Leather Mini

I've wanted to try and rock a leather mini for a long while now but have never really had the confidence. It's something that can be a bit 'full on' if you get what I'm saying? I picked this bodycon one up in the Topshop sale last year and am yet to take it for a spin but it's just SO.GOOD. That's one thing I miss about working in Topshop.... all of the ridiculous bargains I used to pick up.

 I've also been wearing these boots a lot lately, although they do tend to rub on my one foot. Does that mean I have one huge foot and one normal one? I'm not sure.. but I love them nonetheless, and yes, they were another sale bargain. In fact, now I come to think of it, this entire outfit was a sale bargain. (sorry guys, but it really does show you can pick up some beauties in the sale!)

 Topshop Boots, Dress, Blazer, Necklace, Ring, Urban Outfitters Rings, Brighton Pier Rings, H&M Rings (All the rings)

I'm lucky enough to have a great pal like Megs who took these photo's for me on her new Olympus Pen (Swoon). It's really made me realise how much better is to have someone to take outfit photo's with. I mean, for one, its less boring obviously but you're able to get way better angles and just all of the good stuff.. it'll be hard to go back to using my self timer in my garden after this little photo sesh so I've decided that I'm basically just going to move in with Megs and live happily ever after. I'm spending the weekend here and we'll be doing some filming for our youtube channels too so make sure that you're subscribed so that you don't miss them. (I have a feeling there will be lots more giggles)

What do you think of the leather mini? Have you ever styled something similar?

X

New In : Origins

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to attend an intimate blogger event at the new Origins counter in the Oxford Street John Lewis. We learned lots about Origins as a brand, about their products and new releases, and how they'd transformed their new counter into an approachable area for customers to interact and try out the products first hand. (Did you know that you can get a free facial at all Origins counters? No? Well you do now)

It's great to see a brand doing this because beauty counters can sometimes be a little intimidating.. with so many products with different lingo, for some I think it can become a stressful experience more than anything else and the new open Origins counter really breaks down the barrier between customer and brand which is y'know.. always a good thing!

 After looking around the counter for a while and chatting with all of the lovely PR girls and bloggers, we headed over to an amazing hotel for some cocktails and nibbles which was pretty divine. If you want more on this then make sure to subscribe to my youtube channel where I upload all of my vlogs, this one should be up on Sunday!

Anyway, onto the good stuff: New releases are always exciting and when they're Origins based I'd say they're even more so, wouldn't you agree? I've been trying out these two new Origins products for the last few weeks or so and I wanted to wait until now to tell you about them because they don't launch until June and I didn't want to be a massive tease.. so I settled on being just a tiny one.

First up is the High Potency Night-A-Mins Skin Refining Oil. I'm sure you're aware of the cream already but this new release is an oil based sleeping peel that smells bloody amazing. I know that this probably doesn't come as a shock to you because let's be real here : everything Origins smells like an absolute dream but yeah.. as to be expected, this product is following suit. The idea is that you apply 3-5 drops at night and by morning your skin should be smoother, brighter and re-hydrated (all the things I need right now) and not surprisingly I love it! It reminds me of my Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate it but it's a lot lighter, sinks in quicker and smells of vanilla as apposed to lavender so if you're not a lavender gal (or even if you are and are just looking for a new overnight oil) then this might be the one for you!

I've also been trying out the Clear Improvement Detoxifying Charcoal Body Scrub. After using the Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask for around a month now I was super excited to try out the scrub and I wasn't disappointed. Some of my favourite scrubs come from The Body Shop and this one is very similar in texture if not a little more scrubby (technical term dontchaknow). Something that surprised me is the strong scent.. I'd say its a pretty 'unisex' scent and has more masculine tones than some of the other origins products I've used. I personally really like it and the fact that it's suitable for both men and women makes it a bit of a wonder product in my eyes. The scrub itself is pretty heavenly and really does do what it says on the tin. It's gritty enough to really get rid of all those dead skin cells but it's also oily enough to throughout protect and moisturise throughout. Looking for perfect summer pins? This'll help you out no end.

So what do you think of these new products? Are there any new releases that you're looking forward to? Don't forget to head over for my youtube for a vlog of the day! It was super lovely to meet the lovely Josie, Hayley and Josie, and I was so excited to bump into Ellie again too. All of these girls give me major blog envy so definitely hop on over and check them out!

X

The Detox Diet: Life Edition

Okay so let me just get this out before we get any further into this: This post is intended to be a massive independent woman kick up the bootay to inspire you to do whatever the hell you want, whenever the hell you want to do it, because basically.. F*** the haters.

I've wanted to write this for quite a while but it's only recently that I feel like I've got a tangible grip on what it is to be sure enough of yourself to make decisions based on your own happiness. 

As much as I'm quite obviously a 'tell it like I see it' kinda gal.. I've also always been somewhat of a people pleaser.. Okay, lets be real here.. I'm pretty much the complete opposite of this but God loves a trier? 

A few things spurred me on to write this today in particular, from a friend that's constantly receiving downright basicbitch hate on her blog, those who have been treated badly in relationships one too many times and my own personal experience with people determined to bring me down and do you know what? I've had enough and I've had enough for you on your behalf too.

It's time to detoxify. 

(Loving how that sentence made me seem like I was some kind of superhero about to do some sick ass trick. Apologies for the disappointment)

Cut The Crap: Okay so this is obvious right? But seriously, I want you to think about crap in it's most philosophical terms (not a sentence I imagined myself ever writing). Writing a list might help - because when does it not? - of all of the negative influences on your life. Bad diet? Toxic friendships? Boring job? Controlling family member? Literally.. write down ANYTHING that you think fits into the bracket of 'crap' and only worry about 'cutting' it once you've got it all down on paper. Quite often, the fear of 'what if's' is what stops us from making the right long-term decision for ourselves so just don't even let your thoughts go that far. The first step is to admit to yourself where the problem areas are.

Shifting Dead Weight: For God's sake, just STOP wasting your time on dick heads. I'm not trying to be harsh here, I love pretty much everyone but sometimes, you'll come across someone that is determined to put you down for their own happiness. Don't be shocked if you find out that the dead weight is actually part of your friendship group either.. it's the weirdest thing isn't it... being friends with someone who's a dick? Why do we do that again? Sometimes it can be hard.. maybe you can't go tee-total because it's just one person in a group that's giving you daggers from across the room, or maybe it's a work colleague that's amazing at feeding everybody else bullsh** about you but is SO NIIIIICE to your face. Either way, there will be ways to distance yourself from these people and put yourself first. Friendship groups develop and people move on to other jobs (and when they do, feel free to go on a rapid twitter/facebook/insta unfollowing spree, no judgement here)

Trust Your Intuition: If something feels wrong.. maybe it is? I know that some things seem so hard to change, and we all get to a point in our lives where we have commitments that might limit our freedom in some respects but I'd say that 99.9% of the time, there's a way out. It could be as simple as the feng shui in your room is a little 'off' and it's making you stressed.. or it could be as huge as never feeling at home in your city/country and every day living in it is eating you up. I can't stress enough how important it is to really listen to what your mind and body is telling you.. We all have varying levels of stress and anxiety and sometimes that can't be controlled by simply running away but y'know what.. sometimes it can and if you've gotta run? Then you better get yourself some comfy kicks cause you can run as far as you need to.

Go Cold Turkey: By this I'm talking about a bit of everything... if being on facebook all the time is stressing you out, delete it from your phone, if people are annoying you , hang out by yourself for a bit. Sometimes I find that life can get 'a bit much' and for me, the only place that can chill me out is the sea. There's something about the open water and it's sheer vastness that makes me feel overwhelmed in the best possible way. If you need to take a trip on your own somewhere then by all means do it. If anyone responds in shock, 'you went on your OWN?' - whatever you do don't take this as the judgement that its intended to be and instead realise that not everyone has the balls to do things on their own sometimes and you are totally awesome and brave for being able to.

Know Yourself: This is a bit of continuation of my previous point really but it's something that I've found to be SO important that I just thought I'd ramble on about it for a little longer. Kapish?
For the longest time, being alone was such a concern for me.. I basically couldn't handle it and would fill my time with so much stuff and people just to avoid my own company. It's taken a long time but I've finally began to accept myself and enjoy my own company. Sure, I still get bored after about 3 seconds on my own but I'd be happy to live alone, I'm happy to travel to places alone and meet new people alone.. and most of all, I don't give a s*** anymore if that makes other people uncomfortable.
I'm done with being judged. I'm done with being tired and I'm done with allowing myself to be brought down with all of the other negative garbage that's going on around me.

Yoga: I really don't need to say anymore than this.

The world is such an amazing place and there's so many opportunities for you out there. You can literally change your entire life if you want to.
Don't let anything hold you back.
Be Brave.
Be You.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank every single one of you, whether you've been around for a while or you're new, whether you'll come back for more or whether you'll never come back again:
Thank You.
You have helped me believe in myself. You have helped me believe in humanity and the positivity that's around if you just open your eyes to it. You have helped me truly believe that I don't need to be held back by anyone including myself, and most importantly..
You have opened my heart.
It's bigger, and stronger, and beating more enthusiastically than ever because despite all of the down days, despite the anxious ones and the lonely ones.. I am so much more open to loving and being loved right now and I couldn't have done it without you.
I never ever thought you could help me in this way.. I hope I can help you too.

X

Oops A Daisy

 For those of you that follow me on instagram and twitter, you might be wondering how my recent trip to Brighton was and what I got upto (mostly eating) and believe me, I can't wait to tell you all about it, but today I opted something a little less burger related in the way of an unlikely favourite dress that made it's way into my wardrobe last year. I picked it up in Topshop (shock) when it first came in and although I'm not always a floral lover, I felt like it was still grungey enough to be worn with boots and a leather and so as usual, it became a part of my ever expanding floordrobe.

The weather in the UK is still pretty hit and miss which is GREATLY annoying because it's May.. I do not want to be wearing tights in May and basically, this makes outfit planning a complete nightmare. (I'm bad enough as it is so I really don't need any assistance from highly unpredictable weather) So, in reference to the ever changing weather, I went for a hat to potentially protect my hair from any rain that's about to make it do a Monica Geller and some tights because a) all of my clothes seem to be shrinking themselves in the wash these days and b)otherwise my legs would actually freeze straight off my body. I also went for a pretty minimal makeup look and simple jewellery because to be honest.. some days I really cba with the time that it takes to put on an actual whole new face.

Topshop Boots, Dress, Hat & you guessed it.. Necklace. (Sometimes I shop other places)

I know I'm not really doing anything groundbreaking here by standing in my garden in a dress and a hat (and boy am I aware of it) but some days, simple is best and.. although I feel like a bit of a 'cop-out'... it's all I've got to offer you on this fine Sunday.... so here's hoping you're feeling simple this Sunday too.

Love you all.

(seriously a lot)

X

An Overdue Primark Haul

So it seems that I ended up in Primark and I also seem to have bought many many pairs of shoes.. what can I say. I'm an addict. It's defintiey one of the smallest Primark hauls I've done as I normally completely loose control of my arms and my purse but this time I managed to only pick up one large bagfull.. I'll be back for sure.

Some feedback on those leapord print boots would be awesome and perhaps if you were to let me know that it's okay to buy four pairs of shoes in one trip then that'd be awesome too.

If you fancy seeing what else I picked up and listening to me ramble (I guess you could always hit the mute button.. harsh) then just check out the video below!

Don't forget to let me know what your favourite item is and what you've been picking up in Primark recently! I can feel another haul coming on already!

X

Recipe | Cheesy Jerk Sweet Potato Fries

When it comes to cooking, I'm kind of a 'fling it all in and see' kinda gal. I'm lucky enough to say that this has rarely disappointed and ended in disaster and in actual fact.. I usually end up making some of my fave meals this way and after tweeting about my new sweet potato discovery (which is super easy by the way), I found that the recipe was pretty highly requested..So.. here it is:

When it comes to measurements, I tend to just guestimate based on what I'm feeling that day and I encourage you to do the same so if you love jerk? Add more.. if you hate ginger.. add less etc.

You will need:

-A few teaspoons of coconut oil (Just pop it in a microwave to melt your little lump)

- 1 sweet potato per person

- 2-3 teaspoons of ground ginger

-2-3 teaspoons of cinnamon

-A whole heap of grated cheese (I went for mild so as to not overpower the jerky goodness)

-A few good grinds of salt & pepper

- 2-3 tablespoons of good jerk seasoning (My fave is Dunns River)

-Jerk sauce ( Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Sauce & Marinade is the best thing since sliced bread)

Good? Okay lets go..

1.Okay so the first thing you're going to want to do is set your oven to gas mark 8/9 which is about 230/40 degrees celcius. Wash your sweet potato/s and start chopping it/them up into thin fry like shapes. I'm normally more of a thick wedge person but in this instance, I'm all about the skinny fries. Make sure to keep the skin on for a bit more taste and texture (Or don't.. y'know.. do what you want)

2. Once you're done chopping, whack your fries into a single(ish) layer on a baking tray (or two) and drizzle your melted coconut oil over them. Give them a bit of a swish to give them a good coating and then add all of your dry herbs & spices (You don't need the cheese or jerk sauce just yet) Give them a final swish around to make sure they're all happy and coated and then they're good to go into the oven for 20-25 minutes at which point, you'll be pulling them back out again. Don't be afraid to go to town here on the spices and seasoning.. every little helps!

3. Once you've taken these badboys out of the oven, they should be looking suitably more crispy and yummy than when you first put them into the oven and that can only mean one thing: Cheese time.

First things first, you're going to want to drizzle the jerk sauce all over the top of the fries. I tend to just pour it in a zig-zag motion until I feel like it's jerky enough. Then, go wild and sprinkle your cheese all over the top. Mmmmm. Then, just pop your fries back into the oven for a further 5-10 minutes until all of the cheese is melty melty.

4. Now then, this is the really easy bit. Take your fries out of the oven and scoop them up onto a plate or bowl of your choice. Obviously make sure to take a picture of them before tucking in so you can use it to tweet me about how much you LOVED them haha.

So there you go! Simple as pie.. (that's a saying right?) 

Let me know what you thought of my first recipe post (I know it's not the usual lisptick or boot obsession but y'know.. everybody loves sweet potatoes) and make sure to drop me a line if you try them out! 

Happy Cooking!

X

P.s prizes go to all who managed to avoid associating the first image with anything of the phallic variety. Apologies to those who didn't.

10 Reasons To Love Your Blog

Muji Pen, Marks & Spencer Notepad* & Candle*

So.. I've been feeling a little 'bleh' recently and although it's not solely blog related (or in fact mostly blog related), I've found that somewhere along the line, I've lost my blog mojo.. my passion, and my motivation. I think.. If I'm honest.. it's just a simple case of comparison and I've basically been beating myself up for not being even half as awesome as all of the lovely bloggers that I follow.

SO, in aid of bucking my ideas up I decided to write this post because 1) It always helps me to get some positive thoughts out there in the mix with the negative ones and 2) As much as I'm pushing myself to love my blog, I want you to love yours too. So lets get cracking: here's 10 reasons you should love your blog, whether you've got 1 follower or 50,000.

You Own It | This little space that you've got.. where you can write down your thoughts, test out new ideas and maybe showcase your photography? It's yours. YOURS, and no-one elses. No-one can tell you what to write and what to say, and no-one can tell you you're doing it wrong ( Unless you read all of those 'how to write a blog' posts in which case, we're all doing it wrong). What I'm getting at here is that this thing that you own.. it's something that you've created and you can use it in whichever way you wish.. whether that's as a source of income, or an escape from your day job. You can choose to have it public or private, and you can choose if and when you engage with it. It's your own damn thing and no-one... no-one can take that away from you.

You Da Boss | Unless you're big-time or own your own business (props to all those giving me life envy) then this might be the one place in your life where you really are the boss. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all about being the boss of your own life but let's be honest.. there's always people to please, arguments to avoid having and heaps of washing up to do and.. ain't nobody shouting about being the boss of their own washing up. If you want a 5 hour break? Take it! If you want a holiday last minute? Book it! And if you want to eat/drink/boogie whilst you blog then ain't no-body gonna stop you!

It Brings New People Into Your Life | Through blogging you'll no doubt engage with readers, fellow bloggers.. .maybe even brands and pr's and there's a whole heap of people that you'll end up in contact with that would have remained strangers had you not made this little space on the internet your own. Some of these people might even become friends, and how awesome is that! I can honestly say that every single person I've met so far through blogging has been an absolute babe, and there's so many awesome people that I'm yet to meet, whether that be pr's that I enjoy long email conversations with or whether it's you! I can't wait for even more awesome people to come into my life.

It Looks Great On Your CV | Having a blog shows that you have interests outside of your job/ studies and that you're actively engaged with something that you don't have to be engaged with. It shows work ethic, commitment, passion.. but most of all, it shows you. Let's be real here.. you wouldn't have a blog if you didn't love something enough to write about it occasionally.. whether it's the love of writing itself or maybe you're just obsessed with lipsticks (guilty) and that shows an extension of your personality.. Employers LOVE personality. (Unless you're a puppy hating, pizza shaming weirdo but I know you're not.. so you don't need to worry)

It Opens The Door To Opportunities | Having a blog has given me the most amazing opportunities that I would have never imagined and would never have experienced without it. I get invited to press days, blogger events and get to try out products before they're available for sale. HOW. SICK.IS.THAT. When I think about how I'm only at the beginning of my blogging journey and am aiming for much more growth it makes me so excited for the future. Just in-case you're sitting there having not gone to your first event yet.. that's not the only kind of opportunities your blog can bring you! Every day I feel lucky to have the opportunity to interact with you guys.. to get involved in chats and work with brands and other bloggers. The more you put in, the more you get out.

It Invites You Into A Community | Something I've found more and more since getting involved in all the blogger chats is what an amazing sense of community and support I feel from fellow bloggers. I really feel like I've built up my own little support network of like minded people (welcome to the Blundergang) who are all lovely and all support each other. I remember at the beginning of my blogging life there was a lot of talk of competition between bloggers but I've honestly not come across it. If you've got a blog and aren't feeling that sense of community then seriously, take part in a few chats and drop a few comments here and there and you'll be glowing from the inside in no time.

It Has Potential | Your blog has the potential to be whatever you want it to be. It has the potential to help you heal, it has the potential to make you laugh.. to make others laugh, it has the potential to send you around the world and round the twist. It is what you make of it and whatever that is, is the right thing for you.

It Promotes Growth | Personal growth? Skill growth? Your blog has got your back. It'll help improve your writing, your photography.. maybe it'll help you grow your creative eye when it comes to blog design. It'll also undoubtedly aid your growth as a well rounded human. It introduces you to all sorts of people and their opinions, and it'll probably teach you how to deal with online negativity and people that just don't 'get' you.. but that's all positive right? Without sounding too emosh, blogging has given me a much better understanding of myself and my worth.. and I no longer spend hours worrying about what people think of me. I'm doing me boo.

Your Voice Matters | As strange as it might feel.. your voice matters to so many.. they just don't know it yet. (Or maybe they do.. soz big-time) Sharing your story can bring people together, give people hope, and help people relate. And I mean, let's be real.. even if you're just sharing what's in your Asos basket.. you're helping a sista get some new threads! But seriously.. I was blown away by the response I had from my post, 'Ideas On Friendship' and it really opened my eyes to how much this platform is not only awesome for sharing snaps of outfits but also for actively making a positive difference to someones life and that ladies and gents, is the greatest gift.

It's Unique |  Last but by no means least, your blog is different to every other blog out there. I don't care if you give in to the hype of marble and candles (double guilty) and you write about your new jeans or your new blush, you'll do it totally differently to the way that anyone else does and that's something to be proud of. Everyone has a different style of writing, shooting and even posing (ha!) and that's what makes your blog loveable. That's the reason that people check in with it occasionally and it's also the exact reason why you should be so damn proud of yourself: For sticking with it, for fighting the urge to give up, for having to re-take photo's that spontaneously disappeared off your hard drive, for trying something new, for opening yourself up to new possibilities, for being brave, for being honest, for being committed, for seeing something through and mostly? For being you.

X

Lace & Leather

 I've always been one to try and 'edge up' any kind of outfit that's super girly and you can rest assured that I'm not about to stop now. I love how easy it is to throw some black boots and a leather jacket on with a girly dress and completely change the vibe. I'm all about that vibe change. In this instance, I wanted to amp it up a little by contrasting leather with this beautiful cream lace dress from Jones+Jones. Of course you could wear this little number with some pretty cut out heels and a nice clutch but in-case that's a bit too 'obvious' for you, then this might be up your street.

I couldn't help but whack out these New Look boots that we all know and love because they help create the most mystical illusion of legs that don't look like sausages and that's something I can get down with. I also love how the harshness of them contrasts so much with the puffed out tutu style skirt section of the dress (which in case you were wondering.. did make me feel a bit Disney and yes I might have actually loved it).

 Jones+Jones Dress*, New Look Boots, Topshop Leather Jacket

 All I'm waiting for now is an invite to somewhere worthy of this lace & leather combo. So.. any offers?

X

The Perfect Tee

I've been after the perfect T-shirt for so friggin' long so you can imagine my excitement when I found it hanging around in my local Zara for £16! Like most girls and guys nowadays I can be pretty self conscious about my body shape and I've always found that getting a flattering fit isn't that easy. I don't want my tee's to be tight, but I don't want them to just look 'too big' or so flowey that I look like I'm wearing a sack. (Although I do love a sack). This Zara number is the most awesome shape and I've hardly stopped wearing it since I bought it. The top section is like a really thin, fine knit and the bottom is more of a breathable cotton. It's a V-neck.. which I never really saw myself loving but since accidentally on purpose purchasing a few beautiful bra's from Urban Outfitters, I'm enjoying the occasional flash of lace that sometimes occurs. I'm not even sorry.

 I also finally got round to picking up another pair of Topshop Jamie jeans that fit perfectly in all of the ways and haven't really stopped wearing them either. They're definitely my favourite fit and I can't really see myself ever going back to those Leigh days. So far I've managed to not put my foot right through the knee hole when getting dressed but it's certainly something to watch out for. I remember when I worked at Topshop it was a regular occurrence for staff and customers alike.

 Zara Tee, Urban Outfitters Bra, Topshop Jamie Jeans & Boots, Primark Sunglasses

Just in case you were wondering (because surely you must be) they do this tee in lots of different colours too! I may have also picked up one in white cause y'know.. monochromeprobs.. but from what I remember, they also had some more neutral beige shades and potentially a mustard? Although.. if there was a mustard one I'm pretty angry at myself right now for not buying that too.

Side Note: Today I have an afro and I'm not really sure how to manage it.

X

Current Evening Skincare Routine

Green People Gentle Cleane & Makeup Remover*, Clinique Clarifying Lotion, Origins Clear Improvement Mask*, Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum*, Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Night Cream

Had you asked me about my 'skincare routine' this time last year, I would have laughed you out of my room with a packet of face wipes in hand. Thing is.. I was always quite lucky with my skin as a youngster and never really went through that 'teenage spot prone' phase. I have however had some problems in the last few years that have managed to time themselves perfectly with all of my friends blossoming out of spot prone skin into the enviable clear skinned ladies that they are. Anyway, enough about my skin history and onto the good stuff : my current go - to evening skin care routine.

Every Night | Green People Gentle Cleanse & Makeup Remover: If you've watched my April Favourites then you will have already experienced me raving about this but just in-case you're not really into youtube, let me lay it out here for you right now: it's the best thing I've put on my face. I've got quite sensitive skin that can be oily and really dry in places (It can't make it's mind up) and this cleanser is just perfect for all of that. It's creamy and feels slightly oil based so it's not harsh at all and is super gentle on your skin and eyes. That's right people... this stuff gets rid of ALL eye makeup without stinging and it feels so much less harsh than any of the bi-phase liquids that I used to reach for. My make up literally melts away and my skin is left feeling clean without being 'squeaky clean'.. (eugh)

Every 2 or 3 Days | Clinique Clarifying Lotion: I used to use this every single day morning and evening but I think as I've finally started to understand my skin, I've realised that it really doesn't need a scrub or exfoliant every day as it'll just freak out and go all red & blotchy.. no-body wants that. Since using such a nourishing cleanser though, it's good to use a chemical exfoliant every now and again just to get rid of any dead skin cells and smooth everything out a bit.

Once A Week | Origins Clear Improvement Mask: I try and do a face mask around once a week and tailor it to whatever skin issues I may be having that week whether I need some intensive moisture or something to draw out all of the impurities. I recently came into contact with this amazing active charcoal mask from Origins though and I really feel like it works wonders for basically everything. My skin feels so much softer, looks so much clearer and doesn't feel stripped at all when I remove it.. expect it to be making an appearance in my next faves video!

Every Night | Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum : I know, I haven't stopped banging on about this since I got it so I'll try and keep it short and sweet. This product fills a massive hole in the market by catering to the skin of 'twenty-somethings' and as a 24 year old (Good God) that's something I can get down with. It's brightening, neutralising, and sinks in really quickly. Oh, and as with all Origins products, it smells just dreamy. If you want a more in-depth review and to read my first impressions, then just click here.

Every Night | Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate: This it the first ever oil I put on my face and I haven't looked back since. It smells like I'm getting some sort of spa treatment and by morning my skin just looks a whole lot better in all of the ways. I find it hard to pinpoint exactly what's happening but what I can tell you is that since using it, I've noticed that my complexion has become more even, my skin doesn't get as many stubborn try patches, and any scars or hyper pigmentation caused by spots or random flare ups are significantly reduced. It also lasts SO long, so you wouldn't have to worry about re-purchasing for a long time.

Every Other Night | The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Night Cream: I used to use this every night but found that along with all of the other products I was using, it was just a little bit too intense for my needs. I've never really gotten excited about moisturiser before as it's kinda the bane of my life as my skin can't make up it's mind about what it needs and how it's going to react. This little product has been a firm player in my skin care routine for a decent few months now though.  It's great for sensitive skin and it's really thick and nourishing so you really don't need much. It sinks in reasonably quickly for a night cream but as with most, you'll still be a little bit shiny pre-sleep but who really cares? By morning my skin feels beautifully moisturised and significantly calmer and for that I am eternally grateful! 

I'd love to know your hero evening skincare products and if you had any suggestions for additions into mine! (I'm always a sucker for new skincare!)

  X

In My Asos Basket

From left to right: Sleeveless Cropped Aztec Shirt, Olivia Burton Midi Dial Chronograph Watch, Fringe Rucksack, Printed Cami Top, Cut Out Western Ankle Boot, Tiered Maxi Shirt Dress, Peak Black Suede Woven Ankle Boots, Metal Ball Extended Earrings, Mix Knit Over The Knee Socks, Tusk Pendant Long Necklace, Suede A Line Skirt

If you're anything like me, you'll have baskets full of lusted after items on basically all of the online clothing stores and will continue to add to them on a daily basis because well: clothes. Asos is probably my all-time fave for this because as we all know: it's just so dayumm good. I was browsing my basket the other day and thought I'd show you some of the things in there, y'know... just to inspire someone else's spending as well as my own and maybe make this 'in my basket' thing a bit more of a regular feature. Whaddayathink?

Anyway, onto the goodness:

I'm pretty much in love with the cropped aztec shirt and would feel pretty awesome wearing it with jeans, the amazing suede skirt you may have spied, and even with the matching shorts cause well.. I do love a co-ord. I've been lusting after everything Olivia Burton for about a million years and although I'm usually more of a brown strap gal.. this white one really drew me in and on tanned skin? Well that'd just be a brucey bonus wouldn't it. Obviously I'm all about tassels as it is 70's season after all and I could do with a new rucksack anyway so that totally justifies this purchase I reckon.

I've also fallen head over heels for not just one but two pairs of cut out boots (shock). I honestly don't think I could pick between the two in terms of awesomeness and don't particularly feel that I should have to either. They're both totally different.. right? And the suede ones just look SO comfy I can imagine them all over my feet and let me tell you.. it's a good feeling.

I also think it's about time that I jumped on the bandwagon that's already sailed (well if that isn't a mish mash of phrases I don't know what is.. I'll stop... Sorry.) and pick myself up some more over the knee socks. I've only got two pairs at the moment and they're just not quite long enough so I can sometimes look a little bit more 'footballer' than 'pinterest ready' and let's be honest.. you want to 'like' that photo of my sock covered legs on crisp white sheets that's just soooo instagram just as much as I want to take it and post it. 

Now then, last but by no means least, I think we need to have a little chat about this amazing maxi shirt dress. Isn't.It.Perfect. I love shirts. I love shirt dresses.. I basically love everything about this and to be honest, would quite happily live in that entire outfit with hat and boots included for the rest of time. (I actually tried to find said boots and add them to my basket but for now they seem to have escaped my grasp. If anybody sees them hanging about, be sure to let me know so that I can add them into this little collection. )

What's in your Asos basket right now?

A wishlist shared is a problem halved.. or something like that.

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April Beauty Favourites

It's that time again where I round up the best 15 beauty products, tools & lotions of the month and launch them at you via youtube. I was actually really excited to film this one as a lot of the products are so stupidly affordable as well as being flippin' amazing that I just HAD to tell you about them.

There's some regulars of course but most of these goodies are brand new discoveries and I just can't wait to see what you think of them too! 

 
I'd love to know what you've been loving through Arpil, beauty or not!
And of course, if there's anything you'd like to see on this blog or over on my youtube, then just hollaatchagirl!
(I'm here to serve)
((within reason))

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70's Swing

Every time I see this dress I immediately think of some seriously wild 70's wallpaper and I am more than okay with that. I picked it up in H&M for a mere £20 last week so if you're quick, there might still be some floating around! I took it for it's first spin on Tuesday when the lovely Megs came to visit and it was super practical too when we went for what seems to be our 'regular' wagamamas. I hadn't seen her since before she left the UK for Bali to visit Laura (which I'm so friggin proud of her for!) and if you're anything like me, you will have also been stalking their journey over on instagram and you will have already seen.. the tan.

Despite Megs being sickeningly brown and beautiful, I still managed to hold myself together and not cry at my paleness in comparison and we headed out to take a few snaps in the beautiful Spring weather. (Note: It was bloody freezing and the amount of photo's I had to delete due to inappropriate wind-induced flashing easily made double figures)

I also wore this brown hat which I picked up last year when I had longer hair. I went through a phase of wearing hats all the time but since having most of my hair chopped off, it doesn't seem to look as good and this makes me sad. Nonetheless, I wore it anyway and much to my amazement, it managed to stay on my head and not fly off in the blustering winds. Winner! Megs was kind enough to take these photo's for me and also to lend me her second jacket (yes.. she took two.. obviously Bali's heat has been too kind to her) for when our roles reversed. No tights? Not so much of a good idea.

H&M Dress & Hat, Asos Boots, Megs Sunglasses

After a lovely afternoon catching up on the latest and lusting after Megs amazing dungarees I headed home for a quick lipstick change before going out for a meal with the fam to celebrate my brother's birthday. (Again wearing the perfect 'two meals out in one day' dress.) It's quite rare that we get everyone together so it was nice to see everyone around the same table. Somewhere between finishing my main meal and starting my dessert, the day was re-named 'Tequila Tuesday' and that ladies & gents, is something I can get down with.

How are you wearing the 70's trend?

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