End of 2013 Review!

2013 is coming to an end, but not all is bad. A new year is coming up. A new experience and a new chance. Although my new year is filled with slight sadness for personal reasons, I decided to look back at the positives I have endured through out the year.

God never hands you a lemon without adding tequila. Or so they say.

So this is just a quick post with some positive things 2013 has given me! It would be great to see other posts like this. Even if it's just a couple of things, it's better than nothing.


- I am officially half way through my degree! That went really fast, I am sure the last half will go just as quick... it's been fun and I half want it to end and half don't! It's definitely been an experience!

- I welcomed a new baby hamster into my life! Sev (short for Severus),  has brought me lots of happiness. His fluffy little face lights me up as soon as I look at him. He's also mighty strange. This is awesome. 

- I got to go to HARRY POTTER STUDIO'S. Enough said.

- I met some lovely, lovely people! And become close to some wonderful new friends.

- I navigated London and the London underground with just me and my other half on the trip!

- I got to stay at some wonderful new hotels.

- I got to stay the night in a room which was literally right by the sea!

-  I become a whole year older. As you do every year. But, every year you reach is an achievement in itself that sadly some take for granted.

- I got to decorate my place in my own style and get a new carpet. Feels like home.

- I did things I said I could never, ever do. It may like seem much to other people, but it was a lot for me. I am proud of me. 

- I continued to make plans for the future and think positively 90% of the time.

- I discovered a new love for films and reading, which I had fallen out of love with for a while.

- I sorted out my finances. 



 I hope 2014 brings more adventure, and more positives. 2013 was an experience, a learning curve and definitely not all bad. I have so much to blog about in the New Year, so I hope to gain more readers and hints and tips in the blogging world. In the mean time, find me over at www.twitter.com/londonbuses for daily updates. (Nothing to do with London buses themself, don't ask!)


Happy Christmas and Happy New Year.

I hope you all enjoy whatever life throws at you. And take the bad as an experience.

Much Love. 

A picture I took from a lovely evening at the fair on Plymouth Hoe, for a firework display. 2013.

Jessica's Sassy ASOS Gift Guide

(Click image to enlarge)

 It's December! I love Christmas, it's one of my favourite times of year. I have my advent calendar at the ready (I actually have forgotten to open the last 2 days-oops). That is very unlike me. Usually all the chocolates miraculously disappear before the second week of December...


 Anyhow... onto gift giving. I love spending time choosing gifts for people, and one of my favourite things is how easy it is to select gifts on-line lately. ASOS is one of my favourite gift shopping experiences on-line and I have picked out some of my favourite pickings from this years offerings! Gifts range from under a £5er to into the hundreds for those who have more lined pockets, but each gift is fabulous and I wouldn't say no to anything! ASOS, you have come up trumps this Christmas. 

 I have to admit, I have done a fair bit of my shopping on the ol' internet this year... now I am just sitting back, with my latte and waiting for the door bell to ring. 

 A wrapping party with mulled wine will soon commence when all the pretties arrive!


 Hope everyone is having a joyful December so far.

Laura.

Taken on 15.11.2013

Jessica Martin

Second Year! Pictures.

Second year at university started, and the opportunity to play "inflatable Olympics  came about! After being snap happy, we headed to a local bar called "Scholar", drank bright green alcohol and admired the quirky surroundings. 

I have no idea who this is, but his suit was amazing.

Ins and Outs of Summer Time!

 I am somewhat enjoying my dysfunctional sleeping pattern and being able to do what  I want whenever- to an extent, however I must admit boredom is slightly tipping me over the edge just a little bit. I actually can't wait to be back at University, getting on with my work and seeing my lovely course mates. Oh and of course, cracking on with achieving my wonderful degree. (I study Journalism, readership)! 

 In the mean time, I have decided to join the club and do a current "ins and outs"/"love and hate"/"liking and not liking" post that you may have seen around plenty of times on blogosphere! 

In - sleeping whenever I want! I do adore my sleep, I think I must have been a cat in a previous life to enjoy my sleep so much. But then again, I do go to bed a lot later than other people so maybe I have an excuse for a "ridiculous lay-in" as some people may call it?! 

In - watching films and discovering new ones. I love a good movie, it transports you to another dimension for a couple of hours and can change your emotions. There is also nothing like a good horror movie... I have found plenty I love over the summer and have been watching multiple movies a week. Let us not forget the Harry Potter marathons which are definitely a need and not a want. I am planning  a trip to Universal Studio's in my head in order to check out the pretty amazing "Wizarding World of Harry Potter"... donations are welcome. Oh, and if you get a chance check out "The Great Gatsby"... I loved that movie so much and would say it is in my top 5 of 2013. Jaw dropping amazing-ness. Much like every other Leonardo DiCaprio film ever in existence. 

How amazing is that?! 

In - Festival Season! There is nothing I love more than dawning my flowery glad rags and heading to the local park in order to listen to amazing music, drink and get merry with similar like minded happy people. I am lucky enough to have Freedom Community Festival near me, which is free. And of course there are all the amazing festivals dotted throughout the UK that are a joy for everyone involved. Just get on your floral headbands, grab your tramp-juice (cheap booze) and party the day and night away! Go bare foot if you dare.


In - Summer Weddings! My cousin and his lovely girlfriend (now wife), recently got married. The day was perfect and so was the weather. Filled with a river trip, cider, open top bus journey and finishing off with a barbecue was perfect. 

In - sea swimming! There is nothing I like more than heading to a local beach on a hot day, stripping down and getting in the water to cool off. Here in England it's hard to get a chance to bask in the sunshine, so on the rare occurrence it does appear people come out in their hundreds to celebrate. I could spend hours in the sea just floating along, bobbing up and down to the motion of the waves. A barbecue in the evening followed by yummy summer wine is always a must too- it finishes the day off in style!




Out - crazy weather changes. The weather is some what suffering with severe mood swings lately. One minute I am too hot to trot, the next all windows in my room need to be shut as torrential rain comes thundering down at any given moment. What is a girl to do? How is a girl to dress? Sometimes I wish I was abroad...

Out - sunburn! Enough said. I had a bit of a mishap when on the hottest day of the year I forgot to put sun cream on my back... it's made for a reason.

Out - melting makeup. In this heat, there really is not point in wearing make-up only for you to step outside and it do end up in a sweaty mess all over the place. Not a "hot" look. Get it? Ha! If you must wear make-up though (I am guilty of this); try waterproof versions and mineral makeup. It's not as bad as liquid in this heat. And remember you SPF.

Out - breaking sunglasses. I don't know how many pairs I have got through this summer. Chucking them in my bag and standing on them later is usually the reason for their decease. 



Anyway, I hope everyone is enjoying themselves! Who knows what the rest of the summer will bring? I have just under 4 weeks until the joy of drinking, coursework and early mornings.


See you soon! 

Billy Smart's Circus comes to Plymouth!

On Friday I had the pure joy of being treated to a trip to the circus which came to Plymouth! I haven't been to the circus in years, so needless to say I was excited about the prospect of seeing beautiful acts, crazy clowns and hopefully a jaw dropping performance. I am happy to say, this is what I got. The show last two hours and it went extremely fast, I did not find myself getting bored at any point and it kept me wanting more and more... 

 My lovely partner had treated me to tickets to the dazzling show; and I only found out the night before. I couldn't remove the grin from my face. Originating from 1946, Billy Smart has been entertaining the masses for decades.

 http://www.billy-smarts-circus.co.uk/index.cfm

                            

I got there at 6.15pm sharp, and was taken to a colourful, light filled wonderland, with clowns grinning at me from every corner. Seats were staggered but still first come first serve, so I wanted to try and get some of the best seats in the tent.

 Red and white striped stalls sold popcorn and sugary candy floss whilst people in dapper red suits were at hand to help me with any queries I may have had. Boisterous music played adding to the magical atmosphere while traditional sawdust lay beneath my feet. Kids walked passed with toy lights flashing like stars in the dim-light of the circus tent. Everyone was excited for the up and coming show.

A live band played throughout which was a really nice, traditional touch. Acts alternated between death defying stunts, and a hilarious clown that was impossible not to love! The audience even got to participate at one point, with unsuspecting victims being picked from the crowd to throw plates around. I have to say I did cringe at the contortionist who was getting herself in the strangest positions imaginable, but she was definitely one of my favourite acts of the night. Not everyone can burst a balloon by shooting an arrow with their feet, in some very weird position... 

 The show continued to go on as it began, and I was soon greeted by trapeze artists flying through the air above me! Definitely something you need to see in "real life."

 I don't want to give too much away, but if you see the Billy Smart Circus in town and have some free time, I suggest you attend. Highly recommended.

Feminist Blog

Check out my "bra burning" blog here:

http://feminismideas.blogspot.co.uk/

Forget Me Not Part 2

Part 2 of my short story series, "Forget Me Not". Read part 1 here:
http://lovedesignerskin.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/forget-me-not.html


There was an uncomfortable pause as her eyes gazed up and down at the paper in front of her. This gave me time to compose myself and take in what was happening around me. I perched on a near by chair, for this lady to give me a nod of approval for sitting in my own house. "How dare she!" I thought to myself.

 My thoughts were soon stopped in her tracts by a quick "now then."

 She adjusted herself in the chair, making herself more at home than she already seemed to be.

"I know you've been having some issues lately, Soph. I am here to help you out whether you want it or not. Your God mother sent me."

 My God Mother?! I thought to myself slightly perplexed. I haven't seen that lady in over 10 years. How would she know what is going on in my life? Apart from the odd birthday card, there was really not much she knew about me nor my life. Not only this, my life was fine as far as I was concerned. Sure, there was always room for improvement but nothing I couldn't sort out myself, never mind from a complete and utter stranger my parents decided should care for me when I was once 6 months old. Once again, this stranger in my house had left me confused.

"She is worried about you," she continued.

 I made a face. In all honesty, someone coming to my house and telling me I needed to transform my life was bad enough, but I really didn't need to hear about my long lost God Mother at the same time. I remember spending summers with her as a child, which all abruptly stopped two weeks after my 10th birthday. I never really questioned it, and assumed it was to do with growing apart and growing up.

"I know you haven't seen her in some time, and you are probably confused, but there are some things you need to know..." she must have read my mind again I irrationally thought. I panicked, trying to control my thoughts.

"Not only is she your God Mother, but she is also your global minder." Was this lady on drugs?!

I stood up with a moments clarity.

"Look, lady, I don't know who you are or how you know my details, but can you please just leave now. This is ridiculous. I can ring the number of a local hotel if you need somewhere to stay, but in all honesty..."

I was stopped in my tracks.

"Oh Soph,"

"Oh and please stop calling me Soph!" I hastily added.

 She didn't look phased and continued her speech.

"Your God Mother sent me here. Don't shoot the messenger please, dear. We know all about what's going on, we know what you do each day every hour, every minute. Ask me anything, please. I will be able to tell you things nobody else knows about you. We know what happened at the beach last summer. We know the incident last March at Hickley Forest. We know it's been confusing you. So, your God Mother thinks it's time you knew..."

She was right. She was listing things that no one else knew about. The weird experiences, the lights, the noises, the people. Shocked, it all made sense. I needed to give her a chance. She handed me a phone number.

"Your God Mother. Told me to get her to ring you when I got 'ere. Hurry up now, she's not the most patient of people."

There was a lot to learn. I felt as if what I had known all my life was about to be taken from underneath me, and the truth was to come out. Here I was, thinking life was just as normal as the average persons, with the odd bit of excitement. How wrong was I. Confused, I shakily dialled my God Mother and after one ring, there was an answer.

"Ahh, darling Sophie. Thank you for getting back to me. I knew you would."




To be continued...


Jessica Martin. 

Robin Thicke "Blurred Lines" Sexy Boys Parody by Mod Carousel

 "I know you want me." 

Robin Thicke, the star of the controversial "Blurred Lines" video is the topic of many discussions between feminists and ordinary people alike.

 I came across this parody and feel it summed up the thoughts of most females and even some males in general regarding this subject. Does this make you feel uncomfortable watching it? It makes me feel objectified. I am so glad someone has taken the initiative to create something like this which is hard-hitting and straight to the point.

 Now, I know some of you may be sat thinking I must be a prude and Thicke's music video is all a bit of fun. However, believe me when I tell you I am probably the least prude person going, and it takes a lot to make me squirm in my seat when it comes to sexualisation and the like.  

 Men are seen prancing around showing little to the imagination, whilst women in suits; obviously a mark of authority- follow them around saying they need to be "domesticated" in the parody. Pretty strange if you ask me- but this is how women are treated by the media and some men in this world. 

 I enjoy the odd music video with gorgeous women showing off their moves and men in awe, not going to lie. It makes me feel good as a woman. However, something about this video has made me feel slightly uncomfortable... even in 2013. 

The parody has certainly entertained me in a light hearted way, but there is a serious message to be learnt from it.

If you want to check out the original video; click below.

I am not going to lie, it is a catchy song and I will have a dance to it on a Saturday night, but the parody video has definitely shed new light on it. 

Can I just say gentlemen, try any of the lines in this song with a lady you are trying to woo and you probably won't get very far. Just a tip.


Jessica

A few pictures from "Johnny Love", Sunday eve.

 Johnny Love are an awesome local band, based in Plymouth, UK.

Give them a like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Johnny-Love/278087688988994?fref=ts

For any questions about photographs, feel free to contact me! 

Cheers,

Jessica.

A Different Nail Enamel for Sensitive Skin

Recently, ASOS and Clinique teamed up together for an amazing give-away, and luckily I was one of the people who received a gorgeous polish from the new sensitive skin collection by Clinique. 

 I received the shade in "Really Rio" which is a beautiful coral colour and goes perfectly with a tan at this time of year. At first, I wasn't too excited about the shade because in all honesty, I have about 10 of the same colour (it was an obsession of mine at one point); but I decided to go ahead and give it a go to see how in compared in ways such as longevity, colour strength and of course the key element- sensitivity. 

 The polish is priced £12, and in comparison to drug store brands and what not, the price is average if not a slightly high end. But it is Clinique after all, and they are known to be a high end brand. 

There are various shades in the collection to collect, as well as lovely limited edition shades.

UK ladies: http://www.clinique.co.uk/product/4323/25256/Just-Arrived/NEW-A-Different-Nail-Enamel/For-Sensitive-Skins/index.tmpl

Clinique boasts; "NEW A Different Nail Enamel. Glossy, long-wearing colour available in an array of pretty shades. Allergy tested and safe to use for sensitive skins, helps reduce the chances that eyes will burn, itch or water with contact. "

Colour Pay Off - 4/5. Takes about 2 coats to get a similar shade to what is in the bottle, but this is pretty good for a polish in my opinion! Takes 3 coats well without being too "much"...

Price - 3/5. This nail polish is pretty high-end so I don't expect it to be cheap, however this is a tough one for me as there are so many polishes on the market and all have very competitive pricing.

Length of time before chipping 5/5. This is what has impressed me the most about this product. It lasted a whole week on me without chipping. Not even my Chanel polish can boast this!

Colour Range - 4/5. Impressive. Has all the colours you need.

Sensitive Skin Claim - 4/5. This one has slightly confused me, as I know this is there main claim but in all honesty my skin isn't that sensitive and I have never had a reaction to nail polish before so I can't really judge on this one. I don't tend to stick nail polish in my eyes, (which is one thing they claim it is for; sensitive eyes)- and nor do I paint my skin with nail polish. It isn't that toxic smell wise, but I don't think I am the best person to ask about sensitivity!

All in all, I would purchase this product in the other shades. They are fun colours, and long lasting. What more could you want?!

Hope everyone is well,

Jessica. 

A Room with a View

Last week it was my other halves birthday! After a hard week of him and his team competing in the Lake District Apprentice Brathay Challenge, we decided to head away for the night to be by the sea and see somewhere new. 

 We decided on Newquay, as it's only a short drive from home (about an hour and a half if that); and is well known for its surfing culture and sea side views. Luckily, the sun was shining and it was so good to see him after his hard work earlier in the week. We also did some exploring around the surrounding areas on our drive down, it's such a beautiful place is Cornwall ;). 


 We had a lovely time! The night life was amazing, and I drunk way too many cocktails... but it was worth it. At one point, the night saw me putting my other half up for a wrestling tournament in a giant inflatable. Very amusing. 

 Our hotel had the most amazing view, I didn't want to leave it. Bay windows leading out to the amazing surf, cliffs and sea that went on forever... heaven! The bed even looked out onto the ocean, which was glittering in the sunlight.


 Enjoy the pictures.


See you next time!

Jessica

Majestic Moonlight

If you are like me and love anything to do with the beautiful sky (especially at night), you will love what is happening this month. It is all happening on the 23rd of June! 

Can we all take a moment to appreciate the moon... no matter where you are in the world we all see the same one. It glows beautifully in our sky, creating many beautiful evenings while it's light dances around us all down here on Earth. It provides us with comfort, and is with us every night no matter what we are doing. It is a beautiful thing.

 On the 23rd of June the phenomenon known as "Super Moon" will happen. 


What is a Super Moon?! I hear you chime. Well, check out this nifty explanation from the internet God, Wikipedia.

"A supermoon is the coincidence of a full moon or a new moon with the closest approach the Moon makes to the Earth on its elliptical orbit, resulting in the largest apparent size of the moon's disk as seen from Earth. The technical name is the perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system. The term "supermoon" is notastronomical, but originated in modern astrology. The association of the Moon with both oceanic and crustal tides has led to claims that the supermoon phenomenon may be associated with increased risk of events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. However, the evidence of such a link is widely held to be unconvincing."

 I cannot wait to see it! I will definitely be looking out for it on the 23rd. Hopefully I will be able to snap some gorgeous images. 


 It's not all peaches and cream, however. I am pretty sure you have heard the rumour that whenever there is a full moon, people go loony. This theory has been tested in my everyday life, and I have to admit, sometimes it is believeable. Putting aside how amazing it is that the moon has so much power, I hope no natural disasters happen because of this occurrence!


The Super Moon this month will be the most "super" Super Moon, so please, have a glance and let me know if you spot it. Yearly, there are 4-6 Super Moons. 

Effect on tides [edit]

The combined effect of the Sun and Moon on the Earth's oceans, the tide,^[9] is greatest when the Moon is either new or full. At lunar perigee the tidal force is somewhat stronger,^[10] resulting in perigean spring tides. But even at its most powerful this force is still relatively weak^[4] causing tidal differences of inches at most.^[11]

As the tidal force follows an inverse-cube law, that force is 18% greater than average. However, because the actual amplitude of tides varies around the world, this may not translate into a direct effect.

It has been claimed that the supermoon of March 19, 2011 was responsible for the grounding of five ships in the Solent in the UK,^[12] but such claims are not supported by scientific evidence.

Natural disasters [edit]

Certain prognosticators have moved the goalposts to within 1 or 2 weeks of a supermoon to suggest a causal relationship with specific natural disasters such as the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.^[13][14] However in both cases the Moon was actually farther from the Earth than average.^[4] No evidence has been found of any correlation with major earthquakes.

The Peeing Pig Game

Hello all! Hope you are all well. I am just writing this post in admiration of the peeing pig.

 What is that I wonder?! You may ask yourself.

Well, it starts on a sunny day visiting a local zoo. My other half and I decided to head to Paignton Zoo, and it was an amazing day out! Of course, being the photographic opportunist I am, I took plenty of photos of things from a rock and some awesome giraffes. Photo's of rocks are not that awesome, but I like to take as many pictures as possible. Is anyone else like this?! It's usually when I am having so much fun I want to capture that moment in an image so I can re-live the day anytime I wish simply by looking through my wonderful photo albums.

 This actually brought my attention to a pretty amazing skill I did not know me nor my other half had. Taking pictures of animals peeing. 

 At risk of sounding like some dirty old animal pervert, this was purely accidental.

Why am I telling you this?

Because, not only has it happened the once, but it has happened on numerous occasions since. Completely accidental every time. Of course, animals pee. And probably very often. But what are the chances of catching it on camera so many times?!

 Before you call the men in the white coats, I have turned this into a game which to my insane mind has turned out pretty fun!

 Of course, I am just being silly.

But don't you love a funny photo that has been taken completely off-guard? It brings much amusement to a mundane evening. Laughing at yourself can be fun. The memory lasts forever; unless of course the offender gets hold of the camera and swiftly presses delete!

The money shot! (I am aware these are not actually pigs, would someone like to inform me of what they are?  I forget their awesome name!)

Two more animals decide to pee in the river when I want photo opportunities.

 In other news, I did get to touch a snake for the first time the other week at Dartmoor Zoo! If you knew me and my phobia of snakes, you'd agree this is an achievement of sorts.

Hope to see you soon and hope you are all enjoying festival season!

Jessica 

Harry Potter Studio Tour! London, 24th April 2013

I have grown up with Harry Potter, with each book being released respective of my age and school year at the time. Harry Potter is part of my teen years, and always will be. I am amazed at how HP has blown up over the years, being close to many people and their hearts. J.K. Rowling is amazing and should be so proud of her creation. I don't think anyone can match what she has created, every detail and every story full of courage, hope, love and many inspiring messages. She has created a world that is imaginable. The ultimate escapism comes with Harry Potter, following the life of a young boy going through life and the battles that life throws at him. Yesterday was amazing and definitely a day I would like to relive and visit again and again.

 I went along to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London on the 24th of April 2013. HP came to life, and everything was so real and "there". All the years of films, waiting for releases  loving the characters became something I could physically see. The love and art that has gone into creating the HP experience is unimaginable  and I kept telling myself how amazed I was that this all came from one lady. I was in awe for the whole tour and trying to capture the moment by taking hundreds of pictures. This is an experience I believe you have to see for your own eyes, whether you are a major fan or just love the films, you'll be amazed at how hard the whole team worked to create the ultimate mystical experience that will blow you away.

 I would love to share some photos with you which I took on the day! I am not going to say too much, because in all honesty it will not capture the true feeling.

If you ever get the chance to visit this magical place, I hope you grab it with both hands!

See you all soon,

Jessica