March: Lust List

Another month, pastel moodboard! The sporadic days of sunshine we've been having recently are making me last after summer more than ever and I can't wait to have some time back to myself to have a spring clean. Probably not the best time ever to be introducing another eleven items to my 'would love to buy' list...

Floral Converse
My own trusty pair of black and pink high tops kicked the bucket a little while ago, and although I love my topshop Mary Jane's, I am feeling the 'casual shoe' hole left in my life, waiting for a pair of Connie's to come fill the void. These babies are super girly but are still subtle enough to go with most spring outfits. Probably not best paired with a floral dress though...

Paperchase Photo Frame
I've been in love with these Paperchase frames ever since I laid eyes on the duck egg blue one just after Christmas, and seen as they're only a tenner, I think I may well treat myself after I've finished my coursework, or attempt to make my own with fabric flowers. A lovely way to add a little pop of romance to a plain dresser.

H&M Breton Tee
Not the most exciting item in the world, but I'm working hard to integrate some more plain and versatile items into my wardrobe, as well as more white - I have a lot of busy patterns in there at the moment competing for attention! These tee would be really easy to throw on under my dungarees or tucked into a skater skirt.

Primark Lace Midi Dress
I know, I can't believe it's Primark either! My favourite store have really stepped it up this Spring/Summer. It's £17, which is practically top end Primani, but I think this could be the perfect modest-yet-on-trend budget graduation dress teamed with some nude or cream heels.

Pink Swedish Hasbeens
With warmer weather approaching, I've been searching everywhere for a slightly more grown up alternative to my old beat-up gladiators, and I keep coming back to the Swedish Hasbeens website. They're a bit pricey, but I love the story behind the company, the vintage inspiration and the fact that every blogger and their dog seems to think they are amazingly comfy. Maybe destined to remain on the lust list for a little longer.

Pink and Navy Laptop Kanken
Third year of uni has me hauling everything and the kitchen sink into the library everyday, and my old tatty £3 backpack that I hastily bought for a festival is beginning to show the strain of keeping up my 15 inch macbook, textbooks and bulging files. One of Kanken's specially crafted laptop backpacks would be an ace solution, as well as looking adorable. Saying that, I love pretty much every colour, so the pink may not be the final answer on the epic backpack hunt.

Dunelm Book Boxes
How sweet are these? Designed to look like the sort of plump recipe books that would make Mary Berry proud, these would fit all manner of trinkets and 'things I don't know where else to put', and easily hide away in your bookcase, clutter free. Clever.

Mint Wooden Bin
As chic as I think this bin is (if chic bin's are even possible), I put this on here more as an act of symbolism. Over my three years of uni, I have accumulated so much rubbish - my fashion style has matured, my old sixth form paperwork that I thought might be handy are rendered useless, and I am looking forward to ending 15 years of non-stop education and stepping into adulthood by having a good, merry clear out. Putting away childish things, so to speak. A bit rich from a 20 year old who loves baby pastels, is a compulsive magazines hoarder and is currently writing this blog about all the things I want to buy, but I am serious. Instead of buying thriftily and stealthily, I'm going to try really hard when I move house this summer to only hang on to things that I really want and need, and start the next phase of my adult life with a clearer home and state of mind.

Nick Hornby - A Long Way Down & John Green - The Fault In Our Stars
One thing I really have missed at Uni is having the time to read fiction for fun. It's so easy on a course like mine to get bogged down in theory and musical biographies and forget that one of the most comforting things in the world is just curling up in bed with a good story. Nick Hornby is probably my favourite writer ever, but I've never got round to reading A Long Way Down so need to do so before the film comes out and there are spoilers aplenty. as for John Green, I simply wouldn't be a blogger if I didn't give The Fault In Our Stars a try. I loved his other book Looking For Alaska so I'm sure this will be similarly emosh.

Pastel Statement Necklace
Another realisation of student life is that going out of an evening is such a fundamental part of the social side of things that you actually start to not make much of an effort dressing up wise. It's the same with having a boyfriend who studies the same course - we hang out all the time but are both so busy that date nights have become more about ordering in and watching telly than more formal 'date nights' out. Not that we're complaining, but we've both agreed that post-uni it'll be nice to spend some more traditional 'dinner and drinks' type time together. I've really let jewellery and evening-type wear fall by the wayside in my wardrobe, so another step into adult life (I'm not sure why I keep saying that) will be buying some statement jewellery pieces to jazz up some of plainer day dresses I already have, rather than buying new dresses. See, I really am trying to be good!

Phew, that was a bit of a mammoth post! What are you lusting after this month?



 

Lust List: February

Feels like it's been an age since I did one of these! Well, I guess that probably because it has been. After being thoroughly spoilt at Christmas, I felt like it was a bit ungrateful to do a January lust list, as there was genuinely nothing I was after. But now in February it's a whole different story...

Birdhouse Design Goji Trifold Ipad Mini Case

I was lucky enough to apply for and win a business grant this year for my own start up business when I graduate in July, and should be receiving my iPad Mini as part of that soon. I'm so excited to be able to comfortably catch up with my emails and favourite blogs on the go (oh and do some work of course!) that I've been doing lots of browsing for cases. I want something girly but not your typical fussy florals, because this will be a business device for me and I want to look professional as well as fun. I fell in love with this case as soon as i saw it in PC World - not only is the pattern quirky and colourful but it's made of oilcloth (hello durability!) and does that amazing tri-fold thing that helps it stand up. All round win methinks.

Paramore Floral Bars T Shirt

I've been after this shirt since I first saw pictures of it on their North American tour, and now they've finally put it up on their webstore for just $18 (roughly a tenner), I think I may have to indulge. I often think black band t shirts can look a bit mannish, but I think the print saves this one from being resigned to bedwear (the unfortunate fate of a lot of my tour t shirts.)

Kanken Grey and Pink Backpack

Ah, the Kanken. I've been cooing over different colours for ages but think I might have pinned my lustiness on this little two-tone number. The pastel ones are gorgeous, but I can't help thinking about how quickly they'd get dirty. This looks like it'd be big enough to take my laptop as well, which would be ideal.

Matalan Tartan Kilt

By the time I actually get around to ordering this there probably won't be any left in my size, because it's in the Matalan sale for a measly THREE POUNDS FIFTY! £3.50! I know right! And it's not even a teeny tiny illegally short one! Wish me luck when I dive into my local store.

Bombay Bicycle Club and Wild Beasts Albums

Two of my favourite bands are releasing records this month, so I feel a little bit spoilt in the musical department. Looking forward to getting my hands on these so I can review them for safetyinsound.com!

Laura Ashley Storage Boxes

These boxes were part of my picks when I was putting together Homemaker Magazines 'Home Store' section for this month, but I couldn't resist putting them on here as well. I love their fresh country look and think they'd be great for storing magazines and paperwork in in a home office (more about that later)

Topshop Tartan Pencil Skirt

I'm still trying to find a slightly cheaper alternative to this one, because I think it's a little pricey for a tube skirt, but I love the colours - reminds me of that now famous Primark tartan dress that all the bloggers were scrapping over before Christmas. A great option for officewear or to dress up a band tee.

H&M Chevron Cushion Covers

Another bargain that I've probably missed out on due to their totally unbelievable cheap price, these covers are only £1.99 and come in four colours (black not pictured here). With graduation looming, my business starting and hopefully some freelance journalism work on the go too, I'm hoping that my boyfriend and I can find a little house in Huddersfield with a spare room big enough to use as a home office, and I think these cushions would really brighten up an otherwise plain room. As renters we won't be able to paint or nail things up, so any easy injections of colour are a must.

Bakerlite Style Alarm Clock

I still haven't spent the dotcomgiftshop voucher I won in a blogger competition, but I'm thinking of splurging it on this lovely bubblegum alarm clock. It's a great whimsical vintage style piece that would again look great in an office, or just next to my bed. Maybe it's make getting out of bed on a Monday morning that tiny bit easier? A girl can dream.

What have you been lusting after this month?

Pack It Up, Pack It In - The evolution of the backpack

Hello all! Just one last cheeky little festival themed post before I head off to Beacons for the weekend. I've spent the evening feverishly trying to cram my clothes, belongings and my tent, sleeping bag and camp accessories (all kindly provided  by The Lazy Camper, review to come soon!) into 'bag for life's and have now realised that I could do with about four more pairs of arms. This got me thinking: whatever happened to the humble rucksack/backpack? Neatly storing all your bits and bobs, leaving your arms free?

Growing up, the rucksack was the only practical option for me. I was one of those overachieving Hermione Granger sorts in school - I liked to have all my books on me at once, so a flimsy tote or the handbags that all the cool girls seemed to take to school simply wasn't in question. Oh no. Jenessa has always been a very practical girl. In fact, the evolution of my school career can probably be tracked via the following backpacks.

First off was the bubble pack. A 90's classic, mine was metallic gold and looking back, frankly hideous. I remember the strap breaking and resolutely tying it in a makeshift bow in an attempt to lengthen it's life, but alas, a puncture in the plastic sent that one to the graveyard. 

Next up was a lime green Donnay. About the same length of my entire torso at the time, it matched my Gameboy colour perfectly and stood out on the year 5 coatpegs at the end of a busy school day. Is Donnay even a brand anymore? I hope not.

The Donnay was succeeded by a Hello Kitty rucksack that I kind of wish I still had now, Precured on a holiday to America, it was bloody massive, lasting me through year 6 all the way up to Year 7, the year where supermassive backpacks seem to be an absolute prerequisite. What with Hello Kitty having made somewhat of a resurgence, I think I could probably make good use of it now.

The last backpack I can remember came during my emo phase of '07/'08, where skate brands were law and everyone ran bebo accounts with My Chemical Romance background and with 'super random' in their 'About Me' section. This Dickies number with multi-coloured stars still lives on now, although the strap is frayed to hell and it appears to have been inherited by my boyfriend who likes to take it to gigs to carry his camera.

Which brings me nicely up to now. Now, I know these slouchy brown boho leather ones are back in fashion, but they just never look that BIG to me. Like really, what can you actually fit in there? If it doesn't accommodate at least an A4 notebook or folder, a lunchbox and a jumper or cardi then I'm just not that game. All through sixth form and since starting uni, I have always ended up toting round my stuff day to day in a satchel, far from ideal when you realise it's heaviness is making you walk lopsided and the strap is straining for freedom.

It's a bit late for me to order one in time for Beacons, but I shall definitely be contemplating a nice pretty backpack for uni in September. I think it's about time their connotations of nerdy cyclists or overloaded schoolkids became a thing of the past. Here are some of my favourites from around the web (well, mostly Asos). 

1)Roxy via Asos, £14.00
2)Mi Pac via Asos, £20.00
3)Asos, £20.00
4)Cath Kidston, £42.00
5)Mi Pac via Asos, £20.00
6)River Island via Asos, £20.00
7)Asos, £32.00
8)Kanken, £50