A Vintage Wish List with Rokit*

I always have, and always will have a special place in my heart for vintage fashion. It’s what got me interested in the industry in the first place and despite not owning very much vintage myself these days (although my collection is growing thanks to events like the Vintage Kilo Sale I went to last year) I have a list of websites I visit regularly to lust over their latest offerings and compile wish list after wish list.
One of those shops is Rokit who began life as a market stall in Camden in 1986. Since then they have opened four physical stores in London as well as having a virtual treasure trove of a website that features hand picked items of retro and vintage clothing.
The pieces for sale on the Rokit website include vintage classics, designer finds as well as re-worked pieces making it perfect for the style conscious, eco-friendly and lovers of the eccentric alike. I’ve picked out just a handful of pieces that have caught my eye- some on the eclectic side of things such as the Teddy Bear print vintage Moschino dress and others that fit perfectly in to current trends- these include the vintage 1960s Levis denim jacket as well as the gorgeous pink lace dress which would be just perfect for S/S17.

Price wise things are pretty on-par with other vintage retailers- I suppose even the second hand market needs to be competitive these days! Dresses start from around £20 which I don’t think is too bad, unfortunately for me the pink lace dress is £65 which means it must remain wish list only, but it really is a beautiful piece and you won’t find every girl and her dog wearing it on your local high street. There is also an impressive array of shoes and bags on the website which I didn’t dare allow myself to browse for too long…

Where do you head for vintage pieces? Tell me about your best ever find in the comments below.

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Girl Power!

I love a good slogan t-shirt so when Teespring got in touch to introduce themselves and offered me the chance to pick out one of the many t-shirts they have for sale to feature on the blog I wasted no time in taking a look.

Tee c/o Teespring (get it here) | Trousers: Monki (get them here) | Shoes: Zara (sale find)

This outfit is an usual one for me- firstly I don’t think I’ve ever owned a bright yellow item of clothing before but I was really taken with this “Girl Power” design. It costs £22.00 which is reasonable for a high quality tee (prices vary, some tees are just £15 & there are also sweatshirt and hoodie options) with the added bonus that when you purchase this particular design 25% of every sale will be donated to International Woman’s Day charity partners Catalyst and WAGGGS (more info). It happens to be International Woman’s Day today, 8th March and it’s a cause we should all be paying attention to- aiming to achieve a more gender equal world and workplace.

The second reason this outfit is unusual for me is because, well, trousers! I don’t often do trousers although I seem to have spent half my life looking for the perfect pair that suit both smart and casual occasions. I spied these in Monki when shopping with a friend and although I wasn’t intending on making a purchase at the time, once on I knew I had to. These are exactly what I want from my trousers- half elasticated waist included and at £25 they were a steal. They also come in black which I’ll be picking up at some point, perfect for my hopefully imminent return to work or for dressing down with slogan t-shirts and converse/flats.

What do you think of this outfit? Let me know if you decide to design something on Teespring- you never know, it might be your design I wear next!

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Uk Travel Bucketlist: Liverpool*

I’ll admit I’m not particularly well travelled when it comes to the UK- not when it comes from venturing North of the South West at least. Devon and Cornwall I’ve done a lot thanks to spending most childhood Summers there and it being a relatively short drive away for days out and weekend trips. For some reason the opposite direction has always held less appeal to me and apart from Birmingham, Leicester and Melton Mowbray I’m struggling to think of other places I have visited.

That’s not to say I don’t want to though and I have a long list of places I’d like to pay a visit to when time and money allows (and of course it will be so much easier when I’m driving). These places include a LONG overdue trip up to Leeds to visit my brother as well as places like Manchester and Liverpool for the shopping scene- yep, I’m basing my travel bucket list on the places I most want to shop.

Home to some fantastic Liverpool restaurants and a huge array of some of my favourite shops- think Zara, Victoria’s Secret and All Saints as well as high end retailers like Michael Kors and Reiss as well as the UK’s only Beauty Bazaar in Harvey Nichols, Liverpool One is pretty high up on my list of places to visit. There is also a Disney Store which I admit is a huge pull for me despite being almost 30 as they are few and far between these days and there is almost always something I want from there- namely their mugs because a girl can never have too many mugs right?

Liverpool One is also home to some of my favourite places to eat- although I’ll be honest and say I’m not the most adventurous or experienced at eating out (yet, it’s a work in progress). Jamie’s Italian is one of my favourite dining chains and I’d definitely be making a pit stop there, and given that it’s likely to be at least a one night trip if not more I’m sure visits to Nandos, Pizza Express as well as several coffee stops and a cheeky prosecco at the end of the day will also happen.

Here’s a handy guide to what is on at Liverpool One right now.

What's going on at Liverpool One_ (2)
So, aside from Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester where else do I need to be adding to my UK travel list? I’m open to lesser known places too- I’m not solely about the shopping, I’m more than happy to soak up some culture and visit as many tourist attractions as you throw at me. Once I’m driving there will be no stopping me (aside from the seemingly ever climbing cost of petrol that is!)

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Degustabox February 2017

So you’ve probably gathered by now that I’m a fan of the monthly delivery of Degustabox*, the contents of which nearly always impress me. Some months are better than others though in terms of what suits my personal tastes and the February box has probably been my favourite one to date. There were so many products I couldn’t wait to try- even if it did mean tackling a few fears along the way…I’m always up for a new snack or meal to add to my current rotation and this month has seen me add several new items to my ongoing shopping list.
I’ve been livening up my lunch times with these Kabuto Noodles and reduced sugar beans from Heinz (not together I hasten to add!). The Vegetable Laska noodles are gluten free, suitable for vegetarians and packed full of flavour and quality ingredients. A little pricey at £1.99 but worth stocking up on if I see them on offer for back to work lunches. I don’t actively seek out low sugar products but appreciate that it is important to keep an eye on one’s intake- these no added sugar baked beans have the same great taste you’d expect from Heinz with no added sugar/artificial sweeteners of flavours and go perfectly on toast for a warming midday meal (RRP 65p per tin).
From low sugar to ALL THE SUGAR with these items from Bebeto (£1.69 each). I’ll confess to being a bit excited by these Candy Crush gummy sweets as I’m a closet fan of the game (it helps manage my anxiety and provide distraction, honest). These were a delicious mix of some of my favourite sweets and perfect for sharing with my equally addicted mum. The cheese cake gummies were a novel idea and also pretty tasty but I’m not sure I’d rush out and buy them again. I really like Bebeto sweets though and often pick up mixed bags of various sorts in my local poundland.
More sweet snacks- right up my street! The dark chocolate coated banana chips from Maui and Sons were the product I was most excited by this month and they did not let me down. The pack supposedly provides two servings (for a reasonable £1) but I defy anyone to stop at half. As much as I love me some coffee I’ve never ventured in to eating the stuff but the New York Delhi’s Americanos (also £1) persuaded me to try. They certainly do pack a flavour punch and whilst they aren’t something I’d choose on a regular basis they did make for a great little pick me up.
I haven’t actually tried the drinks from this month’s box yet but based on past experience the Blossom Hill bottle will be a real treat, I’m actually saving it for when I have some friends round nearer my birthday- by which time the weather will hopefully be more suited to a summer fruits flavoured drink (£4.99). The pomegranate and basil mixer from Double Dutch isn’t something I’ll be racing to try (I’ve mentioned before my issue with fancy drinks) but I’m sure someone will enjoy it with some vodka or gin or something…
There was no information included on the Just Bee blueberry flavoured honey water and I really dislike honey so I haven’t braved this one but it looks like a healthy alternative to traditional soft drinks- feel free to chip in with a mini review if you’ve tried it! Again, juices aren’t my thing but the Coldpress fruity greens juice (£2.79) certainly looks wholesome and because they are made with 100% fruit and vegetables they are packed with vitamins and have less naturally occurring sugars than other juices on the market. The Koko Dairy Free Original (£1.50) is a product I’ve long been a fan of- I use dairy milk in hot drinks but prefer alternatives in my morning porridge from a taste point of view. I usually go for almond milk but I’ve really been enjoying this and it’s persuaded me to switch up my breakfast from time to time.
More snacks, yay! I loved the packaging for the Peppersmith sugar free mints and chewing gum (£1.50 each) and they taste great too. Pricier than my usual purchases but worth it as an occasional treat. The no added sugar wafer bar from Diablo (95p) tasted great- I am always a little wary of low sugar chocolate products tasting artificial but I didn’t notice it with this- a great little snack for anyone watching their sugar intake!
Finally we have some popcorn from Willy Chase (FITCORN to be precise). I’ve previously reviewed this flavour so knew I was kind of a fan despite disliking honey, I’m keen to seek out other flavours from the brand now.
For those who don’t know Degustabox is a monthly subscription box filled with 10-15 food/drink products, most of which are brand new to the market so it’s a great way to try things out. 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.

If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £7.00 off of your first box (making it just £5.99!) by entering the code 6HZJ8 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.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought of them.

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UK Travel: Famous people of the North East- a touring guide*

There are many people who we associate with the North East of England. Join premium hotel group The Cairn Group as they look at a selection of famous people from the North East and find out why they are so well known- and where you can head to see top spots associated with them.

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1. Sir Bobby Charlton– Famous for being a part of the England football squad who won the 1966 World Cup. He was also part of the Manchester United football squad that won three Football League First Division titles as well as the 1966 Ballon d’Or winner. He also carries the achievement of most career goals for both England (49 goals) and Manchester United (249 goals) at the time of his retirement.

Whilst you would need to travel to Old Trafford in Manchester to find a statue of Sir Bobby Charlton (where he stands alongside former teammates George Best and Denis Law) he was born in Ashington- one of the largest towns in Northumberland. Football fans visiting the town should be sure to head along to the football pitch on Woodhorn Lane to see some grassroots football courtesy of Ebac Northern League Division One club Ashington Football Club (Ashington Community Football Club, Woodhorn Lane, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9FW or visit
http://www.ashingtonafc.com/home for further information).

This one might be worth bearing in mind for Father’s Day if your Dad is a fan!

Bryan Robson– Famous for being part of the Part of the Manchester United squad that won three FA Cups and a UEFA Cup, he also guided Middlesbrough to two promotions to the FA Premier League as well as three cup finals during his stint as manager at the North-East club.

Bryan Robson was born in Chester-le-Street although it was at Middlesbrough, in the North East where Robson achieved some of his greatest feats during his career. Therefore football fans are encouraged to head along to The Riverside Stadium to witness some thrilling Premier League action (The Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, TS3 6RS or visit http://www.mfc.co.uk/club/riverside-stadium/).

3. Rowan Atkinson– Most of us know Rowan Atkinson for his roles in Blackadder and Mr Bean although his movie credentials extend to Johnny English and The Lion King. He was also the winner of the 1982 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Comedy Performance in the 1981 season.

Rowan Atkinson grew up on a farm that his father owned in Consett, County Durham. However for an exceptional glimpse into the actor’s early life you should visit the Cathedral Chorister School— it forms a part of Durham Cathedral and was also the place where former Prime Minister Tony Blair studied (The Chorister School, The College, Durham, DH1 3EL or http://www.thechoristerschool.com/ for details.

4. Robson Green– I’m fairly sure that most Mum’s of a certain generation had a soft spot for Mr Green, an actor who is most famous for his roles in TV series Soldier Soldier, Wire in the Blood and Grantchester. He was also part of musical duo Robson and Jerome where they were crowned winners of the Top Single & Album award at the 1996 Music Week Awards for Unchained Melody/White Cliffs of Dover.

Robson was born in the Northumberland market town of Hexham and raised in the North Tyneside small mining village of Dudley.He took his first steps down his acting career route by training at the Live Theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne (Live Theatre, Broad Chare, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3DQ or visit http://www.live.org.uk/).

5. Steve Cram– The track and field athlete has achieved numerous triumphs over his career with some highlights being a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics and several gold medals at the 1982 and 1986 Commonwealth Games (to name just a few).

Steve Cram started his athletics career with Jarrow & Hebburn AC when he was just 12 years old. The club is still going strong today with their athletes, as well as others from across the North East regularly competing at Monkton Stadium (Monkton Stadium, Dene Terrace, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear, NE32 5NJ or visit
https://www.jhac.org.uk/)

If you’re ready to start your star-studded tour of the North East then The Cairn Group has a selection of fantastic hotels in Jesmond that will put you in the heart of the action. Definitely worth bearing in mind as Mother’s Day, and then Father’s Day approach.

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