GRWM: Autumn Editon | Zafira
Hey!
Ever since I posted my summer GRWM in July, I've had a few messages asking if I would do more videos like that and honestly, I wasn't planning to since not a lot changes in my day to day makeup routine. But a few days ago, I was looking over photographs from over the summer and I look like a completely different person. It's crazy how much can change in a matter of months.
I decided to make another GRWM anyway but an Autumn edition. I would love to do these seasonally so I'll see how this one goes and make my mind up from there. I'm trying to get into doing and trying new things so maybe these GRWMs will be a good reason to try things (at least on my face).
Here's a list of everything I used in the vid:
Superdrug Vitamin E Mist
Mon Amour Lipbalm by Rejjie Snow x Neighbourhood Botanicals
Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation in 350 Caramel
Collection Loose Powder in Translucent
Revolution Contour Palette in Medium
Mary Lou Manizer from The Balm
Revolution Palette in Newtrals 2 (blush & eyeshadow)
Revolution Soph Palette (gold eyeshadow)
NYX Professional Tame & Frame Brow Pomade in Black
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Rome
Barry M Lip Liner in Chocolate
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Summer GRWM | Zafira
Hey!
I did a poll quite a while ago over on my Instagram asking what sort of video you would like to see next and the one that got the most votes was a summer get ready with me. My first ever YouTube video was a very glitchy grwm and a lot of people enjoyed that so I thought it would be perfect to an updated summer edition to switch it up a bit.
PRODUCTS USED:
Superdrug Vitamin E Mist
Burts Bees Lipbalm in Pomegranate
Bare Minerals Pure Brightening Serum Foundation in Bare Espresso
Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation in 350 Caramel
Collection Loose Powder in Translucent
Revolution Contour Palette in Medium
Mary Lou Manizer from The Balm
Revolution Palette in Newtrals 2 (blush)
Zoeva Cocoa Blend Pallete - only used Substitute for Love
NYX Professional Tame & Frame Brow Pomade in Black
Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara in Black
The Body Shop Lip Liner from about 10 years ago sorry this isn't available but any red lip liner will be more than okay
Max Factor Long Lasting Lipfinity Lipstick in Ever Sumptuous
I hope you enjoyed it!
Lots of love,
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Staycation Lookbook | Zafira
Hi!
If you've been following me on Instagram you'll know that last weekend, I spent a few days in the beautiful town of Penmaenmawr in Wales with my family. I won't get too into my experience there since I'm saving that for my Wales on Film blog post which is coming very soon!
I don't know whether it's global warming or what but the weather we've had in the UK has been beyond sweltering. It's amazing and when we went our extended little weekend away the weather was still pretty hot, it literally felt as if we were abroad.
Since I was only in Wales for a couple of days, I tried not to pack too much because I knew that 50% of my time would be at the beach and the other 50% would be climbing and walking and hiking mountains so I wanted to pack some very versatile and comfy outfits perfect for our activity filled days.
OUTFIT NO.1
For the beach, I found that a flowy dress with something like this white thrifted jumper or even an oversized jacket or cardigan on top worked best for me. We usually spent time at the beach in the mornings or late evenings to watch the sunset so it was still a bit windy. For this outfit, I'm wearing a white knitted jumper over a navy blue stripey dress which just happens to be the best purchase I've ever made. I wore my hat that I've been wearing all year to just top it off and shade my face.
Jumper - Thrifted You can buy a similar one here: http://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0650714001.html
Dress - Mango I got this quite a while ago and unfortunately it isn't available anymore but here are some very similar ones:
https://www.shein.co.uk/Button-Keyhole-Back-Self-Belt-Vertical-Striped-Dress
Hat- New Look
OUTFIT NO.2
This is the sort of thing I'd wear if I knew we'd be walking a lot. It's quite casual but no one is really going to be judging what you're wearing when you're 1000 metres up in the air. I tried to stick to things I knew I'd be comfortable in for a long period of time. I stuck to a pair of loose jeans with a short sleeved t-shirt or something loose or baggy on top like an oversized shirt with my pink jacket if needed and my Vans.
Jacket - Miss Selfridge This is unfortunately no longer available but here is one that's pretty much identical: https://www.missguided.co.uk/pink-oversized-denim-jacket
Short Sleeved Sweater Top - Pop Boutique This is no longer in store but they have the same style but with a variety of patterns, have a browse here: https://www.pop-boutique.com/ladies-vintage-clothing/vintage-knitwear.html
OUTFIT NO.3
For my last outfit worn in Wales, I went with something a bit dressier. I turned 18 on our little weekend away so I wanted to dress up a bit. I went with this tassel-y dress which I complete adore. The material is thin so it's perfect for hot days and it has big flowy sleeves which are good too. I actually got this from my auntie's shop in Ashton called Resham Collection where she sells a lot of Asian clothing but when I went in a few weeks ago this instantly caught my eye. It looks like something that would be sold at Zara so obviously I had to buy it. I paired this with some tassel earrings and my Vans since we were out walking around Wales and they are the most comfortable shoes I own.
Earrings - Primark (available in-store)
Sunglasses - Primark (available in-store)
Dress - Resham Collection (available in-store)
Trainers - Vans
I'll be posting more about my staycation very soon!
Lots of love,
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Changes | Zafira
Hi!
It feels like forever since the last time I blogged but I'm back and better than ever!
A couple of days ago, I finished college. It's crazy that these past two years have flown past. I can't even fathom how quickly time has gone by. There were times where days felt like years, especially over the past couple of months with exams but to think I start Uni in September is insane.
I have to say in all my years in education, college has most definitely been the best and worst two years of life. I had never been under so much pressure or stress to complete deadlines and work but alongside all of this, I developed as a person and found myself coming more and more out of my shell.
And that's all down to everyone I've met or became friends with at college. When starting, you don't realise how many new people you will meet. I think I got put into so many classes where people didn't come from my high school so I had no choice but to make new friends and I'm so glad that I did. I love that I had this opportunity to meet so many different people with so many different personalities and characteristics which has not only helped me embrace who I am but helped me make friends that I know I'll be friends with for many years to come.
I'd love to say I loved every moment of college but I didn't. There were so many moments where I felt as if it all got too much and I just didn't want to be there anymore and I think this is something that everyone at college can relate with. Sometimes the amount of pressure put on you is unmanageable but I'm glad that I stayed throughout the course of two years. I found that this helped so much with building my tolerance for stress and most importantly, patience with myself.
And now it's all over. Two years of memories and chaos all built up to two weeks straight of exams and now I'm done and I've become a free woman. I'm more than ready to see what the future holds. I think change has always been perceived as something uncomfortable and scary and yes it is those things. But I think change is mostly good, without it everyone would be so bored of their lives. I know I definitely would be. I can't wait to see what Uni has to offer and what sort of person I grow in to.
To anyone who is reading this from college, thank you for making the last two years very very very liveable, exciting and just overall amazing.
Lots of love,
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Music of the Month: April | Zafira
Hey!
I'm back with another music of the month! It's crazy that I last did one of these January but to be quite honest, my music choices haven't had a big change until mid April. When I'm working, I usually like to just listen to older songs so not much varied into what I was listening to. But, in April, many many many amazing people released so much new stuff and I fell in love with most of it. Here are some of the wonderful songs I've been enjoying recently.
Since the sun is beaming outside whilst I'm writing this, I guess it's only appropriate to put this first on my list. This is my new song for summer. It gets me in the happiest of moods and 'Hunnybee' is such a cute word. I haven't really been as into Unknown Mortal Orchestra's newest album but this song is most definitely an exception.
I am absolutely smitten with Anderson.Paak. Whenever I listen to anything by him, it just immediately puts me in the happiest of moods. This is another song I'll be playing all summer.
I've loved $uicideBoy$ for quite some time now. They're pretty depressing, I mean their group name has the word suicide in it but I can't get enough of them. This has a pretty cheerful rhythm but the lyrics are not so cheerful. It's a strange mix. A good mix.
I can't believe Billie is only 16. How does a 16 year old even have so much talent like she does?! This song is so soft and it's just so so so so dreamy. I love everything about it.
Kali released a new album this April and not only was the album cover stunning but the songs were a solid 11/10. This one happens to be my fave.
Rich Brian is not only funny and adorable but just so talented. I l o v e everything he's ever released and this is his most recent and I can't stop listening to it.
This is most likely the weirdest song on this entire list but it's just so good. I recently found an 1 hour version and YouTube and yes, I listened to the entire thing. I even put it on repeat for another 3 hours and I do not regret anything. My favourite part of the entire song is the "I like to watch you run but I'll never touch your bum" bit. It's quite sweet.
Even though Kanye has pretty much lost the plot, I've been listening to him a lot over the past few weeks. Especially the 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' album. I forgot this song existed for a while but it appeared on one of my daily mixes on Spotify and I had forgot how much I love this.
I've been obsessed with this version of Herside Story that was performed on Triple J and the guy that sings the intro bit to the song had this beauuuuuutiful voice. I searched him up and listened to some of his stuff and I fell in love. 'No Longer Lovers' just happens to be my all time fave.
Fyfe and Peaks have released some wonderful stuff recently and I love 'Love Hurts'. It's quite a sad song but it's just perfect for one of those mellow and chill days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Brp16poGww
Lots of love,
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London on Film | Zafira
Hi!
If you read my previous post, you'd know that I spent a week in London and it was so great. It was nice to have a week away from the chaos and craziness of college life and just take time to spend with my family. I didn't really get to out and explore as the main reason we were there was for wedding shopping but I managed to sneak away for a day and these are the film photographs that I took, enjoy!
I like to organise my photographs into categories when doing these posts but these two don't really fit into any because I took them on a different day.
Like I said earlier, the whole purpose of our family London trip was to shop and shop we did. We bought so much stuff and it was such a long process but most of the shopping is done and I can't wait for the wedding.
I can't remember where I took this but the sunlight is what really caught my eye, it just created such a calm and serene environment in a busy city like London.
The Tate Modern is quite a peculiar place but I love it nonetheless. It's definitely for the more artsy fartsy people but it's still such a cool place to walk around.
The two photographs above were actually taken in a pitch black room. In order to see the work on the walls you had to use flash which is usually not allowed. It was such a beautiful and moving collection of photographs.
Covent Garden is one of those days you'd go when it's sunny and warm. Thankfully, the day I went, the weather was so good even though the Beast from the East 3 had hit a couple of days before.
There's so many pretty flowers in Covent Garden and if the Sun decides to be your friend you can get some super cute shots.
The British Museum is just built in the most beautiful way possible. The outside looks quite historic and old but on the inside, it has the most stunning minimal yet breath taking interior. It's all white and when the sun shines through, it just creates such an amazing atmosphere.
I was running pretty low on film so I didn't get to get as many shots I initially wanted to but I completely adore these Greek sculptures.
I'll be posting these photographs plus a lot more over on my Instagram!
Lots of love,
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Exploring London: Tate Modern, The British Museum & Covent Garden | Zafira
Hey!
It's been quite a while since I've been to London but I was there for the first week of my Easter holidays. The main reason I was there was to shop for my cousin's wedding in the summer which literally took an entire 3 days. Don't even ask it was a very very very long process but just know me and my family will be looking quite cute on her wedding day if I don't say so myself. Anyway, my week was filled with not only shopping but visiting family I hadn't seen for a while which took up the majority of my time there but eventually, I had a day spare and spent it doing what I love most which is wandering the streets and taking photographs. A lot of the photographs will be used in my last ever photography project at college based on the structure and composition of everyday life which is why the majority of my photographs look like I've spent the entire day stalking people.
My little day adventure began at the Tate Modern. I think every hipster/indie/tumblr child has been here but I've always put it off until now. It's cool but weird at the same time. Contemporary art is a strange thing but it's always fun to see what unique things people have created.
From the outside, it doesn't look like a very modern building but inside it's pretty amazing. This particular part drew me in because of the bright coloured text and windows opposite each other. It's a cute corner.
Here's some close ups of what the text says, they're a quite cynical but the quote "Panic drives human herds over cliffs" on the yellow square is my favourite bit.
I don't know what it is but I frickin' love neon lights. I've been contemplating getting a neon flamingo light for my bedroom but they're just waaay too expensive for me at the minute. These two particular pieces are by Bruce Nauman.
I love it when photographs are organised like this.
When I did Fine Art in my first year of college, this famous urinal by Marcel Duhamp was bought up when we were studying what art actually is. It was really cool seeing it in real life.
This was really adorable because they're just staring at an older version of themselves.
For this piece they had several screens and each screen was a different argument for a question that went along the lines of "If you post your art work online does it still belong to you?" It was so fascinating reading the different viewpoints.
It was also really exciting looking at Martin Parr's work as he is one of the photographers who I had used for inspiration for my final photography project at college. I love this sort of stuff.
It's really interesting watching how people react to art. Especially at places like the Tate Modern where the art is so different and unique.
I'd love to give you some context about these last two images but I honestly cannot remember what the story was behind them but they me remind of Neanderthal/monkey-esque creatures.
The next place on my list was the British Museum. I never even knew this existed but I was extremely glad that I went. The building itself is so beautiful inside and out and if I had a lot of time to explore, I could most likely spend an entire lifetime in there.
Look at this beauty.
I have quite an admiration for stuff like the globe and golden details on the clock on the two photographs above. I think they're insanely pretty and I'd fill my entire house with stuff like it if I could.
Whenever I look at a vase like this I always think of the opening scene of Hercules.
When you have your exams 4 weeks and you still haven't revised a single thing.
When you try and act casual when you see your bae.
I actually adore these Greek sculptures, I really wish someone would make one of me.
The boys.
How cute does this father and son look in the sunlight?
I have so many photographs of the British Museum building but they're on my rolls of film that haven't been developed yet (keep your eyes peeled over on my Instagram to see when I post 'London on Film').
The last place I ventured to was Covent Garden which is the perfect place to go on a sunny day. Thankfully, I was blessed with amazing weather when I went last week and I'd definitely be going back there a lot more. It's such a nice place to go with friends and family. It's filled with little market stalls but also a huge variation of shops to fit your every need.
I tripped and almost fell before I took this. I just thought you should know.
There's so many cool acts going on around Covent Garden to keep everyone entertained.
I 100% will be having my lunch here some day.
I'll be posting these photographs plus a lot more over on my Instagram!
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What's in My Bag? | Zafira
Hi!
I think that one of the very first YouTube beauty guru-esque videos I watched was a 'What's in My Bag' and I think I've been dying to do one ever since. A couple of months ago, I was kindly gifted the most beautiful satchel from MAHI Leather and ever since then, I've been using it pretty much everyday.
This has been my life saver since mid November. It fits everything I could possibly need for a busy day at college or even shooting. This is the Harvard Satchel in black. I decided on black because I knew that it would match my outfits a lot better than brown. It has a small compartment at the front where I dump stuff that I need easy access to so my bus pass, keys etc. It has a small zipped compartment at the back which I use occasionally but it's mainly full of receipts. Inside, there's so much space I'm sure I could fit a small child in there. It has two big compartments and then a little zipped compartment which I use for some back up film rolls, SD cards and anything else along those lines.
Here's a shot of it on film, I think it truly helps to fulfill the whole photographer aesthetic I'm aiming for. (and it matches my Doc Martens so well!)
Here's a few things I carry on a daily basis...
1. Lip balm
I don't think I ever leave the house without lip balm, even if I don't have a bag with me I'll usually slip one in my pocket. This is the watermelon flavoured lip balm from Oliver Bonas. It's smells so good, like if summer had a scent, this would totally be it. It's has such a good consistency and looks super adorable. It's my perfect lip balm.
I can only find the pomegranate one online so you can buy that here:
https://www.oliverbonas.com/gift/pomegranate-lip-balm-50676
2. Film Camera
I'm trying to get into the habit of carrying a camera around to capture memories, moments and anything cool and exciting really. I've been in love with this baby for so long now I can never seem to leave the house without it anymore. This is the Canon 300 and it most likely has a roll of the Fujifilm Superia 200 in it. I adore film. I finish college in a few weeks and I've just been trying to capture moments with my friends and they're just somewhat more special when I take them on film.
3. Lipsticks (usually about 20 shoved into the front pocket)
I don't really touch up on my makeup throughout the day but the one thing I will end up re-applying a couple of times a day is lipstick. I drink coffee a lot and my lipstick usually rubs off on the coffee cups so I'll always have a nice selection of lipsticks to re-apply. Here I have NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams in Rome and Budapest, Barry M Lip Paint in Genie which I don't even think I've worn yet and then an old Nina Ricci lipstick that is ancient but the colour is too pretty to throw away.
4. Mirror & Keys
This vintage mirror was actually given to me for free at a car boot sale. it's really pretty and I just love vintage items. I carry a mirror because I can't stop staring at myself and my keys are quite self explanatory. I need to them to get in and out of my house.
5. Purse
This bright mustard purse was a completely random purchase. I needed a purse so I went to TK Maxx and this Visconti purse caught my eye and I impulsively ended up buying it. I'm usually not a bright colour wearing person but something about this purse really captured my gaze.
6. Body Mist
I enjoy smelling nice so I'll have a couple of random body mists or sprays in my bag. I'm not a huge fan of carrying perfume bottles around just because they're so bulky and I'm always scared they're going to end up breaking and spilling all over my work. This So...? body mist in Fresh Floral is just a very cheap body mist I picked up in Superdrug to throw into my bag. Considering it cost under £2, it smells amazing and so clean and fresh which is something I'm always looking for in a scent.
7. Bobby Pins
The bottom of my bag consists of so many of these. No matter how hard I try to be organised and put them into little bags or pouches, they always end up escaping somehow.
8. SD Card & USB Stick
I think most students carry USB sticks with them, it's just very handy when saving work. Since I do photography as a subject at college, an SD card is a necessity but also great when I'm out and about shooting. Just like the bobby pins, there's usually so many just piling up at the bottom of my bag.
8. Pencil Case
As a photography, English Language and English Literature student, there is never not a moment where I don't need a pen or some sort of writing/drawing material. I got this pencil case a couple of years ago in Wilkos.
9. Hand Cream
I think I wash my hands more than anyone ever should. I wash my hands before and after everything I do and they always end up feeling pretty dry. This is the Zoella Wonder Hand Mosturising Hand Cream and it's okay. I was using one that I picked up at TK Maxx which was my absolute fave but that ran out a few days ago and this is just my back up for now.
10. A Book (sometimes several)
I used to be a huge book worm but these days, I can't seem to find the time or patience to read. However, there are moments when I feel like reading and it's just very handy to have a book in my bag just so I'm not completely bored. I wanted to start reading more of the cult classics and I thought 1984 was a pretty good place to start. Since I'm a literature student, I'm usually carrying books that we're studying alongside whatever I'm reading in my own time too.
11. Sunglasses
I'm aware that currently in the UK, the mini Beast from the East has hit us and it's covered in snow outside, but sunglasses are such a perfect accessory for any and every outfit. It's just handy to have them in case the sun decides to come out of hiding or to complete my look for that particular day. These are some very cheap sunnies from Primark that I've had for years.
12. Glasses
So I'm a bit blind. I've been wearing glasses on and off since I was 3 and they're a necessity because I'm short sighted and can usually never see anything. These have a very grandma vibe which is something I'm quite liking at the minute. These are from Specsavers.
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Instagram:
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Photography Tumblr:
Personal Tumblr:
Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zafiraahmed/
:
https://twitter.com/zphotographya
Youtube:
tube.com/channel/UCjKMuZ_l3W8Y3mAnxJqUdnQ
Zafira
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Music of the Month: January | Zafira
(the main reason I make playlists is so I can use my own pictures for the cover picture)
This. Month. Has. Felt. So. Long.
Hi! January is finally over and it's February. For some time now, I've wanted to do a post like this one because music is such a big part of my life. I'm always listening to music, whether I'm working or staring at the ceiling, there's always something playing the background. I have a playlist for every occasion and mood but, my absolute favourite ones are my monthly playlists. I have quite a wide music taste, it changes all the time and I thought it would be quite an interesting thing to share.
Here are some of the songs that I've really enjoyed this month:
After the whole 'whip my hair' thing, I was 98% sure I wasn't going to ever hear anything remotely decent by Willow but her newest music has proved me completely wrong. Some of my favourites are Wait a Minute, 9 and Israel. Her voice is so sweet and amazing. When I heard Jaden Smith's album SYRE a couple months ago and heard her on it and I was so shocked. She has the voice of a literal angel.
Wait a Minute:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIYCHbOTab4
9:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usuHRa9MNIc
Israel:
When Saturation III came out in December, I was so hooked, the obsession carried on into this month. I had heard a couple of their songs here and there over the past couple of years but Saturation III was the first album of theirs that I had listened to all the way through. This month I've been trying to listen to couple more and so far I completely adore TOKYO, SWEET and BOOGIE.
TOKYO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLspqhIoJQQ
SWEET:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nDsnJH30fs
BOOGIE:
The Neighbouhood released a new EP this month and I fell in love with their stuff like I always do. I'm pretty sure I sat and listened to the entire To Imagine album on repeat for an entire week this month. It's some good stuff.
Jorja Smith recently released a song with Stormzy called 'Let Me Down' and it's insanely good. I never thought I'd ever be listening to anything with Stormzy in just because usually it isn't the type of music I find appealing. But, he was so good in this song and his voice goes really well with Jorja's. It's a banger.
Let Me Down:
I always thought BORNS was just another typical indie band but when I saw the lead singer in a dashing Gucci suit on the front cover of the Blue Madonna album, I was intrigued and couldn't help but give them a listen. They're so great. My favourite song of the album so far is Iceberg.
Iceberg:
One of Kevin's songs was on my Spotify daily mixes sometime last month and I loved it. It was Miserable America and I was enjoying it so much I forgot to add it to my songs. A couple of weeks passed and I was humming the song trying to figure out what it was. Turns out, all I had to do was type America into my Spotify search and there it was, waiting for me to listen to it.
Miserable America:
I used to listen to quite a lot of Pvris a few years ago and I remember being completely in love with their Spotify acoustic sessions. I don't really know why I stopped listening to them but when I was browsing through old playlists, I rediscovered them and checked if they had anything new out and found a couple of jewels. Same Soul is such a beautiful song, I listen to it so many times a day and I love love love it.
Same Soul:
Rejjie Snow came out with Dear Annie Pt 1 this month and it's some of his best stuff. I love the album cover, it's what made me want to listen to it even more. I know they say not to judge a book by it's cover but I can't help it. It's quite an aesthetic album cover. The songs on it are just as good as the cover itself, they're amazing. My no.1 fav is currently Egyptian Luvr.
Egyptian Luvr:
I think I first heard of Young Fathers from the Trainspotting 2 Soundtrack. I loved loved loved Get Out and I still listen to it pretty frequently now. It's just one of those songs that I'll never get bored of. In My View was on one of my daily mix playlists and the first few seconds made me immediately add into my own library. It's such a good song and I know I'll be listening to it for a very long time.
Get Out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7UmjvbmHQM
In My View:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQFPikYSalg
If you're interested in some more of my music faves this month, you can check out my January playlist here:
https://open.spotify.com/user/11144523237/playlist/
I also post a lot of my favourite songs over on my Instagram stories so go follow me on there for more!
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Dear 2018 | Zafira
Dear 2018,
2017 was a roller coaster of a year. I don't think I've ever been so upset but so happy but so disappointed and extremely overwhelmed all at once in my entire life. It's been a strange one but I'm very much ready for it to end.
I don't want to start this year off with a list of resolutions and things I need to fix from last year because let's be real, I'm never ever going achieve everything on my list. I'm not expecting a lot from this year, just the few important things that I feel will not only improve me as a person but my entire life in general.
I hope that you offer me a range of opportunities because I think I'm finally ready to live my life to fullest. I know this year will be challenging. It's my last year at college and I'll be sitting my exams in May (😭) and hopefully, if I get the grades I need, I'll be off to Uni in September which is insane. In my head, I still feel like I'm 10 years old but I'll be turning 18 this year and I'll be an adult. It's time to slowly grow up and let real life hit me and I'm ready for it.
I have this irrational fear of change but at the same time, I love change. I can't wait for it. I know that a lot of things will change this year, with my education, with family and much more but it's taken me a solid 17 years to accept that these changes are good. Even if they don't feel like it at the time, they'll make more sense as I grow older and learn to understand how if they didn't occur, I wouldn't be where I am right now.
I spent a lot of time in 2017 wasting away my hours, contemplating over things that didn't matter at all and a lot of staring at the ceiling and listening to Kanye's 'The Life of Pablo' all night until the early hours of dawn hit. That's all about to change, I love you Kanye but I think it's about time I sort out my sleeping schedule and spend my time on things that will have positive outcomes. I'm ready to work hard for what I want and I'm extremely determined to tick off many goals on my list this year.
I hope you are sweet to me and I hope that time spent with my family and friends this year are so heart warming that my heart over heats and feels like it's going explode every time I with them. I haven't been a very good friend or family member this year, in some ways, I feel like I've neglected everyone close to me. But, I'm working on myself and I think it's finally hit hard how much my loved ones do for me. I want to make my family and friends proud and be there for them. I want them to feel a sense of warmth and comfort when they are around me.
My camera and art supplies became a little dusty this year. I hadn't been as devoted to capturing photographs and creating art as much as I would have liked to mainly out of pure laziness. It's been harder to create art over the past couple of months, the only time I feel a little spurt of creativity is during class and I feel this overwhelming urge to doodle. I want to desperately work on this year, I want to be the artsy fartsy child I was a long time ago. I know she's hiding deep inside me somewhere. I captured a lot of memories this year on film. I'm in love with my Canon EOS 300 but I feel as if I haven't spent enough time with it in my hands. Capturing memories has been fun but I know that there's so much more out there for me to document and capture. There's so much going on in the world that so so so many people don't see. I want to change this. I want to take a series of images so eye opening that it changes the way people think and see. I'm done with all this tumblr-y stuff that people expect of me when they see my work, it's not what I want to do anymore. I want my work to have more meaning.
I want to spend more time on here. I love writing. It's something that feels so natural so to avoid it and not spend anytime doing it feels wrong and uncomfortable. It'll be hard to find the time to put in but I will find time and make this my own little cute personal space on the vast web. I've done this place up a little bit and found a name I quite like, 'Zafira Ahmed' seemed a bit too plain Jane. I really like this new name.
Charles Buckowski said "I was waiting for something extraordinary to happen, but as the years wasted on nothing ever did unless I caused it" and I intend to live by this everyday this year. In 2017, I felt bored with my life, it seemed as if the days were all blending together, there was no difference between them. I want to do exciting things, big or small. I want to be spontaneous and not live by a structured day to day schedule.
2018, please go slowly. I feel like my whole life is flashing before my eyes already when I've barely just hit 17. I want to enjoy every aspect of my life so thoroughly and vividly that the memories stay with me forever. Whether these memories are good or bad, I'm ready to experience them.
Yours sincerely,
Zafira
x
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:
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November & October on Film | Zafira
I'm back with another one of these film blog posts!
In my September post I said I'd combine the film shots from October and November because I knew it'd be a hectic couple of months. But, it's December and I'm finally on a fresh roll of film and I've finally gotten round to getting my previous roll developed and scanned in!
October was pretty uneventful, I was feeling quite uninspired but a day out with my cousins shopping in Manchester slowly changed that. It was nice to be out and about. I think I'd like to do some sort of film series based in Manchester, I have lived here my entire life and I've only just started to explore it.
This bin was looking particularly photogenic I couldn't help but take a picture.
At the beginning of November, I spent a weekend in Birmingham with family to mainly look at BCU as I'm applying there, but it was also really nice to just explore Birmingham a little bit since it could possibly be my home for the next 3 years. This is the Bullring and I love how it looks.
Whilst in Birmingham, I spent some quality time with these two cuties.
Since when did My Little Ponies look like this?
It was Bonfire night when I was still in Birmingham and these shots are pretty decent considering I had no tripod.
This bathroom was really nice but you can't see.
These are pretty underexposed but they have a bit of gloomy vibe and I appreciate some good old Mughal era paintings. This was when me and my family went out to eat in Birmingham.
We went out to local park and took a nice stroll and my little cousin Liyana helped me take some pretty shots.
I've spent the last two months in these amazingly comfy pants from Zara and making this glum face too.
I quite like this even though it's heavily under exposed.
I'm usually never home until after the sun sets except from on the weekends but I spent most of the weekends in my soft office. I luckily caught this shot and the these lovely warm tones it. It makes me feel really nostalgic.
Towards the end of November, it really felt like Winter.
We had a little baby shower for my Auntie at the end of November and there were a bunch of leftover desserts so I bought some in for my friends Sanjida and Cherie. They loved them.
One of my favourite portrait shots I've ever taken on film.
This is the best purchase of the year I think. I bought it from the little boys section in H&M for the bargain price of £14 and even though it's for 14 yrs +, it's quite big and over sized and has kept me warm over the past couple of weeks.
I was kindly gifted this
and it's the perfect bag for me. It matches everything I wear and has tons of space in which is perfect for me because I now use it for college. It's handiest, prettiest satchel I've ever set my eyes on. Expect a 'What's in My Bag' coming very very soon!
My walls are slowly starting to get completely covered in my film shots.
Kitty is the real star of the show in these film blog posts. I might have bribed her with some string but she's just so photogenic. A film roll isn't complete without her pretty face on it.
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September on Film | Zafira
Hi!
I'm back with another post in my film series! I'm quite aware it's mid October, well pretty much past mid at this point but I've been insanely busy at college but I've finally found a little bit of time to show you a couple of snaps I took during the month of September!
All I can remember from September was the stress of being back at college, writing my personal statement and catching up with all my amazing friends. It's weird how fast college has gone, this is my last year and I want to treasure every moment possible.
This is Britt, she smells nice.
I'm currently trying to jazz my room up a bit. It looks quite plain so I stuck pretty much all my film shots up on my walls and it looked quite cute. I think I'll probably end up getting some fairy lights too just to complete that ever so 'Tumblr' look.
This is Cherie and Sanjida. They make college that little bit more bearable.
Here's a snap of Cherie looking cute as per usual.
Lydia and Jazmine having waay too much fun in the art department.
Another cat one. We've become particularly close over the past few days. I often find that when I come home, he/she is waiting for me outside my window.
My mum likes buying fresh flowers every week.
I'm Asian of course my house contains at least one chili plant.
We have a little bit of a jungle theme going on in our living room, it's very nice and relaxing.
Sparkly macaroons are apparently a thing?
Me in the only shirt I seem to own. I don't even look like myself in this it's strange.
I took this on the way home from college. I spend too much of my life sat on a bus.
Since I had experimented a lot this month, a lot of my shots were pretty much under exposed but it's all good, I've got a fresh roll and I'm excited to shoot again. I think I'm going to merge October and November together so get ready for a nice chunky post!
Remember to follow me on all my social media to stay updated and to see some cool behind the scenes and extra shots!
How to Stay Organised | Zafira
Hello!
The most difficult thing I find about being at college is definitely trying to stay organised. It can get pretty messy with the work load and trying to manage some sort of system that helps you get everything done. But I'm in my second year of college and I've finally found a few tips that have really helped me stay on track!
1. Move out of your soft office.
We all love our beds. I love mine dearly and I think I spend the majority of my life in my bed. However, when you're working, the last thing you want to be is chill and sleepy. Separate your bed from your work life, it'll make your bed more of the sanctuary and place of rest that it's supposed to be rather than a place of work. It's a really hard move to make but it will definitely help you stay focused whilst working.
2. Make sure your work place is clean, minimal and tidy.
I have only just started to use my desk properly this year and I wish I would have used it sooner. I used to use it as a place to dump all my crap such as books but this year I though I'd tidy it up and make it a decent place to work. Wherever you're working should be clean and tidy, try and move things that are distracting away from your work area and keep it as minimal as possible. As they say 'tidy desk, tidy mind' and it's 100% true.
3. Pack your bag the night before.
I used to pack my bag the morning of school but ever since I've started college, I've been doing it the night before and it's saved me so so so much time in the morning. Give yourself about 15 minutes the night before school, college or uni to pack all your essentials just so you're completely ready for the day. This bag is from River Island btw and I think I've been using it for like 4 years now. I'm very surprised it's even lasted this long.
5. Plan your outfits the night before.
This is sort of on the same lines as packing your bag the night before. It will save you so much more time in the morning to fully prepare yourself for a day in hell but at least this way you'll be looking extra cute even though you're in pain. This jumper is from Bershka and is the comfiest thing I own. It isn't available anymore but you can buy a very very similar one here:
https://www.zaful.com/lantern-sleeve-mock-neck-sweater-p_379337.html
6. Keep a copy of your timetable at home & a calendar to fill in for the month.
Keeping a copy of your timetable at home is pretty useful especially when it comes to knowing what lessons you have, when work is due and what to pack for the day. On my timetable, I've colour coordinated my lessons so when I fill in my diary/planner or my to do list, I use that certain colour so I know it's associated with that certain subject. Usually I'd just make my own on Word but this time I just printed a couple off Google Images, there's a lot of different cute ones. Calendar wise, print one that has boxes for everyday of the month so you can fill in what work is due and important dates. The most satisfying thing to do at the end of the day is to put a nice big red 'x' through that day's box.
7. Get a diary/planner.
A planner or diary for the year is a necessity. Not only do they help keep you organised but they're so much fun to shop for since they come in so many different styles, designs and structures. I got mine from TK Maxx and it's A6 sized so it's so easy to take with me everyday. I fill in everything in here, whether it's homework, university associated stuff or even appointments. I love cats.
8. Make lists of everything you need to do.
My friend Cherie bought me a couple of these cute notebooks whilst she was on holiday and they've been amazingly handy. I like making lists. Whatever the situation is, I'll most likely make a list whether it's a pro or cons or a list of stuff to take on holiday or in this case, a list of work I need to do. Usually I'll make one for the week and one for the weekend. This notebook is quite handy since at the top it has little section to fill in the date so you know what you're on but just any notebook will do or you can even get yourself a to do list pad.
9. Post stick notes are your best friends.
I don't think I would have even survived my first year without these. I stick these e v e r y w h e r e. I am an organised person because of these. I use them to write down important work that's due, to highlight sections I need to revise in books, important areas in books, the list is honestly endless. They will be your saviour for the rest of your life in education.
I hope this gave you a few ideas on how to get your life somehow together, don't worry if it isn't perfectly organised, mine isn't and I can assure you that no one else's is 100% organised either 😏
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Summer on Film | Zafira
Hi!
So I've decided to start a new series on here. I'm going to start doing a blog post about whatever month it is but shot in film. I hope it gets me experimenting with film a lot more and also one thing I really love doing is talking about my photographs and why I took them which is why this series is pretty much perfect. I love love film. I can't even get over how much I adore shooting on it. I'm always trying to find new and fun ways to document my life and so far, using film has been my absolute fave. I just love how it looks and shooting on it is so so so much more fun that digital. It's exiciting, you don't know what the outcome is going to be.
The first post in this series are some shots I took over summer, I honestly didn't get out much. I spent a lot of time travelling to see family but I was either indoors or in a car most of the time or just at home lazing around.
Here are some of my favourites from over this summer!
Like I mentioned earlier, I want to document my life and I feel like I've currently hit my peak teen years, next year I'm going to be an adult which I don't even wanna talk about. But here's the door to my room which makes me feel so young and childish and I love it.
I own a troll that looks like a roadman. I don't really know why I bought this but it's sat on a shelf in my room looking quite cute.
I remember I took this when the weather because extremely bipolar and it was raining cats and dogs once minute and the next it was so sunny. You can see the grey clouds clearing in the top of the picture. I love taking pictures of the sky.
Just the view outside my bedroom window.
I wanted to take a picture of the moon but obviously considering it was the middle of the night and it was pitch black, the picture didn't come out as great as I had visioned it too but it still looks semi cool.
Here's my cat that isn't actually my cat. I think it belongs to our neighbour but it seems to love me a lot.
Here's my cousin looking pretty cute, I spent a lot of time with family this summer and it was really nice.
A cute tiny little vase thing with flowers in with pink water because my obsession with pink has honestly hit a new level of extreme where I'm basically killing all my plants with this pink water that consists of paint.
I also bought a hat (from New Look) and this shirt (from Zara, also in my prev blog post) which I wore like everyday. It's a cute combo.
I also took this on digital which you can see over on my Instagram, links to everything will be at the end of this post.
Of course there was some pictures of the lovely Hannah on my camera as always. She's my go to model and I had to take some images for my photography project for college. These film ones are quite blurry because I didn't use lighting and I didn't really want that artificial look to them. But, I really like the different tones and hues in these and I don't mind the blurryness at all. These were all inspired by the photographer
.
Here's a behind the scenes of the star face shot, this is my fave image I've ever taken.
Also for my college photography project, I had to choose another phtotographer and create images inspired by them. So I chose
and here's a behind the scenes. If you check out my Instagram, you can see one of the final versions from this set! Links to all my social media will be at the end of this post.
It was Eid on September 1st and here's me looking overly happy in my Eid outift.
I took this the day before college started, pretty sure I was procrastinating and avoiding all the work I had to do.
Make sure to follow me on Instagram and my other social media to find out when I post the next post in this series and when I just post in general!
Back to School/College Outfit Ideas | Zafira
Hello!
Welcome to or welcome back to my blog! It's unfortunately September and me and other students are finding ourselves back in a familiar ditch in the ground called school, college or maybe even university. It's honestly a very sad time of year for me anyway. I remember that this time last year I was starting my first year at college which is crazy since this is my last year and this time next year, I'll be at Uni trying to find my way in life (hopefully). One thing I struggled with a lot with starting college was what to wear. In the UK, most schools have uniform so I never really had the chance to explore my own style or even get to wear my own clothes as often as I wanted. But then college started and I found myself struggling for what to wear. I didn't know whether my outfit choices were too extravagant or too lazy for college but a few months in, I finally found my own style and found some college appropriate outfits that I was comfortable.
This blog post is for those of you who are stuck in a bit of rut and aren't really sure what to wear. I hope it helps!
It's hard to find a place to start in your college wardrobe but the best place to start was with plain/printed t shirts and polo necks. These polo necks have been a life saver especially as this September, it's definitely a lot chillier here in the UK. They're a really easy outfit choice as all you would need to do is throw them on with a pair of jeans and you're good to go. These two polo necks are from Pop Boutique.
These particular two aren't available at the minute but there is one available in black and green:
https://www.pop-boutique.com/jersey-polo-neck-black-and-green.html
Shirts like this are also a good way to go as they help make you look put together if you aren't which is why I love them. You look a bit more sophisticated and ready to work and this floral printed one from Zara is so comfy and is super pretty. I would usually wear this with some high waisted jeans and a nice thick belt.
This also is not available in store but here are some that are very similar:
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/tops/blouses/printed-pyjama-blouse-c763513p5087041.html
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/tops/blouses/floral-print-blouse-c763513p4853137.html
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/tops/blouses/floral-print-blouse-c763513p4850035.html
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/trending-now/floral-print-crepe-blouse-c773004p5076564.html
Shirt dresses like this are a life saver. They're so effortless and look really good all year round. I got this one form Zara in a size bigger than usual so it was a bit more slouchy. I love this since it has pockets too and honestly feels like I'm in the most comfortable cute looking potato sack. I'd usually pair this with a pair of leggings.
This is only available in red at the minute:
As it gets a bit chillier, I like to start incorporating a couple of knitted or thicker pieces into my college wardrobe. This plain black knit dress from Zara is like wearing a blanket. It's one of my most favourite pieces in my wardrobe at the minute.
Seems like everything on here isn't available lol but here's some pretty similar dupes:
http://www.asos.com/warehouse/warehouse-knitted-t-shirt-dress
If you like dressing up which I do like to do occasionally, then dresses (this is actually a playsuit but is pretty much like a dress) are such an amazing investment. It helps you feel a lot more free and comfy throughout the long college days.
Similar stuff to this:
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/dresses/view-all/embroidered-dress-c733885p4891004.html
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/trf/dresses/mini/embroidered-dotted-mesh-dress-c965504p5083529.html
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/trending-now/embroidered-dotted-mesh-dress-c773004p4807524.html
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/trending-now/embroidered-dotted-mesh-dress-c773004p4838046.html
Culottes are really in right now and so much more comfy than wearing jeans. I find them a lot more loose fitting and breathable in a way. You can find them in a variation of designs and styles it's basically endless. I love wearing culottes so much. They're also really easy to wear, I usually wear mine with plain white t shirts most of the time. This striped pair are from Zara much like 99% of my wardrobe.
These are available! :
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/trousers/view-all/trousers-with-belt-c733898p4908569.html
A jacket is a necessity, even though it's not freezing right now, it's definitely a lot colder and especially at college you'll find yourself moving between buildings for different lessons. This is my much loved pink jacket that I'm wearing 24/7. I've had it for almost a year now and I bought it from Miss Selfridge and it's the best purchase I've ever made. It's perfect for this transition time of year where it's still a bit warm but also can get a bit chilly.
I bought this too long ago for it to be still available but some similar ones are available:
https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/en-gb/shop/bdg-pink-oversized-denim-jacket
When I started college, I had no idea that I would be walking so much on a day to day basis. You want a pair of shoes or boots that are sturdy and comfortable and also really cute. These are my Dr Marten Flora boots which are basically like Chelsea boots but a bit more chunkier. I love them. I wear them all the time and are the best investment I've ever made. I bought these almost a year ago and I can definitely see myself wearing these for at least a couple more years.
You can buy these here:
I also really like my Vans. Not to sound like a complete cliché but I actually bought these before the entire college started wearing them and I love them. They feel so so so good on my feet and match all my outfits which is always something I'm looking out for when I'm buying any footwear.
You can buy these babies here:
https://www.vans.co.uk/shop/en-gb/vans-gb/old-skool-shoes-d3hy28#
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