Recommendation: 9/11's Forgotten Victims

(Image from dailymail.co.uk)

At the weekend I was catching up on my YOU mag reading and came across an article that left me feeling, well a real mixture of emotions actually. Sad, shocked, disgusted, sympathetic and amazed, among others. I also felt slightly naive that I had not known of this before and completely helpless. My helplessness spurred me to write this post in order to make other people who may not know yet, consciously aware of the situation. Therefore ‘Recommendation’ is the wrong word for this post title, it is more about awareness.

The topic I am referring to is the resulting effect that the toxic fumes and dust of 9/11 have had on the survivors and the service men and women who risked their lives to help in the tragedy. They are known as the ‘shadow victims’ and as disastrous and unfair as it was for 2,975 innocent people to lose their lives nine years ago this month, there are a further 420,000 people who were heavily exposed to World Trade Center toxins which are now causing respiratory illnesses and cancers; not to mention the 817 people who have already died from illnesses through being responders working on site. Making 9/11 not only a terrible terrorist attack but a huge environmental disaster.

When you Google ‘shadow victims of 9/11’ not that much information is found which leads me to believe many people are unaware of the situation. So many men and women risked their lives that day, as our soldiers do everyday, and their illnesses were and are continually disregarded as having nothing to do with their exposure to toxic fumes by doctors. As the WTC buildings were the most computerised buildings in the world, can you just imagine the amount of chemicals released from there including lead, asbestos, dioxin, mercury from 500,000 fluorescent lights, and emissions from over 200,000 gallons of diesel plus deadly PVCs? It’s unthinkable.

It’s astonishing that these ‘shadow victims’ are one, having to go through such severe if not terminal illnesses, two, having to go through court proceedings in order to fight for the recognition that their diseases were caused by 9/11 fumes, and three, with the lack of post-disaster healthcare combined with the costs of health insurance and medical bills in America, victims are facing thousands of dollars worth of bills when they can no longer work.

I found this article and the information I learnt absolutely shocking. I strongly recommend you have a read and I’m sure it will have the same effect on you. Everyone is aware of the devastation felt on that nationally remembered day but are we aware of this huge environmental disaster that has effected thousands?

Essentials: Top 5 Rescue Products

Every girl needs a little help now and again. Why else are we bombarded with the latest almond oils that will take 10 years off your complexion or the new monkey poop that’s great for nourishing your skin? The billions of products Boots, Sephora, John Lewis and Selfridges offer are there only to enhance what is already ours and help us to make the most of our beautiful potential...or so they would have us believe.

But there comes a time when you’d feel happier if you really MUST leave the house, to do so paper bag style. Anything’s better than displaying that huge spot, dry flaky skin, or split ended locks! Well for those days (which come around too often) I have 5 rescue treatments that I wouldn’t be without and that have saved me from several near paper bag moments...

For those horrific spotty moments-

‘Garnier Pure Active Roll On’ is my spotty day saviour. It is made especially for spot-prone skin and helps to reduce the appearance of those inevitable volcanoes! With a roll-on ball applicator, it is ever so easy to apply. Just roll on and around the affected area and it dries within seconds. I use mine at night time as if you wear it under make-up, your foundation, concealer or powder can tend to stick to it. But it definitely makes a difference in the morning. And at £7.49 for a 15ml amount at Boots (which has lasted me 6 months and I still have half left) what’s not to like?


For absolutely anything and everything-

Having an all purpose-fixer product is an essential for a woman. Mine comes in a little pot form (perfect for taking everywhere) and was ordered from Healthspan. It’s called ‘Nourishing Rescue Balm’, convenient huh? The name speaks for itself! This little beauty is a thickish, slightly oily balm and only needs the tiniest amount to work as it spreads quite far. You could have absolutely anything and see great results after an application of this. Spots, rashes, sunburn, bites, eczema, dry skin, sore skin, anything! It holds all natural products and a 25g pot will last you about a year, depending on how often you use it. It’s £7.95 but is well worth it. I swear by it.


For unsightly chapped lips-

Boots Essentials Lipsalve is the cheapest, most basic product I religiously buy but it is my lifeline. When you’re asked that silly question of ‘If you were stranded on a desert island what would you take with you?’, well Boots strawberry lipsalve would be the only item in my suitcase. I don’t particularly suffer from chapped or dry lips except for perhaps during the winter but I have gotten so used to using the product (having worn it for about 9 years) that if my lips are without its smooth, scented feel, I cannot bear it! For 99p it is my bargain comfort and I wouldn’t be without it.


For ‘my hair is greasy but I really don’t want to wash it’ days –

Introducing Batiste! This dry shampoo comes in three flavours now; Original, Tropical and Blush. I currently have ‘Blush’ which is a delicate floral fragrance. This is a great substitute for lather, rinse, repeat and just requires a shake, a spray to the roots and a good old rub in. Make sure you do remember to rub it in though because it comes out white and you could look like you’ve developed grey hair overnight otherwise (mmm attractive). This retails at £2.30 in Boots (I think the Original is slightly cheaper) and it lasts for about 10 uses, so not that long but it is so good for those lazy days or when your hair needs a bit of a pick-up in between washes. Highly recommended!


For terribly over-straightened dry hair-

Now a regular hair treatment of some sort is a must. Whether that be a chemical treatment in a salon or a DIY hair mask at home but if you’re anything like me and fully take advantage of the fabulousness that are straighteners and use them everyday, then a once a week fix should really tame those locks. My hair becomes dry, spilt and damaged if left untreated after the abuse it takes so I use ‘Botanics 3 Minute Deep Conditioning Hair Mask’. I use this after shampooing and coat all my hair in it. Although not directed to, I then comb the mask through and leave it for about 5 minutes. This really helps to maintain my hair, strengthen it and give it back its lustre. A 450ml pot is £4.99 at Boots which would easily last for 15-20 uses.


Hope you have found my top 5 rescue remedies useful. Do you have any products that you swear by and couldn’t live without?

Wardrobe Additions

I promised you a little showcase of my latest purchases and thought that I would introduce a new post to my blog; ‘Wardrobe Additions’. This will be perhaps a monthly regular featuring the new items I have bought within those 4 weeks. Sometimes there might be lots like my most recent guilty splurge but when I’m back to uni life, unfortunately my wardrobe suffers.

So here are the new clothes, accessories and shoes I have filled up my room with (my clothes don’t actually live in my wardrobe now as there is not one teeny tiny bit of room, no word of a lie, which consequently makes for a very tidy bedroom as you can imagine!) and here are some ways in which I could wear them:













(NOT ALL THESE ITEMS ARE MY NEW PURCAHSES BUT WERE NEEDED IN ORDER TO SHOW YOU WHAT I WOULD WEAR MY NEW ADDITIONS WITH - ITEMS LISTED IN ORDER OF OCCURENCE IN PICTURES)

Lyrex glitter harem pants, £29.99, River Island
One shoulder ruffle top, £18, New Look
Black gladiator heels (aren’t new but still lovely!), can’t remember the price but I know I got 25% staff discount off, Next
Grey chiffon shorts, £36, Topshop
Black ruffle top (again isn’t new), again can’t remember sorry, River Island
Black shoe boots, (aren’t new and never worn them but aren’t they gorgeous?), can’t remember the price, New Look
Patent black belt (pack of 2), £5, New Look
Owl necklace, £2.50, Primark
Leather shorts (ABSOLUTELY ♥) £59.99, River Island
Black peter pan collar top, (quite old actually but just made up an outfit), can’t
remember, Topshop
Berry blazer, £49.99, River Island
Black bow shoes, £11?, Primark
Tan belt, £10, Next
Navy heart print skorts, £6, Primark
Plain white vest top (again not new), not sure as it was a gift, Jack Wills
Denim shirt (bought at the beginning of summer), can’t remember, New Look
Tan brogues, £26.99, River Island
Bow necklace, £1.50, Primark
Button necklace, (can't remember as it's not new), River Island
Cream baggy jersey top, £16, Topshop
Caramel knitted cardi, £46, Topshop
Black printed tee, £19.99, River Island
Brown biker boots, £30, Primark
Beige frilled lace socks, £4.99, New Look
Black harem pants, £28, Topshop
Pearl necklace, (again can't remember, sorry), Miss Selfridge

These are just some of the ways I will wear my new a/w goodies both casually and for a night out. I’m so pleased with them all and think some are great investment pieces for this season – I know leather shorts probably won’t be acceptably worn for long but they are so durable and will just better with age. Those, the blazer and the boots are my fav buys! I can’t wait to take all these beauties to uni with me and show them off, the only trouble is...I still want more!!

Ps, do you have any other suggestions for how to wear these items differently in order to create various looks? What are your favourite buys for this a/w?

If you like this outfit styled post and would like to see it more often please let me know (Also if you would like any pictures enlarged to see the clothing more clearly just let me know and I can do that for you)...x

Update: Welcome To My New Uni Flat...

(View from our panaramic living room windows)

As a student you can sometimes feel like your life is in a suitcase, continually - for the three year period which can be somewhat unsettling. What with moving into halls, then into private accommodation for second year and possibly again for final year, not to mention the weekends at home, plus the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays...for me I felt last year that I was constantly packing then unpacking, packing then unpacking.

And of course it helps to make wherever you stay feel homely so that you look forward to going back there. I can safely say a 3x5m box room was not my idea of home.

BUT...today was moving day!! And it’s safe to say that my little four bedroom flat is definitely a higher star rating, a comfier and more homely atmosphere than room 703 (it sounds like a prison cell doesn’t it?!) and somewhere I can really call home.

As well as having a living room, which is such a luxury after not having one last year, a cute kitchen and floor to ceiling windows with a beautiful view of the docks, I have three lovely flatmates to share it all with. I’m so excited to live with them and have girly nights in with takeaways and ice cream, pre-drinks at the flat before nights out and living with all girls means there’s always someone to talk to and plenty of clothes to share! Plus...we all have our own en-suite bathrooms so getting ready will never be a problem!

These snaps take you on a little tour of the flat (I couldn’t show the other girls rooms though as they moved in on a different day to me)...








This is just the first stage of making my room my own but we have yet to take a trip to Ikea to pad out our pad (!) with cushions, candles, posters, fairy lights and anything else to make it look pretty, and the same goes for my bedroom. Not to mention the masses of photos I need to develop to brighten up the walls and provide me with a hit of nostalgia every time I look at them.

I will update you of the progress when I actually move in for good at the end of this month. But in the mean time do you have any quirky or pretty interior design ideas that I could use to brighten up my room? I was thinking of doing a collage of pictures and magazine cuttings but my creative eye is a bit lazy when it comes to, well anything that involves visual imagination actually. Give me an article to write anytime but tell me to design a room or an outfit and you’d laugh at the result!

Please keep your comments coming – what do you think of the flat? And do kindly share with me any of your interior creative thoughts, you must take pity on us less artistic thinkers!

Ps, Don't forget to keep following if you like what you see and I'm only 14 followers away from revealing my prize GIVEAWAY!! I also have a 'WrittenandPosted' Facebook page that you can 'like', if you like...x

Recommendation: The Saturdays new 24/7 reality tv show

(Images sourced from Google Images - minxsociety.com, theglasweigan.co.uk, style.uk)

Not many people know this about me as it’s only a recent decision I have made...I WANT TO BE A SATURDAY!!

And from watching their new documentary reality show on ITV2 last week (and on again tonight!), I want to be a member even more! A girl can dream right, but they don’t know what they’re missing, I’m as musically gifted as they come...honestly.

I know that many of you will cringe at my secret because they are a typical, girl pop band with mediocre singing abilities but I love them! I recently picked up their second album for £4 (thanks Tescos!) and again I was impressed. You know when you have a cd you could just play over and over, well their first album was stuck in my car for 6 months poor thing and now the new one will be too.

Not only am I a fan of their songs *sings* ‘you need to have a sit down with your ego’*...but I love their style. Don’t you think they’re the prettiest band around? As much as I’d love to be a part of their fun gang, I’d hate to be in a room with them as they’re all sickeningly gorgeous. And their clothes are A-Mazing!


(I actually have that exact skirt from Topshop!)

Molly is always so immaculately dressed and I love that she wears heels 24/7, I couldn’t manage that but I’d love too. And Frankie is stunning, no wonder she was voted one of FHM’s most sexiest women...although they might have altered that decision if they watched the show as she didn’t seem too sexy when she sang out of her bottom whilst massaging Rochelle’s back!! Haha! I love how quirky and daring she is with her fashion though and she always manages to stay on top of trends.


If you watch the show, which I highly recommend (even if you’re not a fan it’s just entertaining and gives you an insight into the mad yet enviably exciting world of fame) you’ll probably be as surprised as I was to learn that Rochelle is actually the loudest Saturday of the five. I don’t know why but I always thought she was a quieter one. And then you have Vanessa, the baby and only singleton so you see her helplessly flirting with The Wanted boys and other unimaginabley good-looking celebs. Not forgetting Una, the eldest and she’s Irish! As we all know I have a thing for Irish accents so I love listening to her...and her rugby star boyfriend is very easy on the eye!

So turn on your tvs or hit the record button at 9pm ITV2 to see The Saturdays at work doing photoshoots, interviews, relaxing on days off, with their famous boyfriends and generally just messing around and having a laugh. I can assure you it will make you think “why can’t I be famous?” Enjoy!!


Ps, I hope everyone has lovely weekends. I’m off to the seaside in a bit until
Sunday but I’ve got some exciting news to share with you when I’m back along with snaps so keep an eye out! Thank you for all your lovely comments and new followings, they really make me smile and I enjoy blogging even more knowing readers are liking what they see...x

Essentials: I MUST feed my shopping need!!

I apologise for being an absent blogger of late. I have been rather busy which made a nice change for me but there is no true excuse for leaving my lovely followers without a daily RUE fix (thank you to all those who have commented or followed me recently, I truly appreciate it ♥).

So back to normal...I have so much to tell you but I’m going to start with a new discovery of mine. Now I obviously knew shopping is a must and was aware of how much pleasure you get from walking out of a shop with a bag full of new items, however until my weekend of shopping in Cambridge and London Westfields, I didn’t realise that much like if you ignore your chocolate craving for a period of time and when you finally give in, oops the whole Dairy Milk bar has disappeared (!) if you hold back on your need to shop, when you finally do, a greedy, addictive monster sprouts from your inner shopping core!

This is what became of me when I shopped to my heart’s content on Saturday in Cambridge (my fav place ever – highly recommended) after suppressing my new clothes desire for almost four excruciating months now! I know what you’re thinking...I don’t know how I did it either but unfortunately uni savings had to come first. However I bought a fair old bit but on the Park-and-Ride home I had a horrible, overwhelming feeling of greed and dissatisfaction. Usually with new purchases you feel on a high, similar to that of the Christmas spirit or your birthday but all I could think of was ‘I really want those tan sherling boots, those wedge heels, some jeans, some tights, some tops...’ you get the picture. Pure and utter GREED! I know it’s shameful.


(I am in the process of creating a mood board style post with all my lovely new purchases on and what I think I’ll wear with them but here’s a quick peek at what I flashed my cash at)

Who knew you could walk through the door arms full of lovely a/w essentials and still feel the need to spend more. I must say it was a horrible feeling. But the trouble is, and I know my best friend relates to this too, when you see something you want, it won’t leave your mind until it’s in your possession and is listed on your next statement. It is an unsavoury form of addiction.

So I have learnt that suppressing your inner shopping desires can only lead to unleashing a greedy, ungrateful monster who wants more and more and more. And you know what they say...people who say ‘want’ don’t get...so girls all together now, I-would-like please...

Ps, another apology will be in order as I am away this weekend at my grandparents which also means the land of no internet so blog posts won’t be updated after tomorrow until Sunday night hopefully anyway – unless any of you lovelies know how to set up a timer if there’s such a thing for posts to update??

Also check out my new Formsprings gadget and ask away...