Dollah.

I handed over my receipts for my expenses today. What a weight, I was getting so stressed out over possibly losing them.

Today was a very good last day, I really enjoyed my time at Ink and it definitely beat stapling paper and reorganising cupboards.
They were also kind enough to give me a quick portfolio review, which I wasn't going to take advantage of because it's been ages since I've shown anyone any proper work, but I'm glad I did. I might actually try and persevere with this whole photography thing. Doing that has definitely helped towards how I'm going to lay out my online portfolio. I am so disgustingly aware of how long I've been saying that I'll do it, I just kept getting distracted with applying for jobs, now I'm going to make myself because it's just as important.

I hope that this experience and getting some new experience under my belt will help with keeping me motivated for a bit, I'm ready for the next step, and taking some time out next week.

Boxpark, Shoreditch.

Having had my last day with Ink today and therefore the last day I will be going to Shoreditch on a regular basis, I thought I would post a blog about a site that has intrigued me for almost my entire work experience period, Boxpark.

Before starting at Ink I had read about Boxpark on a careers fair website, but, as careers fairs suck, I didn't think much of it, but then I confronted it every day for the next month.

Boxpark is a concept developed by the creator of Boxfresh, in association with real estate developers Hammerson & Ballymore. The basic idea is to strip and refit shipping containers to create affordable and unique retail space - I was quite surprised to see that there was still a unit available, I mean you'd have to get on it even if it was purely for location, surely.

Situated at the entrance to Shoreditch High Street Overground station, this ambitious shopping experiment effectively sets itself to be Shoreditch's first 'shopping mall', playing host to a number of well-loved, great brands and it looks bloody good too. On Monday evening a bit of the building work came down and the outside of Boxpark was revealed to the public and I couldn't believe how impressive the units looked. Each unit fitting into the iconography of the building but also demonstrating a great utilisation of space when reflecting each brand's varying image and statement.

I think visually my favourites so far are the Oakley and Urbanears units. I'm a big fan of their use of colour and simplicity, particularly with Urbanears, they're space looks massive.

It looked so different when put in the evening light and all the shops were so shiny and new. I'm sad I don't have enough time/money to get a proper glimpse when Boxpark officially opens at the weekend. The opening will see 20% discounts as well as special celebrity guests and DJ sets. However, from the sounds of things it looks like Boxpark will be sticking around for a bit so hopefully I'll get the chance to grab my own slice of the Shoreditch shopping centre experience when I get the time.

Boxpark officially opens on Saturday 3rd December at 1pm.
Visit boxpark.co.uk/ or email info@boxpark.co.uk for further details.
Like Boxpark on Facebook.
Follow Boxpark on Twitter.

Purchases. ♥

As I mentioned in my previous post, I bought a few of nice things on Saturday. In some ways it was a bit of a failure because I had intended to get some Christmas shopping done but it other ways it has made me see how incredibly selfish I am, which ultimately results in my happiness, so I can't complain. Who am I kidding anyway, it's years until Christmas.

The Adventures of Tom the Lion - Tom the Lion.
I'll start off with something I didn't buy. I persuaded Moon to treat himself as he is currently feeling as down about 'the job situation' as I was a few weeks ago - and undoubtedly will be feeling in a few days time. The lion is coincidental and just something I have lion lying around. As it goes, Rough Trade East know how to pick a good album of the month. I quite like it and currently have the first track on repeat on my iTunes. For the price it also came in some of the nicest CD packaging I've ever seen, bargain!
Moon's blogged about it, he can be such a hipster, I can't even.

These two critters are from Maiden, an amazing shop on Shoreditch High Street. They're made by a company called Quail, which make all kinds of other adorable ceramic animal homewares and gifts. The guinea piggy bank is life-size, so cute! It was such a tough decision to go for this pug egg cup over all the other worthy faces looking back at me, I even shunned a panda, I think additional purchases are definitely needed. However, at the same time I need to stop crowding my tiny room with things for my future house, I just don't have the space right now. :(

I'm not sure what spurred me to buy these but I picked them up at the Old Spitalfields Vintage Flea Market. The green matches are the same brand as the only tobacco that one of my uncle smokes so I thought I'd put them in a Christmas card, and get him something else, obviously. They're quite pretty though and different and I would imagine there is a chance I will need matches in my life at some point.

All Lazy Oaf Xmas Pop-up Shop -
Mittens - £1
T-shirt - £10
Tote bag - £5

If I had more money I would definitely have spent more, I'm dying to get these socks and this anorak was amazing and reduced. I did have a bit of a steal though, the mittens would have come in useful today if I had remembered to bring them, hello winter! Best £1 I've spent on an item of clothing, even if they are a little bit big, I adore the pattern and colours.

This ring is from a stall in Brick Lane market, which I have got things from before but forgotten the name of again, I was doing so well as well. I would recommend you get down there though as the jewellery they offer is much cheaper than getting it online. I also picked up my sister something that that's a secret.
What do you think of my nails, they're still here today, I like them, they remind me of Skittles.

Two days left with Ink...

I ♥ Shoreditch.

Apart from the hipsters and dickheads.. :3

Yesterday I took Moon to Shoreditch to show him all the cool things I don't get to look at because I'm always worrying about time during my lunch break. I bought so many things and had such a nice time and saw so many nice things. It was such a good day out. We started off at Maiden (unf, what a shop, truly living up to it's amazing window display!), then we went over to the vintage flea market at Old Spitalfields Market, also awesome, after that we had a browse around Brick Lane and on the way headed to Lazy Oaf's Pop-Up Christmas Shop (bargain-tastic!) and some how we ended up at the Wellcome Collection after Moon found a leaflet outside Spitalfields toilets. Quite a trek but I think we definitely made the most of the day and it was so nice being together and feeling like a couple and not having to talk to each other on the phone. I talk as though we never see each other, but the last week has been a long one with no real relaxation time, I'll definitely be sick of him when I'm back to being unemployed :).
Should I apologise for the following photo-essay? :3

We had a pretentious moment before we entered the market and went into a little kitchen shop and picked up Long's parents a nice gift for when we visit them next week, it was delicious and, despite preconceptions, the shop was both welcoming and helpful. I kind of fell in love with the sales assistant and his gift wrapping skills, a little bit. Even if he did have a weak moustache.

I've passed this shop every other day for two weeks, I'm not that into the whole Lomography trend but it's window display is amazing and they always seem to have great offers. Lomography Gallery Store.

Even though he is being a standard grump, I like this picture, the DoF is nice and the colour is nice and his face is nice. ♥

Casually looking super-Chinese and cheesy with a ginger beer.

As much as I loved the environment and the hustle and bustle, and although there were some proper bargains and amazing items there, I did question the value of some of the items on display as well as their presentation. When would you need mannequin legs that aren't on a mannequin?

I was seriously considering buying the 'Zoo' book for nostalgia but I was kind of a bit sad that whoever had owned it had carefully written their own additions to the book. It satisfied me enough to remember that this is exactly what I used to do, that and so much unnecessary colouring in.

New style icon.

InSpitalfields.

Chipped into the wall.

If I had enough room for another book, I would definitely have bought this, so much love for branding.

There were so many pop-up shops and sample sales everywhere, best way to find nice new things.

While on our way back to the station we stumbled into this shop called Lik + Neon, and there were a few sleeping cats lying around, real ones, just casually as if it was normal. Amazing and they were so calm and well behaved.

This is the sun setting, it was weird to see it from this perspective and it was basically already dark...

After making the trek from Shoreditch to Euston and thinking we were lost but actually weren't, we made it to the Wellcome Collection. It was something I was initially excited about as I thought it would have curiosities, which can be quite fun, it wasn't what I thought and Moon and I just ended up feeling a bit uneasy, but maybe we were just missing the point...

Outfit:
Cardigan: H&M (last year)
Scarf: Primark (ancient)
Top/Dress: Gift from Moon
Skirt: Primark
Bag: River Island
Boots: River Island

Sometimes I realise how short I am.

'I Can't Help The Way I Feel' (2003) - John Issacs

A slice of human body.

Okay, so we didn't exactly enjoy the museum, but sometimes not liking things together is fun, and it was something different and somewhere warm to be for another hour. It was also free, and you know how much we love free things.

Trip, success. I wish it wasn't such a trek, I think I could handle dickheads if I could own half the things I didn't buy yesterday. I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks, there's a lot on, I don't think my feet are really going to touch the ground.