Joggers aren't just for the gym.

Tracksuit bottoms or joggers have always been around, let’s face it besides pyjamas they’re probably the most comfortable thing you own. Feel free to admit it or not but they’re also probably that one item in your wardrobe that you practically live in. I love them. Coming from me this is quite the statement to make, sport or exercise of any real form hasn't ever been something that really interested me, my weekly PE lessons at school were not my idea of fun that’s for sure. Yes I get the whole toned body image is nice to have but have you ever eaten a Malteaser McFlurry now that is the stuff I dream about.

So when suddenly my insta feed was flooded with girls wearing joggers in a fashionable way I was a little unsure how I felt. Surely they couldn’t look good? Gone are the year 7 PE days consisting of unflattering joggers, baggy t-shirt and the vans that everyone had but you were never officially aloud to wear. This time around joggers are looking classy and cool. Nude, grey, black, camo you named it, paired with a bodysuit or a fitted crop top they look ‘peng’. Trainers or heels you decide personally I’m a fan of trainers because heels are more of a workout on a night out than the treadmill is at 8am in the morning but you do you. Joggers paired with that ‘nice top’ and some stiletto heels on a night in town could just be my new cup of tea, finally you don’t have to not be able to sit down because your outfit lacks space to breathe when you do. You can dance the night away without a care in the world whilst looking good doing so. Okay I’m sold pass me a pair or 10.

Next time you turn up to class and someone strolls in wearing track bottoms because they no doubtedly will, give them a little fashion credit. They are living that fine life of comfort and style after all isn’t that what we’re all after anyway? Besides if it’s 9am should you really be all that bothered by what you wear? Less effort equals more time in bed, and that’s something I definitely like to hear. So I will be for sure jumping on this joggers bandwagon, the only question left to ask now is how many is an acceptable number to own before it becomes classed as an obsession?

Image: Pinterest

It's about time...

Welcome back!

I know it's been a crazy long time since I last blogged, I think my last post must have been the one about going to Berlin which is madness because it's been like 2 weeks since I got back from there. Then what with deadlines causing me to hibernate away from anything remotely fun for an entire week and going home straight after it just felt like I needed some time to breathe. Life got a bit crazy, Not going to lie the stress of coursework made me need a week just to do absolutely nothing. 

I'm now back at uni still with another week til any lectures or seminars but I'm hoping to spend this week productively sorting my life out. That means planning and organising the whole blogging lifestyle, filming/ uploading YouTube videos, getting my butt back to the gym because it's now February before you know it, it's gonna be Summer before we know it and most importantly get somehow ahead of my next semester of work. In all honesty the only thing I really want and need right now is a holiday somewhere hot and sunny, where I can be sat on a beach, Pina colada in one hand and a good book in the other. In reality though that's not and probably won't be my life for a good 6 months yet, I don't understand how I am so physically drained of this year when it's only February 5th, like how is that even possible?!?

Berlin as you're probably eager to know was great! Not sure I'd visit again just because I don't know it didn't feel like as a city it was my vibe, I'm a NYC gal at heart and I seriously don't think that is going to change anytime soon. Still I'm glad I went and saw the sights, not only that but to be there in the midst of Berlin Fashion Week was honestly a dream come true. It actually made me feel quite emotional to be honest, to think that could be the first of what will hopefully be many fashion weeks to come made me a teary-eyed mess, maybe it's my hormones playing up who knows, that kinda stuff doesn't usually get me. But you know that feeling you get when you want something so bad it physically hurts, yeh that's me, as a 'Greatest Showman' fanatic if you didn't know already, the millions dreams song gets me every single time, I'm a massive believer in 'if you believe you can then you will' so stuff about what will hopefully be my future career just makes me tear up. Fashion has probably been the only thing I've ever really enjoyed, I'd like to think I'm good at it but most importantly I want it to do amazing things for me.

Back to Berlin, I'd 100% recommend going to see the city, overall I'd say it was having a lot of renovation done to it but all the same it was amazing to experience a new way of life. I personally loved the Reichstag building tour which was free and quite literally took my breathe away, going up in the dome and looking across the entire city from 360 degree angles was mind blowing. It wasn't like anything I've ever experienced before, it was different to the London Eye or the Empire State it was just magical. I also really appreciated the Jewish memorial, obviously it was extremely sad but it made me just feel the event so much more, it's hard to explain but having been to the memorial just makes me have so much more empathy for the whole thing now. Of course I knew it was a horrific event before I went but it just opened my eyes up to the scale of things- it's the type of thing I will never forget. 

Trade show wise by far the Bright & Seek ones were my favourite, okay so they were completely irrelevant to the research needed for my next assignment but personal style wise they were a bit of me. Growing up I was that girl with a skateboard so really it's no surprise that the fashion event with it's own skate ramps was going to be my cup of tea. I actually vlogged my whole Berlin trip which was nerve racking but exciting so I'll leave that below.

Deadline wise I don't think I've ever felt more stressed, not joking I finished my work about 9 hours before the official deadline. That week quite literally killed me off, I still think I'm catching up on sleep from it now which is mad. In the end as bad as this is going to sound I didn't care anymore I just wanted it over with. I think that was partly why I regretted going Berlin, that extra week was just what I needed but didn't get to have. Still it's over now, it is what it is. I put my heart and soul into it but in the end I was just like why? Yes obviously I want a good grade for my personal goals but when it comes down to it second year on my course doesn't count for any percentage of my final degree- the whole thing is just a learning curve. 

Getting my life back on track...

Having recovered from all that stress I am now ready to get back to it, those internships won't find themselves if only it was the easy. I think the biggest lesson I learnt from last semester was that organisation is something I really need to improve on, yes I can manage my blog, YouTube, group projects, individual projects, internship searching, gym going and a social life if I use my time effectively. Sleeping in all day and binge watching Netflix is not effective for me, don't get me wrong down time is important of course it is but I keep seeing this same tweet everywhere I go "Work hard now, your future self will thank you for it" and I think it's trying tell me something. I know deep down that what I'm doing at the minute, myself in 5 years time would not be grateful for, yet if I just dedicated my time more evenly I would be happy with myself. I've decided it's not about what or how or even where other people are going, it's about me- you can't drive forward in a straight line if your constantly staring at other people's lanes either side of you. 

So I guess the whole new year, new me thing starts now, February 5th 2018, I'm saying I will be better, a better version of myself because I'm tired and unhappy with my life decisions I guess I'm just a little bit too indecisive for my liking. From this point that is going to change. 

Starting with a regular blogging schedule- see you Friday (well tomorrow on my YouTube)

XOX

Images are all my own

Berlin baby...

This time next week I'll be in Berlin... omg I'm literally SO crazy excited I can't even tell you. 

Berlin hasn't ever been a city that was top of my list to visit but it was definitely on it believe me. I am one of those people who wants to visit as many countries as possible so any country that I haven't been to before is a bonus for me. Germany has always been somewhere I've wanted to go, I just never have, I guess when it comes to family holidays it's not really somewhere my parents are likely to book just because we prefer more extreme heat beach holidays. Now I'm old enough to travel on my own I definitely want to take more city breaks. Still studying the course I have means that I'm lucky enough to get to go Berlin as a course trip this year, yes not going to lie I'm not entirely sure it will top New York because that was honestly out of this world but hopefully it'll be equally as good. 

In advance I thought I'd check out a few places out I'd like to visit just so you no I'm not wandering around wasting time although we do get to spend pretty much a week there which is lush. Stressful cos it's so close to my deadlines but lush all the same, just means working my ass off the week before and after the trip. I'd like to think this trip will be a well earned rest but lol that's not gonna happen... it's gonna be one long jammed packed, fun week. Even better to be going with friends because don't get me wrong I do enjoy a holiday with my parents (partly because they pay lol just joking) but traveling with friends is completely different and fun but in a different way to what it is with your parents. I don't know, it's hard to explain. 

Ideally the trip is research based for our next project which is mad, like imagine having a job where it involved you travelling abroad to pick up trends, like honestly that sounds a dream- I guess these course trips are a nice reminder that could be what I get to do. Like imagine!

So wait for it... while we are in Berlin it's Berlin Fashion Week like actual Berlin Fashion Week am I dreaming? is this actually my reality??? Fashion week has been something I've wanted to go to since I was basically in primary school so to say I'm attending the trade fairs, and actually in the buzz of it all in the city is probably the best thing I've ever heard. Like I've heard our tickets not only get us into the 6 trade shows but potentially even after parties- LIKE MADDDDD. 

Obviously I'm pumped for all the trade shows, but I think Seek is the one that I'm like dead excited for, with Show & Order being like a close second. I don't know what it is about Seek, I think just because it's more streetwear with brands like Fila and Champion because I'm all over that. Show & Order from what I can tell is more like designer brands I guess, with like Moschino, Calvin Klein, Stella McCartney like err yes please!

Other places I want to go are California Breakfast Slam because yes I'm all about the food life & breakfast especially American breakfast places- simply can't be beaten- Pancakes mmmm yum! The NGBK Gallery looks really cool apparently it has cool exhibitions from young and emerging Berlin (and international) artists and I mean I love discovering new fashion brands and I've heard it’s hidden behind an equally interesting art bookstore so double win. I am tempted to try one of the clubs while we're out there, according to some travel blog I found, the Weekend Club located in one of Berlin’s few skyscrapers, is a really cool club that overlooks Alexanderplatz with a rooftop terrace and indoor area great for groups and all-night parties. So I may just end up checking that out. 

Obviously the standard tourist places are on the list too, the Berlin wall, the East Side gallery, and I would quite like to go the Helmut Newton Foundation. Of course this being me and the fact I am on a fashion course I will be going shopping (the perfect excuse), Weekday and Monki are two brands I'm very excited to check out- I know we have those stores here in the UK but I think it'll be cool to check them out abroad. 

This isn't all the places I want to go, just a few, I actually have a long list but if I spoke about all of them then we'd be here for like an eternity so I'll save you all from that. Obviously will be blogging about the trip when I'm back, not sure if I am blogging the Monday & Friday whilst I'm there- might just take the week off so I can plan content whilst I'm away. So tempted to invest my student loan money into a decent camera but I know the type of camera I want will be so expensive like can I do that to my bank account??? 

Hope you liked the post, be sure to check out my post on Friday too plus there's a new YouTube video going up tomorrow on my channel (yay) yes it's another haul and no lol I do not need to buy anymore clothes for about the next year but like that's going to stop me.

XOX 

Images: Google.

So I did it: YouTube.

Okay... deep breathes so it's finally happened, I have finally taken maybe one of my biggest gambles to date... I've started my own YouTube channel....

Yes after literally years of considering it, weighing up the pro's & con's, this Tuesday just gone (January 2nd) I uploaded my first video. If I'm completely honest it wasn't as scary as I first thought it would be- so far the feedback has been really positive. Even though it is a little daunting to be heading back to uni tomorrow knowing that people could potentially know about my channel. Okay so it's not some big secret, of course it isn't after all I'm talking about it on here but it's just the thought of people judging me for making this decision. I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and fair enough I'm not asking anyone to subscribe just because they know me. Honestly I don't even care if people don't watch because I'm not doing the whole YouTube 'thing' for anyone else  but me. 

(a sneak peak at next Tuesday's video)

It may sound dramatic but for years I have battled with confidence issues so to get to the point where I feel somewhat comfortable putting videos of me on the internet is a huge deal! I'm so proud of myself, I never imagined when I started this blog a few years back that I would be taking this step because I never thought I would have the confidence to eventually do it. It may sound cheesy and people may think I'm living on cloud 9 for saying this but deep down I've always known I've wanted to do the whole blogging thing full time as a career. Okay so I don't know yet if that'll ever be possible and I'm not saying I won't try other career paths along the way but what I am saying that if someone asked me what 'the dream is' then that would be my answer. Yes I know there are SO many bloggers/ YouTubers out there, I'm quite literally a small fish in a very big ocean but even if it takes a good 5/10 years to get there, then I'm going to give it my best shot. 

My self promotion project for uni is I guess what spurred me on to give it a shot and really it was what I needed. I've said this previously on here but I look at my parents and how much they hate their jobs and I don't want that. To them a job is a job, it gives them the money they need to live the life they can afford to. My Dad never says he's looking forward to a day of work and I don't want to be like that! I don't want to just do a job just because it pays enough for me to scrape together enough money to rent a tiny 1 bed flat in some rundown town. That's not and has never been the life I've wanted to achieve. My parents probably more than anything make me all the more determined to work so hard. Again cheesy but I went to see the film, 'The Greatest Showman' last week and it was honestly amazing! (you all need to go see it!) Not even joking I was lost for words, ever since I left the cinema I have been playing the soundtrack non stop, I'm even listening to it as I'm writing this! But to get to the point of the story, it got me thinking. P T Barnum, was told by so many people that he was just dreaming, what he imagined could be would never become actually possible but he proved them all wrong, he worked his butt off and showed them that with a bit of imagination anything can become possible. Despite people disagreeing with him, he still kept working to achieve his dream , "No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else".

I don't know where this blog and my YouTube channel will take me, I don't even know if I'll keep the whole YouTube thing up long term but what I do know is that I'm damn well going to give it my best shot. So if you feel like joining me, you're more than welcome to subscribe to my channel (LippieTalk). So far I have published a Christmas clothing haul. I plan on uploading every Tuesday - hopefully that'll be semi achievable what with uni and everything else in my life. 

I'd love hear your thoughts on the whole YouTube thing, fair enough if you think it's embarrassing or I'm making a big mistake your opinion will be heard but I can't say it'll make any difference after 'you do you'. 

XOX

Image: own

Video: own Youtube channel.

2018, I'm making you my year

Happy New Years!

Wow 2017 quite literally went by in a blink of an eye and 2018 is finally here! In all honesty I'm kinda happy to be waving 2017 goodbye, granted it wasn't a terrible year but it was far from the best. Don't get me wrong first year at uni was life changing and New York was just the same but you know when you just feel ready to move on to something else? Yeh to me that's how I'd describe my 2017, it kinda felt like a year where I was waiting for it to get to the good part part but it just never really came. Still 2018 is here now, out with the old in with the new n all that. Personally I'm not a massive fan of New Years, I was saying to one of my friends that I just find each year is pretty much the same, nothing massively new and exciting happens so I don't really tend to celebrate it. Yes of course I welcome in the New Year with family but it's just never been something I get that excited about.
But I'm so ready for 2018, just have a good feeling 'bout it you know.

I do like the idea that a new year is like opening a new book, 365 days, 365 opportunities, 365 chances to make this year bigger, better and happier than the last. 

So as always I thought I'd kick off 2018 with a New Years resolutions post, yes sorry I am like every other blogger right now... grab a cuppa and see what I have planned for my 365 chances:

Commit to Blogging/ YouTube. 

Yes you did just read that right, as of tomorrow I am going to be (trying) uploading weekly YouTube videos every Tuesday. It's scary not going to lie, blogging doesn't feel so scary because I'm typing posts from behind a screen but YouTube is so much more in your face quite literally. The thought of people judging me for my looks & opinions feels so much more of a scary prospect now, still it's held me back for years now and I'm saying 'no' to potential haters and I'm just going to give it a shot. Blogging wise that's still going to be a 'thing', I hoping to commit to doing posts every Monday & Friday which is dedication especially with YouTube every Tuesday but you never get anywhere in life if you just sit back & do nothing. There's a whole wide world out there grab it with both hands!

Continue the 'gym' thing.

2017 was the year I finally committed myself to working out and maybe even more surprisingly I actually enjoyed it! Words can't describe how good I feel after an hour on the cross trainer, it just let's me escape life for an hour or so, if you get me. When I'm working out it's just me, my thoughts and my music, it's like nothing else matters, my stresses literally melt away. When you worry as much as I do believe me it's the best possible feeling. 

Give myself that 'me' time.

Pre-uni I was not a sociable person so uni brought me out of my shell incredibly and I'll be forever grateful! But if I socialise 24/7 it literally drains me. Maybe you think I'm weird for saying that, but I'm comfortable in my own company, I like the times where it's just me and can do my own thing. Yes obviously I love time with family & friends to pieces but sometimes not every week I just need an hour or so to just chill. 

Spontaneous trips.

Travelling has and will always be a passion of mine, there is nothing I want more in life than to tour America in a camper van, but saying that I'd be happy to tour anywhere. I was talking to this guy about a month ago and he was saying he loved travelling so I was telling him about the whole American dream and he was like but what about Europe? And truth be told I'd forgotten about that. I've be luckily enough to have been able to go on holiday a lot in Europe but whilst they were amazing, they weren't quite 'traveling' and I definitely didn't see the whole of Europe. So I'd like to go on at least one spontaneous trip this year. I'm kicking off my travels to Berlin in January for a course trip so hopefully it'll be the start of many.

Say 'yes' more!

This is such a Zoella thing to say but it's true I don't say it enough and I miss out on opportunities right in front of me. I'm tired of missing chances so it's about time I did something about it. Starting from now.

Don't just dream it.

Kind of a follow on from the 'say yes' one but I have a huge imagination, I am such a daydreamer. I was that child who believed if I wanted to become a world famous singer than I will do it. Whilst I no longer believe I can make it in the singing world, my voice isn't umm public suitable think more screaming cat, I still stand by this motto. I honestly believe if you dream it then there's no reason you can't do it. Okay so it might be a trek to get there but nothing that's worth doing is ever easy!

Enjoy the here and now.

Bit of a weird one to make for a resolution but I always find myself wishing the days away to get to something better when really it's the little moments in life that are the most special. So this year there'll be no more wishing the days away, yes I'll still get excited about upcoming events but they're not the best thing in my life and this year is the year I realise that. 

Keep growing that confidence.

For at least the last 3 years this has been on my resolution list... I am getting there slowly. This time last year my 'then' self wouldn't recognise the 'now' me, 2017 grew my confidence more than any other year. I guess I just got tired of fighting with myself, looking pretty is overrated, it's time I just accepted the fact that I'm happy being me. Yes I have scars both physically and mentally but they are part of 'me', and if I'm honest I'm proud of what I've come through in my life, there has been times when it got really shit but I made it through it all and I came out it braver than I was before. Life isn't easy but believing in yourself makes you that little bit more determined.

That's all my resolutions... other the years have been quite different, they've definitely changed a bit. Gone the days where I said I'll give up chocolate because we all know that's not achievable. Sometimes life needs sweetening up a bit.

What are your resolutions?

Sorry I'm a nosey person. 
I hope you all have a happy, healthy 2018 full of lots of exciting plans.

See you all Friday, where it'll be a bit of a YouTube special. Don't forget to check my channel out tomorrow too- LippieTalk. The start of something new... yes HSM will never get old.

XOX

Images: Own