We need to talk about Margaret

Unless you have been living in a hole for the last four days, you will be very much aware that Margaret Thatcher has passed away. As usual, when any big news story breaks, I went straight to Twitter to see what the masses were saying (and to look for some hilarious puns - I do love a good political pun!). To my absolute horror the first tweet I read about Thatcher was mourning the loss of 'a true feminist role model', the 'original girl power'.  As more news broke about Thatcher more and more of these claims poured in with former Sun Editor Kelvin Mackenzie stating that "feminists should weep" about her death. 

Really though, was Thatcher a feminist?  She famously claimed that she owed nothing to 'women's lib'. "I hate feminism. It is poison" she said - yep so much girl power there she'd give Scary Spice a run for her money. Thatcher was not a feminist, she is not a feminist icon or role model, she was merely a female. There is a huge difference. She wasn't proud of being a woman, if anything she tried to hide her gender as much as possible in order to make her way in to Parliament for example having elocution lessons to make her voice less high and feminine. Politics was undoubtably (an arguably still is) an old boys' club but Thatcher made no attempt to create a woman's presence in it. Thatcher may have been the first female Prime Minister but once she had battled her way there she made absolutely no effort to make it easier for her female predecessors to accompany her. I think it's fair to say that had she made more headway for other women instead of focussing on her own career ambitions then the idea of another female Prime Minister in the future wouldn't sound so ridiculous and far-off. 

In terms of policy, if anything Thatcher made things harder for women. Child care prices soared leaving many women unable to afford it. Yes it's true that there were more women in work but much of this was due to failing industry, leaving families broke and forcing women who had no desire to work into factories. Rising unemployment led to huge numbers of family breakdowns leaving the number of single mothers to soar. Whichever way you spin it none of these policies were particularly brilliant us ladies. 

So considering this why are so many people so desperate to portray Maggie as some kind of ideal woman, struggling for female empowerment? Maybe it's because we simply don't have enough women in politics to look up to but I can't help but feel we have Thatcher to blame for this! There are so many amazing women out there from all walks of life who deserve our awe and respect, who truly are female icons. Hilary Clinton, Caitlin Moran, Malala Yousafzai, your mother and your sisters. They are the women that I choose to look up to and choose to model myself on - not just because they are women but because they wear that badge with pride and they work towards a better future for us all. I believe that deserves respect, not bludgeoning your way to the top and then pulling the ladder away for those left below. 

 I for one would rather take note from Glenda Jackson who made this fantastic speech in Parliament in which she claimed that Thatcher was "the first Prime Minister diputed by female gender but a woman...not on my terms". Couldn't say it better really...

Shopping for Spring, Living in Winter - March Haul

So I guess this is a couple of days late, but the way the weather is at the moment it feels like we're still in December so really I'm 6 months early!
I feel like I've done quite a lot of shopping this month considering I'm on a constant budget. I'm not sure where I got the funds for any of this (thank you Student Loan Fairy)

Even though I moved to Norwich over 6 months ago I'm still getting used to the ridiculously hard water which turns my hair into a huge frizzball (think Anne Hathaway in Princess Diaries pre-makeover). I've been looking for products to help with this and the lovely shop assistant in Boots recommended John Frieda Frizz-Ease Original Formula Hair Serum.

 I've used it pretty much everyday this month and I love it! A little more greasy than I would like but you only need to use a tiny bit for awesome results! Dead chuffed! 

On the same hair vein I also bought L'Oreal Studio Matt and Messy Salt Spray. I was convinced to buy this by my friend Josie (www.josiegoestravelling.blogspot.co.uk) namely because it was on 2 for 1 and she didn't want to pay full price. Whatever the reason I really like it - restores any of the bounce that the serum drags out of my hair. Also I love the matt finish - I find super glossy hair a bit odd looking. 

Whilst in Boots I also picked up Rimmel London's Lasting Finish in 700 Block Your Green. I've used this a couple of times and I lurrrrve the colour! I really nice dark green with the just the hint of sparkle.

The last thing I bought in Boots this month was Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Anti-Aging Smoothing Lotion and oh my god I am obsessed with this! I use it when I come out of the shower on stretch or dark marks and it genuinely makes a noticeable difference! It smells like delicious Terry's Chocolate Orange AND it's non-greasy - perfecto!


This month I went to Forever 21 on Oxford Street. I'd never been to F21 before so I got way overexcited and tried on practically everything. In the end I only bought two things in the sale. First was a lovely turquoise jumper in a cable knit. It's nice and thin so should be good for the spring. I think it was about £7.99. I also bought an oversized dip-dye t-shirt! I really liked this because usually dip-dye goes from bottom to top but this goes from side-to-side (I am very easily impressed). Again it's really thin so should be good for

summer - I think it'll look nice tucked into shorts.

I'm totally obsessed with button up shirts at the moment and spotted this little number in Primark for £12. I absolutely LOVE it the pattern is adorable plus who doesn't like a good rhinestoned collar. This photo doesn't show it very well but I posted a photo of it on my Instagram a while ago if you're really desperate to see it! Since I bought it I've seen dupes in Topshop and New Look and they've all been way more expensive! Glad I got the bargain!


So have you bought anything this month? Written a blogpost? Link me - I love seeing what other people are into!

(p.s Sorry for the mega long post - I promise it'll only be once a month)

Carrot and Meringue Cake | Recipe

I always like to make a cake whenever we have a family gathering. My family isn't very big so I always have loads left over and never know what to do with it - this occasion was no different! For Easter I decided to make a lovely carrot cake with meringue icing and thought I'd share the recipe with you! It looks amazing and is dead easy so definitely worth a shot!

Read more »

I really do Heart Holi!

Paint splattered Tatty Devine...

Hulllllo,
Last night I was lucky enough to go to Tatty Devine's 'I Heart Holi' party! I applied for the free tickets online and I really wasn't sure what to expect - I lucked out and had a really great time!

Me and my friend Jennie after the paint...

The party was to celebrate Holi also known as the 'festival of colours' which is a Hindu festival which celebrates (among many other things) the beginning of spring. The night started with everyone wearing white in a huge white room in I Heart Studios in Bermondsey. I had opted for a very cheap £5 dress from Primark which I saw at least a dozen other people wearing that night (obviously someone had sent out a memo!). When we were queueing outside in the freezing cold I suddenly got worried that maybe this was a wasted journey and it wasn't going to any good but as soon as I walked in I knew we were going to have a brilliant night! We were greeted with complimentary cocktails provided by Midori, a melon flavoured liqueur. I of course tried all 3 cocktails on offer and my favourite was the rainbow one, pretty and tasty! I didn't think they were that alcoholic but my squiffy head this morning begs to differ...

Rainbow cocktail

Midori cocktails

There was also make overs provided by Llamasqua, nail art from Nancy Mc, an Iheart photobooth and loads of Tatty Devine give aways so all sorts of lovely stuff! Considering the event was free I was totally gobsmacked by the amount going on!
Halfway through the night came the really fun part! It's a tradition at Holi do throw coloured powder paint at eachother. Paper bags of powder were passed around and mayhem broke out! It was totally beautiful with bright colours everywhere. Everyone's white dresses were now a big mix of pink, greens, blues and oranges! Although it was safe to say I was left wishing I hadn't worn my glasses because I couldn't see a thing...

Colourful flowers

Delicious rice - seriously couldn't get enough of this stuff

Looking a bit more colourful after the paint...still with a cocktail in hand

Rihanna For River Island

L-R Rihanna wears - Split Side Maxi and Double Top Straight Jeans with Cropped T-Shirt 

Last night Rihanna officially launched her collection for River Island and like the lady herself it is the perfect mixture of grunge and glam - I am definitely a fan. The cuts and shapes of the line are definitely rooted in the 90s (check out that denim shirt skirt below) but the collection has a very dark colour base (with the occasional pop of bright yellow) which I think brings it fully up to 2013. Overall I really like the line! I think the cuts are really interesting, especially the use of knotting as seen in the yellow dress below and the knotted vest. Also, as an extremely vertically challenged individual, this may be one of the only times I've looked at a maxi skirt and thought I could work it with my wardrobe! 

My favourite pieces from the line are the the Double Top Jeans (as modeled by Ri-Ri herself above) and the dipped hem stripped shirt! The shirt is an obvious choice for me, I'm an absolute sucker for all things dipped hemmed and button uppable but the Jeans are like nothing else I would usually pick! I think it's because they're so incredibly 90s I wouldn't feel out of place strutting onto the Saved By The Bell set in them, but at the same time the straight leg and turn up keeps them really up to date. Whatever it is...I want them! 

Overall I'm really impressed by Rihanna for River Island - it doesn't feel gimmiky or over-branded like some other celeb lines *cough Kardashians for Dorothy Perkins cough*. It feels like it has definite shelf-life and could go a long way! 

L-R Black Crop with Black Split Maxi Skirt / Grey Crop with Grey Split Maxi Skirt / Yellow Tie Dress / Denim Shirt Skirt

Some of my favourites....

Top - Black Trucker Boots £95 / Cropped White T-Shirt £20 / Black and White Shirt £45
Bottom - Black and White Tank £20 / Knot Vest £18 / Roll Sleeve Tank £20

So what do you think of the collection? Love or loathe? Favourite items? I'd love to hear what you think...

Make It Hightstreet | The Oscars 2013

So the award season is came to a triumphant end with The Oscars. It's really the going out party you could hope for from such a glitzy award season I've had a super time how about you? Of course many of the best dresses were saved til last - Jennifer Lawrence seems to have walked away with an all round thumbs up from the blogosphere for her stunning pale pink Christian Dior Courture gown. For me, Amanda Seyfried in Alexander McQueen really took the biscuit! Her swept back hair and smokey make up was stunning - a million miles away from when she hit the screens as Karen in Mean Girls. Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta and Sally Fields in Valentino brought a touch of princess to the event with long flowing dresses. With Sofia Vegara missing from the evening due to illness it fell to classic sex-sirens Halle Berry and Catherine Zeta-Jones, plus newcomer Samantha Barks to bring some vavavoom. Halle looked every inch a Bond Girl in a silver sequined Versace number (designed especially for her of course), Ms Zeta-Jones looked classic Hollywood in a gold and nude Zuhair Murad dress and Samantha Barks totally pulled off the plunging neckline in Valentino. The same can't be said for everyone, there were a few dresses that didn't quite knock it out of the park for me. I was a little disappointed with the Jennifer's, both Aniston and Garner went for very simple, slightly bland dresses. Jennifer Garner went for a simple Gucci number which from the back looked exquisitely detailed but from the front just looked a bit meh whilst Jennifer Aniston's red Valentino gown was just...I don't know I just didn't care about it which is probably worse than hating it. Also Adele was back to what she knew best in  black Jenny Packham, I hope she'll branch out into colour again at some point...
On a last note, a lady who has been my favourite all awards season Anne Hathaway. She of course looked beautiful in a soft pink Prada dress with detailed bows at the back and it would have been a perfectly nice dress if I hadn't loved everything else she wore so much! Compare this to her BAFTAs dress or her Screen Actor's Guild Award Dress and it just falls a bit short. But I loved her styling, the hair and the jewels from Tiffany's was all very Audrey Hepburn and went beautifully with her Best Supporting Actress Award...

Charlize Theron in Christian Dior / White Peplum, AX Paris for New Look, £30

Samantha Barks in Valentino / Plunge neck maxi, Asos, £22

The adorable Quvenzhane Wallis in Armani Junior / Navy tulip dress, Asos, £40

Pinterest my interest...

So after many days of persuasion from my flatmate I have signed up for Pinterest. Much like Tumblr, I'm pretty sure I'm doing it wrong, but I like looking at all the pretty pictures so I don't really mind.

Anyway, if you have Pinterest (I'm sure many of you out there do what with me being WELL behind on the trend) I would really appreciate a little bit of interaction on there. If you comment below with your username or address or whatever it is I will probably follow you

You can find me at www.pinterest.com/maisiemaizz there'll be a profile with my miserable mug on and a couple of boards. If you don't wanna follow that's cool...you can just tell me if I'm doing it right haha

On a sidenote, if you ever do read any of the posts on here please please please let me know! I would absolutely LOVE to hear from someone even if it's literally just a "hello. I read this." I would still appreciate it!! Thanks so much!

Dats wot ma profile luks lyk