The Sunday Post: Valentines night in

Valentines Day came around and I was greeted to a beautiful bouquet of red roses that Boulle is convinced taste better than they look. Dan has arranged a surprise that is no longer a surprise visit to London the first weekend in March so we decided to stay in for Valentines and make pizzas from scratch instead. It was lovely, homemade pizza's endless carbs and Captain Phillips, which if you haven't seen yet I seriously recommend you pick up a copy and curl up on the sofa for a couple of hours. Tom Hanks has never really been someone I took much notice of, but seriously his performance was incredible.

So our weekend in London is still yet to come around and we're constantly looking for places to eat and drink and things to do. We're staying just off Picadilly Circus in the most gorgeous, modern double studio room so if you have any recommendations let me know! 

I hope you had a lovely Valentines, single or loved up.

Payday Beauty Treat: Benefit Porefessional

Benefit Porefessional*

So whilst everyone else spends their Valentines Friday in the courtyard of Somerset House, I'm watching the live stream from the comfort of my own home. Sure, I'd love to be there for real but for now, this suits me just fine. I've not long ago finished watching the Fyodor Golan show which was gorgeous, so many hot pinks and metallics and I'm also looking forward to Meadham Kirchhoff at 16.30 today.

Anyway, I picked up Porefessional since I've been wanting to try it for so long. I've heard great reviews about it and thought add it to my collection. I have about four different primers that I switch between so maybe another one wasn't really necessary, but hey I couldn't stop myself, especially since I had a gift card to use which made it all the more justifiable.

I've swatched it on the back of my hand and it's so smooth and soft, I literally cannot wait to use it on my face. I'm curious though because I always assumed it was a primer, but in the little leaflet it says you can pat it on over your make up. How do you use it?

Early morning, longer nights

Primark jumper

H&M shorts

H&M bag

H&M necklace

ASOS boots

I seriously thought when I photographed these that I was going to end up loosing my boots to the mud. I think we've had enough rain now, I'm sick of it and i'm not even one of those poor people whose houses have flooded.

During todays down pour I met up with Leigh from Obviousleigh to get some snaps of her outfit for my final major project at university. I haven't seen Leigh in I don't know how many years, since we were in school together so it was so nice to have a catch up and a good old gossip about blogging. She photographed so well and I can't wait to do it again, I think I preferred doing that to photographing my own outfits. I'm definitely on to something here...

I love these little lace shorts from H&M. I've had them a few years and they're kind of running short style but oh so short. Perfect for summer, but somewhat questionable in winter. Paired with my quilted jumper though I think I managed to pull them off. And whilst you're here, let's all just take a moment to appreciate my bag. Isn't it just a beauty?! I popped into H&M after I left Leigh and a new one had arrived in today in a duck egg blue colour. I popped a photo on Instagram if you're intrigued (elegantcha0s), seriously it's something else.

The Sunday Post: An evening with God Damn

Last Sunday evening after a full day at work and the thought of missing my Sunday dinner, I jumped in the car with Andy, an old H&M friend, and headed to a studio in Birmingham to photograph a band who have just been signed to a label. The two chaps, making up the band God Damn, were so welcoming as soon as they walked in and even though they're music is much heavier than anything I listen to they were so warm and friendly.

Andy had sent me a mood board a few days before of the kind of shots he wanted to get, so we wasted no time in setting up and playing around with the lights and also a smoke machine (fun!). The images were being sent over to the label to be used for the band's promo work and since this kind of work is Andy's forte he knew exactly what he wanted.

I didn't take near as many photos as I wished to but I ended up having so much fun and I learnt so much about the music side of the photography industry and also so much about the studio and different lighting set ups that I cannot wait to put in to practice in my own work!

Clothes Show creations with the fashion students

I can't understand why it's taken me so long to blog about these when we actually did the shoot at the end of November. The day was hectic with models, fashion students and photographers all squeezed in the studio and the clothes were gorgeous. I always preempted that a students work would be a bit shabby with dodgy stitching and wonky hems. I was so wrong. All the clothes looked incredible and I was extremely fond of those little fuzzy side buns. I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoyed shooting them.

The Sunday post: A little Boulle update

I thought I'd do a little update on my favourite little creature. I often refer to him on Instagram as my polar bear but he is quite simply the silliest puss cat I've ever met. 

We've had him now since July and to begin with he was that mischievous that part of me thought having a cat was a bad idea. When we went on holiday my sister looked after him for the week and I missed him so bad! We had a minor incident with the vet in September that set us back £300, all because of some lilies that he may or may not have eaten. I remember having to rush him to the vets and leaving in tears because she said he might not survive. He is still here, still as naughty as ever!

He has a very love hate relationship with Dan, who half the time is asking for a scratch or a bite. He enjoys attacking feet from the end of the bed and has a bit of a thing for hands and fingers. He's got a little stuffed present that my Mum got him for Christmas which he loves to play fetch with it, that's normally my way of entertaining him in the morning when I'm getting ready is by launching his 'present' across the room for him to return it. We also have to hide the toilet rolls from him otherwise he shreds them to bits and acts all innocent like it wasn't him.

Most of the photos are taken in our bedroom because that is where we mostly take refuge. He sleeps by my feet or sneaks under the covers and snuggles in by my belly. I always give him lots of fuss when we've been out during Friday nights playtime he hid between my two pillows then got wedged down the side of the bed. We used to shut him in the kitchen diner whenever we went out because he used to wee under the stairs. He's grown out of that now and I trust the little terror enough to just sleep. I tried sneaking out on Monday night and his little head appeared through the banister, just another Boulle moment that I couldn't help but photograph I guess.

It took my a while but I let him go outside now, even though I'd rather freeze than shut the door on him. I have to have the mop on standby for all the muddy paw print trails that get left behind. The one day he brought the cat from next door in the house, and came looking for me upstairs as if to say "come and meet my friend". It was so funny!

I'm sorry if you don't like cats or you don't care about my little Boulle, I guess you can still appreciate the pictures of his silly face.

Payday beauty treat: 3 for 2 on Maybelline

Maybelline The Volum Express Falsies in black drama

Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24 Hour Cream Eyeshadow in On and On Bronze

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in Hydrate

I intended on going to Boots just for the Falsies mascara, but low and behold they saw me coming and quickly threw up the 3 for 2 signs. I can't resist. Ever. I picked up one of the colour tattoo eyeshadows that are a creamy gel consistency. I'll give this a whirl one day next week when I'm at home, I'm a little particular about wearing new products to uni or work before I've given them a test run in the comfort of my four walls. 

I also picked up one of the much coveted Baby Lips balms. I settled with Hydrate after spending a while deciding between that and Cherry (I love anything cherry) but my lips just can't hack these cold windy days much longer without them just falling off. I've heard mixed reviews about these so I'm looking forward to see what I think for myself! What do you guys think of them?