A Few Of My Favourite Things

A quick Saturday post about a few of my favourite things. Netflix! What's new there?! But at the moment I am really enjoying some of the Neflix Original series such as Riverdale and 13 Reasons Why. Riverdale has a weekly episode which I actually really like and I am about half way though 13 Reasons Why. I think I would recommend them both, although I know that they won't be to everyones taste and particularly for 13 Reasons Why I know that there is a lot of controversy.

These silver Superga trainers are my favourite right now. I'm not quite ready to get my toes out, London is still pretty cold and my feet are in need of some serious TLC before anyone else sees them, but these shoes are perfect for Spring. I've recently packed all of my Winter boots away, so trainers are fast becoming my footwear of choice. They are so comfy and the silver just adds a little something extra to whatever jeans and jumper combination I'm wearing!

And how could I forget Easter and some of the amazing chocolate that comes with it! I've actually been pretty good and trying to make mine last, this little guy is currently still in one piece. Unfortunately I feel like tonight may be the night he loses some ears!

Hope you have a lovely weekend! Speak soon xx

The Perfect Pair of Jeans

I HATE jean shopping, there I've said it. And considering how much I love pretty much every other type of shopping, that's saying something! Clothes shopping, shoe shopping, book shopping, shopping for other people's present and yes even food shopping, I'm there. But the idea of shopping for jeans makes me want to curl up in a ball and hide. To the point where I have recently found myself wearing a pair of Topshop jeans that are quite literally about to go see-through on my bum!

Don't get me wrong, I love jeans...they are pretty much all I wear all year round! I've got some incredible striped jeans, spotty jeans, glittery leather jeans, jeans covered in little velvet stars and loads of funky pairs. But when it comes to your standard pair of denim skinny jeans I struggle. If they fit on my bum they're too big on my waist and if I want them to fit on my waist I probably won't be able to get them over my thighs. Not to mention the issues that come with having a high in-step and trying to pull skinny jeans over my feet!

So I think the reason that I hate jean shopping so much is that I have never had any real success. I've bought a lot of jeans in my life but none of them have ever made me feel amazing like I thought a good pair of jeans should. I've just been settling for jeans that fit well in one place and not quite so well in another! I like Zara jeans, but the last three I've had have all puckered and gathered around the seams after only a few months. And I've had a couple of pairs of Topshop jeans, which fit well because they are so stretchy, but also because they are fairly thin and eventually I end up feeling overly exposed when I wear them out as they are so see-through! Primark and H&M jeans are baggy around my crotch area, which is not an attractive look! And Uniglo jeans fit amazingly up top, but then are just baggy and gather around my lower leg and ankle. And so the whole idea behind The Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants is just impossible! I can't find a pair of jeans that fit me, let alone me and three of my totally different shaped bestfriends!

My other issue has been no one ever told me that you need to size down in a pair of jeans. I know that you're supposed to wash jeans inside out, and you're not supposed to watch them very often but I've always just bought my size in jeans because...it's my size. And then wondered a few month later my jeans felt a lot more roomy, and probably not because I was just dropping a jean size!

So last week I finally decided that enough was enough and I really needed to just find a pair of jeans. I took the slightly less painful route of internet shopping and added multiple different but very similar denim jeans into my ASOS basket, remembering to size down. And I am over the moon to say that I may just have found the one! The super skinny jeans that fit on my waist, my bum, my thighs and my legs. They are easy enough to get on and sizing down has meant that they pull me in at all the right places without just pushing everything up to hang over the waistband! They are the perfect length for boots and flats and are a beautiful wash of denim. And for the first time ever a pair of jeans actually make me feel incredible!

The jeans that I love are the River Island Amelie jeans. And if you think that you have a similar body shape to mind then definietly check them out. I think the issue with jeans is that they need to fit well in so many different places to work. Yet at the same time body shapes vary so much which is why it is so difficult to find your perfect pair. So my only advise would be to get out there and try them all on, hundreds of them if you must, until you find a brand that works for you. This will be a brand whose fit model is closest to your own body shape and height. And once you do you will finally understand the basis of The Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants. Because a great pair of jeans really can make you feel amazing, and could if you're lucky help you find your own Greek Kostos!

Speak soon xx

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone!

Thought I would quickly check in to wish you a lovely day and let you know that I am currently working on some new material for my blog.

I had a lie in this morning, followed by a quick trip to the gym with my mum and my sister (yes, we now do family gym outings!). On the way home we stopped off at a lovely French market to pick up some fresh bread and cheese for lunch. And after lunch we went on a very long family dog walk through the bluebells which were so pretty. So after a surprisingly active Easter Sunday I am very much looking forward to tucking into some of the chocolate that I received. Although the Lindt chocolate bunnies are almost too cute to eat!

So enjoy the rest of your Easter, and the bank holiday tomorrow!

Speak soon,

xx

The Basics You Need

There are some days where I have planned my outfit possibly even days in advance, and other days where I have about two minutes to throw on something before I head out the door! And on these such days I always like to have some fail safe basic pieces that I just know will work. Cue the breton stripes (basically my uniform!), a good pair of black skinny jeans, and while the weather still can't make its mind up, a denim jacket. All these pieces are staples in my wardrobe all year round. And when I thrown them on all together they just work, and I don't even have to think about it.

Side note: I've started to curl my hair quickly in the morning with my straightens and I am loving the outcome in the photo!

This 3/4 sleeve stripe top from Joules is my favourite as it is the only white based one I have found that is a thick enough fabric for me to not have to worry about what colour underwear I'm wearing! And I love the subtle nautical logo on the sleeve. My denim jacket is such a lovely wash, not to dark or too light and it's not too oversized. I also like to roll the cuffs up on this one for an extra preppy detail. And finally my jeans, which you can't really see, but I am sure they have featured in many of my other outfit posts are from Monki. I love them and wear them so much that I actually have two pairs!

I could do a whole long post about basics that I think every woman should have in their wardrobe, but it's all been said so many times before. The white shirt, the LBD, a trench coat/mac...But if your looking for something casual but put together that you don't even have to think about on those mornings where you just need to roll out of bed and run out the door then this outfit is the one. I also recommend Converse or some type of trainers if like me your morning will probably also consist of running for the train!

Speak soon xx

Currently Wishing For

I thought I would spend a cosy Sunday evening pulling together a little picture board of some of the things that I am currently wishing for. And surprise, surprise, I seem to have accumulated a colour scheme!

Zara Braided Crossbody Bag 
I saw this in a haul by Josie from Fashion Mumblr and just thought it was adorable. Wicker bags are going to be huge this summer and I love this more structured take on the trend.
£49.99

Accessorize Petra Filigree Statement Earrings 
I am completely obsessed with the Z by Accessorize collection. Everything just looks beautiful, delicate and so much more expensive than it really is. I can picture wearing these earrings in Summer with floaty white blouses for a slightly bohemian vibe.
£17

HappyPlug Mini Sound Piece Speaker and Marble Grill
I love listening to music in the shower but having it playing on my phone just isn't really loud enough. I'm not super into my music sound quality so I don't need to spend hundreds on something technical, just as fussed about it looking pretty. And this marble is just beautiful!
£69

Topshop Floral Crochet Shorts 
I'm lucky enough to have a nice holiday booked at the end of May, so naturally I've already started having a bit of a browse for holiday outfits! These are just cute and easy to though on over a bikini. Also they would look amazing with more of a tan.
£25

The White Company Ocean Tide Signature Candle 
The White Company candles (more specifically the Seychells scent) are my favourite. After a bit of research I have found I am more drawn to Oceanic scents, so this candle seems like the perfect one to try next.
£20

Lily Collins Unfiltered
I love Lily Collins. She's beautiful, stylish a brilliant actress and at the same time in every interview I have watch (a few!) she has come across as so down to earth. All the review say this is such a lovely, honest pieces about her life and discovering herself. I don't often pick up biographies, but this is one that I really want to try.
£9.99

Spectrum You Look Marbleous 12 Piece Brush Set
I don't know how long I have wanted this for but it has been a long time. A lot of my brushes are looking so tired that no amount of cleaning them is going to save them! Plus yesterday morning my blending brush actually broke which was not ideal! It feels like a lot of money for makeup brushes, but when you calculated the cost per brush and the quality you are getting it really isn't so bad! Pay day is coming up soon so you never know...
£64.99

This Works Can't Sleep Set
I've tried these before and thy really did help me during a bad sleep period. Sadly I have never been one of those people who fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow! But with a few stressful things going on at the moment I feel as though I am starting to fall back into a bad period of sleep, and this could help me stop it before it starts.
£10

Hope you liked this little post about everything I am wishing for, and the justifications to go with them! This is actually how I shop, justifying things until I have persuaded myself I really need them. Obviously none of them above I actually NEED, but you never know what may accidentally fall into my shopping basket soon...

Speak soon xx

Clinique Do The Best Free Gifts

Clinique occasionally do an offer of a free gift set when you spend over a certain amount. And when they do, I almost always fall for them! I say fall, but it's more like falling in love than falling for a trick. This is not a trick. This is a bargain!

Clinique is one of my favourite brands on the highstreet. It feels luxurious, but it is fairly affordable. And some of their skincare products are my holy grail, like the Clinique Anti Blemish Clinical Clearing Gel which is my favourite and I have spoken about it so many times of this blog. And this was exactly what I needed to repurchase when I found out that John Lewis had an exclusive offer running. An offer I couldn't refuse...

Inside the beautiful wash bag I got six little Clinique minis (although the lipstick is actually full size!). The first two were these pots of Clinique moisturiser, a day and a night cream. I've used these for a couple of days and so far I am really impressed. They are very rich, which is amazing as at the moment my skin is so dry. The day cream has an SPF in it which is essential to me, although 15 is the lowest I will go. But it is really light to apply and feels like it lasts hours. Today is Sunday so I am having a no makeup day, but this moisturiser has appeared to have blurred some of my imperfections. And the night cream is very similar only minus the SPF and slightly richer. But I'll keep trying these out so that I can give a full review at some point.

The gift also included a couple of makeup goodies, a lipstick and a mascara. Firstly we can't ignore this incredible lipstick packaging. How pretty is that?! The idea of a jet black mascara and a red lipstick just makes me this of a really fresh-faced and slightly Parisian makeup look. The red is a true letter box red and the mascara I have tried before and is one of my favourites. It's also great to have a little mini to throw in to my handbag.

And finally a couple more skincare items. The face wash I am really excited to try as it is aimed towards Dry Combination skin, which is what my skin currently is since I have been on Roaccutane. And I'm hoping that this will be really gentle but still leave my skin feeling clean and fresh. And the little bottle of eye makeup remover is perfect for when I'm away. Even if I am just spending the night at a friends I will always taken my makeup off properly, this just means I won't have to carry around my huge bottle of Micellar Water!

I can't wait to continue to try some of these new products and maybe give some full reviews on the blog soon. And if you also want to get your hands on this goodie bag (I think there may be a few variations to choose from), the offer end on 11th March.

Speak soon xx

Si

Isn't it the best feeling ever when you treat yourself to something that you have been saving up for for ages!? And ever better when you manage to grab it on sale! Perfume and scent is something that I have been getting for and more into as I get older. And I've definitely come along way since the days of Charlie Red body spray!

I do know I am quite fussy with scents though, and I can't perfume shop for very long as I get a head ache and everything starts to smell the same. But I had a little sniff of this over a year ago now and fell in love. And since then it has been playing on my mind as something I wanted to save up my boots points for. So once I had enough points and the gift set came into sale after Christmas I treated myself. And boy, is this luxurious perfume a treat!

I'm not going to pretend that I know the first thing about scents and how to describe them. And as much as I would love to, I am definietly not one of those people who can pick out ingredients from a single sniff. However, I have done a little bit of research which I thought that I would share with you.

Si is described under the family of chypre scents, which are warm and dry. These scents are often built around a woody, mossy base with stronger hints of flowers or fruit. This one is more floral with notes of neroli, jasmine and rose. To me this is more of a warm Winter scent, it's inviting and uplifting and is beautiful and feminine without being too sickly sweet.

And if you're an expert here are the notes below...

Top notes: Sicilian Bergamot, Mandarin Oil, Liquer de Cassis
Heart notes: Rose de Mai Absolute, Neroli Absolute, Egyptian Jasmine Absolute
Base notes: Patchouli Oil, Blond Woods, Amber, Orcanoxâ„¢, Vanille Absolute

Sometimes it's nice to save up and treat yourself to a little bit of luxury. And I would definietly recommend saving up all of your Boots points for something special rather than spending it on little bits and pieces here and there. I've already started saving up for something else, although I have no idea what it will be yet. Possibly a Chanel lipstick!

Speak soon xx