I'm 18!

I'm really sorry for not blogging much recently, the last four days have been filled with my birthday celebrations so all of my free time has been taken up by homework to make sure I could do all of the awesome things over the last few days!

On Wednesday, me and my college friends went to Pizza Express for a birthday meal as everyone gets Wednesday afternoons off college. It was a lot of fun and it was nice to do something with them that didn't include school! We had a really nice meal and I even got a mini chocolate cake with a candle on! I got my presents early from them as I don't see most of them around college apart from my friends who are in my lessons. 

Lots of chocolate!

Beautiful purse with a mirror in the back, a pen,
desk organiser and animal rubbers!

I now have enough chocolate to last me until Halloween, let alone Easter! I love the little French purse so much because it's just so me! French themed and with stripes?! Yes please. I also love the pen and organiser, definitely helps for Uni in September! I really don't want to use the rubbers though, they're way too cute!

My birthday was on the Thursday and it was an amazing day! I woke up and had to get done quicker so I could open my presents - I GOT A CAR!!! It's also insured with Compare the Market so I got a meerkat toy with it which now sits in my car! I got baby Oleg and  he comes with the most adorable grub! My parents said I would get my car at the weekend but I came home from college and it was sitting on the driveway! My car is a red VW Up and I've decided to call him Perry! I've been out in him quite a bit considering I only got him on Thursday and I love him - he's really great to drive and has a lot of room considering he is actually only a 3 door car!

I love my car so much! And the bow on top!

Oleg, his grub and his bed!

I got money from quite a few family members but my grandma got me a couple of really pretty bracelets that I can't wait to wear. My auntie and uncle got me a gorgeous silver trowel necklace which came in a brilliant little box that is so clever as it looks like a special (small) finds box! It's possibly one of the prettiest and well thought out pieces of jewellery I've ever been given!

The bottom bracelet was given to me by a friend on Wednesday.

I'm in love.

My mum's friend also made me 24 minion cupcakes which are chocolate and taste amazing! After we got back from our meal out, I also got given a minion lemon birthday cake which looks and tastes just as good!

These are the cutest little cakes ever!

I can't believe how talented my mum's friend is!

On Saturday, I had some old friends over for a movie day as I didn't want to involve alcohol and we couldn't afford a big party. It was a lot of fun and we ended up watching Pacific Rim, Despicable Me 2 and part of Monty Python's Life Of Brian. I love catching up with my old friends as I don't see them much any more due to work which is sad, but we act like we only saw each other yesterday when we do see each other again!

The Fault in Our Stars poster, it's so gorgeous!
From Julia.

Loki sticker also from Julia!

Weeping Angel and TARDIS biscuits also from Julia!

Julia is basically the girl who gets me tonnes of fan stuff and it's always the best! I love it all so much!

Bourjois little round pot intense eyeshadow in 08, Maybelline jade high heel mascara in brown,
Maybelline illegal length mascara in black, Dainty Doll eyeshadow in 002 Treat Her Like A Lady,
Maybelline colorsensational lipstick in 380 Sweet Bordeaux,
Maybelline colorsensational lipstick in 720 Drive Me Nuts.
From Lisa.

Left to right: Sweet Bordeaux, Drive Me Nuts, Bourjois eyeshadow in 08,
Dainty Doll eyeshadow in 002 Treat Her Like A Lady.

I'll probably review all of these at some point but so far I'm loving them!

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-glass by Lewis Carroll and
The Collected novels of The Bronte Sisters. Also got a really cute badge that says 'I read therefore I am'.
From Krissi.

Box of really cute goodies from Katie!

For when you're out and about and have the moments of inspiration for a blog post,
new outfit whatever it is, you can put it in this!

To get the creative juices flowing I guess you could say, or maybe just because
TASTY SWEETS!

This is a memory jar.  Any good memories from the day, write them down on the block then fold up
and put in the jar. Only at New Years eve can you look through all your memories from the year.
It's a good way to remember all the positive stuff and that maybe the smallest of things can be the best!

My old friends have obviously known me longer than most people outside of my family and their presents are all so thoughtful and basically cover every part of my life that I consider important and fun outside of people I know! I really love them and can't wait to use them all!

Kate also sent me a present which was super sweet of her - it's a scarf and mirror! I love them both - the green of the scarf is actually one of my favourite colours so I'm so happy! Thank you Kate!

Overall, it's been an amazing birthday and thank you to everyone who has been involved to make it a really special 18th! I'm so so lucky and it's probably been the best birthday yet! 

Jess xx

London again!

Over the last few months, I seem to have gone to London more times than I have in the last few years put together, it's crazy but great - it's probably my favourite city! Covent garden is also my favourite part so visiting there a lot has made me so happy!

Last post, I told you at the end how I was given a scarf from Kate Spade for Christmas. It seemed completely perfect and I'd wanted it for as long as I could remember liking their brand, however, it wasn't meant to be. When I opened my present, I noticed that there were some holes in the fabric so considering how much my parents had spent on it, I showed them and we decided that we would take it back to see if we could get a refund (we had to return a t shirt of my brother's too so we killed two birds with one trip!).
We went back up to London yesterday and the people in the shop were really nice, took the scarf back and said I could exchange it for something of equal value! As it was the sale, I came away with more than I thought I would!
The lady that helped me and my mum out suggested this scarf and said it was super popular so I had to snatch it up, especially as it was less than half of the usual price! I loved the matching clutch they had in store a few months ago so I'm really happy as this scarf is perfect. The pattern is amazing and it's almost silky, I love it so much and I'm actually quite glad we returned the other one as this feels much better quality! I can't wait to put an outfit together around it!

I thought that was all I was going to be able to get but it turned out that because it was a sale item, I had quite a bit extra to spend! This owl coin purse was the last in the shop and for that reason he's a bit delicate and has a few circles missing from the back. We were given a pretty good discount off him and I'm so glad as he's gorgeous, so quirky and is made of leather so it's so worth it as the circles can be sewn back on (they were inside him!). 

I had a little bit of money left and after contributing a bit of extra money, I bought this bracelet. I love Kate Spade jewellery and I love bows so this is perfect! It also has a really cute engraving on the inside saying 'tie one on' which is a bit difficult to see in the picture but it adds a little bit extra to an already amazing piece! 

After that, we decided to pop into Banana Republic as there was also a sale on there and their clothes are usually quite expensive. I found the last one of this gorgeous T-shirt for £17.99 and I fell in love with it instantly - it's a little baggy but it looks amazing on, I think it's a perfect lazier looking top which I can't wait to wear! 

The green sleeveless blouse was £29.99 and I found it just before we went to pay. It has little gold buttons and navy details which I completely adore, navy is a weak spot for me I think! It's such a good quality blouse though as most items I own in the same material are see through but this one has a lining so doesn't require another layer underneath which I'm really happy about! 

Both of these shops have such cute bags as well, I always keep them as they're really sturdy and easy to store away! 

I'm so happy and thankful for these late presents - I'm actually quite glad that my scarf was faulty (it was beautiful but the damage was so bad for the price and quality expectations for Kate Spade!) because it let me choose some other gorgeous things I wouldn't have otherwise! I guess some things just happen for the best!

Jess xx