Slowly, steady.

Last weekend, we had a lot of fun playing around with the (inexplicable) slow motion feature on my Nikon 1. It's pretty neat, especially when you're videoing things that you never even wonder what it would look like slowed down.



*Despite being videoed in HD, they haven't uploaded as such for some reason...

Vrooom!

Hands up if you made it over a life-hurdle yesterday? No, I still haven't got a job, they've actually been a bit slow on the ground so far this week.
I passed my driving theory test! No more dumb DVD revision, it was the revision part of it that made me wish I'd done it when I was 17. I haven't had any kind of exam in over four years, and I hope that that was the last one I have to do. I was so nervous, not just because a load of questions were ones that had never come up while I was revising, but also because it would cost silly-money to retake it if I did fail, but I didn't so it's out the way. I got 44 on the theory and 56 on the hazard perception.

Busker in Kingston, who put on a pretty sweet performance and having filmed him (and his back-up dancers) and having recently seen 'Once', I felt compelled to give him money.

So, after visiting the Job Centre yesterday, which turned out to be fine because I've switched advisors, I had a ton of time to kill before going on to the test centre. An annoying amount of time in fact, not enough to go home, but too much to spend mooching around. What better way to waste time though than to shop?

I actually was pretty bad yesterday and spent more money than I should have, therefore basically breaking one of my New Year's Resolutions. However, up until then I hadn't really spent any money apart from a couple of things in the Christmas sales and Christmas presents... I'm not going to try and justify it, yesterday was a crap-money day.
I even bought room-spritz, just to come one step closer to my free Body Shop gift..

Anyway, here are a selection of the things that I bought, which I like, and although I feel remorseful for my bank account, I think I made some wise choices, anyway, I had a bit more money than I thought I would so...

Brook Street Mews - Nails Inc (Gift set)
053 Apricot Punch - Rimmel
Top Turquoise - Models Own
3D Glitter Polish, Magic - Accessorize
Nail Art Pen - This eBay seller
Top coat - 421 Clearly Clear - Rimmel Pro

I used the last of my Models Own Top Turquoise on this mani, but I really like it. Apparently despite having tons of nail art pens to choose from, I'll still go for trusty black. I'm still on the hunt for a Topshop pen but this one, which came in the set my sister bought me is basically the same as the WAH Nail Art pen, which I probably won't buy again due to it's now tiny (and therefore inferior VFM) packaging.

It's been all about Models Own for me for a while but Accessorize have really creeped under the radar. They're making some awesome polishes at the moment, some metallics they have could potentially rival Model's Own's Beetlejuice, and with Accessorize being £1 cheaper, I'm really drawn to them. There's been a bit of buzz around '3D polishes', to me it just seems like it just means that they contain lots of differently shaped glitter. I've thrown a lot of polish out recently so I thought I'd introduce some new ones and think I made a good choice with this one. Sadly it's much prettier in the bottle but it still looks nice on, although I'd say it needs four rather than the suggested three coats.

I bought this card from Scribbler. I think it's meant to be a bit Valentines-y but I think it's far too nice for any boy to really appreciate, so I bought a frame for it so I can hang it in my someday home. It's by Rob Ryan, I've liked his work for a while now. I got a free print (which I need to frame properly) a few years ago when I bought an issue of It's Nice That and I've been coveting the heart he did for Tatty Devine for ages, now I have another piece of his work and it makes me feel warm.
Rob Ryan on Etsy

Monday Cat, Gemma Correll, £3.50 + P&P

I had to have this as soon as I saw it, although admittedly this item isn't part of the haul I got yesterday, I only got it in the post today anyway so I thought I may as well share it with you. I've been looking everywhere for relevant cat-lady accents to add to my life and I think this is lovely. I think Gemma Correll is great, it's so lame that her 'Pugs not Drugs' illustration has been ripped off by everyone, but now Urban Outfitters sell an official t-shirt. I'm a proud 'Pugs not Drugs' tote owner, before it got overused ♥.

Sticky notes, Paperchase, £4.50

These were something I needed as the ones I bought last year for my diary have now nearly run out. Admittedly I could have gone for standard (and cheap) post-its, but I'm a sucker for slightly nicer paper. At least they'll get used, that's how I'll justify it to myself, plus look at the patterns and the lovely shapes and sizes. Unf.

Horse-print dress, £12.99 - Cityscape dress, £21.99, both Yumi.

Don't worry I wouldn't normally pair either of these with this lazy legging/socks combo.
I had no idea that the Yumi sale would be so amazing. Yumi is usually a brand that I tend to stay well away from because usually I see everything as overpriced, although what I really mean is that I can never afford anything. But I saw these two bargains and I had to have them, they're such nice shapes and really flattering, with quite original patterns. I know, I know, another horse-print dress, but I promise, promise, promise, this is the last one and this one is a bit different. I love the cityscape one, the birds fly really high on the back. I kind of get the usual £40+ price tag at Yumi, because they're both really well made, but I'm still umming and ahhing out of principal because I think they are more realistically worth what I paid for them in the sale... then again, I'm poor so what do I know?

I'm so, so nervous for this interview with Mirrorpix on Thursday, but excited, because what if I get it? I don't think I would want to move out on my own though, going back to a house that just has a cat and no one else screams loneliness and potential madness to me.

NYEE2K11!

I guess that this will probably be my last post of 2012, so I thought that I would make it a big one.

(via HelloGiggles)

I don't think I'm really doing anything for New Year's Eve, as per usual, but I'm saving my energy for the whole year so it's irrelevant that I happen to be spending New Year's Eve just like most Saturday nights rather than with my spread-out friends as I would want to...

I suppose I should finish off this year the way that I would plan to start any new year, with my resolutions. I dislike the assumption that people who make resolutions end up breaking them (and therefore become depressed about it) within the first few weeks. Maybe I will break them or fail in the first few weeks, but it might be spectacular, and I have a whole year to come back to it and achieve it if I want to. So here are my goals for this time next year.

1. Get a job.
This one is a pretty big deal and integral to doing what I want ever, I don't want to be on JSA any longer than I have to. I hope that the New Year brings more prospects and the chance for both further work experience and the chance to earn some cash.
2. Make it so my someday home is just my home, i.e. move out.
Both this and the first are linked, as fine as I am with living at home, I would be happier with my own space, my own kitchen, my own lounge, it will be great and it will be mine with my things. Probably the worst thing about 2011 was moving home and back to just having a bedroom, which is fine for the holidays but not great for any longer than that.
3. Spend less, way less.
I'm coming to terms, hard and fast, with how important it is to save money and how I need to not live so hand-to-mouth. It's lame not having any money for big fun things like trips and holidays but more dresses that I will ever wear in a year, I don't even have anywhere to go because I spend all my money.
4. Do at least one creative thing every week.
I had wondered whether it would be a good idea to begin a '52 Week Project', but that feels a bit too forced and camera-centric. Additionally, I also think that I do need to keep myself creative in other areas, start drawing more, making things and even watching more films, plus if unemployment continues, at least it will keep me active.
5. Pass my driving tests.
With my theory test looming, I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I'll be able to pass and have a car by Easter, I'm still a bit wary of it but not nearly as scared as I was before I started driving. I need to do it and most importantly, I want to, it will be fun.

Other than the standard 'drop a dress size' that comes with the calorific season that was Christmas, I don't think I'm asking myself to do anything particularly unachievable. This is going to be the year that I turn into an adult, probably.

(via The Dainty Squid)

Awesome time-lapse/stopframe video of the view from Eirik Solheim's window. Captured in 2007/8 but still a pretty nice way to see away 40 seconds, and people are still reflective in 2011/2 are they not?

(via The Dainty Squid)

All the Buzz Satchel, Modcloth, $79.99


Bronx Lace Dalmation Brogues, New Look, £69.99
V. high on my wish list, other than those (now discontinued) Minnie Mouse creepers from Lazy Oaf, these are the most awesome shoes of this kind that I have seen. I think I need them and it's important that I have them.

This is probably the last 'new to me' film of the year that I will see and man, did I make it a good one.
I picked up on it thanks to Verbal Vomit's 'How to Be A Hipster' post. I figured that, apart from Garden State and Donnie Darko, that I liked all the other films mentioned so I may as well give this one a go too. URGH, it's too perfect, I've already downloaded the soundtrack and am keeping some serious tabs on Glen Hansard. Who knows? Maybe I am a hipster... #fangirlend

I think I'll round up this post with a final Verbal Vomit related recommendation. 'The Internet Owns Me' is v. relatable both to how I feel after using the Internet for extended periods of time and in relation to my 13-14 year old self, who totally 'had a website' which is definitely probably still discoverable in the deepest, darkest depths of the internet, not to mention the Myspace days; guess who always unnecessarily had the best one? Yep.
If you're willing to check out the above post you should definitely look at the rest of her blog, it's awesome and she posts some of the best links to things through the medium of her neat drawings. Run by Hannah Hillam, an American illustrator, it's probably one of my favourite illustration/lifestyley blogs at the moment.

Verbal Vomit.

Well, I suppose that's it. Finito, done and dusted.
Tomorrow I think Moon is making Mexican food and I'm going to be forced into watching Black Dynamite, something I probably wouldn't have any scruples about if it hadn't be quoted to death at me despite the fact I have never seen it. #goodjob
If I'm not going out, just as long as I get to watch the fireworks, I don't mind.

I hope that you have a very happy new year, and would like to thank you very much for reading. ♥

Ho Ho Ho.

Ahhh, no one is psyched for Christmas! I am, and I love that everything is holiday themed right now, even Google. I went to Guildford yesterday and it was dead, but I've returned feeling holly jolly, even though all I bought was things for myself, but hey, I'm done with Christmas shopping, and I'm quite content with my bank balance hating me.

Tonight I'm meeting up with my best friend, Lucy for Christmas Eve drinks. I was a bit panicky about what to buy her, but on the subject of Christmas gifts, I snapped up one of Lyzi from BeingLittle's fabric kittens as a potential gift for someone but forgot, and was very pleased when I remembered what I'd done, Internet shopping is so great that way.

(via BeingLittle)

They're adorable, and so reasonably priced, I might pick up a few more and even one for myself when I finally get to my someday home.
You can pick them up and have a look at some of the other cute things Lyzi sells on her shop.

Tatty Devine have posted some great tutorials for things to make with Christmas cracker prizes. Will definitely have to give them a go, and hope that I get something decent, I'm nearly always hoping for the mini-screwdrivers though. You can see the tutorial above and others on the Tatty Devine website.

(via Feature Shoot)

This portrait series of disabled pets by animal carer/trainer turned photographer, Carli Davidson, is adorable. She also did a great series called 'Shake' which can be seen, along with the above, on her website.

Nail Art Pen, Topshop, £6.50.

This is definitely a nail-art pen you can trust, after reading Gem Fatale's mini review of them, I was still a bit skeptical. However, after testing them out in real life, they really are literally like using a felt-tip pen and are just great, I can't wait to purchase one for my own as my trusty WAH pen has died and they don't seem to make them in a larger size anymore. :(

(via Nailside)

So envious of these Christmas nail-art ideas right now, I've been very indecisive and my nails are so short at the moment, boo!

(via Interior Porn)

(via The Third Reel)

I've seen this film twice in four days, it's perfection. It's everything I love about a gritty drama and the cinematography is brilliant, along with the soundtrack and the beautiful Tilda ♥. I picked up the book yesterday which promises to go more in-depth, once I've finished fangirling over 127 Hours' novel, 'Between a Rock and a Hard Place', I'll get on it.

(via LazyOaf)

Due to Nigel Slater's recent Christmas special, I was reminded of this video I put together when Moon and I were watching him one evening. It may not show Moon in a great light, but I like it and it's funny.

If you haven't been overexposed to Michael Bublé yet, where have you been? It's so difficult to not love him though when he's willing to parody himself on SNL.

Link love!

The Dainty Squid FF #136

Google Web Fonts — Free open-source fonts for websites.

Kim Jong-Il Dropping The Bass — It's always nice to see some harmless mocking of a recently deceased dictator.

Getty's Year in Focus — I was waiting for this to turn up, so many powerful images set within a great Youtube mix.

Coverjunkie's Best Cover of 2011 — Be sure to vote for Little White Lies because they're great but there are some great other magazine covers to look at too. Such nice visuals.

Modcloth's sale — Add the code 'SALEAWAY' for an extra 25% off up to 28th December. So many nice things!

CHRISTMAS EVE! Yeah!

Cornwall.

Here's the long-awaited video from when I went to Cornwall a couple of weeks ago. I tried to make it a bit more visual than diaristic as I knew we would mainly be hanging out rather than seeing or talking about things that would be majorly exciting to anyone other than us, it's not like it was Glastonbury.

But anyway, I sat down this evening and made this, I hope you like it. I picked Tom the Lion for the music because he kept coming up on the playlist that I made for the journey down, and he is lovely.

I have a few Christmas-related posts that I'm thinking about, I'm feeling fairly 'in the spirit' now but I've yet to bust out 'The Muppets Christmas Carol'. Moon and I had a great overnight stay on the Isle of Wight at the weekend with all our university pals, it was swell. I have a couple of photos to share from that, I quite like the Isle of Wight.
Just thought I'd share this nice video with you and let you know that I'm still thinking about you.

TGIF. 14/10

It seems that I've been pretty much rushed off my feet this week, the Job Centre will be pleased. I've been in newspaper and everything, surely I can categorise that as networking or something.

Anyway, even though I've definitely not been bored, I'm definitely knackered, it's so nice to finally get a chance to relax. The job hunt has been going quite well, I've been put forward for two roles within Nikon, which would be cool, and I have an interview with a fashion PR and marketing agency for an internship. Obviously, as usual, I've applied for a lot more jobs than I received replies for, but I'm feeling a lot more upbeat about the situation.

Other than the usual job hunt and being a celebrity, I've spent the remainder of my time this week internet shopping, Tumbling, watching TV and getting into Patrick Stump. Nothing particularly exciting but here are some nice things I've seen/found this week.

I just bought this online from River Island,I really hope it works out as a decent camera/handbag, it would be a nice alternative until I get enough dollar for a Jo Totes bag. It is advertised as a camera bag so here's hoping.

(via tr0llop)

I hate it when things like this come up on Tumblr, where do you actually find them in real life?! I'd love the burgundy pair.

(via BuzzFeed)

There's a whole Tumblr dedicated to these kind of images. They are cute though, and in some cases really well done in terms of matching colour schemes and the type (I know what I'm saying) to the point of fashion.

(via Whatacatchdonnie)

I guess that you've probably realised now that I do love a good mash-up and I apologise for last week's poor efforts, but I think this might make it up to you. Now that Fall Out Boy don't exist anymore it's probably perfectly acceptable to appreciate Patrick Stump's voice again right? I've discovered that his debut solo album, 'Soul Punk' is coming out next Tuesday and I'm on it. I also think that he looks quite nice. I was once a Fall Out Boy fan but I grew out of it, his new album possesses qualities found in FOB's metaphorical/visual lyrics but it's much more upbeat, and look at him. *Swoon*
I can't believe that he ever looked like this:

You can currently listen to the album in full over on the Rolling Stone website. Soul Punk is due for release on 18th October.

(via TotalFilm)

Links:

The Only Way is Dalston: As if I needed an excuse to hate East-London hipsters any more. Seems mildly amusing, but I think that it's only because of Vice's spin on it. A mock-trailer can be seen here.

Little White Lies print shop: So many films I appreciate/prints I need.

The Jane Doze appreciating me appreciating them: ♥

My guest blog over at TheEmployable.

News about the new American Pie movie and a redband trailer: All the cast are back and it looks like it might actually be funny.

I was told this week to 'play up my stats' if I get the chance to to in an interview. I think I will, but I have also thought that even if no one actually looks at this, it's nice to have a visual record of things.

Happy.

As cheesy as it sounds, and despite how appallingly cringey the earlier posts on this blog are, I am quite pleased to have kept this going. It has been really useful both to refer back to and as a general visual outlet. I was reading a well-known blogger's blog the other day and she was talking about how it will be a nice thing to look back on when she's older and maybe even able to share it with her kids. I think that's kind of a nice thought, and I'm already quite glad to share this now too.

This week my view count has picked up and I actually feel as though I'm talking to someone, hello!
So I thought I would share with you that I'm feeling positive and happy, particularly as I've mainly been feeling unmotivated and sluggish previously.

Here are some things that have made me happy this week.

I might actually have got to grips with driving, and I'm more excited than scared about three-point-turns and reverse parking.

I'm actually able to write on here and update it with apparently readable content.

I now have motivation to start applying for things properly again.

I'm going to Portsmouth tomorrow.

The sun is shining!

My favourite American shows are back, with just The Walking Dead left to wait for.

(via Sophie Spils)

(via Keep Calm Arsenal)

(via 8:Swim)

(via Passion for the Music)

(via Models Own)

(via Verbal Vomit)

One thing that made me angry this week:
My favourite band is The Maccabees and I was unable to get tickets for their upcoming October/November tour because they were selling exclusively out of record stores who declined telephone orders, meaning you had to get the tickets in person. Rough Trade sold out by the end of Saturday.
This sales structure was based upon keeping booking fees down and keeping the shows more local, despite the fact that most ticket sales still involved a booking fee. It was a nice idea but now I am left without a ticket, I'm having Maccabees withdrawal symptoms and I need to hear some new songs, they're so good live and always have really fun support acts. I am hopeful that they will have another, larger tour once their new album is released in the New Year. This just bugged me because I've not seen them live for a long time and haven't heard any new material in a long time and now I have to wait even longer.