October Camera Roll

Happy Halloween! As it's the last day of the month I thought it'd be fun to share some of the Instagram snaps I've been taking throughout October - as expected there are the usual selfies, kittens and sunsets but I also took some pretty pictures of some exciting and new favourite 'things' of mine. Here's what I've been up to...

All photos can be found on my Instagram

MUSIC

Last week I got to see Ella Henderson in concert on her first UK tour  (Thanks to O2 Music!) and she was so great live. I own her debut album, Chapter One, and I was definitely not disappointed with how flawlessly the sound of it was replicated on stage. Her vocals are amazing and I'm in love with her gorgeous hair - I am honestly convinced she is secretly a mermaid. 

Demi Lovato has been one of my favourite music artists for so long (I own ALL her albums!) and her newest one 'Confident', which came out earlier this month, is the best by far. I recommend everyone to listen to it for themselves but my favourite songs on the album are 'Cool for the Summer', 'Kingdom Come ft. Iggy Azalea' and 'Waitin for You ft. Sirah'.

FASHION

I've been on a giveaway winning streak recently and have found myself the new owner of this gorgeous Cleopatra style Accessorize necklace and a £50 H&M gift card which I can't wait to spend on a new AW15 wardrobe! Keep your eyes peeled for a haul post too. I also managed to get an OOTD post up where I pretty much break the rules of fashion, so you can have a read of that here if you'd like to.

BEAUTY

I rarely ever paint my nails (bad blogger alert) but I am actually obsessed with my new Nails Inc polish which came free with the November issue of Glamour! I will definitely be making it my go-to colour this autumn/winter. I suck at winged eyeliner but I had a go at creating a vampy look for Halloween (3rd row, 2nd image) and I honestly don't think it went too bad! I used Soap & Glory's Supercat paired with Collection's Lasting Colour Lipstick in 'Plum Sensation'.

PHOTOGRAPHY

I have FINALLY got my hands on a vintage-style instant camera! I haven't bought any film yet for my new Lomo'Instant Sanremo but am excited to use it and a big thank you to Emily Luxton for picking me as the competition winner X

What snaps have you been taking in October?
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The Best Twitter Reactions To Outrageous #TamponTax

The Twittersphere blew up this week with many users tweeting about '#TamponTax' after the news that MPs have voted against cutting VAT on female sanitary products as they believe tampons and towels to be 'luxury' items rather than necessities. Uhmmm okay then. Usually I would ignore such a ridiculous opinion like that but it's shocking to discover that 305 MPs voted against scapping the tax, compared to 287, many of whom are women themselves. I could go on an entire rant about this however, there comes a point where after all the outrage you initially feel you just have to make the best of the situation you have and I definitely had a giggle at some of these incredibly accurate tweets made in response to the news... and if anything good has come out of this, I'm definitely pleased that the huge stigma behind talking about periods has been removed slightly!

MTV EMA 2015 Red Carpet | HOT or NOT?

Last night saw the event of the 2015 MTV European Music Awards - this year taking place in Italy and hosted by the 'cute vs badass' duo Ed Sheeran and Ruby Rose. While there wasn't as much drama as other MTV award shows cause (*cough* VMAs) the night was still pretty entertaining and featured hot performances from Fifth Harmony, Jason Derulo, Justin Bieber and Tori Kelly, just to name a few. Being European there weren't as many cringy jokes as there usually are in the American shows, which is always a good thing, but did the stars' red carpet looks reflect the level of style expected when in the fashion capital Milan? I'm not entirely sure...

Ruby Rose in Armani

Hitting the red carpet in a gothic tux and cane in tow, Ruby Rose definitely lived up to her badass status as promised by MTV. Wearing a total of SEVEN outfits throughout the night, I think everyone was equally impressed with her hosting skills as her impeccably versatile style. Verdict: HOT

Ellie Goulding in ALX

Ellie definitely shocked the audience when she turned up rocking her brand new orange hair but it really isn't doing much for me. As someone who is usually seen with lovely light blonde hair, the vivid colour just looks like a bleaching gone wrong. Plus that dress is so unflattering to her gorgeous figure! Verdict: NOT

Hailey Baldwin in Versace

Hailey may have messed up her line when presenting the 'nomishnations' but I absolutely adore her in this cut-out Versace dress paired with a smokey eye. Although I'm probably biased as I am prone to stalking her Snapchat! Verdict: HOT

Justin Bieber

Noooooo. The aim of going to events is not to make your outfit blend in with the red carpet. Bieber has the potential to look okay if he acually looked like he put some effort in for once. Verdict: NOT

Charli XCX in Vivienne Westwood

Why do I love Charli XCX so much? She dresses boldly and yet somehow it looks so effortless. I love how confident she seems and how she just works her own style all the time. Verdict: HOT

Who wins your vote for best-dressed at the MTV EMA 2015?
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OOTD | Mixing Prints with Minus Ten

Top - Minus Ten* | Scarf - New Look | Leggings - Primark | Boots - River Island

Usually I would never think to wear a striped top with a tartan scarf but it just didn't seem so atrocious when I was contemplating what to wear the shirt with today. Although that's mainly because it's getting cold and I just love cosy scarves! I feel like I'm channelling my inner emo in this outfit - which definitely was not intentional - but it's Halloween in just under a week so I guess it's allowed, right?

The nautical style top I'm wearing is courtesy of Minus Ten and, despite my risky mixing of prints, I really do love the concept of their clothing store. As a brand which caters for sizes 4-10, it's great to see a brand which is finally targeting a market of women which has been ignored for so long. There's been a huge rise in plus-size brands in recent years but there are still very few shops which stock a substantial amount below size 8. I got this top in a size 8 but I could have probably done with getting a 6 instead as it's supposed to be body-hugging but it's a bit baggy around my waist. It's great knowing that there's a shop out there which will cater for those with slimmer frames as in the majority of high-street chains you would have no other option than to leave or stick with the large size. I'm not the smallest of people but it is definitely a struggle when you either can't get jeans over your hips or are left with a huge gap around your waist!

What do you think of mixing bold prints? Yay or nay?

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The Fashionable Halloween Costume Wishlist

I don't celebrate Halloween but if I did I'd definitely still want to retain some style within my outfit instead of going for a full-on terrifying look. Whether your dressing up or dressing for comfort, I've picked out a few of my favourite versatile pieces which are vampy enough for Halloween celebrations but can also be worn throughout the year too.

Velvet Cross Dress £20 | Lace Up Crepe Jumpsuit £25 | Lace Up Back Playsuit £25

You can never go wrong with black and I am loving velvet fabrics and intricate lace detail right now! The jumpsuit is a favourite of mine as let's face it - it's getting kinda cold these Autumn nights. These pieces are also pretty enough to style for any other occasional events.

Twilight Knitted Jumper £15 | 9 Lives Knitted Jumper £15 | Skeleton Hands Crop Top £8

Halloween doesn't have to be all about showing skin... you can have a little fun with it too. I find these bat and cat jumpers so cute I think I could honestly wear them all year round! I'd definitely pair all my picks with some vampy lipstick and spiky accessories. 

How are you dressing for Halloween this year?
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No One Has Ever Become Poor By Giving

If you are reading this, you are part of the privileged 40% of the world population with access to the internet. Perhaps many of you are part of the even smaller group who are reading this blog on the latest smartphone or technology product. When we read statistics like this it is evident that many of us living in Western societies are privileged beyond compare... and yet, so few of us truly feel like we have much to be thankful for.

I've observed a lot of people and have done a lot of thinking and I seriously wonder "How much material 'stuff' do people have to acquire before they begin to see that they have more than enough?" I've come to the conclusion that many people's answer to this question is that the limit does not exist. The ideology of our society is seeing happiness as an end result. We will work hard and achieve our goals and then only after that will we be happy. The reality is that we end up getting stuck in the vicious cycle of wanting more and more and more without ever appreciating what we have when we acquire it. This works for both physical and mental 'things'. Be happy now... because the fact is that money can never buy happiness, but happiness will always attract abundance and wealth.

The main reason for me writing this post came to me after viewing the way many British people have been treating homeless people and refugees. It's disgusting that so many adopt the view that being from a different country or making some unfortunate choices in life somehow makes you less of a human being. I can't imagine what it must feel like having no home to go to but I also can't imagine what it feels like to be so venomous in side that you have zero compassion for those who are worse off than you. 

The truth is that people hate giving money to homeless people. You hear it all the time - people complaining about how all it does is fuel their addiction and you can really sense it in these people's voices how offended they feel at giving away their hard-earned money. While I can understand how easy it is to feel uptight about not wanting to share your wealth, it honestly is such a toxic mentality to have. When you cling onto the wealth you have you are sending out messages to the universe that you don't believe there is another to go around. You are voluntarily placing yourself in a 'lack' mentality and anyone who does that will forever be in poverty. It's difficult to learn how to do but you will benefit so much more if you could just see how privileged you are... to see how there is more than enough to go around... to understand how no one has ever become poor by giving. 

In the context of this post I have been talking about money. However, it is true for so much more than that. Today I challenge you all to let go of all mentalities that no longer benefit you, free yourself from the lie that there isn't enough for everyone to live in abundance and have faith in the knowledge that you receive whatever you give unto others... below is a powerful affirmation that I'd encourage everyone to practise each day:

"No man can become rich, without enriching others. Anyone who adds to prosperity - must prosper in turn."
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The Must-Have Autumnal Shade ft. Nails Inc

It's a quick post from me tonight basically just to show you my new nails! I rarely ever paint them (as you can see by the amount of smudging) but decided to try out the free full-size Nails Inc polish that came with this month's issue of Glamour magazine. There are four shades to choose from (pink, black and beige) and I chose this gorgeous red wine colour 'Victoria & Albert' because I thought it was a must-have for autumn and perfect for getting that vampy Halloween look.

The bottle claims to be 'super glossy, chip-resistant professional quality nail colour' but I'd probably have to disgree with that since I only put it on a couple hours ago (two main coats and a top coat) and am already noticing it starting to chip. However, as its a product which came free with a £2 magazine you can't really complain, can you? It is a really nice colour for the Christmas party season too. PS. Get 20% off all Gel Effect polishes at nailsinc.com with code GLAMOUR20 until 5th November 2015.

In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for this month's 'Nina Reads Glamour' post... coming soon!

What's your must-have nail colour for autumn?

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Six New Movies I Want To Watch

Snuggling season is finally here and it's the perfect time to binge-watch all those movies you've been meaning to go see for ages. I don't know whether it's just because my attention is focused upon it, but there seems to be some great films in the cinema right now and some fab upcoming releases in the next few months too. I've compiled a list of my top six films I want to watch in the near-future - so be sure to comment below if you've seen any of them yet!

Source

1. Inside Out

I don't usually like Disney movies but Inside Out really appealed to me as I like the idea of having cute little creatures running around inside your mind managing your emotions. It just seems to be something which is light-hearted yet quite profound when you think about it. I actually got halfway through watching this movie when my laptop decided to break on me so I'm still waiting to see how it finishes!

2. Macbeth

Anyone who knows me will be aware that I absolutely love Shakespeare plays - particularly Macbeth. I could probably quote the entire thing word for word which is pretty useful considering I'm studying it in sixth form this year for the third time in total! One of my teachers has been to see it and told me that it was the first film adaptation to make her feel an ounce of sympathy for Lady Macbeth, which is really interesting as it's always great to see different interpretations of famous stories.

3. Pan

I'm not going to lie. The only reason I want to see this is because Cara Delevingne is in it...

4. The Intern

Any movie about interning for an online fashion site is going to be on my must-watch list - regardless of if it focuses on a 70 year-old man! The trailer for this film also looked really funny so that's a plus.

5. Ed Sheeran - Jumpers for Goalposts

I adore Ed Sheeran and his music - he's one of the few male celebrities, let alone singers, I actually like. I think his concert film would be really interesting and I'd love to see behind-the-scenes of how he writes his songs but I can't say I'm ecstatic about the running time of 180 minutes.

6. Trainwreck

I'm still undecided about whether I like Amy Schumer. I feel like her comedy is a real hit-or-miss with me. However, this film does look like the type I'd usually watch - especially as I loved Bridesmaids!

What movies are on your must-watch list? Do you agree with my picks?
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