10 DAY CHALLENGE

DAY ONE

TEN RANDOM FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF

1. I am obsessed with leopard print

2. My hair is naturally curly

3. I am half Canadian

4. I am scared of monkeys (long story)

5. I can only sleep in a tidy bedroom

6. I love rock music

7. I have TONS of books on my bookshelf and I'm scared it will break 

8. Half my wardrobe is black

9. I love vintage jewelry

10. I love to abbrev 

Valentine’s Day – The Marmite Holiday

 With Valentines Day fast approaching I play Cupid and consider the different attitudes towards all things romance…

Another year has flown by and we are once again suffocated with cringey cards, tacky teddies, and red roses. After hearing various opinions throughout the week, it has become clear that the attitudes towards Valentine’s Day are split down the middle. So, what has made Valentine’s Day the marmite holiday of the year?

Valentine’s Day is the most popular day for marriage proposals and with billions spent on the holiday around the world it has certainly become a day that is unavoidable. It seems that if you’re loved up then February 14^th is an exciting day of getting spoilt and a chance for a bit of romanticism. For those firmly situated in Singleville the sight of a smushy Valentine’s Day card will probably make you nauseas and kindly remind you of your current relationship status. Yet if you’re dating or ‘seeing’ someone then the day can be a bit ambiguous. It could be flirting over flowers or a one way ticket to Awkward Avenue.

However, it’s said that chivalry is dead. Long gone are the days of courtly love, where romanticism and courteousness were morals maintained by the men of the Dark Ages. Many women today feel that a traditional, romantic man is near impossible to find. Maybe we expect too much due to a lifetime of Rom-Coms, love stories, or the Cinderella fairytales we are told when we are little girls.

Some people hate Valentine’s Day so much that they have declared themselves as ‘Anti-Valentinists’. For them, the idea of being forced to express love on a specific day renders it fake. The stance towards Valentine’s Day is so varied that 14^th February now shares its 24 hours with another day; Singles Awareness Day, commonly known as SAD. Many people believe that Valentine's Day is just a made up holiday by greeting card companies to make a quick profit. With an average spend of over £2 on cards and £12million buyers it certainly does just that.

But so what? One day out of the year which is dedicated to being in love should be celebrated. We all lead busy lives so why not use it as an excuse to go out for dinner, see a show, or just have a few drinks? Take romance off it’s life support machine and do something to revive it. Whether your Facebook status is set to single or not just do something fun. Even if you are single go out with your friends and celebrate that. Whatever your stance on Valentine’s Day it’s going to happen, and it will be back next year too.

So here are a few coping tips whether you’ve been hit with Cupid’s arrow or not:

RED LIGHT – If you’re in a relationship then spend the night celebrating it by taking your loved one out for dinner, send a card, and buy some flowers. If you think it’s all a money making scam then stay in and make a night of it without wasting money. It can only be positive to do something thoughtful for your partner. The closer you are to someone, the greater the gesture should be. For some this may mean gifts, but for others simple thoughtfulness can work wonders. Everyone deserves to feel special once in a while, especially the one you love.

IT’S COMPLICATED!? – If you’re in the uncertain phase of ‘seeing’ someone and it isn’t that serious then it could easily get awkward. Chances are you’re not that close yet, so don’t go overboard for fear of scaring them off, but at the same time don’t ignore it. Take a chilled approach to the day and causally suggest a date. If you’ve already gone on a few dates together then it’s only another day in the year whether it’s 14^th of Feb or not. Just be confident, it could be the start of something special.

SINGLE SOUL – If you’re single, whether you’re happy about it or not, use it as an excuse to have some fun. Plan a night with your mates, stay in and have a few drinks. It doesn’t have to be a day of dread so snack on some chocolate and enjoy being free. Anyway you never know, Cupid could be just around the corner. 

FASHION FRIDAYS!

PASTEL PERFECT


Pastels are in full bloom for Spring 2012. Designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, Chloe, Victoria Beckham, and Phillip Plim, just to name a few, have shown their passion for pastels at New York Fashion Week S/S12. Sugary hues, candy colours, and sweet palettes are fresh for Spring and have made a big impact on the catwalks. Pretty pastels have a subtle vibe but this Spring it seems that the calm hues have been applied to sharp tailoring to create edgy elegance, but maintain its feminine romance. 


So which pastel trend will you have your spring fling with?


Peplum
Peplum's are perfect to accentuate your waist and provide powerful tailoring to office wear, separates, and evening dresses. If you're wondering what Peplum actually is, I can tell you it is not the latest superfood. It's simply a short layer, frill, or ruffle which is attached at the bottom of a jacket, blouse, skirt or dress. It last fashion debute was in the 80's. Peplum's add drama and flair to your wardrobe and can be flaunted on almost every occasion. Pastels and peplum's in cool creams and pretty pinks break up your outfit and give it dimensions, but still retain a hint of romance. 

Me in a Peplum Dress

Spring Clean
Give your wardrobe a re-birth and go minimalistic. It is not just loud, block colours which make a statement, pastels can do this too. The pastel palette for S/S12 has been mixed with bold brights. So when you choose a sugary hue to suit you, you won't be looking pastey. Once you have find your perfect pastel spring into a clear-cut, tapered dress and keep in simple with one sweet shade.  

Part of a Painting

Pastel Nails

Candy Gloss
Go girly and dust yourself with romantic roses, spearmint greens, soft vanilla, and lovely lemons. Pastels can be applied to almost any piece from rosy blouses, to creamy jackets, and even sorbet shoes. Have a play with pastels and pick how you would like to parade the trend. Give in to your craving for candy and get a sugar high for pastels this spring. 

Kurt Geiger Shoes

F-f-freezing!

Wish I was back here...

The Dream of the Pit-Stop Card Shop

Every month it's a birthday, or an anniversary, or soon enough Valentine's Day. So we all have to go out and buy a card. Now I am an incredibly indecisive person. Even when it come to making teeny decisions, such as buying a greetings card. This may make me sound a bit ridiculous, but I can pretty much guarantee that anyone reading this has, at some point, spent a lengthy amount of time wandering around a card shop in the attempt of finding the perfect one. I always think to myself, "this card looks alright" and then I look inside and find a disgustingly, wet poem that makes me want to vom. Or I open a seemingly normal card to find it a) plays an annoying song or b) farts. I do love a funny card though, but even then I get so consumed by them I forgot the reason I'm in the shop in the first place. There is simply too much choice. 


My dream is for a drive through card shop where you are provided with three options. I might still struggle to choose, but it would be a lot easier. Maybe I'd phone a friend or ask the sales assistant to do 50/50. Either way it would be simpler. 


So it was my Dad's birthday yesterday and this is what he ended up opening.

It did make him laugh though :)

New Holocaust Plaque laid in time for Memorial Day

Local community in Harlow shows that they will not be governed by thieves as new Holocaust plaque is laid to replace the one that was stolen in 2011

Metal theft was once a crime that would have been almost unheard of ten years ago. Yet with rising debt, plunging economic recession and the increasing rate of heartless opportunists, the crimes for all things that shine is rapidly increasing. In 2007 the total number of metal thefts in the UK was 15,002. Since then that figure has doubled to roughly 30,000. It seems that all that glitters is gold for these thieves, which range from stealing manhole covers, statues, and even parts of roofs. The stolen metals are melted down to make fast cash and provide a cheap buy for unconcerned scrap metal businesses. Many scrap metal company’s trade honestly and do not participate in accepting stolen goods. However, greater measures must be taken to prevent the corrupt few from operating. If stricter laws, harsher punishments, and hefty fines were put in place then the number of crimes would decline. Although the number of thefts has drastically risen over the last 5 years, it is a crime that can seem difficult to feel emotionally strongly about. We are at an age where we have become desensitised by various forms of media that it is easy to not give appropriate attention to lesser crimes. Often when watching the news, listening to the radio, or reading the paper, I feel bombarded by horror stories, negativity, and generally bad news. So when told a piece of metal has been stolen to make a quick buck the majority of the population would hardly bat an eyelid. However, this should not be the case. In almost every city, town and local community metals are used make statues, sculptures, and plaques. These effigies are used to commemorate history and create places of remembrance. I believe that there should be greater public awareness on the emotional attachment and sentimental meanings that these articles have to their local communities. If stricter punishments and more education were enforced then more effort would be made to prevent the number of such crimes from rising further.

On December 17^th  2011 a bronze plaque was stolen from the Holocaust Memorial gardens in Harlow, Essex. The plaque was laid at a ceremony in January 2001 and honoured victims of Nazi persecution. About 60 people of all faiths gathered together for the original service. The inscription read, ‘This garden is dedicated to the victims of the Nazi regime in Germany (1933-1945) and all peoples of the world who have been victims of atrocities or genocide’. The bronze slab which had remained in the garden for over ten years was a mark of respect to the Jewish community in Harlow. Locals walk in the gardens to admire the plaque and remember those who suffered under Nazi rule. So when it was savagely prised out of the ground by emotionless thugs you can imagine the upset of the local community. Council Chairman, Mike Garnett said, ‘People have no idea what the plaque means to people’. The scrap value of the slab was about £50. This is a small profit compared to the great lack of conscience and understanding for what the plaque stands for.

Harlow Council has displayed their understanding of the local community’s sentiment for the memorial plaque. On January 27^th 2012 the slab was replaced by the council and another ceremony was held. MP’s, police, and members of the local community assembled in the gardens to witness the unveiling of the new plaque. The restoration costs were £800, which is a vast expenditure when compared to the mere £50 that the thief would have made. Harlow MP Robert Halfron said, ‘I would send the thieves to Auschwitz to educate them’. He went on to say that if the theft were to happen again, ‘the thieves will know that we will just put another plaque back’. He made it clear that he and the local community will not give in to thieves. He also stressed the importance of ‘looking after small groups’, such as the Jewish community. In an attempt to prevent further thefts the new plaque is made from granite, which has a lower market value than the previous bronze slab. However, it is still equally as beautiful. The top of the slab has been engraved with the word ‘Remember’ in Hebrew, which shows that the local community won’t forget what the plaque symbolises. At the memorial the strength of the community and the close relationship between the council, police, and residents of Harlow was made clear. Psalms were sung, poems were recited, and prayers were read in Hebrew, which turned a saddening crime into a positive day and has reinforced the power of the local community. 

Return to Blogging

So I've neglected the blogging for a while, but I'm coming back and aim to blog almost everyday! I've just started an NCTJ Magazine Journalism course and I've been told that blogging will be very helpful! Feel free to read my random ramblings. It will be an eclectic mix of my main interest (fashion), news stories, features, and general thoughts and musing. Plus a few pictures to fill up some space!


Enjoy!


Jess xxx