Faded Spring

    Finding New Places To Eat And Drink At With Hollabox

    The night began like this; it was a cold blustery evening and the night was still young. As I put on my dancing shoes and stepped into the big city, I could feel the air charged with promise. It was going to be a good night, I could feel it in my bones. I grabbed my lipstick and ran into the darkness, excited at the thought of new beginnings. You see, me and my friend G, were off on our first dating adventure together to a 'wonderful, magical night' of what we hoped would be filled with romance and roses. Except unlike the romance novels, where every tale had a happy ending, we stepped into-and I kid you not- the worst dating event I have ever been to in my life. As I cringed inwardly at ... read more

    A True Story About Alcohol Addiction

    Two lovers were married for all eternity and promised to stay together til' death do us part and true to word, they died within 2 years of each other. The grandad went first, bedridden and battling cancer, while the grandma became his carer, changing his dressings and attending to her husband with love in her eyes. When he died she was heartbroken and within a year deteriorated until she was bedridden herself. This proud, independent but giving woman had spent all her life caring for the man that she had loved and when he died she had no chance to live out the rest of her days with happiness in her heart. Instead, two years later she too died of (bowel) cancer and had regressed into ... read more

    Faded Spring’s Obsession With Henry VIII

    From a young age I had always been obsessed with history and in particular two historical eras: The Tudors and Ancient Egypt. I marveled at the grand gowns and gasped at the political intrigue, as one by one each historical reigning monarch became partial to bloodlust and thirst. But there was one monarch who piqued my interest most of all and that was Henry VIII. From his cruel treatment of his six wives- the poor souls- to putting anyone who dared defy his counsel on the chopping block, its safe to say that that Henry VIII always got what he wanted. Feared as much as he was hated Henry VIII is one of the most intriguing monarchs in the English history books. His complex love life and ... read more

    Dear Depression: Did You Call Me?

    Dear Depression, I remember the first time you paid me a visit. Like a dark cloud you swept into my life and washed away any happiness I had known. You made me feel like I was worthless and questioned who I was as a person. You told me I would never be good enough, that all those people who said I could never amount to anything were right. But here I am still standing, struggling under the weight of your darkness. There are days, weeks even where all I seem to do is cry. I shut myself off from all the people I care about because I don’t know what to say or how to act. I don’t want people to see me as you make me feel: weak, broken and unable to control my emotions. People used to call ... read more

    Learning How To Be Casual With Debenhams At V Festival

    Conjuring up an image of me wearing wellies and rolling around in mud is hardly brand appropriate. After all, when people comment on your 'Princess dress style' chances are the only backdrop that they are imagining you in is a castle of some sort. And while I certainly don't live up to expectations- unless you like princesses that swear a lot and are socially awkward then be my guest haha- and live in a house share as opposed to a castle, I do tend to be a little extra when it comes to 'dressing up'. Maybe it's because I never really got to dress up as a kid or that I found fashion at a relatively late age, but dresses, even at summer music festivals has always been part of my 'wardrobe ... read more

    Faded Spring’s Thoughts On ‘Casual Dating’

    Casual Dating: Yay or Nay? When it comes to dating- excluding my university years- I have always been a fan of 'commitment-only' dating. I would enter relationship, after relationship in search of the one, only to find that the dates had been doomed for the very start. You see for one I was attracted to guys who were notoriously known as the 'players', B. were total arseholes and C. had no self-respect for women. But for some unknown reason I kept coming back for more, because in my childish 'eyes' they were 'hot' and therefore could make me appear more desirable, even if the guys were only using me for sex. In a sense we were both using each other; they might have been after one thing ... read more

    Exploring Canaletto And The Art Of Venice With Buyagift

    Born in 1697, Canaletto was an Italian painter of 'city views' in Venice, who painted canal landscapes with frightening accuracy, even down to the 'seasonal submerging of Venice  in water and ice'. Alongside his talent for 'accurate city depictions' Canaletto also shared a passion for teaching his pupils how to not only paint but also explore the cities that they lived in through the medium of 'art'. While Canaletto's art pieces were painted in the style of Rococo-an interior led painting technique that concentrates on 'large scale decorative paintings'- modern critics believe that his paintings became a precedent for later, impressionist works like Claude Monet's Haystacks Sunset ... read more

    Faded Spring’s Wedding Gift Guide

    Tis the season to be merry and rejoice... or so they say, because as you know my 'thoughts on marriage' or somewhat derisive, having been subject to many appalling marriages in my own three families. And when I say three families I am referring to my Foster Family, my Biological Mum's Family and my Biological Dad's Family. But despite being a jaded cynic, it doesn't mean that I am against 'marriage' in fact the 'right wedding' can be a lot of fun, it's just I don't see myself getting married in the near future. That being said I have been to some great weddings in my time and have even been a bridesmaid at two weddings too! It was the most gorgeous dress I have ever worn in my life, a burnt ... read more

    Adventures In Madame Tussaud’s:Alien Escape

    I remember the last time that I was at Madame Tussaud's; I was 14, nearly 15 years old and marveled at the exhibits of wax work figures that stood in the entrance, frozen in time. There was Henry VIII, the woman killing tyrant whose 'loathing for women' created Britain's greatest monarch-in my opinion- Elizabeth I, nonchalantly poised nearby, with a steely stare that would command any passer by to give her respect. And there was the infamous teeny bop stars like Britney Spear's dressed up as her music video 'Toxic' alter-ego, giving the show of her life. For some of my friends they found the wax-works to be creepy and stated that it gave them a shudder to see how these 'wax dolls' were ... read more

    12 Unbelievable Experiences That You Must Try In Iceland

    Is it just me who has a touch of a wanderlust this year, in fact all I seem to bang on about these days is 'travel' and how excited I am to finally spread my wings. But that's not necessarily a bad thing is it? Besides, what's a girl to do; after being unlocked from my travel cage of five years, I am finally ready to explore the beauty outside of my 'London Surroundings'. I used to dream as a child of the holidays I would take and the places that I would see; where would I go, what would I experience, who I would meet. I had fantasies of holiday romances that would never be and envisioned myself to be a fictional book heroine, who would adventure to places so far away and discover a world ... read more