Blackpool 2015

Pictures from our trip to Blackpool. I know, most of them are from the zoo, but there are a couple more on my instagram.

We had really nice weather, which was great. We arrived on Monday 10th, checked in and had a really long walk which kind of messed up my knee for the time we were there >;(

On Tuesday we went to Pleasure Beach and on a couple of rides (not the Big One, too scary - days later a bolt fell off it, so good job we didn't go on it haha).

Wednesday was my birthday and we went shopping in the morning and in the afternoon went up the Blackpool Tower. Later that day we had a little walk on the beach.

On Thursday we went to Blackpool Zoo in the morning and to the arcades in the afternoon. 

On Friday we just sat down in a little cafeteria and wasted some time in the arcades before it was time to come back. 

We stayed at the Albany B&B on Albert Road. The breakfast was really nice as there was a variety to choose from: cooked sausages, bacon, different types of egg (scrambled, fried, boiled), hash browns, a selection of yogurts, cereals, flavoured milks, pancakes, croissants, fruit and toast, including lots of different jams and spreads. The room had an iron, ironing board, tv, kettle, closet, and the bathroom a nice and easy to use shower. The only thing we didn't like was that there was no room to put your stuff in the shower and also that mattress was one of the lumpiest and most uncomfortable ones I've slept on. Would I visit again? Sure! Would I stay there again? Only if they changed the mattresses.

xo

Cheap Plus Size Clothing at Tbdress

Who said that plus size girls have to wear ugly, frumpy clothes all the time or that they are never able to look good? In this day and age there are so many options for them popping up on the high street and online, such as on websites like tbdress, where you can find very affordable items in bigger sizes, such as dresses, coats and tops. 

      

As you might already know, a little black dress can be a life saver as you can wear it to virtually any occasion so it will be the best option when you are feeling like you have nothing to wear. This cute number on the left features a sheer lace overlay on shoulders and upper arms which give it a sexy vibe, and the longer sleeves mean that this dress conceals what you don't want to be showing. It is figure hugging on the bodice which means you can show off your curves, but then it flares out right before the tummy area which can be comfortable as well as flattering. 

There are lots more cheap plus size dresses http://www.tbdress.com/Cheap-Plus-Size-Dresses-104175/ on the tbdress website, but if your style is more like 50's retro, or enjoy wearing more colourful things, then this is for you. This lovely figure hugging dress comes in a gorgeous teal coloured fabric with an all over polka dot print. With a sweetheart neckline it shows off your curves, while keeping everything under control with its flattering short sleeves. It also has a trio of decorative hot pink buttons on the bust and an equally contrasting skinny belt to show off your waist. 

So if you're looking for cheap plus size clothing http://www.tbdress.com/Cheap-Plus-Size-Clothing-103893/ head over to tbdress.

This is a sponsored post.

xo

Argos Interior Haul

Quite a few months back we did a bit of shopping to organise our bedroom and got a few items from Argos.

As there was a lot of stuff that didn't have a place to be in so we got the Maine Tall Wide Bookcase, it's quite affordable at £34.99 and allows you to fit the shelves at different heights so you can put them on according to your needs.

A new clothes rail was also a necessity as the old one we had was broken, we got the Multifuncional Clothes Rail which features a couple of shelves for shoes, as well as adjustable height and wheels, it was less than half price at £13.99, unfortunately it's not available any more but this bamboo clothes rail is very aesthetically pleasing with its minimalistic design.

We got a full length mirror as well, ideal for getting ready, making the room seem bigger and reflect lighting too. I chose the Living Real Wood Full Length Cheval Mirror, which was an absolute bargain at £19.99 (normally £49.99). Ours is currently leaning on the wall but it has a freestanding design so you can place it wherever you would like.

And last but not least we got a floor lamp, as the main light we have is not bright enough for reading in the evening. I selected the Halogen Reading Light Floor Lamp in silver, it was easy to put together, comes with a fitted light bulb, and it's slim design means it fits easily next to the small space next to my bed.

We also changed the colour of our walls, to Dulux Atmosphere - a calming pale blue that adds more brightness to the room, as opposed to the darker blue that was on previously.

Have you made any home changes recently?

xo

Stripes & Skirt

H&M T-shirt // Uniqlo Skirt // New Look Flats // H&M Hair Clip

(Similar: T-shirt, Flats, Hair Clip)

I really like this outfit, it's very simple but feminine and summer friendly. In fact I am slightly obsessed with that T-shirt and have worn it a lot (but not too much, as if that was possible anyway!)

xo

Back To School Must Haves

Even if you are not going to school any more, if you share my love for cute stationery then this is for you.

Green Leather Backpack £50 // Why I Love Pizza Journal £10 //  Little Miss Princes Lunch Box £6

Sort It Document File £6 // Rabbit Pencil Sharpener £4 // Office Sticky Notes £4 

My Little Pony A5 Notebook £3 // 4 Pack Pastel Pencils £3 // Plastic Travel Mug £5
Camera Pencil Case £2

xo

Simple Moisture Boost Hydro Mist

Face mists have been around for a while, and I never quite got into them as don't think they are necessary. The concept is quite interesting though: a way to replenish moisture on your face lost throughout the day without ruining your makeup or even touching your face? Sounds too good to be true.

Recently I picked the Simple Moisture Boost Hydro Mist from the clearance section in Boots for £1 to bump up the total in order to get bonus points haha. This face mist is said to contain 2 vitamins (pro-vitamin B5 and vitamin E) As well as 2 skin loving ingredients (lotus flower & glycerin) which will give tired, dehydrated skin an instant boost.

To use you simply hold the bottle about 30cm away from your face and spritz 2 to 4 times. The first thing I noticed about the Simple Moisture Boost Hydro Mist is its smell, which is not very nice. It smells like a petroleum based product, not sure if it's the glycerine but the Simple moisturiser smells just like this. 

I like that the product is easy to use and portable, and can be used to freshen up or cool down your skin when you get hot but I don't really feel like it does a great job at hydrating. The mist is lightweight and quickly absorbed so you don't feel like you have something sitting atop of your skin. When I finish this product I'll probably refill it with a toner or just plain water to refresh my skin. 

xo

We Are Back

Yesterday we got back from our little holiday to Blackpool. The weather was really good while we were there, only started raining on Friday morning, but the rest of the time it was quite sunny with a few clouds here and there. On the evenings it would get windy, which made me cold, but I packed my newest jacket which kept me nice and warm.

We went to the amusement park, shopping, up the tower, to the zoo and down to the beach. Hopefully I will post a few pictures of our trip soon, though you can have a sneak peek on my Instagram page.

xo

Nivea Rich Moisturising Day Cream

We all know the importance of moisturising and protecting our skin from the sun, which is something I do everyday. I was given Nivea Daily Essentials Rich Moisturising Day Cream as a gift, and have been using it on days when I'm not going out as it is, as the name suggests, a rich day cream, which means it's a bit heavy for my oily skin.

Nivea Daily Essentials Rich Moisturising Day Cream is meant for dry and sensitive skin, as it is enriched with natural almond oil and hydra IQ to intensely nourish skin for 24 hours and leave it feeling soft. It also has SPF 15 and extra UVA filters to protect skin and prevent premature ageing.

What I like about this day cream is that it does moisturise very well, has a lovely sweet smell that doesn't linger, has SPF and it also leaves my skin feeling super soft and plump which I can definitely feel at the end of the day when I do my evening skincare routine. 

As it is meant for dry complexions, it does leave my skin a bit shiny, which is why I only use it when staying in. But if you suffer from dry, tight and dehydrated skin I would recommend you try this day cream as it makes skin feel amazing.

Find Nivea Daily Essentials Rich Moisturising Day Cream in Superdrug and Boots.

xo

Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Quilted Blouson

As it is my birthday this month, I decided to treat myself to a couple of things, including this jacket from Uniqlo that I purchased in July. I really liked it since it landed in my inbox a few months back in the Uniqlo newsletter and couldn't stop thinking about it and promised myself that when it went on sale I would buy it. Well as it was less than half price I just couldn't resist.

I like that it is a neutral olive colour that will go with everything; the bomber style with the ribbed collar, cuffs and hem; the diagonal quilting and the fact that it's down so it will keep me warm; it has pockets so my hands will be kept warm too; it's super lightweight and comfortable because of the materials which makes it easy to carry/travel with plus it comes with a bag for storing in transit.

The Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Quilted Blouson is on sale for £29.90 (normally £69.90).

xo

Black Blazer

H&M Blazer // Topshop Jeans // H&M T-Shirt // Topshop Boots

(Similar: Boots)

It's the weekend! Even though the whole week has felt like the weekend because I've been off work.

On Monday we're leaving to Blackpool, so quite excited about that. Hope the weather's nice as we will be spending my birthday over there.

xo

Get Ready for Autumn with Tidestore

We are actually just past the middle of the glorious summer, which means that sadly, autumn will be making its way to us soon. But do not despair, as I have a couple of really cute options from Tidestore http://www.tidestore.com/ (an online shop with very affordable pieces) to keep warm this autumn:

                  

Since grey is one of my favourite colours, I had to pick this super comfortable and oversized grey sweatshirt with a contrast white print on the front and super fluffy hood so you can have one less thing to worry about if you are going to be travelling or going to class as you will look and feel great in it, as well as keep warm when it starts to get chilly. More hoodies online http://www.tidestore.com/Wholesale-Hoodies-100021/

And since you might need to dress up from time to time, like if you have an event such as a dinner, birthday party or wedding, you will need something to cover up so you are not left shivering in your little black dress as the night arrives. Enter this gorgeous camel coloured and oversized coat that will not look out of place at any occasion as it is very stylish and elegant with its simple design which won't distract from the rest of your outfit. Find more long coats for women on http://www.tidestore.com/Wholesale-Trench-Coats-100585/

What are your favourite transitional weather cover ups? 

xo

New In: July 2015

New slippers from Primark as the ones I had were a bit worn, a sample of Coco Mademoiselle we got when Dot got a new aftershave and the Simple Face Mist I got just to bump up the total to £50 so I could get an extra 500 points on my Boots card ;)

Avon Body Wash that will be put to the test soon, a couple of magazines with freebies, including the Elemis Papaya Enzime Peel Mask. Bourjois The Volumiser Mascara and a Topman Leather Card Holder that was about £2 or £3.

The H&M jacket was only £7 and I've been using it as a dressing gown for the summer months as it's lightweight but I also like that it looks very fancy haha.

The Garnier Micellar water for combination skin as I needed a new makeup remover.

Also a couple of freebies with Elle and Harper's Bazaar magazines: a skincare sampler set by Malin + Goetz and a mini L'Occitane Shampoo & Conditioner.

Since it will be my birthday later this month, I tried to shop as little as possible so I could spoil myself. But even though I tried, I failed a little bit and bought myself some early presents that I will be writing about soon.

xo

Monochrome vs Minimal: Are They the Same?

As I have recently been more and more interested in minimalism I started wondering what the difference is between minimalistic and monochrome, are they the same? I would say not really.

From what I understand, minimalism is the ability to let go of all the things that are not necessary to live/dress/feel comfortable and happy. You only have the bare minimum, which can vary from person to person, and if you don't need something just get rid of it in order to avoid clutter, which can bring visual distraction and stress as you have more belongings to worry about. 

Monochrome means literally "one colour", so it's not necessarily just black & white, but the use of only one colour (could be in different shades) in an outfit, design, makeup look, etc. A monochome look or home interior could be described as minimalist when the composition doesn't feature "too many" or "unnecessary" things, but that is of course, relative to each person. 

So a minimalist outfit could be monochrome as well as feature different colours, patterns or textures: you might wear a plain white t-shirt with black jeans and shoes, or you could wear a patterned top, bright trousers and bold shoes but it still is only 3 pieces of clothing, just like with the monochrome look.

And likewise, a monochrome living room might have a one colour palette but be inundated with mountains of books, cushions and tiny trinkets that clutter the space and make it hard to feel relaxed when entering the room. So the fact that something is monochrome does not necessarily mean that it is minimal.

What I find quite strange, sometimes even slightly annoying, is when a person proudly calls themselves a minimalist by the mere fact of dressing in a monochrome palette in their everyday life, when they are constantly adding new items to their wardrobe or dressing room by frequently going shopping, which makes no sense. 

Of course there are people that, as I mentioned, might not even dress in a very reduced range of colours, but they keep their outfits simple and work hard to maintain a closet (and life) free of clutter by implementing challenges such as "project 333" or the "5 piece French wardrobe" where you keep your closet under a chosen amount of items, investing in good quality basics and/or restrict yourself from frequent and impulsive shopping. 

What are your thoughts on this subject?

xo