Yearly Archives: 2018

3 Excellent Excuses To Look Your Best*

05th March 2018

(Photo by Allyson Johnson on Unsplash)

If you’re into fashion then chances are that you are conscious of your image. While this might be seen as narcissistic by some people, they absolutely (mostly) have the wrong perception. Looking good is feeling good, and feeling good often translates into looking good. Fashion is a celebration of life, as is maintaining your beauty. The same criticism wouldn’t be levelled at a gardener making an outdoor space unique and fresh, so why should it be valid where you are concerned?

That being said, the only way to truly understand your worth is to look wonderful in some truly appropriate situations. The places and circumstances suggested in this article will make for amazing photo opportunities, but not only that. They can help you feel more confident. They can ultimately help the memory become formed in an optimal way, a way you will cherish forever. So there’s pure value in this. Here’s where to get started:

On An Adventure

How do all wonderous romances start? With a slice of adventure. This period of new beginnings and an unknown future is what makes any new period of falling in love intoxicating. This is a time you will remember, so it’s important to begin well. Heading to Kilimanjaro with Kandoo Adventures and your new love interest could be phenomenal way to bond, and afford you an opportunity to break out your best wardrobe yet. Winter layering with practical and stylish boots can make you seem like a winter explorer, a traveller with integrity straight out of a sepai movie. Just imagine the photographs you may show to your children one day. But still, the experience is what matters first, and finding surroundings like this to look wonderful in together makes for a fairytale experience.

In A City Of Romance

There are certain experiences that make you feel more or less ‘real.’ You likely know what we mean. Experiences that make us feel alive are often those which push us out of our comfort zone and give us time to reflect on all around us. The same could be said for those experiencing new things in a city of romance. Heading to Paris or Venice will afford you the opportunity to wear your most chic clothes, from striped crop tops to black or cherry berets. Angular and distinctive sunglasses and even a tapered clutch bag.

A city of romance also help you achieve that movie star framing, and gives you the opportunity to experience your inner star. Even the most daring fashion is considered normal here, so it’s a great excuse to experiment. Europe is more conducive to this, but anywhere you can express yourself freely is somewhere you should pursue.

At A Formal Event

There are many formal events you will likely attend in your life. This is a great opportunity to dress as well as you can. Evening gowns and ball dresses can be worn with elbow high gloves, and your most tasteful jewellery can also be a fixture here. This might be a formal date, a marriage or awards ceremony. Theming your outfit here can help you achieve the glamor you may have been expressly searching for in your daily life. After all, who doesn’t enjoy being dressed up to the nines?

With these three excellent excuses to look your best, you can find all of your fashionable interests and efforts come together to truly show you the best of yourself.

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Puma X Hello Kitty – a match made in trainer heaven

01st March 2018
I’m not the kind of person who usually goes for celebrity or designer collaborations- generally I find them over-hyped and over-priced, and I can count on one hand the number of times I have genuinely wanted to own an item. However, the second the Puma X Hello Kitty collaboration found it’s way on to my radar I knew that this time I’d have to cave in- I’ve gone from the kind of girl who only ever wore trainers for exercise (a rare event in itself) to the kind of girl who wishes they were also acceptable as work shoes, therefore creating an absolute need for new sneaks complete with cult cartoon character, naturally. As the launch date for this collection loomed I found myself juggling finances and counting down to when I could make a pair mine- and launch day itself? There was much tension, I had to wait until I got home from work to place my order, by which time most places had already sold out of the sneakers. Thankfully ASOS had my back, with a pair left in my size. A little bit pathetic to get so excited over a cartoon cat and a pair of trainers? Maybe. But every once in a while you just have to go with your childish urges and need for casual comfort.
I’m really not an impulse purchase kind of girl- especially when it comes to things I don’t really “need”. I did worry that buyers remorse would kick in when the trainers arrived, but thankfully, when the cheerful red and white box arrived with it’s contents exceeding all expectations such fears vanished.

Trainers: Puma X Hello Kitty | Denim Shirt Dress: Zara

The attention to detail on these shoes is amazing, from the printed soles to the gold tipped laces. I did wonder how versatile I’d find a pair of red suede trainers, but having tried them on with this recently acquired Zara shirt dress and a pair of black opaques I’m fairly reassured that they’ll work with many a combination. This might not be the most fashion forward or considered outfit I’ve shown on the blog but a) this post is all about them shoes and b) it’s an accurate representation of how bothered I can be most weekends…

The collection came out a couple of weeks ago now and has pretty much sold out everywhere, I did notice Office Shoes (aff link) still have a couple of sizes in stock, and places like ASOS have the sweat pants and backpack still.

Did anyone else fall hard for this collaboration? It’ll probably be another decade at least until I get caught up in such hysteria again, until then you’ll find me happily stomping around in my red suede sneakers (although there is a part of me that wants to keep them box fresh and never worn, any one else get this?)

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Posted in fashion, outfits, personal style, shoes, shopping

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EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS WEEK 2018

26th February 2018
It’s Eating Disorders Awareness week once more and I’m pleased to say that I am in a very different place to where I was when I was writing last years post. This illness has taken 15, nearly 16 years of my life and whilst I may now firmly be on the road to recovery it still affects and impacts my day to day living, and probably always will.

This year the focus of Eating Disorders Awareness week is “Why Wait?” and this is something I feel incredibly strongly about.

I waited, I waited a good three years before seeking any help despite experiencing many of the physical and psychological symptoms. Those three years were probably some of the loneliest and most confusing of my life, and whilst speaking out and asking for support didn’t fix it, it didn’t hold all of the answers but it took away that desolation and desperation that comes with being so entrenched in something that as of yet didn’t even have a name.

On average 149 weeks (that’s almost three years) passes before those experiencing symptoms of an eating disorder seek help. I think there’s many reasons for this, from not knowing where to get the help from, being afraid of being dismissed or judged to quite simply not recognising the signs.
In a YouGov survey conducted for EDAW, more than one in three adults (34%) in the UK, who gave an answer, could not name any signs or symptoms of eating disorders. Find out more about the signs of an eating disorder.

Research has proven that the sooner someone seeks help for an eating disorder the more likely it is they will make a full, and faster recovery than those who wait. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and looking back I wish I could have made 15 year old me speak up when I first realised something wasn’t right.

The “Why Wait?” campaign is something I strongly believe in. Last year I tackled one of my biggest fears and went in to my old school to talk to students about why it’s so important to seek help sooner rather than later. Public speaking is one of my greatest fears and hurdles but I would do it again a thousand times over if it meant that even one person felt able to speak out.

Tomorrow, Tuesday 27th February Parliament will be debating eating disorders and early intervention and Beat are calling on the Government to extend the current waiting times targets that exist for CAMHS in England, to ensure people of all ages are able to access eating disorder treatment as soon as they need it. I, among many others petitioned their MP to attend and I await the outcome with baited breath.
Lack of services both to children, teenagers and adults still remains the biggest barrier to people getting the help and support they need when they need it most. It should never be a case of needing to reach death’s door before you can access treatment, playing Russian Roulette with your life just to get someone to listen? Not cool.

That being said, I really do believe it’s never too late to reach out. For support, for therapy, for intensive treatment or just to feel less alone.
For anyone who is wondering where to turn to, what to say or where to go then check out the Beat website– you can also find out more about Eating Disorders Awareness week, how to support someone with an eating disorder and how you can fundraise for or support Beat and their important work going forth.

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Posted in charity, life stuff, lifestyle

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The Right Stripes

21st February 2018
I’m in a bit of a Catch-22 when it comes to outfit posts right now, whilst on the one hand the evenings are getting lighter and I’m getting more chance to photograph things, I’m also battling against ever decreasing body confidence and a general lack of inspiration in what to wear on weekends- or rather an overload of things I want to wear and share. Now I’m in work 9-5 the chance to wear casual clothes is becoming a rare thing, and by the time I get home I’m generally so dishevelled and worn out that all I want to sling on is jogging bottoms or pyjamas.

I did manage to squish my demons aside last weekend though and got a few snaps of a dress that made up part of a Pull & Bear order I placed back in January, and actually braving the camera wasn’t as bad as I feared. I really want to get back in to sharing more of my personal style as and when I can, it was all I blogged about when I first started but somehow I fell in to a pit of sponsored content when I wasn’t working and needed the money. Now I no longer rely on my blog for income it’s time to get back to my roots.

Pull & Bear is one of my go-to shops for affordable pieces like this dress, at £12.99 I picked up this striped dress in a floral pattern as well. It’s a bit shorter than I would have liked, definitely a no go for work, but for slightly smarter casual style it’s ideal.

I’ve been avoiding stripes lately (aforementioned body image woes to blame) but this vertical, fine striped print is actually pretty flattering and it makes a nice change to my usual print preferences. I paired the dress with my favourite ankle boots from Banana Republic, some old faithful Primark opaques and my new ruby necklace- a valentines gift from Bob and wore this for a much needed hit of retail therapy with my Mum. Retail therapy that wasn’t overly successful, but mother and daughter time is definitely priceless.

Hopefully as the weather continues to brighten, and as my inspiration and motivation starts to return I can keep up the pace of at least one outfit post a week- let me know in the comments if there are any other directions you’d like to see the blog take. I have a few ideas up my sleeve but have so far lacked time to implement them.

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Posted in brands I love, fashion, inspiration, lifestyle, outfits, personal style, shopping

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Your Guide to Creating an Aromatic Garden*

19th February 2018
Most of us work on our gardens (if we work on them at all) to make them look good, and a beautiful garden is certainly a thing to behold, but in concentrating so much on the aesthetics of our outdoor space many of us miss out on a potentially amazing aromatic experience.

By focusing on planting aromatic herbs in the garden not only can you create a feast for your eyes, but a banquet for your nose too. There’s nothing quite like sitting in the garden on a warm summer’s evening with the smells of a dozen beautiful aromatic herbs wafting in your direction – it’s amazingly pleasing and pretty relaxing.

So, how do you go about growing an aromatic garden? Here are some tips to get you started:

Get a Greenhouse

First of all, if you don’t already have one check out these greenhouse offers and purchase an outbuilding that will enable you to nurture plants and herbs all year round. This will make it easier for you to maintain an aromatic herb garden in the long term.

Use Containers

If you want to keep things as simple as possible, then invest in a few pretty containers and use them to grow your herbs. It’s easier to do this than it is to go digging up your garden if you don’t really know what you’re doing. Just make sure that you’re using the best soil for growing herbs and that your plants have adequate drainage or they might not live very long at all.

Place Herbs in High Traffic Areas

Placing your herbs in areas where you are more likely to brush past them, or they are more likely to be affected by a breeze is a good idea because touch and movement activates the smell of herbs to a greater degree.

Lots of Sun

Most herbs require as much sun as they can get, so keep them out of shady spots, unless they happen to thrive in them (always read the care labels).

Choose the Most Aromatic Herbs

Obviously, if you’re trying to create an aromatic garden you’re going to want to choose the most aromatic herbs you can find. Here are some of the most pleasant smelling herbs that are likely to do well in this country:

Basil

Basil has a very relaxing aroma, and it’s great in pasta sauces and pretty much any dish with tomatoes, so it is an obvious choice for the aromatic garden.

Lavender

It’s debatable whether lavender is actually a herb or a flower, but there is no denying that it has a very strong and pleasing floral smell that is known for its soothing properties. Add it to your borders if you want to have an amazing aromatic experience in the garden.

Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm has a fresh, citrusy aroma that melds perfectly with the more earthy aromas of things like Basil and Rosemary. Plant it in your garden, and it will blow the cobwebs away and get you in the summer mood, even when it’s cold outside.

Once your herbs are planted, you’ll have an even better experience in the garden, guaranteed!

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Posted in lifestyle

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