Word of August: Holiday

Source

August is finally here! Can you believe it? By the end of this month, I'll be back in the UK as a married woman! Eek!

There's only one goal for me this month: Have the best time in Florida ever!

I don't think it's going to be too difficult to achieve! 

June in review

When I was writing this post, I realised that I wrote a lot of posts I love this month. It was difficult to just choose a few- I don't want these review posts to just be every single post I've written! From now on,  I'm trying to just choose my favourite outfit, favourite book, favourite day out and top 5 other favourites. 

Favourite outfit

My pineapple playsuit is amazing! 

Favourite book
I loved The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden.

Favourite day out

The Pride in London parade and festival at Trafalgar Square was such a joyous event!

Other favourites

My interview with my Grandma (part one and part two) was so interesting for me. 

Alton Towers was such a lot of fun!

I had the best birthday!

The Curvy Kate event was such a fun evening. 

On Jacqueline Wilson.

Word of the Month

So my June targets were all to do with Youtube. My plan was to upload two vlogs and two videos throughout the month. In fact, I didn't do too badly! I didn't upload a birthday vlog, but I did film an Alton Towers vlog, and I also published a Primark & Topshop haul video. 

I've also found the time to film a bunch of videos that just need to be edited ready to go live. My aim to post a video every Sunday is still there, and I'm slowly but surely moving towards it. Keep an eye on my Youtube channel to see my progress. 

Word of June: Film

Source

Dear Youtube,

I've been thinking about the fun we had in December. You know, when we would hang out several times a week? Those were fun times, and other people seemed to enjoy our relationship too. Then I just got too busy for you. I apologise. I'm sorry for neglecting you and I hope it's not too late to rekindle our relationship.

In order to be BFFs again, I've got two simple goals this month:

• Film (and actually upload!) four videos
• Upload two vlogs (Including a birthday vlog)

I'm sure I can meet these targets. I hope we can be friends again. Do you forgive me? 

May in review

This May has been so much fun! My summer has well and truly kicked off, with so many fun days. The best bit? It's only going to get better!

Favourite outfit

Pink and polkadots are always a winner for me! 

Favourite book

My favourite Murakami by far! I saw way too much of myself in South of the Border, West of the Sun. 

Favourite day out

The Roman Baths are the most wonderful place! 

Other favourites

Bath Abbey is a beautiful example of gothic architecture. 

My stay at Mercure Bristol Holland House Hotel was lovely! 

On meritocracy and women in the boardroom.
I had a lot of fun exploring Westfield Stratford City. 
A lovely picnic in the park! 

A visit from my family.

My rook piercing: One month on. 

Word of the month

Source

Well, I've been posting to Instagram every day (you can keep up with me here). Unfortunately, I have to admit that I completely forgot about my other two goals- To finish and develop my 2006 disposable camera, and to shoot a roll of film. Maybe I'll repeat this goal in July, since I'll be in Florida. Perfect opportunity! 

By the way, if you enjoy reading my blog and would like to see me up for a Cosmopolitan Blog Award, you can nominate me for Best Lifestyle Blog here. I'll send virtual cake to everyone who nominates! 

Word of May: Shoot

Source

I love taking photos. I first bought my DSLR in April 2011, for no other reason than I wanted to take some interesting photos. I didn't have my blog then (although I think I was using Lookbook), so there wasn't that as an excuse. I found a second hand camera on eBay and used my student loan to buy it. Do any students use their loan for educational purposes?

I have definitely noticed a massive increase in my photographical skill since then. I wouldn't say I was a fantastic photographer by any means (in fact, photography is my main cause of blog envy!) but I've definitely improved. 

Even this year, with my 365 project, I can see a rapid improvement in how I compose my photographs. It's very exciting to see my skills develop and I want them to keep doing so. So, in honour of that, this month's word is Shoot. My targets are:

• Shoot one roll of film
• Finish and develop the 2006 disposable camera that I found in my childhood bedroom
• Post to Instagram every day 

Wish me luck!

By the way, if you enjoy reading my blog and would like to see me up for a Cosmopolitan Blog Award, you can nominate me for Best Lifestyle Blog here. I'll send virtual cake to everyone who nominates! 

April in review

Favourite outfit

You can't go wrong with a Harry Potter dress, right? 

Favourite book

The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly is the sweetest story! 

Favourite day out

It couldn't be anything other than my trip to Plymouth to see Leona. 

Other favourites

I met Becca for an evening of ping pong at the Rare SS14 event. 

A day on the beach at Brighton. 

Lewes Castle is beautiful! 

7 things I learned from my family home videos.

A rainy afternoon with Rich sightseeing in Winchester. 

My melodramatic review of My Chemical Romance May Death Never Stop You. 

Brookwood Cemetery is absolutely stunning! 

Word of the month

Source

I planned to post 3 OOTDs a week, which totals 12 in the whole month. I ended up posting 10, so I wasn't far off. I even posted (mostly) daily Instagram OOTD photos. I'm really going to work hard to keep this up now. 

Word of April: Style

Source

When I started this little bloggy blog, way back in 2011, I intended it to be a personal style blog. It morphed into more of a shopping blog until about June 2012 when I realised it wasn't really my voice. Unfortunately, as the lifestyle side took over, the personal style posts got completely siedelined. I certainly don't miss the rubbish, hurriedly churned out, vaguely-style-related posts, I do really miss the OOTDs.

This month, I'm going to make a whole lot more effort. I've just got one simple goal this month: To post 3 OOTDs a week.

It sounds easy but I think it's going to be more challenging than it sounds. I'm out of the house 6:30am-6:30pm each weekday and it's getting dark by the time I'm home. However, with the lighter evenings and the 2-week Easter holidays, I should have a lot more time to take my photos. Wish me luck! 

March in review

Favourite outfit

I am obsessed with this My Little Pony jacket! 

Favourite book

All Quiet on the Western Front is an incredibly poignant account of First World War from the perspective of a German soldier.

Favourite day out

Malala Yousafzai was such an inspirational speaker at WOW London. 

Other favourites

Revisiting the emo years of my youth.

The Pixar PJ Party was so much fun! 

My secret talent? The world's smallest hands! 

I love exploring cemeteries.

Wedding magazines in 2000 were truly terrible! 

On the other hand, late-90s Mizz was awesome!

I was a bear for World Book Day. Roar! 

My OOTD outtakes was one of my favourite ever posts. 

Word of the month: Talk

Source

My aim this month was to communicate more. I think I did a fairly good job. Admittedly, it was just me and Laura at the Pixar PJ Party, so I didn't get to talk to as many people as I'd like, but it was still lovely meeting her! I also did a great job of replying to my blog comments every Sunday, except the weekend of the party when I pretty much got home and slept! Although I didn't get to speak to my inspirations, I wasn't expecting this anyway so, all in all, a good month I'd say!  

Word of March: Talk

Source

I'm not much of a talker (although Rich would disagree!). I've always been a little socially awkward and afraid of talking to people, although once I know them well, I never shut up! Luckily for me, in this day and age, the need to talk in person (or on the phone, which is one of my most hated things to do!) has diminished, so it's a lot easier for me to communicate.

Having said all that, I want to push myself this month. This is going to be the month of talk, both offline and on. Let's take a look at my goals.

• Talk to a whole bunch of real-life people at the Pixar Pyjama Party. 

I'm gathering a bunch of bloggers to come to the Pixar Pyjama Party at Prince Charles Cinema at the end of the month. I'm hoping there'll be a fair few people there- I'd love to meet 10 new bloggers!

• Maybe talk to some of my inspirations.

Twice this month, I will be attending presentations at the Southbank Centre by two of my inspirations, Grayson Perry and Malala Yousafzai. If I get the opportunity to talk to them (which I know is very unlikely), I'm going to bite the bullet and go for it! 

• Reply to blog comments every Sunday

A few weeks ago, I started replying to blog comments every Sunday since I was finding it difficult to stay on top of it. It started off well, but I've had such a busy week that I've fallen behind. I'm definitely going to get back on it! 

Hopefully, this will push me to talk more in my life! 

Word of February: Plan

Source

I really don't want to bore you guys, and I'm terribly sorry if I'm turning into one of those wedding obsessives, but the next 6 months might be a little wedding-heavy. Since we've decided to actually get married this year (more on that later this week!), my February is going to be made up of planning, planning and more planning!

I only have one real goal here, which is plan/ book as much as I can and then post an end-of-month update on my planning progress. Exciting times! 

January in Review

I hate January! It's rivalled only by February but at least February has the advantage of being short! 

Favourite outfit

Pirate teddies! Yaaargh! 

Favourite book

The Reluctant Fundamentalist was such a surprise to me. Very interesting and thought-provoking!

Favourite day out

I only went out once in the entirety of January! That's pretty depressing. Still, my trip to Reading was fun!

Other favourites

Go behind-the-scenes of the emoest of emo diaries! 

Become a YouTube millionaire with Glamour magazine... or not!

Body Positivity Week in a day!

I started my 365 project and, so far, it's going well!

Word of the month

Source

I had some pretty grand resolutions but, erm, they haven't really come to fruitition. My YouTube channel has dropped off the radar after a great start to the year, and I've only posted two personal style posts. However, I have kept up the 365 project, so that's a good thing! I'll keep up the other two as the year goes on, I promise!