Sunday vibes!

Happy Sunday everyone!  The week is finally over and we can now all rest and be lazy... Hooray!  I'm sorry I haven't blogged in a while... I have been ill with the flu of all things!  It definitely has been a rather rough few days for me, but with the help of my trusty Beechams all in one flu medicine... I am finally on the mend! 

What better way to rest than in bed with a freshly made smoothie, pyjamas and catching up on my favourite programme at the moment... Great British Bake off!  I must say, I really don't want to get out of my bed and could very easily stay here all day... I know, I'm so lazy ha! Ha! 

My plan for today will be eventually getting out of bed, and getting ready etc.  Then I will film some singing videos for my YouTube account (Mel Maidment) and then write up some more blogs... It's all busy busy for me!  And lastly I will pop round to Perry's house for a family Roast Dinner... The thought of that is already making me hungry! 

So that's my Sunday, but what have you got planned for today then? 

M x

Wedding dresses... Finding the one!

The other day I went to my local bridal store, 'Helena Fortley' to try on wedding dresses for the first time!  Eeeeee!  How exciting?

I had no idea what to expect, as this was completely new to me and I was apprehensive yet ecstatic to get started! 

First of all, I was asked what type of dress I was looking for and if I had any idea of the style that I was wanting to try on.  If I'm honest, I had always had my heart set on the 'mermaid' style, where the bottom of the dress is fitted until the top of the thighs and then fans out by the legs.  I have natural curves and so I thought that, that particular shape of dress would be perfect for me, but oh how I was wrong! 

Instead I tried three different styles of dresses and out of the three, I fell in love with the last one.  Save the best till last right?  It literally was love at first sight, and the moment I put it on, I felt like a million dollars... Even when I had hardly any makeup on and my hair was its usual wild self!  It's true what they say, about how the perfect dress speaks to you!  I had never imagined walking away with the type of dress that I have, but once it was on... I didn't want to take it off!  I just wanted to fast forward these next 9 months and make it be the day of the wedding.  It definitely got me excited for the big day! 

I also was given the opportunity to try on the gorgeous veils that Helena Fortley stock.  I'm very traditional and so of course I tried on the veil that covers the face and that is long at the back.  I have quite long hair and there was one that was just as long and bordered with lace appliqué... It was stunning! 

Unfortunately I was unable to take a picture of myself in the finished look, but don't worry I will definitely be putting pictures up after the wedding, so you will all get to see the overall outfit!  I still cannot believe that it took me only 15mins to find the one and now all I want is to wear it! 

What would your dream wedding dress be? 

M x

My A/W lust list!

It's official... Autumn is finally here and I couldn't be happier!  Okay, the weather gets rather chilly and the rain becomes endless, but just thinking about the fashion is getting me all excited!  To be honest, I'm much more of a Winter girl when it comes to clothes than I am with Summer.  I guess it's the Aquarius in me, that finds the colours and fabrics of A/W so inspiring and I find myself constantly creating new looks and layers!  So without further a do... I present to you my A/W wish list involving the pieces that I cannot stop thinking about!  Maybe one day, if I win the lottery, I will be able to take one of these home with me!  One can dream! 

Jigsaw v neck jumper £110 

The moment this piece was released into Jigsaw's new collection, I was so excited as this style of piece is very new for the company and its brilliant to see them create a new and iconic sweater!  I love kimono/slouchy jumpers in winter as not only can you hide a multitude of sins (bums and tums), but you can also create an incredibly stylish silhouette by teaming it up with skinny jeans or tucking it into a leather mini skirt.  I also really love the colour of the sweater as it includes all of my favourite colours, i.e camels, black, khaki and grey! 

Jigsaw 'Hannah' Chelsea boot £169

Keeping up with the whole Jigsaw vibe, these Chelsea boots are so stylish and yet really practical.  Although I practically live in heels, I do find a good flat ankle boot a refreshing change and very useful.  Because these boots have been cut so low on the ankle, it makes them perfect for wearing with skirts and dresses, as well as the obvious being with jeans, which makes them a trendy multi purpose shoe!

Chloe 'drew' shoulder bag in tan £1,200

Ever since I saw this beauty draped across the shoulders of Tanya Burr in baby pink, I literally couldn't stop browsing it on the Internet!  I was hooked... On something so dangerous... Handbags!!! And not just any handbag, the 'Drew' bag from Chloe!  I would choose the tan colour, because if I were to invest in a bag, I would want a colour that would be transitional all year round going from A/W to S/S.  Also I find that tan handbags look really expensive and smart looking, whatever the price tag! 

Chloe 'caspia' sunglasses £195 

Staying true to the Chloe theme, I would invest in these gorgeous tan tortoiseshell sunglasses.  I chose the 'Caspia' shades, because I find that catseye shapes usually suit me and the fact that they are oversized, is an added bonus!  

Zara jeggings in khaki £24

I have an endless supply of jeggings, but the majority of them are either black or grey.  So I saw these on Zara's website and thought that they would be brilliant for the winter and will tie in with my wardrobe, whilst adding a splash of colour.  Khaki has to be my new shade for A/W, as ever since the colour came out in stores, I have been snapping up jumpers, tops and skirts in this colour!  Addicted much?  These jeggings are so easy to style as you can team them up with a pair of heels and a blouse for the evening, or a pair of ankle boots, tshirt and long cardigan for relaxed off duty look or even with a pair of pumps and a jumper... So simple! 

Michael Kors 'Caitlin' watch £279

As you may or may not know, I am obsessed with all things from Michael Kors.  I already have:- watch, ring, earrings, wallet and handbag and I find my collection growing rapidly every year!  This watch is absolutely stunning, wouldn't you agree?  The colour is so unique and I love how the majority of his watches have Roman numerals on the clock faces, which I think makes them feminine and stylish!  This is a watch that can be worn with practically anything, as the colour is so versatile and the shape is quite traditional!  

H&M monochrome ring £3.99

Firstly, how good is this price?  And secondly, how beautiful is this stone?  I am a sucker for anything monochrome and so to see a vintage looking ring in that colour combination is heavenly!  Plus the price is ridiculous and so I will definitely be purchasing this, next time I am in H&M! 

So that concludes my A/W lust list for the new season and I honestly cannot tell you how excited I am to welcome in the rich and warm tones of autumn into my wardrobe!  But tell me, what pieces are you looking forward to the most this season?

M x

Roller Lash Mascara Review!

An exciting package came through my letter box yesterday and I was thrilled to open it.  It was from one of my favourite beauty brands, Benefit! 

Benefit have created a new mascara called 'Roller lash' and it has had so much attention recently, especially with the three facts that they swear by :-

"97% said it visibly lifts lashes."

"87% said it gives long lasting curls."

"94% said eyes look more wide open."

I just had to find out for myself whether those statements were true!

Firstly, I was really impressed by the packaging of the product... I don't know why but it's the first thing I always notice!  The box was decorated with pink and black and had little silver stars going down the side.  

Once I took the mascara out of the box, again the packaging was stunning.  The lid of the product was pink and made of rubber, with grooves cut into it, which I though was clever for adding grip when using it. 

What impressed me the most, was the shape of the brush, as it was curved and had various lengths of brushes on it, making it perfect for catching both lower lashes and upper lashes.  The hook design of the brush, helps to catch, lift and curl the lashes all in one!  It separates the lashes, whilst the formula holds for 12 hours. 

I was throughly impressed when I tried this product on, because the formula was nice and light and therefore not to heavy for my lashes and also it separated them perfectly, making them look nice and natural.  I also didn't need to use my eyelash curlers before applying this, because the design lifts and curls them all at once, with hassle at all... Perfect!  Also, I found that my lashes looked even longer, as the mascara lifted them up and they lasted all day with no need for reapplying! 

Because I am signed up to Benefit, every week they will give me a code to enter in my checkout basket when I'm online, which will give me added extras and samples.  When I purchased this, I also received a benefit makeup bag, and samples of 'Porefessional primer', 'they're Real Makeup remover' and 'total moisture facial cream'.  

So I definitely recommend to all of you that you sign up to Benefit, because the rewards and samples are incredible, without damaging your bank balance! 

Have you tried roller lash mascara?  If so what did you think of it? 

M x

Strike a pose...

On Thursday 2nd September, I took part in a Fashion Show at the Rose Theatre in Kingston.  Companies ranging from, LK Bennett, Hobbs, Reiss, John Lewis, all took part to show off their new collections on the models that walked the catwalk. 

Using the new transitional stock from Jigsaw, I helped to create five womenswear outfits and four menswear outfits, to showcase their outerwear and workwear.  It was so worthwhile to see my outfits come to life on actual models!

Before the show there were stands and stalls with companies like Espa and Aveda giving free treatments to all of us.  It was so relaxing to have a hand/arm massage...  It was such a luxury!  Also, hotel chocolat were giving away their infamous milk chocolate buttons and salted caramels, which were delicious! 

What I really loved the most though, was the huge amount of jewellery stalls with gorgeous unique pieces, that ranged from costume, statement and minimal jewellery!

I was in my element with all the beautiful choice that was on offer!  

Also, the room was decorated with beautiful multi courted bunting which looked so pretty and vintage! 

After the show, which was very successful, we were all given goodie bags, which consisted of samples of beauty products, discounts for upcoming shows and vouchers for all the latest stores.... Eeeee! 

Overall, I had an amazing time and I cannot wait for the next show in January!  

M x 

Trenched in the rain!

For so many years now, I have wanted to get my hands on the infamous trench coats from Zara, but have always been unsuccessful.  I blame it on the fact that instead of securing one right away, I just left it to chance, and so therefore my size was gone!  However, having learnt the hard way, I made sure that a repeat was not going to happen!

On Wednesday, when I was in London's Covent Garden, I bought Zara's new trench coat that I had been thinking about for the past two weeks.  It felt so great to know that I had purchased a coat that will live in my collection for my many years to come, as I know that it is a great investment buy. 

Firstly, the coat is made from cotton and polyester, and is said to be water repellent.  This means that coat can withstand small showers, but not heavy rain as it is not waterproof!  The coat has a good weight to it, making it hard wearing and something that is less likely to crease.  Also, it has a slight sheen to it, which I really like as it makes the trench look much smarter.

With most traditional trench coats, they tend to include belts, and I'm so glad that this one does.  I am a pear shape, meaning that I'm petite on the top and heavier on the bottom, so I like to highlight my small waist.  The belt does just that, as it emphasises my small waist, whilst creating an a line skirt to the coat... So flattering!

The detailing on the coat is stunning, as not only is the colour gorgeous, but the buttons, cuffs and trims create an iconic trench that can dress up the simplest of outfits!  

I'm really impressed with Zara's new collection for autumn winter and I honestly cannot wait for the weather to get colder.... Dare I say it!  I just really am a winter girl when it comes to fashion! 

M x

Pictures of Pinterest!

For such a long time now, I have noticed friends, bloggers and my favourite brands using this latest app that allows you to plan, browse and research anything from outfits, to holidays, to home interior and many more!  Have you guessed what app I'm talking about?  That's right, it is none other than Pinterest! 

Just recently, I have given in to temptation after months of my friends constantly pleading me to, and ever since I have been utterly glued to it!  

I love how Pinterest becomes so personal to you and your own individual interests.  So far, I have created a total of ten boards with all of my favourite things attached to them.  Here are my boards and why I have created them:- 

1.  Outfits

I am endlessly trying to research the latest inspiration for outfits and street style.  I am mad about fashion and so for me this board is vital as it keeps me up to date, whilst allowing me to change up my usual attire, with examples of great fashion trends! 

2.  Baking inspiration 

As a fellow baking lover, I am addicted to making cakes and pastries.  So this board, is mainly all to do with new and exciting bakes that I will like to try out in the future! 

3.  Food places 

Food is really important to me, as I love tasting new and exotic creations.  Also me and my fiancé love trying out new restaurants, so this board will be ideal for indicating to me, new quirky restaurants in London. 

4.  Weddings

As most of you may know by now, I am getting married next year and with that comes a great amount of planning to do.  This wedding board, gives me tonnes of inspiration and shares with me, bridal tips and tricks for me to learn along the way!

5.  Travel 

I'm afraid that I haven't been one to travel very far, as usually I go on holiday to Paris, Cyprus or Spain.  However after the wedding, my fiancé and I will make it our number one priority to travel more and see more of the world! 

6.  Hair Inspiration 

I have really long hair, and every day I struggle to know what to do with it!  This board gives me inspiration for either hair up or hair down... I love every picture! 

7.  Nails 

Since getting engaged I have looked after my nails even more and get them professionally painted every two weeks, to keep their shape and strength.  This board gives me the chance to create new ideas for my nails and create iconic looks! 

8.  Home Inspiration 

Everyone dreams of having a perfect flat/house.  I share that dream and therefore lust after interior design, especially when it comes to living rooms and bedrooms.  Here I share my favourite colours, patterns and decor for my future place... I really hope it ends up looking like these examples! 

9.  Shoes

Who doesn't love shoes?  My hobby is searching heels online and Pinterest is perfect for doing just that.  From Christian Louboutins, to Manolo Blahnik, to Valentino and even Jimmy Choo... I literally am in my element! 

10.  Lipsticks 

In the past year I have become obsessed with lipsticks.  I have tonnes of different brands and I am forever trying to find new and unique lip colours for my skin tone.  I am determined to get MAC's Studded Kiss for A/W15! 

So that concludes my Pinterest boards at this current moment in time!  However I know that I won't be able to put the app down... It is literally that additive!  

Have you got Pinterest?  If so, then follow me! 

M x

August Favourites!

Happy 1st of September everyone!!! I can't believe that August has been and gone.... Life please slow down!!  Anyway, here are my six August favourites that i have been loving this month! 

1.  Jigsaw biker Wellies 

These are becoming a very good purchase as I have literally worn them for 3 days in a row and still absolutely adore them!  The overall appearance of them is bang on trend as they are designed to look like biker boots, but are actually Wellington boots!  They are super stylish and ideal for this heavy rain that we are experiencing this week! 

2.  Benefit porefessional primer 

I have always had miniature samples of this primer, whenever I buy the latest benefit makeup products, and so earlier in the month I bought a full size, because a product as good as this needs to be in bigger form!  I use this daily before I apply my foundation, because if you have visible pores like me (sad face), this acts as a shield that prevents them from becoming so apparent.  I tend to apply this onto my t zone and tops of my cheeks, as that is where my biggest pores are.  It also makes your skin silky smooth, and flawless!

3.  Adult colouring books

Who'd have thought it?  Colouring books?  For adults?  Whoever created this idea is a genius in my eyes, because since colouring, I have become so stress free and relaxed!  I bought these two books 'Secret Garden' by Johanna Basford and 'Animal kingdom' by Millie Marotta and haven't put them down once!  For any of you who desperately need a release from the stress of work, I thoroughly recommend you buy one of these books.  Not only do they look beautiful once completed, but they also get your creative mind going! 

4.  Maybelline shadow palette 

This was a spontaneous buy, as it was on special down to £5.99 at Boots and I just couldn't resist!  I have never bought eyes shadow from Maybelline before and so was a little apprehensive at first, but once I tried it, it was incredible!  The shadow is super creamy and the colours are exquisite with tones ranging from bronze, cream, charcoal and brown!  There literally is a nude colour for everybody! 

5.  My new Michael Kors reading glasses

That's right, I now have reading glasses... No more squinting as I read or blurry vision when I blog... Hooray! I picked up these gorgeous Michael Kors frames and instantly fell in love!  I'm a real fan of tortoiseshell at the moment, and I can't wait to get back to my very long reading list!

6.  Maybelline lipstick in velvet nude 

This was a very new colour for me, as I usually buy pink/nudes, however the colour is so beautiful on!  It's a caramel/nude that looks so natural and feminine.  The lipstick is super moisturising and the colour lasts for such a long time!  I'm definitely going to look at more colours of the Maybelline range of lipsticks! 

So that concludes my favourites for this month.  Although August finished quite abruptly, I am already looking forward to what September will bring! 

M x