IOTW #5

I am going to do a separate post about my trip to Indonesia, but I've still got loads of Instagram photos over the last few weeks to update you all on! The first is of a new outfit I bought after my very long trip back to blighty, I love the giraffe print top and I was dying for some new jeans (both Topshop). The tan loafers were an absolute find in Primark at just £12! 

The next is a roast I was served in the hotel I was staying at. My first proper english meal in 3 weeks, it couldn't have tasted better! 

My nails for my holiday. These falsies had lasted since my graduation which was about 3 weeks prior! I used my new matte top coat to finish off the design.

The next few are from my trip to Cayman in July, the mug was at my aunties house (where we stayed before our flight). She has loads of them with sayings on but I somehow always end up with this one! love it! 

As I was eating my cereal that morning, one of her cats stared at me the entire time. I gave in and gave her a cheerio, or two. 

Just one of the amazing sunsets we experience out in Cayman, they definitely rival that of my hometown in Jersey! 

Me and my sister went out a few times while we were there, and considering most of the tourists and residents there are American, we got native and played some beer pong! Turns out we were doing it wrong.

The next photo has to be the most spectacular photo of a sunset I've taken so far, with a bit of editing I must admit, but still pretty amazing! Every time I show someone, their reaction is "wowww". 

Blackbeard's vodka, the stuff of pirates and rather lethal at that. 

This lizard was a friend of ours, he hung out by the pool every day and we called him Yoshi. He even jumped in and came swimming with us once. 

I love this key ring I bought out there. The whole ethos of the island just seems to be this saying. Its so chilled out and everyone is always happy, I bought this to remind myself to be the same! 

And finally, my little sister went to Turkey shortly after Cayman, I've been before and therefore know all about the fake goods they import there. I asked for a Mulberry purse and this is what she got me, its so beautiful I almost can't believe its not real!

Labels

Now I know fashion is all about the now, and I know fashion blogs are all about pictures these days, but I'm going to take you back in time, by about 2/3 weeks a.k.a 2/3 'fashion years' and I'm actually going to write something. I could put some pictures up of what I'm wearing today just to get into the popular pages, but that's not what I love to do, I love writing. And I know time and interest levels are low for a lot of you, but I greatly appreciate anyone who takes time to sit down and read, and I hope I'm not too boring!

Any whoo, on with my story. So during Easter break at a house party, I was talking to some guy whilst my best friend looked on and occasionally joined in. The small talk was pretty dull and I wasn't being particularly charming, (how charming can you be drinking vodka lemonade out of a bottle) but out of the blue, in the midst of chat and laughter, my friend turns to the guy and says "it's fine, Emily is shy and intimated by people." I have never seen someone's face drop so fast, and I could physically feel my face go red with embarrassment and anger. WHO SAYS THAT?! Especially after I've known this guy for 5 minutes! And this got me thinking, are these my labels? (ohhh, very Carrie Bradshaw-esque).

Some people define themselves with designer labels, the style is reflective of your personality, shining through to your exterior. But do we ever really think of what other people label us as? The interior labels. Some we tuck under our clothes, some we let ourselves be marked with all over, the metaphors are endless. 

Maybe if you have an interview, one of the corny questions is, what 3 words best describe you? Of course you're going to pick the ones that are right for the job and don't reflect you at all. But it turns out 2 of mine are 'shy' and 'intimated' whats the other one? 'awkward?!'. It turns out these are the labels my friends have for me, but have never said to my face. 

Now I'm not bragging, but since the beginning of Uni, my confidence levels of rocketed, and I may not be the most socially abundant person, and I have no bloody clue how to 'network', but who really is without putting on a bit of a fake smile and working their magic?  

I've learnt over the past year or so, that people still label me as the person I was 3 years ago. I'm not gonna lie, she was moody, obnoxious and a bit of a bitch! However, after realising this, I made the conscious effort to change, yet people still know me as that girl. 

Well not anymore! Change is nigh, I will not be marked down with old labels. Changing people's views of me now will be hard, but with my Uni life coming to an end, its time for new beginnings, so here's to new labels, let's hope they're better than the last.

What are your labels? Are they different to what your friends think? 

21st Birthday Weekend!

The birthday blues are upon me!

Last weekend it was my 21st, and it was truly the best birthday to date!

My family came up to see me in Manchester, which meant I got to wake up in a hotel on the day, had a leisurely morning and then went to town for a shopping spree with my mum. She bought me my birthday dress and a few other goodies (including those velvet shorts I was coveted a few posts ago!)

Then I went to meet my dad at the Hilton, where my little sisters and my cousin surprised me which was so nice! 

Followed by more amazing gifts and a stunning meal at Australasia.

Below are a few pictures from the day!

This is the dress I wore before the meal, part of my stud obsessed collection!

My beautiful sisters and cousin, I cried when they popped out of the wardrobe!

My sister bought me this gorgeous vintage pendant from 1880, and she put these adorable photos inside!

We all shared this bottle with some strawberries!

I also got 2 more bottles of champagne as well as chocolates! 

My friend baked me this cake! 

It was amazing!

And then I was given this one by my housemates!

So much cake! 

My Auntie gave me this Pink Vodka with gold flakes in this personalised bottle, so nice!

This is an awful photo but this is the dress I wore on my birthday night out. 

It's one of the brands in Topshop, and I wore it with an urban outfitters belt.

My friends from home all came up for the weekend from around the country and gave me this lovely pandora charm.

I was well and truly spoilt! 

But the best part I am going to save and write an entire post on because (although materialistic) its one of the most special things I have been given!