Rounding up some NY essentials for you! In January I'm all about positive vibes, new skin care and maybe a new little something in my wardrobe. I don't go overboard, as it's just after Christmas, but I think a few treats to lift your spirits in a new year are allowed! I may or may not have picked up some of these bits myself already and my ASOS save later is full to bursting...
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The UK has been seriously hotting up over the past month and having just stepped off a flight back from a week in beautiful Mallorca, my summer wardrobe is full to bursting with new and old goodies perfect for this heat.
This season I'm loving lemon prints, bold stripes, statement earrings and simple, but flattering bikinis. My holiday outfits were a combo of these, with my simple go to pieces like tan block heels, silver hoop earrings, blue and white patterns and monochrome stripes.
After a recent purchase of ASOS Premier, I've found myself stalking the virtual aisles of ASOS on a regular basis frequently filling up my basket and over-using the 'save for later' button. These are my top picks for your heatwave and holiday wardrobe.
I thought I'd shed a little light on the beauty, skincare and haircare products I take away with me too. My hair is coloured and curly, so sun, sea and swimming pools can really take their toll on my dry hair. I stock up on Moroccan Oil and nourishing shampoo and conditioners for trips away. My fail safe sun cream is Garnier Ambre Solaire, my family have used it for as long as I can remember, the smell is a nostalgic favourite. When I'm feeling like I need to fake it till you make it, the Bondi Sands Dry Tanning Oil is the best for a seriously convincing fake tan. Jo Malone's Tropical Cherimoya scent is my new summer spritz, but Clarins Eau Dynamisante is an old favourite.
A slightly late April Favourites! Style, candles, podcasts, Netflix, lifestyle and beauty faves - all things I really loved throughout the last month.
Don't forget to subscribe so my videos pop into your subscription box every week!
xxxx
A new favourite denim, new Spring additions and a whole haul of statement earrings to wear with every outfit through the warmer months!
What's your favourite Spring wardrobe essential?
One of the pieces I'm always reaching for with the temperamental UK weather is a jumper dress. I find it's the perfect thing to wear in Spring, when it's certainly not hot, but a coat might be a little much (well, maybe not if the recent snow we've had rears it's head again!) I feel my best in a dress and tights as it tends to flatter parts of me I like the most and cover up areas I might like to hide a little more, but lots of dresses are more fitting for sunnier climes, that's where my fave staple jumper dress comes in.
It's a classic piece I'll wear throughout most seasons - Spring, Autumn and Winter. Paired with simple or statement jewellery it can be dressed up or dress down to fit the occasion. If I'm heading out for cocktails, but wanting to combine comfort with style, I'll wear a jumper dress with statement earrings, belted at the waist with tights and heeled boots. If I'm spending a day out and about with friends, I'll go for simple jewellery, a belt, tights and flat boots. Oooor on the complete other end of the spectrum, it's perfect to just throw on for a day working from home, comfy and you feel a little better than working in tight jeans or slouchy PJ's! This is the *So Lost Sweater Dress from TOBI, an LA based clothing company with free worldwide shipping! They kindly got in touch recently and sent over a few pieces - this dress and beautiful star necklace being two of them. I browsed the site for hours, it's full of affordable clothing and there's a style for everyone.
What I'm Wearing ::
+++ the beaut mug is from Anthropologie!
*These items were kindly sent to me, but all my honest own opinions.
You know those clothes in your wardrobe that might as well be your uniform? These are ten classic pieces I'm endlessly reaching for and rely on to complete nearly all my outfits. These pieces go effortlessly together or create a good foundation to build an outfit around. Basically these are my fave wardrobe basics - stripey tops all day, everyday!
You can shop my key pieces above*.
What are your wardrobe essentials?
Despite the recent snow-storms and minus temperatures we've had, I've been shopping for a few affordable pieces to kick start my Spring/Summer wardrobe. I'm loving prints and bright colours and desperate for a little warmth, sunshine and let's face it... a tan!
What are your fave pieces in the haul? Let me know!
I'm desperate to update my wardrobe by slowly introducing a few pieces for Spring (longing for a little sunshine and warmth!) but I'm also really trying to watch my spending. I popped into Primark to pick up a few pieces, to refresh my style a little without breaking the bank!
Who doesn't love a Primark Haul?! They have some beaut pieces in there that I had to resist, but there'll be many more hauls to come, that's for sure!
What's your favourite item? Blue velvet boots win it for me I think!
When I popped on my glasses to go to the cinema and realised I'd been wearing the same pair for the past five years, I knew it was time to get my eyes tested and switch them for something a little more chic.
I wanted a stylish pair that wouldn't break the bank and I also wanted to get anti-glare and scratch protection... which most of the time are additional extra at around £30+ each, eeek.
Bailey Nelson offer the absolute best service in my opinion. They have a great selection of frames, there's a shape and style for everyone and they're all a set price! This was a complete sway for me - any of the beautiful frames, with my prescription lenses plus the usual 'added extras' are considered essential, so anti-glare and scratch protection will cost you no more. There are are a few different bands of pricing, my new frames cost just £105 - which is a lot cheaper than designer frames in other stores (and that's without the extras!)
I popped into their Covent Garden store and the staff could not have been more helpful. They gave me opinions on the different frames I tried on (I'm the most indecisive person you'll ever meet, so that's v helpful), I already had my eye test results with my prescription, so they put my order in and within a week they had arrived back in store and were ready to be picked up. As simple as that!
I got the Parker glasses in 'Speckled Tort' and I want to wear them ALL the time.
I know, totally sounds like an AD (I wish!) but it's not. I was just so impressed with the service and price, there was no small print or strings attached, so I really can't recommend them enough!
It's that time again! The streets are packed with shoppers, rushing around the twinkling lights, to grab the perfect pressies for their nearest and dearest.
I've put together some Gift Guides for the girls, guys and home bodies in your life. I've tried to keep all prices below £60 (bar a couple that I couldn't resist!) but thought it could be a good starting point if you're still hunting for that perfect gift!
If you're more into homemade gifts, there'll be a blog post full of photos and ideas next week, so make sure you check back then.
I've put together some Gift Guides for the girls, guys and home bodies in your life. I've tried to keep all prices below £60 (bar a couple that I couldn't resist!) but thought it could be a good starting point if you're still hunting for that perfect gift!
If you're more into homemade gifts, there'll be a blog post full of photos and ideas next week, so make sure you check back then.
(Toffee Vodka, Wild Cocktails - Amazon, Copper wire lights - Primark (only £2.50!), Pomegranate Noir perfume - Jo Malone, Star Sign Trinket Dish - Anthropologie, Glossier products)
F O R T H E G I R L S
F O R T H E B O Y S
F O R T H E H O M E - B O D Y
F O R T H E H O M E - B O D Y
*All photo links are affiliate links - it costs the buyer no more to buy from this link, it just helps a blogger out a little!
This week, I turned t w e n t y - t h r e e.
HB to me!
Twenty-two was fun! I had some great time with friends and family, progressed in the 'job world', gaining more experience and getting some jobs under my belt. But, if I am completely honest, I feel like I should of achieved more in that year. I don't like to have regrets, so I don't regret anything I did or didn't do, but I do like to learn from my mistakes and move forward.
I'm in a tricky part of life, post uni but not quite fully into adult life - still living at home, not earning enough to move out. Don't get me wrong, I love living with my mum but ultimately, my goal is to get a job and to earn enough to move out, like most people my age. This year I became self-employed, but that is HARD, seriously hard, which I most definitely underestimated. I'll most likely have some big decisions to make and paths to chose and I want twenty-three to be a year of progress and good choices.
Here's some thing I've learnt in my year of being twenty-two. Things I want to work on next year, reminders of what cherish and some general life advice about drinking too many margaritas...
Nothing is permanent
Things come to an end, both good and bad, which is always worth remembering. But I also need to remind myself that I have the ability to put a stop to things that aren't making me happy and that I am allowed to put myself first sometimes.
If I don't do it, no one else will do it for me
No one else will make that important phone call for me. No one else will apply for that job for me. I put 'scary tasks' off for as long as possible, which means they niggle at my brain for weeks on end. I'm well aware no one else is going to do it, so what am I waiting for?
Weekends are Weekends
I feel a real guilt when I switch off at the weekends, but working for myself it's very important I do. I'm not working full-time so I also feel the guilt that I shouldn't be relaxing because I haven't worked a full week. This year has to be about focused weeks and fun weekends!
You should always listen to your Mum
When your mum tells you to wear a coat, wear a coat! When you don't tell your mum you're getting two piercings in your ear, but know she'd tell you not to, TELL HER and listen to her. Otherwise put up with ongoing ear piercing infections for a month, cry a lot, take a trip to minor injuries and eventually have to take one out anyway. (Oops. Soz Mumma)
The value of friendship
I've always loved my girlfriends and they have always been such supportive, fun and all round babes. But this year, my friends smushed (is that a word?) together - my childhood friend, my school friend, my sister from another Mr and I are one solid girl group and I can't even explain to you the happy feels it gives me. It can be hard having separate groups of friends - you want to be with all of them all the time - so when you smush them together and it works it is the best! My other bestie Luce also moved back from Manchester and it's so good to have her closer to home! Win win for friendships!
I have no idea what I'm doing, but I don't think anyone else does either.
Reassure me on this one, does anyone actually know how to adult? Like, taxes what? Contracts, business, budgeting, making big decisions, anyone have a clue? With age comes experience, so I'm going with that and suppose I will learn as I go on!
Other peoples opinions don't matter
This, of course, is within reason. The opinions of your nearest and dearest are important to consider as they're likely to have your best interests at heart. But the opinion of random school friends your haven't seen for four years or Facebook friend you haven't spoken to for eight years not so much. I worry about the tiniest things, down to things as small as posting a photo 'ah, what if they think I've got a big ego?' 'is it vain to post a selfie?' 'what if I'm posting too much and it's annoying?' Ridiculous. If something is making you happy no one should have a problem with it.
If they do, well... bye felicia.
Put the phone down
A serious wake up call to iPhone addiction was downloading the app 'Moment'. It tracks the time you spend on your phone every day and what apps you're spending the most time on, it then gives you a daily report with a summary. It is absolutely shocking! I have to put my phone down and care less about what is happening online. It's there now and it will still be there in an hour.
Tidy Room. Tidy Mind.
Not exactly a news flash here, but the importance of a tidy desk space/office/room is insane! I can't focus properly unless everything's tidy, so it's the absolute worst for procrastination.
Most Importantly...
A night of drinking Margaritas will be full of salsa dancing, hilarious boomerangs and cry laughing, but will leave you feeling like you have ERODED YOUR INSIDES AWAY AND HAVE NO TEETH LEFT the next morning. You'll text the girls and all agree to not drink them again for a while. Next month another Girl's Night rolls around and you'll hear the call of the marg and you'll make the same mistakes again.
So, here's to twenty-three!
A year of caring less, working more and having fun.
And as my birthday card from my Mumma so aptly said...
'A wise woman once said 'fuck this shit', and she lived happily ever after...'
We all love a bargain but most of us don't love the craziness that is shopping on Black Friday!
The videos of humans acting like animals over a flatscreen TV is enough to put anyone off even leaving the house...
For that reason, I've collected up some of the best online deals and discount codes with some of my top picks for you and popped them in this blog post.
Perfect for christmas presents and maybe even a treat to yourself, it is nearly Christmas after all...
(if I find more codes as we get closer to Friday, I'll add them - so keep checking back!)
W e d n e s d a y
W e d n e s d a y
Sale - up to 50% OFF between 22nd - 27th November
PLUS Free Standard Shipping
30% OFF everything
Discount code: GOGOGO
20% OFF almost everything
Pre Black Friday 25% OFF
Discount Code: EARLY25
LOTS of discount deals, various codes on website.
30% OFF everything
30% OFF everything + free delivery over £60
LOTS of amazing deals
Huge discounts on Amazon Echo - great pressie idea!
B l a c k F r i d a y D e a l s
B l a c k F r i d a y D e a l s
Missguided
50% OFF EVERYTHING!
Discount Code: CYBER50
Up to 50% OFF Sitewide
Snapfish
50% OFF EVERYTHING - up to 70% off some products.
New Look
25% OFF Everything
Automatically applied at checkout
Paperchase
15% OFF online
Discount Code: BLACK15
ASOS
20% OFF Everything
Discount Code: WIN20
30% OFF Everything
Discount Code: BLACK30
All Saints
50% OFF EVERYTHING!
Discount Code: CYBER50
Up to 50% OFF Sitewide
Snapfish
50% OFF EVERYTHING - up to 70% off some products.
New Look
25% OFF Everything
Automatically applied at checkout
Paperchase
15% OFF online
Discount Code: BLACK15
ASOS
20% OFF Everything
Discount Code: WIN20
30% OFF Everything
Discount Code: BLACK30
All Saints
30% OFF everything
Shop Dixi
55% OFF EVERYTHING
Decreasing by the hour - so check the site for new codes!
Discount Code: BLACKOUT55
Shop Dixi
55% OFF EVERYTHING
Decreasing by the hour - so check the site for new codes!
Discount Code: BLACKOUT55
House Of Fraser
Up to 40% OFF
15% OFF Beauty
Debenhams
Up to 30% OFF Every Department
Glossier
20% OFF Everything + Free Shipping
Miss Selfridge
Up to 50% OFF Everything
Best Selling Jumper
*The photos of my top picks contain affiliate links. It costs you no extra to buy from this link, just helps a blogger out!
It's without a doubt my favourite time of year.
Honestly, I can't put into words how mesmerising I find this season. The colours, the chill in the air, the conkers, the pumpkins, the apples, just all of it.
I'm forever finding new things I want to do throughout Autumn. My camera roll becomes full of screen-shots and my room full of random notes both scribbled on paper and in my phone, of ideas, places and things to do. I thought I'd note some of them on my blog. Some I've done already, some I'm yet to do and some might just have to wait until next year.
The Autumn To Do List
go pumpkin picking
get all dressed up and spooky for Halloween
make a hot chocolate, topped with marshmallows and cream - the works
light the fire
go to the cinema on a rainy evening
carve a pumpkin
make a plum and apple crumble
plan Christmas content ideas
go on a dog walk on a crisp, cold but blue skied day
buy new pyjamas
watch fireworks and warm up by the bonfire with friends for Fireworks Night
drink winter pimms
gather together some birthday ideas
shoot an autumn lookbook
find the perfect winter boots
visit the seaside on a sunny, brisk day
online browse for the perfect velvet festive dress
read more books, put my laptop down more
- what I'm wearing -
Stripe Top - Joules
Burgundy Pinafore Dress - Primark
Black Suede Boots - New Look
Watch - Olivia Burton
Earrings - ASOS
Nail Varnish - Nails Inc. in Kensington High Street
What do you like to do in Autumn?
When it gets a little colder my fashion focus seems to be on every chunky jumper going. I love them with roll necks, cable knit, fitted, oversized, the list goes on. Sometimes when I chuck on a chunky jumper, I'll pull on a pair of jeans, whack on a pair of boots and I'm out the door, others I want to dress up a little more, mixing comfort with style.
I recently picked up this gem of a jumper from Primark. I was a little unsure knowing the material would probably cook me alive but I'm always cold and sometimes I just need the thickest, snuggliest things going. There was a huge range of colours (and I have my eye on the grey version too...) but I went for this deep purple colour, knowing I had nothing similar in my Autumn/Winter wardrobe already.
I found it was the perfect jumper to wear without a coat, as it's thick enough to block out the wind and keep you warm. The sun made a brief appearance and it was just a liiiittle warm, so I'll bear that in mind when I chose to wear it out.
Wanting to style it up a little more, I opted for a skirt and knee-high boots over going for black skinny jeans. Statement tortoise shell earrings and a dark Charlotte Tilbury lip added a touch more glam to the outfit as well. For me, I felt it was my ideal mix of comfortable and stylish.
-- What I'm Wearing --
ALL Primark (oops!)
Earrings - Accessorize
Rings - Silverado
Lipstick - Charlotte Tilbury 'Glastonberry'
Nails - Barry M 'Almond'
I'm nervous to press post on this one! I love make up but it's not particularly my forte so it's a little scary putting a video of what I do on the internet! I just do what works for me and although I love bold eyes and lips, I'm not a fan of a lot of face make up at all, so recently I haven't been wearing foundation. I absolutely adore this look and it is a go to for Autumn/Winter for me. Using some very special Charlotte Tilbury make up to some of my highstreet faves and there's even a great new lip product discovery in there too.
Enjoy! Be Kind...! There's a new vlog coming your way Sunday, so stay tuned.
With October rapidly approaching, I'm thinking about my autumn wardrobe and all the gaps that need filling. Autumn is my favourite time of year to shop for - all the layering, chunky knits and different textures - it's so fun to change up my usual style and have a play with new season pieces. 
Here's just a couple of things I've spotted recently, all relatively affordable with the most expensive item being the beaut Burgundy Suede Jacket from River Island. I have been after a jacket like this for years, and I really do mean years, the only probably was, it didn't exist anymore. I'd seen designer versions for over a thousand pounds and an old season Missguided one that was perfect, but alas they no longer sold it in that colour. With suede jackets being a huge trend this A/W it's good to see brands are catching on and hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on the jacket of dreams.
I've got my eye on all the slouchy jumpers. Oversized, knitted, chunky and comfy - the usual criteria. I'm particularly loving the ASOS Twisted Back Jumper to give a simple outfit a subtle sexy edge and the La Redoute Oversized Cable Knit Jumper for when I all I want is effortless comfort. (I actually had my eye on this last year after spotting it on The Frugality, so think it might be time to bite the bullet - especially with the current 20% off!)
I seem to have worn out every practical pair of boots I own, so a major shoe haul is needed. I'm on the look out for a stylish but practical pair, with a heel that isn't too high, a pointed toe and to come up to just above my ankle, so I don't ask for much...! This pair from TU at Sainsbury's are pretty perfect.
What's on your Autumn Lust List?
Each year I find that Primark absolutely nail Autumn/Winter trends so I got in there early to kick of the wardrobe transition with some key pieces. I absolutely love the things I picked up...
Primark hauls your kinda thing? Hit subscribe baby!
It's that time again, when I reel off what I've been loving throughout the previous month! There's a little bit of everything - lifestyle, beauty, style, tv & music.
There's a vlog coming on Sunday so make sure you're subscribed to my channel!
It's been a little while coming but my Marbella lookbook is finally live!
All outfit info is in the description box of the video - or you can see each blog post here...
Enjoy! xx
Our last night in Marbella was spent exploring the beautiful Old Town, wandering cobbled streets, sipping rosé and eating gelato in Orange Square and taking in the most breathtaking views of the Santiago Chapel.
Sun-kissed with my soul sister, we had the most wonderful last night and spent a moment capturing the beautiful light during golden hour. These are some of my favourite photos I've ever featured in a blog post, so a huge thank you to Charlie for capturing them with me. I'm not going to ramble on (for once!) and I'll let the photos do the talking. If you're heading to Marbella for your holiday, I'd absolutely recommend a trip to Orange Square.
What I'm Wearing ::
Black Spaghetti Strap Top - Matalan (Similar)
Black Bag - Primark
Black Heels - Primark
Sunglasses - Spanish Market
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