The Embankment.





I don't live in London, yet during the semester I live closer than I ever have before and somehow I have only managed to go back to the capital during my Christmas Holidays after s 5hr long coach journey with my sister. The first stop on our trip was Oxford Street, New Bond Street, Bond Street, Regent Street and of course Carnaby Street. But for me at least a trip to London isn't complete without a walk along the embankment past Big Ben and the London Eye, followed by the skate park in the dim light after dinner to watch the people do there thing down there.

When we first arrived I kinda wanted to take outfit photos but I prefer the weird touristy photos I now have that I have taken several times in different lights, at different angles and different times of year. The London skyline will always look good during the last moments of the sunset. And although I would never live there London is one of my favourite city's in the world.

XO, Miriam

Don't Ever Turn Back.




 //Dress (worn as skirt) - H! by Henry Holland//Belt - New Look//Skirt - Asos//Tights - TU//

Shot in black and white because sometimes it works better. I couldn't have felt more girly in this outfit having been to see a live screening of Bolshoi's The Nutcracker at my local cinema, those of you who follow me on social media will know I also attended the The Nutcracker in London performed by the English National Ballet which was equally as beautiful. 

Not everything is as black and white as the answers for s maths question. People and words are more complicated, and who am I to know who is truthful and who lies so sweetly I cannot help but believe it. Time wait for nobody and life will swiftly take you from one place to another, and yes it is sometimes hard to be grateful for what you have but for this holiday season at least try to be as thankful as you can for where you are. If anything this year I have learned to stand up and move on and in the words of Taylor Swift: Don't Ever Turn Back.

Have a great holiday season everybody.

XO, Miriam

My First Semester at University.



University. People are right it is an experience, I have had some of the best times of my life as well as being stressed to the max. For those of you that don't know I am studying English Literature and Publishing Media and Oxford Brookes. Yup that is right there is more than one university in Oxford and I go to the one you don't know anything about, and the one that doesn't look anything like Hogwarts.

So far for me university has tested my emotional, physical and metal boundaries, I have gone over the edge mentally, survived on toast for 3 days and missed the hell out of everyone I love back home. But do you know what, it was worth it. Yup every second, even the nights where I was writing essays until 3am in the morning and the days where I procrastinated with my friends by binge watching films and box-sets.I guess I got lucky in terms of flat mates, I have friends who are struggling to find another room in halls because their flatmates are just awful.

In terms of my lectures and classes I had to suffer through some compulsory modules that were just the bane of my life, yes I take English Literature but does that mean I want to study Shakespeare and only Shakespeare for an entire module? No I do not. Some of my classes required more work than others, some were hardly worth going to, but hey I made it. Most of the time...

I haven't once considered dropping out or changing where I am, if anything I feel more at home in Oxford than I do in the countryside. Hopefully next semester will be just as good as this one if not better!


XO, Miriam

What are you worth?

 Recently two of my favourite bloggers have tackled the idea of self-worth and self-esteem. Carrie from WishWishWish wrote a wonderful piece about body image here, while Sammy from Little Fickle wrote a personal post about Looks VS. Worth here. There are so many things I would like to say about self-worth but most of all that no one else should be able to affect it.

I couldn't think of a way to phrase this other than in what I consider to be the "English Literature style exam" style question:

Can your aesthetic ever be the same as your metaphorical worth?

 The simple answer is no, but as with all English Literature questions it is complicated. The reality is that the way in which you present yourself to others through your body language, make-up, clothes and all the rest does impact the way you feel, and does make a part of your total self worth.

You cannot value yourself just through the way you happen to look on any given day, linked to that is that you will never be up to everyone's beauty standards so don't expect to be. Don't get me wrong look after your physical appearance but just don't make it the reason you like yourself. Because we all have hundreds of other qualities that make use special and good enough for you.


I can fall into the habit of believing I am not good enough just as much as the next person can especially when it comes to looks. I guess I am a product of my generation, with a tendency to prioritise the way I look so that it equals my self-worth, but it doesn't there are so many other reasons why I am good enough, I just can't always see it.I just cannot believe I have allowed for it to impact my life for so long.


YOU ARE WORTH EVERYTHING YOU SAY TO YOURSELF.

XO, Miriam


November Favourites.

(Clockwise: Smith Magazine, Moleskine Planner, Hair chalks,  Taylor Swift Polaroids, necklace, another Taylor Swift Polaroid and a disposable camera)
Smith Magazine:
A recent discovery while picking up a copy of a couple of my favourite magazines in WhSmiths. I guess it is more of a "book-azine" as one of my publishing lecturers would say, the articles are not only well informed and interesting but is one of the few magazines where it tells the stories of extraordinary people without critique. There is not question of what the scientists who were watching Mount. St. Helens were wearing when the volcano erupted or if the authors who crticised and inspired each other had regular fall-outs or sabotaged each others work. It is a stunning magazine, I hope to see this Australian magazine again on the shelves.

A Moleskine Planner:
This is more of a semester favourite this is the sole reason I have actually met all my deadlines on time, because quite frankly without it I would forget. It has also become the place of scrawled shopping lists and blog post ideas. And can I quickly mention that it is pink, which means I feel like Elle from Legally Blonde while sat in my lectures and seminars.


Hair Chalks:
I have been experimenting with these for a few months now but I think now that my hair is longer the effect it more subtle. I am currently sporting some purples ends where I am normally blonde, and quite frankly I feel pretty damn fabulous with a little bit of colour in my hair, and these are great because I don't have to commit to maintenance or the cost of permanent colour. These probably aren't so great for those with darker hair than I but if you do have lighter hair and are prepared to be called "indie", "hipster" or "a my little pony" for a day or two they are worth it!

 Taylor Swift Polariods:
And her album 1989. If you have read this blog for longer than a year then you will know that I love Taylor Swift as an artist having seen her live in concert twice so far and again next year... Not only is the music great on this album but the sets of Polaroids that came with the physical album were just a beautiful. I cannot wait until my Polaroid camera arrive now so I can experiment with the different films and lighting!


The Necklace:
I am including this because I wore this necklace at least twice a week last month without fail. Enough said.

The Disposable Camera:
A little shout out to my friend Jaimie for giving me this idea! I have been taking a disposable camera out with me for the last two or three weeks capturing the events, but because I cannot look at the result and edit out photos I don't like it gave me time to actually enjoy the moment I was experiencing rather than looking at a screen.

What were your favourites last month?

XO, Miriam

Letters to Winter| Three

I am dreaming of the coast at winter, cold harsh and salty. The sea in winter is to me the power of nature.
Source

Dear Winter,

You let December creep up so silently, quickly, I an unsure as to where I should my place my thoughts anymore. Being in between places is strange, halfway to insanity and halfway to success, every decision in the next three weeks will decide which half will take all of me. And lately I have been wondering if the escape I found in my new city and home that I love so dearly is worth it. Because on paper it seemed to like the perfect plan but things are never quite a simple as they appear to be, and hardly ever is reality the dream you imagined for weeks on end.

It isn't about how many time you fall apart but how many you put yourself back together.

Or at least that is what they say.

Winter you get to me physically as well as mentally I guess they agree in that way at least. My hands and feet are rarely warm, and almost every slight bit of exposed skin loses all feeling. Kinda like the way I stop feeling deeply during the grey months despite my love of that haunting colour between the sea and the sky.  And yet you bring a cosy and loved up atmosphere rarely paralleled by other seasons to our small lives.

I honestly believe that your intentions are good but I wish it was easier than you make it seem.

XO, Miriam
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