Manic Pixie Dreamgirls.

Today has been a whirlwind of a day.

So, backstory: a few weeks prior to my move down to England, I'd gotten in contact with a model concerning doing some test shoots and fun for our portfolios and whatnot. Skip forwards to Wednesday, when I actually met her, and then skip again to today, when we had our shoot. I'm surprising myself here in saying that we actually went through with it; I am notorious for being absolutely awful with making plans and then following through with them.

Fresher's flu has fallen upon the University of Warwick; I was quite early in getting ill. For a recluse who generally does not go out too much, almost-every-night must have taken a toll on me and I fell victim to the bout of bloody fresher's cough going around. I'd also lost my voice which has been brilliant in my first two weeks here, because every introduction I make seems to go, "Hi, I'm Laura and I've lost my voice I don't usually sound like a troll I swear," because um, I really would not want people to think I usually sound like a troll.

There's something about being sick which makes it perfectly acceptable to curl up in bed watching Anastasia as your double-dose of sleeping pills knock you out and enable you to sleep for 10 hours.

Therefore, I've spent the last two nights chilling out. Played an intense game of risk last night after the world's most vulgar game of scrabble - how many points for 'whore,' anyone? - and then came in late and collapsed into bed after a shower - which is, for further referencing, a pain when you share. My room's the other side of the hall from the bathrooms. Trudging past the common room in a shirt and towel clutching things isn't a cute look.

Other than that, fresher's fortnight is officially over. I've gone out quite a bit and met a lot of people. A lot of their names I can't remember or get mixed up but hey, there are tons of us here. There have been a few wary moments when I've introduced myself and gotten a "Oh, you're Laura Grant!," and considering my questionable behaviour the last few days - good and bad, considering that my skittles vodkas were being talked about at another residence half an hour away - is a little worrying.


Hall wars! We hall-crawled and drank ourselves a bit stupid - whole bottle of vodka to myself here (which I did share) - before going to get even more drunk at the bar. With Alex, Sam, and some guy whose name I don't know. (This has happened so many times. So many photos with unidentified humans!)


Film crew (y)


With the lovely Lily and Rachel. We drew whiskers on in sharpie without thinking of morning consequences. Luckily the sharpie came off our faces because it sure as hell didn't come off my arm.

Our freshers's party, Moulin Rouge themed, started off on a bit of a drunk note because we found a drinking game. One of the rules was "A shot everytime a girl lifts her skirt." Needless to say, we were out of alcohol and pretty tipsy 15 minutes in.






Student U all nice and done up. Speaking of which: made up of several restaurants, some of which i've been to - The bread oven does the best baguettes ever and I had a mint hot chocolate at the tea shop so um yay - a few pubs, (okay fine, it's one.) and a club. The club's gotten a bit boring-ish already but they let me in, even if they have to give me a little underage speech every single time.

Asides from that, doing a lot of chilling and reading who am I kidding I barely read anything. Been cooking loads of pasta just because I've started to get a bit arrogant about it. Joined the warwick tv society and am already fangirling and trying to network into doing a lot; projects lined up left right and center if I had my way.

So: today, woke up at 7 and "went back to sleep for a few minutes." Woke up again at 8.30. Cue insane panicking and changing very quickly into a top and leggings and running outside to realise my leggings were actually see-through and therefore tights. Threw shorts on top and dashed out. Wet hair and a 20 minute walk then 20 minute bus wait means I'm certain icicles have grown in my brain because I feel like I have permanent brain freeze and it really is no fucking fun.

Was a bit wary on the shoot because I am a complete amateur. Luckily, the two models and the makeup artist were all lovely and I'm really happy with what we got:

(Cue picspam!)














^ my favourite shot. I've wanted to do one like that for so long!

It's funny how when you don't have constant access to loads of food, you get really strong, weird cravings for certain things. For instance, I really, really, really fancy some chocolate right now. Anything sweet. Just so bad. But today is of course, the one day Tesco is closed and I don't have anything. I almost bought a bag of cookies earlier today (which makes me very, very sad now,) but I was craving savoury foods like no other, which led to me trailing around Tesco in Leamington looking very sad. When I finally found a prawn sandwich, I was so overcome with the sudden surge of desire to consume it. I snatched it up like a lone vulture and celebrated my victory by rounding it off with a Mars Bar beverage which was, along with the Galaxy and Milky Way ones, perhaps the coolest thing I'd ever seen. Talk about literal chocolate milk.


Tonight shall probably be chilling. I overheard people saying (lol eavesdropping oooh~~) that everyone was in the upstairs kitchen so if i'm feeling social (probably not,) I may go up and see what's happening. Other than that, I am going to praise your higher being of choice that my classes don't start 'til 3pm tomorrow and probably celebrate that with another night curled up in bed with a good film.

Shit, I'm craving mexican food now. Quesadilla and nacho night tomorrow? I do think so.

How To Be Quirky (Photo Post)

Step 1: Find a friend. Find a cute friend who has similar taste in music and everything else and you end up accidentally dressing pretty much the same - it's cute, okay! It looks good in photos. And the music is important because you will have to sing songs when you stroll down the woodland-esque path back home, and it would be better if you both knew the same ones. Same taste in food would be good as well, but I've yet to find someone who does not really have the same taste as me because everybody pretty much just fucking loves food. For this step, I selected Izzy.

Step 2) Acquire a cute idea. It has to be childish because it's ironic and cute - you are not children, yet playing with child things and it means you are free spirits and children at heart and just downright adorable. Kittens and bubbles and balloons all work. We looked for bubbles but they didn't have any normal ones so we settled for balloons.

Step 3) Find pretty locations. As long as they're aesthetically pleasing, it really does not matter that it is 33 degrees and that your legs are covered in mosquito bites! They don't show up on camera. (Okay, yes they do.) Chill there and feel like you're in a movie until you have to accept that it really just is too hot and that aircon is the greatest creation ever. If you have quirky accessories that's also a bonus! Heart-shaped glasses bring back an element of childishness and therefore are definitely an A+, and I'm just emotionally attached to my circle shades.

Step 4) You must create a playlist that includes lots of music like Eisley and The Hush Sound and Foster The People. Occasionally jam out, and you may even take a lyric or song names to use as captions for the photos you upload to your flickr. You can even get out guitars and ukuleles and play a bit because you, as creative individuals, are talented as hell.

Step 5) Amble around and climb bamboo construction sites because "you've just always wanted to," and then fear because "It's actually quite a long way down." Sadly mourn when the construction area is dismantled the same day, (coincidence?) and then just forget about it.

Step 6) Upload your photos and deflate the balloons because you keep tripping over them and to be honest, you hate balloons popping. Write a short summary of your very cool day disguised as a satirical guide on "How To Be Quirky," and hope people don't take you seriously.

Golden (Goodbyes)

We are golden because we're alive,

We are nothing without our goodbyes,

Illuminate our own way from inside,

We shine so bright, we shine so bright.

- Golden, Farewell Fighter

They say you're always more creative when you're emotional as you put yourself into your work. I have just literally cried my soul out shed a few tears, my first in quite a long time. I have just said my final in real life goodbye to Lizzy. She's heading off to Beijing, and invited me and Esme - as together, we make up the simplets - round to her house for crepes, movies, and cheese plates. Camera, as promised, was brought along and promptly used and abused, as I'd also promised.

Esme came over earlier and we recorded a cute song we'd written for Liz, as well as a B-Side which was a story about a Gorilla & The Whale, (which is freaking adorable, to be completely honest.) We then went to Lizzy's, took adorable photos, had amazing crepes - salty crepes, then cheese plate, then sweet crepes omg crepes - watched Hairspray, then sat in her room and talked. And talked and talked. Talked so much I'd missed my chance to get the last bus home.

It's... really only just registered with me. All this people leaving business. And soon enough, it's going to be me? I'd always pictured my departure as me skipping through the airport with my suitcases, ready to finally get out of this place, ready for new adventures. But after tonight, not so sure. Sure, I'll miss this place...eventually. I'll miss some people here. I'll miss my family. I'll miss some aspects of this place, but whether my excitement will override my separation sadness, we'll have to see... I'm sure I'll blog about it either way, (I sure have been good with blogging recently!)

And whilst we're here, I'll through in two 'outfits,' if they can be named that. I always think to myself, "Ooh, I want to try look somewhat decent today," and forget about the fact that it's really not easy with the stifling heat and humidity here.

Didn't really wear that hat. I was joking. It was raining and I wanted to find one but that was the only hat I could find in my house... Top: ??? Shorts: Forever 21, I think?

Lizzy's last night out. Top: Again, god knows where. Shorts I think are forever 21 as well. Hair detail, yay! Necklaces from I Don't Know. I'm not very good at this.

Oh, Mr. Moon

Accompanied by a summer soundtrack consisting of The Fratellis, Eisley and Foster The People, today was the day me and Savannah finally had the photoshoot we'd been planning for ages. "Planning" has consisted of us linking cool pictures to each other and brainstorming random ideas, few of which actually made an appearance today, as following the same pattern with everything I do, no plans seem to work and everything is made up on the spot.

Fruit which was turned into fruit salad, and so much make-up that I'm certain my skin is going to be atrocious for days. Make-up remover is incredibly satisfying and several face scrubs later, I'm still a bit red.

I don't usually (okay, ever,) do straight picture posts; instead I disperse text in between chosen photos as I usually end up posting most, (only my favourites now that I've found out that I have a limit,) on my flickr, facebook, and queued on tumblr.

Which is strange; this is my blog and where I should be free to post exactly whatever I want without bothering people blah, blah.

Had the best seven hour skype session with my best friend Chris in America on Saturday. Ended up doing duets to Katy Perry and Lady Gaga covers. It's been over a year now and I'm pushing - defined by CHRISSSS GET A JOB SAVE MONEY - for a reunion come next Summer. Next year will be full of cute reunions. Ahh, i'm getting overexcited about leaving again.

But I don't feel bad about it now that I know I'm definitely leaving.

This is weird. I'm not typing in chronological order, I'm just spacing out text between photos. Whatever.

Bit of indecision and fickleness on my end over here; i'm beginning to justify everything with, "IT'S OKAY, I'M LEAVING SOON." I'm not feeling bad enough to feel guilty, but a little unsettled. This is my cryptic-vague blogging which makes sense to none other than me, but maybe one day I shall read back on this and laugh and pat myself on the back.

Either that or shake my head in shame.

Although I'm a bit of an inspiration-nerd when it comes to Photography - don't ask what's up with that phrase either. It just came into my head and I wrote it down. A practice maybe I should stop, - this was my first proper 'shoot' I guess. Even though it was mainly for fun (which it was.) And I didn't work in a total professional manner etc. but my favourite part of 'photography' is the post-processing anyway, (minus the bit where I'm agonizing sorting through photos because I look dumb and stupid in every single one of them.)

Asides from the bright, fruity photos, I also wanted to try a high-exposure, high-contrast black and white shoot. We splattered on some paint and drew hands but I only took a few. Tester shot, I suppose.

It's been too hot to leave the house recently and I haven't run in ages and I feel bad about that but actually, right now I don't care because it's just so hot. Yesterday was productivity spent reading Game of Thrones on my bed right next to my fan.

Tomorrow will probably be the same.