In Which She Wishes For A Snap-Tastic Summer!

I decided to take more film photos this summer when I realised I hadn't shot on film since my photography class ended last summer. I am lucky enough to have two film cameras: a 90s canon SLR and a gorgeous early 70s Praktica SLR. I also have a few vintage cameras that use 120 roll film I'm excited to use for the first time.

So here's a few things that would make my summer!

Red Fisheye Lomography camera: Modcloth

Rainbow Fuji Instax Mini film: Amazon

Coral Diana Mini: Urban Outfitters

Red Camera Bag: eBay

I've got lots of 35mm film to use, and it's easier to get developed, so I'd love to have a fisheye 35mm camera! This is also the main reason I have my eye on a Diana Mini rather than a Diana+. I love my Mickey Mouse Instax camera, so I'd love to try out different films for it (I also have my eye on the Mickey Mouse films!) And the red camera bag is something I've bought and am waiting patiently for its arrival. It supposedly fits a camera and 2 lenses, so would come in super handy when I shoot my best friends sister's wedding next week (if it arrives in time...)!

In Which She Has a Galaxy Manicure.

Galaxy print has been "in" for a while now. I have been a fan of space since my childhood, but I've not really fallen in love with any of the galaxy print garments I've seen. So this week I decided to do galaxy print-inspired nails.

     

I started with a really dark blue polish by Barry M and did a glitter topcoat (by 17) over it.

And here's a little playlist I made about the night sky. (Making more playlists was another one of my 19 before 20 challenges!) Enjoy!

In Which She Completes a Full Month of Smoothies!

 From top left: Monday's raspberry, strawberry, apple, oat, and nut smoothie. Tuesday's raspberry, strawberry, apple, oat, and nut smoothie (sieved). Wednesday's mango, apple, lemon, oat, and nut smoothie. Thursday's strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, apple, oat, and nut smoothie. Friday's mango, raspberry, apple, oat and nut smoothie.
Smoothie Tip 4:Once you're a more experienced smoothie maker try mixing things up a bit. While I did have my favourite smoothie (Monday's) once this week, I also tried pouring it through a sieve (more hassle than it's worth!), swapping the strawberry for mango (delicious!), and adding blueberries. Learning is fun!

In Which She Declares Her Love For Raspberry

It's true. I'm in love with the colour raspberry. It's the ultimate mid-point between the childlike pastel pink and the saucy deep red. I have a raspberry mobile phone, water bottle, headphones, my blog, and even a raspberry snuggie. If there's a choice of colours I'm most likely to pick "raspberry".

I spent the day thrifting/antiquing and then went for a few drinks with friends. I got an absolute bargain late 60s/early 70s Peggy French dress in a charity shop (for my post-(minor)weightloss body), four 60s patterns, three records, a scarf for my mum and one for me which I can't decide if I'll wear - we'll see!

Dress: Kaliko | Cardigan: New Look | Earrings: Mama Lobster Jewellery Designs | 

Belt: Accessorize | Shoes: Primark

I love these earrings so much I bought them in all 5 colours! Mama Lobster Jewellery Designs is a local business run by the family of an old schoolfriend. I cannot recommend them enough! Such lovely people and lovely items :)

In Which She Wishes to Be a Little More Audrey.

I watched Roman Holiday yesterday morning while planning the day's activities and really enjoyed it! I'd also watched Funny Face on Monday so the beginning of this week has been incredibly chic, and the costumes (and a brief look at Audrey's own clothing) really changed the way I feel about "basic" clothing. I was actually dreading having to go out and buy basics for uni - how am I supposed to feel gorgeous in a t-shirt and jeans? But I really saw how little details could make a more simplistic outfit a little more fabulous.

Trenchcoat: H&M

Black grosgrain bow trouser: Dorothy Perkins

libby slip on patent flats: Schuh

Striped button-shoulder T: Gap

I Love Your Ensemble Dress: Modcloth

This is one of my favourite Youtube finds of all time! I am a huge fan of Edith Head's costumes.

In Which She Paints Her Nails Floral

Last night when I was painting my nails I was looking for ideas on Pinterest and Youtube and, although I've seen floral nails in the past, I saw some and thought: I can do this! So I did it! I started off with my M&S lilac, got an old thin paintbrush and did the raspberry splodges, light pink splodges and little green leaves with my Barry M polishes. And they don't look awful! 

Skirt: Topshop.

In Which She Posts Her Third Week of Smoothies!

So I'm on my third week of smoothies already! Almost had a full month!

From top left: Monday's strawberry, raspberry, apple, oat, and nut smoothie. Tuesday's blueberry, raspberry, apple, oat and nut smoothie. Wednesday's cherry, apple, oat and nut smoothie. Thursday's raspberry, cherry, apple, oat, and nut smoothie. Friday's raspberry, apple, banana, oat, and nut smoothie.

Smoothie Tip 3:

Frozen fruit is (usually) cheaper, lasts longer and is riper than regular fruit. Plus it keeps your drink cool on a hot day without having to add ice, which will eventually weaken your smoothie.

In Which She Wishes to be Frida Kahlo for a Day.

On Friday it will be 58 years since Frida Kahlo died. I've loved Kahlo's paintings since I first saw them. The frank honesty of her self-portraiture inspires most aspects of my creativity. She was a truly fearless woman, and one day I hope to be that way.

I started seriously thinking about Frida Kahlo as a fashion inspiration a week ago when it would have been her 105th birthday. I was then drawn to this idea of what Kahlo would look like as a modern woman, keeping aspects of her traditional Mexican clothing, flowers, the gory images of her art, and traditional skills like embroidery.

Textured bone bracelet: Topshop

Bouquet or Nay headband: Modcloth

Navy tropical prom dress: Dorothy Perkins

Frida brooch: Tatty Devine

'Homemaker' shoes: Miss L Fire

When I try to decide my favourite painting by Frida Kahlo I think for a while but always come back to Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair. I think you can just see her unhappiness through every part of the painting.

(ps. If you're a fan of Kahlo I really recommend that you have a look at Yasumasa Morimura's work, particularly his reimaginings of her paintings.)

In Which She Goes For Coffee

Today I went for coffee with a friend. I say coffee, neither of us drank such a beverage! I had a mint hot chocolate because it was cold outside. The weather's been so strange recently. It'll be lovely for a few hours and then comes a massive downpour. I suppose that's England for you. I dressed for summer because I always do! I bought this dress in Paris this time last year and haven't really worn it, so I've made it my mission to wear it more often!

Dress: Promod | Cardigan: Primark | Bag: Orla Kiely at People Tree | Shoes: Shelly's

In Which She Makes Another Decision!

I have always been a maker, rather than a designer. I just love working on something for a few hours until its perfect. I've recently been thinking about starting up my own business to sell small accessories, and so I bought this book (The Craft Business Handbook by Alison McNicol) to give me that final push I needed to know I can do this - and it did! It arrived this afternoon and I've pretty much finished it! 

I've decided to sell a small range of collars, bows, belts, and more under the guise Candy Apple Darling via Etsy. I am a big big buyer from Etsy sellers, and I want to be a part of it too! I'm currently working on perfecting my patterns, I'm waiting for my sew-in brand tags to arrive, thinking about my logo and business cards, prices, and maybe even getting things sold in some local shops.

I aim to be ready to open shop mid-August, and my Dad and I are already talking about craft fair road trips next summer! I'm so excited for all the possibilities this might bring me!

(Also, it's Manicure Monday! I was so caught up with my business ideas I went into this with no plans! I'm wearing a mixture of Barry M nail varnishes over my trusty lilac M&S one!)

ps. Happy Birthday, Mum!

In Which She Posts Another Week's Smoothies.

So another week of smoothies has been and gone! 
From top left: Monday's strawberry, cherry, blueberry, apple, oat and nut smoothie. Tuesday's strawberry, blueberry, banana, apple, oat and nut smoothie. Wednesday's strawberry, raspberry, apple, oat and nut smoothie. Thursday's strawberry and raspberry (soya)milkshake with apple, oat and nut. Friday's strawberry, raspberry, apple, cherry, oat and nut smoothie.
Smoothie Tip 2:Peel your apple first! I've done it all this week and noticed much fewer little bits floating about in my smoothie! 

In Which She Wishes for Things in the ASOS sale.

The ASOS sale is back, which is great because who doesn't love cheaper clothes? But it couldn't have come at a worse time - during my six week clothing ban. But that didn't stop me looking. And I don't think that "accessories" count as clothes so I may go a little overboard on payday...

Pointer Corey T-Bar Espidrilles, Cat Print Laptop Case, Scallop Edge Backpack, F-Troupe Mesh Cloud Ballerinas (Which I've sadly just realised are leather :( ), Canvas Fish Shopper, Umbrella Shopper

I was actually looking at these Pointer shoes before they reduced the price, so I may have to buy them...

Curve Exclusive Gingham Sundress, Midi Summer Dress with Rope Print, YMC Herringbone Gypsy Dress, Shift Dress with Embellished Bow, River Island Bow Neck Dress

Like the shoes, I was looking at the River Island shift before the sale, so this one might be hard to wait for!

Disney Couture Think of a Wonderful Thought Bangle, Stripe Strap Watch, Ted Baker Lemon Stud Earrings, Disney Couture 3D Castle Ring

I love this watch, but I think it's mostly for the strap. I'm considering knitting my own watch strap now!

And then there's my favourite thing of the whole sale...

Catarzi Fascinator Net Headband.

I think this hat is absolutely gorgeous. I'd wear it perched right on top of my beehive and probably with a little black dress. 

In Which She Goes A Little Pastel Crazy

Yesterday I painted my nails but really couldn't decide on the colours. I wanted all of the colours, all of the glitter, everything! So I did a pastel rainbow! With glitter!

All polishes are Barry M, except for the lilac one I got from M&S. 

I should probably mention that I forgot to paint them last week, so I'm starting at week one again! Oh dear!