lust have: the print shirt

 Zara Print Shirt 

This season I appear to be having somewhat of a Zara obsession. My love for the brand started young when a rather trendy friend of mine told me about a couple of cool Spanish stores called Mango and Zara. We travelled to London for the first time on our own to visit the stores, and the rest as they say is history.

Right now I need this over-sized leopard print shirt. Buttoned up over skinny black trousers for work, or loose over a plain tee and leggings for the weekend, this shirt is a serious multitasker. I'm already planning a trip to Reading to buy this shirt (because for some reason Guildford does NOT have a Zara yet?!) and I'm sure I'll end up with more a few more bits for spring.....

What are you currently lusting over?

what if money was no object?

Found this video on Facebook and had to share it on here too. 

What did you want to do when you were a kid? 

I remember vividly being asked "what do you want to be when you grow up?" in year three and replying "a author" (clearly I had some way to go grammar wise). A few years after that we had to stand up on stage in front of the whole school  and say what we wanted to be when we grew up and why. By then I had decided I wanted to be a Vet because "I wuv animals".

Between then and secondary school I swung between professional horse rider and masseuse. The next time I remember being asked to consider my career was secondary school year 9 when we had to pick our 'options' for GCSE's. By then I was convinced I was going to be a singing superstar so chose music and drama. 

At college I realised I had no musical talent whatsoever and was right the first time round when I said I wanted to be an author, so I studied English Language, Media Studies and Psychology. When college came to an end I didn't know what the hell to do - so I went to uni to study media writing.

So far in my career I have worked in a factory, been a shop girl many times over, written thousands and thousands of words for free and had a stint in customer service for a fashion website. None of which really made me happy. I'm now writing for a living and can honestly say I'm happy.

Would I rather be travelling the world writing whatever I wanted and getting paid for it? Hell yeah! But  even though I'm not earning what most people my age are, I live at home with my parents and I can't drive, I'm still happy. I don't dread work on a Sunday night, I have time to go to yoga, read magazines and write blogs - and I have an amazing boyfriend and kick-ass friends and family. 

One day I'll be earning money from what I love - but until then, I'm happy to say I'm happy. 

Do you work to earn money, or are you lucky enough to enjoy what you do?  

just a minute january

*Writing: Content about personal training for work

*Trying: to exercise 3 x a week (yoga and spinning)

Watching: TV - Season 2 of Girls  |  Film - Take this Waltz

Listening: Of Monsters and Men  |  James Vincent McMorrow

Buying: Leaving cards and gifts for friends going on fabulous adventures

Loving: Work - starting to settle into my role more now and loving that I get to write every day!

* Instead of 'Making' I've added 'Writing' and 'Trying' to encourage me to write more and try more :)

more love letters

Every week at work I have a blog day (I know, I seriously love my job) where I have to research and write various blogs on different things. Today I wrote a blog about writing love letters to strangers, and I had to share it here too.

"The world needs more love letters"

The story started when Hannah Brencher moved to New York after college and felt incredibly isolated. After struggling with depression and loneliness she decided to reach out - to anyone.

And so her letter writing journey began. She wrote little love notes to strangers saying things like 'have a bright day!' and 'you're brilliant, even if you think nobody else thinks so' and left them in public places like the subway, cafes and park benches.

The idea is now 10,000 people strong and is slowly but surely brightening the world :)

Has anybody ever done this? Think it's such a great idea.

p.s for those wondering, I am now working for this company as a content writer (writing for their various directories) and I have never been happier in a job :)

snowed in

So this weekend my plans quickly changed thanks to all the snow falling in Surrey. Instead of going to the cinema, going out for drinks and spending time with my boyfriend, I was snowed in. 

I've made the best of it though and have actually quite enjoyed my weekend at home! Saturday morning I got my butt on the exercise bike (yes, the 'get healthy' resolution is still going strong) and gave myself the permission to be lazy for the rest of the day. Cue lots of terrible TV, playing the Sims, watching 'Take this Waltz' (great film) and pampering myself with a face mask.

Today is my 'productive' day. I've cleared out my drawers and threw away a lot of junk, tidied and cleaned my room top to toe, caught up with my washing and even tackled some boring tax stuff. Now that's all done I plan on taking a long bubble bath and cosying up with a good book :)

Anyone else get snowed in?

want, need, wear, read

Loved the simplicity of this post idea from Bleubird, so have totally stolen it for Limbo :) 

Something I want, something I need, something to wear and something to read.

want

Stencils from Anthropologie

need

this

wear

rose gold boyfriend watch

read

currently reading

2013

So as we say goodbye to 2012, it's time to say hello to 2013! I do love New Year's, the clean slate, the chance for a fresh start - it always gets me excited for the 12 months ahead. I feel this year is going to be a particularly good one, for one thing 13 has always been a lucky number in my family...

Resolutions

I always make resolutions (see 2012, 2011 and 2010) and this year I am more determined than ever to make things happen. At the end of 2012 I got myself a full-time writing job after years of trying, so now I am free to focus on other areas of my life.

Learn to drive

Yes, I am a 26 year old non-driver. It is time to change this, I owe people a LOT of lifts.

Get healthy

I have been feeling very unhealthy lately and it is starting to show, I've put on weight and my skin is breaking out. Time to look after myself. I will be getting back into Yoga, exercising more in general and will attempt to curb my serious chocolate addiction.

Cook more

I love food, but hate the cooking process. Alas, as much as I wish I could have my own personal chef living with me - it ain't gonna happen. Therefore, this WILL be the year I cook more for myself and for others.

Look after my finances

I want to buy a car this year. I want to move out of my family home this year. I cannot do these things if I continue to spend all my money on meals out, drinks and cinema trips! Time to cut the spending.

Looking back at previous lists, I have not achieved every resolution I've set myself, but I'm hoping this will be the year this changes. If not? Well, there's always 2014 ;)

What are your New Year's resolutions?