Thoroughly modern millennial

Author: Ria

  • April | Insta-life round up

    4 April InstaLife
    //fruit juice at Wagamamas//improvised lunch//dissertation, paper & mess//new Eyeko curlers, thanks InStyle//Spring in bloom//Easter!//dyed my hair//lovely letter from Anjali//phone upgrade//pancakes for lunch//monochrome ootd//early morning Southbank stroll//Les Mis//reading to see the show//meeting the cast at stage door//cool Cosette wall art//asian treats//birthday presents//22//dissertation done//birthday + dissertation hand in treats//back on the treadmill//adorable bday card from Erin//on Wednesdays we wear pink//working lunch, eating clean// 

    Well, well, well, hello! It’s been a while right? I’m back, in a kinda/sorta way, from the absolute madness that was my mini hiatus and I feel like I have a million things to talk about on here. 
    First things first, it was my birthday this past week. I’m now 22 – *dances to Taylor Swift* – and I had the most chilled ‘me-day’ treating myself to some goodies and wandering around the shops. Incidentally, I also handed in my dissertation on that day too, so it ended up being a double celebration of sorts, before I had a really lovely meal out with my family in the evening. As, sort of, part of my birthday celebrations I also headed to London last weekend to go see Les Miserables in the West End. This was my first time seeing the show live in any capacity, which feels odd considering I was in an amateur production of it a few years ago. I cried, got a bit nostalgic, and may have been a bit giggling meeting certain cast members at the stage door *cough* Marius *cough*. 
    Other exciting things, at least to me, I finally upgraded my phone. After much moral deliberation between Apple vs Android, I’m sticking to what I know and am now the proud owner of a Samsung Galaxy S4. As well as it being super quick and easy to use, the most notable difference has been camera quality – it makes everything look so pretty! If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll now I’ve now gotten myself addicted to the vsco app, to help level up my on the go photo skills too.
    And, of course, the reason I’m now back blogging my dissertation has now been handed in! Rejoice! I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I feel so much more relaxed. Despite this I can’t quite kick back, I have three more exams until I’m finally done. This means I’m still not gonna be on full on posting mode, but I will be posting when I can. 
    With exams on the horizon, that crazy scary thing called G R A D U A T I O N is just around the corner too. If I’m being honest I don’t quite know how I feel about the whole thing, and I think my brain’s trying to block out anything that involves me thinking about the future. I can however, put my effort into planning my trip to New York in June! After so many months saying I want to fly solo to the States, I’m all booked to go. If anyone fancies sending me tips on cool places I should visit whilst I’m in the city, let me know! 
    Links to <3
    Hayley’s post on how to travel on a budget. Will definitely be using some of these tips!
    ~
    A really wonderfully honest post from my friend Michelle about life after University. 
    ~
    Six awesome reasons why you should be reading UK YA novels from Kath, I especially agree with number #1!
    ~
    ~
    This utterly dreamy Carrie Bradshaw-inspired outfit from Tanja.
    ~
    Rosie takes us to Mary’s Milk Bar in Edinburgh.
    ~
    My friend Jess has started a blog and she made super gorgeous and utterly yummy looking rose cupcakes.

  • March | Insta-life round up

    3 March InstaLife
    //early Uni mornings//pay day make up haul//doing my best Delevigne impression//makin’ banana pancakes//lil ‘Lea Michele//pasta lunch//Spring style//totally blue skies!//Costa lunch waiting for mum & le sis at the airport//early birthday present from my Uncle!//Night Vale Radio on the train the Brighton//cosy catch up with Skye & Erin//lusting over the decor in Nest//mini haul from Tiger//Heidi braids

    March was a much better month than February, but despite this I seemed to be plagued with University deadlines. I did get some respite from the crazy, having had a cosy little catch up with the lovely Skye and Erin in Brighton – plus a little wander down the lanes :) 

    This month has pretty much flown by in the blink of an eye and now I’m here on Mother’s Day, a month away from D-Day (aka Dissertation deadline day) and my final exams. This last week of March also had me sitting in my last lectures and seminar ever and all of a sudden that scary thing called graduation right around the corner. 
    As much as I may be having a slight existential crisis about what I’ll be doing when graduation does roll around, I really need to set my focus on the here and now and what I need to do to get that fancy degree in my cap and gown.

    That thing I need to do is step back and knuckle down. Which is why I’ll be kicking it back from the blog for a bit. I’ve already had friends call me crazy for trying to manage three blogs in my final year and I’ve done ok so far. But having that niggling feeling that I need to have a blog post set up on a certain day hanging over me the next few weeks is not something I need right now. 
    So it’s not a full on goodbye from me, but a “we interrupt this broadcast whilst Ria spends her life in the library…” kinda goodbye.

    I’m not on a total media blackout – cos I need some way of relaxing after doing so much work – so feel free to follow me on Twitter (@RCagz) and send me words of encouragement (or kick me up the butt if you see I’ve been on there for too long!) 

    Toodles for now guys! See you on the other side ;)

    Links to <3
    This awesome infographic showing every dress worn by the Best Actress winner since 1929
    ~
    ~
    Hayley’s oh so wonderful piece on why she’s a feminist for International Women’s Day – also don’t forget to check out my own post from the day!
    ~
    Infusing beauty & Disney, the lovely Amy showcases this gorgeous Pocahontas inspired make up look. 
    ~
    The ladies from A Beautiful Mess talk the blogging industry
    ~
    Blogger’s Bookshelf’s very own Literary Oscars! Check out dem’ graphics (*applauds Erin & her dad!*)
    ~
    Taking decor tips from Wes Anderson, cos why wouldn’t you want to live life like Suzy from Moonrise Kingdom?
    ~
    Lol-ing along to Akilah’s Honest Everyday Make-up tutorial (lost it at “…pat it like a baby’s ass” XD)
    ~

    R.xoxo
    [twitter][tumblr][IFB][instagram][BlogLovin]

  • Blog Of The Month | Thoroughly English

    12 Thoroughly English

    Run by…Yorkshire-based, foodie Bess
    In 3…creative cuisine, bookmark-able recipes, and lovable lifestyle posts
    Why I keep going back…if there’s one thing us bloggers love more than fashion and beauty (and in my case, books), it’s gotta be food! Luckily there’s plenty of it to go round on Thoroughly English. The entire blog is full of an array of recipes and foodie tips accompanied by stunning photography that will make your mouth water. Bess also recommends some great restaurants, from the quaint to the wonderfully fancy, and also gives us the occasional lifestyle post! I’ve honestly bookmarked so many of these posts for future reference – more likely I’ll stare at them wistfully, whilst I lament my lack of cooking skills :P  
    Favourite post(s)…the start of her little series chronicling her quest to make the perfect macaron.