August Darlings:

This post comes at a point where I've began to feel a little creatively frustrated, I struggled to be creative over lockdown due to not isolating in my usual home, missing my friends and family and having other external stresses. However, since lockdown was lifted I've been super obsessed with meeting my friends as much as possible after not seeing them for so long, as well as a lot of my time being spent working. Now that I've caught up with everyone, gotten back into the swing of things at work I've been feeling at a loss creatively. I want to spend my time writing songs as although I would never put any of them on here I just find it very therapeutic for myself. But whenever I take to the piano I feel a sudden guilt of not using that time practicing piano for uni prep with the start date of uni drawing nearer and nearer from the horizon. My other therapeutic break is running this blog which leads me to this series I'm going to start called 'Darlings' which will consist of all my favourites from each month, hopefully meaning that I should post at least once every month even if nothing else.

August, I feel for me has been the first month this year since lockdown where I have really started to get back into routine and making time to really put aside time to enjoy content as well as beginning uni prep. I wanted to share with you some of the things I've been loving. These recommendations aren't necessarily new things to the scene, just some things that have been making me happy. P.S, I've literally wore next to no make up this month so I'll need to pass on this category until next month.

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MUSIC:

- Dua Lipa 'Future Nostalgia': Yes this came out earlier in the year but I'm sure we can all agree that this album still slaps and most probably always will.

- King Princess, Talia

-Rex Orange County, Loving is Easy

-OPM. Heaven is a Halfpipe (If I Die)

-Harry Styles, Watermelon Sugar

-Pretenders, Brass in Pocket

-Rina Sawayama, Chosen Family

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PODCASTS:

- 'The Daily' (New York Times) Rabbit hole: This has to be one of my favourite podcast series that I've listened to in a while. The premise lies in a man called Caleb who was radicalised far right and then far left due to the way in which youtube's algorithm works. Later in the series they also ended up interviewing Pewdiepie in regards to his controversial past. Although, I've yet to finish the series, I am absolutely tearing through it and it has been interesting so far, whilst making me question a lot of the morals behind one of my favourite content platforms.

- 'How to Fail', Elizabeth Day: This was recommended to me by John and although I haven't listened to a huge number of episodes, I have loved the ones I've heard such as her interview with Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The podcast talks about how our biggest failures in life can turn out to be positives in which we can learn from.

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YOUTUBE:

- Lucy Moon (mostly her style videos)

- The Anna Edit (once again mostly her style videos in particular, ones on her capsule wardrobe

- Jamie Genevieve (weekly vlogs)

- Lizzy Hadfield, I am obsessed with her style which is a mix of luxury and hughstreet affordable

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CLOTHING:

My new aim is to share with you guys three items each month that I feel I get the most wear out, this in return usually means that they'll be pretty versatile with different outfits. - All Saints (A Saint oversized jumper) This jumper is absolutely incredible and something I definitely don't regret buying. I am living for an oversized fit this autumn and the red writing adds for a colourful splash to outfits. I've been pairing this with a pair of skinny jeans and a white roll neck shirt underneath.

- All Saints (Cashmere blend shacket) This reinforces my belief that All Saints makes such good quality products that will last me all through uni. The thickness of this material, whilst also looking incredibly chic and flattering is to die for. This piece definitely works best complimenting a neutral palette of nudes, blacks or whites. My most worn one must be a black roll neck and jeans with trainers, draping the jacket over my shoulders.

- Zara (T-shirt/ jumper white) What can I say I literally just needed a new white tee, however seems a good thickness and fit.

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SKINCARE:

The skincare routine that I'm using just now is the same one that I've been using all of lockdown, fair to say my skin was to put it politely, a little bit problematic after coming off my pill. However, I really d believe that these products have helped balance my skin even although my skin took a little time to adjust to them but then again I did change my whole routine over night which I don't think you're really meant to do but hey ho.

- Oskia Renaissance Cleanser

- Pixi GlowTonic

- Ordinary serum Niacinamide 10% +Zinc 1%