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

This week's favourites!

1. Humans of New York

"I can’t stand moral absolutism. You know, there’s always that guy who wants to point out that Martin Luther King cheated on his wife— as if he obviously couldn’t have been a great person if he did something like that. Or someone will bring out an inspirational quote, and get you to agree, and then inform you that Hitler said it. As if a good thought couldn’t come from Hitler. Moral absolutism keeps us from learning from the past. It’s easy to say: ‘Hitler was a demon. Nazis were all bad seeds.’ That’s simple. It’s much harder to say: ‘Is that humanity? Is that me?’"

If you haven't seen this, check it out NOW. Brandon captures the most amazing images and stories of people from all walks of life and it's amazing to see the variety of people living in just one city in one country. I love people watching and I often wonder about the lives of the people around me so this blog is so interesting to me and I know you'll find it interesting too!

2. NCIS Season 11
This is my favourite show probably ever. England get it ages after the US which is rather annoying as I end up seeing quite a few spoilers as the episodes air over in America. It's a US crime drama about a team at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in Washington DC. As well as having a case each episode, there are also underlying plots that are so clever and well thought out, they may as well have happened. The characters are also brilliant and you end up loving them all - I've cried on multiple occasions when someone has died because the writers are so fantastic that they make everyone on the show seem less like characters and like real people which doesn't always happen on shows like these.
The new season started yesterday with all guns blazing and I'm so excited for the rest of the series, even though I know that one of my favourite characters leaves, I'm quite excited to see what happens!
Another perk is that American shows always have more episodes per season so it doesn't finish as quickly!
In America, this show is aired on CBS, and in the UK, Fox. I highly recommend it - there are always re runs, you just have to look for them!

3. wornontv.net
Do you always wonder where that one dress or jumper comes from on a TV show? This is possibly the best website in existence for you. If you're a fan of American TV shows, this website will be your holy grail. Some brilliant person has gone through almost 70 shows and found where the clothes come from and given links. The list includes Doctor Who (only English show on here, sorry!), Agents of SHIELD, Rizzoli and Isles, Once Upon a Time, Mad Men, Pretty Little Liars, Arrow, New Girl, Elementary and The Carrie Diaries so it has a wide range of different shows and pieces that they've found! Obviously they don't have all of them, but it's exciting to see which pieces they do have and where they're from! I know a few pieces I've looked at in some episodes of Agents of SHIELD have popped up on there so it's great!

4. Costa's gingerbread latte
Now that Christmas is over, the festive drinks are gone too. Luckily, Costa still do their gingerbread latte all year round which makes me very happy because it's my absolute favourite as it doesn't make me feel ill unlike Starbucks coffees.

This post ended up being majorly American orientated, sorry!
If you have anything you think I should check out for next week, leave suggestions in the comments!
Jess xx

Family outings!

I said a couple of weeks ago about going to London with my family but having to come back home due to my brother being ill. We returned on Saturday and it was so amazing! 

We went to Covent Garden for the day and the Christmas decorations were up! Covent Garden is my favourite part of London anyway but it looked so pretty. There was a huge tree in the centre with lights and baubles and in the market, there were huge baubles hanging from the ceiling! It's got me in the mood for Christmas now so beware, festive things are definitely coming your way on this blog soon!

It was so tall! The lights were flashing and it looked so pretty.

Giant baubles are awesome!

We first went to Zara where I tried on (and eventually bought) a really gorgeous sheer black long sleeved top with buttons down the back and a white peter pan collar! It's really gorgeous and I know I'll get a lot of wear out of it, I'm a sucker for collars like that! I also tried on the dress from my On top of the world Polyvore but it was too small and didn't have the next size up so I had to sadly leave that behind. 
We had a look in Kate Spade and the range there at the moment is sadly not to my taste but I found a piece that I've had my eye on for ages but more of that when Christmas comes around as everything bought was taken by my parents and hidden to be given back at Christmas! 

We went to an amazing steakhouse called Hawksmoor just opposite Kate Spade and it was so so amazing. We went there the last time too and I love it so much, I've never had better steak! If you're in London, I highly recommend you check them out, you won't regret it!

I also finally got to go to Laduree and I can tell you now that it's hyped for a very good reason. I got 6 macarons (or macaroons…however you spell it), 4 in the whackiest and loveliest sounding flavours and 2 safer, normal flavours. I've eaten them all now and the slightly odd flavours tasted the best; Rose, Gingerbread, Strawberry Candy Marshmallow and Orange Blossom. The Lemon and Raspberry flavours weren't as nice which is strange! I'll definitely be buying more though next time I'm in London. I love the little box they come it too, I'm definitely keeping that!

It's a bit blurry but I love the packaging so much!

How pretty are these? Almost too good to eat! Almost...

Left to right: Strawberry Candy Marshmallow, Orange Blossom, Rose, Gingerbread, Raspberry and Lemon

Once we got back, I went round an old friend's house to watch the 50th Anniversary episode of Doctor Who. It was incredible and she had even baked chocolate chip cupcakes and decorated them with blue icing, blue glitter and a mini edible TARDIS!! I really enjoyed the episode but I think there were a few things they could have improved on - I can't wait for the Christmas episode though, I'll just be sad when Matt Smith leaves, I think he's great in the role and I'm still not sure how I feel about Peter Capaldi…we shall have to see.

I think she should make cakes and sell them, they're so yummy! 

This week is going to be really hectic with coursework and homework so I will have to see when I get time again to actually write another post - bye for now though! 

Jess xx

Monday Musings.

I can't believe how good this weekend has been. Since getting my offer on Friday, everything has been going amazingly well! 

A few things going through my mind currently:

- I am never moving out from under this duvet, it's far too warm.

- I'm super excited for Uni now, only have to wait until September!!

- I need to clean my room.

- I need extra hours in the day TO clean my room!

- The temptation to buy this make-up set is almost killing me...I have until Thursday to crack.

- My English coursework plan is due in a couple of weeks...help.

- People that you can talk to for hours or days on end and still not get bored are the best kind.

- DOCTOR WHO 50TH ANNIVERSARY ON SATURDAY. I CAN"T CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT.

- Finally feeling close with my college friends is the nicest realisation.

- It's so close to Christmas!!!!!!!!!!...I still need to buy my friends presents.

- I have never been more grateful for fluffy snow boots in my life - even without snow they're the best for cold days. 

- I need to find a pretty Christmassy nail polish for next month, but which to get?

- I need to re-watch the Aristocats again sometime, I miss this song.

- This is my 250th post!

That's pretty much what has been going through my head the last few days, mainly the song though...It's my favourite! 

Hope you guys had as great a weekend as I did! 

Jess xx