You take me back there, take me back home, please.

Hello lovelies, today I am a happy bunny as I've finished and submitted the essay that's been the bane of my life for the past two weeks! Today I gave my presentation (and didn't even collapse in fear, yay me!) meaning I now have a week off uni before I get my next project. I'm so excited to be able to relax for a few days - I intend to make the most of it as the next project we have is going to be a tough one. Still, as soon as I got home I started cleaning and getting on with the domestic goddess duties that I've been putting off for ages due to my essay. It's a bit Monica Gellar-like, but I feel a lot more relaxed if my living space is clean and organised. I start feeling a bit twitchy if washing starts piling up or I've not hoovered in a while, is that really sad?! I've not had time to focus on illustration lately either, so I'm very much looking forward to getting back into the swing of that.

Today I wanted to make an Instagram post as I haven't since Christmas Eve, and I've been up to lots since then! I love using Instagram to document little snapshots of my life, like a visual diary - here's what I've been up to lately...

One of my Christmas presents this year was "A Sky Full of Kindness" by Rob Ryan - it is a visual treat. I adore his work, in fact, the essay and presentation that I've been working on lately are about this artist.

A few bits and pieces I picked up while sale shopping - I got two different sets of Paperchase gingham birds in the sale for the price of one set, so I'm really pleased as I think they're so cute! They are currently dotted around my room...

My best friend Laura gave me this 'meow' top for Christmas. I adore it, and hey, it's not black!

A snapshot of the three of us at New Year. It was a great night!

I caught Tilly in this position on New Year's Day when I was getting ready for work. Believe me, she looks here how I felt at the time!

Lately I've been experimenting a little with lip colour - I'm trying to be a little less adventurous because I'm so used to wearing bright red or coral lipstick that my face doesn't seem complete without it any more! I'm trying to break the habit so here I'm wearing 150 by Barry M with some Urban Decay lipgloss from the Naked 2 palette (I love it, it tastes minty!) I am going to be posting a beauty review of my favourite Barry M lip paints soon, as they are my go-to brand for lipstick.

My little dawgs! Oh, I do miss them while I'm here at uni.

Just after New year we visited my little godson in Kent. I am responsible for buying him this fluffy onesie from Next, he looks like a little teddy bear and it's adorable! I think he's a budding photographer as he was greatly interested in my dad's camera...

Okay, how cool is this?! It's a candle that has a colour changing LED in it that is activated when you light the candle. I definitely plan on getting one (or two!) of these, but as a frugal student I must at least wait until they're on offer because £6.99 is a little too much for me.

Do you guys ever have 'around the house' clothes that you really love but wouldn't really wear out? I have quite a lot like that, this Corpse Bride T-shirt is one of them. I'm a massive Tim Burton fan and Emily is one of my favourite characters from any of his films.

This is another of those items - it's an oversized sweatshirt by Tee and Cake that never seems to make it's way out of the house, but I love it with leggings or sweats when I'm chilling out doing work at home.

This month's reading. I picked up Company today, so that's now on the list too.

Recognise these? I had a New Look voucher to spend and the rest is history... look out for these coming to an outfit post near you!

I'd been wanting a collar for a while, and in New Look I found this pearl and crochet collar for only £4.99 - I'm hoping I don't look like a doily in it but I think it's really sweet, and would add a girlie edge to my all-black outfits.

On Tuesday night my housemates and I went out for 2-for-1 cocktails... they tasted as good as they look!

After some umm-ing and ahh-ing, I decided to spend some of the remains of my Christmas wages on this Naked Basics palette that I'd been contemplating for a while. It only arrived last night, but I'm already smitten. I'll review this soon, too.

I just took this an hour ago - I have my candles lit in my newly cleaned and organised room - things are looking pretty and I'm feeling chilled out. Bliss!

How has your week been? Are you hoping for a snow day tomorrow?