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 

September round up

It's been one of those days today where I just haven't wanted to leave the sofa or do anything much at all. We all have those days I guess, they don't do me much justice though and that's why I'm writing this post to go live tomorrow morning so at least I've done one productive thing today (apart from eating a huge share bag of maltesers...yes all to myself.) 

This month really has been a right mixture for me, and a proper little confusing one too. The weather hasn't helped and it just seems to not be able to make up its mind on if it's Autumn or not. Personally I am ready and raring to go. I'm waiting to get Autumn in full swing, cable knit jumpers and hot chocolates at the ready. But still The weather isn't sure and keeps springing us right back into the summer heat. There has been so many good things come out of the month though so I thought I would share with you the couple of things I've been loving this month. 

Fashion - let's start with the juicy details on all the fashion bits I've been loving this month. This month brought us an endless supply of fashion and trend inspiration with London fashion week and New York fashion week in full swing. This meant even more constant inspo pictures on Instagram wanting me to spend my pennies on all things pretty. The first thing I've indulged in has been my love for all things embroidery and it starts with what Rhys calls my biker jeans! In no way do they resemble biker jeans but hey ho that's boys and fashion for you. These were first posted in my 'that Gucci loafer post' which I will link for you here. These along with my other favourite the loafers themselves have been non stop all I want to wear for the past two weeks! And what's better they both go with everything I pair them with. You know you have yourself a winner when you constantly reach for them in your wardrobe. Anyway they have been my main favourite fashion items of the month but I have also been loving the look of yellow gold jewellery. 

This all started with a necklace I bought from accessorize and ever since I've just wanted to add more and more yellow gold to my jewellery box. I just think it looks really classy and great with black which is what I tend to wear everyday for work and more and more in the winter months. What's great about the accessorize necklace and the 'z' range in particular is its affordable but still gold plated and good quality. Perfect for when you want to add some change into your wardrobe. 

Beauty- Now beauty has been a pretty much no go subject this month I haven't wanted to try anything new and whatever I've seemed to try hasn't been working. And this is mainly down to my blooming skin. I suffer quite badly from eczema and it hasn't been my friend this month. There has been one thing I've been enjoying though and that's the collection 2000 eye shadow palettes in the rosey pink tones.  Trying to make more of a statement on my eyes takes any attention away from my skin or that's been the plan anyway. These little beauty's are great, super cheap and affordable and the pigmentation on the shadows is insane. I've had quite a few compliments on my eye shadow this month so it must be doing the trick.

Random - This month has been pretty active and jam packed when it comes to trips here, there and everywhere. Obviously my main favourite part of the month had to be mine and Rhys trip to Bruges in Belgium. I wont go on about it and sound like a broken record so if you want to read a little more about our trip and some fun things we did then head on over to my blog post, link here. 

The other main thing i have enjoyed this month has been spending some time at my old home with my family. For any of you that don't know i moved out with my boyfriend about 6 months ago and its probably one of the biggest things I've ever done in my life so far, well grown up things anyway. So its nice to go back home for the weekend or when i have time off work to see them. They don't live to far away, but i don't drive so i like to make it a proper day or two when i do get the chance. One of my weekends was spent just having a really chilled day or two with my mum, her boyfriend, my brother and my super adorable cat Fred. Fred is my world just so you know ( a little black cat full of character and everyone's favourite little being.) But anyway i think its important to spend time with your loved ones even if you do move a little further away. 

One last thing i have been loving and i just had to mention, has to be Wednesday night TV. I am in no way a TV lover at the best of times, definitely a Netflix, movie, or YouTube gal. However the combination of both the Great British bake off and Our girl, on a Wednesday evening has really been something that I've been looking forward to each week. If you don't watch either of these then what are you doing with your Wednesday nights?! Sit yourself in front of BBC1 for two hours from 8pm and you won't come away disappointed. 

So there you have it. On to October another jam packed month i'm sure. What have you loved this month and like me are you excited for it to get a little bit colder? 

Thanks for reading my lovelies x 

A little break in bruges, Five must do's and some tips and tricks along the way

It was that time of year again, a week off with no plans just empty days that needed filling. Me and Rhys like getting time off in September, the summer is still lingering and school years have started, meaning better prices for our purses and quieter cities, restaurants and just generally everything. Last year we went to Rhodes in Greece, but this year i decided i wanted a little exploring break, no bikinis no sun cream, just great scenery, great company and a little bit of history. When we found our deal on Secret escapes, we decided Bruges, in Belgium looked like a great place to go exploring. For any of you that don't know, secret escapes is a great website with great deals from full on holidays, city breaks or even just a night in hotel, all with a discount, no matter how small, every little helps as Tesco say.  So we packed our little suitcases and bundled into the car on Monday, heading straight for the euro tunnel. We had such a lovely couple of days and instead of just telling you about it, i thought i would make it a little more informative by telling you 5 musts when in the city and some little tips in case you wish to explore the city yourself. Obviously all filled out with copious amount of pictures, taken by one snap happy tourist (Moi).

1. First thing that's a must and pretty much a given wherever you go, is simply to just explore and go wild. There are so many little cute streets and monuments, hidden in every corner of the city. Perfect for any budding photographers or just wannabes like myself *chuckles*. You can rent a bike and cycle around the city, take a horse and carriage ride, yep that's a thing, and although it is expensive at 50 euro a pop, you can get 4 of you in so once this price is divided it doesn't seem so bad. Or like us you can keep it simple, old fashioned and of course free and explore the city by foot. We did so much walking on our trip, which was great for me as walking is one of my favourite things to do and even better we were spoilt by the weather so it meant we got to soak up the last of the lingering summer weather that seems to be about at the moment. I think its good to get lost (we did plenty of times) and just have fun with it, sometimes not having a plan or a route to stick to, just works.

 

2. The next thing you must do, is take a boat trip along the canal. The canal is quite a big part to Bruges, which is why it is often referred to as the Venice of the north. It quite reminds me of Cambridge, with the bikes everywhere and the canal running through the city, so if you have ever been you will know what i'm going on about. Anyway, you can pick the boats up from several spots along the canal, they are about 8 Euro per person and last approximately 35 minutes. Its a great way to give your little legs a rest, well in my case anyway, and to sit back and relax while taking in the scenery. Our tour guide, also provided us with little fun facts about the city and the houses and buildings we passed, which was quite interesting and fun. Again get your camera out and take some snaps, as you get some great views.

3. The third thing, is quite simply to eat a waffle. As simple as it is, you won't regret it and its just a must have while in Belgium, after all they are famous for there waffles, chocolate and fries, what a perfect combination. You can pick one up at any cafe, or restaurant. In my opinion its better to take one away as its quite a bit cheaper and more enjoyable, balancing on the little paper plate while trying not to spill it everywhere *chuckles*. Rhys is in no way a sweet person, pancakes and waffles are always a no go, however even he delved in and he wasn't complaining. I had mine with cappuccino flavoured ice cream, Rhys stuck with traditional vanilla, but if you prefer a fruit topping, or whipped cream and chocolate sauce, lets put it this way the possibilities are endless.

4. The fourth Must do is to head up the Belfort in the market square and be prepared for some views. For any of you that don't enjoy heights this isn't for you, but if you like them then this is perfect. It is 366 steps up to the top of the tower, a little climb and quite steep too but well worth it. I would recommend shoes with a good grip as the steps were a little slippery and maybe don't wear a skirt like silly old me, where anyone behind you has a glorious sight as you climb on up. Once at the top you can look out onto the entire city and if you wait for it to hit half past or on the hour the bells will ring and its quite something. It's just quite an enjoyable experience and well worth the climb.

5. The fifth and final must do is to head to a museum of your choice and just have a laugh. There are plenty to choose from, either a fries museum, a history museum, even a diamond museum. Or as we chose, typically,  the chocolate museum. Its rather small and dated, but interesting and funny nonetheless and its always fun to learn things you never knew. If i went again i would probably head to the history museum just to learn a little more about the history of the city and the culture surrounding it.

So those were my five must do's while in Bruges, now for a couple of tips when staying there or visiting the city. My most recommended tip when staying in Bruges is to head to your local supermarket and stock up on drinks and snacks. We found out very quickly that all the drinks and food can be ridiculously priced. We had two sandwiches and two drinks in one place and the bill came to 37 Euros! Yes really! The drinks are all at least 3 euro even for water and the sizes you are given are tiny. When taking your boyfriend that needs constant supply of food and drink, the trip can get very spendy very quickly. We also found the selection of food wasn't great either, a lot of fish and mussels and if that's not something your fond of the menus can get very tiring easily. The rather large selection of  Italian restaurants hanging around seemed to be our saving grace.

My next tip is to take some comfy shoes and be prepared to walk. The city is full of windy cobbled streets, quite uneven and everything is quite widely spread, so after walking from place to place you would have already walked a couple of miles, just on one outing. It is definitely not a heels place and its very casual as well so you don't need to look flash while exploring which is always a bonus. It definitely seemed to be very much a daytime place, the evenings were very quiet and its not from what we saw a crazy night out. However if you were to go on a weekend....well who knows!

My last tip is if you have a working car, and like me your not a huge fan of flying if you don't have to. Just use the euro tunnel. I was a bit skeptical at first, Rhys and i drove around on our last trip and that was a nightmare at times, but honestly with this drive you really can't go wrong. It is literally one straight road from Calais in France, to Belgium Bruges, with only 10 minutes of roads after this leading you into the city. For once i wasn't feeling like i wanted to close my eyes and pray, but enjoy what was around me *laughs*. 

Anyway so there you have it. A little insight into my trip away this week, some must do's and a few little tips just in case. We honestly had a lovely time and it was just what we needed. I feel we saw as much as we wanted to in three days, but maybe one day i would go back for the Christmas markets as i have heard they are wonderful. Hope you enjoyed reading about my little break in Bruges and have all had a lovely weekend. 

Thanks for reading my lovelies x 

Drop Hem Gorgeous

Now this is what i can a chilled weekend outfit. Heading out for Sunday brunch and a walk with the dog, or running into town for errands. These kind of outfits have to be really comfortable, effortlessly cool and the more layers to the outfit the better, especially for winter. I saw this top, the other day when i was buying work uniform, yep that's right i go in for black trousers and tops i come out of the shop with a pink tee. Sounds about right. I love this dusty rose pink colour, that seems to be all the rage still this season. Spring time it was everywhere and i have a gorgeous pink coat this colour so i'm glad to see its still going strong for autumn/winter. I think this top could be worn with heeled boots and a leather jacket to make it look a little more sophisticated if that is what your all about. I just wanted to show you how an understated outfit can still look cool. 

This top is from Vila i bought it in Fenwick Colchester, however i can't seem too find it anywhere online. There is a very similar longer sleeved top on the Vila website though so take a look at that one if you like this. Link Here. 

 

* Converse - Kurt Geiger *

For this very casual spin on things i decided to keep it simple and throw on a plain pair of black wash denim, skinny of course and some black converse. I have always had white converse till quite recently when i picked these up from Kurt Geiger. I literally love them, i forgot how comfortable Converse can be and i find these black are actually more stylish and versatile then the white ones at times. If you don't own a pair of Converse then get yourself some, you won't regret it!

I definitely can't get the hang of this posing malarkey clearly *sighs*

* Khaki parka Jacket - H&M * 

* Badges - Zara *

For those colder and blustery days, a throw on jacket is just what you need to take this outfit to the next level. I bought this khaki parka Jacket type thing from H&M a little while ago and i literally love it. I bought it in a size 10 so it was slightly over sized and i just throw it over anything, especially as i am always cold without a doubt. There are loads of these floating about on the market, with badges and all sorts on them but i like this more simple version. I did however attach some cute little pin badges from Zara to give it a little bit of texture and added interest. 

I hope you like this slightly more casual outfit post from me today, i know i definitely like wearing these outfits they may be more simplistic but also realistic so great for every day. 

Thanks for reading my lovelies x