Year in Review | Best of 2012

Happy New Year! 

This is part two of my 'Year in Review' series.  Yesterday I wrote about my Top 12 Beauty Products of 2012 and today I'll be talking you through each month and all the things that happened to me.  So without further adieu...

JANUARY

While for many, January is a horrible month, for my family it was a really happy one.  On Wednesday 25th January my Sister-in-law gave birth to William Alexander and he's brought so much love and happiness into the family (and quite a few sleepless nights for his Mum and Dad). Without sounding too soppy, it was the best possible start to the new year.

FEBRUARY

My birthday month always brings good memories.  This year was no exception and on my birthday we went out on the town.  The club was packed thanks to Joey Essex and Diags from The Only Way is Essex making an appearance but I can't really remember much else from the night.

MARCH

A busy month at university.  We were creating a magazine in a group as part of our course and it was a lot of hard work which would eventually pay off.

APRIL

April was both a good and a bad month.  Tuesday 4th April brought the end of my favourite TV show in the entire world - One Tree Hill.  On the plus side, I have all the box sets and will continue to watch them for years to come! At the end of the month, I started a social media internship at Phoenix, a designer reseller which meant I was surrounded by Chanel, Louboutin, Mulberry and many more for a whole month.  At lunch time, I often found myself in a small shop called 'At Home' where they sold delicious but humongous  sandwiches.  The shop was also situated about two minutes from Space NK and inevitably, I got the bug.

MAY

With the end of my internship also came the end of second year at university.  I continued freelancing for Phoenix whilst they were between interns.  May is also a big month for birthdays in my family with my brother on the 7th and my youngest niece Alice on the 25th (are you noticing a pattern with birthdays?)

JUNE

On Tuesday 5th June, myself and two of my best friends went on holiday to Spain.  It was the best 10 days of my life, we laughed, tanned, shopped and just had an amazing time.  Definitely what we needed after a stressful few months at university.  Sophia Bush, aka Brooke Davis from One Tree Hill also tweeted me on the 20th June - a pretty cool highlight.

JULY

My second internship of the year was in June at More! Magazine. I spent two weeks working with the fashion team as well as contributing to the magazine which was fun, as I read More! on a weekly basis. It was a lot of hard work, more so the commute than anything else but it was also great experience for my CV.  July also saw the arrival of another baby in the family.  My auntie gave birth to a baby girl who is absolutely adorable.

AUGUST

While I didn't get to go to the actual Olympic park (still kicking myself), I definitely got the Olympic bug.  Luckily, the cycle race came through my hometown so I got to feel the atmosphere without paying a pretty penny for it.  We saw Wiggins, Cavendish and the boys for all of about two seconds as they whizzed past.  

SEPTEMBER

I made an Apple investment in September and bought my iPad, which I've found difficult to put down since.  The first thing I did when I got it was buy Allure magazine, my favourite magazine and one any beauty junkie should read!

OCTOBER

After what felt like a year off, it was time to go back to university for my third and final year (eek).  Of course, October also means Halloween and I celebrated with the girls at a house party. I decided to go as Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter because I don't think I could have passed as Hermione with my bleach blonde hair.  

NOVEMBER

I popped my spa virginity in November as we celebrated one of my best friends 21st birthday by getting pampered. Although I didn't have any money to get a treatment, we had access to a relaxation room with herbal tea and fruit, both steam and sauna rooms as well as a jacuzzi, where we spent the majority of the day.  We finished the day with Mexican food and cocktails.  

DECEMBER

Gossip Girl ended but Christmas softened the blow.  December is one of my favourite months and the lead up to the big day was made more magical now that Alice is old enough to understand and really believes in Santa Claus. On the 10th, the girls and I got together for our very own Christmas day, complete with Secret Santa, Turkey and all the trimmings. 

That's my year in review, thanks for reading my blog this year and here's to another good year! I've got lots to look forward to in 2013 including (hopefully) graduation, seeing Girls Aloud, Williams 1st birthday, my 21st birthday and hopefully I'll be able to leave Tesco for a big girl job (fingers crossed).

How has 2012 been for you?

Sunday Update #3

I haven't been able to post a Sunday Update over the past couple of weeks due to Christenings and other events keeping me busy so I guess this is more than just a weekly update. 

I've found myself totally sucked in by the Olympics. I'm not a sports fan usually so maybe it's because it's in our back yard or maybe I'm just getting older but I've been loving it.  My town was part of the cycle race so I took the opportunity to feel the Olympic atmosphere.  It was such a shame that mARK Cavendish didn't get gold but was amazing to see Team GB in the flesh! It's definitely Girl Power out  there but the boys are doing us proud too. Speaking of Girl Power - I cannot wait to see my Spice Girls during the Closing Ceremony tonight.  I really hope they perform a medley of all of their biggest hits! 

Recently I completed a placement at More! magazine (read all about it here) and I mentioned that I was going to be featured in the magazine. After not being in the last issue, I held my breath as to whether I would make it in at all but a week on and there I am! I wrote a solution on the Friendship Fixer page - the problem being "you care about your job more than me".  Hopefully the next time I'm featured in a magazine, it will be because I write for one! 

On Monday, after months of denial, I went for an eye test and found out that I needed glasses for distance use.  I knew this deep down and didn't fancy continually asking friends in lectures, "what does that say?" Me being me, I'd already been searching for frames I liked BEFORE I went for the eye test. I had Ray Bans in mind as I love my Wayfarer sunglasses that I bought in Spain.  On Wednesday I went to a couple of opticians that stocked the brand, the first had a poor selection of overpriced Ray Ban frames, but the second had a fantastic selection of the more 'fashion-y' styles.  Ellis & Thompson are an independent opticians in Cobham and if you're in the area I highly recommend them.  As soon as I walked in I was greeted by a friendly team who quickly showed me their frame selection and there they were, the Wayfarer specs I'd been eyeing up on the web.  I call them my Mini Wayfs and I absolutely love them, what do you think?  They told me that I could collect them within the hour, which I was pretty much gobsmacked about - I expected to be told a week at least.  They were pricey as most optical glasses are but they weren't as expensive as I thought.  

What have you been up to this week? 

My More! Magazine Experience

As most of you will know, I've recently completed a two week placement with my favourite weekly, More! magazine.  While I am sworn to secrecy when it comes to upcoming features and photoshoots, I thought I'd share my experience and the kind of things I got up to.  The most prominent lesson I learnt was that timing is everything - you've got to be in the right place at the right time.  

The first day was nerve-racking - although I was more nervous about the commute rather than actually walking into the More! magazine office. More! magazine is part of Bauer Media and is based along Shaftesbury Avenue in Endeavour House.  I started at 11am alongside two other girls and we joined a further two interns who'd been there for a week already, in the fashion workies corner.  We were told that our only job really was to return clothing to PR companies, something I expected.  The first couple of days were slow as the fashion cupboards were empty, awaiting call in's from PR's for the next shoots.  We sifted through the 'unknown' boxes, looking out for any jewellery we recognised so that we could send it back to the appropriate places. We also got to shortlist some bloggers we liked for the website, which was fun - It meant I got to catch up on some of my favourite blogs whilst at work.  

On the second day, myself and two of the others headed out at lunch to Hummingbird Bakery - a first for me - where we picked up a sweet treat before heading back to the office to devour it.  I chose a Red Velvet cupcake which was delicious.  One of my favourite things to do in London, if I'm not rushing around, is to walk around and see the sights.  We wandered past the Palace Theatre where Singin' in the Rain is currently running.  I thought the umbrella's were a good idea, seeing as we were experiencing a glorious summer of rain, rain and more rain.  

On Thursday, I was sitting with another intern surfing Fashion Monitor for returns addresses when the editors assistant came up and asked us if we'd be able to help out her intern on a little project.  We needed to go out and get some vox pops, asking 20 hot men that week's big question, which turned out to be 'Would you wear bum-enhancing pants?'  Of course, we jumped at the chance and set off for Carnaby Street and the surrounding area, where we weren't short of a few hot guys.  When we got back, we had an hour for lunch before returning to the rest of the fashion workies and telling them all the gossip.  Thursday was definitely a good day, as later on I got asked to write a solution to one of the 'Friendship Fixer' page problems.  As a budding journalist, I was thrilled to be given this opportunity, even if it was only a 70 word piece.  I was given a computer over with some of the other writers of More! and given a deadline - I felt like a professional.  It has yet to be published in the magazine, I think it was next week's issue they were closing, so I will Instagram (@NickiShepShep) as soon as I see it!

Friday came and went far too quickly and just like that, my first week was over.  As usual, Monday came round far too quickly and it was time to get up and go again for another week.  We didn't have much to do as we waited for another new intern to start at 11am.  After a while we were asked to come up with some ideas for the fashion pages, which was fun. Throughout the majority of the week we had various returns and odd jobs to do which kept us busy.  

On Wednesday, one of the beauty team asked if I'd like to help out with something they needed for a new page.  She took me into the beauty cupboard - a beauty bloggers heaven, there were rows upon rows of products ranging from foundation to cleansers to eyeshadows and nail polishes. I had literally died and gone to a glittery heaven.  I picked out this Jemma Kidd Hi-Shine Hydrating Glosstick (review coming tomorrow) and to my surprise I was allowed to keep it!  Whilst I was in the cupboard, I expressed my interest in the beauty team and was offered two weeks work experience there and then (in exchange for my CV).  I'm ecstatic and can't wait to start in January as I've become a lot more interested in writing for a magazines beauty team rather than fashion.  

My last day came round like so quickly and to finish the two weeks off, I was given a horrific task of trying to find three items of unidentified jewellery and get their credits.  I flicked through every single docket I could find and in the end only found one of the items.  It was quite a stressful task as the fashion had a deadline for the shoots and in the end no one could find where the items were from.  After a stressful last day, we were given a goody bag from the beauty cupboard which included MAC, Bourjois, Ciate and more.  

I am so glad I got to work at More! magazine as it really opened my eyes up to how much I wanted to work on a magazine, more so than PR which I dabbled in last year.  I'm definitely going to hunt around for some more experience before I return to More! in January, to get my CV looking good before I graduate next summer (eeek!) I'd really recommend More! magazine's fashion placement as I learnt a hell of a lot.  Plus, seeing your name in the masthead makes all your hard work, worth it.  

Sunday Update #2

After an afternoon spent with family, cooing at my baby nephew, I've ended up running around like a headless chicken trying to get jobs done in preparation for the week ahead.  Tomorrow see's the start of my much anticipated placement at More! magazine.  I've been feeling a mixture of emotions, mainly nervous and excited but I know it will give me an insight into another side of the industry I'm so desperate to claw my way into.  Needless to say, I've been spending the last few hours getting myself organised.  It feels like the night before the first day back to school after summer. I've got my bag ready with a new notebook (I'm a sucker for a pretty notepad), a travel make up bag with all the essentials, my nails are newly painted and I'm about to jump in the bath.  Other than getting ready for a week of working in the Big Smoke, I've also got a Christening next Sunday.  I've picked up a new dress but need to find something to wear on top as the weather in the UK hasn't been the best... 

What are you getting up to this week?

How To: Get Work Experience in the Fashion Industry

Todays post is going to be slightly different but still with a relevant theme.  This will be a lot like the post I wrote about how to maximise your blog potential, which you can read here.  I'm not claiming to be an expert on getting work placement, but I know from previous experiences how difficult it can be to find, especially in the fashion industry where internships are like gold dust.

As a fashion journalism student, I have a lot of different options when thinking about work experience, PR, Publications, Broadcast and Radio.  For my final unit of my second year, we have to complete 4 weeks at a work placement and I have just landed myself one, after trying since mid-October.  It really is all about luck and timing.  Here are my four top tips to get work experience.

1.  Perseverance - When you send out emails, you may not necessarily get a response just like that but don't think it's because they don't want you.  If it has been a week since you sent out the email, follow up and make sure the email didn't land in their junk or it might remind them to respond. Do not send them a million emails, because you may end up getting a rude response and no work experience (or a restraining order).

2. Tailor your Covering Letter - I have three different covering letters tailored to specific job roles, Online, Beauty and a standard Fashion Editorial.  Whenever I send out and email I will edit the document with the persons name, the company and a paragraph that shows I've gone to the trouble of researching the company and know my stuff. Remember to double and triple check that the name you're addressing the letter to is both the right person and the right company.  Also, when sending your covering letter and CV, convert them to PDF so that it opens up easily on any computer.

3.  Always Say Thank You - This might sound obvious but whenever someone replies, even if it is not the answer you were hoping for, say thank you.  These people are busy, getting a million emails a minute (slight exaggeration), so if they reply you're lucky because they have higher priorities.  Also, if they put your CV on file, you may be the one they remember who was polite and said thank you.

4.  Play on your Strengths, but don't be Arrogant - You may have gotten some great experience at one company, but they want to know what you will bring to their publication or fashion house.  If they ask you about how previous experience will benefit them, tell them your strengths but don't gloat or tell them you're amazing.

Once you've got them interested, you may be asked in for an interview or just be offered dates over email.  Remember to be yourself in the interview and also believe in yourself - they are interested in you for a reason it's never just a fluke.  

This summer I've got a couple of work placements set up.  One as a social media intern for a designer boutique called Phoenix.  I've already completed a social media internship at Push PR but wanted to try a smaller company who had just started to build their online presence (plus they have some cute Chanel sunglasses...).  I've also just been confirmed for two weeks at More! magazine which I'm extremely excited about as it will be my first experience at a print publication! 

I hope this post has helped those of you who are struggling with work experience in the fashion industry. Like I said, I'm no expert and it's all about luck and timing.  

Have you got any work experience stories to share? 

Positive outcomes only!

My feet are throbbing, a tell tell sign of a good day in London.  I had two interviews today which went well.  Modus PR were great and they let me see, breathe, smell, touch David Koma's A/W collection (I died inside a little).  Push PR was amazing, I loved their showroom and they had some shoes, (okay a lot of shoes) that I wanted to take home with me from Dressrail.com!  If I had to choose a favourite, I would have to say I'm leaning more towards Push at the minute.  I just loved the friendly greeting I got and the fact that I'd be working with an ex UCAer (that also did my course, small world or what?!).  

Anyway, I wanted to show you the blog post I drafted for Push PR, all about Dressrail.com (it features the most gorgeous shoes in the history of footwear).  It's a picture (had to pdf to print) so just click on it to make it bigger!

Those shoes...