Faded Spring

    Why You Should Never Judge A Book By Its Cover

    Never Judge A Book By Its Cover... I used to ride through life pretending I didn't care when the bullies called me names, that every birthday without fail my mum would forget to call, that I was invincible and intolerant to emotion. Yeah well its all a lie, a front I put on to pretend that I am stronger than I am. I don't want people to know how I am behind closed doors, how at night when the lights go out I lay awake thinking about the future and it scares me. How long will I be a prisoner in my own mind, scared to rock the boat because of its mental limitations? But noone sees this image, to them I am this invincible girl who breathes happiness and joy, who would never judge a book by ... read more

    Why I’m Just A Girl Who Is Unlucky In Love

    There was a time when I thought I was a lost cause; used and abused I had lost faith in men and eventually in relationships. I was happy for a while and told myself that I didn't need a man to make me happy. When friends told me that  I 'needed to find someone' I shrugged them off and said that no man was going to make my life complete as only I had the power to gain life satisfaction. And it was true, never have I believed that it was wrong to be single and I still don't, in fact it is perfectly normal. Women seem to be labelled spinsters before their time and I am noticing that the older I get, the more that society seems to think there is something inherently wrong with me. I mean how ... read more

    Discovering The ‘Facial’ Truth At Sinensis London

    Sinensis had achieved the impossible; placated me into a state of calm that I thought only sleep could achieve and boy was I in heaven. It all began one crisp summers day, the clouds were settling and the traffic was in motion and as I came towards my destination of 'facial truth' I felt an incredible calm aura wash over me like holy water from a fountain. As I took my seat a delicious caffeine free tisane of 'Amachazuru' was offered to me in greeting, blending a delicious combination of herbs and licorice to taste. Known as the 'Immortality Grass', it was no hyperbole to state that I could feel the blood pumping through my veins, very much reminding me that I was alive and kicking. Not that ... read more

    4th & Reckless: Perspex Boots

    I don't know when I fell in love with Perspex heels but when I fell, I fell hard. They were so wrong yet so right and contrary to what many thought, yes perspex might be the marmite of the 'shoe world' but weirdly enough I liked that they attracted controversy. They were no dull ballet slipper nor were they a timid pointed flat; perspex boots had personality and they had flair. But how on earth did it get brought to a self-loving/chelsea boota-holic's attention? They were still a boot but they had sheen and came in all shapes and sizes, it was a love match made in heaven. That being said it might come as a surprise that it was Kim K who made me lust after perspex boots. It was ... read more

    The Reality Of Living In London

    It was the perfect dream or so I thought. I would be one step closer to achieving my life goals and carving out a legacy that I would be proud of for generations to come. Except it wasn’t like that at all, instead things had taken a turn for the worst. I lived in a tiny box room and sacrificed everything for my dream but it wasn’t enough. I had to work 16 hour days to even afford the rent and it would leave me exhausted and fatigued. No longer was I able to have free time and take time out of my day to ‘practice self-care’, instead every living moment was dedicated to working my arse off for what seemed like nothing. The hours would drag and my eyes would droop, testament to the 5am wake up ... read more

    Franki & Baker: Embracing Serenity

    In a pool of blue lies a trove of jewels, glistening with the weight of precious metals. All is calm and all is clear, no disturbance save for the gentle whir of waves lapping a'shore. Bringing back the bounty that the 'sea god' gifted them, the sea nymphs swim through the waves, slippery like dolphins bringing back the seas secrets for humanity to share. The humans feast on the jewellery with ill disguised hunger; never before did they see such precious jewels cast before them, radiant and serene. There is a little chill in the air as the humans huddle around the trove of jewels but they don't seem to mind. Bathed in a soft pastel glow the jewels glint materialistically, showy enough to ... read more

    BlacksXScotts Festival Fashion

    Festivals were on a slow burner for me during most of my life and apart from Glastonbury honestly I couldn't see what the hype was about. As someone who is claustrophobic, obsessive compulsive and has a severe anxiety disorder festivals would conjure up painful feelings that would make me forget how to block out all the noise and just enjoy myself. It took a while to ease myself into accepting festivals and not having a freak-out every time one was mentioned but one fateful day four years ago I went to Wireless Festival were some of my favourite artists were performing including Drake, Kanye West, B.O.B and Rudimental. Sadly Drake was ill so Kanye took over as headliner but amusingly his ... read more

    Wish Upon A Pandora

    In a castle nearby lay a princess deep in slumber, soft brown curls mapped out across the bed. Her breathing was shallow, her eyes were shut, in this magical world there was no room for waking up. Reality ceased to exist and she was trapped in the confines of her mind for many years. She thought she would never see the light of day again, never know what it was like to fall in love. At 18 she was caught in that precocious chasm between 'youth' and adulthood, unsure where her mind would take her next. She had been lost to humanity for so many years that even her parents had drifted away so long ago. But there was a ring once that she held and treasured, a ring named Pandora that she loved ... read more

    Boutique Spa: Microdebrasion

    Having learnt the Facial Truth at Acumedic Clinic the day before I was a little apprehensive about my Microdermabrasion treatment at Boutique Spa, thinking that no other treatment could compare. After all I have high standards and Sinensis Skincare managed to blow my expectations out of the water but I ventured into Boutique Spa ( Queensway/ Baywater) with an open mind nevertheless. Upon arrival I was greeted by staff who offered me a herbal tea while I waited and after telling them I had an allergy to caffeine, they found me a mango and strawberry twinings concoction that was a delicious start to the treatment. The waiting room was next to the nail treatment bars and I watched them give ... read more

    We Train: Bloody Mary Yoga

    Ever since I became ill I have been seeking holistic measures to deal with my illness effectively and without having to resort to taking scores of medication every day. Medication has some intense side effects and I began to lose sight of normality, stuck in the frame of mind of someone who was restricted by her illness. But in the last few months I ditched the medication, choosing instead to ground myself by practicing mindfulness and encouraging myself to embrace and be open minded about spiritualism. I admit I am a jaded cynic so it takes a lot to convince me that spiritual living could ever be helpful but with some well meaning advice from close friends I realized that part of my healing ... read more