|| Brandi's Wish Foundation Bake Sale ||

Today (Saturday the 27th of July) my sister and I hosted in bake sale in aid Brandi's Wish Foundation;

Brandi's Wish Foundation aims to offer intervention, prevention and education assistance with addiction and recovery, particularly within prescription drug abuse and addiction. 

It was created in March 2011after the loss of Brandi Meshad to prescription drugs, and since then her mother, Lisa Brandy, has fought long and hard to get her story out and help change the lives of those suffering with this disease and to help prevent anyone else succumbing to this problem. 

She believes that "the deaths that occur from the misuse and abuse of prescription medications are preventable," and that "we must change the way communities perceive addiction and the victims of this disease and proactively work to educate children, parents and community members to remove the stigma associated with the disease of addiction."

The main goals of Brandi's Wish are: 

• To actively work in changing state legislation and pass laws that protect our children from the dangers of prescription drug misuse and abuse.

• To create and offer school programs to educate families beginning in elementary school and continuing through high school to the danger of using and abusing drugs.

• To offer referral services to those families in need of rehabilitative and substance abuse recovery programs.

• To help families in need with financial assistance if they have a teen at high-risk and in crisis and cannot afford the cost of rehabilitative programs.

Brandi's Wish Foundation is a charity that is close to my heart as I know the Meshads well and almost consider them family. Brandi was one of the most wonderful people I have ever had the honour of knowing and my memories of her will stay with me forever. Her mother is one of the strongest women I know and I admire her for everything she does, even when it seems like it's all getting to hard she keeps going, pursuing to spread the word and change lives. 

For more information about Brandi's Wish, please visit the Facebook page or the website to learn more about this wonderful charity.

Today the cakes my sister and I made raised £47, which in US dollars is around $72. We spent the whole of Friday baking (and I have to admit, I'm not the greatest baker and I've never enjoyed it a great deal) and made an array of various baked treats such as: rainbow cake, lemon syrup cake, cupcakes, chocolate chunk cookies and chocolate crispies. My neighbour Rosie was also kind enough to bake some chocolate brownies. All in all the day was a success and I would like to thank everyone that helped out by purchasing out cakes and helping donate to this wonderful cause.

http://www.brandiswish.org

Here are some pictures taken from Friday (the day of baking) and today whilst selling them.

|| Mermaid Nails ||

Badgley Mischka; J. Mendel; Monique Lhuillier; Christian Siriano; Naeem Khan
Source

The mermaid look seems to be floating around everywhere at the moment. I think it's something to do with summer being finally here and a combination of the various hair styles that have been swamping the fashion world; such things as long beachy waves, and pastel coloured hair - a mermaid's dream.

I've seen so many references to the beautiful underwater sea-creatures through clothing, hair, jewellery and makeup, it seems that the fashion world can't get enough of it right now.

Mermaid inspired hair.
Source

Kate Hudson sporting the more
natural mermaid hair.

I personally am a massive fan of this look. I've always loved mermaids ever since I was a little girl, so now that fashion is incorporating the mythical creature into their looks I couldn't be more excited. I've always loved the 'beach-wave' and as I naturally have extremely curly hair I've always loved what it looks like when I come out the sea - all mermaid-esque.
On the left is more the more striking of mermaid hair, but the on the right Kate Hudson shows how you can get mermaid style hair without dying your hair blue. A simple way of getting these beachy waves (without making a trip to the beach) is using salt spray. There are many brands out there essentially selling the same sort of thing. They all give you effortlessly wavy hair that makes you look like you just stepped off the beach.

Another way of incorporating the 'mermaid-look' into you wardrobe without going all out and sprouting a tale and wearing a shell-bra, is with your nails. I'm absolutely loving this look at the moment, it's fresh and summery yet also girly and sophisticated.
Here is my own mermaid-style nails:

|| Prom 2013 ||

Prom dress from the 50's
Wikipedia

I have just realised I never got round to doing a post about my prom! You're probably thinking: "Prom? But you're English? England don't do prom?" And if you are thinking that, you're very much right. Prom is something that started off in America and was very much a BIG deal over there. I remember seeing picture of some of my friends over in America at their proms and thinking "wow, I'd love a prom etc etc" and I never actually thought I would get to have one - but I did!

The Wikipedia definition of prom is  "a semi-formal (black tie) dance or gathering of high-school students. It is typically held near the end of the senior year." However over the years many countries have started to adopt this idea of "prom"and over in the UK it is becoming a much more common term and event that happens, I think probably due to the influence of America films and TV shows that portray it to be a major event in High School and teenage life.

Unfortunately for me my school didn't make as much of an effort as I thought they would with the prom. (weird considering it's a private boarding school in the Cotswolds?) Anyway, it was held in my school dining room, like every other event that occurs at my school (like socials and sports dinners etc), and they did make it look lovely. They put fairy lights everywhere and dressed the tables with table cloths and napkins, so in all honestly even though it was out canteen it didn't really look like our canteen.

|| Summer Reading List ||

With exams finished for this year, I have now commenced into summer. I have three months off. Yes, three. I've been thinking, what on earth am I going to do to help prevent myself falling into a fit of boredom in which I end up watching repeats of Teen Mom and Game of Thrones. Well, for starters I will give myself a kick to get back into blogging, because I really do love it but I find it hard to find the time to plan, sit down and write a post, but now I have three months to spam you all with blog posts (lucky you.)

newyorker.com

Another thing I will be doing (or at least try) is to continue teaching myself the guitar so I reach a point where I don't sound like a 5 year old who doesn't even know what a guitar is. Fingers crossed with that one then!

But, obviously due to the title of this post; Summer Reading List, I hope to submerge myself into a world of literature. I love reading, I always have. I love how you can really lose yourself in a book, and feel almost a part of it. What with the English weather being what it is, curling up on the sofa on a rainy day with a good book and a cup of tea is like heaven to ones ears and I expect this summer isn't going I be too warm and sunny and this is how most of us will be spending our summers (unless of course you're lucky enough to bomberst off to a hot, exotic country.)

|| Demi Lovato - au natural ||

Many of you may have ready seen this picture, but I would just like to share this with those of you that haven't seen it.
Demi Lovato, as many of you know, has become as true inspiration to young men and women around the world, and particularly young girls and teenagers. She's helped changes the lives of many of them, and also helped to save lives.
This photo shows her being an even more inspirational young woman as she faces the world bare faced and beautiful as she tells all women that "WE are beautiful" and we don't need makeup to be.
She looks so beautiful in this picture and she inspires me to be brave and go natural!
An absolute inspiration to girls and women all around the world.

|| Return of the 90's? ||

Fashion in the 90’s was known as ‘Anti Fashion’ stemming from the alternative rock sub-genre of music being released and played at the time, hence the ‘grunge’ term. The ‘grunge’ look consisted mainly of lots of denim and leather, messy-hair, heavy or no make-up, heavy jewellery, hats and big shoes/boots, maxi-dresses and skirts, large men’s t-shirts and shirts, flannels and large vintage jumpers.

Girls at the time looked up to the super models reining the cat walk and the fashion industry, models such as; Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, and also from the influence of 90’s shows and films such as Beverly Hill 90210 and Clueless, and also from the music they listened to at the time; Pulp, Nirvana, and Suede. Young girls (and boys) were becoming heavily influenced by the world around them and as the fashion, music, and entertainment industry changed quickly around them. 

Beverley Hills 90210

The 90’s gave women that uniqueness and ‘sex-appeal’ and that came out in, particularly, women’s fashion.

Women of the 90’s had attitude within their clothing and wearing your mood and attitude on your clothing was acceptable and being glamorous and sexy was part of that.

Vogue

Looking around most cities and in most stores, it is clear that the 90’s are having a very heavy influence on the current fashion trends; however it also seems that the 2012/13 take on grunge has a much more glamorous, feminine side to it; it seems as though this fashion decade transition is becoming a clash of styles; grunge yet glamorous, sexy yet sophisticated.

The return of 90’s fashion is even evident on the catwalks. Some are from a couple years back (2010) but some however are from the current shows and catalogues.

Is this going to be a fashion circle? Or is it just a one time flash-back?

|| Jumper Collection ||

So what with the Winter season dawning upon us and also Christmas, it seems that jumpers are the perfect thing for these cold cold months.

I, myself, own many and are all from charity shops and vintage stores and I love every single one I own.

One of the most wonderful things about oversized jumpers is they can be worn with almost anything. Some (if long enough) can be worn just with a pair of tights in a dress style, others over leggings, jeans, shorts, skirts and they can be worn just to comfy and warm and others to wear out.

Wooly jumpers are perfect for this season as they feel so Christmassy and wintery.

Here are some of the ones I own.

This one I bought in Cotswold Care Hopsice and I absolutely love it. I love how Christmassy it looks and also the length is great - mid thigh so it can be worn as a jumper-dress or tucked into jeans.

  I got this one in Sue Ryder Care. I really like the pattern on it and the colours. Its a normal length but baggy so go well over leggings and skirts, and also tucked into high wasted jeans/shorts.

I got this one in Paris in a vintage shop. I noticed they now sell a similar one in H&M.

This one I got in The British Heart Foundation. It's absolutely massive but is one of the comfiest things I own. I love the little print on the front, much like a golf print.

                

I've had this one for about 2 years now, and I love  the size and colour of it. 
It's baggy but not too long so goes best with leggings.

This one belongs to my sister and she got it in a Sue Ryder. 

Its a lovely green colour and has stripes down the front which give it an army feel.

|| Charity Shop Find - 60's Dress ||

 So as you all know I do love my charity shops and I recently found this little number - and I absolutely love it. I found it in one of my local charity shops (sadly I can't remember which one) and was originally floor length and extra long.
I cut it to just above the knee, and this gave it a 60's look. The fabric is absolutely beautiful, it's really soft and silky. The main colour seen in purple, but there are also yellows, black, and blues visible. The pattern involves lots of swirls and flowers and reminds me of the Cubism Art Movement.

The gold necklace shown in the picture is from my local vintage shop - SheUnique - and I got it for £1. (It had lost it's clip but I attached an old strap at the back which gives it versatility in length.) It looks like chain mail and each hoop is linked to all the others and forms a quirky triangle shape and the original strap has small gold metal balls hanging on it - beautiful.

|| 1960s Fashion ||

The 1960's were a time where fashion was really starting to change and become something much more exciting and interesting. It was a decade that broke many fashion traditions, mirroring social movements during the period. The 1960's was a decade for rebellion, peace making and of course, the famous 'hippy movement.' The 'hippy movement' late in the decade also had a strong influence on women's style, including bell-bottom & flared jeans, the iconic Mary Quant mini-skirt, tie-dye, and batik fabrics, as well as the famous paisley prints. During the sixties, accessories became less important and not as popular due to people focusing more on colours and tones. They were dressing in psychedelic prints, bright and vibrant colours, and mismatched patterns.

The 1960's were a time for fun and the world needed a brighter and more uplifted makeover after the war. And that's just what the sixties had. All their clothes oozed with colour, vibrancy and pattern. They matched, or they clashed. They were revealing or try weren't. But overall the sixties seemed to be a decade that fashion had been given a face lift and people were swung into new an exciting things.

Women were inspired by the top models of the day which included Twiggy, Colleen Corby and Penelope Tree. Corsets, seamed tights, and skirts covering the knees had been abolished. The idea of buying urbanised clothing, which could be worn with separate pieces, was intriguing to women of the era in comparison to previously only buying specific outfits for specific occasions.

In 1964, bell-bottomed trousers were a total fashion craze. They were usually worn with chiffon blouses, polo-necked ribbed jumpers or tops that bared the midriff.

Pixie Haircut on Audrey Hepburn in the 1960's
and on Emma Watson in 2011.

Another style that's come back into fashion. The 1960's is one of those styles that never goes out of style. It keeps coming back, whether it's just for one designers fashion show or one that sweeps the nation and it's found from your most favoured designers to your most trusted high street stores. Jennifer Lopez is never one to shy away from a sexy outfit, particularly here as she mimics the 60's style mixed with a more current animal print and matching thigh-high boots. This mimics the how the 1960's were with fashion, they were becoming more revealing and provocative with what they were wearing.

fanpop.com

wikipedia.org

|| Costume Jewellery ||

There is something quite quintessentially chic and beautiful about costume jewellery. They have a slight excitement and joy about them, whether they have history with them or an heirloom, or just a beautiful piece of jewellery. I have a bit of a personal obsession with them and both my grandmothers enjoy very muchly going through their bags of old jewellery with me. I spend hours looking at them, and learning the stories behind some of them. And now that I'm older, and have a bit more appreciation for such things, I have been allowed certain items.

Costume jewelry came into being in the 1930s as a cheap, disposable accessory meant to be worn with a specific outfit. It was intended to be fashionable for a short period of time, outdate itself, and then be repurchased to fit with a new outfit or new fashion style. Its main use is in fashion, as opposed to "real" (fine) jewelry which may be regarded primarily as collectibles, keepsakes, or investments. Costume jewelry is made of less valuable materials including base metals, glass, plastic, and synthetic stones; in place of more valuable materials such as precious metals and gems.

I am a lover of vintage fashion, as are many others, and scouring the high street stores I never really find myself completely satisfied, and I don't end up buying anything unless from a charity shop or a vintage shop. For those who turn your noses up at the thought of second hand clothes - you are wrong. You will never know the joys of second hand shopping until you try it. I personally love it a great deal, and you can find the most amazing deals/bargains and sometimes you may find some sort of designer item which would've originally been out I your price range but is now only £2.50 it seems silly to miss out!

But back to costume jewellery, if you know where to go for it, you can get amazing deals. The local vintage shop near me has the most amazing beauties and treasures and I can literally spend hours in there. You can also find some in charity shops, however the best place to get authentic costume jewellery is from your family. They may have a story behind them, or they might just be more exciting to know that your grandmother once wore it.