Monday, 23 June 2014

Manic Monday #2

As I've said in my previous posts, I've been so manic lately that I just have not had time to blog. Also, I've just not been feeling inspired lately. I've given myself some time to distance myself from blogging because I don't want to produce weak posts and not put 100% effort into running the site. I've spent the last few weeks working and at uni and actually spending time with the people I love. As much as this blog is important to me and my future career prospects, I've actually been neglecting the real world for some time.

I'm in a state of imbalance with the amount of work I do and the amount of social time I have. Let's be honest, when you've been at work since 9, sometimes the last thing you want to do is go out. I love just coming home and watching TV and having an early night. Luckily, my boyfriend and friends are so understanding and want me to prioritise uni before everything.

I'm taking a summer module currently at uni but it's only three weeks long so I'm hoping that I will have more free time after that. I just don't want to blog for the sake of it; I want to make sure my posts are to the best of my ability or else what's the point? I know most bloggers try to schedule posts and write a bulk of them in a day but I never have that amount of time. I'd rather write less posts but with a better quality. I'm not saying bloggers who post everyday choose quantity over quality but I think that will work better for me.

So I will try to blog more but I'm not going to do so if it means sacrificing a meal out with friends or a night at my boyfriends.

Thursday, 19 June 2014

Bloglovin'

So I've re-branded. I've changed the name of the blog from Swiftly Style to Sweet Petite Who Tweets as I do tend to focus on things other than just style. Now it'd be great if you could follow my new blog on Bloglovin'!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Sunday, 15 June 2014

eBay

So I'm fairly new to the world of eBay. I've bought a couple of items from the site in the past but never sold anything. Until now! In order to get some pennies, I'm selling various bits and bobs from my wardrobe, either because I've simply fallen out of love with the item or if it doesn't fit me anymore!

Check me out :)

Friday, 13 June 2014

Long time no see!

I realise I've been inactive for a couple of weeks now. I've hit a bit of a blogging wall if I'm being honest. In fairness, I've been busy with revision for my uni exams and getting more hours at my new job so I've barely even been on the laptop but I've just been lacking a bit of inspiration to blog at the moment. I'm sure it will be over with soon but I apologise for my blogging hiatus! Once I've got my summer module at uni over and done with and I'm just working, I'll be back with more content than ever!

Thursday, 22 May 2014

Thursday Thoughts #4

There are many things I have an interest in: fashion, make-up, rugby league but most people don't know that I am very interested in politics. I wouldn't say I'm obsessed or know everything about it but I do regularly look at the news in regards to political policies and change. It's an interest that started when I was about 16 and I started college. I took Government and Politics as an AS-Level but didn't complete it for various reasons. Nevertheless, I always have a keen eye when it comes to politics, especially when there are elections nearing. As many of you will be aware of (and some probably won't), today is the European elections and some local council elections which are critical for the UK's future. However, whilst on Twitter this morning, I realised how many people weren't going to vote. I cannot stress enough how much you should exercise your right to vote, especially young people and females. In many developing countries, only men are allowed to vote and women are petitioning to get their voices heard. I know most people's reply to that will be 'Well my vote won't count'. I say to that, you and thousands more with that opinion should not be allowed to moan when you don't like the people elected. Yes, when you vote and the guy you voted for doesn't get elected, it's a pain but you live with it.

These European elections are causing a lot of talk amongst voters as the main issue is do you want to stay in Europe or not? The main parties are in favour of staying in the EU (as am I) but several smaller parties are against it. UKIP are the main party people are talking about and it's scary that a lot of people are choosing to vote for them. The problem is they haven't actually looked at their other policies. They do not support gay marriage, wants to cut public spending by £77bn and wants to get rid of any renewable energy source. I could go on but people are only seeing the 'out of the EU' policy and haven't actually researched anything else. Those people are playing a dangerous game because I'm scared that they will get seats in the European Parliament. They are just as bad as the BNP in the 'British jobs for British workers' aspects and their hatred of the EU. Foreign citizens mostly come to the UK for work and they do the jobs that British people won't like strawberry and potato picking. I've seen them gathered on street corners at 7am waiting to be picked up. They work long days for less than minimum wage. British people are expensive; they want a good wage, lots of benefits and breaks and only want to work when they want to. Foreign citizens have amazing work ethics and British people don't. At the end of the day, it's an issue that many people do not have the same viewpoint as I on this matter. I feel strongly about staying in the EU; people fail to realise that there are no trade barriers within the EU and the foreigners that come to work in the UK have just as much right to as we do if we want to go and work elsewhere in Europe. Also, if we pull out of the EU, the prices of goods will increase and there will be less jobs because companies will not invest money into their UK factories and will pull out altogether. For this reason alone, I think it's a good enough reason to stay with the EU.

Another issue about elections is the fact that very few young people vote. At the 2010 general elections, 44% of 18-24 year olds voted. However, with local and European elections, this percentage is always significantly lower. The fact that less than half of us vote is disturbing frankly. 16 and 17 year olds want the right to be able to vote too; I say as much as I'd love them to lower the voting age to 16, I think it means that this 44% figure will decrease even more with the inclusion of 16 and 17 year olds. Here are a few reasons as to why young people don't vote:

  • not enough info available about parties, policies or how to vote
  • don't think it affects them
  • politicians don't listen to young people, don't think they have a voice
  • politicians more interested in big businesses
  • parents/family/friends don't vote
  • when they do try and aim at young people, often condescending in their communications
  • don't feel represented in Parliament: all middle-class, middle-aged men running the country
  • don't feel a connection with any party
Now I understand these viewpoints, every single one of them I do, but every vote does matter. Today, UKIP is getting more support than ever so if the rest of the country don't vote against them, they'll win! In that case, your vote matters more than ever. 

In order to get young people more involved in elections, they need more information. As soon as every person in the country turns 18 and has a voting card sent out to them, they should be sent out an election pack with information on the parities, the policies they stand for and how these policies will affect different types of people. I know each party sends out their own leaflets but let's face it, most of us don't read them because they're always biased. As well as this, there should be an online resource that is updated every election with the political parties' new policies. This way, it is quicker to access and won't cost the government as much. Another issue is the place to vote. Ballots are being trialled today in such places as hairdressers and launderettes in order to be more convenient. I've always thought supermarkets should have ballot boxes placed at the doors on election day as most shoppers will be in there either before or after work and wouldn't need to make an extra journey to the polling station. The polling stations are local and are open from 7am to 10pm so it shouldn't really be an issue but by having them in more convenient places, it might be able to gather more voters; those voters would probably make a huge decision to the overall results too.

As you can see, it's a subject that I feel very passionate about. I don't really have a favoured party but I feel like people should read all the policies of the parties involved before casting their vote. Your vote does count.

Wednesday, 21 May 2014

Wishlist Wednesday #3

It's not often I'm not seen with jewellery on. I tend to wear the same necklace that my boyfriend got me but have a selection of rings that I switch around regularly. Recently, I came across a website, Lvndr, that does the cutest costume jewellery. I like how most of the items are light and are made for stacking. I love stacking rings, although it's not ideal for exam season! Here's a few pieces from the website that I've got my eye on!


lvndr

1. Love Ring (3 colours)- £3.79 each
2. Daisy Ring- £2.99
3. The Princess Ring- £3.99 each
4. Cupid Necklace- £5.99
5. Queen of Hearts Rings- £3.69 each
7. xoxo Ring (3 colours)- £3.59 each
8. Infinity Necklace- £3.99

Friday, 16 May 2014

Fashion Friday #3

It's a renowned fact that us bloggers love shopping. It's also a renowned fact that we can't just go out shopping and buy one item. We have to buy a selection of clothes/beauty items. Hence why we pretty much invented the shopping haul. Yesterday, I was meant to be in work at 10 but got into town about 45 minutes early so off to shop I went. I haven't been in Primark for ages and I've seen loads of bloggers purchasing loads of items from there so I went in there to see what I could find. The only issue I have with Primark is that in my local one, they never have my size in anything nice! However, I was a lucky girl yesterday! Here's the things I bought:


I thought this top was super cute for just £6! I love bib collars on tops. I've got loads of skirts that this will go with too.


These shirts had a full display to themselves. The shirt comes in black, white, bright blue, this light blue, baby pink, yellow and mint green I think. For £8, if it washes well, I'll be buying it in a few of the colours!


The same goes for this cardigan. For £6, it's basically a steal. Again, if it washes well, I'm buying it in a few colours. The material is super soft and almost silky too so it feels lovely.


This skort is so summery and super cute but I didn't realise I bought the wrong size so I have to take it back. For £10, it will look so nice with a white vest and flats.

I also work near That's Entertainment and ended up buying DVDs. Oops!

Nine and Laguna Beach Season 2
As well as my Primark haul, I also purchased some box sets from Amazon last week and they finally arrived yesterday too!

(clockwise from top left) Ugly Betty Season 3, Hart of Dixie Season 1 and The City Season 2 and 1
My mum also gave me a hand-me-down yesterday because this top has shrunk in the wash. I never ever get hand-me-downs from her but I rather like this top.


Thursday, 15 May 2014

Thursday Thoughts #3

So my plan to blog every day went right out of the window! I've been either working or revising so I've not had time for anything. Now I've got a week off work but still tonnes of revision to do. Which leads me to this week's Thursday Thoughts- university.

Currently, I am coming to the end of my second year at Hull Uni and I still don't really like it. I want the degree but I don't really like everything else that goes with it. Before I go into that, I'll explain a little about my university path.

Since I was about 13, I dreamed of becoming a journalist. I love writing. It only became a proper career thought when I started college. I started one college because my friends were all going there and hated it so quit after 4 months. After working for the next few months, I decided to start afresh and go to the college I originally planned on going to. It was during my two years here that I really thought it would be a career I would love. I even got to do a journalism piece for my English Language coursework and got 39 out of 40 marks. So during my second year, I applied for uni and chose Salford as my first choice. On results day, I was in tears because I got 3 C's and I needed 3 B's to get into Salford but after checking UCAS, I was thrilled to see I'd been accepted! The next couple of months consisted of me buying anything and everything for uni; I was so excited to move away and start a new and meet new people. The problem was when I got there.

It turned out I was in a flat with 5 third years, most of who knew each other. When I first got there, only 2 of them were there. One girl never left her room but the other one had a massive party on the first night in the kitchen. Having the room right near both the kitchen and front door was not fun. It was loud and I got no sleep. The following morning, I woke up to find the kitchen in a right state. I'm not saying everyone is a clean freak like me but if you're sharing a kitchen, clean up after yourself. The second night, my friend from Hull finally arrived (we were both going to the same uni but he was in a different flat) and we ended up drinking with one of my new housemates. Then it seemed like everyone had invited someone. At first there were about six of us, then it went to about sixty. At this point, I was feeling very claustrophobic and anxious so went into my room and refused to come out. My parents had gone home that afternoon so I was feeling pretty down. It was at that point I knew I had to go home. A lot of people said I should have stuck it out but I was unhappy and would have come home eventually. So off I went home and have never been back since.

Luckily, because of clearing, I managed to get a place at Hull Uni studying Business. I knew I didn't really want to be there as I still wanted to pursue a career in journalism but it was that or full-time work until I decided what to do. Two years later, I'm now studying Marketing and nearing the end of my second year. I'm pretty unmotivated when it comes to uni nowadays because I know exactly what I'm doing when I graduate. Move to Manchester, do my journalism course, try to find a job. My Marketing degree should help here too. I changed from Business because I was only getting 2:2s on the Business modules and 1sts on the Marketing ones!

In terms of the course, I do like it; I find it interesting and helpful for my future career. I just don't like everything else to do with uni. I hate socialising. I don't drink anymore so I come across as boring and don't really want to go and make new friends. I have all the people I need in my life. To overcome this, I joined the Performing Arts society but because of my recent back injury, it's left me more depressed than I was before.

I just want the next year to go by as quickly as possible so I can get properly on track for my planned future.

Sunday, 11 May 2014

Snapshot Sunday #1

I didn't do a Month in Photos post for April so I'll add those photos to this post. I've had a busy last few weeks so my photos are lacking!

1. Outfit #1 for the day.
2. Outfit #2 on the same day.
3. Outfit #3 on the same day.
4. Different day this time! This is the only bit of animal print I own.
5. Starbucks fix before a cleaning shift at my old work.
6. New ballet shoes!
7. Easter meant lots of rugby.
8. Easter also meant lots of chocolate. I don't get eggs.
9. These two are my favourite rugby players, George and Tom Burgess who turned 22 last month!
10. Easter Monday pub meal in Liverpool with my gorgeous boyfriend and his parents.
11. The day after, we visited Anfield. This image is something I'll never forget seeing.
12. On Thursday night, I went to watch my HUPAS family's showcase (I've got a slipped disc in my back so was unable to take part). The show was amazing! :)

Friday, 9 May 2014

Fashion Friday #2

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll know how much I love leather. Well, pleather anyway! But with it coming up to summer (hopefully!), I thought wearing a black leather jacket constantly would be too wintery. Pastels are such a big trend that I decided to buy this pink leather jacket:


Unfortunately I can't find it on the website anymore but it was £30 from Matalan. I managed to buy mine from one of my local Matalans so have a look in there if you like it. After purchasing it, I saw Patricia from PeeXo had the same one! (post here). I love the way she's styled it with neutrals as I think that's the best way for the jacket to stand out but I think it would look cute paired with other pastels and maybe even a block-coloured dress.

Sorry that today's post is so short. I've got so much revision to do so I need to get a lot done today!

Thursday, 8 May 2014

Thursday Thoughts #2

I've got money on my mind right now. I've been at my new job about 3 weeks now so at the end of the month I'll have more money. I'm doing more hours as well so my payslip should be healthy. My problem is overspending. I intended to put my student loans into my savings account and treat myself with the grant part. In my first year, I did that amazingly. In my second year, the first bulk went into savings and the second lot went to H&M and New Look. This time, I've transferred more money that I intended to this time just so I didn't overspend. As soon as payday comes along though, I know I'll spend a lot of the money. 

Online shopping is a nightmare for me. My main issue is that I end up buying things and sending them back. I struggle to find clothes that fit perfectly which means I often have to pay that little bit more so that they do. I'm a materialistic person. I know I should be ashamed to say that but I'm not. I like things. I earn my own money so I don't see why it's a problem. I like having lots of things (mostly clothes, shoes and bags of course) but I work hard to be able to afford them. It's not often my family just give me money to spend unless it's Christmas or my birthday. 

I tend to spend the majority of my money on clothes. I like having an overflowing wardrobe but I still want more. I'm thinking about setting up an eBay shop to make a bit of money. 

Am I the only one who likes spending? I feel like Kim Kardashian in that episode where they get a specialist in to deal with her shopping addiction!

Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Wishlist Wednesday #2

I am obsessed with interior design. Unfortunately, I already have a full decorated bedroom currently but my family are planning on moving house shortly. I'm constantly looking online for ideas for my new room and here are some of them:
interiors

1. Parisian Postcard Print Cushion, £8.00, Matalan
2. Box Combination in Grey, £12.00, Ikea
3. Butterfly Bookends, £8.00, Wilkinsons
4. 3 Drawer Script Design Chest, £16.00, Matalan
7. Glasses Print Cushion, £7.00, Wilkinsons
8. Polar White 16 Cube Storage, £35.00, Wilkinsons

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

Shoesday Tuesday #2

I totally forgot to blog yesterday! So I'll skip straight to Shoesday Tuesday! As much as I love dressing up, I live in sneakers. They're comfy for uni and running errands. I used to wear Converse all the time but since I discovered Keds, there's no turning back for me! Converse take too long to lace up and I like to be out of the door as quickly as possible!


I purchased the plain red Keds first because I'd seen Taylor Swift sporting a pair which then led me to discover that she was the spokesperson for the brand! Since then, I've bought two pairs from her collection.

Here are a selection of a couple I love from the new collection:




I love how easy they are to wear and they do go with anything. I tend to wear them with skinny jeans but I've worn them with skater skirts for a more casual look and some dresses look super cute with them!

Friday, 2 May 2014

Fashion Friday #1

For my first Fashion Friday, I'm going to focus on my favourite lady in the whole world: Taylor Swift. I'm an obsessive Swiftie, from her music to her style. I've always been a fan of her style but I'm loving her new outlook on clothes. So far in April since living in New York, she's been sporting some gorgeous looks and here's a peek at them!


I'm a huge fan of coloured denim and have been for years but I don't think I pull it off very well. Taylor always looks feminine and elegant. I love her preppy style and love of patterns and colour.


Shorts are a staple in her wardrobe; she wears them onstage frequently. And with those pins, why not? She could be mistaken for a model with those legs!


Girly is a word I'd use to describe Miss Swift which means dresses are aplenty. Because of her frame, she can pretty much get away with any shape or style of dress, lucky girl!


She also knows that every girl's best friend is an LBD. I love how all three of these are different styles and keep black from looking drab! They all have detailing on them of some sort which is so her.


Skater skirts are a style that fit every figure. Curvy, slender, tall, petite. Obviously being model-esque she looks amazing but they really do suit any shape.

Bear in mind, these pictures were all taken in April. I've always loved her red carpet style as well as her street style but only recently have I started to notice her street style properly. She always looks so put-together, whether she's dressing up or down. She needs to look stylish with all those celebrity friends around her!

Thursday, 1 May 2014

Thursday Thoughts #1

My first Thursday Thoughts is going to be about staying organised. I like to think I'm really organised (I have several diaries and ideas about how to keep on track of things) but I constantly feel like I'm behind on things. Right now I'm trying to balance uni, exams, work, rehearsals, spending time with family, friends and my boyfriend as well as having some time to myself. Here are my top tips:

1. Buy a diary- Seriously, I have no idea how people live without them. Everything I have to do goes into mine. I have a day-a-page diary that I pretty much take everywhere with me and a week-a-page diary that sits on my desk.


The black diary is my day-a-page one and the blue one is my week-a-page diary. I'd say I use the black one more, purely because it's with me constantly.

2. Colour-coordinate your schedule- Having a diary is one thing but using it properly is the best way to get the best out of it.


This is a page from my black diary. I use pink for lectures, green for seminars and tutorials, red for reading and work that needs to be done and black for anything else. At the start of the semester, I get all of my module handbooks printed off for uni and read them thoroughly to see where I need to be on what day and what I need to read to be prepared. As you can see here, I have this Friday morning free. I try to get work done in times like this so I have nights free for family/dates/friends.


This is a photo from my blue diary. It's less detailed than my black one but still includes lectures and tutorials as well as the rugby fixtures for the week. Because rugby is an important thing in my life, I highlight which games are on TV as well as all Hull FC and South Sydney games. I try to fit my plans around these as I try to watch as many games as I can.

3. Breaks are important- I try to do all of my uni work during weekdays so I can spend my nights with my boyfriend. Obviously it doesn't always go to plan but I try to see him at least once during the week and once at weekends. Also, because I work all day Saturday and Sunday now, the last thing I want to do on a weekend night is come home and do work. It's crucial that I do my work during the week but if needs be, I use Sunday nights to catch up. Having a social life is vital. I've been studying so hard in the past couple of months that I've barely had time to see anyone. Thank god the semester ends soon or else I'd be going insane. Now I'm starting to realise that I need to have some free time. Whether I use this time to catch up with friends, go to my boyfriend's house, watch TV or blog, it doesn't matter. It means I can just relax for a bit without thinking about everything I have to do.

4. Don't try to do too much at once- I'm a hypocrite here because I always take on more than I can handle. Then I end up getting stressed and doing nothing. However, especially when studying, make sure you don't set your sights too high. There's no chance that you'll read a full textbook in a day. Read a chapter, take a break. That's how I do it. A break can be anything from grabbing something to eat, going for a walk, ringing my boyfriend, doing some yoga, literally anything. But don't take too long or you'll never go back to it. The other way I do it is say I'm going to revise for two hours and don't take a break. Sometimes if my schedule is so packed, I have to work this way. If I've got a whole free day, I'll use the first way I suggested. Something I've just found that might help me this exam season is this weekly planner from Paperchase.



I plan to write which topics I need to cover and their relevant chapters. Granted, this won't work for everyone but it does for me. Plus the pad looks super cute!

5. Don't forget to eat and drink- I always have a bottle of water with me anyway but it's so important to keep hydrated when studying. I often have a bowl of crisps or sweets on my desk too but I do try to cut back on them. Because I don't eat healthily at all, I'm just trying to cut back on junk food!

6. Make sure you do revise- Easier said than done. Even when you're sat at your desk, it's easy to get distracted by computers and phones. I prefer to read textbooks for revision rather than use my laptop so I never have that issue. I do always have my phone by my side so that is more difficult. When I'm seriously revising, I leave my phone downstairs and revise upstairs. This worked last year so I plan on doing that again. If you can't bear to part with your beloved technology, set yourself a goal. For example, revise for 50 minutes, have a social media break for 10. I'm lucky that my boyfriend is so supportive despite him not being in uni. When I'm studying, he'll stop texting me and just tell me to text him when I'm on a break or finished.

7. Don't leave everything until the last minute- This tip is for every student out there. How people can still be manically revising the day before an exam, I have no idea. I start my revision at least a month early (I don't have an exam until the 20th May but I started my revision at the start of April). I know it works for some people but not for me. The day before an exam, I just read all of my notes again. If it's not in my brain by then, I doubt it will stay in after that point.

At the end of the day, you choose the best strategy for you. These are just some tips that I've learnt over the past few years through college and university that work for me. What are your tips for revising and staying organised?

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Wishlist Wednesday #1

inlovewithfashion.com is a new online brand that sells lovely, pretty, girly clothing. They don't have the widest range of stock, probably because it's so popular with bloggers that most of the pieces sell out so quickly! Here's a few items that caught my eye on the site.

in love with fashion

Tuesday, 29 April 2014

Shoesday Tuesday #1

I am obsessed with shoes. Those who know me know I have at least 50 pairs and regularly have to have a clearout so I can buy more. This week, I'll be showing you a pair that I've been lusting after for quite a while. These courts from Next are simply stunning.


I own a few pairs of heels but  I never wear them, simply because they're too high and impractical for daytime. Having been into Next and tried these on, the heel is the perfect height. It's only an 8cm heel (just over 3 inches) which is ideal for everyday wear. The beauty of these heels being so simple is that they will literally go with everything.


spring pub meal

First up is a more casual look, perfect for spring. I go to the pub quite a lot. I don't drink anymore but it's the perfect place to catch up with friends or go for a more low-key date with my boyfriend. I have these exact skinny jeans and a similar jumper to this one. Wearing heels with a casual outfit makes it look a bit more classy but not too dressed up.


night out with the girls

Next up is a prettier, more girly outfit. Pale pink is obviously a big trend this season and this skirt is super cute! Paired with a white shirt, it's perfect for summer nights out with the girls. Whether you're just going to a bar for a few drinks or to a club for a dance, this look is ideal. 


summer date night

You may have seen this playsuit on my H&M Wishlist post and I actually decided to buy it! It's quite short so it's best to wear with tights for now and then get those legs out come summer time but I can't wait to wear it on a chilled out date night!

So there you have it: simple black courts do go with most clothes. These Next ones are £29, which I think is a reasonable price for a pair of quality shoes, but I'm sure there'll be cheaper versions elsewhere on the high stree.t (Here's looking at you Primark!)

Monday, 28 April 2014

Manic Monday #1

So today is my first day back at uni even though I don't have a lecture until tomorrow! I've started my new job but my next two weeks are hectic! I have exams to revise for and society rehearsals but I am going to try and schedule in some blogging. So I'm thinking of having a theme for every day so I keep on track!

Mondays- Manic Monday. Because I'm revising so much, I'll be doing a shorter post, sort of like an update on all things.

Tuesdays- Shoesday Tuesday. I love shoes, fact. I'll either show you the shoes I'm wearing and maybe style a couple of outfits around them or find a pair I love online.

Wednesdays- Wednesday Wishlist. It's a regular feature on most blogs and I've done a couple so far but I'm interested in looking at some lesser-known websites and seeing what they have to offer.

Thursdays- Thursday Thoughts. I like to take some time out mid-week to have a think about things and I'll share these thoughts with you.

Friday- Fashion Fridays. I'll recap my outfits from the past week or other fashion related posts.

Saturdays/Sundays- Snapshots or Spotlights. Because I work all weekend long, I'll alternate between a review of Instagram and the things I've been loving in the past fortnight.

What do you guys think? Are there any other themes I could have? I came up with these pretty quickly so I'd welcome any thoughts!

Monday, 14 April 2014

An Update

I realise that I don't blog much right now; I'm just so bogged down with uni and work. But some new things have happened in my life recently.

Firstly, I've got a new job! Finally I can escape my current one and have something more routine. That means my weekends are purely for work.

Secondly, I've changed my course at uni. I was doing Business but since I've realised I get better results on my marketing modules than the business ones this year, I'm switching to Marketing. I want that first godammit!

Thirdly, this time next week, I'll be on my first trip away with my boyfriend. We're going to Liverpool for a couple of days with his parents and I'm super excited!

Fourthly, last weekend, my boyfriend finally met my parents and the meal actually went quite well. Tom (my boyfriend) was very polite but didn't talk much. In fairness, I didn't really give him much space to say anything!

Finally, my blog has reached 200 followers on Bloglovin'! I'm so excited! :)

Next week after Liverpool, I start my new job but once I'm back at uni on the 28th, I'll be in a routine so will be able to fit in more blogging so more will come soon! Watch this space, eh?

Monday, 7 April 2014

The TMI Tag

So I've not had chance to get on any sort of laptop/tablet/computer device because I've had a busy weekend. This morning, I decided to read my Bloglovin feed (I have nearly 1000 blog posts to read now!) and came across Jenny's TMI Tag post. She'd tagged anyone reading it so I thought I'd give it a go!

1. What are you wearing?
Well I've had a lazy morning as I have to get ready for work soon so I'm still in my PJs, dressing gown and slippers!

2. Have you ever been in love?
I thought I'd been in love 3 times but it turns out the first two were more lust. Currently I am in love with my amazing boyfriend :)

3. Have you ever had a terrible break up?
I've had my heart broken by text more times than I can count. Boys can be so callous sometimes!

4. How tall are you?
I'm only tiny, a mere 5"2!

5. How much do you weigh?
I don't really like this question. I'm tiny and slim so don't weigh that much but as long as you're healthy, it shouldn't matter!

6. Any tattoos?
Nope, I've been thinking about getting one for a couple of years but I'm such a chicken! My dad hates tattoos so that's probably why but my boyfriend and I have talked about getting matching tattoos some time in the future.

7. Any piercings?
No, I must have a fear of pain!

8. Your OTP? (one true pairing)
Has to be Blair and Chuck from Gossip Girl. Never have two people been so suited to each other! And of course, I'd throw my boyfriend and I into the mix there :)

9. Your favourite show?
The OC, One Tree Hill or Gossip Girl. How am I meant to pick one?

10. Favourite band?
I have such a varied music taste but my favourite two bands have to be The Beatles and McFly. My dad got me listening to The Beatles from a young age and I've been a McFly fan since day 1.

11. Something you miss?
I miss dancing a lot; also since I started uni, I've lost contact with a lot of friends I used to be close to, just because I'm always so busy. 

12. Favourite song?
That's really tough! I'd say Shooting Star by Air Traffic. It's not a well known song but I love the lyrics.

13. How old are you?
21 :)

14. What zodiac sign are you?
Capricorn, ambitious and responsible. True dat!

15. Qualities you look for in a partner?
Kindness, a big heart, humour, romantic, has to be a fan of sports and athletic.

16. Favourite quote?
My two favourite quotes are from films. The first one, "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game" is from A Cinderella Story and the second one, "Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?", is from What A Girl Wants.

17. Favourite actor?
I could say someone really credible with loads of accolades but that would be a lie. Channing Tatum or Zac Efron. Purely for their acting skills of course.

18. Favourite colour?
Red.

19. Loud music or soft?
Depends on my mood. If I need cheering up, I'll put on my rock playlist or childhood playlist and have a singalong but if I'm ready for bed, my chilled playlist gets a listen.

20. Where do you go when you're sad?
My room or my boyfriend's arms.

21. How long does it take you to shower?
If I'm washing my hair, about 30 minutes. If I'm not, about 5.

22. How long does it take you to get ready in a morning?
Anything from 10 minutes to an hour. Depends where I'm going and who I'll be seeing!

23. Ever been in a physical fight?
I've been caught in the middle of two people fighting and ended up being pushed down a flight of spiral stairs. Not fun at all. Make love not war, kids.

24. Turn on?
My boyfriend in a shirt and tie.

25. Turn off?
Lack of manners.

26. The reason you started blogging?
I thought it would help me with my career aspirations of working in journalism or marketing plus I love writing.

27. Fears?
Not being good enough, pineapples and butterflies. Actually any insect.

28. Last thing that made you cry?
I had a bit of a cry with my boyfriend the other night, no need for details.

29. Last time you said you loved someone?
At 7.17am, just before my boyfriend started work, I text him that. In person, it was Saturday night.

30. Meaning behind your blog name?
I have an obsession with Taylor Swift and clothes, hence Swiftly Style.

31. Last book you read?
Probably I Heart Christmas by Lindsey Kelk (it's my favourite book series).

32. The book you're currently reading?
Well I do an English free elective module at uni so I should say a book I need to read for that but last night I started reading The Fault In Our Stars by John Green to see what the hype was about.

33. Last show you watched?
E! News. I love it!

34. Last person you talked to?
My dad, just before he left for work this morning. We chatted about rugby, quelle surprise.

35. The relationship between you and the last person you texted?
He's my boyfriend. We've only been an official couple for just over two months but I can't imagine life without him.

36. Favourite food?
I should be good and say something healthy but I just love pizza too much! Seeing as it's Easter, Mini Eggs are the food of the moment for me.

37. Places you want to visit?
I'm really interested in seeing the rest of the UK more but the ultimate is of course New York. Oh and Australia, mmmmm surfers ;)

38. Last place you were?
Well currently I'm in my living room and was in my bedroom before that. I guess outside of my house, it was work. I literally came straight home from work, put my PJs on and had a night in front of the telly.

39. Do you have a crush?
My boyfriend, duh.

40. Last time you kissed someone?
My boyfriend met my parents for the first time on Saturday night so it was a goodbye kiss on my doorstep when he left. Cute :)

41. Last time you were insulted?
My dad and I are always taking the mick out of each other on a daily basis but I can't even remember the last time someone said something malicious to me and meant it.

42. Favourite flavour of sweet?
Strawberry, always.

43. What instruments do you play?
My friend taught me to play the piano when I was about 7 or 8 and I played the violin from the same age up until I was 11. And of course, I learnt the recorder in primary school, who didn't?

44. Favourite piece of jewellery?
I have a ring that my nanna bought me a couple of years ago that I wear religiously; it's just a plain silver ring with a tiny diamond on it. Also, my boyfriend bought me a necklace for my 21st; it's a silver key to show that I have the key to his heart :)

45. Last sport you played?
I don't participate, I spectate. I workout when I can but actual sport, I haven't played since school!

46. Last song you sang?
Dancing Queen by Abba. I'm part of the Performing Arts society at uni and this is part of a Mamma Mia medley that I'm performing in.

47. Favourite chat up line?
I love cheesy chat-up lines. It's funniest when guys think they will actually work. I love them all!

48. Have you ever used it?
I would only use them jokingly to make my boyfriend smile.

49. Last time you hung out with someone?
I don't think work counts so Saturday night with my boyfriend and parents.

50. Who should answer this tag?
Anyone of my lovely followers reading this! :)

Tuesday, 1 April 2014

My March In Pictures

So March has been a bit of an average month. All I've done is uni work, worked out and spent all my spare time with my boyfriend. It might seem boring but it's my routine right now and I like it!

1. My love of tartan continues.
2. When I'm not reading textbooks, I read proper literature like these.
3. My new £2 slippers!
4. When I wear colour, that's how I wear it.
5. I've had these shoes for a couple of years and I've only just got round to wearing them!
6. One of my workout outfits.
7. Sunday night= PJs.
8. The same night, I spent it reading and eating brownies.
9. I've been doing this shred this month and it's way too hard.
10. I baked cupcakes for the first time in ages and they actually tasted nice!
11. My mini shopping haul- see here
12. I love gummy sweets so much.
13. Date night with my boyfriend. We love bowling so much, that's where we had our first date :)
14. Another workout outfit!
15. On the 28th, my dad and I travelled to Leeds Arena to see Manic Street Preachers and this was our view!
I'm so excited for April. This is my last week of uni before breaking up for Easter and I get three weeks off! I've got a couple of essays to do and exams to revise for but if I do a bit every day, I'll get to spend as much time with my boyfriend as possible! We're also going on our first trip away together: Liverpool with his parents. We're both super excited for that!

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Today's Shopping Haul

I believe this is my first post of this time, which is strange because I'm always shopping! However, I tend to just buy a couple of things rather than a lot but today I had a bit of a haul. Mine seems like nothing compared to some bloggers' hauls! In fact they look like they've spent hundreds of pounds and I only spent £46.11!


As you can see, there's a bit of a range of items. Clothes, accessories, a few beauty products and of course some chocolate!


These Johnson's Face Wipes are usually around £3-4 for a pack of 25; I bought a twin pack so 50 wipes for £3! Because of my sensitive skin and eczema, I am unable to use a lot of skincare products because they react with my skin. I have been using these wipes for about a year now and refuse to use anything else now! The new face cloth/flannel is to match my new set of pink towels, how girly of me! I needed to stock up on make-up sponges as I'm running out and I thought it was time for a new comb. These fine-tooth combs can be quite difficult to find near me so 2 for £1 is such a godsend!


Finally, I decided to buy a couple of nail polishes. I have so many as it is but I thought I'd buy a couple more pastel colours. Both of these were £1; I don't see the point in buying top-of-the-range expensive nail polishes because I tend to apply 2-3 coats of them anyway. The first one is a grey colour and from Primark; the second is mint green and from Bodycare.


Next up are the new snoods I bought. I never used to wear scarves but since I've got loads of spring jackets to wear and it's a bit chilly, I thought I'd buy some more scarves. I've got plenty of knit ones but the only cotton one I have is black. I thought both of these would go perfectly with all of my leather jackets.


I just want to point out the gorgeous colours of them both. The pastel pink one is of course on-trend and the other is a light cream colour with grey and pink accents. Both are perfect for spring/summer and only cost me a total of £7 for them both!


I've been lusting after this skirt from H&M (similar style here) for a couple of months but thought I'd wait and see if I could find another one elsewhere. I failed miserably. Luckily, they had my size! I love the zip detail as well as the fact that it is quilted. Of course it's not real leather but it's only a fashion piece and for £14.99, you really can't go wrong!


I believe I put this on my H&M Wishlist post (see the post here) and I loved this cardigan even more in the store. It will be perfect for summer layered over a vest and shorts. I did find that my usual size was quite tight on the arms so I got the next size up. I was planning on getting it in a couple of colours but this was the only one I could find!


In yesterday's post, I mentioned how much I love Easter because of the chocolate. These are my second favourite Easter chocolate (behind Mini Eggs, of course); when I first saw them in the shops the other year, I didn't know what they would be like. Delicious is what they are!


Last but certainly not least are my new socks. I am addicted to buying socks. Since I've started working out more, I tend to wear trainer socks with my trainers (duh!) and thought it was time for some new ones. I genuinely love all 10 pairs of these. Often when you buy socks in a pack, there's a dud pair (i.e. plain) but all of these are patterned and lovely!

Monday, 24 March 2014

Things I'm Loving Right Now

1. Bloglovin'


I'm loving finding all these new bloggers right now! I tend to find new bloggers by seeing what posts the bloggers I follow have liked. It's an easy way to see all my favourite blogger's posts and I have no idea what I'd do without this website!



Jacy is my favourite blogger. I love how simple yet stylish all of her outfits are. The main reason I love her blog, apart from how pretty she is, is because she actually wears items more than once! Some bloggers I've noticed never seem to wear an item more than once which I find ridiculous but Jacy find pieces she loves and works them into her wardrobe. My favourite posts of hers are the remix posts in which she picks one item she loves and she styles it with three different outfits.

3. Mini Eggs


Easter is my favourite celebration because of the chocolate, duh! Now I love most types of milk chocolate but only at Easter do these bad boys come out. I buy these in bulk usually because I am that obsessed with them!

4. Boyfriend Jeans


I realllllllly want a pair of boyfriend jeans. A girl at work was saying how much I'd suit a pair but the last time I had them a couple of years ago, they just ended up making me look frumpy and laddish. These jeans are from H&M and I like the look of them because they're a skinny fit. 

5. My Boyfriend


The picture quality is rubbish I know but this guy means everything to me. I've only known Tom since November but now I couldn't imagine life without him. Never did I ever think someone would understand me so well but he really does. He puts up with a lot of my crap and is so supportive of me and I'm so incredibly lucky to have such an amazing boyfriend. He's the first guy I've ever felt fully comfortable with and I know we're going to have a long and happy future together.