Instantly (the end of) September

Snapshots of September, told through my iPod (no iPhone or iPad for me!)

1. Experiments in natural hair drying; wonder product; Studio Matt & Messy Salt Spray (buying stocks in this, ultimate product for low maintenance hair!)

2. JPG diet coke and a milkyway, best kind of post work recovery.

3. Shoe + bag loving cat. Taught well by her owner.

4. Bargain Essie nail treatment, £3 (two for £5) in the original factory outlet store. Score.

5. Random outfit from sometime ago. ASOS print dress.

6. Desecrated carrier bag; she might look cute, but that Mae is a monster!

7. BANANA jumper. Wearing this makes me happy!

8. Yet another jumper! ASOS this time. I am declaring this the winter of quirky jumpers...so many good 'uns about.

9. New favourite snack. Oh Chobani.

10. Penguin slippers! These were from NEXT last year but they have some snazzy ones this year too :)

11. Pants for a good cause! From Asda George.

12. Looking cute (ish)

13. Owl gloves, £2 Primark. Just had to be done!

14. Mini Primak haul; toiletry bag for upcoming trip to Holland, another jumper and those owl gloves!

Well
that may go down as the most boring post in history but it's Sunday and I'm all out of inspiration..literally.

I hope next week sees me more rejuvinated and creative. This blog is so mediocre at times.

Beautiful Bowie

I grew up with a Father obsessed with David Bowie so I guess you could say he has always been a part of my life in some form or another.

A few weeks ago Bloomsbury got in touch about a soon to be released book all about the man and his style and I jumped at the chance for a sneak preview! As you can see from the above (poorly shot) photos, this isn't just a book of pretty pictures. It's goes pretty in-depth about the style of David Bowie and covers his career over five decades.

Bloomsbury say:

"Rare images of the ever changing styles and fashion phases of David Bowie have been put together by Danny Lewis in a brilliant new retrospective; David Bowie Style.

Published on the 25^th October, David Bowie Style documents Bowie’s career over 5 decades, and essays by Danny Lewis discuss how fashion and costume influenced Bowie’s music and performances"

 I Say:

This is a must have for any fan of David Bowie or those interested in fashion and music. A man of eclectic tastes and many personas this is a fascinating book and looks great on the coffee table too. My Dad, a hard to impress man swiftly laid claim to my copy and had I not have been sent a sample this would have made the perfect gift for him!

The book, published by Bloomsbury will be released for sale on October 25th priced at £18.99

So, what do we think? Any Bowie lovers out there? Will you be seeking out this book either for yourself or as a gift? (I would if I were you!)

xxx

Recycle your bra with Rigby & Peller

To support Octobers Breast Cancer Awareness Month, premium lingerie specialist Rigby & Peller is calling out to women across the UK to recycle and donate their old bras in aid of Breast Cancer Care*. In return for each old bra donated for recycling in one of the Rigby & Peller stores, you will receive £10 off every new bra you purchase from its extensive range. This includes the stunning new A/W range featuring metallic touches and seductive black lace.

In addition to the recycling campaign Rigby & Peller is also donating 20% of bra sales on selected pink ranges available in store and online throughout October. The selected pink mix products include ranges from Prima Donna Twist, Rigby & Peller, Empreinte and Simone Perele (see below) – just look out for the Breast Cancer Care* tags in store.

Visit one of the eight Rigby & Peller stores including the newly opened Guildford and City (London) stores with your old bras to receive £10 towards any new bra purchase. Visit www.rigbyandpeller.com for more information and store locations.

*Registered charity in England and Wales 1017658, and Scotland SC038104) via Breast Cancer Care Trading Limited (CRN 2681072).


Sadly I won't be able to take advantage of this, as much as I'd love to hot-foot it to London to trade in my undies I just can't!
I am however a great supporter of Breast Cancer Charities; it's a cause close to my heart.
However if I was going to be there I'd be trading in this ill-fitting set for something altogether more classy...

I think I should make a promise to myself; once I've got my healthy body back I'm heading to London for a luxury lingerie experience!

Will you be partaking?

xxx

Daisy Chain Dreaming: Jewellery by Jada

I'm a typical magpie, addicted to all things sparkly so it's no surprise than when an e-mail popped up in my inbox introducing Jada it took all of two seconds for me to be on the website creating a wishlist!

Born to Turkish parents, CEYDA GUNGOR has been crafting her very own pieces of jewellery from Istanbul’s old town market, The Grand Bazaar, since her youth.

JADA captures the beautiful simplicity of precious and semi precious stones, which come to life when worn. Designed to be timeless keepsake pieces, her collection of necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings are made using the finest chains and bangles of yellow, rose and white gold, which are inset with diamonds, citrine and topaz stones to name a few.

“My inspiration is deep rooted in a passion for

beautiful colours and delicate shapes.”

Symbolism plays inspiration to the collection, the various charms are not purely decorative; they also have a more meaningful significance. The small, diamond pave-set butterfly necklace with sparkling solitaires represents the preciousness of life, the ‘Evil Eye’ acts as a protection against harm and the ‘Letter Pendants’ with pave diamonds inset add a personal touch.

The names of the collections; Yelda, Zea, Reina, Changa and Juju all have a specific meaning to Ceyda, whether it be the name of her best friend who supported her in the launch of JADA or the name of her favourite restaurant which has inspired the pieces in the collection.

All JADA jewellery is hand-crafted in Istanbul using carefully chosen conflict-free stones. Sold originally through private clients, JADA is now available at Kabiri on the Kings road, Kabiri online as well as though www.byjada.com. 

These strictly are wish-list only pieces,

but you never know; I might get lucky on a Scratch Card Sunday (£20 so far!)

xxx

 

Burgundy

The recent enthusiasm for all things burgundy in blog land made me hunt out this dress in my wardrobe. An accidental ASOS via ebay purchase that has been languishing since it's arrival suddenly seems like  bargain of the year!
Teamed with Betsy Johnson tights (my tights collection has been neglected for too long) and Bertie shoes c/o Sarenza complete with errant sticky label, this made the perfect Autumnal work outfit marred only by feeling really quite unwell for most of the day.

Thankfully Friday has cured that and I feel back to normal and ready to tackle a ten hour stint at work. It's flu jab season and we're run off our feet...wish me luck!

How's your week been? Hints and tips for keeping the bugs at bay?

xxx

Hogan by Karl Lagerfeld

Viral video by ebuzzing

*sponsered*

some bunny

I will never stop loving this Miss Selfridge jumper, nope. I've been waiting for the weather to get chilly enough to wear it and now it has! Hurrah (biblical rain, floods and thunder excluded from the yay-ness). Worn with Bershka jeans that cost me all of a fiver from Ventee Privee and bare feet for slounching around the house on an afternoon off.

And there is not much else to report, this week has been very low-key so far. I can feel germs invading my body thanks to my constant close contact with patients and I am a sleepy little thing (bed at 8pm, oops!). Major excitement after posting my Qcumber post yesterday in discovering the random parcel on my bed that I had assumed was something boring I had ordered turned out to contain my very own PURPLE BANANA jumper, woah. Expect to see that worn soon!

What's happening in your world? Please tell me I'm not the only one succumbing to super early nights? I'm blaming it on the extra food I'm eating and the fact my body is working super hard to repair itself...it's hard work you know?!

xxx

Cool as a Qcumber

How bloody briiliant are these jumpers by new kids on the block Qcumber?

Soft, comfortable and unisex the jumpers are available to buy online in an array of fruits and vegetables at a purse-friendly £29.95

My personal favourite is the purple bananas

I vote that we all bookmark this site, perfect for Christmas, Birthdays and pretending to buy for your partner so you can wear it yourself,

the perfect way to get your five-a-day!

Which one do you fancy?

xxx

Un-Employee of the Year

Viral video by ebuzzing

*sponsored*

early mornings

Asda George (old), Tesco tights, New Look.

I love this dress, one of the redeeming factors of this chillier weather is the need for slightly longer sleeves. I remember hating the scarf print trend when it first emerged but the second I clamed eyes on this Asda gem I was converted. Of course, this trend has now long departed but this dress will be round for quite some time.
And these boots,
much coveted when they came out last year and snapped up for a mere £7 in one of New Look's many sales; that's shopping karma folk!

Thank you for all the lovely comments on my hair. When I had it cut I also had a lot of the bulk taken out...I have been cursed/blessed with exceptionally thick hair which is my main barrier to style. It means that FINALLY I have hair that I can wash and leave to try naturally, all I've been doing is spritzing it with this Studio Line Matt & Messy Salt Spray and I'm done. I picked mine up in Superdrug for a mere £1.49, but even at full price (£2.99) it's a bargain and it smells gorgeous to boot.
Eventually my hair that dries outwards will return, but only if I keep putting off that trim! It's nice to have the option of not straightening it yet not having to tie it up to hide the evidence.

What trends have you converted to?

What miracle hair products do you swear by?

Hair Nightmare

Hello, my name is Laura and I am a hair procrastinator. On average it takes me a good six months to decide I actually need a hair cut and then a further six to get round to booking an appointment, by which time my hair is unmanageable and half way down my back. I have several issues in getting myself motivated and I am wondering if I am alone in this or if others share my woes...

My number one problem is deciding where to go. With such a wide array of hairdressers in Bristol and none that I am especially loyal to. How am I supposed to know which ones are reputable and which ones just want to rip me off? Please also remember I live in the back and beyond, where salons are divided equally between “purple rinse special” catering to the over 70s and the “wannabe city salon” where prices are high and quality is low.

Next on my list of worries is decision making. How does anyone commit themselves to a style? Before my latest haircut (which I do actually love) I must have run through over a dozen styles, declaring them all “the one”. How did I decide on what I ended up with? I stupidly let the hairdresser decide and thankfully it turned out just fine!
Linked closely with this is trust. How many times have I heard the words “yes I know how much an inch is” only to leave a salon minus half a head? Sometimes it seems like booking what should be a simple trim is some kind of punishment!

Oh, and the small talk. That endless small talk. I can chat until the cows come home, really, I can, but sometimes I’m not in the mood to talk and being forced to explain for the hundredth time that no, I really don’t have a social life/exotic holiday/amazingly hot boyfriend puts me off. Oh, and those lectures about the state of my hair/roots/lack of know-how!

I’m making it sound all doom and gloom, and I promise I’m not always this awkward. When I get down to it I do generally enjoy the experience of having a hair cut and advances in salon software tend to make it much more pleasing,
I’m not brilliant at having people in my personal space so I tend to focus on all my above negatives and forget about the nice parts; the head massage, the trashy magazines and the on tap tea and coffee! The most recent salon I visited in my hometown (Arcadia in Nailsea) has gone some way to get me over my hairdresser phobia, they couldn’t have been nicer, or done a better job for a very affordable price...
I’m due a trim in three weeks; who wants to place bets on how long it takes me to book?

What are you like about hair appointments? A routine patron or repeat procrastinator? Want to give a shout-out to your favourite salon/product/generally rant and rave? I’d love to hear it!

xxx

Wash Out

This outfit is what I wore Saturday, the last of the decent weather I suspect for quite some time. Watching twitter, there seems to be a mixed reaction, mainly "it's England, of course it's raining"; I see that point, really I do...but local flooding and massive downpours aint the norm!

Dress c/o Miss Ikon, New Look tights and Georgia Rose boots c/o Sarenza.

I've gone from waxing lyrical over how happy I am to see Autumn and getting to snuggle up in knits and scarves whilst frolicking through leaves to kicking myself for even thinking that...let's rewind to Summer now...
thanks.

I hope no-one has been too badly hit by any flooding. I hate to resent a season that is often so beautiful!

xxx

Sarenza Shoe(s) of the Week: Mellow Yellow

So, it would seem that my Sarenza A-Z and my Sarenza shoe of the week has kind of merged itself in to one post.
This week my heart is skipping over some fabulous boots from classical/quirky brand Mellow Yellow who take a well loved, basic shoe and then add their own snazzy touches with great success.

The recent cold snap led me to being instantly drawn to the Mosaic boot; a beauty in brown and knit. Don't they look snug? They'll be brilliant with bare legs on a warmer day if we get it, but also super cute with berry coloured tights when the chill really sets in!
The gold heel on the Madras ankle boot adds a touch of luxe to this wardrobe staple. I think these will earn their keep come party season as they will effortlessly travel from office to party.
And finally, embracing this season's trend for all things metallic I had to feature the Magnify; a real multitasker by being practical AND on trend- not something you see every day! In fact these also nail two trends as the burgundy colour is the colour du jour...(just incase you needed to justify a cheeky purchase!)

What are your thoughts on my selection? I shall be keeping a beady eye on Mellow Yellow, a brand to watch for sure!

xxxs

Sunglasses Shop- review and giveaway (or, it's never too late for shades!)

A couple of weeks ago I had an e-mail from the lovely folk at Sunglasses Shop  asking me if I'd like to work with them as a blogger.
Well damn, there's an offer and a half! Sunglasses Shop is a mecca for shade lovers, stocking a huge variety of brands and a section dedicated to celebs in shades for a bit of extra inspiration!

Of course there is the brands such as Ray-Ban that everyone knows and loves as well as many, many more including and not limited to; Oakley, Chanel, D&G, Dior, Guess and Michael Kors.

I was offered a pair of glasses for review purposes and picked this blingtastic Guess pair in Black as a lover of the cat eye shape on me (one of few that doesn't swamp my facial structure!)
I was impressed at the amount of information on the website when it came to selecting my sunnies; an indepth guide to help you pick the perfect pair for your face shape, hairstyle and usual daily style!

I honestly cannot fault the service at Sunglasses Shop; the order arrived the day after it was placed, securely packaged in a sealed and signed for box and well protected inside. I LOVE these glasses so much, from the leopard print case to the sturdy well made design..I certainly don't feel I'll be trailing bits of bling as I walk!

The folk at Sunglasses Shop are kindly offering a reader of my blog a pair of sunglasses too. Together we picked The Revolver Sunglasses in black from funky and affordable brand Le Specs

To enter all you need to do is pop along to Sunglasses Shop facebook page, give them a "like" and post "Revolver Sunglasses" on their wall. Then head back to the blog and leave me a comment letting me know you've done this and leave me a way to contact you if you win!

Simple right?
The giveaway will run for ten days, running until Wednesday 3rd October at 6pm. Open to all of my UK readers.
Good Luck!
What do you think of my Guess babies?

xxx

Autumn Baking; Apple Muffins

The other day I had an afternoon to myself and a sudden urge to bake. Now the weather has started to turn  I feel more like baking up a storm; warm kitchen and the smell of freshly cooked cake...that has to be an Autumn Highlight!

Inspired by some apples going soft in the fruit bowl, I whipped up a batch of Apple Muffins (although I decided to make one large cake, which worked just as well) using a recipe I found online.

• 225g of plain flour
• 3 tbsp of baking powder (I think this is meant to be 3tsp, as you can see, my cake sunk from rising too fast!)
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp of ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp of ground ginger
• 100g of caster sugar
• 1 egg
• 150ml of milk
• 3 tbsp of sunflower oil
• 40g of unsalted butter
• 170g of Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced (I used gala apples)
• 70g of golden sultanas
• 3 tbsp of light brown sugar

1.

To make this apple muffin recipe, start by preheating the oven to 190˚C/Gas mark 5 and place 12 muffin cases in a muffin tray; or in my case, grease and line a cake tin. I also made three regular sized muffins for snacking, too!

2.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and sugar.

3.

Peel, core and dice the apples. In a separate bowl, beat the egg and stir in the milk. Add the oil, melted butter and stir in the diced apple.

4.

Add the wet mixture into the dry and combine well. Stir through the golden sultanas.

5.

Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases (tin) and sprinkle the tops with brown sugar

6.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes until lightly brown. The apple muffins should spring back when pressed. Allow to cool slightly before eating; I found my large cake was perfectly cooked in the 20 minutes and the muffins only took 15. I think this will vary depending on your oven though, I know for a fact mine runs hot.

Do you have a favourite Autumn recipe, or a tried and tested apple cake recipe? Feel free to share it in the comments section!
(This cake was GOOD, but I think there were flaws in the recipe such as the quantity of the baking powder, I should have followed instinct and added less).

Fashionable Fuel; 9 bars

9 bars aren't a new product, they've been around for a while and enjoyed many a time by myself and thousands of others.
They've recently had a bit of a makeover, and a taste of the high life as they fuelled back-stage at the Erdem fashion show during LFW.

"Taking place in a futuristic fashion iglu in Manchester Square the collection showed a departure from the floral prints so synonymous with previous seasons and saw an introduction of python, whilst holding on to the feminine silhouettes for which the designer has become famous. Backstage the models, crew and hair and makeup teams were fuelled through the spectacular show by the latest must have for fashion week - 9bars. These delicious, seed based snack bars are chock full of slow release energy to keep the fashionistas fuelled throughout the busy morning of prep and the tension of the show itself, and being full of seeds they even help keep the models looking their best thanks to the high levels of omega oils which keep skin, hair and nails healthy - a real must have during a frantic fashion week!

The 9bar range is available from Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda, Morrison’s, Holland & Barrett and independent health food stores nationwide. All varieties are available in 4 x 40g multi packs, RRP £1.89, and in 50g singles, RRP 70p"

The folk at 9 bar were kind enough to send me a few samples to try too, although my endorsement can't compare to high flying fashionistas!
My personal favourites are the Pumpkin bar (the sweeter, lighter bar in the range with no carob topping, these make a great breakfast on the run), and the Original, jam packed full of seeds and goodness with a great contrasting texture thanks to the smooth carob topping.

The bars are handmade in Wales and so good for you it's unreal. The bars are all gluten, dairy and wheat free so perfect for pretty much everyone and brilliant for stashing in your handbag for a hectic day!

Have you tried 9bars before? Which is your favourite?

xxx

swish

Bracelet c/o Jon Richard, New Look top, Bershka skirt via Vente-Privee, Flatforms c/o Miss Ikon.

I love a good maxi skirt, especially one that creates a really satisfying swish when you walk just like this Bershka beauty does. I fell in love with the brand in Spain and when Vente-Privee had a sale on I used it as the perfect chance to stock up on basics; I ended up with the skirt, two tops, a pair of jeans and an umbrella for under £30. You have to wait a while for delivery but it's so worth it!

TGIF! This week has raced past at a dizzying pace and I am more than ready for the weekend and a lie-in! Just a ten hour shift to get through and then the PJs will go on and relaxation can begin!

How was your week been? Have you shopped with Vente-Privee before?

xxx

Westfield Stratford City turns One!

To celebrate Westfield Stratford City's 1st birthday through the centre, activities will be held in 4 main locations of the mall. Circus themed entertainment, events and kid friendly activities are occurring throughout the weekend. Please share the events and locations with your community either through providing the list, links or sharing which events you find most exciting. Encourage your members to attend the fun activities! [Please note that some activities are provided in exchange for visitors providing Westfield with information such as name and email address.] South Gallery, Ground Floor: - Circus ring master and entertainers including jugglers, magicians, mime artists and more - Candy floss & popcorn machines - Cake pops handed out - Oversized birthday card where customers can leave “happy birthday” messages for WSC. - Enter to win prizes - Photo booth Great Eastern Market: - Kids’ activities all weekend – shopper bag and party hat decorating at Great Eastern Kitchen - Saturday: 500 Waitrose cupcakes to be displayed and given out to lucky customers - Sunday: 500 Buttercup cupcakes to displayed and given out to lucky customers Northern Ticket Hall - Circus entertainers including stilt walkers and clowns - fortune cookies, balloons and more given away Select Car Park Lobbies - Giving out Offers Booklets and fortune cookies with offers from retailers inside them. An “Offers Booklet” will be handed out to customers full of fantastic retailer offers and discounts available just for the Westfield Stratford City’s 1st Birthday!
Some of the available offers:
- Free tote bag from Lola&Grace
- £20 Off select frames from Vision Express
- 2 for £12 lunch (pasta, salad and drink) for 2 at Pasta Remoli
Throughout the mall, make sure to provide your information to be registered to win a number of retailer prizes. You can enter on cards handed out at car park foyers, event spots throughout the centre and the concierge desk.
Now that the London 2012 Games are over, the car park is re-opened just in time for the circus! On September 22nd, the first 2 hours of parking is FREE and park all day for £5 max! Select retailers are hosting events to celebrate Westfield Stratford City's 1st Birthday! Lola & Grace: Cupcakes and branded giveaways over the weekend. Dwell: Champagne drinks over the weekend. As Nature Intended: various in store events over the weekend. Details on the WSC website. True Religion: In store DJ, cocktails and free gift with purchase for customers over the weekend. Westfield Stratford City is looking forward to having you join in the fun!
Friday 21 September: 11am-8pm
Saturday 22 September: 10am-9pm
Sunday 23 September: 12pm-6pm

Clicking on the images will link you to further information and everything you need to know!

*sponsored content*

Amsterdam City Break Style

Earlier this week I was contacted by easyjet asking if I'd like to participate in a little competition to win a trip to Amsterdam;
I have family in Holland (I'm actually going out to visit soon and can't wait) yet have never really managed to spend any time in the captial, so I'm entering the contest and keeping my fingers and toes crossed!

My Amsterdam City Break look for the easyjet holidays competition

To me a shopping city break is all about comfort and style. I've chosen this fabulous jacket from Lavish Alice to keep out the chill whilst adding an injection of glam. Under that I'll be wearing acid wash skinny jeans from New Look for understated fashion chic, teamed with this on-trend and snug jumper from George at Asda who are killing it right now with their A/W collection! On my feet will be these Cheap Monday boots from ASOS which look sleek and smart, with a heel just high enough to add some height and interest whilst remaining comfortable.

My trip will be split between shopping (HELLO Monki store!), chilling at the super cool sounding House of Bols cocktail bar and staying at the immense looking 4 Star Eden Amsterdam hotel.

For more information and to enter yourself, check out the competition page here

What's your dream Amsterdam look? Any recommendations of things to do and see there?

xxx