Free

So, I’m all moved, I’m unpacked (mostly) and I’ve got online. Here’s a couple of shots of my new room. It’s not big, but I’m pleased with it.It’s cosy and my stuff just about fits in,and the house itself is great, so I’m content.

Mostly, I’m just pleased to have a new KissHQ to call home. My old house was so stressful to live in. We had endless trouble with the landlord, the letting agent and builders. There was always some new problem.
And, full disclosure time, I hadn’t been happy living there lately at all. After some troubles in the house, things got nasty with my housemates. I’m sure everything just got twisted and went too far, but in the end I felt bullied and unwanted. I didn’t feel comfortable in what was supposed to be my home. I spent more and more time with MrKiss (thank you, lovely flatmates of MrKiss, for being so welcoming of how often I was invading that flat), made some new friends at work and with MrKiss’s group, but that seemed to only worsen the situation in the house. I was so thankful to just get out. Closing the door for the last time was such a relief. I already feel happier. I’m enjoying my new house, my new housemates are really nice and I’ve been spending some time with workmates, and life is pretty good.
I know I wasn’t blameless, and I behaved badly and just cut and run as soon as I could to get out in the end, but I have no regrets. I’ve learnt that old friends that stick with you are worth their weight in gold (you know who you are) and new friends who accept you without the need to change you are just as valuable.

Clarence Clemons Dies

I came online this morning to pass some time while I ate my breakfast before carrying on with my packing. And there on Twitter was the news.

Clarence Clemons, legendary saxophonist and member of Springsteen’s E Street Band, passed away last night after having a stroke on June 12th. After his stroke, initial reports were good, but after two lots of surgery and some complications, he died yesterday in a hospital in Palm Beach. He was 69.

Clarence had played alongside Springsteen for 40 years, and was the oldest member of the original E Street Band. Over the years, Clarence played with some fantastic musicians, released several solo albums and acted in shows such as Diff’rent Strokes and movies such as Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. His most recent collaboration was with Lady Gaga on her Born This Way album.

I was lucky enough to see Clemons, known to fans as Big Man, play with Springsteen and the E Street Band at Glastonbury in 2009. I’m so glad I had the chance to see a true legend play, and I’ll never forget it. Big Man’s stage presence was untouchable (and I think he might be the only person cooler than The Boss) and he was loved so much by his fans.

My condolences are with Clarence’s family, his friends, the E Street Band and the fans. RIP Big Man. Thank you for the music.

Sweet Chili

• Jacket from New Look
• T-shirt from H&M
• Necklace of unknown origin (it was a birthday present)
• Belt from Dorothy Perkins
• Jeans from Dorothy Perkins
• Brogues from River Island

What is this now? Four days in a row? Some sort of record, I think. Can you tell I am putting off packing?

So, I don’t have much to say about this outfit, except the t-shirt is freaking awesome. The top part is all mesh, Instant adding of interest to simple outfits like this. The jacket is pretty cool too; the tweed has random spots of really bright colour in, pinks and blues and yellows. Very cool when you actually look at properly. I do like a bit of unexpected extra detailing like that, which only reveals itself on closer inspection.

I tried out a new recipe today, that sounded really great, but was actually quite rubbish. I found a recipe online for a really simple prawn stir-fry, with sweet chili sauce and philadelphia cheese stirred in. Sounds quite tasty, but philadelphia is a tricksome creature, and just stuck all over the noodles. It would have been better with less philly and more chili I think, as it wasn’t very sweet chili-ish at all, and the philadelphia made it a bit sickly. Very disappointing. I might try it again with some adjustments (partly as I now have philadelphia to use up) and see if that helps. Although first, I need to rescue my frying pan. The philadelphia took ages to melt down, so now there are noodles stuck all over the bottom of the pan. Definite kitchen failure there.

I tried out a couple of new make-up bits today. I got the Benefit High Beam and Posie-Tint that came free with Glamour magazine, so gave them a trial run. The High Beam is great, it blends so easily and leaves me with a nice, dewy finish. I’ve never really used a highlighter before, but I’m very impressed. I’m not sure I’d buy it full price though. Does anyone know how long the bottles of the proper product last?
As for the Posie-Tint, it’s a very pretty soft pink. Again, very easy to apply, although I needed two lots to get the colour intensity I like. I hear Bene-tint is darker, so I might get another Glamour to try that out. This one is nice though, a good day-time blush I think. More subtle than the doll cheeks I like!
I also bought the Barry M Touch of Magic Lip Paint. It’s green in the tube, but turns pink as you put it on. The alkali level of your lips determines the shade. On me, it goes on as a bright pink, but very sheer. I was a little disappointed actually, I was expecting more of a solid colour, but I’d say this is more of a lip stain than a stick. It’s a nice colour on me though, so I think I’ll use it again. It seems to be really long-lasting. I wore it out tonight for drinks and it hasn’t faded at all. The colour has bled quite a lot though. I don’t know if that was me being overzealous when I was putting it on, trying to get a thicker colour, or if it’s just what happens with this. I’ll experiment with wearing this with a liner and see if that helps. Anyone use this product? Does it bleed for you?

Signature

• Sheer shirt from H&M
• Vest top from Primark
• Belt of unknown origin
• Jeans from Dorothy Perkins

Can you tell I haven’t been outside yet today? That explains my bare feet; I kicked off my slippers for outfit shots.
I love this sheer shirt. It’s so comfy and easy to wear. It’s funny, I almost didn’t buy it at all. I walked all over H&M with it in hand before deciding I didn’t know how to style it and putting it back. I went back a few days later for it, and I’m so glad I did. I wear it in a couple of different ways already, and have some more ideas for warmer weather too. I think it’ll be a great cover-up for cooler evenings, or over swimwear.

Look, red again. I wear so much red. Definitely a style signature for me. Red, polka-dots, stripes, skinny jeans…I don’t go for long without wearing those. Actually, I like bright colours in general ,always have. As a child I had a lot of eyeball offensively bright clothes; an orange jersey dress, rainbow patterned leggings, a lime green top (made of ribbed velour…styling) and of course lots of pinks and reds. My colour taste has toned down more now, although I love a bright jean or a pop of bright colour, I rarely do brights head-to-foot and I pick my colours and shades more carefully. Being so pale, some colours wash me out and make me look ill or dead.

What are your signature fashion choices? Can you see similarities to your childhood taste?

A BA in English

Ah, Avenue Q, you speak the truth.

Yeah, so not being a student anymore kinda sucks. Term is over now, the students have left Aber. I get my results on the 30th and then graduate in July. Scary stuff. I’m not ready to be in the real world. Student life rather suits me.

I’ve chosen to stay in Aberystwyth for the time being, and keep my job at Wetherspoons, while I look for a more degree relevant job. I figured it was more sensible to stay put where I have a job I don’t hate and earn some money, rather than go home and be unemployed or transfer back to Hereford Wetherspoons, which I hated working at. I have a vague terror of becoming one of those people who makes this sensible plan, but then gets stuck. I don’t want to find myself in a few years time still on minimum wage at Wetherspoons.

This is just a quickie update today. I’m trying to sort out my room a bit, ready for me to move at the weekend. Better posting to come later in the week. Hopefully.

Rolling In The Deep

• Dress from Topshop
• Vest top (just showing) from New Look
• Leggings from New Look
• Shoes from H&M

I suck. I’m a terrible blogger. It’s been about a million years. Beyond sorry. I’ve not been feeling very bloggy, what with end-of-uni blues, lots of working and making the most of my last few weeks with MrKiss. But I’m back, and here to stay.

So, outfit ramble first, then some updates and news. First off, who are Topshop kidding, selling this as a dress? It barely covers my bum and I am a little below average height at 5’4”. God knows how taller ladies are expected to wear this and maintain their dignity. Annoyingly, it’s a little too long to be converted into a top and worn with shorts for summer, as it gives you that look of not wearing anything underneath when you really should be. And so, leggings to the rescue. Hooray.
Despite it’s short-comings (fnar), I do live it. This dress combines two of my favourite things (fast becoming my ‘trade-marks’), red and polka-dots. What more can I ask for?

I believe this is the first blog appearance of my specs. Generally, I wear contacts, but I’m giving my eyeballs a break after an unpleasant contact stuck under my eyelid incident the other day. I hardly ever have problems with my lenses, and think this one can be blamed on wearing them for too long at work and having tired, dry eyes. I don’t seem to have done myself any damage but figure a break can’t hurt, just in case I scratched my eye trying to get the lense free!

In life news, I’m now full-time at Wetherspoons while I stay in Aberystwyth for the Summer. I’ve found somewhere to live and will be moving there at the weekend. Exciting! It’s a very cute house; I’ll post pics when I’m in.
MrKiss left for home on Saturday, and I’m missing him lots. He’ll be back for visiting, and will be with me for all of graduation week, so it’s not too bad.
Aber is emptying rapidly of students, which is very strange. We’re in the lull now before the tourists descend on us.
I went to see Footloose at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff on Saturday night. It was brilliant. The cast all had great voices, and the dancing was amazing. Very impressed.

So, have you missed me?