I DON'T HAVE AN ADVENT CALENDAR SO SOMEONE HAS TO PAY

HI EVERYONE
I know I've been a little MIA the past couple of weeks or so, but work has been a massive priority recently! But here I am again, ready to blow ya damn minds with some truly high quality content. I hope.
SO unless you live in a cave or don't have any concept of time (if so I want in), it's nearly blinkin' Christmas! And Hanukkah! And Kwanzaa! BLIIIIMEY HOW EXCITING. Seeing as every paper and magazine under the sun is doing a gift guide, I thought I'd join in the fun. I've tried my best to find things for boys because as not a boy, I struggle so hopefully there's a little something for everyone. Also my brother helped. 

1. New Balance 420 Navy and Pink Suede Trainers - £60 ASOS
I love trainers, more than I love heels I reckon. I mean I love a good heel, but trainers are top of the pops for me. I love my mint NB's but have been lusting after these bad boys since I saw them floating around Pinterest. Mega cool. 

2. Rifle Paper Co. Birch Floral 2016 Planner - Around £15 Rifle Paper Co.

Since I've now got a proper job and wake up at 6am to earn money every day, I feel the time has come to be more organised. I have long loved stationery and Rife Paper Co, make some really cute bits and bobs to make your desk look super nice. 

3. ALDO Bossy Box Clutch - £22.50 ASOS

SALE ITEM ALERT SALE ITEM ALERT. I am in love with this bag, it's so quirky and sassy and a little bit badassy. Also I need a bag for the Christmas party so maybe I'll buy this for myself by then. Yeah, I'm gonna do that.

4. Penny Nickel Complete Skateboard - £99 Skatehut

I'm not expecting anyone to actually buy me a Penny board, and actually if I ask my parents they'll probably just tell me to find the Globe board I lost in the garage sometime over summer. But I kinda got good on that and if I get a replacement, a Penny would do me alright. Thanks.

5. Frends Layla Rose Gold Leather Headphones - £119 Frends

Extremely ostentatious, especially unnecessary and massively lavish, they're pretty though, right? 

6. Parks and Recreation Pencil Set - £4 LaLaLand

Stationery and Aziz Ansari, two of my favourite things have come together in these pencils. If you're not singing the Bye Bye Li'l Sebastian song right now, you're doing Parks and Rec wrong. 

Okay so the whole "boy" section is a bit nerve wracking because I don't know how to buy things for boys in general and sort of went along the lines of "well if I were a boy.." and also asked my 14 year old brother. It's alright though I suppose?

1. Vans Old Skool Trainers - £52 ASOS

My brother has a pair of these and I always want to steal them. Though he is 11 and has the shoe size of an 11 year old boy. I think the old skool Vans is a bit more unexpected, in a way, than white Chucks (although they're always cool). And also they look pretty smart too, so I reckon you could get away with being more formal with an outfit when wearing these bad boys.

2. NYT. 36 Hours. Europe - £20 Amazon

Travelling is fun right? EVERYONE BLOODY LOVES TRAVELLING! This travel guide to Europe's biggest and best cities is fast paced, fun and a total must have for anyone looking to escape for a couple of days. Or 36 hours to be exact.

3. ASOS Bobble Beanie in Mustard - £10 ASOS

Yellow is my favourite colour and everyone needs a hat. This one is a bit quirkier than your standard navy blue bobble and I love how it seems really oversized on the model meaning it's exxxxxxtra cosy and warm. If I chose two more hats, it'd be a hat-trick but this is good enough. 

4. Uppercut Deluxe Hair Matt Clay Gift Set - £35 ASOS

My brother loves Uppercut products so this seemed a no brainer to me. The shampoo smells minty fresh and I have been known on occasion to borrow a blob of conditioner because it's so hydrating and smells so nice. It comes with a matte clay for styling too which is awesome for guys with no knowledge of hair products beyond V05 gel. 

5. Lomography Havana Lomo'Instant Camera - £129 Urban Outfitters

Yes it's expensive and yes it's also lavish AF but I love cameras and this one is like my expensive Diana Lomo and my also expensive Polaroid Instax had a baby and it's so pretty. And I mean if you're going to travel Europe with the NYT book, you'll need something to document your time right?

So what do we think? Any other Christmas gift ideas you can think of? 

Cheerio,

Hope x

22 LESSONS, 22 YEARS

HAPPY THURSDAY CEREAL FANS

We all know what that means, it's nearly the weekend and tonight is bonfire night! I've been a poorly bun today so getting an early night and catching up on Catastrophe is an excellent end to the day.

So I thought today I'd talk a little about life lessons. It was something that I thought about recently after a bout of spot prone skin and a misjudged attempt at flirting. What, after 22 years on this planet, have I learnt about life? What can I tell my sister when she's older to save her from the embarrassments I went through? How do I explain without using inappropriate stories that start with "well we were really hammered..." the things I wish I'd have known? Well it turns out after those 22 years, I've picked up a few bits here and there, and thought I'd share them, without recounting tales that end "...and that's why you should carry wet wipes with you when clubbing". There's a story there, trust me.

1// Pasta solves all kinds of sadness.
2// Failing that, cheese on toast will work.
3// Everyone has an awkward stage. You are not exempt. Just deal with it but trying to stand out by not brushing your hair and earning the nickname Justin Lee Collins isn't going to help.
4// DRINK MORE WATER
5// Carry flats in your bag. You will appear shorter and less on point perhaps but you won't have to face the humiliation of your housemate telling you you're too heavy to carry home. There is a story here.
6// Be eccentric and off the wall and take the word "weirdo" as a compliment.
7// If your dentist tells you not to eat apples when you have braces, for the love of god don't eat apples. Trust me.
8// Buying slogan t-shirts sounds like a good idea now, but give it two months. This rule does not apply to band t-shirts. Good bands only.
9// The best advice ever is that Roald Dahl quote. "I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life...lukewarm is no good"
10// Persevere.
11// Stop worrying about looking stupid. If you want to do it, bloody do it. See below.

Here she is throughout history, demonstrating number 11.

12// Immerse yourself in the moment. You'll only kick yourself later if not.

13// Invest in a good foundation. If you're me and can't apply blush/bronzer without looking like a scruffy clown (not even a well put together clown), a proper foundation will suit you enough to go without.
14// If your mum thinks you need a swipe of lipstick, just put the lipstick on. She's probably right.
15// SEE THE WORLD
16// Friends who don't stick up for you or listen are not friends. Get rid. Friends who don't judge you ARE friends. Keep.
17// Boys are fickle. Stop caring about them. 
18// Read, read, read, read, read. 
19// Listen to music too. And watch films. Let them shape you. Listen to Taylor Swift and Black Sabbath and everything in between if you want. 
20// Life is too short not to eat biscuits.
21// A pair of classic white Chuck Taylors work with any and every outfit.
22// Make your own rules. 

So there we have it! Just a small teensy bit of what I've picked up on my 22 years of bad jokes, too much chocolate, memorised Lady Gaga dance routines and online shopping. I've skimmed over the truly horrifically embarrassing things I've learnt and could've gone on for another 22 items about how not to talk to boys but once again, horrifically humiliating. Have you learnt anything you wish you'd known sooner?

Until next time, 

Cheerio,

Hope x