Curly Top

A few weeks ago Look Magazine did a piece on how to achieve a curly top (if you say curly top alot it sounds funny).

So I took it upon myself to try it out, it says that it only take 10 mins to create. ....

10 mins later the result:

Well, it did only take 10 mins to do, but I don't think that my hair is long enough to create the style in the same why that they did.

Although saying that I do quite like it, it's quick, easy, and scruffy.

I have also considered that if like mine you hair is a bit short to get your curls all the way to your forehead, you could sneak some extensions in there too!

To create this you need to:

1. Divide your hair into two ponytails, one at the top of your head (pineapple style) and the other just in front of it (nearer the front of your crown).
2. The first ponytail should be wrapped around the back one to cover up the elastic, secure with kirby grips.
3. The back section should be curled and then pulled forward (covering the first ponytail) and pinned into place.

Give it a try and let me know if it works.

Sophs x

Oooh pretty make up....

My Illamasqua make-up order arrived yesterday and I spent last night playing with it!

Illamasqua says it is for the bolder person hiding inside of all of us, it has plenty of attitude and is a statement of self confidence. This sounds quite heavy but if you spend some time on their website you'll soon see that this is in-fact true.

The colours are powerful and bold and aren't for the faint hearted. Whilst there is a shade to suit everyone, Illamasqua is all about letting out your alter ego.

Whilst my alter ego wasn't around on Thursday night I'd try some of the make up anyway and I liked what I had.

The make-up looked brilliant, I know packaging can't be the judge of whether something is good or not but I liked it nether the less.

What Did I buy: Bronzing Duo, Cream Blusher - Sob, Lipstick - Fable, Concealer - CC130, Intense Lipgloss - absorb, Nail Varnish - Unnatural, Medium Pencil - White, Fine Pencil - Black

Me - playing with the make up

The make-up was great, the colours were strong but not over powering. The most important thing for me was that they stayed on my face and didn't melt away!

There's nothing worst then spending loads of time getting ready for your make-up to slide off half way through your night!

I'm tempted to get another order in already!

Illamasqua have been nominated for two Company Miracle make-up awards - showing that they really are ones to watch.

Sophs x

Primarni for Christmas

Thought I'd start today by showing you what I'm wearing....

Santa brought me a new floral dress for Christmas and it's taken me weeks to find the right cardigan to go with it. Here it is...

Dress, Primark (from santa), Cardigan, M&S £13, Belt, Primark £3, Tights, models own (always wanted to say that), Boots, New Look £30

I've been wearing this dress a couple of different ways just by changing the accessories.

In this picture I've toughen up the dress by pairing it with heavy boots and a chunky belt. But if you keep the accessories softer by adding a peal necklace and earring with some navy flats then it looks much smarter and more feminine.

I wore it the pearls and flats way to my boyfriend's nanny's 90th birthday party!

Do you have any outfits you can wear two ways?

I'm a freak...

Yesterday I spent the morning at the allergy clinic at the hospital. Which I'm not complaining about I've had worst Monday mornings.

I'm allergic to lots of things (unfortunately) and this test was to confirm what exactly it is that doesn't like me.


Interesting test, it went like this: the nurse wrote weird codes all over my arm (see picture below), these codes apparently mean something! She then put a blob of each solution next to the codes, before pricking my arm no less than 15 times!!!!

My arm - lovely isn't it.

It's starting to swell and go red next to the solutions that I am allergic too

So I'm allergic to:

Cats: tell me something I don't know. I found this out when I was about 14 at a sleep over when I sneezed for about 4 hrs and eventually got my mum to collect me

Dust mites: slightly harder to avoid, the buggers are everywhere!

Grass Pollen: kinda figured that out already too

and the cherry on the cake = Tress: yes trees. The very thing that keeps us alive (the whole oxygen cycle thing)

So after the test I assumed the nice nurse would help me remove the strange coding from my arm........oh, no, no, I was wrong, she sent me packing!

I got a few funny looks on my way to work. I bet I looked like some mad woman who had written a coded message (or more likely a shopping list) on her own arm!

I've managed to get most of it off, but I look like a grubby school kid. The pen won't come off!!!!

Sophs x

The Football Monster

It's not often that I will talk about things that are not fashion related but this is too funny not to share....

Picture this....

It's the weekend, I'm sat happily reading a bit of Sherlock Holmes (my new fav) while my boyfriend watches the football (all OK so far).

Slowly the volume creeps up on the television louder and louder until it is so LOUD THE WHOLE STREET CAN HEAR!

My boyfriend has gone from calmly watching the match with a beer to screaming, yelling, swearing, dropping to his knees and pacing the floor.

It's like he is the manager or something, I can't share everything he said whilst shouting at the screen (like they can hear him), here are some that I can share with you:

"Yes"

"Get in to him"

"No"

"Give him some options"

"No way"

"Penalty"

"Up the left, up the left"

"Oh, what, don't even get me started"

"Yeah, yeah, that's right"

"Shall I come over and score for you myself"

"Oh mate, I'm so happy"

"What the?!?"

I stopped reading and was literally just watching him like he was some sort of show. I've never laughed so hard. There were tears.

Does your boyfriend become the football monster too?

Sophs x x

The fear..

Today I've been spending my Saturday doing some 'behind the scenes' work on the blog. You may notice some changes over the next few days as I get to grips with blogging, what I can and can't do etc.

If any of you have any tips let me know! They are much appreciated.

So yesterday I got 'the fear'. This happens to me every year but it seems to have come early for some reason.

The fear happened while I was getting dressed. . . . "what on earth has happened to my legs over winter!?!"

I wouldn't even call them white they were grey! They have clearly been neglected, a bit dry, in need of a shave and not at all ready for summer. I think they have been covered up for too long!

So with the fear well and truly upon me I tried to reassure myself that no one is wearing shorts yet, they aren't even in the shops yet..... erm I was WRONG!

They are every where, and they are pretty, (see pretty shorts below) but my legs aren't. oops.

Shorts from left to right: Topshop floral £35, Topshop black £30, Topshop cycling shorts £12, Miss Selfridges red £28, New Look floral £16.

Operation SOS : sort out legs is up and running.

I have purchased myself a new razor, super thick moisturiser (with a hint of tan) and some nail varnish for my toes.

Give me a few weeks girls and I'll be ready for those shorts.

What is your fashion fear for 2010?

Sophs x

Chocolate dresses, what next?

I knew when I saw these photos today that I had to share them with you.


What runs through a designers mind to make them come up with chocolate dresses, handbags and accessories?





One thing made me laugh about these outfits. Lets suppose you actually wore one, how would you manage to keep your outfit on for the whole night without people (including yourself) nibbling away at it!


It would be too tempting surely!


I decided that the quality of these dresses would be decided by the quality of the chocolate used (I know I'm off my rocker!). I think I would have a little taste!


As a huge chocolate fan and eater I'm a little concerned for the Easter Bunny, does he have to start delivering whole outfits instead of just eggs!


Could we be seeing Gaga in these sometime soon? It would certainly beat the kermit outfit!


What do you think, would you need to taste your chocolate dress?

My Spring Essentials

Its a confusing time of the year at the moment the weather is giving us clear signals that we need to wrap up warm. It is still cold, windy and rainy.

But all the stores are giving us Spring and Summer!

What to do? what to wear? what to buy?I'm as confused as the rest of you and although I like what I see for SS2010, I'm not quite feeling it just yet!

I've been bust reading, looking and checking out what's in and out for SS2010. I like to know the things I am buying will get me through.

I've put together some little hints to get us through:

1. The maxi is back
Short dresses are out the window, maxi's are in! Brilliant creation the maxi, hides approximately 1 million sins and super easy to wear.

2. Florals
These aren't new to the high street, these have been around a while and they ain't going no where. Stock up! I prefer a bigger rose print but with florals anything goes.

3. Ruffles

On your shoulders, hips, skirts anywhere, add a few ruffles and you're bang on trend. This trend is great because you can be as bold or as shy as you like, a ruffle is a ruffle, no matter how many or how big they are.

4. Yellow Any shade the whole yellow spectrum from candy floss yellow to acid bright. Try adding a flash of yellow with a bag or in your accesorises if your not brave enough to go all out.

5. Dungarees (well sort of, more all in ones)

You have all seen and probably struggled with the playsuit (undoing those are a two man job)not the long version is hitting our stores. Personally I'm not keen, not with my body shape. But on those that can pull it off do so superbly.

My spring summer list includes all of the above with the exception of the jump suit. Don't get me wrong there are plenty more must haves out there but without a clear idea of what to buy I end up with everything but nothing. I like my staples.

Images shown: Maxi dress: Monsoon £200, Floral dress: New Look £30, Ruffle top: Dorothy Perkins £14, Yellow Dress: Littlewoods £55, Jumpsuit: Miss Selfridges £40.

Sophs x x

Get on ya boots, get on ya boots

I have new boots.

I haven't stopped wearing them since I brought them last week and thought that if I have this much love for a pair of boots I should share them with you.

Da daaaaaa

Boots - New Look £30

These bad ass boots are the sort of thing that when you had them on to go out in your Mum would of said "you're not going out in them".

Mum - "I have brought them, I do love them and YES I am wearing them!" he he

I've been wearing them literally everything, from 40's tea dress to LBD. They really toughen up my dresses so that I don't feel too girly.

Tough looking boots have been around a while and whilst I know the sunshine will soon kick in and our weather will turn good I think I'll get enough wear of them in the mean time.

I'm the sort of girl that likes to reassure myself after a purchase, my mind works like this: Boots = £30, already worn them 8 times, that is £3.75 each time. This equals BARGAIN!

How would you wear them? What have you recently fallen in love with?

Sophs x

and I didn't get pulled up on footwork!

About August last year, some wise owl at work thought it would be a great idea to put together a work netball team.

As a newbie to the company at this stage I eagerly joined, a chance to meet more people, make some more friends! No one need know my shocking Netball past, I'm different now, I'm older, wiser, fitter?!?.

Last night was our first team practice - Gulp.

But (yes there is a but), it went pretty well. The ghost of netball past didn't make me run with the ball, didn't make me miss every shot at goal, didn't make me live up to my 'butterfingers' name. By jove I think she has got the hang of this Netball thing!!!

Feeling a bit sore this morning but I think it is my body's way of punishing me for running and exercising last night - sorry body!

Would you join a work sport team? fingers crossed mine seems to be going well.....so far.

Sophs x x

My storm, my Teacup

Welcome to My storm, my teacup.

Since moving to London six months ago I have discovered a world of fashion and blogging. So I thought I'd give it a go.

No promises at the moment as to what will become of the blog. Hopefully I'll start to post regularly and give you some wise insight into my world.

I have some exciting things coming up in the next few months, one being a delivery of Illamasqua make up!

I'll let you know how I get on.

Sophs x