January

(Apologies for the photo quality - I left my camera in Manchester and this was taken on my phone)

Rather than doing my highstreet picks for the monthly post, I thought I'd share with you the diaries I plan on filling throughout 2013.

I was gifted three journals for Christmas (L-R): My friend gave me this journal, which has a day-to-page layout, which makes it perfect for jotting down thoughts, lists and other things. I haven't ever managed to keep a journal for an entire year and I'm hoping that 2013 will be the year I change this.
I believe this journal was from Paperchase.

The middle diary is a planner that my boyfriend bought me (chose it all by himself too, it is absolutely stunning). This photo doesn't do it any justice, it is by Paperblanks - link here - and it called the Soul and Tears journal. I plan on using this as my day-to-day diary, to note down deadlines and appointments etc. I have already inputted all of my university deadlines and student loan dates; I can't seem to put it down! It also has monthly planners, a list of every single feast day/holiday, sections in the back for journey planning and notes, and even has a miniature address book. Possibly the best diary I have owned.

The last journal was a gift from my sister. It is a five year journal where you are given enough space to write one or two sentences to summarise each day. I thought it was a lovely way of documenting memories and will be lovely to read back in a few years time. I just hope I keep up to it! It is absolutely beautiful with the turquoise cover and gold edging to the pages, plus it is small enough to put in your handbag every day. It's a available on Amazon here.


December playlist:
Call Your Girlfriend - Erato
Your Nickel Ain't Worth My Dime - Sleeping with Sirens
An Honourable Reign - Bury Tomorrow
For Emma - Bon Iver

December

Mango dress, Asos clutch, Girls Aloud eyelashes,

Topshop heels, Topshop necklace.

This is something I'd wear to a Christmas party. I've had to bail on my work's Christmas party due to lack of funds, but if I were going I'd wear this. I love velvet, and the simple cut of this is beautiful. I adore the shoes too; heels are one thing I will pay for from Topshop as they are always well made and fit well. 

November's Playlist:

Your Nickel Ain't Worth My Dime - Sleeping with Sirens

To a Friend - Alexisonfire

Young Cardinals - Alexisonfire 

Blue in the Face - Alkaline Trio

Call Your Girlfriend (cover) - Erato

November

Dress and socks - Topshop, 80 denier tights - Miss Selfridge, 

Desert boots - Clarks, Fjallraven Kanken Backpack - Asos

I'm going to be a cliche and say it: where the hell has 2012 gone?! There are less than ten weeks of the year left, and Christmas present budgeting panic has set in, alongside dissertation panic (I haven't even finished the novels I'm writing on yet, major self-loathing going on here).

Anyway, this outfit is a complete dream. I would buy and wear every single thing, however the dress would not suit me, but I adore it regardless. Plus it would look awesome under my Mango coat, but as usual the Topshop price tag is way out of my budget.

I actually have the rucksack (read: filched it from my boyfriend after he bought a new one) and it is the perfect size. I love it. 

I am loving the cold weather at the moment, I'm sure it will become old very quickly, but right now, I love being able to get wrapped up warm and wear a ton of layers. I just don't work in Summer.

October's playlist:

A Case of You - James Blake

Lionheart - Bury Tomorrow

Clavicle - Alkaline Trio

Colourblind - Counting Crows

Nose Over Tail - Alkaline Trio

Thanks for reading x

October

Parka and Necklace - Topshop, 'A Casual Vacancy' - Amazon, 

Nike Janoskis, Fossil Watch

It's finally October! October is my favourite month, and not just because it's my birthday month. October cements the fact that Autumn is here, the weather is turning colder which means big coats and scarves. I just love it.

However, there isn't much in the shops that is catching my attention at the moment; I am on the hunt for a parka as I want a slightly lighter coat, that's warmer than my leather jacket, but not as toasty as my Paddington Bear duffle coat. I've been drooling over this Topshop one for ages, but there is no way I will ever spend £95 on a parka. 

I also saw this necklace on a recent shopping trip, but again couldn't justify the price tag. I rarely wear necklaces so it wasn't worth the splurge. It is absolutely stunning in person though!

My copy of A Casual Vacancy arrived in the post this morning and I thought it deserved a mention. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I am definitely excited to get stuck into it. J.K. Rowling is all kinds of fabulous, in my opinion.

The last two items are items that have received/will receive for my birthday. I turned 21 today and my sister and I bought each other watches. I chose a simple steel Fossil watch. I initially wanted the Michael Kors version, but Fossil are about half the price and just as gorgeous. Fossil apparently make Michael Kors watches too, so paying the extra £100 just for a name seemed a tad ludicrous. 
My boyfriend has bought me the Nike Janoskis, after a long time of searching for a pair in my size. I love the colour way as the Nike 'swoosh' and sole are a light minty green, which paired with the grey is lovely. I don't get them until Friday, and I am so excited!

September Soundtrack:
Swim Good - Frank Ocean
Thinkin Bout You - Frank Ocean
Angels - The xx
Let Me Love You - Ne-yo
I Don't Mind - Defeater

Thanks for reading x

September

Jumper, Boots - both H&M, Jeans, Scarf - both Topshop, Bag - Vero Moda, Moby Dick Journal, 

Essie Chinchilly.

Thank God it's September! September means back to uni (or school etc) and that autumn is approaching. Autumn and winter my favourite seasons by far, I'm just not made for warm weather at all - not that this summer has even been particularly warm!

I've picked out a few things that I would wear for a typical day at uni - ok, so I may have cheated and already bought a few of these things (the boots, bag and nail varnish) but I definitely need a decent pair of black jeans (I don't own a pair) and few more jumpers in my life. I love jumpers, but that may need to wait until LOAN DAY. 

I saw these boots on Aimee's blog this morning and went on the hunt for them, unfortunately my local H&M is rubbish and doesn't stock shoes; I ordered them online and used a couple of discount codes (from this website) and got them for just under £26 including postage. Completely bargainous - they say that they'll arrive sometime before the 7th of September - are the H&M shipping estimations ever accurate? I've only heard negative things?

The bag is perfect as it is big enough for A4 books and folders, and also fits a laptop in, which is what I bought it for. I start a work experience placement on Monday and have been told to bring a laptop, so I scrawled Ark for this. It's perfect. I'm still on the hunt for a rucksack, but I may be being given one from my boyfriend (yes, I have one of those now - eep!)

Music for August:

Roll to Me - Del Amitri

Children of Divorce - Jonny Craig

I Still Feel Her PartIII - Jonny Craig

Matilda - Alt-J

I suppose I should get back to packing my life up - I move back to Manchester tomorrow!

Thanks for reading x

August

Jumper, Shoes, Disco Pant dupes, Bikini top and bottoms - all River Island

For this month's post I thought I'd post my picks from River Island. I'm having a bit of a love affair with the shop at the moment, after years of disregarding it because of its gaudy, sequin adorned clothing, but it has really upped its game over the past year or so.

I (may) have already bought the trousers after lusting over the disco pants for months. I wasn't sold on the shininess of the disco pants, and at 5ft 1, they would almost definitely be too long. I tried these on and it was love. They're thick, but not suffocatingly so and are really comfortable. I feel like Sandy at the end of Grease in them.

Anyway, onto the other stuff. I saw these shoes when I was shopping and had to prise myself away from them, same with the jumper. I tried it on and it's a really lovely loose knit, so it wouldn't be too warm in this summer (ha!) weather we haven't been having, but will also be lovely in winter with a vest underneath. 

I may be going on holiday in May for a week, and love anything blue and white striped. The hinge detail on this bikini makes it a bit different. Although, a white bikini may not be the wisest move ever.

Playlist for July has been:

A Toast to the future kids! - Emarosa

The Past Should Stay Dead - Emarosa

Reputations - We Sunk Atlantis

Raise Hell - Kids in Glass Houses

July

image source: Tumblr

Dress, Bracelet, Shoes, Rucksack

A little bit different for this month's post - I was inspired by Meg to choose my highstreet picks. I got paid yesterday, so I've made a set on Polyvore of an outfit I want to put together. I wanted this dress the first time it was in stock, but missed it; I tried it on yesterday but it was too big and they didn't have the smaller size in stock. I will try it! The other item I really want is a rucksack/backpack, not necessarily this particular one, but something similar, so if you know of anything similar let me know! I've also been tempted by the American Apparel shawl cardigan, but we shall see!

June has been somewhat of a lacklustre month, what with it being a dreaded five-weeker (my bank balance cried with joy on payday though). A few personal things also happened which weren't the best, so lets hope July is better - and warmer! I want to wear sandals and not worry about getting frostbite or trenchfoot.

Playlist for June has been:

Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too - Say Anything

You Won't Know - Brand New

Feel the Love - Rudimental ft. John Newman

The Sea is a Good Place to Think of the Future - Los Campesinos!

Bruises - Chairlift

Electric Twist - A Fine Frenzy

Here's to a sunnier, warmer June! x

June

image source: Tumblr

I am still shocked by how quickly this year is flying by. It is insane. 
May has been a lovely month, after a wet March and April, the sun came out to play which definitely lifted my mood!


I'm finally beginning to feel summery - cue Essie's 'Cute as a Button'

June promises to be a good month, apart from the fact I'm working the Bank Holiday (ugh)
Tomorrow is tattoo day (ahhhhh!), and at the weekend I'm popping back to Manchester to celebrate my housemate's 20th birthday. 


My playlist for May has been:
The Temptations - My Girl
Rilo Kiley - Portions for Foxes
Rilo Kiley - Teenage Love Song
Kids In Glass Houses - Church Tongue
Big Mountain - Baby, I Love Your Way
Otis Redding - Wonderful World
Bob Marley - Redemption Song


Have a lovely June! x

May

May is officially here, it's absolutely terrifying that we're almost half way through the year already. April was a busy month, as it meant the end of second year. I am no longer 'in a state of near-constant meltdown' as I handed in my final essay on Monday! I am free of work! Although I will miss living in Manchester over summer. When I go back in September I am resolute to find a job (preferably in a book shop, I can dream) so I can stay in the city and not have to slave at Ikea back home every weekend.

Anyway, that was a tangent. May means summer, if the weather behaves itself. Summer means freedom to do what I want, which means working a lot of hours in the blue box and saving for a(nother) tattoo. I almost know what I want and where I want it, it's going to cost a pretty penny though.


I also really want these trousers, but I'm trying to curb my spending:

I've seen them pop up on a few blogs lately and I love them. My sister has the navy with black spots version and after initially hating them, they've grown on me.

I'll keep this short and sweet.

All through April I was listening to:

Childish Gambino

Brand New

The RENT Soundtrack

Coheed and Cambria

And reading:

Wicked - The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh

I hope your months were lovely, apart from the hideous weather. Fingers crossed May is better!

Thanks for reading x