Music of the Month: March | Zafira
Hey!
I'm back with one of my favourite blog posts to do on here which is music of the month! I love music. I'm always listening to something. It's actually pretty difficult for me to do anything or be productive in anyway without something pretty playing in the background.
I don't want to make this a super long intro since my March playlist is a quite a hefty one so without further ado here are some of my favourite songs this month.
As always, here's a link to my full playlist for this month if you're interested:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Gyr17xCBOh1I67tL7xBKw?si=9qnnnI5vQ1qUPawKkHBflw
THINGS I IMAGINED - SOLANGE
Before I say anything I'd like to start with this beauty:
https://twitter.com/taibernacle/status/1101967739600674822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
As much as this sounds like broken record, I still listen to it at least once a day. I love Solange. I think she's one of the most amazing women out there. Her entire new album was truly a blessing and made the month of March just a little bit cuter. Every single song on her new album was just wow.
2. MARCH - KEATON HENSON
I have no idea why but I always forget this song off my March playlists. It. Happens. Every. Year. It drives me absolutely insane. Keaton Henson has had a very soft and warm place in my heart ever since I heard 'Sweetheart What Have You Done to Us' like 5 years ago and had my heart broken for the very first time.
This makes me feel like I'm looking back on something, it's nostalgic in a weird way. I've had a few deadlines this month which means I've been stressed and this has just soothed me so well. It's calming and the most beautiful thing ever.
3. PRETTY DARK - GRIMES
Grimes has been floating in and out of my music library for quite some time now. She's insanely talented and unique and weird and I love it. She recently released a demo which I can't seem to get out of my head. It's so catchy.
4. TIERRA WHACK
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine introduced me to Tierra Whack and ever since then I've been obsessed. I spent a few days just listening to her because she's incredibly creative and just different. I don't think I have anyone in my library who sounds anything like her.
Here are a few of my favourite songs by her:
(watch the video it's really cool!)
5. CELESTE
I can't believe I'm telling everyone on the internet about this but I found Celeste through the Spotify & Chill playlist. I was just curious to see if there were any gems on there and my goodness were there. I found so many new artists but finding Celeste was a very celestial moment for me (lol). The song I found on Spotify & Chill was 'Father's Son' which is a bit of strange one to put on a playlist like that but after hearing it once I had it on repeat for days on days. It really had me in my feels.
Here are a few more of my favourite songs by her:
6. CAGE THE ELEPHANT - HOUSE OF GLASS
It's been a hot minute since I last listened to Cage the Elephant. I wasn't like their no.1 fan but I think they've had some great songs like 'Too Late To Say Goodbye'. 'House of Glass' was very angsty and a bit angry and I loved it. I think I'll definitely have to give them a listen properly soon.
7. YOU TAKE MY BREATH AWAY - THE KNIFE
I honestly thought this was some obnoxious song from the '80s or something when I heard this which made me love this 100 times more. I have no clue how it came into my music library but this is a very good 'I think I'm in love' mixed with a 'wake me up' song. Weird but so so so so great.
8. ROSALIA
When James Blake released 'Barefoot in the Park' with Rosalia in it I had no idea who she was but when I heard her voice I knew I'd probs love her for the rest of my life.
I've been listening to a lot of her music over recent weeks and I can't get over her voice. It's incredibly alluring and I could listen to her sing forever.
Here are a few of my favourite songs by her:
Thanks for reading! If you want more blog posts like this let me know :)
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED:
The Earring Edit | Zafira
Hi!
The other day I was thinking a lot about Pat Butcher. There's no reasoning to my thinking, it just sorta popped into my head and somehow I ended up playing that awful but also equally beautiful Eastenders dress up game and had completely forgotten the level of Pat Butcher's earring game. It was quite eye-opening for me actually, I had a mini-epiphany and came to question myself. If I can wear cute outfits, why can't my earring game be just as cute?
Earrings and accessories make a massive difference to an outfit (as I've learned from playing Stardoll). They can easily make your entire look from a 7 to an 11. It's amazing.
Here are a few of not only my favourite but recent additions to my earring collection. I am completely smitten with every single pair.
NO.1: i like to pretend these are versace but they're not
These are from Primark and they're honestly the best thing I've ever bought from there. For £2 too. I think I saw these in one of Hannah Gale's Instagram stories, waaay before they were even launched in stores last autumn. They look like vintage Versace and who doesn't love vintage Versace? These are such a good pair of statement earrings, I've dressed these up with dresses but sometimes they're just fun to wear with jeans and a black turtleneck. Best thing I've ever spent £2 on.
These are unfortunately not available anymore and I can't really find anything online like them which is so sad but if I do find anything like them I'll update this post!
NO.2: i'm basically lana del rey and ready for coachella
I'd like to clarify that first I'm nowhere near being Lana Del Rey and also secondly, Coachella isn't somewhere I'd like to ever go lol. These are from a little jewelry shop called Lovisa which has recently found a cosy little spot in my heart. Such a wonderful shop with literally anything you could possibly want/need (mostly want).
I saw these when I was having a browse around and restrained myself from buying them because realistically, where am I wearing these? But I couldn't stop thinking about myself wearing these in the summer when I have lovely beachy wavey hair in a cute dress so I went in the following week and bought them.
Yes, they're totally crazy and absolutely huge but so well crafted and made and not heavy whatsoever. The quality of them is beautiful and I'm ecstatic that they're part of my earring family.
I hate saying this but these aren't available either and I can't find anything similar to them online either, if they're available or find anything similar soon I will defo update this bit.
NO. 3: these are actually super cute little earring elephants that reflect not only my cute personality but looks too
These babies are also from Lovisa and they're just so cute. I went in with my friend Vicky and they always have really good deals on like 3 for £9 or something like that so we both ended up grabbing these and a few other pairs because we couldn't get over how cute they were. But they're just small little elephants that a little bit of 'aww' to your look for the day. Just super super super cute.
These are not on the Lovisa website but definitely available in store so if you have one near you go in and have a browse!
NO. 4: like the previous flower earrings but more casual but also not really they're crazy too
Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking. But seriously, these scream spring and just are so pretty. These are from Lovisa (told you it was a good shop). I bought these before the other big ones as a way to ease myself into them. I wore these with a nice summer dress a few days ago and I have to say, it was quite the look.
You can buy these here:
https://www.lovisa.com/products/rgld-rg-coated-flower-hoop-er
NO.5: the most basic but necessary thicc gold hoops you need to have in your life
I love a good hoop. They're great, they match everything and can change the entire vibe of your look so easily. I bought these originally for my mum as a birthday present from & Other Stories because it seems like my love for hoops is a genetic thing. Anyway, I ended up trying them on and realised that they were my perfect hoops so I went out and bought a pair for myself too.
The shade of gold is so nice and not obnoxiously gold which I have come despise. They compliment my skin tone really nicely. The size is modest and so lovely for day to day but then not too small to dress up either. They're also just really comfy to wear and don't bother me whatsoever. I think I've probably worn these almost everyday this month.
These have impressed me so much, I'm definitely going to have to have a browse around the & Other Stories jewellery section more often.
These aren't available anymore but here's pretty much an identical pair:
NO.6: the devil wears red. .... tassel earrings?
I'm not going to lie, I was kinda over tassel earrings but I saw these in Lovisa a few weeks back and decided I was most definitely not. A lot of my Asian clothes are red and I love pairing them with tassel earrings because of how vibrant they are.
I loooove this shade of red, I definitely want to start wearing it a lot more over the summer period. It makes me so happy. I think these earrings are so simple design wise but again, amazingly crafted and a very good staple 'dressy' earring.
These aren't available online but here's a cute alternative:
https://www.lovisa.com/products/mar19-sg-fabric-flower-drp-er-3
NO. 7: i think i've ran out of quirky titles are this point, but a vintage dangly coin earring? yes pls
These are probably my most worn out of every single pair I've mentioned so far. I picked these up from Blue Rinse Vintage in January I think and they've quickly become my favourite day-to-day earring. They're also super light which is something I always look for in a pair of earrings since I have such small ear lobes lol.
I think these are also a very good staple pair of earrings, very easy to style and just all in all, perfect.
These aren't available online but I know that Primark is selling a lot of coin style jewellery at the minute so it'd be worth having a look!
Thanks for reading this post! If you want to see more like this please let me know :)
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED:
February Favourites 2019 | Zafira
Hi!
I have no idea how it's March but February has flown so so so much quicker than January. Now that Spring is finally coming our way (and climate change), I've had a chance to not only switch out my winter items and products but also purchase some new bits and pieces which have changed my life.
Here are my favourites for Feb!
1. REVOLUTION CONCEAL AND DEFINE CONCEALER
I feel like makeup is a very chronological place to start since February turned out to be my month of breakouts. Literally, the day the months changed I broke out like there was no tomorrow and it was extremely unfortunate especially because we had a big family wedding coming up mid-Feb. My breakouts did calm down by then but not enough to just wear foundation like I usually do.
I've never been into concealer because I hate the way it feels but this is so different and feels extremely light. I even started wearing concealer under my eyes too which is something I never do and it's been life-changing.
I usually use the darker shade (C12.5) kind of all over, on my scars and under my eyes. Then I go in with the lighter shade to highlight because I now think I'm an MUA, I'll use this on my forehead, a tiny bit under the eyes and on my chin. For £4, you definitely cannot go wrong with this.
Buy it here:
https://www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Face/Concealer/Revolution-Conceal-and-Define-Concealer-C5/p/751538
2. NYX FOIL PLAY CREAM PIGMENT in POP QUIZ & GLITTER PRIMER
Glitter is something I like to keep my distance from because once you touch it never leaves you. However, I decided to go extreme for this family wedding and just spice up my go-to gold eyeshadow look with a dash of glitter and I'm so glad I did because my eyeshadow was dazzling in all the pics I took!
I swatched this NYX Foil Play in Boots and was a bit taken back because it was just super glittery. Not like chunky glitter, kind of like a gold eyeshadow but with millions of tiny flecks of gold glitter. I did use gold eyeshadow as a base for extra pigment and then used a thin layer of the glitter primer (worked absolute wonders) and then applied the glitter.
My eyeshadow was on until 3am I can 100% assure you that this glitter and primer combo are amazing.
Buy it here:
https://www.nyxcosmetics.co.uk/eyes/eyeshadow/foil-play-cream-pigment/NYX_639.html
3. & OTHER STORIES LIPSTICK in RUBYLITH REGAL
I ended up throwing away a lot of makeup at the beginning of the year either because it was old or just not worn enough. I'm really trying to minimalise my makeup collection because realistically, how much makeup can you possibly wear? I'm trying to purchase things that either have multi purposes or things I know I will defo wear on a day to day basis.
This lipstick from & Other Stories is 1. super pretty but also 2. so versatile. I will wear this either full on with a brown lip liner and use a little bit of loose powder to matte it down the slightest bit or I will apply it in a very thin layer to get that 'swollen lip' look and if I'm feeling a bit adventurous that day, I might even add a lipgloss on top.
I can't find the specific shade of lipstick I mentioned but I would definitely recommend having a browse through their lip products and see what catches your eye!:
4. LAURA MERCIER POWDER in TRANSLUCENT
Now listen, paying any more than £5 for a l o o s e p o w d e r is ridiculous. But this, this is a game changer. My face? Not cakey. It's smooth, airbrushed and just nice to look at. I may have just become a broke student again but it was completely worth it.
That's all I have to say about this.
Buy it here:
http://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/laura-mercier-loose-setting-powder_304-3001489-12321001/
5. KHAKI PANTS AND JACKET
This kind of counts are two favourites but I didn't take two separate pics for them (whoops). I bought these khaki pants and jacket from Zara on two separate occasions and when clearing out my wardrobe these two items just found their way together. They were just laid on my bed next to each other and I was like wow wait hold on this is actually a great outfit and this is how I ended up creating what I have decided is my most coordinated outfit yet.
Unfortunately, the pants and jacket aren't available anymore but here's some good alternatives...
Pants:
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/drss-trsr-01-p08547860.html?v1=8468819&v2=1180677
Jacket:
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/jacket-with-contrast-topstitching-p08073021.html?v1=8167138&v2=1180323
6. THE ORDINARY HYALURONIC ACID
Skincare has been a bit tricky this month since I had such a crappy breakout but this has really helped. I've been using products to dry out my spots so stuff like the Mario Badescu drying lotion and Sudocrem (weird yes but it works so well!!) and to somewhat combat the dryness after my spots have gone, I've been using this twice a day.
It's important to use this before a moisturiser in order for it to work properly, so in the mornings I'll use this with my GlamGlow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturiser and then in the night with Bio Oil. It's wonderful and so inexpensive.
Buy it here:
https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-hyaluronic-acid-2pct-b5-30ml
7. & OTHER STORIES PERFUME in MIAMI MUSE
I'm quite a picky person when it comes to perfume. I'm not a fan of overpowering perfumes or like extremely floral ones. I always look for something that smells clean, comforting and something you'd sniff and be like 'hm that's nice'.
It lasts all day and isn't too strong but strong enough for people to compliment me on my scent. I think & Other Stories have such a good range of fragrances and it's not really somewhere you'd expect to be selling such high quality perfumes. A very unexpected but well-loved favourite this month!
Buy it here:
https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/beauty/fragrances/product.eau-de-toilette-miami-muse.0293738026.html
8. FLORAL EARRINGS
I'd be lying if I said I've been wearing these a lot but I only got them a few days ago but they already make me drool so so so much. Lovisa is such an underrated shop with the prettiest jewelry ever. I saw this and cried for a few minutes and somehow found my feet dragging me to the till and my hands pulling out my debit card. It all happened so fast but I'm dying to wear these. I might just be
that
person and wear them to uni this week.
Buy them here:
https://www.lovisa.com/products/rgld-rg-coated-flower-hoop-er
9. LUSH ROSE JAM BUBBLEROON
The Lush Rosejam bubbleroon has changed my zen Sundays massively. Every Sunday, I take time to myself and relax. I'll run a bath, put a facemask (or about 4) on and just chill. It's become a part of my weekly schedule and I treasure it.
I bought this because it was pink and sparkly. I hate that I'm
that
person but it caught my eye and I'm so glad that it did. It smells so lovely and just clean and floral. Did I mention it turns your bath water pink?????? yes pls.
Buy it here:
10. SHOES
Words cannot explain my love these shoes! If you haven't heard me speaking about these whether it's in real life or over on my Instagram then you must have been living under a rock for the entirety of Feb.
On one of my many trips to TK Maxx, I found myself wandering through the shoe section (mainly disappointed because nothing exciting usually pops up in the size 3 section) and found these pretty things. My shoe knowledge is quite limited so I have no idea what these are called or where you can even get your hands on a pair like these but they're just wow.
Pink and velvet is a combo I never thought I needed until now. I thought they would be quite difficult to style but they fit right into my wardrobe so well and match so many of my outfits. These have truly made not only my year but just my entire existence overall.
Thanks for reading this post! If you want to see more like this please let me know :)
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED:
Parisian Inspired Lookbook | Zafira
Hi everyone!
So, if you know me well then you'd know that I adore clothes. I don't really have a set style or look but one style/look I find myself coming back to time and time again is the Parisian look.
Maybe it's because I have this overwhelming love and obsession for pretty much anything French like every time I imagine myself in my 40/50s, I can vividly see myself sat in the French countryside with a thick French accent sat in my head to toe designer outfit.
Anyway lol, I guess the only way I could describe Parisian style is elegant, chic and effortless. You don't want to look like you're trying too hard (but secretly you are). I think it's a pretty universal style and is a style you can definitely personalise into whatever you want.
I had so much fun shooting these photographs with my friends and putting the outfits together. I haven't included a lot of accessories such as bags and stuff just because I pretty much carry my Kanken backpack everywhere. I haven't quite advanced in the accesories world yet.
The boots I'm wearing in literally every pic are my everyday Zara boots. I think they go well with every look and I actually do wear them every day. They're unfortunately not available anymore but here's a pair that are very similar.
LOOK NO.1: RED SUEDE
When I think of suede, I think of camel browns and creamy whites but when I saw this beauty in Zara, I fell in love. Something about this shade of red reminds me of Parisian fashion. This is an amazing everyday dress that you can easily dress up. Here I'm wearing it with a pair of leggings, ankle boots and a pair of small hoops (that you can barely see soz) and I think that this made a perfect, easy day outfit. If you wanted to change it up for a more dressier and evening/night time sort of look then you could switch out the ankle boots for a pair of over the knee boots and wear a pair of statement earrings. Dresses like this are such a staple for any wardrobe because they are super easy to style.
Dress:
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/buttoned-faux-suede-dress-p07901157.html?v1=8086578&v2=1180558
Knee high boots that would go great with this dress:
https://www.zara.com/uk/en/flat-over-the-knee-boots-p16060301.html?v1=8267676&v2=1180430
Maybe a bag like this?:
LOOK NO. 2: PRINTED BLOUSE & MIDI SKIRT
I don't want to go too much into detail with this outfit because I've mentioned it a lot over on my Instagram and previous posts but I think a midi skirt is such an essential in anybody's wardrobe. Whether you're a Parisian wannabe like myself or not, a midi skirt will definitely change your life for the good. In this look, I've paired it with this velvet printed blouse for some texture and it's created this beautiful chic look. I can already imagine myself posing near the Eiffel tower in this outfit.
This skirt is from Zara and is sadly not available anymore but here's some similar ones:
https://www.asos.com/bershka/bershka-pleat-check-midi-skirt/
https://www.asos.com/max-co/max-co-gingham-pleated-midi-skirt/
This shirt is also from Zara but the men's section, it is also sadly not available either. I can't find any similar ones either but if I do, I'll update this area or post about it on my Instragram.
LOOK NO. 3: THE ONLY BLACK DRESS YOU'LL EVER NEED
One day I was in Zara (i'm at Zara everyday) and I was having a little browse through the sale sections and I gazed upon what eventually turned out to be one of many great purchases of 2019. A dress like this could possibly replace your best friend, in fact, it could probably replace anything in your life that needs replacing. It's just such a good dress. I'd say this is more of an evening/night/event type of dress but I also wear this to uni a lot so it's quite versatile. You might look like you're trying to be the next Morticia Adams or even look like you're ready for a funeral but it's a look. A look that needs to embraced.
The dress has a lot of texture to it which I love. It has a velvet collar, a velvet button strap and lots of velvet polka dots all over. I like the see-through-ness of it and how lightweight the material is because it makes it so flowy. It's an all-around beautiful dress and makes me feel like a pretty woman. You could pair this with a pair of black heels if you're trying to be fancy or a pair of ankle boots like me. Maybe even a couple of gold hair barrettes?
The dress is from Zara and isn't available anymore but here's a very similar one that they're selling at the minute:
LOOK NO. 4: GREEN VELVET
I've never been a green wearer but this jumpsuit from UO makes me want to be a green wearer. This velvet jumpsuit was kind of an impulse buy but it's such an easy to wear piece of clothing so in my eyes, my purchase has been justified. Here I've paired it with a white t-shirt because it's -6 degrees everyday and my oversized suede, shearling lined coat from Headlock Vintage. I also put in a couple hair barrettes from Blue Rinse Vintage because I think green and gold go together so so so well. This is such an effortless outfit, perfect for when you're about and about. It's especially perfect for colder days. You could also wear this for formal events if you pair it with some heels and maybe even a blazer.
I know a lot of stuff isn't available that I've posted about but it's because I bought everything during the sales, here's a good alternative the UO green jumpsuit:
https://www.asos.com/monki/monki-dungaree-jumpsuit-in-dark-green-velvet/
The gold hair barrettes are also not available online and I can't find anything similar to them but any gold hair barrette would work great with this look.
LOOK NO. 5: CORDUROY
I said I was well and truly over corduroy last year but then I saw a picture on Instagram of my French Parisian queen Jeanne Damas in corduroy so naturally, I went out and bought myself a pair of corduroy trousers.
In terms of practicality, corduroy trousers are amazing for the cold, they block out all cold wind and they're super comfy. I found it quite difficult however finding a pair that were flattering enough and fit well. This pair from Monki fit so well that I don't have to even wear a belt which for me is so shocking. I wear belts with all my trousers. I am wearing one in the pictures though but just to look pretty. This has slowly but surely become my go to look for winter days. A black turtle neck, corduroy pants and a pair of ankle boots. I also threw my coat from Headlock Vintage on top too because like I mentioned earlier, it's about -6 degrees everyday in Manchester.
Corduroy trousers:
I hope you liked this post! If you want to see more stuff like this then let me know.
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED:
Music of the Month: January | Zafira
Hey!
January has been a pretty gloomy month but one thing that has really lifted my spirits is the amazing amount of good music that's been released throughout the month.
If you've followed me for a while, then you'd know my music taste makes 0 sense. It's all over the place but I think maybe I've finally found a type? My January playlist is probably the most normal one out of them all.
Here’s my full playlist!
One of the best things released this month was James Blake's album 'Assume Form'. I cannot put into words how much I love this. I truthfully haven't listened to him since his Retrograde days just because I never was really into his stuff but this, this is amazing. He's very similar to Bon Iver who may just be the love of my life and I just can't get enough.
Some of my favourites from this particular album are
but honestly, they're all pretty wonderful.
You know how I just said James Blake reminds me a lot of Bon Iver? This song is the most vivid and fluorescent example of that. This song reminds me so much of 33"GOD" which when I first listened to, I think I had some sort of spiritual awakening. Listening to this song was exactly the same. I shared it on my IG stories a few days ago and said that it felt like a really good headache. I can't explain it. You just need to take a moment and really listen to it.
I said I was over my indie phase a long time ago but apparently 2016 Alex Turner and Oasis loving me has resurrected from the dead. I think I have always secretly loved the Japanese House, they're super chill and relaxing. This song feels like summer and I miss the summer a lot.
I found Yung Lean a couple of years ago and he's so weird but I love love love him. He's very similar to like Earl Sweatshirt and $uicideBoy$. He's really great and I know this is a song I'll never get bored of.
Okay. I have a lot to say about this, a lot of deep stuff. It's a sad song but January is a sad month. January is like a Monday but it's 31 days long instead of just 24 hours. Anyway, the song is about heartbreak and mourning an ex-lover. The lyrics are so sadly beautiful and so well crafted. My personal fave lyrics in the song are :
“I don’t want to be small, small, sad, I want to be big, big, sad”
“I want to make a pageant of my grief”
“I’m annoyed with clothes today,
I’d rather swaddle myself in sorrow today”
I've been obsessed and infatuated with Twin Peaks ever since I impulsively watched it when I was 12. It's probably the best thing to have ever happened to me (if you've ever watched it come be my friend pls i just wanna talk about it forever). You can imagine how I was feeling when I was sat in my soft office (my bed), working and then my Spotify Discover Weekly playlist plays what faintly sounds like Angelo Badalamenti's Laura Palmer theme. I was so confused.
This song is so good. It's all about Twin Peaks because the artist that wrote it grew up near Twin Peaks which is the coolest thing ever.
where he talks a bit more about it if you're interested.
This also another pretty sad song. This was in the movie Requiem for a Dream (read more about it and some other good, underrated movies here) and the amount of impact this song has is 1. heartbreaking but also 2. breathtaking. The movie would not be a masterpiece without this song.
A lot of my friends listen to Blood Orange and they've told me to listen to him countless times but I always end up forgetting. This came up on one of my Spotify Frank Ocean song radios and it felt like sitting in a car at like 3am in the morning when you're sleepy but awake because of all the streetlights that keep catching your eyes. I don't know. It's a very calming song. It's definitely a good song for the car.
I don't even know how this ended up on my playlist but it did. I'm not mad about it. I'm not really an Ariana Grande stan, I think she's an amazing person but her music isn't really for me but I've been listening to this on repeat so maybe I am an Ariana Grande stan?
I used to love Don Broco when I was in year 11 but like many of us, I grew up and got over them. This came up on my Release Radar and I actually thought it was a new Death Grips song because of the intro but boy oh boy was I far off. This is pretty good. It's very angsty and shouty but I like it. It's making me miss the old indie rock/alternative rock days so much.
I've decided that Florence is one of my all time favourite people. I just really want to be her honestly. I don't know how someone releases an amazing album and then shortly follows with an amazing single. I love her. I also think that regulars on my bus think I'm a bit crazy when I'm aggressively lip syncing this at like 7am every morning.
If you liked the songs I've mentioned in this post, there's a lot more over on my playlist. It's embedded near the top of this post but I will also leave a link right at the bottom with links to all my other social medias.
Thank you for reading! If you like these sorts of posts let me know and I'll start doing them more regularly.
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED:
Underrated Movies #1 | Zafira
Hello!
I'm a big movie person. Especially recently since I've had a lot of work to do and it seems like my favorite procrastinating activity is watching a good movie (or 2).
January is gloomy and literally, the most boring month I have ever come into contact with. I wish I felt overwhelmingly motivated but there's just something about the atmosphere of this month that makes me want to melt into my Ikea rug.
So, this month, me and procrastination have become extremely good friends. Better than we need to be but it's given me a chance to really explore the movie world. I'm not someone who loves a generic movie. I like the weird stuff, the stuff that really makes you rethink your life and everything you've ever done. That's when you know it's a pretty amazing movie.
This led to the birth of this post. I've been binge watching movies left, right and center and I'm so surprised that some of the stuff I've watched isn't more widely talked about.
Here's a list of some the best-underrated movies:
I want this music box more than I want a degree from uni.
Maybe one day I'll have to do an entire list of neglected children's movies because they are so so so many of them. I remember one day my dad bought me one of those double-sided CDs that had a movie on either side. I put it into our portable movie players (I'm sure this was actually from the 90s it had the tiniest screen) and discovered Anastasia. One of the best Disney princess (but not really) movies to date.
It's very loosely based on the story and legend of the Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia. There was a big theory about how she escaped the tragic execution of her family and thus began this incredible movie. The animation is beautiful, the songs are beautiful and so is the character of Anastasia. I always wanted to be her, there was just something very relatable and quirky about the character that made her so much better than your typical Disney princess.
As I've gotten older, this movie is more of tragedy, turns out Anastasia didn't escape the execution of her family. It just took a lot longer to find not only her body.
I had seen a few movie stills and quotes from this movie on Instagram and it was enough to compel me to watch this.
This has the basic gist of the classic novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens but has a more modern twist. The movie is about the pursuit of a childhood love which sounds cute but this movie goes in so many different directions. It's not straightforward which I like but sometimes it was very frustrating. Estella (played by Gwenyth Paltrow) is probably a pretty good example of this.
She is the most annoying but amazing character in the entire thing (alongside her erratic aunt).
ALSO, a very big big big also, the settings of the movie are so outstanding. Every scene filmed in 'Paradiso Perduto' had my creative juices flowing like crazy. The most beautifully decorated home I've ever seen in my life. A sort of forgotten, hidden gem of a house. It's just somewhere I can totally imagine myself shooting some stunning pictures.
I can't tell if this is a happy or sad movie. I know that I learned a lot from it. It's a pretty good watch for a lazy Sunday.
This is one of those Amazon movies and I was not expecting it to be anywhere near as good as it was. If you loved Her starring Joaquin Phoenix then you will also adore this.
I'd say this is a good mix of I Robot (without the violence) mixed with Her (2013) and Lars and the Real Girl (2007) and maybe like a splash of I Origins (2014). It's about a company that makes synthetic humans and all about the way that a synthetic human interacts with humans and the way that they feel. It stars Ewan McGregor which was kind of a weird cast in my view because the only movies I've seen him in are Trainspotting 1&2. It's strange to watch him go from a crazy druggie to a somewhat crazy scientist falling in love with his creations.
It also stars Lea Seydoux who I haven't really heard of but she was really good at her role in this. This has really pushed me to watch more Amazon Studio movies.
I'm not going to lie. The only thing that drew me to watch this movie were all the movie stills I saw floating around Instagram where Meena has like crazy beautiful hair. The hair was enough for me to be sold into watching this tbh.
The movie is all about an Indian family that is forced to leave Uganda due to Idi Amin being in power (the entire history of the expulsion of Asians in Uganda in the 70s is actually really interesting to read about you should look it up). The family then move to Mississippi where the daughter, Meena, falls in love with a young black man named Demetrius.
It's heartbreaking to watch a cycle of racism and prejudice repeated over and over again especially when so many of us face it. You'd think that you'd try and better yourself than the people that hurt you.
One night, I was searching for something similar to the Virgin Suicides and fell upon this masterpiece. The Virgin Suicides (book & movie) had a massive impact on my life, it changed the way I looked at so many things.
Mustang is kind of like the Turkish equivalent to the Virgin Suicides. It has a lot more to do with a culture which I think personally resonated a lot with me since my family is very culture and tradition based. Unlike the girls in this movie, I am fortunate to say that my family is a lot more open and modern about things which is great.
It's all about 5 sisters that are caught innocently playing with boys on their way home from school. Everyone in their little village/town sees the event as immoral and takes it the wrong which eventually leads the family of the girls basically imprisoning them in their home. It's sad seeing them forced into such a shitty life. They're trained to be housewives and eventually married off one by one.
This is definitely more of an eye-opening watch. Sometimes, culture and tradition really do suck.
Out of all the movies I've mentioned in this post, I have to admit that this is more of a popular one but not popular enough.
I love period movies. It's my biggest guilty pleasures. Something about a fancy frock in the 1800s just really excites me so when I found Marie Antoinette, I was more than overjoyed. Marie Antoinette is more of quirky take on your usual period movie. A lot more vibrant and kind of more 'Wes Anderson-y'. It's filmed beautifully and all the scenes set in Versailles are just stunning. The outfits and shopping scenes are also just impeccable. A fashionista's dream come true.
It's the perfect watch for when you feel like watching a typical chick flick but with a bit more maturity.
Also, Kirsten Dunst is amazing in this.
If you want to see more posts like this please let me know, this was a really fun post to do!
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED:
New Years Resolutions 2019 | Zafira
Hey!
So here we are, another year gushed down the drain quicker than anyone expected. But I guess that happens every year, time flies when you're having fun (or you're just used to the same old boring, repetitive routine everyday).
Anyway, I've been contemplating whether I even wanted to post a New Year's Resolution this year because let's be honest, no one really sticks to them. But, since reflecting on the year has become sort of tradition on here for me, I thought that I would stick to it and tell you all about everything I failed at doing in 2018 (literally everything) and what I intend to improve on in 2019.
A new year is just like a brand new notebook, I'm bursting with ideas to jot down and things to do. It's a new slate, an opportunity for you to do all those things you said that you'd do later. Now is the time.
do you ever just want to punch yourself really hard in the face
Oh my god. I cause myself so much stress and anxiety just by naming files really stupid things. It's something I've wanted to improve on for a while so let's see if I finally get a grip in 2019 so I can actually find the files I'm looking for without causing premature ageing.
I'd say I have a very varied and wide wardrobe which is kind of great because I don't have a set style and I love that I can push and alter boundaries to fit the style and look of whatever I'm feeling. However, saying that I have an extensive wardrobe would be great if I actually wore stuff from it and not the same pair of jeans 3 days in a row.
Getting dressed used to be the highlight of my day but now I feel like it's become boring because I don't excite myself by picking new and challenging outfits. I always have that little voice in my head saying
'What will people think?'
but I think it's time we get rid of that voice because I probably look a solid 11/10 in whatever I'm wearing :)
Also, sustainability is something that has recently become a very important factor in my life. The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world and I'd really like to not play a big part in ruining world.
Well this one is going to difficult. I spend a lot of time complaining and overthinking and just seeing the negative in things. I guess I see it as being 'realistic' but being realistic doesn't always mean being the biggest b*tch and buzz kill ever. In 2019, I'm becoming positive Penny.
I have a week till I get back to uni and if I'm being 100% honest with you, I've done close to nothing which is stressing me out a tiny bit since I have 2 deadlines when I get back. I would like to not die of a heart attack at 19 so I think I should start doing things ahead of time and be organised. Maybe I'll start planning things in advance and just really get my sh*t together.
There was once a time where I would read a book a day and maybe even paint, draw even spend time outside (shocking i know) but it seems like these days, I don't do any of that. I've been collecting books that I've wanted to read this entire year. I love books so I think it's time they make a comeback into my life.
Also, there's a reason I suffered through fine art in my first year of college, I adore art. I have always loved creating whether it's drawing or painting or even doodling. I'd draw on literally everything but I don't even do that anymore. I feel like I need to get back in touch with my inner child because that's when I remember having so much fun and really enjoying life because I was doing what I loved.
I feel like every Instagrammer falls into this mindset where they start off posting the stuff they like and the work they enjoyed creating and then somewhere within that, this fear develops that their followers are not enjoying what they are posting so they starting posting stuff that their followers want to see or the stuff that gets the most attention.
I have definitely felt this way and it's affected my photography work a lot. The way in which I work and create my best work happens when don't overthink it and don't think about the outcome of the photograph but the present. The moment in which the photograph was taken.
In 2018, the first thing on my mind was ' is this good enough for Instagram? ' and I found this altering and even ruining some of my work. The only work I have really loved this year is my film shots of Wales.
I hope that in 2019, my photography work gets better and I start posting more things that I like. Maybe even some cool projects.
*wink wink*
I want to finish this post off with the biggest thank you. I started this blog in 2015 not thinking that anything would come of it but it has become such a big part of my life. I feel like this year things are taking off in a direction I didn't really expect my blog to go in but I am so happy nonetheless.
Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my blog. It truly means a lot. I hope everyone's 2019 is the best year of their lives.
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED:
70's Inspired Winter Lookbook | Zafira
Hi!
There's something about the 70s that just makes me fall in love over and over again. I love so many things about it but most importantly, I love love
love
the sense of style and fashion around that time. So much in fact that it's heavily inspired my winter wardrobe for this year.
Dressing for winter can be quite the struggle. The weather is ever changing and unpredictable, it's freezing outside but then heaters are being blasted indoors so finding a balance between all of those factors can be difficult whilst still looking semi presentable to face the world.
I feel like I get stuck into this loop of wearing jumpers and jeans but I've tried really hard this time round to get out of it.
Here are some outfits that I've been wearing a lot this winter and some tips to help you keep warm!
1. THE MIDI SKIRT (that's too long because I'm short)
You know what I've realised? Midi skirts are actually quite intimidating and kind of scary. You have to be quite careful with how you style them or else you can end up looking a bit like a 90 year old librarian which personally, isn't quite my style. I was determined to find one from a thrift or charity shop but I couldn't find any that looked as flattering as this Zara one.
It fits perfectly around the waist and I can get away with tucking a cheeky jumper in there without it looking frumpy. I love the pleating and it's actually a decent length considering it is a bit too long. I'll either wear a turtle neck, a slighting oversized jumper or just a velvet t-shirt with the skirt. I also love wearing this skirt with these cute heeled boots that are from Zara too.
I feel like midi skirts are a very 'mom' thing from the 70s but when styled perfectly, you can totally be that cool mom every kid wanted.
Because it's freezing, a coat is necessity. If you follow me on Instagram you've probably seen this leopard print coat a thousand times by now. It's such a nice and long and it keeps me warm.
Jewellery is something I'm trying to get myself back into. As a child and even a young teen, I loved jewellery and felt the need to be blinged out no matter what the occasion was. As I've gotten older, I find myself more into the minimal jewellery side of things which you can see here.
I'm wearing a simple dainty diamond necklace that I've had forever and some small hoops from Primark. I'm also wearing my Hugo Boss watch that you can see further down.
Here's a few links to similar versions of my leopard print coat:
I wear these boots everyday they are actually life changing.
2. FLARED PANTS
Ever since the summer, I've been completely in love with various shades of blue/green. Right now, this Tiffany blue colour makes my heart skip a beat. These flared pants are from Zara and are amazing. They are super pretty on windy days.
This shade of blue is what I associate with the 70s a lot and flared pants too. Maybe not as flared as these but I guess this is kind of a modern and more flattering update on the iconic flared pants of the 70s.
I like to wear this with a black turtle neck on extremely cold days but if it isn't -20 degrees where you live then it also looks really great with a graphic t-shirt. Again I'm wearing my leopard print coat and my Zara boots.
You're probably thinking that these are too thin for the winter but pants like this are the perfect layering tool. I can get away with wearing pretty much anything under these, a pair of jeans, my pyjama pants or if I'm feeling a bit more mature, then a pair of thick thermal leggings. Because of my how flowy they are, you can't even tell it's great.
If I'm feeling super adventurous, then I'll even wear matching blue eye shadow.
3. CASUAL YELLOW
This outfit is a bit more dressed down and good for a very low-key day. Yellow is very bright. I would never think that it would be a colour that I would ever wear but here I am in a vibrant yellow cardigan that I can't seem to ever take off.
The printed high neck top is actually an old play suit from Motel Rocks but since I'm not much of a play suit wearer, I like to wear it as a top. It's an amazing layering piece (except from when you need to use the toilet and have to completely strip). It screams the 70s to me. It had flared sleeves too but I took them off since it was a bit too much and got in the way a lot whenever I was doing anything involving my arms (literally everything i was doing).
The cardigan ,which has been one of my favourite items in my wardrobe this year, is from Monki.
. It's so so so thick and it coordinates with the play suit perfectly. I bought this in a large so it's massively oversized but it just makes it feel so much cosier.
I'm trying to channel my inner Blair Waldorf and I've decided that headbands need to make a return in my life so I've paired one with this outfit. This one is from Primark.
I usually like to wear this outfit with my black pleated culottes which I'm sure a lot of you own. Like the blue flared pants, they're a pretty good layering piece. But I also like to wear this outfit with my blue and thick black belt.
For shoes, you could get away with wearing anything really, a pair of vans or converses to dress down or a pair of cute boots.
Thanks for reading and let me know if you want to see more this type of blog post on here!
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED:
Why I Stopped Reading My Horoscope | Zafira
Hi!
I hate to do this but disclaimer:
I know a lot of people will take what I have to say the wrong way and may not agree with everything I have to say. I have and will always respect and listen to what you have to say and value your opinions as I would like you to value my own. Everything in this post is about my own personal experience. This is not me telling you to stop reading your horoscope. I wanted to share this because when I've spoken to people about this before, it has risen an interesting topic of discussion.
As a cancer, my personality is said to be often ruled by my feelings and emotions which is very true. It's how my relationship with horoscopes blossomed.
I remember seeing horoscopes in those cringey teen magazines that I would always die to buy just to get the 'free' makeup but other than that, horoscopes didn't really impact or show up in my life at all for a while. I guess you could say my horoscope 'journey' began about a year ago in my second year of college.
I think it happens with a lot of second year college students but life just hits you out of nowhere. It becomes stressful and somewhat unbearable. I was applying for unis and attempting to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. This was such a quick changing period of my life and I didn't know how to handle it whatsoever. Things were changing everyday and I couldn't deal with it. I felt overwhelmed and the idea of an unpredictable and near future made me wanna poop my pants quite a bit.
It started off with occasionally checking my horoscope on Snapchat but I was shocked at how accurate it was and ended up downloading an app specifically for it and thus began my very unhealthy relationship with horoscopes. I felt comforted by my horoscope. It was like someone was whispering to me in my ear and telling me how my day was going to be. In a time of uncertainty, this is certainly what I thought I needed.
I didn't realise how infatuated I became with my horoscope until exam season. I think I forgot to read my horoscope for like a week because I was so busy. It eventually hit me that I forgot and I immediately began to think that my week was terrible because I felt unprepared for it. I remember someone asking me how my week was and I told them it was terrible and when they asked why I replied with 'I didn't check my horoscope this week'. I got into bed that day and I felt extremely stupid for saying that.
I was trying to understand why I felt so crappy when my week my was pretty good. I was just annoyed that I could have been more ready for the week if I had just checked my horoscope. Maybe I could have dealt with people better, maybe I could have been more motivated, maybe I could have found the love of my life, maybe I could have been happier? I was so used to knowing what was going to happen and how I was going to feel and deal with situations that in someways, I forgot how to well, really deal with them. I wasn't allowing myself to deal with these things on the spot and on the go that when something would happen that wasn't in my horoscope, I didn't know how to react.
I ended up deleting my horoscope after that week and gave into the unexpected because that is what makes life so great and also not. But I've realised that you need a balance of good things and bad things in life to learn from. I needed that element of surprise in a way to have a healthy mindset rather than being like 'my horoscope says my moods are low today so I'm gonna sit and mope around all day'.
If you're someone like me, the element of surprise is pretty scary and it's completely fine to be scared. Life can be a bit frightening sometimes. I don't like feeling unprepared for the day which is why me and my horoscope became such good bffs. But you have to learn to let the reins loose bit by bit and truly let yourself go and live life not listening to someone or something telling you how your day is going to be, but telling yourself that today is going to be a good day.
Thanks for reading!
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED:
October (and a bit of November) on Film | Zafira
Hi!
I'm back with my film series! This is probably my favourite thing to post on here just because I love looking back at everything I've done at the end of each month.
October was a bit of a weird one, I feel like it was so eventful but I only remember picking up my camera a handful of times. I was feeling a bit meh towards my photography work recently so this roll of film was a bit of a struggle to get through. It ended up being in my camera for over a month which is completely unlike me. Anyway, I had a good mope about it and now I feel a lot better. I'm also looking forward to doing so many new projects very very very soon! I switched up my film this month so if things are looking slightly different than usual then it's because I used the famous Kodak Porta 400 which I bought for waaay too much.
(also how weird is it that in literally 2 months, it will 2019. wtf.)
I started off October with a shoot with my favourite model Hannah. I stupidly started a new roll right towards the end of our shoot so I had to wait until I had filled up my roll which like I mentioned earlier, took forever.
Since I not only live in Manchester but go to uni here too, it's impossible for me not to snap a pic here and there of the pretty city scenes it has to offer. It's so amazing seeing it how it changes through the seasons.
This is my friend Vicky. We had a bit of a flashback Mary moment but it's okay, she's still cute.
My outfit was inspired by Rachel Berry from Glee lol.
Sorry for taking bad pics of you Vicky.
I walk past this everyday and I've never realised how beautiful it is, especially in autumn.
I'm trying so much more to photograph strangers because despite being told to stay away and never speak to them, they're actually quite interesting people.
This is Manny, he's my favourite barista at Krispy Kreme where I go twice a day to over caffienate myself.
And what would my monthly film series be without these losers? I'm looking a bit rough in this I had the worst cough and cold ever.
This was taken at Leaf when I went out for lunch with my friend Matt.
This is Matt in an overpriced white t-shirt.
I look so grown up in these I do
not
like it whatsoever.
This is Rianna who's always disappointed in me.
Thanks for reading!
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED:
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
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED:
Music of the Month: September | Zafira
Hi!
It's been awhile since I've done one of these but I am back with the best list of songs and artists that I am enjoying this month!
Over the past few months, I haven't really been listening to a lot of new music. I don't really know why but I just wasn't into anything that had been released. It felt like I was just listening to old music that had been recycled in the worst way possible. It felt as if artists were just putting 0 effort into the songs they were releasing. But then September came around and out of nowhere, the most amazing songs and artists came spurting out of nowhere and it really was a blessing. There is nothing better than starting off the most stressful month of the year with the greatest playlist.
If you follow me on Twitter / Instagram you probably most definitely know who I'm going to talk about first. Brockhampton. They are the loves of my life and I think they're the best boyband out there right now. Everything they release is new and so exciting and I always look forward to their new releases.
It was hard to pick a favourite from the album since I love them all but these are my top 3:
1. LOOPHOLE
How and why is this only 53 seconds long.
2. TAPE
So this plus Loophole is revolutionary. They just go so well together and I love the whole calming instrumental bit (sorry for my terrible musical vocab). It's so cinematic I can imagine it so vividly in some sort of movie or film. I love love love it.
3. FABRIC
This gets me so pumped about the day. Even though the lyrics are quite deep and hard hitting, the beat and rhythm are quick paced and I feel like this would be a pretty decent song to work out to as well. It starts off quite slow but then slowly quickens. I also really love the chorus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-0NYnb-fh0
This song was on my Spotify discover playlist a few weeks ago which I had stopped checking for a while because I'm usually left disappointed. My discover playlist is filled mainly with soppy indie music which isn't really what I'm into these days but I ended up finding this jem which I am obsessed with. It's extremely catchy. It's a song definitely meant to stay in your head and is 100% a perfect song to sing in the shower. Not to be a complete weirdo but 'daunting' is such a good word right?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOwlY9ITazA
So alt-J recently released a new version of their very loved album 'RELAXER' which is almost as good as the original. This newer version is called 'REDUXER' and features remixes and many different versions of the songs on RELAXER. This particular one features GoldLink who is so good. I love GoldLink a lot too and the mix of all of these people is such a perfect combination.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9b4UvTeQxQ
I've mentioned $uicideboy$ quite a few times in this series but how can I not? They are just too good. This song is from their newest album 'I Want to Die in New Orleans' which is overall is pretty okay but this song is by far my favourite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uFv9Ts7Sdw
What sort of basic teenage blogger would I be if I didn't mention Lana Del Rey at least once in my posts? But I really do love her. I love her essence and her music and just everything about her. This is my most favoured from her latest releases because I love the lyrics. I also watched the music vid for this and it's so beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEiMnOr0-nM
I have never ever been disappointed by a Sticky Fingers song. This is their newest single and I wish this was released earlier because it is the perfect song for a summer's day. I love the lyrics and the nostalgic sort of feel to this song. It's just very very very good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzbRHsyjIzk
A lot of bands and artists released new albums this month and one of these bands was the Neighbourhood. Like many people, I fell in love with them when I heard Sweater Weather which was released 5 years ago. I like many of their earlier songs but when it comes to more recent songs, I've been a bit iffy with them and I'm not a big fan of many. However 'Paradise' reminded me a lot of their older songs and I fell in love instantly. I listened to a snippet of it on Jesse Rutherford's Instagram a few weeks ago before it was released and I knew it would be one of many faves this month.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGvS285hfjA
When listening to SYML I always get a very sad and mopey vibe, like I usually just want to lie in bed and cry when listening to his stuff but this song is so different. It's so upbeat and different. I like it a lot. I really hope he releases more stuff like this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3Qzzggn--s
This song changed my life. The music video stupidly amazing but song itself is so so good. I can defo see myself slow dancing (on my own) in the dark to this. It's perfect. I love Joji.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8LIRtPnuA8
Before many of you start questioning why I put this in here, take a moment and just listen to the song. It's iconic. Life changing. A masterpiece. There's a reason I've been listening to this since I was 6 years old. It's a song I'll always have in my head and I'll be listening to this for ever. I think we must have under estimated JoJo when this came out because she taught us so much in just one song.
That's all I have for this month but if you click here then you can access my entire playlist for this month. There's so much more on there for you to listen to if you enjoyed the songs I mentioned. I don't think this will be a monthly series just because the songs on my playlist don't change drastically but I'll most likely be posting one every other month or so.
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED:
4 Self Care Tips for Uni | Zafira
Hey!
It's September and you know what that means, back to school season (ew). It's a sad season for most of us except from those of you who weirdly enjoy going back to school, college or uni. I start my very first year of uni soon and I'm absolutely not prepared for it whatsoever.
I thought the best place to start with all this uni prep stuff is to make a guide focusing on self care. I desperately need it and I'm guessing you will too since it's definitely one of those things we always forget. Self care plus the stress and chaos of school life can be quite tricky and sometimes it's pretty hard to remember to care of yourself when you're drowning in books and work but with these few tips I'm hoping to make the whole process a lot easier.
No.1: Make a Schedule & Make Sometime for Yourself
When you hear the word 'schedule' it doesn't sound relaxing at all but it's one of the key things you need in place to make sure you have time for yourself throughout the week. On a certain day throughout the week such as a Sunday, section off a couple of hours to do something you really enjoy or something calming. This could range from taking a bath and having a few hours to pamper yourself or letting yourself divulge into your fave show on Netflix. Whatever you like. This time is for you and what you like.
No.2: Take Care of your Health
I don't want to be a cliche and tell you to sign up for some lame gym membership to get your self into better shape and and only eat fruit and veg for the rest of your entire life because let's be real who wants to do that? The only things I can really make myself do is drinking enough water and just walking wherever and whenever is possible. I'm a pretty lazy person but even doing that is better than doing nothing at all. Try to take a water bottle (not plastic pls the turtles are dying) with you in your bag and drink it whenever you're feeling thirsty opposed to a sugary drink. It'll make such a difference with your skin and health.
I know we're talking about physical health here but mental health is also extremely important especially to those of you who are moving away for uni. It may seem a bit lonely and you may feel as if there's no one there for you talk to but your school/college/uni will offer a range of resources to help you if you need it.
This is also pretty useful to read.
No.3: Make Some Pals & Socialise
This is probably the part I'm dreading the most because I'm kind of shy when you first meet me and the whole introduction part of making new friends is always so so so scary. However, I'm trying to overlook that this year and at least attempt to try and say hello and hi to a few people to make some pals that will hopefully last a lifetime. If you're starting uni, they have so many different clubs and societies for you to join so it makes the process a little less difficult. I think it will be so cool to find friends with a lot of similar interests to me.
No.4: Sleep & Re-Fueling
I am the worst when it comes to sleeping during academic periods. I don't know whether it's just stress or what but my sleeping schedule goes flying out of the window. I think this is probably one thing I'm going to really try and get into order this year because lack of sleep has the biggest effect on everything. It effects your work, your health, your skin and so much more. Something really interesting to try would be a sleep tracker of some sort to figure out how much sleep you're getting every day and go from there. In tip no.1 I was saying to make time for yourself and this massively includes re-fueling and just getting enough rest.
I hope your academic year is amazing!
Lots of love,
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED:
A Long Hiatus, Summer, Prepping for Uni & an Update | Zafira
Hi guys!
It's been quite a while since I've posted anything here simply due to this summer being the busiest one I've had yet. We have 1 day left of August and I cannot believe how fast this summer has flown by but I have loved every minute of it. I took a bit of a break over on my Instagram too which is very much needed but I'll explain more about that later on throughout this post.
This summer began in the most exciting and breathtaking manner as me and family headed down to North Wales for a little holiday at the end of June and I have quite a few posts about that on here. You can check them out by clicking on the following links:
https://www.zaf-ira.co.uk/zafira-1/2018/06/staycation-lookbook-zafira-edit.html
https://www.zaf-ira.co.uk/zafira-1/2018/07/wales-on-film-zafira-edit.html
https://www.zaf-ira.co.uk/zafira-1/2018/07/wales-video-faq-zafira-edit.html
I loved our holiday and it was needed desperately since me and family had a wild, chaotic but amazing summer ahead of us.
July and August were mainly spent on preparing for my cousin's wedding which took up the majority of summer. It my eldest cousin's wedding so it was the first out of the kid's generation which is just so so so weird. I still think my cousin is about 15 and I'm 8 years old dying to borrow her Jacqueline Wilson books. Her wedding was beautiful, it was insanely busy but I loved it. I'm posting a little collage of photographs I took the wedding period over on my Instagram.
And then in the midst of that I've been doing all the boring University stuff like finances and bank accounts. All the stuff that adults usually do but since I'm now legally an adult it's my turn to take over which is very very sad. I start uni in about 3 weeks and I'm so excited but also 100% ready to poop my pants. I'm going to start doing a lot of student based posts very soon so make sure you stay tuned for that!
Lastly, for the past two weeks or so me, my mum and brother decided to take a break over in London after the wedding to just relax, explore and see some family. It was the perfect way to end my summer. However, my phone unexpectedly died the moment I got of the train and set my foot on overly polluted and busy grounds of London. It was quite the tragedy and I then found myself phone-less and disconnected from the online world for nearly 2 weeks. My phone was on it's last legs but it's been that way for a good year and it could have not picked a worse time to die. It's so weird being in one of busiest and liveliest cities without a phone. Anyway, this meant I couldn't really update on Instagram so I took this situation and turned it into a good thing. I think sometimes social media can all get a bit too much so having this break really helped me figure out where I'm going with all this stuff and figure out a path.
I think that's a good summary of everything I wanted to update you all on. I'm sorry I've been a bit M.I.A this summer but I'll be back to normal from this post onward.
Lots of love,
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED:
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,
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPDATED: