Comfortable Hoodies and Sweatshirts at Holapick

 *This is a sponsored post.

Sunnier days seem to be more common as of late, however it can still feel a bit chilly, and as many of us are spending time at home more than ever it is important to keep comfortable and warm. Which is where today's sponsor comes in: Holapick has dozens of hoodies and sweatshirts available to help keep you warm and stylish. 

On the picture above you can see a couple of items that I picked and look like the most comfortable hoodies. On the left we have the Casual Long-sleeved Hooded Loose Sweater, which has a luxe green velvet textured fabric, a hood with drawstrings to make it adjustable and fit more snuggly, a front pocket, and decorative stripes along the sleeves in warm colours (the colour palette I find very reminiscent of Gucci, which is why I really like this hoodie). On the right we have a very cosy looking hoodie in a more oversized fit with an inviting forest scene printed all over. It has a fleece texture and would be perfect for going on an early morning or late afternoon walk to keep you toasty.

On to the sweatshirts: if you are not a fan of hoodies then these options might be better for you. On the left we have another super cosy top, this one has a tactile sherpa texture with a neutral brown plaid pattern all over. It features a working zip up closure on the front that can be opened to turn it into a v-neck with a collar, and also zipped all the way up to turn it into a high neck. On the right we have a more daring option with this cheeky skeleton hand print. It has some faded details to give it a more vintage look, a great casual outfit option. Find more sexy sweatshirts at Holapick.

Which is your favourite?

xo

Mother's Day Gift Ideas Under £50

Welcome to the 2021 edition of my Mother's Day Gift Guide, all of the suggestions pictured above are under £50. Enjoy treating your mum (or yourself!) with these hand picked ideas ranging from fragrance and skincare to stationery and even food related.

Paco Rabanne Olympea Blossom £49 // Cowshed Signature Hand Cream Trio £18

Eye Shadow Palette Notebook £10.36 // Pixi Best of Bright Set £20 

Whittard Hot Chocolate Gift Box £28

xo

Winter Essentials at Prestarrs

*This is a sponsored post.

There's still a full month of winter left, so we have to try to keep warm for a little longer, which is where Prestarrs comes in: on their website you can find a large range of items available to make you feel warmer and look stylish whether you are staying in or going out.

Prestarrs has over 300 styles of women's pullovers, and knitwear is one of my favourite things to wear, so I wanted to share a couple of my favourites. Pictured above we have two really cute options in soft shades. On the left is a white v-neck jumper with long sleeves and a delicate vertical line pattern, which in conjunction with the neckline shape, elongates the body and will make you look taller and leaner. It is available in 5 different colours. 

On the right we have a very cute and feminine jumper with a mock neck in a sweet pink shade. What I like about this knit is not only the shade and the mock neck, but also the textured pattern on the top half that gives the illusion of a v-neck, which will also help elongate the torso, even when it has a higher neck.

Another very important part of any winter outfit is footwear, as we aren't able to layer up as much on our feet as we do on our body, a pair of warm cute boots is often needed. On the left we have a pair of black faux suede booties, with a one inch block heel in a contrasting wooden effect and brown soles. This pair is a great choice for almost any occasion, they're not too formal or casual, and the small heel is a nice bonus without making your feet sore unlike when wearing sky high heels. 

Even though I'm not a big fan of wearing black clothes anymore, for shoes it's a different story. Because the colour is so versatile I've picked another pair of black boots, but this time in a more casual style: with big chunky heels and textured platform soles these boots will look great with a pair of skinny jeans or a mini dress. What I also like about this pair of boots is that they are Chelsea style, so they're very easy to get on and take off, wasting no time when you need to get out the door fast.

Which was your favourite piece?

xo

Superdrug Vitamin E Body Cream with Moonstone Extract

One of the things I received for my birthday was the Superdrug Vitamin E Body Cream with Moonstone Extract. I hadn't tried any of the Superdrug Vitamin E body creams but this one with Moonstone extract really caught my eye.

While I am very diligent with my facial skincare routine, I do tend to neglect the skin on the rest of my body a bit, so I've been trying to moisturise at least once a week ha.

The Superdrug Vitamin E Body Cream with Moonstone Extract claims to offer 12 hour moisturisation while defending skin against environmental damage thanks to it being high in antioxidants. It also contains a "skin conditioning multivitamin complex" comprised of  Vitamins A, B5, F and H, as well as horse chestnut extract to care for dry skin.

The first time I used it the scent was very overpowering and I didn't enjoy it, however it has mellowed down, so it's fine. The consistency is not too thick and it is not greasy feeling at all, but it leaves my skin feeling soft and almost velvety. The effect seems to last over the promised 12 hours, which is nice. 

I like the lilac accents and lid on the packaging, the long lasting moisturisation and softness and the fact that it contains not just vitamin E but also an extra 4 other vitamins for extra skin benefits. Not sure if the Moonstone extract has any real skincare benefits but as I'm interested in crystals I thought it was an interesting addition to the formula.

This version was a limited edition, but they constantly come up with new versions. I would love to try the Vitamin E Body Cream with lavender to see if it would help me fall asleep at night.

Find the Vitamin E Body Cream collection in Superdrug.

xo

Sample Sessions 04

Welcome to another Sample Sessions post. I haven't been buying as many products recently but sure have been receiving many samples, which I mean to try and write about soon.

Lancome Advanced Genefique Youth Activating Serum: a super lightweight serum that claims to minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as it refreshes, replenishes and revitalises. I did notice that it made my pores look smaller and redness was reduced, however it does have (and smell strongly of) alcohol, which isn't an ideal ingredient to have on a "youth activating serum". At first I wasn't even sure of what it was supposed to do and thought it was just an overpriced serum, now I know what it does but I still think it is overpriced so while I have received a couple more luxury samples of this product, probably won't be buying it, or just stick to the 20 ml (their smallest version available) which is £31 and works out cheaper than the 30 or even 50ml sizes. 

Rituals Ultra Hydrating Black Soap: a body wash with a gel-like consistency, it's not runny so it's easy to apply. I used a body puff so it helped it lather a bit but it doesn't foam up that much. The black colour is quite intriguing but a bit off-putting to me, as it doesn't mention what gives this soap it's hue. It has a fresh eucalyptus scent that's invigorating and leaves skin feeling soft thanks to the glycerine, castor and olive oils.  

Elemis Superfood Night Cream: an omega-rich night time moisturiser that "nourishes the skin with intense nutrition whilst you sleep so you wake up to a healthy glow." Sometimes a sample of this size will last me more than one use, which was the case with this one but it was for the wrong reason: I could not stand the smell of it so wouldn't dream of actually purchasing this cream, which is disappointing as I've used some Elemis products before and quite liked them.

Have you tried any of these products?

xo

White Ruffles & Roses

Pictures with my birthday outfit from a couple of years ago, I always postponed uploading them but now seemed like a good occasion as it is Valentine's Day this weekend.

Wearing a Dresslily top* (Similar white strappy top) - I really like all the romantic details on this top: the ruffles, shirring, embroidery and lace up front, and the flowers were a gift from my husband. 

Have a lovely Valentine's Day!

xo

IT Certification Training at Spotoclub

*This is a sponsored post.

With the uncertainty of these current times I feel like it is always a good idea to diversify or at least have a plan B when it comes to work and income. 

If you were thinking about training in IT to start your own side project then it could be your lucky day as today's post is sponsored by SPOTOClub.com, which is a website part of a network founded in 2003 which focuses on online IT certification training. SPOTO stands for Service, Professional, Outstanding, Teamwork and Obtain.

At Spotoclub they offer Cisco CCNA, CCNP, CCIE, PMI, Amazon AWS, Oracle, CISA, RedHat Linux, Microsoft, Huawei, Python and ISACA certification training, as well as many more IT Certification exam products to all candidates.

Spotoclub offers exam practice tests, including spoto dumps, to help you better prepare for when you have to take your real test, they provide a simulated exam environment as well as 24/7 technical support to help you whenever you need assistance. Spotoclub's aim is to help you pass your test on your first try.

Under each type of certification training division on the website you will find some free multiple choice questions you can answer to test your knowledge, and these tests are also timed to provide a more realistic testing experience. 

The Spotoclub website is very easy to use, with a friendly user interface that features the different type of certifications along a horizontal menu on the top of the page, and as you hover on each one it will show the options available. 

If you look under the ISACA you will find the CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor Exam) and CISM (Certified Information Security Manager Exam) so do have a look on the Spotoclub website if you have been searching for help with ISACA CISA exam questions.

Have you thought about diversifying your income? If so, let me know how in the comments below!

xo

All Used Up #9

I haven't done a post like these in ages (over 6 years, actually!) but recently I finished 5 products in the span of a week so thought I'd commemorate the occasion by bringing back the All Used Up series.

Aromatherapy Associates Orange Flower Mattifying Moisturiser: I used this moisturiser mostly at night, I like that it didn't feel heavy nor break me out. Full review here.

Olay Lightweight Day Lotion Sensitive: A really good basic to have, it is lightweight, moisturising and protects from UV with SPF 15. It's also quite affordable. Full review here. 

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 5%: A must have for me, as it helps control my oily skin a bit better, it is antibacterial so it prevents spots and fades hyperpigmentation as well. Full review here. 

Me+ Acacia Collagen Booster: A very lightweight and moisturising serum that helps improve the texture of skin. Full review here.

Superdrug Vitamin E Nourishing Eye Cream: This has a medium consistency so it doesn't feel heavy or greasy and moisturises very well, it also contains a form of retinol to smooth the eye area. Full review here.

I'm very excited to be starting a couple of new skincare products which I haven't tried before. Stay tuned to find out what they are.

Have you tried any of these products?

xo

New Valentine's Collection: Be My Baby

Shop update alert! Inspired by the fast approaching Valentine's Day, I created a new design for my Redbubble shop called "Be My Baby". It features a bold red text on a bright pink background which I find complement each other very well. Let that special someone know how much they mean to you with one of these. There are different kinds of homeware, apparel and stationery available. I hope you like it!

xo