Monthly Archives: September 2014

Pleather Up

08th September 2014
Since we’re now in to September I don’t feel quite so bad about sometimes retreating back to my favoured black and grey colour palette and swapping sandals for boots. As much as I prefer the weather of Summer when we get it, Autumn and Winter layers are what I feel most comfortable wearing so it’s a bit of a relief when the air is cool enough and the craving for a darker palette kicks in.

Jumper c/o Skip N’ Whistle | Dress: River Island @ ASOS | Boots c/o Missguided | Sunglasses c/o Hema

I couldn’t resist adding in a splash of colour in the form of these brilliant boots from Missguided. These are seriously so comfortable and cushioned that I can walk for miles in them, and they are an excellent transitional shoe as the cut outs mean you don’t feel as caged in as you would with a solid boot.

I’m always a bit hesitant when wearing this dress as it’s so short- I’m afraid that one wrong move and I’ll be flashing my knickers at someone! Oh the perils of being a tall girl…
Still these super old animal print tights from Primark just about saved my dignity and with my favourite ever light weight sweat from Skip N’ Whistle this was a perfect ensemble for a lazily productive Sunday clearing out my wardrobe.

Do you find you’re drawn towards different colours when the weather changes? I do love a pop of bright in Winter, but I prefer it to be paired with an otherwise monochrome palette rather than full on.

end

Posted in life, outfits, shoes

Permalink 4 Comments

On being a woman with Thierry Mugler / #BeawareofAngels

07th September 2014
I’ve never really thought about the fact I’m a woman. By that I mean of course I knew I WAS one but I had never explored what it actually meant to me. It’s actually only been the last 18months where I’ve thought of myself as anything other than just a body occupied by illness, I felt I had no identity outside of that and at times never saw a future for myself, let alone actually growing and developing in to who I am today. It was quite timely, really that the folks at Thierry Mugler got in touch and posed a few questions about womanhood as part of a new campaign.
These days I can appreciate my femininity and all that in entails. From having a body with curves that I am willing to embrace through to finding a boyfriend and falling in love. I spend time attempting to better my daily appearance, I bother about my hair and my makeup and although superficial I feel that it’s all a part of my new found acceptance of who I am and wanting to appear pretty to the world (I know some will disagree with this, but to me personally it’s a part of being a woman and embracing my feminine side).

I also don’t believe that being a woman should limit myself, or anyone in achieving what they want to achieve. It hasn’t been an easy journey but I’m now happily settled in job (well, jobs) that I love and match exactly what I always wanted before illness and a loss of drive stood in the way. Anybody who tries to tell me I can’t do something will be greeted with a “watch me” – those words just add fuel to the fire, I still lack some confidence in my ability but slowly and surely I am starting to believe in those three little words “yes, I can”.

The last year and a half has been a metamorphosis, really. I feel like I’ve emerged out of a safe and warm little bubble in to a world full of colour and noise and emotions (and yes, I am one of those women who cries at everything!). It’s a little scary sometimes but I am always learning and expanding on myself. My confidence in who I am as a person and what I look like is growing on a daily basis…you’re never going to find me walking around with my arse hanging out a pair of hot pants or my boobs spilling out of a top, but that’s ok. My inspiration doesn’t come from celebrities or fictional characters, nope, mine comes from the people I see around me on a daily basis- from the patients I see in my clinics, from bloggers who I look up to and admire, from my Nan and my mother and my friends. I am often humbled by these wonderful people and draw on their experiences to develop my own.

My name is Laura and I am a headstrong, capable and incredibly stubborn woman and nothing else is going to get in my way.

To find out more about the campaign you can check out the following social media channels:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Pintrest

Let me know your thoughts on being a woman below.

end

Posted in life stuff

Permalink 2 Comments

An end of Summer Insta-Life

06th September 2014
A small snippet of the random and mundane stuff I post on my Instagram- you can follow me there if you want to see more. Leave me the links to your profiles below too, I love stalking following new people…
Troll Necklace – this thing is insane!
Sucker for anything cat themed- especially where elderflower is involved.
Operation get fit- so far failing!
Reasons for operation fit failing.
From my favourite Models Own collection ever, yummy!
Current favourite yoghurts, so good!
All hail the 99p store!
Rockin’ the riddle.com tee!
If I didn’t know better I’d say she’s giving me the finger.
Mum’s excited I’m leaving home.
Shore Project love
Depressing.
Frozen yoghurt is one of my favourite things ever- this one is good.
Crazy shoe cat.
Hover over/click on any of the images to find out what’s going on.

Leave me links to your instagram profiles and latest instagram round ups below.

end

Posted in Uncategorized

Permalink 3 Comments

The August Degustabox

05th September 2014
Another month and another Degustabox delivered to my door. I’m seriously never going to tire of having a box of food handed over to me every month, I’m a grazer by nature and a box of new things to try is the perfect excuse to nibble on a little bit of everything (to save me having to pick one thing then wait a few hours for another!). The August box was jam-packed full of goodness and it may be one of my favourite boxes to date…
This month saw the inclusion of Degustabox Fridge, a little blue envelope containing a coupon for a chilled product as part of the box. This month it was for a multipack of Moma! Bircher Muesli pots (RRP £2.99) and I haven’t yet been to Waitrose to see if they stock them here, but they sound divine. I’m a big fan of yoghurt and breakfast-y type foods.

I love the packaging of Mexican Dave’s tortilla chips (RRP £1), it’s just so bright and fun and eye catching. We haven’t broken in to the bag yet as we’re saving it to make nachos or something with- it’s entirely likely they will just be used as a vessel to scoop up dips though!

Schwartz flavour shots are always a welcome addition to our store cupboard as they make creating a delicious dinner so quick and easy. I’m especially looking forward to trying the Spanish smoked paprika chicken…yummy! Spanish food is my favourite.

The drinks selection this month was brilliant, I was super impressed! There was a lovely peach and goji berry fruit drink that even the soft drinks loathing me enjoyed. For every bottle sold 10% goes to charity too which makes Berry White drinks even better in my eyes (RRP £1.59). There was also some ginger beer and tonic water from Fever Tree who make really good drinks and an apple and pear kids blend from Cawston Press which are lighter on sugar than the “adult” version and would be a great addition to a child’s lunchbox for a treat (and they’d have to be a treat as they cost £1.89 for three!). I’m not usually one for alcho-pop type drinks but Caribbean Twist have won me over with their strawberry daiquiri. It only costs £2.50 for a big bottle and would be perfect served with nibbles for a girls night in…mine won’t be lasting that long, nope.

Lindt made an appearance in the box this month with this adorable little tin of chocolate hearts (RRP £3.49). I’m keeping these all to myself but they would also make a lovely gift to show someone you care.

I’ve already tried these Dr. Oetker edible baking cases and can confirm they are genius. At £2.50 for six they aren’t for every day baking but make a novel touch for a special occasion…they also make a generous sized cupcake, perfect!

Last but not least we come to my favourite products from the box, Brioche Pasquier has been a snack staple for a while and both their traditional little brioches and the pain au chocolat are really, really good! Mum and I are going to whip up a brioche and butter pudding, as was suggested on the Degustabox leaflet so I’ll be sure to share how that goes…the pain au chocolat though are mine. All mine!

So there we have my thoughts on the August box, what do you think? Degustabox are offering you £3 off of your first box with the code QHZG2 and you can find out more by checking out the facebook, twitter and website.

end

Posted in review

Permalink 3 Comments

A playdate with Joy Bristol

04th September 2014
It might have escaped your notice (I don’t know how unless this is your first time here) but I am in the midst of a re-ignite love affair with Joy at the moment, not least because of their sensational drops of Autumn/Winter clothing. Recently Joy opened the doors of a new store, near Cabot Circus in Bristol and the ever so lovely manager Emili invited me down to play dress up with some of my favourite pieces.
The store itself is a delight. I had popped in prior to this visit just to have a browse and both times the girls working there have been so sweet and helpful. Everything is laid out in a light and spacious way so you can have a proper browse and the store looks immaculate. I stupidly didn’t capture any photos of the shop floor, I was a bit too excited and distracted by everything to think of that, but there will be many a return visit so I might be able to sneak my camera in again…I HAVE to share some of the amazing home-ware with you guys, it’s amazing.
Mum came along with me last Saturday to play photographer (and calm my nerves) and we turned the day in to a proper girly shopping and gossip session, on a high after such a lovely morning. I picked out quite a lot of pieces from the latest arrivals and fell in love with each and every one of them- the quality and cut of Joy clothes is impeccable and I find the lengths of the skirts and dresses are perfect on me, despite being tall. I treated myself to a couple of bits and have plans to go back for more as soon as I have some money for clothes again.
Not everything I tried on is available online- and not everything online is in store, but I’ll pop in links to what is available on both just incase anyone feels tempted- I know I do!

These pink trousers are so far out of my comfort zone and yet I was drawn to trying them on, and I loved them! They are so comfortable and easy to wear, especially with the digital rose sweatshirt for a sporty chic kind of look. Just add converse.

I’m am oddly obsessed with mustard yellow right now so was pulled straight toward this jumper which happens to be the perfect fit (I am so going back for this). I paired it with this skirt as the colours worked beautifully together and I loved the almost sixties vibe.

This dress has already featured on a wish list and having tried it on I want it even more! It’s such a nice cut and fit, perfect to wear with some thick tights and and heeled ankle boots.

(sorry photos are the most amazing quality, I’m yet to work out all the settings etc on my camera so the lighting is a bit off!)

The co-ord set was probably my favourite outfit of the day, I can’t find it online (yes I can! top and bottom) but the pieces were around £30 each and both really versatile to wear with other things too. Another favourite was this mustard yellow swing dress which I have earmarked as my next purchase as it’s everything I want from an Autumn/Winter piece and perfect for layering up with chunky scarves and tall boots. The coat isn’t online yet but expect to see a LOT more of this as it was one of the items I purchased…love and first sight, and my fatal error was trying it on as I didn’t exactly need a new coat! C’est la vie, sometimes you have to live a little, right?

The dress in the last photos also doesn’t seem to be online at the moment, but again managed to find it’s way home with me. I’m loving swing dresses at the moment and can’t resist a collar so it was pretty much a given the second I set eyes on it.

Everything I’ve shown in this post is from Joy’s own range, Louche and if you spend over £75 (which I totally did!) you get a really nice free jumper too, winner!

A huge thank you to Emili and her awesome team for letting me come and play, it was so much fun and I’ll be back again very soon!

Which pieces have caught your eye?

end

Posted in outfits, shopping, wish list

Permalink 15 Comments