My Week through Vsco #2

This week has all been about work, food and more work. Haven't really switched off this week and questioning many of my life choices, including this blog. On monday my housemate and I took some images for the blog (all on my little baby, the Canon 60D), focusing mostly on jumpers due to the Autumn Season so expect many outfit posts featuring jumpers in the upcoming weeks. We took a break and had a lovely meal at the Millenium Centre, Cardiff. I opted for the tuna wrap while Kat chose the guacamole wrap with sour cream on the side whilst devouring some houmos and pita too. I stuck with the usual beverage - a coke while Kat decided to take a walk on the wild side and chose Jamaican Hot Chocolate which includes a tiny bit of rum. An excellent and productive day all round. Wednesday came with a nice surprise - a little gift from my partner. He bought me a art book on how to draw manga and it's AMAZING!!! Incredibly detailed, it covers everything; from what the inside on the earlobe should look like and how to sell your work. It also has a chapter dedicated to how to use different mediums to create your manga art. I haven't drawn any this week because of work and the blog but hopefully next week I'll have new sketches to show you.
Thursday the parents came down and I was incredibly happy so see them. Why? Well the rents coming down means a lovely lunch, not my usual chicken and broccoli. We ventured to this tiny little cafe called 'Truffles' and it was glorious! I chose the brunch breakfast which included sausage, bacon, chips, egg and beans with two pieces of bread and butter. I devoured that meal and enjoyed every mouthful! We then decided to stroll through the Cardiff shopping arcades. It was refreshing to shop in unique little shops rather than the usual big brand stores on the high street. Found a gorgeous interior store selling cute trinkets and christmas decorations (yes, most shops in Cardiff have their christmas decorations, personally I think we should get Halloween and Guy Fawkes over and done with first). I only buy fir my parents and my friend Jenni only because the last time I bought for everyone (say 12 people) only three of them got their gifts. I either didn't see the other people or I ate their gifts, so lesson learned only Jenni and the rents, however this year I will have to buy for Dan so this shopping trip gave me great inspiration!!
Gym wise I've gone 4 times this week which I'm very proud of. Usually I do 45 min on the cross-trainer and then my sit-ups, but this week I'v tried to cover every stomach muscle and slowly starting to do squats and deadlifts again.
Next week will be a lot more fun and adventurous!! I cannot wait!

Instagram: rhi.dixonblog
Anime Instagram: sensei_please
Photography Instagram: redixonphotos
Tumblr: Fashionphotoandfilm

My week through Vsco #1

A new weekly feature to my blog which shall be entitled 'My Week through Vsco'.

Why? Well, I've seen many bloggers doing articles such as 'My Week through Instagram' or 'Images from Tumblr' and since Vsco is the app I use most frequently I thought it was the best option.

What a lovely week it's been (except for the four days in work, especially with machines broken and what not, it was hell on high earth). I had the day off Monday so the parents came down and we had lunch at Pettigrews, a quaint little tea room at the edge of the Park in Cardiff. I treated my guy Dan to a meal there on the Saturday too and he thoroughly enjoyed. We then had a nice little stroll round the park and found ourselves a secluded area by the edge of the river so we could just lie and enjoy each others company, pure bliss.

I've also been practising my manga sketching here and there this week. I haven't sketched since secondary school so I'm a bit rusty but with every drawing I do improve. 

Went to the gym four times this week, quite pleased with that but I've also binged all this weekend, so I've maintained the same weight rather than lose any.

The highlight of my week was my first Dungeons and Dragons which I've been looking forward to all through summer! It was amazing! We were a team of five and we had to complete three encounters to save our friend Dorian. We encountered cyclops and cultists but we succeeded in our quest and Dorian is alive and safe.

And that's pretty much been my week. 

Instagram: fashionphotoandfilm

Photography Instagram: redixonphotos

Manga/anime Instagram: sensei_please

Be happy readers xx

Product Review: Mobile Case from Primark

My previous phone case had so many Bump and Grind stickers on it (Bump and Grind: Monday's at Ten Feet Tall, Cardiff), it began to look a little grotty so a new phone case was in order. 

I'm working on a budget ( I put money away for my month trip to Tokyo in 2016), so I needed something within my budget but I also wanted something Kawaii. Unfortunately I cannot really afford shipping as well as purchase (at the moment) so I trolled around the shops in Cardiff and bingo!

I find this cute little cupcake case from Primark.

Made out of rubber, it comes off and goes back on easily while with my previous phone case it would be quite a struggle.

Price: £3.00

Yep.

£3.00.

Absolute Bargain.

The sides can be a bit annoying but you get used to it.

Here is the link to http://www.primark.com

London: Last Day

Today is my last day in this beautiful city and I decided to attempt the underground by myself for the first time. Destination: The Tate. This is a slightly daunting mission as I'm still not 100% at ease with the London Underground and only vaguely know where everything is let alone understand The Tube completely but I'm doing it regardless. As long as I get off at South Kensington I'll be fine.

I've been suffering with the worst art block lately so I'm hoping to get some inspiration while I'm here. Whilst I brush past the Victoria and Albert Museum my curiosity gets the better of me and I take a peek inside. It turns out they have a fashion exhibition on the history of wedding dresses. How could I not go in?!

The exhibition has Dita Von Teese's wedding dress designed by Vivian Westwood. I'm a big fan of Miss Von Teese and I adore her style so you can imagine how in awe I was of her purple gown.

At 11:15 I decide to take a little break. Sitting on the white bench staring at these beautiful exquisite dresses designed by the likes of Vera Wang,  John Galliano and many others. Wedding  dresses of the Duchess of Cornwall, Gwen Stefani and Kate Moss are all on show with a brief history of marriage and the wedding business and how far it's come traditionally (with more couples deciding to marry in their early thirties and cement their careers in order to have a more lavish wedding) and economically (how same sex marriages opened many doors for designers). I can't seem to take my eyes off a Ian Stuart Couture piece. I'm mesmerised by it, so detailed and delicate looking.
The ticket price for this exhibition is £13.50 and I personally think it's worth it, especially if you're into fashion.
Here is the link to their website: http://www.vam.ac.uk/ 
Has the exhibition inspired me? I guess not since designing has never really appealed to me. However I can't help but notice a young student walking and sketching some designs of her own. Obviously taking notes for reseaerch, she's sketching the dresses and it's inspired me to return and have a sketching session of my own so I can improve on my artistic skills and expand beyond photography.

In the middle of the museum there is a huge courtyard with cafés, a mini pool (no, seriously) and swarms of artists, art lovers and tourists taking a time out to process the tranquility that one finds in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

I quickly popped into the Science Museum which a must for science and technology lovers. It's free entry but there is a donation box as you enter, and you will feel guilty if you don't give some money. I only went in to use the toilet and I donated £3.

I also quickly visited the National History Museum too but then I receive a call from Catrin and I'm on my way back to the Underground. I'm meeting her in Liverpool Street to do some more vintage shopping. Destination for this little vintage spree: Brick Lane and Shoreditch. I wasn't as lucky this time and manage to get on the wrong train. Luckily the train I need is behind the one I'm on so I get off the next platform and climb on board the right train and I eventually reach my destination.

Just like day 2, we decide to do some vintage shopping, I was looking forward to Oxford Street but thinking about it,  Oxford Street has the same shops as Cardiff. The usual high street brands. If I fancy something from Topshop, I can just buy something from here. In terms of vintage shopping, all
Cardiff has to offer is Hobos, so I'm going to make the most of these bargain buys!

The street art in Shoreditch is incredible, such creativity, such talent as you can see below.

I've thoroughly enjoyed my visit to London town. Hopefully I'll visit again soon xx