No boys allowed!

Last month I had the most amazing Hen Do (I'm still recovering from it now, especially with regards to my lack of voice!)  It was such a fantastic night that I wanted to share it with you all.  Firstly, I must publicly thank my beautiful big sister for organising the whole thing.... So thank you so much Harriet for giving me a night to remember!

For my Hen Do I asked my sister if I could have a 1920's theme, as that era is my favourite, especially with regards to the flapper dresses and glamour.  So once I was all dressed up and ready to go, I took an obligatory selfie in full character with my silk gloves and faux cigarette in hand!  I felt so glamorous and couldn't wait for the night to start...

We met all of the girls for some dinner and cocktails at Prezzo.  It was a sensible move on our part, because once our bellies were full we could then start on the drinks!  My chosen tipple for the night was Passionfruit Martinis... I had far too many!

It was the main event and we entered the Adonis Cabaret doors... We all had no idea what we were getting ourselves into!  The show was incredible as it had comedy, dancers, karaoke, pictures and to top it off, a drag queen.  It was such a lot of fun and really down to earth.  All of my friends absolutely loved it... Even those who are usually prudish!

The night was so amazing because I had all of my favourite girls with me and it was like a huge party!  After the show I couldn't resist and jumped at the chance to take multiple selfies with the girls... Even looking back at them now... They still make me smile!

After the Adonis Show, we all made our way to the next venue (O Bar in Soho, London) for some late night cocktails and a good old boogie.  The bar was underground and had a really cool vibe to it.  Our booth was under an alcove so we were nice and hidden away (which meant that we could make complete fools of ourselves and no one would witness) and between us we had six jugs of Passionfruit martinis... I didn't want the night to end!

We didn't leave the venue until 4pm and I didn't go to bed until 5:30am.... I couldn't believe that I did an all nighter!  The whole night was fantastic and it will stay with me forever.  I hope that one day I can create a night as good as this was, for my sisters hen do... The pressure is on!

M x

Franco Manca Review!

Perry and I have always wanted to try out Franca manca for dinner, because of its delicious pizzas, but whenever we try to go... There is either a huge line or it is full up!  (It's always a great sign, because you know it's a successful restaurant!)  However the other day by some miracle we managed to get a table and took full advantage of the situation.

We decided to choose the freshly made lemonade, because it sounded so delicious.... And do you know what?  It really was!  It was the most refreshing drink to have on such a sunny day!

For our starter we chose the Brisola (cured beef) and buffalo mozzarella salad with garlic and cheese bread on the side.  It was presented so beautifully on a wooden block... I didn't want to ruin it, but my hunger kicked in and we both polished our plates!

For our pizzas, we opted for different flavours.  Perry went for the tomato, cured chorizo and mozzarella pizza.  I on the other hand chose the wild broccoli, mozzarella and Gloucester old spot sausage pizza.  Both of our pizzas were so delicious and the crusts were so flavoursome!  At only £6 a pizza, this place is incredibly reasonable and the portion size is amazing!

The pizzas are made from slow-rising sour dough (minimum 20 hours) and are baked in a wood burning brick oven.  This oven helps to lock in the flour's natural aroma and moisture, giving a soft and easily digestible crust.  Therefore the crust or the (cornicione) is excellent and should not be discarded!

Franco Manca certainly exceeded our expectations and we will definitely be returning sometime soon!

M x

Time for a change!

Coat - Jigsaw // Jumper - Primark // Necklace - H&M // Jeans (Joni) Topshop // Trainers (Tavas) Nike

This past month I have been running myself ragged with so many errands and to do lists.... I literally haven't stopped once!  Perry and I are currently in the process of exchanging contracts on a property that we have put an offer on and so together we have been attending important meetings and we are both completely worn out!  Therefore my usual choice of footwear (high heels/high heeled ankle boots... Basically anything that will make me at least 4 inches taller) has quickly changed into flats and most importantly trainers!

As you already know, I recently purchased a pair of black coloured Nike trainers in the 'Tavas' style and have not put them down since!   They have instantly become my 'go to' shoes and because of this, I really wanted to incorporate them into an outfit that is smart casual and great for when you just want total comfort!

So I teamed them with a simple pair of black skinny jeans... I like to wear high waisted jeans, because I find them more comfortable and so these are from Topshop and they are the 'Joni' style.  I then chose my flecked grey jumper from Primark and paired it with my grey cocoon coat from Jigsaw. This coat is one of my favourites as it is over sized and stylish.  Every time I want to look effortlessly smart... I wear this coat!  And lastly for a little bit of glamour... I added my crystal pendant necklace from H&M, which I think ties the whole ensemble together!

So here is my take on a smart casual outfit with my new trainers as the main focal point.  I can't wait to continue wearing this outfit... I hope you are all having a great week and I will catch up with you next time!

M x

Tavas are top!

After so many years of wanting to own a pair of Nike trainers for casual wear.... I finally bit the billet and did it!  That's right I now am the proud owner of these gorgeous babies!  I have been lusting after so many designs over the last few years and I really couldn't decide on just one!  Also, with so many things happening in my life, especially within the last two years... I just never got round to getting them!  But I am sooooo thrilled that I did!

I popped into my nearest JD Sports to wear I work, because I wanted to try on lots of styles in my lunch break.  Honestly there were so many trainers it really was shoe heaven... I didn't know where to look first!

I finally came to a conclusion in the stunning and super comfortable Nike Tavas (in black of course!)  Because of my short stature (a measly 5ft and 1 inches) I get the pleasure of fitting a junior size of 4.5 which means that the price is almost cut in half... (There finally is a positive note for being a shorty!)

These trainers have to be my most comfortable ones yet!  They are light as a feather which is ideal for me, because they make each step bouncy and relaxing for my feet!  I am thoroughly impressed with them and I just know that this company is going to be my new go to for comfy, stylish and affordable footwear!  I am so glad that I made this purchase and I look forward to wearing them out as well as wearing them on my morning commute!

I am so over the moon with these cuties... I literally have not stopped wearing them!  They are the perfect everyday trainer that can take you from casual to smart casual!  I can't wait to start outfit building with these!  So stay tuned!

M x

Dungarees all day!

Dungarees - Dorothy Perkins // Jumper - Primark // Necklace - New Look // Boots - New Look

Dungarees.... Now there's a word I never thought that I would mention and yet here I am dedicating an entire blog post to it!  Ever since I was a very young infant, my Mother would dress me in classic denim dungarees as I was always playing in the garden and I guess she was tired of me spoiling all of my dresses on the grass.  Sometimes Mum would even allow me the wonderful pleasure of wearing the plum coloured corduroy one... Lucky me eh?

So you can kind of understand as to why I had never steered towards them when I go shopping!  That is until I popped into my nearest Dorothy Perkins store...  I saw this super cute grey pinafore style dungaree dress and instantly wanted to try it on!  I'm a very true pear shape, (where my waist is tiny and then my hips and bottom go out), so I was a little sceptical with trying this on.  I had a feeling that it was going to be fine on the top and then really tight and clingy on my thighs.  However all of my doubts were washed away the moment I looked in the mirror!  Who'd have thought that I could pull off dungarees?  I was so happy they fitted me and next was the challenge of styling them up.

On Instagram and Pinterest, all I kept seeing was wearing them for shirts and fitted jumpers so I wanted to try and replicate that for my dungarees.  I decided on teaming my flecked fitted jumper from Primark, because it gave a good contrast to the outfit as well as giving me more shape as it accentuated my small waist and petite frame.  I then opted for my favourite flat ankle boots from New Look just to keep the outfit looking smart as well as playful!

I literally cannot tell you how comfortable this outfit is!  It's so trendy and I have already received so many compliments from my friends and family!  Who'd have thought it?

I'm thoroughly impressed with the quality and design of this dress.  It has so many pockets on it and a dress with pockets is a real dream!  It even has a pocket at the front acting like a pouch, which I have been using to store my sunglasses and lipstick when I'm on the go!  How practical is that?  So yeah I've been totally swayed by dungarees and it's fair to say that in my wardrobe... They're here to stay!

M x

Lush :: Golden Egg!

I know that I am probably way behind with this post, and I know that Easter has clearly left us (I miss having an excuse to gorge on chocolate), I wanted to show you all my favourite Easter product that I picked up from LUSH!

I was so determined to pick up one of their limited edition Easter bath bombs, because they are just quite simply adorable and I missed out last year!  As I was scanning the bath bombs in great detail, something shone and caught my eye!  It was none other than the infamous 'Golden Egg!'

Firstly, can we just please take a moment to appreciate how utterly gorgeous and glittery this bath bomb looks?!!!  It is coated in so much glitter that after taking this picture my fingers were covered!
It just reminds me of the Giant's golden egg from the classic tale 'Jack and the Beanstalk!'  So yeah you can imagine my excitement at seeing something so iconic be brought to life!  It's apparently a bath melt as well as a bath bomb, so I couldn't wait to try it!

The main ingredients in this product are: Cocoa Butter and Olive oil, which are both ideal for moisturising the skin and Bergamot oil and Wild Orange oil, which help to brighten and tone the skin, whilst adding some sweetness to the aroma.  'Golden Egg' shares the same decadent aroma as their 'Honey I washed the kids' soap range, which has a gorgeous toffee/honey scent that lingers onto your skin all day long.

I couldn't wait to pop this into my bath, especially as I wanted to know what the glitter will do and what colour my bath was going to transform into.  The moment the bath bomb was dropped, all of the golden glitter instantly fell to the bottom of my bath.

The bath melt released a beautiful stream of yellow foam that dominated the water and turned it a vibrant yellow shade.  The bath bomb then soon after released a white foam that blended perfectly and created a pale yellow colour.  I couldn't wait to step into my toffee scented bath, finally relax and enjoy some TLC!

I was thoroughly impressed by this product!  If I'm honest, I really thought that it was going to make me completely covered in gold glitter and I would have to spend hours scrubbing it off.  Oh how I was wrong!  Instead it left my skin feeling incredibly nourished and smooth and I simply washed the small amount of glitter that was left in the bath.  I will definitely be buying some more of these, especially when they're discontinued, because not only are they useful and relaxing, but they are also a lot of fun too!

M x

Lush haul :: Back to basics

Now who doesn't love a good LUSH haul?  Yeah, exactly... That's what I thought!  Well, I desperately needed some much needed retail therapy after having endured an incredibly stressful week, so the other day, I rather naughtily splurged on some fantastic finds!  Instead of my usual bath bombs and bubble bar purchases, I decided to steer more towards the bath and body section of my favourite store.  So here is my little haul for you to feast your eyes on!

To gently ease myself into the collection I walked straight over to the body washes and shower gels. There was such an array of gorgeous colours and smells to choose from... It was all rather exciting! After a long time browsing the bottles, I finally chose the 'Prince Charming' shower gel, because who doesn't want one of those on their lives?  The gel was a luminous pink and smelt of grapefruit and pomegranate.  It also contains vanilla and almond oil, so I just know that this is going to be so moisturising for my skin!   It is a limited edition shower gel, as it was made for Valentine's day, but luckily my local store still had four bottles left!      

I suffer from incredibly dry skin, especially on my knees and elbows, so I thought that it would be best to purchase one of their homemade scrubs!  I opted for 'Rub Rub Rub', which apparently is their ultimate scrub product that is most popular and gets the best reviews.  It's made from Sea Salt, Mimosa Absolute, Orange Flower Absolute and Organic Lemon Juice.  The Sea Salt works as a deep exfoliant, as well as being a natural antiseptic for skin and the Lemon Juice gives a real kick and makes you feel rejuvenated afterwards.  There are two ways to use this product:- either use it on dry skin for a really good scrub before getting into the shower/bath or simply apply to wet skin for a more gentle scrub.      

How beautiful is this soap?  I mean how can you not want to pick this up and add it to your basket? It's called 'Roses All The Way' and it was quite literally love at first sight!  Not only is it gorgeous on the outside with the rose stencil and the heart shape, but it also super creamy and hydrating for your skin.  The two main ingredients in this soap are Rose Oil and Coconut Oil, which both help to nourish and hydrate the skin, whilst giving off the sweet aroma of roses.  This soap is one of LUSH's cream soaps, which lather up very well when exposed to water and I already can tell that this will run out quicker than my other soaps.  I suggest that you store this in a safe place where it will not get wet when you're not using it.

Near the counter there were some lip products strategically placed in order of usage.  They had lip balms, lip sticks and then something that I had never seen/used before, which was the lip scrub range. Because I was wanting to continue with the pink scheme (that I had accidentally started), I purchased 'The Kiss' lip scrub.  It's made up of Cocoa butter and Safflower Oil, which are quite simply a match made in heaven!  To use this product all you have to do is simply sweep and scrub over the lips and then lick off for soft skin... and it works every time.  This scrub is ideal for getting rid of flaky dry skin, but most importantly it ensures that your lips will forever stay smooth and kissable!

I had such a great time, investing in some new beauty products that I know are going to do wonders to my skin. Have you purchased any LUSH products recently and if so, which are your favourite?

M x

Three ways to wear a Leather Jacket!

One of the most essential items of clothing that I think everyone should have in their wardrobes is the legendary 'Leather Jacket'!  Why you might ask?  Well for the plain and simple reason of it not only being chic and trendy. but also the fact that it is incredibly versatile and manages to compliment any outfit you create every single time, without fail!  I asked for a new leather jacket for my Birthday, as my last one (which had been in my wardrobe for 7 years) finally was needing an update!  I opted for the 'Petite Quilted Faux-Leather Biker Jacket' from Topshop, which was a reasonable price of £48.  I really liked this style, because it was collarless, but yet still had the lapels at the front of it, which I adore and always go for when choosing a leather jacket.  I just couldn't wait to wear this item and I wanted to share with you all, my top three favourite ways to wear a leather Jacket.  

Jacket - Topshop // Dress - Primark // Bag - Zara // Boots - New Look 

1.  Here I wanted to focus the eyes onto the gorgeous monochrome dress that I picked up from Primark.  I synched in my waist by using an elasticated belt and then I wanted to match that accessory by teaming it up with my new black Zara chain bag.  I feel that the moment you add the leather jacket to the dress, it instantly gives it more character and the outfit goes from plain to eye catching!  This outift is not just stylish, but is also incredibly comfortable to wear too and for me, when I wear my clothes... comfort has to be the main priority!  

Jacket - Topshop // Jumper - New Look // Skirt - Primark // Bag - H&M // Boots - New Look

2.  This outfit has been one of my favourite ones to wear, as it combines my two current loved at the moment, which are striped jumpers and denim buttoned mini skirts.  Over the past couple of months, I have become obsessed with stripes and I think that I must have around 9 tops/jumpers in my wardrobe already and yet I'm still adding to the collection!  This outfit looks so fashion forward and effortless as it consists of mixing different fabrics together that are all the shade of black and then contrasting it with the crisp white patterned jumper.  It breaks up the outfit and makes it more striking!  

Jacket - Topshop // Shirt - H&M // Jeans - Topshop (Joni) // Biker Wellie Boots - Jigsaw

3.  This outfit just screams rock chic doesn't it?  I like to sometimes wear more edgy looks, especially mixing textures of materials and prints, so this style for me is super cool and really easy to copy.
Here I wanted to show off the Leather Jacket, in terms of the zip detailing, by matching it with my Biker Wellie Boots from Jigsaw.  To give the look a bit of colour and contrast, I styled my leopard print shirt underneath my jacket and it simply softened the outfit and made it less androgynous and more feminine.

I hope that these looks have given you some inspiration for your wardrobes and that you too are enjoying wearing your leather jackets!

M x