Tip 1 - if possible, don't go down there alone
Interviewing for Cambridge was a scary and nervewracking experience, but one of the things that made it manageable was the endless support from my parents. They drove me down there, and we actually turned it into a 3-day mini vacation seeing Cambridge and feeling festive (especially since it snowed on the way there) and this definitely helped to calm my nerves. It also means that you won't be in the preparation mindset 24-7 and can have some headspace, especially in those final moments when you need some words of encouragement.
Tip 2- read all of your texts and know them inside out
Much like any interview, if you've put a novel or poem on your personal statement then you can guarantee that you'll be asked about it, but this could be anything rather than the specific theme or character you highlighted. It's important to be well-prepared, not just with plot summaries but also with quotes and analysis that you can just rattle off, as well as critics, context - basically just think of it as a verbal essay! I actually made a load of flashcards on my phone to help me remember these, and it actually worked in my advantage since a couple of the texts were for my A Levels and acted as a great revision tool.
Tip 3 - do mock interviews and practice talking
This is genuinely what made the biggest difference for me, as when I first started preparing I was in the position of having a lot of knowledge in my mind but didn't know how to approach the questions or have the confidence to vocalise my points. My English literature teacher definitely tested me thoroughly (which I hated at the time but it definitely paid off), and you could tell by the end that there was a huge difference in my ability to answer the questions and carry the discussion.
On top of this, I also spent a lot of time practising talking to myself. I know it sounds crazy, but I sat for hours in front of the mirror or my webcam going through different questions they could ask about my texts, myself and anything else I could think of. It really helped to make me comfortable talking and answering the questions.
Tip 4 - be comfortable with unseen material
No matter how much you prepare about the texts on your personal statement, it's inevitable that you'll be asked about unseen texts as well. For me, this was both as a test at 8am and in my second interview, so it's definitely worth getting a lot of practice with this. Just take it slow, remember to breathe and think it through before saying something stupid - a good place to start is always the literal meaning of the text rather than delving too deep into it.
Tip 5 - keep yourself busy before your interview
Let's face it, if you don't know something a couple of hours before you go into the interview, chances are you're never going to know it. Aside from quickly reading over my notes to keep them fresh in my mind, I didn't do any other work on the morning of my interview. For me, the main issue was nerves, so I ensured that I was busy getting ready, listening to a podcast, and I also chatted to the other students doing their interviews, as it was incredibly reassuring hearing that they felt the same.
Tip 6 - remember that the interviewers are human too
Before the interview, it's easy to have the impression of this intense, incredibly formal interview, but that definitely isn't the case. Instead, you'll be invited into a cosy room, offered a drink and engage into a more relaxed whilst still formal discussion of many points. They're not there to lecture you, shout at you or tell you off for not knowing something - instead they just want to see how you think and approach a question, and to what extent you can take a discussion. They'll also recognise that you're a seventeen or eighteen-year-old student with a lot of learning left to do - it's more about your academic potential rather than knowing everything.
Tip 7 - think of some questions to ask beforehand
Although you're not required to ask a question at the end of the interview, this definitely looks good and shows that you have an interest in the course and are passionate about it. Have a few questions prepared that you might want to ask, but nothing too generic about the course or the college that you could find out online, instead it'd be better to go for personal experience or discuss an aspect of literature. I had a couple of questions in mind before each interview to ask, but I quite often found that an aspect of our previous discussion was something I wanted to talk about more, so I instead opted for a topic more relevant to the interview.
Tip 8 - be well-prepared about your course and college
Linking in with the last point, you want to be extremely knowledgeable about all of the details of your course and college, including what you'd typically study in your first year, how many students they take for your course and other details. These are basics that you should definitely have in your head, as it proves that you're passionate about studying there and know exactly what you're applying for.
Tip 9 - remember that they don't know what you know
One of my biggest struggles with my mock interviews was that I felt as though my teacher kept nudging me to include certain things, and at the end told me what felt like endless things from class that I could've included. Although this was definitely helpful, it won't be the same in your interview. Aside from what's in your personal statement, they'll have no idea what you've studied, and so now is your chance to show off some critical quotes, literary theory or any other ideas that you may have
Tip 10 - go above and beyond
From talking to other students and previous interviewees, one of the things that I've discovered is that they really want you to go above and beyond where possible. Anyone can read a book for A Level, learn a few quotes and analyse them verbally in an interview. But instead, you want to be the person who's read lots independently, who's attended extra workshops or went to a lecture, who have furthered their knowledge of the topic in many ways. I even brought blogging and Lipa into mine to add to the links, as long as what I was saying was relevant.
I hope that this was somewhat useful for anyone applying to Oxford or Cambridge, and if your interview is soon then I wish you the best of luck! I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have in the comments or on Twitter, so make sure you let me know if there's anything I can help with! Thank you very much for reading this post and I'll actually be back with a new one on Saturday since I've decided that I'm doing Blogmas! I really can't wait for this and I know that you'll enjoy it, so make sure you check back then!
Love from Daisy x
Tip 1 - if possible, don't go down there alone
Interviewing for Cambridge was a scary and nervewracking experience, but one of the things that made it manageable was the endless support from my parents. They drove me down there, and we actually turned it into a 3-day mini vacation seeing Cambridge and feeling festive (especially since it snowed on the way there) and this definitely helped to calm my nerves. It also means that you won't be in the preparation mindset 24-7 and can have some headspace, especially in those final moments when you need some words of encouragement.
Tip 2- read all of your texts and know them inside out
Much like any interview, if you've put a novel or poem on your personal statement then you can guarantee that you'll be asked about it, but this could be anything rather than the specific theme or character you highlighted. It's important to be well-prepared, not just with plot summaries but also with quotes and analysis that you can just rattle off, as well as critics, context - basically just think of it as a verbal essay! I actually made a load of flashcards on my phone to help me remember these, and it actually worked in my advantage since a couple of the texts were for my A Levels and acted as a great revision tool.
Tip 3 - do mock interviews and practice talking
This is genuinely what made the biggest difference for me, as when I first started preparing I was in the position of having a lot of knowledge in my mind but didn't know how to approach the questions or have the confidence to vocalise my points. My English literature teacher definitely tested me thoroughly (which I hated at the time but it definitely paid off), and you could tell by the end that there was a huge difference in my ability to answer the questions and carry the discussion.
On top of this, I also spent a lot of time practising talking to myself. I know it sounds crazy, but I sat for hours in front of the mirror or my webcam going through different questions they could ask about my texts, myself and anything else I could think of. It really helped to make me comfortable talking and answering the questions.
Tip 4 - be comfortable with unseen material
No matter how much you prepare about the texts on your personal statement, it's inevitable that you'll be asked about unseen texts as well. For me, this was both as a test at 8am and in my second interview, so it's definitely worth getting a lot of practice with this. Just take it slow, remember to breathe and think it through before saying something stupid - a good place to start is always the literal meaning of the text rather than delving too deep into it.
Tip 5 - keep yourself busy before your interview
Let's face it, if you don't know something a couple of hours before you go into the interview, chances are you're never going to know it. Aside from quickly reading over my notes to keep them fresh in my mind, I didn't do any other work on the morning of my interview. For me, the main issue was nerves, so I ensured that I was busy getting ready, listening to a podcast, and I also chatted to the other students doing their interviews, as it was incredibly reassuring hearing that they felt the same.
Tip 6 - remember that the interviewers are human too
Before the interview, it's easy to have the impression of this intense, incredibly formal interview, but that definitely isn't the case. Instead, you'll be invited into a cosy room, offered a drink and engage into a more relaxed whilst still formal discussion of many points. They're not there to lecture you, shout at you or tell you off for not knowing something - instead they just want to see how you think and approach a question, and to what extent you can take a discussion. They'll also recognise that you're a seventeen or eighteen-year-old student with a lot of learning left to do - it's more about your academic potential rather than knowing everything.
Tip 7 - think of some questions to ask beforehand
Although you're not required to ask a question at the end of the interview, this definitely looks good and shows that you have an interest in the course and are passionate about it. Have a few questions prepared that you might want to ask, but nothing too generic about the course or the college that you could find out online, instead it'd be better to go for personal experience or discuss an aspect of literature. I had a couple of questions in mind before each interview to ask, but I quite often found that an aspect of our previous discussion was something I wanted to talk about more, so I instead opted for a topic more relevant to the interview.
Tip 8 - be well-prepared about your course and college
Linking in with the last point, you want to be extremely knowledgeable about all of the details of your course and college, including what you'd typically study in your first year, how many students they take for your course and other details. These are basics that you should definitely have in your head, as it proves that you're passionate about studying there and know exactly what you're applying for.
Tip 9 - remember that they don't know what you know
One of my biggest struggles with my mock interviews was that I felt as though my teacher kept nudging me to include certain things, and at the end told me what felt like endless things from class that I could've included. Although this was definitely helpful, it won't be the same in your interview. Aside from what's in your personal statement, they'll have no idea what you've studied, and so now is your chance to show off some critical quotes, literary theory or any other ideas that you may have
Tip 10 - go above and beyond
From talking to other students and previous interviewees, one of the things that I've discovered is that they really want you to go above and beyond where possible. Anyone can read a book for A Level, learn a few quotes and analyse them verbally in an interview. But instead, you want to be the person who's read lots independently, who's attended extra workshops or went to a lecture, who have furthered their knowledge of the topic in many ways. I even brought blogging and Lipa into mine to add to the links, as long as what I was saying was relevant.
I hope that this was somewhat useful for anyone applying to Oxford or Cambridge, and if your interview is soon then I wish you the best of luck! I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have in the comments or on Twitter, so make sure you let me know if there's anything I can help with! Thank you very much for reading this post and I'll actually be back with a new one on Saturday since I've decided that I'm doing Blogmas! I really can't wait for this and I know that you'll enjoy it, so make sure you check back then!
Love from Daisy x
I've always wanted to get my hair in a better condition, considering it's quite often dead at the ends and limp-looking due to being really long, sun-damaged and broken from the frequent up-dos that I put it in. However, hair care for me is something that I can never really be bothered with and don't make a ton of time for it in my schedule. But what if I told you that you could make your hair look much healthier and strong just by changing up your shampoo, and not needing to do anything extra? If you're intrigued, make sure you keep reading to hear all about TIGI's newest range that has really revolutionised my hair!
It was my mum who actually recommended the Bed Head 'Rehab for Hair' products to me, and I have to say that they have really made a difference even after such a short time. These shampoos are packed with moisture and help recover brittle, damaged hair, which is exactly what I needed. I've used so many cheap shampoos over the years, and although they appear to do the job of getting your hair clean, you really can tell the difference when you change to a product like this. After washing my hair, it's incredibly smooth and silky, and even after just one wash has a much shinier and strong appearance. They also have anti-static properties that prevent your hair from having a tangled finish, which really makes a difference in my opinion and gives your hair that sleek look.
This collection comes in 3 different 'levels' or stages of damage, meaning you can easily choose the one that will help you the most. These are:
1: Normal hair that needs a daily pick me up - great for those of you with hair in good condition but want to add a bit of life or vibrancy to it
2: Dry, damaged tresses that need a moisture hit - if you suffer from dry hair or brittle ends and need a good injection of moisture, then this one is definitely for you
3: Weak, brittle hair that needs an intervention - if you've reached that stage of incredibly damaged, almost destroyed hair, then this is an essential
I've been using the 'number 3' shampoo lately and have found that it's really started to make a difference to my hair, and I plan on moving to the 'number 2' one once my hair gets in a much better condition. I really like how TIGI have created this ranking system as it allows you to assess what kind of treatment your hair needs, opposed to the usual 'suitable for dry or damaged hair / suitable for colour-treated hair' shampoo descriptions that you normally see.I've only been using these for a few weeks now, but I've really started to notice the difference in my hair, especially since they aim to continuously repair it. If I'm honest, my hair will probably take a while to get into a good condition considering how long it is and the damage I do by frequently wearing it in tight up-dos, but it's definitely starting to improve.
Other tips that have really made a difference with my hair:
- Applying argan oil spray - I do this before I dry my hair, and it really helps to restore it and add strength and shine to my hair, as well as taming any frizziness on my dry ends
- Drinking a lot of water - believe it or not, this actually has huge benefits for your hair and making it stronger, so it's definitely worth trying out
- Minimising brushing and touching my hair - I have a tendency to play with my hair of an evening or brushing it constantly when it isn't needed. This weakens the hair and causes it to break, as well as the oils on your fingertips making your hair greasy, so this is something that I've tried to avoid as often
- Stop letting my hair air-dry - I know that excessive heat isn't good for your hair, but I always find that my hair looks very coarse and dry on days that I let it air-dry opposed to using a hairdryer
And that's how I've started getting my hair in much better shape! It's still by no means perfect and there's a lot of weak and damaged areas remaining, but it really is starting to make a difference and I can't believe the changes that this shampoo has started to make! I hope you enjoyed this blog post, and make sure you let me know down in the comments what you do to take care of your hair. Thank you very much for reading and I'll see you on Tuesday with a new post!
Love from Daisy x
How I Saved My Damaged Hair with TIGI's Bed Head Rehab For Hair
Sunday, November 25, 2018 • Beauty, Makeup
I've always wanted to get my hair in a better condition, considering it's quite often dead at the ends and limp-looking due to being really long, sun-damaged and broken from the frequent up-dos that I put it in. However, hair care for me is something that I can never really be bothered with and don't make a ton of time for it in my schedule. But what if I told you that you could make your hair look much healthier and strong just by changing up your shampoo, and not needing to do anything extra? If you're intrigued, make sure you keep reading to hear all about TIGI's newest range that has really revolutionised my hair!
It was my mum who actually recommended the Bed Head 'Rehab for Hair' products to me, and I have to say that they have really made a difference even after such a short time. These shampoos are packed with moisture and help recover brittle, damaged hair, which is exactly what I needed. I've used so many cheap shampoos over the years, and although they appear to do the job of getting your hair clean, you really can tell the difference when you change to a product like this. After washing my hair, it's incredibly smooth and silky, and even after just one wash has a much shinier and strong appearance. They also have anti-static properties that prevent your hair from having a tangled finish, which really makes a difference in my opinion and gives your hair that sleek look.
This collection comes in 3 different 'levels' or stages of damage, meaning you can easily choose the one that will help you the most. These are:
1: Normal hair that needs a daily pick me up - great for those of you with hair in good condition but want to add a bit of life or vibrancy to it
2: Dry, damaged tresses that need a moisture hit - if you suffer from dry hair or brittle ends and need a good injection of moisture, then this one is definitely for you
3: Weak, brittle hair that needs an intervention - if you've reached that stage of incredibly damaged, almost destroyed hair, then this is an essential
I've been using the 'number 3' shampoo lately and have found that it's really started to make a difference to my hair, and I plan on moving to the 'number 2' one once my hair gets in a much better condition. I really like how TIGI have created this ranking system as it allows you to assess what kind of treatment your hair needs, opposed to the usual 'suitable for dry or damaged hair / suitable for colour-treated hair' shampoo descriptions that you normally see.I've only been using these for a few weeks now, but I've really started to notice the difference in my hair, especially since they aim to continuously repair it. If I'm honest, my hair will probably take a while to get into a good condition considering how long it is and the damage I do by frequently wearing it in tight up-dos, but it's definitely starting to improve.
Other tips that have really made a difference with my hair:
- Applying argan oil spray - I do this before I dry my hair, and it really helps to restore it and add strength and shine to my hair, as well as taming any frizziness on my dry ends
- Drinking a lot of water - believe it or not, this actually has huge benefits for your hair and making it stronger, so it's definitely worth trying out
- Minimising brushing and touching my hair - I have a tendency to play with my hair of an evening or brushing it constantly when it isn't needed. This weakens the hair and causes it to break, as well as the oils on your fingertips making your hair greasy, so this is something that I've tried to avoid as often
- Stop letting my hair air-dry - I know that excessive heat isn't good for your hair, but I always find that my hair looks very coarse and dry on days that I let it air-dry opposed to using a hairdryer
And that's how I've started getting my hair in much better shape! It's still by no means perfect and there's a lot of weak and damaged areas remaining, but it really is starting to make a difference and I can't believe the changes that this shampoo has started to make! I hope you enjoyed this blog post, and make sure you let me know down in the comments what you do to take care of your hair. Thank you very much for reading and I'll see you on Tuesday with a new post!
Love from Daisy x
It's been quite a while since I wrote a book review or recommendation on my blog, which is ironic considering I'm an English literature student and an avid reader, and so get through quite a lot of books! I used to review books all the time on my blog but stopped as I didn't have enough time to fully create them. Since I've been eager to bring this back on my blog, I thought I'd make it a monthly feature where I take one of the titles that I've read and recommend it to you guys! This week in 'Daisy's Book Club' is A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf, so keep reading to hear more?
H O W D I D I S T U M B L E U P O N T H I S B O O K ?
This book was actually compulsory reading for one of my seminars in university, and I was initially intrigued since I'd read some Woolf before and wanted to try some other titles. I enjoyed this book that much that I actually went on to write one of my essays on it. Although I sometimes find that studying a book can take the fun out of it, this one actually had the opposite effect and it made me appreciate it even more.
W H Y S H O U L D Y O U R E A D I T?
Rather than being like an educational essay filled with facts about this, it's instead structured as a fictional narrative where the main protagonist visits Oxbridge, The British Museum and continues their quest to understanding female's position in writing, and deciding that they ultimately need £500 a year alongside a room of their own.
One of the reasons I loved this book is that it's not like your classic novel, instead it adopts more of an essay or lecture format with fictional structures interwoven, and the stream of consciousness style creates a sense of ongoing, unfiltered thoughts that really makes the perspective insightful. It's only a short text, but it contains a lot of pertinent discussions and really makes you consider the inequality of women spanning throughout literature.
M Y F A V O U R I T E P A R T
Although there were a lot of stand-out moments for me, I really enjoyed the 'Shakespeare's sister' section, where the main protagonist muses about the eventual fate of Judith, Shakespeare's fictitious sister. It contemplates how her life would pan out alongside her brother and the differences in opportunities that they receive. Having such a striking and thought-provoking narrative really does raise questions about women's position and inferiority.
W H O I S T H I S B O O K S U I T A B L E F O R ?
If you're someone who enjoys feminist texts or books empowering women then this is definitely for you. Having said that, I feel as though this is a book that all girls could benefit from reading, and I'd highly recommend this eye-opening text.
I hope you enjoyed this little book review, and I'd love to know your thoughts down in the comments if any of you have already read it or decide to! Thank you very much for reading this post and I'll see you on Sunday with another new post!
Love from Daisy x
Daisy's Book Club - A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf (November 2018)
Thursday, November 22, 2018 • Books
It's been quite a while since I wrote a book review or recommendation on my blog, which is ironic considering I'm an English literature student and an avid reader, and so get through quite a lot of books! I used to review books all the time on my blog but stopped as I didn't have enough time to fully create them. Since I've been eager to bring this back on my blog, I thought I'd make it a monthly feature where I take one of the titles that I've read and recommend it to you guys! This week in 'Daisy's Book Club' is A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf, so keep reading to hear more?
H O W D I D I S T U M B L E U P O N T H I S B O O K ?
This book was actually compulsory reading for one of my seminars in university, and I was initially intrigued since I'd read some Woolf before and wanted to try some other titles. I enjoyed this book that much that I actually went on to write one of my essays on it. Although I sometimes find that studying a book can take the fun out of it, this one actually had the opposite effect and it made me appreciate it even more.
W H Y S H O U L D Y O U R E A D I T?
Rather than being like an educational essay filled with facts about this, it's instead structured as a fictional narrative where the main protagonist visits Oxbridge, The British Museum and continues their quest to understanding female's position in writing, and deciding that they ultimately need £500 a year alongside a room of their own.
One of the reasons I loved this book is that it's not like your classic novel, instead it adopts more of an essay or lecture format with fictional structures interwoven, and the stream of consciousness style creates a sense of ongoing, unfiltered thoughts that really makes the perspective insightful. It's only a short text, but it contains a lot of pertinent discussions and really makes you consider the inequality of women spanning throughout literature.
M Y F A V O U R I T E P A R T
Although there were a lot of stand-out moments for me, I really enjoyed the 'Shakespeare's sister' section, where the main protagonist muses about the eventual fate of Judith, Shakespeare's fictitious sister. It contemplates how her life would pan out alongside her brother and the differences in opportunities that they receive. Having such a striking and thought-provoking narrative really does raise questions about women's position and inferiority.
W H O I S T H I S B O O K S U I T A B L E F O R ?
If you're someone who enjoys feminist texts or books empowering women then this is definitely for you. Having said that, I feel as though this is a book that all girls could benefit from reading, and I'd highly recommend this eye-opening text.
I hope you enjoyed this little book review, and I'd love to know your thoughts down in the comments if any of you have already read it or decide to! Thank you very much for reading this post and I'll see you on Sunday with another new post!
Love from Daisy x
I don't wear eyeshadow on a regular basis, but when I do I tend to keep it fairly simplistic. My usual choice is something neutral, and my eyeshadow collection is filled with a series of champagne and warm-toned brown shades. However, I've recently been really eager to change this and play around with some different colours and combinations, although probably more for a nighttime rather than an everyday look. I was in Primark with my mum a few weeks ago, on the hunt for some cool-toned eyeshadows, and we both fell in love with the Violet Mist palette. Purple eyeshadow is something that I could never see myself wearing, but I thought I'd give it a go nonetheless and I'm actually surprised by this palette, so I thought I'd give you all of my thoughts in this review!
A P P E A R A N C E A N D P A C K A G I N G
For a £4 palette, you can't expect luxurious or extravagant packaging. The simplistic, black cardboard isn't the most exciting but it definitely does the job of housing the powders, and the purple cursive font adds some interest. Although black palettes do tend to look quite chic and modern, the downside of this one is that it gets dirty incredibly easily - in fact, mine was covered in eyeshadow before I even left the store!
If you're looking for an on-the-go palette, then this definitely may be one to consider, as it's perhaps the most lightweight and slim palette that I've come across, and you won't be as worried tossing it in your handbag compared to a more expensive one. However, the only downside to this palette is that there's no mirror, which is essential for me since I prefer to do my makeup from my bed.
S H A D E R A N G E
Although it's a purple-themed eyeshadow palette, don't think that's all you get. The start of the palette actually provides you with some more neutral, everyday shades, before branching out into the purple glory. Containing 5 matte shades, 4 shimmers and 3 baked eyeshadows, it's got everything that you could wish for, including a variety of warm and cool toned ones for you to opt for.
I thought I'd give you a rundown of each individual shade so that you can see exactly what you get in the Violet Mist palette:
Flawless - a matte cream colour that is perfect as an eyeshadow base
Secrecy - a matte ashy brown that is ideal for those of you who'd like to keep the look more neutral. It's a great everyday crease colour and would also make a nice eyebrow shade
Mellow Musk - a subtle peachy pink with a slight shimmer running through it. This would make a gorgeous transition shade for an everyday look, warming up the crease
Honeymoon - a pink-toned golden baked shimmer shade, which is definitely my usual type of lid colour. It's really wearable, whether you pair it with the purple eyeshadows or not
Hazy Lilac - a matte pastel lilac, which isn't the most pigmented so you really have to build it up, but it's a pretty and eye-catching colour
Twilight - a muted mauvey brown with purple shimmer running through it, being another one perfect for deepening up the crease
Mystic Falls - an intense baked pinky lilac shade, which is a gorgeous statement lid colour
Violet Moon - an intense matte dark purple. These are normally one of the hardest shades to formulate yet it's very striking on the eye, although it does need some building up
Black Plum - a frosted cool toned eyeshadow with lilac and blue specks, which is intense and gorgeous for a deeper, bolder look
Midnight Kiss - a black base with lilac and blue shimmer running through it, reminding me a bit of Blackheart from the Naked 3 palette, being perfect for a smokey eye or nighttime look
Dark Mystery - a dark purple-toned grey, which is great for transitioning this into a nighttime look, adding some drama or creating a smokey eye
Galactic Sky - a medium-toned ashy grey shadow, perfect for deepening up the look, but since it's matte would also work well as a liner or eyebrow shade
From left to right - Flawless, Secrecy, Mellow Musk, Honeymoon, Hazy Lilac, Twilight, Mystic Falls, Violet Moon, Black Plum, Midnight Kiss, Dark Mystery and Galactic Sky
A P P L I C A T I O N, F O R M U L A A N D A P P E A R A N C E O N T H E E Y E
A lot of cheap eyeshadow palettes have intense shimmer shades but matte shades that barely show up, but the Violet Mist Eyeshadow Palette is definitely a surprise. Some of the paler shades, particularly the matte cream and lilac, do need some building up on the eye, but the other shades are all a lot more promising with pigmentation (although there's still plenty of room to build them up). I've found that the baked shades apply much better with your finger or wet for a more frosted finish, as otherwise the intensity and full shimmer can be lost.
One thing I'd look out for when applying these eyeshadows is that there's quite a bit of fallout, and the glitter particles tend to transfer as well, but I often combat this by building up the eyeshadows slowly rather than packing it on all in one go, as well as doing my foundation afterwards.When they're on the eye, these eyeshadows honestly look stunning. They definitely don't have to be as bold or intense as you initially think, and you can actually create some gorgeous everyday looks with this palette as well. I also find that my blue/green eyes really pop with these type of colours, and the shimmers look particularly gorgeous on the eye once you've built them up.
L A S T I N G P O W E R
As with quite a lot of eyeshadow palettes, they do start to slowly fade after hours of wear, although this is gradual and subtle. I've found that the shimmer shades do tend to lose their base colour after many hours and you're just left with the shimmer, but this may just be due to my extremely oily eyelids that eat up any eyeshadows.
Overall, this is a gorgeous eyeshadow palette that I loved testing out, and I'll definitely be reaching for it again in the future. For only £4, I'd highly recommend giving it a try, and if you do I'd love to know your thoughts down in the comments. I'll be back again on Thursday with a new blog post, so I'll see you then and thanks again for reading this post!
Love from Daisy x
Testing Purple Eyeshadows with the Primark Violet Mist Eyeshadow Palette
Tuesday, November 20, 2018 • Beauty, Makeup
I don't wear eyeshadow on a regular basis, but when I do I tend to keep it fairly simplistic. My usual choice is something neutral, and my eyeshadow collection is filled with a series of champagne and warm-toned brown shades. However, I've recently been really eager to change this and play around with some different colours and combinations, although probably more for a nighttime rather than an everyday look. I was in Primark with my mum a few weeks ago, on the hunt for some cool-toned eyeshadows, and we both fell in love with the Violet Mist palette. Purple eyeshadow is something that I could never see myself wearing, but I thought I'd give it a go nonetheless and I'm actually surprised by this palette, so I thought I'd give you all of my thoughts in this review!
A P P E A R A N C E A N D P A C K A G I N G
For a £4 palette, you can't expect luxurious or extravagant packaging. The simplistic, black cardboard isn't the most exciting but it definitely does the job of housing the powders, and the purple cursive font adds some interest. Although black palettes do tend to look quite chic and modern, the downside of this one is that it gets dirty incredibly easily - in fact, mine was covered in eyeshadow before I even left the store!
If you're looking for an on-the-go palette, then this definitely may be one to consider, as it's perhaps the most lightweight and slim palette that I've come across, and you won't be as worried tossing it in your handbag compared to a more expensive one. However, the only downside to this palette is that there's no mirror, which is essential for me since I prefer to do my makeup from my bed.
S H A D E R A N G E
Although it's a purple-themed eyeshadow palette, don't think that's all you get. The start of the palette actually provides you with some more neutral, everyday shades, before branching out into the purple glory. Containing 5 matte shades, 4 shimmers and 3 baked eyeshadows, it's got everything that you could wish for, including a variety of warm and cool toned ones for you to opt for.
I thought I'd give you a rundown of each individual shade so that you can see exactly what you get in the Violet Mist palette:
Flawless - a matte cream colour that is perfect as an eyeshadow base
Secrecy - a matte ashy brown that is ideal for those of you who'd like to keep the look more neutral. It's a great everyday crease colour and would also make a nice eyebrow shade
Mellow Musk - a subtle peachy pink with a slight shimmer running through it. This would make a gorgeous transition shade for an everyday look, warming up the crease
Honeymoon - a pink-toned golden baked shimmer shade, which is definitely my usual type of lid colour. It's really wearable, whether you pair it with the purple eyeshadows or not
Hazy Lilac - a matte pastel lilac, which isn't the most pigmented so you really have to build it up, but it's a pretty and eye-catching colour
Twilight - a muted mauvey brown with purple shimmer running through it, being another one perfect for deepening up the crease
Mystic Falls - an intense baked pinky lilac shade, which is a gorgeous statement lid colour
Violet Moon - an intense matte dark purple. These are normally one of the hardest shades to formulate yet it's very striking on the eye, although it does need some building up
Black Plum - a frosted cool toned eyeshadow with lilac and blue specks, which is intense and gorgeous for a deeper, bolder look
Midnight Kiss - a black base with lilac and blue shimmer running through it, reminding me a bit of Blackheart from the Naked 3 palette, being perfect for a smokey eye or nighttime look
Dark Mystery - a dark purple-toned grey, which is great for transitioning this into a nighttime look, adding some drama or creating a smokey eye
Galactic Sky - a medium-toned ashy grey shadow, perfect for deepening up the look, but since it's matte would also work well as a liner or eyebrow shade
From left to right - Flawless, Secrecy, Mellow Musk, Honeymoon, Hazy Lilac, Twilight, Mystic Falls, Violet Moon, Black Plum, Midnight Kiss, Dark Mystery and Galactic Sky
A P P L I C A T I O N, F O R M U L A A N D A P P E A R A N C E O N T H E E Y E
A lot of cheap eyeshadow palettes have intense shimmer shades but matte shades that barely show up, but the Violet Mist Eyeshadow Palette is definitely a surprise. Some of the paler shades, particularly the matte cream and lilac, do need some building up on the eye, but the other shades are all a lot more promising with pigmentation (although there's still plenty of room to build them up). I've found that the baked shades apply much better with your finger or wet for a more frosted finish, as otherwise the intensity and full shimmer can be lost.
One thing I'd look out for when applying these eyeshadows is that there's quite a bit of fallout, and the glitter particles tend to transfer as well, but I often combat this by building up the eyeshadows slowly rather than packing it on all in one go, as well as doing my foundation afterwards.When they're on the eye, these eyeshadows honestly look stunning. They definitely don't have to be as bold or intense as you initially think, and you can actually create some gorgeous everyday looks with this palette as well. I also find that my blue/green eyes really pop with these type of colours, and the shimmers look particularly gorgeous on the eye once you've built them up.
L A S T I N G P O W E R
As with quite a lot of eyeshadow palettes, they do start to slowly fade after hours of wear, although this is gradual and subtle. I've found that the shimmer shades do tend to lose their base colour after many hours and you're just left with the shimmer, but this may just be due to my extremely oily eyelids that eat up any eyeshadows.
Overall, this is a gorgeous eyeshadow palette that I loved testing out, and I'll definitely be reaching for it again in the future. For only £4, I'd highly recommend giving it a try, and if you do I'd love to know your thoughts down in the comments. I'll be back again on Thursday with a new blog post, so I'll see you then and thanks again for reading this post!
Love from Daisy x
So this is kind of a random midweek post, but I just thought it was worth updating you with the exciting news. If any of you don't already know, I'm currently in my first year at The University of Manchester, studying English Literature. A couple of months ago, I applied to the 'content ambassador' programme, which is basically a group of students creating content for the university, in the form of blog posts, videos, podcasts and anything else you can think of!
After sending off my application, all about myself and my blog, I made it through to the next round of 'workshops', where a select few people got to share their ideas and discuss some potential content for the programme. A few weeks ago, I found out that I was successful, making me an official blogger for my university!
This is honestly such an exciting opportunity for me, as I've blogged for 4 and a half years but now is my chance to expand my blog onto another platform and reach a much wider audience, and I definitely think I have a lot of valuable advice to share. It'll also be the first time that my blog will turn into a part-time job for me, as beforehand I've always done it solely for the enjoyment, but now it'll turn into more of a job for me, which is very exciting.
So what does that mean for Daisies and Delights?
Don't worry, nothing will be changing on my blog here! I'll still be uploading blog posts 3 times a week (although I might miss the occasional one as uni becomes very hectic!), but it means that you'll also be getting some extra content from me. I aim to upload 1-3 times a month on the Manchester University blog, and I'll obviously be sharing that with you guys. It also means that there'll be a chance to see a variety of different types of content from me, whether that's videos, podcasts or anything else you can imagine - now's the time that I can explore that!
I hope you enjoyed this blog post, even if it might be kind of pointless, but I just wanted to share this exciting new opportunity of blogging with you guys. I'll be sharing all the posts I write for The University of Manchester on Twitter, and I might even do a little round-up post of them every month on my blog, so make sure you keep an eye out for that. Thanks for reading and I'll see you on Sunday with another new blog post!
Love from Daisy x
My First Blogging Job - Becoming a Content Ambassador for My University
Thursday, November 15, 2018 • Blogging
So this is kind of a random midweek post, but I just thought it was worth updating you with the exciting news. If any of you don't already know, I'm currently in my first year at The University of Manchester, studying English Literature. A couple of months ago, I applied to the 'content ambassador' programme, which is basically a group of students creating content for the university, in the form of blog posts, videos, podcasts and anything else you can think of!
After sending off my application, all about myself and my blog, I made it through to the next round of 'workshops', where a select few people got to share their ideas and discuss some potential content for the programme. A few weeks ago, I found out that I was successful, making me an official blogger for my university!
This is honestly such an exciting opportunity for me, as I've blogged for 4 and a half years but now is my chance to expand my blog onto another platform and reach a much wider audience, and I definitely think I have a lot of valuable advice to share. It'll also be the first time that my blog will turn into a part-time job for me, as beforehand I've always done it solely for the enjoyment, but now it'll turn into more of a job for me, which is very exciting.
So what does that mean for Daisies and Delights?
Don't worry, nothing will be changing on my blog here! I'll still be uploading blog posts 3 times a week (although I might miss the occasional one as uni becomes very hectic!), but it means that you'll also be getting some extra content from me. I aim to upload 1-3 times a month on the Manchester University blog, and I'll obviously be sharing that with you guys. It also means that there'll be a chance to see a variety of different types of content from me, whether that's videos, podcasts or anything else you can imagine - now's the time that I can explore that!
I hope you enjoyed this blog post, even if it might be kind of pointless, but I just wanted to share this exciting new opportunity of blogging with you guys. I'll be sharing all the posts I write for The University of Manchester on Twitter, and I might even do a little round-up post of them every month on my blog, so make sure you keep an eye out for that. Thanks for reading and I'll see you on Sunday with another new blog post!
Love from Daisy x
It’s been a long time since I brought you an outfits post, and since then I’ve actually made a lot of new purchases. I really enjoy putting together outfits and trying out different combinations on a daily basis, and so I thought I’d share this more on my blog. If you’d like to see what my typical outfits are for a week of university then make sure you keep reading, especially since there are some incredibly affordable pieces included!
M O N D A Y
Mondays are all about comfort clothes – the last thing you want on a cold and gloomy morning of working is to be wearing something uncomfortable. My go-to was this pair of black leggings from Zara, which are incredibly easy to wear yet the khaki and white stripes down the side still add a bit of interest. As it wasn’t too cold, I opted for the layered look with a grey jumper and my denim jacket, which has been a staple of mine this autumn. After adding my Timberland boots and this huge checked and houndstooth scarf, I was all good to go and prepared for the potentially cold weather. Although outfits like this are super simple, I love the effect of adding a statement scarf, and it definitely helps to keep me warm as well!
T U E S D A Y
It’s no secret that I adore wearing a beret from time to time, and so this entire outfit was styled around this gorgeous one from Primark that is grey and embellished with pearls. I paired it with my grey structured, oversized coat, which is a staple in my wardrobe that I’ve worn a lot this year. My white crotched jumper is a slouchy, comfortable wear that looks really nice tucked into jeans, which again have stripes down the side just to add some difference. The final touch was my Converse and my outfit was complete, and I actually love how it turned out!
W E D N E S D A Y
If anyone was to ask me then I’d definitely say that I’m more of a dresses and skirts person than trousers, and so it was about time that a dress and tights made an appearance in my lookbook. Shirt dresses are definitely popular right now, and they’re also incredibly easy to wear, and this monochromatic one that I own is the perfect versatile piece. I added a black belt to synch it in at the waist and make it more flattering, and also rolled up the sleeves (although you can’t tell since my coat and scarf take up most of the photo – it was a really cold day!) Pairing this with some black tights and boots was the final step and my outfit was complete!
T H U R S D A Y
A jumper and skirt is my go-to winter outfit combination, since there are so many varieties and ways that you can style different pieces in this way, as well as being a nice change from always wearing jeans. This gorgeous, block-striped jumper was in Primark’s ‘new in Glamour’ section and I just couldn’t resist it! I never normally opt for things that are red but this jumper really stood out to me, and it’s also incredibly cosy for the colder months. I tucked it into a black leather skirt and popped on some tights and my leather Chelsea boots, and that’s the outfit complete – very simple but a really pretty way of styling a jumper!
F R I D A Y
For the final day, I really wanted to wear something a bit more out of my comfort zone. These navy and lilac checked trousers from Primark (you can sense a theme running throughout this post!) are definitely different to what I normally wear, but I instantly fell in love with them in store. The wide leg is something that I rarely wear (and I did have to crop the trousers as they were much too long for me), and I was also afraid that the paper-bag style around the waist wouldn’t be very flattering, but this actually makes them very unusual and on-trend. I paired them with a muted pink fitted jumper, which compliments the trousers nicely, and that’s all that was required to create this pretty, put-together look!
I hope you enjoyed seeing these different outfits, as I really enjoyed putting this post together for you! I'd love to know which one is your favourite, so make sure you let me know down in the comments! Thank you very much for reading and I'll see you on Thursday with another blog post!
Love from Daisy x
It’s been a long time since I brought you an outfits post, and since then I’ve actually made a lot of new purchases. I really enjoy putting together outfits and trying out different combinations on a daily basis, and so I thought I’d share this more on my blog. If you’d like to see what my typical outfits are for a week of university then make sure you keep reading, especially since there are some incredibly affordable pieces included!
M O N D A Y
Mondays are all about comfort clothes – the last thing you want on a cold and gloomy morning of working is to be wearing something uncomfortable. My go-to was this pair of black leggings from Zara, which are incredibly easy to wear yet the khaki and white stripes down the side still add a bit of interest. As it wasn’t too cold, I opted for the layered look with a grey jumper and my denim jacket, which has been a staple of mine this autumn. After adding my Timberland boots and this huge checked and houndstooth scarf, I was all good to go and prepared for the potentially cold weather. Although outfits like this are super simple, I love the effect of adding a statement scarf, and it definitely helps to keep me warm as well!
T U E S D A Y
It’s no secret that I adore wearing a beret from time to time, and so this entire outfit was styled around this gorgeous one from Primark that is grey and embellished with pearls. I paired it with my grey structured, oversized coat, which is a staple in my wardrobe that I’ve worn a lot this year. My white crotched jumper is a slouchy, comfortable wear that looks really nice tucked into jeans, which again have stripes down the side just to add some difference. The final touch was my Converse and my outfit was complete, and I actually love how it turned out!
W E D N E S D A Y
If anyone was to ask me then I’d definitely say that I’m more of a dresses and skirts person than trousers, and so it was about time that a dress and tights made an appearance in my lookbook. Shirt dresses are definitely popular right now, and they’re also incredibly easy to wear, and this monochromatic one that I own is the perfect versatile piece. I added a black belt to synch it in at the waist and make it more flattering, and also rolled up the sleeves (although you can’t tell since my coat and scarf take up most of the photo – it was a really cold day!) Pairing this with some black tights and boots was the final step and my outfit was complete!
T H U R S D A Y
A jumper and skirt is my go-to winter outfit combination, since there are so many varieties and ways that you can style different pieces in this way, as well as being a nice change from always wearing jeans. This gorgeous, block-striped jumper was in Primark’s ‘new in Glamour’ section and I just couldn’t resist it! I never normally opt for things that are red but this jumper really stood out to me, and it’s also incredibly cosy for the colder months. I tucked it into a black leather skirt and popped on some tights and my leather Chelsea boots, and that’s the outfit complete – very simple but a really pretty way of styling a jumper!
F R I D A Y
For the final day, I really wanted to wear something a bit more out of my comfort zone. These navy and lilac checked trousers from Primark (you can sense a theme running throughout this post!) are definitely different to what I normally wear, but I instantly fell in love with them in store. The wide leg is something that I rarely wear (and I did have to crop the trousers as they were much too long for me), and I was also afraid that the paper-bag style around the waist wouldn’t be very flattering, but this actually makes them very unusual and on-trend. I paired them with a muted pink fitted jumper, which compliments the trousers nicely, and that’s all that was required to create this pretty, put-together look!I hope you enjoyed seeing these different outfits, as I really enjoyed putting this post together for you! I'd love to know which one is your favourite, so make sure you let me know down in the comments! Thank you very much for reading and I'll see you on Thursday with another blog post!
Love from Daisy x
Novels - and lots of them!
As an English literature student, not a single day goes by without having a book in my bag. Whether it's for a class, revision notes or just reading for pleasure, I'll always need at least one book with me. At the moment, the frequent ones are Beowulf, Woolf's 'A Room of One's Own' and Shakespeare's 'King Henry V', although I've also had My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier in there a couple of days in hope that I'll start reading it (but sadly I've not had time).
My laptop and charger
Since buying my new laptop (which you can read more about in this blog post), it's safe to say that I've barely gone anywhere without. It's honestly changed my way of working, and it's so much handier being able to type up all of my university notes and work from any location. To avoid it getting damaged I keep it in a marble laptop case from New Look (let's face it, when will I ever choose something that isn't marble or rose gold?) and I also carry around my charger in case of an emergency, although my laptop has insane battery life so it's usually not needed.
Folders and notebooks
I'm the type of person who tries to keep all of my notes organised from day 1, rather than leaving it until the last minute, and so I like having folders with me so that I can file a paper away as soon as I'm done with it. However, since I've started bringing my new laptop with me on a daily basis, I've actually been leaving these at home just so my bag doesn't get too heavy, which is a much better system, and instead I just have a single plastic folder in my bag for any loose sheets or work that I'll need to consult.
Pencil case
My love for making aesthetically-pleasing, perhaps too elaborate, revision notes means you'll never find me with just a pen to hand. Oh no, I've got to carry around a variety of different coloured pens, highlighters and other stationery items in case I ever need them. It might seem a bit overboard, but I genuinely get a lot of use out of these, especially in exam season, hence why a big pencil case is such an essential in my bag.
Packed lunch and snacks
Being a university student with a tight budget means you can't afford to splurge on a fancy lunch or eat from the canteen or fast food outlets every day, so I've got into the habit of making a packed lunch. This saves a lot of money and it also means that I don't have to disrupt myself whilst working to go out and find somewhere to eat. I usually take a sandwich, bag of crisps, some fruit and a biscuit or piece of chocolate to snack on throughout the day, meaning I'm never going hungry.
Water bottle
Another staple in my bag is my water bottle, as I'm definitely trying to drink more water on a daily basis opposed to juice and fizzy drinks (as hard as this is!) Having one with me is an essential, and since it's a refillable bottle I don't need to worry about having to buy new ones, whilst also being environmentally friendly. If you're someone who struggles with drinking a lot of water, then the timer graphics along the side are super handy for monitoring yourself and having a goal to drink enough.
Money
It's always handy to have some money with you in case of an emergency, so quite often I'll have my purse floating around the bottom of my bag, as well as always having my card to hand. I try and refrain from using it, as a student budget means you can't be spending non-stop, but it's still good to have if necessary.
Phone charger
My iPhone 6s, like all iPhones, doesn't normally last an entire day without charging, especially if I'm using it a lot, and so having my charger with me is a necessity for topping it up throughout the day.
Earphones
I'm the type of person who often prefers to work while listening to music, especially if it's just copying up revision notes, and so I always like to have my earphones to hand. I'm also a slight bit obsessed with podcasts, and so these truly are a necessity in my bag.
Makeup bag essentials
I'm not one of those people who carries around a full face of makeup every day, as I just don't see the point and never reapply makeup while I'm out. However, having a couple of lipglosses in my bag is essential for me, especially when it's cold outside to prevent my lips from getting chapped. I also carry around a mini hairbrush and body spray, as these are necessities for on the go.
I hope you enjoyed this peek into my university handbag, and I really enjoyed writing my take on this classic post. I'd love to know what's in your bag for school, college or university, so make sure you let me know down in the comments below! Thank you very much for reading, and I'll be back on Friday with another new post, so make sure you come back then!
Love from Daisy x
Novels - and lots of them!
As an English literature student, not a single day goes by without having a book in my bag. Whether it's for a class, revision notes or just reading for pleasure, I'll always need at least one book with me. At the moment, the frequent ones are Beowulf, Woolf's 'A Room of One's Own' and Shakespeare's 'King Henry V', although I've also had My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier in there a couple of days in hope that I'll start reading it (but sadly I've not had time).
My laptop and charger
Since buying my new laptop (which you can read more about in this blog post), it's safe to say that I've barely gone anywhere without. It's honestly changed my way of working, and it's so much handier being able to type up all of my university notes and work from any location. To avoid it getting damaged I keep it in a marble laptop case from New Look (let's face it, when will I ever choose something that isn't marble or rose gold?) and I also carry around my charger in case of an emergency, although my laptop has insane battery life so it's usually not needed.
Folders and notebooks
I'm the type of person who tries to keep all of my notes organised from day 1, rather than leaving it until the last minute, and so I like having folders with me so that I can file a paper away as soon as I'm done with it. However, since I've started bringing my new laptop with me on a daily basis, I've actually been leaving these at home just so my bag doesn't get too heavy, which is a much better system, and instead I just have a single plastic folder in my bag for any loose sheets or work that I'll need to consult.
Pencil case
My love for making aesthetically-pleasing, perhaps too elaborate, revision notes means you'll never find me with just a pen to hand. Oh no, I've got to carry around a variety of different coloured pens, highlighters and other stationery items in case I ever need them. It might seem a bit overboard, but I genuinely get a lot of use out of these, especially in exam season, hence why a big pencil case is such an essential in my bag.
Packed lunch and snacks
Being a university student with a tight budget means you can't afford to splurge on a fancy lunch or eat from the canteen or fast food outlets every day, so I've got into the habit of making a packed lunch. This saves a lot of money and it also means that I don't have to disrupt myself whilst working to go out and find somewhere to eat. I usually take a sandwich, bag of crisps, some fruit and a biscuit or piece of chocolate to snack on throughout the day, meaning I'm never going hungry.
Water bottle
Another staple in my bag is my water bottle, as I'm definitely trying to drink more water on a daily basis opposed to juice and fizzy drinks (as hard as this is!) Having one with me is an essential, and since it's a refillable bottle I don't need to worry about having to buy new ones, whilst also being environmentally friendly. If you're someone who struggles with drinking a lot of water, then the timer graphics along the side are super handy for monitoring yourself and having a goal to drink enough.
Money
It's always handy to have some money with you in case of an emergency, so quite often I'll have my purse floating around the bottom of my bag, as well as always having my card to hand. I try and refrain from using it, as a student budget means you can't be spending non-stop, but it's still good to have if necessary.
Phone charger
My iPhone 6s, like all iPhones, doesn't normally last an entire day without charging, especially if I'm using it a lot, and so having my charger with me is a necessity for topping it up throughout the day.
Earphones
I'm the type of person who often prefers to work while listening to music, especially if it's just copying up revision notes, and so I always like to have my earphones to hand. I'm also a slight bit obsessed with podcasts, and so these truly are a necessity in my bag.
Makeup bag essentials
I'm not one of those people who carries around a full face of makeup every day, as I just don't see the point and never reapply makeup while I'm out. However, having a couple of lipglosses in my bag is essential for me, especially when it's cold outside to prevent my lips from getting chapped. I also carry around a mini hairbrush and body spray, as these are necessities for on the go.
I hope you enjoyed this peek into my university handbag, and I really enjoyed writing my take on this classic post. I'd love to know what's in your bag for school, college or university, so make sure you let me know down in the comments below! Thank you very much for reading, and I'll be back on Friday with another new post, so make sure you come back then!
Love from Daisy x
To create this, you will need:
Wire grid - if you search around the shops, there's many of these available in different colours and sizes, so be on the lookout in the homeware section of your local supermarkets and clothes shops - seriously, they're everywhere! I originally envisioned a rose gold one, as this is what I'd seen on Pinterest and was the theme of my room, but when I found this white one in Wilko for only £4, I knew I couldn't turn it down (and spray paint is always an option if you were insistent on a different colour).
Binder clips - these are needed to attach everything to the wire grid, adding that cute, homemade vibe of a pinboard rather than just using tape or blue tac. I opted for rose gold ones since the grid lacked this after choosing a white one, and I really do think the pop of colour works nicely
Photographs - these can be of anything you like, and have as few or as many as you want. I printed mine all through the app LALALAB, which offers incredibly cheap photo prints in a variety of sizes, including these adorable Polaroid-esque ones that I couldn't say no to. You also upload them directly from your phone, making it super convenient to have your favourite photos printed and you can even edit them beforehand! I actually have a discount code available for these, so if you'd like £5 off your first order then use the code PG8ZNE9R, which is definitely worth it, considering the prints start at £0.25 each!
Other quotes or printouts - have a selection of other things to decorate the grid with, as it's nice having a few other decorative items to complement the photographs. My additional pieces are actually cut-up planner pages that I found on sale in Rymans, which was definitely a lucky find by my mum, but you can use whatever you have lying around or even print off some things from Pinterest.
To assemble it:
Once you have all of the different components, it's really easy to put it all together. I spread everything out in front of me and started playing around with different combinations until I found one that I liked best, and then proceeded to clip everything into place. I also used some blue tac on the back to further reinforce everything, and this also allowed to have the photos on a diagonal, which gives a more spontaneous and cute feel.
One of my biggest tips is that less is more with this, as it'll easily begin to look overcrowded if you add too many photos or quotes, and you want to be able to see parts of the grid as well. In my opinion, a lot of the items look nicest when paired up, as they compliment each other nicely and thus make it look more cohesive and unified, and I'd also recommend trying to keep things like quotes spaced out rather than right next to each other.And that's pretty much it! As you can see, not much is needed at all to make this, yet once it's completed it looks incredibly effective. You can also personalise it as much as you want and alter things to make it perfect for you, whether that's in the colour, size or choice of decorations. I really do think that this is a pretty, Instagrammable addition to your university room, and is a lovely take on the traditional pinboard.
I'd love to see if any of you decide to recreate this or do something similar, so make sure you send me any photos on Twitter or Instagram, both of which are linked in the bar above!
Thank you very much for reading this blog post, and I hope you enjoyed seeing this little DIY that I did. I'll be back on Sunday with another new blog post since I'm now uploading 3 times a week, so make sure you check back for that!
Love from Daisy x
How I Made A Pinterest-Inspired Wire Grid Memo Board - DIY With Daisy
Thursday, November 01, 2018 • Life
To create this, you will need:
Wire grid - if you search around the shops, there's many of these available in different colours and sizes, so be on the lookout in the homeware section of your local supermarkets and clothes shops - seriously, they're everywhere! I originally envisioned a rose gold one, as this is what I'd seen on Pinterest and was the theme of my room, but when I found this white one in Wilko for only £4, I knew I couldn't turn it down (and spray paint is always an option if you were insistent on a different colour).
Binder clips - these are needed to attach everything to the wire grid, adding that cute, homemade vibe of a pinboard rather than just using tape or blue tac. I opted for rose gold ones since the grid lacked this after choosing a white one, and I really do think the pop of colour works nicely
Photographs - these can be of anything you like, and have as few or as many as you want. I printed mine all through the app LALALAB, which offers incredibly cheap photo prints in a variety of sizes, including these adorable Polaroid-esque ones that I couldn't say no to. You also upload them directly from your phone, making it super convenient to have your favourite photos printed and you can even edit them beforehand! I actually have a discount code available for these, so if you'd like £5 off your first order then use the code PG8ZNE9R, which is definitely worth it, considering the prints start at £0.25 each!
Other quotes or printouts - have a selection of other things to decorate the grid with, as it's nice having a few other decorative items to complement the photographs. My additional pieces are actually cut-up planner pages that I found on sale in Rymans, which was definitely a lucky find by my mum, but you can use whatever you have lying around or even print off some things from Pinterest.
To assemble it:
Once you have all of the different components, it's really easy to put it all together. I spread everything out in front of me and started playing around with different combinations until I found one that I liked best, and then proceeded to clip everything into place. I also used some blue tac on the back to further reinforce everything, and this also allowed to have the photos on a diagonal, which gives a more spontaneous and cute feel.
One of my biggest tips is that less is more with this, as it'll easily begin to look overcrowded if you add too many photos or quotes, and you want to be able to see parts of the grid as well. In my opinion, a lot of the items look nicest when paired up, as they compliment each other nicely and thus make it look more cohesive and unified, and I'd also recommend trying to keep things like quotes spaced out rather than right next to each other.And that's pretty much it! As you can see, not much is needed at all to make this, yet once it's completed it looks incredibly effective. You can also personalise it as much as you want and alter things to make it perfect for you, whether that's in the colour, size or choice of decorations. I really do think that this is a pretty, Instagrammable addition to your university room, and is a lovely take on the traditional pinboard.
I'd love to see if any of you decide to recreate this or do something similar, so make sure you send me any photos on Twitter or Instagram, both of which are linked in the bar above!
Thank you very much for reading this blog post, and I hope you enjoyed seeing this little DIY that I did. I'll be back on Sunday with another new blog post since I'm now uploading 3 times a week, so make sure you check back for that!
Love from Daisy x
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Social Icons