2012 outfits

Well 2012 has been an amazing year for my blog. I've somehow  managed to gain 429 followers - you're all mad but I'm very honoured -, gatecrashed many brilliant events with some fab opportunities and made some absolutely amazing friends (Dream Team forevs). Here's hoping 2013 will bring bigger and better things.

On a side note I never realised how much weight I lost until I went back to the beginning of the year! Hopefully this will give me the motivation to keep it up (plus lose what i've put back on) in the New Year.

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Camo

Outfit:
Camo jacket - Topshop
White (very) oversized t-shirt: Asos
Black skinny jeans: Primark
Black heeled leather boots: Topshop
Black gem statement necklace: New Look
Red plastic watch: Toywatch
Black Bayswater bag: Mulberry
Black scarf: Stolen from my mum

Sorry the pictures are a little dark - I did use a flash but they looked awful! Darn the rainy weather.

Finally got round to wearing this camo jacket around three months after buying it. Maybe that's a sign I should shop less? I brought it with some Topshop vouchers I was given when I left Next - they're a very kind lot! This necklace hardly seems to ever leave my neck even prompting my friend to ask me if I only owned one necklace! It seems to jazz up every outfit so is a firm favourite. I really liked this outfit today even though my dad asked me why I was dressed "urban" when I went in to speak to him. Maybe someone has been watching a little too much Tulisa on the X Factor haha! It was the ideal outfit to spend trying to navigate town to get some last minute Christmas bits and of course treat myself to a few things!

I'm off out for a pub crawl - i'm already about 2 hours late - today and then for an Indian to finish off the night which should be fun. I haven't had an Indian in quite a while so looking forward to some keema naan! I really cannot believe it's Christmas on Tuesday. This month really seems to have flown and I feel like I haven't done anything I wanted to. Always the way eh?

I'm aiming to have a post up on Christmas Eve but if I don't I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Father Christmas brings you everything you want!

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Weightwatcher Ambassador

Long time readers of my blog will know that i've been on Weightwatchers since Feburary. I've always struggling with my weight - and I honestly think I always will - simply because I like my food. There's no two ways about it. I really enjoy eating and often stuff my face until I can't move. As you can imagine this does nothing to help my waistline.

I was doing so well - I'd lost 16 pounds - until around May and then my nan became ill and sadly died. It really threw me off track for about two months. We were nursing her at home and my eating pattern was all over the place and then we'd regularly visit my grandad after she passed away. You can't feed a 70 year old man 'rabbit food'! I've been desperate to get back on track but my mojo has been long gone. I've been in a constant battle of gaining 2lbs and then losing 2lbs, stuck in a stalemate.

This is why I was so estatic when I was contacted by Weightwatchers and asked if i'd like to become one of their blogger ambassadors. It's safe to say I jumped at the chance and think this is just the motivation I need to stop making excuses and become the skinny minnie I long to be.

I'll be very lucky to recieve hampers of food to help keep me on track and will gain access to the valuable e-source. Along the way i'll be instagramming my food diary and posting yummy recipes on my blog to prove being healthy doesn't have to be boring. I'll also be introducing the new approach. You don't have to deprive yourself of anything, just eat in moderation. Cliche but true! I'll be tracking my progress along the way as well as being honest about when I fall off the wagon. Let's be honest - that glass of wine can sometimes be hard to say no too.

Wish me luck! I'm getting back in the game!

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Christmas party glad rags

I don't know about you but I put a lot of thought into buying a Christmas party dress. To be honest I don't actually need any excuse to buy a new dress but it makes me feel less guilty. I've put together a little wishlist of what i'd love to swish about during the festive period.

001. This is a bit of a cheat as I actually brought this asos peplum yesterday and it turned out to be quite the bargain. It was already reduced to £38.50 and I had a Yourvine voucher to use up too. I think this will be earmarked for the boys Christmas party as long as it doesn't make me look like an elephant!

002. I love the gothic feel of this Topshop dress and the midi length has my name written all over it. The sheer back helps to adds a little sexiness.

003. This Zara beauty will be mine come payday. I'm not quite confident to wear it just yet but come the end of next month when i've lost some weight i'll be rocking it with a huge statement necklace. It just looks so elegant but I don't think it'll be very forgiving!

004. The price point of this dress is slightly painful but then Topshop has never been kind on the purse. It looks so elegant and perfect for those special occasions.

005. Much to my boyfriends disgust I have an unhealthy obsession with leather. I've got a pair of trousers, two skirts and a dress so far. And counting. This is my ideal shape dress and the colour of this Asos beauty is gorgeous. Please be mine under the Christmas tree.

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How to get party perfect hair

Now that the festive season is nearly upon us - how did it creep up so quick?! - it's time start thinking about party perfect hairstyles. Luckily Argos very kindly sent me a hair styler and came to the rescue. I'd been lusting after Babyliss Wave Envy for a while so was extremely pleased i'd been given the opportunity to try it out. I always find hair is easier to style the day after it's been washed or if you do wash it the same day, try not to use conditioner as it will make your hair too soft

001: I find it's a lot easier to curl your hair - especially if you have a huge mane like mine - if you divide it into sections. You can do this using clips or hairbands.

002:My personal favourite style is a headfull of curls and the great thing about this hair styler is that no two curls will be the same - giving you a unique style each time. Start at the very top and work your way down. Hold the styler in each place for about 20 seconds. You can do a shorter time but the curl won't be a pronounced.

003:Run your hands through the curls to loosen them up and give your head a little shake to seperate them.

004: Find a decent can of hairspray, - I swear by Vo5 Extra Strong Hold Weather Resistant as recommended by Lucy - hold your nose and spray like it's going out of fashion. Make sure you cover your whole head and spray underneath to stop it from dropping.

005. Ta-da! To help jazz it up you can choose a clip to pin a section away from your face or just leave your wild mane free and let the curls do the talking.

The great news is the curls stay in even after you have slept in them. I was very impressed I could have mermaid-esque hair for two days running - everyone commented on it!

Have you ever tried these hair stylers? Seen anything you fancy on the Argos website?

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Rose tinted glasses

 

As a regular glasses wearer since the age of 11 - you have no idea how blind without glasses - I jumped at the chance to review a pair of glasses from Firmo.

 

I was a little bit nervous ordering online but it turned out my fears were unnecessary as I couldn't be happier with the ones i've chosen. They fit my face perfectly and are just as comfortable as my other pairs. I love the pop of colour the red arms add and it makes them a little more jazzier than normal black ones. I always think what's the point of wearing glasses if you don't try to make a little bit of a fashion statement? I loved the fact they came in a hard case too as i'm always chucking things in my bag so this keeps unwanted accidents from happening. I'm already thinking about added another pair from the site to my collection.

 

You too can have the chance to recieve your own pair of free glasses - you just have to pay for shipping! What a bargain eh? Even if you don't wear perscription glasses it's still possible for you to get a pair of plain lenses. One word of warning. There's such a huge brilliant selection on the site, you could be browsing for quite some time!

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Phase Eight S/S 13 preview

After getting embarrassingly lost a few weeks ago I finally made it to the Phase Eight press day with around ten minutes to spare - yes I was one of those dreaded people who comes right at the end! I'm very glad I did finally make it! My favourite pieces were the beautiful floral blazer and paisley printed trousers. I can just imagine them being the perfect statement pieces for the warmer months that currently seem a distant memory. The detailing on the floral dress also secured a special place in my heart - it will be an amazing choice for a day at the races. The tweed cropped blazer will be a great cover up when it gets chilly in the evening. Hopefully i'll be at either Newmarket or Ascot races this year! I was very kindly gifted a pair of sunglasses that have already gone in my summer drawer ready to be worn when we get our *ahem* heatwave next June - fingers crossed. I had to wrestle my mum for them though!

Which piece sets your heart aflutter?

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Christmas Motel Rocks style

I was luckily enough to be invited along to the Motel bloggers Christmas party and they know how to have a good time. The amazing venue tucked away in Shoreditch - I worked a stones throw away for 6 months and didn't even realise it was there - put on AMAZING cocktails which tasted exactly like apple pie. My all time favourite dessert.

As I arrived early I was excitably allowed to choose a dress to take home in the form of a gorgeous gold maxi dress. I can't wait to show it off during the festive season! Unfortunately I didn't get my hair done by Lee Stafford  but I took full advantage of having my make expertly done by MyFace and came away with fluttering eyelashes from Eyelure.

It was so lovely to catch up with blogger babes such as Hannah, Lily, Elodie, Michelle,  Aisling, Lauren, Kim and Joanna. I wanted to sneak the leather jacket above in my bag - amazing isn't it?! It's safe to say I was very excited to recieve my first Christmas present of the year - a Lee Stafford chopstick curling tong. Thanks so much Motel, I had a fantastic evening!

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November empties

I see these types of posts on various blogs and am always making a mental list of things I need to buy to try out. Since I started blogging I find myself addicted to lotions and potions - it doesn't help that I pick up bits and pieces from work either. I'm hoping these monthly posts will give me the kick up the backside to start using things up.

001: Wilkinson's Fruity Berry shower smoothie (recieved in a goody bag)
Last year I had a mental Christmas in July while I was interning and one of the press days I went to was Wilkinsons who gave away a pretty snazzy goodie bag. I must admit I didn't have much hope when I opened this but was pleasantly surprised when I finally did. I like my shower scrubs to actually feel like their working so I come out the shower feeling extremely clean. This one certainly did - in fact it left me looking a bit red it was so rough! The smell was absolutely gorgeous and it was provided a great base for when I fake tanned - no orange patches for me! If i'm ever in Wilkinsons i'll think I definately make a beeline to pick this up again.

002:  No7 Beautiful Skin Eye Make Up Remover
I had a No7 voucher I had to desperately use up - you all know the feeling - so decided to give this a whirl. I've actually just brought my second bottle so it's safe to say this one is a winner. I wear contact lenses and it's very soft on my sometimes irritated eyes. It removes every scrape although it can leave the eye area feeling a bit greasy. But that's nothing a moisturiser can't fix.

003: MeMeMe Seventh Heaven (picked up from the beauty drawer in work)
I recieved this in a Glossybox a few months ago so knew it was worth another whirl. I absolutely love the sweet smell but I find that it doesn't quite combat the dry skin around my nose area which is the only reason why I wouldn't personally buy it.

004: No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream Dry/Very Dry
This is my second pot which says a lot as I don't really tend to buy a product twice unless I really love it. After all there's so much to try eh? This really does help the dry skin around my nose and I really like the fact it has SPF 15. As i'm getting older I really trying to start the fight against wrinkles - no one wants to look like a Shar Pei! - and we all know the sun can be an absolute killer. It glides on the skin really nicely and makes your skin lovely to touch.

005: Garnier Fresh Essentials Refreshing Toner
I've been using this toner for the past few years. I can never tell the different between cheap or expensive toners and as this is reasonably priced I stick with it. As long as it doesn't make me break out i'm happy! It's usually on special offer in Boots so that's another factor why it makes a regular appearance.

006: Nivea Daily Essentials Rich Regenerating Night Cream
Night cream is a recent addition to my skincare routine and i've really noticed the difference. Working in London means my skin takes a battering and this helps to nurse it back to life. The thickness of the product means it feels ever so luxurious on my skin and a little goes a long way.

Have you got any products you tend to buy over and over again?

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A sneak peak

Room tours are one of my favourite things to read on blogs - for a naturally nosy person like myself they're great! I thought I'd try one of my own and show everyone some of my favourite corners of my room. I'm a natural hoarder so so be prepared for a lot of things!

This is my perfume shelf - my beloved Chanel sits at the back - filled with little secondhand nic-naks. The gorgeous pink atomiser is one of my favourite finds and i'm on the hunt for more to add to my collection. The picture of Connor and I is from when we were whippersnappers at the tender age of 18. The massive picture college below was a 21st birthday present from my parents.

I aspire to be just like Audrey Hepburn so it's apt that a huge picture hangs above my bed.

 Like I said my room is full of random junk! My best friend brought me back the kangaroo balls bottle opener when she went to Australia, the signed Backstreet Boys photo was a very well recieved 21st birthday present and that graduation bear was something my mum picked me up from a bootsale. She went through a phase of buying me graduation-theme things when I completed my degree - more evidence below!

 Excuse my messy bookcase - it's due a good tidy up one of these days. The creepy looking tramp - freaks my best friend out everytime she's round - has sentimental value. At my grandparents house it used to sit in front of their TV and my grandad would always talk about it. So when he died it was one of the things I nabbed. The dressing table glass set holds my cameo collections, hair slides and rings. I have far too much jewellery! The brownie bear sitting in the glass was a present when I finally hung up my boots as a leader due to working in London. My boyfriends sister brought me the tin behind one birthday and it houses all my Lush bath bombs.

You may have spotted this pretty Orla Kiely candle sitting on my bookcase. It was very kindly gifted to me by Amara.  I opted for the fig tree scent to help remind me of Christmas and it smells absolutely gorgeous! With 50 hours of burning time, my room will be smelling lovely in the build up to Christmas. Nothing like a scented candle to help you relax after a stressfull day at work! The beautiful glass means that it can be reused for something else - i'm thinking to hold make up brushes just like Sarah.

I'm a sucker for brooches - I don't even want to know how many I own. I was given quite a few from my Great nan's collection but am too scared to wear them in public so I scour bootsales to find ones to wear. After all it's better to lose something that's worth 50p then lose something of sentimental value. I like to keep a few of my favourite ones on display.



 

I told you my mum went through a phase of collection graduation-themed trinkets. This owl teapot has pride of place on my dvd holder.

 

Finally despite having a kindle I can't get out of the habit of gathering books. I hardly ever buy new perfering to pick them up from charity shops or bootsales. You'd be suprised at what you'd find! I don't really have a favourite genre and will quite happily read anything. Actually i'm looking for a few Kindle recommendations if you have any please?

 

So that's my room! If you have any of your own room tours, i'd love to see them so please do leave me a link!

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Her lingo went from the cockney to the gringo

Outfit:
Burgandy polka dot midi dress: Asos
Gold coloured statement necklace: Primark
Black leather ankle boots: Topshop
Black opaque tights: Primark
Zebra print umbrella: Primark

I'm fairly fickle but at the minute this is my favourite dress. It's the perfect dress for all occcasions. It's great to wear casual at the weekend - going for pie and mash like I am today! -, brilliant to be smart enough for work and fab for looking like you've made the effort for a friday night down the pub. Not bad for £32! I love Asos dresses for daytime wear as they're usually quite reasonable. After all who wants to spend £50 on a casual dress?!

I'm having a bit of a wardrobe crisis at the minute in regards to work wear. I have plenty to wear on evening out - just a shame I don't seem to go out anymore - and enough things to wear over the two day weekend. I have plenty of clothes but nothing I feel is suitable for work. It's quite a casual office and i've never done well with casual. I don't really feel comfortable wearing jeans to work and don't have that many everyday dresses. I've got all these pencil skirts and nowhere to wear them! Blogger problems eh?

What do you all wear to work?

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Everyone I see just wants to walk with gritted teeth

Outfit:
Smart black coat - c/o Clothing At Tesco
Black dipped hem vest top - Topshop
Crystal gold coloured statement necklace - Primark
Khaki green skinny jeans - Primark
Black leather heeled ankle boots - Topshop
Black chain handbag - Zara

Yellow socks - Not supposed to be on show!

Looking at these photos i'm not sure I like the outfit! The jeans kinda make me looks like I have sausage legs ha. Thankfully they've loosen up a bit now i've worn them for a day. Anyone else find jeans fit better after they've been worn a few times? A few weeks ago at the Clothing at Tesco press day we were very kindly given a gift voucher in our goody bags so I treated myself to a new winter coat. In Britain you can never have too many coats! It reminds a bit of the Zara version but at a much more purse-friendly price. It's brillant for work and smart enough to wear for a night out over a dress. The necklace is my new favourite and was only a fiver from Primark. Bargain!

I bet you'd all forgotten what i'd looked like thanks to the lack of outfit posts eh? These were a total embrassement to take - nothing like a neighbour doing his painting while watching you pose outside your house!

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