Friday 26 August 2016

August Roundup

Can we actually believe that august is practically over and we are near enough in September!? I know i can't. This month in the UK has been a weird one we have had super heat and windy weather all in the same week, it's felt like summer for everyone else but to be honest i work in a very air conned work place, so most of the time I've still been in thick tights and a cardigan. Nonetheless i wanted to share with you some of  my favourites this month. Style faves, beauty, food and a couple of randoms thrown in there too. 



Style - let's start with my favourite style pieces of this month. First off my new denim skirt that you would have seen in my last style post. It's a staple piece to anyone's wardrobe and i had honestly been on the hunt for one for ages. They were either too short, or too flared, and with a denim skirt you definitely have to get it right for your shape. The one i purchased was a sale piece from Topshop, it was £18 pounds and because of that i was even more chuffed. You could honestly style this piece with nearly everything, it's perfect all year round and i can't wait to start wearing it in the colder months with chunky knits and ankle boots (not excited for autumn one bit *smirks.*)

The next favourite piece in my wardrobe has to be this white sheer pajama style blouse. I have worn it a couple times and really love it. It is super comfortable, can be dressed up or down and looks great with ripped denim and some little heels. It is from ASOS and comes in black too i believe, which is very tempting for work as this would be perfectly acceptable and still trendy for the workplace.



Beauty - Next up to ramble on about is my favourite beauty products of this month. I haven't got many but the two that i love are definitely winners in my eyes. The first is a new eyeliner. I kept having the same issue with every drugstore eyeliner i was buying, in that it was never truly black and within a couple of hours just looked like a big grey smudge on top of my eyelid. After reading ton's of reviews and a couple of videos, i decided i wanted to try the Guerlain liquid eyeliner. Wow i wasn't disappointed. I generally look forward to putting my eyeliner on each morning with this bad boy in my make up bag. It glides on really easily and the colour is a true black that lasts all day. If you were having the same issue i was then maybe look into this little beauty. 

My other beauty favourite is my MAC Mineralise  skinfinish in soft and gentle. A great highlighter that has been giving my cheekbones the gleam that it needs to get through a 8 hour shift. I just like to swirl my brush into it and whack it on all the places the sun would hit and i am good to go. It is a beautiful colour and a proper MAC cult product. 



Food - Now lets talk food. The one thing i have been obsessing over this month has to be anything kinder! You might have seen my kinder bueno cupcakes that i made a couple of weeks ago ( blogpost here), well since then i cannot get enough of kinder. Kinder chocolate, kinder bueno, Happy hippos. you name it, I've been eating it. If you have had a hard day at work or just craving something a little naughty get your bum down to Tesco and pick up a kinder bueno. I promise you, your day will get that little bit better. 

Random - So even though this month all i feel as if i have done is worked. The time i have had off i have spent it with the right people. I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend off with my friend kit, who visited from Brighton, we did everything girly, and a had a little wiggle on a night out which was greatly needed. I also spent a great day baking and making smoothies with another friend which was super fun and we definitely had a good old giggle while doing so. 
 My last favourite of the month was right at the beginning of the month and feels like a while ago now, but it was my day in London with a great friend. We spent the day exploring London and booked in at the Cutter and Squidge cafe for Hello Kitty afternoon tea. To read all about it i wrote a blog post with loads of pictures so go take a read here.




So there you have it. August is pretty much done and dusted and onto the next month. I wonder what September will have in store, a week off to look forward too and some mini changes that's for sure. 
Hope you enjoyed reading, to follow me on day to day basis please head over to my Instagram page @amyrowleyy to see more. 

Thanks for reading my lovelies x 





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Sunday 21 August 2016

Gucci inspired florals

Gucci are currently taking over the high street for autumn/winter 2016. Everywhere i go i see floral embroidery, inspired bags, or the mahoosive Gucci loafer trend that just happens to be in all high street shops. Don't get me wrong, i am not complaining, for anyone like me that isn't on a Gucci budget... this is fantastic. Already my mental Gucci wishlist is starting to seem more and more reachable with these inspired products on the market. This means that when i saw this red floral blouse on Asos i swooned, and hit that straight into my saved items. I had to wait a little while for it to come back in stock, but checking my saved item on what was probably a daily basis *rolls eyes* definitely meant i eventually managed to purchase this beauty. Now for the slightly colder months that are looming over us at the moment, this would look perfect with some distressed denim jeans, heeled boots and a leather jacket for an evening look. However i'm not trying to wish our summer months away so i decided to put together a English summer option. Perfect for drinks with your girls, a cute day out in the city, or swap the sandals for trainers and you have an everyday option. 




* Red floral blouse - Original - Similar Similar *


I decided to team this blouse with my denim skirt that i picked up in the sale. I will pop some links to any i can find similar to this below, as i think i probably managed to get one of the last ones. I had been on the hunt for a denim skirt for absolutely ages. You know when something just is never quite right, too short, too long, flared too much. Well this little beauty is a right gem and exactly what i had been looking for. 




* Denim Skirt - Similar - similar *

For my shoes, another designer inspired item, these are what i like to call my Isabel Marrant wannabes. They are Vince Camuto a brand that is sold on Kurt Geiger and i'm sure your sick to death or seeing these bad boys but they are just, overly comfortable, super cute, and a right bargain. Once again i will try and find a couple of options below to link for you to take a look at. 




For accessories i decided to pair it with my double buckle belt, again a new purchase for Asos, the perfect width for me and my style and i got mine in a size XS for any of you that might not sure when buying belts online, i know i was a little dubious. Its perfect to pull in my waist but still fits nicely round low rise jeans. My choker and necklace are the exact same beauty's from my last style post so go check that out here to find some links and more style inspo. 

For a slightly edgier look, you could throw on a khaki military jacket, which seems all the range at the moment. Mine is just a plain khaki one from H&M but there are loads on the market with badges galore to make it a little more interesting. I do plan on jazzing mine up so keep your eyes peeled people. 


* Khaki Military style jacket - Original (H&M)- Similar *

So there you have it, one of favourite outfits yet, although i'm sure i will only keep saying that with every new style post i do. I hope you liked the outfit and check out the links to any of the items to find out where to buy them from. Go follow my Instagram account for more frequent style picks @amyrowleyy.

Thanks for reading my lovelies x


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Wednesday 17 August 2016

Kinder Bueno Cupcakes

So it was that time again, where i was craving cake and decided i needed to get my but in to the kitchen and cook up a storm. This time i had lots of help with my great friend Emily Ferris, (link to her blog is here! check it out for everything travel and food related.) So this time i thought to myself what could be better then your favourite chocolate bar in a cupcake option?!? Nothing i know right. 
So follow these simple steps to make some super yummy Kinder Bueno Cupcakes, and enjoy. 

Ingredients
Batter

100g butter
125g caster sugar
125g self-raising flour
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons milk
 A splash of vanilla extract
4 small bars of kinder chocolate, melted 

Icing
100g butter
200g icing sugar
1 tablespoon Nutella
A tablespoon of milk
3 Kinder bueno bars, for decoration
Splash of vanilla extract



1. First preheat your oven to 160 degrees (fan)

2. Next take the flour, caster sugar and butter and place them into a mixing bowl. Then mix all three ingredients together with an electric whisk or mixer. Do this until the ingredients looked thoroughly mixed. 

3. Then take both eggs and the milk and mix them together in a measuring jug. While the mixer is still spinning add this to the mixture slowly bit by bit, making sure it doesn't curdle. Once this is all added, take a splash of vanilla extract and mix that in too. 

4. Take the kinder chocolate and place it in a bowl on top of a saucepan of boiling water. Stir it till it is all melted and then mix the melted chocolate into the cake mixture slowly till you have a ripple marble effect.

5. Spoon the mixture evenly into a cake or muffin tray until you have used up all the mixture.



6. Place your cakes into the oven and leave for 20 minutes until golden brown

7. Once cooked take out of the oven and place onto a cooling tray, ready for the icing. 

8. Now for the icing, first mix the icing sugar and butter with an electric mixer. Add a teaspoon of milk and a splash of vanilla extract as your mixing it. 

9. When the mixture is a smooth consistency add a tablespoon of Nutella and again mix slowly till you get a slight marbled effect.

10. Spoon the icing into a piping bag and distribute the icing evenly among the cakes.

11. Now just for effect and extra yummyness, we added white chocolate stars and a piece of kinder bueno to each cupcake, just to finish it off.




There you have it, kinder bueno cupcakes, easy and so yummy. I hope you enjoyed this recipe and give it a go yourself. To see any more pictures of sweet treats or fashion or beauty pictures please go and follow my Instagram page @amyrowleyy

Thanks for reading my lovelies x 

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Sunday 14 August 2016

Embroidered sleeves and Ripped knees

At the moment my wish list is longer then my arm, there are so many nice bits around and the autumnal pieces and colours are starting to make an appearance in some of the shops. Autumn is my favourite time of year, the colours and the clothes especially. One of the biggest trends going around is embroidery, or patches on clothes. when i saw this top on Asos, with the beautiful floral embroidery i knew i had to hit the buy button and see what it looked like on. It's actually from Boohoo so i was a little apprehensive as there quality can sometimes be a bit hit and miss but when it arrived it was safe to say i was in love. 






Embroidered Blouse - Boohoo (currently out of stock :( but keep your eyes peeled for its return.

The detail on the blouse is beautiful and its really different from anything I've seen before. I decided to pair it with some ripped jeans, these ones are the Leigh jeans from Topshop, so super comfy and i love a good rip in denim. For the shoes i decided to go with these beautiful tan block heel sandals from Office. These little beauty's were a right bargain as i picked them up in the sale, but oh my they are beautiful and even better so comfy too. 



Leigh jeans - Topshop. Studded sandals - Office

You could wear this blouse so many ways. As you can see its more of a tunic length so it looks really pretty flowing over jeans with just the top couple of buttons done up. However to make the look a little more casual you could tie it at the waist and pair it with some converse. 



For accessories i went with a couple of necklaces. The first a classic black choker, very on trend and gives any outfit an edge. The second necklace is a little bit more delicate. A gold chain with little diamante and a moon and star hanging from the end. It just makes the first choker that little bit less harsh and a little more dainty, which when it comes to jewellery is definitely more my style. 



Black Choker - Miss Selfridge . Gold necklace - Topshop. (not online but check your local store)

I think this outfit will take you straight into those autumnal months, but its still summery enough for those cooler summer evenings in England at a barbecue or a few drinks at the pub. Pair it with some black jeans, little ankle boots, and either a leather or military jacket for those slightly colder months. 

I hope you enjoyed this style post and like the outfit as much as i do. Don't forget to hit any links to shop some of the pieces and please head over to my Instagram @amyrowleyy to see more pictures and updates. 

Thanks for reading my lovelies x

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Wednesday 10 August 2016

Five great picnic spots in and around essex

So i keep hearing through the grape vine that this weekend and into next week, we are supposed to be having a heat wave. A Heatwave people!! So what better to spend this weekend, then out in the sun, with heaps load of food, a couple of drinks and a little bit of sun factor to help you along the way. I've decided to tell you about a couple of spots in and around Essex that i think are perfect for an English summer picnic, Pimms and strawberries included. 

1. First picnic spot i have in mind, is Castle Park in Colchester, probably the easiest location as it is smack bang right in the middle of the central town, and perfect for a quick spot of lunch while shopping or a good day out, with ice creams and sunbathing. I live only a 10 minute walk away and sometimes feel like i don't use this advantage enough. They hold great summer events too and when the Wimbledon is on they showcase it on big screens perfect for your lunch break. I feel it can be overlooked but none the less it has some beautiful pretty gardens, play areas for the little ones and a little stand for purchasing ice creams and drinks. 



2. My next pick, is Hatfield forest. I personally have some great childhood memories here and i feel like that place never gets old. It has acres and acres of green's and forest for kids to play in, or if your a big kid like me then you'll be as happy as Larry. You can take all the dogs too and park up in a field so you don't have to be too far from your car. If you like a walk, like i do then this is perfect, or even take your bikes and let off some steam. 

3. Next up is probably my favourite spot and that is Dedham, just on the border of suffolk, but its worth the drive if its a little bit further away, It's a stunning little village with an overload of pubs and cafe's perfect if the picnic food just didn't cover it. The river that runs through it though is definitely the star of the show. You can walk along side it and keep going till you reach the tiny village of Flatford, or you can hire a little boat out and row along the river instead. A perfect day in my opinion with friends, or a partner. The place itself is a stunner so take your camera for some great shots too.  





4. My fourth little gem is quite a new find for me, and its Alton waters, its on the outskirts of Ipswich so i'm cheating a little with this one, but its so close to Essex i think it can count. It is a gorgeous reservoir and I've been there a couple of times now. There is a little cafe for cake and drinks if need be and lots of room surrounding the reservoir to park yourself up for the day. The option for a bike ride is again very much available with bike hire and maps so you don't get yourself lost. Its a 7 mile bike ride round the whole thing but don't sweat it, the pub is just about at the half way point. Perfect for a pick me up on the way round. And if your feeling super daring there is always the option of some water sports.



5. Last but not least i feel like it's only right to end with a classic seaside picnic spot, and for me that's Frinton-on-sea. There is a few beaches in and around the Essex area but this one always wins hands down. Perfect spot for a picnic you can stay up above on the green, or make your way down and risk your sandwiches getting a little bit sandy. The town itself is super cute and has plenty of options for ice cream or that sweet boost you may need, and the beach there has always been my favourite.

So there you have it. My five favourite picnic spots. If like me you have the weekend off and still can't decide on what to do, head to one of these little locations with a picnic basket and ALL the fruit cider you can find...I promise you a great day out. Whatever you choose to do this weekend I hope its a great one and let me know what you get up to, or any other great spots that i may need to check out myself. 

Thanks for reading my lovelies x

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Sunday 7 August 2016

Hello kitty Afternoon tea @ cutter and squidge

So clearly it was time again to head to london and stuff our faces full of cake, tea, biscuits and scones. This could only mean one thing, and  after seeing countless youtube videos and bloggers visiting cutter and Squidge (great, great name) for afternoon tea we had to try it for ourselves. Now i say afternoon tea, but it isnt just any afternoon tea no no, a hello kitty themed tea, hosted in a basement that had been transformed into a secret garden, *jaw drops*. It truly was scrumptious. Cutter and Squidge is found in Soho, London and is super sweet and small. When we arrived we were given little Hello Kitty wristbands and taken downstairs into the basement. It was decorated beautifully and dressed with Hello Kitty stickers, false leaves and flowers, and little marble tables. One word...Adorable.




We were each given a pink lemonade and a choice of four teas; Apple pie tea, English Breakfast, Lychee peach tea and Earl grey. My friend Kate was daring and went for apple pie, i did the classic and stuck with what i know best, English breakfast. They were served in little tea pots and did not disappoint, i even tried the apple pie tea, which was really different. It had a slightly spicy cinnamon kick. We were then given the five tiered platter of yummy treats to dive into, and boy was this gonna be a struggle to get through, even on an empty stomach.


We started off with the savouries. Cucumber and cream cheese, hummus and pepper, cheese and red onion, and salmon and chives mini sandwiches. My favourite was by far the cucumber and cream cheese and not because it was shaped like Hello Kitty I promise. Oh and i forgot to mention not only was there enough food to easily satisfy your stomach, everything including the drinks was unlimited, so if something took your fancy there is no need to worry about asking for more. 



Next up were cheese scones, with a cream cheese and red pepper dip. They went down a treat, they were very rich in flavour and the mix of dips were great together. We also had coronation crackers,  something a little oriental.  Personally we weren't overly a fan of these but if you like that flavour then i'm sure they would be lovely.



Now on to the sweet treats, the first little basket included a vanilla cookie, strawberry milkshake biskie and a chocolate brownie. These were all accompanied by both a dark chocolate dip and a matcha latte dip, which was definitely different and very sweet. All were delicious but the Strawberry milkshake biskie was my favourite. Two mini cookies with a creamy textured strawberry mixture sandwiched in the middle. Yummy.



Next up we had lychee Hello Kitty jelly, pink lemonade marshmallow, cake truffle and strawberries. The jelly was a lovely sweet refreshing flavour but quite an odd consistency, but the cake truffle had to be the winner. You know when your baking a cake and decide to cheekily dig into the left over mix. Well imagine that in a truffle form with chocolate, yep..Delicious.



Last but not least and i know we were struggling at this point, we were given a chocolate mud pie and an apple pie mousse with a little bow biscuit. I personally don't like apple flavoured things, however Kate dug into this with a smile on her face and it didn't disappoint. We decided to Box up the last chocolate cake and we dug into this on our way home instead. It again was delicious and very rich in flavour. 



We were offered ice cream at the end but decided we couldn't feed our bellies anymore for at least a little while so opted out. After taking countless pictures we decided it was time for us to waddle out fully satisfied and full. The afternoon tea was £40 and considering it is unlimited and the attention to detail was fantastic it didn't seem unreasonable at all. Cutter and Squidge are holding this limited Hello Kitty themed tea until the end of the month so if you wish to try it yourself go and book in before time runs out. 




I hope your having a lovely Sunday. 
Thanks for reading my lovelies x 

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