The smell of success or failure?

If you haven’t already seen or heard, in a new £4 million pound campaign for the iconic Chanel No.5, Brad Pitt has become the first ever male to endorse this perfume in the 91 year history of the brand. Chosen exclusively by Karl Lagerfeld, the head designer for Chanel, the two- part television advert sees Brad looking thoughtful whilst making his speech and features several artistic shots of two women; a vampy brunette, and a beach blonde.

 However despite this revolutionary new mark in history, the adverts have been received with, let’s say, less than pleasing reviews. Critics have been quick to point out the similarity of the triangle between Brad and the two women to that of his real life involving Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Anniston. Coincidental much? Furthermore it is somewhat confusing to understand the point that Brad makes. But maybe that’s the point. Designer brands such as Chanel wouldn’t be as successful if there wasn’t a little eccentricity to them.

It is hoped that by using a male as the face of the product, it will ooze sex appeal, encouraging women to wear the scent that Marilyn Monroe famously loved so much it was all she wore to bed. Apparently. Speaking about the campaign, the 48 year old actor claimed, ‘it goes beyond the abstract of emotion or beauty to evoke what is timeless, a woman’s spirit.’

Whether you think the adverts are artistically wonderful or just plain weird, you can’t deny that Brad is looking good for nearly 50 and there’s no doubt Chanel No.5 will remain one of the most lust-after perfumes ever.

Pudsey gets a makeover

There's always at least one thing that cheers up a drab, cold, miserable November....Children In Need! I've watched it every year on television since I can remember and it's one of my favourite yearly charity shows. Not just the sheer amount of money raised which is fantastic, but the music acts, comedy sketches, incredible stories and of course not forgetting the cute Pudsey bear.

However 2012 sees the redesign of Pudsey himself as 30 established designers have reinvented the original Pudsey, all in the name of charity. Awww.

These bears will be on display in Selfridges London and Manchester until November, when they'll be auctioned off with all proceeds going to CIN. Don't panic if you don't have the purse to bid for one though, as miniture versions will also be sold in stores; win-win!

Some of my favourite Pudsey designs include:
Louis Vuitton (left),
Alexander McQueen (right),

Berry nice

Berry nice by elizabetheast featuring cross body messenger bags

The windy days, red noses and cheeks, ugg boots and brollies, it can only mean Autumn has officiallyarrived. Besides the gorgeous colours of trees that look like they're on fire and the steaming mugof hot chocolate, it can be quite miserable knowing that dark nights are ahead of us for the next four months. Thank god we have fall fashion trends then to keep us going. And this season it's all about the berry shade. So autumn! Whether you use it head to toe or flash it here and there, to make it the statement colour, if it's berry, then it'sright. It has such a warm tone to it, it's making me feel cosier already.

To my fresher self

I've just recently started my Masters in Psychology research at the University of Birmingham. This also happens to be the same university where I did my undergraduate degree in psychology, as I decided I loved studying here so didn't fancy moving somewhere new.

It's been great fun so far, settling back into campus and getting my head around my new course, but I have to admit I've been feeling oh so jealous of the new freshers. Not only do I suddenly feel super old, but it makes me want to rewind and go back to 2009 when it was my turn to be a fresher. By far it was one of the best years of my life. I was lucky enough to love the people I lived with in my halls and loved everything about my course, the uni itself and all the wonderful people I met. However, watching the new students get lost and trying to find their way around got me thinking of so many things I felt like I wanted to say to them, that I wish someone had said to me back then. So I decided to write a letter to my fresher self pointing out the things I know now, but wish I had known then:

Dear Beth,

1. Throw yourself into EVERYTHING. You never know until you try something!
2. Don't be afraid to be YOU - that's what makes people so much more interesting.
3. Work hard - everyone says first year doesn't count, but YES it really does, so treat it like final year.
4. Play hard - even when you think you're too tired or can't be bothered to make an effort. This year will go so fast and before you know it you'll have graduated and entered the big, wide world of work (yuck!) so play whilst you have the chance.
5. Appreciate every moment with your friends. Once you've graduated, it's so hard keping in touch with everyone. People move far away, some go travelling, some move on to new friends, so you will never again have this group of friends all in one place. Savour it.
6. Don't be afraid to put yourself forward for things. The more you do this, the easier it will become when you're working full time and trying to make a good impression.
7. Get as much experience as possible. It's never too early to start getting work experience, voluntary experience and temporary jobs. It will all add to your CV later and you'll be massvely grateful that you did it now rather than leaving it too late.
8. Don't assume you're going to find Mr Right during university. Yes some students do, but not everyone does, so don't force yourself to go actively searching hoping he'll be round the corner. Let love come to you in its own time.

9. Don't get yourself too stressed out over exams or coursework that don't score top marks. It's frustrating, deflating and sucks your enthusiasm quicker than a mosquito, but it gives you a chance to act upon it and improve for next time. Treat it as a learning curve, take a breath and focus on the next project.
10. Remember to look after yourself during term time. Getting so drunk you stumble into a taxi alone is not cool and not safe.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS xxx

Victoria's Secret no longer a secret

As you may have heard, earlier this summer the flagship store for Victoria's Secret finally opene its doors on London's famous Bond Street. On the 29th August, one of the most anticipated launches finally took off. Originally planned to open prior to the Olympics, the enormous 40,386 sqaure foot heaven opened a month after the much smaller Westfield branch, having been delayed by over a year. But it has been every bit worth the wait. For those Victoria virgins of you, this lingerie brand puts La Senza to shame! Every bit exclusive, glamourous and luxerious as it looks.

The store consists of an impressive four floors to feast your eyes on. This is one shop that won't be a quick 'pop in pop out' stop. The glamour of the brand is visible in the exquisite choice of interior design with gorgeous sofas in rainbow array of colours with a touch of vintage charm. Polished, shiny floors, pink and white chandeliers, a mirrored-effect, grand staircase, Victoria's Secret will make you feel every inch the celebrity.

Large, glossy posters of the famous 'Angels' adorn the walls throughout the store all of which are signed personally by each model including Miranda Kerr, Heidi Klum and Karlie Kloss. Phew! That's one heck of a gorgeous, legs-to-die-for line up.

However it can be somewhat intimidating to those who are less body confident than these 6ft tall, size 6 models. Tiny figures and bodies are photographed everywhere which I personally feel could put girls off from buying the lingerie as it can leave you feeling a tad conscious of your own figure and certainly I feel that plus size girls may even be put off from entering the store in the first place as there seems to be such an emphasis on this marketing these model figures, which aren't representative of real girls everywhere. For me this element takes over more than the actual lingerie itself which is a real shame because the products are simply beautiful. But surely the point is to push the product, not the models and their physical attractiveness?

I find it really sad that they don't feature any curvy models or even your 'average girl' model. Despite the elegant and stunning setting of the store visually (which don't get me wrong, looks fantastic), I can't help but feel that this brand is typically very American in pushing the outer, physical appearence instead of providing our society with what we need more of - realism.

The 4th floor is a dedicated VIP section. No standing around for any tagging along men!  -

 Oh hi Miranda - this would make me so depressed whilst shopping!

 

Shoe Love

Oh My Days! I am officially in love. Forget boys - shoes are far better, more reliable and lets face it, much, much prettier :) These babies are the latest addition to my ever-growing shoe collection. I bought them from Zara for £19.99 - bargain! I was instantly attracted to the spikes as these are everywhere right now; whether used for shoulder detailing or on leather handbags, it's a great way to get the biker chic look. I'll be wearing mine with jeans, leggings, skirts and dresses - so everything basically! The colour is perfect for transitioning from summer (what summer?) to winter and I'm going to mix them with purple colours as this is set to be the colour 'de jour' for this new season.

WARNING: potentially dangerous spikes (make for a very good weapon when in need)

Ode to Barogue

One of my new season trends: BAROGUE! So I decided to make a little mood board on Polyvore devoted to it. How gorgeous does Jessica Chastain look in Alexander McQueen?

 

Bag: D&G (wish list!!)

Cardigan: River Island £40

Dress: Topshop £39

Ring: Topsop £8.50

Fudge Talk

I'm going to hand you over to my beloved furry, ginger friend Fudge:

Meow...Well my week has been going very slowly indeed. You might wonder what I've been up to, (purrrrr) but if I'm being honest, which I shall with you, I haven't done much at all. On Monday I slept all day and night - I was feeling terribly tired after the weekend. Tuesday I went outside for a little while to make sure no one comes onto my territory - can't be too careful these days. Cats will try anything I tell you (purr purr). Wednesday and Thursday was pretty much the same. Of course don't forget that I also did a shed load of eating each day. Fish is my favourite dish and if Im good I'll have some more tonight. But I did get into trouble last night - I started clawing the carpet in my favourite spot and apparently this isn't good. I just can't help it. Meow, oh well. Fish makes it all ok. Well I best be getting back to my beauty sleep. I'll leave you with some pictures of me - don't I look hansome? So modest I am, meow.

Fudge X

London Town

I was lucky enough to go down to London yesterday, as I am part of a shortlisting panel for the charity, Mind - a charity which supports people with mental health conditions. Every year Mind hold a Media Awards Night in London, which acknowledges pieces in the media including documentaries, radio pieces, blogs and articles, that write sensitively about mental health in a clear and positive way, helping to break down the stigma surrounding it.

I can't talk about which pieces have been shortlisted, but there are some fantastic entries that are up for an award. The ceremony takes place in November and Stephen Fry will be presenting the event. I had a great day and thought I'd share some pictures of my day down there.

I had to head towards Southwark Bridge and we were in the building in the middle picture going down vertically, overlooking the Thames. Was so pretty.

And this is what I wore for the day: my new gingham, studded shirt from Zara, paired with jeggings.





Revlon Lips

Have any of you tried some of Revlon's new beauty products? Well I decided to try out their new 'Colorburst Lip Butter' and the 'Just bitten kissable balm stain' (that was a mouth full wasn't it!).

I bought one of each and decided that I wanted to buy a similar colour, to see if there was any difference between the two products, as it can be really confusing with so many different types now; lipsticks, lip glosses, lip balms, lip stains! So this is my verdict.

I bought the Colorburst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti for £7.99. I chose this one because I've seen coral coloured lips everywhere at the moment so really wanted to start wearing a current, on-trend lipstick.
It went on really smoothy, with no trouble at all and the colour itself when on is really eye-popping. I had two different people comment on how nice it looked which is definitely a bonus. I also really loved the packaging of this product. It looks a little bit more sophisticated and luxe than some other brands, so I felt like I wanted to just carry it around in my hand on display! The lipstick itself stayed on really well. I only needed to top up after I had eaten lunch - about 5 hours after initially applying it. It's available in 14 different shades so I will definitely be investing in some other colours.





The Colorburst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti on the left and Just Bitten Kissale Balm Stain in Rendevous Rendevous on the right  

 

 



The following day I tried the Kissable balm which was also £7.99, in the colour of Rendevous Rendevous. This takes a little more applicatons to initially put the colour on, otherwise you can't see the colour so well. The colour itself is not as vibrant and eye-popping as the lip butter, however is still the coral shade I'm loving right now. This therefore is ideal if you want your lips to look a little bit more natural and subtle. What I really LOVED about this one is that even after my lunch and drinking continuously all day, the lip balm still stayed on! By the time I got home I had been wearing it for eight and a half hours and it still looked as though I had just applied it 5 minutes ago. Majorly.Impressed. I urge you to go buy this product. A smaller range of 8 colours available but it's so worth it. By far the best 'stay-on' lip product I've ever bought.

 

Here's me wearing both products. I've not applied any techniques to the photos so you can see the real colour. I am wearing the lip butter in the top 2 photos and the balm in the bottom 2. Not sure if you can tell, but the lip butter is a brighter pop of colour, with the balm being more subtle. LOVE IT.

 

 

 

Discount at Motel Rocks

Eeeeekkk! I'm so excited! I've officially become part of the Motel Rocks Street Team, which means anyone can now enjoy 20% off on any and every order they make, using the code 'bethypops.'
You may have come across some of Motel Rocks' clothing before as Topshop stock part of their range. Purse-friendly and uber stylish, Motel Rocks is fast becoming one of my favourite fashion outlets.What's even more fantastic is that you can use the code as many times as you like, unlike some discount codes which can only be used once per person.All the more reason to buy more beautiful clothes! Hmmm bank accounts beware!
I've picked some of my current favourite pieces below:



Tie-dye denim dip hem shirt: £38 - tie-dye to die for! So easy to dress down AND up!






Aztec print leggings: £21 - no need for me to point out how popular the aztec print has been lately. It's everywhere! Wear with a simple, plain top to bring all the attention onto that print.









Monochrome body con skirt in barogue: £35 - barogue is going to be BIG this Autumn/Winter. Not just big, HUGE! It was seen all over the catwalks and thankfully for us has trickled its way down to the high street. This trend can be worn head-to-toe for the more daring fashionista, but for those who just want a small dose, choose just one piece.

Bodycon Dress in Gothic Placement print: £35 - this dress just screams 'wear me!' With its nod to the gothic print style, another big winter trend, this dress is perfect for that Saturday night out. It would look great with a black, leather biker jacket and boots.

Pssst! Remeber enter 'bethypops' for a fabulous 20% discount. Now there's no excuse not treat yourself :D



It's ok to not be ok

So I'd like to write about something that's very close to my heart. Something that has always been a very hush, hush topic particularly here in the UK. However this is changing and I for one couldn't be more pleased.

I'm talking about mental health. For those that aren't aware, mental health affects 1 in 4 people at any given point in a year and 1 in 10 young people, so chances are you know someone or have been in contact with someone who has experienced mental health issues. It is the number 1 killer in men and recent reports suggest that the incidence is actually much higher than 1 in 4, but not every sufferer will be oficially diagnosed due to fears of how this may affect them.

More shockingly 9 out of 10 people experience stigma and discrimination because of their mental health and 3 ouf of 4 people fear the reactions of others when confiding in them. Ok so enough with the figures. The message is simple: so many more people than we realise suffer with some form of mental health and yet sadly we are too afraid to talk about it openly.

What really bugs me (I can feel a rant coming on here) is that anyone who is diagnosed with a physical illness or an injury such as a broken leg, is of course still seen as the same person. People treat them as normally as they would anyway and those around them most likely offer their sympathy and support 'oh poor you it must be awful having a broken leg/diabetes/coeliac disease.' We quickly feel the need to be good people and 'do the right thing' by being there in their time of need or distress.

However, disclose to someone that your illness is mental and not physical and it's like you just turned round and admitted that all this time you've secretly been an alien. SILENCE. Staring. More silence. Now don't get me wrong, not every person will react in this way. However there does seem to be a big majority of people who simply do not know how to react and after finding out that their friend/family/collegue is suffering with mental health, appear to change the way they behave around this person. Unfortunately some go as far as completely abandoning and disowning the individual; they are no longer deemed good enough or are seen as an extra nuisance in an already hectic life.

Nothing infuriates me more than this sense of opinion. Why is it ok and justifiable to be physically ill but not ok to be mentally unwell? Why does any form of physical injury have people bending over backwards to help out, but when it's the mind that is poorly, people back away or think it's just the individual being weak and pathetic, or moping about feeling sorry for themself? It's ok to be a diabetic but not ok to be for example, a bipolar disorder sufferer. It is wrong and it's time that this consensus changed. It is not shameful to admit you have suffered from mental health - just look at the sheer amount of celebrities who have admitted their own demons such as Catherine Zeta-Jones who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Frank Bruno with major depression, Mary-Kate Olsen with an eating disorder -the list is endless. Out of my own personal circle of friends, I can think of at least 5 different individuals who have suffered with some form of mental health illness.

Suffering with a mental health condition does not change who the real person is underneath. Of course it can affect their behaviour on the outside such as becoming withdrawn and finding things difficult to cope with, so it can seem like the person has become unrecognisable but deep own they are still there; it's just the illness that's masking the real them, the fun-loving, outgoing character that they really are. Don't give up on anyone you know who suffers with mental health. I know it can be so hard and awkard not knowing what to say to them, but just offer to be there when they need to talk, just be someone they cansimply phone up and cry to. Be someone who can provide them with distractions such as going out for a coffee or brwsing the shops. Just being there is quite simply the best thing any person can do when supporting someone.

Time To Change is a fantastic campaign in association with Mind and Rethink - 2 leading mental health charities in the UK, that is campaiging for people, for us to talk openly about mental health. The more we talk about it and the more open we are, the more we are fighting back at the shameful stigma and horrendos discrimination that associates this awful illness. It's ok to talk and it's ok to admit if you have mental health problems - it is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength, as it is those who try to be too strong all the time that end up suffering. So I joined the Time To Change website and made my pledge to talk about mental health - now it's time to make yours and get the message out that it's ok to not be ok. http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/home

X

Working Girl

Working Girl by elizabetheast featuring oversized cat eye sunglasses

 

Fed up of wearing the same old thing to work? Need a killer outfit for that interview? Well here is my 'Working Girl' spread which I designed on Polyvore (my new favourite website - trust me go visit it NOW...after finishing my post of course!) I have created an outfit that in my opinion not only will have heads turning and compliments flying your way, but also includes THE key trends due to hit this Autumn/Winter 2012.

 

White Shirt with applique collar - £49.99 - Zara: A classic white shirt with one essential detail - the studded collar. Set to be huge this season whether it be pearls, studs or sequins, if it adorns the collar or neckline, then it's got the fashion approval. All the attention should fall on this area so avoid wearing a necklace and keep other jewellery to a minimum.

 

Prnt Trousers - £25.99 - Zara: A bargain for a pair of stylish, cropped trousers. Print isn't going anyway this season as was proved by the super, big designers Prada, Miu Miu and Chanel who all showcased prints on their catwalks. The black, white and grey colour scheme keeps the tone neutral which is particulrly good for those who have a strict dress policy at work.

 

Red Blazer - £385 - Flannels: A tad too painful for my purse, but there are great versions from Zara, Topshop and Oasis. The blazer gives you that formal, I-mean-business style which is a key trend (as this months ELLE reminds us). It's all about the masculinity with its structured shoulders. The red colour also breaks up the white and black theme and will make you stand out more (that girl in the red blazer).

 

Brown Heels - Pilot Fashion: Click clack, click, clack across the floor -one sure sign to tell people you're on your way. What I love about these heels is that they're perfect for going straight from the office to after-work drinks. Not a fan of sore, blistered feet for work? A par of beige or brown, laced loafers will work just as well and keep that masculine tone.

 

Tan Tote Bag - £50 - Zara: I am so 'totes' in love with this bag! Probably my favourite piece of this outfit along with the appliqued shirt. And the blazer. And trousers...and shoes!! Big enough to fit in all our necessary 'junk' (if you're anything like me then you need enough room to fit in your entire bedroom), AND a beauiful colour match with the shoes. This provides a change to the usual black bag, black shoes, black trousers, black black black black!!! It breaks up the colour and makes it more eye-poppig as well as looking gorgeous against the red blazer.

 

Black geek glasses - £10 - boohoo.com: If you want to go all the way and don't actually wear glasses, (that's me then) nothing says office chic geek mre than these frames do. A great accessory to the outfit AND it makes you look smarter; win, win.

 

 

 

 

Dotty for DOT

This last week I've been a little off colour - nothing serious, just a cold, but enough to make me want to stay under the duvet for eternity; alone with my coughing and spluttering. Lovely image I know. So my very thoughtful parents who could clearly see the misery in my face, surprised me with the newest Marc Jacobs scent to grace our perfume shelves. O.M.G!! I simply love Marc Jacobs not only as a designer but for his gorgeous perfumes. I already own Lola and after seeing Dot advertised, desperately wanted to add it to my collection along with Diasy. This is THE perfume of the year, if not for the scent then for its cuteness.

So here is my opinion on the cute DOT.

Packaging: 10/10 - quite possibly the best packaging of a product I've ever seen. I thought Lola and Diasy were cute but Dot just takes the biscuit. The picture on the right shows the beautful, little gift bag that th perfume comes with. It's so adorable! I love the combination of the black background with red polka dots, complimented by the gold frame. This bottle is 30ml so comes with a cute version of the extravagent lid that adorns the larger bottle. It's just so eye-catching I can't help but keep staring at it!

Scent: 9/10 - I always find it difficult to describe a smell as what might smell 'musty' to one person might smell completely different to someone else. In my personal opinion, I find the scent really girly and light so it doesn't make my eyes water and my throat tighten when I first spray it (you can picture the scene, you spray just a tad to much of deodrant and perfume and suddenly you're choking!). It has a floral hint to it and it's extremely pleasent.

Longevity: 6/10 - The only slight complaint I have about DOT is the length of time it lasts. I currently leave the house at 6:45am for work (horrendous I know) and spraying my perfume is the last thing I do before getting in the car. By lunch time (12pm) it is just about still 'smellable' (that's not even a word but sums up perfectly what I mean), however by 2pm it is no longer noticable. This is slightly disappointing when I compare it with my Jimmy Choo perfume which still smells just as fresh 10pm at night as it does at quarter to seven in the morning! However this only means I have the pleasure of whipping out that gorgeous bottle and spritzing myself som more - which in all honesty, I am more than happy to do.

Price: 8/10 - for 30ml it costs £36.50 (based on the Perfume Shop). The largest bottle at 100ml costs £62.50. These prices compared to other brands such as Chanel which can cost over £100, are much more affordable and reasonable. Whilst the largest bottle might go on your christmas list, the smaller size is perfect for a weekend treat for yourself.

Minnie inspired nails

So finally, here is my attempt at doing some Disney-inspired nails. I decided to go with a Minnie theme and so decided to paint them the same colour as her famous dress; red with white polka dots. I know for some this is a really simple design however for someone like me who doesn't have the most steadiest hand in the world, certainly can't draw and most of the time gets more nail polish on my fingers rather than my actual nails, this was hard enough as my first attempt. But lets think positively!

I think with more practice and time I'll be splashing out designs like a pro. I certainly need to pactice painting neatly around my cuticles - I found this the hardest part of the nail to paint.

Firstly I filed and shaped my nails (trust me they were in desperate need!). I then used a No.7 base coat which I found went on really well and dried extremely quickly. I then used Models Own nail polish in 'Red Alert' which is super, super bright. I have to say I've never used Models Own nail polishes before (I personally like OPI), but it went on like a dream!! I would definitely recomment this brand and at only £5.49 per bottle, it's much cheaper than some other brands out there. Finally I applied the white dots using again Models Own Nail art pen in white. I've never used a nail art pen before (total virgin in this area) so was slightly nervous about using it but I was totally impressed with the ease of which it can be used. The tip was extremely fine which is great when painting small detail. At the other end is a thicker brush for stripes and thicker patterns. So it's like two products in one which definitely makes it worth the £6 it costs. Nail art is everywhere at the moment so if you don't already own one of these babies, make it your weekend must-buy!

Thought of the week

So I decided to make a regular, weekly post that's just a quick 'ditty' to read. I hope it provokes you too, to reflect on the words as I know it certainly makes me stop and think for a moment. So let me introduce this weeks:

Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect; it means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.
                                                                                                                        Unkown

This has definitely got to be one of my favourites - it might seem obvious, but it sure is hard to remember at times. Particularly as a girl, I find that I am constantly putting myself down in one way or another, whether it be my appearance, my skills, my complete and utter lack of geography knowledge or my ability to humiliate myself at every possible opportunity and then some. It's so much easier to constantly make digs at yourself, to the point I believe it starts to become a habit. So right now I hereby declare that I will take heed of this thought and remember this every time I put myself down; happiness = warts and all :)

All in the nails



I am so in LOVE with these Disney nail art designs right now :D I am such a huge fan of Disney, I'd find it hard to choose which character and design to go for, there are so many to choose from! Nail art has seen a huge boom in popularity lately, gracing the hands of anyone who's anyone. Seen on all our favourite fash-spirations including Ri-Ri, Katy Perry and of course not forgetting Lady Gaga. I'm going to be channeling my inner nail technician and have a go this weekend after buying some nail art pens. I'm not too confident as I know it takes a steady hand, but I'm sure with practice I'll be painting them out perrfectly in no time (she says not so confidently!) I'll let you know how I get on and post a pic!

Fudgie says hello

This gorgeous, fine boy is my 15 year old cat Fudge. I've had him and his brother Toffee (who sadly passed away last year) since I was 7 years old. In 3 words he is cheeky, adorable and so in love with his food (slighly more than 3 words!) Even the biggest of cat haters can't deny his cuteness.

Happy Birthday Dainty Ballerina

Wow. This is an awesome day. Why I hear you think (or rather not hear, but imagine). Well today is the birth of my blog, Dainty Ballerina. I'm sorry it's not more exciting but it IS exciting for me because I've been thinking of stating one of these things for ages but never really got round to it before now.

So here are a few things I can tell you about Dainty Ballerina and moi.

1. I came up with the name because I am a ballet dancer and thus love all things ballet
2. Another major love of mine is fashion and anything to do with it (to the point that yes I do spend until I'm so overdrawn my father confiscates my credit card...not good!)
3. Whilst I was originally training to be a ballerina, due to a back injury back in 2009, I was forced to give up on that dream (and keep it as a hobby) and therefore created a new one - I am now a psychology graduate from the University of Birmingham and will be studying for a masters in the same subject this September.
4. I think I may have mentioned else where that I am now 22 years old (and feeling scarily old).
5. Finally why have I started this thing? Well I felt there are so many things I love and want to shout out about that I thought why not shout out about it online. There are also some things that I feel very strongly about and thought this would be a 'perf' (sorry I love saying that word) way of venting my opinions

And that's all folks as they say at Warner Brothers.

If you're still reading, I applaud you and if you choose to follow Dainty Ballerina, well, that's just going to make me do this - :D

X