Faded Spring

    The Ultimate Planet Pass Social Street Art Tour

    One quick flick through my blog and it’s clear that I am crazy about street art. There is something so enticingly innocent about scrawling through images of portraiture and landscapes yet when it comes to a street art tour, darker and more sinister themes of ‘capitalism’, ‘consumerism’ and ‘crime’ are etched in the most unsuspecting places. The origins of street art was brought about by political change in Brooklyn, New York in the 80’s before a similar movement as a reaction to ‘political change’ occurred in the late 1980’s, with street artists like Ben Eine being original advocates of the street art movement. Global Street Art originated as an art form that was meant to ‘provoke’ ... read more

    My First Blog Anniversary: Faded Spring Turns One

    It seems like only yesterday that I was locked in conversation with my friend Vanessa, discussing our dreams and aspirations, hoping that our future would take a turn for the better. There had been disappointments and failures but still I kept my dream alive, hoping that one day people would recognize that I had a voice and a message to share, that would mark me apart from other bloggers in my 'niche'. I started one sunny summers day, messing around on my friends I-Phone, capturing a story through pictures and words. With amazement I got comments and within mere days brands were sending me opportunities despite me having no following to speak of. Tears welled in my eyes, astounded that these ... read more

    The Ultimate Cactus LED Light Review: Sass & Belle

    The Quest For The Ultimate Cactus LED Light  In the sweltering eye of the desert lies a barren wasteland, a mirage where water ceases to exist. In the empty solitude of the open desert lies a heap of broken plants, too tired to battle the force of the scorching sun rays. The sun's harsh glare is no match for these weak saplings, broken by the sun's gush of unbridled passion. But beneath the dust heap of broken plants was a mirage of green, thick bristly areoles adorned with flowers, succulents brimming with water conserved for survival. Who are these mythical green creatures? No other than the infamous cacti of course, able to withstand the driest of climatic planes and barely breaking a ... read more

    Princess Ana

    I grew up enamored with fairytales, fairytales that span centuries and the boundaries of time. Fairytales where women were mythical creatures bristling with unseen power, tales where there was no difference between creativity and narrative. Over time the Grimm's Tale's became Disney-ified and princesses became the definition of the perfect female 'doe eyed, hapless and in need of a Prince to come rescue her from oblivion'. Feminists criticized the construction of 'female identity' in these 'male-centric narratives'  and stated that women had become subordinate 'vessels' for male gratification. As a feminist I grew up believing that fairytales was no longer something to enjoy reading but a ... read more

    Speak Up

    He's too afraid to speak out, worried that his actions, that his words will make him a 'sissy'. He tried talking about his feelings before, how she made him feel, what she made him do. His words were met with blank stares, empty faces. He tried to tell them what she did, how she used and manipulated him to get what she wanted. She was in a position of power and she abused that power with abandon, she made him feel like the smallest man on earth. Its our little secret she used to say, plying him with the promise of a promotion that would never come. She made him cry hot salty tears, she tasted them with cruel ecstasy. She told him to serve her in more ways than one, he refused, she threatened ... read more

    My Mermaid Fantasy

    I can see myself sipping mocktails by the pool, watching the world go past as I regroup again. Sometimes life can take a toll and the only remedy is a holiday away from civilization and the people you know. Being able to take a break would be a dream come true but when your finances are dire it is easier said than done. Still I remain optimistic that out there is a golden ticket, waiting to be grabbed with both hands. I would never let go of that golden ticket and I would cradle it like a mother cradles her newborn child, listening to the slow tick of time crawling past. In the midnight hour I stand at my window, dreaming of a life that exists outside of my monotonous reality; un-regimented ... read more

    Saying Goodbye

    Its never easy  saying goodbye, all those memories shared, the emotions evoked- letting go is one tough bitch to handle. But i'm not talking about the loss of a loved one but the loss of memories, memories I had carried around with me for 22 years and have given up in the name of sacrifice. Coming to London and renting the teeny tiniest box room you could imagine meant that I had to say goodbye to memories I had treasured and loved; from photos, clothes to books no memory was safe from London's need to purge. Gone were the documents from my school days, attesting to my hard work and dedication to education, to the charity shop went droves of clothes from Ana's past and au revoir to precious ... read more

    Summer’s In With Type The Hype

    Imagine a personalized box made especially for you, stacked high with goodies, gifts and samples from all your favourite brands. But this is not just any box, this is Type The Hype's box.  A feast for the senses, TTH has the ingredients of a subscription box, with luscious skin food sachets, glorious Graze flapjacks that melt in your mouth and the ever favourite Miscellar Water from Elemis begging to clear up your skin. While at first glance TTH might appear to be your typical subscription box you better believe that it is not because this beauty is is entirely exclusive to approved bloggers like myself. No two boxes are the same and the 'discovery' box truly allows you to explore and dive ... read more

    Imperial Candles Are A Girls Best Friend

    The saying goes that diamonds are a girl’s best friend but I am always one for turning allegories on their head. Ever since I was a young girl I was obsessed with candles and jewellery, dreaming of a day where I could combine the two passions together. I used to buy candles in their droves, (scented of course) to brighten up my room and bathe in its tranquil light. Passionfruit cordials and raspberry delights would waft invitingly underneath my nose, transporting me into my scented fantasy. Yankee Candles were often a favourite of mine, delicious winter warmers to stave off the cold and fresh tropical brights to welcome the brief linger of summer. Pinks, oranges and whites seemed to be the ... read more

    Storytime With Yumi

    ' Twisting and Turning Through The Valley Of Cartoon Dreams, The Puppet Turns And Cocks His Head In Amazement, Soft Veiled Whispers Sweet Like Cotton Candy,Munching On A Leaf Of Glazed Caramel, Drive Into The Cartoon Wasteland, Defined By Ghosts Of Cartoons Past, Long Forgotten By New Age Fanatics, Too Obsessed With Their Quest For Modern Living, Gone Are The 90's Flipped Into The Skipper,Mass Produced Living Is The Order In This Town,But Wait, There Is Hope, There Is Love, Yumi's Brand Is The One For Me,Fried Eggs Dancing On By,Soft Fabrics in Rhythmic Dance,Plucked From The Cartoon Wasteland, Fresh and New, Rebirthed, Re-Churched,          Come Into The Yumi Kingdom' I was always a ... read more