Blogging Goals 2017

I’ve already shared my 2017 goals on the blog but I thought it would be nice to share some of the blogging related goals that I hope to achieve this year. It’s crazy to think another year of blogging has went and by the end of this month it will be my 7th blogging anniversary! Say whaaat!? 2016 saw a lot of change around my blog and I felt like as my interests changed and grew, I created more content that I felt happy with. As my blog generally improved, I also got the chance to work with some amazing brands too! So here is to another year of blogging and hopefully an even better year! So this is what I would love to have checked off my list by this time next year…

1. Improve my photography – My photography has already improved massively in the last couple of years, I mean just look at some of my older posts (apologies in advance if you do!). Photography is one of my favourite things about blogging and I’ve learnt so much from being the one behind the camera to also being exposed to the various photography styles used by different bloggers. I’ve grown a little tired of having the same old flat-lay, I want to experiment a little more in adopting different styles but also making my basic flat-lay a lot less basic!
2. Get more use out of social media – Social media is such an important tool for bloggers and I definitely want to make more use out of it. As well as promoting posts on Twitter and Pinterest, I want to add more additional content particularly on Instagram! I hope that I can get more active and also get more chatty as I know there is a wide range of bloggers about!
3. Update my blog design – I changed my blog about a couple of years ago and I still love the way it looks! Although there is some aspects that could do with updating to make it even better. I may also go down the line of upgrading my WordPress? Who knows but hopefully I will be very happy with the look of my blog this time next year!
4. Branch out into other content – Beauty is obviously one of the main focuses on this blog however I have so many other interests that don’t get as much air time. Style in particular is an area I would love to chat more about, especially since it is the reason I started this blog in the first place! Hopefully along with my first goal of photography, I will be able to better capture style and clothing photos as it is something I do struggle with! I also want to up my lifestyle and food related posts, I spoke a bit about my change in eating a few times so I would love to being share more on that!

What are your goals for the year?

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Building A Minimal (Capsule) Wardrobe

I’ve spoke about clearing out and reducing my wardrobe for a while now. It’s been a long gradual process particularly when you’re a clothes hoarder like me but my wardrobe keeps becoming smaller and less cluttered of unworn clothes. Instead of having a wardrobe full of clothes with jeans in every shade possible, I now have and am aiming for a smaller collection of items that I need and wear regularly that fits my style. Not only is de-cluttering a satisfying thing to do, it also teaches you more about buying clothes and how to buy more sensibly.

STEP 1: CLEAR OUT

The first step to making your wardrobe more minimal is to obviously cut it down. Open your wardrobe, drawers etc and look at each item individually and decide on it’s final destination (that sounds much more intense than I am intending!). Anything that you truly love and know that will get its wear, place it back into your wardrobe. If you have anything that is damaged or simply not wearable then chuck it in the bin. You’ve also got your ‘maybe’ items which we all have, items that we may be struggling to get rid of and are holding on to! Keep things simple and keep them in your wardrobe for the time being. Then you have the other items that you know you can get rid of. If you have anything that holds value, e.g. trainers, on-trend pieces then it is a good idea to think about selling items. I use eBay regularly and you also have Depop. It is such a good way to de clutter as you can make money that can be reinvested in your wardrobe! Anything else, can then also be given to charity!

STEP 2: ANALYSE 

After the initial clear out, you can definitely cut your wardrobe quite dramatically. Although I do think particularly if you are like me it can be difficult to be strict and cut out everything that could be erased. After a set amount of time, this could be weeks, a month, longer analyse your wardrobe again being more strict about what stays and what goes. One trick I have heard is to ensure all your hangers are facing one direction then once you wear an item face it the other way and after a length of time you can truly see what has been worn and what’s not. There is simply no point holding on to items that are not getting worn so this proves as a good indicator for de-cluttering. The process of continuously eliminating can be long particularly if you own a lot and have hoarder problems (guilty!), I am still regularly making my wardrobe smaller and smaller but each time I do it, it feels incredibly rewarding!

STEP 3: ORGANISE

Apologies to the naturally messy and untidy people who’s wardrobes mainly stay on the floor, sadly for you I am going to encourage you to do the opposite! The best way to get use out of your wardrobe is to ensure it is in a organised fashion in which you can see everything neatly in front of you. So in terms of hanging items up, I like to arrange them in a certain order like dresses then tops then trousers etc. You can make up your own order but having them in an organised way makes it much easier. In terms of storing in drawers etc, I like to have a drawer dedicated to certain things so one drawer for t-shirts, one for skirts etc. Another handy tip for organisation is to organise your clothes using the Marie Kondo method rather than stacking things as you see items much easier rather than simply wearing what is on the top of the pile!

STEP 4: INVEST 

After cutting down your wardrobe, you will have a clear idea of what is missing as well as understanding what you really wear. It is now time to fill in the gaps and make up a wearable wardrobe that reflects your style. One of the lessons I’ve learnt from looking back to my old shopping habits and my wardrobe is that I used to regularly buy poorer quality clothes and many trend-led pieces that go out of fashion far too quickly. Obviously adopting that method means my wardrobe grows quicker and also becomes unwearable. My attitude towards shopping and different clothing brands has changed a lot over the last year, I try to avoid on-trend pieces and cheap poorly made items and instead I like to invest carefully in pieces that are good quality and will we wearable for years to come. Whilst spending a lot of money on one item can be off-putting it is actually much better value than continuously spending on numerous items and having to replace them after a short period of time!

How do you de-clutter?

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Fall Style Wishlist

Did I just use the word ‘Fall’ during Summer!? Yup I did. Let’s get real though for anyone living in the UK, Summer came for a couple of days and then left us. The beginning of September is also looming which means the Autumn season is near and it is my favourite time of the year so of course I have to start early! Autumn/Winter style is also my favourite and I’ve been super excited to see all the collections come into store. I am also in the middle of sorting out my wardrobe so a few new additions wouldn’t go a miss!

Whistles is one of my favourite places to shop, it is a little more pricey for a high street store but it offers good investment pieces that aren’t carbon copies of everything you find in most other cheaper stores. There is a couple of things on my list from the brand that I am desperate to get my hands on. The first is this Multi Coloured Striped Knit which is super cute and injects a nice bit of colour into an outfit. It also looks comfortable as I do find that a lot of knitwear can be too heavy or too light and this seems like the perfect happy medium!  The jumper also appears to pair well with this leather skirt too which is in a gorgeous burgundy colour. As it is leather it might be a little more difficult to care for but it seems that it would make a great staple in my wardrobe.

A few more classic pieces that I need in my wardrobe include a good pair of black skinny jeans. I basically live in black jeans but I don’t have a decent pair so I do have my eye on a pair from All Saints which seem like a perfect match for my wardrobe. Also, a major lust is the Acne Jensen Boots, yes they are incredibly expensive but damn they are beautiful and are a great wardrobe staple. Lastly, is this cute pinafore dress from Urban Outfitters which I’ve been wanting for so long. It would also look super cute with the Whistles jumper and be a little different to just wearing jeans all the time!

What is on your fall wishlist? 

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The Bag Wishlist

I’ve always been a bag kinda gal at heart, bags over shoes anyday! My dreams of owning a designer bag have existed for too many years now and I think it’s time I did something about that, right!? Being a Leo, I do have expensive taste and I do like a little bit of luxury so whilst a designer bag may require a good few wage slips, it is still something I am happy to invest in. You either get it or you don’t but for me it’s the kinda thing I like. Having got hooked onto luxury style YouTube channels which I mentioned here, I am ready to take the leap into saving for my first designer bag. So what is it going to be, well I thought I would show you some (yes just some) of the bags that have topped my wishlist!

Starting with the bag of dreams, a Chanel Classic Flap. Every bag lover needs a Chanel, right!? Now the price for Chanel is eye-watering and sadly it tends to increase year on year making it near impossible to buy one. However hopefully one day, whilst it is not on my immediate list (for obvious reasons) I will be able to visit a Chanel store in Paris (yup, going all out!) and pick up my very own. Then I will be one step closer to being LC, life goals right there!

Another bag of dreams that I just need in my life is the Saint Laurent Sac De Jour. This bag is simply beautiful, black grained leather possibly in size small please. Again it is one of the more pricier options on my list but having this bag would make me complete. Hopefully I can save up for this one once I graduate as a special treat cause you gotta treat yo self.

Now I mentioned that I prefer my bags over shoes but if there was one pair of shoes I would like to get my hands on then it would be the classic Valentino Rockstuds. Of course with those I need a bag to match, it’s only right! I adore the Valentino Rockstud Lock Shoulder Bags, particularly the light nude pink-y shade which would match my shoes obviously! The bag just looks so beautifully elegant with the gold hardware, I need!

I usually tend to avoid seasonal pieces and trend-led items and I would particularly advice to when opting for a spendy purchase however I have my eye on one. The Gucci Dionysus Shoulder bag is a classic but I have never really been a fan of the whole Gucci monogram style however I adore some of their Floral design options. It is a bit different and totally a statement piece but it is so beautiful! I have been actually really impressed by some the newer Gucci styles recently too!

Lastly, a much cheaper option than the rest, the Celine Trio. I adore the whole minimalistic Celine aesthetics and I just love how simple but chic this bag is. Everyone needs a good crossbody small style bag and this is such a great option. The three compartments is also incredibly handy but I can imagine pretty annoying when you have to get your bag searched! A good all rounder though!

What is on your bag wishlist? 

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My Favourite Youtube Channels for Fashion/Beauty Inspo

YouTube is one of my favourite platforms for exploring all things beauty and style. Whilst blogs give me great inspiration and I always thoroughly enjoy reading, there is something nice about also being able to see a person talk or show something in video format. I have never really been into the whole ‘YouTuber’ thing but there is many channels out there that I watch religiously. My tastes in YouTube channels obviously reflect the kind of content I write on my blog so I thought I would share some of my favourite channels that give me inspiration from beauty to style and to general lifestyle.

BEAUTY 

Lily Pebbles

Probably one of my first favourite beauty YouTube channels that I got hooked on to. I adore Lily’s content, she creates such well edited and put together videos particularly her montage-y videos and her vlogs are by far my favourite vlogs to watch! I’ve put her under the beauty category however she does make a great mix of lifestyle-y videos.

I Covet Thee

Alix is also a long time favourite of mine. Again she does a great mix but her beauty videos are definitely my favourite to watch. She is always influencing many of my beauty buys and I always love her natural pretty makeup looks. Again her videos are so beautifully edited!

Lisa Eldridge

Of course I have to mention the makeup queen. If you are looking for tutorials to seriously learn the art of applying makeup then Lisa is your gal! She is by far my favourite makeup artist as I just adore the passion she has for it and the whole idea of enhancing what you already have!

STYLE

Lydia Elise Millen

I have always been more of a beauty watcher on YouTube however I am totally into style and have developed a few new loves. I adore Lydia’s classic style and her down to earth personality. Her luxury hauls always draw me in and I am left just drooling over another handbag!

Chase Amie

A very recent love of mine is Amie’s channel. I am truly obsessed with this gal! Her channel is mostly related to luxury accessories which is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine right now. What I love about her though is that she has such a calming voice but also she appears so friendly and down to earth and not in anyway braggy or snobbish about her very impressive designer bag and shoe collection! Her videos are also wonderfully informative and interesting!

Heyyy June

Another luxury channel is June’s which I am also loving, can you tell I am having a luxury moment right now!? Again I adore June’s very pleasant and friendly attitude despite talking about her vast luxury collection. Her reviews are always very in depth and who knew I would be craving a bit of Louis Vuitton again but damn June makes me want a LV Speedy more than anything else!

LIFESTYLE

Vivianna Does Makeup

Back to an old favourite, Anna of course. I thought I would mention Anna under lifestyle despite her beauty and style content which I love however she does some great other lifestyle-y videos. She is a great healthy fitness inspiration for me and I love catching up on what cookbooks she recommends and her new favourite healthy recipes! Again like everyone else I mentioned, she has a great personality and I feel like I know her personally!

What is your favourite YouTube channels? 

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My Minimal Jewellery Collection

The whole minimalistic lifestyle seems to be all the rage lately particularly on many blogs. Whilst the concept sounds pretty good, it isn’t very feasible. However I have definitely tried to adopt the more is less kinda of thing lately style wise, beauty is another story…  From my wardrobe to my accessories, I have been de-cluttering a lot out of my stash in order to create small collections of items that I know I will get use out of it and that I truly love. My jewellery is an area that I have been cutting down quite dramatically recently and I thought I would give you a little insight into my collection.

Taking a look overall at my collection, I have a clear love for small dainty pieces that can be worn very casually. Gold also tends to be colour of preference as I just prefer it and it seems to go more with my style too. I tend to shop in high street stores for my jewellery pieces but I will go into that later and show you where I bought all my favourite pieces from. Also, if you are interested in my storage as seen above, I keep my necklaces and rings on my very beautiful marble and gold stand from Oliver Bonas and I also have a little plate from H&M in which I store my earrings.

NECKLACES

From oversized statement pieces, I have clearly made a change in my preference of necklace style. I currently have three go-to dainty pieces that just add a simplistic but chic addition to a casual outfit. Urban Outfitters is one of my favourite stores and particularly for jewellery. They do the most perfect minimalistic style pieces that fit perfectly in my collection. The first necklace (left) is as extreme as it gets. The longer chain and double triangle style is more of my going out option for when I have a little more neck on show. The other two are simple pieces; one with my star sign and the other a basic gold bar style. When it comes to necklaces I am all for the less is more approach, looking back at what I used to wear I much prefer the neater simplistic style.

RINGS

I don’t want to sound like a broken record since I am sure by now you get the whole ‘I prefer the minimal look’ although when it comes to rings I am so for it. I love the look of having a handful of rings with cute midi styles and what not but if I am honest I forget my rings half the time so remembering to coat my hand in them doesn’t really work for me. Although nevertheless I love a good simple ring. There is something about a good ring that just makes me feel complete outfit wise but also adds a bit of sophistication to an outfit. For a simple casual look I love my Gemporia Crescent Moon Ring*  which I spoke about in a separate post here. The crescent moon adds a personal touch yet is super simple but a special piece in my collection. I also have a more ‘edgier’ style from Topshop with a cross design which remains well despite being a cheaper piece.

EARRINGS

Probably my favourite pieces of jewellery. Earrings are the one thing I wear all the time (although saying that I currently am not wearing any!). Whilst fun slightly comical fruit shaped earrings look ever so cool they just don’t fit my style and after wearing boring studs I really wanted to find earrings that I enjoyed wearing and created a bit of a statement. I have became truly obsessed with swing earrings that are pretty unique with a swing bar style that comes from the back of the ear as well as a stud at the front. I have multiple pairs now and Asos seem to hold the best selection. Whilst I love the look of crazily pierced ears I wouldn’t wish that pain on myself (lol) so I love that adding something unique can keep my earring choice a bit interesting.

*PR sample

What is your favourite type of jewellery?

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Transitioning from Winter to Spring

I can’t be the only one looking forward to seeing Winter leave us behind. I am totally ready for Spring to come instead of having to bear with the cold and windy weather. With Spring on the near horizon, we are in that weird in-between season thing were the weather is feeling a bit mixed up lately with no idea of what season we are meant to be in. Although with the countdown on til Spring officially arrives, it is about time the preparation for the new season begins in all areas of our lives from our wardrobes to beauty to interiors. So here is a few tips to get you set up for the new season…

REARRANGE YOUR BEAUTY STASH 

With the cold of Winter leaving us, it is time to also leave behind the blankets of makeup we tend to adopt during the Winter months. I know that I for one always like to wear heavier foundations and always stick to powder formulations as well as deeper shades in my lip and cheek choices. Now with the sunnier days ahead, it is nice to change things up a bit by going back to cream formulations and much lighter bases as well as those brighter shades. Everyone’s beauty storage is different but it is the perfect time to simply change up what makeup will make your everyday wear stash. This could involve putting away your Winter beauty picks and bringing back out the more spring/summer appropriate products.

CLEAN OUT YOUR WARDROBE

I never miss an opportunity to talk about wardrobe de-cluttering. I may talk about it quite a lot but it really is very rewarding and there is no better time than present to give your wardrobe a good clean. Again I won’t ramble on too much as I spoke about it before here. Although the key at this time is to look through your Winter clothes and see what you haven’t worn over the season as this is a good indicator as to what should get thrown away or given to charity. You can always take the time to look through the Spring appropriate pieces and also decide if they are still up to your tastes and if there is any season essentials missing in your wardrobe.

ORGANISE YOUR NEW WARDROBE 

Once you have gave your wardrobe a good spring clean, it is always a good idea to give it a bit of a shuffle so your Spring clothes are accessible and keep your Winter clothes separate. Everyone’s wardrobe set-up is different but I have different drawers that keep aside my Spring/Summer pieces from my Autumn/Winter pieces. Another idea is to store your clothes away, some people may keep storage boxes for clothes and also put them under their bed. A fairly new concept for this is MakeSpace who are a company who basically pick up your clothes, store it and then bring it back to you once you need it. So this would be a great idea for anyone trying to find space to put their Winter clothes away instead of trying to find extra storage, basically a hoarder’s idea of heaven.

CHANGE UP YOUR HOME SURROUNDINGS 

Lastly, your own home environment could also do with a spring clean. In Winter it is pretty necessary to stock up on blankets and cushions as well as burning those Winter warming candles. In time for Spring, it is nice to update your surroundings a little. Changing your bedding is always a good idea by going for something a lot more fresh and light like opting for white or light sheets as well as storing away your thicker blankets for the colder months. It is also nice to change up your home fragrance so instead of burning cinnamon or winter like scents, it is nice to go for something more lighter and fresh, something like Diptyque Mimosa or Baies is a good option. Similarly, it is also a convenient time to swap your own personal fragrance option!

How do you prepare for a new season?

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Gemporia 9K Gold Moon Stacker Ring

I don’t think I could ever fall into that ‘minimalistic lifestyle’ category although I love the minimal look when it comes to style particularly jewellery. There is just something so chic about minimal simple pieces. Speaking of which, I have added a new piece to my minimal jewellery collection (something I will show you soon!). Thanks to Gemporia who specialise in gemstones, I was kindly gifted this gorgeous 9K Gold Moon Stacker Ring* (£52) which is the perfect new addition to my jewellery wardrobe.

I love a good ring but I am so disappointed in the poor quality high street offerings which are easily scratched and worn within a short amount of time. So it has been a delight to get my hands on this gorgeous gold ring from Gemporia. As I said previously, with my minimal preferences I chose this simplistic but classic piece rather than something big and chunky which isn’t my style. The ring has a cute crescent moon design on the gold band which is super pretty and goes with everything. I used to have a crescent moon necklace which sadly broke but I am delighted to have the moon design back in my collection in some form. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing but the crescent moon has a bit of deeper meaning to me as it holds a much more personal meaning to me. The symbol actually plays a sort of reminder to me in where I grew up and basically home for me  (Just pretend you know what I am talking about!). So obviously to have a personal touch behind it makes it feel even more special!

The ring is slightly a touch too big for me although it is nothing that can’t be fixed! Once it is more my size, I can’t wait to wear this more as it adds such a simple and classy touch to any outfit. I am obsessed! Gemporia also have a really great range of jewellery to suit everyone so if you are still stuck for Mother’s Day then I am sure they will have something perfect for a last-minute present!

What is your favourite piece for jewelery?

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Style Wishlist

I tend to have moments where I am really into shopping around for new clothing bits for my wardrobe and other times when I am not really feeling inspired enough for a wardrobe refresh. Currently I am feeling it when it comes to clothes, I don’t know whether it’s the upcoming change in season or from having cleaned out my wardrobe that has sparked this but I definitely have a few pieces that are on my radar. I do have quite a few more investment pieces in the line up but I am looking to make some high quality purchases as I find the perfect staples for my wardrobe.

Starting off with Urban Outfitters, I have developed a love for UO lately, something I am sure I have made clear on my blog before. A lot of their pieces are a little more expensive but the styles are all so pretty and the quality is great too. I love a good casual tee and I love how cute this little strawberry tee is. Definitely one I will be picking up!

With Spring arriving, it is no better time for a good trench coat. I love the trench style and have forever longed to own a good quality camel trench. Whilst Burberry may be out of my budget for the time being (a girl can dream right!?), Zara will always remain queen of outerwear. Their coats and jackets are always great quality and totally reliable pieces as well as being truly gorgeous. I love this cotton trench which looks so much more expensive than it is. Definitely a great investment for the new season!

I have grew a strong love recently for Whistles. Their range does have a much steeper price tag but they have such gorgeous staple pieces. I have my eye on two tops from the brand, the first being this cute black knit with lace details. I seen a very similar top in Reiss but at a much higher cost so I was happy to see this at a much more affordable rate! The other is a little different, again another lightweight black knit but this time with cut-out shoulder details for something just a bit different. This would be such a nice option for an evening out!

Lastly, how could I do a clothing wishlist without a bit of ASOS. Firstly, I have been loving the whole pinafore trend lately. It took me a while to find a good affordable option that looked flattering but this one from ASOS seems to fit the bill. I think it will look great for everyday wear with casual tees for something a little different! Definitely something I need my hands on soon! The other two things from ASOS are very similar pairs of shoes from the brand Dune. I totally have to blame Kate from Kate La Vie for this as these shoes are all I can think about lately! The first being flat shoes in a gorgeous white and beige shade perfect for spring and super classy. These remind me so much of the Valentino Rockstud shoes (which are super dreamy!) with the studded design so a much cheaper alternative is well up my street! The other pair is basically the same although in heel form so would look great for going out.

What is on your wishlist?

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