New year, new me... My resolutions

I'm not usually one to jump on the 'new year, new me' bandwagon but this year is different. Normally I am one of the people laughing at others harping on about how much their life is going to change and how the new year is a brand new start which they'll be able to change by altering their hair colour BUT this year I am planning on really working on myself as a person, and - as a result - hopefully becoming fitter, happier and more productive (or so the Radiohead song says...)

1) Become a better University student.
I'm not perfect. Nobody is. But my aim for the new year is to stop being lazy and attend every single lecture and seminar. I have a habit of burying my head in the sand when things become too much for me to handle and this first semester has been no different. So, this year I plan to tackle my problems head on and ensure that I attend every single lesson possible. I am paying £9k a year, after all...

2) Reach a level of semi-fluency in my Italian reading.
Learning a language is an absolute dream, which I would really recommend to anybody. I am lucky enough to study a language from scratch at one of the best Universities in the world, which I really need to remind myself from time to time! My plan for my Italian is to reach a level where I would be comfortable reading an article in the language without having to ask for much help. I know this is a pretty steep aim considering I have only been learning the language for 3 months BUT it's not impossible and it will really help me when I go to Italy on my year abroad!

3) Do not allow myself to be walked over/stand up for myself more.
I have always been a bit of a wallflower - in class I rarely speak up unless I feel extremely confident, despite knowing the answer. The same goes for me at work and in many social situations. Whilst I understand that this is something that comes with my confidence and will be worked on in time, I really want to make the effort to stop being walked all over in every aspect of my life this year! Too many times I have found myself crying, stressed and feeling depressed because I have allowed myself to be used as a doormat for other peoples' gain and it's really unfair, both on my mental and my physical health. I need to learn when to say no and realise that some of the people who ask for help won't necessarily return it when you need it.

4) Stop impulse buying and actually save some money!
My worssssst habit is impulse buying, and it's something I need to tackle in the new year. One of my good friends, Ellie, told me that she saves up her money and treats herself to a Topshop personal shopping spree every few months, which I really think I might start doing as it allowed her to build a wardrobe of interchangeable items, giving her really good value for money and an amazing style at the same time! Too often I will go into a shop, purchase one or two items without considering what the rest of my wardrobe looks like, wear it once and then just never even consider it again, which needs to stop. It is wasting me money because I end up returning to the shop a week later claiming I don't have anything to wear and selling my impulse bought items on ebay for a quid! Not good and something which desperately needs to be tackled. Saving money wise, I am reaching the age where I am starting to understand that blowing all my money on clothes and shoes and make-up and hair extensions is NOT the best idea... especially when I am sat here nearly crying because I am into my overdraft and still need to buy people Christmas presents with money I do not have! My plan is to deposit money from every wage into my savings account and allow it to build up gradually. I don't work at uni, but I do have a job when I come home which allows me to earn some money whilst not interrupting my studies.

5) Join a gym and actually attain the body I want.
I am quite fortunate in that I am currently the largest I have ever been... yet I am still a size 8. Uni has definitely had its toll on my body recently, and it's left me feeling sluggish and heavy. So, in the new year I plan to join a gym and really work hard on eating healthily. I feel happiest when I am smaller and more confident, so weight loss through exercise and eating well will definitely have a knock on effect with my confidence and happiness. I have found a cheap student gym which is open 24 hours too so I can hit the treadmill instead of ordering dominoes at 2am!

6) Stop smoking.
This is a habit I'm really not proud of and hate admitting as it makes me sound really dirty but I started smoking properly when I joined my current job as most of the staff there do it and it meant I got paid breaks when it was dead... win win situation? Not really. It's expensive and taking its toll on my health, so along with my mum I plan to join the NHS stop smoking service in order to cut it out altogether and save money along the way!

I understand that this post has been reeeeally long but it's more a note for myself to keep myself going in the new year.
What are your new years resolutions?
Lauren x

Christmas is here... My favourite items of the moment

I am typing this from a different station to my two previous posts; my bedroom at home. I returned home for Christmas from University today and got to spend some quality time with my mum, brother, sister and my beautiful little doggies! I love coming home from University for those reasons especially, and also because my bed and shower and bath and EVERYTHING is sooooo much nicer at home (I definitely did not appreciate it when I lived here full time, sob..)

One downside to Christmas is definitely money. I have spent SO much money on people this year that I have left myself with no choice but to sell some much loved items on ebay just to get some extra cash! I am already into my overdraft and really don't want to face the scary Barclays people again to request an extension so I'm trying to be good and not spend any more money on unnecessary items... like Topshop clothes and Primark canvas bags which have the letter L on them. Ha.

So this post is basically about my current FAVOURITE items for the festive period which I should not have spent the banks money on buttttt I did anyway and there's no point crying over spilt milk (or spent overdraft money, ha.)

1) This amaaaazing super glittery leopard print metallic piece of deliciousness from Urban Outfitters:

Urban Outfitters - £38

This picture does NOT do this skirt any justice whatsoever. I purchased this in the Black Friday sales along with a dress which I shall mention in this post and wowwww I can't stop wearing it! I team it with black tights, boots, a deep wine coloured jumper I got last year from Topshop and it just looks so festive. It reminds me of mulled wine - the spiciness from the skirt mixed with the berry tones of the jumper look amazing and when I don't feel like a potato (I am currently in a Macaroni cheese coma... the horrors) I will be sure to post some images of how I would style this particular piece.

2) This INSANE snake skin/metallic/shimmery dream of a dress:

Topshop - £68

I originally purchased this dress for my boyfriend's 21st birthday meal and got so many compliments on it! I really cannot wait to wear this again some time soon but I am so scared of ruining it due to the price! I'm thinking leather jacket with it to spice it up a little? I recently saw a shop assistant at Topshop wearing it with black tights and brogues which looked so nice as a toned down look which I am going to try during the Christmas months.

3) This monarch-esque, jewel of a playsuit 

Topshop - £48

This little beauty is sooo worth the slightly steep price tag! It's a gorgeous jewel colour and is perfect for festive parties - it has a lacey back as well which really makes it stand out against the deep purple of the playsuit. I ordered it from the Tall section as although I am only 5 ft 6/7, I have quite a long torso meaning the normal sizes can give me extreme camel toe which is just not so attractive... but I am so glad I bought it in the size I did! I wore it on a night out with a leather jacket, some loafer style heels, black tights and a lovely gothic statement necklace which I got from Primark! They also sell this playsuit in a deep navy and bottle green... I wish I was rich so I could buy all three!

4) The most perfect shoes known to existence... 

Topshop - £98

I can see a bit of a running theme with the brand of all my favourite items haha but whatever... LOOK AT THESE SHOES! Aren't they amazing?! Everything about them is screeeeaming at me to buy them but, alas, I am a student with no money so hopefully they will still be in stock when I get paid after Christmas! I can just see these going with SO many things, and the print and strapstyle makes them a little bit unique. I especially love the teeny tiny platform at the front of the shoe which is so elegant!

5) A dress with a name I have been known to be called...

Urban Outfitters - £60

This dress is perfection. It's royal blue, velvet, has a mesh peter pan colour, and is called the 'Wednesday' dress. My mum always calls me Wednesday Addams due to an unfortunate incident when I thought black hair would really suit me - I look like Wednesday ANYWAY so imagine what would happen with black hair... I'm sure you can picture it. Anyway, this dress is amazing. It is just perfect for winter as the quality is so lovely and it's the perfect length for preventing any unfortunate knicker showing on windy days which is always a bonus! I especially love the netting along the bottom of the sleeves and the skirt because it means I can wear my all important black tights without it clashing! I wear this with Chelsea boots and my leopard print coat for extra winter warmth. I got this in the Black Friday sale too and I am sooo happy that I did!

I could go on for days and days about clothes which I love but I'm going to keep it short and sweet and stop whilst I am ahead. Here is a little picture of my current wardrobe situation just to show you the sort of tones and textures I am currently loving.

What clothes are you loving this Christmas?

Lauren x