eBay!

I am having a massive wardrobe clear out, and am flogging lots of clothes to make room for plenty of new ones! Please click on the eBay logo above to see my active listings and feel free to bid! (Any one I know who buys will get a special mates rates discount upon winning the auction!) Happy bidding!

Items I currently have listed, as described on eBay, are as follows:

Live eBay Listings From Auction Nudge

Songs for Boyfriends Past

After reading Hayley G Hoover's blog post, which you can find here, I couldn't not do my own.

Essential R&B (Regret and Beer Goggles)

1. Bus Stop Kiss (Right Time Right Place)
2. A Lemon Wedge Won't Make it Classy
3. Mumbling I Love You
4. Your Foreskin
5. The House in Cyprus
6. I Don't Like James Bond Films
7. It's Okay, I Know You had Sex with Her
8. Actually, It's Not Okay (feat Gerard Way)
9. What do You Mean her Hair Looks Better than Mine?
10. Your Family Scare Me
11. First Choice Right Choice
12. Tabloid Scandal
13. Eat, Drink & Be Married

Happiness and An Existential Crisis

It has been over a year since I have written this type of blog post – maybe that is a good thing or maybe they’ve been missed – I suppose I’ll find out in the viewing stats. In actuality, I only ever write like this when I need to tell myself something, when I need to change how I think. Spelling something out on screen and putting it on the internet for everyone to see, giving advice on how I think feelings should be dealt with, is my way of correcting a problem in my life and putting myself right.

Being a little bit cryptic with it is just part of the fun.

I often wonder how many people I know could call themselves truly happy. Happiness is a concept I find incredibly subjective. On a day to day basis, most of us are happy. We get out of bed in a morning, go about our days and fall asleep at night with ease. Real happiness, at least for me, is a deeper concept.

Happiness is something I have had problems with in the past; my doubt in finding it the source of many an existential crisis. I might be laughing and smiling, but if I am not living with purpose, I am not happy.  For 5 years I was in long term relationships, fine on a day to day basis, but not self-fulfilling-feel-good-inside happy. These feelings were incredibly difficult to control or resolve - I felt like nothing had any purpose, and that all the interpersonal relationships I maintained were temporary.  In order to be happy, I think I had to stop cowering underneath the security blanket a relationship gives you – an automatic friend. Instead I had to do something. To get out there, to meet people and put my efforts into a project I care about, not another human being. The incredible feedback by blog received last October, for example, gave me the courage to make some very big life changes. Likewise I look back over my A Levels, and I was happiest not on holiday with my boyfriend or celebrating anniversaries, but working on my studies and part time in a cinema.

I am happiest when I am doing. A self-confessed workaholic, and it has taken a year of being single to find the right diagnosis and recipe for happiness inside me.  So that is what I shall do. BBC internship over and graduate job offer under my belt, I am working my way down my to-do lists! Cleaning, shopping, eBay selling, dissertation researching, giving press interviews (to do with my media-guru-ness, but a bit of a secret at the minute, ssshh!) and eventually packing to move!

Have I mentioned my business?  I am running an online social media consultancy firm! Basically projects (newspapers, candidates, campaigns, products, bands, etc) come to me and I teach them how to maximise their revenue and publicity via social media and real life networking. Visit felicityhall.net for more information and do make an enquiry if you would like to talk business.

I’m quite glad I got all that off of my chest. Hey, maybe I’ve put too much of myself on the internet here. This time last year, I was told this was a bad thing. This year, I’m being paid for it.

Turns out I’m pretty good at knowing who and what is right for me.

September and Beyond!

Happy September everybody!

After a very busy August on my BBC internship, September will provide me with a much needed bit of downtime! I have one week left on Blue Peter, after which I will upload all the thoughts, blogs and videos I've been mulling over during my placement. I really want to review the time I've spent with the Beeb in a fair and honest light. I've had a wonderful experience and met some very lovely (and famous!) people here, so I'll be using this space as a little bit of a memory bank to look back on myself, and give other interns a real inside view of the job, the programme, the business and the company.

Other than my BBC thought bubble, September marks the beginning of the academic year 2012-2013, for which I have huge plans! My long term to do list is as follows:

1. Write a badass dissertation
2. Graduate with my target grade
3. Obtain a place on a marketing graduate scheme

But my short term list is much more fun!

1. Complete my website - felicityhall.net
2. Do at least 2 grad applications per week
3. Give vlogging a decent stab
4. Move to Durham and start third year on the right foot
5. Celebrate Fliss Independence Day on the 4th November
6. Visit friends on foreign soil
7. Finish my wardrobe overhaul and eBay the unwanteds
8. Get back to my usual blogging standard
9. Get myself a decent DSLR camera
10. And any more to-do's I can't think of right now

All in all, I'm feeling very positive about the next year! See you soon.

The Magic Mike Conundrum

Today the Washington Post asks, in regards to strippers and new hit film Magic Mike starring ex-stripper Channing Tatum, that if women are allowed to ogle men, should men be given a free pass too? Here are my thoughts:

Once upon a time, before experiencing jealousy in relationships, I saw myself as one of those girls who claims to be okay with her man in a strip club... and then I fell in love. I was jealous and protective; the thought of someone who is supposed to love me ogling other women was one that repulsed me. However, all of these opinions were formed on a lack of trust in an unhappy relationship, not actual experience of strip clubs.

Like lots of women, I held strip clubs, strippers and the men who attended in a pretty bad light. Like lots of women, I held these opinions without having visited a strip club myself. And now that I have (and have seen performers of both genders) my views on strip clubs have changed dramatically, because I found the experience a wholly un-sexy one.

Sure, eroticism is present. Strippers dance in a provocative manner, play sex games with the audience (a lady tying a man to a stripper pole with the ribbon she was unravelling from her vagina is a particular highlight) and ultimately get naked, and these are all sexual events. Sexual, but not erotic - at least not in a way that I would deem as sexual betrayal. Rather, a stripper is a novelty. Sure, the chiselled, oiled and naked man in front of me is attractive and I enjoyed seeing him, but the distance between performer and audience (even if you get dragged up on stage by your belt buckle) is one without the intimacy of connection with another human being - by watching a stripper, he or she is providing a service. I would compare seeing strippers to seeing porn or other entertainment where people get naked - bodies are to be appreciated in an 'Oh I'd shag you' kind of way but providing that you look and enjoy but don't touch, strip clubs are merely an expression of harmless sexual curiosity and lust.

Moreover, the context in which strip clubs are visited is one that affects how I view them. Whilst, I still don't think very highly of seedy individuals with an addiction to the dominance they feel in watching a nude person perform, I totally understand the need to enjoy the camaraderie of a stag do/girl's night style trip to a strip club. Again, in this environment, strippers become a novelty. They are something to admire (and often marvel at the skill of) and this is best done with a group of close friends, to laugh, to appreciate a good body, to push limits and to bond over - not for the sole purpose of becoming aroused and being gratified.

Unless of course your partner has previously proved himself unfaithful or unable to control himself in such an environment (like breaking the performer/audience line and sleeping with a stripper) there should be no reason to chastise a man, or in fact a woman, who enjoys the occasional jaunt to a strip club. I suppose I was right all along - if you really are happy and secure in your relationship - there is no reason to see a strip club as a threat. Still not convinced? Go to a strip club and see for yourself - the experience totally changed my views.

Why not go together? Have him visit a Chippendales whilst you ogle a well-oiled six pack and then return the favour in a Spearmint Rhino.

To answer the Washington Post's Magic Mike Conundrum - it should be okay for everyone to enjoy the many talents of strippers, providing they do so respectfully.

Formal Fashion Feature: Phoebe's Prom

Friday 29th June 2012 was the Prestwich Arts College leavers prom, and 4 years after my own attendance at the same event, the school's current Head Girl (and my sister Phoebe) attended the event looking radiant.

Phoebe wore a watermelon Venus Bridal gown, Topshop drop earrings, a Dorothy Perkins clutch, Lipsy shoes, hair by Enigma Hair and make up by MAC at House of Fraser.

I am a very proud big sister.

Suri's Burn Book

A popular website and now bestselling book, Suri's Burn Book is subtitled 'Well-Dressed Commentary from Hollywood's Little Sweetheart' - and that's exactly what it is. a witty piece of pop culture that I today stumbled across has had me laughing for hours. Author Allie Hagan, writing as little Suri Cruise provides her expert opinion on Hollywood's offspring, judging their style by her own high standards.

Some of the best anecdotes online include:

On Honor Warren:

It must be nice to have no worries. Honor probably doesn’t even know how much more famous than her I am.

On Blue Ivy Carter:

Blue Ivy wears jeans. And you all thought she was going to be able to compete with me.

On Violet Affleck:

Violet, Violet, Violet. What is going on here? Are those pajamas? Is that a one-piece jumper thing? Is that cheap cotton chafing your skin? What is on your arms? Were you trying to make a temporary tattoo sleeve to match your terrible jim-jams outfit? If so, I guess it was kind of a success. I don’t even know what to say about those shoes. Are they bowling shoes for a baby?

Visit Suri's Burn Book online here.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes to Divorce & Adele Pregnant

As quoted from TMZ.com:

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are getting DIVORCED ... after 5 years of marriage. Katie's attorney, Jonathan Wolfe released a statement saying, "This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family." Wolfe adds, "Katie's primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter's best interest." It's unclear if divorce papers have been filed with the court.

Wonder if Amber Heard is behind this one too?

In other news, singer Adele and boyfriend Simon Konecki are expecting their first child. My congratulations to the couple, who have asked that their privacy be respected during the pregnancy.

One Hundred Days of Summer 2.0?

Remember this banner? I certainly do.

Once upon a time, in a year so far in the past it seems almost fiction, I spent 100 Days of Summer daily blogging in diary format. This blog gained quite the cult following: though I won't disclose viewer statistics publicly, it was certainly popular online and its publication got me noticed. In fact, the success of my 2011 summer extended blogging project was what encouraged me to rebrand felicityhall.blogspot.com into FASH for 2012 - an all together more speedy and poppy publication, where news, updates, photo sets and opinion pieces reflect Mancunian culture and my lifestyle, rather than my own internal (often venting/raging) monologue.

However, 100 Days of Summer has not gone down without a fight. Both in person and online, friends and non-friendly readers have enquired about my summer plans and encouraged me to start the project up again - a summer 2.0 if you will. I am afraid to say that I have declined. I have many reasons for not wishing to diary blog this summer. Most notably, because I am too busy to make that commitment with the other projects I have chosen to take on board - these few weeks in June and early July will be my only free time this summer. In July I start a Marketing and PR internship with the events firm behind Manchester Pride which involves preparation and admin, social media marketing and networking, public relations work with performing artists during the festival and production work throughout the Big Weekend. After August, I then take on another internship placement taking me right through to my third year at Durham University - though details of this are top secret until further notice.

Whilst I would love to write diary blogs again and receive the same positive feedback as last year, I simply cannot promise the same quality of content. But fear not, this does not mean that I will not have time for blogging - quite the contrary. felicityhall.blogspot.com will continue as usual (and may become quite interesting throughout the course of my summer work, if and when I rub noses with celebrities). In addition to this, I have decided to try my hand at video blogging at some of the summer's major events. Think footage from the Stone Roses at Heaton Park, Prestwich Arts College school reunions, Manchester Comic Con, Nerdfighter and Youtube gatherings and Manchester Pride. A trial video of an Alex Day CD signing is currently live on my Youtube channel vlogfliss.

My dedication to creating online content has not decreased - I am just exploring new and exciting forms of creation. Please do keep checking back here to see what I'm getting up to, what I'm enjoying and what content I've managed to create - advice and constructive criticism always welcome. In the meantime, I will be live tweeting my every action for the foreseeable future at @felicityhall and will always appriciate follows, Youtube subscriptions, blog comments, Facebook messages and phonecalls! Fundamentally, if you've got an idea for me or us, I want to hear it - it just may help to make summer 2012 the best one yet.

Paul's Hair World Manchester

I cannot recommend Paul's Hair World, on Oldham Street, in Manchester enough.

I have worn human hair extensions for years, on special occasions mostly, though for a large part of 2009 through a bad haircut they became a daytime staple. I would consider myself a bit of an expert on hair extensions; having bought many sets and done plenty of research in my time I have not found a store as well stocked or as helpful as Paul's Hair World. So today I was on hand for my sister's right of hair passage - her first set of extensions - and the only place I was going to take her to was PHW.

Having a very multi-tonal shade of blonde makes buying hair extensions more difficult. I have always worn an 18 inch European human 6-piece set. Due to the long length and density of my hair, I can accommodate quite a lot of additional layers without looking too false. My sister has no such luxury with fine, short hair but PHW were very helpful, finding shorter lengths, thinner textures and a multi-tonal weave to match her bottle blonde highlights. The shop assistant even split a packet to only sell us 3 weaves, rather than the usual 6 a full head like mine would take.

For sheer quality of hair (my sets have each lasted me over 2 years) and variety of lengths, colours and textures Paul's Hair World is the only place to buy hair in Manchester. However, be sure to know what you want before you enter the store - staff are predisposed to a very stereotypical 'Scousewife' look and will be likely to sell you the longest, blondest/blackest, straightest and chavviest set of extensions they offer. Be sure that, if you're after a natural look, that is what you are leaving with. And do ask to try on in store to make sure hair looks thick, full and most importantly alive when worn with your own.

Johnny Depp

A poem by Tim Burton.

There was a young man
everyone thought was quite handsome.
So he tied up his face
and held it for ransom.

He made everybody
back up 20 feet,
then he ran off
with his head
down a darkly
lit street.

The whole town
wondered why he'd
threatened his face,
they couldn't understand,
... it was that kind of place.

Twitter Bios

Writing a Twitter Bio can be a stressful occasion. How is one supposed to convey facts, personality and just the right amount of humour in a mere 160 characters. Furthermore, how should one feel to know the entire world can read it? Surprisingly, many people do this very well. So starting with my own, here are a few of my favourite funny and effective bios from the people I follow - authors have remained anonymous.

I'm so optimistic I'd go after Moby Dick in a row boat and take the tartar sauce with me.

I tweet rubbish.

Yes, I want to follow you on twitter. I care about your life so much.

Durham student. Loving life.

some british kid who happens to be an INTERNET CULT LEADER

actress, bit moony, ginger flailing enthusiast. sagittarius.

I'm pretty boring and tweet about cats a lot.

Occupation: Sitting in booths, drinking Grey Goose and looking fucking fabulous

walker, talker, faller, getter back upper againer

Pornstar shagger and NASA astronaut.

Laser 3.14

Amsterdam had always seemed like a cool place to me. I was aware of the Red Light District, the prostitutes and the legal drugs, all of which I found intriguing. I had half expected to find a seedy and dirty city in the Netherlands, and so never wanted to make any concrete plans visit, preferring to holiday on Mediterranean beaches with my then-boyfriends as every 18-year-old in love should.

But then I discovered John Green.

John Green, whilst most famous for his endeavours in vlogging, is first and foremost an author with a passion for Amsterdam. Like me, John expected to find a Dutch Las Vegas in Amsterdam and was shocked at the green, well regulated city he came across. After falling in love on the first visit in May 2007, he and his wife Sarah, moved the family temporarily to Amsterdam whilst John wrote his latest book, The Fault in Our Stars. It was reading this novel that changed my perspective and convinced me to book my flights.

John spoke of a city that was as intelligent as it was free spirited, and continued to document Amsterdam through his vlogs, which can be found here. These vlogs, subtitled 'Thoughts from Places', draw poetry and philosophy from everyday surroundings and global culture. For me, it was through watching these videos and reading of Hazel's awe in the city that changed my perspective of Amsterdam. To quote John himself, 'some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth it is a city of freedom. And in freedom, most people find sin.'

John noticed this insight and freedom in the city's graffiti - both intelligent and beautiful. I took that on board and was pleased to come across some of my own when in Amsterdam myself. I merely thought that I had captured a one-off piece of street art when I posted this photo upon returning from my trip. What I now know after some research, is that the graffiti both John and I were inspired by is the work of one artist - Laser 3.14.

To quote his translated Wikipedia page:

Laser 3.14 is the pseudonym of an anonymous graffiti artist, painter and poet in Amsterdam in early eighties at about age eleven began writing graffiti.The poet behind the pseudonym Laser 3.14 syringe socially critical short poems on fences and street construction sites, particularly in Amsterdam . His pseudonym is a reference to his love of science fiction . 3.14 herein is for Pi, which is also an abbreviation for 'Public Image'.

Laser 3.14's work is magnificent, innovative and incredibly clever. I did not just photograph a pretty image, I documented a piece of contemporary street art that inspires humankind to see the world with optimism and hope, just as John Green does with his vlogs.



I am absolutely going to see more of Laser 3.14's work. My favourite quotes (so far as I am still uncovering others) include Life's too short so bend over and I stuck a fork in the road but my doubt remained the same. Through the industrial settings, the sometimes broken English and the limits of the law on a can of black spray paint, Laser 3.14's humour, lust for life and human spirit shines through. Move over Bansky, you're old news.

Saint Laurent Paris

Yves Saint Laurent, under new creative director Hedi Slimane, has dropped the Yves in a re-brand of the fashion collection. Now, I'm all for a good re-brand, but there is something about tradition in the most high end of fashion houses - Chanel, Prada, Gucci, YSL, etc. - that (for me anyway) should remain classic.

Bold move, Slimane, I hope the house doesn't live to regret it and forget the glory days of Yves Saint Laurent himself.

Manchester City Win the Premiership

Born a Manchester City fan and will die a Manchester City fan: yesterday, the 12th May 2012, saw City take the title. After years of pain and suffering, through relegation, lost derbies and too many conceded goals to count, we did it. Congratulations to the fans, and especially the group of loyal supporters who have supported me and my family through our shared love of football. From the summer afternoon wins in beer gardens to the cold church mornings christening our children after great players, you have been the greatest support network that my family and I could have asked for: allies, godparents and friends. Here's to this season and to Stephen Hall's 50th birthday. It may have taken half a century Dad, but we got here together.

Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman Costume

Ever since buying the boots in January, I knew my next fancy dress opportunity had to make use of them. And who wore the most iconic pair of thigh highs in cinema? Vivian Ward, also known as Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

Here's what I used to make my costume:

Wig: Blonde bob style wig (£5.99, Luvyababes)

Dress: White vest top (£2, Primark) and Turquoise miniskirt (£3.99, H&M) cut to pattern and sewn together around a silver loop earring (6 pairs, £1, Primark)

Boots: Topshop thigh high boots, a previous purchase.

I had a wonderful time at my birthday party and my costume lasted the night in one piece. Not sure how soon I'll be re-wearing the prostitute look, but I certainly had a good night as Julia Roberts.

RIP ANTM

You are no longer in the running to become America's Next Top Model...

J Alexander, Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker will no longer be appearing on America's Next Top Model in attempt to boost the recently-flagging ratings. Whilst I'm sure Tyra Bank's new panel will do an excellent job, I cannot help but feel at a loss. I will particularly miss Nigel Barker and his excellent taste in couture.

Good look to whoever attempts to fill the enormous shoes of Nigel, Jay and Miss J. They have a tough act to follow.

20 Things To Do Before 20

• Get GCSEs
-Achieved August 2008


• Get A Levels
-Achieved August 2010


• Get into university
-Achieved August 2010


• Avoid pregnancy
-Continued success


• Do a minimum wage job
-Achieved June 2010


• Go on holiday without your parents
-Achieved July 2010


• Visit America
-Achieved July 2003, again July 2007


• Dye your hair brightly
-Achieved December 2011


• Get a spontaneous piercing
-Achieved March 2012


• Fall in love
-Achieved September 2007, again April 2011


• Lose a friend
-Achieved June 2008


• Move away from home
-Achieved October 2010


• Get out-of-control drunk
-First achieved August 2010


• Lose your virginity
-Achieved January 2008


• Wear something ridiculous
-Achieved weekly


• Kiss a stranger
-First achieved January 2011


• Deal with grief
-Achieved December 2006, though an ongoing challenge


• Cry when you leave school
-Achieved June 2008


• Celebrate good results
-Achieved August 2008, August 2010 and June 2011


• Be happy with how life turned out
-Achieved November 2011

10 Women More Beautiful Than Samantha Brick

The 'beautiful' journalist Samantha Brick thinks exceedingly highly of herself. Unsurprisingly, the Great British public think less so. Now Samantha, they're is nothing too wrong with an overinflated self esteem, if you can back it up -but we're talking about something really special. Unless you actually are drop dead gorgeous, do not write articles telling us so. Samantha Brick is pretty but average at best; to make such a bold statement in the press, you need to be as bold looking.

I therefore present 10 women genuinely more gorgeous than Samantha Brick, for perspective purposes of course:

Megan Fox and Angelina Jolie: World renowned sex symbols, Fox and Jolie have what Samantha Brick can only dream of. Tall, dark and sexy, had either written Brick's article, I doubt that with that much raw sexuality, we'd have batted an eyelid.


Lily Cole and Karen Gillan: Again, these women have something Samantha Brick doesn't - uniqueness and intrigue. Striking red hair and china doll faces are not everyday features like Brick's middle aged wrinkles and peroxide dye job.


Christine Baranski and Helen Mirren: Here are two women considerably older and yet hotter than Samantha Brick. Ageing well and dressing accordingly, both Baranski and Mirren have embraced post-menopause chic with grace and class. Looks like Samantha Brick is going to have to try harder.


Victoria Beckham and Sarah Jessica Parker: Not typically good looking facially, both Victoria Beckham and Sarah Jessica Parker make usual face-shapes their own. Beckham styles her angular cheekbones with sharp tailoring and strict, neat hairstyles where Parker balances a long face with big hair, transforming both women into style icons. Samantha Brick has had no such look with her styling.


Susan Boyle and David Walliams Certified proof that you can put any moose with the right make up artist and come out with something sort of sexy. Samantha Brick take note - you need NARS, not Natural Collection.

& Other Stories

The fashion elite scoffed when high street super-giant H&M recently announced it's intentions to bring a higher-end store to our market and somehow I fear that the fashionistas amongst us will be even less impressed with today's developments.

Because H&M have named their luxury sister store '& Other Stories.'

Representative press officer for the Swedish brand, Camilla Emilsson explains that:

"It will be at a slightly higher price bracket and with a little better quality, but still stay within the framework of our business concept-fashion and quality at the best price."

Sounds promising. Here's hoping that H&M prove the fashion snobs wrong and have a runaway success in their new venture. Even if the name doesn't fill me with confidence just yet, I trust H&M's expertise in the high street.

And I trust anyone with that much attachment to the ampersand.