New Year's Resolutions

Hi everyone,

A lot of people say that NY resolutions are a bit pointless, and to some degree I agree. I mean, they sound great at first, but in your day-to-day life, the effort to change, which is a natural human instinct to avoid, it can seem pointless and therefore not worth doing.

I therefore am taking it upon myself to set myself 3 resolutions, stick to them, and then on the 31st December 2014 see if I have achieved them, well this should be fun.

1. Love

Not sexually, not even emotionally or verbally, but inside, to love, care, respect others. To not fall out with my friends over stupid matters, to not bitch, to not try and be someone I am not. To love myself, friends, family, appreciate life and love it. To love books, music, food, my appearance, be confident and have a general love for living. It shouldn't be a resolution, but ultimately it is.

2. Collect

Memories, thoughts, decisions. I am going to do this through a few ways, firstly running this blog, writing down my opinions, thoughts, imagination, memories. Secondly through the art of a flash. I shall be taking a lot more photos this year, capturing not only what happened, but where, with who, the feelings felt, emotions spread across faces, smiles, tears and joy. Of course through analogue cameras, my Minolta 500, Minolta 700 and Polaroid camera. Finally through writing. My ambition is to write, the written word, express myself, my opinions, my beliefs, it my world too, so why shouldn't my voice be heard?

3. Work

Year 11 is a difficult year. Not only are you expected to do well in your exams, but as well manage friendship dramas, express yourself, make your mark on your school life, juggle family issues and emotions, but get through it, and if I do, I'll be the strongest I will ever have been, which in a way is terrifying, so much so some days I think how the hell am I going to do it all, but also exciting, finally doing something that will truly impact my life, make a huge difference, and for that I am excited about this part of my life, but also absolutely shitting bricks.


Happy new year one and all, may 2014 be a year for you to remember as the best year yet.

Love Ella

1 Year Ago Today

One year ago something happened in our family that completely changed my perspective on life and life itself.

My Dad aged 54 had a stroke. 

Its so weird to think that one whole year ago this event happened. I remember being woken up by my mum at around 1am, after my parents had returned home from a late christmas party, and my dad almost home had a stroke. At first he lost his speech, after him and my mum had been joking around and he suddenly couldn't talk. They the left side of his face feel a bit and he lost support of his body. My mum had to help him get home and called 999. I was woken up, and the rest of the night was a blur of tears, the paramedics arrived and my dad was taken to hospital with my mum and a family friend came over to look after me until the morning. In the morning, my mum told my sister what happened and we went to visit my dad in hospital, who was discharged the next day. Since then he's been diagnosed with a hole in his heart and is on multiple drugs to thin his blood. He is also trying to loose weight and has cut down on his alcohol intake.

Anyway, my point is don't take anything for granted, that night a million things went through my mind, and a lot was regret for not listening to my dad at times, arguing, ignoring, and a massive sense of guilt. You don't think that things like this will happen to you, but can do. Please tell your mum, dad, career, friends and family that you love them, even when you feel you hate them, and be kind to friends, people, I know it sounds cheesy but life is so unexpected and this event still scares me just thinking about it. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my family through this last tough year and my wonderful best friends, thank you so much.

Ella

Christmas cupcakes and decorations!

1 week until Christmas everyone!

Last Saturday (14th December 2013), me and my family went and got our christmas tree from Tarlton, pictures shall be up shortly, and decorated the house with christmas festivities! Lights, baubals, tinsel and candles lit up our home, and the tree was soon up hung with stars, hearts and memory hidden decorations, with the train track chugging around the trunk in a gentle pace.

Today I made some christmas cupcakes for a charity sale we are having tomorrow at a school panto, and I went all out. I was desperatly looking for decorations, such as those of white sprinkles, red food colouring, and maybe mini snowmen and father christmas's, but all I could find was green food colouring and pink sprinkles, ah well. Chocolate chip cupcakes with half white and half brown sugar taste slightly weird, but still edible, with a few month old choccy chips- I don't think anyone will notice, hopefully...

Anyway, below are some cupcake festive photos, and my christmas tree day photos are being developed as we speak!

Merry Christmas one and all,
Ella xx

Blogmas #6

Hi everyone,

Okay I had been planning to do blogmas but I've been so busy so I'm starting on day 6! *sorry hehe*

Today was Friday (of course) and I had Biology, Double physics, maths and private study, god I love fridays..

But we received all our results for mocks, and I couldn't be more happier!!

Maths: BB
Science: AA
History: A*
Geography: A*
History: A*
English: A*
French: A*

*jumps around her room in pure christmas spirit*

Then I got home (late due to the bus hmm) and started on my homework which I have yet to finish. We had fish and chips (me and my sister), then I had the best bath in the history of baths whilst watching elf with a hot choccy, before slipping into my joggers and christmas jumper, now I'm on my laptop watching the rest of elf hehe.

For my bath:

Lush Star Light Star Bright Bath melt
Orla Keely Candle in Blueberry
The Country Candle Company Midnight Pomegranate candle
Velvet Rose Mint Velvet candle
The Body Shop Grapefruit soap

Review:
1. Lush Star Light Star Bright Bath melt
I've tried quite a few of Lush's bath melts but this one was definitely the best! It is a gorgeous silver citrus melt in the shape of a star. When you put it in the bath, the silver melts off and you're left with a white star with blue swirls that dye your bath water a pale blue. Afterwards I smelt of lemons and had glitter on me which I thought was 'lush'!

2. Orla Keely Candle in Blueberry
I'm not a huge fan of fruity scents, but this candle is by far my favourite and smells of heaven. When it burns it releases the scent subtly but overtime and now my room smells of delicious blueberrys!

3. The Country Candle Company Midnight Pomegranate candle
Not only is this candle divine but the packaging is gorgeous and I love it so so much. The smell is also delicious and compliments my other candles really well

4. Velvet Rose Mint Velvet candle
Such a lovely scent, not too strong, but I'm not sure what exactly it is, almost citrusy but not quite, anyway, a lovely simple candle, perfect for cold evenings

Thats it for now guys, fairwell!
Ella xxxx

Shopping, Snow and Sweaters

November 30th

1 day before the acceptance of christmas cheer. One of the hardest day (in my books) to handle.

Anyway I went christmas shopping anyway..

Kingston shopping is fantastic, Kidson on one street, Topshop on the next, down an alley to LUSH then hop over the road to a bubbling christmas market, a festive atmosphere at its height, with hot mulled wine, frank Sinatra in the background and twinkling white fairy lights totted around the gorgeous victorian renovated cottages.
First I had to buy my friend her 16th birthday present (a few days late I'll admit..), so I went to Oliver Bonus (If you are unfamiliar with this shop, it is heaven for the cute vintage things you always wonder their wareabouts) and bought her a beautiful owl spinning candle, yellow notepad and some owl pins, they were super cute.
Then I had a SecretSanta present to purchase, so along i went to paperchase, *admire the rhyming*. I bought a gorgeous smelling festive candle and some wrapping paper and bags. Then I popped over to boots and grabbed a body lotion and hand food from Soap and Glory, which I kinda of wished I'd kept for myself..

Finally I bought a Nutella crepe, of course and snuggled up on a bench in the cold in my fairsle jumper, true christmas joy.

Oh and no snow appeared despite my prayers

Top 10 Christmas Jumpers

Hi guys!
Its coming up to christmas and a must have for the festive season is an over-the-top christmas jumper! So I've narrowed it down to 10 of my top favourites with the price and shop it came from. Ive also put them in price order: Cheapest to Slash Out!

1. 3D Christmas Pudding Jumper from George, Asda
Price: £14
Website: http://direct.asda.com/george/womens-knitwear/3d-christmas-pudding-jumper/G004385658,default,pd.html

The cheapest of of the lot, but one of the best. Asda's christmas jumper range this year is it's best, I think, and this lovely jumper is super soft and super cosy. Best worn with leggins.

2. Corrine Reindeer Fairsle Christmas Jumper from Boohoo.com
Price: £15
Website: http://www.boohoo.com/restofworld/winter-warmers/corrine-reindeer-fairsle-christmas-jumper/invt/azz37971?cm_sp=Recently%20viewed-_-Product%20Detail-_-azz37971?cm_sp=Recently%20Viewed-_-Category%20Page-_-azz37971

This is such a lovely jumper and one of my favourites. Its perfect from girls aged 14-16 and comes in either Cream or Red (Cream being my favourite and the one in the image). They're perfect with jeans or leggins.

3. Women's Stag and Deer Jumper from Peacocks
Price: £16
Website: http://www.peacocks.co.uk/christmas/christmas-jumpers/lds-jumper-stag-and-deer-red.html

This jumper from  Dorothy Perkins is such a perfect christmas gift, with beautiful reindeers and snowflakes. It's also great value and super cosy. DP don't usually do that many christmas jumpers, so grab it while it lasts!

4. Fairisle Stag Jumper from George, Asda
Price: £16
Website: http://direct.asda.com/george/womens-knitwear/fairisle-stag-jumper/G004387307,default,pd.html

Definetly one of my top favourites! A beautiful mix of coral, cream, blues and blacks, this is such a pretty jumper and perfect for a hot chocolate and Love Actually.

5. Alexia Reindeer Knit Jumper from Boohoo.com
Price: £20
Website: http://www.boohoo.com/winter-warmers/alexia-reindeer-knit-jumper/invt/azz36818?cm_sp=Best%20Sellers-_-Category%20Page-_-azz36818

Such a gorgeous jumper, and it goes amazingly well with some plum lippy or red wine. 

6. Skiing Robin Jumper from Dorothy Perkins
Price: £25.20
Website: http://www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/clothing-203535/knitwear-203563/skiing-robin-jumper-2443847?bi=1&ps=200

This little red robin is super cute and perfect for any kids/teens.

7. Asos Christmas Jumper in Reindeer Fairisle from Asos
Price: £35
Website:http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Christmas-Jumper-in-Reindeer-Fairisle/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=3157113&cid=2637&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Multi

I really love these type of jumpers and they look great with maxi skirts too but I was quite disappointed  with Asos's festive jumpers this season. 

8. Knitted Gingermen Man Jumper from Topshop
Price: £42
Website: http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/knitwear-444/knitted-gingerbread-man-jumper-2411745?bi=1&ps=20

Topshop's jumpers were awful this year! I found two that I thougt were quite nice but all the others were dreadful! What happened Topshop? This cute gingerbread man jumper is perfect for the festive hols though.

9. Knitted Fairisle Yoke Jumper
Price: £48
Website: http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/knitwear-444/knitted-fairisle-yoke-jumper-2322717?bi=1&ps=200

I really love this Olive coloured jumper from Topshop, its super warm and cosy and is crying out for a hug. I think I shall order this one for myself..

10. Fat Face Andi Angora Mix Jumper in Navy from FatFace, John Lewis
Price: £48
Website: http://www.johnlewis.com/fat-face-andi-angora-mix-jumper-navy/p747180

My final choice, although quite pricey, is really perfect for blonde's and short haired girls. Its pattern is a classic Christmas sign to grab that tree and mince pies!

So that rounds up my top 10 favourite christmas jumpers! Next Top 10 Christmas Tunes! Thanks for reading, Ella Bellaa x

Topshop Make-Up

Hello everyone,

So as my last blog post kinda of summed up, I love autumn! However, I have very little autumn make-up and quite alot of peachy, coral-y summer-type make-up, so I went online and ordered a few things from Topshop which I shall share with you all!

What I brought:

Lips in Hazard £6.00

Lips in RioRio £6.00

Matte Nails in Sober £8.00

Matte Nails in Crushy £8.00

Happy shopping everyone!

EllaBella