Norwegian Wood- Haruki Murakami

I love to read, I can go months without picking up a book but when I do it has to be a good one! I've recently read a great novel (no it's not Fifty Shades of Grey!) but Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.

Not only one of my favourite songs but this has fast become one of my favourite books! It's so beautifully written, steeped in nostalgia with just a hint of Japanese cynicism.

I don't want to give a way too much of the plot so I'll just read the blurb on the back of my copy!

"When he hears her favourite Beatles song, Toru Wantabe recalls his first love Naoko, the girlfriend of his best friend Kizuki. Immediately he is transported back almost twenty years to his student days in Tokyo, adrift in a world of uneasy friendships, casual sex, passion, loss and desire- to a time when an impetuous young woman called Midori marches into his life and he has to choose between the future and the past."


His characters are so well written and if you are a Haruki Murakami virgin like I was I reckon you kick start with this book, its so accessible and stimulating! PLEASE pick this book up you won't regret it.

Love Katie X

p.s. I've just discovered this book was made into a film, I know what I'll be watching next! :-)

I'M SO SORRY

I don't have an excuse for neglecting my blog, I'm feeling very guilty. Get ready for more posts though, I promise. I've got some ideas floating about you're sure to see soon.

Thanks for bearing with me!

Love Katie X

What I Wore- 22/02/2012

Top- Zara

Jeans- Miss Selfridge

Necklace- Portugal

I don't think I've had an outfit post in ages, I don't really have loads of interesting outfits so I never know whether to post my boring ones. Here's a plain outfit of mine, velvet is so comfy! I think I need some better jeans, the leg seam on my Miss Selfridge jeans always twists round and it does my head in, haha! Who knows some good jean suppliers?

I'm going to try and do an outfit post more often, or even just show all my outfits of the week and post them on a Sunday or something, I'm not sure!

I have my first driving lesson on Monday! I'm excited as well as a little apprehensive but I just want to be on the road, I have my highway code and theory books at the ready too! What were your first driving lessons like?

Love Katie X

Jeremy Scott "Freckle" Tutorial

I've noticed a lot of these freckle looks on the catwalk recently and although I didn't immediately go for it at first this quirky look has really grown on me. I'm not really sure when you would go out like this but I think its a fun thing to try at least once and you don't need any fancy make up products to do it!

You Will Need

Foundation, concealer, a highlighter, black and brown kohl pencils, liquid eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow, a brow comb and brush, blusher, eyelash curler, lipstick or Vaseline.

Step One- Face

• Apply foundation all over face.
• Add concealer under you eyes and highlighter on the bridge of your nose, cupid's bow and jawbones.
• In the Jeremy Scott image her brows aren't very strong so just use your brow brush to set the shape. If you're more comfortable with darker brows there's no harm in defining them how you normally would :-)

Step Two- Eyes

•  Apply a neutral, creamy shade all over the lid (for those of you with Naked Palette 2 I used "Foxy") then, with a liner brush take a brown shade (I used "Buck" from Naked Palette 1) and apply just above the eye crease.
• Using a black kohl pencil line the top lid (this will work as an outline for when it comes to applying your liquid liner)
• With a black eye shadow make a line a few millimetres away from the bottom lid (again this will work as an outline before you use liquid liner)

•  Carefully follow your outlines with liquid liner (it can take a LONG time to get the bottom right so take deep breaths and keep trying, I'd have a make up wipe at hand!)
• For the top lid add a little wing at the end of your line.
• Curl your lashes and add a few layers of mascara on the top and bottom.

Step Three- Blusher and freckles

• The blusher on the Jeremy Scott model is very bright so build up several layers onto the apples of your cheeks.
• This is the fun bit! Using a brown kohl pencil (make sure its sharp) just dot your nose and cheeks wherever you fancy. Dust over them with a blender blush so they look a bit more realistic.

 I added a little Vaseline to my lips and voilà! You can make the freckles darker if you want it just depends on what you're using the look for.

I hope this tutorial was helpful! I always wanted to do one but don't have a video camera (and I'd be to embarrassed talking anyway haha) Sometimes I think it can be a bit easier copying pictures but I don't know what you prefer :-)

Sorry if this has been a waste of time haha 

Love Katie 

p.s If you try the look and are a bit down hearted when it comes to lining the bottom lid here's a few pictures that might make you feel better!

For Those of You Bummed About Valentine's Day

So the dreaded day for singles is fast approaching, you may think its time to bury your head in a share size tub of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream but thankfully that won't be the case for I am an expert at coping with single life, I've been doing it for the past 17 years!

Things to do tonight:


1. Set a reminder on your phone for early in the morning but name it as a cute, romantic message. This creates the illusion that you've received a loving message from someone special.
2. Write yourself a loving letter/card for you to open in the morning since no one else will send you one  (my Nana used to send me pity cards but she's stopped now, to my disappointment)
3. Wear your biggest, snuggliest hoody or t shirt to bed, or why not steal something from your dad to wear. It makes you feel like you've stolen a boyfriend's clothing.
4. Spray your pillow with men's perfume/deodorant so you wake up to fresh man smell.

Things to do tomorrow:


1. Avoid the outdoors. All the love in the air could cause a singleton to suffocate and spontaneously combust. Maybe keep the curtains closed too, couples don't want to look at single people on the most romantic day of the year. You're like Gollum to them.
2. Avoid loved up parents, mainly because you don't want to see them getting touchy feely. Ew.
3. Wear a big, warm jumper again, to create the feeling that its a boyfriend's. Try spraying it with men's perfume again.
4. Don't watch Rom Coms you'll only get depressed over the happy ending (you may think Bridget Jones is a good choice but remember, even she gets the man in the end) I would go for a good horror movie like Scream, Friday the 13th or Texas Chainsaw Massacre. There's nothing more liberating than seeing dumb, hysterical teenage girls getting murdered on Valentine's Day.
5. Have a good heart warming dinner like soup. It gives you a good feeling inside.
6. Have a dance to Generation X's "Dancing with Myself"... several times.
7. Avoid social networking sites for the day the last thing you want to see is "omg luv my boii loadzzz <3 #valentinesday"

Well, I think that's all you need to know! (I hope I've cheered you up) Have a very Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Love Katie X

Recent Buys

MAC Eyeshadow in Shale

Another for my small palette collection. I had my eye on this when I bought my first colour (Brule), it's a neutral colour with purple undertones and I just think it's a lovely colour! I was after a purplish shade but something that was very subtle so this one was perfect.

Nivea Light Moisturising & Cleansing Lotion

Yawn, just a moisturiser to use before I get ready because I have awfully dry skin. I was rather impressed by the simple formula of the Nivea face cream that I used to use so I thought I'd give another of their products a try.

Knitted Jumper (shock)- Zara

Zara never, ever lets me down. Its definitely a firm favourite of mine so I wasn't surprised when I found this little gem. It's a pale, peppermint green colour (which is hard to see in this photo) and it's the perfect start to my pastel collection, since they're all coming into fashion!

Slinky Marl Midi Dress- Topshop

I've been on a quest to find a long dress I can wear casually with a baggy jumper etc and I found one today! I don't spend money in Topshop very often because I don't want to be poor :-( but this was calling out to me (and I thought £36 seemed a pretty reasonable price) Can't wait to see what I can do with it!

Small Metal Round Sunglasses- Topshop

For some it's bags, for others it's shoes but people that know me well know that I have an addiction to sunglasses! I bought these without even trying them on because I've wanted a round pair like these for ages! But they looked alright once I tried them on at home. Who knows when I'll ever get a chance to wear them in this wonderful, British weather (not!) But I neeeeeded to get my fix of sunglasses!

Who's excited for the BAFTAS?!

Love Katie X

Mini Update

Long time, no post! Very sorry but I've had so much on my plate at the mo'. As you can see in this photo I have braces!! I had them put on yesterday after waiting for years to get them (unfortunately I only just lost my last baby tooth a few months ago so it was hard to get the ball rolling) It hurts so much though and I'm finding it hard to eat anything that hasn't been blended, or mashed into pulp! :-(

Me and my sister are taking a trip to either York or Leeds at the beginning of March which I'm excited for because I miss her a lot, starting to save now because there's no doubt that I'll be buying a lot!

I did a twenty minute jog without stopping yesterday, so proud because I haven't been running since October or something. Going for another tomorrow and really looking forward to it, you always feel happy after a run!

That's all of the updates I can think of right now... Hope everyone is good, see you in my next post :-)

Love Katie X