instalife #3

1. Chillin' on the beach | 2. Birthday dinner 

3. Nando's with Rhee | 4. Followed by Eastbourne

5. Beginning of my Breaking Bad obsession | 6. Work night out 

7. Feel-good read | 8. Spot of retail therapy

9. Coffee on the journey back to Sheffield | 10. New winter coat

11. The OC rewatch | 12. All of the rings!

Hello again my blog lovelies! How was you summer? Just a quick post from me to notify you that I am in fact alive. I took an unplanned blogging hiatus but I am back with some snaps of my summer. Regular-ish posts to come soon!

Follow me on various social media formats such as Twitter, Instagram and YouTube under my username @whimsicella if you're at all interested in keeping up with my life (plus I update them round the clock!)

instalife #2: may and june edition

1. Waiting to see The Great Gatsby! / 2. Daytrip to Lewes for Mama's birthday / 3. YO! Sushi with my B-Town Gang / 4. Brighton Wheel from the Pier

5. Packing up the Oedipus Wall / 6. Chilling out with Company magazine / 7. Night out in Manchester with Emma / 8. My latest video

9. Kicking back in my slipper socks! / 10. Nice little card from my friend Derry / 11. Koppaberg after a long day at work / 12. Sunday listening: Gotye

Okay, so making this a fortnightly feature kind of backfired because I haven't done another instalife in TWO MONTHS (aka when I first posted one, op). However, it is back for the last day of the month, just highlighting the 'best bits' of my boring life from May and June. Can you believe it's gonna be July tomorrow already? Crazy! This year is just flying by.

Things wound down a bit after finishing uni for the year (can't believe I'll be starting my final year in September), so I was just mooching around between Sheffield and Brighton for a while, job hunting and seeing friends before we all went our seperate ways for the summer. Now I'm back home for good (well, for the summer) and I've got myself a little waitressing job to occupy my days while I think of some interesting things to do this summer so I don't die from boredom of routine! A trip back up to Sheffield is a definite, for belated birthday celebrations and moving into the new house. I'd also like to spend a day in London visiting the zoo and aquarium. And, should budget allow it, perhaps a trip to Devon to visit my friends Derry and Katy, and meet their adorable baby Lia!

Follow me on various social media formats such as Twitter, Instagram and YouTube under my username @whimsicella if you're at all interested in keeping up with my life!

Until next time!

flowers in the window.

DRESS - NEW LOOK / CARDIGAN - ZARA / BRACELETS - NEW LOOK / SHOES - TOPSHOP

As we've been having such lovely weather lately, last week my mumma and I decided to take a day trip to Lewes, strolling through the village and trekking up to the Sussex Downs. The sun was high in the sky and it was finally starting to feel like summer, so I wanted to wear something light and summery to represent. I grabbed this absolute steal in the New Look sale - only £7! I saw it and fell in love immediately, what a coincidence that it happened to be the only one left and in my exact size.

Lewes itself is a nice little place. It's quite small, so you run out of things to do quite quickly (unless you take a tour of the castle, which we didn't do that day), but regardless, it's a nice place to pass through, especially if you wander round the Downs! Here are a few snaps from the day:

Part of the high street

Museum next to Lewes Castle

A taste of the Downs

Fashion x Feminism

Mum, I'm a Feminist's logo

Last month I met up with Jess, who runs feminist blog www.mumimafeminist.co.uk, to discuss something not many people think about when it comes to feminism: fashion.

People have a very set image when it comes to feminists, that they are angry, all stompy all the time, and uncaring of their appearance, and Jess agrees. "There is a massive stereotype," she tells me, "but it's not 'wrong', if you are hairy, shouty and a lesbian - because that's obviously the stereotype - then fine. You go do that, you get yours, be yourself. There's nothing wrong with that." However, there are a lot of people who are put off by this stereotype, which means that not only do a lot of girls not want to identify as feminists, but don't want to associate themselves with the movement all together. "It's been turned into something so negative. Like, 'oh, I don't want to be THAT feminist…' when, actually, there's nothing wrong with being that feminist, it's just the media want you to think it's a terrible thing and not be involved, because it's a threat to them."

We begin to talk about how feminism has changed the way she sees herself and how that reflects on the way she dresses. 

"When I was younger, I spent a lot of my time comparing myself to my friends. I've always preferred alternative music - rock music, metal - whereas my friends at school liked the Top 40 and things like that, so they all dressed to reflect it. I've always dressed how I wanted to, but when we went on nights out, I didn't really have my own fashion sense. I sort of did somewhere in the middle with disastrous results, it was horrible!" she laughs, "I didn't have the confidence to be entirely who I was." She recalls how it improved since she started at university, but feminism has made her more confident in what she wants to wear. "Now I'll pick something and be like, 'I like this, and yeah, so-and-so from down the road may not like it, but I don't really care what they think, as long as I look nice.'"

I ask her where some of her favourite places to shop. "This is very stereotypical answer, but I do like Topshop. I don't ever buy loads, but I'll go in there now and then and I'll buy one statement piece that adds to everything else in my wardrobe. ASOS, because they sell an absolute wide range of stuff and I can always find something for me. I get stretchy pencil skirts from H&M and Primark is always amazing for vest tops and little bits and bobs. I also shop in the vintage stores around Sheffield when I can, but they are quite expensive. I like them because I can find nice slouchy pieces and I can team them with other things. So, I shop in loads of different places, depending on my budget."

Jess & I channelling Rosie the Riveter

"I think I've got more body confidence. I do get upset and think I weigh more than I'd like to, and I still have really bad days, but who doesn't? But since becoming a feminist, I have more good days and better good days. Being fat is not, by a long stretch, the worst thing you can be, is it? It's not a negative thing, it's an adjective. I'm getting on with my life - I'm going out, I'm doing the blog, I'm doing my degree, I'm working. And I think, for God's sake, who cares if I have that extra slice of pizza? So I'll dress myself now, not thinking, 'Oh I wanna hide myself,' but instead think, 'Yeah, I am curvy, and I'll wear a crop top if I want to wear a crop top!' That's how I feel, you know? So that's nice, that's empowering."

It seems that feminism has had a very positive effect on how Jess, not only in how she approaches her feminism and other general issues, but how sees herself, and that's great to see. Being confident in ourselves and our bodies is one of the most important things we can achieve, and Jess seems to have it covered. And whereas appearance is not the most important concern in feminism, it is good to see a feminist who takes pride in it, and is not afraid to do so. "We don't want to BE men, we want to express ourselves however we want. We don't want to emulate masculinity, that's not how we want to be. Like, some people do want to be masculine, some people enjoy being androgynous, but I don't. I like wearing girly clothes and lipstick, I also like wearing my boyfriend's clothes and boys clothes. I like doing that. And if anyone said to me, 'Your lipstick makes you less of a feminist,' I'd just be like - get out," she laughs, "because it doesn't at all."

Here are some of Jess' favourite outfits:

"I absolutely LOVE this black ASOS dress because it plays to my curves. The shoes are a new addition - I love them because they're a bit trashy but fantastic at the same time and I like that. I usually wear this out on the town or to special occasions with friends."

"This is an outfit I would have never dared wear a couple of years ago but now I can't get enough of wearing it! Just shows you what a bit of confidence can do. The crop top is another ASOS gem and the shorts are upcycled Levis from a vintage store in Sheffield."

"This t-shirt is my boyfriend's but I'm pretty sure I wear it ten times more than he does these days. We actually swap and share our t-shirts a lot which is quite nice. The shorts are my go-to faves for many an occasion; I had a pair before but they tore across the bum (whoops) which I had to give up and find a suitable replacement. I'd love to wear this at a festival this year so here's hoping we get the nice weather for it!"

"I love wearing these jeans with a black top - it's really simple and easy (which a lot of my wardrobe is all about!) I add a baggy shirt on the days I'm feeling self-conscious about my arms or to give it a little something extra. The top's a H&M basic, the jeans are from Primark a good few years ago and my shirt's another secondhand purchase (men's section of course!)"

Keep up with Mum, I'm a Feminist on their website, Twitter and YouTube

The Liebster Award

I was tagged by the absolutely fabulous Vicky Flynn for the Liebster Award! I literally was not aware of it until I was tagged, but I feel so honoured to have been thought of, especially by the wonderful Vicky!

So how it works is that you are tagged and answer a set of questions given to you by your tagger. Then you choose eleven of your favourite bloggers, and you give them a new list of questions to answer, and then they choose eleven of their favourites, and so on and so forth. This post explains it much better than I do, but basically it's just one big chain of loooove! I also understand that you're meant to list eleven things about yourself, but I am rubbish at those kinds of things, so I'm going to respectfully ignore that rule.

My questions from Vicky were:

1. Where is your favourite place? What does it look like?

My uni room, especially since I've put up my little Oedipus collage. Oedipus was a big part of my life this year and it's nice looking over at it across from my bed and being reminded of all those wonderful memories. I like all of my other wall hangings too (Friends, The Beatles on Abbey Road, Bob Dylan and classic film posters), and my assortment of candles and incense trinkets, lovely cards, my mini book and DVD collection, my constantly messy desk... my room is just awesome, okay?

2. If you could offer a newborn child one piece of advice... what would it be? 

If you never try, you never know. There are so many great things I missed out on because I was too scared or not confident enough in myself to do, which sucks! This year I have made every effort to be braver and try new things and I've not regretted it one bit!

3. If you had to teach something what would it be?

I guess I'd have to say feminism, because I feel that there's this weird stigma against the movement and a lot more people, men and women, would identify as feminists if they just knew more about the inequality women face even today. I mean, seriously, even in women's magazine, which are made FOR women BY women, there are so many hidden messages about us females being the 'weaker' sex, and don't even get me started on women in the workplace and pay inequalities...

4. What is your favourite ice cream flavour? 

Chocolate. Cliche, I know, but I am addicted.

5. What's your favourite musical? What's your favourite song in it?

This is HARD. I love so many musicals. And I can't just choose one, so I'm gonna say Hairspray and Lion King.

6. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?

This is a difficult question for me because I am very self-critical. I would like to say yes, and apart from some isolated incidents, I like to think that I am always there for my friends to lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on or a good laugh when needed.

7. What did you want to do when you were five years old?

I only actively remember ever wanting to 'do' anything with my life from age six, and back then I wanted to be a singer, or more specifically, a 'pop star'. So yeah, that.

8. If you had 30 seconds to give a speech to the whole world, what would you say?

I can't think of anything deep and meaningful, so I'd probably say something like: "

9. Would you rather be trapped in a phonebox for the rest of your life (you can ring ANYONE IN THE WORLD but you never need to pee or eat) or wander about with a microwave attached to your back,. weighing you down (plus people keep microwaving stuff when you walk by them...)? 

Ha! This is such a Vicky question! I'd have to say the microwave, because I couldn't deal with being stuck in a box forever, it just sounds so isolating, even if I can call anyone I ever wanted to. Plus if I ever get tired of lugging around the microwave, I can just roll around on a skateboard or something.

10. What is your favourite colour?

I don't like this question because I don't have one favourite colour, it changes all the time and I can never pick just one. It also depends on the context - I like navy blue as a nail polish colour, yellowy-orange felt tips, green eyes, duck egg blue coloured walls... I just like too many colours!

11. Do you think animals can understand humans?

Not language wise, no, but I think animals can pick up human emotions quite well, like how some pets can tell if their owner is sad or ill or something like that.


The following lovelies (from both Blogspot and Tumblr) I would like to tag are:

Tami / Megan / Grace / Colleen / Derry (is baby here yet?!) / Emma / Lucinda / Jess / Kelsey


And my questions to you are:-

1. Why is your favourite person your favourite person? (You don't have to name names but you can only pick one person!)
2. Favourite memory?
3. Somewhere you haven't been to yet but want to?
4. Somewhere you have already been but are aching to go back?
5. Top five favourite films?
6. Why you study what you study at uni, or alternatively if you don't go to uni, what would you want to study if you did?
7. A song lyric that resonates with you?
8. Do you prefer being casual or dressed up?
9. If you could meet any actor/musician/historical figure, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
10. Three reasons you like blogging?
11. Something, an event or person or film etc, that's changed your life?

I look forward to reading your answers!

instalife #1

1. Easter treats from Graze / 2. Twin cats from next door

3. Reminiscing Oedipus :'( / 4. On the train home to Brighton!

5. Gle? Starbucks name fail / 6. Yummy mango cocktails with old frinds at Las Iguanas

7. Being silly with silly sunglasses / 8. Funny flask at UO (drink responsibly, kids)

Apologies for my lack of presence recently, I haven't been updating because I've just needed a break! My life has been so crazy busy since January, and what with me being back in Brighton this week for a mini-break, I wanted to take some time to chill out and just do nothing for the first time in a long while. And it's been great being home, spending time with my mum, enjoying home comforts and seeing friends I haven't seen in months. It's really lovely! Back in the swing of things tomorrow though, I'll be on the train back to Sheffield and then it's full speed ahead into regular life. I've got lots of exciting new plans and projects, not to mention only about a month left of uni (and second year, eeep!)

I didn't want to leave you guys high and dry though, so here are some snippets from my instagram from the last week or so. Not much going on, I'll admit, and as you can see, I'm still in mourning from the end of Oedipus! I might make this a weekly/fortnightly thing just as a little filler for when I have a lull in blogging from when life takes over! For those of you on instagram my username is @whimsicella if you want to follow :)

Happy Sunday!

summeresque vintage

SUNGLASSES - H&M / TOP - TOPSHOP VIA EBAY / SHORTS - LEVI'S VIA FRESHMAN'S VINTAGE / TIGHTS - PRIMARK

If I can't have good weather, then I'm gonna have it come to me! And by that, I mean I'm going to dress as if it is somewhat pleasant outside and be forever in denial of the cold, horrible weather we've been having to endure lately. However, the sun did make an appearance throughout various point of the day, which I am grateful for. Still had to wear my big coat and woollies though!

Also, I had said that I was going to post some of my latest eBay finds, and here we are. I bought this top for a grand total of £1.04 (not including postage), which is great considering it's Topshop! I swear most of the Topshop items in my wardrobe have been acquired through eBay where you can get them for an absolutely steal. I'm really into crop tops lately, so this little floraly number is perfect. Paired up with these Levi shorts I bought from a vintage shop, it gives this outfit a nice summery feel -  even if the weather doesn't reflect it!

In other news - I've started vlogging! Making YouTube videos is something I've wanted to do for a while, and since this year has become all about new challenges, I've finally decided to go for it. Let me know what you think :)

Spring is... here?

PLAYSUIT - EX-TOPSHOP VIA EBAY / TIGHTS - PRIMARK / BOOTS - SALT&PEPPER VIA RIO

BELOW: TURBAN - TOPSHOP / SCARF - ZARA / COAT - SELFRIDGES

The weather at the moment is really quite atrocious... I mean, it's supposed to be spring, and what do we get? Incessant snow! Is it really too much to ask for a little bit of sunshine and greenery on the trees? Apparently so. But I'm not letting this glum weather get me down, I'm dressing for the season (spring, that is, which I constantly have to keep reminding myself...)

I've recently fallen back in love with eBay, and have been spending a lot of my free time browsing through the endless bargains. I've even got the eBay app on my phone for window shopping on the go! This little heart patterned playsuit was recently purchased from an eBay shop and I'm so in love with it.  It's so cute and girly, and I love that it's navy blue - one of my favourite colours. I love being able to dress feminine without resorting to traditional 'girly' colours. The fluffy boots are oldies but goodies, a staple for my feet in the colder months.

I've got some exciting plans for this blog in the very near future, so stay tuned for that, and also for a couple more of my favourite eBay finds!

 My 'unimpressed with the snow' faces

Personal Growth, SHU Drama and Oedipus The King.

I've been absent for a while, for which I can only apologise. But I can explain, in a blog post that is slightly different from others I have done in the past. So here goes.

The last couple of months have probably been the most important in my life thus far in terms of self growth and development. I have learned a lot about myself, what I am capable of, and really come into my own.

Last semester, at the start of my second year of university, I decided to join my university's drama society, SHU Drama. I had a rough first year, for many reasons I won't get into, and I needed a different atmosphere and a place to meet new people and make new friends. To most people, my decision to join Drama was an odd one, which is understandable what with my quiet demeanour and generally reserved personality. But my intention wasn't necessarily to be in a play, I was more than happy to help out backstage for the productions and do front of house on show nights. I did audition for one of the plays, the Brothers' Grimm Spectacularthon, just to put myself out there, but I can't say I did terribly well, even for a first try!

I didn't let the shambles that was my first ever audition hold me back though, because in the new year I auditioned for one of the next lot of plays SHU Drama were putting on: Oedipus The King. Well, I say I didn't hold back, but in actual fact, I almost didn't audition at all. Even though one of my New Year's resolutions was to put myself out there and take risks, I let my inner demons and crippling self-doubt almost stop me from doing what I really wanted to do. But with encouragement from my friends, I put them behind me and took the leap.

And it all worked out, because not only was I cast in the play, I was given the lead female role, Jocasta, wife and unknowing mother of Oedipus. As someone who hasn't been in a play since primary school (Icicle Jack, written by my Year 4 teacher, in which I was Icicle #5), it was surreal for me to be given a principle role. But mostly it was really nice having other people believe in me when I didn't quite believe in myself. I knew from the onset that it was going to be a challenging experience, learning lines, adjusting to the language, getting my queues right... and, well, acting full stop.

But, oh, it was so worth it. The last two months have been the best I've had in a really, really long time and it really has set the bar high for the rest of my year. It's been demanding, what with our restricted seven-week time frame from the first read through of the script to the first performance, but it's been a blast. Our cast and production team has been a small one, which has allowed us to become so incredibly close, making our 2 - 3 rehearsals a week (and 4 - 5 in the last couple of weeks before the show) a pleasure to attend. We have all become such good friends and shared many laughs. Who knew Greek tragedy could be so fun!

The fact that we had fun wasn't the most rewarding aspect of this experience though. What I've taken from this whole thing is just what I am capable of achieving. At the start of the process, I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to take to my lines and learn them all before the show. I was extremely intimidated by my talented peers, and was afraid that inexperienced little ol' me wouldn't perform as strongly in comparison. But I really shouldn't have feared, I had such a great support system around me, from both my directors and my fellow cast members. And knowing that they were all there for me, that they believed in me, and the blind fear of the prospect of letting them down, really helped me excel to my full potential.

I'm sad that's it's all over, but the hard work paid off. I got such great feedback and read a couple of wonderful reviews about my performance, and everyone seemed genuinely surprised whenever I mentioned that this was my first time trying my hand at acting. But like I've said before, I couldn't have done it without the support from my wonderful friends.

Joining SHU Drama has definitely been one of the best decisions I've ever made. Though the society is huge, it doesn't lack the sense of community. I have never been so accepted by such a big group of people in all my life, and it feels so nice. I have made some of my best friends through this society and really came into my own as a person. And I can't thank those crazy lot enough for it.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle

I've never been particularly loyal to any shampoo or conditioner as I've never had one that really treated my hair the way I would like, and frankly, I haven't loved one enough to use time and time again. That is until I stumbled across Aussie. After I ombre'd my hair, I asked the beauty bloggers of Twitter what hair masque or deep conditioning treatment was best for very damaged and bleached/coloured hair. One of those lovely ladies replied and recommended something by Lush or Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle, and since I'm not a big fan of Lush myself, I opted for the latter.

I was not disappointed. It really is what it says on the tin (or bottle) - a three minute miracle. I noticed the difference in my poorly damaged ends after just a couple of washes. My hair looks noticeably less damaged after just three weeks of bleaching my heavily coloured hair and I can tell you one thing, I'm never going back! Not only has it repaired my hair, but it leaves it feeling so soft and smelling wonderful.

I was also overjoyed when I stumbled into Wilkinson and found a fabulous deal which promoted three Aussie products for £10! Since my current Aussie product is coming to its end, I grabbed myself two more bottles of 3 Minute Miracle for heat treatment and reconstructing and a colour mate shampoo. I can't wait to start using them, they all smell gorgeous!

winter woollens.

 TURBAN - TOPSHOP / SCARF & JUMPER - ZARA / COAT - SELFRIDGES

LEGGINGS- TOPSHOP / SOCKS - TOPMAN / SHOES - REPUBLIC

The snow has melted away (hopefully for the last time) but being February it is still pretty damn chilly outside. I've not got much on the cards today so I'm off to the cinema with some pals, and I've gone understated and opted for some comfy woollies to wrap myself up in. I really love the little jeweled headband turban I picked up in the Topshop sale, it's perfect for when I want to wear my hair up but still want to keep my head and my ears toastie warm. I also love love love this jumper from Zara, not only is it super soft but it's a beautiful mustard colour. I have another mustard coloured jumper from H&M in my wardrobe that's more loose fitting (probably because it's a size 16) and perfect for layering. I just love mustard coloured jumpers! Another thing I love is men's socks, like these ones I snagged from Topman's sale section. I mean, they're kinda big, seeing as my feet aren't exactly man-sized, but there's something about men's socks that are so much more snuggly and comfier than women's.

Happy Sunday everyone!