It's My Birthday! Celebrations Day 2

Hello again!

At this rate you are going to be sick of me!

I had another vintage day planned, and we began at JB's Diner on Brighton seafront. You are guaranteed to have a very tasty feast here and without it costing a lot either and we weren't let down! If you try anything in here, it has to be a milkshake! They really are unbelievable!

We then rushed back to our flat, as I had organised the lovely Rachel and Laura from Powder Beauty to do all the girls' hair and make up! They really did an incredible job of making us all look retro and getting everyone into the vintage spirit. I chose to go for a more Mad Men look than my usual style, and felt like Joan in my wiggle dress! Joe had sneaked out to get me the most delicious cake...Choccywoccydodah..wow is all I can say!

We all then headed out to Mod For It at Komedia. It was 11pm-3am and I can safely say that non of us stopped dancing all night, it was absolutely fantastic! An amazing playlist of The Who, The Kinks, The Temptations, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles... I think I will be a regular at their monthly nights for the forseeable future!

Here are a selection of photos from our night...

 

 

I have had the bestest, most amazing weekend ever! I am a very lucky girl, but I'm going to find it hard to return to normal life again tomorrow when I return to work :(

I hope to see some of you soon at Mod For It and sorry about the very picture heavy post!

Lots of love,

Hannah xxx

It's My Birthday! Celebrations Day 1

Hello again everyone!

I am finally beginning to recover from all my birthday antics, so thought I would let you all see what I got up to!

I took a long weekend off work to fit in as much celebrating as possible! My birthday was on Saturday 27th, but we began on friday with a visit to London for Joe and myself to pick up a very very nice treat!

After what seemed like the longest train journey (damn these 'signalling failures'!) we arrived in London and got ourselves straight over to Harrods. This was my first time visiting and it really is a beautiful building when you emerge from the Tube to it looking all majestic in front of you. I was desperate to check out the MAC Marilyn Monroe collection, however when I rushed in it was all sold out! The colour were beautiful, especially the lipsticks and nail varnishes and all very classic colours. However, I did treat myself to MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick and Redd Lipliner as I have wanted both for so long. We then had a look around, I rushed up to Pet Kingdom but must admit I was disgusted to see the conditions the poor animals were in :(. Even two little rats were clearly desperate to escape; one was frantically trying to dig its way out of the metal cage and the other was trying to bite the metal railings keeping it in! There was also a dog pampering room, and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I saw a poodle in there with a nappy on! It was very strange!

We then left and headed over to Bond Street for me to make a little collection...

I am a very lucky girl and got treated to a beautiful, classic black Mulberry Bayswater handbag by my parents! This was my 21st Birthday so my parents were very generous and splashed out on a handbag I hope to keep for many many many more years to come. I would love to still have it in the future in beautiful condition, so I am determined to keep it looking in excellent condition but still use it as a day bag to really make the most of it. We then stopped at Lauderee for some delicious macaroons and a pot of tea.

Earlier that morning, I had been frantically hunting for a good place to eat. I really loathe eating in chains where you pay over the odds and could get the exact same experience at home. Unless you are really in the know it is hard to stumble across a great little indepedent restaurant. I then realised fellow blogger Yesterday Girl is from London, and a quick read through her blog and bingo! An Art Deco french restaurant that would indulge my taste buds and our love for good design.

Brasserie Zedel is located on Picadilly Circus just off Shaftesbury Avenue. When you walk in it looks like a classic cafe, but follow the beautiful stairs down underground and the most opulent and retro restaurant, bar and entertainment room are revealed. It felt like we just walked onto a movie set and I can't recommend it enough. The food was absolutely delicious and so reasonably priced! I think a two course meal with 2 alcoholic drinks came to about £32.

 

 

I was then treated to a very nice surprise! Joe treated me to my first present, tickets to see Forever Crazy, the show done by the Crazy Horse dancers from Paris! Dita Von Teese has done a show with them before, and Kelly Brook is with them for a week beginning on 1st November. The show is on for quite a while I think, at the South Bank near to the Royal Festival Hall. We had table service which meant a few amarettos went down very nicely! Go check it out, it was amazing! I would love to be able to find somewhere to learn to do Burlesque. Any suggestions?!

We headed home ready for day two of fun! Keep reading...

Lots of love,

Hannah xxx

New Hair Time!

Hello again!

Last Thursday I took myself down to the fabulous Simon Webster Hair on Gardener Street down the North Lanes. I needed a new colour as my ginger was fading quickly and I was almost back to blonde!

The lovely Alice does my hair and I couldn't recommend her more. She really listens to what you want and works with you to get the best result. I am of the opinion that they are the trained stylists so I often ask for her opinion for what style or colour she thinks I should go for. She really analyses your hair and plays around with it to make sure that you get the cut or colour to suit you. The prices are incredibly reasonable for the service and style you receive in there, and the complimentary cup of tea or glass of wine!

I am quite daring with my hair and since taking the plunge and going ginger, I love being a redhead! It does take quite a lot of upkeep but is so worth it for the fabulous colour. This time I went for a bit of a change, a darker red and then got a blonde streak underneath some of my fringe. I love it!

They also stock Bumble & Bumble products which smell delicious and work wonders. I purchased their Colour Minded Shampoo on Simon and Alices recommendation. This is Sulphate Free, and learnt that it is the sulphates in shampoos that strip the colour from your hair. Whilst it is a little more expensive at £23, it really does look after your colour and hair condition and you don't need to use as much at all as some of the cheaper brands.

Whilst you can get colour protect brands for much cheaper from Boots or Superdrug, they don't do as well for your hair and you will end up having to get your hair coloured in much quicker time. I just feel this is a big part of my vintage look that I really want to look after.

Any more redheads out there? Do you recommend any particular colour protect products? I would love to hear from you!

Much love,

Hannah xxx

How To Make Bunting!

Hello everyone,

Got quite a few blog posts to do today, I've had a very busy week! My birthday was on Saturday, and I had a vintage themed party. I decided to decorate my flat to get it looking a lot more retro so the sewing machine got dragged out!

I used 5 metres of white ribbon, a metre square of red polka dot fabric and a metre square of blue polka dot fabric. This came to £7 which I thought was very reasonable considering the price of bad quality bunting for sale in the shops. It actually turned out I had too much fabric too. I would say maybe around 75cm square would have been better.

Firstly I made a template on some card of the triangle for the flags. It is 15cm across the top and 20cm down to the point.

Then measure 40cm depth into your fabric from the edge and cut to create a rectangle. Fold in half with the underside facing outwards (so we draw the template onto the messy side of the fabric). This means that you get two flags from cutting out one template. Before drawing the template on, iron the rectange to create a fold that is exactly 20cm into your strip of fabric.

Using a black marker pen, place your template onto your strip of fabric with the 15cm top against the long side of the rectangle. Draw on, making sure that it finishes in a point at the other end. Once these are all drawn on, cut them out! I ordered mine into piles of red and blue polka dots.

Time to get sewing! I chose quite wide ribbon which I folded in half over the top of the flag. This creates a little pocket that you slot the flag into, so it is sandwiched between the two halves of ribbon. I just did a single stich and one fingers space between each flag.

 Hello!

And here is my end result!

Have any of you ever made bunting?! I think I would like to leave it up permanently, it looks pretty!

Hannah xxx

All a Girl Needs...Lipstick

Hello everyone!

So I have decided to do a quick post on my favourite lipsticks in my vast collection of make up! I am a massive fan of MAC, as you will see. They have such an amazing palette of colours and applied correctly, they last for ages giving a very authentic vintage look.

However getting a classic statement lip requires a little more work than a great lipstick! A basic lipcare routine is required to make sure that your lips are in excellent condition and so a great base for the lipstick to go onto. Nobody wants to have dry cracked lips and I find the very best out there for moisturising them is Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream. I very gently buff the dry skin off my lips with the edge of an old toothbrush (nice!) then apply a layer of 8 Hour Cream if I am having a bit of a pamper or my lips are a little neglected. Every night when I moisturise (skincare post coming soon!) I also put a heavy coat of it on to go to sleep with, so I wake up with lovely soft lips! I also follow a few rules, always apply a lip balm or bit of 8 Hour Cream when I go out, especially in the cold. Also never bite any chapped bits off!

Once the base is sorted you can begin with the colour! Here are the fabulous reds...

 

L-R: MAC Amplified in Dubonnet, MAC Matte in So Chaud, MAC Amplified in Ramblas Red

 

Dubonnet gives a very vampy, purple/brown tinged glossy look that lasts. I often use this for a statement lip with simple eye make up. So Chaud is probably my most used out of all six. It is slightly orange tinted and has a very matte finish and another great one for a statement lip. Ramblas Red is one that I stole from my Mum (oops!). It is the same finish as Dubonnet, so a slightly glossy red. It is probably the nearest to a classic red out of all of my lipsticks,  however when it has been on for a few hours a pinky- red undertone is left. I shamefully don't have a classic red! I really want to get MAC Ruby Woo or try out one of the Marilyn for MAC collection classic reds. I do find that all three of these tend to stain my lips, but I don't really mind because they do last and you are definitely left with a bit of colour even hours after application.

 

And the perfect pinks...



L-R: MAC Satin in Snob, Kate Moss for Rimmel in 03, MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Unlimited

 

I find that these pinks are more symbolic of a sixties look. Snob has been very well used and is perhaps slightly paler than it looks here. It gives a nude lip but with a hint of pink and looks great with a big flick of eyeliner. My middle lipstick was from Boots! I am a bit of a make up snob and do like the slightly more expensive brands however this is a great lipstick. It gives a glossy, completely nude finish with a slight sheen so that your lips look glossy but the focus is on the detailed eye make up. I'm sure it was only about £2.99 too! The third is a more expensive one from MAC's Pro Longwear range. This is a great line that does stick on your face! I use this a lot for a bright look at work and particularly like how buildable this is. One coat gives a pretty cover but after two or three covers you have a very vibrant pink lip that isn't shifting at all.

 

The best technique that I have found for applying lipstick to make it last is to do a quick coat all over the lip straight from the lipstick bullet (lipliner before if you use it). Take a piece of tissue, place it between your lips and press them together and then remove the tissue. This blots the lipstick. Then apply another coat but this time with a small brush to really get an accurate shape. You then repeat the blotting process until you feel that the lipstick is ''set''.

 

What are your favourite lipsticks? Have you got any other tips or can your recommend any classic reds for me to get?

 

Hannah xxx

 

 

A quiet Sunday plea for help...

Hello everyone,

How are we all?

We went for a few drinks last night which turned into a proper night out...oops! So today we are having a very quiet one as I think the boyfriend is feeling it a little!

Just a little plea for help from any new readers. At the moment I am competing to become the face of Dollydagger for the next year and need as much help as possible! Votes are made in the form of facebook likes on this photo of me...so please, I would love you forever, if you could take a second and just hit the like button on it. Votes close on 28th October, the top 8 go through and I am very close!

Had a bit of a funny moment last night when a random girl approached me and asked if I was the girl in the Dollydagger competition...I felt famous!

Love to you all,

Hannah xxx

I've been nominated!

Hello everyone,

So a rainy and miserable day off work has quickly turned around... I found out I have been nominated for a Liebster Award! Thank you so much to Lauren, from Scarlet Realm for the nomination!

This award is for new and upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. To accept the award I have to write 11 facts about myself so here we go...

1. I am terrified of birds and would happily cross the road to avoid one!

2. I work full time for a high street bank

3. I met the Queen when I was 8

4. My day has to start with a strong cup of tea

5. I have a horse

6. In eight days I am 21!

7. My boyfriends name is Joe

8. My best friend lives in Newcastle...a very long way from Brighton!

9. I am obsessed with Gossip Girl, Mad Men, Great British Bake Off and One Born Every Minute.

10. I am an avid Liverpool FC supporter

11. This took me a very long time to write!

And my eleven questions to answer are...

1. Where was your favourite holiday as a child?

As a child we went on holiday to Guernsey for a week which was absolutely brilliant. I have never been back but would love to revisit. The beautiful Petit Bot beach and St Peters Port are must sees.

2. What is your favourite meal?

I am a massive massive foody so where do I begin?! I definitely live to eat. It would have to be a classic Bacon Butty, or Bangers and Mash.

3. What is your favourite cocktail?

Long Island Ice Tea mmmmmmmmmm or Amaretto Sours yum yum yum!

4. What scares you?

I absolutely hate birds. Living in Brighton there are pigeons and seagulls everywhere which is my worst nightmare! The idea of possibly being touched by one really freaks me out which is a bit strange! I also am really not good with heights.

5. What are you doing for Halloween?

We don't have any plans yet, but there will definitely be some pumpkin carving and I may just end up eating some halloween sweets!

6. What is your goal for 2013?

To have a better year. 2012 has not been a good year for my family and I can't wait for things to get better next year.

7. Who is your inspiration?

My lovely lovely mum. She has recently had a terrible accident and her perseverance and humour throughout it all is so inspirational and fills me with pride. She is stylish, funny, caring and intelligent which is everything I wish to be.

8. What makes you laugh?

I must admit for having a slightly crude sense of humour, I will blame my northern roots! I love a bit of sarcasm too. I think the grim north inspires you to have a sense of humour to get through the cold!

9. What makes you cry?

I do cry easily. A lot of tv makes me cry! The Olympics was a very emotional time for me as I often found myself with a tear for our gold medallists.

10. What inspires you in your blog?

I have been reading blogs for such a long time now and only recently got the courage to begin my own. A new start in my life with the move to Brighton, I thought what a great opportunity to document my discovery of all things vintage here. I also love the idea of being able to look back and see an almost diary of my feelings and where I have been. I am often frustrated with trying to find a decent and accurate review, tutorial, guide to what to do... I hope to be a point of reference of all things retro and vintage in Brighton.

11. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I would absolutely love to go interrailing and we are thinking of going next summer around Italy and the South of France. I would also love to travel down the East Coast of America to Chicago, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Mississippi and Texas. I love the music from around there and think it would be an amazing holiday. Whilst a beach holiday is lovely and relaxing I am more of a get up and go girl and an adventure woiuld be brilliant. Hint hint Joe!

I would like to nominate...

Scarlet Realm

 

The Splendid Suitcase

 

Lady Jardin

I hope I have done this right!

Hannah xxx