Inside Melly's Mind

As the year comes to an end, I'm taking a moment to reflect on the years that's gone by. 2012 has been a beautiful one.

Tagged by Becky, over at TwentyNothing , today I'm writing all about why I wear makeup.

The camera was on the wrong setting but this is my fave pic now  As promised in my previous post , I have blogged the outfit that I wore to the store opening.

Firstly, this post has been a long time coming (over two weeks, to be precise), due to circumstances beyond my control - losing my photos and then getting them all back etc. So, a huge apology. However, it's all still completely relevant (yay). So, read on, readers. Mr Birds Emporium awaits you.

I haven't done a Wednesday Wish List for a while but I thought this one should acknowledge a colour trend that is refusing to budge. This week, I'm going wild for all things berry.

Hey guys! This post was inspired by a great post that I read over on Elizabeth East's blog Dainty Ballerina . She wrote a letter to her fresher self, from 2009. It was such a fab idea that I felt inspired to write my own.

It sucks when friends have to cancel plans. But I decided to take full advantage of the fact that I was already fully dressed, wearing a full face of make up and had a bit of a play with my camera. I have a tripod now. Well, my dad's tripod - same difference.

Today's nail of the day is all about bright colours and leopard print.

Morning. I hadn't planned to write this post - it wasn't scheduled or anything like that but I decided that something needed to be said. Over the past few days, I've had a couple of rather unpleasant comments on here. I won't dwell on them but the first one was a little cheeky. The second was downright mean and nasty. Now, I'm all for constructive criticism and I work constantly to improve the quality of what's on the blog, with regular features etc. And even invested in (read: was gifted with) a new camera. So, you have to understand that the blog is a work in progress. Also, might I add, a hobby. I work full time. One comment asked me my 'credentials'. My job is in Marketing, within the internet development team of a top UK jeweller. I don't need credentials to write a blog. Being a blogger is about having an interest in something. It's also about being brave enough to put yourself out there and I will always expect comments from people....

As Autumn approaches, leather is everywhere you go. It's a brilliant go to fabric and adds some serious edge to your wardrobe. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley works the leather trend perfectly

My musings are usually quite light-hearted and although important to me, may go over the heads of other people. After all, the outfit I'm wearing or thoughts on my career may not affect everybody. However, I hope that this post will provoke your thoughts and provoke you into action. September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. As soon as this was brought to my attention (about 2 hours prior to writing this), I realised how profoundly the brief encounters I had had with suicide had affected my thoughts on it. About a year ago, I encouraged a lady that I knew, from church. Truth is, she's a real inspiration. She's a cancer survivor and a mom. All I said to her was that I was inspired by her strength, faith and amazing attitude. No matter what, she held it together and still found ways to encourage and get alongside other people. Following that, she actually came to me and thanked me. Adding that she had been extremely close to the edge and that my comment had helpe...

The new term is almost upon us. New term = new clothes. Oh, and lots of reading in preparation, of course. But going back to school/college handily coincides with the coming Autumn season - what better excuse do you need to revamp your wardrobe?  At uni, my style stepped up, thank goodness. But I look back at what I wore during my college days and literally die inside. So, this post is partly for all the students out there who are stuck for ideas. But it's partly for me to fantasize about how I wish I'd dressed at college.  Believe me, it is possible to be slightly lazy when those winter mornings arrive and you're getting ready in a rush (because you wanted the extra few minutes in bed. No? Just me?) and still look gorgeous. Bomber Jacket - ASOS  | Denim Shirt - New Look  | Mickey Mouse Hoodie - Forever 21 |   Grey Top - Forever 21 | Denim Shorts - River Island | Dark Red Shorts - River Island | Grey Skinny Jeans - New Look |...

After my post about the Recipe for a Fabulous Saturday , I decided it was time to document another gorgeous Saturday.

This week's Wednesday Wish List is all about Pay Day. I wouldn't usually make a big deal out of what I plan to buy around Pay Day but I've got a few items in mind that I thought I'd share with you all.

This week's Wednesday Wish List is all about studs. They are everywhere at the moment and they're certainly a trend I'm investing in. Roll on Pay Day!

Lately, I've been thinking up some fab new features for you lovely readers to keep coming back to. So, welcome to Beauty Tuesday . I won't be writing this feature every week because I tend to focus more on fashion than beauty. But...I need to rave about the latest addition to my make up bag.

Welcome to my brand new feature: Wednesday WishList. Every week, I'll compile a list of items that I would LOVE to purchase if: I were infinitely rich/I could shop every single week and still pay my bills/I had room for all the things I wanted to buy. Most of these features will be what's on the high street - mostly because that's where I shop. I'm also hoping that making a wish list will curb my craving to go shopping. Also going to include a money-is-no-object designer item.

So, I've been rather naughty and neglected this blog a little but I'm back. And thought it’d be cool to show you what I’ve been up to, at work. As you’ll know, from this post , I’m a marketing copywriter for a fabulous jewellers . And as if by some miracle, the main crux of my job description is to blog. Woohoo! It’s like a dream come true. So, here are a couple of the guest posts that I’ve done for other blogs, on behalf of T H Baker. One post is all about how I’ll be rocking maxi skirts this summer. Which, as far as I’m concerned are the go-to item for this weird we’re-not-quite-sure-if-it’s-really-summer sort of weather. They look great with just a vest top or layered up with a gilet. Anyway, enough of my yapping, you can check the post out here . And secondly, I wrote a little Graduation Gift Guide – handy for this time of year, so check it out. I feel so blessed to have walked into a job, literally 5 weeks after finishing my degree. Although, it’s more excit...

As promised, here is the entry on last week's Focus Day outfit. I decided on an outfit that would stand out amongst my old school uniform. Think: black blazer, white shirt, black blue and white striped tie. Hideous. Bland. My aim was to show the students that there was a life beyond school. Am I a celebrity? No, thank goodness. But an outfit should do two things: intrigue others and make you feel fabulous. Anyway, following Focus Day, I headed to my honorary sister's house, for a post-birthday catch-up. There's a tree by her house, and none by mine. So, I made her take my photo, with this very post in mind. And here are the results.  Mid-walk shot  Just so happy to be up a tree Jacket - Glam Boutique, Old Hill| Vest Top - Designer Room | Jeans - Asos.com | Shoes - Vivienne Westwood for Melissa | Sunglasses - free with July 2012 issue of Cosmopolitan I have come to the conclusion that I still thoroughly enjoy climbing trees. Hope you've e...

I had a bit of a change from the norm today. A welcome break from my new full time status and an all round brilliant one, at that. I awoke to a text from my old English teacher the other day, asking if I would like to go back to school to assist with Focus Day. I thought about my answer for all of about five seconds, before promising to get in touch with her, as soon as I had asked for the morning off work. As mentioned in my previous post , I have a new job. So I felt a little bit cheeky asking for time off but they were fine about it, on the condition that I made the time up. I arrived to a reserved visitors parking space but I didn't take a photo to treasure the memory (boo). It's always nice to pop in (very) occasionally and say hi to the teachers that you actually liked and blank out the awful bits of school. Media and English were where I hung out, so I was happy to be hanging out there. I thought Focus Day was fun, as a teenager but it's even better when you...

This post is long overdue. But it's worth it, promise. Saturdays. I adore them. And following on from the previous post, I promised to tell you all about my last fabulous Saturday. Ingredients for a fabulous Saturday One fabulous friend. Mine on this particular day was Lisa. I recommend that everyone has a Lisa.  Sunshine - we got plenty of it on this day. Happy :)  One fabulous outfit. Refer to previous post -  Outfit Post One vintage fair. On this particular day it was  Birmingham Vintage Fair  at the Custard Factory, Digbeth. Fabulous food. We checked out a place called  Yumm . It's amazing! One gig. We went to see  Friends . Pretty damn cool five piece from Brooklyn, New York  Anyway, we headed off to the Birmingham Vintage Fair, which started at about 12 and it did not disappoint. For £1 entry, we were whisked into The Old Library, a beautiful building which was packed wall to wall with some beautiful vintage items....

Apologies in advance that this blog is a bit of a ramble and has no photos (boo). It's all change here, in Melly's World. As finishing my degree in English and Creative Writing loomed, I had started to worry that beyond summer, I would be a part of the frighteningly high statistic of 18-24's who had no job. So, I started to Google around about how to erm, move on with my life. The most important question I had to ask myself was 'what do I want to do?' When I was 3, I decided that I wanted to be a teacher and that was my dream until the age of 18. Well, for anybody who has ever had a dream, you'll know that the only thing scarier than not achieving your dream is having no dream at all. All I knew was this: I love to write. And since the teaching dream died, I'd thought of how I was going to acquire a job where I could do what I loved all of the time. Teaching would have been the easy option. But who wants easy? A conversation with a friend of ...

Ladies! Fashion. You can't escape it. And you know what's even more exciting than just fashion? That's a very good answer...but it's actually fashion for a great cause. No, I'm not just referring to your vintage section in your local charity shop - although it is fab and I myself have found some absolute gems there, I'm actually talking about New Shoes. It's an amazing night of fashion, food, entertainment and it's all for an amazing cause.  All the information you need to know about New Shoes, including  ticket hotline In July of this year, in the West Midlands (Netherton, near Dudley) to be precise, a new home is being opened for girls and women with life-controlling issues (read: addictions, victims of trafficking etc) to get them back on track, restore their dignity, show them their worth and have them experience the amazing love of God and find purpose in their lives.  As you can imagine, an amazing project like that cannot be...

Feeling so terrible about being a lazy blogger. Fact is, I'm not solely a fashion blogger, so Outfit of the Day posts are a total fail, for me. I'm working on it. I shall hopefully be getting a camera, for graduation. Yay! So bear with me, on the photography front. However, I did actually manage to get a super cool photo or two, last Saturday. One of my best buds and myself headed to Digbeth, Birmingham for the Birmingham Vintage Fair. I'll do a separate post about the fair itself, but thought I'd share the outfit. It's also on  LOOKBOOK , so if any of you guys are on there, you know what to do. Anyway, here are the pictures. More than anything, I was absolutely loving the scenery around me. The tyres and scrap that you can see in the photos were the entrance to a car park and the bridge is by a canal, in Birmingham. I'm hoping I managed to defy Stu Bradley's  How To Pose Like A Fashion Blogger  at least once. The first photo is just me bei...

There are few things sweeter than waking up on a Saturday and knowing that you have a few hours to spend with a lovely friend or take some time out for yourself. That's why I'm so thankful that I only work during the week (sorry those of you that work weekends).  Today has been particularly fabulous, as I've spent it with a friend, in a new place.  I'm a sucker for a great hideaway to do some reading, writing or general pondering and if there are drinks and cupcakes, count me in.  Well today, we headed off on our adventures with a hyperactive two year old to keep occupied and found ourselves at Fallen Angel, a gorgeous little bakery, on Harborne High Street. What child doesn't love cake? The display case of cupcakes is certainly tempting but I opted for a mocha cupcake and tea. Cassy had a red velvet cupcake and tea too. I was pleasantly surprised, when the tea came in two charming hand-painted teapots - some of which they have on sale, in a couple of differen...