Fashion Faves | Fashion

I haven't done a little fashion post for a while but I feel like recently I have made some great purchases that I am just so obsessed with, so I thought I would share with you guys my top 5...

Air force trainers...
Ok I know these trainers are chunky AF and if you have big feet they will make them look bigger but I just bloody love these trainers for not only their chunkiness but also their colour. This trainer is just me on every level and they're hella comfy. I actually recently bought the Adidas Gazelles and I think I bought them to fit in which is something I've actually never done before or even realised I did it until I bought these Nike Air force 1 as soon as I saw them I realised those were the shoes I needed!

Aspinal of London... 
Yeah this is a bit of a luxury item but it's perfect for what I was looking for. The thing you need to know about me is that I am very specific about fashion purchases, I have an idea what I want in my mind and if something fits that ideal then I don't mind paying more! Aspinal of London isn't a brand I have ever considered before until I looked around their concession in a store and I was surprised just how many utterly gorgeous bags they had. This tote bag is perfect for the days I am staying over at my boyfs, where I need to bring in some extra bits but don't wanna take the whole world. This bag doesn't have a zip which you might think is a tad risky considering I commute into London everyday but it comes with a little zip pouch that has a chain attached to the bag which you and leave at the bottom, it's just a really nice touch. Love it!

Studded boots... 
I have received so many compliments on these studded boots and they just give me LIFE right now. I mean, these style of boots are just everywhere right now so they very much are a trend item that will probably die next season but they just dress any outfit up. I could be wearing jeans and a baggy jumper and once I put the boots on, my outfit immediately becomes a considered selection and not just a lazy outfit. They're from New Look so don't cost the earth and they are a dream to wear!

Joni jeans...
"Toni late to the party" strikes again, ok look, jeans are not my best friend, I hate buying them, I have also put on weight this year so I hate trying them on even more but hey, I do actually like jeans! I finally bit the bullet and decided I would go to Topshop even though the jeans ARE over priced for what they are. I actually love 2 pairs but I can't help but admit I love the Joni ones more than the Jamie ones. The Joni jeans are like the most comfortable things I have ever worn, they are a jean but they have a lot of stretch in them and they are high waisted I can slouch in them and I can wear them all day at work without feelin' like I and restricted! Love love love them!!

Grey coat...
This one is a slight trend alert because if you don't have a grey coat this autumn then you either have the grey checkered blazer or a camel colour coat. I very nearly bought the checked blazer but everyone literally has it and it will have a shorter life span than this gorgeous grey coat. The thing I love about this little gem is again, like the boots, it can just bring the entire outfit together. It's a relaxed cut that is shapeless which on paper isn't ideal for hourglass shapes but the length of it actually helps with the proportions. 

What things have you bought this month that you just LOVE? 

Feather & Down Pillow spray | Sleep

Ok guys, we're talking something a little different on the blog today, we are talking about Feather & Down Pillow Spray that is supposed to ease you into a nice relaxed sleep.

I got this spray in a goodie bag for free but when I saw it I was actually really excited because I had seen this little thing pop up on a few different bloggers accounts. The thing is I generally speaking sleep quite well, I rarely struggle to get up in the morning but I rarely fall asleep before midnight if I am at home. This means that the 5 or 6 hours of sleep in get has to be good quality otherwise come 2pm I am struggling! I can have quite an active mind which means I do toss and turn in my sleep which is why I was excited to try out this product.

I will admit I have heard about the relaxing properties of lavender but I'm not a huge fan of the scent on its own so when I saw this contained lavender, I wasn't thrilled but understood why the spray has this scent. Another scent is camomille which when blended with lavender it creates a much more softer fragrance. To use this product you simply spray a generous amount all over your pillow, and I spray a little on the underneath of the duvet near the top end where my head is so i can breathe it in.

This product didn't help me get to sleep any quicker but the sleep I did get, oh my god, was probably the most restful night sleep I had for a while. I have been using this spray almost every evening since and have definitely noticed a difference. One evening I forgot to spray my pillow and it got to about 2 am before I realised why I was so restless, just a couple of spritz and I was sleeping like a baby! The product retails for about £7 so for me it's not that cheap but it isn't crazy expensive and I know 100% that I will be purchasing this product again, honestly I just really love it! 

If like me, you struggle with the quality of your sleep and toss and turn a lot, I would definitely recommend trying out this little spray.

What helps you sleep?

Using a Tangle Teezer on Fine Hair | Beauty

I mean, I know what you're thinking Toni is late to the party again blah blah blah but you're right when every blogger was banging on about the Tangle Teezer I was just sitting there with my arms folded saying "It's not for me". This was mainly because I heard so many people with gorgeously thick hair saying it worked so well for them and as I have very fine hair I thought the Tangle Teezer would just rip mine out...I was wrong.

I recently went into Boots because I need a compact brush to carry in my bad to and from London every day. I have bought so many small brushes in the past and really hate the little handles on them because they do take up room so I was looking at the Tangle Teezer' s and thought that as a brush this is pretty much exactly what I was looking for. They aren't the cheapest of brushes but this Flamingo print Skinny Dip was actually a couple of £ cheaper than the normal boring ones so I just bought it.

I was a little apprehensive that it would just rip and knot up in my fine hair but actually I was really impressed. As you can see there are different bristle lengths which actually stop the brush from pulling at your scalp which is my biggest problem. As my hair is fine, when it knots up the thicker bristles of my normal brush just pulls and yanks to get them out which in turn tugs at my scalp which basically flippin' hurts. I particularly like using it when I have added waves in my hair as it doesn't straighten them too much. The other week I was out in really high winds and I was bloody dreading brushing my hair because it does get so knotty but I have to admit using this on my hair wasn't actually that bad, it snagged a little, but nowhere near as much as a normal brush would! 

If you have quite fine hair but a lot of it and are considering buying a Tangle Teezer I would definitely recommend it!! They aren't the cheapest brushes but it actually ticks a lot of boxes for me including that it's compact and lightweight to carry around in my bag! 

What are your thoughts on this cult tool? 

Back In London | Lifestyle

Yes you read that correctly, I have given up the "work from home job" and decided to head back into the commuter chaos of London and I literally couldn't be happier! A few weeks ago I wrote about wanting to make some changes in my life and there were 5 key things that I wanted to change and one was definitely my career. It wasn't so much of a career change but more of am attempt to find my passion again, I missed being brand side and I missed fashion so I applied for a couple of role and got my utter dream job! 

Don't get me wrong, getting a new job is always hard because it's new and you have to make a good impression and then you have to pass probation but this was without a doubt the correct decision for me to make! Some people would think that giving up working from home daily is crazy but honestly it's just not for me! I missed people, I missed that routine and when I worked from home I just kinda felt like I let myself go and kinda forgot who I even was because it didn't matter because no one ever saw me! 

I work close to Oxford St which mean I get to pass all the wonderful fashion shops but I also get to see the street styles and different influences, I am not the most fashionable person at all but I do like fashion, I do like the latest trends even though I may not wear them, if that makes sense!? Also, now I walk around a lot more and eat less, I feel like I am looking more like me again, still early days though need to lose a lot more weight to feel more me but I am heading in the right direction!  

One thing I have been more cautious of is making sure I still have a good work/life balance, I don't want to get too obsessed with London again, I still have my wonderful bf that I want to spend time with and my glorious pals but it's just going to take a little time to get the right balance! 

I just thought I would give a quick update, I'm still new into my role so I still have lots of hard work to do but I'm so much happier and feel like I'm going in a positive direction! 

Autumn Nails | Beauty

If you have been reading my blog for recently you'll know that I love all things autumn, in fact I might do a little post on the exact things I like and I promise it won't include pumpkin spiced anything! But these Barry M Gelly Hi Shine polishes just scream all kinds of autumn!!

Since moving back from Italy I have been getting shellac on my nails just to cheer myself up really, I love getting beauty treatments done and because I was WFH every day I had a little flexibility to get them done whenever I wanted. However I recently got a job in London again which means that I have to get them done on Saturdays and right now I just can't be bothered to do that so I soaked my last set off and decided to start painting them again. Don't get me wrong this is far less convenient for me because my nails are very thin and weak and I cannot stand chipped nail polish so it means I have to paint them 2 or 3 times a week but it is cheaper and it means I get my weekends to do whatever I want.

This year I have change to cruelty free products only which means that walking into a standard high st store the selections are more limited but I frickin' love Barry M polishes so I don't mind at all!!! Personally, I think every girl should have a light grey nail polish in their collection, It's so simplistic but looks incredible on nails of all lengths. The first colour is called Almond which is odd because to me it looks nothing like an Almond colour. Then I bought this gorgeous orange toned nude that I just love right now because it's so different to what I have worn before and this one is called Peanut Butter... I mean, Barry M are really struggling with the names I think but as you can see it's a really lovely shade.

I opted for the Gelly Hi Shine ones because I heard a lot of good things about them in terms of longevity, however if you have very weak nails these won't last incredibly long, soz guys!

Whilst I have short nails, I actually have quite long nail beds so when I paint them it creates the illusion that my nails are longer than what they actually are. This is why I like to go for these kinds of shades purely because it draws attention to them in a more subtle way.

What nail shades are you loving this Autumn? 

Suda Thai Cafe Restaurant, Covent Garden | Food

My name is Toni and I love Thai food and I don't care who knows it! Now that's out of the way, I think it's time to write about my utterly delicious trip to Suda Thai Cafe Restaurant near Covent Garden. All this year I have been banging on about how much I want a good chicken pad Thai to my bf and because he was probably sick of hearing me moan he decided to book a table at this restaurant for my birthday and I was bloody thrilled! 

I've never been to Suda before but after reading the menu I literally couldn't wait and had decided what I was having before we even turned up to the place! We booked the table online but to be honest the place is pretty big so if you went at like 7ish I would think they could probably squeeze you in anyway but it's always best to book anyway! 

Doesn't that just make your mouth water?  For starters we opted for the Suda sharing platter which has actually changed a little since we had it, online the menu says that the platter includes A selection of our signature starters :chicken satay, kanom jeeb, duck roll, fish cake, prawn cake & chicken on toast but as you can see ours had these little sweetcorn cake things but basically everything else was the same and it was heavenly! The flavours were so good and it was just enough for the both of us but we did also order some Thai crackers as well, for good measure! 

For main I just had to have my chicken pad Thai, slight disclaimer I started eating before I took a picture and realised last minute which is why it's a cropped picture of the pad Thai because the parts out of shot were devoured by me! The chicken breast was cooked really well, juicy and even had a little bit of skin on! The peanut dressing had a real sweetness to it which mellowed out the chilli a little and then coupled with the noodles this dish was an utter delight! 

Of course this all HAD to be washed down with just one or two cocktails, I had the Lady Gaga and the bf had Suda Passion! Yummy and strong! What more can a gal need? In total the meal came to around £60 (I think) which isn't the cheapest but it is London and the meal was incredible! I would definitely go to Suda again! 

What is your favourite cuisine?  

Burt's Bees Orange Essence Cleanser | Beauty

As most of you will know I have recently moved to using Cruelty Free products for my skincare and make up, which means I have to try lots of wonderful new products that I haven't used before! I tried out the Melting Gel Cleanser which i actually really loved because the more you worked it into your skin the more it changed to an oil so felt so good on the skin. That said I was really keen to try out more Burt's Bees products because all I have ever tried is the lip balm which we all know is fantastic! 

I was in Boots recently and just thought I would browse the Burt's Bees skin care range as it was on offer with 1/3 off the whole range so I had a little look at decided to give the Orange Essence Cleanser a go because I do love fresh citrus scents and this cleanser smelled bloody divine! I have to say that I thought I was gonna be buying a cream cleanser, I have no idea why I thought it would be but I was quite surprised that it was a gel cleanser, I just wasn't expecting it to be! Anyway, once I got over that I slapped it all over my face and was kinda expecting it to melt into my skin like my other cleanser but this does not, it stays as that gel like texture. 

I think after my first use, I wasn't that impressed because the Orange Essence just wasn't what I was expecting but that said I still wanted to continue with it! The second time I used it, I definitely liked it more, the scent is incredible because it is very natural, it doesn't have that artificial scent like some others do, this is a lovely zesty scent but also a little earthy! It is a little tacky but once your wipe it off your skin does really look fresh and clean. I have to say that since I have been using this product I have developed a couple of spots, I don't know if this is directly linked to the cleanser, you have to consider diet and periods too but it is a little unusual. 

So my first impressions are positive on this Burt's Bees product but I just wish it melted into your skin more or was a cream cleanser! 

Which Burt's Bees products would you recommend? 

The Remedy, London | Lifestyle

I almost don't wanna tell you about this little gem because it is just so cosy and perfect, today I am talking about possibly the best wine bar I have visited in London called The Remedy. I know that is a pretty bold statement I know, but the reason why this bar is so good is because it is unknown, small and personal. It's in this little corner of nowhere that you could easily walk past without a second thought but my pal works really close there so he decided we had to pay a visit. 

One thing I really miss about being in Italy is to be able to walk into a wine bar and just have wine and have some nibbles, to be presented a random wine list where the staff actually ask you what you are looking for! Oh my heart!!!! The staff were really lovely and we were lucky to find a seat in the corner of the bar! The wine list was bloody long and had some great options from across the world, we of course needed a little help from the staff who were more than happy to share their knowledge. I have to be honest with you guys here, this place is not cheap, this night was very indulgent so much so I felt a little bad but it was 100% worth it. We opted for a dry red wine from Tenerife which is a region I never considered for wine, and whilst is was a very dry red it had a light fruitiness to it that I really loved and needless to say it was just over the £50 mark (eeeek) but it was delicious! After shelling out for the wine we decided to have a few nibbles to go with it. 

  

I love meat and cheese and I don't care who knows it!! When I see a meat platter you best believe I'm gonna order it. The only problem is I can't quite remember what the exact meats and cheeses were but they were also served with a selection of bread. Some of the cheeses were soft that you could spread which included sheep's cheese. The Blue cheese was rather pungent that gave you a bit of a slap as soon as you bit into it, personally not a fave but the softer blue cube and the hard cheese were perfect. Of course the meat selection was great as well including a variety of different salamis and if that wasn't enough we ordered one extra thing which was the burrata and speck sourdough crostini! The combination of burrata and speck was just so Italian that I had to have it and I was NOT disappointed. The burrata was so creamy it almost seemed melted or spreadable, just perfect with lashings of speck. The one tiny thing I would have changed were the red onions, they were raw and I would have served this is either balsamic vinegar drizzled with honey or the onions cooked and caramelised but this said it was delicious regardless. 

There we have my little review on this incredible wine bar in London, where I easily spent far too much money but The Remedy was totally worth it!! 

What's your favourite wine bar? 

Instaglow CC Cream | Beauty

A couple of weeks ago I had a little splurge in The Body Shop, it's a place I have have only just shopping again and after my first successful trip I thought I would take a browse in the make up section. You guys will have seen my post on the Honey Bronzer which I was left a little underwhelmed by and unfortunately this is going to be another slightly meh review! 

The reason I picked the Instaglow CC Cream was because generally speaking I do love a CC cream but I guess I was expecting something similar to a tinted moisturiser like my Sleek Make UP CC Cream which this product is not. It definitely leans more towards the moisturiser/primer type of product which you can see in the picture below, there isn't any tint at all so can only really be used underneath make up for me. 

I tried using this product in a few ways but could never wear it on it's own, I have a lot of scarring from acne years ago and have a bit of redness as well so to go out with just this product is not an option. I would say this is something you need to consider when pruchasing, if you have great skin anyway then this might be a nice product but if you have a few areas of concern then this product will not cover it up at all. I tried using it combined with my other CC cream for a more natural/minimal make up and I just found myself adding more make up on top of it. I then used it as a primer and to be honest I still wasn't that thrilled with it, it didn't make my make up last any longer in particular 

The product does have SPF 20 in it which is a positive and when you apply it to your face it definitely has a brightening quality to is but it's not shimmery at all more just white. This product sells for £15 which personally I think is too much for what it is in my opinion, maybe I'm just not using it in the correct way or maybe it just doesn't suit my skin but whatever the reason I just couldn't get it to work for me. 

What products have you been disappointed with lately?

5 Reasons Why Florence Spoiled Me | Lifestyle

It's amazing what a year abroad can do to you, a year doesn't sound like  massive amount of time and in the grand scheme of things it's not but I must admit my year in Florence really has had an impact in these funny ways....

Coffee Snob...
Yeah, I really am! Like I can tolerate, even enjoy,  mochas or lattes because the coffee is watered down but imagine ordering an espresso and getting what actually turns up, it's a bloody shock to the system! This isn't localised to England, I've had them in Berlin and America, all just terrible!

Relaxed Lifestyle...
There was no rush for anything, if you were meeting pals it was always an Italian time which differs to an English time. For example, here I would meet a pal at like 8 but in Italy 8 could mean anywhere between 8-9 and that my friend is an Italian 8 o'clock! The pace was so much slower such a stark contrast to the chaos of London that I used to love so well. 

Work vs Home...
I literally lived a 15 minute walk away from my office, what a bloody glorious commute that was so now the thought of a commute longer than 15 mins fills me with dread! I feel like you waste so much of you time just getting to and from work that overall actually makes your working day far longer and I can't help but feel that is just a waste! To be honest, I can't blame Florence entirely with this one, I was very lucky but still! 

Getting a proper glass of prosecco...
Like what the hell? Why is it that in England I can only get a teeny tiny flute of prosecco, we treat it as if it's bloody champagne and it isn't! I want to walk into a bar and get a glass, not a thimble, but I proper glass of prosecco! Is that so much to ask for?

Cheap rent...
My apartment cost me 350 Euros a month, I rented one bedroom of a 3 bedroom apartment that had a large loft, balcony, a bathroom, a wet room along with the standard kitchen and living area which was also about a 30 minute walk to the Duomo! We have to consider the exchange rate was a little better last year but still seeing one bedroom apartments for like £850 a month in crappy awful locations is kinda hard to swallow right now! 

Florence you bloody spoiled me but I wouldn't change a damn thing about it!! 

Solait Express Dark Tan | Beauty

It's been a while since I wrote about fake tanning on my little blog, so much so I don't even wanna delve through the archives to find the last one but I must admit recently I just kinda fancied trying the whole fake tan things again so I purchased the Superdrug Solait Express Tan . As you guys know, I only use cruelty free products and fab news that all of the Superdrug own products are cruelty free! 

I was looking for a tan that would be quick and just do the job which is why I opted for the express version because the minimum amount of time you need for this product is 1 hour and the max is 3 hour before you can wash it off so pretty much exactly what I was looking for. I will just say that I'm not really into the rebrand of the lilac packaging, but that is a personal preference I like sleek, simplistic designs and this looks a little young in my opinion. 

Moving onto the actual product, I found this fake tan to have the same standard biscuity smell but with a slight tropical hint, pleasant but noticeable. Immediately I was really impressed with how easy the product buffed into the skin, I applied with a mitt but it smoothed over the skin perfectly and more importantly it was even! So I smothered my body in the stuff and left it for an hour before I jumped in the shower. As soon as the water hit me it was like the tan washed off completely, I was so annoyed and thought it was pointless but after reading that the tan continues to develop up to 8 hours after but I was so skeptical because I felt like it washed off entirely! HOWEVER, I can confirm it definitely did develop and left me with a very natural looking tan and the next day I thought I would whack some more on for good measure just for another hour again! Just to bear in mind, I'm pasty as hell so personally I wouldn't leave it for the maximum amount of time but I have used it for longer than an hour and I'm just as happy with the result. 

I frickin' love this fake tan, it doesn't look orange and fades incredibly well, it's possibly the most natural looking tan I have ever used and because it's a mousse consistency, it's so easy to work with. 

What fake tans do you like to use?

Picture Diary of Cologne, Germany | Travel

I've been away recently to the very lovely German city of Cologne and whilst I would usually do a "5 Things To Do in..." style of post I think I just wanted to do a little photo diary instead so I hope you enjoy!  

Padlock bridge 

German flea market

Cologne Zoo!

Kolsch!!

Jazz Bar

Sculpture Park 

I just love how dark this Cathedral can look against a stormy sky! I had such a great time in Cologne and if you want a little weekend get away the Cologne could be the place for you! 

Have you visited Germany?

Strobe Of Genius Illuminating Palette | Beauty

If you guys have read my recent NYX post you'll know that I received this gorgeous palette for the launch of the brand on Debenhams and said that I would review some products Separately if I really loved them. So today I wanted to talk about the utterly stunning Strobe of Genius palette! 

I have to say I never got onboard with the whole strobing trend, never even tried it so I can't really talk about whether this palette is good specifically for that but I am all about highlight, love me a bit of highlight! Strobe of Genius has 7 different shades of highlight and I mean just look at them, ranging from deep bronze highlights to a beautiful cool toned lilac which I was so excited to try out as I've never used a product like this. 

As soon as I swiped my brush on my cheek bone I was in love, this product is so finely milled that it really ads more of a glisten than glitter which is quite hard because I find that a lot of highlighters do end up making you look like a glitterball which is fine if that the look you want but sometimes you just want a bit of life drawn into your face without looking OTT. I liked it so much that I started using it on part of my face that I never usually highlight like the brow bone, I know loads of guys do but it wasn't something I ever thought to do. Some of the shades are a little darker for my skin tone but I think if I was on holiday somewhere warm I would totally be swishing this all over my face! 

Strobe of Genius costs around £16 which could be argued that it is slightly pricier than most highlighters but personally I think you are paying for the variety of highlight you get, with colours I probably would never have picked up or tried before so it's a really nice palette to explore and play around with. Additionally I think this palette can be used by a variety of different skin tones which is definitely a bonus. I would say the packaging is a little cheap because as you can see in the picture it's wearing a little but the product inside, I love! 

What is your favourite highlight?

Cosy Candles | Lifestyle

Yeah yeah, I know I keep banging on about Autumn but I just love it so much and I kinda feel like the older I get the more I get into candles, has this happened to anyone else? Like I have always liked candles but my love for them is ever growing. 

I found beautiful candles via Love The Sales and thought I would share with you what I actually think of them. I find it really hard because you can spend so much on scented candles in particular and the scent never lasts or as soon as it has been lit it disappears altogether so I wanted to explore candles that have more unique scents and actually look really pretty because worse case scenario at least they are aesthetically pleasing right? 

I opted for the Linea candles because I love the sheer size of them, I mean who doesn't love 3 wicks and I'll be honest the scents just sound incredible, I got Pink Grapefruit and Mango, Wild Fig and Vanilla and White flowers and Orange Blossom I tend to lean toward candles that have a fruity scent but are light and not too sweet. In fact, the White Flowers and Orange Blossom really reminds me of Florence because I immediately pick up the Jasmine scent and there used to be jasmine flowers near my office and I walked past it every day, don't you just love it when scent evoke certain memories. Now the big 3 wick ones should burn for approximately 90 hours so you know it's a big boy and what I noticed when we started to burn one of them was that the scent definitely wasn't as strong but over a few hours when you walked into the room there was this subtle scent that really filled the room and wasn't overpowering at all. 

Nothing makes me feel happier than sitting all cosy in the living room with a little glass of wine curled up on the soft with a candle flickering gently in the corner. 

What scented candles would you recommend? 

TBS Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder | Beauty

I have heard SO many things about The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder and basically I have taken my sweet time at getting round to trying the damn thing mainly because I always felt it looked a little orange. However when I went in there recently I thought I would revisit these little bronzers and see whether I could find a shade that I would like. 

Now, I have a very pale/fair complexion but I tried the lighter shades and when I swatched them they were just too orange so went for a the much darker 06 shade which isn't that dark but wanted to use it as a contour instead of a typical bronzer has I have heard so many use it in this way, I thought a darker shade might be good.

I have to be a little honest here guys, I was a little underwhelmed with this product! It is just too orange for me and I used it as contour and it's OK but I think I just prefer the more ashy tone in my Sleek Face Contour Kit. I mean, this isn't a bad product it does last all day and blends in quite well and if you are looking for more of a subtle look then this product might work for you, and it does work for lots of people, just not me so it would appear! I haven't used it as a bronzer just because I feel it would look too heavy/orange on me. 

I definitely don't get the hype of it and considering it costs £14 I do feel like I have wasted my money a little bit and I would also note that the colour The Body Shop show on their website for 06 is no where near as dark in real life so go in store and give it a little swatch. 

Which products have you been a little disappointed with?

Autumn Dress Wishlist* | Fashion

Guys, we are officially in my favourite season which is of course Autumn but I don't just mean the leaves and colour I mean the fashion, personally Spring/Summer cannot compare to Autumn/Winter which is why I'm gonna share with you some great AW dresses that are definitely on my wishlist... 

1. This gorgeous floral dress is from Warehouse and I'm kinda obsessed! The thing is of course I love black, but I like my dresses just to have a little something extra about them. The sleeves coupled with the floral pattern is definitely a bit of me! 

2. I don't know what it is but I am loving leather lately and this leather skater dress I think is so nice because you could easily put a white long sleeved body suit underneath it which would look so cute! 

3. This embroidered beauty is from New Look and I mean just bloody look at it, it would apear I have a thing for black dresses with flowers over the top. I never really god into the whole embroidery trend but this kinda style I could totally get into 

4. A little something special from Topshop, let's face it in Autumn and winter there are often industry drinks or special occasions that you want to look nice for but you also know that it's a bit chilly outside so don't want anything too short and I think this dress is perfect 

5. I bloody love a bit of lace and this dress is almost a nod towards to the Self Portrait style of dress that dominated last year but it's at a fraction of the price because it's from H&M. Again this dress is definitely more of an occasion dress but I still really like it!! 

What's your favourite season for fashion? 


*Sponsored Post

NYX Make Up* | Beauty

Guys, I have some great news, NYX Makeup launched on Debenhams this September which is super exciting for so many reasons! NYX is very much an affordable make up range that boasts a larger selection of different shades to suit multiple skintones but they are also a cruelty free brand!! Today I am going to share with you some absolutely gorgeous products that were kindly sent to me, I will be doing a proper review of some of the palettes but this is very much an introduction to the brand if you have yet to try NYX. 

As you guys will already know, I am a huge fan of the Lip Lingerie and already have the shade Bedtime Flirt but now I get to try out Exotic which is a very "me" kinda shade without a doubt because it's a deep kinda nude ad not THAT different to Bedtime Flirt. However I also received 3 other great lip products which included the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in the shade Budapest which I would never have tried before but when I put it on I actually quite liked it, far darker than I have ever worn before but so beautiful and it also smells like cream soda. I also received a Butter Gloss in the shade Strawberry Parfait which is more clear than solid colour and a very unique Cream Lipstick in the shade Downtown Beauty which I have to be honest doesn't work with my complexion but appears to be a nice product in terms of longevity and wear!  

I also recieved 3 glorious palettes  that I am so excited about because I haven't used any eye products or contouring product. I have to be honest the Strobe of Genius palette is just so beautiful, it was really hard for me to wait until after I had taken the pictures before I started swatching there are some highlights that I have never tried before but that lilac/pearlescent one is the cool tone I have been looking for! The NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette is really beautiful with a good mix of shimmers and matte shade and whilst I wouldn't wear that rich blue shade in the bottom right hand side, I cannot deny it's beauty. I also have a lovely little primer which does have that silky silicone feel to it so I'm not sure how I'll get on with that and the Contour Intuitive palette which has a lovely shimmery blush. 

I'm a huge NYX fan, I can't wait to try these out and I am thrilled that they are being sold on Debenhams. 

Which NYX products do you love?


*Gifted Product

The Birthday Post | Lifestyle

Oh here we are again! Another year another birthday and once again my life is all changed! Last year I was in Italy having a great time but deep down I wasn't actually that happy, in fact I was really bloody lonely, that said I have to admit 26 was the best year of my life so 27 was always going to be a little tricky. 

Being 27 had some truly wonderful moments but I can't say it has been easy. I kinda feel like I was in this no mans land of being somewhere between blissfully happy and feeling all a bit meh! The goals I wanted to achieve this year didn't quite happen but on the other hand I have done more. Being 27 I have travelled lots of wonderful places with my boyfriend, who is just the best human on this planet, I don't even know where to begin with that one so I won't (let's not get too soppy, ay?) but also even just my parents welcoming me stay at home and save money to eventually move out, like how lucky am I? I have seen my friends so much more this year and honestly, it's the best! It's these things that make me realise how great being 27 was but I think there are a few changes I have to make this year that will help push me in a positive direction. 

Just a short little post from me today purely because I'm not really a birthday kinda gal but 27 was  mix of emotions but actually really good and I think being 28 could be even better!  

Silicone Brush Cleaner | Beauty

Cleaning brushes is just the worst isn't it! Like why do we use to many of them? And let's face it we know we should wash them weekly but every so often they get left just a fraction longer because it's such a chore! 

I was fuss-potting around The Body Shop recently, looking at some beauty bits and I spotted this brightly coloured silicone thingy and thought, literally ANYTHING that makes cleaning brushes just that tiny bit easier, I am all for so I had to buy it. It was actually £5 which I don't think is too bad considering just how much use the damn thing is gonna get. 

I noticed that the underneath of it has a little gap presumably to pop your fingers in instead of just using it in the palm of your hand. That said after a while I just cupped the thing which also fits really well in your hand and the reason I did it was because water kept going in that little gap and every time I moved my hand water kept being flung everywhere! It was a little chaotic for my liking but that's probably me using it and not a fault of the product. I soaped but my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush up and then just gave it a whizz around on the little Silicone Brush Cleaner and was seriously impressed with how easy to clean that dense brush was. No more being bent double painfully swirling my brush in the palm of my hand, nope it's now so much easier. 

I did however find the fluffy brushes a little bit harder to wash and I actually have a Mac 217 eye shadow brush that I simply wouldn't use on this brush cleaner but that's because it's a fussy little brush that gets out of shape really easily. Let's face it there are loads of little silicone brush cleaners available and I am a little late to the party but this is bloody life changing, never washed my brushes so damn quickly before! 

What tools do you use to clean your brushes?