'Don't Look Back' Positivity and looking forward

So a week or so ago, i was out shopping with a good friend.  We came across this shirt and both of us fell in love simultaneously, meaning we walked out the shop with two bags not just one. First things first, its stripey. Now my love for stripes is forever strong, especially blue stripes in particular. I think they look very put together and inject a Parisian feel to your outfit, topping it off with a slice of elegance...yes a slice *laughs*. Secondly if you follow me on instagram ( @amyrowleyy) then you will know that my love for captions and embroidery is growing on a daily basis. So the cuteness of the shirt doubled when i saw that it had the words 'Don't Look Back' embroidered onto it. 

When styling the shirt i wanted it to be the key focus of the look, let it do the talking. I paired it with some simple black Joni Topshop jeans, my new favourites although i will admit, the button has to be undone after dinner (high-waisted issues *sighs*). For shoes i chose the boots that i have literally not taken off since i bought them. My slightly pointed leather Chelsea boots from Office. Perfect for everyday wear and they go with pretty much everything in my wardrobe. A staple black boot for your wardrobe. My bag you may have seen in a previous post (here) was a little sale find from Zara, gorgeous grey suede. It is unfortunately sold out, so i won't dwell on it too much but it does just give the finishing touches to the outfit. 

*Outfit*

Shirt - H&M

Jeans - Topshop 

Shoes - Office 

(heads up the boots are now down to £40 !!)

Necklace - H&M

Now moving on from the outfit, after shooting the pictures for this post i thought more and more about the caption and how it fitted so well into something that is one of my main focuses this year. Positivity. 'Don't look back' and dwell on the past but instead move forward and look towards the future and what it holds for you. At the end of last year, i decided positivity was one thing i needed to focus on more, for myself but also others around me. Lets face it, no one enjoys a negative Nancy! I have always considered myself a pretty positive person, but sometimes it's easy to let the negativity surround you and eat you up. 

After moving out last year and spending my first year away from my family, i really had to learn to love myself more. I didn't have the comfort of having my mum at my beck and call, but also i found out that as you grow up and move on in your life, you really start to see where your true friends lie. So here are a few pointers that might help you be more positive in the future.

• Surround yourself by positive people and in turn be positive to others. You need to help each other and push through the negative time's as a team. 
• Don't dwell so much on the past, its easy to get caught up in what has happened or what could have happened, but really it won't help the future you. Look forward no matter what. 
• Try not to let other's opinions get you down. Your life is about YOU and you control it. Don't let other people hold you back after all most of the time their opinion doesn't matter. 

My three small points are just a start of what could be the road to a positive you and a better year, you never know whats round the corner. I hope you enjoyed my little ramble, oh, and the outfit too! Let me know in the comments below, and feel free to come visit me over on my instagram @amyrowleyy or my twitter @amyspoons for more shenanigans! 

Thanks for reading my lovelies x

Valentines Day - A Little Something For Everyone

February is among us and without a flash, into every shop that you walk, your surrounded by a sea of fluffy stuffed animals holding hearts, and red lingerie at every angle. For some of us, it's a special day for us to spend with our other half and for some its the complete opposite. A day that we dread, being single on valentines can only make us feel more lonely, which no one needs. Fear not, here are my ideas to keep Valentines day fun for everyone, no matter who you are with, or not with for that matter. 

**Outfit  Skirt - River Island, Shirt - H&M, Boots - River Island **

All Loved up 

Sometimes all you need, is to spend some quality time together. Forget the fancy presents and a la carte menu's, where half the time you can't even read the menu. These things aren't what builds a strong relationship. If you have the money, fabulous, if you don't i have you covered. 

• A Home cooked Meal, can never go down wrong. Unless you burn it of course and then if that's the case, the only thing left to do is to head on over to JustEat.co.uk *chuckles.* But seriously, take a simple menu or even her/his favourite meal and get to work in the kitchen. Throw in a couple of candles and a chocolate fondue for desert, and you are on to a winner my friend. 
• Give your other half a Voucher, entitling them to something you know they want to do with you, have been talking about for ages, or simply something you know that normally you just wouldn't do for them. Have they been wanting to see a snooker game for ages, or a girly soppy film at the cinema that personally you couldn't think of anything worse? Then use this time of year to show the other one just how much you care. 
• Forget Easter egg hunts, how about a valentines hunt. Something fun and silly, that costs next to nothing to prepare. You could make the prizes as simple as a picture of you both, or their favourite chocolate for good measure. The thoughtfulness behind it and time dedicated to it, will be much appreciated.  

Sassy and Single 

As much as this is a time for loved up couples to get all soppy and fancy over one another, utilize this time as a singleton to have fun or celebrate the other loved ones in your life.  Your friends and family.

• Use Valentines day as an excuse to get together with your friends and have a girly night in, pink pj's, heart shaped chocolates, and cute captioned cards, celebrate your friendships in style. You don't have to have a boyfriend/girlfriend to be loved...oh no, sometimes there is nothing better then a friend who has been through everything with you, tears chuckles and more. 
• Treat yourself, you can love yourself right?! Of course. Use the money you would spend on someone else, to treat yourself this Valentines. A bunch of your favourite flowers, aftershave or even a set of sexy underwear (which is more for us then for them i say), and you will be feeling a lot brighter then you did before. 

Something Cute For Everyone 

• This final little idea, is something for everybody. Get your mum and dad involved, your sister/brothers, friends, whoever is with you on valentines day, and have a fort evening. I read recently about a celebrity wedding where it was all built round the idea of the first date, which was building a fort, and well what could be cuter. Gather together all of the blankets, fairy lights and snacks and build yourself the coolest fort you ever did see. If you head over to Pinterest i promise you, you'll find endless ideas and inspiration.

So there you have it, some little cute ideas for valentines this year. What ever you choose to do, or  whoever you choose to spend it with, i hope you share the love and get festive.

Thanks for reading my lovelies x

2016 in a nutshell and looking forward...

Holy moly, where did that year go? So much has happened in what feels like such a short amount of time, but its been a whole year without even knowing it. My life changed dramatically in 2016. For starters I moved out with my boyfriend into a flat together, and changed jobs very early on in the year. Since this point i made a whole new friend group from work, and got my confidence back to where it needed to be. At this point i decided i was finally going to bite the bullet and launch my blog, which believe me when i say, i had been thinking about for not even months but years. I could happily say it was the best thing i have done in a long long time, and it has sparked something in me that i had been lacking for a while. It was a focus, a goal, and somewhere i could spark my creativity and create something i loved. I will continue to focus and improve Amy Rowley Blogspot, for the foreseeable future and after getting a new camera for Christmas i am ready to bring better quality and better content to this blog in 2017. 

Some highlights of 2016, have to be my two little trips away to Portugal and Bruges later in the year. Both were great experiences,and i can't wait to think of where to visit next. Also later in the year, we took a quick trip to Centerparcs for a quality weekend with the family. Also a lovely little break and much needed to spend some time with the loved ones, something i plan on doing a lot more this year. Which moves me onto my next exciting thing that happened very recently. I will be starting a new job this month, which although is super scary and has me all stressed out (because that's just what i do), i can't wait to dig my teeth into something exciting, and learn a new career path that will hopefully be the path for me. It's also nice to say that my blog i feel was a great part to me being successful in this new move, so here's to the future and to my career being on the way to somewhere great. 

Last but not least its important to make a little mention to another big thing for me, which is starting up my driving again and making sure i see it through until i make it happen. I am determined to have no more breaks, and no more freak outs and get myself driving by the end of the year. Positivity is key and a few important people in my life have taught me that this year. 

So here's to 2017, i'm determined to make it even better then the last, and enjoy every moment even when things don't always go to plan. I hope you all had a lovely new years eve, i spent it with my loved ones, and am enjoying a couple of days off before the crazy new year really begins for me. 

Thanks for reading my lovelies x 

The Christmas tag, And Our first Christmas tree

So originally this post was meant to be all about our first Christmas tree, and a small decoration haul. However i thought i would mix it up a little bit and make it a bit more interesting for you guys by doing the christmas tag. Perfect if you are little nosey like me, or just love to talk Christmas. So lets get right into it shall we.

1. What is your favourite Christmas tradition? A lot of our family Christmas traditions have come and gone over the years, especially with age and getting older. However my favourite has to be, every Christmas eve evening, all gathering round the Christmas tree and picking a small present from under the tree to open early. Our mum most likely picked the presents she wanted us to open, and more often then not, there would be a theme. It was always something cute and fun, just to get us super excited for Christmas morning. I remember once me and my brother both getting Christmas pj's for Christmas eve, so that we were suited and booted for Christmas in the morning.

2. Where do you spend Christmas? I have always spent Christmas at home, or at my mum's. This year is no different even though i don't live at home anymore. It tends to be me, my brother, mum and anyone else who wants to join throughout the day. But i think its very important to spend Christmas day with your loved ones, no matter who or where they are. Plus i couldn't spend it without my little cat Fred, animals always make Christmas even more extra special.

3. What is your favourite Christmas song? Without a doubt it has to be 'All i want for Christmas' by Mariah Carey. Either that or the entire Christmas Michael Buble CD which i could easily listen to on repeat for hours.

4. Tinsel or Garland? Neither. When it comes to decorations, i am all about the lights and the baubles. I honestly hate tinsel and just think it looks cheap and nasty. My mum has definitely made me a Christmas decoration snob over the years *laughs* so i like them too look classy or cute.

5. Who are you most excited to see this Christmas? Fred. As i mentioned before i don't live at home anymore and i miss my little cat on a daily basis. Living in an apartment, means it just isn't ideal for pets, so any time spent with my little freddie is precious.

6. Do you own any Christmas jumpers? yes i do. I own one Christmas jumper from Asos a couple of years ago, and its super cute. Its quite subtle for a Christmas jumper, with little reindeer's on it. Keep your eyes peeled on my Instagram for it (amyrowleyy), as i'm sure it will be on there soon.

7. What is the one Christmas food you cannot live without? This really is a hard one, as the food around this time of year is one of the best parts to Christmas. I think i will go with the classic tin of Quality street that without, It just wouldn't be Christmas. In particular the pink country fudge and gold toffee penny which are my absolute faves!

8. Peppermint or Gingerbread? Gingerbread. but only because of the scent. I don't actually like the taste of gingerbread, but when it comes to building a Gingerbread House i am the first to volunteer. I am also obsessed with the Gingerbread Zoella handcream, called hungry hands. It makes me want to eat my hands, its so yummy.

9. What have you asked for this Christmas? A camera. I really want to improve my photo quality on my blog and maybe even make videos eventually, so a camera is the only thing I want this christmas. Fingers crossed.

10. If you could be any christmas movie character, who would you be? oooooh this is a difficult one. I think i would choose to be the little girl in the polar express. I think i would make the best animated character, and they just get to go on such a magical adventure that i know i would enjoy.

So there you have it. My mini Christmas tag and a little insight into my Christmas time each year. Hope you enjoyed it.

Thanks for reading my lovelies x

Under £20 Christmas Gift Guide

Happy Sunday my lovelies, this is my third and final Gift guide of the series, and its a £20 and under gift guide. Perfect for stocking fillers, presents for friends, or that awkward secret Santa situation when you the get the one person you know the least about. So anyway sit back and relax with a cuppa while i talk you through the selection of gifts. What's even better is more then half of these will be discounted this weekend, with the crazy black Friday deals so what better time to make a little purchase. 

1. Lightbox - This is a great present for the blogger or blog loving friend of yours. Perfect for the Instagram life *laughs* and just a fun bit of decor for your room too. You can get exactly the same one from Asos, but Robert Dyas has it on sale for just £14.99. Bargain!

2. Penguin Socks £4.50- I dont know one girl that doesn't like cute Christmassy socks, hence why this is the perfect stocking filler, or even just to bump up a present when you haven't spent the right amount on someone. They keep your feet cosy and warm and look super cute at the same time. 

3. Colouring book £6.99 - I got one of these last Christmas and i loved it. Its the perfect way for someone to wind down after the Christmas hustle and bustle. Its also just a bit of fun and you can get some beautiful pictures as well, there are some lovely books around so you can tailor it to the individual your buying for. 

4. Starbucks Coffee cup £16.95 - what better present for someone you dont know that well, but you know absolutely loves there coffee and hot drinks. I mean come on who dosent love a coffee or a cuppa!? This one in particular is a gorgeous rose gold colour, but if that isn't to your taste there are plenty to choose from.

5. Topshop lipstick £8.00- Topshop lipsticks are lovely, they are really affordable but great textures, and gorgeous colours. This lovely red/orange colour would be perfect for the Christmas period and if you know someone that loves bright colours this is the one. 

6. Pixi skincare set £20 - Pixi skincare is really really nice, i have tried a couple of there bits and haven't been dissapointed. This little set contains their famous Pixi glow tonic, so if your know someone who love's there skincare or has been dying to try some Pixi products this is a great little starter kit. 

7. Fox slippers £14 - These little fox slippers from next are just adorable and already on my Christmas wishlist. I just think they are cute, fluffy and so autumnal. Even better they remind me of the John Lewis Christmas advert, which is just so lovely and funny this year!

8. Rose Gold Earphones £14 - For anyone who loves Rose Gold, this is a great little present this year. Perfect if you know they are on the go, using trains or buses a lot. If you have to use public transport at least look the part while doing so hey! Everyone needs a pair of earphones so this really is one of those presents where you can't go wrong. 

9. Zoella Beauty Spa in a jar £10 - This little gift is really nice for anyone that needs that little bit of TLC. It has some beautifully scented body treats in there, and it's also perfect if they go away a lot as they are travel friendly sizes. Not to mention if they are a fan of Zoella you really will be on to a winner!

10. Oliver Bonas Gold letters £10 - These little Gold letters are a perfect personal touch to any living room, bedroom, or office. If you know the person your buying for takes pride in her home interior then this is a lovely little gift from you to them. 

11. Unicorn Shower Cap £6.00 - Last but not least this little gift is just a little bit of fun and the perfect stocking filler. At £6 make someone really giggle this Christmas, with a unicorn shower cap on there head. A perfect way to start Christmas morning.

So there you have it, the last Christmas gift guide in my little series. I really hope you enjoyed them as much as i did putting them together. As i said previously there are a lot of offers on this weekend so i would recommend picking up any of these beautys sooner rather then later. I hope you all had a great weekend. 

Thanks for reading my lovelies x 

* No pictures are my own, No copyright intended *

Christmas Gift Guide For Him

So this is the second post in my Christmas guide frenzy! Perfect for the male reader, the man in your life, or your dad or brother that your struggling to buy for. If your thinking, i just dont know, or he has everything already, then this should be able to give you that little push in the right direction.

1. Camel Coat - So originally this was top of my list for my boyfriend this year...Until he went and bought himself one *sighs.* However this is a great gift for any boyfriend that you want to look smart and daper. They seem to be very popular and selling out everywhere, so surely it must mean something! This is a slightly more luxury price point however there are plenty on the high street so check places like ASOS and riverisland out. 

2. DIOR Sauvage - This next one is a standard for any man, old and young, and thats a great smelling aftershave. There is nothing better then a nice smelling partner, and this particular scent is lush! Not only does it keep him happy with a great gift, it keeps you happy too. win win situation. 

3. Fitbit Charge - So if any of the men in your life are fitness freaks, this is the gift for them. The watch that tracks all your movements, exercise and weight loss. Not only will it keep him fit and healthy but also tell the time and connect to your phone too. Perfect gadget for a gym bunny.

4. Cards Against Humanity - Next up is one for all the family, once the kids have gone to sleep thats for sure. You have to keep an open mind and take it very lightly, but this board game with a difference can be a right laugh and make that boring Christmas evening a funny night to remember. 

5.Ted Baker wallet and Card holder - A great present for your dad or older relative, who already has everything. A little refresh in the wallet department can never go wrong, and this ted baker set has you covered in all angles with a matching card holder too.

6. Ipad air WIFI 16GB - My boyfriend just got one of these for his birthday and absolutely loves it. Perfect for on the go, watching movies, Netflix or just browsing the internet without the bulk of a laptop. Even if he already has an older version, the picture, speed and battery will be much improved. Plus you can borrow it too *winks*

7. Hugo Boss Watch - This boss watch is simply the perfect stylish designer watch. Hugo Boss is a well known brand, and the leather strap and silver combo is very smart, perfect for the suited and booted. It isn't too pricey either at £150. It isn't too fussy but does the job and looks the part..Job done!

8. Barbour Scarf and Glove set - Next up is a great gift for any guy in your life, and a standard this winter for the chill to come. And if you have to be wrapped up this winter why not do it in style with this Barbour tartan scarf and glove set. It will compliment any smart coat, and its a great gift for under £50 if your working with a budget like myself.

9. Airplane Flight Drone - Now for the big kid and a little bit of fun, this gadget will make a lot of men very happy this Christmas, and quiet for a couple of hours too. This might be a great gift for a younger brother, or a guy who is getting into his photography and wants to get some great shots.

10. River island Chelsea Boots - If your boyfriend or any male friends are into there fashion, then they could always do with a great pair of Chelsea boots. Just like us girls, men can never have too many pairs of shoes. This grey suede pair from River island, are stylish, simple, and not overly expensive. So while you have the chance too, give your partner a style update this Christmas. 

So there you have it, 10 Very acceptable, fun, stylish and functional gift ideas for the men in your life. There is something for everyone so i hope this has helped and been useful for you. Ill be back on Sunday with a Gift guide of gifts under £20.

Thanks for reading my lovelies x

Chocolate Fudge Mini Bonfire Cupcakes

Bonfire night is soon going to be upon as, and to celebrate the evening of fireworks, sparklers and toasted marshmallows i thought i would share with you a quick, fun and easy way to make mini bonfire cupcakes. These are perfect if you are throwing a little firework party at your own place, or even a good treat with a cuppa for when your return from seeing a display. So lets quit the rambling and get onto the recipe. 

Ingredients you will need:

120g self raising flour

120g caster sugar 

120g Butter 

2 medium sized eggs 

A splash of Vanilla extract

For the icing:

1 tub of Betty Crockers Chocolate fudge icing

45g butter 

90g icing sugar 

Orange food colouring

6 Flakes

Gold sprinkles (optional)

1. First preheat the oven to 180 Degrees. Take the first three ingredients and mix together in a bowl until you have want looks like a crumby texture. Then take the two eggs and slowly add to the mixture being careful not to curdle the mixture. 

2. When all thoroughly mixed add a splash of vanilla extract for some flavour. Once this is evenly spread into the mixture, carefully spoon the mixture in to the cupcake tin as evenly as possible.

3. Pop into the oven for around 20 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and leave to cool on a cooling rack.

4. For the orange fire icing, take both the butter and the icing sugar and mix together until you get a creamy texture, add both a little bit of vanilla extract and some orange Food colouring until you are happy with the shade of orange. 

5. Once the cakes have cooled, take your Chocolate fudge icing and carefully spread onto the top of each cupcake, creating a base for your Flakes (wood). Take the flakes and cut them evenly into four pieces. You will need around three pieces of flake for each bonfire. Balance them onto each other and stick them into the fudge icing to create a mini bonfire effect. Repeat this for each cupcake.

6. You can then take your orange icing and create flames by using a star shaped nozzle and piping bag. Sporadically squeeze small amounts of icing around the flakes to create little flames, and again repeat to each cupcake. Then to finish Sprinkle some gold sprinkles on top. 

And there you have it, little bonfire cupcakes, super quick and easy but really cute at the same time. Oh and not to mention yummy too! Hope you enjoyed this little food post from me and your all having a great week. I am hopefully going to see some fireworks this weekend, wrap up in my jumpers and scarves for a cozy night outside. Whatever your up to this bonfire night, make sure its a great one! 

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 

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

A chilled sunday ramble and tips on staying happy

So for today's blog post something a little bit different. no fancy pictures (well okay maybe just one) but just me and the keyboard, and a little bit of rambling. So many things are going on in the world at the moment it doesn't seem appropriate to talk about my favourite new outfit or a new pair of shoes. We seem to wake up each morning to something awful happening in the world and not only do we have to listen and digest all of this information, but we each have our own battles that we fight on a daily basis.

 I think its made me realise its so important to take some time out for YOU. it's so very easy to get caught up in the worlds problems or someone else's for that matter, forgetting that we all need our down time or me time to relax and recuperate. I've been thinking about what makes me happy and what i need some times and i thought i would share these things with you. 

*  Number one is a great big bubble bath. Such a simple thing, that i never do enough. Complete your bath with Lush Bath bomb, bath crystals, a bath oil, whatever takes your fancy, and soak your pants off under a mountain of bubbles. I promise you now i always leave that bath feeling refreshed and squeaky clean. Chuck some fresh sheets and new pj's into the mix and you'll be having a party.

* Finish that book that you have been meaning to finish for what feels like forever. I love to read and because of this i probably have 5 books i have started but are yet to finish. Turn that screen off and put your phone down, go live in someone else's story for a little while. 

* Spend some Quality time with your loved ones and treat them while your at it. There is nothing better in my opinion then cheering someone up when they need it, Even if it means buying them a coffee or a card to say something special. Actions speak louder then words. 

* Last but not least and this one will definitely make my mum chuckle and roll her eyes, but as she has told me a million times, a tidy space a tidy mind. Sometimes its time to do that holiday washing you have been putting off for weeks, or clean your makeup out and throw away that horrible eye shadow that you have had since high school. Its time to let go of that flashback and move on to bigger and better things *laughs*.

Wow, what a ramble. Don't worry its nearly over and fashion, baking and all things materialistic will resume next week. I hope you all have a lovely Sunday and enjoy the rest of your weekend, I've been spending mine with family and friends, lots of food and too much alcohol.

Thanks for reading my lovelies x 

June favourites

Let's start off by saying June has been a great month for me. Super jam packed and that's just how I like it. I've decided to do a monthly post broken down into categories talking all about my favourites in the previous month. This way i can look back on memories or at things I have forgotten that I loved and you can always take a look and take inspiration or spark your memory too. The categories are going to be; Style, beauty, food and experiences. So let's get started. 

Style- without a doubt one of my key pieces and favourite items in my wardrobe this month has definitely been the pleated Riverisland dress. It's a beautiful dusky rose colour, midi length, pleated detail and a waistband to pull it in. I wore it on holiday and I absolutely fell in love. It's perfect for day or night and I have a style post on this coming up so keep your eyes peeled for that. 

* Dress - Riverisland *

Next up are my Vince Camuto sandals. They go with absolutely everything and are so incredibly comfy. I have worn them to work several times now and had so many compliments too. This particular pair remind me so much of the Isabel Marant sandals but at a fraction of the price. I bought mine from Kurt Geiger in the sale and I believe they are still online so I will link them below for you. 

* Sandals - Kurt Geiger *

Beauty- next up is my beauty favourites and I think it's important I give a shoutout to my new hair. I am absolutely loving my new balayage and shorter length and the girls at Regis Colchester did such a great job. I can't wait to go back again and maybe go even lighter next time. 

My next beauty favourite has to be my new Mac lipstick, creme in your coffee. It's the perfect shade and formula and I love wearing it on a daily basis. I'm so happy I purchased it. If you want to read more on some of my favourite Mac lipsticks click on this link to read a blogpost all about them.

Food - I don't know about you but I have a really addictive personality when it comes to food. I go through stages of being obsessed with things and having them on a daily basis, then I normally over do it and after a while go on to something else. I hope I don't sound like a crazy person and I am not the only one *laughs*. 

This month I have absolutely been loving rhubarb yoghurt with mixed berries. It is absolutely delicious. I normally get the activia rhubarb yogurt and mix it with raspberries and blueberries. Perfect for mornings at work or after dinner for a slightly healthier desert option.

My obsession for maltesers this month has hit an all time high. They sell them at work and I have to stop myself buying a packet daily. I don't know anyone apart from my boyfriend that dislikes them, but that pleases me even more as it means I don't have to share. Even better the new maltesers advert is hilarious if you haven't seen it check it out.

Experiences- last but not least is the experience section to this post. Now this can be anything from a day out or a trip or even something like a new hobby or a class I'm doing. 

This month I have three favourites in this category. The first being my holiday to Portugal, it was lovely to get away and to see some different surroundings and sun for a couple of days, I will link my two blog posts with lots more detail and pictures below, if you want to have a little nosey. 

* Holiday blog posts - Part 1 - Part 2 *

My second was a day out to Alton waters with a good friend. It was a pretty random day, super sunny and warm which is rare for us in England. We went to a place near Dedham called Alton waters it consists of miles and miles of land and forest and a huge lake with the options of all the water activities you can think of. We decided to hire bikes and we went on a 7 mile bike ride round the entire thing. It was so much fun and we had so many laughs while doing it. Plus it was great exercise too, working off all that munching on maltesers. We finished the day off with a pub roast at a local pub in Flatford Mill a village near by. It was by far one of my favourite days not only in this month but this year too. 

* Alton waters *

Last but not least and I am clapping to those of you that have made it this far down, but starting my blog was definitely one of my favourites. It's sparked my passions for fashion and beauty. It's given me a new hobby and something to do and be proud of. Plus it's great for my friends and relatives to keep up with what's going on with me and my life when I don't get to see them that much any more. For any of you wanting to do it and not sure, please just go for it. I have stopped and started and wanted to do it for years, and I'm so glad that I've finally taken the plunge. 

Hope you enjoyed this new post and I would love to know your favourites of the month so if you have any please comment below. Tune in on Sunday for a new style post if you would like to see that!

Thanks for reading my lovelies x 

Our Favourite Family Dessert

This weekend me and my boyfriend went home to see my mum and family, before we go on holiday. We originally planned on having a barbecue but the typical English weather did not allow that, so we went for a nice spaghetti bolognese instead. Proper home comfort food. My mum also decided that we should have one of our absolute favourite deserts which i was more then happy to help her make. This desert is a firm favourite with all our family and friends, and whats better is it is the easiest thing to prepare and pop in the oven too. The dessert in question, is waffleberry pie. Its super scrummy and super quick. I believe its a pampered chef recipe from years ago, and over the years we have passed it on  to everyone i know so i thought why not give it some love and share it on here too.

The ingredients you will need are:

- Can of custard x 2

- punnet of raspberries 150g

- white chocolate chips 100g  

- 2 Packets of Mcvitites sweet waffles

First take a large dish to put your ingredients into, and start by cutting the waffles into quarters. Continue to do this with all the waffles, and once they are all done place them into the dish making sure you cover the base of the dish.

Next take the raspberries and simply scatter them over the waffles, spreading them out as evenly as possible. Then do the same with the white chocolate chips until all the ingredients are in the dish. A sneaky snack on the chocolate chips along the way is of course allowed (when mum isn't looking) *laughs*.

Now to finish the process off, take both cans of custard and cover the waffle and rasperry goodness, in custard, once again making sure you cover it as evenly as posssible. 

Once all the ingredients are in the dish and your pie is looking something like the picture above, its time to cook! Place the dish in the centre of the oven for around 20 minutes, at 180 degrees. 

We may have been chatting away, and kept it in the oven for a little bit longer, but no worries the crispier the waffle, the better.

VOILA! Your Waffleberry pie is complete. How super easy is that!? And i promise you, you will not be disappointed. 

Let me know if you give it a try, i would love to know how yours turned out! 

Thanks for reading my lovelies x