Monday, 30 June 2014

Review: Murdered by My Boyfriend


The other day I watched the BBC Three drama, Murdered by My Boyfriend, and four days later it is still lingering in my mind as one of the most powerful and harrowing things I have watched to date. Closely based on a true story, this one-off drama follows the relationship of ‘Ashley’; a young, popular and ambitious seventeen year-old, and ‘Reece’, her erratic, abusive boyfriend.

During the hour long program, writer Regina Moriarty exposes the truthful reality of what it is really like to be in an abusive relationship. Before watching Murdered by My Boyfriend I admit that I had a very naive perception of abusive relationships – I could never understand why anyone would stay with someone who was mentally controlling, frightening or physically hurting you – but this program provided me with the eye-opening truth of just how manipulative men like Reece can be, and just how little means girls like Ashley have to escape.

Like many abusive relationships, when Ashley and Reece meet everything seems perfect. He is charming, he makes her feel beautiful and inevitably, she falls in love with him. But slowly Moriarty draws attention to the early signs that reveal his true and menacing character. It starts with small gestures like pulling the strap of her top back up or questioning who she is texting, but these signs develop and escalate so gradually that Ashley becomes blinded by his mental control and unable to face what he is really doing to her. It made me understand how tightly reined an abuser can get his victim, and by no fault of her own she finds herself trapped with no way out. He impregnates her and forces her to drop out of college to raise his baby meaning there’s a permanent tie between them, he hacks into her social media accounts and tracks who she is talking to, he dictates how she must dress and talk and socialise, and then of course if she doesn't obey or even attempts to question his actions, he hits her.


Over the four years that they are together we see how Reece mentally and physically tore all aspects of Ashley’s life apart – ‘he made me nothing’, her voice-over narrative says, and although the title warns you of what is inevitably going to happen, nothing could have prepared me for the chilling scene when he eventually kills her. At the end of program a stat flashed up on my screen, it read – ‘It took four years for Ashley to die. In that time, at least 229 women in Britain were murdered as a result of domestic violence.’ – a hard-hitting reminder that although what you are viewing is just actors on a set, this kind of torture is real and it is happening in houses not far from our own. I had no idea how big a problem domestic violence was in this country, but from watching Ashley’s story I can now comprehend why so many innocent women find themselves imprisoned by their monstrous boyfriends or husbands.

Although Murdered by My Boyfriend was an extremely difficult watch I feel it is vital that these dramas are made to raise awareness, not only to help those who are in a similar position to Ashley, but to help other women recognise the early signs of an abusive relationship. No woman should be a hostage to the one person who they should be able to fully trust and love, and no man should turn a woman's life into a living nightmare.

My thoughts go out to all the women who have or are suffering, to all the families who have lost a loved one to this horrific crime, and to all the innocent children like Jasmine who are left to grow up without a mother or a loving father.

If you would like to catch up on Murdered by My Boyfriend you can so HERE.

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

From Catwalk to Your Wardrobe

Monique Lhuillier bold red skirt

Monique Lhuillier - Spring 2014

red pink maxi split skirt Leslie Mann Emma Stone Met Ball

Leslie Mann at The Other Woman premier and Emma Stone at the Met Ball 2014.

Topshop red split maxi skirtASOS soft split maxi skirt 


Miss Guided pink pencil skirtBoohoo soraya thigh high split maxi skirt


This season, designers and fashion gurus are going mad for block colours, straight cut lines and clashing shades of pink and red. Monique Lhuillier, who is prominently known her stunning bridal wear, ditched her iconic white lace fabrics in her Spring 2014 collection back in September of last year, for some bolder hues of coral and magenta in this stunning eye-popping ensemble. Paired with some orange stilettos and an orange painted lip, it’s no wonder Leslie Mann opted to work this look at The Other Woman premiere last April. Following Lhullier’s colour blocked beauty, Emma Stone splashed across the pages after appearing in a very similar ensemble at the Met Ball this year. These high-waisted, split-front wrap skirts beautifully compliment both her and Leslie’s petite frames and the bold colours provide a vibrant pop to their fair colourings.

And now high street stores have decided that this Spring/Summer look shouldn’t just be for the catwalk and the red carpet and are releasing a range of their own Lhuillier inspired skirts. They seem to be everywhere at the moment and starting from as little as £10 a pop everyone should have one in their wardrobes this summer. Dress up like Mann and Stone with a pair of strappy stilettos or down with pretty flat sandals – just don’t forget those block colours and to not over accessorise and you’ll be right on point this season.

Sunday, 11 May 2014

Festival Essentials


The days are getting longer and festival season is just around the corner which excites me so much! My friends and I bought tickets to Global Gathering the other day and Bristol's Love Saves the Day is in just two weeks, so I thought it was about time we started thinking about what to pack for those field days and decided to put together a little Festival Essentials list for you all. I know half the fun of festivals is getting muddy and dancing, rain or shine, with a beer in hand, but there are a certain few luxuries I can't live without when I'm living outdoors. Carry on reading to see what I'll be packing this year...

Wellies: Goes without saying really. With thousands of people dancing in a field it's gunna get muddy whether there's rain or not. And let's face it, if there's one thing that completes any festival outfit it's a pair of wellies!

Phone Juice Pack: There's nothing more annoying than when your phone runs out of juice and you have no way of charging it, especially if you're using it to take all your photos. You can pick up a battery pack pretty cheap off Amazon these days so you'd be silly not to take one really.

Pac-a-Mac: Let's be realistic about this - it doesn't matter how good the weather man says it's going to be... we live in England, so unless you're lucky enough to get to a festival abroad this summer make sure you pack your mac! Cath Kidston do some seriously cute ones.

Body Spray: To keep you feeling and smelling fresh take a bottle of body spray. It'll be your shower in a bottle for those couple of days and Victoria's Secret do some really amazing smelling body mists that have serious lasting power.

Alcohol Pouches: Most festivals prohibit glass bottles to be carried onsite so stock up on some handy pouch containers for your drinks. Asda sell Eco-Refillable pouches of vodka for a reasonable price, which are much easier and lighter to pack than bottles.

Compact Mirror: An obvious but easily forgotten item that you will be so grateful for. I once went to a festival and was the only girl who had remembered to pack a mirror... needless to say I was very popular that weekend! 

Eye Mask: I know festivals aren't for sleeping but when you finally roll into your tent at 4am after a whole day/night of raving I'm sure you'll appreciate those extra hours once the sun has made its 6am appearance. 

Dry Shampoo: An absolute festival essential. It may not compare to a proper hair wash but it's a bloody good substitute to tidy you over til' you get home. 

Disposable Camera: If you don't want to take your  phone/camera then pop in a disposable to capture some of those memories. They aren't going to be the best quality but it's better than the risk of losing or water damaging your £200 camera...

Anti-Bac: Another festival staple that you shouldn't go without. It's one thing being dirty but it's another thing being unhygienic, especially after using those portaloos. Ew. 

Wet Wipes: Another attempt to make you feel fresh on those shower absent days. Also great for cleaning off the mud!

Loo Roll: Don't rely on those loos to supply you with the luxury of loo roll. There might be some in the first 10 minutes of the first day but after that you will be grateful you took your own!

I'm sure there are many more essentials that I have forgotten, so feel free to add them in the comment box below. 

Are you going to any festivals this summer?

Friday, 9 May 2014

Extra Gooey Chocolate Brownies


Dieters look away now. Because each bite of these indulgent slices of heaven contains enough naughtiness to send Gillian McKeith into a nervous breakdown. But are they worth it? Totally.

Now I’m a big fan of baking, and if there’s one treat from the dessert menu I can never resist, it’s a brownie. But for some reason every time I attempted to make a batch they would never compare to the perfect ‘crispy on top gooey in the middle’ ones from Starbucks. I’d always end up with a dryer cakey consistency, when what I was really craving was that melt in the mouth experience that’s so good you would happily discard all dreams of ever getting a Lucy Meck body, just for that 5 minutes of heaven. 
Anyway, after a lot of trial and error, I finally discovered the perfect recipe for my perfect brownie and my-oh-my were they gooey. So gooey in fact I could barely get my knife through them! 
So it’s goodbye lacklustre cakey brownies... hello new favourite recipe (and a couple of extra inches on the waistline!)

To make these oh-so-gooey brownies you will need:

  • 150g unsalted butter
  • 300g brown sugar
  • 75g cocoa powder
  • 150g plain flour
  • 1 tsb bicarbonate of soda
  • Pinch salt
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 4 eggs
  • 150g dark chocolate
1. In a saucepan, over a gentle heat, melt the butter. Then once melted add the sugar and stir until blended. 
2. In a separate bowl stir together all the dry ingredients. You can sieve them if you really want but I never bother.
3. Combine the dry and wet ingredients. 
4. Add the chocolate in chunks and stir, gazing lovingly into your chocolately potion until it’s all melted and smooth. (This is the time to have a final guilt-free taste before the eggs go in... although even the risk of food poisoning probably won’t put you off licking the bowl after you've tasted it). 
5. Whisk the eggs and vanilla together then add to your concoction. 
6. Combine quickly then salivate as you pour the mixture into a deep 25cm baking tray. 
7. Shove it into a 190 degree oven and cook for around 20 minutes. But do not, I repeat DO NOT overcook these badboys. Overcooking is the prime cause for dry cakey brownies. When you get them out the oven there should be a crispy layer covering the top but the rest may still seem a little runny. This is fine. They will be sticky enough to hold together after cooling.
8. Devour those beauties like there’s no tomorrow. And don’t feel bad about it. Be proud that you created something so delicious and congratulate yourself with a second helping!

Tuesday, 29 April 2014

The Pursuit of Happiness


Since getting back from the most ridiculously incredible four months of my life, living out of a backpack around some of the most beautiful countries in the world, it's been an interesting task adjusting back to the real, and far less sunny world. Of course I have loved being reunited with all of my friends and family, and coming home ready for the birth of my beautiful baby niece was the best homecoming gift, but aside from the welcome home parties and baby cuddles there have been days when I've been sat at home watching my tan fade (which by the way is more dull than watching paint dry) and it's been difficult not to get sucked into the big travel-shaped hole that's been left in my life. And I feel guilty even writing that as I know I am unbelievably lucky to even have seen and experienced some of the things I did (and at my age too!), but there is no denying that the spontaneity of travelling can give you a slightly tarnished view of the 'normal life'. So in order to lift my spirits between the endless job applications and reorganising of my wardrobes, I have ensured that time has been taken out of my day to enjoy the little perks of home life. They may not quite compare to lying on a tropical island or hiking through glaciers, but considering these cost just a fraction of the price, they don't do a bad job.

  • A good cuppa cha. In the biggest, bowl-like mug you can find.
  • A fresh batch of ultra gooey brownies. Tutorial for some particularly indulgent badboys coming soon!
  • A crisp, unopened glossy (along with that staple cuppa).
  • Starting a new book. If you can't be in a Utopian far away land, then why not imagine you are?
  • A hot bubbly bath. Aaaaand relax.
  • Some exercise. No matter how much you don't want to do it, you know it'll make you feel better in the long run (pardon the pun).
  • A ruthless clear out. Clear space, clear mind and all that. You'll be shocked at how much you find that you no longer want/use - why not stick it up on Ebay/Depop and earn yourself some pennies at the same time?!
  • An iTunes revamp. Get some upbeat, positive tunes on there and blast them out at all times of day.

Wednesday, 9 April 2014

16 Old School Products Every '90s Girl Owned (and probably still has lying around somewhere)

1. A pot of body glitter, which was essentially glitter mixed with glue that would stick your eyelids together when you were trying to make an extra special effort for the school disco.

2. Transfer tattoos, especially the hoop shaped ones that would go around your belly button, which you would then show off (also at the school disco) by wearing a crop top and low rise flares. Sexy.

3. Nearly every piece in the Glitter Babes line, from bright purple peel-off nail varnish to hot pink eye shadows. When it came to Glitter Babes, you had to have it all. 

4. Speaking of glitter... another absolute essential was that spray in hair glitter that clumped together in suspicious dandruffy patches. Anything that sparkled and made you feel like Baby Spice was pretty dreamy though.

5. An electric blue mascara. Apparently looking like an alien was cool back then?

6. Dream Matte Mousse - without a doubt every girl’s first ‘grown up foundation’. Pretty sure the only reason this is still on the market is due to revenue made by no one other than 13 year old girls

7. The entire range of Impulse body sprays, one to suit every mood and occasion. Because you truly believed that ‘Tease’ would drive the boys crazy!

8. A bottle of So....Kiss Me? for those occasions when a spritz of Impulse just wasn't enough.

9. A very sticky, gloopy lipgloss you got free with a copy of Mizz, which made a sickening suction noise every time you pulled the wand out. It may have clung to your hair every time you turned your head but it made you feel grown up whenever it needed ‘topping up’ whilst in the presence of your friends.

10.  L’oreal Kids Shampoo and Conditioner, which led you into a false sense of trust when the advert stated it to be ‘tear-proof’, only to find it still stung like a bitch. You still can’t fully trust L’oreal for this reason.

11. Lip Smacker lip balms, most of which you would end up consuming due to their unbelievably tempting scent and surprisingly nice taste (especially the watermelon one). You’d only ever apply it so you could lick it off again. Yum.

12. A Miss Sporty eyeliner when Avril Lavigne became a style icon and made the ‘emo look’ cool. After hearing Sk8er Boi for the first time you ditched the body glitter and went from pink fairy girl to punk rock princess over night.

13. Clearasil Deep Pore Face Wipes, which actually felt like acid wipes due to the amount they stung your face. You didn't care though if it meant having spot free skin, because what was worse than having a spot? (Nothing). Skin stripper anyone?

14. Some Body Shop bubble bath, usually given to you in a party bag, that smelt too good to use and sat in your cupboards never to be used. Because ‘wasting it’ would have been worse than looking at it for years only to chuck it away having never used the stuff, obviously. 

15. Stick on gems that you’d carefully arrange around your eyes for a mysterious, sexy look. This was only for very special occasions like birthday parties and (again) school discos due to the complexity of the task.  

16. A Babyliss Crimpin Trio. This one isn't so much as a product as a styling tool, but it definitely deserves a place on this list. Where would we have been without our hair crimpers that took a good half hour to heat up and a further two hours to work around our head?! 

Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Summer Wish List!


It may only be April but in my eyes that can only mean one thing... Summer is nearly here! Since getting back from travelling the world three weeks ago I have been getting serious withdrawal symptoms from seeing the sun and my body is not happy being wrapped in 1000 layers every time I leave the house. So, to brighten my mood and get me excited for the fast approaching summer, I decided to make a summer wish list of some of the beautiful seasonal items hitting our stores at the moment. I particularly love the Miss Guided jumpsuit and the Peter Pan Collar blouse which is a steal at just £9.00 in the Fashion Union sale!

Let's just hope we get some nice weather to wear it all now!

1) Floral Jumpsuit - Miss Guided, £29.99 2) Mac lipstick in Hoop, £15.00 3) Peter Pan Collar Blouse - Fashion Union, £9.00 4) Dolce and Gabbana - Dolce, £62.00 5) Heels - Miss Selfridge, £38.00 6) Teardrop Ring - Freedom at Topshop, £8.50 7) Sunglasses - Topshop, £16.00