Summer Evening Outfits

I had a few evening parties in May and this is what I wore. First is this look – I got the skirt from Topshop (£45) months ago. I decided to go with my New Look knit and Whistles Kir Royale ankle boots in taupe. I think its a great look for a evening party thats not too dressy or too casual. Plus it kept me warm as the evening got cooler! Next is this ripped jeans and peplum top. The jeans are from Zara (£29.99) and the top was in the sale from Anthropologie (it was about £29.99 reduced from £99!). The sequin shrug is really old and the shoes are Clarks from last year.  

 

I really liked both outfits and felt like they were something a bit different.

Trio of Shower Joy from Soap and Glory

Yes there was a 3 for 2 offer in Boots and yes I went for three Soap and Glory shower gels! These are my favourite affordable shower gels (about £6.50 each). I love how creamy they are, how little you need to use, their smells and how all of them leave my skin soft and moisturised!

So I went for Clean on Me, Clean Girls and Foam Call.

Clean on Me is a clarifying shower gel which I do feel makes my skin smoother.

Clean Girls is very creamy and smells so lovely!

Foam Call is very very foamy (!) without being drying and has a zingy citrus scent.

New Look for Spring/Summer

I have been popping into New Look quite regularly and have been slowly building up quite a collection of new things from there, some I have already posted about and some I haven’t so here they all are in one hit! First up is this light knit in a pinky/lilac. I love the mixed coloured bobbles on it! £17.99 (reduced to £12.99) Two simple t-shirts below in grey and black and grey stripes (2 for £12). Another grey t-shirt but this one is darker with short sleeves (£8.99). This hangs so well I love it! And of course the “transitional jacket” £24.99 in pink and navy which I have already blogged about.   Finally a very very summery piece – a chiffon longline kimono (£22.99). I just really loved the colours and I think this is versatile enough to wear with loads of different outfits.    

Co-Washing?

I know I am coming a little late to this co-washing party but I am here now ! So co-washing is NOT about sharing your shower/bath with someone else – phew! It is basically washing your hair with only conditoner. By that I do not mean the good old shampoo and conditoner in one but just a “cleansing” conditioner. The main thing to get your head (or hair!) round is that these cleansing conditoners do not lather. Pyschologically that is quite hard for someone who likes a good lather. As my hair is so thick (and quite dry) I can get away with only shampooing once a week and I dont need to use dry shampoo in between. I do sometimes use it just cause I like it but I dont get greasy roots. So the whole idea of washing with a conditoner is quite appealing to someone like me with thick dry hair.

So how did I get on? Well first off I wasnt willing to spend lots of money on my first try of this so I went for a very reasonably priced option from Feel Unique – the Palmers Olive Oil version. This was a pleasing £5.99 each so I got two and free delivery!

The consistency is just like conditioner. This one smells a bit like peppermint which is nice. The instructions say to use anywhere from 10-40 pumps depending on thickness and length. I probably used about 40! It is very weird, I won’t lie it feels all wrong! I massaged it into my hair added a little water and massaged some more. Then I combed through and left the conditioning cleanser in while I finished the rest of my showering. Then I rinsed it out thoroughly. My hair definitely felt soft and lovely and not at all dirty or “unclean”. I dried it as usual with my Babyliss Big Hair and without using another products and this is what it looked like.

Well I think it looks very well conditioned and fresh! I did like this but have to say it actually took longer than my usual shampoo and conditioner! I also felt that my hair did feel a bit greasy faster than usual. So I think I would most likely use this when my hair feels like it needs a bit of TLC and not for every wash. I am definitely glad I tried this out and will carry on with them until my two bottles are finished at which point I imagine there will be a lot more brands jumping on this bandwagon!

 

 

 

 

 

Slobbing in Style?

I saw these joggers in H&M and couldn’t resist them. I knew I would never wear them out of the house and yet I wanted to get them as I could immediately picture myself lounging around in these looking a little more stylish than I normally do when slobbing! They were £14.99 and worth every penny. I am LIVING in these. They SO comfortable and don’t look half bad?! For full effect I am barefoot! T-shirts are from New Look. The next set of slobbing in style purchases are from Primark. I got some beautifully soft, pastel/jewel coloured sweatshirts (£6 each) and a couple of pairs of funky leggings (£4 each I think!).

Of course I have paired these with my Birkenstock Arizona which are very slobbing in style!

Magazine Inspiration Board – May

I LOVE fashion magazines and subscribe to quite a few. Every month I devour each page looking for inspiration on fashion, beauty and home and even gardens. So I thought I would start a new regular post that featured all the things that inspired me each month. Obviously magazines are always a month ahead but I will do it in the month that I receive them to make sure that you can look out for anything that may inspire you too!!

First are some gorgeous summer sandals – sliders are the new thing for the summer and I spotted these from New Look and River Island. I am definitely going to keep my eyes open for the New Look leopard print ones – they are perfect! Of course I had to include the Birkenstock Arizona – here is my post on it! I love the see through blue bangle from Topshop – will be perfect for the beach! Next I spotted this lovely lace dress from Zara – love the layered skirt effect. I also really liked the look of this animal print jumpsuit from Matalan. Very chic and the price is amazing!    I love the look of this collection by Vika Gazinskaya for & Other Stories and will be looking out for that spotted dress when the collection launches on 15th May.

Finally a few beauty things. I need this Prodigieux perfume from Nuxe. I hear it smells just like their oils which would make it scent heaven to me!

Having recently done a post about cleansing powders I was pleased to see I mentioned quite a few of these products! I am in a bit of a pink mood and these two products caught my eye. The Nars Illuminator looks so pretty

  As I am going to the Isle of Wight festival next month this is definitely a product I am keen to try!

Finally I just absolutely loved this makeup look – the coloured eyelashes teamed with a small centre of colour just looks amazing! I have been experimenting to recreate this look and was quite pleased with the results!

Hot House Flowers

I found two beautiful things in River Island – first was this skirt covered in hot pink flowers (£25). I love the print and the colours and the shape is perfect for me!

The second was a stunning pair of earrings. These are so glam I couldn’t resist for £8!

DIY Facial Massage

I spotted this little gadget in the Body Shop for £6 and had to get it. I have sotted something similar before by Sarah Chapman (called Facialift and costs £25) so wanted to try this more reasonably priced version out. It is a Facial Massager in case you didnt work it out!

So the idea is you clean and moisturise your skin and then you use this to massage your face at night. This is meant to increase the blood flow to your face and help your moisturiser to be better absorbed. Overall your skin texture should be improved!

I quite like this little thing. I use it most nights and so far I havent noticed a major difference but it definitely feels lovely and relaxing and only take 30 seconds – 1 minute so very quick.

Transitional Jacket

I was looking for something that wasn’t too thick or too thin that I could sling over all sorts of outfits when its not raining. I found this knitted jacket in New Look (£24.99) and it fit the bill perfectly so I got it in two colours!

The first is a lovely pinky coral which is very flattering and so easy to wear.

The second is a navy blue which of course goes with everything and also work well in the evenings.

Carmilla Cross Ring by Katie Rowland – a 40th gift to myself!

I am 40 today! I know that for some people that may not be a reason to celebrate but I don’t care! For me it is. For my 40^th birthday my husband bought me a hot tub! Yes a hot tub and I cannot tell you how amazing it is.

But this post is not about my hot tub (although I have included a picture of my daughter in it just to show you its fabulousness!) This post is about a ring I decided to buy myself for my 40^th.

I actually saw it in Grazia in March and instantly fell in love. It is a Katie Rowland Carmilla Cross Ring (£350).

Today is the first day I am wearing it even though I got it at the end of March. I have saved it to wear today, on my 40^th birthday, to remind me that I am finally a fully grown up woman who can buy herself a present for her 40^th because I deserve it!!

Katie Rowland has already won a few awards including ‘New Jewellery Designer of the Year’ UK Jewellery Awards 2011 and Professional Jeweller’s ‘Hot 100 Trendsetter’ 2013,

She describes her jewellery as “elegance with an edge” and I couldn’t agree more. There is something so beautifully feminine about this ring but there is also most definitely an edgy side to it. The way it wraps your finger in its cross is just amazing and the small semi-precious stones are so stunning. I love the colour of the amethyst set against the yellow gold. All in all I am in love with this ring and am so glad I made the decision to get it .

So I am off to start my 40^th by sitting in my hot tub, wearing my stunning ring and enjoying a glass of bubbly!!