Engagement conspiracys.

The world is full of conspiracy's and apart from the obvious (the moon is actually made out of cheese, cats really do meow in different accents- just me?) I'm sure that everyone getting together in relationships, breaking up, getting engaged and married happens AT THE EXACT SAME TIME.

Maybe it's the seasons, makes people want other halves, or to be alone. I've no idea, but one thing I do know, is that practically everyone I know under 30 has just got engaged, just got married or due to be married in the next year. I'm not kidding. I feel under pressure to meet someone, and I know everyone's looking towards my brother to reveal his mystery woman! (the fact I know her name and have done every possible investigation on her- ie facebook stalked, and still not met her is quite frustrating!)

This year I've been to one wedding of friends, 4 friends engaged, one wedding in 2 weeks and the other 3 are due to get married next year. Is everyone suddenly craving marriage?! 

Anyway, I went to an engagement party! It was a classic bank holiday Monday garden-threatening-to-rain-the-whole-time party. With strawberries and cream and everything, how posh! 

OOTD:

You know when you look back at photos and think "why did I pull that face, I look SO miserable"

I was happy, honest.

Shirt: Tesco (birthday present)
Vest: Topshop

Jeans: Primark

Sandals: Primark

Necklace: Primark

Does anyone else feel the same? EVERYONE getting together?

Love, Elizabeth xx

Tweet Me: _lizabethstone
Instagram Me: _lizabethstone

One Year Older. (and a onsie)

Helloo,

As you know it was my birthday recently and I thought I'd share a few bits with you :)

Since I'm moving into my new university house in 3 weeks (scary..an actual house. Not so scary cause it's a pink house) my parents went down the practical route this year.

Some things I asked for, some that I've always wanted...and a toolbox.

Yeah.

So I asked for a jewellery hanger to put on my bedroom wall, as last year in halls I used a Tupperware box for most of my necklaces and bracelets. Cue half an hour untangling until I got the piece I wanted, only to change my mind. That happened a lot.

So I got this beauty, it's actually bigger than I imagined, almost half a meter..I was definitely not expecting that. However it's ever so pretty.

(That's what I asked for)

Want to know a strange fact about me? I don't like sandwiches, unless they have bacon or sausages in them- total exception.

So there is one thing that my parents thought of to solve those many lunch times, a toasted sandwich maker.

Yep, I don't know why, but I <3 toasted sandwiches but not normal ones- and it's such a treat to go somewhere where they sell them.

But no more..I actually own a toasted sandwich maker!!

It's so exciting! I've literally been living off toasted sandwiches, I tried out some new recipes. Some not so great, note to self: don't put scrambled egg in a toastie machine, it spits out the egg and hisses.

(That's what I've always wanted)

The toolbox.

Last year before I started university, my mum told me that I must have a toolbox, as I'll definitely need it once I'm living away from home. Apparently it was essential flying the nest equipment.

However I disagreed. I thought "Why on earth would I need a toolbox?!"

Then one rainy day in Wales (is there any other kind?!), my printer broke and it wouldn't let me get the cartridges out to replace them.

What did I need? A screwdriver. Did I have one? No.

I took it upon myself to tell my mum this story, and guess what I got for my birthday?!

I should have expected it really.

Isn't it pretty? A hammer that turns into a mallet, pliers, a spanner and a screwdriver with 13 heads.

Impressive, I shall never be in need of a screwdriver again.

(That was the toolbox, obviously)

I've told you how much I love red pandas.. they're just the cutest. I want one, I wish I could hand rear one and it would be my best friend. I have a toy one called Ming Carlos, and he's amazing. This fact isn't lost on my flatmates. They're also amazing, I don't necessarily want to hand rear them, (that would be wierd) but they are my best friends. Now I have actual, physical evidence to show you how awesome they are...ready?

 That's right...a red panda onsie.

I love it.

I keep on putting it on and then waiting for 10 minutes until I overheat and take it off haha.

Bear in mind that I live in Wales half the time, so this will come is handy SO much. Also, it's so so amazing, like beyond the scale amazing. 

It has a tail, ears, and is all fluffy!

The little story: In uni, onsies are really popular, mostly the Primark  tiger ones but so many people have them! So after a while I started thinking, wouldn't it be so cool to have a red panda one?! So one day me and my flatmate decided to have a look for one, we finally did..but it was £40, and there was no way I could spend £40 on a onsie, whilst at university, whilst I already buy 15p washing up liquid which makes no bubbles (it's rubbish, but hey- I'm a poor student). So gave up on it.

When I was camping, at the second festival- one of my future housemates (he's best friends with my flatmates too) came to join the fun..and bought my present. And it was this!!!! Words cannot describe how happy I was.

They're awesome.

Exciting birthday eh?

So I also got some clothes which I'm sure will feature in OOTD's  and lots of gift cards to buy lots of clothes! As well as little bits, but I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate seeing everything.

As well as me growing older..so has my blog!

This summer my blog is one year old, how exciting! It's been such a whirlwind and I've got to know such awesome people. I genuinely don't know what I did without you lot keeping me company. 

Thank you for everyone who's followed me, commented and generally been really really nice to me. I've mentioned previously, but having this escape in the bloggersphere helps enormously.

So the next couple of weeks are really busy for me, but rest assured I shall continue to blog- it just might be very sporadic!
This week I'm working in London doing some IT work for a couple of days, going to the paralympics for the day on Thursday (I'll be sure to blog about that!!), going to the zoo on Saturday, (eeee, red pandas.) then going camping again on Monday till Friday at a camp to do with my university's CU.

I'll be full of stories after that manic few weeks! 

Has anyone else had an exciting birthday recently?

Love, Elizabeth xx

Tweet Me (I'll be tweeting throughout my exciting weeks!): _lizabethstone
Instagram Me (I'll be instagramming too!): _lizabethstone

All camped out.

Holaaaa,

I'm back! Back from the world of mud, tents and icky icky showers (for those that read my Guide to Glamping, it was very similar haha)

I had an incredible time away and I wish I was still there (note to self: things are a lot simpler in a world with no signal, no Internet, my friends and a tent).

Some of you eagle eyed on twitter and Instagram may have noticed that I actually returned on Wednesday, but I took a little blogging break so I could recover, wash all the mud off and sleep! My first night home I slept for 13 hours cause I met a guy and chatted with him for 6 hours the night before as camping is exhausting!

Shall I start at the beginning? Guess it's the best place.

The journey there was hellish, I spent the whole 6 hour drive with 13/14 year old boys poking me and shouting at me- I was seriously fed up.

Once I got there I ditched the young'uns and pitched my tent- and it began.

For those that didn't know, I went to a Christian Festival. The structure was pretty relaxed, with meetings twice a day, optional seminars in between, with cafes, a cinema, sports, and tvs dotted around the place.

I know you must have an opinion on this- but please be kind, I've had a lot of negativity in the past.

So I volunteered in a cafe called 'Soul Action Cafe' which was ran by a company called 'Tearfund'. Tearfund works towards completely abolishing People Trafficking, and is 100% fairtrade.

Did you know a child is sold into slavery every 2 minutes?

Although I can't go to Africa, Asia or another place in need, volunteering in the cafe was my way of contributing to the cause.

Anyway, as part of the job, I was on door duty (checking wristbands which were needed for the festival), being on the till, stocking, and making the drinks for people.

Among other things, I learnt how to use the coffee machine! Achievement of the century haha. I can now make lattes and capaccinos to perfection, of course I don't actually have a coffee machine- so I'll never have to show off my skills. 

I was on a team with 4 other girls, and I made some incredible friends during the week. I taught them the coaster game (flipping beer mats off the counter, classic pub game.) and they sang happy birthday to me.

I was the oldest of the 5 of us, and they all knew eachother already...recipe for being left out right? No way, they were the sweetest girls ever and all the shifts that we did together were so much fun.

At the end of the week we all had a piece of paper passed round and we wrote encouraging things about eachother..I could have cried, the girls were so sweet!

I was team C, so I worked at least once every day :)

So I worked in the cafe for the first 5 days, including my birthday!

My birthday, my birthday was one of a kind.

I was camping, obviously.

My youth group gave me two birthday cakes and sang to me- gave me a card which they all signed. How cute!

Me and my friend then decided to live on the edge, and decided to play 'Seminar Roulette' haha.

So my friend chose a venue and we went, the warning signs should have come when a woman said "Are you here for the workshop?" 

That's right, we walked into a hip hop dance workshop- not that you know me personally, but by taking one look at me you'll be able to tell just how uncoordinated I really am. 

We had to learn a whole routine and do improvisation to spell out 'freedom' with our bodies....and then show people.

I've never laughed so much in my life, between the leg kicking, the leaping, and the throwing myself back and forth, I came out with many many bruises.

It was probably a 'got to be there' moment, but I so wish you'd all been in that dance class with me, it was flipping hilarious.

Me and my friend also did some tie-dye! I know, exciting! We chose a t-shirt, was literally given some elastic bands and told to go crazy! 

I had no idea how it was going to turn out, but it was pretty good in the end. Mine somehow shrunk in the process, so it's more of a crop top now haha, but I'll wear it when I'm feeling adventurous.


Obviously I was home by this time haha, but this is how it turned out :)

Once the first festival was over, my working was finished- and could enjoy the second festival. The second was geared up to people my own age rather than the teenagers the previous week, so my friends from my uni came to join us whilst my youth group went home. 

It was such a fab week.

My friend totally glamped, he bought a portable fridge for his tent, a chair with a foot rest and pillow, and managed to cook a fry up every day! 

The week in itself was so good, there was about 5000 of us on site, (pretty small compared to the 10,000 the previous week) and it did genuinely feel like a holiday. Minus the mud, icky toilets and horrible showers.

For the majority of the week we had a heatwave, yay! Which was a lovely break from the monsoon weather we had the week before (my tent collapsed a few times during the nights!) and the people running the festival put on the loveliest surprise for us of a giant hogroast!

 That's right, 5000 people having a hogroast, in the glorious sunshine, was actually bliss.

Like I said, bliss.

Without going into massive detail, and making this a very long post; I shall tell you this.

My week was so good, I learnt so much about myself and my friends; and my faith got even stronger.

 A snapshot of one of the main meetings, it was a square stage in the middle of the giant* tent. 

*I say giant, it's the biggest in Europe (the world?) Fits over 15,000 people.


And why not? 

They offered to dress us up and put us in front of a green screen...would have been rude not to.

So, my time away was pretty awesome.

I met some lovely lovely people, really grew in myself, and the experience was one of a kind.

Now what have I missed in the past few weeks?!

Love, Elizabeth xx

Tweet Me: _lizabethstone
Instagram Me: _lizabethstone

Guest Post: Nail Tutorial

This is a nail art tutorial using things, which are always in the house, Enjoy ;)

1.       Choose nail polishes, that you want to use: I used neon ones, which are really hot this season ;)

2.       Start up with the base coat, to protect your natural nails.

 

3.       Put the first coat of the nail polish (I used the neutral one, it looks great with juicy colors!)

4.       Eventually put second coat to cover your nail really good :) Wait until it’s completely dry.

 

5.       Now, take a tape (use a transparent one – I took a green one just to show you, it can stay on the nail polish)

6.       Cut the tape into to pieces and stick it to your nail, creating a V

7.       This is a time for first neon nail polish, paint your “tape nail” with it J

8.       And do it with all your nails…!

9.       Use a top coat, to protect the pattern ;)

10.   Now take another neon nail polish.

11.   And… a pen!

12.   Splash few drops of nail polish on the paper, and dip the tip of the pen in it. Make the dots around the triangle.

13.   And this is how it looks! Easy to make and totally cool!

This post was written by the beautiful Bessana Blue at http://thefanglejungle.blogspot.co.uk/, she has serious style. Definitely check out her blog for some clothes inspiration :)

Guest Post:100 years of swimwear: Full of bloomers and sexy swimming hat

First of all let me start by thanking the lovely Elizabeth for letting me do a guest post on her fabulous blog. I will happily make you a huge cake and send it to you, that is if I don't eat it all first. So the lovely girl has gone on holiday, it seems everyone apart from me is going off to sunnier climes and getting a fabulous natural tan. Honestly what does a girl have to do to be able to lust over a hunky Spanish waiter?

Us ladies pack so much for our holiday, we apparently squeeze over 44 items into a suitcase and only wear half of them. Personally that majority of those 44 items for me would be shoes. Six bikini's are packed for a fortnight and only three are used. We obsess about having the perfect summer body with the TOWIE lot encouraging us to do 'No Carbs before Marbs', but who wants to deny themselves a Krispy Kreme, I know I can't. Wearing a bikini on the beach is our own version of having a catwalk, we can't all model for Dior. We imagine ourselves strutting our stuff in a gorgeous bikini making us look like Kate Moss with 4 inch wedges on and impeccable hair. The reality is that we stumble on the sand with our heels on doing a Naomi Campbell fall and our hair gets blown about by the sea wind making us look more like a windswept Sheepdog then Miranda Kerr.

These days there are so many things you can wear on the beach, bikinis, tankinis, monokinis hey, even a mankini if you want, there's so much choice. Hey what happened to the swimming costumes we used to wear as kids with duck arm bands? But women haven't always had so much of a choice.

1900s

During the early 1900s, people flocked to the beach for popular seaside activities such as swimming, surfboarding, and diving. The only activity for women in the ocean involved jumping through the waves while holding onto a rope attached to an off-shore buoy, sounds so much fun doesn't it? Their clumsy Victorian and Edwardian style bathing costumes that consisted of a jacket worn over three quarter length trousers were a but impractical. Plus how can you get a tan in that outfit?

1910s

Women began to dress in black, knee-length, puffed-sleeve wool dresses, often featuring a sailor collar, and worn over bloomers or drawers trimmed with ribbons and bows. The bathing costume was typically accessorized with long black stockings, lace-up bathing slippers, and fancy caps.

In 1910 bathing skirts and bloomers with their yards of fabric were reduced to show the figure a little bit more and have more exposure to the sun. You could still hide your wobbly bits though thankfully. 

By 1915, women athletes began to swim more, so heavy fabric swimsuits were reduced and became more athletic and androgynous looking. Think Alexa Chung but a lot more covering up going on.

1920s

In the early 1920s women’s bathing suits finally changed into a one piece garment with a long top that covered shorts. Though matching stockings were still worn, swimwear began to shrink and more flesh was exposed from the bottom of the trunks to the tops of the stockings, let the squats and leg lifts begin. As women became more liberated due to the Chanel wave in fashion and they put their long skirts at the back of the cupboard, the athletic look was well suited to this era.

They were made of wool jersey, so became pretty heavy when you got out of the water and often small shoes were worn with this look, while women posed on the beach. The fashion was to have a striped or abstract pattern, even then women knew how to use patterns to hide those bumps. By the mid-1920s Vogue magazine was telling its readers that “the newest thing for the sea is a jersey bathing suit as near a maillot (a one piece) as the unwritten law will permit.' Basically that means show that fabulous booty you've got off as much as possible.

1930s

The 1930's was the decade of sun worshipping. Oogling over the ice cream man whilst trying to get a flawless tan became a popular pastime. Woollen suits were replaced with Lastex stretchy cotton fabrics and the one piece changed, so you could show more skin to the sun and not get huge tan lines, as well as being more efficient for sports such as swimming and synchronised swimming. 

Ones with boyish type cut legs and little over skirts to hide the thights gradually became popular with the exposed v-neck even being invented. Some vivacious women even dared to expose their midriffs with cut out sections. That was practically naked in those days. Now you can walk down the street and within five minutes see a handful of midriffs, what with bralets and boobtubes. Hollywood stars began to pose in swimsuits and having the latest fashion became top on the list of a woman's priorities, that and building their shoe collection.

1940s

Due to the devastating war there was a huge fabric shortage. Skirts were shortened and women had to make do and mend. This resulted in women and factories having to make smaller swimsuits with cutout midriffs. The tankini was born and women had a lot more options in styles! with halter and bandeau bras and skirted bottoms and shorts. Bottoms were high waisted and covered the tummy button and were low on the hips showing off all those leg lifts they'd done since March with wrap shirts, button through dresses or simple towelling dresses hiding any wobbly bits.

This was the decade when you were able to mix and match colours, patterns and styles. Two pieces became extremely popular by the end of the decade and pin ups such as Rita Hayworth were seen flaunting their curves in them. I mean who doesn't want to look like the lovely Rita?

The first bikinis appeared just after World War II. Early styles were not much different from the women's two pieces seen in the 1920s, except that they had a gap below the breast line allowing for a section of bare midriff. They were named after Bikini Atoll, the site of several nuclear weapons tests, for their supposed explosive effect on the viewer. Then any man would go weak at the knees at the sight of flesh so the name is pretty appropriate.

1950s

With stars like Marilyn Monroe becoming famous in the 50's with their beautiful bodies, swimsuits became more curvaceous and fitting. Corset manufacturers who were dastically losing business due to changing fashions saw a gap in the market, with making swimsuits to hide a woman's faults, with stretch tummy control panels to hold in the stomach, padded cone shaped bra cups and boning to give bust support. A wide range of fabrics including lined cotton, stretch Lastex and elastic ruched nylon were popular fabrics. Zips were used in the centre back of swimsuits to create a corset like appearance.Thankfully Marks and Spencer have taken over this role so it's ok if you have another biscuit, or two or three.

Hair was really important to a fifties woman and they didn't want to get their hair wet whilst swimming. Lavish bathing caps covered in flowers, petals and rubber spikes became essential beach accessories. Just like IPods and plenty of Pringles are these days.

1960s

The 60's surfing, surf music, and beach party movies were very popular, so everyone wanted to recreat the looks they saw on screen. Bikinis became a lot more popular and the belly button was exposed for the first time. By the late sixties swimsuits had revealing side mesh net panels or cut out midriffs, filled in with see through plastic rings.

 Fabrics were mainly Nylon or Lycra, so zips were no longer needed and they were able to easily stretch and be pulled on like a pair of knickers. No one wants to spend half an hour jumping up and down trying to squeeze into a bikini do they.

1970s

The 1970's enjoyed a revolution in swimwear and it was all about showing your assests off and being uber sexy. Fashion designers bought in the string bikini with bottoms just fitting on the hips. Women wearing string bikinis were shown in popular magazines, such as Sports Illustrated making them even more popular due to the sexual revolution of the late 60's. Sheer swimsuits were introduced, no hiding those extra Custard Creams now ladies.

1980s

In the 1980s, the thong bikini was introduced mainly due to Playboy bunnies. Fashion designers claimed the origin of the thong bikini to be from the traditional clothing of Amazonian tribal groups in Brazil. With supermodels like the beautiful Christie Brinkley appearing everywhere, the athletic build became popular.

Bandeau tops were also worn with Racer and T backs being worn a lot, with shoulders and backs being the focus. A low cut bodice was worn a lot and due to Pamela Anderson running along the Baywatch beach with her uhm assets in a sexy red swimsuit, they got revitalised with the use of neoprene. Gone were the days of your Grandma doing knit one pearl two to make you a woollen swimsuit.

1990s

In the 1990s the one piece stayed popular with high leg lines and zipped fronts. There were lots of criss-cross halter necks and small string tops showing off cleavage, this meant that boob jobs became pretty popular in this decade. There were lots of stripes, prints and bold colours and very high V-cut bottoms were introduced, there was no hiding from the dreaded bikini wax now, sorry ladies.

2000s & Now

The last decade and the present day is all about what suits your body shape with so many styles available. The one piece that is popular is not a normal swimming costume, but basically a bikini with a bit of material in the middle joining them. There are also a lot of asymmetrical costumes around with cut outs and sexy shapes. There are so many different styles of bikinis around, however the harsh V-cut bottoms of the 90s have disappeared and have turned into a lot softer V.

Ladies there are so many options out there now for us to wear at the beach so there is no need to go out and by a burkini, even if you do have a huge weakness of Ben and Jerry's. You can get lots of body flattering pull everything in swimwear,so you can channel your inner Heidi Klum.

Thanks to everyone for reading this post and I hope you've enjoyed it. If would like to read about gorgeous clothes and shoes, vintage makeup and nails, retro cars, old fashioned movies and more of my ramblings then please pop over to my blog here. I've done a post about how getting the look so if you want to look like a vintage vixen in your swimwear then please check it out. I hope you all have a great summer in your bikinis tanning, but try not to get sun tan cream in your hair like I do, it makes a terrible mess.

Second Hand Rose

XxxX

This lovely lovely post was written by a lovely lovely girly! Throughout my time blogging, I've been privileged to make some amazing friends, and Second Hand Rose is definitely one of them. She's such a gorgeous person inside and out, whilst I was in hospital she sent me tweets that really helped me get through it- and that was amazing.
Her blog is incredible, no joke. I feel like I learn something from her after every post, her passion for everything vintage is contageous, from guys to fashion, to icons to kitting- she can write a great blog about it. Go check out her blog, it's one of a kind! :)

Guest Post: A Grand Day Out.

...okay, a grand long weekend out, but it's snappier and, let's face it, who can resist a Wallace and Gromit reference?

Anyway! Grace here, filling in for the lovely Elizabeth. Elizabeth as I'm sure you are aware is on her hols (happy birthday also!) so thought I would aptly do a blog on my recent weekend away to see my family in Wales. 

I know it's sad, but I love packing, it's very therapeutic! So I was very annoyed when I realised I had less than an hour to pack, so I put on some 'banging tunes' and just about managed it. It's become a sort of tradition with me to forget at least one crucial thing, I almost get excited to see what it is when I arrive at my destination. This time it was my laptop which was annoying seeing as the olympics are on, however it could have been a lot worse (last time I forgot my glasses AND my contact lenses -.-)

 

I did get a few, admittedly rather shakey, pictures of my clothing, skincare and makeup travel essentials though :)

Shoes: Topshop sale & Primark.

Jacket: Zara, Grey Top: Topshop, Light Grey Top: Topshop sale, Peplum Top: Zara Sale.



Benefit triple performing moisturiser, Benefit toner (it's a sample thats nearly run out, I'm definitely going to buy as soon as I can raise the funds, it's so good!), liz earle Cleanser.




Porefessional from Benefit, Benefit 'Are they real?' Mascara, Benefit 'hello Flawless' foundation (I like benefit :P), Natural Collection Blush, Wide Awake Eyebrow Palette free from a Jelly Pong Pong gift bag.



I really have been loving the Lush shampoo bars, they are a lot more convenient than liquid shampoo and you get a lot more for your money (they cost £5.25 and last me 2 months.) This is my second one, 'Jumping Juniper' I plan on writing a review on a few of them in the coming weeks, on my blog :)

Wales is a beautiful place and we got a chance to do a little bit of sight-seeing. We went to a rather disappointing rundown seaside town but we found a gem in the form of a kitsch American Diner-esque cafe/ restaurant that did really good food. We also went to a castle! Who doesn't love a castle?



I made a friend. 

Finally, I forgot face powder so I popped to boots to get some and I couldn't resist this cheeky purchase:

It's L'oreal's answer to YSL's Touche Eclat, the Lumi Magique. I've only been using it for a few days but so far I really like it! It really brightens up the eyes as well as covering the undereyes really nicely :)

What are your thoughts on this product?

I hope you liked this post, sorry it was a bit all over the place :P

Thankyou for reading,

Grace from graceface140.blogspot.co.uk

x

Thank you Grace for writing such a great post for me :)
I have such clothes envy, don't you?!
Go check out Grace's blog, I'm sure you've gathered from this post that she has serious style!