Just as long as you stand, stand by me.

they say jealousy is the greatest form of flattery.

but really.

its just laziness on their behalf.

Stylist.

Tomorrow (Monday) i start my month internship at Stylist magazine, whilst im rather quite excited and nervous, i am unsure of how much time i will have to blog, as i am continuing to work my part time retail work too! No rest for the wicked aye! So i may be a tad MIA for August, but i can assure you i will try and post here and there (hopefully).

what you need, you know i got it.

Thought of the day:

Wearing Glasses.

Last week as per usual i pick up my copy of Look magazine to read on my lunch break, casually flicking through there was a double page spread written by the editor Ali Hall on the subject of laser eye surgery. It was an interesting read about her before/after transformation with laser eye surgery, after reading on i came across the phrase which went along the lines of '..and who wants to spoil their bikini look wearing specs? It's not very Kelly Brook.' This article caused quite a stir on my Twitter feed and i think that phrase is a tad bizzarre. Normally, i couldn't give a toss about some one's opinion on body-weight/ skin/ hair styles, but i think this was pretty careless throw-away comment without any intention to offend, but it got me thinking.

I'm blind as a bat, yet i never wear my glasses. Not because i don't like them, i just haven't got used to them or needed to rely on them fully yet, but on the other hand i still wouldn't want to wear them constantly. Like Ali Hall, i am interested in laser eye surgery. My mum had the underwent the process and hasn't looked back (baha bad pun), practically transforming her life. I personally think that it's amazing, sure i think it's a bit creepy and gross, but for 10 minutes of weirdness - it is worth the perfect vision. As soon as my eye sight levels to a certain point, i will definitely seek this treatment out, regardless of the cost.

But for the mean time, i should definitely embrace wearing my glasses more, even if i look like an eight-eyed freak watched 3D films, i personally couldn't give a toss about swaning about on a beach like Kelly Brook!

What are your thoughts on glasses or Laser eye surgery? worth the hype or far too weird?

Work Experience at Loaded

This year is the year of interning, to date this is my (count's fingers) 4th work experience and it was by far the best. In September i'm progressing into my third final year of university, which is actually pretty scary yet very exciting, so this summer, after what seems like fifty thousand (no actual exaggeration) phone calls/ emails / letters later; i arrived at Loaded.

(here comes all the fancy magazine jargon)

Your first impressions of Loaded magazine maybe some what horrified, scantily clad girls and fast cars? No thanks. Think again, Loaded magazine was the cornerstone of the men's magazine, it featured the ever hip 90's lad - think blur and Brit pop. When the first issue of Loaded was published, by the brainchild genius James Brown, it didn't include many naked ladies, it catered for music, entertainment and a basically a downright good laugh. Roll on from 1994, the Loaded lad has moved on, bar the additional pages of (nearly) naked women, there are also pages dedicated to style, in-depth features and relationships. Not just straight up sex, but relationships and women. The Loaded lad aims for a stable relationship and wants to please his girlfriend, sure they will have a good nose at a half dressed 22 year old from Portsmouth, but the Loaded lad treats women with respect. In the office next to the large plastic penis and a rather dirty pirate flag, there hangs the Loaded Mission statement with final point being: We at Loaded respect women, and this is demonstrated throughout the whole editorial content.

I had no idea what to expect.

The Highlights of the Week

I turned up at the IPC towers on Monday morning feeling pretty nervous, i had already interned in the same building whilst at Hair so i knew my way around the large glass tower. And luckily, my friend Abby was interning at TV Times for the week too - just incase we needed emotional support in the ladies loos. After receiving my pass, i aimless wondered around NME, Nuts, Uncut offices (cringe) until i finally got there. The office is jumbled desks with atleast ten full time employees, ranging from the art desk, editorial and picture desk. My first impressions was how friendly the whole team were (all men may i add) they were all so down to earth and friendly. I was seated at my desk, which housed a half drunk bottle of cider and a book that had a knife comming out - i didn't ask.

Each morning there was a team meeting, which resulted in one guy ringing a bell, you know the ear-deafening church bells that they have for the playground in primary schools.. They would discuss what pages needed to be working on, what leads needed chasing up and various deadlines. After a couple of rude jokes later i was set to task by researching various features and jokes. I don't particularly want to go into detail about what content will be covered in the magazine, as this issue they were working on was the September issue, and who knows a sneaky journalist from FHM may read my post.. unlikely but still. Yet a regular feature was a jokes page, where i trawled the internet finding the most weirdest and funny jokes! Apparently i have quite a knack of finding rude jokes..

Another key job of mine throughout the week was researching various topics, whether that be facts and background for a feature, or random facts, trivia and background information needed for on celebrity interviews or even just searching for suitable feature stories. One story was based on a model from Bolivia who has recently become a politician, what a transformation aye! I was asked to research her, but trawling the net only provided me with the same old stuff. I asked the News editor what to do: 'have you tried calling her?'..'well, she lives in Bolivia'..'yes, so?' So after a major breakdown in panic and a very friendly chat with editor he gave me lots of tips on sussing out information and research - something i havent been able to put into practice at uni. Luckily, the research i already had was enough, so i was left to draft the copy needed (eee! - i'm excited to see where if it gets printed).

The Publisher (whose role is to deal with the business side of the magazine) asked me to create an advertising pitch for the magazine, which is odd because a) thats big responsibility to give to an intern whose been there three days which could potentially cost you an advertising contract (£££) and b) that's his job. So after the Editor, found out he promptly gave me a new task to work on a new feature. This will be along the lines of 'What women want, that men have,' and i was asked to come up with various ideas, this was so fun and it was even funnier to read the lad's list of what they want that women have - i can't wait to post it!

Overall my time at Loaded was the best experience i've had to date, even if it was only a week - to cut along story short:

- Two editors had long chats with me about where i want to go in life, what i should do after uni annd they both offered to be interviewed for my dissertation (RESULT).

- All the guys were so friendly and down to earth, i really felt like i fitted in and they were so approachable.

- I got to actually contribute to the magazine, where as i've only worked behind the scenes for other mags, i truly felt i was actively doing something - actually learning and improving my skills.

- And the best thing? They invited me back! And this time, they want to set up an interview, where i (yes me!) would get to interview some one - and i don't care if it's Lucy from Dorset and her double DD's!

Tomorrow, i will be delivering this little present - and some more chocolate goodness to the Loaded lads to say thank you for having me! Unfortunately i didn't know how to Fed Ex beer?

Thanks for reading, i hope you enjoyed this post and it wasn't too long, maybe i should do a post on a guide to Interning? I do have some more stories, but i'll save that for another post.

And a final point, i basically need to get a job at IPC when i finish uni basically because the canteen is like a restaurant and the women's magazines have monthly sales where they sell off beauty and hair bits for a £1! If thats not good enough reasons to work there, then i don't know! (I'll post what i managed to buy from the beauty sale in another post)

just a little note..

I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to read my little rambles.

It mean's quite alot to me - there's nothing i like better to do than sit down and have a good natter :)

Sarah x

photo taken from - we heart it

say what!

A few weeks ago i was emailed by a lovely lady called Emma, she works for a magazine produced for Graduate Fashion Week. Basically, GFW is young graduated designers one hot shot at being discovered and being fast-tracked to work at a fashion house. Between the 6-10th of June, the hottest young designers will showcase their best collections to critics and a number of head hunters scouting their next protege. With the likes of Stella Macartney and Julian MacDonald being 'found' here, with Giles Decon and Matthew Williamson dishing out awards, GFW is a important date for the fashion industry.

So, back to my exciting news. As part of GFW, there is an educational day set aside for budding fashion students interested in studying fashion at higher education. Emma's magazine Fashionista is a glossy giveaway for the students, giving them all the insider fashion tips and tricks they need to know about the industry - and i was asked to write a piece for the magazine! This is just a little bit -well MASSIVE- excitement for me! I have never had any work published before in print, this was an amazing opportunity presented to me so naturally i snapped it up! I wrote my article on blogging, and how this can really further your career in the fashion industry. Exciting!

Fashionista goes to print tomorrow, the the magazine can be viewed online too, so i'll definitely post a link so you can have a good read!

Another few girlies have also had their work printed- checking out their blogs is a must!:

- Sarah, my actual bff, at My Sentimental Heart

- Emma, a good blogging friend of mine, at Jersey and The Monkey

- Annabella, the very pretty lady, at A Girl Should Be Two Things, Classy and Fabulous.

champers on me! ;)

a long awaited introduction to me ♥

I love compiling lists, this list sums up everything you need to know about me.

- I sneeze like there's no tomorrow. They aren't lady like or dainty, they are hench full blown, scare the shit out of you sneezes. My friends and family have got used to the constant sneezing, but its hell if i'm in an exam or on public transport (nightmare when swine flu was announced).

- I adore 80's music. Duran Duran, Queen, T-Rex, you name it.

- I have been with my boy for nearly 7 years since, i am twenty years of age. We just never got around to splitting up.

(i joke)

- I was nominated for Head Girl at school, haven't got a clue why.

- Before i wanted to study publishing, i had originally planned to study acting - but i knew my heart wasn't in it.

- Im blunt and brutal, but i'll tell you the truth.

- My lucky number is 22, my boys birthday.

- I have never/will smoke, but i enjoy a good pint. Classy lady.

- I spend half my life on public transport, but i don't think thats a bad thing.

- I cannot cook or drive, i don't plan on changing this anytime soon.

- I'm disgustingly organised, painfully.

- I interrupt everyone, i just have too much to say.

- I have the best telephone voice ever.

- I'm blind as a bat.

- You will probably tell me all your secrets - but i like listening and giving advice.

- I smile at everyone, from passers by to people i know.

- One of favourite things to do is read, especially grisly, blood thirsty thriller novel. My back up plan in life, is becoming a CID.

- I detestes chocolate cake, chocolate ice-cream and brownies, weird i know.

- I eat out too much.

- Manners are priceless, use them.

The Times Fashion DEPT.

Here's a little post about my time spent interning at The Times, although it did happen a fair few weeks ago - i have literally only just had a free afternoon today. So if you weren't aware already, i managed to secure a weeks placement at The Times Fashion Department - and although this was a one hell of an opportunity, i was scared silly the night before. You just don't have any idea what the office will be like, are they Devil Wears Prada or just laid back office Kelly Cultrone style (aka The City)? If so, will they be dressed to the nines, in this seasons clothes, should i wear my Sunday best or keep it cool? Will they send me out for Starbuck's soy latte with a touch of cinnamon and a dash of espresso, or will they be a really down to earth and friendly, and actually remember my name?

Truth was, the four ladies at the Times were lovely - in-fact they were the friendliest people i've ever worked for. In the office, its pretty small with section signed off for the fashion department. Behind their desks, there is the biggest bookshelf i have ever seen filled with the latest season lookbooks, from Topshop to Lavin. Then the fashion department leads off the Closet. The Closet. I want to live in it. It's filled with all kinds of wonders and treasures. I was situated in the Closet (i will give it a capital C because i think it deserves it) with my own little desk and telephone, surrounded by a sea of shoes, make up and clothes. Throughout the day there were various deliveries to the office, which most of the time were the latest skincare and make-up, swoon.

A few parcels - i never had the guts to look in that Chanel bag.

My little desk.

The Closet - here were handpicked items ready to be taken away for a shoot in India the following week.

So this is my outfit of the day for Monday. And that's how long the Outfit photos of the day lasted.

A gorgeous pair of D&G Coral heels i a had to return.

So these sneaky little photos were taken on my iphone on my lunch break.

What did i get up to?

The job of an intern varies from magazine to magazine and also depending on how long you stay with that company. At Hair i was given more variety of jobs than at the Times, but still i was only there a week, and to teach a new intern new tricks every week is long process for them. I've found that interning is a complicated thing, if you are shy this is no place for you. Intuitive and confidence will help you succeed, thinking on your feet but with your head will score you brownie points.

One particular day, all the ladies were off out of the office at a shoot. I had been slowly working my way through a rail of returns; the PR companies send in various items to be used on shoot or sample, then they have to be sent back. This may seem easy, but with large eight to ten parcels a day being delivered a day, all the invoices have to kept and filed away. These documents are highly important as they detail what exactly has been sent in and by who, as i may be returning a pair of Prada heels to Selfridges rather than Prada's Head Office. Whether these invoices are filed away properly is another matter, very long process.

So any way, whilst packing way a range of Paul Smith suits used for a Freddie Flintoff shoot the previous week, a woman called from a PR agency demanding a very expensive necklace back. Crunch time, i had no idea what she was talking about and she sounded angry, angry at me, on my first day. After searching for it myself and a lot of phone calls back and forth, i finally sorted it by myself. Phew. I spent most of my time returning items, doesn't sound that interesting, but i actually enjoy organising and feeling like im actively achieving something. My skills learnt in retail helped majorly, i can fold men's shirts and trousers like a pro!

Another key moment from the week, was a pair of expensive leggings that had be sent back from a PR company, who demanded that they be dry-cleaned or paid for. After i and the other ladies, all peered around it was clear to see why. Some one had heavily spoiled (ew!) the leggings, very expensive pair of leggings. The confusing point was that the leggings hadn't been used on a shoot for a model to ruin and the only four women in the office wouldn't of touched them, so who spoiled them? My guess answer: a cheeky lady at the PR company who had secretly worn them, spoiled them and shifted the blame on the Times. Shame they weren't Prada leggings..

This week was definitely challenging, trying to work out how to send a courier across London for three belts needed a shoot was hard enough, but it was worth it. This was a great opportunity, and i learnt allot about the process of fashion in a very sophisticated fashion department.

Thank you to the little lady who helped me when i got lost, you actually saved my life. Oh, and never go to Tower Hill, theres nothing there. Zilch. I hope this proved a not too boring post ;)

AWOL

The last two weeks have been some what crazy, after my stint interning at The Times (eee!) i have been non-stop busy with my studies. Luckily, my course is exam free - thank the lord - but as part of an end of year project we have been busy creating a magazine in small teams.

This is extremely exciting, but a long process i tell you. Not only does the actual magazine have to be created, but also all the planning and business aspects. I never ever want to create another finance budget.. Although, all the hard work and stress is slowly paying off. My group have created a sample magazine called The London Mix, which we would propose to hand out across London for free (like Stylist and Shortlist) which is for both women and men. This is the exciting twist, one side of the magazine would be for women, then flip the magazine over and its a magazine for men! The magazine is aimed at people living in the city, a guide to all the hidden gems of London; as well as general lifestyle content such as fashion, news and features.

Over the past couple of weeks, i have been busy writing away articles for the men's editorial from fashion and grooming to travel and entertainment - quite fun actually, lots of practice writing. As soon as the magazine is printed, i will most definitely post a few scans so you can have a peak! Its a shame really that we can't produce it on a larger scale.

As well as that, i have a good few reports to catch up on and start typing away. So, although it may seem i have drifted off, no fear, i'll be back as soon as i can ;)