H&M WISHLIST!!

I recently realized that I hardly EVER do fashion posts, which is silly considering that I absolutely love shopping for clothes! I am building myself up to do an OOTD post, but being a new blogger, I haven’t quite built up the courage to do the ‘quirky, awkward blogger snaps’, but I promise that I will do one soon!

I haven’t had a big shopping haul in ages as I have had bills to pay and other things to buy, so my paycheck has somehow withered itself away without me really noticing and before I know it the month has flown buy and I haven’t purchased anything.  I am a massive shopping addict, so it is really unusual for me not to have done at least a little bit of shopping! I have decided that next month (well the end of this month on payday) I am going to treat myself to some new clothes, so this post is going to be dedicated to my H&M wishlist! I absolutely love H&M, it's one of my favourite high street stores and I always love the clothes they have, which are usually really reasonable and great quality so what is not to love! I always go into H&M on a shopping trip and more often than not, I always end up buying something…I just always find something I love. Anyway, on with the items that I am going to purchase (or want to purchase)

1.  This is the 'Wrap Skirt in Gold Shimmer' and retails at £24.99. I think this skirt is really classy and perfect for summer days in the office. It is casual yet smart and the wrap around feature differentiates it from the classic a-line skirt seen in most office environments. I love that it is smart enough to be in a bold colour like gold as this brightens up my outfit from the usual black and white. I would most likely pair this with a cream blouse and brown dolly shoes, and then a natural/day makeup look.

2. This is the Fine Knit Cardigan in grey and retails at £14.99. A girl can never have enough cover ups, especially a girl who constantly feels the cold and thats me! It really does annoy me when I have a really nice outfit on, but I am absolutely freezing...which is often the case on British summer evenings. I really like the waterfall detail of this cardigan because it makes it more than just a plain grey cardigan and can add something to your outfit when you are having to cover up because of a chill. I would most likely choose to wear this over a skirt or some shorts. 

3. This is the 'Maxi Dress in Lyocell Blend in black' and retails at £49.99. I am utterly and completely obsessed with this dress, I think it is so beautiful and classy and screams me. I do love a good black maxi dress, but this is not at all like any of the others I have. The gold jewelled detailing around the midriff gives the dress that something extra and makes it look super sleek. I would save this dress for a special night out, perhaps for my birthday or on holiday. I would pair it with a pair of black strappy heels and I would most likely do a smokey eye to go with it. 

4. This is the 'Kimono with Beaded Embroidery in black' and retails at £59.99. I have never bought a Kimono before, but I have always wanted one. I just haven't found one that I think is worth me buying. At almost sixty pounds I am not entirely sure I can justify this, but I really do love it! I would most likely wear this during the day with a white tank top and blue denim jeans and then either a pair of converse or dolly shoes. Due to the embroidery on the shoulders I would go for a natural make-up look and my day-to-day jewellery.

5. This is the 'Jersey Playsuit in Powder/Floral' and retails at £12.99. I don't often buy playsuits because I find them an absolute mare to go to the toilet with, but I am so drawn to this one. Its super summery and girly and something I would wear to a BBQ party. I would pair it with some brown goddess sandals and some gold accessories. Definitely can't wait to purchase this.

6. This is the 'Embroidered Playsuit in Powdered white' and retails at £49.99. Woah, two playsuits in one wish list, I am being adventurous! This is again, on the pricier side for H&M, but it just looks so classy that I don't mind occasionally paying that price. I would pair this with some understated jewellery and a pair of black wedges! I think this playsuit would go great with a red lip look!

What is on your wish list ladies? 

Much love

**This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own 

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK - CHLOÉ EAU DE PARFUM

This week’s product of the week has been a staple of mine for just under 6 years now. I can’t go a day without it, so I thought it was only fair to feature it in my ‘product of the week’ series.

This week I am going to discuss the incredible ‘Chloé’ perfume. I am genuinely so excited about reviewing it because it is my all time favourite perfume. I have been wearing it daily now for around 6 years and I have gone through countless bottles and I am sure that I will go through many, many more. 

Focusing on the scent first (seeing as that’s the most important part of a perfume), it’s absolutely beautiful. I find it really hard to describe scents, but it really does just smell so feminine and fresh. It has a really subtle floral scent, which identifies most as roses and peonies; it has a very pure yet sensual appeal to it, which just makes it the perfect perfume. It is so long lasting, a couple of spritzes and it will last all day! I like to be able to smell my perfume on me all day and I certainly get this with Chloé. Although the scent is subtle, it has the power to be noticed for the whole day. I love that it is perfect for any occasion; work, day trip or night out. I usually wear it during the day and add a couple of extra sprays in the evening and I am good to go. Its versatility means that it is easily transferable from day to evening.

This is officially my signature scent. All my family and friends know me by this scent and my boyf absolutely loves it. I love to be able to walk past and for people to identify me by the scent. I love that this perfume is so long wearing that it has the power to do that. I am so lucky because every birthday and Christmas I usually get a couple of bottles as gifts so I have a consent supply of it, which is great seeing as I genuinely can’t get enough of it! The bottle itself is really nice, it looks super feminine and classy. For some reason it reminds me of something that would have been found during the 1920s, don’t ask me why…it just does! The cute bow around the bottle just adds to the femininity of the product, which again, is something I love. I am a super girly girl so anything feminine I love!

I have recently had a naughty purchase and I have bought the shower gel and body lotion as well! If that doesn’t show my obsession, then I do not know what will! It is a little on the pricey side and can range from anything in between £44.50 - £74.50, but for me it is totally worth it! Getting the perfect scent that suits you is really important to me so I would happily pay for something that I love.

What perfume to you girls like? Do you have a signature scent?

Much love

10 THINGS I HAVE LEARNT SINCE GRADUATING

I can't believe that it has been a whole year since I strolled across that stage to get my degree certicficate. Well, I say strolled but the whole time I was walking all I could think off was 'please don't trip, please don't trip'. So it wasn't as graceful as I am making out...but still a whole year has literally flown by and I really haven't achieved much! You think that when you graduate you will be instantly mature and become this high flyer over night but the reality is very different. One thing I can say, is that it has been the most eye opening year of my life and I have learnt so much, so I thought I would share the top 10 things I have learnt with you. 

I had THE best university experience I could ever have imagined. I was so lucky to have the most amazing flatmates who instant became my 'flamily'. I loved my course (even if there was the odd occasion where I might have skipped a class or two..or three) and I absolutely loved being a student in Brighton. It really was the most incredible city to be a student in! I wouldn't have changed an absolute thing and I think thats why my transition from uni to real life has been super hard. Anyway here is my top 10 life lessons since graduating:

1. University really doesn't prepare you for the real world in any way, shape or form: I learnt nothing at uni that prepared me for how tough the real world is...it only makes that jump so much harder.

2. It's okay to not know what your doing or what you want to do - plans change: the year after  graduating is purely for learning. Its okay to flit a bit and change your mind here and there. Some people know what they want and others don't and thats okay!

3. The future is nowhere near how you planned it to be and it never will be: That plan that you set out...yeah that was a waste of time, it rarely turns out that way and count yourself super lucky if it does. The path I thought I would take is so different to the path I am on now and that can be really hard to comprehend.

4. You need to make decisions on your own, or at least learn how to: I had my flatmates to make every decision with me; to what lipstick shade I should wear on a night out to the modules I should take next semester...decisions were a group thing but thats not the case anymore.

5. Full time hours absolutely suck and annual leave becomes the most precious thing in the world: working a full week is hard! I miss my days that were full of one lecture and messing around with my friends for the rest of the day. Also, holidays are no longer given to you as 4-5 week stints...thats all you get for a WHOLE YEAR!!!

6. Hangovers have become way more severe: I have never been one who is able to handle alcohol, but its like hangovers become so much more severe as soon as you are handed that certificate. I have no idea how I ever managed a whole freshers week once upon a time!

7. Morning time is 7am not 11am: apparently 11am is mid-morning now and you can get so much done before then! Gone are the days of mid-week lie ins and casual brunches at the local student cafe...that isn't real life

8. Most of my wardrobe is no longer appropriate or acceptable: I used to always spend my money on buying a new dress for a night out, I now realise how none of these dresses are appropriate for anything anymore - as soon as you graduate you need a whole new wardrobe.

9. You will never create a bond with anyone like the bond you had with your housemates: I was the luckiest girl in the world when it came to my housemates, I lived with the same people for the entire 3 years and I absolutely love them. The bond you have just can't be explained...aww I love them so much.

10. University changed me so much as person and I am so grateful: the person that moved into Northfield halls on 24th September 2011 was not the person that left 106 on the 2nd August 2014, I changed so much for the better and I am so grateful for the people that helped on the journey.

Have you graduated recently? What have you learnt?

Much love 

TAKE A LOOK INSIDE MY HANDBAG!!

I absolutely love reading "What's in my handbag' posts. I think its because I am super nosy and love to find out what people perceive to be necessary to carry around with them all day! I recently bought a new handbag, so thought it would be a great time to do a 'what's in my handbag' post.

The bag I am using here is the 'Valerie Winged Boxy Handheld bag' from Accessorise. It was a recent purchase and cost £32, but it is in the sale now so I think you might still be able to get it online here or in some stores. I was drawn to it because it was really summery, I loved that it had smaller handles and then a handle for over your shoulder. Its really spacious inside which is a must for me and has a zipped pocket and a phone pouch.

I am a safety girl *quote Pretty Women* and would literally carry the kitchen sink around with me if I could. So I am sure you are going to find some of the things I carry with me daily quite entertaining...so here it goes:

The Essentials

Purse

Phone

Keys

Sunglasses

Reading glasses

Bottle of water

Diary

Notepad

Oyster Card

Chewing gum

Emergency Moments

Paracetamol

Hand Sanitiser

Tissues

Wet wipes

Time of the month supplies

Hayfever tablets

Mini sewing kit

Plasters

Mini toothbrush and toothpaste

Girl Moments  

Hair bobbles

Curby grips

Hand moisturiser

Mini Dry Shampoo

Blistex

Makeup bag

Random Bits and Bobs

Several receipts

Random change

Pens

Gloves (in winter)

Umbrella (in winter)

Wow, when I look it like this I really do realise how much I carry around with me, yet I still feel that I need it all! Hope you liked this post as much as I love reading them.

What do you carry around with you in your handbag?

Much love 

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK - SOAP AND GLORY WHIPPED CLEAN

Sunday afternoons are the perfect time to sit down with a cup of tea and blog! This is why I have decided to start a Sunday series and that’s going to be 'product of the week'. Each week on Sunday afternoon, I am going to post and review my fave product of the week. I love reading recommendations, as it’s usually where I get my inspiration for my next Boots haul.

Anyway, before I get started, can I just start off by saying how cray the weather has been this weekend! The thunderstorm on Friday night was epic; I sat up and watched it for a good hour! Then the weather was absolutely beautiful yesterday and I awoke this morning to the most refreshing downpour ever (and we all know that rain is my favourite).

Hmm, apologies for my weather related ramble…now onto the good stuff. My product of the week this week is none other than the Soap & Glory – Whipped Clean Luxecream wash shower butter. I bought this product last weekend and I have literally used it every day since, it is absolutely amazing.

Now lets start off with the fragrance – it smells absolutely incredible!! Its almond, pistachio and sweet vanilla scent and my my my it smells good enough to eat - genuinely like ice cream. I instantly fell in love with the product just from the smell. The fragrance of things is usually really important to me as it is the first thing that will draw my attention to something…if it doesn’t smell good then I will tend to just discard it straight away, cause lets be honest who wants to lather themselves in something that smells gross? But that was not an issue here, so I carried on with my purchase.

Next thing that usually will draw my attention to a product is how hydrating and moisturizing it is. As a dry skin sufferer I am forever on the lookout for the words ‘hydrating and ‘moisturizing’. Right underneath the title it quotes “with over 25% moisture oils and butters” and I thought bingo, this meets the second product criteria! I always need to keep my skin super moisturized but I can get lazy with it, when I get out the shower I like to get dry and dressed straight away and the idea of using a sticky moisturizer just doesn’t always appeal to me, so I  tend to skip this step and then I regret it later on…the idea of moisturizing in the shower is just perfect for me, and has left my skin feeling super silky smooth without the irritating stickiness!

I read on the back of the bottle that it was recommended for shaving, so I decided to give it a go. Now as every women shall know, bare leg season is practically a full time job. Its constant upkeep can be exhausting. My skin can often become irritated from shaving so I usually use a shaving cream, but I would recommend this SO MUCH MORE. It has been great, it hasn’t left my skin feeling irritated at all and as I said before, has left it feeling super silky and moisturized…every girls dream for bare leg season!

I absolutely have loved using this product and would really recommend it not only for people with dry skin but for shaving and as an in shower body moisturizer for the girls like me who hate moisturizing after a shower. It retails at around £7 at boots which may seem a little on the pricey side but its something I will continue to repurchase as it has done wonders for my skin this past week.

What products have you all been using? Any recommendations?

Much love

RECOMMENDED READING!!

Apologies for my lack of blogging this week but I have been fighting off a chest infection and cold, which I know seems terribly ironic when we are in the full swing of summer but its true I swear! Anyway...although I have had somewhat of a 'writers block' in my lempsip induced coma I have had plenty of time to read...and read I have!

I thought I would do this post on my recommended reading...in other words the blogs that I am absolutely loving at the moment. I love reading other peoples reading material and I end up finding blogs I had never seen before. I think its a great way to showcase each other in the blogging world, so here it goes...

HANNAH MAGGS Now in all honestly I would be completely and utterly shocked if any beauty or lifestyle blogger wasn't a huge fan of Hannah Maggs, I would genuinely be dumbfounded and have to ask why? She is my blogger inspiration and it was her blog that gave me the courage to start blogging myself. She touches on a whole range of subjects, including beauty, lifestyle and mummy posts. Now even though I am not a mummy myself I find her posts really reach out to the 'every day' person. She is so relatable and her writing style is incredible! She has an incredible youtube channel as well but she hasn't lost her blogging touch as she still posts regularly which is something I love. Often when people start youtubing they forget about there blog and I am so grateful she hasn't! Honestly, every women should grab yourself a drink and go on over and check her out...you are sure to become addicted.

SAZBOMB I found Sarah's blog and twitter and instantly became entranced. Her blog posts are all things I love and things that I myself like to write about. She recently did a post on things she was grateful for and I thought this was a really sweet idea. Its something that I would like to do in my blogging future as I love to read what makes other people happy. She is also kindly featuring me on her blog next month and I feel so grateful, I hope my blog will grow just like hers has in the future.

CIDER WITH ROSIE I have recently stumbled upon Rosie's blog as I think I found her in someone else's reading material and have instantly saved it into my bookmarks. First off, I need to point out that her layout is incredible and I had serious blogger envy...everything you would want from a blog is there and its so easy to navigate. I sound like such a loser but these things are important to me! She has two series that have been so inspiring to me as I love to read them; her 'From my home to yours' which shares the most incredible recipes and her '10 things that have made me happy this week' which is just a total feel good read.

THE ROSE AND POSE Christina is a relatively new blogger and I am amazed at how far her blog has come...I can only hope that in 6 months time my blog will look as sophisticated and successful as hers. Her beauty posts are incredible and offer genuine advice and can we please just mention how amazing her photography skills are. She really pushes me to be more creative with my photos.

COCOCHIC Stephanie has been a really great help for a new blogger like me as she often does posts on how to make your blog better, how to get more followers and just generally tricks and tips. I have found it really useful in finding my feet in the blogging world! Her post on how to promote your blog using social media was really great as it outlined all the twitter chats that I never knew existed! I would really recommend her blog if you are just starting out as a blogger...well I would just recommend her blog in general.

A LITTLE SOAPBOX  Again, Jill's blog has been a recent stumble of mine and I am sure she is to become one of my favourites. She recently did a book review post and I absolutely love it. I rarely see book review posts and its something I would like to start doing and she has given me the confidence to do so! I love reading and I think this is a great way to share reviews with each other!

Who have all of you been reading? I am always looking for a new read and I have a very quite and relaxed weekend planned so it would be great to get some new reading material!

Much love