Faded Spring

    5 Top Tips On Creating An Energy Efficient Home

    For many of us who are battling the snow, the urge to turn up our thermostats or leave on our radiators for longer periods of time can be an easy solution to follow, unaware that our use of energy has a dramatic impact on both our energy bills and of course the environment. It is little wonder why 'Blue Planet' became 2017's most watched programme, drawing attention to how our use of plastic was affecting the oceans and the fishes and mammals habitat. And while it is great that more people are paying attention to their 'plastic consumption' we should also take into account how our use of energy sources like 'heated showers' or radiators are also having an impact on the environment. In fact ... read more

    Renovating My Bedroom With Taskers The Home Store

    For those of you who have followed my 'housing journey', you will know that over the last 4 years I have moved a grand total of 8 times, and three times in the year and a half that I have been in London. From house to house I would move, not because I wanted to but out of necessity, while working long hours and having next to no social life. But then when I found my current place, I was 'tired of moving' and wanted a room where I could feel at home and didn't have to hide myself away from others. I loved the area, I loved my room and most importantly, despite its ups and downs, my room I am in now is the best room I have had since I was in my third year of university and that is saying a ... read more

    What To Wear To The Races With Pretty Little Thing

    With Ascot and Ladies Day around the corner, the hunt for what to wear to the races has never been so tantalizing. With women reaching for the most bizarre mushroom shaped hats, with the concept that 'bigger really is better', you will be forgiven for thinking that 'Race Day' is nothing more than a large fancy dress party that the entire population has been invited to attend. And unlike those snobby high school biatches, who wouldn't invite you to their 'exclusive house parties' as you weren't cool or pretty enough to be part of their 'squad', race day is open to everyone, no matter what you look like. Because let's face it, I don't know about you but I sure as hell don't want to be part of ... read more

    My First Taste Of Authentic Spanish Cuisine: Iberica

    Authentic Spanish Cuisine, is hard to come by. The last Spanish 'inspired meal' I had was at a dodgy Spanish chain restaurant, who made me violently ill with their 'greasy' paella, that was practically swimming in 'oil'. But as someone whose background is Mediterranean (my parents are from Madeira), I knew that there was more to 'Authentic Spanish cuisine' than the oily vegetarian paella dish I was served at the Spanish chain restaurant. I craved a dish that would salivate my senses and send me into a food related stupor, that would permeate my dreams so deliciously at night. I dreamed of Patatas Bravas (spicy potatoes with aoli) dancing on beds of light and fluffy paella, while I drenched ... read more

    5 Key Ankle Boot Trends You Need To Try In 2018

    It's a tale as old as time; boy meets girl, girl meets boy and they live happily ever after. Oh give over what am I talking about? I'm here to give you the real scoop, forget boys, this post is about the shoes that will make you cry, about the ankle boots that will be slaying your entire existence and most of all the shoes that will turn your frown upside down. Because ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you a little story about the well known 'game of love'. You fall in and out of love with the people you date but the love you feel for shoes, is a love that 'never goes out of fashion'. So while you might be broke and single as the day you were born, there is nothing wrong with indulging in a ... read more

    Mental Health Awareness In The Online Dating World

    When it comes to dating disasters, I have had my fair share of f**kboys who have used me for sex, 'benefits' or in the case of some have had girlfriends when they were 'seeing me'. While I have both laughed and grimaced at my readers own dating disasters in equal measure, there are some 'online dating scenarios' that have filled me with sadness. When it comes to mental health, we are often too quick to dismiss someone who is displaying signs of erratic behaviour as simply 'being crazy', when in reality these people need encouragement to get the help that they so need. And this was the case with today's guest post author Alan Moore, whose online dating experience did not involve f**kgirls, ... read more

    How Esquared Motivated Me To Become More Active

    Growing up I wasn't ever considered to be the 'sporty kid' -although I did dance outside of school during my 'Musical Theatre years'- and the thought of going to the gym had always intimidated me. From the perspective of someone who A. does not react very well to making mistakes and B. spent most of her life caring what other people thought, I was often too scared to branch outside of my comfort zone because I didn't want to make a 'fool out of myself'. I was very uncomfortable in my own skin and the only image that I had of P.E was two very real scenarios that I encountered during my time in secondary school. The first was being one of the 'so called non-popular losers' who was almost ... read more

    A Cozy Night In For Valentine’s Day With Amara

    I might be a 'single wee lass' searching my room for imaginary pugs and cats, but for some February 14th marks a day full of celebration and 'lurve'. Whether that be through stuffing your faces with delicious and decadent food at the worlds most pompous restaurant or showering your loved one with a bouquet of flowers that they 'plucked' from your back garden, when it comes to romance, couples don't seem to hold back. While I would rather not have to listen to the squeal of 'over eager couples' having their annual 'sexy time' it can be sweet how mass consumerism can result in 'the honeymoon period' for couples once more. Besides the cutest thing about Valentine's Day, is watching the couples ... read more

    What To Wear On Valentine’s Day: The Last Minute Edition

    As yet another couple proceed to show each other 'what their insides look like' by forcefully tonguing each other, with such gusto you would think they were competing for the winter Olympics, I'm pretty sure that I might have 'vommed'  a little bit in my mouth. And I'm not just saying that because I am a 'Bitter Betty' with no bae to my name, but because if I wanted to watch porn I would just go home and pop a cheeky video on 'Redtube' on. After all it's not like I signed a lease form that guaranteed me hours of very uncomfortable PDA, while I attempted to read my book on Anne Boleyn is it? I'm like one of those grumpy cat women on Valentines Day, with a face like a slapped arse wishing that ... read more

    Rocking Into The 1960’s With River Island

    The 1960's according to River Island was a period characterized by 'vintage faux suede fringe jackets', large sunglasses and the 'infamous Mary Quant esque' mini skirt, as made popular by the youth culture in the 1960's. But there is more to the sixties than the 'Mary Quant' postcard image' and its safe to say that allowing ourselves to re-interpret fashion history, through another brand like River Island's 'gaze' can be elementary to how we construct our own fashion identity. For example River Island's A/W 17 collection encompassed traditional elements of sixties fashion such as the large oversized sunglasses as popularized by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961), the tweed ... read more