My first love

Hi, I'm alive! Sorry I disappeared for 6 months? I was away all summer which was amazing and I met a lot if awesome people and did some crazy things! And I started college! 

I now go to CCAD which is Cleveland college of art and design and I study photography! Which is what I want to talk about in this post because having disappeared for 6 months I wanted to talk about something I have a lot to say about! 

Doing photography 24/7 at college has definitely made me see it differently, I now know how to use my fancy camera properly to get the best pictures possible rather than using it on manual all the time! It takes more time but I take less pictures because I'm happier with the ones I get. I also now know a whole other different types of photography, such as camera-less (yes, that's possible) and film photography (no, not like movies and stuff). I have completely fallen in love with photography all over again and it's pushing me out of my comfort zone making me photograph things that I never thought would be remotely interesting, my whole first project was about my bedroom! 

However more recently I have really started to concentrate more on film photography using 35mm cameras. I think what I love about it is the results change all the time and you never really know how a shoot is going to turn out because you can't see the picture until it's developed! I've gotten rolls of film back with nothing on them because I hadn't wound it on properly and I've gotten rolls back with pictures completely out of focus, so I'm going to share with you five of my favourite photographs and five photographs that have gone completely wrong:

 

This one was taken in a reeaally dark room at my church, I knew if I used a slower speed than what I already was the image would come out shaky and the light meter was still showing that it wasn't at the right exposure so I expected this picture to come out really dark, but it didn't which made me verrrryyyy happy! 

 I took this shot in the forest behind my church and thinking back I know that I forgot to focus this image and it annoys me so much knowing how good this could of looked! 

I don't know what went wrong with this image but it's a disaster so let's move on to a really good one yeah? 

I don't know why I love this image so much but I do the contrast is not too high or low and the colours are beautiful! I got sooo wet trying to take this one because it was crazy windy and raining like hell! 

This picture was taken from the same place only I turned around! It's a fail that turned out really well. I was actually trying to focus in the background rather than that tiny bit if car, but I love how it turned out instead! 

I took this in the cat and obviously misjudged where the tree was and took the picture too early but this would of been soooo good if that tree wasn't stupid! 

Another disaster it's just out or focus and shaky, but it could of been sooo good,  so I'll show you the digital version of this that I got instead: 

Still didn't turn out great but definitely better! 

This is perfectly in focus and the depth of field is fabulous a definite favourite! 

I love the grain in this one, and the lighting! It's a bit tilted but I can fix that.

I would love to know what I was trying to focus on in this shot, but whatever it was it didn't work out for me this is shaky and out if focus! 

Hopefully I'm going to start posting again it'll be the same as before but maybe more photography based posts! 

I'M BACK BITCH 

Ombre hair, Macbook air and everything in between.

HI GUYS!
Its been 2 months since I've posted anything and I apologise. The reason for my absence is exams :( BUT it's all over.

What's new then.

Nothing interesting happened in April I don't think, my dad was working away for a while and that was sad. But then at the start of May we went and visited him in... LONDON. I have been needing a London trip for a while so saw my dad working there as an excuse to go. It was really fun, went everywhere and even managed to get a show in!

Then, I got my hair ombred and I love it soo much, its awesome looking and stuff:

I got a new phone which I was really happy about cause my old phone was slow and stupid and old and horrible and I kinda hated it. I would like never text anyone cause I hated using it so much. BUT now I have and iPhone 5 and its da bomb, its also got a pretty case :)

I left school on the 24th may but on the 23rd me and my friend Sophie went and got our ears pierced. Sophie already has her lobes done and I used to but they closed up so I went and got my lobes redone and my pinna. Holler! I looove it but it hurts a bit still when I knock it but oh well, it looks pretty.
My camera broke, which I was VERY sad about, but then I bought a new better one, so I can't complain! 












I also got a macbook air!! Soo excited its beautiful and I've wanted my own for a while and I do now, also it means I can blog while I'm away in the summer (26 days!!!!!), so aren't you lucky ;)

Well that's everything I've done since we last spoke! I've finished school now so expect some more posts soon!

Pasta with Grilled Chicken+Mozzaralla

On my search for healthy recipes I came across this one and it sounded delicious, but I was very skeptical about trying as its main component is pasta, which is a carb and I am very anti-carb, but I tried it any way and it was deeliciouus! Soo here is my slightly adjusted version:
(original can be found here-http://www.marthastewart.com/312662/shells-with-grilled-chicken-and-mozzarel)

Pasta with Grilled Chicken+Mozzarella:

Ingredients-

• salt and pepper
• 4 Chicken Breasts
• 8 ounces medium pasta
• 6 medium tomatoes, quartered
• 1 ball of mozzarella, cut into cubes
• handful of parsley+basil, roughly chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Parmesan for serving (if you want)

Method-

 1.Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for pasta.

2.Cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions.

 3.Meanwhile, heat grill to medium.

 4.Cut the Chicken breasts in half length ways and lightly season with salt and pepper.

 5.Grill until cooked through, don't forget to turn halfway through! 

6.Remove from grill, and cut into thin strips, halving if long.

 7.Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain pasta, and return to pot. 

  8.Add chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella, parsley, basil, and butter. 

 9.Toss/stir to combine. 

10.Add reserved pasta water to create a sauce that coats pasta (you may not need all the water). 

11.Serve with Parmesan.

12.ENJOY!

 My family all loved this recipe, which is very rare and it is also very flexible so you can easily make it your own.

 

Healthy living.

So recently I've been on a crazy health thing. We've bought an exercise bike, I've started working out and eating healthy. The reason for my crazy lifestyle change is Summer, I'm going away for 7weeks in the summer and I want to be able to look back on the photos of this summer and not be thinking of how I could look better, I want to just be remembering how amazing and fun it was.
Here is one of the healthy recipes I have found and love.

Banana+Oat Smoothie

What you need:

1/2 cup-1% Milk
1/4 cup-Oats
1/2 cup-Low fat yogurt
1-Banana
2 tsp-Honey
1/4 tsp-Cinnamon

-Put into a blender and blend.
-Enjoy!


Verrryyy easy and very tasty. You can replace the honey with anything else thats sweet, I prefer using golden syrup and you can add vanilla or anything else to make it your own!

Another healthy snack that I have been enjoying recently is Apple with peanut butter, this may seem like a weird combination but it is very tasty and very healthy.

So there are some of my favourite healthy snacks, if you have any, leave them in the comments below!

Quote of the day:

Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.

-Mark Twain

Song of the day:

I've Got This Friend-The Civil Wars

Keep blogging,
Hope.

Room Tourr!

I redecorated my room in October last year, before this it was very bright and busy and even though it is quite small it appeared tiny. Buuutt now it is beautiful, very me and spaces!

 So having such a small room, there really isn't much space for a proper bookcase so to utilise the space a bit better I keep my books in various places, one of which is my window ledge.

Another place is some shoe boxes.

 These are also used to store CDs, including mix tapes and the signed copy of Red that I own (very proud of that).

I also store some more in a box in my wardrobe, which is where every Harry Potter related book EVER, is kept.

The 'Door wall' is the busiest its where I have my necklaces, mirror, clock, noticed/whiteboard and 49ers scarf. American football is one of the only sports I can tolerate watching without getting bored, I got into it early 2012 and have loved it since. One of my bestfriends got me the scarf for my birthday and I almost cried with happiness when I opened it.

The 'Bed wall' is where my map of my beloved America and the part of Canada I love is and shelf full of nifty little things is. And all surrounded by fairy lights YAY. I think everyone needs fairy lights in their room, so if you have some free in the house, GET THEM UP. they make everything pretty. Also the bed I LOVE MY BED, its so comfy and cute and stuff!

On the shelf I have a bunch of Jars filled with, for lack of a better word, stuff. I have a wish jar, which is currently filled with chocolate, in which I put a star/heart for a wish or a bit of paper with the wish on it. I have pins to put stuff on walls with. I have m&ms because their tasty. I have a 'Today is the day' jar in which I put slips of papers in with my realisation of the day. And I have a Texas fund jar in which money for my summer goes! Oh and I have a bunch of vintage cameras.


I have a little mini cupboard thing which is adorable and I use this to store uselessness in and I keep necessities on top of it. I never like to throw anything away so I keep all my stuff in old cereal pots or syrup tins or jars, I highly recommend doing this as it saves having to buy thing to store other things in and it looks very nifty.

And finally wardrobe and cute hidden message.














Hope you like my room and have maybe given you a few ideas of your own ect.

Quote of the day-

"If you are lucky enough to be different, don't ever change"

-Taylor Swift

Song of the day-

After Ever After-Jon Cozart this is a parody but its hilarious, catchy and I looovvee it!

I heart spring tag!

So I was tagged to do this by Thing the Books Forgot. who aswell as being a good friend of mine, is one of my favourite bloggers.
HERE GOES!

1) Favourite spring nail polish?

I'm not really a nail polish person, I have really short nails and if I put nail polish on it just exagerates their shortness. The top of my summer bucket list is to grow my nails!!

2)Must have lip colour?

I am definitely a person who does not suit bright lipstick. But if you are I would definitely recommend B. Rich Intense Colour Lipstick-Cupcake.

 If you're like me, my favvoourritte is rimmel London-Asia.

3)Favourite Spring Dress?

I'm gonna choose two.

First one is my pinafore from topshop, it's so playful and fun and I can wear it over anything. Definitely one of my best fashion investments!

Second one is my shirt dress that I got for £10 from primark, it was the last one in my size, and I always take this as a sign to buy something and I am so glad I did because it is beautiful.

 

 

 

4)Favourite flower?

Daisies. In the words of Cathleen Kelly "Daisies are the friendliest flower"

5)Favourite Spring Accessory!

I am loving bracelets at the moment, I think stacks of bracelets can either look horribly tacky or cute, and I'm hoping I have managed the latter.

Also (sorry going for two again) this daisy headband I bought from Accessorize (£6) and I think it's beautiful.

6)Which spring trend are you most excited about?

Monochrome, I love the endless combinations and how it is so simple and you can do it in any style, so everyone can do it!

7)Favourite spring candle?

I have some lovely ones IKEA and they smell amazziinng, I cannot remember anything else about them, sorry for being useless.

8) Favourite spring perfume?

For my birthday my sister bought me Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift and I looovvvee the way it smells.

EVERYONE SHOULD GET IT!

9)What is spring like where you live?

In England spring is winter only the skies are blue (on the good days). You do get loovvelly days and those are the days I love, when you can go on cute walks and actually feel springlike.

10)Whats your favourite thing about spring?

The days getting longer and the blossoms on trees.

11) Are you a spring cleaner?

Kind of? I've recently sorted out my wardrobe and cupboards, if that counts. I'm a messy person normally but I do clean my room every now and then, but that doesn't usually last very long. However I tidied my room last night for a room tour post that shall be coming your way verry soon!

12)What are you plans for spring break/upcoming holiday?

Errm, revision (ew), homework (ew) and adventures with friends, i.e breakfast dates, shopping days, jamming sessions and midnight road-trips (yay)

I tag EVERYONE.

Hope you liked it and you can now follow me on Blog Lovin!

March Review...

March has been a craazzyy month, it's been great though. Spring has arrived and the days are getting longer, the weather is yet to be sunny but it's getting there! Lets look through it shall we?

Found

March Goals-

1. I want to start wearing more make up- CHECK! I now where mascara and occasionally lipstick!
2. Start being more girly-CHECK! I now will wear a dress, or a skirt and heals, veerryy proud of myself.
3. Be more sociable-Almost? I have tried but I can't help it if other people can't hang out! Towards the back end of March I was getting there, and I feel like the Easter holidays will hold lots of socialness!
4. Do more photography-only for blogging or when I've been out with friends.

April Goals-

1. Revise- Gcse's coming up and I am not going to get the grades that reflect me if I don't
2. Do more Photography-NEED TO DO THIS!
3. Be more sociable-This will forever be on my goal list.

March Haul!!

Looking back I have spent quite a bit this month and have decided that next month I am going to only by things I NEED. Here is what I have bougghht!

Denim Pinafore-Topshop £38

LOVE this, it is so comfy to wear and goes with almost anything. 

Boots-Newlook £19.99

I love these boots, I've wanted some ankle boots for ages and thought it was about time

 I had some so I bought these and they are beautiful. 

 

Lipstick-Rimmel London £5.99 

Loved this colour so I bought it nice and simple :)

Moccasins-Deichman £13 

I needed some school shoes and I have an undenying love for moccasins so bought some black ones for school :)  

Found

Shirt dress-Primark £10

     Needed some new dress's and this was one of those ones where it's like as soon as you see it you love it type ones and the LAST ONE IN MY SIZE types, it was meant to be. 

  

JOHN MAYER CONCERT TICKET-£60 Dallas, Texas, July 13th.   

Total so far- £127

 And then I went crazy and ordered loads of Forever 21 clothes with some birthday money (shall post them when they arrive) Making my total.....

£177

 Quote of the day-

"April is a promise that May is bound to keep."

-Hal Borland

Song of the day-

Souvenirs-Switchfoot