Current Favourites

I have given myself the pleasure of doing all my work during the week so I can spend this weekend re-lax-ing. Bliss.
I took the opportunity to take some photos and, after initially just taking snaps of my outfit, I decided I would do a capsule of some of the fashion and beauty items I am loving.

FASHION:

H&M scarf

I have spoken about this scarf before and the happiness it brought; its so large and soft and cosy. Its like a blanket, I have, at school, been known for whipping it out and wrapping it round me like a blanket. Its all about comfort. They have so many lovely scarves in H&M at the moment, if you are looking for one, that's your place.

 Bomber Jacket
There is a new vintage shop in Newcastle and its bloody good. Its tiny and really hidden away but has the best gems. I bought this men's bomber jacket a month or two ago for £10 and I love it. Its incredibly easy to wear but unfortunately I've had to hang it up as its too cold to wear now.

 Hershel Rucksack
I used to use this bag for school, it was beautiful and I loved it but, with all the folders and books I have to carry to school, it was causing real damage to my shoulders. So, in order to balance the weight out, I bought this rucksack. I really like it, its very simple but the red zips add a bit of detail and I love the pinstripe lining.

 BEAUTY:

Garnier BB cream

This is a barely there product, but I like that. It adds a nice healthy glow to your skin and evens out any areas of discolouration. I apply this with either my fingers or the Zoeva 102 Silk finish brush when I just want a bit more in my skin.

Maybelline Colour Show Shadow in Copper Rush

This is a 'shop-my-stash' product-I hadn't used this for ages but have fallen back in love. It's incredibly creamy so definitely works best applied with fingers. The boldness of it can be altered, creating either a slight brush of shimmer or, what I like best, can be built up into a full eye of glitter.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

I really didn't like this mascara at the start, I didnt feel it lived up to its hype. However, it has had sometime to get drier (I always think mascaras are better for that) and builds a lot of boldness. It does clump slightly but I use another mascara to separate out my lashes. Plus, its good value.

Mac Teddy Liner
This was purchased on a bit of a whim however I really like it. Its a dark bronze shade which is perfect if I am either doing a browny eye (as black is often too harsh) or want something a little more subtle. I also really like it on its own in the waterline as it wears down into a distressed, messy kinda look. Thumbs up.

RANDOMS:
Music: I don't think my love for Ben Howard will ever die, this and this are my current favourites.

Film: I've been to see Spectre twice in the past week. It is fabulous-I absolutely loved it.

What are your current favourites?
Katie x

DIY// Granola

I adore granola, either as a breakfast cereal a topping but had increasingly found the one I ate far too sweet. So I decided I would make my own. Its both wonderfully easy and delicious.

You will need:
-175g Pecans
-120g Almonds
-200g Rolled Oats (the larger the oat the better I would say)
-a good couple of handfuls o' Raisins/Sultanas
-150g Pumpkin seeds
-150g Sunflower seeds
-3 teaspoons Cinnamon/Mixed Spice
-2 tbsp oil (I used rapeseed because it doesnt taste of anything; I reckon you could use any as long as it doesnt tastee (so not olive!))
-3 tbsp Agave Nectar/Maple Syrup/Honey (any kind of sweetener, you could use sugar but a) refined sugar ain't as healthy and b) it wouldn't create the same crispiness but I'm sure it would work)

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius
Mix all your dry ingredients in a bowl (minus the raisins) and add the oil and sweetener. Mix it all together until the oats, seeds and nuts are well coated.
Spread it out on the lined flat tray (I used grease-proof paper)-make sure it is well spread out so it bakes evenly. Pop it in the oven for around 30 minutes but turn the oats every so often so they all toast. You are looking for golden, dry oats.
Leave it to cool then add the raisins.

easy peasy

In other, less delicious and somewhat pointless news the weekend has rewardingly rolled around but I once again feel as though I have wasted it.
But I bought a new scarf. So maybe I didn't. The scarf will probably have a post of its own because its big and beautiful. And very warm.
After avoiding shopping for an impressive amount of time, I am getting itchy feet (ew) to snazz up my wardrobe a little, while justifying it by the amount I feel I am working my butt off at the moment.
Maybe that's a positive of doing all these bloody essays.

I hope you are all well,
Katie x

Currently: Reading: The Tin Ring-Zdenka Fantlova//Listening: this, this and this (I've had to resort to YouTube music-ahh god)//Loving: my new scarf lol//Lusting: this top and this top (which I will buy when I have finished writing this) (update: I bought the top). I've just been on Asos and add this too

October.

October always rolls round and my days fill up with too many things to do and places to be. Once again, as a way to remember it, here are too many pictures and too many words.

My half term began with celebration at reaching a breathing point and then excitement and trepidation at what lay ahead the next day. I may do a separate post about this, but then again I may not. My friend and I set off at 4:30am the next morning, with 200 people we had met once before, on a day trip to Poland. We were visiting Auschwitz 1 and Birkenau as part of the Holocaust Educational Trust's Lessons From Auschwitz. Its a project that 2 students from schools across the country have the opportunity to take part in, we had to apply with an essay explaining why we should take part in the project. Its ethos is to educate the wider community of the atrocities that took place and continue to pass on what happened as the survivors age, preventing the ideas of Holocaust Denial from taking over.

A photo of the candles we all lit at the end of the ceremony in Birkenau held by a Rabbi that accompanied us

Okay, this is going to be wordy and long. I warn you now.
Its a 4 part project. The first seminar preparing us for what we would see and informing us that there is no one way to react, a talk from a survivor and some things for us to think about. The second was the one-day visit and a follow up seminar to discuss what we felt and discussing our ideas for the Next Steps. Then we have to produce an assembly, discussion or memorial to pass on what we saw.
I don't think words can describe what we saw. It felt like death, everything surrounded you screamed death. The statistics we learned, the stories we heard, the things we saw. They will stick with me forever. I don't feel I can say too much on the visit because words can't describe what you see and feel when you stand, surrounded by cattle sheds, in the remains of an industrial farm of death. But it is horrific. I felt angry and sad and terrified at the power of humans. And shame that we have not learned from our mistakes.
I am so privileged to have had the opportunity to go, with such educated, supportive leaders, to learn of what went on and tell others of our findings and will never forget what I saw and heard.

Understandably, we returned feeling exhausted, mentally and physically and I spent the day not really doing much. We felt it difficult to readjust to the life we live when we returned, feeling guilty for all our luxuries but had to remind ourselves that this is the life we are lucky enough to live. I went to see Suffragette in the evening which I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend.

Next day I embarked on a lone trip to London to see a friend from Oxford. I spent the journey reading  and listening to drunk conversations. We met at Covent Garden and went to 26 Grains in Neal's Yard for brunch. Then we trekked to Colombia Rd flower market and wandered through the elegant resident terraces to Brick lane. It was a wash with people but we picked up juice from a colorful fruit stall and oriental food from a market. We spent the rest of the day exploring Covent Garden, Carnaby Street and, accidentally, the RA.

The next day we drove to Sussex where we visited an outdoor museum that was excellent, wandered around Lewes, waked to the Seven Sisters, embarked on a mad geo-caching adventure in a muddy forest with 4 year olds in more appropriate footwear than I and eaten more cake than the lack of exercise would ever warrant. On our last day we visited Brighton. A day of exploring the Lanes, wandering a long the sea front and eating delicious food in French cafes. I have decided I rather like Brighton.

After our 7 hour drive, I watched the rugby, went to a Hallowe'en party that felt rather anti-climatic, babysat at 9am the next morning and went to the final seminar for the project.
As I write this I am lying in bed, on Monday morning, after a run and enjoying the luxuries of a late start.

What have you been up to?
Katie x

p.s I spent too long editing photos and now I am going to be late for school ahhhh

Currently: Listening: nothing because I have finished my 3 month free trial of Apple Music and deciding whether I can justify signing up?//Reading: Just finished my favourite Great Gatsby (again)--Little Stranger-Sarah Waters//Loving: the beginning of the festivities//Lusting: another week off