Beauty | Harrods Beauty at Intu Lakeside!

When I first heard that my local shopping centre Intu Lakeside was getting a brand spanking new beauty shop I was so excited. Then when the news broke that it would actually be a Harrods beauty hall I was over the moon. Lakeside is full of so many incredible stores, including a few stand alone make up ones, but it really was missing one of this kind. So on Friday Emma and I decided we would pop down as soon as it opened to see what it was all about and we were not left disappointed!

Firstly the store itself is the perfect size for the wide variety of brands that are included. The aisles are large and allow social distancing which is ideal currently, but it also allows you to differentiate between the different brands. Charlotte Tilbury, Chanel, Penhaligons and Nars had the biggest displays and product ranges to select from, but smaller brands were also highlighted in individual aisles. With the current laws Emma and I didn't test anything out in the store on the day but the sample selection was great too. We worked our way around each aisle and was so excited to see all of our favourite brands in person, including a few that we hadn't ever seen up close before and thought were online exclusives. 

Another thing to note was the whole shopping experience itself. We were greeted by a lovely shop assistant and security guard at the door who welcomed us in and handed us a cute gold basket. Each main stand had someone offering help if needed, but allowed you to browse and prompt any interaction and the smaller ones had someone hovering every few metres or so. Nothing felt forced and we didn't feel like we had eyes on us the whole time. Both Emma and I commented on how nice it felt to actually look and we probably did browse for a good hour or so getting lost in all the makeup! The store also had a few stands of non makeup products too. These included the famous Harrods bear, water bottles and the new normal face masks. 

It was dangerous to our pocket but we enjoyed our little shopping spree, keep reading to see what I purchased!  

I had told myself I wasn't going to go too crazy on this trip, and I think I reigned myself in very well (I say as I'm fully preparing to go back for the Iconic London illuminator!). First was a repurchase of a very loved product of mine and my used to be daily lipstick. The Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips in shade Super Cindy.  This colour is definitely my perfect nude and the colour that makes me feel the most like 'me' so I always make sure it's a repurchase of mine. The next product was absolutely encouraged by Emma who told me all the great things about it. The Brazilian Bum Bum Cream which claims to help smooth and visibly tighten the appearance of skin. If this works, you best believe I will be shouting about it from the rooftops! Finally I was swayed by the aisle of doom AKA the checkout which had so many mini products which always look so cute. The Tonymoly Egg Pore Nose Pack is another brand I had heard a lot about so wanted to try them out for myself. The pack comes with 7 sheets and I can't wait to get them out and use them. 

Overall Emma and I had such a lovely time visiting Harrods beauty. If you were to compare it to anything it would be Sephora, which as you know is a store the UK is missing! 

Until next time, 

Fashion | ZARA SUMMER HAUL

Anyone else get caught out during the hot spike last week? Because I certainly did! So much so I decided to pull together a little Zara order to fill the missing spaces in my wardrobe of clothes I threw out last year, and thought I would be able to replace a lot easier this year! Zara isn't always my cup of tea, but when they've got some good pieces online they're one of my favourite places to shop. Hopefully these staples will be easy to wear with what I already own and be perfect for Summer days out in the garden, because let's face it we're not going on a holiday anytime soon! 

I loved how simple this white t-shirt is. The frilly pocket makes what is something boring a little more fun and I know I will get lots of use during the summer with shorts, but also in the cooler months as a layering piece. I also needed some updated denim this year, especially post lockdown! Zara is usually a hit or miss with bottoms so I ordered these in a couple of sizes. I would say these hi-rise shorts with ripped detailing fit true to size but would suggest ordering one size bigger if you want them to be super relaxed. 

I saw this relaxed vest with bows and fell in love! It was actually out of stock when I placed my first order but put my email down to be reminded and got it the next day. Much like the white t-shirt above I love how simple this is and I know it will be easy to style. The polka dot skort is also a favourite of mine from this order. It's simple but can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Although I am happy with this purchase I have decided to order again one size up as the fabric is a little tight and I want it to be comfortable. 

Then I saw this relaxed t-shirt dress for £7.99 and thought I would see if this style suits me. Sadly I don't think it does, and it's a little shapeless for my liking, but I love the idea of it! I am going to be keeping this one despite my views on it, as know it will be great when the weather gets even hotter to sit in the garden in! 

I then found this cute gingham dress with a small puff sleeve and fell in love. I love the puff sleeve trend going around at the moment and think this dress will be great on a summer picnic, even if it is just in the garden. I also loved the idea of dressing this up with a pair of wedges on holiday when the time comes! 

Again, I needed another pair of denim shorts so tried out this style. If I'm honest I am not sure if I will be keeping them as they make me feel...big. They fit perfectly on the waist but the leg holes just don't sit right and the weird panel on the front looks odd to me. I'll be having a think about these ones! 

Finally, I saw that I owned 0 maxi dresses so decided to try out this little beauty. I love the gorgeous coral colour, ruffles and the fabric of this. The neckline is more plunging than I probably would have chosen, but the straps are adjustable to give some support. 


So there we have it, my little Zara haul. I know my picks aren't that adventurous but what can you do on a furloughed budget! There were a couple of misses that I haven't shown above as they didn't fit correctly. I think Zara's sizing has and will always be a risk when it comes to ordering online. At the moment I vary from size 8-14 depending on what the product is which isn't great. 

Until next time, 

Lifestyle || MY week, a recap!

I'm writing this in the most perfect blogging atmosphere ever. Rainy day, sat by the window cosied up with a cup of tea. Today's post consists of my week in the form of OOTDs. I know I've done this once before, but it's certainly about time I gave a little update! I work in a relaxed dress code office where there are literally no boundaries of what you can wear whatsoever! This sounds amazing, but it does often mean my day to day wardrobe becomes quite repetitive as I don't have a separate work/life wardrobe. This week didn't quite turn out how I thought it would, so I'm glad I have this blogpost to look back on! Side note: I apologise in advance for the badly lit photographs! They were all taken at 8am pre work!

Mondays outfit was probably the only one I planned for over the weekend. I have had this H&M shacket for over a month but had debated to and fro whether I was actually going to keep it, or if it was going to be returned. I finally decided that I loved it so Monday I took it out for a spin. This photo doesn't show the whole outfit look as I wore my grey University jumper under with the hood popping out slightly. Monday was going so well until the sad news that my contract at my current position wasn't being renewed which has led to a very anxiety filled/stressful week! 

Jacket - H&M

Jeans - Topshop

Belt - Topshop

Shirt - Stradivarius

Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday. I decided to choose something a little different today as the rest of my wardrobe had become a little tiresome! Luckily I changed over my summer/winter wardrobe last weekend and I found this little leopard print beauty! I love the cute little tie and it works perfectly with jeans or a dressed up with a leather skirt! 

Shirt - River Island

Jeans - Topshop

Belt - Topshop

Wednesday. Time for something a little more casual. You can probably notice a little theme by now, but it's so much easier when travelling into London to wear jeans and a cute top. On Wednesday I knew I would be lugging boxes around the office so needed something a little more loose and comfortable. 

Blouse - Topshop

Jeans - Topshop

Thursday consisted of all the casual cosy vibes. On a Thursday I have to commute a little further out to our main head office which is located on the complete opposite side of London (17 central line stops, you feel me!). I always try to wear something comfortable on a Thursday and nothing screams cosy quite like this oversized knit and leather look jeans!

Jumper - River Island

Jeans - River Island

TGIF! Finally Friday. This has been a LOOONNNGGGG week. We have had a rat infestation in our office this week so I was made to trek all the way back to our head office. I'm just pleased I had a cute top to wear that's a little smarter for the head office environment! I've actually had this top for a couple of weeks now and have found it to be the best transitional piece in my wardrobe. I've worn it without a vest, with a vest and shirt open, tucked into jeans and tucked into a slip skirt. It's the best ££ I've spent in ages!

Shirt - Topshop

Jeans - Topshop

I hope you enjoyed reading this post, I know it's very different to the ones I usually post. It didn't really turn out the way I thought it would, and the negative start to the week really threw me off a little but I am pleased that I continued with my OOTD post as it gave me something to think about. Plus I now have a cute selection of outfits to look back on when I need inspo! 

Have a lovely week! 

Until next time x

Lifestyle || Setting goals for 2019

Many people like to set themselves goals, and there's no more popular a time to be setting them than at the start of a fresh new year. I consider myself to be one of these people, although the way I've made these goals over the last couple of years has definitely changed! So let's take a look back on last years goals to see what I've been able to achieve, as well as make some new ones for 2019.

Blog four times a month

Well this didn't happen. I mean it almost did, but as the year went on, the busier I was getting at work which unfortunately meant my blog has taken a little bit of a back seat. I'm hoping to kick start things this month and feel really inspired to write again. 

Get outside and take advantage of the outdoors as a backdrop

Again, I have kind of met this goal. Over the last year I have felt more comfortable with taken photography with the help of my parents/brother. Many of these shoots have taken place outside. So my first big TICK!

Write for me

I think this is another goal of 2018 that I managed to meet. At my busiest this year I have felt stressed to write posts just to have content to advertise. Considering the fact I've been a little quiet through the months of September-December proves that I've taken some time to get myself sorted. My second TICK! 

Feel Inspired

I would consider this to be my third and final TICK! I have really enjoyed the content I have produced on this blog in 2018 and most of that is due to the fact I've been feeling inspired by trends/fashion and life! Let's hope this continues into 2019...

So I guess all that's left to do now is set myself new goals for the year ahead! 

1) Continue to enjoy writing and develop my own voice. One of the hardest things about blogging is finding your own way of writing and that's something that I have struggled with a little throughout 2018. I enjoy typing the way I would be having a conversation, however I know that this isn't always seen as grammatically correct. I would love to find that balance in 2019! 

2) Get creative with photography. Photography is one of my favourite parts of writing this blog. 2018 was the year I fell in love with Instagram. I would love to continue enjoying this platform by being creative with my photography/editing. 

3) Attend 5 blogging events. I would love to meet new bloggers this year! Blogging can be quite a lonely hobby, so I'm hoping to discover events in the Essex/London area that I can make the effort to attend. 

4) Enjoy blogging!!! Blogging has been a big hobby of mine for the last 4 years, but there's been many a time I have felt myself posting because of a schedule/wanting something to upload. This year I want to enjoy and fall in love with blogging again - so far so good!

So there's just a few of my new blogging goals for 2019, I would love to know what yours are or if we share any similar aims!

Until next time, 

Fashion || Hello September & Jumping on the Leopard Print Bandwagon!

Hello September and a big welcome back to my blog! 

How on earth are we on the second day of September already? With X-factor starting yesterday, Strictly starting next week and rumours of celebs entering the jungle on the horizon, that's 2018 pretty much done! September is a funny month. For many people it's, in some way, a 'new' start to the academic year, so I guess that doesn't make it stupid when I say I am looking forward to starting this blog afresh. I am now 5 month's into my 6 month placement in a PR fashion company, which means this time next month I will either be unemployed again, or getting ready to start a new job. I jolly hope it's the latter! As much as a challenge this placement has been for me, physically and mentally, I am so glad I have done it and hope it helps my job prospects tremendously! 

Now that we're starting a brand new month, what better time than now to set a couple of goals that we can look back on at the end of September? 

1) Find another placement/internship or even better, a full time job! - This one should be achievable right? I mean it kind of needs to be. I have been applying like crazy throughout the last couple of months with interview's never really leading onto anything more than being told I 'need more experience'. Fingers crossed September will be the month I can secure something a little more permanent. 

2) Go to the gym at least 2 times a week! - Again this one should be achievable. One of the annoying things about working in London is the unreliability of tubes and trains. When they're working fine travelling can be a doddle, but throw in a delay or two my journey can be affected by up to 2 hours. Hopefully this month my train home every night will be simple and stress free so I can enjoy a visit to the gym! 

3) Read one book! - I read two books in the last two months, so hopefully this one will become easy for me to do. I currently have Wilde about the Girl by the lovely Louise Pentland sitting on my bedside table begging to be opened. Hopefully this will be the month that I do! 

4) Spend Less! - This one is easier said than done when your favourite hobby is shopping. Nothing makes me happier when I'm browsing a shopping centre, and don't even get me started on the ASOS and Zara apps! This month I have set myself the challenge to save as I'm attending Stylist Live at the beginning of November and I want to be able to enjoy myself without worrying about funds!

 

Now that my September goals are out of the way, let's get talking about the truly important stuff... Who else is completely head over heels with the Leopard print trend?!? If you can enter a high street shop without seeing animal print then you're shopping in the wrong places. Seriously, this trend has really taken over the world and I for one am glad that it has. Considering the fact I am usually three steps behind everyone else on the trend front, which is ironic when my current job is literally working months in advance, I'm doing pretty well in the Leopard print department. At my last count I own 2 Leopard print skirts, 2 leopard print blouses, 1 dress, 1 bag and a couple of scrunchies. Leopard print is just so easy to wear and so flattering on every body shape too. My favourite styling has been pairing a plain t-shirt tucked into my midi print skirt with a pair of converses and leather jacket thrown on for good measure. (I am wearing a skirt from Nasty Gal, Top River Island, Shoes Converse and Leather Jacket Julien MacDonald in this blog post imagery). 

Enough rambling for now, I need to get started planning the rest of September! I've got big plans and I'm hoping to reach them! 

Let me know if you're loving the Leopard print trend as much as me, and how else I can style this skirt! 

Until next time, 

Lifestyle || HP Sprocket Review

I have always had a love for photography, infact my very first blogpost was a review of the Fugifilm Instax camera, so it was probably about time that this smart little device made it's way into my life and then onto this blog too! I had been dreaming of owning the Sprocket for such a long time but never got around to purchasing it myself, so when I opened it on Christmas day last year I was over the moon! 

If you have never heard of this nifty little pocket printer before and are into photography, crafts or generally printing out your photographs then this is the device for you. The sprocket is honestly the pocket printer that you never knew you needed, but are kind of glad you own! I won't lie, the prints aren't always the best, but it works perfectly for my needs and I enjoy the simplicity of setting it up to connect with a mobile device! 

The Sprocket that I was lucky to receive was the rose gold gift set. As well as receiving the white and rose sprocket printer, the gift set also included a cute little photo album, rose gold Sprocket case and a pack of photo paper. I love the sleek, smooth design of the Sprocket and the rose gold features on my printer add a really pretty and delicate touch. (This is the gift set that I received, but there are many other ways that you can purchase the Sprocket on it's own too! - https://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-Sprocket-Photo-Printer-Limited/dp/B076FTRGV4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520669960&sr=8-1&keywords=sprocket+rose+gold) 

One of the best features about the Sprocket, and probably a reason why I am now favouring this over my Instax camera, is the ability to edit and decide what images you want to print. Gone are the days where you have to use up all 10 films to capture one image. Using the Sprocket is so easy which makes the whole process quite enjoyable! After downloading the Sprocket app, and connecting your phone to the Sprocket's bluetooth network, the Sprocket is ready to go! The app itself has been designed really well too. As you open the app you are greeted with your phones camera roll. You select the image you want to 'edit' and begin the printing process.  

Editing the images is one of the best parts of the whole process. You can, obviously, print the image as it is straight from the phone making it more of a natural shot. Alternatively you can edit the colours, add a pretty filter or pop on some stickers before clicking the printer icon to have it sent to your sprocket device via bluetooth. Sprocket update the stickers that you can select quite often so if your for example celebrating Christmas, you can add lots of borders and stickers to reflect this in your images - honestly, it's much cooler than I am making it out to be! 

As you can see from the image above the printer quality isn't always the best, but it isn't rubbish and it does a great job of making the print as true to your edit as possible. 

I am sure that there are other printers on the market which would work better than the Sprocket, but for me it's just the device I wanted. One of the main downsides of owning the Sprocket, and probably the same downside of owning any device of this kind, is the price it takes to refill the paper. Although the paper is on offer a lot of the time on Amazon, it is still quite pricey for only 10/20/50 images. With that being said though, it makes you really decide on the photos that you want to have printed which can only be a good thing! 

So what can you use the Sprocket for I hear you ask? Well... there are many many uses for your prints thanks to the sticky back paper. For me, I wanted to use the Sprocket to document and journal. Instead of keeping all of my images in the little photo album all the time, I have purchased a small sketchbook from Paperchase that I have been using to put the prints in at the end of each month. Perhaps at some point I will share that on here too! 

Hope you've enjoyed today's post! 

Until next time,