Tired of Winter Weather and My Winter Wardrobe

Luckily there hasn't been any snow this winter (yet!) and we're finally coming into spring! Still this grey British weather we've been having has been very dull. I went to Bicester this weekend in the hope of finding inspiration and new clothes to liven up my winter wardrobe. It was cloudy and cold but their flower walls were a nice reminder of things to come.











On the shopping front,  I only ended up buying a Michael Kors watch. It was quite a disappointing trip really, The Cosmetics Company had sold out of everything I had wanted and I couldn't see much that I liked, even with the bargain prices. I think I'm just bored of wearing my winter clothes now and I don't feel like I should buy anything new for this weather because spring and summer are hopefully just around the corner. 

How are you finding the seasonal transitions? Let me know in the comments below!

List of Christmas Sales 2013

If, like me, you have been saving your hard earned money for some bargains in the sales you'll probably be wondering when all of the sales start.  So to help here is a mini sales directory of some high street and designer store sales I've heard about so far.For my top tips on how to shop the sales check out my list of things to remember when sale shopping.

Asos    -    Now on

BHS    -    Now on. Up to 50% off selected items.

Debenhams    -    Dec 26. Preview now on!!

Dune    -    Now on

Forever 21    -    Now on

French Connection     -    Now on

Top Tips - Shopping the Sales

It's so easy to get carried away with sale shopping. So many times I'll buy something just because it's less than half price and later on when I'm either looking through my day's purchase or clearing out my wardrobe a few months down the line I wonder why I bothered spending my money on something. Here are my top tips for smart sale shopping:

1. Ask yourself - 'Will I wear this?'

Seems an obvious one but think, do you have an outfit to go with your new dress/top/shoes/bag? Or will it stay in your wardrobe unloved? Or is it really your style or is the price just too tempting? No matter how much you'd love to wear sky-high heels or brightly coloured skinny jeans think about whether you'd actually wear them. Be honest and it'll save any regret.

2. Ask yourself - 'Do I need this?'

If, like me, you find yourself drawn to certain colours, shapes or styles make sure to think about whether you have something similar at home and whether you could better spend your money.

Sainsbury's Raspberry Macaroons

Macaroons are everywhere at the moment and Sainsbury's have cleverly cottoned onto this and produced an easy do-it-yourself kit to make them at home. I tried the raspberry flavoured kit but there is also a chocolate macaroon kit available.

I love macaroons. I've tried to make them and whilst my own efforts have tasted great they've never looked like the perfect macaroons. In the past I have religiously followed recipes [see Stella's Macaroon recipe] but they take a lot of time and effort and for someone like me who likes quick results, not always practical.

So, enter the Sainsbury's Raspberry Macaroon kit. It comes with two sachets, one with the macaroon ingredients and one for the icing and a ready made piping bag. All I needed to add was two egg whites, 50g of butter and 1 tbsp of milk.

The kit was really easy to follow, for the macaroons:

Review: Kiko White French Manicure Pen

With all the bright nail varnishes around lately I've forgotten about the humble (and classic) French manicure. I was reminded when I walked into Kiko and looking at their nail varnishes I found their White French Manicure Pen. I bought one a few years ago when I was in Paris and thought it was great then but sadly lost it. So, picking one up I remembered how good it was and thought I'd do a review on it. 

I love a French manicure it just makes my nails look so fresh and I'll definitely be carrying on throughout the winter to go with the ladylike trend for A/W13. Whilst you can go to a salon to get it done properly it's easier than you think (and a lot cheaper!) to do it yourself.

So to create my manicure I did two base layers of O.P.I Nail Envy, a single layer of Nails Inc. Soho Silk, used the Kiko pen for the tips and a top coat of Nail Envy
.

Soho Silk is actually supposed to be a base coat but it has a nice creamy colour, not too pinky or peachy which makes it look really natural (I don't like to see ridiculously fake looking French manicured nails). 

The Kiko pen makes it so easy and quick to do the tips of your nails. I used to use the Bourjois French manicure white tip polish which was good but required a very steady hand and seemed to dry out quickly, going gooey and thick, and hard to apply. With the Kiko pen you simply click the top of the pen a couple of times and then draw onto your tips. My hands aren't that steady so I went kind of slow but being able to see exactly where I was drawing helped me to be neat with my nails.

I've found that without a top coat the pen can last around 3 days and with a (good) top coat up to 5 days, very respectable! 


The pen is £8.90 in store (in the UK only at Westfield Stratford and White City). Alternatively you can buy on the Kiko website for a discounted price of £6.70.

Ready For A Rainy Day

With the British Summer you can guarantee any good weather isn't going to last very long and sure enough looking ahead to this weekend's weather forecast, it's going to rain, a lot. So being prepared as always I'm already planning rainy day outfits.

In summer when it rains I always go bare legged - skin dries quicker than material. Especially in the summer as it's still going to be warm when it's raining you need to keep cool. So I'm thinking a skater skirt and plain t shirt. Simple but you can still dress it up with accessories. This plain white tshirt from H&M is a steal at just £3.99 and this mint skater skirt from Topshop in mint will take you right into autumn (£34).

To Die For........Malteaser Cake

Oh. My. God. I'm in love with a cake. If that's possible. On the recommendation of a friend I had a go at making one today and would recommend you do the same! 

Its so simple and so delicious, read on for the easy 4-step recipe!

Updo Accessories

Leaving in around two months for South East Asia, This hot weather we're having has got me thinking about hairstyles for hot weather. My hair goes flat and lifeless in heat and humidity and as a result its better if I style it in and updo for the day and set it with a lot of hairspray.  

I get a bit bored of putting it in a ponytail, plait or bun and not being very inventive or good with hair I've been looking at ways to accessorize simple hairstyles. 


Limited Edition Premium Burst Jewel Hair Brooch, £35 at ASOS




This hair clip from ASOS is a little bit pricey compared to similar pieces out there but it is beautiful and has that art-deco feel to it. It would look great in the evenings but is maybe a little too sparkly for everyday use.

Lanolips Lip Ointment Review

So I've been using this Lanolips Lip Ointment in Apple on and off for about two months now and I can honestly say this is one of the best things to happen to my lips! 

It's a thick, rich ointment that you need to apply with a finger. Surprisingly its not too sticky and goes on really nicely. According to the Lanolips website its a derived from Lanolin, a natural substance from sheep's wool. The medical grade lanolin used is a natural moisturiser and is hypoallergenic for those with sensitive skin. 

The red Apple shade is a great colour, unlike similar gloss products it's not too transparent and gives the lips a really nice red shade without having to apply too much - great for in the day or evening. The apple shade is the deepest of the colours available, the others are more natural and it won't be long before I try them too. 

What I Want

I don't know about you but whenever I have nothing to do (or even when I have a lot to do!) I find myself shopping online. This week, with the weather being bright and sunny I've being looking for lighter colours and items to take me into autumn, sadly not that far away!

I LOVE this outfit! It would look great in the day or in the evening with a brightly coloured little jacket or cardigan. The cami from Topshop is a classic that everyone needs in their wardrobe, it would look great tucked in, or out with skirts, trousers, shorts....basically everything! I've been lusting over this Michael Kors Selma handbag for a while now but I have wholeheartedly fallen for it in this taupe colour - beautiful! Printed trousers have been around for a while and whilst I've wanted a pair for ages I haven't found the perfect pair (I'm very particular!). So when I saw this printed pair from Warehouse I just knew I had to have them. The white heeled sandals from ASOS are so simple and in white would go great with monochrome outfits or a colourful printed dress - can't wait to try them out!

Links:

Soft V-Neck Cami in Cream: http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/tops-443/soft-v-neck-cami-2042197?bi=1&ps=200

Michael Kors Selma bag: https://www.thackerays.co.uk/designer-womenswear/items/michael-kor-selma-taupe-bag-55421

ASOS SONIC Pointed Heels in White: http://www.asos.com/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2715570

Warehouse Tile Print Trouser: http://www.warehouse.co.uk/tile-print-trouser/trousers-&-leggings/warehouse/fcp-product/4333065677

Day at the Seaside

A sunny Sunday spent at the seaside. Yes, it was windy and cold but I guess that's what you expect when you go to a beach in the North of England. Still, you have to make the most of it.

So visiting today I did everything I remembered from my childhood, had a 99 ice cream with monkey's blood (raspberry sauce for anyone that doesn't know) walked on the promenade and played on the 2p machines. I still got excited when I played, and got extra excited when I won two prizes but in hindsight they weren't actually that good: a High School Musical medal and a Justin Bieber Keychain. Oh well, I had fun!

Dry Shampoo Review - Leo Bancroft Rapidly Revived Dry Shampoo

For the past couple of years I've been having to wash my hair daily to keep it looking mildly presentable. However, a couple of months back I decided enough was enough! I was going to train my hair so that I could leave it for a couple of days and have a longer lie in the mornings.

At first it was terrible having to scrape my hair back and hope that no one saw me on the second day (I'm a hair down kind of girl). Eventually, after about two months I found it more bearable and I didn't have to wear my hair up for the second day.

The last month has marked a turning point - I found dry shampoo! Yeah, I know I'm a bit late on this one but I had used batiste in the past and just couldn't stand the smell. I knew how great everyone else had been finding dry shampoo (the added volume being the main plus point) so I headed down to the shops to find some dry shampoo that wasn't batiste and didn't smell anything like it either.




I ended up finding this Leo Bancroft Rapidly Revived Dry Shampoo at Tesco and oh my god have I been missing out!!! It's got a light, fresh scent - not overpowering and actually quite nice . Most importantly - it works. I can even get three days out of washing my hair if I need to and it gives it great volume. What's not to love?

I even get more time for sleeping!! I would seriously recommend giving this a try!

This Leo Bancroft range is exclusive to Tesco so you'll have to head down there to try it. At the moment it's 2 for £6 on the range - perfect excuse to try something new!

The whole Leo Bancroft range looks quite good, may have to try a few more bits!

Get Ahead of the Game

With the summer sales just around the corner you need to be prepared. To get the best bargains you need to be early, you need to know when the sales start before everyone else. How do you do this? With Sales Gossip. You can sign up for free, choose which shop's sales you're interested in and they'll notify when their sales are going to start! How easy is that?!

Have you been using sales gossip? Which sales are you looking forward to?

What's In My Handbag?

I love looking at other blogger’s ‘What’s in my handbag’ posts so thought I’d give it a go:

In my handbag this week I've got:

      • My trusty Michael Kors purse (room for everything, mostly receipts)

      • Little note papers and a pen

      • An assortment of hair grips and bobbles and the all important comb

      • An assortment of lipstick, balm and vaseline - covers all bases

      • Clinique powder - keeps my make up looking fresh all day

      • Starburst - you can always guarantee I'll be carrying something sweet to snack on!

What are you carrying around?

·          

Quick Tip: Make Up Brushes

Quick Tip: Before using make up brushes for the first time wash them with shampoo and conditioner. It’ll help to prevent hairs shedding

Who Would've Thought?

Was anyone else surprised when they saw that asos was selling Primark? 

They only have 25 items available right now but it'll be interesting to see primark add a lot more of their products to sell on asos. I guess a lot of primarks clothes would be in direct competition with asos items. For example in store Primark crop tops are £3. Asos' similar own label crop tops are £7. 

For me a massive positive would be getting to see what Primark are selling without having to rake around in a busy store - sometimes I just get a bit tired and give up looking. However, managing to find something amongst the hustle and bustle does give me a rather good feeling!

Out of the items currently available I'm loving this dress:

Primark Floral Print Prom Dress

£17 at asos.com

What do you think about Primark at asos? Have you got your eye on anything?

[pictures from asos.com]

The Sun Is Out!!

Quick! Get outside and enjoy it while you still can! With the UK only managing to muster a few sunny, warm days a year I always try to make the most of the weather. After deciding which summer outfit to wear I headed down to the park and sat soaking up the rays. With a Mr Whippy of course!

Fingers crossed it stays like this all weekend!!

What do you like to do when the sun is shining?

My New Purchase: Zara bag

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve walked into Zara and something has caught my eye that I’ve fallen for and had to buy. It’s a dangerous business walking into Zara.

Anyway, my latest purchase is the ‘BASIC BOWLING BAG’. I saw it sitting on a top shelf and knew I had to have it. After getting someone to reach it down for me I inspected it for marks and took it straight to the till ( I don’t know why I do it but I always seem to buy what I want then look round the rest of the store in case I want something else). Not being leather I’ve noticed quite a few bags in Zara do have quite a few noticeable marks (transit and unpacking?) so do always make sure you check carefully and pick up the best bag.

I usually try to stay clear of non-leather bags purely for wear-an- tear reasons but I make exceptions for Zara. The bags are usually high quality and look great for the price. This bag was only £39.99 – great value!

I probably won’t be using the bag until the autumn when it starts getting colder and I’m wearing darker clothes but I really am looking forward to using it. In terms of functionality the bag can fit A4 paper, has a detachable shoulder strap and zip closure. Inside the bag is separated into two sections and features two internal pockets. Would be a great bag for everyday or work/school/uni and could probably hold quite a bit of weight without breaking.

I can’t wait to use it!!

Do you like the bag? Do you find yourself impulse buying? Let me know in the comments! 

Find the bag here

[pictures from zara.com]

Dinner Date

Whenever I’m trying to decide where to eat out I always forget about a few options, one of them being tapas. So, long overdue, this weekend I made a note to visit La Tasca. With bread for starters and a range of tapas to share for two I was well and truly stuffed!

Here’s what I had (and heartily recommend!):

       Gambas Gabardina        –        San Miguel battered prawns

       Patatas Bravas      –       Classic Spanish dish of potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce

       Rioja      –       Mushrooms in garlic butter

       Paella      –      With chicken and chorizo

       Croquetas de Pollo       –       Breaded chicken with garlic mayonnaise

       Albondigas        –         Beef and pork meatballs

Delicioso!! 

Getting Technical

After a year of serving me well I decided I finally needed to get rid of my Marc Jacobs 'Wild at Heart' phone case. Other than being time for a change it was looking a little past its best. So I went on the hunt for a new case, not that easy as there are hundreds and thousands out there to choose from. I wanted something pretty and floral for summer (and not Cath Kidston, so many people I know have them) and I found this Ted Baker one:

Perfect! And only £29! Whilst this may seem like a lot for a phone case when you can pick up cases left right and centre for under £5 but it's pretty and I'll be looking at it everyday for a good few months. I can't find a link to this case but if you're looking for something similar Ted Baker have quite a few nice ones.