Mini Sale Finds

Ahh January, the time when we all lose ourselves and release our inner mammals into the wild, the shopping centre being our jungle in this scenario, hunting down great bargains, elbowing anyone in our way to get the last pair of Jimmy Choo's (I can dream) before the lady with the Cruella De Vil inspired hair do man-handles them first. Even babies get in with the craze using their rattles as weapons so no other little tot could get their snotty hands on the last Elmo toy at 50% off. The shopping centre, now crammed with deranged, bargain hungry shopaholics, racing and pouncing on one another, soon limping their way home with either a black eye or a baby rattle bruise on the left cheek, recapping on the days hunt but feeling happy with their purchases none the less. Worth It (pretty much described myself there).
As I've said in a previous post, I was greatly disappointed with the sales this year and only managed to find a few things that tickled my fancy on the sale rails, so I thought, hey why not do a post on it all (yey). Also excuse the poor quality of the photo's, as my camera is broken, I had to make do with the one I thought I'd never be seeing anymore, the one that was hidden way down deep in a drawer full of random bits and bobs. At first the quality wasn't bad, but then the battery started to die and for some reason the quality started to die with it.. I don't understand! humph. 

 H&M Find : £7. I believe this was part of the Lana Del Rey collection. Beautiful peplum top, the pattern won me over. Very vibrant in real life and it's quite fitted. However, I was rather sceptical about buying the top at first as I've never really had the confidence to wear something that has such a bold pattern and colour to it,  but now I just bloody love it, so silly of me to have second thoughts. 

The cutest little shorts.. Miss Selfridge £17.50. I think this was my favourite purchase. I love lace, and I've wanted new plain black shorts for a while but never found the right ones, until now. The scalloped edged hem is just soo darn tootin', it adds more character to the shorts.
Two main things I loved about these shorts: the fit and the elasticated waistband. Being annoyingly petite and having a very tiny waist, it gets under my nerves that whenever I buy high waisted shorts, they fit everywhere else but the waist, so I then have to belt it or I find shorts that will probably fit my waist, but they never go past my thighs; I was stuck in shorts in the Topshop changing rooms once, because I couldn't get them past my thighs and then they wouldn't come off (rookie mistake) and the friend I was with was still browsing around in store, with my bag, which conveniently had my phone inside, so I had to call the assistant to go find her, the lady stood and stared for a bit, probably restraining herself from laughing, before hopping off to find my dear old friend, twasn't a marvellous sistuation- Anyway, these shorts fits all the nooks and crannies of my lower half and the waistband fits perfectly on my tum. They're also so comfortable. Excellent, I can now go commando (belt free) ;)

 And this is when the camera decided to get annoying. Excuse the quality.

Topshop Top £20 : I was actually going to buy this top back in the beginning of December when it was about 30 something pounds, but I bought something else and a month later, Bang, jammin' on the sales. I love this top. the mesh and lacy (?) detailing are beautiful, as well as the colour. I did buy this in a 12 though, as this was the last size there, hehe, but surprisingly it fit pretty well.

 Primark £5 : Lovely sheer top. The embroidered collar is darling. Also the top is flowey with a bat wing thing happening and the back is open so I thought that was rather snazzy of Primark. 

Topshop £10 : Such a cute little bag. It's suede (faux probably) at the front and the detailing all around is just stunning! It brings a pop of colour to the bag and livens it up a little. The pattern is really cute too.
However, the way to close it is incredibly annoying, instead of the usual bag clasps, I have to slot in a round button stud into tiny holes, it's not a quick process I tell thee!

 ASOS £3 : This might be a little bit of a cheat as I never got it from the ASOS sale (hehe) instead, I got it from my local charity shop, that I'm currently volunteering in. It was donated completely new, tags, everything and it was my size, so I saw it as fate, I needed a new winter coat anyways. And when my manager said she'll sell it for me for £3 I was like woah! HO'KAY as this was probably way beyond £3 in ASOS land. I love the softness of the coat and the style, my favourite purchase of 2013 so far, closely followed by a Chicken Legend meal with both mayo and salsa sauce I treated myself with, a gurls gotta eat ;)

The Liebster Award

Thanks to the lovely Frankie at To Be Frank and Bethan at The Pale Face Female who nominated me for the Liebster Award, It's so lovely to know there's people out there who enjoy and like my blog :)

Rules :

- If you receive an award you must link back to the blogger who awarded you

- You write 11 random facts about yourself and answer the 11 question the awarder wrote for you

- Make up 11 questions to be answered and nominate 11 other bloggers who are under 200 followers

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11 Facts About me

1. I am Half German, and the other half is African/Arabian

2. I was born with blue eyes and blonde straight hair, but it all changed after a year or so and I gained the curls, brown hair and eyes, why couldn't the eyes and straight hair just stay, why?!

3. I always carry a brolly. Great thing to have on your belongings when living in England, the weather here is almost bipolar

4. I live in London

5. I have a number of faded scars on my legs due to some very embarrassing and stupid activities I took part in as a child, I was a very silly child.

6. I can be incredibly indecisive

7. I think way too much and can get in the habit of over thinking which isn't the greatest of things as I am a little bit of a worrier

8.  I'm scared of flushing aeroplane toilets.. like literally, I will avoid the toilets at all costs

9. I was convinced my Dad was a spy when I was little, don't know why, but I really wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a spy myself ... I was a very weird child

10. I suffer from that annoying perfectionist trait

11. I love to sing, only, In my head I sound like Adele, but in reality I sound like a male cat hitting puberty

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Questions From Frankie and Bethan

Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging because I've always liked the world of blogging, and the blogging community, I am able to write what I want and write about my passion and share it with people all over the world 

What is your favourite hobby?

If shopping doesn't count, then reading 

Who inspires you the most in the blogging world? 
Zoella, very original of me haha, but she seems like such a lovely person, with an amazing and successful blog and YouTube channel.

What's your favourite film? 
Grease, or those period drama films like the Duchess, well to be fair, anything with Keira Knightly in it, I truly love that lady.

Have you got any new years resolutions? 
Yes I do, my top three resolutions for this year are: To take on more opportunities, Get a Job and to stop being a Maccy D's junkie! (which failed miserably last year, what can I say, Happy Meals really do make me happy)

What was your favourite Christmas present?

Getting loads of Ferrero Rocher's boxes (my friends and family know me well) :') 

Do you collect anything?

I can't say I do really, maybe books? I do have quite a big (mostly girly) book collection going on.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Australia but without the snakes and big spiders

What is your favourite Quote?

We accept the love we think we deserve. - Charlie (Perks..)

What's your favourite song right now?

Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran

Do you like surprises?

Depends on the surprise, Yes and No, I like being surprised but I don't like knowing something is coming but I have to wait to find out what it is, if that makes any sense

How would you sum up your blog in three words?

It's Alright, yeah

If you could be any fictional character who would you be?

Cat Woman

What was the first thing you bought in 2013?

A packet of Walkers Cheese and Onion Crisps and a bottle of Evian, great cure for post New Years Party blues.

How would you describe your style?

Something along the lines of clean-cut girly erm chic? I do not know. I wear collared tops, blazers, skater dresses/skirts, chelsea boots and black leggings quite a lot, so that hahaha :')

Apple pie or Cheesecake?

Neither

If you could swap wardrobes with one person who would it be?

Olivia at What Olivia Did... or Jazmine at Jazzabelles Diary, Oh my I am at envy with their wardrobes.

If you could change the era you were born in would you?

I would and I wouldn't, I'd love to be in the olden days with the corset and gowns and men in tux's constantly (yes please) where we go to balls and ride in a horse and carriage, but with the attitudes of today ..and technology.

What are your favourite type of blogs to read/follow?

I like funny blogs, fashion blogs with lovely OOTD photography shoot posts, beauty blogs, food blogs, whatever catches my eyes really.

What trends are you excited for in the Spring/Summer 2013?

The Crop, I loved crop tops last year to wear with high waisted skirts/shorts, so happy they're still here this year.

If you had to listen to one song on repeat for the whole day what would it be?

Woman Woman - Little Comets or Rubber Lover - Marmaduke Duke, depending whether I am relaxed or want to boogie.

Can you speak more than one language?

Yes, I can speak (very bad)  German, Swahili, Spanish, French and Tagalog ;) 

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My Nominees

Ciara Fay 

Short and Sweet

Pretty Delicate Layers 

Ribbons, Leather and Lace 

Worship Fashion

Other Infinities 

Folly Fashion 

Laura Through The Lens

I'm Brain Dead

What Rebecca Rose Knows

Katy Lloyd

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My Questions

If you were to be Best Chums with any Blogger who would it be? 

Your ultimate style Icon/Crush?

If you were to only wear 1 outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?

What are you looking forward to the most in 2013?

Why did you start your blog?

What would be your dream holiday?

What's your Guilty Pleasure?

What's the most played song on your Itunes?

How would you describe yourself in three words? 

What's been your most favourite fashion Trend so far?

Favourite Ben and Jerry's flavour?

Aya Loves : January Wish List

Top/Shorts/Chelseas Boots/Pinafore/Bow Shoes/Dress/Heels/Sunglasses

As always, I've gotten shoe crazy, my Chelsea boots obsession is still here, how many black pairs do I need I ask myself, but just look at them staring at me, give me a home they be telling me. My favourite from the list are the Topshop heels and the cute pinafore also from Topshop ooh and the Miss Selfridge shorts, they have lace on the sides, can never go wrong with a bit of lace.

Some may wonder, why are there sunglasses on your little wishlist Aya, oh so early in the year? My answer, I can't wait for summer again, not that we had a summer in England last year (drought my arse) but this year I shall be absorbing the sun rays of Florida, the scent of Mickey Mouses erm ears and checking out the American boys, you can't do cheeky check outs on eye candies abroad without sunglasses now can you ;) Also have you seen how cute they are? I've always wanted to purchase Tortoise shell sunglasses but always forgetting that I wanted some and getting a completely different pair that don't even fit my incredibly tiny head, ah yai.

Leotard/Shorts/Top

Miss Selfridge is one of my favourite clothing store, closely followed by Topshop. I just seem to love everything they offer and right now I'm loving the cut out top and shorts above, shame they didn't have any in the store I went to. I also fell completely and utterly in love with the leotard you see above. Usually I don't give leotards a second look as I find them to be a massive pain in the A-Hole (not as in they hurt my bottom...metaphor guys, twas a metaphor) but this was so pretty and very Victorian Era-esque, with the gothic black lace and it's got the turtle neck thing going on, Queen Victoria would definitely wear this, I think. Trying it on was a challenge though...the struggle I was faced trying not to rip the material or lace and keeping my hair in tact, to think they could make it a little more stretchy or have poppers at the bottom, because this will be a bitch when needing to use the lavatory.

Another Year ... 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

     2012 seemed to just flash on by didn't it? It feels like yesterday when I was at a party counting down from 10, already a little bit oo-haa-haa from some mysterious water looking substance, welcoming 2012 with a massive cheer and a rather embarrassing fall, and now, we're in 2013, I don't know about you, but I really dislike odd numbers. Like last year, I am doing a little Best Of post.. this is now my little blogs tradition YEY! Also, unlike last year, this year seemed to be very music orientated, twas hard narrowing things down, but here goes ... oh and remember when the world ended ? neither do I hahaha (I did write this post before the 21st so it'll be a bit awkward if the world really did end) ...

My current Favourites

I was debating on whether to include One Directions albums above, but not everyone excepts my love for the five boys - My friend is currently sitting in front of me shaking her head in shame when I confessed to having a private concert (on my ones) singing and dancing to their album, twas a good night that was 

(judge me)

But yes, unlike last time (Best Of 2011), I shan't go on a massive rave about the whole album as that was rather long and as times have past, I've become lazy-er, so I'll just mention my favourite song from the album 

plus the name and you could go have a listen and judge for yee selves, simples 

(click on the song and/or album name so you can hear a preview of the album/my favourite song)

The Maccabees ; Given to the Wild - Favourite song : Pelican. 

Of Monsters and Men ; My Head Is An Animal - Favourite song : Mountain Sound however for some reason, if you listen to Your Bones in the album, do you get a Pocahontas vibe as well, or is it just me?

Walk The Moon : Walk The Moon (very original guys) - Favourite song : Anna Sun. I only discovered these  guys a few months ago via a Youtube ad. however much I hate the ads on Youtube, must say, some are rather convenient   

Jake Bugg - Favourite song : this was hard, It's between Lightning Bolt and Two Fingers . Don't you just love his some what old fashioned, Irish/Somerset country voice (how I'd describe it) His album is my music crush at the moment.

Loooky 'ere, Tay Tay and 1D has come to join the party, coincidence actually as Taylor has Swiftly taken Harry away from me, stylishly... see what I did there ;) and both their musics are on there...I don't even know where I was going with that. but Hey Ho,

Fun. : Some Nights - Favourite song : We are Young, This song just reminds me of summer 2012, good times, good times. If you haven't heard of it before, have you been living under a rock?

Mumford and Sons : Babel - Favourite song : Reminder . such a beautiful song. Like Jake Bugg, Mumford and Sons' music remind me of something you would of heard in an Irish Pub in the countryside back in the day, such beauty. 

The Lumineers - Favourite song : Big Parade 

Taylor Swift : Red - Favourite song : I Knew You Were Trouble.  (I wonder who this one is about)

The xx  : Coexist - Favourite song : Angels 

One Direction : Take Me Home - Favourite Song : Little Things. I love the fact that in the album you can really tell what songs Ed Sheeran wrote for them, go listen and have a guess. Harry Styles.That's all.

Little Comets : Life is Elsewhere - Favourite song : A Little Opus . I find their music and lyrics so much fun to sing along to.

Two Door Cinema Club : Beacon - Favourite song : Sleep Alone

The Vaccines : Come Of Age - Favourite song : I always Knew. Trying to contain myself from bursting into a spontaneous sing-a-long and a dramatic hand gestured dance err thing right now whilst this plays away in the background.. I might be doing a cheeky little bum shuffle though ;)

   And my favourite EP's 

and now, because I am totally in love with these three bands, I thought they needed a bit more recognition.

Imagine Dragons : Hear Me EP - Radioactive 

Bastille : Just go listen to all their music, I discovered them in August with Flaws, and they're my new favourite addiction. 

and finally, to finish off this rather long Music Section Daughter - Youth  such a beautiful song and voice.

And it continues, if you're still reading, that's pure dedication right there, good on ya! ;)

Films

I was rather disappointed with films this year, unlike last year, there wasn't many good, memorable films playing on the big screens, don't get me wrong, I went and saw a-hellavolot of films but I just didn't seem enjoy the majority, that or I forget that I'd even seen the film a few hours later, twas all rather meh

(click the names to watch the trailer, arn't I good to you)

Perks Of Being a Wallflower : Beautiful film, made me weep like a baby. I wasn't very convinced with Emma Watson's american accent though, dunno if it was just me, but whatever, I liked seeing her out of the whole Harry Pots franchise, she pulled it off well also I loved the main character 'Charlie' such a cutie pie.

Five Year Engagement : I think I've seen this film a millions times now. I randomly went to watch it as we missed the last Magic Mike viewing so we were like okay, lets just go watch this, not having much faith in the film, as the trailer looked rather meh, but oh my, this was a good film, rather long though, but it made me chuckle.. a lot.

The Dark Knight : after the 4th time watching this film I finally understood what was happening at the beginning, I felt a bit silly when I finally got it, but this set my film expectations very very high, brilliant film and Anne Hathaway made an amazing cat woman.

21 Jump Street : Funny Funny FUNNY film! It made me so happy, was better than that other crappy film Channing Tatum was in this year *cough magic mike cough* 

Project X : If you've seen this, didn't it just make you want to have a party? I know I wanted to shake my tail feather and let my hair down, why wasn't I invited to this party? I actually had to wait for this to come out on DVD to watch it as SOME PEOPLE were not old enough to watch it in the cinema yet....

Skyfall : The name is Bond, James Bond. I think you all know, this is an awesome film, Whilst watching the Graham Norton Show a few weeks back when he had the actors on his lovely red sofa (where is she going with this they ask) I found the secret to finding your Bond Girls name, It's basically, your mothers maiden name and what you called your naughty bits when you were younger.

Spiderman could of been included, however, I didn't really enjoy it as much, don't get me wrong, it was good but  I was mainly focused on Andrew Garfield's bottom in that tight Spiderman suit and concentrating on his face, other than the going ons of the film. Oh and I was also too busy admiring Emma Stone, God I love her, total girl crush, such a babe.

Books

I do Judge books by their covers, well apart from 50 Shades of Grey (worst book ever) if I wasn't intrigued with what everyone was saying about that book and just saw the cover I would of probably not have bought it and I wish I didn't spend my money on all 3 books, such a waste of time and money. You might of guessed already that I never really enjoyed the books, the writing was horrible and the books themselves were extremely repetitive, but at least oestrogen filled females in the UK got us (slightly) out of the recession for buying the books, yaaay us! 

The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window and Disappeared : annoyingly long title, but such a funny book.

Monday to Friday Man : A good chicklit, made me chuckle a little. This was one of those books I never wanted to finish reading but wasn't able to put down. Good story line, loved the characters! 

The Night Circus : Really is a marvellous book, Truly dazzling and imaginative. I read this in the summer, and I think  I stayed up until 5 in the morning reading it (finished it in a weekend, dedication), I obviously enjoyed it a bit too much, but who's there to judge aye.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower  : I made sure I read this before watching the film, and just like the film, beautiful, this is when I first fell in love with Charlie, such an amazing character, you really do feel connected to him in a way and feel what he feels.

From Notting Hill to New York ... Actually : I bought this because I loved the first book (from Notting Hill with Love Actually) and I really wanted to follow Scarlett's (protagonist) movie obsessed journey again.  Enjoyable read and such a cute ending. I enjoyed every moment. I want to read more on Sean and Scarlett Ali McNamara pleeeeease.

I'm so bad at reviewing books, mainly because if I get too into it, I might not be able to stop myself from spoiling it all hehe.

Author Of The Year : Lindsey Kelk

I only discovered this lady, accidentally, this year, a few months ago actually, whilst making a quick, book cover judging decision in Tesco for a long trip down to Brighton, but it was a bloody good decision I say as she's beaten my love for Sophie Kinsella (wot?!)

And did you actually think after writing a whole blog post on it, The Single Girls To Do List was not going to be part of this? I'm currently half way into I heart New York and already struggling to put it down. I am eyeing it ever so slyly whilst writing all this ;) 

Now if you don't know about the I heart series, it's an easy going, fun, enjoyable chicklit series that takes you on a journey with Angela Clark (main character) as she travels to gorgeous destinations, fleeing from her cheating boyfriend. I love me a good chicklit, I can't wait to read the rest! 

I don't think I really need to talk about The Single Girls To Do List seen as I did a whole blog post on it (here) twas a ravishing book.

So, That's all Folks, I hope you all enjoyed this and I hope you all have yourselves a wonderful start to the year, I wonder how long my resolutions are going to last this year, hehe