Guest Blog at The Fashion Recruit

My guest post is up now on this amazing website! It's a little different from what I normally post, its a more personal account of my approach to fashion with some embarrassing outfits thrown in! Please have a look here and do subscribe to the blog too!

18 Day Photo Challenge

Day 06 - a picture of a hard time in your life you overcame

This is a photo of me and two of my best friends, Nichola and Ashley on a night out. As you can see, I'd clearly been crying. Although I've been through worse in my life, this is a photo of me when I was suffering my first ever break up from my first ever serious relationship. It took me bloody ages but I finally overcame it and of course I thought I would never survive it. It was horrible and dragged out. I later found out that my ex had actually slept with someone the night he ended things with me ; that was obviously the cut off point for him. But at the time I didn't know it, so whilst we kept seeing each other I thought I had a chance - if I'd had known this at the time, as hard as it would have been, it would have given me the confidence to walk away and just delete him from my life. I would have been over him a lot quicker! That taught me that sometimes you have to be nasty to be nice.

Anyway, this photo was taken on my first night out as a singleton. I proceeded to get drunk, and not long before this photo was taken I was on the phone to said ex, crying my eyes out, begging him to take me back because 'we belonged together'. Before throwing my shoes in a bush. Classy.

18 Day Photo Challenge

Funky Divaa Competition

The team at Funky Divaa have yet another competition for you all! This time you have the chance to win a summer outfit OF YOUR CHOICE from their website!

All you have to do is email Melissa at melissafunkydivaa@hotmail.co.uk, quoting SUMMER1 in the subject line to win.

Enter by 5pm tomorrow for your entry to be counted!

Don't forget that by using the code LOUISE15 at the checkout you can receive 15% discount when shopping at Funkydivaa.com!

Wednesday Wishlist - Punkyfish Special

Following my previous post about the special offer Punkyfish currently has on at the moment, my Wednesday Wishlist this week will feature items from Punkyfish.

Bling Headphones T-Shirt Off White, £20.00

I really love this funky top, I've seen loads of variations of headphones on a t-shirt - mainly for men - so this is quite cool for a female top. It's available in more colours too, but this is my favourite. The website states that this top would look great in the day for a casual look, or sexy on a night out with killer heels - and I agree! A pair of skinny fit jeans would also look good.

Asymmetric Sheer Blouse Peach, £7.50

I really like this top ; I've seen a lot of people wearing tops like this lately. It's a really smart top that can be worn normally or can be doubled up and worn to work because of the button up style and the collar. This would give off a really vintage look if worn in the day as well, think lots of bracelets on your arms and flared jeans with heels.

Chiffon Dress Stone, £10.99

This dress is really cute! In fact, it could be quite sexy. I love the oversized bow, it really reminds me of Christmas (although that may be because I'm watching a Christmas episode of Friends in the background!). Wear with just some heels for a night out, or add tights to wear to a nice family event. A big, poofy ponytail would look great with this dress too with long dangly earrings. 

Slashed Lace Leggings Black, £15.00

These sexy leggings will really give any outfit an edge. These would look great with an oversized boyfriend t-shirt with a big black belt on the waist to show off your shape better, or the Asymmetric Sheer Blouse (as shown before) in white. Don't forget a pair of killer heels too!

Butterflies and Flowers Sheer Blouse Stone, £12.99

I love this, it's so cute! Animal print is really popular this summer (I am aware that a butterfly is actually an insect) but this is really on trend at the moment. It's really vintage and I adore the ties at the collar. This would definitely be worn casual with jeans and pumps.

www.punkyfish.com

£10 of free clothes at Punky Fish!

If you're into your edgy stuff like me then you'll love this deal. Punkyfish stock a lot of alternative clothing that is still stylish and girly - I've always liked their stuff. At the moment you can use a code to get £10 off (no minimum spend) and they are also offering free delivery!

The code is WELCOME10! Simply just sign up for an account at www.punkyfish.com and they will send you the code, or if you'd rather not enter your mobile number, just use the code at check out.

Special thanks to Victoria's Vintage blog who first posted about this. I adore alternative, edgy clothing so this is perfect for me!

18 Day Photo Challenge

Day 05 - a picture of a time in your life that you miss

Freshers! This is a picture of me taken back in...oh god, a long time ago, it must have been September 2008, when I was a Fresher starting at university. Our Freshers lasted two weeks and it was one of the best times of my life! This picture actually represents a lot of things I miss. I don't talk to a lot of people I lived with/went out with during Freshers, and I miss being in that big bunch of friends. I miss my red hair! I miss my slightly edgy look here, I miss being this thin! I miss that bar (although I work at what it is now and it's just as great). Freshers was really great, we had popcorn parties, foam parties, a roller disco..the lot. I really miss it!

18 Day Photo Challenge

Great Giveaways

Here are some great giveaways that are going on at the moment! I will update this post as I find more! Just click the images to find out more/enter :)

Girls Night In Giveaway

Closes on Monday 4th July at 4pm

Soap & Glory Giveaway

Ends on Monday 18th July

Charlotte's Giveaway

Ending on Thursday 30th June 

Mini Giveaway

Ending Friday 22nd July

18 Day Photo Challenge

Day 04 - a picture you’re tagged in on facebook that you aren’t actually in

This was from in college when I directed a documentary. I'm incredibly proud of this! I have loads of photos on facebook where I've been tagged but I'm not actually in them but I thought I'd use a picture that actually meant something to me, rather then a random silly picture!

18 Day Photo Challenge

18 Day Photo Challenge

Day 03 - a picture of you being absolutely ridiculous

This is me and my old friend Owen in the first year of university. We were dressed up along with a big group of friends. The theme was emergency services, he is a policeman and I am a nurse (although I look like a policewoman). It was lots of fun, albeit slutty! I was swinging round the stethoscope which was from a kids barbie set from the pound store ha. There is a much worse photograph of me looking rather scary and slightly perverted, but I shan't put that one up ha!

18 Day Photo Challenge

Look Of The Week - Sunday Dinner

It was so hot today that we decided to eat outside and swapped our usual roast dinner to a salad and bits. It's the first proper meal I've had all week as my parents have been on holiday to the south of France and I can't cook to save my life - I just snack or eat random things like party sausage rolls for dinner! They arrived back last night though and it's been nice having them back.

I just really chose anything today as it was so hot, I wanted something light and little. I chose this dress as it's new - in actual fact my Nan bought me it when she was shopping with my cousin and I was pleasantly surprised! I don't normally wear dark colours and I don't think I own a thing with green in it so it was a nice change. I think it went well with my dark hair. I didn't really bother with many accessories and as we've just been in the back garden, I didn't bother with shoes either! In the end I really wish I'd worn my hair up because it's been so hot, but at the same time I like it down because as I said I think my dark hair goes with it.

Outfit :

Dress : Primark (£2! £2 can you believe it!)

Make Up :

Foundation : Colour Supplement in Light Yellow from LUSH and L'oreal Paris infallible brush in 015 Porcelain shade

Eyeliner : Smokin' liner from Benefit's Smokin' Eyes kit

Mascara :  Rimmel London Glam' Eyes Day 2 Night 

Blusher : Thrrrob by Benefit

Lipstick : unknown

Nails : Models Own Blooboo and Instant Nail Effects by Barry M 

Accessories :

Bow : Primark

Bracelets : Unknown (stole them off my sister!)

18 Day Photo Challenge

Day 02 - a picture of you most recently taken

This was me posing around with photo booth a couple of days ago. I was trying to pull of a really bold red lipstick (from Nicola Roberts' make up range) but other then in this photo, I just looked like a clown! I tend to do my makeup fairly nice or sit and take loads of photos on photo booth when my hair looks nice, but the photos never ever come out good.

18 Day Photo Challenge

Pictures From The Present ; Snapshots of how I've spent this week

Week of 20th - 26th June 2011

Camden

On Tuesday I went into London with my brother and his fiance Claire. We went to a gig to see a band called Gomez in the evening, but we headed down early and spent the day walking around Camden which is a really cute, quirky part of London based around Camden Lock. You can't see much here but the view was pretty, there was this gorgeous little food court and everywhere you turn you find little vintage boutiques. I was in love!

Milton Keynes

My Nan took me to Milton Keynes this week (Milton Keynes is about a half hour drive away from me and one of my favourite places) which has a massive shopping centre. We got loads of bargains! This is the view from on top of the car park - this is The Escape which has all sorts inside. It has a snow slope, a cinema, a climbing wall, restaurants - it's really cool. And its weird shaped, as you can see. You can see it for miles.

Weird Frog Thing

This is inside the shopping centre in Milton Keynes, it's meant to be for kids as the machine does some weird trick whilst playing music and the frog blows bubbles but quite frankly I think its freaky. Me and my friend Nichola used to have loads of jokes about it when we were little. I really hate this thing, look at its eyes! 

This is why I shouldn't cook

...no explanation necessary. 

..and this is why I no longer want to have my own place

Home alone this week and I had to deal with this...lovely!

Jasper

He does not look amused!

 

Hot diggity dog!

My yummy lunch today!

Wreck This Journal

I picked this up today and well...I'm so inspired. I cannot begin to explain how amazing this little journey is, but expect a blog post (or challenge :P) about it soon. 

Funky Divaa Competition

I just thought I'd let you all know about a really great competition Funkydivaa.com are running at the moment!

If you'd like the chance to win a 'Weekend Essentials' goody bag worth £50 from the team at Funky Divaa then all you have to do is follow them on twitter @funkydivaacom and RETWEET the following message:

"Help us get to 500 followers to win a fab ‘Weekend Essentials' goody bag ..... Follow @funkydivaacom and RT to enter xxx #giveaway"


If you are a lucky winner you will find this amazing goody bag filled with all your essential fashion and beauty items.


Good luck!

Don't forget that by using the code LOUISE15 at the checkout you can receive 15% discount when shopping at Funkydivaa.com!

Guest Blogging

Just thought I'd let you all know that I'll be doing a few guest blogs over the next month or so :) So please keep your eye out on the following blogs to see a few of my posts up on their blogs soon!

http://fallenangel-yummymummy.blogspot.com/

http://thefashionrecruit.co.uk/

http://tinkstales-tinkerbelldani.blogspot.com/

And if you are not following them already, please do :)

I have also began to write for Stylehop! This fashion blog keeps you up to date on all the latest fashion from how to pull off new trends to street style. I will be doing five posts a week on Stylehop so keep your eye out on here too!

18 Day Photo Challenge

I have decided to do an '18 Day Photo Challenge' as a little insight into me - it should be fun! I will post daily, and I will also add it to a page named '18 Day Photo Challenge' so that they can all be found in one place. You can see this linked along the sidebar and I have also added a link at the bottom of this post.

Day 01 - a picture of you truly being yourself

Day 02 - a picture of you most recently taken

Day 03 - a picture of you being absolutely ridiculous

Day 04 - a picture you’re tagged in on facebook that you aren’t actually in

Day 05 - a picture of a time in your life that you miss

Day 06 - a picture of a hard time in your life you overcame

Day 07 - a picture you had no idea was being taken

Day 08 - a picture of you with a fake smile

Day 09 - a picture of you when you were a different person than you are now

Day 10 - a picture of you in a swimsuit (whether you love or hate it)

Day 11 - a picture of your pets

Day 12 - a picture of you with someone you love

Day 13 - a picture of how you’d like the world to see you

Day 14 - a picture that describes how you’d like to spend every day

Day 15 - a picture of a time when everything was changing

Day 16 - a picture that makes your heart hurt

Day 17 - a picture that makes your heart smile

Day 18 - a picture of one of the best times of your life

So, Day 1 - A picture of me being truly myself

This was taken in Liquid, on a night out with my friend Becky last year. It is one of my favourite photos and I constantly have it as my default picture on Facebook. I feel this is a genuine photo of me being truly myself because I am smiling. I rarely ever smile in photos because I don't have the confidence and I think I look silly, but this very cheesy grin is a true representation of me - always happy! I wish I could smile like this in every photo.

18 Day Photo Challenge

Review of Lindsey Kelk's 'The Single Girls To-Do List'

Queen of chick lit Lindsey Kelk has not disappointed with her new novel, The Single Girls To-Do List. It ticks all the boxes ; its light hearted, its funny, its romantic, the characters are loveable and its inspiring. You couldn't wish for anymore.

The Single Girls To-Do List tells the story of Rachel Summers who embarks on a life makeover after her boyfriend of five years dumps her out of the blue. Instead of moping around in the flat that they own though, Rachel's two best friends - the feisty Emelie and drop dead gorgeous but unfortunately gay Matthew come to the rescue. Together they devise a to-do list for the new singleton, which, instead of just featuring ways to get over her ex, it changes Rachel's whole life - for the better.

My favourite part of this book was how much I could personally relate to the main character Rachel. Who hasn't fallen into the typical routine with their other half and, without realising it, stopped making the effort? More importantly, who hasn't 'settled' at one time in their life? With her ridiculous amount of memorabilia that lines her flat walls to wasting hundreds of pounds on underwear, I could definitely see some of myself in Rachel. I think this is because Lindsey Kelk is young for an author (or at least she looks young from her photo!) and I've often found a lot of authors are older, giving their characters traits that we cannot always relate to, or writing the love interest as someone we wouldn't actually fancy at our age!

The two other main characters, Emelie and Matthew, are also very loveable, creating the perfect mix between taking chances but not going overboard!

I cannot count how many times I laughed out loud at this book, there were so many moments that were so funny but so realistic. This book was so well written that it was filled with a blend of hilarious scenarios and heart warming messages. I think this book was also a slight coming-of-age book in that Rachel has to adjust to being single in so long. However, along the way she also finds herself and learns how to be more independent.

The best thing about this book was how inspiring it was - it immediately wanted me to take a notebook and make my own to-do list of all the things I'd like to do with my life. I adore the messages behind this book too - it teaches you to never, ever settle on what makes you 'content' and instead go for the stuff that makes you really head over heels ecstatic. It also teaches you that giving your life a makeover certainly helps getting over a break up, but you can certainly make do with some close friends and a bottle of vodka!

If you're a fan of the I heart...books then you will definitely love this one. It is written in a similar matter - Lindsey Kelk has a special noticeable way of writing that is always inspiring - but is still completely different to the I heart...books. I loved that Jenny from the I heart...books also made a sneaky appearance!

Exclusive 15% discount at Funkydivaa.com

Following yesterdays Wednesday Wishlist post - featuring Funky Divaa - I have been given a discount code exclusively for my readers to use!

The code is LOUISE15 and this will give you 15% discount when you enter the code at check out!

As well as posting this, I have also added the code to my previous post :)

Thank you Funky Divaa!

Happy shopping!

Wednesday Wishlist

This week I will be doing a 'Wednesday Wishlist' special featuring items from Funky Divaa.com. I've had my eye on this website for a while now ; everything it features is always on trend and affordable. It also offers a wide range of different things including gorgeous footwear (which is rare when it comes to ordering online) and accessories. I particularly love that they sell fake eyelashes and even hair accessories such as clip in hair extensions. For our special readers, Funky Divaa have also offered a special discount code! Simply enter the code LOUISE15 at check out to recieve a 15% discount on your order - exclusively to readers of this blog! Here are my pick of the best items I'm lusting after at the moment.

Cropped Skinny Jeans in Rust, £18.99

Although I'm not too keen on the belt, this funky bold trousers are really eye catching and cute. For an easy way to colour block, I'd suggest purchasing these and teaming them with a neutral white vest top and high wedges. I really like the look of these as they are clearly a good fitting pair of trousers and are really eye catching! These are also available in five different colours.

Summer Floral Pattern Stiletto Heels, £24.99

Can't you just imagine all the romantic summer weddings or lustful summer evening dates when you see these? Oooh, all the places you could wear them too! These totally gorgeous printed heels just ooze romance and sophistication and are absolutely perfect for summer. Wear this with a long, floaty white dress and lots of gold bangles or dress up a plain outfit with these on a night out. The heel is 5.5 inches high too which means they will give your legs that extra oomph and make them look amazing. Now where's that fake tan...

Mini Body Con Skirt In Fuchsia Pink, £9.99

I know I keep picking loads of stuff in bright colours, but there's nothing wrong with standing out! This body con skirt is perfect for a night out - it clings to your curves in all the right places which will really emphasize a lovely feminine shape. A black top and heels would really make this outfit sexy, or white for a more toned down look. Again, with heels, your legs will look like they go on forever with this type of skirt, and it will give you a really nice bum!

Embroidered Shoulder Detail Dress In Nude, £24.99

Despite the fact that oversized things can be a tricky trend to pull off, this dress looks gorgeous. Oversized dresses can really give off that casual but sexy look when pulled off right - think messy, tousled hair and smokey eyes with this dress. This dress is great for a night out and the embellished shoulders are very stylish right now and make the outfit look that bit better. Add loads of bracelets to your arm to keep in with the look too, and again, add sky high heels.

Eylure 107, Naturalite Strip Eyelashes, £5.00

I love these fake eyelashes because they are very natural looking. Fake eyelashes are often a must have on a night out for many girls, and while thick over the top styles are great for themed nights, I prefer ones that look natural but still look extra amazing. These eyelashes are great because they look like you have long, fluttering eyelashes like a star, but they still look real! Well worth the price!


Remember, enter the code LOUISE15 for 15% discount at check out! :)

www.funkydivaa.com