A Breath of Fresh Air

I love a holiday as much as the next person. Nothing is better than switching on your out of office, leaving the work worries at work and just having some time to relax. This Summer I went on two holiday; Cornwall and the Lake District. So I thought I would tell you why sometime, there is nothing better than a UK holiday.

LESS STRESS
I find UK holidays so much less stressful, I think there is something about flying, having a limit on liquids and just making it to the airport on time that makes me a little anxious. For both our UK holidays this Summer we drove, giving us the flexibility to pack however we wanted to pack and leave when we were ready. Flying is exciting as it usually means getting away to somewhere hot, but a road trip with a great playlist and good car snacks can be just as fun!

NO LUGGAGE LIMIT
Travelling by train is a bit of a different story as it then comes down to how much you are able to carry. But if you are travelling by car and you have enough space, you can almost pack as much as you want. This is particularly useful for a UK holiday as unpredictable weather means you'll need a bikini one second and a coat and fleece the next.

THE WEATHER CAN BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE
I know guaranteed sun is usually the reason most people go abroad, but let me try and put a positive spin on this! In Cornwall, we had a real mixed bag of weather. We had a few boiling days on the beach where we all ended up going a little pink. And a few rainy days going on long walks and wondering around harbour towns. Both were lovely and some of the best memories. UK weather can be frustrating, in The Lakes in rained most of the time, but it didn't stop us from having a great holiday.

HIDDEN GEMS
The UK is beautiful. And if you haven't been to Cornwall or The Lakes I can't recommend it enough. There are some of the most incredible landscapes. In Cornwall I posted a picture of a beach we went to on one of the hottest days, and had all to ourselves; it looked like somewhere in Spain or a Greek Island. But where in Spain or a Greek Island are you going to find a huge beach all to yourselves.

So I hope this inspired you to maybe think about booking your next holiday somewhere in the UK. Next on my bucket list is Edinburgh. In fact, I've never actually been to Scotland! So watch this space...

What I'm Listening To

I think that 2018 was the year I really got into podcasts and I haven't turned back since. I have a long commute to work each day, but I struggle to read on the train without feeling sick, so podcasts have been a game changer. Plus, it's nice to feel like you are learning something in the morning while being able to keep your eyes shut!

So I thought that I would share with you what I am listening to right now:

THE HIGH LOW
I couldn't not start with this one. I'm obsessed! It's just Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes having a chat about everything from what they are reading, popular culture, current affairs and everything in between. It's factual but also funny so that when I am listening on my commute I frequently have to pause the podcast and control my laughter so I don't appear crazy. I find it empowering and insightful and I could honestly listen to both of their voices forever.
Highlights: The in-jokes that they have and the book recommendations.

HAPPY PLACE
Happy place is a podcast where Fearne Cotton interviews all kinds of different people about their life and the things that bring happiness to it. It's raw and honest and truly inspirational. There are a lot of household names that appear but it is really lovely to be able to understand these people on a much more personal level.
Highlights: Gok Wan and Davina McCalls episodes are brilliant.

THE DOCTOR'S KITCHEN PODCASTS
I am very interested at the moment in all things health and wellness related, but with so much information out there it is such a minefield. This podcast is great as it is breaks down all the fads that we read about online and is so researched focus. Dr Rupy Aujla, also known as The Doctors Kitchen, interviews leading industry specialists about everything from stress to heart health to illnesses.
Highlights: simple steps to a healthier lifestyle and not completely out of reach.

TABLE MANNERS
Ultimate girl crush Jessie Ware and her brilliant mother invite celebrities over for dinner to talk about their life and all things food. It's funny, casual and most of the time you feel as though you are sitting in a room with these people! Such a lovely thing to listen to on the way home from work.
Highlights: Food inspiration and Jessie's mum!

WELLNESS WITH LIZ EARL
Going back to my obsession with wellness, Liz Earl offers an amazing podcast covering everything from cancer to food and skin and hair health. She talks to a wide variety of different industry specialists, breaking down assumptions and getting straight to the facts. It's insightful and interesting and perfect if you want to delve a little deeper into a particular area of knowledge.
Highlights: The level of depth they go into on each topic. She interviews people who really know their area of expertise and are still comfortable to say when they don't know.

SHEERLUXE
I could talk about Sheerluxe all day! Their website is the only thing that I want to catch up on during my lunch break and the podcast is just as good. It's a general guided catch between a group of the girls that work at Sheerluxe meaning it's natural and funny. There is a little bit of a cross over between the articles that they publish that week and the podcast, but it is still great to hear different view points.
Highlights: Like having a chat with your best girl friends!

LOVE STORIES
Podcast by Dolly Alderton (also from The High Low) based on her book Everything I Know About Love, which I am currently reading. She interviews a wide range of different people, but mostly from creative fields, asking them about the loves of their life, from people to passions. It's beautiful and such a well thought out podcast.
Highlights: Stanley Tucci's episode was both moving and utterly brilliant in the way that he articulated himself. And having just read This Is Going To Hurt I loved listening to Adam Kay's episode talking about his book and his love of the NHS.

DELICIOUSLY ELLA THE PODCAST
I've been following Ella for a while but it's great to see her branch out beyond food and health, to other topics life skincare, stress and building a brand. Sometimes it is just her and her husband chatting and other episodes are an interview.
Highlights: Building a Brand with Chrissy Rucker, founder of The White Company.

THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE: JOHANN HARI
This is just one episode of this podcast but I had to mention it as it was absolutely brilliant. It was mentioned on The High Low so I downloaded it and had a listen. The episode is a three hour long interview with Johann Hari talking about drugs, depression and loneliness. It's so interesting and draws on so many different real life stories. It sounds long but after I was searching on the podcast app for any other interviews with Johann Hari.
Highlights: Something completely different to what I would usually listen to but I found it fascinating.

So this is everything I am currently listening to. But just like book recommendations I am always on the look out for a new Podcast to get stuck into. So please let me know if you have any other Podcasts that you are loving at the moment.

New Year, New Goals

I realise that we are already well into 2019 (already in February) but I thought it was about time that I returned to my little corner of the internet to update you on my life - it's been a while!

So around the same time that I stopped posting on here I started my job, returning to ASOS as a Buyer's Administrator and I moved out of my family home and in with my boyfriend. I love my job so much and the independence of not living at home, but it has been an adjustment. And I think it would be fair to say that other things in my life have taken a bit of a back seat, like this blog.

For a long time I felt so guilty about not posting, and then the more I thought about it the less I wanted to come back. It has been a good few months since I last posted, but I've chosen to move on and start again. It feels like the new year is the perfect time to do that. So I'm going to start with some things that I want to do more and less of in 2019.

MORE SAVING
I'm earning my first proper salary and I want to start putting money away every month into my savings account, rather than just whittling all my money away on food, clothes and after work drinks! I know my future self is going to thank me for this one.

LESS MEAT
I'm not doing Veganuary and I'm not even going vegetarian, but I am going to try and cut down my meat consumption to once or twice a week. I am going to start basing my meals around the vegetables and hopefully this is all going to make me feel much healthier.

MOVE MORE
Along side my blog, exercise is something that I have pushed to the back on my mind recently. My job role means that I spend a large amount of my day sitting and a desk meaning it is even more important that I do something a few times a week that gets my heart rate up. I've started running again and realised how much I love it. Even managed to drag my boyfriend Jack out of bed and on a Sunday morning run with me!

LESS FAKE PEOPLE
I can definitely hold my hands up and say that I don't have anywhere near as many friends as I did in school, and I'm really okay with that. What I have got is friends that I love who make me happy as soon as I see them and leave me with a warm fuzzy feeling when we say goodbye. It's genuine and real and that's more that enough for me.

MORE TIME FOR FRIENDS
Following on from what I said above, I need to make more time for my real friends. It's so easy to finish work and just get home, have dinner and watch some Netflix (especially in Winter!). I need to see more of the people that make me feel good, planning starts now...

LESS INSTAGRAM
I need to let go of social media and not spending hours scrolling through other people's seemingly perfect life. I know that it's not good for me, and for lack of a better world it makes me a jealous person. I want to look like someone else, to be where I'm not (half way around the world on a tropical beach) and I want to own materialistic items that I really don't need or can't afford. I am replacing scrolling through Instagram with...

MORE CULTURE
Podcasts on my commute, books in the evening, cinema with friends at the weekend, and maybe even reading the news in my lunch break. These things make me feel knowledgable and inspired, plus they are great dinner party topics of conversation!

I actually really like this new method of resolutions. Rather than to say "I am going to completely give up chocolate forever" because we all know that won't last more than about two days, it's a lot kinder to myself to say "let's do a bit more of this and a bit less of that". I guess to summarise my resolutions it is just to be kinder to myself. If a bit of chocolate in the evening is going to make me happy I'm going to eat some chocolate without any guilt.

Mint Velvet Leopard Print

It feels like Autumn is still just beginning as the sun is still shining and people are still walking around in t-shirts. But Autumn clothing has been trickling into stores since August which means that some brands are already having sales. When I was in town last week I spotted that Mint Velvet were already having a mid-season sale so I though that I would have a little browse. I spotted this leopard print jumper and thought it was a bit bold, but that I would try it on while my mum and auntie were also trying some clothes one. Long story short, I love it! It's cool and fun, but think the monochromatic colourway softens the look. I chose to size up by two sizes as I wanted the jumper to be a bit slouchy and oversized, so I can roll the sleeves up and do a "half-tuck" into jeans.

STYLING
As this is a fairly bold jumper I would keep the rest of my outfit really simple. I think blue or black denim jeans and black boots and some very delicate jewellery would work perfectly. But I would also like to try and style this with a white shirt underneath for a modern street style look. Or with a black midi skirt and some white trainers.

Mint Velvet Navy Leopard Jacquard Knit

Having a little browse in Mint Velvet inspired me to have a look online and see what else had gone into sale. There are some lovely pieces, including the khaki shacket that I am still obsessed with which you can read all about here. So I thought I would also share with you some of my other favourite sale picks.

Oatmeal Luxe Faux Fur Jacket

Black Fringe High Sandal

Dove Belted Tapered Trouser

Khaki Star Pocket Jacket

Ivory Stripe Shirt

Shae Print Maxi Skirt

London Fashion Week Festival

Yesterday I was lucky enough to go to London Fashion Week Festival with my mum. It has become a bit of a tradition for us to go whenever we can, as previously I would have been back at university in Manchester at this time. I had such an amazing day out, felt lovely in what I was wearing and even treated myself to a little something from one of the stalls. I have no idea how this post is going to turn out, maybe more like a diary entry, but I thought I would share it all with you.

BRUNCH
Where better to start than with the most important meal of the day! Our time slot for LFW was 11am-4pm, but we didn't really want to buy food inside the venue as it is usually pretty expensive and there aren't very many options. Instead I took my mum to Grind in Covent Garden, somewhere I had also never been before but I had followed for ages on Instagram and was desperate to go! We both ordered a coffee and a cooked breakfast which was amazing and fairly reasonable. I would definitely recommend it, but if you are looking for something more instagramable then maybe try one of their other locations.

LONDON FASHION WEEK FESTIVAL
Such a lovely selection of clothes, accessories and homeware. I fell in love with a dress from Lily and Lionel (here), although restrained as I am still yet to start my new job! What was really great was there was a a huge variety of product and price points, meaning there was something for everyone and it was a great place to buy presents. Rosie Fortescue was there with her beautiful collection of jewellery and I was so impressed by what a brilliant sales woman she is. And I also caught a glimpse of Hugo Taylor and Millie Mackintosh! But on top of all that my favourite thing to do was just seeing what everyone else was wearing. Everyone looked so fashionable, whether they were wearing something really smart and tailored or edgy and cool!

SHEERLUXE SHOW LIVE
Mum and I decided to skip the fashion show and instead go and see a talk. The talk I chose was from SheerLuxe and was a live viewing of their twice weekly show which I watch religiously on YouTube. It was so entertain, yet educational and everything I hoped it would be. There were some incredible affordable clothes featured from their High Street Edit that I have added to my Wishlist (mostly from & Other Stories). As well as a very interesting talk about all things beauty with the gorgeous Samantha Freedman. I even made some notes! Plus my mum, who had no idea about a lot of the people or fashion brands mentioned thought it was wonderful!

WHAT I WORE
I had been waiting for the perfect occasion to wear my & Other Stories dress that I bought at the beginning of Summer as it is a more autumnal style. It was something I saw and loved, saved up for and then treated myself when I could, so it it really special and makes me feel amazing. I think I should try and buy more pieces this way. When you wait a bit you are sure that you really love something, rather than making an irrational decision.
I paired the dress with some beige studded ankle boots (a Chloe copy) which I bought from Office last year. They keep the dress elegant while being comfortable enough for me to spend a whole day in. Plus they were a nod to the cowboy boot trend, which is really big right now. I wore my emerald green bag for a subtle pop of colour and all of my favourite gold jewellery.

WHAT I BOUGHT
There was so many beautiful pieces that caught my eye, but I managed to stay sensible! I've already mentioned the dress from Lily and Lionel which I will link here. The fabric was stunning and the wrap style was really flattering, but the price was too high considering I don't actually have an event to wear the dress to. I've saved it to my ever growing Pinterest Wishlist though so watch this space! What I did buy though was something that I was actually going to purchase anyway - how very sensible of me! This Summer I got my helix pierced, and though it is still healing at the moment I will eventually swap it for a gold hoop. I've had my eye on these ones from Astrid and Miyu (here) for a while as they are really small, but they have the beautiful diamante detail. I managed to get 10% off with London Fashion Week discount but you can received the same disount on your first order by signing up to their news letter.

Speak soon, xx

 

The Basics Wishlist

As I spent today bagging up my Summer clothes and bringing my Winter wardrobe down from the attic I thought it would be the perfect time to have a little look at what is new in for this season. In a bid to make smarter purchases I am trying to invest in things that are considered part of a "Capsule Wardrobe" and are timeless in terms of both style and quality. I have managed to keep my ever-growing wishlist to just four items that I am loving for A/W 18/19. Most of these are more on the expensive side, but maybe if I start saving and wait for the sales...

1. Massimo Dutti Check Wool Blazer - here

2. The Kooples Emily Small Faux Python Bag in Black - here

3. & Other Stories Alpaca Blend Sweater in Oatmeal - here

4. Jigsaw Boucle Tweed Coat in Navy - here

 

Speak soon, xx

Tips To Cure a Cold

I'm sitting here feeling a little a though I have been hit by a bus...I have in fact got a Summer cold. I am shivering and sweating, sneezing almost once a minute and blown my nose so much that I have given myself a headache. And as you can probably guess I am feeling a little sorry for myself.

As someone with an seemingly incompetent immune system and the ability to catch a cold from anyone within a mile radius, I am unfortunately fairly used to feeling a little under the weather. However, this has meant that I have developed a strategy so that I can feel better as soon as possible and not let a little cold get in my way! As the weather (finally) starts to drop and "Back to School" is among us, colds are pretty common. So I thought that this would be the perfect time to share my tips on how to cope with a cold and get over it a little quicker.

Disclaimer: It should go without saying that I have a degree in Fashion and AM NOT a doctor.

POP A PILL
As soon as I feel as thought I am coming down with something I take a paracetamol. Sometimes if you get there early enough you can even catch it before it develops into a full blown cold!

DRINK A LOAD OF WATER
Not only will cold water feel really nice if your throat is a bit sore but it is so important to stay hydrated right now. I like to drink warm water with honey and lemon whenever I am feeling a little under the weather, it tastes amazing and it really lovely for soothing a sore throat.

FACIAL STEAMING
I like to do this anyway as part of my skincare routine to open up pores before a face mask, however, steaming your face is also amazing for clearing sinuses. Make sure that the water isn't boiling, use something to protect your eyes and have a tissue at hand for when your nose inevitably starts streaming!

GO FOR A WALK
While resting when you are ill is important I also think it is good to get outside for a bit of fresh air. I wouldn't recommend doing any hardcore exercise when you are ill, but something like a walk or yoga is just what the doctor ordered!

GIVE DAIRY A MISS
This might be a personal one but whenever I have a cold and I eat any dairy (but particularly chocolate) my throat just feels so sore. It's natural when you are feeling ill to want to snuggle up in bed with a load of unhealthy food, but now is actually the time to eat really healthily and help your body to recover.

TAKE A HOT BATH
Similar to a facial steam, the stream from a hot bath will really help to clear sinuses. This is particularly beneficial before bed.

 

I hope this helps any of you who may also be experiencing a Summer cold! And if you have any other tips, please share them in the comments.
Speak soon, xx

September Goals

I don't know about anyone else, but to me September feels more like the new year than January ever does. As a recently graduate this is my first September that I won't be heading back into education, and I feel a little weird about it! Part of me is still desperate to race to WH Smiths and stock up on stationery that I don't even need. To crush this urge and simply because I now find myself in the "adult" chapter of my life I thought I would set myself out some goals...so here goes.

 

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LEARN SOME COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

This is something I have wanted to do for so long, as I now find myself with a bit of time before I start work this seems like the perfect opportunity. I'm trialling some free online classes at the moment so I will let you know how I get on.

 

SWAP COFFEE FOR HERBAL TEA

I love coffee, especially ones with sweetener and a load of cream, but I know that they aren't that great for me. Wherever possible I am trying to swap coffee for a herbal tea, and there are so many to chose from which makes it a little easier.

 

READ MORE BEFORE BED

I got so into reading this Summer. There's just something about being on holiday that makes we want to lie in the sunshine and read all day. Now that I am back home I am already picking my book up less frequently which is sad. I have said this so many times but I want to try and find half an hour before bed to read, rather than looking at my phone!

 

NEW DO FOR A NEW YOU

I have been thinking about cutting my hair for a while. I keep saving images on Pinterest and Instgram of shoulder length styles . But I have had my hair to half way down my back since I was about 12 and it has almost become my safety blanket.[/su_row]

 

I think that's all for now, I love making lists but I don't want to get too carried away with promises that I can't make! Has anyone else made any goals for September, I would love to hear them in the comments below!

Speak soon, xx

Birthday Blazer

So as promised, here is the final part to my What I Got For My Birthday Post. I was lucky enough to receive this beautiful Reiss blazer for my birthday, but wanted to wait until I had taken some styled outfit photos before I shared it with you. I know that blazers are a huge staple for many fashion bloggers but this is actually the first one I have owned since I had to wear them everyday in Sixth Form!

I fell in love with this blazer after trying it on while I was bored and waiting for the rest of my family to finish shopping! The silky printed fabric caught my eye in an "oh, this is kinda cool" way and the rest is history. So as much as I love online shopping is it also great just to browse shops, feeling all the fabrics and trying on pieces that you wouldn't normally.

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The double-breasted style and beautiful fabric of this blazer mean that is is a fairly smart piece. However, I love the current trend of dressing-down smart, tailored pieces with casual garments. I've style this blazer with a simple white t-shirt and a pair of light washed distressed denim to make it more appropriate for daytime. I also this this would look so cool with trainers or boots and even some strappy heels if I was feeling a bit fancy.

Blazer

T-shirt

Jeans (Similar) 

Watch

Short Necklace

Long Necklace (Similar)

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I've tried to link everything that I am wearing or similar above incase you wanted to shop anything. I'm also planning some exciting new posts for the new season, so keep an eye out for those. Anyone else over Summer and can't wait to snuggle up in cosy knitwear with a cup of tea?!

Speak soon, xx

What I Got For My Birthday 2018

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 22...actually I think I am just feeling old! Clearly 22 is not old, it's just that I feel (and look) about 17, but suddenly I am a graduate and a proper adult! My birthday was on Friday and I had a lovely day with family, mostly chatting and eating. I was also lucky enough to receive some beautiful gifts so I thought I would share them with you. The one thing I have left out of this post is a special gift which I chose from my parents that I am going to write a separate post about. Hint: it's something I need to style up.

The first thing I opened was this beautiful jewellery stand from Oliver Bonas that has been on my wishlist for a very long time. It's gold, marble and a minimal style, meaning it is right up my street. I love how it looks next to my Roberts Radio which also picks up the gold, and I have already hung some of my new and favourite jewellery on it.

Unfortunately this seems to have sold out online, however, a similar style can be found here.

As you may know from previous post or my Instagram I have recently been on a family holiday to Naxos and Paros. We wondered around a lot of beautiful shops and I loved all of the "evil eye" pieces that despite their legend have become a trend, particularly on jewellery. This is a beautiful little bracelet that my brother picked up for me, that happens to go really well with my gold watch shown below.

I love The Body Shop products and this hand cream is divine. It smells lovely and isn't at all sticky so will be perfect when the weather gets a bit colder and I am reaching for my hand cream more and more often.

Almond Hand and Nail Cream

Some beautiful faux pearls from my auntie. I love the irregular shape of the pearls and think these will go with so many outfits.

Before I went to university I couldn't boil an egg! These days I love cooking and trying out new recipes and this Rustic cookbook looks right up my street. Also, it's going to look beautiful on display in a kitchen!

Some more jewellery from our holiday! I spotted these in a beautiful little shop in a village in the mountains of Naxos. I like how they are a bit of a statement earring, but can still be described as delicate, and selfishly because I found them on holiday it is very unlikely anyone else will have them!

I hope that you have enjoyed having a little preview at what I got for my birthday this year. Speak soon, xx

My Top 5 Holiday Essentials

I got back from my two week holiday to Greek islands Naxos and Paros a few days ago and am still trying to adjust to the fact that it is no longer appropriate to wear a bikini instead of underwear. But just in case anyone else is lucky enough to still have some Summer holidays planned I thought I would share my top 5 holiday essentials.

The Linen Shirt 
I remember reading somewhere that instead of a beach coverup Lucy Williams (ultimate style icon) wears a linen shirt. I am obsessed with how effortless yet chic this looks over a bikini or swimsuit. But I also found that a linen shirt looks great with a pair or shorts or more practically as an extra layer when it gets a bit colder in the evenings. I think I am going to have to say that this is the most essential of all my holiday essentials!

The Large Beach Bag 
I like to pack for the beach like I pack for everything, I overpack. I'll take my camera, phone, hat, sunglasses, an array of different suncreams, a book, an extra bikini, a leat one change of clothes...you get the idea. In my opinion a beach bag should be large enough to fit a beach towel in and still allow plenty of room for all the other beach side essentials listed above.

Eyelash Curlers 
I packed a ridiculous amount of makeup for my holiday only to find that 95% of the time I wasn't wearing any makeup. It was so hot that I would have just sweat it off, but really I just like swimming too much to be faffing with all that. Plus as soon as you get a bit of colour on your cheeks and cute freckles start to appear on your nose, who needs makeup anyway? The one think I did reach for though was my eyelash curlers just to open up my eyes and make it look as though I didn't drink two glasses of wine the night before!

Podcasts 
This holiday I absolutely fell in love with podcasts, and in particular The Food Medic podcast by Dr Hazel Wallace. Don't get me wrong, I do still love books on holiday too, but trying to read in the sunshine is not always easy. Plus it's nice to be able to put some headphones in and shut your eyes. I'm really into health and wellness podcasts at the moment so send me your recommendations!

Insect Repellent 
I learnt my lesson the hard way with this one, as every time that we went out and I forgot to apply my insect repellent I would get eaten alive. It doesn't look great when you have build up a nice even tan, only to then be covered in red lumps and bumps. That's not to mention how itchy and painful some of my bites were, which sometimes lead to awful nights sleep. Yes, applying insect repellent is a pain and stinks, but seriously just do it, and thank me later.

So there you have it, my top 5 holiday essentials and a real mix of style, beauty and life things. I've still got loads of pictures from holidays that I can't wait to share with you, but I'm just unsure of the content that I want to go with them. But if you want to see holiday pictures now then head over to my Instagram at kpenney17 as I have been uploading while I've been away.

Speak soon, xx

I Bought Another Jacket...

I will be the first person to hold my hands up and say that I have an issue, I cannot stop buying jackets. It is approximately 100 degrees outside and Winter fashion, specifically coats and jackets, is on my mind. Don't get me wrong, I love bohemian Summer dressing, lace and lots of pastels, but nothing beats a good quality jacket that you can shove on over jeans and a white t-shirt and be done. Plus here in the UK it is usually an item that you'll get your money's worth from! Although as I am typing this with my hair in a topknot and fan on full-blast the only thing I really want to be wearing is a bikini (preferably sitting by a pool).

The bomber jacket is from a brand called Part Two which I saw in a local boutique shop and then found on House of Fraser. Part Two is a brand that I haven't come across before, but if this jacket is anything to go by I think I should probably check out some of their other pieces. It's a beautiful bottle green shade in an intricate quilted design, with a slight sheen to the fabric. It has gold hardware and a lovely floral lining that reminds me a bit of  Ted Baker. The jacket also feels heavy which I like to think indicates good quality. And on top of all that I got it for about a third of the original price in the House of Fraser sale!

I can't see myself wearing this anytime soon with the weather at the moment. Although knowing UK weather it will probably feel like Winter as soon as we get to August! But I can't wait to style this up with jeans and boots, or cropped trousers and trainers for Autumn. So watch this space!

Speak soon, xx

One Degree Hotter!

It's official, I am a graduate! So I hope you will forgive me for the break I have taken from blogging. Final year deadlines were stressful to say the least, and since finishing my last exam I have been here, there and everywhere. But on Monday I was back up in Manchester with my family for my graduation. I graduated with a first class degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising and had the most lovely day celebrating! So I thought I would share with you some of the pictures from the day as well as my outfit details, of course!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "I just graduated" powershot showing that I mean business! Probably gonna make this my new LinkedIn profile picture...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This picture is probably the 50th attempt of this shot! But perseverance is key and we got there in the end! These are the girls that got me through my final year and made it the amazing experience it was. I'm so proud of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the family (minus my little sister who still had school). Please don't comment on how similar my brother and I look, I get it all the time!

 

 

 

With my boyfriend, Jack who has been my absolute rock. We met at school and have managed to do long distance while at uni (he is up in Durham). He has always pushed me to do better and work harder and I really believe I wouldn't be where I am today without him! So proud of him and everything he has achieved and I can't wait to start the next chapter of our lives not being so far apart.

Outfit Details 

Dress - Conimo Couture on ASOS
Shoes - Dune
Clutch - Dune

So there it all is. I'm walking into the next stage of my life and finally out of full-time education! Not that it has been a chore (although it was hard), I have loved my degree and adored Manchester, which will always hold a very special place in my heart. But I'm ready to join the real world, start a job and earn some money, which I desperately need. I'm currently at home, although not a lot as I have crammed in so many holiday this Summer it's ridiculous. So here's to the next chapter and continuing to take you with me!

Speak soon, xx

 

Walk This Way...To Primark

As I've got a little older I am naturally shopping at Primark less, trying to move away from cheap fast-fashion and investing more in pieces that will last longer. Yet there are two categories that Primark just do so well at, pyjamas and fashion shoes. Last year I wrote a post about another pair of Primark shoes that I feel in love with, which you can find here. Some shoes, like boots or classic heels I do think are worth investing in, but for trend pieces that are only really going to be in for a season it really isn't worth investing. And this is where Primark come in.

The first pair of shoes are actually the reason I came to Primark in the first place. My best friend and I going out in London tomorrow night and I realised that I left all of my heels back at uni in Manchester. I picked these ones up as they are classic and elegant, but have a heel that isn't too high and an ankle strap, which I am hoping means I am going to be able to dance in them!

The second pair of shoes that I picked up are a bit of a wild card! Mum loved them so much she copied me and got a matching pair! My boyfriend on the other hand can't stand them. I just think that these are so cool for Summer. Perfect with jeans and a white t-shirt, but also with a little dress. They may only last the Summer, and by next year I may have a "what the hell was I thinking" moment. But for now, they are fun, cute and only £6!

 

I also need to apologise for it being a little quiet around here recently. I think it's fair to say that final year at university really took it out of me! I had some big coursework deadlines last week and I still feel as though I am recovering (catching up on sleep). But I have one exam in a couple of weeks, and then I'm done, forever! It's a crazy thought but I am definitely ready to be out of the education system! I've got some very exciting things planned for Summer and I can't wait to finally get back into blogging. So watch this space! xx

Why You Need a Shacket...Now!

Shackets are back on trend for yet another Spring, meaning that if you haven't already got one, you need one. For those of you that are a little confused right now, a shacket is a shirt-jacket hybrid. Genius. Which makes it the perfect transitional piece. Having borrowed by sister's camo style one the whole of last year I knew it was about time that I got one myself. I wanted a plain khaki one with some kind of detail to make it a bit different. Classic, but with a modern twist. So when I saw this one from Mint Velvet a few months ago I was obsessed. Show me pretty much anything with stars and I am sold!

However, as a student with absolutely zero income it was very out of my budget, so I pinned it to my Wishlist board on Pinterest and waited. I watched as it fell from £140 to £79 in the January sales, but decided it was still too much. And then I painfully watched as my size sold out just before the price fell again to £59. I think that actual tears were shed over a shacket that evening! But I prayed and I waited and sure enough the jacket came back in stock. A single size 8 was on Mint Velvet for £59 the other day! So I added it to my basket and paid with Paypal before I had a chance to think about how how deep I already was in my overdraft.

The shacket arrived and it is everything I could have hoped for and more. Plus I totally understand what all the hype around shackets is about, they are so versatile. Mine arrived 3 days ago and I have already worn it twice. The first time I wore it (shown in these pictures) was a slightly warmer Saturday. I wore it with a breton stripe top, black jeans and black boots and I love the combination of different prints and the outfit still looked really put together. Today was a lot colder, and wetter, so this time I wore an M&S thermal (lets keep it real), a thin grey knit slightly tucked in to a pair of dark denim skinny jeans and then the same black boots. Another very simple outfit, but that just looks so cool! Pinterest is also amazing for more inspiration of how to style your shacket. I saw someone pair theirs with a black leather which looked so good. Or a little slip dress for when it is a bit warmer. You could dress it up with heels and black leather pants. Or dress it down with a grey hoodie...very "street style". Basically the list is endless!

Now is the best time to buy as the high street has so many options. Although just a warning that you do have to be a little savvy about what you are searching for. Not all retailers are down with the fashion lingo. If you search shacket on H&M it will autocorrect to Shark and boys t-shirt will show up! They are often list under "cargo jacket" or "utility jacket" so try searching for that too!

Speak soon xx

Miracle Moisturiser

I think the fact that I have gone out and bulk bought this moisturiser should give you an idea of how much I love it! I started using this during Summer as I had forgotten to take my moisturiser on holiday with me. This was a fairly new launch at the time and was on offer in Boots, so I grabbed it. As someone with combination and problem skin I was drawn to something that sounded light and hopefully wouldn't break me out. And I have been using this moisturiser ever since!

The texture of this moisturiser is HEAVENLY. It's light and so easy to apply, quickly sinks into the skin and then acts as the perfect base for make up. My skin just drinks this stuff up!

I have been using this in combination mostly with The Ordinary hyaluronic acid. I apply a few drops of serum before, wait for it so sink in and then apply my moisturiser over the top. This really helps the moisturiser to absorb into my skin, leaving it looking a lot healthier and glowier.

I know people often recommend that you should invest more in your skincare. But over the years I have tried a lot of expensive moisturisers and I haven't loved one as much as I love Neutrogena Hydro Boost. Neutrogena is often classed as a cheaper skincare brand as it is affordable. However, all of their products are dermatologist tested and have some of the key ingredients also found in some of the more expensive brands. This moisturiser is about £12 in Boots. But check out your local supermarket as I found this in Sainsburys on offer for £6...hence why I bought so many!

I feel as though I have got a pretty good skincare rountine now. The only thing that I am missing is a vitamin C serum. So if anyone has any recommendations please let me know.

Speak soon xx

Healthy Habits

This is probably the kind of post that should have gone live back at the beginning of January as part of a "New Year, New Me" type thing. But final year brings some pretty tough January exams and I am only just feeling as though I have got my life back! I made a few resolutions back in my post a few weeks ago which you can have a little read of here. But there a few smaller little changes I have started to make in my life that I think will lead me towards my 2018 goals. So I thought I would type them all up into a post about the healthy habits I am trying to get into this year.

COLD WATER
As soon as I wake up I am trying to splash my face with cold water. Sounds horrendous but after I feel so much more awake! I am also trying to run the water cold at the end of my shower to help my skin and hair look healthier.

LEMON WATER
After splashing cold water on my face and before my shower I drink a warm lemon water to help flush the digestive system and rehydrate my body.

DRY BRUSHING
I do this just before I shower to exfoliate my skin and increase blood circulation. It takes about 5 minutes and feels a bit like a massage in the morning!

STRIP BACK SKINCARE
Gone are the days where I am throwing twenty different products at my face every morning and night in the hope that one of them might work! I know have a skincare routine that I am really happy with and takes about half the time. And my skin has never looked better!

HEADSPACE
If you haven't heard of the meditating app Headspace then you are probably living under a rock! But did you know that if you are a student and already have Spotify then you can get it for free?! Really trying to get back into mediating. Think I am going to need it with all the stresses of final year!

SUBSTITUTING COFFEE FOR TEA
I drink herbal teas anyway, but last year I really got into coffee. I can't drink black coffee (yet!) so my coffees were always milky and full of sugar. Although the main reason I am trying to cut back my coffee intake, without going into too much detail is because coffee usually upsets my stomach! I haven't had a coffee in 2018 yet and I don't even miss it that much!

DRINKING WATER
Possibly on everyones healthy habits list but it is so important. I am still learning how to understand when I am hungry and when I am actually just thirsty, but I'm getting there. And I also try and always take a water bottle out with me when I leave the house.

BEFORE BED READING
I am quite possible the worst sleeper you have ever met. It takes me hours to fall asleep and when I finally do it is rarely a deep sleep, so I wake frequently during the night. This is an area of my life that needs a lot of work. But turing my phone off and reading a book before bed seems to be helping.

SUNCREAM ALWAYS
I have been wearing suncream pretty much everyday since I was about 16 and read that it would stop me getting wrinkles in a Vogue magazine! These days it is just part of my face routine and works as an amazing makeup primer.

STRETCH AND WALK
Unfortunately most of my days are now spent at my desk hunched over my laptop. It's not healthy, but it's just life! I can't always commit to proper exercise, especially as my gym is currently being renovated. But making sure I get up from my desk every now and again to stretch a bit and trying to walk as much as possible makes me feel so much better.

CUTICLE OIL
My nails are dry and weak and need a lot of extra care to keep them looking decent. I keep a cuticle oil and a hand cream on my desk and try to use them both a few times a day.

FIND A CREATIVE OUTLET
For me, my creative outlet is this blog and also a scrapbook I am currently making. When I've had enough of work for the day it's nice to have something I can do other than just watching TV for hours that also feels productive.

SMOOTHIES
Coming back to uni after the Christmas holiday means I have been reunited with my Nutribullet and I couldn't be happier. It makes upping my fruit and veg intake so much easier, plus I am now throwing in superfood powders and chai seeds to make it even healthier!

...I think that's it! Now I am seeing these healthy habits written out it looks like a lot! But I promise that it isn't and they quickly become just part of your daily routine. Let me know in the comments if you have any other hints and tips to add!

Speak soon xx