Yearly Archives: 2020

Life Lately- a new kind of normal?

19th July 2020
Dress: Pull and Bear | Shoes: Primark

I’m giving up on making promises of regular blog posts, whilst I still enjoy having and updating this space on the internet I have come to realise I don’t need it as much as I used to. Back when I started it, when I was in the deepest, darkest days of my life, through the rollercoaster few years right up until I met Bob this place was my link to the world, my place where I could be heard and connect with people. It got me through some really tough times and presented me with some amazing opportunities. I’m sad in some ways that I no longer have the time and headspace to keep up with daily, or even weekly posts, yet happy to be letting go, to finally be in that place where “real life” is enough. I’m not giving up completely, there is always going to be the regular features as well as hopefully some wedding related posts, and looking forward, hopefully some family ones too. Even if that wasn’t the case I think I’d be stepping back now anyway, the blogging world has changed beyond recognition and I no longer feel I have a place in the centre of it (and I’m 100% ok with that).

Life lately has been chaotic and confusing for everyone and I’m definitely feeling it more now than ever. During the peak of Covid-19 I was so frantically busy and exhausted from work that I didn’t really register how much life had changed for me- and actually, it didn’t really change that much. I worked 9-5, shopped for essentials when I had to, so whilst I did have lockdown to contend with and the isolation from friends and loved ones I did at least have routine.

As restrictions ease I find it’s hitting me more now. Work has slowed right down. We can go about our daily business with a little more freedom. I’ve been on a socially distanced picnic with friends, I can see my family, I’ve had my nails done with hair to follow and Bob and I are planning a camping trip in a couple of weeks. With all of this has come a greater feeling of unease. Is this the right thing? Should I be going out/away. Do I really need to leave the house? I’m making the most of the freedom but it isn’t half causing some conflict!

Conflict aside, I’m happy. Ridiculously happy in a way I thought I never could be. I’m the healthiest mentally and physically that I have been in my entire adult life. I’m planning my wedding to my absolute soul mate (432 days to go!) and I have a job I enjoy, a roof over my head and an all round happy and contended and comfortable life- for which I am eternally grateful.

I’m not sure what the point of this post is other than to share some photos of a pretty dress, our somewhat more up together garden (like many, lockdown has given us a drive to take pride in our garden!) and explain, largely to myself why I find myself blogging less and less. I still want to do it, but on my terms with no pressure. I already feel more at ease with it all having written this post, so despite being a disjointed tangle of words it has served some kind of purpose.

Posted in blogging, fashion, life stuff, lifestyle, outfits, personal style

Permalink 3 Comments

How To Revamp Your Wardrobe To Achieve Chic & Sophisticated Style*

10th July 2020

With such a large percentage of people staying at home in the most comfortable of all outfits, dressing up and looking glam seem to be a thing of the past. Chic and sophisticated fashion has gone out of the window, to be replaced with pyjamas and sweatpants! However, with the end of lockdown looming now is the time to address your wardrobe and identify any positive changes that can be made to ensure you can feel smart and stylish for your next endeavour! So, if you’re looking for the perfect classy office look or simply want to dress with a little more commitment to sophistication, then read on to uncover some of the best top tips and tricks that you can make the most of today!

Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash

Say No To Patterns 

One of the worst things that you can do when trying to achieve a chic aesthetic is to layer lots of different patterns and colours together, this is far too eye catching and jumbled to even hint at sophistication. Avoid prints altogether where possible, experimenting only with simple stripes or a basic animal print on one small section of your outfit (such as your top) to identify whether these patterns can match with the block colour items in the rest of your wardrobe. 

Accessories Add Value 

The accessories that you wear can transform your outfit completely as soft and delicate clothing is taken to a whole new level with the accompaniment of a gold or silver jewellery set. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings are all great extras to add to your chic style as there are so many statement pieces embellished with glistening diamonds or even more kitsch floral shaped sets too. Even a good pair of designer cat eye glasses can take your outfit to a whole new level, so it’s a good idea to explore a relevant website or two in order to identify what’s truly on the market right now.

Find The Balance 

Though you may wish to dress the part every single day, sometimes it just isn’t possible. Finding the balance between über sophistication and complete casual may seem impossible, but even if this means substituting one item then this can really be of benefit. For example, wearing a sleek women’s suit dress with a statement necklace falling over the collar of your shirt would fit perfectly with a new pair of cute tennis shoes or other similar trainers. This can help you to avoid being overdressed, as well as help to keep control of your budget too! 

Revamping your wardrobe to achieve a chic and sophisticated style has never been so simple when you are able to make the most of the top tips and tricks detailed above! Start off by getting rid of any garish patterned clothing, as this can be too eye catching and make for a jumbled and confusing outfit. Stick with basic block colours, and add extra features by experimenting with accessories such as glasses and jewellery. Make sure that you find the right balance!


Posted in accessories, inspiration

Permalink

New Treats from Niederegger*

06th July 2020

Long time no post right? I’ve got no idea where the last goodness knows how long has gone, but I’m back to share some tasty new treats from German brand Niederegger.

Niederegger treats c/o Chocolates Direct

I know Marzipan isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I love it so long as it’s coated in chocolate. I first discovered this delight on a camping trip to Austria where I all but lived on those Mozart chocolate rounds and since then I’ve been obsessed.
By far my favourite brand for marzipan is Niederegger, described as the world’s finest marzipan made in Lubeck in Germany.
I’ve worked with chocolates direct in the past so when they offered me some new products from the brand, well, I don’t think I’ve ever replied to an email so quickly.

Marzipan loaves are one of the most iconic products that Niederegger make and I was excited to try this year’s flavour of the year- Hazelnut and Toffee. This is such a class combination, paired with another classic combination- marzipan and dark chocolate. I don’t usually like pieces of nut in my chocolate but the range of textures here works really well. A little bit of this goes a long way as it’s very rich, but totally delicious.
I took a pass on the rum variety is I do dislike alcohol in chocolate so I can’t comment on this (but I’m pretty sure it’s delicious if you like that kind of thing) but I am a VERY big fan of the black and white loaf; chocolate marzipan coated in semi-sweet chocolate and studded with chunks of dark and white chocolate. If you’re a fan of chocolate then you’re going to love this!

This is one of the prettiest packaged boxes of chocolate I have seen. The mini bakery desserts praline range is designed to replicate a trip to a New York coffee shop. The flavours here work really well, I’d say my favourite was toffee but I’d happily eat any of them again. Small but perfectly formed, this would make a lovely gift, or indulgent treat.

These banana and chocolate mini loaves were the product I was most excited for- this is the mini loaves flavour of the year and I hope it is made a permanent fixture. I strongly believe there aren’t enough banana flavoured products in the world, it’s one of my favourites. These loaves lived up to all of my expectations and more- the balance of bitter chocolate and sweet banana is spot on, the texture is amazing and well, I just can’t say enough good things about these.

I’m really excited to see what else Niederegger bring out, their flavours are intriguing and delicious. I’d love to see a giant banana loaf in the near future!
What are some of your favourite flavour combinations? And are you a marzipan lover or a hater?

Posted in brands I love, food, review

Permalink

The June Degustabox- Picnic Time*

21st June 2020
Box gifted by Degustabox
This is a PR box, this means there will sometimes be additional flavours or products than you’d get as a subscriber, I will highlight this within my post.

Welcome back to the only regular blog post I seem to be able to write! The June 2020 Degustabox had a picnic theme to it, and was packed full of products that I couldn’t wait to try. The boxes seem to be getting better by the month at the minute, and this one was great!

I’d actually tried the Raspberry and Rhubarb sparking water from Le Joli before, lured in by the gorgeous packaging when I was doing the food shop one week. The flavour is very subtle, but there and I really enjoyed it. The Mexican Lime and Mint wasn’t to my taste personally, I’m just not a fan of mint in drinks, but for anyone who does enjoy it then you’ll love this! There is also a Lemon and Mandarin flavour which I’d love to try. Subscribers will get two of the three flavours in their box, cans are £1 each from Tesco, WHSmith, Ocado and Whole Foods.
I’m yet to meet a sweet that I haven’t liked, and these Super Fruit Jellies from Maynards Bassetts certainly didn’t break that trend. These have unique flavours like papaya, pomegranate and cranberry, and each six sweet serving contains 15% of your recommended daily intake of vitamins C and E. These have a great, intense flavour and are available from all major supermarkets with an RRP of £1.
This is a great portable snack idea for kids and grown-ups at picnics. Attack a Snak chilli heat nachos contains chilli heatwave tortilla chips, a smoke chipotle dip and a cooling sour cream and chive sauce. £1.50 per pack from Morrisons.
NINE is a brand I’ve loved for a long time and these new seed bars are a tasty addition to the brand’s product range. I’ve grown to love salted caramel lately so this was an instant winner. A great, healthy treat for refuelling after a long walk- vegan, gluten and wheat free made with 100% plant protein. £1.29 each.
These little bags of granola from Lizi’s were Bob’s product of the month. He often takes breakfast to work with him and these were perfectly portioned for this, and healthier than his cheeky take-away bacon rolls. Both the high protein and the low sugar varieties were winners- I prefer my granola with yoghurt whilst he’s very much in the milk camp…where do you stand? £0.75 for a 40g pouch or £3.80 for 350g (high protein)/500g (low sugar) available from major supermarket chains.
I really liked these fruit twists from Gregory’s Tree. Probably targeted at children more than a 33 year old, but I don’t care! These twists have an intense fruity flavour and a nice, soft texture, it’s almost like eating a sweet rather than a healthy snack. With no added sugar, just naturally great tasting (and gluten free) these cost £0.69 from Amazon, Morrisons and Whole Foods.
This Chai Latte marshmallow bar from Baru was a real treat. I love the flavour of chai, and marshmallows, so the two combined with milk chocolate was a real taste sensation. At £1.69 a bar this is a proper luxury, and currently only available from Whole Food Markets and a range of gourmet shops- a shame, but probably just as well for my bank balance and waist line!
Olives are such a marmite food. It took me a while but I love them now- I’m all about the salty flavour. These are green olives (with no stones) dressed in basil and garlic marinade. Not a work friendly snack, but a lovely salad topper or picnic addition. More than a little bit addictive. £1.50 from Sainsburys, Amazon, ollysolives.com, Ocado and Musclefood.
I love Hippeas! I love all of the flavours and have loved them since they first launched in the UK. Whilst the cheese flavour wouldn’t be my first choice (sweet and smokin’ take that crown) they are still super yummy and a filling snack for something so light thanks to their protein content. I often pick these up for afternoon snacking at work- available in a wide range of retails for around £1 per pack.
Now here’s an intriguing product. Noisy Snacks are a corn based snack with twice the amount of flavour of other snacks (8% flavouring v.s. a standard 4%). Each time you shake the bag you release more flavour. Totally fun, very tasty and hopefully to be widely available soon in major supermarkets. Currently you can get these for £1.49 a pack from noisysnacks.com. I can’t wait to try other flavours from this brand.
A salad dressing that doubles up as a dip! We’ve had this Newman’s Own Italian dressing before and really like it. We’re saving this for our next family BBQ but it’s worth nothing that all profits go to charity. £1.65 from major supermarket chains.
Blossom Hill gin fizz looks gorgeous and tastes it too. I’m so happy I was sent the rhubarb flavour as it’s one of my favourites. This is a bubbly blend of wine infused with water and a dash of gin- perfect for a girly picnic in the sunshine. You’ll find this little delight in major supermarket chains for £9 – there’s a lemon and rosemary one to look out for too. This is probably my new go-to drink for the summer months.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought in the comments, it’s always great to get other people’s thoughts.

If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money.
On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.

If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim £3.00 off of your first box (making it just £9.99!) by entering the code XOQGC at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.

Posted in food, review

Permalink 1 Comment

Choosing The Right Earrings To Accentuate Your Look*

11th June 2020

Have you ever wondered why some people look just stunning when they wear earnings? Well, it is, in fact, a mix of two things. The first of the quality of the piece of jewellery itself, while the second is that the person that is wearing them knows precisely how to style them properly. The good news is that you can discover how to pick and style earrings to match and enhance the outfit you are wearing. Keep reading for more.

Consider your neckline 

First of all, when it comes to choosing jewellery consider the neckline of your clothes. For example, if you are wearing a round neck or turtleneck then longer earrings may not be the best option. Instead, look for button and stud styles that do not extend past the ears.

However, with dresses or tops that have less material around the neck and shoulders, such as halter necks or V neck a longer earring extended down can look very elegant.

In a similar vein the way you style your hair can have a significant impact on how good earring looks too. For example, if you wear your hair down and long studs are the better option. Whereas if you are sporting a more sophisticated updo longer earrings with a drop can work particularly well.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Team simple earrings with patterns and vice versa 

If you are a person that adores patterned fabrics in bright colours then it is best to opt for a much more straightforward style of earring. In particular look out for unadorned studs or hoops in silver, or even made from non-traditional material like acrylic. An oversized acrylic earring worn with a patterned dress done right can have kitsch and quirky quality that is quite wonderful.

However if you tend towards more solid colours and structured pieces then you do have the opportunity to embrace a little more excitement with your earning choice. With a simple monochrome outfit, an adornment such as these large diamond hoop earrings can give you just enough additional pizzazz to pop. Yet not so much that they throw your outfit off of kilter. 

Photo by SEASHELL IN LOVE – Kristin on Unsplash

Tones and colours 

Lastly, do not forget that it’s not just the colours and hues we wear that we need to carefully consider when choosing earrings, but also our skin tone as well. 

For those of us with cooler undertones aerating in metal such as silver, white gold and platinum will work best. Gems on the other hand should be in anything with a blue hue or undertone, including toned blue reds and purples, pinks and greens.

However, for those of us with warmer undertones yellow gold, rose gold and copper are the better choices. While gem colours need orange undertones including yellow, red, orange and pink.

Of course lucky ones with more neutral undertones have a choice between both types. Also earrings with clear stones such as diamonds will work with most metals and most skin tones too. Just as long as you consider, the other factors discussed above.


Posted in accessories

Permalink