Hi everyone,

So mainly due to the fact that Sixth Form has started, and the impact of A - Levels has slowly but surely started to take its toll - I decided to take a quick break from my homework and do what I do best : Online shopping. Unfortunately, due to a lack of a Saturday job, and the simple fact that Christmas is coming up, I have to refrain myself from clicking the 'buy' button and just let my purchases stay in the basket for the rest of eternity *sobs*

The other week, I made the dangerous decision to download the Zara app onto my phone. If you asked me what my favourite shop is, I will 100% of the time answer back that it is Zara. Although it is a little pricey, I do believe that you do get what you pay for. The quality of the clothes is impeccable, and I always find the fit to be of a high standard. So, flicking through the Zara app, I came across a LOT of things which I instantly fell in love with - which I thought I would share below.

Enjoy!

 

Emma Hill (EJStyle.co.uk) recently featured this blazer dress in one of her recent blog posts, and it caught my eye straight away. I love the simplicity of the design, and I think it is something that you would find in Victoria Beckham's line. It also perfectly fits into the whole 'when masculine meets feminine' style, yet adds an approach that isn't quite as masculine.  

http://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/dresses/shawl-collar-dress-c269185p3037070.html

 

These trousers are very different, and that's what I love about them. Culottes and cropped trousers are the latest trend right now, and offer a quirky approach to an outfit rather than just jeans or trousers. If you're like me, and feel the cold weather more intensely than most, I would say that cropped trousers are the safest option for you (and your ankles!). The flares elongate the legs, and are flattering for any body shape. What particularly makes these trousers special are the two silver zips. If pairing with a black top, the zips give it a little extra shine. The fact that they are horizontal, again, make the trousers flattering and give you a more defined waist line (which is a bonus over the festive season!)

http://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/trousers/cropped-trousers-c269187p3062046.html 

 



These shoes are a dupe (and much cheaper version!) of the Stella McCartney Britt shoes. The nude and the white give the shoe a neutral and clean feel, and can thereby be paired with any outfit. Teamed with a pair of skinny jeans and a thick jumper, and you have a gloriously simple outfit. In winter, many resort to black and dark coloured clothes, yet these shoes give a bright alternative to the otherwise gloomy and funeral like exterior that many turn at this time of year.

http://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/shoes/view-all/platform-bluchers-c734142p3133526.html





Can we all just take a minute to admire this bag. With a snakeskin texture, and in burgundy, this bag screams Winter 2015. The gold hardware works perfectly with the deep burgundy, and the detachable strap makes this bag very versatile. Personally, what I love about this bag is the size of it. It's not too small - which is great if you are like me and have many unnecessary things planted at the bottom of your bag (I found random sachets of ketchup in my bag a few days ago... ) - and not too big that you can literally fit your entire house inside of it. Priced at just £30, this is the perfect bag for anybody on a low budget.

http://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/bags/view-all/mini-city-bag-with-double-closure-c734144p3000569.html   

A few months ago, I purchased a grey midi skirt from Zara, and loved it that much, that I feel like I need more in my life. On the left, is a forest green, pleated edition which I think is very festive, and suitable for this time of year. Forest green is a colour that I have recently become obsessed with, and I believe that this skirt would look perfect with a black polo neck and some fancy earrings. On the right hand side is a leather midi skirt, which I have seen a lot of recently. This is an extremely versatile piece, which can be worn for any occasion. Pieces like this are my favourite, as if an outfit doesn't go as well as you originally planned in your head, you always know that you have a handy back up at the ready.

http://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/skirts/midi/accordion-pleat-skirt-c498016p2900094.html

http://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/skirts/midi/faux-leather-skirt-c498016p3060512.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was at a party last weekend, and my friend walked in wearing an absolute killer outfit. Dressed simply in head-to-toe black, she spiced things up using her accessories. The item that caught my eye straight away was her necklace. The statement necklace is a trend which has been around for a long time, yet I have never tried it. In actual fact, most of the time I don't really wear jewellery, which is something that I definitely want to change. In the winter, most of my clothes are block colours - and I could make them a lot more interesting if I invested in the right kind of accessories. So, when browsing on the Zara app, I came across this beauty. The fact that it is black means that I will go with just about everything, which is always a bonus.

http://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/accessories/view-all/jewel-pendant-necklace-c733915p3045512.html 

Blue jeans are an item which I have not worn for a very, very long time. The only reason I have for this, is that I tend to be quite gothic when it comes to clothes (notice how most of the items on here are black), and blue jeans just didn't appeal to me. Until now. After being inspired from everyone - from people I see walking the streets or off duty models, I have come to the decision that I need a pair of blue jeans in my life. These ones are perfect, as they're not too dark ... which pleases my gothic alter-ego, and doesn't make her feel a bit out of her comfort zone. Also, they don't have ripped jeans - which is always a positive, as my pasty white knee caps aren't ready to be on show to the world just yet.

http://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/jeans/view-all/mid-rise-skinny-jeans-c733918p2810547.html

I have a confession to make.... I think I may have just fallen in love with these boots. Although they are a little different, and you will definitely either love them or hate them, for me it is most definitely love. These boots are the perfect way to inject a bit of texture and colour into your outfit, if you are like me and tend to stick to all black. Paired with jeans, skirts or dresses, these boots are the perfect statement piece to add to any outfit. The capped toe give it a sophisticated approach, and the little heel also adds a touch of glamour and femininity. All in all, these boots are fabulous, and will definitely be going on my Christmas list.

 http://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/shoes/ankle-boots/cap-toe-ankle-boot-c288001p2927676.html

So, that's everything! Thank you so much for reading, and if anybody has £352.90 spare then don't hesitate to let me know ;)

 

Love from,

GracyViolet x

Every October Holidays, my family and I make it our mission to go on a city break. Here we usually wander round the shops - 'buying Christmas presents (for ourselves, mainly)' and looking at the University. Last year, University seemed an event that was extremely distant from then, but as each year approaches - it gets nearer and nearer.

Newcastle is an extremely friendly place, has great shops and beautiful buildings. Whilst we were there, the weather wasn't the greatest but that didn't stop us from wandering around and taking the city in. Although on the first day, this was done through the windows of shops. I picked up some great things though - so who's complaining? I got a grey hat, which a sassy drag queen told me was nice, but just not on me!

On Thursday, our lovely friend showed us around Newcastle University. The only thing that put me off it, was that it was very science based. Science. My absolute worst subject. Ever! For some reason, I never grasped it - especially Physics, that may as well be another language. Apart from that, I loved how it was very campus based and had a lovely sense of community.

After looking at the University, we went down to the Quayside. It had gotten dark by then, and the Millennium Bridge was lit up and changing colours. We had a Greggs (I chose a vegetable pasty and it was the most vile thing I have ever eaten) and then I forced my family into the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts. I personally love art galleries, but sadly the rest of my family don't share a similar interest. My brother and sister even resulting to colouring in, which I believe clearly indicates the sophisticated and cultural member of the family (me! ;) )

Getting the train home at night was fun and exciting, yet incredibly cold. We could even see our breath when we were sat inside the station, which thankfully provided proof that it wasn't me being 'stupid and over reacting' - thanks for that daily compliment, Alice!

Well, that's all for now! I will attach some pictures below of my trip, as always.
Thanks for reading,
Grace x

I felt like I was in New York (sort of...)

Alice looking poised and moody.

It's in his DNA

Fun fact: They had to sellotape the lid of my pick&mix to the carton as I had filled it up THAT much!

My attempt to be 'artsy and tumblr'

Last Sunday, my family and I made our way into Chester to complete The Twilight Walk for the Brain Tumour Charity. This is an organisation that is very close to our hearts, and we felt inclined to give something back - as their help and support has helped us a great deal over the past year.

Luckily, the weather stayed beautiful for the entire duration of the walk and Chester looked even more lovely at night time.

The walk was 10k and took us all over the city. It was extremely well organised  and very clearly sign posted. What made the walk so special was the support and atmosphere from all the other participators. Not once was it doom and gloom - everybody was so positive and happy. It was truly inspirational.

Passing the finish line was so uplifting, and an experience that I will definitely never forget.



The nicest lunch I've had in a while!



My lovely brother outside the cathedral



Alice and Luke ready to walk

En route

The finish line and the beautiful sunset

Last Saturday morning, we made the six hour car journey down to Somerset - where we had booked to stay in a cottage for a week. Whilst the car journey was long and tiresome, we finally made it to our destination. Situated in a small village named Wheddon Cross, our cottage was small and comfortable, and there was a massive window in the living room which allowed us to look out across the hills, and gave us a beautiful view of the sunset.

Our time in Somerset was very relaxing, we spent most days wandering around different villages, reading and watching The Big Bang Theory on TV (which I am attempting to learn the theme tune to). On Sunday, we even whipped out Monopoly which we hadn't done for a long time.

One of my favourite things about Somerset is the houses. The cottages that were scattered around the quaint little villages were like something you would expect to see from a story book, painted a sweet pastel shade and often had ivy growing up them.

The villages all had something in common ; each held at least two antique shops. I loved this, as you could peer into the window and would always see something new that would catch your eye. One of my favourite villages that we visited was Watchet - as this had a lovely harbour, and a large selection of antique/vintage stores.

Two other towns that we visited were Lynton and Lynmouth, and we got the cliff railway which helped us get from one to the other. Even though the railway track looks terrifying (it goes uphill and looks more like the track of a rollercoaster) it was absolutely fine, and not in the least bit scary.

My all time favourite thing that we did in Somerset was when we went kayaking. This was such a fun experience, and weather was glorious which made it so much better. We spent about an hour in the water, which was just enough time as my arm was beginning to ache from all the paddling.

All in all, although there wasn't an awful lot to do around there, I feel so much more relaxed and ready to start the new school year.

Here are some photographs from the trip;



The lake that we kayaked on.

The sunset



To get me through the long car journey... a peach ice tea.

A doll museum that we went to in Dunster.

Over the past few months, I have been lucky enough to visit many different places, all across England. A few days ago, I returned from the lovely seaside town of Llandudno. Due to the fact that I had never been here before, I was unsure about what to expect. I pictured a quiet resort by the seaside which was vastly occupied by the older generation. How wrong was I?!?

Although a wide range of the residents there were old people, it was also swarming with families. The beach and pier were buzzing with people of all different ages - especially in the arcade bit. (the two- penny slots are surprisingly addictive).

One of my favourite things about Llandudno was the promenade that led you right along the sea front. This was absolutely beautiful at the night time, when it was all lit up by pretty fairy lights which were strung from the lampposts.

On Tuesday, we walked up the Great Orme. Even though it was absolutely FREEZING at the top (I turned into a whingey baby...but I got a hot chocolate out of it;) ) the views that surrounded us were spectacular, and the sea went all the way round the hills. We walked down a different route than we had walked up, and we were led to 'The Happy Valley' which was a lovely park, that was filled with beautiful flowers and Alice in Wonderland statues.

That evening, we went to see 'The Carpentears' who were a Carpenters tribute act. I had only listened to segments of The Carpenters songs before, so I was not familiar with the lyrics or the tune. Again, my expectations were proved wrong as we all ended up having a fantastic night, and the tribute act were surprisingly great. The Carpenters may just have gained a new fan.

On Wednesday we drove up to Conwy, where we spent the day looking round the quirky shops, walking around the village and soaking up the sun in the park. Me and Luke even went and walked around the town walls, which gave us a great view of the town - seeing as we were very high up.

Thursday was our last day, so we decided to visit Betwsy-Y-Coed before we set off on our drive home. We weren't really in the mood to look round the shops, so instead we visited the waterfall (Swallow Falls). This was probably my favourite place we visited, as it was so picturesque and
tranquil - a lovely environment to be in.

As usual, I will insert a few pictures from my trip below. A majority of these were taken by my brother, Luke.

The lovely village of Conwy.

 

 I loved this building, and how they had attached a bike to the top of it!

 

 

 

    A few pictures of Swallow Falls, Betwsy-Y-Coed.

 
 

 

 

 


Climbing up and down the town wall ruins.

 

 
 


                       

                 Llandudno Pier.



The lit up promenade.

The smallest house in Great Britain.