I'm Back in The (Blogging) Saddle Agaaain with a Year in Instagram!

It's been a year since my last blog post. An ENTIRE year. I just... I can't understand where this year has disappeared to?! It literally feels like yesterday that I was graduating from teacher training and preparing to enjoy a well deserved six weeks' holiday before starting my NQT year, and now? Well, now I have successfully completed my NQT year and I am about to embark on my return to education... 

So, what has been happening this past year as I have taken a sabbatical from the blogging world? A deluge of events - and not all good, which is why I stepped back from the blogsphere. 2013/2014, so far, has definitely had its' rough stretches - I've suffered loss and faced a lot of challenges, some that I am still struggling on with but I am hopeful that it will be more positive from now on. Saying this, 2013/2014 has had its' positives times too - and that's what my comeback post is going to focus on, through the eyes of Instagram, the better times of 2013/2014 (so far) with a fashion focus... 

September 2013 - Darker hair returns

Chilling with Sully in support of Monsters University

Some of my new 'must-have' products - Macademia Oil, Elemis Quiet Mind Serum; a day in sunny London; Jazz Age Pearl & Onyx Ring from Tiffanys and Co.

 My travelling outfit for a week in Nice/Monte Carlo - Oct 2013

 My first Parents' Evening alone... It required a tweed blazer.

A small selection of my outfits from 2013 - very much taking inspiration from Blair Waldorf. Outfits come from: Dorothy Perkins; Next; Forever 21; H&M; New Look; Accessorize; Red Herring; Sugarhill Boutique; Yumi.

 Return to red hair in Winter 2013.

Still with this guy - Christmas 2013

 Feeling like a Disney Princess with a wand at Disney on Ice

 Chinese New Year in London 2014

 Ombre Hair in 2014

 Making the marvellous discovery of Pinkberry with besties.

 Trying to survive preparing students for AS Exams!

 My terrified face at taking 26 students on a trip!

 Heading back to blonde for the summer and being with my favourite man.

 Some more outfits of 2014 - including some workout wear! The workouts did not last...

 Achieved one of my goals of having eyeliner look equally good on both sides - little victories people, little victories.

Celebrating our five year anniversary in Bath

 My most recent selfie - blonde hair is back! July 2014

 Flowers from my students as a leaving present - July 2014

And that's where we are now... I am finishing off my last week in my current position as a Tutor of History at a sixth form and it is certainly an emotional one having to say bye to the students and staff who I have bonded with over this year. I am preparing for an action packed summer before returning to university to complete an MA... It's all kicking off and I am going to be blogging about it all - so stay tuned, because Stephie in Wonderland is back!

... And it's good to be back. 

Love, 

Stephie x

Follow me on: Instagram (disney_stephie); Pinterest (disneystephie)

Satchels & Swans - Outfit of the Day.

I have to admit that I have been a bit of a shopaholic this year - especially in the past few months! I don't know why, but I have just been going on continous spending sprees which has made both my debit and credit card weep. However, my wardrobe thanks me for the recent contributions which has resulted in mostly more dresses which there is no space for!

One of my new additions is this cute Swan Wrap Dress from ASOS:

 Dress: ASOS, Jeans: Dorothy Perkins, Satchel: Cambridge Leather Satchel Company, Shoes: Deichmann, Ring: Tiffanys & Co.

 

I've worn this dress both as an actual dress, and  as a tunic with some skinny jeans for when it is a bit colder! It has easily become one of my favourites for several reasons:

1) It is a wrap dress which automatically gives it the 'ballerina' feel which appeals to the ballerina inside me (which was betrayed by my lack of co-ordination and grace as a child). 

2) The detail that goes into the swan print - the swans have shading and a detail in colour which just shows the extra care that has gone into the design of the print. 

3) With a wrap dress, it cinches in your waist which is always a plus in my opinion!

4) It can be dressed up or down for any occasion, making it well worth its' cost (£18)!

As you can see for this post, I dressed it down for a 'day look' with some deep purple skinny jeans, my beloved satchel, and some neutral pumps - perfect for a bit of shopping - but dressed up a little with my new Tiffanys ring which will be the topic of another post. 

Do you have a lot of multi-purpose dresses? Do you have a favourite print? 

Love,

Return to the world of blogging - The Outfits of Disney 2013!

Hello my darling readers!

So it has been half a year of no blogging - I have to admit, I am feeling a little out of practise as I type this!

I better explain what has been keeping me away from my beloved blog for all this time - teaching! Now I know there are a lot of teachers who blog frequently alongside completing their teaching duties who I am hoping to follow in their footsteps next year, however, this year I was completing my training which took up all of my free time with evidence folders, QTS tests, and constant planning. 

Yet, it all resulted in this, my exciting news... I am now a qualified History teacher! It has been one giant ball of stress, exhaustion, and panic but it is now over and only a few weeks ago I graduated my course as a qualified 'good/outstanding' History teacher. I have secured myself a position as a tutor of History at a sixth form college for September which means I now have six (well five...) glorious weeks to just relax and get back to blogging - yay! 

My returning post will be on one of my key highlights of this year - my romantic getaway to the Bahamas & Florida with my boyfriend, and the resulting purchase of my first DSLR! (Canon E100D)

 

Castaway Cay

Being the Disney addict that I am, I convinced the boyfriend to save up with me and go on a Disney cruise/holiday in the Easter holidays. It was an incredible experience on the Disney Dream and if you haven't had a chance to try a Disney cruise, I seriously recommend it! I have never felt so completely pampered in my life, and being completely Disneyfied as I am, having a whole holiday infused with Disney Magic was glorious. 

With the weather being as beautiful as it was, it gave me a chance to spring out the summer wardrobe again and although some of these outfits are old (and I mean, old) favourites, I got to throw some new ones in there too! So here are just some of my favourites:

 Shift dress from Dorothy Perkins

Halterneck dress from Abercrombie & Fitch

Dress from H&M

Unfortunately, I was wheelchair bound for the majority of this holiday due to a knee injury that had occured just before we went away which hindered the outfit shots somewhat! However, I still got to meet some of my Disney favourites like the big child I am!

(This is one of three pairs of Mickey ears I own...)

And for anyone who has had their interest sparked from this post, here are some pictures of the stunning Disney Dream which was huge & ornately decorated with an Art Deco feel. It had its own theatre with West End style shows, swimming pools, spa (with excellent treatments albeit expensive), several restaurants and its own water rollercoaster called the Aquaduck! Plus being able to eat as much as you want whenever you want led to me gaining a decent amount of weight but also being in food heaven...

 Adults Only Jacuzzi with glass panelling & floor.

 Pirate ears.

 Firework show in the middle of the ocean.

 Towel monkey!

 Sample of breakfast with Mickey waffles!

Would you consider doing a Disney Cruise? Do you have your favourite holiday outfits?

Love,