Not Enough Hours in the Day

As I write this I am currently surrounded by a mountain of paper and what looks like the best part of WHSmiths stationary section, it is well and truely exam season.

Panic Stations People!!

So apologies for the lack of posts but time apparently thinks its hilarious to speed up living me running to catch up! Alongside my usual part time job, revision, job applications and squeezing in some sleep blogging has unfortunately had to take a back seat this week.

I cannot wait for May 8th when all exams will be done and hopefully my face will look more like this...

than this...

However I have been pinning if you want to follow me on Pintrest its my new addiction!

or check out my Instagram which I update daily with my goings on...

Username: ella_nora

Good luck to everyone else with exams!

Nora x

Elizabeth Taylor's Jewellery Auction

Its hard to pinpoint what I love about Elizabeth Taylor the most, her amazing taste in diamonds? Her unapologetic attitude of her actions? Or her determination to never give up on finding love? Her beauty was undeniable (who needs false eyelashes when your born with two sets of eyelashes framing those violet eyes) as was her taste for diamonds. 

I'm well aware that the great Elizabeth Taylor died in 2011 and that the auctioning of her jewellery took place last December, however the auction at Christie's in New York was televised this evening and I was hooked! Not only did it show all the amazing jewels, which in total sold for $116 million, it also gave a great insight into her life and the stories behind each unique piece.

Here's a few of my favourites:

Amazing Emerald and Diamond necklace!

The actress' famous 33.19-carat diamond ring, given to her by Richard Burton, also sold for $8.8m (£5.7m).

The tiara, bought by actress' third husband Mike Todd's in 1957 sold for $4.2 million (£2.7 million) - about six times its estimate.

In love with these yellow diamond earrings! 

Did you guys watch the auction?

Which was your favourite piece?

Nora x

Fashion Drawings

I recently stumbled across these adorable fashion drawings, I can't seem to find the artist who drew these cute pictures, but I thought I'd share them with you!

Nora x

Lust of the Week

So unless you've been living under a rock recently you'll know all about the latest fashion obsession with Jeffrey Campbell's shoe designs, but in case you don't have a spare £120 (if not more - how can you choose just one colour?!) fear not! This weeks Lust goes to Daisystreet Shoes, who have solved this dilemma by producing the Solange and Sarah Boot, prices starting at just £35, and at that price I'll take one in every colour!

Here's a few of my favourites that I'm lusting after this week...

My favourite colour purple! Lavender Suede, Click here to Pre Order. 

A perfect nod to the pastel trend, Turqouise Suede, Click here to buy

My Ultimate Favourites! Love me some studs! Click here to Pre Order.

But don't take my word for it go check out the site, did I mention the price and the 41 staggering colour choices, and if I didn't need to persuade you further students get 10% off!

Happy Shopping!

Nora x

Scents for Summer

I love to get a new lighter and fruitier fragrance as we enter the summer months, last year I invested in Dasiy by Marc Jacobs, I'm undecided on which fragrance to replace my current ones with (Miss Dior Cherie and Calvin Klein Euphoria, if you wondered) 

I'm in love with the new Gucci Flora bottles, but I'm yet to smell it, but I'm a sucker for perfume bottles and have been known to buy a perfume before solely on how pretty the bottle will look on my dressing table!

Marc Jacobs is also set to launch a new fragrance this summer and it is adorable! I fell for the bottle again! Following the success of Daisy and Lola, Marc Jacobs is set to introduce their little sister (his words, not mine) Dot! The bottle is modelled on a lady bird, hence the name and it’s supposed to evoke visualisations of “a ladybug with butterflies alighting on it.” I can't wait to smell it when it launches in stores in July.

What's your favourite fragrance?

Nora x

A Fairytale Life

Just a quick post today as it is in fact my boyfriends birthday and we have a day jam packed with friends, foods and a fabulous drinks, but I just had to share this amazing find with you. 

Yesterday I watched the film "Mirror Mirror" the lighter of the two snow white adaptations currently in cinemas, starring Lily Collins as Snow White (my current obsession) and Julia Roberts cast perfectly as the evil queen and although I knew the storyline and had a pretty good idea of what to expect, what I didn't count on was how amazing the costumes are! 

What blew me away was the detailing and meaning behind every costume, cleverly designed by the late Eiko Ishiokas who sadly lost her battle to pancreatic cancer in january, leaving a legacy of amazing costumes behind. The director of the film Tersem Singh talked a little about the visionary costume designer in a recent interview, saying:

"Eiko wanted to evoke a true fairy tale, she was not well during the movie; she was undergoing chemotherapy. But Eiko had only two gears: full-out or no gear at all. Her work kept her alive—it was her reason for being.” Like all of ­Eiko’s movie projects, the costumes for Mirror Mirror are elaborate, richly detailed manifestations of character. A lace collar around the evil queen’s neck is designed to evoke the backs of reptiles; Snow White’s gossamer gowns include touches like overlapping leaves and climbing velvet vines that subtly underscore her exile in the forest."

Heres a few of my favourite outfits from the film:

The Queens peacock outfit at the animal themed ball

Snow White and the Princes animal themed costumes

The queens day to day look!

The Queens wedding dress

The films star Lily Collins revealed that the costumes at times where painful due to the tight corsets but it was well worth it in my opinion, check out the trailer here, and let me know what your favourite outfit is!

Nora x

Lust of the Week

This week I stumbled across Wavy Jewellery, I'm a big jewellery lover and I've fallen in love with these pieces:

Peace Bracelet £3 (available in different colours)

Simple Cross Bracelet £1.25 (on sale)

Cross and Skulls Bracelet/Necklace £3

Firstly I fell in love with the creations from the Manchester fashion students website, and then I realised that everything was £4 and under (I'm northern and we love bargains!) so that's it I was sold!

The products are mostly hand made and she even offers the option to get in touch if you want something specific making or in a different colour. I know what I'll be buying this week, check out more of her creations here.

Nora x

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Readers!

 Here's a few fun ideas of things to make and bake this Easter weekend, whatever you end up doing I hope you eat as much chocolate as possible while doing it!

My day has been made by waking up to this sight!

What goodies did you get?

Nora x

Victoria Beckham Harpers Bazaar Cover

Regular readers of my blog will know my love for Victoria Beckham goes way back so when these pictures of Victoria on the front of China's Harpers Bazaar I just had to share them with you! Although I'm slightly biased she looks amazing! 

What do you think?

 Nora x

Emma Watson for Lancome

The latest Lancome ads have just dropped, Emma Watson reprises her role as spokesperson and model for the brand, looking sultry in the main shot she sells Lancome's latest product, the Rouge in Love Lipstick, aimed at a younger audience trying to entice girls who usually stick to glosses to try a lipstick instead, the products are available in 3 different lines, Basic Nudes, Sparkly White and Silver and Gold Flecked Tones. The shot of her wearing the Red lipstick is undeniably beautiful but the rest of the campaign shots are my favourite, softer and featuring the more subtle colours in the range, styled with the latest pastel trend in mind, I love them! Beautiful!

In March......

Well March was my busiest month to date, not only did it provide many reasons to stress it provide even more to celebrate!

I Handed in my Dissertation (and Celebrated)

As mentioned earlier my dissertation pretty much took over my life this month, so after many drafts, tears and tantrums a well deserved cocktail (or two) was had in honour of submitting the 9,000 word bain of my life, followed by a well deserved night out with my fashion favourites.

I was (re)born in the Eighties.... 

A good friend of mine turned 21 this month so we all embraced the Miami Eighties Theme to celebrate, some of the costumes were truly hilarious, and as I don't remember much of the night (oops) I'm glad I have the photos to relive the cringey outfits, which ones your favourite?

I Was Reunited With My Home Girls...

Till writing this post I didn't realise just how much of March was spent socialising! But in March I moved back home for the Easter break, which meant I was reunited with all my girls back home, I've missed them so much so my friends Jess's birthday was the perfect excuse to all get together, dress up and catch up. We had an amazing meal at Bibi's before heading to a club for more drinks and dancing.

I Got Swept Away On a Mini Break...

My wonderful boyfriend took me away to France for a mini break this month to help me relax after my dissertation drama, it was wonderful to spend a few days in the sunshine and dining alfresco, and oh my gosh did we dine! Croissants, Pan au Chocolate, Cake, Chocolate and Cheese! I came back relaxed and refreshed and thinking I have a pretty thoughtful boyfriend!

What did you get up to in March?

Nora x