Faded Spring

    4 Wardrobe Staples That You Need: The Dress Edition

    When it comes to being the personification of 'extra' there is no other word that springs more clearly to mind, as you drink in my flower crown esque mermaid part unicorn fantasy that is emblazoned with magical realism and littered with happy sprinkles. I wear grandiose ball gowns to Tesco's, pose against vivid street art motif backgrounds in next to nothing while battling freezing, ice cold temperatures and above all am always and utterly inappropriately dressed for all seasons, because let's face it, I like to pretend like the cold doesn't exist. In fact in my fantastical vision, where the purple unicorns dance among the teal mermaids, the 'concept' of weather is cancelled. Let's re-phrase ... read more

    Why Online Dating Can Lead To Finding ‘The One’

    Finding the one can be what seems to be an endless journey, as you gallivant through 'boning central' and navigate your way into Love Shack Kingdom, where Cupid and his merry bandits await. And while all your friends have their tongues down their boyfriend's throats, you sit lonely as a cloud among the 1500 cats and dogs that you merrily welcomed into your burgeoning home, forlornly transfixed by the couples who get randy outside your window. You might not be a 'Peeping Tom' but even you can't ignore the feeling of 'wanting something tangible and real' with someone other than your ridiculously cute cat... is that too much to ask? Alas the 'concept of a soulmate' is as alien as the idea of ... read more

    19 Vegan Brands You Need To Try This Veganuary

    In just five short years registered charity 'Veganuary' has grown from 1,000 members, to over 500,000 sign ups worldwide, who have pledged to follow a plant based diet for 'vegan January'. With a record number of people signing up for Veganuary 2019 in 193 countries, it is clear that the rise of Veganism is no 'fad diet' but a movement towards compassion, empathy and healthier lifestyles. While some might choose to become Vegan temporarily, for others Veganuary becomes the stepping stone for a new Vegan diet, sometimes making the transition from vegetarianism to Veganism or even taking the plunge from eating meat on a daily basis to focusing on a plant based diet. While people's motives for ... read more

    Do You Ever Wish You Were Back At School?

    Do You Ever Wish You Were Back at School? In Primary School, education became my safe place and refuge away from home, in secondary school I dreaded lessons where we would have to choose 'pairs' and in University I found myself, and reveled in my quirky and unique point of view. For me at different periods in my life I found myself either loathing or loving school, as I was bullied, tormented and made fun of at secondary school for daring to be different. Yet in Primary school education became my solace from an abusive home and at university I found that people didn't care that I didn't fit the status quo nor were they particularly bothered about the way I dressed or the people I chose to ... read more

    An Immersive Dining Experience With Dinner Time Story

    New friends in red and blue peer into the surrealist world of Le Petit Chef, riding magic carpets through a Middle Eastern Bazaar and tasting spices in an Indian Wonderland. The falafel dances on a bed of tofu noodles and the cauliflower gobi flies into creme brulee, as your taste buds come alive under the magical spell of Le Petit Chef, whose waiting hand you take, cautiously at first, as you travel far and beyond your imagination. There are forays into amuse bouche land with a quail's egg nestled in a dainty white square, washed down with a wine pairing that glides down your throat with the finesse of an ice rink dancer. Or perhaps you might prefer following the mini chef on his journey to ... read more

    Faded Spring’s Christmas Gift Guide For Her

    It's the most wonderful time of the year, a year glossed over in snow and festivities, where Santa comes a'knocking, resplendent in red velvet, trimmed with white faux fur. The reindeer nibble on carrots and mince pies left by eager young boys and girls, who dance around the Christmas tree waiting for their chance to discover special presents, brought especially for them. Little do they know it is mummy and daddy who have combed the archives to bring joy into their home this yuletide, but for now let's picture Santa and his reindeer clambering into his sleigh, as he charges merrily across the navy blue skies, littered with milky white cerebral stars. The parents drink mulled wine by the ... read more

    How A Better Night’s Sleep Can Boost Your Mental Health

    How A Better Night's Sleep Can Boost Your Mental Health This Winter Ever since I started blogging three years ago , I have been candid about my struggles with mental health, having been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD aged 22. While I was diagnosed three years ago, the reality is that I was exhibiting symptoms of mental health issues from as young as six years old after being abused by my stepmother, abandoned by my mother and bullied throughout my teen and young adult years. I had to deal with trauma and neglect from a young age which had a negative impact on my mental health and for many years I would suffer in silence, afraid to be typecast as a drama queen as I had been ... read more

    A Christmas Lantern Spectacular At Alice In Winterland

    Twas a November Evening shrouded in eternal mystique, the moon was high in the sky, plump and heavy and the air glazed over with frost. A white and red slogan t-shirt tucked nonchalantly into red suit trousers, white sock boots clinging to sluggish mud, red baker boy cap perched askew. The night was cold and Mistress wind had rustled her way through the threadbare trees, and despite the eeriness of the inky black skies, there was a comforting humming sound bubbling in the distance, you saw a flash of lights. White sock boots grazing the pavement impatiently, crunchy leaves falling from oak trees, a small queue outside Alice In Winterland, where a world of magical surrealism would await. The ... read more

    Why It’s Ok To Want To Delay Your Period

    When it comes to period talk, I am passionate about advocating for 'period positive discussion' as I feel it is important to raise awareness and de-stigmatize the taboo around our vaginas. After all, being on your period is something that many of us females share, and we should never feel embarrassed to buy sanitary products in public, nor should we feel like we cannot discuss our periods at arms length. Because despite what society might tell us, there is nothing shameful about being on our periods, nor is there any harm in wanting to speak openly about periods, in the hopes that we can encourage others to speak out. Which is why when I heard about women using medication to delay their ... read more

    I Made My Own Perfume With The Perfume Studio!

    There is something so deliciously evocative about the scent of a perfume, wafting underneath your noise with the poise of a ballet trained dancer. The sweet bases notes intermingle with cinnamon and spice, lingering after hours in a musky cloud of delicious sensuality. But it is not just deliberately sensual or evocative, perfumes say a lot about the wearer, personalized to who we are as people, reflecting the interests that we have and the scents we find desirable. I always saw myself as someone who was attracted to a tropical sweet scent infused with pineapples, mangoes and guava's, but much to my surprise when it came to making my own perfume with Buyagift and The Perfume Studio, I was ... read more