Christmas 2015

A late Merry Christmas(its boxing day actually)! To those who celebrate it and to those who don't, anyone can have fun today weather it's seeing  the  smiles across the ones who receive your gifts, decorating the tree or walking through the snowy streets, do something that makes you happy. 

Sadly it didn't snow this year, (how unfair). Which means i have to hope next year is an opportunity for sledding and snowball fights. 

So this morning was spent ooh and aahing over the presents I couldn't be more thankful for. Here's what I got:

A set of flower tea lights from Urban Outfitters
A necklace fro a vintage/thrift store
Pompom earrings from Etsy
Rose scented body spray from Boux Avenue
A book (I am Malala)
Cat broach
Palo Alto
A Purse 
A brush & Lipstick from H&M

Here are a couple pics from shooting my two favorite outfits from today:

I wanted to make this Christmas different and defying the festive theme of today I went to the beach where I froze in a new patterned, silky outfit I got today,(being the only one that doesn't own a 
Christmas jumper) seeking photo opportunities. 

I ended the day with a dark bike-ride around the neighborhood, spotting the pretty lights from houses along the way! I also created a Christmas collage with the left over wrapping paper after noticing it bleakly being abandoned I decided turn it into art.

Here is a collage and list of reasons to be happy this winter (if anyone if feeling blue or struggling, remember the warmness and excitement to enjoy through the cold to pick you up) 

(I plan on getting a canon camera I've been saving up for, I will post an update on it soon and make sure to take pictures in every adventure) 

Have a great day cuties!

-Rachel 

Lets beat anxiety!

I have countless memories of being told to step outside my comfort zone, to live a little and have some fun like taking risks or standing in a spotlit stage with no fears and I can imagine challenging your anxieties would give you mega-confidence but problems get in the way, feelings that can't be ignored, putting demons in our head that eat at our self love. And if they are stopping us young, adventurous humans from having fun in life, we need to beat them. 

I have had too many past encounters with anxiety, but not all have ended in loss. There is an end to that fluttering in your stomach and feeling your skin fade paler as you get more worried. Let's not suffer. So if anyone else has struggled with anxiety  I have some advice on how to make negative thoughts seem crushable in your hands  or disappear by your positive thinking.

Distract yourself

Let your mind drift from mishaps or dark thoughts that are replaying in your head to something you love. The first thing that pops into your head, anything that will give you a warm feeling as if you were drinking a devine hot chocolate, in the heat of a crackling fire while its thundering outside. It could be your love for cats or a book your obsessed with, maybe it's the memories shared with friends from last summer. But let your thoughts wander

Don't pressure yourself 

Telling yourself over and over that you need to stop worrying because it's not normal or cringey will only make you more anxious, instead you should try and tell yourself it's okay to be worried as it's unavoidable sometimes, so your not self conscious or judging , your mind will be free, you'll soon be laughing ,living in the moment  and forgetting about time. 

Find an escape 

Sometimes reality can be daunting, find a special place only you know and dream... Take yourself to another world, or a perfect fantasy. Maybe reflect on your ambitions that makes  you happy! Imagine a dream world and let yourself be consumed, your mind will drift off and soon the harsh world around you will fade form view.

Think positively 

Rather than catastrophising yourself into a stressed out state, smile, look for the bright points, focus on what you will get out of the situation and how you'll feel afterwards, laughing with relief, as you walk with a calm energy and proud. 

Deep breathing 

You don't need to rush outside for fresh air, taking deep breaths can decrease tension, let feeling dizzy slowly fade away, your heartbeat won't feel rapid and can stop shaking, if you want to empty your head breathe slowly and focus on stating calm

Love yourself

List all the reasons why your amazing, why you can DO THIS! Why you'll make it through!  Confidence will give you a burst of energy and you'll be ready to take on the world! Don't be afraid to compliment yourself, you deserve all the happiness.

Hope this helped xoxo

Adventures and Shiny Things

Now the holidays are just a blur away filled with chaotic nights spend trying to add finishing touches to outfits for countless winter events or festive parties (although I'm Usually always late and I'm sure that's just me!).What I've been getting up to this winter has been fun but I've been seriously unprepared and wish I picked out some pretty outfits with some shiny jewelry. Here are some adventures and missed outfit opportunities I've been getting up to

 Me and some friends, who invited their friends, planned to spend the night in an artsy little cafe but the night ended in a group of us running down the streets, laughing while trying to avoid puddles . My hair and transparent american apparel socks greatly suffered.   Another night I invited a friend round where we lit sparklers and danced around in my back garden despite the freezing air. I also spent the day wandering round the retro, kitsch shops in town and stepping into any boutique that looks even close to vintage, resulting in a pile of cool vintage clothes. And last; an ink-water self portrait, i scribbled was decided to be featured in an exhibition by an art-studio near by! Looking back now, 

I should have had some wintery party wear and so here are some outfit ideas  and color themes for festive parties:

 Top: American Apparel

Dungarees: Vintage/Thrifted

Boots: Primark

Jewelary: Topshop

Top:  Topshop

Skirt: Zara

                                                  

Top: New Look

Shorts: Vintage/Thrifted

  

 

   

Fashion + Feminism

Hi cuties!

So anyone that has spent more than an hour with me will know that i can go on eternal rants about anything:social inequality, feminism to animal rights. But a particular issue caught my attention: 

Fashion is art. If its the mood you feel when your picking out your days outfit, the colors chosen, their order, and what they mean to you or the smallest details in the fabric. By fashion you can create your own image, world and a personal aura that is portrayed when your walking around town or amungst other people. 

For some of us its as easy as dying our hair bright blue, throwing on a pink fur jacket and strutting around,in leopard print heals. I am forever hoping outfit choices could be as wonderfully simple as this but as long as the bleak social norms of fashion and trends that try way too hard to tell (us future artists, fashion designers) that its only okay to be self loving while dressed in the trendy, stylish clothing from the wonders of acceptable style that is forced on us wherever we look. totally crushing creativity and the uniqueness of people everywhere that are longing to express themselves in wonderfully wild style creations but are worried to because of the comments that will come their way from the society that raises us to believe wearing what we want is not okay. Stopping body types form wearing what they feel most comfortable in dull enough to take the artistic freedom from life. 

Seriously society should show us its more desirable to have the freedom and bravery to dress like art. So lets unite and wear what we want, don't be afraid to look like a masterpiece if it makes you happy!

Here's a zine i made inspired by feminism:

Pen Pals

Hey guys!

So over the last few days my life has basically consisted of getting all of my creative thoughts down on paper, capturing as many moments as possible and writing everything that inspires me before their out my my head and into oblivion forever. Finally my exams are finished and I have the freedom to spend more time on what I love rather than long nights spent stressing over late art homework or "wait! You mean our bio test is TOMORROW? I haven't even studied!". On Friday after I've suffered enough schoolwork I decided to celebrate my freedom (or at least it's freedom for now...) from schoolwork and jumped straight into making a glitter, sticker and paint covered diy for my friend that I plan to be sending to her by mail. Having a pen pal can be a fab thing to have. Imagine receiving colourful packages and handmade diys from a far away friend. You can spread love and creativity through the post. I love the idea of sending a hopeful little package that is a journey away from being in the hands of your pen pal and imagining his/her face lighting up while reading the thoughtful letter that's been wonderfully created by you! 

What I included in my package was: 

• Four positive quotes that will lift moods and make her smile to be read when feeling down 
• A chocolate bar for the obvious reason that chocolate is seriously essential
• A rose flavoured tea that i couldn't resist since its titled "Love" and tastes divine
• Three pins, i made, decorated with happy quotes, a band she adores and her favorite drink (Starbucks)

-Rachel

Sparkle Like a Crystal: DIY

So lately on one of my adventures (hehehee well not really,  actually just wandering round my favorite shops searching for cute finds, freezing on a seriously cold night), I noticed some beautiful crystal necklaces sparkling in one of the high street stores (sounds like i'm seriously overthinking a piece of jewelry) but they had  kind of spiritual element to them that would make any dark outfit look mysterious and eye-catching. Instead of using my few last pennies that are lying in my purse somewhere and buying the necklaces right there, I decided id make my own.

And here's my DIY that i'm sharing also a makeup look to match.

I used a very pretty indigo crystal with flecks of gold,( I bought this from the crystal shop for £3.00) And my leather necklace is form a festive art show for £1.00

First take some wire (you can buy this from art shops very cheap) and wrap it tightly around the crystal creating a net round the top

Then attach a short piece of wire, hook it round a piece the previous net and do the same on two (opposite) sides of the crystal

Then wrap the ends of these short pieces around the bottom of the necklace (or piece of leather)

And then tie the ends or use a necklace clip its up to you!

And your done!

The makeup look will keep you sparkling weather your at a winter party or walking in the snow, with shimmery eyes and dark lips for glamorous vibes but still keeping it simple:

For the eyes: BH Cosmetics Galaxy Palette: Neptune, Cosmic and Sun

For the lips: Topshop Lip Bullet in Wine Gum and Makeup Revolution in Salvation Velvet

The rest is just concealer (you can use your own as they vary depending on complexion and person) and i used Benefits They're Real mascara. 

Now the look is complete your ready to glimmer under the moonlight and all through the icy cold!

Capturing October

So October is over. 

The month was a blur of autumn leaves, long walks and dark clothing. I've always loved it, its mostly the ground that turns a hundred shades of orange, the still, dark nights and of course Halloween (my favorite thing). 

This year i tried to really make the most of Halloween, continuing my love for the festival. Getting ready was the best part especially carving a cat-shaped pumpkin whilst trying to avoid injuring ourselves and  my costume this year was a zombie (fake blood)- masquerade ball outfit. 

The rest of October was spent wandering round cute vintage shops and taking pictures of the sunsets. 
As for fashion the colors that made this month were dark blues,peach, i have also been obsessed with cute badges, purple lipstick and patterned dresses. 

But here are some photos from October.

vintage shopping with Becca

Favorite dress form fall

Hello! Where it starts

Hi cutie!
So this is my blog

I created this blog mainly because I want to share some photography. The idea that soon I will have a camera that I could bring everywhere with me and start taking pics of flowers, art and friends and just beautiful stuff (instead of having to constantly search my bag for my almost- dead-running-low on storage iPhone) the idea of a camera made me so excited and now i have a place to share my photography 

But..

It's not only photography that will appear on here because I love art,fashion,makeup and music 

I spend most of my time adventuring and basically finding random Stuff to do and I thought I could share some of my adventures on here aswell!

So before I begin ranting on about cute shopping finds and astrology I thought I'd give a bit of an introduction about myself 

My name is Rachel

I come from a very rainy part of the U.K (but it's cool because I LOVE cold weather) and also I do art

I have obsessions with many things some of which are: astrology, cats, patterned clothes and riding my bike to anywhere

So I hope you enjoy the blog! 

Au revoir!! Xoxo