The Liebster Awards

So, yesterday Mitzee from Facts of Fashion nominated me for a Liebster Award! This seems so unreal and I'm so flattered. If you're not familiar with it, it's an award to help bloggers get discovered. Mitzee was nominated and then had to nominate 10 other bloggers and she kindly chose me. I always love reading her blog and you should definitely all go and have a read. 

http://factshionista.blogspot.co.uk/ 

The rules are that...

1) Each blogger should answer the questions the tagger has sent for you.

2) 10 bloggers must be chosen to pass the award onto and must be linked in your post.

3) 10 new questions must be created for these bloggers.

4) Go to their blog to tell them about the award.

5) You can't tag back!

1. How do you feel about being nominated?

I'm so flattered! I love writing my blog and it's amazing to get feedback and comments from readers. This was unexpected but amazing. 

2. What made you start your blog?

I'd been reading blogs for a few months and I've always loved reading magazines like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. I got to the point where just reading blogs wasn't enough- I wanted to write too. 

3. What do you consider your blog's greatest achievement so far?

This, probably! Although, a few of my favourite bloggers have commented on my blog before, which I'm quite proud of.

4. Who is your fashion icon.

This is difficult because it changes! There are people I will always admire though, like Audrey Hepburn. 

5. Who introduced you to fashion.

I honestly don't know, I guess I loved going on shopping trips with my mum and watching makeover programs on TV. I watched shows like America's Next Top Model for a while and I think that's when I became fascinated by the industry, because I used to love watching all the photo shoots. 

6. Whose wardrobe would you like to have?

It would have to be Alexa Chung and Cara Delevingne, they always look great!

7. Top 5 Men Celebrity Fashion.

Definitely the blogger I AM GALLA- he's my favourite menswear blogger. Ryan Gosling and Eddie Redmayne always wear a great suit, and I couldn't miss out Logan Lerman. 

8. Favorite make-up product?

I thought about this one lots, but I think it would have to be the Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation- one of the best drugstore foundations in my opinion. If nail polish counts, then anything from the Topshop or Barry M range.

9. Must have staple piece in your outfit.

Good accessories that tie the look together, whether its the bag, necklace or a pair of shades. At the moment I love big statement necklaces with a simple t shirt.

10. Describe your blog.

I think it's hard to describe because I cover so many things- from what I've purchased recently to the music I love, to what I wear. So I guess it's a fashion and lifestyle blog, but I find it hard to pigeon-hole it into a specific genre. 

My ten questions...

1) One place you would recommend a tourist to visit in your city?
2) A beauty product you can't live without?
3) Which designer brand you would shop at if money were no problem?
4) Who was the last blog that you followed?
5) If you were going to a gig tonight, who would you want to go and see?
6) Where do you shop at most?
7) Where did your blogs name come from?
8) What's your favourite time of year?
9) What is your go-to outfit?
10) Why did you create your blog?

My ten bloggers...
1) http://frockled.blogspot.co.uk/
2) http://nanawintour.blogspot.co.uk/
3) http://thewearist.blogspot.co.uk/
4) http://tiny-adventure.blogspot.co.uk/
5) http://theeoptimist.blogspot.co.uk/
6) http://guesswhatfashion.blogspot.co.uk/
7) http://mesmemosphotoblog.blogspot.co.uk/
8) http://goingteen.blogspot.co.uk/
9) http://insomeoneseyes.blogspot.co.uk/
10) http://callmemaeby.blogspot.co.uk/

I Made Y'all a Cake!

Today I hit 20 followers! To celebrate this I made you all a cake. I wish I could send you all a piece, but instead here are the photos. I made a carrot cake, my favourite! Sadly, it didn't last long when the family caught on. Grab a slice while you can!

But honestly, thank you to everyone of you that follows me and Total Modisch. I can't wait to see where this journey takes us! I have exciting news in the upcoming months, so stick around!

A Look Back at 2012, Resolutions and a Thank You!

So this post is going to contain quite a lot, I think. First, let's look at 2012!

There is no doubt that 2012 has been the most memorable year of my life. So much happened! We had the Jubilee, the London Olympics and I spent July in Nicaragua. I never really told you about that, so here's what I did...

I, along with 17 other people from my school, went on a World Challenge trip and spent a month backpacking in Nicaragua, doing a mixture of trekking and volunteering at a school, where we taught English.
In our first week we stayed in Granada, and spent a few days on the gorgeous island of Ometepe, where we did some day treks, went kayaking and visited a waterfall.

Then, we went back to Granada to both paint classrooms and teach for a week. This has to be one of the most rewarding parts to the trip. Even though it was the kids' school break, they came to school to learn English! We also got to spend time getting to know them, and learnt some Spanish ourselves. We camped on a classroom floor and the student's parents cooked meals for us. It was a totally humbling experience: the school buildings, of which there are 8, where made from corrugated steel, and there were over 500 students in the school. 500 students with only 8 classrooms. To add to this, there were only 10 toilets, and the town we stayed in experiences regular 'water cuts', so the children were never guaranteed a drink. You don't realise how scary this can be until it happens- to go to a tap and for nothing to come out is quite surprising to sat the least! When you remember that the weather is a constant 40 degrees C, you realise how dangerous a lack of an essential resource like water is.
Another thing that stuck out to me that week was seeing children wearing TOMS. If you're not familiar with TOMS, it is a charitable shoe brand that, every time a pair is bought, gives another pair to a child in a 3rd world country. When you buy a pair of these shoes you know you're helping someone, but it always seems weird when you meet someone 1st hand that has benefited from this.

Nicaragua is on the San Andreas Fault, and consequently has a chain of both active and dormant volcanoes. This is where we spent our 3rd week, climbing 5 active volcanoes in 5 days! I certainly found this a challenge, but it was definitely my favourite part of the trip, because I have never challenged myself that much before.

And finally, we spent the last few days of our trip on the Pacific coast, at the beautiful town of Las Penitas. Nicaragua is an amazing country, and I seriously recommend it to you all! If you ever go travelling, please consider Nicaragua.

Looking to the past is important, but we also need to look to the future! This means resolutions! I have to admit, I've been relatively unimaginative this year and gone for the 'get healthy' resolution, but I honestly feel like I need to do this, especially after Christmas! I never go crazy with resolutions (partly because I don't have the will power!) so you'll never find me on the 'baby food diet' or an equivalent. In my opinion, it's more important to be confident, healthy and happy. After all, diets aren't really that fun, are they? What are your resolutions this year, or have you decided not to make one? Comment below!

Last, but not least... Total Modisch is close to 1000 views, so thank you to everyone for visiting! I hope what I write is interesting, don't forget that comments are always welcome.

Happy New Year to you all! 

YouTube, Cats, Taylor Swift, and a Vlog??

So, tonight I managed to finish work at just gone 6! That hasn't happened in a while. This is another super-quick post, because (as always) there is probably something I'm meant to be doing. I just need to remember what it is.
For the past hour (whilst I should have been paying some attention to my extremely neglected blog), I have been vegging out on YouTube. This involved something like starting with a Cute Cat Falling Asleep and watching so many suggested videos that you end up watching the adorable JacksGap and Marcus Butler compliment people with a megaphone.
Another thing I have watched recently is Taylor Swift's latest music video. Pretty dark. Well, for Swift it is, anyway. But refreshing, though. I'm still guessing who it's about, and my latest theory is John Mayer, but I'm probably wrong.
P.S Last but NOT least Thank You! For reading my blog, that is. I'm getting on for 1,000 page views! So yeah, thank you. I would love it if you could share this with friends, or just anyone who you think will like this. As ever, comment, follow my blog and let me know if you ever veg out on YouTube and oggle at adorable vloggers.
P.P.S- There are some thoughts whirring round in my brain about possible vlogs? Possibly featuring a gorgeous cousin of mine and me? Watch this space, you guys will be the first to know about it.