Tuesday

29th October pt II

Woooh! I'm spooky pale here. I rediscovered my Stargazer powder which, although it looks beautiful in real life, doesn't photograph quite so amazingly!
Ribcage t shirt
Top: Boohoo
Jeans: New Look

I wpre this to see Every Time I Die last night. It was pretty awesome. Somehow accidentally wound up in the moshpit which was a lot of fun. It's been a long time since I've done that!

Now I have an absolutely cracking headache but it was worth it! 

29th October pt I

If you've been reading for a while, you should know that I adore fancy dress. Halloween is my second favourite holiday of the year (behind Christmas) and, as it's half term, I have a lot of time on my hands right now. So what to do? Dress up for no reason other than I feel like it, of course! 
Broken Doll Halloween Costume
Yesterday, I was a broken dolly. This was the most fun outfit shoot ever. I put my Danny Elfman discography on and danced like my joints were broken. It was a lot of fun! 
Broken Doll Halloween Make Up
Unfortunately, I couldn't keep this look as I was going to see Every Time I Die that evening. I still went for a Halloween theme but you'll see that later. 
Broken Doll Make Up Look

Monday

28th October 2012

Today I am a dalmatian. No reason whatsoever. It's nearly Halloween and I want to be a puppy for the day, OK? 
Topshop Dalmatian Coat
Black bodysuit
Coat: Topshop
Body: Primark 
Halloween dog make up
Woof woof! 
Topshop Dalmatian Print Coat

Sunday

27th October 2012

As a youngster, the local rock club was my second home. In fact, I'd say it was my first home. My actual home was my second home. These days, I don't darken the dancefloor as much as I used to but I definitely make a point to go to their Halloween party every year.
Cosmo and Wanda Costume
It's a big deal. Every year it sells out and it is, without a doubt, the busiest night of the year. They spend the entire week decking the place out in decorations and completely transforming it.The best part, though, is the fancy dress competition. People go all out and about 90% of attendees are in some form of costume. 

Last year, my best friend Marie and I actually came second place as Wayne and Garth from Wayne's World. Did I mention what a big deal this competition is? Competition is fierce. 

Anyway, this year we decided to go as a paired costume again. We made a pretty niche choice so we didn't enter the competition as very few people would know who we are. Hopefully at least some of you will recognise us as Cosmo and Wanda from Fairly Odd Parents. We lived on a diet of chicken kievs and this show back in our student days. 
Homemade Cosmo Fairly Odd Parents Costume
Fairly Odd Parents Costumes
At the last minute, we decided to make a little Timmy Turner to come with us and documented the process:
Best Friends

I don't have a clue what was going on here but I like the photo a lot. There must be some reasoning behind this odd moment in time.
Rubbish ghost costume

Wooooh! I'm a ghost!
Best Friends Laughing

This is genuinely how much Fairly Odd Parents makes us laugh!
Making a dummy

Timmy's legs are complete!
Homemade child doll

Timmy is nearly done. I just need to draw his face on and...
Homemade Timmy Turner Doll

Ta-dah! We were extremely proud of ourselves for this! We were even more proud when we managed to get back with Timmy in one piece! 

I have a lot more Halloween plans approaching so keep your eyes peeled. What are you getting up to?

Friday

FF XXII: Halloween Edition

Only 4 days until Halloween! How excited are we all? I'm pretty excited so I'm dedicating this special bumper edition of Friday Favourites to the spookiest date of the year!
I am a huge Tim Burton fan (with the exception of Edward Scissorhands, which is my greatest fear, but we won't go there now!). I've never seen the original Frankenweenie or Victor but the trailer is beautiful. It's in black and white. It's quintessential Tim Burton. It's just stunning and I can't wait to see it.
As well as being a huge Tim Burton fan, I am a massive fan of Derren Brown. We actually went to see his Enigma show for our anniversary and it was amazing. I also have a bit of a paranoia about the end of the world. So I am pretty excited about seeing Apocalypse tonight. It's going to be amazing!

I stumbled upon an illustration by Liz Climo on Facebook. I looked her up and discovered the most adorable illustrations I have ever seen. I've mentioned my love of dinosaurs before and the dinosaur series is so cute it makes me want to cry. Luckily for me, she sells prints of her work. Christmas list sorted!


Ok, I know Jeffrey Campbell Lita boots are pretty oversaturated right now but you can't deny that these are pretty special. The perfect Halloween boots. Black and green make me think of monsters, zombies and all things undead!
I love this cute little crochet pumpkin by One Sheepish Girl. It's adorable and, if you're handy with a needle, you can find the crochet pattern over at her blog. Woohoo!

Wednesday

A-Z of Becky: N

N is for Needles

You may have noticed that I have a few piercings. In fact, I currently have 15- all ear and facial, believe it or not! I think that's the most I've ever had at one time, although I've had 24 in total across my lifetime. I thought this week it might be fun to go through a little autobiography of my piercings.

1998




Yes, this is me at 10 years old. I was a looker!

I was 10 years old and shopping with my grandmother when I saw a pair of handcrafted wooden elephant earrings. They were pretty awful, looking back, but I loved them and I was desperate for them. Slight snag- I didn't have my ears pierced. My grandma whisked me off to the hairdresser that afternoon. I was so terrified. Then the needle went in and... I laughed! "It tickles!", I chuckled. The girl who did it had three ear piercings and I remember thinking "I can't wait to get another one!".

2001




Only a couple of months after getting my ears pierced, my earring fell out on holiday and healed up. I was gutted but, for my 13th birthday, my mum took me to H Samuel's to get it redone.

2003

Aged 15, a whole array of us went to the local hairdresser to get our second holes done. Mine were done slightly wonky but I grew to like that.

2004





I was 16 now and had fallen into the emo scene. Hard. I got my third holes done at a local tattoo studio and then, a few months later, my fourth holes.

2005




The year I went crazy. A goth shop opened up in my home town and the most beautiful (albeit gay) man worked there. He was also a body piercer and he had an incredible piercing studio above the shop. I was totally in love with him and his 30-odd piercings. My first piercing was a standard nose piercing. A month later, I had my scaffold pierced. 4 months later, I got my nose done a second time.

2006

This year opened with the devastating news that the shop was closing down. I was heartbroken but took full advantage of the half price piercing offer with two surface piercings on my stomach, one above and one below my belly button. They lasted about 8 weeks before they grew out, leaving permanent (but lovely) scars. Later in the year, I got my lip pierced at Blue Banana in Cardiff, followed by a surface piercing on my nape. Unfortunately, I never got any photos of these.

2007





Then I left uni and had to get A Real Job. I chose to work in a nursery and that meant bye bye piercings. Unfortunately my nape, second nose piercing and lip piercing all healed. However, when I returned to uni in September, I replaced the nose and lip sharpish! It was this year that I started to stretch my left ear. 

2009




I had always, always wanted spider bites. It took me over 4 years to do it but, finally, I got round to the second lip piercing. My ear was up to 6mm by now.

2010




I hadn't had a piercing in 6 months and I was starting to get the itch. I wanted my nape done again but, as I was working part time in a nursery, it needed to be something that wasn't clearly visible. I settled for my collarbones. These beauties lasted a good couple of months. 

2012



It had been a very long time without a piercing before I decided to get my conch pierced. By now, I was working as a teacher so I had to be very considerate about the piercings. Unfortunately, the cheek piercings I had always lusted over would never be a reality. My ear is now at 8mm.

2013
I have plans already for my next piercings. First up: Anti-helix and rook. Bring on the needles!

Tuesday

Review: Benefit Cha Cha Tint and Sun Beam


Yeah, yeah, another video. I am loving these! This is the last one I have right now so I might need to film some more during the week!

This time I review the teeny tiny Benefit products that I got free in November's InStyle magazine.



Monday

21st October 2012

Time for another edition of Can't Be Bothered Sunday!


Hat: My Grandma's
Jumper: Topshop
Skirt: Topshop
Leggings: Primark
Shoes: New Look

This is what I wore yesterday, giving my new jumper a road test. It is so incredibly warm! I didn't need any sort of coat or jacket and I was as snug as a (bed)bug in a rug!



I have to admit, the adorable sheep-shaped elbow patches were what really drew me to this jumper.



We also experimented with the "beauty mode" settings on Rich's phone (I left the DSLR at home due to the rain). Apparently it just makes you look really blurry.

Saturday

20th October 2012


Top: Primark
Jumper: Topshop
Skirt: Topshop

Today I am a sailor! I love dressing up like this from time to time. It's just like being a kid again and raiding my grandma's wardrobe.

I hope you're all having lovely weekends. I'm off to Nando's and Primark today. What better way to spend a weekend?

Thursday

18th October 2012


Body: Boohoo
Skirt: H&M

This is my second Boohoo bodysuit. I love them so much! Unfortunately, the body is very short so I can't even do this one up! I just have to wear it like a standard top.

Maybe that's because my usual size 14 was out of stock so I risked buying a 12. Mind you, this skirt is a 12 and it fits me just fine. I guess this makes me a size 12 today for the I'm Proud of my Size link up. 

Wednesday

Panache Bra Fit Challenge


I only wear Panache Andorra bras. Seriously. I know that sounds like major product placement, but it's true. They're pretty, they come in loads of different colours (including the staple black, white and nude) and I know that they fit me.

As I'm sure all you ladies know, getting the bra that fits you just right is a mega challenge. Until I got fitted professionally, I had no idea that I was wearing completely the wrong size. 

So, when I was contacted to review the Panache Bra Fit Challenge, I was pretty intrigued. An online tool to help you check your bra size yourself, without having to trek into the town centre? Sounds good to me! 





You can try out the challenge for yourself here. You could also win a lingerie set for yourself, which is pretty nifty. Oh, and if you want to try those Andorra bras that I keep harping on about, you can buy them at Bravissimo. They come Becky-recommended! 

Tuesday

Tutorial Tuesday: How to create a 1960s beehive hairstyle


Ok, I haven't done a tutorial in forever and, I know, I've been saying for ages that I was going to show you how I create my beehive. Well, the good news is that Rich has got a new phone and it is super amazing for video. Better, in fact, than my camera. So expect a fair few videos around these here parts!

So I have finally got round to creating my beehive tutorial and, more importantly, you guys get to hear my voice for the first time! (I can't be the only person who is always desperate to know what my fellow bloggers sound like!)

Before we begin, you will need a rat tail comb, a standard comb (optional), a few hair pins and a gazillion millilitres of hairspray. Got it all? Cool, let's go! 


Hope you enjoy it and look out for some more videos shortly!

Monday

15th October 2012


Body: Boohoo
Skirt: Topshop

Happy Monday! I hope your weeks have all got off to a great start!

Today I'm wearing one of my two new bodies from Boohoo. I love this. I'm such a fan of chiffon sleeves and this berry colour is perfect for autumn. It's just a shame that it's so low cut. Not one for work!

I'm also wearing my new clip-on fringe. I got it on ebay and, unfortunately, it was a lot darker than it looked online. It doesn't look too obvious in real life but, where the lights are shining right on my head here, you can clearly see the difference in shades! Oh well, I can always get a lighter one later!

Sunday

25 things fat people shouldn't do #6

"25 Things Fat People Shouldn't Do is an unabashed middle finger to the preposterous idea that any human who weighs more than the status quo does not deserve to live a full and well rounded (ahem) life. The list of 25 is composed word for word from direct lists of sheer assholery found on the internet. These range from the absurd to the profoundly shameful, and I will be disproving this offensive notion with style. May the Chub Club live long and prosper!"-The Militant Baker
Fly
I've mentioned before how much I hate flying. One of the things I hate- besides, you know, the risk of falling out of the freaking sky- is how claustrophobic it is. As soon as I walk into a plane, I think "This is the little tin can where  I will die". Then you sit down in those teeny little aluminium seats, with a seatbelt that always- always- seems to be adapted to fit a 3 year old on the preceding flight, and get your feet sandwiched between two slices of metal. Then, of course, the person in front of you decides to tip their seat right back, 5 minutes into an 8 hour flight, so you basically end up as their big, squishy plane-pillow.

At least you get to snuggle up with a blanket and paper pillow and, sometimes, free Coke and chicken! 

Friday

FF XX



I love these Victorian photos of London streets. This is my favourite one: The ghostly man peering out of the window is haunting.



This Anthropologie woodpecker door knocker is pretty much the most beautiful thing I've ever seen! I wonder if the landlord would let us replace the boring standard one we currently have?


If you've been reading my blog for, well, all of two seconds, you will know that I love knitwear. I wear a cardigan every single day. So the Campaign for Wool is right up my street! As part of Wool Week, starting on Monday, a series of students have designed knitwear for the top British high street shops. The Topshop one is, unsurprisingly, my favourite! The best bit isn't visible in this photo- The elbows have little sheep elbow pads! 



I'm super excited about my Halloween party at the end of the month! I'm on the lookout for easy, affordable decorations. These hanging ghosts from A Beautiful Mess are the cutest! 

Monday

8th October 2012


Hat: Grandma's
Glasses: Firmoo
Jumper: Primark
Jeans: New Look


Ok, so I posted Saturday's post yesterday so now I'm posting yesterday's outfit today. Maybe this week I'll get round to doing last week's! In case you couldn't tell, it's a hectic time right now!

I bought this jumper in Primark at the weekend. It was reduced from £14 to £5 and, although it's very oversized and a little unflattering, it's just so warm and soft! Perfect for Sundays chilling on the sofa.

The hat is one of a massive haul that I got from my grandma. She's just moved into an assisted living home so she's given me a whole bunch of stuff. 

Altogether, it makes one man-this-is-hipster-but-it's-ok-because-I'm-not-leaving-the-house outfit! 

Sunday

7th October 2012


Hat: My Grandma's
Jumper: JW Anderson x Topshop

Yesterday, I decided to break away from my usual weekend routine of work, work, work and actually go out with my friend Marie.

Since I was having a lazy, chilled-out day, I just chucked this hat on and ran out the door. I'm wearing my glasses this week since I'm pretty sure I have viral conjunctivitis. Not nice!

Other than trying my hardest not to buy out Primark (I haven't stepped inside a Primark since March... for very good reasons!), we skipped over to this amazing diner. It was decked out in proper 50s Americana, including this adorable little genuine Seeburg. It was only 20p for one song (we were in favour of Johnny Cash) but, unfortunately, neither of us had any change. 

I had a mint chocolate chip milkshake. My word, it was divine! It came in this humungous container which held about 2 and a half glasses. Yum yum yum! 


Friday

FF XIV



The Barbican Gallery has an exhibition starting in March that allows you to control the rain. As you walk through the Rain Room, technology ensures that the water doesn't fall on you. How cool is that?


I love Stella McCartney fragrances and Stella is one of my favourites. At the beginning of the year, I bought one of the floral print collection bottles. I was happy with that. Until I heard the recent news that a new print collection has been brought out. Now I want all 3 bottles... and I haven't even finished the first one yet!


Today is Jeans for Genes day and, at school, everyone pulled on their denim to raise money for children with genetic disorders. I showed my class this video and I was struck by Ashley's positive outlook on life. What an amazing boy! 

Wednesday

A-Z of Becky: M

M is for Music


Ok, so everyone loves music. It's hardly a shock, especially as I've already told you how much I love going to gigs and festivals. Though I think you can tell a lot about someone from the music they listen to. As an angsty 17 year old, I was obsessed with emo (and I was one of those rare breeds of emo kid who would admit that they were emo!) and I'm not ashamed to say that my ipod hasn't really changed since 2006.

I've got quite an eclectic taste in music really. Before turning all depressive and angsty, I was a total 60s freak, then I got really into 1950s pop when I left my teens. Now my taste is a weird mesh of the three, with a little shockers thrown in.

As a little demonstration, here's the first 15 songs that pop up on iTunes when I shuffle it up (Sorry for the dodgy formatting. It's fine when I edit it!):


Roses are Red (My Love)                                Bobby Vinton
One Step Beyond                                              Madness
Are you Lonesome Tonight?                           Elvis Presley
10 Years Today                                                 Bullet for my Valentine
Bleed Black                                                        AFI
Skylines and Turnstiles                                    My Chemical Romance
Spit It Out                                                            Slipknot
Bulimic                                                                The Used
Oh! Darling                                                         The Beatles
Moment                                                               Aiden
Swing                                                                  Taking Back Sunday
In These Shoes?                                               Kirsty MacColl
Homecoming                                                     Green Day
Shimmy                                                              System of a Down
Magazines                                                          Brand New




Monday

25 things fat people shouldn't do #6

"25 Things Fat People Shouldn't Do is an unabashed middle finger to the preposterous idea that any human who weighs more than the status quo does not deserve to live a full and well rounded (ahem) life. The list of 25 is composed word for word from direct lists of sheer assholery found on the internet. These range from the absurd to the profoundly shameful, and I will be disproving this offensive notion with style. May the Chub Club live long and prosper!"-The Militant Baker

Run



Ok, I have to admit that I don't run. Ever. Not even for the bus. (Which probably accounts for why I'm the size I am!).

However, despite that, I'm very partial to skipping, hopping and jumping around the place. Seriously, I will just bounce down the aisles of Sainsbury's. It makes me happy. Try it: It's impossible to be in a bad mood when you are skipping! 

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