New Year, New Looks.

Jacket: Topshop (Similar)

Sweater: Topshop / H&M (Similar)

Snood: Primark / Amazon (Similar)

Jeans: Topshop

Boots: New Look (Similar)

Bag: Michael Kors

The weather is so cold, and god do I entirely detest the amount of layers I have to wear to be 'normal'. And by normal I don't even mean warm. Coming from the tropics, the weather is seriously something to adapt to living in London. The only thing to look forward to is the fact that playing with layers is a whole load more fun than putting them on or taking them off. 

I am almost literally top to ankle in Topshop today. I absolutely love wearing this sweater. If I could not take it off forever (till winter is over), I wouldn't. My boots are high but they are extremely comfortable and I can't have enough praises for my bomber jacket. It's the most snug thing ever. I'm sorry the links are for other items that are similar! I got my bomber jacket and boots during Boxing Day sales and those sure are gone by now!

In other news, I've started applying for my Fashion Management Graduate Diploma and I am so nervous just talking about it. I think it's dawning on me that I can finally pursue something that I really love and it makes me very happy. I also got a photographer/videographer on board with me to help motivate me to blog a little more so I'm really happy about that!

Thank you to all of you who have made it through this 'essay'. I always love your endless support.

Till next time.

New Yaas.

 Hello everyone.

I thought I'd revamp the blog a little by starting again in the new years.

A whole load of amazingly wonderful and awfully horrendous things have happened in 2014. I've been on two TV shows (both for free as well), a whole ton of musicals (musical enthusiast here haha), watched my first live concert in London, went traveling around Europe, reconnected with old friends, made a blog haha. But I also lost touch with friends that I shouldn't have, lacked focus on applying for work or a course that I'd love, been too nice to people who weren't bothered with me, cared too much of the feelings of people who didn't care less of mine at all, wasted time on people who were just overall pretty much shit.

Just a list of the cool things that've happened to me in 2014 that I can remember off the top of my head:

1. Traveled a part of Europe on my own without them rentz.
2. Ordered an entire Japanese meal for four in Italy completely in Italian (LOL)
3. Hit three years with my boo thang Haris.
4. Watched two live TV shows for free! (Appeared on UK TV too I believe)
5. Watched The Lion King twice in London, and managed to go backstage.
6. Watched 5 musicals solely in this year.
7. Went for my first concert in London (Tedder you were amazing!)
8. Joined an awesome dance company
9. Hit 2k on Instagram (minor setback thanks to the bot sweeps boo)
10. Got rid of my damn alcohol allergies lol.
11. Moved into my own place like a grown woman #YONCE (bills and internet attached)
12. Got recognised by a follower in London Primark! (#achievement, got my name wrong doe)
13. MNight director? Hehe
14. Got a photographer/videographer for my blog in spring! YES, rolling out the big guns.

And so on and so forth haha. Can't remember much besides this to be honest.

I'm twenty two this year, don't think it sounds right when I say TWENTEEN two no more. I shouldn't be worrying my parents about anything, getting my life together, doing right by what they've taught me. I absolutely love them till death because of all the opportunities they've provided me by letting me venture out on my own in London. Having said that, I also think that I know what I want in life more than I did a year ago. I'm a little less muddled about decisions, a little more cut throat with bullshit people, a whole lot more in control with my state of mind, half hoping that this conviction is not fully relying on the adrenaline that is a new year.

1. Get a septum piercing.
2. Repierce my naval. 
3. Get a part time job in fashion.
4. Apply for a fashion graduate diploma or for work in editorials.
5. Take more dance classes
6. Graduate
7. Give less quacks about people's opinions about myself.
8. Mo holidays yo.
9. Having said that, Santorini in summer!
10. Having said that, earn money for said holidays.
11. Be more diligent with updating the blog lol.

Maybe the dreams aren't so big, but it needn't have to be. I have friends and family, and a boyfriend that I absolutely adore. Right now if you ask me, I can take on the world.

How Do You Like Me Now?

Hat - Forever 21
Sunglasses - Vintage
Necklace - H&M

Top - Brands Outlet
Bottom - Missguided

Shoes - Agape Boutique

I kept it simple today. Just black on black on black on black, because why not? The top was a total steal at Brands Outlet in The Curve, although the mesh and the neckline itches a little. I paired the outfit with a large floppy hat I got on sale at Forever 21 for only 50 bucks and a skort from Missguided. I really like accentuating outfits with gold accessories, which is why I have a ton. Share with me how you guys would accessorize all black outfits? 

Raindrops

 

 Floral Headband - Portobello Market

Sunnies - Tally Weijl 

Top - H&M 

Skirt - Primark

Shoes - Nike

Today's look is inspired by always wanting a balance between grunge and pastel/florals, so I decided to alternate between the two! Floral headband, raglan cropped top, maxi skirt with a side slit and Nike shoes to complete the outfit. While I know most people are absolutely nuts about them Nikes, I got mine for 17 pounds at a Nike outlet store and they're meant for kids so I don't really know what they are exactly.

I tonged my hair with my favorite Babyliss 1 inch hair curler away from my face. This creates a pretty nice windblown look. On top of that, once all the curls have set, I used a bristle brush to just comb out the ends to have a more natural and less hairsprayed look. I've been taking hopefully, quite good care of my hair lately with special magic oils that make it smell real good. Also, all the pinky red bits on my ends got washed out when I went swimming in the sea last week and my blonde has finally revealed itself! I am a very happy girl.

Earth

I wore my hair in a bone braid. I like to call it a bone braid because it looks like a spinal cord, but it's usually called a mermaid braid if I'm not mistaken. It's basically a mix of a regular french braid and a fishtail braid. You start by french braiding your hair, but pick up your sections in tiny bunches from the sides of your hair and add it to eat segment of the braid. When I got to the end of my head, I continue on with a regular braid to the ends of my hair. You could also Youtube it to get a better idea of what the bone/mermaid braid is supposed to look like!

Today, I am wearing H&M from top to toe. My wonderful bronze colored top was going for 19 bucks at the H&M store in Mont Kiara, and because it's the smallest size left there as well as One Utama and Paradigm, I had to settle for a US 8. The maxi skirt is absolutely ravishing because it's flare with absolutely no slits (thank god) and pockets! Pockets should just be an essential on all women bottoms just because.

I wore these two together even though they're both loose because it's easy to relax and lounge around in. I love the blend of the materials and I've never ever gotten a bronze colored garment before so it's really fun to play around with the earthy tones.

Till next time!

Italy Photo Diary Part II

Part two is mostly from the center of Italy moving down south. Haris and I caught a train down to Florence thinking we're going to have ample time to spend there for 3 days but it turns out we were wrong.

1. Pisa

 

 

We checked out the Leaning Tower of Pis obviously. Our train was free because we traveled to Pisa on the same day with our interrail pass so that was quite worth the money. The tower was seriously leaning at quite an alarming angle to be honest, It's quite shocking how the tower is still standing but everytime I took a photo with it, it just turned out okay for some reason. Pictures just ruin everything haha.

We spent our evening in Pisa, eating and watching the World Cup. I remember our waiter betting money on Germany winning 4-1, which was exactly what happened. My lobster linguine was so wonderful! The starter was kind of bad really but the panna cotta was really nice as well.

By the time we got back to Florence, it was already night time. We went out for really nice dinner at a really nice restaurant, and managed to get them to turn on the world cup for us as well since we were the only two people in the restaurant eating that late at night. This was the place that gave me the most seafood from the mixed seafood linguine I've even till date. The cheesecake was really really lovely and melted in the mouth!


2. Cinque Terre
Haris and I had no idea we could do a day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre (which literally translates to 5 villages). The asking price for the tour was about 80 euros, and because the Chinese blood was singing in my veins to haggle, I managed to get a student discount for half the price at 40 euros each! This tour was 13 1/2 hours and included a two hour bus there and back, a 2 train rides, 1 boat ride and time to spend in 4 different villages along the coasts.

Here's Haris looking considerably upset with his ice cream for some reason.

It was genuinely the most beautiful out of all the places I've been in Italy because of the sand and the sea. The colors of the houses always tied together and revolved around really bright and warm themes that made them awesome to look at from afar. Haris and I managed to finally get fat, chunky pizzas at this point and they were so delicious! We had really good calamari here as well but I didn't manage to get a picture. The most picturesque village would be Manarola, and the village that has the most things to do would be Monterosso and Vernazza.

3. Florence

 We got tickets at Il Duomo to enter 5 different things for 10 euros, but the museum was closed. We entered a crypt where all the previous priests were buried and climbed up the bell tower which had separate tiers that over looked Florence. We didn't bother climbing up the dome because it seemed to have the same view since they were just next to each other.

 We also managed to enter the baptistry which had the same incredibly detailed depictions of Christianity on the ceiling as we've seen in all the churches in Italy.

 We also paid a visit to Santa Croce, which is also the burial grounds of some of the more famous Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galilio and Rossini. And that is also why it's known as the Temple of Italian Glories.

 The Plazza of Michelangelo gave us a completely different view of Florence from a hill. It also used to hold the statue of David, which has since been replaced by a replica at the very place that it used to stand.

4. Rome

We arrived at Rome pretty late at night and decided to take a cab to the hotel, which was just out of reach from actually being in the city of Rome. We actually had to take 2 different sets of buses to just get to the center. It's not so much the journey, rather the frequency of the buses which could take from 5-30 minutes between one and the other.

 

 The Vatican City was really amazing. They have 140 statues on top of each pillar in the piazza, and the centre tower is made to look like the key to the city. Michelangelo's works are really remarkable, and it's worth going to the Basilica and the Sisteen Chapel which Haris and I missed out on because we didn't have enough time. 

 The Pantheon was amazeballs to look at. The sheer size of it and the perfection in their circumference is really astounding. I have no idea how a bunch of Roman people could to that in BC times, yo.

 Don't ever eat the vanilla ice cream in Lindt unless you like tasting grain in your food cause that was shit.

 As you can see by my super unglam photo, I was very upset that I didn't get to live out my hey now hey now dreams at the Trevi Fountain. Restorations will finish in about 2015, so don't go to Rome for the sake of Hilary Duff because you will cry as I did.

Mandatory Colloseum jump photo!

 Our last meal in Rome was a good one. My vongole was kind of basic so I had to add my own black pepper and salt, but the clams were the fattest and fleshiest of all the place I'd eaten so far. Haris's mixed seafood tagliatelle was cooked to al dante perfection.

I have been compiling a travel book for the entire time I've been in Italy, and will continue to do so for all my travels later on. If you have any questions or need any help just hollaaaaaa.