HOME | Yawn Bedding

Bedding : Yawn | Sheets : Laura Ashley | Fluffy Cream Pillows : Laura Ashley | Heart and Lips Pillow : Next | Furry Cream Throw : Laura Ashley | Red Heart Throw and Pillow : Bronte At Home |

I'm in my first year of university, and it's hard being away from home, but because I've made my uni room so cosy, I actually feel right at home here. Makes it a lot easier in those moments you feel homesick! My bedding is from Yawn's Snuggledown Uni Range, except because I luckily have a double bed, I got the double size, with two pillows. 

Its so comfortable and gives me such a cosy nights sleep! I used to be a really bad sleeper. Waking up at 3 in the morning and not being able to sleep for hours. Especially being at uni, with all the late nights going out, my sleeping pattern became really messy and I found it hard to get to sleep. 

Sleep is the biggest beauty secret for celebs. J-Lo claims this is her beauty weapon, as she gets 8 hours of sleep a night along with plenty of water and a good cleanser. Mariah Carey takes sleep to the extreme, with 15 hours sleep a night to ensure her singing voice is at its best! 

Another thing about living in halls is that the temperature is never right! There always seem to be a breeze coming through the window, so I put the radiator on, and then I'm suddenly boiling. One simple solution is to make sure my duvet is just right. So I've got Yawn Bedding's Snuggledown Goose Feather and Down Duvet , which keeps me at the perfect temperature. 

Hope you like it too!

STYLE | Hypnotic

Top : Topshop | Skirt : Urban Outfitters | Boots : River Island | Necklace : Not On The Highstreet | Watch : Michael Kors | Bracelet : Gucci

Another night out on the toooon (Newcastle).. And wearing black and white, again! Love this Topshop crop top as its the perfect length, not too cropped but not too long. The photo doesn't show it well but it has mesh sleeves, which just adds a lil something something. My 'Amy' necklace sits perfectly on the top as well, and I never take it off, so that's good!

I wore this fitted skirt soo much over the Christmas holidays, as it matches so much. I wear it with tights (if I can't be bothered to fake tan my legs ha). I think the pattern on it is quite hypnotising when you look at it for too long though! My new little booties make this outfit look slightly grungy which I love! And because they are more flatforms instead of heels, I get the height without the pain. Except because they are new, I now have the most painful blister on my heel, boo. Still won't stop me from wearing them though. As I've said many times before, beauty is pain! 

The fake tan I'm wearing is St Moriz, which I don't usually think is very good but it turned out to be successful! However, my skin is very sensitive to chemicals on my body, so areas of my eczema were irritated a little. I've washed it off and my skin has recovered, so I think I will go back to my usual, Sun Shimmer. 

What fake tan do you use? 

Amy xi

STYLE | Monochrome

ASOS Leotard : £20 | Topshop White Jamie Jeans : £45 | Urban Outfitters PEACE Belt :£15 | Office White Textured Heels : £60 | Primark Necklace : £4

The Monochrome look may be a trend for 2013 but I think its a timeless classic. Black and White will always work. Yin Yang again I guess! 

I don't usually wear off the shoulder tops because I didn't have strapless bra that fit me properly. Even though the Topshop strapless I wore on this night, wasn't the best and kept slipping down. And in my opinion I do not think its an attractive trait on a night out, to keep on adjusting underwear in the middle of the dance floor! But I tried to do it as secretly as possible.. Hopefully no one saw!

On second thoughts I wish I wore black heels with this outfit, to balance it out more, but this Office white pair is just so comfy.. Well as comfy as heels can be! And after walking all the way home from the Quayside, they weren't so comfy as I first thought! Although I think they're such a sexy shape, and beauty is pain!

My Primark necklace was a great buy! It was only £4, it hasn't broken, unlike Topshop jewellery which has a much higher price tag! It adds a bit of glitz to any outfit and I've worn it time and time again. There's always something satisfying when getting a bargain, isn't there?

What do you think the monochrome?

Amy xi

(p.s. Sorry for the photo quality, I've not got many choices at uni!)

BEAUTY | January Nails

I used Topshop nail varnish for this effect, both in black and white. And yes I got a bit carried away! Couldn't quite do it for my right hand as my left hand isn't as skilled with a brush.. So only did one yin yang on that hand. My favourite is the yin yang I think. Love the cross aswell, a slight copy of Miley Cyrus though, but I love her so thats okay!

TRAVEL | Edinburgh

If you're at uni then you'll know that the weekends can be very boring. Especially if you've gone on a night out during the week and just fancy relaxing at the weekend, but then you realise that you only have you room to relax in, and you can go stir crazy.

So I wasn't fancying just sitting around last weekend. On Friday I spontaneously bought a train ticket to Edinburgh as its only an hour away on the train from Newcastle! I hadn't seen my best friend for over a month so thought I would pay her a visit. 

Edinburgh is a beautiful city, its like a mini-London in the countryside, as its surrounded by rolling hills. It was amazing, and my friend has the grand view of Arthur's Seat right outside her bedroom window, whereas I have the other side of my halls block to look at.. Bit of a difference. I'm from the countryside as well, which makes me really think that I would have settled in great if I'd gone there, although I do love Newcastle, its very 'cityish', and I miss the greeness and space of home. Edinburgh is the best of both worlds.

On the Friday night we went to the Christmas market which was lovely, had a hot choc with cream and marshmallows mmmm. We then had dinner in this small authentic Italian restaurant called La Lanterna on Hanover Street, which was again yummy. We had a night out at Castle Club, which was so much fun, but very different to Newcastle. Everyone wears much more chilled clothing and flat shoes, whereas in Newcastle, girls dress up to the nines every night, hair extensions, fake eyelashes, heels, fake tan.. the whole shabang, which gets very tiring after a while. 

The next day, even with a hangover, we walked Arthur's Seat, which I have to say was the hardest thing I've done in a long time! I'm so unfit, going to have to get going properly in the gym again. But when we got to the top, it was the most beautiful day, chilly and cold but bright shining sun. My favourite kind of weather. The view from the top was amazing, and then it was freezing so we went back down again.

I only went for one night but I could already see what an amazing city Edinburgh is. Loved being there, and would definitely recommend it for a hilarious night out.

Amy xi

STYLE | Today's Haul

1. Topshop Tartan Leggings: £28

2.Topshop Midnight Blue Shorts with Metallic Embellishments on the side: £45

3. New Look Disco Ball iPhone 5 case: £5

4. New Look Leather Look Jacket with Fur trim: £39.99

5. Topshop Classic Look Fedora: £25

6. All Saints Peeptoe Leather Boots: £197, reduced to £98

7. Urban Outfitters PolkaDot Velvet Skirt: £35

8. Topshop Floral Playsuit: £50

9. Topshop Red Bittersweet Nail Varnish: £6

10. Topshop Tartan Skirt: £35

I didn't buy all of these at the same time, otherwise I would not have enough money to even eat! But I did have my eyes set on them for a while and have bought them when I can afford them. They are all perfect for any type of Christmas activity. 

Except, I wore the Topshop tartan skirt last weekend for a few quiet drinks in my hometown, but when I got home I realised the material had frayed away from the stitching! So annoying when you've only just bought something that you love, and its broken! So I've taken it back, and it didn't look good in another size, so I've just had to leave it at that.. Was nice knowing you tartan skirt. I did love it though, so I will find one somewhere else and get that!

The Urban Outfitters Glitter Polkadot skirt is hard to see on this photo, but in the flesh its the glitter polkadots are pretty obvious. 

The mixture of leather, fur, tartan, suede and chiffon perfectly fits my look for this winter. Which one of these is your favourite?

LIFE | in instagram

1) On Prince my lovely black pony, who I've left behind at home.. its so lovely to come home and get some needed fresh country air on a ride (I'm a country girl at heart)

2) Reunited with my best friend Mischa for my birthday at CCTV in Newcastle Student Union

3) Also reunited with my family for my birthday when they came up for a meal and a night out. My mum and dad went home after the trebles bar, but my 17 year old bro came to riverside!

4) The view from the Baltic museum in Newcastle whilst I was on a field trip for uni

5) The pumpkins we carved for Halloween/my birthday, as I was born the day after!

6) Uni life has brought me to cook, although this is probably the only proper meal I've actually cooked at all since I've been here! Mmm, might make it again soon, I love chicken stir fry!

7) I look like such a home girl on these instagrams, but the truth is that I am. I miss home so much, can't wait to get back home into the country air for xmas.

8) Bridget is well and truly back! I haven't had much time to get into it yet, but once I'm finished I will be writing a review for you!

9) Standard toilet shot in Bar 32. I never have time to take any photos before I leave the house as I'm always late, so end up having to get a quick snap in the club loos!