Choosing a career path: It's ok not to know.

As someone who has kind of drifted through life (career-wise) with no real direction and who has struggled with making decisions, deciding upon which career is best for me has been really difficult. Don't get me wrong, I have got more of an idea in recent years of what I want to do but deciding and sticking to one career kind of scares me. When I was at school I was always an Arty, Drama, English sort of girl and maths, well lets just say neither I liked it nor did it like me! So I suppose I always thought I'd end up doing something along those lines, but as I got older I gave less time to my loves and instead spent more time focussing on friends and what they were doing. When it comes to education, I wouldn't say I'm an academic person but then again I'm not stupid.. and I suppose I'm a bit sad that I prioritised other things in my schooling years and only put in the effort I had to, as I think my grades could have been better!

I didn't do bad in my GCSEs and following this, I stayed on at school and did my A levels in English Language, Sociology and Health and Social Care. I think when I was doing my A levels I realised I needed to put a bit more effort in (well in the second year especially, after having multiple break downs over work) and as a result I came out with quite good grades. It was at this point that I gained a real love for sociology and also writing.

University was never on my radar and throughout sixth form I remained adamant that I was not going to go to university and steered away from UCAS at all costs. However the day I received my A level results this all changed. I don't think I, nor my teachers, expected me to get the grades necessary for university so when it turned out that I had actually managed to get them, the head of sixth form kind of gave me the shove I needed and advised I looked into the possibility of uni. Not only that but I was met by the realisation that I had my A levels but had no idea what to do next. People say don't go to uni just to buy you more time.. but if I'm honest that's exactly what I did and I wouldn't say it's such a terrible thing.

When it came to choosing a course I returned back to my love for art and I researched courses in art and fashion but I failed to find a course that was right for me; I wanted to stay at home and therefore go to a uni near me, and all the courses available required A level art, which I didn't have. This highlights an issue which worries me; that the decisions you make when you are 16 can affect your opportunities in later life. Who really knows what they want to do when they are 15/16?

Anyway, after research and visiting UCS (university in Ipswich) I decided to totally switch it up and signed up for a Bsc in Criminology (where did that come from?). I mainly chose this because I found I had a real passion for sociology at sixthform and one of the modules was the sociology of crime.At multiple points in my degree I genuinely questioned whether the course was right for me and whether I should actually quit, but I didn't. I stuck it out, and now have completed my degree!

So now I am met with the same question.. what to do next? And if I'm honest I don't really know the answer but I know there are so many possibilities! I am contemplating a masters, mainly to change my career path (so, not in criminology) as I have decided that crime isn't the career I want. I guess what I'm trying to get at is that it is so easy to feel overwhelmed and to worry about what to do next. Life might seem a little muddled and as you can see from my story so far, some decisions may not be the perfect ones but it is never too late to do what you want to do! I would also say that education is never a bad decision. Yes I may not have chosen a degree which suited me the best, but it is a degree and that surely is never a bad thing! So if like me you are a bit stuck with what career is best for you, my advice would be to try everything and anything out and trust that you will find something which suits you. Don't see it as a negative but instead see it as a positive; life has ALOT to offer and you can be whatever you want to be (how cliché)

Lots of love,
Jade xx

My favourite summer dress.

Hello lovelies! Today's post features my favourite dress (can you tell I'm not ready to let go of summer yet? haha). There's a story behind this dress; when I was on my way home from Menorca a couple of weeks ago I was on the plane and I saw a girl wearing this dress and the whole flight home I was thinking.. I need that dress (magpie over here). So when we landed I had to ask her where it was from! When she said Boohoo I was very excited because I knew for such a pretty dress, it wasn't going to break the bank!

Dress: Boohoo

Sandals: Primark

Necklace: Primark

Bag: Mulberry

 

So anyway, I got the dress in the end! And I love it! I just think its so damn cute and would be a great dress to wear to a BBQ or on holiday. England is starting to get a bit chilly so I don't think I'll be wearing this dress much longer.. but it will definitely make a come back next year! Now.. who's ready for roll necks?

 

Let me know what you think of this dress and what your favourite dress is!

Lots of love,

Jade xxxx

P.S. I think I had my camera on the wrong setting for these photos but I thought I'd use them anyway, sorry about the questionable quality!

I Love Ebay!

 

All shorts: EBAY :)

Crop: Topshop

Shoes: Newlook

Hello Lovelies! So today's post is dedicated to one of my new loves.. Ebay! Now I know Ebay has been around for ages now, but I haven't really used it up until a few months ago. I love unique clothing and items that are a bit out of the ordinary so ebay is right up my street for this purpose! I was browsing a few weeks ago and after seeing some super edgy denim shorts,  I decided I needed some levi shorts in my life. As you can see, I ended up buying 2 pairs and also these beautiful Topshop Silk shorts too haha. But £30 for 3 cool pairs of shorts.. who could say no?

So I thought I'd share my tips when it comes to buying on Ebay:

1.  When it comes to shorts especially and I'd say most clothing really, ALWAYS go for a bigger size rather than a smaller (This applies majorly to Levis which come up around 2 sizes small).
2. Buy from a UK seller if you want to receive your item within the next 3 months haha.
3. Don't be scared to ask sellers questions- there nothing worse than hoping something will fit and receiving it and realising that sadly it doesn't.
4. If the item seems too good to be true.. it probably is (I have brought some really crap stuff haha).
5. Always look at a seller's other items.. If a seller has one nice item, the odds are they have more lovely items for sale too.
6. Most importantly.. You can find some real steals and really cool items on Ebay.. So enjoy it and allow some time to browse.

So I hope this post has been helpful and inspired you! Let me know what Ebay bargains you've found! And let me know if you'd enjoy a post about selling on Ebay too!

Lots of Love,

Jade xxx

Chunky sandals.

Hello lovelies! After a ridiculous amount of time, I'm back! I've had a really busy last couple of months with getting my dissertation finished, along with other stresses. So I thought I'd take some time off from blogging, until I could give it my all again! If I'm honest, with everything going on, I lost my motivation and love for blogging; its so easy to think you are getting nowhere, I have to keep reminding myself not to compare myself to other bloggers. But now I think I've got my mojo back haha.

Shoes: Newlook

Shorts: Topshop

Top: Missguided

Kimono: Boohoo (old)

Necklace: Topshop Sale

So anyway, on to the outfit. This outfit features a few of my new favs! The shoes especially, I love! From other people's comments, it seems these shoes are a bit like marmite.. some love them, but quite a lot hate them haha. I just think they are super edgy and grungy and I like the juxtaposition of wearing chunky sandals with a girly outfit! I've teamed them here with some Topshop lace shorts and a kimono! I think this would be a great festival outfit!

I'm going on holiday in a week and 2 days so I'm planning on doing a lookbook or multiple holiday blog posts as I may have gone a little crazy buying summer clothes haha! (I've tried to justify my spending by telling myself I need it for holiday) So keep a look out :)

Let me know what you think of chunky sandals like these! Are you a lover or a hater? I'll be back soon for another post! Lots of love,
Jade xx

Spring Stripes

 

 

Shirt: Newlook

Sleeveless Jacket: Newlook

Jeans: Topshop

Shoes: River Island (old)

 

Hello Guys! How lovely has the weather been recently? Spring is definitely on its way! Today's post is featuring some of my favourite spring pieces. Stripes are always a winner in my book, I feel like you can wear stripes when its freezing cold with an oversized, cosy coat or in the scorching hot with a pair of edgy denim shorts! At the moment this shirt is making an appearance a lot and is definitely one of my spring staples. Here I've styled it with another one of my new favs, this chic cream sleeveless jacket! I think I'll be reaching for this a lot this spring/summer!

 

I'm all about buying pieces that will go with loads of other things at the moment! I'm thinking about doing a post on my top 10 wardrobe must-haves...let me know what you think!

 

Lots of Love,

Jade xxx

Coachella Inspired

 

 

Jacket: H&M

Jeans: Topshop

Boots: Clarks

Crop Top: Missguided

Necklaces: Primark

 

Hello you lovely lot! Today I have busted out the fringe in the form of this beaut suede jacket! I knew I wanted a jacket with tassels on and when I saw this one I had to have it. I just love the colour of this one. I think the colour teamed with a lot of black makes a cool, sort of grungy, look.

 

Tassels and fringe are meant to be huge this season, and with Coachella last weekend, everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. Is it just me who has been swooning over the Jenner girls and Gigi Hadid and their super chic outfits!? Haha.

 

As its not quite as warm in England, as it was at Coachella, I've teamed this jacket with my trusty Topshop Joni jeans and ankle boots. I can't wait till summer when I can throw it on over a pair of distressed demin shorts!

 

Let me know your throughts on this outfit!

Lots of Love,

Jade xxx