LUSH: P.S I Love You Gift Box

Happy Valentines ladies and gents! 


I know what you're thinking - where the bloody hell have I been?! Life has got in the way this past week or so meaning that I haven't really had the time to devote myself to Little V as much as I'd love to. I've got three looming deadlines for next week and I've still got 2 and a bit essays to complete before that comes around so, naturally, I'm a little snowed under and shit scared.  One of those essays is based on Freudian theory and, as you can imagine, I've got to write some pretty interesting things about a narrative called 'Paste'. Oh, life!  Apart from dreaded essays, I've been busy celebrating the gentleman and I's 2nd year together. We opened our gifts at midnight and then headed out for lunch after a nice lie in. We don't really celebrate Valentines as such because we both agree that it's a little commercialised but, to be honest, I'm just happy knowing that I'm with someone who I can see myself with for a long time to come. *Fingers crossed I don't scare him off!


Enough of the lovey dovey stuff, well...kind of! I thought I'd share one of the gifts that I was lucky enough to receive because I'm a bit of a LUSH fan and this pretty little box is too good to miss. I've no idea when they plan on taking these down or whether or not they will be on sale but, regardless, I thought I'd give you a little look into the box and share my opinions on the products. The box contains: 'It's Raining Men' shower gel, 'Soft Coeur' massage bar, 'Sweetheart' soap and 'Silky Underwear' dusting powder. 

P.S I Love You Gift Box 


As a fan of 'Honey I Washed the Kids' soap, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the 'It's Raining Men' honey scented shower gel was included because they share the same yummy scent. Despite its fragrance, you leave the shower smelling refreshing rather than sickly sweet which is good for people like me that don't like to perfume the body too much. The consistency is gorgeously creamy and, like all the other shower gels, a little bit of product goes a long long way! I'm also pretty glad that I've added another shower gel to my collection because it'll stop me from using up my supply of Snow Fairy as quick! I'd never really given too much thought to the dusting powders before but the 'Silky Underwear' dusting powder is so incredibly soft and Luke has already nicked some and marvelled at how it even turned his man skin into something vaguely strokeable.  He also nicks my Snow Fairy - abnormal! As you may know, my skin is quite dry so I think I'll be applying this post-body butter in future to avoid it drying out my skin further.  I think it's quite cool that you can also use this as a dry shampoo too; I've yet to use it for that reason but I'll let you know whether or not its overtaken my love for Batiste!

The 'Sweetheart' soap is wonderfully aesthetically pleasing but I find the scent way too overpowering for my taste. I'll use it regardless and just use another product to take the edge off the strong jasmine scent. I couldn't help but question poor Luke when I saw the 'Soft Coeur' chocolate-honey infused massage bar. I know that the staff in our local store don't mince their words *in a good way* and I couldn't help but laugh when he told me that they were discussing its edible qualities and sensuality with him. If only I was there to see his face! I actually bought this as a gift for my step-mum once before I realised it's umm, seductive qualities. Jesus Christ, sort yourself out Bee! Embarrassing stories aside, this product smells amazing and leaves your skin super moisturised. It's also great to use in and post-shower too! I'm not usually one for massage bars but I definitely make an exception when it comes to LUSH. 

For its price, the products definitely live up to their expectations and I'm already thinking of things to store in the ridiculously cute reusable box that they came in! I've decided that my next ridiculous splurge is going to take place in my local LUSH store very soon so I may be back with a few comments on other products if anyone would be interested! I'm off to spend the rest of my Valentines day in essay hell. Think of me, won't you?! Thankfully, I'm allowing myself to take a quick break from it all tonight to eat pizzas and watch films. Meanwhile, I've become steadily addicted to this song. Listen to it, then repeat. I'll be back with photos and updates on my loif very soon - for those of you that don't appreciate my love of beauty products! 

the things that make essay writing a little more bearable: 

skyping my cat to find his little ear (he only has one) prick up when I call his nickname and shout 'TUNA!' //  

going on a facebook cull and finally feeling free! // being teetotal and drinking 40p sparkling flavoured water on nights out instead // my gentleman writing me the sweetest card on earth // epic film nights featuring The Gosling // when people in the library actually shut the hell up for once - seriously, it's not a friggin' youth club! // Louise and Baby Glitter, there are no words to explain my love for them but they make my womb cry out for a mother/baby bond. In a totally non-weird way // Pinning EVERYTHING.

MUA Pearl Eyeshadows Review: Shades #30, #22 and #24

Before, I get started...I want to encourage as many girls/guys as possible to come to the #xmasbloggermeet next week. There's going to be a fashion show courtesy of Boohoo.com, drinks, lots of dancing, a goodie bag, a chance to meet fellow bloggers and a genuinely awesome night. A load of us girls are staying in the local Travelodge so if you're looking for anywhere to stay, come join us! There's already a load of awesome people attending but I want to see even more!! If you have any anxieties about it, don't...Honestly, once you witness the fitness that is my dancing skills you'll be wondering why you ever worried about your own ability at all! I wanna meet as many of lot as I can so please get purchasing and I'll see you next week for a whole lot of fun! P.S It's 18+ because it's in a club and Lyzi's dancing is XXX-rated PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

1 all nighter. 3 seasons of Scrubs. 6 tubs of Pringles. 5,000+ words. 4 library trips. 1 essay. 3 creative pieces. 10+ breakdowns. 1 hand in. 1 extremely happy feeling.

Yes, I am back from the merciless pit that is assignment fun! I'm now done with assignments for the year and can sit back, relax and enjoy the festivities. I've felt at a loss without blogging. I guess you never realise just how big a part something plays in your life until you're kept apart from it. Like I pretty much suggested, I've spent the majority of my time sorting out assignments in between eating more sweet potato mash than I care to admit and going off on little naughty shops for Christmas presents for myself - woops! These little trips inspired my first post back to Viva. I thought I'd do a little post on my recent purchases because it's not something I really blog  about but it's something I love to read myself. I've also included a bit of gift inspiration at the end. Enjoy!

Just lately, I've been going somewhat beauty crazy. It's a bit odd for me because, whilst I've always had my favourite products, I've never been particularly interested in buying in to new beauty trends or whatever; I'm putting it down to the hours spent watching my favourite youtubers whilst procrastinating!! My Christmas wishlist is full to the brim of beauty and fashion goods but I couldn't help but pick up a few treats for myself before the big day arrives. If you're a beauty snob, please look away now.....Click on images to make them less terrible!

MUA Pearl Eyeshadows: (swatches) L-R #30, #22 and #24

£1 each

That's right! I bought into the MUA beauty bandwagon and, to be quite honest, I don't feel at all guilty! If you know me well enough, you'll know that I always strive to find a bargain and money always leaves my pocket reluctantly so when I found out that my local Superdrug had a nicely stocked MUA counter, I couldn't say no! Luckily for me, they didn't have too many eyeshadow shades that were too close to my normal palette so I didn't go unbelievably crazy. However, I did find the beauties above! Even if you are a devout fan of high end beauty products, these little compacts would be perfect for your handbag on drunken nights out. After all, no one wants to drunkenly throw their £30 eyeshadow all over the sticky club toilet floor. If you're looking for some eyeshadow gift inspiration, I've also included a couple of sets that I've bought for the fam at the end :) 

If you were to look in my make-up bag you'd be able to tell that I'm neutral eye kind of girl. I usually wear the No7 Renaissance 25 set but this little gem caught my eye and would probably look gorgeous shaded in with the colours I already own. This shade is absolutely stunning. Its got the right amount of shimmer without looking too 12-year-old-at-a-school-disco. For £1, it's incredibly pigmented and is going to look gorgeous over the festive period and for wild nights out.

Wear with? lashings of mascara, a flick of eyeliner and a gorgeous festive dress.

On the shelf, this shade looked completely different to what it swatches like. To the eye, it looks like a sort of light plum shade that, lets face it, I would neither be able to get away with nor wear. To my surprise it's actually a gorgeous dusky pink that could probably be worn both day and night because it's quite versatile. Again, it's really well pigmented and looks gorgeous when the light picks up its shimmer. A dab of this shade in the crease of the eye could really make a smokey eye pop as well as looking good in its own individual look.

Wear with? blended in with the shade below, a sheer shirt and wavy flowing locks.

Light baby pinks have never really been my colour whatsoever but this little beauty seemed sweet enough and it's a colour that I've wanted to experiment with since becoming a blondie. I think it'd compliment golds perfectly as well as quite sultry and flirty looks. The candyfloss colour of it takes me back to childhood and days at the seaside.

Wear with? fluttering lashes, a 6os style dress and a crackin' pair of heels.

That's me done for the day! I hope you liked this post, it's just something different that I thought I'd swing your way. I love fashion and beauty so I think it's a side of me that I'll try and spring on Viva more often. If you'd like me to create any looks with these then let me know. I might do a little vlog soon with my opinions of them once I've actually put them on my eyelids! I'm off to go and start packing for home time tomorrow lunchtime. I am beyond excited. Charles won't know what has hit him when I fly through the door - kisses and cuddles galore! It's natural that I sometimes miss him more than the humans, right?! I'll be back soon with a post on my new lippies. Until then, keep smiling!

Leave me links to your favourite eyeshadows in the comment; I'm always after inspiration! Please could you also leave links to pretty/practical make-up storage too! Thank you.

clippy bag: the ideal university book bag!

* CLICK THE IMAGES FOR CLEARER PHOTOS. 
The weather nor the lighting was wanting to play game so click the photos and they make look a little better ~fingers crossed~

It's not often that I'm contacted by lovely PR people, let alone PR's that actually know my name and are really interested in my blog, so I was pleasantly surprised when I was contacted recently by Clippy. They showed a real interest in my little V and had actually been reading it for a year! Eeep. Clippy is a brand based in London that enable the masses to create unique bag designs to show off to their peers. You receive the shell of a bag and then you get to design it to your heart's content. You can choose from a range of bags including handbags, totebags, washbags and even pencil cases! I'd never heard of the brand before so I scoured their website for information and was immediately sucked in by the history of Clippy.

The first bag was made by Calypso Rose on her kitchen table many moons ago and the brand has since escalated and even gained the custom of none other than Helena Bonham Carter! If it's good enough for Bellatrix; it's good enough for me! I love how easily customisable these bags are. If you're anything like me, the faintest bit of creativity makes you nauseous. No worries - you can either do a bit of DIY or you can customise them online so that they arrive at your door with your photographs in. I uploaded my photographs online and was surprised to see how easy it was! A few clicks and it was making its way to me. The photographs were also really good quality.

images of: my mamabear, the beach in my hometown, summer reading, charles in a sombrero, myself, my favourite summer shoes, grasshopper infested daisies in the countryside, pick and mix and idiot faces.

I'm moving out soon so I wanted my bag to ooze the familiarity of home and the people I hold dear. I'm pretty chuffed with how its turned out. Even Luke was impressed and that's not an easy thing to achieve! I'm definitely going to be carting mine round at university and using the little pockets to store my train tickets that I always misplace. It's the perfect size to conceal my folders and it's also waterproof - ideal for the Great British summer we are having! I think I'm also going to mix it up a little and store cute postcards or fabrics in the pockets.


Thinking you want a slice of the action? Clippy have kindly given little V her own code so that my readers can get 20% off all products until the end of September! All you have to do is type in 'VIVA20' at the checkout! Happy shopping.

p.s there's still some nice things left in my blog sale
p.p.s my email address has changed. if you wish to contact me please email: vivatramp@gmail.com

viva♡s: internet finds and inspiration

Good evening! Here I am with my weekly dose of internet finds. I doubt I'm the only one that'll surf countless sites (hello Etsy and Tumblr) for hours claiming that its in the name of inspiration, right?! Good. I've had a pretty productive day today. I've swapped banks, cleaned the house and done some extensive research into various things that I won't bore you with. I also popped over to my Grandma's for lunch. She lives right across the road from me which is a lifesaver when you run out of ketchup or want someone to watch terrible crime dramas with! She stuffed me with salmon sandwiches before making me help her delete her emails. If any of you have had to deal with a 'silver surfer' I'm sure you'll feel my pain! She's quite possibly the only lady in the world who reads forwarded emails, finds them hilarious and then prints them out! Bless her. All in all, its been a good day. I'm planning on spending this evening sorting out a blog sale, emailling south west blogger ladies, nomming a jacket potato and picking my sister up from the airport. I love going to the airport. I'm a bit of a strange one, right?! Here's a few things I've liked recently:

♡ this typewriter bio and its tumblr ♡

♡ this vintage bottle collection ♡

♡ this handy little tip ♡

♡ this cute little piece of artwork ♡

♡ this idea for another list - she's chosen some pretty awesome women ♡

♡ this loud piece of vintage knitwear ♡

♡ this harry potter scar necklace - i need one! ♡

& i'm also loving:

researching modules  • breton stripes  • compiling even more lists  • chuck marathons

the rioters getting the punishments they deserve • a simple jacket potato • lunch dates • this flickr •

how close the next meet up is!

viva♡s: internet finds and inspiration

I see so many things on the internet; some truly horrendous and some beautiful. I thought I'd show you the latter in the form of my new(ish) feature, Viva♡s. I'm currently deciding what to do this weekend because Luke's away for his brother's stag do. I'm thinking a mix of car booting and drunken fun but, as of yet, I'm Billy no mates cause no one wants to co-operate! Charming. I'm pretty much fit to burst with excitement for the South West blogger meet next week. They come around so bloody quickly and are so much fun! I'm still so incredibly nervous though - last time I exfoliated my legs to buggery for some unbeknownst reason. I think I'll try and be a little less skitz next time! I'm off to go and eat mushroom pizza and blueberry muffins! It's gunna be a good day!

♡ this illustrated feather banner and cute etsy store ♡

♡ this quote print and EVERYTHING from the etsy ♡

♡ this simple nail art tutorial from Kaylah ♡



♡ this! doesn't it sound lovely? ♡

♡ this perfect quote ♡





♡ this song. mega lonely island fan! ♡

♡ these! my new shoesies ♡


& I'm also loving...
this new blogger who sent me the nicest emails! | watching my ebay items | the feeling of having a clear inbox | browsing through things I can't afford | working out what I wanna do with my life | my summer playlist full of arcade fire | food shows - as ever! | spontaneity | 

viva♡'s: internet finds and inspiration

Would it be worrying to admit to the fact that I was completely unaware it was Wednesday today? My mind seems to be running in hours/events rather than days at the moment so I was alarmed when I realised I'd got nothing ready to post! I'd love to say that my jetsetting lifestyle meant that I was cruising around some hot country today so I lost track of time but that wasn't the case. I've spent the day with my Grandma watching Flog It, playing Boggle, eating delicious smoked salmon and drinking lots of good tea. To be honest, I'd take that offer over a hot climate right now. It's been a lovely day! Admittedly, I'm not the happiest of ladies at the moment because my illness is going through a flare up. I've got stabbing pains in my inflammation so I'm currently walking around clutching my side and jauntily walking like the Hunchback of Notre Dame! I'm too sexy for this blog. Anyway, I'm rambling on now. I hope your week is going swimmingly and I'll be back soon with another post. Here's a few things I've come across of late that I've rather liked:

moustache clips | moustache set | moustache flask | moustache wallet

Moustache inspired gifts; 
I moustache you a question....(yes, I went there!) Are you a closet facial hair appreciator like myself? I'm not entirely sure what it is but I sure love a little bit of 'tache lovin'! Myself and my fellow team members often adorn faux moustaches and wander around the town scaring tourists and amusing our friends. In fact, it's one of the team's birthday this week and we've actually bought her that gorgeous moustache flask! I'm insanely jealous. Who wouldn't want to be seen sipping their beverage of choice from a 'tache shaped flask? You can get a plethora of facial fuzz related gifts on the net and I think they can make a pretty unique gift for a fuzzy friend. I'm laughing as I type all this for some reason. Anyway, I'll leave you before you realise the extent of my love for a good handlebar. Any other 'tache fans out there?

@oldmansearch

I'm all for novelty/fun twitter accounts - the queen's account never fails to put a smile on my face! I was pleasantly tickled (LOLZ) when I came across @oldmansearch. It's basically the work of a mischievous son/daughter who has told their 81 year old father that Twitter is how you search for things in Google. I bloody hope this account is true because it's just such loveable cruelty, haha. Searches include: 'remote control leash yellow', 'waist and ankle tension' and 'soft boiled grapes'. It's light humour like that that just gets you through the day, haha. What's your opinion on this? Is it cruel? Do you love novelty accounts?

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

River Island Palazzos; 

For me, there will always be those pieces that I see on the hanger and think, 'I could never pull those off' - see paperbag waists, halternecks and peter pan collars. I was so right about the paperbags. I've seen a trend emerge lately that has struck me as something that is, yet again, unwearable on my figure but I've fallen in love with it. 'It' is the palazzo pant. I'm not sure why I'm so dubious; I've got long legs so surely that should mean this is a full blown yes? However, I'm 'blessed' with those so-called child bearing hips that make me look like I've been run over so I'm a bit nervous they will only draw more attention to that fact. After seeing the beautiful Zoe's new palazzos in her video I did a little searching and came across some beautiful ones that I'd love to wear. River Island have really stepped up this summer! Obviously, you don't have to go for a printed palazzo - those of you who are a little more conservative can opt for a block colour and hit the S/S trend on the head. That said, I'm a sucker for a print so I'm all for the crazy. I'm definitely going to give these a try for my holiday. All I need now is a bank account that won't let me take £ out that I don't have....

FASHIONLITTER. / Ruby Slipper Journeys / Only Half Dressed / Hello, I'm Jamie

A foursome to follow;

Here's a few ladies and a gent for you to spruce up your dashboard with! Check out the killer style on offer at Fasionlitter, the beautiful locations/clothes/culture at Ruby Slipper Journeys, the awesome travel posts at Only Half Dressed and one of my twitter faves, who has only just started a blog, Jamie! Go crazy and add them all!

•••

 I've also been loving; 

my bed. oh god i love my bed • embracing all the time i have with luke • having an empty inbox • receiving lovely emails from people with regards to this blog • catching up with grandma • copious mugs of sugary tea • pombears • small portions • my lovely nurse • helping others • odd bursts of sunshine through the rain clouds • when the pain stops

•••

viva♡'s: internet finds and inspiration

Hello everyone! May the fourth be....hahahaha. I'll stop there ;) I feel like absolute hell right now. I have no idea why I feel so bleugh?! Maybe it's because I just wolfed down a plate of sausage and mash that could've probably fed two. My diary has actually got bored of my lifestyle and I at the moment. Every entry seems to start off with 'I didn't really do much today'. I actually sometimes want to fabricate it all and make up some elaborate tale just so when I read it back in the future I'll think more highly of myself. HA! Anyone else think that? No?! Just me?! I've promised myself to start the 30 Day Shred soon so I'm sure that'll keep me occupied. I've already watched it start to finish whilst sat on my fat arse. WHAT?! Don't judge. I wanted to know what I was letting myself in for ;) I hope you've all been well. I've got a driving lesson tomorrow which means I'll get stressed, stall and then start shouting at myself in third person. I'm surprised I'm not one of those people who've been divorced by their instructor 'cause they're that bad. Anyway, enough of my moaning. Here's this weeks picks. Let me know what you think ;) What are you coveting this week?

 1 / 2 / 3

yayer;

Yayer has well and truly blossomed since its humble beginnings back in 2009. This covetable brand stocks both one-off vintage pieces, for those that need an air of individuality about their outfit, and on-trend modern pieces, for those that would kill to swan around in the latest get up. I have so many things bookmarked that I'd love to get my hands on before they disappear but I've just checked my bank account and it had a little grumble at me. There's everything you could want from flirty vintage playsuits to tougher distressed styles - time to build yourself a schizophrenic wardrobe! Their website is also perfect for styling ideas!

website | twitter | blog | fb

daughter;

Music is my life, or so it used to be when that quote graced my angsty teen Bebo profile, so it comes as a surprise to me on the blogosphere that not many people want to post about it let alone discuss it. I have, and forever will, pride(d) myself on the eclecticism of my music taste (or lack thereof). My Itunes flits from System of a Down to Bon Iver to Slow Club to Stevie Wonder. That being said, these days you can pretty much call me mellow yellow. That's where the beautiful Elena Tonra's new project, 'Daughter', comes in. I'll let her bio describe her as it does it so perfectly:

'Wearing clothes that old people may well have died in, and a bowl-cut the Beatles would be proud of, Elena tells tales of ghosts, drowning lovers and setting fire to her insides for fun. Elena’s haunting voice and delicate guitar playing make her live performances spell-binding and often difficult to breathe'

 I was a huge fan of Elena back in the good old days of Myspace and her songs have frequented my 'lets weep into our hands' playlist more times than I care to imagine. The skeletons of each beautifully composed song contain tales of loss and tiresome love but in, what I believe is, the most pure and most beautiful way. Tonra's soft whispers accompanied by the delicate strokes of the acoustic guitar demand you to escape to the nicest place in your head and forget about to-do lists and mundane weekday life. The above song, Landfill, contains lyrics that will probably capture the emotions and mind sets of many love-torn ladies alike; 'I want you so much but I hate your guts' thus inspiring a strong emotive connection between herself and the listener. 'Daughter' understands, cares and attempts to fix your head within just a few minutes and I'll tell you what - she does a pretty good job of it!

Other Tonra songs that demand your attention;

twat | all the lights are on | took your breath away

 Go check her out; 

 facebook |  myspace | twitter | youtube

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

anthropologie; 

If I was rich, I'd go bat shit crazy and buy so any things from Anthropologie. I have blogged of my love for them previously and I will continue to do so until my heart stops! I just think they've always got some genuinely beautiful things stocked that could turn a simple semi into something to shout about. A semi as in the house you dirty beggars. I love sifting through homeware sites in order to gather some inspiration for my flat so please send your recommendations my way! Are you an anthropologie fan?

website | fb | twitter

Here Comes the Sun / sock monkey and gee / Rachel Phipps

a few to follow;

Here's a few lovely ladies for you to freshen up your dashboards with! Each of these blogs has their fair share of beautiful photos as well as stylish hosts! The majority of blogs I find these days come from comments so don't be shy - I love a good nose around. I'm rather glad I found these 3 :) Go have a peek!

•••

 I've also been loving; 

 fresh duvet covers • royal weddings! • catching up with old friends • red lips • new beginnings • how 1 week and ____ days sounds better than two weeks • pimms o'clock • early hour heart to hearts • window shopping • having sky+ HD • bubble baths • getting ahead of myself • m & s cookies • lovingly made cups of tea • how the janitor in scrubs rightly guessed the location of bin laden

•••

viva♡'s: internet finds and inspiration

Bonsoir everyone. I hope you're all well. I've spent the day sifting through quotes and reading my book. That's about it. I feel a bit lost! Anyway, enough of my emotional baggage. Today's post is going to be a short one for a very good reason. My younger sister is rather ill at the moment and I'm not sure if she'll be hospitalised or what because the doctor's are doing fuck all to help. Surprise surprise! They only give a shit when you're dying/dead. Here's a few things I've found over the past week that I wish to share with you all :) Enjoy!

guilt free fashion

Always want to freshen up your wardrobe on a low budget but not exactly sure how? It's your lucky day. I've followed the lovely Katie Styles for a while now and I've always admired her customisation skills so I thought I'd pay tribute to them by featuring them over at vivahearts! 'Guilt Free Fashion' is a site that was created as a way to 'promote recycling and to encourage the use of eco/sustainable and second-hand clothing.' You can find simple step by step guides on a range of things from how to create collars to how to create scalloped shorts to altering the length of garments. It really is an inspirational site that can essentially freshen up your wardrobe as well as your outlook. I'll definitely be attempting some of the things down the line! Go check it our for yourself! Coincidentally, Katie actually spoke to BBC Solent about her project today!

Guilt Free Fashion blog / Katie Styles blog

cellardoor magazine;

Forget all your trashy gossip mags because the only glossy you should be reading is Cellardoor Magazine. Cellardoor was started way back in 2009 by the lovely Jade Cooper-Collins and Amy Power and has since become a religious read for most. This online mag offers something for everyone from culture to travel, to music to fashion thus cementing it on the 'to read' list of many a blogger. I am absolutely in love with the current 'Spring Fling' issue. The layout and design are just perfect. This issue features a heart warming article on mother daughter relationships, an obligatory royal wedding feature and a food section that is simply mouth watering just to look at! The only bad thing about Cellardoor? it's quarterly, ha! Grab yourself a sweet cuppa tea and a cheeky slice of cake because this magazine is something you're sure to want to sit back and enjoy :) 

cellardoor magazine / cellardoor blog

 [Little Fawn, Athene Noctua, Wise Rabbit Says]

a few blogs to follow;

Here's a few blogs for you to check out! I'm loving all the Easter fun that Rebecca over at Athene Noctua is getting up to so be sure to check out her blog. She's also got an awesome name ;) The lovely Ellie has recently set up her new blog, Little Fawn, and I rather like it. She seems like such a sweet lady. Finally, I'm a massive fan of Ashley's blog. She's got amazing style and she left me one of the sweetest comments in the world the other day. She's awesome! Have fun checking them all out!

•••

 I've also been loving; 

 the thought that there's no more long goodbyes • copious episodes of QI, as ever •  finishing another book • compiling an extensive list for H is for Happy • tumblr inspiration • beauty products • beautiful comments from my amazing followers • the fact that my boyfriend read my blog out of the blue! hey luke ;) 

•••

I hope you've all appreciated this weeks vivahearts! I'm open to ideas for things to feature here so feel free to get in contact if you find something particularly interesting. I'll see you on Friday for a post. I need to actually work out a new Friday feature because I always feel a bit AGHHH when Friday comes around and I don't have a brief to stick to! Haha.

viva♡'s: internet finds and inspiration

Hello everyone! Welcome to the second installment of 'vivahearts' - the post that unearths new things I've stumbled upon that are just too good to not share. I'm currently heavily anticipating a nice Thursday jaunt with Luke and the family to Bath! I'm rather looking forward to it as the last time I was there I didn't get to appreciate the city because I had to spend my time evaluating the customer service at the Roman Baths. DAMN YOU A LEVELS! It promises to be quite a lovely day. I pray that this week is treating you well so far. If not, I hope it picks up for you! I'm off to do my best Charlie Dimmock impression, minus the in-your-face-nipple-exposure and wild ginger mane, and give the garden a spring makeover. God, help me! I just wanna say thanks to you all for sticking around here at little Viva. I rather love every single one of you tramps <3 Ugh, maybe that's the wrong term to call my followers?! Hmmm....If you have any better ideas please comment! Anyway, enough babbling...onto the good stuff!

creme egg cupcakes;

I was browsing the 'food and drink' section of bloglovin' the other night, like the dirty food pervert that I am, and I came across these amazing Creme Egg Cupcakes. There is a God and he appreciates fondant gooeyness!! The lady behind them is Susie from Sticky Pinny. Her blog even gives you the recipe so now we can all make our very own cupcakes to gorge on. Don't they just look like they taste absolutely amazing? I haven't baked cupcakes in so long. Do any of you girls follow any good food blogs? If so, send them my way. 

one line a day;

I think I spend far too much time looking at journals. However, when I stumbled across this little gem I knew I had to share it with you all. A lot of my readers have said in the past that they find it so difficult to keep up with writing a journal when they have such hectic schedules that don't allow for relaxation time. This journal is the cure for such problems! 'One line a day' literally only wants you to capture just one memorable moment from your day. One tiny memory! I'm sure it'll make journals a lot more do-able for some of you. The diary also contains enough space for five years worth so you can be a nostalgic Nigel and look back through your previous memories :)  How's that sound?! You can find it HERE.

 (All above images courtesy of Handwritten)

handwritten; 

Are you a fan of the handwriting memes that grace the blogosphere from time to time? If so, you'll love Handwritten. Handwritten is a blog that encourages bloggers to come out from behind their default font and explore the use of their own handwriting in a post! I think it's a really interesting concept because I believe you can read a lot about a person from their style of handwriting. Maybe that's just me?! Lots of top bloggers have given it a go including the lovely Gem from Gem Fatale, Hollie from Lipstick and Balloons and Winnie from Diamond Canopy. 

Want to get involved? Just drop an email over to: showmeyourhandwriting@gmail.com 

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summer pastel coloured fashion; 

For whatever reason, in previous years, I've always made a miscommunicated link between pastel colours and the over-40s. I think it might be due to years of torment from my Grandma's blue-rinsed pastel-cashmere-adorned old friends leering up at me whilst telling me how much I've grown since the last time they'd seen me. However, this year has made me realised just how painfully silly that link is. I've actually grown to like a pastel or two. I'm not saying for one minute that you'll see me running around in head-to-toe mints, soft pinks and refreshing violets but then again I'm not saying it's a crime to be seen with a pastel accent to accompany a S/S outfit. I think 2011 may be the year I invest in a pastel. Watch this space! What do you think of the pastel trend? Are you embracing it or are you fearing the worst?    

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I've also been loving; 

luke and I's LOVEFiLM subscription • woodland walks with the fam • the return of BGT • summer prints • splurging a little on cute pieces • catching up on blogs • organisation • dinner outdoors • positive thinking • blossom • trips • spending more quality time with him • snacking like a maniac • making extensive wishlists

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Are you liking this weeks selections? I'm trying to feature a good cross-section of things in hope of everyone finding something they like. I hope that comes across slightly! Let me know what you've been coveting this week! I'm off to be green fingered and do some gardening, yay. I'll see you on Friday for another post.  Until then, keep smiling!