I'm a Bad Blogger

I would say that life's been hectic, but too be fair, I finished my exams a month ago. I've just lost all my blogging mojo (and confidence) and I'm praying it will return over the summer. I'll post where and when I can (hopefully there will be some Berlin content in August *fingers crossed*).

I've had this blog since I was thirteen (coming on 5 years *gulp*) and I think I've been trying to stick to similar content and that's just not working for my nearly-adult self. I want to produce more fashion content, but my body image issues are getting in the way, so I need to have a serious sit down with myself and discover where I'm headed with 'ESP'. If you have any suggestions please let me know!

So, again, I hope I'll have some fresh content for you this summer. If not, I'll be on hold til the Autumn. See you soon, folks.

Father's Day Gift Ideas 2017

I think we can all agree that men are easily the hardest people to buy for. I don't know what it is about my father in particular, but whatever you buy him - even if it's specifically what he's asked for - it still ends up being the wrong thing and is returned. I still have no idea what to get him this year (I'm thinking beer... it's a failsafe, right?) however hopefully these ideas will help you to pick for your dad come Sunday 18th June.

Booze is always a safe bet in my view - unless the receipient is teetotal. My dad's a whisky or beer man, but I like the idea of getting a few bottles of artisan beer that's a little more interesting than a can. Beer Hawk has a section of worldwide beers to pick and choose from, or if you can't decide there's also the option of buying a mixed crate. Perhaps if your dad isn't a drink a coffee machine could be a good choice - it'll save them money in the long run if they're a Costa addict!

My father loves greenery so I always find plants make good gifts - he like succulents and has his very own terrarium! If your father isn't as green-fingered, IKEA has a fab selection of fake plants that look surprisingly real also.

We love travel in our house so the Lonely Planet guides are a must - I love the idea of their new 'Where to go When' which suggests destinations for each month of the year. Oliver Bonas have a fantastic selection of coffee table books like these - I know my father would love this 'Great Pub, Great Walk' book! However, if your father likes fiction over non-, you can never go wrong with a classic 'read this before you die' novel, such as 'Trainspotting', one of my favourites, or something from a prize longlist.

Music was a big part of my life growing up thanks to my dad - we have an entire wall of our home office covered in shelves of CDs staring at me as a type this! He really enjoys using his portable bluetooth speaker on holiday and in our garden, so maybe that would be good for fellow music lovers? I also bought him some concert posters for his birthday last year from concerts he went to in the 80s and we're curating quite a wall full now; I picked them up from Spitalfields Market (on a Tuesday, very nice man selling vinyl also). 

I think every man deserves a proper leather wallet but the one pictured from Aspinal is just fabulous - it's green! For younger dads (or older dads if they fancy), the Kanken backpack trend is one they could get on board with, for taking to work or for family days out or holidays? And finally, aftershave or cologne is always a hit with male members of my family (and perfume for the ladies) as it's something you never tend to buy yourself but is always nice to have.

 

10 songs to play on repeat in May

Honestly, far too much time has passed since my last music-related post, mostly because I've been listening to the same old songs. However, I've discovered some new favourites recently that I thought I'd share, especially now I'm actually on Spotify (seriously late to the party on this one I am aware).

Ed Prosek's new song is so good and I wish he got a tad more recognition! I've also fallen back in love with The Academic who I *guiltily* forgot about for a while whilst they were on tour. Tom Walker's new EP is out this month too and I am buzzing - his work never disappoints, and 'Blessings' is no exception. I was also pleasantly surprised by Harry Styles' first solo single; it's got a good vibe to it. Nevertheless, the other artists on this playlist are all favourites too so it's definitely worth a listen whilst you're getting ready for bed, doing the dishes or perhaps writing a blog post? The playlist is your oyster, if you will.

Best Pens for Bullet Journalling

I've recently been converted to bullet journalling and, a few months in, I think I have formed my perfect kit for using in my Leuchtturm1917. Here are the best tools (writing-utensil-wise) for bujo-ing.

1 - Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pens

These are a firm favourite in the bullet journalling community. I bought this little set from amazon with a very teeny one (S) which is perfect for writing along with the 'F' pen, the 'M' is great for drawing in lines and the 'B' is useful for titles. They don't bleed and dry really quickly. They are slightly visible through the pages in the Leuchtturm, though not noticeably.

2 - Muji Gel Pens

These are far more easily accessible if you're London-based like I am. I LOVE the 0.38mm for writing notes, as it's super skinny and neat, and the 0.5mm for bolder statements, however these do take a tad longer to dry so can smudge a little if you're not careful.

3 - OhhDeer Biro

I use this to just write in any notes and plan ahead (not for main spreads etc) as it's really easy to write notes quickly, however these Ohh Deer pens are super black (unlike grey-tinged Bics). 

I also use the ever-so-handy Uniball Signo Pen in White to cover up any mistakes - it's like super precise Tipp-Ex. To add colour, I use these super cheap pencils from my local pound shop and Staedtler Colouring Pens to add bolder details, although I'm considering investing in some of the infamous Tombow Brush Markers - any comments?

Goals for 2017

 I think I can speak for most millenials in saying that 2016 was crap could've been better, however, here's to fresh starts and a more positive year for 2017. I have been pondering what I want to achieve in the next year, so here are some of my to-dos for 2017.

 

1: Read more. I got back into books after taking my exams and now love reading again, but I don't want to let exam season take priority over things I love like books; I have a nice little collection now, and I'm aiming for one a fortnight, as some are pretty thick!

2: Go to more intellectual events. A bit random, however I'll be filling out UCAS forms and writing personal statements this year, and so could do with some interesting extra-curriculars around my subjects and perhaps a few references from intellectuals in the field.

3: Invest in quality. I love all things fashion and style, but sometimes I can let following trends cloud my judgement on what's worth the money. I now have strict rules: no more than £25 on shoes that aren't leather, no more than £20 on a jumper without wool content, etc. I can't wait to have a wardrobe filled with classic pieces that will last me throughout.

4: Become stronger. I am a bit of a weakling, and, whilst other people want to 'lose weight' or 'get fit', I want to get stronger; become a healthier person, whether that means gaining or losing weight.

5: Up my Instagame. Having somewhat ignored my Instagram @elizabethspts this year, I'm hoping to post more in 2017 using my Song of Style tips book and Mosaico app to plan my feed, as I'm known to delete images soon after posting due to being unhappy with it! I want my 'gram to be a place to showcase my photography and the things I love, which should be a tad easier with my new camera, so quality should improve too!

6: Get out more. I'm known as a homebody, which is nothing to be ashamed of, however in 2017 I'm going to make the effort to attend events, visit places and be more enthusiastic about seeing new things. I always forget how privileged I am to be a Londoner, and as I may not be for much longer due to moving away for Uni, I may as well make the most of it while I can!