#NoFilter #Nomakeup for a Passport Picture

I had to renew my visa and for that I needed to go for a medical blood test yesterday.

When I produced a passport picture, of me as a nubile 16 year old (one I had personally gone to the photo studio and asked them to retake the picture until it was perfect), I was told I needed a recent passport picture.

Oh, the horror! 

A lot of people are apprehensive about the needle when they go for the blood test. Me? I was struck with terror at the thought of the passport picture, but who can blame me with masterpieces like this:

Savannah, aged 10. No that was not a cool lightning shaped scar, that was just flyaway frizz from that bangin' haircut.

To make matters worse, I had practically rolled out of bed, unconcerned about putting on makeup because who was I trying to impress in the government office?!

Sitting in queue, the panic mounted as the line to take the picture became shorter and shorter. I didn't have any time to run to the bathroom to carefully apply a layer of makeup to shield me from the unforgiving lens of the heartless picture taker.

We were lambs to the slaughter, one miserable person after the other, cowering under the glare of the harsh fluorescent lighting and the barked orders of "Sit straight!" and "Chin down!"

Finally it was my turn and like Mufasa speaking to Simba from the beyond in Lion King I heard the voice of Tyra Banks in my head saying "Smize, Savannah, Smize".

In my head I thought, I got this! I'm going to look fierce! 

Yeah... More like feral.

I could have been an extra on The Walking Dead.

All those selfies on Instagram. Was it all just the filter? Was it all an elaborate lie? Was this what I really looked like?

So I just took a #nofilter #nomakeup selfie, in broad daylight and I've come to the conclusion that passport pictures are definitely the work of Satan.

I mean, it's not perfect, but at least I could pass for someone with a pulse.

If there is anyone out there with an equally bad passport picture, don't be shy! Share it with the world -- no one's perfect all the time, and in the Age of the Selfie, it's all the more important to remember that!

Book Review of #GIRLBOSS: a book for the millennial career girl

New year and I've set my reading targets pretty high for someone who like to get home from work and switch her brain off with Keeping up with the Kardashians (don't judge me!)

50 books in 2015 - that doesn't seem too bad, does it?

To kick it off, I started reading #GIRLBOSS by Nasty Gal CEO, Sophia Amoruso on a lark, a week before I return to work from a 3 week vacay, and I'm so glad I did, because it's super inspiring, and put me in a great kick ass mood.

I kept my Goodreads review short and sweet, let me know if you've read it, or are about to read it and what you thought!

#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm not someone who often enjoys reading autobiographies. For example, I adore Tina Fey, but only managed to get through 3/4s of BossyPants

I went into this book with skepticism because I noticed it had popped up in my Instagram newsfeed a lot - usually by fashion bloggers, the chic 20 somethings that frequently instagrammed inspirational quotes like "Be Yourself, everyone else is already taken."

Yes, this has those instagrammable quotes. Yes, this is targeted heavily towards millennial girls, with illustrations that can easily be shared on social media.

But it's also wise in many ways; each example Sophia Amoruso gives of her life, is used as an anecdote to teach #GIRLBOSSes (as she so cleverly uses hashtags to easily have readers use it on various social media.)

The book contained tips on cover letter writing, resume writing and interviews - pretty basic, but valuable advice, especially for those entering the job market - and told in a relatable way that is less dry than reading wikihows.

It also contains lots of inspirational quotes from leaders, and accounts from other women in the industry (fashion or otherwise) who have accomplished their dreams.

All in all a good, quick read for a weekend, especially to gear you up for the work week!

View all my reviews