Autumnal Trends - Knitwear part 2

So if you haven't seen my last post already i will leave you a link here, but this is the second part in my knitwear trend posts and for this post have gone for a classic Amy outfit. This is literally my favourite kind of outfit, and something i will be living in for the next couple of months. For the main piece to this outfit i decided to go for a classic cream jumper option with slight details to the sleeves which is what drew me to this jumper originally. The classic cream jumper is something every girl but even every boy needs in there wardrobe. I know i have had plenty of them go in and out of my wardrobe over the years and they just scream autumn/winter to me. This particular one is from River island, who can i just say have been smashing it this season with there pieces and trends. It is unbelievably soft which is so important when on the hunt for the perfect knitwear piece. There is nothing worse then an itchy jumper or cardi on those cold days and evenings. I got this in a size 8 but in hindsight i may have wanted to go up a few sizes to achieve that over-sized look.

* Cream Jumper - River Island*

For my bottom half i have gone with these coated leather look jeans from new look, which i love! They fit like a glove and i love combining different textures together so the leather feel and the knitwear is just a winner in my opinion. They are just a little bit different then your normal pair of jeans, even though a good pair of blue denim jeans would look great with this knit too. I do think that these coated jeans should be a staple in your wardrobe this autumn, they can be paired with so many pieces, and look great for the evening but also dressed down for the day like this option,

*Coated jeans - Newlook *

Now for the shoes, a pair of ankle boots or even knee highs would look just as great, but for me on a day off i am all about the comfort and feeling comfortable in my own skin. This is why a classic pair of high tops are my choice, they give the outfit a little bit of an edge and a bit of grunge which i like, but the contrast to the leather trousers, dresses them down a bit. For me, one of those girls who are always terrifed of being overdressed or looking like i'm all dressed up with no where to go, this is my safe zone. (not to be stayed in all the time i must add but for a casual and comfortable look sometimes you just have to.) 

* Converse - Kurt Geiger, Camel coat - Topshop *

Lastly for outerwear i have bought out the old favourite.. the camel coat. Who doesn't love a camel coat?! haha but seriously i love the colour and I love the elegance it brings to the outfit, it just brings it all together. Mine is just a plain one from topshop, but you can get some real beauty's on the market  at the moment. 

I hope you enjoyed this trend post, i know i loved putting them together. A big thanks to Mayumi Who took the Outfit shots for the last three posts. Her blog is linked here, if you want to give it a little look. 

Thanks for reading my lovelies x 

5 Last minute Halloween ideas

Halloween is fast approaching and i know i still don't have any plans. What with working all weekend and just getting back from a little break i haven't really had much time to think about it. So i thought i would put together a little post to help myself and any others who are in the same boat. Read on to hear all about my five suggestions, to make a last minute plan into a spooktastic Halloween.

1. My first suggestion is to get a couple of friends together, get yourself too Tesco or Asda and stock up on all those scary treats that are flooding the shops at the moment. Cakes, sweets, chocolate, crisps all in crazy colours, shapes and flavours. Just go mad! Get yourself a bottle of wine or two and head back to one persons house/flat and get curled up on the sofa. You could either rent some dvd's, head over to Netflix or just scroll the TV channels to find all the scary movies that will be on and a have a movie marathon. It's fun, warm and cheap, which is always a bonus. If you and all your friends are scaredy cats, watch the nightmare before Christmas and Hocus Pocus, old classics for this time of year and not at all too scary to watch.

2. My next pick is along the same lines, but if you fancy getting out the house for a bit its perfect. Go to the cinema to see the scariest film possible. Top yourself up with popcorn and a hot chocolate, and take a loved one with you for moral support haha! Again it dosent break the bank and is a very easy way to get in the Halloween spirit without all the madness and dressing up if that just isn't very you. 

3. My third idea is probably my favourite and this is too have a baking and cooking day or evening with a bestie. Scroll pinterest for the best Halloween treats and tricks out there and bake up a storm in the kitchen. There are so many ideas floating around Facebook at the moment too. This way you can make the treats and keep it Halloween themed too. You could always ask a couple more friends round in the evening to share the treats with and maybe play some games and drink some wine. 

One of the treats i tried were these baked peppers stuffed with couscous in the shapes of pumpkins. Super cute and yummy and great for a savoury option.  

4. Number four is to get yourself out and about and have a good night out with some friends. It doesn't matter if you haven't got the best costume, use your makeup bag to do some weird and wonderful creations on your face and cut up an old tshirt or dress. Head to some local bars and have a little dance and a couple of drinks. I promise you, you will have fun and you wont't feel stupid as everyone else will look as silly or as scary as one another. 

5. My fifth and final idea would be to throw a last minute halloween party at your house. Asda has everything you will need to make your house or flat the scary and creepy destination it needs to be. Get everyone to dress up, you can even choose a theme if you want too. You can go as crazy or as simple as you want to. Get cocktail making ingredients at the ready and make a little cocktail making station perfect for all the guests. You could also do some really funny and easy games. Apple bobbing a proper oldie, and buy a ton of toilet roll and see who can make their partner into a mummy the quickest. These games will be even more fun when you have had a couple to drink and whats better they take no time or effort to make them. Just be prepared for the tidying and the hangover the day after haha! I'm sure it will be worth it!!

So there you have my five little suggestions for this Halloween, it may just be some scary movies on Netflix and some scary cupcakes for me, but i'm happy with that. Whatever you are up to this weekend and this Halloween i hope you have a fantastic spooky one!

Thanks for reading my lovelies x

Autumnal Trends - Knitwear Part 1

Happy Sunday peeps! I'm currently on a little break away with my family, a jam packed weekend with all sorts of fun, activities and a little bit of chill time. Which sometimes we all need. Its my last proper little break of the year, and also the last time i will be getting some time off work, retail at Christmas is no fun for anyone, even though i will do my best to enjoy it and also keep the posting regular. Anyway i thought i would share with you a little autumnal trend post, to get you prepped for those chilly days out and super cold evenings that have started to appear. Knitwear is the main focus for this trend and my oh my is it my favourite. What shouts autumnal, cosy and cuddable more then a  soft, thick jumper or cardi. I am a sucker for a cable knit, and once I find a style I like, I like to go ahead and buy it in every colour. Its nice to find something a little bit different then just a simple jumper so when i found this one i snapped it up quick. Its from River island on Asos. The first thing i loved about this jumper was the colour, its such a lovely burnt orange brown colour, like the colour of the autumn leaves,..Perfect! I also loved the neckline of the jumper. A lot of jumpers are high necked or just simply round neck, the v neck just makes it slightly more interesting and it allows you to keep the neck accessories interesting, while still keeping warm and snug. The detail to the arm of the jumper is also really nice its kind of like an open plait to the arm, leaving your arm to breathe and get some air, which while the sun is still shining is perfect. Wherever i go i tend to walk so by the time i reach my destination I'm all hot and stuffy with all the layers, so this works well. For the colder months you could always layer a long sleeved t-shirt underneath, maybe a stripey one to add some pattern and texture to the outfit. 

* Jumper - River Island (Asos) *

I paired this jumper with my trusty ripped denim skirt. The perfect transitional piece throughout the year, as it looks just as good in the winter with tights and boots as it does with bare legs and sandals in the summer. My one is from the Topshop petite range and is great for my very short legs. I would definitely recommend picking yourself up a denim skirt for your all year round wardrobe. Its perfect for an alternative to jeans otherwise i tend to live in them. 

* Denim Skirt - Topshop*

For my shoes I have my Gucci loafer dupes from Topshop. At £29 they are such a bargain and they go with literally everything. I did need to wear them in to begin with but they are now the comfiest things. They also come in a metallic colour which i am very tempted to pick up, as they will look great with some ripped jeans and a plain top or jumper to jazz it up. 

* Lucy Loafers - Topshop (metallic) *

Accessories i have kept it simple and just jazzed it up with my necklace from Asos, that i wore in my last post. (Link Here.) It looks lovely with this neckline, just as a choker and a layer of necklaces would too. Or for something a little bit warmer, a nice thick scarf would be the perfect accessory. I think this is a perfect weekend outfit. Great for shopping, lunch with friends, a little walk, you name it! You could wear this jumper with some black jeans and ankle boots for a more evening look if you wanted too as well. 

* Necklace - Asos *

I hope you have all had a lovely weekend, i know i have and don't want it to end thats for sure!

Thanks for reading my lovelies x

Fancy Flares and Textures - Autumn Trends

I am so happy to finally have some new outfits to share with you. Autumn is without a doubt my favourite season for fashion, food, weather..well everything really. So of course I've been loving all of the current autumnal trends that are on the high street at the moment. Flares being one of them. They were big in the summer and they are continuing to fill the shops, flared sleeves are everywhere. They can turn a classic shirt into something new and give a real elegance to an outfit, which is why i love this trend. When i saw this shirt from riverisland i knew i had to have it. Its so beautiful but whats better it's two trends in one. The cami style top over the top of it, sparks another trend, cami layering. Cami dresses, and tops over t-shirts were huge this summer, so its nice to see something on the high street that can take us into the autumn months. 

* Flared shirt and cami - Riverisland *

Textures are always huge in the colder months in the UK, along with the heavy knits and the velvet and satin, leather trousers have always been a favourite of mine. They are a great staple in your autumn wardrobe as they can be taken from day to night, as well as keep a simple pair of jeans or trousers more interesting and a little more on trend. I found these high-waisted ones from New look, they were under £25 and fit like a glove. I really enjoy wearing these on a night out, but also dressed down with trainers for that effortlessly cool look. 

* Coated leather look jeans - New look *

My boots are another little gem from River island, suedette ankle boots with a little gold zip up the back. The suede compliments the leather so well, as my love for suede continues. I dont know about you but boots are simply my favourite type of shoe. I could own 100 pairs of boots and still find another pair that i wanted to add to the mix. I love the textures they give to the outfit and i think they finish it off perfectly. Just a heads up they come up super small and tight so be sure to try before you buy. 

* Black Suedette ankle boots - Riverisland * 

Last but not least for accessories i wanted to add a splash of gold to my jewellery. This beautiful star and moon ring is from accessorize and i love it. I have had so many compliments on it, and for a gold plated item under £20 you really cant go wrong. My silver rings are from Pandora and are just a selection of their stacking rings i'm wearing at the moment. For my necklace i paired it with this beautiful layering Asos necklace with tiny little moon and circle charms hanging from several gold chains. It is super cute and compliments the neckline of the shirt perfectly. It just adds that little bit of detail and sparkle, which every outfit needs. 

* Necklace - Asos, Star and moon ring - Accessorize*

I absolutely adore every item in this outfit and can't recommend the pieces enough. The perfect outfit for a smart day out and about, or even day to night as this could still look stylish and put together for an evening do. I hope you enjoyed the look.

Thanks for reading my lovelies x 

Playing in a Pumpkin Patch

A sunny Sunday means one thing only, Pumpkin patch fun with your bestie...Obviously. So today me and Emily, her blog is here, headed to aldham Colchester for a morning full of everything orange. We decided it would be fun to go and do something super autumnal and different for a change and it really was great fun. I have never seen so many pumpkins and so much colour in one place. 

The pumpkin patch is run and grown by a company called foxes farm produce, their website is here. Its open every weekend from now until the 30th October, from 10 -4 and is free to visit, you only have to pay for the pumpkins you wish to buy. I wanted to buy ALL of the pumpkins but i settled in the end for four little baby ones, just for fun. What was even more lovely was the chosen charity for the event was the Tom Bowdidge foundation, so instead of paying to go in you could give a donation, or donate by buying some refreshments, all proceeds were going to the charity. To find out some more information on the charity the link to their website is here. 

Its a great place to take kids for a fun day out, or even just to be big kids for a couple of hours like myself. They also had a maize maze, which was fun to go round, and popcorn picking too. Nothing really more autumnal then a pumpkin patch to get you in the mood for Halloween and the colder weather. I finally got to wear my winter coat too which is always exciting. 

I decided to go for a jumper dress and converse for a laid back Sunday look. It was actually really sunny so i cracked out my sunglasses too, before they go into hibernation for the winter. My camel coat is from Topshop, i will leave all the links below. This coat is just perfect for autumn/winter, Super warm, cosy and stylish. The camel colour will always be a favourite of mine. 

* Converse - Office, Coat - Topshop, Jumper dress - Similar *

So if you fancy a fun weekend morning or afternoon trip out for some fresh air, what better way to spend it. And even if aldham isn't near you, there are plenty of pumpkin patches around, just get yourself on to google.Take the whole family! I now just need to decide what to do with my pumpkins, but i'm sure you'll be hearing more on that subject. 

Thanks for reading my lovelies x

Why i always go back to clinique and living with eczema

I feel like last week i was a bit off the radar when it came to blogging, social media and just generally life, i spent most of my week at work or in bed and had a bit of a motivation block in all ways. One of the reasons for this, was my skin. And yes it sounds silly and yes it may sound like silly old me being over dramatic, but come on feeling uncomfortable in your own skin is the worst. I have always suffered from eczema from a very young age, and my friends and family will know that as i have got older in some ways it has got worse. So many people say 'oh you will grow out of it one day' but for me i just dont think that is the case. I decided to write a little more about it, not because i want sympathy, but i want anyone else to know that suffers with it, yes your are not the only one and yes it can be so rubbish but hey its just one of those things. No my eczema is not as bad as some peoples and yes i am thankful for that. But these days, the one place i tend to get a break out of it tends to be my face. So when i continued to get flare ups the last couple of weeks i thought it was about time i took the plunge and made a little splurge to get it back on track. A Couple of years ago i started to flare up really badly and it got to the point where i could barely even move my face or smile it just covered all of my cheeks, after seeing doctor after doctor and finally a specialist to see if she could help, she came clean and basically said, look you can't get rid of it, its simply something you have to keep at bay and live with. I was prescribed very strong steroid creams which bought it down a lot and i relied on those for a while, but really in the long term they aren't that great for you, will thin the skin and eventually make it worse. What you really need is simple products, a simple routine and a non fragrance routine to get you back on track and keep those pesky flare ups away. 

* Take the day off balm - Extra gentle Foam Cleanser - Clarifying lotion 1.0 - Dramatically different moisturising lotion - Moisture Surge *

So for me that means one brand that i know works for me and that is Clinique. I used it once before when my skin got really bad and although it means a little spend up for a while, i cant think of anything more important to spend my money on myself then on my skin. So like i said for me and for my skin, its all about the routine and not constantly mixing and messing with different moisturisers and cleansers. This can be hard, especially when you like to try new things and see if you can get your beauty regime that little bit cheaper, but its something sometimes i need to do. 

When i went to see the lovely lady on the clinique counter she pointed me in the right direction when i explained my issues and concerns. I told her i wanted moisture, and the three step routine that i know works so well for so many. 

So here are the products that i use. I use pretty much the same both day and night, except i skip the makeup remover in the morning and go straight into the cleanser for my skin. So at night, i first remove my makeup with the 'take the day off balm' this is super soft and non drying on the skin and honestly removes all my makeup so quickly and easily like no other. I then go in with the cleanser to clean my skin thoroughly, i use the extra gentle cleansing foam, with is very gentle on the skin and just removes any last bits of makeup or nasties you may have lurking. Once my face feels clean and squeaky i move on to the toner. For this i use the 'Clarifying lotion 1.0'. This is alcohol free and tones and exfoliates skin, which is great for eczema prone skin as it isn't too harsh or rough like some normal exfoliation. 

Now for moisturiser and for me this point is key. I first apply one or two pumps of the 'Dramatically different moisturising lotion' this is just super soft and gentle on the skin, fragrance free like most clinique products and very moisturising. For an extra boost of moisture which i always need i then put a light layer of the 'Moisture surge moisturiser' on top, just to lock in the mixture and repair any sore patches of eczema. And yes i am finally ready for bed.

It seems a lot and a little bit excessive but having used this routine for just over a week now the improvements in my skin have been great, and as far as my confidence goes its got a lot better in just a couple of days. I am sure i will only continue to see further results and it makes me happy and even a little bit excited to take my makeup off each day and do my little routine. 

So there you have it my lovelies, a little skin update and a bit of a background too, filters can hide a lot of sin's so i think its always a good thing to open up and be honest about things, you never know someone else out there may just need this blogpost as much as i wish i had found one to point me in the right direction. I will continue to update you guys and let you know of any other products that help, especially over the colder months that are heading right at us. I will back on Sunday with something a little more fun.

Thanks for reading my lovelies. x