Swallow Our Words

Hey guys,

A couple of days (or weeks, sorry, I tend to lose track of time during the half term when I stay at home) ago, I was invited to do a guest post for a blog called Swallow Our Words (SOW).

If you haven't heard of them already, here is a little bit of information about who they are and what they do:

"Swallow Our Words launched in February 2012 delivering UK Music, Fashion and Art. Swallow Our Words focused on UK news and covered solely UK artists. We featured many upcoming artists and became a platform for 16-22 year old to write and express themselves. Founded by Elizabeth Puddicombe we went on to create Unwind, a bi monthly entertainment showcase based in Leicester. As of our 3rd birthday we have decided to completely change what Swallow Our Words once was. We are introducing a new catalogue/archive where anyone around the world can submit a opinion piece, a ‘my story’ or a motivational segment. We want to connect and share posts from across the world. We will upload all posts raw following motivation, see our submit section to upload yours!"

Going back to my main point, they published my short post 'Dear Past' and I'll really appreciate it if you guys clicked the link below, read through my post (and all the other amazing, motivational posts published), and tell me what you think. Maybe even write your own short post too.

http://www.swallowourwords.org.uk/dear-past/

Anyway, I've got another quote and picture for you all,

Hmm...HMM..

“Writing is the only way I have to explain my own life to myself.” 

― Pat Conroy, My Reading Life

A Little Thankfulness

Hey guys,

On my quest of finding a cool tag to participate in, I came across a Blogger who made a list of things that she was grateful for. Although this is not a tag post -as I intended- I think it is a better idea. So without further blabbering on (apologies), below, in no particular order, is a list of the top 20 things (I can currently think of) that I'm thankful for.

I’m grateful for…

1. All of my senses
2. Being able to wake up every morning healthy
3. A loving and supportive family
4. Friendships. Close friends who are reliable and care
5. A positive outlook on life (this comes and goes as it pleases, but I'm still thankful for it)
6. FOOD 
7. Hot water when I take a shower
8. My special talents and skills
9. Opportunities
10. My ability to have an education
11. Honesty
12. My teachers, as annoying as they may seem, they help us to grow as individuals
13. Technology and social media
14. My Blog
15. Hope
16. Strangers that show kindness
17. Clean water to drink
18. Being able to travel and explore new places often
19. Memories
20. The brutal truth 

P.s. It would be really cool  if you could leave a list of, or even just reflect on the things in your life that you're thankful for (if you have a blog, just think about, or just in the comment section below).

Anyway, I've got another quote and picture for you all,

Hmm...HMM..

Thank you for life, and all the little ups and downs that make it worth living.

Travis Barker

A Little Topshop Wish List

Hello lovelies! I'm Vicky from VVNightingale! The lovely Jess asked me to do a guest post on her blog, so I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite things from Topshop at the moment which I can only hope to have in my wardrobe some day. 

1. Lace Peplum Shirt £48.00 [x] : This lovely lace shirt is perfect to wear in the transition from Winter to Spring, as it's in a pretty pink colour but has long sleeves and a pretty peplum detail to keep you covered up. 

2. Clean Smart Backpack £34.00 [x] : Backpacks are so on trend at the moment - they are literally everywhere! I never thought I'd want to get one, being such a girly girl, but this pink backpack is so pretty and feminine!

3. Crystal Shard Long Necklace £25.00 [x] : I love this necklace because it's so simple but would really make an outfit. Put over a simple t-shirt or dress and make a statement.

4. Metallic Make Up Bag £10.00 [x] : I'm not really sure why but I am obsessed with metallics and I love how this makeup bag has a hint of so many pretty colours. 

5. Two Part Sandals £28.00 [x] : What's great about these sandals is this mix of metallic and pastel blue - I can't wait till the weather gets better so I can buy a pair!

Thank you for reading lovelies - and thanks to Jess for asking me to do this post! Let me know in the comment section below what's in your wish list!

Valen-tine? Dates

Hey guys,

I know you were expecting a new post on Wednesday, sorry, I thought a Valentines day post for Valentines day would be much more interesting. 

If you just happen to be one of those Girlfriends/Boyfriends who let anniversaries and Valentines days fly past with out doing anything due to your (somewhat) goldfish memory- I'm here to save you. I've been looking around, and have now constructed a list of 5 easy DIY Vday gifts and date ideas that your Valentine could never know were last minute.

• A dating gift: This consists of you locating on a map the three following places:

Where you first met

Where you first started dating

where you went for your first ever date

(I saw a similar example to this at http://www.pbfingers.com/2011/10/30/one-year-wedding-anniversary-gift/) you should look at it for further inspiration

•  This next cool idea is from a YouTuber called x3Haha. She lists a bunch of cool DIY gifts that shouldn't take you more than an hour. I promise!

                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urb1Xc6IFdA

• If  you can cook, an amazing last minute date idea is just to stay at home and cook up something special, maybe put up some decorations to the theme of your first date
• Bake up some sweet treats . As simple as it sounds, I think (depending on how long you've been together) a nice home-made gesture from the heart should do the trick
• Personally, I think one of the best Vday gifts ever (although it may not exactly be DIY) will definitely have to be a massive teddy bear with flowers. (And as harsh as this sound) the flowers will wilt and die eventually but the teddy bear will forever be a reminder of the romantic gesture.

I hope this post was somewhat useful (although my lack of Valentines day & Vday gift knowledge being very limited may have been a problem)

Happy Valentines day!

Anyway, I've got another quote and picture for you all,

Hmm...HMM..

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.

A. A. Milne

Zombie Apocalypse Tag

Hey guys,

Questions:

1. Which four YouTubers would you have in your team?

Joe sugg

Fun for louis

Jc Caylen

Sawyer Heartman

2. The object immediately to your left is your only weapon. How fucked are you?

It's a plate. RIP

3. If you were a zombie, who would you want to bite?

Does a bite turn them into a fellow zombie? if so, i'd bite my friend khadeejah, just because i think it'd be fun to see her fangirl about marvel, but as a zombie.

4. What would your survival plan be?

When I first saw this question, I thought either get underground or higher up, but now that I think about it, if I was underground, wouldn't the zombies just claw through the soil to where I am?? and i'd be trapped, whereas from a higher ground, i'd be able to see an attack coming and defend myself

5. What would you do if your parents became zombies?

It depends, is there a cure? if not, I'd probably lock them up somewhere inescapable and make them wait it (the apocalypse) out

6. Do you want the zombie apocalypse to happen?

No! of course not! I enjoy my current life (being able to watch movies from the comfort of my bedroom/laptop)

I nominate +Neri SeesRed +Anne Vanves +VV Nightingale to do this tag

Anyway, I've got another quote and picture for you all,

Hmm...HMM..

A zombie film is not fun without a bunch of stupid people running around and observing how they fail to handle the situation.

George A. Romero

Black and white

Hey guys,

In a previous post, not too far ago, I mentioned this really cool website/app that you could go on called Polyvore. 

Now, I know a few of you expressed that you liked the post, first by reading it and then by making your own Polyvore accounts, which I think is really cool. This is why I've decided to post something similar to this on a weekly basis. An 'Outfit Of The Week post', so I hope you enjoy the outfits (considering that they are all definitely something that I would wear) and maybe even begin to create your own designs.

Black and white by trustinjess on polyvore.com

Anyway, I've got another quote for you all,

Hmm...HMM..

“Fashion changes, but style endures.” 

― Coco Chanel

Birthday surprises

Hey guys,

So this weekend has been pretty special. It was one of by best friends Zoes' 16th birthday on Friday, but the problem we all faced was that she didn't want to celebrate it, we, as her closest friends weren't going to let her miss out on the memories of her 16th. After all, you only turn 16 once.

Having said this, two weeks ago, one of my other best friends (Kayleigh) and I, came up with the idea to throw Zoe a surprise birthday party.

The plan was simple;

1. Invite all our friends
2. Have them all confirm that they're free
3. Convince Zoe to do something for her birthday by suggesting a few subtle ideas and making her think they were her own
4. Have Zoe publicly (on the other group chat) announce that she had changed her mind and wanted to go to the cinema for her birthday
5. Suggest we go out to eat beforehand, justifying it by saying that our art club finished at 1 and the movie didn't start start until 3.30.
6. Convince her that it was just us three (Zoe, Kayleigh and I) going to eat
7. Get everyone (but one) who Zoe invited to reject her one by one, so she thought that either no one liked her, or that they just did't care enough to want to show up, knowing that she'd be disappointed
8. Convince Zoe that even though it was only four of us, the day would still be fun
9. Finding out what gift to get her. I'd been looking around for some ankle boots and found some at the River Island in Surrey quays, and since Zoe lives pretty close to there, I made sure that she came with me to buy them. Whilst at the shopping centre, Zoe saw a backpack she liked from New Look. This made finding her the perfect present about a million times easier 
10. Convince her not to buy the bag until after her birthday, you know, after she had received birthday money
11. On Saturday (yesterday) before art club, buy the backpack from New Look
12. Kayleigh and I give her the backpack before we lead her to Nandos, where the others are secretly waiting 
13. Watch her surprised expression
14. Finish eating and head to the Cinema in time to watch 'Kingsman'. Which was an amazingly funny movie. Oh! I almost forgot, you guys know (or may not know) I'm an avid watcher of Made In Chelsea, so you can imagine my shock when Proudlock walks into the O2 cinema and purchases a ticket to see Kingsman.
15. Go home

So, tell me, have you guys ever planned/currently planning a surprise anything for a friend or family member? If so, what was it? and were there any unplanned surprises?

Anyway, I've got another quote and picture for you all,

Hmm...HMM..

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.

-Oprah Winfrey