Monday, 23 May 2016

Less House More Home

So I guess sometimes you only realise the beauty of something, when you look at it from a different perspective; a strangers perspective. 

Recently, I took my boyfriend home to the North Coast of Ireland, it was only when showing him where I grew up that I realised how beautiful it is. It is small, quiet and not exactly a hub of activity but it is home




 



          








And yes, I am a constant creep with a camera in search of perfectly crafted candids.

N x

Thursday, 22 January 2015

What they don't tell you about University...

So... I'm half way through my third year of university and I thought I would share with you all a few realisations I've come to. 


Be prepared to pack your life into suitcases about 38 million times (possibly a little exaggeration here... just a lil' bit.) But seriously, I should be getting a degree in packing.  

No one cares who you were in high school. This is a totally new ball game people. 

Groceries are expensive, and also now you finally get why your mum got so annoyed when you either didn't turn up for dinner, or turned up with 4 hungry pals. 

Immunity to drunk people vomit. Its EVERYWHERE. I moved out of my flat at the weekend, there was a pile of sick in the bin room from a party the night before. A bloody room designated to bins and this person chose the floor to boke on?! NOT A BIN?? Seriously. 

Pimpin' yourself out to bulk up your CV.  Emailing every company related to your study and offering yourself... usually for free (yeah, at least prostitutes get paid) Because now you need at least 45 years experience to even pull pints it seems. 


The nights out catch up. Give your liver a rest, eat some vegetables and go to the gym. (At least every once in a while) Do you wanna look 45 when your only 30?? Didn't think so. 

Group work is a university's way of turning you into a crazed maniac. Unless you're the person who does nothing... then you think its all cool - but FYI your group all secretly hate you and plot ways of killing you regularly, just a wee heads up there.



Lastly, you're expected to just know what you're going to do with your life when you graduate. 

Most university degrees are only 3/4 years.. for that length of time I used to want to be Marine Biologist. Because I thought it was the closest thing to being a mermaid. My dream was shattered when I realised I'd probably have to study biology and geography... 

But anyway... what I've mainly learnt. Most people don't know what they want to do with the their lives in their early 20's. And thats fine. You gotta lifetime to work it out. Those years at university are just a tiny bit of that lifetime... so chill. 

Love, 
Nikki
x

Wednesday, 21 January 2015

I've been MIA - Melbourne Wish List

Hello Beautiful People.

So I've been MIA the past few months... SAAAARRRRRRRY. 

3rd year of university was trying to kill me. Between juggling demands of uni (which involved opening and running a pop-up store with 21 students - HELL), having a job, my journey to becoming a goddess and organising my semester abroad. As well as trying to maintain some form of social activity. I've literally had no time.

But now... first semester is over, Christmas has been and gone, and I'm awaiting to head off on my semester abroad in MELBOURNE!!!!! (exclamation points are necessary for my excitement levels here guys.)

This is my first time going to Australia and I cannot wait. 

So naturally being the compulsive shopper I am, I've been putting together a wee wish list for my time there. Some items are realistic... some not so much. 

But hey... a girl can dream. 


                   


 







If anyone has any good places to eat/drink/visit/shop in Melbourne let me know!

Love,
Nikki
x

Thursday, 30 October 2014

There is only one "Workout Essential"

So this post may (possibly) be a little bit of a rant, but here we go anyway...

Recently, I have seen countless blog posts about "workout essentials"

Now, just to clarify I'm a bit of a gym junkie. Literally feel like I spend my life in the gym but.. I love the exercise endorphins (and pizza) too much to forgo a workout. Also I want to look like a goddess in a bikini which I really don't think is too much to ask for? yeah?

So, when I saw these workout essential posts I was intrigued... And in all honesty, I'm sorry but whether you have the correct lip balm or water container is the least of your worries when planning to start a workout regime. 

THE ONLY WORKOUT ESSENTIAL IS MOTIVATION


You can have the most up to date playlists, most moisturising lip balms and best muscle relaxant bath soaks but if you haven't even had the buzz to work out... They're useless. 

I'm a big fan of mind over matter, you go into the gym thinking "I'M GONNA RIP THIS PLACE TO PIECES" chances are, you will. 

So anyway, yes all the workout aids are nice... but first you gotta get yourself there and believe you an do it. Although... moisture wicking workout clothes are actually kind of a workout essential... if you don't want everyone to know quite how hard you are working... and sweating. 

ALSO NO GREY COTTON EVER. IT WILL BE THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF YOUR LIFE. 

So motivation is key... (think I've made my point clear enough... just maybe) but it is always nice to have pretty gym clothes. 
Recently, I have discovered a brand that I loooooove, usually I'm a Nike gal but I stumbled across the Sweaty Betty store in Edinburgh and fell in love.






It can be quite pricey (although what quality sportswear isn't these days?!) they do a seriously good sale.

In their winter sale last year I picked up this bad boy for half price! 


I would definitely recommend you check out Sweaty Betty not just for their running clothes, but yoga and swimwear too!

But obviously my main point, by getting yourself physically out of bed and to the gym or park or wherever you're working out and well... thats half the battle over.

What are your favourite workout brands? Or helpful tips for workout motivation are always welcome over here. 

Love,
Nikki
x

Monday, 27 October 2014

I felt stressed... so I went shopping.

So, this needs to stop. This new habit I've gotten into. It goes as follows:

I feel stressed - I go shopping. 

I feel sad - I go shopping. 

I feel happy - I go shopping. 

I FEEL ANYTHING - I GO SHOPPING.

I'll just pop into EVERY SHOP THAT EXISTS on my way home. 

(yes, the capitals are necessary) 

But I bloody love shopping. And, lately I've been working too many hours and having a minimalistic social life so I feel like I can treat myself. I deserve it, right?

Here are todays purchases. I was meant to be picking up a healthy meal deal in Boots for my lunch but ended up stumbling into the Makeup section as always


Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro Primer 




Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Drop of Sherry




Soap and Glory Hocus Focus Highlighter



 

The result of makeup shopping. SO MANY SWATCHES.


I am sadly pretty excited to try out all of this! I already severely tested everything on my hand and they feel fab. The lipstick actually seems to be a lasting finish, the highlighter has left my hand luminous and the primer has me baby silky skinned. But then again this could just be me trying to reason out my possible addiction..... 

Any good recent purchases? Possible 'literally using retail as therapy' problems? Let me know guys!

Love,
Nikki 
x

Thursday, 23 October 2014

Fact vs Fiction of an All Girls School

Hello Lovely Readers

So this post is pretty much what it says on the tin. Some fact and fictions of an all girls school based on my experiences. 

I went to an all girl high school for 7 years, so I know the story folks. 

1. Everyone is a lesbian.

Big fat lie. If anything these girls couldn't be further from it. They seriously are male deprived, so any sign of a boy... these girls know. They could literally smell the presence of a boy. 

2. It's bitchy as hell.

Well, yeah. The nicknames are possibly the worst things, when they're created by girls. I thought the ones that my year came up with were bad but hearing my little sister tell me her years... we were amateurs. But in all honesty, a mixed school would probably be just as bad.



3. Nobody Eats

HAHAHA biggest lie ever. High School was where Foot Long Friday (subway was round the corner from my school) was formed and Cake Day became a regular occurrence in nearly every class. And.. as its an all female environment someone is always PMS'in so thats obviously an excuse for everyone to eat chocolate with them, for support y'know.
Obviously diet/weight loss was frequent topic of conversation but you soon forget about it when someone suggests going to McDonalds or brings out a packet of cookies.

4. You either don't know what a boy is or are boy obsessed.

Honestly, this is sorta true. There are two ends of the spectrum, the girls who probably have never spoken to a male and the girls who don't waste time speaking and just get straight to it. BUT there's the middle ground too, girls who are completely normal around males. Small minorities and then the majority. So don't go judging and presuming. 

5. Everyone is a snob.

No waaaaaay. Because there were no boys in our school, the girls almost became boys. All of a sudden toilet humour is hilarious and instead of talking about our feelings... we make fun of who someone pulled at the weekend. Topics of conversation become vile and manly stances are adopted. "Lady Like" would not have been the phrase to describe the majority of my high school memories.

6. Everyone Cries, all the time.

This is so true. Sometimes you'd just cry and you wouldn't even know why. It was the male staff I pitied the most in these situations. I remember just talking to a male teacher and starting to cry because I was stressed and tired. He was so uncomfortable because he had no idea what he had done. I actually said, "Its not you, its me" and dramatically left the room. That poor, poor man.


7. There is always a pregnant girl, an engaged girl and a badass who gets expelled.

Mmmm Yeah this is true. So many pregnancies.. meaning so many cute baby Facebook photos! Engagements can last a matter of days or go the full way, but always include dramas of some form. The expulsions are exciting, sometimes just a temporary suspension but if you're lucky they get the full show. 


I could go on for ageeeees but thats just a little insider for you. 

Hope you enjoyed and let me know any funny/memorable experiences you had at high school. 

Love,
Nikki
x

Sunday, 12 October 2014

Black is the new Black

So yea, its been a while. 

The past month has been beyond busy with moving back to Scotland (and into a new flat) to start my third year of university, back to work, back to lectures... back to normality... and a lovely little holiday in the French Riviera thrown in the mix too - wishing I was back there right now but no, I'm in Glasgow where winter arrives in October.


But anyhow, I'm back blogging for good now! YAAAAAY (I know how much this pleases you all.)

Today is going to be a little beauty review. I am terrible at all thing beauty related, it took me until I was about 17 to master a basic smokey eye, so I'm pretty much beautily-dyslexic. (yes, this is a self diagnosis but I think accurate.) Which is why I love the product in this post so much!


I love having my nails done, but I don't always have time (or can be bothered) to have regular appointments at the beauticians; and there is no way in hell I could do it myself, so these are a life saver! 

I used Short Length, Ongles courts in the colour "Text Appeal" which is a glossy black. 

Now the main problem I have with using false nails, is because I have child sized hands and even the small or short nails don't fit properly or... make me look like a witch.

These fit perfectly, and also are slightly flexible, so don't snap off easily!

They are also so easy to apply - even I was able to do it.

You just choose your size, peel off the plastic cover on the back and stick 'em on. In about 5 minutes you can have a perfect manicure?! Last time I used these nail they lasted about a week - which I was quite impressed with.




I am super happy with the end product and I would highly recommend these as a quick fix for pretty nails AND this Text Appeal colour is fab, black is the new black after all. 

Love,
Nikki
x