Living Room Decor

Home decor is something I really enjoy reading about and playing around with. It's such a fun way of expressing your personality without having to be really artistically blessed (as i am not.).
there are so many avenues to go down - do you minimalistic? homely? rustic? French inspired? sometimes it can be really difficult to decide, but one thing I can say is it's best to always stick to things YOU like because, at the end of the day, it is your home and Anna Wintour isn't coming for dinner anytime soon. So as much as style is always something to include, make sure it's your individual style and your memories and all that sentimental bullshit.

Is that a Tiger? Yes, yes it is.



When I was decorating I wanted to spend as little money as possible and still have an outcome that didn't look like a crack den (no offence, crack heads). I was pretty adamant i wanted a fireplace so i was prepared to put some work in to get the one I wanted. I bought an old second hand fireplace from a store near my house and, as usual, it was a horrible dark varnish. So I stripped it back and threw on a few coats of an antique cream with pink hews. I FREAKIN LOVE IT! I am pretty proud of my fire place.

Secondly, I wanted people to come in and see it wasn't a show home, so I added some personal bits and pieces like these framed pressed flowers - these are from occasions where i have been given flowers and the sentimental goof i am, i kept them and framed them and i think they are really cute.

 

"It's never too late to be everything you dreamt you would ever be"



Books are ALWAYS going to be a talking point. People want to know if you have read them and it really shows the kind of person you are and I think they look amazing stacked up and items placed on top, such as candles and photos, it's just really homely.

 

Jeremy Clarkson is a cool guy. Kinda.



An arm chair is such a great piece to invest in, they offer a cool seat for whoever feels like being the Grandpa/King for the evening and really brings a room together. People often say a rug brings a room together but i love the feel an arm chair gives, it just looks so HOMELY, there's that word again.

 

My Throne.



My key items to create a personal feel on a room are:

• Books - pretend to be intellectual and as if you read anything other than Cosmo.
• Flowers - fake or real, they provide some kind of life into the room and brings in colour without taking over the whole overall decor look.
• Candles - creating a warm vibe is so great for a room and everyone knows dim lighting is way more flattering for those impromptu nights in with a cutie.

So basically you have seen my living room - when are you coming over for tea?

QUICK TIP - REMOVING NAIL POLISH

QUICK TIP

So here's the dilemma - you have random old face wipes or baby wipes lying around and they are all dried up and, to most extents, useless.
Well, you could throw them away, but that'd a total waste of money and a perfectly good product.
Use them to remove stubborn nail polish.
Do you know when you put on your favourite MEGA pigmented nail polish and it's time to remove it and it is a total ordeal? I like to use old, dried up wipes to remove them as they hold so much remover and it doesn't fall apart like toilet paper or kitchen paper does.

Try it and thank me later. 

Gorgeous soft vintage waves

I know there are like a million ways to do this but I really think my way is pretty easy and with quite impressive results! 

Getting decent looking waves is hard enough and a lot of tutorials I have seen online are done by professionals and people who actually know what they are talking about (i.e not me).

Butter wouldn't melt.

 

So, I would say, depending on how greasy your hair gets, day-old or even two-day old hair is best so it will keep a decent curl. 

Putting hair into a deep side parting is a bit softer on the face and looks a bit more authentic.

Curl the hair from the ear downwards in one direction on one side/half of your head and the OTHER direction on the other half/side of the head. So one half of the hair will be going TOWARD the face, the other AWAY from the face. 

I prefer using straightening irons to curl my hair, I just find it works better on my hair and I have a bit more control, but a wand would be fine.

Let the curls cool completely before brushing through because, did you know, the heat is the thing that actually makes the shape so if you move he hair around while its warm you will screw up the shape. So don't bloody touch it while it is warm.

Once you have obeyed my orders of leaving the hair to cool, do whatever backcombing/teasing you want to get whichever height you want, if any and then brush the curls out really lightly, don't go mad on all that hard work. 

If you are pretty happy with the results (of course you will be) then use whichever hairspray you like to keep it in place before you go out and look totally sassy. Unkempt hair is not sassy. 

AND if you haven't already (gawd.) you can see which hairspray I'm using and loving right now on one of my previous posts. 

Get curlin', fools. 

Favourite hair spray post.

 

50 random questions

I totally stole this from someones tumblr so basically if you wanna fight me over copyright if you made this up then I will see you in court, whoever you were.

1: What magazine/s do you read?
COSMO, COSMO, COSMO. Cosmopolitan is my angel. So many really interesting features and always has great style tips.

 

2: Do you like roller coasters?

I really, really don't! I have never really been on like a scary one but the whole idea just terrifies me, so i always bitch out haha.

 

3: Day or night?

Night, everytime. I love the night time, it's so romantic and calm and just helps me wind down.

 

4: What do you hear right now?

The cars passing outside. I live right on a main street so all day all night there are cars.

 

5: What would you name your son or daughter if you had one?

Wow haha, ermmm, I would either go super traditional or way off the wall!

 

6: Do you want kids? Why or why not?

Of course! I want like 6 but i'm pretty sure I will have to fight my (future) Husband for that.

 

7: What’s your favorite memory with your best friend(s)?

Playing really boring games, like we used to play a game called Wally - literally kicking a ball against a wall and the other players kick it back and alternate... not quite Candy Crush.

 

8: How many times did it take you to pass your driver’s test?

I actually can't drive yet, I haven't even taken a single lesson. Probably best for everyones safety.

 

9: The scariest dream you had?

I usually have weird dreams about insects or animals coming from under the walls. Suuuuuper creepy.

 

10: How tall are you?

I'm really little, I am only like 5ft 2"

 

11: The last thing you ate was…

Some instant noodles, because I know how to live well.

 

12: A band you want to see live is…

WHAM - I guess a girl can only dream.

 

13:Do you have a hero/someone you look up to? If so, who?

I want to say someone really cliche like my Dad or something but i always think to myself "What would Shay Carl do?"... If you don't know who he is, you can watch his daily YouTube vlogs on his channel The Shaytards.

 

14: Do you like to swim?

Only in pools, open water freaks me the hell out. I ain't no fish.

 

15: Things you look for in a guy/girl?

Someone really funny. My boyfriend is hilarious so I think I have done okay, and he can grow a smashing beard.

 

16: Has a book ever upset you?

Everything upsets me - I'm so emotional like all the time.

 

17: What was the first instrument you learned to play? (if any)

I played the clarinet in High School for like 6 months... although, I wouldn't really say i can play it.

 

18: Some of your hobbies include…

My default states of being are - sleepy, hungry, needy.

 

19: How do you deal with anger?

Go for a nap and I am probably calmer when I wake up. (and it's a good excuse to nap)

 

20: Something you like about your appearance is…

I have quite big eyes so they are usually done up with lots of liquid eyeliner.

 

21: What was the last movie you watched?

Wow, I honestly can't remember, that's so weird.

 

22: Do you have a favorite ghost story? What about a personal ghost story?

Ghosts aren't real. Sorry.

 

23: Where is the farthest from home that you've gone?

I have travelled round Europe and been to like turkey and Greece and such.

 

24: Have you met anyone online that you'd like to meet in real life?

Essie Button. No need to even think. She is glorious. Check out her blog - EssieButton.

 

25:Do you look like your parents?

I look like my dad with long hair. I am blessed with his beautiful big head and big nose.

 

26: Things you have in common with your parents?

My dads blunt sense of humour and my mums eratic emotional tendancies.

 

27. What is to the right of you?

A huge pile of college work. (I am studying to be a Counsellor)

 

28: A favorite memory with a sibling?

any memory with my Sister is a belter, shes a hero.

 

29: What is something you wish you'd done?

Not cancelled my gym membership.

 

30: What are some of your favorite blogs?

Essie Button (as i have already gushed about), My sistafriend SatinMilk you can have a look at her sweet face at www.satinmilk.blogspot.com

 

31: Do you sing in the shower?

I sing all the time, my go-to song is Relfections from the disney movie Mulan. Can reach alllll the high notes, which means I am basically a Disney Princess. #sorrynotsorry

 

32: Something others have described you as...

I am told I am really honest a lot of the time, I'm hoping they don't mean I am rude... I really hope.

 

33: Name of every pet you've had...

Wow, erm, Mice - Mickey and Minnie (so original), a ferret - Levi and a cat called Ronnie (short for Veronica)

 

34: Your favorite superhero?

Catwoman because she is badass... and I really like cats.

 

35: Two of your fears are...

Crows and being bitten by insects.

 

36: What you're majoring in in college/what you plan to major in...

College to do Counselling and to have a Degree in Psychology.

 

37: What is your favorite season?

Summer, but I live in Scotland so summer is pretty non-summerish which is good because i hate being too warm.

 

38: The best vacation you took?

My long weekend away with my boyfriend (awwwwwww)

 

39: Why your best friend is your best friend.

Because she knows too much.

 

40: How did you come across your favorite band?

I don't really have a favourite band, but i do love Billy Joel.

 

41: Occupations you wanted as a little kid?

I wanted to be an English teacher but I grew out of it because I hated School.

 

42: Are you an introvert or extrovert?

Extrovert now, not so much in my teens.

 

43: When was the last time you drank?

At the weekend. I do love a good drink.

 

44: How many pillows do you sleep with?

Two, a softish one and a memory foam one. Gotta have that balance.

 

45: Are you a "safe" driver?

I don't drive man, DON'T YOU LISTEN?! GAWD.

 

46: Something that's bothering you right now?

Since I sat on a bus for what seemed like 30 years, my legs are really sore and stiff.

 

47: How many cds do you own?

Mostly just really old Greatest Hits albums. Spotify all the way bby.

 

48: How many books do you own?

Quite a few, I buy books in the hope I will read them. We'll see if I ever do,

 

49: How many aunts and uncles do you have?

I have such a small family so i only have 2 Uncles and 1 Aunt.

 

50: "Top 5" Romantic gestures.

- Kisses on the shoulder or forehead.

- Letting your partner nap on you when taking a long-ass bus trip to London (thanks bbz)

- Ordering your drink at the bar and just knowing exactly what you will want.

- Letting me be the big spoon.

- Pretending you didn't hear me fart in my sleep.

 

 

LONDON BABY Pt2



   

Obligatory picture of Big Ben.





HOLY GOD ABOVE.

I would say I'm pretty in love with London now. It was so so beautiful and full of culture and food and cute bars and food and bars and food and bars... did I mention how many amazing bars and food places there were?!

So, the reason I was in London was because i bought tickets to Phantom of the Opera for my sweetheart boyfriend for his birthday a few months back and so this was the weekend of the show and it was so amazing, if you haven't seen it then you MUST! It was such an emotional performance and i enjoyed it so much and honestly, i can't wait to see it again.

The performance we were seeing was on the Saturday, which was the 11th and i wanted to wear something kind of sophisticated but still looking kind of hot (i was there with my boyfriend after all) so i wore a basic black midi body con racer-front dress from River Island. You can shop it here - http://www.riverisland.com/women/sale/dresses/Black-racer-front-bodycon-midi-dress--657258  

 

Damn fine.

We went to all these adorable bars that seriously, it was like going back in time, so many sweet little cobbled streets and just general nostalgia in the air.

 

Naturally I HAD to go to the huge Topshop and Primark on Oxford st, it just had to happen. It was so busy, I mean, I'm from Glasgow and I can take on the high street like a trooper (Boxing Day Sales are a constant source of pleasure to me) but this was next level stuff right here. Packed.

 

But the whole trip was so amazing, i would so recommend anyone to go see Phantom, but at least just get yourself to London and eat a crepe for goodness sake.

 



 

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LONDON BABY

So this weekend i am going to London - I know, i can barely contain my own excitement.

So this is a little post about the kind of items i have packed.

I am going for three days so i didnt want to pack too heavily as it'd be a total waste of case space (we all know i will be having my nasty with the HUGE Topshop that is there) so best not to take too much.

 

I have packed my fave jeans ever, the Topshop JAMIE jeans in the light wash denim. They go with everything so for a really nice comfortable outfit i am taking a nice white Tshirt and my black chelsea boots from RiverIsland, i just think its such a cool look with like a leather biker jacket and some

 'just out of bed' hair. Easy.

 

Cheeky look inside

Because i am going to the opera (oooooh, fancy) i am taking a really simple black dress from RiverIsland (Pictures will be in my OOTE post).

 

I'm not taking that much make up because i want to keep it casual, a ncie dewy base with minimal eye make up for day time and probably a classic smokey eye for the evening.

 

Jewlery wise I am taking a statement necklace and my trusty Vivienne Westwood studs, nothing too fussy.

 

I will be putting up posts over the weekend so be sure to keep and eye out for some London lovin'!

got2b HAPPY HOUR

 

This hairspray... i mean, wow.

It is by far the best I have used (as far as like mid-brand hairsprays go). It has amazing hold without making your hair turn into a horrible bunch of noodles.

I have usually been totally obsessed with this got2b's Glued range because my hair is SO stubborn and will never hold a curl, so I always found this brand had the best formula for my hair.

I know that this is a fairly new release from got2b, but i hope to the lord it wont be discontinued because it is amazing.
It has a really long lasting hold without the typical crunchyness that can come with a strong hold hairspray, and you can brush it out really easily and theres no gross residue stuff coating your hair. RESULT.

 



No-heat curls

Last Christmas as part of my gifts from my sister she got me a few packets of bendy rollers - basically wire with foam around them and you just wind them round your hair.
She picked them up in Poundland which is a shop in the UK where everything is, wait for it, A POUND!
So for some cheap thrills i decided to put them in a few nights ago and this is how it went...

 

Basically i just sectioned my hair off into two (down the middle) then split that into sections running up my head and put some winding the hair round clockwise and alternating it with anticlockwise so the curls sat on one antother rather than like, becoming one big ringlet.

(Inserts weird picture of self in rollers)



Not a look i will be sporting outside of my bedroom

So i did sleep in these rollers because i wanted them to have the best possible chance - I'm thoughtful like that, you see.

Then when it was time to get up I took them out and I did need totame a few little bits with my straightners, but i actually really enjoyed the outcome and they stayed in ALL DAY!

The final outcome - hooray!

I really enojyed using these, it was a bit of fun and its not something I would to on the regular but deffinitely worth a little shot!











 

 

Vegetable Crisps gonna blow your mind.

I don't know about you but I am a fiend for all things inexpensive and if you don't follow me on Instagram (which you should - what's wrong with you?) @theonlybrown, you'd be surprised to know that my desire for cheap things that seem more expensive than they are goes by far beyond a passion.

So when I found these VEGETABLE crisps in none other than the modest Lidl, well basically the game changed, okay?

Parsnip, beetroot, carrot and sweet potato... what the hell else need I say? And at a mere £1.09 for a 100g bag, this is a delicious bargain not to be sniffed at.

Buy them, god dammit.

HELLO

 

 

(In case you are wondering - yes, that is my face)

WOW.

JUST WOW.

Really the scariest thing creating a blog. Will anyone read it? Will anyone care? Who knows.

This will basically be a total mixture of stuff - no real structure or specified subject.

I'm a lover of all things easy, cheap or tasty.

So please prepare yourself for make up, food and other random things that i can get my hands on.