Workout Wear

Workout Wear

I think that January is probably a good time to talk about gym stuff, and more specifically what I wear to the gym. Although I have been going to the gym a few times a week for the past 6 months now, so I like to think that I'm not a New Years Resolution gym goer! Up until Summer last year I could probably count the number of times I had ever been to the gym on one hand! But after starting a desk job, waking up early and commuting to London everyday I really wanted to find a way to fit some sort of exercise into my new lifestyle. So my best friend dragged me along one weekend in June (it's easier with a bit of motivation!) and that was the beginning of that.

If I'm honest at first I did find it a little mortifying. Was my pant line that visible? Had I remembered to shave my armpits?! Why were all the other girls sporting a full face of makeup? And I would constantly be comparing myself to other people that could run longer than me or lift heavier weights than me. I would usually turn up to the gym looking like I'd fallen out of bed and thrown on a pair of trainers, which at the weekend I probably had! And after work I would arrive looking equally as awful wearing what was left of the makeup I had put on at 6am that morning!

But the more that I went to the gym the less I cared about what other people thought of me. After spending a whole week in the office my gym time was my me-time. I'd put my headphones in, listen to some motivational music and push myself to work harder. And I started to love it. I would internally roll my eyes at the girls who would turn up with a full face of makeup (more than I'd wear on a night out!) and not touch any of the gym equipment. Who cares that I'm the one looking like an asthmatic tomato when I just pushed myself to run an extra Km.

Sweatshirt - Nike
Leggings - Nike
Sports Bra - Reebok
Top - Mango
Trainers - Nike

So while I'm really not bothered by what I look like at the gym. I'm not going to waste any of my makeup just to put it on and sweat it off, and clog up my pores in the process. But...as someone that loves clothes I have found a new love (slight obsession) for gym wear. It probably didn't help that for the first few months of my gym going I was working at ASOS on their Sports Department seeing all of the new Nike, Adidas and Puma come in. Although it may of may not have meant that I got a few samples! But honestly, is there anything more motivating to get you to the gym than to show off your new pair of running leggings?! And in my case, these incredible Ombre ones from Nike.

Just wanted to end by saying this is not a Nike sponsored post! I just happen to really love their gym wear for both practicality, technicality and fashionability. To me, they JUST DO IT all! (sorry).

Speak soon xx

Accessorize Sale Picks

If I'm honest I haven't really done very much sale shopping, particularly for someone who loves shopping as much as I do! December sort of bled me dry and I've got a few holidays planned for next year which I am trying to save for. But last weekend I just couldn't walk past the huge sale signs in the window of Accessorize. So I popped in and emerged about 20 minutes laters with some lovely picks that I thought I would share.

The first, and my favourite is this beautiful double chain necklace from the Z by Accessorize collection. I absolutely love how delicate and expensive this looks, especially as with 70% off it really wasn't.

I think this would look beautiful just with an undone white shirt for an effortless but expensive look.

The next thing that I got was a bit of a boring purchase but I always need these! I really like to style my hair half clipped up so these grips work perfectly for that as they can hold more hair than bobby pins. And for only £1 I couldn't really go wrong!

I also couldn't resist this delicate rose gold heart necklace as in the sale in came to £1.50. And this would perfectly complement the rose gold and pink Cluse watch that I bought for Christmas.

And finally...I bought chocker! I know what you are thinking, they're probably old news now. But I never really felt like they suited me or my style, particularly the thicker velvet ones. But this one is so simple and delicate that you can barely tell its there. I really like to layer it up with a few other gold necklaces for a slightly bohemian look.

So there you have it, a few little picks from the Accessorize sale. There are probably going to be a few more little hauls coming up here and there as I have got some lovely things recently that I really want to share with you!

Speak soon xx

What I Got For Christmas 2016

Well this post is fairly long overdue! But it is a rainy Sunday morning and I am finally sitting at my desk to share with you some of the lovely things that I got for Christmas. And wherever possible I will try and leave some links to products below.

The first present that I got was a beautiful watch from Cluse, a brand that I think makes very high-end looking watches for a really reasonable price. I loved this one as it is quite large so makes a statement, but at the same time the colours are very understates and feminine.

This one is the La Boheme Rose Gold White/Pink design.

If you know me or have been reading my blog for a while you may know how much I love a mug of green tea! So for Christmas I also got a huge beautiful tin of my favourite Green Tea, which is going to look so lovely on my desk at work. And then I also got a can of Arizona Green Tea, which I have always wanted to try. Although I'm actually a little nervous about trying this as I feel I have built it up so much in my head and it will probably never reach my expectations!

This is a beautiful Passport Case that I spotted in a TK Maxx a few weeks before Christmas...so I bought it and got my younger brother to give it to me for Christmas!! Does anyone else literally have to buy themselves a present if they want to get something from their siblings!? Anyway, it is a lovely simple leather one that I think looks really classy. I remember years ago I used to have a rather loud Paperchase one, although it's not really to my taste anymore!

These earrings were such an amazing surprise from my mum. Just before Christmas we went to a Christmas Fair in Kent and there was a lovely stall selling semi precious stone jewellery. I thought there studs were so delicate but also a little different. And the gold and the turquoise together looks beautiful. I've worn these a few times since, particularly with an all black outfit with my teal handbag to pick up the colour.

I love receiving lovely Beauty bits for Christmas as they are a little luxury that you wouldn't usually buy yourself. The Body Shop does some of my favourite scents particularly the Shea Butter Shower Cream which I now seem to get a bottle of in my stocking every year!

Some more lovely beauty products from Jacks parents. Hand cream seems to be something that I am always running out of! And so far I have just opened the light pink one and have been using it before bed, but it smells amazing. Quite florally and fresh.

How cute is this little silver sausage dog!? He is currently sitting on my shelves holding some of my favourite rings.

This one looks like a bit of an odd present which I found in my stocking. But it is actually a hanging room scent which has made my rooms so smell so lovely. And the marble and baby pink design make this a pretty little piece to hang somewhere.

I have wanted one of these for so long as my little sister has the black one which I was borrowing all the time. This one is a lovely bluey/grey which is just perfect for throwing stuff in a running out the door. And while it looks fairly small it can actually hold loads including a water bottle and all my other stuff! I've been using this one mostly for the gym at the weekend.

Wasn't totally sure whether I should be posting a picture of my underwear, but we all have to wear pants so I figured it's okay. I am a total sucker for pretty underwear! When I'm wearing nice underwear (particularly if they are matching!) I really feel like I can take on the world! Topshop do some of my favourite and I think they always have their 3 for £10 offer on so it has become a bit of a tradition that I will find some of these in my stocking!

I hadn't heard anything about this book, but it looks like a really lovely read and I can't wait to start it once I finish the book I am currently reading. It's also going to help me with my New Years Resolution of reading more before bed!

And finally the present that I was most excited about...this incredible graphic print silk scarf. I had wanted a silk scarf for so long after seeing so many people tie them around their necks or the straps of their handbag. And then at London Fashion Weekend back in September with my mum I spotted this one. It was perfect, monochrome printed and 100% silk. Yet for some reason at the time I couldn't justify such a spend purchase, so I left it.

The next day I imediatly regretted it (when you dream about a product you probably should have just bought it!), so using my girl powers/detective skills I found the name of the company and had a little look on their website, only to find that the beautiful scarf I had seen wasn't their! I think in the end I even emailed but never got a reply. So when I found this under the tree I couldn't believe it! It turns out while I was looking at another stall my mum had quickly bought it and hidden it in her bag! But it really was the most wonderful surprise.

I hope that you enjoyed this quick post about some of the things I got for Christmas. There are actually a couple more about some Christmas presents coming up soon that I felt deserved their own post! But the rate I'm going who knows if they will be next week of next month!

Speak soon xx

Some Holiday Pictures

On Friday we finally packed away all of the Christmas decorations and put them back in the loft for the next 11 months or so. I have to say the house looks nowhere near as pretty or cosy! And when since the beginning of January the temperature has really dropped I need to be cosy more than ever! I'm also back at work and while I love work I do miss the holidays, lying in and watching films all afternoon! So while I continue to morn the end of Christmas and the beautiful decorations that come with it I thought that I would look back at a few of the pictures from my holidays.

Christmas in London is always so magical. And I loved the beautiful mistletoe decorations inside Covent Gardens.

On Christmas Eve Eve (is that a thing?!). I wen to the ballet with my mum and sister, which has actually become a bit of a tradition. Matthew Bourne is an incredible choreographer and does modern takes on classic tales and stories. This one as you may have guessed from the photo was Red Shoes. We had such a lovely evening with a meal at Bills before and I can't wait to see what he is doing next.

So sad to have packed away this little guy! Just before Christmas I took a trip up to Manchester to visit all of my uni friends. And of course we went to the famous Manchester Christmas Markets where I spotted this adorable snowman and I couldn't leave him behind!

For most families Christmas Breakfast is just not a thing! However in our house it definitely is! We don't usually have Christmas Lunch/Dinner until about 4ish so I need something to keep me going. We have lots of pastries and yummy thing, including a pork pie (a strange family tradition!). I also love the way we decorated the dining area this year with all white and silver, of course influenced by me.

And we go so all out with decorating the my mum even swaps around the paintings for Wintery Scenes! This one was done by my grandpa which is pretty cool!

Some more little Christmassy touches around the house.

On Boxing Day we went to The Hunt at Chiddingstone House. And before anyone ask they were not hunting real foxes, just following an artificial scent. But it was lovely to get a hot chocolate and see everyone all dressed up. I have also never seen so many post people dressed in tweed in my life, which made for brilliant people watching!

It was the perfect crisp, frosty morning which was followed by a lovely lunch in a pretty local cafe.

Hope that you all also have lovely holidays. I am currently working on a What I Got For Christmas post at the moment which should be going live sometime soon. So keep an eye out for that one! xx

 

Looking Forward - Penney Chic

So I thought it would be interesting to look all the way back to my post this time last year and see which goals I met and which should probably go back on to my list for this year!

LIVE WITH LESS
In a way yes, I have had quite a few big clear outs this year so I have definietly got rid of a lot of things that I don't use or wear. But at the same time I now work for ASOS and clothes are sometimes perks of the job, so it's a tricky one...!

DRINK MORE WATER
This year I have been much more conscious of my water intake, so I probably have drunk more water. But do I still need to drink more water, 100% yes, so this should probably stay on the list!

BE BALANCED
I have actually found this one really difficult which is shown through the lack of posts on my blog. I wanted to find more time for myself in 2016 but it hasn't really happened. Yes, I've had a great year, but it has also been a stressful one. I'm currently working a full time job, with a long commute to London while I am still a uni student with assignments so time management has been hard. This year I want to find a really good routine of trying to stay on top of everything and in doing so find more time for myself. 

WRITE EVERYTHING IN MY DIARY
Nailed it! Basically my diary is now my life! I have so many different appointments and obligations that if I didn't write them all down I would just have no idea.

WORRY LESS
Will I ever?! Worrying about work and uni etc is just what I do! And in a way I don't think it is necessarily a bad thing as it makes me work harder. But in 2016 I did worry less about what people think of me. Who cares if I go out with no makeup and a face covered in spots! I don't care about that girl who spread rumours and seems to live for drama! And have no time for pretending to be friends with someone when you know they are going to turn around and stab you in the back. I'm so lucky to have a few groups of really close friends (and of course family) that I know will always be there for me, and 2016 was the year I let go of those fake friendships and people that don't really bring anything to my life. 

READ MORE BOOKS
No, sadly this one didn't happen. And I can probably count on one hand the number of books I read last year. But I got a few lovely ones for Christmas which I excited to start. And in 2017 I am going to try and dedicate half an hour of reading before bed instead of looking at my phone to help me sleep.

MAKE MORE TIME FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY
I think I did this one! It's lovely to be back living at home with my family and see much more of them. And now I'm working I've had to make more of an effort to meet up with friends and visit people at uni which I feel I have done. 

WRITE LETTERS
I think I can tick this one off too. In fact, I've just finished writing my thank you letters from Christmas! I love writing and receiving letters, especially from my grandparents and I'm sure that I can keep this one going. 

SPEND LESS TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Don't really think that I can tick this one off! I have a love hate with social media. I love seeing what other people are doing and find everything I follow really inspiring and motivating. I just hate the time that it takes from me. 

 TRAVEL MORE
Yes! I went on some incredible holidays this year with Marrakech being my favourite and the most eye opening. It was such a different culture for me but so beautiful and full of friendly humble people. I hope to do some more travelling in 2017 though and visit more amazing places. 

 

And so, my new 2017 ambitions are as follows:

DRINK MORE WATER

FIND MORE ME TIME

GET TO BED EARLIER

READ MORE BOOKS

WEAR LESS MAKEUP ON MY SKIN

VISIT MORE OF LONDON

SPEND MORE TIME ON MY BLOG

I'd love to hear in the comments below what your New Years Resolutions are so let me know.

Speak soon xx

Elephant Mugs and Goodbye Hugs

This post is totally spontaneous, but as part of my New Years Ambitions I wanted to get back into loving blogging. And for me blogging isn't really anything too planned, it is writing about whatever I want on my little space of the internet.

Today was my first day on my new ASOS department, Own Buy Jersey Tops. And while I do miss my old team (they became like family very quickly!) I can confirm that everyone at ASOS is so lovely! And I am so lucky to be working there!

But I did want to mention the best little surprise that I found on my old desk left by my beautiful friend Imi. Last week after work we walked into Camden to check out some of the sales, and while neither of us ended up buying anything I did spot this incredible elephant mug! For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while, or ever meet me in person and spot all my elephant jewellery you will know I am verging on obsessed with elephants. I don't know what it is but I just love them! So to find that Imi had remembered and gone back to get this for me was just the cutest thing!

You can find this adorable mug (as well as many other lovely ones) on the Urban Outfitters website.

Elephant Tea Mug

Speak soon xx

 

Looking Back at 2016

...And yes, I'm still alive! Feels like ages since I've found the time to sit at my desk and write on my blog. But new year, new me and all that stuff so I'm back with Penney Chic 2.0!

Everyone has been talking about 2016 like it was the worst year ever and they can't wait to see the back of it. We lost a few incredible people this year and there some unpopular political decisions (I won't go into detail as everyone is entitled to their own opinion) as well as some horrendous terrorist attacks. And while like most of the world I'm pretty excited for 2017 and all it's new beginnings, 2016 was actually a pretty good one for me.

Firstly I finished my second year of university and started my dream job at ASOS where I am just having the most amazing time! I did some travelling, to Marrakech, South of France an Cyprus and met some incredible new people. I also feel like this year I have really started to look after my body and have been regularly exercising 3-4 times a week and eating much more healthily. I'm definietly no health guru but I can say that I feel happier, healthier and more confident than I have in a long time.

So I thought I would do a little round up with pictures from some of my favourite moments of 2016!

• Matching PINK hoodies with my little sister!


• Getting dressed up with my uni girls for the end of year ball.


• Exploring beautiful parks outside Manchester with friends.


• A simple healthy breakfast in bed.

• Yummy healthy lunches at uni.


• Starting my new job at ASOS!


• Magical moments in Marrakech


• Our beautiful riad.

• Celebrating my 20th birthday with family.


• A spontaneous trip to Hastings with Jack.


• Fancy dinners in London after work with dad.


• Such a special present, Vogue August 1996 (my birth month).

• Rather cliche but own my first ever MAC eyeshadow palette thanks to the girls at work.


• London Fashion Weekend.


• Finding my dream jacket, an ACNE Studios dupe!


• Incredible landscapes in the South of France.

• Beautiful little towns in the South of France.


• Road tripping through Northern Cyprus.


• By the pool before dinner in Cyprus.


• The only photo I took on Christmas Day as I was so busy spending time with family!

Hope you have all had an amazing 2016 and best wishes for the New Year! xx