outfits of the week.

So I thought I'd do a wee WIWTW (what I wore this week) showcasing what I've be wearing as of late. 

This was a crazy busy week for me, with Uni all day on Monday, preparing for an event I run that happened on Tuesday night, running another event at Uni on Wednesday, then hopping straight on a plane to Auckland later that day to see FUN. live in concert. Then on Thursday I drove to Tauranga to spend the weekend with my family, as Friday was my 21st birthday. Phew!

(Disclaimer: By writing this blog post, I'm obviously not trying to convince you guys i'm fashionable or anything like that, because that is certainly not true! I just thought it would be a bit of fun. I enjoy reading similar posts and seeing what other people are wearing so thought i'd give it a go.)

Monday 11th March


Dotti wrap scarf

New Look blouse

Supre basic black cardi

Pull and Bear skirt

Colombine tights

Farmers ankle boots

Tuesday 12th March

Dotti maroon blazer

Jeans West crochet top

Arrow necklace (made by me)

Primark belt

Glassons  tulle skirt

Grey Vans

Wednesday 13th March  (day/ night)                                                                    

Diva flower headband              

Massey University t-shirt / 

Fulled by Ramern fun. shirt 

Valley Girl shorts

Grey Vans 

                                                                

Thursday 14th March

Topshop singlet

Arrow necklace 

H&M bandage skirt

Grey Vans

Friday 15th March

Just Jeans sunglasses 

Dotti lace dress

Dotti waist belt in royal blue

Colorado handbag

Sandal bought in Venice, Italy

Saturday 16th March

High bun ribbon (made by me)

Supre basic black cardi

Glassons white shirt (studs added by me)

Supre royal blue skirt

Ankle boots from Mother's wardrobe

Sunday 17th March

Hair bow (Christmas gift)

Topshop dress

Arrow necklace

Dotti singlet - unshown

Kmart ankle boots

Stud.

For a while now, I've been searching for a shirt to customise and continue my stud affair. 

There's plenty of tops out there already studded, but seeing as I had some pyramid studs left over from previous projects, I thought i'd give it a go myself. I found this shirt in Glassons for $29.99 - it's quite sheer so i'll have to wear a singlet underneath, but seeing as winter is coming up, this isn't really a big deal. 

I then simply measured the width of the pockets, and how many studs would fit to make a nice line across the top. The fabric is quite sheer, as I mentioned, so you have to be careful not to pucker it too much, but measuring where the studs need to go first solve this. (I counted I needed 10 studs, so measured where the middle of the pocket was and worked my way out, so even if I'd miscounted, it'd still be even.)

I think it turned out pretty well, but that's just my opinion :-)

the best thing in February.

The best thing in February for me was a week, specifically the week  of the 18th - 24th. 

This was the last official week of my summer holidays, as I started my final year of University (eek!) the following Monday. 

Even though I was working during the day, I seemed to fit a lot into the week, and constantly had a smile on my face. I caught up with a lot of friends who were back from their summer holidays, saw 90s band Garbage and got treated to a free dinner thanks to my sister who'd won a 'date night' at a delicious restaurant called Chow. It was also the week of my sister's birthday, so the celebrations were plentiful. 

I made the decision at the beginning of the year to take advantage of as many opportunities as I could, and have fun whenever possible. So far this is going splendid and i'm having a blast. If January and February are anything to go by, this year is going to be awesome. 

that's a wrap.

For my sister's birthday, I got her a pair of stirling silver heart earrings, but was struggling to come up with a creative way of giving them to her as they were so small. 

I found a cute wee china box with her first initial on the front, so I placed the earrings on a piece of card, with a little bit of tissue paper and put them inside. 

As cute as this looked, I wasn't finished yet - I then bought a mason jar to put the china box inside (and yes I realise this is sounding a wee bit like a one person pass-the-parcel!) I also decided to put some sweets in the jar. Really, you could put any kind of confectionary in the jar, but I settled on White Rabbits. Bit of a backstory, White Rabbits were lollies we had as kids when we lived in Borneo, and I was stoked to find them in a store here in Wellington. 

To finish it off, I added a black ribbon and hand-made a card with a wee typewriter that I drew on the front. My sister seemed to love it, and it put a smile on her face so I was very happy. 

Happy Birthday big sis!

the best thing in January.

Something new i'm going to be starting on this blog is called 'the best thing,' where at the end of every month I will look back and share what my favourite thing about the month was - pretty self explanatory. 

I know we're already in to the swing of February, but here's the best things about January... 

2013 brought a lot of fresh starts for me, and the best thing about my January was all the changes, and how happy they've made me. From simple things like changing bedrooms, to starting this blog and being more inspired, to more personal changes. 

I stumbled across this quote a few weeks back which sums up how I feel perfectly. It follows along the same lines of saying "yes" to everything, and already I've had some amazing opportunities come my way which I put down to my change in attitude. 

Let me know what the best thing about your January was in the comments below or tweet me @smayjay

xx

Uni or bust.

I was all for going straight to University after high school. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do and had it all planned out. 

Through my high school i'd heard of a gap year programe, which gave you the opportunity to work at a school in the United Kingdom. Because of my travel bug, I applied, but didn't think i'd get the chance to go, so continued to check out Universities and live life as normal. 

In August of my senior year I got an email saying I had been accepted, and was going to be placed at The Dragon School in Oxford, England. It was only when I told my friends and saw their reaction that I questioned wether it was the right thing for me or not. Was I ready to leave all my friends and family for a year and go and live on the other side of the world? 

Turns out I was, and to this day I maintain that taking a gap year was one of the best decisions of my life. I got placed at a school with 23 other gap students from Australia and South Africa and was a 'matron" for Cherwell House, home to 80+ 11-13 year old girls.

          

Although testing at times, I felt I grew up a lot on my gap year and experienced so many things. I travelled all around Europe and met so many amazing people, some of whom are still my best friends to this day. I still had regular communication with friends back home, and on my return it was like nothing had changed.

While on my gap year, I also decided I was no longer keen on going to Broadcasting School in Christchurch, my original plan for after high school. Instead I decided I wanted to go to Massey University in Wellington and complete a Bachelor or Communication degree. 

Since I went on my gap year, I can't say what would have happened if I had gone to broadcasting school, but all I know is that the degree i'm completing now is so perfect for me and I can't imagine doing anything else.  

In saying that though, heaps of people I know have gone straight to Uni and still love what they do, but for wanderlusters like myself, before hitting the books, I hit the University of Life, as nothing beats experience. 

the one year rule.

I am a serious over-packer. Whenever I go away somewhere, even if i'm only going for a night or two, i'll take enough clothes to last me at least a week. 

So I guess there's nothing left to do but admit it....Hi i'm Samme, and i'm a clothes hoarder. 

A few years ago I had a self intervention and decided upon the one year rule. Just as it sounds, the one year rule basically means any clothes I haven't worn in the last year get given to a second hand shop on passed on.  Of course, there are a few stragglers in my wardrobe, like that too small school production shirt or my first concert t-shirt and a ball dress or two, but everything else is stuff that I actually wear.

As a true shopping addict, getting rid of clothes does mean an excuse to go out an buy more, but it also means a chance to be creative, and customise your old clothes into new pieces. 

So far i've managed to stick by the rule, though i'm not sure if thats purely because i've started wearing all my clothes out of fear I might have to give them away!

(and yes, I really am this weird.... le sigh)

P.S, A large section of my wardrobe is taken up with Liner Note Kids apparel.  I may be bias as it's my sisters clothing line, but I think it's pretty awesome, go check it out!