London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week

Hey Guys, it's Ronnie! My head has just grown so big this week, I can't fit through the blooming door. Reason why? I've been to London Fashion Week. TA-DA! Hope you're all proud of me.

 I was blessed of being asked to photograph at London Fashion Week. As part of Canon's 'Shoot The Show'. It was a huge chance to shoot for two big professional catwalk fashion shows. I photographed for OUTNET- an online store, and also a London fashion designer, Amanda Wakely. The huge event was on at Somerset House. At the event their was small pop up stores, runway, food and other bloggers that were all here for the same purpose- FASHION!
I felt so posh, strutting my stuff around London. Shaking it on down, me and my little starbucks. Oh Yeah!

As always I have struggled with what to wear. I borrowed one of my girlfriend's dresses. She got it from missguided.co.uk. It was a gorgeous blue dress. It was brand new and she didn't even wear it yet. And so ladies, if you want to borrow your mates dress, just throw in some puppy dog eyes, and bring her a bottle of vino and she will stroke your back.  Here is a little picture of me with my weird outfit. I wore a pink biker jacket from Riverisland, That borrowed blue dress, black biker boots and the a black bag too (not photographed).

SELFIE SELFIE SELFIE
(Photographed at 4am)

While their we also had a talk by the infamous Tony Wellington, a Fashion Photographer. He gave us a small insight into his chaotic and demanding world of being a fashion photographer. He didn't tell us about techniques, compositions or style but he told us in depth the personal side of meeting clients needs, blagging most of his shoots and the idea of "Not being a nice photographer".I thought his presentation gave an insight into what university really doesn't teach you in the course. Its a matter of getting out their and developing yourself as a character and then as a photographer. 

When photographing the catwalks, I didn't realise how fast paced and short the shows were. I had to find a great spot- preferable the middle of the pit. I wanted my photographs to be how I saw in the magazines. I wanted the models gazes to be starring almost straight into the lens. However, their were so many other photographers pursuing the same vision as me. It was a small battle to get the right view, my lens on peoples shoulders, bumping heads and being too close to comfort with strangers,random men's crotches on my booty, I didn't know where to look or to stand! Fashion Photography isn't as glamorous as you would think. Other photographers were swearing at each other, and shoving, the odd girls making rude remarks- It's a tough world.
Couldn't believe how many bitches were their though. I was outstanded by the amount of testosterone from these women! 

Technical Side- I worked in manual setting. It took a lot of thought as to what sort of settings I would need. The lights were dim. The models walked fast, and I had a long 200mm lens. I worked with ISO 800 f/s 4.5 and a shutter speed of 1/500.

I didn't get the chance to edit my images. In the real world, photographers would have to upload and send their images in less than 30-40 mins straight after the shoot to editors, magazines etc. This was the fastest selection of images I have ever worked with.

A Big Thank you to Canon.
Models were absolutely stunning and a pleasure to photograph and the clothes have won me over!



I hope you've enjoyed them!
Thank you 

xxx

 

Greetings.

Hi guys!

It's been a while hey? So since I haven't posted in so so long I thought I'd give you all a quick catch up .

I finished my first year of uni at the end of May! So I moved back home, and to the comfort of my mum and dad's house, where my pots were cleaned, pants were washed and makeup wipes picked up off the floor (such a bad daughter) And I thought to myself, what do I do with my Summer?

I thought of the endless possibilities: shopping, luxury days out, cocktails day and night. And then I remembered, I just spent the last of my student loan putting a deposit down on my new house. I needed a job.

Turns out I got one within a week of moving back to the bright lights of Leicester! I landed myself a bar job at the swanky Terrace Champagne and Cocktail bar in the city centre, so that's all well and good...£6.34 an hour for 14 hours a week. I was rolling in it, except there was one problem...I worked unsocial hours every Friday and Saturday. So goodbye social life!

However, it wasn't all doom and gloom...I was still able to go out, listen to music and have a drink at 3am whilst being paid to do so! Not too shabby at all, but there was a downside; I cannot stand overly drunk people #barstaffproblems sob sob sob.

It was soon July and results day, and typically the university website crashed meaning it took hours for me to find out my results (it's 2014, sort out your technology world!) When I was finally able to log on, I admit I wasn't happy with my results...I received a 2:1 which is brilliant! But I failed an essential module which meant I couldn't progress on to the second year without retaking a passing. Anyone that knows me knows how much I struggle with exams and the pressure they create, meaning that I inevitably do badly in them (proven in both my GCSE's and A-Levels) I had some work to do.

Fortunately for me, the exam was open book and could be done in my own time. So it took a weeks worth of sitting down and cracking on with it to do the best I could possibly do on this exam...and it worked! I achieved over 70% in both parts of the retake meaning a 1st! the downside, retakes are capped at 40%...bugger.

BUT I got back into uni and here I am now...sitting in my new house listening to Sigma's new one, you know...the one that features Paloma Faith..whilst a guy paints our kitchen.

The house was a struggle too (nothing ever goes swimmingly does it?) Typical student landlords, poo brown walls and mould. Luckily, I know people in law and we successfully scared seven shades of shit out of the landlord, and now our place is heavenly....for a student let in the middle of Stoke-on-Trent anyway.

I'm going on....
Speak soon,
E x

"Hearts will never be practical until they are made unbreakable." – Wizard of Oz

Hey Guys, Ronnie here,

So Today, It is Ellie and Joe's Three Year Anniversary...
Congratulations!

I've watched my best friend's relationship with Joe bloom over the years. I remember when they first started seeing each other! Of course, I had to do the best friend duty of the 'Seal of approval'.
When I first met Joe, he definitely met many of my expectations of what Ellie needed/wanted. But don't be fooled, I'm still waiting for him to tick certain boxes till he reaches the 10/10 approval, Even after three years. Mwu Ha Ha! 
I've always been envious of Ellie and her tight relationship with her boyfriend. They have been through the typical ups and downs. In my eyes, it has made them both even stronger than ever.

Give me some tips Ellie! *Bows Down*

For the viewers that are wondering about my own love life? Non-existent.
 I've always asked Ellie's advice at how she has kept her sparkle in the relationship. I think personally, God planted the good seed in her life.
For all of you single-tons out there, I feel your pain. For most of us modern day singles, we are awkwardly venturing onto the cyber dating world. The disasters of finding a decent profile pictures and the cringe worthy biographies. Yes! This picture shows I am constantly happy, Yes this photograph shows I have a social life. Yes this photograph really shows my extensive range of hobbies. I ask myself, Am I interesting?, Am I sexy? Am I cool? No Ronnie. Just try and be yourself.
To be honest most of the guys in the UK just message you for "Would you like some fun?",
Play Dumb Girls and delete!
So as I am writing this blog out, Listening to Taylor Swift album, hairbrush in my hand and wearing my biggest pants I could find. It's hard to cheer yourself up. Waiting all night for a blooming miracle. It's hard to be content in yourself when you feel something is missing.

Nostalgia always kicks in. I think I've only been in love once. I met him when I just turned eighteen years old. I was in the the most popular nightclub in my city. I looked across the room, I caught him starring at me. I was wearing this fabulous orange beach dress, with some gold strappy heels. At the time I thought I had a wardrobe malfunction, my makeup wasn't incredible, but he seemed to think different!  I didn't think much of him at the time. Eventually he tracked me down on Facebook. On our first date, we blossomed into something more than what I ever expected. Unfortunately after over an incredible year and a half, he fell out of love.
It's sad to say "Honey, this is life!", but girls you have got to pick yourselves back up and keep moving. These key moments in our lives result in creating ourselves as better people. We need experiences, relationships to understand. People come and go out of our lives. I hold no grudges anymore, Just more love.

To finish off, the best advice Ellie has given me about love is...

"Don't search for it."  


Thank you Readers xxx

Kasabian Summer Solstice

Hey everyone! 

Sorry I haven't been blogging much, I've just been so busy with my new job, university summer homework etc. So, on the 21st of July I attended a much needed mini- festival. Kasabian, for the first time ever played in our home town, Leicester. I've been waiting for almost ten years for this to actually happen, and they didn't disappoint. Actually that was a lie... I was too fucking drunk to remember. I couldn't even hear the music but I was dancing- badly. I'm not much of puller, but I pulled too. Unfortunately, he never called back-Awkward... I'm not naming and shaming readers!

So back to the topic at hand...
This was actually my first mini music festival and I was stuck on what to wear and also strapped for cash. I pulled my wardrobe doors back- gazed along the long lines of history of memories... that dress I wore to my first house party... Christmas in that top... those jeans my dog peed on... Hmmm. I wanted to look bright, colourful and to stand out from the crowd.
I mixed up my little concoction from clothes I already had. I followed on trends the colour blocks and clashes.
I wore a purple chiffon skirt from River Island from a couple years back, I paired this up with a Yellow crop top from Topshop, and my White Dr Martens. I didn't know what accessories to wear but I thought stick with the bright colour theme. I got a flowered headband from Claire's Accessories, and a Blue Tassel bag from River Island to create a bright, bold, festival fevered look. It just goes to show that you don't need to keep buying, have a rummage girls and bash it all together!


Ronnie

xoxoxo

Ruby.

Today is my mum and dad's Ruby wedding anniversary, and if you're not familiar with years connected to precious stones and metals...they've been married 40 years. 

I've grown up in a generation where sadly, a lot of people my age live in single/divorced parent families, so I consider myself to be incredibly lucky to have both of my parents still together. 

I've been with my other half for three years and that feels like such a long time, but forty years is a whole lot longer, it's beautiful that two people can still love each other as much as the day they met. 

My parent's were my age when they married, twenty years old. I can't imagine being married at this age. 

My parents are the perfect example of true love. They show you don't need to always hold hands in public or kiss hello or goodbye. The love is there for everyone to see with a simple look or smile. It has become clear to me over the past week just how much they adore each other. 

On Monday, my dad was admitted to A&E (for reasons I won't go in to) and as I arrived at the bay he was in, I could see the look of pure fear in my mum as she struggled to realise that her husband was sat there. Tears in her eyes, blotchy red chest and no smile, all my dad had to do was just smile or wink at her and you could see the fear weaken inside her. 

My sister Kelly and I struggled to come up with ideas of what we could get them to celebrate today, that was until I was speaking with my mum and she sadly said 'I won't get a cake for my anniversary' and there it was, the idea. We were left a little broke after buying the cake and I was left tired after sneaking around trying to transport the cake to my gran's house to home without my mum knowing what I was doing, and only a provisional driving licence in my purse. 

40 years, 14 609,688 days and still going strong. 

I love you mum and dad. 

E x 

Travel bucks.

As I arrived home from university for the summer, I had one thing floating around in my mind..'how do I survive off £25 a month?' 

I can't. It's impossible. 

Being the 20 year old, bus travelling, pauper student, £4.20 day pass person I am it's impossible to make £25 stretch over seven days. 

With the rugby season over, I was left without a job. Without a job and without eye candy rugby players. As you would have seen from Ronnie's previous post, we are planning on travelling the world. 2017 is our year. But saving money from such little a weekly budget is proving difficult. 

But alas! After applying for copious job applications I found myself once again employed...Ellie is once again 'Ellie- queen of the bar' 

As happy as I am, I'm still not 100% sure I can make this happen when I pay £65 a week rent plus bills, tv licence, wifi and food shopping. 

I guess I could become 'Ellie- dog walking extraordinaire' or 'Ellie- princess of the car boot' 

It will happen, it will happen. 

E x

Soon To Be Globe Trotters

This week, Ellie and I delved into our minds on what we could do with ourselves. Of course, It's always been the most unreasonable and most expensive option, give or take the Mc Donald's infamous toffee sundae. As we soaked up the sun in a 03 Plate Ford Ka, contemplating how to make our lives that more purposeful and important, well we decided...

I've always been a big traveler. I love embarking on the unknown, preferably some where hot with a glass of wine. I turned to Ellie with a huge smile on my face, "Let's go travelling!" I shouted.
Myself and Ellie went to Greece one summer for a week. A small, quaint island called Kefalonia. I knew we could handle each others' company for maybe even 3 months! Great. I have my best friend, the sunshine, and oh wait... pittance.
Our minds pondered the imaginary blue oceans, the impeccable beaches, and our own fond thought of us with fabulous golden tans. *Burst Bubble* Wait... One problem- Money.
Back to reality, we both worked out the costs of a package deal to go travelling, estimation of around 2k-3k each...

Question... Where are we going to find this money?

So Ellie and I have decided to set a realistic goal. We need to save the money, cut down on silly shopping and expensive nights out. We have also started to planning to create paintings, selling our unwanted goods at car boots and also sacrificing some of our own social time. I think this will be worth it!

2017 Here we come!

Thought field.

So I've been thinking, 

Have you ever just sat there and thought about why things happen? Or what's to come in your future? I have and I can't seem to stop. 

Throughout my high school years I went through a year of surgery, travelling back and forth to London every single week to have two silicone balloons filled with water in order to stretch the skin in my shoulder to remove a birthmark that covered my shoulder and neck for the majority of my life. Whilst being the 12 year old English Hunchback of Notre Dam, I lost who I thought were my friends and was exposed to severe bullying. I did not want to go to school. 

Just before my GCSE's I was involved with individuals from Peterborough who later on made my life hell for 9 months, calling, texting, emailing me telling me what's wrong with me. Fat, ugly, worthless, stupid. I couldn't face leaving the house, I didn't like anyone. I hated everyone. I did not want to go to school. 

I went to a new school, after failing most of my GCSE's. I studied two BTEC courses "stupid people courses". I started seeing a councillor every week for my mental issues and was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and mania. I couldn't see the fun in anything. I did not want to go to school. 

I now go to university, I wake up every morning with a smile on my face knowing that the people throughout my schooling life have either stuck by me or have had the decency to leave. I do want to go to school. 

To Ronnie, 

You are my rock. I love you in many ways even if you are a pain in the bum. No matter how much we annoy each other I know it's always sorted two hours later. You took me on my very first night out when I was sixteen and cleaned my sick out of a taxi when I was nineteen. I'm twenty next week, brace yourself. 

To Chloe, 

I've told you things I've never told anyone and you've never broke my trust and stuck by my side no matter how many stupid things I've done. My partner in costa crime, always. 

To Laura, 

9 years and still going. What more do I need to say? Thank you for all the McDonald's breakfasts. 

To Zeedee, 

My little Stokie princess. It's amazing to think I've made a friend for life just from uni. I remember listening to your laugh in a lift and thinking 'she needs to be my mate' 

To Hannah, 

I've lived with you for the past 10 months and you don't hate me yet, so I must be doing something right? Brummie. 

To Jodie, Gemma and Hayley, 

My older and definitely wiser mother hens. We were forced into friendship by our partners' love for each other but I wouldn't have it any other way. And you like cocktails as much as me so it's cool. 

And finally, Joseph, 

You're not only my boyfriend but my best friend. Even though we are both mardy, we know the love is there and I couldn't ask for anything more. You're my bear. 

I apologise for the depressing post, but I just had a moment. 

E x 

Juju love.

Today I did something I thought I'd never do...

Gave in to Jelly shoes. 

Remember those shoes you had when you were a kid that gave you blisters from hell and really sweaty feet? Yeah those. 

         £20, £18 w/ student discount. 

I got these from Schuh (when I was supposed to be moving back home for the summer) I said to myself if they don't have my size, it's fate and I shouldn't get them. They didn't have my size....

So I got them a size smaller! And in some bizarre Cinderella moment, they fit like a glove and it was love at first sight. 

The moral of the story is...

There isn't one, I just like shoes. 

E x 

All White

Hey fellow bloggers,
It's Ronnie,
So this week I've just been super naughty... So as you all know I've been applying for jobs around my city. And well it's not been going very well.
Story of my life, I'm strutting my stuff into Tommy Hilfiger and I'm talking to the manager trying to sell myself... And then I see the most amazing white shirt! I've been looking for a simple shirt and now I've found it. Yay me!

Take a look


It was on sale from £70 and was reduced to £35. Bargain!

Update!

Today I collected my new phone! 

I knew I couldn't part with Apple, so another iPhone it had to be. Due to my lack of pennies, I went for the cheaper option...the 5c in yellow. (So summery!) 

So here, have my first selfie taken on the phone. (In the bath) 

E x

Dumb and Dumber

R.I.P
2011-2014
Pink Juicy Couture Bag

You was my best friend, my accessory and most of all a fashion statement...

So I've done the most stupidest thing today... I washed my Pink Juicy couture bag. I put it in the washing machine because it had oil and other marks on the fabric.
My eyes just glimmering with hope as it span round and round and round. It comes out the washing machine, I'm so excited to think I've revamped the pink, but Oh no... It's F******!
So the leather trimming is blue... its leaked onto the fabric. I honestly give up.

A big round of applause for me!

So my readers... don't wash your handbags. You will  live a happy life forever avoiding such a stupid thing to do.
Seriously? how much worse can this week get? And it's not even began.  

Easter spending.

These past two weeks, I've been at home during the Easter break. Clocking up 25 hours of work and earning just shy of £140 from doing so, I decided there was only one thing to do...

Blow it! 

    White leather Slip on Vans, £55.99. 

Great pair of shoes for all four seasons!      Can be worn with jeans or leggings and a summery dress and frilly socks! I chose to spend the extra £10 on the leather rather than canvas for obvious reasons. The material is a lot more durable for the winter months i.e. Rain! Also, the material is easier to clean! Give them a quick wipe and back to new. I used to wear vans years and years ago, so definitely a must have! 

Estée Lauder Double wear       foundation in 'Cool Bone', £28. 

I usually would never spend this much lonely on a single item of makeup but for one time I've made an exception. Over the next year there are events that make this foundation a necessity! (I'm a bridesmaid being one event) I haven't yet wore the foundation, but after having a professional skin test in Debenhams, I know it's for me! I'll be reporting back soon! 

Estée Lauder Double wear concealer and gloss duo, free gift. 

With the purchase of the Double wear foundation, I was given this as a free gift! Needless to say I was a very happy lady! Again, I haven't tried the product on my face but I'm so very excited to do so! 

MAC Pressed Pigment Eye shadow, 'Blonde Streak' £17. 

MAC Satin Lipstick, 'Snob' £15. 

I've heard so many reviews on MAC eyeshadow, all good! The reviews were correct, it's gorgeous! So easy to apply, and it doesn't take a lot to cover the entire lid. I've wanted a natural base colour with a hint of glam for a while and I've finally found it. 

Again, hearing so many good things about MAC's range of lip wear made me think 'how can I resist?' My friend Zeedee was bought this shade for her birthday and it has become her best friend so I thought I'd follow suit! The colour is pastel pink, perfect for the day as a splash of colour to a natural look and even better for nightwear paired with the Pressed Pigment shadow collection and khol eyes! 

   River Island statement earrings, £4. 

I'm 20 in little over a month and I've only just plucked up the courage to have my ears pierced (bearing in mind I've sat through a 2 1/2 hour tattoo) They're healed now and I'm obsessed with buying earrings, including the necessity- hoops. With me, I've found hoops have to be big and in your face. Any smaller and I look like a chavette. Hopefully I don't rip them out of my ears due to relentlessly playing with my hair. 

   New Look 'Re.Born' bracelet, £4.99. 

I'm going to a wedding on Saturday and I've been trying to very hard to find plain gold effect, chunky bangles. After looking at Topshop and River Island, I decided paying £18 for a bracelet was too much, so I went to Primark: another mistake. £2 was just as bad and would undoubtedly leave me a green-wristed monster. New look was my savour- cheap and cheerful, but also expensive looking and non-tacky. Cheers! *raises hand and jingles from new bracelet* 

               Kimono, Next, £28. 

Ask any of my friends, I'm obsessed with kimonos! I just find them so versatile, you can wear them with literally anything! I chose this for a wedding I'm going to on Saturday to add some colour to the apparently 'controversial' white dress I'm wearing. The material feels so expensive, Ted Baker almost, and such a bargain! I usually find it difficult finding things in Next as a lot of their stock isn't to my taste, but this was a pleasant surprise. Well done Next! 

     River Island, children's range, £15. 

I've been searching for a pastel bag for (again) a wedding on Saturday and I've been incredibly unlucky! That was until my mum decided on looking in the children's section at River Island. This bag is the perfect size (clutch size) so it's able to stay on the table whilst at the wedding breakfast and easy to dance with! The colours are perfectly pretty too and so summery! 

Platform peep toe heel, River Island, originally £50. 

I'm not a heel girl, every one knows I struggle to walk in them. However, these are so easy! Ronnie tells me the platform helps, and again she's right! The colour is so pretty and perfect! I managed to get £10 knocked off the original price as the shoes were marked (only a little tehe) it just goes to show I'm a good at bartering! I definitely saved the best until last here. 

So there we have it! Now as I travel back to uni I realise just how broke I am...but it's for a good cause. 

E x 

Those dream jobs...

Hey Guys, It's Ronnie

So I've been applying for some jobs this week. I've always wanted the dream job of just working in some fancy pants store. You know the ones like... Gucci, Louis V or even Prada! Well let's face it guys I'm only thinking of those fabulous discounts... 

In my city we don't really have any shops like that but I'm aiming for the top e.g Topshop.
Right now I'm kinda feeling like Elle Woods. I want to be such a clothes snob! I want to be like "daym look at my outfit", "You can't shop here", "Oh hey look at my fabulous discount", And the remarks of,"Honey that was so last season!"
So anyway, I hope I do get a job. This course is rinsing my piggy bank big time!

Wish me luck! 

Countryside chic.

On Monday, Ronnie and I went deep into the Leicestershire countryside to partake in an old British tradition, barrel rolling. 

Mud, blood, sweat, alcohol and a golf cart ambulance. Or in our case, a whole lot of fun and an excuse to drink low alcohol beer and eat cheap (but over-priced) burgers. 

As well as climbing under barbed wire and the fear of splitting our leggings on high fences, we had to endure around 6 miles of walking and fearfully being chased by a barrel and a scrum made up of around 50 burly blokes. 

The low-light of my day was the lack of loos. Being from the city, I'm used to the luxury of a toilet and expensive M&S toilet roll. This not being accessible in the middle of a field, a bush had to suffice. As well as being shelided by random country-folk, I managed to pee on my wellies and take a stinging nettle to my bottom; resorting to publicly rubbing it with a dock leaf. Whilst I was left red-faced by the experience, Ronnie was grabbing the opportunity with both hands and even forgot to pull her pants up after. I guess the country girl in her let her do it. 

This photo just proves that you can still look fabulous covered in wee-stained wellies and sweat. 

E x

A woman of strength.

 

 

Cleaning the house, walking the dog and drinking strawberry based cocktails in a Hawaiian bar. All typical things a 32 year old woman does in her day to day life, the things Jodie Johnson does. But last year, Jodie was given the diagnosis to change her life in more ways than she could imagine.

Just under a year ago, Jodie from Wigston in Leicestershirewas admitted to hospital with suspected DVT (deep vein thrombosis) in her groin after experiencing pain in her groin and stomach, but the prediction couldn’t be further from the truth. The reality of the diagnosis was far more hard-hitting, the word no-one wants to hear. Cancer.

“My oncologist literally sat there and said ‘Miss Johnson you have three months to live if you choose to do nothing but if you try this new trial of chemo, which is very aggressive and may make you very poorly, you may have a maximum of 3-5 years’.”

Jodie was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma of her main artery and liver in April 2013, an incredibly rare form of cancer where traditional chemotherapy has been proven non-effective.

“He then sat there looking at me, expecting me to run for the injection and get started there and then. Jaw- floor, world- gone.”

When asking a person how they feel about being diagnosed with such a serious illness, you expect negativity and emotion. However, Jodie brings a smile and the truth. No sugar-coating.

“I felt like my whole life was over” she said “If you imagine the worst thing that could happen to you-just as your average Joe- then times that by one million, that’s the feeling.

“I was very clever at hiding it. I had a cry at the hospital then pulled myself together and told everyone. Firmly to the point, job done.”

The worst feeling she fears in the present day is hypochondria, a headache brings worry that the cancer has spread to her brain and a sore tummy, the same fear. Although Jodie says this is probably just wind.

“I’d love to say that it’s changed my life and I now see the beauty in everything blah blah blah. But generally, I think the people that say that are kidding themselves into wanting change. I still wash up every night, I still hoover after the dog every day, go to work, make the bed and do washing.”

As a previously self-confessed ‘judgemental cow’ Jodie feels her attitude is the same, however she is a lot more understanding of people’s woes.

“I’m slightly impatient with people who won’t open their minds to the possibility that the cancer doesn’t have to be treated the way the doctor tells you.”

After hearing about a woman with the same illness who had been receiving a new treatment for the past ten years but is still healthy, Jodie wanted to know more. After researching the treatment, she had made up her mind. Traditional chemotherapy wasn’t her style.

The treatment Jodie is currently receiving in Germany, knownas TACE (trans-arterial chemoembolization) is where a very thin wire is inserted into the main artery into the groin and then directly to the tumour, small beads are left behind stopping the chemo from coming out. Chemo is then pumped into the middle of the tumour, killing it inside out.

“Traditional isn’t always best. There’s less side effects, I’m not bald, painful for a few days but generally in good health after.”

Having to deal with such a serious illness is bound to have an effect on a person’s relationship with friends and family, sometimes good and sometimes bad. Living in Leicester with partner of two years Gareth and having her family close by is a great comfort to Jodie to have so many loved ones around.

“I’ve seen who my friends are. Some have stepped up and made efforts beyond what I could ever expect, some have ran away.”

Jodie has always had an incredibly close relationship with her family, but she admits the relationship is slightly different now. She says her father didn’t cope well at first but is slowly coming around.

                                                                                                              “I sometimes feel like they are waiting for bad news but praying for good. I talk to my sisters a lot and do things with their kids and just smile.

“Then there’s Gareth, my rock. He’s stepped up in a way I never thought he even could. I’m so thankful I have the love, the support and the health to carry on.”

Being with Gareth, 31, has made Jodie realise just how much he means to her during this difficult time.

“I couldn’t be half as strong in all this without him pushing me uphill.”

Jodie often jokes about her cancer, about dying, and tries to make sure she does things that make her happy rather than others. She thankfully doesn’t have the luxury of having people around her to make her feel low and admits that if she steps out of line, receives a ‘good dose of get over it’.

“Daily, I try to spread the word about my cancer as it is so rare. I’ve joined a group that I can vent any anger and frustration on and I just try to get through most days thankful I’m still here.”

Last year Jodie went to Disneyland with partner Gareth. With the biggest of smiles on her face, she says how it was the most magical place in the world and the way it made you feel like you could live there forever and never get bored. How life for two weeks was perfect.

“Gareth and I had an experience we may never get again. A chance to be us, for two weeks we messed around, ate too much crap and laughed harder than we thought we could.

“Cancer wasn’t in the way, day to day life wasn’t in the way and life revolved around what vest to wear, what sun factor we needed and which gross lunch we’ll eat there.”

When asked to give one piece of information to people suffering with the same illness, she says that now is the time to fully enjoy what you can and as hard as it is, try not to worry.

“Join a support group, it’s invaluable for your sanity even if you think you don’t need it.”

Jodie has proven to herself and others just how strong she is and that this illness isn’t just about negativity, you can still drink over-priced cocktails and look beautiful whilst doing it.

“Doing what’s right for you and having a really strong mind-set to beat the bugger is sometimes half the battle.”

Jodie is a part of Sarcoma UK and JJ’s Sunshine Fund, donations welcome.

Ellie Pratt. 

A little hearty inspiration.

This is Ronnie here…

So I'm kind of at my wits end with this course, but sometimes it's always nice to just re-visit a photographer to place your mind and heart back into the subject.

I've always felt Sally Mann was the heart of me wanting to become such a conceptual photographer. I kind of based one of my series 'Heart Attack' on her works of 'Body Farm'.

The photograph at the above is one of my own photographs from the series, Heart Attack, 'Untitled' 2013. I've always visualised something living to be something on the edge. This photograph reminds me I need to keep going. I'm a living breathing human form, and I know I have the heart to carry on. This series was based originally on my Uncle, a Father figure, this invincible creature having a heart attack. I chose a lamb's heart, something so fragile to photograph, the clinical wrapped hands finding this organ amongst the bushes. My Uncle has been like a father to me since day One, He is an incredible role model and has kept pushing through to his own dream. This photograph is the reminder that I must continue.

And so relating back to Sally Mann's 'Body Farm' a controversial piece, how brave a photographer she is pursing her career. Critics have slated her work to pieces but she is another inspiration that I must keep going. We are only human, and we only have one chance to do what we want to do!

Thanks for reading Guys!

Bags, bags, bags.

Ronnie says:

Mini Double Handbag £20

Topshop

Pink to make the boys wink!

Snake Coin Bag £20

Topshop

All white at the show.

Topshop, top shoes cont.

Ronnie says:

Another purchase I got from the Topshop sale was these Sharp Slick Pointy Heels for £20!

I brought these because of the the studded detail which gave these a rock star edge. 

I would pair these with some ragged Mom Jeans and a tucked in sleeveless green shirt and a Kimono! 

Girls let’s start saving!