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

November Round Up and catch up

Wow November flew past didn't it!? Not that i am complaining because it just means it closer to Christmas, which means my Christmas tree will be going up in no time! However we are not here to talk Christmas..just yet...instead i'm here to talk about November and all of the things that have been going on this month. 

To be honest i have been so busy with work this month. Working in retail from November onwards means only one thing, and thats later nights and busier days. But its fun, i enjoy being in a fast paced environment and enjoy being busy. That does mean however that i have really struggled to fit my blogging in and mainly getting outfit shots done. They are my favourite kind of blog post to put together for you guys, but i always need a helping hand with them, and someone that is good with a camera. Those nice angles, and good poses do not come naturally i tell you!! But hopefully i will be able to get some together very soon in time for the festive season. 

This month, i had my hair revamped again. I went a lot shorter and a lot blonder and i absolutely love it. I was quite taken a back at first as the blonde was so much different but now I'm used to it, i'm so glad i did it. My friend said to me 'i think you were actually born to be blonde' and hey i dont disagree with that one. What do you guys think?!

In terms of products i have been loving, i haven't really mixed things up that much this month. However two products from Mac have made my makeup this month and im so happy i have them in my makeup bag. The first is a lipstick from the Christmas gift collection and its called 'Magic spell'. Its a beautiful dark pinky nude and my perfect shade. It comes in a gift set with a lip liner and lip gloss too, and its a great present for Christmas. I was kindly given this by a great friend as a thank you gift, so as you can imagine i was a very happy bunny. The other MAC item is an eye shadow that i wore last week and i am not kidding i had about 5 compliments on it. It is the shade 'Star violet' and its a deep metallic purple pink shade. Its gorgeous and if you have green eyes like me, its a great colour to make them pop!

*Eyeshadow in Star violet and Lipstick in Magic Spell *

Another Materialistic item I've been loving this month is my new phone! I was due an upgrade and so decided  to treat myself to the Iphone 7 plus, and i absolutely love it. For me, my phone is my laptop, camera, and iPad all in one so its important to me that its right. The battery on this bad boy is insane and the camera is my other favourite feature. For a phone camera its amazing and i would definitely recommend this phone if like me, its your life. 

* My Iphone 7 Plus featuring a favourite blogger at the moment. Check her Instagram out @lisa.autumn *

Last but not least, as i think i have rambled on enough, i wanted to talk to you about something really personal to me and that's driving. You might be thinking, what are you on about, but learning to drive has been the bain of my life since i turned 17. It's something i have struggled with non stop, and have dreaded too. Its not that i can't do it or i don't understand it. But my anxiety when it comes to driving is sky high. I am a complete anxious wreck, its quite laughable really. However i decided to start again this month, and i also decided to try automatic. I was dreading it for days and it was keeping me up at night, but by the end of my first lesson last thursday, i felt a huge weight had been lifted from my chest. I found it so much easier, there was less to freak out about and to panic with, and i realised i really can do it, and im gooing to make sure i make it my mission to pass in 2017. I just wanted to tell you, if you find driving hard, or find anything difficult, you can do it. And there is always a way to make it work, its just finding the way for you personally. 

So on that positive note, i'm gonna leave this long ramble right there. I'm hoping to create some great content on my blog for you over Christmas and have some great ideas, so keep your eyes peeled for that and let's make it a great month, 

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 

August Roundup

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

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

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

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

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

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

Random - So even though this month all i feel as if i have done is worked. The time i have had off i have spent it with the right people. I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend off with my friend kit, who visited from Brighton, we did everything girly, and a had a little wiggle on a night out which was greatly needed. I also spent a great day baking and making smoothies with another friend which was super fun and we definitely had a good old giggle while doing so. 

 My last favourite of the month was right at the beginning of the month and feels like a while ago now, but it was my day in London with a great friend. We spent the day exploring London and booked in at the Cutter and Squidge cafe for Hello Kitty afternoon tea. To read all about it i wrote a blog post with loads of pictures so go take a read here.

So there you have it. August is pretty much done and dusted and onto the next month. I wonder what September will have in store, a week off to look forward too and some mini changes that's for sure. 

Hope you enjoyed reading, to follow me on day to day basis please head over to my Instagram page @amyrowleyy to see more. 

Thanks for reading my lovelies x 

Gucci inspired florals

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

* Red floral blouse - Original - Similar - Similar *

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

* Denim Skirt - Similar - similar *

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

* Belt - Original (asos) - Similar *

* Shoes - Original (Kurt Geiger) - Similar *

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

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

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

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

Thanks for reading my lovelies x

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