Newspaper nails: A bookworms dream

A couple of days ago I came across an interesting article on 'Nail Art' which discussed a few different effects  you can do with your nails and stumbled across the coined term 'Newspaper Nails' and thought 'perfect!' As an avid reader I thought this was an ideal effect to sprout out my personality!

It doesn't take a genius to work out what this effect is. Text is taken from a newspaper and imprinted onto your nails to make a newspaper text effect!

I have used Vodka to do mine as it gives the best results with more vivid text, however there is a large range of things you can use or try. I tried this effect a few days ago without Vodka (as a girl 3 months off her 18th birthday Vodka is not readily available to me) and used a combination of things on my nails. I tried: Water, Almond extract and perfume. They all worked to some extent but vodka is just that much better

When one of my friends offered to get me the vodka I said 'yes!' faster than my mum when I use to ask to go sleep round someone else's house!

Here is the easy to follow steps to this amazing but easy effect!

1. Apply a base coat and once dry, apply a pale nail varnish. If you use a dark nail varnish the text print won't show up and so the lighter, the more vibrant it will show up.

2. Cut out 10 pieces on newspaper that are big enough to cover each one of your nails.

3. Pour out the Vodka (or any other spirit based drink) into an old dish or cup (I used the lid of the vodka bottle as it was easy to dip my nails quickly in and out)

4. Dip each nail individually into the Vodka.

5. Place one of your newspaper cuttings text side down onto the top of your nail. This can be a bit fiddly so make once it's on your nail you don't move it around, otherwise the text will smudge.

6. Hold it down for a few seconds and press down on it so that the text transfers onto your nail and when you think it's done, peel off the newspaper. You should be left with a wonderfully newspaper effect and can repeat think 9 more times for all your nails.

7. Add a coat of clear nail varnish to ensure the text stays there! This is important, without the topcoat the text rubs off really easily.

Here is my end result:

What do you think? 

xoxo

Coral Wishbone Dress

A few years ago about 80% off my clothes came from Iron Fist - a more alternative fashion company, which at the time, suited me down to the ground. Now don't get me wrong, I still love some of their clothing (not to mention they sell reallllllly well on ebay), I've just learned to appreciate other clothing outlets as I've grown older.  There was a time where I would only shop in Pulp and my local alternative shop 'Spun Out'.

Every now and again I come across gems by Iron Fist though and this dress is certainly one that has been on my wishlist for a long time!
Sadly as a plus sized girl Iron Fist isn't the most helpful to me when it comes to sizing, the most they go up to is an XL which is roughly a size 14 to a small size 16 depending on the individual so I never buy anything with a zip on from them (it would just be a waste of my money and a huge knock to my self esteem)  Dresses like this, even though it would be a little short would fit me pretty well however as my waist is a lot smaller than my hips. Unfortunately this dress is very popular and I haven't managed to find an XL yet in my local store or online!
I guess I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed for someday in the future.

It's the perfect cross between girly and a bit more alternative with the skull going across it. I just simply love it. A perfect dress for the well needed summer!

xoxo

Models Own Nail Art Pens

Up until about a couple of months ago I didn't really give much thought to what my nails looked like, or what colour they were. Very rarely would I venture and use the one bottle of nail varnish I owned, only cracking it out for very special occasions. (I don't know why, the color wasn't even that nice)

But now? Now I'm obsessed with nails! I don't go a day without having some sort of nail varnish on my nails,  a habit my mother has come to hate since it leaves the house smelling of it for hours after I've used it!

Personally I'm a creature of habit, so I stick with what I know works, which is why when I just tallied them up my bottle, since christmas alone I've brought a whopping 20 bottles of nail varnish (Thank god for superdrugs 3 for 2) 19 of which are Barry M and only 1 Models Own.

However! Yesterday I ventured into my local boots and bought a  Black Nail Art Pen  from Models Own collection. I'm not too sure how long they have had these out for but I was pretty chuffed when I spotted them. I've been looking for something like this for a while and all I could seem to find were expensive, 1 time use stickers.

For £6 a bottle, I was happy to shell out my money for one!

Not to mention if you bought 3 it would only cost you £12!

I just love the design of the box as well, it really stands out and is very eye capturing (ahh puns)

With the bottle you have 2 choices, either twist it to bring out a thick brush for lines and stripes or pull the top off to result in the nib that is photo'd below for writing words, dots and various other things!

Personally I prefer the nib end, the larger brush was a bit too large for me to do the lines without getting the nail varnish all over my hand and it's much easier to make the lines with the nib end. But really it's probably because my hands aren't the most stable of hands.

I would love to show you my results however my camera was playing up whilst I was doing this and my nails are now currently wrapped in newspaper (my next post will explain!) so here's Marina's lovely leopard print nails!

At the moment that have 5 different colours but I'm sure that they'll be adding more considering how good they are! You can pick these up in anywhere that sells Model Own make up brand so, Superdrug or Boots.

What do you think? Whats your favourite pattern to do with these nail art pens?

xoxo

My Mad Fat Diary

I've taken inspiration from the hit e4 show 'My Mad Fat Diary' and self-written diary by Rae Earl of the same name for today's blog post to show you my own beautiful diary!

I can pretty much guarantee to you that I am both Mad and Fat let's say plus-sized, the word fat is not a word I like to use, whether its true or not (which it is in this case)

What is a diary to me? Lot's of people use diaries for lots of different reasons, and personally I don't write in it every day. I tried once and failed miserably, I managed about 3 days in a row and already began to see it as more of a chore than something I would look forward to writing in. I only write in it if something particularly interesting has happened that day or if I find myself with a lot of time to kill on public transport (bus / train etc.)

I also sometimes add various bits and bobs to it, for example my poem I had to write for GISHWHES is somewhere among-st the entries. 

What do you use your dairy for?

 Butterflies, Cats Diary 

£12.99 - Paperblank (Waterstones / WHSmith)

Now, I'm not going to pretend these diaries are a bargain, because at £12.99 this was certainly a bit steeper than I would have liked it to be! But it was seriously just too pretty to pass up.

I actually got this diary as a present for my 17th Birthday back last june so I can't say much on price really, but they have a wide range of diaries on offer and depending on the type you want go as low as £7.99

Personally I saw it as £12.99 for 12 months use, so for me is was perfect.

I literally take this everywhere with me and because of it's size it's pretty easy to do so as well.  It's about A5 and so unless I'm using a small clutch bag it fits in most of my bags with ease.

It's just the right size so that it doesn't require a lot of effort on my part to fill it up and I can scribble away!

Have you heard or ever brought any of paperblanks diaries before? If so which one is your favourite?

xoxo

Aztec Is Everywhere!

One thing that is defiantly going to be big this summer is Aztec. If you don't like aztec patterns I feel pretty I'm sorry to say you probably won't be escaping it anytime soon because the amount of it I see when out shopping is sometimes ridiculous!

Red Aztec Print Button Up 

River Island - £25

As I mentioned in a previous post I very rarely buy anything from River Island, however this is the second item in a week I've brought from them now! They've got some really nice 'on the edge' of summer clothes in store at the moment and I can't wait for this to be delivered. I really love statement skirts and I really don't have enough of them! Usually I spot more statement tops so it makes a nice change. 

I shall review this more once it comes!

Aztec Strappy Sun Dress

Topshop - £36

Although I don't have it myself, I do love this dress. It's really simple and perfect for the hot sun on holiday or         those rare sunny days here in the UK. The price is the main thing stopping me here, £36 for a rather thin material summer dress is far too high in my opinion. Topshop seem to be putting their prices up every time I go in. Also they do love to make dresses for rather short people and at 5ft 10' this dress would certainly reveal way too much!

Red Aztec Dress

New Look - £16.99

I really regret not getting this dress when it was in my local store, I thought it wouldn't suit my body shape but surprisingly it actually really suits me as I tried it on in a similar colour hoping I would be able to buy this colour online. Unfortunately it sold out before I could buy it, so until I get lucky on ebay, this dress is not for me! :(

Aztec Dress 

H&M - £19.99

This dress is from last years summer collection but its stunning!

My dressing table

I thought I'd show you guys my dressing table. It took me a while to find  the right one but I finally found this beauty on ebay and within an hour I was on my way to Corby to collect it!

I'm not sure if you can tell from the photo above but the mirror isn't part of the dressing table, I brought it separately from Homebase afterwards and I think it matches really nicely. I originally found it in Argos for £40 and couldn't find any other to match so I unhappily bought it, however I then went into Homebase the next day and found the exact same mirror for only £20! I ended up cheekily returning the mirror to Argos and getting it from Homebase. £20 is £20 after all!

Around the mirror I've got my wonderful and trusty pink rose fairy lights. I got them from the Christmas market on the embankment in London about a year and a half ago. I don't turn them on very often around my mirror but they look really nice on or off and are a really nice simple touch to add. I went to the Christmas market in Birmingham christmas just gone and bought myself another pair but this time red roses, that sit across the top of my bed. 

Pink Roses - £16 (London)

Red Roses - £14 (Birmingham)

Ignore the half naked manga woman on my wallpaper, unless you like it of course =] I shall hopefully be changing my wallpaper very soon!

Stool - Ebay

£38

To me £38 was a bit steep for a stool but I had a masssssssive hunt and came up with diddly squat and plus I really loved the flowery pattern on this stool and the flowers on the base of the stool itself, even if, according to my mother it makes my room look like a french hotel room!

Dressing Table - £76.99

River Island Sandals!

As a girl bordering on the line of a size 16 and 18 due to my rather large hips and love of food I very rarely find myself buying anything from River Island where,  usually when I do actually find something I like the only sizes they seem to have left are 4's and 6's, something us bigger girls i'm sure have all  encountered on a regular basis.

But anyways, I kind of rambled a bit there and I shouldn't have (bad Bethan). Today for the first time in about 2 years I brought something from River Island. I brought these wonderful sandals!

That's the wonderful thing about shoes, they're loyal. I can change by body size until the cows come home and still my shoes will probably still fit me.

Now, I know what you're all thinking 'Bethan, you do realize it's been snowing today?!?' 

and yes I do realize what a stupid purchase this is considering the British weather however I'm hoping to save these sandals for when I go on holiday to Florida in July as I've mentioned in a previous post and I thought if I didn't buy them not they would certainly not have them when I got round to it!

They take me back a couple of years ago with the skulls on them considering a couple of years ago I wore full on scene and emo type clothing on a regular basis (don't ask) and I just really think they're gorgeous and£10 cheaper than the ones in Accessorize I originally had my eyes on.

White Skull Studded T Bar Sandels,

River Island - £25

Now to the annoying bit, I only noticed this sticker of one of the sandals once we got home and the only word I'm finding to describe it is... sad. Have we really gone so far that they have to put stickers like this onto shoes? Of course something is going to break if you use it a lot, its pretty much logic. 

I genuinely want to know what you guys think. Is this just River Island trying to cover their ass for poor quality made products  or are we as the public really that stupid that we need common knowledge like this pointed out to us?

Accessorize perfume

Accessorize Perfume

£15

I've had this perfume for a while now but i thought i would do a review on it anyway since it's so lovely. 

When I first saw this in the shop I was shocked that it was only £15, I was expecting around the £25-£30 mark in line with Accessorize's usually rather high price margin and so for £15 I splurged and bought it.

I certainly don't regret buying it! I probably use this perfume the most out of any of the perfume that I own.

The scent is really summer and floral and kind of fruity at the same time, it really reminds me of the start of a summer day and the bottle is so nice with the butterflies on it and crystal effect topper!

The only draw back is that it doesn't last all day long, it probably lasts about 4 hours before the smell fades rapidly, but for £15 that's to be expected. I usually bring it with me in my bag if I'm going on those long days out.

You can buy this in most Boots / Superdrug and of course Accessorize.

xoxo

The Sun Is Shining!

 A very rare occasion in the UK, I'm sure we'd all agree!

 Here are some of the lovely summery items I've got this week :)

Daisy Long Chain Necklace

£8- Accessorize

This beautiful necklace is perfect. It goes with pretty much all of my dresses and is super cute. There are 2 slightly different versions of the daisy on the front and then on the back, like it's been pressed onto the front then imprinted back on to the other side.

It's also a really nice length, i hate my necklaces being too short around my neck but this sits just below in the middle of my boobs and really adds a bit of girlish flare to my black dresses (which I have a lot of!)

£15.99 - New Look

I picked up these gorgeous shoes this week from my local New Look in Northampton and personally I view these as a bargain for only £15.99. Recently the only dolly shoes I've liked have been way over the £20 mark and so I just had to get these, especially since they were the only size 7's left!
I was a bit worried when I got them that I would not have a lot of clothes that would go with them in my wardrobe considering I wear a lot of black clothing but thankfully I have managed to find a few that they work really nice with. Would have preferred them in black but I really should move away from black now that summer is approaching.

Disaster Designs

Disaster Designs is literally a vintage girls dream. I have never seen an item from them that I didn't like and although their items are on the expensive side I have bought myself a couple of them as splurges or birthday presents. Some of their bags are just too beautiful to resist!

They have many different sections in which their items fall under but my favourite is probably 'With Love'  and so far is the only category I have bought stuff from, although all of the categories are gorgeous!

£20 - ebay

I've had this beautiful purse for nearly 2 years now and I'm still in love with it. Not only does it look lovely but it's so practical as well with a zip at the back for loose change and plenty of room for notes and cards on the inside.

R.R.P £38 - Temptationgifts.co.uk

I'm hoping to add this bag to my collection soon, it's super cute and although its expensive I just know it would get the wear out of it!

R.R.P £24.99

This bag is perfect for when a big bag is just too much!

Snow White Purse

R.R.P £12.00

RRP - £8.40

They don't just do bags and purses either, they have a variety of mirrors, cups, mugs and cake stands! 

What's your favourite Disaster Designs piece?

Barry M Pink Multi Glitter

Recently I've become obsessed with nail varnish, especially Barry M's glitter range they brought out a couple of months ago for Christmas.

I brought most of them at Christmas such as the lovely red, perfect for x-mas day, but I have finally found the lovely Pink glitter colour that my local boots and Superdrug seem to have been sold out of for what seems like a lifetime!

Most people try to avoid glitter nail varnish as they seem to have a nightmare getting it off, I don't know if I'm the only one who doesn't have this problem but for once i'm happy to be the odd one out. This nail varnish seems to come off very easily for me, however it does seem to chip a lot easier than the other glitter nail varnishes in Barry M's range. 

I'd love to hear from you guys, what do you think? Is glitter nail varnish a bugger to get off and if so do you avoid using it because of this?

This is with just 1 coat of the polish, in my experience 2 coats of this probably gives the best effect but it still looks nice with just 1. The pale colour of the pink gives a nice subtlety that you don't usually get with most glitter nail polishes.

You can buy this along with the rest of Barry M's glitter nail varnish range from Superdrug or Boots - £2.99 each.

20 Things You Didn't Know

Since this is only my third post I thought I better post a sort of 'Get to Know Me' post. (I just said post way too many times in that sentence and now the word seems very weird to me)

Bear with me here, I'll probably run out of things after about number 3 because i'm soooooo exciting.

1. I'm obsessed with the TV show Supernatural, and when I say obsessed i mean obsessed. 

2. When I was little I wanted to be an author, nowadays I have no clue.

3. I hate cats.  Dog person all the way.

4. I'm a child of the Harry Potter generation and finally i'm going to the Wizarding World Of Harry Potter in Florida in July!

5. I really want to dye my hair red but I'm scared of bleaching it!

6. New Look is my favourite retail shop (but lets face it, these days there isn't alot of choice)

7. I'm currently in my final year of school doing my A levels in Biology, History and English Language

8. My favourite band are My Chemical Romance, they are so inspirational. I also just fell short of meeting them all after there gig in Cardiff in Feb 2011 due to lying crew members! I was, and am still gutted.

9. I volunteer with the Girl Guiding, with an insane, but lovely group of Brownies!

10. I'm scared of clowns.

11. If I was a boy I would of been called David.

12. When I was just about to turn 10 I went on holiday to Portugal with all of my family (nan, aunts, uncles, mum, dad etc...) and within 5 minutes of arriving at our villa I broke my foot slipping on wet marble flooring. I spent my 10th Birthday in a Portuguese hospital in which the doctor looked at chubby 10 year old me and went 'too much Mcdonalds!' (and people wonder why i have self confidence issues....)

13. I love reading, I don't get as much time as I use to for reading and it's a real shame.

14. I was suppose to be called Charlotte but my mum's best friend who was pregnant at the time asked what  she was calling her daughter and stole my name.

15. I hardly ever wear high heels, It would be a disaster waiting to happen!

16. I am aspiring to do Camp America next year.

17. I'm 5ft 10 inches, tall for a girl.

18. December is my favourite time of the year, I love the Christmas spirit.

19. I hate tea and coffee and it really annoys me because it's the 'grown up' thing to like.

20. My favourite Disney character is Mr Pricklepants from Toy Story 3.

If you managed to read all 20 of them without falling asleep, pat yourself on the back, go on. You deserve it. 

xoxo

J'adore Paris

The city of love...

As it's pretty obvious from my 'about me' section I love the Eiffel tower and this year I shall be going to Paris for my 18th birthday to see the Eiffel tower in all its glory!

There has been so much Paris related fashion around lately that I though it would be a waste not to show you a few of my favorite Paris inspired pieces.

                                                                     Topshop - £28

I absolutely love this jumper, it's so flattering and I got it at a bargain at £8 on ebay, Brand New! It's sold out on Topshop's website now but they are regularly popping up on ebay. So don't worry, if you can't see your size now, it will show up eventually!  They have this in red and a kind of fuschia colour as well but the blue is usually the one I personally like the best!

I've seen a couple of Eiffel tower bra's around lately and have fell in love with them. The one above is from Topshop at £21 however if you don't want to spend that much on a bra then there is a simpler, and in my opinion nicer version of it in Primark for only £4! 

Unfortunately both of these only go up to a 36DD cup size, too small for my 38E's. When are they going to learn that big boobs like to look pretty as well, hey? Guess I'll just have to carry on dreaming about one day owning one of these lovely bras :(

This bracelet has one word for it: cute. It's really simple but looks lovely. I really hope to make this a part of my jewellery collection sometime soon!

                                                                      Topshop - £21

Unfortunately this item is now sold out on Topshop's website but they do pop up occasionally on ebay, i haven't been lucky enough to see it in my size 16 yet but you never know! 

xoxo