LIFE LATELY: EDSCIFEST

At the start of this year I was feeling pretty pleased with blogging. I'd got back into a three-posts-a-week schedule, I blogged some fun DIYs, and I'd worked out how to take reasonably okay (if a bit blurry) outfit posts. I knew work was going to be pretty manic over April, so I took loads of photos, thought of future blog post ideas... and then ran out of time to actually write them. Aargh!

Science Festival Lates - all photos by the wonderful Chris Scott

And then the Festival happened! The 27th Edinburgh International Science Festival rolled into town (from our offices in sunny Leith), and any work/life balance I previously had disappeared. I run the sponsorship team at the festival and we've been working on this for a whole year, so there were a lot of people to keep happy!

Happy cloud biscuits!

Over two and a bit weeks I went to over twenty events, watched a massive dinosaur skeleton get built from scratch, had my mind blown by the quantum theory concept of the multiverse (whaaaaaaat), snacked on roadkill rabbit, listened to one of the hardest maths problems of all time, looked at the blackest black material ever made, decorated a happy cloud biscuit, listened to very intelligent people, did my best to speak to very intelligent people without sounding like too much of an idiot, and drank quite a lot of wine in the name of science.

How the Light Gets In - Scifest art at Summerhall

I love the happy clouds

I also had more late night/early starts than was probably sensible, spent any free moment frantically trying to catch up with emails, had too many stress dreams about work (where my unconcious mind would dissect the most boring details of my job... did I remember to get pop-ups delivered in time?!), had a fairly frantic few days dealing with the aftermath of an unexpected cancellation, aaaand ran out of any conversation that wasn't fully centred around the Science Festival (sorry normal pals).

LateLab: Tron vs Tron Legacy

But that's festival life! You spend most of the year under the illusion that you have a perfectly ordinary job, and then bit by bit it takes over your life in exhausting and rewarding and excellent ways.

I've had my first weekend off work post-festival and it's been weird (but lovely!) to return to normal life. I've managed to catch up on Game of Thrones and read a book and do my washing... who knew life admin was so satisfying? Now I just need to get my head around planning for festival 2016... aaah!

OUTFIT: POLKA DOT PINAFORE

I've been posting more outfit posts lately, and whilst my awkward self-posing is a million times better than how it used to be, I don't think I'll ever nail the cool, slouchy scowl face of bloggers that actually do this well.

Anyway, here's some smiley school-photo-esque poses, of my very favourite dress.

Pinafore - H&M
Shirt - H&M
Shoes - ASOS

I bought this pinafore in H&M at the end of last summer, and it's been such a brilliant staple in my wardrobe. I'm quite lucky because I work in a very creative place, which means my work wardrobe is super flexible - almost anything goes, as long as I know when to look a little more presentable (like when I'm meeting clients).

I usually wear this pinafore with t-shirts under it for a casual cute look, but I recently discovered that it goes SO nicely with this sheer shirt, and helps the whole outfit become that little bit smarter.

I absolutely adore these mary jane shoes from ASOS, which were a total bargain at £25 (and at the time I'm writing this, these exact shoes are in the ASOS sale for £8!). I do worry I dress a little bit like a schoolchild (especially when paired with my red duffel or yellow raincoat), but I think I pull it off? I hope so, anyway!

WIN TICKETS TO EDSCIFEST'S BIG BANG BASH

There's only ONE WEEK to go before the Science Festival launches (oh my god), and it's turning into such an exciting year.

To celebrate Edinburgh's best festival (ahem), I have FIVE pairs of tickets to give away to our amazing space party, the Big Bang Bash!

An out-of-this-world party celebrating the wonders of space, the Big Bang Bash takes place in the super beautiful National Museum of Scotland, on Friday 10th April.

These's so much spacey fun to enjoy! You can sample space-themed cocktails from the Bar at the End of the Universe, discover the solar system in a massive planetarium, make your own spacecraft to take home, watch roving scientists perform mid-boggling experiments, and listen to short talks from space experts including Marcus Chown, Prof Monica Grady and Dr Roberto Trotta. There's also vintage sci-films, a space-tacular DJ, and a model of the Mars Rover to ooh at, while you're drinking your drink and getting your geek on.

For your chance to win tickets (remember, you'll need to be in Edinburgh on Friday 10th April!), just fill in the form below...

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck! I'll pick a winner on Wednesday 8th April and will notify them by email.

OUTFIT: RED RIDING HOOD

My winter coat collection is seriously getting out of hand, but I don't care... look at this beautiful duffel coat!

Coat - JOY
Skirt - H&M
Boots - ASOS
Headband - Crown & Glory 

I had been eyeing up this coat all winter, but couldn't quite justify buying it, so I just did that weird thing where I would look longingly at it every time I passed JOY, with occasional pathetic trips into the store to stare at it. Step in my hero lovely boyfriend, who very kindly bought it as a spur of the moment present (what a guy!).

The last month has been freezing, so I've been wearing it LOADS and it's so cute. The hood and sleeves are impossibly soft and cosy, I find myself absent-mindedly stroking them all the time.

I'm also a big fan of my mermaid-inspired Crown & Glory turban (I know I'm writing about them loads, but I'm quite obsessed with hair accessories this year!). This arrived in my Glitterati box and at first I was a bit unsure about it (it is a shimmery spandex band, after all), but it's surprisingly wearable and I love the colour combination of it with my jacket.

HOW TO: MILKMAID BRAIDS

Next up in my series of incredibly easy tutorials for bad hair days is milkmaid braids - something that is SO quick and simple to do, but always makes you look like you've made an effort.

Start by parting your hair into two, and braiding two plaits. I use a kirby grip to secure the end of each braid instead of a bobble - it feels much easier because you are plaiting to the very ends of your hair, and you don't want to faff around with a bobble you're only using for 30 seconds.

Take one braid and pull it tight, crossing over the middle of your head. Secure the very end (with the handily already-attached kirby), and keeping hold of the braid, attach more kirby grips along it until it feels secure.

Now get the other braid, pull it up and over, tuck the end of this braid under your already-secured braid, and then pin it into position. Use some hairspray to secure everything, and that's it!

It's a really cute look that's perfect for days where you just want to get your hair out of the way.