The A->Z of Laura.

Not to long ago Jemma did a post about the A-z of her and I really loved it! Admittedly I had to sing myself the alphabet to get all the letters in order - surely I can't be the only one to do this?!
A- Abu Dhabi - My childhood home, I spent 10 years here but it feels like so much longer! I miss it everyday and it's my favourite place to recharge. When we first moved there we didn't even have malls and my first school was horrendous ( it had barbed wire..to stop students escaping.) but I wouldn't change it for the world!
B- Beanie Babies!I had over 200 of these!! I was obsessed as a child. I've sold a few at carboots recently but I'm still keeping all my favourites! 
C- CATS. I don't think I need to expand too much on this but I really am Bridget Jones with cats!
D- Dalmatians - my favourite animal in the world! As much of a cat lady I am, dalmatians will always hold that no. 1 spot in my heart. 
E-  Eating clean and plant based. I am really trying to eat as healthy as I can to see if it helps my symptoms. ( she says after stuffing herself with a chicken kebab and god knows what...) I'm also making anti inflammatory shakes to see if they help as well. 
F- Festivals - I freakin LOVE them! I really want to do more different ones around the world, my dream before I'm 30 would be able to festival hop from April - Sept and just try them ALL. 
G- Golf, I used to play golf every weekend when I first moved out! My bestie in grade 4 got me into it and we had to go to Emirates Golf Course in Dubai every weekend to play as Abu Dhabi didn't have a course yet.
H- Harry, my cat! Named after Mr Potter himself as he has a little lightening bolt above his eye.( I'm not kidding!) I love this little idiot even if he hates me and never wants to cuddle unless it's night he's the best! Even my patronus was a black and white cat! I also seriously love HP anyway, Hufflepuff and proud!
I- ILL. I've been ill since the end of May, it's undiagnosed and doing my head in! :(
J- Jokes - I love jokes, especially crappy jokes. A particular childhood favourite was ' what's brown and sticky? - a stick'..... enough said there.
K- Kayla Itsines, I started her plan this year and it has made such a difference to me, body wise and mentally.You can read about my progress here. I haven't been able to repeat the plan since being ill as it was too intense and I was getting too dizzy but I am going to try and push through and restart the plan this month. 
L- Luanna - who is currently one of my girl crushes - her haaaaair. oh my gawd. it's beautiful! She is so stylish. LIFE GOAL. 
M- Mcfly, my favourite band growing up! I got to see them last month and it was AMAZING. ( yes I went to all 3 nights!) I finally got to hear sorry's not good enough for the first time!
N- Needle and thread - I am SO obsessed and inspired by this brand at the moment! I wish I had the money for like 3 of there dresses and I want a fiance just to buy one of their wedding dresses! ahahaha!
O- Originality, I'm always tough on myself when it comes to art and I always feel like I'm not original enough especially when I see so many amazing artists out there. I know I shouldn't compare but I do sometimes..a lot, I've got quite a few ideas which I hope are original and I just need to keep working, taking inspiration and using it with my own ideas.
P-Painting, I love to paint and this year I started to go back to oils, I have so much to learn and I really need to get my arse into gear and practice and get some work made but I love it! I would love to do this full time. 
Q- QUEEN. I love calling people this! Also I recently got the lipstick from Charlotte Tilbury of the same name and it is GORGEOUS.
R- Reading - one of my all time favourite pastimes, espcially on holiday. I have so many books and so many more I want to read! My trip home next month is the perfect excuse to buy some and I have my eye on at least 3!
S- Short. I am very short, so short that people frequently like to remind me how short I am. As if I hadn't known my whole life... 
T- Travelling, I LOVE to travel. Experience different foods, ways of life, cultures. I just love it, I wish I could travel more but I know I am fortunate to have travelled how much I have so far. Next year I get to tick L.A and Bali off the list!
U- Urmston - Where I was born and where I live now! 
V- Violin - I used to play one as a child, I think I got to like grade 2 but I always wanted to play guitar and never really put much effort in. I'm debating trying to learn again, I had the most beautiful Violin as a child and let's be honest I haven't grown much since.
W- Weird, I'm a weird person, I accept it.
X- Xbox, I didn't really have anything to put here aha! So I went for X-box as I used to work in GAME for like 2 years!
Y- Yoga, a pastime I love but really need to put more time aside for.
Z- Zombieland - I'm watching it right now, it's alright so far! I'm not a mahoosive fan of Jessie Eisenberg though. ( he did grow on me slightly by the end) 
Geez, this was a lot harder than I thought!! Some letters I had like 3-4 words I could have used and surprisingly struggled on E, N and O! I kept wanting to write elephant! Even though I have like no associations with them!!   Ciao x
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Rebrand.

If you've ever stumbled across this blog before you will notice that a change has gone on( hint: if you haven't been before it's a blog name/header change....). why?  Well, I've been in a life rut for a little while now, life, job/lack of creativity, money...being ill. It's all gotten a bit much and I just felt like I had nothing to write here. Life hasn't been all rainbows and butterflies for the past few months but it hasn't been entirely shit either. I just felt really stuck and lost on where I was going with this blog(and well life in general) and I just wanted to do...maybe a Sprinkle of Glitter here and just be a bit more personal, write about what 20 somethings do, talk about my flaws and goals. It's okay to fuck up and its okay to have no idea what's going on and I guess that's exactly what I want to say. I want to be able to write about the non-sugar coated parts of my life, I'm guess I'm just saying that there is more to me than beauty posts and I want my blog to reflect that ( not to say that there won't be some beauty posts - the charlotte tilbury obsession is still going strong.) I really want to progress my writing, I really used to love writing short stories and I still want to blog about art and fitness/health. So maybe a lot of content may stay the same but let's just take it all in a post at the time.  So, why nine lives club? Well, if you've seen my insta bio it's pretty much - bridget jones but with cats. That's pretty much my life the single cat lady. 1 cat down, 26 more to go until I have reached peak spinsterhood ( I joke...kind of) and I just thought a name change kinda fit. So there we are. Let's see how this goes. x L Keep up to date with my latest posts by following me! :)
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5 things .... Goals for the rest of the year!

I'm baaaaaaaack. After a month of no blogging - boy am I glad to be here! I won't lie the month off has left me totally unprepared and feeling like I'm back at square one but here I am.... In case any of you were wondering my month off was due to 1) moving house/ lack of internet 2) the fact my domain/blogger wouldn't sync up( THE MOST frustrating thing ever)3) chronic sinusitis - I was toying with the idea of a post on this but it is a pretty dull and uninspiring topic and I'm sure you all don't want to read a post about me moaning. I've decided to up my 5 things to not just 5 things about the week but 5 things in general every sunday so if I'm inconsistent with other blog posts hopefully I won't be with these!  I thought what better way to come back than with a post all about my plans and goals for the rest of the year, I'm sure you are all aware I do love a good goals post.  1. Get back on the fitness wagon, since being ill I have well and truly fallen back to my old ways and the fat/ generally being unfit is slowly creeping back. Sinusitis makes me incredibly lethargic and not exercises and eating crap isn't helping with my energy levels at all. I've kinda accept the idea I won't be able to do the half marathon I signed up for which I am gutted about but I just cannot commit to being able to train enough for this. I also can't jump back into my BBG plan because its just to intense for me at the moment so I'm looking to go back to yoga/ climbing/ the occasional run and weights! I've also found an exercise class based on drumming which I am really excited to try and hopefully I'll be able to manage!  2. Do something creative everyday - I really need to get off my arse here and start making work. A little part of me is terrified its all going to be crap and I'll be disappointed with myself but I miss making things and designing. I also have a new shop coming soon with my housemate which I am so excited for and there is A LOT to do. So I want to draw, paint and stitch at least a little everyday. 3. Learn calligraphy- Sliiiightly related to above but I really want to learn modern calligraphy.I've found an online course which I am hoping to start next month - I'll update you all on how I get on!  4. Get back on the blogging bandwagon well and truly - I need to get both blogs going and potentially I will be running another one with my housemate along our shop which means there is heaps of blog content I need to brainstorm and with a severe lack of funds I will really need to get that creative cap on. 5.Sort my shit out. Like get a nighttime routine, catch a Jolteon on pokemon go, get some savings going. get all the paintings in my room framed and hung that kinda thing. Work on my mindfulness and build my self confidence up again being ill for 3 months plus can really get you down! Adding getting better to this list as well! And aim to complete most of my resolutions list!   So that's where I'm at at the moment! There's a lot to do and it's gonna be a struggle but I'll just do what I can!  What goals do you have for the rest of the year?  x Keep up to date with my latest posts by following me! :)
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Resolutions - update!

It's CRAZY to think we are halfway through the year, like where is this year even going?! I am super excited it's summer( well....almost summer in Manchester...) and all the plans that I have!! 
I thought I would update you on my resolutions and how I've been getting on - you can read my resolutions post here. 
1) interiors - I'm even more obsessed with interiors and moving and getting new furniture now than I was at new years. This cannot be good! Apart from my hat wall I haven't done too much to my room sadly BUT I am going to be carbooting like mad this summer so hopefully I'll shift a lot of the stuff that I have lying around. I've also found the desk that I want from Made so it's just a matter of saving up and waiting for the right time! 
2) Getting back to hot yoga and salsa, I couldn't massively afford to do both with Thailand and then saving for a car and a trip home however the place I do hot yoga had a two month deal I couldn't refuse so I have around another 3 weeks there and I am going to aim to go 1-2 times a month and try to save to go more! 
3) get toned - so... if you had read my latest fitness post  you would know I've made really great headway with my weightloss! I've toned up quite a lot although there is still some fat on top of it I've managed to shrink quite a bit of fat down! I'm really pleased with how I've got on and can't wait to see what the next 6 months brings for this! 
4) Sort my money - I was doing really well with this...for like...2 weeks? ha! Then an impromptu trip to Thailand happened that I had like...3 months to save for, so that kinda destroyed all progess and made things a little worse. But with lots of hard work I will have halved all the damage by July which for 4 months work I think is pretty impressive! 
5) start some art collections and start selling, I've definitely been working a lot on my art these past months. I've been focusing on colourstudies and how colours can work together and also practising my drawings - you can see in my sketchbook here! I've got a few ideas for prints so I'm hoping to get a good quality printer in August and I'll start selling prints! Eek! 
6) Build my blogs - I'm getting there, the blog kinda got put on the sideline sadly while everything was going on but I'm trying to be better with my planning and I have at least 10 outfits planned for my style blog- so I'm estimating around 6-8 weeks worth of content! aah! I also got over 200 followers on bloglovin' which was something I felt I was never going to get to! I definitely need to get better at planning and also try to participate in chats a bit more! 
7) Lastly I'll go onto getting a car! - EEEK. I'm getting it in July, I've worked hard to get my money in a good place that I can afford the car as it's gonna be like 50 times more expensive than my bike but I'm really excited and also really nervous at driving such a large thing. I'm gonna have to get some more refresher lessons again as I'm convinced I've forgotten how to drive! 
How have you been getting on? 

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5 things... 22.05.16

Oh my god, these posts were supposed to be weekly and I've already failed! I promise to try and do better, I need to find the time to sit and think of some fresh new idea's for the blog and posts I can write, I'm really falling behind and it is massively down to poor planning on my part! I also need to work on more than just scheduling tweets for my shop! But before I go on and on about this lets talk about 5 things this week! 1. This week I completed BBG 1.0!!! I can't beleive it! 12 weeks and pretraining and I'm done! I didn't properly do LISS or my HIIT workouts really in the last few weeks but it's so lovely when the girls at work comment and say they can tell I've lost weight and I can fit into clothes I've never fit into before! I'm redoing the plan doubling the weights and adding in some running as I've signed up to do a half marathon. I'm giving myself a goal of running 5k in 25 minutes by september! I honestly couldn't rate this plan enough and if I work more on my eating as well I'm hoping to shed the rest of me and tone up! I'll be doing a post on this in the next few days so keep an eye out! 2. I've started to properly sketch again, I did a sketch of Sansa which now looks like poop and I was quite disappointed. I want to find a sketching style that suits me so I attemped another drawing of Jon Snow ( I'm so inspired by GoT at the moment with it being back!) and I'm so pleased with it! My style needs a lot of work but it's come out really well! So more sketching and hopefully I'll get some kind of style down!  I'm hoping to get a few prints made to sell in the future and start adding art prints to my shop!  3. I had my first sale last week! I've been working so hard on my shop and promoting items, it hasn't been easy working 8-6s everyday plus the gym and yoga after work, I only have a few hours at night to get anything done but I have managed to try and promote it whilst creating new works! So getting my first sale was just an amazing feeling and made me feel like all this hard work will pay off! hopefully I'll get a few more before I start doing stalls in July! 
4. I'm feeling really rundown this week, I haven't really been on top of my diet and I think that everything has just all built up, I felt a bit ill last week and during the week, it's really hard to describe usually when I'm ill it's all at once but this is like a dull ache over time. I haven't really been properly ill since going veg/mostly veg now. Hopefully I'll be alright soon! 5. I've found my wedding dress guys. I'm not even lying. I'm obsessed with needle and thread, embroidered clothes is something I really want to get going this year and I've just become OBSESSED with it all. Just need to find me a boyfriend now.. hahahahahaaaaa. oh god. I've also found a house I want which is like horrendously out of a price range I could ever afford. - Dream big right?!? aha. 
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5 things - 01.05.2016

I've been inspired by Kate La Vie to start a 5 things post every Sunday, maybe about the week that's gone or the week coming up!  1. Yesterday I got to go to the #NWmeet 2.0 - it was so lovely getting to see a lot of the Liverpudlian girls again! We always have a good laugh and I got to meet quite a few new bloggers as well which was lovely! We raised nearly £200 for the charity MIND which is unbelievable! and I even won some gorgeous furless face brushes which are SO freakin' soft!  2. The return to Tattu - if you are wondering where that beautiful purple tree is from it's here! Now that I'm not full time veggie I was buzzing to be able to eat some venison wontons! I didn't realise there had been a menu change and thus, my beloved wontons were taken off and I will never know how they taste. I really recommend the mushroom spring rolls and the soy and orange chicken!  3. I finally finished my Audrey Hepburn inspired painting, I tested out painting with magneta to shade and found I LOVED it. I've still go so much to learn with painting but I really liked the way this came out. I had originally intended to add some piercings and bindi's to her but couldn't bear to in case I messed it up. I'm going to look to get some prints made of her and I'm so inspired to get stuck into proper portrait painting again. I've also decided to start sketching again and working on my drawing. I really want to get out my debt, afford a car and start saving for a house and then eventually be able to do art full time. I've seen a house I like which is suuuppperr expensive ( aha! expect anything less from me?) so I know I won't get it but it's something to work toward.  4.  I got Mcfly tickets!! aaaah. I've been a fan of the guys since pre-room on the 3rd floor! I remember getting the first album - I had asked my dad to pick it up on a trip back to the UK and he pretended he forgot to buy it and I had to try and act all casual like it wasn't soul destroying. Then there it was and I legged it to my neighbours so we could listen to it together. I ended up with the 3 gig ticket and I am SOOOO excited to FINALLY here 'sorrys not good enough' they NEVER play it live and it's the song I've always wanted to hear! I'm also having to trek to Glasgow to see them as the Manc dates are at the same times as Glastonbury.  5.  Lastly, I've fallen a little in love with http://www.inthestyle.com/ this week, I just want everything for festival season! I ordered a few pieces on payday so I can't wait to get some outfit posts on my fashion blog. I've fallen a bit with that one but hopefully over summer I'm going to try to aim to do an outfit post a week - with some extra posts in between - so keep an eye out! What has been going on with you guys? x Keep up to date with my latest posts by following me! :)
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that overwhelming feeling

The last few times I've come back from holiday I've found I've suffered some kind of panic attack whilst away. When I was in Malta last year I woke up at 4am with a tight chest, hardly able to breathe a few times. When I was home - at home I am usually much calmer and more at peace with life, it wasn't until the last night I was struck with the overwhelming feeling that even when I was to go home again and regardless it will always be home to me, now that my parents have moved back it wasn't going to quite be the same again -queue tight chest. When I was in Thailand, one of my last days me and a friend decided to have a nap before going out one last time, I was struck with the overwhelming feeling of going back to problems and a job that was never going to change. The thought started when I was thinking of what an amazing holiday I had had and how to had to come back again, then the next thought was - how will I ever afford it? and then? how will I afford to go home? - not just when I want to, but when I NEED to. Home is a place that I can recharge myself from the uk when I find it gets a little too much for me and I need to remind myself of me. Then I went into a downward spiral, trying to calm myself with breathing techniques and positive thoughts. I tried to joke about it and laugh it off. 
But since I've been back I've been struck with that tight painful chest and hard breathing and I just can't seem to shake it. I'm so overwhelmed with what I need to do for my shop  all the paintings I want to do, keeping on top of my fitness, doing overtime to help pay back Thailand and also the blogs. It just became too much, something was always getting left behind, mostly this blog. I had this constant feeling I was always going to be stuck in a bad place and that I was never going to have enough time to do all the things I wanted to to get me out of it. I am so fortunate I have supportive friends like Jemma who helped me when I went a little off the rails and ranty about my problems - sometimes it helps to just get it out. 
And today? well today I started writing out lists ( I LOVE a good list) of what I can do and I suddenly thought, why shouldn't I be excited about all the things I have to do? Of course its going to be hard and of course I'm going to be exhausted trying to find more time then I have now. But I love all these extra things I do outside my job and I need to start being excited about them and not so pressured, although I do still enjoy them. So I've decided when I get this tight feeling, which I anticipate I won't loose for some time I'm going to smile and think of all the things I have to look forward to once this hard work pays off. I'm going to write 50000 lists if I have to to calm me down and I'm going to pray that by the end of the year I won't ever suffering this overwhelming feeling again.  x
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Goal wishlist

So...life has been mental, I've kinda gone into overdrive into making and painting for my shop with working 20-30 hours overtime and gymming as well, safe to safe I AM exhausted, I'm telling myself its a good kind of exhausted but I need to get better at time management because I need to squeeze in that time for blog posts - I am getting a teeeeeeeeny bit better at posting on my fashion blog - okay I'm rambling. So last week in all the chaos of life I tried to spend some time reading blog posts and I LOVED this one by reinventing Neesha where she talked about her goals and beauty things she would reward herself if she achieved them. It made me think of all the million and one things I want and how I could push myself to work harder to earn them. - I didn't want to focus on one thing so I've made goals for all aspects of my life blog/art/ money. 
So some goal/treat ideas
1. ADIDAS cheetah stan smiths. BEAUT BEAUT BEAUT. I can purchase these once I have properly completed BBG 1.0 this means sticking to my LISS and doing ALL my resistance and HIIT when it gets introduced. These kind of shoes NEED to be earnt. 
2. Triple helix piercing, I've wanted this for a while and was going to go last month but realised that money for Thailand was much more important so I decided to make this a goal. I can get this once I have sold my first 10 jars. 
3. Foot tattoo's I saw a pic of a blogger with some simple traditional flowers on both her ankles and I've really loved the idea, I would have to work it around my current foot tattoo but decided to treat myself once I've finally gotten rid of that pesky overdraft.
4. Olivia Burton tortoiseshell watch, oh my god this is my dream watch, I want to start doing stall's so decided that I can do this once I've made £500 at a stall. ( I'm going to re-assess this once I've started stalling incase that's just a bit unobtainable...)
5. Get some black and white Nike Roshe Runs, I have a pair of these to send back because the tick is silver and maybe that sounds weird but if I am paying £70 for a pair of black and white shoes I want my tick to be WHITE. so decided to put these off  until I have completed BBG 1.0 for the second time with higher weights. 
6. Buy a Charlotte Tilbury highlighter, a girl tried this out on my when I tested for my foundation and I have never wanted a highlighter so much, oh my god. Can't get this until I've gotten 500 bloglovin followers!  -C'mon and help me out folks aha! 
7. Get Gallance Dore's book Live Life Love - I've wanted this for ages so decided this can be a treat once I have gotten up to 500 twitter followers. 
8. Get a leopard print triangl bikini, I've lusted after this for so long but agreed to myself I wouldn't get this until I had nicely toned up - it's going to take a lot of work but it'll be worth it! 
9. Get grey/pastel hair, I've wanted this for tiiiiime, but the up keep is something I just can't afford at the moment. so decided this one is happening when I pay off my credit card. ( I may also treat myself to a Charlotte Tilbury magic cream..... you can never have enough CT!) 
10.  Nars cruella lip pencil, something else I've wanted for ages, named after one of my favourite and most stylish villians. I can treat myself once I have 500 instagram followers. 
11. Olivia burton bee watch - Sell 30 paintings, I've become obsessed with colour study paintings, they will be coming to the shop this weekend once they are dry, at the moment I have 11 canvas's but I hope to order a lot more in april for when I do the stalls. 
12. Treat myself to some topshop jeans, I've honestly not worn jeans for years now because of inner thigh chaffing and just generally being uncomfortable. So I decided when I have shrunk my inner thighs a little more I'm going to treat myself to my first pair of jeans in ages. Through the BBG plan I have managed to shrink the things A LOT, I'm so happy with it, I definitely feel more confident so perhaps by the end of the plan I'll have a pair of jeans! 
That's all I've got so far, making this list has been so much fun, I may do a post in 6 months time with an update on how I got on with all my goals- or I may come back and slash them off when done. Have you written a list like this? what's on your wishlist? xx
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5 things I'm excited for this year

This year is just beginning and I've already started putting some big awesome plans into place!! So here are 5 things I'm really excited for this year 1) Thailand: Not only have I never been to Thailand but I get to go with 3 of my oldest and bestest friends from home. I'm going at the end of March for just under 2 weeks. We are going to Phuket and Koh Samui. I really wanted to do mermaid swimming but they don't do it anymore! Any tips or what we can do let me know!!  2) Parklife: I go every year, in fact the only year I haven't been is the very first year, and the line up so far is BANGINNGG. Bastille, Nao, Mura Masa, Shura, Gorgon City, Sigma, Craig David.years and years, Jack Garratt, flume, Circa waves...thats not even everyone I want to see and the full line up isn't even out yet!! It's one of my favourite weekends and a tradition for me and my friends!  3) Glastonbury, oh god, anyone who wants to go knows what it's like getting a ticket, last year I didn't manage to go but I am this year and there is so much for me to explore! Its one of my besties first times going which is even more exciting! - I can't wait for the silent rave!! I also didn't go down the rabbit hole last time so THAT IS HAPPENING. Aah who is going to be on the line up? I'm thinking Foals is there somewhere. I wish Lorde would be on it!  4) A foreign festival - I REAAAAALLLY wanted to do croatia rocks this year but it doesn't look like its happening at all. which I am so gutted about because it was just a perfect holiday/festival combination and croatia itself is stunning!! At the moment it's looking like Benicassium or Nosalive! 5) Leeds festival - oh god. Jack U? the return of Two door cinema club AND foals/disclosure headlining? YAAAAAAAAS LEEDS.  I can't wait! What are your holiday/festival plans!? Keep up to date with my latest posts by following me! :)
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New year resolutions 2016!

The planners are from here

It's that time of yeaaaaaaar! Resolutions! - A lot of people hate the whole ' new year new me' thing but personally I love the idea of getting a clean slate and a fresh start! I always love to set myself goals for the future and I think last year I did preeettty good ( not to like toot my own horn there). I think I did a lot of growing and changing last year that has really put me in a good place to just keep going forward. It was a challenging and tough year but I had some amazing moments and experiences at the same time. So.... - Some goals!!   1) Finish off the interiors of my room and house - I'm mega interiors obsessed and I really want my room to get finished and looking how I've always wanted. Somethings I want are a make up desk + chair, some new bedding, LOTS of morrocan lamps and lights, a gallery wall and some more nice shoe storage. Over the house I want new pillows rugs + decorations. I also have A LOT of old things that just need to get sold. There is just so much to do still!  2) Get back to regularily doing hot yoga and salsa, these are two things I really love and really miss due to fundings. I would love to do these even if its twice a month. Salsa is such a fun way to meet people and yoga is something I've always loved and I want to start investing more time in, I'm even thinking about practicing enough to learn to teach one day. ( that's a long term goal right there!)  3) Get toned, I know I put this last year too but I was very up and down with my health last year and only really picked it up at the end of the year. I really want to get back to bouldering and doing some weights in the gym. I always want to get better at cooking and try lots of new recipes and invent some of my own! 4) Sort my money, I pretty much erased most of my debt in June but some did creep back, espcially with christmas. So I really want to spend the next couple of months sorting that and also getting some savings built up so I can afford to go home or not have to constantly worry about money when I want a treat.  5) Start some art collections & large scale paintings. I've been starting some sketchbooks of idea's for works and I have been practising painting styles. I've still got a way to go but I'm proud of the fact I have started to sell work already and I'm hoping by the end of the year I can get a drawing and painting style down and get larger prints and originals sold. I also really want to start attending craft markets to sell work and I'm going to start creating little arabian inspired jars to sell.  6) build my blogs more, I think I made some great headway with this blog, sure I had some dry patches, the youtube channel didn't really kick off and neither did my style blog, but in a way I'm glad because now I know my vision better than ever and I can put more time and effort into creating things I'm really proud of. I really want to work on being more social and building a following this year and improving my photography. There's A LOT of exciting things planned ahead!  7) Quit my job, this just wasn't realistic last year and I know not to get rid of a good thing. Hopefully with some hard work I can get to a place where my art funds me enough! I'm just not sure how much more time I can spend on the phones. Ideally I want to start my brand but baby steps and I am just accepting I need to be in a whole different place before that can happen!  8) Learn Arabic, I started learning Italian last year but a part of me has always wanted to learn arabic and I think it will make me feel a little more closer to home. I've seen a few classes so I think I am going to try to get some pennies together to learn.  9) Get a car, I've had my heart set on a car since last January - Mint green fiat 500 cult, but I just didn't NEED a car. I've got my bike ( which I still prefer driving) and it gets me from A to B. A car is just 20 times more expensive and I would love to be in a place where I could afford to have one so I can go to Ikea when I want or visit my parents in Chester now they are back, or even visit my blogger friends! I also think I need a car for my little businesses I'm starting next year so thats now on the resolution list!  I could write endless lists of goals but I think those are the main ones. I really want to keep growing, being more open and discovering who I am as a person and showing that in my manners, personality and also my style.   what are your goals and resolutions for the year?  P.S please bare with me on blog photo's I don't have photoshop right now so my photo editing isn't as great!  Keep up to date with my latest posts by following me! :)
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Another update - I'm back!

Hey guys! I know it's been a while but I AM BACK.
The internet basically didn't get set up until friday - a lot later then expected!!  3 weeks without the internet has been a little refreshing but I have missed blogging and I have a list of things I am excited to blog about so I am hoping to get regularly posting again from maybe weds or friday onwards. I want to get some pictures and posts written up in good timing and not rushed. 
I was debating doing a mini house picture post - of like little details we've done to make the house more homely. I'm not sure just yet, I may wait a while until things are more set up and we have a few more bits and bobs in the house. I really want to do a room post but the walls need painting and frames bought so perhaps October when I have worked on it and got it how I want it set up.
Being in the new place has already sparked my creativity and inspiration, it's insane how quickly life has changed. We've been cooking really healthily and I may do a few meal posts and healthy idea posts which is exciting. I've started creating ideas and brainstorming for my clothing line again, I really want to get this out next year and I've been thinking of ways to raise the funds for it. I've also started drawing and hopefully going to start watercolours and re-learn how to oil paint! I'm thinking about selling my paintings to help raise money to start the brand so keep an eye out! the oils are going to be portrait practices so we will have to see how I get on as I haven't painted with oils since high school and I haven't really done colour portraits. all in all I'm just really excited about life and thinking about what my life may be like this time next year - fingers crossed I won't be stuck in a call centre! 
What have you all been up to?  x
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A quick update

this is just a quick update as to why this blog has been a little quiet, basically I am moving house weds plus a holiday last week and I just wasn't organised enough to get some posts ready. I'm aiming to start regularily posting again from next saturday onwards so keep your eyes peeled!  Hope you're all well! x Keep up to date with my latest posts by following me! :)
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Personal - Resolutions update

Every year I am guilty of writing a big list of resolutions and then never doing them, this year has been completely different, I've finally stepped up and worked hard to achieve some of  my short-term goals. I thought as it's mid-year it may be nice to do a little update on my progress, you can read my resolution post here. 1) Tone up - after christmas, me operation and then a serious amount of overtime I just completely put my health to the side. It's a lame excuse because you can always make time but for me things can be all or nothing and I just wasn't able to fully dedicate to this. I did do my best to do some fitness and started bouldering and doing the occasional HIIT working but I've recently researched nutrition ( see my post here about amelia freer's book) and I've invested in quite a few cookbooks, my bikes back so it's all systems go health wise from now! I also want to get back to hot yoga once a week and bouldering at least once a week -I've just ordered some snazzy new climbing shoes. To help I've started a new healthy instagram creatively called: @healthy_lauzb if you want to see what I'm up to fitness wise! 2) Start my clothing line - I made a decision in march to put this on the back burner because march until now has just been ridiculously busy, it was a tough decision but I felt like I was going to rush what I wanted to make for the sake of starting the brand. I've decided to spend more time designing products and making them to get a proper collection together and make sure everything is 100% something I want to put out there. I'm hoping to aim to get at least a small shop open at the end of the year with the brand fully starting the beginning of next year so it's only a slight push back. ( I hope) 3) go somewhere new, I've been really fortunate to cross off two places I've always wanted to go to - Malta and Croatia! I wish I could go to many more places but sadly I've already used up all my holidays! booo 4) sort out my money problems, I'm so happy and proud to say, I have pretty much done this and it's A LOT sooner than expected. All debt is gone (well the overdraft is nearly gone!) and it feels amazing to have money in my account that I can use to treat myself and not have to spend each month living to the last penny. I'm much smarter with my money as well so I want to keep building my savings now. I didn't think I would see the day I was more excited to save than to spend! 5) start painting properly, I'm really excited about this, after deciding to put my brand aside I decided to use the time to re-learn oil painting and to sketch and start creating work. I've opened a new art account to transfer funds to buy paints and I am going to start practising, sketching and hopefully this month or next month start two large paintings. If they turn out okay I want to get prints made and set up an art shop! I'm selling on my etsy to help fund my art  6) My second blog - Guarateed this blog did not start off the way I wanted. I did a few posts and really struggled for a few months to get posts out. I'll admit I really have left this blog but honestly I do want to get this going again, problem is I've sold a lot of my wardrobe so I don't have many clothes or money for new ones but I promise slowly but surely I will get some posts up!  6b) be more blog social, I'm happy to say this has been done and I really want to keep it up! I really try to participate in blogger chats and I have been to a few meet ups now and met so many lovely people! So here's to meeting more of you and seeing you all again! I always try to  take time to go through my bloglovin and read your posts and try to comment. I've tried to tweet a few times and I really want to do more of this!  7) get a new tattoo, due to all the events that have been happening I hadn't been able to do this but I have been able to book in with an amazing artist in november, I've been waiting patiently for her books to open and I'm so excited for the new ink!  8) be happy. This year although it has been tough and life continues to test me I do feel so much happier and positive in myself and with life. I know once I move house and get an art room set up for my and my mate to continously create and my own kitchen to get creative in I am going to be even happier!  Another two resolutions I didn't put was learning to drive a car, I love my bike - I do and I will keep using it but to go to like Ikea or to see my grandparents and friends more regular I really wanted a car because a 60 minute drive on my bike really hurts my butt sometimes! Aha, hopefully in august I will be getting my first car which I am beyond excited for! The other was to get back into my youtube channel, I made my self the resolution to make 15 videos at least this year and I have A LOT of idea's that have been waiting to happen.  These first 6 months have been mental, from working 60+ hours overtime at work, whilst learning to drive, sew, holidays and all sorts it's been crazy busy but I am in such a great place. I've had some amazing opportunities and I have got some massive big plans coming up! How have you all been getting on? Ciao x Keep up to date with my latest posts by following me! :)
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My blogging goals

Following on from the #lblogger chat the other day everyone was talking about their blogging goals. Now I do have blogging goals but I try not to take them too seriously because I used to get quite bogged down when I felt like my blog wasn't really going anywhere and I was putting my all into it.  I've got loads of ideas for posts I'm just trying to work around the fact my 18-55mm lens broke as a macro can only do so much. ( It really hates trying to take a picture of my face...) anyway.... here's a few of my goals! 1) Get my fashion blog running again! - yeah soz about that, it's real hard getting someone to take pictures you know? Plus life went a bit mental, I promise I will be picking this back up in June!! 2) Reach 500 bloglovin followers by the end of the year, - this may be overly optimistic but I won't cry if I don't get it. ( okay maybe a little... ) 3) Get 500 youtube followers, funny thing about this is I actually need to make videos... which leads me onto 4) Film at least 15 youtube videos, I've had so many idea's for over a year so this summer I really want to go about making quite a few of them, I want to spend more time filming and trying out different styles! 5) Reach 50,000 views by the end of the year, I think this will be the most realistic of them all. Would be nice if you all came back you know :)  6) Get my writing style down. I read some blogs and their writing is SO good, It feels like they are talking to you and you can see their personality come through and I want to get to this point!  I also really need to start scheduling tweets more, as I was chatting to someone, it's just so tedious. But. it does need to be done. :( I have a few other idea's about featuring more blogs on here and twitter again it's something I started to do and just stopped and I really don't know why so more blogger interaction coming up in June too!  What are your blogging goals?  Keep up to date with my latest posts by following me! :)
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Update!

Hey guys! just a cheeky little update! Sorry for the insane lack of posts! I had quite a few planned but I've been doing a crazy amount of overtime and studying for my theory test and I wasn't organised enough to sort my posts out in time!! Expect me back on track next monday!  what have you all been up to?  Ciao x Keep up to date with my latest posts by following me! :)
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Lifestyle: The travel wishlist

The Travel Wishlist I am a massive wanderlust kinda person, I just want to travel, experience all this world has to offer and see everywhere! I'm always dreaming of holidays and exploring, I've done my fair bit of travelling but there's still a huge list for me of places I want to go! So... in no particular order!  1) NEW YORK. Does anyone not have New York on their list? Visiting the MOMA, the park, empire state building, the list is endless! Let's not start about Sephora, Barneys, Macys and Bloomingdales! The other Iconic side to NY. I won't lie NY ain't gonna happen for a while because I wanna be ridiculously rich so I can spluuurrge and let's be honest here, I'm not getting rich anytime soon. :( One day Imma hear the call out of HAWT DAWGS GET YOUR HAWT DAWGS. One day.... 2) New Zealand, considering my bestie lived here, it's kinda weird I haven't been here. New Zealand looks so beautiful, it's all I ever hear about it  and I'm also massive geek and I wanna visit the Lord of the rings and Hobbit sets. I think the ridiculously long flight is going to put me off this one.   3) Bali. I blame Elizabeth Gilbert I really do. Eat Pray Love has got me wanting to go to Bali so bad, it looks stunning. I read somewhere you can do yoga retreats here too and I would love to do that! It looks beautiful here. 4)Budapest. I could blame George Ezra but actually I've been wanting to go here for such a long time. Europe has some beaaaautiful cities I've been fortunate to go to and this is one I want to go to next!  5) Florence. I've been to Rome and Venice and loved them both, but never Florence so this is next on my list, years ago me and Jemma at Dorkface planned this massive travel through all of Italy, sadly we just couldn't afford it but I would love to do that one day too! All the pizza and gelato you could wish for! I am currently learning Italian as I just love the language so it would be cool to try and practice it out!  6) HARRY POTTER LAND, oh my god.I am so upset with myself that this has been open for years and I still haven't been. I am a massive Harry Potter fan, like I even named my cat after him ( before you think I am a massive geek, my cat legit has a lightening bolt on his forehead and I couldn't not call him Harry what a wasted opportunity!!) I've heard such great things - I need to be here and get myself kitted out in some more Hufflepuff gear!  7) FESTIVALS!! Oh  my gosh, the world has some amazing festivals to offer theres tones outside of the UK I want to go to: Coachella, hideout, exit, lollapoolooza, benicassism, lowlands, optimus alive, bonnaroo,snowbombing.... I'm thinking about just festival hopping for 4 months next year!  Where is on your list? Have you been to any of these places?  Ciao x Keep up to date with my latest posts by following me! :)
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Personal: Fringe envy

For a few weeks I have been umming and ahhing about getting my fringe cut back in, do I go for my time old side fringe? do I retry the full fringe? I was thinking about getting a full fringe again with my current brown/ombre hair especially after seeing this stunning picture on foxes instagram. 

I love everything about this picture and have some serious hair envy. I was thinking about growing out the fringe when my hair is pink but Melon's recent fringe addition is making me think I should keep it and just remember to keep going back for a fringe trim! ( usually I don't have the time to frequently visit and get my fringe trimmed, it's a poor excuse but it's true!)
What do you guys reckon? Whose your hair inspiration and are you thinking of a change?
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Resolutions. Hello 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Every year I am one of those people that sets new resolutions and never completes them( I don't feel too bad because I know I'm not the only one...). Although I didn't really complete a lot of my resolutions this past year I feel like I have made such a step forward in my life. It's been a hard year for me but whatever life has thrown at me I have pushed through and I think finally grasped what kind of person I want to be and how I can finally achieve it.

Everyone says this year is my year and I think 2014 has given me a really good step to make 2015 the best year yet!

Last year some of my resolutions were:
1) go somewhere new - I went to prague and I do also want to count glastonbury here.
2) learn a new language - I have started to properly learn Italian.
3) Get better at making plans with friends, I have kinda gotten better at this!
4) the usual - loose weight be healthy, now I may not have the millie mackintosh toned figure I would like, I have lost some weight( and maybe put some back on....bloody pizza!) and I am proud of myself for that and I have proved to myself it is possible with a bit of determination.
5) Actively sell artwork... I haven't really done this, infact I haven't really kicked off my art career which I am gutted about but I understand why I haven't and I'm not beating myself up about it, my whole art vision changed this year and I have made plans this year for the paintings I do want to do.
6) sort my money out - definitely did NOT do this! Oops.
7) quit my job and start my fashion line. I made some good steps toward my fashion line but I am a perfectionist and money also pushed me back. ( plus my sewing machine broke) but I'm fixing it in january plus getting another sewing machine and I have some money ready to print shirts and I am confident that I will get the label started next year even if I don't leave my job and its just a few designs.
8) build an impressive disney collection. I was so sad when I saw this cheeky resolution there because I haven't bought ANY disney dvds this year. what is my life!?

So 2015 resolutions? I won't go into all of them but here are a few:
1) Tone up, I want to look strong and healthy! ( plus I have a beach festival in April and I don't want to feel uncomfortable like I do now)
2) Start my clothing line. ( Keep your eyes peeled in January because I am going to need all the support I can get!)
3) Go somewhere new ( this is kinda default because I am already going somewhere new.... so maybe somewhere else new I haven't already planned....)
4) sort out my money problems.( having bills AND a shopping addiction AND a creative soul does not go well with the bank)
5) Start painting properly. ( I have half a sketchbook of ideas and at least 5 names for exhibitions...)
6) Start my second blog( you can view it here - I decided to split into two separate blogs one for beauty and one for style, this blog may be slow in January but I want to get it to the same calibre as this blog) and work harder at both blogs, I felt I learnt to be more organised and got much better at running my blog this year but I have so many visions and dreams for both blogs I know they can be so much more and that's what I want to accomplish next year.
6b) A second part to this is to be more sociable ( blog wise) I didn't really do blogging chats initially and it has been such a boost doing them, you are all so lovely, and I do still miss them at times but I want to set some time out a few hours once a week to read everyones posts and really appreciate the hard work everyone puts into their blogs and make some new friends.
7) get a new tattoo: I have so many I want but I really want to start getting my legs done up next year.
8) Be happy. be positive and help inspire and influence others. After such a negative year all I want is positivity and to send this to others.

Ultimately I have a vision for myself and next year I AM going to achieve it, Have you ever seen someone and their look, whether its hair, make up, clothes, tattoos, mannerisms, personality - they just seem to fit themselves? I get so jealous when I see people like that just so comfortable/ready to show the world who they are, I want to project out who I am as a person -  Maybe what I may do is like a monthly picture or something like a diary of what I have done to move forward to this vision or and end of year post like a before and after - What do you think? Pinterest is where most of my idea's are.

Anyway, I wish you all the best for your resolutions and years.

Most importantly for 2015: Fall in love with yourself.

Ciao x
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Music Feature Sept 2014

Music has always been a big interest of mine, I used to spend hours finding new bands and going to gigs. So I thought it was apt to make a new little addition to the blog -  of music that I have been loving lately...

First of all I want to feature
Jessie Ware:
Specifically her newest songs: tough love and say you love me. I am absolutely in love with these two song. How do I describe this music? It's mildly electronic with her hauntingly beautiful voice laid over the top. Say you love me was written with Ed Sheeran and shows off the true talent of Jessies voice... just listen.

Rag 'n' Bone Man:
Ahh, my most recent discovery,  this guy has SO MUCH SOUL. He is a kinda blues, soul and hip hop mash up which probably sounds weird but works. He has a really great voice - Lay my body down and wolves I think are my top two but give him a good listen! - Last time I checked you could dl his Ep for free on his Fb page...

Hozier:
Hozier I have known about for months now, ever since Bastille tweeted about him and it was love ever since. Take me to Church is his main release but he has got so many great songs like something new or from eden. I'm actually gutted because due to rain I mised him at glastonbury and ended up not going to leeds so I haven't actually seen him live yet but he has a few live sessions on youtube which pretty much shows you its pure talent. He just has a really amazing way with words, piano, guitar boho kind of sound mixed with a little soul is probably the best way to talk about his sound... he just has an incredible voice, this guy needs to go far.

SBTRKT: 
Oh my gosh, I got tickets to see these guys end of the month and I am BEYOND excited. Wildfire and Pharaohs are my favourites...I think. Oh gosh they've done a number of songs with Sampha I love and recently one with Ezra from Vampire Weekend which is good...I can't pick a favourite! He wears this cool african inspired mask when he plays and its mostly electronic music you just haven't heard anything like this!


I know my descriptions are pretty poor here but take my word for it and listen to these guys!
Ciao x

Personal: The British Tag.

Hello lovelies,It's official I am back! 

My lovely friend Jemma over at http://www.dorkface.co.uk/ tagged me in the British tag. I kinda wanted to do this as a video but until I have learn't more about editing videos and properly planning them I am going to put vlogs on the side line. So here is a written British tag which I think Beautycrush started... honestly, I don't think I am very stereotypically english but let's see! :) 

1. How many cups of tea do you have a day? How many sugars?

This is where I say I am not very British.... I don't drink tea...or coffee. Everyone gets a little awkward when I go to their house and they offer tea and I'm like... Oh don't drink it sorry and they kinda pause like...oh god what do I offer her? 

I do drink green tea, it took me a while to be able to get in the habit of drinking this, espcially when I was working on the phones. See my problem with hot drinks is the pressue you have to drink it, I like to take my time, take an hour or two to drink a glass not guzzle it down in ten minutes. Hot drinks put that pressure on you!! Gotta drink it before it gets cold and you sip and your like oh god. the turning point and then you have to down your dirnk otherwise it's wasted!

2. Favourite part of your roast?

STUFFING. I pile heaps of the stuff on!

3. Favourite dunking biscuit?

Ahh, I don't dunk  any biscuits :/ ...Awkward. 

4. Favourite quintessentially British pastime?

Umm. What is a quintessential British thing to do? Oh.... Drinking pimms in summer! that's british!! I do love my pimms!

5. Favourite word?

Quitessential is a new favourite!

I think my favourite british word is Twat. A lot of people think its some kind of swear word, I use it as a general one sometimes and endearing word, sometimes for someone I don't like...

6. Cockney rhyme slang?

I don't know any...being a partially foreign northerner and all....

7. Favourite sweet?

DRUMSTICKS. ohh. refreshers.... fruit salads.....love them alll....

8. What would your pub be called?

Ummm...the spotted dog? I don't know...The red lip? this is why I wouldn't begin to own a pub.

9. No.1 British person?

Alexa Chung. Beaut.

10. Favourite shop / Restaurant?

TOPSHOP.

My  fav british restaurant... hmm. Toby Carvery?

11. What British song pops into your head?

I love. love love british indie you know like AM, Miles Kane, Courteeners, royal blood...kasabian. 

but I also love sam smith so much, then you have the classics....5ive. S club 7...

and so many other british artists.

I haven't really answered this well have i? I have a music post coming up actually. 

12. Marmite?

YES. but you have to have butter. if there is no butter then it's a bit too much. this is where a lot of marmite haters go wrong. chuck some butter on! 

So thats it. Think I did alright? I nominate anyone who reads this and wants to do it. Please let me know if you have by commenting below! 

Ciao x