Faded Spring

    February Degustabox: Take Two

    After happily gorging on Degustabox's January Edition  , the promise of a February subscription box was enough to give me a wet dream. After waiting like what seemed eons ( it was 48 hours FYI but I am a hungry beast) I hungrily delved into my box of dreams and almost passed out in delight. If I thought January's box was a 7.5/10, then February's box was most definitely a 9! From chocolate banana chips to wine, the secret creators at Degustabox HQ, clearly had me in mind when they were creating the box. While last months box seemed to be more 'snack focused', the month of love was centered around beverages , with the odd bag of sweets waiting to be eaten. The most difficult thing about ... read more

    Clothing To Motivate Your Fitness Regime

    Despite my lack of 'athleticism' it has become increasingly evident that the 'fitness craze' is sweeping the nation and who can blame them? After all I have tried swimming, dance, yoga and even had thoughts about joining a roller derby team... hell I was even hoping that I would win a Yoga holiday but alas that didn't happen. The problem about living in London is that the sluggish or rather frantic train commutes coupled with intense working hours can make even the most obsessive 'fitness fanatic' lose the motivation to work out and its easy to see why. Without a question of a doubt, when I lived in the countryside I was far more 'fitness focused' ; not only did I walk longer distances but ... read more

    Faded Spring Moves House (Again!)

    Faded Spring Moves House (Again!) I am drained and can feel the energy seeping out of me, sapping my strength like a leech. I wake up feeling disorientated  and my motivation to leave my house is drastically waning. But I have no choice, everyday I get up and go to a job that I despise and work day and night to keep myself afloat. At night when the children lay low and the house is silent I come alive, free from the prison that I am meant to call my home. The house is spacious and the room is big but when you feel like you are unwanted and you don't belong, all those attributes don't seem to matter. Its toxic, I wait until midnight to start cooking and even then I am wary that they are ... read more

    Faded Spring Tries Mom Jeans

    As someone who has blissfully subscribed to the 'skinny jean only club' for most of her life, it was quite a shock to my system to see the world clad in 'Mom Jeans'. After all the 80's jean trend was renowned for being unflattering and the term 'mom' was a pejorative , designed to mock those who wore 'said jeans'. It seems like only yesterday that I was squeezing myself into a pair of skinnies, attempting to not knock the books off my shelf as my arse struggled to be contained in ridiculously tight jeans. I would despair as buttons would pop and crotches would rip but nevertheless my penchant for 'skinny jeans' still remained prevalent. But then something happened, I saw a pair of mom jeans ... read more

    Two Ways To Style A Shirt Dress FT Boohoo

    Shirt dresses are often described as borrowing 'elements from the boys'; popped collars, a button front and cuffed sleeves are often retained in the construction of a 'shirt dress'. The androgynous fit of a shirt dress is deliciously unisex, with its un-waisted lack of definition, while looking preppy, formal and kind of 'sloppy' all in one look. Having become popular in the 1950's after Christian Dior's Post World War II 'crinoline shirt dresses' revolutionized women's wear, the abundance of shirt dresses and its prevalence in both women's and men's fashion has only served to become even more popular than ever. While shirt dresses began as a movement against utility, government approved ... read more

    London Chic Lookbook

    There is something so magical about the world about London Chic, a new brand waiting tantalizingly in the wings, begging for its chance in the spotlight. To the naked eye, it might seem like any 'other boutique brand', hungry for its chance to be noticed, prowling around the web snatching customers at whim. But that is where you are wrong, yes there is hunger but the hunger is more passionate than rooted in desperation and each item is lovingly curated in an imprint of what 'customers really want'. New styles are added each week but unlike many major retailers who 'up their prices' with each new 'collection drop', no item in London Chic's collection goes over £40. As someone who is ... read more

    5 Sunday Movie Picks

    In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we have forgotten how to live life in the moment. Whatever happened to vegging out on a Sunday, with a slice of pizza in one hand and a TV remote in another, absentmindedly flicking through TV shows to pass time?I can't remember the last time I actually sat down on a Sunday and watched a movie; instead my Sundays are just as intense as any weekday! But why should it be, surely Sunday should be the one day that you can 'take off' and do whatever you feel like doing, without thinking of the consequences? Sundays, the so 'called proclaimed day of rest' used to be me and my housemates 'movie night', where after commiserating over deadlines and lack of ... read more

    Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa: Dining Out

    After the madness of London Fashion Week, the promise of a delicious meal was the antidote that I needed to get through the day. I was stressed out-as usual- and flapping around like a mad hen because things were not going to plan. In short it was a typical Saturday and organization was not my strong suit. Still, armed with my power squad of girls- Cherrie, Lucy (Lucy Ellen) , Christine (Xtine Loves) and Anna ( On The Edge Blog) , I knew that Saturday night was about to get 'lit'. I just had to de-stress first and after a delay with events, I was late for my scheduled meal at 4 PM and felt anxious about it. I am a pretty punctual kinda gal and being late is not something I tend to be ... read more

    Why Personalized Gifts From Mr Nutcase Are The Best

    I remember receiving my first personalized gift aged 7, a beautiful pink pillow with my first name 'Ana Luisa' that I still cuddle to this day. To me it was the one reminder and memory that I had that connected to my dad and after being taken into care at the age of 10, I promised to always keep it, even if it was just for its sentimental value. Because in that one pillow were good and bad memories alike and in spite of the hardships I faced as a young child, it always kept me going through my hardest moments. Despite having not seen my dad for many years, I still sleep with the same pillow because I feel closer to him and it just goes to show how powerful a personalized gift can be. To ... read more

    How Blogging Changed My Life

    Its July 20th 2015 and as I collect my degree I look at the hordes of people waiting in the wings, clapping and cheering. But I don't feel elated, I feel broken inside and the cheers ring false in my ears. I am congratulated and given well wishes by people I know I will never see again but in that moment we feel connected, we feel alive. Except the reality soon hit and that broken feeling that I had felt was only a pre-cursor of what was to come. I was burnt out, tired and sick and as I chronicled in 'living with an invisible illness', I was fighting a battle that seemed dangerously close to the edge. The doctors didn't know what was wrong and told me I was fine, despite me being in constant ... read more