Spectrum.

Okay, so I know I have been away for a looooong time but with going back to uni, working full time and basically looking like a slob 99% of the time I decided against blogging for a while. But I am back and I'm going to try my best to keep it going.

To begin with, I hope every one had a magical Christmas and are looking forward to the new year as much as I am. I still haven't made any plans yet for Saturday night but I rarely do until about 2 hours before. I'm sure I'll figure something out. 

Secondly, I also hope everyone has been making good use of the sales. I know I have. I've spent the majority of my Christmas money in Topshop and Urban Outfitters. 

Top: H&M   Coat: Topshop   Jeans: Topshop

The bf bought me this coat for Christmas, along with tickets to see Laura Marling and Coldplay. So excited for next year!! 

So what presents did everyone else get?

XOX

Piledriver Waltz.

So, it's that time of year again when all the students are going back to uni and I couldn't be more excited! I am moving back down to Leeds on Monday into my lovely new house with 3 of my lovely friends and I really cannot wait. I can tell this year is going to be so much better than last year. Last year I hated living in student accommodation, the noise at 4am was unbearable and living with messy people was not my cup of tea. But this year I'm living with a girl i've known for years and two other lovely girls that I got to know last year. Both of which are clean which is a massive plus.

So I am sitting in my bomb sight of a room, with mountains of clothes and shoes and bags that I am accumulated over the years getting far FAR too addicted to 'the sims' on facebook, I thought I would try and tear myself away for a few minutes and make a collage of clothes that I cannot wait to spend my student loan on! 

  A selection from H&M, Topshop and Asos. How cute are the gloves?! Safe to say I am very much looking forward to loan day...

Anyone else moving to uni/what are you loan day plans? 

XOX

Summer in the city.

I have spent the last couple of days in Liverpool visiting one of my close friends who is at uni there, and I absolutely loved it! It is such a vibrant city and so modern. I will definitely be going back some time soon.
We went out on Thursday night to a bar called Chameleon and the night was called Stock Exchange I think? The drink prices change all night like the stocks and crash at one point where all drinks go dirt cheap. We then moved on to a shot bar, can't remember the name but it was lush. I'm usually rubbish with shots, barely managing one before having to get some fresh air and take deep breaths. But these ones were lovely. We ended up in a club called Heebie Geebies which is motown, and it was brilliant. It is probably my favourite music on a night out, but we don't have any where that plays it in Sunderland so it was a fun change.

I wore my floaty H&M skirt with my Primark blouse and belt. I felt a bit ballerina-rey so decided to put my hair in a tight bun. I really cannot wait to go back!

What the water gave me.

TGIF! For some reason, this week has felt like a loooong one. Pub times tonight to watch the match should make me feel a lot better about it though. Oh, and also the fact that it's pay day. Went into town this morning to get a key cut as suprise suprise, i've lost the key to my uni house. Typical me, I almost expected it to happen. I did buy a few things from Primark though. I am loving this whole 'wearing shirts under jumpers' thing. It looks really chic yet laid back and you can mix and match any shirt with any jumper. Within reason.

I absolutely loved this red one as soon as I saw it, perfect in time for Autumn as well. The snake print shirt underneath is also a Primarni special. It came together better than I pictured so I am very pleased. Plus the jumper, shirt AND necklace only came to £21. 

Also, what do you think of the hair colour? I am loving it. 

XOX

You & I

Okay, so I know it has been a while since my last post but I do have valid excuses.
No1: I have been working 40 hours a week.
No2: My parents have been on holiday for 2 weeks and left me looking after the dog. Any free time I have off work goes on spending time with him.
No3: Due to the above reasons, I have spent the last 2 weeks in either my work clothes or joggers so outfit posts were a no go.
But I am glad to be back, and also glad to show you my new hair.

I dyed it blonde on Wednesday but absolutely hated it. After 30minutes of being blonde, I was already on my way down to superdrug to purchase ginger hairdye. I've been ginger before, and it lasted about a year I loved it that much, so just decided to go that colour again.
I'm really happy with the colour, and also happy to be back blogging again. It has been too long!

Hope everyone has been keeping well XOXO

Fallowfield hillbilly

ABSOLUTELY LOVED MANCHESTER! Seriously, I wish I was from there. So much better than Sunderland with regards to shops, things to see and do and the general atmosphere. 
Neil and I were up at 6am on Monday to catch the 7.30am train from Newcastle. Arrived at the hotel around 11am. It wasn't the nicest hotel in the world, we didn't even have a window! But it did the job and neither of us really minded as we were only there for the 1 night. After checking in we went and did shopping. And a lot of it. Literally walked around for 5 hours. I bought a hat, beautiful h&m midi skirt and a vintage Fred Perry polo. My feet were about to drop off at this point so we headed back to the hotel, got ready and went for a meal at Bella Italia and then the cinema to see Captain America. Chris Evans is a beauty. Drinks after were interesting... We ended up in Night and Day Cafe where there were 'comedians' on, but they were the most disgusting, foul people I have ever seen. We had to leave as we were starting to feel really uncomfortable because of the things coming out of their mouths haha. We then went to Dry bar, Odd then back to the hotel.
Next day we went to the Trafford Centre and it was AMAZING! Did not expect it to be as good as it was. I was just so fascinated with the building itself as the inside was so beautiful. The only thing I bought there was some Thornton's chocolate as nothing really caught my eye but it was defiantly worth a visit.

All in all, we both really enjoyed the trip away and are already wanting to go back!

Never come back.

It is becoming a bit of a habit of mine, quickly posting literally minutes before I need to leave the house. Going to a intimate gig tonight at Independent in Sunderland. One of the regions dingiest places, but everyone loves it just the same. The band's called Hyde and Beast, and they are really good. Looking forward to it, and also having a good drink after a hectic day at work. 

 

After work today I decided to have a little rummage around town and bought some foundation, lipstick and a lovely Topshop dress.

It only cost £6.30, so safe to say I was buzzing! Its a leather skirt and grey top combined, and I know it doesn't look very summery but I couldn't pass up on such a good bargain! 

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! XOX

Starry eyed

I've had a pretty hectic last 7 days, from working ridiculous hours to having to travel down to Leeds for an interview and getting the internet installed into the new house. I am so excited to move in. Although it is very bare at the minute, it has potential to be a gorgeous little 4 bedroom house that me and the other 3 girls will love living in! Plus we have a stray cat living in the garden and she's just had 3 kittens which are so cute! 
I also got the job that I was interviewing for. It is just a part time job for some extra cash while at uni, as I struggled last year. So I am pretty chuffed.
Also as a treat for working loads last week, Neil and I are going on a little shopping trip to Manchester on Monday to spend my well earned cash. Very excited for that as we haven't been away together since February. 

This dress is something I picked up in Leeds a while ago, £3 from H&M. Absolute bargain.

I'd also like to apologise for the arm pose that is going on it this photo. But my fringe is at that awkward length when it doesn't tie back but looks stupid when forward.

XOX

H&M wishlist

I've always been a huge fan of H&M, probably like many of you. There are always gorgeous clothes to choose from, and the prices are very reasonable. Especially when you use the bf's discount...
A H&M catalouge came through the post the other day and I spent ages trawling through it. So I've made a little collage of some of the items I am lusting after the most. 

When I get paid tomorrow, I'm going to buy the pink midi skirt which is the first picture. I've wanted it for a few weeks now but it has been sold out in store. Now that I have been informed by Neil that it has been restocked, I am straight there to buy mine. I also want another floppy hat, other than the purple one I've got. The black one will go with more.
If I do purchase the black one, which I'm sure I will, I will be putting my other one on Ebay if anyone is interested in buying?

If anyone hasn't seen Harry Potter yet, I can't stress enough how much you need to. It is truly amazing!

XOX

Dusty Pink

After last nights shift at work, I have 3 full days off and I intend to make the most of them. Going for a Toby Carvery today, heaven on earth. Nothing nicer than a carvery, already so excited. Tomorrow I'm going to see HARRY POTTER FINALLY! Sometimes I feel like I really want to see it, but other times I don't because it is sinking in that this is the end... I started reading the books when I was 6 years old, and I didn't realise I would be this attached by the time I was 20. But I expect nobody did. Then me and Neil are going for a Frankie and Benny's after to help ease the pain. Pizza always helps in difficult times like these.
Not sure of Tuesdays plans but I will probably be spending the whole day in bed with ice cream on a massive Harry Potter come down.

This is the outfit I'm wearing today to go for lunch with the girls. 

Blazer: Ebay   Top: Primark   Jeans: Topshop

I adore this blazer. I bought it off ebay for around £1.99 and I wear it with anything it will go with basically. I love the dusty pink colour. The plain black tee i'm wearing I bought in the Primark sale for £2 and its great. I can just throw it on and it looks fab. It has a really low back,which I tried to show in the photo but I couldn't get it all in. it almost goes down to the back of my knees.

Hope everyone has enjoyed their weekend. And if anyone has seen HP, let me know how it is!

XOX

between order and randomness

So yet again I have gone and changed the layout of my blog. I clearly just get bored far too easily. I just see so many pretty ones and get envious, but I have decided to just keep it simple this time. No doubt in a weeks time I will find it too boring and change it again.
I am also contemplating giving my blog a better name. 'CHUCK' was just the first thing that popped into my head when I started my blog in April, and I feel as though it needs something a bit better. But that has yet to come to me.
So as stated in my previous post, I went against the promise I made to myself and dyed my hair again (from which I am still recovering from the allergic reaction). 

It looks quite brown in the photo but it is more of a v.light brown/dark blonde in the light. I am quite happy with it, considering I have gotten rid of my god awful roots. This is the lightest I have ever been, hair wise. And I am tempted to go lighter, just because I haven't before... I WILL be bald by the time I am 30.

Go your own way.

Well I have had a right interesting few days! Me and my bestest went out on Saturday night, which ended up being amazing. The unplanned ones always end up being the best don't they?! But in the taxi home I spilt a few chips so he locked me out of the taxi and locked my friend inside demanding £30! We were right outside of my house where I could have easily gotten some kitchen towel and wiped them up so we refused to pay. BUT THEN, he rang the police haha! It is so funny now thinking about it. When the police came they totally took our side and were well annoyed at the driver for calling them out at 5am over a few chips. So they told him to 'do one' and drove my mate home. CRAZY NIGHT.
Then the next day I woke up with a really swollen eye, it looked horrendous. And that turned out to be a slight allergic reaction to hair dye. But it's gone now thankfully.
I am quite annoyed at myself for dying my hair though after I promised I wouldn't. My roots were just getting so bad though that I couldn't help myself. I need a slap on the wrist.
I did buy myself this gorgeous poncho/cape thing that I've been wanting for weeks but my local Primark never seemed to have it in. I spotted it on Tuesday though and could not help myself. Especially seeing as it was the only one!

Anyone going to see Harry Potter tomorrow? Excited doesn't even cover it AAAAHHH!

XOX

Ebay

Just to let everyone know that I have put my prom dress up on ebay, just in case anyone fancied having a look. I will be putting a lot more stuff on ebay over the next few days so keep an eye out.

xox

Really wish my hair was still this colour...

Lucky Strike

I would like to introduce you to my favourite wardrobe item ever. It is also my most wrecked wardrobe item, ever. The amount of times the seams have come away and it has had to be re-stitched. I have lost count. I just love it too much to part with it though. Just thought I would throw it on today because I think it looks amazing with the orange. And the fact that Rihanna owns it makes no difference whatsoever...

 Jacket: H&M   Top: H&M   Jeans: Primark   Belt: Primark

Apologies for the hair, I understand I look slightly wild but you know when you just can't be bothered to straighten it? 

Burning Your Boats.

Just before Glastonbury I bought some high waisted Levi shorts, primerally for the festival. But since I have been back, I've hardly taken them off! They are so comfy and go with pretty much anything. And they only cost me £9 on ebay which is an added bonus. So you will hardly be suprised to know that I am wearing them now. I'm not doing much today, only looking after my boyfriends puppy while he is at work.

Cute isn't he? His name is Henry and he is the most well-behaved dog I have ever come across. Mostly because for some reason he can't bark. I love a quiet dog.
Anyway, I also thought I would show you the outfit I decided to wear today, just because I haven't done an outfit post since before Glasto and wanted to show my shorts.

Blouse: ASOS   Shorts: Levi, Ebay   Belt: Primark   Brouges: Topshop

I got this top about 4 months ago in an ASOS sale, for £8. Probably because it is actually a maternaty blouse. And before you ask, no I am not pregnant. I just loved it, it was so cheap and you can't even tell when it's tucked into jeans or shorts. Pretty good bargain I think.
Also, I've just decided to start watching Game of Thrones today as I've heard some good reviews. Anyone seen it?

XOX

Face and Hair.

I have a couple of things I want to talk about today. The first one being foundation.
I have recently ran out of my favourite foundation that I have been using for years. 

It is Boots No7 Mousse Foundation in 15. I think I first started using it when I was 16 and thought it was an absolute God send. It made my skin look so flawless, lasted around 8 hours, was shine-free and only cost £11. I think that is amazing considering it lasted me around 4 months, even when used every single day. I could sing this foundation's praises forever. So you can imagine I was devastated when I recently went to Boots and was told this product had been discontinued. I have always found that mousse foundation is the best for my skin and it gives me the kind of coverage I want, but there aren't that many to choose from on the high street. I know a lot of people go to Maybelline for their mousse foundation, in the Dream Matte Mousse collection, but I had heard some bad reviews about it. But I bit the bullet and decided to buy it, just until I find a new mousse foundation. 

I bought it in Nude as I am quite pale. It covers well, though not as well at No7 did. The price is also a very reasonable £7. It just doesn't last very long on my skin, and gives me a few spots on my forehead. I've always happened to be one of those lucky people who NEVER get spots. That is until now. They aren't bad, just an annoyance. 

Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced mousse foundation that isn't Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse?

The second thing I wanted to talk about is this new product I happened to come across this morning. I was just flicking through the channels and saw on one of the shopping channels (can't remember which one), a new product called Jo Baz Hair Colour Removal Kit. 

I must have watched it in fascination for about an hour. It claims to be a safe and effective way to remove permanent hair dye from your hair, without any bleaching or hair damage whatsoever. It simply shrinks the colour molecules in your hair so you can basically wash them away. The picture above is for hair that has been excessively dyed or dyed an extremely dark of difficult colour such as black or red. The did a live example of this product in use on a girl with jet black hair, and after 5minutes of having the product on her hair, it was light brown! You can also get products for DIY hair disasters or first time dying that you didn't like. They even said it is so safe for your hair that you could use it every week, just for those who are incredibly indecisive when it comes to hair colour! 

Now I for one have a terrible habit of dying my hair due to boredom. And recently, as stated in a previous post, I am trying to salvage my hair before I go bald. I want to go back to my natural colour, because I know when my roots get really bad I will be so tempted to reach for the hair dye bottle again. So I was so excited when I saw this on TV this morning. I am seriously contemplating buying some. Although I think I want to look through a few reviews first, just to see that what they claim is true.

Just thought I would let you know incase you were as interested as I was.

Hope everyone has enjoyed their Monday as best as they can! XOX

Who run the world?

Well after an extremely tiring (yet utterly fantastic) weekend, and a few days of recovery I am back in business. And I thought it was only fitting to make this post about Glastonbury. 
Did anyone go or watch it on tv? What were your thoughts?
The 7 of us took the coach down last Wednesday morning and arrived after a 7 hour journey. It took 2 hours to get inside the festival itself due to the queues and it was the worst 2 hours of my life. Not only were my bags twice as heavy as me, dragging them through the mud while it was raining wasn't a great experience. But once we set up the tents and cracked open the cans and vodka, things dramatically improved. We spent the night walking all over the festival through Block 9 and Shangri La. (pictured below).

There is sooo much to do at Glastonbury even when there are no bands on. You can literally spend hours walking round the whole site and still not have time to fit everything in. 
On Thursday we went up to the Stone Circle to see the giant fire which was pretty spectacular. Then onto a small stage with small bands playing, which was powered by the audience riding bikes... Very fun, especially when drunk!

Friday began with a rough start. I was already so tired from the last two nights that I had a bit of a lie in and didn't get up until 1pm, just in time for Two Door Cinema Club on the Pyramid Stage. It was an amazing band to start off with as their songs always put me in a really happy mood! Then it was onto The Vaccines, Warpaint, Bright Eyes and Radiohead. I was such a bore that night and was asleep by half 10 so didn't see a headliner. But I cannot stand U2 anyway so it didn't really matter.
I spent the whole of Saturday at the Pyramid Stage watching Tinie Tempah, Paolo Nutini, Elbow (MY FAVOURITE BAND IN THE WHOLE WORLD) and Coldplay. All of which were amazing. Everyone was  up dancing for Paolo which was a lot of fun. And Elbow and Coldplay were fantastic. The atmosphere was amazing.
By Sunday I was wrecked, but forced myself to get up and go and see Laura Marling, Paul Simon, The Vaccines (again) and then the most amazing person I have ever seen before in my life... I think you all know who I mean. I even cried during her performance. 
Safe to say, I did not want my weekend to end and was truly gutted when it ended. I even thought it was better than last years. Probably because the heat was a little unbearable in 2010, but it was pretty perfect this time. Just going to end this post with a few more photos from the festival.

Build a rocket boys.

HIII EVERYONE! Did you all have a good weekend? I am in such a good mood today, as in 48 hours I will be on my way to Glastonbury! I just need to finish work tonight and I will be in THE festival mood! Is anyone else going??
I have had such a hectic few days. On Friday I worked 11 hours WITHOUT A BREAK! The pub was so busy with Kings of Leon playing that nobody had time to take a break. We just got given cans of Red Bull. I got in at 2.30am and didn't get to sleep until about 4, I was that wired haha. I am just so glad it's over, and I only have a 6 hour shift tonight which seems like nothing now.
Anyway, as well as going to Glastonbury on Wednesday, it is mine and Neil's 2 year anniversary on Thursday. He surprised me with the most beautiful dress EVER on Saturday. I love it, and just need an excuse to wear it now.

It's a H&M maxi dress, with gorgeous little gold tassels. What do you think? I also bought these earrings from Primark, I think they were about £3.50. They are so heavy though, I've just been wearing them around the house to get used to them. The picture isn't 100% clear, but you get the idea of what they look like. Dunno what's up with my camera at the minute like, probably just needs a clean.

I also thought I would show you another purchase that I've made in the last week. It was a dress from a charity shop that cost £2.45. It was a midi dress but I altered it to make it shorter so I can wear it at Glasto.

The straw hat is from H&M, in the men's section and the belt is just Primark. Has anyone bought any bargains recently?
I'm going to go back and listen to more Elbow now, until I go to work. Have a good Monday!

XOXO

Treatments for damaged hair.

As mentioned in a previous post, I am giving my hair a bit of a detox. I have been using the hairdryer and straighteners a lot less, despite looking like a wild woman, and I have firmly decided I am not going to dye my hair again. As someone who constantly dyes her hair, this may be hard. I have been dark brown, black, red, ginger, bright orange, light brown and ombre and it has taken its toll on my poor hair. So after 2 years of not having it cut, I decided it was about time. I have been trying to grow my hair really long for ages but because it was so dead, as it grew it just snapped off at the ends. So it never went past a certain length. I have had the ombre cut off and it just feels so healthy! I'm just hoping that it starts to grow now. And that is why I purchased this...

Lee Stafford's Treatment For Hair Which Never Grows Past A Certain Length. It seems quite fitting. I am not sure if it makes your hair grow faster or longer as I have only just started using it but I will keep you informed. At £7.99 it is quite pricey but desperate times...

After shampooing, you scoop some out and leave it on your hair for 5 minutes. Rinse, and then condition as normal. Despite being unsure whether it makes your hair grow, it does make it feel fantastic! The tub is a little difficult to use in the shower as it is a screw top. You need an extra pair of hands I feel, to put the lid back on as you're trying to rub it into your hair. It would have been easier as a squeeze bottle like other shampoos and conditioners. I think you can buy this in a few places but I got mine from Boots.


I also purchased Kerastase Nutritive Bain Satin 2 Complete Nutrition Shampoo which cost £14.99, so again a little pricey but it works absolute wonders on hair as damaged as mine.

You basically just use it as a normal shampoo, no different to any other. But after the first time I used it, I was actually able to get a brush through my hair easily once I got out of the shower. Hadn't been able to do that in ages! I used this every time I washed my hair for about 2 weeks, and then just once or twice a week after that. I can totally see a difference, so it was well worth the money. I ran out of this the other day, so need to buy another one and I am tempted to get a conditioner this time to see how that works. I think you can only buy this in specialist hair shops and hairdressers but correct me if I am wrong. That's just the only place I've seen them.

So if you have severely damaged hair, I would strongly recommend both of these products. 

Does anyone have any other tips or products like these to share? 

XOX