Guilty Pleasures

(The ultimate Guilty Pleasure - selfies)

1. Peanut Butter. Peanut Butter and Jam on toast on a Sunday morning - without fail. Peanut Butter and Apple. Peanut Butter in smoothies. Peanut Butter out the jar on a spoon.

2. Reading through piles of cookery and baking books without an intention to cook anything from them. I just sit there salivating over the photos. I guess thats what you call food porn.

3. Reaching the end of a Pringles can and pouring the crumbs into your mouth - I resist crisps at all costs, so this is a rare and delicious occasion for me.

4. The wedding section on Pinterest. Who doesn't love planning the most perfect imaginary vintage wedding, complete with mason jar candles, floral bunting strung up, and old suitcases filled with flowers? (Okay, just me...)

5. Cheese Boards. All types of cheese - Brie, Camembert, Pineapple Cheese, Cheddar, Spicy Cheese. Heaven.

6. Freshly cut and blow-dried hair.

7. Making lists: To-do lists, packing lists, goals lists, accomplished lists, guilty pleasures lists. (Oh look, just made another list).

8. Deep and meaningful quotes - and then posting them onto Instragram #MotivationalMonday.

9. Chocolate covered Oreo's. Only available abroad, thank goodness.

10. The adrenaline that rushes through you when you make a new purchase. I can be on a high for the whole day.

I did in fact try to write a Guilty Pleasures post without including Peanut Butter, but I just didn't think it would be an honest post.

What are you ultimate Guilty Pleasures?

K

The New Do

10:30, Monday morning, finally. I'm finally chopping off my locks. It took months of plucking up the courage, but today's the day. Whilst I stand in the shower, I remind myself it will be the last time these ends ever get a condition, so I lovingly massage the conditioner in - they've been good to me, so I feel I owe them this one last time. 

As I make my way over to my Auntie's, I try to mask my fear by singing Grown Woman at the top of my voice but there's this nervousness looming at bay. I've been growing my hair for years, and years, it's become my comfort blanket - am I making a huge mistake? Panics definitely setting in. 

Well too late, by 11:30, the first lock of my hair has been chopped off and there is no going back. I expected to be crying about now, but oddly enough, there's no regret at this point, instead excitement rushes through me as I watch the hair pile up of the floor. I'm free. I feel so free. My head already feels lighter, I'm not having to haul round heavy locks anymore.

My Auntie offers to put all the hair she cut off in a bag to take home, and whilst I want to scream "yes, yes, yes", I politely refuse, realising that the only way I'm going to get through this is just to say goodbye now - a clean break, or cut. 

It's only late afternoon at 5:00, as I attempt to style the new do, that an ounce of regret rears it's ugly head. It's so thick now, that I'm finding it impossible to curl. But I manage. It'll take a bit of getting used to, but I factored this into the pros and cons list. And by 6:00, I've splashed a selfie across my social media - I quite like my new do, if I do say so myself.  

I know that these photos don't even make my hair look that short, but I had a good 5/6 inches cut off, and thats an awful lot to me. So would you risk the cut? 

K

Personalised Beer Crates

Being the avid pinterest-er I am, every birthday is the perfect excuse to try out the DIY's I've pinned on to my Must-Try board. It's not that I don't like spending money on people, because truth is, I usually spend more money if it's handmade than if I had picked it up in a store. It's that people recognise that there's a lot of thought and time invested in that present, rather than grabbing them the first thing you come across. However, I'm not saying by any means all presents have to be handmade, I personally like to receive lipsticks and underwear more than anyone else. 

For my brother's 21st Birthday, I wanted to get him something out-of-the-ordinary and memorable - no shirts from Topman, or humorous books from Urban Outfitters (that I find incredible amusing) would suffice. But a crate full of beer? Now we're on to a good idea. These are purchasable all over the internet, so if you don't feel so crafty or you're short of time, take a look on eBay and Amazon - prices range from £30 - £40, and they will personalise the crates for you. I think these are perfect because you can fill them with whatever the person would enjoy. For instance, I made one for my friends 18th and filled the crate with wine and cake pops. 

I brought this vintage crate from Sainsbury's (they may still have them in the 25% off section). I used a silver paint pen for this crate, but normal paint works fine as long as you have a steady hand and patience. I do advise stencilling out your numbers and letters first on paper, and if you want to save more time, print out stencil letters and draw around them onto the box. 

K

(P.S, my Brother loved it).

Goodbye, February

February, with want of a better word, has been fantastic. 

No seriously, without a hint of sarcasm, February has been a jam-packed, amazing month and it seemed to just fly by. Friends have turned 18, we finally moved house, and I passed my driving test (it was a shock, trust). We finally finished our college production of "Just So!", which was an amazing performance from all of the cast, and seeing as I'm still singing all the songs in the shower, I think I'll admit that I do miss it terribly. This month I've possibly baked and consumed far too much than I should have done, but it's been busy so I'm off the hook, right? Oh, and as per, I dread my bank statement coming through.

(Popart Fancy Dress/Motivational Monday Quote/Valentines Day Jam Pops/Singing Concert/Cast of Just So!/First drive out in Forrest)

With another busy month looming, I'm determined to get back on track with my health and fitness. February has been so busy and exhausting that I let myself give in to temptation too easily. So this means no more chocolate Kathryn, and loonngg hours at the gym working on your shit again. Dare I say it? I actually miss the gym. I like to work to improve myself and have set a goal of running the local 10K in September as something to inspire me.

I'm also determined this month to get my head down and take my education seriously. Now that Uni's have offered me places, everything's becoming so much more real and daunting. 'Damn, I actually need grades to get in'. Maybe this means just spending 5 more minutes on my homework, or just putting 10% more effort into class discussions - anythings possible as long as I put my mind into it.

And lastly in March, without wanting to sound cheesy, I just want to enjoy it. I've realised how quick this year is already going and I don't want to waste it. I need to put down my phone and spend more time outside, with friends and family, pick up my guitar and sing a little more - just do things that make me happy more often.

Damsel In Distress

I'm not the whole 'trapped in a tower, guarded by a dragon, waiting for a hot young Prince to come and save them' type Damsel in distress- but I certainly wouldn't say no...

This week, I felt that it would only be appropriate to share with you my little (massive) crush on distressed denim. I actually made these myself out of an old pair of black skinnies that were neglected in the back of my wardrobe, and seeing as they were only going to be thrown out, why not try a little DIY? They turned out exactly how I wanted them and are now a treasured piece in my wardrobe,

<Jeans, Miss Selfridge, Shoes, Dune, Scarf, Urban Outfitters>

Why not test out your upcycling skills?

K xo

Goodbye, January

Repelling men since 96'

No, no, I'm so not ready for February. I'm not prepared for the onslaught of Valentines Day, and love-heart overloads. I'm terrified by the crazy amount of PDA lurking around every corner, and absolutely mortified to face the fact that yes, this is indeed my 17th year of being single for it. I generally don't count primary school romances; I block most out of my memory - along with those turkey twizzlers and mash potato scoops. So no sickeningly cheesy, candle-lit picnics by the beach for me - strangely relieved by that thought actually.

Seeing as I know how to make these photo mosaics now, I thought I would share a little bit of my January with you before falling head-over-heels into February (no punintended).

<Right-To-Left> Afternoon Tea at The Berkeley/ Clueless/ The 1975, Brixton/ Shameless Selfie/ Homemade Macaroons/ Naked 3 Palette.

Besides the dreaded V-DAY though, February is looking like an amazing month - bring it on! (little fist pump)

Kay xo

Hello, 2014

'New Year, New Me', oh please.

Lets just skip the part where we all pretend that we have magically changed into a better person overnight. The New Year isn't a big switch that you can flip, you should constantly strive to be a more successful and better person. It is however, the perfect chance to wipe the slate clean and give yourself a goal for the upcoming year - something you can look back on in 365 days.

Blogmas #23 The Gingerbread House

My plan this season wasn't necessarily to turn into a domestic goddess, but such things happen.

Can you believe I've never made a gingerbread house? Up until this year I had never carved a pumpkin! And seeing as anything arty and intricate is my type of thing, I decided to take on the challenge of making one from scratch. And this wasn't just going to be a small one with a basic design, oh no, I went all out. (P.S. Don't ask me how I did it, I have no flipping clue.)

I measured out templates, cooked batches upon batches of gingerbread, and made myself well and truly sick on royal icing. If I never see gingerbread again it'll be too soon. Weeks of prep, plenty of photo's repinned on pinterest, and high hopes of my family crowning me 'domestic goddess' and bowing down at my baking skills. Luckily for me, it didn't go disastrous.

(I used liquorice catherine wheels as stepping stones, and lightly dusted icing sugar to give the impression that snow had settled on the rooftop).

Merry Blogmas

xo

Blogmas #22 Winter Wonderland

We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way, walking in a winter wonderland.

I'm free at last! At least, that is, until the new college term starts. But as a little celebration that we all survived with the stress of coursework deadlines, UCAS applications, and having no where to sit each lunch, my friends and I took a trip up to London Friday and had a little mosey around Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park. 

Okay, I'm just going to put this out there, I was incredibly disappointed. Yes it was lovely and festive, but it was pretty darn expensive too for what is only a glorified fun fair quite frankly. We didn't end up going on any of the rides or doing much there at all but sit and have a portion of chips, watching everyone ice-skate. It was also incredibly busy, and as someone who doesn't cope quite well with being squished in with a thousand odd other people, it wasn't very enjoyable. We did end up visiting Oxford Street, and no one can resist a little Selfridges trip.

(Santa and Catherine clearly have some secret friendship that I don't know about) 

(Ellie and I couldn't resist a cheeky photo op)

(I was having a hideous bad hair day, ergghh)

(Can anyone guess what I brought?)

Merry Blogmas

xo

Blogmas #16 Deck The Halls

The neighbours weren't expecting a charming rendition of Deck The Halls at 9 this morning. (Que off-key singing: FA LA LA LA LALALALALA).

With a Monday morning off of college, I couldn't think of anything better than putting on a cheesy Christmas film, the Michael Buble album, and decking out the halls with decorations. (Chocolate chip cookies were also a must). Unfortunately, trying to find all of our decorations would be like playing a giant game of jenga seeing as the move left all the boxes piled on top of each other, so until I can get to them, this is as much as I got done.

On That Hype

I've turned over a new leaf. 

Love it or hate it, I've jumped on the bandwagon. Green Tea - a medicine that originated from China, and now used widely across the whole world. It is packed full of amazing, organic chemicals - anti-oxidants and poly-phenols (yes, I had to look that one too) - that do wonders for your body and mind. But how on earth can something that doesn't smell of much, and really does not look appealing, be so good for you?

And be prepared, I'm about to go all scientific on you.

It is made from the same leaves as any 'normal' tea. Normal tea is made through a process that allows for fermentation, where as green tea is not and because of this it retains the maximum amount of that good stuff - B Vitamins, Manganese, Potassium, Magnesium, Caffeine, amongst various anti-oxidants. 

Benefits?

Weight-loss - The poly-phenol found in the tea works to intensify levels of fat oxidation and the rate that the body turns food into calories. English? It increases your metabolism. Hurrah!

Diabetes - By regulating your glucose levels, it prevents high insulin spikes and fat storage.

Depression - The amino acid Theanine found in all leaves is said to provide a much more 'relaxing' and 'tranquillising' effect. So defiantly great on those busy monday mornings.

Ageing - Because of the tea's anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, it helps to prevent wrinkles and obvious signs of ageing.

Tooth Decay - It contains an anti-oxidant called 'Catechin' which helps to destroy bacteria and viruses that may lead to tooth decay. Because of the tea's amazing, bacterial fighting properties, it means that bacteria that causes bad breath can be fought off. 

Cholesterol - It helps to maintain a healthy ratio between good cholesterol:bad cholesterol.

The tea also helps to lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease, and whilst it is believed to help those with cancer, it still isn't proven. 

But how much is not enough?

How many cups of green tea should we be drinking to actually receive these benefits? 1 cup a day, 2, 5 or even 10? If like me you drink it more socially rather than to combat any of the benefits mentioned above, than 1 to 2 cups is more than sufficient, but if you're really trying to combat any thing mentioned above, you may be more beneficial by taking green tea supplements. And for those of you who are pregnant, or have low levels of iron, I suggest not drinking the tea. It decreases the amount of iron and folic acid absorption. 

Happy drinking.

Happy Blogtember!

Hello Dolls,

As a little challenge to help me start posting more frequently on this blog (which seems to be an on-going problem), I've decided to take part in Blogtember who Story of My Life amazingly put together! Find the original post here!

I'll be posting every day, so I hope you lot don't get sick of me! And I hope that maybe a few of you are considering taking part to! It starts tomorrow, so laptops at the ready! 

Always leave a little sparkle wherever you go, Kay xo

The "Work" Playlist

Hello Dolls,

This post is a little different to my usual ones, but it's always good to add a little spice, right?

Once College finishes we're all out being busy, heading different directions each day to see friends and family. That doesn't leave an awful lot of stretch for our money. I'm shopping twice as much, which really can't be helping the addiction, and I know I'm not the only one. So in a bid to be able to spend as much as I want to, whilst attempting to save for Paris in October, I relented and got a part-time job.

The hours are horrific. And that is no exaggeration. I wake up at 4.A.M - yes, that is apparently a time, I didn't know that either - leave to start work at 7.A.M and I can finish as late as 5.P.M! I'm not complaining, it's good money and I do get good breaks, but it's completely exhausting and incredibly hard to stay motivated through-out the day. So with the help of this playlist, unlimited tea and a stash of sweets, I seem to make battle my way through!

(P.S They're all linked, so to listen to them just click them!)

 Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Better Days

 The Artic Monkeys - Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?

 Paramore - Still Into You

 The 1975 - Chocolate

 The 1975 - Sex

 Paolo Nutini - Loving You

 Paolo Nutini - Jenny Don't Be Hasty

 Paolo Nutini - Last Request

 Paolo Nutini - New Shoes

 The Libertines - What Became Of The Likely Lads?

 Kodaline - Love Like This

 The Neighbourhood - Female Robbery

 Avicii - Wake Me Up

 Tom Odell - Grow Old With Me

 Tom Odell - Hold Me

 Pacific Air - Move

 Jake Bugg - Two Fingers

 Imagine Dragons - Radioactive

 Imagine Dragons - Its Time

Always leave a little sparkle wherever you go, Kay xo

Cheeky Weekend Break

Hello Dolls

Much to my Dads disappointment (and constant refusal), he turned 50 last week. He defiantly didn't want a big party just as much as he didn't want to admit that he was getting old - and it probably didn't help that I hid a dozen balloons in his wardrobe just to rub it in his face! So we took him for a surprise weekend away in London. We went to see The Book Of Mormon, which an absolutely hilarious musical, just don't bring your Grandma. Then went out to Dinner at his favourite restaurant Burger & Lobster, and then stayed overnight at the Savoy. It's safe to say he had a great weekend as he still can't shut up about it!

I just wanted to add that my Dad is such an amazing person, and is so important in our lives. I didn't want this post to come across as boasting, but rather just to let you guys know what I have been up to. My Dad has always worked so hard to ensure that he can treat his family - a bit too hard at times - and I've always appreciated what he's been able to provide for my Brother and I, so it only seemed faired that we returned that favour. The fact he always works so hard means that we don't get to see him that much, he can sometimes leave that house at 4 in the morning and get back at 7 in the evening and my Brother is away studying at Uni. This weekend was a lovely chance to all be together. 

Take a peek at a little bit of our weekend,

(Above: Such a cute gesture from The Savoy staff)

(Above, Don't judge, but it feels so nice to not make a bed)

(FabAb Cocktail, as the name might suggest, yes this was FAB.)

I also took a little OOTD for you guys,

(Heart Blouse, Topshop, 

Black Jeans, Topshop, 

Cut-out Boots, Missguided, 

Watch, Michael Kors)

♥

Always leave a little sparkle wherever you go, Kay xo

Dolce far niente | OOTD

Hello Dolls,

Before I left for holiday, the heat in England was literally crazy. I spent long days down at the beach with mocktails and blessed the fact that I didn't have college to worry about or work to be doing. I didn't have to wrap up tight and I didn't have to spend any money, perfect?

'Dolce far niente' (The sweetness of doing nothing)

But there's only so much time I can spend doing nothing!

So in a bid to do something a little more fun, I went out fruit picking with my best friend. I had never been before - gasp - so it was something new, cute, and still didn't break the bank. We also put our cooking skills to test with our punnets of fruit, and lets just say that Nigella Lawson won't be losing her job any time soon.

I took a little OOTD for you,

♥

(Glasses: eBay, Cropped Top: Topshop, Pinstripe Shorts: Forever 21, Studded Sandals: Kurt Geiger, Watch: Michael Kors)

(I thought I would end this blog with one of my favourite pictures of the day)

Always leave a little sparkle wherever you go, Kay xo