What's in a Name?

Popular in the 80s, Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw triumphantly cast the name necklace onto thousands of modern necks. Whilst we don't all have Carrie's quirky story- didn't the name necklace get lost in Paris as a representation of her old life in NY or something?- personalised jewellery is still just that, personal to the wearer.

I have a couple of name necklaces and retain a fond affection for them, however at first I wondered whether or not this concept would suit me, 'Sarah' is not an exotic name, it has no quirk or tale behind it; was there really any point in branding my identity across my throat? Then one whirlwind of a summer Bianca and I visited Tatty Devine and fell in love with their chunky perspex name necklaces. As poor fashion interns we could not justify the purchase so eventually decided to buy each other one for Christmas. This not only granted us with our highly coveted necklace but sorted out gift giving and erased some of the financial guilt. Tatty Devine have a wide range of colours and after deliberation I choose the black and Bianca had metallic gold - a fair representations of our personalities!

As a converted firm fan of the name necklace, I was delighted to receive a more classic style name necklace from My Name Necklace. This one spells out my name in shiny silver italics and is a more polished option than my Tatty Devine purchase. It comes on a slim chain; there are three different lengths available and I choose the 16'' which sits nicely just below the collar bone. The cut of the lettering is exquisite and it fastens with a traditional lobster clasp.

The font style is actually called 'Carrie style' but there are a LOT of different options and different metals. It's very handy to buy personalised jewellery online and customise your necklace with photo examples at disposal. Also, the postage is free which is a mega plus point.

Check out the site here

As the possessor of two name necklaces I feel like somewhat of a veteran, but there are so many different options I can't promise not to add a couple more to the collection. They always attract compliments when I wear them which is no bad thing. Also, (top tip) they are a genius idea for 'Special Birthdays'; when friends/family turn 18 or 21 there is a pressure to give them an extra special, thoughtful, memorable gift which is a nightmare if like me you panic over regular birthday pressies. The jewellery from My Name Necklace is ideal as gifts as they come prettily packaged in a ribbon bound lilac box. I have given 2 friends and sister Sian name necklaces for their celebrations and they were definitely a hit! Sister Rhian, guess what you're getting for your 18th?

Disneyland Paris

I love Disneyland. As a bitter cynic who HATES annoying photo taking tourists, ankle biting baby buggies, overpriced snacks, overexcited children and general gaudiness, this Disney love is more than a little uncharacteristic. Yet, show me that pink castle and I go giddy! I simply love Disneyland! There is something magical about stepping to a land crafted entirely of fantasy; to walk through thatched roof tops to suddenly emerge in an Arabian bazarr, the wild west, the jungle, a space ship! The attention to detail is quite amazing, and I love the falseness. The un-real becomes real and touchable, mudane life is suddenly the distant fantasy.

Ok there are queues, lots of them. It is impossible to willingly waiting 80 minuets for a 3 minute 'Finding Nemo' roller coaster ride without feeling a bit like an idiot, but still it is one of my favourite days out. Even if a Cornetto does cost 3 Euros.

Sister Act

My favourite things about returning to Wales

1. Mum making me a cup of tea
2. Dad making me a gin and tonic
3. Guitar talk with brother Huw
4. Seeing Star, Cuddles, Mittens and Gilbert (dog and Cat x3)
5. Busted on iTunes
6. Pretty sisters to test out makeup looks on

On a pre-holiday eve when everyone is avoiding packing, and 'Monster In Law' is the only thing on TV, it is inevitable that the makup cases come out and false eyelashes begin to flow. Two different eras in a living room



Hollywood Glamour


Inspired by the D&G ad with Scarlett Johansson cavorting on whiteness, we decided to try old school Hollywood glamour on Sian. Jet black winged eyes with reddest of red lips.

Starting with my favourite Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation, I gave Sian a Chanel powdering before sweeping her eyelids with Dior 738 shadow. I worked some Pixie bronze into the crease and finished with Bobbi Brown eyeliner and YSL Mascara. Her lips were clumsily dubbed with Chanel Lotus Rouge (no lipbrush to hand!!).

60's Chic

I LOVE this look, it is a party staple that is dramatic yet subtle. I did my favourite 60s look on Rhian, Twiggy inspired

Another Bobbi Brown base in Albaster 00 (the formula blends so well it suits everyone) and a thick lining of Bobbi Brown gel liner all around the eye to start. I then applied some Eyelure lashes and drew on some lower lid lashes with Dior Style Liner. The look is completed with a coat of Barry M 100 chalk pink lipstick- I recommend this for everyone's makeup bags, it will transform your look.

Text Heavy- A Rant

When friends and family visit London, they are always shocked at my coldness to beggars on tramps on the street. Here is a tale that highlights why I am so cynical.

One summers eve Bianca and I were walking back to my flat from the station. This is now a routine part of party prep, stop home, make-up, heels, B tries on all my dresses and then we clatter out to which ever event we are heading. This particular evening a woman blocked our path as we were walking and chatting. She was short, squat in a tracksuit with cropped bleached hair and a jowlley jaw. Before we could say a word she burst into speech

'Oh hello girls, I wonder if you can help me, I've been up to about 5 women and they all looked at me as if I was about to steal from them. I'm not a beggar, I'm not a weirdo, I not on drugs, I had a fight with my bloke and I'm looking for £2.10 to get a bus home. I thought a woman would help me, we've got to stick together'.

This was delivered with a huffy, puffy, worldly tone with a much head shaking to emphasise her points- namely that as a fellow female we should adhere to a solidarity. Bianca and I sympathetically said that we had no change sorry, which I do believe was true at this time. She furiously condemned us for being a traitor to the female species and walked on her way.

It was perhaps a month later that I was sat with Christelle, maybe 10 minutes away from the station outside a bar. It was a Saturday afternoon and we were having a sneaky glass of wine in the rain. A woman was shuffling down the street and pulled up a metal chair at our table. I thought she looked familiar and it didn't take me long to realise why...

'Oh hello girls, I wonder if you can help me, I've been up to about 5 women and they all looked at me as if I was about to steal from them. I'm not a beggar, I'm not a weirdo, I not on drugs, I had a fight with my bloke and I'm looking for £2.10 to get a bus home. I thought a woman would help me, we've got to stick together'

EXACTLY THE SAME SPEECH. The copy paste tool has never been so easily used, everything, right from the 'I'm not a weirdo' to 'women sticking together'. I sat in disbelief listening to this parrot, and silently hoped that Christelle would not be taken in by the speel.

Luckily, Chris is also a cynic but this episode enraged me! Many beggars lie, I know that, and many also have their favourite one-liners, 'money for the donar kebab fund?', 'change for a ticket to Barbados?' these are regulars in my area but this woman...this woman was under the guise of a woman in need. She tried to steal from us by being disgusted at the lack of understanding between women, yet in doing so totally exploits the entire concept! To think I felt bad at Liverpool St leaving this woman in distress, to think that I felt I was letting down the sex. Her story uses a man exploiting a woman to pull the heart strings, when in fact she is exploiting many of us daily with her lies.

I caught the bus home tonight as it was tipping down with rain. Out of the window I watched pedestrians battling the downpour and saw a young girl being approached by the same woman. The girl's understanding face filled me with pity. I could see the woman shaking her head as she was probably receiting the very same speech again. I didn't see if she got her £2.10 for the bus.

Nudie Jeans & Liberty White Denim Party

My compact camera irks me with its lack of quality, but is most handy to stash in the bag for impromtu parties. Last week one evening I found myself at Liberty for a Nudie Jeans event.

There is something weird and wonderful about in store parties, entering and exiting through a deserted store full of still and beautiful clothes. This event was in the basement, with the usual champagne and oyster bar transformed into a Bulmers and gin bar (gin is far more preferable to oysters in my opinion).

I went with LOVE-ers Jeanie and Max, and my old buddy Chris came along. The highlights included a noisy band (Jeanie's comment) who I really enjoyed , catchy but technical; on enquiry it emerged that their name was 'White Denim', how very apt - the party suddenly made more sense.



We left shortly after the band as it was a school night, but not before enjoying a pear cider, which seems like a better alternative to the original? On departure everyone was admiring the accessories department as we filed out. I made an overblown declaration of love for the Bebarqoue Viper tights and in doing so sent a packet of said tights flying across the store. Smooth.

This weekend I am departing to France with the family for a week, but have set up some posts in my absence as I feel this blog has been neglected!

Connected

My absence over the past week or so has been due to another failed BT connection in our flat...however I am happy to announce that we are now online again! Hello internet! I have lots of posts boiling in my brain, and they shall commence tomorrow
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