♡My Tattoo♡

Heya guys! So as promised this post is about my tattoo! I am writing this post a couple of days later then I would have liked as I got the tattoo on Wednesday but I am writing it today, Friday. I've just been so busy procrastinating, studying and sitting exams.

So I have been fascinated by tattoos for pretty much most of my life. I remember driving past a tattoo parlour when I was younger with my dad and being so intrigued by this building that had colourful art graffiti at the front so I asked him what it was. Once he explained to me what the place was and what a tattoo is I have been so interested by them. I remember when I was eight years old and visiting my family in England for six weeks over Christmas one of my Auntie's and my Uncle bought me a temporary tattoo set, but these once lasted longer than your everyday run-of-the-mill tattoos. I straight away picked out a large rose tattoo and put it on my cheek haha and it lasted the whole six weeks. I was so in love with it and would receive so many compliments on it as I walked around - it made me such a happy little girl!

Anyway, on to the real tattoo.

I have wanted a tattoo for a long time now and I came up with the idea of a lotus flower about a year and a half ago. My reasoning behind it was the fact that the lotus flower starts as a small flower down at the bottom of a pond in the mud, muck and murky water and it slowly grows up towards the waters surface continually moving towards the light. Once it come to the surface of the water the lotus flower begins to blossom and turn into a beautiful flower. A couple of years ago I was at a fairly dark point in my life that I was mostly internally struggling. Slowly and surely, I have managed to come out of that and be who I am today, so the lotus flower also represents the fact that I have gone through a fairly difficult time but have worked hard to turn that around.

Since the tattoo means quite a lot to me I wanted to design it myself because it is so special. This was the design that I went to the tattooist with:

I had been to this tattoo parlour once before with some of my friends when they were getting tattoos so I already knew that they were good, trustworthy, helpful, they are also really respected in the industry and super super nice and friendly.

I knew the design was too detailed for the size that I wanted so the tattooist helped simplify it so that it wouldn't become a big splodge of ink over time. He also suggested that we add some shading to keep it interesting.

The process actually didn't hurt as much as I thought it would, but I always imagine the worst. Before I got it done I would ask people what it felt like and not many people would know what to compare it to. Some people described it like scratching a sunburn and others said it was like a cat scratch but to me it was no where near as painful as both of those!

It literally felt like getting a sewing needle and scraping it hard along your skin. I got it on my upper back on the spine which I thought would  be the painful part but it was actually when it went near my left shoulder blade! This is because I have always had tension in that part of my back.

I actually have quite a high pain threshold and as masochistic as it sounds, I enjoy pain so personally speaking I would say that it hurt a six out of 10.

It looks a bit larger in these pictures than it actually is in real life, the flower is roughly the size of a credit card and this isn't including the dots. This is what it looked like straight after getting it done, as you can see it's a bit red: 

For the first four to five days I have to wash it twice a day, dry it with a clean towel and put bepanthen (an antispetic) cream on it after. For the first 14 days I can not let it get burnt, I have to keep it clean, can not pick the scab that might form before going away and can not swim. This works out fine because I will be England for most of those days rugged up as I leave for Europe in four and a bit days!!! Aaahh!

After getting my tattoo done I got my hair dyed a whiteish blonde so that's why my hair looks different in the photo below haha.

All in all, I am absolutely in love with the tattoo! It's just so pretty, suits my personality and I love the positioning. If you're considering getting a tattoo I recommend putting a lot of thought into it so that you're as happy with the result as I am.

Also, I am not sure when my next post will be because as I said earlier I am leaving for Europe soon and am going for five weeks. My next post will definitely be about my trip though

Lots of love,

xx

♡Sexism in Advertising♡

This post isn't as light-hearted as my other ones because today I am choosing to focus on the portrayal of women in advertising. Now I want to keep this post short and sweet to highlight the more important points and besides, when it comes to issues relating to gender/sexism I could go on for days, it makes me really passionate.

I'll be showing you a collection of recent sexist advertisements from different companies and please remember that these are not the only ones out there - if you think about it they are everywhere. Woman are also sexualised in movies, tv shows and other forms of media, not just in advertising. Many people think that sexism in the media is something of the past but that is simply not the case.

"Becoming a donor is probably your only chance to get inside her"

"You know you're not the first"

These are mainly American adverts but there has recently been an Australian ad that has caused controversy over here:

Masterchef, I assume, attempted to be as witty and on point as a Mad Men episode — but ended up failing miserably, as fans have taken to social media to voice their frustrations. There are of course varying opinions on whether this ad was sexist or not but in this day and age, when we are still fighting so hard for equality, it's not productive at all to be pitting men and women against each other.
It isn't just females that should be offended by this ad, as males are also reduced to silly, out-of-place archetypes as well. It may seem like a bit of harmless fun but this is exactly where all our problems stem from. Gender stereotyping keeps us thinking that 'girls are like this' and 'boys are like that'.

Donald Draper from Mad Men once explained that advertising is the stroking of the ego, sexism and patriarchy are rampant within our society, which advertising capitalises on.

This is just one example of how women are dehumanised and demoralised by society and it is our job as to consumers to stand up to these companies and to say enough is enough.

We need to stop responding to these advertisements the way companies want us to - we need to let them hear our anger, be it through email, mail, phone calls, social media etc. As consumers, we need to be aware of how companies view us, do we want to be purchasing from places that view women in this way? Do we want to be supporting them?Real reform needs to take place.
If none of the above has made you outraged yet, check out this Canadian video too:

And if you have the time, check out this Documentary film, Miss Representation, a film which, "exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media's limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself." It is definitely upsetting and angering but definitely worth watching.

Anyway, on a different note, I booked an appointment for a tattoo appointment for two days away! My next post will show you the before and after pictures and I will talk about the whole experience, so stay tuned!

xx

♡Music♡

Ok so as I mentioned in my previous post I have been feeling oddly inspired recently so I thought I'd take full advantage of that and knock out as many blog posts as possible!

Music plays a major part in helping me feel inspired and here are a few songs that have recently been helping to inspire me, in no particular order.

Sticky Fingers - Australia Street

Ok so here is an Australian band that started in Newtown, a suburb right next door to where I live so these are local boys. I absolutely love every one of their songs but I thought I'd limit it to just one of their songs and then if you guys like what you see then you can do some further research! Their music is absolutely beautiful and so so catchy. They are so talented and unique and definitely driven to pursue their passion.

The video is of Newtown, pretty much where I spend a lot of my spare time.

Vampire Weekend - Walcott

I'm sure many of you have heard of Vampire Weekend and so many of their songs are amazing but I have been listening to their older songs a lot recently. Also, Vampire Weekend are absolutely amazing live! If you ever get the opportunity you should go see them. They sound even more awe inspiring live than on CD/iTunes/whatever you use. This song has been on repeat a lot recently.

Skins - Wild World

Ok so one of my all time favourite TV shows is Skins, particularly Generation One. I think one of the all time best endings for a TV season was the end of Season One where they had some of the characters sing Wild World. I know this is an odd song to include in here as it isn't your typical song sung by an artist, with actors singing it instead, but I just love it, it's actually a really good version!

Grimes - Oblivion

I love Grimes. She is so wonderfully weird and wacky and just brilliant. I'm sure a few of you have heard of her before and for those of you who haven't you will soon be glad that now you have. Oblivion was one of the first songs of hers that I ever heard and it is so magical but I recently came across this version of hers which is amazing. It's a lot more raw and completely unedited. It will definitely take you to a completely different place.

Delta Spirit - Yamaha

If you're looking for something to take you to a mystic and divine plain where you feel as if you're dancing with whimsical and magical beings then this is the song to listen to. There is just something so ethereal and beautiful about this song that words just can't do justice so I advise you give it a listen.

Jeremih - F*ck You All The Time ft. Natasha Mosely

There is just something about this song I love - the whole beat and rhythm of it is just so easy to listen to. Although this song is different to the others I mentioned and the message behind the song is... somewhat questionable it's just such a good listen. Oh and before you start looking for an uncensored version, the censoring of the words is on purpose, it is an actual part of the song.

I think I might leave it there for now before I start getting carried away. Have a listen to them all and if you like what you hear feel free to let me know! One day I might compile another list of songs that I have been listening to. What songs have you guys been listening to?

xx

♡Asos Clothing Review♡

Hey guys, I'm feeling oddly inspired today, which I haven't felt for ages and I am loving it!

I went to an arts and design high school because I've always been particularly talented in those areas but after my last year of high school where I had to create an artwork that went by the education departments standards to get a good mark I haven't been inspired for a long time.

I hate the thought of art work having to fit certain criteria for it to be marked well... I hate the idea of an art work being marked full stop so I haven't been that quick to pick up a pencil or a paint brush but recently I have started to doodle.

My doodles are nothing special but I am slowly but surely working back to my creative space - a design for a tattoo has even come out of it! I plan on booking a tattoo appointment for next week and hopefully my next blog post will be about the tattoo with photos and what the experience was like.

Anyway, now to what this post is really about.

I recently ordered some clothing off asos but I'm never 100% satisfied with my purchases. Don't get me wrong, I love asos, but when it comes down to it I much prefer shopping in person because then I can get an actual feel for the product and am not surprised by anything.

So here is what I bought:

So, I absolutely love this dress, it contains all of my favourite colours and apparently has "Billie written all over it" as my friends and family have said once seeing me wear the dress. The only issue that I have with this dress is that in real life the colours are more vibrant and 'intense' for the lack of a better word, in person than any photo could capture. Every photo I tried to take of it somehow just didn't capture it's real colour.

It is also longer than expected, even when I took in the measurements. I still absolutely love it though.

Ok so, I have a couple denim jackets but they're really fitted and I have wanted a 'baggier' style jacket for a long time but this jacket is proof that I should pay more attention to a garments details before purchasing.

I still love the jacket but what I thought was 100% real denim when I took this out of the packaging I realised it wasn't and after looking back at the asos website it is "Made from a stretch-denim fabric " and the body is 75% Cotton, 24% Polyester, 1% Elastane.

That's a bit dissapointing but this jacket was in my price range and when I asked people whether it looked like a real denim jacket when I wore it they said it did, so then I decided not to tell them it wasn't haha.

Now this bikini top I am pretty much 100% satisfied with. The blue is a very complimentary colour on me as it suits my skin tone and hair colour. I don't have very big boobs and the curve of this bikini does help make it look otherwise. On the website it said it had "lightly padded cups" which were a lot more lightly padded then I was expecting but that is the only downside. I really love it.

This is the bikini bottom that I bought to wear with the bikini top and also other bikini tops that I have.

I really love mix and matching bikinis, I have never really been the one to wear a matching bikini set as I think mix and matching is more exciting, it also helps to compliment your body.

Now I am all for wearing whatever you want no matter your body type but personally I have always wanted a black bikini bottom because I am more 'bottom heavy' so wanted to wear something that was flattering, which the frills and the black are.

There were no hidden surprises with this bikini, it is exactly as I expected.

So that was just a small review on my products from asos and if you have any questions or comments please just leave a comment down below.

Also feel free to follow me on instagram, which is billie_sd and I will check your insta out

 

xx

♡Smoothies and Juices♡

Hi guys! I've recently visited the world of juicing again and so I thought I'd share with you guys some juice recipes that I love as well as some smoothie recipes that I love too! Here we go:

Smoothies

☆ The Energiser: ☆ 

Lime, Honey or Agave Nectar

Pear, Apple, Spinach

Ginger tea

~ This smoothie will really give you a mjor boost of energy and gives a delish flavour kick ~

☆ Hangover Hero: ☆ 

A little bit of Ginger

Almond Butter

Pomegranate juice

Banana

Ice

~ This helps hydrate, settle the stomach and also gives your body the energy it needs after a big night ~

☆ Sleep Inducer: ☆ 

Sesame Seeds

Almond Butter

Cherries, Banana

Almond Milk

~ If you drink this an hour before bed time you will be feeling sleepy in no time at all! ~

☆ The Relaxer: ☆ 

Banana

Nutmeg, Honey or Agave Nectar, Almonds

Soy Yoghurt

Chamomile Tea

~ This smoothie is perfect for when you're feeling stressed or even when you just want to relax. This tastes super indulgent and is very nutritious! ~

☆ Stomach Soother: ☆ 

Flaxseed

Ginger

Peaches, Papaya, Pear

Soy Yoghurt, Ice

~ This concoction will help with nausea, wind, bad breath and an upset stomach ~

☆ The Detoxer: ☆ 

Lemon Juice, Ginger

Apples, Pear

Carrot Juice, Beetroot Juice

~ This smoothie is a detox in a glass as it is packed with nutrients, antioxidants and immune system boosting ingredients ~

☆  Skin Smoother: ☆ 

Flaxseed

Avocado

Strawberries, Blueberries, Cherries

Soy Yoghurt, Ice

~ This is absolutely packed with skin smoothing nutrients to help you look after your bodies biggest organ ~

☆ Immune Booster: ☆ 

Almond

Rockmelon, Pineapple

Banana, Mango

Almond Milk

~ This here is full of vitamin C, beta carotene and zinc which all help boost the immune system ~

Juices

☆ The Cleanser: ☆ 

Lettuce, Cucumber

Apple, Banana

~ This tastes very fruity and helps cleanse out your system and helps with constipation ~

☆ The Magician: ☆ 

Turmeric

Apple, Orange, Carrot

~ To help your body simply radiate ~

☆ The Greenie: ☆ 

Lemon, Turmeric

Seasonal Greens, Celery, Cucumber

Apple

 ~ To help cleanse your blood ~

☆ Harmony: ☆ 

Lemon, Ginger

Seasonal Greens, Carrot, Celery

Apple, Beetroot

~ This helps cleanse the gland system as well as the liver ~

☆ The Refresher: ☆

Lettuce, Carrot

Strawberries, Watermelon

~ If you're looking for something refreshing and to give your system a kick start this is the one! ~

I know this post is more smoothie focused but I have experimented with my blender more than my juicer as my juicer has only just started working again. Please try these out yourselves and let me know how you go! Also experiment with your own creations and see how they work for you :)

xx