Picture Perfect

Some days, I am permanently attached to my beloved Instagram. A great way to upload what you're eating, drinking, doing and wearing, this nifty little photo app is pretty high on my list of loves. It would seem that I'm not the only one - with 200 million Instagram followers and 70% of these scanning their feed every single day. 

I read something the other day, analysing how much Instagram is used by Bloggers. I follow many of them myself, and their feeds are often filled with great days out, the hottest beauty products and delicious meals from trendy London restaurants. Sometimes it is difficult not to feel a little jealous when they're uploading selfies from Coachella festival or posting a picture of their new collection of lip crayons (ahh, press gifts). Still, while Instagram has become a great place for bragging about your latest gym trip and how great you look before a night out, it is imperative that we remember that this is merely an edit of our lives. 

Surely this is the point? When I look back at my Instagram pics, they tell a story of an edited version of my life. A heavily filtered selfie taken with my friends shows me how great I felt in that moment, a snap of a coffee cup reminds me how relaxed I was, a screen-shot of my latest 5k PB allows me to remember how great I can be when I push myself. Thankfully, no-one catches a snapshot of me running for the train in stupid shoes on a Monday morning, or cleaning the kitchen or comfort-eating macaroni cheese.  

In the same way that you might not include a polaroid in a photo album or leave off the details when telling your work pals about the dream holiday you just had (truth was, it rained all week), Instagram gives everyone an opportunity to highlight the good in their life. Yes, through rose-tinted spectacles (or whichever filter of your choosing) but still a great record of the travels you've made, nights you've enjoyed and delicious food you've consumed. These are the moments that shape my existence and make me smile- and I'm just happy they are being shared.

Birthday cake

Although it only Thursday, this week has been nicely busy one already and with the jubilee long weekend coming up as well as seeing Coldplay tomorrow, I'm having a really lovely time at the moment. Yesterday was my 22nd birthday so I had a rather self-indulgent day shopping, reading in Starbucks and then eating Chinese with my family.

As the weather has been hotting up, I am desperate for some summer clothes so I headed to old favourite New Look for some affordable pieces I could wear in the sun. I found these high-waisted shorts as part of Kelly Brook's new summer collection, comfortable as well as very flattering. As well as these, I managed to grab myself this fail-safe floral sundress (my wardrobe is full of them) and a swallow print tee which I'm sure will serve me well for the Isle of Wight festival this summer. The best bargain, however, was this lovely red lace dress which was cut down from £26 to £12. I cannot wait to team it with a pair of black heels, leather jacket and envelope clutch for a night out in Lancaster. All in all, I spent around £50 on these pieces- a bit of a bargain I think you'll agree!

After feeling all shopped out, I headed to Starbucks for a half-price Frappuccino and to continue reading Catching Fire (the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy which I am hooked on). After a lovely chinese meal with my family, we all headed home to watch The Apprentice. A very rock n' roll birthday, I know. As I'm not a big fan of birthday cake, my Dad had the sweet idea of purchasing some ice-cream instead. I've since opened the freezer to discover four whole tubs of Ben and Jerry's that I sense will probably last us for the next few months. I'll definitely have to be doing double sessions in the gym!

Of course, as well as a lovely day I got some equally lovely presents from friends and family. Pictured below are all the amazing gifts I got. I felt completely spoilt! Liam filled a gift bag with goodies, including DVDs, The Sex and the City box set, Eclectic Eccentricity jewelry and Vera Wang perfume as well as tickets to Coldplay and Matilda the musical and some money for driving lessons and buying new clothes (since my old clothes are getting too big for me now as well as a bit tatty.) My parents also gave me some money for new things as well as the lovely blue heart necklace in the photo.

All in all, it was a lovely day and very tame indeed- I seem to be all partied out nowadays. Proof I really am getting old.

(From L-R: DVD's of Sex and the city, The Help and One Day, EE Necklace (with meteorite attached to it!), EE seahorse earrings all from Liam, Accesorize diamante cherry necklace from Lauren, River Island gold tape measure necklace from Laura, Blue heart necklace from my parents, Green 'Do not publish' notebook from Rachel with Waterstones voucher, Tickets for Coldplay and Matilda the musical from Liam, Handmade bunting from Laura, My starbucks birthday treat to myself, Vera Wang perfume from Liam.)

The Sunday Review

This week has been nicely busy. Among job applications, gym sessions and driving lessons, I managed to slot in a job interview and a few extra bits here and there. This weekend has been wonderfully relaxing and consisted mainly of reading in the sunshine, watching Eurovision and ambling through town. Here is what I've been filling life with this week...

I have been wearing...My new favourite dress from Dorothy Perkins. I purchased this dress a few weeks ago after buying the leopard print version and loving it so much, I bought it in every colour and pattern available. This dress with a pair of Ray-Ban lookalikes and tan brogues combined with the glorious weather almost made me feel like I was swanning around the French Riviera. Well, a girl can dream. 

I have been listening to...Silenced by the night by Keane. Admittedly, I have always harboured a bit of a secret love for mainstream indie music. In my early teenage years, I was a big fan of Keane and was surprised to see them making a comeback this year- a little older and a little less miserable. This song is brilliantly catchy and emotional, if not a little predictable- rhyming the words 'light' and 'night', who would've thought it? 

I have been reading...Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. After reading The Hunger Games recently, I was eager to see if the rest of the trilogy was as good as the first book. I'm not usually one to buy in to these teen franchises (Don't even mention Twilight) but I have to say I am really impressed with the originality of these novels. So far, I am a quarter of the way through and finding it hard to put down. 

I have been lusting after...This lovely dress from Glamourous UK. With the weather hotting up as well as the fact that it is my birthday on Wednesday, I'm looking to nab myself a lovely summer dress. Glamorous UK was recommended to me by a friend and after checking out the website, I have been impressed. Hopefully I'll be ordering this beautiful little number very soon.  

Finally, here is my week in true Instagram blogger style.

Soaking up the sun, Catching Fire, 

Peppermint green nails, Frappucinno happy hour, 

Farringdon station, Starbucks and The Great Gatsby.

Follow me on Instagram @bexonfire