years, which I wanted to either vintage-esque, white and also a bit shabby chic. Lo and behold after having a casual browse through Gumtree I found the PERFECT one in the local ad section from a seller a few streets away! Obviously fate wanted me to have a nice dressing table...

A lot of the things on my dressing table have sentimental value as they were gifts off friends, but I'll try to list where everything is from!

Jewellery box: Past Times

A present off my parents last Christmas, I LOVE this. It's hard to take a nice photo as it's all mirrored but you get the idea!

 Little bucket with magnetic heart, feather butterfly and sugar mouse all a present from my friend Jo for my 21st. It was an amazing, lovely thoughtful present (click here to see what it looked like before I ate 70% of it!)

Photoframe: Paperchase off my friend Roz for my 21st, I picked a photo of me and my Dad who I love to bits.

The bowl is from TK Maxx and perfect for when my friends come round to put sweeties in! It was only £6.99 so a great deal.

Letters are from BM Bargains for £3.99 which I bought yesterday

Above is a photo of my and my ex Steven. I will get round to changing this eventually, but the photo is a really good memory of a family holiday. We went to Lindisfarne and had a lovely time, so whenever I look at this I feel nice and happy inside. The heart is from my sister for my birthday from Past Times, it's so beautiful! The frame of the photo is from TK Maxx off my friend Ashley.

 This candlestick holder is off my grandparents and is also another piece I adore. I would be devastated if I broke this (touch wood) as Nana told me it will be something to remember her by when she dies.

 Trinket box: Vintage. White clock Wilkinsons, silver clock Past Times (seeing a theme here?)

In one drawer I keep all my perfumes, as keeping them out of sunlight stops them going 'off' as quickly.

In another drawer I keep deodorants...

And in the middle drawer I keep the hair of all my victims. The drawers to the right contain receipts/bills/boring stuff!

Hope you enjoyed this post and thankyou for reading!

Emx

August Buys

 New Look long top

Red Herring Kaftan

AX Paris military dress

Topshop Knickers

Dorothy Perkins socks

The ugliest cat eye I've ever seen - blergh!

There is nothing like a bit of retail therapy, especially when it can be justified through the claim that everything I bought was a 'basic' and therefore a necessary purchase. I'm always short of day tops so could immediately justify that New Look number. 

This is a sensitive topic but I think my washing machine might have an eating disorder, I can't be sure but I think it might have been indulging in my socks and knickers when I've been leaving it alone. I know it must be hard being a washing machine, especially one that is in it's prime and working such long hours of the day, so I'm still in two minds as to whether I should confront it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated :). In the mean time though, I took advantage of a sale on socks in Dorothy Perkins down to £1, and a 3 for £10 deal on some beautiful Topshop knickers (which are pretty much the only things I'm really feeling in there atm)

The dress is something I've been eyeing up for the longest time ever, and I figured I deserved it because I needed something to feel a bit sexy in. I thought a shirt might get a bit dangerous. 

Em x

P.S UPDATED BLOG SALE HERE

Night Out Routine

 There is nothing more fun than meeting up with my girlies, drinking cocktails and then hitting the dance floor to some cheesy 90's dance tracks, which was much needed after a horrible week! For me though, the fun already begins in the house before I go out, and I'm sure a lot of you are exactly the same. I love sticking on some tunes (Dave Pearce Trance Anthems - don't be judgin'), pouring myself a drink and having fun deciding how I'll have my makeup/hair/outfit. 

I find giving myself a few hours to potter about and mess around with my makeup very therapeutic, rather than the usual throwing everything on 20 minutes before I dash out the door. I decided I would post my own "getting ready" routine after seeing a few of these flying around on blogger and youtube.

All the girlies (l-r): Kat, Bex, me, Ash, Roz, Jo & Becca.

Skin: 

Tan:
I have slowly became a tan fiend after finally finding out how to not make it look like I've shat all over my legs in streaks (tanning mitt innit).

My camera is tempermental fo sho'

Side note: I can't stand the 'gradual tanner' products because you have to make sure you apply it perfectly every day, otherwise you will get an unsightly line, and honestly I'm too lazy/forgetful to apply it everyday anyway. For that reason I much prefer the St. Moriz tanner. You slap it on and it lasts for about a week without the need for a top up, which is a major plus in my books. Also, the product has a bit of colour to it when first applied so you can use that as a guide to your application, rather than just randomly rubbing over and over just in case. Personally I think this is wasted time, when I could be spending it rubbing grease or cats all over myself instead.

So ANYWAY. I try to tan the night before to wash off in the morning because I personally hate the smell of tan lingering all over me on a night out. Obviously if this doesn't bother you could apply your tan in the morning and it would set in time for the night. When I wash it off I'll usually shave to avoid stubbly bits (does anyone elses hair grow overnight?).

After that I will apply a bronzing shimmer to the parts of my arms and legs which are exposed, which I'll set with GOSH bronzing powder on a huge brush. This might sound like I end up like a disco ball, but I promise the shimmer in these products if very subtle and just gives your skin a nice glow.

Smelling Good

Usually when I go clubbing I dance quite a bit and end up being a sweaty Betty. For that reason I will use a deodorant marketed at men (YES THAT IS HOW MUCH I SWEAT), which I have to say I find a million times stronger than a female deodorant. I then apply a strong smelling body lotion on every inch of my skin, so that when I do heat up it will also heat up the lotion-smell thus avoiding grossness. Finally I will spray perfume over every bit of me, especially in my hair. OCD much?

Hair:

When it comes to hair, I'm VERY basic, I never really do anything elaborate. The most crazy thing that goes in my hair (and it is not very crazy at all) is my extensions pictured here:

They have been through a lot I know

This is just the cheapo bands of fake hair you can get around £15 max, and I cut them so they were a little shorter than my real hair. The reason for that is because if you wear it longer you can tell it's obviously fake and looks a bit cheap, but if it's the same length it blends in fantastically and gives me tons of added thickness, making my hair look a lot healthier. Also being the classy lady I am it does not matter if I lose it whilst out drunk as I can easily replace it money-wise, as opposed to human hair extensions which cost a bomb.

As for styling, it's all about getting volume for me. I blow dry my hair upside down after applying heat protection, and hold it in this position until it cools down and sets. I'll then use a styling product such as Samy Fat's Thickening Promade (many products work very similar so whatever is in your cupboard will be fine) and then I just work this through my roots. Finally I'll blast my hair with hair spray and that's it!

Makeup & Nails:

(For all the weird messages I got asking for a photo of my feet, here they are. Happy wanking!)

When it comes to makeup it changes so drastically that I can't really put down anything I always do every time I get ready. It's generally a smokey eye or a red lip look though, and I will often spare half an hour aside to put on some fake eyelashes (Nicola Girls Aloud are my favourites). For nails, I usually choose a crazy colour for toes and a neutral colour for my fingers.

Outfit:

Dress from Triple S

The dress has a lot of detailing on the front so I don't feel a need for a necklace, instead I'll wear some nice earrings instead

For coats I will usually just take something that can survive a few spilt drinks, and that is easy to carry/dump when I get to a club. I also usually pick something more on the inexpensive side so if I lose it or have it nicked it’s not such a huge deal.

Belt from Peacocks :)

Bag:
I usually try take a little bag and just carry my essentials which are:

Collection 2000 concealer, a bus pass, eyelash adhesive, Jlo perfume, Cherry lip balm, money, clinique blusher (+ brush inside), MUA powder, my driving licence and a debit card.

(+ mobile and chewing gum which I forgot to put in the photo)
For bags, the ones that go over the body are better for dancing and security, but I think they can look sometimes too casual so I will usually pick a clutch.

And that is everything! A very long and in depth post about an intensely serious topic... Well sometimes it's nice to keep things a little light!
Em xx

Sunday Round Up #12

Hello :). After my very uneventful week the last time I wrote a Sunday Round Up, this week has went to the other side of the spectrum!

The most life changing thing that happened (que dramatic music) was that me and Steven split up on Thursday after five years and four months together. It's difficult because essentially I still love him and think he's a great person, it just so happens that we wanted different things and sadly it was leading to a lot of bickering and misery. Even though I initiated the break up, I really do believe it was a mutual decision because we were equally unhappy and both aware that things weren't going very smoothly. Maybe very naively we are going to stay friends and keep on good terms, but whether this is actually realistic when we have so much history remains to be seen.

On a happier note, I went to Alton Towers on Wednesday with my sister, Mam, Jill, Vicky, Jade, Michael, Steven and David. I went on a few rides (the flumes and rapids being my favourite) and liked the ones which were optical illusions or laser shooting games i.e the ones that posed no risk to my life. I did manage one scary ride, Thirteen, which is a roller coaster that plunges you into darkness, drops vertically and roll you backwards, but some I couldn't even look at without having palpitations.

My present to Jo. Do you see a colour theme...?

One blogger in particular may recognize the packaging ;). The pressy was a bath bomb, a Asher and Ribbon necklace and earring set & a homemade cake!

My friend Jo celebrated her twenty first birthday last night which was really fun. We went to hers for drinks first and to drop off our presents, then to Newcastle for cocktails - Frozen Strawberry Daiquiris are so good! We then ended up getting the metro to another town for more cocktails and then lots of cheesy 90's music. The club was full of some really weird people though, I don't know where they all come from? haha. One guy came up behind me and stood for ages, and then when he thought I wasn't looking leaned over to smell my hair, as you do. I've been off the dating game for too long - is this now normal protocol? Shall I invest in some nice smelling shampoos?

My makeup for the night. Not much different from normal makeup apart from I wore false eyelashes, used Avon quad eyeshadows & mixed my foundation with some Estee Lauder Spotlight

Upcoming Posts:
There's a few posts I've been meaning to write for a while now, so I'll sort them out this week. I'm finally going to be uploading some more items to my blog sale during the week, and also a post on my routine for getting ready for a night out since I love everyone elses!


Recommended:
- I found a really sweet girl on Youtube that I was going to put in my 'currently' loving section, only to realise from the comment section sadly she will not be making anymore videos because she has died from Cystic Fibrosis. She made a video addressing this condition [link], which is great because I think it's a condition that a lot of people (such as myself) know very little about.

Em xx

Sunday Round Up #11

 Hello my lovely little cherubs! haha. 

Millie at 3 months old

This will probably be the shortest Sunday round up ever because I've had such a boring week! I also didn't have a camera because I gave it to my sis, so she could record her six month anniversary, which you can nosey at [here] ;). Since I don't have any photos from this week then, it's the perfect excuse to show my cat lady tendencies once again haha.

FAQ: I was asked the other day why I disable comments on Youtube... The reason is whilst I love recording family outings and sharing them with everyone, youtube can also be a really negative place which is something I don't want to expose my family to. I hope you understand :). Of course though, if there's anything you'd like to ask/know you can comment on any of my blog posts or ask me on twitter.

Mil at 10 months ahhh :)

Favourites of this week

- Louise's video talking about abuse. She's such a lovely girl and I'm really glad she voicing her experiences on a topic which is often avoided. 

Em x

Car Boot Sales

Is anyone else poor as hell right now, or is it just me?

Either way, I'm going to take my self-induced poverty ridden ass and tell you about the best thing ever since sliced bread; car boot sales! 

Now I know what you're thinking..... Smelly old fashioned items that are better off in a scrap heap than gracing your presence or hogging up your house? Whilst that is true in some cases, I have found some amazing bargains over the years, and I have to share my love for all those who are *deep breath*.... Car boot sales virgins. 

What exactly are car boot sales?

Basically a car boot sale is a place you can bring all the things in your house you don't want, to sell on a stall to someone who does. How eco-friendly, yah? They usually look like this:

The one I visit most often is this one here (link).

What's to buy?

Everything that you can fit in the boot of a car is pretty much sold, apart from livestock. I often will buy shoes/clothes/unopened beauty products & decorative (check sell by dates). There are also an ample amount of DVD's (check for scratches), baby clothes & toys if you're interested in picking them up.

The last time I went, I picked up these two dresses:

£1.50 dress, paired with a Wallis bracelet and Primark belt

Miss Selfridge dress £1, please forgive sunburnt arms boo :(

Prices

Usually around £10 to set up a stall (although personally I have never set one up, I am more inclined to the buying side of things....), entry for the one I go to is 80p a person.

Inside prices are often not written next to the products, so don't feel embarrassed about asking. For reference, £1/£2 for an item of clothing is average, and unlike a shop it is totally acceptable to try your luck and barter for a lower price.  

Advice for sellers

- If you're selling clothing, get your hands on a clothing rail to display them. Most people wont want to bend down (ass-crack display paranoia) and often they will just walk on by.

- Have numerous carrier bags and lots of change. There has been many a time where I've picked up something for £2/3 and only had a fiver, and then the seller has had no change so I've had to put it back.

- Consider your buyers. 5/6 people on one stall can be quite intimidating, so smaller numbers are better. Similarly, try not to stare at potential buyers. Whilst you might just be curious as to what is attracting attention on your stall, the buyer may feel scrutinised, and this is often the thing that will make me walk straight past a stall. A personal hate of mine is also sellers who start eating chips/crumpling crisps (that last one is just me though I reckon! haha), so if you can't wait try eat things that don't make tons of noise.

- Don't take rejection personally. The amount of items I pick up to realise they're not right for me for whatever reason is crazy big. Once my Mam picked up a pair of shoes which were the wrong size, and the seller shouted at us all the way up the field hahaha. (I laugh now... eek)

Advice for buyers

- Be polite when deciding what is worthy of buying or not. Exclaiming loudly that something is way too big in size for you/ looks horrible/ is ready for the bin is very hurtful, especially as the items may carry emotional value for the buyer. 

- Wear sunglasses. That way you can scour the stalls without being hounded into the hard sell by everything you glance at.

- Go either really early or late for the crazy bargains. Bargains usually go very quickly and it is a case of first come first served. On the other hand, after about 4 hours most sellers are sick to death of standing in a smelly field, so will lower prices drastically to get rid of things they don't want to take home.

- Wash all clothing, even if it has tags on it. You never know where it's been stored!

Hope that was helpful, if you have any questions please comment below or email me at emma0m@hotmail.co.uk

Em xx

Sunday Round Up #10

Haha, ok so this is technically a "Monday Round Up", very sorry but I completely forgot about my Sunday Roundup all together!

Hates of the week:

- Michael Kors watch which I'd just bought breaking on my first time wearing it.

I rang up and went in store to Ernest Jones to see if I could use my insurance etc. and they were the rudest most unhelpful staff I have ever came across. They refused to do anything, but I had read through the insurance thoroughly and knew they had to correct visible damage, which they failed to mention since they were too busy trying to force me out the door. I got the watch from the one in Sunderland, which I would avoid like the plague if you live in the North East. I'm having to wait 5 weeks before I'll get it back just so they can 'assess' whether it can be fixed which is also quite frustrating as they could turn around and decide the scratching is not bad enough etc.

 

Loves of the week

- The sun! It's been really lovely weather lately and I've gotten quite a few freckles to show for it! I'm planning another picnic with Steven sometime in the week.

- I went to the airshow in Sunderland over the weekend with my parents. It was such a nice relaxed day with lots of yummy food and wine! Watch the vlog here. 

- The Carboot Sale. I love going and seeing what bargains I can find! I'll be writing up a post all about that very soon as I did a sneaky bit of photo taking. 

- I also really loved having the house to myself yesterday as everyone else went out for a curry. I made a meal for Steven and me (Pizza, chips and beans for main, custard, peaches and banana for dessert, Midori and Cranberry for drinks). Hardly the meal of a culinary expert but it tasted good!

- Best news ever! (Just found out whilst I was typing this up). I got accepted onto all the second year modules I wanted even though they were all full up. I'll now be sitting modules in Modernisms, Research Module 1 and Russia under Stalin and Lenin.

Unrelated to anything in this post, but I came across it the other day and couldn't believe how little Sweetie used to be!

Some things to check out

- Blogger Map! It's specially for Fashion and Beauty bloggers to place themselves on, which is great because I love finding UK and local bloggers.

- I'm loving Zoe's vlogs, such as this one. Vlogs are my favourite kind of videos to watch, so if you have any recommendations of people to check please leave them below! 

Em xx