O is for Owl Jewellery!

So just like that first day when Voldemort disappeared (can you tell I am still on a Potter high?), owls are being spotted everywhere, but this time it’s not in the skies, it’s in fashion! Everywhere I turn, there seems to be a pair of glistening owl’s eyes staring back at me and don’t they look great?

The mysterious, aloof quality of owls have intrigued people for a long time, creating superstition and the belief that the figure of an owl symbolises wisdom, foresight and sacred knowledge. And what better or beautiful a symbol to wear about your person?

So I thought I’d share with you all some of my favourites over my ever-so-frequent trawls over the internet (and don’t forget they are cheap and cheerful). Enjoy!

Also, you can click on every image to take you to the website to buy :-)

Necklaces:

This cute crystal effect silver owl on a silver pendant screams expensive chic, but it's only £8.00 from Amazon! An ideal price for this piece to glisten on your neck.

How gorgeous is this necklace? The gold tone and contrasting bright blue feather makes this a statement piece, guaranteed to attract attention. And, it's only £9.00 from ASOS, can't say fairer than that!

Twit twoo! This charming little necklace with mini jewelled eyes also doubles up as a locket. £16.00 from Urban Outfitters.  

Bracelets:

Add a bit of sparkle and brightly-coloured jewels to your jewellery box with this stunning bracelet from QVC for £28.00. Ideal for brightening up a dark outfit and for sparkling on a summer's day!

Rings:

This quirky, kitsch, golden ring is emblazoned with a bright pink owl's face. It's something fun and different to add to your outfit and bang on trend! £8.00 from ASOS.

Watches:

This mock-croc leather buckle watch features an owl face and is ideal for those who don't fancy garish, owl figures. Simple, yet elegant. £26.00 from Urban Outfitters.

Earrings:

These cute, stud earrings featuring little owls are only £5.99 from eBid, you can't really say no to those faces, can you?

Brooches:

Similar to the crystal, silver necklace at the beginning of this blog post, this brooch also features tiny crystals and precision-places jewels to ensure this brooch blings on your outfit. How cute does it look? £9.00 from Amazon.co.uk.

This baby owl brooch glistens with gold and silver tones, and with those large eyes and tiny button beak, you are sure to attract attention with this one! £11.75 from Amazon.co.uk

This stunning brooch features not one but three owls, balancing on a fragile tree branch and glistens with more crystals and colourful jewels! The priciest on this blog post, at £30.48 from QVC, I think it's definitely worth the money.

Phew! I think that's all for now, let me know what you think and if you have seen any other owl pieces out there or if you have a favourite of your own?

Thanks,
Emma.

It all ends... or does it?

So the most-anticipated and simultaneously most-dreaded moment of the year (try the decade) has finally arrived. The era of the multi-million pound franchise Harry Potter is finally coming to a close after an amazing 14 years in our hearts. 2007 saw the emergence of the final literary instalment of the series with book shops around the UK filled to the rafters with queues of people eagerly anticipating the famous trio’s fate. And this weekend the final film Deathly Hallows Part 2 is released. From this moment, no longer will there be ‘the next book’ or ‘the next film’ to look forward to. The boy who lived has lived and we certainly enjoyed living with him.

The famous trio Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe laugh along with the Harry Potter creator, JK Rowling, at the UK premiere of Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

The posters are up all around the UK, featuring the now-famous slogan ‘It all ends’. But does it? I’m here to tell you not to despair, things aren’t as bad as they seem. The Harry Potter phenomenon still lives on and here’s why....

1.       Pottermore. Potter fans all around the world are anticipating the opening of the Pottermore website, created by Ms. Rowling herself. Expressed as a unique and exciting online reading experience, the website promises to give the world a new insight into the Harry Potter books that has never been seen before. On her YouTube announcement, Rowling says it is a place where fans of any age can share, participate in and rediscover the stories that we all know and love. Speculation is rife as to what this elusive statement actually means, from re-writing the stories yourselves and to finding out hidden ideas Rowling has about the characters, plotlines and more. However, we all know it will be the emergence of something amazing, which allows the reading public to carry on their love and participation in the story of Harry Potter. Visit pottermore.com on the 31^st July to find out how you can get the chance to enter Pottermore early.

Rowling sent shockwaves throughout the publishing industry with her Youtube announcement on Pottemore.com. 

2.       JK Rowling’s new beginning. Rowling has provided us with the comfort that she is working on new material and has plans to publish it! She exclusively revealed to BBC News that she has been ‘writing hard’ and ‘done quite a lot since finishing Harry’. So no need to despair, although Rowling won’t be carrying on the Potter series, there will definitely be more to come. This can be seen as both a new beginning and an end for Rowling. So what can we expect? Rowling has previously mentioned she has been working on a political fairytale for young children, a Harry Potter encyclopaedia and a book aimed at adults. However, she has said that her new venture will not be a fantasy series: "I think I've done my fantasy. To go and create another fantasy universe would feel wrong, and I don't know if I'm capable of it." However, Rowling did tease us at the Deathly Hallows Part 2 premiere in London last week in her tearful farewell speech: ‘Maybe I’ll write another one’. We can only hope!

3.       The story lives on in our hearts. Although the books have been published and the films released, we can still dip into them at any time, relive the favourite story of so many and dive back into a fantasy world that seems so real. Dan Radcliffe, at the Deathly Hallows Part 2 premiere in London, expressed that we are able to carry the story with us forever and Rowling gave this apt farewell:

‘The stories we love do live in us forever. Whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.’

 And on that note, I'll leave you.

Emma  xx

Geordie Shore. Good, bad or just plain ugly?

So the hottest new shockumentary has hit our screens this month and it has certainly got everybody talking! Whether you love it, hate it or are warring a rampage against it, everyone has an opinion on the antics of the lads and lasses on MTV’s Geordie Shore!

A reproduction of its most successful ‘reality’ series Jersey Shore, MTV has created another show, in which 15 strangers from the North East are thrown together in a Big Brother-style pad and their shenanigans are viewed 24/7. Similar to the pseudo reality TV docu soaps of The Hills and The Only Way is Essex, Geordie Shore follows some extravagant characters in and around Newcastle, including an 18-year-old self-confessed ‘Posh Spice of Middlesbrough’ with fake FF breasts and a heavily-plucked Geordie male whose hardest days work is doing his hair. Despite a lack of an intriguing plotline in which the characters are merely viewed entering a variety of different nightclubs night after night, the Geordie Shore creators have certainly upped the ‘sex factor’ with this show, in which the characters are seen getting frisky with a multitude of different people in every episode, including each other.

The Geordie Shore cast.

However, despite popular ratings of over 1.3 million in its opening episode, trumping the MTV Music Awards, The Hills and Jersey Shore, and addictive characters, the show has caused uproar in the place the Geordie Shorers all know and love. Newcastle natives are worried about the region’s reputation and have branded the show a disgrace, believing the lewd and embarrassing behaviour to cause untold damage to the region’s image. This belief was so strong that a Facebook page was created, called ‘RIP Geordie Pride24/05/2011 10:00pm’, the moment which the first episode of Geordie Shore aired, which currently holds over 30 thousand members. Locals are so sore about the subject that the show is banned in city pubs, branding the show as pornographic. The Geordie Shorers, however, have defended their actions, saying that they are not representing Newcastle, they are merely representing themselves and they just do what any other average person does on a night out.

In addition, people from Middlesbrough, the hometown of cast member Holly Hagan, are also livid over her performance on the show, in which she obsessively parades her voluptuous body and continuously cheats on and argues with her boyfriend. This led to her being ostracised by the group and leaving the show within the third week. Middlesbrough was named ‘the worst place to live in the UK’ in a 2007 report by Location, Location, Location and ever since, there has been a resurgence of people defending and trying to regenerate the area, resulting in a city bid this year. However, due to Holly’s experiences on the show, sudden fears have emerged that the public perception of the town will have deteriorated; meaning the town and its people’s efforts will have been in vain.

Holly's outrageous behaviour in the hot-tub.

Personally, and as a local from the North East, I am enjoying the show purely due to the outrageous behaviour and extreme characters. However I do agree that many people outside the North East will form certain derogatory opinions due to what happens on Geordie Shore. I do feel that the show represents extreme behaviour and is not a true representation of how we Northerners truly live. Not all Geordies act that way but it can’t be denied, it is certainly entertainment!

What's your opinion on Geordie Shore, do you love it or hate it? Please feel free to follow me on twitter: @emmarobinson14.

Thanks,

Emma.

The future's bright... it's neon.

Team your neon brights with, well, more neon brights this summer to be in with another hot style trend for the season. Inspired by the sizzling vivid colours of the summer getaway, neon can be fun to wear and adds a bit of spice and an injection of colour to a grey, dreary day. And there’s no going half measures with this style, clash your colours and patterns to make a big impact!

Here are some of the best neon pieces the high street can offer, which inject a bit of ‘wow’ into your wardrobe!

 Sexy, fun and flirty- this dress ticks all the boxes. £39 from American Apparell. 

 This high-neck shift dress literally stuns with this eye-popping yellow. £85 from ASOS.

Pink is the new black and with this pink sheer maxi skirt, you’ll have all eyes on you. £50 from Topshop.

Clash those neon colours on your feet with these gorgeous suede peep toe sandals! £68 from Topshop.

And if clashing neon colours just isn’t for you or you don’t want to over-do it, here are a few options on how to work neon the subtle way so you don’t scare the neighbours...

1.       Add some neon nail polish. This can brighten up any outfit and can make a work outfit or a LBD just pop! Neon nail polish is a bit tongue-in-cheek and shows you have a wild side beneath that plain work-suit exterior. If you work in an office, try it on your toenails instead, which adds a sexy, daring edge to a peep-toe sandal. This is an ideal way of injecting some neon into your wardrobe and especially if your tentative in doing so!

2.       Wear a neon clutch or purse. Neon bags are all the range at the moment and are ideal to making a statement without wearing neon clothing. Plus, neon bags can go with any outfit by brightening up dark, block colours or by clashing with bright colours and patterns.

3.       Work some neon jewellery. Quirky, neon jewellery can look fun and flirty but be careful. Make sure you pick clean, classic pieces, such as a bangle or pair of earrings. Too much can look tack, a definite no-go area.  

4.       Add one piece of neon clothing. Either a shirt or a skirt to put a flirty punch into your outfit. Team your neon shirt with plain trousers or jeans to tone down the look and mix your skirt with a printed t-shirt, to create a simple rock chick look.

Please, however, do not confuse for the tacky 80’s neon of wristbands and legwarmers. That look should not be seen outside of Flares, the nightclub.

Hope you enjoy adding colour to your wardrobe, let me know if you have any favourite neon pieces. Also, as ever feel free to add me on Twitter at @emmarobinson14.

Thanks,

Emma.

The Transporter Bridge becomes a centenarian!

Hi there, here is a little news piece I wrote about my home town, hope you like it!

The North East’s best-loved landmark turns 100.

TUCKED up in a quiet corner of the North East of England, the defining symbol of Teesside turns 100 years old this year. As it approaches its centenary, the Transporter Bridge, known locally as simply “The Transporter”, has undergone major refurbishments in preparation for the celebrations on 17 October, with improvements such as replacement motors already completed.

One of only a handful of working examples in the world and the only working type in England, the iconic steel monument links Middlesbrough and Port Clarence and is an instantly recognizable feature on the River Tees. The imposing figure of Edwardian engineering was officially opened in 1911 by Queen Victoria’s grandson Prince Arthur of Connaught and resembles two proud steelworkers, hands clasped together at the centre of the river in an act of working-class solidarity.

The partially completed towers of the bridge.

Councillor Paul Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Streetscene Services and Transport, said: “The Transporter is an iconic landmark which is recognised around the world and of which we are truly proud. It’s fantastic that, nearly 100 years after it first carried people across the river, it is in full working order and looks as good as the day it was opened.”

Since the Transporter’s construction, Teesside became almost immediately synonymous with bridge-building, and throughout the 20th century, Middlesbrough’s historical steel industry has created epic monuments across the globe. Teesside technology has been exported to Tyneside, building the Tyne Bridge in 1928, New Zealand with the Auckland Harbour Bridge in 1959 and the Australia’s monumental Sydney Harbour Bridge, which was opened in 1932 and famously features the epigram "Made in Middlesbrough".

Throughout the last century, the Transporter Bridge has attracted millions of visitors, having featured in the popular television series Auf Wiedersehen Pet and in recent years, has become a centre for extreme sports with dare-devils bungee jumping, zip lining and abseiling from the top of the bridge.

Ironically many Teessiders have never actually crossed the Transporter Bridge, with Port Clarence offering few amenities; however a strong affiliation to Middlesbrough means it conjures up strong emotions and memories for people in the region. The landmark is the North East’s finest hidden gem and here’s hoping it will still be standing for another 100 years to come.

A special calendar has been launched to commemorate this occasion, featuring stunning images taken throughout the bridge’s 100-year history and is available from: the Transporter Bridge Visitor Centre, local and mobile libraries, MIMA and the Dorman Museum.

Thankyou for reading and as ever, please feel free to leave a comment or add me on Twitter!

Emma xx

Summer loves Coral!

So now that summer is here (well it’s started raining again in Liverpool, but that’s beside the point), a pretty, coral trend is emerging, similar to the neutral tones that we’ve seen earlier in the year. Winter saw beige, brown and camel and now summer is rocking pink, peach and coral. And I am loving it, so I thought I’d share with those of you in the blogosphere some of the best that the good ol’ high street can offer, all at affordable prices (because, y’know, I am a student, no designer labels for me just yet. Well apart from my 21^st birthday present, thanks mum and dad!)

This coral spot shirt dress is a must-have for Summer 2011. Accessorised with or without a belt, this dress just hits the spot ;-). Polkadots are just so summery and feminine and at only £36 from Dorothy Perkins, there is just no reason not to buy it! Also, I was in Dorothy P the other day and I spotted (ok, the puns are getting a bit much now) the shirt version for £28. Would it be a bit much to get both?

Next is this gorgeous coral pleated dress from missguided.co.uk. With sequined shoulders, small puffed sleeves and satin cuffs, I am genuinely in love! Team with black heels to make this colour just pop. Also this picture definitely makes me have short hair envy, she looks amazing! And only for £27.00, this dress is a bargain!

This oval wave ring is £8.65 from Topshop. In this season’s hottest colour with mirrored waves, this is statement jewellery at its finest!

Again from Topshop, this cute jersey dress is just the thing for a summer holiday and for looking beautiful on the beach. Also cute for lounging around the house, just team with leggings and a long cardy. £22.00.

And also for those of you going away on a summer holiday, go for frills, spots AND coral with this cute, halter neck bikini. Rocking three looks in one, this bikini is a staple item for your summer wardrobe. Sold at Topshop for £26.50 and worth every penny!

Accessorise with coral with this satin, jewelled box clutch from New Look.  At £15.99, this look is cute, girly and totally affordable. But remember not to over-do the coral when accessorising. Keep the outfit simple with muted, block colours, perhaps with a LBD, and make your accessories stand out rather than your garish colour matching.

One of my ultimate favourites on my coral outfit searches is this stunning wrap dress from Mango, for £34.90. Work coral with nautical style with this statement dress. Team with heels for a different going out number or sandals for a pretty, chic day look. Fave <3

And last but not least, work coral all the way from your fingertips to your toes with this OPI nail varnish in ‘Conga-line coral’. On sale for £7.95, why not treat yourself and give your nails a burnt orange glow this summer? After all, summer is all about painted nails and this colour is bang on trend!

Thanks for reading my blog, hope you enjoyed it. And please leave a comment about anything you liked, disliked or any other coral items you have your eye on! Also, feel free to follow me on Twitter (@emmarobinson14).

‘Til next time,

Emma xx.

B is for... Beginnings.

Hi there,

So here goes... my first ever post in my first ever blog. I am excited and nervous and hope you all like it! Basically, I have decided to start writing a blog to enhance my writing skills and creativity as I am hoping to do a MA in Journalism in September and also because I have seen so many other lovely blogs out there, I have decided to write my own! And I promise to keep it regularly updated with fun, girly things that I am interested in, because I am writing for me first and foremost.

So now that the formalities are over and done with, I’d like to introduce myself. I am Emma Robinson, originally from Middlesbrough (apparently ‘The Worst Place to live in the UK’ according to Location, Location, Location. I no longer watch that show.) and am now living in Liverpool, currently finishing a degree in English Language and Literature. I am a typical Northerner and love to chat to people about almost anything and am completely obsessed with the TV show Only Fools and Horses, to the point where I can recite practically every line from every episode. I like shopping, cheese, my home town and Mr Darcy (:-D) and I hate spiders, arrogance and rude people!

I hope this blog will capture my personality, in that I hope to inject it with some wit, humour and fun along the way and I aim to write posts about almost anything that interests a 20-something year old girl, from fashion, beauty and celeb gossip to current affairs and my own general musings.

I hope you enjoy, and please feel free to follow me on Twitter (@emmarobinson14) if you like what you see!

Emma xx