Strawberry-Blonde Confirmed

So, I grew up being told all the time that my hair colour was strawberry-blonde, not thinking anything else to it and then secondary school came around and I was told that strawberry-blonde wasn't a 'real' colour, it was just a 'cover up' for a red head or ginger, whatever you want to call it.

Taunting commenced from some sad individuals and I felt so self-conscious and down that I had my hair coloured blonde for the first time in Year 9 (think I was 14).

18/19 years old

This continued until about, maybe, a year or two ago (6-7 years straight!), with a slight change in colour here and there (red underneath, electric blue all over and then, lastly, brunette).

It wasn't until the money became an issue due to finishing uni and having only a part time waitressing job that I stopped having my hair done - which I was initially distraught about. Having my hair done was what had given me some more confidence over the past years.

And now, I've been thinking about having it coloured again recently, as it has pretty much grown back to it's original shade. I had every intention of talking to my hairdresser about seeing a colour chart during yesterday's appointment, but you know what?

I looked in the mirror before I left for my appointment and I actually liked the colour I saw. From the years and years worth of blonde on top, my ends look a lot lighter, which is nice, but overall, I kind of, really like it. Weird.

I asked my hairdresser yesterday what colour he thought my hair was there and then and he initially said blonde, which took me aback. I then proceeded to ask him if strawberry-blonde was a real colour and that I'd had people say that that's what mine was but also that I'd heard it wasn't even a real colour. I also told him I'd had auburn been assigned to my colouring as well.

He instantly disagreed with the auburn saying my hair wasn't dark enough but agreed that it was, indeed, strawberry-blonde, a blonde that has warm tones to it, not necessarily red.

So there you have it, strawberry-blonde is a real colour and I am finally at peace with it.

✌

What I'm Loving Right Now

As I'm writing this, I'm sat here with a mountain of scrunched up tissues, sniffling away with a red-raw nose. You gotta love having the flu, right?

So I thought this would be the perfect opportunity for a little pick-me-up in the form of What I'm Loving Right Now.

1) Converse - my sister bought me this glowing pair for Christmas (they're almost as white as my pale, pale legs... I joke, sort of...). Because they're white I've been putting off wearing them for fear of getting them dirty. I know they're going to get dirty eventually but with it still being winter with rain and squelchy mud everywhere I'd rather not take the chance. But I did wear them for the first time a few days ago, and I love them.

2) Pretty Little Liars - my new obsession. I've been meaning to start something new for ages and just couldn't decide, so settled for One Tree Hill, again. PLL was recommended to me ages ago by a close friend and I'm happy to say I have finally started it! Well, when I say started I mean I'm already 17 episodes in. In four days... Whoops. To be fair, I have been pretty much bed-bound since Saturday. Thank God for Netflix, ey?

3) Goodreads Challenge - after setting myself the challenge to read 30 books this year, I've definitely been pushing myself to read a bit more in my spare time. Yanno, when I get a spare second from trying to figure out who A is (God damn Pretty Little Liars). It's going well though with me just finishing my third book so far. Currently reading The Lost World, review on Jurassic Park to come soon!

4) March - with the arrival of a new month, many good things are on the horizon. I turn 22 in 2 weeks, Adeel turns 22 a few more weeks after me, we have a few days out and weekends away planned and Spring is on its way with lighter evenings and more sunshine! The sunsets from the office are absolutely stunning at the moment. I have to refrain from taking a snap every time.

5) Work - who would have thought I'd be one of those people to enjoy a nine-to-five office job? But I do, I really really do. It's probably because of what I do though. I can't see myself being so in love with any other office job if it wasn't for the fact that it's in publishing.

6) Donating to charity/having a clear out - although I've read that you're supposed to go through with a clear out all in one go; I've found myself doing it slowly, parting with my items a few at a time to ease the adjustment. The fact that I'm donating them to charity feels pretty great too. I realise I moan about not having enough clothes a lot, when I should be thankful that I have those clothes at all. I'm also thinking about donating my textbooks from Uni, I just don't know who/where would take them.

7) Creativity - now that Celebrity Big Brother isn't occupying all of my evenings, I vowed to myself that I would do something I love instead. Whether that be scrapbooks, writing, editing, reading, colouring, or just taking a quiet moment to reflect or chat with my boyfriend on the phone - anything to spur on my creativity again.

P.S. Check this beauty of a view out from the office!

☽