Instagram

I downloaded Instagram so long ago, I don’t even remember when it was, but I never used it. I have no idea why, considering I’ve been seeing some of the most amazing sights of my life over the last 6 months, I just never got into it. But, with its increasing popularity becoming blatantly obvious through the copious amount of users posting their photos on both Twitter and Facebook, I decided to finally give it a go. I love looking at other people’s photos, even if it does make the whole world seem like they are suddenly the next best photographer. It’s another great place to find outfit and nail art inspiration, and has been adopted by many bloggers and vloggers as an extension of their online activity, perfect for keeping up to date with your favourite bloggers on the go.

I still haven’t used it a great deal, but I am enjoying finding new people to follow and flicking through their photos. Also, following celebrities on there is always fun, isn’t it? Kendall and Kylie Jenner are particularly fond of the app, posting enviable photos of their incredible lifestyle, and anything Kardashian/Jenner related is always a winner in my eyes.

tasha_lauren is my username, if you wish to follow me

xoxo

Resurrection

The fact that the last time I properly blogged on here was 7 months ago is pretty shocking. But I’ve been feeling recently like it’s about time to resurrect my little piece of the internet from its early grave. It’s not that I haven’t been blogging at all in that time, I’ve been blogging about my travel adventures over on a separate blog. But lately I’ve been feeling like I want to start blogging about everything and anything again. The only problem is, I still find myself lacking in the inspiration department. But I think once I get going again, my blogging mojo may return.

I’ve probably started to write this post maybe 3 times now, before continuously neglecting it through lack of knowing what to say. But currently the boyfriend is away on a ‘business trip’, which makes him sound all fancy and sophisticated, so I’m alone in the apartment, and it seems the perfect opportunity to occupy my mind with blogging again.

So, I guess at lot has changed since I last blogged. I now live in Sydney, Australia and have done for about 3 months now. After travelling the east coast of Australia for 2 and a bit months, we found ourselves a nice little apartment in Sydney and settled down. Unfortunately, it appears to be equally as difficult to get a job out here as it is in England. Retail works a little differently out here, and that is where I hold the most experience, so it’s tough to get a job doing what I know. But i’m not going to give up, i’m going to keep applying to every kind of job until I find something.

Anyway, I suppose this is a kind of introductory post, to get me started back in the blogging world. I have a few ideas of things I want to write about, and hopefully I can actually stick to my word and really revive my poor little blog.

For now, here is a little snippet of my Australian life so far.

<3 xoxo

Travel blog!

I have a new blog! www.tasha-lauren.blogspot.com where I shall be documenting my travels around Australia over the next year! I decided to make a fresh start with a fresh blog whilst starting on my latest journey  :)

Bikini Overload

In 53 days I am moving to Australia for a year. I have no idea what to take, and how I am going to get my excessive amount of clothes narrowed down into one backpacks worth. It’s going to be a complete challenge; how can you decide what you want to wear for the next year of your life?

I am, however, completely prepared in the bikini department, having bought six new ones in the past few months…

Oops.

Row 1: Primark

 Row 2: H&M

Row 3: Primark

Thankfully i’m going on holiday at the end of the month which will give them all a trial run

Foster the People

Up until recently, I hadn’t actually heard of Foster the People. I was introduced to them by the boyfriend, who heard them on the radio in Australia and sent me one of their songs. I was then greeted with an advert for their album, ‘Torches’, upon signing into Spotify a few days later, and decided to have a listen.

I haven’t been able to stop listening to it since.

Having only formed in 2009, the LA band are relatively new, which is likely to be why we are yet to see much of them in the UK.

With a sound reminiscent of an MGMT/ Hot Chip/ Passion Pit mash up, the album makes for easy summer listening. Consisting of electro beats that you can’t help but bop around your room too, as well as chilled out vibes perfect for relaxing in the sunshine, ‘Torches’ is the perfect summer record.

Lead singer, Mark Foster’s vocals hold an eery similarity to those of Jason Pebworth of Orson (remember them?), particularly on certain tracks such as ‘Call It What You Want‘. The ‘Foster The People‘ sound is worlds apart from the current R&B/Pop sound currently taking over the mainstream chart, and makes for a refreshing change.

This is one band I would particularly love to see at a festival; the fast paced, happiness invoking beats would be ideally suited to festival vibes.

The album also includes some incredible acoustic versions of particular tracks, which are equally as good as the as the album tracks. Whilst I can’t really pick favourites, I am rather fond of ‘Miss You‘ and ‘I Would Do Anything For You‘ because not only are they catchy, they also hold lyrics I can relate to.

I can definitely see myself being hooked on this one for the entire summer.

Beach Break 2011

After a hectic morning running around picking up last minute items to ram into my already bulging bag, we were finally on our coach, about to set off on a 5 hour journey to Pembrey Park, Wales, where we would spend the next 4 nights sleeping in tents, drinking copious amounts of cider, laughing until our cheeks hurt, and watching some incredible artists.

Whilst the weather decided to present us with the irony of rain at Beach Break, it was still an incredible weekend. Although we never actually stepped foot on the beach, we did see some sun on the final day there, leaving me with a lovely red glow. Despite the constant rain on the friday, which meant we were too lazy to leave our tents and missed a few acts, we still managed to laugh the whole time.

Spending a weekend with some of the most hilarious people, watching some of my absolute favourite artists, and acting like a complete fool for 4 days made for a pretty incredible weekend.

Ed Sheeran, Professor Green, Magnetic Man, Katy B, Example, Tinie Tempah, White Lies, Frankie and the Heartstrings, Nero, Subfocus, 16 Bit and many more. All performed incredible sets, all kept the atmosphere alive. Magnetic Man, as the final main headliner of the festival, were particularly amazing and really worked the crowd, making for an impressive final night at the festival.

I want to relive this weekend over and over and over.. except with the boyfriend in tow.

Before the rain and lack of showers took its toll.

Overexcited..

Rihanna controversy

Oh RiRi, you’ve done it again.

Once again, everyones favourite female artist, Rihanna, is stirring up a storm with her latest video.

The newest single, ‘Man Down’, takes on a very Jamaican feel, something we’re not used to hearing from the pop princess. Although it’s nice to see her broadening her horizons,  i’m not a huge fan of the song. I think there are definitely better songs on the album.

As for the video, she has this time upset the The Parents Television Council. Seen in the first minute of the video shooting a man in a train station, the PTC are not fans of Rihanna’s violent video. The video progresses to show the story behind the shooting; retaliation to a previous sexual assault.

Whilst I personally feel the whole story line and the feel of the video works well with the lyrics and style of the song, The Parents Television Council feel that it promotes violence as the answer to women who are assaulted.

I’m sure, once again, Rihanna is loving the attention. No press is bad press, and all that.

On a lesser note, what is with the long raggely extensions? Seriously?

Watch the video below

Date Night

I’m currently sporting a very nice food baby after date night with my housemate Katie. Having spent nearly 3 hours cleaning our house, we decided that a nice dinner was well deserved, so we went to Harvester, right by Bournemouth beach. Lovely! Given that we both lead pretty busy lives at the moment it was nice to have the chance to get out! That makes us seem like the ultimate losers… we’re not, I swear.

not losers at all…

Compulsory food photos?

Desert was shared in true date night style!

Lush!

Shredded

i’m such a rubbish blogger!

I made this top last summer. I say made, I just shredded the back of it. Then I never wore it, until the recent, although now disappearing, lovely weather. Now i’m in love with it.

I will try to motivate myself to blog better. I hope.

welcome back?

WOW, it has been an exceptionally long time since I last blogged on here. Things have been so crazy recently, I just haven’t had the time or inspiration for blogging. In the time i’ve been gone from so much has happened. I’ve turned 21, got a job, wrote and handed in a 10,000 word dissertation, completed multiple assignments and presentations, and officially finished uni forever. For one unit I had to write a journalism blog, so I lost all motivation for personal blogging as I was blogging elsewhere.

BUT, it’s all over now. All I have to focus myself on is work, so i’m hoping to get back into blogging. I’m still lacking in inspiration slightly, but i’m hoping it’ll all come back to me soon enough. But i’m determined to make blogging a part of my life again, a long with the gym and baking all the things i’ve lost time for due to constant uni work.

So, in the mean time, whilst I regain my blogging-brain, here are some lovely summer inspired pictures, all courtesy of WeHeartIt, to get you wishing for those sunny days to return- No more thunder please!