Sunday 30 April 2017

Summer Jewellery Wishlist*

Although all signs of Summer seem have to disappeared here in the U.K. - believe it or not we actually had snow this week! - I'm still not ready to give up on idea of sun & warmer weather. So even if it's nowhere near warm enough outside just yet, I realised there are some stunning pieces of jewellery available this season.. so of course, this was the perfect excuse to put together a little wish-list.



1. Mini Ear Cuff - Au Rate* [x]
2. Fine Gold Look Rings - Top Shop [x]
3. Lotus Pendant - Accessorize [x]
4. Gold Flower Earrings - Au Rate* [x]
5. Pink Lace Choker - Missguided [x]
6. Diamond Ear Cuff - Au Rate* [x]

I simply adore how delicate each of the above pieces are & imagine they'd look gorgeous paired with a summer dress & sandals (whilst sitting on the beach, sipping a cocktail of course). 

If you've spotted any jewellery perfect for the summer months, 
be sure to let me know in the comments! 
xxx


Sunday 23 April 2017

The Spring Revamp*

After a particularly long day at work I love nothing more than curling up in bed, lighting a few candles & catching up on Netflix. However - with the stresses of day-to-day life - I'll admit that sometimes (most of the time) I can let my room get pretty cluttered. So with Spring finally making an appearance here in the U.K. I decided there was no better time to finally have a big "spring clean" & reorganise. 

Source
As someone who owns many, many items, I found it a little daunting knowing where to begin with my "spring clean". So (to help anyone who many be in a similar position) I've put together some tips that I found really helped revamp my space & part with items I no longer need. 

Clothes & Shoes: 
If they haven't been worn in the last year, you probably never will again. Instead of leaving them to gain dust in your wardrobe, donate them to charity. Someone somewhere will love them. 

Make-up & Skincare products: 
Again if you haven't used it for the last six-twelve months, it's probably time to throw it away. They're probably way past their "use-by" date now!

Bedding:
Did you know it's recommended to flip your mattress every three months? I certainly didn't. Whilst this probably isn't something many of us will remember to do, it is worth noting that once in a while we should make the effort to flip/buy a new mattress (I currently have my eye on this one from Leesa*). I also love to change up my bed-covers & find something that really fits with the current season (think pastel colours & floral prints for Spring!). 

Flowers: 
I find that flowers & plants are the perfect way of injecting a little colour to a room. Although fresh flowers are my personal favourite, this can get a little expensive over time. However artificial flowers can look just a pretty & last a life-time. 

Whilst not always the most exciting way to spend a weekend, I was surprised by how therapeutic I found the whole take of Spring Cleaning. Not only did I finally part with (far too many) items that I really didn't need, I now love nothing more than walking into an organised & tidy room! 

Do you have any tips for Spring Cleaning or
revamping a room for a new season?
I'd love to know in the comments. 
xxx


Monday 17 April 2017

Product Review - Brushegg

Whilst every beauty lover knows the importance of cleaning their make-up brushes, it's one of those tasks that is usually pushed to the bottom of the "to-do list". So when I recently spotted a product boasting to make cleaning my brushes "quick, easy & effective" - I knew I needed to try it for myself...




Used to deep clean make-up brushes, the BrushEgg is a small silicone "egg" (surprise, surprise) designed to reduce the need for various cleaning solutions & therefore avoid dry or damages bristles. With one flat edge containing small silicone bobbles &  larger, horizontal strips it quickly lathers soap whilst removing the build up of product & dirt from brushes. 

To use simply pop the BrushEgg under warm water, add a small amount of soap (I usually opt for shampoo to keep my brushes soft) before swirling the brush-of-choice across the silicone until the water runs clean - voila squeaky clean brushes!

Whilst I probably wont start jumping for joy at the thought of cleaning my make-up brushes, at least now I know it's a quick & easy task. Plus at only £2,99 it really is a bargain.


Have you ever tried a BrushEgg or similar product?
Do you have any tips for cleaning make-up brushes?
I'd love to know in the comments
xxx




Sunday 9 April 2017

Body Confidence with Dia & Co*

With the warmer weather finally making an appearance here in the U.K it's time to pack away the winter coats & dig out those summer outfits. Playsuits, summer dresses & little pairs of shorts are all perfect items of clothing to wear on a particularly warm day. However - for some of us - the thought of showing more skin can be a little scary.

Whether immediately discarding an outfit without even trying it on, or simply not feeling comfortable once out of the house, the dent in my body-confidence means I can sometimes struggle when it comes to fashion in the summer months. However this year I have set myself the challenge of stepping out of my comfort zone & dressing in the outfits that I truly like.



As someone who feels most comfortable pairing any skirt/dress with tights, going "bare leg" is something really out of my comfort zone. However - as almost any girl will know - black tights & the summer sun really don't go well together (hello melting legs!). So this year my aim is to break the habit & step outside with my bare legs showing.. even if they are a little on the pale side. Ultimately I'm hoping taking this small step will help build my body-confidence & enjoy the summer months without the stress of "what to wear" or the pain of sitting with ridiculously toasty legs!

A great company that is currently working to improve the body-confidence of women everywhere is plus-size fashion brand Dia & Co*. With campaigns like #mybodyfirst - centred around loving our bodies - Dia & Co are working to change the average shopping experience to put women & their bodies first. Be sure to check out their website to find out more - regardless of your clothing size! 

I'd love to know how you work to build your body-confidence. 
Leave any tips in the comments below! 
xxx

Sunday 2 April 2017

March in Photos

After seeing similar posts floating around the blogging world, I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon & share a snapshot of my month in photos. I was lucky enough to spend March in the company of my family and friends whilst splitting my time between Birmingham & my hometown back in the countryside.



As most of you will know in March we celebrate Mother's Day here in the U.K. Of course this was the perfect excuse for me to jump in the car & travel back home for a long weekend. During this time I treated my Mum to afternoon tea (just look at those cakes), became a crazy cat lady with my favourite furry animal again & also visited a quirky cafe where the sugar pots are mini-cauldrons (if you're ever in Gloucester I couldn't recommend the Hubble Bubble Coffee House more!).

Towards the end of the month I was finally able to go & watch the new Beauty and the Beast - which has swiftly become my new favourite Disney film. If you haven't yet seen it I won't post any spoilers, but it's a great take on a timeless classic that I can't wait to see again (side note, there are also some great new songs!). This little Disney boost inspired me to dust off the Minnie & Mickey plush's I picked up in Disneyland at Christmas (click here to read all about the trip) who now take centre place on my bed.. yes I really am 25!

I was also lucky enough to enjoy a few glasses of wine with some of my nearest & dearest friends - something I find is the perfect pick-me-up after a long week at work!

I'm now very excited too see what April has to offer & to *hopefully* welcome some warmer weather.. (in other words I'm more than ready to dig out my Spring wardrobe).

How was your March?
I'd love to know in the comments. 
xxx

Summer Jewellery Wishlist*

Although all signs of Summer seem have to disappeared here in the U.K. - believe it or not we actually had snow this week! - I'm still not ready to give up on idea of sun & warmer weather. So even if it's nowhere near warm enough outside just yet, I realised there are some stunning pieces of jewellery available this season.. so of course, this was the perfect excuse to put together a little wish-list.



1. Mini Ear Cuff - Au Rate* [x]
2. Fine Gold Look Rings - Top Shop [x]
3. Lotus Pendant - Accessorize [x]
4. Gold Flower Earrings - Au Rate* [x]
5. Pink Lace Choker - Missguided [x]
6. Diamond Ear Cuff - Au Rate* [x]

I simply adore how delicate each of the above pieces are & imagine they'd look gorgeous paired with a summer dress & sandals (whilst sitting on the beach, sipping a cocktail of course). 

If you've spotted any jewellery perfect for the summer months, 
be sure to let me know in the comments! 
xxx


The Spring Revamp*

After a particularly long day at work I love nothing more than curling up in bed, lighting a few candles & catching up on Netflix. However - with the stresses of day-to-day life - I'll admit that sometimes (most of the time) I can let my room get pretty cluttered. So with Spring finally making an appearance here in the U.K. I decided there was no better time to finally have a big "spring clean" & reorganise. 

Source
As someone who owns many, many items, I found it a little daunting knowing where to begin with my "spring clean". So (to help anyone who many be in a similar position) I've put together some tips that I found really helped revamp my space & part with items I no longer need. 

Clothes & Shoes: 
If they haven't been worn in the last year, you probably never will again. Instead of leaving them to gain dust in your wardrobe, donate them to charity. Someone somewhere will love them. 

Make-up & Skincare products: 
Again if you haven't used it for the last six-twelve months, it's probably time to throw it away. They're probably way past their "use-by" date now!

Bedding:
Did you know it's recommended to flip your mattress every three months? I certainly didn't. Whilst this probably isn't something many of us will remember to do, it is worth noting that once in a while we should make the effort to flip/buy a new mattress (I currently have my eye on this one from Leesa*). I also love to change up my bed-covers & find something that really fits with the current season (think pastel colours & floral prints for Spring!). 

Flowers: 
I find that flowers & plants are the perfect way of injecting a little colour to a room. Although fresh flowers are my personal favourite, this can get a little expensive over time. However artificial flowers can look just a pretty & last a life-time. 

Whilst not always the most exciting way to spend a weekend, I was surprised by how therapeutic I found the whole take of Spring Cleaning. Not only did I finally part with (far too many) items that I really didn't need, I now love nothing more than walking into an organised & tidy room! 

Do you have any tips for Spring Cleaning or
revamping a room for a new season?
I'd love to know in the comments. 
xxx


Product Review - Brushegg

Whilst every beauty lover knows the importance of cleaning their make-up brushes, it's one of those tasks that is usually pushed to the bottom of the "to-do list". So when I recently spotted a product boasting to make cleaning my brushes "quick, easy & effective" - I knew I needed to try it for myself...




Used to deep clean make-up brushes, the BrushEgg is a small silicone "egg" (surprise, surprise) designed to reduce the need for various cleaning solutions & therefore avoid dry or damages bristles. With one flat edge containing small silicone bobbles &  larger, horizontal strips it quickly lathers soap whilst removing the build up of product & dirt from brushes. 

To use simply pop the BrushEgg under warm water, add a small amount of soap (I usually opt for shampoo to keep my brushes soft) before swirling the brush-of-choice across the silicone until the water runs clean - voila squeaky clean brushes!

Whilst I probably wont start jumping for joy at the thought of cleaning my make-up brushes, at least now I know it's a quick & easy task. Plus at only £2,99 it really is a bargain.


Have you ever tried a BrushEgg or similar product?
Do you have any tips for cleaning make-up brushes?
I'd love to know in the comments
xxx




Body Confidence with Dia & Co*

With the warmer weather finally making an appearance here in the U.K it's time to pack away the winter coats & dig out those summer outfits. Playsuits, summer dresses & little pairs of shorts are all perfect items of clothing to wear on a particularly warm day. However - for some of us - the thought of showing more skin can be a little scary.

Whether immediately discarding an outfit without even trying it on, or simply not feeling comfortable once out of the house, the dent in my body-confidence means I can sometimes struggle when it comes to fashion in the summer months. However this year I have set myself the challenge of stepping out of my comfort zone & dressing in the outfits that I truly like.



As someone who feels most comfortable pairing any skirt/dress with tights, going "bare leg" is something really out of my comfort zone. However - as almost any girl will know - black tights & the summer sun really don't go well together (hello melting legs!). So this year my aim is to break the habit & step outside with my bare legs showing.. even if they are a little on the pale side. Ultimately I'm hoping taking this small step will help build my body-confidence & enjoy the summer months without the stress of "what to wear" or the pain of sitting with ridiculously toasty legs!

A great company that is currently working to improve the body-confidence of women everywhere is plus-size fashion brand Dia & Co*. With campaigns like #mybodyfirst - centred around loving our bodies - Dia & Co are working to change the average shopping experience to put women & their bodies first. Be sure to check out their website to find out more - regardless of your clothing size! 

I'd love to know how you work to build your body-confidence. 
Leave any tips in the comments below! 
xxx

March in Photos

After seeing similar posts floating around the blogging world, I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon & share a snapshot of my month in photos. I was lucky enough to spend March in the company of my family and friends whilst splitting my time between Birmingham & my hometown back in the countryside.



As most of you will know in March we celebrate Mother's Day here in the U.K. Of course this was the perfect excuse for me to jump in the car & travel back home for a long weekend. During this time I treated my Mum to afternoon tea (just look at those cakes), became a crazy cat lady with my favourite furry animal again & also visited a quirky cafe where the sugar pots are mini-cauldrons (if you're ever in Gloucester I couldn't recommend the Hubble Bubble Coffee House more!).

Towards the end of the month I was finally able to go & watch the new Beauty and the Beast - which has swiftly become my new favourite Disney film. If you haven't yet seen it I won't post any spoilers, but it's a great take on a timeless classic that I can't wait to see again (side note, there are also some great new songs!). This little Disney boost inspired me to dust off the Minnie & Mickey plush's I picked up in Disneyland at Christmas (click here to read all about the trip) who now take centre place on my bed.. yes I really am 25!

I was also lucky enough to enjoy a few glasses of wine with some of my nearest & dearest friends - something I find is the perfect pick-me-up after a long week at work!

I'm now very excited too see what April has to offer & to *hopefully* welcome some warmer weather.. (in other words I'm more than ready to dig out my Spring wardrobe).

How was your March?
I'd love to know in the comments. 
xxx