10 Day You Challenge: Eight Fears

Day 3: Eight Fears

 

Today is day three of the 10 Day You Challenge I've decided to do, and today's theme is 'Eight Fears'.

I'm afraid of the following...

1. Spiders and daddy long legs. Major phobia. I keep my windows shut after dark to stop the daddy long legs flying in. Even when it's so hot I can barely breathe. Like tonight.

2. Dying alone. I often worry I will.

3. Small spaces. I'm quite claustrophobic and can freak out if I'm in a small space. Especially if I feel I can't get out of it. I panicked when I had an MRI scan back in November because my face was inches from the tube, and I once panicked in a car wash on a very hot day because I couldn't get out or get some air.

4. Fire. Well, the fear of burning to death. I don't think that even needs an explanation. Nobody wants to die like that.

5. Cotton buds. Yes, you heard right. Cotton buds. I've been wary of them ever since my friend burst my eardrum with one when I was four or five. It hurt like hell, so I think it's a valid phobia.

6. Drowning. I love water, but I fear drowning. It's another one of those claustrophobic-related worries of mine.

7. Public speaking. I'm very shy and the thought of speaking in front of more than two or three people I'm not comfortable around makes me sick with dread. I hate having all eyes on me.

8. I'm afraid of never being pain free again. Of never gaining my full mobility and freedom back, and not being able to live my life to the fullest.

What are you afraid of? Do you share any of my phobias?

I'd give you the news but nothin's changed...

Hey guys,

I hope everyone's being having a great week, The heat wave has lasted all week here, and it's still stifling hot as I write this at three in the morning. It's been lovely to see blue skies and sunshine. I can't remember the last time it was so hot, but it has been hard to cope with the heat and humidity through the nights. I'm terrified of daddy long legs so I usually shut my windows when it gets dark to keep them out, and end up half-suffocated in the process. It's really much too hot to close the windows, so I've came up with the genius idea of sellotaping a thin sarong over the window! Problem solved. It really does work to keep the bugs out, and the air in!

It's hard to dress properly in the heat we've had. My bedroom is a sauna at the best of times, and I can't go downstairs or in to the shade where it's cooler.  I've really not been motivated to dress well at all this week. I've been more concerned about trying to keep cool- which so far I've failed at.

I really wanted to wear my new dress, but ten minutes after taking the photos I was so overheated I was back in the thin cotton sundress! Still, I wanted to quickly share it with you.

You may remember seeing my navy fish print dress exactly like this one not too long ago. It's a dress I adore because the shape is so unusual, so I kept returning to the website to admire the other designs. When I saw this one had gone in to the sale, I knew I had to have it.

This dress is a bright and cheerful shade of yellow with a bird print all over it. The fabric is a little sheer, which I wasn't expecting, so I'll need to invest in some white/nude underwear to be able to wear it outside. I think the dress would look better over white leggings, but I'm not sure how much will be on show through the dress!

It was far too hot to accessorize the dress, but I was wearing my new Lush make up. More on that in my next post!

Dress: AX Paris

Leggings: New Look

This dress is still in the sale and can be found here. It's currently just £17.99.

The navy fish print version is also in the sale here.

I love these dresses, and they're worth checking out. They're so comfortable and roomy. I sized up but I really didn't have to. Although it's a hip-heavy shape, I don't feel like the dresses add width to my curvy hips as the capped sleeves help to balance the shape.

Well, that's all from me for now. I'm off to watch Walk The Line until I fall asleep.

Have you shopped with AX Paris yet?

10 Day You Challenge: Nine Loves

Today is day two of the 10 Day You Challenge, and today's theme is:

Nine Loves

 

In no particular order, these are nine things I love that randomly came to mind...

1. Dresses.

If you haven't noticed already, I have a slight obsession. I particularly love dresses which are fitted at the waist, and then flare out in to amazing fifties style skirts. I love a dress with a cute or quirky print; if one's covered in polka dots or birds I usually want it. I love midis, maxis, and ones that fall on or just above the knee. I love the way they look and how I feel when I'm wearing them. In short, I love dresses!

2. Tattoos.

I only have two so far, but they're addictive, and I have several more planned; including one I want to get once I've got my freedom back to remind myself not to take my life for granted ever again.

Tattoos are one of the first things I notice about a person. I love checking out everybody's works of art. I really do believe tattoos, if done by a good artist, are art. They're such an interesting form of self-expression, and I think they add character to a person.

 

Left: the star design on my wrist the day after it was  redone. I made the mistake of going to a bad artist to get it done, and it was originally uneven, and the curved lines were a mess. I'm still not happy with the pink stars and want to get them filled in once I'm well.

Right: The floral tattoo on my foot the day after it was done by the same tattooist who reworked the mess on my wrist in to the beauty it is today.


3. My pet rabbit Honey.

She's ten and a third now, and I've had her since she was just eight weeks old. She's such a beautiful bunny. She's never enjoyed being held much, but she's my baby and has always loved having her chin scratched and eating out of my hand. My other baby, Tigerlily, died on Easter Monday and I feel guilty that Honey is now all alone.

Left: Tigerlily and Honey aged six months in 2002
Right: Honey aged ten earlier this year



4. Coloured eye make up.

I started wearing and experimenting with different coloured shadows and mascara in my teens, and now in my late twenties coloured eye make up has become my signature look. I love the way it makes my eyes stand out, and I especially love wearing green.

My Inglot Freedom Palettes

5. Music.

 I've been obsessed with music since before my age reached double figures. I listen to it every day. There's a song or type of music for every mood, and I find it such a comfort. It has the power to calm me down when I'm stressed and lift my mood when I'm down. It motivates me, or sings me to sleep.

My music tastes have evolved a lot over the years. I was a boyband fan in my early teens, but by the time I reached college I'd began to love rock, indie, nu metal, punk rock, alternative and so on.

I have quite a random itunes library. I'm currently listening to Linkin Park's Living Things and Minutes To Midnight albums quite a lot, along with Evanescence's latest album, but I also really love Snow Patrol, Panic! At The Disco, Fall Out Boy, Lostprophets, Kings Of Leon, and Arcade Fire.

6. Boyzone/Ronan Keating.

I know in number 5 I said I was in to rock music these days, well I am with a couple of exceptions. I've been a big fan of these Irishmen since I was nine years old, and eighteen years later I still am. It's not really to do with the music; more about the memories and good times I've had over the years because of them and the friends I've made. Though I have met them all and they're lovely. I love going to see them live and turning back in to an overexcited teenager for the night!

Make of that what you will.

Here they are in kilts during a show in Glasgow last year. You're welcome.

7. New York. I've been head over heels in love since my first encounter with the Big Apple almost a year ago. It was such a fantastic experience that I can't wait to go back. I keep watching films based in NYC and wishing I was there right now.

Left: Manhattan from Top of the Rock last August.
Right: New York traffic last August.




8. Concerts/gigs.

I feel most like myself when I'm at a live show of one of my favourite bands. They're always fantastic experiences, and I always have so much fun with my friends or sisters. I'll travel up and down the UK if it means I'll be rewarded with a good concert at the end of the journey.

Linkin Park live Nov 2010.

Kings of Leon live Dec 2010

9. My best and closest friends.

I don't know where I'd be without these ladies. They always know just how to make me laugh or smile. I always have such a good time with them, whether it's in person or through the wonders of technology. I have so many great memories attached to these ladies, and I can never repay them for all their support, love, and concern during my injury so far. Very few people I considered friends have been in touch over the last ten months, but these ladies are still there for me even after all my rants and moments of despair. If you're reading this, ladies- thank you so much for being there for me! You all mean so much to me. xx

The things I like may be a little bit random, but they make me smile, so I don't see any harm in that. It's just who I am.

What do you love?

Do you share any of these loves with me?

10 Day You Challenge: Ten secrets

Hey guys,

I recently came across this blogging challenge whilst catching up on blogs I follow, and thought it would be fun to join in and share a little more about myself with you. Who's going to join me?

Day 1: Ten Secrets

Well, if I told you them they wouldn't be secrets, would they? Oh, alright...

1.  I'm naturally a brunette.

2. I didn't start dyeing my hair until I was twenty-five. I swore I wouldn't until my hair turned grey, but I woke up one morning and felt the need to go red.

3. I have very, very poor eyesight. I'm so short-sighted I have to wear glasses/contacts every waking moment to be able to see, and I can't get contact lenses strong enough for my prescription.

4. I can't drive. Mostly because of financial reasons. It's on my list of things to achieve once I'm back to good health and able to work again.

5. I've never read the Twilight saga.

6. I only learned how to file my nails this year. Yes, I'm twenty-seven! My nails were always brittle and short from working hard and getting covered in dust and dirt; which meant I was constantly washing my hands and my nails paid the price.

7. I've never tried coffee.

8. I don't own a pair of heels.

9. I've suffered with depression for at least a decade.

10. I hated my freckles until I was seventeen. Mainly because people used them as a reason to pick on me. I looked different to most people, and I hated that. I just wanted to blend in. I soon realised I preferred being myself and not following the crowd. I love my freckles now.

I hope some of you will do this challenge with me, so we can learn more about each other!

It's Summer Outside!

Sorry for the lack of outfit posts these last few days. It's been so hot here in England this week (here in the South it's been a scorching 30 degrees), and all I've wanted to do is lie under my fan and not move until it cools down again. It's either that or take up residence in the shower and send out change of address cards.

Being extrememly pale (and getting paler by the day), and quite warm-blooded, I've never been one to cope well in the heat, but I'm so acclimitized to life indoors now that I could barely breathe through the humidity when I took a quick trip to the shop yesterday. In a car.  Half a mile down the road.

I think this heat is only pleasant if you're on holiday, and/or have access to a pool, the sea, or air conditioning. Otherwise the result isn't pretty! Hence the lack of OOTD posts. I've just been lounging around in sun dresses spraying myself with Magicool and adding lots of ice to my drinks.

My hair was still damp from the shower, and pinned back with a couple of Cath Kidston hair slides to hide the kinks of natural dried hair.  Sorry for the pasty face; it was far too hot to bother putting make up on!

The nail polish is actually more of a cornflower/violet blue. The camera hasn't picked up the right shade.

Dress: New Look

Cardigan: Lovedrobe @ New Look

Bangles: New Look (I think; I've had them for years)

Belt: Dorothy Perkins

Nail Polish: Bourjois So Laque! Ultra Shine in Bleu Fabuleux

I don't like wearing many accessories when it's as hot as it is at the moment, but I added the belt and cardigan for the photos to make the outfit a little more interesting and to hide my arms. This is how I would wear this dress if I was going outside. I won't lie; I have just been lying around in the dress with the bangles on.

The dress was an impulsive sale bargain buy which I snapped up for about £7-8 last Summer. I tend to wear it lounging around the house on very hot days like today as it's light and airy. I've had the bangles for many years, but still like wearing them each Summer.

I really wish I was lounging on a beach right now, or more accurately, body-boarding in the sea with the sun on my skin.

Although, as heavenly as lying on a beach in the heat sounds, I heard a lady died yesterday after a landslide brought tons of rocky cliff down; which was believed to be due to months of heavy rain, or so the news report said. It's so sad that such a blissful trip to the seaside could end so tragically. May she rest in peace.

I guess we all think we're indestructable. We never think our time may be cut short, or harm will ever come to us or our friends and family, but it can. Bad things really do happen when we least expect them and in the unlikeliest of situations. I know this is a cliche, but we all need to live each day to the full, do the things we want to do, and be around people who make us happy. It's taken twenty-seven years and a back injury for me to figure that out, but it really is true...

Makes you think, huh?