Outfit: In the Mood

Am I committing a massive blogger mistake by uploading an iPhone mirror selfie as my outfit photo? If so, sorry.

I was at a dance workshop all day on Saturday (hence the shoes), and I took this at the empty dance studio during the lunch break because I just really liked my outfit and my hair that day. It's simple and comfortable, but still looks nice. The scallop-edged pencil skirt is from ASOS sales (I couldn't resist when they had extra 10% off sale) and it's my new favourite thing. It's by a brand called Darling and the material is just so lovely and soft. Especially inside the pockets (which obviously meant I kept putting my hands in my pockets all the time throughout the day)! And talking of pockets — can we take a moment to appreciate skirts with pockets? Style, comfort and utility. In other words, perfection.

Please tell me that the scallop trend is here to stay because I still can't get enough! I want all the scallop things. Expect a post with incredibly cute scallop-edged polka dot shorts (which I got in the same ASOS order with the skirt) soon...! Yes, I only buy scallop things now.

Just a quick little update this time. I was ill pretty much all last week and finally got better (and thus got to attend the dance workshop), so I'm excited to actually be able to leave my flat in this week. I do have an essay to hand in and a dissertation to work on, so this excitement might be short-lived, but I'll enjoy it while I can!

Beauty: Showel Gel Problem

I have a problem. I can't stop buying shower gels.

But hey, even if I have more shower gels than I realistically have time to use, at least that means I can show them to you guys and tell you about them (blog post — ta dah!). There is always a silver lining.

TREACLE MOON Warm Apple Pie Hugs and Sweet Blackberry Memories (£2.99, Tesco)

Visiting my local Tesco Extra is dangerous just because of these beauties. Massive 500ml bottles for £2.99 (currently on offer for £2.49 though — even more tempting!), wide array of different scents, all beautifully presented and colourful. Sold. Which is why I have two full size bottles despite the fact that I have almost 1/3 left of my first bottle...

And talking of said first bottle, I'm currently using Warm Cinnamon Nights. The bottle is no longer pretty enough to warrant a photo so you will just have to imagine the red-hued pink gel which creates pink bubbles and smells like cinnamon-flavoured candy: spicy yet sweet. I wish the scent lingered on skin longer, because I want to smell like that all the time. So. Good.

Warm Apple Pie Hugs is a sweet, crisp apple scent reminiscent of Granny Smiths. That said, it doesn't remind me of apple pies. But that's probably just me — I associate apple pie with scent of cinnamon, as I've always had my apple pies sprinkled with cinnamon. It's an addicting scent though, and I'm always a big fan of crisp apple scent. It's so clean and fresh.

Sweet Blackberry Memories is lovely sweet yet fresh scent, and reminds me of a few berry-flavoured green/white teas I've had over the years. Absolute winner. This is definitely a summer scent.

I'm still lusting over The Honeycomb Secret (very similar to LUSH It's Raining Men), but I'll restrain myself (for now). Treacle Moon also gets extra brownie points for being cruelty-free!

SUPER BEAUTY Ginger & Pear (currently on offer for £2.49, normally £4.99, Boots)

Ginger and pear are a combination that I will always love, regardless of the context. Tea, cake, jam, shower gel... I'll have them all. Perfect zing of ginger combined with sweet and juicy scent of pear. I can't wait to try this out!

LUSH Hot Toddy (limited edition, sold out)

I got these from the Christmas sales and boy am I happy I got two small ones instead of just one. I'm a lover of anything spicy and Christmas-y all year round, so these fit the bill perfectly. Bonus points for the glitter. I'm very happy I got the small bottles, as they're perfect for travelling (which has been happening a fair bit lately!).

LUSH Sweetie Pie

This is my second pot of the stuff and I can't get enough. The form (being jelly) takes a little of getting used to, but I think it's quite a fun and original feature. Apparently Sweetie Pie has the same scent as the ever popular The Comforter bubble bar — if so, I can see why it's popular. The scent is amazing. Beautifully sweet, reminding me of a natural version of Ribena (if such existed). Win. Plus, it's glittery jelly!

SOAP&GLORY Orangeasm

Soap&Glory is always a good idea, but when I saw the Orangeasm gift set reduced to 70% off in Boots after New Year, I could hardly pass it by! Especially after seeing everyone and their grandmothers fawning over the smell. Certainly worth the try with that price tag! A lovely fresh citrus scent, and I love the pump bottle design.

Oufit: Spirit of Autumn

Dress: Oasap / Tights: New Look

Despite it being pretty much mid-winter, this outfit made me feel very autumnal. I think it's the vibrant orange colour palette?

I had a realisation that I should have perhaps opened my plaits up a little bit, they're a little too neat for my taste and it's making my hair seems very flat. I have a bad habit of underlining of all the negative sides from my outfits don't I? Dear me. I love the dress. LOVE.

I feel like I'm cheating a little by calling these 'outfit photos' — you can't even see my shoes after all!

Problems with tripods, broken autofocuses and being half-blind: blurry outfit photos. I need a photography buddy (Nick, please move back to UK now).

Lifestyle: Confessions of a Busy Bee

Image via someecards

Turns out that final semester of your final year at Uni is a very busy time. I had my first 500-word deadline for my dissertation today, as well as first day at a new job. There's also an internship application forever hanging over my head. Basically, I've just got a lot on my plate. It's only the third week of term but I feel like I've been buried under a pile of work for months.

But here is a little update anyway. I quite like reminding myself that I do actually do other things than read, write and wail over dissertation proposals and cover letters. Like see friends and make a little effort to enjoy life.

Last week, I booked last minute bus tickets to London (a combination of a bout of midnight madness, temptingly low bus prices and the urge to get out of Aberdeen) for the weekend just gone. Night busing is never great, but somehow it was still worth it. I don't really have any complaints about the Megabus Gold Sleeper Service on the way down, but the regular night bus on the way up made me want to cry with fatigue. But like I said, it was still worth it. I spent two days with a friend, did some little TKMaxx and Wholefoods shopping and went to The Bloggers' Market, which was organised by some of my favourite bloggers (Carrie, Olivia, Dunya, Lucy & Kristabel). I made a couple of amazing bargain buys, which will (hopefully) feature in outfit posts soon! To my surprise, I didn't take a single photo (not even with my phone) the entire weekend! But it was nice to just ignore my phone for change and focus on enjoying my time in London with my friend.

Short and sweet this time. Just a little reminder that even though I sometimes feel like I'm being consumed by research, writing and all the pressure, I still have other things in my life. Friends, talking with my boyfriend, events like The Bloggers' Market or a dance workshop that I'll be attending in Edinburgh this weekend, clothes... and of course this blog. My little space to come and talk about things that are a little less "grimm" than Little Red Riding Hood (being oh so clever with my fairy tales references).

Outfit: Classic

Ah, the classic red lip. I could easily live without any nude shades, but red lipstick is such an essential for me. I feel like it just improves every outfit. And just your daily life in general.

Top: H&M / Bag: Vinted / Leather jacket: TKMaxx (old) / Skirt: New Look (old) / Boots: Primark

What is it with shops only selling mini or midi length skirts? Because neither really work for me. Just above my knees? Yes please. But it seems near impossible to find skirts that length on high street shops at the moment! I find plenty of dresses with perfect length hem, but somehow similar skirts are an anomaly.

I got this midi from New Look (kids section, haha!) in the sale over the summer for £4, and while it is a slightly awkward length, it's such a nice basic. The skirt looks nicer with heels, and indeed, if it had been a little warmer and I wasn't going to be walking around a fair bit, I would probably have opted for nude tights and a pair of heels. But as it was cold and walking was inevitable, I opted for comfort with thick black tights and my trusty heeled Primark booties.

The more I look at these photos, the more I feel like I should probably let go of the leather jacket and put it up on Depop or Vinted. It's just too big, even though I love the style of it. Time to go searching for a new one... in the petite sections.

Photography by Nick.

Lifestyle: Health Kick

This time, I'm here with a bit of a lifestyle post. It will be wordy, and if you feel like just skipping to the end and seeing my goals for the new year, feel free. But if you're interested in a longer version of my journey, I hope you enjoy reading this.

Without going too much into it, I've lost quite a lot of weight over the past 4 years, going from size 16 to size 10. I might fit size S in some shops, but I'm not skinny (I'm short, and size 10 looks quite different on someone who is 159cm and someone who is 169cm). I'm no longer overweight, but only just.

The big change was moving to the UK and starting to cook my own meals (my family believes in cream, butter and plenty of meat). I took up dancing alongside my gym going, kept eating healthier and walked everywhere. At first, the pounds just dropped away without me making any conscious effort.

In my third year of Uni, I was doing really well. Gym was a 3 minute walk away and I loved going there (4-5 times a week, in addition to dancing!). My eating, exercise and sleeping habits were all good. I was energetic and despite being recently thrown into a long-distance relationship, I was happy. At the end of third year, I started working at Cineworld. Though I certainly indulged a little bit more of unhealthy snacks on breaks at work and the late closes (coming home at almost 3am was almost a weekly occurrence) took their toll, I was still managing fine.

When my final year at Uni started however, it wasn't so fine anymore. In a last minute panic, me and one of my flatmates ended up moving to a flat far from the gym, and from my workplace. The flat, which I am still living in, is cold, damp and generally just makes me feel a little miserable. The workload of fourth year, working on average 20 hours a week and being in a long-distance relationship weighed me down, and the further the semester progressed, the less I went to the gym (barely once or twice a week), the more crap I ate and the worse I felt.

Now, I don't agree with the whole 'new year, new me' thing, but as I tend to overindulge over the festive period, the new year is a suitable time to get back to the 'healthy bandwagon'. This time it also coincides with the beginning of my final semester at Uni, and I want to finish it feeling good. Both academically and personally. Quitting my job was the first step, as it was affecting both my grades and my personal life negatively. Now it's time to make more changes. I made a little list of resolutions for the coming months to help me get back to the mindset I had in third year, when I was feeling the best I have.

1. Take better care of myself
I have had breathing problems outdoors (and sometimes indoors if I'm doing very strenuous exercise) for as long as I can remember, but despite multiple people telling me to do so, I never got it checked out as I just blamed it on my poor fitness. I can't really blame it on that anymore though, so it's time to get it sorted out. I mentioned my breathing problems to a nurse when I came back after Christmas and she gave me a peak flow meter and a diary to keep track of my readings. I've got a meeting with a specialist in this week and I hope I can finally find out what's wrong.

2. Run 5K
Due to the breathing problems, I've always found running a struggle. I can power through all the gym classes I go to and dance for hours, but breathing while running is always a struggle (especially outdoors). My lungs tend to give out before my legs, as it were. I've just signed up to Colour Me Rad Aberdeen in June though, so I better start running! I'm taking baby steps, and hopefully my breathing will improve.

3. Keep up with exercise
I'm hoping that I can drag myself to the gym more often this semester. I do actually really enjoy the classes, particularly yoga and all the Les Mills ones, so it's just about whether I can bear the 30 minute walk each way in the pouring rain and the howling wind. Or sleet, as I did yesterday (it was terrible, but I'm glad I went). I also want to improve my swing dancing... but that will depend on how much time and money I have to travel as well.

4. Sleep better
My sleeping patterns haven't been great in the last 6 months, but I should be better now that I've quit my job. No more 2.15am finishes! I'm trying to make an effort to close my laptop a little earlier as well, and not to play around with my phone when in bed.

5. Eat better
This is the easiest one, as I genuinely love healthy food. As long as I don't buy unhealthy things (biscuits, I'm looking at you) and I make sure to have fridge and cupboard stocked with healthy food, I'm okay. Empty fridge and Domino's just a few minutes down the road is a dangerous combination.

So, there they are. We'll see how I get on! If you got this far, thank you.

Outfit: Winter Florals

Dear me, it's been so long since my last post! I hope you'll excuse me — my boyfriend finally got time off and I abandoned internet almost completely for a week to spend time with him (it'd been about 3 months since I last saw him). It was lovely and relaxing, so I'm ready to power through my final semester of Uni. Sadly, this was also the last time I'll see him before my dissertation deadline (April 3rd!). I would love to be able to say that it makes it easier to concentrate on my work to not have him here, but I actually work much better when he's around (evening cuddles are a good motivation to get work finished in time). It's good to know that this was our last longer goodbye for at least a few years now though, as he's coming back to the UK at the end of May. Which means new exciting things, such as moving in together (hopefully somewhere nice)!

Now, while I did abandon internet, I didn't completely forget about my blog. Nick (the boyfriend) is interested in my blog and very supportive, so he volunteered as camera help (♥).

He generally doesn't photograph much besides aircraft and sceneries (maybe the occasional animal), so he did need some pointers about outfit photos. Not that I'm helping much with my awkward posing. I'm very thankful that he is so supportive and helpful though, since it's really not his thing. But I'll definitely need to give him more instructions about framing. And ask him to take more than one photo per angle (see weird skirt flutter in picture below). ;)

Top: Forever21 / Jacket: TKMaxx (old) / Skirt: New Look (sold out, similar) 

Bag: Accessorize (sold out) / Boots: Primark

I do love the print but I think I might have to cut the skirt a little shorter. Midi length doesn't do much for my 5'2'' frame — it's just too long. One thing in this outfit is utterly perfect though, and that is the bag. Nick got it for me as a Christmas present (he got me far too many things, I feel so spoiled!). We exchanged gifts when I was visiting, celebrating our own little late Christmas — complete with Christmas dinner and Christmas cake at his grandparents' house. We didn't go so far as to get out the crackers, but it was pretty close.